{"title":"A Comprehensive Review on Cardioprotective Biological Properties of Crataegus orientalis in Post-COVID-19 Pandemic Cardiovascular Disorders","authors":"Ayman M. Mousa, Hamdoon A. Mohammed","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70590","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/mnfr.70590","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The growing use of herbal medicinal plants like hawthorn is recognized globally as a way to meet the demand for new natural pharmaceuticals with health benefits. The current review provides a comprehensive overview of the phytochemical constituents and heart-protective therapeutic properties of <i>Crataegus orientalis</i>. Despite numerous reviews on the biological properties of the <i>Crataegus</i> genus. <i>C. orientalis</i> has emerged as a promising therapeutic agent in managing the increasing cardiovascular complications that have followed the COVID-19 pandemic. This review highlights the primary cardioprotective biological effects of <i>C. orientalis</i>, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, antihyperglycemic, antihypertensive, anticoagulant, anti-ischemic, diuretic, and cardiotonic properties, supported by numerous scientific studies in Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. This updated review provides an overview of the bioactive molecular components of <i>C. orientalis</i> and their cardioprotective mechanisms in cardiac muscle cell biology following the post-COVID-19 Pandemic, exploring its potential as an innovative functional food dietary supplement to enhance plant-derived cardioprotective formulations and its possible health benefits. This study presents a significant challenge for analyzing the active constituents of <i>C. orientalis</i>, which require further research, as they are expected to be promising candidates for developing new approaches to prevent and treat various post-pandemic cardiovascular diseases (CVD).</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 17","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148823377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The Role of Lipid Molecular Structure in Food Technology and Health","authors":"Cathriona Monnard, Rinat Rivka Ran-Ressler, Amaury Patin, Mattia Marzorati, Iaroslava Semenova, Francesca Giuffrida","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70577","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70577","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lipids are a diverse group of molecules that are important in food production and play a role in supporting health. These effects are driven in part by the lipid molecular structure. Modification of this structure—including changing the fatty acid composition, introducing specific functional groups, or the reconfiguration of glycerol backbones—can alter lipid properties. Changes to lipid molecular structures can be generated through different chemical and enzymatic processes, resulting in particular structures with specific applications. Lipid structures used in food production are typically applied to improve emulsification, stability, and texture of certain food products. Structuration may also influence lipid digestion and absorption, which impacts lipid metabolism, tissue distribution and their resulting health benefits. This review provides an overview of well-known structured lipids—including 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl glycerol (OPO), medium-chain triglycerides (MCT), long or medium-chain fatty acids (respectively LCFAs and MCFAs) together with short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) triglycerides and mono and diacylglycerols—in the context of both their food technology applications as well as their role in health, and outlines future research required to better understand these valuable lipids.</p>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mnfr.70577","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148809823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Broussoflavonol F Alleviates Obesity-Associated Metabolic Syndrome in Obese Mice by Modulating Gut Microbiota","authors":"Cunzhen Zhao, Qingya Huang, Shaocong Zhang, Yuxin Han, Yingying Tu, Zhongke Zhu","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70564","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70564","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Obesity is a global health challenge associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis, which contributes to metabolic dysfunction and fat accumulation. This study explored the anti-obesity effects of Broussonetia flavonol F (BPF) and its ability to modulate gut microbiota in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. After 6 weeks of BPF treatment, obese mice exhibited significant reductions in body weight, adipose tissue mass, and serum lipid levels (TC, TG, and LDL-C), alongside improved glucose tolerance. BPF inhibited fat deposition by downregulating key adipogenic and lipogenic genes in both inguinal adipose tissue (i-WAT) and epididymal adipose tissue (e-WAT). Additionally, BPF improved gut barrier function and reduced TNF-α and IL-6 levels. 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that BPF restored gut microbiota diversity, increasing the abundance of beneficial bacteria such as Lactobacillus, while decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, a marker of obesity-related dysbiosis. Mechanistically, the anti-obesity effects of BPF were abolished in antibiotic-treated mice and were reproduced by FMT from BPF-treated donors, confirming a gut microbiota-dependent mechanism. Our findings demonstrate that BPF alleviates obesity by reshaping gut microbiota structure and suppressing metabolic inflammation, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent for obesity management.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148808202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Na Youn Lee, Jennifer Lee, Nirupa R. Matthan, Stefania Lamon-Fava, Xiang-Dong Wang
{"title":"Phytoene, a Precursor of Lycopene in Tomatoes, Protects Against Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease in Mice","authors":"Na Youn Lee, Jennifer Lee, Nirupa R. Matthan, Stefania Lamon-Fava, Xiang-Dong Wang","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70596","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70596","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The health benefits of tomato consumption may derive from bioactive compounds other than lycopene in tomatoes. 15-<i>Cis</i>-phytoene, a colorless precursor of lycopene abundant in tomatoes, has not been well studied for its biological activity. We investigated whether dietary 15-<i>cis</i>-phytoene protects against metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) and whether this protection depends on the carotenoid cleavage enzymes, beta-carotene-15,15’-oxygenase 1 (BCO1) and beta-carotene-9’,10’-oxygenase (BCO2). Wild-type (WT) and BCO1<sup>−/−</sup>/BCO2<sup>−/−</sup> double knock-out (DKO) mice were fed a high-refined carbohydrate diet (HRCD) with or without 15-<i>cis</i>-phytoene supplementation for 24 weeks. 15-<i>Cis</i>-phytoene supplementation markedly increased 15-<i>cis</i> and all-<i>trans</i> phytoene concentrations in intestine, liver, and serum, and significantly attenuated HRCD-induced MASLD in WT mice. The protective effects of phytoene on MASLD in WT mice were associated with increased hepatic mRNA and protein levels of SIRT1, PGC1α, and PPARα; enhanced AMPK and ACC phosphorylation; and upregulated fatty acid oxidation genes, but not with the gut microbiota composition. Despite much higher phytoene accumulation in the liver and serum, phytoene did not exhibit protection against HRCD-induced MASLD in DKO mice. Phytoene is a biologically active compound that contributes to the benefits of tomato consumption against MASLD. Its protective effects are likely mediated by cleavage metabolites through BCO1/BCO2.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148808188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Chiara Santucci, Alessio Torcinaro, Francesca De Santa, Maria Cristina Giustiniani, Diego Mora, Stefania Arioli, Lucrezia Laterza, Georgios Strimpakos, Stefano Farioli-Vecchioli, Carla Petrella
{"title":"Protective Effect of a Heat-Stabilized Bacteria Probiotic Preparation (VSL#3-HS) in a Mouse Model of Ulcerative Colitis Induced by Dextran Sulfate Sodium","authors":"Chiara Santucci, Alessio Torcinaro, Francesca De Santa, Maria Cristina Giustiniani, Diego Mora, Stefania Arioli, Lucrezia Laterza, Georgios Strimpakos, Stefano Farioli-Vecchioli, Carla Petrella","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70594","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70594","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 \u0000 <section>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Postbiotics, composed of inanimate microorganisms or their components, are gaining attention for managing intestinal discomfort, being safer than probiotics for vulnerable patients. This study investigates the effects of short-term consumption of a heat-stabilized VSL#3 formulation (VSL#3<sup>−</sup>HS) in a mouse model of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: (1) Placebo (PLA); (2) VSL#3-HS (1 × 10<sup>9</sup> cells/mouse/day for 7 days); (3) DSS + PLA (2% DSS in drinking water from days 1–7, PLA from days 4–10); (4) DSS + VSL#3-HS (2% DSS from days 1–7, VSL#3-HS from days 4–10). All mice were euthanized on day 11 for tissue collection. VSL#3<sup>−</sup>HS rapidly alleviated clinical signs of the disease, including improvements in disease activity index and colon length. This effect was accompanied by a reduction in colonic pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β) and a partial restoration of occludin gene expression in the intestine. However, no improvement was observed in MPO activity or microscopic tissue damage. The experimental findings demonstrate the efficacy of postbiotics in a murine model of UC and support further investigation into the efficacy of the heat-stabilized VSL#3-HS formulation to assess its potential applicability in human studies.</p>\u0000 </section>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mnfr.70594","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768603","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Bee Bread Protects Small Intestinal Mucosa and Modulates Local Redox Responses in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats","authors":"Ebru Karadag Sari, Buket Bakιr, Sükran Yediel Aras, Sevda Elis Yιldιz, Arzu Gezer","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70565","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70565","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Bee Bread (BB), a fermented bee product rich in antioxidant compounds, exerts protective effects against diabetes-associated small intestinal damage. This study investigated the effects of BB on small intestinal morphology, mucosal integrity, and antioxidant enzyme activity in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Forty <i>Wistar albino</i> rats were randomly divided into five groups: control, sham (50 mg/kg sodium citrate), diabetes (DM; 50 mg/kg STZ), BB (100 mg/kg), and Diabetes + Bee Bread (DM+BB). After 15 days, intestinal tissues were examined using histopathological, immunohistochemical (IHC), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Diabetic rats exhibited hyperglycemia (363.63 ± 14.64 mg/dL vs. 97.25 ± 2.71 mg/dL in controls at day 15; <i>p</i> < 0.001), weight loss, villus elongation, epithelial desquamation, and mucosal disorganization. BB supplementation reduced blood glucose levels (approximately 15%–16% in the DM+BB group), attenuated weight loss, and preserved small intestinal architecture, with significant differences in villus length among groups (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Mn-SOD immunoreactivity showed no significant differences among groups (<i>p</i> > 0.05), although redistribution was observed in diabetic tissues. CAT immunoreactivity remained weak and unchanged across groups. SEM analysis confirmed improved villus architecture and preserved goblet cell morphology following BB treatment. BB attenuated diabetes-induced small intestinal injury and preserved intestinal mucosal architecture, findings that may be associated with localized adaptive redox responses.</p>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mnfr.70565","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768609","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Xianjie Li, Zhaoming Liu, Yi Chen, Jieping Luo, Zi Xie, Yirui Yang, Ziqi Zhou, Lin Fu, Xiaoya Yang, Caixia Wu
{"title":"Proanthocyanidins Attenuate Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury and are Associated With Reshaping Gut Microbiota and Restoring Redox Homeostasis","authors":"Xianjie Li, Zhaoming Liu, Yi Chen, Jieping Luo, Zi Xie, Yirui Yang, Ziqi Zhou, Lin Fu, Xiaoya Yang, Caixia Wu","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70582","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70582","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) is a dose-limiting chemotherapy complication laking effective clinical interventions. This study investigated the protective mechanisms of proanthocyanidins (PACs), a promising food-derived polyphenol, against cisplatin-induced systemic toxicity in C57BL/6 mice. Multi-omics integration combining 16S rRNA sequencing and renal transcriptomics, was employed to identify microbial-metabolic signaling nodes. Notably, 7-day PAC pretreatment (25 or 50 mg/kg/day) significantly alleviated renal dysfunction, normalized serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, reinforced renal antioxidant defenses, and suppressed kidney inflammation. Transcriptomic profiling revealed that cisplatin-induced renal damage was associated with the dysregulation of the cAMP signaling pathway, which was effectively reversed by PACs. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that PACs restructured the gut microbiota by suppressing the pathogenic taxa (<i>Alistipes</i> and <i>CAG_485</i>) and enriching beneficial taxa (<i>Muribaculaceae</i>). Integrated network analysis further linked these microbial shifts to the stabilization of renal cAMP signaling and redox homeostasis, suggesting a coordinated gut-kidney crosstalk. In conclusion, PACs function as a multifaceted food-derived adjuvant that potentially attenuates cisplatin-induced AKI, providing a molecular framework for gut-targeted nutritional intervention in chemotherapy-induced systemic toxicity.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768662","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hsuan-Yin Chen, Chang-Lin Lin, Chou-Chen Chen, Jin-Yuarn Lin
{"title":"Caffeic Acid Intervention Slows Cancer Cell Growth While Reversing the Th2-Biased Immune Balance in Human Colorectal Cancer HT-29 Cell-Bearing Mice","authors":"Hsuan-Yin Chen, Chang-Lin Lin, Chou-Chen Chen, Jin-Yuarn Lin","doi":"10.1002/mnfr.70587","DOIUrl":"10.1002/mnfr.70587","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The effects of caffeic acid (CA) intervention on the relationship between human colorectal cancer (CRC) HT-29 cell growth and Th1/Th2 immune balance in vivo are not fully understood. To unravel the perplexity, this study examined the impact of CA intervention on the relationship between tumor growth and the Th1/Th2 immune balance in CRC-bearing mice for 35 days using an established xenograft animal model. The BALB/c nude mice were subcutaneously xenografted with HT-29 cells and received three different CA doses daily, including 6 mg (low-dose), 30 mg (medium-dose), and 60 mg CA/kg AIN-93 M feed (high-dose). The results showed that CA intervention slightly decreased tumor volumes and weights in CRC-bearing mice. Meanwhile, the CRC-bearing mice tended to have a Th2-biased immune balance, as indicated by the cytokine secretion profile of splenocytes. Notably, CA intervention dose-dependently increased Concanavalin A-stimulated IFN-γ secretion and the IFN-γ (Th1)/IL-10 (Th2) secretion ratio. There is a negative correlation between IFN-γ/IL-10 secretion ratios and tumor weights, suggesting that higher doses of CA intervention may reverse the immune balance toward a Th1-dominant immune response in CRC-bearing mice. CA showed modest trends toward reduced tumor burden under the experimental conditions tested, while reversing the Th2-biased immune balance in CRC-bearing mice.</p>","PeriodicalId":212,"journal":{"name":"Molecular Nutrition & Food Research","volume":"70 16","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/mnfr.70587","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148768608","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}