Antiangiogenetic Effects of 4 Varieties of Grapes In Vitro

The comparison of biochemical composition of Actinidia kolomikta and Actinidia polygama fruits

The demand for natural products, which are rich in biologically active compositions, grows constantly. The choice and production of such products can minimize the deficit of importance for human organism components, which are contained only in plant food. The paper contains the laboratory studying results of the chemical composition of the fruits of two Actinidia Lindl. cultivars of Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution Federal Horticultural Research Center for Breeding, Agrotechnology, and Nursery (FSBSI FSC for Horticulture) genetic collection: Actinidia kolomikta (Rupr. et Maxim.) Maxim. and Actinidia polygama (Siebold et Zucc.) Maxim. All the presented samples are grown in field conditions. The fruits were picked up in the phase of harvest maturity while ripening. The data on antioxidant activity of water and methanol extracts, the content of phenolic compounds sum, soluble solids, and titratable acids in the fruits, and on qualitative composition of secondary metabolites (organic acids, fatty acids, mono-, di- and polysaccharides) are given in the paper. The variation limits of the parameters under study depending on the sample are presented. As a result of the laboratory studies, it was stated that A. kolomikta fruits 10 times exceed A. polygama fruits on all the stated parameters. Only the results on the soluble solids content in the fruits of both cultivars are approximately at the same level (A. kolomikta > A. polygama on 1.16%). The positive correlation between antioxidant activity and the general content of polyphenols is confirmed at both cultivars. Actinidia kolomikta genotypes Chempion and Lakomka and Actinidia polygama ones Tselebnaya and Uzorchataya showed the best results. The correct individual choice of actinidia fruits that are the best ones at the biochemical composition and the content of micronutrients allows supplying the consumers with food products.

New insights into the antiangiogenic and proangiogenic properties of dietary polyphenols

Polyphenols can be found in natural products of plant origin, including vegetables, fruits, and beverages. A large number of these plant origin compounds are an integral part of the human diet and in the past decade evidence has shown their beneficial properties in human health, by acting in several cell signaling pathways. Among other beneficial effects, polyphenols have been associated with angiogenesis. Increasing evidence highlighting the ability of dietary polyphenols to influence angiogenesis by interfering with multiple signaling pathways is debated. Particular emphasis is given to the mechanisms that ultimately may induce the formation of capillary-like structures (by increasing endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and invasion) or, conversely, may inhibit the steps of angiogenesis leading to the inhibition/regress of vascular development. Dietary polyphenols can, therefore, be viewed as promising nutraceuticals but important aspects have still to be further investigated, to deep knowledge concerning their concentration-mediated effects, effect of specific polyphenols, and respective metabolites, to ensure their appropriate and effective usefulness as proangiogenic or antiangiogenic nutraceuticals.

Concord Grape Juice Polyphenols and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Dose-Response Relationships

Pure fruit juices provide nutritional value with evidence suggesting some of their benefits on biomarkers of cardiovascular disease risk may be derived from their constituent polyphenols, particularly flavonoids. However, few data from clinical trials are available on the dose-response relationship of fruit juice flavonoids to these outcomes. Utilizing the results of clinical trials testing single doses, we have analyzed data from studies of 100% Concord grape juice by placing its flavonoid content in the context of results from randomized clinical trials of other polyphenol-rich foods and beverages describing the same outcomes but covering a broader range of intake. We selected established biomarkers determined by similar methods for measuring flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD), blood pressure, platelet aggregation, and the resistance of low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) to oxidation. Despite differences among the clinical trials in the treatment, subjects, and duration, correlations were observed between the dose and FMD. Inverse dose-response relationships, albeit with lower correlation coefficients, were also noted for the other outcomes. These results suggest a clear relationship between consumption of even modest serving sizes of Concord grape juice, flavonoid intake, and effects on risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This approach to dose-response relationships may prove useful for testing other individual foods and beverages.

Skin extracts from 2 Italian table grapes (Italia and Palieri) inhibit tissue factor expression by human blood mononuclear cells

Grape and its products such as red wine and grape juice have well-known antithrombotic properties, which have been attributed to their high content in polyphenolic compounds. Most studies on the mechanisms underlying these beneficial effects, among which the suppression of tissue factor (TF) synthesis in blood mononuclear cells (MNC) and vascular endothelium is a prominent one, have been performed with purified polyphenols, while little is known about the effect of fresh grapes which contain a multitude of phytochemicals whose interaction may lead to different cell responses. In this study, we investigated the effect of grape skin extracts (GSEs) on TF expression in isolated blood MNC and in whole blood. Alcoholic extracts from skins of 2 grape varieties (Palieri and Italia) inhibited TF expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated MNC in a concentration-dependent manner with ≥90% inhibition of TF activity and antigen at 6 μg/mL of gallic acid equivalents. Noteworthy, GSEs were also able to inhibit the appearance of TF in whole blood challenged with LPS. The 2 grape varieties displayed a fairly similar TF-inhibiting capacity despite marked differences in phenolic profile. When selected purified polyphenols were tested, their ability to inhibit TF expression was markedly lower as compared to grape extracts, whereas a mixture of some representative polyphenols was much more efficient, supporting the occurrence of a synergistic effect. Given the key role of cell TF in thrombotic diseases, the inhibition of MNC-mediated clotting activation, if confirmed by in vivo studies, might represent an important antithrombotic mechanism.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Our data indicate that the combination of different polyphenols, as in grape extracts, is much more efficient than the single constituents, a finding that might be useful as starting point for the development of new antithrombotic nutraceutics. In addition, our study validated a simple, inexpensive, and physiologically relevant in vitro method on whole blood that allows the evaluation of one of the most important antithrombotic activities of food and food-derived products. The simplicity of the method makes it suitable also for screening purposes in large-scale studies.

Toxicological insight from AP-1 silencing study on proliferation, migration, and dedifferentiation of rat vascular smooth muscle cell

There has an effective way to prevent intimal hyperplasia on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation in grafted veins. The activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor plays an important role in cardiovascular generation and angioplasty. Once activated, AP-1 binds its specific DNA sequence to promote the proliferation of VSMC, differentiation, and migration. The objectives of this study were to determine toxicological effects of AP-1 silencing study on proliferation, migration, and dedifferentiation of rat vascular smooth muscle cell. To suppress the expression of AP-1 gene, AP-1 siRNA was used to interfere post-transcription in rat primary VSMCs. To observe the expression of SM α-actin and downstream genes of AP-1, the activity of cell matrix metal proteinases and the migration ability of VSMC was examined by a modified Boyden chamber assay. Effects of AP-1 siRNA on proliferation and differentiation in rat VSMCs were evaluated by cell cycle analysis, DNA synthesis, MTT-test, and immunofluorescence. The results showed that the level of SM α-actin protein expression was increased. AP-1 siRNA also significantly decreased the MTT extinction value, DNA synthesis, PCNA expression, and the cell migration velocity when compared to the control group. AP-1 siRNA also clearly arrested cell cycle of VSM at the G0/G1 phase. Zymographic and Western blotting analyses showed that AP-1 siRNA suppressed serum-induced MMP-2 expression. These data suggest that the AP-1 siRNA was able to effectively inhibit the proliferation, migration, and dedifferentiation of smooth muscle cells. Thus, AP-1 siRNA provides a novel method to prevent intimal hyperplasia in blood vessel angioplasty.

Evaluation of antioxidant and antiproliferative properties of three Actinidia (Actinidia kolomikta, Actinidia arguta, Actinidia chinensis) extracts in vitro

The total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, vitamin C content, and antioxidant activities of ethanol extracts from different kiwifruit varieties (Actinidia kolomikta, Actinidia arguta, Actinidia chinensis) were determined in this study. Multiple scavenging activity assays including the hydroxyl radical, O(2) (-)·radical, DPPH, and the ABTS(+) radical scavenging activity assays were used to identify the antioxidant activities of Actinidia extracts. The cell viability of HepG2 and HT-29 cells was also examined in this study. The results demonstrated that the Actinidia kolomikta extract had a higher antioxidant activity than the other two Actinidia extracts. There is a positive correlation between antioxidant activity and the polyphenols and vitamin C content in all three extracts (R(2) ≥ 0.712, p < 0.05). The Actinidia arguta extract had the highest inhibitory effect on HepG2 and HT-29 cell growth. These results provide new insight into the health functions of fruit and demonstrate that Actinidia extracts can potentially have health benefits.

Antimetastatic potentials of Phyllanthus urinaria L on A549 and Lewis lung carcinoma cells via repression of matrix-degrading proteases

Tumor metastasis is the most important cause of cancer death and various treatment strategies have targeted at preventing the occurrence of metastasis. Phyllanthus urinaria L is a popular folk medicine and has several proven biological properties, including antioxidant, antihypertension, and anti-inflammatory. This study provides molecular evidence associated with the antimetastatic effects of P urinaria L extracts (PUE), which contained polyphenols including gallic acid, methyl gallate, epicatechin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, gallocatechin-3-gallate, rutin, epicatechin-3-gallate, and naringin, by showing a marked inhibition on the invasion (P < .001) and migration (P < .001) of highly metastatic A549 and Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) cells. To further investigate the precise involvement of PUE in tumor metastasis, A549 and LLC cells were treated with PUE at various concentrations and results from zymography and Western blotting showed that a PUE treatment may decrease the expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2; P < .001), MMP-9 (P < .001), urokinase plasminogen activator (P < .001), and their endogenous inhibitors, that is, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, in a concentration-dependent manner. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and MMP-2 promoter luciferase analysis (P < .001) revealed that PUE inhibits the transcription of MMP-2 mRNA. PUE also exerted an inhibitory effect on the DNA-binding activity and the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and AP-1. Furthermore, the inhibitory effects of PUE on the metastasis and growth of LLC cells in vivo were proven. These results indicate that PUE could be applied to be a potential antimetastatic agent.

γ-Tocotrienol inhibits angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cell induced by cancer cell

Antiangiogenic therapy mediated by food components is an established strategy for cancer chemoprevention. Growth factors play critical roles in tumor angiogenesis. A conditioned medium containing growth factors from human gastric adenocarcinoma SGC-7901 cell conditioned medium was used as an angiogenic stimulus in this study. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect and possible mechanism of γ-tocotrienol on tumor angiogenesis. The results showed that γ-tocotrienol (10-40 μmol/L) significantly suppressed proliferation, migration and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by SGC-7901 cell conditioned medium in a dose-dependent manner. γ-Tocotrienol (800-1200 μg/egg) also inhibited new blood vessel formation on the growing chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of γ-tocotrienol on HUVECs were correlated with inducing the apoptosis and arresting cell cycle at the G(0)/G(1) phase at a dose of 40 μmol/L γ-tocotrienol. In addition, γ-tocotrienol inhibited angiogenesis in HUVECs by down-regulation of β-catenin, cyclin D1, CD44, phospho-VEGFR-2 and MMP-9. The antiangiogenic effects of γ-tocotrienol on HUVECs may be attributable to regulation of Wnt signaling by decreasing β-catenin expression. Thus, our results suggest that γ-tocotrienol has a potential chemopreventive agent via antiangiogenesis.

Fresh raspberry phytochemical extract inhibits hepatic lesion in a Wistar rat model

Background

Red raspberry possesses potent antioxidant capacity and antiproliferative activity against cancer in vitro.

Methods

The objective of this study was to determine the protective effects of raspberry 80% acetone extract in a rat hepatic lesions model induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN). Rats were treated with the red raspberry extract (0.75, 1.5 or 3.0 g/kg of body weight) by gavage starting 2 h after DEN administration and continuing for 20 weeks.

Results

A dose-dependent inhibition by red raspberry extract of DEN-induced hepatic nodule formation which stands for hepatic lesions was observed. Corresponding hepatic nodule incidence rates were 45.0, 40.0, 25.0 and 5.0% in positive control, low, middle and high groups, respectively (P < 0.01 or 0.05). Gross findings, histopathological and ultrastructural evaluations of hepatic lesion were performed on 9, 8, 5 and 1 hepatic nodule in positive control, low, middle and high doses of groups, respectively, identified in rats from the respective groups of 20. A decreasing trend of proportions of hepatocellular carcinoma masses accompanied the increasing doses of red raspberry extract.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that the potent capacity of red raspberry diet could not only suppress DEN-induced hepatic lesions in rats, but also reduce the definite diagnostic features of neoplasm.