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Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease

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A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2023) | Viewed by 28448

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Stan Kubow

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Guest Editor

School of Human Nutrition, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Quebec, Canada
Interests: phytochemicals; bioactive peptides; gut microbiome; oxidative stress; inflammation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Michele M. Iskandar

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Guest Editor

School of Human Nutrition, McGill University, Montreal, QC H9X 3V9, Canada
Interests: bioactive food compounds; protein hydrolysates; peptides; human digestion; gut microbiome; phytochemicals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There is substantial research interest in bioactive compounds found in foods and dietary supplements, whether beneficial or harmful. Food-derived compounds are investigated for their health-promoting effects, including their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, anticarcinogenic, antimutagenic, and antimicrobial properties, to name a few. Depending on the compound, whether novel or well researched, and the outcome under investigation, research in this arena is conducted using in vitro methods, animal studies, or clinical trials. Of particular interest are investigations into potential mechanisms of action of bioactive compounds at the molecular, cellular, or organismal levels. In addition to studies focusing on the bioactivities of these compounds, consideration of their bioaccessibility and bioavailability is an under-researched issue, as these are food-derived compounds that must travel through the gastrointestinal tract, undergo colonic microbial or hepatic biotransformation and transport before reaching target tissues and cells.

To help to address this research gap, this Special Issue invites original research papers or reviews that focus on the assessment of the bioactivities, mechanisms of action, bioaccessibility, and/or bioavailability of potential bioactive compounds in foods and food-derived extracts or supplements. Studies describing novel methods to assess these outcomes, and studies extending existing work into the bioactivity of compounds, while taking into consideration their bioavailability, are also encouraged.

Dr. Stan Kubow
Dr. Michèle M Iskandar
Guest Editors

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Keywords

bioavailability
bioaccessibility
digestion
absorption
bioactive compounds
microbial biotransformation
nutrikinetics

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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16 pages, 28986 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antioxidant, Anti-Apoptotic, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Farrerol in a Mouse Model of Obstructive Uropathy

by Jung-Yeon Kim, Jaechan Leem and Kwan-Kyu Park

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2023, 45(1), 337-352; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb45010024 - 1 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2258

Abstract

Obstructive uropathy is a clinical condition that can lead to chronic kidney disease. However, treatments that can prevent the progression of renal injury and fibrosis are limited. Farrerol (FA) is a natural flavone with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Here, we investigated the effect of FA on renal injury and fibrosis in a mouse model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). Mice underwent a sham or UUO operation and received intraperitoneal injections of FA (20 mg/kg) daily for 8 consecutive days. Histochemistry, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence staining, TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assay, Western blotting, gene expression analysis, and biochemical tests were performed. FA attenuated renal dysfunction (p < 0.05) and ameliorated renal tubular injury (p < 0.01) and interstitial fibrosis (p < 0.001) in UUO mice. FA alleviated 4-hydroxynonenal expression (p < 0.001) and malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.01) by regulating pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzymes. Apoptosis in the kidneys of UUO mice was inhibited by FA (p < 0.001), and this action was accompanied by decreased expression of cleaved caspase-3 (p < 0.01). Moreover, FA alleviated pro-inflammatory cytokine production (p < 0.001) and macrophage infiltration (p < 0.01) in the kidneys of UUO mice. These results suggest that FA ameliorates renal injury and fibrosis in the UUO model by inhibiting oxidative stress, apoptosis, and inflammation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease)

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11 pages, 2673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Therapeutic Potential of 6-Gingerol in Prevention of Colon Cancer Induced by Azoxymethane through the Modulation of Antioxidant Potential and Inflammation

by Abdulaziz A. Aloliqi

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2022, 44(12), 6218-6228; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb44120424 - 8 Dec 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1833

Abstract

A polyphenolic component of ginger, 6-gingerol, is widely reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. In the current study, it was aimed to investigate the anticancer effects of 6-gingerol (6-Gin) on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer in rats. The results reveal that 6-Gin treatment significantly improves the antioxidant status disturbed by AOM intoxication. The 6-Gin treatment animal group showed enhanced activity of catalase (CAT) (46.6 ± 6.4 vs. 23.3 ± 4.3 U/mg protein), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (81.3 ± 7.6 vs. 60.4 ± 3.5 U/mg protein) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) (90.3 ± 9.4 vs. 53.8 ± 10 mU/mg protein) (p < 0.05) as compared to the disease control group. Furthermore, the results reveal that AOM significantly enhances the inflammatory response and 6-gingerol potentially attenuates this response, estimated by markers, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (1346 ± 67 vs. 1023 ± 58 pg/g), C-reactive protein (CRP) (1.12 ± 0.08 vs. 0.92 ± 0.7 ng/mL) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (945 ± 67 vs. 653 ± 33 pg/g). In addition, the lipid peroxidation estimated in terms of malondialdehyde (MDA) provoked by AOM exposure is significantly reduced by 6-gingerol treatment (167 ± 7.5 vs. 128.3 nmol/g). Furthermore, 6-gingerol significantly maintains the colon tissue architecture disturbed by the AOM treatment. Loss of tumor suppressor protein, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression was noticed in the AOM treated group, whereas in the animals treated with 6-gingerol, the positivity of PTEN expression was high. In conclusion, the current findings advocate the health-promoting effects of 6-gingerol on colon cancer, which might be due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease)

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18 pages, 3546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bamboo Shoot and Artemisia capillaris Extract Mixture Ameliorates Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Colitis

by Hee-Jun Kim, Bohye Kim, Mi-Ra Lee, Moonjin Ra and Yongjun Lee

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2022, 44(10), 5086-5103; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb44100345 - 20 Oct 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2453

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the gastrointestinal tract and is characterized by recurrent chronic inflammation and mucosal damage of the gastrointestinal tract. Recent studies have demonstrated that bamboo shoot (BS) and Artemisia capillaris (AC) extracts enhance anti-inflammatory effects in various disease models. However, it is uncertain whether there is a synergistic protective effect of BS and AC in dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. In the current study, we tested the combined effects of BS and AC extracts (BA) on colitis using in vivo and in vitro models. Compared with control mice, oral administration of DSS exacerbated colon length and increased the disease activity index (DAI) and histological damage. In DSS-induced colitis, treatment with BA significantly alleviated DSS-induced symptoms such as colon shortening, DAI, histological damage, and colonic pro-inflammatory marker expression compared to single extracts (BS or AC) treatment. Furthermore, we found BA treatment attenuated the ROS generation, F-actin formation, and RhoA activity compared with the single extract (BS or AC) treatment in DSS-treated cell lines. Collectively, these findings suggest that BA treatment has a positive synergistic protective effect on colonic inflammation compared with single extracts, it may be a highly effective complementary natural extract mixture for the prevention or treatment of IBD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease)

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21 pages, 2882 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Prophylactic Effects of Purple Shoot Green Tea on Cytokine Immunomodulation through Scavenging Free Radicals and NO in LPS-Stimulated Macrophages

by Chih-Cheng Lin, Hsiu-Hua Lin, Hsiang Chang, Lu-Te Chuang, Chih-Yu Hsieh, Shing-Hwa Lu, Chi-Feng Hung and Jia-Feng Chang

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2022, 44(9), 3980-4000; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb44090273 - 2 Sep 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2352

Abstract

Polyphenols and flavonoids from non-fermented green tea and fully-fermented black tea exhibit antioxidant abilities that function as natural health foods for daily consumption. Nonetheless, evidence regarding prophylactic effects of purple shoot tea on immunomodulation remains scarce. We compared the immunomodulatory effects of different tea processes on oxidative stress and cytokine expressions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages. Major constituents of four tea products, Taiwan Tea Experiment Station No.12 (TTES No. 12) black and green tea and purple shoot black and purple shoot green tea (TB, TG, PB and PG, respectively), were analyzed to explore the prophylactic effects on expressions of free radicals, nitric oxide (NO), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cell models. PG contained abundant levels of total polyphenols, flavonoids, condensed tannins and proanthocyanidins (371.28 ± 3.83; 86.37 ± 1.46; 234.67 ± 10.1; and 24.81 ± 0.75 mg/g, respectively) contributing to excellent free radical scavenging potency. In both the LPS-activated inflammation model and the prophylactic model, all tea extracts suppressed NO secretion in a dose-dependent manner, especially for PG. Intriguingly, most tea extracts enhanced expressions of IL-6 in LPS-stimulated macrophages, except PG. However, all teas disrupted downstream transduction of chemoattractant MCP-1 for immune cell trafficking. In the prophylactic model, all teas inhibited inflammatory responses by attenuating expressions of IL-6 and TNF-α in a dose-dependent manner, especially for TG and PG. Our prophylactic model demonstrated PG exerts robust effects on modulating LPS-induced cytokine expressions of MCP-1, IL-6 and TNF-α through scavenging free radicals and NO. In light of the prophylactic effects on LPS-related inflammation, PG effectively scavenges free radicals to modulate cytokine cascades that could serve as a functional beverage for immunomodulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease)

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14 pages, 2525 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Pro-Angiogenetic Effects of Purified Extracts from Helix aspersa during Zebrafish Development

by Daniela Zizioli, Andrea Mastinu, Alessia Muscò, Sara Anna Bonini, Dario Finazzi, Rosaria Avisani, Giovanni Battista Kron Morelli, Sergio Pecorelli and Maurizio Memo

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2022, 44(8), 3364-3377; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb44080232 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2414

Abstract

Helix aspersa is a species of land snail belonging to the Helicidae family, widespread in the Mediterranean and continental area up to Northern Europe. In some areas it is appreciated as a food, but is mostly considered a parasite of gardens and cultivated fields. The mucus of Helix aspersa has found multiple applications in the cosmetic and health fields. In the present study, we investigated for the first time the angiogenetic properties of purified extracts from Helix aspersa using a transgenic zebrafish line Tg (kdrl:EGFP). The angiogenesis induced by purified snail extracts was demonstrated by their capability to increase the three well-established parameters of angiogenesis: generation of intersegmental vessels, modeling of caudal venous plexus, and formation of sub-intestinal venous plexus. The effects appeared to be mediated by the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, being prevented by pretreatment of embryos with the selective VEGF receptor antagonist SU5416, and supported by the increased VEGF mRNA levels found in snail-extract-treated embryos. Insufficient vascular supply is underlined by low VEGF signaling, primarily because of its indispensable role in preventing capillary loss. Our findings might have a pharmacological impact by counteracting VEGF hypofunction and promoting angiogenesis to maintain adequate microvascular and vascular density in normal and suffering tissues and organs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease)

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12 pages, 2698 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Amorphigenin from Amorpha fruticosa L. Root Extract Induces Autophagy-Mediated Melanosome Degradation in mTOR-Independent- and AMPK-Dependent Manner

by Ki Won Lee, Dang Thi Nguyen, Minju Kim, Si Hyeon Lee, Seyeon Lim, Jisu Kim, Ki Hun Park, Jeong Yoon Kim, Jiyun Yoo, Cheol Hwangbo and Kwang Dong Kim

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2022, 44(7), 2856-2867; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb44070196 - 29 Jun 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2333

Abstract

In this study, we investigated the depigmentation effect of Amorpha fruticosa L. root extract (RE), an herbal medicine. A. fruticosa RE significantly induced depigmentation in α-MSH-treated B16F10 cells at noncytotoxic concentrations. Further, the RE decreased the protein levels of the melanosomal proteins Tyr and Pmel without decreasing their transcript levels. We found that MG132, a proteasome complex inhibitor, was unable to rescue the protein levels, but PepA/E-64D (a lysosomal enzyme inhibitor), 3-MA (a representative autophagy inhibitor), and ATG5 knockdown effectively rescued the protein levels and inhibited the depigmentation effect following RE treatment. Among rotenoids, amorphigenin composed in the RE was identified as a functional chemical that could induce depigmentation; whereas rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor and a nonselective autophagy inducer, could not induce depigmentation, and amorphigenin effectively induced depigmentation through the degradation of melanosomal proteins. Amorphigenin activated AMPK without affecting mTOR, and knockdown of AMPK offset the whitening effect through degradation of melanosome proteins by amorphigenin. Results from this study suggested that amorphigenin can induce degradation of the melanosome through an AMPK-dependent autophagy process, and has the potential to be used as a depigmentation agent for the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease)

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Review

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17 pages, 808 KiB

Open AccessReview

Neurobiology and Applications of Inositol in Psychiatry: A Narrative Review

by Carmen Concerto, Cecilia Chiarenza, Antonio Di Francesco, Antimo Natale, Ivan Privitera, Alessandro Rodolico, Antonio Trovato, Andrea Aguglia, Francesco Fisicaro, Manuela Pennisi, Rita Bella, Antonino Petralia, Maria Salvina Signorelli and Giuseppe Lanza

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2023, 45(2), 1762-1778; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb45020113 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 13621

Abstract

Inositol is a natural sugar-like compound, commonly present in many plants and foods. It is involved in several biochemical pathways, most of them controlling vital cellular mechanisms, such as cell development, signaling and nuclear processes, metabolic and endocrine modulation, cell growth, signal transduction, etc. In this narrative review, we focused on the role of inositol in human brain physiology and pathology, with the aim of providing an update on both potential applications and current limits in its use in psychiatric disorders. Overall, imaging and biomolecular studies have shown the role of inositol levels in the pathogenesis of mood disorders. However, when administered as monotherapy or in addition to conventional drugs, inositol did not seem to influence clinical outcomes in both mood and psychotic disorders. Conversely, more encouraging results have emerged for the treatment of panic disorders. We concluded that, despite its multifaceted neurobiological activities and some positive findings, to date, data on the efficacy of inositol in the treatment of psychiatric disorders are still controversial, partly due to the heterogeneity of supporting studies. Therefore, systematic use of inositol in routine clinical practice cannot be recommended yet, although further basic and translational research should be encouraged. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds in Health and Disease)

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