The efficacy of polyphenols as an antioxidant agent: An updated review

Effects of dietary supplementation by modified palygorskite and essential oil/palygorskite complex on growth performance and intestinal flora composition of broilers with diarrhea

With the development trend of the industry, it can be seen that the substitution of antibiotics and reduction of zinc oxiden is still the hot spot of the industry. Diarrhea and inflammation occur frequently during livestock and poultry production, which is difficult to control. This experiment aimed to explore the effects and mechanisms of dietary supplementation of modified palygorskite (Mpal) and essential oil/ palygorskite composite (EO-PGS) on disease resistance and intestinal inflammatory damage in diarrhea broiler. In this experiment, there were a total of 420 broilers of 10-day-old selected and divided into 7 groups (n = 60), which were the nondiarrhea group fed with basal diet (normal control, NC), the diarrhea group fed with basal diet (diarrhea control, DC), and the rest were the diarrhea test group (diarrhea), supplemented with 1 kg/t, 2 kg/t and 4 kg/t of essential oils/ palygorskite complex (EO-PGS 1kg/T, EO-PGS 2kg/T, EO-PGS 4kg/T) in the basal diet, respectively, and 2 kg/t, 4 kg/t modified palygorskite group (Mpal 2kg/T, Mpal 4kg/T) in the basal diets, respectively. The experiment lasted for 8 d. The results showed that compared to normal broilers, the diarrhea index of diarrhea broilers remained around 2.0 with persistent mild diarrhea during the test period. The duodenal epithelial cells were damaged and shed, goblet cells increased, inflammatory cells infiltrated, diffuse congestion and hemorrhage in lamina propria, the serum lipopolysaccharides (LPS) content, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased significantly (P < 0.05). The serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and immunoglobulin-M (IgM) levels significantly decreased, while serum immunoglobulin-G (IgG) and complement 3 (C3) levels significantly increased (P < 0.05). The expression of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) in duodenal epithelial cells was significantly upregulated on d 5 (P < 0.05). The abundance of Bacteroides in the duodenum of diarrhea broilers was significantly decreased, while the abundance of Proteobacteria was significantly increased (P < 0.05). Feeding diets supplemented with EO-PSG and 4 kg/t Mpal increased the average weight of diarrhea broilers (P < 0.05), reduced diarrhea index, improved immunity by increasing serum IgG, IgM, C3 and complement 4 (C4) levels (P < 0.05), enhanced the activity of serum antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX) and SOD activity, reduced serum MDA content, serum LPS levels, and decreased the expression of proinflammatory factors in the duodenal epithelial cell on d 5 (P < 0.05), alleviated duodenal epithelial cell injury, hemorrhage, inflammation infiltration and intestinal injury of diarrhea broilers from d 5 to d 8. Meanwhile, supplemented with EO-PSG and Mpal in diets regulated the intestinal microbiota, significantly increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes and decreased the abundance of Proteobacteria at the phylum level (P < 0.05). Microbial richness and diversity of microbiota were significantly increased by feeding the diet supplemented with 2 kg/t EO-PGS. In the beta diversity of the intestinal flora of the diets supplemented with 4 kg/t Mpal and 2 kg/t EO-PGS, the microbial community composition could be relatively easily distinguished with NC and DC groups. As a result of LEfSe analysis, the diets supplemented with 2 kg/t EO-PGS f_Clostridiaceae and g_Coprococcus were enriched in the caecum of diarrhea broilers, and the diets supplemented with 4 kg/t Mpal o_Bacteroidales, f_Rikenllaceae and g_Peptococcus were enriched in caecum of diarrhea broilers, between normal and diarrhea broilers (P<0.05). In conclusion, dietary supplementation with EO-PGS and Mpal could improve disease resistance and alleviate intestinal inflammatory damage in diarrhea broilers, but the effect of 2 kg/t Mpal was not significant. It was recommended that 2 kg/t EO-PGS or 4 kg/t Mpal be added to the broilers' diet according to the degree of diarrhea, and continuous feeding for more than 5 d.

An Overview of Interactions between Goat Milk Casein and Other Food Components: Polysaccharides, Polyphenols, and Metal Ions

Casein is among the most abundant proteins in milk and has high nutritional value. Casein's interactions with polysaccharides, polyphenols, and metal ions are important for regulating the functional properties and textural quality of dairy foods. To improve the functional properties of casein-based foods, a deep understanding of the interaction mechanisms and the influencing factors between casein and other food components is required. This review started by elucidating the interaction mechanism of casein with polysaccharides, polyphenols, and metal ions. Thermodynamic incompatibility and attraction are the fundamental factors in determining the interaction types between casein and polysaccharides, which leads to different phase behaviors and microstructural types in casein-based foods. Additionally, the interaction of casein with polyphenols primarily occurs through non-covalent (hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interactions, van der Waals forces, and ionic bonding) or covalent interaction (primarily based on the oxidation of proteins or polyphenols by enzymatic or non-enzymatic (alkaline or free radical grafting) approaches). Moreover, the selectivity of casein to specific metal ions is also introduced. Factors affecting the binding of casein to the above three components, such as temperature, pH, the mixing ratio, and the fine structure of these components, are also summarized to provide a good foundation for casein-based food applications.

Castanea sativa Mill. By-Products: Investigation of Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells

Castanea sativa Mill. (C. sativa) processing and pruning generate several by-products, including leaves, burs, and shells (inner and outer teguments), which are considered an important source of high-value phytochemicals. Ellagitannins from C. sativa leaf extracts have been described to impair H. pylori viability and inflammation in gastric cells. Furthermore, chestnut shells showed an important anti-inflammatory effect in gastric epithelial cells. Dietary polyphenols, including tannins, have been reported to interfere with targets of inflammation, including the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). A promising role as a further therapeutical target for gut disorders has been recently proposed for the regulatory subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), as a potential stabilizer of intestinal barrier integrity. Therefore, the main objective of this work is the chemical characterization of several chestnut by-products (bud, spiny bur, wood, pericarp and episperm), together with the exploitation of their anti-inflammatory properties in intestinal cells, scavenging capacity, and stability following gastrointestinal digestion. The chemical characterization confirmed the presence of bioactive polyphenols in the extracts, including ellagitannins. In CaCo-2 cells stimulated by an IL-1β-IFN-γ cocktail, nearly all chestnut by-products (50 µg/mL) inhibited the release of proinflammatory mediators (CXCL-10, IL-8, MCP-1, ICAM), along with the NF-κB-driven transcription, and induced the HRE-driven transcription. The stability of the most promising extracts, identified through PCA and cluster analysis, was addressed by in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Despite the significant reduction in total polyphenol index of chestnut bud and wood after gastric and intestinal digestion, the activity of these extracts on both scavenging and anti-inflammatory parameters remained promising. These data contribute to exploit the potential of chestnut by-products as sources of dietary polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties at the intestinal level. Moreover, this study could represent an important step to encourage the recycling and valorization of chestnut by-products, promoting the circular economy and reducing the environmental impact related to the management of agriculture waste.

Impact of Nutritional Tea Polyphenols on Growth, Feed Efficiency, Biochemical Traits, Antioxidant Capacity, Haematological Parameters and Immunity in Coho Salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch)

To evaluate the impact of nutritional tea polyphenols (TPs) on body composition, growth, biochemical markers, antioxidant capacity, and hemato-immunological levels, a ten-week feeding experiment was carried out on coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch, 180.51 ± 0.15 g). The control group was fed a basal diet; the T1, T2, T3, and T4 groups were fed 0.005%, 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.04% TPs, respectively. These results demonstrate that adding TPs significantly (p < 0.05) increased the coho salmon fish's weight gain (WG), relative growth rate (RGR), condition factor (CF), feed efficacy (FE), daily growth rate (DGR), and specific growth rate (SGR). There was no discernible difference in the body compositions of the treated TPs and the control group (p > 0.05). In addition, the T3 group showed a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in GPT, LDL, HDL, TC, and CAT. Fish given a 0.02% diet containing TPs had significantly lower levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) in their liver; yet, the TP-treated groups had higher levels of SOD and CAT than the control (p < 0.05). The data analysis shows a significant rise in lysozyme, respiratory burst activity, bactericidal activity, and blood hematological parameters in the 0.01-0.04% TP groups. According to these findings, TPs could be a useful dietary supplement for raising the antioxidant status, growth parameters, haemato-immunological response, and whole-body composition of coho salmon fish.

Preparation, identification and molecular docking of two novel anti-aging peptides from perilla seed

Perilla seed meal is an important agricultural by-product of perilla oil extraction. The antioxidant and anti-aging activities of perilla seed meal protein hydrolysate were investigated, and the bioactive peptides were identified to maximize the utilization of perilla seed meal resources. Anti-aging peptides were identified using a combination of peptidomics and in silico bioinformatics. Furthermore, the potential molecular mechanism of these peptides was explored through molecular docking and RT-PCR. The results showed a significant anti-aging properties of F2 (MW 3 kDa ∼5 kDa) by inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and β-galactosidase activity. Nine novel peptides were identified from F2 and subsequently synthesized to explore their bioactivities. The two peptides, NFF and PMR, were found to promote the proliferation of keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) and suppress the level of ROS and the activity of β-galactosidase. Both peptides exhibited a strong binding affinity with the Keap1 protein. Additionally, NFF and PMR downregulated the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the degradation of collagens (COLs). The potential molecular mechanism underlying the anti-aging properties of perilla seed meal peptides might involve the competitive binding of Keap1 to facilitate the release of Nrf2 and activation of NF-κB signal pathway. This study provides a theoretical basis for the application of perilla seed meal peptides in functional cosmetics and presents a novel perspective for the investigation of additional food-derived peptides.

Nanophytomedicine: A promising practical approach in phytotherapy

The long and rich history of herbal therapeutic nutrients is fascinating. It is incredible to think about how ancient civilizations used plants and herbs to treat various ailments and diseases. One group of bioactive phytochemicals that has gained significant attention recently is dietary polyphenols. These compounds are commonly found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, spices, nuts, drinks, legumes, and grains. Despite their incredible therapeutic properties, one challenge with polyphenols is their poor water solubility, stability, and bioavailability. This means that they are not easily absorbed by the body when consumed in essential diets. Because of structural complexity, polyphenols with high molecular weight cannot be absorbed in the small intestine and after arriving in the colon, they are metabolized by gut microbiota. However, researchers are constantly working on finding solutions to enhance the bioavailability and absorption of these compounds. This study aims to address this issue by applying nanotechnology approaches to overcome the challenges of the therapeutic application of dietary polyphenols. This combination of nanotechnology and phytochemicals could cause a completely new field called nanophytomedicine or herbal nanomedicine.

Antioxidant Hydrogels: Antioxidant Mechanisms, Design Strategies, and Applications in the Treatment of Oxidative Stress-Related Diseases

Oxidative stress is a biochemical process that disrupts the redox balance due to an excess of oxidized substances within the cell. Oxidative stress is closely associated with a multitude of diseases and health issues, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, inflammatory conditions, and aging. Therefore, the developing of antioxidant treatment strategies has emerged as a pivotal area of medical research. Hydrogels have garnered considerable attention due to their exceptional biocompatibility, adjustable physicochemical properties, and capabilities for drug delivery. Numerous antioxidant hydrogels have been developed and proven effective in alleviating oxidative stress. In the pursuit of more effective treatments for oxidative stress-related diseases, there is an urgent need for advanced strategies for the fabrication of multifunctional antioxidant hydrogels. Consequently, the authors' focus will be on hydrogels that possess exceptional reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen species scavenging capabilities, and their role in oxidative stress therapy will be evaluated. Herein, the antioxidant mechanisms and the design strategies of antioxidant hydrogels and their applications in oxidative stress-related diseases are discussed systematically in order to provide critical insights for further advancements in the field.

The Potential Effects of Dietary Antioxidants in Obesity: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Obesity has become a global health concern, with its prevalence steadily increasing in recent decades. It is associated with numerous health complications, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. The aetiology of obesity is multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors. In recent years, oxidative stress has emerged as a potential contributor to obesity and its related metabolic disorders. Dietary antioxidants, which can counteract oxidative stress, have gained significant attention for their potential role in preventing and managing obesity. This comprehensive review aims to explore the impact of dietary antioxidants on obesity and its associated metabolic dysregulations, discussing the underlying mechanisms and highlighting the potential therapeutic implications.

How Does In Vitro Digestion Change the Amount of Phenolics in Morus alba L. Leaf? Analysis of Preparations and Infusions

The application of Morus alba L. in traditional oriental medicine and cuisine has resulted in numerous studies on its health-promoting effects. However, if the process is not monitored by the manufacturers, the processing of the leaves alters the obtained health-promoting properties and results in different health qualities in the final composition of dietary supplements. This article aims to analyze changes (using the HPLC/DAD method) in the proposed conditioned mulberry leaves in terms of key compounds (phenolic acids and flavonols) responsible for antioxidant activity after being digested in in vitro conditions. The analyzed material was leaves of white mulberry (Morus alba L.) cv. Żółwińska wielkolistna, conditioned (1-4 h) and non-conditioned. The conditioning process of mulberry proposed here, e.g., for industry production, resulted in variable transformations of polyphenols during in vitro digestion. For many polyphenols, especially those shown in the highest amounts, significant correlations were found between their content and conditioning, as well as the stage of digestion. In the case of mulberry infusions, the amounts of individual polyphenols were several times lower than in the preparations, which was due to the degree of dilution. Their amounts tended to decrease in the course of digestion. Taking this into account, it seems justified to continue research on the in vivo bioavailability of bioactive components from conditioned Morus alba L. leaves.