Search Results (15,718)

The positive effects of phenolic compounds in the gastrointestinal tract are influenced by dietary fibers. The aim of this work was to study the interactions between syringic acid and soluble and insoluble dietary fibers from the β-glucan group, including laminarin from Laminaria digitata, zymosan A from Saccharomyces cerevisiae and β-glucan from Euglena gracilis. Kinetic models of the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order were applied to describe the interactions in time. The stability of the complexes between syringic acid and dietary fibers was monitored at different times by the DPPH method. The water holding capacity, water swelling capacity and water solubility of dietary fibers were determined. FTIR spectra were recorded to characterize the possible binding of syringic acid and dietary fibers. The results showed that syringic acid adsorbed onto dietary fibers with different adsorption capacities. The highest adsorption capacity was observed for zymosan A (431 mg g⁻¹), followed by laminarin (382 mg g⁻¹) and β-glucan from Euglena gracilis (336 mg g⁻¹). The parameters of the kinetic models showed good agreement with the experimental data. The highest antiradical activity was found for the complex of syringic acid—β-glucan from Euglena gracilis. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the bonding of syringic acid onto dietary fibers. The interactions of polyphenols and dietary fibers are important to understand the role of dietary fibers as carriers of polyphenols. Full article

Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive malignancy of the central nervous system (CNS) and is characterized by poor prognosis and significant resistance to available treatments. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are the standard treatments; however, their efficacy is often limited by resistance. Resveratrol (RES), a naturally occurring polyphenol with antioxidant properties, has shown significant anticancer effects through inhibition of multiple cellular pathways. However, our earlier research revealed that the LN428 cell exhibited resistance, while the U251 cell showed sensitivity to RES monotherapy. Hence, RES and AG490, a JAK2 inhibitor, were used to overcome GBM cell resistance, which might enhance therapeutic efficacy. Methods: Human GBM cell lines LN428 and U251 were used. CCK-8, H&E staining, transwell, wound healing, calcein AM/PI, and flow cytometry assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Molecular docking was performed to analyze the binding energy. Western blot, immunocytochemistry (ICC), and immunofluorescence (IF) were used to assess protein expression following treatment with RES, AG490, and their combination. Results: The results revealed that U251 cells were more sensitive to RES, AG490, and RES + AG490 than LN428 cells. Additionally, the combination of both compounds significantly reduced cell viability, proliferation, and migration, while increasing apoptosis in the LN428 and U251 cell lines. Moreover, the combination of RES and AG490 led to increased BAX protein expression while decreasing BCL-2 expression in LN428 and U251 cell lines. Notably, the monotherapy administration of RES did not significantly inhibit STAT3 or pSTAT3 protein expression in LN428 cells, while combination therapy significantly inhibited the expression of these proteins in LN428 and U251 cell lines. Conclusion: The concurrent administration of RES and AG490 effectively inhibited the JAK2/STAT3 signalling pathway and enhanced antitumor effects in GBM cells, indicating their potential as a therapeutic strategy. Full article

Fluoride-induced osteoarthritis (F-OA) is a debilitating manifestation of endemic fluorosis, with limited preventive or therapeutic strategies. Rosa roxburghii juice (RRJ), a traditional medicinal/edible product, has shown protective effects against skeletal fluorosis, yet its active constituents and molecular mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, an integrated strategy combining bioinformatics analysis, network pharmacology, molecular docking and dynamics simulations, limited proteolysis–mass spectrometry (LiP–MS), and in vitro experiments was employed to systematically elucidate the protective mechanisms of RRJ against F-OA. Forty-four core F-OA-associated genes were identified, with TP53 and the p53 signaling pathway emerging as central regulatory hubs. Quercetin, Epicatechin, Emodin, and Ellagic acid were screened as key bioactive components of RRJ and demonstrated strong binding affinity toward core targets, including TP53. Cellular experiments showed that these compounds significantly attenuated sodium fluoride-induced cellular injury. LiP–MS analysis further revealed widespread protein conformational remodeling following treatment, with TP53 exhibiting pronounced structural sensitivity. Mechanistically, these active compounds mitigated fluoride-induced pathological changes by suppressing p53 mRNA expression and restoring proteasome-mediated p53 degradation. This study provides systematic pharmacological evidence supporting Rosa roxburghii fruit as a promising functional food for the prevention and management of skeletal fluorosis and F-OA. Full article

This study evaluated the effect of freezing and frozen storage at three temperatures (−20, −30, −40 °C) on hop (Humulus lupulus L.) secondary metabolites and antioxidant capacity. These temperatures were selected based on the glass transition temperature (T_g’) of the maximally freeze-concentrated matrix. Cones were analyzed after freezing (t₀) and up to 360 days (t₃₆₀) by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet diode-array detection (HPLC-UV/DAD) for bitter acids, prenylflavonoids and phenolic acids, and by the Folin–Ciocalteu, ABTS the radical cation scavenging assay (ABTS) and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay (FRAP) assays for total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) at t₃₆₀ was used to relate microstructural damage to metabolite retention. Freezing at −40 °C ensured the highest retention of bitter acids, phenolic acids (gallic, syringic, vanillic, caffeic, chlorogenic), and antioxidant capacity, whereas xanthohumol and 8-prenylnaringenin reached their maximum levels at −30 and −20 °C, respectively. During frozen storage, changes in metabolite profiles were mainly driven by storage time rather than temperature; over 360 days, α-acids, colupulone, xanthohumol and selected phenolic acids increased, while most other compounds declined. Multivariate analysis and CLSM elucidated the relationships between process conditions, tissue structure and metabolite profiles, enabling the selection of freezing and storage temperatures to optimally preserve different targets of hop bioactives and overall indicating −40 °C as the most effective. Full article

Alfalfa mosaic virus (AMV) is a devastating plant pathogen with an extensive host range, yet effective control strategies remain limited. This study investigated the prophylactic efficacy and molecular mechanisms of two plant immune inducers, the Paecilomyces variotii extract DYDS and the antiviral agent Dufulin, against AMV infection in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata). Our results demonstrate that both agents possess potent antiviral activity, with inactivation, protective, and therapeutic efficacies all exceeding 21.00%. Notably, DYDS exhibited superior overall performance. RT-qPCR and immunofluorescence assays confirmed a significant downregulation of AMV coat protein (CP) expression in treated plants. Furthermore, exogenous application of these inducers mitigated chlorophyll loss and markedly augmented the activities of key defense enzymes’ activity, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and L-phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), peaking at 5 days post-inoculation. In silico molecular docking simulations further revealed that DYDS and Dufulin interact spontaneously with the AMV-CP, yielding binding free energies of −6.5 and −5.8 kcal/mol, respectively. Gene expression analysis indicated that these inducers trigger a robust immune response through the integrated activation of the salicylic acid (SA), jasmonic acid (JA), and ethylene (ET) signaling pathways. Collectively, these findings suggest that DYDS and Dufulin provide a dual mode of action—direct viral inhibition and host immune priming—offering a promising and sustainable approach for the management of AMV in leguminous crops. Full article

Functional foods are a central paradigm in modern nutrition science, acting as effective vehicles for the delivery of bioactive compounds that link conventional nutrition and preventive medicine. Beyond their basic nutritional role, these foods are specifically designed or naturally enriched to convey biologically active constituents capable of modulating physiological functions and reducing the risk of chronic diseases, thereby supporting long-term health maintenance. The chemical composition of functional foods—including polyphenols, phytosterols, vitamins and dietary fibers—underlies their capacity to act as matrices that protect, transport, and enhance the bioavailability of bioactive molecules. This review provides an integrated nutritional perspective on functional foods, with particular emphasis on their role as delivery systems for health-promoting compounds. The molecular mechanisms by which food bioactives interact with cellular and molecular targets, regulate oxidative stress and inflammation, and modulate metabolic and immune pathways are critically discussed. Special attention is devoted to redox-active bioactives, the structural diversity and bioavailability of polyphenols, the cholesterol-lowering properties of phytosterols, the physiological relevance of fat- and water-soluble vitamins, and the complex interactions between functional foods, gut microbiota, prebiotics, probiotics, and dietary fibers. Overall, this review aims to provide a comprehensive scientific framework for understanding how functional foods can be strategically engineered and utilized as bioactive compound vehicles in health promotion and disease prevention. Full article

Flemingia philippinensis Merr. et Rolfe (F. philippinensis) is a Chinese herbal medicine rich in polyphenols, especially isoflavone derivatives. It exhibits potent anti-inflammatory properties and is widely used in the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we aim to sequence, assemble, and analyze the mitogenome of F. philippinensis in detail to understand the genetic structure of their organelles and their gene expression. The results showed that the mitogenome of F. philippinensis possesses a circular architecture with a total length of 427,353 bp and a GC content of 44.90%. Annotation results revealed 33 unique protein-coding genes (PCGs), 16 transfer RNA (tRNA), and 3 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes in the mitogenome. Furthermore, comparative analysis of mitogenome andchloroplast gemone (cpgemone) sequences identified six mitochondrial plastid sequences (MTPTs), including one partial PCG and five complete tRNA genes. Subsequent collinearity analysis indicated that numerous homologous collinear blocks were detected between F. philippinensis and its closely related species, and have undergone a large number of genomic rearrangements in the F. philippinensis mitogenome. Finally, RNA editing analysis identified 498 C -to- U editing sites, notably enriched in nad4 (44 sites) and ccmB (33 sites). Codon usage bias analysis indicated that leucine (Leu 10.66%) and serine (Ser 9.19%) were the most frequently used amino acids. This study lays a theoretical foundation for further elucidating the structural characteristics and understanding the evolution, classification, and identification of F. philippinensis. Full article

Background/Objectives: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype associated with poor prognosis and limited targeted therapeutic options. Natural products, rich in bioactive phytochemicals, represent a potential source of novel anticancer agents. This study examined the phytochemical profile and anticancer activity of an ethanolic bulb extract of Cyclamen persicum (CPE), with a primary focus on TNBC. Methods: The phytochemical composition of CPE was analyzed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). Antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH radical scavenging assay. The anticancer effects of CPE were assessed mainly in MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells using MTT cell viability assays, Ki-67 immunoblotting, Western blot analysis of signaling proteins, wound healing migration assays, Matrigel invasion assays, adhesion assays and cell–cell aggregation assays. Antiproliferative activity was also examined in 22RV1 (prostate), Capan-2 (pancreatic), and HCT116 (intestinal) cancer cell lines using MTT assays. Results: LC–MS analysis indicated that the extract contains multiple polyphenolic and organic acid constituents commonly associated with bioactivity. Consistent with this profile, CPE demonstrated strong antioxidant activity. In MDA-MB-231 cells, CPE significantly reduced cell viability and proliferation, accompanied by decreased Ki-67 expression. Treatment was associated with modulation of proteins involved in proliferative and survival signaling, induction of apoptosis-related markers, and reduced migratory and invasive capacities. CPE also promoted cell–cell homotypic aggregation, suggesting a shift toward a less aggressive phenotype. These effects were associated with reduced phosphorylation of p65, indicating possible modulation of NF-κB signaling. Additionally, CPE decreased proliferation in 22RV1, Capan-2, and HCT116 cancer cell lines. Conclusions: Collectively, these findings indicate that C. persicum bulb extract exerts multimodal anticancer effects in vitro, particularly in TNBC cells, and highlights its potential as a source of bioactive compounds warranting further mechanistic and translational investigation. Full article

In recent years, natural bioactive compounds have been increasingly investigated as functional feed additives to enhance livestock production. The present study aims to provide an update on the potential use of these compounds to enhance animal health and the quality of animal products, while critically assessing their principal limitations and future practical applicability. The review is based on peer-reviewed articles published between 2020 and 2025 and retrieved from the Scopus database, ensuring the inclusion of recent and high-impact scientific contributions. Phytogenic feed additives, including polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids, exert beneficial effects on animal health by modulating oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways. Improvements in milk and meat quality are mainly associated with enhanced antioxidant capacity and lipid stability, rather than with the direct transfer of phytochemicals into animal-derived products. In ruminants, selected bioactive compounds may also contribute to methane mitigation through modulation of rumen fermentation and microbial ecology. However, their efficacy remains highly context-dependent and requires precise characterization of composition, dosage, and species-specific application. Future research should therefore prioritize deeper elucidation of metabolic mechanisms, systemic physiological responses, and productive outcomes to better define the conditions under which these compounds exert consistent and biologically meaningful effects. Full article

Microalgae are rich in protein and phenolics, thereby having great potential for production of functional foods and nutraceuticals. However, despite featuring high nutritional value, these compounds often suffer from low stability and bioaccessibility. In this study, phenolics and protein extracted from Chlorella vulgaris were conjugated at different ratios (2.5–10%) and the structure and bioactivity of the conjugates were comprehensively characterized. The fluorescence intensity of protein decreased from 340 to 130–98 a.u. after conjugation and the UV-vis absorbance dropped from 1.6 to 0.5 a.u., which confirms the alteration of the chromophore area. The FTIR spectra revealed shifts in the C=O, N-H, and C-N bands, and the ¹H NMR spectra showed the broadening of signals and appearance of new peaks, indicating covalent bond formation through the Schiff base and Michael addition reactions. Conjugation significantly increased the antioxidant activities, in terms of ABTS inhibition by 644%, 257%, and 97%, as well as the ACE inhibitory activity, by 13.5%, 17.5%, and 19.7% for the 2.5%, 5% and 10% conjugates, respectively. The 2.5% conjugate showed the highest bioaccessibility (144%), which was 2.5 times that of free phenolics. Overall, this study proves that conjugation is an effective approach to enhancing the bioactivity and bioaccessibility of microalgae-derived compounds and unravel the structure–activity relationship of conjugates. The findings can promote the valorization of microalgae for product development in the food and nutraceutical industries. Full article

The influence of passive and active modified-atmosphere packaging (MAP), antioxidants (citric acid and ascorbic acid) and their combinations with a mild thermal process on the shelf life of cut eggplants was evaluated. Eggplant slices were subjected to different treatments (a—MAP: packaged in air with 35 μm polypropylene; b—MAP1: packaged with 3% O₂ + 15% CO₂; c—MAP2: packaged with 5% O₂ + 15% CO₂; d—citric acid 1% + MAP; e—ascorbic acid (A2) 1% + MAP; f—A2 + MAP1; g—TT (50 °C for 1 min) + A2 + MAP; h—TT + A2 + MAP1; and i—control: no treatment) and stored for 12 days at 5 °C. The evolution of sensory characteristics such as color and the browning index, ascorbic acid (AA), total phenols (TP), antioxidant capacity (AC), microorganism count (mesophilic and psychrophilic aerobes, enterobacteria, molds and yeasts) and polyphenol oxidase PPO activity were periodically evaluated. Treatment h was the most effective in prolonging shelf life, maintaining eggplant’s optimal sensory characteristics for up to 10 days, with greater retention of AA and AC and without significantly varying the initial level of TP. Full article

This study examined shoot proliferation and phenolic compounds accumulation in Clerodendrum colebrookianum and Clerodendrum trichotomum in vitro culture. The cultures were treated with 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), meta-topolin (M-T), or N-benzyl-9-(2-tetrahydropyranyl)adenine (BPA) (0.5, 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L), and their biomass accumulation, shoot proliferation, and phenolic profiles were quantitatively assessed. In C. colebrookianum, BPA and M-T at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/L yielded higher proliferation rates (11.0–12.0 shoots per explant) and biomass production than BAP. In C. trichotomum, maximal shoot multiplication was achieved with 2.0 mg/L M-T (24.47 shoots per explant), and peak biomass accumulation was achieved with 1.0 mg/L BPA. The two species demonstrated polyphenolic fingerprints, with C. colebrookianum extract containing seven polyphenols and C. trichotomum ten, predominantly represented by acteoside and related compounds. M-T treatments markedly enhanced phenolic biosynthesis, yielding a 3.3-fold increase in acteoside in C. colebrookianum (82.73 mg/g DW) at 2.0 mg/L and in C. trichotomum (41.3 mg/g DW) at 1.0 mg/L relative to controls. TOPSIS multi-criteria decision analysis, integrating growth parameters, acteoside, and total phenolic content, found the optimal supplementation to be 1.0 mg/L M-T in the presence of 0.1 mg/L IAA for both species (closeness coefficients: 0.821 and 0.792, respectively). The extracts derived from optimized cultures exhibited significant radical-scavenging and metal reduction capacity in DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays; a stronger effect was observed for C. colebrookianum, which may be associated with acteoside enrichment. Overall, M-T and BPA were found to be superior to BAP in promoting biomass accumulation and high-value bioactive phenolic production in Clerodendrum spp. Our findings underscore the potential of in vitro culture systems as a sustainable source of antioxidant phytochemicals with prospective nutraceutical and pharmaceutical relevance. Full article

Honey’s medicinal properties are largely attributed to its antioxidant activity, mainly derived from flavonoids, phenolic acids, and their derivatives. Fruit berries, such as goji berries, sea buckthorn, and black currant, are particularly rich in vitamins, phenolic compounds, and minerals, providing high nutritional and pharmacological value. Enrichment of rapeseed honey with dried fruits significantly increased total phenolic content, with the highest value observed in honey containing goji berries (111.221 ± 20.551 mg GAE/100 g), followed by black currant (96.477 ± 31.053 mg GAE/100 g) and sea buckthorn (90.724 ± 19.72 mg GAE/100 g), compared to control honey (49.681 ± 14.44 mg GAE/100 g). Antioxidant activity, assessed by multiple assays, was markedly enhanced in functional foods based on rape honey and dried fruits, particularly those with black currant, followed by goji berries and sea buckthorn. Romanian rapeseed honey contained phenolic acids such as gallic, chlorogenic, 4-hydroxybenzoic, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids, and flavonoids including quercetin and naringin. Functional food based on rape honey and goji berries (GBH) showed the highest levels of chlorogenic and gallic acids, epicatechin, and rutin, while functional food based on rape honey and sea buckthorn (SBH) was rich in naringin and resveratrol. Functional food based on rape honey and black currant (BCH) exhibited elevated gallic acid and rutin. Potassium and magnesium were the predominant minerals in all samples. Overall, berry enrichment enhances the nutritional and antioxidant profile of honey, supporting immune function and general health. Full article

Introduction: The biological effects of dietary polyphenols have gained increasing attention due to their roles in regulating oxidative stress, inflammatory processes, and mitochondrial function. Human studies suggest that polyphenol intake may support aspects of post-exercise recovery, neuromuscular function, and selected aspects of physical performance. However, most investigations have been conducted in young or metabolically healthy populations, limiting direct clinical translation to older adults. Objective: This narrative review aims to synthesize current mechanistic and human evidence on the physiological and recovery-related effects of dietary polyphenols in the context of exercise adaptation and skeletal muscle function, and to examine their potential relevance to muscle aging and sarcopenia. Methods: A structured, non-systematic literature search was conducted to integrate findings from human intervention trials, preclinical studies, and mechanistic research addressing polyphenols, exercise adaptation, muscle recovery, and muscle aging. Evidence was synthesized narratively with emphasis on shared physiological pathways and functional outcomes. Results: Human intervention studies suggest that polyphenol intake may attenuate biomarkers of exercise-induced muscle damage, modulate inflammatory responses, and accelerate recovery of muscle strength and functional performance. Mechanistic evidence supports the involvement of redox homeostasis, mitochondrial regulation, and inflammatory signaling as central mediators of these effects. While clinical data in older populations remain limited, converging evidence suggests biological overlap between recovery-related pathways and mechanisms implicated in age-related muscle decline. Conclusions: Current evidence is consistent with a biologically plausible role for polyphenols in modulating exercise-related physiological and recovery processes. By aligning recovery-focused evidence with pathways central to muscle aging, this review proposes a translational framework that may inform the design of future targeted clinical trials in older and clinical populations. Full article

Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is a traditional medicinal and edible herb whose bioactive constituents suffer from low bioavailability. This study employed untargeted metabolomics based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Orbitrap MS) to investigate metabolic alterations in AM aqueous extracts fermented by Pediococcus acidilactici (P. acidilactici) for 48 h. Multivariate statistical and pathway enrichment analyses identified 659 significantly altered metabolites (350 upregulated and 309 downregulated), which were primarily associated with organic acids, flavonoids, amino acid derivatives, alkaloids, phenylpropanoids and polyphenols. Fermentation markedly activated pathways related to arginine metabolism, carbon metabolism, and nicotinate and nicotinamide metabolism, accompanied by a substantial accumulation of functional compounds such as lactate, phenyllactic acid, indolelactic acid, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD⁺). Overall, P. acidilactici fermentation induced extensive metabolic reprogramming of AM aqueous extracts, leading to the enrichment of multiple bioactive metabolites and the activation of key functional processes. These findings provide mechanistic insights into probiotic fermentation of medicinal and edible herbs and offer a scientific basis for the development of value-added fermented AM beverages with improved nutritional and functional properties. Full article