Dietary supplementation with peptides from sesame cake alleviates Parkinson’s associated pathologies in Caenorhabditis elegans

Red emissive fluorescent carbon dots based on ternary carbon source for imaging α-synuclein fibrils

The misfolding and aggregation of α-synuclein monomers usually cause the occurrence and development of Parkinson's disease (PD). It is important to develop effective methods for detection of α-synuclein aggregates. Carbon dots (CDs) could be the potential fluorescence probe for this purpose owing to their appreciated optical properties. However, undefined structure of CDs and complicated three-dimensional structure of protein severely hindered the design of fluorescence probe towards protein aggregates. Herein, a red emissive fluorescent amphiphilic CD, named as CL-9, was designed with a high sensitivity to α-synuclein fibrils by a one-step heating process, using the ternary carbon source, including Congo red, l-tryptophan and urea. The CL-9 exhibited turn-on red emissive fluorescence towards α-synuclein fibril, but remained no change towards its monomer. Compared with the original Congo red dye, CL-9 exhibited stronger turn-on red fluorescence towards α-synuclein fibrils with better anti-photobleaching resistance, biocompatibility and signal-to-noise ratio. The CL-9 was successful as a fluorescent probe to image α-synuclein fibrils in NL-5901 C. elegans. The present study provided a feasible approach using the multiple carbon sources to construct the CDs based fluorescence probe targeting amyloid proteins.

Exploring Caenorhabditis elegans as Parkinson's Disease Model: Neurotoxins and Genetic Implications

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the world, the first being Alzheimer's disease. Patients with PD have a loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the basal ganglia, which controls voluntary movements, causing a motor impairment as a result of dopaminergic signaling impairment. Studies have shown that mutations in several genes, such as SNCA, PARK2, PINK1, DJ-1, ATP13A2, and LRRK2, and the exposure to neurotoxic agents can potentially increase the chances of PD development. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) plays an important role in studying the risk factors, such as genetic factors, aging, exposure to chemicals, disease progression, and drug treatments for PD. C. elegans has a conserved neurotransmission system during evolution; it produces dopamine, through the eight dopaminergic neurons; it can be used to study the effect of neurotoxins and also has strains that express human α-synuclein. Furthermore, the human PD-related genes, LRK-1, PINK-1, PDR-1, DJR-1.1, and CATP-6, are present and functional in this model. Therefore, this review focuses on highlighting and discussing the use of C. elegans an in vivo model in PD-related studies. Here, we identified that nematodes exposed to the neurotoxins, such as 6-OHDA, MPTP, paraquat, and rotenone, had a progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, dopamine deficits, and decreased survival rate. Several studies have reported that expression of human LRRK2 (G2019S) caused neurodegeneration and pink-1, pdr-1, and djr-1.1 deletion caused several effects PD-related in C. elegans, including mitochondrial dysfunctions. Of note, the deletion of catp-6 in nematodes caused behavioral dysfunction, mitochondrial damage, and reduced survival. In addition, nematodes expressing α-synuclein had neurodegeneration and dopamine-dependent deficits. Therefore, C. elegans can be considered an accurate animal model of PD that can be used to elucidate to assess the underlying mechanisms implicated in PD to find novel therapeutic targets.

Brazilin-7-acetate, a novel potential drug of Parkinson's disease, hinders the formation of α-synuclein fibril, mitigates cytotoxicity, and decreases oxidative stress

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregates. However, there are currently no effective therapies for PD. Brazilin, an inhibitor of α-Syn aggregation, is unstable and toxic. Therefore, we have developed and synthesized derivatives of brazilin. One of these derivatives, called brazilin-7-acetate (B-7-A), has shown reduced toxicity and a stronger effect on inhibiting α-Syn aggregation. It showed that B-7-A prevented the formation of α-Syn fibers and disrupted existing fibers in a dosage-dependent manner. Additionally, B-7-A significantly reduced the cytotoxicity of α-Syn aggregates and alleviated oxidative stress in PC12 cells. The beneficial effects of B-7-A were also confirmed using the Caenorhabditis elegans model. These effects included preventing the accumulation of α-Syn clumps, improving behavior disorder, increasing lifespan, reducing oxidative stress, and protecting against lipid oxidation and loss. Finally, B-7-A showed good ADMET properties in silico. Based on these findings, B-7-A exhibits potential as a prospective treatment for PD.

Food-Derived Peptides: Beneficial CNS Effects and Cross-BBB Transmission Strategies

Food-derived peptides, as dietary supplements, have significant effects on promoting brain health and relieving central nervous system (CNS) diseases. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) greatly limits their in-brain bioavailability. Thus, overcoming the BBB to target the CNS is a major challenge for bioactive peptides in the prevention and treatment of CNS diseases. This review discusses improvement in the neuroprotective function of food-derived active peptides in CNS diseases, as well as the source of BBB penetrating peptides (BBB-shuttles) and the mechanism of transmembrane transport. Notably, this review also discusses various peptide modification methods to overcome the low permeability and stability of the BBB. Lipification, glycosylation, introduction of disulfide bonds, and cyclization are effective strategies for improving the penetration efficiency of peptides through the BBB. This review provides a new prospective for improving their neuroprotective function and developing treatments to delay or even prevent CNS diseases.

Polysaccharides Extracted from Dendrobium officinale Grown in Different Environments Elicit Varying Health Benefits in Caenorhabditis elegans

Dendrobium officinale is one of the most widely used medicinal herbs, especially in Asia. In recent times, the polysaccharide content of D. officinale has garnered attention due to the numerous reports of its medicinal properties, such as anticancer, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and anti-aging activities. However, few reports of its anti-aging potential are available. Due to high demand, the wild D. officinale is scarce; hence, alternative cultivation methods are being employed. In this study, we used the Caenorhabditis elegans model to investigate the anti-aging potential of polysaccharides extracted from D. officinale (DOP) grown in three different environments; tree (TR), greenhouse (GH), and rock (RK). Our findings showed that at 1000 µg/mL, GH-DOP optimally extended the mean lifespan by 14% and the maximum lifespan by 25% (p < 0.0001). TR-DOP and RK-DOP did not extend their lifespan at any of the concentrations tested. We further showed that 2000 µg/mL TR-DOP, GH-DOP, or RK-DOP all enhanced resistance to H₂O₂-induced stress (p > 0.05, p < 0.01, and p < 0.01, respectively). In contrast, only RK-DOP exhibited resistance (p < 0.01) to thermal stress. Overall, DOP from the three sources all increased HSP-4::GFP levels, indicating a boost in the ability of the worms to respond to ER-related stress. Similarly, DOP from all three sources decreased α-synuclein aggregation; however, only GH-DOP delayed β-amyloid-induced paralysis (p < 0.0001). Our findings provide useful information on the health benefits of DOP and also provide clues on the best practices for cultivating D. officinale for maximum medicinal applications.

Caenorhabditis elegans as a model system to evaluate neuroprotective potential of nano formulations

The impact of neurodegenerative illnesses on society is significant, but the mechanisms leading to neuronal malfunction and death in these conditions remain largely unknown despite identifying essential disease genes. To pinpoint the mechanisms behind the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, several researchers have turned to nematode C. elegans instead of using mammals. Since C. elegans is transparent, free-living, and amenable to culture, it has several benefits. As a result, all the neurons in C. elegans can be easily identified, and their connections are understood. Human proteins linked to Neurodegeneration can be made to express in them. It is also possible to analyze how C. elegans orthologs of the genes responsible for human neurodegenerative diseases function. In this article, we focused at some of the most important C. elegans neurodegeneration models that accurately represent many elements of human neurodegenerative illness. It has been observed that studies using the adaptable C. elegans have helped us in better understanding of human diseases. These studies have used it to replicate several aspects of human neurodegeneration. A nanotech approach involves engineering materials or equipments interacting with biological systems at the molecular level to trigger physiological responses by increasing stimulation, responding, and interacting with target sites while minimizing side effects, thus revolutionizing the treatment and diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases. Nanotechnologies are being used to treat neurological disorders and deliver nanoscale drugs. This review explores the current and future uses of these nanotechnologies as innovative therapeutic modalities in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases using C elegans as an experimental model.

Food and nutraceutical functions of sesame oil: An underutilized crop for nutritional and health benefits

Sesame is the oldest oilseed crop known to humanity, though it contributes a small share in the global vegetable oil production. Sesame oil contains nutrients, including lignans, tocopherols, phytosterols, natural antioxidants, and bioactive compounds. It provides various health benefits such as anti-lipogenic, hypo-cholesterolemic, anti-degenerative, and neural health-promoting properties. Being an under-utilized minor crop, it has not received enough research attention for its food and nutraceutical potential. The sesame crop is a potential candidate to maintain the diversity of food oils and harness its benefits for improving human health. The present review will provide detailed research on sesame oil contents, health effects, nutraceuticals, oil quality, and value addition strategies. Also, the sesame oil nutritional quality was compared with other vegetable oils, highlighting the potential health and nutrition-related benefits. The way forward for further sesame improvement through value addition traits was also discussed.

Exploring bioactive peptides as potential therapeutic and biotechnology treasures: A contemporary perspective

In preceding years, bioactive peptides (BAPs) have piqued escalating attention owing to their multitudinous biological features. To date, many potential BAPs exhibiting anti-cancer activities have been documented; yet, obstacles such as their safety profiles and consumer acceptance continue to exist. Moreover, BAPs have been discovered to facilitate the suppression of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (CoVID-19) and maybe ideal for treating the CoVID-19 infection, as stated by published experimental findings, but their widespread knowledge is scarce. Likewise, there is a cornucopia of BAPs possessing neuroprotective effects that mend neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) by regulating gut microbiota, but they remain a subject of research interest. Additionally, a plethora of researchers have attempted next-generation approaches based on BAPs, but they need scientific attention. The text format of this critical review is organized around an overview of BAPs' versatility and diverse bio functionalities with emphasis on recent developments and novelties. The review is alienated into independent sections, which are related to either BAPs based disease management strategies or next-generation BAPs based approaches. BAPs based anti-cancer, anti-CoVID-19, and neuroprotective strategies have been explored, which may offer insights that could help the researchers and industries to find an alternate regimen against the three aforementioned fatal diseases. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review that has systematically discussed the next-generation approaches in BAP research. Furthermore, it can be concluded that the BAPs may be optimal for the management of cancer, CoVID-19, and NDs; nevertheless, experimental and preclinical studies are crucial to validate their therapeutic benefits.

Oxidative stress suppression in C. elegans by peptides from dogfish skin via regulation of transcription factors DAF-16 and HSF-1

Functional peptides were obtained via enzymatic hydrolysis of smooth dogfish (Mustelus canis) skin. The enzyme-assisted process was optimized to achieve high yield of smooth dogfish skin peptides (SDSP). Fractions of SDSP (MW < 2 kDa, 2-5 kDa, 5-10 kDa and >10 kDa) showed in vitro antioxidant activities. The peptides <2 kDa (SDSP_{<2 kDa}) significantly improved motility, reduced ROS and H₂O₂ levels of Caenorhabditis elegans, and increased its resistance to oxidative stress compared to the other peptide fractions. In vivo function of SDSP_{<2 kDa} could be explained by their capacity to increase the expression of stress-response genes. The enhanced resistance to oxidative stress mediated by SDSP_{<2 kDa} was dependent on DAF-16 and HSF-1. The amino acid residues and sequences of SDSP_{<2 kDa} were characterized and revealed a higher content of hydrophobic versus polar amino acid contents. This study (especially the in vivo investigation) explored new potent antioxidant peptides derived from dogfish skin.

Polyphenols from Blumea laciniata Extended the Lifespan and Enhanced Resistance to Stress in Caenorhabditis elegans via the Insulin Signaling Pathway

Blumea laciniata is widely used as a folk medicine in Asia, but relevant literature on it is rarely reported. We confirmed that polyphenol extract (containing chlorogenic acid, rutin, and luteolin-4-O-glucoside) from B. laciniata (EBL) showed strong antioxidant ability in vitro. Hence, in this work, we applied Caenorhabditis elegans to further investigate the antioxidant and anti-ageing abilities of EBL in vivo. The results showed that EBL enhanced the survival of C. elegans under thermal stress by 12.62% and sharply reduced the reactive oxygen species level as well as the content of malonaldehyde. Moreover, EBL increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase. Additionally, EBL promoted DAF-16, a transcription factor, into the nucleus. Besides, EBL extended the lifespan of C. elegans by 17.39%, showing an anti-ageing effect. Different mutants indicated that the insulin/IGF-1 signaling pathway participated in the antioxidant and anti-ageing effect of EBL on C. elegans.

Revealing the antiaging effects of cereal- and food oil-derived active substances by a Caenorhabditis elegans model

Cereal grains and oils contain various functional ingredients, such as amino acids, peptides, polyphenols, dietary fiber, linoleic acid, and natural pigments. Their biological activities are of great significance. Benefiting from its robust genetic function and simple cultivation, Caenorhabditis elegans, as one of the most important model organisms has been widely used to screen antiaging substances and investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this paper, the recent advances in the use of C. elegans in antiaging research into active substances from cereals and oils will be assessed, and their potential signal transduction mechanisms will be systematically reviewed. This research aims to provide a theoretical reference for the use of active substances from cereals and oils to prevent and delay aging and aging-associated diseases.