Search Results (786)

The objectives of this study were to prepare whey protein–quercetin–gellan gum conjugates using the pH-shift method and to evaluate the impacts of varying pH values and quercetin concentrations on the interaction mechanisms and functional characteristics of the complexes. Spectroscopic analyses (fluorescence, UV-vis, and FT-IR) revealed that new complexes formed under alkaline conditions. Notably, an increasing quercetin concentration led to a reduction in complex particle size and an increase in the zeta potential value, with these effects being more pronounced under alkaline conditions. The particle size was 425.7 nm, and the zeta potential value was −30.00 mV at a quercetin addition concentration of 15 umol/g protein. Additionally, the complexes formed under alkaline conditions exhibited superior foaming capacity, emulsification properties, and significantly enhanced free radical scavenging activity. The complex’s DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging rates rose by 41.57% and 57.69%, respectively. This study provides theoretical foundations and practical insights for developing protein—polyphenol systems, offering significant implications for the application of quercetin functional foods and supplements in the food science and pharmaceutical industries. Full article

Introduction: Oxidative stress is a key factor in the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases, especially in postmenopausal women. Xylitol, a sugar alcohol with potential antioxidant properties, may affect oxidative balance when used as a sugar substitute. Aim: This pilot study aimed to assess the effect of replacing sucrose with xylitol on serum antioxidant capacity in postmenopausal women. Methods: This study included 34 women aged 50 to 65 years who successively consumed 5 g/d, 10 g/d, and 15 g/d of xylitol. The dietary intervention lasted a total of 6 weeks, with each phase covering a 2-week period. Diet was assessed twice based on a 7-day dietary interview (Diet 6.0, NIZP–PZH, Warsaw). The material for this study was venous blood. Antioxidant capacity was determined using the DPPH radical scavenging method and the ABTS cation radical scavenging method. Results: In both methods, a significant increase in serum antioxidant potential was observed after replacing sugar with xylitol (p < 0.0001). An increase in the ability to neutralize free radicals was observed in almost all women studied. Additional analysis of the effect of selected nutrients on the obtained effects of the nutritional intervention showed that the most significant effect could potentially be exerted by manganese, maltose, sucrose, and mercury, and the strongest positive correlation was exerted by vitamin A, retinol, and vitamin E. Although the values obtained in the constructed models were not statistically significant, the large effect indicates potentially significant relationships that could have a significant impact on serum antioxidant potential in the studied group of women. Conclusions: The results suggest a potential role of xylitol in enhancing antioxidant defense mechanisms in menopausal women. Although the sample size was relatively small, this study was powered at approximately 80% to detect large effects, supporting the reliability of the observed results. Nevertheless, given the pilot nature of this study, further research with larger cohorts is warranted to confirm these preliminary observations and to clarify the clinical significance of xylitol supplementation in populations exposed to oxidative stress. Full article

Infertility is a significant global health concern, and incorporating antioxidants into sperm preparation media is one strategy to enhance sperm quality and decrease infertility rates. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical compounds of red cotton stamen extracts and their effects as antioxidants in improving the quality of bull frozen semen. Among the extracts, RCU contained the highest levels of total phenolics, total tannins, and total monomeric anthocyanins along with the strongest ABTS free radical scavenging activity and protein denaturation inhibition. Exposing sperm to FeSO₄-induced oxidative stress resulted in significantly reduced motility, viability, and normal morphology. However, treatment with RCD, RCU, and RCM improved these parameters. Additionally, the FeSO₄-induced group showed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) compared to the normal control, whereas all red cotton stamen extracts effectively reduced these levels. In conclusion, red cotton stamen extracts, rich in phenolic bioactive compounds, demonstrated strong free radical scavenging capacity and improved sperm motility, viability, and morphology by neutralizing free radicals and enhancing antioxidant defenses. These findings suggest that the red cotton stamen extracts, particularly RCD and RCU, offer benefits for sperm preservation. Full article

This study explores the metabolite diversity and potential medicinal value of three Paphiopedilum species—P. dianthum, P. micranthum, and P. barbigerum—using widely targeted metabolomics via HPLC-MS/MS in conjunction with in vitro antioxidant assays. A total of 2201 metabolites were detected across the three species, with flavonoids emerging as the dominant class (480 compounds, accounting for 21.8% of total metabolites). Comparative metabolomic analysis showed that flavonoid levels varied most prominently among the species. Notably, the metabolic profile of P. barbigerum (PB) diverged substantially from those of P. dianthum (PD) and P. micranthum (PM), which shared a higher degree of similarity with each other. Quantitative evaluation of antioxidant-associated metabolites revealed that PB exhibited the greatest enrichment in compounds with antioxidant potential, particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids, followed by PM and PD. These results were corroborated by antioxidant assays, in which PB demonstrated the highest free radical scavenging activity, with PM and PD displaying progressively lower effects. Differences in flavonoid content likely underpin these variations in antioxidant capacity. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated that differentially expressed metabolites were primarily involved in flavonoid-associated biosynthetic routes, notably flavonoid biosynthesis (ko00941) and isoflavonoid biosynthesis (ko00943), with ko00941 being the most enriched. Within this pathway, PB showed eight significantly upregulated flavonoid metabolites, while PM and PD had seven and five, respectively. The observed differences may stem from species-specific expression of key biosynthetic enzymes such as flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H) in PM and flavonoid 3′,5′-hydroxylase (F3′5′H) in PB, which influence both flavonoid composition and antioxidant potential. Full article

Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is characterized by lower abdominal spasms and painful cramps during menstruation in females with a normal pelvic anatomy. Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf, commonly known as lemongrass, is consumed in the form of herbal tea around the world. It has been traditionally used for menstrual disorders in several communities. This study aims to evaluate the traditional use of C. citratus for its efficacy in alleviating the symptoms of PD. C. citratus extract (CcE) was chemically characterized using HPLC and GCMS, which indicated the presence of several phenolic compounds and long-chain fatty acids. The anti-inflammatory activity of CcE was assessed by COX-I, COX-II, and 5-LOX enzyme inhibition with IC₅₀ values of 143.7, 91.7, and 61.5 µg/mL, respectively, and showed good total antioxidant capacity and free radical scavenging activity. PD was induced in female Wistar rats by administering estradiol valerate followed by oxytocin to induce PD symptoms. CcE efficacy was assessed at 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg concentrations and compared with ibuprofen. CcE 300 mg/kg reduced abdominal contortions and inflammation in the rat uterus. The inflammatory (COX-II, TNFα and IL-10) and oxidative stress (TAC, TOS, MDA and SOD) markers in uterine tissue homogenate were also improved. An in vivo analgesic assessment through hot-plate, tail-flick, and acetic acid-induced writhing assays showed good analgesic activity by CcE, while ex vivo experiments described tocolytic effects in rat uterine muscles. CcE alleviates PD by its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and tocolytic effects. Full article

This study employed cellulase-assisted hydrodistillation (cellulase-HD) to extract volatile oils from Wurfbainia villosa (Lour.) Škorničk. & A.D.Poulsen (W. villosa) leaves, with process optimization conducted via the response surface methodology (RSM). The optimized extraction parameters were as follows: enzyme dosage 2.2%, enzymatic hydrolysis temperature 49 °C, hydrolysis duration 73 min, and material/liquid ratio (1:10.7 mg/mL). Under these optimal conditions, the volatile oil yield reached 0.772%, representing a 31.29% increase compared to conventional hydrodistillation (HD). GC-MS analysis identified 54 and 49 volatile compounds in cellulase-HD and HD extracts, respectively, with 39 shared components. The cellulase-HD extract was predominantly composed of γ-terpinene (14.981%), limonene (13.352%), β-phellandrene (10.634%), 4-terpineol (10.145%), and α-terpineol (8.085%). In contrast, the HD extract showed higher contents of β-phellandrene (41.881%), followed by β-myrcene (8.656%) and limonene (8.444%). Notably, cellulase pretreatment significantly increased the yield of oxygenated compounds. Orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed substantial compositional differences between the two extraction methods, with key differential components including fenchol, borneol, and γ-elemene. Antioxidant activity assessment demonstrated superior free radical scavenging capacity in cellulase-HD extracts. Structure–activity relationship analysis identified seven compounds with DPPH radical scavenging rates >50%, particularly, epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene (71.51%) and γ-elemene (78.91%). Furthermore, thirteen components, including isopinocamphone (66.58%) and α-terpineol (66.95%), exhibited ABTS radical scavenging rates above 50%. This study provides theoretical and technical foundations for the extraction and functional development of volatile oils from W. villosa leaves. Full article

Background: Under oxidative stress conditions, the increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within cells disrupt the intracellular homeostasis. Tartary buckwheat peptides exert their effects by scavenging oxidative free radicals, such as superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, thereby reducing oxidative damage within cells. Meanwhile, these peptides safeguard mitochondria by maintaining the mitochondrial membrane potential, decreasing the production of mitochondrial oxygen free radicals, and regulating mitochondrial biogenesis and autophagy to preserve mitochondrial homeostasis. Through these mechanisms, Tartary buckwheat peptides restore the intracellular redox balance, sustain cellular energy metabolism and biosynthesis, and ensure normal cellular physiological functions, which is of great significance for cell survival and adaptation under oxidative stress conditions. Objectives: In this experiment, a classical cellular oxidative stress model was established. Indicators related to antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial membrane potential changes, as well as pathways associated with oxidative stress, were selected for detection. The aim was to elucidate the effects of Tartary buckwheat oligopeptides on the metabolism of cells in response to oxidative stress. Methods: In this study, we established an oxidative damage model of mouse skeletal muscle myoblast (SOL8) cells using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), investigated the pre-protective effects of Tartary buckwheat oligopeptides on H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress damage in SOL8 cells at the cellular level, and explored the possible mechanisms. The CCK-8 method is a colorimetric assay based on WST-8-[2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodiumsalt], which is used to detect cell proliferation and cytotoxicity. Results: The value of CCK-8 showed that, when the cells were exposed to 0.01 mmol/L H₂O₂ for 1 h and 10 mg/mL Tartary buckwheat oligopeptides intervention for 48 h, these were the optimal conditions. Compared with the H₂O₂ group, the intervention group (KB/H₂O₂ group) showed that the production of ROS was significantly reduced (p < 0.001), the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and the activity of catalase (CAT) was significantly increased (p < 0.01); the mitochondrial membrane potential in the KB/H₂O₂ group tended to return to the level of the control group, and they all showed dose-dependent effects. Compared with the H₂O₂ group, the mRNA expression of KEAP1 in the KB/H₂O₂ group decreased, while the mRNA expression of NRF2α, HO-1, nrf1, PGC-1, P62, and PINK increased. Conclusions: Therefore, Tartary buckwheat oligopeptides have a significant pre-protective effect on H₂O₂-induced SOL8 cells, possibly by enhancing the activity of superoxide dismutase, reducing ROS attack, balancing mitochondrial membrane potential, and maintaining intracellular homeostasis. Full article

Obesity and its associated complications, including oxidative stress, pose significant global health challenges. Natural products offer a promising avenue for developing novel therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the potential of Panax japonicus (T. Nees) C.A. Meyer, a traditional medicinal plant known for its antioxidant and anti-obesity properties. A methanol extract of Panax japonicus and its fractions were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant activities (tested using DPPH and reducing power assays), pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitory capacities, and underlying mechanisms of action. The results indicated that the ethyl acetate fraction of P. japonicus (PJEA) exhibited the greatest potency, demonstrating strong antioxidant activity and significantly inhibiting digestive enzyme activity (pancreatic lipase). Mechanistic studies revealed that the PL inhibition was of a mixed type, combining both competitive and non-competitive mechanisms. Furthermore, PJEA demonstrated the ability to inhibit the differentiation of preadipocytes, primarily exerting its anti-adipogenic effects by downregulating the mRNA expression of PPARγ and the gene expression of C/EBPα. In addition, the extract suppressed the gene expression of FAS and ACC in adipose tissue. Isolation of the bioactive compounds from PJEA identified kaempferol 3-O-α-L-rhamnoside and catechin, which potentially contribute to the observed anti-obesity effects. Overall, this study highlights P. japonicus as a promising natural ingredient for scavenging free radicals and managing obesity, suggesting its potential for development into functional foods or therapeutic agents. Full article

Oxidative stress and inflammatory responses often occur concomitantly, and they are key causative factors in various human and animal diseases. Evidence suggests that mulberry leaf protein (MLP) may have potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but there are significant challenges in enhancing their bioactivities. In this study, MLP was enzymatically hydrolyzed using papain, protamex, alkaline protease, trypsin, and neutral protease, followed by comprehensive evaluation of the antioxidant capacity, anti-inflammatory properties, and cytotoxicity of the hydrolysates. Our findings revealed that some enzymes significantly enhanced the peptide production and antioxidant activity of MLP (p < 0.01), and its activity was positively correlated with the degree of hydrolysis. Among the five hydrolysates, neutral protease hydrolysate (NeuH) exhibited the best antioxidant properties, with free radical scavenging rates of 71.58 ± 0.42% (ABTS), 26.38 ± 0.15% (OH), and 73.91 ± 0.37% (DPPH) at a concentration of 0.1 mg/mL. In addition, NeuH significantly suppressed IL-6 secretion (p < 0.01) and downregulated mRNA expression of IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 inflammatory markers. This study not only establishes a correlation between enzymatic parameters and MLP biological functions but also demonstrates the potential of optimized MLP hydrolysates, particularly NeuH, as valuable natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients for functional foods or nutraceuticals aimed at mitigating oxidative stress and inflammation-related disorders. Full article

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain a leading cause of death globally and in Colombia. Oxidative stress plays a key role in CVD pathogenesis by promoting endothelial damage. Antioxidant compounds from fruits can mitigate oxidative stress through free radical scavenging and metal ion chelation. This review highlights tropical fruits rich in phenolic compounds and evaluates their antioxidant capacity using FRAP and DPPH methods. Evidence supports the inverse relationship between antioxidant intake and CVD incidence. Given Colombia’s fruit diversity, assessing dietary antioxidant capacity may inform strategies to improve diet quality and reduce CVD risk in the population. Full article

Antioxidant gel foams are promising materials for coal mine fire prevention due to their unique physicochemical properties. To address the limitations of conventional suppression methods under high-temperature conditions, this study investigates a newly developed antioxidant gel foam and its mechanism in inhibiting coal spontaneous combustion. A novel antioxidant gel foam was formulated by incorporating TBHQ and modified montmorillonite into a sodium alginate-based gel system. This formulation enhances the thermal stability, water retention, and free radical scavenging capacity of the gel. This study uniquely combines multi-scale experimental methods to evaluate the performance of this material in coal fire suppression. Multi-scale experiments, including FTIR, leakage air testing, programmed temperature rise, and small-scale fire extinction, were conducted to evaluate its performance. Experimental results indicate that the antioxidant gel foam exhibits excellent thermal stability in the temperature range of 200–500 °C. Its relatively high decomposition temperature enables it to effectively resist structural damage in high-temperature environments. During thermal decomposition, the gel releases only a small amount of gas, while maintaining the integrity of its internal micro-porous structure. This characteristic significantly delays the kinetics of coal oxidation reactions. Further research revealed that the spontaneous combustion ignition temperature of coal samples treated with the gel was significantly higher, and the oxygen consumption rate during spontaneous combustion was significantly reduced, indicating that the gel not only effectively suppressed the acceleration of the combustion reaction but also significantly reduced the release of harmful gases such as HCl. Scanning electron microscope analysis confirmed that the gel maintained a good physical structure under high temperatures, forming an effective oxygen barrier, which further enhanced the suppression of coal spontaneous combustion. These findings provide important theoretical and practical guidance for the application of antioxidant gel foams in coal mine fire prevention and control, confirming that this material has great potential in coal mine fire safety, offering a new technological approach to improve coal mine safety. Full article

Ilex vomitoria Ait. is a star substitute for “tea” in recent years. At present, research on I. vomitoria mainly focuses on its breeding and cultivation, and there are few reports on the seasonal changes of important components such as leaf nutrients. This study focuses on the leaves of the topmost annual branches of I. vomitoria. Leaves were harvested at different stages, and the nutrient elements, antioxidant substances, antioxidant capacity, and aroma components in the leaves were measured and analyzed. The results showed that the content of mineral elements, soluble sugars, vitamin C, amino acids, flavonoids, polyphenols, saponins, caffeine, and catechins, as well as the DPPH free radical scavenging ability, ABTS cation free radical scavenging ability, and FRAP iron ion reduction ability in the leaves of I. vomitoria showed significant differences with seasonal changes. The mineral element content in spring leaves is relatively high. Flavonoids and polyphenols are the main antioxidant substances in the leaves of I. vomitoria, indicating that the antioxidant capacity of spring leaves is the strongest. The content of aroma components in the leaves of I. vomitoria in spring is the highest, with alcohols ranging from 54.93% to 66.08%, followed by ketones from 17.63% to 48.07%, and aldehydes from 21.27% to 38.51%. Overall, spring leaves are more suitable for harvesting, development, and utilization. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigates the physical, rheological, and antioxidant properties of nano-liposomal formulations encapsulating Fumaria officinalis L. (fumitory) extract, focusing on their stability and performance under ultraviolet (UV) exposure, as well as polyphenol release within simulated skin conditions in a Franz diffusion cell. Methods: Liposomal formulations, composed of phospholipids with or without β-sitosterol or ergosterol, were evaluated for their encapsulation efficiency, liposome size, size distribution, zeta potential, viscosity, surface tension, density, oxidative stability, antioxidant capacity, and polyphenol recovery. Results: Encapsulation efficiency was the highest in phospholipid liposomes (72.2%) and decreased with the incorporation of sterols: 66.7% for β-sitosterol and 62.9% for ergosterol liposomes. Encapsulation significantly increased viscosity and reduced surface tension compared to the plain liposomes, suggesting modified interfacial behavior. The inclusion of fumitory extract significantly increased the viscosity of liposomes (from ~2.5 to 6.09–6.78 mPa × s), consistent with the observed reduction in particle size and zeta potential. Antioxidant assays (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances—TBARS, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid—ABTS, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl—DPPH) confirmed enhanced lipid peroxidation inhibition and radical scavenging upon encapsulation, with ABTS activity reaching up to 95.05% in sterol-containing liposomes. Release studies showed that the free extract exhibited the fastest polyphenol diffusion (5.09 × 10⁻⁹ m²/s), while liposomes demonstrated slower/controlled release due to bilayer barriers. UV-irradiated liposomes released more polyphenols than untreated ones, particularly in the sterol-containing formulations, due to oxidative destabilization and pore formation. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of fumitory extract-loaded liposomes as stable, bioactive carriers with tunable polyphenol antioxidant release properties for dermal applications. Overall, liposomal formulations of fumitory extract exhibit significant potential for further development as a pharmaceutical, cosmetic, or dermo-cosmetic ingredient for use in the prevention and treatment of various skin disorders. Full article

Lycopene, a natural pigment, is valuable for human health because of its strong antioxidant capacity. However, studies on the involvement of tomato miR394 in the regulation of lycopene have not been reported. The aim of this study was to reveal the molecular mechanism by which miR394 regulates lycopene synthesis by targeting ζ-carotene dehydrogenase (ZDS). The miR394-silenced transgenic tomato plants were constructed by short tandem target mimicry (STTM) technology, and the association between lycopene content and antioxidant capacity was analyzed by combining qRT-PCR, UV spectrophotometry, and a free radical scavenging assay. The targeting relationship between miR394 and ZDS was verified using a subcellular localization assay. The results showed that the silencing of miR394 significantly upregulated the expression of the ZDS gene and promoted lycopene accumulation. The antioxidant enzyme activities of STTM394 transgenic plants were significantly enhanced, and the free radical scavenging ability was obviously improved. Subcellular localization experiments confirmed that miR394 directly inhibited the chloroplast expression of ZDS. In conclusion, this study reveals for the first time that the miR394-ZDS module enhances the antioxidant capacity by regulating lycopene metabolism, which provides a new target for themolecular breeding of highly nutritious tomatoes. Full article

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO₂-NPs) were synthesized using the molten salt method and systematically characterized. TiO₂-NPs were evaluated for their capacity to promote the growth of Capsicum annuum cultivars together with the plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) and Trichoderma harzianum (Th). The variables analyzed included physiological parameters and antioxidant responses. The capacity of TiO₂-NPs to scavenge free radicals was also investigated, along with their biocompatibility, using Artemia salina as an in vivo model. The results demonstrated that TiO₂-NPs exhibited a nanocuboid-type morphology, negative surface charge, and small surface area. It was noted that TiO₂-NPs enhanced the CFU and spore production of Bt (1.56–2.92 × 10⁸ CFU/mL) and Th (2.50–3.90 × 10⁸ spores/mL), respectively. It was observed that TiO₂-NPs could scavenge DPPH, ABTS, and H₂O₂ radicals (IC₅₀ 48.66–109.94 μg/mL), while not compromising the viability of A. salina at 50–300 μg/mL. TiO₂-NPs were determined to enhance the root length and fresh and dry weights of chili peppers. Similarly, TiO₂-NPs in synergy with Bt and Th increased the activity of β-1,3-Glucanase (2.45 nkat/g FW) and peroxidase (69.90 UA/g FW) enzyme activity, and increased the TPC (29.50 GA/g FW). The synergy of TiO₂-NPs with the PGPMs consortium also upregulated the total chlorophyll content: 210.8 ± 11.4 mg/mg FW. The evidence from this study unveils the beneficial application of TiO₂-NPs with Bt and Th as an efficient approach to promote the physiology and antioxidant responses of chili peppers. Full article