Current Nutraceuticals (Volume 7 - Issue 1)

Nutraceuticals in Dichloromethane Extracts of Leaves, Fruit Peels, and Seeds of Persea americana and their Phytomedicinal Significance

2026-07-22

Introduction: The presence of nutraceuticals in plants, their extraction, administration, and absorption has been the underlying principle behind phytomedicine.

Methods: Fresh leaves, ripe fruit peels, and matured seeds of Persea americana Mill from the University of Port Harcourt garden were separated and dried at 23ºC in a well-ventilated closet until a constant weight was achieved. After seven days, the samples were separately pulverized into a fine powder. Ten grams of each sample, staple-sealed in separate Whatman No. 4 filter paper, were extracted in Soxhlet extractors using dichloromethane. The extracts obtained were concentrated, and their nutraceuticals were determined using GC-MS.

Results and Discussion: Among the 14 classes of nutraceuticals observed, methylene chloride was the only organochlorine compound and was most predominant in the fruit peel, with a concentration of 32.174%. The most prominent alkanol and aliphatic hydrocarbon were 1,13- Tridecanediol diacetate (24.427%) and 5-Undecyne (7.900%) in the leaf and seed extracts, respectively. The highest fatty acid in the fruit peel, leaf, and seed was n-hexadecanoic acid, with concentrations of 6.627%, 2.458%, and 0.809%, respectively. The predominant furans and terpenes were 2-n-Octylfuran and Neophytadiene, with concentrations of 2.004% in the seed and 4.067% in the leaf. The highest alkaloid and pyrazine were 4H-quinolizine-4-thione and 2-(npropyl)- pyrazine in the fruit peel and seed, with concentrations of 5.154% and 1.062%, respectively. The most prominent ketone and carboxylic acid were 4,4-dimethoxy-2-butanone (1.494%) in the leaf and 2-propenoic acid, 2-methyl-, cyclohexyl ester (15.316%) in the seed. Ethane, isothiocyanato in the fruit peel; cyclopropane, 1,1-dimethyl-2-(2,4-pentadienyl), and (E)-2-methylbut-2- en-1-ylmethacrylate in the seed extract, with concentrations of 4.657%, 4.410%, and 0.760%, respectively, were the most predominant cyanide, cycloalkene, and aldehyde.

Conclusion: This study reveals these plant sections as nutraceutical hives of promising pharmaceutical compounds.

Agro-based Waste Materials as Novel Sources of Antioxidants and Alpha-amylase Inhibitors: An In vitro Evaluation

2026-07-22

Introduction: Agro-based Waste Materials (AWM) contain phytochemicals, including vitamins, dietary fibers, and polyphenols, some of which have significant antioxidant properties. Despite this, the evaluation of the complex array of phenolic compounds present in various AWMs is limited. This research aimed to investigate the polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity, and alpha-amylase inhibition of eight distinct fruit and vegetable peel/pomace, namely amla, mango, pomegranate, orange, lemon, potato, tomato, and carrot.

Methods: Samples of AWM were analyzed for total phenolic and flavonoid content using standard colorimetric assays. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by using FRAP, DPPH-RSA, and ABTS-RSA assays. The inhibition of α-amylase was also tested. Correlations among the parameters were determined using Pearson's correlation, and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to identify patterns and relationships within the dataset.

Results: The observed data showed that amla pomace contained the highest level of phenolic content, while the highest flavonoid content was found in pomegranate peel. In terms of antioxidant capacity, pomegranate peel exhibited higher radical scavenging activity for DPPH, whereas amla pomace showed the highest potential to scavenge ABTS, with FRAP values ranging from 8.60 to 556.41 mg TE/g. Total phenolic content was significantly and positively correlated with both DPPH-RSA and ABTS-RSA (r > 0.7, p ≤ 0.01). The results also showed that amla pomace possessed the highest inhibitory activity, i.e., 64.34%. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to investigate the correlations between the antioxidant assays and AWM. PCA reduced the dimensionality of the dataset to two components, which accounted for 89.36% of the total variance.

Discussion: AWM peels and pomaces are good sources of polyphenols, especially amla and pomegranate. Phenolic content showed strong links with antioxidant activity. Amla pomace also showed the highest α-amylase inhibition. Thus, AWM can be used in functional food.

Conclusion: The study indicates that different AWM may alter the natural structure of α- amylase, thereby inhibiting its activity, and suggests that phenolic compounds are the key antioxidant agents in these plants. These findings emphasize the significance of AWM as an excellent source of polyphenols, which may be utilized in the development of food, feed, and nutraceutical products.

Nutraceuticals as Food Supplements for Athletes

2026-07-22

This review manuscript discusses several food supplements that may benefit athletes' health, exercise adaptation, and recovery. Additionally, probiotics, creatine monohydrate, vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, gelatine/collagen, and certain dietary supplements with anti-inflammatory properties may influence cellular and tissue resilience and healing in ways that help athletes maintain fitness, adapt to training, and enhance the quality and scope of their conditioning. Athletes often place high value on improving their musculoskeletal strength and function. Within this group, specific diets and training regimens are used to improve skeletal muscle remodelling and stimulate muscle growth. Although athletic intervention strategies are performance-driven, many principles are directly applicable to the skeletal muscle health of older adults. Both ageing populations and athletes can accumulate hours of training to achieve competitive objectives. Athletes have experimented with various substances to enhance performance for as long as competitive sports have existed. Curcumin and tart cherry juice, for example, are anti-inflammatory agents with the potential to reduce symptoms of muscle inflammation and injury. For vegan athletes, certain nutraceuticals can serve as beneficial food supplements to address potential nutrient gaps and support performance. Although there is currently no evidence that a vegan diet directly improves athletic performance, adaptation, or recovery, there is evidence that athletes can follow a predominantly vegan diet without experiencing negative effects. However, there is a clear caution that vegan diets alone may lead to suboptimal intakes of key nutrients, particularly the amount and quality of dietary protein and certain micronutrients such as iron, calcium, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.

Dietary Strategies for Sarcopenia Management: Insights into Bioactive Compounds and Functional Food-Based Interventions

2026-07-22

A major health problem worldwide is the loss of muscle mass and function as we age. The current treatment methods are hindered by the multifactorial nature of the disease and the reduced response of older adults to conventional protein supplementation treatment. There are several ongoing studies on the use of dietary protein and exercise, with a lack of integrated evidence on the application of functional food and bioactive compounds for the management of sarcopenia. This review focuses on this gap by synthesising findings from preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate the potential role of bioactive compounds such as omega -3- fatty acids, amino acid derivatives, polyphenols, and postbiotic metabolites in managing inflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired protein homeostasis, and hormonal alterations. This review also highlights advancements in food processing technologies, such as nanodelivery systems and microencapsulation, that enhance the bioavailability and stability of these bioactive compounds. Additionally, population-specific factors influencing the risk of sarcopenia, including ethnic variability, dietary patterns, and sociocultural determinants, are also discussed to emphasize the importance of tailored nutritional strategies. As a secondary review, this work integrates the emerging evidence, outlines future priorities for integrating functional foods and bioactiverich interventions into a comprehensive sarcopenia management framework, and identifies the limitations in current methodologies. Overall, this review focuses on the potential of innovative dietary approaches in addition to complementing existing therapeutic methods for healthy aging.

Modulating the Brain with D-amino Acids: Exploring D-tryptophan and D-phenylalanine in CNS Disorders

2026-07-22

D-amino acids are increasingly recognized as modulators of Central Nervous System (CNS) function, with growing interest in their therapeutic potential for neurodegenerative and psychiatric disorders. Among them, D-tryptophan and D-phenylalanine have emerged as promising candidates for the management of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and related conditions. Preclinical and emerging clinical findings suggest that these compounds may influence neural plasticity and cognitive processes through modulation of NMDA receptor activity, glutamatergic neurotransmission, and neurotrophic factor release. Beyond cognitive domains, potential benefits may extend to behavioral and mood regulation, highlighting their multifaceted role in CNS health. However, challenges remain regarding their bioavailability and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier, emphasizing the importance of advanced drug delivery strategies such as nanoparticle or liposomal formulations. Longitudinal studies that assess their impact on disease progression, along with the identification of predictive biomarkers, will be essential for evaluating their clinical relevance and enabling personalized therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, exploration of their utility beyond AD, particularly in other neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease, could broaden their therapeutic scope. This review summarizes current knowledge of D-tryptophan and D-phenylalanine in the context of neurodegeneration, highlights mechanistic insights, and outlines future directions aimed at translating these molecules into clinically viable interventions.

Unlocking the Power of Natural Compounds through Nanotechnology: A Review

2026-07-22

The advancement of medicine has been a tremendous breakthrough in humanity's fight against several infectious diseases. However, people have recently turned to natural medications, which are human-friendly while causing few or no side effects, as a result of the many adverse effects linked to conventional medicine. Since ancient times, medicinal plants have been used to treat infectious diseases and have shown promise as substitutes. However, many of their practical applications are limited because of their poorer solubility and bioavailability. Understanding the biological activity and composition of some medicinal plant products has become feasible through advances in phytochemistry and phytopharmacology. Active chemicals are necessary for medicinal plants to be effective. In extracts, most of the physiologically active components, such as terpenoids, tannins, and flavonoids, are highly soluble in water but poorly absorbed, reducing their bioavailability and effectiveness. This is because they cannot cross cell lipid membranes, are too big molecules, or have poor absorption. These difficulties make it difficult to utilize certain extracts in therapeutic contexts. The efficacy of plant extracts may be enhanced by nanostructured systems, which could increase activity while reducing the required dose and associated side effects. The main objective of this review is to present a critical analysis of the nanotechnology applicability for natural materials-based therapeutics with a focus on increasing their therapeutic potential , including solubility, stability, bioavailability, and targeted drug delivery.

Morchella esculenta, a Potential Source of Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Anticancer Bioactive: A Current Update and Upcoming Challenges

2026-07-22

Edible morel mushrooms (Morchella species) have potential health benefits. They represent a wholesome and sustainable food source with applications in the prevention and management of various human health conditions. Research over the past few decades has demonstrated that Morchella esculenta has remarkable biological properties. These properties can be harnessed for the development of functional foods aimed at preventing various diseases associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Antioxidant action is mediated by reduction, metal chelation, induction of radical scavenging enzymes, and lipid peroxidation inhibition. Antiinflammatory effects result from the inhibition of inflammatory cytokines and enzymes as well as nuclear factor-kappa B signalling. The antitumour effects are attributed to pro-apoptotic activity and gut microbiota preservation, as well as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Polysaccharides and other bioactive substances present in Morchella are credited with these effects. Nevertheless, few clinical studies have investigated the potential health benefits of medicinal mushrooms. This review article discusses the obstacles to be addressed in upcoming clinical studies and provides a current update on the possible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties of Morchella species, with particular reference to M. esculenta.

Exploring of Nutritional and Phytochemicals Content of Moringa oleifera L. Medicinal Plant and their Pharmacological Applications

2026-07-22

Moringa oleifera is a useful medicinal plant that belongs to the family Moringaceae and is widely distributed in the Indian subcontinent, tropical, and subtropical areas. There is an abundance of beneficial nutrients and bioactive phytocompounds like phenolic acids, anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, isothiocyanates, tannins, protein, vitamins, and minerals in Moringa leaves, pods, and flowers, which are important to both humans and animals. People use different parts of this plant to treat various diseases. The plant’s parts possess many pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidaemic, anticancer, anti-ulcer, anti-hepatotoxic, antiepileptic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic properties. Moringa has been used medicinally in many cultures throughout the world to treat lung-related diseases like bronchitis, asthma, chest congestion, and a variety of other ailments like blood impurities, blackheads, cholera, etc. It has many other medicinal values, like removing body weakness, depression, and osteoporosis. This article addresses all important information regarding phytochemical attributes, medicinal and pharmacological properties, and also provides an overview of all the information that has been scientifically proven to be therapeutically and biologically significant.

Syzygium cumini (Indian Blackberry) Phytochemicals as Potent Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP4) Inhibitors for Managing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An In Silico Investigation

2026-07-22

Introduction: To identify and evaluate phytochemicals from Syzygium cumini (Indian blackberry) as potential natural Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors for the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), aiming to find safer alternatives to synthetic inhibitors that are often associated with severe side effects.

Methods: We employed different in-silico approaches to screen the phytochemicals of S. cumini for their DPP-4 inhibitory potential. Firstly, Molecular docking was performed to evaluate binding affinities with DPP-4. Subsequently, a PASS (Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances) analysis was performed to confirm the antidiabetic potential. Furthermore, ADMET (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion, and Toxicity) profiling was conducted to assess pharmacokinetic properties. Lastly, Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations lasting 50 nanoseconds were performed to analyze the structural stability of protein-ligand complexes.

Results: Three phytochemicals, namely astragalin, bergenin, and maslinic acid, demonstrated strong binding affinities, with docking scores of -8.4, -7.2, and -8.8, respectively. Bergenin exhibited the highest structural compactness in MD simulations, as indicated by the radius of gyration. ADMET analysis suggested all three compounds exhibited favourable pharmacokinetic and safety profiles.

Discussion: The present study provides valuable insights into the potential of S. cumini phytochemicals as natural DPP-4 inhibitors. While further in-vitro and in-vivo validation is recommended, the findings offer a promising foundation for the development of safe, plant-derived therapeutics that could complement existing antidiabetic strategies.

Conclusion: Phytochemicals from S. cumini, particularly astragalin, bergenin, and maslinic acid, show promise as natural DPP-4 inhibitors with potential application in T2DM treatment. These compounds offer a safer alternative to synthetic drugs.