Protective effect of young green barley leaf (Hordeum vulgare L.) on restraint stress-induced decrease in hippocampal brain-derived neurotrophic factor in mice

The Impact of White Mulberry, Green Barley, Chia Seeds, and Spirulina on Physicochemical Characteristics, Texture, and Sensory Quality of Processed Cheeses

Processed cheeses (PC) are products resulting from the mixing and melting of rennet cheese, emulsifying salts, water, and possibly various additional ingredients. They are considered good vehicles for new ingredients, including plant-based ones. In addition to the health-promoting effects of plant-based ingredients, some of them can also affect positively the quality characteristics of PC (e.g., texture, taste, and consistency) and their addition may reduce the amount of emulsifying salts used. The aim of the study was to determine the possibility of the addition of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0% white mulberry (M), chia (Ch), green barley (GB), or spirulina (S) to PC and the effects on selected characteristics of these products (chemical composition, pH, water activity, color parameters, texture, and sensory properties). In all PC variants, a significance decrease in the dry matter content was observed with an increase in the additive level. The use of plant-based additives allowed us to reduce the addition of emulsifying salts by 50% compared to their typical amounts and the share of rennet cheese in the PC recipe by approximately 18%, which had a beneficial effect on the nutritional value of these products. The use of 3% GB, Ch, or M as additives to PC enabled a reduction in its sodium content by 27, 27, and 42%, respectively, compared to the control cheese. Among the tested additives, GB caused the greatest increase in the hardness of PC (even at the amount of 0.5%), indicating that is beneficial and can be used in the production of sliced PC. All the additives either significantly reduced the adhesiveness of PC or had no effect on this parameter. In terms of sensory characteristics, the highest acceptable addition of GB was 0.5%, and that for S and Ch was 1%, while the addition of M, even at 3%, was assessed very positively. The results of this research may be helpful in the development of new recipes for processed cheeses obtained in industrial conditions.

Barley Grass Juice Attenuates Hydrodynamic Transfection-Induced HCC Initiation in Mice

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grass has been recognized as a functional food with a wide spectrum of health-promoting properties. Supplementation with barley grass has the potential to prevent chronic diseases, such as cancer. Here, we investigated whether barley grass could protect against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Our data showed that administration of barley grass juice attenuates tumor development in a hydrodynamic gene delivery-induced model of HCC. The expression levels of the immune cell markers Ptprc and Adgre1 were upregulated in the barley grass juice-treated and normal groups, compared to those in the vehicle group in the HCC model. Immune cells (CD45+, F4/80+, and CLEC4F + iNOS + cells) infiltration in the liver increased following barley grass juice administration. Our results indicate that barley grass could be beneficial for HCC alleviation, partly by regulating immune cell infiltration. The ingredients of barley grass affect immune cell infiltration in HCC, and the detailed mechanism requires further study.

Effect of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass in stress induced depression in Swiss mice

Background

The consumption of green juice of Barley and wheat grass is widely increases because of its therapeutic benefits.

Objective

The study aimed to investigate phytochemicals and evaluate the antioxidant and antidepressant activity of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass.

Material and methods

This study included phytochemical screening, evaluation of antioxidant and antidepressant activities. Four groups consisting of six mice in each group. Negative control with stressed induced mice; imipramine group (100 mg/kg), barley and wheat extract group (400 mg/kg) respectively. Forced swim, tail suspension and elevated plus maize test were carried out to evaluate the antianxiety and antidepressant activity.

Results

Phytochemical screening of barley and wheat grass extract showed secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, Saponin, Tannins, Phenolic, Carbohydrate, Glycosides, Flavonoids, and Proteins. The mean total phenolic content of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass was 160.996 ± 0.656, 135.63 ± 1.184 mg equivalent of GAE/g respectively. The total flavonoid content of aqueous extract of barley and wheat grass was 153.42 ± 0.40, 133.14 ± 0.43 mg equivalent of quercetin/g respectively. The extracts were proved to be an effective radical scavenger in all antioxidant assays. Forced swim and tail suspension test showed a significant (∗p < 0.05 and ∗∗p < 0.01) decrease in an immobility time. In elevated plus maize, there was a significant (∗∗p < 0.01) increase in average time spent on the open arm of the extract-treated group as compared to the negative control.

Conclusion

It shows that barley and wheat grass extract has antidepressant effect.

Gut microbiota-derived inosine from dietary barley leaf supplementation attenuates colitis through PPARγ signaling activation

BACKGROUND

Ulcerative colitis is a type of chronic inflammatory bowel disease closely associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis and intestinal homeostasis dysregulation. Barley leaf (BL) has a long history of use in Traditional Chinese Medicine with potential health-promoting effects on intestinal functions. However, its mechanism of action is not yet clear. Here, we explore the potential modulating roles of gut microbial metabolites of BL to protect against colitis and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

RESULTS

Using 16S rRNA gene-based microbiota analysis, we first found that dietary supplementation of BL ameliorated dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis. The mechanisms by which BL protected against DSS-induced colitis were resulted from improved intestinal mucosal barrier functions via the activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)γ signaling. In addition, metabolomic profiling analysis showed that the gut microbiota modulated BL-induced metabolic reprograming in the colonic tissues particularly by the enhancement of glycolysis process. Notably, dietary BL supplementation resulted in the enrichment of microbiota-derived purine metabolite inosine, which could activate PPARγ signaling in human colon epithelial cells. Furthermore, exogenous treatment of inosine reproduced similar protective effects as BL to protect against DSS-induced colitis through improving adenosine 2A receptor (A_2AR)/PPARγ-dependent mucosal barrier functions.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, our findings suggest that the gut microbiota-inosine-A_2AR/PPARγ axis plays an important role in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, which may represent a novel approach for colitis prevention via manipulation of the gut microbial purine metabolite. Video Abstract.

Attitudes Toward Psychological Disorders and Alternative Medicine in Saudi Participants

Background: This study was designed to investigate Saudis' attitudes toward mental distress and psychotropic medication, attribution of causes, expected side effects, and to analyze participants' expectations toward alternative or complementary medicine using aromatic and medicinal plants, through a survey. Method: The study included 674 participants (citizens and residents in Saudi Arabia) who were randomly contacted via email and social media and gave their consent to complete a questionnaire dealing with 39 items that can be clustered in six parts. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square for cross-tabulation were generated using SPSS. Results: Among the 664 participants, 73.4% believed that there are some positive and negative outcomes of psychotropic medication. Participants (72.0%) think that the most important reason leading to psychological disorders is mainly due to the loss of a relative or beloved person, and 73.9% considered psychic session as one of the possible treatments of psychological disorders. Surprisingly, only 18.8% of the participants agreed that medicinal and aromatic plants could be a possible treatment of the psychological disorder. Participants (82%) consider that physicians are the most trustful and preferred source of information about alternative and complementary medicine.

Variability of Hordeum vulgare L. Cultivars in Yield, Antioxidant Potential, and Cholinesterase Inhibitory Activity

Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) is an annual plant cultivated in spring or autumn. Currently, over 70% of the cultivated barley grains are utilized for preparing fodder, while the rest is used for the production of malt and cereals in the food industry. The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the content of bioactive compounds, antioxidant potential, and cholinesterase inhibitory effect of the aqueous extracts of juvenile barley leaves. It was found that the barley cultivars differed in their content of the determined phytochemicals as well as their antioxidant potential and cholinesterase-inhibitory activity. The water extracts of young barley leaves contained phenolic acids as well as quercetin, rutin, and kaempferitrin. The extracts showed a higher inhibitory effect on 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) than on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. Based on the aqueous extracts analyzed, we found that winter cultivars were characterized by the highest iron-chelating activity. Furthermore, barley extracts showed a stronger inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase compared to butyrylcholinesterase. The results of the present work indicated that barley cultivars differed in their germination process. Among the tested samples, the highest cholinesterase inhibitory activity was shown by the Basic variety.

Influence of Abiotic Stress Factors on the Antioxidant Properties and Polyphenols Profile Composition of Green Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.)

The influence of stress factors on the plant can, on the one hand, lead to worse functioning of the plant and loss of its crop, but on the other, it can have a positive effect on the metabolism of compounds with documented biological activity. In this study, the effect of light and drought intensity on photosynthetic activity and physiological status of two barley varieties, as well as the antimicrobial, antioxidant properties and profile of polyphenolic compounds of green barley were analysed. It was shown that under the conditions of water shortage, the KWS Olof variety showed a smaller decrease in CO2 assimilation and transpiration and higher values of these parameters at both light intensities. Only in the KWS Olof variety increased stress as a result of increased light intensity. It has also been shown that both the intensity of radiation and drought-related stress have a significant impact on the profile of polyphenolic compounds from green barley, without a simple relationship between the impact of stress factors on the content of polyphenols. Changes in the profile of polyphenolic compounds augmented the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the material. This, in turn, proposes the possibility of reducing the applied doses of herbal material thanks to a greater content of active substances in extracts obtained from the plants used to produce medicinal preparations.

Bifidogenic and butyrogenic effects of young barely leaf extract in an in vitro human colonic microbiota model

Young barley leaf extract (YBL) contains beneficial substances such as fructans, minerals, and vitamins. The effects of YBL administration on the human colonic microbiota and its production of metabolites were evaluated using an in vitro model culture system. Fermentations were started by inoculating fecal samples from nine healthy subjects, with or without 1.5% YBL. Bacterial 16S rRNA sequencing results confirmed that YBL administration significantly increased the relative abundances of bacteria related to the genus Bifidobacterium (p = 0.001, paired t-test) and those of the genera Faecalibacterium, Roseburia, Unclassified Ruminococcaceae, and Lachnospira (p = 0.013, p = 0.019, p = 0.028, and p = 0.034, respectively, paired t-test). Increased abundances of the latter genera corresponded to increased butyrate production in human colonic microbiota models following fermentation with 1.5% YBL, when compared to fermentation without 1.5% YBL (p = 0.006, Dunnett's test). In addition, YBL administration significantly increased the production levels of amino acids such as lysine, glutamate, serine, threonine, alanine, isoleucine, leucine, valine, and phenylalanine. Therefore, our results showed the health-promoting bifidogenic and butyrogenic effects of YBL.

Gut microbiota promotes production of aromatic metabolites through degradation of barley leaf fiber

Barley leaf (BL) contains abundant plant fibers, which are important substrates for the metabolism and degradation by the gut microbiota. Here we show that mice fed a diet supplemented with BL exhibited altered gut bacterial composition characterized by the enrichment of fiber-degrading bacteria Lachnospiraceae and Prevotella. Gut microbiota-mediated BL degradation promoted butyrate and propionate production. Metabolomic analysis showed increased aromatic metabolites such as ferulic acid, 3-phenylpropanoic acid, 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid and 3-hydroxyphenylpropionic acid in feces of mice fed with BL. Finally, antibiotic treatment and anaerobic fermentation confirmed the obligate role of gut microbiota in the production of aromatic metabolites during BL degradation. Together, these findings provide insights into a gut microbiota-mediated degradation process of BL fiber components, which results in the production of microbial-associated metabolites that may exert potential active effects on host physiology.

Preventive and Therapeutic Role of Functional Ingredients of Barley Grass for Chronic Diseases in Human Beings

Barley grass powder is the best functional food that provides nutrition and eliminates toxins from cells in human beings; however, its functional ingredients have played an important role as health benefit. In order to better cognize the preventive and therapeutic role of barley grass for chronic diseases, we carried out the systematic strategies for functional ingredients of barley grass, based on the comprehensive databases, especially the PubMed, Baidu, ISI Web of Science, and CNKI, between 2008 and 2017. Barley grass is rich in functional ingredients, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), flavonoids, saponarin, lutonarin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), K, Ca, Se, tryptophan, chlorophyll, vitamins (A, B1, C, and E), dietary fiber, polysaccharide, alkaloid, metallothioneins, and polyphenols. Barley grass promotes sleep; has antidiabetic effect; regulates blood pressure; enhances immunity; protects liver; has anti-acne/detoxifying and antidepressant effects; improves gastrointestinal function; has anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, and antigout effects; reduces hyperuricemia; prevents hypoxia, cardiovascular diseases, fatigue, and constipation; alleviates atopic dermatitis; is a calcium supplement; improves cognition; and so on. These results support that barley grass may be one of the best functional foods for preventive chronic diseases and the best raw material of modern diet structure in promoting the development of large health industry and further reveal that GABA, flavonoids, SOD, K-Ca, vitamins, and tryptophan mechanism of barley grass have preventive and therapeutic role for chronic diseases. This paper can be used as a scientific evidence for developing functional foods and novel drugs for barley grass for preventive chronic diseases.

Anxiolytic effects of muscarinic acetylcholine receptors agonist oxotremorine in chronically stressed rats and related changes in BDNF and FGF2 levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex

RATIONALE

In depressive disorders, one of the mechanisms proposed for antidepressant drugs is the enhancement of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex. Previously, we showed that the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonist oxotremorine (Oxo) increases neuronal plasticity in hippocampal neurons via FGFR1 transactivation.

OBJECTIVES

Here, we aimed to explore (a) whether Oxo exerts anxiolytic effect in the rat model of anxiety-depression-like behavior induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS), and (b) if the anxiolytic effect of Oxo is associated with the modulation of neurotrophic factors, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), and phosphorylated Erk1/2 (p-Erk1/2) levels in the dorsal or ventral hippocampus and in the medial prefrontal cortex.

METHODS

The rats were randomly divided into four groups: control unstressed, CRS group, CRS group treated with 0.2 mg/kg Oxo, and unstressed group treated with Oxo. After 21 days of CRS, the groups were treated for 10 days with Oxo or saline. The anxiolytic role of Oxo was tested by using the following: forced swimming test, novelty suppressed feeding test, elevated plus maze test, and light/dark box test. The hippocampi and prefrontal cortex were used to evaluate BDNF and FGF2 protein levels and p-Erk1/2 levels.

RESULTS

Oxo treatment significantly attenuated anxiety induced by CRS. Moreover, Oxo treatment counteracted the CRS-induced reduction of BDNF and FGF2 levels in the ventral hippocampus and medial prefrontal cerebral cortex CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that Oxo treatment ameliorates the stress-induced anxiety-like behavior and rescues FGF2 and BDNF levels in two brain regions involved in CRS-induced anxiety, ventral hippocampal formation, and medial prefrontal cortex.