Revealing Edible Bird Nest as Novel Functional Foods in Combating Metabolic Syndrome: Comprehensive In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Studies.

Metabolic dysfunction, which includes intra-abdominal adiposity, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, manifests into metabolic syndrome and related diseases. Therefore, the discovery of new therapies in the fight against metabolic syndrome is very challenging. This study aims to reveal the existence of an edible bird nest (EBN) as a functional food candidate that may be a new alternative in fighting metabolic syndrome. The study included three approaches: in silico molecular docking simulation, in vitro, and in vivo in rats fed on cholesterol- and fat-enriched diets. Four terpenoids of Bakuchiol, Curculigosaponin A, Dehydrolindestrenolide, and 1-methyl-3-(1-methyl-ethyl)-benzene in EBN have been identified through LCMS/MS-QTOF. In molecular docking simulations, Bakuchiol and Dehydrolindestrenolide are considered very potent because they have higher inhibitory power on the four receptors (iNOS, ROS1 kinase, FTO, and lipase) than standard drugs. In vitro tests also provide insight into the antioxidant, antidiabetic, and antiobesity activities of EBN, which is quite feasible due to the smaller EC50 value of EBN compared to standard drugs. Interestingly, in vivo studies also showed significant improvements (p < 0.05) in the lipid profile, blood glucose, enzymatic levels, and inflammatory biomarkers in rats given high-dose dietary supplementation of EBN. More interestingly, high-dose dietary supplementation of EBN upregulates PGC-1α and downregulates HMG-CoA reductase. Comprehensively, it has been revealed that EBN can be novel functional foods for combating metabolic syndrome.

Modulation of gut microbiota and markers of metabolic syndrome in mice on cholesterol and fat enriched diet by butterfly pea flower kombucha.

Clitoria ternatea, with an alternative name, Butterfly pea, is increasingly being explored for medical purposes and the development of a wide range of processed products. This study aimed to incorporate Butterfly pea into an innovative probiotic drink through a symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) fermentation and to evaluate the biological activity. The benefits of the drink, referred to as butterfly pea flower kombucha (KBPF) was determined in vitro and in metabolically disorder mice that receive a diet rich in cholesterol and fat (CFED). Forty white male were categorized into four groups, i.e., A = Control/Normal Diet; B = CFED alone; C = CFED + KBPF 65 mg/kg BW (Body Weight); D = CFED + KBPF 130 mg/kg BW, and then sacrificed after 6 weeks of intervention. Seventy-nine secondary metabolite compounds were successfully identified in KBPF using LC-HRMS. In vitro studies showed the potential activity of KBPF in inhibiting not only ABTS, but also lipid (lipase) and carbohydrate (α-amylase, α-glucosidase) hydrolyzing enzymes to levels similar to acarbose control at 50-250 µg/mL. In the in vivo study, the administration of KBPF (130 mg/kg BW) significantly alleviated metabolic disorders caused by high-fat diet. Specifically, lipid profile (HDL, LDL, TC, TG), blood glucose, markers of oxidative stress (SOD liver), metabolic enzymes (lipase, amylase), and markers of inflammation (PGC-1α, TNF-α, and IL-10) were in most cases restored to normal values. Additionally, the gut microbiota community analysis showed that KBPF has a positive effect (p = 0.01) on both the Bacteroidetes phylum and the Firmicutes phylum. The new KBPF drink is a promising therapeutic functional food for preventing metabolic diseases.

Anti-aging potential of cookies from sea grapes in mice fed on cholesterol- and fat-enriched diet: in vitro with in vivo study.

This study determines the effect of cookies made from sea grapes (Caulerpa racemosa) on PGC-1α, total cholesterol, and blood glucose levels on mice fed with a Cholesterol- and Fat-Enriched Diet (CFED). The antioxidant activity, tyrosinase inhibition, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase inhibition is also analyzed in order to assess the in vitro anti-aging potential of sea grapes cookies. Forty male Mus muscullus albino mice weighing 20 g-30 g were used and randomly distributed into four groups of ten animals each. Group A served as a normal control (given a standard dry pellet diet), Group B was given CFED only, and mice in Groups C and D were given CFED with 100 mg and 200 mg/20 g body weight of sea grapes cookies, respectively for 4 weeks. In vitro study shows that the percentage of inhibition activity of antioxidant, L-Tyrosine, L-Dopa, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase inhibition were 45.65 ± 1.50, 8.95 ± 0.06, 21.31 ± 0.98, 77.12 ± 4.67 and 70.94 ± 0.98, respectively. This study found that group D had better activity in lowering blood glucose than group C (p < 0.0001). In addition, although there was not found significant difference between groups C and D in blood cholesterol reduction and PGC-1α (p = 0.1482), both groups experienced the same effect in total cholesterol reduction and PGC-1α in mice (significantly, p < 0001). Thus, we conclude that sea grapes cookies are proven to improve PGC-1α, total cholesterol, and blood glucose levels in mice fed with CFED. Hence, sea grapes cookies is a potential anti-aging novel-functional food.

Kombucha tea from seagrapes (Caulerpa racemosa) potential as a functional anti-ageing food: in vitro and in vivo study.

This study wants to investigate the effects of kombucha tea based on seagrapes on blood glucose levels, total cholesterol, and PGC-1α in Swiss albino mice that were given cholesterol- and fat-enriched diets (CFED). Anti-glycation, tyrosinase inhibitory, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity were also determined. Forty male swiss webster albino mice weighing between 20 g-30 g were used for this study. Animals were distributed in random into 4 groups of 10 animals each; group A served as normal control (received standard dry pellet diet), group B were fed on CFED for 4 weeks, and groups C and D were fed on CFED and were administered 150 and 300 mg/kg of kombucha tea from seagrapes (Caulerpa racemosa) (p.o.). In vitro study show that the activity of anti-glycation, L-Tyrosine, L-Dopa, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase inhibition were 62.79 ± 0.78, 9.05 ± 0.16, 27.14 ± 1.62, 90.42 ± 0.77, and 80.44 ± 1.00, respectively. Group C has a better activity in increasing PGC-1-alpha serum in mice than group D (p < 0.05). There were no meaningful differences between group C and D in blood cholesterol and blood glucose reduction (p = 0.222), both groups have the same effect in lowering total cholesterol and blood glucose in mice. In conclusion, kombucha tea from seagrapes has potential as an anti-ageing functional food.

Sea grapes powder with the addition of tempe rich in collagen: An anti-aging functional food.

Background: This study aimed to determine the potential anti-aging effects of sea grapes and tempe (Fermented soybeans) collagen particle size, by measuring the activities of anti-glycation, antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitors. Methods: Collagen was isolated from sea grapes and tempe freeze dried powder and treated with different NaOH concentrations (0.10 M; 0.20 M; 0.30 M), and CH 3COOH 1 M solution, separately. The collagen particle size was adjusted by stirring at 1000 rpm for 5 and 10 hours. 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was used to measure the antioxidant activity, and L-tyrosine and L-DOPA (l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine) were used as a marker of tyrosine inhibition.  Results:  The collagen treated with 0.10 M NaOH produced the highest collagen yield (11.65%), and largest particle size (2455 nm). Additionally, this collagen, when treated for 5 hours, exhibited 24.70% antioxidant activity, 62.60% anti-glycation, 8.97% L-tyrosine, and 26.77% L-Dopa inhibition activities. Meanwhile, the collagen treated for 10 hours had a 9.98% antioxidant activity, 41.48% anti-glycation, 7.89% L-tyrosine, and 2.67% L-Dopa inhibition activity.   Conclusion: Sea grapes and tempe collagen powder treated with 0.10 M NaOH and stirred for 5 hours, as functional foods have anti-aging properties.