Effect of resveratrol and pterostilbene on aging and longevity

The Aged Intestine: Performance and Rejuvenation

Owing to the growing elderly population, age-related problems are gaining increasing attention from the scientific community. With senescence, the intestine undergoes a spectrum of changes and infirmities that are likely the causes of overall aging. Therefore, identification of the aged intestine and the search for novel strategies to rescue it, are required. Although progress has been made in research on some components of the aged intestine, such as intestinal stem cells, the comprehensive understanding of intestinal aging is still limited, and this restricts the in-depth search for efficient strategies. In this concise review, we discuss several aspects of intestinal aging. More emphasis is placed on the appraisal of current and potential strategies to alleviate intestinal aging, as well as future targets to rejuvenate the aged intestine.

Pterostilbene Attenuates Particulate Matter-Induced Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Aging in Keratinocytes

Particulate matter (PM) is the main indicator of air pollutants, and it may increase the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in keratinocytes, leading to skin inflammation, aging, and decreased moisturizing ability. Pterostilbene (PTS) is a dimethylated analog of resveratrol that has antioxidant effects. However, the molecular mechanisms of PTS in preventing PM-induced keratinocyte inflammation and aging have not been investigated yet. Therefore, we used PM-induced human keratinocytes to investigate the protective mechanisms of PTS. The results showed that 20 μM PTS had no toxicity to HaCaT keratinocytes and significantly reduced PM-induced intracellular ROS production. In addition, nuclear translocation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) was inhibited by PTS, leading to reduced expression of its downstream CYP1A1. PTS further inhibited PM-induced MAPKs, inflammation (COX-2), and aging (MMP-9) protein cascades, and rescued moisturizing (AQP-3) protein expression. We analyzed the PTS content in cells at different time points and compared the concentration required for PTS to inhibit the target proteins. Finally, we used the skin penetration assay to show that the PTS essence mainly exists in the epidermal layer and did not enter the system circulation. In conclusion, PTS could protect HaCaT keratinocytes from PM-induced damage and has the potential to become a cosmetic ingredient.

Total Synthesis of Resvebassianol A, a Metabolite of Resveratrol by Beauveria bassiana

Resveratrol is a well-known dietary polyphenol because it has a variety of beneficial biological activities. The fungus Beauveria bassiana is one of the most frequently used microorganisms for the biotransformation of polyphenols. Recently, resvebassianol A (2), a glycosylated metabolite of resveratrol by B. bassiana, was isolated and structurally elucidated. It was demonstrated to exhibit antioxidant, regenerative, and anti-inflammatory activities with no cytotoxicity. Here, we report the first total synthesis of resvebassianol A, 4′-O-β-(4‴-O-methylglucopyranosyl)resveratrol (2), and its regiomer, 3-O-β-(4‴-O-methylglucopyranosyl)resveratrol (3). Key reactions include (i) the construction of a stilbene core via a novel Heck reaction of aryl halides and styrenes, and (ii) glycosylation with unnatural methylglucopyranosyl bromide. The glycosylation step was carefully optimized by varying the bases and solvents. Resveratrol metabolites 2 and 3 were obtained at 7.5% and 6.3% of the overall yield, respectively.

Modifications in the Intestinal Functionality, Morphology and Microbiome Following Intra-Amniotic Administration (Gallus gallus) of Grape (Vitis vinifera) Stilbenes (Resveratrol and Pterostilbene)

This efficacy trial evaluated the effects of two polyphenolic stilbenes, resveratrol and pterostilbene, mostly found in grapes, on the brush border membrane functionality, morphology and gut microbiome. This study applied the validated Gallus gallus intra-amniotic approach to investigate the effects of stilbene administration versus the controls. Three treatment groups (5% resveratrol; 5% pterostilbene; and synergistic: 4.75% resveratrol and 0.25% pterostilbene) and three controls (18 MΩ H₂O; no injection; 5% inulin) were employed. We observed beneficial morphological changes, specifically an increase in the villus length, diameter, depth of crypts and goblet cell diameter in the pterostilbene and synergistic groups, with concomitant increases in the serum iron and zinc concentrations. Further, the alterations in gene expression of the mineral metabolism proteins and pro-inflammatory cytokines indicate a potential improvement in gut health and mineral bioavailability. The cecal microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. A lower α-diversity was observed in the synergistic group compared with the other treatment groups. However, beneficial compositional and functional alterations in the gut microbiome were detected. Several key microbial metabolic pathways were differentially enriched in the pterostilbene treatment group. These observations demonstrate a significant bacterial–host interaction that contributed to enhancements in intestinal functionality, morphology and physiological status. Our data demonstrate a novel understanding of the nutritional benefits of dietary stilbenes and their effects on intestinal functionality, morphology and gut microbiota in vivo.

Resveratrol as an Adjunctive Therapy for Excessive Oxidative Stress in Aging COVID-19 Patients

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to burden healthcare systems worldwide. COVID-19 symptoms are highly heterogeneous, and the patient may be asymptomatic or may present with mild to severe or fatal symptoms. Factors, such as age, sex, and comorbidities, are key determinants of illness severity and progression. Aging is accompanied by multiple deficiencies in interferon production by dendritic cells or macrophages in response to viral infections, resulting in dysregulation of inflammatory immune responses and excess oxidative stress. Age-related dysregulation of immune function may cause a more obvious pathophysiological response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in elderly patients and may accelerate the risk of biological aging, even after recovery. For more favorable treatment outcomes, inhibiting viral replication and dampening inflammatory and oxidative responses before induction of an overt cytokine storm is crucial. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant with antiviral activity. Herein, we describe the reasons for impaired interferon production, owing to aging, and the impact of aging on innate and adaptive immune responses to infection, which leads to inflammation distress and immunosuppression, thereby causing fulminant disease. Additionally, the molecular mechanism by which resveratrol could reverse a state of excessive basal inflammatory and oxidative stress and low antiviral immunity is discussed.

Prospective Pharmacological Potential of Resveratrol in Delaying Kidney Aging

Aging is an unavoidable part of life. The more aged we become, the more susceptible we become to various complications and damages to the vital organs, including the kidneys. The existing drugs for kidney diseases are mostly of synthetic origins; thus, natural compounds with minimal side-effects have attracted growing interest from the scientific community and pharmaceutical companies. A literature search was carried out to collect published research information on the effects of resveratrol on kidney aging. Recently, resveratrol has emerged as a potential anti-aging agent. This versatile polyphenol exerts its anti-aging effects by intervening in various pathologies and multi-signaling systems, including sirtuin type 1, AMP-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor-κB. Researchers are trying to figure out the detailed mechanisms and possible resveratrol-mediated interventions in divergent pathways at the molecular level. This review highlights (i) the causative factors implicated in kidney aging and the therapeutic aspects of resveratrol, and (ii) the effectiveness of resveratrol in delaying the aging process of the kidney while minimizing all possible side effects.

Pterocarpus marsupium extract extends replicative lifespan in budding yeast

As the molecular mechanisms of biological aging become better understood, there is growing interest in identifying interventions that target those mechanisms to promote extended health and longevity. The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has served as a premier model organism for identifying genetic and molecular factors that modulate cellular aging and is a powerful system in which to evaluate candidate longevity interventions. Here we screened a collection of natural products and natural product mixtures for effects on the growth rate, mTOR-mediated growth inhibition, and replicative lifespan. No mTOR inhibitory activity was detected, but several of the treatments affected growth rate and lifespan. The strongest lifespan shortening effects were observed for green tea extract and berberine. The most robust lifespan extension was detected from an extract of Pterocarpus marsupium and another mixture containing Pterocarpus marsupium extract. These findings illustrate the utility of the yeast system for longevity intervention discovery and identify Pterocarpus marsupium extract as a potentially fruitful longevity intervention for testing in higher eukaryotes.

The Green Anti-Cancer Weapon. The Role of Natural Compounds in Bladder Cancer Treatment

Bladder cancer (BC) is the second most common genitourinary cancer. In 2018, 550,000 people in the world were diagnosed with BC, and the number of new cases continues to rise. BC is also characterized by high recurrence risk, despite therapies. Although in the last few years, the range of BC therapy has considerably widened, it is associated with severe side effects and the development of drug resistance, which is hampering treatment success. Thus, patients are increasingly choosing products of natural origin as an alternative or complementary therapeutic options. Therefore, in this article, we aim to elucidate, using the available literature, the role of natural substances such as curcumin, sulforaphane, resveratrol, quercetin, 6-gingerol, delphinidin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate and gossypol in the BC treatment. Numerous clinical and preclinical studies point to their role in the modulation of the signaling pathways, such as cell proliferation, cell survival, apoptosis and cell death.

Reactive Oxygen Species as a Link between Antioxidant Pathways and Autophagy

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly reactive molecules that can oxidize proteins, lipids, and DNA. Under physiological conditions, ROS are mainly generated in the mitochondria during aerobic metabolism. Under pathological conditions, excessive ROS disrupt cellular homeostasis. High levels of ROS result in severe oxidative damage to the cellular machinery. However, a low/mild level of ROS could serve as a signal to trigger cell survival mechanisms. To prevent and cope with oxidative damage to biomolecules, cells have developed various antioxidant and detoxifying mechanisms. Meanwhile, ROS can initiate autophagy, a process of self-clearance, which helps to reduce oxidative damage by engulfing and degrading oxidized substance. This review summarizes the interactions among ROS, autophagy, and antioxidant pathways. The effects of natural phytochemicals on autophagy induction, antioxidation, and dual-function are also discussed.

Effects and Mechanisms of Resveratrol on Aging and Age-Related Diseases

The aging of population has become an issue of great concern because of its rapid increase. Aging is an important risk factor of many chronic diseases. Resveratrol could be found in many foods, such as grapes, red wine, peanuts, and blueberries. Many studies reported that resveratrol possessed various bioactivities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardiovascular protection, anticancer, antidiabetes mellitus, antiobesity, neuroprotection, and antiaging effects. The antiaging mechanisms of resveratrol were mainly ameliorating oxidative stress, relieving inflammatory reaction, improving mitochondrial function, and regulating apoptosis. Resveratrol could be an effective and safe compound for the prevention and treatment of aging and age-related diseases. In this review, we summarize the effects of resveratrol on aging, life extension, and several age-related diseases, with special attention paid to the mechanisms of antiaging action.

The High Content of Quercetin and Catechin in Airen Grape Juice Supports Its Application in Functional Food Production

Ensuring healthy lives and well-being constitutes one of the Sustainable Development Goals of the UN 2030 agenda. Consequently, research into how natural products may promote health is essential for the new generation of nutraceuticals and functional foods that are in high demand today. Grape juice is a natural foodstuff composed of water, sugars, minerals, vitamins and a wide array of polyphenols. Polyphenols are bioactive compounds of great interest due to their antioxidant properties and benefits to health, supporting antimicrobial, anti-aging, and anticarcinogenic activity. The majority of grape juice produced in the world is used for the production of wine, although a small part is used in the food industry, mainly in baby food and sports drinks. The aim of this work is to determine the polyphenol content in the natural and concentrated juice of Airen grapes, the main white grape variety produced in Spain. For this, fresh juices from five grape varietals (Airen, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewürztraminer, Verdejo and Tempranillo) and concentrated Airen juice were analyzed and compared. Results showed similar contents of phenolic acids and stilbenes in all grape varietals studied, although the Airen variety demonstrated a higher concentration of two flavonoids: quercetin and catechin. It can be concluded that the grape juice concentration process negatively affects the stability of these compounds, causing a reduction in the polyphenol content that ranges between 54–71%, with the exception of quercetin and catechin.

Redox imbalance in age-related ovarian dysfunction and perspectives for its prevention

The age at which women have their first child is increasing. This change represents a major health problem to society because advanced maternal age is related with a decay in fertility and an increase in the incidence of a variety of pregnancy complications and offspring health issues. The ovary stands as the main contributor for female reproductive ageing because of the progressive age-related decrease in follicle number and oocyte quality. Loss of redox homeostasis and establishment of an ovarian oxidative microenvironment are seen as major underlying causes for such downfall and impairment of ovarian function. Thus, the use of antioxidants to preserve fertility became an important field of research. In this review, new insights on mechanisms underlying the establishment of oxidative stress and its repercussions on ovarian ageing are addressed, along with the current state of knowledge on antioxidant supplementation and its contribution for healthy ageing and extension of ovarian lifespan.

Trends in Natural Nutrients for Oxidative Stress and Cell Senescence

Due to the increase in the aged population and increased life expectancy, the underlying mechanisms involved in the aging process and cell senescence and the ways for modulating these processes in age-related diseases become important. One of the main mechanisms involved in aging and cell senescence, especially in the diseases related to aging, is the oxidative stress process and the following inflammation. Hence, the effects of antioxidants are highlighted in the literature due to their beneficial impacts on inhibiting telomere shortening or DNA damage and other processes related to aging and cell senescence in age-related diseases. Dietary components, foods, and dietary patterns rich in antioxidants can modulate the aging process and delay the progression of some chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. Foods high in polyphenols, vitamin C, or carotenoids, olive oil, seeds, nuts, legumes, dietary supplements such as CoQ10, and some other dietary factors are the most important nutritional sources that have high antioxidant contents which can positively affect cell senescence and disease progression. Plant dietary patterns including Mediterranean diets can also inhibit telomere shortening following oxidative damages, and this can delay cell aging and senescence in age-related diseases. Further, olive oil can inhibit protein aggregation in Alzheimer's disease. It can be concluded that nutrition can delay the process of cell senescence in age-related diseases via inhibiting oxidative and inflammatory pathways. However, more studies are needed to better clarify the underlying mechanisms of nutrition and dietary components on cell senescence, aging, and disease progression, especially those related to age.

Evaluation of phenolic composition and antioxidant properties of different varieties of Chinese citrus

Citrus peels have health-promoting effects and are a rich source of antioxidant substances. This study evaluated the compositions of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activities in the peels of 52 citrus varieties with consistent planting time and management. The highest levels of total phenols (72.95 ± 37.60 mg/g DW) and total flavonoids (71.43 ± 37.64 mg/g DW) were found in mandarin. The highest phenolic acid content (18.78 ± 0.38 mg/g DW), dominated by protocatechuic acid, was found in kumquat. The antioxidant potency composite index was 6.23-94.56, suggesting mandarin varieties HJ, TWPG, TTPG, AY28, BZH and TCJC had the highest antioxidant activity. Statistics analysis indicated phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were positively correlated. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis suggested a strong relationship between phenolic compound composition and genetic background. This study indicated significant differences in the biological properties of various types of citrus peels; which are valuable for future utilization and research of citrus peels.

Grape-Seed Proanthocyanidin Extract Reverts Obesity-Related Metabolic Derangements in Aged Female Rats

Obesity and ageing are current issues of global concern. Adaptive homeostasis is compromised in the elderly, who are more likely to suffer age-related health issues, such as obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular disease. The current worldwide prevalence of obesity and higher life expectancy call for new strategies for treating metabolic disorders. Grape-seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) is reported to be effective in ameliorating these pathologies, especially in young animal models. In this study, we aimed to test the effectiveness of GSPE in modulating obesity-related pathologies in aged rats fed an obesogenic diet. To do so, 21-month-old rats were fed a high-fat/high-sucrose diet (cafeteria diet) for 11 weeks. Two time points for GSPE administration (500 mg/kg body weight), i.e., a 10-day preventive GSPE treatment prior to cafeteria diet intervention and a simultaneous GSPE treatment with the cafeteria diet, were assayed. Body weight, metabolic parameters, liver steatosis, and systemic inflammation were analysed. GSPE administered simultaneously with the cafeteria diet was effective in reducing body weight, total adiposity, and liver steatosis. However, the preventive treatment was effective in reducing only mesenteric adiposity in these obese, aged rats. Our results confirm that the simultaneous administration of GSPE improves metabolic disruptions caused by the cafeteria diet also in aged rats.

Polyphenols and Ischemic Stroke: Insight into One of the Best Strategies for Prevention and Treatment

Ischemic stroke (IS) is still among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. The pathogenic mechanisms beyond its development are several and are complex and this is the main reason why a functional therapy is still missed. The beneficial effects of natural compounds against cardiovascular diseases and IS have been investigated for a long time. In this article, we reviewed the association between the most studied polyphenols and stroke protection in terms of prevention, effect on acute phase, and rehabilitation. We described experimental and epidemiological studies reporting the role of flavonols, phenolic acid, and stilbens on ischemic mechanisms leading to stroke. We analyzed the principal animal models used to evaluate the impact of these micronutrients to cerebral blood flow and to molecular pathways involved in oxidative stress and inflammation modulation, such as sirtuins. We reported the most significant clinical trials demonstrated as the persistent use of polyphenols is clinically relevant in terms of the reduction of vascular risk factors for IS, such as Atrial Fibrillation. Interestingly, different kinds of polyphenols provide brain protection by activating different pathways and mechanisms, like inducing antithrombotic effect, such as Honokiol. For this reason, we discussed an appropriate integrative use of them as a possible therapeutic alternative against stroke.

Predicting anticancer hyperfoods with graph convolutional networks

Background

Recent efforts in the field of nutritional science have allowed the discovery of disease-beating molecules within foods based on the commonality of bioactive food molecules to FDA-approved drugs. The pioneering work in this field used an unsupervised network propagation algorithm to learn the systemic-wide effect on the human interactome of 1962 FDA-approved drugs and a supervised algorithm to predict anticancer therapeutics using the learned representations. Then, a set of bioactive molecules within foods was fed into the model, which predicted molecules with cancer-beating potential.The employed methodology consisted of disjoint unsupervised feature generation and classification tasks, which can result in sub-optimal learned drug representations with respect to the classification task. Additionally, due to the disjoint nature of the tasks, the employed approach proved cumbersome to optimize, requiring testing of thousands of hyperparameter combinations and significant computational resources.To overcome the technical limitations highlighted above, we represent each drug as a graph (human interactome) with its targets as binary node features on the graph and formulate the problem as a graph classification task. To solve this task, inspired by the success of graph neural networks in graph classification problems, we use an end-to-end graph neural network model operating directly on the graphs, which learns drug representations to optimize model performance in the prediction of anticancer therapeutics.

Results

The proposed model outperforms the baseline approach in the anticancer therapeutic prediction task, achieving an F1 score of 67.99%±2.52% and an AUPR of 73.91%±3.49%. It is also shown that the model is able to capture knowledge of biological pathways to predict anticancer molecules based on the molecules’ effects on cancer-related pathways.

Conclusions

We introduce an end-to-end graph convolutional model to predict cancer-beating molecules within food. The introduced model outperforms the existing baseline approach, and shows interpretability, paving the way to the future of a personalized nutritional science approach allowing the development of nutrition strategies for cancer prevention and/or therapeutics.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at (10.1186/s40246-021-00333-4).

Resveratrol Production in Yeast Hosts: Current Status and Perspectives

Resveratrol is a plant secondary metabolite known for its therapeutic applications as an antioxidant, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, cardio-protective, and neuroprotective agent. Topical formulas of resveratrol are also used for skin disease management and in cosmetic industries. Due to its importance, high resveratrol production is urgently required. Since the last decade, intensive efforts have been devoted to obtaining resveratrol from microorganisms by pathway and metabolic engineering. Yeasts were proven to be excellent host candidates for resveratrol production. In addition to the similar intracellular compartments between yeasts and plants, yeasts exhibit the ability to express genes coding for plant-derived enzymes and to perform post-translational modification. Therefore, this review summarizes the attempts to use yeasts as a platform for resveratrol synthesis as the next promising route in producing high titers of resveratrol from genetically engineered strains.

Pterostilbene nanoparticles with small particle size show excellent anti-breast cancer activityin vitroandin vivo

Pterostilbene (PTE) is known as resveratrol of the next generation and it has attracted extensive attention in recent years. PTE can inhibit the growth of a variety of tumor cells. To overcome the problem of insolubility, PTE was loaded into nanoparticles (NPs) by anti-solvent precipitation technique using soybean lecithin (SPC) and D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) as stabilizers. The obtained PTE-NPs had an average particle size of 71.0 nm, a polydispersity index （PDI） value of 0.258, and a high zeta potential of -40.8 mV. PTE-NPs can maintain particle size stability in various physiological media. The entrapment efficiency of PTE-NPs was 98.24%. And the apparently water solubility of PTE-NPs was about 53 times higher than the solubility of PTE (54.41μg ml^-1v^-1s^-1. 2.89 mg ml^-1). M^-1T^-1T^-1assay showed that the antitumor activity of PTE-NPs on 4T1 breast cancer cells, MCF-7 breast cancer cells and Hela cervical cancer cells was significantly increased by 4, 6 and 8 times than that of free PTE, respectively.In vivostudies have shown that PTE-NPs has a certain dose dependence. When injected intraperitoneally, PTE-NPs showed a similar therapeutic effect as paclitaxel injection (TIR was 57.53% versus 57.23%) against 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. This should be due to the improved bioavailability of the drug caused by nano-drug delivery system (nano-DDS). These results indicate that PTE-NPs may be a clinically promising anti-tumor drug for breast cancer treatment.

Early-life nutrition and metabolic disorders in later life: a new perspective on energy metabolism

Type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic disorders have become an epidemic globally. However, the pathogenesis remains largely unclear and the prevention and treatment are still limited. In addition to environmental factors during adulthood, early life is the critical developmental window with high tissue plasticity, which might be modified by external environmental cues. Substantial evidence has demonstrated the vital role of early-life nutrition in programming the metabolic disorders in later life. In this review, we aim to overview the concepts of fetal programming and investigate the effects of early-life nutrition on energy metabolism in later life and the potential epigenetic mechanism. The related studies published on PubMed database up to March 2020 were included. The results showed that both maternal overnutrition and undernutrition increased the riskes of metabolic disorders in offspring and epigenetic modifications, including DNA methylation, miRNAs, and histone modification, might be the vital mediators. The beneficial effects of early-life lifestyle modifications as well as dietary and nutritional interventions on these deleterious metabolic remolding were initially observed. Overall, characterizing the early-life malnutrition that reshapes metabolic disease trajectories may yield novel targets for early prevention and intervention and provide a new point of view to the energy metabolism.

Chinese Herbal Medicines and Active Metabolites: Potential Antioxidant Treatments for Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a complex chronic disease that occurs in the arterial wall. Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the occurrence and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. The dominance of oxidative stress over antioxidative capacity generates excess reactive oxygen species, leading to dysfunctions of the endothelium and accelerating atherosclerotic plaque progression. Studies showed that Chinese herbal medicines and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) might regulate oxidative stress; they have already been used to treat diseases related to atherosclerosis, including stroke and myocardial infarction. This review will summarize the mechanisms of oxidative stress in atherosclerosis and discuss studies of Chinese herbal medicines and TCM preparations treating atherosclerosis, aiming to increase understanding of TCM and stimulate research for new drugs to treat diseases associated with oxidative stress.

In Vitro Enzymatic and Kinetic Studies, and In Silico Drug-Receptor Interactions, and Drug-Like Profiling of the 5-Styrylbenzamide Derivatives as Potential Cholinesterase and β-Secretase Inhibitors with Antioxidant Properties

The 5-(styryl)anthranilamides were transformed into the corresponding 5-styryl-2-(p-tolylsulfonamido)benzamide derivatives. These 5-styrylbenzamide derivatives were evaluated through enzymatic assays in vitro for their capability to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), and β-secretase (BACE-1) activities as well as for antioxidant potential. An in vitro cell-based antioxidant activity assay involving lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production revealed that compounds 2a and 3b have the capability of scavenging free radicals. The potential of the most active compound, 5-styrylbenzamide (2a), to bind copper (II) or zinc (II) ions has also been evaluated spectrophotometrically. Kinetic studies of the most active derivatives from each series against the AChE, BChE, and β-secretase activities have been performed. The experimental results are complemented with molecular docking studies into the active sites of these enzymes to predict the hypothetical protein–ligand binding modes. Their drug likeness properties have also been predicted.

Promising drug discovery strategies for sirtuin modulators: what lessons have we learnt?

INTRODUCTION

Sirtuins, NAD-dependent protein deacetylases, require NAD⁺ for enzymatic activity. Recent research has indicated that sirtuins have a key role in the regulation of gene expression, the cell cycle, apoptosis, neurodegeneration and several age-related diseases. In mammals, there are seven sirtuin isoforms (SIRT-1-7) that catalyze specific lysine substrate deacetylation.

AREAS COVERED

This review explains the current information on the structure, function and importance of sirtuin modulators. It also explores the possible therapeutic applications of sirtuin modulators and related small molecules in the context of various diseases.

EXPERT OPINION

Sirtuin's modulators open a new area of research for targeting pathological conditions. Sirtuin modulators, through their targeted function, may provide a possible tool for the amelioration of various diseases. However, the search of activators/inhibitors for sirtuins needs further research. The structural elucidation of sirtuins will create an understanding for the development of isoform-specific selective modulators. This could be a useful tool to determine the functions of individual sirtuins as potential therapeutic agents.

Revealing the antiaging effects of cereal- and food oil-derived active substances by a Caenorhabditis elegans model

Cereal grains and oils contain various functional ingredients, such as amino acids, peptides, polyphenols, dietary fiber, linoleic acid, and natural pigments. Their biological activities are of great significance. Benefiting from its robust genetic function and simple cultivation, Caenorhabditis elegans, as one of the most important model organisms has been widely used to screen antiaging substances and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this paper, the recent advances in the use of C. elegans in antiaging research into active substances from cereals and oils will be assessed, and their potential signal transduction mechanisms will be systematically reviewed. This research aims to provide a theoretical reference for the use of active substances from cereals and oils to prevent and delay aging and aging-associated diseases.

Trilobatin, a Component from Lithocarpus polystachyrus Rehd., Increases Longevity in C. elegans Through Activating SKN1/SIRT3/DAF16 Signaling Pathway

Trilobatin (TLB) is an effective component from Lithocarpus polystachyrus Rehd. Our previous study revealed that TLB protected against oxidative injury in neuronal cells by AMPK/Nrf2/SIRT3 signaling pathway. However, whether TLB can delay aging remains still a mystery. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the possible longevity-enhancing effect of TLB, and further to explore its underlying mechanism in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The results showed that TLB exerted beneficial effects on C. elegans, as evidenced by survival rate, body movement assay and pharynx-pumping assay. Furthermore, TLB not only significantly decreased ROS and MDA levels, but also increased anti-oxidant enzyme activities including CAT and SOD, as well as its subtypes SOD2 andSOD3, but not affect SOD1 activity, as evidenced by heat and oxidative stress resistance assays. Whereas, the anti-oxidative effects of TLB were almost abolished in SKN1, Sir2.3, and DAF16 mutant C. elegans. Moreover, TLB augmented the fluorescence intensity of DAF16: GFP, SKN1:GFP, GST4:GFP mutants, indicating that TLB increased the contents of SKN1, SIRT3 and DAF16 due to fluorescence intensity of these mutants, which were indicative of these proteins. In addition, TLB markedly increased the protein expressions of SKN1, SIRT3 and DAF16 as evidenced by ELISA assay. However, its longevity-enhancing effect were abolished in DAF16, Sir2.3, SKN1, SOD2, SOD3, and GST4 mutant C. elegans than those of non-TLB treated controls. In conclusion, TLB effectively prolongs lifespan of C. elegans, through regulating redox homeostasis, which is, at least partially, mediated by SKN1/SIRT3/DAF16 signaling pathway.

Dosage effects of resveratrol on thymus involution in D-galactose-treated mice

The thymus regulates a specific microenvironment for the growth and maturation of naive T cells. Involution of immune function was an important factor during body aging. Preventing the senescence of immune organs has become a major medical issue. Resveratrol (RSV) has been proved to delay the aging of many organs including the thymus. However, the underlying mechanism remains indefinite and the dosages of RSV on thymus involution need to be further clarified. In the current study, the senescence-accelerated mice were produced using d-galactose for two months. RSV at different dosages (25, 50, 100 mg kg^-1  day^-1 ) was then administered. The alteration of the thymic morphological structure was observed. It showed that three dosages of RSV significantly decreased cellular senescence of the thymus and no dosage difference was detected. For cellular proliferation and apoptosis of the thymus, 50 and 25 mg/kg per day of RSV displayed the best effects on cellular proliferation and apoptosis in the thymus, respectively. Furthermore, 50 mg/kg per day of RSV increased the expression of FoxN1 both at transcription and translation levels. These findings indicated that RSV could delay thymus atrophy in a dosage-dependent pattern and FoxN1 might involve in the beneficial mechanism of RSV, which was of great significance for the enhancement of thymic health and organic immunity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Resveratrol has been proved to delay aging of many organs including of thymus. In the present study, we explored the dosage of resveratrol on thymus involution and the expression of transcription factors forkhead box protein N1 (FoxN1) in the senescenceaccelerated mice induced by D-galactose. The results indicated that resveratrol could delay thymus atrophy in a dosage-dependent pattern within a certain dose range, and higher RSV concentration may have drug toxicity, which suggests that the dosage of RSV requires attention, And FoxN1 might involve in the beneficial mechanism of resveratrol supplement, which was of great significance to explore the mechanism for the enhancement of thymus immunity.

Synthesis, Structure and Evaluation of the N-(2-Acetyl-4-(styryl)phenyl)-4-benzenesulfonamide Derivatives for Anticholinesterase and Antioxidant Activities

N-(2-Acetyl-4-bromophenyl)-4-methylbenzenesulfonamide (2) was transformed into 5-(4-methoxymethylstyryl)-2-(p-tolylsulfonamido)acetophenone (3a) and 5-(4- trifluoromethylstyryl)-2-(p-tolylsulfonamido)acetophenone (3b). Their structures were determined using a combination of NMR (1H & 13C) and mass spectroscopic as well as single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques. These compounds and the corresponding precursor, 2-amino-5-bromoacetophenone (1), were evaluated through enzymatic assays in vitro for inhibitory effect against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) activities as well as antioxidant effect through the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) free radical scavenging assays. Molecular docking was performed on 3a to determine plausible protein–ligand interactions on a molecular level. Their drug likeness properties (absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion) and ability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) have also been predicted at theoretical level.

The Use of Micro- and Nanocarriers for Resveratrol Delivery into and across the Skin in Different Skin Diseases-A Literature Review

In recent years, polyphenols have been extensively studied due to their antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been shown that anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols play an important role in the prevention of bacterial infections, as well as vascular or skin diseases. Particularly, resveratrol, as a multi-potent agent, may prevent or mitigate the effects of oxidative stress. As the largest organ of the human body, skin is an extremely desirable target for the possible delivery of active substances. The transdermal route of administration of active compounds shows many advantages, including avoidance of gastrointestinal irritation and the first-pass effect. Moreover, it is non-invasive and can be self-administered. However, this delivery is limited, mainly due to the need to overpassing the stratum corneum, the possible decomposition of the substances in contact with the skin surface or in the deeper layers thereof. In addition, using resveratrol for topical and transdermal delivery faces the problems of its low solubility and poor stability. To overcome this, novel systems of delivery are being developed for the effective transport of resveratrol across the skin. Carriers in the micro and nano size were demonstrated to be more efficient for safe and faster topical and transdermal delivery of active substances. The present review aimed to discuss the role of resveratrol in the treatment of skin abnormalities with a special emphasis on technologies enhancing transdermal delivery of resveratrol.

Anti-obesity Medications in Cancer Therapy: A Comprehensive Insight

The interplay between cancer and obesity is multifactorial and complex with the increased risk of cancer development in obese individuals posing a significant threat. Obesity leads to the upregulation or hyperactivation of several oncogenic pathways in cancer cells, which drives them towards a deleterious phenotype. The cross-talk between cancer and obesity is considered a large contributing factor in the development of chemotherapeutic drug resistance and the resistance to radiotherapy. The link between obesity and the development of cancer is so strong that a medication that demonstrates effectiveness against both conditions would serve as an essential step. In this context, anti-obesity medications provide a worthy list of candidates based on their chemo-preventive potential and chemotherapeutic properties. The current study focuses on exploring the potential of anti-obesity medicines as dual anticancer drugs. These medications target several key signaling pathways (e.g., AMPK, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, NF-κB, JNK/ERK), which prove to be crucial for both cancer growth and metastases. Some of these drugs also play an important role in attenuating the signaling and cellular events which incite cancer-obesity cross-talk and demonstrate efficient counteraction of neoplastic transformation. Thus, this review highlights a comprehensive view of the potential use of anti-obesity medicines to treat both cancer and obesity for patients exhibiting both comorbities.

Resveratrol effects in bladder cancer: A mini review

Bladder cancer has a high incidence worldwide and is the most common genitourinary cancer. The treatment of bladder cancer involves surgery and chemotherapy; however high failure rates and toxicity are observed. In this context, the search of new drugs aiming a more effective treatment is extremely necessary. Natural products are an important source of compounds with antiproliferative effects. Resveratrol is a naturally occurring plant polyphenol whose anticancer activity has been demonstrated in different types of cancer. This review summarizes the in vitro and in vivo studies using models of bladder cancer treated with resveratrol and discusses its different mechanisms of action.

Dietary and Protective Factors to Halt or Mitigate Progression of Autoimmunity, COVID-19 and Its Associated Metabolic Diseases

COVID-19 is without any doubt the worst pandemic we have faced since the H1N1 virus outbreak. Even if vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 infection is becoming increasingly available, a more feasible approach for COVID-19 prevention and therapy is still needed. Evidence of a pathological link between metabolic diseases and severe forms of COVID-19 has stimulated critical reflection and new considerations. In particular, an abnormal immune response observed in certain patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection suggested possible common predisposing risk factors with autoimmune diseases such as Type 1 Diabetes (T1D). Correct supplementation with dietary factors may be key to preventing and counteracting both the underlying metabolic impairment and the complications of COVID-19. A set of agents may inhibit the cytokine storm and hypercoagulability that characterize severe COVID-19 infection: vitamin D3, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, polyphenols like pterostilbene, polydatin and honokiol, which can activate anti-inflammatory and antioxidant sirtuins pathways, quercetin, vitamin C, zinc, melatonin, lactoferrin and glutathione. These agents could be highly beneficial for subjects who have altered immune responses. In this review, we discuss the antiviral and metabolic effects of these dietary factors and propose their combination for potential applications in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. Rigorous studies will be fundamental for validating preventive and therapeutic protocols that could be of assistance to mitigate disease progression following SARS-CoV-2 infection.

From Mitochondria to Atherosclerosis: The Inflammation Path

Inflammation is a key process in metazoan organisms due to its relevance for innate defense against infections and tissue damage. However, inflammation is also implicated in pathological processes such as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease of the arterial wall where unstable atherosclerotic plaque rupture causing platelet aggregation and thrombosis may compromise the arterial lumen, leading to acute or chronic ischemic syndromes. In this review, we will focus on the role of mitochondria in atherosclerosis while keeping inflammation as a link. Mitochondria are the main source of cellular energy. Under stress, mitochondria are also capable of controlling inflammation through the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the release of mitochondrial components, such as mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), into the cytoplasm or into the extracellular matrix, where they act as danger signals when recognized by innate immune receptors. Primary or secondary mitochondrial dysfunctions are associated with the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis by elevating the production of ROS, altering mitochondrial dynamics and energy supply, as well as promoting inflammation. Knowing and understanding the pathways behind mitochondrial-based inflammation in atheroma progression is essential to discovering alternative or complementary treatments.

LncRNA Sirt1-AS upregulates Sirt1 to attenuate aging related deep venous thrombosis

Aging is associated with the increased incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in the elderly, but the underlying mechanism is elusive. Silent information regulator 1 (Sirt1) is linked to the senescence, inflammation, oxidative stress and platelet adhesion of endothelial cells. Here we showed that DVT was associated with the senescence of endothelium and lower expression of Sirt1. Furthermore, Sirt1 could inhibit endothelial senescence and reduce the occurrence of DVT. Interestingly, we found antisense long non-coding RNA (lncRNA Sirt1-AS) upregulated Sirt1, decreased the expression of senescence and DVT associated biomarkers in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). In addition, lncRNA Sirt1-AS overexpression alleviated DVT through upregulating Sirt1 and thereby inducing Foxo3a degradation. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that lncRNA Sirt1-AS may be a potential new biomarker for DVT.

The Effects of Continual Consumption of Origanum vulgare on Liver Transcriptomics

Simple Summary

The use of phytogenic products has entered mainstream use in the livestock industry as an antibiotic alternative. These products, often based on herbs and spices with established antimicrobial properties, are generally considered as safe and natural, however, they are often administered in high doses and frequency. The direct effects of these products on the livestock animals remains under-reported. Using a transcriptomics, we show that supplementing 2% oregano in feed has direct effects on gene expression in the livers of broilers with a potential range of beneficial and negative side effects.

Abstract

Pathogen control is re-emerging as a significant challenge to the health of both humans and animals. The livestock industry is in the process of massively replacing in-feed antibiotics with organic production friendly plant-based products. Nutrigenomics as a science of the effects of food constituents on gene expression is shedding more light on both benefits and detrimental side-effects of feed additive prolonged consumption on the host, indicating the need to understand the feed-host interactions and their influence on the host disease profile. In this study, we investigated the effects of 2% oregano powder supplementation on the liver gene expression in healthy male broilers from the hatch to 6 weeks of age. Deep RNAseq was performed on average 113.3 million paired and quality trimmed sequences per sample and four samples for the control and treatment each. The results demonstrate the severity of oregano effect on liver gene expression with substantial modifications in steroid hormone regulation, fat and carbohydrate metabolism alterations and strong influence on the host disease and function profile. Oregano supplementation was able to interfere with the transcriptional effects of a range of registered drugs and to significantly transcriptionally inhibit a range of cancer disease categories including liver cancer, and to modify fat and carbohydrate metabolism.

Pterostilbene and its nicotinate derivative ameliorated vascular endothelial senescence and elicited endothelium-dependent relaxations via activation of sirtuin 1

Vascular endothelial cell senescence is a leading cause of age-associated diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Interventions and therapies targeting endothelial cell senescence and dysfunction would have important clinical implications. This study evaluated the effect of 10 resveratrol analogues, including pterostilbene (Pts) and its derivatives, against endothelial senescence and dysfunction. All the tested compounds at the concentrations from 10^-9 M to 10^-6 M did not show cytotoxicity in endothelial cells by MTT assay. Among the 10 resveratrol analogues, Pts and Pts nicotinate attenuated the expression of senescence-associated β-galactosidase, downregulated p21 and p53, and increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) in both angiotensin II - and hydrogen peroxide - induced endothelial senescence models. In addition, Pts and Pts nicotinate elicited endothelium-dependent relaxations, which were attenuated in the presence of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) inhibitor L-NAME or sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) inhibitor sirtinol. Pts and Pts nicotinate did not alter SIRT1 expression but enhanced its activity. Both Pts and Pts nicotinate have high binding activities with SIRT1, according to surface plasmon resonance results and the molecular docking analysis. Inhibition of SIRT1 by sirtinol reversed the anti-senescent effects of Pts and Pts nicotinate. Moreover, Pts and Pts nicotinate shared similar ADME (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion) profiles and physiochemical properties. This study suggests that the Pts and Pts nicotinate ameliorate vascular endothelial senescence and elicit endothelium-dependent relaxations via activation of SIRT1. These two compounds may be potential drugs for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases related to endothelial senescence and dysfunction.

Aging and age-related diseases: from mechanisms to therapeutic strategies

Aging is a physiological process mediated by numerous biological and genetic pathways, which are directly linked to lifespan and are a driving force for all age-related diseases. Human life expectancy has greatly increased in the past few decades, but this has not been accompanied by a similar increase in their healthspan. At present, research on aging biology has focused on elucidating the biochemical and genetic pathways that contribute to aging over time. Several aging mechanisms have been identified, primarily including genomic instability, telomere shortening, and cellular senescence. Aging is a driving factor of various age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, immune system disorders, and musculoskeletal disorders. Efforts to find drugs that improve the healthspan by targeting the pathogenesis of aging have now become a hot topic in this field. In the present review, the status of aging research and the development of potential drugs for aging-related diseases, such as metformin, rapamycin, resveratrol, senolytics, as well as caloric restriction, are summarized. The feasibility, side effects, and future potential of these treatments are also discussed, which will provide a basis to develop novel anti-aging therapeutics for improving the healthspan and preventing aging-related diseases.

Resveratrol rescued the pain related hypersensitivity for Cntnap2-deficient mice

Contactin-associated protein-like 2 (CNTNAP2 or CASPR2) is a neuronal transmembrane protein of the neurexin superfamily which is correlated with pain related hypersensitivity. Recent results indicated that the hyperactive phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway may be a promising therapeutic target for pain-related hypersensitivity in patients with dysfunction of CNTNAP2. Resveratrol is one of the most widely studied polyphenols with several beneficial properties. In the present study, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on the pain related hypersensitivity. And we found that the up-regulated phosphorylation of S6 could be suppressed by resveratrol. The nocifensive behavior duration time to heat and chemical algogens stimulation in Cntnap2-deficiency (Cntnap2-/-) mice could be attenuated by resveratrol. Our results indicated that resveratrol could rescue the pain related hypersensitivity for Cntnap2-/- mice may be via mTOR signaling pathway.

Epigenetics of Aging and Aging-Associated Diseases

Aging represents the multifactorial decline in physiological function of every living organism. Over the past decades, several hallmarks of aging have been defined, including epigenetic deregulation. Indeed, multiple epigenetic events were found altered across different species during aging. Epigenetic changes directly contributing to aging and aging-related diseases include the accumulation of histone variants, changes in chromatin accessibility, loss of histones and heterochromatin, aberrant histone modifications, and deregulated expression/activity of miRNAs. As a consequence, cellular processes are affected, which results in the development or progression of several human pathologies, including cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we focus on epigenetic mechanisms underlying aging-related processes in various species and describe how these deregulations contribute to human diseases.

Prospects Of Using Resveratrol For Cognitive Impairment Correction In Patients With Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Our goal was to study the effectiveness of resveratrol in correcting cognitive impairments and in normalization of neurotrophin levels in patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Material and Methods ― In a randomized placebo-controlled trial, 100 patients with a verified diagnosis of type II diabetes mellitus took part, who were subsequently placed into two groups: the treatment group of 50 patients taking a polyphenol therapeutic drug in addition to standard therapy, and the comparison group of 50 indivuduals taking a placebo medication in addition to standard therapy. The control group consisted of 30 individuals belonging to the health group I sensu RF Ministry of Healthcare. Treatment efficacy was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scale. The concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IFR-1), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and nerve growth factor (NGF) in blood plasma were analyzed before and after treatment completion (10 weeks later). Results ― Before starting treatment, patients exhibited an increase in the level of IFR-1 and a decrease in the content of neurotrophic factors (BDNF and NGF) in their blood plasma. In patients receiving resveratrol in addition to standard treatment, changes in IFR-1, BDNF and NGF in blood plasma were more noticeable relative to the comparison group and approached the values of the control group. According to the MoCA scale, more pronounced dynamics of cognitive functions was observed in patients of the treatment group. Conclusion ― The high efficiency of the polyphenol therapeutic drug resveratrol in the correction of cognitive impairments in patients with type II diabetes mellitus was established. The use of resveratrol promoted the normalization of the levels of IFR-1 and neurotrophic factors in the blood plasma: in the treatment group, a more pronounced statistically significant decrease in the concentration of IFR-1, along with an increase in BDNF and NGF levels, were observed relative to the control group. The clinically significant effect of resveratrol was in the reduction of cognitive deficit symptoms, which was confirmed by the data of dynamic monitoring on the MoCA scale: in treatment group, there was a statistically significant improvements of optical and spatial functions, attention, abstract thinking, and fulfilling delayed reproduction task; in the comparison group, there was a statistically significant improvement solely of completing delayed reproduction task.

Resveratrol, Rapamycin and Metformin as Modulators of Antiviral Pathways

Balanced nutrition and appropriate dietary interventions are fundamental in the prevention and management of viral infections. Additionally, accurate modulation of the inflammatory response is necessary to achieve an adequate antiviral immune response. Many studies, both in vitro with mammalian cells and in vivo with small animal models, have highlighted the antiviral properties of resveratrol, rapamycin and metformin. The current review outlines the mechanisms of action of these three important compounds on the cellular pathways involved with viral replication and the mechanisms of virus-related diseases, as well as the current status of their clinical use.

Resveratrol attenuates excessive ethanol exposure-induced β-cell senescence in rats: A critical role for the NAD+/SIRT1-p38MAPK/p16 pathway

Resveratrol has been found to improve ethanol-induced diabetes. Although pancreatic β-cell senescence-induced β-cell mass loss plays a critical role in the progression of diabetes, the exact mechanism by which resveratrol improves ethanol-triggered β-cell senescence and its role in ethanol-induced diabetes remains unknown. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either control or ethanol liquid diets containing 2.4 g/kg·bw ethanol with or without 100 mg/kg·bw resveratrol for 22 weeks. Resveratrol decreased the ethanol-induced augmentation in senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal)-positive area and attenuated reduction in β-cell mass, which were based on elevated levels of SIRT1 and proliferation marker Ki67 and reduced levels of senescence-associated markers (p-p38MAPK and p16^INK4a). Similarly, resveratrol rescued the reduction in NAD⁺/NADH ratio and SIRT1 and inhibited the upregulation of p-p38MAPK and p16^INK4a in ethanol-treated INS-1 cells. Furthermore, supplementation with NAD⁺ inducer nicotinamide mononucleotide, SIRT1 activator SRT1720 or p38MAPK inhibitor SB203580 effectively reversed ethanol-induced β-cell senescence, while supplementation with SIRT1 inhibitor Ex527 or NAD⁺ inhibitor FK866 abrogated resveratrol-mediated antisenescence effects in INS-1 cells. Together, our results indicate that resveratrol improves ethanol-triggered β-cell senescence and consequently recovers β-cell mass loss by inhibiting p38MAPK/p16 pathway through an NAD⁺/SIRT1 dependent pathway.

Identification of Dietary Phytochemicals Capable of Enhancing the Autophagy Flux in HeLa and Caco-2 Human Cell Lines

Autophagy is a major degradation system for intracellular macromolecules. Its decline with age or obesity is related to the onset and development of various intractable diseases. Although dietary phytochemicals are expected to enhance autophagy for preventive medicine, few studies have addressed their effects on the autophagy flux, which is the focus of the current study. Herein, 67 dietary phytochemicals were screened using a green fluorescent protein (GFP)-microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3)-red fluorescent protein (RFP)-LC3ΔG probe for the quantitative assessment of autophagic degradation. Among them, isorhamnetin, chrysoeriol, 2,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone, and zerumbone enhanced the autophagy flux in HeLa cells. Meanwhile, analysis of the structure-activity relationships indicated that the 3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxy group on the B-ring in the flavone skeleton and an ortho-phenolic group on the chalcone B-ring were crucial for phytochemicals activities. These active compounds were also effective in colon carcinoma Caco-2 cells, and some of them increased the expression of p62 protein, a typical substrate of autophagic proteolysis, indicating that phytochemicals impact p62 levels in autophagy-dependent and/or -independent manners. In addition, these compounds were characterized by distinct modes of action. While isorhamnetin and chrysoeriol enhanced autophagy in an mTOR signaling-dependent manner, the actions of 2,2',4'-trihydroxychalcone and zerumbone were independent of mTOR signaling. Hence, these dietary phytochemicals may prove effective as potential preventive or therapeutic strategies for lifestyle-related diseases.

Resveratrol and cardiovascular system-the unfulfilled hopes

INTRODUCTION

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenolic compound with a stilbene structure endowed with multiple health-promoting effects. Among phenolic compounds, resveratrol is assigned a leading role in the health-promoting effects of red wine.

METHODS

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of resveratrol on the cardiovascular system in the experimental and clinical studies conducted so far. Moreover, the paper discusses the results of the most recent meta-analyses assessing resveratrol's therapeutic effect on the cardiovascular system in humans.

RESULTS

In animal and preclinical studies, resveratrol has demonstrated a wide physiological and biochemical spectrum of activity, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, and anticoagulant activities, which translated into its health-promoting effects on the cardiovascular system. The performed meta-analyses allow to confirm such an impact, however, after the assessment with the use of the SYRCLE's tool, these studies are burdened with a high risk of bias, and the results are not clearly presented.

CONCLUSION

Despite numerous articles and clinical studies, the convincing beneficial mechanisms of resveratrol as well as its health-promoting effects in cardiovascular diseases have not been clearly confirmed in humans. Therefore, there is a need for further clinical studies, especially randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials to objectively confirm the possible health-promoting effects of this substance and to determine both the efficacy and safety, and possible therapeutic potential.

Bioactive Compounds of Edible Fruits with Their Anti-Aging Properties: A Comprehensive Review to Prolong Human Life

Aging is a complicated biological process in which functional and structural alterations in a living organism take place over time. Reactive oxygen species is one of the main factors responsible for aging and is associated with several chronic pathologies. The relationship between aging and diet is quite interesting and has attained worldwide attention. Healthy food, in addition to dietary antioxidants, are required to delay the process of aging and improve the quality of life. Many healthy foods such as fruits are a good source of dietary nutrients and natural bioactive compounds which have antioxidant properties and are involved in preventing aging and other age-related disorders. Health benefits linked with healthy consumption of fruit have drawn increased interest. A significant number of studies have documented the advantages of fruit intake, as it suppresses free-radical development that further reduces the oxidative stress created in the body and protects against several types of diseases such as cancer, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory disorders, and other cardiovascular diseases that ultimately prevent aging. In addition, fruits have numerous other properties like anti-inflammatory, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, and have health-promoting effects. Mechanisms of various bioactive compounds that aids in preventing various diseases and increases longevity are also described. This manuscript provides a summary of various bioactive components present in fruits along with their health-promoting and antiaging properties.

Recent Advances in Synthesis, Bioactivity, and Pharmacokinetics of Pterostilbene, an Important Analog of Resveratrol

Pterostilbene is a natural 3,5-dimethoxy analog of resveratrol. This stilbene compound has a strong bioactivity and exists widely in Dalbergia and Vaccinium spp. Besides natural extraction, pterostilbene can be obtained by biosynthesis. Pterostilbene has become popular because of its remarkable pharmacological activities, such as anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and neuroprotection. Pterostilbene can be rapidly absorbed and is widely distributed in tissues, but it does not seriously accumulate in the body. Pterostilbene can easily pass through the blood-brain barrier because of its low molecular weight and good liposolubility. In this review, the studies performed in the last three years on resources, synthesis, bioactivity, and pharmacokinetics of pterostilbene are summarized. This review focuses on the effects of pterostilbene on certain diseases to explore its targets, explain the possible mechanism, and look for potential therapeutic applications.

Protective effect of pterostilbene on sepsis-induced acute lung injury in a rat model via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Background

Bacterial infection is one of the most common causes of sepsis, with acute lung injury (ALI) being a related complication. Pterostilbene (PTS) is extracted from blueberries, peanuts, and grapes, and has numerous pharmacologic activities. The aim of the present study was to explore the underlying role of PTS protects against sepsis-mediated ALI.

Methods

We established a sepsis model induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in rats. The rats were randomly divided into five groups (n=5 each): sham group, CLP group, Dexmedetomidine group (Dex, 50 µg/kg) and PTS groups (25 and 50 mg/kg). Twenty-hours hours after CLP, PTS was intraperitoneally injected for 14 continuous days. The rats were killed, and blood and lung tissue were collected for pathological analysis and mRNA and protein detection.

Results

Our findings showed that PTS reduced the wet/dry ratio and ameliorated sepsis-induced pulmonary fibrosis (PF), which was associated with improvement of pathological damage in lung tissues. We also observed the inhibitory effect of PTS on apoptosis and release of inflammatory cytokines (i.e., tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemotactic protein 1). In addition, PTS markedly suppressed the phosphorylation levels of Janus kinase-2 (JAK2) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3).

Conclusions

Our results indicated that PTS inhibited the PF, apoptosis, and inflammatory response via the JAK2/STAT3 pathway in a sepsis-induced ALI rat model, providing a candidate for drug therapy of sepsis-induced ALI.

Advancements in therapeutic drugs targeting of senescence

Aging leads to a high burden on society, both medically and economically. Cellular senescence plays an essential role in the initiation of aging and age-related diseases. Recent studies have highlighted the therapeutic value of senescent cell deletion in natural aging and many age-related disorders. However, the therapeutic strategies for manipulating cellular senescence are still at an early stage of development. Among these strategies, therapeutic drugs that target cellular senescence are arguably the most highly anticipated. Many recent studies have demonstrated that a variety of drugs exhibit healthy aging effects. In this review, we summarize different types of drugs promoting healthy aging – such as senolytics, senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) inhibitors, and nutrient signaling regulators – and provide an update on their potential therapeutic merits. Taken together, our review synthesizes recent advancements in the therapeutic potentialities of drugs promoting healthy aging with regard to their clinical implications.

Natural Drugs as a Treatment Strategy for Cardiovascular Disease through the Regulation of Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress (OS) refers to the physiological imbalance between oxidative and antioxidative processes leading to increased oxidation, which then results in the inflammatory infiltration of neutrophils, increased protease secretion, and the production of a large number of oxidative intermediates. Oxidative stress is considered an important factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). At present, active components of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely used for the treatment of CVD, including coronary heart disease and hypertension. Since the discovery of artemisinin for the treatment of malaria by Nobel laureate Youyou Tu, the therapeutic effects of active components of CHM on various diseases have been widely investigated by the medical community. It has been found that various active CHM components can regulate oxidative stress and the circulatory system, including ginsenoside, astragaloside, and resveratrol. This paper reviews advances in the use of active CHM components that modulate oxidative stress, suggesting potential drugs for the treatment of various CVDs.

Resveratrol extracted from Chinese herbal medicines: A novel therapeutic strategy for lung diseases

Lung diseases and their related complications represent a critical source of morbidity and mortality globally and have become a research focus in recent years. There are plenty of hazards that threaten the health of lung by exposure to external environmental stimuli, such as dust, cigarette smoke, PM2.5, air pollution and pathogen infection. These risks lead to the impairment of lung function and subsequent lung diseases including pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Compared with antibiotics and corticosteroids therapies, traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions are more effective with fewer side effects. A considerable variety of bioactive ingredients have been extracted and identified from Chinese herbal medicines and are used for the treatment of different lung diseases, including resveratrol. Increasing studies have reported promising therapeutic effects of resveratrol against lung diseases by inhibiting oxidative stress, inflammation, aging, fibrosis and cancer both in vitro and in vivo. In this review, the recent progress in the studies of lung-protective effects and underlying mechanisms of resveratrol and also highlight the potency of resveratrol and traditional Chinese prescriptions containing resveratrol as promising therapeutic options were summarized for the treatment of lung and respiratory diseases.

Resveratrol: Friend or Foe?

In this issue of Molecular Cell, Benslimane et al. (2020) perform a CRISPR-Cas9 chemogenomic screen, identifying a network of DNA replication and genome integrity genes with the nutraceutical compound Resveratrol and its analog Pterostilbene, linking these compounds to the induction of DNA replication stress in mammalian cells.