Honey is abundant in bioactive compounds, which demonstrate considerable therapeutic effects, particularly on oxidative stress and inflammation. Objectives: This work sought to evaluate the antioxidant mechanisms of Manuka honey (MH) and Ohia Lehua honey (OLH), correlating them with phytochemical analyses in a rat model of experimentally induced inflammation. Methods: The identification of polyphenolic compounds in the extracts was carried out using HPLC-ESI MS. The extracts’ antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro through DPPH, FRAP, H₂O₂, and NO scavenging assays, while in vivo assessments included measurements of total oxidative status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and total thiols (SH). Results: The phytochemical analysis found a rich content of phenolic compounds in MH and lower quantities in OLH. In terms of in vitro activity, both MH and OLH exhibited strong DPPH radical scavenging abilities, effective NO and H₂O₂ scavenging capacities, and high FRAP-reducing power. In vivo, OLH proved highly effective in enhancing antioxidant capacity and lowering oxidative stress markers, showing significant increases in TAC and substantial reductions in TOS and OSI levels. Conversely, MH displayed limited and dose-dependent antioxidant activity, a considerable increase in TAC and SH, and a moderate decrease in TOS and OSI levels. Conclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the phenolic content of OLH and to show its capacity to scavenge free radicals and reduce oxidative stress. The effectiveness of MH primarily relies on its increased antioxidant properties and depends on concentration. These results highlight the importance of investigating natural products in developing antioxidant strategies.

Background: Inflammation-induced oxidative stress is a pathophysiological mechanism of inflammatory diseases. Treatments targeting oxidative stress can reduce inflammatory tissue damage. Objectives: This study aimed to conduct phytochemical analysis and evaluate the antioxidant effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of Matricaria recutita blossoms (M. recutita) and Zingiber officinale rhizomes (Z. officinale). Materials and Methods: The phytochemical analysis was carried out by measuring the total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, and polyphenolic compounds’ HPLC-ESI MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro through H₂O₂ DPPH, FRAP, and NO scavenging assays. An in vivo experiment was performed on rats with turpentine oil-induced acute inflammation. Treatments were administrated orally for 10 days, with three dilutions of each extract (100%, 50%, 25%), and compared to the CONTROL, inflammation, Diclofenac, and Trolox groups. In vivo, the antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total oxidative status (TOS), oxidative stress index (OSI), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), and total thiols (SH). Results: The phytochemical analysis found a high content of phenolic compounds in both extracts, and the in vitro antioxidant activity was significant. In vivo, M. recutita and Z. officinale extracts proved to be effective in increasing TAC and lowering oxidative stress markers, respectively, the TOS, OSI, MDA, and NO levels. The effects were dose-dependent, with the lower concentrations being more efficient antioxidants. Matricaria recutita and Z. officinale extract effects were as good as those of trolox and diclofenac. Conclusions: Treatment with M. recutita and Z. officinale alleviated inflammation-induced oxidative stress. These findings suggest that M. recutita and Z. officinale extracts could be a promising adjuvant antioxidant therapy in inflammatory diseases.

Teff (Eragrostis tef) is a gluten-free cereal increasingly promoted as a functional food, yet the bioactive profile and mechanistic evidence of some varieties remain limited. This study characterized an ethanolic extract of white teff flour and evaluated its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential in vitro and in a rat model of acute inflammation. White teff flour was extracted by cold repercolation (1 g/mL; 70% ethanol). Total polyphenols and flavonoids were quantified spectrophotometrically, and phenolics were profiled by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, FRAP, H₂O₂ scavenging, and NO scavenging assays. In vivo, acute inflammation was induced with intramuscular turpentine in Wistar rats, testing teff extract therapeutically (post-induction) and prophylactically (10-day pretreatment), with diclofenac and Trolox as comparators. Serum oxidative stress biomarkers (TOS, TAC, OSI, AOPP, MDA, NOx, 3-NT, thiols) and inflammatory mediators (NFκB-p65, IL-1β, IL-18, caspase-1, IL-10) were measured. The extract showed low total polyphenols (0.044 ± 0.002 mg GAE/g d.w.) and higher flavonoids (11.83 ± 1.10 mg QE/100 g d.w.). Eighteen phenolics were identified (total 398.30 ± 1.48 μg/mL), dominated by flavone derivatives (notably apigenin- and luteolin-glycosides), while phenolic acids accounted for ~33.21%. In vitro antioxidant capacity was robust (DPPH 286.17 ± 11.52 μg TE/g d.w.; FRAP 263.17 ± 20.09 μg TE/g d.w.; H₂O₂ 214.12 ± 18.22 mg TE/g d.w.; NO 300.77 ± 28.71 mg QE/g d.w.). In vivo, turpentine provoked marked oxidative stress and inflammatory activation; teff, particularly at the highest concentration and in prophylaxis, reduced nitro-oxidative damage markers (AOPP, MDA, NOx, 3-NT) and lowered NFκB-p65, IL-1β, IL-18, and caspase-1, while IL-10 was not significantly altered. White teff flour ethanolic extract contains a flavone-rich phenolic profile and exerts measurable antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in an acute inflammation model, supporting its potential development as a nutraceutical candidate.

Juniperus communis L. is a conifer widely used in traditional European medicine for the management of inflammatory disorders. However, its effects on oxidative stress and inflammation remain incompletely characterized. The present study investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential of an ethanolic needle extract of J. communis using in vitro assays and an in vivo model of acute inflammation induced by turpentine oil in rats. Phytochemical profiling by HPLC–DAD–ESI–MS revealed a polyphenol-rich extract dominated by flavonols, flavanols, and hydroxybenzoic acids, with quercetin derivatives and taxifolin as major constituents. In vitro analyses demonstrated radical-scavenging and reducing capacities, exceeding or comparable to reference antioxidants in DPPH, hydrogen peroxide, ferric-reducing, and nitric oxide scavenging assays. In vivo, both therapeutic and prophylactic administration of the extract significantly attenuated oxidative and nitrosative stress, as evidenced by reductions in total oxidant status, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde, advanced oxidation protein products, nitric oxide, 3-nitrotyrosine, and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, alongside restoration of total antioxidant capacity and thiol levels. These effects were concentration-dependent. Concomitantly, inflammatory signaling was suppressed, with decreased NF-κB activity and reduced levels of interleukin-1β and interleukin-18. These results support the use of these extracts, whose benefits have been observed in traditional medicine, providing scientific support for the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of J. communis extract.

Obesity is a chronic, relapse-prone disease often associated with comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Intestinal dysbiosis, defined as an imbalance in the composition and function of the gut microbiota, is commonly observed in individuals with excess body weight and plays a key role in the development of related metabolic complications. Moreover, dysbiosis can disrupt nutrient metabolism, leading to imbalances in energy homeostasis. Those affected by excess weight frequently exhibit deficiencies in essential vitamins and minerals, which further exacerbate metabolic and inflammatory dysfunctions, accelerating the progression of comorbidities. Studies have shown that the gut microbiota in individuals with obesity differs significantly from that of healthy, normal-weight individuals. Obesity often shows alterations in the relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes (F/B), with individual variability and reduced bacterial diversity, although the F/B ratio alone may not consistently reflect dysbiosis. Prolonged or repeated antibiotic use can further disturb the microbiota, worsening dysbiosis and contributing to the development of excess body weight by impairing energy metabolism and promoting systemic inflammation. Recent evidence suggests that probiotics are a safe and promising therapeutic approach for managing metabolic disorders. Several in vivo and clinical studies have reported a potential causal relationship between probiotic supplementation and the improvement of weight-related conditions. This narrative review aims to explore the alterations of gut microbiota in obesity and their impact on nutritional deficiencies. Additionally, it highlights the potential role of probiotics in restoring microbiota balance and improving metabolic dysfunctions related to excess body weight.