A self-emulsifying omega-3 fatty acids delivery system for enhanced gastro-intestinal absorption in rats.

Omega-3 fatty acids have many health benefits as they help to prevent and treat coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, and autoimmune disorders. Omega-3 fatty acids miscible in lecithin were found to spontaneously form microemulsions in water. The particle sizes of emulsions ranged from 300 to 800 nm and their morphologies were observed by optical microscopy. In vitro testing showed that the amounts of omega-3 fatty acids released by self-emulsifying delivery (SED) formulations containing lecithin, were higher than that released by a commercial formulation without lecithin. The Cmax values of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were approximately 1.38-1.40-fold for the optimized SED formulation than for the control group (P < 0.01). Similarly, the mean AUC0 - 48 values of DHA or EPA in the SED group were 1.27-1.29-fold higher than in the control group (P < 0.05). Phospholipids and lecithin were found to have considerable potentials as bioavailability enhancing excipients for SED systems.

GABA and Fermented Curcuma longa L. Extract Enriched with GABA Ameliorate Obesity through Nox4-IRE1α Sulfonation-RIDD-SIRT1 Decay Axis in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a natural amino acid with antioxidant activity and is often considered to have therapeutic potential against obesity. Obesity has long been linked to ROS and ER stress, but the effect of GABA on the ROS-associated ER stress axis has not been thoroughly explored. Thus, in this study, the effect of GABA and fermented Curcuma longa L. extract enriched with GABA (FCLL-GABA) on the ROS-related ER stress axis and inositol-requiring transmembrane kinase/endoribonuclease 1α (IRE1α) sulfonation were examined with the HFD model to determine the underlying anti-obesity mechanism. Here, GABA and FCLL-GABA supplementations significantly inhibited the weight gain in HFD fed mice. The GABA and FCLL-GABA supplementation lowered the expressions of adipogenic transcription factors such as PPAR-γ, C/EBPα, FAS, and SREBP-1c in white adipose tissue (WAT) and liver from HFD-fed mice. The enhanced hyper-nutrient dysmetabolism-based NADPH oxidase (Nox) 4 and the resultant IRE1α sulfonation-RIDD-SIRT1 decay under HFD conditions were controlled with GABA and FCLL-GABA. Notably, GABA and FCLL-GABA administration significantly increased AMPK and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) levels in WAT of HFD-fed mice. These significant observations indicate that ER-localized Nox4-induced IRE1α sulfonation results in the decay of SIRT1 as a novel mechanism behind the positive implications of GABA on obesity. Moreover, the investigation lays a firm foundation for the development of FCLL-GABA as a functional ingredient.