Encapsulation of antioxidants with colloidal lipid particles for enhancing the photooxidation stability of phytosterol in Pickering emulsions.

In order to prevent the photooxidation of phytosterols, a new type of Pickering emulsion was developed by regulating the oriented distribution of antioxidants in colloidal lipid particles (CLPs) at the oil-water interface. High-melting-point and low-melting-point lipids were tested to modulate their protective effect against phytosterols photooxidation. Results showed that CLPs could stabilize Pickering emulsion and encapsulate antioxidants, providing a dual functional delivery system for phytosterols protection. The Pickering emulsion formed had a particle size of around 350-820 nm, and the crystallization and melting temperatures of tripalmitin particles were approximately 32 °C and 63.8 °C, respectively. The addition of tributyrin or tricaprylin reduced the crystallization and melting temperatures of Pal CLPs and improved the photooxidation emulsion stability. The prepared Pickering emulsion remained stable for a maximum of 12 days under accelerated light-induced oxidation. Among all formulations, the emulsion primarily composed of tripalmitin CLPs, with added tributyrin and resveratrol, exhibited the highest photooxidation stability.

Asperuloside, the bioactive compound in the edible Eucommia ulmoides male flower, delays muscle aging by daf-16 mediated improvement in mitochondrial dysfunction.

Muscle aging is accompanied by a progressive decline in motor performance and mitochondrial function, yet fundamental treatments for this disorder remain sparse. The search for active compounds from natural dietary products that promote muscular health has attracted considerable interest. Although the male flowers of Eucommia ulmoides Oliv., an emerging resource of plant-based food, have healthspan-promoting efficacy, it's still unclear whether they or their main active compounds (iridoids) could improve muscle aging. We compared the effects of three iridoids on motion status during different aging processes in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Additionally, we further investigated the roles and mechanisms of the iridoid-rich floral extract (EUFE) and the most active monomer on nematode age-related muscle hypofunction exacerbated by high fat. We found that EUFE and asperuloside (Asp) significantly improved motility and muscular health and reduced lipid accumulation at appropriate concentrations. Compared to normal mitochondria against muscle disorder, Asp delayed the deterioration of mitochondrial function, morphology, or related metabolism during aging. Meanwhile, Asp regulated the mitochondrial quality control (MQC) network, mainly activating mitophagy, which was associated with increased mRNA and protein expression of lgg-1 and dct-1. Mechanistically, Asp promoted the expression and nuclear localization of the DAF-16 protein, an upstream regulator of the above two autophagy-related genes. The defective mutant and RNA interference further suggested that daf-16 mediated the ameliorative effects of Asp on muscle aging and mitochondrial dysfunction. These results provide potential evidence for the preventive application and functional food development of E. ulmoides male flowers and asperuloside against muscle aging.

Acteoside palliates d-galactose induced cognitive impairment by regulating intestinal homeostasis.

Acteoside, an important phenylethanol glycoside, is the main active component in Osmanthus fragrans flower. Our previous study found that acteoside showed high antiaging effect but its absorption rate was low. We speculated acteoside palliated aging-related cognitive impairment before being absorbed, that was intestinal homeostasis underlie the antiaging effect of acteoside. In this study, acteoside was confirmed to palliate cognitive impairment in d-galactose induced aging mice. Acteoside treatment dramatically reduced oxidative stress, alleviated intestinal inflammation, restored intestinal mucosal barrier, rebuilt gut microbiome structure and upregulated gut microbiome metabolites short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and amino acids (AAs). Furthermore, antibiotic treatment revealed that the antiaging ability of acteoside was abolished in microbiota depleted mice, which offered direct evidence for the essential role of gut microbiota in the attenuation of cognitive impairment of acteoside. Together, our study indicated that acteoside palliated cognitive impairment by regulating intestinal homeostasisand acteoside intake might be a promising nutritional intervention in prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Enhancing the stability, BBB permeability and neuroprotective activity of verbascoside in vitro using lipid nanocapsules in combination with menthol.

Verbascoside (VER) shows promising neuroprotective activity. However, the instability and low permeability in crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB) greatly hinder its application. In the present study, verbascoside was encapsulated into lipid nanocapsules (LNC) by reverse micelle (RM) to increase its stability. Besides, we used VER-RM-LNC combined with an envoy drug, menthol, to improve its BBB permeability and neuroprotective activity. VER-RM-LNC was prepared by the phase inversion temperature method, resulting in an encapsulation efficiency of nearly 85 %. The formulated VER-RM-LNC was stable for 6 months at 4 °C. VER encapsulated into LNC possessed enhanced stability and a reduced release profile. Menthol increased the cellular uptake and the permeability of VER-RM-LNC in the BBB model in vitro. In addition, the improved neuroprotective activity of VER through incubation with menthol and VER-RM-LNC was verified in the neurotoxic human brain microvascular endothelial cells model induced by Aß25-35.

Sophora japonica flowers and their main phytochemical, rutin, regulate chemically induced murine colitis in association with targeting the NF-κB signaling pathway and gut microbiota.

Sophora japonica flower, rich in rutin, is a homology of medicine and food that can be used as an anti-inflammatory agent. Its effects and mechanisms against intestinal inflammation are unknown. In this study, S. japonica flower extracts (SFE) or rutin were administrated to chemically induced-colitic mice. The results showed that SFE or rutin regulated inflammation and oxidative stress in colitic mice. The colonic permeability was significantly improved by SFE or rutin, which was characterized by the higher levels of tight junction proteins and serum lower levels of FITC-Dextran and endotoxins. The inactivation of the NF-κB pathway by SFE or rutin may contribute to the anti-colitis effects. In colitic mice, SFE or rutin partially restored gut microbiota dysbiosis, as seen by increases in potential probiotics (e.g., Faecalibaculum rodentium) and decreases in potentially disease-related bacteria (e.g., Romboutsia ilealis and Eubacterium fissicatena group).

Acteoside, the Main Bioactive Compound in Osmanthus fragrans Flowers, Palliates Experimental Colitis in Mice by Regulating the Gut Microbiota.

The present study investigated the effects of Osmanthus fragrans flowers and acteoside on murine colitis and the underlying mechanisms. The O. fragrans flower extract (OFE) and acteoside were administrated to chemically induced colitic mice. The results showed that OFE or acteoside ameliorates intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in colitic mice. The dysbiosis of the gut microbiome in colitic mice was also partly restored by OFE or acteoside, which was characterized by the alteration of the gut microbiome structure and the enrichment of beneficial bacteria (Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron). Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced gut metabolome dysfunctions (e.g., sphingosine metabolism and amino acids metabolism) in colitic mice were also partly restored by OFE and acteoside. A fecal microbiota (FM) transplantation study suggested that, compared with the FM from the normal diet-dosed donor mice, the FM from the OFE- or acteoside-dosed donor mice significantly suppressed colitic symptoms.

Exploration of Osmanthus fragrans Lour.'s composition, nutraceutical functions and applications.

Osmanthus fragrans (Thunb.) Lour. has been cultivated in China for over 2500 years. Due to the unique and strong fragrance, O. fragrans flowers have long been added into food, tea, and beverages. Not only the O. fragrans flowers, but also leaves, barks, roots, and fruits possess some beneficial effects such as relieving pain and alleviating cough in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Modern pharmacological researches demonstrated that O. fragrans possesses a broad spectrum of biological activities including antioxidant, neuroprotective, antidiabetic and anticancer activities etc. A large number of phytochemicals identified in O. fragrans are responsible for its health promoting and disease preventing effects. The components of volatile compounds in O. fragrans are complex but the content is less abundant. The present review mainly focuses on the bioactive ingredients identified from O. fragrans, the therapeutic effects of O. fragrans and its applications in food, cosmetics and medicines.

Atmospheric pressure plasma jet pretreatment to facilitate cassava starch modification with octenyl succinic anhydride.

Cassava starch (CS) was pretreated with atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ), followed by esterification with octenyl succinic anhydride (OSA). This study was the first report investigating the effect of APPJ on CS modification with OSA. Results showed that APPJ pretreatment could change the morphological characteristics and crystallinity of CS. Consequently, the degree of substitution and reaction efficiency significantly improved compared with the unpretreated CS (P < 0.05). In Confocal laser scanning microscopy, the fluorescence intensity of OSA-modified CS pretreated with APPJ for 10 min and 15 min was higher than those pretreated with APPJ for 1, 3, and 5 min. The onset temperature and enthalpy (ΔH) of native starch decreased after APPJ pretreatment and further decreased by OSA modification. APPJ-OSA-CS also showed better emulsion stability and emulsion activity. This study demonstrated that APPJ could be used as a novel approach to facilitate starch modification with OSA.

Tuber flours improve intestinal health and modulate gut microbiota composition.

The different health effects between starch and whole flour from tubers are rarely studied. Here, we investigated the effects of cassava flour (CF), cassava starch (CS), potato flour (PF), and potato starch (PS) on gut health and gut microbiota of normal rats. Feed analysis showed that CF and PF diet provided significantly more slowly digestible and resistant starch, less rapidly digestible starch. Compared with rats fed with PS and CS diets, rats fed with PF and CF diets gained less body weight and have tighter intestinal barrier. Butyric acid contents were increased by tuber flours. CF and PF selectively promoted the relative abundance of Akkermansia and Eubacterium ruminantium in cecal and colonic content. In conclusion, tuber flour has intestinal protection, body weight control, and gut microbiota improving ability compared with starch. The different composition of starch might be the basis for these effects.

Natural P-gp inhibitor EGCG improves the acteoside absorption in Caco-2 cell monolayers and increases the oral bioavailability of acteoside in rats.

Acteoside is one of the most widespread phenylethanoid glycosides with pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, neuroprotective property, etc. However, its bioavailability is poor due to the low absorption and P-gp efflux. This study aimed to select food derived P-gp inhibitors for promoting the acteoside absorption and investigate whether the inhibitors could increase the bioavailability and stability of acteoside. Results showed that EGCG and quercetin significantly decreased the BL-to-AP efflux and promoted the AP-to-BL influx of acteoside across Caco-2 monolayers with optimum concentrations of 320 µM EGCG or 240 µM quercetin adding to 320 µM acteoside. EGCG increased the bioavailability of acteoside to 1.43-fold, but quercetin had no such effect. Further study showed that EGCG and quercetin had no effects on the storage and digestion stability of acteoside. This work revealed that EGCG could improve the acteoside absorption across the Caco-2 monolayers and enhance the bioavailability of acteoside in rats.

Phenolic acid profiles of common food and estimated natural intake with different structures and forms in five regions of China.

Phenolic acids have been reported to have many biological activities, but daily intake information is scarce. In this study, the phenolic acid contents of 116 commonly consumed food in five regions of China (Beijing, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Chongqing and Guangzhou) were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and dietary intakes estimated. Tea had the highest total phenolic acids (TPA) content in all regions investigated. Phenolic acids were in esterified and bound forms, and hydroxycinnamic acids accounted for more than half of TPA content, except in tea and legumes. Average TPA intake was 193.50 mg/ day at the national level but ranged from 157.09 to 263.01 mg/ day among the regions. Rice, tea, and fruits were the main contributors to dietary intakes of TPA. Also, TPA intake in the period 2009-2013 increased 31.65 mg/ day compared with 2002, largely due to increased intakes of fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

Discovery of Keap1-Nrf2 small-molecule inhibitors from phytochemicals based on molecular docking.

Various phytochemicals have been reported to protect against oxidative stress. However, the mechanism underlying has not been systematically evaluated, which limited their application in disease treatment. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a central transcription factor in oxidative stress response related to numerous diseases, is activated after dissociating from the cytoskeleton-anchored Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1). The Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction has become an important drug target. This study was designed to clarify whether antioxidantive phytochemicals inhibit the Keap1-Nrf2 protein-protein interaction and activate the Nrf2-ARE signaling pathway efficiently. Molecular docking and 3D-QSAR were applied to evaluate the interaction effects between 178 antioxidant phytochemicals and the Nrf2 binding site in Keap1. The Nrf2 activation effect was tested on a H2O2-induced oxidative-injured cell model. Results showed that the 178 phytochemicals could be divided into high-, medium-, and low-total-score groups depending on their binding affinity with Keap1, and the high-total-score group consisted of 24 compounds with abundant oxygen or glycosides. Meanwhile, these compounds could bind with key amino acids in the structure of the Keap1-Nrf2 interface. Compounds from high-total-score group show effective activation effects on Nrf2. In conclusion, phytochemicals showed high binding affinity with Keap1 are promising new Nrf2 activators.

Structure-activity relationships between sterols and their thermal stability in oil matrix.

Structure-activity relationships between 20 sterols and their thermal stabilities were studied in a model oil system. All sterol degradations were found to be consistent with a first-order kinetic model with determination of coefficient (R2) higher than 0.9444. The number of double bonds in the sterol structure was negatively correlated with the thermal stability of sterol, whereas the length of the branch chain was positively correlated with the thermal stability of sterol. A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model to predict thermal stability of sterol was developed by using partial least squares regression (PLSR) combined with genetic algorithm (GA). A regression model was built with R2 of 0.806. Almost all sterol degradation constants can be predicted accurately with R2 of cross-validation equals to 0.680. Four important variables were selected in optimal QSAR model and the selected variables were observed to be related with information indices, RDF descriptors, and 3D-MoRSE descriptors.

Bioaccessibility and Absorption Mechanism of Phenylethanoid Glycosides Using Simulated Digestion/Caco-2 Intestinal Cell Models.

Acteoside and salidroside are major phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) in Osmanthus fragrans Lour. flowers with extensive pharmacological activities and poor oral bioavailability. The absorption mechanisms of these two compounds remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the bioaccessibility of these compounds using an in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model and to examine the absorption and transport mechanisms of PhGs using the Caco-2 cell model. The in vitro digestion model revealed that the bioaccessibility of salidroside (98.7 ± 1.35%) was higher than that of acteoside (50.1 ± 3.04%), and the superior bioaccessibility of salidroside can be attributed to its stability. The absorption percentages of total phenylethanoid glycoside, salidroside, and acteoside were 1.42-1.54%, 2.10-2.68%, and 0.461-0.698% in the Caco-2 model, respectively. Salidroside permeated Caco-2 cell monolayers through passive diffusion. At the concentration of 200 µg/mL, the apparent permeability ( Papp) of salidroside in the basolateral (BL)-to-apical (AP) direction was 23.7 ± 1.33 × 10-7 cm/s, which was 1.09-fold of that in the AP-to-BL direction (21.7 ± 1.38 × 10-7 cm/s). Acteoside was poorly absorbed with low Papp (AP to BL) (4.75 ± 0.251 × 10-7 cm/s), and its permeation mechanism was passive diffusion with active efflux mediated by P-glycoprotein (P-gp). This study clarified the bioaccessibility, absorption, and transport mechanisms of PhGs. It also demonstrated that the low bioavailability of acteoside might be attributed to its poor bioaccessibility, low absorption, and P-gp efflux transporter.

Phytosterol Profiles of Common Foods and Estimated Natural Intake of Different Structures and Forms in China.

Phytosterols are well-known for their cholesterol-lowering effects, and the structures and forms of phytosterols affect their bioactivity. We aimed to illustrate the phytosterol profiles in common foods and estimate their natural intake in five geographical regions and among different age groups in China. In total, 12 phytosterols in free and esterified forms of 119 foods from five regions across China were examined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Then, the dietary intake of phytosterols was calculated combined with the dietary foods intake data of Chinese people. The total phytosterol content was highest in vegetable oils (150.4-1230.9 mg/100 g), followed by legumes (129.6-275.6 mg/100 g), nuts (18.9-255.2 mg/100 g), and cereals (11.9-93.8 mg/100 g). Vegetables and fruits contained lower contents of total phytosterols. Phytosterols were mainly esterified in most common foods except in nuts. The predominant phytosterols were ß-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol, all of which belonged to plant sterols and 4-desmethylsterols. Total phytosterol intake varied across different regions, ranging between 257.7 and 473.7 mg/standard-person (sp)/day, with the highest intake in Beijing, followed by Hangzhou, Wuhan, Chongqing, and Guangzhou. However, phytosterol proportion was similar across regions, with ß-sitosterol accounting for 46.5-50.3% of the natural intake. Phytosterol intake was mainly constituted by plant sterols and 4-desmethylsterols in esterified form (61.9-74.6%). At the age of 2-70 years, phytosterol intake ranged from 154.3 mg/day to 348.0 mg/day in the national scale.

Risk assessment of dietary exposure to phytosterol oxidation products from baked food in China.

Phytosterols are nutritional phytochemicals that may undergo oxidation and be transformed into phytosterol oxidation products (POPs), thus inducing pathological and toxic effects. This work investigated four main phytosterols and 28 POPs in 104 kinds of commercial baked food by using GC-MS. The dietary exposure and hazard index values (HI) associated with POPs from baked food consumption in China were estimated by using Monte Carlo simulation. Concentrations of the total phytosterols were between 3.39 and 209.80 µg/g. The total concentrations of POPs, including 5α,6α/5ß,6ß-epoxysterols, 7-ketosterol, 7α/7ß-hydroxysterols, 6-hydroxysterols, and triols, ranged from 0.37 to 27.81 µg/g. The median dietary exposure of POP contents in baked food for four age groups in China were 10.91 (children), 6.20 (adolescents), 3.63 (adults), and 3.40 (seniors) mg/(kg×day). Risk assessment of median HI with respect to POPs indicated no risk (HI <1) for people in adolescents, adults, and seniors in the country area of China, while a risk (1 < HI < 10) would refer to the baked food consumption of people in urban area and children in country area of China. Sensitivity and uncertainty analysis showed that the most significant variables for each age group in China were POP concentration, body weight, and ingestion rate.

Metal ions accelerated phytosterol thermal degradation on Ring A & Ring B of steroid nucleus in oils.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of metal ions on the degradation of phytosterols in oils. The oil was heated at 180°C for 1h with/without addition of Fe3+, Fe2+, Cu2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Na+, Al3+ and Mg2+. Variations of ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol, campesterol, brassicasterol and their degradation products were confirmed by the GC-MS analysis. In general, the increase of the metal ion concentration resulted in more phytosterol degradation, and the ability of metal ions following decreasing order: Fe3+>Fe2+>Mn2+≥Cu2+≥Zn2+>Na+≥Mg2+>Al3+. Metal ions significantly induced phytosterol autoxidation on C5, C6 and C7 on Ring B of steroid nucleus at even a low concentration, and induced dehydration on the C3 hydroxyl to form dienes and trienes at high concentration. The metal ions in oils are accounted for increasing phytosterol degradation, which decreases food nutritional quality and gives rise to the formation of undesirable compounds.

Phenolic compounds, antioxidant potential and antiproliferative potential of 10 common edible flowers from China assessed using a simulated in vitro digestion-dialysis process combined with cellular assays.

BACKGROUND: Phenolic compounds could be sensitive to digestive conditions, thus a simulated in vitro digestion-dialysis process and cellular assays was used to determine phenolic compounds and antioxidant and antiproliferative potentials of 10 common edible flowers from China and their functional components. RESULTS: Gallic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin were widely present in these flowers, which demonstrated various antioxidant capacities (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and CAA values) and antiproliferative potentials measured by the MTT method. Rosa rugosa, Paeonia suffruticosa and Osmanthus fragrans exhibited the best antioxidant and antiproliferative potentials against HepG2, A549 and SGC-7901 cell lines, except that Osmanthus fragrans was not the best against SGC-7901 cells. The in vitro digestion-dialysis process decreased the antioxidant potential by 33.95-90.72% and the antiproliferative potential by 13.22-87.15%. Following the in vitro digestion-dialysis process, phenolics were probably responsible for antioxidant (R2 = 0.794-0.924, P < 0.01) and antiproliferative (R2 = 0.408-0.623, P < 0.05) potential. Moreover, gallic acid may be responsible for the antioxidant potential of seven flowers rich in edible flowers. CONCLUSION: The antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of 10 edible flowers revealed a clear decrease after digestion and dialysis along with the reduction of phenolics. Nevertheless, they still had considerable antioxidant and antiproliferative potential, which merited further investigation in in vivo studies. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

Antioxidant synergistic effects of Osmanthus fragrans flowers with green tea and their major contributed antioxidant compounds.

The antioxidant synergistic effects of Osmanthus fragrans flowers with green tea were evaluated, and their major antioxidant compounds contributed to the total amount of synergy were determined. The antioxidant compounds in O. fragrans flowers with green tea were identified by LC-MS and quantified by UPLC-PDA. The synergistic antioxidant interactions between O. fragrans flowers with green tea and their antioxidant compounds were tested using the Prieto's model after the simulated digestion. The main antioxidant compounds in O. fragrans flowers were acteoside and salideroside, whereas the main antioxidant compounds in green tea were caffeine, gallic acid, and L-epicatechin. The significant synergistic effect between O. fragrans flowers and green tea was observed and among nearly all of the combinations of their antioxidant compounds. Among the combinations, acteoside and gallic acid contributed most to the antioxidant synergy between O. fragrans flowers and green tea. However, the simulated digestion decreased this antioxidant synergy because it reduced the contents and the antioxidant capacities of their compounds, as well as the antioxidant synergy among the compounds.

Monitoring, exposure and risk assessment of sulfur dioxide residues in fresh or dried fruits and vegetables in China.

Sulfur dioxide residues in 20 kinds of products collected from 23 provinces of China (Jilin, Beijing, Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Hebei, Jiangsu, Anhui, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Yunnan, Guizhou, Hunan, Hubei, Chongqing, Sichuan, Gansu, Neimenggu, Xinjiang and Hainan) were analysed, and a health risk assessment was performed. The detection rates of sulfur dioxide residues in fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, dried vegetables and dried fruits were 11.1-95.9%, 12.6-92.3%, 70.3-80.0% and 26.0-100.0%, respectively; the mean concentrations of residues were 2.7-120.8, 3.8-35.7, 26.9-99.1 and 12.0-1120.4 mg kg-1, respectively. The results indicated that fresh vegetables and dried products are critical products; the daily intakes (EDIs) for children were higher than others; the hazard indexes (HI) for four groups were 0.019-0.033, 0.001-0.005, 0.007-0.016 and 0.002-0.005 at P50, respectively. But the HI was more than 1 at P99 by intake dried fruits and vegetables. Although the risk for consumers was acceptable on the whole, children were the most vulnerable group. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses indicated that the level of sulfur dioxide residues was the most influential variable in this model. Thus, continuous monitoring and stricter regulation of sulfites using are recommended in China.