Indonesian Mangrove Sonneratia caseolaris Leaves Ethanol Extract Is a Potential Super Antioxidant and Anti Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Drug

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an S. aureus strain that has developed resistance against ß-lactam antibiotics, resulting in a scarcity of a potent cure for treating Staphylococcus infections. In this study, the anti-MRSA and antioxidant activity of the Indonesian mangrove species Sonneratia caseolaris, Avicennia marina, Rhizophora mucronata, and Rhizophora apiculata were studied. Disk diffusion, DPPH, a brine shrimp lethality test, and total phenolic and flavonoid assays were conducted. Results showed that among the tested mangroves, ethanol solvent-based S. caseolaris leaves extract had the highest antioxidant and anti-MRSA activities. An antioxidant activity assay showed comparable activity when compared to ascorbic acid, with an IC50 value of 4.2499 ± 3.0506 ppm and 5.2456 ± 0.5937 ppm, respectively, classifying the extract as a super-antioxidant. Moreover, S. caseolaris leaves extract showed the highest content of strongly associated antioxidative and antibacterial polyphenols, with 12.4% consisting of nontoxic flavonoids with the minimum inhibitory concentration of the ethanol-based S. caseolaris leaves extract being approximately 5000 ppm. LC-MS/MS results showed that phenolic compounds such as azelaic acid and aspirin were found, as well as flavonoid glucosides such as isovitexin and quercitrin. This strongly suggested that these compounds greatly contributed to antibacterial and antioxidant activity. Further research is needed to elucidate the interaction of the main compounds in S. caseolaris leaves extract in order to confirm their potential either as single or two or more compounds that synergistically function as a nontoxic antioxidant and antibacterial against MRSA.

Light conditions affect the growth, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the white-rot fungus Lentinus crinitus mycelial biomass

The mycelial biomass of basidiomycetes is a promising source of compounds and represents an alternative for industrial and biotechnological applications. Fungi use light as information and hold photoresponse mechanisms, in which sensors respond to light wavelengths and regulate various biological processes. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of blue, green, and red lights on the growth, chemical composition, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Lentinus crinitus mycelial biomass. The chemical composition of the mycelial biomass was determined by chromatographic methods, antioxidant activity was analyzed by in vitro assays, and antimicrobial activity was investigated by the microdilution assay. The highest mycelial biomass yield was observed under blue-light cultivation. Many primordia arose under blue or green light, whereas the stroma was formed under red light. The presence of light altered the primary fungal metabolism, increasing the carbohydrate, tocopherol, fatty acid, and soluble sugar contents, mostly mannitol, and reducing the protein and organic acid concentrations. Cultivation under red light increased the phenol concentration. In contrast, cultivation under blue and green lights decreased phenol concentration. Benzoic and gallic acids were the main phenolic acids in the hydroalcoholic extracts, and the latter acids increased in all cultures under light, especially red light. Mycelial biomass cultivated under red light showed the highest antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) method showed that all light wavelengths increased the antioxidant activity of mycelial biomass, with the highest value under red light. Moreover, the β-carotene/linoleic acid co-oxidation (BCLA) assay demonstrated that the antioxidant activity was affected by light cultivation. Mycelial biomass grown under all conditions exhibited antibacterial and antifungal activities. Thus, mycelial biomass cultivation of L. crinitus under light conditions may be a promising strategy for controlling the mycelial chemical composition and biomass yield.

Chitosan-Polyphenol Conjugates for Human Health

Human health deteriorates due to the generation and accumulation of free radicals that induce oxidative stress, damaging proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids; this has become the leading cause of many deadly diseases such as cardiovascular, cancer, neurodegenerative, diabetes, and inflammation. Naturally occurring polyphenols have tremendous therapeutic potential, but their short biological half-life and rapid metabolism limit their use. Recent advancements in polymer science have provided numerous varieties of natural and synthetic polymers. Chitosan is widely used due to its biomimetic properties which include biodegradability, biocompatibility, inherent antimicrobial activity, and antioxidant properties. However, due to low solubility in water and the non-availability of the H-atom donor, the practical use of chitosan as an antioxidant is limited. Therefore, chitosan has been conjugated with polyphenols to overcome the limitations of both chitosan and polyphenol, along with increasing the potential synergistic effects of their combination for therapeutic applications. Though many methods have been evolved to conjugate chitosan with polyphenol through activated ester-modification, enzyme-mediated, and free radical induced are the most widely used strategies. The therapeutic efficiency of chitosan-polyphenol conjugates has been investigated for various disease treatments caused by ROS that have shown favorable outcomes and tremendous results. Hence, the present review focuses on the recent advancement of different strategies of chitosan-polyphenol conjugate formation with their advantages and limitations. Furthermore, the therapeutic applicability of the combinatorial efficiency of chitosan-based conjugates formed using Gallic Acid, Curcumin, Catechin, and Quercetin in human health has been described in detail.

Use of Physiologically Based Kinetic Modeling-Based Reverse Dosimetry to Predict In Vivo Nrf2 Activation by EGCG and Its Colonic Metabolites in Humans

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is prone to microbial metabolism when reaching the colon. This study aimed to develop a human physiologically based kinetic (PBK) model for EGCG, with sub-models for its colonic metabolites gallic acid and pyrogallol. Results show that the developed PBK model could adequately predict in vivo time-dependent blood concentrations of EGCG after either the single or repeated oral administration of EGCG under both fasting and non-fasting conditions. The predicted in vivo blood C_max of EGCG indicates that the Nrf2 activation is limited, while concentrations of its metabolites in the intestinal tract may reach levels that are higher than that of EGCG and also high enough to activate Nrf2 gene transcription. Taken together, combining in vitro data with a human PBK model allowed the prediction of a dose-response curve for EGCG-induced Nrf2-mediated gene expression in humans and provided insights into the contribution of gut microbial metabolites to this effect.

Gallic acid ameliorates calcium oxalate crystal-induced renal injury via upregulation of Nrf2/HO-1 in the mouse model of stone formation

BACKGROUND

High prevalence and reoccurrence rate of nephrolithiasis bring about serious socioeconomic and healthcare burden, necessitating the need of effective therapeutic agents. Previous study revealed that gallic acid (GAL) alters the nucleation pathway of calcium oxalate (CaOx). On the other hand, it appears protective role against oxidative injury. Whether GAL could protect against crystal-induced lesion in vivo, and its underlying mechanism is yet unsolved.

PURPOSE

This study aims to investigate the protective effects of GAL on the crystal-induced renal injury and its underlying mechanism in the mouse model of stone formation induced by glyoxylic acid.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

The mouse model of stone formation was established via successive intraperitoneal injection of glyoxylate. Proximal tubular epithelial cell line HK-2 treated with calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) was used as in vitro model. The protective role of GAL on nephrolithiasis was tested by determination of tubular injury, crystal deposition and adhesion, levels of inflammatory cytokines, macrophage infiltration and the redox status of kidney. In vitro, effect of GAL on the ROS level and oxidative tubular injury induced by COM were detected, as well as major antioxidant pathway Nrf2/HO-1.

RESULTS

Administration of GAL alleviates the renal deposition and adhesion of CaOx stone. Meanwhile, GAL ameliorates the inflammation and renal tubular injury. Level of intracellular ROS, osteopontin and CD44 are reduced, either in the mouse model of stone formation or in the COM-treated HK-2 cells after treatment of GAL. Mechanistically, GAL activates Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in HK-2 cells. Silencing Nrf2 abrogates the protective effect of GAL on the oxidative injury and adhesion of COM in HK-2 cells.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our study demonstrates the protective effect of GAL on the deposition of kidney stone and consequent tubular injury. Induction of the antioxidant pathway Nrf2/HO-1 was found to decrease the level of ROS and oxidative injury, thus implying that GAL could be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of nephrolithiasis.

Effects of antibacterial peptide-producing Bacillus subtilis, gallic acid, and cellulase on fermentation quality and bacterial community of whole-plant corn silage

In the current study, we assessed the effects of antibacterial peptide-producing Bacillus subtilis (BS), gallic acid (GA) and cellulase (CL) on the fermentation quality and bacterial community of various varieties of whole-plant corn silage. Three different varieties of whole-plant corn (Yuqing386, Enxiai298, and Nonghe35) were treated with 0.02% BS (fresh material basis), 0.2% GA (fresh material basis) and 0.02% CL (fresh material basis), after which 45 days of anaerobic fermentation were conducted. With the exception of its low dry matter content, the results showed that Yuqing386's crude protein, water-soluble carbohydrate, and lactic acid contents were significantly higher than those of the other two corn varieties. However, its acid detergent fiber and cellulose contents were significantly lower than those of the other two corn varieties. Among the three corn variety silages, Yuqing386 had the highest relative abundance of Lactobacillus at the genus level and the biggest relative abundance of Firmicutes at the phylum level. In addition, the three additives markedly enhanced the quantity of dry matter and crude protein as compared to the control group. The application of GA considerably decreased the level of neutral detergent fiber while significantly increasing the content of lactic acid and water-soluble carbohydrates. Even though all additives enhanced the structure of the bacterial community following silage, the GA group experienced the greatest enhancement. On a phylum and genus level, the GA group contains the highest relative abundance of Firmicutes and Lactobacillus, respectively. Overall, of the three corn varieties, Yuqing386 provides the best silage qualities. GA has the biggest impact among the additions employed in this experiment to enhance the nutritional preservation and fermentation quality of whole-plant corn silage.

Chestnut tannins in broiler diets: Affecting intestinal development in different feeding phases

It is known that high doses of various tannins could impair broiler growth, and this seems to be linked to a lowered protein availability. However, effects on protein digestion under the influence of hydrolysable tannins were minimal in previous research and literature. Other possible proposed reasons to explain reduced growth are scarce. In this experiment we studied the effect of hydrolysable tannins on body allometry by using different feeding schemes throughout the rearing period. In total 112 individually reared male Ross 308 broilers received a 3-phase basal diet with chestnut wood extract (+: 2,000 mg/kg) or not (–: 0 mg/kg) (Tanno-SAN^®, Sanluc International NV, Belgium). This resulted in 2 groups during the starter period (S+, S–), 4 groups in the grower period (G++, G+−, G–+, G–) and 8 groups in the finisher period (F+++, F++−, F+−+, F+−−, F−++, F−+−, F−−+, F——). Similar to previous studies, growth reduction was also observed in this study. Effects were the largest in broilers that were given the tannins during the grower phase. At the end of each phase 8 broilers per group were euthanized and sampled. Liver, pancreas, pectoralis muscle, intestinal weights and intestinal length were recorded. The largest effects were seen on the intestine. Broilers that received tannins during the grower phase, had longer intestines at the end of the finisher period. Furthermore, histological differences between treatment groups were observed at the end of the grower period. Addition of tannins in the grower phase (G–+, G++) resulted in longer villi, whereas addition of tannins in the starter (G+−, G++) caused deeper crypts at the end of the grower phase, with the group (G–+) having the highest villi-to-crypt ratio. These results tentatively prove that tannins influence intestinal growth, both macroscopically as well as histologically. We hypothesize that the observed growth reduction with tannins could be the result of a changed energy and nutrient partitioning, i.e., more nutrients are directed to intestinal growth than for muscle growth.

Gamma irradiation synthesis of pectin- based biohydrogels for removal of lead cations from simulated solutions

Bio-based hydrogels (denoted as PC-PAAc/GA) comprised of Pectin (PC) and polyacrylic acid (PAAc) reinforced with different ratios of gallic acid (GA) were prepared by gamma radiation at irradiation dose 20 kGy. The prepared hydrogels were investigated by different analytical tools. The swelling performance was studied versus time, pH of the medium and gallic acid content. The experimental data depicted that the swelling increases with pH of medium until the equilibrium of swelling after 350 min. The maximum swelling was attained at pH10 for both PC-PAAc and PC-PAA/GA1.5. Also, the data reveal that the incorporation of GA in the hydrogel matrix enhanced the swelling performance of the hydrogel up to an optimum value of GA, i.e. PC-PAA/GA1.5. Further increase in GA concentration leads to formation of a highly crosslinked structure with reduced swelling. The results demonstrated that the prepared hydrogels displayed excellent antibacterial activity against gram + ve bacteria (E.coli) and gram-ve bacteria (S.aureus). This potent antimicrobial activity is mainly originated from GA which was proved as a strong antibacterial agent. Moreover, the removal performance of the investigated hydrogels was verified towards Pb+2 cation as one of the most poisonous heavy metals. The data revealed that the maximum removal percentage of Pb (II) was attained by PC-PAAc/GA1.5 hydrogel (90 mg g−1). The correlation coefficients of the Langmuir model are too higher than that of the Freundlich model that assumed the adsorption of lead cations is mainly a chemical process.

Pomegranate Wastes Are Rich in Bioactive Compounds with Potential Benefit on Human Health

Pomegranate use is increasing worldwide, as it is considered a tasteful healthy food. It is mainly used as fruit, juice, and jam. The pomegranate peel represents about 40–50% of the total fruit weight and contains numerous and diverse bioactive substances. The aim of this research was to analyze the pomegranate peel chemical composition of Wonderful cultivated in Southern Italy and treated with an innovative physic dry concentration procedure in comparison with the peel composition of freeze-dried Wonderful cultivated in Southern Italy, freeze-dried Wonderful cultivated in South Africa, and freeze-dried pomegranate cultivated in India. The specific aim was to verify how much the growth area, cultivar type, and dry procedure influenced the chemical composition of the peels in terms of valuable bioactive compounds. Spectrophotometric and HPLC identification methods were used to detect antioxidants, antioxidant activities, and phenolic and flavonoid components. Results evidenced that in pomegranate peels of Wonderful cultivated in Calabria and dried with the innovative process, total phenolic substances, total flavonoids, vitamin C, vitamin E, and antioxidant activities were the highest. Great amounts of single phenolic acids and flavonoids were found in Calabrian Wonderful peels dried with the innovative process. Overall, it emerged that a great amount of bioactive and diverse compounds found in Calabrian Wonderful pomegranate peel comes from the niche pedoclimatic conditions, and the physic drying innovative methodology turned out to be an advantageous procedure to concentrate and conserve biocompounds.

Photoelectron Spectroscopic and Computational Study of the Deprotonated Gallic Acid and Propyl Gallate Anions

Antioxidants play important roles in eliminating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which have been associated with various degenerative diseases, such as cancer, aging, and inflammatory diseases. Gallic acid (GA) and propyl gallate (PG) are well-known antioxidants and have been widely studied in vitro and in vivo. The biological antioxidant abilities of GA and PG are related to the electronic structure of their dehydro-radicals. In this work, we report a combined photoelectron spectroscopic and computational study of the deprotonated gallic acid anion, [GA - H]^-, and deprotonated propyl gallate anion, [PG - H]^-. Adiabatic electron affinities of the dehydro-gallic acid radical, [GA - H]· and of the dehydro-propyl gallate radical, [PG - H]·, are measured to be 2.90 ± 0.05 eV and 2.85 ± 0.05 eV, respectively, and compared to computational results.

Utilization of gallic acid to inhibit some toxic activities caused by Bothrops jararaca or B. jararacussu snake venoms

Snake bite envenoming is a serious public health issue, affecting thousands of people worldwide every year, especially in rural communities of tropical and subtropical countries. Injection of venom into victims may cause hemorrhaging, blood coagulation imbalance, inflammation, pain, edema, muscle necrosis, and eventually, death. The official validated treatment recommended by governments is the administration of antivenom that efficiently prevents morbidity and mortality. However, this therapy does not effectively neutralize the local effects of Viperidae venoms which constitute one of the leading causes of disability or amputation of the affected limb. Thus, bioprospecting studies seeking for alternative therapies to complement antivenom should be encouraged, especially those investigating the blockage of local venomic toxicity. Plants produce a great diversity of metabolites with a wide range of pharmacological and biological properties. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the utilization of gallic acid, which is widely found in plants, against some toxic in vitro (coagulation, proteolytic, and hemolytic) or in vivo (edematogenic, hemorrhagic, and lethal) activities of Bothrops jararaca or B. jararacussu venom. Gallic acid was incubated with B. jararaca or B. jararacussu venom (incubation protocol), after which, in vitro or in vivo assays were performed. Additionally, a gel containing gallic acid was developed and topically applied over the skin of mice after injection of B. jararaca or B. jararacussu venom (treatment protocol), and then, a hemorrhagic assay was carried out. As a result, gallic acid inhibited the toxic activities, with variable efficacy, and the gallic acid gel neutralized B. jararaca or B. jararacussu venom-induced hemorrhagic activity. Gallic acid was devoid of in vitro toxicity as shown through a hemocompatibility test. Thus, these findings demonstrate the potential of gallic acid in the development of an alternative agent to treat victims of snake bites inflicted by Bothrops species.

Ferrous ions doped calcium carbonate nanoparticles potentiate chemotherapy by inducing ferroptosis

Ferroptosis is a recently identified regulated cell death pathway featured in iron prompted lipid peroxidation inside cells and found to be an effective approach to suppress tumor growth. Motived by the high efficacy of ferrous ions (Fe²⁺) in initiating intracellular lipid peroxidation via the Fenton reaction, this study herein prepares a pH-responsive Fe²⁺ delivery nanocarrier by coating calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) nanoparticles with a metal-polyphenol coordination polymer composed of gallic acid (GA) and Fe²⁺. Together with simultaneous encapsulation of succinic acid conjugated cisplatin prodrugs (Pt(IV)-SA) and Fe²⁺, the yielded nanoparticles, coined as ^PGFCaCO₃, are synthesized and exhibit uniform hollow structure. After PEGylation, the resulted ^PGFCaCO₃-PEG shows increased physiological stability and pH-dependent decomposition, drug release and catalytic capability in initiating lipid peroxidation. After being endocytosed, ^PGFCaCO₃-PEG effectively promoted intracellular generation of cytotoxic reactive oxygen species including lipid peroxide, thereby exhibited superior inhibition effect towards both murine 4T1 and CT26 cancer cells over Pt(IV)-SA and ^GFCaCO₃-PEG. As a result, treatment with systemic administration of ^PGFCaCO₃-PEG effectively suppressed 4T1 tumor growth via combined Fe²⁺ initiated ferroptosis and Pt(IV)-SA mediated chemotherapy. This work highlights that intracellular delivery of Fe²⁺ is a robust approach to enhance tumor chemotherapy by inducing ferroptosis.

Endophytes in Lignin Valorization: A Novel Approach

Lignin, one of the essential components of lignocellulosic biomass, comprises an abundant renewable aromatic resource on the planet earth. Although 15%––40% of lignocellulose pertains to lignin, its annual valorization rate is less than 2% which raises the concern to harness and/or develop effective technologies for its valorization. The basic hindrance lies in the structural heterogeneity, complexity, and stability of lignin that collectively makes it difficult to depolymerize and yield common products. Recently, microbial delignification, an eco-friendly and cheaper technique, has attracted the attention due to the diverse metabolisms of microbes that can channelize multiple lignin-based products into specific target compounds. Also, endophytes, a fascinating group of microbes residing asymptomatically within the plant tissues, exhibit marvellous lignin deconstruction potential. Apart from novel sources for potent and stable ligninases, endophytes share immense ability of depolymerizing lignin into desired valuable products. Despite their efficacy, ligninolytic studies on endophytes are meagre with incomplete understanding of the pathways involved at the molecular level. In the recent years, improvement of thermochemical methods has received much attention, however, we lagged in exploring the novel microbial groups for their delignification efficiency and optimization of this ability. This review summarizes the currently available knowledge about endophytic delignification potential with special emphasis on underlying mechanism of biological funnelling for the production of valuable products. It also highlights the recent advancements in developing the most intriguing methods to depolymerize lignin. Comparative account of thermochemical and biological techniques is accentuated with special emphasis on biological/microbial degradation. Exploring potent biological agents for delignification and focussing on the basic challenges in enhancing lignin valorization and overcoming them could make this renewable resource a promising tool to accomplish Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) which are supposed to be achieved by 2030.

Complexation behaviour and removal of organic-Cr(III) complexes from the environment: A review

Chromium (Cr) is mainly found in the form of organic-Cr(III) complexes in the natural environment and industrial waste. The widespread existence of composite contaminants composed of organic matter (OM) and Cr pose a serious ecological threat, and its potential interaction and removal need to be further summarised. Organic ligands, such as carbohydrates, nitrogen compounds, phenolic compounds, humus substances (HS), and low molecular weight organic acids (LMWOAs), play an important role in governing the speciation, mobility, and absorption and desorption of Cr in the environment. Moreover, growing evidence indicates that oxygen-containing functional groups (e.g., carboxyl, hydroxyl, and phosphate) are closely related to the complexation of Cr(III). Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are efficient and widely applicable technologies. However, the re-complexation of oxidation intermediates with Cr(III) and the formation and accumulation of much more toxic Cr(VI) species hinder the possible utilisation of AOPs. In this paper, the sources and harmful effects of organic-Cr(III) complexes are reported in detail. The complexation behaviour and structure of the organic-Cr(III) complexes are also described. Subsequently, the application of AOPs in the decomplexation and degradation of organic-Cr(III) complexes is summarised. This review can be helpful for developing technologies that are more efficient for organic-Cr(III) complex removal and establishing the scientific background for reducing Cr discharge Cr into the environment.

Polymeric nanocarriers: A promising tool for early diagnosis and efficient treatment of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent type of cancer for incidence and second for mortality worldwide. Late diagnosis and inconvenient and expensive current diagnostic tools largely contribute to the progress of the disease. The use of chemotherapy in the management of CRC significantly reduces tumor growth, metastasis, and morbidity rates. However, poor solubility, low cellular uptake, nonspecific distribution, multiple drug resistance and unwanted adverse effects are still among the major drawbacks of chemotherapy that limit its clinical significance in the treatment of CRC. Owing to their remarkable advantages over conventional therapies, the use of nanotechnology-based delivery systems especially polymeric nanocarriers (PNCs) has revolutionized many fields including disease diagnosis and drug delivery.

AIM OF REVIEW

In this review, we shed the light on the current status of using PNCs in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC with a special focus on targeting strategies, surface modifications and safety concerns for different types of PNCs in colonic cancer delivery.

KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW

The review explores the current progress on the use of PNCs in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC with a special focus on the role of PNCs in improvement of cellular uptake, drug targeting and co-delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. Possible toxicity and biocompatibility issues related to the use of PNCs and imitations and future recommendation for the use of those smart carriers in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC are also discussed.

Gaz Alafi: A Traditional Dessert in the Middle East With Anticancer, Immunomodulatory, and Antimicrobial Activities

Background

From the earliest times, manna has been widely used as a tasty local sweet or folk medicine. The type of manna being investigated in the present study is called Gaz-alafi, a mixture of insect and Quercus brantii leaves secretions from oak forests in the north of Iraq and west of Iran.

Methods

Aqueous and ethanol extracts were prepared as decoction. Various phytochemical tests were conducted to analyze manna composition, including total phenolic contents using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and LC-MS. Gallic acid and catechin were detected in both extracts, in addition to tiliroside presence in ethanol extract, which added more value to the phenolic content of ethanol extract. Cytotoxic activities of Gaz alafi were evaluated against breast cancer cell lines and compared to normal cell lines and doxorubicin using the MTT assay. Antimicrobial properties were assessed against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, and Candida albicans using the dilution method of the micro-titer plate. Serum levels of IFN-γ, interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were measured using ELISA. The effect of extracts on splenocyte proliferation was evaluated using the lymphocytes proliferation assay. Macrophage function was evaluated using the nitro blue tetrazolium assay, whereas pinocytosis was evaluated using the neutral red uptake assay. Ten days after tumor inoculation, changes in tumor size, survival rates, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatinine were measured.

Results

The growth of cancer cells was inhibited by Gaz alafi ethanol extract. An alteration in IFN- γ, IL-2, and IL-4 levels toward antiproliferation immune response were reported for both extracts. The aqueous extract efficiently stimulated lymphocyte proliferation, phagocytosis, and pinocytosis, followed by the ethanol extracts with moderate activity. After treating the mice with ethanol extracts, a significant reduction in tumor size and several undetected tumors were recorded.

Conclusions

Gaz alafi extracts (aqueous and ethanol) are promising sources for anticancer and immunostimulatory agents. Further studies are needed to fully identify the chemical composition of Gaz alafi extracts.

Dietary behavior and urinary gallic acid concentration differences among underserved elder racial and ethnic minorities in New York City

Purpose

Diet and nutrition are important for cancer prevention. To investigate associations between dietary behavior, demographics, and risk of cancer, we assessed dietary behavior and urinary concentration of gallic acid, a polyphenol with anticancer properties found in various fruits and vegetables, in racial and ethnic minorities.

Methods

Ninety-one (91) participants were recruited from senior centers in East Harlem, New York City, a racially diverse and underserved community. A National Institute of Health (NIH)—validated dietary survey questionnaire—was used to collect dietary fruits and vegetables consumption data. Demographic and cancer information were also collected. All 91 participants completed the survey and forty-five (45) participants provided urine samples for gallic acid analysis.

Results

Gender differences were significantly associated with dietary behavior and urinary gallic acid concentration (UGAC). Female participants had a higher total daily intake of fruits and a significantly higher UGAC compared to male participants (p < 0.05). Age was negatively associated with the serving quantity of French fries/fried potatoes and white potatoes (p < 0.05), while positively associated with the daily intake frequency and daily intake of fruits (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Asian race was associated with higher daily intake frequencies of fruits and vegetable soup (p < 0.05), compared to other races. In a multivariate analysis, a significant association was observed between the serving quantities of fruits and other vegetables and UGAC (p < 0.05) after controlling for demographic characteristics.

Conclusion

The observed differences in dietary behavior and UGAC in this study provide limited information on the association between demographic differences and cancer prevalence in elder racial and ethnic minorities. Future research should investigate this association further for potential implications in cancer prevention.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10552-022-01581-y.

Tailoring Natural-Based Oleogels Combining Ethylcellulose and Virgin Coconut Oil

Oleogels are becoming an attractive research field, since they have recently been shown to be feasible for the food and pharmaceutical sectors and provided some insights into the biomedical area. In this work, edible oleogels were tailored through the combination of ethylcellulose (EC), a gelling agent, with virgin coconut oil (VCO), vegetable oil derived from coconut. The influence of the different EC and VCO ratios on the structural, physical, and thermal properties of the oleogels was studied. All EC/VCO-based oleogels presented a stable network with a viscoelastic nature, adequate structural stability, modulable stiffness, high oil-binding capability, antioxidant activity, and good thermal stability, evidencing the EC and VCO’s good compatibility.

Chain-Breaking Antioxidant and Peroxyl Radical Trapping Activity of Phenol-Coated Magnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles

Superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) are important materials for biomedical applications, and phenol capping is a common procedure to passivate their surface. As phenol capped SPION have been reported to behave as antioxidants, herein, we investigate the mechanism underlying this activity by studying the reaction with alkyl peroxyl (ROO^•) radicals. SPION were prepared by coprecipitation of Fe(II) and Fe(III), using phenolic antioxidants (gallic acid, Trolox and nordihydroguaiaretic acid) as post-synthesis capping agents and by different purification procedures. The reactivity of ROO^• was investigated by inhibited autoxidation studies, using styrene as an oxidizable substrate (solvent MeCN, 30 °C) and azo-bis(isobutyronitrile) as a radical initiator. While unprotected, bare SPION behaved as prooxidant, accelerating the O₂ consumption of styrene autoxidation, phenol capping provided a variable antioxidant effect that was dependent upon the purification degree of the material. Thoroughly washed SPION, containing from 7% to 14% (w/w) of phenols, had a low reactivity toward peroxyl radicals, while SPION with a higher phenol content (46% to 55%) showed a strong radical trapping activity. Our results indicate that the antioxidant activity of phenol-capped SPION can be caused by its release in a solution of weakly bound phenols, and that purification plays a major role in determining the properties of these materials.

Gallic acid modulates purine metabolism and oxidative stress induced by ethanol exposure in zebrafish brain

Gallic acid (GA) is a secondary metabolite found in plants. It has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and, through scavenging properties, has a protective effect in a brain insult model. Alcohol metabolism generates reactive oxygen species (ROS); thus, alcohol abuse has a deleterious effect on the brain. The zebrafish is a vertebrate often used for screening toxic substances and in acute ethanol exposure models. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether GA pretreatment (24 h) prevents the changes induced by acute ethanol exposure (1 h) in the purinergic signaling pathway in the zebrafish brain via degradation of extracellular nucleotides and oxidative stress. The nucleotide cascade promoted by the nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase) and 5'-nucleotidase was assessed by quantifying nucleotide metabolism. The effect of GA alone at 5 and 10 mg L^-1 did not change the nucleotide levels. Pretreatment with 10 mg L^-1 GA prevented an ethanol-induced increase in ATP and ADP levels. No significant difference was found between the AMP levels of the two pretreatment groups. Pretreatment with 10 mg L^-1 GA prevented ethanol-enhanced lipid peroxidation and dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) levels. The higher GA concentration was also shown to positively modulate against ethanol-induced effects on superoxide dismutase (SOD), but not on catalase (CAT). This study demonstrated that GA prevents the inhibitory effect of ethanol on NTPDase activity and oxidative stress parameters, thus consequently modulating nucleotide levels that may contribute to the possible protective effects induced by alcohol and purinergic signaling.

Current status, challenges and prospects for lignin valorization by using Rhodococcus sp

Lignin represents the most abundant renewable aromatics in nature, which has complicated and heterogeneous structure. The rapid development of biotransformation technology has brought new opportunities to achieve the complete lignin valorization. Especially, Rhodococcus sp. possesses excellent capabilities to metabolize aromatic hydrocarbons degraded from lignin. Furthermore, it can convert these toxic compounds into high value added bioproducts, such as microbial lipids, polyhydroxyalkanoate and carotenoid et al. Accordingly, this review will discuss the potentials of Rhodococcus sp. as a cell factory for lignin biotransformation, including phenol tolerance, lignin depolymerization and lignin-derived aromatic hydrocarbon metabolism. The detailed metabolic mechanism for lignin biotransformation and bioproducts spectrum of Rhodococcus sp. will be comprehensively discussed. The available molecular tools for the conversion of lignin by Rhodococcus sp. will be reviewed, and the possible direction for lignin biotransformation in the future will also be proposed.

Impact of the Cooking Process on Metabolite Profiling of Acanthocereus tetragonus, a Plant Traditionally Consumed in Mexico

Acanthocereus tetragonus (L.) Hummelinck is used as an alternative food source in some Mexican communities. It has been shown that the young stems of A. tetragonus provide crude protein, fiber, and essential minerals for humans. In this work, we analyzed the phytochemical profile, the total phenolic content (TPC), and the antioxidant activity of cooked and crude samples of A. tetragonus to assess its functional metabolite contribution to humans. The phytochemical profile was analyzed using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-HESI-Orbitrap-MS/MS). Under the proposed conditions, 35 metabolites were separated and tentatively identified. Of the separated metabolites, 16 occurred exclusively in cooked samples, 6 in crude samples, and 9 in both crude and cooked samples. Among the detected compounds, carboxylic acids, such as threonic, citric, and malic acids, phenolic acids, and glycosylated flavonoids (luteolin-O-rutinoside) were detected. The TPC and antioxidant activity were analyzed using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical inhibition method, respectively. The TPC and antioxidant activity were significantly reduced in the cooked samples. We found that some metabolites remained intact after the cooking process, suggesting that A. tetragonus represents a source of functional metabolites for people who consume this plant species.

Process optimization and antioxidative activity of polyphenols derived from different seaweed species Sargassum Miyabei, Undaria Pinnatifida Suringar, and Sargassum Thunbergii

The aim of this study was to extract the polyphenols from three major seaweed species such as Sargassum miyabei, Undaria pinnatifida suringar, and Sargassum thunbergii, which are found in the coastal province (Guangdong), a longest coastal line in China. It was found that the Sargassum thunbergii produced more polyphenols (34.99 mg) as compared to Sargassum miyabei (23.26 mg) and Undaria pinnatifida suringar (25.34 mg), respectively. The orthogonal method was used for the extraction of phenolic compounds and extraction condition of each seaweed species was optimized. The antioxidant activity of extracted polyphenols from all three species stated that the polyphenols extracted from Undaria pinnatifida suringar demonstrated the highest antioxidative activity. Furthermore, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for qualitative analysis of polyphenols, which revealed that the major components of polyphenols extracted from Undaria pinnatifida suringar were gallic acid and arbutin followed by syringate in Sargassum miyabei and phloretin in Sargassum thunbergii.

Nephroprotective Potential of a Standardized Extract of Bambusa arundinacea: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Bambusa arundinacea (RETZ.) Willd. is distributed in tropical regions of Pakistan, India, and China. It has been used for a long time as a folk remedy for cirrhosis, urinary tract ailments, and various other abdominal cavity disorders. It has antioxidant, free-radical-scavenging, and anti-inflammatory effects. The aims and objectives of this study were to validate the folkloric uses of Bambusa arundinacea and to evaluate its nephroprotective potential on scientific grounds. Gentamycin (G.M, 40 mg/kg) was used to induce nephrotoxicity in the animal model. Two doses of the methanolic extract of Bambusa arundinacea (MEBA; 300 and 500 mg/kg) were utilized in addition to silymarin (200 mg/kg/d). Treatments were administered once daily for 14 days. After 14 days, the blood was collected and the kidneys were removed. The antioxidant potential of the standardized MEBA was evaluated using the total phenolic content, the total flavonoid content, and the DPPH scavenging activity. The plant extract was rich with flavonoid content. The DPPH scavenging activity was 65% as compared to butylated hydroxy toluene (96%), with IC₅₀ values 31.65 and 7.80 μg/mL, respectively. The phytochemical analysis was performed using HPLC, and MEBA was found to contain various phytoconstituents such as quercetin, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and cinnamic acid. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase and catalase were assayed, and MEBA exhibited significantly improved CAT and SOD levels. The levels of renal function markers such as serum creatinine, serum urea, blood urea nitrogen, serum urea, and serum uric acid levels also evaluated, and a significant retrieval was found in a dose-dependent fashion. Good improvement was also made in various hematological parameters. Statistical analysis was done using analysis of variance to determine the significance of differences among the data. In conclusion, the standardized methanolic extract of Bambusa arundinacea was able to alleviate gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity by enhancing the antioxidant defensive mechanisms of renal tubular cells.

Kinetics and stoichiometry of gallic acid and methyl gallate in scavenging DPPH radical as affected by the reaction solvent

The activity and capacity of gallic acid (GA) and methyl gallate (MG) in scavenging DPPH^· were determined in different solvents. Based on the bimolecular rate constants k₂, both antioxidants showed highest activities in EtOH, followed by in MeOH, t-BuOH, MeCN, 2-PrOH, acetone, THF, ethyl acetate, and 1,4-dioxane. GA indicated better activities (k₂ value, M^-1 s^-1) than MG in the alcoholic solvents (51-1939 vs. 25-1530) and in MeCN (203 vs. 187) whereas MG was of higher activities in the polar aprotic solvents (1.7-41 vs. 1.6-13). The highest stoichiometries for GA vs. MG were in 2-PrOH (6.67 vs. 5.37), followed by EtOH (5.84 vs. 4.57), MeOH (5.34 vs. 3.8) ~ acetone (5.02 vs. 4.44), MeCN (3.68 vs. 3.05) ~ t-BuOH (3.14 vs. 2.99), THF (2.34 vs. 2.2), ethyl acetate (1.2 vs. 0.93), and 1,4-dioxane (0.34 vs. 0.35).

Low-Dose Gallic Acid Administration Does Not Improve Diet-Induced Metabolic Disorders and Atherosclerosis in Apoe Knockout Mice

Diets rich in polyphenols are known to be beneficial for cardiovascular health. Gallic acid (GA) is a plant-derived triphenolic chemical with multiple cardio-protective properties, such as antiobesity, anti-inflammation, and antioxidation. However, whether GA could protect against atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases is still not defined. Here, we investigated the effects of low-dose GA administration on diet-induced metabolic disorders and atherosclerosis in the atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E (Apoe) knockout mice fed on a high-fat Western-type diet (WTD) for 8 weeks. Our data showed that GA administration by oral gavage at a daily dosage of 20 mg/kg body weight did not significantly ameliorate WTD-induced hyperlipidemia, hepatosteatosis, adipogenesis, or insulin resistance; furthermore, GA administration did not significantly ameliorate WTD-induced atherosclerosis. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that low-dose GA administration does not elicit significant health effect on diet-induced metabolic disorders or atherosclerosis in the Apoe knockout mice. Whether GA could be beneficial for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases therefore needs further exploration.

Hydrothermal synthesis of Bi2Se3 nanosheets by using gallic acid as a reductant

In this work, a simple and reproducible hydrothermal synthesis was employed to synthesize two-dimensional Bi2Se3 nanosheets by using gallic acid as a reductant. Meanwhile, the effects of the amounts of gallic acid and sodium hydroxide and the surfactant Triton X-100 on phase composition and morphology of the obtained Bi2Se3 were also studied. The results reveal that gallic acid could effectively reduce Se4+ to Se2- and gave rise to the formation of Bi2Se3. Additionally, keeping the reaction conditions of molar ratio of gallic acid to the precursor elements (Bi + Se) at 1 to 1 (or higher) and using strong alkaline solutions were the key factors to synthesize high purity crystalline Bi2Se3 nanosheets. Furthermore, flower-like Bi2Se3 composed of nanosheets with a dozen nanometer thickness could be easily fabricated by adding appropriate amounts of Triton X-100. This work provides a novel approach for synthesis of ultra-thin Bi2Se3 nanosheets in a controllable manner.

Silk fibroin/cholinium gallate-based architectures as therapeutic tools

The combination of natural resources with biologically active biocompatible ionic liquids (Bio-IL) is presented as a combinatorial approach for developing tools to manage inflammatory diseases. Innovative biomedical solutions were constructed combining silk fibroin (SF) and Ch[Gallate], a Bio-IL with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory features, as freeze-dried 3D-based sponges. An evaluation of the effect of the Ch[Gallate] concentration (≤3% w/v) on the SF/Ch[Gallate] sponges was studied. Structural changes observed on the sponges revealed that the Ch[Gallate] presence positively affected the β-sheet formation while not influencing the silk native structure, which was suggested by the FTIR and solid-state NMR results, respectively. Also, it was possible to modulate their mechanical properties, antioxidant activity and stability/degradation in an aqueous environment, by changing the Ch[Gallate] concentration. The architectures showed high water uptake ability and a weight loss that follows the controlled Ch[Gallate] release rate studied for 7 days. Furthermore, the sponges supported human adipose stem cells growth and proliferation, up to 7 days. TNF-α, IL-6 (pro-inflammatory) and IL-10 (anti-inflammatory) release quantification from a human monocyte cell line revealed a decrease in the pro-inflammatory cytokines concentrations in samples containing Ch[Gallate]. These outcomes encourage the use of the developed architectures as tissue engineering solutions, potentially targeting inflammation processes. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Combining natural resources with active biocompatible ionic liquids (Bio-IL) is herein presented as a combinatorial approach for the development of tools to manage inflammatory diseases. We propose using silk fibroin (SF), a natural protein, with cholinium gallate, a Bio-IL, with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, to construct 3D-porous sponges through a sustainable methodology. The morphological features, swelling, and stability of the architectures were controlled by Bio-IL content in the matrices. The sponges were able to support human adipose stem cells growth and proliferation, and their therapeutic effect was proved by the blockage of TNF-α from activated and differentiated THP-1 monocytes. We believe that these bio-friendly and bioactive SF/Bio-IL-based sponges are effective for targeting pathologies with associated inflammatory processes.

Magnesium oxide nanotube as a promising material for detection of methamphetamine drug: theoretical study

Owing to the negative impacts of abusing illegal drugs like methamphetamine (MAF), their detection and control are of paramount importance. Therefore, it is very critical to determine MAF in biological samples. The current research study investigated the sensing interaction of inherent and MgO nanotubes (MgONT) toward MAF via density functional theory computations. We determined that the MgONT has a sensing response of 283.31, and it remarkably improves the reactivity toward MAF. The levels of energy for the highest occupied and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbitals have changed to a great extent, thereby reducing bandgap (E_g) values which increased electrical conductivity. Furthermore, a short recovery time (~ 28.65 ms) has been anticipated for MAF desorption from the MgONT exterior. This piece of research showed that MgONT might be a possible electronic sensor and an appropriate choice to deliver MAF in biological samples.

Spent coffee grounds: A sustainable approach toward novel perspectives of valorization

Coffee is one of the most popular and preferred drinks in the world, being consumed for its refreshing and energizing properties. As a result, the consumption of coffee generates millions of tons of waste, in particular, spent coffee grounds (SCG). On the contrary, food waste recovery is an incredibly sustainable and convenient solution to the growing need for materials, fuels, and chemicals. SCG has been developed as a precious resource of several high value-added products (oil, proteins, minerals, fatty acids, sterols….). Thus, a transformative pathway to a circular economy that involves the valorization of coffee wastes and by-products is currently attracting the attention of researchers worldwide. The potential growth of scientific papers and publications promotes a comprehensive review to determine the research hotspots, knowledge structure, and to consider future avenues and challenges. Therefore, in this paper, we conducted a systematic review based on 275 indexed papers on the composition and valorization of SCG as a prospective environmental source. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: SCG can be applied in agro-food industries.

Natural products in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema: Therapeutic effects and mechanisms of action

BACKGROUND

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a class of lung diseases including chronic bronchitis, asthma, and emphysema. Long-time smoking is considered the main reason for developing emphysema. Emphysema can be defined as damage to the walls of the air sacs (alveoli) of the lung. It has been demonstrated that natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects can effectively improve or protect the lung against this disease. This paper is dedicated to systematically review the effective natural compounds in the treatment of pulmonary emphysema.

PURPOSE

This is the first systematic and comprehensive review on the role of plant-derived secondary metabolites in managing and/or treating pulmonary emphysema STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: A systematic and comprehensive review was done based on Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library databases were searched using the "emphysema", "plant", "herb", and "phytochemical" keywords. Non-English, review, and repetitive articles were excluded from the study. Search results were included in the Prisma diagram.

RESULTS

From a total of 1285 results, finally, 22 articles were included in the present study. The results show that some herbs such as Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Monascus adlay and some phytochemicals such as gallic acid and quercetin and blackboard tree indole alkaloids affect more factors in improving the lung emphysema. Also, some natural compounds such as marijuana smoke and humic acid also play an aggravating role in this disease. It also seems that some of the medicinal plants such as PM014 herbal formula, pomegranate juice and açaí berry sometimes have side effects that are inconsistent with their therapeutic effects.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that natural compounds can effectively improve pulmonary emphysema due to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic properties. However, additional studies are suggested to prove efficacy and side effects.

Antimicrobial Efficacy of Edible Mushroom Extracts: Assessment of Fungal Resistance

Antimicrobial efficacy of the water or methanolic extracts of three medicinal mushrooms Taiwanofungus camphoratus, Agaricus blazei Murrill, and Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst were investigated against yeast and filamentous fungal pathogens as well as against commensal and pathogenic bacteria. The methanolic extract of T. camphoratus (TcM) exhibited both potent antifungal and antibacterial activity, while the water extract of T. camphoratus (TcW) showed limited antibacterial activity against Listeria monocytogenes. Neither the methanolic nor water extracts of A. blazei and G. lucidum exhibited antimicrobial activity. In the risk assessment testing monitoring the development of fungal tolerance to mushroom extracts in food matrices, two P. expansum mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) mutants exhibited a tolerance to TcM. In a proof-of-concept bioassay using the natural benzoic salicylaldehyde (SA), P. expansum and A. fumigatus MAPK antioxidant mutants showed similar tolerance to SA, suggesting that natural ingredients in TcM such as benzoic derivatives could negatively affect the efficacy of TcM when antioxidant mutants are targeted. Conclusion: TcM could be developed as a food ingredient having antimicrobial potential. The antimicrobial activity of TcM operates via the intact MAPK antioxidant signaling system in microbes, however, mutants lacking genes in the MAPK system escape the toxicity triggered by TcM. Therefore, caution should be exercised in the use of TcM so as to not adversely affect food safety and quality by triggering the resistance of antioxidant mutants in contaminated food.

Microbial degradation and valorization of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) monomers

The polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is one of the major plastics with a huge annual production. Alongside with its mass production and wide applications, PET pollution is threatening and damaging the environment and human health. Although mechanical or chemical methods can deal with PET, the process suffers from high cost and the hydrolyzed monomers will cause secondary pollution. Discovery of plastic-degrading microbes and the corresponding enzymes emerges new hope to cope with this issue. Combined with synthetic biology and metabolic engineering, microbial cell factories not only provide a promising approach to degrade PET, but also enable the conversion of its monomers, ethylene glycol (EG) and terephthalic acid (TPA), into value-added compounds. In this way, PET wastes can be handled in environment-friendly and more potentially cost-effective processes. While PET hydrolases have been extensively reviewed, this review focuses on the microbes and metabolic pathways for the degradation of PET monomers. In addition, recent advances in the biotransformation of TPA and EG into value-added compounds are discussed in detail.

Interpenetrating gallol functionalized tissue adhesive hyaluronic acid hydrogel polarizes macrophages to an immunosuppressive phenotype

Innovative scaffold designs that modulate the local inflammatory microenvironment through favorable macrophage polarization and suppressing oxidative stress are needed for successful clinical translation of regenerative cell therapies and graft integration. We herein report derivation of a hydrazone-crosslinked gallol functionalized hyaluronic acid (HA-GA)-based hydrogel that displayed outstanding viscoelastic properties and immunomodulatory characteristics. Grafting of 6% gallol (GA) to a HA-backbone formed an interpenetrative network by promoting an additional crosslink between the gallol groups in addition to hydrazone crosslinking. This significantly enhanced the mechanical stability and displayed shear-thinning/self-healing characteristics, facilitated tissue adhesive properties to porcine tissue and also displayed radical scavenging properties, protecting encapsulated fibroblasts from peroxide challenge. The THP-1 human macrophage cell line or primary bone-marrow-derived murine macrophages cultured within HA-GA gels displayed selective polarization to a predominantly anti-inflammatory phenotype by upregulating IL4ra, IL-10, TGF-β, and TGF-βR1 expression when compared with HA-HA gels. Conversely, culturing of pro-inflammatory activated primary murine macrophages in HA-GA gels resulted in a significant reduction of pro-inflammatory TNF-α, IL-1β, SOCS3 and IL-6 marker expression, and upregulated expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines including TGF-β. Finally, when the gels were implanted subcutaneously into healthy mice, we observed infiltration of pro-inflammatory myeloid cells in HA-HA gels, while immunosuppressive phenotypes were observed within the HA-GA gels. Taken together these data suggest that HA-GA gels are an ideal injectable scaffold for viable immunotherapeutic interventions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Host immune response against the implanted scaffolds that are designed to deliver stem cells or therapeutic proteins in vivo significantly limits the functional outcome. For this reason, we have designed immunomodulatory injectable scaffolds that can favorably polarize the recruited macrophages and impart antioxidant properties to suppress oxidative stress. Specifically, we have tailored a hyaluronic acid-based extracellular matrix mimetic injectable scaffold that is grafted with immunomodulatory gallol moiety. Gallol functionalization of hydrogel not only enhanced the mechanical properties of the scaffold by forming an interpenetrating network but also induced antioxidant properties, tissue adhesive properties, and polarized primary murine macrophages to immunosuppressive phenotype. We believe such immunoresponsive implants will pave the way for developing the next-generation of biomaterials for regenerative medicine applications.

Effects of gallic acid and Zn, Cu, and Ni on antioxidant enzyme activities of Hyphantria cunea larvae infected with Bacillus thuringiensis

The effects of copper, nickel, and zinc and the potent antioxidant gallic acid on the antioxidant enzyme activities of Hyphantria cunea larvae infected with Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki have been identified in this study. With metal exposure, all the enzyme activities have increased. Antagonistic effects were observed in the combination of gallic acid with all three metals on the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase. In glutathione peroxidase activity, an antagonistic effect was observed in gallic acid plus nickel group, while there was a synergistic effect for gallic acid plus zinc and gallic acid plus copper. Activities of these enzymes in larvae exposed only to the metals increased in the infected groups; while exposure to gallic acid alone elicited a decrease. As a consequence, it was found that enzyme activities were affected by both metals and gallic acid and infection.

Gallic acid leads to cell death of Candida albicans by the apoptosis mechanism

Aim: To evaluate the antifungal activity of gallic acid (GA) against the strains of Candida spp. resistant to fluconazole and to determine its mechanism of action. Materials & methods: Antifungal activity was evaluated using the broth microdilution and flow cytometry techniques. Results: GA presented minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 16 to 72 μg/ml, causing alterations of the membrane integrity and mitochondrial transmembrane potential, production of reactive oxygen species and externalization of phosphatidylserine. Conclusion: GA has potential antifungal activity against Candida spp.

Potential Antioxidative Components in Azadirachta indica Revealed by Bio-Affinity Ultrafiltration with SOD and XOD

Azadirachta indica (A. indica) has been widely used due to its diverse pharmacological activities. However, there are currently few studies on its responsible antioxidant ingredients against superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase (XOD). In this study, the antioxidant activities of A. indica were evaluated by a 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid) and ferric-ion-reducing antioxidant power method. Meanwhile, total polyphenol and flavonoid content were determined to reveal that they were the highest in ethyl acetate (EA) fraction. Next, compounds with the most antioxidant activity were screened out from EA fraction by bio-affinity ultrafiltration liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (UF-LC-MS) with SOD and XOD. As a result, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid and (−)-epicatechin were identified as potential SOD ligands with relative binding affinity (RBA) values of 2.15, 1.78 and 1.61, respectively. Additionally, these three ligands could effectively interact with SOD in molecular docking with binding energies (BEs) ranging from −3.84 ± 0.37 to −5.04 ± 0.01 kcal/mol. In addition, carnosic acid exhibited a strong binding affinity to XOD with an RBA value of 2.05 and BE value of −8.24 ± 0.71 kcal/mol. In conclusion, these results indicated that A. indica might have good antioxidant activity and antigout potential, and the UF-LC-MS method is suitable and efficient for screening both SOD and XOD ligands from A. indica.

Antioxidant Phytochemicals for the Prevention of Fluoride-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis: a Review

Fluorosis is a major public health problem globally. The non-availability of specific treatment and the irreversible nature of dental and skeletal lesions poses a challenge in the management of fluorosis. Oxidative stress is known to be one of the most important mechanisms of fluoride toxicity. Fluoride promotes the accumulation of reactive oxygen species by inhibiting the activity of antioxidant enzymes, resulting in the excessive production of reactive oxygen species at the cellular level which further leads to activation of cell death processes such as apoptosis. Phytochemicals that act as antioxidants have the potential to protect cells from oxidative stress. Evidence confirms that clinical symptoms of fluorosis can be mitigated to some extent or prevented by long-term intake of antioxidants and plant products. The primary purpose of this review is to examine recent findings that focus on the amelioration of fluoride-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis by natural and synthetic phytochemicals and their molecular mechanisms of action.

Entourage effect for phenolic compounds on production and metabolism of mammary epithelial cells

Primary culture of mammary epithelial cells (MEC) was exposed to ethyl-acetate, chloroform and hexane extracts of Pistacia lentiscus (lentisk). The hexane extract contained mainly ethyl gallate whereas the chloroform extract contained mainly ethyl-gallate with smaller amount of gallic acid, and the ethyl-acetate extract contained mainly rutin, gallic acid and myricetin. Ethyl acetate extract increased secretion of protein and fat and improved mitochondrial activity. The enhancing effect on protein production was attributed to myricetin, one of the polyphenols in the ethyl-acetate extract whereas gallic acid did not affect protein production or secretion. Interestingly, exposure to the isolated polyphenols did not improve mitochondrial productivity and activity as effectively as exposure to the complete plant extract. The results indicated that polyphenols improve production of milk constituents by MEC, through different modes of action for different polyphenols suggesting an additive or even synergistic effect on production traits of mammary cells.

Machine learning as a tool to engineer microstructures: Morphological prediction of tannin-based colloids using Bayesian surrogate models

ABSTRACT

Oxidized tannic acid (OTA) is a useful biomolecule with a strong tendency to form complexes with metals and proteins. In this study we open the possibility to further the application of OTA when assembled as supramolecular systems, which typically exhibit functions that correlate with shape and associated morphological features. We used machine learning (ML) to selectively engineer OTA into particles encompassing one-dimensional to three-dimensional constructs. We employed Bayesian regression to correlate colloidal suspension conditions (pH and pK _a) with the size and shape of the assembled colloidal particles. Fewer than 20 experiments were found to be sufficient to build surrogate model landscapes of OTA morphology in the experimental design space, which were chemically interpretable and endowed predictive power on data. We produced multiple property landscapes from the experimental data, helping us to infer solutions that would satisfy, simultaneously, multiple design objectives. The balance between data efficiency and the depth of information delivered by ML approaches testify to their potential to engineer particles, opening new prospects in the emerging field of particle morphogenesis, impacting bioactivity, adhesion, interfacial stabilization, and other functions inherent to OTA.

IMPACT STATEMENT

Tannic acid is a versatile bio-derived material employed in coatings, surface modifiers, and emulsion and growth stabilizers, which also imparts mild anti-viral health benefits. Our recent work on the crystallization of oxidized tannic acid (OTA) colloids opens the route toward further valuable applications, but here the functional properties tend to depend strongly on particle morphology. In this study, we eschew trial-and-error morphology exploration of OTA particles in favor of a data-driven approach. We digitalized the experimental observations and input them into a Gaussian process regression algorithm to generate morphology surrogate models. These help us to visualize particle morphology in the design space of material processing conditions, and thus determine how to selectively engineer one-dimensional or three-dimensional particles with targeted functionalities. We extend this approach to visualize other experimental outcomes, including particle yield and particle surface-to-volume ratio, which are useful for the design of products based on OTA particles. Our findings demonstrate the use of data-efficient surrogate models for general materials engineering purposes and facilitate the development of next-generation OTA-based applications.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1557/s43577-021-00183-4.