Gengricin®: A Nutraceutical Formulation for Appetite Control and Therapeutic Weight Management in Adults Who Are Overweight/Obese.

In the field of nutritional science and metabolic disorders, there is a growing interest in natural bitter compounds capable of interacting with bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) useful for obesity management and satiety control. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a nutraceutical formulation containing a combination of molecules appropriately designed to simultaneously target and stimulate these receptors. Specifically, the effect on CCK release exerted by a multi-component nutraceutical formulation (Cinchona bark, Chicory, and Gentian roots in a 1:1:1 ratio, named Gengricin®) was investigated in a CaCo-2 cell line, in comparison with Cinchona alone. In addition, these nutraceutical formulations were tested through a 3-month randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in subjects who were overweight-obese following a hypocaloric diet. Interestingly, the Gengricin® group exhibited a significant greater weight loss and improvement in body composition than the Placebo and Cinchona groups, indicating its effectiveness in promoting weight regulation. Additionally, the Gengricin® group reported higher satiety levels and a significant increase in serum CCK levels, suggesting a physiological basis for the observed effects on appetite control. Overall, these findings highlight the potential of natural nutraceutical strategies based on the combination of bitter compounds in modulating gut hormone release for effective appetite control and weight management.

Therapeutic Effect of an Ursolic Acid-Based Nutraceutical on Neuronal Regeneration after Sciatic Nerve Injury.

Peripheral nerve injuries lead to severe functional impairments and long recovery times, with limited effectiveness and accessibility of current treatments. This has increased interest in natural bioactive compounds, such as ursolic acid (UA). Our study evaluated the effect of an oleolyte rich in UA from white grape pomace (WGPO) on neuronal regeneration in mice with induced sciatic nerve resection, administered concurrently with the induced damage (the WGPO group) and 10 days prior (the PRE-WGPO group). The experiment was monitored at two-time points (4 and 10 days) after injury. After 10 days, the WGPO group demonstrated a reduction in muscle atrophy, evidenced by an increased number and diameter of muscle fibers and a decreased Atrogin-1 and Murf-1 expression relative to the denervated control. It was also observed that 85.7% of neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) were fully innervated, as indicated by the colocalization of α-bungarotoxin and synaptophysin, along with the significant modulation of Oct-6 and S-100. The PRE-WGPO group showed a more beneficial effect on nerve fiber reformation, with a significant increase in myelin protein zero and 95.2% fully innervated NMJs, and a pro-hypertrophic effect in resting non-denervated muscles. Our findings suggest WGPO as a potential treatment for various conditions that require the repair of nerve and muscle injuries.

Phytochemical investigation and antioxidant properties of unripe tomato cultivars (Solanum lycopersicum L.).

Unripe tomatoes are among the main waste produced during tomato cultivation and processing. In this study, unripe tomatoes from seven different Italian cultivars have been investigated to evaluate their nutraceutical potential. Phytochemical investigation allowed shedding light on the identification of seventy-five bioactive compounds. The highest amount of polyphenolic and glycoalkaloids along with the high level of antioxidant activities was found in the Datterini tomatoes variety. The peculiarity of this variety is the high chlorogenic acid content, being ten times higher compared to the other cultivars examined. Moreover, the total α-tomatine amount has been found substantially higher (34.699 ± 1.101 mg/g dry weight) with respect to the other tomato varieties analyzed. Furthermore, the cultivars metabolomic profiles were investigated with the PCA approach. Based on Datterini cultivar's metabolomic profile, its waste-recovery could represent a good option for further added value products in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical areas with a high α-tomatine content.

Efficacy of a Multicomponent Nutraceutical Formulation for the Prevention and Treatment of Urinary Tract Stones.

Urolithiasis is a complex and multifactorial disease characterized by the formation of calculi at the urinary tract level. Conventional therapeutic prophylaxis relies on the use of Ca-blockers, alkalis, diuretics, and anti-edema agents, but their prolonged utilization is often limited by several side effects. In this scenario, the aim of the present work was the design of an innovative multi-component nutraceutical formulation (NF) for the management of urinary stones consisting of a synergistic combination of natural aqueous extracts of Oreganum vulgare L. (1% of saponin), Urtica dioica (0.8% of ß-sitosterol), Phyllanthus niruri (15% of tannins w/w), and Ceterach officinarum in association with bromelain, K, and Mg citrate. To assess the potential of NF also in the treatment of uric acid (UA) stones, the effects on the expression of the cellular UA transporters OAT1 and URAT1 were investigated in a renal tubular cell line. In addition, the myorelaxant effect of NF was investigated in a human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell (HPASMC) model resulting in a decreased muscle contractility of -49.4% (p < 0.01) compared to the control. The treatment with NF also showed a valuable inhibition of in vitro calcium-oxalate crystal formation, both in prevention (-52.3% vs. control, p < 0.01) and treatment (-70.8% vs. control, p < 0.01) experiments. Finally, an ischemic reperfusion rat model was used to evaluate the NF anti-edema effects, resulting in a reduction in the edema-related vascular permeability (Normalized Gray Levels, NGL = 0.40 ± 0.09, p < 0.01, -67.1% vs. untreated rats). In conclusion, the present NF has shown to be a promising natural alternative for managing urinary tract stones.

A Food-Grade Method for Enhancing the Levels of Low Molecular Weight Proanthocyanidins with Potentially High Intestinal Bioavailability.

Proanthocyanidins (PACs) are a group of bioactive molecules found in a variety of plants and foods. Their bioavailability depends on their molecular size, with monomers and dimers being more bioavailable than those that have a higher polymerization degree. This study aimed to develop a method to convert high-molecular-weight PACs to low-molecular-weight ones in a grape seed extract (GSE) from Vitis vinifera L. Therefore, GSE was subjected to alkaline treatment (ATGSE), and its difference in chemical composition, compared to GSE, was evaluated using a molecular networking (MN) approach based on results obtained from HPLC-ESI HRMS/MS characterization analysis. The network analysis mainly noted the PAC cluster with about 142 PAC compounds identified. In particular, the obtained results showed a higher content of monomeric and dimeric PACs in ATGSE compared to GSE, with 58% and 49% monomers and 31% and 24% dimers, respectively. Conversely, trimeric (9%), polymeric (4%), and galloylated PACs (14%) were more abundant in GSE than in ATGSE (6%, 1%, and 4%, respectively). Moreover, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were investigated, showing the high beneficial potential of both extracts. In conclusion, ATGSE could represent an innovative natural matrix rich in bioavailable and bioaccessible PACs for nutraceutical applications with potential beneficial properties.

Effects of Fortified Laying Hen Diet with Moringa oleifera Leaves and Goji Berries on Cholesterol and Carotenoid Egg Content.

The biofortification of basal laying hen feed with natural matrices can improve the beneficial potential of eggs produced without relying on artificial fortification. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of hen diet supplementation with dried Moringa leaves (DML) and goji berries (DGB) on egg functional properties in terms of cholesterol and carotenoid content. Forty Lohman Brown Classic laying hens were randomly divided into four groups. The control group (G1) received the basal poultry diet, group G2 received a diet with 5% DML + 10% DGB, group G3 received a diet with 3% DML + 7% DGB, and group G4 received a diet with 15% DML. HPLC-DAD analysis showed that feed supplementation positively influenced the egg carotenoid content, with a valuable increase in xanthophylls concentration, especially lutein (+333.24% in G4, +258.15% in G2, +189.24% in G3, compared to G1). The same trend was also followed by the ß-carotene concentration (+181.38% in G3 and +116.01% in G4, compared to G1). Furthermore, the eggs obtained from G3 showed the lowest cholesterol content (-47.08%). Additionally, the performed antioxidant assays showed maximum activity in G2 (+39.11 compared to G1 for the DPPH test) and in G4 (+31.11 compared to G1 for the ABTS test). In conclusion, the G2 experimental diet could be potentially used in poultry industries to produce "functional eggs".