Synthesis of a green bigel using cottonseed oil/cannabis oil/alginate/ferula gum for quercetin release: Synergistic effects for treating infertility in rats

A biocompatible lipid-based bigel for topical applications

The development of biocompatible delivery systems is a necessity for medical and topical applications. Herein, the development of a new bigel for topical application is described. It is composed of 40% colloidal lipid hydrogel and 60% olive oil and beeswax oleogel. Its characterization and the potential of the bigel as a drug carrier through the skin was evaluated in vitro using fluorescence microscopy and two phases of the bigel were labeled with two fluorescent probes: sodium fluorescein (hydrophilic phase) and Nile red (lipophilic phase). The structure of the bigel showed two phases with fluorescence microscopy in which the hydrogel phase was incorporated into a continuous oleogel matrix. Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) presented a combination of vibrations characteristic of the different molecules forming the bigel, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) showed different transitions attributed to beeswax lipids. Small-angle and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS and WAXS) indicated a predominant lamellar structure with orthorhombic lateral packing that could be related to the arrangement of beeswax crystals. Bigel enables deeper penetration of hydrophilic and lipophilic probes into deeper layers, making it a promising candidate for effective topical carriers in medical and dermatological applications.

Characteristics of a Lipid Hydrogel and Bigel as Matrices for Ascorbic Acid Stabilization

Ascorbic acid (AA) has many health benefits, including immune and cardiovascular deficiency protection, prenatal problems, and skin diseases. Unfortunately, AA is easily oxidized and has limited bioavailability. Thus, the development of formulations that stabilize and enhance the efficacy of AA is a challenge. In this study, 4% AA was encapsulated in two recently developed gels, a hydrogel and a bigel. The hydrogel was formed exclusively with lipids and water, and the bigel was a combination of the hydrogel with an oleogel formed with olive oil and beeswax. The effect of AA in gel microstructures was determined using X-ray scattering, rheology, and texture analysis. Additionally, the capacity of these materials to protect AA from degradation upon temperature and sunlight was studied. Results showed that the incorporation of AA into both materials did not affect their microstructure. Moreover, hydrogel-protected AA showed only 2% degradation after three months at 8 °C, while in aqueous solution, it degraded by 12%. Regarding sunlight, bigel showed a good shielding effect, exhibiting only 2% AA degradation after 22 h of exposure, whereas in aqueous solution, AA degraded by 10%. These results suggest that both proposed gels could be used in biomedical applications and the field of food.

Bigels as Delivery Systems: Potential Uses and Applicability in Food

Bigels have been mainly applied in the pharmaceutical sector for the controlled release of drugs or therapeutics. However, these systems, with their intricate structures, hold great promise for wider application in food products. Besides their classical role as carrier and target delivery vehicles for molecules of interest, bigels may also be valuable tools for building complex food structures. In the context of reducing or even eliminating undesirable (but often highly functional) food components, current strategies often critically affect food structure and palatability. The production of solid fat systems that are trans-fat-free and have high levels of unsaturated fatty acids is one of the challenges the food industry currently faces. According to recent studies, bigels can be successfully used as ingredients for total or partial solid fat replacement in complex food matrices. This review aims to critically assess current research on bigels in food and pharmaceutical applications, discuss the role of bigel composition and production parameters on the characteristics of bigels and further expand the use of bigels as solid fat replacers and functional food ingredients. The hydrogel:oleogel ratio, selected gelators, inclusion of surfactants and encapsulation of molecules of interest, and process parameters (e.g., temperature, shear rate) during bigel production play a crucial role in the bigel's rheological and textural properties, microstructure, release characteristics, biocompatibility, and stability. Besides exploring the role of these parameters in bigel production, future research directions for bigels in a food context are explored.

The consequence and mechanism of dietary flavonoids on androgen profiles and disorders amelioration

Androgen is a kind of steroid hormone that plays a vital role in reproductive system and homeostasis of the body. Disrupted androgen balance serves as the causal contributor to a series of physiological disorders and even diseases. Flavonoids, as an extremely frequent family of natural polyphenols, exist widely in plants and foods and have received great attention when considering their inevitable consumption and estrogen-like effects. Mounting evidence illustrates that flavonoids have a propensity to interfere with androgen synthesis and metabolism, and also have a designated improvement effect on androgen disorders. Therefore, flavonoids were divided into six subclasses based on the structural feature in this paper, and the literature about their effects on androgens published in the past ten years was summarized. It could be concluded that flavonoids have the potential to regulate androgen levels and biological effects, mainly by interfering with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, androgen synthesis and metabolism, androgen binding with its receptors and membrane receptors, and antioxidant effects. The faced challenges about androgen regulation by flavonoids masterly include target mechanism exploration, individual heterogeneity, food matrixes interaction, and lack of clinical study. This review also provides a scientific basis for nutritional intervention using flavonoids to improve androgen disorder symptoms.

Beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on inflammatory markers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the clinical trials

The beneficial effects of Ginkgo biloba on cardio-metabolic markers have been reported. However, its effect on inflammation is not assessed in any meta-analysis. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBLE) on serum C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. A systematic search was performed on four databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, up to October 2021. After screening, 17 trials met our inclusion criteria. Trials were of 1-24 weeks of duration and included 1,104 participants. In the meta-analysis, the weighted mean differences (WMD) in change for serum CRP were -1.5 mg/L (95% CI: -2.16, -0.85, p < 0.001). Moreover, WMD for serum IL-6 and TNF-α were in favor of the GBLE compared to the placebo [(-16.86 pg/mL, 95% CI: -19.38, -14.34, p < 0.001); and (-4.19 pg/mL, 95%CI: -5.14, -3.23, p < 0.001), respectively]. Subgroup analysis showed that GBLE has a beneficial effect on serum CRP at the baseline levels≥3 mg/L and doses<500 mg/day. This meta-analysis showed that the GBLE could reduce serum inflammatory markers. Therefore, this medicinal herb might be a possible strategy for inflammation control.