Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside promotes progesterone secretion by improving cells viability and mitochondrial function in cadmium-sulfate-damaged R2C cells

The roles of MicroRNAs in cadmium toxicity and in the protection offered by plant food-derived dietary phenolic bioactive substances against cadmium-induced toxicity

Cadmium, a harmful food contaminant, poses severe health risks. There are ongoing efforts to reduce cadmium pollution and alleviate its toxicity, including plant-based dietary intervention. This review hypothesizes that microRNAs (miRNAs), as regulatory eukaryotic transcripts, play crucial roles in modulating cadmium-induced organ damage, and plant food-derived bioactive compounds provide protective effects via miRNA-mediated mechanisms. The review reveals that there are interplays between certain miRNAs and plant food-derived dietary bioactive substances when these bioactives, especially phenolics, counteract cadmium toxicity through regulating physiologic and pathologic events (including oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy and inflammation). The review discusses common miRNA-associated physiologic/pathologic events and signal pathways shared by the cadmium toxicity and dietary intervention processes. This paper identifies the existing knowledge gaps and potential future work (e.g. joint actions between miRNAs and other noncoding RNAs in the fights against cadmium). The insights provided by this review can improve food safety strategies and public health outcomes.

Cadmium as a male reproductive toxicant and natural and non-natural ways to tackle it: a review

Cadmium (Cd) is a naturally occurring environmental pollutant, a toxic substance that causes oxidative stress. According to epidemiological studies, the data suggested that environmental and occupational Cd exposure may be related to several diseases and severe testicular damage. However, studies are going on to explore the mechanism of Cd-induced male reproductive toxicity and its treatment strategies. Currently, researchers are focusing on naturally occurring bioactive compounds, plant extracts, and biochemical, which have better efficacy, less toxicity, and high bioavailability. This review focuses on the mechanistic effect of Cd on testicular toxicity and different categories of compounds having a beneficial impact on Cd-induced male reproductive toxicity. Some potent bioactive antioxidants are quercetin, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, curcumin, and silymarin. In comparison, plant extracts are Costus afer leaf methanol extract, methanol root extract of Carpolobia lutea, red carrot methanolic extract, Panax ginseng extract, and biochemicals including melatonin, progesterone, glutamine, L-carnitine, and selenium. Advanced and more detailed studies are needed on these compounds to explore their mechanism in attenuating Cd-induced testicular toxicity and can be potential therapeutics in the future.

Mechanism of action of anthocyanin on the detoxification of foodborne contaminants-A review of recent literature

Foodborne contaminants refer to substances that are present in food and threaten food safety. Due to the progress in detection technology and the rising concerns regarding public health, there has been a surge in research focusing on the dangers posed by foodborne contaminants. These studies aim to explore and implement strategies that are both safe and efficient in mitigating the associated risks. Anthocyanins, a class of flavonoids, are abundantly present in various plant species, such as blueberries, grapes, purple sweet potatoes, cherries, mulberries, and others. Numerous epidemiological and nutritional intervention studies have provided evidence indicating that the consumption of anthocyanins through dietary intake offers a range of protective effects against the detrimental impact of foodborne contaminants. The present study aims to differentiate between two distinct subclasses of foodborne contaminants: those that are generated during the processing of food and those that originate from the surrounding environment. Furthermore, the impact of anthocyanins on foodborne contaminants was also summarized based on a review of articles published within the last 10 years. However, further investigation is warranted regarding the mechanism by which anthocyanins target foodborne contaminants, as well as the potential impact of individual variations in response. Additionally, it is important to note that there is currently a dearth of clinical research examining the efficacy of anthocyanins as an intervention for mitigating the effects of foodborne pollutants. Thus, by exploring the detoxification effect and mechanism of anthocyanins on foodborne pollutants, this review thereby provides evidence, supporting the utilization of anthocyanin-rich diets as a means to mitigate the detrimental effects of foodborne contaminants.

Effect of high pressure homogenization on the interaction between corn starch and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside

The effects of high pressure homogenization (HPH) at different pressures (50, 100, 150 and 200 MPa) and temperatures (4, 20, 40, 60 and 80 °C) on the interaction between corn starch (CS) and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) were investigated. Based on analyses of zeta potential, attenuated total reflection-flourier transformed infrared spectroscopy and binding rate after adding shielding agents, the main interaction force changed from electrostatic interaction to hydrogen bonds. In comparison, the interaction between CS and C3G exhibited greater strength at low temperatures and pressures. Especially, 4 °C/50 MPa HPH caused the most significant enhancement in binding rate and binding amount, from 9.56 % to 25.16 % and 0.96 μg/mg CS to 2.52 μg/mg CS, respectively. At this condition, the specific surface area of CS-C3G increased from 433.57 ± 0.91 m2/kg to 440.93 ± 1.01 m2/kg. Surface fluorescence reduction was observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy, further X-ray diffraction patterns indicated the retention of partial spatial structure. Therefore, HPH opened the entry channels, increased contact area and preserved steric hindrance, which increased hydrogen bonding sites. At high temperatures and high pressures (> 40 °C, > 100 MPa), the increasing free starch chains provided new hydrogen bonding sites. Overall, HPH was an effective method to enhance the interaction by affecting starch structure.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside Mitigates the Ovarian Defect Induced by Zearalenone via p53-GADD45a Signaling during Primordial Follicle Assembly

Zearalenone (ZEN) is well known as a kind of endocrine disruptor whose exposure is capable of causing reproductive toxicity in animals. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is a derivative of cyanidin and owns multiple biofunctions, and prior efforts have suggested that C3G has therapeutic actions for reproductive diseases. In this article, a ZEN exposure model during primordial follicle assembly was constructed using the in vitro culture platform of neonatal mouse ovaries. We investigated the protective effect of C3G on ZEN-induced ovarian toxicity during primordial follicle assembly in mice, as well as its potential mechanism. Interestingly, we observed that C3G could effectively protect the ovary from ZEN damage, mainly by restoring primordial follicle assembly, which upregulated the expression of LHX8 and SOHLH1 proteins and relieved ZEN-induced DNA damage. Next, to explore the mechanism by which C3G rescued ZEN-induced injury, we performed RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). The bioinformatic analysis illustrated that the rescue pathway of C3G was associated with p53-Gadd45a signaling and cell cycle. Then, western blotting and flow cytometry results revealed that C3G restored the expression levels of cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6) and cyclin D2 (CCND2) and regulated the ovarian cell cycle to normal. In conclusion, our findings manifested that C3G could alleviate ZEN-induced primordial follicle assembly impairment by restoring the cell cycle involved in p53-GADD45a signaling.

LncRNA profiles of Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside ameliorated Zearalenone-induced damage in porcine granulosa cells

Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), a class of RNA molecules with transcripts longer than 200 nt, is crucial for maintaining animal reproductive function. Zearalenone (ZEN) damaged animal reproduction by targeting ovarian granulosa cells (GCs), especially in pigs. Nonetheless, it is not quite clear that whether Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) exert effects on porcine GCs (pGCs) after ZEN exposure by altering lncRNA expression. Here, we sought to gain novel information regarding C3G protect against damages induced by ZEN in pGCs. The pGCs were divided into control (Ctrl), ZEN, ZEN + C3G (Z + C), and C3G groups. Results revealed that C3G effectively increased cell viability and suppressed ZEN-induced apoptosis in pGCs. 87 and 82 differentially expressed lncRNAs (DELs) were identified in ZEN vs. Ctrl and Z + C vs. ZEN group, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis observed that the DELs were related to cell metabolism and cell-matrix adhesion biological processes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis found that the DELs were associated with the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases (PI3K)-protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. In brief, we demonstrated that C3G could shield apoptosis induced by ZEN, which may be connected with the changes of lncRNA expression profiles in pGCs. This study complemented our understanding of the genetic basis and molecular mechanisms by which C3G mitigated the toxicity of ZEN in pGCs.

Dynamic assessment of the relationship between oxidative stress and apoptotic pathway in embryonic fibroblast cells exposed to glycidamide: possible protective role of hesperidin

Worldwide research is being conducted to determine the level of acrylamide (ACR) that humans are exposed to from food and environmental sources. Glycidamide (GA) is an important epoxide metabolite of ACR, and its cytotoxicity is stronger than ACR. In this study, it was aimed to elucidate the effects and underlying mechanisms of GA on the induction of apoptosis in embryonic fibroblast cells. The toxicogenomic profile of GA was studied in terms of both apoptotic and oxidative stress. Embryonic fibroblast cells were exposed to GA (1 and 1000 µM) in the presence and absence of hesperidin (Hes) (20 µM) or vitamin C (VitC) (50 µM) for 24 h. Cell viability, cytotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, antioxidant enzyme levels and gene expressions, apoptotic, and oxidative stress-related gene expressions were measured in embryonic fibroblast cells. The results showed that GA induced cytotoxicity and diminished the expression levels of apoptotic genes. Furthermore, GA increased the levels of oxidative stress markers and significantly changed the oxidative stress-related gene expression. It has been determined that antioxidant molecules are considerably suppressed in GA-induced toxicity at both gene and enzyme levels. In addition to these results, when VitC, which is known to have strong antioxidant properties in eliminating the toxic effects of GA, is taken as reference, it has been proven that Hes has stronger antioxidant properties compared to VitC. Finally, GA-induced apoptosis in embryonic fibroblast cells is associated with nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-dependent oxidative stress and Hes has antioxidant properties with strong effects.

Cyanidin-3-O-Glucoside Rescues Zearalenone-Induced Apoptosis via the ITGA7-PI3K-AKT Signaling Pathway in Porcine Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an important secondary metabolite of Fusarium fungi, exposure to which can cause reproductive disorders through its effects on ovarian granulosa cells (GCs) in many mammals, especially in pigs. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) on the ZEN-induced negative effects in porcine GCs (pGCs). The pGCs were treated with 30 µM ZEN and/or 20 µM C3G for 24 h; they were divided into a control (Ctrl) group, ZEN group, ZEN+C3G (Z+C) group, and a C3G group. Bioinformatics analysis was used to systematically screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the rescue process. Results showed that C3G could effectively rescue ZEN-induced apoptosis in pGCs, and notably increase cell viability and proliferation. Furthermore, 116 DEGs were identified, and the phosphatidylinositide 3-kinases-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) signaling pathway was the center of attention, of which five genes and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway were confirmed by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and/or Western blot (WB). As analyzed, ZEN inhibited mRNA and protein levels of integrin subunit alpha-7 (ITGA7), and promoted the expression of cell cycle inhibition kinase cyclin-D3 (CCND3) and cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (CDKN1A). After the knock-down of ITGA7 by siRNA, the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway was significantly inhibited. Meanwhile, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression decreased, and apoptosis rates and pro-apoptotic proteins increased. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that C3G exhibited significant protective effects on the ZEN-induced inhibition of proliferation and apoptosis via the ITGA7-PI3K-AKT pathway.

Anthocyanins Prevent AAPH-Induced Steroidogenesis Disorder in Leydig Cells by Counteracting Oxidative Stress and StAR Abnormal Expression in a Structure-Dependent Manner

Testosterone deficiency may increase the risk of sexual dysfunction and the failure of spermatogenesis. Oxidative stress that is derived from the destruction of homeostasis, disease, and exposure to contaminants can damage the steroidogenicity process in Leydig cells, resulting in a reduction in testosterone synthesis. Anthocyanins are a group of innoxious antioxidants widely recognized in food sources, and are an ideal candidate to relieve oxidative stress-related steroidogenesis disorder. However, there is still a major gap in our knowledge of the structure-function relationship of anthocyanin on the activity mentioned above. In the present study, four anthocyanins including cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy-3-glu), delphinidin-3-glucoside (Dp-3-glu), pelargonidin-3-glucoside (Pg-3-glu), and cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside (Cy-3,5-diglu) were applied to reverse testosterone generation after employing 2,2'-Azobis(2-amidinopropane)-dihydrochloride (AAPH) as the inducer of oxidative stress in R2C cells. The results demonstrated that all four kinds of anthocyanins can inhibit ROS generation, alleviate mitochondrial membrane potential damage, and contribute to increased testosterone. Among them, Cy-3,5-diglu with diglycoside performed best on antioxidative ability and improved cell dysfunction and upregulated the expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). The molecular docking further revealed the direct combination between anthocyanins and StAR, suggesting that anthocyanins with monosaccharide were more likely to interact with StAR than with diglycoside. Taken together, these data indicate that recipient R2C cells under oxidative stress submitted to anthocyanins exhibited improved steroidogenesis in a structure-dependent manner. Anthocyanins could be considered the ideal ingredients against oxidative stress-induced testosterone deficiency.

Cholesterol-Lowering Activity of Vitisin A Is Mediated by Inhibiting Cholesterol Biosynthesis and Enhancing LDL Uptake in HepG2 Cells

Pyranoanthocyanins have been reported to possess better chemical stability and bioactivities than monomeric anthocyanins in some aspects. The hypocholesterolemic activity of pyranoanthocyanins is unclear. In view of this, this study was conducted to compare the cholesterol-lowering activities of Vitisin A with the anthocyanin counterpart Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside(C3G) in HepG2 cells and to investigate the interaction of Vitisin A with the expression of genes and proteins associated with cholesterol metabolism. HepG2 cells were incubated with 40 μM cholesterol and 4 μM 25-hydroxycholeterol with various concentrations of Vitisin A or C3G for 24 h. It was found that Vitisin A decreased the cholesterol levels at the concentrations of 100 μM and 200 μM with a dose-response relationship, while C3G exhibited no significant effect on cellular cholesterol. Furthermore, Vitisin A could down-regulate 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis through a sterol regulatory element-binding protein 2 (SREBP2)-dependent mechanism, and up-regulate low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) and blunt the secretion of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) protein to promote intracellular LDL uptake without LDLR degradation. In conclusion, Vitisin A demonstrated hypocholesterolemic activity, by inhibiting cholesterol biosynthesis and enhancing LDL uptake in HepG2 cells.

Maize Flavonoid Biosynthesis, Regulation, and Human Health Relevance: A Review

Maize is one of the most important crops for human and animal consumption and contains a chemical arsenal essential for survival: flavonoids. Moreover, flavonoids are well known for their beneficial effects on human health. In this review, we decided to organize the information about maize flavonoids into three sections. In the first section, we include updated information about the enzymatic pathway of maize flavonoids. We describe a total of twenty-one genes for the flavonoid pathway of maize. The first three genes participate in the general phenylpropanoid pathway. Four genes are common biosynthetic early genes for flavonoids, and fourteen are specific genes for the flavonoid subgroups, the anthocyanins, and flavone C-glycosides. The second section explains the tissue accumulation and regulation of flavonoids by environmental factors affecting the expression of the MYB-bHLH-WD40 (MBW) transcriptional complex. The study of transcription factors of the MBW complex is fundamental for understanding how the flavonoid profiles generate a palette of colors in the plant tissues. Finally, we also include an update of the biological activities of C3G, the major maize anthocyanin, including anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant effects, among others. This review intends to disclose and integrate the existing knowledge regarding maize flavonoid pigmentation and its relevance in the human health sector.

The consequence and mechanism of dietary flavonoids on androgen profiles and disorders amelioration

Androgen is a kind of steroid hormone that plays a vital role in reproductive system and homeostasis of the body. Disrupted androgen balance serves as the causal contributor to a series of physiological disorders and even diseases. Flavonoids, as an extremely frequent family of natural polyphenols, exist widely in plants and foods and have received great attention when considering their inevitable consumption and estrogen-like effects. Mounting evidence illustrates that flavonoids have a propensity to interfere with androgen synthesis and metabolism, and also have a designated improvement effect on androgen disorders. Therefore, flavonoids were divided into six subclasses based on the structural feature in this paper, and the literature about their effects on androgens published in the past ten years was summarized. It could be concluded that flavonoids have the potential to regulate androgen levels and biological effects, mainly by interfering with the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis, androgen synthesis and metabolism, androgen binding with its receptors and membrane receptors, and antioxidant effects. The faced challenges about androgen regulation by flavonoids masterly include target mechanism exploration, individual heterogeneity, food matrixes interaction, and lack of clinical study. This review also provides a scientific basis for nutritional intervention using flavonoids to improve androgen disorder symptoms.

Cyanidin-3-Ο-glucoside supplementation in cryopreservation medium improves human sperm quality

Currently, the cryopreservation of human spermatozoa must overcome the adverse effects of excessive oxidation. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation of cryopreservation medium with cyanidin-3-Ο-glucoside (C3G) on sperm quality. Semen samples were obtained from men with normozoospermia according to WHO criteria (n = 39). The sperm parameter values were compared after cryopreservation in medium supplemented with and without C3G.Compared with the control group (without additive), low doses (50 μM and 100 μM) of C3G improved sperm viability and motility and decreased the reactive oxygen species (ROS) of spermatozoa, while high doses (200 μM) of C3G did not obviously enhance sperm quality. The amount of DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and high DNA stainability (HDS) after freezing were higher in the control group than in the C3G supplementation groups. Low-concentration C3G supplementation (50 μM) was negatively correlated with sperm ROS levels (r = -0.2, p = 0.03). Collectively, our findings suggest that C3G could be an efficient semen cryoprotectant that ameliorates oxidative stress in human sperm during cryopreservation.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside ameliorates cadmium induced uterine epithelium proliferation in mice

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant and endocrine disrupter, abundantly present in water, food, and soil. Accumulation of Cd in the body can negatively affect female reproduction; especially the uterus is exceptionally sensitive to the toxic actions of Cd. The anthocyanin cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is a naturally occurring phenolic compound in fruits and plants that can antagonize the toxic effects of Cd. This capacity makes C3G a possible candidate to prevent Cd-induced female infertility. The present study aimed to investigate: 1) whether C3G intake could prevent Cd-induced female reproductive toxicity, and 2) the underlying mechanisms responsible for this protective effect. The results of our study indicated that Cd exposure did not affect ovarian function, but induced hypertrophy of the uterine endometrium. Oral intake of C3G markedly reduced the effects of Cd exposure on the thickness of the uterine epithelium cells. Transcriptomic analysis of the endometrium revealed that C3G intake had anti-estrogenic effects, attenuating Cd-induced endometrial epithelial cell proliferation by inhibiting estrogen-responsive genes, enhancing epithelial progesterone receptor expression, and regulating Klf4 expression. The current findings implicate that C3G has the potential to be used as a dietary supplement based on its capacity to intervene in Cd-induced female reproductive toxicity.

MicroRNA regulation of the proliferation and apoptosis of Leydig cells in diabetes

BACKGROUND

The number of patients with diabetes is increasing worldwide. Diabetic testicular damage can cause spermiogenesis disorders and sexual dysfunction. We thus explored the role of miRNAs in diabetic testicular damage, and revealed that they could serve as effective prevention and treatment therapeutic targets.

METHODS

Streptozotocin (STZ) was used to generate a rat model of type 2 diabetes. Rat testicular tissues were used for miRNA and mRNA sequencing. Through bioinformatics analysis, we constructed an miRNA-mRNA diabetic testicular damage regulatory network and screened for key miRNAs. We also used Leydig cells to generate a diabetic cell model and detected the downstream target genes of miRNAs, secretion of testosterone, and proliferation and apoptotic levels to elucidate the role and mechanism of the selected miRNAs in diabetic testicular damage.

RESULTS

Using second-generation sequencing, we identified 19 differentially expressed miRNAs and 555 mRNAs in the testes of diabetic rats. Based on computational prediction of targets and negative regulation relationships, we constructed a miRNA-mRNA regulatory network, including 12 miRNAs and 215 mRNAs. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that genes were more concentrated on the survival signalling pathway. Based on this, we screened 2 key miRNAs, miR-504 and miR-935. In vitro, glucose could induce an increase in miR-504 and miR-935, whereas a decrease in MEK5 and MEF2C in a dose-dependent manner. Overexpression of miR-504 and miR-935 led to the decreased expression of MEK5 and MEF2C, decreased proliferation rate of Leydig cells, increased apoptotic rate, and decreased secretion of testosterone. Whereas, knockdown of miR-504 and miR-935 displayed opposite tendencies.

CONCLUSIONS

miRNAs play important roles in diabetic testicular damage. miR-504 and miR-935 might regulate testicular damage through the classic survival pathway of MEK5-ERK5-MEF2C. Targeted inhibition of miR-504 and miR-935 could reverse the high-glucose-induced testicular complications, thus posing as a potential therapeutic approach in diabetic testicular injury.

Anthocyanin from purple sweet potato attenuates lead-induced reproductive toxicity mediated by JNK signaling pathway in male mice

The present work aimed to explore the protective effect of APSP on Pb-induced reproductive toxicity and possible mechanism. APSP (100 mg/kg) was administered to Pb-intoxicated (0.2% lead acetate) male Kunming mice once daily by oral gavage for 6 weeks. Our results showed that APSP exerted male reproductive protection effects as showed by attenuated Pb-induced testicular injury, improved sperm count and motility, and reduced sperm abnormality rate. APSP also restored Pb-induced decrease in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, and GSH/GSSG ratio, but inhibited lipid peroxidation in serum and testes. Moreover, APSP downregulated Pb-induced Bax mRNA and protein expressions, suppressed activation of caspase-3, upregulated Bcl-2 protein expression, and prevented Pb-induced DNA damage. APSP treatment also interfered with Pb-induced testicular JNK signaling through inhibition of JNK mRNA expression and phosphorylation, resulting in inhibition of c-Jun expression. These effects of APSP were abolished by Pb. In conclusion, APSP represents a potential therapeutic agent for preventing Pb-caused reproductive toxicity, which is attributed to its antioxidant and anti-apoptotic properties, as well as, modulation of JNK signaling pathway.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and its phenolic metabolites ameliorate intestinal diseases via modulating intestinal mucosal immune system: potential mechanisms and therapeutic strategies

The incidence of the intestinal disease is globally increasing, and the intestinal mucosa immune system is an important defense line. A potential environmental cause to regulate gut health is diet. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside is a natural plant bioactive substance that has shown rising evidence of improving intestinal disease and keeping gut homeostasis. This review summarized the intestinal protective effect of Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in vivo and in vitro and discussed the potential mechanisms by regulating the intestinal mucosal immune system. Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and phenolic metabolites inhibited the presence and progression of intestinal diseases and explained from the aspects of repairing the intestinal wall, inhibiting inflammatory reaction, and regulating the gut microbiota. Although the animal and clinical studies are inadequate, based on the accumulated evidence, we propose that the interaction of Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside with the intestinal mucosal immune system is at the core of most mechanisms by which affect host gut diseases. This review puts forward the potential mechanism of action and targeted treatment strategies.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside restores spermatogenic dysfunction in cadmium-exposed pubertal mice via histone ubiquitination and mitigating oxidative damage

Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental contaminant found in soil, water, and food, and can cause oxidative stress and male reproductive damage. During puberty, the male reproductive system is very vulnerable to interference, however, the dysregulation of Cd on spermatogenesis in this period is ambiguous. The anthocyanin cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G) is phytochemical rich in plants and fruits and has been shown to have remarkable anti-oxidant activity, making it an ideal nutrient for nutritional intervention. By modeling Cd-induced damage in male pubertal mice and feeding with C3G, we demonstrated that the C3G could rescue the amount and activity of sperm predominantly. Furthermore, C3G showed partial resistance to Cd-induced histone modification during spermiogenesis and prevented oxidative damage of the DNA in the sperm nucleus. Additionally, C3G mitigated the oxidative stress of testis to achieve the level coinciding with the control group. Meanwhile, Cd-induced mitochondrial apoptosis of sperm cells was reduced significantly via the MAPK signaling pathway in the presence of C3G. Collectively, our findings can offer a potential intervention for combating Cd-induced reproductive damage during puberty by taking anthocyanin as a dietary supplement.

Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside protects against cadmium-induced dysfunction of sex hormone secretion via the regulation of hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal axis in male pubertal mice

Cadmium (Cd) has been generally recognized as an endocrine-disrupting chemical for its toxic effects on the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis accompanied by dysfunction in sex hormone secretion. Particularly, exposure to Cd during puberty versus post-puberty exhibits differing age-dependent effects that require further examination. This study sought to determine if cyanidin-3-O-glucoside (C3G), a typical anthocyanin with neuroprotective bioactivity, could protect against Cd-induced sex hormone-disorder in Pubertal male mice. C3G treatment reversed the disruption of hormone levels and increased Gnrh1 gene expression in the hypothalamus. In addition, the levels of gonadotropins, including luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), were reversed by C3G. Interestingly, C3G improved the expression of LH and FSH receptor in the testis in mice exposed to Cd. Furthermore, C3G activated the signaling pathway related to the synthesis of testosterone processing. In conclusion, C3G protected against Cd-induced dysfunction of sex hormone secretion through the regulation of the HPG axis in male mice during puberty. The results of this study suggest that consumption of anthocyanins can be protective against metal-induced male reproductive dysfunction.

Pectin oligosaccharides from hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifidaBunge. Var. major) inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products in infant formula milk powder

Pectin oligosaccharides (POSs) can not only be used as prebiotics but also can be used as natural food-borne antiglycation agents, which is related to their structure, including molecular weight and galacturonic acid content.