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A supercritical CO 2 method was optimized to recover naringenin-rich extract from Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens), a flavanone with high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. The effect of the extraction parameters like pressure, temperature, and co-solvent on naringenin concentration was evaluated. We used response surface methodology to optimize the naringenin extraction from oregano; the chemical composition by UPLC-MS of the optimized extract and the effect of simulated gastrointestinal digestion on its antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content were also evaluated. The optimum conditions were 58.4 °C and 12.46% co-solvent (ethanol), with a pressure of 166 bar, obtaining a naringenin content of 46.59 mg/g extract. Also, supercritical optimized extracts yielded high quantities of cirsimaritin, quercetin, phloridzin, apigenin, and luteolin. The results indicated that the naringenin-rich extract obtained at optimized conditions had higher total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity by TEAC and ORAC, and flavonoid content, compared with the methanolic extract, and the simulated gastrointestinal digestion reduced all these values., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Medicines for chronic inflammation can cause gastric ulcers and hepatic and renal issues. An alternative treatment for chronic inflammation is that of natural bioactive compounds, which present low side effects. Extracts of Jatropha cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg. have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity; however, testing pure compounds would be of greater interest. Campesteryl palmitate, n-heptyl ferulate, palmitic acid, and a mixture of sterols, i.e., brassicasterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol, were obtained from an ethyl acetate extract from J. cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg. bark using column chromatography. The toxicity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. None of the products assessed exhibited toxicity. The sterol mixture exhibited greater anti-inflammatory activity than the positive control, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibition percentages were 37.97% and 41.68% at 22.5 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, n-heptyl ferulate decreased NO by 30.61% at 30 μg/mL, while campesteryl palmitate did not show anti-inflammatory activity greater than the positive control. The mixture and n-heptyl ferulate showed NO inhibition; hence, we may conclude that these compounds have anti-inflammatory potential. Additionally, further research and clinical trials are needed to fully explore the therapeutic potential of these bioactive compounds and their efficacy in treating chronic inflammation.

The inflammatory process, although beneficial, can produce tissue damage and systemic damage when uncontrolled. Effective therapeutic alternatives with little or no side effects are of great therapeutic interest. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical composition of bark extracts from J. cordata , an endemic plant from México, and evaluate their in vitro anti-inflammatory activity. Hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts were characterized by qualitative phytochemical tests, and their bioactive groups were identified by 1 H NMR and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extract's anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated as nitric oxide (NO) production and their cytotoxicity by an MTS cell proliferation assay in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 cells at concentrations of 1-100 μg/mL. The hexane extract contained fatty acids, fatty esters, phytosterols, alkanes, vitamin E, and terpenoids; the ethyl acetate extract showed fatty acids, fatty esters, aromatic aldehyde, phytosterols, vitamin E, and terpenoids, while the methanolic extract showed fatty esters, fatty acid, aromatics aldehydes, and alcohol. The ethyl acetate extract showed the highest inhibition of NO production, followed by the methanolic extract and the hexane extract, without affecting the viability of RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. The results suggest that J. cordata extracts are a potential source of bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory potential.

Mexican oregano ( Lippia graveolens ) polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, but low bioaccessibility. Therefore, in the present work the micro/nano-encapsulation of these compounds in two different matrixes of chitosan (CS) and chitosan- b -poly(PEGMA 2000 ) (CS- b -PPEGMA) is described and assessed. The particle sizes of matrixes of CS (~955 nm) and CS- b -PPEGMA (~190 nm) increased by 10% and 50%, respectively, when the phenolic compounds were encapsulated, yielding loading efficiencies (LE) between 90-99% and 50-60%, correspondingly. The release profiles in simulated fluids revealed a better control of host-guest interactions by using the CS- b -PPEGMA matrix, reaching phenolic compounds release of 80% after 24 h, while single CS retained the guest compounds. The total reducing capacity (TRC) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of the phenolic compounds (PPHs) are protected and increased (more than five times) when they are encapsulated. Thus, this investigation provides a standard encapsulation strategy and relevant results regarding nutraceuticals stabilization and their improved bioaccessibility.

Oregano infusions have traditionally been used to treat some diseases related to inflammation and cancer; also, some species have shown antiproliferative activity on cancer cell lines, for example, colon and liver, and this has been attributed to its phytochemical profile, mainly its phenolic compounds. This study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and antiproliferative potential of the polyphenols-rich extracts (PRE) of the oregano species H. patens , L. graveolens, and L. palmeri on breast cancer cell lines. The PRE of the three oregano species were obtained from dried leaves. The extract was characterized by determining antioxidant activity, total phenols content, and identifying the profile of phenolic acids and flavonoids by chromatography UPLC-MS/MS. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of the extracts was evaluated in vitro on a non-cancer cell line of fibroblast NIH3T3 and the antiproliferative potential on the breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. L. graveolens showed the highest antioxidant capacity and significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells at non-cytotoxic concentrations in normal cells, with a similar effect to that cisplatin in MDA-MB-231 cells. Therefore, the polyphenol-rich extract from L. graveolens showed the greatest potential to guide future research on the antiproliferative mechanism of action.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most deadly and the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. CRC treatment is mainly based on surgery, chemotherapy, and even though the probability of complications after surgery is very low, chemo drugs affect the patient's quality of life. Multiple studies have shown a strong correlation between diet and the onset and progression of CRC. Thus, the consumption of dietary nutraceuticals for its treatment and prevention has been suggested as a promising option. Peptides have increasingly become of interest in human health due to their antioxidant, antihypertensive, and anticancer potential. In recent years, there have been extensive reports on peptides with anti-tumor activity, and some studies suggest that peptides modulate cell proliferation, evasion of cell death, and metastasis in malignant cells. Plant-derived peptides such as soybean, bean, and rice have received main attention. In this review, we show evidence of several mechanisms through which bioactive peptides exert anti-tumor activity over in vitro and in vivo CRC models. We also report the current status of major production techniques, as well as limitations and future perspectives. Graphical Abstract.

Oregano phenolic compounds have been studied for their anti-inflammatory properties. Nonetheless, after ingestion, the gastrointestinal environment can affect their antioxidant stability and thus their bioactive properties. To evaluate the effect of in vitro gastrointestinal (GI) digestion on the phenolic compounds of 3 species of oregano (Hedeoma patens, Lippia graveolens, and Lippia palmeri), the total reducing capacity, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity were evaluated before and after in vitro GI digestion. In addition, the phenolic compounds of the 3 oregano species were identified and quantified by UPLC-PDA before and after in vitro GI digestion. It was shown that the reducing capacity, flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity were affected by the GI digestion process. Moreover, the phenolic compounds identified were apigenin-7-glucoside, scutellarein, luteolin, luteolin-7-glucoside, phloridzin and chlorogenic acid, and their levels were affected by the in vitro GI process. Our results showed that the phenolic compounds from these 3 species of oregano are affected by the in vitro digestion process, and this effect is largely attributable to pH changes. These changes can modify the bioavailability and further anti-inflammatory activity of oregano phenolics, and thus, further research is needed., Practical Application: Oregano is a rich source of polyphenols that have shown bioactive properties like anti-inflammatory potential. However, little is known of the gastrointestinal fate of oregano polyphenols which is imperative to fully understand its bioaccessibility. Our results are important to develop new administration strategies which could help protect the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential and bioaccessibility of such compounds., (© 2017 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The objective of this experiment was to determine the feeding value of a mechanically extracted nontoxic variety of oil (JCO) as source of energy for feedlot lambs. Twenty Pelibuey × Katahdin lambs were individually fed a dry-rolled-corn-based finishing diet supplemented with 0%, 2%, 4%, or 6% JCO (diet dry matter basis). Supplemental JCO replaced dry rolled corn in the basal diet. Fatty acid composition of JCO was C16:0, 14.0%; C18:0, 8.2%; C18:1, 26.0%; C18:2, 50.3%, and C18:3, 0.4%. Daily intakes of JCO averaged 24.7, 51.1, and 77.3 g/day or 0.57, 1.08, and 1.62 g/kg LW for the 2%, 4%, and 6% levels of supplementation, respectively. Supplemental JCO did not affect ( = 0.33) dry matter intake (DMI), but tended to increase (linear effect, = 0.06) average daily gain, efficiency of gain (linear effect, < 0.01), and dietary net energy (linear effect, < 0.01) and decreased (linear effect, < 0.01) the ratio of observed/expected DMI. At low levels (20 g/kg diet dry matter) of supplementation, the net energy (NE) value of JCO corresponds closely (0.99) to the NE value assigned by current standards (), and this NE value decreased linearly as the inclusion level of JCO increased. There were not treatment effects on plasma metabolites. Across treatments, the concentrations of hemoglobin (11.64 ± 1.08 g/dL), hematocrit (39.15 ± 3.67%), glucose (85.2 ± 17.64 mg/dL), creatinine (1.43 ± 0.28 mg/dL), and urea (20.70 ± 4.35 mg/dL) were within normal (9-15 g/dL, 27%-40%, 50-90 mg/dL, 1.0-1.8 mg/dL, and 15-50 mg/dL, for hemoglobin, hematocrit, glucose, creatinine, and urea, respectively) ranges for healthy lambs. Based on DMI, performance and plasma metabolites observed in this study, nontoxic JCO is a suitable source of energy in finishing diets for lambs.

Seventeen polyphenols (e.g, apigenin, genistein, and luteolin glycosides) and 11 lipophilic compounds (e.g., fatty acids, sterols, and terpenes) were detected by LC-MS/MS-ESI and GC-MS, respectively, in Jatropha platyphylla. Extracts from pulp, kernel, and leaves and fractions were studied to know their effect on some pro-inflammatory mediators. Phenolic and lipophilic extracts showed significant inhibitory effects on ROS and NO production while not affecting mitochondrial activity or superoxide generation rate in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. In addition, NO production was also diminished by lipophilic leaf fractions F1 and F2 with the latter fraction showing a greater effect and composed mainly of sterols and terpene. Furthermore, total extracts showed nonselective inhibitions against cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 activities. All together, these results suggest that J. platyphylla extracts have potential in treating inflammatory diseases and their activity is mediated by flavonoids and lipophilic compounds.

Jatropha platyphylla is a multipurpose and drought-resistant shrub, available in Mexico, locally known as 'sangregrado' and belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae. Its seeds are rich in oil and protein and do not contain the main toxin, phorbol esters present in other Jatropha species. Jatropha platyphylla kernel meal (JPKM) obtained after oil extraction contained 70-75% crude protein (CP); however, it contained phytate, lectin and trypsin-inhibitor. The levels of essential amino acids (except lysine) were higher in JPKM than in soybean meal (SBM). Using Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fingerlings a 12-week experiment was conducted to evaluate the nutritional quality of the heated JPKM and compare with that of SBM and fishmeal. Fingerlings (15 fish; average weight 13.7 ± 0.21g) were randomly distributed in three treatment groups with five replicates. Fish were fed three isonitrogenous diets (CP 36%): control diet containing fishmeal-based protein and two other diets replacing 62.5% fishmeal protein with JPKM (Jatropha group) and SBM (Soybean group). The growth performance, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, protein productive and energy retention did not differ significantly among the three groups. A lower apparent lipid conversion was observed in the plant protein-fed group than in the control group. RBC count, haematocrit and blood glucose contents were higher in plant-protein fed groups than control group. Other haematological parameters (WBC count, haemoglobin, mean cell volume: calcium and sodium ions, total bilirubin and urea-nitrogen in the blood) and metabolic enzymes (alkaline phosphatase and alanine transaminase) activities in blood did not differ significantly among the three groups. The results from the present study established that JPKM is a promising and good quality protein source for Nile tilapia feed., (© 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Jatropha platyphylla is available on the pacific coast from Sinaloa to Michoacán including the Nayarit and Jalisco states in Mexico. The seeds of J. platyphylla are rich in oil and protein, and the kernel meal (JPKM) prepared after oil extraction contains 70-75% crude protein (CP). Contents of essential amino acids (except lysine) are higher in JPKM than in soybean meal (SBM). Phorbol-esters, the main toxin present in most Jatropha species is absent in J. platyphylla. Heat-treated JPKM (H-JPKM) was evaluated as a protein supplement in tilapia feed and compared with that of SBM and fish meal (FM). Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fingerlings (15 fish; av. body mass 13.9 ± 0.17 g) were randomly distributed in three groups with five replicates each. A 12-week experiment was conducted in a respirometer system to evaluate the growth performance, nutrient utilization and energy budget. Nile tilapia fingerlings were fed three iso-nitrogenous diets (36% CP): Control containing FM, and Jatropha and Soybean diets in which 62.5% of FM protein was replaced by H-JPKM and SBM respectively. The growth performance, feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, apparent lipid conversion and energy retention did not differ significantly among the three groups. Higher protein productive value was observed in plant protein fed groups. Average metabolic rate, energy expenditure per g protein fed and retained in the body did not differ significantly among the three groups. Conclusively, Nile tilapia fed plant protein (heated JPKM and SBM) and FM protein-based diets exhibited equal average metabolic rate which indicate that JPKM can be used as a protein source in aqua feed., (© 2011 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)