An ultrasound-enzyme-assisted extraction (UEAE) was optimized to extract, simultaneously, the hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds from three berry pomaces (raspberry, strawberry and blackberry). First, an enzyme screening designated a thermostable alkaline protease as the most suitable enzyme to recover, in an aqueous medium, the highest yields of polyphenols and oil in the most efficient way. Secondly, the selected enzyme was coupled to ultrasounds (US) in sequential and simultaneous combinations. The simultaneous US–alkaline enzyme combination was selected as a one-single-step process and was then optimized by definitive screening design (DSD). The optimized parameters were: US amplitude, 20% (raspberry pomace) or 70% (strawberry and blackberry pomaces); pH, 8; E/S ratio, 1% (w/w); S/L ratio, 6% (w/v); extraction time, 30 min; temperature, 60 °C. Compared to conventional extractions using organic solvents, the UEAE extracted all the polyphenols, with around 75% of the active polyphenols (measured by the DPPH^● method) and up to 75% of the initial oil from the berry pomaces. Characterized lipophilic compounds were rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), tocols and phytosterols. The polyphenolics were analyzed by UPLC-MS/MS; characteristic ellagitannins of the Rosaceae family (sanguiin H-6 or agrimoniin, sanguiin H-10, …) and ellagic acid conjugates were found as the major components.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) results from genetic factors, environmental factors, and intestinal microbiota interactions. This study investigated the effects of Biombalance™ (BB) in dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. BB extract exhibits high antioxidant activity, as determined by DPPH and ORAC tests. Mice were fed a standard diet, and BB was administered by gavage for ten days, before administration of 2.75% DSS in drinking water. BB significantly protected mice against DSS effects, as assessed by colon length, disease activity index (DAI) scores and colonic pathological damage. In addition, BB inhibited the expression of proinflammatory markers, such as IL-6, IL-17, CXCL1 and TNF-α, and the inflammatory mediators iNOS, TGF-β, FoxP3 and F4/80, while increasing IL-10 expression in the colon. BB modified microbiota composition, attenuating the microbial diversity lost due to DSS, increasing beneficial bacteria like Muribaculum, Lactobacillus, Muscispirillum, Roseburia and Bifidobacterium, and decreasing potentially harmful bacteria such as Proteobacteria and Enterococcus. Interestingly, microbiota-predicted functions using PICRUSt revealed that BB extract increases the antioxidant superpathway of ubiquinol biosynthesis, including ubiquinol-7, 8, 9 and 10 (CoenzymesQ). These findings suggest that Biombalance™ administration may help to reduce gut inflammation and oxidation, at least partly through modifications of the microbiota and its metabolites.

Acne is one of the most common dermatological conditions, peaking during adolescence and early adulthood, affecting about 85% of individuals aged 12–24. Although often associated with teenage years, acne can occur at any age, impacting over 25% of women and 12% of men in their forties. Treatment strategies vary depending on the severity, including the use of topical gels or creams containing benzoyl peroxide and retinoids, antibiotics, and systemic or topical isotretinoin. However, these treatments can cause irritation, allergies, and other toxic side effects. Currently, there is no natural-based alternative for antibacterial photodynamic therapy targeting acne using marine drugs or extracts. Through a bioguided screening approach, we identified the ethanol extract of Skeletonema marinoi as highly phototoxic against three bacterial species associated with acne—Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis. This extract exhibited phototoxicity in planktonic bacteria under white and red light, disrupted bacterial biofilms, reduced sebum production but also showed phototoxicity in keratinocytes, highlighting the importance of the specific targeting of treatment areas. Further investigations, including fractionation and high-resolution structural analysis, linked the observed phototoxicity to a high concentration of pheophorbide a in the extract. Given its notable in vitro efficacy, this extract holds promising potential for clinical evaluation to manage mild acne. This discovery paves the way for further exploration of Skeletonema pigment extracts, extending their potential applications beyond acne phototherapy to include dermocosmetics, veterinary medicine, and other phototherapy uses.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease is a complex intestinal inflammatory disorder linked to immune dysregulation, oxidative stress, and an imbalance in the gut microbiota. Grape seed flour (GSF), a winemaking by-product rich in polyphenols and fibres, displays antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and may help maintain gut homeostasis. Methods: The phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity of our GSF were evaluated. We assessed whether a diet containing 10% (w/w) GSF protects against dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis in BALB/c mice. Animals received either a standard diet or a GSF-supplemented diet before and during DSS exposure. Body weight and disease activity index were monitored. At sacrifice, colon length and colonic histology scoring were measured. The study of the faecal microbiota and predicted genome was performed using PICRUSt. Caecal metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids, were also quantified. Results: GSF is rich in fibres (64%) and exhibits a very high polyphenolic content and high antioxidant capacity. GSF supplementation attenuated DSS-induced weight loss and disease activity and limited colonic shortening and histological damage. It also improved biomarkers of colon, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), and liver injury. At the molecular level, GSF downregulated key pro-inflammatory mediators in the colon and liver, while enhancing anti-inflammatory (e.g., IL-10) and antioxidant markers, indicating reinforcement of regulatory and redox-protective pathways along the gut–liver axis. At the gut microbiota level, GSF supplementation modulated α-diversity. Further analysis demonstrated that GSF reshaped the GM profile by preventing the blooming of some taxa, including UBA1819, Akkermansia, and Bacteroides caecimuris, and enriching butyrate-producing bacteria, such as Muribaculaceae and Ruminococcus. These shifts were accompanied by lower acetone and ethyl acetate levels and higher indole levels, which are known to support epithelial barrier integrity and mucosal homeostasis. Conclusions: Overall, GSF mitigates DSS-induced colitis through combined actions on inflammatory signalling, oxidative stress, immune regulation, microbiota composition and microbiota-derived metabolites, supporting its potential as a functional prebiotic ingredient for intestinal health.