Insights & Discussion
Daily consumption of tart cherry juice may enhance cognitive abilities in older adults, likely due to reduction of hypertension, inflammation, and oxidative stress.
In this randomized controlled trial, 37 adults aged between 65 and 80 years with normal cognitive function were assigned to consume two cups of Montmorency tart cherry juice daily for a duration of 12 weeks. Participants' subjective memory and objective cognitive performance were evaluated at the starting point and after the 12-week juice supplementation using a validated memory questionnaire and a standard assortment of tests designed for cognitive assessment. Factors such as daily caloric intake and physical activity levels were also monitored during the study.
After the 12-week intervention, participants who consumed tart cherry juice showed an improvement in their contentment with memory scores, demonstrated decreased scores of movement time, and performed better on a task of paired associates learning when compared to the control group. Notably, the results revealed that the tart cherry juice group demonstrated improvements on measures of visual sustained attention and spatial working memory relative to their own baseline values. These findings suggest that the potential benefits of tart cherry juice to cognitive abilities might be attributed to the juice's antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and its capacity to reduce blood pressure.
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Bananas and plantains contain compounds with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidative properties that hold promise for potentially reversing neurological disorders.
2022 Foods Suitability of Banana and Plantain Fruits in Modulating Neurodegenerative Diseases: Implicating the In Vitro and In Vivo Evidence from Neuroactive Narratives of Constituent Biomolecules Oyeyinka BO, Afolayan AJ
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The methodology of the study revolved around scrutinizing the bioactive properties found in bananas and plantains. Researchers pinpointed various neuroprotective mechanisms within commonly consumed fruits, specifically bananas and plantains. The study examined protein expression regulation and targeted specific gene pathways, including nuclear and tumor necrosis factors, extracellular signal-regulated and mitogen-activated protein kinases, activator protein-1, and the glial fibrillary acidic protein. In their investigations, they also considered the underutilized peel components of these fruits.
The results suggest that the multitude of bioactive compounds found in both the pulp and peels of bananas and plantains perform a variety of beneficial neuroprotective activities. These range from acting as antioxidants, preventing cell death (anti-apoptotic), and reducing inflammation (anti-inflammatory), to directly influencing the functionality of the nervous system (neuromodulatory). This discovery implicates plant-based foods, specifically bananas and plantains, as potentially significant substances in combating, halting, or mitigating the pathological mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative disorders.
The Jing Si Herbal Drink, composed of various antiviral, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herbs, has been confirmed as potentially effective in treating COVID-19 symptoms.
2022 Pharmacological Research - Modern Chinese Medicine Jing Si Herbal Drink as a prospective adjunctive therapy for COVID-19 treatment: Molecular evidence and mechanisms Lu PH, Tseng CW, Lee JL, Lee EY, Lin YP, Lin IH, et al.
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The methodology incorporated in this study involves analyzing the efficacy of the component herbs present in Jing Si Herbal Drink (JSHD). This was done through in vivo and in vitro testing to understand their potential in treating COVID-19. JSHD comprises a combination of 5 antiviral, 7 antioxidant, 7 anti-inflammatory herbs. Furthermore, it includes 2 herbs that inhibit the overactive immune system, one herb that reduces cell apoptosis, and another with antithrombotic ability. These constituent herbs were evaluated for their impact on the pathogenesis of COVID-19.
Discussion of the results showed that the ingredients in JSHD have demonstrated potential effectiveness against COVID-19. The active ingredients in the drink were effective in providing symptomatic relief for infected patients. The antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory herbs, along with those altering immune response, inhibiting cellular apoptosis and providing antithrombotic capacity, were all found beneficial against the disease. Thus, JSHD holds promise as a useful adjuvant or supplementary treatment in handling COVID-19.
Cherries and blueberries, rich in phenolic compounds, can be effectively used in pharmaceutical products, smart foods, functional beverages, and nutraceuticals to prevent or treat diseases.
2022 Molecules Cherries and Blueberries-Based Beverages: Functional Foods with Antidiabetic and Immune Booster Properties Gonçalves AC, Nunes AR, Flores-Félix JD, Alves G, Silva LR
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The research primarily studied the health-promoting potential of cherries and blueberries, given their high nutritional density and substantial phenolic compounds. The focus was on their ability to counteract oxidative stress markers and suppress pro-inflammatory responses, which are significant factors in chronic diseases such as diabetes. The researchers analyzed these fruits for their potential incorporation into various products such as pharmaceutical preparations, smart foods, functional beverages, and nutraceuticals.
In the discussion of the results, it was emphasized how cherries and blueberries exhibit significant biological potential. They were not only seen as effective in combatting oxidative stress and inflammation but also as potential immune boosters. The conclusions underscored the fruits' potential role as functional foods and their relevance to the burgeoning popularity of functional beverages, hinting at their promise for inclusion in a variety of health-related products.
Walnut seed skin extract demonstrates potential hepato-renal protective effects, inhibiting inflammatory responses, oxidative stress and apoptosis, in kidney-damaged Sprague-Dawley rats.
2022 Cytokine The hepato-renal protective potential of walnut seed skin extract against acute renal ischemia/reperfusion damage Askin S, Askin H, Dursun E, Palabiyik E, Uguz H, Cakmak , et al.
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In the methodology, Sprague-Dawley rats in acute kidney injury state were divided into three groups: a healthy control, a group induced with renal ischemia/reperfusion (IR), and another group induced with renal IR and treated with walnut seed skin (WSS) extract. Blood, liver and kidney tissues were collected for serum evaluations of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, urea, and creatinine. Histopathological studies were performed on liver and kidney tissues, and gene markers related to anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic effects were measured.
The results showed an improvement in deteriorated serum parameters in rats with renal ischemia pre-treated with WSS extract. Histopathological analysis revealed a protective effect of WSS on kidney and liver tissues. Though gene expression studies yielded diverse results for liver and kidney tissues, the consensus was that WSS had a pronounced protective impact on the liver. It was inferred that WSS's healing potential in renal and hepatic tissues seems to work via inhibiting inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.
Jujube nutrients may offer potential therapeutic benefits including antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory functions, and improving sleep quality and learning.
2022 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Wild Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba var. spinosa): A Review of Its Phytonutrients, Health Benefits, Metabolism, and Applications Hua Y, Xu X, Guo S, Xie H, Yan H, Ma X, et al.
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The methodology used for this study involves a comprehensive review of existing research about Wild jujube, giving particular focus on its phytonutrients, biological functions, metabolism of bioactive compounds, and applications. The study does not seem to detail a specific experimental procedure, but instead bases its conclusions on existing literature. Various parts of the wild jujube plant, such as the fruits, seeds and leaves, were examined for their potential role as food, medicine, or health care aids.
The results from the review suggest that the different parts of the wild jujube plant play many roles. The fruits have been noted for their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, and as ingredients preventing aging. The mature seeds have been found to have potential beneficial effects on central nervous system diseases, particularly in the treatment of insomnia and the enhancement of learning and memory.
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