Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of the Edible Tree Peony Flower and Underlying Mechanisms of Preventive Effect on H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage in Caco-2 Cells

Metabolite Profiling and Biological Activity Assessment of Paeonia ostii Anthers and Pollen Using UPLC-QTOF-MS

Paeonia ostii is an important economic oil and medicinal crop. Its anthers are often used to make tea in China with beneficial effects on human health. However, the metabolite profiles, as well as potential biological activities of P. ostii anthers and the pollen within anthers have not been systematically analyzed, which hinders the improvement of P. ostii utilization. With comprehensive untargeted metabolomic analysis using UPLC-QTOF-MS, we identified a total of 105 metabolites in anthers and pollen, mainly including phenylpropanoids, polyketides, organic acids, benzenoids, lipids, and organic oxygen compounds. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed the metabolite differences between anthers and pollen, with higher carbohydrates and flavonoids content in pollen and higher phenolic content in anthers. Meanwhile, both anthers and pollen extracts exhibited antioxidant activity, antibacterial activity, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activity. In general, the anther stage of S4 showed the highest biological activity among all samples. This study illuminated the metabolites and biological activities of anthers and pollen of P. ostii, which supports the further utilization of them.

Anti-oxidant potential of plants and probiotic spp. in alleviating oxidative stress induced by H2O2

Cells produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) as a metabolic by-product. ROS molecules trigger oxidative stress as a feedback response that significantly initiates biological processes such as autophagy, apoptosis, and necrosis. Furthermore, extensive research has revealed that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important ROS entity and plays a crucial role in several physiological processes, including cell differentiation, cell signalling, and apoptosis. However, excessive production of H2O2 has been shown to disrupt biomolecules and cell organelles, leading to an inflammatory response and contributing to the development of health complications such as collagen deposition, aging, liver fibrosis, sepsis, ulcerative colitis, etc. Extracts of different plant species, phytochemicals, and Lactobacillus sp (probiotic) have been reported for their anti-oxidant potential. In this view, the researchers have gained significant interest in exploring the potential plants spp., their phytochemicals, and the potential of Lactobacillus sp. strains that exhibit anti-oxidant properties and health benefits. Thus, the current review focuses on comprehending the information related to the formation of H2O2, the factors influencing it, and their pathophysiology imposed on human health. Moreover, this review also discussed the anti-oxidant potential and role of different extract of plants, Lactobacillus sp. and their fermented products in curbing H2O2‑induced oxidative stress in both in-vitro and in-vivo models via boosting the anti-oxidative activity, inhibiting of important enzyme release and downregulation of cytochrome c, cleaved caspases-3, - 8, and - 9 expression. In particular, this knowledge will assist R&D sections in biopharmaceutical and food industries in developing herbal medicine and probiotics-based or derived food products that can effectively alleviate oxidative stress issues induced by H2O2 generation.

Modification on phenolic profiles and enhancement of antioxidant activity of proso millets during germination

Changes in phenolic profiles and antioxidant activity of three varieties of proso millet during germination were investigated. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) increased significantly with prolongation in germination period. After germination for 6 days, TPC of the free and bound fractions increased 6.30-8.66-fold and 77.65-116.18%, respectively. The free and bound phenolic compounds identified by UPLC-MS/MS, displayed significant variations. Feruloylquinic acid and N,N'-bis-(p-coumaroyl)-putrescine biosynthesized during germination, are reported for the first time in proso millets. Other phenolics including trans- and cis-ferulic, trans-p-coumaric, vanillic acid and ferulic acid dimers (DFAs) were increased significantly along with a new DFA (8,5'-DFA) seemingly produced during germination. The germinated proso milllets displayed superior antioxidant activity than the corresponding ungerminated samples indicating that germination could be one applicable method for improving phenolic profiles and antioxidant capacity of proso millets. Thus germinated proso millet could be exploited as a functional ingredient in several products.

Comprehensive Metabolite Profile Uncovers the Bioactive Components, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities in Wild Tree Peony Leaves

Tree peonies (Paeonia Section Moutan)-including nine wild species, which belong to subsections Vaginatae and Delavayanae-are economically important plants with ornamental, nutritional, and medicinal applications. In this study, for the first time, we determined the bioactive components and antioxidant activities and antibacterial activities of the newly grown leaves of nine wild tree peony species (WTPS). A total of 276 bioactive components were identified through non-targeted metabolomics; more than 80% of the 276 metabolites identified are terpenoids and flavonoids. A total of 42 differential metabolites were quantitatively determined. The main differential metabolites were Paeoniflorin, Luteoloside, Hyperin, Apigenin-7-glucoside, Rhoifolin, and Cantharidin. Such a high terpenoid and flavonoid content of the leaf extracts renders them as species with strong antibacterial capacities, and most of the bacteria tested showed greater sensitivity derived from the members of subsection Vaginatae than those of subsection Delavayanae. All WTPS have significant antioxidant activity; this activity is attributed to high levels of the total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC), of which, among the nine WTPS, P. lutea has the strongest antioxidant capacity. Our results provided a theoretical basis for the in-deep application of tree peony leaves for food, medical, and pharmaceutical industries.

Colloidal Nanoparticles Isolated from Duck Soup Exhibit Antioxidant Effect on Macrophages and Enterocytes

Food-derived colloidal nanoparticles (CNPs) have been found in many food cooking processes, and their specific effects on human health need to be further explored. Here, we report on the successful isolation of CNPs from duck soup. The hydrodynamic diameters of the obtained CNPs were 255.23 ± 12.77 nm, which comprised lipids (51.2%), protein (30.8%), and carbohydrates (7.9%). As indicated by the tests of free radical scavenging and ferric reducing capacities, the CNPs possessed remarkable antioxidant activity. Macrophages and enterocytes are essential for intestinal homeostasis. Therefore, RAW 264.7 and Caco-2 were applied to establish an oxidative stress model to investigate the antioxidant characteristics of the CNPs. The results showed that the CNPs from duck soup could be engulfed by these two cell lines, and could significantly alleviate 2,2'-Azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative damage. It indicates that the intake of duck soup is beneficial for intestinal health. These data contribute to revealing the underlying functional mechanism of Chinese traditional duck soup and the development of food-derived functional components.

Color, Antioxidant Capacity and Flavonoid Composition in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Cultivars

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis plants are mainly cultivated as ornamental plants, but they also have food and medicinal uses. In this work, 16 H. rosa-sinensis cultivars were studied to measure their colorimetric parameters and the chemical composition of hydroethanolic extracts obtained from their petals. These extracts were characterized using UHPLC-ESI⁺-Obitrap-MS, and their antioxidant activity was evaluated using the ORAC assay. The identified flavonoids included anthocyanins derived from cyanidin, glycosylated flavonols derived from quercetin and kaempferol, and flavan-3-ols such as catechin and epicatechin. Cyanidin-sophoroside was the anthocyanin present in extracts of lilac, pink, orange, and red flowers, but was not detected in extracts of white or yellow flowers. The total flavonol concentration in the flower extracts was inversely proportional to the total anthocyanin content. The flavonol concentration varied according to the cultivar in the following order: red < pink < orange < yellow ≈ white, with the extract from the red flower presenting the lowest flavonol concentration and the highest anthocyanin concentration. The antioxidant activity increased in proportion to the anthocyanin concentration, from 1580 µmol Trolox^®/g sample (white cultivar) to 3840 µmol Trolox^®/g sample (red cultivar).

Thymol Edible Coating Controls Postharvest Anthracnose by Regulating the Synthesis Pathway of Okra Lignin

Okra has received extensive attention due to its high nutritional value and remarkable functional characteristics, but postharvest diseases have severely limited its application. It is important to further explore the methods and potential methods to control the postharvest diseases of okra. In this study, Colletotrichum fioriniae is the major pathogen that causes okra anthracnose, which can be isolated from naturally decaying okra. The pathogenicity of C. fioriniae against okra was preliminarily verified, and the related biological characteristics were explored. At the same time, an observational study was conducted to investigate the in vitro antifungal effect of thymol edible coating (TKL) on C. fioriniae. After culturing at 28 °C for 5 days, it was found that TKL showed an obvious growth inhibition effect on C. fioriniae. The concentration for 50% of the maximal effect was 95.10 mg/L, and the minimum inhibitory concentration was 1000 mg/L. In addition, it was found that thymol edible coating with a thymol concentration of 100 mg/L (TKL100) may cause different degrees of damage to the cell membrane, cell wall, and metabolism of C. fioriniae, thereby inhibiting the growth of hyphae and causing hyphal rupture. Refer to the results of the in vitro bacteriostatic experiment. Furthermore, the okra was sprayed with TKL100. It was found that the TKL100 coating could significantly inhibit the infection of C. fioriniae to okra, reduce the rate of brown spots and fold on the okra surface, and inhibit mycelium growth. In addition, the contents of total phenols and flavonoids of okra treated with TKL100 were higher than those of the control group. Meanwhile, the activities of phenylalaninammo-nialyase, cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase, and 4-coumarate-CoA ligase in the lignin synthesis pathway were generally increased, especially after 6 days in a 28 °C incubator. The lignin content of TKL-W was the highest, reaching 65.62 ± 0.68 mg/g, which was 2.24 times of that of CK-W. Therefore, TKL may promote the synthesis of total phenols and flavonoids in okra, then stimulate the activity of key enzymes in the lignin synthesis pathway, and finally regulate the synthesis of lignin in okra. Thus, TKL could have a certain controlling effect on okra anthracnose.

Effect of the main constituents of Pistacia lentiscus leaves against the DPPH radical and xanthine oxidase: experimental and theoretical study

The aim of this work is to study the content of phenolic compounds in P lentiscus leaves and their antioxidant effect. After extracting the phenolic compounds, fractionation by liquid/liquid partition with increasing polarity gives five extracts. Three of them (ButF, AqF and ButA) were found to have good antioxidant activity. Their IC_50s for the inhibition of the free radical formation of DPPH are 1.76 µg/mL, 1.307 µg/ml, and 1.77 µg/mL, respectively. These values are very interesting, considering the effect of the powerful flavonoid quercetin, whose IC₅₀ against DPPH is 1.53 µg/mL. These extracts are also active against xanthine oxidase (XO). The IC_50s measured are 0.14 mg/mL, 0.186 mg/mL and 0.33 mg/mL for ButF, Aq F and ButAq F extract respectively, in comparison with allopurinol (0.44 mg/mL). A phytochemical analysis by LC/ESI-MS-MS was performed to explain the observed activities. The results show 22 peaks representing: flavanols, namely catechin, d-Gallocatechin, and gallocatechin gallate. The only flavone detected in the studied extracts was luteolin glucuronide and was found to be in higher amounts in butanolic extract (2,71mg/mL). The phenolic acids and derivatives were also identified in the extracts. A theoretical study was performed to deduce the specificity of the binding between the major compounds identified in the P. lentiscus extract and the xanthine oxidase enzyme using Schrödinger software. The docking procedure was validated using the extraction of ligands from the binding site. Their re-anchoring to the xanthine oxidase structure using quercetin and allopurinol was considered reference molecules. After docking, post-docking minimization was performed to achieve the best scoring poses with the MM-GBSA approach. The dGBind energy of MM-GBSA representing the binding energy of the receptor and the ligand was calculated based on molecular mechanics. Results reveal that β-Glucogallin compounds such as Digalloylquinic acid, Gallocatechin, and Myricetin-3-O rhamnoside are more active than allopurinol, with stronger Docking score (Gscore) and MM-GBSA dGBind.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

A Novel Strategy for Unveiling Spatial Distribution Pattern of Gallotannins in Paeonia rockii and Paeonia ostii Based on LC–QTRAP–MS

Gallotannins (GTs) are a series of hydrolyzable tannins with multiple health-promoting effects. In this study, an integrated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) strategy was developed for unveiling the spatial distribution pattern of GTs in the emerging oilseed crops Paeonia rockii and P. ostii. According to the fragmentation behavior of the representative GT (1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, PGG), the diagnostic neutral loss (NL) of 170 Da was chosen for the non-targeted screening of GT precursors. Simultaneously, the tandem mass spectrometry spectrum (MS/MS) information was acquired through an enhanced product ion (EPI) scan. Nine major GTs were identified in tree peony. To quantify the targeted GTs in different tissues of tree peony, we established a multiple reaction monitoring (MRM)–enhanced product ion (EPI)-based pseudo-targeted approach under the information-dependent acquisition (IDA) mode. The quantitative results show that the GT compounds were ubiquitous in tree peony plants with diverse structures. The typical GT PGG was mainly distributed in roots, leaves, and petals. This strategy can also be utilized for metabolite characterization and quantification in other substrates.

The antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity, and chemical composition of Paeonia delavayi petal

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the functional activity and phytochemical compositions in the flower petals of Paeonia delavayi with different colors.

Materials and Methods

P. delavayi petal extracts were prepared by maceration in methanol, including purple petal extract (PPE), red petal extract (RPE) and yellow petal extract (YPE), and their antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibition activities were evaluated. To correlate these measured activities to phytochemicals in the petals, UPLC-MS/MS-based metabolomics method was applied to profile the compositions in the petals of different colors. Finally, the KEGG metabolic pathways database was used to identify the related metabolic pathways that are responsible for the production of these polyphenolic phytochemicals in the petals.

Results

The results showed that PPE had the highest total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and the strongest ABTS· + scavenging ability, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and acetylcholinesterase inhibition ability in all three samples, while YPE showed the strongest DPPH· scavenging activity and α-glucosidase inhibition ability. A total of 232 metabolites were detected in the metabolomic analysis, 198 of which were flavonoids, chalcones, flavonols, and anthocyanins. Correlation analysis indicated that Peonidin-3-O-arabinoside and cyanidin-3-O-arabinoside were the major contributors to their antioxidant activity. Principal component analysis showed a clear separation between these three petals. In addition, a total of 38, 98, and 96 differential metabolites were identified in PPE, RPE, and YPE, respectively. Pathway enrichment revealed 6 KEGG pathways displayed significant enrichment differences, of which the anthocyanin biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis were the most enriched signaling pathways. It revealed the potential reason for the differences in metabolic and functional levels between different colors of P. delavayi petals.

Conclusions

P. delavayi petals of different colors have different metabolite contents and functional activities, of which the anthocyanin, flavone, and flavonol metabolites are critical in its functional activities, suggesting the anthocyanin biosynthesis, flavone and flavonol biosynthesis pathways be the key pathways responsible for both the petal color and bioactive phytochemicals in P. delavayi flowers.

Aqueous extracts of tree peony petals: renin and angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activities in different colours and flowering stages

Tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andr.) is an ornamental and medicinal plant from China. Previous studies have detected novel blood pressure-regulating substances in this species, which potentiate its value of utilization. To explore these substances, the aqueous extracts of 7 different colours of tree peony petals were assessed for inhibitory activity on renin and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). The results showed that the activity of dark-coloured samples was significantly stronger than that of light-coloured ones. Furthermore, the inhibitory activity of the red tree peony petals ‘Hong TaiYang’ on renin and ACE indicated a downward trend from bud compaction to the full opening stage. The antioxidant activities of the aqueous extracts, on one side, and the correlations between phenolics and flavonoids functionalities and total contents, on the other, were also evaluated. In this regard, the extracts of different samples had ABTS free radical scavenging capacities of 17.28–210.41 mg TE per g DW, DPPH radical scavenging capacities of 35.45–150.78 mg TE per g DW, iron ion reduction capacities of 16.66–150.77 mg TE per g DW, and total phenolic content of 23.94–150.78 mg GAE per g DW. Correlation analysis revealed that the renin and ACE inhibitory activities, the DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging capacities, and the iron reduction ability of different sample extracts were positively correlated with total phenolic contents (p < 0.01). Finally, the aqueous phenolic compounds in the sample extracts tended to show strong renin and ACE inhibitory activities and therefore exhibit a potential auxiliary blood pressure control prospect.

Tree peony petals with different colours and flowering stages were assessed for renin/ACE inhibition. Dark-coloured samples showed higher inhibition than light-coloured ones, and a downward inhibitory trend was found from bud to full opening stage.

Ecotopic over-expression of PoCHS from Paeonia ostii altered the fatty acids composition and content in Arabidopsis thaliana

Chalcone synthase (CHS) is the key enzyme in the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway and has been studied in many plants, but the function of the CHS gene has not been well characterized in Paeonia ostii. In this study, we obtained a CHS homolog gene from P. ostii, which possessed the putative conserved amino acids of chalcone synthase by multiple alignment analysis and demonstrated the highest expression in developing seeds. In vitro assays of the recombinant PoCHS protein confirmed enzymatic activity using malonyl-CoA and 4-coumaroyl-CoA as substrates, and the optimal pH and reaction temperature were 7.5 and 40 °C, respectively. Furthermore, ectopic over-expression of PoCHS in Arabidopsis up-regulated the expression levels of genes involved in seed development (ABI), glycolysis (PKp2, PDH-E1a, and SUS2/3), and especially fatty acid biosynthesis (BCCP2, CAC2, CDS2, FatA, and FAD3). This resulted in an increased unsaturated fatty acid content, especially α-linolenic acid, in transgenic Arabidopsis seeds. In this study, we examined the functions of CHS homolog of P. ostii and demonstrated its new function in seed fatty acid biosynthesis.

Hypoglycemic activity of Origanum vulgare L. and its main chemical constituents identified with HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS

Origanum vulgare L. (O. vulgare) is an important medicine food homology in diabetes. The present study aimed to assess the hypoglycemic effect of the leaf extract of O. vulgare in HepG2 and HepG2-GFP-CYP2E1 (E47) cells, and disclose its potential active components by the HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS method. Firstly, we evaluated the anti-diabetic capacity of the leaf extract of O. vulgare through inhibition of α-glucosidase activity, promotion of glucose uptake, inhibition of glycosylation and relieving of oxidative stress. Secondly, the promoter activity, the mRNA and protein expression of PEPCK and SREBP-1c, and the expression of CPY2E1 and GLUT2 in the O. vulgare mediated anti-diabetic capacity were analyzed in HepG2 and E47 cells. Finally, HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS analysis was performed to identify the herb's main components under 280 nm irradiation. In vitro assays demonstrated that the extract inhibited α-glucosidase activity, promoted glucose uptake, inhibited glycosylation and relieved oxidative stress, which suggested that O. vulgare leaf extract has a strong hypoglycemic capacity. Moreover, mechanistic analysis also showed that the extract decreased the promoter activity and the mRNA and protein expression of PEPCK and SREBP-1c. In addition, the extract inhibited the expression of CPY2E1 and enhanced the expression of GLUT2. Moreover, the UV chromatogram at 280 nm showed six main peaks, identified as amburoside A (or 4-(3',4'-dihydroxybenzoyloxymethyl) phenyl O-β-d-glucopyranoside), luteolin 7-O-glucuronide, apigenin 7-O-glucuronide, rosmarinic acid, lithospermic acid and a novel compound, demethylbenzolignanoid, based on accurate MS data. This work supported the ethnopharmacological usage of O. vulgare as an antidiabetic herbal medicine or dietary supplement and identified its main phenolic compounds.

Nutraceutical potential of dietary phytochemicals in edible flowers-A review

Edible flowers have been in traditional cuisine and phytotherapy for centuries. Recently, the consumption of edible flowers has increased significantly as the phytochemicals in them are known to have numerous health benefits. Information on nutraceutical potentials and health benefits of the phytochemicals available in different varieties of edible flowers and their uses are discussed. It is found that the major groups of dietary phytochemicals in edible flowers include flavonoids, phenolic acids, and anthocyanins and they are capable of exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective gastroprotective, and genoprotective effects. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Edible flowers are good sources of phytochemicals and possessing antioxidant, anti-inflammatory properties, anticancer, anti-diabetic, and cardio-protective properties. However, many edible flowers remain unexplored and underutilized. This review gives eye openings that more in-depth investigations need to be conducted on different edible flowers and they need to be incorporated into commercialized foods and drugs or need to be used for novel nutraceutical development to deliver the potential health benefits to consumers.

Content of Phenolic Compounds and Organic Acids in the Flowers of Selected Tulipa gesneriana Cultivars

The study focused on the determination of phenolic acids, flavonoids and organic acids in five tulip cultivars ‘Barcelona’, ‘Columbus’, ‘Strong Gold’, ‘Super Parrot’ and ‘Tropicana’. The cultivars grown in field and in a greenhouse were exposed after cutting to different times of storage (0, 3 and 6 days). The phenolic profile contained 4-hydroxybenzoic, 2,5-dihydroxybenzoic, gallic, vanillic, syringic, salicylic, protocatechuic, trans-cinnamic, p-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic, chlorogenic and sinapic acids, as well as quercetin, rutin, luteonin, catechin and vitexin. The mean phenolic acid content was in the following order: ‘Columbus’ and ‘Tropicana’ > ’Barcelona’ > ’Strong Gold’ > ’Super Parrot’, while the levels of flavonoids were as follows: ‘Strong Gold’ > ’Barcelona’ > ’Tropicana’ > ’Columbus’ > ’Super Parrot’. The highest content of phenolic acids was confirmed for Columbus and Tropicana, while the lowest was for Super Parrot. However total phenolic content was very similar, observed between the place of cultivation, time of storage and cultivars. Malonic, succinic, acetic and citric acids were the major organic acid components in tulip petals. More organic acids (except malonic) were accumulated in tulip petals from fields than those from the greenhouse, while changes during storage were strictly correlated with cultivars.

Composition of peony petal fatty acids and flavonoids and their effect on Caenorhabditis elegans lifespan

The colorful petals of tree peony (Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) are widely used as a source of additives in food, fragrances, and cosmetics. However, the nutritional composition of peony petals is undetermined, thereby limiting utility and product development. In this work, fresh petals of 15 traditional Chinese tree peony cultivars were selected to analyze the composition of soluble sugars, starch, and soluble protein. Extracted fatty acids (FAs) and flavonoids from petals were characterized by GC-MS and UPLC-triple-TOF-MS, respectively. The oxidative stress resistance (generated by paraquat) effects of petal extracts of three cultivars were also investigated in the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results showed that the petals were highly enriched in soluble sugars. 11 FAs were found in tree peony petals, and their compositions were similar to that of tree peony seeds. A total of 56 flavonoids were detected in tree peony petals, 28 of which were reported for the first time in tree peony petals, indicating that UPLC-triple-TOF-MS can improve the identification efficiency of flavonoids. Further analysis of tree peony petal metabolites indicated that anthocyanidin and flavonol composition might be used as specific chemotaxonomic biomarkers for cultivar classification. Flavonoids, linoleic acid, and α-linolenic acid (ALA) in petals might provide antioxidant activity. 150 mg/L of petal extracts of all three tested cultivars increased the lifespan of C. elegans. It was suggested that the petal extracts possessed anti-aging effects and oxidative stress resistance. These results highlight that tree peony petals can serve as natural antioxidant food resources in the future.

Potential of grape byproducts as functional ingredients in baked goods and pasta

Wine making industry generates high quantities of valuable byproducts that can be used to enhance foods in order to diminish the environmental impact and to obtain more economic benefits. Grape byproducts are rich in phenolic compounds and dietary fiber, which make them suitable to improve the nutritional value of bakery, pastry, and pasta products. The viscoelastic behavior of dough and the textural and the sensory characteristics of baked goods and pasta containing grape byproducts depend on the addition level and particle size. Thus, an optimal dose of a finer grape byproducts flour must be found in order to minimize the negative effects such as low loaf volume and undesirable sensory and textural characteristics they may have on the final product quality. In the same time, an enrichment of the nutritional and functional value of the product by increasing the fiber and antioxidant compounds contents is desired. The aim of this review was to summarize the effects of the chemical components of grape byproducts on the nutritional, functional, rheological, textural, physical, and sensory characteristics of the baked goods and pasta. Further researches about the impact of foods enriched with grape byproducts on the human health, about molecular interactions between components, and about the effects of grape pomace compounds on the shelf life of baked goods and pasta are recommended.

Transport, metabolism and remedial potential of functional food extracts (FFEs) in Caco-2 cells monolayer: A review

Caco-2, a human intestinal carcinoma cell line, has been used to test the absorption and transport mechanism of functional foods and drugs across the intestinal epithelium in order to study their antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Caco-2 cells represent the morphological and functional characteristics of small intestinal cells and capable of expressing brush borders, tight junctions, intestinal efflux and uptake transporters which regulate permeation of drugs and functional food extracts from intestinal lumen to systemic circulation. The integrity of the Caco-2 monolayer is controlled by establishing the TEER between 200 and 1000 O per cm². FFEs affect intestinal permeability by adjusting the tight junction proteins between the cells in order to maintain the epithelial barrier function. Because of the side effects of medicines, there is an increased interest in functional food extracts (FFEs) as drug substitutes. Functional foods undergo intricate transport processes and biotransformation after oral administration. Metabolism and transport studies of FFEs in Caco-2 cells are very important for determining their bioavailability. Functional foods and their constituents produce anti-proliferative and anti-cancer effects through apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and inhibition of various signal transduction pathways across Caco-2 cell lines. The current review has summarized the anti-inflammation, anticancer, antioxidant and cholesterol lowering potential of FFEs using Caco-2 cells through reducing local inflammatory signals, production of ROS and lipid accumulation. The transport, bioavailability, metabolism, mechanisms of actions, cellular pathways adopted by FFEs across Caco-2 cell lines are predominantly affected by their molecular weight, structures and physicochemical properties. These studies are beneficial for investigating the different mechanisms of action of FFEs in the human body.

In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Peptides from Simulated Gastro-Intestinal Digestion Products of Cyprinus carpio haematopterus Scale Gelatin

A two-stage simulated gastro-intestinal (GI) digestion model (2 h pepsin treatment and subsequent 2 h pancreatin treatment at 37 °C) was used to explore the antioxidant activity of the digested products of Cyprinus carpio haematopterus scale gelatin with different molecular weights (MW). From the gastric phase to the intestinal phase, the hydrolysis degree of the products increased from 2.6 ± 0.4% to 16.9 ± 0.7%. The fraction of 0–1 kDa (JCP3) exhibited the best antioxidant activities in hydroxyl radical scavenging, reducing power, and metal chelating activity. The fraction of 1–3 kDa (JCP2) exhibited the best 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. However, the fractions of 0–1 kDa (JCP3) and 1–3 kDa (JCP2) showed similar inhibitory activity of lipid peroxidation. The results indicated that Cyprinus carpio haematopterus scale gelatin can be digested in the gastrointestinal tract. Furthermore, the digested products had antioxidant activity.