Optimization of germination and ultrasonic-assisted extraction for the enhancement of γ-aminobutyric acid in pumpkin seed

Targeting GABA signaling in type 1 diabetes and its complications- an update on the state of the art

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that leads to the progressive destruction of insulin-producing β cells, resulting in lifelong insulin dependence and a range of severe complications. Beyond conventional glycemic control, innovative therapeutic strategies are needed to address the underlying disease mechanisms. Recent research has highlighted gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a promising therapeutic target for T1D due to its dual role in modulating both β cell survival and immune response within pancreatic islets. GABA signaling supports β cell regeneration, inhibits α cell hyperactivity, and promotes α-to-β cell transdifferentiation, contributing to improved islet function. Moreover, GABA's influence extends to mitigating T1D complications, including nephropathy, neuropathy, and retinopathy, as well as regulating central nervous system pathways involved in glucose metabolism. This review consolidates the latest advances in GABA-related T1D therapies, covering animal preclinical and human clinical studies and examining the therapeutic potential of GABA receptor modulation, combination therapies, and dietary interventions. Emphasis is placed on the translational potential of GABA-based approaches to enhance β cell viability and counteract autoimmune processes in T1D. Our findings underscore the therapeutic promise of GABA signaling modulation as a novel approach for T1D treatment and encourage further investigation into this pathway's role in comprehensive diabetes management.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction to enhance the recovery of bioactive phenolic compounds from Commiphora gileadensis leaves

The "ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE)" method was utilized in this work to assess how different process parameters affected the yield and recovery of phenolic compounds from the leaf of Commiphora gileadensis, which is one of the medicinal plants with a variety of biological functions. Its leaf is used for a various of therapeutic applications, such as the treatment of bacterial infections, inflammation, and wound healing. The "One-Factor-At-a-Time (OFAT)" approach was employed to examine the impacts of various UAE process parameters on the process of extraction, which include time of extraction, sample/solvent ratio, ultrasonic frequency, and solvent (ethanol) concentration. The extracts were then investigated for the presence of several phytochemicals using analytical techniques such as "Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS)" and "Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)" studies. The findings showed that the maximum extraction yield, the total phenolic content (TPC), and the total flavonoids content (TFC) of the ethanolic extract of the leaves of C. gileadensis using the UAE method were at 31.80 ± 0.41 %, 96.55 ± 2.81 mg GAE/g d.w. and 31.66 ± 2.01 mg QE/g d.w. accordingly under a procedure duration of 15 min, ultrasonic frequency of 20 kHz, solvent/sample ratio of 1:20 g/mL, and solvent concentration of 40 % v/v. The leaves extract of C. gileadensis included 25 phenolic compounds that were previously unreported, and GC-MS analysis confirmed their presence. Hence, it follows that the UAE technique can successfully extract the phytochemicals from C. gileadensis for a variety of therapeutic uses.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): a comprehensive review of dietary sources, enrichment technologies, processing effects, health benefits, and its applications

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a naturally occurring potential bioactive compound present in plants, microorganisms, animals, and humans. Especially, as a main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, GABA possesses a broad spectrum of promising bioactivities. Thus, functional foods enriched with GABA have been widely sought after by consumers. However, the GABA levels in natural foods are usually low, which cannot meet people's demand for health effects. With the increasing public awareness on the food securities and naturally occurring processes, using enrichment technologies to elevate the GABA contents in foods instead of exogenous addition can enhance the acceptability of health-conscious consumers. Herein, this review provides a comprehensive insight on the dietary sources, enrichment technologies, processing effects of GABA, and its applications in food industry. Furthermore, the various health benefits of GABA-enriched foods, mainly including neuroprotection, anti-insomnia, anti-depression, anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetes, and anti-inflammatory are also summarized. The main challenges for future research on GABA are related to exploring high GABA producing strains, enhancing the stability of GABA during storage, and developing emerging enrichment technologies without affecting food quality and other active ingredients. A better understanding of GABA may introduce new windows for its application in developing functional foods.

Utilization of pumpkin, pumpkin powders, extracts, isolates, purified bioactives and pumpkin based functional food products: A key strategy to improve health in current post COVID 19 period: An updated review

Progression of today's world has been given setback due to the adversity of a novel, viral and deadly outbreak COVID 19, which raised the concerns of the scientists, researchers and health related officials about the inherent and adaptive immune system of the living body and its relation with healthy diet balanced with pharma foods. Choice of right food can help to build and boost adaptive immunity and pumpkin due to excellent profile of functional and nutraceutical constituents must be the part of both infected and non-infected person's daily diet. Vitamins, minerals, phenolic acids, essential oils, peptides, carotenoids and polysaccharides present in pumpkin could accommodate the prevailing deficiencies in the body to fought against the pathogens. Pumpkins are well equipped with nutraceuticals and functional ingredients therefore, consumption and processing of this remarkable fruit must be encouraged as pharma food due to its antihyperlipidemic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, antihyperglycemic, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, antimicrobial and antioxidant potential, and these pharmacological properties of pumpkin are directly or indirectly related to the COVID 19 outbreak. Utilization of pumpkin has a domain in the form of powders, extracts, isolates, and pumpkin incorporated food products. A wide range of healthy, nutritious and functional food products has been developed from pumpkin, which includes juice, soup, porridge, chips, biscuits, bread, cake, bar and noodles. In recent times some innovative and novel technologies have been applied to process and preserve pumpkin for its enhanced shelf life and bioaccessibility of nutrients. Need of healthy eating in current post COVID 19 period is very crucial for healthy population, and medicinal foods like pumpkin, and bioactive compounds present in this functional food could play a vital role in developing a healthy community around the globe.