Fatty Acid Derivatives Isolated from the Oil of Persea americana (Avocado) Protects against Neomycin-Induced Hair Cell Damage

Looking into the lipid profile of avocado and byproducts: Using lipidomics to explore value-added compounds

Consumer priorities in healthy diets and lifestyle boosted the demand for nutritious and functional foods as well as plant-based ingredients. Avocado has become a food trend due to its nutritional and functional values, which in turn is increasing its consumption and production worldwide. Avocado edible portion has a high content of lipids, with the pulp and its oil being rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and essential omega - 3 and omega - 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). These fatty acids are mainly esterified in triacylglycerides, the major lipids in pulp, but also in minor components such as polar lipids (phospholipids and glycolipids). Polar lipids of avocado have been overlooked despite being recently highlighted with functional properties as well. The growth in the industry of avocado products is generating an increased amount of their byproducts, such as seed and peels (nonedible portions), still undervalued. The few studies on avocado byproducts pointed out that they also contain interesting lipids, with seeds particularly rich in polar lipids bearing PUFA, and thus can be reused as a source of add-value phytochemical. Mass spectrometry-based lipidomics approaches appear as an essential tool to unveil the complex lipid signature of avocado and its byproducts, contributing to the recognition of value-added lipids and opening new avenues for their use in novel biotechnological applications. The present review provides an up-to-date overview of the lipid signature from avocado pulp, peel, seed, and its oils.

Amelioration of Sensorineural Hearing Loss through Regulation of Trpv1, Cacna1h, and Ngf Gene Expression by a Combination of Cuscutae Semen and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata

Sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) is a common condition that results from the loss of function of hair cells, which are responsible for converting sound into electrical signals within the cochlea and auditory nerve. Despite the prevalence of SNHL, a universally effective treatment has yet to be approved. To address this absence, the present study aimed to investigate the potential therapeutic effects of TS, a combination of Cuscutae Semen and Rehmanniae Radix Preparata. To this end, both in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the efficacy of TS with respect to SNHL. The results showed that TS was able to protect against ototoxic neomycin-induced damage in both HEI-OC1 cells and otic hair cells in zebrafish. Furthermore, in images obtained using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), an increase in the number of kinocilia, which was prompted by the TS treatment, was observed in the zebrafish larvae. In a noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) mouse model, TS improved hearing thresholds as determined by the auditory brainstem response (ABR) test. Additionally, TS was found to regulate several genes related to hearing loss, including Trpv1, Cacna1h, and Ngf, as determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that TS holds promise as a potential treatment for sensorineural hearing loss. Further research is necessary to confirm these results and evaluate the safety and efficacy of TS in a clinical setting.