Malaria: biochemical, physiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic updates.

Background: Malaria has been appraised as a significant vector-borne parasitic disease with grave morbidity and high-rate mortality. Several challenges have been confronting the efficient diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Method: Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) were all used to gather articles. Results: Diverse biochemical and physiological indices can mirror complicated malaria e.g., hypoglycemia, dyslipidemia, elevated renal and hepatic functions in addition to the lower antioxidant capacity that does not only destroy the parasite but also induces endothelial damage. Multiple trials have been conducted to improve recent points of care in malaria involving biosensors, lap on-chip, and microdevices technology. Regarding recent therapeutic trials, chemical falcipain inhibitors and plant extracts with anti-plasmodial activities are presented. Moreover, antimalaria nano-medicine and the emergence of nanocarrier (either active or passive) in drug transportation are promising. The combination therapeutic trials e.g., amodiaquine + artemether + lumefantrine are presented to safely counterbalance the emerging drug resistance in addition to the Tafenoquine as a new anti-relapse therapy. Conclusion: Recognizing the pathophysiology indices potentiate diagnosis of malaria. The new points of care can smartly manipulate the biochemical and hematological alterations for a more sensitive and specific diagnosis of malaria. Nano-medicine appeared promising. Chemical and plant extracts remain points of research.

A multiplex metabolomic approach for quality control of Spirulina supplement and its allied microalgae (Amphora & Chlorella) assisted by chemometrics and molecular networking.

Microalgae species are of economic importance regarded as "green gold" being rich in bioactive compounds. Spirulina and Chlorella are the most popular microalgal species and are marketed as healthy food supplements. At the same time, Amphora holds potential as a source of healthy lipids and essential fatty acids. Yet, there are considerable variations in their reported chemical composition, and less is known about their compositional differences. A multiplexed metabolomic approach was adopted for the quality control (QC) of Spirulina supplements and to compare its constitutive metabolome to Chlorella and Amphora. The adopted protocol comprised gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-HRMS/MS), and ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV/Vis) for mapping their primary and secondary metabolome. Interestingly, UPLC-HRMS/MS analysis delineated the abundance of fatty acids in Amphora versus glycolipids enrichment in Spirulina, and porphyrins were the main pigments identified in Spirulina, with scarce occurrence in Chlorella. Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) analysis of GC-MS data set revealed palmitic acid, 3-mannobiose, and glyceryl-glycoside as being most enriched in Spirulina, versus sucrose and leucine in Chlorella and Amphora, respectively. Despite being of low discriminatory potential, UV/Vis OPLS-DA modeling showed that Spirulina was distinguished with the UV absorbances of carotenoids and chlorophyll pigments, as indicated by its OPLS-DA derived S-plot. Our study provides a QC approach for the analysis of the microalgal species and poses alternative spectral and compositional markers for their discrimination.

Neuroprotective potential of Erigeron bonariensis ethanolic extract against ovariectomized/D-galactose-induced memory impairments in female rats in relation to its metabolite fingerprint as revealed using UPLC/MS.

Erigeron bonariensis is widely distributed throughout the world's tropics and subtropics. In folk medicine, E. bonariensis has historically been used to treat head and brain diseases. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most widespread form of dementia initiated via disturbances in brain function. Herein, the neuroprotective effect of the chemically characterized E. bonariensis ethanolic extract is reported for the first time in an AD animal model. Chemical profiling was conducted using UPLC-ESI-MS analysis. Female rats underwent ovariectomy (OVX) followed by 42 days of D-galactose (D-Gal) administration (150 mg/kg/day, i.p) to induce AD. The OVX/D-Gal-subjected rats received either donepezil (5 mg/kg/day) or E. bonariensis at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day, given 1 h prior to D-Gal. UPLC-ESI-MS analysis identified 42 chemicals, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, and nitrogenous constituents. Several metabolites, such as isoschaftoside, casticin, velutin, pantothenic acid, xanthurenic acid, C18-sphingosine, linoleamide, and erucamide, were reported herein for the first time in Erigeron genus. Treatment with E. bonariensis extract mitigated the cognitive decline in the Morris Water Maze test and the histopathological alterations in cortical and hippocampal tissues of OVX/D-Gal-subjected rats. Moreover, E. bonariensis extract mitigated OVX/D-Gal-induced Aß aggregation, Tau hyperphosphorylation, AChE activity, neuroinflammation (NF-κBp65, TNF-α, IL-1ß), and apoptosis (Cytc, BAX). Additionally, E. bonariensis extract ameliorated AD by increasing α7-nAChRs expression, down-regulating GSK-3ß and FOXO3a expression, and modulating Jak2/STAT3/NF-ĸB p65 and PI3K/AKT signaling cascades. These findings demonstrate the neuroprotective and memory-enhancing effects of E. bonariensis extract in the OVX/D-Gal rat model, highlighting its potential as a promising candidate for AD management.

Baicalin ameliorates insulin resistance and regulates hepatic glucose metabolism via activating insulin signaling pathway in obese pre-diabetic mice.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes belongs to the most prevalent metabolic diseases worldwide, which is featured with insulin resistance, closely associated with obesity and urgently needs to be treated. Baicalin, belonging to natural flavonoids, has been reported to inhibit oxidative stress or inflammatoin. PURPOSE: This study investigated the properties of baicalin on modulating abnormal glucolipid metabolism, as well as the underlying in-vitro and in-vivo mechanisms. METHODS: Insulin-resistant (IR)-HepG2 cells were stimulated by dexamethasone (20 µM) and high glucose (50 mM) for 48 h and incubated with or without baicalin or metformin for another 16 h. Male C57BL/6 J mice were fed with a high-fat diet (HFD, 60 % kcal% fat) during the total 14 weeks. Obese mice were then administered with baicalin (50 and 100 mg/kg) or vehicle solution everyday through oral gavage during the last 4-week period. Moreover, baicalin metabolisms in vitro and in vivo were determined using UPLC/MS/MS to study its metabolism situation. RESULTS: Exposure to dexamethasone and high glucose damaged the abilities of glycogen synthesis and glucose uptake with elevated oxidative stress and increased generation levels of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) in HepG2 cells. These impairments were basically reversed by baicalin treatment. Four-week oral administration with baicalin ameliorated hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia in HFD-induced obese and pre-diabetic mice. Downregulation of IRS/PI3K/Akt signaling pathway accomplished with reduced GLUT4 expression and enhanced GSK-3ß activity was observed in insulin resistant HepG2 cells as well as liver tissues from pre-diabetic mice; and such effect was prevented by baicalin. Moreover, baicalin and its matabolites were detected in IR-HepG2 cells and mouse plasma. CONCLUSION: The study illustrated that baicalin alleviated insulin resistance by activating insulin signaling pathways and inhibiting oxidative stress and AGEs production, revealing the potential of baicalin to be a therapeutic natural flavonoid against hepatic insulin and glucose-lipid metabolic disturbance in pre-diabetes accompanied with obesity.

A metabolomics approach for the evaluation of Ficus benghalensis female in vivo reproductive effects relative to its metabolite fingerprint as determined via UPLC-MS and GC-MS.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ficus benghalensis, commonly known as Banyan Fig, is the national tree of India and its aerial roots are used traditionally to treat female reproductive disorders. However, despite this traditional use, no pharmacological evidence could be traced supporting this use. Additionally, no comprehensive metabolite profiling was reported for F. benghalensis aerial roots. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study attempts to justify biochemically the traditional use of F. benghalensis aerial roots in treatment of female reproductive disorders and in relation to its secondary metabolite profile. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total ethanol extract (TEE) and subfractions [petroleum ether (PEF), chloroform (CHF), ethyl acetate (EAF) and n-butanol (BUF] were prepared from air-dried powdered aerial roots of F. benghalensis. Detailed in-vivo investigation of the hormonal activity and action mechanism of the total ethanol extract and subfractions was carried out through evaluation of estrogenic and gonadotropic activities. The estrogenic activity was evaluated on ovariectomized immature female rats through estimating uterine weight, vaginal cornification and serum estradiol level along with histological examination of uteri. The gonadotropic activity was measured by assay of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) like activities. Total follicular and corpora lutea counts in immature female rats were used to determine FSH and LH like activities, respectively in addition to histological picture of the genitalia. Comprehensive non-targeted metabolite profiling was carried out for the TEE and subfractions using UPLC-HRMS in negative and positive ionization modes. UPLC-MS fingerprint was subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares analyses to correlate the bioactivities to specific chemical constituents in F. benghalensis different subfractions. GC-MS was further used for non-polar silylated fractions. RESULTS: Results revealed that only the non-polar PEF and CHF displayed moderate estrogenic and FSH-like activities but with no LH-like activity. Metabolites profiling via (UPLC-HRMS) and multivariate PCA analysis enabled identification and comparison of various chemical classes in F. benghalensis extract and fractions. The active non-polar fractions revealed nearly similar metabolites profile being composed of isoflavonoids, triterpenes, sterols, fatty acids and cyclic peptides. In contrast, polar fractions were more abundant in apocarotenoids, fatty acyl amides, hydroxybenzoates and hydroxycinnamates in addition to two lignans. PLS analysis revealed strong correlation between hydroxylated fatty acids and pyranoisoflavones with estrogenic and FSH-like activities. GC-MS analysis was further employed for non-polar fractions profiling revealing for their enrichment in fatty acids/esters, terpenes, organic acids and phenolics. CONCLUSION: This is the first study to rationalize the use of F. benghalensis aerial root traditionally in treatment of gynecological disorders, revealing that the petroleum ether and chloroform non-polar subfractions of F. benghalensis showed estrogenic and FSH-like activity with absence of LH-like activity. This biological activity could possibly be attributed to its metabolites profile of isoflavonoids, fatty acids, triterpenes, sterols and cyclic peptides identified via UPLC-MS and GC-MS techniques. Consequently, F. benghalensis aerial roots should be used with caution in traditional treatment of female infertility or other reproductive disorders.

Polysaccharides (pectin, mucilage, and fructan inulin) and their fermented products: A critical analysis of their biochemical, gut interactions, and biological functions as antidiabetic agents.

Diabetes mellitus is a globally metabolic endocrine syndrome marked by a deficiency of insulin secretion (type-1 DM) or glucose intolerance arising from insulin response impairment (type-2 DM) leading to abnormal glucose metabolism. With an increasing interest in natural dietary components for diabetes management, the identification of novel agents witnessed major discoveries. Plant-derived mucilage, pectin, and inulin are important non-starch polysaccharides that exhibit effective antidiabetic properties often termed soluble dietary fiber (SDF). SDF affects sugar metabolism through multiple mechanisms affecting glucose absorption and diffusion, modulation of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), ameliorating ß-pancreatic cell dysfunction, and improving insulin release or sensitivity. Certain SDFs inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase-4 and influence the expression levels of genes related to glucose metabolism. This review is designed to discuss holistically and critically the antidiabetic effects of major SDF and their underlying mechanisms of action. This review should aid drug discovery approaches in developing novel natural antidiabetic drugs from SDF.

Maximizing crustaceans (shrimp, crab, and lobster) by-products value for optimum valorization practices: A comparative review of their active ingredients, extraction, bioprocesses and applications.

BACKGROUND: The processing of the three major crustaceans (shrimp, lobster, and crab) is associated with inevitable by-products, high waste disposal costs, environmental and human health issues, loss of multiple biomaterials (chitin, protein hydrolysates, lipids, astaxanthin and minerals). Nowadays, these bioresources are underutilized owing to the lack of effective and standardized technologies to convert these materials into valued industrial forms. AIM OF REVIEW: This review aims to provide a holistic overview of the various bioactive ingredients and applications within major crustaceans by-products. This review aims to compare various extraction methods in crustaceans by-products, which will aid identify a more workable platform to minimize waste disposal and maximize its value for best valorization practices. KEY SCIENTIFIC CONCEPTS OF REVIEW: The fully integrated applications (agriculture, food, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, paper industries, etc.) of multiple biomaterials from crustaceans by-products are presented. The pros and cons of the various extraction methods, including chemical (acid and alkali), bioprocesses (enzymatic or fermentation), physical (microwave, ultrasound, hot water and carbonic acid process), solvent (ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, EDTA) and electrochemistry are detailed. The rapid development of corresponding biotechnological attempts present a simple, fast, effective, clean, and controllable bioprocess for the comprehensive utilization of crustacean waste that has yet to be applied at an industrial level. One feasible way for best valorization practices is to combine innovative extraction techniques with industrially applicable technologies to efficiently recover these valuable components.

Gingerols and shogaols: A multi-faceted review of their extraction, formulation, and analysis in drugs and biofluids to maximize their nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications.

Gingerols represent the main bioactive compounds in ginger drugs mostly Zinigiber officinale (F. Zingebraceae) and account for the biological activities and the strong/pungent flavor in ginger. Ginger (Z. officinale) rhizome is one of the most valued herbal drugs for ailments' treatment in many ayurvedic medicine asides from its culinary applications as a spice. Gingerols and their dehydrated products shogaols are phenolic phytochemicals found in members of the Zingiberaceae family and account for most of their effects including anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. This review entails most of the novel trends related to the extraction, optimization, and formulations of gingerols and shogaols to insure best recoveries and efficacies from their natural resources. Further, it presents a comprehensive overview of the different analytical approaches for the determination of gingerols/shogaols' levels in nutraceuticals to ensure highest quality and for their detection in body fluids for proof of efficacy.

Does Flavonoid Supplementation Alleviate Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

SCOPE: Higher flavonoid intake is associated with reduced risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, there is a large discrepancy in the effects of flavonoid supplementation on NAFLD. To fill such knowledge gap, we systematically reviewed randomized clinical trials (RCTs) to critically assess flavonoid supplementation effect on liver function, lipid profile, inflammation, and insulin resistance in adults with NAFLD. METHODS AND RESULTS: A systematic search was conducted from 4 databases from inception until May 2023. Twelve RCTs were included in the final analysis demonstrating beneficial effects of flavonoids on ALT (SMD = -3.59, p = 0.034), AST (SMD = -4.47, p = 0.001), GGT (SMD = -8.70, p = 0.000), CK-18M30 (SMD = -0.35, p = 0.042), TG (SMD = -0.37, p = 0.001), LDL-C (SMD = -0.38, p = 0.039), TC (MD = -0.25 mmol/l, p = 0.017), steatosis score (MD = -18.97, p = 0.30), TNF-α (MD = -0.88, p = 0.000), and NF-κB (MD = -1.62, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggests that flavonoid alleviates NAFLD through exerting favourable effects on liver function, lipid profile, and inflammation, indicating flavonoid supplementation presents a promising drug regimen for the management of NAFLD and its associated complications.

Profiling of primary and phytonutrients in edible mahlab cherry (Prunus mahaleb L.) seeds in the context of its different cultivars and roasting as analyzed using molecular networking and chemometric tools.

Prunus mahaleb L. (mahlab cherry) is a deciduous plant that is native to the Mediterranean region and central Europe with a myriad of medicinal, culinary and cosmetic uses. The present study explored different cultivars of mahlab (white from Egypt and Greece, red from Egypt and post roasting). UPLC-MS led to the detection of 110 primary and secondary metabolites belonging to different classes including phenylpropanoids (hydroxy cinnamates, coumaroyl derivatives), organic acids, coumarins, cyanogenic glycosides, flavonoids, nitrogenous compounds, amino acids and fatty acids, of which 39 are first time to be detected in Prunus mahaleb L. A holistic assessment of metabolites was performed for further analysis of dataset using principal component analysis (PCA) among mahlab cultivars to assess variance within seeds. The results revealed that phenolic acids (coumaric acid-O-hexoside, ferulic acid-O-hexoside, ferulic acid-O-hexoside dimer, dihydrocoumaroyl-O-hexoside dimer and ferulic acid), coumarins (coumarin and herniarin) and amino acids (pyroglutamic acid) were abundant in white mahlab cultivars (cvs.) from different locations. In contrast, red mahlab and its roasted seeds were more rich in organic acids (citric and malic acids), amygdalin derivative and sphingolipids. Orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealed for markers in red mahlab and in response to roasting, where red mahlab was rich in nitrogenous compounds viz. nonamide, deoxy fructosyl leucine, glutaryl carnitine and isoleucine, while roasted product (REM) was found to be enriched in choline.

Evening primrose oil: a comprehensive review of its bioactives, extraction, analysis, oil quality, therapeutic merits, and safety.

Oil crops have become increasingly farmed worldwide because of their numerous functions in foods and health. In particular, oil derived from the seeds of evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) (EPO) comprises essential fatty acids of the omega-6 (ω-6) series. It is well recognized to promote immune cells with a healthy balance and management of female ailments. The nutrients of interest in this oil are linoleic acid (LA, 70-74%) and γ-linolenic acid (GLA, 8-10%), which are polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that account for EPO's popularity as a dietary supplement. Various other chemicals in EPO function together to supply the body with PUFA, elevate normal ω-6 essential fatty acid levels, and support general health and well-being. The inclusive EPO biochemical analysis further succeeded in identifying several other components, i.e., triterpenes, phenolic acids, tocopherols, and phytosterols of potential health benefits. This comprehensive review capitalizes on EPO, the superior product of O. biennis, highlighting the interrelationship between various methods of cultivation, extraction, holistic chemical composition, sensory characters, and medicinal value. Besides the literature review, this study restates the numerous health advantages of primrose oil and possible drug-EPO interactions since a wide spectrum of drugs are administered concomitantly with EPO. Modern techniques to evaluate EPO chemical composition are addressed with emphasis on the missing gaps and future perspectives to ensure best oil quality and nutraceutical benefits.

Interactions between endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis sp. DO14 and Dendrobium catenatum: Deciphering plant polysaccharide and flavonoid accumulation and underlying mechanisms by comparative transcriptome and metabolome analyses.

Dendrobium catenatum, which belongs to the Orchidaceae family, has been used as a traditional medicine and healthy food in China for over 2000 years, and is of enormous economic value. Polysaccharides and flavonoids are two major functional ingredients in D. catenatum stems that contribute to its health benefits. D. catenatum lives in close association with endophytic fungi, but the literature regarding the further relations between them, especially the fungal-induced accumulation of metabolites in the host plant, is sparse. Our previous study showed that Pestalotiopsis sp. DO14 isolated from D. catenatum improved the host plant growth and metabolite accumulation. This study was performed to investigate dynamic variations of the growth traits, key metabolites (polysaccharides and flavonoids), and expression of key genes of D. catenatum under conditions of the DO14 colonization. Colonization with DO14 promoted D. catenatum growth as indicated by increased leaf area, mid-stem thickness, and plant height. The content of polysaccharides, mannose, and sucrose increased even without DO14 entering the host cells or forming a mature symbiotic relationship concurrent with improved photosynthesis rate. Furthermore, DO14 induced upregulation of genes involved in sugar and flavonoid metabolism, especially phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCKA), chalcone synthase (CHS) and UDP-glycose flavonoid glycosyltransferase (UFGT). These observations suggested that endophytic fungi induce the accumulation of polysaccharides and flavonoids by plants, increasing the efficiency of carbon assimilation and carbon turnover. The findings of this study provide insight into the mechanisms underlying Orchidaceae-endophyte interactions, and suggest potential novel applications of endophytic fungi in D. catenatum breeding to improved plant quality.

Soluble Dietary Fibers as Antihyperlipidemic Agents: A Comprehensive Review to Maximize Their Health Benefits.

The number of hypercholesterolemic people is increasing rapidly worldwide, with elevated lipid profiles representing a major risk factor of coronary heart diseases. Dietary intervention was shown to improve the lipid profile, thus enhancing the quality of life. Dietary fiber is a nondigestible form of carbohydrates, due to the lack of the digestive enzyme in humans required to digest fiber, and is classified according to its water solubility properties as either soluble (SDF) or insoluble dietary fiber (IDF). Consumption of SDF is associated with several health benefits such as reduced lipid levels, lower blood pressure, improved blood glucose control, improved immune function, and reduced inflammation. SDF has been shown to lower blood cholesterol by several action mechanisms including directly due to the gelling, mucilaginous, and viscous fiber nature, and indirectly due to its fermented products and modulation of the gut microbiome. This review aims to provide a holistic overview on how SDF impacts the lipid profile. We start by providing an overview of the chemical structure of the major SDFs including mucilage, gums (gum arabic and guar gum), pectin, and inulin.

Protective Action Mechanisms of Launaea mucronata Extract and Its Nano-Formulation against Nephrotoxicity in Rats as Revealed via Biochemical, Histopathological, and UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS Analyses.

Plants belonging to the Launaea genus have been extensively utilized ethnopharmacologically to treat a variety of diseases, including kidney disorders. Chromium is a common industrial pollutant that has been linked to kidney disease. The present work was designed for the investigation of the UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS metabolite profile of the L. mucronate ethanolic extract (LME), along with assessing the mechanistic protective actions of LME and its nano-silver formulation (LMNS) against K2Cr2O7-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. LMNE was successfully biosynthesized and confirmed using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nephroprotective effects of LME and LMNE was assessed in rats exposed to potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7, 15 mg/kg BW) to cause nephrotoxicity. LME and LMNS, separately, were administered twice daily for 14 days at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg BW, respectively. The kidney function, catalase, UGT, Nrf2, PGE2, Cox-2, ERK, and MAPK levels in renal tissue were all assessed, along with histopathological examinations for exploring their ameliorative effects. Forty-five bioactive metabolites were annotated belonging to flavonoids, phenolic and organic acids, coumarins, and fatty acids. Metabolite profiling revealed that chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and luteolin glycosides were the main phenolics, with chlorogenic acid-O-hexoside reported for the first time in LME. The findings revealed that the serum kidney function indicators (urea and creatinine) were markedly elevated in K2Cr2O7-intoxicated rats. Furthermore, inflammatory indicators (COX-2 and PGE2), MAPK, and ERK were all markedly elevated in kidney tissue, whereas catalase, UGT, and Nrf2 levels were downregulated. Histological and immunohistochemical assays confirmed the toxic effects of K2Cr2O7 in the kidneys. In contrast, the administration of LME and LMNS prior to K2Cr2O7 considerably improved the architecture of the renal tissue, while also restoring levels of most biochemical markers. Functioning via the inhibition of the MAPK/ERK pathway, activating Nrf2, and modifying the antioxidant and metabolic enzymes, LME and LMNS exerted their nephroprotective effects against K2Cr2O7-induced toxicity.

A comprehensive review of the health benefits of flaxseed oil in relation to its chemical composition and comparison with other omega-3-rich oils.

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L) is an ancient perennial plant species regarded as a multipurpose plant owing to its richness in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) including α-linolenic acid (ALA). The extensive biochemical analysis of flaxseed resulted in the identification of its bioactive, i.e., lignans with potential application in the improvement of human health. Flaxseed oil, fibers, and lignans exert potential health benefits including reduction of cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, cancer, arthritis, osteoporosis, and autoimmune and neurological disorders that have led to the diversification of flaxseed plant applications. This comprehensive review focuses on flaxseed oil as the major product of flaxseed with emphasis on the interrelationship between its chemical composition and biological effects. Effects reviewed include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiulcer, anti-osteoporotic, cardioprotective, metabolic, and neuroprotective. This study provides an overview of flaxseed oil effects with the reported action mechanisms related to its phytochemical composition and in comparison, to other PUFA-rich oils. This study presents the most updated and comprehensive review summarizing flaxseed oil's health benefits for the treatment of various diseases.

Unravelling the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of standardized green and black caffeinated coffee, tea, and their mixtures in an obese male rat model: Insights from biochemical, metabolomic, and histopathological analyses.

Obesity is one of the major metabolic syndrome risk factors upon which altered metabolic pathways follow. This study aimed to discern altered metabolic pathways associated with obesity and to pinpoint metabolite biomarkers in serum of obese rats fed on high fructose diet using metabolomics. Further, the effect of standardized green versus black caffeinated aqueous extracts (tea and coffee) in controlling obesity and its comorbidities through monitoring relevant serum biomarkers viz. Leptin, adiponectin, spexin, malondialdehyde, total antioxidant capacity. Liver tissue oxidative stress (catalase, super oxide dismutase and glutathione) and inflammation (IL-1ß and IL-6) markers were assessed for green coffee and its mixture with green tea. Results revealed improvement of all parameters upon treatments with more prominence for those treated with green caffeinated extract (coffee and tea) especially in mixture. Upon comparing with obese rat group, the green mixture of coffee and tea exhibited anti-hyperlipidemic action through lowering serum triglycerides by 35.0% and elevating high density lipoprotein by 71.0%. Black tea was likewise effective in lowering serum cholesterol and low density lipoprotein by 28.0 and 50.6%, respectively. GC-MS- based metabolomics of rat serum led to the identification of 34 metabolites with obese rat serum enriched in fatty acids (oleamide).

Dissecting the role of microorganisms in tea production of different fermentation levels: a multifaceted review of their action mechanisms, quality attributes and future perspectives.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages worldwide, with several health benefits attributed for its rich chemical composition and further associated with fermentation process to improve its quality attributes. Most tea types originate from the leaves of Camellia sinensis with differences in fermentation levels yielding black tea, green tea, pouchong tea, oolong tea. Teas like pu-erh or kombucha to encompass both green and red types are further post-fermented. Tea fermentation is a traditional process involving physical, biochemical, and microbial changes which are associated with improved organoleptic characters, nutritive value, and health outcomes. The production of fermented tea relies on naturally occurring enzymes and microbial metabolic activities. This review focuses on presenting a holistic overview on the effect of different microorganisms including bacteria, yeast, and fungi on the biochemical changes and sensory attributes of fermented tea products reported in research articles along the last 15 years. Moreover, production conditions and major biochemical changes are dissected to present the best factors influencing fermented tea quality. This review presents an evidence-based reference for specialists in tea industry to optimize tea fermentation process for targeted attributes.

Terfezia boudieri and Terfezia claveryi inhibit the LPS/IFN-γ-mediated inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages through an Nrf2-independent mechanism.

Desert truffles have been used as traditional treatments for numerous inflammatory disorders. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-inflammatory effects in RAW 264.7 macrophages have yet to be fully elucidated. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory activities of two main desert truffles, Terfezia boudieri and T. claveryi, and the underlying mechanisms associated with their anti-inflammatory activities in RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with lipopolysaccharide/interferon-gamma (LPS/IFN-γ). Our results demonstrated that treatment with T. boudieri and T. claveryi extracts effectively suppressed the inflammatory response in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Specifically, T. boudieri extract was found to reduce the production of nitric oxide and inhibit the expression of various pro-inflammatory markers, including inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) at both the mRNA and protein levels. Similarly, T. claveryi extract exhibited comparable inhibitory effects, except for the expression of IL-6 and COX-2 at the protein level, where no significant effect was observed. Moreover, both studied extracts significantly downregulated the microRNA expression levels of miR-21, miR-146a, and miR-155, suggesting that T. boudieri and T. claveryi suppress the inflammatory response in LPS/IFN-γ-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells through an epigenetic mechanism. Furthermore, our study reveals a new mechanism for the anti-inflammatory properties of desert truffle extracts. We show for the first time that Terfezia extracts do not rely on the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 pathway, previously linked to anti-inflammatory responses. This expands our understanding of natural product anti-inflammatory mechanisms and could have important implications for developing new therapies. To account for differences in truffle effects, extracts prepared were subjected to secondary metabolites profiling using UPLC-MS. UPLC-MS led to the annotation of 87 secondary metabolites belonging to various classes, including amino acids, carbohydrates, alkaloids, amides, fatty acids, sterols, and phenolic compounds. Therefore, these results indicate that T. boudieri and T. claveryi exhibit anti-inflammatory activities through suppressing multiple inflammatory mediators and cytokines and may be potential anti-inflammatory agents.

Impact of vitamin D in children with chronic tonsillitis (immunohistochemical study of CD68 polarisation and proinflammatory cytokines estimation).

Inflammatory processes are increasingly attributed to macrophage polarization. Proinflammatory macrophages promote T helper (Th) 1 response, tissue repair, and Th2 responses. Detection of macrophages in tissue sections is facilitated by CD68. Our study is focused on the expression of CD68 and the estimation of proinflammatory cytokines in children's patients with chronic tonsillitis secondary to vitamin D supplementation. This hospital-based Randomized prospective case-control study was conducted on 80 children with chronic tonsillitis associated with vitamin D deficiency where (40 received vitamin D 50,000 IU weekly for 3-6 months and 40 received 5 ml distilled water as placebo). The serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured using an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay on all included children. Different histological and immunohistochemical studies for the detection of CD68 were done. There was a significantly lower serum level of 25(OH)D in the placebo group versus the vitamin D group (P < 0.001). The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNFα, and IL-2 significantly increased in the placebo group as compared to the vitamin D group (P < 0.001). The increased level of IL-4 and IL-10 in the placebo group as compared to the vitamin D group was insignificant (P = 0.32, 0.82) respectively. Vitamin D supplementation alleviated the deleterious effect of chronic tonsillitis on the histological structure of the tonsil. Tonsillar tissues of the children in the control and vitamin D groups demonstrated a highly statistically significantly lower number of CD68 immunoexpressing cells compared with those in the placebo group (P < 0.001). Low vitamin D may play a role in chronic tonsillitis. Vitamin D supplementation could help reduce the occurrence of chronic tonsillitis in susceptible children.

Dendrobium as a new natural source of bioactive for the prevention and treatment of digestive tract diseases: A comprehensive review with future perspectives.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of diseases related to the digestive tract is on the rise, with many types of complex etiologies. Dendrobium nobile Lindl. is a famous Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) rich in many bioactives proven to be beneficial in several health diseases related to inflammation and oxidative stress. PURPOSE: At present, despite the availability of various therapeutic clinical drugs used for the treatment of digestive tract diseases, resistance emergence and existence of several side effects warrant for the developing of novel drugs for improved effects on digestive tract diseases. METHODS: "Orchidaceae", "Dendrobium", "inflammation", "digestive tract", and "polysaccharide" were used as search terms to screen the literature. The therapeutic use of Dendrobium related to digestive tract diseases relative to known polysaccharides and other bioactive compounds were derived from online databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, Elsevier, Science Direct, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure, as well as relevant information on the known pharmacological actions of the listed phytochemicals. RESULTS: To better capitalize upon Dendrobium for preventing and treating diseases related to digestive tract, this review summarizes bioactives in Dendrobium reported of potential in digestive tract diseases management and their underlying action mechanisms. Studies revealed that Dendrobium encompasses diverse classes including polysaccharides, phenolics, alkaloids, bibenzyls, coumarins, phenanthrene and steroids, with polysaccharide as the major class. Dendrobium exerts various health effects on a variety of disease related to the digestive tract. Action mechanisms involve antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, antioxidant, anticancer, alongside the regulation of some key signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: Overall, Dendrobium appears as a promising TCM source of bioactives that has the potential to be further developed into nutraceuticals for digestive tract diseases compared to current drug treatments. This review highlights for Dendrobium potential effects with future perspectives for needed future research to maximize the use of bioactive compounds from Dendrobium for digestive tract disease treatment. A compile of Dendrobium bioactives is also presented alongside methods for their extraction and enrichment for potential incorporation in nutraceuticals.