Humic substances from composted fennel residues control the inflammation induced by Helicobacter pylori infection in AGS cells

Humic Acid Derived from Vermicompost Improves Bone Mineral Content and Alters Oxidative Stress Markers in Ovariectomized Mice

Background: Estrogen depletion alters bone mineralization and oxidative stress. Antioxidants like humic acids (HA) may help mitigate bone demineralization and redox imbalances. Thus, this study evaluated the effects of HA on bone mineral composition and oxidative stress markers in an experimental menopause model. Methods: Twenty-four female C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups (n = 6/group): Sham; Sham + HA; Ovariectomized (OVX); and OVX + HA. The menopause model was induced by bilateral ovariectomy at the beginning of the experiment. HA derived from biomass vermicompost was administered daily by gavage for 28 days. After euthanasia, femurs and fragments of the gastrocnemius muscle, liver, and kidney were collected. Bone elemental composition was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) activities were assessed in muscle, renal, and hepatic tissues. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni's post hoc test. Results: Untreated OVX mice exhibited a significant reduction in femoral calcium content (p < 0.05). However, HA treatment increased calcium levels and improved the Ca/P ratio (p < 0.05). H2O2 activity was reduced in the liver and kidney of OVX + HA mice compared to untreated animals (p < 0.05). CAT activity in muscle increased in the OVX + HA group compared to the OVX (p < 0.05). Conclusions: HA treatment improved femoral elemental composition and modulated oxidative stress markers in an experimental menopause model.

Humic acid from vermicompost effectively regulates the redox status and mitigates the progression of experimental periodontitis

The progression of periodontal disease (PD) involves the action of oxidative stress mediators. Antioxidant agents may potentially attenuate the development of this condition. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the effects of different doses of humic acid (HA), extracted from biomass vermicomposting, on redox status and parameters related to PD progression in rats. Fifty-four adult male Wistar rats were distributed into six experimental groups (control; PD; PD + 40 mg/kg of HA; PD + 80 mg/kg of HA; PD + 160 mg/kg of HA; PD + 320 mg/kg of HA). HA was administered by gavage for 28 days, and PD was induced by ligature on the mandibular first molars on the 14th day of treatment. After euthanasia, alveolar bone loss, oxidative stress in the gum and erythrocytes, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatinine were analyzed. Animals treated with HA showed less bone loss at the dose of 80 mg/kg compared to the untreated PD group (p < 0.05). Animals treated with HA at doses higher than 80 mg/kg showed improvements in local and systemic redox status parameters (total antioxidant activity, thiobarbituric reactive substances, carbonyl derivatives, and superoxide dismutase) compared to the PD group (p < 0.05). Treatment with HA reduced serum levels of creatinine (at doses of 80 and 160 mg/kg) and AST (at doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg) compared to the PD group (p < 0.05). HA treatment attenuated alveolar bone loss and improved local and systemic oxidative stress parameters in ligature-induced PD rats.

Antioxidant Features of Humic Products by ABTS Assay

Oxidative stress plays a pivotal role in driving immunosenescence by disrupting cellular homeostasis and impairing immune function. Humic substances exhibit scavenging activity against reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibit ROS generation via metal chelation, and modulate endogenous antioxidant enzyme activity. Additionally, humic substances display anti-inflammatory effects, further supporting cellular redox balance. Given their antioxidant activity, humic substances hold promise as natural compounds for mitigating oxidative stress-associated immunosenescence. Here we describe the evaluation of antioxidant capacities of humic products by ABTS spectrophotometric assay.

Humic Acid Derived from Agricultural Biomass Mitigates Alveolar Bone Loss and Modulates Systemic Inflammatory Cytokines in Rats with Periodontitis

BACKGROUND

Humic acid (HA) is a bioproduct that can be extracted from different sources and has anti-inflammatory properties that have been little explored in the treatment and prevention of Periodontal Disease (PD). Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of HA on the progression of PD in rats.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Wistar rats were distributed into three experimental groups (Control/ Sham, PD, and PD + HA). HA was administered by gavage (80 mg/kg/day) for 28 days, and PD was induced 14 days after the beginning of treatment. Bone loss, bone topography, and surface elemental composition were analyzed. Circulating IL1-beta, TNF-alpha, and IL-10 levels were evaluated through Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA).

RESULTS

The animals treated with HA showed lower bone loss (p < 0.05). Calcium and phosphorus levels on the alveolar bone surface were lower in the PD group (p < 0.05) compared to the control group, whereas the animals treated with HA exhibited attenuation in this loss (p < 0.05). The animals treated with HA showed reduced TNF-alpha, IL1-beta, IL-10, and the TNF-alpha/IL-10 ratio compared to those with PD (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Treatment with HA attenuated the parameters of alveolar bone loss and modulated systemic inflammatory parameters in rats with ligature-induced PD.

Phage-resistance alters Lipid A reactogenicity: a new strategy for LPS-based conjugate vaccines against Salmonella Rissen

Salmonella enterica serovar Rissen (S. Rissen) is an emerging causative agent of foodborne diseases. The current emergence of antibiotic resistance makes necessary alternative therapeutic strategies. In this study, we investigated the potential of a phage-resistant strain of S. Rissen (RR) as a tool for developing an effective lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-based vaccine. The LPS O-antigen is known to play critical roles in protective immunity against Salmonella. However, the high toxicity of the LPS lipid A moiety limits its use in vaccines. Here, we demonstrated that the acquisition of bacteriophage resistance by S. Rissen leads to structural modifications in the LPS structure. Using NMR and mass spectrometry, we characterized the LPS from phage-resistant strains as a smooth variant bearing under-acylated Lipid A portions (penta- and tetra-acylated forms). We then combined RT-qPCR and NMR-based metabolomics to explore the effects of phage resistance and LPS modification on bacterial fitness and virulence. Finally, we conducted in vivo studies to determine whether lysogeny-induced remodeling of LPS affects the host immune response. Results revealed that the under-acylated variant of LPS from RR attenuates the inflammatory response in BALB/c mice, while eliciting a specific antibody response that protects against S. Rissen (RW) infection. In conclusion, our findings suggest that phage resistance, through lipid A modification, may offer a novel strategy for reducing LPS toxicity, highlighting its potential as a promising biological approach for developing LPS-based vaccines against Salmonella infections.

Lignin nanoparticles from hydrotropic fractionation of giant reed and eucalypt: Structural elucidation and antibacterial properties

A hydrotropic solution of maleic acid (MA) was exploited to fractionate giant reed (AD) and eucalypt (EUC). The pre-treatment was successful for AD, while it was unsatisfactory for EUC, likely due to unoptimized reaction conditions. Interestingly, lignin nanoparticles (LNP) were produced via spontaneous aggregation following spent liquor dilution. LNP were studied by a plethora of analytical techniques, such as thermogravimetry, electron microscopy, and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Notwithstanding LNP from both AD and EUC showed similar thermal behaviour and morphology, a greater content of aliphatic hydroxyl, carboxyl, guaiacyl and p-hydroxyphenyl moieties was reported for AD-LNP, whereas EUC-LNP had a larger amount of syringyl groups and a higher S/G ratio. Also, the 1H-DOSY NMR indicated the lower size of AD-LNP. Moreover, the LNP were found to negatively impact on the development of several human or plant pathogens, and their bioactivity was related to the occurrence of guaiacyl and p-hydroxyphenyl moieties and a lower the LNP size. We therefore found that MA delignification allows both to achieve high delignification efficiency and to obtain LNP with promising antibacterial effect. Such LNP may help counteracting the antibiotics resistance and sustain the quest for finding sustainable agrochemicals.

Polystyrene Microplastics Exacerbate Candida albicans Infection Ability In Vitro and In Vivo

Plastic pollution is an important environmental problem, and microplastics have been shown to have harmful effects on human and animal health, affecting immune and metabolic physiological functions. Further, microplastics can interfere with commensal microorganisms and exert deleterious effects on exposure to pathogens. Here, we compared the effects of 1 µm diameter polystyrene microplastic (PSMPs) on Candida albicans infection in both in vitro and in vivo models by using HT29 cells and Galleria mellonella larvae, respectively. The results demonstrated that PSMPs could promote Candida infection in HT29 cells and larvae of G. mellonella, which show immune responses similar to vertebrates. In this study, we provide new experimental evidence for the risk to human health posed by PSMPs in conjunction with Candida infections.

Efficacy of water application of a humic substance, butyric acid, vitamins C, D, and E and/or electrolytes on performance and mortality in health-challenged nursery pigs¹

Health challenges continue to be rampant in nursery pigs which has led to increased industry-wide mortality trends. Therefore, the objective of these three studies was to evaluate a water supplement (HV; HydraVantage, Kent Nutrition Group, Muscatine, IA) which is a proprietary blend of a humic substance, butyric acid, and vitamins C, D, and E, as well as an electrolyte blend on nursery pig performance and mortality. Experiment 1 consisted of 196 crossbred weanling pigs (7 pigs per pen with 14 pens per treatment) which were randomly allotted by BW to two treatments consisting of control (water for 33 d) or HV at 15 g/L of stock solution and proportioned through a medicator (1:128) for 11 d followed by water for 22 d. There were no performance differences. However, mortality was reduced (P < 0.01) from 6.12% for the control to 0.00% for HV. In experiment 2, there were 488 weanling pigs (6 to 10 pigs/pen with 14 pens per treatment) which were randomly allotted by BW to four treatments in a 34-d trial. Treatment 1 was control (water), and treatments 2 and 4 were HV at 15 g/L of stock solution for 11 and 34 d, respectively. Treatment 3 utilized HV at 15 g/L stock solution during days 0 to 11 with 7.5 g HV/L stock solution utilized during days 11 to 21 followed by water. No performance differences were observed among the four treatments. Mortality was 10.89%, 4.82%, 5.54%, and 7.26% for treatments 1 to 4, respectively, with treatment 1 having a higher mortality (P < 0.05) compared to treatments 2 to 4. In experiment 3, a 2 × 2 factorial study was conducted (7 pigs per pen with 14 pens per treatment) in which the treatments were: 1) water; 2) HV at 15 g/L stock solution for 34 d; 3) electrolytes at 241 g/L stock solution for 34 d; and 4) HV at 15 g/L of stock solution and electrolytes at 226 g/L of stock for 34 d. Overall pen gain tended to be improved (P = 0.09) with supplemental HV. Moreover, mortality was reduced (P = 0.06) by 36% (16.86% mortality for treatments 1 and 3 vs. 10.73% mortality for treatments 2 and 4). Supplemental electrolytes had no effect on mortality. These data suggest that HV has a positive effect by reducing mortality in nursery pigs undergoing health challenges.