The present study examined if methanolic beetroot extract (BE) could prevent dyslipidemia and hepatic steatosis and damage in a type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rat model and studied some mechanisms of action. T2DM was induced in adult male Wistar rats by a low single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg, i.p) and a high-fat diet (HFD) feeding for 5 weeks. Control or T2DM rats then continued on standard or HFDs for another 12 weeks and were treated with the vehicle or BE (250 or 500 mg/kg). BE, at both doses, significantly improved liver structure and reduced hepatic lipid accumulation in the livers of T2DM rats. They also reduced body weight gain, serum glucose, insulin levels, serum and hepatic levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, free fatty acids, and serum levels of low-density lipoproteins in T2DM rats. In concomitant, they significantly reduced serum levels of aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, hepatic levels of malondialdehyde, tumor-necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and mRNA of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and SREBP1/2. However, both doses of BE significantly increased hepatic levels of total glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and mRNA levels of Bcl2 and PPARα in the livers of both the control and T2DM rats. All of these effects were dose-dependent and more profound with doses of 500 mg/kg. In conclusion, chronic feeding of BE to STZ/HFD-induced T2DM in rats prevents hepatic steatosis and liver damage by its hypoglycemic and insulin-sensitizing effects and its ability to upregulate antioxidants and PPARα.

Beetroot is a widely consumed crop all over the world and contains plenty of bioactive compounds. In this study, we analyzed the bioactive as well as the antimicrobial properties of the oven-dried beetroot (pulp and peel) using different solvents. The 50% methanolic extract yielded the highest content of total polyphenols and total flavonoids as well as the reducing power of the beetroot. The beetroot peel exhibited a higher content of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and reducing power activity under all the extraction solvents. Mixture of methanol and water (50% v/v) extracted the highest chlorogenic acid (78.24 mg/100 g) of the dried beetroot peel, while 1,2-dihydroxybenzene was the most noteworthy phenolic compound (42.52 mg/100 g) in beetroot peel methanolic extract. The 50% methanolic extract of both peel and pulp demonstrated the highest antibacterial and anticandidal potential. These results can be helpful for beetroot consumption.

The eggplant is an important vegetable that is used all over the world and it contains valuable bioactive properties. Cooking methods affect the nutritional value as well as the functional characteristics of vegetables. This study investigated the effect of air-frying at different temperatures and the extraction solvents on the bioactive properties of eggplant. The eggplant air-fried for 25 min and extracted with 50% ethanol exhibited the highest total flavonoid content (35.10 mg catechin equivalent per gram dry weight), while its total polyphenol content was found as 87.81 mg gallic acid equivalent per gram dry weight. The uncooked sample exhibited the lowest DPPH scavenging (IC50: 422.12 mg/mL reducing power: 0.914), while the highest DPPH scavenging activity (IC50: 2.87 mg/mL; reducing power: 0.936) was recorded for the sample air-fried for 25 min and extracted with 50% ethanol. The highest amount of tannic acid was found in medium-cooked eggplant, while chlorogenic acid was the highest in the high-cooked sample. These results might be helpful for functional food processors.

The antioxidant capacity of polyphenols and flavonoids present in dietary agents aids in arresting the development of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and protecting endothelial smooth muscle cells from oxidative stress/induced necrosis. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris var. rubra L.; BVr) is a commonly consumed vegetable representing a rich source of antioxidants. Beetroot peel’s bioactive compounds and their role in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) are still under-researched. In the present study, beetroot peel methanol extract (BPME) was prepared, and its effect on the bio-efficacy, nuclear integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and vascular cell growth, and immunoregulation-related gene expression levels in HUVECs with induced oxidative stress were analysed. Gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) results confirmed that BPME contains 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (32.6%), methyl pyruvate (15.13%), furfural (9.98%), and 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-Pyran-4-one (12.4%). BPME extract effectively enhanced cell proliferation and was confirmed by MTT assay; the nuclear integrity was confirmed by propidium iodide (PI) staining assay; the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) was confirmed by JC-1 staining assay. Annexin V assay confirmed that BPME-treated HUVECs showed 99% viable cells, but only 39.8% viability was shown in HUVECs treated with H2O2 alone. In addition, BPME treatment of HUVECs for 48 h reduced mRNA expression of lipid peroxide (LPO) and increased NOS-3, Nrf-2, GSK-3β, GPX, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and vascular cell growth factor (VEGF) mRNA expression levels. We found that BPME treatment decreased proinflammatory (nuclear factor-κβ (F-κβ), tissue necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4), interleukin-1β (IL-1β)) and vascular inflammation (intracellular adhesion molecule (ICAM), vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM), EDN1, IL-1β)-related mRNA expressions. In conclusion, beetroot peel treatment effectively increased vascular smooth cell growth factors and microtubule development, whereas it decreased vascular inflammatory regulators. BPME may be beneficial for vascular smooth cell regeneration, tissue repair and anti-ageing potential.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a progressively prevalent neurodevelopmental disorder with substantial clinical heterogeneity. Despite the considerable interest in dietary interventions, no consensus has been reached regarding the optimal nutritional therapy. The present study aimed to investigate the possible positive effect of goat’s milk (GM) compared to cow’s milk (CM) on ASD autistic features in a valproic acid (VPA; 600 mg/kg)-induced white albino rat model of autism. All tests were conducted on rats that were divided into four groups (n = 15/group): control with goat milk (GM) treatment, control with cow milk (CM) treatment, autistic with goat milk (GM) treatment, and autistic with cow milk treatment. The casein levels were also measured in GM and CM. Social behavior was assessed by three-chambered sociability to test social interaction after the intervention. After 15 days of intervention, selected biomarkers, such as glutathione (GSH), thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), neurotransmitter dopamine (DA), serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT), and glutamate (GLU), were measured in blood serum and brain homogenates. The results showed a significant positive effect on social interaction in the VPA rat ASD model fed GM. Blood serum and brain samples showed a positive increase in TBARS in the VPA rat model fed GM, but brain and serum serotonin levels were lower in both VPA-GM and VPA-CM groups. Dopamine in serum was also lower in the VPA-CM group than in the VPA-GM group. IL-6 levels were slightly lower in the VPA-GM group than in the VPA-CM group. In comparison with cow’s milk, goat’s milk was effective in ameliorating the neurotoxic effects of VPA. Goat’s milk may be considered a suitable source of dairy for children diagnosed with ASD. Autistic children with allergies to cow’s milk could possibly convert to goat’s milk. Nevertheless, more in-depth studies and clinical trials are recommended.