Cissus quadrangularis reduces joint pain in exercise-trained men: a pilot study

Effects of Cissus quadrangularis L. Powder on Proximate Composition, Physicochemical and Textural Properties of Tteokgalbi

We investigated Cissus quadrangularis L. powder (C) use as a natural additive to Tteokgalbi, a traditional Korean meat-based dish. Five distinct Tteokgalbi samples were treated: one without any additives (negative control, NC), one with 1.00% C (C1), 2.00% C (C2), 4.00% C (C3), and 0.10% ascorbic acid (positive control, PC). C addition resulted in changes in composition, quality, and sensory attributes. Moisture content decreased with higher C levels; crude protein varied among the groups, with C1 having the highest crude protein levels and C3 the lowest. Crude fat decreased with increasing C concentration, whereas the carbohydrate content increased. The water-holding capacity notably decreased in the C3 group, resulting in increased cooking loss with higher C concentrations. C treatment altered color and texture, reducing CIE L* and increasing CIE a* before cooking and increasing CIE L* and CIE a* after cooking. CIE b* decreased before cooking but increased thereafter. C-treated Tteokgalbi was less cohesive, chewy, and brittle compared to the NC. The C treatment increased the total phenolic and flavonoid contents and enhanced radical scavenging capacities. It also affects storage characteristics, lowers pH, and increases 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values. The microbial counts were lower in C2 and C3 after 11 days. These findings suggest the potential use of C as a natural meat additive.

Phytochemicals against Osteoarthritis by Inhibiting Apoptosis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease that causes pathological changes in articular cartilage, synovial membrane, or subchondral bone. Conventional treatments for OA include surgical and non-surgical methods. Surgical treatment is suitable for patients in the terminal stage of OA. It is often the last choice because of the associated risks and high cost. Medication of OA mainly includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, analgesics, hyaluronic acid, and cortico-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs. However, these drugs often have severe side effects and cannot meet the needs of patients. Therefore, safe and clinically appropriate long-term treatments for OA are urgently needed. Apoptosis is programmed cell death, which is a kind of physiologic cell suicide determined by heredity and conserved by evolution. Inhibition of apoptosis-related pathways has been found to prevent and treat a variety of diseases. Excessive apoptosis can destroy cartilage homeostasis and aggravate the pathological process of OA. Therefore, inhibition of apoptosis-related factors or signaling pathways has become an effective means to treat OA. Phytochemicals are active ingredients from plants, and it has been found that phytochemicals can play an important role in the prevention and treatment of OA by inhibiting apoptosis. We summarize preclinical and clinical studies of phytochemicals for the treatment of OA by inhibiting apoptosis. The results show that phytochemicals can treat OA by targeting apoptosis-related pathways. On the basis of improving some phytochemicals with low bioavailability, poor water solubility, and high toxicity by nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems, and at the same time undergoing strict clinical and pharmacological tests, phytochemicals can be used as a potential therapeutic drug for OA and may be applied in clinical settings.