Aspects of antioxidant foods and supplements in health and disease

Analysis and prediction pathways of natural products and their cytotoxicity against HeLa cell line protein using docking, molecular dynamics and ADMET

Natural product such as flavonoids and their derivatives have a discernible capability to inhibit tumor formation and the growth of cancer cell, which have a vital link between diet and chronic disease prevention. Several plants and spices that contain flavonoid derivatives have been used in traditional medicine as disease preventative and therapeutic agents. Therefore, flavonoids could be used as chemotherapeutic drugs, indicating their potential clinical utility in cancer treatment. The purpose of this research was to discover and produce innovative pharmaceuticals from natural sources by introducing structural changes into flavonoids' backbones and changing their structures to improve biological activity and anticancer effects. In the current study, it was expected that the percent unbound values for the 15 compounds in human plasma would be low, ranging between 0.188 and 0.391. However, all compounds have a safe range and are not toxic to the brain. Compounds 2, 10, and 13 were shown to be permeable to the CNS (log PS > -3), but all other compounds had difficulty penetrating the CNS. Furthermore, all compounds had a low total clearance, ranging from 0.038 to 1.216 ml/min/kg, indicating that these compounds have a long half-life. None of the compounds caused skin sensitization (SS), and only compounds 1, 11, and 12 are expected to be AMES-positive, suggesting that the other compounds are not mutagenic. The result of the study showed based on the Drug-likeness and ADMET studies, only 3 compounds, including 3, 4, and 15, have a good pharmacokinetics propriety, the lowest toxicity, and good binding affinity towards Caspase 3 V266APDB (ID: 5I9B) as potential inhibitor candidates for the HeLa cell line, they have a low total clearance property and no AMES mutagenicity or hERG inhibition properties. These compounds (3,4,15) were examined to act as new cytotoxic drug candidates and would have an interest as starting point for designing compounds against the HeLa cell line.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Antioxidant Intervention to Improve Cognition in the Aging Brain: The Example of Hydroxytyrosol and Resveratrol

Both physiological and pathological aging processes induce brain alterations especially affecting the speed of processing, working memory, conceptual reasoning and executive functions. Many therapeutic approaches to reduce the impact of brain aging on cognitive functioning have been tested; unfortunately, there are no satisfactory results as a single therapy. As aging is partly contributed by free radical reactions, it has been proposed that exogenous antioxidants could have a positive impact on both aging and its associated manifestations. The aim of this report is to provide a summary and a subsequent review of the literature evidence on the role of antioxidants in preventing and improving cognition in the aging brain. Manipulation of endogenous cellular defense mechanisms through nutritional antioxidants or pharmacological compounds represents an innovative approach to therapeutic intervention in diseases causing brain tissue damage, such as neurodegeneration. Coherently with this notion, antioxidants, especially those derived from the Mediterranean diet such as hydroxytyrosol and resveratrol, seem to be able to delay and modulate the cognitive brain aging processes and decrease the occurrence of its effects on the brain. The potential preventive activity of antioxidants should be evaluated in long-term exposure clinical trials, using preparations with high bioavailability, able to bypass the blood-brain barrier limitation, and that are well standardized.

Nutritional Analysis of Five Wild Edible Vegetables Traditionally Consumed by the Orang Asli in Perak

The significance of wild edible plants may be traced back to antiquity, and methodological studies are the focus of present food movements to restore culinary traditions. Ethnobotanical appraisal was first done to determine the names and the significance of the five wild edibles used by the Orang Asli, which were Erechtites valerianiaeolia (Link ex Spring) DC, Dendrocalamus asper (Schult.) Backer, Solanum nigrum L., Gomphandra quadrifida (Blume) Sleumer, and Pleocnemia irregularis (C. Presl) Holttum collected from Sungkai, Perak in Malaysia. These wild edibles were then assessed for their proximate and mineral compositions. The present study revealed that the fiber content present in these wild edibles ranged from 2.7 to 12.5 g/100 g, whereas the protein content ranged from 1.8 to 6.8 g/100 g with Gomphandra quadrifida containing the highest amount of fiber and Solanum nigrum recording the highest protein content among the 5 wild edibles. In regard to the micronutreint content, iron was the highest in Gomphandra quadrifida, followed by Pleocnemia irregularis. Calcium and magnesium contents were the highest in Solanum nigrum. The results obtained in this study echo the urgency to conserve these plants in order to promote consumption as well as to improve the health and nutritional status of the Orang Asli.

A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial of an anti-inflammatory nutritional intervention in patients with fibromyalgia

Background

This study aims to analyze the effects of a potentially anti-inflammatory nutritional intervention in disease assessment parameters, inflammatory markers, and quality of life of fibromyalgia (FM) patients.

Methods

A sample of 100 female patients diagnosed with FM, followed up at Portuguese Institute of Rheumatology (IPR) in Lisbon, is being randomly allocated in two groups. Patients in the intervention group are adopting an anti-inflammatory diet, characterized by the exemption of the intake of foods containing gluten, dairy, sugar, and ultra-processed foods, during 3 months. During the first month, a low fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) diet is implemented, along with the anti-inflammatory diet, followed by the reintroduction of all fruits and vegetables over a consecutive period of 2 months. Patients in the control group are adopting a diet based on general recommendations for healthy eating. The outcomes are pain, fatigue, quality of sleep, quality of life, gastrointestinal symptoms, and inflammation. Before and after the 3 months intervention, and also 1 month after beginning the intervention, the following questionnaires are applied: Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire, visual analog pain scale, Brief Pain Inventory,visual analog scale from a list of common gastrointestinal and extraintestinal symptoms in FM, Short Form 36, Fatigue Severity Survey, and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index. Ultra-sensitive serum C-reactive protein, eritrocyte sedimentation rate, and interleukin-8 are determined. Age, physical activity, anthropometric parameters, and body composition are being collected. Student’s t test will assess the association between the disease evaluation parameters, the inflammatory markers, and the dietary interventions.

Discussion

The results of this study are expected to determine whether a change in patient nutrition helps to alleviate symptoms, which would optimize medical intervention.

Trial registration

www.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04007705. Registered on July 5, 2019.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13063-021-05146-3.

Effects of Exercise and Ferulic Acid on Alpha Synuclein and Neuroprotective Heat Shock Protein 70 in An Experimental Model of Parkinsonism Disease

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

This study investigated the effects of ferulic acid (FR), muscle exercise (Ex) and combination of them on rotenone (Rot)-induced Parkinson disease (PD) in mice as well as their underlying mechanisms.

METHOD

56 male C57BL/6 mice were allocated into 8 equal groups, 1) Normal control (CTL), 2) FR (mice received FR at 20 mg/kg/day), 3) Ex (mice received swimming Ex) and 4) Ex + FR (mice received FR and Ex), 5) Rot (mice received Rot 3 mg/Kg i.p. for 70 days), 6) ROT+ FR (mice received Rot + FR at 20 mg/kg/day), 7) ROT+ Ex (mice received Rot + swimming Ex) and 8) ROT+ Ex + FR (mice received Rot + FR and Ex). ROT group showed significant impairment in motor performance and significant reduction in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) density and Hsp70 expression (p< 0.05) with Lewy bodies (alpha synuclein) aggregates in corpus striatum. Also, ROT+FR, ROT+EX and ROT + Ex+ FR groups showed significant improvement in behavioral and biochemical changes, however the effect of FR alone was more potent than Ex alone (p< 0.05) and addition of Ex to FR caused no more significant improvement than FR alone.

CONCLUSION

We concluded that, FR and Ex improved the motor performance in rotenone-induced PD rodent model which might be due to increased Hsp70 expression and TH density in corpus striatum and combination of both did not offer more protection than FR alone.

Anti-inflammatory effects of aloe vera on soy meal-induced intestinal inflammation in zebrafish

Soybean meal is one of the most promising alternatives to replace fishmeal in the aquaculture industry. However, its ingestion triggers an intestinal inflammatory process that compromises fish health and nutrition. Therefore, finding strategies that reduce the deleterious effects of a soy protein-based diet are relevant. In this work we analyzed the effects of an aloe vera (Aloe barbadensis miller, AV) extract on intestinal inflammation and innate immunity of zebrafish by adding it to the water and by supplementing it in a soybean meal-based diet. To search for potential immunomodulatory effects of AV, we tested its effectiveness in two inflammation assays and compared fish fed with either fishmeal or soybean meal-based feed supplemented with AV. Our results show a strong anti-inflammatory effect of AV. Furthermore, while soy-based meal strongly induces the expression of inflammation markers, supplementation with AV reverted this effect. Finally, we show that fish fed with a soy meal diet are highly susceptible to bacterial infection, but that this condition is significantly reduced when the soy meal is supplemented with AV. Our results suggest that AV is a good candidate to be incorporated as an additive in farmed fish diets to facilitate the replacement of fishmeal by soybean meal, maintaining intestinal health.

PROOXIDANT ACTIVITIES OF ANTIOXIDANTS AND THEIR IMPACT ON HEALTH

This review article is focused on the impact of antioxidants and prooxidants on health with emphasis on the type of antioxidants that should be taken. Medical researchers suggest that diet may be the solution for the control of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular complications, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and different cancers. In this survey, we found scientific evidence that the use of antioxidants should be limited only to the cases where oxidative stress has been identified. This is often the case of specific population groups such as postmenopausal women, the elderly, infants, workers exposed to environmental pollutants, and the obese. Before starting any supplementation, it is necessary to measure oxidative stress and to identify and eliminate the possible sources of free radicals and thus increased oxidative stress.

The Mitochondrion as Potential Interface in Early-Life Stress Brain Programming

Mitochondria play a central role in cellular energy-generating processes and are master regulators of cell life. They provide the energy necessary to reinstate and sustain homeostasis in response to stress, and to launch energy intensive adaptation programs to ensure an organism’s survival and future well-being. By this means, mitochondria are particularly apt to mediate brain programming by early-life stress (ELS) and to serve at the same time as subcellular substrate in the programming process. With a focus on mitochondria’s integrated role in metabolism, steroidogenesis and oxidative stress, we review current findings on altered mitochondrial function in the brain, the placenta and peripheral blood cells following ELS-dependent programming in rodents and recent insights from humans exposed to early life adversity (ELA). Concluding, we propose a role of the mitochondrion as subcellular intersection point connecting ELS, brain programming and mental well-being, and a role as a potential site for therapeutic interventions in individuals exposed to severe ELS.

Tracing Early Neurodevelopment in Schizophrenia with Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells

Schizophrenia (SCZ) is a devastating mental disorder that is characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotion, language, sense of self, and behavior. Epidemiological evidence suggests that subtle perturbations in early neurodevelopment increase later susceptibility for disease, which typically manifests in adolescence to early adulthood. Early perturbations are thought to be significantly mediated through incompletely understood genetic risk factors. The advent of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology allows for the in vitro analysis of disease-relevant neuronal cell types from the early stages of human brain development. Since iPSCs capture each donor's genotype, comparison between neuronal cells derived from healthy and diseased individuals can provide important insights into the molecular and cellular basis of SCZ. In this review, we discuss results from an increasing number of iPSC-based SCZ/control studies that highlight alterations in neuronal differentiation, maturation, and neurotransmission in addition to perturbed mitochondrial function and micro-RNA expression. In light of this remarkable progress, we consider also ongoing challenges from the field of iPSC-based disease modeling that call for further improvements on the generation and design of patient-specific iPSC studies to ultimately progress from basic studies on SCZ to tailored treatments.

Adherence to Recommended Dietary Guidelines and the Relationships with the Importance of Eating Healthy in Egyptian University Students

BACKGROUND

Little is known on the food consumption habits and adherence to dietary guidelines among young adults. We examined students' adherence to recommended guidelines, and the associations between importance of eating healthy and guidelines adherence.

METHODS

A total of 3271 undergraduates at 11 faculties, Assiut University, Egypt (2009-2010), completed a questionnaire reporting their consumption of 12 food groups; number of servings of fruits/vegetables/day; and how important it is for them to eat healthy. We employed the WHO guidelines for the Eastern Mediterranean region (WHO 2012) to compute students' adherence to dietary guidelines for the different food groups. Chi-square tested the differences for adherence to guidelines by gender, and the associations between the importance of healthy eating and guidelines adherence for the whole sample and by gender.

RESULTS

Except for cereal products, no food group had an adherence level >45%. Gender differences were observed (men had better adherence for sweets, cake/cookies, snacks, and raw vegetables but not for fast food/canned food or cooked vegetables, P < 0.001 for each). There was a significant positive trend between the increase of subjective importance of eating healthy and adherence to guidelines (P = 0.012-< 0.001). However, this association was only for some food groups and gender dependent.

CONCLUSIONS

Across the majority of food groups we examined, this sample exhibited low adherence levels to International Nutrition Guidelines. Healthier eating educational/intervention efforts should target foods exhibiting low adherence (most food groups, particularly salad/raw vegetables, fresh fruits, dairy/dairy products, meat/sausage products); consider gender differences (females reported lower adherence across most food groups); and note the relation between adherence and subjective importance of eating healthy by food groups and gender.

Plant bioactives and redox signaling: (-)-Epicatechin as a paradigm

Polyphenols are bioactives claimed to be responsible for some of the health benefits provided by fruit and vegetables. It is currently accepted that the bioactivities of polyphenols can be mostly ascribed to their interactions with proteins and lipids. Such interactions can affect cell oxidant production and cell signaling, and explain in part the ability of polyphenols to promote health. EC can modulate redox sensitive signaling by: i) defining the extent of oxidant levels that can modify cell signaling, function, and fate, e.g. regulating enzymes that generate superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide; or ii) regulating the activation of transcription factors sensible to oxidants. The latter includes the regulation of the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nfr2) pathway, which in turn can promote the synthesis of antioxidant defenses, and of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kB) pathway, which mediates the expression of oxidants generating enzymes, as well as proteins not involved in redox reactions. In summary, a significant amount of data vindicates the participation of EC in redox regulated signaling pathways. Progress in the understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in EC biological actions will help to define recommendations in terms of which fruit and vegetables are healthier and the amounts necessary to provide health effects.

Comparative Evaluation of Soluble and Insoluble-Bound Phenolics and Antioxidant Activity of Two Chinese Mistletoes

Mistletoes are used medicinally in order to treat various human illnesses. Few studies have reported on the phenolic content and antioxidant properties of Chinese mistletoes (CMs). In this work, the total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activities of soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts from CMs hosted by Camellia assamica (Mast.) Chang (CMC) and Pyrus, i, f. (CMP) were compared. Phenolic compounds in CMC and CMP were identified and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results indicated that the TPC of soluble phenolic extracts was higher than insoluble-bound phenolic counterparts in both CMC and CMP. In addition, the TPC of soluble, insoluble-bound and total phenolic fractions (9.91 ± 0.23, 4.59 ± 0.27 and 14.50 ± 0.35 μmol ferulic acid equivalents per gram (FAE/g) dry sample) extracted from CMP were higher than those extracted from CMC. The soluble phenolic extracts in CMP showed higher antioxidant activities than those in CMC. Eighteen phenolic compounds from soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts from the CMs were identified and quantified by HPLC. This study indicates that CMC and CMP, especially the latter, could be sources of antioxidants in human health care.

Citrus reticulata peel oil inhibits non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation in culture and implanted in nude mice

Mandarin peel oil exerts an antiproliferative effect on in vitro and in vivo human tumour cells without toxicity effects.

Multi-approach metabolomics analysis and artificial simplified phytocomplexes reveal cultivar-dependent synergy between polyphenols and ascorbic acid in fruits of the sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.)

Fruits of the sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) accumulate a range of antioxidants that can help to prevent cardiovascular disease, inflammation and cancer. We tested the in vitro antioxidant activity of 18 sweet cherry cultivars collected from 12 farms in the protected geographical indication region of Marostica (Vicenza, Italy) during two growing seasons. Multiple targeted and untargeted metabolomics approaches (NMR, LC-MS, HPLC-DAD, HPLC-UV) as well as artificial simplified phytocomplexes representing the cultivars Sandra Tardiva, Sandra and Grace Star were then used to determine whether the total antioxidant activity reflected the additive effects of each compound or resulted from synergistic interactions. We found that the composition of each cultivar depended more on genetic variability than environmental factors. Furthermore, phenolic compounds were the principal source of antioxidant activity and experiments with artificial simplified phytocomplexes indicated strong synergy between the anthocyanins and quercetins/ascorbic acid specifically in the cultivar Sandra Tardiva. Our data therefore indicate that the total antioxidant activity of sweet cherry fruits may originate from cultivar-dependent interactions among different classes of metabolite.

Food-Derived Antioxidant Polysaccharides and Their Pharmacological Potential in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Oxidative stress is known to impair architecture and function of cells, which may lead to various chronic diseases, and therefore therapeutic and nutritional interventions to reduce oxidative damages represent a viable strategy in the amelioration of oxidative stress-related disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases. Over the past decade, a variety of natural polysaccharides from functional and medicinal foods have attracted great interest due to their antioxidant functions such as scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative damages. Interestingly, these antioxidant polysaccharides are also found to attenuate neuronal damages and alleviate cognitive and motor decline in a range of neurodegenerative models. It has recently been established that the neuroprotective mechanisms of polysaccharides are related to oxidative stress-related pathways, including mitochondrial function, antioxidant defense system and pathogenic protein aggregation. Here, we first summarize the current status of antioxidant function of food-derived polysaccharides and then attempt to appraise their anti-neurodegeneration activities.

Modifications in nitric oxide and superoxide anion metabolism induced by fructose overload in rat heart are prevented by (-)-epicatechin

Fructose overload promotes functional and metabolic derangements in humans and in animal experimental models. Evidence suggests that dietary flavonoids have the ability to prevent/attenuate the development of metabolic diseases. In this work we investigated the effects of (-)-epicatechin on the modifications induced by fructose overload in the rat heart in terms of nitric oxide and superoxide metabolism. Male Sprague Dawley rats received 10% (w/v) fructose in the drinking water for 8 weeks, with or without (-)-epicatechin (20 mg per kg body weight per day) in the rat chow diet. These conditions of fructose overload did not lead to overt manifestations of heart hypertrophy or tissue remodeling. However, biochemical and molecular changes were observed and could represent the onset of functional alterations. (-)-Epicatechin prevented a compromised NO bioavailability and the development of oxidative stress produced by fructose overload essentially acting on superoxide anion metabolism. In this line, the increase in superoxide anion production, the overexpression of NOX2 subunit p47phox and of NOX4, the decrease in superoxide dismutase activity, and the higher oxidized/reduced glutathione ratio installed by fructose overload were absent in the rats receiving (-)-epicatechin. These results support the hypothesis that diets rich in (-)-epicatechin could prevent the onset and progression of heart dysfunctions associated with metabolic alterations.

Molecular nutrition: Interaction of nutrients, gene regulations and performances

Nutrition deals with ingestion of foods, digestion, absorption, transport of nutrients, intermediary metabolism, underlying anabolism and catabolism, and excretion of unabsorbed nutrients and metabolites. In addition, nutrition interacts with gene expressions, which are involved in the regulation of animal performances. Our laboratory is concerned with the improvement of animal productions, such as milks, meats and eggs, with molecular nutritional aspects. The present review shows overviews on the nutritional regulation of metabolism, physiological functions and gene expressions to improve animal production in chickens and dairy cows.

Phenolic profile and in vitro antioxidant capacity of insoluble dietary fiber powders from citrus (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) pomace as affected by ultrafine grinding

The effects of mechanical and jet grindings on the proximate composition, phenolics, and antioxidant capacity of insoluble antioxidant dietary fiber powder from citrus pomace (IADFP-CP) were investigated in comparison with ordinary grinding. IADFP-CP from jet grinding showed higher levels of crude fat, total sugar, and free phenolics and lower levels of crude protein and bound phenolics than that from ordinary grinding. Totally, 14 phenolics (9 free, 1 bound, and 4 free/bound) in IADFP-CP were identified by RP-HPLC-DAD/ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Hesperidin accounted for >57% of total phenolics in IADFP-CP. Among IADFP-CPs, the jet-ground presented the highest free phenolics but the lowest bound phenolics. The IADFP-CP from jet grinding presented the highest antioxidant capacity of free phenolics (by DPPH and FRAP assays), followed by the ones from mechanical and then ordinary grinding. The present study suggests that jet grinding could improve the extraction of phenolic compounds from IADFP-CP and increase the antioxidant capacities of free phenolics and the resultant powder.

No correlation is found for vegetables between antioxidant capacity and potential benefits in improving antioxidant function in aged rats

Vegetables vary greatly in antioxidant capacity in vitro. This study was to investigate the actions of three vegetables different remarkably in antioxidant capacity in vitro on antioxidant function in aged rats. Sixty female aged Wistar rats were randomly assigned to the control, lotus root, rape and cucumber (high, moderate and low in antioxidant capacity, respectively) treated groups. After 6 weeks of feeding, there were no significant differences in plasma FRAP value and contents of vitamin C, vitamin E, uric acid and total phenolics among different groups, whereas the content of reduced glutathione was significantly higher in the rape and cucumber groups. Plasma superoxide dismutase activity also was significantly increased in the rape and cucumber groups. Plasma contents of malondialdehyde, carbonyls and hemolysis were decreased significantly in 3 vegetable-treated groups. Meanwhile, urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine excretion was lower significantly in the rape group and the ratio of comet tail length to total length of blood mononuclear cells was decreased significantly in 3 vegetables treated groups. These results suggest that 3 vegetables tested are effective in improving antioxidant function to some extent in aged rats and no correlation is found between antioxidant capacity in vitro and improvements of antioxidant function. The benefits observed in this study may come from additive or synergistic combinations of antioxidants contained in vegetables.

Mitochondrial free radical theory of aging: who moved my premise?

First proposed by D Harman in the 1950s, the Mitochondrial Free Radical Theory of Aging (MFRTA) has become one of the most tested and well-known theories in aging research. Its core statement is that aging results from the accumulation of oxidative damage, which is closely linked with the release of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from mitochondria. Although MFRTA has been well acknowledged for more than half a century, conflicting evidence is piling up in recent years querying the causal effect of ROS in aging. A critical idea thus emerges that contrary to their conventional image only as toxic agents, ROS at a non-toxic level function as signaling molecules that induce protective defense in responses to age-dependent damage. Furthermore, the peroxisome, another organelle in eukaryotic cells, might have a say in longevity modulation. Peroxisomes and mitochondria are two organelles closely related to each other, and their interaction has major implications for the regulation of aging. The present review particularizes the questionable sequiturs of the MFRTA, and recommends peroxisome, similarly as mitochondrion, as a possible candidate for the regulation of aging.

Mechanisms of action of brain insulin against neurodegenerative diseases

Insulin, a pancreatic hormone, is best known for its peripheral effects on the metabolism of glucose, fats and proteins. There is a growing body of evidence linking insulin action in the brain to neurodegenerative diseases. Insulin present in central nervous system is a regulator of central glucose metabolism nevertheless this glucoregulation is not the main function of insulin in the brain. Brain is known to be specifically vulnerable to oxidative products relative to other organs and altered brain insulin signaling may cause or promote neurodegenerative diseases which invalidates and reduces the quality of life. Insulin located within the brain is mostly of pancreatic origin or is produced in the brain itself crosses the blood-brain barrier and enters the brain via a receptor-mediated active transport system. Brain Insulin, insulin receptor and insulin receptor substrate-mediated signaling pathways play important roles in the regulation of peripheral metabolism, feeding behavior, memory and maintenance of neural functions such as neuronal growth and differentiation, neuromodulation and neuroprotection. In the present review, we would like to summarize the novel biological and pathophysiological roles of neuronal insulin in neurodegenerative diseases and describe the main signaling pathways in use for therapeutic strategies in the use of insulin to the cerebral tissues and their biological applications to neurodegenerative diseases.

In vitro evaluation of free radical scavenging activity of Codariocalyx motorius root extract

OBJECTIVE

To determine the phenolic content in Codariocalyx motorius root extract and to evaluate its antioxidant properties using various in vitro assay systems.

METHODS

The antioxidant activity was evaluated based on scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl radicals, superoxide anions, nitric oxide, hydrogen peroxide, peroxynitrite, reducing power and by inhibition of lipid peroxidation which was estimated in terms of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances.

RESULTS

The root extract of the Codariocalyx motorius (C. motorius) exhibited potent total antioxidant activity that increased with increasing amount of extract concentration, which was compared with standard drug such as quercetin, butylated hydroxytoluene, tocopherol at different concentrations. The different concentrations of the extracts showed inhibition on lipid peroxidation. In addition, the extracts had effective reducing power, free radical scavenging, super oxide anion scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, lipid peroxidation, and total phenolic content depending on concentration. High correlation between total phenolic contents and scavenging potential of different reactive oxygen species (r(2)=0.831-0.978) indicated the polyphenols as the main antioxidants.

CONCLUSIONS

Codariocalyx motorius (C. motorius) root possess the highly active antioxidant substance which can be used for the treatment of oxidative stress-related diseases.

Blood pressure-lowering effect of dietary (-)-epicatechin administration in L-NAME-treated rats is associated with restored nitric oxide levels

Epidemiological and intervention studies have shown that the intake of certain chocolates or cocoa products decreases blood pressure (BP) in humans. (-)-Epicatechin is the most abundant flavanol present in cocoa seeds and its derived foods. This work investigates the effects of dietary (-)-epicatechin on BP in rats that received N(ω)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) for 4 days. (-)-Epicatechin administration prevented the 42mm Hg increase in BP associated with the inhibition of NO production in a dose-dependent manner (0.2-4.0g/kg diet). This BP effect was associated with a reduction in L-NAME-mediated increase in the indexes of oxidative stress (plasma TBARS and GSSG/GSH(2) ratio) and with a restoration of the NO concentration. At the vascular level, none of the treatments modified NOS expression, but (-)-epicatechin administration avoided the L-NAME-mediated decrease in eNOS activity and increase in both superoxide anion production and NOX subunit p47(phox) expression. In summary, (-)-epicatechin was able to prevent the increase in BP and in oxidative stress and restored NO bioavailability. The fact that (-)-epicatechin is present in several plants usually consumed by humans gives the possibility of developing diets rich in those plants or pharmacological strategies using that flavonoid to diminish BP in hypertensive subjects.

First web-based database on total phenolics and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of fruits produced and consumed within the south Andes region of South America

This paper reports the first database on antioxidants contained in fruits produced and consumed within the south Andes region of South America. The database ( www.portalantioxidantes.com ) contains over 500 total phenolics (TP) and ORAC values for more than 120 species/varieties of fruits. All analyses were conducted by a single ISO/IEC 17025-certified laboratory. The characterization comprised native berries such as maqui ( Aristotelia chilensis ), murtilla ( Ugni molinae ), and calafate ( Barberis microphylla ), which largely outscored all other studied fruits. Major differences in TP and ORAC were observed as a function of the fruit variety in berries, avocado, cherries, and apples. In fruits such as pears, apples, apricots, and peaches, a significant part of the TP and ORAC was accounted for by the antioxidants present in the peel. These data should be useful to estimate the fruit-based intake of TP and, through the ORAC data, their antioxidant-related contribution to the diet of south Andes populations.

Antioxidant supplementation during exercise training: beneficial or detrimental?

High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in skeletal muscle during exercise have been associated with muscle damage and impaired muscle function. Supporting endogenous defence systems with additional oral doses of antioxidants has received much attention as a noninvasive strategy to prevent or reduce oxidative stress, decrease muscle damage and improve exercise performance. Over 150 articles have been published on this topic, with almost all of these being small-scale, low-quality studies. The consistent finding is that antioxidant supplementation attenuates exercise-induced oxidative stress. However, any physiological implications of this have yet to be consistently demonstrated, with most studies reporting no effects on exercise-induced muscle damage and performance. Moreover, a growing body of evidence indicates detrimental effects of antioxidant supplementation on the health and performance benefits of exercise training. Indeed, although ROS are associated with harmful biological events, they are also essential to the development and optimal function of every cell. The aim of this review is to present and discuss 23 studies that have shown that antioxidant supplementation interferes with exercise training-induced adaptations. The main findings of these studies are that, in certain situations, loading the cell with high doses of antioxidants leads to a blunting of the positive effects of exercise training and interferes with important ROS-mediated physiological processes, such as vasodilation and insulin signalling. More research is needed to produce evidence-based guidelines regarding the use of antioxidant supplementation during exercise training. We recommend that an adequate intake of vitamins and minerals through a varied and balanced diet remains the best approach to maintain the optimal antioxidant status in exercising individuals.

The antioxidant protection of CELLFOOD against oxidative damage in vitro

CELLFOOD (CF) is an innovative nutritional supplement containing 78 ionic/colloidal trace elements and minerals combined with 34 enzymes and 17 amino acids, all suspended in a solution of deuterium sulfate. The aim of this study was to investigate, for the first time, the antioxidant properties of CF in vitro in different model systems. Three pathophysiologically relevant oxidants were chosen to evaluate CF protection against oxidative stress: hydrogen peroxide, peroxyl radicals, and hypochlorous acid. Both biomolecules (GSH and plasmid DNA) and circulating cells (erythrocytes and lymphocytes) were used as targets of oxidation. CF protected, in a dose-dependent manner, both GSH and DNA from oxidation by preserving reduced GSH thiol groups and supercoiled DNA integrity, respectively. At the same time, CF protected erythrocytes from oxidative damage by reducing cell lysis and GSH intracellular depletion after exposure to the oxidant agents. In lymphocytes, CF reduced the intracellular oxidative stress induced by the three oxidants in a dose-dependent manner. The overall in vitro protection of biomolecules and cells against free radical attacks suggests that CF might be a valuable coadjuvant in the prevention and treatment of various physiological and pathological conditions related to oxidative stress, from aging to atherosclerosis, from neurodegeneration to cancer.

Use of chemoprotectants in chemotherapy and radiation therapy: the challenges of selecting an appropriate agent

Chemoprotection refers to the protection from the toxicity of one chemical by the intervention of another. Conflicting preclinical and clinical reports make it difficult to either ignore or accept the use of chemoprotectants during cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The selection of anticancer drugs depends on the type and stage of cancer development. However, very little attention has been paid to the selection of chemoprotectants. The answer to the use of chemoprotectants during cancer therapy lies in their appropriate selection in a case-specific and/or issue-specific manner. The need of the hour is to find better answers on the rationality of chemoprotectants selection during cancer therapy using cutting-edge science. In this commentary, we have presented few examples to justify our view-points.

Quercetin reduces markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in sarcoidosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Oxidative stress and low antioxidant levels are implicated in the aetiology of sarcoidosis, an inflammatory disease. Quercetin is a potent dietary antioxidant that also displays anti-inflammatory activities. Consequently, the aim is to examine the effect of quercetin supplementation on markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in sarcoidosis.

METHODS

A double-blind intervention study has been conducted with two groups of non-smoking, un-treated sarcoidosis patients, matched for age and gender. One group was given 4x500 mg quercetin (n = 12) orally within 24 h, the other one placebo (n = 6). Plasma malondialdehyde levels were used as marker of oxidative damage, plasma ratios of TNFα/IL-10 and IL-8/IL-10 as pro-inflammatory markers.

RESULTS

Quercetin supplementation improved the antioxidant defence, indicated by the increased total plasma antioxidant capacity. Moreover, quercetin supplementation also reduced markers of oxidative stress and inflammation in the blood of sarcoidosis patients. The effects of quercetin supplementation appeared to be more pronounced when the levels of the oxidative stress and inflammation markers were higher at baseline.

CONCLUSIONS

Sarcoidosis patients might benefit from the use of antioxidants, such as quercetin, to reduce the occurring oxidative stress as well as inflammation. The effects of long-term use of antioxidant supplementation in sarcoidosis, using e.g. quercetin, on improvement of lung function remain to be investigated. (www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT-00402623).

Synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects of food mixtures on total antioxidant capacities

Different foods possess different bioactive compounds with varied antioxidant capacities. When foods are consumed together, the total antioxidant capacity of food mixtures may be modified via synergistic, additive, or antagonistic interactions among these components, which may in turn alter their physiological impacts. The main objective of this study was to investigate these interactions and identify any synergistic combinations. Eleven foods from three categories, including fruits (raspberry, blackberry, and apple), vegetables (broccoli, tomato, mushroom, and purple cauliflower), and legumes (soybean, adzuki bean, red kidney bean, and black bean) were combined in pairs. Four assays (total phenolic content, ferric reducing antioxidant power, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, radical scavenging capacity, and oxygen radical absorbance capacity) were used to evaluate the antioxidant capacities of individual foods and their combinations. The results indicated that within the same food category, 13, 68, and 21% of the combinations produced synergistic, additive, and antagonistic interactions, respectively, while the combinations produced 21, 54, and 25% synergistic, additive, and antagonistic effects, respectively, across food categories. Combining specific foods across categories (e.g., fruit and legume) was more likely to result in synergistic antioxidant capacity than combinations within a food group. Combining raspberry and adzuki bean extracts demonstrated synergistic interactions in all four chemical-based assays. Compositional changes did not seem to have occurred in the mixture. Results in this study suggest the importance of strategically selecting foods or diets to maximum synergisms as well as to minimum antagonisms in antioxidant activity.

Dietary fiber as a carrier of dietary antioxidants: an essential physiological function

The literature addresses dietary fiber (DF) and antioxidants (AOX) separately as nonrelated compounds. This paper proposes to show that DF and AOX could be approached jointly in nutrition and health studies because around 50% of the total dietary antioxidants, mainly polyphenolics, traverse the small intestine linked to dietary fiber. These antioxidants have received little attention so far. They release the fiber matrix in the colon by the action of the bacterial microbiota, producing metabolites and an antioxidant environment. The content of polyphenols associated with DF in different foods and their potential health-related properties, including animal experiments and human trials, are reviewed. It is concluded that the transportation of dietary antioxidants through the gastrointestinal tract may be an essential function of DF.

Applications and bioefficacy of the functional food supplement fermented papaya preparation

Fermented papaya preparation (FPP) (a product of yeast fermentation of Carica papaya Linn) is a food supplement. Studies in chronic and degenerative disease conditions (such as thalassemia, cirrhosis, diabetes and aging) and performance sports show that FPP favorably modulates immunological, hematological, inflammatory, vascular and oxidative stress damage parameters. Neuroprotective potential evaluated in an Alzheimer's disease cell model showed that the toxicity of the β-amyloid can be significantly modulated by FPP. Oxidative stress trigger apoptotic pathways such as the c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38-mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) are preferentially activated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress resulting in cell differentiation and apoptosis. FPP modulated the H₂O₂-induced ERK, Akt and p38 activation with the reduction of p38 phosphorylation induced by H₂O₂. FPP reduces the extent of the H₂O₂-induced DNA damage, an outcome corroborated by similar effects obtained in the benzo[a]pyrene treated cells. No genotoxic effect was observed in experiments with FPP exposed to HepG2 cells nor was FPP toxic to the PC12 cells. Oxidative stress-induced cell damage and inflammation are implicated in a variety of cancers, diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular dysfunctions, neurodegenerative disorders (such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease), exercise physiology (including performance sports) and aging. These conditions could potentially benefit from functional nutraceutical/food supplements (as illustrated here with fermented papaya preparation) exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunostimulatory (at the level of the mucus membrane) and induction of antioxidant enzymes.

The role of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and treatment of asthma

The role of oxidative stress in asthma is gaining increasing scientific attention. The hallmark of asthma is airway inflammation. Oxidative stress may initiate and augment inflammation, and may also result from inflammation. Exposure to tobacco smoke, ozone, diesel exhaust, and a variety of other pollutants generates reactive oxygen species and other oxidative stressors. Some studies suggest that asthmatics have a decreased ability to respond to oxidative stress, while others find upregulated antioxidative function. Oxidative stress may alter the Th(1)/Th(2) immune response and result in activation of NF-kbeta, a powerful inducer of pro-inflammatory genes. Genetic polymorphisms may play an important role in determining susceptibility to oxidative stress. Many therapeutic strategies to decrease oxidative stress in asthma have been suggested. Dietary changes, antioxidant vitamins, other antioxidant drugs, Ayurvedic supplements, and even radon exposure in a hot bathroom have been studied. Minimizing exposure of young children to environmental tobacco smoke remains paramount.

Regulating redox balance gene expression in healthy individuals by nutraceuticals: a pilot study

We tested the effect of a fermented papaya preparation (FPP; ORI, Gifu, Japan) on redox balance gene expression in 11 healthy nonsmoker, teetotaller individuals subjected to a detailed dietary and lifestyle questionnaire who refrained from any multivitamin supplement or fortified food. Redox status was assessed by erythrocyte and plasma parameters together with related leukocyte mRNA (glutathione peroxidase [GPx], superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase, 8-oxoguanine glycosylase [hOGG1]) before/after 6 grams of FPP supplementation. At 2 and 4 weeks after FPP administration, plasma parameters remained unchanged, whereas FPP significantly upregulated all tested gene expression (p < 0.05). Although posttranscriptional/translation protein modifications do occur and larger and longer studies are awaited, these preliminary data suggest that a transcriptomic modification of key redox and DNA repair genes may offer further insights when attempting to interrelate "nutragenomics" to clinical phenomena.