Search

Summary The rat's model evaluated the function of sprouted beans enriched with probiotic Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v in alleviating dyslipidaemia, inflammation and disturbed redox homeostasis caused by a high‐lard diet. Sprouted beans improved the total antioxidant capacity of serum and liver, regardless of whether the feeds had a higher content of low‐molecular antioxidants or were additionally enriched with probiotics. The reduction of inflammation (lowered level of C‐reactive protein) and restoration of triglycerides and total cholesterol to the levels recorded in the control group (AIN‐93M) were especially observed in the group supplemented with the control adzuki bean. Introducing sprouted legumes (both the control and probiotic‐rich) improved microbiota activity affected by a high‐lard diet. The highest, desirable reduction of urease (by 80%) and tryptophanase (by 78%) activity was found in the groups fed with probiotic‐rich adzuki and mung bean sprouts respectively. Sprouted beans improve the metabolism of individuals subjected to a diet with an increased fat‐to‐carbohydrate energy ratio, especially concerning oxidative stress injury and microbiota activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For centuries, humans have used mushrooms as both food and pro-health supplements. Mushrooms, especially those related to the functions of the human immune system, are rich in dietary fiber, minerals, essential amino acids, and various bioactive compounds and have significant health-promoting properties. Immunoregulatory compounds in mushrooms include lectins, terpenes, terpenoids, polysaccharides, and fungal immunomodulatory proteins (FIPs). The distribution of these compounds varies from one species of mushroom to another, and their immunomodulatory activities depend on the core structures and chemical modifications in the composition of the fractions. In this review, we describe active compounds from medical mushrooms. We summarize potential mechanisms for their in vitro and in vivo activities and detail approaches used in developing and applying bioactive compounds from mushrooms. Finally, we discuss applications of fungal peptides and highlight areas that require improvement before the widespread use of those compounds as therapeutic agents and explore the status of clinical studies on the immunomodulatory activities of mushrooms and their products, as well as the prospect of clinical application of AMPs as 'drug-like' compounds with great potential for treatment of non-healing chronic wounds and multiresistant infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot rot in small ruminants is highly contagious, causes severe lameness, and impairs fertility and wool and meat production. It is usually treated with parenteral antibiotics, with attendant antibiotic resistance risk, and with bactericidal footbaths, potentially harmful to humans and the environment. An alternative treatment in sheep is proposed based on repeated topical ozonated ointment application. Its effectiveness and safety were evaluated by estimation of acute-phase response, biochemical indicators of organic damage, and antioxidant/oxidant balance (AOB).

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) has a reputation as a therapeutic agent for many different diseases such as microbial infections, hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia, diabetes, atherosclerosis and cancer. Health benefits of garlic depend on its content of biologically-active compounds, which differs between cultivars and geographical regions. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the biological activity of aqueous extracts from nine garlic varieties from different countries (Poland, Spain, China, Portugal, Burma, Thailand and Uzbekistan). Antioxidant properties were evaluated through free radical scavenging (DPPH•, ABTS•+) and ion chelation (Fe2+, Cu2+) activities. The cytotoxicity of garlic extracts was evaluated in vitro using Neutral Red Uptake assay in normal human skin fibroblasts. The obtained results revealed that garlic extracts contained the highest amount of syringic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids derivatives. The lowest IC50 values for DPPH•, ABTS•+ scavenging and Cu2+ chelating ability were determined in Chinese garlic extracts (4.63, 0.43 and 14.90 μg/mL, respectively). Extracts from Spanish cultivar Morado and Chinese garlic were highly cytotoxic to human skin fibroblasts as they reduced cellular proliferation by 70–90%. We showed diverse contents of proteins and phenolic components in garlic bulbs from different varieties. The obtained results could help to choose the cultivars of garlic which contain significant amounts of active compounds, have important antioxidant properties and display low antiproliferative effect and/or low cytotoxicity against normal human skin fibroblast BJ.

Spray drying of sour cherry juice concentrate was performed by conventional high temperature method (180 °C/80 °C, inlet/outlet air), as well as by innovative approach with dehumidified air and low drying temperature (80 °C/45 °C, inlet/outlet air). Moreover, the possibility to apply pea protein as an alternative carrier to partially replaced maltodextrin was tested. Due to lower drying temperature and reduced stickiness the carrier content was reduced from 50% down to 30% solids to enhance powders physiochemical properties (lower stickiness, hygroscopicity, better color, better bioaccessibility), although some parameters of variants produced with the addition of pea protein had poorer quality in comparison to powders with only maltodextrin (moisture content, water activity, particles morphology and size, glass transition temperature). Increased bioaccessibility of phenolics and antioxidant potential of pea protein-enriched samples indicated the potentially possible application in functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]