Taurine: a promising nutraceutic in the prevention of retinal degeneration

Taurine is considered a non-essential amino acid because it is synthesized by most mammals.However,dietary intake of taurine may be necessary to achieve the physiological levels required for the development,maintenance,and function of certain tissues.Taurine may be especially important for the retina.The concentration of taurine in the retina is higher than that in any other tissue in the body and taurine deficiency causes retinal oxidative stress,apoptosis,and degeneration of photoreceptors and retinal ganglion cells.Low plasma taurine levels may also underlie retinal degeneration in humans and therefore,taurine administration could exert retinal neuroprotective effects.Taurine has antioxidant,anti-apoptotic,immunomodulatory,and calcium homeostasis-regulatory properties.This review summarizes the role of taurine in retinal health and disease,where it appears that taurine may be a promising nutraceutical.

Biochanin-A attenuates high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress in rats by improving antioxidant status and lipid metabolic markers

Objective:To determine how biochanin-A(BCA)affects high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced pathological changes in lipid metabolism and antioxidant status in diabetic rats.Methods:Diabetic rats were orally administered BCA(10 mg/kg body weight)for 30 days to investigate its effects on lipid profiles and oxidative stress markers in the liver and kidney.In addition,the mRNA expression of antioxidant and lipid metabolism enzymes in the liver was examined.Results:BCA attenuated hyperlipidemia by regulating mRNA expressions of HMG-CoA reductase,fatty acid synthase,carnitine palmitoyl transferase,and acetyl-CoA carboxylase.Additionally,BCA reduced high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced oxidative stress by suppressing lipid peroxidation,improving superoxide dismutase,catalase,and glutathione peroxidase levels,and upregulating mRNA expressions of these enzymes.Conclusions:BCA may be a promising nutraceutical for the treatment of dyslipidemia and oxidative stress associated with diabetes.

Dendrobium species regulate energy homeostasis in neurodegenerative diseases: a review

Brain energy homeostasis is a vital physiological function in maintaining a balanced internal metabolic environment.The impairment of energy homeostasis is recognized as a key pathophysiological basis for brain metabolic disorders and related neurodegenerative diseases.Dendrobium species(‘Shihu’in Chinese)such as D.officinale,D.huoshanense,D.nobile,D.chrysanthum,D.loddigesii,D.moniliforme,D.gratiosissimum,D.candidum and D.caulis are widely used as traditional Chinese medicines/nutraceuticals to control and treat neurodegenerative disorders.These dietary herbs and their derived compounds possess a variety of biological properties,such as suppression of oxidative stress and neuroinflammation,regulation of energy homeostasis mainly through improving brain mitochondria function,insulin signaling and lipid metabolism.Furthermore,they reduce neurotoxicity,alleviate brain injury and neuropathy,and prevent neurodegenerative conditions including stroke,Alzheimer’s disease,Parkinson’s disease,and Huntington’s disease in humans and/or rodents.Moreover,the nutraceuticals from Dendrobium species promote gut health and aid digestion,which appear to be associated with beneficial effects on brain energy homeostasis.Based on the above-mentioned health benefits associated with Dendrobium species,this work reviews their nutraceutical role in neurodegenerative disorders and further suggests the need to elucidate mechanisms of the underlying molecular actions.

Role of flaxseed(Linum usitatissimum L.)in disease prevention and treatment

Seeds of flax or linseed(Linum usitatissimum L.)are important nutraceutical foods with antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,estrogenic,laxative,and antibacterial properties.Flaxseed oil and seeds are the richest vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids.Consumption of flaxseeds helps in prevention and control of cardiovascular disease,neurodegenerative disorders,obesity,diabetes mellitus,polycystic ovary syndrome,gout,liver and kidney dysfunction,oxidative stress-related diseases,post-menopausal symptoms,osteoporosis,irritable bowel syndrome,dry eye disease,cystic fibrosis,diarrhea,and cancer,particularly of the mammary and prostate gland cancer.Of late,flaxseed is gaining more importance not only because of its industrial values but also due to its nutraceutical and pharmaceutical properties.The literature review was performed using PubMed,Scopus,PubMed Central,Google Scholar,and Web of Science from 1995 onwards.Data was also obtained from websites/books/book chapters.

Emerging natural hemp seed proteins and their functions for nutraceutical applications

With changing dietary habits and increasing awareness of the nutraceutical role of dietary foods,the demand for natural plant proteins and interest in non-traditional protein sources in the food industry are increasing.Industrial hemp,belonging to the plant family Cannabaceae,is cultivated for its fibre and edible seeds.Due to its nutritional value,it has also been used in the food industry and medicine.In particular,hemp seed proteins have drawn considerable attention in both scientific and industrial fields because of their excellent nutraceutical values,superior digestibility,low allergenicity and diverse techno-functional properties.In this review,we provide a summary of the current research progress on the extraction and purification processes,physiochemical properties,nutraceutical functions,and applications of hemp seed proteins.Perspectives in the application of advanced technologies for hemp seed bioactive peptide mining are also discussed.This review provides up-to-date insights into the nutraceutical values,health benefits,and future applications of this emerging plant source protein.

Natural and modified food hydrocolloids as gluten replacement in baked foods:Functional benefits

Gluten,the protein responsible for the superior viscoelastic properties of refined wheat flour dough over glutenfree cereals,causes celiac disease in people susceptible to gluten-allergy.Moreover,the sustainability of using wheat flour in baked foods is threatened by its high cost,especially in countries that depend on imported wheat for their bakery industry.Research has shown that hydrocolloids serve as gluten replacements in baked foods,in response to these challenges.Food hydrocolloids are a class of high-molecular weight polysaccharides and proteins,which serve as functional ingredients in the food industry that modify the foods’rheological and textural properties.They function as stabilizers,viscosity modifiers,gelling agents,water binders,fibres,and inhibitors of ice crystal in foods.Further,food hydrocolloids have also been reported to possess health-promoting properties,such as lowering of postprandial blood glucose and plasma cholesterol concentrations,colon cancer prevention,and modulation of intestinal transit and satiety.They are obtained from plants,animals or microorganisms,and can be used in their natural or modified forms.The aim of this paper is to review the functional benefits of natural and modified hydrocolloids as gluten replacements in baked foods,emphasizing their physicochemical,nutraceutical,and sensorial importance.The application effects of food hydrocolloids as gluten substitutes in gluten-free baked products’quality were discussed.Also,some practical approaches to improve the quality of gluten-free baked products,in response to an increasing consumers’demand and the rising cost of refined wheat flour were highlighted.

Navigating the Nomenclature of a Purported “Dietary Supplement”: A Cautionary Tale for Consumers and Practitioners Regarding Tianeptine or “Gas Station Heroin”

Dietary supplement sales have surpassed $30 billion per year with their use becoming and remaining extremely popular amongst the general public. There are numerous bioactive components, both nutritive and non-nutritive, in dietary supplements with considerable efficacy in promoting health. However, there are many ways disallowed ingredients may enter the supplement pipeline with potentially toxic effects. Dietary supplements can be regulated (either pre- or post-market) as a drug, dietary supplement, a nutraceutical, new dietary ingredient (NDI), generally recognized as safe (GRAS) food ingredient, a food additive, or a food. A pharmaceutical drug (medication) is used to treat, cure, prevent, or diagnose a disease and is regulated by the FDA pre-market only and allowed by medical prescription, whereas the other labeling designations are largely regulated post-market. One such molecule with a labeling problem is tianeptine, which has global use as an efficacious, prescribed drug, while at the same time being considered a non-drug and potentially dangerous adulterant often referred to as gas station heroin. In this paper, we critically evaluate the use and labeling of this compound and attempt to clarify the conundrum surrounding its legal or illegal use. Tianeptine is effective and efficacious as an antidepressant in those responding poorly to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and exhibits many medicinal characteristics of tricyclic antidepressants with fewer opioid-like side effects. As a result, sixty-six countries permit use of tianeptine as a prescription drug. At higher doses, tianeptine has recently been shown to exhibit significant potential for abuse and dependency along with toxicity. As such, the US does not recognize tianeptine as an FDA-approved drug or as a dietary supplement, nutraceutical, new dietary ingredient (NDI), GRAS ingredient, or a food. Instead, tianeptine is a synthetic adulterant of a dietary supplement and considered technically an unapproved food additive. In conclusion, tianeptine, although viewed as a safe dietary supplement by many, is illegal in the US despite benefits to many but toxicity to others that make it vital that consumers and healthcare providers learn to critically evaluate and navigate the often confusing nomenclature of a purported dietary supplement to convey to the public whether it is efficacious, safe, and legal.

Patient Quality-of-Life, Providers with Incentive Payments, Real-World Evidence, and Reducing Healthcare Costs through New Innovations

Background: Value-Based Care is a program that was created by Professor Michael E. PORTER and Elizabeth O. TEISBERG which has been modified for implementation over the last seventeen years. This new program is paid by Commercial Health Insurers (Insurance Companies) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (Medicare). This program incorporates the patients, doctors, Life Sciences Companies, Insurance Companies, Holistic practice, traditional Chinese medicine, etc. with alternative traditional treatments and therapies for Real-World Evidence based and value-based treatment customized to patients’ needs and the patients benefit. Methods: The program was proposed to achieve value for patients and an improved healthcare system which is especially needed to provide treatment for patients in Serious or Life-threatening conditions or diseases. The program will accurately measure the outcomes of patients and provide a wider choice of treatments that matter to patients, also to measure the cost that successful alternative treatments provide which may lower the cost to Medicare and Insurance Companies. Conclusion: The proposed and now implemented program is to achieve value for patients. Golden Sunrise Nutraceutical (Golden Sunrise) provides a New Medical Innovation and treatment alternative to patients suffering from Serious or Life-threatening illnesses. By using Golden Sunrise Innovation and with the incorporation of Value-based Care patients will become the drivers or it could be said the patient Ambassadors of their own health. By incorporating Golden Sunrise Innovation, the doctors will have more diversity of treatments available for their patients. Payment should reflect value not volume, and the New Medical Innovation Golden Sunrise offers will help in reducing the costs to Insurance Companies accelerating the adoption of Value-Based Care.

Commentary: Discussing the antidepressant potential of silymarin

The therapeutic potential of diet,dietary supplements,herbal remedies,and nutraceuticals for treatment of depression and anxiety is being increasingly explored.In this commentary,we discuss the recent findings on the antidepressant potential of silymarin(SILY)in mice and present an alternative approach.We highlight the extensive research on another phytochemical,curcumin,for the treatment of depression and anxiety.Finally,we suggest a future application,which investigates the potential synergistic effects of combined treatment with SILY and curcumin for depression.

Thermal Analysis of Sclerotium of Pleurotus tuber-regium (osu) for Effective Drying

Thermal drying could lead to the deterioration of substance which affect its nutraceutical and chemical properties. Hence, thermal stability of substance is necessary in course of its drying to acertain the degree of temperature it will be subjected to. In this research, sclerotium of Pleurotus tuberregium is subjected to thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. Both thermogravimetric analysis and differential thermal analysis were conducted from ambient temperature to 1000°C at a rate of 20°C/min constant heating rate, while differential scanning calorimetry was conducted from ambient temperature to 400°C at a rate of 10°C/min constant heating rate. Besides, the oxides contents of sclerotium of Pleurotus tuberregium were determined using x-ray fluorescence analysis and the mircostruture was determined with scanning electron microscopy. It was discovered that complete dehydration of the sample ended at about 110.38°C and oxidation reaction occurred between 233.42°C to 373.82°C with release of heat by the sample. Sclerotium of Pleurotus tuber-regium is thermal stable up to 233.42°C with decompostion of steroid which is its second major component at about 400°C to 480°C. The x-ray fluorescence analysis of sclerotium of Pleurotus tuber-regium revealed that Na2O, MgO, SiO2, Al2O3, and Fe2O3 are the major compound and SEM analysis showed that it is a solid with amorphous structure having some fibrous skeleton. This study revealed that sclerotium of Pleurotus tuberregium could be dried to minimal moisture content without the deterioration of its nutritional and medinicnal properties.

Tiêu Equation Experimentation of Understanding by Energy Transfer Quantum Mechanics

Background: The Tiêu equation has a ground roots approach to the process of Quantum Biology and goes deeper through the incorporation of Quantum Mechanics. The process can be measured in plant, animal, and human usage through a variety of experimental or testing forms. Animal studies were conducted for which, in the first day of the study all the animals consistently gained dramatic weight, even as a toxic substance was introduced as described in the introduction of the paper to harm animal subjects which induced weight loss through toxicity. Tests can be made by incorporating blood report results. Human patients were also observed to show improvement to their health as administration of the substance was introduced to the biological mechanism and plants were initially exposed to the substance to observe results. This is consistent with the Tiêu equation which provides that wave function is created as the introduction of the substance to the biological mechanism which supports Quantum Mechanics. The Tiêu equation demonstrates that Quantum Mechanics moves a particle by temperature producing energy thru the blood-brain barrier for example. Methods: The methods for the Tiêu equation incorporate animal studies to include the substance administered through laboratory standards using Good Laboratory Practices under Title 40 C.F.R. § 158. Human patients were treated with the substance by medical professionals who are experts in their field and have knowledge to the response of patients. Plant applications were acquired for observation and guidance of ongoing experiments of animals’ representative for the biologics mechanism. Results: The animal studies along with patient blood testing results have been an impressive line that has followed the Tiêu equation to consistently show improvement in the introduction of the innovation to biologic mechanisms. The mechanism responds to the substance by producing energy to the mechanism with efficient effect. For plant observations, plant organisms responded, and were seen as showing improvement thru visual observation.

Novel nutraceutic therapies for the treatment of metabolic syndrome

Nutraceutic therapies such as berberine, bitter melon,Gymnema sylvestre, Irvingia gabonensis, resveratrol and ursolic acid have been shown to help control metabolic syndrome(MetS). The effect of berberine on glucose and lipid metabolism, hypertension, obesity and MetS has been evaluated in animal models and humans. Most clinical trials involving bitter melon have been conducted to evaluate its effect on glucose metabolism; nevertheless, some studies have reported favorable effects on lipids and blood pressure although there is little information about its effect on body weight. Gymnema sylvestre helps to decrease body weight and blood sugar levels; however, there is limited information on dyslipidemia and hypertension. Clinical trials of Irvingia gabonensis have shown important effects decreasing glucose and cholesterol concentrations as well decreasing body weight. Resveratrol acts through different mechanisms to decrease blood pressure, lipids, glucose and weight, showing its effects on the population with Met S. Finally, there is evidence of positive effects with ursolic acid in in vitro and in vivo studies on glucose and lipid metabolism and on body weight and visceral fat. Therefore, a review of the beneficial effects and limitations of the above-mentioned nutraceutic therapies is presented.

Curcuma longa normalized cimetidine-induced pituitarytesticular dysfunction: Relevance in nutraceutical therapy

Background:The increasing incidence of chemically induced infertility is both a social threat and a threat to the continuation of life itself.Treatment or management therapy is often expensive.This study investigated the effects of acetone extract of a local plant(Curcuma longa)in a Wistar rat model of cimetidine‐induced pituitarytesticular dysfunction.Methods:Thirty‐five male Wistar rats were divided into 7 groups of 5 rats.After a phytochemical screening of an acetone extract of C.Longa,cimetidine and the extract at three doses,200,400 and 600 mg/kg,were orally co‐administered to the rats for 28 consecutive days.Comparisons were made(at P<0.05)against a control(2 mL/kg distilled water),a standard treatment group(cimetidine+50 mg/kg vitamin C),a toxic group(60 mg/kg cimetidine)and a group receiving extract alone.Results:Cimetidine administration was associated with deleterious alterations to sperm motility,sperm count and sperm viability,as well as derangements in the plasma levels of FSH,LH and testosterone(P<0.05).Both brain and testicular GSH and TBARS levels were significantly altered following cimetidine administration,and distortions were seen in the pituitary and testicular histoarchitecture.These changes were significantly normalized by co‐administration of graded doses of the extract,with an associated improvement of both pituitary and testicular histology.Conclusion:Acetone extract of C.Longa normalized cimetidine‐induced pituitarytesticular dysfunction in Wistar rats.This presents the extract as a potential nutraceutical choice against chemically induced reproductive toxicity.

Phytotherapy in diabetes: Review on potential mechanistic perspectives

Diabetes mellitus(DM) is a widely spread epidemic dis ease that results from the absence of insulin, decreased secretion and/or impaired function. Since DM is a multi factorial disease, the available pharmaceuticals, despite their sensible treatment, target mostly one pathway to control hyperglycemia and encounter several side effects. Therefore, new therapeutic paradigms aim to hit several pathways using only one agent. Tradition ally, antidiabetic plants and/or their active constituents may fulfill this need. More than 200 species of plants possess antidiabetic properties which were evaluated mostly by screening tests without digging far for the exact mode of action. Searching among the differen literature resources and various database and in view o the above aspects, the present article provides a com prehensive review on the available antidiabetic plants that have been approved by pharmacological and clini cal evaluations, and which their mechanism(s) of ac tion is assured. These plants are categorized according to their proved mode of action and are classified into those that act by inhibiting glucose absorption from in testine, increasing insulin secretion from the pancreasinhibiting glucose production from hepatocytes, or enhancing glucose uptake by adipose and muscle tissues. The current review also highlights those that mimic in their action the new peptide analogs, such as exenatide, liraglutide and dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitors that increase glucagon-like peptide-1 serum concentration and slow down the gastric emptying.

A nutraceutical combination improves insulin sensitivity in patients with metabolic syndrome

AIM:To test the efficacy of a proprietary nutraceutical combination in reducing insulin resistance associated with the metabolic syndrome(MetS).METHODS:Sixty-four patients with MetS followed at a tertiary outpatient clinic were randomly assigned to receive either placebo or a proprietary nutraceutical combination(AP)consisting of berberine,policosanol and red yeast rice,in a prospective,double-blind,placebo-controlled study.Evaluations were performed at baseline and after 18 wk of treatment.The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance(HOMAIR)index was the primary outcome measure.Secondary endpoints included lipid panel,blood glucose and insulin fasting,after a standard mixed meal and after an oral glucose tolerance test(OGTT),ow-mediated dilation(FMD),and waist circumference.RESULTS:Fifty nine patients completed the study,2 withdrew because of adverse effects.After 18 wk there was a signif icant reduction in the HOMA-IR index in the AP group compared with placebo(ΔHOMA respectively-0.6 ± 1.2 vs 0.4 ± 1.9;P < 0.05).Total and low density lipoprotein cholesterol also significantly decreased in the treatment arm compared with placebo(Δlow density lipoprotein cholesterol-0.82 ± 0.68 vs-0.13 ± 0.55 mmol/L;P < 0.001),while triglycerides,high density lipoprotein cholesterol,and the OGTT were not affected.In addition,there were significant reductions in blood glucose and insulin after the standard mixed meal,as well as an increase in FMD(ΔFMD 1.9 ± 4.2 vs 0 ± 1.9 %;P < 0.05)and a significant reduction in arterial systolic blood pressure in the AP arm.CONCLUSION:This short-term study shows that AP has relevant beneficial effects on insulin resistance and many other components of MetS.

Practical strategies for modulating foam cell formation and behavior

Although high density lipoprotein(HDL)-mediated reverse cholesterol transport is crucial to the prevention and reversal of atheroma, a recent meta-analysis makes evident that current pharmaceutical strategies for modulating HDL cholesterol levels lower cardiovascular risk only to the extent that they concurrently decrease low density lipoprotein(LDL) cholesterol. This corresponds well with findings of a recent Mendelian randomization analysis, in which genetic polymorphisms associated with HDL cholesterol but no other known cardiovascular risk factors failed to predict risk for myocardial infarction. Although it is still seems appropriate to search for therapies that could improve the efficiency with which HDL particles induce reverse cholesterol transport, targeting HDL cholesterol levels per se with current measures appears to be futile. Itmay therefore be more promising to promote reverse cholesterol transport with agents that directly target foam cells. Macrophage expression of the cholesterol transport proteins adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter A1, adenosine triphosphate binding cassette transporter G1, and scavenger receptor class B member 1 is transcriptionally up-regulated by activated liver X receptors(LXR), whereas nuclear factor(NF)-kappa B antagonizes their expression. Taurine, which inhibits atherogenesis in rodent studies, has just been discovered to act as a weak agonist for LXRalpha. Conversely, it may be possible to oppose NF-kappa B activation in macrophages with a range of measures. Induction of heme oxygenase-1, which can be attained with phase 2 inducer phytochemicals such as lipoic acid and green tea catechins, promotes reverse cholesterol transport in macrophages and inhibits atherogenesis in rodents, likely due to, in large part, NF-kappa B antagonism. Inhibition of macrophage nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH) oxidase activity with the spirulina-derived bilirubin-mimetic phycocyanobilin may also oppose NF-kappa B activation, and salicylic acid similarly should be useful for this purpose. The 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase activator berberine promotes macrophage reverse cholesterol transport in cell culture; metformin probably shares this property. Many of these measures could also be expected to promote plaque stability by suppressing foam cell production of inflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases, and to reduce intimal monocyte infiltration by anti-inflammatory effects on vascular endothelium. Direct targeting of foam cells with agents such as phase 2 inducers, spirulina, salicylate, taurine, and berberine or metformin, may hence have considerable potential for preventing and reversing atheroma, and for preventing the plaque rupture that triggers vascular thrombosis.

Recently highlighted nutraceuticals for preventive management of osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis(OA) is a chronic degenerative disease of articular cartilage with limited treatment options. This reality encourages clinicians to suggest preventive measures to delay and contain the outbreak of the pathological conditions. Articular cartilage and synovium suffering from OA are characterised by an inflammatory state and by significant oxidative stress,responsible for pain,swelling and loss of mobility in the advanced stages. This review will focus on the ability of olive oil to exert positive effects on the entire joint to reduce pro-inflammatory cytokine release and increase lubricin synthesis,olive leaf extract,since it maintains lubrication by stimulating high molecular weight hyaluronan synthesis in synovial cells,curcumin,which delays the start of pathological cartilage breakdown,sanguinarine,which downregulates catabolic proteases,vitamin D for its capacity to influence the oxidative and proinflammatory environment,and carnosic acid as an inducer of heme oxygenase-1,which helps preserve cartilage degeneration. These molecules,considered as natural dietary supplements,appear like a cuttingedge answer to this tough health problem,playing a major role in controlling homeostatic balance loss and slowing down the pathology progression. Natural or food-derived molecules that are able to exert potential therapeutic effects are known as "nutraceutical",resulting from the combination of the words "nutrition" and "pharmaceutical". These compounds have gained popularity due to their easy availability,which represents a huge advantage for food and pharmaceutical industries. In addition,the chronic nature of OA implies the use of pharmacological compounds with proven longterm safety,especially because current treatments like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and analgesicsimprove pain relief but have no effect on degenerative progression and can also cause serious side effects.

A critical review on the health promoting effects of mushrooms nutraceuticals

Extensive elucidations focusing on the efficient health promoting properties and high nutritional values of mushrooms have been expanded dynamically from the past few decades.Due to its high quality of proteins,polysaccharides,unsaturated fatty acids,mineral substances,triterpenes sterols and secondary metabolites,mushrooms have always been appreciated for their vital role in protecting and curing various health problems,such as immunodeficiency,cancer,inflammation,hypertension,hyperlipidemia,hypercholesterolemia and obesity.Moreover,investigations in recent years have revealed the correlations between the health-promoting benefits and gut microbiota regulating effects induced by the mushrooms intake.Researches on the immense role in the nutritional and health benefits displayed by mushrooms have become an emergent task to study.The present article overviewed and compiled the latest information correlated to the health benefits and underlying functional mechanisms of mushroom nutraceuticals,and concluded that the supplementation of mushrooms as a dietary composition could become a natural adjuvant for the prevention and treatment of several health diseases.

In vitro antioxidant,anti-diabetic,cholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibitory potential of fresh juice from Citrus hystrix and C.maxima fruits

In the present study,antioxidant potential,α-amylase,α-glucosidase,cholinesterase and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of fresh juice from indigenous fruits of Citrus hystrix and C.maxima(Red&White var.)were investigated using an in vitro model.The contents of total phenolics,tannins,and total flavonoids ranged between 836.90 and 909.52 mg gallic acid equivalent(GAE)/L,333.33 and 523.21 mg gallic acid equivalent(GAE)/L and 224.88 and 262.22 mg rutin equivalent/L,respectively.The antioxidant activity of fresh juice was evaluated by employing different in vitro assays such as reducing power assay,DPPH•,ABTS•+and•OH radical scavenging capacities,peroxidation inhibition activity,antihemolytic assay.In addition,75.55%–79.75%ofα-amylase and 70.68%–72.83%ofα-glucosidase enzyme inhibition characteristics were found under in vitro starch digestion bioassay.Also,all the juice samples exhibited excellent tyrosinase(76.95%–80.79%),acetylcholinesterase(75.71%–79.74%)andβ-glucuronidase inhibitory activity(68.13%–69.38%).These results indicated that fresh juice of C.hystrix and C.maxima(Red&White var.)could be used as a source of antioxidant agents,functional food and nutraceuticals.©2014 Beijing Academy of Food Sciences.Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V.All rights reserved.

Potential role of nutraceutical compounds in inflammatory bowel disease

Conventional therapies for inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD) involve combinations of pharmacologic agents such as aminosalicylates, azathioprine, and corticosteroids. Recently, the therapeutic scenario has been heavily increased by the introduction of agents including monoclonal antibodies targeted to specific proinflammatory cytokines, to adhesion molecules, and the induction of anti-inflammatory cytokines and T-cell activation. However, the use of these drugs is accompanied by a certain number of side effects, with some of them being quite severe, rising concerns about the safety profile. Furthermore, the cost of these emerging therapeutic strategies is significant, considering the increasing incidence and the chronic trend of IBD. Nutraceuticals is a broad term used to describe any product derived from food sources claiming extra health benefits beyond the intrinsic nutritional value found in foods. The beneficial effects of nutraceutical compounds in human health have been emerging in the last decades. Although few clinical trials have been performed in IBD patients, nutraceuticals, such as herbal products or vitamins, are generally accepted as safer alternative/supplementation to conventional therapy. In vitro and IBD-animal models studies have shown their involvement in several biological processes, including antioxidant defenses, cell proliferation, gene expression, which could account for a role in the maintenance of the mucosal barrier integrity, the control of the inflammatory pathways and the modulation of the immune response. These data suggest a wide spectrum of positive effects exerted by nutraceuticals, with a high potential for a therapeutic use in humans. In the present review, the beneficial effects of the most investigated nutraceutical compounds in the setting of human IBD are discussed.