A Comparative Study on Inhibition of Breast Cancer Cells and Tumors in Mice by Carotenoid Extract and Nanoemulsion Prepared from Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) Peel

Preparation and characterization of a novel green cinnamon essential oil nanoemulsion for the enhancement of safety and shelf-life of strawberries

This study aimed to optimize a novel green CEO nanoemulsions (CEO NEs) and explore its physicochemical properties and the effect on the shelf-life of strawberries during storage at environmental temperature (20-25 °C). We used CEO as oil phase and tea saponin (TS) as a natural surfactant to formulate the novel green CEO NEs, and its potential as an antimicrobial agent was also investigated. The results showed that CEO NEs had a droplet size about 170 nm with uniform distribution and regularly spherical. These CEO NEs exhibited excellent storage stability, thermal stability, pH stability and centrifugal stability. The antimicrobial test indicated that the minimal inhibitory concentration and the minimal bactericidal (fungicidal) concentration of CEO NEs against Escherichia coli, Botrytis cinerea and Aspergillus flavus were 17.81 μg/mL and 35.62 μg/mL, 35.62 μg/mL and 71.25 μg/mL, 2.23 μg/mL and 4.45 μg/mL, respectively, which were significantly lower than those of pure CEO (333.75 μg/mL and 667.5 μg/mL, 667.5 μg/mL and 1335 μg/mL, 41.72 μg/mL and 83.44 μg/mL). More interestingly, after soaking strawberries in CEO NEs for 2 min, the shelf-life of strawberries can be extended to 7 days at environmental temperature, and a lower rate of weight loss and mildew were showed in the group of CEO NEs than other control groups, especially the strawberries in ultrapure water group went bad first, obviously shranked, and contaminated by molds after 3 days. The above results indicate that CEO NEs prepared in this study has great potential as a new green antimicrobial agent in fruit preservation.

Transforming cancer treatment: The potential of nanonutraceuticals

Chemotherapy in the management of cancer is constrained by limitations like off-target effects, poor bioavailability, and dose-dependent toxicity. Nutraceuticals have been explored as an innovative strategy to overcome chemotherapy drawbacks.However, the clinical utility of nutraceuticals is restricted due to their complex structures, less water solubility, reduced stability, decreased bioavailability and more obstacles in the gastrointestinal tract. Nanonutraceuticals are nanosized nutraceutical particles having enhanced solubility, improved bioavailability, stability, and targeted delivery to specific cells. Nutraceuticals can be co-delivered with other chemotherapeutic drugs in nanocarriers to elicit synergistic effects. The targeting of nutraceuticals against cancer cells can be enabled by coupling ligands with the nanocarriers, which direct to the overexpressed receptors found at the surface of the cancer cells. Transitioning a nanonutraceutical from pre-clinical research to clinical trials is a pivotal step. This focus on advancing their application holds great potential for impacting clinical research and improving the treatment landscape for cancer patients. This review focuses on the role of nutraceuticals for cancer treatment, various nanocarriers for the efficient delivery of nutraceuticals along with co-administration of nutraceuticals with chemotherapeutic drugs using nanocarriers. Also, emphasize the targeting of ligands coupled nanocarriers to the cancer cells along with patents and clinical trials for nanonutraceuticals.

Development of a Rapid UPLC Method for Analysis of Carotenoids in Goji Berry Extract and Evaluation of Their Transformation Affected by Saponification

Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.), also known as wolfberry, is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb widely utilized as a functional food ingredient throughout East Asia. In this study, we developed a rapid high performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD) method for the simultaneous separation of carotenoids in goji berries. This method successfully separates 17 carotenoids and their esters within 21 min using a Sunrise C30 column, with detection at 450 nm, a flow rate of 1.3 mL/min, and a column temperature of 25 °C. Method validation showed intra-day precision ranging from 0.97% to 6.21% and inter-day precision from 0.99% to 7.01%, demonstrating this method effectively minimizes analysis time while providing high separation efficiency and sensitivity. Goji berries extracted with a mixture of n-hexane/ethanol/acetone (1:1:1, v/v/v) and then saponified with a 40% potassium hydroxide methanol solution can completely convert carotenoid esters into free monomer forms. The highest carotenoid content in goji berry was all-trans-zeaxanthin (1721.94 ± 81.01 μg/g), followed by 9- or 9'-cis-zeaxanthin (79.53 ± 3.92 μg/g), 15- or 15'-cis-zeaxanthin (43.71 ± 2.17 μg/g), 9- or 9'-cis-zeaxanthin (36.51 ± 1.81 μg/g), all-trans-β-cryptoxanthin (25.76 ± 1.55 μg/g), all-trans-β-carotene (5.71 ± 0.83 μg/g), and 13- or 13'-cis-β-carotene (0.86 ± 0.13 μg/g).

Advances in valorization of sweet potato peels: A comprehensive review on the nutritional compositions, phytochemical profiles, nutraceutical properties, and potential industrial applications

During food production, food processing, and supply chain, large amounts of food byproducts are generated and thrown away as waste, which to a great extent brings about adverse consequences on the environment and economic development. The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) is cultivated and consumed in many countries. Sweet potato peels (SPPs) are the main byproducts generated by the tuber processing. These residues contain abundant nutrition elements, bioactive compounds, and other high value-added substances; therefore, the reutilization of SPP holds significance in improving their overall added value. SPPs contain abundant phenolic compounds and carotenoids, which might contribute significantly to their nutraceutical properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, prebiotic, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, and lipid-lowering effects. It has been demonstrated that SPP could be promisingly revalorized into food industry, including: (1) applications in diverse food products; (2) applications in food packaging; and (3) applications in the recovery of pectin and cellulose nanocrystals. Furthermore, SPP could be used as promising feedstocks for the bioconversion of diverse value-added bioproducts through biological processing.

A comparative study on inhibition of lung cancer cells by nanoemulsion, nanoliposome, nanogold and their folic acid conjugates prepared with collagen peptides from Taiwan tilapia skin

Valorization of fish processing waste to obtain value-added products such as collagen and bioactive peptides is a vital strategy to increase the economic value, reduce disposal problems, and prevent harmful impacts on both environment and health. This study aims to isolate two collagen peptides from Taiwan Tilapia skin and prepare 12 nanopeptides including nanoemulsion (NE), nanoliposome (NL), and nanogold (NG) without and with folic acid/chitosan (FA/CH) or FA ligand conjugation for comparison of their inhibition efficiency towards lung cancer cells A549 and normal lung cells MRC5. Acid-soluble collagen (yield, 21.58 %) was extracted using 0.5 M acetic acid and hydrolyzed to obtain two tilapia skin collagen peptides TSCP1 (482 Da) and TSCP2 (172 Da) respectively using 2.5 % and 12.5 % alcalase, with sample-to-water ratio at 1:30 (w/v), pH 8, temperature 50 °C, and hydrolysis time 6 h. Characterization of collagen peptides revealed the presence of type 1 collagen with a high amount of amino acids including glycine (32.6-33.1 %), alanine (13.6-14.0 %), proline (10.0-10.5 %), and hydroxyproline (7.3-7.6 %). TSCP1, TSCP2, and 12 nanopeptides showed a higher cytotoxicity towards A549 cells than MRC5 cells, with TSCP2 and its 6 nanopeptides exhibiting a lower IC50 compared to TSCP1 and its 6 nanopeptides. The mean particle size was 15.7, 33.6, and 16.0 nm respectively for TSCP2-NE, TSCP2-NL, and TSCP2-NG, but changed to 14.4, 36.3, and 17.9 nm following ligand conjugation with a shift in zeta potential from negative to positive for TSCP2-NE-FA/CH and TSCP2-NL-FA/CH. All nanopeptides were more effective than peptides in inhibiting the growth of A549 cells, with the lowest IC50 value being shown for TSCP2-NL-FA/CH (5.32 μg/mL), followed by TSCP2-NE-FA/CH (8.3 μg/mL), TSCP2-NE (22.4 μg/mL), TSCP2-NL (82.7 μg/mL), TSCP2-NG-FA (159.8 μg/mL), TSCP2-NG (234.0 μg/mL) and TSCP2 (359.7 μg/mL). Cell proportions of sub-G1, S, and G2/M phases increased dose-dependently, with a possible cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase. The proportion of necrotic cells was the highest for TSCP2, TSCP2-NE, TSCP2-NE-FA/CH, and TSCP2-NL, while that of late apoptotic cells dominated for TSCP2-NL-FA/CH, TSCP2-NG, and TSCP2-NG-FA. Similarly, TSCP2 and its 6 nanopeptides showed a dose-dependent rise in caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9 activities for execution of apoptosis, with the ligand-conjugated nanopeptides being the most efficient, followed by nanopeptides and peptides. The outcome of this study demonstrated an effective strategy for valorization of Taiwan tilapia skin to obtain collagen peptides and their nanopeptides possessing anticancer activity and form a basis for in vivo study in the future.

Skin Protection by Carotenoid Pigments

Sunlight, despite its benefits, can pose a threat to the skin, which is a natural protective barrier. Phototoxicity caused by overexposure, especially to ultraviolet radiation (UVR), results in burns, accelerates photoaging, and causes skin cancer formation. Natural substances of plant origin, i.e., polyphenols, flavonoids, and photosynthetic pigments, can protect the skin against the effects of radiation, acting not only as photoprotectors like natural filters but as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory remedies, alleviating the effects of photodamage to the skin. Plant-based formulations are gaining popularity as an attractive alternative to synthetic filters. Over the past 20 years, a large number of studies have been published to assess the photoprotective effects of natural plant products, primarily through their antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anti-immunosuppressive activities. This review selects the most important data on skin photodamage and photoprotective efficacy of selected plant carotenoid representatives from in vivo studies on animal models and humans, as well as in vitro experiments performed on fibroblast and keratinocyte cell lines. Recent research on carotenoids associated with lipid nanoparticles, nanoemulsions, liposomes, and micelles is reviewed. The focus was on collecting those nanomaterials that serve to improve the bioavailability and stability of carotenoids as natural antioxidants with photoprotective activity.

Oral administration of Huanglian-Houpo herbal nanoemulsion loading multiple phytochemicals for ulcerative colitis therapy in mice

How to achieve stable co-delivery of multiple phytochemicals is a common problem. This study focuses on the development, optimization and characterization of Huanglian-HouPo extract nanoemulsion (HLHPEN), with multiple components co-delivery, to enhance the anti-ulcerative colitis (UC) effects. The formulation of HLHPEN was optimized by pseudo-ternary phase diagram combined with Box-Behnken design. The physicochemical properties of HLHPEN were characterized, and its anti-UC activity was evaluated in DSS-induced UC mice model. Based on preparation process optimization, the herbal nanoemulsion HLHPEN was obtained, with the droplet size, PDI value, encapsulation efficiency (EE) for 6 phytochemicals (berberine, epiberberine, coptisine, bamatine, magnolol and honokiol) of 65.21 ± 0.82 nm, 0.182 ± 0.016, and 90.71 ± 0.21%, respectively. The TEM morphology of HLHPEN shows the nearly spheroidal shape of particles. The optimized HLHPEN showed a brownish yellow milky single-phase and optimal physical stability at 25 °C for 90 days. HLHPEN exhibited the good particle stability and gradual release of phytochemicals in SGF and SIF, to resist the destruction of simulated stomach and small intestine environment. Importantly, the oral administration of HLHPEN significantly restored the shrunk colon tissue length and reduced body weight, ameliorated DAI value and colon histological pathology, decreased the levels of inflammatory factors in DSS-induced UC mice model. These results demonstrated that HLHPEN had a significant therapeutic effect on DSS-induced UC mice, as a potential alternative UC therapeutic agent.

Recent Advances in Nanotechnology-Based Targeted Delivery Systems of Active Constituents in Natural Medicines for Cancer Treatment

Owing to high efficacy and safety, natural medicines have found their way into the field of cancer therapy over the past few decades. However, the effective ingredients of natural medicines have shortcomings of poor solubility and low bioavailability. Nanoparticles can not only solve the problems above but also have outstanding targeting ability. Targeting preparations can be classified into three levels, which are target tissues, cells, and organelles. On the premise of clarifying the therapeutic purpose of drugs, one or more targeting methods can be selected to achieve more accurate drug delivery and consequently to improve the anti-tumor effects of drugs and reduce toxicity and side effects. The aim of this review is to summarize the research status of natural medicines' nano-preparations in tumor-targeting therapies to provide some references for further accurate and effective cancer treatments.

Lipid Nanoparticles: An Effective Tool to Improve the Bioavailability of Nutraceuticals

Nano-range bioactive colloidal carrier systems are envisaged to overcome the challenges associated with treatments of numerous diseases. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), one of the extensively investigated drug delivery systems, not only improve pharmacokinetic parameters, transportation, and chemical stability of encapsulated compounds but also provide efficient targeting and reduce the risk of toxicity. Over the last decades, nature-derived polyphenols, vitamins, antioxidants, dietary supplements, and herbs have received more attention due to their remarkable biological and pharmacological health and medical benefits. However, their poor aqueous solubility, compromised stability, insufficient absorption, and accelerated elimination impede research in the nutraceutical sector. Owing to the possibilities offered by various LNPs, their ability to accommodate both hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules and the availability of various preparation methods suitable for sensitive molecules, loading natural fragile molecules into LNPs offers a promising solution. The primary objective of this work is to explore the synergy between nature and nanotechnology, encompassing a wide range of research aimed at encapsulating natural therapeutic molecules within LNPs.

Citrus Carotenoid Extracts Exert Anticancer Effects through Anti-Proliferation, Oxidative Stress, and Mitochondrial-Dependent Apoptosis in MCF-7 Cells

Citrus is a globally popular fruit crop that contains bioactive compounds with numerous health benefits. Carotenoids are one of the main bioactive compounds present in citrus pulp. They possess exceptional antioxidant and anticancer properties, making them potentially effective in the prevention and treatment of breast cancer. Different citrus species, identified as ZMPG, DFGJ, NFMJ, XY, and ZHQC, were studied for their antioxidant activity and anticancer activity. XY had the highest total carotenoid content (75.30 µg/g FW), and ZHQC (ZH) had the lowest carotenoid content (19.74 µg/g FW). The composition of NFMJ, ZMPG, and DFHJ consisted of the most abundant number of carotenoids, while XY only had three types. The antioxidant capacity of the carotenoid extracts was evaluated, and ZH and DFHJ were identified as good sources of antioxidants. XY and ZH significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and arresting cells during the G0/G1 phase. XY and ZH enhanced the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS); reduced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP); reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and peroxidase (POD); decreased glutathione (GSH) levels; and increased the malonaldehyde (MDA) content. Apoptosis occurred through the mitochondrial-mediated pathway through the up-regulation of BAX, caspase-3, and caspase-9 and the down-regulation of Bcl-2. In this study, the carotenoid-rich extracts of citrus pulp were found to induce oxidative stress through their pro-oxidant potential and regulate cell apoptosis in MCF-7 cancer cells. These results indicate that citrus carotenoids act as pro-oxidants and have the potential to be utilized for the development of anti-breast cancer products.

Analysis of Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids in Rabbiteye Blueberry Leaves by UPLC-MS/MS and Preparation of Nanoemulsions and Extracts for Improving Antiaging Effects in Mice

Rabbiteye blueberry leaves, a waste produced after harvest of blueberry, are rich in polyphenols. This study aims to analyze phenolic acids and flavonoids in blueberry leaves by UPLC-MS/MS and prepare nanoemulsions for determining anti-aging activity in mice. Overall, 30% ethanol was the most suitable extraction solvent for total phenolic acids and total flavonoids. A total of four phenolic acids and four flavonoids were separated within seven minutes for further identification and quantitation by UPLC-MS/MS in selective reaction monitoring (SRM) mode, with 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid being present in the highest amount (6474.2 μg/g), followed by quercetin-3-O-galactoside (1943.9 μg/g), quercetin-3-O-rutinoside (1036.6 μg/g), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (867.2 μg/g), 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (815.8 μg/g), kaempferol-3-O-glucoside (309.7 μg/g), 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (195.3 μg/g), and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (60.8 μg/g). The blueberry nanoemulsion was prepared by using an appropriate ratio of soybean oil, Tween 80, glycerol, ethanol, and water at 1.2%, 8%, 2%, 2%, and 86.8%, respectively, and mixing with dried blueberry extract, with the mean particle size and zeta potential being 16 nm and -54 mV, respectively. A high stability was observed during storage of nanoemulsion for 90 days at 4 °C and heated at 100 °C for 2 h. An animal study revealed that this nanoemulsion could elevate dopamine content in mice brain as well as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase activities in mice liver while reducing the contents of malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl in mice brains. Collectively, the high-dose nanoemulsion possessed the highest efficiency in improving mice aging with a promising potential for development into a health food.

Quantification of Xanthone and Anthocyanin in Mangosteen Peel by UPLC-MS/MS and Preparation of Nanoemulsions for Studying Their Inhibition Effects on Liver Cancer Cells

Mangosteen peel, a waste produced during mangosteen processing, has been reported to be rich in xanthone and anthocyanin, both of which possess vital biological activities such as anti-cancer properties. The objectives of this study were to analyze various xanthones and anthocyanins in mangosteen peel by UPLC-MS/MS for the subsequent preparation of both xanthone and anthocyanin nanoemulsions to study their inhibition effects on liver cancer cells HepG2. Results showed that methanol was the optimal solvent for the extraction of xanthones and anthocyanins, with a total amount of 68,543.39 and 2909.57 μg/g, respectively. A total of seven xanthones, including garcinone C (513.06 μg/g), garcinone D (469.82 μg/g), γ-mangostin (11,100.72 μg/g), 8-desoxygartanin (1490.61 μg/g), gartanin (2398.96 μg/g), α-mangostin (51,062.21 μg/g) and β-mangostin (1508.01 μg/g), as well as two anthocyanins including cyanidin-3-sophoroside (2889.95 μg/g) and cyanidin-3-glucoside (19.72 μg/g), were present in mangosteen peel. The xanthone nanoemulsion was prepared by mixing an appropriate portion of soybean oil, CITREM, Tween 80 and deionized water, while the anthocyanin nanoemulsion composed of soybean oil, ethanol, PEG400, lecithin, Tween 80, glycerol and deionized water was prepared as well. The mean particle size of the xanthone extract and nanoemulsion were, respectively, 22.1 and 14.0 nm as determined by DLS, while the zeta potential was -87.7 and -61.5 mV. Comparatively, xanthone nanoemulsion was more effective than xanthone extract in inhibiting the growth of HepG2 cells, with the IC50 being 5.78 μg/mL for the former and 6.23 μg/mL for the latter. However, the anthocyanin nanoemulsion failed to inhibit growth of HepG2 cells. Cell cycle analysis revealed that the proportion of the sub-G1 phase followed a dose-dependent increase, while that of the G0/G1 phase showed a dose-dependent decline for both xanthone extracts and nanoemulsions, with the cell cycle being possibly arrested at the S phase. The proportion of late apoptosis cells also followed a dose-dependent rise for both xanthone extracts and nanoemulsions, with the latter resulting in a much higher proportion at the same dose. Similarly, the activities of caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 followed a dose-dependent increase for both xanthone extracts and nanoemulsions, with the latter exhibiting a higher activity at the same dose. Collectively, xanthone nanoemulsion was more effective than xanthone extract in inhibiting the growth of HepG2 cells. Further research is needed to study the anti-tumor effect in vivo.