Search Results (52,690)

Background/Objective: The tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) is a lipid-soluble vitamin that has good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The TRF is widely studied as a potential treatment for various diseases, including bone diseases. However, its application is limited due to its poor oral bioavailability profile, warranting an innovative approach to overcome its pharmacokinetic limitations. Recently, the nano-hydroxyapatite (nHA) has been investigated as a drug delivery vehicle for various drugs and active compounds owing to its excellent biocompatibility, biodegradability, and osteogenic properties. The nHA is also a well-known biomaterial which has chemical and structural similarities to bone minerals. Hence, we aim to explore the use of the nHA as a potential nanocarrier for the TRF. Methods: In this study, we develop and optimize the formulation of an nHA-encapsulating TRF (nHA/TRF) by employing the response surface methodology (RSM). Results: RSM outcomes reveal that the mass of the nHA, the concentration of the TRF, and the incubation time have a significant effect on the particle size, zeta potential, and encapsulation efficiency of the nHA/TRF. The outcomes for the optimized formulation are not significantly different from the predicted RSM outcomes. The optimized nHA/TRF formulation is freeze-dried and results in an average particle size of ~270 nm, a negative zeta potential value of ~−20 mV, a polydispersity index of < 0.4, and an encapsulation efficiency of ~18.1%. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) shows that the freeze-dried nHA/TRF has a spherical structure. Conclusions: Taken together, the above findings indicate that the nHA may be established as a nanocarrier for efficient delivery of the TRF, as demonstrated by the promising physical properties. Full article

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), with intraocular pressure (IOP) being its primary risk factor. Despite controlling IOP, the neurodegenerative process often continues. Therefore, substances with neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties could protect against RGC death. This study investigated the neuroprotective effects on RGCs and visual pathway neurons of a compound consisting of citicoline and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in a mouse model of unilateral, laser-induced ocular hypertension (OHT). Four groups of mice were used: vehicle group (n = 6), citicoline + CoQ10 group (n = 6), laser–vehicle group (n = 6), and laser–citicoline + CoQ10 group (n = 6). The citicoline + CoQ10 was administered orally once a day starting 15 days before laser treatment, continuing until sacrifice (7 days post-laser). Retinas, the dorsolateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN), the superior colliculus (SC), and the visual cortex (V1) were analyzed. The citicoline + CoQ10 compound used in the laser–citicoline + CoQ10 group demonstrated (1) an ocular hypotensive effect only at 24 h post-laser; (2) prevention of Brn3a+ RGC death in OHT eyes; and (3) no changes in NeuN+ neurons in the dLGN. This study demonstrates that the oral administration of the citicoline + CoQ10 combination may exert a neuroprotective effect against RGC death in an established rodent model of OHT. Full article

This comparison study assessed the antioxidant effectiveness of two oregano essential oils extracted from different plant species, namely, Origanum syriacum L. and Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum, applied to 5% Aloe barbadensis miller gel using chicken meat. In addition, all treatment samples contained the same amount (5%) of Aloe vera gel. The results of the current research will help to distinguish between both oil types accurately. This study involved four different treatments: (1) Control, (2) 300 ppm of Origanum syriacum L. essential oil (OR-S), (3) 300 ppm of Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum (OR-V), and (4) 14 ppm of butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA). Generally, natural antioxidants have many limitations when used for meat preservation compared to synthetic ones and should be combined with natural carriers. The treated meat patties were used to analyze lipid oxidation, color, total volatiles, and specific sensorial characteristics. Based on the current investigation, comparisons between treatments (OR-V, OR-S, and BHA) demonstrated that both of the combined oregano oils showed lower TBARS values. The control treatment showed the lowest preservation effect. Origanum syriacum L. (OR-S) and OR-V showed significant antioxidant effects compared to synthetic BHA. However, OR-S exhibited the strongest significant antioxidant effect and could be the best choice for industrial meat preservation. Full article

Effects of in ovo and dietary sources of calcidiol (25(OH)D₃), combined with Marek’s disease vaccine (MDV), on the expression of genes involved with the antioxidant activity, muscle deposition, and immunity in the pectoralis major (P. major) muscle and spleen of 40 d of age (doa) broilers were investigated. The in ovo treatments were as follows: (1) non-injected; (2) the injection of 50 μL of commercial MDV, (3) MDV + 1.2, or (4) 2.4 μg of 25(OH)D₃. All birds received either a commercial diet containing no supplemental 25(OH)D₃ (control) or the same diet supplemented with an additional 69 µg of 25(OH)D₃ per kg of feed (Hy-D diet). At 40 doa, the pectoralis major (P. major) muscle and spleen of 48 birds (six replicates per diet x in ovo treatment combination) were collected. When compared to un-supplemented commercial diet-fed birds, in birds that were fed the Hy-D diet, the expression of the TGF-β4 gene in the spleen and P. major muscle, and the GSH-P1, GSH-P7, SOD2, MyoG, MyoD1, and Pax3 genes in the P. major muscle were up-regulated, whereas the expression of the IL-1β, IL-8, and CYP24A1 genes in the spleen and P. major muscle were down-regulated. Nevertheless, birds that received any of the in ovo injection doses of 25(OH)D₃ exhibited a higher expression of the IL-10, TGF-β4, and CYP27B1 genes in the spleen and P. major muscle. Furthermore, in comparison to the MDV-injected control group, the CAT, MyoD1, and Pax3 genes in the P. major muscle were up-regulated, and the expression of the INF-γ, IL-1β and CYP24A1 genes in the spleen and the IL-8, and IL-1β genes in the P. major muscle were down-regulated. In conclusion, a significant improvement in the expression of genes responsible for enzymatic antioxidant activity, protein synthesis, and inflammatory reactions in 40-day-old broilers occurred in response to in ovo and dietary supplemental 25(OH)D₃, and supplemental 25OHD₃ provided via either route was used to enhance the expression of genes linked to vitamin D activity (CYP27B1, CYP24A1). Full article

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of terpinen-4-ol (TER) supplementation on the intestinal barrier function of pigs. Five groups of fifty 28-day-old piglets with comparable body weights were randomly assigned to the following groups: the control group (CON), the lipopolysaccharide group (LPS), the low TER group (PLT), the middle TER group (PMT), and the high TER group (PHT). The basal diet was given to the CON and LPS groups, and 30, 60, or 90 mg/kg TER was added to the basal diet for the TER groups. After the 21-day trial period, piglets in the LPS and TER groups received an intraperitoneal injection of 100 μg/kg body weight of LPS, whereas the piglets in the CON group received an injection of 0.9% normal saline solution. The results showed that LPS stimulation resulted in a decrease (p < 0.05) in the depth of colonic crypts in piglets, which was greater (p < 0.05) in the TER group. Compared with those in the CON group, the number of goblet cells and MUC2 expression were decreased in the colon of piglets in the LPS group, while these parameters were increased in the PMT group (p < 0.05). The malondialdehyde (MDA) content was greater in the colon of the LPS group than in that of the CON group, while the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were lower in the colon of the LPS group; conversely, the MDA content was lower in the colons of the PLT and PMT groups than in those of the LPS group (p < 0.05). TER also reduced (p < 0.05) LPS-induced upregulation of IL-1β and TNF-α expression, along with the relative gene expression of NLRP3, ASC, and caspase-1 in the colon of piglets (p < 0.05). Compared with those in the CON group, the abundances of Firmicutes and UCG-005 in the LPS group were lower (p < 0.05), and those in the TER group were significantly greater than those in the LPS group. Compared with those in the CON group, the abundance of Proteobacteria in the LPS group increased (p < 0.05), while the abundance of Actinobacteria and Phascolarctobacterium increased (p < 0.05) in the colon of the PHT group compared with that in the LPS group. In conclusion, TER effectively improved the intestinal barrier function of the colon in weaning piglets. Based on the results of this study, the appropriate dose of TER in the diets of weaning piglets was 60 mg/kg. Full article

Many studies have evaluated the roles of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in various diseases. To date, however, no systematic review has specifically investigated the involvement of free radicals and ROS in acute otitis media (OM), OM with effusion, and chronic OM. The present study therefore assessed the roles of free radicals and ROS in OM. SCOPUS, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar were comprehensively searched to identify studies assessing the roles of free radicals and ROS in OM. Relevant studies were identified and their findings summarized. The literature search identified 21 studies. A review of their findings showed that the concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), lipid hydroperoxide (LPO), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) were elevated in patients with acute OM; that the concentrations of H₂O₂, LPO, MPO, xanthine oxidase (XO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydroxyl radical (·OH), and nitrotyrosine were elevated in patients with OM with effusion; and that the levels of nitric oxide (NO), MPO, 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were elevated in patients with chronic OM. Although some studies reported that SOD levels were increased in patients with OM with effusion, decreases in antioxidants such as SOD and catalase, as well as total antioxidant capacity, were observed across all types of OM. Although the levels of free radicals and ROS varied by type of OM, study design, control group selection, sample type, ROS and free radical markers, and antioxidant types, most studies showed increased ROS and decreased antioxidants in OM patients. These findings suggest that levels of free radicals and ROS are strongly associated with the pathophysiology of OM. Full article

This study aimed to enhance the nutritional value of jellies by fortification with polyphenol extracts derived from Pinus sylvestris L. shoots at various maturation stages. Pinus sylvestris L., a coniferous species, is widely used in traditional medicine and functional foods due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties. Its needles, bark, and shoots are commonly used to extract bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids and flavonoids. In the current study, extracts were derived from young shoots collected directly from natural forest environments and processed using a decoction method to preserve bioactive compounds. The novel jelly formulations were prepared using pine shoots harvested at three maturity stages: stage I (4 cm), stage II (8 cm), and stage III (12 cm). All determinations were conducted both on the pure decoction extracts and the jelly samples to ensure a comprehensive analysis. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) allowed the identification of eight phenolic acids and six flavonoids in the samples. Significant differences were observed between the pine shoot extracts and jellies at different development stages. Notably, stage II exhibited optimal polyphenol content (312.2 mg GAE/100 g), DPPH free radical scavenging activity (94.9%), dry matter content (79.5%), and acidity (0.79% citric acid/g). A similar pattern emerged in the jelly samples (jelly2 (pine decoction stage II) > jelly1 (pine decoction stage I)> jelly3 (pine decoction stage III)). All extracts demonstrated antioxidant potential in DPPH free radical quenching assays. FTIR analysis evaluated structural changes in phenolic compounds during jelly formulation, focusing on key absorption bands at 1600 cm⁻¹ (C=C stretching) and 3336 cm⁻¹ (-OH stretching) using a Shimadzu IR Prestige-21 spectrophotometer. Compared to extracts, jellies showed diminished band intensities, indicating thermal degradation of phenolic compounds during processing. This aligns with observed reductions in antioxidant capacity and phenolic content, suggesting partial destabilization of these bioactive compounds. However, their integration into the jelly matrix highlights the potential for functional applications. The textural attributes of jellies were also assessed, and differences were attributed to the changes in acidity and moisture content of the pine shoots during maturation. Pine shoot extracts at specific maturation stages are valuable sources of antioxidant and polyphenol compounds and were successfully employed in functional applications belonging to the food or nutraceutical industry. Full article

Background and Objectives: The plant Muscari Mill. is employed in both raw and cooked forms for the treatment of gastric diseases, as an expectorant, and for the treatment of warts and the enhancement of urine. A review of the scientific literature revealed no studies investigating the effect of Muscari neglectum (MN) water extract on gastric diseases. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a water extract of the MN plant on indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats, using a series of biochemical (SOD, CAT, GSH and MDA levels) and histopathological parameters. Methods: 60 male Sprague Dawley rats were utilized for the purposes of evaluating the acute toxicity and gastric ulcer models, with a total of 36 rats employed for these experiments (n = 6). The rats were divided into six groups: intact; indomethacin; famotidine; indomethacin and MN (100, 200, 400 mg/kg). Results: The Gastric tissue examinations at biochemical, macroscopic and pathological levels showed that MN extracts effectively prevented indo-methacin-induced gastric mucosal damage. The 400 mg/kg dose exhibited the most effective antiulcer effect, with a 69% protective efficacy. This dose caused an increase in the SOD, CAT and GSH levels and a decrease in the MDA levels compared to the IND group. Furthermore, an LC-MS/MS analysis was conducted on the water extract of MN, resulting in the identification of 14 phenolic compounds. Conclusions: Biochemical analyses and histopathological examinations demonstrated that the water extract of MN exhibited a beneficial protective effect against gastric ulceration due to its high antioxidant content. Full article

Environmental stress, notably the exposure to low temperatures during the early developmental stages of seedlings, has been identified as a critical determinant impacting the yield and quality of tomato crops cultivated in greenhouses. Silicon (Si), recognized as a beneficial element, is posited to mitigate the adverse effects of such stress on plant physiology. This study explores whether exogenous Si fertilizer can effectively alleviate the stress of low temperature and cold damage on tomato plant growth, fruit yield, and quality. Tomato plants were placed under low temperature conditions (6 °C at night, daily average temperature 15 °C), with normal temperature conditions as the control (below 16 °C at night, daily average temperature 28 °C), and two different concentrations of nano Si and ionic Si (50 mg·L⁻¹ and 200 mg·L⁻¹) were sprayed on the leaves, with an equivalent amount of deionized water as the control, for a total of 10 treatments. Relevant indexes were measured to investigate the effects of exogenous Si on tomato resistance, yield, and quality under low-temperature stress. The results show that compared with the control treatment, the plant height, stem diameter, and fresh weight of above-ground and underground parts of tomato seedlings decreased significantly by 46.52%, 42.53%, 28.81%, and 28.97%, respectively, after 15 days of low-temperature stress (p < 0.05), and in order to resist low temperature, the activity of antioxidant enzymes and the content of osmotic adjustment substances were up-regulated in seedlings. Ultimately, low-temperature stress inhibited the morphological growth, nutritional quality, and yield of fruits. Both concentrations of Si application can promote the growth and biomass accumulation of tomato plants under low temperature conditions. Moreover, it significantly ameliorated the osmotic adjustment and antioxidant capacity of the plants, thereby alleviating the low-temperature stress. Under low-temperature stress, 50 mg L⁻¹ ionic Si was the most effective for increasing tomato yield per plant, which was significantly increased by 22.44% compared with the control treatment (p < 0.05). Consequently, the study advocates for the application of 50 mg·L⁻¹ ionic Si fertilizer as a strategy to mitigate the impact of low-temperature stress on tomato plants. Furthermore, the use of nano Si fertilizer has been demonstrated to exert a significant influence on enhancing both the yield and quality of tomatoes, with a 50 mg·L⁻¹ concentration of nano Si fertilizer leading to a notable increase in yield by 20.15% under normal temperature conditions (p < 0.05). These findings are intended to furnish a theoretical foundation and practical direction for advancing research aimed at combating the detrimental effects of low-temperature stress in the context of protected vegetable cultivation. Full article

The dried leaves of Lannea velutina A.Rich. and Sorindeia juglandifolia Planch. ex Oliv. are commonly used in traditional medicine throughout West Africa to treat inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the standardized hydroethanolic (70%) extracts of these plants and to investigate the underlying mechanisms, with a focus on their antioxidant properties. The anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated using a rat model of induced paw edema, while the antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH^• radical scavenging and iron-reducing antioxidant power assays. Chemical fingerprint was achieved by LC-UV/DAD-ESI/MS and the main classes of secondary metabolites were quantified by colorimetric analysis. The results showed that Sorindeia juglandifolia extract significantly inhibited the increase in paw edema volume, with the maximum effect observed at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg (20.51 ± 1.07% and 35.50 ± 6.90%, respectively). For L. velutina, the strongest inhibition was observed at 200 and 400 mg/kg (47.48 ± 11.37% and 35.40 ± 1.70%, respectively). Both extracts also showed remarkable antioxidant activity. Phenol derivatives were identified as the main classes of secondary metabolites, with L. velutina containing 350.1 ± 20.6 mg GAE/g DE and S. juglandifolia containing 463.4 ± 29.4 mg GAE/g DE. Ten phenolic markers were identified in L. velutina and six in S. juglandifolia extracts. The main components of L. velutina include myricetin-3-O-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, catechin, and gallic acid, while S. juglandifolia contains gallic acid, isoquercitrin, and ethyl gallate. These results confirm the anti-inflammatory potential of L. velutina and S. juglandifolia and highlight their prospects as candidates for the development of standardized anti-inflammatory herbal medicines based on their chemical and biological properties. Full article

Momordica balsamina Linn is a well-known African traditional herb due to its tremendous medicinal and nutritional properties. It is used worldwide for the treatment of different ailments and diseases. In the present study, the phytochemical and antioxidant activity of South African M. balsamina fruit pulp extracts was evaluated. The fruit pulp extracts were obtained by using the serial exhaustive extraction procedure using the solvents hexane, DCM, acetone, and methanol. The resulting extracts were subjected to different standard colorimetric tests for phytochemical analysis. The presence of compounds with antioxidant activity was determined using dot plot and TLC. The DPPH radical scavenging assay, hydrogen peroxide activity, and reducing power assay, coupled with linear regression, were employed to determine the quantity of antioxidants and their IC50. The results for qualitative phytochemical screening have shown that the fruit pulp contains alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, saponins, phenolic compounds, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, and steroids. All the extracts revealed the presence of antioxidant activity in both dot plot and TLC. Acetone extracts (0.279 mg/mL) showed the lowest IC50 compared to the standards gallic acid (0.4 mg/mL) and diosgenin (0.42 mg/mL). These findings confirmed that M. balsamina is very rich in phytochemical compounds and has strong antioxidant potential; therefore, it could be a potential source of drugs which in the future may serve the production of synthetically improved therapeutic agents. Full article

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease, with inflammation and oxidative stress in the central nervous system being the main triggers. There are many drugs that reduce the clinical signs of MS, but none of them cure the disease. Food proteins have been shown to contain encrypted peptides that can be released after hydrolysis and exert numerous biological activities. Recently, we have demonstrated the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of a lupin protein hydrolysate (LPH) both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether LPH is capable of reducing the clinical signs of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a mouse model of MS. EAE was induced in female C57BL/6N mice and they were treated intragastrically with LPH (100 mg/kg) or vehicle (control group) from day 0 (prophylactic approach) or from the onset of the disease (day 12 post-induction; therapeutic approach) and the clinical score of each mouse was recorded daily. Prophylactic treatment with LPH reduced the clinical score of the mice compared to the control group, as well as the maximum and cumulative scores, without changing the day of onset of the symptoms while the therapeutic intervention did not significantly improve the severity of the disease. For the first time, we demonstrated that prophylactic administration of LPH reduces the severity of MS, suggesting a potential nutraceutical or new functional foods in neuroinflammation. However, further studies are needed to confirm this nutritional effect in a clinical context. Full article

Fresh homemade juice has become increasingly popular as it contains healthy functional ingredients without additives and preservatives but has preserved freshness and nutritional value. Capsicum annuum L. fruits are a well-known natural source of bioactive components, including phenolic compounds, carotenoids, vitamins A and C, and dietary fiber. This study assessed the physicochemical property, antioxidant activity, and bioactive compounds of three homemade sweet pepper (yellow, orange, and red) juices prepared using two household juicers: high-speed blender and low-speed masticating juicer. The results indicated that all the juices prepared using both juicers exhibited high nutritional values and antioxidant activities, as evident from the total polyphenol, carotenoid, vitamin C, and glucose contents, total antioxidant capacity, and radical scavenging activities. Among them, orange pepper juice had better functional properties. Furthermore, seedless pepper juices appeared to be better than those with seeds. Additionally, pepper juices prepared using the low-speed juicer exhibited higher physicochemical and functional characteristics than those prepared using the high-speed blender throughout the 14-day storage period. These results demonstrate that seedless orange juice has diverse bioactive components and high antioxidant capacities. Moreover, using a low-speed juicer offers distinct advantages over a high-speed blender in producing pepper juices with superior quality and functional properties. Full article

Spirulina platensis is a natural antioxidant product that has the ability to improve the performance of poultry. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of using Spirulina platensis as a feed additive in broiler diets. A total of 252 daily male Ross 308 chicks were randomly assigned to six groups. There were two different protein groups: one was at the catalog protein value, and the other was reduced by 10%. Spirulina platensis at 0, 0.1, and 0.2% was added to each protein group. The trial lasted 41 days. Reducing the protein level by 10% had a negative impact on the performance of the chicks. However, Spirulina platensis supplementation had a positive effect on the feed conversion ratio, reduced the oxidative stress index in the chicks’ liver and meat, increased the total antioxidant status and antioxidant enzyme activities, improved the villus height, serum IgG, and some bone parameters, and reduced the serum triglyceride concentration. The carcass yield, visceral organ weight percentages, total phenolic content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the thigh meat and some serum biochemical parameters were not affected by the usage of Spirulina platensis. In conclusion, 0.1% Spirulina platensis could be a feasible feed additive in low-protein diets due to eliciting an improved performance, antioxidant status, and immune response in broilers. Full article

Cannabis sativa, often called hemp, is a medicinal plant belonging to the Cannabaceae family and is widely recognized for its therapeutic applications. After the industrial supercritical CO₂ extraction method, hemp residue biomass was recovered, and a significant quantity of bioactive compounds was identified. Therefore, it is of paramount importance to study whether they can be further exploited using green techniques. In the present work, hemp leaf residues were treated using two extraction techniques: one conventional stirring extraction (STE) and one green pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). The latter technique is a promising and swift method for the efficient extraction of valuable molecules from natural sources. The two techniques were optimized through Response Surface Methodology, and the optimized parameters were the appropriate solvent, temperature, and extraction duration. The aim was to maximize the yield of bioactive compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid) from hemp leaf residue and evaluate their antioxidant activity using the most appropriate technique. The results showed that after three 5 min PLE cycles, the recovered individual polyphenols were comparable (p > 0.05) to a 45 min STE (19.34 and 20.84 mg/g, respectively), as well as in antioxidant capacity assays and other bioactive compounds. These findings emphasize the efficacy of the rapid PLE approach as an effective extraction technique to enhance the value of hemp leaf residues while maximizing the concentration of high-added value molecules. Full article