"The effects of non-surgical periodontal treatment plus zinc and magnesium supplementation on oxidative stress and antioxidants enzymes in type 2 diabetes patients: a quasi-experimental study".

BACKGROUND: Periodontal Disease (PD) associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic condition that affects the oral cavity of people living with T2DM. The mechanisms of the interaction between type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Periodontal diseases are complex and involve multiple pathophysiological pathways related to the systemic inflammatory process and oxidative stress. Non-surgical periodontal treatment (NSTP) is considered the standard for the management of this disease; however, patients with systemic conditions such as type 2 Diabetes Mellitus do not seem to respond adequately. For this reason, the use of complementary treatments has been suggested to support non-surgical periodontal treatment to reduce the clinical consequences of the disease and improve the systemic conditions of the patient. The use of zinc gluconate and magnesium oxide as an adjunct to non-surgical periodontal treatment and its effects on periodontal clinical features and oxidative stress in patients with Periodontal diseases -type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is poorly understood. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was performed in patients with periodontal diseases associated with T2DM. Initially, 45 subjects who met the selection criteria were included. 19 were assigned to a control group [non-surgical periodontal treatment] and 20 to the experimental group (non-surgical periodontal treatment + 500 mg of magnesium oxide and 50 mg of zinc gluconate for oral supplementation for 30 days) and the data of 6 patients were eliminated. Sociodemographic characteristics, physiological factors, biochemical parameters, and clinical features of periodontal diseases were assessed. RESULTS: In this research a change in periodontal clinical characteristics was observed, which has been associated with disease remission. Additionally, a shift in MDA levels was presented for both groups. Furthermore, the supplementation group showed an increase in antioxidant enzymes when compared to the group that only received NSPT. CONCLUSION: The use of Zinc gluconate and magnesium oxide can serve as a complementary treatment to non-surgical periodontal treatment, that supports the remission of PD as a result of regulation-reduction of oxidative biomarkers and increase in antioxidant enzymes activity. TRIAL REGISTRATION: https://www.isrctn.com ISRCTN 14,092,381. September 13º 2023. Retrospective Registration.

StackedEnC-AOP: prediction of antioxidant proteins using transform evolutionary and sequential features based multi-scale vector with stacked ensemble learning.

BACKGROUND: Antioxidant proteins are involved in several biological processes and can protect DNA and cells from the damage of free radicals. These proteins regulate the body's oxidative stress and perform a significant role in many antioxidant-based drugs. The current invitro-based medications are costly, time-consuming, and unable to efficiently screen and identify the targeted motif of antioxidant proteins. METHODS: In this model, we proposed an accurate prediction method to discriminate antioxidant proteins namely StackedEnC-AOP. The training sequences are formulation encoded via incorporating a discrete wavelet transform (DWT) into the evolutionary matrix to decompose the PSSM-based images via two levels of DWT to form a Pseudo position-specific scoring matrix (PsePSSM-DWT) based embedded vector. Additionally, the Evolutionary difference formula and composite physiochemical properties methods are also employed to collect the structural and sequential descriptors. Then the combined vector of sequential features, evolutionary descriptors, and physiochemical properties is produced to cover the flaws of individual encoding schemes. To reduce the computational cost of the combined features vector, the optimal features are chosen using Minimum redundancy and maximum relevance (mRMR). The optimal feature vector is trained using a stacking-based ensemble meta-model. RESULTS: Our developed StackedEnC-AOP method reported a prediction accuracy of 98.40% and an AUC of 0.99 via training sequences. To evaluate model validation, the StackedEnC-AOP training model using an independent set achieved an accuracy of 96.92% and an AUC of 0.98. CONCLUSION: Our proposed StackedEnC-AOP strategy performed significantly better than current computational models with a ~ 5% and ~ 3% improved accuracy via training and independent sets, respectively. The efficacy and consistency of our proposed StackedEnC-AOP make it a valuable tool for data scientists and can execute a key role in research academia and drug design.

Physiological and antioxidant responses of synthetic hexaploid wheat germplasm under drought.

BACKGROUND: As a result of the world population and climate change impact increases (especially in arid environments), there is a critical need for high-yield, drought-tolerant wheat. Synthetic hexaploid wheat derived lines (SHW-DL), were created artificially by crossing different durum wheat cultivars (AABB) with accessions of Aegilops tauschii (DD), a beneficial source of new genes for common bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L). Here, we studied the response of a panel of 91 SHW-DL for drought tolerance based on physiological, antioxidant enzyme activities, and drought tolerance indices. RESULTS: A wide range of variation and high values of heritability observed for grain yield, physiological and antioxidant traits indicating that the SHW-DL panel constitutes a valuable gene source for drought tolerance improvement of wheat. Despite decreases in grain yield (YLD), leaf area index (LAI), and relative water content (RWC) an increase in the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) was observed. Moreover, drought streass increased the antioxidant enzyme activities of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD), and also photosynthetic pigments, proline (Pro), and MDA content. With higher values of grain yield, physiological and biochemical traits such as photosynthetic pigments, and RWC, and lower content of MDA, and peroxidase (H2O2) activity, SHW-DL performed better compared to common wheat lines under water stress conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Different responses to water stress within the germplasm and between synthetic and common wheat suggest that selection for adaptive and suitable genotypes is possible for drought tolerance in synthetic wheat germplasm. Genotypes 54, 98, 102, 105, 122, 124, 143, 159, 196, and 198 were identified to be directly used in breeding programs or indirectly by crossing them with other wheat germplasm collections.

Investigation of the phytochemical profiling and antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and MDA-MB-231 cell line antiproliferative potentials of extracts from Ephedra alata Decne.

Ephedra is one of the many medicinal herbs that have been used as folk/traditional medicine in Jordan and other countries to cure various illnesses. Plants of this genus are well known for their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. In this study, three different solvents were used to obtain Ephedra extracts. When evaluated, the Ephedra alata Decne ethanolic extract reportedly had the greatest levels of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total flavonoid compounds (TFC). The aqueous extracts displayed the highest antioxidant activity in the DPPH and ABTS assays, demonstrating their considerable capacity to neutralize free radicals. However, when evaluated using the FRAP method, the acetone extracts showed the strongest antioxidant activity, indicating their high reducing power. LC-MS/MS, a potent method of analysis that combines the liquid chromatographic separation properties with mass spectrometry detection and identification capabilities, was used in this study to detect and measure phytochemical content of a total of 24 phenolic compounds and 16 terpene compounds present in the extracts of Ephedra alata Decne. Various concentrations of these chemicals were found in these extracts. The extracts' inhibitory effects on albumin denaturation and alpha-amylase activity were also assessed; the findings demonstrated the potentials of these extracts as anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic medicines, with the acetone extract having the lowest IC50 values in the concomitant tests (306.45 µg/ml and 851.23 µg/ml, respectively). Furthermore, the lowest IC50 value (of 364.59 ± 0.45 µg/ml) for the 80% ethanol extract demonstrated that it has the strongest antiproliferative impact regarding the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. This finding indicates that this particular extract can be potentially used to treat cancer.

Exploring the biological activities and potential therapeutic applications of agro-industrial waste products through non-clinical studies: A systematic review.

The latent potential of active ingredients derived from agro-industrial waste remains largely untapped and offers a wealth of unexplored resources. While these types of materials have applications in various fields, their ability to benefit human health needs to be further explored and investigated. This systematic review was conducted to systematically evaluate non-clinical studies that have investigated the biological effects of fractions, extracts and bioactive compounds from agro-industrial wastes and their potential therapeutic applications. Articles were selected via PubMed, Embase and Medline using the descriptors (by-products[title/abstract]) AND (agro-industrial[title/abstract]). The systematic review was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (Prospero) under the number CRD42024491021. After a detailed analysis based on inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 38 articles were used for data extraction and discussion of the results. Information was found from in vitro and in vivo experiments investigating a variety of residues from the agro-industry. The studies investigated peels, pomace/bagasse, pulp, seeds, aerial parts, cereals/grains and other types of waste. The most studied activities include mainly antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but other activities such as antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antiproliferative, antinociceptive, hypoglycemic, antihyperglycemic and anticoagulant effects have also been described. Finally, the studies included in this review demonstrate the potential of agro-industrial waste and can drive future research with a focus on clinical application.

Agrocybe cylindracea Dietary Fiber Modification: Sodium Hydroxide Treatment Outperforms High-Temperature, Cellulase, and Lactobacillus Fermentation.

Agrocybe cylindracea dietary fiber (ADF) contains 95% water-insoluble dietary fiber, resulting in poor application performance. To address this issue, ADF was modified by four methods (cellulase, sodium hydroxide, high-temperature, and Lactobacillus fermentation) in this paper. By comparing the physicochemical properties, microstructures, monosaccharide compositions, and functional characteristics (antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities in vitro) of all modified ADF samples, the optimal modification method was selected. Results showed that sodium hydroxide treatment was deemed the most effective modification method for ADF, as alkali-treated ADF (ADF-A) revealed a higher oil-holding capacity (2.02 g/g), swelling capacity (8.38 mL/g), cholesterol adsorption (6.79 mg/g), and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (more than 70% at 0.4-0.6 mg/mL) than the other modified samples. The looser microstructure in ADF-A might be attributed to molecular rearrangement and spatial structure disruption, which resulted in smaller molecular sizes and decreased viscosity, hence improving ADF's physicochemical and functional qualities. All these findings indicate the greater application potential of modified ADF products in food and weight-loss industries, providing a comprehensive reference for the industrial application of ADF.

Turmeric-Black Cumin Essential Oils and Their Capacity to Attenuate Free Radicals, Protein Denaturation, and Cancer Proliferation.

Turmeric rhizomes (Curcuma longa) and black cumin seeds (Nigella sativa) are polyherbal ingredients used for the management of cancer and other chronic inflammatory diseases in Nigerian ethnomedicine. Previous studies have shown the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities of the individual plant extracts. However, the two spices have not been biologically potentiated in their combined form. Therefore, this study obtained essential oils (EOs) from the combined spices and evaluated their inhibitory effects on free radicals, protein denaturation, and cancer proliferation. The EOs were extracted by hydro-distillation (HD) and characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In vitro antioxidant assessment was conducted based on DPPH, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO), and ferric ion (Fe3+) radical scavenging assays. The cytotoxicity of the oil against non-tumorigenic (HEK293) and cancerous (HepG2 and HeLa) cell lines was determined following the MTT cell viability assay. An in silico molecular docking analysis of the oil constituents was also performed. Six batches of EOs I-VI were afforded, comprising twenty-two major constituents, with aromatic Ar-turmerone being the most prominent compound. There was a marked improvement in the bioactivity of the oils upon repeated HD and as a combination. The batch VI oil exhibited the best activity, with a cytotoxicity (CC50) of 10.16 ± 1.69 µg/100 µL against the HepG2 cell line, which was comparable to 5-fluorouracil (standard, CC50 = 8.59 ± 1.33 µg/100 µL). In silico molecular docking suggested δ-curcumene, Ar-curcumene, Ar-turmerol, and Ar-turmerone among the promising compounds based on their high binding energy scores with NOX2, NF-κB, and mdm2 proteins. In conclusion, the oils from the turmeric-black cumin combined possess a considerable inhibition ability against free radicals, protein denaturation, and cancer proliferation. This study's findings further underscore the effectiveness of turmeric-black cumin as a polyherbal medicinal ingredient.

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities of Essential Oils from Leaves and Stems of Aeschynomene indica L.

The objective of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and evaluate the biological capabilities of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from leaves and stems of wild Aeschynomene indica L. plants by the hydrodistillation method. By using GC-FID/MS, fifty-six and fifty-five compounds, representing 95.1 and 97.6% of the essential oils in the leaves and stems, respectively, were characterized. The predominant constituents of A. indica EOs were (E)-caryophyllene, linalool, viridiflorol, phytol, hexadecanoic acid, trans-verbenol, and α-guaiene. The antibacterial and synergistic activities of the EOs were assessed by microdilution and checkerboard assays. The results revealed a potent inhibition and bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with MICs of 0.312-0.625 mg/mL. When combined with traditional antibiotics, the essential oils of A. indica possessed excellent synergistic effects against all tested bacteria. Additionally, the EOs of A. indica leaves showed higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.11 ± 0.01 µg/mL) compared to the stem oil (IC50 = 0.19 ± 0.01 µg/mL) using the ABTS radical scavenging assay. The in vitro cytotoxicity of EOs against human cancer cell lines HepG2, MCF-7, A-549, and HCT-116 was examined, and MTT assays showed that the EOs possessed a significant cytotoxic potential against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with IC50 values of 10.04 ± 1.82 and 15.89 ± 1.66 µg/mL, and a moderate cytotoxic activity against other tested cells. In conclusion, the A. indica EOs could be considered a potential source of pharmacologically active compounds.

Enrichment of Fruit Peels' Nutritional Value by Solid-State Fermentation with Aspergillus ibericus and Rhizopus oryzae.

The fruit processing industry is responsible for disposing of huge amounts of byproducts, especially fruit peels (FPs), which are often discarded in landfills. Using FPs in biotechnological processes contributes to a circular economy, reducing the environmental burden of FPs and increasing the revenue of the fruit processing industry. This study was focused on upgrading the nutritional value of orange (OPs) and banana (BPs) peels by solid-state fermentation (SSF) with filamentous fungi. SSF factors (moisture, fermentation time, inoculum size, ammonium sulfate (AS), and corn steep liquor (CSL)) and fungi species (Aspergillus ibericus and Rhizopus oryzae) were studied by a variable screening Plackett-Burman design. Both fungi grew on untreated FPs, increasing their protein content and antioxidant activity. Moisture, AS, and CSL were further studied by a Box-Behnken design with A. ibericus. Fermented OPs at 70% moisture and 0.005 g/g AS increased their protein content by 200%, whereas BPs at 70% moisture and 0.005 g/g CSL increased by 123%. Fermented peels were enriched in protein, fiber, and minerals, with a low content of carbohydrates and soluble sugars. Fermented OPs and BPs showed higher antioxidant activity than unfermented peels. The SSF of these FPs is an innovative approach that contributes to obtaining rich nutrient-fermented peels for food.

Development of Delivery Systems with Prebiotic and Neuroprotective Potential of Industrial-Grade Cannabis sativa L.

This study delves into the transformative effects of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) cannabis extracts and prebiotic substances (dextran, inulin, trehalose) on gut bacteria, coupled with a focus on neuroprotection. Extracts derived from the Bialobrzeska variety of Cannabis sativa, utilising supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), resulted in notable cannabinoid concentrations (cannabidiol (CBD): 6.675 ± 0.166; tetrahydrocannabinol (THC): 0.180 ± 0.006; cannabigerol (CBG): 0.434 ± 0.014; cannabichromene (CBC): 0.490 ± 0.017; cannabinol (CBN): 1.696 ± 0.047 mg/gD). The assessment encompassed antioxidant activity via four in vitro assays and neuroprotective effects against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). The extract boasting the highest cannabinoid content exhibited remarkable antioxidant potential and significant inhibitory activity against both enzymes. Further investigation into prebiotic deliveries revealed their proficiency in fostering the growth of beneficial gut bacteria while maintaining antioxidant and neuroprotective functionalities. This study sheds light on the active compounds present in the Bialobrzeska variety, showcasing their therapeutic potential within prebiotic systems. Notably, the antioxidant, neuroprotective, and prebiotic properties observed underscore the promising therapeutic applications of these extracts. The results offer valuable insights for potential interventions in antioxidant, neuroprotective, and prebiotic domains. In addition, subsequent analyses of cannabinoid concentrations post-cultivation revealed nuanced changes, emphasising the need for further exploration into the dynamic interactions between cannabinoids and the gut microbiota.

Optimization of Phenolic Compounds Extraction from Aerial Parts of Fabiana punensis S. C. Arroyo by Ultrasound- and Microwave-Assisted Extraction.

Fabiana punensis S. C. Arroyo is a subshrub or shrub that is indigenous to the arid and semiarid region of northern Argentina and is known to possess several medicinal properties. The objective of this study was to optimize the extraction conditions so as to maximize the yield of bioactive total phenolic compound (TPC) and flavonoids (F) of F. punensis' aerial parts by using non-conventional extraction methods, namely ultrasound-assisted extraction, UAE, and microwave-assisted extraction, MAE, and to compare the biological activities and toxicity of optimized extracts vs. conventional extracts, i.e., those gained by maceration. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to apply factorial designs to optimize the parameters of extraction: solid-to-liquid ratio, extraction time, ultrasound amplitude, and microwave power. The experimental values for TPC and F and antioxidant activity under the optimal extraction conditions were not significantly different from the predicted values, demonstrating the accuracy of the mathematical models. Similar HPLC-DAD patterns were found between conventional and UAE- and MAE-optimized extracts. The main constituents of the extracts correspond to phenolic compounds (flavonoids and phenolic acids) and apigenin was identified. All extracts showed high scavenger capacity on ABTS•+, O2•- and H2O2, enabling the inhibition of the pro-inflammatory enzymes xanthine oxidase (XO) and lipoxygenase (LOX). They also showed an antimutagenic effect in Salmonella Typhimurium assay and cytotoxic/anti-proliferative activity on human melanoma cells (SKMEL-28). Toxicological evaluation indicates its safety. The results of this work are important in the development of efficient and sustainable methods for obtaining bioactive compounds from F. punensis for the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, and DNA damage.

Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Activity of Cornus mas L. and Crataegus monogyna Fruit Extracts.

The present study evaluated three green extraction methods, accelerated solvent extraction (ASE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and laser irradiation extraction (LE), for the polyphenolic compounds and vitamin C extraction of Cornus mas L. and Crataegus monogyna fruit extracts. The polyphenols and vitamin C of extracts were quantified using HPLC-DAD, and the total phenolic content, flavonoid content, antioxidant activity (DPPH and reducing power), and antidiabetic activity were also studied. The antidiabetic activity was examined by the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and in vitro on a beta TC cell line (ß-TC-6). The results showed significant differentiation in the extraction yield between the methods used, with the ASE and LE presenting the highest values. The C. mas fruit extract obtained by ASE exhibited the best antioxidant activity, reaching an IC50 value of 31.82 ± 0.10 µg/mL in the DPPH assay and 33.95 ± 0.20 µg/mL in the reducing power assay. The C. mas fruit extracts obtained by ASE and LE also have the highest inhibitory activity on enzymes associated with metabolic disorders: α-amylase (IC50 = 0.44 ± 0.02 µg/mL for the extract obtained by ASE, and 0.11 ± 0.01 µg/mL for the extract obtained by LE at combined wavelengths of 1270 + 1550 nm) and α-glucosidase (IC50 of 77.1 ± 3.1 µg/mL for the extract obtained by ASE, and 98.2 ± 4.7 µg/mL for the extract obtained by LE at combined wavelengths of 1270 + 1550 nm). The evaluation of in vitro antidiabetic activity demonstrated that the treatment with C. mas and C. monogyna fruit extracts obtained using ASE stimulated the insulin secretion of ß-TC-6 cells, both under normal conditions and hyperglycemic conditions, as well. All results suggest that C. mas and C. monogyna fruit extracts are good sources of bioactive molecules with antioxidant and antidiabetic activity.

Assessment of Selected Chemical and Morphological Properties of Lonicera var. kamtschatica and Lonicera var. emphyllocalyx Treated with Gaseous Ozone.

Lonicera caerulea L. fruits are a rich source of vitamins, organic acids, and phenolic compounds, which are characterised by their health-promoting properties. The content of bioactive compounds in this fruit may vary depending on the cultivar and the harvest date. This study analysed the effect of applying 5 ppm gaseous ozone for 1, 3, and 5 min on the chemical properties of L. kamtschatica varieties and newly created clones of L. emphyllocalyx for three years of cultivation. The fruits harvested from L. emphyllocalyx, depending on the year of harvest, had significantly larger size and weight compared to L. kamtschatica. On average, the acidity of the L. emphyllocalyx clones was 6% higher than other tested varieties. The average content of ascorbic acid was highest in L. emphyllocalyx clone '21-17'-57.80 mg·100 g-1; the year of harvest will significantly affect the content of vitamin C, reaching the highest level in 2022-53.92 mg·100 g-1. The total content of polyphenols was significantly dependent on the year of cultivation; reaching, on average, 54.8% more in 2022 compared to the rest of the years. The total antioxidant value using the FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS methods varied depending on the variety; exposure to ozone significantly increased the antioxidant value in each case. On the basis of the study, both botanical varieties can be used in food processing. Gaseous ozone exposure can significantly influence chemical composition, increasing the health-promoting value of fruit.

Halogenated Analogs to Natural A-Type Proanthocyanidins: Evaluation of Their Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Properties and Possible Application in Food Industries.

A description of new antimicrobial agents suitable for food industries has become necessary, and natural compounds are being considered as promising sources of new active derivatives to be used with the aim of improving food safety. We have previously described desirable antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities against foodborne bacteria by analogs to A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs) with a nitro (NO2) group at carbon 6 of the A-ring. We report herein the synthesis of eight additional analogs with chloro and bromo atoms at the A-ring and the systematic study of their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities in order to evaluate their possible application as biocides or food preservatives, as well as to elucidate new structure-activity relationships. The results from this study show that halogenated analogs to natural A-type proanthocyanidins rise above the nitro derivatives previously reported in their antimicrobial activities. Gram-positive bacteria are the most sensitive to all the analogs and combinations assayed, showing MICs from 10 to 50 µg/mL in most cases, as well as reductions in biofilm formation and the disruption of preformed biofilms of at least 75%. Some structure-activity relationships previously described have also been corroborated. Analogs with just one OH group at the B-ring show better antimicrobial activities than those with two OH groups, and those analogs with two or three OH groups in the whole structure are more active than those with four OH groups. In addition, the analogs with two OH groups at the B-ring and chloro at the A-ring are the most effective when antibiofilm activities are studied, especially at low concentrations.

Impact of Processing on the Phenolic Content and Antioxidant Activity of Sorghum bicolor L. Moench.

Sorghum, a cereal grain rich in nutrients, is a major source of phenolic compounds that can be altered by different processes, thereby modulating their phenolic content and antioxidant properties. Previous studies have characterised phenolic compounds from pigmented and non-pigmented varieties. However, the impact of processing via the cooking and fermentation of these varieties remains unknown. Wholegrain flour samples of Liberty (WhiteLi1 and WhiteLi2), Bazley (RedBa1 and RedBa2), Buster (RedBu1 and RedBu2), Shawaya black (BlackSb), and Shawaya short black 1 (BlackSs) were cooked, fermented, or both then extracted using acidified acetone. The polyphenol profiles were analysed using a UHPLC-Online ABTS and QTOF LC-MS system. The results demonstrated that combining the fermentation and cooking of the BlackSs and BlackSb varieties led to a significant increase (p < 0.05) in total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities, as determined through DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays. The 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity of WhiteLi1, BlackSb, RedBu2, and BlackSs increased by 46%, 32%, 25%, and 10%, respectively, post fermentation and cooking. Conversely, fermentation only or cooking generally resulted in lower phenolic content and antioxidant levels than when samples were fully processed compared to raw. Notably, most of the detected antioxidant peaks (53 phenolic compounds) were only detected in fermented and cooked black and red pericarp varieties. The phenolic compounds with the highest antioxidant activities in pigmented sorghum included 3-aminobenzoic acid, 4-acetylburtyic acid, malic acid, caffeic acid, and luteolin derivative. Furthermore, the growing location of Bellata, NSW, showed more detectable phenolic compounds following processing compared to Croppa Creek, NSW. This study demonstrates that sorghum processing releases previously inaccessible polyphenols, making them available for human consumption and potentially providing added health-promoting properties.

Exploring the Potential of Oleanolic Acid Dimers-Cytostatic and Antioxidant Activities, Molecular Docking, and ADMETox Profile.

The presented work aimed to explore the potential of oleanolic acid dimers (OADs): their cytostatic and antioxidant activities, molecular docking, pharmacokinetics, and ADMETox profile. The cytostatic properties of oleanolic acid (1) and its 14 synthesised dimers (2a-2n) were evaluated against 10 tumour types and expressed as IC50 values. Molecular docking was performed with the CB-Dock2 server. Antioxidant properties were evaluated with the CUPRAC method. ADMETox properties were evaluated with the ADMETlab Manual (2.0) database. The results indicate that the obtained OADs can be effective cytostatic agents, for which the IC50 not exceeded 10.00 for many tested cancer cell lines. All OADs were much more active against all cell lines than the mother compound (1). All dimers can inhibit the interaction between the 1MP8 protein and cellular proteins with the best results for compounds 2f and 2g with unsaturated bonds within the linker. An additional advantage of the tested OADs was a high level of antioxidant activity, with Trolox equivalent for OADs 2c, 2d, 2g-2j, 2l, and 2m of approximately 0.04 mg/mL, and beneficial pharmacokinetics and ADMETox properties. The differences in the DPPH and CUPRAC assay results obtained for OADs may indicate that these compounds may be effective antioxidants against different radicals.

Antioxidant Properties of Green Plants with Different Vitamin K Contents.

Vitamin K, as a natural protector of our blood, bones, kidneys, and brain, is essential for human health. It is also considered an effective anti-aging agent with comprehensive biological effects, including antifungal, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and even antioxidant properties. Of these, the least is known about the antioxidant properties of natural vitamin K. To fill this gap, this study compared the antioxidant properties of extracts obtained from commonly consumed green plants with different vitamin K contents with the activity of vitamin K standard solutions at concentrations corresponding to the vitamin K contents in the extracts. Various measurement methods were used in the research (i.e., DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC, and the ß-carotene bleaching test). Among the tested methods, the ß-carotene bleaching test is the most sensitive in the assessment of this unusual compound. In light of the data presented, the antioxidant response of vitamin K alone is dose-dependent. However, in extracts, the activity of this compound is modulated by other constituents present in them. As a result, the activity does not always correlate with vitamin K content. The presented data supplement the knowledge about the antioxidant properties with the contribution resulting from the presence of vitamin K in green plant extracts.

Green Approaches for the Extraction of Banana Peel Phenolics Using Deep Eutectic Solvents.

Banana peels, comprising about 35% of the fruit's weight, are often discarded, posing environmental and economic issues. This research focuses on recycling banana peel waste by optimizing advanced extraction techniques, specifically microwave-assisted (MAE) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), for the isolation of phenolic compounds. A choline chloride-based deep eutectic solvent (DES) with glycerol in a 1:3 ratio with a water content of 30% (w/w) was compared to 30% ethanol. Parameters, including sample-to-solvent ratio (SSR), extraction time, and temperature for MAE or amplitude for UAE, were varied. Extracts were analyzed for hydroxycinnamic acid (HCA) and flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity using FRAP and ABTS assays. DES outperformed ethanol, with HCA content ranging from 180.80 to 765.92 mg/100 g and flavonoid content from 96.70 to 531.08 mg/100 g, accompanied by higher antioxidant activity. Optimal MAE conditions with DES were an SSR of 1:50, a temperature of 60 °C, and a time of 10 min, whereas an SSR of 1:60, time of 5 min, and 75% amplitude were optimal for UAE. The polyphenolic profile of optimized extracts comprised 19 individual compounds belonging to the class of flavonols, flavan-3-ols, and phenolic acids. This study concluded that DESs, with their superior extraction efficiency and environmental benefits, are promising solvents for the extraction of high-value bioactive compounds from banana peels and offer significant potential for the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Synthesis and Evaluation of Chloride-Substituted Ramalin Derivatives for Alzheimer's Disease Treatment.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by the accumulation of amyloid-beta plaques and hyperphosphorylated tau proteins, leading to cognitive decline and neuronal death. However, despite extensive research, there are still no effective treatments for this condition. In this study, a series of chloride-substituted Ramalin derivatives is synthesized to optimize their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and their potential to target key pathological features of Alzheimer's disease. The effect of the chloride position on these properties is investigated, specifically examining the potential of these derivatives to inhibit tau aggregation and beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE-1) activity. Our findings demonstrate that several derivatives, particularly RA-3Cl, RA-4Cl, RA-26Cl, RA-34Cl, and RA-35Cl, significantly inhibit tau aggregation with inhibition rates of approximately 50%. For BACE-1 inhibition, Ramalin and RA-4Cl also significantly decrease BACE-1 expression in N2a cells by 40% and 38%, respectively, while RA-23Cl and RA-24Cl showed inhibition rates of 30% and 35% in SH-SY5Y cells. These results suggest that chloride-substituted Ramalin derivatives possess promising multifunctional properties for AD treatment, warranting further investigation and optimization for clinical applications.

Chitosan/Hyaluronate Complex-Coated Electrospun Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) Materials Containing Extracts from Melissa officinalis and/or Hypericum perforatum with Various Biological Activities: Antioxidant, Antibacterial and In Vitro Anticancer Effects.

The present study aimed to fabricate innovative fibrous materials with various biological activities from poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), sodium hyaluronate (HA), chitosan (Ch), Melissa officinalis (MO), Hypericum perforatum (HP) extract, or a combination of both extracts. Electrospinning or electrospinning followed by dip coating and the subsequent formation of a polyelectrolyte complex were the methods used to prepare these materials. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) were applied for investigating the morphology of materials, their thermal characteristics, and their surface chemical composition. The composition and design of the mats had an influence on the in vitro release behavior of the main bioactive compounds present in the MO and HP extracts incorporated in the materials. It was found that as-created materials comprising a combination of both extracts and a Ch/HA complex exerted higher antioxidant activity than that of (non-)coated MO-containing mats and Ch/HA-coated mats containing HP. The novel materials manifested antibacterial efficacy towards the pathogenic bacteria S. aureus and E. coli, as evidenced by the performed microbiological screening. Furthermore, the mats possessed a great growth inhibitory effect on HeLa cancer cells but had a less pronounced effect on the growth of normal mouse BALB/3T3 fibroblasts. The loading of both extracts in the mats and the formation of coating led to the enhancement of the in vitro anticancer and antibacterial activities of the materials. Thus, the novel materials have potential for use in local cancer therapy as well as for use as wound dressings.