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Beer and its components show potential for reducing hepatic steatosis in rodent models through multiple mechanisms. This study aimed to evaluate beer's anti-steatotic effects in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model of Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Liver Disease (MASLD) and to explore the underlying mechanisms. In the HFD group, steatosis was confirmed by altered blood parameters, weight gain, elevated liver lipid content, and histological changes. These markers were normalized in the HFD+beer group, reaching levels similar to the control (CTR) group. Protein carbonylation and lipid peroxidation levels were consistent across all groups, suggesting that the model represents an early stage of MASLD without oxidative stress. Transcriptomic and CpG methylation analyses revealed clear distinctions between the CTR and HFD groups. RNA sequencing identified 162 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the CTR and HFD groups, primarily related to inflammation and lipid regulation. Beer consumption modified the health of the HFD mice, affecting inflammation but not lipid homeostasis (CTR vs. HFD+beer, DEGs = 43). The CpG methylation analysis indicated that beer lowered methylation, impacting genes linked to lipid accumulation and inflammation. A cecal metabolite analysis suggested that beer improved short-chain fatty acid metabolism (SCFA). In summary, a moderate beer intake may mitigate MASLD by modulating lipid metabolism and SCFA pathways, likely through polyphenol activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of different processing techniques, such as sprouting, cooking and fermentation, can help to develop new products for human health. In this work, raw, cooked and fermented seeds and germinated seeds of Chenopodium quinoa Willd. var. Tunkahuan and Amaranthus caudatus L. var. Alegrìa were compared for the content of antioxidant molecules, total antioxidant capacity and mineral elements. Fermentation was induced spontaneously, with the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with the bacterium Lactobacillus plantarum and with both microorganisms, for 24 and 48 h. The increase in antioxidant molecules and antioxidant activity was induced by germination, by 24 h of spontaneous fermentation (polyphenols and flavonoids) and by 24 h of L. plantarum fermentation (total antioxidant activity) for both species. Germinated seeds of the two plants showed higher values in respect to seeds of macroelements and microelements. No genotoxic but rather protective effects were determined for seed and germinated seed extracts using the D7 strain of S. cerevisiae, a good tool for the evaluation of protection from oxidative damage induced by radical oxygen species (ROS) in cells and tissues. Therefore, the two varieties could be very suitable for their use in human diet and in supplements, especially as germinated seeds or as fermented foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, green microalgae have gained importance due to their nutritional and bioactive compounds, which makes them some of the most promising and innovative functional foods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical profile and the in vitro antioxidant, antimicrobial and antimutagenic activity of an aqueous extract of the green microalga Ettlia pseudoalveolaris, obtained from the freshwater lakes of the Ecuadorian Highlands. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) were used to determine the ability of the microalga to reduce the endothelial damage caused by hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, the eukaryotic system Saccharomyces cerevisiae was used to evaluate the possible cytotoxic, mutagenic and antimutagenic effect of E. pseudoalveolaris. The extract showed a notable antioxidant capacity and a moderate antibacterial activity mostly due to the high content in polyphenolic compounds. It is likely that the antioxidant compounds present in the extract were also responsible for the observed reduction in endothelial damage of HMEC-1 cells. An antimutagenic effect through a direct antioxidant mechanism was also found. Based on the results of in vitro assays, E. pseudoalveolaris proved to be a good source of bioactive compounds and antioxidant, antibacterial and antimutagenic capacities making it a potential functional food. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the spectrophotometric determination of total polyphenols, flavonoids, glucosinolates and antioxidant activity in seeds, seedlings and leaves of Tuscan black kale. The highest content of phytochemicals was observed in 10 days sprouts and antioxidant activity was maximum in 2, 4 days seedlings. Identification and characterisation of phytochemicals were performed by mass spectrometry (MS), high resolution and tandem MS with electrospray ionisation mode. Low-molecular-weight metabolites were evidenced in seeds while metabolites at high m/z range were detected in cotyledons and leaves. MS spectra evidenced different phenolic compounds (flavonoid caffeoyl glucose, hydroxycinnamic acid sinapine) and glucosinolates (glucoerucin, glucobrassicin and glucoraphanin) in function of developmental stage; galactolipids ω3 and ω6 were observed in leaves. Identification of stages with the highest phytochemicals content encourages the consumption of black kale sprouts and young leaves. Our research can support food and pharmaceutical industries for production of health promoting products from black kale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenol-rich foods could have a pivotal function in the prevention of oxidative stress-based pathologies and antibacterial action. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity, as well as the in vitro and In Vivo antioxidant capacities of wild Prunus spinosa L. fruit (PSF) from the southeast regions of Italy. The total phenolic content (TPC) was quantified, and the single polyphenols were analyzed by HPLC-DAD, showing high rutin and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid levels, followed by gallic and trans-sinapic acids. PSF extract demonstrated antimicrobial activity against some potentially pathogenic Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Besides, we investigated the cellular antioxidant activity (CAA) and the hemolysis inhibition of PSF extract on human erythrocytes, evidencing both a good antioxidant power and a marked hemolysis inhibition. Furthermore, an In Vivo experiment with oxidative stress-induced rats treated with a high-fat diet (HFD) and a low dose of streptozotocin (STZ) demonstrated that PSF has a dose-dependent antioxidant capacity both in liver and in brain. In conclusion, the wild Italian Prunus spinosa L. fruit could be considered a potentially useful material for both nutraceutical and food industries because of its antioxidant and antimicrobial effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]