Therapeutic Targets for Phenolic Compounds from Agro-industrial Byproducts against Obesity

Natural Phenolic Compounds with Neuroprotective Effects

Neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequently oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis that contribute to neuronal cytotoxicity and degeneration. Huntington's (HD), Alzheimer's (AD), and Parkinson's (PD) diseases are three of the major neurodegenerative diseases. To date, researchers have found various natural phytochemicals that could potentially be used to treat neurodegenerative diseases. Particularly, the application of natural phenolic compounds has gained significant traction in recent years, driven by their various biological activities and therapeutic efficacy in human health. Polyphenols, by modulating different cellular functions, play an important role in neuroprotection and can neutralize the effects of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in animal models. This review focuses on the current state of knowledge on phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, stilbenes, and coumarins, as well as their beneficial effects on human health. We further provide an overview of the therapeutic potential and mechanisms of action of natural dietary phenolics in curing neurodegenerative diseases in animal models.

Biochemical changes and enhanced accumulation of phenolic compounds in cell culture of Perilla frutescens (L.) by nano-chemical elicitation

Perilla frutescens (L.) Britt is a renowned medicinal plant with pharmaceutically valuable phenolic acids and flavonoids. The present study was aimed to study the eliciting effect of silver and copper nanoparticles (AgNPs and CuNPs, 50 and 100 mg/L), and methyl jasmonate (MeJa, 50 and 100 μM) on the biochemical traits, the accumulation of phenolic compounds and antioxidative capacity of P. frutescens cell suspension culture. Suspension cells were obtained from friable calli derived from nodal explants in Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium containing 1 mg/L 2,4-D and 1 mg/L BAP. The 21 days old cell suspension culture established from nodal explant derived callus supplemented with 100 mg/L MeJa resulted in the highest activity of catalase and guaiacol peroxidase enzymes, and CuNPs 100 mg/L treated cells indicated the maximum content of total phenol, total anthocyanin, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde, and H2O2. Also, the highest content of ferulic acid (1.41 ± 0.03, mg/g DW), rosmarinic acid (19.29 ± 0.12, mg/g DW), and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (16.81 ± 0.18, U/mg protein) were observed with 100 mg/L CuNPs, exhibiting a total increase of 1.58-fold, 2.12-fold, and 1.51-fold, respectively, higher than untreated cells. On the other hand, AgNPs 100 mg/L treated cells indicated the most amounts of caffeic acid (0.57 ± 0.03, mg/g DW) and rutin (1.13 ± 0.07, mg/g DW), as well as the highest scavenging potential of free radicals. Overall, the results of the present study can be applied for the large-scale production of valuable phenolic acids and flavonoids from P. frutescens through CuNPs and AgNPs 100 mg/L elicited cell suspension cultures.