A comparative transcriptomics analysis reveals ethylene glycol derivatives of squalene ameliorate excessive lipogenesis and inflammatory response in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

Squalene (SQ) is a natural compound with anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-oxidant effects, but due to its low solubility, its biological properties have been greatly underestimated. This study aims to explore the differences in gene expression patterns of four newly synthesized amphipathic ethylene glycol (EG) derivatives of SQ by whole-genome transcriptomics analysis using DNA microarray to examine the mRNA expression profile of adipocytes differentiated from 3T3-L1 cells treated with SQ and its EG derivatives. Enrichment analyses of the transcriptional data showed that compared with SQ, its EG derivatives exerted different, in most cases desirable, biological responses. EG derivatives showed increased enrichment of mitochondrial functions, lipid and glucose metabolism, and inflammatory response. Mono-, di-, and tetra-SQ showed higher enrichment of the cellular component-ribosome. Histological staining showed EG derivatives prevented excessive lipid accumulation. Additionally, mitochondrial transcription factors showed upregulation in tetra-SQ-treated cells. Notably, EG derivatives showed better anti-inflammatory effects. Further, gene-disease association analysis predicted substantial improvement in the bioactivities of SQ derivatives in metabolic diseases. Cluster analyses revealed di- and tetra-SQ had more functional similarities than others, reflected in their scanning electron microscopy images; both di- and tetra-SQ self-organized into similar sizes and shapes of vesicles, subsequently improving their cation binding activities. Protein-protein interaction networks further revealed that cation binding activity might explain a major part, if not all, of the differences observed in functional analyses. Altogether, the addition of EG derivatives may improve the biological responses of SQ and thus may enhance its health-promoting potential.

A systematic review of natural products for skin applications: Targeting inflammation, wound healing, and photo-aging

BACKGROUND

Every day the skin is constantly exposed to several harmful factors that induce oxidative stress. When the cells are incapable to maintain the balance between antioxidant defenses and reactive oxygen species, the skin no longer can keep its integrity and homeostasis. Chronic inflammation, premature skin aging, tissue damage, and immunosuppression are possible consequences induced by sustained exposure to environmental and endogenous reactive oxygen species. Skin immune and non-immune cells together with the microbiome are essential to efficiently trigger skin immune responses to stress. For this reason, an ever-increasing demand for novel molecules capable of modulating immune functions in the skin has risen the level of their development, particularly in the field of natural product-derived molecules.

PURPOSE

In this review, we explore different classes of molecules that showed evidence in modulate skin immune responses, as well as their target receptors and signaling pathways. Moreover, we describe the role of polyphenols, polysaccharides, fatty acids, peptides, and probiotics as possible treatments for skin conditions, including wound healing, infection, inflammation, allergies, and premature skin aging.

METHODS

Literature was searched, analyzed, and collected using databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar. The search terms used included "Skin", "wound healing", "natural products", "skin microbiome", "immunomodulation", "anti-inflammatory", "antioxidant", "infection", "UV radiation", "polyphenols", "polysaccharides", "fatty acids", "plant oils", "peptides", "antimicrobial peptides", "probiotics", "atopic dermatitis", "psoriasis", "auto-immunity", "dry skin", "aging", etc., and several combinations of these keywords.

RESULTS

Natural products offer different solutions as possible treatments for several skin conditions. Significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were reported, followed by the ability to modulate immune functions in the skin. Several membrane-bound immune receptors in the skin recognize diverse types of natural-derived molecules, promoting different immune responses that can improve skin conditions.

CONCLUSION

Despite the increasing progress in drug discovery, several limiting factors need future clarification. Understanding the safety, biological activities, and precise mechanisms of action is a priority as well as the characterization of the active compounds responsible for that. This review provides directions for future studies in the development of new molecules with important pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical value.

Profiles of Fatty Acids, Polyphenols, Sterols, and Tocopherols and Scavenging Property of Mediterranean Oils: New Sources of Dietary Nutrients for the Prevention of Age-related Diseases

The present study provides the fatty acid, tocopherol, phytosterol, and polyphenol profiles of some Mediterranean oils extracted from pumpkin, melon, and black cumin seed oils and those of dietary argan seed oil. Gas chromatography analysis revealed that oleic and linoleic acids were the most abundant fatty acids. Argan and melon seed oils exhibited the highest levels of oleic acid (47.32±0.02%) and linoleic acid (58.35±0.26%), respectively. In terms of tocopherols, melon seed oil showed the highest amount (652.1±3.26 mg/kg) with a predominance of γ-tocopherol (633.1±18.81 mg/kg). The phytosterol content varied between 2237.00±37.55 µg/g for argan oil to 6995.55±224.01 µg/g for melon seed oil. High Performance Liquid Chromatography analysis also revealed the presence of several polyphenols: vanillin (0.59 mg equivalents Quercetin/100 g) for melon seed oil, and p-hydroxycinnamic acid (0.04 mg equivalents Quercetin/100 g), coumarine (0.05 mg equivalents Quercetin/100 g), and thymoquinone (1.2 mg equivalents Quercetin/100 g) for black cumin seed oil. The "Kit Radicaux Libres" (KRL) assay used to evaluate the scavenging properties of the oils showed that black cumin seed oil was the most efficient. On the light of the richness of all Mediterranean oil samples in bioactive compounds, the seed oils studied can be considered as important sources of nutrients endowed with cytoprotective properties which benefits in preventing age-related diseases which are characterized by an enhanced oxidative stress.

Discrimination of Geographical Origin of Unroasted Kernels Argan Oil (Argania spinosa (L.) Skeels) Using Tocopherols and Chemometrics

Valorisation of Argan oil requires the precise identification of different provenances markers. The concentration of tocopherol is regarded as one of the essential parameters that certifies the quality and purity of Argan oil. In this study, 39 Argan samples from six different geographical origins (Safi, Essaouira, Agadir, Taroudant, Tiznit, and Sidi Ifni) from the central west of Morocco were collected and extracted using cold pressing. The total tocopherol amount was found to range from 783.23 to 1,271.68 mg/kg. Generally, γ-tocopherol has the highest concentration in Argan oil. It should also be noted that the geographical origin was found to have a strong effect on the amounts of all tocopherol homologues studied. Principal component analysis of tocopherol concentrations highlighted a significant difference between the different provenances. The content of tocopherol has also been found to be strongly influenced by the distance from the coast and altitude, whereas no significant effect was found regarding other ecological parameters. The prediction ability of the LDA models was 87.2%. The highest correct classification was revealed in coastal provenances (100%), and the lowest values were from the continental ones (71.4%). These results provide the basis for determining the geographical origins of Argan oil production with well-defined characteristics to increase the product’s value and the income of local populations. In addition, this study provides a very promising basis for developing Argan varieties with a high content of tocopherol homologues, as well as contributing to the traceability and protection of Argan oil’s geographical indication.

Elucidation of Melanogenesis-Associated Signaling Pathways Regulated by Argan Press Cake in B16 Melanoma Cells

The beneficial effect on health of argan oil is recognized worldwide. We have previously reported that the cake that remains after argan oil extraction (argan press-cake or APC) inhibits melanogenesis in B16 melanoma cells in a time-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. In this study, the global gene expression profile of B16 melanoma cells treated with APC extract was determined in order to gain an understanding of the possible mechanisms of action of APC. The results suggest that APC extract inhibits melanin biosynthesis by down-regulating microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (Mitf) and its downstream signaling pathway through JNK signaling activation, and the inhibition of Wnt/β-catenin and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways. APC extract also prevented the transport of melanosomes by down-regulating Rab27a expression. These results suggest that APC may be an important natural skin whitening product and pharmacological agent used for clinical treatment of pigmentary disorders.

Effects of Edible Oils with Different n-6/n-3 PUFA Ratios on Articular Cartilage Degeneration via Regulating the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Osteoarthritis (OA), a common chronic disease, is characterized by articular cartilage degeneration and inflammation. Recent studies report that n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) exhibit protective effects against OA, while n-6 PUFAs are more likely to damage cartilage. However, the effects of edible oils with different n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios on OA are rarely reported. This study investigates the effect of linseed oil (LO), soybean oil (SO), and peanut oil (PO) on cartilage changes in mice joints following destabilization of the medial meniscus. We determined the n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios of LO, SO, and PO used in this experiment to be 1:3.85, 9.15:1, and 372.73:1, respectively. After 12 weeks of LO or SO feeding, OA mice showed increased cartilage thickness and decreased TNF-α in both the serum and cartilage, whereas no improvement was found in the PO group. This may be due to the fact that LO and SO optimized the fatty acid composition of articular cartilage. We further demonstrated that LO or SO activated GPR120 and attenuated EP4, which was followed by inhibition of the NFκB pathway and its downstream matrix-degrading enzymes: MMP13 and ADAMTS5. In conclusion, edible oils with low n-6/n-3 PUFA retard OA progression via inhibiting the NFκB pathway. This study provides a dietary guidance for OA patients.

Effects of Minor Compounds of Edible Oils on Human Health

Background:

Oils and fats are the densest sources of food energy among food groups. Vegetable oils are constituted predominantly of triglycerides. Due to the importance of edible oils in nutrition, food industry and human health, great attention has been paid to them in recent years. Some minor bioactive constituents in oils include phospholipids, tocols, sterols, carotenoid, chlorophyll, phenols, phylokynon and terpenes.

Objective:

The aim of the present study was to examine beneficial effects of minor compounds in edible oils on human health. Results: Minor compounds of edible oils that we use daily can produce remarkable results in the prevention and treatment of various diseases like diabetes, inflammation, hypertension, cancer, allergy and central nervous system disorders due to their antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammation, anti-mutagenic, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic properties, among others.

Conclusion:

The results of this study showed that the presence of beneficial minor compounds in oils could have significant impact on the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Therefore, the type of consumed oil can play an important role in human health.

In vivo anti-inflammatory response and bioactive compounds' profile of polyphenolic extracts from edible Argan oil (Argania spinosa L.), obtained by two extraction methods

The present work examined and assessed the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenolic extracts from Moroccan edible Argan oils (Argania spinosa L.), extracted by two extraction processes: Hand pressing and mechanical pressing. Chemical properties, such as acidity, peroxide index, ultraviolet indices, total polyphenols composition, fatty acid composition, tocopherol composition, phenolic profiling, and sterol composition were studied. Then, the anti-inflammatory potential was determined by applying carrageenan, an induced paw edema test in rats. The results revealed an anti-inflammatory effect of edible Argan oil and indicated a higher efficiency of hand-pressed oil compared to mechanical-pressed oil, supporting its traditional use in human health, related to pain and inflammations. The chemical composition of these oils was evaluated, and total polyphenols, tocopherol composition, and some phenolic compounds were found highly concentrated in the hand-pressed oil. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present study highlights and compares the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of polyphenolic compounds, extracted from Argan oil by two processes (hand and mechanical extraction). The study demonstrated the better quality of hand-pressed oil over mechanically pressed, supporting the traditional uses of this oil in treating several inflammations and pain-related situations. Moreover, the edible Argan oil may be introduced as a regular diet and food ingredient.

Profile of Fatty Acids, Tocopherols, Phytosterols and Polyphenols in Mediterranean Oils (Argan Oils, Olive Oils, Milk Thistle Seed Oils and Nigella Seed Oil) and Evaluation of their Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activities

BACKGROUND

The effects of vegetable oils on human health depend on their components. Therefore, their profiles of lipid nutrients and polyphenols were determined.

OBJECTIVE

To establish and compare the fatty acid, tocopherol, phytosterol and polyphenol profiles of Mediterranean oils: cosmetic and dietary argan oils (AO; Morocco: Agadir, Berkane); olive oils (OO; Morocco, Spain, Tunisia); milk thistle seed oils (MTSO; Tunisia: Bizerte, Sousse, Zaghouane); nigella seed oil (NSO).

METHODS

The biochemical profiles were determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization, high performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography, coupled with mass spectrometry as required. The antioxidant and cytoprotective activities were evaluated with the KRL (Kit Radicaux Libres) and the fluorescein diacetate tests on nerve cells treated with 7-ketocholesterol (7KC).

RESULTS

The fatty acid profile revealed high linoleic acid (C18:2 n-6) content in AO, OO, MTSO and NSO. The highest levels of oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) were found in AO and OO. The tocopherol profile showed that Agadir AO contained the highest amount of α-tocopherol, also present at high level in MTSO and Tunisian OO; Berkane AO was rich in γ-tocopherol. The phytosterol profile indicated that β-sitosterol was predominant in the oils, except AO; spinasterol was only present in AO. Polyphenol profiles underlined that OO was the richest in polyphenols; hydroxytyrosol was only found in OO; few polyphenols were detected in AO. The oils studied have antioxidant activities, and all of them, except NSO, prevented 7KC-induced cell death. The antioxidant characteristics of AO were positively correlated with procatechic acid and compestanol levels.

CONCLUSION

Based on their biochemical profiles, antioxidant and cytoprotective characteristics, AO, OO, and MTSO are potentially beneficial to human health.

Uprising the antioxidant power of Argania spinosa L. callus through abiotic elicitation

This study was carried out in order to investigate the ability of tissues of Argania spinosa (L.) to undergo unlimited cell divisions by triggering their proliferative potential via callogenesis. Axenic cultures were efficiently established using axillary buds cultured on half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium after 20min of surface sterilization with sodium hypochlorite 6% (v/v). The highest callus rate was achieved with 1.0mgL^-1 of naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 1.0mgL^-1 of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4D) or similarly with 0.01mgL^-1 of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 1.0mgL^-1 of 2,4D at pH of 5.8, under dark conditions. The results of this study show also a significant increase in the callus's antioxidant power under abiotic pressure induced by NaCl. Catalase (CAT), peroxidase (PO), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were significantly triggered, which protected the cells from the stimulated oxidative stress, under hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) significant release. This reaction favors subsequently the tissue recover process linked to the low abundance of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. This work proves the efficiency of salt stress in boosting the argan cell's antioxidant status, which could be commercially applied in the field of cells regenerative therapy.

Nutraceutical potentialities of Tunisian Argan oil based on its physicochemical properties and fatty acid content as assessed through Bayesian network analyses

BACKGROUND

Argan oil is traditionally produced by cold pressing in South-western Morocco where rural population uses it as edible oil as well as for its therapeutic properties which give them in counterpart valuable income. Given the economical interest of this oil, several attempts of fraudulency have been registered in the world global market leading to loss of authenticity. Our purpose is to launch a program of Tunisian Argan oil valorization since trees from this species have been introduced sixty years ago in Tunisia. The first step was thus to characterize the physicochemical properties and determine the chemical composition of Tunisian Argan oil in order to assess its quality.

METHODS

Physicochemical parameters of oil quality were determined according to the international standard protocols. Fatty acid content analysis of Argan oils was performed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrophotometry. A comparative study was realized among Tunisian, Moroccan and Algerian samples differing also by their extraction procedure. The impact of geographical localisation on the fatty acids composition was studied by statistical and modeling Bayesian analyses.

RESULTS

Physicochemical parameters analysis showed interestingly that Tunisian Argan oil could be classified as extra virgin oil. Argan oil is mainly composed by unsaturated fatty acids (80%), mainly oleic and linoleic acid (linoleic acid was positively influenced by the geographical localization (r = 0.899, p = 0.038) and the P/S index (r = 0.987, p = 0.002)) followed by saturated fatty acids (20%) with other beneficial compounds from the unsaponifiable fraction like polyphenols and carotenoids. Together with fatty acid content, these minor components are likely to be responsible for its nutraceutical properties and beneficial effects.

CONCLUSION

Tunisian Argan oil displayed valuable qualitative parameters proving its competitiveness in comparison with Moroccan and Algerian oils, and could be therefore considered as extra virgin edible oil for nutraceutical purposes as well as for cosmetic use.

Argan Oil-Mediated Attenuation of Organelle Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress and Cell Death Induced by 7-Ketocholesterol in Murine Oligodendrocytes 158N

Argan oil is widely used in Morocco in traditional medicine. Its ability to treat cardiovascular diseases is well-established. However, nothing is known about its effects on neurodegenerative diseases, which are often associated with increased oxidative stress leading to lipid peroxidation and the formation of 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) resulting from cholesterol auto-oxidation. As 7KC induces oxidative stress, inflammation and cell death, it is important to identify compounds able to impair its harmful effects. These compounds may be either natural or synthetic molecules or mixtures of molecules such as oils. In this context: (i) the lipid profiles of dietary argan oils from Berkane and Agadir (Morocco) in fatty acids, phytosterols, tocopherols and polyphenols were determined by different chromatographic techniques; and (ii) their anti-oxidant and cytoprotective effects in 158N murine oligodendrocytes cultured with 7KC (25-50 µM; 24 h) without and with argan oil (0.1% v/v) or α-tocopherol (400 µM, positive control) were evaluated with complementary techniques of cellular and molecular biology. Among the unsaturated fatty acids present in argan oils, oleate (C18:1 n-9) and linoleate (C18:1 n-6) were the most abundant; the highest quantities of saturated fatty acids were palmitate (C16:0) and stearate (C18:0). Several phytosterols were found, mainly schottenol and spinasterol (specific to argan oil), cycloartenol, β-amyrin and citrostadienol. α- and γ-tocopherols were also present. Tyrosol and protocatechic acid were the only polyphenols detected. Argan and extra virgin olive oils have many compounds in common, principally oleate and linoleate, and tocopherols. Kit Radicaux Libres (KRL) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) tests showed that argan and extra virgin olive oils have anti-oxidant properties. Argan oils were able to attenuate the cytotoxic effects of 7KC on 158N cells: loss of cell adhesion, cell growth inhibition, increased plasma membrane permeability, mitochondrial, peroxisomal and lysosomal dysfunction, and the induction of oxiapoptophagy (OXIdation + APOPTOsis + autoPHAGY). Altogether, our data obtained in 158N oligodendrocytes provide evidence that argan oil is able to counteract the toxic effects of 7KC on nerve cells, thus suggesting that some of its compounds could prevent or mitigate neurodegenerative diseases to the extent that they are able to cross the blood-brain barrier.

Effect of lycopene-enriched olive and argan oils upon lipid serum parameters in Wistar rats

BACKGROUND

Lycopene has the highest antioxidant activity within carotenoids and is an effective free radical scavenger. Virgin olive oil (VOO) and argan oil (AO) contain trace amounts of a wide variety of phytochemicals which have desirable nutritional properties. The present study intended to assess the effect of various dietary VOO and AO in combination with lycopene consumption on serum biochemical parameters, including total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (TGs) and phospholipids, as well as on hepatosomatic index (HSI) of rats.

RESULTS

Results showed that ingestion of VOO and AO diminished TC, LDL-C, TGs and phospholipid levels, whereas the HDL-C levels augmented in all the groups assayed. The enrichment of VOO and AO with lycopene improved the beneficial effects derived from the consumption of both oils on serum biochemical parameters. A decrease in body weight gain and HSI was detected after the consumption of lycopene-enriched oils.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that the inclusion of lycopene in VOO and AO may be used as a natural tool to fight against hyperlipidaemic and hypercholesterolaemic-derived disorders.

Characterization of Fatty Acid Profile of Argan Oil and Other Edible Vegetable Oils by Gas Chromatography and Discriminant Analysis

Virgin argan oil is an emergent oil that is being introduced into specialized international markets as a healthy and luxury food. In order to compare the fatty acid composition of argan oil with that of the eleven other vegetable edible oils, a combination of gas chromatography as analytical technique and multivariate discriminant analysis was applied. This analysis takes into account the conjoint effect of all the variables analyzed in the discrimination between oils and also shows the contribution of each variable to oils characterization. The model correctly classified 100% oil samples. According to the fatty acid composition, argan oil showed closest similarity firstly with sesame oil and secondly with high oleic sunflower oil. Olive oil was close to avocado oil and almond oil, followed by argan oil. Thus, similarities and differences between vegetable oils based on their fatty acid profile were established by the application of multivariate discriminant analysis. This method was proven to be a useful tool to study the relationships between oils according to the fat composition and to determine the importance of the fatty acid variables on the oils classification.

Argan Oil-contained Antioxidants for Human Mitochondria

The powerful antioxidant capacity of virgin argan oil is attributed to its content of antioxidant molecules. Recent investigations have identified CoQ10 and melatonin as some of these antioxidant molecules. In this review, we summarize the most recent data about the content of CoQ10 and melatonin in virgin argan oil and the differences found in samples extracted by the traditional and half-industrialized methods. We also emphasize the importance of these two molecules for human health, focusing on their actions in mitochondria. Finally, we refer to other abundant antioxidants in virgin argan oil: tocopherols and polyphenols.