Designing and fabrication of colloidal nano-phytosomes with gamma-oryzanol and phosphatidylcholine for encapsulation and delivery of polyphenol-rich extract from pomegranate peel.

Nano-carriers are well-known delivery systems to encapsulate different bioactive compounds and extracts. Such nano-systems are used in various food and drug areas to protect active ingredients, increase bioavailability, control the release, and deliver bioactive substances. This study aimed to design and fabricate a stable colloidal nano-delivery system to better preserve the antioxidant properties of pomegranate peel extract (PPE) and protect its sustained release in a gastrointestinal model. To achieve this goal, a nano-phytosomal system was fabricated with plant-based, cost-effective, and food-grade compounds, i.e., phosphatidylcholine (PC) and gamma-oryzanol (GO) for encapsulation of PPE. To fabricate the nano-phytosomes, thin film hydration/sonication method was used. The parameters of particle size, zeta potential, polydispersity index (PDI), loading capacity (LC), and encapsulation efficiency (EE) were investigated to evaluate the efficiency of the produced nano-system. In summary, the size, zeta potential, PDI, LC, and EE of homogenous spherical PC-GO-PPE nano-phytosomes (NPs) in the ratio of 8:2:2 % w/w were achieved as 60.61 ± 0.81 nm, -32.24 ± 0.84 mV, 0.19 ± 0.01, 19.13 ± 0.30 %, and 95.66 ± 1.52 %, respectively. Also, the structure of NPs was approved by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The optimized NPs were stable during one month of storage at 4 °C, and changes in the size of particles and PPE retention rate were insignificant (p > 0.05). The nano-encapsulation of PPE significantly decreased the loss of its antioxidant activity during one month of storage at 4 °C. The optimized NPs exhibited prolonged and sustained release of PPE in a gastrointestinal model, so that after 2 h in simulated gastric fluid (SGF) and 4 h in simulated intestinal fluid (SIF), 22.66 ± 2.51 % and 69.33 ± 4.50 % of initially loaded PPE was released, respectively. Optimized NPs had considerable cytotoxicity against the Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 cell line (MCF7) (IC50 = 103 µg/ml), but not against Human Foreskin Fibroblast cell line (HFF-2) (IC50 = 453 µg/ml). In conclusion, spherical PC-GO-PPE NPs were identified as a promising delivery system to efficiently encapsulate PPE, as well as protect and preserve its bioactivity, including antioxidant and cytotoxicity against cancer cell line.

The effect of probiotic supplementation on episiotomy wound healing among primiparous women: a triple-blind randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Probiotics increase the defense power of immune system and accelerate the wound healing process by anti-inflammatory mechanisms at the wound site. The present study aimed at evaluating the effect of Lactobacillus casei oral supplementation on episiotomy wound healing among primiparous women. METHODS: This triple-blind randomized clinical trial was performed on 74 primiparous women delivered in Alzahra Hospital, Tabriz, Iran. Participants with mediolateral episiotomy (incision length equal to and less than 5 cm) were randomly assigned to the probiotic and placebo groups. The probiotic group received Lactobacillus casei 431 with 1.5 * 109 colony-forming unit /capsule once a day from the day after birth to 14 days. Wound healing as a primary outcome was measured by Redness, Edema, Ecchymosis, Discharge, Approximation and pain as a secondary outcome by the Visual Analogue Scale before discharge, 5 ± 1 and 15 ± 1 days after birth. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and repeated measures one way analysis of variance. RESULTS: The mean (standard deviation: SD) score of wound healing in the probiotic group altered from 4.91(1.86) before discharge to 1.55 (0.99) during 5 ± 1 days after birth and reached to 0.95 (0.27) during 15 ± 1 days after birth. Further, the mean (SD) score of wound healing in the placebo group altered from 4.62 (1.99) before discharge to 2.80 (1.20) during 5 ± 1 days after birth and reached to 1.45(0.71) during 15 ± 1 days after birth (adjusted mean difference: -0.50, confidence interval 95%: -0.96 to -0.05, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Lactobacillus casei oral supplementation is effective in healing episiotomy wounds. It is suggested to evaluate the effect of topical use of Lactobacillus casei on episiotomy repair and pain in further studies. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT): IRCT20170506033834N7. Date of registration: 11/08/2021.

Effect of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Camellia synensis extracts on microbial, antioxidant and sensory properties of ice cream.

Herbal extracts have been widely used by consumers for food fortification and medical purposes worldwide and are focused in traditional medicine in recent years. At this study, we aimed to examine the antimicrobial, antioxidant and sensory characteristics of ice creams fortified with different combinations of Hibiscus sabdariffa and Camellia synensis determined by Design of Experiments software. Levels of 10-100 and 40-400 mg/kg for Hibiscus sabdariffa and Camellia synensis extracts, respectively, were selected and experiments were conducted by central composite design. Generally, 13 runs were introduced by the software and followed in laboratory for analysis. Antimicrobial activity was studied against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus as indicators of gram negative and gram positive bacteria. Results showed that all combinations were active against both bacteria but Staphylococcus aureus was more sensitive than Escherichia coli. Importantly, Camellia synensis was more effective than Hibiscus sabdariffa in both antimicrobial and antioxidant experiments but sensory panelists selected the sample containing lowest concentrations of both extracts. However, frequent consumption of low-dose fortified dairies with Hibiscus sabdariffa and Camellia synensis could be helpful for consumers interested in functional foods.

Effects of Probiotic Supplementation on Oxidative Stress Indices in Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease that causes great pain and disability and increasing oxidative stress in patients. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of probiotics-live microorganisms with many health benefits, including antioxidant properties-on oxidative stress indices of patients with RA. This study is a secondary analysis from a previously published study Methods: In a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, 46 patients with RA were assigned to one of two groups; patients in the probiotic group received a daily capsule containing 10(8) colony forming units (CFUs) of Lactobacillus casei 01 (L. casei 01), while those in the placebo group took identical capsules containing maltodextrin, for 8 weeks. In the baseline and at the end of the study, anxiety, physical activity levels, and dietary intakes were assessed. Anthropometric parameters, serum malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and catalase (CAT) activities were measured. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the two groups for demographic characteristics, anthropometric parameters, physical activity, anxiety levels, or dietary intakes, throughout the course of the study. No significant within- and between-group differences were observed for MDA, TAC, or CAT. SOD activity decreased only in the probiotic group and GPx activity decreased in both study groups (p < 0.05); however, no significant between-group difference was found for these enzymes activities at the end of the study (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: No significant effect of L. casei 01 supplementation was observed on the oxidative status of patients with RA, compared to placebo.

Effects of freeze-dried strawberry supplementation on metabolic biomarkers of atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes: a randomized double-blind controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: To our knowledge there has been no study investigating the impact of freeze-dried strawberry (FDS) supplementation on metabolic biomarkers of atherosclerosis in subjects with type 2 diabetes (T2D). OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the effects of FDS supplementation on glycemic control, biomarkers of oxidative stress, inflammation and serum total antioxidant status in subjects with T2D compared to matched control subjects. METHODS: Thirty-six subjects with T2D (23 females; mean body mass index 27.90 ± 3.7; mean age 51.57 ± 10 years) were randomly divided into two groups. The treatment group consumed 2 cups of FDS beverage (50 g of FDS is equivalent to 500 g of fresh strawberries) or macronutrient matched placebo powder with strawberry flavor daily for 6 weeks in a randomized double-blind controlled trial. Anthropometric measurements, dietary intakes, hemoglobin (Hb)A1c, antioxidant status, C-reactive protein and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were assessed at baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention. RESULTS: FDS supplementation significantly decreased C-reactive protein levels as a biomarker of inflammation (2.5 vs. 2.04 mg/l, p < 0.05) and lipid peroxidation in the form of MDA (3.36 vs. 2.7 nmol/ml, p < 0.05) at 6 weeks compared to the baseline. Moreover, supplementation led to a decreasing trend in HbA1c (-5.7%, p < 0.05) and significant increase in total antioxidant status in the FDS group (1.44 vs. 1.26 mmol/l, p < 0.01) compared to the placebo group. No significant changes were observed in serum glucose concentrations and anthropometric indices. CONCLUSIONS: FDS improved glycemic control and antioxidant status, and reduced lipid peroxidation and inflammatory response in patients with T2D. Supplementation with freeze-dried berry products, as natural sources of antioxidants with low glycemic index, could be considered as an adjunctive therapy in ameliorating metabolic complications of T2D.