The in vitro effect of a lyophilized extract of wine obtained from Jacquez grapes on human chondrocytes

Pelargonidin ameliorates inflammatory response and cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis via suppressing the NF-κB pathway

Pelargonidin (PG), a derivative of anthocyanins, has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Herein, the protective effect and the mechanism of PG in counteract the osteoarthritis (OA) progression were needed to further evaluate. In the current study, C57BL/6 mice was induced by destabilization of medial meniscus (DMM) surgery to establish the OA model. Primary chondrocytes were acquired from the knee cartilage of newborn mice. Then, PG was administrated to OA mice and IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes to evaluate its protective effects, respectively. Results uncovered that no conspicuous cytotoxic effects were observed when chondrocytes were treated with PG at a concentration lower than 40 μM for 24-72h. Thus, 10 μM, 20 μM, and 40 μM PG were chosen for subsequent experiments in vitro. Then, we observed that 10, 20, and 40 μM PG reduced the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2 and iNOS in chondrocytes. In line, PG inhibited the IL-1β-induced ECM catabolism in chondrocytes, as evidenced by deepening toluidine blue staining, increased expression of Collagen II, and decreased expressions of ADAMTS5 and MMP13. Moreover, PG also reduced the IL-1β-stimulated p-p65 overexpression and nuclear translocation of p65 in chondrocytes. In vivo, Safranin O/Fast green and HE staining showed that articular cartilage surface morphology was basically smooth and complete after PG treatment for 8 weeks. Similarly, OARSI scores and MMP13 expression were apparently decreased, whereas Aggrecan expression was elevated in PG-treated mice 8 weeks after DMM surgery. In conclusion, PG can effectively ameliorate inflammatory reactions and cartilage degeneration via suppressing the NF-κB pathway, thereby restraining the OA progression.

Effectiveness of Grape Seed Extract in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Study

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as a metabolic disorder has a high prevalence. Increasing serum concentrations of liver enzymes, lipid profiles, and fasting blood sugar (FBS) are the most laboratory findings in NAFLD. Efforts to identify effective treatments with fewer side effects to address these impairments are increasing. Grape seed extract (GSE) is rich in antioxidants (eg, proanthocyanidins (Pas), which it has beneficial effects reported previously). Objectives: We evaluated the effect of GSE on biochemical markers in NAFLD patients. Methods: The current randomized, double-blind clinical trial was investigated the GSE effect on patients with NAFLD. The patients were assigned into 2 groups (GSE and control groups). The duration of treatment was considered 2 months. The GSE group received GSE capsules (200 mg, two times a day for 2 months), and the control group received placebo (200 mg starch). The serum concentration of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), triglyceride (TG), FBS, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and cholesterol were assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 2 months after treatment. Body mass index (BMI) and HDL/LDL ratio were assayed at different times. Results: The levels of AST, ALT, FBS, TG, HDL, LDL, and cholesterol significantly decreased, (P-value < 0.05), and the level of HDL significantly increased in patients who received GSE 200 mg twice a day for 2 months (P-value < 0.05) compared to control group, but BMI and weight did not change significantly (P-value > 0.05). Conclusions: Grape seed extract can be effective in fatty liver patients; such results may be contributed to the antioxidant properties of GSE due to the high amount of PAs and similar constituents in GSE. However, more investigations are needed to clarify the exact involved mechanism of GSE.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Anti-Glycation Activity of Resveratrol and Its Novel Triester with Trolox

Resveratrol (RSV) is well known for its many beneficial activities, but its unfavorable physicochemical properties impair its effectiveness after systemic and topical administration; thus, several strategies have been investigated to improve RSV efficacy. With this aim, in this work, we synthesized a novel RSV triester with trolox, an analogue of vitamin E with strong antioxidant activity. The new RSV derivative (RSVTR) was assayed in vitro to evaluate its antioxidant and anti-glycation activity compared to RSV. RSVTR chemical stability was assessed at pH 2.0, 6.8, and 7.2 and different storage temperatures (5 °C, 22 °C, and 37 °C). An influence of pH stronger than that of temperature on RSVTR half-life values was pointed out, and RSVTR greatest stability was observed at pH 7.2 and 5 °C. RSVTR showed a lower antioxidant ability compared to RSV (determined by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay) while its anti-glycation activity (evaluated using the Maillard reaction) was significantly greater than that of RSV. The improved ability to inhibit the glycation process was attributed to a better interaction of RSVTR with albumin owing to its increased topological polar surface area value and H-bond acceptor number compared to RSV. Therefore, RSVTR could be regarded as a promising anti-glycation agent worthy of further investigations.

Grape seed extract inhibits nucleus pulposus cell apoptosis and attenuates annular puncture induced intervertebral disc degeneration in rabbit model

Low back pain is a musculoskeletal disorders implicated to disc degeneration. Grape seed extracts (GSEs) is a natural flavonoids rich compound with antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. This study is aimed at investigating the inhibitory and anabolic response of GSE on annular punctured induced disc degeneration in rabbit model. Twenty-Eight New Zealand white rabbits (weighing about 2.0-3.5 kg) were used with institutional animal care committee's approval. The animals were divided into four groups (n=7 per group). Group A (non-punctured group) received distilled water orally for 4 weeks. Group B (punctured group) received distilled water for 4 weeks. Group C (punctured treated group) received distilled water for 4 weeks and thereafter received 500 mg/kg of GSE for another 4 weeks. Group D received 500 mg/kg of GSE immediately after puncture for 4 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed with intramuscular injection of ketamine followed by intravenous injection of sodium pentobarbital. The percentage disc height index of the punctured group showed significant decrease compared to the control and treated groups. Histological and immunohistochemical studies showed distortion in the disc morphology, decrease in chondrocyte like cells, disorganization of collagen and elastic fibers, increase Bax expression levels in the punctured group compared to control and treated groups which was attenuated after GSE administration. GSE has preventive and restorative effects on punctured induced disc preventing the degradation of collagen fibrils within the disc tissues.

Effect of dietary grape marc on fresh and refrigerated boar semen

In several studies there has been evaluation of the dietary addition of antioxidants to improve the quality of fresh and stored semen in domestic animals. Grape marc (GM), as the residue of vinification, contains large amounts of polyphenols with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antiaging effects. In this study, two regimens of dietary GM supplementation (2% and 4%) were tested regarding effects on the characteristics and lipid peroxidation of fresh and stored semen. The dietary supplementation of GM improved sperm characteristics in fresh semen, especially at 4% of GM. There were greater values for all kinetic variables and membrane integrity, and lesser values for sperm abnormalities and lipid peroxidation with 2% and 4% GM supplementation. Lipid peroxidation of the pellet was less with both 2% and 4% GM supplementation. During sperm storage, the dietary supplementation of GM improved the quality of sperm, with greater values for kinetic variables and membrane integrity at day 15 of storage. In the present study, supplementation of GM in boar diets improved fresh semen characteristics and reduced the lipid peroxidation of ejaculated spermatozoa, possibly due to the effect of polyphenols present in the GM. Consequently, this likely resulted in improved sperm quality during storage.

Grape seed extract and chromium nicotinate reduce impacts of heat stress in Simmental × Qinchuan steers

To assess the impacts of grape seed extract (GSE) fed with or without chromium nicotinate (CN) on beef steers under heat stress conditions, 40 Simmental × Qinchuan steers (400 ± 10 days old; 410 ± 8.0 kg) were randomly assigned to one of four diets (n = 10 per group): basal diet (CON group); basal diet + 33 mg/day CN (CN group); basal diet + 65 mg/kg DM GSE (GSE group); and basal diet + 33 mg/day CN + 65 mg/kg DM GSE (CN + GSE group). This study was conducted in summer and the steers were housed in outdoor shaded pens (10 steers/pen) and fed individually. The experiment lasted for 35 days, the first 7 days for diet and housing condition adaptation. The amount of feed intake was recorded daily; individual bodyweight was recorded on Days 8, 22, and 36. On Day 36 before feeding, six steers per group were slaughtered for collection of blood and tissue samples. Average daily liveweight gain and dry matter intake of steers were increased by the GSE, CN, and CN + GSE treatments (P &lt; 0.05). Dietary treatments increased the activities of glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase in plasma (P &lt; 0.05) and plasma concentration of interleukin 10 on Days 22 and 36 (P &lt; 0.05), whereas decreased plasma concentration of tumour necrosis factor-α on Day 22 (P &lt; 0.05). Overall, supplementation of GSE alone or with CN had positive effects on the growth performance of steers under heat stress conditions.

Selenium-Rich Ricegrass Juice Improves Antioxidant Properties and Nitric Oxide Inhibition in Macrophage Cells

Ricegrass juice (Oryza sativa L.) was introduced as a functional food as the consumption of sprouts or seedlings has been claimed to provide high nutritive value. Selenium (Se) is a trace mineral that plays a key role in the human antioxidation scheme. Supplementation of Se into plants is one strategy to enhance plant bioactivities, and the consumption of Se plant foods may confer superior health benefits. In this study, ricegrass juice extract was analyzed for its major phenolic components. The effect of ricegrass juice extracts bio-fortified with 0, 10 and 40 mg Se/L named as RG0, RG10, and RG40, respectively, were investigated for a percentage of cell viability, changes of endogenous antioxidant enzymes, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide inhibition in RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Flavone glycosides, namely chrysoeriol arabinosyl arabinoside derivatives, were found to be the foremost bioactive components in ricegrass juice extract indicated by UHPLC-MS. The results of cell culture assessment revealed that RG40 showed an ability to promote macrophage cell proliferation at low concentration. Ricegrass juice extract in all treatments possessed the ability to reduce malondialdehyde content, which may be regarded as the bioactivity of phenolic compounds. Moreover, Se also played a role in this effect since RG40 showed the greatest ability via increasing the level of GPx enzyme. It was also discovered that phenolic compounds in the extracts played a role in inhibiting nitric oxide in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, RG40 expressed significantly higher NO inhibition properties at IC₅₀ 118.76 µg/mL compared to RG0 and RG10, at 147.02 and 147.73 µg/mL, respectively. Se bio-fortified ricegrass juice could be considered as a new potent functional food that can lower the risk of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation diseases.

Procyanidins Mitigate Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis by, at Least in Part, Suppressing Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling

Procyanidins are a family of plant metabolites that have been suggested to mitigate osteoarthritis pathogenesis in mice. However, the underlying mechanism is largely unknown. This study aimed to determine whether procyanidins mitigate traumatic injury-induced osteoarthritis (OA) disease progression, and whether procyanidins exert a chondroprotective effect by, at least in part, suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor signaling. Procyanidins (extracts from pine bark), orally administered to mice subjected to surgery for destabilization of the medial meniscus, significantly slowed OA disease progression. Real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that procyanidin treatment reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and effectors in OA pathogenesis that are regulated by vascular endothelial growth factor. Procyanidin-suppressed vascular endothelial growth factor expression was correlated with reduced phosphorylation of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 in human OA primary chondrocytes. Moreover, components of procyanidins, procyanidin B2 and procyanidin B3 exerted effects similar to those of total procyanidins in mitigating the OA-related gene expression profile in the primary culture of human OA chondrocytes in the presence of vascular endothelial growth factor. Together, these findings suggest procyanidins mitigate OA pathogenesis, which is mediated, at least in part, by suppressing vascular endothelial growth factor signaling.

Supercritical fluid extraction of grape seeds: extract chemical composition, antioxidant activity and inhibition of nitrite production in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells

Grape by-products are a rich source of bioactive compounds having broad medicinal properties, but are usually wasted from juice/wine processing industries.

Quantitative evaluation of in vitro effects and interactions of active fractions in a Chinese medicinal formula (Yaotongning Capsule) on rat chondrocytes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yaotongning Capsule (YTNC) is a Traditional Chinese Medicinal (TCM) formula that has been demonstrated to be effective for osteoarthritis (OA) treatment in clinical use. Many compounds and 10 component medicinal materials (CMMs for short, i.e., the fundamental elements used in TCM formulas) in YTNC are challenging to study the pharmacological effects and interactions of the CMMs. Besides, it is difficult to know whether the YTNC formula is reasonable, and if YTNC formula could be improved without comparing YTNC with other TCM formulas of treating OA. Based on different combinations of the active fractions from the 10 CMMs of YTNC and eight additional herbs frequently used in the TCM formulas of treating OA, the present study evaluated systematically the in vitro effects of these active fractions and the interactions among the active fractions from YTNC on rat chondrocytes to find possible solutions of the above questions.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on the formulation of YTNC and the concept of combinatorial chemistry, the active fractions were applied to form the whole YTNC prescription (i.e., the combination of all YTNC active fractions and the extract of YTNC׳s vehicle), five disassembled formulas of YTNC (i.e., the combinations of some active fractions in YTNC) and 21 TCM samples consisted of different kinds of active fractions. The degenerated chondrocytes were induced with interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and then the half-effective concentration (EC50) value of the proliferation activity was analyzed to evaluate the 27 TCM samples. Nine samples were screened for the following evaluation on glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis. Rat articular cartilage was obtained from six Sprague-Dawley rats (seven days of age), and then chondrocytes were isolated through enzymatic digestion with 0.2% Collagenase II. Proliferations of chondrocytes were examined through Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, when the intracellular levels of GAG were detected by 1,9-Dimethylmethylene blue staining. The interactions between the active fractions in YTNC were evaluated by comparing experimental EC50 values of the YTNC formulas with their additive EC50 values. The effects of every active fraction were estimated by comparing the EC50 values of the TCM sample containing the active fraction with that of the initial sample without the active fraction.

RESULTS

The whole formula of YTNC was very good at promoting the proliferation and GAG synthesis among all the 27 TCM samples. The vehicle of YTNC (Chinese rice wine) strengthened the two activities of YTNC. Refer to promoting the proliferation in chondrocytes, Davallia mariesii flavonoids (not belong to YTNC) were more potent than Glycyrrhiza uralensis flavonoids in YTNC, while the saponins, volatile oils and polysaccharides of YTNC were more potent than those from the eight additional herbs. Some samples including fewer active fractions were as good as YTNC. The YTNC formula and its disassembled formulas exhibited good activities both in promoting the proliferation and GAG synthesis, and the whole formula was most potent among the six YTNC formulas.

CONCLUSIONS

The YTNC formula is reasonable and has advantage in promoting the proliferation and GAG synthesis in IL-1β induced chondrocytes. YTNC׳s vehicle Chinese rice wine plays an important role in strengthening the activity of YTNC. YTNC may have the potential activity on treating chondrocytes degeneration caused by OA. However, the formula still can be simplified based on the combination of alkaloids, flavonoids and 50% of saponins from Glycyrrhiza uralensis to improve its quality controllability and safety. The present study can be a quite purposeful work for developing new YTNC-based formulas with maximal therapeutic efficacy and minimal adverse effects.

Grape seed extract supplementation attenuates the heat stress-induced responses of jejunum epithelial cells in Simmental × Qinchuan steers

Grape seed extract (GSE), a rich source of polyphenols, is reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. The objective of the present study was to determine whether GSE could attenuate the heat stress-induced responses of jejunum epithelial cells (JEC) in cattle. The JEC of a steer (Simmental × Qinchuan) were exposed to heat stress for 2 h in the absence (0 μg/ml) or presence (10, 20, 40 and 80 μg/ml) of GSE in the culture medium. When cultured at 40°C, JEC supplemented with GSE exhibited increased glutathione peroxidase activity (P= 0·04), viability (P= 0·004), and mRNA expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF; P= 0·03) and EGF receptor (EGFR; P = 0·01). Under the same conditions, the cells exhibited decreased mRNA expression of IL-8 (P= 0·01) and TNF-α (P= 0·03) and decreased protein concentrations of IL-1β (P= 0·02), Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4; P= 0·04) and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70; P< 0·001). When cultured at 43°C, JEC supplemented with GSE exhibited increased catalase activity (P= 0·04), viability (P< 0·001), and mRNA expression of EGF (P< 0·001) and EGFR (P< 0·001) and decreased protein concentrations of IL-1β (P< 0·001), TLR4 (P= 0·03) and HSP70 (P< 0·001), as well as mRNA expression of IL-8 (P< 0·001), TLR4 (P= 0·002) and TNF-α (P< 0·001). Temperature × GSE concentration interactions were also observed for the concentrations of IL-1β (P< 0·001), IL-8 (P< 0·001), TNF-α (P= 0·01) and HSP70 (P= 0·04) and viability (P< 0·001) of JEC. The results of the present study indicate that GSE can attenuate the responses of JEC induced by heat stress within a certain range of temperatures.

Recent advances and uses of grape flavonoids as nutraceuticals

Grape is one of the oldest fruit crops domesticated by humans. The numerous uses of grape in making wine, beverages, jelly, and other products, has made it one of the most economically important plants worldwide. The complex phytochemistry of the berry is characterized by a wide variety of compounds, most of which have been demonstrated to have therapeutic or health promoting properties. Among them, flavonoids are the most abundant and widely studied, and have enjoyed greater attention among grape researchers in the last century. Recent studies have shown that the beneficial health effects promoted by consumption of grape and grape products are attributed to the unique mix of polyphenolic compounds. As the largest group of grape polyphenols, flavonoids are the main candidates considered to have biological properties, including but not limited to antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antimicrobial, antiviral, cardioprotective, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. Here, we discuss the recent scientific advances supporting the beneficial health qualities of grape and grape-derived products, mechanisms of their biological activity, bioavailability, and their uses as nutraceuticals. The advantages of modern plant cell based biotechnology as an alternative method for production of grape nutraceuticals and improvement of their health qualities are also discussed.

Modulation of endogenous antioxidant system by wine polyphenols in human disease

Numerous studies indicate that moderate red wine consumption is associated with a protective effect against all-cause mortality. Since oxidative stress constitutes a unifying mechanism of injury of many types of disease processes, it should be expected that polyphenolic antioxidants account for this beneficial effect. Nevertheless, beyond the well-known antioxidant properties of these compounds, they may exert several other protective mechanisms. Indeed, the overall protective effect of polyphenols is due to their large array of biological actions, such as free radical-scavenging, metal chelation, enzyme modulation, cell signalling pathways modulation and gene expression effects, among others. Wine possesses a variety of polyphenols, being resveratrol its most outstanding representative, due to its pleiotropic biological properties. The presence of ethanol in wine aids to polyphenol absorption, thereby contributing to their bioavailability. Before absorption, polyphenols must be hydrolyzed by intestinal enzymes or by colonic microflora. Then, they undergo intestinal and liver metabolism. There have been no reported polyphenol adverse effects derived from intakes currently associated with the normal diet. However, supplements for health-protection should be cautiously used as no level definition has been given to make sure the dose is safe. The role of oxidative stress and the beneficial effects of wine polyphenols against cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes, microbial, inflammatory, neurodegenerative and kidney diseases and ageing are reviewed. Future large scale randomized clinical trials should be conducted to fully establish the therapeutic use of each individual wine polyphenol against human disease.

Biological activities of polyphenols from grapes

The dietary consumption of grape and its products is associated with a lower incidence of degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers. Most recent interest has focused on the bioactive phenolic compounds in grape. Anthocyanins, flavanols, flavonols and resveratrol are the most important grape polyphenols because they possess many biological activities, such as antioxidant, cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-inflammation, antiaging and antimicrobial properties. This review summarizes current knowledge on the bioactivities of grape phenolics. The extraction, isolation and identification methods of polyphenols from grape as well as their bioavailability and potential toxicity also are included.