Preventive Nutrition and Food Science最新文献

The development of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is closely linked to inflammatory damage and dysbiosis. Recently, probiotics are being increasingly used to improve intestinal health. Probiotic-based therapies can prevent IBD by restoring the balance of gastrointestinal microbiota, reducing gut inflammation, and increasing the concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum Dad-13, a novel probiotic strain derived from dadih (Indonesian curd from buffalo milk), on 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in BALB/c mice. The results showed that probiotic Dad-13 supplementation at a dose of 10⁷ or 10⁹ CFU/mL improved the clinical symptoms of IBD and enhanced the production of SCFAs, particularly propionate and butyrate. Moreover, probiotic Dad-13 supplementation significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β] and significantly increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10). These findings show that L. plantarum Dad-13 can effectively prevent TNBS-induced colitis by modulating SCFA production and inflammatory cytokines.

Patients with gastrointestinal (GI) disorders might benefit from probiotic supplementation to resolve their bowel symptoms and enhance their quality of life (QoL). This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of oral probiotic supplementation on improving QoL. Relevant studies were systematically searched in online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, ProQuest, and Google Scholar up to September 2022 using relevant keywords. Studies that were conducted on GI patients and presented QoL outcomes were included. The Revised Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool and the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Intervention tool were used to assess the risk of bias. Of the 4,555 results found in the systematic search of databases, only 36 studies were eligible for evaluation. According to this systematic review, 24 studies reported improvements, whereas 12 studies reported no improvements on QoL in GI patients supplemented with probiotics. We found that probiotics may improve the QoL of patients with GI diseases and related metabolic complications. Therefore, probiotics can be a useful supportive treatment strategy in these patients.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced from energy metabolism and may cause diseases or cell death. Antioxidation refers to the suppression of ROS production and is considered beneficial in preventing diseases. This study aimed to examine the antioxidative effects of Cnidium officinale Makino (COM) extracts and fractions using Caenorhabditis elegans as an experimental model. The COM ethanol extract was fractionated according to polarity. The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction of COM showed powerful radical scavenging activities and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase in C. elegans in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the ethyl acetate fraction reduced the ROS production rate in C. elegans and increased the cell survival rate, suggesting oxidative and thermal stress resistance. In addition, the SOD-3::green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression level in the transformed cells of C. elegans (CF1553) increased, suggesting oxidative stress resistance. Similarly, the HSP-16.2::GFP expression level increased, suggesting thermal stress resistance. In conclusion, the ethyl acetate fraction of COM demonstrated the strongest antioxidative effects, indicating that it may help extend longevity.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), often triggered by endothelial barrier disruption through vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), is a leading cause of blindness. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of phenolic compounds on VEGF-induced endothelial cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and permeability using human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (hRECs). Thirty-seven polyphenolic compounds were selected from various databases based on their antioxidant properties, abundance in food, and solubility. These compounds significantly reduced migration, tube formation, and endothelial permeability in VEGF-stimulated hRECs. Notably, formononetin, eriodictyol, biochanin A, and p-coumaric acid were more effective in suppressing VEGF-induced angiogenesis and endothelial permeability than lutein. Molecular docking simulations revealed that formononetin, eriodictyol, and biochanin A had relatively lower binding energies with VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2) than lutein and sorafenib. These findings highlight the potential of phenolic compounds to be used as VEGFR2 inhibitors and an alternative strategy for preventing AMD.

This study investigated the effect of the autoclaving-cooling (AC) cycle and the starch-to-water ratio on the chemical, morphological, color, and pasting properties of foxtail millet starch to improve its utilization in the food industry. Starch suspensions were prepared using different starch-to-water ratios (i.e., 1:1 and 1:4), with one to three AC cycles for each ratio. Subsequently, the chemical, morphological, color, and pasting properties of native and autoclaved-cooled foxtail millet starch (ACFS) were determined. The results showed that ACFS had higher overall resistant starch (RS) content than native starch. AC treatment reduced the lightness and whiteness index, gelatinization time, and pasting temperature while increasing particle sizes with irregular shapes and surfaces. Starch treated with distilled water at a 1:1 ratio with two AC cycles (1:1-2C) exhibited the highest amylose, starch, and RS contents with stable pasting properties compared with that in other AC treatments. Pasting stability was indicated by the low breakdown viscosity and high trough and final viscosity. The findings suggest that ACFS treated with 1:1-2C could be a stabilizer and functional food.

In this study, we aimed to investigate the regulatory effects of a green tea and java pepper mixture (GTP) on the gut microbiome and microRNA (miR)-221/222 expression in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Male C57BL/6J mice were divided into four groups: DSS-, DSS+, GTP50, and GTP100. In the GTP50 and GTP100 groups, GTP was orally administered to mice at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight, respectively, every day for 2 weeks, and colitis was induced in the DSS+, GTP50, and GTP100 groups by adding 3% DSS to their drinking water for 1 week. GTP was found to mitigate the severity of inflammation and the damage to goblet cells caused by DSS-induced colitis. The results showed that compared with the DSS- group, the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes was increased and that of Proteobacteria and Candidatus Melainabacteria was decreased in the GTP100 group. The ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes was also reduced in the GTP100 group. However, GTP administration did not modulate the microbial diversity. GTP administration upregulated the mRNA and protein levels of occludin and zonula occludens 1. In addition, GTP effectively downregulated the expression of miR-221 and miR-222. Overall, GTP altered the gut microbiota composition and downregulated colonic miR-221/222 expression in mice with DSS-induced colitis.

Among the most frequent causes of respiratory infections in humans are influenza A virus H1N1 (H1N1), influenza B virus (IVB), and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Echinacea is a perennial wildflower belonging to the Asteraceae family. Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench is a species belonging to the Echinacea genus. Its characteristic compound, chicoric acid (CA), is known for its physiological activities, including antiviral effects and immune enhancement. Activities of E. purpurea 60% ethanol extract (EPE) and CA in inhibiting infections caused by H1N1, IVB, and RSV subtype A (RSV-A) were evaluated through plaque inhibition tests, quantification of viral gene expression, and analysis of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images. Additionally, inhibitory activities of EPE and CA for hemagglutination and neuraminidase (NA) of H1N1 and IVB were determined. In the plaque reduction assays, both EPE and CA reduced infectivity against H1N1, IVB, and RSV-A. Furthermore, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that EPE and CA reduced gene expression levels for H1N1, IVB, and RSV-A, whereas TEM image analysis confirmed their inhibitory effects on host cell infection by these viruses. Hemagglutination assays exhibited the ability of EPE and CA to hinder H1N1 and IVB attachment to host cell receptors. Furthermore, EPE and CA displayed inhibition activity against the NA of H1N1 and IVB. These findings suggest that EPE and CA can suppress the infection and propagation of H1N1, IVB, and RSV-A, demonstrating their potential as preventive and therapeutic agents for viral respiratory infections or as ingredients for health functional foods.

Exogenous proline can improve the growth, aroma intensities, and bioactive compounds of rice. This study evaluated the effects of gamma irradiation under proline conditions on the 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (2AP), phenolic, and flavonoid contents of rice. Moreover, the bioactive compounds of gamma-irradiated rice under proline conditions that inhibited α-glucosidase and α-amylase were evaluated by in silico study. A low gamma dose (40 Gy) induced the highest rice growth under 5 mM proline concentration. The highest 2AP content was stimulated at a gamma dose of 5－100 Gy under 10 mM proline concentration. At 500 and 1,000 Gy gamma dose, the highest flavonoid and phenolic contents of rice were stimulated. 1-(2-Hydroxy-5-methylphenyl)-ethanone, which had the highest binding affinity (-7.9 kcal/mol) against α-glucosidase, was obtained at 500 and 1,000 Gy gamma dose under 5 and 10 mM proline concentrations. Meanwhile, 6-amino-1,3,5-triazine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione, which had the highest binding affinity (-6.3 kcal/mol) against α-amylase, was obtained under 10 mM proline concentration in non-gamma-irradiated rice. The results indicate that using a combination of gamma irradiation and exogenous proline is suitable for producing new rice varieties. Moreover, the bioactive compounds that were obtained in new rice varieties exhibited health benefits, especially for diabetes mellitus treatment (inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase).

In this study, we investigated the effect of roasting conditions and time on the physicochemical properties of pomegranate seed oil. We analyzed the fatty acid, total phenolic, flavonoid, tocopherol, and phytosterol contents of pomegranate seed oil extracted under four conditions: raw, heated at 160°C for 15 min, heated at 160°C for 20 min, and heated at 180°C for 10 min, which included three that were well-established to enhance nutritional and flavor properties. Furthermore, the oxidative stability was evaluated based on the acid value, peroxide value, and induction period. Roasting significantly decreased the contents of punicic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, tocopherol, and phytosterol and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity (P<0.05) of the oil. Conversely, saturated fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, acid value, peroxide value, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and induction period were significantly increased (P<0.05). Our results suggest that the roasting conditions were nutritionally and oxidatively stable, thereby enhancing the roasting process and providing a database for essential roasting treatments for pomegranate seed oil.

Considering the diverse findings regarding the impact of osmotic pretreatment on the quality of dried products, it is important to determine whether osmotic pretreatment can either maintain or reduce the quality of fruit products. Thus, the present study aimed to scrutinize research regarding the influence of osmotic pretreatment on the qualities of dried fruits through meta-analysis. The Scopus database was used to search for relevant articles. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses protocol, 26 studies that met the criteria for meta-analysis were identified. The presentation included statistics (mean, standard deviation, sample size) and moderator variables (fruit types, osmotic agents, solution concentrations, drying methods, and drying temperatures). After pooling data using a random effects model, the OpenMEE software was used to conduct meta-analysis. The results showed that osmo-dried fruits had significantly decreased total color difference, titratable acidity, total flavonoid content, and vitamins B₁ and B₃ (P<0.05) and significantly increased β-carotene and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl levels (P<0.05). Osmotic pretreatment did not affect total phenolic content and vitamin C. Subgroup analysis highlighted the influence of moderator variables on the quality of osmo-dried fruits, with each fruit responding differently to osmotic pretreatment. Moreover, using 10% sugar solution as an additive effectively enhanced the quality of dried fruits. In addition, osmotic dehydration can be combined with convective drying at a temperature of 60°C for optimal results in the drying process.