Inhibitory effect of clove methanolic extract and eugenol on dendritic cell functions

Exploitation of In Vivo-Emulated In Vitro System in Advanced Food Science

Reasonable model construction contributes to the accuracy of experimental results. Multiple in vivo models offer reliable choices for effective evaluation, whereas their applications are hampered due to adverse features including high time-consumption, high cost and ethical contradictions. In vivo-emulated in vitro systems (IVE systems) have experienced rapid development and have been brought into food science for about two decades. IVE systems' flexibly gathers the strengths of in vitro and in vivo models into one, reflecting the results in an efficient, systematic and interacted manner. In this review, we comprehensively reviewed the current research progress of IVE systems based on the literature published in the recent two decades. By categorizing the IVE systems into 2D coculture models, spheroids and organoids, their applications were systematically summarized and typically exemplified. The pros and cons of IVE systems were also thoroughly discussed, drawing attention to present challenges and inspiring potential orientation and future perspectives. The wide applicability and multiple possibilities suggest IVE systems as an effective and persuasive platform in the future of advanced food science.

Bioactivity-Guided Fractionation and NMR-Based Identification of the Immunomodulatory Isoflavone from the Roots of Uraria crinita (L.) Desv. ex DC

Uraria crinita is used as a functional food ingredient. Little is known about the association between its immunomodulatory activity and its metabolites. We applied a precise strategy for screening metabolites using immunomodulatory fractions from a U. crinata root methanolic extract (UCME) in combination with bioactivity-guided fractionation and NMR-based identification. The fractions from UCME were evaluated in terms of their inhibitory activity against the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC). The role of the isoflavone genistein was indicated by the ¹H NMR profiling of immunomodulatory subfractions (D-4 and D-5) and supported by the result that genistein-knockout subfractions (D-4 w/o and D-5 w/o) had a lower inhibitory activity compared to genistein-containing subfractions. This study suggests that genistein contributes to the immunomodulatory activity of UCME and will help in the standardization of functional food.

Dietary Natural Products for Prevention and Treatment of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females worldwide. Several epidemiological studies suggested the inverse correlation between the intake of vegetables and fruits and the incidence of breast cancer. Substantial experimental studies indicated that many dietary natural products could affect the development and progression of breast cancer, such as soy, pomegranate, mangosteen, citrus fruits, apple, grape, mango, cruciferous vegetables, ginger, garlic, black cumin, edible macro-fungi, and cereals. Their anti-breast cancer effects involve various mechanisms of action, such as downregulating ER-α expression and activity, inhibiting proliferation, migration, metastasis and angiogenesis of breast tumor cells, inducing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, and sensitizing breast tumor cells to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review summarizes the potential role of dietary natural products and their major bioactive components in prevention and treatment of breast cancer, and special attention was paid to the mechanisms of action.