Investigation of Changes in the Polyphenol Profile Verified by LC-MS/MS and the Pro-Health Activities of Fruit Smoothie.

SCOPE: Bilberry, bananas, and apples are used for smoothie production because the health-promoting activities and to prevent human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders. The smoothie is prepared to promote a promising practice for increasing the intake of fruit in the diet. METHODS AND RESULTS: The smoothie is packed into dark glass jars, pasteurized, and stored for up to 4 months at 4 or 22 °C. Then, it is analyzed for the polyphenols profile using liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectometry (LC-HRMS) Polyphenols content and the antiinflammatory, anticholinesterase, and antioxidant activities, and the impact on catalase activity are controlled using biochemical analyses. A significant decrease in the flavanol content (p < 0.05) is investigated, while there are lower decreases or no changes in the other polyphenols content in the smoothies stored at 4 °C. The changes in the anticholinesterase and antioxidant activities of the smoothie are correlated with the total polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonols, and tannins content. CONCLUSION: The proposed preservation of the smoothie and its storage at refrigeration temperature is adequate to maintain the smoothie's nutritional and functional effect for a 4-month shelf life. Even significant changes in the content of individual subgroups of polyphenols are not drastically reflected in the decrease of the smoothie biological activities.

Polyphenols composition and the biological effects of six selected small dark fruits.

The health-promoting activities of fruits are in the limelight in view of the growing risks posed by civilisational diseases and are connected with polyphenols. The present study examined bilberry, blueberry, blackcurrant, redcurrant, cherry and plum for their polyphenolic content and biological activities. The contents of total polyphenolic compounds and their subclasses were determined. Liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry was used to characterise the polyphenolic profiles. Small dark fruits' antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cholinesterase activities were also extensively determined. Significant qualitative and quantitative differences in the analysed fruits' polyphenols composition and biological activities were demonstrated. The highest polyphenolic contents and antioxidant activities were established in blackcurrant fruit, but bilberry also had our attention due to an additional mild influence on antioxidant enzymes. The condensed tannin content in small dark fruits is developed. All tested fruits exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-cholinesterase activities.

Flavonoids from edible fruits as therapeutic agents in neuroinflammation - a comprehensive review and update.

Neuroinflammation is a key process in the pathogenesis of many neurological disorders, i.e. Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, there are no anti-inflammatory medical interventions recommended so far in the treatment of neuroinflammation-related brain disorders. Therefore, the burden of searching for effective and safe antineuroinflammatory agents is well founded, especially in the aging society. Compounds of plant origin, mainly (poly)phenols, have attracted considerable attention in recent years. Notably, the role of flavonoids in ameliorating neuroinflammation is in the limelight. Thus, we used comprehensive literature retrieval to summarize the effects and active components of edible fruits and their phenolic compounds. As a result, this review presents a valuable summary of results of in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies on the antineuroinflammatory effects of edible fruits and their (poly)phenolic extracts as well as dietary flavonoids and other selected (poly)phenols based on the detailed description of foregoing studies. Additionally, problems resulting from the limited bioavailability of (poly)phenols were discussed.

Insulin receptors in the CA1 field of hippocampus and selected blood parameters in diabetic rats fed with bilberry fruit.

INTRODUCTION: Bilberry fruit is believed to be a promising factor in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Chronic hyperglycaemia affects the function of the central nervous system, which may be manifested as changes in hypothalamic insulin signalling. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Using DPPH and ABTS assays, total phenolic content in bilberry fruit and its antioxidant activities were examined. The selected biochemical parameters of blood (glucose, fructosamine, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides), as well as the expression of insulin receptors, were studied in the hippocampal CA1 field of healthy and diabetic (streptozotocin-induced; 60 mg kg-1 body weight) Wistar rats fed with bilberry fruit (16 g kg-1 body weight per day; 6 weeks), as well as of the corresponding control groups. RESULTS: Biochemical analyses revealed ambiguous results, but a significantly (P<0.05) decrease in the level of LDL-cholesterol was observed in the group of healthy rats supplemented with bilberry pulp after 6 weeks of the treatment. There was also a difference (P<0.05) in the level of LDL-cholesterol in the mentioned healthy animals fed with bilberry, versus the healthy control group. An increased number of insulin receptors-immunoreactive neurons as well as nerve fibres in the CA1 field of diabetic rats fed with bilberry fruit was also found. CONCLUSIONS: An inclusion of bilberry fruit in the daily diet during the course of diabetes can lead to plasticity of hippocampal neurons/nerve fibres, manifested by changes in insulin receptors expression. Whether or not the observed changes had protective effects (by reducing damages caused by diabetes mellitus) on the function of the central nervous system neurons needs further study.

Activity-guided isolation of cholinesterase inhibitors quercetin, rutin and kaempferol from Prunus persica fruit.

Prunus persica fruit is a source of anti-cholinesterase agents and led to an increase of acetylcholine levels in brain tissue as a usefull tool in the Alzheimer's disease therapy. This study aimed to propose a convenient method for the purification of cholinesterase inhibitors from P. persica water extract. Water extract from the fruit was ultrafiltered (0.2 µm→5 kDa→3 kDa) followed by preparative chromatography (Sephadex LH-20, high pressure C18) and high pressure analytical C18 chromatography. The chemical structures of inhibitors were confirmed using infrared and 1H-NMR spectroscopies. The anti-acetylcholinesterase activity was measured using the colorimetric method in fractions obtained after each stage of purification. Polyphenolic cholinesterase inhibitors identified in peach fruit were kaempferol, quercetin and quercetin-3-O-rhamnoglucoside (rutin). The relatively fast purification procedure elaborated in this work can be adopted for the isolation of phenolic cholinesterase inhibitors from fruit extracts related to P. persica fruit.

Phenolic Acids Exert Anticholinesterase and Cognition-Improving Effects.

Numerous authors have provided evidence regarding the beneficial effects of phenolic acids and their derivatives against Alzheimer's disease (AD). In this review, the role of phenolic acids as inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) is discussed, including the structure-activity relationship. In addition, the inhibitory effect of phenolic acids on the formation of amyloid ß-peptide (Aß) fibrils is presented. We also cover the in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo studies concerning the prevention and treatment of the cognitive enhancement.

The Neuroprotective Effects of Phenolic Acids: Molecular Mechanism of Action.

The neuroprotective role of phenolic acids from food has previously been reported by many authors. In this review, the role of phenolic acids in ameliorating depression, ischemia/reperfusion injury, neuroinflammation, apoptosis, glutamate-induced toxicity, epilepsy, imbalance after traumatic brain injury, hyperinsulinemia-induced memory impairment, hearing and vision disturbances, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, anti-amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Chagas disease and other less distributed diseases is discussed. This review covers the in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo studies concerning the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders (on the biochemical and gene expression levels) by phenolic acids.