Impacts of microwave-assisted extraction parameters on total phenolic compounds yield from Algerian Moringa oleifera leaves, using response surface methodology.

The study aimed to optimise the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of total phenolic compounds (TPC) from Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves using response surface methodology (RSM) and Box-Behnken designs (BBD). Factors such as ethanol concentration, microwave power, irradiation time, and solvent to solid ratio were assessed in single-factor tests. Under optimal extraction conditions (48.86% ethanol, 626.53 W microwave power, 99.48 s irradiation, 29.67 mL/g solvent to solid ratio and 21.12 W/mL power density), TPC was 58.45 ± 0.68 mg GAE/g DW, close to the predicted 59.78 ± 1.47 mg GAE/g DW. The MAE method outperformed maceration extraction (8.41 ± 0.25 mg GAE/g DW) and decoction extraction (38.74 ± 0.81 mg GAE/g DW) in terms of extraction time, solvent use, and efficiency. The optimised extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 0.294 ± 0.004 mg/mL (DPPH) and 0.425 ± 0.005 mg/mL (ABTS), confirming the efficacy of MAE in preparing antioxidant-rich plant extracts.

Fruit vinegars attenuate cardiac injury via anti-inflammatory and anti-adiposity actions in high-fat diet-induced obese rats.

CONTEXT: Fruit vinegars (FVs) are used in Mediterranean folk medicine for their hypolipidemic and weight-reducing properties. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the preventive effects of three types of FV, commonly available in Algeria, namely prickly pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill (Cectaceae)], pomegranate [Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae)], and apple [Malus domestica Borkh. (Rosaceae)], against obesity-induced cardiomyopathy and its underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-two male Wistar rats were equally divided into 12 groups. The first group served as normal control (distilled water, 7 mL/kg bw), and the remaining groups were respectively treated with distilled water (7 mL/kg bw), acetic acid (0.5% w/v, 7 mL/kg bw) and vinegars of pomegranate, apple or prickly pear (at doses of 3.5, 7 and 14 mL/kg bw, acetic acid content as mentioned above) along with a high-fat diet (HFD). The effects of the oral administration of FV for 18 weeks on the body and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) weights, plasma inflammatory and cardiac enzymes biomarkers, and in heart tissue were evaluated. RESULTS: Vinegars treatments significantly (p < .05) attenuated the HFD-induced increase in bw (0.2-0.5-fold) and VAT mass (0.7-1.8-fold), as well as increase in plasma levels of CRP (0.1-0.3-fold), fibrinogen (0.2-0.3-fold), leptin (1.7-3.7-fold), TNF-α (0.1-0.6-fold), AST (0.9-1.4-fold), CK-MB (0.3-1.4-fold) and LDH (2.7-6.7-fold). Moreover, vinegar treatments preserved myocardial architecture and attenuated cardiac fibrosis. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that pomegranate, apple and prickly pear vinegars may prevent HFD-induced obesity and obesity-related cardiac complications, and that this prevention may result from the potent anti-inflammatory and anti-adiposity properties of these vinegars.

Effect of fruit vinegars on liver damage and oxidative stress in high-fat-fed rats.

CONTEXT: Vinegar has long been used as a condiment and a traditional medicine worldwide. OBJECTIVE: The current study investigates the antioxidant effect of three types of fruit vinegars (FV) namely pomegranate [Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae)], prickly pear [Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae)], and apple [Malus domestica Borkh. (Rosaceae)] vinegars in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced hyperlipidemic Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups; HFD (80 cal/d) fed rats were orally dosed with fruit vinegars (7 ml/kg) once daily for 28 weeks. At the end of the experiment, lipid profile, lipid peroxidation products, antioxidant enzymes, and trace elements were assessed in serum. In addition, a liver histopathological study was performed. RESULTS: HFD showed a significant increase (p ≤ 0.05) in lipid profile and TBARS levels when compared with normal control. Daily oral administration of FV normalized various biochemical, metabolic, and histopathological changes. However, pomegranate vinegar exhibited a very significant (p ≤ 0.001) reduction in lipid profile levels (total cholesterol: 165%, triglycerides: 68%, LDL-c: 76%, and atherogenic index: 80%), whereas an increase in antioxidant status (SOD: 7-fold, GPx: 4.81-fold, GRx: 1.66-fold, and TAS: 3.45-fold) when compared with hyperlipidemic control. Histopathological examinations also confirmed the protective effects of pomegranate vinegar against lipid accumulation and the improvement of hepatic lesions. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The fruit vinegars regulate lipid metabolism and decrease liver damage in high-fat fed rats as shown in this study.