This research aimed to explore the effectiveness of consuming a calming herbal tea blend, comprising ., and ., in comparison to a placebo tea infused with lemon, to ascertain whether the herbal blend possesses anxiety-reducing properties capable of alleviating perioperative anxiety. The study adopted a clinical randomized, double-blind design and collected data from volunteers undergoing elective surgery at Hospital Unimed Erechim in the northern region of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. A total of 210 participants were enrolled and randomly allocated into two groups: one receiving the placebo tea and the other the sedative herbal tea. All participants completed a questionnaire postoperatively to assess anxiety levels, employing the adapted Portuguese version of the DASS-21 Scale (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale). Results revealed no significant difference in anxiety levels between the group consuming the calming herbal tea and the group consuming the placebo tea. However, consumption of the anxiolytic herbal tea was associated with a notable increase in positive sentiments toward the surgical procedure ( = .0009). Furthermore, the study demonstrated that the DASS-21 questionnaire exhibited a preoperative profile comparable to the clinical scenarios depicted by the scale. Both the calming herbal tea and the placebo tea were found to effectively mitigate perioperative anxiety. This suggests that both options-soothing herbal tea and placebo tea-can be considered safe, efficacious, and pleasant methods for reducing preoperative fasting requirements.

, an opportunistic pathogen, commonly causes hospital-acquired pneumonia. Royal jelly fatty acids (RJFAs), a mixture of various fatty acids extracted from royal jelly, exhibit antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties in treating many infectious diseases. Nevertheless, the therapeutic mechanisms of RJFAs in treatment of acute pulmonary infection are still unclear. Herein, we initially extracted the fatty acids from royal jelly and characterized their chemical constituents using headspace gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Furthermore, we examined the antibacterial effect of RJFAs and explored its therapeutic effect and molecular mechanisms in treating acute pulmonary infection . The antibacterial studies revealed that RJFAs significantly inhibited growth. Moreover, the studies showed that the RJFAs effectively mitigated the lung damage and inflammation induced by through impairing neutrophil infiltration, reducing the bacterial load in lung and diminishing the production of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-1β), IL-6, and macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2). In addition, the mice treated with RJFAs exhibited reduced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), c-Jun, and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 in the lung tissues in comparison with that of the mice without drug treatment. These findings demonstrated that RJFAs exhibited significant antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects in treating the -induced acute pneumonia, and the anti-inflammatory effects were exerted through suppressing the mitogen-activated protein kinase/activator protein-1 (MAPK/AP-1) pathway and NF-κB activation, suggesting a promising therapeutic potential of RJFAs against acute bacterial pneumonia.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a multifaceted metabolic condition, mainly defined by elevated blood glucose levels. A feature of type 2 DM includes insulin resistance (IR), which involves impairments within the insulin signaling pathways. Avenanthramides (AVNs) are phenolic alkaloids found in L. The major AVNs are AVN A, AVN B, and AVN C. They have been reported to offer benefits in preventing inflammation, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. However, the effects of AVNs on the liver glucose metabolism pathways remain unknown. This study examined the effects and underlying mechanisms through which AVNs alleviate IR induced by free fatty acid (FFA) in HepG2 cells. The results indicated that FFA treatment significantly decreased glucose consumption by 34.54% compared to the control. However, treatments with AVN A, B, and C at 100 μM increased glucose uptake by 57.93%, 58.28%, and 53.10%, respectively, compared to FFA treatment alone. This effect occurs through the increased expression of glucose transporter 4. Furthermore, AVNs significantly enhanced the glycogen content. AVNs induced increased phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (Akt). AVNs treatment decreased the levels of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose-6-phosphatase in HepG2 cells. This effect was attributed to AMP-activated protein kinase activation and inhibition of forkhead box protein O1. Collectively, these results suggest that AVNs regulate glucose metabolism by activating the IRS-1/PI3K/Akt pathway, which is related to glycogen synthesis, and by inhibiting key molecules that promote gluconeogenesis.

Obesity represents a significant global public health challenge. Various therapeutic strategies for weight reduction are available, including formulations containing medicinal plants, which are favored due to their availability and low cost. The efficacy and safety of these formulations must be evaluated as they can lead to adverse reactions, including severe hepatic injuries. Despite their widespread usage, particularly among residents of the Amazon, there is a considerable gap in knowledge regarding the species of medicinal plants used in these formulations. This study evaluated the labels of natural weight loss products sold from January to October 2022 at the Ver-o-Peso market in Belém, Brazil. A subsequent review of databases was performed to identify plants listed on the labels that were associated with hepatic injuries. In total, 54 plants were identified in these products, primarily in mixed formulations. None of the labels adhered to current legislative standards. Furthermore, nine of these plants were documented in the literature as having hepatotoxic effects, either through or studies. The presence of medicinal plants that can cause liver injury on the labels of weight loss compounds is a relevant issue requiring rigorous health surveillance intervention.

Pearl millet (PM) ( L.) contains a wide variety of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, mostly flavonoids and phenolic acids. In the present study, we investigated the effects of PM activity against hydrogen peroxide (HO)-induced behavior impairment and oxidative damage in rats. The rats were divided into four groups based on the treatments they received over 30 days: Control, HO, PM + HO, and PM. The phytochemical screening, total polyphenols content (TFC), and total flavonoid content (TFC) were determined using colorimetric analysis. All animals were subjected to behavioral test (elevated plus maze test). Thereafter, oxidative stress response (malondialdehyde [MDA], HO, and Thiol groups [-SH]) contents and antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) were estimated in brain, liver, and kidney tissues. We evaluated the levels of liver enzymes, such as alanine aminotransferase (ALAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT). Our investigation showed that PM is rich in total phenolic content and TFC and exhibited an important antioxidant activity. , we first found that HO-treated rat exhibited anxiogenic behavior in the elevated plus maze test and the genesis of oxidative stress in the brain, liver, and kidney was measured by an increase of MDA and antioxidant enzyme activity depletion, such as SOD and CAT. Moreover, HO increased levels of liver enzymes (ALAT and ASAT). Pearl Mille administration improved emotional behavior impairments and significantly reversed HO-induced biochemical alterations. Thus, we suggest that the Pearl Mille may have an anxiolytic-like effect and prevent biochemical disorders associated from the oxidative stress (HO), confirming its potential therapeutic capability.

This clinical study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of Vuong Hoat (VH) natural health supplement for reducing the negative impact of low back pain, improving the quality of life, and enhancing functional activities in patients with lumbar degenerative disc disease (LDD). The open-label, randomized, controlled clinical trial involved 60 patients suffering from low back pain caused by LDD. The participants were randomly assigned to either a study group (SG) comprising 30 subjects or a control group (CG) comprising 30 subjects. Patients in the CG received treatment with electro-acupuncture, while those in the SG were administered VH in conjunction with the same electro-acupuncture protocol for 28 days. The clinical progression and tolerability of both groups were compared based on seven objective measurements: visual analog scale index, Schober test, fingertip-to-floor distance, spinal flexion, spinal extension, spinal tilt, and spinal rotation. After 14 days of treatment, the SG showed a significant improvement in overall outcomes compared to the CG. Specifically, 43.3% of SG patients achieved very good results, 53.3% had good results, and 3.4% had moderate results, whereas corresponding figures for the CG were 6.7%, 76.7%, and 16.6%, respectively ( < .05). After 28 days of treatment, both groups demonstrated a shift toward very good results, with the SG continuing to show better outcomes than the CG ( < .05). In the SG, the very good results increased to 76.7%, good results decreased to 20%, and moderate results were 3.3%. On the other hand, the CG had 46.7% very good results, 43.3% good results, and 10% moderate results. Notably, no side effects were reported from the VH treatments during the study. The findings of this study indicate that VH health supplement is a safe and effective approach for managing low back pain and limited spinal movement in patients with LDD.

Ginsenosides, active compounds derived from Panax ginseng, exhibit promising potential in enhancing physical performance. This study investigates the impact of UG0712 (UG), a novel ginsenoside compound, on endurance capacity, body weight, organ weights, blood parameters, and specific transcriptomic changes in liver and muscle tissues using a C57BL/6N mouse model. The mice received UGs orally at three doses: UG50 (50 mg/kg), UG100 (100 mg/kg), and UG200 (200 mg/kg) for a specified duration. Endurance capacity, physiological parameters, and transcriptome signatures in liver and muscle tissues were assessed. UG administration significantly improved time to exhaustion, with UG50 and UG200 showing substantial enhancements. Body and organ weights exhibited no notable differences, suggesting a lack of adverse effects. Biochemical markers, except for decreased creatine kinase levels in the UG100 group, showed no significant variations. Transcriptome analysis revealed limited group separation and dose-dependent patterns. The UG100 group displayed significant enrichment in lipid metabolism and muscle-related terms. Identified dose-dependent improvements in endurance capacity highlight UGs' potential as supplements. The absence of adverse effects on body and organ weights, along with positive effects on biochemical markers, supports their safety. Despite limited dose-dependent patterns in transcriptomic analyses, the UG100 group showcased significant enrichment in pathways related to muscle and lipid metabolism. These findings offer valuable insights for athletes and aging individuals seeking to enhance physical performance, warranting further exploration into UG effects' on molecular mechanisms.

(HP) has been widely used as an alternative medicine due to its active pharmacological properties. While the antiproliferative effects of components such as hypericin and hyperforin have been demonstrated in malignant cell lines, most studies have focused on the pharmacological properties of the HP extract itself. Recent research has indicated that HP and its active substances possess anticancer activities; however, there is a lack of studies examining its effects on osteosarcoma. In addition, HP has demonstrated the ability to mitigate the toxicity of several drugs, including chemotherapeutic agents. Hence, the primary objective of this study was to explore the potential anticancer properties of HP in relation to osteosarcoma cells. MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells were cultured and treated with HP extract. Apoptotic factors were analyzed using ELISA, while cell viability was assessed using the MTT test. The results revealed a significant increase in the activities of proapoptotic proteins GRP78, Wee1, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), GADD153, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 in MG-63 osteosarcoma cells after 48 hours of treatment with HP at a concentration of 0.8%. Conversely, the activity of Bcl-2, an antiapoptotic protein, significantly decreased. Moreover, HP extract demonstrated a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability in MG-63 cells. In conclusion, HP extract induces apoptosis in MG-63 osteosarcoma cells by upregulating the expressions of proapoptotic proteins GRP78, Wee1, AIF, GADD153, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3. This study will assist researchers in understanding the importance of alternative treatments using HP in the context of human osteosarcoma therapy, which many researchers are currently unaware of.

, a valuable traditional edible and medicinal resource, is recognized for its potential in slowing aging but has not been effectively exploited. This study aimed to explore antiaging activity and mechanisms of extracts (CCe). We used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry to identify 23 CCe compounds and focused on quantifying six nucleoside components as quality markers. We also assessed the antiaging influences in d-galactose (d-gal)-induced aging rats. CCe improved learning memory deficits, enhanced organ indices, and mitigated oxidative brain damage caused by d-gal. CCe elevated superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities, while downregulating malondialdehyde. Molecular analyses indicated the involvement of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase/sirtuin 1 (AMPK/SIRT1) pathway in the antiaging mechanism of CCe. This study demonstrates the potential of CCe in mitigating d-gal-induced damage in aging rats, with the AMPK/SIRT1 pathway emerging as a regulatory axis. These findings contribute to the theoretical foundation for developing antiaging pharmaceuticals and functional foods using CCe, offering promising applications in aging-related contexts in succinct manner.

Diabetes, considered one of the main causes of death in the Mexican population, is a chronic disease caused by alterations in the synthesis of pancreatic insulin or because it is not used effectively by the body. Insufficient action of insulin causes hyperglycemia, which, if not controlled, causes damage to blood capillaries and nerve endings over time, affecting the functioning of various organs and systems. As mentioned above, controlling glucose levels in the population suffering from chronic diseases becomes an essential part of their treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of a hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of (HEPr). A glucose tolerance curve was developed by monitoring at different times (0-120 min) glucose levels in blood samples taken from an apical tail slice of CD1 mice. HEPr showed a significant effect from baseline on basal glucose levels (114.33 ± 14.74 mg/dL) compared with the control group (60.33 ± 4.16 mg/dL) and the metformin-treated group (129 ± 13 mg/dL). In addition, the values at the end of the tolerance curve (120 min) showed a significant decrease in the study group (66 ± 10.39 mg/dL) compared with the metformin-treated group (108.67 ± 4.50 mg/dL). This effect can be attributed to the presence of chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol 3--glucosides in HEPr. In conclusion, constitutes an important source of compounds for use as an adjuvant treatment for the control of hypoglycemia in different chronic diseases.

Antibiotic treatment is one of the main causes of intestinal dysbiosis, leading, in turn, to other intestinal alterations given the multiple relationships of the microbiota with gut health. Whey and buttermilk are two by-products from the dairy industry with numerous bioactive components. This study aimed to assess the potential of two formulas, containing a mixture of lactoferrin, milk fat globule membrane (MFGM), and whey or buttermilk, to reverse the negative effects of clindamycin on gut motility, Toll-like receptors () expression, and oxidative stress in the intestine. For this purpose, a murine model of intestinal dysbiosis was established by clindamycin treatment. Male C57BL/6 mice were treated with saline (Control), clindamycin (Clin), a formula containing whey (F1), or buttermilk (F2) supplemented with lactoferrin and MFGM, Clin+F1, or Clin+F2. Clin delayed the whole gut transit, reduced the response to acetylcholine, decreased expression, and increased expression in the intestine. F1 and F2 formulas reversed the effects of Clin, restoring receptor levels and normalizing intestinal dysmotility. These results indicate that whey- and buttermilk-based formulas supplemented with lactoferrin and MFGM could be used as functional foods to prevent or treat motility disorders and restore some components of the immune system after antibiotic treatment.

Homocysteine (HCys) is a sulfur-containing amino acid involved in the conversion of methionine to cysteine. Elevated levels of HCys, known as hyperhomocysteinemia, have been associated with health risks, including cardiovascular and neurological disorders. This study examined the incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia in an unselected female population and evaluated the effectiveness of a Food for Special Medical Purposes (FSMPs), EUCIS PLUS, in reducing HCys levels.The study was divided into two phases: The first phase of the study, conducted at the Poliambulatorio Polimedica in Trebaseleghe (PD), evaluated the incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia in 181 women with an average age of 47.8 years; the second phase tested the effectiveness of EUCIS PLUS, a FSMPs, in reducing HCys levels in women with values above 10 µmol/L. During Phase 1, an incidence of hyperhomocysteinemia was observed in 81.2% of 181 women, with mean HCys levels of 15.4 µmol/L. Phase 2 involved treating 44 women with HCys >10 µmol/L using EUCIS PLUS, resulting in an average reduction of HCys levels by 36%, reaching 10.7 µmol/L after two months of treatment. Hyperomocysteinemia is an underdiagnosed risk condition. The results of this study highlight the importance of diagnosing and managing hyperhomocysteinemia and suggest that the FSMPs EUCIS PLUS can be an effective and well-tolerated therapeutic option.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among communicable and noncommunicable diseases, and its prevalence is going to rise even more by 2030. The discovery of different "functional" foods containing a plethora of bioactive compounds is considered an ally in the effort to reduce the global CVD burden in the context of primary prevention. It has been about 3 decades since the observation that red wine consumption in French population could lead to lower coronary heart disease risk despite the high dietary consumption of saturated fats, known as the "French paradox." Since then, numerous epidemiological studies, mainly observational, have emerged in order to investigate this association with great enthusiasm. However, due to the nature of these studies, the scientific community has raised concerns about the methodological approach of the studies and thus the generalization of their results. Therefore, the current review aims to summarize some of the major methodological issues deriving from observational studies on the association between red wine consumption and cardiovascular health and to highlight the importance of higher quality study design in the general effort of drawing safer conclusions on this topic.

Gastrointestinal tumors have a major impact on human life expectancy and quality of life and are a major cause of personal and social hygiene stress. Gastrointestinal tumors are the main cause of cancer-related death, and the main treatment methods are surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. However, they also cause great damage to the body and have a poor prognosis after surgery. Therefore, we urgently need safe and effective drugs to intervene in gastrointestinal tumors. In recent years, Traditional Chinese Medicine has been widely used in tumor treatment as a complementary and alternative therapy. is one of the main herbal medicines with tonic effect and one of the important components of many antitumor herbal compounds. Astragalus polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids are the main active components of Astragalus, all of which have antitumor effects. In this article, we studied the mechanism of action of Astragalus and its active ingredients in the intervention of gastrointestinal tumors in recent years and suggested a new approach for the study of Astragalus intervention in gastrointestinal tumors from the perspective of the homology of medicine and food.

Insects are considered important food resources for future diet due to diverse nutrients and pharmacological effects. Fermentation is an important strategy of food processing with various beneficial effects such as increasing nutrients, promoting bioavailability, and reducing anti-nutrients. is a mushroom that grows on insects and produces various active ingredients. Therefore, we investigated the effect of fermentation of insects on the nutritional composition and functional benefits of the insects. Six edible insects: , , , and were fermented with to produce mycelia and fruiting bodies. Analysis of nutritional components showed that protein content was increased whereas carbohydrate content was decreased by the fermentation with . In addition, the fermented insects showed anti-diabetic efficacy by the promotion of glucose absorption as evaluated using differentiated L6-GLUT4myc cells. Quantitation using HPLC analysis suggested that cordycepin was produced in both mycelium and fruiting bodies in -fermented edible insects with different amounts depending on insect type and cultivation conditions. Therefore, the fermentation of insects with is expected to increase nutritional values and bioactive constituents and exert anti-diabetic effects.

This study was conducted to determine the effects of two different types of fat (krill oil [KO] and coconut oil [CO]) on obesity, behavioral tests, and some inflammatory markers when consumed with a high-fat or control diet in rats with depression. The study was conducted mainly in two phases: the induction of depression (37 days) and the dietary intervention (60 days). After the induction of depression by chronic unpredictable mild stress, dietary intervention started. Sixty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups with 10 rats in each group: (1) standard diet (SD), (2) SD + 5% KO, (3) SD + 5% medium-chain triglyceride (MCT)* (*CO to contain 5% MCT), (4) high-fat diet (HFD), (5) HFD + 5% KO, and (6) HFD + 5% MCT*. The open field test (OFT), forced swimming test (FST), and sucrose preference test were performed at baseline, end of the depression induction, and dietary intervention to observe behavioral changes in rats. After the final behavioral test, animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected for biochemical analyses C-reactive protein (milligram per liter), cortisol (microgram per deciliter), and insulin (micro-international units per milliliter) to assess inflammatory changes in the blood. All data were analyzed under two headings: baseline, end of depression induction, end of dietary intervention, and dietary intervention groups. Body weight gain was highest in the SD+KO and lowest in the SD+MCT group ( < .05). When behavioral tests were evaluated according to dietary intervention, it was found that the SD+MCT group spent the most time in the center, the least time in the periphery, and the lowest immobilization time ( < .05). In FST, the SD+KO with the highest weight gain was the most immobile group ( < .05). The study indicates that the weight-reducing effects of MCTs resulted in positive behavioral responses, particularly in OFT and FST. Through these properties, MCTs can be used medicinally in the prevention and treatment of behavioral changes due to depression.

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common locomotor diseases, with a steadily increasing prevalence and incidence. Loxacon is a food supplement capsule containing vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts with extract and extract as its two main active components. The study involved 88 patients at 4 sites. The 88 patients were divided into 3 groups. The first group received physical therapy and Loxacon capsules for 5 weeks, while the second group (30 patients) received physical therapy only for 5 weeks, and the third group (30 patients) received physical therapy and placebo capsules for 5 weeks. After 5 weeks, physical therapy was discontinued in all three groups and all groups continued Loxacon capsules exclusively for an additional 60 days. Physical therapy had been carried out by a standard protocol over 5 weeks. Investigated parameters included Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) testing, European Quality of Life (EQ-5D-5L) quality of life test and the Range of Motion (ROM). Among the 4 visual analogue scale (VAS) values investigated from WOMAC, significant change was seen for functionality in all three groups; however, the extent of change was twice as large in the physical therapy + Loxacon group at Visit 2 in comparison with the other two groups. In the physical therapy + placebo group, improvement was seen only at the 3rd visit when they were also receiving Loxacon capsules. The most pronounced difference was seen in the minimum clinically important difference index, calculated from the quality of life-VAS, where those taking Loxacon capsules had a chance 3 times as high to obtain clinical improvement versus the other two groups. Our study confirmed that a combination of boswellic acid and harpagosides is beneficial as an additional therapy in knee OA.

Sufficient vitamin D levels are reported to be a factor in reducing various chronic diseases and resulting mortality rates. Well-dried mushrooms and blue-backed fish are known to be rich in vitamin D. In this study, the association between mortality rates and the intake of vitamin D-rich foods was confirmed using data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiological Study (KoGES). Among the KoGES database, we followed up a total of 6844 adults who participated in the Ansung-Ansan cohort study recruited from 2001 to 2002 and continued for an average of 16.7 years until 2018. The main findings were analyzed using Cox regression analysis. During follow-up, 439 cases of all-cause mortality, 149 cases of cancer-related mortality, and 91 cases of cardiovascular mortality were confirmed. In the fully adjusted model, the hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality in quartile 3 of mushroom consumption was 0.709 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.525-0.958) compared with quartile 1. In addition, the HRs for cardiovascular mortality in quartile 3 of mushroom consumption were 0.348 (95% CI, 0.154-0.787) compared with those in quartile 1. The HRs of cardiovascular mortality for quartiles 3 and 4 of fish consumption were 0.442 (95% CI, 0.226-0.865) and 0.533 (95% CI, 0.285-0.998), respectively, compared with quartile 1. In conclusion, moderate consumption of mushrooms was related to decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, while heightened fish consumption was inversely related to cardiovascular mortality.

Natural products are known to have distinct roles in the treatment of various diseases. However, the potential role of ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1) in the context of scald injuries remains unclear. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of GRg1 on scald wound healing by utilizing a mouse scald wound model and administering varying concentrations of GRg1 orally. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was employed to identify the signaling pathways and key genes influenced by GRg1 in the wound healing process. Our findings indicate that mice treated with a low concentration of GRg1 exhibited a significantly higher wound healing rate compared with the model group and other treatment groups. Through RNA-seq, we observed that the gene expression profile in the wound tissues of the low-concentration-treated group was consistent with that of the normal control group. Furthermore, a low concentration of GRg1 was found to maintain cellular energy metabolism homeostasis by enhancing mitochondrial aerobic respiration and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. In addition, GRg1 facilitated wound healing by restoring the expression of genes associated with cell migration and adhesion. Confirming the appropriate concentration of GRg1 that accelerates tissue healing at scald sites and enhances our understanding of the efficacy and molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of natural products in disease treatment.

Metabolites generated in foods with lactic fermentation have been subject of research in recent years due to different beneficial effects attributed to them on the microbiota and health in general, including their properties as antihypertensives, antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antimicrobial, among others. The present review aims to systematically analyze the results of original research that evaluates effects on the microbiota and health in general, mediated by metabolites generated from the lactic fermentation of foods. The review was carried out in the PubMed database, three studies in humans, four studies in murine models, four studies, and the rest focused on the quantification of biofunctional qualities in fermented foods were analyzed. The results of the studies compiled in this systematic review reveal the potential of different food matrices and microorganisms to generate metabolites through lactic fermentation with important properties and effects on the intestinal microbiota and other health benefits. Among these benefits is the increase in short chain fatty acids to which anti-inflammatory properties are associated, as well as bioactive peptides with antihypertensive, antithrombotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

Previous studies have shown that oral whole honey reduces weight gain in rats on a normal diet (ND) or high-fat diet (HFD) and suppresses inflammation by modulating immunological cytokines in human neutrophils and macrophages. We hypothesize that the honey proteins (HP) are responsible for the reduced weight gain in rats on ND and HFD and that HP would alleviate obesity parameters. To test this, proteins were isolated from acacia honey through the salting-out method. Wistar rats ( = 24) were randomized to get ND or HFD for 4 weeks, then further randomized to four groups and treated with HP or saline for another 4 weeks. Energy intake (EI), body weight gain, EI per gram body weight gain, serum glucose, and lipids were measured. Expression of adipose tissue genes fatty acid binding protein (FABP), lipase C (LIPC), and apolipoprotein A-1 (APOA1) was evaluated through the quantitative polymerase chain reaction. HFD increased the body weight versus ND in weeks 1-4. HP for the next 4 weeks reduced weight gain in ND-HP and HFD-HP groups versus saline controls ( < .01). EI was not significantly different among groups. However, EI per gram body weight gain among groups was markedly different ( < .01), demonstrating reduced weight gain efficiency by HP ( < .01). HP reduced glucose in ND but not in HFD groups. Triglycerides were lower in both HP groups. The expressions of FABP, LIPC, and APOA1 genes were significantly increased ( < .05) in HP-treated HFD rats. Collectively, weight gain efficiency was remarkably reduced without altering EI in rats following the HP treatment, suggesting HP increased metabolic rate or substrate partitioning. Studies of HP are suggested in humans.