Phytochemicals from cruciferous vegetables, epigenetics, and prostate cancer prevention

Food System Transformation and Gut Microbiota Transition: Evidence on Advancing Obesity, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Cancers-A Narrative Review

Food, a vital component of our daily life, is fundamental to our health and well-being, and the knowledge and practices relating to food have been passed down from countless generations of ancestors. Systems may be used to describe this extremely extensive and varied body of agricultural and gastronomic knowledge that has been gathered via evolutionary processes. The gut microbiota also underwent changes as the food system did, and these alterations had a variety of effects on human health. In recent decades, the gut microbiome has gained attention due to its health benefits as well as its pathological effects on human health. Many studies have shown that a person's gut microbiota partially determines the nutritional value of food and that diet, in turn, shapes both the microbiota and the microbiome. The current narrative review aims to explain how changes in the food system over time affect the makeup and evolution of the gut microbiota, advancing obesity, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and cancer. After a brief discussion of the food system's variety and the gut microbiota's functions, we concentrate on the relationship between the evolution of food system transformation and gut microbiota system transition linked to the increase of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Finally, we also describe sustainable food system transformation strategies to ensure healthy microbiota composition recovery and maintain the host gut barrier and immune functions to reverse advancing NCDs.

Interplay between Cruciferous Vegetables and the Gut Microbiome: A Multi-Omic Approach

Brassica vegetables contain a multitude of bioactive compounds that prevent and suppress cancer and promote health. Evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may be essential in the production of these compounds; however, the relationship between specific microbes and the abundance of metabolites produced during cruciferous vegetable digestion are still unclear. We utilized an ex vivo human fecal incubation model with in vitro digested broccoli sprouts (Broc), Brussels sprouts (Brus), a combination of the two vegetables (Combo), or a negative control (NC) to investigate microbial metabolites of cruciferous vegetables. We conducted untargeted metabolomics on the fecal cultures by LC-MS/MS and completed 16S rRNA gene sequencing. We identified 72 microbial genera in our samples, 29 of which were significantly differentially abundant between treatment groups. A total of 4499 metabolomic features were found to be significantly different between treatment groups (q ≤ 0.05, fold change > 2). Chemical enrichment analysis revealed 45 classes of compounds to be significantly enriched by brassicas, including long-chain fatty acids, coumaric acids, and peptides. Multi-block PLS-DA and a filtering method were used to identify microbe−metabolite interactions. We identified 373 metabolites from brassica, which had strong relationships with microbes, such as members of the family Clostridiaceae and genus Intestinibacter, that may be microbially derived.

The role of nanomaterials in enhancing natural product translational potential and modulating endoplasmic reticulum stress in the treatment of ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer, and particularly its most frequent type, epithelial ovarian carcinoma, constitutes one of the most dangerous malignant tumors among females. Substantial evidence has described the potential of phytochemicals against ovarian cancer. The effect of natural compounds on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is of great relevance in this regard. In ovarian cancer, the accumulation of misfolded proteins in the ER lumen results in decompensated ER stress. This leads to deregulation in the physiological processes for the posttranslational modification of proteins, jeopardizes cellular homeostasis, and increases apoptotic signaling. Several metabolites and metabolite extracts of phytochemical origin have been studied in the context of ER stress in ovarian cancer. Resveratrol, quercetin, curcumin, fucosterol, cleistopholine, fucoidan, and epicatechin gallate, among others, have shown inhibitory potential against ER stress. The chemical structure of each compound plays an important role concerning its pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and overall effectiveness. Studying and cross-comparing the chemical features that render different phytochemicals effective in eliciting particular anti-ER stress actions can help improve drug design or develop multipotent combination regimens. Many studies have also investigated the properties of formulations such as nanoparticles, niosomes, liposomes, and intravenous hydrogel based on curcumin and quercetin along with some other phytomolecules in ovarian cancer. Overall, the potential of phytochemicals in targeting genetic mechanisms of ovarian cancer warrants further translational and clinical investigation.

Anti-prostate cancer protection and therapy in the framework of predictive, preventive and personalised medicine — comprehensive effects of phytochemicals in primary, secondary and tertiary care

According to the GLOBOCAN 2020, prostate cancer (PCa) is the most often diagnosed male cancer in 112 countries and the leading cancer-related death in 48 countries. Moreover, PCa incidence permanently increases in adolescents and young adults. Also, the rates of metastasising PCa continuously grow up in young populations. Corresponding socio-economic burden is enormous: PCa treatment costs increase more rapidly than for any other cancer. In order to reverse current trends in exploding PCa cases and treatment costs, pragmatic decisions should be made, in favour of advanced populational screening programmes and effective anti-PCa protection at the level of the health-to-disease transition (sub-optimal health conditions) demonstrating the highest cost-efficacy of treatments. For doing this, the paradigm change from reactive treatments of the clinically manifested PCa to the predictive approach and personalised prevention is essential.

Phytochemicals are associated with potent anti-cancer activity targeting each stage of carcinogenesis including cell apoptosis and proliferation, cancer invasiveness and metastatic disease. For example, their positive effects are demonstrated for stabilising and restoring mitochondrial health quality, which if compromised is strongly associated with sub-optimal health conditions and strong predisposition to aggressive PCa sub-types. Further, phytochemicals significantly enhance response of cancer cells to anti-cancer therapies including radio- and chemotherapy. Evident plant-based mitigation of negative side-effects frequently observed for conventional anti-cancer therapies has been reported. Finally, dual anti-cancer and anti-viral effects of phytochemicals such as these of silibinin have been demonstrated as being highly relevant for improved PCa management at the level of secondary and tertiary care, for example, under pandemic conditions, since PCa-affected individuals per evidence are highly vulnerable towards COVID-19 infection.

Here, we present a comprehensive data analysis towards clinically relevant anti-cancer effects of phytochemicals to be considered for personalised anti-PCa protection in primary care as well as for an advanced disease management at the level of secondary and tertiary care in the framework of predictive, preventive and personalised medicine.

Microbiome in cancer: Role in carcinogenesis and impact in therapeutic strategies

Cancer is the world's second-leading cause of death, and the involvement of microbes in a range of diseases, including cancer, is well established. The gut microbiota is known to play an important role in the host's health and physiology. The gut microbiota and its metabolites may activate immunological and cellular pathways that kill invading pathogens and initiate a cancer-fighting immune response. Cancer is a multiplex illness, characterized by the persistence of several genetic and physiological anomalies in malignant tissue, complicating disease therapy and control. Humans have coevolved with a complex bacterial, fungal, and viral microbiome over millions of years. Specific long-known epidemiological links between certain bacteria and cancer have recently been grasped at the molecular level. Similarly, advances in next-generation sequencing technology have enabled detailed research of microbiomes, such as the human gut microbiome, allowing for the finding of taxonomic and metabolomic linkages between the microbiome and cancer. These investigations have found causative pathways for both microorganisms within tumors and bacteria in various host habitats far from tumors using direct and immunological procedures. Anticancer diagnostic and therapeutic solutions could be developed using this review to tackle the threat of anti-cancer medication resistance as well through the wide-ranging involvement of the microbiota in regulating host metabolic and immunological homeostasis. We reviewed the significance of gut microbiota in cancer initiation as well as cancer prevention. We look at certain microorganisms that may play a role in the development of cancer. Several bacteria with probiotic qualities may be employed as bio-therapeutic agents to re-establish the microbial population and trigger a strong immune response to remove malignancies, and further study into this should be conducted.

Regulation of micro-RNA, epigenetic factor by natural products for the treatment of cancers: Mechanistic insight and translational Association

From onset to progression, cancer is a ailment that might take years to grow. All common epithelial malignancies, have a long latency period, frequently 20 years or more, different gene may contain uncountable mutations if they are clinically detectable. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are around 22nt non-coding RNAs that control gene expression sequence-specifically through translational inhibition or messenger degradation of RNA (mRNA). Epigenetic processes of miRNA control genetic variants through genomic DNA methylation, post-translation histone modification, rework of the chromatin, and microRNAs. The field of miRNAs has opened a new era in understanding small non-coding RNAs since discovering their fundamental mechanisms of action. MiRNAs have been found in viruses, plants, and animals through molecular cloning and bioinformatics approaches. Phytochemicals can invert the epigenetic aberrations, a leading cause of the cancers of various organs, and act as an inhibitor of these changes. The advantage of phytochemicals is that they only function on cells that cause cancer without affecting normal cells. Phytochemicals appear to play a significant character in modulating miRNA expression, which is linked to variations in oncogenes, tumor suppressors, and cancer-derived protein production, according to several studies. In addition to standard anti-oxidant or anti-inflammatory properties, the initial epigenetic changes associated with cancer prevention may be modulated by many polyphenols. In correlation with miRNA and epigenetic factors to treat cancer some of the phytochemicals, including polyphenols, curcumin, resveratrol, indole-3-carbinol are studied in this article.

Natural Product-Based Studies for the Management of Castration-Resistant Prostate Cancer: Computational to Clinical Studies

Background: With prostate cancer being the fifth-greatest cause of cancer mortality in 2020, there is a dire need to expand the available treatment options. Castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) progresses despite androgen depletion therapy. The mechanisms of resistance are yet to be fully discovered. However, it is hypothesized that androgens depletion enables androgen-independent cells to proliferate and recolonize the tumor. Objectives: Natural bioactive compounds from edible plants and herbal remedies might potentially address this need. This review compiles the available cheminformatics-based studies and the translational studies regarding the use of natural products to manage CRPC. Methods: PubMed and Google Scholar searches for preclinical studies were performed, while ClinicalTrials.gov and PubMed were searched for clinical updates. Studies that were not in English and not available as full text were excluded. The period of literature covered was from 1985 to the present. Results and Conclusion: Our analysis suggested that natural compounds exert beneficial effects due to their broad-spectrum molecular disease-associated targets. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed several bioactive compounds, including rutaecarpine, berberine, curcumin, other flavonoids, pentacyclic triterpenoids, and steroid-based phytochemicals. Molecular modeling tools, including machine and deep learning, have made the analysis more comprehensive. Preclinical and clinical studies on resveratrol, soy isoflavone, lycopene, quercetin, and gossypol have further validated the translational potential of the natural products in the management of prostate cancer.

Metabolic Fate of Dietary Glucosinolates and Their Metabolites: A Role for the Microbiome

Robust evidence shows that phytochemicals from cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli, are associated with numerous health benefits. The anti-cancer properties of these foods are attributed to bioactive isothiocyanates (ITCs) and indoles, phytochemicals generated from biological precursor compounds called glucosinolates. ITCs, and particularly sulforaphane (SFN), are of intense interest as they block the initiation, and suppress the progression of cancer, through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. The efficacy of these compounds is well-demonstrated in cell culture and animal models, however, high levels of inter-individual variation in absorption and excretion of ITCs is a significant barrier to the use of dietary glucosinolates to prevent and treat disease. The source of inter-individual ITC variation has yet to be fully elucidated and the gut microbiome may play a key role. This review highlights evidence that the gut microbiome influences the metabolic fate and activity of ITCs. Human feeding trials have shown inter-individual variations in gut microbiome composition coincides with variations in ITC absorption and excretion, and some bacteria produce ITCs from glucosinolates. Additionally, consumption of cruciferous vegetables can alter the composition of the gut microbiome and shift the physiochemical environment of the gut lumen, influencing the production of phytochemicals. Microbiome and diet induced changes to ITC metabolism may lead to the decrease of cancer fighting phytochemicals such as SFN and increase the production of biologically inert ones like SFN-nitrile. We conclude by offering perspective on the use of novel “omics” technologies to elucidate the interplay of the gut microbiome and ITC formation.

Indoles Derived From Glucobrassicin: Cancer Chemoprevention by Indole-3-Carbinol and 3,3'-Diindolylmethane

Hydrolysis of glucobrassicin by plant or bacterial myrosinase produces multiple indoles predominantly indole-3-carbinol (I3C). I3C and its major in vivo product, 3,3'-diindolylmethane (DIM), are effective cancer chemopreventive agents in pre-clinical models and show promise in clinical trials. The pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of DIM have been studied in both rodents and humans and urinary DIM is a proposed biomarker of dietary intake of cruciferous vegetables. Recent clinical studies at Oregon State University show surprisingly robust metabolism of DIM in vivo with mono- and di-hydroxylation followed by conjugation with sulfate or glucuronic acid. DIM has multiple mechanisms of action, the most well-characterized is modulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling. In rainbow trout dose-dependent cancer chemoprevention by dietary I3C is achieved when given prior to or concurrent with aflatoxin B1, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitrosamines or direct acting carcinogens such as N-methyl-N'-nitro-nitrosoguanidine. Feeding pregnant mice I3C inhibits transplacental carcinogenesis. In humans much of the focus has been on chemoprevention of breast and prostate cancer. Alteration of cytochrome P450-dependent estrogen metabolism is hypothesized to be an important driver of DIM-dependent breast cancer prevention. The few studies done to date comparing glucobrassicin-rich crucifers such as Brussels sprouts with I3C/DIM supplements have shown the greater impact of the latter is due to dose. Daily ingestion of kg quantities of Brussels sprouts is required to produce in vivo levels of DIM achievable by supplementation. In clinical trials these supplement doses have elicited few if any adverse effects. Sulforaphane from glucoraphanin can act synergistically with glucobrassicin-derived DIM and this may lead to opportunities for combinatorial approaches (supplement and food-based) in the clinic.

Alnus sibirica Compounds Exhibiting Anti-Proliferative, Apoptosis-Inducing, and GSTP1 Demethylating Effects on Prostate Cancer Cells

Alnus sibirica (AS) is distributed in Korea, Japan, China, and Russia and has reported anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and reducing activities on atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions, along with other beneficial health properties. In the present study, we tried to prove the cancer-preventive activity against prostate cancer. The extracted and isolated compounds, oregonin (1), hirsutenone (2), and hirsutanonol (3), which were isolated from AS, were tested for anti-proliferative activity. To do this, we used the MTT assay; NF-κB inhibitory activity, using Western blotting; apoptosis-inducing activity using flow cytometry; DNA methylation activity, using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in androgen-dependent (LNCaP) and androgen-independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines. The compounds (1–3) showed potent anti-proliferative activity against both prostate cancer cell lines. Hirsutenone (2) exhibited the strongest NF-κB inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing activities compared with oregonin (1) and hirsutanonol (3). DNA methylation activity, which was assessed for hirsutenone (2), revealed a concentration-dependent enhancement of the unmethylated DNA content and a reduction in the methylated DNA content in both PC-3 and LNCaP cells. Overall, these findings suggest that hirsutenone (2), when isolated from AS, may be a potential agent for preventing the development or progression of prostate cancer.

Lemur Tyrosine Kinases and Prostate Cancer: A Literature Review

The members of the Lemur Tyrosine Kinases (LMTK1-3) subfamily constitute a group of three membrane-anchored kinases. They are known to influence a wide variety of key cellular events, often affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. They have been discovered to be involved in cancer, in that they impact various signalling pathways that influence cell proliferation, migration, and invasiveness. Notably, in the context of genome-wide association studies, one member of the LMTK family has been identified as a candidate gene which could contribute to the development of prostate cancer. In this review, of published literature, we present evidence on the role of LMTKs in human prostate cancer and model systems, focusing on the complex network of interacting partners involved in signalling cascades that are frequently activated in prostate cancer malignancy. We speculate that the modulators of LMTK enzyme expression and activity would be of high clinical relevance for the design of innovative prostate cancer treatment.

Nanodelivery of natural isothiocyanates as a cancer therapeutic

Natural isothiocyanates (ITCs) are phytochemicals abundant in cruciferous vegetables with the general structure, R-NCS. They are bioactive organosulfur compounds derived from the hydrolysis of glucosinolates by myrosinase. A significant number of isothiocyanates have been isolated from different plant sources that include broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, mustard, wasabi, and watercress. Several ITCs have been demonstrated to possess significant pharmacological properties including: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antimicrobial activities. Due to their chemopreventive effects on many types of cancer, ITCs have been regarded as a promising anti-cancer therapeutic agent without major toxicity concerns. However, their clinical application has been hindered by several factors including their low aqueous solubility, low bioavailability, instability as well as their hormetic effect. Moreover, the typical dietary uptake of ITCs consumed for promotion of good health may be far from their bioactive (or cytotoxic) dose necessary for cancer prevention and/or treatment. Nanotechnology is one of best options to attain enhanced efficacy and minimize hormetic effect for ITCs. Nanoformulation of ITCs leads to enhance stability of ITCs in plasma and emphasize on their chemopreventive effects. This review provides a summary of the potential bioactivities of ITCs, their mechanisms of action for the prevention and treatment of cancer, as well as the recent research progress in their nanodelivery strategies to enhance solubility, bioavailability, and anti-cancer efficacy.

Cruciferous vegetables: rationale for exploring potential salutary effects of sulforaphane-rich foods in patients with chronic kidney disease

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a sulfur-containing isothiocyanate found in cruciferous vegetables (Brassicaceae) and a well-known activator of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), considered a master regulator of cellular antioxidant responses. Patients with chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) present with high levels of oxidative stress and a massive inflammatory burden associated with diminished Nrf2 and elevated nuclear transcription factor-κB-κB expression. Because it is a common constituent of dietary vegetables, the salutogenic properties of sulforaphane, especially it’s antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, have been explored as a nutritional intervention in a range of diseases of ageing, though data on CKD remain scarce. In this brief review, the effects of SFN as a senotherapeutic agent are described and a rationale is provided for studies that aim to explore the potential benefits of SFN-rich foods in patients with CKD.

Integrated Analysis of Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Data Reveals the Mechanism by Which LED Light Irradiation Extends the Postharvest Quality of Pak-choi (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis (L.) Makino var. communis Tsen et Lee)

Low-intensity (10 μmol m-2 s-1) white LED (light-emitting diode) light effectively delayed senescence and maintained the quality of postharvest pakchoi during storage at 20 °C. To investigate the mechanism of LED treatment in maintaining the quality of pakchoi, metabolite profiles reported previously were complemented by transcriptomic profiling to provide greater information. A total of 7761 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in response to the LED irradiation of pak-choi during postharvest storage. Several pathways were markedly induced by LED irradiation, with photosynthesis being the most notable. More specifically, porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism and glucosinolate biosynthesis were significantly induced by LED irradiation, which is consistent with metabolomics reported previously. Additionally, chlorophyllide a, chlorophyll, as well as total glucosinolate content was positively induced by LED irradiation. Overall, LED irradiation delayed the senescence of postharvest pak-choi mainly by activating photosynthesis, inducting glucosinolate biosynthesis, and inhibiting the down-regulation of porphyrin and chlorophyll metabolism pathways. The present study provides new insights into the effect and the underlying mechanism of LED irradiation on delaying the senescence of pak-choi. LED irradiation represents a useful approach for extending the shelf life of pak-choi.

Biological and molecular modifications induced by cadmium and arsenic during breast and prostate cancer development

Breast and prostate cancer are two of the most common malignancies worldwide. Both cancers can develop into hormone -dependent or -independent subtypes and are associated to environmental exposure in the context of an inherited predisposition. As and Cd have been linked to the onset of both cancers, with the exception of As, which lacks a definitive association with breast carcinogenesis. The two elements exert an opposite effect dependent on acute versus chronic exposure. High doses of As or Cd were shown to induce cell death in acute experimental exposure, while chronic exposure triggers cell proliferation and viability, which is no longer limited by telomere shortening and apoptosis. The chronically exposed cells also increase their invasion capacity and tumorigenic potential. At molecular level, malignant transformation is evidenced mainly by up-regulation of BCL-2, MMP-2, MMP-9, VIM, Snail, Twist, MT, MLH and down-regulation of Casp-3, PTEN, E-CAD, and BAX. The signaling pathways most commonly activated are KRAS, p53, TGF-β, TNF-α, WNT, NRF2 and AKT. This knowledge could potentially raise public awareness over the health risks faced by the human population living or working in a polluted environment and smokers. Human exposure to As and Cd should be minimize as much as possible. Healthcare policies targeting people belonging to these risk categories should include analysis of: DNA damage, oxidative stress, molecular alterations, and systemic level of heavy metals and of essential minerals. In this review, we present the literature regarding cellular and molecular alterations caused by exposure to As or Cd, focusing on the malignant transformation of normal epithelial cells after long-term intoxication with these two carcinogens.

Plant Bioactives and the Prevention of Prostate Cancer: Evidence from Human Studies

Prostate cancer has become the most common form of non-cutaneous (internal) malignancy in men, accounting for 26% of all new male visceral cancer cases in the UK. The aetiology and pathogenesis of prostate cancer are not understood, but given the age-adjusted geographical variations in prostate cancer incidence quoted in epidemiological studies, there is increasing interest in nutrition as a relevant factor. In particular, foods rich in phytochemicals have been proposed to reduce the risk of prostate cancer. Epidemiological studies have reported evidence that plant-based foods including cruciferous vegetables, garlic, tomatoes, pomegranate and green tea are associated with a significant reduction in the progression of prostate cancer. However, while there is well-documented mechanistic evidence at a cellular level of the manner by which individual dietary components may reduce the risk of prostate cancer or its progression, evidence from intervention studies is limited. Moreover, clinical trials investigating the link between the dietary bioactives found in these foods and prostate cancer have reported varied conclusions. Herein, we review the plant bioactives for which there is substantial evidence from epidemiological and human intervention studies. The aim of this review is to provide important insights into how particular plant bioactives (e.g., sulfur-containing compounds, carotenoids and polyphenols) present in commonly consumed food groups may influence the development and progression of prostate cancer.

Nutraceutical Insight into Vegetables and their Potential for Nutrition Mediated Healthcare

Background:

The connection between food and good health is not a new concept. Vegetables are being used as a source of nutrition since long. Dietary active components are essential for the normal functioning of the human body.

Methods:

The study basically involves all the three categories of research methodologies, including analytic, descriptive and historical. It involves secondary data from scientific reports, books, and journals.

Results:

Vegetables can be considered as nutraceuticals since they supply bioactive compounds effective in decreasing the risk of many diseases. Vegetables are considered to be protective foods since they contain low calories and higher vitamins and minerals. Vegetables are potentially suitable against civilization diseases, which are caused by the lack of nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants (vitamin E, vitamin C, β-carotene, selenium, zinc, cryptoxanthin, lycopene etc), and other micronutrients.

Conclusion:

The presence of bioactive compounds like phytochemicals offers nutraceutical values to vegetables. Nutraceutical rich vegetables have been established to have a role in gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. Vegetables and fruits not only have the potential to stop the growth of disease but also can cure many diseases and boost the immune system.

The Role of the Microbiome in Cancer Initiation and Progression: How Microbes and Cancer Cells Utilize Excess Energy and Promote One Another's Growth

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

We use an ecological lens to understand how microbes and cancer cells coevolve inside the ecosystems of our bodies. We describe how microbe-cancer cell interactions contribute to cancer progression, including cooperation between microbes and cancer cells. We discuss the role of the immune system in preventing this apparent 'collusion' and describe how microbe-cancer cell interactions lead to opportunities and challenges in treating cancer.

RECENT FINDINGS

Microbiota influence many aspects of our health including our cancer risk. Since both microbes and cancer cells rely on incoming resources for their survival and replication, excess energy and nutrient input from the host can play a role in cancer initiation and progression. Certain microbes enhance cancer cell fitness by promoting proliferation and protecting cancer cells from the immune system. How diet influences these interactions remains largely unknown but recent evidence suggests a role for nutrients across the cancer continuum.

Selected Office Based Anticancer Treatment Strategies

Over the years, the treatment of patients with cancer has varied widely as much because of recent advancements in science and medicine as the philosophies that belie their use. This paper briefly describes many of the prevailing approaches in use today with an attempt to offer some perspective of how to apply these disparate methodologies so that they may be more effectively integrated, resulting in consistently better clinical responses.

Chemopreventive activity of sulforaphane

Cancer is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world. Carcinogenesis is a multistep process induced by genetic and epigenetic changes that disrupt pathways controlling cell proliferation, apoptosis, differentiation, and senescence. In this context, many bioactive dietary compounds from vegetables and fruits have been demonstrated to be effective in cancer prevention and intervention. Over the years, sulforaphane (SFN), found in cruciferous vegetables, has been shown to have chemopreventive activity in vitro and in vivo. SFN protects cells from environmental carcinogens and also induces growth arrest and/or apoptosis in various cancer cells. In this review, we will discuss several potential mechanisms of the chemopreventive activity of SFN, including regulation of Phase I and Phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes, cell cycle arrest, and induction of apoptosis, especially via regulation of signaling pathways such as Nrf2-Keap1 and NF-κB. Recent studies suggest that SFN can also affect the epigenetic control of key genes and greatly influence the initiation and progression of cancer. This research may provide a basis for the clinical use of SFN for cancer chemoprevention and enable us to design preventive strategies for cancer management, reduce cancer development and recurrence, and thus improve patient survival.

Structure-Based Classification and Anti-Cancer Effects of Plant Metabolites

A variety of malignant cancers affect the global human population. Although a wide variety of approaches to cancer treatment have been studied and used clinically (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy), the toxic side effects of cancer therapies have a negative impact on patients and impede progress in conquering cancer. Plant metabolites are emerging as new leads for anti-cancer drug development. This review summarizes these plant metabolites with regard to their structures and the types of cancer against which they show activity, organized by the organ or tissues in which each cancer forms. This information will be helpful for understanding the current state of knowledge of the anti-cancer effects of various plant metabolites against major types of cancer for the further development of novel anti-cancer drugs.

Impact of dietary gut microbial metabolites on the epigenome

Within the past decade, epigenetic mechanisms and their modulation by natural products have gained increasing interest. Dietary bioactive compounds from various sources, including green tea, soya, fruit and berries, cruciferous vegetables, whole grain foods, fish and others, have been shown to target enzymes involved in epigenetic gene regulation, including DNA methyltransferases, histone acetyltransferases, deacetylases and demethylases in vitro and in cell culture. Also, many dietary agents were shown to alter miRNA expression. In vivo studies in animal models and humans are still limited. Recent research has indicated that the gut microbiota and gut microbial metabolites might be important mediators of diet-epigenome interactions. Inter-individual differences in the gut microbiome might affect release, metabolism and bioavailability of dietary agents and explain variability in response to intervention in human studies. Only a few microbial metabolites, including folate, phenolic acids, S-(-)equol, urolithins, isothiocyanates, and short- and long-chain fatty acids have been tested with respect to their potential to influence epigenetic mechanisms. Considering that a complex mixture of intermediary and microbial metabolites is present in human circulation, a more systematic interdisciplinary investigation of nutri-epigenetic activities and their impact on human health is called for.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Frontiers in epigenetic chemical biology'.

Effects of thermal and non-thermal processing of cruciferous vegetables on glucosinolates and its derived forms

Brassica vegetables, which include broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and Brussel sprouts, are known for their high glucosinolate content. Glucosinolates and their derived forms namely isothiocyanates are of special interest in the pharmaceutical and food industries due to their antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and anticarcinogenic properties. These compounds are water soluble and heat-sensitive and have been proved to be heavily lost during thermal processing. In addition, previous studies suggested that novel non-thermal technologies such as high pressure processing, pulsed electric fields, or ultraviolet irradiation can affect the glucosinolate content of cruciferous vegetables. The objective of this paper was to review current knowledge about the effects of both thermal and non-thermal processing technologies on the content of glucosinolates and their derived forms in brassica vegetables. This paper also highlights the importance of the incorporation of brassica vegetables into our diet for their health-promoting properties beyond their anticarcinogenic activities.

Wnt5a regulates the cell proliferation and adipogenesis via MAPK-independent pathway in early stage of obesity

The early stage of obesity is an important stage in the development of obesity. However, there are few studies which explored the property or changes in obesity at early stage especially involving Wnt5a. The associated gene expression of Wnt5a on cell regeneration and the effect of Wnt5a on rat adipose-derived stem cell (rASC) proliferation and adipogenesis need additional study. Here, we investigated the changes in obesity at early stage and how Wnt5a regulates rASC regeneration, proliferation, and adipogenesis. Our data revealed that obesity at early stage measured by Lee index presented a state with impaired adipogenesis and more infiltrated inflammatory cells but without significant changes in adipocyte sizes and inflammatory factors. The process might be associated with anti-canonical Wnt pathway and a reciprocal Wnt5a/JNK pathway. Besides the gene expression of Wnt5a decreased from cell passage 1 to passage 3. The cell proliferation was regulated by increasing dose of Wnt5a with the maximal effect at 50 ng/mL and 50 ng/mL Wnt5a suppressed adipogenic differentiation at middle-late stage of adipogenesis via anti-β-catenin and a mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling-independent manner. Accordingly, the research helps to gain further insights into the early stage of obesity and its associated changes on a cellular and molecular level.

[Advances in Research of Antitumor Mechanisms of Isothiocyanates]

Isothiocyanates (ITCs) are naturally occurring small molecules that are generated by the enzymic hydrolysis of glucosinolate in cruciferous vegetables. Numerous studies showed that ITCs inhibit the growth of tumors by the mechanisms including inducing cell cycle arrest, promoting apoptosis and producing reactive oxygen species in vitro and in vivo. Recent studies showed that ITCs also inhibit metastasis of cancer cells, induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and autophagy. This review summarizes the antitumor mechanisms of ITCs.

HPLC Separation of Sulforaphane Enantiomers in Broccoli and Its Sprouts by Transformation into Diastereoisomers Using Derivatization with (S)-Leucine

Racemic sulforaphane, which was derivatized with (S)-leucine (l-leucine), was resolved by reversed phase HPLC with UV detection. The optimum mobile phase conditions were found to be 10 mM citric acid (pH 2.8) containing 22% methanol at 35 °C using detection at 254 nm. Sulforaphane enantiomers in florets and stems of five brands of broccoli and leaves and stems of three brands of broccoli sprouts were analyzed by the proposed HPLC method. Both sulforaphane enantiomers were detected in all of the samples. The S/R ratios of sulforaphane in broccoli samples were 1.5-2.6/97.4-98.5% for florets and 5.0-12.1/87.9-95.0% for stems. The S/R ratios in broccoli sprout samples were higher than those in broccoli samples and were found to be 8.3-19.7/80.3-91.7% for leaves and 37.0-41.8/58.2-63.0% for stems. (S)-Sulforaphane detected in the broccoli and its sprout samples was positively identified by separately using an HPLC with a chiral column (Chiralpak AD-RH) and mass spectrometry.

Food-based natural products for cancer management: Is the whole greater than the sum of the parts?

The rise in cancer incidence and mortality in developing countries together with the human and financial cost of current cancer therapy mandates a closer look at alternative ways to overcome this burgeoning global healthcare problem. Epidemiological evidence for the association between cancer and diet and the long latency of most cancer progression have led to active exploration of whole and isolated natural chemicals from different naturally occurring substances in various preclinical and clinical settings. In general the lack of systemic toxicities of most 'whole' and 'isolated' natural compounds, their potential to reduce toxic doses and potential to delay the development of drug-resistance makes them promising candidates for cancer management. This review article examines the suggested molecular mechanisms affected by these substances focusing to a large extent on prostate cancer and deliberates on the disparate results obtained from cell culture, preclinical and clinical studies in an effort to highlight the use of whole extracts and isolated constituents for intervention. As such these studies underscore the importance of factors such as treatment duration, bioavailability, route of administration, selection criteria, standardized formulation and clinical end points in clinical trial design with both entities. Overall lack of parallel comparison studies between the whole natural products and their isolated compounds limits decisive conclusions regarding the superior utility of one over the other. We suggest the critical need for rigorous comparative research to identify which one of the two or both entities from nature would be best qualified to take on the mantle of cancer management.

Roles of Dietary Phytoestrogens on the Regulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Diverse Cancer Metastasis

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in tumor progression. The cells undergoing EMT upregulate the expression of cell motility-related proteins and show enhanced migration and invasion. The hallmarks of EMT in cancer cells include changed cell morphology and increased metastatic capabilities in cell migration and invasion. Therefore, prevention of EMT is an important tool for the inhibition of tumor metastasis. A novel preventive therapy is needed, such as treatment of natural dietary substances that are nontoxic to normal human cells, but effective in inhibiting cancer cells. Phytoestrogens, such as genistein, resveratrol, kaempferol and 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM), can be raised as possible candidates. They are plant-derived dietary estrogens, which are found in tea, vegetables and fruits, and are known to have various biological efficacies, including chemopreventive activity against cancers. Specifically, these phytoestrogens may induce not only anti-proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, but also anti-metastasis by inhibiting the EMT process in various cancer cells. There have been several signaling pathways found to be associated with the induction of the EMT process in cancer cells. Phytoestrogens were demonstrated to have chemopreventive effects on cancer metastasis by inhibiting EMT-associated pathways, such as Notch-1 and TGF-beta signaling. As a result, phytoestrogens can inhibit or reverse the EMT process by upregulating the expression of epithelial phenotypes, including E-cadherin, and downregulating the expression of mesenchymal phenotypes, including N-cadherin, Snail, Slug, and vimentin. In this review, we focused on the important roles of phytoestrogens in inhibiting EMT in many types of cancer and suggested phytoestrogens as prominent alternative compounds to chemotherapy.

A strategy for fast screening and identification of sulfur derivatives in medicinal Pueraria species based on the fine isotopic pattern filtering method using ultra-high-resolution mass spectrometry

Sulfurous compounds are commonly present in plants, fungi, and animals. Most of them were reported to possess various bioactivities. Isotopic pattern filter (IPF) is a powerful tool for screening compounds with distinct isotope pattern. Over the past decades, the IPF was used mainly to study Cl- and Br-containing compounds. To our knowledge, the algorithm was scarcely used to screen S-containing compounds, especially when combined with chromatography analyses, because the (34)S isotopic ion is drastically affected by (13)C2 and (18)O. Thus, we present a new method for a fine isotopic pattern filter (FIPF) based on the separated M + 2 ions ((12)C(x)(1)H(y)(16)O(z)(32)S(13)C2(18)O, (12)C(x+2)(1)H(y)(16)O(z+1)(34)S, tentatively named M + 2OC and M + 2S) with an ultra-high-resolution mass (100,000 FWHM @ 400 m/z) to screen sulfur derivatives in traditional Chinese medicines (TCM).This finer algorithm operates through convenient filters, including an accurate mass shift of M + 2OC and M + 2S from M and their relative intensity compared to M. The method was validated at various mass resolutions, mass accuracies, and screening thresholds of flexible elemental compositions. Using the established FIPF method, twelve S-derivatives were found in the popular medicinal used Pueraria species, and 9 of them were tentatively identified by high-resolution multiple stage mass spectrometry (HRMS(n)). The compounds were used to evaluate the sulfurous compounds' situation in commercially purchased Pueraria products. The strategy presented here provides a promising application of the IPF method in a new field.

Epigenetic Regulation by Sulforaphane: Opportunities for Breast and Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a phytochemical derived from cruciferous vegetables that has multiple molecular targets and anti-cancer properties. Researchers have demonstrated several chemopreventive benefits of SFN consumption, such as reductions in tumor growth, increases in cancer cell apoptosis, and disruption of signaling within tumor microenvironments both in vitro and in vivo. Emerging evidence indicates that SFN exerts several of its chemopreventive effects by altering epigenetic mechanisms. This review summarizes evidence of the impact of SFN on epigenetic events and how they relate to the chemopreventive effects of SFN observed in preclinical and clinical studies of breast and prostate cancers. Specific areas of focus include the role of SFN in the regulation of cell cycle, apoptosis, inflammation, antioxidant defense, and cancer cell signaling and their relationships to epigenetic mechanisms. Finally, remaining challenges and research needs for translating mechanistic work with SFN into human studies and clinical intervention trials are discussed.

Dietary Glucosinolates Sulforaphane, Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Indole-3-Carbinol/3,3'-Diindolylmethane: Anti-Oxidative Stress/Inflammation, Nrf2, Epigenetics/Epigenomics and In Vivo Cancer Chemopreventive Efficacy

Glucosinolates are a group of sulfur-containing glycosides found in many plant species, including cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower. Accumulating evidence increasingly supports the beneficial effects of dietary glucosinolates on overall health, including as potential anti-cancer agents, because of their role in the prevention of the initiation of carcinogenesis via the induction of cellular defense detoxifying/antioxidant enzymes and their epigenetic mechanisms, including modification of the CpG methylation of cancer-related genes, histone modification regulation and changes in the expression of miRNAs. In this context, the defense mechanism mediated by Nrf2-antioxidative stress and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways can contribute to cellular protection against oxidative stress and reactive metabolites of carcinogens. In this review, we summarize the cancer chemopreventive role of naturally occurring glucosinolate derivatives as inhibitors of carcinogenesis, with particular emphasis on specific molecular targets and epigenetic alterations in in vitro and in vivo human cancer animal models.

Targeting the 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase and related metabolic pathways for the treatment of prostate cancer

INTRODUCTION

Increasing evidence suggests that prostate cancer cells undergo unique metabolic reprogramming during transformation. A master regulator of cellular homeostasis, 5'-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), directs metabolic adaptation that supports the growth demands of rapidly dividing cancer cells. The utilization of AMPK as a therapeutic target may therefore provide an effective strategy in the treatment of prostate cancer.

AREAS COVERED

Our review describes the regulation of AMPK by androgens and upstream kinases including the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CaMKK2) in prostate cancer. Oncogenic, AMPK-regulated pathways that direct various metabolic processes are also addressed. Furthermore, we discuss the role of AMPK in growth arrest and autophagy as a potential survival pathway for cancer cells. In addition, by regulating non-metabolic pathways, AMPK may stimulate migration and mitosis. Finally, this review summarizes efforts to treat prostate cancer with pharmacological agents capable of modulating AMPK signaling.

EXPERT OPINION

Current research is primarily focused on developing drugs that activate AMPK as a treatment for prostate cancer. However, oncogenic aspects of AMPK signaling calls for caution about employing such therapies. We think that inhibitors of CaMKK2 or AMPK, or perhaps the modulation of downstream targets of AMPK, will gain importance in the clinical management of prostate cancer.

The role of phytochemicals as micronutrients in health and disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Intake of dietary phytochemicals has frequently been associated with health benefits. Noninfectious diseases including cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer and diabetes are major causes of death, whereas dementia cases are also increasing to 'epidemic' proportion. This review will focus on recent progress on mechanisms underlying the potential role of dietary phytochemicals in CVD, diabetes, cancer and dementia, with consideration of the latest clinical data.

RECENT FINDINGS

The association of tea (Camellia sinensis), particularly catechins, with reported mechanistic effects for CVD, diabetes, cancer and cognition contributes to our understanding of the suggested benefits of tea consumption on health from limited and inconclusive clinical trial and epidemiological data. Resveratrol, which occurs in grapes (Vitis vinifera) and wine, and curcumin, a component of turmeric (Curcuma longa), are also emerging as potentially relevant to health, particularly for CVD and dementia, with some promising data also concluded for curcumin in cancer. Other phytochemicals mechanistically relevant for health include anthocyanins, isoflavones and glucosinolates, which are also discussed.

SUMMARY

Evidence for the role of phytochemicals in health and disease is growing, but associations between phytochemicals and disease need to be more firmly understood and established from more robust clinical data using preparations that have been phytochemically characterized.

Prostate cancer and the influence of dietary factors and supplements: a systematic review

Background

Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer worldwide after lung cancer. There is increasing evidence that diet and lifestyle plays a crucial role in prostate cancer biology and tumourigenesis. Prostate cancer itself represents a good model of cancer in which to look for chemopreventive agents due to the high disease prevalence, slowly progressive nature, and long latency period. Dietary agents have gained considerable attention, often receiving much publicity in the media.

Aim

To review the key evidence available for potential chemopreventive nutrients.

Methods

The methodology for this review involved a PubMed search from 1990 to 2013 using the key-words “diet and prostate cancer”, “nutrition and prostate cancer”, “dietary factors and prostate cancer”, “prostate cancer epidemiology”, “prostate cancer prevention”, “prostate cancer progression”.

Results

Red meat, dietary fat and milk intake should be minimised as they appear to increase the risk of prostate cancer. Fruit and vegetables and polyphenols may be preventive in prostate cancer, but further studies are needed to draw more solid conclusions and to clarify their role in patients with an established diagnosis of prostate cancer. Selenium and vitamin supplements cannot be advocated for the prevention of prostate cancer and indeed higher doses may be associated with a worse prognosis. There is no specific evidence regarding benefits of probiotics or prebiotics in prostate cancer.

Conclusions

From the wealth of evidence available, many recommendations can be made although more randomised control trials are required. These need to be carefully designed due to the many confounding factors and heterogeneity of the population.

Identification of glyceollin metabolites derived from conjugation with glutathione and glucuronic acid in male ZDSD rats by online liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry

Glyceollin-related metabolites produced in rats following oral glyceollin administration were screened in plasma, feces, and urine, and these metabolites were identified by precursor and product ion scanning using liquid chromatography coupled online with electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). Precursor ion scanning in the negative ion (NI) mode was used to identify all glyceollin metabolites based on production of a diagnostic radical product ion (m/z 148) upon decomposition. Using this approach, precursor peaks of interest were found at m/z 474 and 531. Tandem mass spectra of these two peaks allowed us to characterize them as byproducts of glutathione conjugation. The peak at m/z 474 was identified as the deprotonated cysteinyl conjugate of glyceollins with an addition of an oxygen atom, whereas m/z 531 was identified as the deprotonated cysteinylglyceine glyceollin conjugate plus an oxygen. These results were confirmed by positive ion (PI) mode analyses. Mercapturic acid conjugates of glyceollins were also identified in NI mode. In addition, glucuronidation of glyceollins was observed, giving a peak at m/z 513 corresponding to the deprotonated conjugate. Production of glucuronic acid conjugates of glyceollins was confirmed in vitro in rat liver microsomes. Neither glutathione conjugation byproducts nor glucuronic acid conjugates of glyceollins have been previously reported.

Epigenetic regulation of miRNA-cancer stem cells nexus by nutraceuticals

Nutraceuticals, the bioactive food components represented by many naturally occurring dietary compounds, have been investigated for a few decades for their numerous beneficial effects, including their anticancer properties. The initial interest in the cancer-preventing/therapeutic ability of these agents was based on their ability to affect multiple signaling pathways that are deregulated in cancer cells. With a shift in the focus of cancer research to the emerging areas such as epigenetic regulation, microRNAs (miRNAs) and the cancer stem cells (CSCs), nutraceuticals initially appeared out of place. However, research investigations over the last several years have slowly but firmly presented evidence that supports a relevance of these agents in modern day research. While nutraceuticals are increasingly being realized to alter miRNA/CSCs expression and function, the molecular mechanism(s) are not very clearly understood. Epigenetic regulation is one mechanism by which these agents exert their anticancer effects. In this focused mini review, we summarize our current understanding of epigenetic regulation of miRNAs and CSCs by nutraceuticals. We discuss both direct and indirect evidences that support such an activity of these compounds.