Non-emulsion-based encapsulation of fish oil by coaxial electrospraying assisted by pressurized gas enhances the oxidative stability of a capsule-fortified salad dressing

The influence of the encapsulation technology (spray-drying, mono- or coaxial electrospraying assisted by pressurized gas, EAPG) and the oil load (13, 26 or 39 wt%) on the oxidative stability of: i) fish oil-loaded capsules, and ii) capsule-fortified salad dressings were investigated. The highest encapsulation efficiency (EE > 83%) was achieved by the emulsion-based encapsulation methods (e.g., spray-drying and monoaxial EAPG), irrespective of the oil load. Nonetheless, monoaxially EAPG capsules were the most oxidized during storage due to their increased surface-to-volume ratio. On the contrary, non-emulsion-based coaxial EAPG resulted in low lipid oxidation after processing and subsequent storage. The oxidative stability of the capsule-fortified salad dressings correlated well with that of the encapsulates, with the dressing fortified with the coaxially EAPG capsules showing significantly lower levels of oxidation. Our results show that the fortification approach (e.g., emulsion or non-emulsion-based delivery systems) significantly influenced the oxidative stability of the enriched food matrix.

Anti-aging formula protects skin from oxidative stress-induced senescence through the inhibition of CXCR2 expression

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The skin is affected by endogenous and exogenous factors, which are the intuitive consequence expression of aging. Aging not only affects the aesthetics of the skin but also causes the decline of skin functions, leading to many skin diseases and even skin cancer. Anti-aging formula (AAF) has various biological effects such as antioxidants, regulation of intestinal flora metabolism, anti-aging, and memory improvement. However, it is not clarified whether it could be anti-aging of the skin and the anti-aging mechanism.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate whether AAF could prevent skin from oxidative stress-induced senescence and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A mouse skin oxidative stress aging model was established based on ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, and parameters such as skin water content, melanogenesis, wrinkle production, pathological changes, and aging marker proteins were measured to elucidate whether AAF has an anti-aging effect on the skin. Subsequently, transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) was used to identify target genes. An in vitro cellular senescence model was established to assess the role of AAF against cellular oxidative stress senescence by detecting senescence-related markers, while the specific mechanism of action of AAF in delaying skin senescence was elucidated by silencing or overexpression of targets.

RESULTS

In vivo experiments demonstrated that AAF significantly increased skin water content, reduced skin sensitivity and melanin content, slowed wrinkles, improved UV-induced epidermal thickening, increased collagen fiber content, improved elastic fiber morphology, and reduced the expression of senescence proteins P21 and P16 in skin tissues. The RNA-Seq results identified chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2) as one of the potential targets for delaying skin senescence. In vitro experiments showed that AAF markedly improved the aging phenotype, and knockdown or overexpression experiments verified the essential role of CXCR2 in the skin senescence process. Mechanistic studies suggested that AAF inhibited the P38/P53 pathway by reducing CXCR2 expression, which improved the aging phenotype, reduced oxidative damage, and ultimately delayed cellular senescence.

CONCLUSION

The results reveal that AAF protects skin from oxidative stress-induced senescence by regulating the expression of critical target CXCR2, reducing P38 protein phosphorylation, and inhibiting P53 pathway activation. These discoveries implicate the potential of AAF in the protection of skin aging disease.

Olax subscorpioidea prevented scopolamine-induced memory impairment through the prevention of oxido-inflammatory damage and modulation of cholinergic transmission

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Olax subscorpioidea oliv. is a shrub plant of the Olacaceae family with reported usage in ethnomedicine as a nootropic agent for the management of Alzheimer's-like dementia.

AIM

The aim of this study is to investigate the nootropic potential of methanol extract of Olax subscorpioidea (MEOS) in scopolamine-induced Alzheimer's-like dementia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty male mice, assigned into six groups (n = 8), were used for this study. Group, I received distilled water, group II received scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.), groups iii-v received 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, p.o. of MEOS and scopolamine (1 mg/kg/i.p.), and group vi received donepezil 5 mg/kg, p.o.and scopolamine (1 mg/kg, i.p.). The animals were pre-treated with MEOS and Donepezil for 14 days, and scopolamine from the 8th to 14th day. Followed by cognitive, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and histology assessments.

RESULTS

100 mg/kg MEOS significantly reduced transfer latency and increased discrimination index in the elevated plus maze and novel object recognition test cognitive assessments. 100 mg/kg MEOS, significantly reduced oxidative stress, protect endogenous antioxidants, suppressed neuroinflammation, and acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) activity. The histomorphometry study of the hippocampus revealed that MEOS prevented extensive pyknosis, karyolysis, chromatolysis, and loss of hippocampal neurons that accompanied scopolamine treatment.

CONCLUSION

MEOS protected against Alzheimer's-like dementia via the suppression of neuroinflammation and oxidative stress associated with scopolamine-induced amnesic behavior.

Chinese herbal medicines: The modulator of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease targeting oxidative stress

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants are a natural treasure trove; their secondary metabolites participate in several pharmacological processes, making them a crucial component in the synthesis of novel pharmaceuticals and serving as a reserve resource foundation in this process. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the risk of progression to hepatitis and liver cancer. The "Treatise on Febrile Diseases," "Compendium of Materia Medica," and "Thousand Golden Prescriptions" have listed herbal remedies to treat liver diseases.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

Chinese herbal medicines have been widely used for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD owing to their efficacy and low side effects. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during NAFLD, and the impact and potential mechanism of ROS on the pathogenesis of NAFLD are discussed in this review. Furthermore, common foods and herbs that can be used to prevent NAFLD, as well as the structure-activity relationships and potential mechanisms, are discussed.

METHODS

Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI database, Google Scholar, and WanFang database were searched for natural products that have been used to treat or prevent NAFLD in the past five years. The primary search was performed using the following keywords in different combinations in full articles: NAFLD, herb, natural products, medicine, and ROS. More than 400 research papers and review articles were found and analyzed in this review.

RESULTS

By classifying and discussing the literature, we obtained 86 herbaceous plants, 28 of which were derived from food and 58 from Chinese herbal medicines. The mechanism of NAFLD was proposed through experimental studies on thirteen natural compounds (quercetin, hesperidin, rutin, curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, salvianolic acid B, paeoniflorin, ginsenoside Rg1, ursolic acid, berberine, honokiol, emodin). The occurrence and progression of NAFLD could be prevented by natural antioxidants through several pathways to prevent ROS accumulation and reduce hepatic cell injuries caused by excessive ROS.

CONCLUSION

This review summarizes the natural products and routinely used herbs (prescription) in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. Firstly, the mechanisms by which natural products improve NAFLD through antioxidant pathways are elucidated. Secondly, the potential of traditional Chinese medicine theory in improving NAFLD is discussed, highlighting the safety of food-medicine homology and the broader clinical potential of multi-component formulations in improving NAFLD. Aiming to provide theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of NAFLD.

Neuroprotective effects of Petiveria alliacea on scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment mouse model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Petiveria alliacea L., commonly known as macura and gully root, is an important medicinal plant used in the Caribbean and Central America to treat ailments associated to the central nervous system, including poor memory.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To assess the effects of the P. alliacea leaves methanol fraction (PMF) on a scopolamine-induced learning and memory impairment mouse model related to acetylcholinesterase activity and oxidative stress.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

After PMF administration at doses of 500 or 900 mg/kg, cognitive ability was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM), Y-maze (YM) and novel object recognition (NOR) tests. The mouse brain tissue was further assessed for acetylcholinesterase activity and antioxidant activity. Levels of oxidative stress were also evaluated by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) and glutathione activity. Acute toxicity was also evaluated.

RESULTS

PMF led to memory improvement in the behavioral tests in mice with scopolamine-induced cognitive impairment. Moreover, PMF inhibited acetylcholinesterase activity and showed antioxidant potential that in turn attenuated cholinergic degradation. Additionally, PMF increased glutathione levels and glutathione reductase activity and reduced MDA levels in the brain. Moreover, no acute toxicity was detected with the use of PMF.

CONCLUSION

In a mouse model of scopolamine-induced cognitive deficit, PMF exhibited protective effects, decreasing oxidative damage and regulating cholinergic function in the brain bearing significant memory enhancing potency. These data suggest that PMF is a promising candidate for developing therapies for neurodegenerative disorders.

Protective effects of scutellaria-coptis herb couple against non-alcoholic steatohepatitis via activating NRF2 and FXR pathways in vivo and in vitro

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Scutellaria-coptis herb couple (SC) is a classic herbal pair used in many Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formulations in the treatment of endocrine and metabolic deseases. Diabetes mellitus and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are both endocrine and metabolic diseases. Previous studies have shown that SC has anti-diabetic effects. However, the effect and mechanism of SC against NASH remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to demonstrate the effect and mechanism of SC against NASH through the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and farnesoid X receptor (FXR) dual signaling pathways in vivo and in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The high fat diet-fed rat model, and HepG2 and RAW264.7 cell models were used. Serum biochemical indexes and liver histopathological changes were examined. Metabolomics, transcriptomics, and flow cytometry were performed. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis were performed to provide expression of NRF2 and FXR pathway signal molecules during SC's anti-NASH treatment in vivo and in vitro.

RESULTS

SC had anti-NASH effects in vivo with significantly improvement of serum NASH biochemical index and hepatopathological structure; meanwhile, SC significantly elevated the expression levels of FXR protein in liver and intestinal tissues, and cholesterol 7a-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) protein in liver. The mRNA expression levels of Takeda G protein receptor 5 (TGR5), CYP7A1, fibroblast growth factor receptor-4 (FGFR4), FXR, small heterodimer partner (SHP), fibroblast growth factor 15/19 (FGF15/19) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were significantly elevated by SC. SC reduced the levels of NorCA, isoLCA and α-MCA in the feces of NAFLD rats. In vitro, SC-containing serum (SC-CS) was found to significantly reduce intracellular lipid deposition, inhibit ROS production, reduce intracellular Malondialdehyde (MDA) and IL-1β levels, and enhance the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Six differential genes closely related to oxidative stress and Nrf2 were identified by transcriptomic analysis. SC-CS up-regulated the expression of NRF2, and reduced the expression of TXNIP and Caspase-1 genes in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, SC-CS reduced the expression of Keap1 and NF-κB, and up-regulated the expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), and SOD; SC-CS elevated the protein level of NRF2, and reduced the protein level of TXNIP in HepG2 cells.

CONCLUSIONS

the mechanisms of SC action against NASH was closely related to the simultaneous activations of both NRF2 and FXR signaling pathways. These findings provide a new insight into the anti-NASH application of SC in clinical settings and demonstrate the potential of SC in the treatment of NASH.

Ameliorative effect of traditional polyherbal formulation on TNF-α, IL-1β and Caspase-3 expression in kidneys of wistar rats against sodium fluoride induced oxidative stress

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Sharbat-e-bazoori Motadil (SBM) is a polyherbal formulation that have been used for centuries as a part of the Unani system of medicine for renal disease.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study was to explore and validate the nephroprotective potential of sugar-free SBM (SF-SBM) and its mechanisms of action against sodium fluoride (NaF)-induced nephrotoxicity in HEK-293 cells. Additionally, the study aimed to assess the quality control of SF-SBM and investigate its effects using an in vivo rat model with pattern recognition following oral administration of SF-SBM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The nephroprotective effect of SF-SBM was investigated using both an HEK-293 cell line and Wistar rats. Nephrotoxicity was induced in these models by administering NaF at a concentration of 600 ppm (parts per million) for a duration of seven days. The SF-SBM formulation was standardized using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) to assess the presence of marker compounds, namely gallic acid, quercetin, and ferulic acid. Metabolite characterization of SF-SBM was carried out using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) with a monolithic capillary silica-based C18 column. This analytical technique allowed for the identification of bioactive substances and verification of the identified markers. Acute toxicity of SF-SBM was evaluated in Wistar rats by administering a single oral dose of 2000 mg/kg of SF-SBM. The nephroprotective efficacy of SF-SBM was further assessed at low (LD), medium (MD) and high (HD) doses of 32.1, 64.2, and 128.4 mg/kg, respectively, administered orally. Nephrotoxicity was induced in Wistar rats by adding NaF to their drinking water for seven days. Biochemical and urine markers were analyzed to evaluate the antioxidant, inflammatory, and apoptotic potential of SF-SBM. Additionally, histopathological analysis and immunohistochemical alterations in the expression of caspase-3 and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase-4 (NOX-4) in kidney tissue were performed to confirm the findings of the in vivo experiments. Furthermore, in vivo pattern recognition of SF-SBM metabolites, identified through GC-MS metabolomics, and in-silico docking analysis of major metabolites in plasma were conducted to gain further insights.

RESULT

Phytochemical analysis using HPTLC, TLC-bioautography, and UPLC-MS revealed the presence of several bioactive constituents in SF-SBM, including ferulic acid, gallic acid (GA), ellagic acid, quercetin, and apigenin. These compounds exhibit diverse pharmacological properties. In vitro studies demonstrated the protective effect of SF-SBM on HEK-293 cell line against nephrotoxicity. The acute toxicity study of SF-SBM at a dose of 2000 mg/kg showed no mortality or signs of toxicity throughout the 14-day observation period. In the in vivo studies, administration of NaF resulted in significant elevation (P < 0.001) of biochemical and urine parameters, indicating oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptotic stress. Histopathological examination revealed severe depletion of Bowman's capsule, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated negative immunostaining for caspase-3 and reduced NOX-4 reactions. Pre-treatment with SF-SBM significantly attenuated the elevated biochemical and urine markers, restored the antioxidant enzyme levels (such as SOD, CAT, GSH, GPx and NO), and regulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, CASP-3) in kidney tissue at doses of SF-SBM-MD (64.2 mg/kg) and SF-SBM-HD (128.4 mg/kg), showing comparable results to those of α-Ketoanalogue. Histopathological assessment demonstrated improvements in tissue damage. Pattern recognition analysis of SF-SBM identified the presence of 56 metabolites at different time intervals. Additionally, in-silico studies revealed strong interactions of SF-SBM with a binding energy of -6.5 and -5.6 kcal for 4C2N.

CONCLUSION

The phytoconstituents present in SF-SBM play a crucial role in its nephroprotective action by acting as potent antioxidants and reducing proinflammatory and apoptotic damage in rat cells. This indicates that SF-SBM has promising potential for the treatment of nephrotoxicity.