Application of a Rapid and Simple Technological Process to Increase Levels and Bioccessibility of Free Phenolic Compounds in Annurca Apple Nutraceutical Product

Nutraceutical formulation based on a synergic combination of melatonin and palmitoylethanolamide for the management of allergic events

The management of allergic events is a growing global health issue, especially in industrialized countries. This disease is an immune-mediated process, regulated by the interaction of IgE with an allergen, resulting in mast cell activation, which concerns the release of several immune-inflammatory modulators, i.e., histamine, β-hexosaminidase, COX-2, IL-6, and TNF-α, responsible for the main allergic-reaction associated symptoms. The aim of the present study was the efficacy evaluation of an alternative remedy, an innovative nutraceutical formulation (NF) based on the synergic combination of melatonin (MEL) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) for the prevention and treatment of immune disease. At first, the intestinal bioaccessibility of PEA and MEL in NF was assessed at 1.6 and 36%, respectively. Then the MEL and PEA ability to modulate the release of immune-inflammatory modulators in the human mast cell line (HMC-1.2) at their bioaccessible concentration was investigated. Our results underline that NF treatment was able to reduce COX-2 mRNA transcription levels (-30% vs. STIM, p < 0.0001) in stimulated HMC-1.2 and to contract COX-2 enzymatic activity directly (IC50: 152 μg/mL). Additionally, NF showed valuable ability in reducing histamine and β-hexosaminidase release in stimulated HMC-1.2, as well as in decreasing TNF-α and IL-6 mRNA transcription levels and protein production.

Malus pumila Mill. cv Annurca apple extract might be therapeutically useful against oxidative stress and patterned hair loss

Patterned hair loss (PHL) or androgenetic alopecia is a condition affecting about 50% of people worldwide. Several pharmacological medications have been developed over the years, but few studies have investigated their effectiveness. Therefore, new, safer and more effective strategies are required. Recent investigations showed that Annurca apple extract application could induce keratin production and promote hair growth thanks to the high amount of procyanidin B2 contained in. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the role of an Annurca apple extract in preventing PHL by testing it on human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) for the first time. Treatment of HFDPCs with Annurca apple extract counteracted intracellular reactive oxygen species accumulation by increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase 2 and catalase. Furthermore, treatment with Annurca apple extract increased β-catenin and fibroblast growth factor 2, which are involved in hair growth stimulation. These data suggest that Annurca apple extract may be a potential therapeutically useful nutraceutical product for preventing or treating hair loss by reducing oxidative stress and inducing the expression of hair growth-related factors.

Effects of Food-Derived Antioxidant Compounds on In Vitro Heavy Metal Intestinal Bioaccessibility

Environmental contamination by heavy metals (HMs) has emerged as a significant global issue in recent decades. Among natural substances, food-deriving polyphenols have found a valuable application in chelating therapy, partially limited by their low water solubility. Thus, three different hydroalcoholic extracts titrated in quercetin (QE), ellagic acid (EA), and curcumin (CUR) were formulated using maltodextrins as carriers, achieving a powder with a valuable water solubility (MQE 91.3 ± 1.2%, MEA 93.4 ± 2.1, and MCUR 89.3 ± 2%). Overcoming the problem of water solubility, such formulations were tested in an in vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion experiment conducted on a water sample with standardized concentrations of the principal HMs. Our results indicate that regarding the nonessential HMs investigated (Pb, Cd, As, Sb, and Hg), MQE has been shown to be the most effective in increasing the HMs' non-bioaccessible concentration, resulting in concentration increases in Cd of 68.3%, in As of 51.9%, in Hg of 58.9%, in Pb of 271.4, and in Sb of 111.2% (vs control, p < 0.001) in non-bioaccessible fractions. Regarding the essential HMs, MEA has shown the greatest capability to increase their intestinal bioaccessibility, resulting in +68.5%, +61.1, and +22.3% (vs control, p < 0.001) increases in Cu, Zn, and Fe, respectively. Finally, considering the strong relation between the antiradical and chelating activities, the radical scavenging potentials of the formulations was assayed in DPPH and ABTS assays.

Optimization and Validation of Procyanidins Extraction and Phytochemical Profiling of Seven Herbal Matrices of Nutraceutical Interest

Several medicinal herbal plants are extensively used as sources of bioactive compounds with beneficial effects on human health. This study assessed the procyanidin and polyphenol profiles together with the antioxidant potential of seven herbal medical matrices. To achieve this aim, procyanidin extraction from grape pomace was optimized and validated by monitoring monomeric-trimeric procyanidins. The proposed quantification method was applied to the seven medical herbs, and it proved to be a very efficient protocol for procyanidin-rich extracts analysis. In addition, the Paullinia cupana Kunth. seed was identified as a very rich source of procyanidins (about 5 mg/g dry matrix of each dimeric and about 3 mg/g dry matrix trimeric) with high antioxidant properties. The polyphenolic profile was assessed by HPLC-HESI-MS/MS analysis. The in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH assay to explore the antioxidant properties of the extracts, which were substantially higher in Peumus boldus Molina leaves extracts (935.23 ± 169 μmol of Trolox equivalent/g of dry weight) concerning the other matrices. Moreover, a high Pearson coefficient value was observed between the total flavonoid content (TFC) and DPPH in comparison with the total polyphenol content (TPC) and DPPH, indicating flavonoids as the principal bioactive with antioxidant activity in the extracts.

Annurca Apple Oleolite as Functional Ingredient for the Formulation of Cosmetics with Skin-Antiaging Activity

The identification of natural remedies for the management of the skin aging process is an increasingly growing issue. In this context, ursolic acid (UA), a ubiquitous molecule, mainly contained in Annurca apple (AA) fruit, has demonstrated valuable cosmetic potential. To this end, in the current study, the AA oleolite (AAO, extract in sunflower oil containing 784.40 ± 7.579 µg/mL of UA) was evaluated to inhibit porcine elastase enzymatic reactions through a validated spectrophotometric method. AAO has shown a valuable capacity to contrast the elastase enzyme with a calculated IC50 of 212.76 mg/mL, in comparison to UA (IC50 of 135.24 μg/mL) pure molecules and quercetin (IC50 of 72.47 μg/mL) which are used as positive controls. In this context and in view of the valuable antioxidant potential of AAO, its topical formulation with 2.5% (w/w) AAO was tested in a placebo-controlled, double-blind, two-arm clinical study on 40 volunteers. Our results indicated that after 28 days of treatment, a significant reduction of the nasolabial fold (-7.2 vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001) and forehead wrinkles (-5.3 vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001) were registered in combination with a valuable improvement of the viscoelastic skin parameters, where skin pliability/firmness (R0) and gross elasticity (R2) were significantly ameliorated (-13% vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001 for R0 and +12% vs. baseline T0, p < 0.001 for R2). Finally, considering the positive correlation between skin elasticity and hydration, the skin moisture was evaluated through the estimation of Trans epidermal water loss (TEWL) and skin conductance.

Polyphenol Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition Mechanism of Furong Plum Fruits at Different Maturity Stages

An experiment was conducted on the polyphenol content, flavonoid content, anthocyanin content, and antioxidant capacity of Furong plum (Prunus salicina Lindl. cv. "furong") at different maturity stages to determine the most suitable maturity stage. The inhibition of plum polyphenols on xanthine oxidase (XOD) was measured, and its kinetics were studied to reveal the inhibitory mechanism. The experimental results showed that the polyphenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents of plums at the ripe stage were the highest, reaching 320.46 mg GAE/100 g FW, 204.21 mg/100 g FW, and 66.24 mg/100 g FW, respectively, in comparison those of the plums at the immature and mid-ripe stages. The antioxidant capacity of the ripe plums was stronger than it was during the other stages of the plums growth. Among them, the total polyphenols of the ripe plums exhibited the strongest antioxidant capacity (IC50 values against DPPH and hydroxyl radicals were 28.19 ± 0.67 μg/mL and 198.16 ± 7.55 μg/mL, respectively), which was between the antioxidant capacity of the free polyphenols and bound polyphenols. The major phenolic monomer compounds of plum polyphenols were flavan-3-ols (epicatechin, catechin, proanthocyanidin, and procyanidin B2), flavonols (myricetin), and phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and protocatechuic acid). Additionally, plum polyphenols exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on XOD, with an IC50 value of 77.64 μg/mL. The inhibition kinetics showed that plum polyphenols are mixed-type inhibitors that inhibit XOD activity and that the inhibition process is reversible. The calculated values of Ki and α were 16.53 mmol/L and 0.26, respectively.

Natural Chalcones for the Management of Obesity Disease

In the last decade, the incidence of obesity has increased dramatically worldwide, reaching a dangerous pandemic spread. This condition has serious public health implications as it significantly increases the risk of chronic diseases such as type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, hypertension, heart attack, and stroke. The treatment of obesity is therefore the greatest health challenge of our time. Conventional therapeutic treatment of obesity is based on the use of various synthetic molecules belonging to the class of appetite suppressants, lipase inhibitors, hormones, metabolic regulators, and inhibitors of intestinal peptide receptors. The long-term use of these molecules is generally limited by various side effects and tolerance. For this reason, the search for natural alternatives to treat obesity is a current research goal. This review therefore examined the anti-obesity potential of natural chalcones based on available evidence from in vitro and animal studies. In particular, the results of the main in vitro studies describing the principal molecular therapeutic targets and the mechanism of action of the different chalcones investigated were described. In addition, the results of the most relevant animal studies were reported. Undoubtedly, future clinical studies are urgently needed to confirm and validate the potential of natural chalcones in the clinical prophylaxis of obesity.

Validation of an LC-MS/MS Method for the Determination of Abscisic Acid Concentration in a Real-World Setting

One of the most relevant aspects in evaluating the impact of natural bioactive compounds on human health is the assessment of their bioavailability. In this regard, abscisic acid (ABA) has attracted particular interest as a plant-derived molecule mainly involved in the regulation of plant physiology. Remarkably, ABA was also found in mammals as an endogenous hormone involved in the upstream control of glucose homeostasis, as evidenced by its increase after glucose load. The present work focused on the development and validation of a method for the determination of ABA in biological samples through liquid-liquid extraction (LLE), followed by liquid mass spectrometry (LC-MS) of the extract. To test method suitability, this optimized and validated method was applied to a pilot study on eight healthy volunteers' serum levels to evaluate ABA concentration after consumption of a standardized test meal (STM) and the administration of an ABA-rich nutraceutical product. The results obtained could meet the demands of clinical laboratories to determine the response to a glucose-containing meal in terms of ABA concentration. Interestingly, the detection of this endogenous hormone in such a real-world setting could represent a useful tool to investigate the occurrence of impaired ABA release in dysglycemic individuals and to monitor its eventual improvement in response to chronic nutraceutical supplementation.

Effects of physical exercise associated with a diet enriched with natural antioxidants on cerebral hypoperfusion and reperfusion injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Oxidative stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. The reduction in the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) causes endothelial dysfunction, altering the functions of cerebral blood vessels. Physical exercise and intake of antioxidants improve the redox state, increasing the vascular NO production and/or the decrease in NO scavenging by reactive oxygen species (ROS). The present study was aimed at assessing the effects of physical exercise associated with a diet enriched with antioxidants from the Annurca apple in preventing the microvascular damage due to cerebral hypoperfusion and reperfusion injury in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). The rat pial microcirculation was investigated by intravital fluorescence microscopy through a parietal closed cranial window. As expected, SHRs subjected to physical exercise or an antioxidants-enriched diet showed a reduction of microvascular permeability, ROS formation, and leukocyte adhesion to venular walls, with a major effect of the antioxidants-enriched diet, when compared to untreated SHRs. Moreover, capillary perfusion was preserved by both treatments in comparison with untreated SHRs. Unexpectedly, the combined treatments did not induce higher effects than the single treatment. In conclusion, our results support the efficacy of physical activity or antioxidant supplement in reducing the microvascular alterations due to hypertension and ascribe to an antioxidants-enriched diet effective microvascular protection in SHRs.

Optimization of Ursolic Acid Extraction in Oil from Annurca Apple to Obtain Oleolytes with Potential Cosmeceutical Application

Ursolic acid (UA) is a plant-derived molecule with relevant anti-aging activity, which makes this molecule a potential functional active ingredient in cosmetic formulations. The main objectives of this study were to optimize the UA extraction process from Annurca apple (AA) with sunflower oil as a lyophilic food-grade solvent using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to determine the potential cosmetic application of the obtained extract. The results of RSM analysis showed a maximum UA yield of 784.40 ± 7.579 (μg/mL) obtained under the following optimized conditions: sunflower oil as extraction solvent, 68.85 °C as extraction temperature, and 63 h as extraction time. The HPLC-DAD-HESI-MS/MS analysis performed on the extract obtained under these conditions, named Optimized Annurca Apple Oleolyte (OAAO), led to the identification of twenty-three phenolic and terpenoid molecules and the quantification of eight of them. To explore the biological properties of OAAO, the in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, resulting in 16.63 ± 0.22, 5.90 ± 0.49, and 21.72 ± 0.68 μmol Trolox equivalent/g extract, respectively. Moreover, the permeation study has shown that OAAO may be considered a safe and functional ingredient in potential cosmetic formulations.

A Food-Grade Method for Enhancing the Levels of Low Molecular Weight Proanthocyanidins with Potentially High Intestinal Bioavailability

Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are a group of bioactive molecules found in a variety of plants and foods. Their bioavailability depends on their molecular size, with monomers and dimers being more bioavailable than those that have a higher polymerization degree. This study aimed to develop a method to convert high-molecular-weight PACs to low-molecular-weight ones in a grape seed extract (GSE) from Vitis vinifera L. Therefore, GSE was subjected to alkaline treatment (ATGSE), and its difference in chemical composition, compared to GSE, was evaluated using a molecular networking (MN) approach based on results obtained from HPLC-ESI HRMS/MS characterization analysis. The network analysis mainly noted the PAC cluster with about 142 PAC compounds identified. In particular, the obtained results showed a higher content of monomeric and dimeric PACs in ATGSE compared to GSE, with 58% and 49% monomers and 31% and 24% dimers, respectively. Conversely, trimeric (9%), polymeric (4%), and galloylated PACs (14%) were more abundant in GSE than in ATGSE (6%, 1%, and 4%, respectively). Moreover, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated, showing the high beneficial potential of both extracts. In conclusion, ATGSE could represent an innovative natural matrix rich in bioavailable and bioaccessible PACs for nutraceutical applications with potential beneficial properties.

Beneficial Contribution to Glucose Homeostasis by an Agro-Food Waste Product Rich in Abscisic Acid: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial

The control of glucose homeostasis represents the primary goal for the prevention and management of diabetes and prediabetes. In recent decades, the hypoglycemic hormone abscisic acid (ABA) has attracted considerable interest in the scientific literature. In this regard, the high ABA concentration in immature fruits led us to consider these food matrices as candidates for diabetes control. Therefore, the beneficial efficacy of a nutraceutical formulation based on thinned nectarines (TNs) rich in ABA was tested through a three-month, three-arm, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted on sixty-one patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). After 3 months, both the treatments with low doses of TN (500 mg 3 times/day) and high doses of TN (750 mg 3 times/day) showed a significant reduction in glycemic parameters compared to baseline. Treatment with low doses of TN showed a greater insulin-sparing effect (fasting plasma insulin, FPI: −29.2%, p < 0.05 vs. baseline) compared to the high-dose group (FPI: −16.5%, p < 0.05 vs. baseline). Moreover, a significant correlation between glycemia and ABA plasmatic levels was observed for both intervention groups at baseline and after 3 months. Overall, our data reasonably support TN as a promising and innovative nutraceutical product able to contribute to the management of glucose homeostasis.