Inhibition of thermal induced protein denaturation of extract/fractions of Withania somnifera and isolated withanolides

Assessment of Multifunctional Activity of a Postbiotic Preparation Derived from Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Postbiotic-P6

Postbiotics possess various functional activities, closely linked to their source bacterial strains and preparation methods. Therefore, the functional activities of postbiotics need to be evaluated through in vitro and in vivo methods. This study aims to prepare a postbiotic and explore its antihemolytic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. Specifically, a postbiotic preparation named PostbioP-6 was prepared by intercepting 1-5 kDa of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Postbiotic-P6 fermentation broth. The results demonstrate that PostbioP-6 exhibited notable biological activities across multiple assays. It showed significant antihemolytic activity, with a 4.9-48.1% inhibition rate at 10-50% concentrations. Anti-inflammatory effects were observed both in vitro, where 8-40% PostbioP-6 was comparable to 259.1-645.4 μg/mL diclofenac sodium, and in vivo, where 3.5 and 4.0 μL/mL PostbioP-6 significantly reduced neutrophil counts in inflamed zebrafish (p < 0.05). Antioxidant properties were evident through increased reducing power (OD700 increased from 0.279 to 2.322 at 1.25-12.5% concentrations), DPPH radical scavenging activity (38.9-92.4% scavenging rate at 2.5-50% concentrations), and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (4.66-10.38% scavenging rate at 0.5-4% concentrations). Additionally, PostbioP-6 demonstrated antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive bacteria, eight Gram-negative bacteria, and one fungus. Furthermore, PostbioP-6 significantly inhibited the increase in peroxide value and malondialdehyde content in cookies, highlighting its potential application in food preservation. In conclusion, we prepared a novel postbiotic, termed PostbioP-6, which proved to have prominent anti-hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities. The multifunctional properties of PostbioP-6 position it as a potentially effective functional food supplement or preservative. In the future, further research is necessary to elucidate the precise mechanisms of action, identify the active components, and validate its biological activities in animal models or clinical trials.

Effectiveness of Withania frutescens root extract on testicular damage induced by lead acetate in adult albino rats

Withania frutescens was used previously in traditherapy against poisoning, gastric ulceration, and dysentery treatments. Because no previous studies reporting on its therapeutic effects on male reproductive system and fertility disorders, this study aims to examine its effect on lead induced testicular damages as well as sperm count and hormonal status in rats. The present study is performed to determine their phytochemical compositions using GC-MS analysis, their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in-vitro using spectrophotometry and then to estimate testosterone levels, sperm count, histopathological features, as well as spermatogenesis (TDI) and spermiogenesis (SPI) indices. The experiment is conducted for three months using four groups (Group A: control rats; Group B: exposed rats to lead-acetate; Group C: exposed rats to lead-acetate and 200 mg/kg of W. frutescens extract; Group D: treated rats with 200 mg/kg of W. frutescens extract). The obtained results show a total of 10 identified components from GC-MS analysis. Whereas a total phenolic content of 63.23 ± 3.82 GAE/g of extract, 25.16 ± 1.21 µg/mL of anti-free radical activity, and reducing power of 163.19 ± 6.01 µg/mL. A high anti-inflammatory activity is determined by hemolysis inhibition (IC50 =12.71 ± 1.06 µg/mL) and protein denaturation inhibition (IC50 =6.8 ± 1.23 µg/mL). Besides, lead exposure causes histological alterations in testis and decreases serum testosterone level, sperm count, and TDI and SPI indices. W. frutescens treated and co-treated animals showed no toxic effects throughout the experiment. However, it is found to improve testosterone level, increase sperm count, attenuate the testicular histopathological effect of lead, and increase TDI and SPI. These findings . these findings suggest that W. frutescens is a better source of bioactive compounds, which play an effective role against lead testicular damages. Furthermore, this natural extract can be utilized potentially in pharmaceutical and medicinal applications.

Impact of germination time on protein solubility and anti-inflammatory properties of Pisum sativum L grains

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Germination has an evident impact on the amount of soluble protein in sprouts.

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The amount of soluble protein can be correlated with the presence of biopeptides.

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In vitro assays indicate that sprouts soluble protein act as anti-inflammatory agents.

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Pisum sativum sprouts may constitute a minimally processed functional food.

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Proteins and peptides isolated from sprouts could be used as nutraceutical ingredients.

During germination processes take place that modify the major components of the grain, such is the case of proteins that are hydrolyzed to generate peptides that can lead to the generation of bioactivity. The objective of the present work was to germinate grains of Pisum sativum to evaluate the effect on the soluble protein content and the anti-inflammatory activity. The grains were subjected to 10 days of germination at 24 °C and relative humidity of 75%. Sprouts were lyophilized, milled, and phenolic compounds were extracted to avoid interferences. Soluble protein content varied significantly during the 10 days of germination. In vitro assays indicate that sprouts protein inhibits thermal denaturation of proteins, protease activity, and stabilize cell membranes. The IC50 values indicate that after germination the bioactivity increased between 1.4 and 3.5 times, with respect to the ungerminated grains. Results indicated that Pisum sativum sprouts may constitute promising health-promoting foods.

Study of the Phytochemical Composition, the Antioxidant and the Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Two Sub-Saharan Plants: Piliostigma reticulatum and Piliostigma thonningii

The aim of this study is to perform phytochemical screening of the leaves of Piliostigma reticulatum and Piliostigma thonningii, to determine the phenolic, flavonoids, tannins, and sugars content in their methanolic extracts, evaluate their antioxidant activity using the DPPH and the ABTS tests, and test their anti-inflammatory effect in vitro using the heat-induced albumin denaturation inhibition method. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of polyphenols and alkaloids in the leaves of both plants. Yields of the extracts in this study ranged from 7% to 18% for P. reticulatum and 4% to 16% for P. thonningii. The phenolic content in the methanolic extract of P. reticulatum is 74.66 ± 1.76 μg GAE/mL, which is significantly higher than that of P. thonningii (56.54 ± 1.24 μg GAE/mL). Both plants showed good antioxidant activity. In fact, for the DPPH test, the IC50 value is 8.88 ± 0.11 μg/mL for P. reticulatum and 17.64 ± 0.68 μg/mL for P. thonningii. For the ABTS assay, the IC₅₀ values of the two plants are, respectively, 9.78 ± 1.83 μg/mL and 13.47 ± 2.62 μg/ml, statistically comparable and significantly higher than the IC₅₀ of the standard 30.76 ± 0.18 μg/ml. Leaf extracts from both plants were effective against heat-induced denaturation of albumin. The activity of P. reticulatum is indeed comparable to that of the standard with an IC₅₀ value of 121.43 ± 1.55 μg/mL and higher than that of P. thonningii with an IC₅₀ value of 170.15 ± 1.09 μg/mL. These results show that both plants exhibit significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, their chemical compounds could have potential applications as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Eburneolins A and B, new withanolide glucosides from Tricholepis eburnea

Eburneolins A (1) and B (2), new withanolide glucosides, have been isolated from the n-butanolic fraction of the 75% methanolic extract of aerial parts of Tricholepis eburnea. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic analysis including ESI-MS, 2D NMR and acid hydrolysis.