The properties of kale as a functional food are well established. We sought to determine how fermentation further enhances these properties. We tested different fermentation conditions: (i) spontaneous fermentation with naturally occurring bacteria, (ii) spontaneous fermentation with 2% salt, (iii) Lactococcus lactis, (iv) Lactobacillus acidophilus, (v) mixture of L. lactis and L. acidophilus, (vi) mixture of L. lactis, L. acidophilus, and Clostridium butyricum. We quantified selected bioactive components using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and antinutritional factors using a gravimetric method and spectrophotometry. We then determined (i) the antioxidant capacity of the vegetable, (ii) anti-inflammation capacity, and (iii) the surface microbiota composition by 16S sequencing. All fermentation methods imparted some benefits. However, fermentation with mixed culture of L. lactis and L. acidophilus was most effective in increasing polyphenols and sulforaphane accessibility, increasing antioxidant activity, and reducing antinutritional factors. Specifically, fermentation with L. lactis and L. acidophilus increased total polyphenols from 8.5 to 10.7 mgGAE/g (milligrams of gallium acid equivalent per gram) and sulforaphane from 960.8 to 1777 μg/g (microgram per gram) but decreased the antinutritional factors oxalate and tannin. Total oxalate was reduced by 49%, while tannin was reduced by 55%-65%. The antioxidant capacity was enhanced but not the anti-inflammation potential. Both unfermented and fermented kale protected equally against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 macrophages and prevented increases in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 messenger RNA (IL-6 mRNA) expression by 84.3%, 62%, 68%, and 85.5%, respectively. Unfermented and naturally fermented kale had high proportions of sulfur reducing Desulfubrio and Proteobacteria usually associated with inflammation. Fermenting with L. lactis and/or L. acidophilus changed the bacterial proportions, reducing the Proteobacteria while increasing the genera Lactobacilli and Lactococcus. In summary, fermentation enhances the well-known beneficial impacts of kale. Fermentation with mixed cultures of L. lactis and L. acidophilus imparts higher benefits compared to the single cultures or fermentation with native bacteria present in the vegetable.

Golden buckwheat, also called Fagopyrum dibotrys (D. Don) H. Hara, is a plant of the genus Buckwheat in the buckwheat family. The aim of this study was to screen the bioactive ingredients of golden buckwheat extract and investigate the protective effect on acute lung injury (ALI). The ethyl acetate extract (EAE) was identified as the active fraction in LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, with gallic acid, proanthocyanidin B2, and epicatechin at 0.0563%, 0.3707%, and 0.3868%, respectively. At the same time, 20 compounds (mainly flavonoids and organic acids) were identified by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap-HRMS in EAE. Furthermore, the EAE reduced lung histopathology scores in mice with ALI, decreased the dry-to-wet weight ratio of lung tissue, and significantly inhibited the concentrations of IL-1β, TNFα, and IL-6 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). It also reduced the number of leukocytes, decreased the activity of MPO in lung tissue, and inhibited the levels of TLR4/NLRP3 pathway mRNA and protein in lung tissue. Our study indicated that golden buckwheat as a source of functional food prevents or treats associated lung diseases by modulating the activation of the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

BACKGROUND: Dorema aucheri gum (DAG) is a bitter flavonoid gum widely used for numerous medicinal purposes including wound recovery. The present work investigates the acute toxicity and wound-healing effects of DAG in excisional skin injury in rats.
METHODS: Sprague Dawley rats (24) were clustered into four groups, each rat had a full-thickness excisional dorsal neck injury (2.00 cm) and addressed with 0.2 mL of the following treatments for 15 days: Group A (vehicle), rats addressed with normal saline; Group B, rats received intrasite gel; C and D, rats addressed with 250 and 500 mg/kg of DAG, respectively.
RESULTS: The results revealed the absence of any toxic signs in rats who received oral dosages of 2 and 5 g/kg of DAG. Wound healing was significantly accelerated following DAG treatments indicated by smaller open areas and higher wound contraction percentages compared to vehicle rats. Histological evaluation revealed higher fibroblast formation, collagen deposition, and noticeably lower inflammatory cell infiltration in granulated skin tissues of DAG-addressed rats compared to vehicle rats. DAG treatment caused significant modulation of immunohistochemical proteins (decreased Bax and increased HSP 70) and inflammatory mediators (reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and magnified IL-10), which were significantly varied compared to vehicle rats. Moreover, topical DAG treatment led to significant upregulation of the hydroxyproline (HDX) (collagen) and antioxidant content. At the same time, decreased the lipid peroxidation (MDA) levels in healed tissues obtained from DAG-treated rats.
CONCLUSIONS: The present wound contraction by DAG might be linked with the modulatory effect of its phytochemicals (polysaccharides, flavonoids, and phenolic) on the cellular mechanisms, which justify their folkloric use and provokes further investigation as therapeutic drug additives for wound contraction.

In this study, an antioxidant pentapeptide library is created based on antioxidant characteristics. The peptides are then purified and separated using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF). Chemical evaluations identify four peptides with excellent antioxidant activity. The four peptides undergo biocompatibility testing with L-929, NIH 3T3, and Hep-G2 cells. A model of hydrogen peroxide-induced cellular damage in G2 cells shows the peptides\' protective and reparative effects against oxidative damage. Two peptides, MSWLC and TSWLC, which perform best overall, are chosen for further analysis. To explore the peptides\' potential multifunctionality, acute liver inflammation, keratitis, and aging models are established in mice. MSWLC and TSWLC demonstrate anti-inflammatory and anti-aging properties. An antioxidant emulsion prepared by emulsification is found to be non-irritant in a mouse skin irritation test. In a mouse model exposed to ultraviolet radiation, the sunscreen exhibits excellent UV protection and antioxidant effects. These peptides possess potent antioxidant properties and multifunctionality, indicating broad application potential.

In recent years, studies have shown that low-dose supplemental infrared (IR) irradiation exhibits systemic anti-inflammatory effects. The gut microbiota is increasingly recognized as a potential mediator of these effects due to its role in regulating host metabolism and inflammatory responses. To investigate the role of gut microbiota diversity and metabolite changes in the mechanism of light-emitting diodes (LED) infrared\'s anti-inflammatory action, we conducted IR irradiation on mice. Serum inflammatory cytokines were measured using ELISA, and fecal samples were subjected to metagenomic, untargeted, and targeted metabolomic analyses. Our results demonstrated a significant increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 in the IR group, accompanied by a declining trend in pro-inflammatory cytokines. Gut microbiome analysis revealed distinct alterations in composition and functional genes between the groups, including the enrichment of beneficial bacteria like various species of Parabacteroides and Akkermansia muciniphila in the IR group. Notably, the IR group exhibited enrichment in carbohydrate metabolism pathways and a reduction in DNA damage and repair pathways. Furthermore, targeted metabolomic analysis highlighted a notable increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), including butyric acid and isobutyric acid, which positively correlated with the abundance of several beneficial bacteria. These findings suggest a potential interplay between gut microbiota-derived SCFAs and the anti-inflammatory response. In conclusion, our study provides comprehensive insights into the changes in gut microbiota species and functions associated with IR irradiation. Moreover, we emphasize the significance of altered SCFAs levels in the IR group, which may contribute to the observed anti-inflammatory effects. Our findings contribute valuable evidence supporting the role of low-dose infrared light irradiation as an anti-inflammatory therapy.

There is a growing interest in standardizing the biocompatible, cost-effective, and eco-friendly manufacturing techniques for metallic nanostructures due to their widespread applications in the industrial and medical sectors. In recent decades, green synthesis has been proven as the most suitable technique for synthesizing metal nanoparticles. The present research study investigates the use of Cassia angustifolia (senna) leaves and Pistacia vera (Pistachio) nuts to prepare crude aqueous extracts, ethanolic extracts, and biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). The prepared aqueous extracts were used as reducing, stabilizing, and capping agents for the production of silver nanoparticles. These AgNPs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The outcomes validated the formation of stable AgNPs with bioactive functional components. In vitro antibacterial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potentials were assessed by Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test, MIC test, MBC test, MTT assay, BSA denaturation inhibition assay, and DPPH antioxidant assay, respectively. Results confirmed that the tested plant extract possesses a variety of bioactive compounds with various biological activities and is therapeutically effective. These findings verified that C. angustifolia and P. vera are promising bioresources for the synthesis of therapeutic extracts and nanostructures with commendable therapeutic potency.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are major contributors to immunological responses following solid organ transplantation. Donor derived EVs are best known for their role in transplant rejection through transferring donor major histocompatibility complex proteins to recipient antigen presenting cells, a phenomenon known as ‛cross-decoration\'. In contrast, donor liver-derived EVs are associated with organ tolerance in small animal models. Therefore, the cellular source of EVs and their cargo could influence their downstream immunological effects. To investigate the immunological effects of EVs released by the liver in a physiological and transplant-relevant model, we isolated EVs being produced during normothermic ex vivo liver perfusion (NEVLP), a novel method of liver storage prior to transplantation. We found EVs were produced by the liver during NEVLP, and these EVs contained multiple anti-inflammatory miRNA species. In terms of function, liver-derived EVs were able to cross-decorate allogeneic cells and suppress the immune response in allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reactions in a concentration-dependent fashion. In terms of cytokine response, the addition of 1 × 109 EVs to the mixed lymphocyte reactions significantly decreased the production of the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-10 and IFN-γ. In conclusion, we determined physiologically produced liver-derived EVs are immunologically regulatory, which has implications for their role and potential modification in solid organ transplantation.

Cisplatin (CIS) is a platinum-derived chemotherapeutic agent commonly utilized in the treatment of various malignant tumours. However, anticancer doses of the drug cause serious damage to the brain. This study aimed to determine the potential protective effects of tangeretin, which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, in cisplatin-induced neurotoxicity on BALB/c mice brains. Male BALB/c mice were randomized and separated into four groups. Tangeretin was given for 10 days by gavage. CIS was injected as a single dose of 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally (ip) on the 10th day. Brain tissues, malondialdehyde (MDA), total glutathione (tGSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and nitric oxide (NO) levels were measured to determine oxidative damage and myeloperoxidase, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), IL-6 and IL-10 were measured to determine inflammatory activity. In addition, 8-OHdG and caspase-3 were analysed by immunofluorescence methods. While CIS administration remarkably elevated reactive oxygen species, MDA, and NO levels in brain tissue compared to the control, tGSH, GPx, SOD and CAT levels were significantly decreased. Also, it has been detected that TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 obtained in CIS-treated groups increased as well as IL-10 decreased, thereby elevating the inflammatory response. In addition, 8-OHdG and caspase-3 immunoreactivity in neurons increased with CIS administration. Treatment with tangeretin ameliorated the deterioration in oxidant/antioxidant status, overpowered neuroinflammation and ameliorated neurotoxicity-induced apoptosis. This study shows that tangeretin has beneficial effects on CIS-induced neurodegeneration. Possible mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects include the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of tangeretin.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) requires therapeutic approaches that alleviate symptoms and inhibit the progression of joint damage. Glucocorticoids (GCs) have been a cornerstone of RA treatment, yet their use is often limited by side effects. Recent advancements suggest that liposome-based delivery systems can improve GC biodistribution, minimizing toxicity. This study introduces an innovative tool for RA treatment using prednisone-encapsulated nonphospholipid liposomes (NPLs) in combination with a hyaluronic acid (HA) hydrogel. Our methodology involved incorporating prednisone (PR) with palmitic acid and cholesterol to formulate stable NPLs using a thin-film hydration technique. The synthesized PR-NPLs, characterized by a mean size of 150 nm, demonstrated uniform distribution and higher drug encapsulation in comparison with conventional phospholipid liposomes. In vitro assays revealed that PR-NPL markedly reduced inflammatory responses in macrophages. Additionally, we successfully incorporated PR-NPL into an HA hydrogel, employing a photoinitiated cross-linking process. This novel composite offered modulable PR release, governed by the degree of hydrogel cross-linking. The developed system presents a promising advancement in RA management, especially suited for intraarticular injections. It potentially enables targeted, controlled drug release with a reduced risk of side effects, signifying a significant improvement over existing RA therapies.

BACKGROUND: An increasing incidence of metabolic disorders emphasizes the need to explore natural treatments. Spirulina, a microalga with a rich nutrient profile, offers a promising solution for obesity, diabetes, and inflammation. This study provides a meticulous analysis of spirulina powder, evaluating its physicochemical attributes and technofunctional properties through the use of advanced analytical techniques.
RESULTS: Spirulina powder demonstrated strong flowability, substantial water and oil absorption capacity, and moderate foaming characteristics. The ethanolic extract of spirulina was found to be a repository of phenolic (6.93 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (7.17 mg QE/g) compounds, manifesting considerable antioxidant activity with a 58.49 g kg-1 inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals. The extract also exhibited pronounced inhibitory effects on lipase and amylase enzymes, with inhibition percentages of 72.05 g kg-1 and 70.28 g kg-1, respectively, and displayed a glucose retention capacity of 1.28 mg dL-1 (68.52 g kg-1) in a dialysis membrane assay. These results suggest its efficacy in modulating obesity and glycemic control. The powder also showed a potent anti-inflammatory response by mitigating protein denaturation.
CONCLUSIONS: Spirulina powder is a potent natural agent with multiple health benefits, meriting its incorporation into functional foods. It could be suitable for application in the food industry, offering a natural strategy to combat metabolic diseases. This research adds to the scientific literature on spirulina, paving the way for future research into its utilization. © 2024 The Author(s). Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.