ACE Inhibitory and Antihypertensive Activities of Wine Lees and Relationship among Bioactivity and Phenolic Profile

Valorization of Peach Fruit and Wine Lees through the Production of a Functional Peach and Grape Juice

The valorization of agri-food products not only represents important economic and environmental benefits but can also be a source of potentially profitable, functional, and safe ingredients. This study aimed to valorize peach fruit and wine lees (WL) by producing functional juice. WL were incorporated at different concentrations (1.5 and 2%; w:w) in unpasteurized peach and grape juice and subsequently stored under refrigeration (5 °C). The antimicrobial activity of WL in peach and grape juices was assessed against Listeria monocytogenes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as well as physicochemical, nutritional microbiological, and sensory acceptability. The maximum addition of WL to the juice (2%) showed a significant inhibitory effect against L. monocytogenes (4-log reduction) and increased the content of total soluble solids (TSS) (10%), total polyphenol content (TPC) (75%), and total antioxidant activity (AOX) (86%). During storage, AOX, TPC, TSS, pH, and titratable acidity (TA) remained stable. A significant correlation was observed between TPC and AOX. Total mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast counts increased during storage. Fifty-seven percent of tasters (n = 26) rated the functional juice positively. Thus, these agri-food products could be useful for producing functional juices with a longer shelf life, contributing to their valorization.

Recent Progress in Distiller's Grains: Chemical Compositions and Biological Activities

Distiller's grains (DGs) are solid mixtures that remain after the production of alcoholic beverages. A large amount of DGs is produced each year during the brewing process. Currently, they are mostly used as a feedstock or substrate in the feed industry. However, the lack of a comprehensive understanding of the chemical composition of DGs is a major constraint on their further development and application for high-value-added usages. Some studies were published on the bioactive constituents of DGs in several different types of journals. Data were therefore collated to provide a comprehensive overview of these natural products. DGs are rich in phenols, phytosterols, and fatty acids, in addition to general lipid and protein constituents. These compounds and their related extracts possess diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-hyperglycaemic effects. We hope that this review will provide research incentives for the further development and utilisation of DGs to develop high-value-added products.

Inhibitory effects of the anthocyanins from Lycium ruthenicum Murray on angiotensin-I-converting enzyme: in vitro and molecular docking studies

BACKGROUND

Lycium ruthenicum Murray (LRM), a perennial shrub plant belonging to the Solanaceae family, is rich in anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, lipid-lowering, intestinal flora regulating, and other pharmacological qualities. This study was primarily aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of different anthocyanin purities from LRM on angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity in vitro. Moreover, the inhibitory mechanism was further analyzed by molecular docking technology.

RESULTS

Two main anthocyanin isomers were identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and proton/carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance, namely petunidin-3-O-[rhamnopyranosyl-(trans-p-coumaroyl)]-5-O-(β-d-glucopyranoside) (trans-Pt3R5G) and petunidin-3-O-[rhamnopyranosyl-(cis-p-coumaroyl)]-5-O-(β-d-glucopyranoside) (cis-Pt3R5G), with a molar ratio of 9:1. Three purification grades of Pt3R5G all showed excellent inhibitory effects on ACE, with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) values being 0.562, 0.421, and 0.106 mg·mL-1 . Increasing the purity may reduce the IC50 within a certain concentration range. An enzymatic kinetic experiment showed that the inhibitory effect of Pt3R5G on ACE was reversible and non-competitive: Pt3R5G and substrate were not in competition for the active sites of ACE. Molecular docking technology further revealed the possible mechanism was that Pt3R5G and ACE amino acid residues were interacting by hydrogen bonds to exert the inhibitory effect.

CONCLUSION

The results indicated that Pt3R5G from LRM was highly effective at inhibiting ACE activity in vitro, with the hydrogen bonds of Pt3R5G and ACE amino acid residues exerting the inhibition. As a potential plant-based ACE inhibitor, Pt3R5G can be used as a functional ingredient for antihypertensive effects. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Preparative Fractionation of Phenolic Compounds and Isolation of an Enriched Flavonol Fraction from Winemaking Industry By-Products by High-Performance Counter-Current Chromatography

High-performance counter-current chromatography (HPCCC) was used as a tool for the isolation and fractionation of phenolic compounds (PCs) in extracts from wine lees (WL) and grape pomace (GP). The biphasic solvent systems applied for HPCCC separation were n-butanol:methyl tert-butyl ether:acetonitrile:water (3:1:1:5) with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and n-hexane:ethyl acetate:methanol:water (1:5:1:5). After refining the ethanol:water extracts of GP and WL by-products by ethyl acetate extraction, the latter system yielded an enriched fraction of the minor family of flavonols. Recoveries of 112.9 and 105.9 mg of purified flavonols (myricetin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol) in GP and WL, respectively, from 500 mg of ethyl acetate extract (equivalent to 10 g of by-product) were obtained. The HPCCC fractionation and concentration capabilities were also exploited for the characterization and tentative identification of constitutive PCs by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). In addition to the isolation of the enriched flavonol fraction, a total of 57 PCs in both matrixes were identified, 12 of which were reported for the first time in WL and/or GP. The application of HPCCC to GP and WL extracts may be a powerful approach to isolate large amounts of minor PCs. The composition of the isolated fraction demonstrated quantitative differences in the individual compound composition of GP and WL, supporting the potential exploitation of these matrixes as sources of specific flavonols for technological applications.

Recovery of phenolic compounds from wine lees using green processing: Identifying target molecules and assessing membrane ultrafiltration performance

Winery wastes are rich in polyphenols with high added value to be used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and food products. This work aims at recovering and purifying the polyphenolic fraction occurring in the malolactic fermentation lees generated during the production of Albariño wines. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, and related compounds were recovered from this oenological waste by green liquid extraction using water as the solvent. The resulting extract solution was microfiltered to remove microparticles and further treated by ultrafiltration (UF) using membranes of 30 kDa and 5 kDa molecular weight cut-offs (MWCOs). The feed sample and the filtrate and retentate solutions from each membrane system were analyzed by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (HPLC) with UV and mass spectrometric (MS) detection. The most abundant polyphenols in the extracts were identified and quantified, namely: caftaric acid with a concentration of 200 µg g^-1 and trans-coutaric acid, cis-coutaric acid, gallic acid, and astilbin with concentrations between 15 and 40 µg g^-1. Other minor phenolic acids and flavanols were also found. The UF process using the 30 kDa membrane did not modify the extract composition, but filtration through the 5 kDa poly-acrylonitrile membrane elicited a decrease in polyphenolic content. Hence, the 30 kDa membrane was recommended to further pre-process the extracts. The combined extraction and purification process presented here is environmentally friendly and demonstrates that malolactic fermentation lees of Albariño wines are a valuable source of phenolic compounds, especially phenolic acids.

Health Beneficial Phytochemicals in Dioscorea caucasica Lipsky Leaves and Tubers and Their Inhibitory Effects on Physiologically Important Enzymes

Dioscorea caucasica Lipsky is a tertiary relict endemic plant naturally growing in the western part of the trans-Caucasus regions; it has adapted and successfully grows in the temperate region of the Baltic countries. Information about its phytochemical composition and bioactivities is rather scarce. This study reports the results of the identification of 41 compounds in D. caucasica leaf and tuber hydroethanolic extracts using UPLC-QTOF/MS. Organic acids were found in both extracts; hydroxycinnamates and flavonoids were the main phytochemicals in the leaves, while steroidal glycosides, fatty acids (mainly hydroxylated) and carbohydrates were found in the tubers. Leaf extracts inhibited enzymes in a dose-dependent manner and were remarkably stronger inhibitors of physiologically important enzymes, namely α-amylase (48.6% at 480 µg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC50 = 41.99 and 47.95 µg/mL with and without 0.1 M Na2CO3), acetylcholinesterase (45.85% at 100 µg/mL) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (IC50 = 829.7 µg/mL), most likely due to the presence of some quantified polyphenolic antioxidants. The mode of inhibition of α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase was assessed via kinetic studies based on Lineweaver–Burk inhibition plots. Leaf and tuber extracts acted as mixed-type and competitive inhibitors of α-glucosidase, respectively; the leaf extract demonstrated an uncompetitive inhibition mode of acetylcholinesterase. It is expected that this new knowledge of D. caucasica will serve for its valorization in developing new health beneficial ingredients for functional foods and nutraceuticals.

Role of Chrononutrition in the Antihypertensive Effects of Natural Bioactive Compounds

Hypertension (HTN) is one of the main cardiovascular risk factors and is considered a major public health problem. Numerous approaches have been developed to lower blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive patients, most of them involving pharmacological treatments. Within this context, natural bioactive compounds have emerged as a promising alternative to drugs in HTN prevention. This work reviews not only the mechanisms of BP regulation by these antihypertensive compounds, but also their efficacy depending on consumption time. Although a plethora of studies has investigated food-derived compounds, such as phenolic compounds or peptides and their impact on BP, only a few addressed the relevance of time consumption. However, it is known that BP and its main regulatory mechanisms show a 24-h oscillation. Moreover, evidence shows that phenolic compounds can interact with clock genes, which regulate the biological rhythm followed by many physiological processes. Therefore, further research might be carried out to completely elucidate the interactions along the time–nutrition–hypertension axis within the framework of chrononutrition.

Winery by-products as a valuable source for natural antihypertensive agents

Hypertension (HTN) is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Agri-food by-products are emerging as a novel source of natural antihypertensive agents allowing for their valorization and making food and agricultural industries more environmentally friendly. In this regard, wine making process generates large amounts of by-products rich in phenolic compounds that have shown potential to exert several beneficial effects including antihypertensive properties. The aim of this study was to review the blood pressure-lowering effects of winery by-products. In addition, molecular mechanisms involved in their bioactivity were also evaluated. Among the winery by-products, grape seed extracts have widely shown antihypertensive properties in both animal and human studies. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that grape stem, skin and pomace and wine lees may also have great potential to manage HTN, although more studies are needed in order to confirm their potential in humans. Improvement of endothelial dysfunction and reduction of oxidative stress associated with HTN are the main mechanisms involved in the blood pressure-lowering effects of these by-products.

Inhibitory activities of grape bioactive compounds against enzymes linked with human diseases

A quest for identification of novel, safe and efficient natural compounds, as additives in the modern food and cosmetic industries, has been prompted by concerns about toxicity and side effects of synthetic products. Plant phenolic compounds are one of the most documented natural products due to their multifarious biological applications. Grape (Vitis vinifera) is an important source of phenolic compounds such as phenolic acids, tannins, quinones, coumarins and, most importantly, flavonoids/flavones. This review crisply encapsulates enzyme inhibitory activities of various grape polyphenols towards different key human-ailment-associated enzymes: xanthine oxidase (gout), tyrosinase (hyperpigmentation), α-amylase and α-glucosidase (diabetes mellitus), pancreatic lipase (obesity), cholinesterase (Alzheimer's disease), angiotensin i-converting enzymes (hypertension), α-synuclein (Parkinson's disease) and histone deacetylase (various diseases). The review also depicts the enzyme inhibitory mechanism of various grape polyphenols and briefly discusses their stature as potential therapeutic and drug development candidates. KEY POINTS: • Nineteen major bioactive polyphenols from the grape/grape products and their disease targets are presented • Sixty-two important polyphenols as enzyme inhibitors from grape/grape products are presented • A thorough description and graphical presentation of biological significance of polyphenols against various diseases.

Identification of novel antihypertensive peptides from wine lees hydrolysate

Enzymatic-assisted extraction using Flavourzyme® has been demonstrated to be a useful methodology to obtain wine lees (WL) enriched in phenolic compounds and with enhanced antihypertensive activity. Nevertheless, taking into account that Flavourzyme® possess proteolytic activity, the release of bioactive peptides should not be ruled out. In this study, we investigate the presence of antihypertensive peptides in the WL hydrolysate. Peptides were separated into fractions by ultrafiltration and RP-HPLC. Next, peptide identification by nano-HPLC-(Orbitrap)MS/MS was performed in the fractions showing the highest angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory (ACEi) activities. Six peptides were identified; three of them showing ACEi (IC₅₀) values lower than 20 µM. The peptide antihypertensive effect was evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats at an oral dose of 10 mg/kg bw. Peptides FKTTDQQTRTTVA, NPKLVTIV, TVTNPARIA, LDSPSEGRAPG and LDSPSEGRAPGAD exhibited antihypertensive activity, confirming that they could contribute to the blood pressure-lowering effect of the WL hydrolysate. These peptides have a great potential as functional ingredients to manage hypertension.

Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of Wine Lees Phenolic Compounds Is Mediated by Endothelial-Derived Factors: Role of Sirtuin 1

The antihypertensive effect of wine lees powder (WLPW) from a Cabernet grape variety was related to its high content in flavanols and anthocyanins compounds. This study investigates the involvement of endothelial-derived factors and SIRT1 in its bioactivity. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were orally administered water or WLPW (125 mg/kg bw). Posteriorly, both groups were intraperitoneally administered saline, Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, a prostacyclin synthesis inhibitor, or sirtinol, an inhibitor of sirtuins. Blood pressure (BP) was recorded before and 6 h after WLPW administration. In an additional experiment, SHR were administered water or WLPW and endothelial expressions of eNos, Sirt1, Nox4, and Et1 were determined. The BP-lowering properties of WLPW were abolished by L-NAME and partially reduced by indomethacin, demonstrating that WLPW antihypertensive effect was mediated by changes in NO availability, although prostacyclin also contributed to this activity. Moreover, BP-lowering effect was reduced by sirtinol, indicating that WLPW decreased BP in a SIRT1-dependent manner. Furthermore, WLPW upregulated eNos and Sirt1 and downregulated Nox4 and Et1 endothelial gene expression. These results evidence the vasoprotective effect of WLPW and show that its antihypertensive effect in SHR is endothelium dependent and mediated by SIRT1.

Blood Pressure-Lowering Effect of Wine Lees: Dose-Response Study, Effect of Dealcoholization and Possible Mechanisms of Action

The antihypertensive effect of wine lees (WL) has been previously evidenced. In this study, the antihypertensive properties of different doses of WL were evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In addition, the blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect of dried (dealcoholized) WL powder (WLPW) and the mechanisms involved in its functionality were investigated. Furthermore, a possible hypotensive effect of WLPW was discarded in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. The administration of WL at different doses caused a dose-dependent decrease in BP of SHR up to 5.0 mL/kg bw, exhibiting the maximum decrease at 6 h post-administration. WLPW caused a greater drop in BP than WL, showing an antihypertensive effect higher and more prolonged than the drug Captopril. Moreover, the BP-lowering effect of WLPW was specific to the hypertensive state since an undesirable hypotensive effect in normotensive WKY rats was ruled out. Finally, WLPW improved oxidative stress and increased the activity of the antioxidant endogen system of SHR. These results suggest that WLPW could be used as functional ingredient for foods or nutraceuticals to ameliorate hypertension. Nevertheless, further clinical studies are needed to evaluate its long-term antihypertensive efficiency.

Enzyme-Assisted Extraction to Obtain Phenolic-Enriched Wine Lees with Enhanced Bioactivity in Hypertensive Rats

The antihypertensive effect of the soluble fraction of wine lees (WL) from Cabernet variety grapes was recently reported by our group. This blood pressure (BP)-lowering effect was attributed to the presence of flavanols and anthocyanins. In this context, phenolic-enriched wine lees (PWL) could potentially exhibit a stronger bioactivity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to obtain a soluble fraction of WL with increased phenolic content and evaluate its functionality. The PWL were obtained using an enzyme-assisted extraction based on the hydrolysis of WL proteins with Flavourzyme^®. They contained 57.20% more total phenolic compounds than WL, with anthocyanins and flavanols being the largest families present. In addition, PWL also showed greater angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory and antioxidant activities. Finally, the antihypertensive activity of the PWL was evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats. A single dose of 5 mL/kg body weight of PWL showed a greater BP-lowering effect than the one shown by WL. Moreover, this antihypertensive effect was more prolonged than the one produced by the antihypertensive drug Captopril. These results demonstrate that enzymatic protein hydrolysis is a useful method to maximize the extraction of phenolic compounds from WL and to obtain extracts with enhanced functionalities.