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Polyphenols have attracted attention for their anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and anticancer properties. Due to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of these molecules, they are also proposed as a potential therapeutic tool to prevent complications of cancer and decrease the secondary effects of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. Nonetheless, polyphenols such as flavonoids and phenolic acids have low bioavailability, as they are highly metabolized. Thus, administration strategies have been developed to enhance the anticancer properties of polyphenols. Most of these strategies involve different encapsulation techniques, such as nanoencapsulation, nanoemulsion, and the use of other polymeric matrixes. These techniques can increase the activity of these compounds after going through the gastrointestinal process and improve their solubility in an aqueous medium. This review comprises recent studies regarding encapsulation techniques to enhance the bioactivity of polyphenols against cancer and their current state in clinical studies. Overall, micro- and nanoencapsulation techniques with different polymers enhanced the anticancer properties of polyphenols by inhibiting tumor growth, modulating the expression of genes related to metastasis and angiogenesis, decreasing the expression of pro-inflammatory biomarkers.

Plants of the Phoradendron genus have been traditionally used for their lipid- and glucose-lowering effects. However, the compounds responsible for these effects and the overall chemical profile of these plants have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to characterize the metabolome of leaves, stems, and aerial parts of the Phoradendron brachystachyum plant. We used mass spectrometry and colorimetric screening techniques (with various solvents) to identify and characterize the metabolites present. We also evaluated the antioxidant (FRAP, ORAC, TEAC, and DPPH assays) and inhibitory effects on pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase enzymes of hydrophilic extracts. Furthermore, we compared the molecular fingerprints between the identified metabolites and FDA-approved drugs to gain insights into the metabolites that might be responsible for the observed effects on enzymes. Our findings revealed the presence of 59 putative metabolites, primarily flavonoids. However, we also hint at the presence of peptide and carbohydrate derivatives. The leaf extracts demonstrated the most promising metrics across all assays, exhibiting strong antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory effects as well as high levels of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and tannins. Fingerprint analysis suggested potential peptide and carbohydrate metabolites as pancreatic lipase and α-glucosidase inhibitors. Overall, our study provides evidence on specific metabolites in Phoradendron brachystachyum that could be responsible for the therapeutic effects noted in obese and type 2 diabetes subjects.

A wound is the loss of the normal integrity, structure, and functions of the skin due to a physical, chemical, or mechanical agent. Wound repair consists of an orderly and complex process divided into four phases: coagulation, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. The potential of natural products in the treatment of wounds has been reported in numerous studies, emphasizing those with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties, e.g., alkaloids, saponins, terpenes, essential oils, and polyphenols from different plant sources, since these compounds can interact in the various stages of the wound healing process. This review addresses the most current in vitro and in vivo studies on the wound healing potential of natural products, as well as the main mechanisms involved in this activity. We observed sufficient evidence of the activity of these compounds in the treatment of wounds; however, we also found that there is no consensus on the effective concentrations in which the natural products exert this activity. For this reason, it is important to work on establishing optimal treatment doses, as well as an appropriate route of administration. In addition, more research should be carried out to discover the possible side effects and the behavior of natural products in clinical trials.

High-density aquaculture produces oxidative stress that affects fish welfare and leads to poor growth. Agavin is a fructan that regulates the antioxidant response and inhibits stress-related alterations in blood metabolites (cortisol and blood lipids), preventing oxidative damage in fish. This study evaluated the effect of dietary agavin on the hepatic antioxidant response and blood metabolites in Nile tilapia under high rearing density. A negative control, a positive control, and experimental diets supplemented with 20 and 40 g/kg agavin were formulated. Nile tilapia (1.04 g ± 0.01 g initial body weight) were fed for 80 days to evaluate the antioxidant response and blood metabolites. After 90 days, fish were exposed to high density (63 kg/m3) for twenty days, except for the negative control (low-density). Under high-density stress, cortisol, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels decreased in fish fed diets with agavin compared with the positive control (high density). CAT and SOD activity significantly increased in fish fed agavin diets; malondialdehyde levels decreased under high density compared with both controls. These results suggest that dietary agavin supplementation promotes the antioxidant response and prevents stress-related alterations in blood parameters in Nile tilapia under high rearing density through its antioxidant properties and, probably, has a prebiotic effect.

Phoradendron brachystachyum is an American mistletoe distributed in México and used ethnobotanically in infusions to treat hypertriglyceridemia and lower cholesterol levels. This study aimed to evaluate the bioaccessibility of the phenolic acids from mistletoe infusions and the effect of simulated digestion on its antioxidant and lipase inhibitory properties. The in vitro digestion process decreased the antioxidant capacity activity by the TEAC and ORAC assays in infusions from leaves, stems, and whole plant samples. Moreover, the individual phenolic content of mistletoe infusions was also affected by the in vitro digestion process; the most abundant individual phenolic constituents at the end of the digestion process were ferulic and quinic acids. These compounds showed low bioaccessibility values ranging from 7.48% to 22.60%. In addition, the in vitro digestion diminished the pancreatic lipase inhibition percentage of leaves and whole plant infusions but increased it in the stem samples. This research showed that given the phenolic content and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity of mistletoe infusions, it could be used as a potential source for the development of functional foods and nutraceuticals; nonetheless, its phenolic content is affected by gastrointestinal digestion; thus, encapsulation strategies are encouraged to protect these metabolites from the gastrointestinal environment while preserving their antioxidant and hypolipidemic potentials.

The hypoxia conditions in intensive farming systems generate oxidative stress related to oxidative damage and mortality of fish. Corn husk meal (CHM), as a source of antioxidants, might modulate the antioxidant response and prevent the damage elicited by hypoxia. This study evaluated CHM’s ability to modulate a hepatic response in Nile tilapia exposed to hypoxia. A control and a test diet supplemented with 25 g CHM/kg feed were formulated. Ninety Nile tilapias (5.09 ± 0.55 g initial weight) were fed for 36 days to evaluate growth, feed efficiency, and hepatic antioxidant response (CAT, catalase; SOD, superoxide dismutase, and GPx, glutathione peroxidase) in normal oxygen conditions (normoxia). After the feeding trial (36 days), fish were exposed to hypoxia (1.5 ± 0.2 mg/L dissolved oxygen), and the hepatic antioxidant response was determined. There was no significant effect of CHM on growth and feed efficiency. The CAT activity was significantly increased in tilapias exposed to hypoxia and fed the test diet compared to the control group exposed to hypoxia. The SOD and GPx activities were unchanged in tilapias in normoxia and hypoxia conditions. Results suggest that CHM dietary supplementation promotes the antioxidant response in Nile tilapia exposed to hypoxia through CAT modulation.

Oxidative stress in aquatic organisms might suppress the immune system and propagate infectious diseases. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of polyphenolic extracts from spent coffee grounds (SCG) against oxidative stress, induced by H2O2, in C. viridis brain cells, through an in vitro model. Hydrophilic extracts from SCG are rich in quinic, ferulic and caffeic acids and showed antioxidant capacity in DPPH, ORAC and FRAP assays. Furthermore, pretreatment of C. viridis brain cells with the polyphenolic extracts from SCG (230 and 460 µg/mL) for 24 h prior to 100 µM H2O2 exposure (1 h) significantly increased antioxidant enzymes activity (superoxide dismutase and catalase) and reduced lipid peroxidation (measured by MDA levels). These results suggest that polyphenols found in SCG extracts exert an antioxidative protective effect against oxidative stress in C. viridis brain cells by stimulating the activity of SOD and CAT.

The agroindustry generates a large amount of waste. In postharvest, food losses can reach up to 50%. This waste represents a source of contamination of soil, air, and bodies of water. This represents a problem for the environment as well as for public health. However, this waste is an important source of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic compounds, terpenes, and β-glucans, among others. Several biological activities have been attributed to these compounds; for example, antioxidant, antimicrobial, gut microbiota, and immune system modulators. These properties have been associated with improvements in health. Recently, the approach of using these bioactive compounds as food additives for aquaculture have been addressed, where it is sought that organisms, in addition to growing, preserve their health and become disease resistant. The exploitation of agro-industrial waste as a source of bioactive compounds for aquaculture has a triple objective—to provide added value to production chains, reduce pollution, and improve the well-being of organisms through nutrition. However, to make use of the waste, it is necessary to revalue them, mainly by determining their biological effects in aquaculture organisms. The composition of bioactive compounds of agro-industrial wastes, their biological properties, and their application in aquaculture will be addressed here.

Several herb species classified as oregano have been widely used in folk medicine to alleviate inflammation-related diseases, respiratory and digestive disorders, headaches, rheumatism, diabetes and others. These potential health benefits are partially attributed to the phytochemical compounds in oregano such as flavonoids (FL) and phenolic acids (PA). Flavonoids and phenolic acids are among the most abundant and most studied phytochemicals in oregano species. Epidemiological, in vitro and in vivo experiments have related long-term consumption of dietary FL and PA with a decreased risk of incidence of chronic diseases. The aim of this manuscript is to summarize the latest studies on the identification and distribution of flavonoids and phenolic compounds from oregano species and their potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer health benefits.

Essential oils of oregano are widely recognized for their antimicrobial activity, as well as their antiviral and antifungal properties. Nevertheless, recent investigations have demonstrated that these compounds are also potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and cancer suppressor agents. These properties of oregano essential oils are of potential interest to the food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The aim of this manuscript is to review the latest evidence regarding essential oils of oregano and their beneficial effects on health.