Curcumin Prevents Renal Damage of l-NAME Induced Hypertension in by Reducing MMP-2 and MMP-9.

In the present study, we investigated whether curcumin administration would interfere with the main renal features of l-NAME-induced hypertension model. For this purpose, we conducted both in vitro and in vivo experiments to evaluate renal indicators of inflammation, oxidative stress, and metalloproteinases (MMPs) expression/activity. Hypertension was induced by l-NAME (70 mg/kg/day), and Wistar rats from both control and hypertensive groups were treated with curcumin (50 or 100 mg/kg/day; gavage) or vehicle for 14 days. Blood and kidneys were collected to determine serum creatinine levels, histological alterations, oxidative stress, MMPs expression and activity, and ED1 expression. l-NAME increased blood pressure, but both doses of curcumin treatment reduced these values. l-NAME treatment increased creatinine levels, glomeruli area, Bowman's space, kidney MMP-2 activity, as well as MMP-9 and ED1 expression, and reduced the number of glomeruli. Curcumin treatment prevented the increase in creatinine levels, MMP-2 activity, and reduced MMP-2, MMP-9, ED1, and superoxide levels, as well as increased superoxide dismutase activity and partially prevented glomeruli alterations. Moreover, curcumin directly inhibited MMP-2 activity in vitro. Thus, our main findings demonstrate that curcumin reduced l-NAME-induced hypertension and renal glomerular alterations, inhibited MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression/activity, and reduced oxidative stress and inflammatory processes, which may indirectly impact hypertension-induced renal outcomes.

Multifunctional composite film of curcumin Pickering emulsion stabilized by lignocellulose nanofibrils isolated from bamboo shoot shells for monitoring shrimp freshness.

Concerns about food safety and environmental impact from chemical surfactants have prompted interest in natural lignocellulosic materials as alternatives. In this study, we combined hydrated deep eutectic solvent (DES) pretreatment with ultrasound treatment to prepare lignocellulosic nanofibrils (LCNF) from bamboo shoot shells with appropriate surface properties for stabilizing Pickering emulsions. The pretreatment intensity effectively modulated the surface characteristics of LCNF, achieving desirable wettability through lignin retention and in-situ esterification. The resulting LCNF/curcumin Pickering emulsion (CPE) demonstrated curcumin protection and pH-responsive color changes, while the ensuing CPE/PVA composite film exhibited ultraviolet shielding, mechanical strength, oxygen barrier, and antioxidant properties. Furthermore, the CPE/PVA film showed promise as a real-time indicator for monitoring shrimp freshness, maintaining sensitivity to spoilage even after six months of storage. These findings advance the advancement of green LCNF technologies, providing eco-friendly solutions for valorizing bamboo shoot shells and enhancing the application of LCNF in Pickering emulsions.

Orally biomimetic metal-phenolic nanozyme with quadruple safeguards for intestinal homeostasis to ameliorate ulcerative colitis.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is defined by persistent inflammatory processes within the gastrointestinal tract of uncertain etiology. Current therapeutic approaches are limited in their ability to address oxidative stress, inflammation, barrier function restoration, and modulation of gut microbiota in a coordinated manner to maintain intestinal homeostasis. RESULTS: This study involves the construction of a metal-phenolic nanozyme (Cur-Fe) through a ferric ion-mediated oxidative coupling of curcumin. Cur-Fe nanozyme exhibits superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like and •OH scavenging activities, demonstrating significant anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties for maintaining intracellular redox balance in vitro. Drawing inspiration from Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN), a biomimetic Cur-Fe nanozyme (CF@EM) is subsequently developed by integrating Cur-Fe into the EcN membrane (EM) to improve the in vivo targeting ability and therapeutic effectiveness of the Cur-Fe nanozyme. When orally administered, CF@EM demonstrates a strong ability to colonize the inflamed colon and restore intestinal redox balance and barrier function in DSS-induced colitis models. Importantly, CF@EM influences the gut microbiome towards a beneficial state by enhancing bacterial diversity and shifting the compositional structure toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. Furthermore, analysis of intestinal microbial metabolites supports the notion that the therapeutic efficacy of CF@EM is closely associated with bile acid metabolism. CONCLUSION: Inspired by gut microbes, we have successfully synthesized a biomimetic Cur-Fe nanozyme with the ability to inhibit inflammation and restore intestinal homeostasis. Collectively, without appreciable systemic toxicity, this work provides an unprecedented opportunity for targeted oral nanomedicine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Nitrogen-doped MoS2 QDs as fluorescent probes for sensitive detection of curcumin and cell imaging.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin has been used in traditional medicine because of its pharmacological activity, including antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and anticarcinogenic properties. Therefore, sensitive and selective monitoring of curcumin is highly demand for practical application. RESULTS: In this study, we describe the construction of a fluorescence method for curcumin assay based on nitrogen-doped MoS2 quantum dots (N-MoS2 QDs). The N-MoS2 QDs are constructed by a solvothermal method using sodium molybdate and Cys as precursors. With the addition of curcumin, the bright blue fluorescence of N-MoS2 QDs is quenched by the inner filter effect (IFE). The QDs emitted bright blue fluorescence and could be quenched by the addition of curcumin via IFE. The dynamic range is the range of 0.1-10 µM for curcumin detection, with a detection limit of 59 nM. N-MoS2 QDs were applied for curcumin assay in real samples with good recovery. In addition, the N-MoS2 QDs exhibited relative low cytotoxicity and could be applied for fluorescence-based imaging in biological samples. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study indicates that the sensor possesses good selectivity to monitor curcumin in water samples, human urine samples, ginger powder samples, mustard samples, and curry samples with satisfactory recoveries. The N-MoS2 QDs possess less cytotoxicity with excellent biocompatibility and were applied for in vitro cell imaging.

Highly selective detection of breast cancer cells mediated by multi-aptamer and dye-loaded mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

Multi-aptamer recognition of breast cancer cells (MCF-7) is utilized to achieve high specificity. The method comprises two parts, aptamer-functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) loaded with dissimilar dyes (thymolphthalein or curcumin) as signal transducers and aptamer-modified magnetic beads (MBs) as capture agents, which worked together to detect MCF-7 cells sensitively and accurately. The results indicated that the aptasensor has a linear detection range of 100 to 4000 cells and a detection threshold of 10 cells/mL. The method had been successfully employed to detect breast cancer cells in real blood samples to distinguish between breast cancer patients and healthy individuals. In conclusion, the development of the multi-aptamer-based colorimetric sensor offered a novel method for the highly selective detection of MCF-7 cells, contributing to the accurate identification of breast cancer.

A crystal engineering approach for rational design of curcumin crystals for Pickering stabilization of emulsions.

Emulsions stabilized via Pickering particles are becoming more and more popular due to their high stability and biocompatibility. Hence, developing new ways to produce effective Pickering particles is essential. In this work, we present a crystal engineering approach to obtain precise control over particle properties such as size, shape, and crystal structure, which may affect wettability and surface chemistry. A highly reproducible synthesis method via anti-solvent crystallization was developed to produce sub-micron sized curcumin crystals of the metastable form III, to be used as Pickering stabilizers. The produced crystals presented a clear hydrophobic nature, which was demonstrated by their preference to stabilize water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions. A comprehensive experimental and computational characterization of curcumin crystals was performed to rationalize their hydrophobic nature. Analytical techniques including Raman spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), Solid-State Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (SSNMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), confocal fluorescence microscopy and contact angle measurements were used to characterize curcumin particles in terms of shape, size and interfacial activity. The attachment energy model was instead applied to study relevant surface features of curcumin crystals, such as topology and facet-specific surface chemistry. This work contributes to the understanding of the effect of crystal properties on the mechanism of Pickering stabilization, and paves the way for the formulation of innovative products in fields ranging from pharmaceuticals to food science.

Curcumin alleviates heatstroke-induced liver injury in dry-heat environments by inhibiting the expression of NF-κB, iNOS, and ICAM-1 in rats.

we aimed to monitor liver injury in rat model during heat stress and heatstroke in dry-heat environment and investigate the effects of curcumin on heatstroke-induced liver injury and the underlying mechanisms. Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal saline (NS), and 50 (50-cur), 100 (100-cur), and 200 mg/kg curcumin (200-cur) groups. They were administered the indicated doses of curcumin by gavage once daily for 7 days. On day 8, the rats were transferred to a simulated climate cabin, At 0, 50, 100, and 150 min, the core temperature (Tc) was measured respectively. After sacrificing the rats, tissue samples were collected, measure histology indices, serum enzymes, lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), cytokines, nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1). The Tc increased with time in all groups. Curcumin alleviation of symptoms and improvement in pathological scores. The level of enzymes, LPS, and cytokines increased during heatstroke in the NS group, but curcumin decreased the levels of these indicators. The differences of the indicators between NS and 200-cur groups at 150 min were significant (P < 0.05). The expression of NF-κB p65, iNOS, and ICAM-1 was upregulated in the NS group at 150 min, but their expression was relatively lower in the curcumin groups (P < 0.05). Thus, our findings indicate acute liver injury during heat stress and heatstroke. The mechanism involves cascade-amplification inflammatory response induced by the gut endotoxin. Furthermore, curcumin alleviated heatstroke-induced liver injury in a dose-dependent manner by downregulating NF-κB, iNOS, and ICAM-1.

Curcumin alleviates osteoarthritis in mice by suppressing osteoclastogenesis in subchondral bone via inhibiting NF-κB/JNK signaling pathway.

This study explored the mechanism of curcumin (CUR) suppressing osteoclastogenesis and evaluated its effects on osteoarthritis (OA) mouse. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were isolated as osteoclast precursors. In the presence or absence of CUR, cell proliferation was detected by CCK-8, osteoclastogenesis was detected by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) staining, F-actin rings formation was detected by immunofluorescence, bone resorption was detected by bone slices, IκBα, nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways were detected using western blot, osteoclastogenesis-related gens were measured using quantitative polymerase chain reaction. A knee OA mouse model was designed by destabilizing the medial meniscus (DMM). Thirty-six male mice were divided into sham+vehicle, OA+vehicle, and OA+CUR groups. Mice were administered with or without CUR at 25 mg/kg/d from the first post-operative day until sacrifice. After 4 and 8 weeks of OA induction, micro-computed tomography was performed to analyze microstructure changes in subchondral bone, hematoxylin and eosin staining was performed to calculate the thickness of the calcified and hyaline cartilage layers, toluidine blue O staining was performed to assess the degenerated cartilage, TRAP-stained osteoclasts were counted, and NF-κB, phosphorylated Jun N-terminal Kinases (p-JNK), and receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL) were detected using immunohistochemistry. CUR suppressed osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption without cytotoxicity. CUR restrained RANKL-induced activation of NF-κB, p-JNK and up-regulation of osteoclastogenesis-related genes. CUR delayed cartilage degeneration by suppressing osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in early OA. The mechanism of CUR inhibiting osteoclastogenesis might be associated with NF-κB/JNK signaling pathway, indicating a novel strategy for OA treatment.

Hybrid Organic-Inorganic Copper and Cobalt Complexes for Antimicrobial Potential Applications.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The naturally occurring phenolic chemical curcumin (CUR), which was derived from the Curcuma longa plant, has a variety of biological actions, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities. Curcumin is known for its restricted bioavailability due to its hydrophobicity, poor intestinal absorption, and quick metabolism. To boost the biological effects of these bioactive molecules, it is necessary to raise both their bioavailability and their solubility in water. Aim: The aim of this study is to synthesize and characterize hybrid organic-inorganic complexes of copper and cobalt, and to evaluate their antimicrobial potential against a range of pathogenic microorganisms. METHODS: The synthesis of metal curcumin complexes (Cu-CUR and Co-CUR) was achieved by mixing curcumin with copper acetate monohydrate. The solid residue was isolated, filtered, and dried in an oven. X-ray diffraction analysis was used to identify the structure and phase of the prepared samples. FTIR spectra were recorded using a Shimadzu 2200 module. The antimicrobial activity of the prepared complexes was evaluated against four bacterial strains and two Candida species. The chemical materials were dissolved in DMSO to a final concentration of 20%, and the plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours. The results showed that the prepared complexes had antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms. RESULTS: The study compared the Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of prepared copper and cobalt complexes to pure curcumin, revealing new, isostructural complexes. The FTIR analysis showed that the Cu-CUR and Co-CUR complexes varied in their inhibitory effect against microorganisms, with Co-CUR being more effective. The results are consistent with previous studies showing the cobalt-curcumin complex was effective against various bacterial genera, with inhibition activity varying depending on the species and strains of microorganisms. CONCLUSION: Copper and cobalt curcumin complexes, synthesized at room temperature, exhibit high crystallinity and antimicrobial activity. Co-CUR, with its superior antibacterial potential, outperforms pure curcumin in inhibiting microbes. Further investigation is needed to understand their interaction mechanisms with bacteria and fungi.

Curcumin Reduces Depression in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Type 2 diabetes and depression co-occur in a bidirectional manner. Curcumin supplements exhibit antidepressant effects that may mitigate depression by modulating neurotransmitters and reducing inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin in improving depression severity in obese type 2 diabetes patients. The study employed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial design with 227 participants. The primary end-point was depression severity assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. Biomarkers were measured at baseline and at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month intervals. The biomarkers assessed were serotonin levels, pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha), antioxidant activities (total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase), and malondialdehyde. After 12 months, the curcumin group exhibited significantly improved depression severity (p = 0.000001). The curcumin group had higher levels of serotonin (p < 0.0001) but lower levels of interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (p < 0.001 for all) than the placebo group. Total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity were elevated in the curcumin group, whereas malondialdehyde levels were greater in the placebo group (p < 0.001 for all). These findings suggest curcumin may have antidepressant effects on obese type 2 diabetes patients.

The Effect of Curcumin on Reducing Atherogenic Risks in Obese Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Curcumin, derived from turmeric root, exhibits notable anti-inflammatory effects. These anti-inflammatory properties might also provide advantages in reducing cardiovascular complications, such as atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of curcumin in reducing the risk of atherogenesis in obese patients with type 2 diabetes. The study employed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial design with 227 participants diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The parameters used to assess atherogenic risk reduction included pulse wave velocity and metabolic profiles, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Measurements were recorded at baseline and at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-month intervals. After 12 months, participants receiving curcumin exhibited a significant reduction in pulse wave velocity (p < 0.001). This group showed significantly reduced levels of cardiometabolic risk biomarkers, including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and small dense low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, all with p values less than 0.001. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were also significantly lower in the curcumin group, with p values less than 0.001. The curcumin intervention significantly reduced pulse wave velocity and improved cardiometabolic risk profiles. These findings suggest that curcumin treatment may effectively reduce atherogenic risks in type 2 diabetes patients with obesity.

Discovery of Curcuminoids as Pancreatic Lipase Inhibitors from Medicine-and-Food Homology Plants.

Researchers are increasingly interested in discovering new pancreatic lipase inhibitors as anti-obesity ingredients. Medicine-and-food homology plants contain a diverse set of natural bioactive compounds with promising development potential. This study screened and identified potent pancreatic lipase inhibitors from 20 commonly consumed medicine-and-food homology plants using affinity ultrafiltration combined with spectroscopy and docking simulations. The results showed that turmeric exhibited the highest pancreatic lipase-inhibitory activity, and curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin were discovered to be potent pancreatic lipase inhibitors within the turmeric extract, with IC50 values of 0.52 ± 0.04, 1.12 ± 0.05, and 3.30 ± 0.08 mg/mL, respectively. In addition, the enzymatic kinetics analyses demonstrated that the inhibition type of the three curcuminoids was the reversible competitive model, and curcumin exhibited a higher binding affinity and greater impact on the secondary structure of pancreatic lipase than found with demethoxycurcumin or bisdemethoxycurcumin, as observed through fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism. Furthermore, docking simulations supported the above experimental findings, and revealed that the three curcuminoids might interact with amino acid residues in the binding pocket of pancreatic lipase through non-covalent actions, such as hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking, thereby inhibiting the pancreatic lipase. Collectively, these findings suggest that the bioactive compounds of turmeric, in particular curcumin, can be promising dietary pancreatic lipase inhibitors for the prevention and management of obesity.

Physiological Features of the Neural Stem Cells Obtained from an Animal Model of Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Their Response to Antioxidant Curcumin.

The most prevalent rare genetic disease affecting young individuals is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which is caused by a loss-of-function mutation in the telomeric gene survival motor neuron (SMN) 1. The high heterogeneity of the SMA pathophysiology is determined by the number of copies of SMN2, a separate centromeric gene that can transcribe for the same protein, although it is expressed at a slower rate. SMA affects motor neurons. However, a variety of different tissues and organs may also be affected depending on the severity of the condition. Novel pharmacological treatments, such as Spinraza, Onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi, and Evrysdi, are considered to be disease modifiers because their use can change the phenotypes of the patients. Since oxidative stress has been reported in SMA-affected cells, we studied the impact of antioxidant therapy on neural stem cells (NSCs) that have the potential to differentiate into motor neurons. Antioxidants can act through various pathways; for example, some of them exert their function through nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2). We found that curcumin is able to induce positive effects in healthy and SMA-affected NSCs by activating the nuclear translocation of NRF2, which may use a different mechanism than canonical redox regulation through the antioxidant-response elements and the production of antioxidant molecules.

Anti-Cancer Properties of Two Intravenously Administrable Curcumin Formulations as Evaluated in the 3D Patient-Derived Cancer Spheroid Model.

Curcumin (Cur) is a heavily used complementary derived drug from cancer patients. Spheroid samples derived from 82 patients were prepared and treated after 48 h with two Cur formulations (CurA, CurB) in mono- and combination therapy. After 72 h, cell viability and morphology were assessed. The Cur formulations had significant inhibitory effects of -8.47% (p < 0.001), CurA of -10.01% (-50.14-23.11%, p = 0.001) and CurB of -6.30% (-33.50-19.30%, p = 0.006), compared to their solvent controls Polyethylene-glycol, ß-Cyclodextrin (CurA) and Kolliphor-ELP, Citrate (CurB). Cur formulations were more effective in prostate cancer (-19.54%) and less effective in gynecological non-breast cancers (0.30%). CurA showed better responses in samples of patients <40 (-13.81%) and >70 years of age (-17.74%). CurB had stronger effects in metastasized and heavily pretreated tumors. Combinations of Cur formulations and standard therapies were superior in 20/47 samples (42.55%) and inferior in 7/47 (14.89%). CurB stimulated chemo-doublets more strongly than monotherapies (-0.53% vs. -6.51%, p = 0.022) and more effectively than CurA (-6.51% vs. 3.33%, p = 0.005). Combinations of Cur formulations with Artesunate, Resveratrol and vitamin C were superior in 35/70 (50.00%) and inferior in 16/70 (22.86%) of samples. Cur formulations were significantly enhanced by combination with Artesunate (p = 0.020). Cur formulations showed a high variance in their anti-cancer effects, suggesting a need for individual testing before administration.

A smartphone-assisted portable dual-mode immunoassay of gentamicin based on curcumin nanoparticles and carbon dots.

A smartphone-assisted portable dual-mode immunoassay was constructed based on curcumin nanoparticles (CNPs) and carbon dots (CDs) for gentamicin (GEN) detection. CNPs were labeled with goat anti-mouse IgG (Ab2) to create a conjugation that coupled dual signals to concentrations of GEN antigens. CNPs were introduced to pH 7.4 water and showed insignificant color and optical responses. When exposed to the high pH environment, the structure of CNPs changed and color and optical properties were restored. Because of the inner filter effect (IFE) between CNPs and CDs, the fluorescence of CNPs at 550 nm quenched the fluorescence of CDs at 450 nm. Colorimetry and ratiometric fluorescence (F550 nm/F450 nm) dual-mode immunoassay linearly correlated with GEN ranged from 10-4 to 100 µg/mL with a detection limit (LOD) of 8.98 × 10-5 µg/mL and 4.66 × 10-5 µg/mL, respectively. This work supplied a portable, sensitive, and specific platform to detect GEN.

Curcumin nanopreparations: recent advance in preparation and application.

Curcumin is a natural polyphenolic compound extracted from turmeric with antibacterial, antioxidant, antitumor, preventive and therapeutic neurological disorders and a variety of bioactivities, which is widely used in the field of food and medicine. However, the drawbacks of curcumin such as poor aqueous solubility and stability have limited the practical application of curcumin. To overcome these defects and enhance its functional properties, various nanoscale systems (liposomes, polymer nanoparticles, protein nanoparticles, solid lipid nanoparticles, metal nanoparticles, etc) have been extensively employed for curcumin encapsulation and delivery. Despite the rapid development of curcumin nanoformulations, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on their preparation and properties. This review provides an overview of the construction of curcumin nano-delivery systems, mechanisms of action, nanocarrier preparation methods and the applications of curcumin nanocarriers in the food and pharmaceutical fields to provide a theoretical basis and technological support for the efficient bio-utilization, product development and early clinical application of curcumin.

Effect of the presence of berberine/curcumin on the binding of limonin to human serum albumin and antitumor activity in vitro.

The competition among drugs for binding to plasma proteins is regarded as a pharmacokinetic drug interaction. Competition between antitumor agents and other drugs for plasma protein binding can alter the free concentration of the drug, potentially impacting its efficacy and increasing the risk of toxic side effects. Through a range of spectroscopic techniques, this study examined the interaction between limonin and human serum albumin (HSA) in the context of berberine (Ber) and curcumin (Cur) under physiological conditions to clarify the binding mechanisms of binary and ternary systems at the molecular level. As demonstrated by fluorescence quenching experiments, Static quenching was identified as the mechanism of interaction between HSA and limonin. The results of site competition experiments indicated that the binding site between limonin and HSA was site I, a result further supported by molecular docking simulations. Through the use of thermodynamic data calculations, it was determined that limonin forms a stable complex with HSA by establishing hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, three-dimensional (3D) fluorescence spectroscopy, and synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) employed to validate the notion that limonin perturbed the microenvironment of amino acids and induced conformational changes in HSA. What's more, the presence of Ber or Cur was found to have further modified the alterations observed in the interaction between the original HSA-limonin binary system. In vitro cellular experiments showed that interaction with HSA reduced the antitumor activity of limonin. In contrast, adding Ber or Cur increased the inhibition rate of tumor cells. The coexistence of both Ber and Cur significantly diminished limonin's binding affinity to HSA. The current investigation enhances comprehension regarding the binding characteristics and interaction mechanisms involving limonin, Ber, Cur, and HSA. It explores the potential of HSA as a versatile drug carrier and furnishes theoretical underpinnings for co-administrative strategies.

Development and Evaluation of Reconstructed Nanovesicles from Turmeric for Multifaceted Obesity Intervention.

The escalating prevalence of obesity poses significant health challenges due to its direct association with various diseases. Most existing medications, such as appetite suppressants and fat absorption inhibitors, suffer from limited effectiveness and undesirable side effects. Here, inspired by the versatile metabolic effects of turmeric, we developed a naturally derived nanoformulation of "Reconstructed Turmeric-derived Nanovesicles (Rec-tNVs)" for obesity treatment. Employing quantitative nanoflow cytometry, a four-orders-of-magnitude increase in curcumin content (∼108 molecules per particle) was identified in individual Rec-tNVs compared to their ultracentrifugation-isolated counterparts. Rec-tNVs, featuring highly aggregated curcumin arrangements and other coencapsulated bioactive compounds, demonstrated a dose-dependent lipid-lowering effect in mature 3T3-L1 cells by promoting lipolysis, suppressing lipogenesis, inducing adipocyte browning, and triggering apoptosis after internalization via multiple pathways. In vivo experiments revealed that Rec-tNVs alleviated obesity more effectively than free curcumin and achieved weight reductions of 18.68 and 14.56% through intragastric and subcutaneous delivery, respectively, in high-fat-diet mouse models over a four-week treatment period. These effects were attributed to targeted actions on adipose tissues and systemic impacts on metabolism and gut microbiota composition. Overall, this study underscores the multifaceted antiobesity efficacy of Rec-tNVs, and offers a promising paradigm for developing plant-derived nanovesicle-based therapeutics.

Evaluation of the protective effect of Curcuma longa and PPARγ agonist, pioglitazone on paraquat-induced lung injury in rats.

BACKGROUND: The inhalation of paraquat (PQ), one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, can result in lung injury. Curcuma longa (Cl) has long history in traditional and folk medicine for the treatment of a wide range of disorders including respiratory diseases. AIM: The aim of the present work was to evaluate the preventive effect of Cl on inhaled PQ-induced lung injury in rats. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into 8 groups (n = 7), one group exposed to saline (control) and other groups exposed to PQ aerosol. Saline (PQ), Cl extract, (two doses), curcumin (Cu), pioglitazone (Pio), and the combination of Cl-L + Pio and dexamethasone (Dex) were administered during the exposure period to PQ. Total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts, oxidant and antioxidant indicators in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BALF), interleukin (IL)-10, and tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α) levels in the lung tissues, lung histologic lesions score, and air way responsiveness to methacholine were evaluated. RESULTS: WBC counts (Total and differential), malondialdehyde level, tracheal responsiveness (TR), IL-10, TNF-α and histopathological changes of the lung were markedly elevated but total thiol content and the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase were decreased in the BALF in the PQ group. Both doses of Cl, Cu, Pio, Cl-L + Pio, and Dex markedly improved all measured variables in comparison with the PQ group. CONCLUSION: CI, Pio, and Cl-L + Pio improved PQ-induced lung inflammation and oxidative damage comparable with the effects of Dex.

Co-encapsulation of hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactives stabilized in nanostarch-assisted emulsion for inner core gel of coaxial 3D printing.

3D printing technology, especially coaxial 3D mode of multiple-component shaping, has great potential in the manufacture of personalized nutritional foods. However, integrating and stabilizing functional objectives of different natures remains a challenge for 3D customized foods. Here, we used starch nanoparticle (SNP) to assisted soy protein (SPI) emulsion to load hydrophilic and hydrophobic bioactives (anthocyanin, AC, and curcumin, Cur). The addition of SNP significantly improved the storage stability of the emulsion. Xanthan gum (XG) was also added to the SNP/SPI system to enhance its rheology and form an emulsion gel as inner core of coaxial 3D printing. Low field nuclear magnetic resonance and emulsification analyses showed that AC/Cur@SNP/SPI/XG functional inner core had a strong water binding state and good stability. After printing with outer layer, the SNP/SPI coaxial sample had the lowest deviation rate of 0.8 %. Also, SNP/SPI coaxial sample showed higher AC (90.2 %) and Cur (90.8 %) retention compared to pure starch (S), pure SNP, pure SPI, and S/SPI samples as well as SNP/SPI sample printed without outer layer. In summary, this study provides a new perspective for the manufacture of customized products as multifunctional foods, feeds and even potential delivery of drugs.