scholarly journals Antioxidant Properties of Amazonian Fruits: A Mini Review of In Vivo and In Vitro Studies

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raúl Avila-Sosa ◽  
Andrés Felipe Montero-Rodríguez ◽  
Patricia Aguilar-Alonso ◽  
Obdulia Vera-López ◽  
Martin Lazcano-Hernández ◽  
...  

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana, and French Guiana share an area of 7,295,710 km2 of the Amazon region. It is estimated that the Amazonian forest offers the greatest flora and fauna biodiversity on the planet and on its surface could cohabit 50% of the total existing living species; according to some botanists, it would contain about 16-20% of the species that exist today. This region has native fruit trees in which functional properties are reported as antioxidant and antiproliferative characteristics. Amazon plants offer a great therapeutic potential attributed to the content of bioactive phytochemicals. The aim of this mini review is to examine the state of the art of the main bioactive components of the most studied Amazonian plants. Among the main functional compounds reported were phenolic compounds, unsaturated fatty acids, carotenoids, phytosterols, and tocopherols, with flavonoids and carotenoids being the groups of greatest interest. The main beneficial effect reported has been the antioxidant effect, evaluated in most of the fruits investigated; other reported functional properties were antimicrobial, antimutagenic, antigenotoxic, analgesic, immunomodulatory, anticancer, bronchodilator, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory, including hypercholesterolemic effects, leishmanicidal activity, induction of apoptosis, protective action against diabetes, gastroprotective activity, and antidepressant effects.

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 615
Author(s):  
Shang-En Huang ◽  
Erna Sulistyowati ◽  
Yu-Ying Chao ◽  
Bin-Nan Wu ◽  
Zen-Kong Dai ◽  
...  

Osteoarthritis is a degenerative arthropathy that is mainly characterized by dysregulation of inflammatory responses. KMUP-1, a derived chemical synthetic of xanthine, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Here, we aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-inflammatory and in vivo anti-osteoarthritis effects of KMUP-1. Protein and gene expressions of inflammation markers were determined by ELISA, Western blotting and microarray, respectively. RAW264.7 mouse macrophages were cultured and pretreated with KMUP-1 (1, 5, 10 μM). The productions of TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-2 and MMP- 9 were reduced by KMUP-1 pretreatment in LPS-induced inflammation of RAW264.7 cells. The expressions of iNOS, TNF-α, COX-2, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were also inhibited by KMUP-1 pretreatment. The gene expression levels of TNF and COX families were also downregulated. In addition, KMUP-1 suppressed the activations of ERK, JNK and p38 as well as phosphorylation of IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathways. Furthermore, SIRT1 inhibitor attenuated the inhibitory effect of KMUP-1 in LPS-induced NF-κB activation. In vivo study showed that KMUP-1 reduced mechanical hyperalgesia in monoiodoacetic acid (MIA)-induced rats OA. Additionally, KMUP-1 pretreatment reduced the serum levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in MIA-injected rats. Moreover, macroscopic and histological observation showed that KMUP-1 reduced articular cartilage erosion in rats. Our results demonstrated that KMUP-1 inhibited the inflammatory responses and restored SIRT1 in vitro, alleviated joint-related pain and cartilage destruction in vivo. Taken together, KMUP-1 has the potential to improve MIA-induced articular cartilage degradation by inhibiting the levels and expression of inflammatory mediators suggesting that KMUP-1 might be a potential therapeutic agent for OA.


Nutrients ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1973 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bhagavathi Sivamaruthi ◽  
Periyanaina Kesika ◽  
Mani Prasanth ◽  
Chaiyavat Chaiyasut

In general, fermented foods (FFs) are considered as functional foods. Since the awareness about the health benefits of FFs has increased, the consumption of FF also improved significantly in recent decades. Diabetes is one of the leading threats of the health span of an individual. The present manuscript details the general methods of the production of FFs, and the results of various studies (in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies) on the antidiabetic properties of FFs. The fermentation method and the active microbes involved in the process play a crucial role in the functional properties of FFs. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have been reported on the health-promoting properties of FFs, such as anti-inflammation, anticancer, antioxidant properties, improved cognitive function and gastrointestinal health, and the reduced presence of metabolic disorders. The studies on the functional properties of FFs by randomized controlled clinical trials using human volunteers are very limited for several reasons, including ethical reasons, safety concerns, approval from the government, etc. Several scientific teams are working on the development of complementary and alternative medicines to improve the treatment strategies for hyperglycemia.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouna Moutia ◽  
Norddine Habti ◽  
Abdallah Badou

Allium Sativum L. (garlic), which is a species of the onion family, Alliaceae, is one of the most used plants in traditional medicine worldwide. More than 200 chemicals with diverse properties have been found in garlic extracts. Several garlic compounds were suggested to be efficient in improving various pathologies including certain types of cancer. This paper is an overview of data about garlic biological activities in vitro and/or in vivo on immune cells, on the development of certain inflammatory diseases, and on different types of carcinomas and sarcomas. Garlic and its compounds were found to have notable antioxidant properties. Garlic therapeutic potential has also been studied in several inflammatory diseases such as allergic-airway inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritic rheumatism, and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, garlic was found to be able to maintain the immune system homeostasis and to exhibit beneficial effects on immune cells especially through regulation of proliferation and cytokine gene expression. Finally, we will show how major garlic components such as sulfur compounds and polyphenols might be responsible for the garlic biological activities revealed in different situations. If identified, specific compounds present in garlic could potentially be used in therapy.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 698
Author(s):  
Oana-Maria Dragostin ◽  
Rodica Tatia ◽  
Sangram Keshari Samal ◽  
Anca Oancea ◽  
Alexandra Simona Zamfir ◽  
...  

Angiogenesis is a physiological process involving the growth of new blood vessels, which provides oxygen and required nutrients for the development of various pathological conditions. In a tumor microenvironment, this process upregulates the growth and proliferation of tumor cells, thus any stage of angiogenesis can be a potential target for cancer therapies. In the present study, chitosan and his derivatives have been used to design novel polymer-based nanoparticles. The therapeutic potential of these newly designed nanoparticles has been evaluated. The antioxidant and MTT assays were performed to know the antioxidant properties and their biocompatibility. The in vivo antiangiogenic properties of the nanoparticles were evaluated by using a chick Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) model. The obtained results demonstrate that chitosan derivatives-based nanostructures strongly enhance the therapeutic effect compared to chitosan alone, which also correlates with antitumor activity, demonstrated by the in vitro MTT assay on human epithelial cervical Hep-2 tumor cells. This study opens up new direction for the use of the chitosan derivatives-based nanoparticles for designing of antiangiogenic nanostructured materials, for future cancer therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Kevin Nyandwaro ◽  
Job Oyweri ◽  
Francis Kimani ◽  
Amos Mbugua

Background. Plasmodium parasite resistance to artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) calls for development of new, affordable, safe, and effective antimalarial drugs. Studies conducted previously on soybean extracts have established that they possess antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancerous, and antioxidant properties. The activity of such extracts on Plasmodium parasites has not been potentially exploited. Objectives. The aim of this study was to determine the antiplasmodial activity of soybean extracts using Plasmodium falciparum cultures, followed by an in vivo evaluation of safety and antimalarial activity of the extracts in Plasmodium berghei ANKA strain-infected mice. Method. Aqueous, methanol, and peptide extracts of soybean seeds were prepared. An in vitro evaluation of the extracts for antiplasmodial activity was carried out using two P. falciparum strains: D6, a chloroquine-sensitive Sierra Leone 1 strain and W2, a chloroquine-resistant Indochina 1 strain. Following the in vitro assessment, two active extracts (peptide and methanol) were selected for in vivo assay with mice infected with P. berghei ANKA strain. The two extracts were tested for their therapeutic potential (curative test). The peptide extract was further assessed to determine whether it could prevent the establishment of a P. berghei infection (prophylactic test). For the curative tests, methanol and peptide extracts were separately administered orally to three groups of five P. berghei-infected Swiss albino mice for four days, at three dosage levels: 800, 400, and 200 mg/kg/day. In the prophylactic test, the similar dosage regimen was applied at baseline to 3 groups of uninfected mice using the peptide extract which was administered orally for 4 days. Results. Peptide and methanol extracts showed good activity with IC50 of 19.97 ± 2.57 μg/ml and 10.14 ± 9.04 μg/ml, respectively, against the D6 strain. The IC50 values for the peptide and methanol extracts were 28.61 ± 1.32 μg/ml and 14.87 ± 3.43 μg/ml, respectively, against the W2 strain. Methanol and peptide extracts exhibited high parasite-suppressive (therapeutic) activity of 72.9% and 71.9%, respectively, using the 800 mg/kg dose. In the prophylactic test, the peptide extract exhibited suppressive activity of 64.7% upon use of 800 mg/kg. Notably, there was a significant decrease (P<0.001) in suppression with lower doses. Conclusion. The results show the presence of antimalarial properties in soybean extracts with higher curative activity when compared to the prophylactic activity. However, more research needs to be conducted on this plant to possibly establish lead compounds.


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 75-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayana Keyla Seabra de Oliveira ◽  
Marcos Rafael Silva Almeida ◽  
Franco Márcio Maciel Pontes ◽  
Mariana Pegrucci Barcelos ◽  
Carlos Henrique Tomich de Paula da Silva ◽  
...  

Introduction:Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are progressive, directly affecting the central nervous system (CNS), the most common and recurrent are Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). One factor frequently mentioned in the etiology of NDDs is the generation of free radicals and oxidative stress, producing cellular damages. Studies have shown that the consumption of foods rich in polyphenols, especially those of the flavonoid class, has been related to the low risk in the development of several diseases. Due to the antioxidant properties present in the food, a fruit that has been gaining prominence among these foods is the Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açaí), because it presents in its composition significant amounts of a subclass of the flavonoids, the anthocyanins.Methods:In the case review, the authors receive a basic background on the most common NDDs, oxidative stress and antioxidants. In addition, revisiting the various studies related to NDDs, including flavonoids and consumption of açaí.Results:Detailed analysis of the recently reported case studies reveal that dietary consumption of flavonoid-rich foods, such as açaí fruits, suggests the efficacy to attenuate neurodegeneration and prevent or reverse the age-dependent deterioration of cognitive function.Conclusion:This systematic review points out that flavonoids presenting in açaí have the potential for the treatment of diseases such as PD and AD and are candidates for drugs in future clinical research. However, there is a need for in vitro and in vivo studies with polyphenol that prove and ratify the therapeutic potential of this fruit for several NDDs.


Cosmetics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 38 ◽  
Author(s):  
Letteria Greco ◽  
Salviana Ullo ◽  
Luigi Rigano ◽  
Marco Fontana ◽  
Enzo Berardesca

Lignins have shown remarkable antioxidant properties; acting as “scavengers” of free radicals physiologically produced by cell metabolisms; and exerting a protective action caused by the strong ability of these molecules to absorb UV radiation. Through preliminary Molecular Modeling studies and experimental studies in vivo and in vitro, a lignin hydrolysate compound has been shown to be an extremely versatile active ingredient, presenting soothing, anti-inflammatory, anti-itch, anti-oxidant, anti-aging and anti-pollution properties. The possible fields of application are therefore multiple; making this lignin hydrolysate a particularly interesting ingredient for topical dermatological compositions in the treatment of various skin disorders such as inflammation, edema, swelling, rash, redness, itching, chrono- and photo-induced skin aging. These manifestations are also the basis of more or less serious skin problems, making lignin hydrolysate capable of being used in cosmetic products for the eternal challenge of fighting skin aging, but also in medical devices that can be used to fight more painful and annoying symptoms, like those caused by dermatitis or psoriasis.


Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2502 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Tkaczewska ◽  
Ewelina Jamróz ◽  
Ewa Piątkowska ◽  
Barbara Borczak ◽  
Joanna Kapusta-Duch ◽  
...  

Carp skin gelatine hydrolysate (CSGH) may be a possible bioactive peptide source, as promising antioxidant properties have been noted during in vivo testing. Hence, the present study focused on improving the bioavailability of the antioxidant peptides from CSGH and on the use of furcellaran (FUR), which can protect the biopeptides during digestion in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, in this study, microcapsules coated with furcellaran and containing CSGH cores were prepared. The structural properties of the sample were determined using FT-IR and SEM analysis. The antioxidant properties of hydrolysate, uncoated, and encapsulated samples were investigated. In vivo analysis included determination of its safety in an animal organism and evaluation of the lipid profile, antioxidant blood status, and mRNA expression of some genes involved in antioxidant status in Wistar rats. The results showed no adverse effects of microencapsulated protein hydrolysates in laboratory animals. Nonetheless, there was a statistically significant rise in the level of total antioxidant status blood serum among animals consuming CSGH and not inducing oxidative stress. This can be viewed as a promising indication of the positive effects of antioxidant properties tested in vivo. The process of CSGH microencapsulation in FUR cause a decrease in antioxidant hydrolysate activity, both in vitro, as well as in healthy Wistar rats. When considering the results of the presented diverse therapeutic potential, further research on CSGH being a potential bioactive peptide source used as a functional food or nutraceutical, but with a different microencapsulation coating, is encouraged.


2017 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 510-521 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed-Amine Jabri ◽  
Kais Rtibi ◽  
Haifa Tounsi ◽  
Karim Hosni ◽  
Lamjed Marzouki ◽  
...  

This study aimed to investigate the antiulcer and antioxidant activities of myrtle berry seed aqueous extract (MBSAE) in a peptic ulcer model induced by ethanol in male Wistar rats. MBSAE is rich in total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and unsaturated fatty acids, particularly linoleic (18:2) and oleic (18:1) acids. MBSAE also exhibited in vitro antioxidant activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) (IC50 = 172.1 μg/mL) and superoxide anion (IC50 = 200.24 μg/mL) scavenging activities. In vivo, MBSAE provided dose-dependent protection against ethanol-induced gastric and duodenal macroscopic and histological alterations. Also, it inhibited secretory profile disturbances and lipid peroxidation, and preserved normal antioxidant enzyme activities and nonenzymatic antioxidant levels. More importantly, we showed that acute alcohol intoxication increased gastric and duodenal calcium, hydrogen peroxide, and free iron levels, whereas MBSAE treatment protected against intracellular mediator deregulation. In conclusion, we suggest that MBSAE has potent protective effects against alcohol-induced peptic ulcer in rat. This protection might be related in part to its antioxidant properties as well as its opposite effects on some studied intracellular mediators.


Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 909
Author(s):  
Daniel Muñoz-Reyes ◽  
Ana I. Morales ◽  
Marta Prieto

Quercetin is a flavonoid with antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, it has been postulated as a molecule with great therapeutic potential. The renoprotective capacity of quercetin against various toxins that produce oxidative stress, in both in vivo and in vitro models, has been shown. However, it is not clear whether quercetin itself or any of its metabolites are responsible for the protective effects on the kidney. Although the pharmacokinetics of quercetin have been widely studied and the complexity of its transit throughout the body is well known, the metabolic processes that occur in the kidney are less known. Because of that, the objective of this review was to delve into the molecular and cellular events triggered by quercetin and/or its metabolites in the tubular cells, which could explain some of the protective properties of this flavonoid against oxidative stress produced by toxin administration. Thus, the following are analyzed: (1) the transit of quercetin to the kidney; (2) the uptake mechanisms of quercetin and its metabolites from plasma to the tubular cells; (3) the metabolic processes triggered in those cells, which affect the accumulation of metabolites in the intracellular space; and (4) the efflux mechanisms of these compounds and their subsequent elimination through urine. Finally, it is discussed whether those processes that are mediated in the tubular cells and that give rise to different metabolites are related to the antioxidant and renoprotective properties observed after the administration of quercetin.


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