Bioactivity of Peptides Released During Lactic Fermentation of Amaranth Proteins with Potential Cardiovascular Protective Effect: An In Vitro Study.

Fermentation has shown to be an effective technique in bioactive peptides release. That is why in this study antihypertensive, antithrombotic, and antioxidant activity was evaluated during amaranth proteins fermentation with Lactobacillus casei Shirota and Streptococcus thermophilus 54102 in mono and combined culture. During fermentation an increase of free amine groups was observed, and no statistical differences among monocultures were shown, getting higher concentration in combined culture. This was related to antihypertensive and antioxidant activities, where the highest values were also found in the combined process (45% of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and 168 µmol Trolox equivalents per liter [TE/L] for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 268 µmol TE/L for 2,2'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, and 381 µmol Fe2E/L for ferric reducing ability of plasma). On the contrary, antithrombotic activity was not related to free amine groups during fermentation, having the highest bioactivity in different moments in each experiment. L. casei Shirota and S. thermophilus 54102 are strains that are able to release bioactive peptides from amaranth protein, although amaranth is not a common matrix for the development of lactic acid bacteria. In addition, in this study it was observed for the first time that lactic acid strains are able to release bioactive peptides from amaranth protein. In addition, this methodology could be part for the development of fermented beverages, different from fermented milk, to diversify matrix to obtain a novel functional food.

Preterm Birth, Inflammation and Infection: New Alternative Strategies for their Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, the progress in reducing neonatal mortality has been very slow. The rate of preterm birth has increased over the last 20 years in low-income and middle-income countries. Its association with increased mortality and morbidity is based on experimental studies and neonatal outcomes from countries with socioeconomic differences, which have considered implementing alternative healthcare strategies to prevent and reduce preterm births. METHODS: Currently, there is no widely effective strategy to prevent preterm birth. Pharmacological therapies are directed at inhibiting myometrial contractions to prolong parturition. Some drugs, medicinal plants and microorganisms possess myorelaxant, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties that have proved useful in preventing preterm birth associated with inflammation and infection. RESULTS: This review focuses on the existing literature regarding the use of different drugs, medicinal plants, and microorganisms that show promising benefits for the prevention of preterm birth associated with inflammation and infection. New alternative strategies involving the use of PDE-4 inhibitors, medicinal plants and probiotics could have a great impact on improving prenatal and neonatal outcomes and give babies the best start in life, ensuring lifelong health benefits. CONCLUSION: Despite promising results from well-documented cases, only a small number of these alternative strategies have been studied in clinical trials. The development of new drugs and the use of medicinal plants and probiotics for the treatment and/or prevention of preterm birth is an area of growing interest due to their potential therapeutic benefits in the field of gynecology and obstetrics.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Geranium bellum and its isolated compounds.

BACKGROUND: Geranium bellum Rose, locally known as "Pata de león", is a perennial plant distributed in the mountains of Hidalgo, Mexico. It is widely used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat fever, pain, and gastrointestinal disorders. To date, there are not published studies regarding the in vivo antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potential of the acetone-aqueous extract from the aerial parts of G. bellum. METHODS: Antinociceptive effects of the acetone-aqueous G. bellum (AGB) extract and the isolated compounds were assessed using experimental pain models, including thermal nociception like hot plate test, and chemical nociception induced by intraperitoneal acetic acid or subplantar formalin injection in vivo. The anti-inflammatory properties of the extract were studied using systemic administration in carrageenan-induced paw edema. RESULTS: Intra-gastric administration of AGB (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg) showed a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect in intraperitoneal acetic acid (writhing), thermal nociception in CD1 mice, and subplantar formalin models, as well as anti-inflammatory effect in carrageenan- induced paw edema in Wistar rats. Geraniin and quercetin showed the highest antinociceptive activity in writhing test, whereas ellagic acid was the most active compound in the hot plate model. CONCLUSION: These studies provide evidences that G. bellum shows antinociceptive and anti- inflammatory effects, and gives support to its use in treating pain in Mexican traditional medicine.