Evaluation of the antioxidant capacity, furan compounds and cytoprotective/cytotoxic effects upon Caco-2 cells of commercial Colombian coffee

Organic arabic coffee husk: Antioxidant and cytoprotective properties and potential impacts on selected human intestinal bacterial populations of individuals with diabetes

Coffee husks are the main by-product of the coffee industry and have been traditionally discarded in the environment or used as fertilizers. However, recent studies have shown that coffee husks have bioactive compounds, such as phenolics and fiber-bound macro antioxidants, offering a range of potential health benefits. This study evaluated the antioxidant capacity, cytoprotective/cytotoxic properties, and stimulatory effects on the relative abundance of selected intestinal bacterial populations of individuals with diabetes of organic coffee husks. Organic coffee husk had good antioxidant capacity, maintained under simulated gastric conditions, with more than 50% of antioxidant capacity remaining. Organic coffee husk exerted cytoprotective properties in Caco-2 cells, indicating that cellular functions were not disturbed, besides not inducing oxidation. Overall, organic coffee husk promoted positive effects on the abundance of distinct intestinal bacterial groups of individuals with diabetes during in vitro colonic fermentation, with a higher relative abundance of Bifidobacterium spp., indicating the availability of components able to reach the colon to be fermented by intestinal microbiota. Organic coffee husk could be a circular material to develop new safe and pesticide-free functional ingredients with antioxidant and potential beneficial effects on human intestinal microbiota.

The response of structure and nitrogen removal function of the biofilm on submerged macrophytes to high ammonium in constructed wetlands

The ammonium exceedance discharge from sewage treatment plants has a great risk to the stable operation of subsequent constructed wetlands (CWs). The effects of high ammonium shocks on submerged macrophytes and epiphytic biofilms on the leaves of submerged macrophytes in CWs were rarely mentioned in previous studies. In this paper, the 16S rRNA sequencing method was used to investigate the variation of the microbial communities in biofilms on the leaves of Vallisneria natans plants while the growth characteristics of V. natans plants were measured at different initial ammonium concentrations. The results demonstrated that the total chlorophyll and soluble sugar synthesis of V. natans plants decreased by 51.45% and 57.16%, respectively, and malondialdehyde content increased threefold after 8 days if the initial NH4+-N concentration was more than 5 mg/L. Algal density, bacterial quantity, dissolved oxygen, and pH increased with high ammonium shocks. The average removal efficiencies of total nitrogen and NH4+-N reached 73.26% and 83.94%, respectively. The heat map and relative abundance analysis represented that the relative abundances of phyla Proteobacteria, Cyanobacteria, and Bacteroidetes increased. The numbers of autotrophic nitrifiers and heterotrophic nitrification aerobic denitrification (HNAD) bacteria expanded in biofilms. In particular, HNAD bacteria of Flavobacterium, Hydrogenophaga, Acidovorax, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, and Azospira had higher abundances than autotrophic nitrifiers because there were organic matters secreted from declining leaves of V. natans plants. The analysis of the nitrogen metabolic pathway showed aerobic denitrification was the main nitrogen removal pathway. Thus, the nitrification and denitrification bacterial communities increased in epiphytic biofilms on submerged macrophytes in constructed wetlands while submerged macrophytes declined under ammonium shock loading.

A Comprehensive Bibliometric Study in the Context of Chemical Hazards in Coffee

The research aimed to carefully review the chemical hazards linked to the coffee production chain to analyse the risks and opportunities for consumers and the environment, as well as identify potential knowledge gaps. The Scopus database was consulted from 1949 to April 2024 to conduct a bibliometric analysis. As a result, 680 articles were analysed. Results indicated a significant increase in research activity since 2015. China, Brazil, and the USA were the leading countries in scientific production and collaborations. The most prolific journals in this field were Chemosphere, Science of the Total Environment, Food Chemistry, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, and Journal of Environmental Management, all of which are in the first quartile. The word analysis revealed two main themes: the first focuses on the chemical hazards of coffee and their impact on health, while the second explores the waste generated during coffee production and its potential for reuse. The topics covered in the research include the composition of coffee, associated chemical hazards, possible health risks, and ways to reuse waste for environmental protection. Future research should concentrate on optimising techniques and processes to ensure quality, safety, and sustainability.

Antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of enzymatic hydrolysates from red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) viscera

The antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) viscera hydrolysates (RTVH) was evaluated. For that, the hydrolysates was applied to three cancer cell lines (HepG2, Huh7 and SW480) and the control (CCD-18Co). Finally, the line on which the hydrolysate had the greatest effect (SW480) and the control (CCD-18Co) were subjected to the ApoTox-Glo Triplex Assay to determine apoptosis, toxicity, and cell viability. The result showed that hydrolysate had a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect selective on the three cancer cell lines, compared to the control cells. There is a relationship between the antioxidant capacity of RTVHs and their antiproliferative capacity on cancer cells evaluated, which achieved cell viability by action of RTVH of 34.68 and 41.58 and 25.41 %, to HepG2, Huh7 and SW480, respectively. The action of RTVH on cancer cell line SW480 is not due to the induction of apoptosis but to the rupture of the cell membrane.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory function of Eupatorium adenophora Spreng leaves (EASL) on human intestinal Caco-2 cells treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide

Chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) pose a significant public health challenge. Addressing this issue, there has been a notable breakthrough in the prevention and mitigation of NCDs through the use of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. In this study, we aim to explore the effectiveness of Eupatorium adenophora Spreng leaves (EASL) as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent, and its potential applications. To construct a cellular model of oxidative damage and inflammation, Caco-2 cells were treated with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP). The biocompatibility of EASL-AE with Caco-2 cells was assessed using the MTT assay, while compatibility was further verified by measuring LDH release and the protective effect against oxidative damage was also assessed using the MTT assay. Additionally, we measured intracellular oxidative stress indicators such as ROS and 8-OHdG, as well as inflammatory pathway signalling protein NFκB and inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β using ELISA, to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity of EASL-AE. The scavenging capacity of EASL-AE against free radicals was determined through the DPPH Assay and ABTS Assay. Furthermore, we measured the total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total polysaccharide contents using common chemical methods. The chemical composition of EASL-AE was analyzed using the LC-MS/MS technique. Our findings demonstrate that EASL-AE is biocompatible with Caco-2 cells and non-toxic at experimental levels. Moreover, EASL-AE exhibits a significant protective effect on Caco-2 cells subjected to oxidative damage. The antioxidant effect of EASL-AE involves the scavenging of intracellular ROS, while its anti-inflammatory effect is achieved by down-regulation of the NFκB pathway. Which in turn reduces the release of inflammatory factors TNF-α and IL-1β. Through LC-MS/MS analysis, we identified 222 compounds in EASL-AE, among which gentianic acid, procaine and L-tyrosine were the compounds with high antioxidant capacity and may be the effective constituent for EASL-AE with antioxidant activity. These results suggest that EASL-AE is a natural and high-quality antioxidant and anti-inflammatory biomaterial that warrants further investigation. It holds great potential for applications in healthcare and other related fields.

The Impact of the Drying Process on the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Dried Ripe Coffee Cherry Pulp Soluble Powder

Coffee fruit cascara, which is the skin and pulp of the coffee cherry, has been authorized as a novel food for commercialization in the European Union. The present research assessed the feasibility of using spray drying to produce a soluble powder called instant cascara (IC), employing sun-dried ripe coffee cherry pulp as a raw material. Although there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in the overall antioxidant capacity between the freeze-dried and spray-dried samples, after an in vitro simulation of the digestion process, the spray-dried sample was significantly (p < 0.05) more antioxidant. Both samples reduced physiological intracellular ROS and significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the secretion of the pro-inflammatory factor NO. Alkaloids and phenolic compounds were detected in intestinal digests. In conclusion, spray drying is a good technique for producing IC as its use does not affect its properties and causes less environmental impact than freeze drying, as calculated by life cycle assessment. Sensory analysis did not show significant differences between the commercial beverage and the IC beverage in the adult population. IC at 10 mg/mL was significantly less accepted in adolescents than the commercial beverage. Future work will include the reformulation of the IC beverage at 10 mg/mL, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, to increase its hedonic acceptance in all consumer segments.

Effect of Coffee on the Bioavailability of Sterols

Absorption at the intestinal epithelium is a major determinant of cholesterol levels in the organism, influencing the entry of dietary cholesterol and the excretion of endogenous cholesterol. Several strategies are currently being followed to reduce cholesterol absorption, using both pharmacological agents or food ingredients with hypocholesterolemic properties. Coffee has recently been shown to affect cholesterol bioaccessibility, although it has not been shown if this translates into a decrease on cholesterol bioavailability. In this work, coffee obtained with different commercial roasting (light and dark) and grinding (finer and coarser) was evaluated regarding their effect on cholesterol absorption through Caco-2 monolayers, mimicking the intestinal epithelium. The fluorescent dehydroergosterol was used as a sterol model, which was shown to permeate Caco-2 monolayers with a low-to-moderate permeability coefficient depending on its concentration. In the presence of coffee extracts, a 50% decrease of the sterol permeability coefficient was observed, showing their potential to affect sterol bioavailability. This was attributed to an increased sterol precipitation and its deposition on the apical epithelial surface. A higher hypocholesterolemic effect was observed for the dark roasting and finer grinding, showing that the modulation of these technological processing parameters may produce coffees with optimized hypocholesterolemic activity.

Nomilin from Yuzu Seed Has In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and Downregulates Melanogenesis in B16F10 Melanoma Cells through the PKA/CREB Signaling Pathway

Yuzu (Citrus junos) is a citrus plant native to Asian countries, including Korea, Japan, and China. Yuzu peel and seed contain abundant vitamin C, citric acid, and polyphenols. Although the antioxidative and antimelanogenic activities of other citrus fruits and yuzu extract have been reported, the tyrosinase inhibitory activity of the limonoid aglycone contained in yuzu seed extract is unknown. We separated yuzu seeds into the husk, shell, and meal and evaluated antioxidant activity of each. The limonoid glucoside fraction of the husk identified nomilin, a novel tyrosinase inhibitor. We performed tyrosinase inhibitory activity and noncompetitive inhibition assays and docking studies to determine nomilin binding sites. Furthermore, we evaluated the antioxidative mechanism and antimelanogenic activity of nomilin in B16F10 melanoma cells. The concentration of nomilin that did not show toxicity was <100 µg/mL. Nomilin suppressed protein expression of TYR, TRP-1, TRP-2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) in a concentration-dependent manner. Nomilin significantly reduced the levels of p-CREB and p-PKA at the protein level and decreased the levels of skin-whitening-related factors MITF, tyrosinase, TRP-1, and TRP-2 at the mRNA level in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, nomilin from yuzu seed husk can be used as a skin-whitening agent in cosmetics.

Molecular imprinting technology and poly (ionic liquid)s: Promising tools with industrial application for the removal of acrylamide and furanic compounds from coffee and other foods

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Coffee provides to the consumer special sensorial characteristics, can help to prevent diseases, improves physical performance and increases focus. In contrast, coffee consumption supplies a significant source of substances with carcinogenic and genotoxic potential such as furan, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), furfural (F), and acrylamide (AA). The present review addresses the issues around the presence of such toxic substances formed in Maillard reaction (MR) during thermal treatments in food processing, from chemical and, toxicological perspectives, occurrences in coffee and other foods processed by heating. In addition, current strategies advantages and disadvantages are presented along with application of molecular imprinting technology (MIT) and poly (ionic liquid) s (PIL) as an alternative to reduce the furan, HMF, F and AA content in coffee and other foods.

Antioxidant Activity and the Potential Mechanism of the Fruit From Ailanthus altissima Swingle

The fruits of Ailanthus altissima Swingle (AS) possess a variety of pharmacological activities. Its antioxidant activity and the potential mode of action have not yet been investigated. In in vitro studies, AS revealed the strong reducing power and DPPH scavenging effect, but hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and ferrous ions-chelating ability were not strong. Meanwhile, the oxidative stress RAW264.7 cell injury model was established, the low and medium-doses of AS showed significant protective effects on the viability of H₂O₂-treated cells by CCK-8 method. Besides, three doses of AS all increased the activities of SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px and decreased the MDA level compared with the H₂O₂ group, suggesting it significantly relieved oxidative stress of cells. The active ingredients and related targets of AS were collected by HERB and Swiss Target Prediction database, the common targets of drugs and diseases database were conducted by GeneCards database platform and the Venny platform. We screened the core targets of AS like threonine kinase1 (AKT1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase (MTOR) by STRING database, and the key pathways involved PI3K-AKT and FoxO signaling pathway by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Besides, qRT-PCR revealed AS preconditioning significantly up-regulated the expression level of AKT1, SIRT1, MAPK1, and MTOR in model cells, and the effect was related to the regulation of FoxO and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. In summary, AS showed significant antioxidant activity and its potential mechanism was regulating FoxO and PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.

Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Broken Rice Protein: Antioxidant Activities by Chemical and Cellular Antioxidant Methods

Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) is an important cause of aging, and supplementing antioxidants through diet is one of the important ways to delay aging. Some studies have confirmed that rice protease hydrolysate has antioxidant activity, but was rarely been investigated on cells. Thus, commercial enzymes, alkaline enzyme, neutral enzyme, pepsin, chymotrypsin, and trypsin were selected to hydrolyze broken rice protein (BRP) to obtain the corresponding hydrolysates, which were A-broken rice protein hydrolysate (BRPH), N-BRPH, P-BRPH, C-BRPH, and T-BRPH, respectively. Then the antioxidant properties of BRPHs were evaluated by different chemical and cellular antioxidation. Molecular weight, peptide length distribution, and amino acid sequence were detected to insight into the antioxidant properties. Among BRPHs, the A-BRPH displayed the strongest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 1.159 mg/ml) and metal ion-chelating activities (IC50 = 0.391 mg/ml). Furthermore, cellular antioxidation confirmed that A-BRPH significantly increased cell viability and inhibited the intracellular ROS release in both aging cells and cell-aging processes. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) results revealed that peptides with molecular weight <14.5 KDa were produced by enzymatic hydrolysis. Additionally, A-BRPH rich in low molecular weight (<3 kDa) and short-length peptides with some specific amino acids, such as aromatic and hydrophobic amino acids, contributes to the antioxidant properties. This study provided theoretical to the utilization of broken rice and confirmed that A-BRPH could be used in new anti-aging food and health products for human consumption.

Nutrients Bioaccessibility and Anti-inflammatory Features of Fermented Bee Pollen: A Comprehensive Investigation

We compared raw bee-collected pollen (Raw-BCP), spontaneously fermented BCP (Unstarted-BCP), and BCP fermented with selected microbial starters (Started-BCP) to deepen whether fermentation may favorably affect the nutrients bioaccessibility and functional features of BCP. Under in vitro gastrointestinal batches, the highest serum-availability of phenolic compounds was found in Started-BCP, highlighting the positive effect exerted by selected microbial starters. The same effect was not found in spontaneously fermented BCP. In colon adenocarcinoma cell line-2 (Caco-2) cells stressed by a pro-inflammatory stimulus, the treatment with Started-BCP halted the increase of pro-inflammatory mediator's level. Started-BCP counteracted efficiently the deleterious effects of inflammatory stimuli on the integrity of the Caco-2 cells monolayer and its barrier function. Started-BCP successfully counteracted the H₂O₂-induced intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in Caco-2 cells. A protective role against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation was exerted by Started-BCP in human keratinocytes. The same protective effects on Caco-2 and keratinocyte cell lines were negligible after treatments with Raw-BCP or Unstarted-BCP.

Impact of high-pressure processing on the stability and bioaccessibility of bioactive compounds in Clementine mandarin juice and its cytoprotective effect on Caco-2 cells

Mandarin juice is a rich source of antioxidant bioactive compounds. While the content and profile of bioactives are known, the impact of high-pressure processing (HPP) on their stability and bioaccessibility (BA) is unknown, but may allow obtaining safe, nutritious, and fresh-tasting juices with highly extractable bioactive compounds. The stability and BA of bioactive antioxidant compounds in untreated and HPP-treated (400 MPa/40 °C/1 min) Clementine mandarin juices, and the cytoprotective effect of its bioaccessible fractions (BF) obtained after simulated gastrointestinal digestion against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in differentiated Caco-2 cells were investigated. The BF of HPP-treated juices showed a better retention of carotenoids, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, total polyphenols and FRAP value, and slightly higher cytoprotection (mitochondrial membrane potential and ROS) than untreated juices. Therefore, HPP can be recommended as a suitable technology to retain or indeed increase antioxidant bioactives and their cytoprotective activity in mandarin juices after gastrointestinal digestion.

Effects of Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction on the Yield and the Antioxidative Potential of Bergenia emeiensis Triterpenes

This study was the first designed to evaluate the extraction and antioxidant ability of triterpenes from Bergenia emeiensis rhizomes. The yield of triterpenes from B. emeiensis was mainly affected by the concentration of ethanol, followed by the extraction time, solvent to sample ratio, and the power of ultrasound. Thus, the response surface method was applied to investigate the interaction between the two factors and to optimize the extraction process. The optimal extraction conditions were 210 W, 75% ethanol, 40 min and 25 mL/g with a maximum yield of 229.37 ± 7.16 mg UAE/g. Moreover, the antioxidant ability of triterpenes from B. emeiensis (TBE) was evaluated by determining the scavenging capacity on free radicals and the protection on CHO cells and Caenorhabditis elegans against oxidative stress. The results showed the triterpenes could clear 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radicals well and had a strong reducing power. In addition, the survival of CHO cells was higher than that of the control group as a result of reducing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and promoting the activities of antioxidant enzymes. In addition, TBE could also enhance the survival of C. elegans under H₂O₂ conditions. Therefore, triterpenes from B. emeiensis could be developed into a beneficial potential for antioxidants.

Physicochemical Properties of Collagen from Acaudina Molpadioides and Its Protective Effects against H2O2-Induced Injury in RAW264.7 Cells

Collagen is a promising biomaterial used in the beauty and biomedical industries. In this study, the physicochemical characterization, antioxidant activities, and protective effects against H₂O₂-induced injury of collagen isolated from Acaudina molpadioides were investigated. The amino acid composition analysis showed that the collagen was rich in glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala), and glutamic acid (Glu), but poor in tyrosine (Tyr) and phenylalanine (Phe). Zeta potential analysis revealed that the isoelectric point (pI) of collagen from Acaudina molpadioides was about 4.25. It possessed moderate scavenging activities of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the collagen was able to effectively improve cell viability and morphology, inhibit the production of Malondialdehyde (MDA), and increase the activities of Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px) in cultured RAW264.7 cells, resulting in a protective effect against H₂O₂-induced injury. Overall, the results showed that collagen extracted from A. molpadioides has promising prospects in the beauty and cosmetics industries.

Proteome-based identification of chicken egg yolk proteins associated with antioxidant activity on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

In this study, a proteome analysis of Tibetan chicken egg yolk as well as the comparison to that of lowland chicken were performed by label-free quantitative proteomics. A total of 135 proteins were identified and abundances of 19 of these proteins were significantly different between these two groups. These differential proteins were mainly associated with oxidative stress, defense, energy metabolism and tissue development through bioinformatics analysis. To further verify the species-specific diversity of the antioxidant capacity, the antioxidative activities of egg yolk proteins were further invested in vitro and in Caco-2 cells. It was observed that both Tibetan and lowland chicken egg yolk proteins showed antioxidant activities, but the former exerted a much stronger effect. PIT54 and glutathione peroxidase 3 were considered to be antioxidant-related candidate proteins. These results provide substantial evidence for the molecular mechanisms of enhancing physical activity levels of egg yolk proteins, especially with regard to the cross-species protective mechanisms against oxidative stress.

Phenolic compounds profile, neuroprotective effect and antioxidant potential of a commercial Turkish coffee

ABSTRACT Objective The purpose of this study is to determine the phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities and neuroprotective effects of powdered coffee sample of a commercial coffee brand originated from Sivas, Turkey. Methods Total phenolic, flavonoid and antioxidant contents, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidative activities based on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity, metal chelating potential, reducing power, superoxide dismutase and catalase activity tests and lipid peroxidation inhibition potentials of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the coffee sample were assayed using the commonly preferred spectrophotometric methods. Furthermore the extracts’ cholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibition potentials were evaluated. Phenolic profiles of the coffee sample were investigated using high performance liquid chromatography. Results Catechin was the most frequently detected phenolic acid. In addition, it was demonstrated that the water extract has a significant impact when compared with standard antioxidants. While the SC50 (sufficient concentration to obtain 50% of a maximum scavenging capacity) value for the scavenging activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical was calculated as being 0.08mg/mL for water extract, the amount of chelating agents with half Fe2+ ions in the medium was found to be 0.271mg/mL. Additionally, it was shown that 0.1mg/mL concentration of both extracts prevents lipid peroxidation by 8%. Compared with standard drugs, inhibition potentials of cholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes were considered as moderately acceptable in these samples. Conclusion Besides the extracts’ enzymatic antioxidant activity, their inhibition potential on cholinesterase and tyrosinase enzymes – which are important clinical enzymes – reveal that this natural source can be used as a valuable resource in different fields, especially in medicine.

Transcriptomic responses of Caco-2 cells to Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus plantarum J26 against oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is the basic reason for aging and age-related diseases. In this study, we investigated the protective effect of 2 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and L. plantarum J26, against oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells, and gave an overview of the mechanisms of lactic acid bacteria antioxidant activity using digital gene expression profiling. The 2 LAB strains provided significant protection against hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced reduction in superoxide dismutase activity and increase in glutathione peroxidase activity in Caco-2 cells. However, inactive bacteria had little effect on alleviating oxidation stress in Caco-2 cells. Eight genes related to oxidative stress-FOSB, TNF, PPP1R15A, NUAK2, ATF3, TNFAIP3, EGR2, and FBN2-were significantly upregulated in H₂O₂-induced Caco-2 cells compared with untreated Caco-2 cells. After incubation of the H₂O₂-induced Caco-2 cells with L. rhamnosus GG and L. plantarum J26, 5 genes (TNF, EGR2, NUAK2, FBN2, and TNFAIP3) and 2 genes (NUAK2 and FBN2) were downregulated, respectively. In addition, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes indicated that some signaling pathways associated with inflammation, immune response, and apoptosis, such as Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription (Jak-STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor-κB, and tumor necrosis factor, were all negatively modulated by the 2 strains, especially L. rhamnosus GG. In this paper, we reveal the mechanism of LAB in relieving oxidative stress and provide a theoretical basis for the rapid screening and evaluation of new LAB resources.

Cellular evaluation of the antioxidant activity of U.S. Pecans [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch]

Clinical trials show an inverse relationship between the consumption of antioxidant-rich tree nuts and the development of chronic diseases. This study examined antioxidant efficacy of U.S. pecans using a modified cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assay with comparisons to data from in vitro antioxidant assays (hydrophilic-oxygen radical absorbance capacity {H-ORAC_FL} and ferric reducing antioxidant power {FRAP}). Crude phenolic extracts from both raw and roasted pecans were analyzed. In the CAA assay, pecan phenolics were taken up by human colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells and bestowed CAA, determined by monitoring the fluorescence of 2',7'-dichlorofluorescein. Phenolics (25-100 μg/mL) demonstrated a reduction in fluorescence by 37-69% for raw and 26-68% for roasted pecans. The primary active phenolic constituents were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS) to be epi(catechin) dimers and trimers. These oligomeric procyanidins, ranging in size from 560 to 840 g/mol appear to be small enough for cellular uptake, showing pecans are an effective antioxidant in biological systems, regardless of roasting.

In-vitro antioxidant capacity and cytoprotective/cytotoxic effects upon Caco-2 cells of red tilapia (Oreochromis spp.) viscera hydrolysates

The antioxidant capacity of red tilapia viscera hydrolysates (RTVH) with different degrees of hydrolysis (DH) as well as their ultrafiltration membrane fractions, were analyzed using different chemical assays. Their protective effects against oxidative stress were evaluated using H₂O₂-stressed human intestinal differentiated Caco-2. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained with a DH of 42.5% (RTVH-A) and its <1 kDa fraction (FRTVH-V). RTVH-A and FRTVH-V did not show cytotoxic effects at a concentration of ≤0.5 mg/mL,prevented the decrease in cell viability, and suppressed intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation induced by H₂O₂. However, pretreatment with RTVH-A after adding H₂O₂, showed a greater decrease in glutathione levels. Moreover, FRTVH-V allowed for a recovery close to that of control levels of cell proportions in the G1 and G2/M cell cycle phases; and a decrease in the cell proportion in late apoptosis. These results suggest that RTVH-A and FRTVH-V can be beneficial ingredients with antioxidant properties and can have protective effects against ROS-mediated intestinal injuries.

Fermented Portulaca oleracea L. Juice: A Novel Functional Beverage with Potential Ameliorating Effects on the Intestinal Inflammation and Epithelial Injury

P. oleracea L. contains high level of nutrients and biologically active compounds. Recently, lactic fermentation has been proposed as a biotechnological option to enrich the profile of biogenic compounds of Portulaca oleracea L. puree. This study investigated the capability of fermentation by selected lactic acid bacteria to enhance the restoring features of Portulaca oleracea juice towards intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury. Lactic acid fermentation markedly increased the total antioxidant capacity of P. oleracea juice, preserved the inherent levels of vitamins C, A, and E, and increased the bioavailability of the level of vitamin B₂ and that of phenolics. The effects of fermented P. oleracea juice on a Caco-2 cell line were investigated using an in vitro model closest to the in vivo conditions. Fermented P. oleracea juice strongly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and reactive oxygen species. It also counteracted the disruption of the Caco-2 cell monolayers treated with the inflammatory stimulus. We used a diversified spectrum of lactic acid bacteria species, and some effects appeared to be strains- or species-specific. Fermentation with Lactobacillus kunkeei B7 ensured the best combination for the content of bioactive compounds and the ability to counteract the intestinal inflammation and epithelial injury.

Antioxidant Status, Antidiabetic Properties and Effects on Caco-2 Cells of Colored and Non-Colored Enriched Extracts of Sweet Cherry Fruits

This study aimed to compare three different extracts of Saco sweet cherry, namely the non-colored fraction, colored fraction, and total extract concerning phenolic composition, antioxidant and antidiabetic potential, and erythrocytes’ protection and effects on Caco-2 cells. Twenty-two phenolic compounds were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection. Hydroxycinnamic acids were the most predominant in both the non-colored fraction and total extract, while cyanidin-3-O-rutinoside was the main anthocyanin found in the colored fraction. The total extract was the most effective against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, nitric oxide, and superoxide radicals, and in the inhibition of α-glucosidase enzyme. The colored fraction revealed the best activity against hemoglobin oxidation and hemolysis. Regarding to Caco-2 cells, the colored extract exhibited the highest cytotoxic effects, while the total extract was the most efficient in protecting these cells against oxidative damage induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide.

Development of a tin oxide carrier with mesoporous structure for improving the dissolution rate and oral relative bioavailability of fenofibrate

Background

Biopharmaceutics classification system class II drugs have low solubility, which limits their extent and speed of absorption after oral administration. Over the years, mesoporous materials have been widely used to increase the dissolution rate and oral relative bioavailability of poorly water-soluble drugs.

Objectives

In order to improve the dissolution rate and increase oral relative bioavailability of the poorly water-soluble drugs, a tin oxide carrier (MSn) with a mesoporous structure was successfully synthesized.

Methods

In this study, MSn was synthesized using mesoporous silica material (SBA-15) as the template. Fenofibrate (FNB) was adsorbed into the channels of MSn by an adsorption method. Characterizations of the pure FNB, MSn, physical mixture of the drug and MSn (PM; 1:1) and FNB-loaded MSn (FNB-MSn) samples were carried out by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), N₂ adsorption/desorption, powder X-ray diffractometer (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Cytotoxicity assay (MTT) was used to evaluate the cytotoxicity of MSn. In vitro dissolution studies were performed to investigate the dissolution rate of FNB-MSn. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies were used to investigate the changes of plasma drug concentrations of FNB-MSn tablets and commercial FNB tablets in rabbits.

Results

Detailed characterization showed that FNB in the channels of MSn was present in an amorphous state. The in vitro release tests demonstrated that MSn with a good biocompatibility could effectively enhance the dissolution rate of FNB. Pharmacokinetic results indicated that MSn significantly increased the oral relative bioavailability of FNB.

Conclusion

MSn can be regarded as a promising carrier for an oral drug delivery system.

Dietary polyphenol canolol from rapeseed oil attenuates oxidative stress-induced cell damage through the modulation of the p38 signaling pathway

Canolol (CAO) is a main phenolic compound with remarkable antioxidative properties that is generated in rapeseed oil during microwave pressing. The objective of this study was to identify the protective effect of CAO in hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-triggered oxidative stress and reveal the role of the p38 MAPK pathway during the protective process. CAO treatment showed an observable cytoprotective effect. Results showed that CAO significantly improved H2O2-stimulated cell death, and diminished ROS production and malondialdehyde (MDA) level. Moreover, CAO increased glutathione (GSH) content and promoted the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). As a result, apoptosis was ameliorated and depletion of the mitochondrial membrane potential was restored. Western blotting analysis demonstrated CAO downregulated the expression of caspase-3 and decreased the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2. Notably, the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was inhibited by CAO in H2O2-induced apoptosis, which was confirmed by its inhibitor (SB203580). Taken together, our study demonstrated the pivotal role of the p38 MAPK pathway in the cytoprotective effect of CAO on oxidative stress-induced cell damage, suggesting CAO is a promising antioxidant in food and health-related fields.

Protective effect of bioaccessible fractions of citrus fruit pulps against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells

Fruit pulps from Navel (N) and Cara Cara (CC) oranges, and Clementine mandarin freshly harvested (M) and refrigerated stored (M12) were used to evaluate the cytoprotective effect of their bioaccessible fractions (BF) against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells. BF of samples preserved viability vs. H₂O₂ treated cells, reaching values similar to controls. Lipid peroxidation was reduced to levels of control cells, but M did not reach control values. ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential changes (Δψ_m) values were reduced compared with H₂O₂ treated cells, but without achieving control levels. A significant reduction in cell proportions in G1 phase and a significant increase in sub-G1 phase (apoptosis) of cell cycle was shown in H₂O₂ treated cells, and BF allowed a recovery close to control levels. Thus, BF of samples protect the cells from oxidative stress by preserving cell viability, mitochondrial membrane potential and correct cell cycle progression, and diminishing lipid peroxidation and ROS.