The antioxidative potential of sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera, Chlorophyta) can be triggered by light to reach comparable values of pomegranate and other highly nutritious fruits

The interest in edible sea grapes (Caulerpa lentillifera) is increasing due to their potentially beneficial effect on human health. This macroalga, already used for direct and indirect human consumption, is grown in aquacultures in Vietnam and The Philippines. Here, the edible fronds of sea grapes were examined for their antioxidant activity (AOA) at light intensities from 140 to 300 µmol photons m−2 s−1 and compared to commercially dehydrated C. lentillifera and the renowned highly antioxidative fruits Pomegranates (Punica granatum), Goji (Lycium barbarum and L. chinense) and Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) berries, using an ABTS+-assay for all samples. AOA of fronds exposed to 300 µmol photons m−2 s−1 for 14 days increased by about 320% from the initial value of 72.2 ± 5.6 to 232.2 ± 34.2 Trolox Equivalents (TE) mmol 100 g−1 dry weight (DW) onto the level of Pomegranates (272.8 ± 23.0 TE mmol 100 g−1 DW). This application could be used as a post-cultivation treatment in sea grape cultures to increase the quality and nutritional value of the product.

Structural identification and in vitro antioxidant activities of anthocyanins in black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa Elliot)

Anthocyanins is a natural edible pigment with many health benefits. The aim of this work was the identification of anthocyanins present in <i>Aronia melanocarpa</i> using mass spectrometric features. The anthocyanins of the <i>A. melanocarpa</i> were analyzed by UV-Vis, HPLC-DAD and LC-EIS/MS methods. The four important anthocyanins were identified as follows: cyanidin-3-galactoside (68.68%), cyanidin-3-arabinoside (25.62%), cyanidin-3-glucoside (5.28%) and cyanidin-3-xyloside (0.42%). Among the four anthocyanin monomers, three anthocyanins with the highest content of <i>A. melanocarpa</i> were selected, and the antioxidant activity was studied with the total anthocyanins. The antioxidant capacity was cyanidin-3-galactoside > total anthocyanin > cyanidin-3-arabinoside > cyanidin-3-glucoside. The activity of the four anthocyanin samples was greater than ascorbic acid. The methodology described in this study will provide an effective tool for anthocyanins identification. Our results suggested that anthocyanins from <i>A. melanocarpa</i> exhibited effective antioxidant activity. These findings may be crucial in future research concerning chokeberry based functional food products.

Protection of Aronia melanocarpa Fruit Extract from Sodium-Iodate-Induced Damages in Rat Retina

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the major causes of blindness in elderly populations. However, the dry form of AMD has lack of effective treatments. The fruits of Aronia melanocarpa are rich in anthocyanins. In this study, the protective effects of aronia fruit extract on rat retina were investigated using a NaIO3-induced dry AMD model. Full-field electroretinograms (ERGs) showed that b-wave amplitudes were significantly decreased and the retina structures were disordered in the model. The extract treatment alleviated the injuries. The b-wave amplitudes increased 61.5% in Scotopic 0.01ERG, 122.0% in Photopic 3.0ERG, and 106.8% in Photopic 3.0 flicker; the retina structure disorder was improved with the thickness of outer nuclear layer increasing by 44.1%; and the malonaldehyde level was significantly reduced in extract-treated rat retinas compared to the model. The proteomics analysis showed the expressions of five crystallin proteins, α-crystallin A chain, β-crystallin B2, β-crystallin A3, α-crystallin B chain, and γ-crystallin S, which protect retina ganglion cells, were increased by 7.38-, 7.74-, 15.30-, 4.86-, and 9.14-fold, respectively, in the extract treatment compared to the control, which was also confirmed by immunoblotting. The results suggest that aronia fruit extract, probably due to its anthocyanins, could protect the rat retina by alleviating oxidative damages and by upregulating the crystallin proteins to protect its nerve system.

Aronia Upregulates Myogenic Differentiation and Augments Muscle Mass and Function Through Muscle Metabolism

Black chokeberry or aronia (the fruit of Aronia melanocarpa) has been reported to having pharmacological activities against metabolic syndrome, such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and pro-inflammatory conditions. However, the effects of aronia on myogenic differentiation and muscle homoeostasis are uncharacterized. In this study, we investigated the effects of aronia (black chokeberry) on myogenic differentiation and muscle metabolic functions in young mice. Aronia extract (AR) promotes myogenic differentiation and elevates the formation of multinucleated myotubes through Akt activation. AR protects dexamethasone (DEX)-induced myotube atrophy through inhibition of muscle-specific ubiquitin ligases mediated by Akt activation. The treatment with AR increases muscle mass and strength in mice without cardiac hypertrophy. AR treatment enhances both oxidative and glycolytic myofibers and muscle metabolism with elevated mitochondrial genes and glucose metabolism-related genes. Furthermore, AR-fed muscle fibers display increased levels of total OxPHOS and myoglobin proteins. Taken together, AR enhances myogenic differentiation and improves muscle mass and function, suggesting that AR has a promising potential as a nutraceutical remedy to intervene in muscle weakness and atrophy.

Radical Scavenging Actions and Immunomodulatory Activity of Aronia melanocarpa Propylene Glycol Extracts

Researchers are attracted to the wide-ranging, useful components in Aronia melanocarpa berries. They are searching for the most effective ways to extract the active substances that can enhance the body’s protective properties. The current study presents detailed information about the extracts from A. melanocarpa fruits frozen and dried under mild conditions and their chemical composition. In Wistar rats with induced immunosuppression, the effect of chokeberry fruit extracts on the leukocyte formula, phagocytic activity, and cytokine system was studied. It was shown that the A. melanocarpa frozen fruit extract contains more anthocyanins, sugars, and ascorbic acid, and has a more pronounced antioxidant activity determined by the ability to bind APPH-radicals. Moreover, the extract showed membrane-protective and cytoprotective properties against RPMI-1788 cell line. The extract from dried raw material shows a higher antioxidant activity due to the ability to bind DPPH-radicals. It was revealed that extracts from A. melanocarpa fruits promote rapid immune system recovery in rats, normalize the leukocyte count, and improve monocyte and neutrophil phagocytic indicators. Research on the cytokine profile revealed that the anti-inflammatory properties in A. melanocarpa extracts were more pronounced in dried extracts. For several cytokines, a normalization of quantity was noted.

Geroprotective effects of ×Sorbaronia mitschurinii fruit extract on Drosophila melanogaster

BACKGROUND: ×Sorbaronia mitschurinii (also known as Aronia mitschurinii) is an intergeneric hybrid of×Sorbaronia fallax and Aronia melanocarpa. ×S. mitschurinii berry is a rich source of phytochemicals such as flavonoids and anthocyanins, which have a broad range of health benefits and a great geroprotective potential. OBJECTIVES: The goal of the present study was to investigate the geroprotective effects of Sorbaronia berry ethanolic extract (SBE) in Drosophila melanogaster and whether these effects depend on the concentration of SBE, duration of treatment, age, and sex. METHODS: SBE was used to supplement a diet of Drosophila imagoes throughout life, during 2 weeks after the imago hatching, and from 4 to 6 weeks of age. The relationship between the SBE effects on lifespan, stress resistance and the expression of stress response genes were examined. RESULTS: SBE treatment at 1-2 and 4-6 weeks of life increased the lifespan, while treatment throughout life reduced lifespan. SBE treatment increased Drosophila resistance to oxidative stress and starvation, but not to hyperthermia. A statistically significant effect of SBE treatment on the expression level of per, keap1, hif1, hsp27, hsp68, hsp83, and sirt1 genes in flies of both sexes and on sod1 expression only in female flies was demonstrated. CONCLUSIONS: The observed relationship between SBE concentration and lifespan effects suggests that the life-extending effect of SBE may be associated with the mechanism of hormesis.

Aronia melanocarpa polysaccharide ameliorates inflammation and aging in mice by modulating the AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB signaling pathway and gut microbiota

Aronia melanocarpa is a natural medicinal plant that has a variety of biological activities, its fruit is often used for food and medicine. Aronia melanocarpa polysaccharide (AMP) is the main component of the Aronia melanocarpa fruit. This research evaluated the delay and protection of AMP obtained from Aronia melanocarpa fruit on aging mice by d-Galactose (D-Gal) induction and explored the effect of supplementing AMP on the metabolism of the intestinal flora of aging mice. The aging model was established by intraperitoneal injection of D-Gal (200 mg/kg to 1000 mg/kg) once per 3 days for 12 weeks. AMP (100 and 200 mg/kg) was given daily by oral gavage after 6 weeks of D-Gal-induced. The results showed that AMP treatment significantly improved the spatial learning and memory impairment of aging mice determined by the eight-arm maze test. H&E staining showed that AMP significantly reversed brain tissue pathological damage and structural disorders. AMP alleviated inflammation and oxidative stress injury in aging brain tissue by regulating the AMPK/SIRT1/NF-κB and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways. Particularly, AMP reduced brain cell apoptosis and neurological deficits by activating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and its downstream apoptotic protein family. Importantly, 16S rDNA analysis indicated the AMP treatment significantly retarded the aging process by improving the composition of intestinal flora and abundance of beneficial bacteria. In summary, this study found that AMP delayed brain aging in mice by inhibiting inflammation and regulating intestinal microbes, which providing the possibility for the amelioration and treatment of aging and related metabolic diseases.

Bioactive Fraction of Aronia melanocarpa Fruit Inhibits Adipogenic Differentiation of Cultured 3T3-L1 Cells

Obesity is caused by excessive fat cells and the overgrowth of adipocytes and is a major risk factor for several chronic illnesses. Aronia melanocarpa fruit is rich in anthocyanins and polyphenols and has protective effects against various diseases. In this study, we examined the effect of Aronia extract (Aronia bioactive fraction, ABF®) on the biomarkers of the adipogenic pathway during adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells. Lipid accumulation was verified by Oil Red O staining. mRNA and protein expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), fatty acid-binding protein 2 (FABP2), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) were assayed by RT-qPCR and Western blot analyses. Adiponectin and leptin secretion were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. ABF® treatment downregulated lipid accumulation based on Oil Red O staining. ABF®-treated cells exhibited decreased mRNA and protein expression of LPL, C/EBPα, PPARγ, FABP2, and FAS. Moreover, ABF® treatment significantly increased adiponectin secretion and decreased leptin secretion. In conclusion, ABF® has anti-adipogenic effects on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells and may be used as an anti-obesity nutraceutical.