Journal of Food Bioactives

Beneficial effects of Docosahexaenoic acid consumption on brain health: A mini-review

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800

The aging of the world population has increased the number of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), which affects millions of people. Despite studies aimed at understanding this complex and progressive disease, there is still no cure. However, many compounds with pharmacological properties are recommended for patients to experience a reduction in Alzheimer's symptoms. This study focuses on highlighting the importance of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and its mechanism of action, aiming to contribute to the advancement of research in new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The role of nutrition in preventing dementia and AD raises increasing hope, with particular interest in dietary intake of omega-3 fatty acids, as brain tissue membranes are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, including DHA. We searched the PubMed database for original articles published in English from 2018 to July 2023 using appropriate search terms: dietary fatty acids, DHA, Alzheimer's disease, and cognitive impairment. Furthermore, this mini-review provides a synopsis of recent literature involved in the processes of neurodevelopment and neuronal plasticity.

The influence of food matrix and processing methods on the bioaccessibility of lutein: A review

Jiangfeng Song, Yan Zhang, Hongjuan Wang, Caie wu, Ying Li — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Lutein belongs to oxygen-containing carotenoids and has various functional activity potentials such as antioxidant, preventing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), anti-inflammation, protecting cardio-cerebrovascular, anti-diabetes, and anti-cancer. However, it is typically consumed along with the food matrix, and its bioaccessibility is relatively low. Some food processing techniques have been developed to promote the release of lutein in plant-based foods and/or accelerate the decomposition of food matrix, which may damage the activity of lutein or reduce its bioaccessibility. By appropriately changing the food matrix and food processing methods, the functional characteristics of lutein in the diet can be enhanced. Therefore, this paper detailedly reviews the influence and action mechanism of lutein existence form and amount, food matrix structure and components, and food processing methods on the bioaccessibility and chemical interactions of lutein. Meanwhile, it also focuses on improving the bioaccessibility of lutein through the design of food matrix systems such as emulsions, hydrogels, molecular complexes, and liposomes, etc. This information will assist in selecting the suitable encapsulation system for commercial applications and provide a reference for increasing the bioaccessibility of lutein in food matrix.

Polyphenol Ingredients and Health Effects of Green Oats: A Brief Update

Huilin Fang, Hui Zhao, Miao Li — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Green oat, also known as wild green oat, is a principal cultivated species harvested at their prime development stage, when still green and packed full of active functional nutrients, contributing to attenuating oxidative damage, reducing inflammatory reaction, hindering tumor progression and promoting cognitive health. The biological and physiological effects, to a large extent, are attributed to a variety of bioactive phytochemicals, encompassing β -glucan, dietary fiber as well as phenolic compounds, particularly Avenanthramides, the exclusive phenolic compounds in oats, demonstrating multiple and remarkable biological activities such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, antineoplastic and immunomodulatory effects. In consideration of the promising edible and medicinal values, hence, this article will illustrate the underlying values in food and health of green oat, or its extracts, from the amounts and composition, biological effects concerned as well as the possible molecular mechanisms involved.

Substrate specificity of exopeptidases in small intestinal mucosa determines the structure of food-derived collagen peptides in rat lumen and blood

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Gly-Pro-Hyp-Gly is the most common motif in collagen. Ingestion of collagen hydrolysate (CH) has been reported to significantly increase Pro-Hyp and Hyp-Gly in human peripheral blood. However, the elevation of Gly-Pro content remains negligible. This study seeks to elucidate the underlying reasons behind the bioavailability of CH-derived peptides using in vivo and in vitro digestion. After oral administration of CH (800 mg/kg body weight) to rats, Pro-Hyp significantly increased in the lumen, small intestinal tissue, and blood from the abdominal vein, while only negligible amounts of Gly-Pro were detected. In vitro digestion of CH by digestive exopeptidases, including aminopeptidase N, leucine aminopeptidase, and carboxypeptidase A predominantly generated Gly-Pro. Interestingly, the digestion of CH with crude extract of small intestinal mucosa predominantly generated Pro-Hyp and negligible amounts of Gly-Pro. Furthermore, synthetic Gly-Pro was rapidly degraded by crude extract of the intestinal mucosa, while Pro-Hyp showed higher resistance. These facts indicate prolidase activity in the mucosa plays a crucial role in determining collagen-derived peptides in the body.

Ultrasound-assisted food-grade double emulsion system for vitamin E and omega-3

Yuqing Zhang, Minfang Luo, B. Dave Oomah, Farah Hosseinian — Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Double emulsions are widely employed to encapsulate oxygen sensitive compounds. Low-frequency ultrasound (20 kHz) was used to design a novel food-grade O/W/O double emulsion delivery system with TFE (tannins-free extracts) and 1% psyllium husk. Three and nine distinct formulations were created to form single and double emulsions, respectively. The optimal formulation was 81% sunflower oil and 19% psyllium husk (1% concentration) for double emulsion. The additional TFE delayed lipid oxidation in the emulsion, as indicated by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values. Microstructural evaluation of the TEF double emulsion used optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The TEF double emulsion showed a zeta-potential of 23.25(mV) ±3.465. The feasibility of TFE double emulsion delivery system was investigated by encapsulating vitamin E (α-tocopherol) and omega-3 fatty acids. The ORAC values of the TFE double emulsions containing omega-3 or vitamin E were 371.06±15.31 and 378.32±11.23 μM Trolox/g, respectively, and remained stable after 30 days of storage.

Potential of Clove, Cinnamon and Honeysuckle in Suppressing the SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein-ACE2 Binding, Inhibiting ACE2 Activity, and Scavenging Radicals

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800

Water and ethanol extracts of clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L.), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) and honeysuckle (Lonicerae japonicae) were examined for their chemical compositions, inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 binding, ACE2 inhibition, and free radical scavenging activity. UHPLC-MS/MS analysis tentatively identified 34, 36, and 27 compounds in clove, honeysuckle, and cinnamon water (WE) and ethanol extracts (EE), respectively. The extracts dose-dependently suppressed SARS-CoV-2 spike protein-ACE2 binding activity and ACE2 activity. Clove and cinnamon WEs at 33.3 mg dry botanical equivalents (BE)/mL, and cinnamon and honeysuckle EEs at 3.3 mg BE/mL showed almost 100% inhibition of S-protein-ACE2 binding activity. TPC values ranged from 5.3 mg GAE/g (honeysuckle EE) to 180.0 mg GAE/g (clove EE). The highest HO^·, DPPH^·, ABTS^·⁺ scavenging activity were 2181 (clove EE), 536.91 (clove WE), and 3525.1 (clove WE) µmol TE/g respectively. These data suggested the potential of these botanicals in reducing the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severe symptom development.

Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of Astonia boonei in diabetes mellitus ligand‑based virtual screening with TGR5 Receptor

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800

The anti-diabetic effects of Astonia boonei have been demonstrated by several studies, but few have clarified the mode of action of compounds extracted from Astonia boonei as an agonist for the TGR5 pathways in the etiology of diabetes. TGR5 is a membrane protein receptor that has been linked to increased insulin-signaling and is an appropriate target for diabetes treatment. Nevertheless, no commercial medication that specifically targets TGR5 is currently available. This study looked into compounds that were found to be TGR5 agonists and may have therapeutic value in A. boonei. The compounds were selected from the literature and docked with TGR5 receptors. Following their filtration by Lipinski's rule of five (RO5), the compounds were utilized in a molecular docking investigation. Moderate indices for ADMET parameters and non-carcinogenicity were revealed by online web servers' predictions of the hit compounds' drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic, and toxicity features. The potential of compounds from A. boonei that might be explored as therapeutic options in the treatment of diabetes is thus illuminated by this study

Analysis of components and antioxidant activity of Angelica sinensis essential oil (AEO) extracted from supercritical carbon dioxide

Sun, 30 Jun 2024 00:00:00 +0800

To investigate the volatile components and antioxidant activity of Angelica sinensis essential oil (AEO) both in vitro and in vivo, we conducted an analysis of its chemical composition using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results showed that AEO was mainly composed of phthalides, such as (Z)-Ligustilide (12.85%), 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (11.6%), and 3-Butylidenephthalide (3.16%). In vitro antioxidant experiments indicated that when the concentration of Vitamin C was 10 μg/mL, the scavenging capacity of 1,1-diphenyl-2picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) for free radicals approached 100%, while the required AEO concentrations were 0.5 mg/mL and 0.2 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the iron-reducing capacity also showed a concentration-dependent relationship with AEO. In vivo experiments showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae was cytotoxic after treatment with AEO at concentrations greater than 0.2 mg/mL. Furthermore, in a model of oxidative stress under 2 mM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)stress, AEO increased the resistance of yeast to H₂O₂-promoted oxidative stress and improved its survival rate. These results demonstrate that AEO has good antioxidant capacity, and we hope to actively expand the application of AEO in various fields to fully develop and utilize this plant resource.