Antitumor Effects and Mechanism of n-butanol Fraction from Aril of Torreya grandis in H22 Mice

Functional compounds of Torreya grandis nuts and their processing byproducts: Extraction process, health benefits, and food applications - A comprehensive review

Torreya grandis (TG) nuts are highly valued for their rich content of bioactive compounds including lipids, proteins, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, vitamins, and minerals, credited with numerous health benefits. In addition to their use in various culinary applications, such as baked goods and snacks, TG nuts are valuable source of high-quality oil rich in ω-3 and ω-6 unsaturated fatty acids, which has been shown to have anti-obesity, neuroprotective, and anti-diabetes effects. Besides, the byproducts from TG nuts processing, like the fruit aril and oil cake, are valuable sources of essential oils and proteins, respectively, with notable antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties. Despite their nutrient profile and health promoting effects, TG nuts and their processing byproducts have received limited attention, hindering their wider use in food and medicinal applications. This review aims to bring attention to TG nuts by highlighting their nutritional and health benefits, and exploring their potential novel applications in the food sector. Research gaps were outlined to guide future research and products development. TG nuts hold great potential as functional foods and their byproducts like the aril could be repurposed for essential oil extraction, suitable for application in food flavoring and antimicrobial packaging. However, broader application of TG nuts and their byproducts in the food industry remain limited, and research regarding their nutrients profile is not comprehensive. Additionally, the bioactive compounds linked to their health benefits have not been properly identified, highlighting the need for further studies to explore their full potential.

Formulation of a Stable Oil-in-Water Microemulsion of Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii Aril Essential Oil and Its Application in Loquat Fruit Preservation

Loquat is a nutrient-rich fruit with juicy and sweet pulp, but it is vulnerable to rot and deterioration without proper postharvest preservation measures. This study aimed to improve the postharvest quality of loquat by developing a microemulsion system based on an essential oil extracted from the Torreya grandis cv. Merrillii aril (TaEO), which has antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. An optimal TaEO microemulsion (TaEO-ME) was formulated, using a mixture of Tween-40 and Tween-80 as the surfactant, 1-butanol as the co-surfactant, and TaEO as the oil phase, with mass ratios of 9:1, 3:1, and 6:1, respectively. Two TaEO-ME formulations with 60% and 70% water contents were stable for 180 days at room temperature, with a mean droplet size below 12 nm and polydispersity index less than 0.24. They also exhibited higher stability and enhanced biological activities compared to free TaEO. Loquat fruit treated with TaEO-ME displayed a reduced decay index and lower membrane lipid peroxidation after 15 days of storage at 15 °C, as indicated by the lower malondialdehyde content and higher peroxidase activity. Moreover, the TaEO-ME treatment preserved the nutrient quality by maintaining the total phenolic compounds and ascorbic acid content. Our findings suggested that TaEO-ME can be used as a substitute for chemical preservatives to keep fruits fresh.

Antifatigue effect of sea buckthorn seed oil on swimming fatigue in mice

The effect of sea buckthorn seed oil (SSO) on exercise-induced fatigue in mice was explored. The animals were randomly divided into a normal control group, exercise-induced fatigue group (EFG), SSO low-dose group, SSO medium-dose group, and SSO high-dose group. The mice in all the groups underwent swimming training for 10 days. Those in the treatment groups received different amounts of SSO (0.85, 1.68, and 3.35 g/kg BW [body weight]) before the exercise. All the animals were sacrificed on the last day after an exhaustive swimming test, and serum, liver, and brain specimens were collected. In the exhaustive swimming test, the swimming durations in the SSO-treated animals were longer than those in the EFG. Furthermore, SSO reduced serum lactic acid, blood urea nitrogen, and hepatic malondialdehyde levels and increased liver glycogen level, hepatic superoxide dismutase level, hypothalamic dopamine content, and glutathione peroxidase level. The SSO treatment decreased hypothalamic 5-hydroxytryptamine content, lipid hydroperoxide level, NLRP3 inflammasome, and interleukin-1β protein expression in the prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, it promoted the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in the liver. SSO exhibited an excellent antifatigue effect, which may be related to its inhibition of oxidative and inflammatory injury and regulation of hypothalamic neurotransmitters. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: In the present study, the effect of sea buckthorn seed oil on fatigue in mice and its potential mechanism were explored. Taken together, the findings provide insight into the potential role of sea buckthorn seed oil in the development of antifatigue drugs.

Detoxication mechanisms of Radix Tripterygium wilfordii via compatibility with Herba Lysimachia christinae in S180-bearing mice by involving Nrf2

The combined administration between Radix Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F (LGT) and Herba Lysimachia christinae Hance (JQC) belongs to mutual detoxication compatibility of seven emotions in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theory. However, until now, the compatibility detoxication mechanisms remain unknown. The present study was undertaken to observe detoxication mechanisms of LGT through compatibility with JQC in tumor-bearing mice by involving NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated antioxidant defenses. In addition, influence of compatibility on antitumor activity was also investigated here. Our results demonstrated that compatibility with JQC administration significantly reversed LGT-elevated serum alanine/aspartate transaminase (ALT/AST) levels and alleviated hepatocytes’ swelling or degeneration damage, and at the ratio 2/1 (LGT/JQC) produced the strongest detoxication effect. Besides, compatibility with JQC administration reversed not only LGT-elevated hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) but also the LGT lowered GSH, glutathione-s transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and interleukin (IL)-10 levels. Furthermore, compatibility with JQC administration significantly up-regulated protein expression of Nrf2 and mRNA expression of it regulated downstream antioxidant genes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), and glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). In addition, compatibility with JQC further decreased LGT-decreased tumor weight and at the ratio 2/1 (LGT/JQC) also exerted the strongest synergistic effect. Collectively, through compatibility with JQC exerted detoxication effect on LGT-induced hepatotoxicity and the mechanisms could be at least partly attributed to up-regulation of Nrf2 and its downstream signals, thereby enhancing antioxidant defenses, and inhibiting lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Additionally, at the ratio 2/1 (LGT/JQC) exerted the strongest effects on both detoxication and synergism.