Effect of 5-caffeoylquinic acid on the NF-κB signaling pathway, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma 2, and macrophage infiltration in high-fat diet-fed Sprague-Dawley rat adipose tissue

3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid attenuates influenza A virus induced inflammation through Toll-like receptor 3/7 activated signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

3,4,5-tri-O-caffeoylquinic acid (3,4,5-TCQA), a natural polyphenolic acid, has been shown to be effective against influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Although it was found to inhibit the neuraminidase of IAV, it may also perturb other cellular functions, as polyphenolic acids have shown antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and other activities.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the effect of 3,4,5-TCQA at a cell level, which is critical for protecting host cell from IAV infection.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

We explored the effect of 3,4,5-TCQA on H292 cells infected or un-infected with Pr8 IAV. The major genes and related pathway were identified through RNA sequencing. The pathway was confirmed by qRT-PCR and western blot analysis. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated using nitric oxide measurement assay.

RESULTS

We showed that 3,4,5-TCQA downregulated the immune response in H292 cells, and reduced the cytokine production in Pr8-infected cells, through Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathway. In addition, 3,4,5-TCQA showed anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells.

CONCLUSION

Collectively, our results indicated that 3,4,5-TCQA suppressed inflammation caused by IAV infection through TLR3/7 signaling pathway. This provides a new insight into the antiviral mechanism of 3,4,5-TCQA.

Physiological Effects of Green-Colored Food-Derived Bioactive Compounds on Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases

Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide. Epidemiological studies strongly highlight various benefits of consuming colorful fruits and vegetables in everyday life. In this review, we aimed to revisit previous studies conducted in the last few decades regarding green-colored foods and their bioactive compounds in consideration of treating and/or preventing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This review draws a comprehensive summary and assessment of research on the physiological effects of various bioactive compounds, mainly polyphenols, derived from green-colored fruits and vegetables. In particular, their health-beneficial effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, cardioprotective, and lipid-lowering properties, will be discussed. Furthermore, the bioavailability and significance of action of these bioactive compounds on cardiovascular and metabolic diseases will be discussed in detail.

Dietary emulsifier glycerol monodecanoate affects gut microbiota contributing to regulating lipid metabolism, insulin sensitivity and inflammation

Glycerol monodecanoate (GMD) is a medium-chain monoacylglycerol that possesses emulsifying and antibacterial properties. Common emulsifiers carboxymethylcellulose and polysorbate-80 have been reported to cause intestinal microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic disturbances. While...

Phytochemical Composition, Anti-Inflammatory and ER Stress-Reducing Potential of Sambucus ebulus L. Fruit Extract

Sambucus ebulus L. (SE) fruits are used for their immunostimulation, hematopoietic and antiviral potential. Recently, we focused on analyzing the mechanism underlying SE fruit aqueous extract's (FAE) immunomodulation and anti-inflammatory activities, with attention to its endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-reducing potential. J774A.1 macrophages were treated with SE FAE alone or in conditions of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) stimulation. Using GC-MS and LC-MS/MS, its phytochemical composition was analyzed. To measure transcription and protein levels, we used qPCR and Western blot, respectively. The prevailing phytochemicals in SE FAE were hydroxycinnamic acids, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins. The content of some amino acids, organic acids, alcohols, fatty acids and esters were newly reported. Extracts exerted an immunostimulation potential by stimulating IL-6, TNFα, Ccl2, COX2 and iNOS transcription, without inducing ER stress. SE FAE suppressed the LPS-induced transcription of inflammation related genes (IL-1β, IL-6, TNFα, Ccl2, Icam-1, Fabp4, COX2, iNOS, Noxo1, IL-1ra, Sirt-1) and reduced the protein levels of iNOS, peIF2α, ATF6α and CHOP. The effects were comparable to that of salicylic acid. SE suppresses LPS-stimulated inflammatory markers on the transcription and translation levels. Targeting ER stress is possibly another mechanism underlying its anti-inflammatory potential. These findings reveal the potential of SE fruits as a beneficial therapeutic of inflammation and ER stress-related pathological conditions.

Chlorogenic Acid Alleviates Colon Mucosal Damage Induced by a High-Fat Diet via Gut Microflora Adjustment to Increase Short-Chain Fatty Acid Accumulation in Rats

A high-fat diet (HFD) has been previously associated with the development of diseases such as chronic colitis. While chlorogenic acid (CGA) is known to exhibit potent antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties, little is known about its effects on intestinal inflammation. In this study, we investigated the effects of CGA on intestinal inflammation in an HFD-induced obesity rat model and assessed whether these effects were related to changes in gut microbiota composition. This was achieved by examining physiological and biochemical indicators, the liver transcriptome, and the structure of the fecal microflora. CGA treatment significantly reduced HFD-induced internal organ weight gain, promoted colon tissue repair, downregulated the expression of inflammatory cytokines, and promoted the accumulation of the tight junction protein. KEGG enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes, applied to data from the RNA-seq of rat liver tissue, revealed that CGA treatment significantly affected amino acid and lipid metabolism in the liver. Furthermore, CGA decreased the abundance of bacteria belonging to the genera Blautia, Sutterella, and Akkermansia and increased butyric acid levels, which were positively correlated with the abundance of Ruminococcus (butyric acid producer). Moreover, the beneficial changes observed in the HFD group were not as pronounced as those in the CGA treatment group. In summary, CGA can alleviate colitis in HFD-induced obesity through its anti-inflammatory effects associated with changes in gut microbiota composition and an increase in the production of short-chain fatty acids and thus can be used as a potential drug for the treatment of this pathology.

Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Helianthus tuberosus L. Induces Anti-Diabetic, and Wound-Healing Activities in Insulin-Resistant Human Liver Cancer and Mouse Fibroblast Cells

Traditional, complementary, and integrative medicine are globally accepted alternative methods for the treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the mechanism of anti-diabetic effects of Helianthus tuberosus L. remains unproven. In the present study, antioxidant and anti-diabetic activity of the tubers of H. tuberosus were studied in detail. Methanolic extracts of H. tuberosus tubers were subjected to solvent fractionation method by increasing the polarity of the solvent using n-hexane, and ethyl acetate. The obtained methanol extracts and its fractions were subjected to free radical scavenging activity (DPPH and ABTS assay) and in vitro enzyme (α-amylase and α-glucosidase) inhibition assay. Moreover, glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cell line was analyzed. The preliminary phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds in the active fraction. The radical scavenging and in vitro diabetic related enzyme inhibitory activities were found to be dose dependent. The maximum ABTS⁺ and DPPH scavenging activity was documented in ethyl acetate fraction of the H. tuberosus followed by methanol extract, hexane fraction, and methanol fraction. We also found that H. tuberosus showed a less toxicity in mouse fibroblast cells and enhance the glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Besides, the ethyl acetate fraction of the H. tuberosus analyzed by UPLC-QTOF-MS-MS and GC/MS revealed the presence of phenolic compounds such as neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, 5-O-(4-coumaroyl)-quinic acid, feruloylquinic acid, caffeoylquinic acid, isoxazolidine, salicylic acid β-D-glucoside, dicaffeoylquinic acid isomers, salvianolic acid derivative isomers, and 1,4 dicaffeoylquinic acid etc. Among the identified phytochemicals, six were chosen for molecular docking study to explore their its inhibitory interactions with α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Taken together, the findings of the present study suggested that phytocompounds of EAF were responsible for the significant in vitro antioxidant, wound-healing, and anti-diabetic activities.

Profile of polyphenol intake by women with different classes of obesity: Consumption of these compounds does not reflect healthy eating

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to evaluate polyphenol intake in women with different classes of obesity and identify which are consumed more frequently and what the food sources are.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted with 114 women with obesity. The study evaluated polyphenol intake via a 3-d food record using Phenol-Explorer. Anthropometric, biochemical, and dietetic variables were evaluated.

RESULTS

The women's habitual food intake was low calorie and adequate in macronutrients. Mean polyphenol intake by the group was 573 ± 490, 614 ± 475, and 379 ± 25 mg/d for class I, class II, and class III obesity (P = 0.002), respectively. The most frequent food or beverage consumed by the group was coffee and caffeoylquinic acid, its phenolic compound. Fruits, vegetables, and nuts contributed the least to the intake of polyphenols.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the diets of the study participants did include some food sources of polyphenols, they were not of sufficient quality to significantly contribute to a healthy diet; instead, they sometimes were foods may have that contributed to weight gain. Women with class III obesity consumed the most calories; however, they had low fruit, vegetable, and whole foods intake.

Rock tea (Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC.) polyphenolic extract inhibits triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocyte-like cells and obesity related enzymes in vitro

Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC., also known in Spain as "té de roca" (rock tea, RT), is an endemic plant species of the Iberian Peninsula and Southern France. Traditionally, it is used in infusions, prepared with the flowering aerial parts, as a digestive and anti-inflammatory herbal tea. Despite the traditional knowledge of this plant as a digestive after meals, there are hardly any scientific studies that support its use. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of RT extract on physiological targets related to metabolic diseases such as obesity. For this purpose, enzyme inhibition bioassays of lipase, α-glucosidase and fatty acid amide hydrolase were carried out in cell-free systems. Similarly, adipocytes derived from 3T3-L1 cells were employed to study the effects of the extract on adipocyte differentiation and triglyceride (TG) accumulation. RT extract was able to inhibit lipase, α-glucosidase and fatty acid amide hydrolase. Furthermore, the extract displayed anti-adipogenic properties in a dose-dependent manner as it significantly reduced TG accumulation during adipocyte differentiation. These results may explain from a molecular perspective the beneficial effects of RT in the prevention of metabolic-associated disorders such as obesity, diabetes and related complications.

Identification of flavonoids and chlorogenic acids in elm fruits from the genus Ulmus and their antioxidant activity

Elm fruits were once an important food source in the years of famine. Research on the functional compounds in elm fruits was almost unavailable. In this study, we established an efficient high-performance liquid chromatography method for the simultaneous separation of eight chlorogenic acids and 28 flavonoids in elm fruits for the first time. Total flavonoid contents ranged from 286 mg/100 g (Ulmus laciniata) to 1228 mg/100 g (U. pumila). High concentrations of rutin, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, and kaempferol derivatives were present in U. laevis, U. castaneifolia, and U. pumila, respectively. Furthermore, the fruit extracts of U. americana, U. castaneifolia, U. davidiana, and U. pumila showed higher antioxidant activity. These results suggest that fruits of these species can be used as bioresources for the extraction of the corresponding functional compounds. This work provides informative data and can be an important reference for future research on elm fruits as a renewed food resource.

Chlorogenic Acid Functions as a Novel Agonist of PPARγ2 during the Differentiation of Mouse 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes

Rosiglitazone (RG) is a well-known activator of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) and used to treat hyperglycemia and type 2 diabetes; however, its clinical application has been confounded by adverse side effects. Here, we assessed the roles of chlorogenic acid (CGA), a phenolic secondary metabolite found in many fruits and vegetables, on the differentiation and lipolysis of mouse 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. The results showed that CGA promoted differentiation in vitro according to oil red O staining and quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. As a potential molecular mechanism, CGA downregulated mRNA levels of the adipocyte differentiation-inhibitor gene Pref1 and upregulated those of major adipogenic transcriptional factors (Cebpb and Srebp1). Additionally, CGA upregulated the expression of the differentiation-related transcriptional factor PPARγ2 at both the mRNA and protein levels. However, following CGA intervention, the accumulation of intracellular triacylglycerides following preadipocyte differentiation was significantly lower than that in the RG group. Consistent with this, our data indicated that CGA treatment significantly upregulated the expression of lipogenic pathway-related genes Plin and Srebp1 during the differentiation stage, although the influence of CGA was weaker than that of RG. Notably, CGA upregulated the expression of the lipolysis-related gene Hsl, whereas it did not increase the expression of the lipid synthesis-related gene Dgat1. These results demonstrated that CGA might function as a potential PPARγ agonist similar to RG; however, the impact of CGA on lipolysis in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes differed from that of RG.

Beneficial effects of cherry consumption as a dietary intervention for metabolic, hepatic and vascular complications in type 2 diabetic rats

Background

Oxidative stress (OS) plays an important role in type 2 diabetes (T2D) pathogenesis and its complications. New therapies target natural antioxidants as an alternative and/or supplemental strategy to prevent and control them. Our previous chemical and biological studies highlighted the important antioxidant activities of cherries, among other fruits and vegetables, thus we aimed to determine in vivo effects of 2-month long cherry consumption using a high-fat/high-fructose (HFHF) model of diabetic-rats (Lozano et al. in Nutr Metab 13:15, 2016).

Methods

After 2 months of HFHF, male Wistar rats were divided into: HFHF and HFHF enriched in cherry (nutritional approach) or standard diet ND (lifestyle measures) and ND plus cherry during 2 months. Metabolic, lipidic, oxidative parameters were quantified. Tissues (liver, pancreas and vessels) OS were assessed and hepatic (steatosis, fibrosis, inflammation) and vascular (endothelial dysfunction) complications were characterized.

Results

T2D was induced after 2 months of HFHF diet, characterized by systemic hyperglycaemia, hyperinsulinemia, glucose intolerance, dyslipidaemia, hyperleptinemia, and oxidative stress associated with endothelial dysfunction and hepatic complications. Cherry consumption for 2 months, in addition to lifestyle measures, in T2D-rats decreased and normalized the systemic disturbances, including oxidative stress complications. Moreover, in the vessel, cherry consumption decreased oxidative stress and increased endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase levels, thus increasing NO bioavailability, ensuring vascular homeostasis. In the liver, cherry consumption decreased oxidative stress by inhibiting NADPH oxidase subunit p22phox expression, nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) degradation and the formation of reactive oxygen species. It inhibited the activation of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (1c and 2) and carbohydrate-responsive element-binding protein, and thus decreased steatosis as observed in T2D rats. This led to the improvement of metabolic profiles, together with endothelial and hepatic function improvements.

Conclusion

Cherry consumption normalized vascular function and controlled hepatic complications, thus reduced the risk of diabetic metabolic disorders. These results demonstrate that a nutritional intervention with a focus on OS could prevent and/or delay the onset of vascular and hepatic complications related to T2D.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12933-018-0744-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Antihyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects of fermented food paste in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-challenged mice

Background

Fermented food has been widely consumed as health food to ameliorate or prevent several chronic diseases including diabetes. Xeniji™, a fermented food paste (FFP), has been previously reported with various bioactivities, which may be caused by the presence of several metabolites including polyphenolic acids, flavonoids, and vitamins. In this study, the anti-hyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects of FFP were assessed.

Methods

In this study, type 2 diabetes model mice were induced by streptozotocin and high-fat diet (HFD) and used to evaluate the antihyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects of FFP. Mice were fed with HFD and challenged with 30 mg/kg body weight (BW) of streptozotocin for 1 month followed by 6 weeks of supplementation with 0.1 and 1.0 g/kg BW of FFP. Metformin was used as positive control treatment.

Results

Xeniji™-supplemented hyperglycemic mice were recorded with lower glucose level after 6 weeks of duration. This effect was contributed by the improvement of insulin sensitivity in the hyperglycemic mice indicated by the oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test, and end point insulin level. In addition, gene expression study has shown that the antihyperglycemic effect of FFP is related to the improvement of lipid and glucose metabolism in the mice. Furthermore, both 0.1 and 1 g/kg BW of FFP was able to reduce hyperglycemia-related inflammation indicated by the reduction of proinflammatory cytokines, NF-kB and iNOS gene expression and nitric oxide level.

Conclusion

FFP potentially demonstrated in vivo antihyperglycemic and anti-inflammatory effects on HFD and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Urine metabolomics shows an induction of fatty acids metabolism in healthy adult volunteers after supplementation with green coffee (Coffea robusta L.) bean extract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Green coffee bean extract is used as herbal medicine or supplement for weight reduction and obesity. The active constituents are considered caffeine and chlorogenic acid (CGA) derivatives. The mode of action of CGA is still unclear and can be related to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPAR-α) and liver X receptor Rα (LXR-α). Metabolomics may be an innovative tool for the description and discovery of the multiple target nature of such phytocomplex.

METHODS

24 h urine samples were collected once a week from ten healthy adult volunteers consuming daily 400 mg of dry Green coffee bean extract (GCBE, 4.9% of chlorogenic acid) each day for 30 days (5 harvesting days, considering also the first day of supplementation). Urine samples were analyzed by LC-QTOF using both untargeted and targeted approaches. The latter was used to monitor two urinary markers of oxidative stress (allantoin, 8-OHdG).

RESULTS

Metabolomics analysis (PLS-DA) revealed changes in urine composition before and during the treatment with GCBE. Markers related to treatment were metabolites related to polyphenol administration as hippuric acid, benzoic acid derivatives, dihydroferulic and dihydrosinapic acid sulphate, but also carnitine derivatives and dicarboxylic acids. On the other hand, no changes in the levels of allantoin and 8-OHdG were observed.

CONCLUSION

This preliminary study showed the possible usefulness of metabolomics approach in the evaluation of GCBE consumption in healthy subjects. The observed changes in urinary composition can be related to the catabolism of GCBE constituents and to induced fatty acid metabolism, mainly related to carnitine derivatives. This latter result could be considered, at least in part, as a further proof of the mode of action of green coffee extract.

Hydrolysis of Dicaffeoylquinic Acids from Ilex kudingcha Happens in the Colon by Intestinal Microbiota

Monocaffeoylquinic acids (mono-CQAs) can be hydrolyzed or metabolized by pancreatin, intestinal brush border esterase, and microbiota in the colon. Data about the conversion of dicaffeoylquinic acids (diCQAs) in digestion are scarce. The diCQA-rich fraction including 3,4-, 3,5-, and 4,5-diCQAs was prepared from Ilex kudingcha, and the conversion in simulated gastricintestine was investigated. Artificial saliva, gastric and pancreatic fluids, Caco-2 monolayer cells, and anaerobic fermentation model were utilized to mimic digestions of the oral cavity, stomach, small intestine, and colon in vitro. The results revealed that diCQAs remained intact in simulated saliva, gastric, and pancreatic fluids and within Caco-2 cells. In anaerobic fermentation with human fecal slurry, diCQAs were hydrolyzed to mono-CQAs and caffeic acid, which were further metabolized to caffeic acid and dihydrocaffeic acid, respectively. The hydrolysis of diCQAs depended on the chemical structures, carbohydrates in the culture medium, and microbial compositions. Our research demonstrated that hydrolysis of diCQAs happened in the colon by intestinal microbiota.

Long-chain bases from sea cucumber mitigate endoplasmic reticulum stress and inflammation in obesity mice

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and inflammation can induce hyperglycemia. Long-chain bases (LCBs) from sea cucumber exhibit antihyperglycemic activities. However, their effects on ER stress and inflammation are unknown. We investigated the effects of LCBs on ER stress and inflammatory response in high-fat, fructose diet-induced obesity mice. Reactive oxygen species and free fatty acids were measured. Inflammatory cytokines in serum and their mRNA expressions in epididymal adipose tissues were investigated. Hepatic ER stress-related key genes were detected. c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase and nuclear factor κB inflammatory pathways were also evaluated in the liver. Results showed that LCBs reduced serum and hepatic reactive oxygen species and free fatty acids concentrations. LCBs decreased serum proinflammatory cytokines levels, namely interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α, IL-6, macrophage inflammatory protein 1, and c-reactive protein, and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 concentration. The mRNA and protein expressions of these cytokines in epididymal adipose tissues were regulated by LCBs as similar to their circulatory contents. LCBs inhibited phosphorylated c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase and inhibitor κ kinase β, and nuclear factor κB nuclear translocation. LCBs also inhibited mRNA expression of ER stress markers glucose regulated protein, activating transcription factor 6, double-stranded RNA-activated protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase, and X-box binding protein 1, and phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor-α and inositol requiring enzyme 1α. These results indicate that LCBs can alleviate ER stress and inflammatory response. Nutritional supplementation with LCBs may offer an adjunctive therapy for RE stress-associated inflammation.

Sea cucumber peptides exert anti-inflammatory activity through suppressing NF-κB and MAPK and inducing HO-1 in RAW264.7 macrophages

The anti-inflammatory effect of sea cucumber peptides (SCP) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 murine macrophages was tested. SCP significantly reduced LPS-induced nitric oxide release by inhibiting the inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA expression without affecting the cell viability. The mRNA expression of LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines including tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 was suppressed. SCP inhibited LPS-induced degradation of the inhibitor of κBα (IκBα) and nuclear transposition of NF-κB p65, resulting in decreased NF-κB transactivation. Moreover, SCP suppressed the LPS-induced phosphorylation of JNK, ERK and p38. In addition, the expression of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 in macrophages was up-regulated by SCP in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition effect of SCP on the mRNA expression of LPS-induced inflammatory cytokines was partially reversed by co-treatment with a HO-1 inhibitor. The SCP with anti-inflammatory activity was made up of low-molecular-weight peptides rich in glycine, glutamic acid and aspartic acid. Collectively, these results demonstrate that SCP exerts anti-inflammatory function through inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK activation and inducing HO-1 expression in macrophages.

5-Caffeoylquinic acid inhibits invasion of non-small cell lung cancer cells through the inactivation of p70S6K and Akt activity: Involvement of p53 in differential regulation of signaling pathways

In the present study, we investigated the effects and molecular mechanism of 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), a natural phenolic compound isolated from Ligularia fischeri, on cell invasion, proliferation and adhesion in p53 wild-type A549 and p53-deficient H1299 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. 5-CQA abrogated mitogen-stimulated invasion, but not proliferation, in both A549 and H1299 cells. In addition, 5-CQA inhibited mitogen-stimulated adhesion in A549 cells only. Anti-invasive activity of 5-CQA in A549 cells was mediated by the inactivation of p70(S6K)-dependent signaling pathway. In contrast, in H1299 cells the inactivation of Akt was found to be involved in 5-CQA-mediated inhibition of cell invasion. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the pharmacological roles and molecular targets of 5-CQA in regulating NSCLC cell fate, and suggest further evaluation and development of 5-CQA as a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment and prevention of lung cancer.