Phytochemical profiles, antioxidant activities, and synergistic antiproliferative effects of blueberry and apple peel extracts.

BACKGROUND: Blueberries and apples exhibit favorable bioactivity and health benefits as a result of their rich phytochemicals. Natural phytochemicals exist in complex forms, but there are few reports on whether have additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects between different phytochemicals. The present study aimed to elucidate the synergistic effects of blueberry extract (BE) and apple peel extract (APE) together with respect to inhibiting the proliferation of HepG2 liver cancer cells. Meanwhile, phytochemical characterization of BE and APE was conducted by HPLC, and total antioxidant activity was determined via a cellular antioxidant activity assay, oxygen radical absorption capacity assay and peroxy radical scavenging capacity assay. RESULTS: The results showed that BE and APE were rich in phytochemicals and had potent antioxidant activities, which synergistically inhibited cell proliferation. In the bilateral combination, the dose reduction index value increased by two-fold, and the combination index value at 95% inhibition was less than 1. Additionally, BE + APE supplementation could promote the expression levels of p53 and c-myc genes. In conclusion, the BE and APE had strong antioxidant activity and exhibited synergistic inhibition against proliferation of HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION: The present study can provide a theoretical basis for the synergistic effect of different phytochemicals in health care. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytochemical Profiles, Antioxidant Activity and Antiproliferative Mechanism of Rhodiola rosea L. Phenolic Extract.

The phenolic profiles, antioxidant activity, antiproliferative property and the underlying molecular mechanisms of cell apoptosis of Rhodiola rosea free phenolic (RFE) were analyzed in this work. Overall, Rhodiola rosea rhizome phenolic extract (RE) contained Rhodiola rosea rhizome free phenolic extract (RFE) and Rhodiola rosea rhizome bound phenolic extract (RBE). Compared with RBE, RFE contained higher phenolic contents and possessed stronger antioxidant activity. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) results demonstrated that the main phenolics of were epigallocatechin (EGC), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallic acid (GA) and catechin. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis found that Rhodiola rosea L. was rich in volatile phytochemicals. In addition, many types of vitamin E and a few kinds of carotenoids were found in Rhodiola rosea. In addition, the main compounds in RFE (GA, EGC, EGCG) and RFE all exhibited excellent antiproliferative activity, indicating the antiproliferative activity of RFE was partly attributed to the synergy effects of the main compounds. Further study confirmed that RFE could block 16.99% of HepG2 cells at S phase and induce 20.32% programmed cell death compared with the control group. Specifically, RFE dose-dependently induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via modulating the p53 signaling pathway including up-regulation of the expression of p53 and Bax while down-regulation of the Bcl-2, cyclin D1 and CDK4 levels. Therefore, RFE exhibited the potential of being developed as an auxiliary antioxidant and a therapeutic agent for cancer.

Quantification of Phytochemicals, Cellular Antioxidant Activities and Antiproliferative Activities of Raw and Roasted American Pistachios (Pistacia vera L.).

The consumption of pistachios has been linked to many potential health benefits. Phytochemicals in pistachios, including phenolics, vitamin E and carotenoids, have been considered to make contributions to the health benefits. The objectives of this study were (1) to explore the phytochemical profiles (total phenolics and total flavonoids, including both free and bound forms), selected phytochemicals, vitamin E and carotenoids of raw and roasted pistachios; (2) to determine total antioxidant activity and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA); and (3) to explore antiproliferative activities of pistachio extracts against human breast, liver and colon cancer cells in vitro. Both raw and roasted pistachios contained high total phenolics, at 479.9 ± 10.2 (raw) and 447.9 ± 9.4 (roasted) mg GAE/100 g, respectively, and high flavonoids, at 178.4 ± 10.6 (raw) and 144.1 ± 7.4 (roasted) mg GAE/100 g, respectively. The contributions of the free form to the total phenolics in pistachios were 82% (raw) and 84% (roasted), respectively, and the contributions of the free form to the total flavonoids in pistachios were 65% (raw) and 70% (roasted), respectively. Gentisic acid and catechin were the major phenolics in raw and roasted pistachios, respectively. Both raw and roasted pistachios had similar total antioxidant activity evaluated by Oxygen-Radical-Scavenging Capacity (ORAC) assay, at 7387.9 ± 467 (raw) and 7375.3 ± 602 (roasted) µmol TE/100 g, respectively. Both raw and roasted pistachio extracts exhibited cellular antioxidant activity inhibiting peroxyradical radical-induced oxidation, with CAA values of 77.39 ± 4.25 (wash) and 253.71 ± 19.18 (no wash) µmol QE/100 g of raw pistachios and 115.62 ± 3.02 (wash) and 216.76 ± 6.6 (no wash) µmol QE/100 g of roasted pistachios. Roasted pistachios contained more vitamin E when compared with raw pistachios, while raw pistachios contained more carotenoids than the roasted pistachios. Additionally, the free form of roasted pistachios extracts exhibited superior antiproliferation activity against HepG2, Caco-2 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, with EC50 34.73 ± 1.64, 36.66 ± 3.3 and 7.41 ± 0.82 mg per mL, respectively. These results provided new knowledge about the phytochemical profiles, antioxidant activity, cellular antioxidant activity and antiproliferative activity of raw and roasted pistachios.

Pu-erh Tea Restored Circadian Rhythm Disruption by Regulating Tryptophan Metabolism.

Pu-erh tea is a healthy beverage rich in phytochemicals, and its effect on the risk of inducing circadian rhythm disorders (CRD) is unclear. In this study, healthy mice were given water or 0.25% (w/v) Pu-erh tea for 7 weeks, followed by a 40 day disruption of the light/dark cycle. CRD caused dysregulation of neurotransmitter secretion and clock gene oscillations, intestinal inflammation, and disruption of intestinal microbes and metabolites. Pu-erh tea boosted the indole and 5-hydroxytryptamine pathways of tryptophan metabolism via the gut-liver-brain axis. Furthermore, its metabolites (e.g., IAA, Indole, 5-HT) enhanced hepatic glycolipid metabolism and down-regulated intestinal oxidative stress by improving the brain hormone release. Tryptophan metabolites and bile acids also promoted liver lipid metabolism and inhibited intestinal inflammation (MyD88/NF-κB) via the enterohepatic circulation. Collectively, 0.25% (w/v) Pu-erh tea has the potential to prevent CRD by promoting indole and 5-HT pathways of tryptophan metabolism and signaling interactions in the gut-liver-brain axis.

Identification of key phenolic compounds responsible for antioxidant activities of free and bound fractions of blackberry varieties' extracts by boosted regression trees.

BACKGROUND: Free fractions of different blackberry varieties' extracts are high in phenolic compounds with antioxidant activities. However, the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities against peroxyl radicals of bound fractions of different blackberry varieties' extracts have not been previously reported. In addition, what the key antioxidant phenolic compounds are in free and bound fractions of blackberry extracts remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the phenolic profiles and antioxidant activities of free and bound fractions of eight blackberry varieties' extracts and reveal the key antioxidant phenolic compounds by boosted regression trees. RESULTS: Fifteen phenolics (three anthocyanins, four flavonols, three phenolic acids, two proanthocyanidins, and three ellagitannins) were identified in blackberry by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Ferulic acid, ellagic acid, procyanidin C1, kaempferol-O-hexoside, ellagitannins hex, and gallic acid were major bound phenolics. Bound fractions of eight blackberry varieties' extracts were high in phenolics and showed great antioxidant activity. Boosted regression trees analysis showed that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and chlorogenic acid were the most significant compounds, contributing 48.4% and 15.9% respectively to the antioxidant activity of free fraction. Ferulic acid was the most significant antioxidant compound in bound fraction, with a contribution of 61.5%. Principal component analysis showed that Kiowa was the best among the eight varieties due to its phenolic profile and antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that blackberry varieties contained high amounts of bound phenolics, which confer health benefits through reducing oxidative stress. Ferulic acid was the key compound to explain the antioxidant activities of bound fractions. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Comparison of phytochemical profiles, antioxidant and antiproliferative activities in Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) fruits.

Here, we examined the phytochemical profiles, antioxidant activity (AA), and antiproliferative activity (APA) of four Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) pulp extracts. They were found to be rich in total phenolics content (TPC; 186.45 ± 5.42 to 498.94 ± 8.25 mg of gallic acid equiv./100 g FW) and total flavonoids content (TFC; 126.28 ± 4.18 to 194.35 ± 12.03 mg of catechin equiv./100 g FW). For all varieties, the free flavonoid/phenolic/anthocyanin contents were higher than that the bound fractions. Wild pink bayberry (WPB) displayed the highest values of TPC and TFC, and also showed the highest total antioxidant activity (TAA) as revealed by peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC) (451.47 ± 8.01 µmol Vit. C equiv./100 g FW), and free cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) (184.99 ± 6.11 µmol quercetin equiv./100 g FW, no PBS wash; 117.78 ± 2.34 µmol quercetin equiv./100 g FW, PBS wash) assays. Bayberry extracts had a marked reduction in the APA of HepG2 cells, and WPB exhibited the lowest EC50 (8.50 ± 0.83 mg/ml) value, which was probably associated with cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Chinese bayberry (Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc.) fruit is rich in natural phenolic compounds, which might be a functional ingredient in food and nutraceutical products. Our findings would provide a logical strategy to promote the comprehensive utilization of phenolics in bayberry fruit with both health and economy benefits.

HSF-1 and SIR-2.1 linked insulin-like signaling is involved in goji berry (Lycium spp.) extracts promoting lifespan extension of Caenorhabditis elegans.

The anti-cancer, vision-improving, and reproduction-enhancing effects of goji berry have been generally recognized, but its role in anti-aging is rarely studied in depth. Therefore, two widely-circulated goji berries, Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (LRM) and Lycium Barbarum. L (LB), were selected to explore their effects on extending lifespan and enhancing defense against extrinsic stress and to uncover the mechanism of action through genetic study. The results showed that supplementation with high-dose LRM (10 mg mL-1) and LB (100 mg mL-1) extracts significantly extended the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) by 25.19% and 51.38%, respectively, accompanied by the improved stress tolerance of C. elegans to paraquat-induced oxidation, UV-B irradiation and heat shock. Furthermore, LRM and LB extracts remarkably enhanced the activities of antioxidant enzymes including SOD and CAT in C. elegans, while notably decreased the lipofuscin level. Further genetic research demonstrated that the expression levels of key genes daf-16, sod-2, sod-3, sir-2.1 and hsp-16.2 in C. elegans were up-regulated by the intervention with LRM and LB, while that of the age-1 level was down-regulated. Moreover, the daf-16 (mu86) I, sir-2.1 (ok434) IV and hsf-1 (sy441) I mutants reversed the longevity effect brought about by LRM or LB, which confirmed that these genes were required in goji berry-mediated lifespan extension. Therefore, we conclude that HSF-1 and SIR-2.1 act collaboratively with the insulin/IGF signaling pathway (IIS) in a daf-16-independent mode. The present study indicated goji berry as a potential functional food to alleviate the symptoms of aging.

Goji berry (Lycium spp.) extracts exhibit antiproliferative activity via modulating cell cycle arrest, cell apoptosis, and the p53 signaling pathway.

The phytochemical profiles, antioxidant activity and antiproliferative mechanism of two goji berry varieties were investigated in the present study. In contrast to Lycium barbarum L. (LB), Lycium ruthenicum Murr. (LRM) showed stronger antioxidant activity evaluated by ORAC, PSC and CAA assays, which might be attributed to its higher total phenolics and total flavonoids. However, LB contains greater contents of VE and carotenoids compared to LRM, which may endow LB with other unique functions instead of antioxidant activity. Additionally, high dose LRM showed a stronger capability in terms of cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis induction of MDA cells with increments of 17.85% cells blocked at the G1 phase and 50.49% cells achieving early apoptosis compared with the control group. Although supplementation with LB increased the number of cells in the G1 phase by 10%, its effect on inducing cell apoptosis was not ideal. Furthermore, both LRM and LB activated the proliferation-related p53 signaling pathway including p53, p21, CDK4, Cyclin E, Bax and Caspase3, but LB failed to downregulate bcl-2 and CDK2 levels, indicating the weaker antiproliferative effect of LB. The present findings indicated LRM and LB as potential candidates for managing the proliferation of cancer cells and improving human health.

Rhodiola extract promotes longevity and stress resistance of Caenorhabditis elegans via DAF-16 and SKN-1.

The effects of Rhodiola extract (RE) on longevity and stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), and the underlying molecular mechanisms were explored in the present study. Results showed that the lifespan of C. elegans was remarkably prolonged by 37.1% after treated with high-dose RE (480 µg mL-1). Intervention with RE alleviated aging-related declines in the C. elegans model, and enhanced the stress resistance against heat shock, ultraviolet radiation and paraquat. Moreover, RE reduced the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). RE also upregulated the gene expression of sod-3, gst-4, daf-16, skn-1 in C. elegans, downregulated the gene expression of daf-2 and age-1, and accelerated the translocation of DAF-16 and SKN-1 into the nucleus. Furthermore, the daf-16(mu86) and skn-1(zu169) mutants reversed the extension of lifespan triggered by RE, indicating that these genes were involved in RE-regulated longevity. These results demonstrated that RE could enhance lifespan extension, healthspan and stress resistance of C. elegans via insulin/IGF signaling and SKN-1 pathways. Therefore, the present findings suggested Rhodiola as a potential candidate to ameliorate the symptoms of aging.

Effects of ethyl acetate fractional extract from Portulaca oleracea L. (PO-EA) on lifespan and healthspan in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Portulaca oleracea L. (PO), with abundant natural bioactive phytochemicals, exhibits potential bioactivities and pharmacological activities. However, the mechanisms of action of PO on anti-aging effect remain unclear. In this study, the ethyl acetate fractional extract from PO (PO-EA) was obtained by fractionation of solvent extractions, and its effect on lifespan was assessed using the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Results showed that PO-EA could significantly increase the lifespan of C. elegans by 5.31, 12.67, and 16.47% at the doses of 250, 500, and 1,000 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, PO-EA significantly promoted the mobility of C. elegans without obvious side effects such as changing body length or decreasing fecundity of the nematodes. Further study demonstrated that PO-EA could enhance the stress resistance in C. elegans via improving the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and diminishing the contents of reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde. The gene expression of daf-12, daf-16, sod-3, skn-1, cat-1, mev-1, akt-1, and sek-1 were upregulated in C. elegans after administrated by PO-EA. This study indicated that PO-EA plays a vital role in extending lifespan and healthspan in C. elegans, and the underlying mechanism of action might be attributed to Insulin/IGF-1-like signaling pathways. Therefore, PO-EA could be served as a potential candidate for anti-aging functional food. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Portulaca oleracea L. (PO) is an edible vegetable that could be used as functional food to exert health benefits for humans such as neuroprotective, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-aging effects. Therefore, our findings would provide a strategy to promote the comprehensive utilization of ethyl acetate extract from PO with additional health benefits.

Ficus carica polysaccharide attenuates DSS-induced ulcerative colitis in C57BL/6 mice.

The Ficus carica polysaccharide (FCPS) components of the common fig fruit have been demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant and immunity-enhancing activities. However, it is unclear whether it could prevent the ulcerative colitis development. Here, we reported that 5 week orally administered FCPS (150-300 mg per kg bw) significantly prevented DSS-induced colitis in C57BL/6J mice by improving the colon length and suppressing the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the gut. FCPS treatment protected the goblet cells, elevated the expression of tight junction protein claudin-1, and suppressed the formation of cytokines including TNF-α and IL-1ß. FCPS supplementation significantly reformed the gut microbiome by enhancing the abundance of S24-7, Bacteroides, and Coprococus, and suppressing the abundance of Escherichia and Clostridium at the genus level. Consistently, the formation of beneficial microbial metabolites, short chain fatty acids, especially acetate and butyrate, were improved in FCPS-treated colitis mice. The correlation analysis indicated that the protective effects of FCPS on ulcerative colitis might be highly correlated with the microbiota composition changes and the formation of SCFAs. In conclusion, these results indicated that FCPS supplementation could be a promising nutritional strategy for reducing inflammatory bowel disease and the gut microbes play essential roles in providing these beneficial effects.

Phenolic profiles, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and hypoglycemic activities of Ehretia macrophyla Wall. (EMW) fruit.

Phenolic profiles, antioxidant, antiproliferative, and hypoglycemic activities of the whole Ehretia macrophylla Wall. (EMW) fruit were investigated in the present study. Catechin (CE), o-methoxy benzoic acid (o-MBA), and rosmarinic acid (RA) were the predominant phenolics in free extract, while CE, vanillic acid (VA), and o-MBA were for bound extract. These extracts exhibited potential antioxidant capacity measured by peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) assays. This fruit also possessed dose-dependently antiproliferative activity, and this may be due to the synergistic and additive effects of individual phenolics. Furthermore, EMW fruit showed favorable hypoglycemic activity via inhibition of activities of α-glucosidase and α-amylase, enhancement of glucose consumption, glycogen accumulation, and glycogen synthase 2 (GYS2) activity, and downregulation of activities of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK). Therefore, EMW fruit has the potential as an ingredient of functional foods to improve human health and shows promising applications with additional health and economical benefits. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: EMW fruit is a plant-based food rich in natural phenolic compounds, which suggesting its potential bioactivities for humans such as antioxidant, antiproliferative, and hypoglycemic activities. Our findings would provide a logical strategy to promote the comprehensive utilization of phenolics in EMW fruit with both health and economical benefits.

Combination of apple peel and blueberry extracts synergistically induced lifespan extension via DAF-16 in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Increased consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of age-related functional decline and chronic diseases, which is primarily attributed to their phytochemicals. Apples and blueberries are rich in phytochemicals with a wide range of biological activities and health benefits. The objective of this study was to determine whether the combination of apple peel extracts (APE) and blueberry extracts (BE) had synergistic effects in promoting lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), and to explore the underlying mechanisms of action. The results showed that the lifespan of C. elegans treated with APE plus BE was increased by 31.4%, which is significantly more than with APE or BE alone, and extended the health span of animals, including improving motility and enhancing resistance to heat stress and UV-B radiation in C. elegans. Meanwhile, treatment with APE plus BE could regulate the expression of anti-aging related genes, and promote the migration of DAF-16 into the nucleus. In addition, administration with APE plus BE eradicated the extension of the lifespan of mutants, and inhibited the expression of the daf-16 downstream gene. In conclusion, the combination of APE and BE could synergistically promote the lifespan via the insulin signaling pathway and DAF-16 in C. elegans.

Comparison of phenolics, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of two Hypsizygus marmoreus varieties.

Phenolics, antioxidant activities, and antiproliferative properties of brown Hypsizygus marmoreus (brown HM) and white Hypsizygus marmoreus (white HM) were compared. The results showed that the contents of (+)-catechin, gallic acid, and protocatechuic acid of brown HM were higher than those of white HM. Moreover, brown HM had greater cellular antioxidant activity (CAA), peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC), and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values than white HM, which demonstrated that brown HM presented a stronger antioxidant capacity. Both of brown HM and white HM showed remarkable antiproliferative activities against HepG2 cells and brown HM was proven to be the more effective. The flow cytometry results revealed that both of brown HM and white HM could induce G1 arrest and cell apoptotics in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, CyclinD1, CDK4, and Bcl-2 mRNA expression levels were downregulated with the treatment of brown HM or white HM. Taken together, our study revealed that brown HM afforded better antioxidant and antiproliferative activities than white HM and laid the foundation for potential application of Hypsizygus marmoreus as source of nutraceuticals and functional food products. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: A systematic assessment of the potential differences of phenolics, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities between different Hypsizygus marmoreus varieties was carried out in the present study. Furthermore, our findings would present possible antiproliferative mechanism of extracts of different Hypsizygus marmoreus varieties, which may provide theoretical basis for further development and utilization of Hypsizygus marmoreus.

SKN-1 is involved in combination of apple peels and blueberry extracts synergistically protecting against oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with reduced risk of age-related functional declines and chronic diseases, primarily attributed to their bioactive phytochemicals. Apples and blueberries are rich in phytochemicals with a wide range of biological activities and health benefits. Our previous research has shown the combination of apple peel extracts (APE) and blueberry extracts (BE) can synergistically promote the lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The objectives of this study were to determine whether the extension of lifespan was involved in regulation of oxidative stress, and to explore the underlying mechanisms of action. The results showed that the combination of APE and BE could synergistically ameliorate oxidative stress by improving antioxidant enzyme activities and enhancing resistance to paraquat. Meanwhile, treatment with APE plus BE could down-regulate the overexpression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and affect the expression of antioxidant related genes, including sod-3, cat-1, ctl-1, skn-1, mev-1 and isp-1. However, administration with APE plus BE abolished the extension of the lifespan of skn-1(zu135) mutants, and inhibited the expression of skn-1 downstream genes, including gcs-1, gst-4 and gst-7. In addition, supplementation with APE plus BE could promote the migration of SKN-1 into the nucleus, which eliminated improvement to ROS and paraquat. In conclusion, the combination of APE and BE could synergistically protect against oxidative stress in C. elegans via the SKN-1/Nrf2 pathway. This study provided the theoretical basis to explore the combination of phytochemicals in the prevention of aging regulated by oxidative stress.

Raspberry extract promoted longevity and stress tolerance via the insulin/IGF signaling pathway and DAF-16 in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of age-related functional decline and chronic diseases, which is primarily attributed to phytochemicals. Raspberries are rich in phytochemicals with a wide range of biological activities and health benefits. However, little is known about their effects on aging. The objective of this study was to determine whether raspberry extract (RE) could promote lifespan and stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans), and to explore the underlying mechanisms of action. The results showed that the mean lifespan of C. elegans treated with RE at 20, 40 and 80 mg mL-1 was significantly increased by 13.6%, 22.9% and 29.7%, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. Supplementation with RE decreased the accumulation of lipofuscin and extended the healthspan of animals by improving motility and enhancing resistance to heat stress and UV-B radiation in C. elegans. Meanwhile, treatment with RE could regulate the expression of anti-aging related genes, including daf-2, age-1, akt-2, sir-2.1, daf-16, skn-1, jnk-1 and hsp-16.2, and promote the migration of DAF-16 into the nucleus. In addition, administration with RE abolished the extension of the lifespan of daf-2(e1370) mutants and RNAi (daf-16) C. elegans, and inhibited the expression of daf-16 downstream genes, including sod-3, ctl-2, dod17 and clk-1. In conclusion, RE could prolong the lifespan, improve the healthspan and enhance stress resistance in C. elegans by the insulin/IGF signaling pathway and DAF-16, providing a theoretical basis to fully exploit raspberry in the prevention of aging and healthcare.

Effects of Orange Extracts on Longevity, Healthspan, and Stress Resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Orange, with various bioactive phytochemicals, exerts various beneficial health effects, including anti-cancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its anti-aging effects remain unclear. In this study, the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model was used to evaluate the effects of orange extracts on lifespan and stress resistance. The results indicated that orange extracts dose-dependently increased the mean lifespan of C. elegans by 10.5%, 18.0%, and 26.2% at the concentrations of 100, 200, and 400 mg/mL, respectively. Meanwhile, orange extracts promoted the healthspan by improving motility, and decreasing the accumulation of age pigment and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels without damaging fertility. The survival rates of orange extract-fed worms were obviously higher than those of untreated worms against thermal and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) stress. Moreover, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were significantly enhanced while malondialdehyde (MDA) contents were diminished. Further investigation revealed that worms supplemented with orange extracts resulted in upregulated levels of genes, including daf-16, sod-3, gst-4, sek-1, and skn-1, and the downregulation of age-1 expression. These findings revealed that orange extracts have potential anti-aging effects through extending the lifespan, enhancing stress resistance, and promoting the healthspan.

Red-jambo peel extract shows antiproliferative activity against HepG2 human hepatoma cells.

The peel of the red-jambo concentrates the majority of the bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of the fruit. Minor phenolic compounds in this part of the fruit are still unknown, as well as the effect of its extracts in in vitro and in vivo studies. In an ethanolic extract of red-jambo, a wider range of phenolic compounds was investigated and the antioxidant cellular antioxidant activity and inhibition of HepG2 cell proliferation were evaluated for the first time. Using HPLC-FLD/DAD for phenolic compounds determination, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate were found for the first time in the peel of the red-jambo fruit. The anthocyanins found (cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside, cyanidin 3-glucoside and peonidin 3-glucoside) were the flavonoid class strongly correlated with the antioxidant capacity methods used in this study (cellular antioxidant activity and oxygen radical absorbance capacity). The ethanolic extract of the peel showed significant effect on reducing the tumoral cell growth and proliferation. Antiproliferative activity of phytochemicals showed no significant correlative relations with total phenolic compounds, flavonoids and anthocyanins, demonstrating which the antiproliferative effect of the extract could be due to the synergic action among the compounds in red-jambo peel.

Comparative assessment of phytochemical profiles and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of kiwifruit (Actinidia deliciosa) cultivars.

The present study was designed to analyze and compare phytochemical activities of four different cultivars of kiwifruit. Among all investigated varieties, Hua You (HY) and Cui Xiang (CUX) displayed the maximum concentration of phytochemical content, and the highest total phenolic results were observed in HY and CUX cultivars with 220.20 ± 1.12 mg GAE/100 g and 218.04 ± 1.11 mg GAE/100 g FW, respectively. Likewise, the richest total flavonoids results were estimated in red kiwifruit (RKF) and CUX varieties with 49.082 ± 0.14 mg CE/100 g FW and 48.327 ± 0.14 mg CE/100 g FW, respectively. Moreover, tests for oxygen radical scavenging capacity (ORAC) and peroxyl radical scavenging capacity (PSC) were observed maximum in RKF cultivar showing 131.229 ± 5.91 µM Trolox equivalent/g FW and 85.957 ± 11.75 µM vitamin C equivalent/g FW, respectively. Furthermore, the highest cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) with No PBS wash protocol was depicted in RKF 237.544 ± 4.12 µM QE equivalent/g FW with the lowest EC50 0.0128 mg/ml. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis confirmed the presence of ferulic acid, naringin, gallic acid, syringic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, protocatechuic acid, salicylic acid, and catechin in kiwifruit. Catechin as one main content in our study is consistent with the recent reports. The result suggested that the phytochemical profile and bioactivities were significantly affected by the type of cultivars. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Kiwifruit is widely consumed over the world for its rich nutritious and medicinal values. Currently, phytochemicals are considered as one of the main bioactive components of kiwifruits, which are responsible for lots of bioactivities, such as antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. There are varieties of kiwifruits, and the bioactive components and bioactivities are greatly affected by the cultivars. But there have been no comparative studies on the phytochemicals from different varieties. This study aimed to make a comprehensive assessments of the free, bound, and total phenolics and flavonoids, as well as the chemical-based and cell-based antioxidant activities of four different subspecies of kiwifruit. This work would be beneficial to elucidate the function differences of different kiwifruit phytochemicals, promote its further research, as well as provide a basis for selecting cultivars.

Effect of In Vitro Digestion on Phytochemical Profiles and Cellular Antioxidant Activity of Whole Grains.

Most of the previous in vitro digestion treatments were conducted directly to whole grains without extraction of free phenolics, thus the bioaccessible phenolics contained both free phenolics that survived the digestion and digested phenolics released by digestion. However, the profiles of digested phenolics released by digestion remain unknown. This study was designed to investigate the phytochemical contents, peroxyl radical scavenging capacities (PSCs), and cellular antioxidant activities (CAAs) of free, digested, and bound fractions of whole grains. Total phenolic contents of whole grains were highest in digested fraction, followed by free and bound fractions. The predominant phenolics were 12 phenolic acids and one flavonoid, which mostly existed in bound forms, then in digested and free forms. The digested phenolics bound to proteins were in conjugated form. The bound fractions had the highest PSCs, followed by free and digested fractions. CAAs were highest in bound fractions, followed by digested and free fractions.