A 12-Week Randomized Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial, Evaluating the Effect of Supplementation with a Spinach Extract on Skeletal Muscle Fitness in Adults Older Than 50 Years of Age.

The aim of a 12-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study was to assess the effect of daily supplementation with a natural extract of Spinacia oleracea L. (4 × 500 mg capsules/day; total 2 g per day) combined with a moderate-intensity training program (1 h session/3 times a week) on skeletal muscle fitness in adults over 50 years of age. Muscle strength assessed by isokinetic and isometric dynamometry improved significantly in the experimental (n = 23) and the placebo (n = 22) groups, but the magnitude of improvement was higher in the experimental group, with between-group differences in almost all variables, including isokinetic at 60° s-1 in knee extension, peak torque (p < 0.007); total work per repetition maximum (p < 0.009); isokinetic at 180°s-1 in knee extension, peak torque (p < 0.002); total work (p < 0.007); total work per repetition maximum (p < 0.005); average power (p < 0.027); isometric in knee extension, peak torque (p < 0.005); and average peak torque (p < 0.002). Similar findings were observed for muscle quality. Changes in quality of life (SF-36) were not found, except for improvements in the role physical (p < 0.023) and role emotional (p < 0.001) domains, likely as a result of the physical training sessions. A nutritional survey did not revealed changes in dietary habits. No adverse events were recorded. In subjects over 50 years of age, moderate-intensity strength training combined with daily supplementation for 12 weeks with a natural extract of Spinacia oleracea L. improved muscle-related variables and muscle quality. Maintaining muscle health is a key component of healthy aging.

The first report of iron-rich population of adapted medicinal spinach (Blitum virgatum L.) compared with cultivated spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.).

Folk medicine such as herbal and natural products have been used for centuries in every culture throughout the world. The Chenopodiaceae family with more than 1500 species is dispersed worldwide. The Iranian wild spinach (Blitum virgatum L.) is an important traditional medicinal plant used for antiviral diseases such as pneumonia and other respiratory track infections. This plant is a mountainous herb and is growing upper than 3000 m. We performed a mass selection plant breeding program on wild populations of this Iranian wild spinach during 2013-2020. Based on experimental and field characteristics this plant was identified as B. virgatum, |abbaricum|, and related characteristics were prepared with reference to the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV). Mass selection program resulted from an adapted population named as medicinal spinach (MSP) population. To compare the mineral content of the mass-selected population with cultivated spinach (Spinacia oleracea L. |Varamin 88|), both plants were planted in pots and fields under similar conditions. In five leaves stage, plant samples were taken from both leaf and crown sections and used for experimental analysis. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine the mineral content including iron (Fe), zinc (Z), manganese (Mn), and copper (Cu). Our results showed the selected medicinal spinach population (MSP) with about 509 ppm iron was an important iron-rich population with about 3.5-4 times more than the amount of iron in cultivated spinach in the same conditions. Because iron is an important essential element for blood production, respiration process, energy metabolisms, synthesis of collagen, and some neurotransmitters are needed for proper immune function, so the supply of absorbable adequate iron is very important. The reasons such as the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, which affects the amount of exchangeable oxygen in the lungs and historical local evidences of the use of this plant (MSP) for pneumonia, could open new horizons for focusing on studies related to the use of ancestral human experiences in addition to scientifically modern research.

Hydrothermal Processing and In Vitro Simulated Human Digestion Affects the Bioaccessibility and Bioactivity of Phenolic Compounds in African Pumpkin (Momordica balsamina) Leaves.

The African pumpkin (Momordica balsamina) contains bioactive phenolic compounds that may assist in reducing oxidative stress in the human body. The leaves are mainly consumed after boiling in water for a specific time; this hydrothermal process and conditions of the gastrointestinal tract may affect the presence and bioactivity of phenolics either positively or negatively. In this study, the effects of hydrothermal processing (boiling) and in vitro simulated human digestion on the phenolic composition, bioaccessibility and bioactivity in African pumpkin were investigated in comparison with those of spinach (Spinacia oleracea). A high-resolution ultra-performance liquid chromatography, coupled with diode array detection, quadrupole time-of-flight and mass spectrometer (UPLC-DAD-QTOF-MS) was used to profile phenolic metabolites. Metabolites such as 3-caffeoylquinic acid, 5-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were highly concentrated in the boiled vegetable extracts compared to the raw undigested and all digested samples. The majority of African pumpkin and spinach extracts (non-digested and digested) protected Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), (mouse fibroblast) L929 and human epithelial colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells from 2,2'-Azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH)-induced oxidative damage. From these results, the consumption of boiled African pumpkin leaves, as well as spinach, could be encouraged, as bioactive metabolites present may reduce oxidative stress in the body.

Extraction and Natural Bioactive Molecules Characterization in Spinach, Kale and Purslane: A Comparative Study.

Leafy green vegetables contain essential nutrients and are frequently consumed for their perceived health benefits. The purpose of this study was to profile the nutritional and natural bioactive phytochemical compounds extracted from freeze-dried spinach and kale and compare them with our previously published freeze-dried purslane results. Novel research suggests that these leafy greens contain an abundance of fatty acids, amino acids, organic acids, vitamins, and minerals, which can reduce the risk of many chronic diseases. LC-MS/MS screening identified 69 and 103 compounds in spinach and kale, respectively, including flavonoids, glucosinolates, and phenolic and organic acids. Out of a total of 26 flavonoids identified in the current study, only three were found in spinach. All three leafy greens showed nutritional and health benefits and the unique phytochemical compounds found only in purslane provide a strong basis to incorporate its distinct dietary benefits.

Natural particles can armor emulsions against lipid oxidation and coalescence.

Traditional functional ingredients, such as conventional emulsifiers (surfactants, animal-derived proteins), and synthetic antioxidants may become obsolete in the development of clean-label, plant-based, sustainable food emulsions. Previously, we showed that tailor-made antioxidant-loaded particles can yield both physically and oxidatively stable emulsions, and we expected that natural particles with related properties could also show these beneficial effects. Here, we investigated Pickering emulsions prepared with natural plant particulate materials. Particles that showed weak aggregation in acidic aqueous media, indicating a relatively hydrophobic surface, were able to physically stabilize oil-in-water emulsions, through either Pickering stabilization (powders of matcha tea, spinach leaves, and spirulina cake), or an increase in viscosity (pineapple fibers). Matcha tea and spinach leaf particle-stabilized emulsions were highly stable to lipid oxidation, as compared to emulsions stabilized by conventional emulsifiers. Taking this dual particle functionality as a starting point for emulsion design is, in our view, essential to achieve clean-label food emulsions.

Comparative study of the insecticidal activity of a high green plant (Spinacia oleracea) and a chlorophytae algae (Ulva lactuca) extracts against Drosophila melanogaster fruit fly.

OBJECTIVES: Currently, the global interests tend to take advantage of the plant world as a renewable source of a natural and effective molecule, to find an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and less toxic alternative to the current synthetic pesticide. In this context, the present research was carried out in an attempt to study the insecticidal activity of extracts and pigments derived from the green plant Spinacia oleracea and the green alga Ulva lactuca against the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster as an alternative to chemical insecticide. METHODS: The toxicity of the aqueous, acetonic and ethanolic extracts as well as of the purified pigments (Chlorophylls and carotenoids) was determined by complementary in vivo tests (application by spraying oranges, toxicity by ingestion and repellent activity). Interestingly, each one of these methods corresponds to a specific mode of exposure. RESULTS: Results showed that acetone extracts, which are rich in green pigments, present the best insecticidal activities. On the other hand, the purified chlorophyllian pigments exhibited an interesting activity only by spraying method. Regarding the repellent activity, the aqueous extract of spinach displayed higher effectiveness. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests the potential of tested plant and algal extracts, as well as of chlorophyllian pigments, to provide a safer alternative way to the use of synthetic pesticides.

Isolation and compositional analysis of galactoglycerolipids from perilla [Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton] leaves and comparison to the galactoglycerolipids from spinach and parsley.

The aim of this study was to isolate monogalactosyldiacylglycerols (MGDGs) and digalactosyldiacylglycerols (DGDGs) from perilla [Perilla frutescens (L.) Britton] and to investigate their fatty acid profiles. Perilla displayed the greatest total MGDG and DGDG content among the three types of leaf vegetables tested, that is, spinach, parsley, and perilla, containing 0.16 g/100 g MGDG and 0.04 g/100 g DGDG (on wet weight basis). High purity MGDG (approximately 97 g/100 g) and DGDG (approximately 86 g/100 g) were isolated from perilla chloroform/methanol (2:1, v/v) extracts by two-step silica gel column chromatography. MGDGs were primarily composed of 18:3n-3 and 16:3n-3, predominantly located at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, respectively. In DGDG, 18:3n-3 and 16:0 were the most abundant fatty acids and were primarily found at the sn-1 and sn-2 positions, respectively. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: MGDGs and DGDGs are the most prevalent forms of galactoglycerolipids found in leaf vegetables including perilla and have been shown to exert health-beneficial effects, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and appetite-suppressing activities. Both MGDGs and DGDGs possess emulsifying properties. The present study may help better understand the health-beneficial effects of MGDG and DGDG from perilla, by providing total composition and positional distribution of the fatty acids. The present study also successfully established a protocol to isolate high purity MGDG and DGDG from perilla, thereby increasing their possible use as an ingredient in foods and nutraceuticals.

Highly Efficient Extraction Procedures Based on Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents or Ionic Liquids for Determination of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Spinach.

A novel, efficient extraction procedure based on natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) and ionic liquids (ILs) for determination of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-E) in spinach has been developed. NADES, the first green extraction agent, with different hydrogen bond donors and acceptors are screened in order to determine extraction efficiencies. NADES consisting of lactic acid and levulinic acid at a molar ratio of 1:1 exhibits the highest yields. ILs, the second green extraction agent, with various cations and anions are also investigated, where [TEA] [OAc]·AcOH, χAcOH = 0.75 displays the highest recovery. Moreover, NADES-SLE and IL-SLE (SLE, solid-liquid extraction) parameters are investigated. Using the obtained optimized method, the recoveries of the target compound in spinach are above 93% and 88% for NADES-SLE and IL-SLE procedure, respectively. The methods display good linearity within the range of 0.5-30 µg/g and LODs of 0.17 µg/g. The proposed NADES-SLE-UHPLC-UV and IL-SLE-UHPLC-UV procedures can be applied to the analysis of 20-E in real spinach samples, making it a potentially promising technique for food matrix. The main advantage of this study is the superior efficiency of the new, green extraction solvents, which results in a significant reduction of extraction time and solvents as compared to those in the literature.

Inhibition of cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone deterioration by Spinacia oleracea in human mimic of ACLT-induced osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is an aging disorder characterized by degenerated cartilage and sub-chondral bone alteration in affected knee joints. Globally, millions of people suffer from this disease. However, there is a lack of safe and promising therapeutics, making the exploration and development of leads from natural sources urgent. Accordingly, food as medicine may be the most suitable approach for the treatment of this degenerative disease. Herein, we elucidated the protective role of Spinacia oleracea extract (SOE) in an anterior cruciate ligament transection (ACLT) model of osteoarthritis as a mimic of the human condition. ACL transection was done in the tibio-femoral joints of rats. SOE was orally administered at the dosage of 125 and 250 mg kg-1 day-1 for four weeks. It was shown that the animals with SOE treatment had better joint morphology than the ACLT animals, as evident by the shiny appearance of their cartilage. Hematoxylin and safranin-o staining showed that the number of chondrocytes was significantly reduced in the OA model, which was prevented with SOE treatment. The reduction in the cartilage thickness was well observed by toluidine blue staining. The reduced stain by safranin-o and toluidine blue, indicated proteoglycan loss in the ACLT-induced osteoarthritis model. The proteoglycan content and cartilage thickness were restored in the SOE group upon treatment at an SOE dosage of 125 and 250 mg kg-1 day-1. The micro-CT parameters of subchondral bone (SCB) and cartilage degradation markers in the serum corroborated our findings of the protective effects of SOE. In summary, our study suggests that SOE has therapeutic potential, which if taken regularly as a food supplement, can have beneficial effects.

Design of Healthy Snack Based on Kiwifruit.

Kiwifruit is an excellent source of vitamin C and other bioactive compounds, which contribute to its high antioxidant activity. However, the fruits with small size and low weight are considered waste and are unprofitable; therefore, the production of healthy kiwifruit-based dried snacks, which contain a lot of health-beneficial ingredients, could be a viable alternative for their use. The aim of this study was to develop formulations and methods to produce attractive and nutritionally valuable dried snacks based on yellow kiwifruit. Three different puree formulations (kiwifruit; fennel; and strawberry, lemon, or spinach) with or without addition of sugar were subjected to two drying methods: freeze-drying (fruit bars) and conventional hot air drying (fruit leathers). The obtained products were analysed for their content of total polyphenols (TPs), flavonoids, and vitamin C, as well as their antioxidant activity. The results showed that snacks prepared by freeze-drying (fruit bars) presented higher TP, vitamin C, and flavonoids content than those prepared by convective drying; however, the antioxidant activity did not always follow this trend. The amount of bioactive compounds depended on the formulation used for the preparation of snacks. The effect of the sugar addition seems to be strictly related to the mix used and specific bioactive compound investigated.

Glucopyranoside flavonoids isolated from leaves of Spinacia oleracea (spinach) inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and aldose reductase activity (RLAR).

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR) generated in the glycation process play an outstanding role in the complications of diabetes. Owing to the adverse effects of AGEs on diabetic patients, the search for new anti-AGE agents from plants without side effects has had significant interest from the researchers in the last decades for the development of a therapy that improves diabetic complications. Spinach could reverse the formation of AGEs and RLAR. This study aimed to investigate the ability of 10 known glucopyranosides flavonoids isolated from Spinacia oleracea on the formation of AGEs and RLAR in vitro and in vivo experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanol extract of leaves of spinach was subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation using to silica gel column chromatographic followed by gel filtration by Sephadex LH-20. BSA glucose system and in vitro bioassays using rat lens aldose reductase (RLAR) were employed to evaluated inhibitory activity on the formation of AGEs. The induced diabetes in zebrafish by immersing in a 111 mM glucose solution for 14 days, revealed increased glycation of proteins in the eyes. Measurements of glycated hemoglobin and fructosamine were used to verify the anti-AGEs effect of the isolated flavonoids. KEY RESULTS: Through bioassay-guided fractionation of methanol extract of leaves spinach, ten known glucopyranoside flavonoids (1-10) have been isolated, and spectroscopic studies established their structures. Among the isolated compounds are: patuletin-3-O-(2"-coumaroylglucosyl)-(1→6)-[apiosyl-(1→2)]- ß-d-glucopyranoside (7), patuletin 3-O-(2"-feruloyl glucosyl)-(1→6)-[apiosyl-(1→2)]- ß-d-glucopyranoside (8), they have shown potent inhibition on AGEs formation, stronger than the positive controls used in the different experiments. CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS: The findings indicated that glucopyranoside flavonoids found in Spinacia oleracea might have therapeutic potential for decreasing protein glycation, and might ameliorate AGE-related diabetic complications.

Fabrication and characterization of Spinacia oleracea extract incorporated alginate/carboxymethyl cellulose microporous scaffold for bone tissue engineering.

In recent years, plant based scaffold due to its inherent properties such as mechanical stability, renewability, easy mass production, inexpensiveness, biocompatibility and biodegradability with low toxic effects have received much attention in the field of bone tissue engineering. Design of good tissue compatible plant based polymer scaffold plays a vital role in biomedicine, nanomedicine and in various tissue engineering applications. The present study focused on the fabrication of a novel herbal scaffold using the medicinal plants Spinacia oleracea (SO) and Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) extracts incorporated with Alginate (Alg), Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) by lyophilization method. The structural nature and the properties of prepared scaffold were analyzed by XRD, FE-SEM, FTIR, EDAX, TGA, swelling ratio, porosity, in-vitro degradation and cell viability studies. The biocompatible nature of the plant based polymer scaffold was assessed using MG-63 Human Osteosarcoma cell line. The investigation of biocompatibility study showed that Alg/CMC/SO scaffold expressed higher cell viability than Alg/CMC/SO-CQ scaffold, which possess better cellular biocompatibility. The results of the present study suggested that plant based Alg/CMC/SO scaffold serve as a potential biopolymer scaffold which could be further exploited for bone tissue applications.

Detection and quantitation of ecdysterone in human serum by liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry.

The polyhydroxylated phytosteroid ecdysterone is present in various plants (e.g. spinach). It is widely marketed as the active component of dietary supplements, due to its reported health and performance promoting effects. For evaluation of its actual bioavailability, a fast and sensitive method was developed, optimized and validated for human serum. Instrumental analysis was performed utilizing liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with positive electrospray ionization and acquisition in multiple reaction mode. Solid phase extraction and dilute-and-inject (following protein precipitation) were tested to isolate ecdysterone from human serum. Both methods were compared in the light of the preset analytical target profile. The limit of detection (LOD) and quantitation (LOQ) for ecdysterone in human serum after SPE extraction corresponded to 0.06 ng/mL and 0.14 ng/mL, respectively, meeting the requested sensitivity of the method. The assay was linear over the range of 0.10 ng/mL to 20.83 ng/mL. As expected, the sensitivity of the SPE method was better than that of the dilute-and-inject procedure, which did not allow for quantitation of all post administration serum samples. Accuracy (relative error; %) and precision (coefficient of variation; %), were both within acceptance criteria (<15%). The developed method was successfully applied to a ten week intervention study conducted in young men performing regular resistance training. Different doses of supplements containing ecdysterone from spinach extract have been administered during the study and the quantitation of ecdysterone in serum samples has been successfully conducted. Ecdysterone could be quantified in all post-administration samples using solid phase extraction (SPE) for sample pretreatment.

Mechanisms Governing the Transfer of Pure and Plant Matrix Carotenoids Toward Emulsified Triglycerides.

SCOPE: The study aims to assess the role of factors assumed to be involved in the transfer of carotenoids from plant matrices to dietary emulsions in the upper digestive tract. METHODS AND RESULTS: Transfer is first measured as a function of time of pure ß-carotene (ßC), lutein (LUT), and lycopene (LYC) to triglyceride (TG) droplets dispersed in water. Then the transfer to TG droplets stabilized with either bovine serum albumin (BSA), phospholipids (PL), or both is measured. Finally, transfer of tomato and spinach puree carotenoids to these emulsions is measured. The maximal transfer efficiency of the pure carotenoids to uncoated emulsions is very efficient, ranging from 59% to 77%. However, it is dramatically impaired, ranging from 0.5% to 31% (p < 0.05), when emulsions are stabilized by the emulsifiers. Conversely, when LUT, and to a less extent ßC, but not LYC, is provided by the vegetable purees, its maximal transfer efficiency is significantly higher for the coated emulsions than for the uncoated one. CONCLUSIONS: Emulsifiers can dramatically impair the transfer of pure carotenoids to emulsion TG while they can facilitate the transfer of carotenoids from plant matrices. This suggests that specific interactions between plant matrix compounds and emulsifiers can enhance the transfer efficiency of carotenoids.

The effects of hydroalcoholic extract of spinach on prevention and treatment of some metabolic and histologic features in a rat model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the effects of hydroalcoholic extract of spinach (HES) on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). In the prevention phase, 18 Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a high-fat diet, a high-fat diet plus 400 mg kg-1 HES, or a chow diet for 7 weeks. For the treatment phase, after the induction of NAFLD, they were fed a high-fat diet, a high-fat diet plus 400 mg kg-1 HES, a chow diet, or chow diet plus 400 mg kg-1 HES for 4 weeks (n = 6). RESULTS: Weight gain (P = 0.01), food intake (P < 0.01), serum glucose (P = 0.01), triglyceride (TG) (P = 0.02), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (P = 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P = 0.02), liver steatosis, and the nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) activity score (NAS) (P < 0.01) in the high-fat group were statistically higher than in the other groups at the end of the prevention phase. Feeding spinach extract to rats on a high-fat diet decreased serum glucose (P = 0.01), total cholesterol (TCh) (P < 0.01), AST (P = 0.01), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P < 0.01), and liver steatosis (P < 0.01) in the treatment phase. CONCLUSION: Overall, spinach extract showed beneficial effects in the prevention and treatment of NAFLD. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

In vitro digestion of galactolipids from chloroplast-rich fraction (CRF) of postharvest, pea vine field residue (haulm) and spinach leaves.

The removal of intact chloroplasts from their cell wall confinement offers a novel way to obtain lipophilic nutrients from green biomass, especially carotenoids and galactolipids. These latter are the main membrane lipids in plants and they represent a major source of the essential α-linolenic acid (18:3; ALA). Nevertheless, knowledge on their digestion is still limited. We have developed a physical method of recovering a chloroplast-rich fraction (CRF) from green biomass and tested its digestibility in vitro under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. Using a two-step static model, CRF from both spinach leaves and postharvest, pea vine field residue (haulm) were first exposed to enzymes from rabbit gastric extracts and then either to pancreatic enzymes from human pancreatic juice (HPJ) or to porcine pancreatic extracts (PPE). The lipolysis of monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and digalactosyl diacylglycerol (DGDG) was monitored by thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography of fatty acid methyl esters. For both CRF preparations, MGDG and DGDG were converted to monogalactosylmonoacylglycerol (MGMG) and digalactosylmonoacylglycerol (DGMG), respectively, during the intestinal phase and ALA was the main fatty acid released. Galactolipids were more effectively hydrolysed by HPJ than by PPE, and PPE showed a higher activity on MGDG than on DGDG. These findings may be explained by the higher levels of galactolipase activity in HPJ compared to PPE, which mainly results from pancreatic lipase-related protein 2. Thus, we showed that CRF galactolipids are well digested by pancreatic enzymes and represent an interesting vehicle for ALA supplementation in human diet.

Improvement of carotenoid bioaccessibility from spinach by co-ingesting with excipient nanoemulsions: impact of the oil phase composition.

Many of the carotenoids found naturally in fruits and vegetables are beneficial to human health, but they often have low oral bioavailability because of their high hydrophobicity. In this study, the effects of varying the composition of the oil phase of excipient nanoemulsions on carotenoid bioaccessibility from spinach were investigated using a simulated gastrointestinal tract. Nanoemulsions containing different ratios of medium chain triglycerides (MCT) and long chain triglycerides (LCT) were prepared: (i) mixing MCT and LCT oils before homogenization and (ii) mixing MCT droplets with LCT droplets after homogenization. The release of carotenoids from spinach and their solubilization within the mixed micelles formed after lipid digestion depended strongly on the oil phase composition. As expected, carotenoid bioaccessibility was always higher in the presence of excipient nanoemulsions than in their absence. The total free fatty acids released in the small intestine increased as the MCT/LCT ratio increased, which can be attributed to the faster release of shorter chain fatty acids from the oil droplet surfaces during lipid digestion. As the MCT ratio increased, lutein bioaccessibility increased but ß-carotene bioaccessibility decreased. This difference was attributed to the ability of the formed mixed micelles to accommodate the two different kinds of carotenoids in their hydrophobic domains. Interestingly, carotenoid bioaccessibility was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when the oil droplets were mixed after homogenization than when the oils were mixed before homogenization. These results have important implications for the design of excipient foods to improve the bioavailability of hydrophobic nutraceuticals in fruits and vegetables.

Partial characterization of the edible Spinacia oleracea polysaccharides: Cytoprotective and antioxidant potentials against Cd induced toxicity in HCT116 and HEK293 cells.

Spinacia is an interesting medicinal halophyte plant that is employed as a food and therapeutic agent in traditional medicine. In this work, water-soluble polysaccharides from Spinacia oleracea were extracted and preliminary characterization was established via FT-IR, UV-vis, 1H NMR and SEC/MALS DRI technics. The extracted polysaccharide, with an average molecular mass of 408 kDa, was composed of arabinose, galactose, mannose, glucose, rhamnose and xylose in the molar percentage of 49.3%, 28.1%, 4.9%, 7.8%, 8.2% and 1.7%, respectively. The polysaccharide showed significant antioxidant activity. Moreover, Spinacia polysaccharide, significantly prevented oxidation-induced Cd damage and exhibited a protective effect against Cd cytotoxicity on HEK293 and HCT116 cells, with an important cell viability decrease, an important reduction of MDA production and ROS levels. The outcomes obtained suggest that the Spinacia polysaccharides may be used as an accessible source of natural antioxidants and as potential phytochemicals against kidney and colon cancer.

Spinacia oleracea Linn Considered as One of the Most Perfect Foods: A Pharmacological and Phytochemical Review.

BACKGROUND: Leaves of Spinacia oleracea have been widely used as vegetarian foods. Some studies on the chemical composition of spinach have shown that it contains a high content of micronutrients (vitamins and minerals), and has an important economic value with some agronomic advantages. S. oleracea in traditional medicine is reported to cure more than one health problem. OBJECTIVE: This review focuses on the ethnopharmacological uses and pharmacological and phytochemical studies of Spinacia oleracea. METHODS: Information on S. oleracea was obtained via electronic search of scientific databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scirus, Science Direct, Scielo, Web of Science, Medline, Springerlink, BioMed Central (BMC), and SciFinder for publications on this plant. In addition, books on medicinal herbs were also consulted. RESULTS: Approximately 100 chemical compounds were isolated and characterized from S. oleracea. The major active components of the plant are flavones, flavanols, methylenedioxyflavonol glucuronides, glucuronides, and carotenoids, which were extensively investigated. This review revealed potential pharmacological properties of these isolated compounds such as anti-obesity, anti-α-amylase, bileacid binding capacity, anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, cognitive and mood effect, hypoglycemic, and anti-hypertriglyceridemia. CONCLUSION: S. oleracea is an important edible plant also used for ethnomedical therapy of obesity, inflammation of lungs, lumbago, flatulence, and treatment of urinary calculi. Pharmacological and phytochemical studies of this plant including bioactives, which have been adequately studied, support its uses in traditional medicine. Additionally, prospects and future trends of this plant are proposed.

Ameliorative Effect of Spinach on Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Induced in Rats by a High-Fat Diet.

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of dietary carotenoids from spinach on the inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers, liver lipid profile, and liver transcriptomic and metabolomics profiles in Sprague-Dawley rats with steatosis induced by a high-fat diet. Two concentrations of spinach powder (2.5 and 5%) were used in two types of diet: high-fat (H) and standard (N). Although rats fed diet H showed an accumulation of fat in hepatocytes, they did not show differences in the values of adiponectin, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and oxygen radical absorption (ORAC) in plasma or of isoprostanes in urine compared with animals fed diet N. The consumption of spinach and the accumulation of α and ß carotenes and lutein in the liver was inversely correlated with serum total cholesterol and glucose and the content of hepatic cholesterol, increasing monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and reducing cholesterol in the livers of rats fed diet H and spinach. In addition, changes in the expression of genes related to the fatty liver condition occurred, and the expression of genes involved in the metabolism of fatty acids and cholesterol increased, mainly through the overexpression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs). Related to liver metabolites, animals fed with diet H showed hypoaminoacidemia, mainly for the glucogenic aminoacids. Although no changes were observed in inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers, the consumption of spinach modulated the lipid metabolism in liver, which must be taken into consideration during the dietary treatment of steatosis.