Antioxidant Effect of Natural Table Olives Phenolic Extract Against Oxidative Stress and Membrane Damage in Enterocyte-Like Cells

Maternal Supplementation of Vitamin E or Its Combination with Hydroxytyrosol Increases the Gut Health and Short Chain Fatty Acids of Piglets at Weaning

An adequate intestinal environment before weaning may contribute to diarrhea predisposition and piglet development. This study evaluates how the dietary supplementation of vitamin E (VE) (100 mg/kg), hydroxytyrosol (HXT) (1.5 mg/kg) or the combined administration (VE + HXT) given to Iberian sows from gestation affects the piglet's faecal characteristics, short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), fatty acid profile or intestinal morphology as indicators of gut health; and quantify the contribution of the oxidative status and colostrum/milk composition to the piglet's SCFAs content and intestinal health. Dietary VE increased isobutyric acid (iC4), butyric acid (C4), isovaleric acid (iC5), and ∑SCFAs, whereas HXT increased iC4 and tended to decrease ∑SCFAs of faeces. Piglets from HXT-supplemented sows also tended to have higher faecal C20:4n-6/C20:2 ratio C22:6 proportion and showed lower occludin gene expression in the duodenum. The combination of both antioxidants had a positive effect on iC4 and iC5 levels. Correlation analyses and regression equations indicate that faecal SCFAs were related to oxidative status (mainly plasma VE) and colostrum and milk composition (mainly C20:2, C20:3, C20:4 n-6). This study would confirm the superiority of VE over HXT supplementation to improve intestinal homeostasis, gut health, and, consequently piglet growth.

Antioxidant Activity and Inhibition of Digestive Enzymes of New Strawberry Tree Fruit/Apple Smoothies

In this study, original smoothies obtained with strawberry tree fruit puree and apple juice enriched with Diospyros kaki fruits, Myrtus communis purple berry extract, Acca sellowiana, and Crocus sativus petal juice were evaluated for their antioxidant activity and inhibition of targeted digestive enzymes. Values of CUPRAC, FRAP, ORAC, DPPH•, and ABTS•+ assays generally increased with plant enrichment, particularly for A. sellowiana addition (ABTS•+ 2.51 ± 0.01 mmol Trolox/100 g fw). The same trend was observed regarding the ability to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) tested in Caco-2 cell cultures. Inhibitory activity on α-amylase and α-glucosidase was increased by D. kaki, M. communis, and A. sellowiana. Total polyphenols evaluated by UPLC-PDA analysis ranged between 535.75 ± 3.11 and 635.96 ± 5.21 mg/100 g fw, and A. sellowiana provided the higher amount. Flavan-3-ols accounted for more than 70% of phenolic compounds, and only smoothies enriched with C. sativus showed a high amount of anthocyanins (25.12 ± 0.18 mg/100 g fw). The outcome of this study indicates these original smoothies as a possible ally in counteracting oxidative stress, as established by their favourable antioxidant compound profile, thus suggesting an interesting future application as nutraceuticals.

Comparative Study on Chemical Composition of Green and Black Table Olives Brines of the Endemic ''Sigoise'' Cultivar: Recovery of high-Added Values Compounds

The effluents derived from the processing of table olives stand for a serious environmental problem. The study aims to valorize the brine water of table olives at different stages of ripening (green and black) of the Algerian variety Sigoise of Bejaia (East) and Mascara (West). The physico-chemical characterization revealed that these samples display have a high acid pH and salinity. The comparative study of phenolic levels exhibited showed very significant differences between the brine waters of green olives from Bejaia and Mascara, while the brines of black olives presented showed comparable levels. A high strong antioxidant potential was confirmed by DPPH (CI₅₀ =0.35 μg/100 ml-0.50 μg/100 ml) and FRAP (CI₅₀ =626.89 μg/100 ml-875.54 μg/100 ml) tests. Chemical screening by HPLC-DAD of the four samples identified high concentrations of hydroxytyrosol (HT) (390.4 mg/100 ml-360.8 mg/100 ml) and tyrosol (202.2 mg/100 ml-101.4 mg/100 ml). This study provided a deeper insight into the phenolic profile and the antioxidant potential of these brines.

Synthesis and Antiproliferative Effect of Halogenated Coumarin Derivatives

A series of 6- and 6,8-halocoumarin derivatives have been investigated as potential antiproliferative compounds against a panel of tumor and normal cell lines. Cytotoxic effects were determined by the MTT method. To investigate the potential molecular mechanism involved in the cytotoxic effect, apoptosis assay, cell cycle analysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and reduced glutathione analysis were performed. Among the screened compounds, coumarins 6,8-dibromo-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbonitrile 2h and 6,8-diiodo-2-oxo-2H-chromene-3-carbonitrile 2k exhibited the most antiproliferative effect in thyroid cancer-derived cells TPC-1. The apoptosis assay showed that both 2h and 2k induced apoptosis in TPC-1 thyroid cancer cells. According to these experiments, both coumarins induced a slight increase in TPC-1 cells in the G2/M phase and a decrease in the S phase. A significant increase in ROS levels was observed in TPC-1 treated with diiodocoumarin 2k, while the dibromocoumarin 2h induced a decrease in ROS in a dose and time-dependent manner.

Oleuropein Prevents OVA-Induced Food Allergy in Mice by Enhancing the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier and Remodeling the Intestinal Flora

SCOPE

This study assesses whether oleuropein prevents ovalbumin (OVA)-induced food allergy (FA) and investigates the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A Balb/c FA mouse model is established and maintained for 7 weeks. The subjects are administered OVA by oral gavage to induce FA and supplemented with different oleuropein doses (1.00-20.00 mg kg^-1 per day) to evaluate its preventative efficacy. The results indicate that oleuropein effectively alleviates OVA-induced allergy symptoms and promotes temperature elevation in sensitized mice. The secretion of serology-specific OVA-immunoglobulin (Ig)E, OVA-IgG, and histamine is inhibited in the sensitized mice. Oleuropein dramatically upregulates the expression of intestinal tight junction (TJ) proteins, regenerating gene (Reg) IIIγ, and interleukin (IL)-22, enhancing the physical and biochemical barrier function of the intestinal epithelium. Additionally, oleuropein improves the immune homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium by affecting the function of mucosal mast cells and regulatory T (Treg) cells. The disordered intestinal flora of the sensitized mice also improves after oleuropein administration.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that oleuropein prevents FA by enhancing intestinal epithelial barrier function and improving immune homeostasis and intestinal flora in sensitized mice. Therefore, diets rich in oleuropein should be recommended for people with FA.

Prophylactic role of olive fruit extract against cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress in Sprague-Dawley rats

Cigarette smoke exposure increases the production of free radicals leading to initiation of several pathological conditions by triggering the oxidative stress and inflammatory cascade. Olive fruit owing to its unique phytochemical composition possesses antioxidant, immune modulatory, and anti-inflammatory potential. Considering the compositional alterations in olive fruits during ripening, the current experimental trail was designed to investigate the prophylactic role of green and black olives against the oxidative stress induced by cigarette smoke exposure in rats. Purposely, rats were divided into five different groups: NC (negative control; normal diet), PC [positive control; normal diet + smoke exposure (SE)], drug (normal diet + SE + citalopram), GO (normal diet + SE + green olive extract), and BO (normal diet + SE + black olive extract). Rats of all groups were exposed to cigarette smoke except "NC" and were sacrificed for collection of blood and organs after 28 days of experimental trial. The percent reduction in total oxidative stress by citalopram and green and black olive extracts in serum was 29.72, 58.69, and 57.97%, respectively, while the total antioxidant capacity increased by 30.78, 53.94, and 43.98%, accordingly in comparison to PC. Moreover, malondialdehyde (MDA) was reduced by 29.63, 42.59, and 45.70% in drug, GO, and BO groups, respectively. Likewise, green and black olive extracts reduced the leakage of hepatic enzymes in sera, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) by 23.44 and 25.80% and 35.62 and 37.61%, alanine transaminase (ALT) by 42.68 and 24.39% and 51.04 and 35.41%, and aspartate transaminase (AST) by 31.51 and 16.07% and 40.50 and 27.09% from PC and drug group, respectively. Additionally, olive extracts also maintained the antioxidant pool, i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione in serum. Furthermore, histological examination revealed that olive extracts prevented the cigarette smoke-induced necrosis, pyknotic alterations, and congestion in the lung, hepatic, and renal parenchyma. Besides, gene expression analysis revealed that olive extracts and citalopram decreased the brain and lung damage caused by stress-induced upregulation of NRF-2 and MAPK signaling pathways. Hence, it can be concluded that olives (both green and black) can act as promising antioxidant in alleviating the cigarette smoke-induced oxidative stress.

Hydroxytyrosol effectively improves the quality of pig sperm at 17 °C

Artificial insemination (AI) is a proven breeding technology which has been widely used in pig reproduction. Low temperature can cause very serious damage to pig sperm below 15 °C and the situation is even more serious at lower temperature. Besides, the preservation of pig sperm is mainly carried out at 17 °C because of its outstanding performance in pig reproduction. However, the accumulation of a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the preservation process is the main reason for the deterioration of sperm quality. In our research, by adding different concentrations of hydroxytyrosol to the diluent during the storage of pig sperm at 17 °C, we compared them with the traditional diluent to study the sperm motility, the cumulative amount of ROS, the extent of sperm membrane damage, the sperm acrosome integrity, the sperm DNA damage and the activity of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, T-AOC, SOD, GSH-PX, MDA) to evaluate the effect of hydroxytyrosol on the sperm quality during storage. We used proteomics sequencing technology to monitor difference in sperm protein between the control samples and the addition of 120 μmol/L hydroxytyrosol samples (optimum concentration) after three days storage. Ultimately, we selected the control samples and the addition of 120 μmol/L hydroxytyrosol samples to test the effect of AI. The results of our research showed that during storage of pig sperm at 17 °C, the sperm quality and antioxidant capacity of the hydroxytyrosol-treated samples significantly improved (HT 120 μmol/L) (P < 0.05). Proteomics sequencing analysis proved that the addition of 120 μmol/L hydroxytyrosol treatment samples had potential value in improving sperm quality. The significant increase in sow pregnancy rate and piglet birth weight proved that hydroxytyrosol had important practical value in pig reproduction. Based on our results, we demonstrated that the addition of hydroxytyrosol to the diluent could improve the quality of pig sperm and the efficiency of AI.

Vitamin C Cytotoxicity and Its Effects in Redox Homeostasis and Energetic Metabolism in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma Cell Lines

High-dose of vitamin C (L-ascorbic acid, ascorbate) exhibits anti-tumoral effects, primarily mediated by pro-oxidant mechanisms. This cytotoxic effect is thought to affect the reciprocal crosstalk between redox balance and cell metabolism in different cancer types. Vitamin C also inhibits the growth of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) cells, although the metabolic and redox effects remain to be fully understood. To shed light on these aspects, PTC-derived cell lines harboring the most common genetic alterations characterizing this tumor were used. Cell viability, apoptosis, and the metabolome were explored by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide test (MTT), flow cytometry, and UHPLC/MS. Changes were observed in redox homeostasis, with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and perturbation in antioxidants and electron carriers, leading to cell death by both apoptosis and necrosis. The oxidative stress contributed to the metabolic alterations in both glycolysis and TCA cycle. Our results confirm the pro-oxidant effect of vitamin C as relevant in triggering the cytotoxicity in PTC cells and suggest that inhibition of glycolysis and alteration of TCA cycle via NAD⁺ depletion can play an important role in this mechanism of PTC cancer cell death.

Antioxidant and reduced skin-ageing effects of a polyphenol-enriched dietary supplement in response to air pollution: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Background

Air pollution exposure is one of the major threats to skin health and accelerates skin ageing mainly through oxidative stress mechanisms. Since it is difficult to minimize skin exposure to air pollutants, especially in urban areas, strategies to protect the skin are needed. Plant phenolic compounds have been found to be effective in attenuating cellular oxidative stress and inflammation induced by different air pollutants and a dietary approach based on these compounds could provide an efficient protection measure.

Objective

Here we investigated the efficacy of a commercially available polyphenol-enriched dietary supplement (Zeropollution^®) in reducing pollution-induced oxidative stress and in improving different skin parameters related to skin ageing of Caucasian and Asian subjects exposed to air pollution. Zeropollution is composed of four standardized herbal extracts: Olea europaea leaf, Lippia citriodora, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Sophora japonica.

Design

A double-blind randomized, parallel group study was carried out on 100 outdoor workers living in a polluted urban European area (Milan) to assess the efficacy of the dietary supplement. The total antioxidant capacity on saliva (FRAP), the oxidative damage on skin (lipoperoxides content), skin moisturization (corneometer), transepidermal water loss (tewameter), skin radiance and colour (spectrophotometer), skin elasticity (cutometer), skin sebum content (sebumeter), and the skin roughness (image analysis) were measured.

Results

Both inter-group and intra-group analysis proved that the dietary supplement improved all clinical and biochemical-monitored parameters, in both Caucasian and Asian individuals. Some of the positive effects such as decreased wrinkle depth, increased elasticity and firmness, improved skin moisturization and transepidermal water loss, and reduced dark spots pigmentation were statistically significant as early as 2 weeks of product consumption.

Conclusions

The results of the study indicate reduced oxidative stress-induced skin damage in both Asian and Caucasian women living in a polluted urban area. Therefore, the oral intake of this four-plant based supplement could be considered a complementary nutrition strategy to avoid the negative effects of environmental pollution exposure.

Inhibition of Enterovirus A71 by a Novel 2-Phenyl-Benzimidazole Derivative

Enterovirus A71 (EV-A71) infection has emerged as a significant public health concern at the global level. Epidemic events of EV-A71 have been reported worldwide, and this succession of outbreaks has heightened concern that EV-A71 may become a public health threat. In recent years, widespread A71 enterovirus also occurred in European countries. EV-A71 infection causes hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), herpangina, and fever. However, it can sometimes induce a variety of neurological complications, including encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, pulmonary edema, and acute flaccid paralysis. We identified new benzimidazole derivatives and described theirin vitrocytotoxicity and broad-spectrum anti-enterovirus activity. Among them, derivative 2b resulted in interesting activity against EV-A71, and therefore it was selected for further investigations. Compound 2b proved to be able to protect cell monolayers from EV-A71-induced cytopathogenicity, with an EC₅₀ of 3 µM. Moreover, Vero-76 cells resulted in being significantly protected from necrosis and apoptosis when treated with 2b at 20 and 80 µM. Compound 2b reduced viral adsorption to Vero-76 cells, and when evaluated in a time-of-addition assay, the derivative had the highest effect when added during the infection period. Moreover, derivative 2b reduced viral penetration into host cells. Besides, 2b did not affect intestinal monolayers permeability, showing no toxic effects. A detailed insight into the efficacy of compound 2b against EV-A71 showed a dose-dependent reduction in the viral titer, also at low concentrations. Mechanism of action investigations suggested that our derivative can inhibit viral endocytosis by reducing viral attachment to and penetration into host cells. Pharmacokinetic and toxicity predictions validated compound 2b as a good candidate for furtherin vivoassays.

Table olives and health: a review

Table olives, a product of olive tree (Olea europaea L.), is an important fermented product of the Mediterranean Diet. Agronomical factors, particularly the cultivar, the ripening stage and the processing method employed are the main factors influencing the nutritional and non-nutritional composition of table olives and their organoleptic properties. The important nutritional value of this product is due to its richness in monounsaturated fat (MUFA), mainly oleic acid, fibre and vitamin E together with the presence of several phytochemicals. Among these, hydroxytyrosol (HT) is the major phenolic compound present in all types of table olives. There is a scarcity of in vitro, in vivo and human studies of table olives. This review focused comprehensively on the nutrients and bioactive compound content as well as the health benefits assigned to table olives. The possible health benefits associated with their consumption are thought to be primarily related to effects of MUFA on cardiovascular health, the antioxidant (AO) capacity of vitamin E and its role in protecting the body from oxidative damage and the anti-inflammatory and AO activities of HT. The influence of multiple factors on composition of the end product and the potential innovation in the production of table olives through the reduction of its final salt content was also discussed.

Altered paracellular permeability in intestinal cell monolayer challenged with lipopolysaccharide: Modulatory effects of pterostilbene metabolites

Epithelial barrier alteration is a central event in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases. Lipopolysaccharide, correlated to the pathogenesis of such pathologies, has been demonstrated to cause altered membrane permeability, through the disruption and/or relocation of tight junction proteins, following redox-sensitive mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) modulation. Pterostilbene and its metabolite pinostilbene are natural stilbenoids which may reach relevant concentrations at intestinal level, together with their glucuronide and sulfate metabolites. The aim of our study was to evaluate the ability of these compounds to inhibit lipopolysaccharide-induced toxic effects on intestinal cell monolayer integrity and to explore the mechanism of action. Caco-2 cells, differentiated as enterocytes, were treated with lipopolysaccharide following pretreatment with the phenolic compounds at 1 μM physiological concentration. Caco-2 monolayer's permeability was monitored with time, measuring the transepithelial electrical resistance. Tight junction proteins were assessed by western blotting and immunofluorescence in lipopolysaccharide-treated cells, in relation to MAPK p38 and ERK1/2 activation. Pretreatment with all the phenolic compounds significantly slowed lipopolysaccharide-induced transepithelial electrical resistance decrease, preserved tight junction proteins levels and reduced MAPKs phosphorylation. The reported findings indicate that pterostilbene and its metabolites may counteract lipopolysaccharide-induced alteration of epithelial permeability, one of the initial events in the intestinal inflammatory process.

NMR-Based Metabolic Profiling of Edible Olives-Determination of Quality Parameters

Edible olive drupes (from Olea europaea L.) are a high-value food commodity with an increasing production trend over the past two decades. In an attempt to prevent fraud issues and ensure quality, the International Olive Council (IOC) issued guidelines for their sensory evaluation. However, certain varieties, geographical origins and processing parameters are omitted. The aim of the present study was the development of a method for the quality assessment of edible olives from the Konservolia, Kalamon and Chalkidikis cultivars from different areas of Greece processed with the Spanish or Greek method. A rapid NMR-based untargeted metabolic profiling method was developed along with multivariate analysis (MVA) and applied for the first time in edible olives' analysis complemented by the aid of statistical total correlation spectroscopy (STOCSY). Specific biomarkers, related to the classification of olives based on different treatments, cultivars and geographical origin, were identified. STOCSY proved to be a valuable aid towards the assignment of biomarkers, a bottleneck in untargeted metabolomic approaches.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Other Biological Properties of Pompia Juice

Pompia is a Citrus species belonging to Sardinian endemic biodiversity. Health benefits were attributed to its flavedo rind extracts and essential oils while the juice qualities have never been investigated. In this paper, the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and other biological properties of Pompia juice were studied. A combined LCMS/electrochemical/biological approach was used to clarify a still debated phylogeny of this species and to explain the role of its juice phenolic compounds. A closer phylogenetic relationship with lemon and citron, rather than oranges was suggested. Sensors-based electrochemical measures, together with LCMS qualitative and quantitative analyses, revealed a high contribution of ascorbic acid and phenolics with low redox potential, isorhamnetin 3-O-rutinoside, diosmin, and diosmetin 6,8-diglucoside, to antioxidant capacity. The biological assays demonstrated a marked effect of low concentration of Pompia juice against reactive oxygen species (ROS) starting from 50 µg mL⁻¹, and a moderate capacity to reduce ROS damages on cell membrane. Treatments with Pompia juice also resulted in a significant reduction (20%) of the metabolic activity of SW48 colon cancer cells. Lastly, MIC, MBC, and MBIC antimicrobial assays demonstrated that Pompia and lemon juices have inhibitory and antibiofilm effects against the pathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Streptococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis.

Rosemary Diterpenes and Flavanone Aglycones Provide Improved Genoprotection against UV-Induced DNA Damage in a Human Skin Cell Model

Overexposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is the major cause of a variety of cutaneous disorders, including sunburn, photoaging, and skin cancers. UVB radiation (290–320 nm) causes multiple forms of DNA damage, p53 induction, protein and lipid oxidation, and the generation of harmful reactive oxygen species (ROS). In recent years, botanicals containing polyphenols with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties as skin photoprotective agents have emerged. This study evaluated the protective effects of two formulations against UVB-induced damage in a skin cell model. One of the formulations (F2) contained a combination of citrus and olive extracts and the other one (F1) also contained a rosemary extract. The antioxidant capacity of both formulations was estimated by different in vitro methods, and the cell viability, intracellular ROS generation, mitochondrial depolarization, and DNA damage were studied in UVB-irradiated human keratinocytes. Both formulations exerted photoprotective effects on skin cells and decreased mitochondrial depolarization and DNA damage. F1 which contained iridoids, rosemary diterpenes, glycosides and aglycones of citrus flavanones, and monohydroxylated flavones exhibited higher cellular photoprotective effects and mitochondrial membrane potential restoration, as well as an enhanced capacity to decrease DNA double strand breaks and the DNA damage response. In contrast, F2, which contained mostly iridoids, citrus flavanone aglycones, and mono- and dihydroxylated flavones, exhibited a higher capacity to decrease intracellular ROS generation and radical scavenging capacity related to metal ion chelation. Both formulations showed a similar capability to decrease the number of apoptotic cells upon UVB radiation. Based on our results and those of others, we postulate that the stronger capacity of F1 to protect against UVB-induced DNA damage in human keratinocytes is related to the presence of rosemary diterpenes and citrus flavanone aglycones. Nevertheless, the presence of the dihydroxylated flavones in F2 may contribute to inhibiting the generation of metal-related free radicals. To confirm the efficacy of these formulations as potential candidates for oral/topical photoprotection, human trials are required to circumvent the limitations of the cellular model.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil Polyphenols: Modulation of Cellular Pathways Related to Oxidant Species and Inflammation in Aging

The olive-oil-centered Mediterranean diet has been associated with extended life expectancy and a reduction in the risk of age-related degenerative diseases. Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) itself has been proposed to promote a "successful aging", being able to virtually modulate all the features of the aging process, because of its great monounsaturated fatty acids content and its minor bioactive compounds, the polyphenols above all. Polyphenols are mostly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, able to modulate abnormal cellular signaling induced by pro-inflammatory stimuli and oxidative stress, as that related to NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), which have been identified as important modulators of age-related disorders and aging itself. This review summarizes existing literature about the interaction between EVOO polyphenols and NF-κB and Nrf-2 signaling pathways. Reported studies show the ability of EVOO phenolics, mainly hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, to activate Nrf-2 signaling, inducing a cellular defense response and to prevent NF-κB activation, thus suppressing the induction of a pro-inflammatory phenotype. Literature data, although not exhaustive, indicate as a whole that EVOO polyphenols may significantly help to modulate the aging process, so tightly connected to oxidative stress and chronic inflammation.

Human Herpesvirus 8 infection may contribute to oxidative stress in diabetes type 2 patients

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the link between Human Herpesvirus 8 (HHV8) infection and plasma oxidative stress in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2).

RESULTS

Blood samples collected from DM2 and control subjects were screened for the presence of antibodies against HHV8 and for biomarkers of oxidative stress. We determined the products of radical damage on the plasma lipid fraction, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), fatty acid hydroperoxides (HP) and 7-ketocholesterol (7-keto), the oxidation products of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) and cholesterol, respectively. The level of plasma antioxidant α-tocopherol (α-toc) was also assessed. Relevant differences were observed in the redox status in DM2 and either HHV8-positive or -negative control subjects. The level of α-toc significantly decreased in both DM2 and HHV8-positive subjects. Levels of MDA, HP and 7-keto were much higher in HHV8-positive and DM2 subjects, indicating that plasma oxidative stress is a common feature in both DM2 and HHV8-infection. In addition, 7-keto was further increased in HHV8-positive DM2 patients. We hypothesized that the HHV8-infection may contribute to the production of ROS, and hence to the oxidative stress closely related to the pathogenesis and development of DM2.

Antioxidants in Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Table Olives: Connections between Agriculture and Processing for Health Choices

: This review focuses on the conditions required to increase and maintain the antioxidant nutrients in both extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) and table olives (TOs) from the agronomic and technological practices to the gastronomy. The main antioxidants of TOs and EVOO are phenol alcohols and acids, secoiridoids, lignans and flavones, all of which possess the ability to prolong the oil's shelf-life and exhibit healthy properties for humans. The precise detection of secoiridoid derivatives remains the breakthrough for the nutritional and health quality certification of extra virgin olive oils (EVOOs) required for EFSA health claims. To attain the necessary antioxidant quality in both EVOO and TOs, it is necessary to hard focus on the several steps in the production chain, including olive cultivar, agronomic conditions, harvesting methods, and transformation technology. The quality level is maintained if the storage conditions aim to minimize the oxidative processes that occur due to oxygen and light. In terms of minor polar biophenols, there is disagreement on which between the organic or conventional EVOOs show higher concentration values. The strict disciplinary of production of protected designation EVOOs does not ensure higher phenol values in comparison to the artisanal EVOOs. In gastronomy, the EVOOs are preferable to seed oils, particularly during frying vegetable. The EVOOs show higher heat stability, linked both to the fatty acid composition and the phenol content, that is important for preventing fatty acids oxidation. Concerning TOs, the commercial presentation includes olives and olive paste. Both products show a remarkable loss of natural antioxidants after pasteurization and during storage as the thermal treatment mostly impacts on TOs secoiridoids.

Hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation properties of a methanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root-bark, in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats

This study evaluated the hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and anti-lipid peroxidation properties of a methanol extract of Paullinia pinnata root-bark, in alloxan-induced hyperglycemic rats. The extract of P. pinnata root-bark was prepared using a cold maceration method with 80% methanol and concentrated at 40°C in hot air oven. The extract was administered once daily per os at 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg for 21 consecutive days. Distilled water (5 mL/kg) and glibenclamide (2 mg/kg) were used as the vehicle and reference standard, respectively. The serum lipid profile, markers of liver and kidney functions, antioxidant status (malondialdehyde level, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities), histopathological changes in liver and kidney were examined 24h after the last treatment on day 21. The extract reduced serum lipid profile, markers of liver and kidney functions of treated rats relative to vehicle-treated rats. The superoxide dismutase and catalase activities of the extract treated rats were also elevated relative to the vehicle-treated rats. The extract reversed liver and kidney injuries induced by alloxan in the treated rats. This study provides some basic information which suggest that P. pinnata could be effective in managing diabetic complications.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Lesson from Nutrigenomics

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) consumption has a beneficial effect on human health, especially for prevention of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders. Here we underscore the peculiar importance of specific cultivars used for EVOO production since biodiversity among cultivars in terms of fatty acids and polyphenols content could differently impact on the metabolic homeostasis. In this respect, the nutrigenomic approach could be very useful to fully dissect the pathways modulated by different EVOO cultivars in terms of mRNA and microRNA transcriptome. The identification of genes and miRNAs modulated by specific EVOO cultivars could also help to discover novel nutritional biomarkers for prevention and/or prognosis of human disease. Thus, the nutrigenomic approach depicts a novel scenario to investigate if a specific EVOO cultivar could have a positive effect on human health by preventing the onset of cardiovascular disease and/or chronic inflammatory disorders also leading to cancer.

Altered morphokinetics in equine embryos from oocytes exposed to DEHP during IVM

Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a commonly used plasticizer with endocrine-disrupting properties. In this study, we used an equine model to investigate DEHP concentrations in ovarian follicular fluid (FF), and to determine the effects of exposure of oocytes to potentially toxic concentrations of DEHP during in vitro maturation (IVM) on embryo development and quality. Embryo development was evaluated using time-lapse monitoring (TLM), a photomicroscopic tool that reveals abnormalities in cleavage kinetics unobservable by conventional morphology assessment. Blastocyst bioenergetic/oxidative status was assessed by confocal analysis. The possibility that verbascoside (VB), a bioactive polyphenol with antioxidant activity, could counteract DEHP-induced oocyte oxidative damage, was investigated. DEHP was detected in FF and in IVM media at concentrations up to 60 nM. Culture of oocytes in the presence of 500 nM DEHP delayed second polar body extrusion, reduced duration of the second cell cycle, and increased the percentage of embryos showing abrupt multiple cleavage, compared with controls. Mitochondrial activity and intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species were reduced in blastocysts from DEHP-exposed oocytes. VB addition during IVM limited DEHP-induced blastocyst damage. In conclusion, DEHP is detectable in equine FF and culture medium, and oocyte exposure to increased concentrations of DEHP during IVM affects preimplantation embryo development. Moreover, TLM, reported for the first time in the horse in this study, is an efficient tool for identifying altered morphokinetic parameters and cleavage abnormalities associated with exposure to toxic compounds.

Olive Tree Biophenols in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: When Bitter is Better

The current therapeutic scenario for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) involves aminosalicylates, corticosteroids, and immunomodulators, but concerns regarding their safety profiles and high costs heavily impact their widespread use. In recent years, the beneficial effects thatbiophenols—from fruit and vegetables—have on human health have been investigated. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of phenolic fraction, from olive leaves and fruits, have been suggested, and a potential application in gut inflammation has been supported by in vitro and IBD-animal models studies. In the present review, we first introduced the potential therapeutic role of olive tree biophenolsin chronic inflammatory disease. Then, we aimed to describe their most interesting application for gut inflammation, as the results of basic science studies and animal experimental models. Finally, the potential role of olive tree biophenols in the setting of human IBD is discussed.

In vivoformed metabolites of polyphenols and their biological efficacy

The metabolites of polyphenols are antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents. Being bioavailable, they may play an important role in preventing degenerative diseases.

Biological Relevance of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Polyphenols Metabolites

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) polyphenols beneficial effects have widely been debated throughout the last three decades, with greater attention to hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, which are by far the most studied. The main concern about the evaluation of EVOO phenols activities in vitro and in vivo is that the absorption and metabolism of these compounds once ingested lead to the production of different metabolites in the human body. EVOO phenols in the ingested forms are less concentrated in human tissues than their glucuronide, sulfate and methyl metabolites; on the other hand, metabolites may undergo deconjugation before entering the cells and thus act as free forms or may be reformed inside the cells so acting as conjugated forms. In most in vitro studies the presence of methyl/sulfate/glucuronide functional groups does not seem to inhibit biological activity. Parent compounds and metabolites have been shown to reach tissue concentrations useful to exert beneficial effects others than antioxidant and scavenging properties, by modulating intracellular signaling and improving cellular response to oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory stimuli. This review aims to give an overview on the reported evidence of the positive effects exerted by the main EVOO polyphenols metabolites in comparison with the parent compounds.

Biological Relevance of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Polyphenols Metabolites

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) polyphenols beneficial effects have widely been debated throughout the last three decades, with greater attention to hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol, which are by far the most studied. The main concern about the evaluation of EVOO phenols activities in vitro and in vivo is that the absorption and metabolism of these compounds once ingested lead to the production of different metabolites in the human body. EVOO phenols in the ingested forms are less concentrated in human tissues than their glucuronide, sulfate and methyl metabolites; on the other hand, metabolites may undergo deconjugation before entering the cells and thus act as free forms or may be reformed inside the cells so acting as conjugated forms. In most in vitro studies the presence of methyl/sulfate/glucuronide functional groups does not seem to inhibit biological activity. Parent compounds and metabolites have been shown to reach tissue concentrations useful to exert beneficial effects others than antioxidant and scavenging properties, by modulating intracellular signaling and improving cellular response to oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory stimuli. This review aims to give an overview on the reported evidence of the positive effects exerted by the main EVOO polyphenols metabolites in comparison with the parent compounds.

Bioactive Constituents of Lamium album L. as Inhibitors of Cytokine Secretion in Human Neutrophils

The traditional role of Lamium album L. (white dead nettle, Lamiaceae) in providing relief from pain in rheumatism as well as vaginal and cervical inflammation was described. The aim of the study was to screen for the anti-inflammatory bioactivity of compounds isolated from aqueous-methanolic extract of Lamium album herb in human neutrophils (PMNs). The effect of the compounds on the inhibition of selected inflammatory markers released by neutrophils, such as cytokines (IL-8, TNF-α), was studied. The molecular masses and the purity of compounds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode array detection and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MSⁿ). The level of cytokines production after incubation with the compounds (1–25 µM) was measured by ELISA. Two derivatives of quercetin, not previously described, were isolated in this study. Phenylpropanoids (verbascoside and phlinoside D), as well as iridoids (lamalbid, and shanzhiside methyl ester), and flavonoids revealed to be more significant inhibitors of IL-8 secretion than TNF-α. The compounds at a concentration of 25 µM, except for shanzhiside methyl ester (6), inhibited secretion of IL-8 in the range from 29.1 to 50.0%. In conclusion, L. album might be a valuable source of bioactive compounds and may provide constituents to limit noninfectious inflammation associated with the aforementioned diseases.

Antioxidant effects of an olive oil total polyphenolic fraction from a Greek Olea europaea variety in different cell cultures

BACKGROUND

Numerous studies have been carried out concerning the advantageous health effects, especially the antioxidant effects, of olive oil's (OO) individual biophenolic compounds, but none until now for its total phenolic fraction (TPF). Plenty of evidence, in research about nutrition and healthiness, points out that it is the complex mixture of nutritional polyphenols, more than each compound separate, which can synergistically act towards a health result.

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to examine the antioxidant properties of an extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) total polyphenolic fraction, from a Greek endemic variety of Olea europaea in cell lines.

METHODS

EVOO from a Greek endemic variety was used for the extraction of a total polyphenolic fraction, using a green CPE‑based method. The redox status [in terms of ROS, GSH, TBARS, protein carbonyls] was assessed at a cellular level, particularly in EA.hy926 endothelial, HeLa, HepG2 hepatic cells and C2C12 myoblasts. Moreover, the levels of glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (γ-GCLc) of GSH, one of the most important antioxidant enzymes, were assessed by western blot.

RESULTS

According to the results, TPF improves the redox profile of all cell lines, mainly by increasing GSH and its catalytic subunit, while at low, not cytotoxic TPF concentrations there was a decrease in TBARS and carbonyls. Regarding ROS levels a reduction was observed only in the HepG2 cell line, contrary to the other cell lines, that there is no statistically significant difference.

CONCLUSION

The TPF appeared to protect cells from oxidative stress due to the strong antioxidant activity of its polyphenols. This could have interesting implications in development of new products based on this olive oil to provide protection and treatment against harmful effects of free radicals.

Nutriosomes: prebiotic delivery systems combining phospholipids, a soluble dextrin and curcumin to counteract intestinal oxidative stress and inflammation

Nutriosomes, new phospholipid nanovesicles specifically designed for intestinal protection were developed by simultaneously loading a water-soluble dextrin (Nutriose® FM06) and a natural antioxidant (curcumin). Nutriosomes were easily fabricated in a one-step, organic solvent-free procedure. The stability and delivery performances of the vesicles were improved by adding hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. All the vesicles were small in size (mean diameter ∼168 nm), negatively charged (zeta potential ∼-38 mV, irrespective of their composition), and self-assembled predominantly in unilamellar vesicles stabilized by the presence of Nutriose®, which was located in both the inter-lamellar and inter-vesicle media, as confirmed by cryo-TEM and SAXS investigation. The dextrin acted also as a cryo-protector, avoiding vesicle collapse during the lyophilization process, and as a protector against high ionic strength and pH changes encountered in the gastrointestinal environment. Thanks to the antioxidant properties of curcumin, nutriosomes provided an optimal protective effect against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in Caco-2 cells. Moreover, these innovative vesicles showed promising efficacy in vivo, as they improved the bioavailability and the biodistribution of both curcumin and dextrin upon oral administration, which acted synergically in reducing colonic damage chemically induced in rats.

Fermented Apulian table olives: Effect of selected microbial starters on polyphenols composition, antioxidant activities and bioaccessibility

The effects of fermentation by autochthonous microbial starters on phenolics composition of Apulian table olives, Bella di Cerignola (BDC), Termite di Bitetto (TDB) and Cellina di Nardò (CEL) were studied, highlighting also the cultivars influence. In BDC with starter, polyphenols amount doubled compared with commercial sample, while in TDB and CEL, phenolics remain almost unchanged. The main phenolics were hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, verbascoside and luteolin, followed by hydroxytyrosol-acetate detected in BDC and cyanidine-3-glucoside and quercetin in CEL. Scavenger capacity in both DPPH and CAA assays, assessed the highest antioxidant effect for CEL with starters (21.7 mg Trolox eq/g FW; 8.5 μmol hydroxytyrosol eq/100 g FW). The polyphenols were highly in vitro bioaccessible (>60%), although modifications in their profile, probably for combined effect of environment and microorganisms, were noted. Finally, fermented table olives are excellent source of health promoting compounds, since hydroxytyrosol and tyrosol are almost 8 times more than in olive oil.