Plausible anti-inflammatory mechanism of resveratrol and caffeic acid against chronic stress-induced insulin resistance in mice

Plant-derived and dietary phenolic cinnamic acid derivatives: Anti-inflammatory properties

Cinnamic acids are aromatic acids primarily found in plants and plant-derived food. Phenolic cinnamic acids, with one or more hydroxyl groups in the aromatic ring, often contribute to the biological activities attributed to these compounds. The presence of hydroxyl groups and a carboxyl group makes cinnamic acids very hydrophilic, preventing them from crossing biological membranes and exerting their biological activities. To alleviate this condition, a panel of synthetic modifications have been made leading to a diverse set of phenolic cinnamic structures. In this review, an overview of the natural phenolic cinnamic acid derivatives and their plant sources (more than 200) is described. The synthetic approaches to obtain the referred derivatives (more than 200) namely esters and amides are reviewed. Further, their anti-inflammatory activity (more than 70 compounds) is scrutinized. Finally, future directions will be indicated to translate the research on phenolic cinnamic derivatives into potentially effective anti-inflammatory drugs.

Comparison of Physicochemical, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Properties of Caffeic Acid Conjugates

Spectroscopic studies (FT-IR, Raman, 1H, and 13C NMR, UV-VIS) of caffeic acid (CFA) and its conjugates, i.e., caftaric acid (CTA), cichoric acid (CA), and cynarin (CY), were carried out. The antioxidant activity of these compounds was determined by a superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity assay and the hydroxyl radical (HO•) inhibition assay. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was performed on DLD-1 cell lines. The molecules were theoretically modeled using the B3LYP-6-311++G(d,p) method. Aromaticity indexes (HOMA, I6, BAC, Aj), HOMO and LUMO orbital energies and reactivity descriptors, NBO electron charge distribution, EPS electrostatic potential maps, and theoretical IR and NMR spectra were calculated for the optimized model systems. The structural features of these compounds were discussed in terms of their biological activities.

Deciphering the mechanisms of Yinlan Tiaozhi capsule in treating hyperlipidemia by combining network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification

Yinlan Tiaozhi capsule (YLTZC) has been widely used to treat hyperlipidemia (HLP). However, its material basis and underlying pharmacological effects remain unclean. The current study aimed to explore the mechanisms involved in the treatment of YLTZC on HLP based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification. Firstly, UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to comprehensively analyze and identify the chemical constituents in YLTZC. A total of 66 compounds, mainly including flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, lactones, organic acids, and limonin were characterized and classified. Simultaneously, the mass fragmentation pattern of different types of representative compounds was further explored. By network pharmacology analysis, naringenin and ferulic acid may be the core constituents. The 52 potential targets of YLTZC, including ALB, IL-6, TNF, and VEGFA, were considered potential therapeutic targets. Molecular docking results showed that the core active constituents of YLTZC (naringenin and ferulic acid) have a strong affinity with the core targets of HLP. Lastly, animal experiments confirmed that naringenin and ferulic acid significantly upregulated the mRNA expression of ALB and downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-6, TNF, and VEGFA. In sum, the constituents of YLTZC, such as naringenin and ferulic acid, might treat HLP by regulating the mechanism of angiogenesis and inhibiting inflammatory responses. Furthermore, our data fills the gap in the material basis of YLTZC.

Microalgae as a Nutraceutical Tool to Antagonize the Impairment of Redox Status Induced by SNPs: Implications on Insulin Resistance

Microalgae represent a growing innovative source of nutraceuticals such as carotenoids and phenolic compound which are naturally present within these single-celled organisms or can be induced in response to specific growth conditions. The presence of the unfavourable allelic variant in genes involved in the control of oxidative stress, due to one or more SNPs in gene encoding protein involved in the regulation of redox balance, can lead to pathological conditions such as insulin resistance, which, in turn, is directly involved in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes mellitus. In this review we provide an overview of the main SNPs in antioxidant genes involved in the promotion of insulin resistance with a focus on the potential role of microalgae-derived antioxidant molecules as novel nutritional tools to mitigate oxidative stress and improve insulin sensitivity.

Caffeic Acid and Diseases-Mechanisms of Action

Caffeic acid belongs to the polyphenol compounds we consume daily, often in the form of coffee. Even though it is less explored than caffeic acid phenethyl ester, it still has many positive effects on human health. Caffeic acid can affect cancer, diabetes, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, or bacterial and viral infections. This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of how caffeic acid achieves its effects.

Impact of polyphenols on stress and anxiety: a systematic review of molecular mechanisms and clinical evidence

Mental health is a global public concern that contributes raising disability and premature death. Anxiety undertakes around 3.6% of the global population, while psychological stress is a condition associated to anxiety with a prevalence of 36.5%. Treatment for both mental conditions consist mainly of psychological therapy and pharmacotherapy, but the long-term drugs use can trigger adverse effects. Growing evidence shows the effect of specific food compounds on stress and anxiety treatment. The aim of this systematic review is to describe the molecular mechanisms related to dietary polyphenols administration from food matrix (considering food, juices or herbal/food extracts) and their effects on stress and/or anxiety, as well as review the available clinical evidence. Search was based on PRISMA Guidelines using peer-reviewed journal articles sourced from PubMed and Web of Science. A total of 38 articles were considered as eligible. The major effects for anxiety management were: reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation; HPA axis modulation; and regulation of some serotonergic/adrenergic pathways. There is a very limited evidence to conclude about the real effect of dietary polyphenols on stress. Although pharmacological treatment for mood disorders is essential, alternative therapies are necessary using non-pharmacological compounds to improve the long-term treatment effectiveness.

Polyphenols: Potential anti-inflammatory agents for treatment of metabolic disorders

Ample evidence highlights the potential benefits of polyphenols in health status especially in obesity-related metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Mechanistically, due to the key role of "Metainflammation" in the pathomechanism of metabolic disorders, recently much focus has been placed on the properties of polyphenols in obesity-related morbidities. This narrative review summarizes the current knowledge on the role of polyphenols, including genistein, chlorogenic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, and silymarin in inflammatory responses pertinent to metabolic disorders and discusses the implications of this evidence for future directions. This review provides evidence that the aforementioned polyphenols benefit health status in metabolic disorders via direct and indirect regulation of a variety of target proteins involved in inflammatory signaling pathways. However, due to limitations of the in vitro and in vivo studies and also the lack of long-term human clinical trials studies, further high-quality investigations are required to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of the polyphenols for the prevention and management of metabolic disorders.

Caffeic Acid on Metabolic Syndrome: A Review

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a constellation of risk factors that may lead to a more sinister disease. Raised blood pressure, dyslipidemia in the form of elevated triglycerides and lowered high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, raised fasting glucose, and central obesity are the risk factors that could lead to full-blown diabetes, heart disease, and many others. With increasing sedentary lifestyles, coupled with the current COVID-19 pandemic, the numbers of people affected with MetS will be expected to grow in the coming years. While keeping these factors checked with the polypharmacy available currently, there is no single strategy that can halt or minimize the effect of MetS to patients. This opens the door for a more natural way of controlling the disease. Caffeic acid (CA) is a phytonutrient belonging to the flavonoids that can be found in abundance in plants, fruits, and vegetables. CA possesses a wide range of beneficial properties from antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, antianxiolytic, antiproliferative, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review discusses the current discovery of the effect of CA against MetS.

Blutaparon portulacoides ethanolic extract reduced IL-1β and inflammatory parameters induced by the Mycobacterium complex and carrageenan in mice

Information on the health benefits of ethanolic extracts obtained from Blutaparon portulacoides stem (EEBP) hasn´t been consistently described in the literature until the present moment. This study investigated the antimycobacterial, anti-inflammatory and toxicological effects of EEBP in models of inflammation/infection, as well as its chemical composition. Chemical analysis of EEBP by electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry/HPLC-MS/MS identified 3,5,3'-Trihydroxy-4'-methoxy-6,7-methylenedioxy-flavone, gomphrenol, ferulic, vanillic, and caffeic acids. The minimum inhibitory concentration of EEBP and isoniazid in the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was 123.4 and 0.030 µg/ml, respectively. EEBP oral administration (p.o.) (300-1000 mg/kg) or dexamethasone subcutaneous injection (s.c.) (1 mg/kg) significantly inhibited leukocytes and proteins resulting from carrageenan-induced pleurisy in Swiss mice. In the BCG-induced pleurisy model, the oral treatments performed once a day for 7 days, with EEBP (30 and 100 mg/kg) and isoniazid (25 mg/kg), inhibited the increase in plasmatic IL-1β levels and in pleural exudate from C57BL-6 mice, and reduced M. tuberculosis growth in organs (colony forming units assays). EEBP (30-300 mg/kg, p.o.) and dexamethasone (1 mg/s.c.) significantly prevented carrageenan-induced oedema and mechanical hyperalgesia in Swiss mice. The treatments (once a day for 22 days) with EEBP (30 mg/kg, p.o.) and dexamethasone (1 mg/s.c.) substantially inhibited oedema and mechanical- and cold-hyperalgesia at 11, 16 and 22 days after the administration of Freund's Complete Adjuvant in C57bL6 mice. No evidence of physio-pathologic was observed in Wistar rats acutely treated with EEBP (2000 mg/kg, p.o.). This study confirms the anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties of EEBP, opening possibilities for the development of safe new drugs with dual anti-inflammatory/antimycobacterial activities which could be favorable from a pharmacoeconomic perspective.

The uses of resveratrol for neurological diseases treatment and insights for nanotechnology based-drug delivery systems

Neurological disorders have been growing in recent years and are highly prevalent globally. Resveratrol (RES) is a natural product from plant sources such as grape skins. This compound has shown biological activity in many diseases, in particular, those that act on the central nervous system. The mechanism of action and the key points in neurological disorders were described and show the targeted mechanism of action. Due to the insolubility of this compound; the use of nanotechnology-based systems has been proposed for the incorporation of RES and RES-loaded nanocarriers have been designed for intranasal administration, oral or parenteral routes to deliver it to the brain. In general, these nanosystems have shown to be effective in many studies, pharmacological and pharmacokinetic assays, as well as some cell studies. The outcomes show that RES has been reported in human clinical trials for some neurological diseases, although no studies were performed in humans using nanocarriers, animal and/or cellular models have been reported to show good results regarding therapeutics on neurological diseases. Thus, the use of this nutraceutical has shown true for neurological diseases and its loading into nanocarriers displaying good results on the stability, delivery and targeting to the brain.

The Attenuation of 14-3-3ζ is Involved in the Caffeic Acid-Blocked Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated Inflammatory Response in RAW264.7 Macrophages

Inflammation plays important roles in the initiation and progress of many diseases. Caffeic acid (CaA) is a naturally occurring hydroxycinnamic acid derivative, which shows hypotoxicity and diverse biological functions, including anti-inflammation. The molecular mechanisms involved in the CaA-inhibited inflammatory response are very complex; generally, the down-regulated phosphorylation of such important transcriptional factors, for example, nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and signal transducers and activators of transcription-3 (STAT-3), plays an important role. Here, we found that in RAW264.7 macrophage cells, CaA blocked lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated inflammatory response by attenuating the expression of 14-3-3ζ (a phosphorylated protein regulator). Briefly, the increased expression of 14-3-3ζ was involved in the LPS-induced inflammatory response. CaA blocked the LPS-elevated 14-3-3ζ via attenuating the LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion and via enhancing the 14-3-3ζ ubiquitination. These processes inhibited the LPS-induced activation (phosphorylation) of NF-κB and STAT-3, in turn blocked the transcriptional activation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and TNF-α, and finally attenuated the productions of nitric oxide (NO), IL-6, and TNF-α. By understanding a novel mechanism whereby CaA inhibited the 14-3-3ζ, our study expanded the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in the anti-inflammation potential induced by CaA.

Association of donor and recipient SUMO4 rs237025 genetic variant with new-onset diabetes mellitus after liver transplantation in a Chinese population

BACKGROUNDS & AIMS

New-onset diabetes mellitus (NODM) is a common complication after liver transplantation (LT). The small ubiquitin-like modifier 4 (SUMO4) rs237025 polymorphism has been reported to be associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In this study, we aimed to evaluate the association of donor and recipient SUMO4 rs237025 polymorphisms with NODM and the long-term consequences of NODM after LT.

METHODS

A total of 126 liver transplant patients were enrolled in the study. One single nucleotide polymorphism, SUMO4 rs237025, was genotyped in both donors and recipients.

RESULTS

Both donor and recipient SUMO4 rs237025 polymorphisms were found to be significantly associated with NODM after LT. In multivariate analysis, recipient age>50 years, tacrolimus trough concentrations>10ng/mL at 1month after LT, donor and recipient rs237025 genetic variant, and the combined donor and recipient rs237025 genetic variant were independent predictive factors of NODM. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) analysis indicated the higher predictive ability of the model containing combined donor and recipient rs237025 polymorphisms than the clinical model (p=0.046). Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier survival analysis demonstrated that NODM was related to significantly poorer patient survival in comparison with non-NODM patients (p=0.041).

CONCLUSIONS

Both donor and recipient SUMO4 rs237025 polymorphisms contribute to the development of NODM after LT and NODM is a frequent complication that negatively affects patient survival.

Resveratrol inhibits LPS-induced mice mastitis through attenuating the MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathway

Resveratrol is a natural polyphenol extracted from mangy plants. It has been reported that resveratrol show multitudinous positive role in biology such as anti-oxidant, anti-nociception and anti-inflammatory effects. Therefore, the present study devotes to test the effect of resveratrol on LPS-induced mastitis in mice. Resveratrol was administered intraperitoneally 1 h before LPS treatment. And the anti-inflammatory effect of resveratrol was measured by histopathological examination, MPO assay, real-time PCR and western blotting analysis. The results showed that resveratrol significantly reduced the LPS-induced mammary histopathological changes. Meanwhile, it sharply attenuated the activity of MPO. The result also indicated that the resveratrol can decrease the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β. From the results of western blotting, resveratrol suppressed the expression of phosphorylation of p65 and IκB from NF-κB signal pathway and phosphorylation of p38 and ERK from MAPK signal pathway. These findings suggested that resveratrol may inhibit the inflammatory response in the mastitis.