Diet-induced obesity is a global phenomenon that affects the population worldwide with manifestations at both the phenotypic and genotypic levels. Cognitive function decline is a major global health challenge. The relation between obesity and cognitive function is a debatable issue. The main goal of the current research was to study the implications of obesity on cognitive function and gut microbiota diversity and its impact on plasma and brain metabolic parameters in rats. Obesity was induced in rats by feeding on a high-fat (HF) or a high-fat/high-sucrose (HFHS) diet. The results reveal that both the HF (0.683) and HFHS (0.688) diets were effective as obesity inducers, which was confirmed by a significant increase in the body mass index (BMI). Both diet groups showed dyslipidemia and elevation of oxidative stress, insulin resistance (IR), and inflammatory markers with alterations in liver and kidney functions. Obesity led to a reduction in cognitive function through a reduction in short-term memory by 23.8% and 30.7% in the rats fed HF and HFHS diets, respectively, and learning capacity and visuo-spatial memory reduced by 8.9 and 9.7 s in the rats fed an HF or HFHS diet, respectively. Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Fusobacteria, and Spirochaetes phyla were detected. The Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio (F/B) significantly decreased in the HF group, while it increased in the HFHS group compared to the normal control. The two species, Bacteroides acidifaciens and Bacteroides ovatus, which are associated with IR, were drastically compromised by the high-fat/high-sucrose diet. Some species that have been linked to reduced inflammation showed a sharp decrease in the HFHS group, while Prevotella copri, which is linked to carbohydrate metabolism, was highly enriched. In conclusion: Obesity led to cognitive impairment through changes in short-term and visuo-spatial memory. A metagenomic analysis revealed alterations in the abundance of some microbial taxa associated with obesity, inflammation, and insulin resistance in the HF and HFHS groups.

In the current investigation the crude oil of Nigella sativa was extracted from seeds using hydraulic and screw pressing techniques. Different parameters were evaluated in order to find out the appropriate technique to enhance the physicochemical and functional-related characteristics of the extracted crude oil. Results showed that the acid and peroxide values were significantly lower in the screw pressed oil (SPO) than in the hydraulic pressed oil (HPO). The total phenolic content of the SPO was significantly higher than that of HPO. Evaluation of the oxidative stability using the Rancimat test showed that SPO recorded a much higher oxidative stability index (40.07 h) than HPO (0.51 h). The yield of the volatile oil fraction and its contents of thymoquinone isolated from the SPO were higher than that from the HPO. Biological evaluation revealed that the SPO had significantly higher antimicrobial activity than HPO against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus at 40 μL/well.

Introduction: Steatohepatitis, which is the deposition of fat in the liver with inflammation and starting of necrosis, can induce cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The aim of this research was to study the preventive effects of steatohepatitis and CVD by ethanol extract of two quinoa varieties (quinoa 1 and hualhuas) in rats. Methods: Phenolic and flavonoid compounds were determined in the extracts utilizing colorimetric and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) scavenging activity was assessed for the extracts. Rats were divided into four groups, the first group was fed on a balanced diet (negative control), and other groups consumed a high fructose-fat diet (HFFD) to induce steatohepatitis and CVD. The second group served as a positive control; however, the third and fourth groups were treated by ethanol extract of quinoa 1 and hualhuas, respectively. Different biochemical changes, as well as liver and heart histopathology, were followed. Results: Results showed significant elevation in liver lipids, plasma malondialdehyde, total cholesterol (T-C), triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with reduction of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and total antioxidant as well as a significant increase in T-C/HDL-C in control positive group (P < 0.05) compared to control negative group. Plasma parameters and liver lipids were improved by the extracts; hualhuas was superior concerning the effect on lipid while quinoa 1 was more efficient in reducing oxidative stress. The oral glucose tolerance curve and the histopathology of the liver and heart tissues were improved by both extracts. Total phenolic and DPPH scavenging activity were higher in quinoa 1 than hualhuas. Protocatechuic and rutin were the major identified phenolic acid and flavonoid compounds, respectively in the extracts. Conclusion: Quinoa extracts are able to prevent the progression of steatohepatitis and CVD, and might be beneficial in patients with such diseases.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by the inflammation of synovial fluid. The incidence of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is increasing in RA patients. This research is the first report to investigate the anti-arthritic effect of avocado peel nutraceutical (APN) and its potential in mitigating the cardiovascular risk associated with RA. The antioxidant activity and phytochemical composition of APN were assessed. The potential interaction of APN’s active compounds with protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 (PTPN22) was studied using molecular docking. The impact of APN on the plasma lipid profile, oxidative and inflammatory markers, and the indices of coronary risk and atherogenicity as CVD markers were evaluated. The gene expression of COX-2, IL-6, IL-1β, IL-10, and TNF-α in liver and spleen tissues were measured. The rat gut microbiota profile was investigated using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. APN exhibited high antioxidant activity, low atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices, and a high ratio of hypocholesterolemic to hypercholesterolemic fatty acids indicating its cardioprotective potential. The administration of APN led to a reduction in oxidative stress markers, inflammatory markers, dyslipidemia, and CVD markers. APN administration downregulated the expression of COX-2, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α genes, while the IL-10 gene was significantly upregulated in the liver and spleen. Treatment with APN was favorable in restoring eubiosis in the gut by modulating RA-associated bacterial taxa linked to impaired immune function and cardiometabolic diseases. In molecular docking, β-amyrin and ellagic acid showed the highest binding affinity for PTPN22. APN may represent a promising approach to ameliorating the cardiovascular risk of RA. The present results will be offering a foundation for future in-depth research in nutraceuticals from agriculture by-products. Additionally, they will be supporting the public health policies aimed at preventing and controlling rheumatoid arthritis.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of metabolic changes including hypertriglyceridemia, elevated glucose tolerance and fatty liver. The aim of this research was to study the bioactivity of petroleum ether extracts prepared from quinoa 1 and Hualhuas quinoa in a MS rat model. Fatty acids and α-tocopherol were assessed in the extracts. MS was induced by feeding a high fructose-high fat diet (HFFD). Four groups of rats were assigned: the control group, fed a balanced diet; the control group, fed a HFFD diet; and two test groups, fed on a HFFD diet and treated by either quinoa 1 or hualhuas extract. The Glucose tolerance, plasma lipids, oxidative stress biomarkers, liver lipids and histopathology of the liver and heart were assessed. The results showed that extracts from both quinoa varieties had the potential to prevent MS; although quinoa 1 was more effective. In both varieties, the major fatty acid was linoleic. Hualhuas showed a higher percentage of linolenic acid than quinoa 1; while more alpha-tocopherol was present in quinoa1.