Differential effects of four laboratory animal control diets on gut microbiota in mice.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota is intricate and susceptible to multiple factors, with diet being a major contributor. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of four commonly used laboratory animal control diets, namely Keao Xieli's maintenance diet (KX), HFK's 1025 (HF), Research Diets' D12450B (RD), and Lab Diet's 5CC4 (LD), on the gut microbiota of mice. RESULTS: A total of 40 mice were randomly assigned to four groups, and each group was fed one of the four diets for a duration of 8 weeks. The assessment of gut microbiota was conducted using 16S rRNA sequencing both at the beginning of the study (week 0) and the end (week 8), which served as the baseline and endpoint samples, respectively. Following the 8-week feeding period, no significant differences were observed in physiological parameters, including body weight, visceral weight, and blood biochemical indices, across the four groups. Nonetheless, relative to the baseline, discernible alterations in the gut microbiota were observed in all groups, encompassing shifts in beta-diversity, hierarchical clustering, and key genera. Among the four diets, HF diet exhibited a significant influence on alpha-diversity, RD diet brought about notable changes in microbial composition at the phylum level, and LD diet demonstrated an interconnected co-occurrence network. Mantel analysis indicated no significant correlation between physiological parameters and gut microbiota in the four groups. CONCLUSION: Overall, our study demonstrated that the four control diets had a minimal impact on physiological parameters, while exerting a distinct influence on the gut microbiota after 8 weeks. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Dietary supplementation of ark clams protects gut health and modifies gut microbiota in d-galactose-induced aging rats.

BACKGROUND: Ark clams, a seafood abundant in various nutrients, are widely consumed worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the protective benefits of two common ark clams in Korea, Scapharca subcrenata (SS) and Tegillarca granosa (TG), on gut health in d-galactose (d-gal)-induced aging rats. RESULTS: Thirty-two Wistar rats (11 weeks old) were randomly allocated into four groups: a CON group (normal diet + saline intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection), a CD group (normal diet + d-gal i.p. injection), an SS group (normal diet with 5% SS supplementation + d-gal i.p. injection), and a TG group (normal diet with 5% TG supplementation + d-gal i.p. injection). After 12 weeks of treatment, histopathological results showed that gut barrier damage was alleviated in rats of the SS and TG groups, as evidenced by increases in mucus layer thickness and goblet cell numbers. Meanwhile, the two groups supplemented with ark clams showed an evident reduction in oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl content levels in the colon) and an increase in the immune-related factor (immunoglobulin A level in the plasma) in rats. The 16S ribosomal RNA analysis revealed that SS and TG ark clams significantly increased the proliferations of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level and Parabacteroides at the genus level. Additionally, the levels of the three main short-chain fatty acids in the cecal contents were also significantly increased in the SS and TG groups. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated a potent preventive effect of SS and TG ark clams on d-gal-induced gut injury, suggesting that ark clams may be a promising dietary component for intervening in aging. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ectopic odorant receptors responding to flavor compounds in skin health and disease: Current insights and future perspectives.

Skin, the largest organ of human body, acts as a barrier to protect body from the external environment and is exposed to a myriad of flavor compounds, especially food- and plant essential oil-derived odorant compounds. Skin cells are known to express various chemosensory receptors, such as transient potential receptors, adenosine triphosphate receptors, taste receptors, and odorant receptors (ORs). We aim to provide a review of this rapidly developing field and discuss latest discoveries related to the skin ORs activated by flavor compounds, their impacts on skin health and disease, odorant ligands interacting with ORs exerting specific biological effects, and the mechanisms involved. ORs are recently found to be expressed in skin tissue and cells, such as keratinocytes, melanocytes, and fibroblasts. To date, several ectopic skin ORs responding to flavor compounds, are involved in different skin biological processes, such as wound healing, hair growth, melanin regulation, pressure stress, skin barrier function, atopic dermatitis, and psoriasis. The recognition of physiological role of skin ORs, combined with the fact that ORs belong to a highly druggable protein family (G protein-coupled receptors), underscores the potential of skin ORs responding to flavor compounds as a novel regulating strategy for skin health and disease.

The gut odorant receptor and taste receptor make sense of dietary components: A focus on gut hormone secretion.

Odorant receptors (ORs) and taste receptors (TRs) are expressed primarily in the nose and tongue in which they transduce electrical signals to the brain. Advances in deciphering the dietary component-sensing mechanisms in the nose and tongue prompted research on the role of gut chemosensory cells. Acting as the pivotal interface between the body and dietary cues, gut cells "smell" and "taste" dietary components and metabolites by taking advantage of chemoreceptors-ORs and TRs, to maintain physiological homeostasis. Here, we reviewed this novel field, highlighting the latest discoveries pertinent to gut ORs and TRs responding to dietary components, their impacts on gut hormone secretion, and the mechanisms involved. Recent studies indicate that gut cells sense dietary components including fatty acid, carbohydrate, and phytochemical by activating relevant ORs, thereby modulating GLP-1, PYY, CCK, and 5-HT secretion. Similarly, gut sweet, umami, and bitter receptors can regulate the gut hormone secretion and maintain homeostasis in response to dietary components. A deeper understanding of the favorable influence of dietary components on gut hormone secretion via gut ORs and TRs, coupled with the facts that gut hormones are involved in diverse physiological or pathophysiological phenomena, may ultimately lead to a promising treatment for various human diseases.

Understanding the mechanism underlying the anti-diabetic effect of dietary component: a focus on gut microbiota.

Diabetes has become one of the biggest non-communicable diseases and threatens human health worldwide. The management of diabetes is a complex and multifaceted process including drug therapy and lifestyle interventions. Dietary components are essential for both diabetes management and health and survival of trillions of the gut microbiota (GM). Herein, we will discuss the relationship between diets and GM, the mechanism linking diabetes and gut dysbiosis, and the effects of dietary components (nutrients, phytochemicals, probiotics, food additives, etc.) on diabetes from the perspective of modulating GM. The GM of diabetic patients differs from that of health individuals and GM disorder contributes to the onset and maintenance of diabetes. Studies in humans and animal models consolidate that dietary component is a key regulator of diabetes and increasing evidence suggests that the alteration of GM plays a salient role in dietary interventions for diabetes. Given that diabetes is a major public health issue, especially that diabetes is linked with a high risk of mortality from COVID-19, this review provides compelling evidence for that targeting GM by dietary components is a promising strategy, and offers new insights into potential preventive or therapeutic approaches (dietary and pharmacological intervention) for the clinical management of diabetes.

Bioactivities of Phenolic Compounds from Kiwifruit and Persimmon.

Fruit used in the common human diet in general, and kiwifruit and persimmon particularly, displays health properties in the prevention of heart disease. This study describes a combination of bioactivity, multivariate data analyses and fluorescence measurements for the differentiating of kiwifruit and persimmon, their quenching and antioxidant properties. The metabolic differences are shown, as well in the results of bioactivities and antioxidant capacities determined by ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC and DPPH assays. To complement the bioactivity of these fruits, the quenching properties between extracted polyphenols and human serum proteins were determined by 3D-fluorescence spectroscopy studies. These properties of the extracted polyphenols in interaction with the main serum proteins in the human metabolism (human serum albumin (HSA), α-ß-globulin (α-ß G) and fibrinogen (Fgn)), showed that kiwifruit was more reactive than persimmon. There was a direct correlation between the quenching properties of the polyphenols of the investigated fruits with serum human proteins, their relative quantification and bioactivity. The results of metabolites and fluorescence quenching show that these fruits possess multiple properties that have a great potential to be used in industry with emphasis on the formulation of functional foods and in the pharmaceutical industry. Based on the quenching properties of human serum proteins with polyphenols and recent reports in vivo on human studies, we hypothesize that HSA, α-ß G and Fgn will be predictors of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Antioxidant Activity and Main Chemical Components of a Novel Fermented Tea.

In the present study, we aimed to develop a novel fermented tea (NFT) product and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant potential and chemical composition. We found that NFT contained a high level of total phenolic compounds (102.98 mg gallic acid equivalents/g extract) and exhibited diverse antioxidant activities, such as scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radicals, as well as reducing power. The total catechins in NFT were comparable to those of Lipton black tea (LBT), but lower than those of Boseong green tea (BGT) or Tieguanyin oolong tea (TOT). Among all catechins tested, epigallocatechin (EGC) and epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG) were the predominant compounds in NFT. In particular, the contents of total theaflavins (TFs), theaflavin (TF), theaflavin-3-gallate (TF3G), and theaflavin-3'-gallate (TF3'G) in NFT were significantly higher than that of BGT, TOT, or LBT. NFT had the highest level of total essential amino acid and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) compared with BGT, TOT and LBT. Furthermore, the sensory evaluation results showed that NFT had satisfactory color, aroma, taste, and overall acceptability scores. Our results highlight the potential usefulness of this novel fermented tea as a nutraceutical food/ingredient with special functional activities.

Dietary Isoeugenol Supplementation Attenuates Chronic UVB-Induced Skin Photoaging and Modulates Gut Microbiota in Mice.

Photoaging, the primary cause of skin aging damage, results from chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure, leading to dryness and wrinkle formation. Nutritional intervention has emerged as a practical approach for preventing and addressing the effect of skin photoaging. The primary aromatic compound isolated from clove oil, isoeugenol (IE), has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant qualities that work to effectively restrict skin cancer cell proliferation. This investigation delved into the advantages of IE in alleviating skin photoaging using UVB-irradiated skin fibroblasts and female SKH-1 hairless mouse models. IE alleviated UVB-induced photodamage in Hs68 dermal fibroblasts by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase secretion and promoting extracellular matrix synthesis. In photoaged mice, dietary IE reduced wrinkles, relieved skin dryness, inhibited epidermal thickening, and prevented collagen loss. Additionally, the intestinal dysbiosis caused by prolonged UVB exposure was reduced with an IE intervention. The results of Spearman's analysis showed a strong correlation between skin photoaging and gut microbiota. Given the almost unavoidable UVB exposure in contemporary living, this research demonstrated the efficacy of dietary IE in reversing skin photoaging, presenting a promising approach to tackle concerns related to extrinsic skin aging.

Dietary supplementation with α-ionone alleviates chronic UVB exposure-induced skin photoaging in mice.

Photoaging is widely regarded as the most significant contributor to skin aging damage. It is triggered by prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and typically manifests as dryness and the formation of wrinkles. Nutritional intervention is a viable strategy for preventing and treating skin photoaging. In previous studies, we demonstrated that α-ionone had ameliorating effects on photoaging in both epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Here, we investigated the potential anti-photoaging effects of dietary α-ionone using a UVB-irradiated male C57BL/6N mouse model. Our findings provided compelling evidence that dietary α-ionone alleviates wrinkle formation, skin dryness, and epidermal thickening in chronic UVB-exposed mice. α-Ionone accumulated in mouse skin after 14 weeks of dietary intake of α-ionone. α-Ionone increased collagen density and boosted the expression of collagen genes, while attenuating the UVB-induced increase of matrix metalloproteinase genes in the skin tissues. Furthermore, α-ionone suppressed the expression of senescence-associated secretory phenotypes and reduced the expression of the senescence marker p21 and DNA damage marker p53 in the skin of UVB-irradiated mice. Transcriptome sequencing results showed that α-ionone modifies gene expression profiles of skin. Multiple pathway enrichment analyses on both the differential genes and the entire genes revealed that α-ionone significantly affects multiple physiological processes and signaling pathways associated with skin health and diseases, of which the p53 signaling pathway may be the key signaling pathway. Taken together, our findings reveal that dietary α-ionone intervention holds promise in reducing the risks of skin photoaging, offering a potential strategy to address skin aging concerns.

Revitalizing Photoaging Skin through Eugenol in UVB-Exposed Hairless Mice: Mechanistic Insights from Integrated Multi-Omics.

Chronic ultraviolet (UV) exposure causes photoaging, which is primarily responsible for skin damage. Nutritional intervention is a viable strategy for preventing and treating skin photoaging. Eugenol (EU) presents anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, promotes wound healing, and provides contact dermatitis relief. This study explored the ability of EU to mitigate skin photoaging caused by UVB exposure in vitro and in vivo. EU alleviated UVB-induced skin photodamage in skin cells, including oxidative stress damage and extracellular matrix (ECM) decline. Dietary EU alleviated skin photoaging by promoting skin barrier repair, facilitating skin tissue regeneration, and modulating the skin microenvironment in photoaged mice. The transcriptome sequencing results revealed that EU changed the skin gene expression profiles. Subsequent pathway enrichment analyses indicated that EU might reverse the pivotal ECM-receptor interaction and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction signaling pathways. Furthermore, EU alleviated the intestinal dysbiosis induced by chronic UVB exposure. Spearman analysis results further revealed the close connection between gut microbiota and skin photoaging. Considering the near-inevitable UVB exposure in modern living, the findings showed that the EU effectively reverted skin photoaging, offering a potential strategy for addressing extrinsic skin aging.

Oleuropein Supplementation Ameliorates Long-Course Diabetic Nephropathy and Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Induced by Advanced Stage of Type 2 Diabetes in db/db Mice.

Previous studies have reported the therapeutic effects of oleuropein (OP) consumption on the early stage of diabetic nephropathy and diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the efficacy of OP on the long-course of these diabetes complications has not been investigated. Therefore, in this study, to investigate the relieving effects of OP intake on these diseases, and to explore the underlying mechanisms, db/db mice (17-week-old) were orally administrated with OP (200 mg/kg bodyweight) for 15 weeks. We found that OP reduced expansion of the glomerular mesangial matrix, renal inflammation, renal fibrosis, and renal apoptosis. Meanwhile, OP treatment exerted cardiac anti-fibrotic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptosis effects. Notably, transcriptomic and bioinformatic analyses indicated 290 and 267 differentially expressed genes in the kidney and heart replying to OP treatment, respectively. For long-course diabetic nephropathy, OP supplementation significantly upregulated the cyclic guanosine monophosphate-dependent protein kinase (cGMP-PKG) signaling pathway. For long-course diabetic cardiomyopathy, p53 and cellular senescence signaling pathways were significantly downregulated in response to OP supplementation. Furthermore, OP treatment could significantly upregulate the transcriptional expression of the ATPase Na+/K+ transporting subunit alpha 3, which was enriched in the cGMP-PKG signaling pathway. In contrast, OP treatment could significantly downregulate the transcriptional expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase 1, G two S phase expressed protein 1, and cyclin B2, which were enriched in p53 and cellular senescence signal pathways; these genes were confirmed by qPCR validation. Overall, our findings demonstrate that OP ameliorated long-course diabetic nephropathy and cardiomyopathy in db/db mice and highlight the potential benefits of OP as a functional dietary supplement in diabetes complications treatment.

Nutritional and pharmaceutical properties of bioactive compounds in organic and conventional growing kiwifruit.

The bioactivity of two kiwifruit's cultivars growing under organic and conventional conditions were studied and compared. The bioactive compounds were extracted with water and ethanol using similar conditions which are applied in pharmaceutical applications and for daily fruit consumption such as tea drink. Antioxidant radical scavenging assays [ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP); cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC); 2, 2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS)], fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and ultraviolet spectroscopy, two (2D-FL) and three-dimensional (3D-FL) fluorometry were used for the detection of biologically active metabolites derived from kiwifruits (total phenols, flavonoids, chlorophylls, carotenoids and ascorbic acid). The correlation between the total phenol content (TPC) and other bioactive compounds, and their total antioxidant capacities (TAC) was calculated for studied kiwifruit's extracts. The interaction between drugs and human serum albumin (HSA) plays an important role in the distribution and metabolism of drugs. The properties of kiwifruit's phenol extracts showed their ability to quench HSA, forming the complexes similar to the ones between the proteins and pure flavonoids such as quercetin. The cultivar 'Bidan' exhibited significantly higher TAC than the classic 'Hayward'. In conclusion, for the first time 'Bidan' organic kiwifruit was analyzed and compared with widely consumed 'Hayward', using its bioactive and fluorescence properties. The influence of physiologically active kiwifruit's compounds on human health, through our investigations in vitro and scientifically proven information, was explained. Relatively high content of bioactive compounds, high antioxidant and fluorescence properties of kiwifruit justify its use as a source of valuable antioxidants.

Dietary Supplementation of Methyl Cedryl Ether Ameliorates Adiposity in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Methyl cedryl ether (MCE) is a derivative of cedrol and is widely used as a fragrance compound. The aim of this study was to evaluate the preventative effects of MCE on obesity and related metabolic syndromes and to delineate the mechanisms from the perspective of gut microbiota and white adipose tissues (WAT) transcriptomic profiles. Five-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly assigned into 3 groups and fed with chow diet, high-fat diet (HFD), or HFD supplemented with 0.2% (w/w) MCE for 13 weeks. We found that MCE significantly reduced body weight, inhibited adipocyte hypertrophy, and ameliorated hepatic steatosis under HFD conditions. MCE dietary supplementation downregulated the expression of adipogenesis genes (FAS and C/EBPα) and upregulated the mRNA levels of thermogenesis genes (PGC-1α, PRDM16, UCP1, Cidea, Cytc, and COX4) in epididymal WAT. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that MCE improved gut microbiota dysbiosis in HFD-fed mice, as manifested by the alteration of strains associated with obesity. Further transcriptome analysis of WAT indicated that MCE dramatically changed the gene expression profiles. Our results demonstrate the anti-obesity effect of MCE under HFD conditions, highlighting the nutraceutical potential of MCE for preventing obesity.

α-Ionone protects against UVB-induced photoaging in epidermal keratinocytes.

Objective: To evaluate whether α-ionone, an aromatic compound mainly found in raspberries, carrots, roasted almonds, fruits, and herbs, inhibits UVB-mediated photoaging and barrier dysfunction in a human epidermal keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT cells). Methods: The anti-photoaging effect of α-ionone was evaluated by detecting the expression of barrier-related genes and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in HaCaT cells. The levels of reactive oxygen species, oxidation product, antioxidant enzyme, and inflammatory factors were further analysed to underline the protective effect of α-ionone on epidermal photoaging. Results: It was found that α-ionone attenuated UVB-induced barrier dysfunction by reversing keratin 1 and filaggrin in HaCaT cells. α-Ionone also reduced the protein amount of MMP-1 and mRNA expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells, implying protective effects on extracellular matrix. Furthermore, HaCaT cells exposed to α-ionone showed significant decreases in interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α as compared to UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. α-Ionone treatment significantly inhibited the UVB-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species increase and malondialdehyde accumulation. Therefore, the beneficial effects of α-ionone on inhibiting MMPs secretion and barrier damage may be related to attenuated inflammation and oxidative stress. Conclusion: Our results highlight the protective effects of α-ionone on epidermal photoaging and promote its clinic application as a potential natural anti-photodamage agent in future.

Chronic exposure to UVB induces nephritis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice based on the integration of renal transcriptome profiles and 16S rRNA sequencing data.

Ultraviolet (UV) is a common and abundant environmental factor that affects daily life. Although the effects of UV radiation on the skin have been extensively reported, studies on the influence of UV radiation on internal organs are still limited. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of UVB exposure on the kidney of mice and to investigate the possible mechanism. In the present study, histopathology changes, oxidative stress, and inflammatory response were used to evaluate the kidney and colon injury induced by UVB exposure. The results showed that the 14-week chronic skin exposure to UVB triggers a kidney injury response characterized by macrophage infiltration, elevated oxidative stress as well as inflammatory and injury markers. The RNA sequencing demonstrated that chronic UVB exposure could alter the kidney transcriptomic profile distinguished by the regulation of genes involved in the Notch signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, and ECM-receptor interaction. Besides, chronic UVB exposure also resulted in gut dysbiosis, manifested as colon macrophage infiltration, stimulated inflammatory responses, impaired barrier integrity, and microbiota structural and functional disorders. The Spearman analysis results further revealed a strong correlation between gut microbiota and kidney injury. In conclusion, skin chronic exposure to UVB causes nephritis and gut microbiota dysbiosis in mice, and these findings provide new insight into the underlying risks of chronic UVB exposure to human wellness.

Dietary Supplementation of Cedryl Acetate Ameliorates Adiposity and Improves Glucose Homeostasis in High-Fat Diet-Fed Mice.

Cedryl acetate (CA), also called acetyl cedrene, is approved by the FDA as a flavoring or adjuvant to be added to foods. In this study, we aimed to investigate the preventive benefits of CA on obesity and obesity-related metabolic syndrome caused by a high-fat diet (HFD). Three groups of C57BL/6J mice (ten-week-old) were fed Chow, an HFD, or an HFD with CA supplementation (100 mg/kg) for 19 weeks. We observed that CA supplementation significantly reduced weight gain induced by an HFD, decreased the weight of the visceral fat pads, and prevented adipocyte hypertrophy in mice. Moreover, mice in the CA group showed significant improvements in hepatic lipid accumulation, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and gluconeogenesis compared with the mice in the HFD group. Since 16S rRNA analysis revealed that the gut microbiota in the CA and HFD groups were of similar compositions at the phylum and family levels, CA may have limited effects on gut microbiota in HFD-fed mice. The beneficial effects on the metabolic parameters of CA were reflected by CA's regulation of metabolism-related gene expression in the liver (including Pepck, G6Pase, and Fbp1) and the epididymal white adipose tissues (including PPARγ, C/EBPα, FABP4, FAS, Cytc, PGC-1α, PRDM16, Cidea, and COX4) of the mice. In summary, a potent preventive effect of CA on HFD-induced obesity and related metabolic syndrome was highlighted by our results, and CA could be a promising dietary component for obesity intervention.

Cedrol, a Major Component of Cedarwood Oil, Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Mice.

SCOPE: Excellent health-promoting effects of cedrol (CED), including anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic, and antinociceptive effects, have been reported. The present study aims to investigate the preventive effects of CED on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and the related metabolic syndrome, and to delineate the underlying mechanism. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ten-week-old C57BL/6J mice are fed chow, HFD, or HFD supplemented with CED (0.2% w/w) for 19 weeks. Results demonstrate that CED effectively reduces HFD-induced body weight gain, decreases visceral fat pad weight, and significantly prevents adipocyte hypertrophy in mice. HFD-induced hepatic steatosis, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, and gluconeogenesis are ameliorated by CED supplementation. 16S rRNA analysis reveals that CED does not change gut microbiota composition at the phylum and genus levels, indicating that CED may have limited effects on gut microbiota in HFD-fed mice. Further transcriptome analysis of epididymal white adipose tissue reveals reprogrammed RNA profiles by CED. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate that incorporating CED in the diet can prevent HFD-induced obesity and related metabolic syndrome, and highlight that CED can be a promising dietary component for obesity therapeutic intervention.

Analytical determination of bioactive compounds as an indication of fruit quality.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the bioactive compounds in kiwifruit as an indication of quality after extraction using methanol and ethyl acetate. Using FTIR and three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy and electrospray ionization/MS, the contents of polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols, and tannins, and the level of the antioxidant activity by 2, 2-azino-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt, 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, ferric-reducing/ antioxidant power, and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity assays were determined and compared. It was found that the methanol extracts of kiwifruit showed significantly higher amounts of bioactive acetate extracts. The cultivar Bidan, in comparison compounds and antioxidant activities than the ethyl with the classic Hayward, showed significantly higher bioactivity. For the first time, Bidan organic kiwifruit was analyzed for its antioxidant activities and compared with the widely consumed Hayward organic based on its bioactive compounds and fluorescence properties. Relatively high content of bioactive compounds and positive antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of kiwifruit determined by the advanced analytical methods justify its use as a source of valuable antioxidants. The methods used are applicable for bioactivity determination, in general, for any food products.

Characterization of Rapana thomasiana as an indicator of environmental quality of the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria.

The aim of this investigation was to determine the contents of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), minerals, trace elements and bioactivity in the gastropod Rapana thomasiana, which can be used as an environmental bioindicator organism. The chemical differences between Rapana thomasiana from polluted (RapaPol) and non-polluted (RapaNPol) sites of the Black Sea coast in Bulgarian were investigated. Chromatography and high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) were used for evaluation of PAHs, PCBs, minerals and trace elements. Methanol extracts from RapaPol and RapaNPol (to a lesser degree) contained relatively high amounts of free phenolics (2.50 +/- 0.3 and 1.57 +/- 0.18 mg GAE/g DW, respectively) and exhibited the following respective levels of antioxidant activities determined by two radical-scavenging assays (microMTE/g DW): 1.8 +/- 0.2 and 0.98 +/- 0.08 by 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method (DPPH); 1.74 +/- 0.17 and 1.04 +/- 0.12 by cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC). The total amounts of elements, PAHs and PCBs were higher in RapaPol than in RapaNPol. The obtained indices of Rapana thomasiana can serve as a bioindicator of the environmental ecological quality.

Roasted garlic protects against leaky gut syndrome in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mice.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a potentially beneficial functional food that is extensively grown around the globe. We have investigated the effect of roasted garlic on a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced intestinal permeability model in mice. Mice were divided into four diet groups: CON, DSS, RG (roasted garlic), and RG + Purple bamboo salt (RGP) in the AIN 93G diet for 3 weeks. All groups except the CON group received 2% DSS in drinking water at the last week of the experiment. DSS groups showed significantly elevated gut permeability levels and decreased tight junction protein expression compared to CON. However, RG and RGP displayed remarkably lower trends of gut permeability, increased tight junction protein expression, increased number of goblet cells than the DSS group in hematoxylin and eosin and alcian blue-nuclear fast red stained colon sections. These results indicate that roasted garlic could prevent gut leakage induced by DSS. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01116-w.