Synergistic and suppressive effects of dietary phenolic acids and other phytochemicals from cereal extracts on nuclear factor kappa B activity

Versatile Applications of Brewer's Spent Grain: Solid-State Fermentation and Nutritional Added Value

Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is a major by-product in the beer-brewing process which contributes to 85% of the entire generated by-product in the brewing process. BSG is rich in proteins, and most of the malt proteins (74-78%) remain insoluble in BSG after the mashing process. Solid-state fermentation (SSF) is a promising bioprocess that enables microorganisms to survive in environments with minimal water and has shown to enhance the nutritional composition of BSG. In this review, the potential application of protein, amino acids (proline, threonine, and serine), phenolic contents, and soluble sugars (glucose, fructose, xylose, arabinose, and cellobiose) extracted from BSG by various microorganisms using SSF is explored. Incorporation of BSG into animal feed, human diets, and as a substrate for microorganisms are the prospects that could be implemented in the industrial scale. This review also discussed various advances to improve the fermentation yield such as symbiotic fermentation, the addition of nitrogen supplements, and an optimal mixture of the agro-industrial waste substrate. Future perspectives on SSF are also addressed to provide important ideas for immediate and future studies. However, challenges include optimizing SSF conditions and design of bioreactors, and operational costs must be addressed in the future to overcome current obstacles. Overall, this mini review highlights the potential benefits of BSG utilization and SSF in a sustainable way.

Coarse cereals modulating chronic low-grade inflammation: review

Chronic low-grade inflammation (CLGI) is closely associated with various chronic diseases. Researchers have paid attention to the comprehensive application and development of food materials with potential anti-inflammatory activity. Owing to their abundant nutrients and biological activities, coarse cereals have emerged as an important component of human diet. Increasing evidence has revealed their potential protective effects against CLGI in chronic conditions. However, this property has not been systematically discussed and summarized. In the present work, numerous published reports were reviewed to systematically analyze and summarize the protective effects of coarse cereals and their main active ingredients against CLGI. Their current utilization state was investigated. The future prospects, such as the synergistic effects among the active compounds in coarse cereals and the biomarker signatures of CLGI, were also discussed. Coarse cereals show promise as food diet resources for preventing CLGI in diseased individuals. Their active ingredients, including β-glucan, resistant starch, arabinoxylan, phenolic acids, flavonoids, phytosterols and lignans, function against CLGI through multiple possible intracellular signaling pathways and immunomodulatory effects. Therefore, coarse cereals play a crucial role in the food industry due to their health effects on chronic diseases and are worthy of further development for possible application in modulating chronic inflammation.

Sorghum polyphenols: plant stress, human health benefits, and industrial applications

MAIN CONCLUSION

Various phenolic compounds of sorghum are effective in the management of abiotic stress (salt, nutrients) and biotic stress (caused by birds, fungi and aphids). The health and industrial application of phenolics is mainly contributed by inherent antioxidant and nutraceutical potential. In a natural environment, plant growth is affected by various biotic and abiotic stresses. In every ecosystem, the presence of a wide range of harmful biological agents (bacteria, fungi, nematodes, mites, and insects) and undesirable environmental factors (drought, salinity, heat, excessive or low rainfall, etc.) may cause a heavy loss in crop productivity. Being sessile during evolution, plants have evolved multiple defense mechanisms against various types of microbial pathogens and environmental stresses. A plant's natural defense system produces some compounds named secondary metabolites, which include phenolics, terpenes, and nitrogen. The phenolic profile of grain sorghum, the least utilized staple crop, is unique, more diverse, and more abundant than in any other common cereal grain. It mainly contains phenolic acids, 3-deoxyanthocyanidins and condensed tannins. Sorghum polyphenols play a major role in plant defense against biotic and abiotic stresses and have many additional health benefits along with various industrial applications. The objective of this review is to discuss the phenolic compounds derived from grain sorghum and describe their role in plant defense, human health, and industrial applications.

Scavenging Properties of Plant-Derived Natural Biomolecule Para-Coumaric Acid in the Prevention of Oxidative Stress-Induced Diseases

Para-coumaric acid (p-CA) is a plant derived secondary metabolite belonging to the phenolic compounds. It is widely distributed in the plant kingdom and found mainly in fruits, vegetables, and cereals. Various in vivo and in vitro studies have revealed its scavenging and antioxidative properties in the reduction of oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions. This evidence-based review focuses on the protective role of p-CA including its therapeutic potential. p-CA and its conjugates possesses various bioactivities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-melanogenic properties. Due to its potent free radical scavenging activity, it can mitigate the ill effects of various diseases including arthritis, neurological disorders, and cardio-vascular diseases. Recent studies have revealed that p-CA can ameliorate the harmful effects associated with oxidative stress in the reproductive system, also by inhibiting enzymes linked with erectile function.

The Brassica napus (oilseed rape) seeds bioactive health effects are modulated by agronomical traits as assessed by a multi-scale omics approach in the metabolically impaired ob-mouse

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Oilseed rape seeds are rich in nutritional bioactives.

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Current agronomical traits greatly modulate B. napus seeds bioactive contents.

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Such disparities influence health outcomes in a mice nutritional trial.

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Optimized agronomical conditions may beneficially improve B napus nutritional value.

Beside oil, oilseed rape (Brassica napus) seeds contains nutritional bioactives such as polyphenols and glucosinolates. However, to date their nutritional properties have been overlooked in the new “double zero” breeds.

Seed alcoholic extracts from two B. napus cultivars most contrasting in their phytochemical contents as measured by mass-spectrometry were given to ob-mice. Biological outcomes including clinical metrics, gut and plasma metabolomes, liver transcriptome and metabolome were compared to ob-mice given a similar broccoli extract (Brassica oleracea).

One B. napus extract induced a reduction of the oxidative stress indicated by the decrease of plasma isoprostanoids. This was associated to the regulation of the antioxidant stress defense Nrf2 pathway, to ‘omic’ oxidative stress functions, metabolic and cell process regulations, and the metabolomics microbiota profile.

Extracts of B. napus seeds demonstrated health effects that may be improved by selecting appropriate agronomical traits, highlighting the potential benefits of better utilizing agronomy for improved human and animal nutrition

Concise review: Coarse cereals exert multiple beneficial effects on human health

Coarse cereals (CC) refer to cereal grains except for rice and wheat which are highly-valued as functional foods with nutritional and pharmacological properties. Owing to their diverse positive effect on chronic diseases, coarse cereals exert a vital role in food industry. CC and the main contents prevent tumor pathogenesis through promoting apoptosis, inducing cell cycle arrest as well as modulating metastasis initiation. Meanwhile, CC ameliorates cardiovascular diseases through affecting multiple pathways, such as CaMKII/p-BFAF-3, NF-κB, MAPK, PI3K/Akt, etc. Besides, CC and the main contents have potential as prebiotics which facilitating the activities and growth of probiotics such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacillus. However, there's a lack of report on CC' beneficial properties and the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here this article explains in detail, the effect and mechanism of CC on chronic diseases like tumor, inflammation and cardiovascular diseases.

Ferulic acid reverses P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance via inhibition of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway

In this study, the modulatory effect of ferulic acid on P-glycoprotein (P-gp)-mediated multidrug resistance (MDR) was examined in KB Ch^R8-5 resistant cells and drug-resistant tumor xenografts. We observed that ferulic acid enhanced the cytotoxicity of doxorubicin and vincristine in the P-gp overexpressing KB Ch^R8-5 cells. Further, ferulic acid enhances the doxorubicin induced γH2AX foci formation and synergistically augmented doxorubicin-induced apoptotic signaling in the drug-resistant cells. It has also been noticed that NF-κB nuclear translocation was suppressed by ferulic acid and that this response might be associated with the modulation of phosphatidyinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/signaling pathway. We also found that ferulic acid and doxorubicin combination reduced the size of KB Ch^R8-5 tumor xenograft by threefold as compared to doxorubicin-alone treated group. Thus, ferulic acid contributes to the reversal of the MDR through suppression of P-gp expression via the inhibition of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Composition and Nutrient Value Proposition of Brewers Spent Grain

Brewer's spent grain (BSG), a major brewing industry byproduct, is generated in large quantities annually. This review summarizes research into the composition and preservation of BSG, different extraction techniques for BSG proteins and phenolic acids, and the bioactivities of these phenolic components. Moreover, this article also highlights BSG integration into foodstuff for human consumption and animal feed supplements. BSG is considered a rich source of fiber, protein, and phenolic compounds. The phenolic acids present in BSG are hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic, p-coumaric, and caffeic acids), which have many biofunctions, such as antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, antiatherogenic, and antiinflammatory activities. Previously, attempts have been made to integrate BSG into human food, such as ready-to-eat snacks, cookies and bread, to increase fiber and protein contents. The addition of BSG to animal feed leads to increased milk yields, higher fat contents in milk, and is a good source of essential amino acids. Therefore, many studies have concluded that integrating the biofunctional compounds in BSG into human food and animal feed has various health benefits.

Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives: a potential class of natural compounds for the management of lipid metabolism and obesity

Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives are important class of polyphenolic compounds originated from the Mavolanate-Shikimate biosynthesis pathways in plants. Several simple phenolic compounds such as cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid, chlorgenic acid, and rosmarinic acid belong to this class. These phenolic compounds possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. These compounds were also showed potential therapeutic benefit in experimental diabetes and hyperlipidemia. Recent evidences also suggest that they may serve as valuable molecule for the treatment of obesity related health complications. In adipose tissues, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives inhibit macrophage infiltration and nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation in obese animals. Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives also reduce the expression of the potent proinflammatory adipokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1), and they increase the secretion of an anti-inflammatory agent adiponectin from adipocytes. Furthermore, hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives also prevent adipocyte differentiation and lower lipid profile in experimental animals. Through these diverse mechanisms hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives reduce obesity and curtail associated adverse health complications.

Selenium Supplementation of Amaranth Sprouts Influences Betacyanin Content and Improves Anti-Inflammatory Properties via NFκB in Murine RAW 264.7 Macrophages

Sprouts contain potent compounds which while influencing crucial transduction pathways in cell reveal anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. In this study, we report the biological activity for seeds and colourful sprouts of four types of edible amaranth, as amaranth has recently attracted interest due to its appreciable nutritional value. MTT assay conducted for the amaranth seeds and sprouts did not show any adverse effect on the viability of murine RAW 264.7 cells. As amaranth accumulates selenium, the sprouts were supplemented with this trace element (10 mg/L; 15 mg/L Se as sodium selenite) while growing. Selenium concentration in sprouts was observed to be significantly correlated with betacyanins content of the tested species. The amounts of Se and betacyanins in sprouts varied for various Amaranth species. In the present study, Amaranthus cruentus sprouts with the highest betacyanins (19.30 ± 0.57-28.85 ± 2.23 mg of amaranthin/100 g of fresh weight) and high total selenium (22.51 ± 1.57-1044.75 ± 73.08 μg/L in methanol extracts) content prevented NFκB translocation to the cell nucleus and subsequently exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by significant decreasing inflammatory interleukin 6 production (587.3 ± 34.2-710.0 ± 88.1 pg/mL) in the cell culture of activated RAW 264.7 macrophages (vs LPS control 1520 ± 114 pg/mL).

Red wine polyphenol extract efficiently protects intestinal epithelial cells from inflammation via opposite modulation of JAK/STAT and Nrf2 pathways

The development of therapeutic approaches combining efficacy and safety represents an important goal in intestinal inflammation research. Recently, evidence has supported dietary polyphenols as useful tools in the treatment and prevention of chronic inflammatory diseases, but the mechanisms of action are still poorly understood. We here reveal molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory action of a non-alcoholic polyphenol red wine extract (RWE), operating at complementary levels via the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) and Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) pathways. RWE significantly reduced the nuclear levels of phosphorylated STAT1 and also the cellular levels of phosphorylated JAK1 induced by cytokines, suppressing the JAK/STAT inflammatory signalling cascade. In turn, RWE increased the Nrf2 nuclear level, activating the Nrf2 pathway, leading not only to an up-regulation of the heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression but also to an increase of the glutamate-cysteine ligase subunit catalytic (GCLc) gene expression, enhancing the GSH synthesis, thereby counteracting GSH depletion that occurs under inflammatory conditions. Overall, data indicate that the anti-inflammatory action of RWE is exerted at complementary levels, via suppression of the JAK/STAT inflammatory pathway and positive modulation of the activity of Nrf2. These results point to the potential use of the RWE as an efficient, readily available and inexpensive therapeutic strategy in the context of gastrointestinal inflammation.

Phenolic-enriched fractions from brewers' spent grain possess cellular antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects in cell culture model systems

BACKGROUND

Large quantities of brewers' spent grain (BSG), a co-product of the brewing industry, are produced annually. BSG contains hydroxycinnamic acids, and phenolic-rich extracts from BSG have previously demonstrated the ability to protect against oxidant-induced DNA damage. The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory potential of eight phenolic extracts from BSG: four pale (P1-P4) and four black (B1-B4) extracts.

RESULTS

BSG extracts were more cytotoxic in Jurkat T than U937 cells, with lower IC₅₀ values in Jurkat T cells, measured using the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Pale BSG extracts P2 and P3 showed the greatest anti-inflammatory potential, significantly (P < 0.05) reducing interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4, P2 only), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) production. In addition, extracts P1-P3 and B2-B4 showed significant (P < 0.05) antioxidant effects, determined by the cellular antioxidant activity assays superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione content (GSH).

CONCLUSION

Phenolic extracts from BSG, particularly the pale BSG extracts, have the ability to reduce a stimulated cytokine production and may also protect against cellular oxidative stress. Results of the present study highlight the potential of BSG phenolic extracts to act as functional food ingredients, providing an alternative use and improving the value of this brewing industry co-product.

Polyphenolic extracts of edible flowers incorporated onto atelocollagen matrices and their effect on cell viability

The phenolic extract of chives flowers (Allium schoenoprasum, Liliaceae), introduced Sage (Salvia pratensis, Lamiaceae), European elderberry (Sambucus nigra, Caprifoliaceae) and common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale, Asteraceae) were characterised by High Performance Liquid Chromatography and incorporated in different concentrations onto atelocollagen thin films. In order to assess the biological impact of these phenolic compounds on cell viability, human immortalised non-tumorigenic keratinocyte cell line was seeded on the thin films and cell proliferation was determined by using an MTT assay. In addition, their antimicrobial activity was estimated by using an agar diffusion test. Data indicated the concomitance between cell viability and concentration of polyphenols. These findings suggest that these phenolic-endowed atelocollagen films might be suitable for tissue engineering applications, on account of the combined activity of polyphenols and collagen.

Effect of water deficit and domestic storage on the procyanidin profile, size, and aggregation process in pear-jujube (Z. jujuba) fruits

No information exists on the proanthocyanidin content of pear-jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill) fruit, their polymeric types and sizes, and their self-aggregation, or on the effect of different water deficit levels during the fruit maturation period on these compounds. Two trimers, two tetramers, and six B type procyanidin pentamers were identified and quantified for the first time. Water deficit increased the content of procyanidins of low molecular mass, improving their potential bioavailability and possible physiological effects on human health. The tendency of procyanidins to self-aggregate was similar in the edible portion and pit, and was not affected by water deficit. The procyanidin content of fruit from well watered trees increased during domestic cold storage, whereas the fruits from trees suffering severe water stress lost some of their procyanidin content.

Brewers' spent grain; bioactivity of phenolic component, its role in animal nutrition and potential for incorporation in functional foods: a review

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is a low-value co-product of the brewing industry produced in large quantities annually. This paper reviews the existing evidence regarding the phenolic component of BSG, focusing on composition, extraction and biofunctions such as antioxidant, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic activities. Furthermore, the incorporation of BSG in foodstuffs will be discussed, including the use of BSG as an animal feed supplement and the potential of BSG to be incorporated into foods for human consumption. BSG contains hydroxycinnamic acids including ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid; which have shown bioactivity in the pure form (antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic and anti-cancer). Phenolic extracts from BSG have also shown antioxidant potential, by protecting against oxidant-induced DNA damage, possibly by Fe chelation. Studies show that BSG has many benefits when used as a supplement in animal feed, such as increasing milk yield, milkfat content and in providing essential dietary amino acids. The incorporation of BSG in human foods such as cookies and ready-to-eat snacks has resulted in increased protein and fibre contents of the products, where the changes in organoleptic properties are controllable. It can be concluded that the phenolic component of BSG has potential bioactive effects, which are worth pursuing given that the inclusion of BSG into human foodstuffs is viable and beneficial.