Preventive Nutrition and Food Science最新文献

Anthocyanins (ANCs) are water-soluble pigments with antioxidant properties, offering potential as alternatives to synthetic food colorants. However, their stability is compromised by factors such as pH, temperature, and light exposure. Previous research demonstrated improved pH stability in black grape ANCs through cobalt ion (Co⁺²) complexation. This study investigates the effects of Co⁺² complexation on the thermal and light stability of black grape ANCs extracted from pomace. These ANCs were purified, complexed with Co⁺² (ANC-Co⁺²), and diluted in a pH 4.5 buffer solution. Purified ANCs were also diluted in a pH 3.5 buffer solution. Both ANCs and ANC-Co⁺² were heated to 40°C, 60°C, and 80°C for 7 h to assess thermal stability. To evaluate light stability, ANCs and ANC-Co⁺² were stored separately under ultraviolet (UV) light and daylight for one week. Thermal stability results revealed that complexation could significantly (P≤0.05) extend ANC half-life by more than threefold and reduce temperature sensitivity by approximately 50%. Thermal degradation of ANCs was endothermic, nonspontaneous, and more structured in the transition state, as indicated by thermodynamic parameters (activation enthalpy (ΔH)>0, free energy of inactivation (ΔG)>0, and activation entropy (ΔS)<0). Light stability tests revealed that complexation significantly (P≤0.05) extended ANC half-life by over tenfold and twentyfold under UV and daylight exposure, respectively. Therefore, Co⁺² complexation represents an effective technique to enhance the thermal and light stability of grape ANCs, making them more suitable for use as food colorants.

Phytonutrients (e.g., phenolic compounds and flavonoids) are secondary plant metabolites that play an important role in the defense against pathogens and protection from oxidative injury because of their potential ability to neutralize reactive oxygen species. The present study aimed to determine the antioxidant contents, scavenging activity, and toxicity of aqueous extracts of common Omani plants. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and brine shrimp lethality of the aqueous extracts of commonly used Omani ethnobotanical plants were evaluated. The samples exhibited a wide range of the investigated parameters. TPC ranged from 0.52 to 65.14 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry solid, whereas TFC ranged from 0.07 to 37.14 mg catechin equivalent/g dry solid. Moreover, the scavenging activity ranged from 6.9% to 91.9%. Among 18 plant species that were examined, Pteropyrum scoparium, Moringa peregrina, Dodonaea viscosa, Rhus aucheri, Acridocarpus orientalis, and Prosopis cineraria showed high values in almost all parameters. At exposure levels of 1 to 1,000 μg/mL, the lethality test using four plants with the highest TPC values and scavenging activity (M. peregrina, P. scoparium, R. aucheri, and P. cineraria) revealed that they may be safe for consumption as food or medicine. In general, the study demonstrated that some Omani plant species may be potential sources of phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Thus, these plant species should be propagated to be used in the food and nutraceutical industries. Moreover, they can be consumed to combat chronic oxidative stress-mediated diseases.

In Colombia, there is a long tradition of using bijao (Calathea lutea) leaves to package or wrap various foods. However, scientific studies on C. lutea are limited, and research to evaluate its toxicity and/or antibacterial activity has not yet been conducted. The objective of this research, therefore, was to evaluate the content of phytochemical compounds, levels of toxicity, and antibacterial activity of the extracts, fractions, and essential oil derived from C. lutea leaves. The plant material was subjected to extraction by maceration, Soxhlet extraction, and steam distillation, and fractions of hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and a residual ethanol-water fraction were obtained. Preliminary phytochemical screening was performed using standard procedures with staining reagents. Estimation of the toxicity was carried out using the Caenorhabditis elegans biological model. Antibacterial activity was determined by broth microdilution against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The results showed that the characteristic metabolites were flavonoids, triterpenes, and tannins. At the concentrations tested, the extracts, fractions, and essential oil showed minimal toxicity levels. In terms of antibacterial activity, E. coli showed no susceptibility; meanwhile, the dichloromethane fraction had high antibacterial activity against S. aureus, with a growth inhibition rate of 81.2%. The results suggested that the of dichloromethane fraction of C. lutea has antibacterial activity against S. aureus, suggesting its potential as a possible candidate as a natural antibacterial agent in the food industry. This alternative could offer a safer and more sustainable solution compared to the conventional synthetic preservatives.

Capsicum annuum L. cultivar Dangjo (DJ), developed as a novel crop, possesses potential health benefits, such as reducing blood glucose levels. DJ contains flavonoid glycosides, bioactive compounds that have been found in various plants and have promising pharmacological effects. A representative flavonol glycoside is quercitrin, a standard compound. Notwithstanding, its adoption by the food industry, it is necessary to standardize the quantification of quercitrin in DJ. Thus, an analytical method needs to be developed and validated to quantify quercitrin accurately. In this study, we established a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantifying quercitrin in DJ extracts (DJEs); then, we validated the method, to ensure its accuracy and reliability. Our results demonstrated that the HPLC method effectively detecteds quercitrin in DJE samples, consistently reporting retention times and peak spectra similar to those in the standard solutions. The linearity assessment revealed a linear response within the concentration range of 2.5 to 15.0 μg/mL, which was supported by strong correlation coefficients (R²>0.9997). Accuracy assessment via recovery studies produced satisfactory results (89.02%－99.30%), with a relative standard deviation (RSD) within acceptable limits (0.50%－5.95%). Precision analysis confirmed the repeatability and reproducibility of the method, with RSD values within the Association of Official Agricultural Chemists (AOAC) standard criteria (≤8%). Overall, our study provides a validated HPLC method for quercitrin quantification in DJEs, facilitating its standardization and ensuring the accuracy of the analysis. This method is potentially valuable for quality control and further research on the health-promoting properties of DJ.

Coscinium fenestratum, a medicinal plant traditionally used in Southeast Asia, exerts protective effects against various inflammatory diseases, primarily due to its rich alkaloid content. Despite substantial evidence supporting its anti-inflammatory properties, the biological activities of C. fenestratum are unclear. This study aimed to elucidate anticolitis mechanisms of C. fenestratum alkaloids (CFAs) using an integrative approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking analyses. Key active alkaloids and core target genes were identified through pharmacological and protein-protein interaction networks. The core targets were enriched in the Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways to determine the functional properties of active CFA. Finally, the binding affinity of the key compounds with the core targets was determined using molecular docking. The results showed that 11 active CFAs interactively interfered with 10 hub genes related to ulcerative colitis, including prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), selectin E (SELE), kinase insert domain receptor (KDR), fms-related receptor tyrosine kinase 1 (FLT1), intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1), C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4), hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF1A), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP3, and MMP9, which were functionally involved in the immunological response, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, and interleukin-17 signaling pathway. The molecular docking results indicated that CFA compounds had a strong binding affinity for the hub genes. The findings reveal, for the first time, a therapeutic role of CFA in alleviating ulcerative colitis through its predicted interactions with relevant biological targets.

The objective of this study was to examine the lignan content and antioxidant activity of eight Korean sesame seed varieties. We analyzed the lignan content using two different techniques: (1) liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, and (2) high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with ultraviolet detection. We identified that in sesame seeds, the sesamolin lignan occurs at the highest concentration (ranging between 4.427 mg/g and 10.258 mg/g). Further, the lignan content was highest in the sesame variety Haniall (ranging between 5.220 mg/g and 12.684 mg/g). The Ansan sesame variety showed the greatest antioxidant activity in the relevant tests, exhibiting superior scavenging activities toward 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals, along with a higher total polyphenol concentration. In addition, we found that the total polyphenol content of sesame is strongly and positively correlated with its radical scavenging activity, especially against ABTS radicals. These findings highlight that different sesame varieties can be potentially be used as functional foods with antioxidant activities.

This study investigated the rheological and tribological properties of cold beverages [bottled water (BW), sports drink (SD), orange juice (OJ), and whole milk (WM)] thickened with various concentrations (1%, 2%, and 3%, w/w) of xanthan gum-based food thickeners. All thickened beverages exhibited high pseudoplastic behavior, with increasing thickener concentration leading to higher viscosity and viscoelastic moduli and a lower flow behavior index. Thickened BW, SD, and WM exhibited typical Stribeck curves covering the boundary, mixed, and hydrodynamic lubrication regimes. However, thickened OJ displayed a different curve pattern comprising five regimes because of the presence of small pulp and gel particles. As the thickener concentration was increased, the maximum friction coefficient (μ) values of thickened BW, SD, and OJ decreased, whereas that of thickened WM increased because of the depletion flocculation of emulsion particles. The maximum μ values of thickened beverages, except for thickened WM, were positively correlated with n and tan δ values with increasing thickener concentration. Thus, the tribological characteristics of cold thickened beverages had a good relationship with their rheological properties, which were greatly influenced by the thickener concentration and beverage type.

Ripening karanda fruits are a natural source of phytochemicals, which exhibit various biological properties. The present study aimed to determine the types of phytochemicals, biological properties, and cytotoxic and hemolytic effects of ripening karanda fruits. Two mechanical tools were used to collect the phytochemicals under low temperatures during the extraction process. The extracts were investigated for antioxidants using a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. The total phenolic contents were studied using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The phytochemicals of the total extract were analyzed by gas column chromatography-mass spectrometry. The saccharide types, including the total sugar content, were determined using thin-layer chromatography and the Lane-Eynon method. The total ascorbic acid was analyzed in accordance with the AOAC 967.21 method. The cytotoxic and hemolytic effects of phytochemicals were investigated using human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) and human red blood cells (hRBCs). The results showed that the appropriation for repeated ultrasonic extraction is four times. The fresh ripening karanda fruit (Fresh-RKF) and freeze-dried powder of ripening karanda fruit extracts exhibited antioxidant activity in vitro and exerted a noncytotoxic effect on hPBMCs at a concentration of ≤2.5 mg/mL and a hemolytic effect on hRBCs at a concentration of >5.0 mg/mL. The Fresh-RKF extract comprised 0.27% of total sugar and 0.01% of ascorbic acid. These data could support the development of supplemental foods using ripening karanda fruits as the primary ingredient.

Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) is a popular herb in Ayurveda, the traditional medicine system in India. It is known to exert stress-mitigating properties and has been extensively studied for its safety and efficacy in various disorders. This in vivo study assessed the effects of Ashwagandha root extract (ARE) on stress in rats. The anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of ARE were assessed using the elevated plus maze test, sucrose preference test, and forced swim test. The rats were divided into the following groups: control group (no disease), disease control group (no treatment), standardized ARE group (test; ARE administered in doses of 27, 54, and 108 mg/kg body weight), and fluoxetine group (active control). Biochemical parameters in the serum [monoamine oxidase (MAO)-A, MAO-B, serotonin, cortisol, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)] and brain tissue (serotonin) were estimated at the end of 36 days to understand the potential mechanism behind the anxiolytic and antidepressant effects of ARE. The behavior test results indicated significant improvement in anxiety and depression-like behavior with ARE treatment in a rat model exposed to a validated protocol of chronic variable stress. The results of biochemical analyses revealed a significant increase in serotonin and BDNF levels and a decrease in CRH, ACTH, and cortisol levels. The inflammatory markers IL-6 and TNF-α were also significantly reduced with ARE treatment. ARE demonstrated notable effects on anxiety and depression markers in rats, indicating its potential as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent.

Chicken essence (CE) is known for its antihypertensive properties. However, few studies have investigated the effects of CE in prehypertensive individuals. Here, we conducted a randomized crossover clinical trial on prehypertensive offspring of hypertensive parents to evaluate the effects of preworkout CE consumption (CEC) on post-exercise hypotension (PEH) and cardiac autonomic and vascular responses. Ten prehypertensive males participated in three randomly ordered sessions: a resting control (REST) condition and two exercise conditions involving CEC and an exercise control (CON). The participants in the CEC condition consumed CE daily for seven days prior to the experimental sessions. Measurements were taken before and after each intervention. The results showed that the CEC condition resulted in significantly lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) at night compared with the CON and REST conditions (P<0.05 and P<0.01, respectively). This reduction in SBP and MAP in the CEC condition was observed as early as 10 min and persisted for up to 12 h after a single exercise session. Only the CEC condition showed significantly higher root mean square of successive differences at night (P<0.05) and across a 24-h period (P<0.05). Moreover, we observed a significantly lower brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity 30 min post-exercise (P<0.05). These findings support the efficacy of CE in promoting PEH, particularly with greater reductions in SBP, DBP, and MAP at night, while also enhancing post-exercise vagal activity and reducing vascular stiffness. Thus, CEC may be an effective strategy for preventing hypertension.