Comparative Evaluation of the Nutrients, Phytochemicals, and Antioxidant Activity of Two Hempseed Oils and Their Byproducts after Cold Pressing

Recently, there has been a growing interest in the recovery of agri-food waste within the circular economy perspective. In this study, the nutritional, phytochemical, and biological features of the cold-pressed hempseed oil (HSO) and hempseed meal (HSM) of two industrial hemp varieties (USO 31 and Futura 75, THC ≤ 0.2%) were evaluated. The HSOs showed a high total phenols and flavonoid content, which were confirmed by LC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis, with rutin as the most abundant compound (56.93-77.89 µg/100 FW). They also proved to be a rich source of tocopherols (81.69-101.45 mg/100 g FW) and of a well-balanced ω-6 to ω-3 fatty acid ratio (3:1) with USO 31, which showed the best phytochemical profile and consequently the best antioxidant activity (about two times higher than Futura 75). The HSMs still retained part of the phytochemicals identified in the HSOs (polyphenols, tocopherols, and the preserved ω-6/ω-3 fatty acids ratio) and a modest antioxidant activity. Furthermore, they showed a very interesting nutritional profile, which was very rich in proteins (29.88-31.44 g/100 g FW), crude fibers (18.39-19.67 g/100 g), and essential and non-essential amino acids. Finally, only a restrained amount of anti-nutritional factors (trypsin inhibitors, phytic acid, and condensed tannins) was found, suggesting a promising re-use of these byproducts in the nutraceutical field.

Myricetin (3,3',4',5,5',7-Hexahydroxyflavone) Prevents 5-Fluorouracil-Induced Cardiotoxicity

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is a strong anti-cancer drug used to manage numerous cancers. Cardiotoxicity, renal toxicity, and liver toxicity are some of the adverse effects which confine its clinical use to some extent. 5-FU-induced organ injuries are associated with redox imbalance, inflammation, and damage to heart functioning, particularly in the present study. Myricetin is an abundant flavonoid, commonly extracted from berries and herbs having anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities. We planned the current work to explore the beneficial effects of myricetin against 5-FU-induced cardiac injury in Wistar rats through a biochemical and histological approach. Prophylactic myricetin treatment at two doses (25 and 50 mg/kg) was given to rats orally for 21 days against cardiac injury induced by a single injection of 5-FU (150 mg/kg b.wt.) given on the 20th day intraperitoneally. The 5-FU injection induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and extensive cardiac damage. Nevertheless, myricetin alleviated markers of inflammation, apoptosis, cardiac toxicity, oxidative stress, and upregulated anti-oxidative machinery. The histology of heart further supports our biochemical findings mitigated by the prophylactic treatment of myricetin. Henceforth, myricetin mitigates 5-FU-induced cardiac damage by modulating oxidative stress, inflammation, and cardiac-specific markers, as found in the present study.

Use, Practices and Attitudes of Elite and Sub-Elite Athletes towards Tart Cherry Supplementation

Tart cherry (TC) supplementation can improve exercise recovery and performance; and may also improve sleep duration and quality. This study investigated the use and knowledge of TC supplementation by athletes of all competitive levels. Eighty participants (52.5% elite (international, national, professional), 47.5% sub-elite (semi-professional, state/regional, county level, club level, recreational)) completed an online questionnaire investigating their attitudes towards and use of TC supplementation. Overall, 22.6% of participants were using or had previously used TC supplements, and 12.5% of participants planned to used TC supplements. Improved recovery (71.4%), sleep (32.1%) and immunity and general health (32.1%) were the most frequently indicated goals by respondents using TC supplements. In total, 32.1% of respondents were supplemented with TC chronically, 39.3% acutely and 28.6% used a combination of chronic and acute supplementation. The majority of those employing TC supplementation chronically used TC either over 2-3 days (37.0%) or continuously (37.0%). The most popular TC pre- and post-loading period was one day (34.3% and 41.5%, respectively). There were no significant differences between elite and sub-elite athletes in any parameters assessed (p > 0.05). TC supplementation is not widely used by the athletes surveyed, and athletes using TC supplements showed poor awareness of an evidence-led dosing strategy, regardless of competitive level.

Piperine protects oxidative modifications in human erythrocytes

OBJECTIVES

Piperine (1-piperoyl piperidine), a major alkaloid constituent of Piper nigrum L. and Piper longum L. has pleiotropic biological effects, but the mechanism(s) involved remain to be elucidated. The current study was conducted to examine the efficacy of antioxidant ability of piperine on t-BHP induced markers of oxidative stress in human erythrocytes.

METHODS

Healthy human erythrocytes and erythrocytes membrane was stressed with free radical inducer chemical; t-BHP (10^-5 M), and the effects of piperine was measured against free radical mediated modification in lipid and protein content, -SH and GSH value with antioxidant potential.

RESULTS

The results demonstrate that treatment of erythrocytes with piperine (10^-5 to 10^-7 M) significantly (p<0.05) ameliorated the adverse consequences of oxidative stress as evidenced by prevention of oxidation of erythrocyte reduced glutathione, membrane thiols, proteins, and peroxidation of lipids; the effects were in correlation with ferric reducing and radical scavenging abilities of piperine.

CONCLUSIONS

The study concludes that piperine possesses potent anti-oxidant potential which may explain many of its observed biological effects.

Flavonoids as natural phenolic compounds and their role in therapeutics: an overview

Background

Natural plants and plant-derived formulations have been used by mankind from the ancient period of time. For the past few years, many investigations elaborated the therapeutic potential of various secondary chemicals present in the plants. Literature revealed that the various secondary metabolites, viz. phenolics and flavonoids, are responsible for a variety of therapeutic action in humans.

Main body

In the present review, an attempt has been made to compile the exploration of natural phenolic compounds with major emphasis on flavonoids and their therapeutic potential too. Interestingly, long-term intake of many dietary foods (rich in phenolics) proved to be protective against the development and management of diabetes, cancer, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and neurodegenerative diseases, etc.

Conclusion

This review presents an overview of flavonoid compounds to use them as a potential therapeutic alternative in various diseases and disorders. In addition, the present understanding of phenolics and flavonoids will serve as the basis for the next scientific studies.

Vitis labrusca Extract (HP01) Improves Blood Circulation and Lipid Metabolism in Hyperlipidemic Rats

Excessive intake of high-lipid foods and lifestyle changes can easily cause hyperlipidemia. Hyperlipidemia is clinically considered a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, which is the second leading cause of death worldwide. In this study, the effects of a Vitis labrusca extract (HP01) on coagulation, platelet aggregation, and lipid metabolism were investigated in hyperlipidemic rats. A rat model of high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced hyperlipidemia was used. Hemostatic parameters and lipid levels were investigated after HP01 treatment of hyperlipidemic rats. Different doses of HP01 (200 mg/kg/day and 400 mg/kg/day, p.o.) were administered for 3 weeks, and prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and platelet aggregation and bleed time (BT) were determined. The levels of thromboxane B(2) (TXB(2)) and serotonin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Simultaneously, hepatic function and blood fat indexes, including aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were also measured. In comparison with the data obtained for rats in the untreated HFD group, HP01 (200 mg/kg) treatment prolonged PT but did not affect aPTT. HP01 treatment did not alter plasma TXB(2), PGI2, or serotonin levels. However, HP01 showed some effects in improving liver function by reducing the levels of hepatic lipids. ALT, MDA, and hepatic TG levels significantly decreased, whereas GSH, GPx, CAT, and SOD levels significantly increased. These results confirm the HP01 extract will improve thromboplastic and the liver metabolic disorders in hyperlipidemia by oxidative stress response.

Protective Effects of Myricetin on Benzo[a]pyrene-Induced 8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine and BPDE-DNA Adduct

Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), a group 1 carcinogen, induces mutagenic DNA adducts. Myricetin is present in many natural foods with diverse biological activities, such as anti-oxidative and anti-cancer activities. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of myricetin against B[a]P-induced toxicity. Treatment of B[a]P induced cytotoxicity on HepG2 cells, whereas co-treatment of myricetin with B[a]P reduced the formation of the B[a]P-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adduct, which recovered cell viability. Furthermore, we found a protective effect of myricetin against B[a]P-induced genotoxicity in rats, via myricetin-induced inhibition of 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and BPDE-DNA adduct formation in the liver, kidney, colon, and stomach tissue. This inhibition was more prominent in the liver than in other tissues. Correspondingly, myricetin regulated the phase I and II enzymes that inhibit B[a]P metabolism and B[a]P metabolites conjugated with DNA by reducing and inducing CYP1A1 and glutathione S-transferase (GST) expression, respectively. Taken together, this showed that myricetin attenuated B[a]P-induced genotoxicity via regulation of phase I and II enzymes. Our results suggest that myricetin is anti-genotoxic, and prevents oxidative DNA damage and BPDE-DNA adduct formation via regulation of phase I and II enzymes.

Effects of phytochemicals on cellular signaling: reviewing their recent usage approaches

Most of the previous studies in last three decades report evidence of interactions between the different phytochemicals and the proteins involved in signal transduction pathways using in silico, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo analyses. However, extrapolation of these findings for clinical purposes has not been that fruitful. The efficacy of the phytochemicals in vivo studies is limited by parameters such as solubility, metabolic degradation, excretion, etc. Various approaches have now been devised to circumvent these limitations. Recently, chemical modification of the phytochemicals are demonstrated to reduce some of the limitations and improve their efficacy. Similar to traditional medicines several combinatorial phytochemical formulations have shown to be more efficient. Further, phytochemicals have been reported to be even more efficient in the form of nanoparticles. However, systematic evaluation of their efficacy, mode of action in pathway modulation, usage and associated challenges is required to be done. The present review begins with basic understanding of how signaling cascades regulate cellular response and the consequences of their dysregulation further summarizing the developments and problems associated with the dietary phytochemicals and also discuss recent approaches in strengthening these compounds in pharmacological applications. Only context relevant studies have been reviewed. Considering the limitations and scope of the article, authors do not claim inclusion of all the early and recent studies.

Exendin-4 protects HUVECs from t-BHP-induced apoptosis via PI3K/Akt-Bcl-2-caspase-3 signaling

AIMS

Although the insulinotropic role of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) in type 2 diabetes mellitus has been substantiated, its role in cardioprotection remains largely unknown. In this study, we explored the effect and mechanism of exendin-4 on tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODS

HUVECs were treated with 100 µmol/L t-BHP for 4 h, following pretreatment with 2.5-25 nmol/L exendin-4. Cell viability was determined using an dimethyl thiazolyl diphenyl tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay. The percentage of apoptotic cells was determined by fluorescence microscopy after Hoechst/PI staining. Expression of cysteine-aspartic acid protease-3(caspase-3), beta-cell lymphoma 2(Bcl-2), protein kinase B(AKT), and phosphorylated AKT was detected by western blotting.

RESULTS

Exendin-4 reduced the percentage of cells undergoing apoptosis when HUVECs were exposed to t-BHP. Exendin-4 downregulated caspase-3 activity and increased Bcl-2 protein levels in t-BHP-treated HUVECs. These exendin-4-mediated effects were blocked in the presence of an inhibitor of phosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K). Exendin-4 reversed t-BHP-mediated inhibition of Akt phosphorylation, which was abrogated by the PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that exendin-4 reduces t-BHP-induced apoptosis of HUVECs. Additionally, PI3K/Akt-Bcl-2-caspase-3 signaling is involved in the exendin-4-mediated modulation of HUVECs.

Biomarkers of oxidative stress in red blood cells

BACKGROUND

Exposure to high concentrations of oxygen radicals, the lack of nucleus and mitochrondria, inability to synthesise new protein and degradation of detoxifying enzymes makes red blood cells (RBCs) uniquely vulnerable to oxidative stress. This review summarizes the changes in biochemical parameters that primarily contribute to alterations in red blood cells during oxidative stress.

METHODS

PubMed, Science Direct and Springer online databases and updates from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

As one of the first cells to be affected by changes in the redox status of the body, alterations in red blood cells are widely used in first step-diagnoses of a number of pathological conditions. The information presented in this review provides an update on biomarkers of redox balance in red blood cells. These biomarkers may be used for assessment of oxidative stress during human health and disease.