Cardiovascular diseases, like atherosclerosis, and neurodegenerative diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are closely linked to alterations of cholesterol metabolism. Therefore, innovative pharmacological approaches aiming at counteracting cholesterol imbalance display promising therapeutic potential. However, these approaches need to take into account the existence of biological barriers such as intestinal and blood-brain barriers which participate in the organ homeostasis and are major defense systems against xenobiotics. Interest in cyclodextrins (CDs) as medicinal agents has increased continuously based on their ability to actively extract lipids from cell membranes and to provide suitable carrier system for drug delivery. Many novel CD derivatives are constantly generated with the objective to improve CD bioavailability, biocompatibility and therapeutic outcomes. Newly designed drug formulation complexes incorporating CDs as drug carriers have demonstrated better efficiency in treating cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. CD-based therapies as cholesterol-sequestrating agent have recently demonstrated promising advances with KLEPTOSE® CRYSMEB in atherosclerosis as well as with the 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) in clinical trials for Niemann-Pick type C disease. Based on this success, many investigations evaluating the therapeutical beneficial of CDs in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases are currently on-going.
Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and the chlorogenic acids content of potato by-product extracts of two hydro alcoholic solvents (methanol, ethanol) and two extraction methods (maceration and heating-assisted extraction) were studied. The content of TPC in the extracts was determined spectrometrically according to the Folin–Ciocalteu procedure and calculated as chlorogenic acid equivalents. Soluble phenolic acids, especially the chlorogenic acids, were performed by HPLC. The antioxidant activity of potato by-product extracts was determined by using the total oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) method. The highest content of TPC was found in raw and lyophilized red waters when using ethanol as a solvent around 57 mg/g fresh weight. Heating-assisted extraction enhances this quantitative increasing. At the given operating conditions, unpeeled potato samples exhibit a higher TPC than peeled ones, showing that TPC are accumulated in skin tissue. The greatest amount of chlorogenic acid (Caffeoyl-Quinic Acids, 3, 4, 5 CQA), mainly the 5-CQA (870 ± 39.66 µg/g WM for wet matter versus DM dry matter), was obtained in the pellets and lyophilized fresh peels (skin vs. flesh). In addition, the greatest amounts of chlorogenic acids were found when potato peels were extracted with methanol. Heating-assisted extraction improved the chlorogenic acid concentration of the potato peel extracts. The total ORAC amounts recorded in the different potato fractions varied between 1500 and 1650 µM TE/g. They were higher than those of some fruits, vegetables, nuts, cereals, and sweet potato cultivar. The good correlation coefficient found between TPC, chlorogenic acids determination, and the ORAC capacity indicates that the TPC can be used as a good indicator of the antioxidant capacity of potato by-products.
Phthalate esters, mainly di-ethylhexylphthalate (DEHP), represent a class of chemicals primarily used as plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride in a wide range of domestic and industrial applications. These phthalate esters are low-toxicity environmental contaminants. To address these drawbacks, POLYSORB® ID 37, a blend of diesters obtained from esterification of isosorbide with plant-based fatty acids, was developed. The company can now offer PVC manufacturers a new product which competes with phthalates and other such chemicals. The market for plasticizers is very important, and ROQUETTE intends to provide a more sustainable and safer product. Isosorbide diester is bio-based (made from glucose and vegetable fatty acids). This plasticizer is registered in REACH regulation for high volumes (>1000 T/year). Risk assessment was obtained by conducting a wide range of biodegradability and toxicological protocols, using rodent models, according to established guidelines. Overall, all of the toxicological and biodegradability studies demonstrated that POLYSORB® ID 37 is nontoxic to mammalian life and is readily biodegradable.
Bio-based succinic acid (bSU) has emerged as a promising mild exfoliating agent, yet its effects on desquamation pathways, barrier-related protein regulation, and irritation potential remain insufficiently characterized in human-relevant skin models. Therefore, this study systematically evaluated bSU against salicylic acid (SA) using reconstructed human epidermis and human skin explants to assess irritation profile and desquamation-related biological responses. Our findings reveal that bSU facilitates controlled corneocyte shedding by modulating the targets LEKTI, KLK, and CDSN. Moreover, bSU demonstrated a favorable ability to maintain physiological skin surface acidity, all while minimizing inflammatory activation. These results position bSU as a balanced exfoliating bioactive that effectively promotes stratum corneum renewal while preserving cutaneous barrier homeostasis, providing mechanistic insights to support its development in advanced mild exfoliation formulations.
30 April 2024 in Journal of Alternative, Complementary & Integrative Medicine
The number of diabetics and overweight people is increasing significantly year after year [1]. It seems difficult to counteract the situation. Fatty, salty, sugary, ultra-processed foods are highly appreciated by consumers and their negative health effects seem to be denied.
Background and Objectives: Positive impacts of sugar-free chewing-gum (SFCG) were largely described in the literature. In addition to the increase in salivary flow and the mechanic effect of CG, their main ingredient, i.e., polyols, can also have some specific benefits on oral health on their own. Some have been shown to have a bacteriostatic effect on acid-producing bacteria, and others have been shown to be particularly active on dental plaque early colonizers, resulting in both a reduction in dental caries prevalence or a decrease in gums inflammation. Here, we aimed to demonstrate these positive effects using the tablet vector only composed of compressed polyols. Methods: We used a customized inversed pH-telemetry test that is often used to demonstrate the “safe for teeth” characteristics of a food product. This inversed pH-telemetry test was designed to evaluate the potential of a food product to counteract the dental plaque drop in pH following a sucrose challenge, according to the regulatory advised test. It was performed on five healthy volunteers that grew 5-day dental plaque over a micro electrode to measure their pH in situ. Three different tablets were tested: 100% maltitol versus 100% sorbitol versus control tablets (70% starch + 30% resistant dextrin). Results: For each tablet, a neutralization score was calculated as the difference in the pH values (pH values at the end of the consumption of the respective tablets—pH value just before consumption of the tablets). Positive values indicate a neutralization (increase in pH during the consumption of the product), meaning that the neutralization with maltitol tablets was the greatest among tested tablets (p = 0.003 vs. control). Sorbitol tablets also had a significant impact (p = 0.01 vs. control). Discussion/Conclusions: This inversed pH-telemetry was designed to show a neutralizing effect of polyol tablets as it has been conducted with sugar-free chewing-gums. We demonstrated here that tablets were also able to counteract the dental plaque pH drop induced by a sucrose challenge, showing clearly that tablets should also be considered as oral health beneficial products. Consequently, the consumption of polyols in various vectors should be regulatory, as is recommended for SFCG.