EFFECT OF RED MULBERRY JUICE (MORUS RUBRA) ON THE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE IN MALE WISTAR RATS DUE TO EXPOSURE TO CIGARETTE SMOKE

The increasing number of tobacco users will directly impact to an increase in the number of passive smokers. Various harmful substances that enter the respiratory tract can cause health problems. The airway will recognize these substances as pathogen and activate immune response accordingly. Inflammatory response becomes one of the effects of body compensation due to an increased pathogen. This effect is indicated by the elevation of C-Reactive Protein as one systemic inflammatory response parameters in the body. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of red mulberry juice to reduce levels of C-Reactive Protein in Wistar rats because exposure to cigarette smoke. This is an experimental study with a post-test control group design. Animals were divided into negative control group, positive control group, and 3 treatment groups with different red mulberry doses. The positive control group showed the highest increase in C-Reactive Protein levels compared with the red mulberry intake group (p<0,001). In conclusion, the administration of red mulberry juice can reduce inflammatory response in rats because of exposure to cigarette smoke.

In-vitro Anti-inflammatory activity of Total Phenolic content of some fruit juices in Syria

Fruit juices are considered as an important source of phenolic compounds. Black mulberry, pomegranate and orange juices were selected to assess their anti-inflammatory activity. Total phenolic content was determined using Folin-Ciocalteu colorimetric method. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using RBC membrane stabilization method. Ibuprofen was used as a standard drug. Total phenolic content of black mulberry juice, pomegranate juice and orange juice was 3.02 gGAE/l, 1.83 gGAE/l and 0.76 gGAE/l and the percentage inhibition of RBC haemolysis varied between (27.41-43.19%), (24.06-39.06%) and (10.12-22.54%), respectively. Black mulberry juice revealed the highest anti-inflammatory activity among the studied juices. This finding might be attributed to the high phenolic content of this juice compared to others.

Characterization of Metabolites in Plasma, Urine and Feces of Healthy Participants after Taking Brahmi Essence for Twelve Weeks Using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS Metabolomic Approach

Brahmi essence, developed from Bacopa monnieri (L.) Wettst. standardized extract and mulberry juice, was proven to improve the memory speed of healthy participants aged 55–80 years old, following a 12-week dietary program. However, the metabolites have not yet been reported. Our objective was to characterize the altered metabolites in the plasma, urine, and feces of healthy volunteers after consumption of Brahmi essence for 12 weeks, using the LC-MS metabolomics approach. The altered metabolites were selected from OPLS-DA S-plots; 15 metabolites in the plasma, 7 in the urine, and 17 in the feces samples were tentatively identified by comparison with an online database and literature. The metabolites in the plasma samples were in the classes of amino acids, acylcarnitine, and phospholipids. Benzeneactamide-4-O-sulphate and 3-hydroxyhippuric acid were found in urine samples. The metabolites in the class of amino acids, together with jujubogenin and pseudojujubogenin, were identified in the fecal samples. The aminoacyl-tRNA, aromatic amino acids, and branched-chain amino acid biosynthetic pathways were mainly related to the identified metabolites in all three samples. It could be implied that those metabolites and their pathways might be linked with the effect of Brahmi essence on memory speed.

Screening of GABA-Producing Lactic Acid Bacteria from Thai Fermented Foods and Probiotic Potential of Levilactobacillus brevis F064A for GABA-Fermented Mulberry Juice Production

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the inhibitory neurotransmitter, can be naturally synthesized by a group of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) which is commonly found in rich carbohydrate materials such as fruits and fermented foods. Thirty-six isolates of GABA-producing LAB were obtained from Thai fermented foods. Among these, Levilactobacillus brevis F064A isolated from Thai fermented sausage displayed high GABA content, 2.85 ± 0.10 mg/mL and could tolerate acidic pH and bile salts indicating a promising probiotic. Mulberry (Morus sp.) is widely grown in Thailand. Many mulberry fruits are left to deteriorate during the high season. To increase its value, mulberry juice was prepared and added to monosodium glutamate (MSG), 2% (w/v) prior to inoculation with 5% (v/v) of L. brevis F064A and incubated at 37 °C for 48 h to obtain the GABA-fermented mulberry juice (GABA-FMJ). The GABA-FMJ obtained had 3.31 ± 0.06 mg/mL of GABA content, 5.58 ± 0.52 mg gallic acid equivalent/mL of antioxidant activity, 234.68 ± 15.53 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/mL of anthocyanin, an ability to inhibit growth of Bacillus cereus TISTR 687, Salmonella Typhi DMST 22842 and Shigella dysenteriae DMST 1511, and 10.54 ± 0.5 log10 colony-forming units (CFU)/mL of viable L. brevis F064A cell count. This GABA-FMJ was considered as a potential naturally functional food for human of all ages.