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Plant-polyphenols have shown the capacity to ameliorate obesity-induced metabolic disturbances, both in cell and animal models, where most therapeutic approaches have failed. On the basis of previous research, a dietary supplement containing 500 mg of a combination of polyphenolic extracts from Lippia citriodora L. and Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (LC-HS), in the context of an equilibrated isocaloric diet, was evaluated in a double blind, placebo-controlled and randomized trial in 56 obese/overweight subjects for two months. Compared to controls, the consumption of the LC-HS polyphenols showed significant improvements in body weight, abdominal circumference of overweight subjects (-6.79 ± 0.80 cm in overweight LC-HS group vs -1.85 ± 0.83 cm in controls, p < 0.001) and body fat % (-1.33 ± 0.15% in overweight LC-HS group vs -0.66 ± 0.17% in controls, p < 0.05). Heart rate and systolic blood pressure also presented significant improvements in overweight LC-HS participants. However, changes were more modest in obese subjects. Further, LC-HS extract significantly reduced lipid content and increased AMPK activity in a hypertrophied adipocyte cell model. Therefore, consumption of 500 mg/day of LC-HS extracts enriched in polyphenols for two months in the context of an isocaloric diet by overweight subjects decreased symptoms associated to obesity-related diseases. Modulation of fat metabolism in adipose tissue, probably mediated by AMPK activation, is proposed as a molecular target to be explored in future research.

Trial Design: Plant-derived polyphenols have shown potential to alleviate obesity-related pathologies by a multi-targeted mechanism in animal models and human intervention studies. A dietary supplement based on a combination of Lippia citriodora (LC) and Hibiscus sabdariffa (HS) polyphenolic extracts was assayed in a double blind and placebo-controlled intervention study with 54 overweight subjects., Methods: Blood pressure, body weight, height, triceps, biceps and abdominal skinfold thickness, and arm and abdominal circumferences were taken at the baseline, 30 and 60 days of the intervention period. The validated Visual Analogue Scale used to record hunger and satiety-related sensations was passed at the beginning and at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days of the intervention. Subjective health status was assessed through the validated SF-36 questionnaire at the beginning and end of the study. Finally, plasma from fasting blood samples was obtained at the beginning, 30 and 60 days of the study., Results: The results showed an improvement of anthropometric measurements, decreased blood pressure and heart rate and a more positive perception in the overall health status. We also observed that plant polyphenols increased anorexigenic hormones (glucagon-like peptide-1) and decreased orexigenic hormones (ghrelin)., Conclusions: Based on previous evidence we postulate that AMP-activated protein kinase may have a role in such effects through its capability to modulate energy homeostasis, total daily energy expenditure and lipid management. Although further research may be required, we propose that this polyphenolic combination may be used for weight management by increasing long-term weight loss maintenance through the modulation of appetite biomarkers. This may help to avoid the undesired weight regain typical of calorie restriction diets.

Background: Air pollution exposure is one of the major threats to skin health and accelerates skin ageing mainly through oxidative stress mechanisms. Since it is difficult to minimize skin exposure to air pollutants, especially in urban areas, strategies to protect the skin are needed. Plant phenolic compounds have been found to be effective in attenuating cellular oxidative stress and inflammation induced by different air pollutants and a dietary approach based on these compounds could provide an efficient protection measure. Objective: Here we investigated the efficacy of a commercially available polyphenol-enriched dietary supplement (Zeropollution®) in reducing pollution-induced oxidative stress and in improving different skin parameters related to skin ageing of Caucasian and Asian subjects exposed to air pollution. Zeropollution is composed of four standardized herbal extracts: Olea europaea leaf, Lippia citriodora, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Sophora japonica. Design: A double-blind randomized, parallel group study was carried out on 100 outdoor workers living in a polluted urban European area (Milan) to assess the efficacy of the dietary supplement. The total antioxidant capacity on saliva (FRAP), the oxidative damage on skin (lipoperoxides content), skin moisturization (corneometer), transepidermal water loss (tewameter), skin radiance and colour (spectrophotometer), skin elasticity (cutometer), skin sebum content (sebumeter), and the skin roughness (image analysis) were measured. Results: Both inter-group and intra-group analysis proved that the dietary supplement improved all clinical and biochemical-monitored parameters, in both Caucasian and Asian individuals. Some of the positive effects such as decreased wrinkle depth, increased elasticity and firmness, improved skin moisturization and transepidermal water loss, and reduced dark spots pigmentation were statistically significant as early as 2 weeks of product consumption. Conclusions: The results of the study indicate reduced oxidative stress-induced skin damage in both Asian and Caucasian women living in a polluted urban area. Therefore, the oral intake of this four-plant based supplement could be considered a complementary nutrition strategy to avoid the negative effects of environmental pollution exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Plant polyphenols have been found to be effective in preventing ultraviolet radiation (UVR)- induced skin alterations. A dietary approach based of these compounds could be a safe and effective method to provide a continuous adjunctive photoprotection measure. In a previous study, a combination of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) extracts has exhibited potential photoprotective effects both in skin cell model and in a human pilot trial. Objective: We investigated the efficacy of a combination of rosemary (R. officinalis) and grapefruit (C. paradisi) in decreasing the individual susceptibility to UVR exposure (redness and lipoperoxides) and in improving skin wrinkledness and elasticity. Design: A randomised, parallel group study was carried out on 90 subjects. Furthermore, a pilot, randomised, crossover study was carried out on five subjects. Female subjects having skin phototype from I to III and showing mild to moderate chrono- or photoageing clinical signs were enrolled in both studies. Skin redness (a* value of CIELab colour space) after UVB exposure to 1 minimal erythemal dose (MED) was assessed in the pilot study, while MED, lipoperoxides (malondialdehyde) skin content, wrinkle depth (image analysis), and skin elasticity (suction and elongation method) were measured in the main study. Results: Treated subjects showed a decrease of the UVB- and UVA-induced skin alterations (decreased skin redness and lipoperoxides) and an improvement of skin wrinkledness and elasticity. No differences were found between the 100 and 250 mg extracts doses, indicating a plateau effect starting from 100 mg extracts dose. Some of the positive effects were noted as short as 2 weeks of product consumption. Conclusions: The long-term oral intake of Nutroxsun™ can be considered to be a complementary nutrition strategy to avoid the negative effects of sun exposure. The putative mechanism for these effects is most likely to take place through the inhibition of UVR-induced reactive oxygen species and the concomitant inflammatory markers (lipoperoxides and cytokines) together with their direct action on intracellular signalling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Metabolaid® is a dietary supplement comprising hibiscus and lemon verbena extracts. • Metabolaid®, in a dose-dependent manner, modulated the gut bacteriome. • Phenolic compounds in Metabolaid® were rapidly metabolized by the gut microbiota. • Metabolaid® promoted increases in SCFAs production, particularly butyric acid. This paper investigates the impact of a polyphenol-enriched supplement comprised of hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) and lemon verbena (Lippia Citriodora) (brand name Metabolaid®) on gut microbiota composition and functionality, by performing fermentations with human faecal microbiota under gut-simulated conditions. Results indicated that Metabolaid®, in a dose-dependent manner, modulated the gut bacteriome to higher relative abundances of some major genera (>3% of relative abundance) such as Bifidobacterium , Blautia and Faecalibacterium and of other minor genera such as Prevotella and Akkermansia. Metabolaid® also promoted increases in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production, particularly butyric acid. On the other hand, it was confirmed that the compounds present in the Metabolaid® supplement (anthocyanins, verbascoside and hibiscus acid) were rapidly metabolized by the gut microbiota. Overall, these results reveal a certain level of gut microbiota-modulating properties of Metabolaid® that could be implicated, at least partially, in the mechanisms behind the potential beneficial effects of this supplement in obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • L citriodora & H sabdariffa polyphenols ease obesity-linked metabolic alterations. • LC-HS combination was assessed in pre and early stage-1 hypertensive individuals. • LC-HS combination improved anthropometric, circulating parameters and fat content. • LC-HS combination decreased average and daytime systolic/diastolic blood pressure. • LC-HS combination decreased nighttime diastolic blood pressure and % dipper status. Many patients with stage 1 hypertension have difficulties to achieve lifestyle changes to avoid the progression of the disease. The use of natural alternatives with demonstrated blood pressure-regulating properties is instrumental at this stage, avoiding the side effects found in some pharmaceutical drugs. In this context, previous studies have indicated the possibility that a botanical nutraceutical product based on the combination of Lippia citriodora and Hibiscus sabdariffa extracts has hypotensive properties in overweight and obese individuals. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the antihypertensive properties of this dietary supplement, as well as the effect on anthropometric and circulating parameters in pre-hypertensive and early stage 1 hypertensive patients (n = 84). The nutraceutical product, rich in polyphenolic compounds, has been assessed in a 6-week randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with pre-hypertensive and early stage 1 hypertensive (non-medicated) individuals. Participants consumed early in the morning in fasting conditions 2 capsules/day containing each one 250 mg of the polyphenolic extracts. Anthropometric and blood parameters as well as punctual and continuous blood pressure monitoring were determined in placebo and experimental groups. As a result and compared to baseline values, volunteers showed a significant reduction of average daily systolic/diastolic blood pressure as well as in daytime diastolic/systolic, nighttime diastolic blood pressure and in % dipper. Intergroup analysis revealed that the consumption of the plant extract resulted in a significant reduction of body fat content (−1.26%; p < 0.05) and nocturnal systolic blood pressure (−16.60 mmHg; p < 0.05) as well as an improvement of the dipper status (3.18%; p < 0.01). In conclusion, these results suggest that the nutraceutical acts as a main regulator of the individual's blood pressure towards healthier values, and therefore may be useful for pre-hypertensive/pre-medicated individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The location and quantity of body fat determine the health risks, limiting people with obesity. Recently, polyphenols have attracted the attention of the scientific community because of their potential use for the reduction of obesity. A proprietary formula comprised of a blend of Lippia citriodora and Hibiscus sabdariffa has been recognized for its high content of polyphenols, powerful antioxidant molecules that may prevent weight gain and could be helpful for the treatment of obesity, as proven previously by in vivo models. The aim of the present study is to determine if the supplementation with Lippia citriodora and Hibiscus sabdariffa is useful for the treatment of obesity and/or weight control in subjects without a controlled diet. The intake of the extract for 84 days reduced body weight, the body mass index, and the fat mass measured with both bioimpedance and densitometry. This decrease in fat mass was observed to a greater extent, being significant, in the fat mass of the trunk (chest and torso). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is one of the most pervasive in chronic diseases where therapeutic approaches have failed. Emerging scientific evidence indicates that dietary supplementation may be an alternative in the treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders. A previous study showed that the consumption of 500 mg/day of MetabolAid® dietary ingredient ( Lippia citriodora extract + Hibiscus sabdariffa extract) for two months in overweight women decreased weight, improved anthropometric parameters, decreased systolic blood pressure and heart beat and improved blood lipid profile. Although appetite assessment was not strictly evaluated, most individuals consuming MetabolAid® experienced a satiating effect. The primary objective of this study assessed the feelings of appetite, hunger and satiation in the group having MetabolAid compared to placebo in a double-blind, placebo-controlled and randomized trial in 54 overweight women (BMI 24-35 kg/m2). The results of the study showed that the consumption of 500 mg/day of MetabolAid® significantly increased satiety and fullness, decreasing hunger and prospective food consumption compared to placebo after 1 month, being these differences greater after 45 days and 2 months. Moreover, people having the active ingredient improve anthropometric parameters, decrease blood pressure and heartbeat, confirming the results of the previous study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The rhizome of the plant Hypoxis rooperi (“African potato”) is known for its traditional and ethnomedical uses in the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia and other diseases. We have characterized an extract derived from H. rooperi, isolated its major bioactive compound, hypoxoside, and obtained its aglycone, rooperol, by enzymatic digestion. Absorption, fluorescence emission and bidimensional NMR complete spectral data of these compounds were obtained. The antioxidant capacity of both compounds was fully analyzed through the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays, and it was compared to catechins and olive biophenolics. Both compounds showed a strong antioxidant capacity, although rooperol exhibited a higher antioxidant activity against lipid peroxidation which correlated to its strong affinity for phospholipid membranes as derived from its extremely high lipid/water partition coefficient (K p =3.4×104). The study of the lipophilic (EtOH) and hydrophilic (water) TEAC values revealed that more hydrophobic compounds, had greater lipophilic TEAC values than hydrophilic ones, probably indicating that lipophilic TEAC assay may be more reliable for these compounds. The H. rooperi extract also showed higher antioxidant efficacy compared to other strong antioxidant herbal extracts, such as olive leaf or green tea. Moreover, neither evidence of acute oral toxicity nor adverse effects were observed when the H. rooperi commercial extract containing 45% hypoxoside was used at a dosage of 2000mg/kg. The results obtained in this work may contribute to understanding the biological activity described for these dicatechols and the African potato extract for food and cosmetic applications. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]