The Effects of Honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) Berry Iridoid-Anthocyanin Extract on the Intestinal and Muscle Histopathology in Mice during Experimental Trichinellosis

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of iridoid-anthocyanin extract from honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) (LC) berries on histopathological changes in the intestines and muscles during experimental trichinellosis in mice. The LC extract was administered to uninfected mice (LC group) and Trichinella-spiralis-infected mice (T+LC) orally at a dose of 2 g/kg bw, six times at 24 h intervals, from day 3 prior to infection to day 3 post-infection (dpi). Jejunum samples were collected on 5, 7, 14, and 21 dpi, and their histological assessment involved the villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH/CD), goblet cell (GC) number, and morphological changes. In the T. spiralis-infected muscles, the extent of inflammatory infiltration on the 14th and 21st dpi was assessed. LC in the infected mice restored the VH/CD ratio to control values on 14 dpi. A beneficial effect of the LC extract on the villus height was also observed 14 dpi in the LC and T+LC groups. No differences in the extent of inflammatory infiltration in the muscles between the T+LC and T groups were observed. In conclusion, the iridoid-anthocyanin extract from honeysuckle berry contributed to alleviating the symptoms of the intestinal phase of T. spiralis infection.

Preparation, characterization and bioactivities of selenized polysaccharides from Lonicera caerulea L. fruits

Native polysaccharide was obtained from Lonicera caerulea L. fruits (PLP). Two selenized polysaccharides (PSLP-1 and PSLP-2) were synthesized by the microwave-assisted HNO₃-Na₂SeO₃ method, where the selenium (Se) contents were 228 ± 24 and 353 ± 36 μg/g, respectively. The molecular weights of PLP, PSLP-1, and PSLP-2 were 5.9 × 10⁴, 5.6 × 10⁴, and 5.1 × 10⁴ kDa, respectively. PSLP-1 and PSLP-2 contained the same type of monosaccharides as PLP but with different molar ratios. The main chain structure of the native polysaccharide was not changed after selenization. PLP, PSLP-1, and PSLP-2 contained the same six types of glycosidic bonds. Bioactivity assays revealed that the two selenized polysaccharides possessed better antioxidant activities than PLP, but their bile acid-binding abilities and inhibitory activities on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) had weakened. In summary, PLP, PSLP-1, and PSLP-2 may be promising Se supplements in functional foods and inhibitors for the treatment of AChE.

Phenolic Profiles, Antioxidant Activity and Phenotypic Characterization of Lonicera caerulea L. Berries, Cultivated in Lithuania

Lonicera caerulea L. is an early fruit-bearing plant that originates from harsh environments. Raw materials contain a body of different phenolic origin compounds that determine the multidirectional antioxidant and pharmacological activities. The aim of this study was to comprehensively evaluate the phenolic composition, antioxidant capacities, vegetative, pomological, and sensory properties and their interrelations of selected L. caerulea cultivars, namely ‘Amphora’, ‘Wojtek’, ‘Iga’, ’Leningradskij Velikan’, ‘Nimfa’, ‘Indigo Gem’, ‘Tundra’, ‘Tola’, and fruit powders. Combined chromatographic systems were applied for the qualitative and quantitative profiling of 23 constituents belonging to the classes of anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids. The determined markers of phytochemical profiles were cyanidin-3-glucoside, rutin, chlorogenic, and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Anthocyanins and the predominant compound, cyanidin-3-glucoside, were the determinants of antioxidant activity. Cultivars ‘Amphora’, ‘Indigo Gem’, and ‘Tundra’ contained the greatest total amounts of identified phenolic compounds. Phenotypic characterization revealed the superiority of cultivars ‘Wojtek’ and ’Tundra’ compared to other cultivars, although ’Wojtek’ had low phenolic content and antioxidant activity and ’Tundra’ got lower sensory evaluation scores. Coupling the results of phenotypic and phytochemical characterization, cultivar ‘Tundra’ could be suitable for commercial plantations.

Promising Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Food Colourants from Lonicera caerulea L. var. Kamtschatica

Lonicera caerulea L. (haskap) berries are widely known for their richness in anthocyanins. In this study, such fruits were assessed for their nutritional and chemical composition, but also as sources of anthocyanins with great colouring properties to be applied in foodstuff. Haskap presented high levels of water, four free sugars (mainly fructose and glucose), five organic acids (mainly citric, malic, and quinic), α- and γ-tocopherol, twenty fatty acids (with prevalence of linoleic acid), and eight phenolic compounds, among which six were anthocyanins (mainly cyanidin-3-O-glucoside). The extract presented great antioxidant properties, evaluated through TBARS and OxHLIA assays, as well as antimicrobial capacity against six bacteria and six fungi. Two colourants were obtained by spray-drying haskap juice with maltodextrin and a mixture of maltodextrin and arabic gum. These formulations were stable over 12 weeks of storage at room and refrigerated temperature, without significant variations in colour parameters and in anthocyanins concentration. They were considered safe for consumption once neither microbial contamination nor cytotoxicity in non-tumour cells were detected. The results obtained allow for the consideration of haskap as a promising source of colourants to be applied not only in the food industry, but also in other fields that rely on artificial colourants.

Understanding the effect of anthocyanin extracted from Lonicera caerulea L. on alcoholic hepatosteatosis

Liver inflammation and excessive accumulation of lipids play a critical role in alcoholic liver diseases (ALD) pathogenesis. Plant polyphenols are widely used to prevent toxic liver damage. The anthocyanin from Lonicera caerulea L. was extracted and purified. The aim of the study was to evaluate the hepatoprotective mechanism of the purified component (PLE), focusing on the effects of PLE on alcoholic steatohepatitis. C57BL/6 mice were fed on chronic plus binge ethanol in Lieber-DeCarli liquid diet to establish acute ethanol model. PLE treatment significantly reduced the accumulation of serum aminotransferase and triglycerides and increased albumin levels in ethanol-induced mice. Also, PLE ameliorated histological changes and lipid droplets induced by ethanol. In addition, PLE obviously suppressed the expression of SREBP1 and enhanced phosphorylation of AMPK compared with chronic ethanol administration. PLE suppressed inflammasome activation by decreasing F4/80 level and inhibiting caspase-1, thereby preventing activated macrophages from producing pro-inflammation cytokines. AML12 cells were pretreated with different concentrations of PLE for 2 h and then exposed to ethanol for 48 h. PLE suppressed the expression of SREBP1 and enhanced phosphorylation of AMPK in AML12 cells exposed to ethanol. Additionally, PLE inhibited the expression of F4/80 and decreased IL-1β release. AMPK interference confirms that PLE downregulation SREBP1 and F4/80 depending on AMPK activation in ethanol-treated AML12 cells. PLE possessed the capacity for inhibiting the inflammatory response and suppressing lipid accumulation, indicating that PLE can be used as a dietary health supplement for alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Modulation of Gut Microbiota by Lonicera caerulea L. Berry Polyphenols in a Mouse Model of Fatty Liver Induced by High Fat Diet. Molecules. 2018;23. [PMID: 30563142 PMCID: PMC6321169 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23123213]

Polyphenols from the Lonicera caerulea L. berry have shown protective effects on experimental non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in our previous studies. As endotoxins from gut bacteria are considered to be the major trigger of inflammation in NAFLD, this study aims to clarify the regulatory effects of L. caerulea L. berry polyphenols (LCBP) on gut microbiota in a high fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model. C57BL/6N mice were fed with a normal diet, HFD, or HFD containing 0.5–1% of LCBP for 45 days. The results revealed that supplementation with LCBP decreased significantly the levels of IL-2, IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α in serum, as well as endotoxin levels in both serum and liver in HFD-fed mice. Fecal microbiota characterization by high throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that a HFD increased the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, and LCBP reduced this ratio by increasing the relative abundance of Bacteroides,Parabacteroides, and another two undefined bacterial genera belonging to the order of Bacteroidales and family of Rikenellaceae, and also by decreasing the relative abundance of six bacterial genera belonging to the phylum Firmicutes, including Staphylococcus, Lactobacillus, Ruminococcus, and Oscillospira. These data demonstrated that LCBP potentially attenuated inflammation in NAFLD through modulation of gut microbiota, especially the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes.

Polyphenols from Lonicera caerulea L. Berry Inhibit LPS-Induced Inflammation through Dual Modulation of Inflammatory and Antioxidant Mediators

Lonicera caerulea L. berry polyphenols (LCBP) are considered as major components for bioactivity. This study aimed to clarify the molecular mechanisms by monitoring inflammatory and antioxidant mediator actions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mouse paw edema and macrophage cell model. LCBP significantly attenuated LPS-induced paw edema (3.0 ± 0.1 to 2.8 ± 0.1 mm, P < 0.05) and reduced (P < 0.05) serum levels of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1, 100.9 ± 2.3 to 58.3 ± 14.5 ng/mL), interleukin (IL)-10 (1596.1 ± 424.3 to 709.7 ± 65.7 pg/mL), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1α (1761.9 ± 208.3 to 1369.1 ± 56.4 pg/mL), IL-6 (1262.8 ± 71.7 to 499.0 ± 67.1 pg/mL), IL-4 (93.3 ± 25.7 to 50.7 ± 12.5 pg/mL), IL-12(p-70) (580.4 ± 132.0 to 315.2 ± 35.1 pg/mL), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α, 2045.5 ± 264.9 to 1270.7 ± 158.6 pg/mL). Cell signaling analysis revealed that LCBP inhibited transforming growth factor β activated kinase-1 (TAK1)-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathways, and enhanced the expression of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) and manganese-dependent superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) in earlier response. Moreover, cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) and (-)-epicatechin (EC), two major components of LCBP, directly bound to TAK1. These data demonstrated that LCBP might inhibit LPS-induced inflammation by modulating both inflammatory and antioxidant mediators.

Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of anthocyanins from haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) using Response Surface Methodology

Haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea L.) are a rich source of bioactive molecules. As such, the extraction of anthocyanins is important for the development of many value-added products and functional food ingredients. In this paper, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of anthocyanins from haskap berries was investigated. Significant independent variables were screened and optimized using Plackett-Burman (PB) and Box-Behnken (BB) designs, respectively. The mathematical model showed a high coefficient of determination (R(2)=0.9396) and the optimum conditions for the extraction were as follows: liquid/solid ratio 25:1 (mL/g), solvent composition of 80% ethanol, addition of 0.5% formic acid, ultrasound bath temperature of 35°C for 20 min. Under these conditions, the total anthocyanin content of 22.73 mg cyaniding 3-glucoside equivalents (C3G)/g dry weight (DW) was consistent with the predicted response of 22.45 mg C3G/g DW from the model (mean error of 1.28%). Five anthocyanins were identified in the optimized extract, namely cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside, cyanidin 3-rutinoside, pelargonidin 3-glucoside, and peonidin 3-glucoside. Thus, UAE is a suitable technique for the extraction of anthocyanins from haskap berries.