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Leonti M, Cabras S, Castellanos Nueda ME, Casu L. Food drugs as drivers of therapeutic knowledge and the role of chemosensory qualities. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 328:118012. [PMID: 38447614 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Chemosensory qualities of botanical drugs are important cues for anticipating physiologic consequences. Whether a botanical drug is used for both, food and medicine, or only as medicine depends on taste preferences, nutritional content, cultural background, and the individual and overall epidemiological context. MATERIAL AND METHODS We subjected 540 botanical drugs described in De Materia Medica having at least one oral medical application to a tasting panel. The 540 drugs were grouped into those only used for medicine (388) and those also used for food (152). The associations with chemosensory qualities and therapeutic indications were compared across the two groups. We considered 22 experimentally assessed chemosensory qualities and 39 categories of therapeutic use groups. We wanted to know, 1): which chemosensory qualities increase the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be also used for food ? 2): which chemosensory qualities augment the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be only used for medicine? and 3): whether there are differences in therapeutic indications between orally applied botanical drugs also used for food (food drugs) and botanical drugs applied exclusively for medicinal purposes (non-food drugs) and, if yes, how the differences can be explained. RESULTS Chemosensory qualities augmenting the probability of an orally applied botanical drug to be also used for food were sweet, starchy, salty, burning/hot, fruity, nutty, and cooling. Therapeutics used for diarrhoea, as libido modulators, purgatives, laxatives, for expelling parasites, breast and lactation and increasing diuresis, were preferentially sourced from food drugs while drugs used for liver and jaundice, vaginal discharge and humoral management showed significant negative associations with food dugs in ancient Greek-Roman materia medica. CONCLUSION Therapeutics used for ailments of body organs involved in the digestion of food and the excretion of waste products showed a tendency to be sourced from food drugs. Arguably, the daily consumption of food offered the possibility for observing post-prandial physiologic and pharmacologic effects which led to a high therapeutic versatility of food drugs and the possibility to understand benefits of taste and flavour qualities. The difference in chemosensory qualities between food drugs and non-food drugs is demarcating the organoleptic requirements of food rather than that of medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Leonti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, (CA), Italy.
| | - Stefano Cabras
- Department of Statistics, Carlos III University of Madrid, C/Madrid, 126, 28903, Getafe, (MA), Spain
| | | | - Laura Casu
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042, Monserrato, (CA), Italy
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Melis M, Mastinu M, Sollai G. Effect of the rs2821557 Polymorphism of the Human Kv1.3 Gene on Olfactory Function and BMI in Different Age Groups. Nutrients 2024; 16:821. [PMID: 38542732 PMCID: PMC10974623 DOI: 10.3390/nu16060821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
The sense of smell plays an important role in influencing the eating habits of individuals and consequently, their body weight, and its impairment has been associated with modified eating behaviors and malnutrition problems. The inter-individual variability of olfactory function depends on several factors, including genetic and physiological ones. In this study, we evaluated the role of the Kv1.3 channel genotype and age, as well as their mutual relationships, on the olfactory function and BMI of individuals divided into young, adult and elderly groups. We assessed olfactory performance in 112 healthy individuals (young n = 39, adult n = 36, elderly n = 37) based on their TDI olfactory score obtained through the Sniffin' Sticks test and their BMI. Participants were genotyped for the rs2821557 polymorphism of the human gene encoding Kv1.3 channels, the minor C allele of which was associated with a decreased sense of smell and higher BMIs compared to the major T allele. The results show that TT homozygous subjects obtained higher TDI olfactory scores and showed lower BMIs than CC homozygous subjects, in all age groups considered. Furthermore, the positive effect of the T allele on olfactory function and BMI decreased with increasing age. The contribution of the genetic factor is less evident with advancing age, while the importance of the age factor is compensated for by genetics. These results show that genetic and physiological factors such as age act to balance each other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melania Melis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy;
| | - Mariano Mastinu
- Smell and Taste Clinic, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Technical University of Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany;
| | - Giorgia Sollai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy;
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Matiashova L, Hoogkamer AL, Timper K. The Role of the Olfactory System in Obesity and Metabolism in Humans: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Metabolites 2023; 14:16. [PMID: 38248819 PMCID: PMC10821293 DOI: 10.3390/metabo14010016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Obesity, linked to chronic diseases, poses a global health challenge. While the role of the olfactory system in energy homeostasis is well-documented in rodents, its role in metabolism regulation and obesity in humans remains understudied. This review examines the interplay between olfactory function and metabolic alterations in human obesity and the effects of bariatric surgery on olfactory capabilities in humans. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted, focusing exclusively on original human studies. From 51 articles, 14 were selected for the meta-analysis. It was found that variations in olfactory receptor genes influence the susceptibility to odors and predisposition to weight gain and poor eating habits. Bariatric surgery, particularly sleeve gastrectomy, shows significant improvements in olfactory function (SMD 2.37, 95% CI [0.96, 3.77], I = 92%, p = 0.001), especially regarding the olfactory threshold (SMD -1.65, 95% CI [-3.03, -0.27], I = 81%, p = 0.02). There is a bidirectional relationship between olfactory function and metabolism in humans. Bariatric surgery improves olfactory perception in obese patients, but it is still unclear if impacting the olfactory system directly affects eating behavior and the energy balance. However, these findings open novel avenues for future studies addressing the olfactory system as a novel target to alter systemic metabolism in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lolita Matiashova
- Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (A.L.H.); or (K.T.)
| | - Anouk Lisa Hoogkamer
- Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (A.L.H.); or (K.T.)
| | - Katharina Timper
- Clinic of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, University Hospital Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland; (A.L.H.); or (K.T.)
- Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, 4031 Basel, Switzerland
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Saveleva L, Sima M, Klema J, Krejčík Z, Vartiainen P, Sitnikova V, Belaya I, Malm T, Jalava PI, Rössner P, Kanninen KM. Transcriptomic alterations in the olfactory bulb induced by exposure to air pollution: Identification of potential biomarkers and insights into olfactory system function. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 104:104316. [PMID: 37981204 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2023.104316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated how exposure to the ubiquitous air pollution component, ultrafine particles (UFPs), alters the olfactory bulb (OB) transcriptome. The study utilised a whole-body inhalation chamber to simulate real-life conditions and focused on UFPs due to their high translocation and deposition ability in OBs as well as their prevalence in ambient air. Female C57BL/6J mice were exposed to clean air or to freshly generated combustion derived UFPs for two weeks, after which OBs were dissected and mRNA transcripts were investigated using RNA sequencing analysis. For the first time, transcriptomics was applied to determine changes in mRNA expression levels occurring after subacute exposure to UFPs in the OBs. We found forty-five newly described mRNAs to be involved in air pollution-induced responses, including genes involved in odorant binding, synaptic regulation, and myelination signalling pathway, providing new gene candidates for future research. This study provides new insights for the environmental science and neuroscience fields and nominates future research directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liudmila Saveleva
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Michal Sima
- Department of Nanotoxicology and Molecular Epidemiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Jiri Klema
- Department of Computer Science, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Czech Technical University in Prague, Jugoslávských partyzánů 1580/3, Prague 160 00, Czech Republic
| | - Zdeněk Krejčík
- Department of Genetic Toxicology and Epigenetics, Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Vartiainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Valeriia Sitnikova
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Irina Belaya
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Tarja Malm
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pasi I Jalava
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pavel Rössner
- Department of Nanotoxicology and Molecular Epidemiology, Institute of Experimental Medicine CAS, Vídeňská 1083, Prague 142 20, Czech Republic
| | - Katja M Kanninen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
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Velluzzi F, Deledda A, Lombardo M, Fosci M, Crnjar R, Grossi E, Sollai G. Application of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) to Elucidate the Connections among Smell, Obesity with Related Metabolic Alterations, and Eating Habit in Patients with Weight Excess. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13020206. [PMID: 36837824 PMCID: PMC9959568 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13020206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is a severe health problem linked to an increased risk of comorbidity and mortality and its etiopathogenesis includes genetic, epigenetic, microbiota composition, and environmental factors, such as dietary habits. The olfactory system plays an important role in controlling food intake and meal size, influencing body weight and energy balance. This study aims to identify the connection between olfactory function and clinical and nutritional aspects related to weight excess in a group of 68 patients with overweight or obesity. All participants underwent the evaluation of olfactory function, anthropometric data (weight, height, BMI, waist circumference), clinical data (hypertension, disglycemia, dyslipidemia, metabolic syndrome), and adherence to the Mediterranean diet (Mediterranean Diet Score). A fourth-generation artificial neural network data mining approach was used to uncover trends and subtle associations between variables. Olfactory tests showed that 65% of patients presented hyposmia. A negative correlation was found between olfactory scores and systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and triglycerides levels, but a positive correlation was found between olfactory scores and the Mediterranean diet score. The methodology of artificial neural networks and the semantic connectivity map "Auto-Contractive Map" highlighted the underlying scheme of the connections between the variables considered. In particular, hyposmia was linked to obesity and related metabolic alterations and the male sex. The female sex was connected with normosmia, higher adherence to the Mediterranean diet, and normal values of blood pressure, lipids, and glucose levels. These results highlight an inverse correlation between olfactory skills and BMI and show that a normosmic condition, probably because of greater adherence to the Mediterranean diet, seems to protect not only from an excessive increase in body weight but also from associated pathological conditions such as hypertension and metabolic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Velluzzi
- Obesity Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Andrea Deledda
- Obesity Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Mauro Lombardo
- Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Fosci
- Obesity Unit, Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University Hospital of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy
| | - Roberto Crnjar
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
| | - Enzo Grossi
- Autism Research Unit, Villa Santa Maria Foundation, 22038 Tavernerio, Italy
| | - Giorgia Sollai
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Monserrato, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-070-6754160
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Melis M, Tomassini Barbarossa I, Crnjar R, Sollai G. Olfactory Sensitivity Is Associated with Body Mass Index and Polymorphism in the Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels Kv1.3. Nutrients 2022; 14:nu14234986. [PMID: 36501016 PMCID: PMC9736683 DOI: 10.3390/nu14234986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Smell strongly contributes to food choice and its hedonistic evaluation. A reduction or loss of smell has been related to malnutrition problems, resulting in excessive weight loss or gain. Voltage-gated potassium channels Kv1.3 are widely expressed in the olfactory bulb, and contribute mainly to the value of the resting membrane potential and to the frequency of action potentials. Mutations in the Kv1.3 gene are associated with alterations in glycemic homeostasis and olfactory sensitivity. We evaluated the olfactory performance in 102 healthy subjects and its association with BMI and polymorphism in the human Kv1.3 gene. Olfactory performance, based on the olfactory threshold, discrimination and identification scores and their summed score (TDI), was measured using the “Sniffin’ Sticks” test. Subjects were genotyped for the rs2821557 polymorphism of the Kv1.3 gene, whose major allele T was associated with a super-smeller phenotype, lower plasma glucose levels and resistance to diet-induced obesity as compared with the minor allele C. Based on the Kv1.3 genotype, the TDI and I olfactory scores obtained by the subjects were the following: TT > TC > CC. Subjects who were TT homozygous or heterozygous exhibited lower BMIs and reached higher olfactory scores than those with the CC genotype. The results were sex-dependent: heterozygous females performed better than heterozygous males. These findings show an inverse relationship between olfactory function and BMI, and a significant effect of the Kv1.3 genotypes on the olfactory functions and on the BMIs of the subjects. Finally, they suggest that the sex-related differences in the olfactory function can be partially ascribed to the Kv1.3 gene’s polymorphism.
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