Search Results (3)

Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa <Michx.> Elliot) represents a rich source of dietary polyphenols and other bioactive phytochemicals with pleiotropic beneficial cardiovascular effects. The present study was aimed at evaluating the ex vivo effects of two black chokeberry extracts (BChEs), obtained from either dry (DryAr) or frozen (FrozAr) berries, on oxidative stress and vascular function in mice aortic rings after incubation with angiotensin 2 (Ang 2), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and glucose (GLUC) in order to mimic renin–angiotensin system activation, inflammation and hyperglycemia. The identification of phenolic compounds was performed by means of liquid chromatography with a diode array detector coupled with mass spectrometry using the electrospray ionization interface. The BChE obtained from the FrozAr was rich in cyanidin glucoside, rutin and caffeic acid, while the one obtained from the dried berries was rich in rutin, caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid. Mice aortas were dissected and acutely incubated (12 h) with Ang2 (100 nM), LPS (1 µg/mL) or GLUC (400 mg/dL) in the presence vs. absence of the two BChEs (1, 10, 50, 75, 100, 500 µg/mL). Subsequently, the tissues were used for the assessment of (i) hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and superoxide production (using two methods, spectrophotometry and immunofluorescence), (ii) H₂O₂ scavenger effect and (iii) vascular reactivity (using the organ bath/myograph system). After exposure to Ang2, LPS or GLUC, both types of extracts decreased the H₂O₂ and superoxide levels in a concentration-dependent manner starting from either 50 µg/mL or 100 µg/mL. Also, in the highest concentrations (100 µg/mL, 150 µg/mL and 500 µg/mL), both extracts elicited a significant scavenger effect on H₂O₂ (similar to catalase, the classic H₂O₂ scavenger). Moreover, at 100 µg/mL, both extracts were able to significantly improve vascular relaxation in all stimulated aortic rings. In conclusion, in mice aortas, black chokeberry extracts in acute application elicited a concentration-dependent vasculo-protective effect through the reduction of oxidative stress and the alleviation of endothelial dysfunction in ex vivo conditions that mimic cardio-metabolic diseases. Full article

Foam formulations are safe and effective therapy options for the treatment of chronic skin conditions that require the application of a topical formulation to delicate skin areas, such as scalp psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. This study focused on the development of foamable emulsions based on aqueous phospholipid blends. The effects of cosurfactants (nonionic Lauryglucoside (LG); zwitterionic Lauramidopropyl betaine (LAPB)), as well as of oil phases of different polarities, namely paraffin oil (PO), medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) and castor oil (CO), were investigated. The foaming experiments showed that both the type of cosurfactant, as well as the type of oil phase, affects the quality of the resulting foam. Emulsions that were based on a combination of hydrogenated lysophosphatidylcholine (hLPC) and a non-hydrogenated phospholipid, as well as LG as a cosurfactant and MCT as an oil phase, yielded the most satisfactory results. Furthermore, profile analysis tensiometry (PAT), polarization microscopy and laser diffraction analysis were used to characterize the developed formulations. These experiments suggest that the employed phospholipids predominantly stabilize the emulsions, while the cosurfactants are mainly responsible for the formation and stabilization of the foams. However, it appears that both sets of excipients are needed in order to acquire stable emulsions with satisfactory foaming properties. Full article

Crepis vesicaria subsp. taraxacifolia (Cv) of Asteraceae family is used as food and in traditional medicine. However there are no studies on its nutritional value, phenolic composition and biological activities. In the present work, a nutritional analysis of Cv leaves was performed and its phenolic content and biological properties evaluated. The nutritional profile was achieved by gas chromatography (GC). A 70% ethanolic extract was prepared and characterized by HLPC-PDA-ESI/MSⁿ. The quantification of chicoric acid was determined by HPLC-PDA. Subsequently, it was evaluated its antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods. The anti-inflammatory activity and cellular viability was assessed in Raw 264.7 macrophages. On wet weight basis, carbohydrates were the most abundant macronutrients (9.99%), followed by minerals (2.74%) (mainly K, Ca and Na), protein (1.04%) and lipids (0.69%), with a low energetic contribution (175.19 KJ/100 g). The Cv extract is constituted essentially by phenolic acids as caffeic, ferulic and quinic acid derivatives being the major phenolic constituent chicoric acid (130.5 mg/g extract). The extract exhibited antioxidant activity in DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays and inhibited the nitric oxide (NO) production induced by LPS (IC₅₀ = 0.428 ± 0.007 mg/mL) without cytotoxicity at all concentrations tested. Conclusions: Given the nutritional and phenolic profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Cv could be a promising useful source of functional food ingredients. Full article