Apple Peel and Flesh Contain Pro-neurogenic Compounds

Synergistic Effects of Korean Mistletoe and Apple Peel Extracts on Muscle Strength and Endurance

Muscular strength and endurance are vital for physical fitness. While mistletoe extract has shown efficacy in significantly increasing muscle strength and endurance, its accessibility is limited. This study explores combining mistletoe and apple peel extracts as an effective muscle health supplement. Analyses of histology, RNA, and protein in the combined extract-treated mouse group demonstrated significant enhancements in muscle strength and endurance, evidenced by larger muscle fibers, improved mitochondrial function, and a higher ratio of type I and IIa muscle fibers. Combining half doses of each extract resulted in greater improvements than using each extract separately, indicating a synergistic effect. Pathway analysis suggests that the observed synergy arises from complementary mechanisms, with a mistletoe extract-induced decrease in myostatin (MSTN) and an apple peel extract-induced increase in IGF1, leading to a sharp rise in AKT, S6K, and MuRF1, which promote myogenesis, along with a significant increase in PGC-1α, TFAM, and MEF2C, which are critical for mitochondrial biogenesis. This research provides practical insights into developing cost-effective, natural supplements to enhance muscle performance and endurance, with potential applications in athletic performance, improving muscle growth and endurance in children, and addressing age-related muscle decline.

Old Apple Cultivars as a Natural Source of Phenolics and Triterpenoids with Cytoprotective Activity on Caco-2 and HepG2 Cells

Apples are among the most consumed fruits worldwide. They serve as an excellent source of compounds that have a positive impact on human health. While new varieties of apples are being developed, numerous varieties have been forgotten. In this article, we present the results of research on 30 old apple cultivars, focusing on both qualitative and quantitative determination of antioxidant properties, and content of total phenolics, phenolic acids, triterpenoids and polyphenols. Our analyses show significant differences in the total content of each group of compounds between apple cultivars, as well as the phytochemical profile. The richest source of antioxidants was revealed to be 'Reneta Blenheimska' and 'Książę Albrecht Pruski' varieties, but the highest amount of phenolics had 'James Grieve' and 'Kantówka Gdańska' (KG). Among studied apples KG, 'Krótkonóżka Królewska' and 'Grochówka' (G) were the richest source of phenolic acids and polyphenols, whereas G, 'James Grieve' and 'Krótkonóżka Królewska' had the highest level of triterpenoids. Based on these findings, we selected two cultivars, G and KG, for further in vitro cell line-based studies. Based on biological activity analyses, we demonstrated not only antioxidant potential but also proapoptotic and cytoprotective properties within human-originated Caco-2 and HepG2 cell lines. In the era of a dynamically growing number of lifestyle diseases, it is particularly important to draw the attention of producers and consumers to the need to choose fruit varieties with the highest possible content of health-promoting compounds and, therefore, with the strongest health-promoting properties.

Exploring the effects of Dasatinib, Quercetin, and Fisetin on DNA methylation clocks: a longitudinal study on senolytic interventions

Senolytics, small molecules targeting cellular senescence, have emerged as potential therapeutics to enhance health span. However, their impact on epigenetic age remains unstudied. This study aimed to assess the effects of Dasatinib and Quercetin (DQ) senolytic treatment on DNA methylation (DNAm), epigenetic age, and immune cell subsets. In a Phase I pilot study, 19 participants received DQ for 6 months, with DNAm measured at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Significant increases in epigenetic age acceleration were observed in first-generation epigenetic clocks and mitotic clocks at 3 and 6 months, along with a notable decrease in telomere length. However, no significant differences were observed in second and third-generation clocks. Building upon these findings, a subsequent investigation evaluated the combination of DQ with Fisetin (DQF), a well-known antioxidant and antiaging senolytic molecule. After one year, 19 participants (including 10 from the initial study) received DQF for 6 months, with DNAm assessed at baseline and 6 months. Remarkably, the addition of Fisetin to the treatment resulted in non-significant increases in epigenetic age acceleration, suggesting a potential mitigating effect of Fisetin on the impact of DQ on epigenetic aging. Furthermore, our analyses unveiled notable differences in immune cell proportions between the DQ and DQF treatment groups, providing a biological basis for the divergent patterns observed in the evolution of epigenetic clocks. These findings warrant further research to validate and comprehensively understand the implications of these combined interventions.

Whole grain metabolite 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid is a beneficial nutritional molecule with the feature of a double-edged sword in human health: a critical review and dietary considerations

Nonprocessed foodstuffs of plant origin, especially whole-grain cereals, are considered to be health-promoting components of the human diet. While most of their well-studied effects derive from their high fiber content and low glycemic index, the presence of underrated phenolic phytonutrients has recently been brought to the attention of nutritionists. In this review, we report and discuss findings on the sources and bioactivities of 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,5-DHBA), which is both a direct dietary component (found, e.g., in apples) and, more importantly, a crucial metabolite of whole-grain cereal-derived alkylresorcinols (ARs). 3,5-DHBA is a recently described exogenous agonist of the HCAR1/GPR81 receptor. We concentrate on the HCAR1-mediated effects of 3,5-DHBA in the nervous system, on the maintenance of cell stemness, regulation of carcinogenesis, and response to anticancer therapy. Unexpectedly, malignant tumors take advantage of HCAR1 expression to sense 3,5-DHBA to support their growth. Thus, there is an urgent need to fully identify the role of whole-grain-derived 3,5-DHBA during anticancer therapy and its contribution in the regulation of vital organs of the body via its specific HCAR1 receptor. We discuss here in detail the possible consequences of the modulatory capabilities of 3,5-DHBA in physiological and pathological conditions in humans.

Neuroprotective Effects of Agri-Food By-Products Rich in Phenolic Compounds

Neurodegenerative diseases are known for their wide range of harmful conditions related to progressive cell damage, nervous system connections and neuronal death. These pathologies promote the loss of essential motor and cognitive functions, such as mobility, learning and sensation. Neurodegeneration affects millions of people worldwide, and no integral cure has been created yet. Here, bioactive compounds have been proven to exert numerous beneficial effects due to their remarkable bioactivity, so they could be considered as great options for the development of new neuroprotective strategies. Phenolic bioactives have been reported to be found in edible part of plants; however, over the last years, a large amount of research has focused on the phenolic richness that plant by-products possess, which sometimes even exceeds the content in the pulp. Thus, their possible application as an emergent neuroprotective technique could also be considered as an optimal strategy to revalorize these agricultural residues (those originated from plant processing). This review aims to summarize main triggers of neurodegeneration, revise the state of the art in plant extracts and their role in avoiding neurodegeneration and discuss how their main phenolic compounds could exert their neuroprotective effects. For this purpose, a diverse search of studies has been conducted, gathering a large number of papers where by-products were used as strong sources of phenolic compounds for their neuroprotective properties. Finally, although a lack of investigation is quite remarkable and greatly limits the use of these compounds, phenolics remain attractive for research into new multifactorial anti-neurodegenerative nutraceuticals.

5 Hz of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improves cognition and induces modifications in hippocampal neurogenesis in adult female Swiss Webster mice

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis is regulated by several stimuli to promote the creation of a reserve that may facilitate coping with environmental challenges. In this regard, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a neuromodulation therapy, came to our attention because in clinical studies it reverts behavioral and cognitive alterations related to changes in brain plasticity. Some preclinical studies emphasize the need to understand the underlying mechanism of rTMS to induce behavioral modifications. In this study, we investigated the effects of rTMS on cognition, neurogenic-associated modifications, and neuronal activation in the hippocampus of female Swiss Webster mice. We applied 5 Hz of rTMS twice a day for 14 days. Three days later, mice were exposed to the behavioral battery. Then, brains were collected and immunostained for Ki67-positive cells, doublecortin-positive (DCX+)-cells, calbindin, c-Fos and FosB/Delta-FosB in the dentate gyrus. Also, we analyzed mossy fibers and CA3 with calbindin immunostaining. Mice exposed to rTMS exhibited cognitive improvement, an increased number of proliferative cells, DCX cells, DCX cells with complex dendrite morphology, c-Fos and immunoreactivity of FosB/Delta-FosB in the granular cell layer. The volume of the granular cell layer, mossy fibers and CA3 in rTMS mice also increased. Interestingly, cognitive improvement correlated with DCX cells with complex dendrite morphology. Also, those DCX cells and calbindin immunoreactivity correlated with c-Fos in the granular cell layer. Our results suggest that 5 Hz of rTMS applied twice a day modify cell proliferation, doublecortin cells, mossy fibers and enhance cognitive behavior in healthy female Swiss Webster mice.

Natural Therapeutics in Aid of Treating Alzheimer's Disease: A Green Gateway Toward Ending Quest for Treating Neurological Disorders

The current scientific community is facing a daunting challenge to unravel reliable natural compounds with realistic potential to treat neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The reported compounds/drugs mostly synthetic deemed the reliability and therapeutic potential largely due to their complexity and off-target issues. The natural products from nutraceutical compounds emerge as viable preventive therapeutics to fill the huge gap in treating neurological disorders. Considering that Alzheimer's disease is a multifactorial disease, natural compounds offer the advantage of a multitarget approach, tagging different molecular sites in the human brain, as compared with the single-target activity of most of the drugs so far used to treat Alzheimer's disease. A wide range of plant extracts and phytochemicals reported to possess the therapeutic potential to Alzheimer's disease includes curcumin, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, morin, delphinidins, quercetin, luteolin, oleocanthal, and other phytochemicals such as huperzine A, limonoids, and azaphilones. Reported targets of these natural compounds include inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, amyloid senile plaques, oxidation products, inflammatory pathways, specific brain receptors, etc. We tenaciously aimed to review the in-depth potential of natural products and their therapeutic applications against Alzheimer's disease, with a special focus on a diversity of medicinal plants and phytocompounds and their mechanism of action against Alzheimer's disease pathologies. We strongly believe that the medicinal plants and phytoconstituents alone or in combination with other compounds would be effective treatments against Alzheimer's disease with lesser side effects as compared to currently available treatments.

Nutrition Interventions of Herbal Compounds on Cellular Senescence

When cells undergo large-scale senescence, organ aging ensues, resulting in irreversible organ pathology and organismal aging. The study of senescence in cells provides an important avenue to understand the factors that influence aging and can be used as one of the useful tools for examining age-related human diseases. At present, many herbal compounds have shown effects on delaying cell senescence. This review summarizes the main characteristics and mechanisms of cell senescence, age-related diseases, and the recent progress on the natural products targeting cellular senescence, with the aim of providing insights to aid the clinical management of age-related diseases.

Adult Neurogenesis: A Story Ranging from Controversial New Neurogenic Areas and Human Adult Neurogenesis to Molecular Regulation

The generation of new neurons in the adult brain is a currently accepted phenomenon. Over the past few decades, the subventricular zone and the hippocampal dentate gyrus have been described as the two main neurogenic niches. Neurogenic niches generate new neurons through an asymmetric division process involving several developmental steps. This process occurs throughout life in several species, including humans. These new neurons possess unique properties that contribute to the local circuitry. Despite several efforts, no other neurogenic zones have been observed in many years; the lack of observation is probably due to technical issues. However, in recent years, more brain niches have been described, once again breaking the current paradigms. Currently, a debate in the scientific community about new neurogenic areas of the brain, namely, human adult neurogenesis, is ongoing. Thus, several open questions regarding new neurogenic niches, as well as this phenomenon in adult humans, their functional relevance, and their mechanisms, remain to be answered. In this review, we discuss the literature and provide a compressive overview of the known neurogenic zones, traditional zones, and newly described zones. Additionally, we will review the regulatory roles of some molecular mechanisms, such as miRNAs, neurotrophic factors, and neurotrophins. We also join the debate on human adult neurogenesis, and we will identify similarities and differences in the literature and summarize the knowledge regarding these interesting topics.

Role of Plant-Derived Natural Compounds in Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis: A Review of the Treatment Potential and Development Strategy

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system that is mainly mediated by pathological T-cells. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a well-known animal model of MS that is used to study the underlying mechanism and offers a theoretical basis for developing a novel therapy for MS. Good therapeutic effects have been observed after the administration of natural compounds and their derivatives as treatments for EAE. However, there has been a severe lag in the research and development of drug mechanisms related to MS. This review examines natural products that have the potential to effectively treat MS. The relevant data were consulted in order to elucidate the regulated mechanisms acting upon EAE by the flavonoids, glycosides, and triterpenoids derived from natural products. In addition, novel technologies such as network pharmacology, molecular docking, and high-throughput screening have been gradually applied in natural product development. The information provided herein can help improve targeting and timeliness for determining the specific mechanisms involved in natural medicine treatment and lay a foundation for further study.