Food Science & Nutrition最新文献

Ficus carica L. leaves represent an underutilized agricultural byproduct despite growing consumer interest in functional foods. Four fig leaf cultivars representing diverse geographic origins (BTM, Black Violet, Longue d'Aout, and Sultane) were compared to investigate drying temperature (50°C–80°C) effects on bioactivity through water extraction. The extract demonstrating superior antioxidant activity was subsequently evaluated for safety using cell-based cytotoxicity testing. Bioactive profiling assessed total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy with principal component analysis (PCA) accomplished cultivar discrimination. Cell-based cytotoxicity testing via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay evaluated safety on Caco-2, HepG2, and THLE-2 cells. Results identified 60°C as the optimal drying temperature across all cultivars (p < 0.05). Longue d'Aout demonstrated superior bioactivity: TPC = 53.8 mg GAE/g extract, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) IC₅₀ = 0.96 mg/mL. Higher temperatures (70°C–80°C) significantly reduced bioactivity. Conversely, ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) revealed cultivar-specific temperature responses. FTIR-PCA successfully discriminated cultivars with 96.8% accuracy (PC-1: 85%, PC-2: 7%). All extracts demonstrated excellent safety (IC₅₀ = 7–15.3 mg/mL, safety factor 70–1530×). Selective cytotoxicity to cancer cells emerged: HepG2 (IC₅₀ = 7 mg/mL) versus hepatocytes THLE-2 (IC₅₀ = 15.3 mg/mL), showing 2.18-fold selectivity. FTIR achieved 96.8% discrimination accuracy for quality control. Water-based extraction assessment confirmed excellent safety profiles in normal hepatocytes and selective cancer cell toxicity. Superior bioactivity and excellent safety profiles validate fig leaf extracts as safe functional food ingredients, warranting investigation into their potential anti-cancer mechanisms.

This study aimed to develop an oral solid dispersion nutrient delivery system of resveratrol (RSV) and Eudragit E PO (E PO) for the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis. The RSV-E PO solid dispersion, prepared by the solvent method at a drug—polymer ratio of 1:7 (w/w), turned resveratrol into an amorphous state, as proved by SEM, DSC, XRD, and FTIR. Over 80% of resveratrol was released in vitro, a 13-fold increase compared to raw resveratrol. In male Sprague—Dawley rats, its oral administration (20 mg·kg⁻¹) doubled bioavailability versus unformulated resveratrol. Evaluated in an adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) model, the compound demonstrated significant anti-arthritic effects. These protective effects were primarily mediated through the modulation of key inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways, as evidenced by a marked reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, coupled with an increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD). Also, its safety was confirmed by stable AST, ALT, CREA, and BUN levels. In summary, the RSV-E PO solid dispersion, with better dissolution and bioavailability, serves as an effective oral nutrient delivery system for RSV.

The increasing consumption of dietary supplements among physically active individuals raises concerns about labeling compliance and consumer safety, particularly in Morocco, where data remain limited. This study assessed the labeling compliance of dietary supplements with national and international regulations in the Beni Mellal–Khénifra region. An observational study was conducted between December 2024 and May 2025 on 403 dietary supplements collected from fitness centers, parapharmacies, and supermarkets. Products were evaluated using a 30-item regulatory checklist, and data were analyzed using Chi-squared tests and Spearman correlations. Overall, 81.39% of supplements were non-compliant. The highest non-compliance was observed in creatine and amino acid-based products (100%) and multivitamins (86.2%), while medicinal plant-based supplements showed lower non-compliance (48%). Missing regulatory information, including dietary category, energy value, safety warnings, and registration numbers, was significantly associated with non-compliance (p < 0.001). Imported products were significantly less compliant than locally produced ones (r = −0.694, p < 0.001). The high prevalence of labeling non-compliance highlights the urgent need for strengthened regulatory enforcement and market surveillance to improve consumer protection and labeling transparency.

Phytosterols, a form of naturally occurring substance structurally related to cholesterol, have been getting considerable interest due to their possible anticancer property. They have multifactorial modes of action such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic, which render them useful in the prevention and treatment of prostate, breast, colon, bladder, and skin cancer. Phytosterol prevents cancer development by scavenging reactive oxidative species (ROS) and boosting antioxidant enzymes, thus inhibiting DNA damage and cell mutations that cause cancerous development. They also regulate important signal transduction processes such as NF-kB, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK/ERK that drive cell growth, survival, and metastasis. Phytosterols induce apoptosis, block the cell cycle, and abrogate the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, offering a multi-manifestation treatment of cancer. Nevertheless, their clinical use is limited due to factors like low bioavailability, which can be overcome with research in nanotechnology and drug delivery schemes. However, based on preclinical and epidemiological studies, phytosterols can be used as a useful adjunctive component to cancer treatments. More studies are required to work out clinical testing and streamlined delivery to maximize their effectiveness in cancer treatment.

Ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1), a major bioactive component of Panax ginseng, exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, positioning it as a promising therapeutic agent in neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. This review critically examines the current literature on GRg1, emphasizing its molecular mechanisms, pharmacological pathways, and clinical translation in complementary medicine. GRg1 demonstrates protective effects in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), ischemic stroke, cardiovascular dysfunction, diabetes, and aging, acting primarily through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Wnt/β-catenin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma/heme oxygenase-1 (PPARγ/HO-1) signaling pathways. Evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies indicates that GRg1 enhances cellular resilience, reduces oxidative damage, and regulates apoptosis. Despite its broad therapeutic potential, low bioavailability remains a major limitation, warranting the development of advanced delivery systems such as nanoparticles and liposomes. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive assessment of GRg1's pharmacological actions and highlights its growing relevance as a multifunctional therapeutic agent in complementary and integrative medicine.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. This study investigated whether alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a redox-active compound with established anti-inflammatory properties, can inhibit the activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Kupffer cells and mitigate inflammation-induced insulin resistance in FL83B hepatocytes. Kupffer cells were pretreated with ALA prior to exposure to LPS and either adenosine triphosphate or nigericin to activate NLRP3 inflammasome. The resulting conditioned medium was collected for cytokine analysis and subsequently used to treat FL83B hepatocytes. ALA reduced LPS-induced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas a modest but significant decrease in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was observed only at the highest dose (2000 μM; p < 0.05). Western blot analysis demonstrated that ALA suppressed the expression of NLRP3 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) (p < 0.05) and inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Additionally, ALA preserved mitochondrial membrane potential in Kupffer cells. Kupffer cells treated with ALA (100 μM) prior to LPS stimulation significantly enhanced glucose uptake and upregulated the expression of insulin signaling related proteins, including phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (p-PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) and glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2) expression, in FL83B hepatocytes cultured with a conditioned medium from LPS-primed and ATP/nigericin-stimulated Kupffer cells (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the potential of ALA as a modulator of hepatic immune-metabolic interactions and support its therapeutic relevance for managing insulin resistance in T2DM.

Honey, bee pollen, propolis, bee bread, royal jelly, bee venom, beeswax, and apilarnil are among the bee-derived products that may serve health-related purposes, as they exhibit various biological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, vasodilatory, and blood pressure-lowering effects. In this review, the possible health effects and action mechanisms of bee products frequently used in apitherapy were examined. The therapeutic potential of bee-derived products is attributed to their content of amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, polyphenols, and various other bioactive components that contribute to immune system support. In addition, it is known that these products have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects, thanks to their bioactive component content, and have a positive effect on cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases caused by oxidative stress. The lack of standardization of bee products hinders the clarity of relevant studies. To comprehensively clarify the health impacts of bee-derived products, further research employing standardized preparations is required. Future research involving clinical trials of bee-derived products with varying dosages and durations may help elucidate their potential link to human health. Additionally, epidemiological and clinical studies are needed on the usefulness of bee products to make generalizations.

Curcuminoids are bioactive polyphenols, mainly extracted from Curcuma longa (turmeric), and have received much attention due to their pleiotropic anticancer properties. Recent evidence suggests that curcumin and analogs prevent the activation of a variety of signaling pathways, including the MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-kB pathways, resulting in the induction of apoptosis, prevention of proliferation, and suppression. In addition to these processes, curcumin has been shown to enhance the efficacy of the conventional anti-cancer modalities such as radiation and chemotherapy. By suppressing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are enzymes that break down the extracellular matrix and promote cancer cell invasion and metastasis, curcumin also demonstrates anti-metastatic qualities. Inflammation and the advancement of cancer are linked to the NF-κB signaling pathways, which are also suppressed by curcuminoids. Along with these processes, curcumin has demonstrated the ability to improve the effectiveness of traditional cancer treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy. It increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to various therapies, which enhances the therapeutic results. However, curcumin's low bioavailability limits its therapeutic use. Its anticancer potency may be increased, and this restriction may be overcome due to recent developments in drug delivery technologies, such as curcumin-loaded nanoparticles. Since they can target several different molecular pathways and improve the effectiveness of current treatments, curcuminoids are a promising family of chemicals for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Human health and ever-increasing disease burden demand the inclusion of traditional medicines in modern healthcare sectors. Phytochemicals extracted from medicinal plants can be utilized to prepare nutritious and quality food products that could offer nutritional and curative benefits. This review highlights the nutritional, phytochemical, and therapeutic profile of Salvia coccinea and its bioactive compound i.e., apigenin. Salvia coccinea, the urban green, scarlet, lance-shaped flower, is cultivated in warm climatic conditions from summer to autumn. The micronutrient-dense (sodium, calcium, potassium, zinc, nitrogen, and copper) leaves can prevent micronutrient-deficiency disorders among consumers. Furthermore, apigenin along with other bioactive constituents e.g., luteolin, flavonoids, and phenolic acids offer strong antioxidants, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-cardiovascular properties. The free radical scavenging potential of Salvia coccinea and apigenin is responsible for reduced oxidative stress and tumor cell metastasis modulated through PARP-cleavage, caspase-3, ERK, CDK-1, JAK2/STAT3, Bax/Bcl-2, AMPK, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. They attenuate inflammation-induced disorders such as cardiovascular and neurological disorders via down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, CRP, COX-2, LPO, TGF-β1, NF-κB, and TNF-α), and pathways (IRAK4, MAPK, JAK/STAT3, TLR4, and ERK). The antimicrobial properties against multiple bacterial, viral, and fungal strains make them effective candidates for alleviating microbial disorders. Furthermore, apigenin and Salvia coccinea promote hypoglycemic effect by attenuating α-amylase activity, cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, DRP1 expression by improving GLUT4, GSK-3β, AMPK/PI3K/Nrf2, and Akt pathways. Moreover, Salvia coccinea regulates wound healing after infection, injury, or surgery, in addition to improving agricultural productivity by reducing rodent attacks.