Castanea sativa Mill. By-Products: Investigation of Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Castanea sativa Mill. (C. sativa) processing and pruning generate several by-products, including leaves, burs, and shells (inner and outer teguments), which are considered an important source of high-value phytochemicals. Ellagitannins from C. sativa leaf extracts have been described to impair H. pylori viability and inflammation in gastric cells. Furthermore, chestnut shells showed an important anti-inflammatory effect in gastric epithelial cells. Dietary polyphenols, including tannins, have been reported to interfere with targets of inflammation, including the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). A promising role as a further therapeutical target for gut disorders has been recently proposed for the regulatory subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), as a potential stabilizer of intestinal barrier integrity. Therefore, the main objective of this work is the chemical characterization of several chestnut by-products (bud, spiny bur, wood, pericarp and episperm), together with the exploitation of their anti-inflammatory properties in intestinal cells, scavenging capacity, and stability following gastrointestinal digestion. The chemical characterization confirmed the presence of bioactive polyphenols in the extracts, including ellagitannins. In CaCo-2 cells stimulated by an IL-1ß-IFN-γ cocktail, nearly all chestnut by-products (50 µg/mL) inhibited the release of proinflammatory mediators (CXCL-10, IL-8, MCP-1, ICAM), along with the NF-κB-driven transcription, and induced the HRE-driven transcription. The stability of the most promising extracts, identified through PCA and cluster analysis, was addressed by in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Despite the significant reduction in total polyphenol index of chestnut bud and wood after gastric and intestinal digestion, the activity of these extracts on both scavenging and anti-inflammatory parameters remained promising. These data contribute to exploit the potential of chestnut by-products as sources of dietary polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties at the intestinal level. Moreover, this study could represent an important step to encourage the recycling and valorization of chestnut by-products, promoting the circular economy and reducing the environmental impact related to the management of agriculture waste.

A mechanistic study of chestnut starch retrogradation and its effects on in vitro starch digestion.

Starch retrogradation is a mechanism that is associated with the quality of starch-based food products. A thorough understanding of chestnut starch retrogradation behavior plays an important role in maintaining the quality of chestnut foods during processing and storage. In this study, we investigated the effects of storage time on the structural properties and in vitro digestibility of gelatinized chestnut starch by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and solid-state 13C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The results showed that the long-range crystallinity and short-range molecular order of retrograded chestnut starch first rapidly increased from 3 h to 3 d and then decreased from 3 d to 7 d, followed by a slight increase from 7 d to 14 d with retrogradation. With the extension of storage time at 4 °C, there were generally obvious increases in single and double helical structures, which were stacked into long-term ordered structure, resulting in increased enthalpy changes as detected by differential scanning calorimetry spectroscopy (DSC) and reduction of the digestion rate of retrograded chestnut starch. Overall, this study may provide important implications for manipulating and improving the quality of chestnut foods.

Comprehension of drying kinetics and stone milling process of chestnuts: a focus on moisture content, milling speed, and energy evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Chestnut flour plays an important role in the production of bread, bakery products, and gluten-free foods. Most of the references in the literature focus on the drying process itself and not on the effects of the drying and milling processes. Moreover, the literature is lacking recommendations regarding optimal moisture content and milling speed, thus motivating the present study. The first aim is to understand the chestnut drying process through an in-depth evaluation of drying kinetics; the second aim is to assess the effects of three different moisture content (2%, 4% and 6%) and three different stone rotational speeds (120, 220 and 320 rpm) on operative milling parameters (flour yield, milling time, energy consumption, temperature increase, average power, specific milling energy), flour particle size distribution, and chestnut flours characteristics. RESULTS: The results show that moisture content and stone rotational speed have statistically-significant effects on milling operative parameters, flour particle size and chestnut flour composition. In particular, stone rotational speed affected almost all the tested variables (mill operative parameters, flour particle size distribution, and flour characteristics). Therefore, as the stone rotational speed increases, energy consumption, average power, specific energy, and damaged starch content significantly increase. CONCLUSION: These findings clearly show that moisture content and stone rotational speed are powerful tools that allow the exploiation of the milling process to modulate the characteristics of the obtained flours. In conclusion, two different approaches for chestnut milling were suggested depending on the type of flour to be produced. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Investigation into the Anti-Acne Effects of Castanea sativa Mill Leaf and Its Pure Ellagitannin Castalagin in HaCaT Cells Infected with Cutibacterium acnes.

Acne vulgaris is a prevalent skin disorder affecting many young individuals, marked by keratinization, inflammation, seborrhea, and colonization by Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes). Ellagitannins, known for their antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, have not been widely studied for their anti-acne effects. Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill., C. sativa), a rich ellagitannin source, including castalagin whose acne-related bioactivity was previously unexplored, was investigated in this study. The research assessed the effect of C. sativa leaf extract and castalagin on human keratinocytes (HaCaT) infected with C. acnes, finding that both inhibited IL-8 and IL-6 release at concentrations below 25 µg/mL. The action mechanism was linked to NF-κB inhibition, without AP-1 involvement. Furthermore, the extract displayed anti-biofilm properties and reduced CK-10 expression, indicating a potential role in mitigating inflammation, bacterial colonization, and keratosis. Castalagin's bioactivity mirrored the extract's effects, notably in IL-8 inhibition, NF-κB inhibition, and biofilm formation at low µM levels. Other polyphenols, such as flavonol glycosides identified via LC-MS, might also contribute to the extract's biological activities. This study is the first to explore ellagitannins' potential in treating acne, offering insights for developing chestnut-based anti-acne treatments pending future in vivo studies.

Insights into multiscale structure and digestive characteristic of starch from two cultivars of chestnut during kernel development.

Multiscale structure and digestive characteristic of starch during kernel development of Castanea henryi ('Jinzhui' (YS) and 'Baiyan No.1' (WS)) were investigated in this study. Structural analysis revealed that the surface of starch granules became smooth, the amylopectin content decreased (from 71.32 % to 70.47 %, from 71.44 % to 68.37 %, respectively), the chain length distribution of amylopectin reduced (the proportion of B1 chain decreased from 52.35 % to 50.60 %, from 52.22 % to 50.59 %, respectively) while the amorphous and semi-crystalline lamellae of starch increased during development, which was consistent with the decreasing relative crystallinity (from 28.79 % to 24.11 %, from 29.57 % to 23.66 %, respectively) and short-range ordering degree. The degradation of ordered structure further resulted in the increase of digestibility, especially in the late developmental stage, supported by a significant decrease of resistant starch content (from 70.21 % to 61.70 % and from 73.58 % to 58.86 %, respectively). Transcriptome analysis and RT-qPCR were performed to explore the possible molecular mechanisms affecting starch structure. The high expression of several key genes including AGPase, GBSS, SBE, SSS, ISA and PUL in late development stage might be the reason of structural changes during development. The results provided valuable information for starch accumulation during kernel development of Castanea henryi.

Isolation of Hydrolyzable Tannins from Castanea sativa Using Centrifugal Partition Chromatography.

Castanea sativa wood is a rich source of hydrolyzable tannins, known for their diverse bioactivities. To investigate these bioactive properties further, it is crucial to isolate and characterize hydrophilic compounds effectively. To address this issue, we developed a centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) method and applied it to an aqueous C. sativa wood extract. We determined the partition coefficients (KD) of the six major compounds using four butanol-/water-based biphasic solvent systems. Initially, we utilized the n-butanol/propanol/water (3:1:4, v/v/v) systems for the first fractionation step. Subsequently, we employed the water/methyl tert-butyl ether/butanol/acetone (8:5:3:4, v/v/v/v) system to fractionate moderately and highly hydrophilic fractions. We calculated the KD values for major compounds of the most hydrophilic fractions using the butanol/ethanol/water (4:1:5, v/v/v) and butanol/isopropanol/water (2:1:3, v/v/v) systems. In total, we isolated 23 compounds through a combination of CPC, size exclusion chromatography, and preparative HPLC. Among these compounds, six have never been previously described. We characterized them by 1D and 2D NMR experiments and high-resolution mass spectroscopy acquisitions.

Identification and Quantification of the Major Phenolic Constituents in Castanea sativa and Commercial Interspecific Hybrids (C. sativa x C. crenata) Chestnuts Using HPLC-MS/MS.

Due to the lack of studies on chestnut metabolites, this study was conducted to identify and quantify the major phenolic constituents in chestnuts. Data were compared with the three most commonly grown interspecific hybrids of C. sativa and C. crenata ('Bouche de Betizac', 'Marsol', and 'Maraval') and three "native" accessions of C. sativa. High-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry was used to identify and quantify these compounds. Four dicarboxylic acid derivatives, five hydroxybenzoic acids, nine hydroxycinnamic acids, and three flavanols were identified and quantified, most of them for the first time. Hydroxybenzoic acids were the major phenolic compounds in all chestnut cultivars/accessions, followed by flavanols, dicarboxylic acid derivatives, and hydroxycinnamic acids. Of all the compounds studied, the (epi)catechin dimer was the most abundant in chestnut. The assumption that cultivars from commercial hybrids have a better and different metabolic profile than "native" accessions was refuted.

Utilization of Response Surface Methodology in Optimization of Proline Extraction from Castanea sativa Honey.

Proline constitutes approximately 85 % of the amino acid composition of honey. Therefore, the quantitative determination of this amino acid in honey samples is used by many national/international authorities to evaluate the quality of honey types. In this study, it was aimed to achieve maximum proline amino acid extraction from honey samples whose botanical origins were confirmed by melissopalynological analysis. For this reason, based on three different spectrophotometric methods used in the literature for proline analysis, proline extraction was optimized with the Response Surface Method (RSM) and Box-Behnken experimental design. Three independent variables were determined as treatment time (2, 6, and 10 min), treatment temperature (22, 46, and 70 °C), and cooling time (5, 25, and 45 min). As a result of the optimization, it was seen that only significantly effective independent variable on the proline content of honey was the processing temperature. The optimum conditions obtained as a result of the RSM were found to be 2 min for the treatment time, 70 °C for the treatment temperature and 45 min for the cooling time. The composite desirability of the optimum conditions (R2 ) was found to be 1.00. It was determined that the method proposed by International Honey Commission (IHC) is efficient for proline analysis, but it provides more proline extraction by reducing of time from 10 min to 2 min in hold time in boiling water bath only during the extraction step. As a result, the conditions to be used in order to achieve maximum proline extraction with different spectrophotometric methods were determined and optimum values were determined. In addition, since the botanical origin of honey samples significantly affects the proline content of honey, it can be suggested that this study be optimized for different monofloral honey samples as well.

Proanthocyanins and anthocyanins in chestnut (Castanea mollissima) shell extracts: biotransformation in the simulated gastrointestinal model and interaction with gut microbiota in vitro.

BACKGROUND: Chestnut (Castanea mollissima) shell is rich in flavonoids and our previous studies showed that proanthocyanins and anthocyanins were the two markedly varied flavonoids in chestnut shell extracts (CSE) during digestion. Here, the biotransformation of proanthocyanins and anthocyanins in a simulated gastrointestinal model, and the interactions between non-absorption CSE (NACSE) and gut microbiota in vitro, were investigated by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with triple-quadrupole mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA sequencing. RESULTS: Chestnut shell was richer in proanthocyanins and anthocyanins, while the loss of proanthocyanins was greater after digestion. Additionally, the content of anthocyanin decreased after gastric digestion but increased after intestinal digestion and remained stable after fermentation. After fermentation, delphinidin-3-O-sambubioside and pelargonidin-3-O-galactoside were newly formed. Furthermore, microbiome profiling indicated that NACSE promoted the proliferation of beneficial bacteria, while inhibiting pathogenic bacteria. CONCLUSION: All these data suggest that CSE may be a promising candidate to protect gut health. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Castanea sativa Mill. Leaf: UHPLC-HR MS/MS Analysis and Effects on In Vitro Rumen Fermentation and Methanogenesis.

Castanea sativa Mill. (Fagaceae) is a deciduous tree grown for its wood and edible fruits. Chestnut processing produces residues (burs, shells, and leaves) exploitable for their diversity in bioactive compounds in animal nutrition. In fact, plant-specialized metabolites likely act as rumen modifiers. Thus, the recovery of residual plant parts as feed ingredients is an evaluable strategy. In this context, European chestnut leaves from northern Germany have been investigated, proving to be a good source of flavonoids as well as gallo- and ellagitannins. To this purpose, an alcoholic extract was obtained and an untargeted profiling carried out, mainly by means of ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography/high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HR MS/MS) techniques. To better unravel the polyphenol constituents, fractionation strategies were employed to obtain a lipophilic fraction and a polar one. This latter was highly responsive to total phenolic and flavonoid content analyses, as well as to antiradical (DPPH● and ABTS+●) and reducing activity (PFRAP) assays. The effect of the alcoholic extract and its fractions on rumen liquor was also evaluated in vitro in terms of fermentative parameter changes and impact on methanogenesis. The data acquired confirm that chestnut leaf extract and the fractions therefrom promote an increase in total volatile fatty acids, while decreasing acetate/propionate ratio and CH4 production.

A Joint Approach of Morphological and UHPLC-HRMS Analyses to Throw Light on the Autochthonous 'Verdole' Chestnut for Nutraceutical Innovation of Its Waste.

Nowadays, chestnut by-products are gaining a lot of interest as a low-cost raw material, exploitable for developing added-value products. This is in line with suitable chestnut by-products' management, aimed at reducing the environmental impact, thus improving the chestnut industry's competitiveness and economic sustainability. In this context, with the aim of valorizing local cultivars of European chestnuts (Castanea sativa Mill.), our attention focused on the Verdole cultivar, which has been characterized by using the UPOV guidelines for its distinctness, homogeneity, and stability. After harvesting, Verdole chestnuts were properly dissected to collect the outer and inner shells, and episperm. Each chestnut part, previously crushed, shredded, and passed through diverse sieves, underwent ultrasound-assisted extraction. The extracts obtained were evaluated for their total phenolic, flavonoid, and tannin content. The antiradical capacity by DPPH and ABTS assays, and the Fe(III) reducing power, were also evaluated. Although all the samples showed dose-dependent antioxidant efficacy, plant matrix size strongly impacted on extraction efficiency. LC-HRMS-based metabolic profiling highlighted the occurrence of different polyphenol subclasses, whose quantitative ratio varied among the chestnut parts investigated. The outer shell was more chemically rich than inner shell and episperm, according to its pronounced antioxidant activity. The polyphenol diversity of Verdole by-products is a resource not intended for disposal, appliable in the nutraceutical sector, thus realizing a new scenario in processing chestnut waste.

Metabolic Profiling of Chestnut Shell (Castanea crenata) Cultivars Using UPLC-QTOF-MS and Their Antioxidant Capacity.

The inner shell of the chestnut (Castanea crenata) has long been used in Asia as a medicinal herb for improving digestion and blood circulation, and treating diarrhea. However, most chestnut shells are now treated as waste materials in industrial peeling processes. In this study, we examined the metabolite variation among major cultivars of C. crenata shells using mass spectrometry. Among five representative cultivars, Okkwang, Porotan, and Ishizuuchi had higher levels of bioactive compounds, such as ellagic acid derivatives, ellagitannins, flavonoids, and gallic acid derivatives. Their antioxidant capacity was positively correlated with their chemical composition. The byproducts (whole shells) from the industrial peeling process were re-evaluated in comparison with the inner shell, a rich source of phenolic compounds. The phenolic acids and flavonoid glucoside derivatives were significantly higher in the whole shells, whereas the levels of flavonoids were higher in the inner shells. In addition, the whole shell extracts significantly reduced cellular reactive oxygen species production compared to the inner shell extracts. This study demonstrated the different biochemical benefits of different C. crenata cultivars through metabolic profiling and suggests that the whole shell could be used as a functional ingredient, as it has the highest levels of bioactive products and antioxidant effects.

Improving the physicochemical properties of a traditional Portuguese cake - "económicos" with chestnut flour.

"Económicos" are traditional Portuguese pastry products; although their production is low-cost, their nutritional value is equally low. Since it is a widely consumed product in the Trás-os-Montes region, it is important to add value to it without making significant changes to the traditional recipe. Thus, this work has the main objective to increase the nutritional power of "económicos" through the incorporation of chestnut (Castanea sativa) fruit flour. The influence of the incorporation of 9% of chestnut flour as a new ingredient was analysed in terms of physical parameters (texture, colour, pH, water activity and moisture), nutritional content (according to the official AOAC methodology) and chemical parameters (sugars, fatty acids and organic acids) and the ability to control the microbial load over shelf life (32 days). Overall, the addition of the chestnut flour did not drastically change the appearance of the chemical and physical profiles of the cakes, but resulted in a lighter crumb (L*), slight changes in the texture profile, reduction of fat, and most importantly, introduced healthier flour to this inexpensive cake. Moreover, it did not stimulate the growth of microorganisms (total aerobic mesophiles, coliforms, Bacillus cereus, molds, and yeasts) during the 32 days of storage.

Bioactive constituents, nutritional benefits and woody food applications of Castanea mollissima: A comprehensive review.

Castanea mollissima BL. is an outstanding species that represents a valuable woody food resource due to consumers' salient beliefs in the health benefits of chestnut consumption. Besides chestnut kernel, the discarded shells of chestnut were highlighted as remarkable sources of functional ingredients with promising applications in food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and industrial raw materials, mainly as natural antioxidants and effective prebiotics. Phytochemical studies reported not only antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, but also anti-inflammatory, anticancer, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic and neuroprotective activities. This review aims to summarize the botanical characteristics, nutritional compositions, biological activities and comprehensive utilization of the whole C. mollissima, emphasizing the value of sustainable use in the recovery of bioactive compounds and their potential applications in food and other industries. It will provide a reference for the further development of C. mollissima in the field of multi-functional food and will inspiring investigations on the comprehensive utilization of chestnut and their by-products.

Inner Shell of the Chestnut (Castanea crenatta) Suppresses Inflammatory Responses in Ovalbumin-Induced Allergic Asthma Mouse Model.

The inner shell of the chestnut (Castanea crenata) contains various polyphenols, which exert beneficial biological effects. Hence, we assessed the anti-inflammatory efficacy of a chestnut inner shell extract (CIE) in ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma. We intraperitoneally injected 20 µg of OVA with 2 mg of aluminum hydroxide on days 0 and 14. On test days 21, 22, and 23, the mice were treated with aerosolized 1% (w/v) OVA in saline. CIE was administered orally at 100 and 300 mg/kg on days 18-23. CIE significantly reduced inflammatory cytokines and cells and immunoglobulin-E increased by OVA. Anti-inflammatory efficacy was revealed by reduction of inflammatory cell migration and mucus secretion in lung tissue. Further, CIE suppressed the OVA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation. Accordingly, the expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) were decreased sequentially in lung tissues. CIE alleviated OVA-induced airway inflammation by restraining phosphorylation of NF-κB and the sequentially reduced expression of iNOS, COX-2, leading to reduced MMP-9 expression. These results indicate that CIE has potential as a candidate for alleviating asthma.

Effects of natural dihydrochalcones in sweet tea (Lithocarpus polystachyus) on diabetes: a systematical review and meta-analysis of animal studies.

Sweet tea (Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd.), a natural functional food highly rich in dihydrochalcones including trilobatin, phlorizin and phloretin, is reported to possess numerous biological activities especially for treating diabetes. Here, the aim of this systematical review and meta-analysis is to assess the effect of dihydrochalcones in sweet tea (DST) on diabetes and summarize their possible mechanisms. We searched in eight databases including Embase, PubMed, Cochrane, Web of Science, WanFang database, VIP database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and China Biology Medicine from Jan 2000 to Nov 2021 and ultimately included 21 animal studies in this review. A total of 10 outcome measurements including blood lipid indexes, blood glucose, insulin resistance indicators and oxidative stress biomarkers were extracted for meta-analysis using RevMan 5.4 software. DST significantly decreased the levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), blood glucose (BG), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in diabetic animal models. In summary, DST could treat diabetes by regulation of blood glucose/lipid metabolism, oxidative/carbonyl stress, inflammatory response etc.

Three new compounds from the leaves of Castanopsis tibetana Hance.

Three new compounds (6S,9S)-6'-galloyl-roseoside (1), purpurogallin ethyl carboxylate (2), and tibetana A (3) were isolated from 80% methanol extract of the leaves of Castanopsis tibetana Hance. Their structures were elucidated based on comprehensive spectroscopic methods and chemical data, including optical rotation, UV, MS, 1 D and 2 D NMR spectra. Compounds 1 and 3 were evaluated for their α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity.

Acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase-B inhibitory activities by ellagic acid derivatives isolated from Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii.

Among 276 herbal extracts, a methanol extract of Castanopsis cuspidata var. sieboldii stems was selected as an experimental source for novel acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors. Five compounds were isolated from the extract by activity-guided screening, and their inhibitory activities against butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), monoamine oxidases (MAOs), and ß-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE-1) were also evaluated. Of these compounds, 4'-O-(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-3,3',4-tri-O-methylellagic acid (3) and 3,3',4-tri-O-methylellagic acid (4) effectively inhibited AChE with IC50 values of 10.1 and 10.7 µM, respectively. Ellagic acid (5) inhibited AChE (IC50 = 41.7 µM) less than 3 and 4. In addition, 3 effectively inhibited MAO-B (IC50 = 7.27 µM) followed by 5 (IC50 = 9.21 µM). All five compounds weakly inhibited BChE and BACE-1. Compounds 3, 4, and 5 reversibly and competitively inhibited AChE, and were slightly or non-toxic to MDCK cells. The binding energies of 3 and 4 (- 8.5 and - 9.2 kcal/mol, respectively) for AChE were greater than that of 5 (- 8.3 kcal/mol), and 3 and 4 formed a hydrogen bond with Tyr124 in AChE. These results suggest 3 is a dual-targeting inhibitor of AChE and MAO-B, and that these compounds should be viewed as potential therapeutics for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Effect of Trilobatin from Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd on Gut Microbiota of Obese Rats Induced by a High-Fat Diet.

Trilobatin was identified as the primary bioactive component in the Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd (LPR) leaves. This study explored the antiobesity effect of trilobatin from LPR leaves and its influence on gut microbiota in obese rats. Results showed that trilobatin could significantly reduce body and liver weight gain induced by a high-fat diet, and the accumulation of perirenal fat, epididymal fat, and brown fat of SD (Male Sprague-Dawley) obese rats in a dose-independent manner. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations increased, especially the concentration of butyrate. Trilobatin supplementation could significantly increase the relative abundance of Lactobacillus, Prevotella, CF231, Bacteroides, and Oscillospira, and decrease greatly the abundance of Blautia, Allobaculum, Phascolarctobacterium, and Coprococcus, resulting in an increase of the ratio of Bacteroidetes to Firmicutes (except the genera of Lactobacillus and Oscillospira). The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway predicted by the Phylogenetic Investigation of Communities by Reconstruction of Unobserved States (PICRUSt) indicated the different relative metabolic pathways after trilobatin supplementation. This study may reveal the contribution of gut microbiota to the antiobesity effect of trilobatin from LPR leaves and predict the potential regulatory mechanism for obesity induced by a high-fat diet.

The influence of Castanea sativa Mill. flower extract on hormonally and chemically induced prostate cancer in a rat model.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in men, with a huge impact on their health. The use of Castanea sativa Mill. flowers (CFs) in beverages has been reported, through ancestral claims, as having health benefits. In vitro research has evidenced the properties of CFs, such as antitumor and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of CF extract in an animal model of PCa. Forty male Wistar Unilever rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control, induced, control + CF, and induced + CF groups. Animals from the induced groups were exposed to a multistep protocol for PCa induction. The CF extract, rich in trigalloyl-HHDP-glucoside and obtained via decoction, was administered to the CF groups in drinking water (3 mg per animal per day) for 49 weeks. Animals were sacrificed at 61 weeks of age. Regarding the effects of CFs on dorsolateral prostate tumorigenesis, no significant differences were observed between the induced and induced + CF groups. However, animals exposed to the CF extract showed fewer inflammation areas on the dorsolateral prostate lobe than those not exposed to CF. Moreover, the CF extract alleviated the hepatic oxidative stress associated with the multistep protocol, resulting in lower levels of lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that CF extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.