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.

Preparation and Characterization of Nano-Selenium Decorated by Chondroitin Sulfate Derived from Shark Cartilage and Investigation on Its Antioxidant Activity.

In the present study, a selenium-chondroitin sulfate (SeCS) was synthesized by the sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) and ascorbic acid (Vc) redox reaction using chondroitin sulfate derived from shark cartilage as a template, and characterized by SEM, SEM-EDS, FTIR and XRD. Meanwhile, its stability was investigated at different conditions of pH and temperatures. Besides, its antioxidant activity was further determined by the DPPH and ABTS assays. The results showed the SeCS with the smallest particle size of 131.3 ± 4.4 nm and selenium content of 33.18% was obtained under the optimal condition (CS concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, mass ratio of Na2SeO3 to Vc of 1:8, the reaction time of 3 h, and the reaction temperature of 25 °C). SEM image showed the SeCS was an individual and spherical nanostructure and its structure was evidenced by FTIR and XRD. Meanwhile, SeCS remained stable at an alkaline pH and possessed good storage stability at 4 °C for 28 days. The results on scavenging free radical levels showed that SeCS exhibited significantly higher antioxidant activity than SeNPs and CS, indicating that SeCS had a potential antioxidant effect.

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.

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.

Pomegranate peel extract polyphenols induced apoptosis in human hepatoma cells by mitochondrial pathway.

This study was aimed to investigate the influence of pomegranate peel polyphenols (PPPs) on the proliferation and apoptosis of HepG2 cells (a kind of human hepatoma cells) and the related mechanism. The inverted fluorescence microscope and the flow cytometer (FCM) were used to test the changes of the cellular morphology, cell cycle, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (Δψm). The kit was used to measure the activities of caspase-3/9, and Western Blot was used to detect the expressions of apoptosis-associated proteins including p53, Bcl-2/Bax, Cyt-c and PARP. The results showed that the cells cycle of HepG2 arrested at the S-phase by PPPs and the amount of the early apoptotic cells and ROS level were increased obviously, the level of Cyt-c and the activity of Caspase-3/9 markedly were also increased by PPPs, as well as the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 and the protein expressions of P53. It was concluded that PPPs could inhibit the growth of HepG2 cells by blocking the cell cycle and inducing the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in a dose-dependent manner.

Antiangiogenetic effects of 4 varieties of grapes in vitro.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effects of grapes on the human umbilical vein endothelial (HUVE) cells' capillary tube formation and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression secreted into the medium. Four different grape varieties (Concord, Niagara, Chardonnay, and Pinot Noir) were extracted using 80% acetone and the extracts were stored at -80 degrees C. The total amount of phenolics and flavonoids for each of the 4 grape varieties were determined by spectrophotometry. Grape extracts were co-cultured with HUVE cells on Matrigel and inhibitory effects on tube formation were observed under a microscope. The inhibitory effects of grape extracts on MMP-2 expression were examined by zymogram. All 4 grape varieties inhibited the tube formation of HUVE cells in a dose-dependent manner on Matrigel. Except for Chardonnay, the other 3 grape varieties completely inhibited secretion of MMP-2 at 20 mg/mL. There was a significant positive relationship between the total phenolics and flavonoids and antiangiogenetic activities. The grapes tested have the potential to inhibit angiogenesis mainly by their phenolics and flavonoids contents, which partly contribute to their cancer chemopreventive efficacy.

Cranberry phytochemical extract inhibits SGC-7901 cell growth and human tumor xenografts in Balb/c nu/nu mice.

Cranberry extract possesses potent antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative activity against cancer in vitro and in vivo. The objectives of this study were to determine whether the cranberry extract inhibited proliferation of human gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells and human gastric tumor xenografts in the Balb/c nu/nu mouse. Cranberry extract at doses of 0, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/mL significantly inhibited proliferation of SGC-7901 cells, and this suppression was partly attributed to decreased PCNA expression and apoptosis induction. In a human tumor xenograft model, the time of human gastric tumor xenografts in the mouse was delayed in a dose-dependent manner. A dose-response inhibition was also observed in the averages of size, weight, and volume of tumor xenografts in the mouse between the control and cranberry-treated groups. These results demonstrate fresh cranberries to be a chemopreventive reagent.