Tomato Powder Modulates NF-κB, mTOR, and Nrf2 Pathways during Aging in Healthy Rats

Esculeogenin A, a Glycan from Tomato, Alleviates Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Rats through Hypolipidemic, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Effects

This study examined the preventative effects of esculeogenin A (ESGA), a newly discovered glycan from tomato, on liver damage and hepatic steatosis in high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed male rats. The animals were divided into six groups (each of eight rats): a control group fed a normal diet, control + ESGA (200 mg/kg), HFD, and HFD + ESAG in 3 doses (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). Feeding and treatments were conducted for 12 weeks. Treatment with ESGA did not affect gains in the body or fat weight nor increases in fasting glucose, insulin, and HOMA-IR or serum levels of free fatty acids (FFAs), tumor-necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 (IL-6). On the contrary, it significantly reduced the serum levels of gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total triglycerides (TGs), cholesterol (CHOL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) in the HFD-fed rats. In addition, it improved the liver structure, attenuating the increase in fat vacuoles; reduced levels of TGs and CHOL, and the mRNA levels of SREBP1 and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC); and upregulated the mRNA levels of proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) and carnitine palmitoyltransferase I (CPT I) in HFD-fed rats. These effects were concomitant with increases in the mRNA, cytoplasmic, and nuclear levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and heme oxygenase-1 (HO); a reduction in the nuclear activity of nuclear factor-kappa beta (NF-κB); and inhibition of the activity of nuclear factor kappa B kinase subunit beta (IKKβ). All of these effects were dose-dependent effects in which a normal liver structure and normal levels of all measured parameters were seen in HFD + ESGA (200 mg/kg)-treated rats. In conclusion, ESGA prevents NAFLD in HFD-fed rats by attenuating hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation by acting locally on Nrf2, NF-κB, SREBP1, and PPARα transcription factors.

Tomatoes: An Extensive Review of the Associated Health Impacts of Tomatoes and Factors That Can Affect Their Cultivation

Simple Summary

The research outlined in this review paper discusses potential health benefits associated with a diet enriched with tomatoes and tomato products. This includes details of previous studies investigating the anticancer properties of tomatoes, protection against cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes, maintenance of a healthy gut microbiome, and improved skin health, fertility, immune response, and exercise recovery. The specific parts of a tomato fruit that contribute these health benefits are also outlined. The potential disadvantages to a tomato-rich diet are detailed, especially the consumption of supplements that contain compounds found in tomatoes, such as lycopene. This review also discusses how the cultivation of tomato plants can affect the nutritional value of the fruit harvested. Different environmental growing conditions such as light intensity, growing media, and temperature are explained in terms of the impact they have on the quality of fruit, its nutrient content, and hence the potential health benefits acquired from eating the fruit.

Abstract

This review outlines the health benefits associated with the regular consumption of tomatoes and tomato products. The first section provides a detailed account of the horticultural techniques that can impact the quality of the fruit and its nutritional properties, including water availability, light intensity, temperature, and growing media. The next section provides information on the components of tomato that are likely to contribute to its health effects. The review then details some of the health benefits associated with tomato consumption, including anticancer properties, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and skin health. This review also discusses the impact tomatoes can have on the gut microbiome and associated health benefits, including reducing the risk of inflammatory bowel diseases. Other health benefits of eating tomatoes are also discussed in relation to effects on diabetes, the immune response, exercise recovery, and fertility. Finally, this review also addresses the negative effects that can occur as a result of overconsumption of tomato products and lycopene supplements.

The steroidal alkaloids α-tomatine and tomatidine: Panorama of their mode of action and pharmacological properties

The steroidal glycoalkaloid α-tomatine (αTM) and its aglycone tomatidine (TD) are abundant in the skin of unripe green tomato and present in tomato leaves and flowers. They mainly serve as defensive agents to protect the plant against infections by insects, bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. In addition, the two products display a range of pharmacological properties potentially useful to treat various human diseases. We have analyzed all known pharmacological activities of αTM and TD, and the corresponding molecular targets and pathways impacted by these two steroidal alkaloids. In experimental models, αTM displays anticancer effects, particularly strong against androgen-independent prostate cancer, as well as robust antifungal effects. αTM is a potent cholesterol binder, useful as a vaccine adjuvant to improve delivery of protein antigens or therapeutic oligonucleotides. TD is a much less cytotoxic compound, able to restrict the spread of certain viruses (such as dengue, chikungunya and porcine epidemic diarrhea viruses) and to provide cardio and neuro-protective effects toward human cells. Both αTM and TD exhibit marked anti-inflammatory activities. They proceed through multiple signaling pathways and protein targets, including the sterol C24 methyltransferase Erg6 and vitamin D receptor, both directly targeted by TD. αTM is a powerful regulator of the NFkB/ERK signaling pathway implicated in various diseases. Collectively, the analysis shed light on the multitargeted action of αTM/TD and their usefulness as chemo-preventive or chemotherapeutic agents. A novel medicinal application for αTM is proposed.

The combination of ginger powder and zinc supplement improves the fructose-induced metabolic syndrome in rats by modulating the hepatic expression of NF-κB, mTORC1, PPAR-α SREBP-1c, and Nrf2

Although studies have shown that ginger, as an herbal remedy and zinc are able to improve inflammation, oxidative stress, autophagy, and metabolism of lipid and glucose, their molecular mechanisms are unknown. Therefore, this study was aimed to examine the therapeutic effects of ginger with zinc supplement for eight weeks on fructose-induced metabolic syndrome (MS). Ninety-six adult male Sprague Dawley rats (220 g ± 20) were randomly assigned to twelve controlled and treated groups. After the last treatment session, the level of lipid profiles, glucose, insulin, and leptin as metabolic factors and liver enzymes as biomarkers to evaluate liver function in serum were measured. The level of antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation to evaluate the oxidative status and the TNF-α level as a biomarker to assess the state of inflammation in liver were also measured. The level of zinc along with the expression of NF-κB, mTORC1, PPAR-α, SREBP-1c, and Nrf2 in liver was also evaluated. The level of metabolic factors and liver enzymes in serum along with lipid peroxidation and TNF-α in liver increased; zinc and antioxidant enzymes levels decreased in rats with MS compared to control rats (p < .05). The hepatic expression of SREBP-1c, NF-κB and mTORC1 were upregulated and the expression of PPAR-α and Nrf2 were downregulated in rats with MS compared to control rats (p < .05). Treatment with different doses of ginger, zinc, and the combination of them could improve metabolic, inflammatory oxidative stress factors, and expression of the above genes in rats with MS compared to the MS group (p < .05). It can be concluded that ginger, zinc, and the combination of them could improve oxidative damage, inflammation, and autophagy induced by fructose and could adjust the glucose and lipid metabolism and the homeostasis of zinc in rats with MS. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Due to the increasing prevalence of metabolic diseases, the use of plant compounds such as ginger has attracted widespread attention. Ginger as an herbal remedy with predominant pharmacological properties due to its availability, cheapness, and lack of side effects is also very popular for the treatment of metabolic disorders in folk medicine. Moreover, enhancing its medicinal properties with supplements such as zinc can be widely welcomed. This study was actually performed with the aim of investigating the effects of ginger + zinc supplement on MS. The results showed that the ginger + zinc supplement could improve oxidative damage, inflammation, and autophagy caused by fructose and adjust the glucose and lipid metabolism and the homeostasis of zinc in rats with MS. The results of this study support the hypothesis that ginger can be used as a very suitable option for the production of medicinal supplements to maintain human health.

Effects of NP-1 on proliferation, migration, and apoptosis of Schwann cell line RSC96 through the NF-κB signaling pathway

Peripheral nerve injury is a common refractory disease in the clinic that often leads to dysfunction of movement and sensation. Different from other tissue injuries, peripheral nerve injury needs a longer time for regeneration. Therefore, effective drug therapy is needed to promote nerve regeneration in the treatment of peripheral nerve injury. Our preliminary studies have shown that continuous intramuscular injection of NP-1 promotes the regeneration of injured sciatic nerve in rats, but the mechanisms were still unknown. Schwann cells are very important cells in the formation of myelin sheath of peripheral nerves and participate in the repair and regeneration of peripheral nerve injury. To further investigate the effect of NP-1 on rat Schwann cells and the underlying mechanism, different concentrations of NP-1 were used to treat rat Schwann cell line RSC96. Light microscopy, CCK-8 assay, cell scratch assay, and special cell staining were performed to investigate RSC96 cell aging and apoptosis. mRNA and protein expression of NF-κB signaling pathway-related factors were determined using qPCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. Light microscopy, CCK-8 assay, cell scratch assay, and special cell staining showed NP-1 could improve the ability of proliferation, immigration of Schwann cells. QPCR and immunohistochemistry showed NP-1 influenced the expression of multiple factors associated with nerve regeneration which NF-κB signaling pathway played a key role. The results show that NP-1 promoted the proliferation and migration of RSC96 cells and inhibited cell aging and apoptosis possibly through the NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings provide a potential target for clinical treatment of peripheral neuropathy and experimental data support.

Transcriptome analysis of common and diverged circulating miRNAs between arterial and venous during aging

Circulating miRNAs have received extensive attention as non-invasive biomarkers for prediction and diagnosis of disease. However, most samples have been obtained from peripheral venous blood. To evaluate whether peripheral venous miRNAs represent circulating miRNAs from all blood vessels under a given condition, such as aging, we compared the miRNA profiles of venous and arterial plasma between young and aged rats by Illumina next-generation sequencing. The DEseq2 tool was used to obtain differentially-expressed miRNAs. We observed 105 aging-related deregulated miRNAs in vein and 62 in artery, which were highly associated with cell survival and inflammation, respectively. On the other hand, the young and aged groups exhibited a unique arterial-venous bias. There were 54 differentially-expressed miRNAs in the young group and 42 in the aged group; only 8 miRNAs were shared. Further transcriptional factors enrichment analysis found that the shared miRNAs could be partially upregulated by NF-κB and SIRT1. These transcriptional factors could be organ-specific and/or regulated in physiological and aging states as possible causal factors. This study suggested the potential application of circulating miRNAs, which reflect the systematic response to certain conditions, such as aging, and the importance of origin selection for candidate circulating miRNAs.

Improving glucose metabolism in the auditory cortex delays the aging of auditory function of guinea pig

The glucose homeostasis is essential for brain function, and energy deficiency is a key feature of brain aging. We investigated whether improving glucose metabolism in the auditory cortex can delay the aging of auditory function of guinea pigs with age-related hearing loss (ARHL) by d-galactose. Auditory function was assessed by auditory brainstem response (ABR), glucose metabolism was detected by micro PET/CT, and the proteome were identified in auditory cortex by two-dimensional electrophoresis and matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry. Glucose metabolism decreased in the auditory cortex of d-galactose group, and improving glucose metabolism can delay the aging of auditory function by upregulating seven metabolism-related proteins including ATP synthase subunit beta, triosephosphate isomerase, creatine kinase U-type, pyruvate dehydrogenase E1 component subunit beta, alpha-enolase, phosphoglycerate kinase, and tubulin beta-2A chain. These results suggest that the decrease of glucose metabolism in the auditory cortex may be an important role in the aging of auditory function, and improving glucose metabolism in the auditory cortex can delay the aging of auditory function of guinea pig with ARHL induced by d-galactose.

New Insights for Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Aging and Aging-Related Diseases: Herbal Medicine as Potential Therapeutic Approach

Aging is a progressive disease affecting around 900 million people worldwide, and in recent years, the mechanism of aging and aging-related diseases has been well studied. Treatments for aging-related diseases have also made progress. For the long-term treatment of aging-related diseases, herbal medicine is particularly suitable for drug discovery. In this review, we discuss cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging and aging-related diseases, including oxidative stress, inflammatory response, autophagy and exosome interactions, mitochondrial injury, and telomerase damage, and summarize commonly used herbals and compounds concerned with the development of aging-related diseases, including Ginkgo biloba, ginseng, Panax notoginseng, Radix astragali, Lycium barbarum, Rhodiola rosea, Angelica sinensis, Ligusticum chuanxiong, resveratrol, curcumin, and flavonoids. We also summarize key randomized controlled trials of herbal medicine for aging-related diseases during the past ten years. Adverse reactions of herbs were also described. It is expected to provide new insights for slowing aging and treating aging-related diseases with herbal medicine.