Mechanochemical preparation of red clover extract/β-cyclodextrin dispersion: Enhanced water solubility and activities in alleviating high-fat diet-induced lipid accumulation and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice

Formononetin alleviates no reflow after myocardial ischemia-reperfusion via modulation of gut microbiota to inhibit inflammation

Gut microflora plays an important role in relieving myocardial no-reflow (NR), formononetin (FMN) has potential effects on NR, however, the relationship between this effect and gut microflora remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the role of FMN in alleviating NR effects by regulating gut microflora. We used a myocardial NR rat model to confirm the effect and mechanism of action of FMN in alleviating NR. The rats were randomly divided into sham operation group (Sham), NR group, FMN group and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) group. Thioflavin S staining, Hematoxylin Eosin (HE), myocardial enzyme activity, ultrasonic cardiogram and RT-PCR detection showed that FMN could effectively reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, NR and ischemic area, improve cardiac structure and function and reduce TNF-α and NF-κB gene expression in NR rats. The results of 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing showed that FMN could increase the abundance of anti-inflammatory bacteria such as Ligilaculum, Coprococcus, Blautia and Muribaculaceae and decrease the abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria such as Treponema in Spirochaetota and Campylobacterota. The correlation between the differential bacteria in the gut microflora(anti-inflammatory bacteria and pro-inflammatory bacteria) and TNF-α and NF-κB, show that they had a strong correlation. Therefore, the anti-NR mechanism of FMN may be related to increasing the abundance of anti-inflammatory bacteria and reducing the abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria to inhibit inflammation. This study provides innovative mechanistic insights into the relationship between gut microbiota and myocardial protection, suggesting potential strategy for future treatment of NR.

Optimization of the Extraction Conditions of Polyphenols from Red Clover (Trifolium pratense L.) Flowers and Evaluation of the Antiradical Activity of the Resulting Extracts

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the type of extraction solution (water, different concentrations of ethanol), temperature and time on the polyphenol content and antioxidant properties of red clover extracts and the effect of the addition of selected extracts on the antioxidant properties of enriched blackcurrant beverages. In both the extractions carried out under different conditions and in the enriched beverages, the content of selected polyphenols was determined by HPLC. This study confirmed the significant effect of the alcohol content of the extract, extraction time and temperature on the antioxidant properties of clover extracts. Ethanolic extracts had better antioxidant properties than aqueous extracts. The addition of ethanol extracts had a significant effect on the antioxidant properties of the fortified beverages. Increasing the temperature, time or ethanol content in the extracts mostly resulted in an increase in the total polyphenol content in the obtained extracts. Based on the analysis of the response surface, it was found that for the DPPH radical, the best activity was obtained by extraction for 20 min with a solution of approximately 65% at low temperatures. In the case of the ABTS radical, the best antiradical activity was obtained after extraction for 60 min at 80 °C with a solution of approximately 50% ethanol. It was also found that the use of a solution of approximately 60% ethanol after extraction for 60 min at 80 °C would provide an extract with high antiradical activity against both radicals.

Improving Bioaccessibility and Bioavailability of Isoflavone Aglycones from Chickpeas by Germination and Forming β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes

Chickpea isoflavones have diverse pharmacological activities but with low water solubility and bioavailability. In this work, the isoflavone content in chickpeas was first increased by germination, and then the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of isoflavones in chickpea sprout extracts (CSE) were enhanced using β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) inclusion techniques. Firstly, the total content of isoflavones was increased by 182 times through sprouting, and isoflavones were presented mostly in the germ and radicle. Then, the chickpea sprout extract/β-cyclodextrin (CSE/β-CD) inclusion complex was prepared and characterized. The in vitro test showed that the cumulative release of two isoflavones, formononetin (FMN) and biochanin A (BCA), in the CSE/β-CD was significantly increased in a simulated digestive fluid. The in vivo rat pharmacokinetics demonstrated that the inclusion of FMN and BCA by β-CD effectively increased their bioavailability in rat plasma and tissues, especially in the liver. The study provides a feasible strategy for improving the bioavailability of isoflavones from chickpeas and is also beneficial to the utilization of other legume resources.