Ancestral Food Sources Rich in Polyphenols, Their Metabolism, and the Potential Influence of Gut Microbiota in the Management of Depression and Anxiety

Neuromodulation and the Gut-Brain Axis: Therapeutic Mechanisms and Implications for Gastrointestinal and Neurological Disorders

The gut-brain axis (GBA) represents a complex, bidirectional communication network that intricately connects the gastrointestinal tract with the central nervous system (CNS). Understanding and intervening in this axis opens a pathway for therapeutic advancements for neurological and gastrointestinal diseases where the GBA has been proposed to play a role in the pathophysiology. In light of this, the current review assesses the effectiveness of neuromodulation techniques in treating neurological and gastrointestinal disorders by modulating the GBA, involving key elements such as gut microbiota, neurotrophic factors, and proinflammatory cytokines. Through a comprehensive literature review encompassing PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, this research highlights the role played by the GBA in neurological and gastrointestinal diseases, in addition to the impact of neuromodulation on the management of these conditions which include both gastrointestinal (irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)) and neurological disorders (Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and neuropsychiatric disorders). Despite existing challenges, the ability of neuromodulation to adjust disrupted neural pathways, alleviate pain, and mitigate inflammation is significant in improving the quality of life for patients, thereby offering exciting prospects for future advancements in patient care.

Ginsenoside Rk3 Regulates Tryptophan Metabolism along the Brain-Gut Axis by Targeting Tryptophan Hydroxylase and Remodeling the Intestinal Microenvironment to Alleviate Depressive-Like Behavior in Mice

Depression is a neuropsychiatric disease that significantly impacts the physical and mental health of >300 million people worldwide and places a major burden on society. Ginsenosides are the main active ingredient in ginseng and have been proven to have various pharmacological effects on the nervous system. Herein, we investigated the antidepressant effect of ginsenoside Rk3 and its underlying mechanism in a murine model of depression. Rk3 significantly improved depression-like behavior in mice, ameliorated the disturbance of the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, and alleviated neuronal damage in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of mice. Additionally, Rk3 improved the abnormal metabolism of tryptophan in brain tissue by targeting tryptophan hydroxylase, thereby reducing neuronal apoptosis and synaptic structural damage in the mouse hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, Rk3 reshaped the composition of the gut microbiota of mice and regulated intestinal tryptophan metabolism, which alleviated intestinal barrier damage. Thus, this study provides valuable insights into the role of Rk3 in the tryptophan metabolic cycle along the brain-gut axis, suggesting that Rk3 may have the potential for treating depression.

Analysis of Antioxidant Constituents of Filtering Infusions from Oak (Quercus sideroxyla Bonpl. and Quercus eduardii Trel.) and Yerbaniz (Tagetes lucida (Sweet) Voss) as Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors

The antioxidant constituents of ancestral products with ethnobotanical backgrounds are candidates for the study of filtering infusions to aid in pharmacotherapies focused on the treatment of depression and anxiety. Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) is an enzyme that regulates the metabolic breakdown of serotonin and noradrenaline in the nervous system. The goal of this study was to evaluate in vitro and in silico the effect of antioxidant constituents of filtering infusions from yerbaniz (Tagetes lucida (Sweet) Voss) and oak (Quercus sideroxyla Bonpl. and Quercus eduardii Trel.) as monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Materials were dried, ground, and mixed according to a simplex-centroid mixture design for obtaining infusions. Differential analysis of the phenolic constituent's ratio in the different infusions indicates that among the main compounds contributing to MAO-A inhibition are the gallic, chlorogenic, quinic, and shikimic acids, quercetin glucuronide and some glycosylated derivatives of ellagic acid and ellagic acid methyl ether. Infusions of Q. sideroxyla Bonpl. leaves, because of their content (99.45 ± 5.17 µg/mg) and synergy between these constituents for MAO-A inhibition (52.82 ± 3.20%), have the potential to treat depression and anxiety. Therefore, future studies with pharmacological approaches are needed to validate them as therapeutic agents with applications in mental health care.

Innovative applications and therapeutic potential of oilseeds and their by-products: An eco-friendly and sustainable approach

The risk of inadequate management of agro-waste is an emerging challenge. However, the economic relevance of agro-waste valorization is one of the key strategies to ensure sustainable development. Among the agro-waste, oilseed waste and its by-products are usually seen as mass waste after the extraction of oils. Oilseed by-products especially oilseed cakes are a potential source of protein, fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. Oilseed cakes contain high value-added bioactive compounds which have great significance among researchers to develop novel foods having therapeutic applications. Moreover, these oilseed cakes might be employed in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. Thus, as a result of having desirable characteristics, oilseed by-products can be more valuable in wide application in the food business along with the preparation of supplements. The current review highlights that plentiful wastes or by-products from oilseeds are wasted if these underutilized materials are not properly valorized or effectively utilized. Hence, promising utilization of oilseeds and their wastes not only assists to overcome environmental concerns and protein insecurity but also helps to achieve the goals of zero waste and sustainability. Furthermore, the article also covers the production and industrial applications of oilseeds and by-products along with the potential role of oilseed cakes and phytochemicals in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Gut Microbiota in Anxiety and Depression: Unveiling the Relationships and Management Options

The gut microbiota is critical for maintaining human health and the immunological system. Several neuroscientific studies have shown the significance of microbiota in developing brain systems. The gut microbiota and the brain are interconnected in a bidirectional relationship, as research on the microbiome-gut-brain axis shows. Significant evidence links anxiety and depression disorders to the community of microbes that live in the gastrointestinal system. Modified diet, fish and omega-3 fatty acid intake, macro- and micro-nutrient intake, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, and 5-HTP regulation may all be utilized to alter the gut microbiota as a treatment approach. There are few preclinical and clinical research studies on the effectiveness and reliability of various therapeutic approaches for depression and anxiety. This article highlights relevant research on the association of gut microbiota with depression and anxiety and the different therapeutic possibilities of gut microbiota modification.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, and Neuroprotective Effects of Polyphenols-Polyphenols as an Element of Diet Therapy in Depressive Disorders

Depressive disorders can affect up to 350 million people worldwide, and in developed countries, the percentage of patients with depressive disorders may be as high as 10%. During depression, activation of pro-inflammatory pathways, mitochondrial dysfunction, increased markers of oxidative stress, and a reduction in the antioxidant effectiveness of the body are observed. It is estimated that approximately 30% of depressed patients do not respond to traditional pharmacological treatments. However, more and more attention is being paid to the influence of active ingredients in food on the course and risk of neurological disorders, including depression. The possibility of using foods containing polyphenols as an element of diet therapy in depression was analyzed in the review. The possibility of whether the consumption of products such as polyphenols could alleviate the course of depression or prevent the progression of it was also considered. Results from preclinical studies demonstrate the potential of phenolic compounds have the potential to reduce depressive behaviors by regulating factors related to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and modulation of the intestinal microbiota.

Research advances of in vivo biological fate of food bioactives delivered by colloidal systems

Food bioactives exhibit various health-promoting effects and are widely used in functional foods to maintain human health. After oral intake, bioactives undergo complex biological processes before reaching the target organs to exert their biological effects. However, several factors may reduce their bioavailability. Colloidal systems have attracted special attention due to their great potential to improve bioavailability and bioefficiency. Herein, we focus on the importance of in vivo studies of the biological fates of bioactives delivered by colloidal systems. Increasing evidence demonstrates that the construction, composition, and physicochemical properties of the delivery systems significantly influence the in vivo biological fates of bioactives. These results demonstrate the great potential to control the in vivo behavior of food bioactives by designing specific delivery systems. We also compare in vivo and in vitro models used for biological studies of the fate of food bioactives delivered by colloidal systems. Meanwhile, the significance of the gut microbiota, targeted delivery, and personalized nutrition should be carefully considered. This review provides new insight for further studies of food bioactives delivered by colloidal systems, as well as scientific guidance for the reasonable design of personalized nutrition.

Potential Benefits of Anthocyanins in Chronic Disorders of the Central Nervous System

Anthocyanins have been shown to be effective in chronic diseases because of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects together with changes in the gut microbiota and modulation of neuropeptides such as insulin-like growth factor-1. This review will examine whether these mechanisms may be effective to moderate the symptoms of disorders of the central nervous system in humans, including schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism spectrum disorder, depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and epilepsy. Thus, anthocyanins from fruits and berries should be considered as complementary interventions to improve these chronic disorders.

Patterns of polyphenol intake and risk of depressive symptomatology in a population-based cohort of older adults

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Current evidence suggests that some isolated polyphenols (PP) may exert promising effects for the risk of depression in young adults, however studies among older adults remain limited. The aim of the current study was to examine the prospective association between patterns of PP intake and the risk of depressive symptomatology (DS) in older adults.

METHODS

The study sample was based on the Three-City (3C) Bordeaux cohort of adults aged 65 years and over and without DS at the time of recruitment. The intakes of PP, summarised into 21 PP classes, were determined using a 24-h recall combined with the Phenol-Explorer database. In addition, the patterns of PP intake were identified by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). DS was evaluated using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) over a period of 15 years with a reassessment every 2-3 years. The incident DS was reported for CES-D score ≥16 and/or the use of antidepressant treatment. The association between the patterns of PP intake at baseline and the risk of DS was computed using multivariate random-effect logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Among the 1074 participants (mean age 75.7 y, SD 4.8 y), 423 (39.4%) developed a DS during the follow-up. Distinct patterns of PP intake were identified, explaining up to 50% of the variance. The two first patterns, mainly driven by stilbenes and dihydroflavonols and by hydroxyicnnamic acid and alkylmethoxyphenols respectively, were not associated with the odds of DS. Furthermore, a higher score on the third pattern, mainly driven by monomeric flavanols and theaflavins, was associated with a significant 27% lower risk of DS over time (Odd Ratio = 0.73, 95% Confidence Interval [0.55; 0.97]).

CONCLUSION

This prospective study suggested that a pattern high in monomeric flavanols and theaflavins intakes, mainly provided by tea, was associated with a reduced risk of DS in older adults. These results provide promising evidence on combined PP intakes that would require further confirmation in other samples.

Natural product-based pharmacological studies for neurological disorders

Central nervous system (CNS) disorders and diseases are expected to rise sharply in the coming years, partly because of the world's aging population. Medicines for the treatment of the CNS have not been successfully made. Inadequate knowledge about the brain, pharmacokinetic and dynamic errors in preclinical studies, challenges with clinical trial design, complexity and variety of human brain illnesses, and variations in species are some potential scenarios. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are multifaceted and lack identifiable etiological components, and the drugs developed to treat them did not meet the requirements of those who anticipated treatments. Therefore, there is a great demand for safe and effective natural therapeutic adjuvants. For the treatment of NDDs and other memory-related problems, many herbal and natural items have been used in the Ayurvedic medical system. Anxiety, depression, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's diseases (AD), as well as a plethora of other neuropsychiatric disorders, may benefit from the use of plant and food-derived chemicals that have antidepressant or antiepileptic properties. We have summarized the present level of knowledge about natural products based on topological evidence, bioinformatics analysis, and translational research in this review. We have also highlighted some clinical research or investigation that will help us select natural products for the treatment of neurological conditions. In the present review, we have explored the potential efficacy of phytoconstituents against neurological diseases. Various evidence-based studies and extensive recent investigations have been included, which will help pharmacologists reduce the progression of neuronal disease.

Gypenoside XVII, an Active Ingredient from Gynostemma Pentaphyllum, Inhibits C3aR-Associated Synaptic Pruning in Stressed Mice

Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a herbal medicine widely used in Asian countries, and its saponin extracts have been shown to possess potent anti-inflammatory effects. Gypenoside XVII, an active ingredient isolated from Gynostemma pentaphyllum, has been found to alleviate the inflammation induced by LPS in the BV2 microglia, according to our preliminary study. This study aims to evaluate whether Gypenoside XVII could attenuate depression-like symptoms in vivo and tries to demonstrate the involvement of the complement regulation in its antidepressant-like effect. The results showed that Gypenoside XVII significantly attenuated depression-like behaviors in the forced swimming test, tail suspension test and sucrose preference test. It also alleviated the acute stress-induced hyperactivity of serum corticosterone levels. Additionally, Gypenoside XVII significantly inhibited the activation of microglia and the expression of C3 in mice exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS). Meanwhile, the activation of C3aR/STAT3 signaling and the expression of proinflammatory cytokines was reversed by Gypenoside XVII. Moreover, CUMS induced excessive synaptic pruning by activating microglia, while Gypenoside XVII restored it in the prefrontal cortex. Our data demonstrated that Gypenoside XVII, the active ingredient of Gynostemma pentaphyllum, produced the antidepressant-like effects in mice, which was mediated by the inhibition of complement C3/C3aR/STAT3/cytokine signaling in the prefrontal cortex.