Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) is a natural polyphenolic compound, which plays an important role in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of GSPE supplementation on the cholesterol metabolism and antioxidant status of finishing pigs. In longissimus dorse (LD) muscle, the data showed that GSPE significantly decreased the contents of total cholesterol (T-CHO) and triglyceride (TG), and decreased the mRNA expression of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoAR) and Fatty acid synthase (FAS), while increased the mRNA expression of carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1b (CPT1b), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α). GSPE also reduced the enzyme activities of HMG-CoAR and FAS, and meanwhile amplified the activity of CPT1b in LD muscle of finishing pigs. Furthermore, dietary GSPE supplementation increased the serum catalase (CAT) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), serum and liver total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels, while reduced serum and liver malondialdehyde (MDA) level in finishing pigs. In the liver, Superoxide Dismutase 1 (SOD1), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1), Nuclear Factor erythroid 2-Related Factor 2 (NRF2) mRNA levels were increased by GSPE. In conclusion, this study showed that GSPE might be an effective dietary supplement for improving cholesterol metabolism and antioxidant status in finishing pigs.

The skin is the largest organ in the human body and serves multiple functions such as barrier protection and thermoregulation. The maintenance of its integrity and healthy structure is of paramount importance. Accordingly, technological advances in cosmetic sciences have been directed towards optimizing these factors. Plant-derived ingredients have been explored for their bioactivity profiles and sustainable sources. Grape by-products contain a group of bioactive molecules that display important biological activities. Nonetheless, many of these molecules (e.g., phenolic compounds) are unstable and susceptible to degradation. So, their encapsulation using nano/microsystems (i.e., microdispersions) has been explored as a promising solution. In this work, two grape seed extracts were obtained, one from a single grape variety (GSE-Ov) and another from a mix of five grape varieties (GSE-Sv). These extracts were analysed for their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, as well as their chemical composition and molecular structure. The extract that showed the most promising properties was GSE-Ov with a DPPH IC50 of 0.079 mg mL-1. This extract was encapsulated in soy lecithin microdispersions coated with pectin, with an encapsulation efficiency of 88.8%. They showed an in vitro release of polyphenols of 59.4% during 24 h. The particles displayed a zeta potential of -20.3 mV and an average diameter of 13.6 µm. Microdispersions proved to be safe under 5 and 2.5 mg mL-1 in HaCaT and HDF cell models, respectively. Additionally, they demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity against IL-1α when tested at 2 mg mL-1. This work enabled the valorisation of a by-product from the wine industry by using natural extracts in skincare products.

Grape seed proanthocyanidin (GSP), as a natural antioxidant, has great potential to be developed into a lipid-lowering agent, but its low lipophilicity and stability greatly limit its application. In this study, an enzymatic esterification strategy was developed to introduce fatty acid chains into GSP, resulting in the successful synthesis of a series of new GSP derivatives. The results showed that up to 85% conversion of GSP and 35% TAG inhibition rate of GSP derivatives were achieved. The structures of GSP derivatives were identified by UPLC-MS/MS, and seven derivatives were confirmed as catechin-3\'-O-laurate, epicatechin-3\'-O-laurate, epicatechin gallate-3″,5″-di-O-laurate, epicatechin gallate-3\',3″,5″-tri-O-laurate, procyanidin B1-3\',3″-di-O-laurate, procyanidin B2-3\',3″-di-O-laurate and procyanidin C1-3\',3″,3‴-tri-O-laurate by NMR. GSP derivatives exhibited higher inhibitory effects on lipid accumulation, intracellular TAG and TC than parent GSP. These results indicate that GSP derivatives have potential as lipid-lowering agents for utilization in the food industry.

An effective method was developed for preparing galloylated procyanidins (GPCs) using galloyl-attached nucleophilic degradation. Under degradation conditions optimized through Box-Behnken design and single-factor experiments, two dimeric and three tetrameric GPCs were produced, with the yield of procyanidin B2-3\'-O-gallate (B2-3\'-G) reaching up to 232 mg/g (PPCs). The structure of B2-3\'-G was identified by UV, FTIR, NMR, CD, MS, and phloroglucinolysis. Furthermore, the protective effect of B2-3\'-G against alcohol-induced liver injury (ALI) was investigated. Compared with the parent compounds, B2-3\'-G exhibited a stronger capacity for inhibiting ALI, attributed to its polymerization degree and galloyl group. Subsequent experiments revealed that the pretreatment of BRL-3A cells with B2-3\'-G prior to ethanol improved ALI through activation of the Nrf2-HO-1/NQO1 pathway and initiation of enzymatic antioxidant systems. These findings suggest that GPC B2-3\'-G is a potential hepatoprotective agent, which provides a new perspective for functional development of GPCs.

The development of antimicrobial food packaging is a very important and current goal, but it still difficult to implement in practice. Reducing microbial contamination and preserving food quality are very important tasks for food manufacturers as the use of antimicrobial packaging can preserve the health of consumers. On the other hand, the difficulty of degrading packaging materials, leading to environmental pollution, is also an important problem. These problems can be solved by using biodegradable biopolymers and antimicrobial agents in the production of food packaging. Very suitable antimicrobial agents are grape seed and skin extracts as they have high antioxidant and antimicrobial capacity and are obtained from grape pomace, a waste product of winemaking. The present review presents the valuable bioactive compounds contained in grape seeds and skins, the methods used to obtain the extracts, and their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Then, the application of grape seed and skin extracts for the production of antimicrobial packaging is reviewed. Emphasis is placed on antimicrobial packaging based on various biopolymers. Special attention is also paid to the application of the extract of grape skins to obtain intelligent indicator packages for the continuous monitoring of the freshness and quality of foods. The focus is mainly placed on the antimicrobial properties of the packaging against different types of microorganisms and their applications for food packaging. The presented data prove the good potential of grape seed and skin extracts to be used as active agents in the preparation of antimicrobial food packaging.

This study investigated the influence of photoperiod (day length) on the efficacy of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) in mitigating metabolic disorders in obese rats fed a cafeteria diet. Rats were exposed to standard (L12), long (L18), or short (L6) photoperiods and treated with GSPE or vehicle. In the standard photoperiod, GSPE reduced body weight gain (50.5%), total cholesterol (37%), and triglycerides (34.8%), while increasing the expression of hepatic metabolic genes. In the long photoperiod, GSPE tended to decrease body weight gain, increased testosterone levels (68.3%), decreased liver weight (12.4%), and decreased reverse serum amino acids. In the short photoperiod, GSPE reduced glycemia (~10%) and lowered triglyceride levels (38.5%), with effects modified by diet. The standard photoperiod showed the greatest efficacy against metabolic syndrome-associated diseases. The study showed how day length affects GSPE\'s benefits and underscores considering biological rhythms in metabolic disease therapies.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction using a natural deep eutectic solvent (UAE-NADES) is an efficient method for extracting grape seed polyphenols (GSPs). In this study, response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction of GSPs with UAE-NADES, and the theoretical extraction rate of GSPs was 139.014 mg GAE/g, the actual extraction rate was 135.78 ± 1.3 mg GAE/g. A pseudo-second-order kinetic extraction fitting was established to simulate the extraction process and mechanism (R2 > 0.99). Analysis of antioxidant capacity, Fourier-infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that UAE-NADES works synergetically to maintain the stability of extracted GSPs. The results of high-performance liquid chromatography showed that catechin (41.14 mg/g) is the main component of GSPs in the extract. The UAE-NADES extraction of GSPs can inhibit the growth of Alternaria alternata at 0.25 mg GAE/g, while the GSPs extracted by other methods can effectively inhibit the growth of Alternaria alternata at 0.35 mg GAE/g. Thus, this study demonstrates that UAE-NADES is a high-efficiency means of extracting GSPs and, in a wider sense, is a promising extraction technology for the green utilization of waste resources.

Introduction Collagen plays a vital role in maintaining the structural integrity of dentin, and its modification with bioactive compounds can enhance its mechanical properties and bonding capabilities. Aim This study aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effects of grape seed extract (GSE) and marine collagen peptide (MCP) on dental pulp-derived primary cells. Methodology Human dental pulp stem cells were isolated, cultivated, and then treated with GSE and marine collagen peptides. DNA fragmentation was assessed using DAPI (4\',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 20 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA). Results The results showed that GSE exhibited a minimum level of cell death compared to marine collagen peptides. The viable cell count increased steadily over three days in all groups, with the control group showing the highest number of viable cells. The differences in viable cell count among the groups were statistically significant. Conclusion This study suggests that GSE and marine collagen peptides are highly biocompatible with dental pulp cells and could be considered for further clinical studies.

Silicon dioxide nanoparticles (SiO2-NPs) can be found in many products, such as composites, paints, ceramics, consumer products, and food additives. We recently demonstrated that via breastfeeding, SiO2-NPs transfer to the offspring\'s brain, interfering negatively with hippocampus development. In this work, we evaluated the protective effect of grape seed extract (GSE) against the adverse effects of SiO2-NPs. After delivery, animals were administered 25 mg/kg SiO2-NPs with/without GSE (300 mg/kg) for 20 days (from 2nd to 21st days post-delivery) by gavage. SiO2-NPs increased malondialdehyde concentration and decreased antioxidant activity in the offspring\'s hippocampi. The mean number of dark neurons (DNs) was significantly higher in the hippocampi of the SiO2-NPs group, whereas the mean number of DCX + cells was significantly lower than in the control group. The offspring in the SiO2-NPs groups had a weak cognitive performance in adulthood. Interestingly, these adverse effects of SiO2-NPs were alleviated in the GSE-treated groups. Therefore, GSE can attenuate the damaging effects of maternal exposure to SiO2-NPs during lactation.

Proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract (GSE) has been shown to have the potential to protect bones, although the underlying mechanism remains unknown. The current study aims to explore GSE\'s preventive and therapeutic impact on bone loss induced by oestrogen deficiency and the underlying mechanism through the gut microbiota (GM) and metabolomic responses. In oestrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) mice, GSE ameliorated bone loss by inhibiting the expansion of bone marrow adipose tissue (BMAT), restoring BMAT lipolysis and promoting bone formation. GSE regulated OVX-induced GM dysbiosis by reducing the abundance of opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, such as Alistipes, Turicibacter and Romboutsia, while elevating the abundance of beneficial bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium. The modified GM primarily impacted lipid and amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, the serum metabolites of GSE exhibited a significant enrichment in lipid metabolism. In summary, GSE shows potential as a functional food for preventing oestrogen deficiency-induced bone loss by modulating GM and metabolite-mediated lipid metabolism.