Chemical Compounds Identification and Antioxidant and Calcium Oxalate Anticrystallization Activities of Punica granatum L

Kidney Stone Prevention

Kidney stone disease (KSD) (alternatively nephrolithiasis or urolithiasis) is a global health care problem that affects almost people in developed and developing countries. Its prevalence has been continuously increasing with a high recurrence rate after stone removal. Although effective therapeutic modalities are available, preventive strategies for both new and recurrent stones are required to reduce physical and financial burdens of KSD. To prevent kidney stone formation, its etiology and risk factors should be first considered. Low urine output and dehydration are the common risks of all stone types, whereas hypercalciuria, hyperoxaluria, and hypocitraturia are the major risks of calcium stones. In this article, up-to-date knowledge on strategies (nutrition-based mainly) to prevent KSD is provided. Important roles of fluid intake (2.5-3.0 L/d), diuresis (>2.0-2.5 L/d), lifestyle and habit modifications (for example, maintain normal body mass index, fluid compensation for working in high-temperature environment, and avoid cigarette smoking), and dietary management [for example, sufficient calcium at 1000-1200 mg/d, limit sodium at 2 or 3-5 g/d of sodium chloride (NaCl), limit oxalate-rich foods, avoid vitamin C and vitamin D supplements, limit animal proteins to 0.8-1.0 g/kg body weight/d but increase plant proteins in patients with calcium and uric acid stone and those with hyperuricosuria, increase proportion of citrus fruits, and consider lime powder supplementation] are summarized. Moreover, uses of natural bioactive products (for example, caffeine, epigallocatechin gallate, and diosmin), medications (for example, thiazides, alkaline citrate, other alkalinizing agents, and allopurinol), bacterial eradication, and probiotics are also discussed. Adv Nutr 2023;x:xx-xx.

Comparative metabolomics reveal intraspecies variability in bioactive compounds of different cultivars of pomegranate fruit (Punica granatum L.) and their waste by-products

BACKGROUND

The different parts of pomegranate fruit are considered a powerful mixture of bioactive compounds yet the peels and pulps of the fruits are usually discarded and considered as industrial waste. In this work, ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ-MS) was utilized for metabolomics analysis of different parts (peel, pulp, seed and juice) of pomegranate fruit cultivars to verify possible variations among the fruits and their waste products as potential sources of functional constituents.

RESULTS

Orthogonal projection to latent structure-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) coefficient-plot showed enrichment of phenolic compounds such as punicalagin and ellagic acid derivatives in pulp samples while seeds class was enriched in phlorizin, catechin and quercetin, juice class showed abundance of naringenin and pelargonidin-3-pentoside while peels were enriched in anthocyanins and flavonoids including cyanidin diglycoside, quercetin and luteolin glycosides. Although the juice samples of almost all tested cultivars showed remarkable cytotoxic activity, the pulp samples, particularly the Manfalouti cultivar, exhibited the most potent [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀ ) = 2.367 ± 0.14 μg/mL in MCF-7, IC₅₀  = 3.854 ± 0.23 μg/mL in Hep-G2 cell lines]. OPLS models were constructed for determination of cytotoxicity-associated metabolites among where the coefficients plots revealed tannins; granatin A, ellagic acid derivatives, punicalagin α and β, in addition to anthocyanins and phenolic compounds; cyanidin diglycoside, quercetin, phlorizin, 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid, naringenin and liquiritin were more pertinent with cytotoxicity of the different parts of pomegranate fruit.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained allow for the full utilization of the resources of pomegranate fruit and its industrial waste as sources of bioactive compounds. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Antimicrobial Effect of Pomegranate Peel Extract versus Chlorhexidine in High Caries Risk Individuals Using Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction: A Randomized Triple-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial

The aim of the present study was to compare the antibacterial effectiveness of chlorhexidine and PPE oral rinse on S. mutans, Lactobacilli, and Veillonella, in clinical salivary samples of patients with advanced stages of dental caries at baseline and two and four weeks with PCR technique. This triple-blind randomized clinical trial involved 60 high caries risk adult patients, 19–59 years of age, randomly allocated into two groups of 30 subjects each. The intervention group received pomegranate peel extract mouthwash, whereas the control group received chlorhexidine mouthwash. Unstimulated pooled saliva was collected from the floor of the mouth before and after the intervention. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was employed to analyze the bacterial copies of each salivary sample at baseline and two and four weeks. The significance level was fixed at 5% (α = 0.05). Overall comparison of antimicrobial effectiveness across both groups revealed insignificant outcomes. The control group evinced a significant reduction in S. mutans between a specific time, i.e., baseline and 4 weeks (p=0.043). PPE oral rinse as a natural product or ecological alternative was effective in disrupting activity across all microorganisms tested in this triple-blind RCT; however, the nutraceutical, when compared to chlorhexidine, was not as effective against S. mutans.

The Impact of Herbal Infusion Consumption on Oxidative Stress and Cancer: The Good, the Bad, the Misunderstood

The release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress is associated with the development of many ailments, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer. The causal link between oxidative stress and cancer is well established and antioxidants are suggested as a protective mechanism against cancer development. Recently, an increase in the consumption of antioxidant supplements was observed globally. The main sources of these antioxidants include fruits, vegetables, and beverage. Herbal infusions are highly popular beverages consumed daily for different reasons. Studies showed the potent antioxidant effects of plants used in the preparation of some herbal infusions. Such herbal infusions represent an important source of antioxidants and can be used as a dietary protection against cancer. However, uncontrolled consumption of herbal infusions may cause toxicity and reduced antioxidant activity. In this review, eleven widely consumed herbal infusions were evaluated for their antioxidant capacities, anticancer potential and possible toxicity. These herbal infusions are highly popular and consumed as daily drinks in different countries. Studies discussed in this review will provide a solid ground for researchers to have better understanding of the use of herbal infusions to reduce oxidative stress and as protective supplements against cancer development.