Lipid peroxide (LPO) accumulation and a depletion of intracellular antioxidants are hallmarks of ferroptosis, a controlled iron-dependent form of cell death. Iron chelators and radical scavengers can stop it, while erastin or iron overload can cause it. The main catechin in green tea extract (GTE), epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), has iron-chelating and antioxidant activities. Herein, we investigated the effects of EGCG-rich GTE on ferroptosis in iron-loaded hepatocytes. The contents of EGCG, total phenolics (TPC), and flavonoids (TFC), as well as ABTS^•+-scavenging activity and cytotoxicity, were determined. Human hepatoma (Huh7) cells were treated with ferric ammonium citrate (FAC) to induce ferroptosis and were co-treated with various concentrations of GTE. Labile iron pool (LIP), reactive oxygen species (ROS), LPO, glutathione (GSH), and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX-4) activity were then measured in the cells. One gram of GTE contained 26 mg of EGCG, with a TPC of 172.2 mg gallic acid equivalents and a TFC of 32.9 mg quercetin equivalents. GTE displayed concentration-dependent ABTS^•+-scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 1.03 mg) that was equivalent to 0.29 mg of Trolox, reporting a Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) value of 0.29 mg. High-dose GTE (>100 µM EGCG equivalent) reduced cell viability below 80% (p < 0.05). Intracellular LIP, ROS, and LPO levels were markedly elevated, whereas GSH and GPX-4 activity levels were decreased (p < 0.05) in iron-loaded Huh7 cells. GTE treatment mitigated these alterations in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). These cell-based in vitro findings indicate that EGCG-rich GTE can attenuate ferroptosis-associated oxidative stress in hepatocytes under iron-loading conditions. GTE may serve as a potential dietary antioxidant candidate; further mechanistic studies and in vivo experiments are required to determine its physiological relevance and translational applicability.

Diabetic nephropathy is a major complication of diabetes mellitus, primarily driven by hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and renal tubular cell injury. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.) is rich in antioxidant phytochemicals, and its industrial processing generates large amounts of spent material that may retain significant bioactive compounds. This study evaluated the phytochemical profile, antioxidant capacity, and renoprotective potential of beetroot spent extracts under hyperglycemic conditions. Beetroot spent material was extracted using hot water and 70% ethanol. Total phenolic, flavonoid, and betalain contents were quantified, and antioxidant activity was assessed using the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical characterization was performed by ultra-high-pressure liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS). Cytotoxicity was evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, SH-SY5Y, HEK-293, and MDA-MB-231 cells using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Renoprotective effects were investigated in HEK-293 renal tubular cells cultured under normal (5.5 mM) and high-glucose (200 mM) conditions. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS was used to identify over 80 phenolic and flavonoid compounds including quercetin, epicatechin, and epigallocatechin gallate. The hot water extract exhibited superior antioxidant activity, achieving approximately 90% ABTS radical inhibition. Beetroot spent extract showed no cytotoxicity at concentrations below 1 mg/mL and significantly restored HEK-293 cell viability (>90%) under high-glucose conditions at concentrations ≥31.25 µg/mL. In conclusion, beetroot spent water extract possesses strong antioxidant and renoprotective activities against hyperglycemia-induced renal cell damage, supporting its valorization as a sustainable functional food ingredient for diabetes-related health applications.

Secondary iron overload exacerbates osteoporosis by elevating reactive oxygen species (ROS), which suppress osteoblast function and enhance osteoclast activity, disrupting bone remodeling. Reducing iron overload and oxidative stress may improve bone health. Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the main bioactive compound in green tea extract (GTE), is recognized for its antioxidant and iron-chelating properties. This study examined the effect of GTE on bone formation and mineralization in iron-overloaded human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. An iron-overloaded model was established using ferric ammonium citrate (FAC), followed by treatment with GTE, deferiprone (DFP), or their combination. GTE significantly reduced intracellular iron, ROS levels, and lipid peroxidation while upregulating the osteogenic marker BGLAP, the anti-resorptive marker OPG, and osteogenic mineralization, indicating restored bone health. These results suggest that EGCG-containing GTE mitigates iron-induced oxidative stress and promotes osteogenesis, highlighting its potential as a natural therapeutic supplement for managing iron-overload-associated osteoporosis.

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) pulp contains bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic effects against metabolic and immune-related disorders. However, the integrated effects of mango pulp extract on metabolic, cardiovascular, and immunomodulatory functions remain insufficiently characterized. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the phytochemical composition and evaluate the activity of M. indica (Mahajanaka) pulp ethanolic extract (MPEE) in rat models. Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats were used to assess metabolic and cardiovascular effects, while immune function was examined through neutrophil phagocytosis, splenocyte proliferation, lymphocyte subpopulation analysis, and cytokine secretion. MPEE exhibited a rich phytochemical profile, particularly phenolic compounds, along with strong antioxidant activity (339 ± 8.9 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract). In STZ-induced diabetic rats, MPEE at 300 mg/kg significantly reduced plasma triglyceride (36.7%) and total cholesterol (45.3%) levels compared with untreated diabetic controls, although its antihyperglycemic effect was modest (6.8%). In L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats, MPEE at 400 mg/kg produced the greatest reduction in blood pressure (42.7%) and heart rate (53.5%). Furthermore, MPEE enhanced neutrophil phagocytic activity (43%), with significant increases observed at doses of 100–400 mg/kg. These findings indicate that MPEE exerts antioxidant, hypolipidemic, antihypertensive, and innate immunostimulatory activities.

Thalassemia is a hereditary hemoglobinopathy characterized by ineffective erythropoiesis, chronic hemolysis, and transfusion-related iron overload, which collectively contribute to oxidative stress and organ dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships between iron metabolism, oxidative stress biomarkers, and immune cell function across different clinical conditions. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from healthy individuals and patients with iron deficiency anemia, obesity, thalassemia trait (TT), β-thalassemia HbE (BTE), and β-thalassemia major (BTM). Hematological parameters were measured using automated hematology analyzers, while biochemical indicators, including liver enzymes and bilirubin, were determined using clinical chemistry assays. Iron overload was evaluated using serum iron parameters and T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Oxidative stress biomarkers, including reduced glutathione, thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances, and total antioxidant capacity, were assessed spectrophotometrically. Flow cytometric analysis was used to measure reactive oxygen species, redox-active iron, and lipid peroxide levels in granulocytes and lymphocytes. Thalassemia patients exhibited severe anemia, elevated liver enzymes, increased bilirubin levels, and significant alterations in iron metabolism compared with healthy controls. Hepatic iron accumulation was more common than cardiac iron deposition, particularly in BTE patients. Granulocyte oxidative burst activity was significantly reduced in thalassemia patients, whereas lymphocyte responses remained relatively preserved. Increased variability in glutathione levels suggested activation of intracellular antioxidant defense mechanisms in response to chronic oxidative stress. These findings highlight the complex interplay between iron overload, oxidative stress, and the immune cell dysfunction associated with thalassemia, thereby providing insights into improved monitoring and therapeutic strategies.

This study investigated the effects of thermal processing and extraction solvents on the phytochemical composition, antioxidant potential, and cytotoxic activity of Sukhothai fragrant rice (Oryza sativa L.). Rice subjected to three processing methods, unprocessed (raw), popped/puffed and steam-cooked, was extracted using hot water or 70% (v/v) ethanol, yielding six extracts. Trans-ferulic acid, γ-oryzanol and anthocyanins were quantified using HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-MS, while total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activities were evaluated using Folin–Ciocalteu, aluminium chloride, DPPH and ABTS assays. Cytotoxicity was assessed in Huh7 hepatocellular carcinoma cells. Water extracts consistently produced higher yields and contained greater total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents, resulting in stronger antioxidant activity. Unprocessed rice water extract exhibited the highest trans-ferulic acid recovery and antioxidant capacity. Thermal processing, particularly steamed cooking, markedly reduced phytochemical contents, likely due to heat-induced degradation. In contrast, ethanolic extracts yielded lower quantities but higher concentrations of less polar bioactive compounds and exhibited greater cytotoxic effects. Overall, minimal thermal processing combined with aqueous extraction best preserved antioxidant compounds, while ethanolic extraction enhanced biological potency. These findings highlight the importance of processing intensity and solvent polarity in optimizing the nutraceutical and functional potential of black rice.