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The human skin microbiota plays a key role in the maintenance of healthy skin, ensuring protection and biological barrier by competing with pathogens and by closely communicating with the immune system. The development of approaches which preserve or restore the skin microbiota represents a novel target for skincare applications. Prebiotics could be applied to balance almost any microbial community to achieve advantageous effects. However, information about their effectiveness as skin microbiota modulators is limited. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of short chain fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) from sugar beet (DP 3–5), well-recognised prebiotics, on some representative bacterial strains of the skin microbiota. We measured the growth and competitive activity of these specific bacteria for the use of scFOS as energy source in minimal medium and in a reconstructed human epithelium (RHE) in vitro model. In minimal growth medium, scFOS promoted and sustained the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis up to 24 h, considered a beneficial skin commensal bacterium, while inhibiting both Cutibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus aureus growth, regarded as opportunistic pathogens. S. epidermidis showed the highest colonization potential and 1% scFOS was effective in shifting the competition in favour of S. epidermidis with respect to C. acnes in the RHE model. This latter effect was observed following 24 h of exposure, suggesting a long-term effect of scFOS in a highly skin dynamic environment. Therefore, scFOS could be effectively implemented in skincare formulations for recovering skin microbiota homeostasis.

Iron is a fundament micronutrient, whose homeostasis is strictly regulated. Iron deficiency anemia is among the most widespread nutritional deficiencies and its therapy, based on dietary supplement and drugs, may lead to severe side effects. With the aim of improving iron bioavailability while reducing iron oral therapy side effects, novel dietary supplements based on innovative technologies—microencapsulation, liposomes, sucrosomes—have been produced and marketed. In the present work, six iron dietary supplements for different therapeutic targets were compared in terms of bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and safety by using an integrated in vitro approach. For general-purpose iron supplements, ME + VitC (microencapsulated) showed a fast, burst intestinal iron absorption kinetic, which maintained iron bioavailability and ferritin expression constant over time. SS + VitC (sucrosomes), on the other side, showed a slower, time-dependent iron absorption and ferritin expression trend. ME + Folate (microencapsulated) showed a behavior similar to that of ME + VitC, albeit with a lower bioavailability. Among pediatric iron supplements, a time-dependent bioavailability increase was observed for LS (liposome), while PIC (polydextrose-iron complex) bioavailability is severely limited by its poor bioaccessibility. Finally, except for SS + VitC, no adverse effects on intestinal mucosa vitality and barrier integrity were observed. Considering obtained results and the different therapeutic targets, microencapsulation-based formulations are endowed with better performance compared to the other formulations. Furthermore, performances of microencapsulated products were obtained with a lower iron daily dose, limiting the potential onset of side effects.

Hepatic-related diseases, in particular hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia, are a thorn on the side of the national health institutes around the globe. Indeed, liver lipid and cholesterol dysregulation could lead to atherosclerotic plaque formation and cardiovascular diseases. Currently, statin administration and monacolin K consumption are the main therapies proposed to counter this alarming connection, but relevant side effects are known. To overcome this issue, safe nutraceutical formulations and/or vegetal extracts, endowed with anticholesterolemic activity, could be instrumental in hypercholesterolemia prevention and treatment. In the present work, the anticholesterolemic efficacy of three vegetal extracts used in traditional medicine (artichoke, caigua, and fenugreek), their unique blend (ACFB), and the monacolin K-containing red yeast extract (RYR), was investigated with an in vitro approach based on hepatic cell line HepG2. The impact on cholesterol of the three extracts, their blend, and RYR were investigated by determining hepatocyte total and free cholesterol and bile acids biosynthesis. According to our results, the anticholesterolemic activity of the vegetal extracts was confirmed, and a novel choleretic activity of caigua extract was evidenced. ACFB showed to be safer than RYR while showing a similar effect on total and free cholesterol and bile acids synthesis compared to it. The anticholesterolemic activity of the blend was obtained with lower vegetal extract concentrations compared with the single vegetal extract, potentially indicating an additive effect between the extracts. In conclusion, the vegetal extracts and their blend, ACFB, are safe and are endowed with anticholesterolemic activity, potentially providing complementary therapies to the statin-based ones for hyperlipidemia and hypercholesterolemia-related complications.

Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTs) in men are usually associated to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-malignant prostate enlargement. Unfortunately, BPH etiology is still unclear. Recent works highlighted a relevant inflammation role in BPH onset and development. Consequently, to complement the 5-α reductase (and α-adrenergic receptor agonists-based therapy, an anti-inflammatory therapy should be devised. To reduce potential adverse effects of multi-drug treatment, plant extract-based therapies are becoming increasingly common. Serenoa repens, the main phytotherapic treatment for BPH, is not sufficient to front the multi-faceted etiology of BPH. In response to this, a novel, multiple phytotherapic agents-based formulation, LENILUTS®, was developed. In the present work, we compared, using an in vitro approach, the prostatic safety and efficacy of LENILUTS® with a commercial formulation, based only on Serenoa repens, and a 5αR inhibitor, Dutasteride. Furthermore, preliminary in vitro experiments to investigate the active principles, bioaccessibility and bioavailability of LENILUTS® were performed. Our results showed a better prostatic safety and therapeutic efficacy of LENILUTS® compared to the commercial formulation and Dutasteride, with increased anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic activity, and a stronger inhibitory effect on the release of the key enzyme 5αR and Prostatic-Specific Antigen (PSA). The limited bioaccessibility and bioavailability of the active principles of LENILUTS® were highlighted. Considering the results obtained, the LENILUTS® formulation is more promising for BPH and LUTs therapy compared to formulations based on Serenoa repens only, but further efforts should be made to improve the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of the active principles.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disease characterized by alternate symptoms (diarrhea and constipation) and intestinal gas overproduction. A new medical device (Fibergone®), containing Partially Hydrolyzed Guar Gum (PHGG) and Simethicone (SM) has been proposed for managing patients with bowel disorders. PHGG acts also as a prebiotic so increasing the Short-Chain Fatty Acid (SCFA) production, useful for intestinal physiology. This in vitro study investigated the effects exerted by PHGG+SM on SCFA production and their intestinal absorption following in vitro digestive process and fermentation model. An in vitro model evaluated the digestive process and fermentation using simulated digestive fluids and a human intestinal epithelium in vitro model derived from based on intestinal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells (ATCC, HTB-37TM) and organized as a functional monolayer on Transwell® inserts. PHGG+SM was added in experiments and compared with a control (non-treated). SCFA production and absorption were assessed. Viability and barrier integrity of the intestinal epithelium model were also evaluated. PHGG+SM significantly (p<0.05) increased SCFAs content after fermentation, indicating that this medical device is effectively fermented at the large intestine level. However, in relation to SCFAs bioavailability, their absorption did not increase compared to the non-treated condition in the light of the physiological contribution of SCFAs resulting from the microflora. PHGG+SM did not affect intestinal epithelium apparent permeability (Papp) and viability. This in vitro study documented that partially hydrolyzed guar gum combined with simethicone significantly affects short-chain fatty acids production and consequently could be fruitfully employed in managing patients with intestinal disorders.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent the leading cause of death worldwide, being responsible for about one third of deaths. Among CVDs, coronary artery diseases (CADs) are characterized by vascular endothelium dysfunction due to oxidative and inflammatory damages, the oxidation of circulating low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and the production of ROS in the steatotic liver with the consequent increase of lipids and cholesterol. Together with CADs, heart failure (HF) represents another high-mortality rate CVD. A major risk factor for HF is hypertension that is accompanied by oxidative stress. Phytoextracts, rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds, may have therapeutic value as they can interfere with several CVDs risk factors. In this work, a novel silver fir (Abies alba) bark extract, Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol®, was studied. First, Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® cytotoxicity, bioaccessibility and bioavailability were evaluated by using an in vitro digestion model. Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® was shown to be non-cytotoxic and showed good bioaccessibility. Then, by using in vitro hepatic, cardiac and vascular models, its antioxidant and anti-steatotic properties were assessed. Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® showed an effective antioxidant action, and it was able to inhibit LDL and HDL oxidation, the main actors in atherosclerotic plaque formation. In steatotic conditions, Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® induces decreased lipid and cholesterol accumulation in hepatocytes. In addition, in a cardiac model, the formulation reduced the activity of the hypertension-related angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). Altogether, these findings reveal a potential application of Abigenol®/AlbiPhenol® in the prevention and treatment of CVDs.

Among the many factors inducing prostate inflammation, bacterial contribution is potentially underrated according to the scientific community. Bacterial prostatitis is characterized by modifications of the prostatic microenvironment, mainly driven by the immune system. Macrophages play a major role in bacterial prostatitis, secreting a plethora of proinflammatory and chemoattractive cytokines and proteolytic enzymes able to degrade the ECM, so facilitating the invasion of other immune cells. Consequently, macrophages represent a link between bacterial infection and prostate inflammation, as well as being the main target of prostate anti-inflammatory drugs and dietary supplements. This study aims to investigate the effect of a formulation composed of active principles and a probiotic strain with a particular focus on the anti-inflammatory effect in an in vitro bacterial prostatitis model. The results obtained showed that the formulation reduces the inflammatory response of prostatic epithelium induced by bacterial infection. This effect is mediated by the modulation of activated macrophages. Analysis of the cytokines released highlights that the tested formulation is able to reduce the expression of key proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of prostate diseases, in particular prostate cancer, and represents a valuable tool to prevent bacterial prostatitis and ensure favorable prostate health.

Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional disorders worldwide. The standard treatment involves iron supplementation, but this task is challenging because of poor solubility and organoleptic issues. Moreover, the need to increase iron bioavailability represents a challenge for treating iron-related disorders. In this study, gastroresistance and iron intestinal absorption of an innovative granular formulation composed of ferric pyrophosphate, modified starch and phospholipids branded as Ferro Fosfosoma® was investigated. Gastroresistant properties were studied using standard protocols, and a bioaccessible fraction was obtained by exposing a food supplement to in vitro digestion. This fraction was used for investigating iron absorption in Caco-2 and human follicle-associated intestinal epithelium (FAE) models. Ferro Fosfosoma® showed an improved resistance to gastric digestion and higher intestinal absorption than ferric pyrophosphate salt used as a control in both models. In the FAE model, Ferro Fosfosoma® induces larger iron absorption than in the Caco-2 monolayer, most likely due to the transcytosis ability of M cells. The larger iron absorption in the Ferro Fosfosoma®-treated FAE model corresponds to higher ferritin level, proving physiological iron handling that was once delivered by granular formulation. Finally, the formulation did not induce any alterations in viability and barrier integrity. To conclude, Ferro Fosfosoma® favors iron absorption and ferritin expression, while preserving any adverse effects.

Brazil has the most extensive and richest areas of coral reefs in the South Atlantic Ocean, with its fauna characterized by high endemism and adaptations related to its growth and morphology, to its coral building fauna and to the depositional environment that differ from other coral reefs around the world. In spite of the effects from changes in the global environmental, the main stress factors for Brazilian reefs are local level threats, such as pollution and overfishing. The effects from these threats reduce biodiversity and result in decreasing stocks at different trophic levels. The trend that currently exists, regarding marine resource use, implies that reassessing the conservation strategies is urgently necessary if the degradation of these environments is to be reversed. It is necessary that the practices used in adjacent watersheds be improved, combined with actions to protect and recover native vegetation, along with planning for developing coastal areas, which will ensure that sedimentation rates be controlled and pollution sources are drastically reduced. Brazil should have to adopt a multidisciplinary approach to lead an evolution from traditional threat management in individual portions of ecosystems to large-scale management strategies in complex socio-economic and natural systems.

The class of lipophilic compounds coming from vegetal source represents a perspective in the adjuvant treatment of several human diseases, despite their poor bioavailability in humans. These compounds are generally soluble in fats and poorly soluble in water. The major reason for the poor bioavailability of lipophilic natural compounds after oral uptake in humans is related to their reduced solubility in enteric water-based fluids, leading to an ineffective contact with absorbing epithelium. The main goal to ensure efficacy of such compounds is then creating technological conditions to deliver them into the first enteric tract as hydro-dispersible forms to maximize epithelial absorption. The present work describes and characterizes a new technological matrix (Lipomatrix, Labomar Research, Istrana, TV, Italy) based on a molten fats core in which Ascorbyl Palmitate is embedded, able to deliver lipophilic compounds in a well-dispersed and emulsified form once exposed to duodenal fluids. Authors describe and quantify Lipomatrix delivery of Serenoa repens oil through an innovative in vitro model of human gastro-enteric digestion, reporting results of its improved bioaccessibility, enteric absorption and efficacy compared with not formulated Serenoa repens oil-containing commercial products using in vitro models of human intestine and prostatic tissue.