Bee bread attenuates the progression of atherosclerosis by activating Nrf2/Keap1 and modulating TNF-α/NF-κβ-associated mast cell migration and a mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway in the obese rat model

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) alleviates the inflammatory response and recovers oral microbiota in acetic acid-induced oral inflammation mice

The oral microbiota, the second largest microbiome in the human body, plays an integral role in maintaining both the local oral and systemic health of the host. Oral microecological imbalances have been identified as a potential risk factor for numerous oral and systemic diseases. As a representative component of tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has demonstrated inhibitory effects on most pathogens in single-microbial models. In this study, the regulatory effect of EGCG on more complex oral microbial systems was further explored through a mouse model of acetic acid-induced oral inflammation. Acetic acid induces histological damage in the cheek pouch, tongue, and throat, such as broken mucosa, submucosal edema, and muscular disorders. These detrimental effects were ameliorated significantly following EGCG treatment. Additionally, EGCG reduced the levels of the inflammatory cytokines interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α to alleviate the inflammation of the tongue, cheek pouch, and throat. According to the 16S rDNA gene sequencing data, EGCG treatment contributed to increased diversity of the oral microbiota and the reversal of oral microecological disorder. This study demonstrates the regulatory effect of EGCG on dysregulated oral microbiota, providing a potential option for the prevention and treatment of oral-microbiota-associated diseases.

Structures, Sources, Identification/Quantification Methods, Health Benefits, Bioaccessibility, and Products of Isorhamnetin Glycosides as Phytonutrients

In recent years, people have tended to consume phytonutrients and nutrients in their daily diets. Isorhamnetin glycosides (IGs) are an essential class of flavonoids derived from dietary and medicinal plants such as Opuntia ficus-indica, Hippophae rhamnoides, and Ginkgo biloba. This review summarizes the structures, sources, quantitative and qualitative analysis technologies, health benefits, bioaccessibility, and marketed products of IGs. Routine and innovative assay methods, such as IR, TLC, NMR, UV, MS, HPLC, UPLC, and HSCCC, have been widely used for the characterization and quantification of IGs. All of the therapeutic effects of IGs discovered to date are collected and discussed in this study, with an emphasis on the relevant mechanisms of their health-promoting effects. IGs exhibit diverse biological activities against cancer, diabetes, hepatic diseases, obesity, and thrombosis. They exert therapeutic effects through multiple networks of underlying molecular signaling pathways. Owing to these benefits, IGs could be utilized to make foods and functional foods. IGs exhibit higher bioaccessibility and plasma concentrations and longer average residence time in blood than aglycones. Overall, IGs as phytonutrients are very promising and have excellent application potential.

Therapeutic Effects of Heterotrigona itama (Stingless Bee) Bee Bread in Improving Hepatic Lipid Metabolism through theActivation of the Keap1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway in an Obese Rat Model

Bee bread (BB) has traditionally been used as a dietary supplement to treat liver problems. This study evaluated the therapeutic effects of Heterotrigona itama BB from Malaysia on obesity-induced hepatic lipid metabolism disorder via the regulation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway. Male Sprague Dawley rats were fed with either a normal diet or high-fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks to induce obesity. Following 6 weeks, obese rats were treated either with distilled water (OB group), BB (0.5 g/kg body weight/day) (OB + BB group) or orlistat (10 mg/kg body weight/day) (OB + OR group) concurrent with HFD for another 6 weeks. BB treatment suppressed Keap1 and promoted Nrf2 cytoplasmic and nuclear translocations, leading to a reduction in oxidative stress, and promoted antioxidant enzyme activities in the liver. Furthermore, BB down-regulated lipid synthesis and its regulator levels (SIRT1, AMPK), and up-regulated fatty acid β-oxidation in the liver of obese rats, being consistent with alleviated lipid levels, improved hepatic histopathological changes (steatosis, hepatocellular hypertrophy, inflammation and glycogen expression) and prevented progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. These results showed the therapeutic potentials of H. itama BB against oxidative stress and improved lipid metabolism in the liver of obese rats possibly by targeting the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway, hence proposing its role as a natural supplement capable of treating obesity-induced fatty liver disease.