OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of proanthocyanidin and C. sinensis-polyphenols on microtensile bonding properties of prepared teeth with resin-modified glass ionomer cement (GIC).
METHODS: This was an in vitro study.
METHODS: Seventy-eight maxillary premolars were selected and mounted into auto-polymerizing acrylic resin blocks. The samples were prepared and metal crowns were fabricated. The samples were randomly divided into three groups. Samples under Group 1 were not treated with any of the extracts and followed conventional bonding protocol. Samples under Group 2 and Group 3 were treated with proanthocyanidin and C. sinensis-polyphenols, respectively. After dentin treatment, these samples were luted to metal crowns using resin-modified GIC. Universal testing machine was used to measure the load at which the crowns were debonded and microtensile bond strength in MPa was calculated.
METHODS: The results were statistically analyzed using one-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey HSD.
RESULTS: Samples treated with C. sinensis polyphenols (Group 3) had maximum bond strength followed by Group 2, where the samples were treated with proanthocyanidin.
CONCLUSIONS: C. sinensis polyphenols due to their anti-proteolytic and antioxidant properties showed improved bond strength compared to proanthocyanidin, a cross-linking agent, followed by conventional bonding protocol.

Excessive immune response and inflammation are associated with an increased risk of various diseases. In particular, excessive myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in neutrophils causes inflammatory reactions and lifestyle-related diseases. Adlay has a long history of being used as a traditional Chinese medicine. Polyphenols present in adlay seeds are expected to have the effect of suppressing excessive immune and inflammatory responses. Here, we conducted a randomized, double-blind, parallel group, placebo-controlled study was conducted to evaluate the suppressing effects of adlay seeds extract on excessive immune responses. One hundred and twenty adults participated in the study and they were equally divided into an adlay tea intake group and a placebo group. MPO activity was significantly elevated in the placebo group after 8-wk ingestion, while no significant change was observed in the adlay group. Vascular endothelial functions improved in the adlay group, especially in subjects over 40 y old. These results indicate that adlay tea intake may suppress an excessive immune and inflammatory responses, and improve arterial stiffness. Since caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ferulic acid detected in adlay tea are known to inhibit MPO activity, these polyphenols may be the major functional molecules. Collectively, adlay tea is considered to have a preventative effect against lifestyle-related diseases through improving vascular endothelial function by effects to maintain immune homeostasis of the contained polyphenols. This trial was registered at University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000032263).

Gastrointestinal parasitism is a major health and welfare problem in ruminants. Synthetic chemical anthelmintic drugs have led to the emergence of resistance in gastrointestinal strongyles, inducing the search for alternatives to control the infections that affect ruminants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the anthelmintic potential of plant extracts against Haemonchus contortus Rudolphi. Three plants of the Guadeloupean biodiversity, Momordica charantia L., Carica papaya L. and Sargassum spp., were selected based on their high polyphenolic content and natural abundance. The phytochemistry of plants was explored, a biological assay against the parasite H. contortus was carried out, and several hypotheses about the way of action were proposed by an innovative electrochemical screening method.

The growing trend in fruit wine production reflects consumers\' interest in novel, diverse drinking experiences and the increasing demand for healthier beverage options. Fruit wines made from kiwi, pomegranates, and persimmons fermented using S. bayanus Lalvin strain EC1118 demonstrate the versatility of winemaking techniques. Kiwifruit, persimmon, and pomegranate wines were analyzed using HPLC and GC-TOFMS analyses to determine their concentrations of phenolic acids and volatile compounds. These results were supported by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy to characterize and compare chemical shifts in the polyphenol regions of these wines. The wines\' characterization included an anti-inflammatory assay based on NO, TNF-alpha, and IL-6 production in the RAW 264.7 macrophage model. FTIR spectroscopy predicted the antioxidant and phenolic contents in the wines. In terms of polyphenols, predominantly represented by chlorogenic, caffeic, and gallic acids, pomegranate and kiwifruit wines showed greater benefits. However, kiwifruit wines exhibited a highly diverse profile of volatile compounds. Further analysis is necessary, particularly regarding the use of other microorganisms in the fermentation process and non-Saccharomyces strains methods. These wines exhibit high biological antioxidant potential and health properties, providing valuable insights for future endeavors focused on designing healthy functional food products.

In this study, changes in bioactive compound contents and the in vitro biological activity of mixed grains, including oats, sorghum, finger millet, adzuki bean, and proso millet, with eight different blending ratios were investigated. The total phenolic compounds and flavonoid contents ranged from 14.43-16.53 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 1.22-5.37 mg catechin equivalent/g extract, respectively, depending on the blending ratio. The DI-8 blend (30% oats, 30% sorghum, 15% finger millet, 15% adzuki bean, and 10% proso millet) exhibited relatively higher antioxidant and anti-diabetic effects than other blending samples. The levels of twelve amino acids and eight organic acids in the grain mixes were measured. Among the twenty metabolites, malonic acid, asparagine, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, and proline were identified as key metabolites across the blending samples. Moreover, the levels of lactic acid, oxalic acid, and malonic acid, which are positively correlated with α-glucosidase inhibition activity, were considerably higher in the DI-blending samples. The results of this study suggest that the DI-8 blend could be used as a functional ingredient as it has several bioactive compounds and biological activities, including anti-diabetic activity.

The therapeutic potential of tissue engineering in addressing articular cartilage defects has been a focal point of research for numerous years. Despite its promising outlook, a persistent challenge within this domain is the lack of sufficient functional integration between engineered and natural tissues. This study introduces a novel approach that employs a combination of sulforaphane (SFN) nanoemulsion and tannic acid to enhance cartilage tissue engineering and promote tissue integration in a rat knee cartilage defect model. To substantiate our hypothesis, we conducted a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments. The SFN nanoemulsion was characterized using DLS, zeta potential, and TEM analyses. Subsequently, it was incorporated into a ternary polymer hydrogel composed of chitosan, gelatin, and polyethylene glycol. We evaluated the hydrogel with (H-SFN) and without (H) the SFN nanoemulsion through a comprehensive set of physicochemical, mechanical, and biological analyses. For the in vivo study, nine male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: no implant (Ctrl), H, and H-SFN. After inducing a cartilage defect, the affected area was treated with tannic acid and subsequently implanted with the hydrogels. Four weeks post-implantation, the harvested cartilage underwent histological examination employing H&E, safranin O/fast green, alcian blue, and immunohistochemistry staining techniques. Our results revealed that the SFN nanodroplets had an average diameter of 75 nm and a surface charge of -11.58 mV. Moreover, degradation, swelling rates, hydrophilicity, and elasticity features of the hydrogel incorporating SFN were improved. Histopathological analysis indicated a higher production of GAGs and collagen in the H-SFN group. Furthermore, the H-SFN group exhibited superior cartilage regeneration and tissue integration compared to the Ctrl and H groups. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest the importance of considering cell protective properties in the fabrication of scaffolds for knee cartilage defects, emphasizing the potential significance of the proposed SFN nanoemulsion and tannic acid approach in advancing the field of cartilage tissue engineering.

BACKGROUND: Rosa species are rich sources of polyphenols with physiological functions. In this study a polyphenol-rich Rosa multiflora (var. platyphylala) petal extract (RoseFit™) was investigated for weight loss in humans.
METHODS: In a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, double-blind clinical trial seventy overweight male and female subjects (20-50 years) with body mass index (BMI) 25-30 kg/m2 were randomly allocated to the active treatment group (RoseFit) and placebo group in a 1:1 ratio. The subjects received 300 mg capsules twice daily for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy outcome measures included body weight, BMI, and body composition, as determined using Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Secondary measures consisted of serum lipid profile and appetite marker (leptin and ghrelin) analyses. Safety analyses included biochemical and hematological assessments.
RESULTS: At the end of the study, a marked reduction in body weight (-1.20 ± 2.62 kg, p < 0.05) and BMI from baseline was observed in the RoseFit group. In addition, the body fat % (RoseFit = -1.69 ± 2.59%, placebo = 0.96 ± 3.21%; p < 0.001) and fat mass (RoseFit = -1.75 ± 1.80 kg, placebo = 1.61 ± 3.82 kg; p < 0.001) were significantly abated in RoseFit group. Importantly, the lean mass was maintained during the intervention. RoseFit ingestion significantly increased the serum leptin levels compared to the placebo (4.85%; p < 0.05). Further, RoseFit group showed reduction in the hunger hormone ghrelin level (2.27%; p < 0.001) from baseline to the end of study, compared to the placebo. The subjective evaluation of appetite using visual analog scale (VAS) questionnaires further confirmed the appetite-suppression effects of RoseFit. The lipid profile significantly improved in RoseFit-treated subjects. No serious adverse events were observed during the study, indicating the tolerability of RoseFit.
CONCLUSIONS: Supplementation with RoseFit significantly impacts body weight management and can thus be a potential nutraceutical ingredient for sustainable weight loss.
BACKGROUND: CTRI/2019/10/021584 dated 09/10/2019.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to explore the effects of a green Mediterranean (green-MED) diet, which is high in dietary polyphenols and green plant-based protein and low in red/processed meat, on cardiovascular disease and inflammation-related circulating proteins and their associations with cardiometabolic risk parameters.
METHODS: In the 18-month weight loss trial Dietary Intervention Randomized Controlled Trial Polyphenols Unprocessed Study (DIRECT-PLUS), 294 participants with abdominal obesity were randomized to basic healthy dietary guidelines, Mediterranean (MED), or green-MED diets. Both isocaloric MED diet groups consumed walnuts (28 g/day), and the green-MED diet group also consumed green tea (3-4 cups/day) and green shakes (Mankai plant shake, 500 mL/day) and avoided red/processed meat. Proteome panels were measured at three time points using Olink CVDII.
RESULTS: At baseline, a dominant protein cluster was significantly related to higher phenotypic cardiometabolic risk parameters, with the strongest associations attributed to magnetic resonance imaging-assessed visceral adiposity (false discovery rate of 5%). Overall, after 6 months of intervention, both the MED and green-MED diets induced improvements in cardiovascular disease and proinflammatory risk proteins (p < 0.05, vs. healthy dietary guidelines), with the green-MED diet leading to more pronounced beneficial changes, largely driven by dominant proinflammatory proteins (IL-1 receptor antagonist protein, IL-16, IL-18, thrombospondin-2, leptin, prostasin, galectin-9, and fibroblast growth factor 21; adjusted for age, sex, and weight loss; p < 0.05). After 18 months, proteomics cluster changes presented the strongest correlations with visceral adiposity reduction.
CONCLUSIONS: Proteomics clusters may enhance our understanding of the favorable effect of a green-MED diet that is enriched with polyphenols and low in red/processed meat on visceral adiposity and cardiometabolic risk.

Lonicera japonica Thunb. (LJT) is known for its valuable medicinal properties that highlight its potential application in the pharmaceutical and health food industry. We predict that LJT polyphenols by network pharmacology may be involved in immunomodulation, and the study of LJT polyphenols regulating immunity is still insufficient; therefore, we experimentally found that LJT enhances immunity by promoting the proliferation and phagocytic activity of RAW246.7 cells. A model of an immunosuppressed mouse was constructed using cyclophosphamide-induced, and LJT was extracted for the intervention. We found that LJT restored immune homeostasis in immune deficiency mice by inhibiting the abnormal apoptosis in lymphocytes, enhancing natural killer cell cytotoxicity, promoting T lymphocyte proliferation, and increasing the CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes in quantity. Moreover, LJT treatment modulates immunity by significantly downregulating lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation and oxidative stress levels. We verified the immunomodulatory function of LJT through both cell and animal experiments. The combination of potential-protein interactions and molecular docking later revealed that LJT polyphenols were associated with immunomodulatory effects on MAPK1; together, LJT intervention significantly modulates the immune, with the activation of MAPK1 as the underlying mechanism of action, which provided evidence for the utilization of LJT as a nutraceutical in immune function.

Neuropathy affects 7-10% of the general population and is caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system. The limitations of current therapies highlight the necessity of a new innovative approach to treating neuropathic pain (NP) based on the close correlation between oxidative stress, inflammatory process, and antioxidant action. The advantageous outcomes of a novel combination composed of Hop extract, Propolis, Ginkgo Biloba, Vitamin B, and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) used as a treatment was evaluated in this study. To assess the absorption and biodistribution of the combination, its bioavailability was first examined in a 3D intestinal barrier model that replicated intestinal absorption. Further, a 3D nerve tissue model was developed to study the biological impacts of the combination during the essential pathways involved in NP. Our findings show that the combination could cross the intestinal barrier and reach the peripheral nervous system, where it modulates the oxidative stress, inflammation levels, and myelination mechanism (increased NRG, MPZ, ERB, and p75 levels) under Schwann cells damaging. This study proves the effectiveness of Ginkgo Biloba, Propolis, Hop extract, Vitamin B, and PEA in avoiding nerve damage and suggests a potential alternative nutraceutical treatment for NP and neuropathies.