Biochemical Composition, Antioxidant Capacity and Protective Effects of Three Fermented Plants Beverages on Hepatotoxicity and Nephrotoxicity Induced by Carbon Tetrachloride in Mice.

Functional beverages play an essential role in our modern life and contribute to nutritional well-being. Current efforts to understand and develop functional beverages to promote health and wellness have been enhanced. The present study aimed to investigate the production of three fermented plants beverages (FPBs) from aromatic and medicinal plants and to evaluate the fermented product in terms of physio-biochemical composition, the aromatic compounds, antioxidant activity, and in vivo protective effects on hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). The results showed that the fermented beverage NurtBio B had the highest levels of polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins; 242.3 ± 12.4 µg GAE/mL, 106.4 ± 7.3 µg RE/mL and 94.2 ± 5.1 µg CE/mL, respectively. The aromatic profiles of the fermented beverages showed thirty-one interesting volatile compounds detected by GC-MS headspace analyses such as benzaldehyde, Eucalyptol, Fenchone, 3-Octadecyne, Estragole, and Benzene propanoic acid 1-methylethyl ester. In addition, the fermentation process was significantly improved, indicating its great potential as a functional food with both strong antioxidant activity and good flavor. In vivo administration of CCl4 in mice induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity by a significant rise in the levels of serum liver and kidney biomarkers. The protective effects of the FPBs showed that they significantly restored the majority of these biological parameters to normal levels, along with increase antioxidant enzyme activities, as well as an improvement of histopathological changes, suggesting their protective effects.

Biochemical composition, antimicrobial and antifungal activities assessment of the fermented medicinal plants extract using lactic acid bacteria.

To prevent foodborne diseases and extend shelf life, antimicrobial agents may be used in food to inhibit the growth of undesired microorganisms. The present study was aimed to determine the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the fermented medicinal plants extract using Lactobacillus acidophilus ATCC 4356. The fermentation kinetic parameters, biochemical composition and the volatile compounds of the fermented plant extract were assessed. The results showed that, the fermented plants extract exhibited high content in polyphenols, flavonoids, and tannins (152.7 mg AGE/L; 93.6 mg RE/L; and 62.1 mg CE/L, respectively) comparing to non-fermented the extract. The GC-MS headspace analyses showed the presence of 24 interesting volatile compounds. The richness of the fermented plants extracts in polyphenols and bioactive compound, such as Eucalyptol, Camphene, α-Phellandrene, α-Terpinene, improves their biological activity. In addition, the fermented plants extract exhibited a high antimicrobial potential against pathogenic bacteria and fungi determined by different methods. The maximum inhibition showed in the fermented plants extract against Escherichia coli 25922/3, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 27853 ATCC, Staphylococcus aureus 29213 ATCC, Enterococcus aerogenes 13048 ATCC, Phytophthora infestans P3 4/91 R + , P. infestans P4 20/01 R, P. infestans (GL-1). The obtained results support the hypothesis of using lactic fermentation as a functional ingredient to improve food preservation. The bioprocesses of fermentation technology enhance antimicrobial and antifungal activities which could be used in different industrial applications.

A new purified Lawsoniaside remodels amyloid-ß42 fibrillation into a less toxic and non-amyloidogenic pathway.

Mounting evidence indicates soluble Aß42 oligomers as the most toxic species causing neuronal death which leads to the onset and progression of Alzheimer disease (AD). Recently, it has been found that neurotoxic Aß42 oligomers grow from monomeric species or arise following secondary nucleation by preformed mature fibrils. Thus, the use of natural compounds such as polyphenols to hinder the growth or to remodel Aß42 fibrils is one of the most promising strategies for AD treatment. In our previous study, we showed that 1, 2, 4-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside (THNG) inhibits Aß42 aggregation during the early steps of the aggregation process, inhibits its conformational change to a ß-sheet-rich structure, decreases its polymerization, inhibits its fibrillogenisis and reduces oxidative stress and aggregate cytotoxicity. Here, we used different spectroscopic and cell culture methods to check the effect of THNG on fibrils disaggregation. We showed that THNG binds to mature Aß42 fibrils, rearrange their secondary structure, and remodels them into non-amyloid, less toxic, species by inhibiting their interaction with the plasma membrane. Our findings reveal that THNG is a good agent to remodel amyloid fibrils and could be used as a starting molecular scaffold to design new anti-AD drugs.

1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside delays amyloid-ß42 aggregation and reduces amyloid cytotoxicity.

Presently, misfolding and aggregation of amyloid-ß42 (Aß42 ) are considered early events in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. The use of natural products to inhibit the aggregation process and to protect cells from cytotoxicity of early aggregate grown at the onset of the aggregation path is one of the promising strategies against AD. Recently, we have purified a new powerful antioxidant and inhibitor of Aß42 aggregation from the leaves of Lawsonia inermis. The new compound was identified as a new Lawsoniaside; 1,2,4-trihydroxynaphthalene-2-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (THNG). Herein, we show that THNG interferes with Aß42 aggregation, inhibits its conformational change to a ß-sheet-rich structure, decreases its polymerization into large fibrillar species, reduces oxidative stress, and aggregate cytotoxicity. These results indicate that THNG has great potential as a neuroprotective and therapeutic agent against AD. © 2018 BioFactors, 44(3):272-280, 2018.