Preventive Nutrition and Food Science最新文献

Recently, there has been increasing interest in exploring the effects of royal jelly on athletic performance. This systematic review examined existing literature on the effects of royal jelly on athletic performance. We conducted a detailed search in the Institute for Scientific Information, PubMed/Medline, Cochrane Library, and Scopus databases. We meticulously selected nine studies from an initial pool of 97 studies up to June 2024. Our findings will provide evidence supporting the beneficial effects of royal jelly in reducing blood lactate levels and enhancing athletic performance. Additionally, royal jelly does not affect muscle damage or its associated markers. However, the influence of royal jelly on athletes' body composition measurements remains inconclusive, highlighting the need for further research.

Capsicum oleoresin (CO) is a concentrated extract derived from peppers (Capsicum annum L.) containing capsaicin (the active compound responsible for its pungency) and other bioactive components. The present study aimed to determine whether CO affects the energy expenditure and mitochondrial content of brown adipose tissue (BAT) in diet-induced obese mice. Four-week-old C57BL/6J mice were divided into three groups and fed with a normal chow diet, 45% high-fat diet (HF), or HF supplemented with 0.01% CO (HF+CO) for 16 weeks. The results showed that CO supplementation significantly suppressed weight gain and improved serum lipid profiles compared with HF feeding. The energy expenditure was significantly higher in the HF+CO group than in the HF group. Compared with the HF group, the HF+CO group had significantly upregulated the messenger RNA expression levels of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α) in BAT. The mitochondrial DNA content, which was reduced by HF intake, was significantly restored in the HF+CO group. Furthermore, the mitochondrial size and number were restored in the HF+CO group than in in the HF group. The activity of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in BAT was significantly increased in the HF+CO group than in the HF group. In conclusion, CO potentially inhibits weight gain by increasing energy expenditure in diet-induced obese mice. This beneficial effect is likely associated with the enhancement of mitochondrial content by upregulating key markers, including UCP1, PGC-1α, and AMPK, in BAT.

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, poses an emerging threat as it can lead to colorectal cancer, thrombosis, and other chronic conditions. The present study demonstrated the protective effects of peanut sprout extracts (PSEs) prepared from day 2 to day 7 of germination against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced epithelial barrier breakdown. Although the peanut sprout length increased in a time-dependent manner from day 1 to day 7, the extraction yields remained relatively consistent from day 2 to day 7. With regard to antioxidant activities, the PSE from day 6 of germination exhibited the highest oxidative radical scavenging activity and total phenolic content. Similarly, it showed remarkable anti-permeability effects in LPS-stimulated Caco-2 cells and suppressed the degradation and dissociation of junctional markers (e.g., ZO-1 and E-cadherin) at cell-cell junctions. Collectively, these data demonstrate that PSE from day 6 of germination can be used as a functional food resource to reduce inflammatory barrier dysfunction.

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.

Magnesium (Mg) is a mineral necessary for many biological activities in mammals. Here, we compared the effect of two Mg compounds [Mg picolinate (MgPic) to Mg oxide (MgO)] on Mg bioavailability and intestinal Mg and calcium transporter protein levels. Three groups of 21 male Wistar-Albino rats were randomly allocated and fed a standard diet (control) or a 500 mg/kg Mg-supplemented (MgPic or MgO) diet for 8 weeks. The serum and liver Mg levels, Mg absorptivity, and retentivity were augmented in the MgPic group compared with the MgO group (P<0.05). Only MgPic supplementation elevated the expression of the genes encoding CLDN2, CLDN15, CNNM4, NCX1, PMCA1b, NCX2, and Calbindin-D9k in the jejunum by 1.59, 1.58, 1.70, 1.82, 2.02, 2.03, and 2.31 fold, respectively (P<0.05). Compared to the MgO-fed rats, MgPic rats had higher expression of the genes encoding NCX1, NCX2, PMCA1b, and Calbindin-D9k in the jejunum by 1.43, 1.72, 1.54, and 1.69 fold, respectively (P<0.01). These results suggest that MgPic increases Mg absorptivity and retentivity more than Mg bioavailability. In addition, MgPic can improve the paracellular and transcellular cationic mineral transport process. Thus, Mg deficiency disorders might be alleviated by MgPic more effectively than MgO.

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.

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.