Phenolics and Mineral Elements Composition in Underutilized Apple Varieties

(1) Background: The aim of this research is to study the importance of improving knowledge of old variety apples in terms of phytochemicals, antioxidant capacity and mineral elements. (2) Methods: Fifteen phenolic compounds (UHPLC-MS/MS techniques), eight mineral elements (Ca, K, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Na and Mg), antioxidant capacity (DPPH%) and vitamin C content in four ancient apple varieties of Tuscany (‘Mora’, ‘Nesta’, ‘Panaia’ and ‘Ruggina’), with the ‘Golden Delicious’ cultivar as reference, were analyzed. (3) Results: Ancient cultivars exhibited a superior antioxidant capacity compared to commercial cultivars. ECTC and CGA were the polyphenols that mostly characterized the ancient apples. The contents of the elements of concern, Zn and Mn, were higher in the ancient cultivars ‘Panaia’ and ‘Ruggina’, while Na showed significant low concentration in ‘Nesta’, ‘Panaia’ and ‘Ruggina’ compared to ‘Golden Delicious’. The vitamin C content also indicated that ‘Mora’, ‘Panaia’ and ‘Ruggina’ old variety had an AsA content around 10 times higher than the ‘Golden Delicious’ apple. (4) Conclusions: Underutilized varieties could be an excellent source of bioactive phenolic phytochemicals, mineral nutrients and vitamins that may offer special nutraceutical benefits compared to other fruits.

Dermal Drug Delivery of Phytochemicals with Phenolic Structure via Lipid-Based Nanotechnologies

Phenolic compounds are a large, heterogeneous group of secondary metabolites found in various plants and herbal substances. From the perspective of dermatology, the most important benefits for human health are their pharmacological effects on oxidation processes, inflammation, vascular pathology, immune response, precancerous and oncological lesions or formations, and microbial growth. Because the nature of phenolic compounds is designed to fit the phytochemical needs of plants and not the biopharmaceutical requirements for a specific route of delivery (dermal or other), their utilization in cutaneous formulations sets challenges to drug development. These are encountered often due to insufficient water solubility, high molecular weight and low permeation and/or high reactivity (inherent for the set of representatives) and subsequent chemical/photochemical instability and ionizability. The inclusion of phenolic phytochemicals in lipid-based nanocarriers (such as nanoemulsions, liposomes and solid lipid nanoparticles) is so far recognized as a strategic physico-chemical approach to improve their in situ stability and introduction to the skin barriers, with a view to enhance bioavailability and therapeutic potency. This current review is focused on recent advances and achievements in this area.

Black Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) Functional Beverages Increase HDL-Cholesterol Levels in Aging Rats

Plant-based foods rich in phenolic phytochemicals are among the promising strategies to counteract age-related changes in lipid profile. Aronia melanocarpa (AM) fruits are a rich source of phenolic compounds possessing lipid-modulating effects. The present study investigated the effect of 3-month supplementation of AM-based functional beverages on the lipid profile of healthy aging rats. Male Wistar rats (n = 40) were separated into five groups: (YC) young controls (2-month-old); (AC) adult controls (13-month-old); (A) adult animals supplemented with pure AM extract; (A + P) adult animals supplemented with pectin-enriched (1%) AM extract; (A + H) adult animals supplemented with AM extract enriched with a herbal mixture. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and atherogenic indices were investigated at the end of the study. Adult controls demonstrated age-related dyslipidemia resulting in decreased HDL-C, and increased TG and TC/HDL index. The supplemented groups showed a significant increase in HDL-C levels: A + P (1.49 mmol/L) and A + H (1.61 mmol/L), respectively, vs. AC (1.09 mmol/L), p < 0.05. The TC/HDL-C and LDL-C/HDL-C indices were decreased in the A + P and A + H groups in comparison to the AC group (p < 0.05). These results indicate that supplementation with polyphenol-rich AM beverages can successfully alter HDL-C levels and this effect is further potentiated by pectin and herbs.

Health Effects of Coffee: Mechanism Unraveled?

The association of habitual coffee consumption with a lower risk of diseases, like type 2 diabetes mellitus, chronic liver disease, certain cancer types, or with reduced all-cause mortality, has been confirmed in prospective cohort studies in many regions of the world. The molecular mechanism is still unresolved. The radical-scavenging and anti-inflammatory activity of coffee constituents is too weak to account for such effects. We argue here that coffee as a plant food has similar beneficial properties to many vegetables and fruits. Recent studies have identified a health promoting mechanism common to coffee, vegetables and fruits, i.e., the activation of an adaptive cellular response characterized by the upregulation of proteins involved in cell protection, notably antioxidant, detoxifying and repair enzymes. Key to this response is the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2) system by phenolic phytochemicals, which induces the expression of cell defense genes. Coffee plays a dominant role in that regard because it is the major dietary source of phenolic acids and polyphenols in the developed world. A possible supportive action may be the modulation of the gut microbiota by non-digested prebiotic constituents of coffee, but the available data are still scarce. We conclude that coffee employs similar pathways of promoting health as assumed for other vegetables and fruits. Coffee beans may be viewed as healthy vegetable food and a main supplier of dietary phenolic phytochemicals.

Newly Developed Semi-Synthetic Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine-Phytochemical Conjugates as Prospective COVID-19 Drug(s)

<p>Dear Editor,</p> <p> </p> <p>Kindly find a research article entitled “Newly developed semi-synthetic chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine-phytochemical conjugates as prospective COVID-19 drug(s)”, submitted<b> </b>for consideration for publication. Kindly find the Herein, two series of chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) derivatives were chemically conjugated with established small phenolic phytochemicals namely, thymol, vanillin, guaiacol, eugenol, 4-hydroxycoumarin and vanillin analogues by the principles of Williamson ether reaction. The HCQ-vanillin conjugation would be coveted as a potential candidate against human COVID-19.</p> <p><b> </b></p> <p>Thanking you,</p> <p>With regards,</p> <p> </p> <p>Rabindra Nath Padhy, PhD, Post-Doc, Member NAMS.</p> <p>Professor and Head, Central Research Laboratory, IMS & Sum Hospital, </p> <p>Siksha ‘O’ AnusandhanDeemed to be University, </p> <p>Bhubaneswar- 751003, Odisha, India.</p> <p>E-mail: [email protected]</p><br>

Newly Developed Semi-Synthetic Chloroquine and Hydroxychloroquine-Phytochemical Conjugates as Prospective COVID-19 Drug(s)

<p>Dear Editor,</p> <p> </p> <p>Kindly find a research article entitled “Newly developed semi-synthetic chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine-phytochemical conjugates as prospective COVID-19 drug(s)”, submitted<b> </b>for consideration for publication. Kindly find the Herein, two series of chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) derivatives were chemically conjugated with established small phenolic phytochemicals namely, thymol, vanillin, guaiacol, eugenol, 4-hydroxycoumarin and vanillin analogues by the principles of Williamson ether reaction. The HCQ-vanillin conjugation would be coveted as a potential candidate against human COVID-19.</p> <p><b> </b></p> <p>Thanking you,</p> <p>With regards,</p> <p> </p> <p>Rabindra Nath Padhy, PhD, Post-Doc, Member NAMS.</p> <p>Professor and Head, Central Research Laboratory, IMS & Sum Hospital, </p> <p>Siksha ‘O’ AnusandhanDeemed to be University, </p> <p>Bhubaneswar- 751003, Odisha, India.</p> <p>E-mail: [email protected]</p><br>