Red rice bran extract (RRBE) is rich in phytonutrients and has been shown to have anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties. However, its anti-hepatic steatosis and anti-dyslipidemic properties have not been thoroughly investigated. This study examined the aforementioned properties of RRBE, the underlying mechanism by which it alleviated non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice, and its major bioactive constituents. The mice were divided into four groups based on their diet: (1) low-fat diet (LFD), (2) LFD with high-dose RRBE (1 g/kg/day), (3) HFD, and (4) HFD with three different doses of RRBE (0.25, 0.5, and 1 g/kg/day). The administration of RRBE, especially at medium and high doses, significantly mitigated HFD-induced hepatosteatosis and concomitantly improved the serum lipid profile. Further, RRBE modified the level of expression of lipid metabolism-related genes (adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), liver X receptor alpha (LXRα), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), SREBP-2, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMGCR), and carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A)) in hepatic or adipose tissues and improved the expression of hepatic high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) cmetabolism-related genes (hepatic lipase (HL) and apolipoprotein A-ǀ (ApoA-ǀ)). RRBE also attenuated markers of liver injury, inflammation, and oxidative stress, accompanied by a modulated expression of inflammatory (nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)), pro-oxidant (p47^phox), and apoptotic (B-cell lymphoma protein 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X and Bcl-2) genes in the liver. High-performance liquid chromatography analyses indicated the presence of protocatechuic acid, γ-oryzanol, vitamin E, and coenzyme Q10 in RRBE. Our data indicate that RRBE alleviates HFD-induced hepatosteatosis, dyslipidemia, and their pathologic complications in part by regulating the expression of key genes involved in lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

Triphala is a mixture of tree fruits obtained from Terminalia chebula, Terminalia bellerica, and Phyllanthus emblica. It is one of the Ayurveda medicinal recipes used to treat health diseases such as obesity. The chemical composition analysis of Triphala extracts obtained from an equal portion of three fruits was performed. The contents of total phenolic compounds (62.87 ± 0.21 mg gallic acid equivalent/mL), total flavonoids (0.24 ± 0.01 mg catechin equivalent/mL), hydrolyzable tannins (177.27 ± 10.09 mg gallotannin equivalent/mL), and condensed tannins (0.62 ± 0.11 mg catechin equivalent/mL) were observed in Triphala extracts. The 1 mg/mL of Triphala extracts was applied to batch culture fermentation which contained the feces from voluntarily obese female adults (body mass index of 35.0-40.0 kg/m²) for 24 h. The extraction of DNA and metabolites was each conducted on the samples obtained from batch culture fermentation within and without Triphala extracts treatment. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing and untargeted metabolomic analysis were carried out. There was no statistically significant difference between Triphala extracts and control treatments on the changes in microbial profiles (p-value <0.05). While the metabolomic analysis showed statistically significant differences of 305 up-regulated and 23 down-regulated metabolites in the treatment of Triphala extracts when compared with the control (p-value <0.05 and fold-change ≥2) belonging to 60 pathways. The pathway analysis revealed that Triphala extracts play an important role in the activation of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis. In this study, phenylalanine and tyrosine were identified metabolites which involve in the regulation of energy metabolism. The treatment of Triphala extracts possesses the induction of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis in fecal batch culture fermentation of obese adults and therefore it can be suggested as a probable herbal medicinal recipe for obesity treatment.

Background/Objectives: Mulberries exhibit antioxidant properties that may attenuate metabolic abnormalities. Kamphaeng Saen mulberry (KPS-MB-42-1) contains anthocyanins, polyphenols, and nutrients, but few studies have explored its benefits for human health. This study investigated the effects of a concentrated mulberry drink (CMD) from the KPS-MB-42-1 cultivar on metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors in obese individuals. Methods: A single-blind, randomized crossover clinical pilot trial was performed on individuals with obesity. Participants consumed 100 g of CMD daily, alternating with placebo for 6 weeks. Body composition, blood pressure, and blood samples were assessed at baseline and post-intervention. Results: This study was completed with 12 participants (7 men, 5 women, aged 30–55 years, BMI 32.1 ± 5.98 kg/m²) consuming CMD with 1041.90 mg total phenolic compounds and 35.34 mg total anthocyanins. No significant changes in body composition were observed. CMD consumption significantly reduced systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure, compared to baseline and placebo periods (p < 0.05). While total cholesterol, LDL-C, and HDL-C remained unchanged, triglycerides were significantly lower during CMD consumption compared to placebo periods (p < 0.05). Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels were stable during CMD consumption but increased significantly with the placebo period (p < 0.05). C-reactive protein levels were also significantly lower during CMD consumption compared to placebo periods (p < 0.05). No changes in blood coagulation indicators (prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and the international normalized ratio) were found. Conclusions: CMD improved metabolic markers, particularly regarding its antihypertensive effects. These findings highlight CMD’s potential as a health drink for managing metabolic syndrome and preventing chronic diseases.

Background/Objectives: Mango is a tropical fruit rich in polyphenols and carotenoids that may support recovery-related physiological responses during athletic training. This study examined the effects of mango puree supplementation on inflammatory biomarkers, muscle damage, and selected T-cell subsets in Thai men’s national beach volleyball players during regular training. Methods: Fifteen male athletes completed a pilot randomized, single-blind, crossover trial. Participants consumed the mango puree or placebo (600 g/day) for 4 weeks, separated by a 2-week washout period. Blood samples and physiological measurements were collected at baseline and at the end of each intervention period. Outcomes were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models. Results: Mango puree supplementation was associated with lower concentrations of C-reactive protein (mean difference: −1.6 mg/L; 95% CI: −2.1 to −1.1; p < 0.001), interleukin-6 (−0.7 pg/mL; 95% CI: −1.2 to −0.3; p = 0.003), and creatine kinase (−290.1 U/L; 95% CI: −356.1 to −224.1; p < 0.001) compared with the placebo. The percentage of CD4+ T cells (9.82 percentage points; 95% CI: 5.0 to 14.6; p < 0.001) and the CD4/CD8 ratio (0.37; 95% CI: 0.11 to 0.63; p = 0.007) were higher during mango puree supplementation, while CD8+ T-cell percentage did not differ between conditions. No significant treatment effects were observed for body composition parameters or blood pressure (all p > 0.05). Total energy intake remained unchanged across intervention periods (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Mango puree supplementation during regular training was associated with lower inflammatory and muscle damage biomarkers and alterations in selected T-cell subsets compared with the placebo.

Background/Objectives: Chronic particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) exposure is associated with vascular inflammation and cardiovascular risk. However, the role of diet in modulating inflammation under such conditions remains unclear. This study explored the associations between nutrient intake and circulating vascular inflammatory biomarkers among apparently healthy adults living in PM2.5-affected rural and peri-urban areas in Chiang Mai Province, Thailand. Methods: Fifty-three healthy adults (27 rural; 26 peri-urban) were assessed for sociodemographic characteristics, clinical parameters, and dietary intake using three consecutive 24 h recalls. Serum levels of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were measured. Multiple linear regression was used to analyze associations between nutrient intake and inflammatory markers, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Peri-urban participants exhibited significantly higher levels of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and IL-6 compared to rural participants (p < 0.05). They also had higher intakes of sugars and saturated fatty acids, whereas rural participants consumed more cholesterol, antioxidant nutrients (vitamins C, A, and E), and minerals (e.g., potassium, selenium). Regression analyses revealed positive associations between sugar intake and all three inflammatory markers (ICAM-1: β = 0.467; VCAM-1: β = 0.481; IL-6: β = 0.557; all p ≤ 0.001). In contrast, intakes of selenium and vitamin A were inversely associated with VCAM-1 levels. Conclusions: These findings suggest that certain dietary components may influence vascular inflammation among individuals exposed to PM2.5. Encouraging consumption of anti-inflammatory nutrients may help mitigate pollution-related cardiovascular risks.

Background: This study evaluated the effects of aging and subsequent autoclave treatment on the proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectral-feature profile and biological activities of lychee pulp extracts. Methods: Dried lychee (DL), aged lychee (AL), and autoclave-treated aged lychee (ATAL) extracts were compared using ¹H NMR spectroscopy, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), antioxidant assays, carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme inhibitory assays, and endothelial cell viability. Results: Sixteen phytochemical spectral features were putatively annotated, and their relative signal intensities differed among the extracts (p < 0.001). Relative to DL, ATAL exhibited higher signal intensities for most features, including taxifolin (8.32-fold) and procyanidin B2 (7.44-fold), whereas epicatechin was particularly prominent in AL (12.31-fold). TPC increased from 0.53 ± 0.07 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract in DL to 8.39 ± 0.19 and 9.07 ± 0.10 mg GAE/g extract in AL and ATAL, respectively. AL and ATAL also showed higher TFC and antioxidant activities than DL. The α-amylase IC₅₀ values were 247.00 ± 45.00, 129.17 ± 8.56, and 126.27 ± 3.90 mg/mL for DL, AL, and ATAL, respectively, while the corresponding α-glucosidase IC₅₀ values were 187.93 ± 8.20, 66.71 ± 6.84, and 50.30 ± 2.72 mg/mL. No significant reduction in endothelial cell viability was detected after multiplicity adjustment. Exploratory principal component analysis (PCA) explained 99.8% of the total variance and revealed distinct processing-associated spectral-feature profiles. Conclusions: Aging followed by autoclave treatment enhanced the phytochemical profile, antioxidant activity, and in vitro carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme inhibition of lychee pulp extracts.