Investigation of Physical Characteristics and In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fucoidan from Padina arborescens: A Comprehensive Assessment against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation.

A biocompatible, heterogeneous, fucose-rich, sulfated polysaccharide (fucoidan) is biosynthesized in brown seaweed. In this study, fucoidan was isolated from Padina arborescens (PAC) using celluclast-assisted extraction, purified, and evaluated for its anti-inflammatory potential in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Structural analyses were performed using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy. Among the purified fucoidans, fucoidan fraction 5 (F5) exhibited strong inhibitory activity against LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) production and pro-inflammatory cytokine generation through the regulation of iNOS/COX-2, MAPK, and NF-κB signaling in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Determination of the structural characteristics indicated that purified F5 exhibited characteristics similar to those of commercial fucoidan. In addition, further analyses suggested that F5 inhibits LPS-induced toxicity, cell death, and NO generation in zebrafish models. Taken together, these findings imply that P. arborescens fucoidans have exceptional anti-inflammatory action, both in vitro and in vivo, and that they may have prospective uses in the functional food sector.

In vitro and in vivo immuno-enhancing effect of fucoidan isolated from non-edible brown seaweed Sargassum thunbergii.

Fucoidan has been reported to have various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antitumor and anticoagulant, with various health benefits. However, few studies have been conducted to extract fucoidan from Sargassum thunbergii in terms of its immuno-enhancing activities. This aim of this study was to investigate the immuno-enhancing effect of fucoidan (S3) isolated from Sargassum thunbergii through water extraction and ethanol precipitation in RAW 264.7 macrophages and zebrafish. The results showed that S3 contained a relatively high content of fucose and sulfated polysaccharide. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results show that the characteristic peaks at 845 cm-1 and 1220-1270 cm-1 indicate that S3 contains sulfate groups. In vitro, S3 effectively enhanced nitric oxide (NO) production and phagocytic activity. In addition, the results of the study demonstrated that the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1ß, and IL-10 was upregulated by nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo, S3 activates zebrafish immune responses by promoting secretion of NO and activating the NF-κB pathway. Overall, these results suggest that S3 could be used as a functional ingredient added to nutritional supplements and functional foods.

Ruthenium(II)-Catalyzed Remote C-H Sulfonylation of 2-Pyridones.

Herein, a ruthenium-mediated remote C-H mono- and disulfonylation of 2-pyridones with arylsulfonyl chlorides is developed. The catalytic system consisting of a [Ru(p-cymene)Cl2]2 catalyst and KOAc additive allows 2-pyridones to undergo C3,C5-disulfonylation in 1,4-dioxane, and C5-sulfonylation when the C3-position of 2-pyridones is blocked. The successful transformation of the products and late-stage modification of estrone further highlighted the potential utility and significance of this synthetic protocol. Preliminary mechanistic studies indicated that the remote regioselectivity might be dictated via chelation-assisted ruthenation.

Antioxidant potential of hydrolysate-derived seahorse (Hippocampus abdominalis) peptide: Protective effects against AAPH-induced oxidative damage in vitro and in vivo.

In this study, seahorse peptide (SHP) was isolated from an alcalase-treated hydrolysate from Hippocampus abdominalis and assessed for its antioxidant potential against AAPH-induced oxidative stress damage. AAPH stimulation significantly decreased cell viability and increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in Vero cells. SHP treatment increased cell viability and remarkably lowered ROS production under AAPH-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, it protected against AAPH-induced apoptotic DNA damage. Western blot analysis demonstrated that SHP treatment remarkably increased the protein expression levels of catalase and SOD in AAPH-induced Vero cells. A zebrafish study revealed that SHP-treated zebrafish embryos resulted in lower cell death, ROS generation, and lipid peroxidation than the AAPH-treated group. These results suggest that SHP is a potent functional antioxidant that could be developed as a natural antioxidant in the food and functional food industries.

Cosmeceutical Effects of Ishige okamurae Celluclast Extract.

Sulfated polysaccharides extracted from brown algae are unique algal polysaccharides and potential ingredients in the cosmeceutical, functional food, and pharmaceutical industries. Therefore, the present study evaluated the cosmeceutical effects, including antioxidant, anti-wrinkle, anti-inflammation, and photoprotective activities, of Ishige okamurae Celluclast extract (IOC). The IOC was abundant in sulfated polysaccharides (48.47%), polysaccharides (44.33%), and fucose (43.50%). Moreover, the IOC effectively scavenged free radicals, and its anti-inflammatory properties were confirmed in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages; therefore, the IOC may produce auxiliary effects by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS). In vitro (Vero cells) and in vivo (zebrafish) studies further confirmed that the IOC produced a protective effect against hydrogen-peroxide-induced oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the IOC suppressed intracellular ROS and apoptosis and enhanced HO-1 and SOD-1 expression through transcriptional activation of Nrf2 and downregulation of Keap1 in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, the IOC exhibited a potent protective effect against ultraviolet-B-induced skin damage and photoaging. In conclusion, the IOC possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and photoprotective activities, and can, therefore, be utilized in the cosmeceutical and functional food industries.

Detrimental impact of fine dust on zebrafish: Investigating a protective agent against ocular-damage using in vitro and in vivo models.

Pollution caused by fine dust is becoming a global problem in the aquatic environment. Many studies have investigated the hazards that fine dust may pose to terrestrial organisms; however, information on the effects on aquatic environments remain limited. In this study, the physicochemical characteristics of the fine dust associated with the captured powder or liquid state were compared using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS). Raw fine dust (RFD), in the captured powder state, was suspended in water (SFD), and the elemental composition, morphology, and size distribution of both were analyzed. Zebrafish were used as a model to study the effects of SFD-exposure on aquatic organisms. A fatal malformation was observed in the integuments of zebrafish exposed to SFD, specifically in the exterior and interior eye tissues. Furthermore, the exposure of SFD to Tg (flk; EGFP) zebrafish remarkably increased ocular vessel diameter expansion along with blood flow velocity. Regarding vessel diameter expansion, EA.hy926 cells exposed to SFD were adversely affected, with a significant increase in cell migration and capillary-like structure formation, which are angiogenic markers. The SFD-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo was dramatically restored to normal via α/ß-adenosine isolated from the anti-angiogenic brown algae Ishige okamurae extract. Taken together, the current study presents solid evidence of the altered physicochemical characteristics of SFD compared to RFD, and the detrimental impact of SFD in an aquatic in vivo zebrafish model. In addition, the protective effect of α/ß-adenosine, a marine natural product, on SFD-induced angiogenesis suggests that it can be used as an agent to reduce the adverse effects of SFD on aquatic animals.

In vitro study on the effect of ophiopogonin D on the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Ophiopogonin D is a commonly used herb in cardiology and pediatrics for its variuos pharmacological effects. It is necessary to investigate the effect of ophiopogonin D on the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450s) to provide more guidance for the clinical application of ophiopogonin D. Eight isoforms of CYP450s, including CYP1A2, 2A6, 2C8, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, 2E1, and 3A4 were incubated with 100 µM ophiopogonin D in pooled human liver microsomes. The inhibition model and corresponding parameters were also investigated. Ophiopogonin D exerted a significant inhibitory effect on the activity of CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2E1 in a dose-dependent manner with the IC50 values of 8.08, 12.92, and 22.72 µM, respectively (p < 0.05). The inhibition of CYP3A4 by ophiopogonin D was performed non-competitively and time-dependently with the Ki value of 4.08 µM and the KI/Kinact value of 5.02/0.050 min-1·µM-1. Whereas, ophiopogonin D acts as a competitive inhibitor of CYP2E1 and 2C9 with the Ki value of 6.69 and 11.07 µM, respectively. The inhibitory effect of ophiopogonin D on the activity of CYP3A4, 2C9, and 2E1 indicated the potential drug-drug interaction between ophiopogonin D and drugs metabolized by these CYP450s, which needs further in vivo investigation and validation.

Effect of L-cysteine, Boswellia serrata, and Whey Protein on the Antioxidant and Physicochemical Properties of Pork Patties.

This study investigated the effects of L-cysteine (C) combined with Boswellia serrata (B) and whey protein (W) on the antioxidant and physicochemical properties of pork patties. Proximate composition, water holding capacity (WHC), pH, texture profile analysis, sensory evaluation, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), DPPH radical-scavenging activity, volatile basic nitrogen (VBN), and color stability were assessed. Patty VBN gradually increased throughout the storage period. However, VBN for the C treatment increased relatively slowly, indicating that cysteine can delay spoilage and extend the shelf life of patties. The protein content of the whey powder treatment group increased to a greater extent than that of the C and control (CON) groups. Pork patties supplemented with antioxidants showed significantly higher WHC and significantly lower cooking loss and hardness than the CON. Moreover, the addition of 2% whey, 1% B. serrata, and 0.25% cysteine (WBC) significantly enhanced the relative DPPH radical-scavenging activity and sensory characteristics of the patties. After 7-day storage, the MetMb and TBARS values of all treatments were significantly lower than those of the untreated. The results indicated that there was synergy among the cysteine, B. serrata, and whey protein. This finding is of great importance to the production of high-quality pork patties with enhanced shelf life.

Effects of Boswellia Serrata and Whey Protein Powders on Physicochemical Properties of Pork Patties.

Processed meat products are prone to oxidative damage and quality decline during storage; however, these problems can be mitigated by the proper formulation of meat productions. This study evaluated the effects of natural anti-oxidants found in Boswellia serrata (B), whey protein powder (W), and their combination on pork patties during storage, exploring changes in textural properties and lipid oxidation susceptibility. The 2% whey-added group exhibited a higher crude protein content than the untreated control group. The highest water-holding capacity and lowest cooking losses were observed in mixed-additive groups (WB1 (2% W/0.5% B) and WB2 (2% W/1.0% B), and the highest sensory scores for overall acceptability were obtained for WB1. Adding B. serrata can neutralize the hardness caused by whey powder, thereby improving palatability. From 7 d (days 7), the extents of lipid oxidation, determined using 2-thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) analysis, for the WB1 and WB2 groups were significantly lower than that of the control group. The WB1 and WB2 groups exhibited substantially suppressed total bacterial colony and Escherichia coli counts relative to the control group. Our findings suggest that the additive combination of B. serrata and whey protein powders can suppress lipid oxidation, improve storage stability, and enhance textural properties in the production of functional pork patties.

Effect of Dietary Processed Sulfur Supplementation on Water-holding Capacity, Color, and Lipid Profiles of Pork.

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary processed sulfur supplementation on water-holding capacity, color, and lipid profiles of pork according to the level of dietary processed sulfur (0%, CON; 0.3%, S). The pigs were slaughtered at an average final weight of 120 kg, and the longissimus dorsi muscles were collected from the carcasses. As results, pork processed with sulfur had significantly higher moisture and ash contents compared to those of CON but lower crude fat, pH, expressible drip, lower redness and yellowness, and greater lightness. Pork processed with sulfur showed significantly lower total lipid content, triglycerides, and atherosclerosis index but significantly higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Feeding processed sulfur significantly lowered myristic acid, heptadecanoic acid, and stearic acid contents, whereas monounsaturated fatty acids and oleic acids were significantly higher compared to those in the CON. Higher amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids and n-6 fatty acids were observed in the pork processed with sulfur than that of the CON. Therefore, supplementing pigs with dietary sulfur improved nutrient and meat quality.