Ent-labdane-type diterpene glycosides obtained from Rubus chingii Hu and their inhibitory effects on PDE5A activity.

In this study, 16 new ent-labdane-type diterpene glycosides, designated as goshonosides J1-J16 (1-16), along with nine previously known diterpene glycosides (17-25) were extracted from the fruits of Rubus chingii Hu. The structures of goshonosides J1-J16 were elucidated using various analytical techniques, such as nuclear magnetic resonance, electron capture detector ECD, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry HREIMS, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and hydrolysis. Furthermore, the isolates' efficacy in inhibiting the activity of phosphodiesterase type 5 A was evaluated. Goshonosides J1, J2, and G effectively inhibited the activity of the aforementioned enzyme (IC50 values: 6.15 ± 1.76, 3.27 ± 0.65, and 9.61 ± 2.36 µM, respectively). Our findings highlight the remarkable structural diversity of bioactive compounds in R. chingii Hu and offer insights into the use of this shrub.

Constituents of the fruits of Rubus chingii Hu and their neuroprotective effects on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells.

Rubi fructus (Rubus chingii Hu) is a fruit of Rubus genus and is used in medicine and food applications. In this study, eight new phenylpropanoids (1-8) and seven known compounds (9-15) were isolated from the dried fruits of Rubus chingii Hu, and their structures were characterized through high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Electronic circular dichroism (ECD) experiments were performed, and the results were compared with ECD spectra. Compound 3 was characterized through extensive single crystal X-ray diffraction. Evaluation of the neuroprotective pharmacological activities revealed that compounds 6, 7, 9, and 14 exerted protective effects against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity by reducing the reactive oxygen species levels at concentrations of 50 and 100 µM. Moreover, the three compounds 6, 9, and 14 significantly inhibited the expression of the Casp3 gene at a concentration of 50 µM. Compounds 7 and 9 effectively repressed the expression of the MYC gene. Compounds 6 and 9 obviously upregulated the ratio of Bcl2/Bax in SH-SY5Y cells and inhibited cell apoptosis. The study results can be used as a reference for the development of R. chingii products to realize their neuroprotective functions in the future.

Proteins from Blackberry Seeds: Extraction, Osborne Isolate, Characteristics, Functional Properties, and Bioactivities.

Blackberry fruit contains high levels of nutrients and phenolic compounds. Blackberry pomace accounts for 20~30% of its whole fruit during processing and is generally treated as fertilizer. Blackberry pomace has many seeds that contain carbohydrates, polyphenols, flavonoids, pectin, protein, and other bioactive nutrients. However, its functional properties and seed protein compositions have not been reported. We used a single-factor experiment, response surface, and Osborne isolate method to extract protein isolate, albumin, globulin, glutelin, and prolamin from blackberry seeds for the first time and evaluated their characteristics and functional properties. Glutelin and protein isolate showed good water-holding capacity, emulsification, and foaming capacity, while albumin and globulin showed good oil-holding capacity and thermal stability. They were found to have good antioxidant activities that might be good DPPH free radical scavengers, especially prolamin, which has the lowest IC50 value (15.76 µg/mL). Moreover, globulin had the lowest IC50 value of 5.03 µg/mL against Hela cells, 31.82 µg/mL against HepG2 cells, and 77.81 µg/mL against MCF-7 cells and a high selectivity index (SI), which suggested globulin had better anti-cervical, antihepatoma, and anti-breast activity but relatively low cytotoxicity. These seed proteins may have great prospects for the development and application of food and drugs in the future.

Blackberries and Mulberries: Berries with Significant Health-Promoting Properties.

Blackberries and mulberries are small and perishable fruits that provide significant health benefits when consumed. In reality, both are rich in phytochemicals, such as phenolics and volatile compounds, and micronutrients, such as vitamins. All the compounds are well-known thanks to their medicinal and pharmacological properties, namely antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, antiviral, and cardiovascular properties. Nevertheless, variables such as genotype, production conditions, fruit ripening stage, harvesting time, post-harvest storage, and climate conditions influence their nutritional composition and economic value. Given these facts, the current review focuses on the nutritional and chemical composition, as well as the health benefits, of two blackberry species (Rubus fruticosus L., and Rubus ulmifolius Schott) and one mulberry species (Morus nigra L.).

Rubus chingii Hu relieved the polycystic ovary syndrome with enhanced insulin sensitivity through inhibiting TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is one of the most prevalent endocrine disorders in gynecology with severe metabolic abnormalities. Therefore, identifying effective treatments and drugs for PCOS is important. We aimed to investigate effect of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) Rubus chingii Hu (R. chingii) on ovarian function and insulin resistance (IR) of PCOS rat models, and to explore the underlying mechanisms. METHODS: A PCOS rat model was established by subcutaneous injection of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) solution for 20 days. PCOS rats were randomly divided into a control group (CON), model group (MOD), metformin group (MET), TCM R. chingii group (RCG), and RCG + Ad-TXNIP groups. After 28 days of treatment, the samples were collected for subsequent experiments. RESULTS: R. chingii treatment alleviated hormone imbalance and IR while improving ovarian pathology in the PCOS model. R. chingi inhibited the activation of the thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP)/NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in the ovarian tissue of PCOS rats. Furthermore, TXNIP overexpression hindered the protective effect of R. chingii intervention in PCOS rats, as evidenced by the increase of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone (T), C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and atretic follicles. CONCLUSION: R. chingii intervention improved ovarian polycystic development by suppressing the TXNIP/NLRP3 inflammasome, which may be an effective treatment for PCOS.

Insights into the metabolite profiles of Rubus chingii Hu at different developmental stages of fruit.

The fruits of Rubus chingii Hu have high medicinal and nutritional values. However, the metabolite profiles of R. chingii, especially the alterations during different development stages of fruit, have not been comprehensively analyzed, hindering the effective utilization of the unique species. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the metabolites of R. chingii fruit at four developmental stages using systematic untargeted and targeted liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry metabolomics analysis and identified 682 metabolites. Significant changes were observed in metabolite accumulation and composition in fruits during the different developmental stages. The contents of the index components, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside and ellagic acid, were the highest in immature fruit. The analysis identified 64 differentially expressed flavonoids and 39 differentially expressed phenolic acids; the accumulation of most of these differentially expressed metabolites decreased with the developmental stages of fruit from immaturity to maturity. These results confirmed that the developmental stages of fruit are a critical factor in determining its secondary metabolite compositions. This study elucidated the metabolic profile of R. chingii fruit at different stages of development to understand the dynamic changes in metabolites.

Microencapsulation of Brazilian Cherokee blackberry extract by freeze-drying using maltodextrin, gum Arabic, and pectin as carrier materials.

There are many blackberry cultivars in Brazil; however, the characteristics and applications of the Cherokee cultivar have not yet been widely studied. For this reason, this research investigated the behaviour of maltodextrin (MD), gum Arabic (GA), and pectin (PEC), as carriers combined in different proportions (20% MD, 15% MD + 5% GA, 15% MD + 5% PEC), on encapsulation of Cherokee blackberry pulp extract obtained by freeze-drying. The results of moisture content (2.73-3.36%), water activity (aw) (0.11-0.15), solubility (52.40-54.11%), hygroscopicity (17.59-21.11%), colour (hue 0.24-0.32), retention of anthocyanins (51.55-60.53%), total phenolic compounds (39.72-70.73 mg GAE/100g), antioxidant activity at 25 mg/mL (77.89-80.02%), IC50 (12.26-14.53), simulated in vitro digestion and morphology were discussed. Concerning morphology, blackberry powders had irregular structures and amorphous structures. Comparatively, the best results were obtained for MD-GA. MD-GA presented the highest content of phenolic compounds (70.73 ± 1.84 mg GAE/100g) and antioxidant activity (80.02%), as well as the lowest IC50 value (12.26). In general, all powders showed an increase in phenolic compounds during in vitro digestion, because of the pH conditions and digestive enzymes present in the simulated digestive fluid. This result shows that the wall material provides protection, since the blackberry rich extract (RE) showed degradation of phenolic compounds in in vitro digestion. In this sense, freeze-drying is a suitable technique for the encapsulation of Cherokee blackberry pulp extract.

Pharmacological and phytochemical potential of Rubus ellipticus: a wild edible with multiple health benefits.

OBJECTIVES: Rubus ellipticus (family Rosaceae) is used for its delicious edible fruits in the Himalayan region and other parts of the globe. However, the full potential of the species is yet to be harnessed. The current review focuses on the phytochemical, traditional uses, morphological, molecular and pharmacological potential of R. ellipticus. KEY FINDINGS: The review of the literature reveals that many health-promoting compounds of R. ellipticus have been reported from the species along with the different biological properties, such as nephroprotective, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic, anti-proliferative, cytotoxicity, anti-cancer, wound healing, anti-fertility, anti-plasmodial, anti-microbial and antioxidant. Traditionally, it is used in many formulations, which are validated through primary pharmacological assays. However, several medicinal properties are still need to be validated through detailed pharmacological and clinical studies. SUMMARY: All the information is available in a scanty form, and the complete information is missing on a single platform. Such type of information will help researchers to better utilize the available data for initiating future research on the species as it has the potential to contribute to the food and pharmaceutical industry. The review highlights the need for further studies on the species to harness its potential in nutraceutical, functional food, energy supplement, and beneficial therapeutic drug development program.

Isolation of Phenolic Compounds from Raspberry Based on Molecular Imprinting Techniques and Investigation of Their Anti-Alzheimer's Disease Properties.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common neurodegenerative disease, characterized by memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. Raspberry fruits contain polyphenols which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we used molecular imprinting technology to efficiently isolate phenolic components from the raspberry ethyl acetate extracts. Six phenolic components (ellagic acid, tiliroside, kaempferol-3-o-rutoside, gallic acid, ferulic acid and vanillic acid) were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF-MS analysis. Molecular docking was used to predict the anti-inflammatory effects and anti-Alzheimer's potential of these isolated compounds, which showed a good binding ability to diseases and related proteins. However, the binding energy and docking fraction of ellagic acid, tiliroside, and kaempferol-3-o-rutoside were better than those of gallic acid, ferulic acid and vanillic acid. Additionally, by studying the effects of these six phenolic components on the LPS-induced secretion of inflammatory mediators in murine microglial (BV2) cells, it was further demonstrated that they were all capable of inhibiting the secretion of NO, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß to a certain extent. However, ellagic acid, tiliroside, and kaempferol-3-o-rutoside have better inhibitory effects compared to others. The results obtained suggest that the phenolic components extracted from ethyl acetate extracts of raspberry by molecularly imprinted polymers have the potential to inhibit the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Biologically Active Preparations from the Leaves of Wild Plant Species of the Genus Rubus.

The plants of the genus Rubus (R.) are applied as antiseptic agents in the treatment of skin diseases. Despite the great interest in plants of this genus, there are few reports on the antioxidant and biological activities of preparations obtained from the leaves of these plants. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the antioxidant activity of preparations from leaves of wild plant species of the genus Rubus using the frequently applied DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods, as well as to determine the total polyphenol content using the Folin−Ciocalteau method and perform qualitative evaluation by gas chromatography−mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The bactericidal and fungicidal activities of the obtained preparations were evaluated by applying laboratory tests: using the disc and the well methods based on the standards EN 13697:2019, EN 13697:2015, and EN 1500:2013. Microbiological tests of the plant preparations against bacteria, fungi, and yeasts isolated from the environment and against reference strains were performed. Moreover, antimicrobial testing of antibiotics against the tested strains was performed for comparison. The n-octanol/water partition coefficient of the obtained preparations was determined by the shake-flask method to determine their lipophilicity. According to the results, a high content of polyphenols and other antioxidant and biologically active compounds can be thought of as the parameter responsible for the effective activity of plant preparations obtained from wild plant species of the genus Rubus. The methods for determining bactericidal and fungicidal activity clearly demonstrates that preparations with reduced ethanol content exhibit bactericidal and fungicidal activity on surfaces. Testing of hand disinfection by means of rubbing with the preparations confirmed their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli K12 NCTC 10538. The obtained results show that the tested preparations exhibit on average two times lower activity against the reference bacterial strains than comparable antibiotics. The preparations obtained from the leaves of R. idaeus L. and R. fruticosus L. could complement classical antibiotics. While environmental bacteria showed a similar response to the preparations and antibiotics, their sensitivity was about one-third less than that of the reference strains. Our studies have shown that the obtained preparations are highly hydrophilic (logP < 0). Thus, these preparations can only be used in lipid bilayers in the aqueous core of liposomes, not in the lipid envelope.

Protection of Erythrocytes and Microvascular Endothelial Cells against Oxidative Damage by Fragaria vesca L. and Rubus idaeus L. Leaves Extracts-The Mechanism of Action.

The aim of this work is to determine the biological activity of ellagitannins rich extracts from leaves of raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) and wild strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) in relation to cells and cell membranes. Detailed qualitative and quantitative analysis of phenolic compounds of the extract was made using chromatographic methods. Cytotoxic and antioxidant activities of tested extracts in relation to erythrocytes and human vascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were determined by using fluorimetric and spectrophotometric methods. In order to establish the influence of the extracts on the physical properties of the membrane, such as osmotic resistance and erythrocytes shapes, mobility and/or hydration of polar heads and fluidity of hydrocarbon chains of membrane lipids, microscopic and spectroscopic methods were used. The results showed that the extracts are non-toxic for erythrocytes and HMEC-1 cells (up to concentration of 50 µg/mL), but they effectively protect cells and their membranes against oxidative damage. The increase in osmotic resistance of erythrocytes, formation of echinocytes and changes only in the polar part of the membrane caused by the extracts demonstrate their location mainly in the hydrophilic part of the membrane. The results indicate that tested extracts have high biological activities and may be potentially used in delaying the ageing process of organisms and prevention of many diseases, especially those associated with oxidative stress.

In Vitro Antioxidant and Prooxidant Activities of Red Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.) Stem Extracts.

Leaves and stems of red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) are used in Lithuanian folk medicine. Healing properties of raspberry are related to the content of bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols. Extracts of raspberry leaves contained higher total phenolic content (TPC) (1290 mg/L, expressed in gallic acid equivalent) compared to that in extracts of stems or peeled bark (up to 420 mg/L and 598 mg/L, respectively). To find out whether the collection time of herbal material was critical for the properties of the extracts, the stems were collected at different times of the year. TPC in the extracts depended more on extraction conditions rather than on the sampling time. Antioxidant activity of raspberry stem and bark extracts tested by spectrophotometric (DPPH● scavenging) and electrochemical (cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry) assays correlated with TPC. DPPH radical scavenging activity values for stem, leaf, and bark extracts were as follows: ≤1.18 ± 0.07, 1.63 ± 0.10, and ≤1.90 ± 0.04 (mmol/L, TROLOX equivalent), respectively. Assessed electrochemically, hydrogen peroxide-scavenging activity of extracts was independent on TPC. The latter activity was related to the presence of some protein in the extract as revealed by gel electrophoresis. Prooxidant activity of raspberry stem extracts was dependent on solution pH and temperature.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of blackberry, black chokeberry, blueberry, and red currant pomace extracts on beef patties subject to refrigerated storage.

This study evaluates the physicochemical and microbiological properties and sensory parameters of beef patties formulated with black chokeberry (B1), blackberry (B2), red currant (B3) and blueberry (B4) pomace water extracts during refrigerated storage over 9 days. The berry pomace extract treatment significantly decreased the TBARS numbers of the samples (P < 0.05). The lowest total carbonyl content was determined in the groups of B1 and B3 on the 6th day (P < 0.05). The berry pomace extract treatment did not affect the lightness values of the samples (P > 0.05). Beef patties including berry pomace extracts had lower coliform bacteria counts than the control patty C with no extract (P < 0.05), except for day 9. The results suggest that water extract of black chokeberry pomace may be a promising natural preservative among different berries' pomace extracts to improve oxidative stability and increase the microbiological quality of beef patties during refrigerated storage.

Chemical, microbial, color, oxidative and sensory properties of clean-label pastirma produced with raspberry water extracts as a novel ingredient.

In recent years, plant extracts are used as colorant and antioxidant in meat products. Therefore, the effects of cemen pastes produced using different concentrations (0%, 3%, 4% and 5%) of raspberry water extract (RWE) on pastirma were investigated. RWE was tested to improve the color quality of pastirma and decrease lipid and pigment oxidation during production and storage at 4 °C for 150 days. Increasing RWE concentration in cemen paste reduced pH, TBARS (P < 0.05) and lactic acid bacteria counts (P < 0.01) of pastirma, while redness values (P < 0.05) increased compared to control sample without extract. The use of RWE contributed to improve sensory attributes of pastirma, and the groups with 4% and 5% RWE had the highest sensory scores. Also, the color and oxidative stabilities of the pastirma containing RWE were maintained better than control during storage period (P < 0.01). The overall results suggested that use of 4.0% or 5.0% RWE as a new additive in cemen paste can be considered an antioxidant and colorant for pastirma processing to prevent color and lipid oxidation.

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.

Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Telomerase Effects of Blackberry Juice and Berry- Derived Polyphenols on HepG2 Liver Cancer Cells and Normal Human Blood Mononuclear Cells.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have provided strong evidence for the anticancer activity of berry fruits. OBJECTIVE: In this study, we investigated the effects of blackberry juice and three berry- polyphenolic compounds on cell proliferation and telomerase activity in human hepatoma HepG2 and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). METHODS: The cell viability and telomerase activity were measured by MTT and TRAP assay, respectively. Berry effects on the expression of genes were determined by quantitative RT-PCR assay. RESULTS: Blackberry, gallic acid, and resveratrol inhibited proliferation of both HepG2 and PBMC cells in a dosedependent manner. Resveratrol was more effective than gallic acid for reducing the viability of HepG2 cells, but both showed the same level of growth inhibition in PBMC cells. Berry, resveratrol, and gallic acid significantly inhibited telomerase activity in HepG2 cells. The antiproliferative effect of berry was associated with apoptotic DNA fragmentation. Gallic acid was more effective for reducing telomerase activity than resveratrol, but anthocyanin moderately increased telomerase activity in cancer cells. Telomerase activity was induced by all three polyphenols in PBMCs. Overall, Krumanin chloride was more effective to induce telomerase than gallic acid and resveratrol in PBMC cells. There was no significant difference in hTERT, hTR, and Dnmts expressions between berry treated and the control untreated HepG2 cells. But, a significant downregulation of HDAC1 and HDAC2 and upregulation of SIRT1 were observed in berry-treated cells. CONCLUSION: These data indicate that the berry anticancer effect is associated with antitelomerase activity and changes in HDACs expression. The data also suggest that berry antitelomerase activity is mainly related to its gallic acid and resveratrol, but not anthocyanin content.

Black raspberry extract shifted gut microbe diversity and their metabolic landscape in a human colonic model.

Human gut microbiota is critical for human health, as their dysbiosis could lead to various diseases such as irritable bowel syndrome and obesity. Black raspberry (BRB) has been increasingly studied recently for its impact on gut microbiota as a rich source of phytochemicals (e.g., anthocyanin). To investigate the effect of BRB extract on the gut microbiota composition and their metabolism, an in-vitro human colonic model (HCM) was utilized to study the direct interaction between BRB and gut microbiome. Conditions (e.g., pH, temperature, anaerobic environment) in HCM were closely monitored and maintained to simulate the human intestinal system. Fresh fecal samples donated by three young healthy volunteers were used for gut microbiota inoculation in the HCM. 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing and liquid-chromatography mass spectrometry (LC/MS) based metabolomics were performed to study the impact of BRB on gut microbiota characteristics and their metabolism (fatty acids, polar metabolites, and phenolic compounds). Our data suggested that BRB intervention modulated gut microbiota at the genus level in different HCM sections mimicing ascending, transverse, and descending colons. Relative abundance of Enterococcus was commonly decreased in all colon sections, while modulations of other bacteria genera were mostly location-dependent. Meanwhile, significant changes in the metabolic profile of gut microbiota related to fatty acids, endogenous polar metabolites, and phenolic compounds were detected, in which arginine and proline metabolism, lysine degradation, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis were mostly regulated. Moreover, we identified several significant associations between altered microbial populations and changes in microbial metabolites. In summary, our study revealed the impact of BRB intervention on gut microbiota composition and metabolism change, which may exert physiological change to host metabolism and host health.

Antioxidant properties of red raspberry extract alleviate hepatic fibrosis via inducing apoptosis and transdifferentiation of activated hepatic stellate cells.

Hepatic fibrosis is a wound-healing process caused by prolonged liver damage and often occurs due to hepatic stellate cell activation in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Red raspberry has been found to attenuate oxidative stress, mainly because it is rich in bioactive components. In the current study, we investigated the inhibitory effects and associated molecular mechanisms of red raspberry extract (RBE) upon activated hepatic stellate cell (aHSC) in cellular and rat models. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were increased in the dimethylnitrosamine (DMN)-applied samples, whereas treatment of RBE significantly suppressed the activities of these enzymes. In addition, a histopathological analysis demonstrated that RBE could substantially diminish the hepatic collagen content and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression induced by DMN. Administration of 250 µg/mL RBE could also arrest the growth and enhance the apoptosis of activated HSC-T6 cells, which was accompanied with elevated levels of activated caspases and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage. Particularly, RBE application remarkably abolished oxidative damage within the cells and reduced the carbonylation of proteins, which was attributed to the upregulation of catalase, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Moreover, the knockdown of Nrf2 together with the RBE treatment synergistically abrogated the expression of α-SMA and promoted the level of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ), suggesting that RBE could mitigate the transdifferentiation of HSC in a Nrf2-independent manner. These findings implied that the application of RBE could effectively remove oxidative stress and relieve the activation of HSC via modulating the caspase/PARP, Nrf2/HO-1 and PPAR-γ pathways, which may allow the development of novel therapeutic strategies against chemical-caused liver fibrogenesis.

Conversion of Organic Dyes into Pigments: Extraction of Flavonoids from Blackberries (Rubus ulmifolius) and Stabilization.

The blackberry's color is composed mainly of natural dyes called anthocyanins. Their color is red-purple, and they can be used as a natural colorant. Anthocyanins are flavonoids, which are products of plants, and their colors range from orange and red to various shades of blue, purple and green, according to pH. In this study, the chemical composition of an extract obtained from blackberries was defined by LC-ESI/LTQOrbitrap/MS in positive and negative ionization mode. Furthermore, we investigated the adsorption process of blackberry extract using several inorganic fillers, such as metakaolin, silica, Lipari pumice, white pozzolan and alumina. The pigments exhibit different colors as a function of their interactions with the fillers. The analysis of the absorption data allowed the estimation of the maximum adsorbing capacity of each individual filler tested. Through thermogravimetric measurements (TGA), the thermal stability and the real adsorption of the organic extract were determined.

Bioactive Compounds of Raspberry Oil Emulsions Induced Oxidative Stress via Stimulating the Accumulation of Reactive Oxygen Species and NO in Cancer Cells.

There are growing interests in the complex combinations of natural compounds that may advance the therapy of cancer. Such combinations already exist in foods, and a good representative is seed oils. Two raspberry oils: cold pressed (ROCOP) and one extracted by supercritical CO2 (ROSCO2) were evaluated for their chemical characteristics and oil emulsions for cell suppression potential against colon adenocarcinoma (LoVo), doxorubicin-resistant colon adenocarcinoma (LoVo/DX), breast cancer (MCF7), doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer (MCF7/DX), and lung cancer (A549) cell lines. The cytotoxicity was also assessed on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). With increasing concentration of raspberry oil emulsions (0.5-10%), increasing inhibition of cancer cell viability and proliferation in all of the lines was observed, with different degrees of potency between cancer types and oil tested. ROSCO2 strongly induced free radical production and DNA strand damage in LoVo and MCF7 cells especially doxorubicin-resistant lines. This suggests that ROSCO2 engages and effectively targets the vulnerabilities of the cancer cell. Generally, both ROSCO2 and ROCOP could be a nontoxic support in therapy of selected human cancers.