Hepatoprotective efficacy of Shanxi aged vinegar extract against oxidative damage in vitro and in vivo

Whey protein and flaxseed gum co-encapsulated fucoxanthin promoted tumor cells apoptosis based on MAPK-PI3K/Akt regulation on Huh-7 cell xenografted nude mice

Fucoxanthin (FX), a non-provitamin-A carotenoid, is a well-known major xanthophyll contained in edible brown algae. The nanoencapsulation of FX was motivated due to its multiple activities. Here, nano-encapsulated-FX (nano-FX) was prepared according to our early method by using whey protein and flaxseed gum as the biomacromolecule carrier material, then in vivo antitumor effect and mechanism of nano-FX on xenograft mice were investigated. Thirty 4-week-old male BALB/c nude mice were fed adaptively for 7 days to establish xenograft tumor model with Huh-7 cells. The tumor-bearing mice consumed nano-FX (50, 25, and 12.5 mg kg-1) and doxorubicin hydrochloride (DOX, 1 mg kg-1) or did not consume (Control) for 21 days, n = 6. The tumor inhibition rates of nano-FX were as high as 54.67 ± 1.04 %. Nano-FX intervention promoted apoptosis and induced hyperchromatic pyknosis and focal necrosis in tumor tissue by down-regulating the expression of p-JNK, p-ERK, PI3Kp85α, p-AKT, p-p38MAPK, Bcl-2, CyclinD1 and Ki-67, while up-regulating the expression of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax. Nano-FX inhibited tumor growth and protected liver function of tumor bearing mice in a dose-dependent manner, up-regulate the level of apoptosis-related proteins, inhibit the MAPK-PI3K/Akt pathways, and promote tumor cell apoptosis.

Fruit vinegar as a promising source of natural anti-inflammatory agents: an up-to-date review

OBJECTIVES

Fruit vinegar is one of the most famous fruit byproducts worldwide with several unique properties. There are two types of fruit vinegar, artisanal and industrial, for consumers to choose from. This review aims to assess for the first time the phytochemistry of fruit vinegar and its anti-inflammatory effects.

METHOD

The present work was conducted based on a literature search that selected the relevant papers from indexed databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, MDPI, PubMed, Hindawi, and Web of Science. We used numerous terms to assure a good search in different databases, including fruit vinegar, phytochemistry, bioavailability and bioaccessibility, and anti-inflammatory effect. All articles were selected based on their relevance, quality, and problematic treatment.

RESULTS

Literature data have shown that vinegar has a long medicinal history and has been widely used by different civilizations, due to its richness in bioactive molecules, vinegar plays an important role in the prevention and treatment of various inflammatory diseases, including atopic dermatitis, mastitis, asthma, arthritis, acute pancreatitis, and colitis. Fruit vinegar consumption benefit is highly dependent on its chemical composition, especially organic acids and antioxidants, which can act as nutraceuticals.

CONCLUSION

Fruit vinegar has a rich chemical composition, including organic acids that can be transformed in the digestive system into compounds that play an important role in health-promoting features such as anti-inflammatory effects throughout the control of intestinal microbiota and pro-inflammatory cytokine production.

Formation of Maillard Reaction Products in Aged Sorghum Vinegar during Ageing and Protective Effects of Pure Vinegar Melanoidin Against CCl4-Induced Rat Hepatic Damage

Research background

The processing method generally affects the toxicity and biological activity of aged sorghum vinegar. This study investigates the changes in the intermediate Maillard reaction products of sorghum vinegar during ageing and the in vivo hepatoprotective effects of pure melanoidin obtained from it.

Experimental approach

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and fluorescence spectrophotometry were utilized to quantify intermediate Maillard reaction products. The CCl4-induced liver damage in rats was used to evaluate the protective role of pure melanoidin in rat liver.

Results and conclusions

Compared with the initial concentration, the 18-month ageing process caused a 1.2- to 3.3-fold increase in the concentrations of intermediate Maillard reaction products, i.e. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), 5-methylfurfural (MF), methyglyoxal (MGO), glyoxal (GO) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The concentrations of HMF in the aged sorghum vinegar were 6.1-fold higher than the 450 μM limit standard for honey, implying the need for shortening the ageing of the vinegar in practice for safety concerns. Pure melanoidin (Mr>3.5 kDa) demonstrated significant protective effects against CCl4-induced rat liver damage, as evidenced by normalized serum biochemical parameters (transaminases and total bilirubin), suppressing hepatic lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species, as well as increasing glutathione amount and restoring antioxidant enzyme activities. Histopathological analysis revealed that melanoidin in vinegar reduced cell infiltration and vacuolar hepatocyte necrosis in rat liver. The findings demonstrated that a shortened ageing process should be considered in practice to ensure the safety of aged sorghum vinegar. Vinegar melanoidin is a potential alternative for the prevention of hepatic oxidative damage.

Novelty and scientific contribution

This study demonstrates that the manufacturing process had a profound influence on the generation of vinegar intermediate Maillard reaction products. In particular, it revealed the in vivo hepatoprotective effect of pure melanoidin from aged sorghum vinegar, and provides insight into the in vivo biological activity of melanoidin.

Isolation and Identification of Polyphenols From Fresh Sweet Sorghum Stems and Their Antibacterial Mechanism Against Foodborne Pathogens

As a C4 energy crop widely planted all over the world, sweet sorghum is mainly used in sugar making and brewing. Fresh sweet sorghum stalks contain many natural ingredients that have antioxidant properties and can significantly inhibit the growth of foodborne pathogens. In this study, the polyphenols in sweet sorghum were extracted by acid ethanol and ion precipitation, and the types of polyphenols were determined by HPLC-MS. The polyphenol content in fresh sweet sorghum stalks was 5.77 mg/g after process optimization with 18 types of phenolic acids identified. The extract had a total antioxidant capacity of 9.4 μmol Trolox/mL. Polyphenol extract of sweet sorghum displayed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Listeria spp., and Salmonella spp. The extract increased the conductivity of cell suspensions by destroying the membrane structure, resulting in leakage of cell electrolytes. Changes in bacterial morphology and internal structure were indicated. The data describe an optimized process to extract polyphenols from sweet sorghum stalks and the methodology to identify the major components within the extract. The data provide a novel option for the comprehensive utilization of fresh sweet sorghum stalks.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Cereal Vinegar Sediment in Acute Liver Injury Mice and Its Influence on Gut Microbiota

Cereal vinegar sediment (CVS) is a natural precipitate formed during the aging process of traditional grain vinegar. It has been used as Chinese traditional medicine, while its composition and function are reported minimally. In this study, we measured CVS in terms of saccharide, protein, fat and water content, and polyphenol and flavonoid content. Furthermore, we determined the amino acids, organic acids, and other soluble metabolites in CVS using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), HPLC, and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) platforms. The hepatoprotective effect of CVS was evaluated in acute CCl₄-induced liver injury mice. Administration of CVS for 7 days prior to the CCl₄ treatment can significantly decrease liver alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, compared with those in the hepatic injury model group. The gut microbiota was changed by CCl₄ administration and was partly shifted by the pretreatment of CVS, particularly the Muribaculaceae family, which was increased in CVS-treated groups compared with that in the CCl₄ administration group. Moreover, the abundances of Alistipes genus and Muribaculaceae family were correlated with the liver ALT, AST, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Our results illustrated the composition of CVS and its hepatoprotective effect in mice, suggested that CVS could be developed as functional food to prevent acute liver injury.

Effect of a Combination of Rosa canina Fruits and Apple Cider Vinegar against Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Toxicity in Experimental Animal Models

Oxidative stress is the trigger of several diseases. It is an imbalance between the production of free radicals and antioxidants. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant capacity and the protective property of Rosa canina fruits and apple cider vinegar combined or not against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced toxicity in Wistar rats. The experiment included five groups: group 1 received distilled water (10 mL/kg b.wt), group 2 received H2O2 10% (10 mL/kg b.wt), group 3 received H2O2 10% (10 mL/kg b.wt) and apple vinegar (2 mL/kg b.wt); group 4 received H2O2 10% (10 mL/kg b.wt) and apple vinegar supplemented with Rosa canina fruits extract (300 mg/kg b.wt); group 5 received H2O2 10% (10 mL/kg b.wt) and extract of Rosa canina fruits (300 mg/kg b.wt). The doses were given once daily via a gavage. The antioxidant capacity of apple vinegar and Rosa canina extract was analyzed, and AST, ALT, PAL, urea, and creatinine were determined on day 22 of the experiment. In addition, the kidney and the liver tissues were analyzed. The results showed that H2O2 caused a significant elevation of blood urea, blood creatinine, and transaminases. The histopathology examination revealed that H2O2 caused congestion, hemorrhage, and Bowman’s space enlarged. On the other hand, the results clearly showed that apple vinegar and Rosa canina fruits counterbalance the biochemical and histological changes induced by H2O2. In conclusion, the two natural products studied in this work are effective against the harmful effect of oxidative stress, which explains their use in traditional medicine.

Oligopeptides from Jinhua ham prevent alcohol-induced liver damage by regulating intestinal homeostasis and oxidative stress in mice

The current study aimed to evaluate the protective activity of peptides isolated from Jinhua ham (JHP) against alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and the mechanisms by which JHP prevents against ALD. The tangential flow filtration (TFF) combined with size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) were used to isolate the JHP. Then the hepatoprotective activity of peptides was evaluated through experiments in mice. The primary structure of the peptide with the strongest liver protective activity was Lys-Arg-Gln-Lys-Tyr-Asp (KRQKYD) and the peptide was derived from the myosin of Jinhua ham, which were both identified by LC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the mechanism of KRQKYD prevention against ALD was attributed to the fact that KRQKYD increases the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila in the gut and decreases the abundance of Proteobacteria (especially Escherichia_Shigella). The LPS-mediated liver inflammatory cascade was reduced by protecting the intestinal barrier, increasing the tight connection of intestinal epithelial cells and reducing the level of LPS in the portal venous circulation. KRQKYD could inhibit the production of ROS by upregulating the expression of the NRF2/HO-1 antioxidant defense system and by reducing oxidative stress injury in liver cells. This study can provide a theoretical foundation for the application of JHP in the protection of liver from ALD.

Significance of LED lights in enhancing the production of vinegar using Acetobacter pasteurianus AP01

Vinegar is a common food additive produced by acetic acid bacteria (AAB) during fermentation process. Low yield and long incubation time in conventional vinegar fermentation processes has inspired research in developing efficient fermentation techniques by the activation of AAB for acetic acid production. The present study intends to enhance vinegar production using acetic acid bacteria and light emitting diode (LED). A total of eight acetic acid bacteria were isolated from Korean traditional vinegar and assessed for vinegar production. Isolate AP01 exhibited maximum vinegar production and was identified as Acetobacter pasteurianus based on the 16S rRNA sequences. The optimum fermentation conditions for the isolate AP01 was incubation under static condition at 30 °C for 10 days with 6% initial ethanol concentration. Fermentation under red LED light exhibited maximum vinegar production (3.6%) compared to green (3.5%), blue (3.2%), white (2.2%), and non-LED lights (3.0%). Vinegar produced using red LED showed less toxicity to mouse macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7) and high inhibitory effects on nitric oxide and IL-6 production. The results confirmed that red LED light could be used to increase the yield and decrease incubation time in vinegar fermentation process.

Biochanin A alleviates oxidative damage caused by the urban particulate matter

Urban particulate matter (UPM), an air pollutant-absorbing toxic substance, can access alveoli, leading to pulmonary diseases. Studies have shown that the water-soluble components of UPM (WS-UPM), containing main toxic substances, can induce oxidative damage in lung cells. In this study, the UPM particle size and composition were detected via instrumental analysis. The isoflavones (biochanin A (BCA), formononetin and daidzein) from chickpeas possess biological antioxidant properties. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of the oxidative damage induced by WS-UPM, and the protective role of isoflavones in human alveolar basal epithelial cells. The antioxidant activity of BCA, formononetin and daidzein was investigated through the total reduction capacity, diphenylpicrylhydrazine radical (DPPH), superoxide radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging capacity detection. We also established cell models in vitro to further explore the BCA-protective mechanism. BCA presented a significant protection, and increased the levels of antioxidant makers including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH). The effects were also reflected as the reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO). Moreover, results obtained from RT-PCR and western blot techniques revealed that MEK5/ERK5 played an indispensable role in regulating the antioxidant effect of BCA, alleviating WS-UPM-induced lung injury. Furthermore, BCA mitigated WS-UPM-exposed damage through upregulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway to enhance the antioxidase expression downstream of Nrf2. In summary, our findings indicated that the WS-UPM-induced pulmonary disease was involved in oxidative stress and the MEK5/ERK5-Nrf2 signaling pathway, and BCA regulated the WS-UPM-induced lung damage via upregulation of the MEK5/ERK5-Nrf2 pathway.

Vinegar extract ameliorates alcohol-induced liver damage associated with the modulation of gut microbiota in mice

Vinegar extract is rich in phenolic compounds, which can prevent free radical-induced diseases. The aim of the present study was to explore the effects of vinegar extract on gut microbiota in alcohol-treated mice and their correlation with alcohol-induced liver damage. These results showed that vinegar extract regulated the gut microbiota composition and improved intestinal homeostasis through increasing the expression levels of ZO-1, occludin, claudin-1, Reg3b, and Reg3g in alcohol-treated mice. In addition, vinegar extract inhibited the alcohol-induced production of ROS and inflammatory factors. Moreover, Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Akkermansia, and Lactobacillus showed a significant positive correlation with Reg3b, Reg3g, ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1 and a negative correlation with hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress parameters. However, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Butyricimonas, Parabacteroides, and Bilophila exhibited the opposite effect. These findings suggest that vinegar extract modulates gut microbiota and improves intestinal homeostasis, and can be used as a novel gut microbiota manipulator against alcohol-induced liver damage.

Characterization and identification of different Chinese fermented vinegars based on their volatile components

In this study, volatile components of 40 Chinese fermented vinegar samples, made from different raw materials, starters, and processing technologies, were collected from different geographic origins in China (Shanxi, Jiangsu, Sichuan, and Fujian Province) and their volatile components were analyzed by headspace-solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Sixty-two aroma compounds have been identified by NIST library combined with retention index, mainly including esters, heterocyclics, acids, aldehydes, and ketones. In addition, multivariate analysis including principal component analysis and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were carried out to discriminate vinegars based on their composition of volatile components. For PLS-DA models, analysis of variance (ANOVA) or variable importance in the projection (VIP) value were used to select variables with the highest discriminatory power, and the Kennard-Stone algorithm was used to select the training and testing samples. The PLS-DA models (ANOVA or VIP) all provided a classification accuracy of 100% for the training set, and subsequent application of these models allowed the grouping of unknown samples (testing set) according to their characteristics (raw materials and processing technology). PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Traditional Chinese vinegars have a long history but nowadays adulterations of them are becoming a problem in the market. In this study, Chinese fermented vinegars from different varieties were identified based on volatile composition. We found that starter cultures and fermentation process have the greatest influence on the volatile components of vinegars, while the influence of raw material and steaming of raw material are weaker volatile components. Then, partial least squares-discriminant analysis models, we carried out could successfully be applied to predict unknown vinegar samples based on a database of volatile components. This study provided a strategy to detect the identity of different vinegars, which can also be used to monitor the quality and safety of traditional Chinese vinegars.

Health Promoting Properties of Cereal Vinegars

Vinegar has been used for its health promoting properties since antiquity. Nowadays, these properties are investigated, scientifically documented, and highlighted. The health benefits of vinegar have been associated with the presence of a variety of bioactive components such as acetic acid and other organic acids, phenolic compounds, amino acids, carotenoids, phytosterols, vitamins, minerals, and alkaloids, etc. These components are known to induce responses in the human body, such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiobesity, antihypertensive, and anti-inflammatory effects. The diversity and levels of bioactive components in vinegars depend on the raw material and the production method used. Cereal vinegars, which are more common in the Asia-Pacific region, are usually made from rice, although other cereals, such as millet, sorghum, barley, malt, wheat, corn, rye, oats, bran and chaff, are also used. A variety of bioactive components, such as organic acids, polyphenols, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, alkaloids, melanoidins, butenolides, and specific compounds such as γ-oryzanol, tetramethylpyrazine, γ-aminobutyric acid, etc., have been associated with the health properties of cereal vinegars. In this work, the bioactive components and the related health effects of cereal vinegars are reviewed, and the most recent scientific literature is presented and discussed.

Isolation and identification of bioactive peptides from Xuanwei ham that rescue oxidative stress damage induced by alcohol in HHL-5 hepatocytes

Peptides extracted from Xuanwei ham (XHP) can prevent free radical-induced diseases. The aim of the present study was to isolate and identify bioactive peptides from Xuanwei hams that rescue the oxidative stress damage induced by alcohol in HHL-5 hepatocytes. Alcohol-treated HHL-5 human hepatocytes were utilized as the alcohol-induced hepatocyte damage model to evaluate the effects of XHP on amounts of aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The result showed that XHP could significantly reduce ALT, AST and MDA, the major biomarkers of liver damage. The crude XHP was separated by size exclusion chromatography, followed by the evaluation of respective activities. Then, the most active components were further separated by RP-HPLC, and their activities were evaluated according to the above method. The peptide was identified as a hexapeptide with the sequence of Asn-Pro-Pro-Lys-Phe-Asp (NPPKFD) through LC-MS/MS. Further, the molecular mechanisms by which NPPKFD prevents alcohol-induced oxidative stress damage were revealed. Results showed that the hexapeptide could downregulate CYP2E1 expression, reduce generation of ROS and enhance oxidant defense systems via the activation of NrF2/HO-1 pathway. The findings suggest that Xuanwei ham can be used as a new source of bioactive peptides for protection from alcohol-induced liver damage.

Ultrasound processing of verjuice (unripe grape juice) vinegar: effect on bioactive compounds, sensory properties, microbiological quality and anticarcinogenic activity

Verjuice is one of the alternative fruit juices recently obtained from unripe grapes. In this study, the aim was primarily to optimize the process conditions for the enrichment of bioactive components in verjuice vinegar with ultrasound treatment. For this purpose, ultrasound treatment was applied to vinegar samples at different times (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 min), different amplitudes (60%, 65%, 70%, 75% and 80%) and 26 kHz frequency. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total antioxidant capacity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) were evaluated for optimization (response surface methodology (RSM) and genetic algorithm (GA)) of process conditions. The sensory properties, microbiological quality and anticarcinogenic activity were then evaluated for the ultrasound-treated verjuice vinegar (UVV) (9.4 min and 68.7 amplitude result of RSM), traditional verjuice vinegar and pasteurized verjuice vinegar samples obtained from the optimization. At the end of the RSM optimization, CUPRAC (464.44 mg TEAC/mL), DPPH (0.694 mg TEAC/mL), TFC (70.85 mg CE/mL) and TPC (12.22 mg GAE/mL) were determined. RSM and GA results were found to be approximately the same. Analysis results showed that ultrasound-treated verjuice vinegar was enriched bioactive components compared to other samples. Verjuice vinegar showed anticarcinogenic effects. The UVV sample was generally appreciated in sensory evaluation. As a result, ultrasound treatment of verjuice vinegar was found to be successful.

Polyphenol-rich extract of Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar ameliorates high glucose-induced insulin resistance by regulating JNK-IRS-1 and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways

Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar is a famous traditional fermented cooking ingredient in China, with multiple nutritional and medicinal applications. Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar extract (100-400 μg/mL) is rich in polyphenols increased the glucose uptake and glucose consumption in high glucose-induced insulin resistant HepG2 (IR-HepG2) cells. Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar extract enhanced glycogen synthesis and attenuated gluconeogenesis by regulating key enzymes in IR-HepG2 cells. In addition, Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar extract ameliorated high glucose-induced IR by inhibiting phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) expression and activating phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) pathway in IR-HepG2 cells. Moreover, Zhenjiang aromatic vinegar extract reduced reactive oxygen species generation and phosphorylated c-Jun NH₂ terminal kinase (JNK) expression in IR-HepG2 cells. The attenuation of the high glucose is owned to the PI3K/Akt pathway activation, glycogen synthesis induction and gluconeogenesis suppression in IR-HepG2 cells.

Lactobacillus fermentum HFY06 reduced CCl4-induced hepatic damage in Kunming mice

This study was conducted to investigate the preventative effect of Lactobacillus fermentum HFY06 on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver injury in Kunming mice. Mice were treated with HFY06, then liver damage was induced using CCl₄. Evaluation indicators included the activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglycerides (TG), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in serum; cytokines levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in serum; and related gene expressions of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), TNF-α, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD), manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD), and catalase (CAT). Liver tissue was stained with hematoxylin and eosin for pathological analysis. Compared with the model group, HFY06 reduced the liver index, increased the serum SOD and GSH-Px activities, and reduced the AST, TG, and MDA activities in the mice. Inflammation-related IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-γ levels were also reduced after treatment with a high dose of HFY06. Pathological observation showed that CCl₄ damaged the mouse livers, which were significantly improved after treatment with silymarin and HFY06. qPCR also confirmed that the high dose of HFY06 (10⁹ colony-forming units [CFU] per kg per day) upregulated the mRNA expression of the antioxidant genes, Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, and CAT, in the liver tissue and downregulated the mRNA expression of the inflammatory factors, NF-κB, TNF-α and COX-2, but HFY06 was less effective than silymarin. These findings indicate that HFY06 prevented CCl₄-induced liver damage in vivo but was less effective than silymarin. Thus, HFY06 may have a potential role in treating liver diseases.

This study was conducted to investigate the preventative effect of Lactobacillus fermentum HFY06 on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced liver injury in Kunming mice.