Search Results (39,272)

Cancer progression is closely associated with dysregulation of apoptosis, enabling malignant cells to evade programmed cell death and develop resistance to therapy. Among the key regulators of this process, the tumor suppressor protein p53 and the Bcl-2 family of proteins play central and interconnected roles in controlling cell survival and mitochondrial integrity. In recent years, naturally occurring flavonoids have attracted considerable attention as potential modulators of these pathways due to their diverse biological activities and relatively low toxicity. This review provides a focused and integrative overview of how different subclasses of flavonoids modulate the p53–Bcl-2 signaling axis to regulate apoptosis in cancer cells. Particular emphasis is placed on the mechanistic interplay between p53 stabilization, transcriptional regulation of apoptotic targets, mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization, and caspase activation. In contrast to previous general reviews on flavonoids and cancer, this work provides an integrated overview of evidence across multiple flavonoid subclasses and experimental cancer models, highlighting both shared and pathway-specific apoptotic responses. Experimental findings from in vitro and in vivo studies are discussed, including the effects of quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, epigallocatechin gallate, and related compounds on cell-cycle arrest, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and intrinsic apoptotic signaling. Furthermore, the review examines the relationship between flavonoid chemical structure and biological activity, with particular attention to bioavailability, metabolic transformation, and strategies aimed at improving therapeutic efficacy, including structural modification and nanocarrier-based delivery systems. Despite promising preclinical findings, significant translational challenges remain, including poor pharmacokinetic properties, variability among experimental models, and limited clinical validation. Overall, flavonoids represent a promising class of bioactive compounds capable of targeting apoptosis through modulation of the p53–Bcl-2 network, and a deeper mechanistic understanding of their activity may support the development of novel targeted and combination anticancer therapies. Full article

Adipose tissue expansion in obesity is accompanied by extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, regulated by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is metabolically more active than subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). However, depot-specific differences in proteolytic activity and protein glycooxidation remain incompletely characterized. In this case–control study, we assessed the activity of six matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, -2, -7, -9, -11, and -13) using a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay and quantified advanced glycation- and glycooxidation-related markers in paired VAT, SAT, and plasma samples obtained from 40 patients with obesity and 21 non-obese controls. The activities of all assessed MMPs were greater in patients with obesity than in the control group (p < 0.01 for all MMPs). Direct tissue-compartment comparisons showed that MMP activity and glycooxidation-related markers were most pronounced in VAT, with markedly higher values in obese individuals compared with controls. In VAT of obese individuals, median MMP activity was approximately 50–60% higher compared with controls. Amyloid cross-β-structure, vesperlysine, and pentosidine were significantly elevated in VAT in obesity, whereas plasma levels were markedly lower and showed limited group differences. No significant differences were observed between obese participants with and without metabolic syndrome. Obesity is associated with a depot-specific molecular profile characterized by enhanced proteolytic and glycooxidative activity predominantly within visceral adipose tissue. These findings highlight the importance of tissue-compartment-specific assessment in obesity. Full article

Background: Natto, a well-known fermented soybean product beneficial for bone health, remains unclear in its mechanism. Methods: This study investigated its effect on secondary osteoporosis (OP) in mice. Results: Natto significantly inhibited weight loss, bone quality deterioration, and bone morphological damage, and regulated OPG/RANKL pathway protein expression (p < 0.05) in OP mice. Analysis of 16S rRNA revealed that natto increased gut microbiota α-diversity and the abundance of Sutterella, Roseburia, and Coprococcus, while reducing harmful bacteria such as Streptococcus, Shigella, and Helicobacter. These microbial changes positively correlated with body weight, bone size, and serum osteogenic metabolism in OP mice. Serum metabolomics showed differential metabolites of the natto group enriched in PPAR signaling and primary bile acid biosynthesis. Verification by mRNA and ELISA indicated that the upregulated liver and circulating PPARα by natto may regulate downstream bile acid pathways, linking gut microbiota to multi-organ metabolic functions. Conclusions: In summary, natto may act on gut microbiota to alleviate bone loss via the “gut microbiota–bile acid–OPG/RANKL” network, targeting multiple organs including gut, liver, and bone. This provides a theoretical basis for natto dietary intervention in osteoporosis prevention through the gut–bone axis. Full article

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is associated with chronic inflammation, platelet-related alterations, and increased cardiovascular risk (CVR). The relationships between adipokines and platelet indices in long-standing T1D remain incompletely defined. Objective: To explore the relationships between adipokines (adiponectin and leptin), platelet indices, and inflammatory status in adults with long-standing T1D. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 124 adults with long-standing T1D and 59 non-diabetic controls. Platelet indices were obtained from automated blood count, and serum leptin (LEP), adiponectin (ADNC), and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured using standardized assays. Associations were evaluated using correlation and multivariable regression analyses with adjustment for body mass index (BMI). Results: Platelet count (PLT) and plateletcrit (PCT) were higher in T1D compared with non-diabetic individuals (p = 0.003 for both), while mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW) showed non-significant upward trends. ADNC levels were higher in T1D (p < 0.001), whereas LEP and the leptin–adiponectin ratio (LAR) did not differ between groups. In T1D, LEP correlated with PLT (rho = 0.235), PCT (rho = 0.263), and CRP (rho = 0.474), all p < 0.05. Similar associations were observed for LAR. No significant associations were found in non-diabetic controls. In multivariable analyses, PCT remained associated with LEP in T1D after adjustment for BMI, whereas in the control group, LEP was associated with BMI only. Conclusions: LEP and platelet-related indices were associated in individuals with long-standing T1D, whereas ADNC showed no such relationships. These findings suggest a distinct pattern of adipokine–platelet associations in long-standing T1D. Full article

Chronic depression is associated with oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter imbalance, and Alzheimer’s-like changes. Current monoamine oxidase inhibitors have limited cognitive benefits and disease-modifying properties. A new nanotherapeutic, combining chitosan nanoparticles, propargylamino-1-(4-methylthiophenyl) propane (PAMTP), and L-tyrosine (En@PAMTP_Tyr), was developed. En@PAMTP_Tyr nanoparticles were ~140 nm in diameter, with a zeta potential of +27 mV and entrapment efficiencies of 73.45% for PAMTP and 90.85% for L-tyrosine. Drug release was pH-sensitive, favoring acidity. Intraperitoneal administration of En@PAMTP_Tyr reduced anhedonia, despair, cognitive deficits, and neuromuscular weakness, with efficacy matching or exceeding that of selegiline. In treated rats’ hippocampal tissue, En@PAMTP_Tyr increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione, normalized MAO and acetylcholinesterase activities, and corrected CUSD-induced TNF-α and IL-10 changes, showing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Histological analyses revealed that En@PAMTP_Tyr preserved CA1 pyramidal neurons, reduced β-amyloid levels, restored tau protein, and improved brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels, indicating reduced neurodegeneration. Molecular docking studies showed that PAMTP had high affinity for monoamine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase, supporting its role as an MAO-B inhibitor and cholinergic modulator. These findings suggest that En@PAMTP_Tyr is a promising nanoplatform for targeting MAO-B in depression, addressing mood, cognitive function, oxidative stress, inflammation, and Alzheimer-like pathology in the hippocampus. Full article

Mare milk is rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds, and its composition changes throughout lactation. This study investigated variations in the production, nutritional composition, and bioactive components of Yili mare milk across lactation stages. Twenty-six healthy grazing Yili mares were sampled on days 1, 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 of lactation. Milk production, nutritional components, amino acids, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, and immunologically active proteins were analyzed. Milk production peaked on day 30 and then declined. Colostrum contained significantly higher fat, protein, solids-not-fat, total solids, minerals, lactoferrin, lysozyme, and immunoglobulins than mature milk (p < 0.05), whereas lactose increased and stabilized after day 30. Essential amino acids peaked on day 30. As lactation progressed, saturated fatty acids decreased while polyunsaturated fatty acids increased. Vitamin profiles also varied across lactation, with ascorbic acid increasing during late lactation. β-casein content was higher during mid-lactation. In summary, colostrum is enriched in immunoactive proteins and minerals, whereas mature milk exhibits a more balanced amino acid and fatty acid profile. While these observed variations likely reflect the combined effect of lactation stage and seasonal pasture fluctuations under natural grazing, these findings provide practical insights into changes in milk composition in grazing Yili mares and may support the development of mare milk products under similar grazing systems. Full article

Hemp and linseed are nutritionally valuable commodities that exhibit considerable varietal differences in composition. Nutrient composition was evaluated in 12 hemp and 11 linseed varieties, including commercially cultivated varieties from the EU Common Catalogue and newly bred lines, to assess varietal variability. Field experiments were conducted under uniform agronomic conditions in the Czech Republic during a single growing season using field-block samples. Analyses included proximate composition (dry matter, crude protein, fat, fiber, ash), fatty acid and amino acid profiles, carotenoids, vitamins, and cannabinoid content. Statistical evaluation was performed using a General Linear Model with Duncan’s multiple range test (p < 0.05). Significant differences were observed across most parameters, indicating substantial inter-varietal variability under the experimental conditions. Fat content ranged from approximately 200 to 377 g/kg in both oilseeds, with lipids dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic (n-6) and α-linolenic (n-3) acids. Hemp and linseed show potential as alternative plant protein sources in animal nutrition, but further digestibility and feeding studies are needed to confirm their suitability as partial soybean meal substitutes. Varietal selection may contribute to improved nutritional quality while influencing levels of undesirable constituents such as Δ⁹-THC in hemp. Full article

Background: Chung–Jansen syndrome (CHUJANS) is a rare autosomal dominant genetic condition caused by pathogenic variants in the PHIP gene, which encodes a protein involved in neurodevelopmental processes and IGF-1 signalling. The phenotype is characterised by variable degrees of intellectual disability, early-onset obesity or overweight, distinctive facial dysmorphisms, and behavioural disturbances. We here present a case of Chung–Jansen syndrome with a detailed endocrine work-up, highlighting the metabolic component of this syndrome. Case Presentation: We describe the case of a 21-year-old woman referred to our centre for evaluation of oligomenorrhea in the context of severe obesity (BMI 50.4 kg/m²), short stature (151 cm, <3rd percentile), and moderate-to-severe intellectual disability (full-scale IQ 38). Physical examination revealed dysmorphic features, including a round face, upslanting palpebral fissures, prominent zygomatic bones, anteverted nares, a prominent chin, and bilateral brachydactyly type E1. Laboratory investigations documented subclinical primary hypothyroidism of autoimmune origin, impaired glucose tolerance with associated hyperinsulinism, and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, previously known as PCOS). Exome analysis by next-generation sequencing (NGS) identified a heterozygous c.328C>T [p.(Arg110Cys)] variant in the PHIP gene, already reported in literature and classified as likely pathogenic (ACMG class 4). Segregation analysis in the mother (father was not available for the test) did not reveal the variant, suggesting a de novo origin in the patient. Concurrently, the same analysis revealed a variant of uncertain significance in the ANKRD17 gene, while array-CGH detected a maternally inherited microdeletion of uncertain significance on chromosome X (Xp11.23). Conclusions: This case confirms the association between the PHIP p.(Arg110Cys) variant and the phenotype of Chung–Jansen syndrome, providing a detailed characterisation of the endocrine and psychiatric comorbidities. Indeed, our report expands the knowledge on the endocrine phenotype providing further suggestion for personalised patient management. It underscores the importance of NGS in the diagnostic workup of syndromic obesity with intellectual disability, especially in the presence of negative family history and prior inconclusive genetic testing. This case suggests the inclusion of comprehensive endocrine evaluations in future studies on patients with Chung–Jansen syndrome, in order to support endocrine work-up and facilitate early identification and appropriate management of potentially treatable alterations. Full article

The ATP-binding cassette transport protein Pdr5p is known to play a role in multidrug resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by effluxing structurally diverse xenobiotics; yet the physicochemical determinants of substrate recognition remain poorly defined. To address this, density functional theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP-D3BJ/def2-SVP level were combined with machine learning to derive a predictive model of substrate recognition using a curated dataset of 66 compounds spanning 9 functional categories. A hybrid support vector machine (SVM) classifier achieved 96.3% accuracy (95% CI: 81.0–99.9%, Clopper–Pearson exact) in discriminating substrates from non-substrates under leave-one-out cross-validation. Feature importance analysis identified lipophilicity (LogP, F-score = 37.5) as the dominant descriptor, suggesting that membrane partitioning constitutes the initial recognition step. The HOMO–LUMO gap contributed secondarily (F-score = 12.4). Substrates were further distinguished by high frontier orbital focalization, with frontier orbital spread of 1.8–2.6%, compared to 4.18–7.22% for non-substrates. Notably, a model trained exclusively on Pdr5p data achieved 87% prediction accuracy when applied without retraining to the human P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) dataset, suggesting conserved physicochemical principles of substrate recognition across evolutionarily distant ABC transporters. These findings provide a quantum chemical framework for understanding and potentially predicting MDR transporter substrate specificity. Full article

Chicken bile-mediated silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) were synthesized and evaluated via UV–Vis, SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The synthesis of Ag-NPs was validated by observing a color change that was visible to the naked eye and via UV–Vis spectroscopy. A peak at 435 nm in the UV–Vis spectrum suggest the formation of Ag-NPs. The FTIR spectrum indicated that Ag⁺ reduction into Ag-NPs may occur due to proteins that are present in chicken bile. The XRD results showed that the nanoparticles were crystalline in nature, with a crystallite size of 25 nm. The SEM images showed that spherical-shaped nanoparticles with an average size of 20–60 nm were formed. The effects of different parameters, such as extract concentration, pH, and temperature, on the shape and reaction rate of Ag-NPs were examined. The results showed that the formation of Ag-NPs increased substantially in basic medium and they were found to be more stable at 60 °C. The prepared Ag-NPs were evaluated for their antibacterial activity and photocatalytic efficiency in degrading Disperse Orange 1 (DOI) dye. The antibacterial assessment of the synthesized Ag-NPs showed significant antibacterial activity. Based on the photodegradation study, it was found that the synthesized Ag-NPs showed high activity and almost complete (97%) degradation of DOI within the first 100 min. Thus, the overall results reveal that the prepared Ag-NPs offer a better approach for remediating the aforementioned contaminants. Full article

Background: Pathogenic BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations confer a homologous recombination deficiency that underlies PARP inhibitor sensitivity. While BRCA1 mutation carriers more frequently develop triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and BRCA2 carriers hormone receptor-positive (HR+) disease, whether the specific protein domain harboring a pathogenic somatic mutation differs systematically between breast cancer subtypes remains uncertain. Apparent domain enrichment in earlier unfiltered analyses may be confounded by missense variants of uncertain significance (VUSs), which lack clinical actionability. Methods: We assembled three independent breast cancer cohorts via cBioPortal: TCGA-BRCA (brca_tcga_pub2015), METABRIC (brca_metabric), and MSK-CHORD (msk_chord_2024). All somatic BRCA1/2 mutations were mapped to UniProt-annotated functional domains and to Rebbeck-defined breast/ovarian cancer cluster regions (BCCR/OCCR). Per ENIGMA/ACMG guidance, pathogenic mutations (nonsense, frameshift, and canonical splice site) were analyzed inferentially, while missense and in-frame variants—predominantly VUSs—were only reported descriptively. Fisher’s exact tests with Benjamini–Hochberg FDR correction were applied across domain × subtype contingencies. Cohort heterogeneity was assessed via Cochran’s Q and I² statistics; pooled effect estimates were computed using inverse-variance fixed-effects meta-analysis. Results: A total of 394 somatic BRCA1/2 mutations were identified across the three cohorts (BRCA1 n = 166; BRCA2 n = 228), of which 147 (37.3%) met pathogenic criteria. Among 131 pathogenic mutations in HR+/HER2− or TNBC subtypes, 84 (64.1%) occurred in HR+/HER2− disease and 47 (35.9%) in TNBC. Domain-level distributions did not differ significantly between subtypes for any BRCA1 domain (BRCT: TNBC 20.0% vs. HR+ 18.8%, OR = 1.08, 95% CI 0.31–3.78, and FDR-adjusted p = 1.00) or BRCA2 domain (DBD: TNBC 17.6% vs. HR+ 30.8%, OR = 0.48, and FDR-adjusted p = 1.00). Cluster-region analyses (nine Rebbeck BCCR/OCCRs) similarly showed no significant enrichment. Post hoc power analysis indicated that the study could only reliably detect large effects (OR ≥ ~3.0 for the principal BRCT contrast), and formal equivalence testing (TOST) demonstrated equivalence within a prespecified ±20% margin for BRCA1 BRCT (TOST p = 0.031). Heterogeneity across cohorts was minimal (Cochran’s Q = 0.62, I² = 0.0%). Descriptive analyses of VUSs suggested the apparent enrichment of BRCA1 BRCT-localized missense variants in TNBC (31.8% vs. 17.9% in HR+), but this signal did not extend to pathogenic mutations. Conclusions: Within the statistical power available, our three-cohort analysis shows no evidence of large subtype-specific enrichment of pathogenic BRCA1/2 somatic mutations across protein domains or cluster regions; small to moderate effects cannot be excluded. Notably, the majority (64%) of pathogenic mutations occurred in HR+/HER2− disease, underscoring that BRCA1/2 testing should not be deprioritized in non-TNBC subtypes. The apparent BRCT enrichment observed in earlier unfiltered analyses appears to be driven by VUSs rather than pathogenic variants, highlighting the methodological necessity of pathogenicity filtering for clinically actionable inference. These findings provide cohort-scale supportive evidence for emerging clinical guidelines that recommend broader BRCA1/2 testing across breast cancer subtypes. Full article

This study examined Kefiran, an exopolysaccharide derived from milk kefir grains, as a novel biopolymer for encapsulating phenolic extracts from sunflower cake and its antimicrobial properties in the development of natural and functional food ingredients. Kefiran was obtained from kefir grains using three extraction protocols: hot water (M1), hot water with 30% trichloroacetic acid (M2), and mild heat combined with ultrasound at 60 °C (M3). The ultrasound-assisted method produced the highest carbohydrate concentration. Spectrophotometric assays (phenol–sulfuric and Bradford), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and water-holding capacity were employed to characterize the composition, structure, and morphology of the extracts, revealing well-preserved polysaccharide fingerprints and a highly porous microstructure, consistent with their potential application in food systems. Kefiran was then evaluated as an encapsulating agent in complex coacervation at pH 3.75, using three Kefiran-based wall formulations (M1, M2, and M3) with gum arabic and whey protein isolate (WPI) as co-wall materials, and their performance was compared with gum arabic and WPI controls. Across formulations, coacervate microcapsules achieved high encapsulation efficiencies (83–93%), tunable particle sizes, and predominantly negative zeta potentials, indicative of good colloidal stability. The Kefiran extract and coacervate microcapsules demonstrated significant antioxidant and antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 250 to 1000 µg/mL. The findings support ultrasound-extracted Kefiran as a multifunctional biopolymer suitable for bioactive delivery and as a natural antimicrobial component in advanced functional food formulations. Full article

The prevalent endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) is associated with aging-related conditions, including metabolic disorders. It has been shown that BPA promotes bone fragility through oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and impaired osteoblast differentiation. The identification of sustainable bioactive substances that alleviate BPA-induced bone toxicity is thus of biomedical and environmental significance. Wolffia globosa (WG), the world’s smallest flowering aquatic plant, has recently gained attention as a high-protein, antioxidant-rich nutraceutical, yet its impact on BPA-induced osteoblast dysfunction has not been systematically investigated. This study presents a comprehensive assessment of WG ethanolic extract (WGE) in MC3T3-E1 pre-osteoblasts, incorporating thorough phytochemical characterization, acute high-dose and chronic low-dose BPA exposure models, and multi-faceted mechanistic analysis. LC-MS/MS profiling identified luteolin (116.17 ± 0.69 µg/g), rosmarinic acid (54.80 ± 2.12 µg/g), and apigenin (48.77 ± 0.61 µg/g) as the predominant bioactive compounds. WGE exhibited potent antioxidant capacity across DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays, complemented by high ORAC and FRAP values, reflecting broad-spectrum antioxidant mechanisms. Treatment with WGE (25 and 50 µg/mL) resulted in significant alleviation of BPA-induced cytotoxicity, decreased intracellular ROS levels, and inhibited apoptosis. WGE (12.5 µg/mL) also modulated autophagy-related markers (LC3-II, Beclin-1, and p62), suggesting potential autophagic participation, although flux verification was not conducted. Treatment with WGE (12.5 µg/mL) also restored BPA-suppressed osteogenesis under chronic exposure, as evidenced by enhanced alkaline phosphatase activity, and increased both mineralization and upregulation of osteogenic genes including runt-related transcription factor2 (Runx2), collagen type I alpha 1 (Colla1), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and osteocalcin (OCN). These effects were accompanied by partial reactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. This study is the first to demonstrate that WGE protects osteoblasts from BPA toxicity by concurrently strengthening antioxidant defenses, limiting apoptosis, modulating autophagy-related markers, and supporting β-catenin-mediated osteogenesis, highlighting WG as a promising sustainable nutraceutical candidate for the prevention of environmental toxin-related bone fragility. Full article

Objective: To investigate maternal serum silent information regulator-2 protein 1 (SIRT1) levels in pregnancies complicated by intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) and evaluate their diagnostic performance. Methods: This prospective case–control study included 44 pregnant women with ICP and 44 healthy pregnant controls matched according to gestational age at blood sampling and maternal body mass index. Maternal serum SIRT1 concentrations were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Clinical, laboratory, and obstetric outcomes were compared between groups. Correlation, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, and exploratory multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Results: Maternal serum SIRT1 levels were significantly lower in the ICP group compared with controls [1.06 (1.05) ng/mL vs. 1.54 (1.74) ng/mL, p = 0.005]. ROC analysis demonstrated modest discriminative performance of maternal serum SIRT1 alone for identifying ICP (AUC: 0.674, 95% CI: 0.559–0.788, p = 0.005). A SIRT1 cut-off value of ≤1.28 ng/mL yielded 63.6% sensitivity and 60.5% specificity. In contrast, ALT alone showed excellent discriminative performance (AUC: 0.927, 95% CI: 0.860–0.995, p < 0.001). Combined ROC analyses demonstrated further improvement with the ALT + albumin model (AUC: 0.962, 95% CI: 0.925–0.999), whereas addition of SIRT1 resulted in only a minimal incremental increase in AUC to 0.966 (95% CI: 0.933–0.998). Maternal serum SIRT1 concentrations were not independently associated with ICP after adjustment for laboratory parameters. Conclusions: Although maternal serum SIRT1 levels were significantly reduced in pregnancies complicated by ICP, their diagnostic performance was modest and provided minimal incremental value beyond conventional biochemical markers. Nevertheless, reduced maternal serum SIRT1 concentrations may support the involvement of inflammatory and oxidative stress-related pathways in ICP pathophysiology and warrant further mechanistic investigation. Full article

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of matrix type and dose of polyphenolic core from rose petals on the physicochemical and functional properties of microcapsules. Microcapsules were obtained by ionotropic gelation using four carrier systems: sodium alginate (SA), sodium alginate with added starch (SA + S), protein isolate (SA + P), and vegetable gum (SA + G). Polyphenolic compounds isolated from rose petals (E) were used as the core at six concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5%). Differences between microcapsules were assessed based on physicochemical properties, polyphenol and anthocyanin content, antioxidant activity, swelling index, and biocompatibility. The results showed that both the extract dose and the matrix system significantly affected the analyzed parameters. The highest encapsulation efficiency was demonstrated for the lowest dose (0.25%), regardless of the matrix used. Total polyphenol and anthocyanin content significantly increased for all microcapsule versions with increasing extract dose, with the highest concentrations obtained for the SA + G system. These results strongly correlated with antioxidant activity and biocompatibility with human colonocyte membranes. In turn, the swelling index decreased with extract dose, showing the highest values in small intestinal fluid and the lowest in gastric fluid. These findings may have significant implications for the design of functional carriers for use in food and dietary supplement production. Full article