Search Results (46)

Exposure to fluoride is strongly associated with impaired intestinal function. Probiotics are widely regarded as an effective strategy to maintain microbial homeostasis and to mitigate the progression of fluoride-induced intestinal injury. This study aimed to evaluate the measurable protective effects of the probiotic strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. animalis (B. animalis subsp. animalis) GY007 in reversing high fluoride-induced ileal injury. The results showed that GY007 (1 × 10⁹ CFU/mL, once/daily) attenuated intestinal barrier disruption and alleviated ileal mucosal abnormalities in mice receiving fluoride (24 mg/kg) by gavage for eight consecutive weeks. GY007 attenuated elevated oxidative stress and modulated the inflammatory response associated with the TLR9/NF-κb/IRF7 signaling pathway. Microbiome and metabolomic analyses showed that GY007 reversed the dysregulation of the ileal microbial community structure and metabolite profiles. Spearman’s rank correlation analysis further supported a regulatory role for Bifidobacterium in this protective process and identified three key functional metabolites meriting further investigation: isocytosine (ISO), 7α,24S-dihydroxy-3-oxocholest-4-en-26-oic acid (OIC-7α), and sinapinic acid (SIA). Our findings demonstrate that GY007 protects against fluoride-induced ileal injury and elucidate the associated changes in the intestinal microbial community and metabolite profiles. This study provides new evidence clarifying the restorative effect of the probiotic GY007 on the ileum under environmental fluoride exposure, offering an integrative perspective on the interaction between microorganisms and their host. Full article

In vitro manipulation of human spermatozoa during Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) can induce several damages to sperm structure and functions. This study investigated the protective effects of Raphanus sativus seed extract and its active compounds on several sperm parameters during in vitro incubation and cryopreservation. Extracts from five seed-batches were characterized by HPLC-DAD-MS and ¹H-NMR, identifying sinapine and sinipic glycosides as the main characteristic compounds. Sperm DNA fragmentation (sDF) was detected by the Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test and LiveTUNEL. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was detected by MitoSOX Red in viable spermatozoa. Caspase activity was detected by FLICA. Cryopreservation was conducted with two alternative freezing media. In vitro incubation with the extract protected against the loss of motility and reduced the induction of sDF, sperm ROS production, and caspase activity. Similarly, during cryopreservation, it allowed much better recoveries of sperm viability, motility, and DNA integrity by decreasing sperm ROS production with both freezing media. Sinapine and sinapic acid completely mimicked the protective effects of the whole extract during both in vitro incubation and cryopreservation, suggesting that they are included among the active principles. These findings support Raphanus sativus seed extract and its active compounds as candidates for inclusion in handling and freezing media for human spermatozoa in ART. Full article

Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander) seeds have long been used as a traditional medicine and a spice worldwide. Despite its abundant use, bioactive properties of coriander seeds, correlated with the antioxidant and phenolic data, have not been fully studied systematically. This study evaluated the phenolic data, antioxidant capacity, and antibacterial activity of coriander seed extracts obtained using solvents of differing polarity. Higher total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity were observed in the polar extracts, while moderate and non-polar extracts possessed higher antibacterial activity. Acetone extract (Ace) had the highest antibacterial activity, with an inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of 16.2 ± 0.2 mm against B. subtilis, and a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 1 and 2% (w/v), respectively. The MBC/MIC ratio between 1 and 4 was observed for the active extracts of coriander seeds, indicating their bactericidal behavior. The liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectroscopy (LC–MS/MS) system using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) targeted analysis identified 13 phenolic compounds: gallic acid, ellagic acid, gentisic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, o-coumaric acid, sinapinic acid, chlorogenic acid, salicylic acid, ferulic acid, rutin, trans-cinnamic acid, and quercetin. Quantitative differences were observed in the phenolic compounds across the different coriander seed extracts. The TPC was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) and positively correlated with cupric-reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) (r = 0.92), as well as with ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (r = 0.98); furthermore, it showed that the higher level of antioxidant capacity of the coriander seed extracts was significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with phenolic compounds such as gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, gentisic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. However, antibacterial activity and phenolic/antioxidant content were negatively correlated, suggesting that non-polar compounds may impact antibacterial activity. Full article

The toxicity of glucosinolate, isothiocyanate and sinapin limits canola meal’s use as non-ruminant animal feed. While monoculture microbial biorefining has been explored, the potential and capability of insect-associated microbiomes in this context remain underexplored. Herein, we extracted the gut and frass extracts from canola feeding larvae of Heliothis moth (HP), cabbage white (WCF) and cabbage looper (CL). Canola meal was fermented for one week with these extracts, followed by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-assisted metabolomics analysis. Elevated branched-SCFAs 2-hydroxy butyrate and 3-hydroxy butyrate and propionate were observed in HP and WCF ferments, respectively. Aliphatic glucosinolates and sinapins showed ≥2-fold depletion in the HP and WCF frass ferments. In gut extract and frass-fermented canola meal, particularly of the HP group, tryptophan, tyrosine, and cysteine and glutathione metabolism were the most impactful pathways, aiding biogenic amine and branched-SCFA synthesis. S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) led salvaging, playing a key role in amino acid recycling via mercapturate metabolism, oxidative stress handling via the methionine and cysteine metabolism pathway, and sinapin metabolism through syringate degradation. These findings highlight the metabolic mechanism of brassica herbivore insect gut microbiome in detoxifying and adding value to canola meal. Such microbial communities have the potential to upcycle canola meal into a nutrient-rich feed additive with gut-health-promoting properties. Full article

Background: Acute lung injury (ALI) is driven by inflammatory cascades and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, with the progression to severe cases markedly increasing mortality. Sinapine thiocyanate (ST), a bioactive natural compound isolated from Sinapis Semen Albae (SSA), demonstrates both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant pharmacological activities. However, no monotherapeutic formulation of ST has been developed to date. A dry powder inhaler (DPI) enables targeted pulmonary drug delivery with excellent stability profiles and high inhalation efficiency. Methods: ST was purified and prepared as inhalable dry powder particles via an antisolvent crystallization technique. The therapeutic mechanisms of ST against ALI were elucidated by network pharmacology and pharmacokinetic analyses, with the therapeutic efficacy of the ST DPI in ALI mitigation being validated using LPS-induced rat models. Results: The ST DPI showed ideal aerodynamic characteristics. Notably, ST exhibited a three-compartment (triexponential) pharmacokinetic profile following both intravenous tail vein injection and inhalation administration. Furthermore, the inhaled formulation displayed a prolonged systemic residence time, which confers therapeutic advantages for pulmonary disease management. Furthermore, the inhalation administration of ST demonstrated a 2.7-fold increase in AUC compared with oral gavage, with a corresponding enhancement in systemic exposure. The ST DPI formulation demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy against ALI in rats by downregulating inflammatory cytokines and modulating oxidative stress levels, mechanistically achieved through the MAPK-mediated regulation of cellular apoptosis via a positive feedback loop. Conclusions: The unique triexponential plasma level profiles of an ST DPI provide a promising pharmacokinetics-based therapeutic strategy for ALI, leveraging its marked efficacy in attenuating inflammation, oxidative stress, and pulmonary injury. Full article

Nasturtium officinale R. Br. (watercress) is an endangered species with valuable pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and nutritional properties. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the phytochemical profile and biological activity of extracts from microshoot cultures grown in PlantForm bioreactors and the parent plant material. After 20 days of cultivation, the cultures achieved the best results both in terms of key active ingredient content and biological activity. The glucosinolates (GSL) profile by the UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS method showed that the dominant compounds were glucobrassicin (493.00 mg/100 g DW, 10 days) and gluconasturtiin (268.04 mg/100 g DW, 20 days). The highest total polyphenol content (TPC) was obtained after a 20-day growth period (2690 mg GAE/100 g DW). Among polyphenols, the dominant compounds in the extracts from in vitro cultures were sinapinic acid (114.83 mg/100 g DW, 10 days) and ferulic acid (87.78 mg/100 g DW, 20 days). The highest antioxidant potential assessed by ABTS and DPPH assays was observed for ethanol extracts. The best results for inhibiting hyperpigmentation (18.12%) were obtained for ethanol extracts and anti-elastase activity (79.78%) for aqueous extract from N. officinale microshoot cultures. The extracts from microshoot cultures inhibited the growth of bacteria, including Cutibacterium acnes (MIC = 0.625 mg/mL). Antioxidant tests and the chelating capacity of iron ions Fe²⁺ of the face emulsion with N. officinale extracts showed higher results than the control. Full article

Bio-preservation strategies for sustainable food and dairy products are some of the most in-demand techniques that expand shelf life and meet consumer requirements. The purpose of this study is to produce high quality, sensory-acceptable labneh cheese with a prolonged shelf life and sustainable preservation. Ethanolic extract of clove flower buds was applied during the manufacturing of labneh as a bio-preserving agent. The effect of the sprayed-clove extract on the chemical composition, microbiological composition, texture profile, antioxidant capabilities, aromatic compounds, and sensory properties of the labneh cheese were determined. Phytochemical profiling showed chaulmoogric acid, trans-cinnamic acid, propyl gallate, and sinapine as major constituents in clove extract. Antimicrobial inhibitory potential was estimated against both foodborne pathogens and food spoilage microorganisms. Clove extract showed a promising inhibitory effect against fungi recording 1 mg/mL maximally. Labneh samples with clove extract contained the highest records of antioxidant activity in addition to having no record of any fungal growth after 60 days. It is also distinguished by its eugenol, β-Caryophyllene, and acetyleugeno as aroma compound content. All spray-treated samples achieved the highest scores in sensory properties during the storage period. It can be concluded that clove extract, when sprayed on the surface of labneh cheese, produced an antifungal effect in a smart and economic way which boosted the shelf life, quality, enhanced nutritional value, and the antioxidant capacity of labneh cheese. Full article

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a well-known technique for polymer analysis, particularly for determining the molecular weight and structural details of dendrimers. In this study, we evaluated the performance of various matrices, such as 2′,4′,6′-trihydroxyacetophenone (THAP), α-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (HCCA), and sinapinic acid (SA), and their combinations, on the sensitivity and resolution of poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) dendrimers of different generations (G3.0, G4.0, and G5.0). Our results demonstrated that the combination of HCCA-THAP significantly enhanced spectral resolution and peak intensity compared to individual matrices, particularly for higher-generation dendrimers. This improvement is attributed to the better ionization efficiency achieved with the combined matrices. These findings provide critical insights into optimizing MALDI-TOF MS for the accurate characterization of complex polymers, with potential applications in drug delivery and nanotechnology. Full article

Sinapine adsorption was studied on four weak cation exchanges at pHs ranging from 2 to 8. The best adsorption rate was observed with C106 resin at pH 4 (95.25%). The adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model while the isotherm data better fitted the Langmuir model. The ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS° values (−25.834 kJ·mol⁻¹, −24.428 kJ·mol⁻¹, and 0.004 kJ·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹) revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic. Acidified ethanol showed a better desorption rate (75.41%), while virtually no (3.32%) or low (31.14%) sinapine desorption was observed with 50% ethanol and 0.1 M HCl solution, respectively. This indicated that sinapine adsorption took place throughout both ionic and hydrophobic interactions. Very close sinapine adsorption performances were observed with an effluent of the patented rapeseed protein isolate process. Two-step desorption using 50% ethanol, then acidified ethanol, yielded a highly purified neutral sinapine-derivative phenol fraction (75.23%) in the first elution fraction and sinapine (98.85%) in the second one. Full article

Sinapine is a natural polyphenol from the cruciferous plant family that has anti-aging effects but is low in bioavailability. To improve the bioavailability and therapeutic effect of sinapine, sinapine-crosslinked dual-protein-based hydrogels were prepared using soy protein isolate as a cross-linking agent. The preparation conditions were optimized by single-factor experiments, and the optimal ratios were obtained as follows: the concentration of sinapine was 300 μg/mL; the water–oil ratio was 1:3. The encapsulation rate was greater than 95%, and the drug loading capacity was 3.5 mg/g. In vitro, digestion experiments showed that the dual-protein-based hydrogels as a drug carrier stabilized the release of sinapine and improved the bioavailability of sinapine by 19.3%. The IC50 of DPPH antioxidants was 25 μg/mL as determined by in vitro digestion, and the antioxidant capacity of ABTS was about 20% higher than that of glutaraldehyde control. This is due to the addition of sinapine to enhance the antioxidant properties of the system. It can be seen that the developed hydrogels have potential applications in related fields, such as food nutrition fortification and drug delivery. Full article

The Brassicaceae family, commonly referred to as cruciferous plants, is globally cultivated and consumed, with the Brassica genus being particularly renowned for its functional components. These vegetables are rich sources of nutrients and health-promoting phytochemicals, garnering increased attention in recent years. This study presents a comprehensive microscopic, chromatographic, and spectroscopic characterization of Brassica napus L. seeds from Kazakhstan aimed at elucidating their morphological features and chemical composition. Microscopic analysis revealed distinct localization of flavonoids, total lipids, and alkaloids. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis of seed extracts demonstrated a complex chemical profile with significant quantities of non-polar compounds in the hexane extracts. Additionally, methanolic extracts revealed the presence of diverse chemical compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and glucosinolates. The chemical composition exhibited varietal differences across different Brassica species, with B. napus L. seeds showing higher concentrations of bioactive compounds. Furthermore, liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QToF-MS) analysis provided insights into the chemical composition, with sinapine isomers, feruloyl, and sinapoyl choline derivatives as major compounds in the seeds. This study contributes to a better understanding of the chemical diversity and quality control methods’ approximations of B. napus L. seeds, highlighting their importance in functional food and nutraceutical applications. Full article

Fermentation is used not only to preserve food but also to enhance its beneficial effects on human health and achieve functional foods. This study aimed to investigate how different treatments (spontaneous fermentation or fermentation with the use of starter culture) affect phenolic content, antioxidant potential, and cholinesterase inhibitory activity in different kale cultivars: ‘Halbhoner Grüner Krauser’, ‘Scarlet’, and ‘Nero di Toscana’. Chosen samples were further tested for their protective potential against the Caco-2 cell line. HPLC-MS analysis revealed that the fermentation affected the composition of polyphenolic compounds, leading to an increase in the content of rutin, kaempferol, sinapinic, and protocatechuic acids. In general, kale cultivars demonstrated various antioxidant activities, and fermentation led to an increase in total phenolic content and antioxidant activity. Fermentation boosted anti-cholinesterase activity most profoundly in ‘Nero di Toscana’. Extracts of spontaneously fermented ‘Scarlet’ (SS) and ‘Nero di Toscana’ (NTS) showed cytoprotective properties, as revealed by the malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH) assays. Additionally, strong anti-inflammatory activity of NTS was shown by decreased release of cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α. Collectively, the conducted studies suggest fermented kale cultivars as a potential source for functional foods. Full article

The glutamine–histidine–glycine–valine (QHGV), a peptide derived from oysters, exhibits antioxidant activity and is being actively researched as a potential pharmaceutical and functional cosmetic ingredient. In this study, we synthesized the QHGV peptide and explored the hitherto unknown anti-inflammatory effects of QHGV. The antioxidant property was also characterized by conjugating with various naturally derived phenolic acids, such as caffeic, gallic, ferulic, sinapinic, and vanillic acids. Conjugation with phenolic acids not only enhanced the antioxidant activity of QHGV but also diminished the lipopolysaccharide-induced generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the murine macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7. The reduction in the levels of reactive oxygen species led to the reduced mRNA expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNos) and cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2), resulting in an anti-inflammatory effect through the inhibition of the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase, including extracellular signal-activated protein kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, and p38. Furthermore, the phenolic acid-conjugated peptides increased the mRNA and protein levels of collagen type I, indicative of a wrinkle-improvement effect. The phenolic acid conjugates of the peptide were not cytotoxic to human keratinocytes such as HaCaT cells. These results suggest that phenolic acid conjugation can enhance the potential of peptides as drug and cosmetic resources. Full article

Three varieties of rapeseed (Castilla, California, and Nelson F1) were cultivated using medium–intensive (control), intensive, and economical (spare) technologies with different nitrogen and sulfur fertilization techniques. The antioxidant potential of rapeseeds was investigated using ABTS, FRAP, and DPPH assays. The content of total phenolic compounds was determined using the Folin–Ciocalteu phenol reagent. The profile of phenolic compounds was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Diversifying fertilization in various ways influenced the content of phenolic compounds in extracts of rapeseed. In extracts from the Nelson F1 rapeseeds, intensive cultivation resulted in a lower content of phenolic compounds compared to the control group. Economic fertilization reduced the content of phenolic compounds in seeds from the California variety. HPLC chromatograms of the extracts were characterized by the presence of five (California and Castilla) and six (Nelson F1) main phenolic compounds. Two compounds were identified as sinapine and sinapic acid; others were classified as derivatives of sinapic acid. The effect of fertilization on the antioxidant activity of the seeds and their extracts varied depending on the plant variety and antioxidant assay. For the Castilla and California varieties, no differences were found in the results of the ABTS assay. The antiradical activity against ABTS^•+ of extracts from the Nelson F1 intensive and spare cultivated seeds was higher than that of extracts from control seeds. The FRAP values of extracts/seeds from the Castilla variety cultivated using different methods did not differ significantly. The results of the DPPH assay were not affected by fertilization in the case of extracts from the California and Castilla varieties. However, the extracts from spare cultivated seeds of Nelson F1 exhibited stronger antiradical activity against DPPH^•. These findings highlight the complex relationship between fertilization practices, phenolic compound accumulation, and antioxidant activity in rapeseed. Integrating varietal traits and cultivation practices is crucial for optimizing the nutritional benefits of rapeseed. Full article

Background: The use of natural products in skin care has been valued for their tremendous therapeutic benefits since ancient times. The current study was aimed at exploring the Leptadenia pyrotechnica plant extract and development of a stable emulgel loaded with the same extract to assess its cosmeceutical potentials. Methodology: A stable emulgel loaded with methanolic plant extract along with its control gel was prepared by homogenization. The antioxidant potential of extracts prepared in different solvents (methanol MLP, ethanol ELP, n-hexane nLP, ethyl acetate EALP, and petroleum ether PLP) was determined by DPPH scavenging activity. The presence of phytochemicals was confirmed by total phenolic and flavonoid content analysis (TPC/TFC). HPLC was used for quantification of bioactive components. FTIR analysis was performed for confirmation of functional groups. SPF was calculated via spectroscopic analysis for extract, control gel, and extract loaded emulgel. Stability studies included physical evaluation, pH, conductivity, spreadability, and rheological testing of both control and test emulgels at different temperatures, i.e., 8 °C ± 1, 25 °C ± 1, 40 °C ± 1, 40 °C ± 1 with RH of 75% for a period of 90 days. Results: DPPH radical scavenging activity showed the highest antioxidant activity of 85.5% ± 2.78 for MLP. TPC and TFC were also found to be highest for the methanolic fraction, i.e., 190.98 ± 0.40 mgGAE/g and 128.28 ± 2.64 mgQE/g, respectively. The SPF of methanolic extract, placebo gel, and LPEG was 13.43 ± 0.46, 2.37 ± 0.33, and 7.28 ± 0.56, respectively. HPLC assay confirmed the presence of catechin, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, and sinapinic acid. Rheological analysis showed that formulation has pseudo-plastic flow behavior. Other stability tests also revealed that prepared emulgel is a stable one. Conclusion: A stable emulgel loaded with Leptadenia pyrotechnica plant extract was successfully prepared and characterized for its cosmetic effects. Full article