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The potential of Marrubium vulgare to alleviate scopolamine (Sco)-induced deficits in spatial working memory has drawn considerable scientific interest. This effect is partly attributed to its potent antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI) activities. This study examined the effects of M. vulgare extract, standardized to marrubiin content, on recognition memory in healthy and Sco-treated rats. Male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided into four groups. The extract was orally administered for 21 days and Sco (2 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected for 11 consecutive days. Memory performance was assessed using the novel object recognition test. Levels of acetylcholine (ACh), noradrenaline (NA), serotonin (Sero), and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (p-CREB) were evaluated in the cortex and hippocampus via ELISA. BDNF and CREB expression levels were assessed using RT-PCR. The results showed that M. vulgare significantly alleviated Sco-induced memory impairment, preserved cholinergic function in the hippocampus, increased NA levels in the brain, and restored pCREB expression in the cortex following Sco-induced reduction. In healthy rats, the extract upregulated BDNF , pCREB, and Bcl2 expression. Our findings indicate that the neuroprotective effects of M. vulgare may be linked to the modulation of cholinergic function, regulation of NA neurotransmission, and influence on key memory-related molecules.

Spermatogenesis is a process that continues until the end of an individual's life, although with reduced activity with advancing age. Inflammation, oxidation, and apoptosis are events considered as predictors of pathogenesis and the development of age-related diseases observed in aged testes. The use of natural compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties has a beneficial effect on the inflammatory and oxidative status of the aged testis. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of supplementation with antioxidant-rich black chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa ) juice on several markers of oxidative stress and aging in rat testis. In total, 24 male Wistar rats were divided into three experimental groups: young controls aged 2 months, old controls aged 27 months, and 27-month-old rats supplemented with black chokeberry juice at a dose of 10 mL/kg for 3 months. A. melanocarpa juice supplementation led to reduced oxidative stress, manifested by increased immunoexpression of nNOS, eNOS, and MAS1 in the seminiferous tubules and in the Leydig cells. The morphometrically determined tubule structure data showed no significant differences between the three groups. However, the intensity of the immunoreaction for TRK-C and NT3 in Leydig cells was demonstrably higher in the supplemented old animals compared with the old controls. There was a significantly higher number of blood vessels around the seminiferous tubules in the supplemented animals compared to the old controls. These data indicate that supplementation with A. melanocarpa juice slows down aging processes in the testis and preserves the functional activity of Leydig cells., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Sambucus nigra L. ( S. nigra , SN) or black elder is a traditional medicinal plant widely used worldwide for therapeutic and dietary purposes. The aim of the current study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of black elder fruit and flower extracts (SNFrE and SNFlE, respectively). The primary polyphenol constituents in the flower extract were flavonoids and phenolic acids, while anthocyanins were the main components in the fruit extract. SNFrE revealed pronounced and dose-dependent in vivo anti-inflammatory activity assessed by the cotton pellet-induced granuloma test. Doses of 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg BW of SNFrE reduced the weight of induced granuloma in rats by 20.3%, 20.5%, and 28.4%, respectively. At the highest dose (50 mg/kg BW), SNFrE had significant ( p < 0.01) anti-inflammatory activity comparable to that of diclofenac, the reference compound used (10 mg/kg BW). In addition, the in vivo antinociceptive activity of the extracts in mice was estimated using the acetic-acid-induced writhing test. Both extracts at doses of 50 mg/kg BW inhibited the abdominal contractions induced by the acetic acid significantly comparing to the control group ( p < 0.01). Our findings indicate that black elder extracts and particularly SNFrE possess anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities, providing experimental evidence for the use of S. nigra in traditional medicine.

Introduction: Many chronic somatic and psychiatric diseases are associated with oxidative stress and inflammation, both of which have detrimental effects on human health., (This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Sideritis scardica Griseb. and Clinopodium vulgare L., belonging to the Lamiaceae family, are rich in terpenoids and phenolics and exhibit various pharmacological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities. While the memory-enhancing impacts of S. scardica are well documented, the cognitive benefits of C. vulgare remain unexplored. This study assessed the potential effect of C. vulgare on learning and memory in healthy and scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory-impaired male Wistar rats, comparing it with the effects of S. scardica . Over a 21-day period, rats orally received extracts of cultivated S. scardica (200 mg/kg) and C. vulgare (100 mg/kg), either individually or in combination, with administration starting 10 days before and continuing 11 days simultaneously with Sco injection at a dose of 2 mg/kg intraperitoneally. The results showed that both extracts effectively mitigated Sco-induced memory impairment. Their combination significantly improved recognition memory and maintained monoaminergic function. S. scardica excelled in preserving spatial working memory, while C. vulgare exhibited comparable retention of recognition memory, robust antioxidant activity and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. The extracts alleviated Sco-induced downregulation of p-CREB/BDNF signaling, suggesting neuroprotective mechanisms. The extract combination positively affected most of the Sco-induced impairments, underscoring the potential for further investigation of these extracts for therapeutic development.

Background: The cholinergic neuronal loss in the basal forebrain and increasing brain oxidative stress are one of the main features of the brain suffering from Alzheimer's disease. Marrubium vulgare (M. vulgare), commonly known as 'white horehound,' possesses a variety of valuable properties, such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic activities. Moreover, it possesses neuromodulatory properties that could potentially impact short-term memory functions., Objective: The present study was undertaken to investigate the preventive effects of water M. vulgare extract on working memory, cholinergic neurotransmission, and oxidative stress in rats with scopolamine (Sco)-induced dementia., Methods: Male Wistar rats (200-250 g) were divided into four experimental groups. The plant extract was administered orally for 21 days, and Sco (2 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally for 11 consecutive days. The behavioral performance of the animals was evaluated by the T-maze test. The effect of the extract on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and antioxidant status in cortex and hippocampus were also monitored., Results: Our experimental data revealed that treatment with M. vulgare significantly increased the percentage of correct choices of rats with Sco-induced dementia in the T maze test (by 38%, p < 0.05). Additionally, it reduced AChE activity in the hippocampus (by 20%, p < 0.05) and alleviated oxidative stress induced by Sco, particularly in the cortex., Conclusions: M. vulgare water extract demonstrated working memory preserving effect in rats with Sco-induced dementia, AChE inhibitory activity and in vivo antioxidant potential, and deserve further attention.

Sideritis scardica Griseb. is a critically endangered Balkan endemic species, known for its antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the present study was to detail an efficient protocol for the micropropagation of S. scardica . In vitro cultures were initiated from the shoot tips of 40 days-old in vivo seedlings and the effects of different plant growth regulator treatments were examined. A Murashige and Skoog nutrient medium (MS) containing 1 mg/L zeatin and 0.1 mg/L indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) proved to be the most efficient for shoot multiplication as it produced quality, vigorous shoots with a mean number of six shoots per explant. For the first time, the antioxidant and antitumor activities of extracts from in vitro-obtained plants were evaluated. In vitro cultivated plants grown in the field revealed a higher total polyphenol content (3929.1 ± 112.2 mg GAE/100 g vs. 3563.5 ± 52.8 mg GAE/100 g) and higher ORAC antioxidant activity (1211.6 ± 27.3 µmol TE/g vs. 939.9 ± 52.4 µmol TE/g) than in situ cultivated plants. A comparison of the antitumor activities of extracts from in vitro propagated shoots, field-grown in vitro-obtained plants and in situ plants on HeLa (cervical adenocarcinoma), HT-29 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) human cancer cell lines showed that in vitro propagated shoots had a significant concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on the cervical adenocarcinoma cell line HeLa, while the field-grown in vitro-obtained and in situ-collected samples induced the highest reduction in the viability of the mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7. In both cases, the cells of the control non-tumor cell line, BALB/3T3, were significantly less affected. The results showed that the in vitro multiplication protocol ensured the obtainment of numerous plants with antioxidant and antitumor potential.

Common tansy ( Tanacetum vulgare L.) is a plant with medicinal properties that has traditionally been used in folk medicine for its anthelmintic, antispasmodic, and choleretic effects, for the treatment of diarrhea and digestive problems, and externally, as an insecticide in veterinary practices. In the current study, we investigated, for the first time, the chemical profile and antioxidant activity of essential oil from a wild population of T. vulgare L. growing in Bulgaria. Common tansy essential oil (EO), which is rich in bicyclic monoterpenes, was obtained using hydrodistillation and characterized by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-seven compounds were identified in Bulgarian tansy EO. Among the major constituents were oxygenated monoterpenes, including compounds such as camphor (25.24%), trans -chrysantenyl acetate (18.35%), cis -verbenol (10.58%), thujone (6.06%), eucaliptol (5.99%), and α-campholenal (5.98%). The analysis results identified the essential oil from T. vulgare L. grown in the western Rhodope Mountains of Bulgaria as the camphor chemotype. Furthermore, its antioxidant activity was analyzed using the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method and was found to be 605.4 ± 49.3 µmol TE/mL. The essential oil was also tested for single-dose acute toxicity on Wistar rats and was found to be non-toxic by oral administration. The mean lethal dose by intraperitoneal administration was LD 50 i.p. = 14.9 g/kg body weight. The results of the conducted study can serve as a basis for the evaluation and subsequent exploration of other pharmacotherapeutic effects of the essential oil obtained from the inflorescences of the Bulgarian species T. vulgare L.

Ensuring the microbiological safety of food products is a pressing global concern. With the increasing resistance of microorganisms to chemical agents and the declining effectiveness of synthetic preservatives, there is a growing need for alternative sources of natural, bioactive compounds with antimicrobial activity. The incorporation of probiotics and plant extracts into food formulations not only enriches foodstuffs with microorganisms and phytochemicals with biologically active compounds, but also provides a means for product preservation. The current review considers the importance of the process of biological preservation for providing safe foods with high biological value, natural origin and composition, and prolonged shelf life, thereby improving consumers' quality of life. To accomplish this goal, this review presents a series of examples showcasing natural preservatives, including beneficial bacteria, yeasts, and their metabolites, as well as phenolic compounds, terpenoids, and alkaloids from plant extracts. By summarizing numerous studies, identifying research challenges and regulatory barriers for their wider use, and outlining future directions for investigation, this article makes an original contribution to the field of biopreservation.

Echinacea purpurea is a perennial plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It has a wide range of applications mainly in the treatment and prevention of inflammations in the respiratory system. The current study aimed to perform a phytochemical characterization of purple coneflower ( Echinacea purpurea ) roots and their extracts (water, 40%, 50%, 60% ethanol, and 60% glycerol). Phytochemical characterization was carried out by gravimetric, spectrophotometric, and chromatographic methods. Echinacea roots were characterized by a low lipid (0.8%) content. In contrast, carbohydrates (45%) and proteins (20%) occupied a large part of the dry matter. Amongst the extracts, the highest yield was obtained using water as a solvent (53%). Water extract was rich in protein and carbohydrates as fructans (inulin) were the most abundant carbohydrate constituent. The most exhaustive recovery of the phenolic components was conducted by extraction with 40% ethanol and 60% glycerol. It was found that water is the most suitable extractant for obtaining a polysaccharide-containing complex (PSC) (8.87%). PSC was composed mainly of fructans (inulin) and proteins with different molecular weight distributions. The yield of PSC decreased with an increasing ethanol concentration (40% > 50% > 60%) but the lowest yield was obtained from 60% glycerol extract. The obtained results showed that Echinacea roots contained a large amount of biologically active substances-phenolic components and polysaccharides and that glycerol was equally efficient to ethanol in extracting caffeic acid derivatives from purple coneflower roots. The data can be used for the preparation of extracts having different compositions and thus easily be incorporated into commercial products.

Clinopodium vulgare L. is a valuable medicinal plant used for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and wound-healing properties. The present study describes an efficient protocol for the micropropagation of C. vulgare and compares, for the first time, the chemical content and composition and antitumor and antioxidant activities of extracts from in vitro cultivated and wild-growing plants. The best nutrient medium was found to be Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 1 mg/L BAP and 0.1 IBA mg/L, yielding on average 6.9 shoots per nodal segment. Flower aqueous extracts from in vitro plants had higher total polyphenol content (29,927.6 ± 592.1 mg/100 g vs. 27,292.8 ± 85.3 mg/100 g) and ORAC antioxidant activity (7281.3 ± 82.9 µmol TE/g vs. 7246.3 ± 62.4 µmol TE/g) compared to the flowers of wild plants. HPLC detected qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolic constituents between the in vitro cultivated and wild-growing plants' extracts. Rosmarinic acid was the major phenolic constituent, being accumulated mainly in leaves, while neochlorogenic acid was a major compound in the flowers of cultivated plants. Catechin was found only in cultivated plants, but not in wild plants or cultivated plants' stems. Aqueous extracts of both cultivated and wild plants showed significant in vitro antitumor activity against human HeLa (cervical adenocarcinoma), HT-29 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines. The best cytotoxic activity against most of the cancer cell lines, combined with the least detrimental effects on a non-tumor human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT), was shown by the leaf (250 µg/mL) and flower (500 µg/mL) extracts of cultivated plants, making cultivated plants a valuable source of bioactive compounds and a suitable candidate for anticancer therapy.

Rosmarinic acid (RA), an ester of caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, is a potent radical scavenger, a chelator of prooxidant ions, and an inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. RA-containing extracts are widely used natural antioxidants in food products, and many herbal preparations and food supplements, containing RA, are marketed with claims of beneficial health effects. The current study investigated the effectiveness of subcritical water extraction (SWE) for the recovery of RA from lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ), as a "green" alternative to conventional hydro-alcoholic extraction. Different durations (10 min and 20 min) and extraction temperatures (100 °C and 150 °C) were applied. Subcritical water applied at a temperature of 100 °C was equally efficient as 50% ethanol in extracting RA. However, the further elevation of temperature to 150 °C decreased RA content by up to 20% due to thermal degradation. The content of RA in dried extracts was between 2.36% and 5.55% and the higher temperature of SWE increased extract yield by up to 41%. The higher extraction yield resulted from the degradation of plant material by subcritical water as evidenced by the increased extraction and degradation of proteins, pectin, and cellulose. These results reveal that SWE is an efficient technology for the extraction of RA and other antioxidants from lemon balm at reduced extraction time and without the use of toxic organic solvents. Furthermore, by modification of SWE conditions, dry extracts with different purity and content of RA are obtained. These extracts could be used in the food industry as food antioxidants, or in the development of food supplements and functional foods.

Gamma irradiation has been applied as an efficient and inexpensive method for the sterilization of nuts for years. However, along with the benefits of such treatment, negative effects are possible because of the formation of reactive oxygen species with a toxic effect on important biologically active substances. Because of the scarce and contradictory information in the literature about gamma-irradiated almonds, the aim of our work was the examination of the lipid changes, antioxidant activity, and oxidative stability of almonds treated by 10 and 25 kGy gamma rays, as well as changes in intensity of the EPR spectra as an indicator for the stability of radiation-induced free radicals. The results revealed no significant differences in the EPR spectra of almonds treated at 10 and 25 kGy doses, neither in their intensity nor in kinetic behaviour. The EPR signals decayed exponentially over 250 days, with a decreasing of central line by 90%, with satellite lines by about 73%. No significant changes in the fat content, fatty acids composition, and acid value of irradiated almonds were observed. However, the amount of (alpha)tocopherols decreased from 292 to 175 mg/kg, whereas the conjugated dienes and trienes increased, K 232 from 1.3 to 3 and K 268 from 0.04 to 0.15, respectively, with the increasing of irradiation dose. The same was observed for total polyphenols in defatted almonds (1374 to 1520 mg/100 g), where in vitro antioxidant activity determined by ORAC and HORAC methods increased from 100 to 156 µmol TE/g and from 61 to 86 µmol GAE/g, respectively. The oxidative stability of oil decreased from 6 to 4 h at 120 °C and from 24.6 to 18.6 h at 100 °C (measured by Rancimat equipment). The kinetic parameters characterizing the oxidative stability of oil from 10 kGy irradiated almonds were studied before and after addition of different concentrations of ascorbyl palmitate as a synergist of tocopherols. Its effectiveness was concentration-dependent, and 0.75 mM ensured the same induction period as that of non-irradiated nut oil. Further enrichment with alpha-tocopherol in equimolar ratio with palmitate did not improve the oil stability. In conclusion, gamma irradiation is an appropriate method for the treatment of almonds without significant changes in fat content and fatty acids composition. The decreasing of oxidative stability after higher irradiation could be prevented by the addition of ascorbyl palmitate.

Background: The neurodegenerative process in Alzheimer's disease, one of the most common types of dementia worldwide, mostly affects the cholinergic neurotransmitter system and, to a lesser extent, the monoaminergic one. The antioxidant acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and triple monoamine reuptake inhibitory activity of Sideritis scardica (S. scardica) and other Sideritis species has already been reported., Objective: To investigate the effects of S. scardica water extracts on the learning and memory processes, anxiety-like behavior, and locomotor activities in scopolamine (Sco)-induced dementia in mice., Methods: Male Albino IRC mice were used. The plant extract was administered for 11 consecutive days in the presence or absence of Sco (1 mg/kg, i.p). The behavioural performance of the animals was evaluated by passive avoidance, T-maze, and hole-board tests. The effects of extract on AChE activity, brain noradrenalin (NA), and serotonin (Sero) content, and antioxidant status were also monitored., Results: Our experimental data revealed that the S. scardica water extract caused a reduction in degree of memory impairment and anxiety-like behaviour in mice with scopolamine-induced dementia. The extract did not affect changed by the Sco AChE activity but impact reduced brain NA and Sero levels and demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity. In healthy mice we did not confirm the presence of anxiolytic-like and AChE inhibitory effects of the S. scardica water extract. The extract did not change the control Sero brain levels and reduce those of NA., Conclusion: S. scardica water extract demonstrated memory preserving effect in mice with scopolamine-induced dementia and deserve further attention.

1H-benzimidazol-2-yl hydrazones with varying hydroxy and methoxy phenyl moieties were designed. Their effect on tubulin polymerization was evaluated in vitro on porcine tubulin. The compounds elongated the nucleation phase and slowed down the tubulin polymerization comparably to nocodazole. The possible binding modes of the hydrazones with tubulin were explored by molecular docking at the colchicine binding site. The anticancer activity was evaluated against human malignant cell lines MCF-7 and AR-230, as well as against normal fibroblast cells 3T3 and CCL-1. The compounds demonstrated a marked antineoplastic activity in low micromolar concentrations in both screened in vitro tumor models. The most active were the trimethoxy substituted derivative 1i and the positional isomers 1j and 1k , containing hydroxy and methoxy substituents: they showed IC 50 similar to the reference podophyllotoxin in both tumor cell lines, accompanied with high selectivity towards the malignantly transformed cells. The compounds exerted moderate to high ability to scavenge peroxyl radicals and certain derivatives- 1l containing metha -hydroxy and para -methoxy group, and 1b-e with di/trihydroxy phenyl moiety, revealed HORAC values high or comparable to those of well-known phenolic antioxidants. Thus the 1H-benisimidazol-2-yl hydrazones with hydroxy/methoxy phenyl fragments were recognized as new agents exhibiting promising combined antioxidant and antineoplastic action.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system of mammals and plays an important role in the suppression of neurons' excitability. GABA is formed from the decarboxylation of glutamic acid (Glu), and both GABA and Glu could be considered as important biologically active food components. In the current study, we validated a HPLC method for concomitant detection of GABA and Glu in plant samples after derivatization with dansyl chloride. The validated method had high precision and a high recovery rate and was successfully used for GABA and Glu quantification in 55 plant foods (fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, pseudocereals, and nuts) and 19 medicinal plants. Vegetables were the most important dietary source of these amino acids, with the highest quantity of GABA found in potatoes-44.86 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW) and yellow cherry tomatoes-36.82 mg/100 g FW. The highest amount of Glu (53.58 mg/100 g FW) was found in red cherry tomatoes. Analyzed fruits were relatively poor in GABA and Glu, and European gooseberry was the richest fruit with 13.18 mg/100 g FW GABA and 10.95 mg/100 g FW Glu. Cereals, pseudocereals, nuts, and legumes contain much higher amounts of Glu than GABA. The obtained results enrich the available information on the content of gamma-aminobutyric and glutamic acids in plant foods and could be used for the development of GABA-enriched functional foods.

This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of jojoba seed cake extracts against an acute paracetamol (PC) intoxication. Two aqueous extracts from jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) seed cake, a simmondsin-rich extract (WE), and a simmondsin-hydrolyzed extract (NE) using Viscozyme L enzyme have been prepared and characterized. After enzyme treatment, simmondsin content decreased from 33.0 % to 3.0 % and glucose content increased from 16.2 % to 27.3 % reflecting simmondsin hydrolysis. Both extracts were administered to different rat groups via gavage (0.6 g/kg b.w.) before PC treatment (2 g/kg b.w.) three times a week for 3 weeks. The PC intoxication altered the serum biomarkers, the oxidative status, and the Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), Bax and Bcl-2 protein expressions of tested animals. In addition, the histological analysis of liver tissues proved significant injury and hepatocellular necrosis. WE and NE extract showed a relatively high in vitro radical scavenging (ORAC) and averting activities (HORAC) with a polyphenol content of 3.6 % and 2.9 %, respectively. Both extracts showed a powerful in vivo hepatoprotective activity against PC-induced toxicity by improving the hepatocellular antioxidant status and blocking proteins expression (TNF-α, Bax and Bcl-2), involved in inflammation and liver damage. However, the enzymatic treatment improved the hepatoprotective activity of NE despite its lower simmondsin content and lower in vitro antioxidant capacity. This enhancement could be linked to the synergetic effect between the antioxidant components and the new hydrolytic products as glucose, uronic acids, arabinose and simmondsin-aglycons. These results suggest that jojoba waste could be potentially valorized in developing hepatoprotective drugs., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Macrolepiota procera (MP) is an edible mushroom used in the treatment of diabetes, hypertension and inflammation. However, the structure and biological effects of its polysaccharides (PSs) are unclear. This study investigates the structural features of a PS complex from MP (MP-PSC), its immunomodulatory activities and effects on probiotic and pathogenic bacteria. MP-PSC was obtained by boiling water, and PSs were characterized by 2D NMR spectroscopy. The immunomodulatory effects on blood and derived neutrophils, other leukocytes, and murine macrophages were studied by flow cytometry, chemiluminescence, spectrophotometry, and ELISA. The total carbohydrate content of MP-PSC was 74.2%, with glycogen occupying 36.7%, followed by β -D-glucan, α -L-fuco-2-(1,6)-D-galactan, and β -D-glucomannan. MP-PSC (200 μg/mL) increased the number of CD14+ monocyte cells in the blood, after ex vivo incubation for 24 h. It dose-dependently (50-200 μg/mL) activated the spontaneous oxidative burst of whole blood phagocytes, NO, and interleukin 6 productions in RAW264.7 cells. MP-PSC exhibited a low antioxidant activity and failed to suppress the oxidative burst and NO generation, induced by inflammatory agents. It (2.0%, w / v ) stimulated probiotic co-cultures and hindered the growth and biofilm development of Escherichia coli , Streptococcus mutans and Salmonella enterica . MP PSs can be included in synbiotics to test their immunostimulating effects on compromised immune systems and gut health.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Geranium sanguineum L. is used for treatment of inflammations, anemia, malignant diseases of the blood-forming organs, diarrhea, respiratory infections, etc. Only flavonoids in root extracts have been elucidated as immunostimulating and anti-inflammatory compounds, and polysaccharides in the herb have not been examined., Aim of the Study: to compare the chemical features of polysaccharide complexes (PSCs) from leaves (GSL-PSC) and roots (GSR-PSC) of G. sanguineum, as well as their immunomodulatory activities on leukocytes after inflammation, and effects on the growth of different bacteria., Materials and Methods: The samples were isolated by water extraction and their structural features were studied by 2D NMR spectroscopy. The stimulatory effects of both PSCs on human leukocytes were analyzed with flow cytometry. Their suppressive activities on the oxidative burst in blood and derived neutrophils against opsonized zymosan and phorbol myristate acetate were investigated. The effects of the samples on viability, NO and interleukin 6 (IL-6) syntheses in RAW264.7 cells after inflammation with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were tested. The prebiotic and anti-biofilm activities of the PSCs were evaluated., Results: The total carbohydrate content in the samples was significant (73.6-76.8%). GSL-PSC contained pectins, which were rich in homogalacturonan (HG), and smaller amounts of rhamnogalacturonan (RG) type I, decorated by 1,5-α-L-Araf, 1,4- and 1,6-β-D-Galp chains. GSR-PSC contained starch, followed by pectins with lower HG content and more RG-I regions, substituted by 1 → 3,5-α-L-arabinans and 1 → 3,6-β-D-galactans. GSL-PSC and GSR-PSC (200 μg/mL) increased monocyte and granulocyte cell counts, but GSR-PSC also elevated T helper and B cell levels in a normal and activated state. GSR-PSC triggered a dose-dependent (50-200 μg/mL) oxidative burst in blood, but alleviated it after inflammation even in blood-derived neutrophils. It was free of LPS, and activated NO and IL-6 productions in RAW264.7 cells better than GSL-PSC, without affecting their viability. Both PSCs (2.0%, w/v) stimulated probiotic co-cultures between Clostridium beijerinckii strains and Lactobacillus sp. ZK9, and inhibited the growth and biofilm formation of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus mutans and Salmonella enterica., Conclusions: The PSs in G. sanguineum could be involved in the stimulatory effects on blood-forming organs and anti-inflammatory action of aqueous root extracts in case of infections. These PSs should be included in synbiotic foods to support the treatment of inflammations and infections in the gut., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The current study aimed to determine the major and minor nutritional constituents of Sorbus domestica L. fruits. It was revealed that palmitic acid was the most commonly occurring saturated fatty acid, while linoleic acid represented the major polyunsaturated fatty acid. The sterol fraction consisted mainly of β -sitosterol. Small amounts of lipophilic pigments were quantified. Potassium, iron, and boron were the most abundant macro-, micro-, and ultra-trace elements. The amino acid composition analysis suggested that the non-essential amino acids predominated over the essential ones. Soluble sugars (fructose and glucose) represented a large part of the total carbohydrate content, but pectin formed the major part of polysaccharides. Malic acid was the most abundant organic acid whereas quercetin-3- β -glucoside, neochlorogenic, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acids were the major phenolic constituents. Fruits exhibited free-radical scavenging and protecting ability against peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals. Service tree fruits provided valuable bioactive constituents having a high nutritional value and potential health benefits.

The instant noodles were prepared with incorporation of two Egyptian quinoa seeds accessions to assess the impact of adding quinoa on cooking quality, texture properties, and organoleptic characteristics of instant noodles. Two groups of instant noodles were formulated with substituting wheat flour (72% extract) by quinoa seeds flour from red-colored SHAMS 17-2 and non-colored SHAMS 16 accessions at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% (w/w). The physicochemical and functional properties were determined as well as FTIR analysis was carried out. The results showed that incorporation of 10-30% quinoa seeds flour (w/w) in wheat-flour increased total polyphenol content, antioxidant activity, textural parameters, and cooking qualities without influencing the overall acceptability and instrumental color of noodles. The addition of quinoa flour donated to rapid rehydration, advanced cooking loss, water absorption, and amplified porosity. Besides, noodles with 50% of SHAMS 17-2 or SHAMS 16 shifted the FTIR spectrum of each amid in a noodle model, confirming that the phyto-complexes of quinoa seeds interacted with glutenins and/or gliadins amides of wheat flour, thus altering noodles properties. In conclusion, this work provided evidence that the red-colored quinoa seeds might be expended as a partial-ingredient for wheat-flour during instant noodles manufacturing., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestAuthors have announced that there is no struggle or conflict of interest., (© Association of Food Scientists & Technologists (India) 2021.)

The aim of the study is to evaluate the effect of Aronia melanocarpa fruit juice (AMJ) supplementation on age-related coronary arteries remodeled in aged rat hearts. Male Wistar rats (n = 24) were divided into three groups: (1) young controls (CY), aged 2 months, without AMJ supplementation; (2) old controls (CO), aged 27 months, without AMJ supplementation; and (3) the AMJ group (A), which used 27-month old animals, supplemented orally with AMJ for 105 days. AMJ supplementation did not influence the wall-to-diameter parameter (Kernohan index) of the coronary arteries of test animals. Aged rats supplemented with AMJ showed a significant decrease in the amount of collagen fibers in their coronary tunica media, as compared with the old controls. The intensity of the immunoreaction for alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA) in the coronary tunica media was significantly lower in the supplemented group than in the old controls. The intensity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) immunoreaction in the coronary tunica media of the supplemented group was significantly higher than the one observed in the old controls. These results indicate the positive effects of AMJ supplementation on the age-dependent remodeling of coronary arteries and support for the preventive potential of antioxidant-rich functional food supplementation in age-related diseases.

Gamma irradiation is efficiently applied to many foods, but nevertheless there is a distinct lack of information about the changes of macro- and micronutrients (e.g., carbohydrates, lipids, organic acids, and phenolics) in dried rose hip (RH) fruits. Therefore, in this study, for the first time, the effect of gamma irradiation (10 and 25 kGy) on RH constituents is investigated. Different analytical techniques (GC-FID, HPLC-UV, HPSEC-RID, IR-FT, and SEM) are employed to examine this effect. The irradiation treatment (10 kGy) increased the glucose content by 30% and released cellobiose from RH fruits, thus revealing cellulose destruction. The extractability of total uronic acids increased from 51% (control) to 70.5% (25 kGy-irradiated), resulting in a higher pectin yield (10.8% < 12.8% < 13.4%) and molecular heterogeneity. Moreover, de-esterification was not a major effect of the irradiation-induced degradation of pectin. The sample exposure to the highest dose did not change the content of total carotenoids, β-carotene, and (un)saturated fatty acids, but it affected the tocopherols levels. Gamma rays had a negligible effect on the phenolic constituents and did not affect ORAC and HORAC antioxidant activity. In conclusion, it can be compromised that the exposition of dried RH is safe and can be successfully applied to decontaminate fruits without affecting their nutritional value and biological activity.

The present study investigates the effect of the addition of medicinal plants, such as lady's mantle, lavender, rosehip, and meadowsweet, on the chemical composition, antioxidant activity, and color intensity of ready-to-drink aronia nectar during pasteurization and long-term storage. Pasteurization caused a significant decrease in anthocyanin content of aronia nectar, which reduced to 20% of the initial value after four months of storage. Herbs provided different protection to aronia anthocyanins that degraded more slowly during the four-month storage compared to pasteurized control without herbs. The addition of medicinal plants enriched aronia nectar with phenolic compounds and increased its antioxidant activity by up to 52% in meadowsweet-aronia nectar. Moreover, it was accompanied by a color intensity magnification due to co-pigmentation of aronia anthocyanins and herbal phenolics. In contrast to anthocyanins, which constantly degraded during the whole period, color intensity began to stabilize after 30 days, demonstrating that co-pigmentation was progressively established during the time and rosehip provided the best stabilization of aronia nectar color. Current research demonstrates for the first time that medicinal plants such as lady's mantle, rosehip, and especially meadowsweet can be used to increase antioxidant activity, color, and anthocyanin stability of black chokeberry functional beverages.

In this study, for the first time, the potential of rose flowers and lavender straw waste biomass was studied as feeding lignocellulose substrates for the cultivation of newly isolated in Bulgaria Ganoderma resinaceum GA1M with the objective of obtaining mycelium - based bio - composites. The chemical characterization and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy established that the proximate composition of steam distilled lavender straw (SDLS) and hexane extracted rose flowers (HERF) was a serious prerequisite supporting the self - growth of mycelium bio - materials with improved antibacterial and aromatic properties. The basic physico - mechanical properties of the developed bio - composites were determined. The apparent density of the mycelium HERF - based bio - composites (462 kg/m 3 ) was higher than that of the SDLS - based bio - composite (347 kg/m 3 ) and both were much denser than expanded polystyren (EPS), lighter than medium - density fiber board (MDF) and oriented strand board (OSB) and similar to hempcrete. The preliminary testing of their compressive behavior revealed that the compressive resistance of SDLS - based bio - composite was 718 kPa, while for HERF - based bio - composite it was 1029 kPa and both values are similar to the compressive strength of hempcrete with similar apparent density. Water absorbance analysis showed, that both mycelium HERF - and SDLS - based bio - composites were hydrophilic and further investigations are needed to limit the hydrophilicity of the lignocellulose fibers, to tune the density and to improve compressive resistance.

A closed-vessel microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of simmondsins and polyphenols from defatted Jojoba cake using Box-Benkhen design with four independent variables (solvent/cake ratio, ethanol concentration, extraction time and microwave power) was investigated. ANOVA results showed that the obtained models were significant at 95% confidence level. Optimal extraction conditions were found for highest values of microwave power (500 W) and extraction time (15 min) and for moderate values of solvent to cake ratio (41 - 45 mL/g). Optimum simmondsins yield (23.35%) was obtained with pure water as solvent. However, optimum polyphenols yield (2.33%) and ORAC antioxidant activity (656 µmol TE/g) were obtained with 46.79% and 42.04% ethanol in water, respectively. ORAC antioxidant activity was found to be well correlated to polyphenol and simmondsin contents. These results indicate that MAE is an effective technique for recovery of bioactive compounds for food and pharmaceutical industries from Jojoba by-products., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Plant-based foods rich in phenolic phytochemicals are among the promising strategies to counteract age-related changes in lipid profile. Aronia melanocarpa (AM) fruits are a rich source of phenolic compounds possessing lipid-modulating effects. The present study investigated the effect of 3-month supplementation of AM-based functional beverages on the lipid profile of healthy aging rats. Male Wistar rats ( n = 40) were separated into five groups: (YC) young controls (2-month-old); (AC) adult controls (13-month-old); (A) adult animals supplemented with pure AM extract; (A + P) adult animals supplemented with pectin-enriched (1%) AM extract; (A + H) adult animals supplemented with AM extract enriched with a herbal mixture. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and atherogenic indices were investigated at the end of the study. Adult controls demonstrated age-related dyslipidemia resulting in decreased HDL-C, and increased TG and TC/HDL index. The supplemented groups showed a significant increase in HDL-C levels: A + P (1.49 mmol/L) and A + H (1.61 mmol/L), respectively, vs. AC (1.09 mmol/L), p < 0.05. The TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C indices were decreased in the A + P and A + H groups in comparison to the AC group ( p < 0.05). These results indicate that supplementation with polyphenol-rich AM beverages can successfully alter HDL-C levels and this effect is further potentiated by pectin and herbs.

Malt is the main raw material for beer production, which determines not only its taste and aroma profile, but to a large extent its biological value, as well. The aim of the present research was to determine the antioxidant profile of different malt types as a basis for the development of new types of beer with increased antioxidant activity. In the present study the main brewing characteristics, the phenolic profile and the antioxidant potential of 20 malt types used in craft breweries in Bulgaria have been examined. The main brewing characteristics have been determined by the standardized methods of the European Brewing Convention. Malt phenolic content was determined by two methods, and antioxidant potential by five different methods. Based on a statistical factor analysis performed by the principal component analysis, it was confirmed that there was a relationship between malt color and phenolic compounds content. The principal component analysis confirmed that there was a link between the content of the Maillard reaction products and malt biological activity. Malts with the highest degree of heat treatment were characterized by the highest antioxidant activity, which was due to the content of Maillard reaction products with antioxidant capacity.

The current study investigates the content of sugars, organic acids, phenolic acids and flavonoids, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Balkan-endemic Micromeria frivaldszkyana . Glucose was the most abundant sugar in the plant (2.77%), followed by fructose (1.18%) and galactose (0.82%). Eight organic acids were detected with quinic acid being in the highest content-556.3 mg/100 g DW. From the individual phenolic acids, rosmarinic acid was found in the most significant amounts (2040.1 ± 1.97 mg/100 g) and hesperidin was the major representative of flavonoids with content 131.2 ± 5.6 mg/100 g DW. The antioxidant activity of the plant was studied by six methods: 2,2'-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH)-286.4 ± 10.43 mM TE/g, 2,2'azinobis (3)-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)-358.4 ± 10.4 mM TE/g, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)-388.0 ± 32.4 mM TE/g, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC)-905.6 ± 19.2 mM TE/g, Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC)-3250.5 ± 208.1 µmol TE/g and Hydroxyl Radical Averting Capacity (HORAC)-306.1 ± 23.5 µmol GAE/g. In vitro antimicrobial activity against nine microorganism was evaluated but the extract displayed antimicrobial activity only against Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19111 with inhibition zone diameter 9 mm and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 10 mg/mL.

Until now, the interest to plants from genus Scutellaria in Bulgaria has been focused mainly on the terpenes in them. The purpose of this study is to enrich the information on the composition of the Bulgarian Scutellaria species in terms of both polyphenolic content as well as primary metabolites such as mono-, oligosaccharides and organic acids. An aerial part of three Scutellaria species growing in four low mountain regions of Southern Bulgaria was used. The flavonoids scutellarin, baicalin, baicalein, wogonin, wogonoside, luteolin, chrysin and a caffeoyl phenylethanoid glycoside-verbascoside have been identified via HPLC in different extracts from Scutellaria altissima, Scutellaria albida and Scutellaria galericulata . The antioxidant activity of the extracts has been evaluated. The Scutellaria altissima from Mezek and Scutellaria galericulata from Parvenets we studied, which are the richest in flavonoids (represented mainly by baicalin, scutellarin and wogonoside), show the highest Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity. Hydroxyl Radical Averting Capacity of Scutellaria albida from Mezek and Scutellaria altissima from Bachkovo is the most pronounced, probably due to the content of scutellarin and luteolin and chrysin, respectively. Antioxidant activity of aqueous, methanolic and 70% and 96% ethanol extracts were also determined by the electrochemical method.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Haberlea rhodopensis (HR) use dates back to the Thracian and Roman periods. Bulgarians call it Orpheus flower and exploit its leaves for making tea and extracts with detoxifying, tonic, restorative and rejuvenating effects. HR was traditionally applied in wound healing and treatment of cattle diseases., Aim of the Study: The general aim of the review was to analyze the progress of phytochemical and pharmacological studies on HR, focusing on its radioprotective and immunomodulating effects., Materials and Methods: The main source material for the review was collected using several global search engines with the phrase: Haberlea rhodopensis, as well as Bulgarian books and dissertations., Results: HR metabolite profile includes large amounts of free sugars, polyols, polysaccharides (PS), flavonoids, phenolic acids and carotenoids. The radioprotective effect of 70% ethanolic leaf extract (70HREE) is explained by preservation of lymphocytes, other blood cells and testicular tissue from aberration under γ-radiation via stimulation of antioxidant enzymes and neutralization of free radicals. The extract immunomodulating activity results from raised antibody response, stem and neutrophil cell count, complement system activation, anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory effects. The detoxifying, restorative, rejuvenating and wound healing plant properties known to ethnomedicine were supported by radioprotective and immunomodulating studies., Conclusions: Metabolites of phenolic origin involved in HR resurrection are supposed to contribute to its radioprotective, immunomodulatory, anti-mutagenic and anti-aging effects. However, there is no chemical characterization of 70HREE in the investigations with humans and animals. Structure-activity relationship studies on HR immunomodulating and radioprotective compounds, and on their mode of action are required. They should include not only phenols but PS and other unexplored molecules. The metabolic activity of phagocytes, platelets and lymphocytes triggered by HR extracts has to be examined to elucidate their immunostimulatory potential. HR formulations can be tested in cosmetic, food and medical products as adjuvants to treat infectious, chronic inflammatory and tumour diseases, and especially in patients undergoing radiotherapy., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of polyphenol-rich Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot juice (AMJ) on learning ability and memory, and brain morphology of aged rats. A model of healthy male Wistar rats (24 months of age) divided in 2 groups was used: AMJ group supplemented orally with AMJ (10 mL/kg for 105 days) and old control (CO) group without supplementation. Activity cage test showed that AMJ supplemented rats increased the number of vertical movements compared with old controls (p < 0.05). In active avoidance test, supplemented rats increased the number of avoidances on 3rd, 4th and 5th days of learning session, compared with the respective day of old controls (p < 0.05). AMJ supplementation did not affect the mean neuronal number in the dentate gyrus but significantly increased the density of nerve fibers in the perforant path of the hippocampus (p < 0.05). AMJ supplementation increased acetylcholinesterase activity in hippocampus, which is a marker of improved functional activity of the cholinergic neurons. These results indicate that AMJ induced ameliorating changes in the ability of old rats to learn tasks and improved their locomotor functions. AMJ showed a neuroprotective effect by increasing the density of nerve fibers in the hippocampal perforant pathway., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of four Aronia melanocarpa-based juices in a rat model of indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration. THE JUICES WERE: AM1 and AM2 (produced from aronia fruits at 20 °C and 60 °C, respectively), AMRC (a mixture of AM2 with Rosa canina extract) and AMAV (aronia juice with Alchemilla vulgaris). Male Wistar rats were used. Each of the juices (10 ml/kg) was administered for 10 days. Indomethacin (30 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously and after 4 h, the effects were estimated. Indomethacin caused heavy destructions of the gastric mucosa, increased the expression of Bax and decreased the expression of Bcl-2, induced a certain increase in lipid peroxidation and a slight decrease in gastric PGE2 content. The pretreatment with the juices reduced the severity of indomethacin-induced gastric lesions and antagonized the effects of indomethacin on apoptosis and lipid peroxidation. The highest was the protective effect of AMAV, the juice with the highest polyphenolic content. The protective effect of Aronia melanocarpa-based juices against indomethacin-induced gastric lesions could be attributed to their polyphenolic contents. The mechanism involved to the highest extent in the protective effect of the juices was the inhibition of apoptosis., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The current study reports data on antioxidant, antimicrobial and neutrophil-modulating activities of different polyphenolic preparations from black chokeberry fruits: crude extract, purified extract standardized to 20% and 40% anthocyanins, and proanthocyanidins; as well as pure compounds (chlorogenic acid, cyanidin-3-O-galactoside, epicatechin, rutin and quercetin) present in black chokeberries. Minor phenolic components - quercetin and epicatechin showed the highest ORAC and TRAP antioxidant activity. Given the amount of individual phenolics in the fruits, proanthocyanidins are the major contributor to antioxidant activity of fresh black chokeberries. Studied polyphenols and preparations had no effect on the spontaneous chemiluminescence (CL) of human neutrophils and only mild effect on PMA-activated CL. Greater effects were observed on OZP-activated CL, being statistically significant (p < 0.05) for quercetin and rutin. The antimicrobial activity test against 10 pathogens showed that black chokeberry proanthocyanidins are the most potent antimicrobial agents in the fruit., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The co-pigmentation of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) anthocyanins with ten phenolic co-pigments was studied. Tested compounds provoked different co-pigmentation effect, manifested by hyperchromic and batochromic shifts. The co-pigmentation was accompanied by a magnification of color intensity and decrease of color hue, both related to a more pleasant color. The hyperchromic effect was the most significant for rosmarinic acid (51.02%), syringic acid (43.24%) and catechin (39.73%). However, it was observed at the highest pigment/co-pigment ratio (1:50), not achievable in plant matter. Targeting the potential practical application of co-pigmentation, we tested eight herbal extracts for their co-pigmentation ability with aronia anthocyanins. The use of herbal extracts led to a significant hyperchromic effect at much lower pigment/co-pigment ratios, compared to pure compounds. The use of selected herbal extracts as co-pigments opens realistic prospects for development of aronia functional foods with improved sensory properties and biological effects, due to enhanced color and anthocyanin stability., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The effect of lavender (Lavandula angustifolia) and melissa (Melissa Officinalis) waste on preparation, characteristics and shelf life of bread was investigated. It was found that lavender and melissa waste, generated yearly in large amounts, were rich on polyphenols (especially rosmarinic acid) and aroma compounds, and exhibited high antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. The bread with 2.5% lavender waste was characterized with the highest loaf volume and loaf specific volume. The total dietary fiber increased three times and the polyphenols and flavonoids increased more than four times for breads with added 5% lavender and melissa waste, compared to control sample. The breads with 2.5% and 5% added lavender waste had increased shelf life (up to 96 h) compared to control, and no fungal or bacterial spoilage was observed during storage at 22 °C, 30 °C and 37 °C for four days. The sensory evaluation demonstrated that the consumers preferred mainly bread with 2.5% lavender waste., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Three polysaccharide complexes (PSCs) were isolated from the aerial parts of common purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), and the flowers of common lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) and silver linden (Tilia tomentosa Moench) by boiling water extraction and ethanol precipitation. The chemical composition and immunomodulating effects of isolated PSCs were characterized. The chemical characterization revealed that the three samples contain mainly pectic polysaccharides. They exhibited ex vivo intestinal immunomodulating activity through the murine Peyer's patch-mediated bone marrow cell proliferation test at 100μg/ml concentration. At the same time, they stimulated ex vivo human blood T-cell populations (CD4 + /CD25 + and CD8 + /CD25 + ), phagocytic leukocytes (CD14 + and CD64 + cells) and induced IL-6 production from human white blood cells and Peyer's patch cells. The herbal PSCs stimulated ex vivo ROS production from whole blood phagocytes and showed unspecific in vitro anti-proliferative activity against normal and A549, HeLa and LS180 tumor cells. This is the first report on immunomodulating studies of linden flower pectins and chemical and biological activity characterization of lavender polysaccharides. Our study demonstrates that similarly to purslane, lavender and silver linden herbal materials contain immunomodulating polysaccharides that could be useful for support of compromised immune system., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Silver linden flowers contain different pectins (PSI-PSIII) with immunomodulating properties. PSI is a low-esterified pectic polysaccharide with predominant homogalacturonan region, followed by rhamnogalacturonan I (RGI) with arabinogalactan II and RGII (traces) domains. PSII and PSIII are unusual glucuronidated RGI polymers. PSIII is a unique high molecular weight RGI, having almost completely O-3 glucuronidated GalA units with >30% O-3 acetylation at the Rha units. Linden pectins induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and NO generation from non-stimulated whole blood phagocytes and macrophages, resp., but suppressed OZP-(opsonized zymosan particles)-activated ROS generation, LPS-induced iNOS expression and NO production. This dual mode of action suggests their anti-inflammatory activity, which is known for silver linden extracts. PSI expressed the highest complement fixation and macrophage-stimulating activities and was active on intestinal Peyer's patch cells. PSIII was active on non-stimulated neutrophils, as it induced ß 2 -integrin expression, revealing that acetylated and highly glucuronidated RGI exhibits immunomodulating properties via phagocytes., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Two pectic (chPS-L1, chPS-L2) and one polyphenolic (chPP-L) fractions were obtained from lavender flowers after boiling water extraction, exhaustive removing of alcohol-soluble molecules and SEC. chPS-L1 (52.4kDa) contains mainly low-acetylated and high-methoxylated homogalacturonans (HG), and smaller rhamnogalacturonan (RG) I backbone fragments rich in 1,3,5-branched arabinan and arabinogalactan (AG) II side chains. chPS-L2 (21.8kDa) contains predominantly similarly esterified HG, followed by RGI with AGII structures and RGII. The prevalence of catechin and epicatechin in chPP-L indicates that they form weak interactions with pectins. chPS-L1 and chPS-L2 enhanced ß 2 -integrin expression on neutrophils, inducing ROS generation and macrophage NO production. Both the effects on ß 2 -integrin and high complement fixation activity of chPS-L1 were proposed for its inhibitory action against PMA- and OZP-activated ROS formation. This, together with suppression of NO generation after co-stimulation with chPS-L1 and LPS, suggested anti-inflammatory activity of studied pectins. Lavender polysaccharides expressed intestinal Peyer's patch immunomodulating activity., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study compares the ability to scavenge different peroxyl radicals and to act as chain-breaking antioxidants of monomers related to curcumin (1): dehydrozingerone (2), zingerone (3), (2Z,5E)-ethyl 2-hydroxy-6-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-4-oxohexa-2,5-dienoate (4), ferulic acid (5) and their corresponding C 2-symmetric dimers 6-9. Four models were applied: model 1 - chemiluminescence (CL) of a hydrocarbon substrate used for determination of the rate constants (k A) of the reactions of the antioxidants with peroxyl radicals; model 2 - lipid autoxidation (lipidAO) used for assessing the chain-breaking antioxidant efficiency and reactivity; model 3 - oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), which yields the activity against peroxyl radicals generated by an azoinitiator; model 4 - density functional theory (DFT) calculations at UB3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level, applied to explain the structure-activity relationship. Dimers showed 2-2.5-fold higher values of k A than their monomers. Model 2 gives information about the effects of the side chains and revealed much higher antioxidant activity for monomers and dimers with α,β-unsaturated side chains. Curcumin and 6 in fact are dimers of the same monomer 2. We conclude that the type of linkage between the two "halves" by which the molecule is made up does not exert influence on the antioxidant efficiency and reactivity of these two dimers. The dimers and the monomers demonstrated higher activity than Trolox (10) in aqueous medium (model 3). A comparison of the studied compounds with DL-α-tocopherol (11), Trolox and curcumin is made. All dimers are characterized through lower bond dissociation enthalpies (BDEs) than their monomers (model 4), which qualitatively supports the experimental results.

Age-related diseases are a social problem of global significance and their prevention by natural products is a research area of particular interest. The present study is an approach to counteract the risk factors for atherosclerosis arising in the aging process by supplementation of chokeberry juice. It employed a model of healthy adult rats monitored for a number of somatometric, serum lipidogram, and histopathological parameters, related to risk factors and their response to supplementation with antioxidant-rich chokeberry juice. The results were used to calculate different atherogenic and cardioprotective indices, and all results were compared to those of young healthy rats. Chokeberry juice proved an extremely rich source of polyphenols resulting in very high antioxidant activity. Treatment with Aronia juice significantly lowered the proatherogenic low-density lipoprotein fraction of the animals studied and led to a 16.5% decrease in their total cholesterol. Atherogenic indices in Aronia-supplemented animals clearly showed lower atherogenic risk and cardioprotective indices indicated protection of the cardiovascular system. Besides that, chokeberry juice retarded the age-related changes in the aortic wall and can be recommended as a prophylactic tool for healthy aging.

Small fruits are a rich source of bioactive substances, including polyphenols, and are therefore suitable raw materials for the production of functional foods. In the current work, we studied the antioxidative properties of six fruits: rosehip, chokeberry, hawthorn, blackcurrant, blueberry and rowanberry via different methods (ORAC, TRAP, HORAC and inhibition of lipid peroxidation). Their effect on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by phagocytes, antimicrobial properties against 11 human pathogens, and mitogenic effect on hamster spleen lymphocytes were also tested. Rosehip extract showed the highest antioxidant activity via ORAC, TRAP and HORAC assays, whereas blueberry extract was the most potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation. All extracts inhibited ROS production of opsonized zymosan-activated phagocytes, indicating that extracts interfere with the signaling cascade of phagocyte activation upstream to the protein kinase C activation. Chokeberry, blackcurrant and rowanberry extracts revealed strong antimicrobial properties against a broad spectrum of microorganisms and also had the highest mitogenic activity., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The present study provides a comprehensive data on the antioxidant, antimicrobial and neutrophil-modulating activities of extracts from six medicinal plants--blackberry (Rubus fruticosus) leaves, chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) leaves, hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) leaves, lady's mantle (Alchemilla glabra) aerial parts, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) aerial parts and raspberry (Rubus idaeus) leaves. In order to analyze the antioxidant activity of the herbs, several methods (ORAC, TRAP, HORAC and inhibition of lipid peroxidation) were used. Blackberry leaves and meadowsweet extracts revealed the highest antioxidant activities via all methods. All extracts studied blocked almost completely the opsonized zymosan particle-activated ROS production by neutrophils from human whole blood. On the other hand, the effect of extracts on phorbol myristate acetate-activated ROS production was much milder and even nonsignificant in the case of chokeberry leaves. This latter result suggests that extracts (apart from their antioxidative activity) interfere with the signaling cascade of phagocyte activation upstream of the protein kinase C activation. The antimicrobial activity of the investigated extracts against 11 human pathogens was investigated using three different methods. Meadowsweet and blackberry leaves extracts had the highest antimicrobial effect and the lowest minimal inhibiting concentrations (MICs) against the microorganisms tested.

The current survey investigates the effect of four polysaccharides isolated from fresh leek or alcohol insoluble substances (AIS) of leek on the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) from phagocytes. The ability of the polysaccharides to activate serum complement was also investigated. Despite the lack of antioxidant activity, the pectic polysaccharides significantly decreased the production of ROS by human neutrophils. Polysaccharides isolated from AIS markedly activated RAW 264.7 macrophages for RNS production in a concentration-dependent manner. The Western blot analysis revealed that this effect was due to the stimulation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression of macrophages. The polysaccharides extracted from AIS with water showed the ability to fix serum complement, especially through the alternative pathway. It was found that the polysaccharide that has the highest complement-fixing effect is characterized by the highest content of uronic acids and the highest molecular weight.

Cigarette smoke (CS) and dietary factors play a major role in cancer epidemiology. At the same time, however, the diet is the richest source of anticancer agents. Berries possess a broad array of health protective properties and were found to attenuate the yield of tumors induced by individual carcinogens in the rodent digestive tract and mammary gland but failed to prevent lung tumors induced by typical CS components in mice. We exposed whole-body Swiss ICR mice to mainstream CS, starting at birth and continuing daily for 4 months. Aqueous extracts of black chokeberry and strawberry were given as the only source of drinking water, starting after weaning and continuing for 7 months, thus mimicking an intervention in current smokers. In the absence of berries, CS caused a loss of body weight, induced early cytogenetical damage in circulating erythrocytes and histopathological alterations in lung (emphysema, blood vessel proliferation, alveolar epithelial hyperplasia and adenomas), liver (parenchymal degeneration) and urinary bladder (epithelial hyperplasia). Both berry extracts inhibited the CS-related body weight loss, cytogenetical damage, liver degeneration, pulmonary emphysema and lung adenomas. Protective effects were more pronounced in female mice, which may be ascribed to modulation by berry components of the metabolism of estrogens implicated in lung carcinogenesis. Interestingly, both the carcinogen and the chemopreventive agents tested are complex mixtures that contain a multitude of components working through composite mechanisms., (Copyright © 2012 UICC.)

This work describes the method for total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and/or total content of phenolics (TCP) analysis in wines using microdialysis online-coupled with amperometric detection using a carbon microfiber working electrode. The system was tested on 10 selected wine samples, and the results were compared with total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and chemiluminescent determination of total antioxidant capacity (CL-TAC) methods using Trolox and catechin as standards. Microdialysis online-coupled with amperometric detection gives similar results to the widely used cyclic voltammetry methodology and closely correlates with ORAC and TRAP. The problem of electrode fouling is overcome by the introduction of an electrochemical cleaning step (1-2 min at the potential of 0 V vs Ag/AgCl). Such a procedure is sufficient to fully regenerate the electrode response for both red and white wine samples as well as catechin/Trolox standards. The appropriate size of microdialysis probes enables easy automation of the electrochemical TAC/TCP measurement using 96-well microtitration plates.

Neutrophils represent the front-line defence cells in protecting organisms against infection and play an irreplaceable role in the proper performance of the immune system. As early as within the first minutes of stimulation, neutrophilic NADPH oxidase is activated, and cells release large quantities of highly toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). These oxidants can be highly toxic not only for infectious agents but also for neighboring host tissues. Since flavonoids exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, they are subjects of interest for pharmacological modulation of ROS production. The present paper summarizes contemporary knowledge on the effects of various flavonoids on the respiratory burst of mammalian neutrophils. It can be summarized that the inhibitory effects of flavonoids on the respiratory burst of phagocytes are mediated via inhibition of enzymes involved in cell signaling as well as via modulation of redox status. However, the effects of flavonoids are even more complex, and several sites of action, depending upon the flavonoid structure and way of application, are included.

The members of Verbascum L. (Scrophulariaceae) are known to be rich in phenylethnoid glycosides, and among them Verbascum xanthophoeniceum is an endemic plant species for the Balkan region, Northwestern, and Southern Turkey. A scheme was developed for the isolation of the main active constituents that accumulate in plant aerial parts. The antioxidant activities of total methanol extracts, collected phenylethanoid glycosides fractions and specific active constituents (forsythoside B, verbascoside and leucosceptoside B) were then evaluated in 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH·), oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORACFL), hydroxyl radical averting capacity (HORACFL), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and superoxide anion (O2(-)) radical scavenging assays. In vitro acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChe) inhibitory activities of abovementioned extracts, fractions and isolated pure compounds were also examined. Depending on the method used, forsythoside B, verbascoside and leucosceptoside B proved to be effective radical scavengers and cholinesterases inhibitors. On the basis of these findings it can be proposed that in addition to providing a potent source of antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds, Verbascum plants could serve as attractive mines of powerful antioxidants for various purposes., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Betalains are water-soluble plant pigments that are widely used as food colorants, and have a wide range of desirable biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, anti-cancer properties. They can be produced from various plants, notably beetroot, but betalain products obtained in this way also have some undesirable properties and are difficult to standardize. A potentially attractive alternative is to use hairy root cultures. In the study reported here, we found that betalain extracts obtained from hairy root cultures of the red beetroot B. vulgaris cv. Detroit Dark Red also had higher antioxidant activity than extracts obtained from mature beetroots: six-fold higher 2,2-dyphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging ability (90.7% inhibition, EC(50) = 0.11 mg, vs 14.2% inhibition, EC(50) = 0.70 mg) and 3.28-fold higher oxygen radical absorbance capacity (4,100 microM TE/g dry extract, vs 1,250 microM TE/g dry extract). The high antioxidant activity of the hairy root extracts was associated with increased concentrations (more than 20-fold) of total phenolic concomitant compounds, which may have synergistic effects with betalains. The presence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, caffeic acid, catechin hydrate, and epicatechin were detected in both types of extract, but at different concentrations. Rutin was only present at high concentration (1.096 mg.g(-1) dry extract) in betalain extracts from the hairy root cultures, whereas chlorogenic acid was only detected at measurable concentrations in extracts from intact plants.