Protein glycation and oxidation inhibitory activity of Centella asiatica phenolics (CAP) in glucose-mediated bovine serum albumin glycoxidation

Exploring the composition and properties of Centella asiatica metabolites and investigating their impact on BSA glycation, LDL oxidation and α-amylase inhibition

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. is a small herbaceous plant belonging to the Apiaceae family that is rich in triterpenes, such as asiaticoside and madecassoside. Centella asiatica finds broad application in promoting wound healing, addressing skin disorders, and boosting both memory and cognitive function. Given its extensive therapeutic potential, this study aimed not only to investigate the Centella asiatica ethanolic extract but also to analyze the biological properties of its organic fractions, such as antioxidant antiglycation capacity, which are little explored. We also identified the main bioactive compounds through spectrometry analysis. The ethanolic extract (EE) was obtained through a static maceration for seven days, while organic fractions (HF: hexane fraction; DF: dichloromethane fraction; EAF: ethyl acetate fraction; BF: n-butanol fraction and HMF: hydromethanolic fraction) were obtained via liquid-liquid fractionation. The concentration of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins in each sample was quantified. Additionally, the antiglycation (BSA/FRU, BSA/MGO, and ARG/MGO models) and antioxidant (FRAP, ORAC, and DPPH) properties, as well as the ability to inhibit LDL oxidation and hepatic tissue peroxidation were evaluated. The inhibition of enzyme activity was also analyzed (α-amylase, α-glycosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase). We also evaluated the antimicrobial and cytotoxicity against RAW 264.7 macrophages. The main compounds present in the most bioactive fractions were elucidated through ESI FT-ICR MS and HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. In the assessment of antioxidant capacity (FRAP, ORAC, and DPPH), the EAF and BF fractions exhibited notable results, and as they are the phenolic compounds richest fractions, they also inhibited LDL oxidation, protected the hepatic tissue from peroxidation and inhibited α-amylase activity. Regarding glycation models, the EE, EAF, BF, and HMF fractions demonstrated substantial activity in the BSA/FRU model. However, BF was the only fraction that presented non-cytotoxic activity in RAW 264.7 macrophages at all tested concentrations. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the antioxidant, antiglycation, and enzymatic inhibition capacities of the ethanolic extract and organic fractions of Centella asiatica. The findings suggest that further in vivo studies, particularly focusing on the butanol fraction (BF), may be promising routes for future research and potential therapeutic applications.

Inhibitory effects and mechanisms of phenolic compounds in rapeseed oil on advanced glycation end product formation in chemical and cellular models in vitro

Sinapic acid (SA), canolol (CAO) and canolol dimer (CAO dimer) are the main phenolic compounds in rapeseed oil. However, their possible efficacy against glycation remains unclear. This study aims to explore the impacts of these substances on the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) based on chemical and cellular models in vitro. Based on fluorescence spectroscopy results, three chemical models of BSA-fructose, BSA-methylglyoxal (MGO), and arginine (Arg)-MGO showed that SA/CAO/CAO dimer could effectively reduce AGE formation but with different abilities. After SA/CAO/CAO dimer incubation, effective protection against BSA protein glycation was observed and three different MGO adducts were formed. In MGO-induced HUVEC cell models, only CAO and CAO dimer significantly inhibited oxidative stress and cell apoptosis, accompanied by the regulation of the Nrf2-HO-1 pathway. During the inhibition, 20 and 12 lipid mediators were reversed in the CAO and CAO dimer groups compared to the MGO group.

Formation and kinetic analysis of AGEs in Pacific white shrimp during frying

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are complex and heterogeneous compounds closely associated with various chronic diseases. The changes in Nε-carboxymethyllysine (CML), Nε-carboxyethyllysine (CEL), Nε-(5-hydro-5-methyl-4-imidazolon-2-yl)-ornithine (MG-H1), and fluorescent AGEs (F-AGEs) in fried shrimp during frying (170 °C, 0-210 s) were described by kinetic models. Besides,the correlations between AGEs contents and physicochemical indicators were analyzed to reveal their intrinsic relationship. Results showed that the changes of four AGEs contents followed the zero-order kinetic, and their rate constants were ranked as kCML < kCEL ≈ kMG-H1 < kF-AGEs. Oil content and lipid oxidation were critical factors that affected the AGEs levels of the surface layer. Protein content and Maillard reaction were major factors in enhancing the CML and CEL levels of the interior layer. Furthermore, the impact of temperature on the generation of CML and CEL was greater than that of MG-H1 and F-AGEs.

Coffee leaf extract inhibits advanced glycation end products and their precursors: A mechanistic study

Excessive accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in the body is associated with diabetes and its complications. In this study, we aimed to explore the potential and mechanism of coffee leaf extract (CLE) in inhibiting the generation of AGEs and their precursors in an in vitro glycation model using bovine serum albumin and glucose (BSA-Glu) for the first time. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that CLE prepared with ultrasound pretreatment (CLE-U) contained higher levels of trigonelline, mangiferin, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid, and γ-aminobutyric acid than CLE without ultrasound pretreatment (CLE-NU). The concentrations of these components, along with caffeine and rutin, were dramatically decreased when CLE-U or CLE-NU was incubated with BSA-Glu reaction mixture. Both CLE-U and CLE-NU exhibited a dose-dependent inhibition of fluorescent AGEs, carboxymethyllysine, fructosamine, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, 3-deoxyglucosone, glyoxal, as well as protein oxidation products. Notably, CLE-U exhibited a higher inhibitory capacity compared to CLE-NU. CLE-U effectively quenched fluorescence intensity and increased the α-helix structure of the BSA-Glu complex. Molecular docking results suggested that the key bioactive compounds present in CLE-U interacted with the arginine residues of BSA, thereby preventing its glycation. Overall, this research sheds light on the possible application of CLE as a functional ingredient in combating diabetes by inhibiting the generation of AGEs.

Inhibition and Mechanism of Protein Nonenzymatic Glycation by Lactobacillus fermentum

Lactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum) was first evaluated as a potential advanced glycation end-product (AGE) formation inhibitor by establishing a bovine serum albumin (BSA) + glucose (glu) glycation model in the present study. The results showed that the highest inhibition rates of pentosidine and total fluorescent AGEs by L. fermentum were approximately 51.67% and 77.22%, respectively, which were higher than that of aminoguanidine (AG). Mechanistic analysis showed that L. fermentum could capture methylglyoxal and glyoxal, inhibit carbonyl and sulfhydryl oxidation, reduce the binding of glucose and amino groups, increase total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, and release intracellular substances to scavenge free radicals; these abilities were the basis of the antiglycation mechanism of L. fermentum. In addition, L. fermentum significantly prevented conformational changes in proteins during glycation, reduced protein cross-linking by 35.67%, and protected the intrinsic fluorophore. Therefore, the inhibition of L. fermentum on glycation mainly occurs through antioxidation, the capture of dicarbonyl compounds, and the protection of the BSA structure. These findings collectively suggest that Lactobacillus is an inhibitor of protein glycation and AGE formation and has the potential for nutraceutical applications.

Potential inhibitory effect of Auricularia auricula polysaccharide on advanced glycation end-products (AGEs)

In this study, a novel polysaccharide, AAP-2S, was extracted from Auricularia auricula, and the anti-glycosylation effect of AAP-2S and its underlying mechanisms were investigated using an in vitro BSA-fructose model and a cellular model. The results demonstrated the inhibiting formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in vitro by AAP-2S. Concurrently, it attenuated oxidative damage to proteins in the model, preserved protein sulfhydryl groups from oxidation, reduced protein carbonylation, prevented structural alterations in proteins, and decreased the formation of β-crosslinked structures. Furthermore, AAP-2S demonstrated metal-chelating capabilities. GC-MS/MS-based metabolomics were employed to analyze changes in metabolic profiles induced by AAP-2S in a CML-induced HK-2 cell model. Mechanistic investigations revealed that AAP-2S could mitigate glycosylation and ameliorate cell fibrosis by modulating the RAGE/TGF-β/NOX4 pathway. This study provides a foundational framework for further exploration of Auricularia auricular polysaccharide as a natural anti-AGEs agent, paving the way for its potential development and application as a food additive.

Simultaneous analysis of advanced glycation end products using dansyl derivatization

Herein, new pre-column derivatization based on dansylation is present to resolve analytical difficulties, such as chromatographic separation difficulty, in identifying and quantifying advanced glycation end products (AGEs) owing to their high hydrophilicity, wide variety, and structural similarity. The proposed analytical method facilitated the separation of 14 AGEs, including structural isomers. Limits of detection of 1.0-43.3 ng/mL and linear ranges of the double- or triple-digit were achieved. Intra- and inter-day precisions of 1.1-3.0% and 1.3-3.1%, respectively, were achieved for standard solutions, while those for food specimens were 1.4-11.2% and 1.7-15.7%, respectively. The matrix effect was insignificant with regard to the percent recoveries and differences between slopes for both the standard solutions and food specimens. Furthermore, the quantitation results of AGEs in foods (coffee, beer, and sausage) and glycated proteins revealed the potential applicability of the developed method in various fields of food chemistry and biochemistry.

Dityrosine in food: A review of its occurrence, health effects, detection methods, and mitigation strategies

Protein and amino acid oxidation in food products produce many new compounds, of which the reactive and toxic compound dityrosine, derived from oxidized tyrosine, is the most widely studied. The high reactivity of dityrosine enables this compound to induce oxidative stress and disrupt thyroid hormone function, contributing to the pathological processes of several diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, cognitive dysfunction, aging, and age-related diseases. From the perspective of food safety and human health, protein-oxidation products in food are the main concern of consumers, health management departments, and the food industry. This review highlights the latest research on the formation pathways, toxicity, detection methods, occurrence in food, and mitigation strategies for dityrosine. Furthermore, the control of dityrosine in family cooking and food-processing industry has been discussed. Food-derived dityrosine primarily originates from high-protein foods, such as meat and dairy products. Considering its toxicity, combining rapid high sensitivity dityrosine detection techniques with feasible control methods could be an effective strategy to ensure food safety and maintain human health. However, the current dityrosine detection and mitigation strategies exhibit some inherent characteristics and limitations. Therefore, developing technologies for rapid and effective dityrosine detection and control at the industrial level is necessary.

D-Ribose-Induced Glycation and Its Attenuation by the Aqueous Extract of Nigella sativa Seeds

Background and Objectives: Glycation and oxidative stress are the major contributing factors responsible for diabetes and its secondary complications. Aminoguanidine, a hydrazine derivative, is the only approved drug that reduces glycation with its known side effects. As a result, research into medicinal plants with antioxidant and antiglycation properties is beneficial in treating diabetes and its consequences. This investigation aimed to examine the efficacy of the aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds against the D-ribose-induced glycation system. Materials and Methods: The suppression of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes were used to assess the antidiabetic capacity. UV-Visible, fluorescence, and FTIR spectroscopy were used to characterize the Nigella sativa seed extract and its efficacy in preventing glycation. The inhibition of albumin glycation, fluorescent advanced glycation end products (AGEs) formation, thiol oxidation, and amyloid formation were used to evaluate the extracts' antiglycation activity. In addition, the extent of glycoxidative DNA damage was analyzed using agarose gel electrophoresis. Results: The IC₅₀ for the extract in the α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assays were approximately 1.39 ± 0.016 and 1.01 ± 0.022 mg/mL, respectively. Throughout the investigation, it was found that the aqueous extract of Nigella sativa seeds (NSAE) inhibited the level of ketoamine, exerted a considerable drop in fluorescence intensity, and reduced carbonyl production and thiol modification when added to the D-ribose-induced glycation system. In addition, a reduction in the BSA-cross amyloid formation was seen in the Congo red, thioflavin T assay, and electrophoretic techniques. NSAE also exhibited a strong capability for DNA damage protection. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Nigella sativa could be used as a natural antidiabetic, antiglycation treatment and a cost-effective and environmentally friendly source of powerful bioactive chemicals.

Traditional processing increases biological activities of Dendrobium offificinale Kimura et. Migo in Southeast Yunnan, China

The orchid Dendrobium officinale grows throughout southeast China and southeast Asian countries and is used to treat inflammation and diabetes in traditional Chinese medicine. Tie pi feng dou is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine made from the dried D. officinale stems. Processing alters the physicochemical properties of TPFD; however, it is unclear how processing affects the quality and medicinal value of this plant. Here, we analyzed and compared the chemical composition of fresh stems of D. officinale and TPFD and explored possible explanations for the enhanced medicinal efficacy of processed D. officinale stems using qualitative and quantitative methods. To identify the components of FSD and TPFD, we used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with mass spectrometry in negative and positive ion modes and interpreted the data using the Human Metabolome Database and multivariate statistical analysis. We detected 23,709 peaks and identified 2352 metabolites; 370 of these metabolites were differentially abundant between FSD and TPFD (245 more abundant in TPFD than in FSD, and 125 less abundant), including organooxygen compounds, prenol lipids, flavonoids, carboxylic acids and their derivatives, and fatty acyls. Of these, 43 chemical markers clearly distinguished between FSD and TPFD samples, as confirmed using orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. A pharmacological activity analysis showed that, compared with FSD, TPFD had significantly higher levels of some metabolites with anti-inflammatory activity, consistent with its use to treat inflammation. In addition to revealing the basis of the medicinal efficacy of TPFD, this study supports the benefits of the traditional usage of D. officinale.

Antiproliferative Activities of the Lipophilic Fraction of Eucalyptus camaldulensis against MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells, UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Metabolite Profile, and Antioxidative Functions

Although a number of pharmacological properties have been linked to Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf essential oil and extracts, the biological attributes of the lipophilic fraction remain unknown. Moreover, only a limited number of active compounds have so far been identified. This work aimed to investigate the anti-oxidative, anti-aggregation, and cytotoxic properties as well as profile the secondary metabolites in the lipophilic fraction of E. camaldulensis leaf extract (Lipo-Eucam) using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). It was found that Lipo-Eucam possessed potent antioxidant properties against DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP with IC₅₀ values of 31.46, 32.78, and 10.12 μg/mL, respectively. The fraction was able to attenuate metal-catalyzed oxidation of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05) and abrogated the aggregation of amyloidogenic BSA as revealed by the Congo red assay and transmission electron microscopy. Furthermore, Lipo-Eucam demonstrated potent cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 (IC₅₀ 7.34 μg/mL) but was noncytotoxic at used concentrations against HEK-293 cells (IC₅₀ > 80 μg/mL), suggestive of its selective anticancer properties. Spectrophotometric, UHPLC-MS, and GC-MS analysis revealed that Lipo-Eucam is rich in phenolics, flavonoids, terpenoids, volatile constituents, and a plethora of active metabolites, probably responsible for the observed activities. These findings indicate that Lipo-Eucam is endowed with pharmacologically relevant active principles with strong potential for use in the amelioration of disease conditions related to oxidative stress, protein aggregation, and breast cancer and therefore worthy of further investigations.

Synthesis of biocompatible Konjac glucomannan stabilized silver nanoparticles, with Asystasia gangetica phenolic extract for colorimetric detection of mercury (II) ion

Herein, the synthesis of a biocompatible silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), for colorimetric detection of toxic mercury (II) ion (Hg²⁺), is reported. Phenolic-rich fraction of Asystasia gangetica leaf was extracted and used as a reductant of silver salt, all within the hydrophilic konjac glucomannan (KgM) solution as stabilizer, at room temperature (RT). The bioactive components of Asystasia gangetica phenolic extract (AGPE), as elucidated with a (UHPLC-MS-QTOF-MS), revealed plethora of phenolic compounds, which can facilitate the reduction of silver salt at ambient conditions. Sparkling yellow colloidal solution of KgM-AgNPs was realized within 1 h, at RT, having a UV–vis maximum at 420 nm. KgM-AgNPs was characterized using UV–vis, Raman and (FTIR), TEM, SEM, EDS, XRD, TGA/DTG. TEM and FESEM images showed that KgM-AgNPs were spherical, with particle size distribution around 10–15 nm from TEM. The KgM-AgNPs biocompatibility was investigated on mouse L929 fibrobroblast and rat erythrocytes, without any harmful damages on the tested cells. In aqueous environment, KgM-AgNPs demonstrated good detection capacity toward Hg²⁺, in a Hg²⁺ concentration dependent fashion, within 3 min. Absorbance ratios (A₃₆₀/A₄₀₈) was linear with Hg²⁺ concentrations from 0.010–10.0 to 10.0–60.0 µM, with an estimated (LOD) of 3.25 nM. The probe was applied in lake water sample, with satisfactory accuracy.

Effects of the non-covalent interactions between polyphenols and proteins on the formations of the heterocyclic amines in dry heated soybean protein isolate

Soybean proteins are the main component of plant-based meat alternatives in the Chinese market. The effects of non-covalent interactions between polyphenols and proteins on the protein structures, the rest physicochemical properties, and formations of heterocyclic amines (HAs) were examined using a polyphenols-containing soybean protein isolate (SPI) complex as a model to dry heating at 170℃ for 10 min. The results showed that tetrahydro-curcumin had extensive inhibitory effects on the HA formation. In addition, tea polyphenols, grapeseed procyanidins, and dihydromyricetin were also found to have inhibitory effects only on some HAs. Correlation analysis showed that polyphenols altered the secondary structure and steric structure of the protein by interacting with the protein, which affects the HA formation. The results provided theoretical references and a basis for the formation mechanisms of HAs in polyphenol-inhibiting protein foods.

LC/ESI/TOF-MS Characterization, Anxiolytic and Antidepressant-like Effects of Mitragyna speciosa Korth Extract in Diabetic Rats

In this study, the attenuative effects of the hydro-alcoholic extract from Mitragyna speciosa (MSE) against diabetes-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors were examined. In addition, UPLC/ESI/TOF-MS analysis was performed to identify the phytochemical nature of MSE. DM was induced using a combination of high fructose/streptozotocin, and the diabetic rats were treated with MSE (50 and 200 mg/kg) for 5 weeks. After treatment, the animals were subjected to a forced swim test, open field test and elevated plus-maze tests. Additionally, proinflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated in the brain tissues of the rats. UPLC/ESI/TOF-MS analysis revealed that MSE is abundantly rich in polyphenolic constituents, notably flavonoid and phenolic glycosides. Behavioral tests and biochemical analyses indicated that diabetic rats showed significantly increased anxiety and depressive-like behavioral deficits, brain oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines levels (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α). Treatment with MSE (50 and 200 mg/kg) significantly attenuated increased blood glucose level, depressive and anxiety-like behaviors in diabetic rats. Additionally, the antioxidant enzymes activities were markedly increased in MSE-treated animals, while TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 cytokines were notably suppressed. Taken together, these results suggested that MSE has potentials as antidepressant and anxiolytic-like effects and improves the brain oxido-inflammatory status in diabetic rats.

New Insights on Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl: UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Profile, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities

This study investigated the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and phytochemical profiling of extracts from the leaves and stem/root of Acanthus ebracteatus (AE). The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, 2, 2′-azino-Bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical-scavenging activity, metal chelating activities (MCA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC) were used for antioxidant assessment. The ethanolic extracts of the leaves (AEL-nor) and stem/root (AEWP-nor) without chlorophyll removal and those with chlorophyll removal, using sedimentation process (AEL-sed and AEWP-sed), were prepared. Generally, AEL-sed showed the highest antioxidant activity (FRAP: 1113.2 µmol TE/g; ORAC: 11.52 µmol TE/g; MCA: 47.83 µmol EDTA/g; ABTS 67.73 µmol TE/g; DPPH 498.8 µmol TE/g; TPC: 140.50 mg/GAE g and TFC: 110.40 mg/CE g) compared with other extracts. Likewise, AEL-sed also showed the highest bacteriostatic (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) effects, as well as the highest anticancer and antiproliferative activity against oral squamous carcinoma (CLS-354/WT) cells. UPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS analysis of AEL-sed and AEWP-sed tentatively identified several bioactive compounds in the extracts, including flavonoids, phenols, iridoids, and nucleosides. Our results provide a potentially valuable application for A. ebracteatus, especially in further exploration of the plant in oxidative stress-related disorders, as well as the application of the plant as potential nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.

Resolving the Tribo-catalytic reaction mechanism for biochar regulated Zinc Oxide and its application in protein transformation

The utilization of mechanical energy to control water pollutants under dark conditions is currently a point of study focus. Herein, biochar -zinc oxide (BC-ZnO) composites with various structures were synthesized by co-pyrolysis of cotton and ZnO at different temperature and used for tribo-catalytic reaction. The introduction of BC can improve charge transmission and separation efficiency. Ultraviolet photoelectron spectra (UPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculation prove the addition of BC can reduce work function of ZnO, and enhance its electron-donating ability. Specially, suitable adsorption amount is the key factor to improve the tribo-catalytic performance. When the pyrolysis temperature is 600 °C, BC-ZnO has the best degradation efficiency, which can degrade 90% Rhodamine B (RhB) in 75 min, while ZnO can degrade only 38%. On this basis, using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a model, the effect of tribo-catalytic reaction on controlling proteins in water was studied by fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectroscopy (3D EEM) and infrared microscope, and the transformation of proteins was further analyzed. This study provides a new strategy to improve the tribo-catalytic performance of ZnO, and explores its application prospects of biological wastewater control.

Chromolaena odorata (Siam weed): A natural reservoir of bioactive compounds with potent anti-fibrillogenic, antioxidative, and cytocompatible properties

Protein fibrillation and oxidative damage are closely associated with the development of many chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and transthyretin amyloidoses. This work aimed at evaluating the fibrillogenic, antioxidant, anti-oxidative, hemolytic and cytotoxic activities of phenolic-rich extract from Chromolaena odorata (L) R.M. King & H. Rob aerial parts (COPE). As revealed by Thioflavin-T fluorescence, transmission electron microscopy, NBT redox cycling and ANS fluorescence analyses, COPE suppressed the fibril formation of hen egg-white lysozyme by directly binding to the protein and preventing surface exposure its of hydrophobic clusters. In addition, COPE demonstrated potent radical scavenging activities against DPPH˙ and ABTS˙⁺, chelated ferrous ions, and inhibited metal-catalyzed oxidation of bovine serum albumin. The observed effects could be explained by the high content of flavonoids (22.82 QE/g) and phenolics (190 mg GAE/g) present in COPE. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis of COPE in negative ionization mode revealed that the predominant compounds were phenolics and terpenoids. Furthermore, COPE was found to exert very minimal cytotoxic effects against human red blood cells (≤ 5% hemolysis) and human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cells (≥ 80% viability). These findings suggested that with further investigations, phenolic-rich extract from C odorata could be effectively valorized for pharmacological applications against protein fibrillogenic and oxidative damage related conditions.

Comprehensive analysis of the anti-glycation effect of peanut skin extract

Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are produced during protein glycation and associated with diabetic complications. Peanut skin is rich in procyanidins, which may be used as an inhibitor of glycation. This study evaluated the potential anti-glycation effect of peanut skin extract (PSE) and dissected the underlying mechanism. PSE could effectively inhibit the formation of AGEs in BSA-Glc and BSA-MGO/GO models, with 44%, 37% and 82% lower IC₅₀ values than the positive control (AG), respectively. The inhibitory effect of PSE on BSA glycation might be ascribed to its binding interaction with BSA, attenuated formation of early glycation products and trapping of reactive dicarbonyl compounds. Notably, PSE showed a remarkably stronger inhibitory effect on Amadori products than AG. Furthermore, three new types of PSE-MGO adducts were formed as identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS. These findings suggest that PSE may serve as an inhibitor of glycation and provide new insights into its application.

Antidiabetic potential of dietary polyphenols: A mechanistic review

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that has caused enormous harm to the public health worldwide. In this study, we evaluated the potential of phenolic compounds on diabetes management, addressing their mechanisms of action, in addition to discussing the digestion, absorption, metabolism, bioavailability, and toxic effects of these compounds. The intake of phenolic compounds can play a fundamental role on diabetes management, since they can reduce blood glucose levels, oxidative stress, protein glycation, inhibit the activity of dipeptidyl peptidase - IV and other key enzymes related to carbohydrate metabolism, activate various biochemical pathways to improve pancreatic β-cell functions, increase insulin secretion, and improve insulin resistance. In this way, they can be considered a potential strategy in the development of pharmaceutical approaches that aim to reduce complications resulting from the progression of this metabolic pathology.

Fabrication of label-free and eco-friendly ROS optical sensor with potent antioxidant properties for sensitive hydrogen peroxide detection in human plasma

Herein, biogenic silver nanoparticles, Cafi-AgNPs was produced based on Cassia fistula-phenolic-rich extract (Cafi) only, without any toxic chemical reagent or organic solvent. Cafi bioactives were characterized using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis. The as-synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using physico-chemical techniques including UV-vis, TEM, SEM, EDX, FTIR, DLS, Zeta potential, XRD, TGA and DGA. In addition, their antioxidant properties and cytocompatibility on erythrocytes and HEK-293 cells were examined. Results show that Cafi mediated the successful synthesis of stable well-dispersed AgNPs. Cafi-AgNPs demonstrated potent reducing and radical scavenging activities against ABTS˙⁺, DPPH˙ and NO˙. Furthermore, Cafi-AgNPs was compatible with human erythrocytes and HEK-293 cells. Based on the superior surface plasmonic and biological attributes of Cafi-AgNPs, its potential in H₂O₂ sensing was evaluated. The proposed sensor demonstrated satisfactory analytical performances with linearity of 10-200 μM, detection limit of 3.0 μM for H₂O_2, and was successfully applied in the detection of H₂O₂ in human plasma.

Vitexin Inhibits Protein Glycation through Structural Protection, Methylglyoxal Trapping, and Alteration of Glycation Site

In this study, the antiglycation potential and mechanisms of vitexin were explored in vitro by multispectroscopy, microscope imaging, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and computational simulations. Vitexin was found to show much stronger antiglycation effects than aminoguanidine. The inhibition against the fluorescent advanced glycation end products was more than 80% at 500 μM vitexin in both bovine serum albumin (BSA)-fructose and BSA-methylglyoxal (MGO) models. Treated with 100 and 200 μM vitexin for 24 h, the contents of MGO were reduced to 4.97 and 0.2%, respectively, and only one vitexin-mono-MGO adduct was formed. LC-Orbitrap-MS/MS analysis showed that vitexin altered the glycated sites and reduced the glycation degree of some sites. The mechanisms of vitexin against protein glycation were mainly through BSA structural protection, MGO trapping, and alteration of glycation sites induced by interaction with BSA. These findings provided valuable information about the functional development of vitexin as a potential antiglycation agent.

Polyphenol binding disassembles glycation-modified bovine serum albumin amyloid fibrils

Glycation of protein results in the formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and leads to deposition as amyloid fibrils. Adhesive structural properties of polyphenols to aromatic amino acids draw significance in promoting, accelerating and/or stabilizing on-pathway and off-pathway folding intermediates, although the mechanistic action remains unclear. In this study, polyphenols remodeling mature AGEs modified amyloid fibrils were investigated through UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, circular dichroism spectroscopy, MALDI-MS/MS analysis and molecular docking studies. Our findings confirmed the glycation-mediated transformation of native protein into β-sheet rich amyloid fibrils. SDS-PAGE results suggested the presence of shorter peptide fragments ranging from ~10 kDa to ~40 kDa. MALDI-MS/MS results identified the plausible sequences to be His105-His181, Arg193-Lys242, Leu325-Tyr410, and Ala451-Tyr529. TEM and AFM results suggested that polyphenols binding mature amyloid fibrils remodel/disassemble them into distinct aggregate structures or non-amyloid fibrils. Circular dichroism studies suggested that polyphenols upon binding amyloid fibrils stabilizes and transforms the secondary structure towards helical or random coil-like conformation. Molecular modeling studies suggested high binding affinity and hydrophobic interaction to be the main driving force in remodeling perspective. Together, our findings suggest that polyphenols could differentially remodel mature AGEs-modified amyloid fibrils into distinct aggregate structures through non-covalent interactions and can alleviate AGEs-mediated amyloidosis.

Bioactive fractions of Eucalyptus camaldulensis inhibit important foodborne pathogens, reduce listeriolysin O-induced haemolysis, and ameliorate hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress on human embryonic colon cells

Extract of E. camaldulensis was partitioned into aqueous and ethanol fractions by a precipitation and sedimentation-based technique and profiled for phytochemical components. Antimicrobial evaluation yielded inhibitory concentrations of 16-64 and 158-316 µg/mL, and bactericidal concentrations of 32-64 and 316->2528 µg/mL for ethanol and aqueous fractions, respectively. Antioxidant activities evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic) acid assays showed IC₅₀ values of 7.07 and 65.67 µg/mL, and 17.96 and 201.3 µg/mL for aqueous and ethanol fractions. Total phenolic content of 9.04 ± 0.26 and 3.58 ± 0.04 GAE/mg fraction, and flavonoid content of 2.07 ± 0.02 and 3.37 ± 0.05 QE/mg fraction were recorded for aqueous and ethanol fractions. At subinhibitory concentrations fractions significantly reduced listeriolysin O-induced haemolysis (p < 0.05), and ameliorated H₂O₂-induced toxicity by 8-23 and 15-83%. Nitrite production reduced by 4-17 and 3-14 µM following fractions treatment. The fractions showed bioactive properties, with oxidative stress amelioratory effects, and could be a potentials source of preservatives and functional food additives.