Search Results (89)

Background/Objectives: An imbalance in oxidative stress (OS) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD). We compared OS status in IBD children and adults versus healthy controls by exploring variables impacting the OS disruption in IBD. Methods: Total antioxidant capacity (ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP)), reactive species (ROS), oxidative products (advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARSs)), and antioxidant defenses (glutathione, GSH and intracellular activity of the main antioxidant enzymes) were evaluated. Correlations between OS markers, clinical features, disease characteristics, and inflammatory indices were explored. Results: Eighty-two IBD patients (67.5% in clinical remission) and 73 healthy subjects were enrolled. IBD children showed significant FRAP reduction compared to controls and IBD adults (p < 0.0001), increased AOPPs and reduced GSH compared to controls (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0011, respectively), higher total GSH (p = 0.020), and lower TBARSs (p = 0.023) compared to IBD adults. In the pediatric group, FRAP was significantly reduced in those with IBD and increased in older subjects and males, while AOPP levels were positively affected by increasing age. In the total IBD cohort, higher FRAP was associated with male gender, increasing age, overweight, and mesalazine therapy. The diagnosis of Ulcerative Colitis was associated with lower FRAP and AOPP levels compared to Crohn’s disease. Increased fecal calprotectin significantly decreased the total antioxidant capacity. Conclusions: The antioxidant system shows significant differences in IBD compared to controls, particularly in the pediatric group. The observed pediatric–adult pattern may suggest age-related differences in oxidative balance, but these findings should be interpreted with caution, given the modest sample size. Clinical Trial Registration Number: NCT04513015. Full article

Chimonanthus salicifolius and Chimonanthus nitens are widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Traditionally, their stems and leaves have been consumed as herbal tea substitutes in folk practices, possessing both medicinal and edible values. They represent typical dual-purpose plants for both medicinal and tea applications and are distinctive ethnic She medicinal resources. This study used the flowers, stems, and leaves of C. salicifolius and C. nitens as materials to analyze the chemical components of six essential oils and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. We extracted their essential oils through steam distillation, followed by an analysis of their volatile chemical components using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Hydroxyl radical (•OH), 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were used to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the different essential oils. The results showed that the extraction rates of both Chimonanthus species followed the order of leaf > flower > stem. Among them, the essential oil extraction rate from the leaves of C. salicifolius was the highest (2.22%), followed by that from the leaves of C. nitens (0.84%). A total of 83 volatile components were identified from the six extracted essential oils, demonstrating significant compositional differences (p < 0.05). Eucalyptol is the main component and has the highest relative content in the essential oils of both plant leaves, with (54.65 ± 1.03%) in C. salicifolius and (52.28 ± 1.03%) in C. nitens. Antioxidant experiments revealed that the leaf essential oil exhibited the strongest •OH scavenging activity (IC50 = 39.47 ± 5.57 μL·mL⁻¹), while the stem of C. salicifolius showed the highest DPPH scavenging activity (IC50 = 20.78 ± 3.86), and the flower part demonstrated the best FRAP power. Additionally, a preliminary evaluation of the antibacterial activity of these two Chimonanthus leaf essential oils indicated that their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus pumilus, and Bacillus subtilis was consistently 50 µL·mL⁻¹. This study systematically analyzed the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and antibacterial activity of essential oils from different parts of C. salicifolius and C. nitens, revealing differences in yield, component composition, and biological activity between the two species. The findings provide scientific evidence for the development and application of essential oils from Chimonanthus plants. Full article

The incorporation of spore-forming probiotics into thermally processed foods represents a promising strategy to expand functional food availability. In this study, probiotic snacks were formulated from oat and rice-bean matrices as delivery vehicles for Heyndrickxia coagulans (formerly Bacillus coagulans) BC4 spores. The effects of baking and microwave processing, packaging, and storage conditions on spore viability and functionality were evaluated. While oven baking (180 °C) preserved viability in both matrices under mild conditions (survival > 90%), dielectric heating induced significant viability loss depending on the matrix. The starch-based rice-bean matrix, characterized by higher post-processing water activity (Aw), suffered a thermal runaway effect, resulting in significant spore inactivation (viability decreased to 6.08 log colony forming units/g (CFU/g); 1.5 min). Conversely, the oat matrix acted as a thermo-physical stabilizer, maintaining high viability (9.41 log CFU/g; 1.5 min) by limiting dielectric energy absorption via its fiber-lipid composition. Oxidative stress and premature germination likely contributed to the viability loss observed in atmospheric packaging during the 30-day storage. The oat matrix mitigated this effect through a dual-protective mode: active radical scavenging (validated by superior ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) values) and passive water binding. Simulated digestion data align with the functional preservation observed, resulting in increased survival for oat-based formulations. Overall, the results demonstrate the feasibility of developing oat and rice-bean snacks enriched with H. coagulans spores and highlight the critical role of matrix and processing conditions in preserving probiotic viability. Full article

We studied fine particulate matter (PM) effects on porcine granulosa, a model of endocrine reproductive cells, and on ovarian endothelial cells. PM produced a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in metabolic activity. PM reduced endothelial cell proliferation (p < 0.001). As for redox status, superoxide anion (O₂⁻) production by granulosa was reduced (p < 0.05) by PM, while it was increased in endothelial cells (p < 0.001). PM increased (p < 0.001) nitric oxide (NO) levels in granulosa, while in endothelial cells, it displayed a biphasic effect (p < 0.05) as well as for superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) in granulosa cells (p < 0.001). In endothelial cells, PM increased (p < 0.001) SOD. A reduction in Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP) (p < 0.01) was observed. In granulosa, PM did not induce oxidative damage to DNA, while in endothelial cells, it determined a reduction (p < 0.05). PM significantly inhibited steroidogenesis (p < 0.05). The accumulation of autophagic vacuoles and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) production was increased (p < 0.05) by PM. The data obtained likely demonstrate that PM induces critical effects on ovarian cells. Full article

This study investigated the effects of iron supplementation and inflammatory disease on cortisol, white blood cell (WBC) count, total protein (TP), lactate, interleukin 1 β (IL1β), interleukin 6 (IL6), substance P (SP), hepcidin, haptoglobin, and ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) in calves. Correlation analyses for the aforementioned parameters with serum iron and ferritin were performed in 40 neonatal calves over the first 10 days of life. Neither iron supplementation, disease status, nor sex had statistically significant effects on the areas under the curve of ferritin, WBC, TP, IL1β, IL6, SP, hepcidin, haptoglobin, or FRAP. However, cortisol concentrations were influenced by disease development. Cortisol concentrations were higher at birth (44.1 ± 1.95 ng/mL) than on day 2 (38.8 ± 1.87 ng/mL) (p = 0.0477), and healthy animals exhibited lower cortisol concentrations than diseased calves (p = 0.0028). Correlation analyses indicated weak positive correlations between ferritin and IL1β (p = 0.0015; ρ = 0.49) and IL6 (p = 0.0011; ρ = 0.50), respectively. The clinical significance of these findings and resulting therapeutic consequences, especially with respect to iron supplementation, should be further investigated in calves and adult cattle. Full article

Background/Objectives: Addressing the risk of malnutrition at an early stage is crucial to preventing its development, which can have a detrimental impact on physical and mental health status. This study investigates the potential role of biochemical biomarkers such as sirtuin 1 (SIRT-1), melatonin, cholecystokinin-8 (CCK-8), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in identifying the risk of malnutrition. Methods: This cross-sectional study assessed malnutrition risk in 153 community-dwelling older adults using the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA). Serum levels of SIRT-1, melatonin, and CCK-8 were analyzed with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was measured using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) method. Results: Serum levels of TAC and CCK-8 were significantly positively correlated with grip strength and visceral adipose tissue, with TAC levels also showing associations with appendicular skeletal muscle mass index (ASMI), total body water, total energy expenditure, fat-free mass index, and fat mass index (p < 0.001). CCK-8 emerged as a strong predictor of malnutrition risk (AUC = 0.58 in females, AUC = 0.64 in males), whereas SIRT-1 (AUC = 0.57 for both sexes), melatonin (AUC = 0.46 for females, AUC = 0.51 for males), and TAC (AUC = 0.42 for females, AUC = 0.54 for males) exhibited weaker predictive abilities. A multivariate model incorporating CCK-8 demonstrated excellent predictive accuracy (AUC = 0.84, 95% CI: 0.77–0.90) and indicated a potential association between elevated CCK-8 levels and a higher risk of malnutrition. Conclusions: In conclusion, this study highlights the effectiveness of a multi-parameter model incorporating CCK-8 as a reliable approach for assessing malnutrition risk in older adults, offering a comprehensive evaluation of the condition. However, further research is needed to confirm its applicability and accuracy in diverse elderly populations and clinical settings. Full article

Essential oils (EOs) are a diverse source of bioactive compounds with remarkable therapeutic potential. Despite their significance, Conocarpus EOs have been largely underexplored. This study provides a novel comparison of the metabolic profiles and biological activities of EOs from C. lancifolius, C. erectus green, and C. erectus silver leaves cultivated in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), offering unique insights into their distinct bioactive properties and potential therapeutic applications. EOs were extracted via hydro-distillation, analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and subjected to chemometric analysis. Their antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assays), antidiabetic (α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition and antimicrobial activities were assessed. A total of 92 metabolites were identified, with heptacosane and nonacosane as key species discriminants. C. lancifolius EO showed the strongest α-amylase (IC₅₀ 8.75 ± 0.54 µg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ 22.31 ± 0.92 µg/mL) inhibitory activities, while C. erectus silver demonstrated superior antioxidant capacity (IC₅₀ 349.78 ± 8.26 µg/mL, DPPH assay). C. lancifolius EO exhibited the best antimicrobial activity, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 625 µg/mL). C. erectus silver EO inhibited E. coli and C. albicans (MIC 625 µg/mL). In contrast, C. erectus EOs showed no activity against Aspergillus niger. These findings highlight the potential of Conocarpus EOs as antioxidants and for managing diabetes that may be utilized either in nutraceuticals, dietary supplements or even in pharmaceutical formulations. Moreover, owing to significant antimicrobial activities, the EOs may be added to medical disinfectants and several pharmaceutical products. However, further, in vivo validation and pharmaceutical exploration is still needed. Full article

Moringa (Moringa oleifera Lam.) is a tree that grows in tropical and subtropical regions. In this study, the plants were grown in a temperate climate zone from seeds collected at the Island of St. Lucia. Cultivation was carried out in the field and in a greenhouse in Prešov, East Slovakia. Leaf samples were taken from young plants and dried naturally. In the ethanol and hot water extracts of the leaves, the dry matter, total phenolic substances, and antioxidant activity were determined using three methods: superoxide anion radical scavenging activity, hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assay. The highest amount of total phenols was detected in the ethanolic extract of the leaves from the field 911.14 mg GAE L⁻¹, resp. 69.70 mg GAE g⁻¹ DM. The lowest amount was noticed in the leaves from the greenhouse 408.88 mg GAE L⁻¹, resp. 13.07 mg GAE g⁻¹ DM. The amount was significantly lower in the aqueous extracts. A high antioxidant activity of the leaves from the field was detected in all ethanolic and hot water extracts. Both types of leaf extracts from the greenhouse showed statistically significant lower antioxidant activity. The obtained results indicate that outdoor cultivation in a temperate climate zone was stressful for the plants, leading to an increased formation of phenolic substances, and consequently to higher antioxidant activity. Full article

(1) Background: According to the 2005~2008 Nutrition and Health Survey in Taiwan (NAHSIT), more than half of Taiwanese women (57.3%) had metabolic syndrome during menopause. Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and mortality. Epidemiological studies suggest that the consumption of tomato-based foods might reduce the risk factors for CVD. The aim of this study is to examine the effects of tomato consumption on lowering the metabolic syndrome risk factors among overweight postmenopausal women. (2) Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial using 8-week open-label dietary intervention. Overweight postmenopausal women aged 45–70 years old were recruited from Taipei Medical University in October 2013. They were randomly assigned into two groups (a control diet vs. a tomato diet). Blood samples were collected at the baseline and at the 4th and 8th weeks. The lipid profile, blood sugar, and antioxidant biomarkers, i.e., the ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and serum carotenoids, were analyzed. Blood pressure, body weight, and body fat were also measured every week. (3) Results: After the 8-week dietary intervention, body weight, body mass index, waist circumference, and hip circumference were significantly lower in both groups (p < 0.05). Body fat mass, body fat percentage, waist circumference, and hip circumference were significantly lower in the tomato diet group than in the control diet group. The tomato diet group had significantly lower serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, systolic blood pressure and blood sugar, and higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol than the control diet group. The antioxidant biomarkers, FRAP, beta-carotenoids, and lycopene were significantly higher in the tomato diet group than in the control diet group. (4) Conclusions: Fresh tomato consumption can increase antioxidant biomarkers to reduce risks of metabolic syndrome in postmenopausal women. Full article

Animal health is affected during heat stress as a result of impaired immune responses, increased production of reactive oxygen species, and/or a deficiency of antioxidants. This leads to an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants and results in oxidative stress. Heat stress is usually measured in dairy cattle via the temperature-humidity index (THI). In the present study, we aimed at assessing the influence of incremental THI on the balance between oxidative markers and the antioxidant defence system in the plasma of Modicana cows. Twenty-four multiparous, mid-lactating dairy cows were divided into two groups on the basis of different levels of mean THI reached in the period of the previous week up until the day of blood and milk sampling (April THI₁:55, May THI₂:68, June THI₃:71, July THI₄:80). The blood samples were collected to measure reactive oxygen metabolites (ROM) and antioxidant defense markers (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), paraoxonase (PON), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), plasma thiol groups (SHp), as well as lipid-soluble antioxidant pro-vitamin (β-carotene) and vitamins (tocopherol and retinol). Milk characteristics, haematological values, and plasma biochemical metabolites were also evaluated. Results showed a significant increase in ROM (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in PON (p < 0.05), AOPP (p < 0.05), and β-carotene (p < 0.001). Incremental THI significantly decreased levels of milk fat content, red and white blood cells, plasma glucose, and non-esterified fatty acids, while significantly increasing monocytes and the concentrations of β-hydroxybutyrate and creatinine, but not fructosamine. The results of the study show that heat stress significantly affects reactive oxygen species production and antioxidant parameters. Carotenoid supplementation should be considered to alleviate the impact of these effects. Full article

The use of probiotics in the diet of bivalves poses a great potential in aquaculture as an alternative to antibiotics. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum I on the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity (AC) of queen scallop extracts after one month of feeding. Total phenols (TP) ranged from 28.17 ± 3.11 to 58.58 ± 8.57 mg GAE/100 g, total non-flavonoids (TNF) from 23.33 ± 3.66 to 36.56 ± 9.91 mg GAE/100 g, and total flavonoids (TF) from 10.56 ± 5.57 to 30.16 ± 1.69 mg CE/100 g. AC was assessed via three different methods: the ferric-reducing ability of plasma assay (FRAP), 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid assay (ABTS), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl assay (DPPH). FRAP values ranged from 0.13 ± 0.03 to 0.17 ± 0.02 µM AA/g, ABTS from 0.68 ± 0.11 to 2.79 ± 0.34 µM AA/g, and DPPH from 1.75 ± 0.17 to 2.98 ± 0.53 µM AA/g. Among all extracts, the best phenolic content and AC were observed in water extracts from queen scallops. The bivalves treated with the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum I-enriched diet showed higher AC according to the FRAP assay in all extracts. A significant correlation was observed between AC and TP and TNF in control and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum I-treated scallops. Full article

Antioxidants are known to play a crucial role in maintaining cellular health by neutralizing harmful free radicals. Among various dietary sources of antioxidants, wheat-based products, particularly flours, have gained significant attention due to their potential health benefits. Durum wheat, a widely cultivated species, serves as a primary ingredient in numerous food products. However, limited research has been conducted to assess the antioxidant activity of flours obtained from durum wheat varieties. In this study, we aimed to comparatively evaluate the antioxidant and antiplatelet potential of flours from 22 selected durum wheat varieties cultivated in Greece. We focused on three major parameters for antioxidant activity measurement: total phenolic content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). The total phenolic content was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu method, while DPPH and FRAP assays were employed to assess the ability of flours to scavenge free radicals and reduce ferric ions, respectively. The antiplatelet activity was evaluated using a platelet-activating factor inhibition assay (PAF) in platelet-rich plasma. Analysis of the data revealed notable differences in the total phenolics and antioxidant and antiplatelet activities among the tested samples. The total phenolic content ranged from 624.0 ± 3.5 to 950.0 ± 5.3 μg of gallic acid equivalent/g flour with the variety Zeta E having the highest content. The antioxidant activities based on the DPPH and FRAP assays ranged from 0.56 ± 0.02 to 2.26 ± 0.08 and 1.93 ± 0.02 to 3.65 ± 0.03 μmol of Trolox equivalent/g flour, respectively, with the varieties Marco Aurelio and Zeta E exerting the highest antioxidant activities in the DPPH and FRAP tests, respectively. In addition, the IC50 values for the antiplatelet activity ranged from 0.72 ± 0.21 to 3.06 ± 0.17 in mg of flour, with the variety of Zoi exhibiting the highest antiplatelet activity. Overall, this comparative evaluation highlights the differences in the antioxidant and antiplatelet activities among flours obtained from 22 different durum wheat varieties cultivated in Greece. The results from this study aid in the selection of wheat varieties with superior antioxidant and antiplatelet capacities for use in bakery food formulation and dietary recommendations. Full article

The antioxidant activity (AA) of hop extracts obtained from different hop genotypes (n = 14) was studied. For comparison, the purified β-acids-rich fraction and α-acids-with-β-acids-rich fraction were also used to test the antioxidative potential. The AA of purified hydroacetonic hop extracts was investigated using the Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP), Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) and Intracellular Antioxidant (IA) methods. The FRAP values in different hop genotypes ranged between 63.5 and 101.6 μmol Trolox equivalent (TE)/g dry weight (DW), the ORAC values ranged between 1069 and 1910 μmol TE/g DW and IA potential values ranged between 52.7 and 118.0 mmol TE/g DW. Significant differences in AA between hop genotypes were observed with all three methods. AAs were determined using three different methods, which did not highly correlate with each other. We also did not find significant correlations between AA and different chemical components, which applies both to AA determined using individual methods as well as the total AA. Based on this fact, we assume that the synergistic or antagonistic effects between hop compounds have a more pronounced effect on AA than the presence and quantity of individual hop compounds. Full article

Dementia involves several factors, and it is required to administer an agent with several efficiencies for its treatment. Sake is known to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and improves the serum concentration of BDNF. This study aimed to evaluate the neuroprotective action of Japanese sake yeast on dementia of the Alzheimer disease type in rats by behavioral evaluation and neurobiochemical assessment. The rats were grouped as non-Alzheimer rats (control rats) and Alzheimer rats administrated with 0 (AD), 10 (10-AD), 20 (20-AD), 30 (30-AD), and 40 mg/kg (40-AD) of sake. Anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors, the concentrations of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), malondialdehyde (MDA), and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) were evaluated. The expressions of IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 were assessed. The results showed that Alzheimer disease caused anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors (p = 0.000), decreased the concentrations of BDNF (p = 0.000) and FRAP (p = 0.000), increased the concentration of MDA (p = 0.000), and increased the expressions of IL-1β (p = 0.000), TNF-α (p = 0.000), and IL-6 (p = 0.000). The results showed that oral gavage of sake in higher doses decreased anxiety-like and depression-like behaviors (p = 0.000), increased the concentrations of BDNF (p = 0.000) and FRAP (p = 0.000), and reduced the concentration of MDA (p = 0.000) and the expressions of IL-1β (p = 0.000), TNF-α (p = 0.000), and IL-6 (p = 0.000). In sum, Japanese sake yeast can have roles in treating dementia of the Alzheimer disease type, but its mechanisms must be assessed in future studies. Full article

This study was aimed to determine the impact of different taurine and caffeine combinations on the motility, viability, and oxidative markers of chilled stallion spermatozoa. Each stallion semen sample was diluted in a ratio of 1:2, with various taurine and caffeine concentrations (2.5–7.5 mg/mL taurine + 0.625–1.25 mg/mL caffeine) dissolved in a conventional extender. The control samples (CON) were prepared by diluting ejaculate only using the conventional extender. The motility was analyzed using a CASA system at different time intervals (0, 6, 12, 24, and 30 h) and the viability was evaluated using a mitochondrial toxicity test (MTT) performed at the end of the incubation at 5 °C. The liquid part of experimental samples was separated by centrifugation after 30 h of incubation and underwent the evaluation of oxidative stress via the quantification of markers ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and total oxidant status (TOS). The samples that were treated with a combination of taurine and caffeine significantly improved the motility parameters, mainly after 12, 24, and 30 h of incubation. Samples extended with combination of taurine and caffeine neither compromise viability nor alterations of redox status. The results of this study describe the combination of taurine and caffeine as an optimal supplement for improving the quality of stallion semen during chilled storage. Full article