Search Results (245)

Advanced glycation end products arise during thermal processing and endogenous metabolism, contributing to oxidative stress, inflammation, and the progression of chronic diseases. Dietary polyphenols have emerged as promising advanced glycation end product (AGE) inhibitors through antioxidant activity, carbonyl trapping, metal chelation, and modulation of inflammatory pathways. This review summarizes current evidence on the effects of polyphenols in food systems and highlights how different polyphenol subclasses vary in their antiglycation potential depending on chemical structure, food matrix, and cooking conditions. Although experimental studies consistently demonstrate inhibitory effects, the translation to humans remains limited by low bioavailability, metabolic transformation, and heterogeneous analytical methods. Standardized AGE measurements are needed to improve mechanistic insight, and evaluations of dose–response relationships are needed to clarify their relevance in real-world diets. Future research should prioritize long-term human studies and practical culinary strategies to determine whether polyphenol-rich foods can meaningfully reduce dietary AGE exposure and support chronic disease prevention. Full article

Solanum elaeagnifolium has been utilized for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties to treat a range of conditions, including pain and inflammation. It possesses antibacterial, insecticidal, and molluscicidal properties as well. To investigate the pharmacological potential of the S. elaeagnifolium extract, in vitro, in vivo, and in silico studies were used. Albumin denaturation, heat-induced anti-haemolytic action, and lipooxygenase inhibition were the three techniques used to test anti-inflammatory effectiveness. The phenolic chemicals utilized were identified through the use of high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The effectiveness of the extract in lowering problems connected to diabetes was further evaluated by evaluating fructosamines, carbonyl groups, and β-amyloid formations in albumin glycation. Regarding in vivo studies, the Writhing test and the tail flick test were the two techniques used to evaluate analgesic activity. For docking analysis, we used the following identifiers: cyclooxygenase (PDB ID: 6COX), lipooxygenase (PDB ID: 3V99) and VC1 domain of the receptor for advanced glycation products (PDB ID: 7LMW). The most prevalent phenolic chemicals, according to HPLC analysis, were 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (4.78%), caffeic acid (1.28%), gallic acid (8.18%), ursolic acid (2.6%), syringic acid (1.78%), quercetin (24.09%), catechin (6.67%), and p-coumaric acid (20.49%). Significant suppression of albumin glycation and fructosamine production was demonstrated by the extract, indicating that it may help lessen difficulties associated with diabetes. Furthermore, the extract demonstrated a strong anti-inflammatory impact, with an IC₅₀ of 146 ± 1.17 μg/mL for lipooxygenase inhibition, 87.64 ± 5.35 μg/mL for anti-haemolytic action, and 86.94 ± 1.63 μg/mL for albumin denaturation inhibition. A similar analgesic effect to those of analgesic medications was also demonstrated by SEFE extract. Reinforcing the relevance of the observed effects, the in silico study of the tested activities validated these findings. These findings indicate significant pharmacological promise in the management of diabetes consequences, including inflammation and protein glycation, as well as an analgesic. Full article

High fructose intake rapidly induces protein glycation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and disturbances in the cultivable fraction of gut bacteria, contributing to early metabolic impairment. This study examined whether selected plant-derived bioactives and a prebiotic–probiotic formulation could mitigate fructose-induced biochemical and microbial alterations. Male Wistar rats were fed fructose for 45 days, and advanced glycation end product (AGE)-associated fluorescence, oxidative stress markers, and lipid peroxidation were measured to assess metabolic changes. Culture-dependent enumeration of intestinal and fecal bacteria was performed to evaluate shifts in cultivable aerobic and facultative bacterial counts, while limonene, eugenol, and emodin were tested for antibacterial activity against aerobic and facultative bacterial isolates obtained from fructose-fed rats during our previous study. The prebiotic–probiotic formulation was assessed alone and in combination with these bioactives. Fructose feeding increased protein glycation, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and reduced counts of cultivable gut bacteria. Treatment with the bioactives and the formulation lowered glycation-related fluorescence, reduced oxidative stress, and decreased lipid peroxidation. The bioactives exhibited antioxidant and antiglycation activity and inhibited growth of selected cultivable bacterial isolates, including Corynebacterium stationis. While emodin contributed primarily through its known α-glucosidase inhibitory and antiglycation properties rather than antibacterial activity. Combined treatment partially restored cultivable bacterial counts and improved metabolic parameters. Overall, the interventions attenuated fructose-induced biochemical disturbances and modulated the cultivable gut bacterial counts, suggesting a complementary approach to managing early metabolic changes in rats associated with high fructose intake. Full article

Background/Objectives: Chronic complications of diabetes mellitus are closely associated with increased oxidative stress and the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and antiglycation potential of hesperetin-7-O-glucoside (HCD) and diosmetin-7-O-glucoside (DCD) formulations complexed with cyclodextrins, using in vitro and in silico experimental models to evaluate their efficacy in mitigating hyperglycemia-induced molecular damage. Methods: Antioxidant activity was assessed using chemical and erythrocyte-based oxidative stress models, whereas antiglycation activity was evaluated in BSA–fructose, BSA–methylglyoxal, and arginine–methylglyoxal models. Results: Both formulations showed measurable antioxidant effects, with concentration-dependent behavior observed in some of the evaluated assays. In the DPPH assay, HCD and DCD achieved maximum inhibition values of 30.71% and 26.61%, respectively. Furthermore, DCD exhibited higher total antioxidant capacity (102.80 µg vitamin C equivalents/mL) and nitric oxide scavenging activity (37.89%) than HCD. In a cellular model, both formulations (200 µg/mL) significantly reduced AAPH-induced hemolysis, with DCD providing superior protection (7.05% vs. 16.63% for HCD). Under oxidative stress induced by high glucose concentration in erythrocytes, HCD and DCD reduced non-protein thiol levels, and HCD significantly increased catalase enzyme activity. Regarding antiglycation activity, DCD demonstrated superior efficacy relative to HCD in the BSA-fructose system, achieving 43.23% inhibition. DCD also displayed concentration-dependent inhibition of fructosamine formation (up to 47.99%) and BSA glycation by methylglyoxal (up to 45.20%). Both formulations significantly reduced carbonylated protein levels and preserved free thiol groups. In the arginine–methylglyoxal model, DCD and HCD reached 44.03% and 48.82% inhibition, respectively. Molecular docking revealed high binding affinity of both flavonoids to the protein active site (−9.00 kcal/mol for hesperetin-7-O-glucoside and −9.04 kcal/mol for diosmetin-7-O-glucoside), suggesting a structural protective role. Conclusions: The HCD and DCD formulations demonstrated antioxidant and antiglycation activities that may contribute to attenuating molecular alterations associated with chronic hyperglycemia through complementary mechanisms, including antioxidant effects, protection against protein carbonylation, and inhibition of glycation. While these findings highlight the potential of the evaluated formulations, additional mechanistic and in vivo studies are required to establish their pharmacological applicability. Full article

Broccoli processing generates large quantities of leaves that remain underutilized despite being rich in bioactive compounds. Their valorization as a functional ingredient aligns with sustainable food production and offers an opportunity to enhance the nutritional quality of cereal-based foods. This study evaluated the impact of broccoli leaf powder (BLP) fortification (2.5 and 5%) on the phytochemical composition and functional properties of durum pasta under three drying regimes. BLP introduced glucosinolates, flavonols, carotenoids, and chlorophylls that were absent in the control samples, and their contents increased proportionally with the fortification level. The drying regime modulated compound stability, with low-temperature drying generally favoring retention, whereas cooking caused up to a 50% loss of glucosinolate, depending on the processing conditions. Functional properties were markedly enhanced by BLP addition. The 5% fortification level showed the greatest improvement, resulting in the highest antioxidant activity, antiglycation potential, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity compared to the control pasta. Antioxidant, antiglycation, and ACE-inhibitory activities increased proportionally with the fortification level, and although drying reduced some activities, the fortified pasta consistently outperformed the control. Among the tested formulations, pasta enriched with 5% BLP showed the most favorable overall functional and bioactive compound profiles. Overall, broccoli leaves represent a valuable by-product for developing nutritionally enriched pasta, and the processing conditions play a key role in shaping the stability and bioactivity of the incorporated compounds. Full article

Organogermanium compounds, particularly carboxyethyl germanium sesquioxide (Ge-132), have been studied for decades because of their diverse biological effects, especially their antioxidant properties. However, the available literature remains fragmented and highly heterogeneous, which limits mechanistic interpretation. Although antiglycative activity has been described at the biochemical level, the downstream transcriptional effects of Ge-132 under glycative stress remain poorly characterized. Here, we combined an evidence-mapping analysis with targeted molecular analysis in a standardized cellular model to examine whether the antiglycative effects of Ge-132 are accompanied by coordinated transcriptional responses. The mapping guided selection of markers associated with glycative stress, including carbonyl detoxification, redox adaptation, autophagy, lysosomal function, and inflammatory signaling. Gene expression analysis revealed limited and selective transcriptional modulation under glycative stress conditions. In parallel, protein analysis showed reduced intracellular accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in Ge-132–treated. These findings suggest that reduction of glycative damage can occur without proportional transcriptional activation of stress-response pathways under the conditions tested. However, alternative explanations, such as model constraints, acute exposure duration, or limited gene panel sensitivity, cannot be excluded. Full article

The valorization of culinary by-products into functional bioactive resources represents a significant advancement in sustainable biotechnology. This study characterizes an extract derived from “battuto toscano” by-products, a traditional blend of garlic, onion, carrot, and celery trimmings, recovered through circular economy principles. Comprehensive antioxidant profiling was performed alongside biological evaluations on human cell lines and anti-glycation assays. Results from Folin–Ciocalteu, FRAP, and TEAC assays confirmed a high concentration of secondary metabolites with significant scavenging capacity. In vitro testing on primary human fibroblasts and HaCaT keratinocytes revealed a concentration- and time-dependent biological response, with lower concentrations showing better compatibility and transiently enhancing HaCaT metabolic activity. Furthermore, BTE reduced AGE-associated fluorescence in the BSA–glucose model, particularly at 5 mg/mL, supporting its potential anti-glycation activity. These findings establish “battuto toscano” by-products as a reservoir of sustainable biomolecules. This study offers a transformative resource for the pharma/nutraceutical sectors by bridging culinary tradition with biomedical innovation. Full article

Cyclocarya paliurus leaves, commonly consumed as “sweet tea”, remain underutilized after spring harvest. This pilot study investigated harvest month-associated changes in bioactivity-related properties and volatile profiles of mature leaves collected from May to September (Q5–Q9) at one site in 2024. Aqueous extracts were analyzed for TPC, TFC, TP, TSC, DPPH and ABTS•+ radical scavenging activities, and inhibition of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation in glucose/fructose-BSA models, with aminoguanidine as a positive reference. Dried leaf powders were profiled by SPME-GC-MS for tentative VOC annotation. TPC, TFC, TP, and TSC ranged from 28.04 to 28.87, 15.42 to 40.22, 2.14 to 2.51, and 23.15 to 25.30 mg/g, respectively. Q9 showed the strongest radical scavenging response, with the lowest DPPH and ABTS•+ IC50 values (0.119 and 0.131 mg/mL), while Q6 also exhibited relatively strong activity. Furthermore, Q6 and Q9 exhibited superior advanced glycation end-product (AGE) inhibitory responses, with Q9 being particularly effective in the fructose-BSA model. VOC profiles varied markedly by month, shifting from alkene/terpene predominance in Q5–Q6 to alcohol enrichment in Q7 and renewed alkene/terpene predominance in Q9. Integrated heatmap and Pearson correlation analyses identified clear temporal co-variations and pairwise associations between distinct VOC classes and bioactivity indices. Collectively, these results provide preliminary, site- and year-specific evidence that harvest month is associated with changes in the bioactivity-related properties and aroma-related phytochemical profiles of mature C. paliurus leaves, offering a cautious reference for harvest-stage-oriented utilization. Full article

Aloysia triphylla (lemon verbena, LV) herbal tea is a rich source of phenolic compounds with recognized antioxidant and antiglycoxidant properties, although their stability during digestion remains insufficiently understood. This study evaluated the impact of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on the phenolic composition and bioactivity of LV infusion using a standardized in vitro model. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and phenolic acid contents were determined spectrophotometrically, while individual compounds were analyzed by HPLC. Antioxidant activity was assessed using complementary assays (DPPH•, ABTS•, FRAP, ORAC, and nitric oxide scavenging), and antiglycation activity was evaluated using a BSA/D-ribose model. Digestion did not significantly affect total phenolic and phenolic acid contents, whereas flavonoids moderately decreased during the intestinal phase. Verbascoside underwent partial degradation, leading to increased levels of isoverbascoside and caffeic acid. Despite these transformations, antioxidant capacity was maintained or enhanced, particularly in ABTS and ORAC assays, suggesting a contribution of digestion-derived metabolites. Antiglycation activity remained stable after digestion. Pre-column HPLC analyses identified verbascoside and its derivatives as the main contributors to radical scavenging and methylglyoxal trapping activities. These findings indicate that LV infusion retains its bioactive potential after digestion and supports its relevance as a functional beverage. Full article

This study characterises the polyphenol profile (LC–MS), antiglycation (BSA–GLU, BSA–FRU, BSA–MGO), and antioxidant potential (ABTS, DPPH) of A. arguta (‘Scarlet September Kiwi’) and A. kolomikta (‘Lande’) fruit before and after extract purification. A total of 48 polyphenols belonging to 11 chemical groups were identified. Crude Scarlet extract showed higher TPI (1079.51 µg/g dw) than the crude Lande (761.13 µg/g dw), with quercetin glucoside accounting for 71% of TPI. Crude Lande extract was dominated by caffeic acid glucoside (39% TPI). Purification markedly increased TPI values to 4082.13 µg/g dw (Scarlet) and 2550.51 µg/g dw (Lande). The crude extracts more effectively inhibited glucose- and fructose-induced protein glycation (IC₅₀ = 1.81–7.71 mg/mL) than methylglyoxal-mediated glycation (IC₅₀ = 14.33–24.26). Purification significantly enhanced antiglycation efficacy in all models (IC₅₀ = 0.47–1.78), as well as antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ = 0.10–0.67 mg/mL). Statistical analyses revealed a strong alignment between the glycation-inhibitory activity and the tested antioxidant potential. These findings suggest that targeted purification enhances the functional potential of Actinidia species, making them promising sources of bioactive compounds against oxidative stress and protein glycation-related disorders. Full article

Life expectancy in high-income countries is increasing, leading to a higher incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. To address this urgent medical need, several molecular targets have been identified, including advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and tyrosinase. Given the well-established role of diet in counteracting degenerative processes, this study aimed to identify a potential food ingredient with combined anti-tyrosinase and anti-glycative properties. Acanthus mollis L. was selected based on its inclusion in the BelFrIt list and its known content of tyrosinase inhibitors, such as benzoxazinones and verbascoside. Extraction of A. mollis leaves was optimized using a design of experiments approach, comparing microwave- and ultrasound-assisted techniques. Optimal conditions were achieved using microwave-assisted extraction with ethanol 80%, 80 °C, one cycle, drug-to-solvent ratio of 10 mL/g. The optimized extract (at 5 mg/mL) inhibited tyrosinase activity by approximately 47%, increasing to 58% after chlorophyll removal. Moreover, the extract reduces AGEs formation in presence of methylglyoxal, with an activity at 1 mg/mL comparable with that of a well-known anti-glycative agent. A similar trend was observed in the reduction in methylglyoxal and glyoxal levels. Overall, these results support the potential of the optimized A. mollis extract as a functional food ingredient to counteract aging-related neurodegeneration. Full article

The advanced glycation end products generated from protein glycation are associated with the development of diabetic complications. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory mechanisms of isoliquiritigenin on protein glycation and compare its anti-glycation activity in PBS versus a macromolecular crowding environment. The results showed that in PBS, 500 μmol/L isoliquiritigenin showed an advanced glycation end product inhibition rate of 37.78%, outperforming aminoguanidine. Meanwhile, isoliquiritigenin inhibited the protein carbonylation process, reduced the generation of protein oxidation products, and inhibited the formation of β-crosslinking structures with a rate of 34.20%. Molecular docking results indicated that isoliquiritigenin bound to site I of bovine serum albumin, effectively blocked glycation reactions by occupying multiple arginine residues and contributed to stabilizing the secondary structure of bovine serum albumin. In addition, isoliquiritigenin exhibited significant hydroxyl radical scavenging and Fe²⁺-chelating abilities, achieving a 34.35% trapping efficiency for methylglyoxal. Isoliquiritigenin exerted its anti-glycation activity through multiple pathways, including scavenging free radicals, protecting protein structure, interacting with bovine serum albumin, and trapping methylglyoxal. However, in the crowding environment, the excluded volume effect and higher viscosity might lead to limited isoliquiritigenin binding to bovine serum albumin, reducing its inhibition of glycation and decreasing advanced glycation end product inhibition to 16.38%. This study realistically evaluated the inhibitory effects of isoliquiritigenin in complex crowding environments and provided a theoretical basis for isoliquiritigenin as a functional food ingredient for the prevention of diabetes complications. Future studies need to establish animal models to further explore its effects in vivo. Full article

Plants produce diverse metabolites with potential benefits for human health. However, the metabolomes of plant callus cultures—cell cultures analogous to stem cells—remain poorly characterized in terms of their functional relevance. This study aimed to systematically profile and functionally annotate metabolites from diverse plant callus cultures to better understand their potential biological activities and applications. We profiled the metabolomes of six plant calli: Acacia concinna (Shikakai), Daucus carota (carrot), Hibiscus sabdariffa (hibiscus), Linum usitatissimum (flax), Ocimum sanctum (tulsi), and the Nicotiana tabacum Bright-Yellow 2 (BY-2) cell line. To facilitate functional interpretation, we developed Metabolite2Function (M2F), a pipeline that annotates metabolites with biological functions using scientific literature and large language modeling. Untargeted metabolomics identified 177 metabolites, revealing clustering patterns independent of genetic relationships, culture age, or growth rate. Tulsi and carrot calli exhibited enrichment in metabolites relative to the tobacco reference line, whereas flax and hibiscus were comparatively depleted. Most metabolites varied across at least four calli, and 10% were unique to a single species. Using M2F, we annotated 87 metabolites with beneficial activities, including antioxidant, anti-glycation, anti-inflammatory, and anti-senescence functions, as well as skin-related effects such as collagen production and brightening. Notably, antioxidant and anti-senescence metabolite levels correlated with corresponding biological activities in human cells. Plant callus cultures generate distinct and functionally diverse bioactive metabolomes. M2F provides a scalable framework for systematic functional annotation relevant to human health and cosmetic applications. Full article

This study focused on the inhibitory effects of wheat bran feruloyl oligosaccharides (FOs) on the formation of AGEs in three bovine serum albumin (BSA)-based non-enzymatic glycation models, namely BSA-fructose, BSA-methylglyoxal (MGO), and BSA-glyoxal (GO). In the BSA-fructose model, FOs at 0.25 mg/mL achieved a 62% inhibition rate of fructosamine, equivalent to approximately 78% of the activity of the positive control aminoguanidine (AG), and reduced fluorescent AGEs by over 50% on day 12. Additionally, FOs suppressed the accumulation of α-dicarbonyl compounds, key intermediates in the glycation pathway. In the BSA-MGO and BSA-GO system, the decreased fluorescence intensity of tryptophan residues indicated that FOs bound to BSA, inducing conformational changes in the protein microenvironment; this binding also inhibited protein carbonyl formation and the loss of thiol groups, thereby modulating the protein glycation process. Compared with their precursors (ferulic acid, FA; xylooligosaccharides, XOS), FOs exhibited comparable or even superior inhibitory activity against specific AGE subtypes, suggesting a synergistic effect between the feruloyl and oligosaccharide moieties. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that FOs reduced the band intensity of 90 kDa AGEs in the glycation system, indicating the inhibition of protein-fructose cross-linking. Fluorescence spectroscopy confirmed that FOs dynamically quenched BSA with a single binding site, and thermodynamic calculations demonstrated that the binding was spontaneous (ΔG < 0), primarily driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces (ΔH < 0, ΔS < 0). This study systematically investigated the anti-glycation activities of FOs and their precursors. The findings demonstrate that FOs are promising natural glycation inhibitors and provide important theoretical and experimental support for related research. Furthermore, this study establish a basis for the green and high-value utilization of agricultural by-products like wheat bran. Full article

In this study, the rank of multifaceted activity of catechin (C), epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin-3-gallate (ECG) and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) was addressed. Their antioxidant activity was determined by the differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), whereas their ability to inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE), and formation of the advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) was performed in a model system to show their importance against hypertension, Alzheimer-type dementia, and diabetic’s complication, respectively. The order of the antioxidant potential of catechins in comparision to gallic acid (GA) was EGCG > ECG > EC > EGC ≈ C > GA, whereas the order of the ACE inhibitory activity was EGCG > ECG > EGC > EC > C, thus indicating the importance of the structure–activity relationship. The correlation between IC₅₀ for ACE inhibition of catechins and their antioxidant activity had the value r = −0.60. The order of the AChE enzyme inhibitory activity was EGCG ≈ EGC > ECG > EC > C, and the weak positive correlation between IC₅₀ and the first anodic peak potential (E_pa1) values was noted (r = 0.67). The ranking of the anti-AGE activities was EGCG ≈ ECG > EGC > EC > C, and a negative correlation between the inhibitory activity of catechins against AGE formation and their antioxidant activity was r = −0.82, whereas a positive correlation (r = 0.88) was noted between their first anodic peak potential (E_pa1) values. The provided results expand our knowledge on the multifaceted activity of catechins, indicating EGCG and ECG as the most active antioxidants against inhibition of ACE and AChE as well as towards AGE formation. Full article