Bioactivity of Fermented Green Coffee Bean Extract Containing High Chlorogenic Acid and Surfactin

Effects of Dietary Chlorogenic Acid Supplementation Derived from Lonicera macranthoides Hand-Mazz on Growth Performance, Free Amino Acid Profile, and Muscle Protein Synthesis in a Finishing Pig Model

Chlorogenic acid (CGA), as one of the richest polyphenol compounds in nature, has broad applications in many fields due to its various biological properties. However, initial data on the effects of dietary CGA on protein synthesis and related basal metabolic activity has rarely been reported. The current study is aimed at (1) determining whether dietary CGA supplementation improves the growth performance and carcass traits, (2) assessing whether dietary CGA alters the free amino acid profile, and (3) verifying whether dietary CGA promotes muscle protein synthesis in finishing pigs. Thirty-two (Large × White × Landrace) finishing barrows with an average initial body weight of $71.89\pm 0.92$  kg were randomly allotted to 4 groups and fed diets supplemented with 0, 0.02%, 0.04%, and 0.08% CGA, respectively. The results indicated that, compared with the control group, dietary supplementation with 0.04% CGA slightly stimulated the growth performance of pigs, whereas no significant correlation was noted between the dietary CGA levels and animal growth ( $P>0.05$ ). Furthermore, the carcass traits of pigs were improved by 0.04% dietary CGA ( $P<0.01$ ). In addition, dietary CGA significantly improved the serum free amino acid profiles of pigs ( $P<0.01$ ), while 0.04% dietary CGA promoted more amino acids to translocate to skeletal muscles ( $P<0.05$ ). The relative mRNA expression levels of SNAT2 in both longissimus dorsi (LD) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were augmented in the 0.02% and 0.04% groups ( $P<0.05$ ), and the LAT1 mRNA expression in the BF muscle was elevated in the 0.02% group ( $P<0.05$ ). We also found that dietary CGA supplementation at the levels of 0.04% or 0.08% promoted the expression of p-Akt and activated the mTOR-S6K1-4EBP1 axis in the LD muscle ( $P<0.05$ ). Besides, the MAFbx mRNA abundance in the 0.02% and 0.04% groups was significantly lower ( $P<0.05$ ). Our results revealed that dietary supplementation with CGA of 0.04% improved the free amino acid profile and enhanced muscle protein biosynthesis in the LD muscle in finishing pigs.

Mechanistic insights into the protective effects of chlorogenic acid against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats: Modulation of the cross talk between autophagy and apoptosis signaling

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of chlorogenic acid (CGA) against Indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric ulcer (GU) in rats and its underlying mechanism, especially through autophagic and apoptotic pathways.

METHODS

Seventy-five rats were divided into five groups; control, IND (50 mg/kg, p.o.), CGA (100 mg/kg, p.o., 14 days), IND pretreated with CGA (50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg, p.o., 14 days). The stomach tissues were examined to calculate the ulcer index and analyze markers of autophagy (beclin-1, LC3-II/LC3-I and p62), lysosomal function (cathepsin-D) and apoptosis (Bcl-2, Bax and caspase-3), along with expression of Akt/mTOR pathway using western blot or ELISA techniques. In addition, viability of gastric mucosal cells was detected by flowcytometry. Structural changes were assessed histologically, while autophagic and apoptotic changes of gastric mucosa were observed by transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTS

CGA exhibited a dose-dependent gastroprotective effect by reversing IND-induced accumulation of autophagic vacuoles, significant reduction in beclin-1, LC3-II/LC3-I, and p62 levels, and down-regulation of p-Akt/p-mTOR expression. CGA100 also restored normal autolysosomal function by modulation of cathepsin-D levels. Furthermore, pretreatment with CGA100 was significantly associated with an increase in antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 along with a decrease in proapoptotic Bax and caspase-3 proteins in such a way that impairs IND-induced apoptosis. This was confirmed by CGA-induced significant decrease in annexin V⁺ cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The natural compound CGA offers a novel gastroprotective intervention against IND-induced GU through restoration of normal autophagic flux, impairment of apoptosis in a crosstalk mechanism mediated by Akt/mTOR pathway reactivation, and alleviation of IND-induced lysosomal dysfunction.

Cardiovascular protection effect of chlorogenic acid: focus on the molecular mechanism

Vascular endothelial cells have a variety of functions such as the control of blood coagulation, vascular permeability, and tone regulation, as well as quiesce of immune cells. Endothelial dysfunction is a cardiovascular events predictor, which is considered the initial stage in atherosclerosis development. It is characterized by alterations in endothelium functions due to imbalanced vasodilators and vasoconstrictors, procoagulant and anticoagulant mediators, as well as growth inhibitor and promotor substances. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is the primary polyphenol in coffee and some fruits. It has many health-promoting properties, especially in the cardiovascular system. Many studies investigated the efficacy and mechanism of this compound in vascular health. CGA has several vascular benefits such as anti-atherosclerosis, anti-thrombosis, and anti-hypertensive. This review focuses on the molecular mechanism of CGA in vascular health.

A Facile Synthesis of Self-Catalytic Hydrogel Films and Their Application as a Wound Dressing Material Coupled with Natural Active Compounds

A simple and economical method for polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinylpyrrolidone/citric acid (PVA/PVP/CA) hydrogel preparation using microwave-assisted irradiation was presented. The synthesized hydrogels embedded with berberine or chlorogenic acid were investigated as a wound dressing agent. This study showed that the optimum condition for the hydrogel synthesis based on gel fraction and a degree of swelling values was 6:6:3% (w/v) of PVA/PVP/CA under 600 W at 120 °C for 3 min of microwave irradiation. Herbal active compounds, berberine and chlorogenic acid, were loaded onto the hydrogel (4% (w/v)), and both were able to inhibit the growth of Staphylococcus aureus. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory study revealed that 700 μg/mL berberine and 2500 μg/mL chlorogenic acid could inhibit protein degradation equivalent to a 200 μg/mL aspirin solution. The drug release study demonstrated that both compounds showed a more sustained release into PBS than water. The mechanism for the three-dimensional network formation based on esterification and the hydrogen-bonding interaction was also proposed. The ionic liquid-like structure of PVP-CA possibly played an important role in the cross-linking process. In addition, sodium bicarbonate applied to the synthesized hydrogel also had a significant effect in enhancing gel formation. The proposed approach showed a potential of the loaded hydrogels to protect wounds from infection and enhance the healing process.

Chlorogenic acid: A comprehensive review of the dietary sources, processing effects, bioavailability, beneficial properties, mechanisms of action, and future directions

Chlorogenic acids (CGAs), a group of hydroxycinnamates, are generally abundant in everyday foods and beverages, most prominently in certain coffee drinks. Among them, the chlorogenic acid (CGA), also termed as 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA), is one of the most abundant, highly functional polyphenolic compounds in the human diet. The evidence of its health benefits obtained from clinical studies, as well as basic research, indicates an inverse correlation between 5-CQA consumption and a lower risk of metabolic syndromes and chronic diseases. This review focuses on the beneficial properties for health and mechanisms of action of 5-CQA, starting with its history, isomers, dietary sources, processing effects, preparation methods, pharmacological safety evaluation, and bioavailability. It also provides the possible molecular mechanistic bases to explain the health beneficial effects of 5-CQA including neuroprotective, cardiovascular protective, gastrointestinal protective, renoprotective, hepatoprotective, glucose and lipid metabolism regulatory, and anticarcinogenic effects. The information summarized here could aid in the basic and clinical research on 5-CQA as a natural dietary additive, potential drug candidate, as well as a natural health promoter.