The use of garlic (Allium sativum) for treating arterial hypertension has been recognized as effective for several decades. However, tolerance to treatment is low, and several technological modifications have been developed to improve its tolerability, such as the aging process at controlled temperature and humidity. This study aims to validate the antihypertensive effects of an optimized extract of aged black garlic with low doses of s-allyl-cysteine (SAC) in a Grade I hypertensive population with drug treatment. A randomized, triple-blind, placebo-controlled parallel trial was developed, where a daily supplementation with 0.25 mg/day of SAC for 12 weeks was performed. A reduction in systolic and diastolic blood pressure of 1.8 mmHg (0.7 to 4.1 95% CI) and 1.5 mmHg (0.3 to 3.0 95% CI), respectively, was observed. Similarly, an increase in blood nitric oxide (10.3 µM, 1.1 to 19.5 95% CI) and antioxidant capacity (7 × 10⁻³ µM TE/min, (1.2 to 13 × 10⁻³ 95% CI) and a reduction in uric acid levels (−0.3 mg/dL, −0.5 to −0.001 95% CI) and ACE activity (−9.3 U/L; −18.4 to −0.4 95% CI) were observed. No changes in endothelial function and inflammatory cytokines were observed. It was concluded that low-dose SAC supplementation in an optimized black-garlic extract allows for an extra-significant reduction in blood pressure in a Grade I hypertensive population receiving drug treatment.

Stress-related symptoms are a global concern, impacting millions of individuals, yet effective and safe treatments remain scarce. Although multiple studies have highlighted the stress- alleviating properties of saffron extract, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study employs the unpredictable chronic mild stress (CMS) animal model to investigate the impact of a standardized saffron extract, Affron^® (AFN), on hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis regulation and neuroplasticity in Wistar rats following repeated oral administration. The research evaluates AFN’s effects on various stress-related parameters, including hypothalamic gene expression, stress hormone levels, and the sucrose preference test. In animals subjected to continuous unpredictable CMS, repetitive administration of AFN at doses of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg effectively normalized HPA axis dysregulation and enhanced neuroplasticity. Increased concentrations of AFN demonstrated greater efficacy. Following AFN oral administration, adrenocorticotropic and corticosterone hormone levels exhibited significant or nearly significant reductions in comparison to subjects exposed to stress only. These changes align with the alleviation of stress and the normalization of the HPA axis. These findings elucidate AFN’s role in stress mitigation, affirm its health benefits, validate its potential as a treatment for stress-related symptoms, confirm its physiological effectiveness, and emphasize its therapeutic promise.

Androgenetic alopecia is the most common cause of hair loss for women and men. Current treatments for androgenetic alopecia, such as those based on drugs like Minoxidil, Finasteride, or Dutasteride, have been associated with a variety of side effects, such as irritation, contact dermatitis, scalp pruritus, burning, etc. In this regard, plant extracts have emerged as promising alternatives to available chemical-based treatments for androgenetic alopecia given their efficacy, customer acceptability, and potentially minimized side effects. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of Kyoh^®, an extract from rocket leaves, as a treatment to improve the signs of androgenetic alopecia. We found that Kyoh^® contained 2.1% total flavonoids, with kaempferol, quercetin, and isorhamnetin diglucosides being the most abundant. Additionally, Kyoh^® showed a stimulating effect on the growth of human dermal follicle papilla cells in laboratory conditions. Most importantly, Kyoh^® enhanced the gene expression of the hair growth-associated growth factors VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor) and FGF7 (Fibroblast Growth Factor 7). Specifically, VEGF expression increased by 60.7% after 4 h and 267.3% after 24 h, while FGF7 expression increased by 50.3% after 4 h and 244.3% after 24 h, indicating both a rapid induction of gene expression and a sustained effect lasting at least one day. Moreover, Kyoh^® increased the gene expression of NRF2 (Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2) by 71.2%, which encodes for a protein participating in the antioxidant response. Overall, our study shows that flavonol-rich rocket extract (Kyoh^®) is a promising treatment for promoting hair growth, demonstrated by its proliferation-promoting effect, potential antioxidant priming, and induction of the expression of growth factors associated with hair growth and health.

Background/Objectives: Sexual dysfunction is a prevalent and multifactorial condition affecting a large proportion of the global population, with limited therapeutic options beyond pharmacological approaches primarily targeting erectile dysfunction. This has increased interest in botanical supplements for sexual health, although mechanistic evidence and clear links between phytochemical composition and biological activity remain scarce. The present study provides an integrative evaluation of a commercial Turnera diffusa extract (Liboost^®) formulated to support sexual health by combining detailed phytochemical characterization with targeted in vitro mechanistic assays. Methods: The extract was characterized by HPLC-DAD-HRMS, enabling the identification and semi-quantification of its major constituents. A total of 49 compounds were detected, predominantly flavonoids, including luteolin- and apigenin-derived glycosides, flavonols, methoxyflavones, flavanones, and coumaroyl derivatives, with a total quantified flavonoid content of 15.9 mg·g⁻¹. Biological activity was evaluated in human cell models without cytotoxic effects at the tested concentrations. Results: Liboost^® significantly reduced PDE5 expression, inhibited aromatase activity, and moderately increased nitric oxide production. These complementary effects suggest a multi-target modulation of pathways involved in sexual function, integrating vascular, endocrine, and nitrergic mechanisms. Conclusions: Although limited to in vitro models, the findings provide mechanistic support for the biological activity of T. diffusa extracts and highlight the importance of linking phytochemical composition with functional evidence when evaluating botanical supplements.

Protein utilization efficiency is a key determinant of metabolic health, body composition, and muscle function, particularly under high-protein dietary conditions and when using plant-based protein sources with lower digestibility. However, the extent to which enhancing early gastric proteolysis translates into improved whole-body protein utilization remains unclear. The present in vivo study investigated whether supplementation with an actinidin-enriched kiwifruit concentrate (Kwd+^®) modulates protein utilization efficiency and physiological outcomes under normoproteic and hyperproteic dietary conditions using casein or pea protein as dietary sources. Rats were fed normoproteic casein (NP), high-protein casein (CHP), or high-protein pea (PHP) diets with or without Kwd+^® supplementation for 8 weeks. Gastric protein hydrolysis patterns were evaluated by SDS–PAGE, while metabolic outcomes were assessed through body composition, plasma amino acid profiling, skeletal muscle morphology, and contractile function. Kwd+^® supplementation enhanced gastric proteolysis in a protein source-dependent manner. Despite the absence of significant changes in circulating amino acid concentrations after multiple comparison correction, Kwd+^® improved markers of protein utilization efficiency depending on dietary protein source. In animals fed a high-protein pea diet, supplementation significantly reduced fat mass relative to accumulated protein intake, indicating improved nutrient partitioning. In contrast, in animals fed a high-protein casein diet, Kwd+^® increased muscle mass relative to protein intake, suggesting enhanced anabolic efficiency. Under normoproteic conditions, Kwd+^® supplementation was associated with an increased muscle fiber cross-sectional area and improved fatigue resistance without alterations in fiber type composition or contractile protein abundance. These findings demonstrate that modulation of early gastric proteolysis through actinidin produces protein source-dependent effects on protein utilization efficiency, nutrient partitioning, and muscle function. This work highlights a novel nutritional strategy to improve metabolic outcomes and muscle performance, particularly in the context of high-protein and plant-based diets.

Protein utilization efficiency is a key determinant of metabolic health, body composition, and muscle function, particularly under high-protein dietary conditions and when using plant-based protein sources with lower digestibility. However, the extent to which en-hancing early gastric proteolysis translates into improved whole-body protein utilization remains unclear. The present in vivo study investigated whether supplementation with an actinidin-enriched kiwifruit concentrate (Kwd+®) modulates protein utilization efficiency and physiological outcomes under normoproteic and hyperproteic dietary conditions us-ing casein or pea protein as dietary sources. Rats were fed normoproteic casein (NP), high-protein casein (CHP), or high-protein pea (PHP) diets with or without Kwd+® sup-plementation for 8 weeks. Gastric protein hydrolysis patterns were evaluated by SDS–PAGE, while metabolic outcomes were assessed through body composition, plasma amino acid profiling, skeletal muscle morphology, and contractile function. Kwd+® supplemen-tation enhanced gastric proteolysis in a protein source-dependent manner. Despite the absence of significant changes in circulating amino acid concentrations after multiple comparison correction, Kwd+® improved markers of protein utilization efficiency de-pending on dietary protein source. In animals fed a high-protein pea diet, supplementa-tion significantly reduced fat mass relative to accumulated protein intake, indicating im-proved nutrient partitioning. In contrast, in animals fed a high-protein casein diet, Kwd+® increased muscle mass relative to protein intake, suggesting enhanced anabolic efficiency. Under normoproteic conditions, Kwd+® supplementation was associated with increased muscle fiber cross-sectional area and improved fatigue resistance without alterations in fiber type composition or contractile protein abundance. These findings demonstrate that modulation of early gastric proteolysis through actinidin produces protein source-dependent effects on protein utilization efficiency, nutrient partitioning, and mus-cle function. This work highlights a novel nutritional strategy to improve metabolic out-comes and muscle performance, particularly in the context of high-protein and plant-based diets.