Andean berry (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz) juice in combination with Aspirin modulated anti-inflammatory markers on LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages

Monitoring effects on anthocyanins, non-anthocyanin phenolics and ORACFL values of Colombian bilberry (V. meridionale Swartz) during pulping and thermal operations

Processing of berries usually degrades anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin phenolics and diminishes antioxidant activity. In Colombia, jelly produced from the fruit of Vaccinium meridionale Swartz is a popular product among consumers. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of jelly processing steps on bioactive components. Analysis of anthocyanins (ACNs) and non-anthocyanin phenolics was performed via HPLC-PDA. Antioxidant activity was assessed by the ORACFL method. The pulping step had the highest impact on ACNs, whose total content was significantly higher in the pomace (747.6 ± 59.2 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside (cyn 3-glu)/100 g) than in the pulp (102.7 ± 8.3 mg cyn 3-glu/100 g). Similarly, pulping caused a significant decrease in flavonols, procyanidins (PACs) and ORACFL values. Despite the effects of processing, Colombian bilberry jelly can be considered a good source of phenolic compounds with high antioxidant activity. The final concentration of ACNs, hydroxycinnamic acids (HCAs) and flavonols, as well as the ORACFL values in this product were comparable to those of fresh cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) and black currant (Ribes nigrum). The results also suggest that the pomace of V. meridionale can be recovered as an excellent source of bioactive compounds.

Natural Pigments Recovery from Food By-Products: Health Benefits towards the Food Industry

Given the health risks associated with synthetic colorants, natural pigments have emerged as a promising alternative. These renewable choices not only provide health benefits but also offer valuable technical and sensory properties to food systems. The effective application of natural colorants, however, requires the optimization of processing conditions, exploration of new sources, and development of novel formulations to ensure stability and maintain their inherent qualities. Several natural pigment sources have been explored to achieve the broad color range desired by consumers. The purpose of this review is to explore the current advances in the obtention and utilization of natural pigments derived from by-products, which possess health-enhancing properties and are extracted through environmentally friendly methods. Moreover, this review provides new insights into the extraction processes, applications, and bioactivities of different types of pigments.

Integrating network pharmacology and experimental verification to decipher the multitarget pharmacological mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil in treating inflammation

Inflammatory diseases contribute to more than 50 % of global deaths. Research suggests that network pharmacology can reveal the biological mechanisms underlying inflammatory diseases and drug effects at the molecular level. The aim of the study was to clarify the biological mechanism of Cinnamomum zeylanicum essential oil (CZEO) and predict molecular targets of CZEO against inflammation by employing network pharmacology and in vitro assays. First, the genes related to inflammation were identified from the Genecards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases. The CZEO targets were obtained from the SwissTargetPrediction and Similarity Ensemble Approach (SEA) database. A total of 1057 CZEO and 526 anti-inflammation targets were obtained. The core hub target of CZEO anti-inflammatory was obtained using the protein-protein interaction network. KEGG pathway analysis suggested CZEO to exert anti-inflammatory effect mainly through Tumor necrosis factor, Toll-like receptor and IL-17 signalling pathway. Molecular docking of active ingredients-core targets interactions was modelled using Pyrx software. Docking and simulation studies revealed benzyl benzoate to exhibit good binding affinity towards IL8 protein. MTT assay revealed CZEO to have non-cytotoxic effect on RAW 264.7 cells. CZEO also inhibited the production of NO, PGE2, IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α and promoted the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, CZEO inhibited intracellular ROS generation, NF-kB nuclear translocation and modulated the expression of downstream genes involved in Toll-like receptor signalling pathway. The results deciphered the mechanism of CZEO in treating inflammation and provided a theoretical basis for its clinical application.

Exploring the Potential of Wild Andean Blueberries for Powdered Juice Production through Spray Drying

The Andean blueberry (Vaccinium meridionale Sw) is an underutilized wild fruit native to South America. It is known for its antioxidant properties and potential health benefits. In this study, Andean blueberry juice powders were produced via spray drying, using maltodextrin (MD), gum Arabic (GA) or a combination of both (MD:GA) as wall materials. The spray-dried juices were analyzed for the recovery percentage of total polyphenols and monomeric anthocyanins, as well as for their physicochemical and technological properties. Results showed that the type of carrier agent used caused statistically significant differences in the bioactive content and the antioxidant activity of the powders (p < 0.05). It was found that the MD samples has the highest monomeric anthocyanins content (0.88 ± 0.02 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalents/g) and the highest anthocyanins recovery (96.3 ± 1.7%), while the MD:GA powders showed the highest values of total polyphenol content (5.70 ± 0.09 mg gallic acid equivalents/g), DPPH scavenging capacity (2.49 ± 0.02 mg gallic acid equivalents/g) and phenolics recovery (87.2 ± 1.1%). Furthermore, all the spray-dried powders exhibited low moisture content (<5.5%) and water activity (<0.40), as well as high solubility in water (>94%) and good flowability. Future prospects include evaluating the stability of the Andean blueberry juice powders during storage and exploring the formulation of new foods and beverages that incorporate these spray-dried powders.

Carboxymethyl Cellulose as a Food Emulsifier: Are Its Days Numbered?

Carboxymethyl cellulose use in industry is ubiquitous. Though it is recognized as safe by the EFSA and FDA, newer works have raised concerns related to its safety, as in vivo studies showed evidence of gut dysbiosis associated with CMC's presence. Herein lies the question, is CMC a gut pro-inflammatory compound? As no work addressed this question, we sought to understand whether CMC was pro-inflammatory through the immunomodulation of GI tract epithelial cells. The results showed that while CMC was not cytotoxic up to 25 mg/mL towards Caco-2, HT29-MTX and Hep G2 cells, it had an overall pro-inflammatory behavior. In a Caco-2 monolayer, CMC by itself increased IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α secretion, with the latter increasing by 1924%, and with these increases being 9.7 times superior to the one obtained for the IL-1β pro-inflammation control. In co-culture models, an increase in secretion in the apical side, particularly for IL-6 (692% increase), was observed, and when RAW 264.7 was added, data showed a more complex scenario as stimulation of pro-inflammatory (IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10 and IFN-β) cytokines in the basal side was observed. Considering these results, CMC may exert a pro-inflammatory effect in the intestinal lumen, and despite more studies being required, the incorporation of CMC in foodstuffs must be carefully considered in the future to minimize potential GI tract dysbiosis.

Aspirin reverses inflammatory suppression of chondrogenesis by stabilizing YAP

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) transplantation methods are promising candidates for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment. However, inflammatory factors (such as TNF-α) that occur at cell transplantation sites are critical factors that impair the effectiveness of the treatment. Previous studies have shown that aspirin (AS) had a regulatory role in stem cell differentiation. However, little is known about the role of AS on the chondrogenesis of BMMSCs. The purpose of this study is to explore the protective role of AS against the negative effects of TNF-α on BMMSC chondrogenesis. In this study, we investigated the effects of AS and TNF-α on BMMSCs chondrogenesis by performing the Alcian Blue staining, safranin O-fast green staining, haematoxylin and eosin staining, and immunohistochemical staining, as well as real-time RT-PCR and western blot assays. Our results demonstrated that TNF-α inhibited chondrogenic differentiation of BMMSCs by disrupting the balance of cartilage metabolism and promoting oxidative stress in BMMSCs, while AS treatment attenuated these effects. Furthermore, a detailed molecular mechanistic analysis indicated that Yes-associated protein (YAP) played a critical regulatory role in this process. In addition, AS treatment mitigated the progression of cartilage degeneration in a mouse destabilization of the medial meniscus (DMM) model. AS alleviated the inhibitory effect of TNF-α on chondrogenesis of BMMSCs by stabilizing YAP, which may provide new therapeutic strategies for OA treatment.

The Role of Diet in Regulation of Macrophages Functioning

The great importance of diet for health and high life-expectancy is established. The impact of nutrients on immune system is a point of growing research interest. Recent studies have found pro- and anti-inflammatory properties of some diet patterns and nutrients that can be used from the bench to the bedside for chronic low-grade inflammatory status correction. In this regard, the assessment of potential effects of nutrition on macrophage differentiation, proliferation, and functioning in health and disease is highly demanded. In this review, we present current data on the effects of nutrients on the macrophage functioning.

Utilization of Vaccinium meridionale S. pomace as an eco-friendly and functional colorant in Greek-style yogurt

Greek-style yogurt (GSY) has gained reputation as a healthy food because of its high protein content. Vaccinium meridionale S. is a bilberry with a high content of bioactive phytochemicals, whose vaccinium meridionale pomace (VMP) represents about 20% of the fruit weight. However, this byproduct is normally discarded as waste. In this study, VMP was used as a natural colorant in GSY. Coloring before or after the fermentation process resulted in significant increase in anthocyanins, total phenolics content, antioxidant activity, conjugated linoleic acid, and sensory acceptance. These results indicate that VMP is a potential natural, eco-friendly, and functional colorant to improve the nutritional value of GSY. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Vaccinium meridionale pomace is a waste product with potential to be utilized as a natural, eco-friendly, and functional colorant to obtain value-added Greek-style yogurt. Besides providing bioactive compounds and natural color, this pomace improves the nutritional value, sensory acceptance, and functional properties of Greek yogurt.

Structure-activity relationship and mechanism of flavonoids on the inhibitory activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated transport of rhodamine123 and daunorubicin in P-gp overexpressed human mouth epidermal carcinoma (KB/MDR) cells

This study was aimed to investigate the inhibitory activity of flavonoids on P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Effects of 39 flavonoids on the cellular uptake (CU) of rhodamine123 (Rho) and daunomycin (DNR) were investigated in both parental KB and P-gp overexpressed KB/MDR cells. The inhibition mechanism of selected flavonoids was further investigated by measuring the ATPase activity and expression level of P-gp. Twelve flavonoids improved the uptake of Rho (↑Rho_F) and nineteen flavonoids increased the uptake of DNR (↑DNR_F) in KB/MDR cells with nine flavonoids overlapped. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) indicated that 8-OCH₃, and 2'-OH have a negative effect on Rho and DNR transport. Whereas 5-OH, 5-OCH₃, 6-OH, 7-OCH₃, 3'-OH, and 4'-OH, are essential for inhibition of flavonoids on P-gp and reversing the resistance of Rho and DNR. Eleven selected flavonoids significantly induced the basal P-gp-ATPase activity but much lower than that induced by verapamil. Tangeretin, galangin, kaempferol, quercetin, and morin significantly reversed the ATPase activity stimulated by verapamil. Six of eleven flavonoids significantly decreased P-gp expression, whereas three flavonoids slightly increased P-gp expression. These results provide valuable information that flavonoids can effectively reverse multidrug resistance of P-gp-mediated transport of nutraceutical and drugs by co-administration.

In vitro gastrointestinal digestion impact on stability, bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of polyphenols from wild and commercial blackberries (Rubus spp.)

Gastrointestinal digestion (GID) is a physiological process that transforms the stability, bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity (AOX) of polyphenols from blackberries (Rubus spp.). This study aimed to investigate the effect of the INFOGEST® GID protocol on the phenolic stability, bioaccessibility and AOX of Mexican wild (WB) and commercial (CB) blackberries. After GID, the total phenolic and anthocyanin contents in blackberries decreased by ≥68% and ≥74%, respectively. More than 40 phenolics were identified during GID; most of them degraded completely during digestion. GID had a negative effect on the AOX of both fruits (>50%), but WB showed the highest antioxidant activities, as assessed by the ORAC, DPPH, reducing power and β-carotene bleaching methods. In Caco-2 cells, the cell-based antioxidant activity of digested blackberries (p < 0.05) decreased by 48% in WB and by 56% in CB. The capacity to inhibit intracellular ROS decreased by 50% in WB and by up to 86% in CB, after digestion. GID is a complex process that impacts on the bioactive properties of food nutrients, especially phenolics. In vitro and cellular AOX of WB polyphenols withstood the gastrointestinal environment better than CB phenolics. The in vitro assays results suggest that phenolics from underutilized WB have a higher bioaccessibility and antioxidant capacity than the polyphenols from the most frequently consumed CB. However, whether this corresponds to a better bioaccessibility in humans remains to be determined in future work.

Antiproliferative potential of Andean Berry (Vaccinium meridionale Swartz) juice in combination with Aspirin in human SW480 colon adenocarcinoma cells

Andean Berry (Vaccinium meridionale Sw.) is a South American fruit rich in phytochemicals with promising anti-cancer properties as co-adjuvants to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Aspirin. This study aimed to evaluate the antiproliferative potential of Andean Berry Juice (ABJ) in combination with Aspirin in human SW480 colon adenocarcinoma cells. ABJ primarily contained 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic and chlorogenic acids. The combined treatment of ABJ (IC₅₀ : 30.0 ± 0.11%) and Aspirin (IC₅₀ : 20.0 ± 0.57) exhibited a higher (p < .01) antiproliferative effect than each counterpart. Moreover the same mixture displayed a lower reduced glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH/GSSG) than the untreated cells. ABJ-Aspirin combination induced late apoptosis stage without stimulating mitochondrial depolarization and prompted phosphatidylserine relocalization. These results emphasize the antiproliferative potential of bioactive compounds from ABJ and Aspirin combinations. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Natural products such as Andean Berry (V. meridionale Sw.) juice (ABJ) contains antioxidant polyphenols that could reduce the need to use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, currently employed in cancer treatment, to prevent its side effects. The high abundance of polyphenols from this underutilized berry could stimulate the standardization of its production and industrial exploitation to be transformed into suitable food products delivering natural bioactive compounds with potential anti-cancer effects in vitro.

Bioactive Properties of Breads Made with Sourdough of Hull-Less Barley or Conventional and Pigmented Wheat Flours

Functional and nutritional properties of baked goods can be enhanced by the use of sourdough fermentation, which is defined as a mixture of water and flour fermented by lactobacilli (LAB) and yeasts. Previous data highlighted the ability of sourdoughs obtained with selected LAB strains and commercial flour to produce bioactive peptides equipped with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. More recently, it has been proven that choosing the most suitable combination of selected LAB and high-functional-value flours greatly increase the amount of low-molecular-weight antioxidant compounds responsible for improving the nutritional value of the products. This work aimed to isolate bioactive peptides both from sourdoughs and baked breads obtained with pigmented wheat and barley and a selected combination of LABs. Soluble water extracts were obtained, and low-molecular-weight peptides were isolated. Antioxidant activity was detected by assaying the intracellular ROS production in stressed cultured macrophages, treated with peptides. Moreover, anti-inflammatory activity, highlighted by NFkB pathway inhibition and by COX2 reduction in stressed cells, was demonstrated for peptides obtained from breads. The results allowed the conclusion that the combination of flours and LAB used in the present manuscript led to the production of bakery products with beneficial effects on oxidative and inflammatory status.

Technological Applications of Natural Colorants in Food Systems: A Review

Natural colorants have emerged as an alternative to their synthetic counterparts due to an existing health concern of these later. Moreover, natural-food colorants are a renewable option providing health benefits and interesting technological and sensory attributes to the food systems containing them. Several sources of natural colorants have been explored aiming to deliver the required wide color range demanded by consumers. This review aimed to compare and discuss the technological applications of the main natural-food colorants into food system in the last six years, giving additional information about their extraction process. Although natural colorants are promising choices to replace synthetic ones, optimization of processing conditions, research on new sources, and new formulations to ensure stability are required to equate their properties to their synthetic counterparts.