Cranberries and Cancer: An Update of Preclinical Studies Evaluating the Cancer Inhibitory Potential of Cranberry and Cranberry Derived Constituents

Prebiotic proanthocyanidins inhibit bile reflux-induced esophageal adenocarcinoma through reshaping the gut microbiome and esophageal metabolome

The gut and local esophageal microbiome progressively shift from healthy commensal bacteria to inflammation-linked pathogenic bacteria in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus, and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). However, mechanisms by which microbial communities and metabolites contribute to reflux-driven EAC remain incompletely understood and challenging to target. Herein, we utilized a rat reflux-induced EAC model to investigate targeting the gut microbiome-esophageal metabolome axis with cranberry proanthocyanidins (C-PAC) to inhibit EAC progression. Sprague-Dawley rats, with or without reflux induction, received water or C-PAC ad libitum (700 μg/rat/day) for 25 or 40 weeks. C-PAC exerted prebiotic activity abrogating reflux-induced dysbiosis and mitigating bile acid metabolism and transport, culminating in significant inhibition of EAC through TLR/NF-κB/TP53 signaling cascades. At the species level, C-PAC mitigated reflux-induced pathogenic bacteria (Streptococcus parasanguinis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis). C-PAC specifically reversed reflux-induced bacterial, inflammatory, and immune-implicated proteins and genes, including Ccl4, Cd14, Crp, Cxcl1, Il6, Il1b, Lbp, Lcn2, Myd88, Nfkb1, Tlr2, and Tlr4, aligning with changes in human EAC progression, as confirmed through public databases. C-PAC is a safe, promising dietary constituent that may be utilized alone or potentially as an adjuvant to current therapies to prevent EAC progression through ameliorating reflux-induced dysbiosis, inflammation, and cellular damage.

Prebiotic proanthocyanidins inhibit bile reflux-induced esophageal adenocarcinoma through reshaping the gut microbiome and esophageal metabolome

The gut and local esophageal microbiome progressively shift from healthy commensal bacteria to inflammatory-linked pathogenic bacteria in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). However, mechanisms by which microbial communities and metabolites contribute to reflux-driven EAC remain incompletely understood and challenging to target. Herein, we utilized a rat reflux-induced EAC model to investigate targeting the gut microbiome-esophageal metabolome axis with cranberry proanthocyanidins (C-PAC) to inhibit EAC progression. Sprague Dawley rats, with or without reflux-induction received water or C-PAC ad libitum (700 µg/rat/day) for 25 or 40 weeks. C-PAC exerted prebiotic activity abrogating reflux-induced dysbiosis, and mitigating bile acid metabolism and transport, culminating in significant inhibition of EAC through TLR/NF-κB/P53 signaling cascades. At the species level, C-PAC mitigated reflux-induced pathogenic bacteria (Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis). C-PAC specifically reversed reflux-induced bacterial, inflammatory and immune-implicated proteins and genes including Ccl4, Cd14, Crp, Cxcl1, Il6, Il1β, Lbp, Lcn2, Myd88, Nfkb1, Tlr2 and Tlr4 aligning with changes in human EAC progression, as confirmed through public databases. C-PAC is a safe promising dietary constituent that may be utilized alone or potentially as an adjuvant to current therapies to prevent EAC progression through ameliorating reflux-induced dysbiosis, inflammation and cellular damage.

Tackling the Future Pandemics: Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agents (BSAAs) Based on A-Type Proanthocyanidins

A-type proanthocyanidins (PAC-As) are plant-derived natural polyphenols that occur as oligomers or polymers of flavan-3-ol monomers, such as (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, connected through an unusual double A linkage. PAC-As are present in leaves, seeds, flowers, bark, and fruits of many plants, and are thought to exert protective natural roles against microbial pathogens, insects, and herbivores. Consequently, when tested in isolation, PAC-As have shown several biological effects, through antioxidant, antibacterial, immunomodulatory, and antiviral activities. PAC-As have been observed in fact to inhibit replication of many different human viruses, and both enveloped and non-enveloped DNA and RNA viruses proved sensible to their inhibitory effect. Mechanistic studies revealed that PAC-As cause reduction of infectivity of viral particles they come in contact with, as a result of their propensity to interact with virion surface capsid proteins or envelope glycoproteins essential for viral attachment and entry. As viral infections and new virus outbreaks are a major public health concern, development of effective Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Agents (BSAAs) that can be rapidly deployable even against future emerging viruses is an urgent priority. This review summarizes the antiviral activities and mechanism of action of PAC-As, and their potential to be deployed as BSAAs against present and future viral infections.

Proanthocyanidins mitigate bile acid-induced changes in GSTT2 levels in a panel of racially diverse patient-derived primary esophageal cell cultures

Persistent and symptomatic reflux of gastric and duodenal contents, known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), is the strongest risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC). Despite similar rates of GERD and other risk factors across racial groups, EAC progression disproportionately impacts Caucasians. We recently reported that elevated tissue levels of the detoxification enzyme GSTT2 in the esophagi of Blacks compared to Caucasians may contribute protection. Herein, we extend our research to investigate whether cranberry proanthocyanidins (C-PAC) mitigate bile acid-induced damage and GSTT2 levels utilizing a racially diverse panel of patient-derived primary esophageal cultures. We have shown that C-PACs mitigate reflux-induced DNA damage through GSTT2 upregulation in a rat esophageal reflux model, but whether effects are recapitulated in humans or differentially based on race remains unknown. We isolated normal primary esophageal cells from Black and Caucasian patients and assessed GSTT2 protein levels and cellular viability following exposure to a bile acid cocktail with and without C-PAC treatment. Constitutive GSTT2 levels were significantly elevated in Black (2.9-fold) compared to Caucasian patients, as were GSTT2 levels in Black patients with GERD. C-PAC treatment induced GSTT2 levels 1.6-fold in primary normal esophageal cells. GSTT2 induction by C-PAC was greatest in cells with constitutively low GSTT2 expression. Overall, C-PAC mitigated bile-induced reductions of GSTT2 and subsequent loss of cell viability regardless of basal GSTT2 expression or race. These data support that C-PAC may be a safe efficacious agent to promote epithelial fitness through GSTT2 induction and in turn protect against bile acid-induced esophageal injury.

Cranberry Polyphenols in Esophageal Cancer Inhibition: New Insights

Esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a cancer characterized by rapidly rising incidence and poor survival, resulting in the need for new prevention and treatment options. We utilized two cranberry polyphenol extracts, one proanthocyanidin enriched (C-PAC) and a combination of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and glycosides (AFG) to assess inhibitory mechanisms utilizing premalignant Barrett’s esophagus (BE) and EAC derived cell lines. We employed reverse phase protein arrays (RPPA) and Western blots to examine cancer-associated pathways and specific signaling cascades modulated by C-PAC or AFG. Viability results show that C-PAC is more potent than AFG at inducing cell death in BE and EAC cell lines. Based on the RPPA results, C-PAC significantly modulated 37 and 69 proteins in JH-EsoAd1 (JHAD1) and OE19 EAC cells, respectively. AFG treatment significantly altered 49 proteins in both JHAD1 and OE19 cells. Bioinformatic analysis of RPPA results revealed many previously unidentified pathways as modulated by cranberry polyphenols including NOTCH signaling, immune response, and epithelial to mesenchymal transition. Collectively, these results provide new insight regarding mechanisms by which cranberry polyphenols exert cancer inhibitory effects targeting EAC, with implications for potential use of cranberry constituents as cancer preventive agents.

Warangalone Induces Apoptosis in HeLa Cells via Mitochondria-Mediated Endogenous Pathway

Cervical cancer as one of the major malignant tumors seriously threatens women's health. More than 270,000 women die of cervical cancer each year. Warangalone is an isoflavone compound isolated from Cudrania tricuspidata with excellent antitumor activity. In this research, we investigated the molecular mechanism of warangalone-induced apoptosis in HeLa cells. The results show that warangalone can selectively and effectively inhibit HeLa cells proliferation. Warangalone can effectively inhibit the invasion and migration of HeLa cells. Furthermore, warangalone was confirmed to activate p53 and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family signaling pathways to cause apoptosis. In this case, the expression of the B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family is regulated, and caspase-3 is eventually cleaved, finally triggering the mitochondrial apoptosis. In conclusion, warangalone can induce HeLa cells apoptosis via a mitochondria-mediated endogenous pathway, which represented the potential therapeutic effect of warangalone on cervical cancer.

Deacidification of Cranberry Juice Reduces Its Antibacterial Properties against Oral Streptococci but Preserves Barrier Function and Attenuates the Inflammatory Response of Oral Epithelial Cells

Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) may be a potent natural adjuvant for the prevention of oral diseases due to its anti-adherence, anti-cariogenic, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the high titrable acidity of cranberry juice (CJ) has been reported to cause gastrointestinal discomfort, leading consumers to restrict their intake of this beverage. Electrodialysis with a bipolar membrane (EDBM) can reduce the organic acid content of CJ while retaining the flavonoids associated with potential health benefits. This study aimed to assess how the deacidification of CJ by EDBM impacts the antibacterial properties of the beverage against cariogenic (Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus sobrinus) and commensal (Streptococcus gordonii, Streptococcus oralis, Streptococcus salivarius) streptococci, and how it affects oral epithelial barrier function and inflammatory response in an in vitro model. The removal of organic acids from CJ (deacidification rate ≥42%) reduced the bactericidal activity of the beverage against planktonic S. mutans and S. gordonii after a 15-min exposure, whereas only the viability of S. gordonii was significantly impacted by CJ deacidification rate when the bacteria were embedded in a biofilm. Moreover, conditioning saliva-coated hydroxyapatite with undiluted CJ samples significantly lowered the adherence of S. mutans, S. sobrinus, and S. oralis. With respect to epithelial barrier function, exposure to CJ deacidified at a rate of ≥19% maintained the integrity of a keratinocyte monolayer over the course of 24 h compared to raw CJ, as assessed by the determination of transepithelial electrical resistance (TER) and fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran paracellular transport. These results can be in part attributed to the inability of the deacidified CJ to disrupt two tight junction proteins, zonula occludens-1 and occludin, following exposure, unlike raw CJ. Deacidification of CJ impacted the secretion of IL-6, but not of IL-8, by oral epithelial cells. In conclusion, deacidification of CJ appears to provide benefits with respect to the maintenance of oral health.

Review of Functional and Pharmacological Activities of Berries

Functional plant-based foods (such as fruits, vegetables, and berries) can improve health, have a preventive effect, and diminish the risk of different chronic diseases during in vivo and in vitro studies. Berries contain many phytochemicals, fibers, vitamins, and minerals. The primary phytochemicals in berry fruits are phenolic compounds including flavonoids (anthocyanins, flavonols, flavones, flavanols, flavanones, and isoflavonoids), tannins, and phenolic acids. Since berries have a high concentration of polyphenols, it is possible to use them for treating various diseases pharmacologically by acting on oxidative stress and inflammation, which are often the leading causes of diabetes, neurological, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. This review examines commonly consumed berries: blackberries, blackcurrants, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, black raspberries, and strawberries and their polyphenols as potential medicinal foods (due to the presence of pharmacologically active compounds) in the treatment of diabetes, cardiovascular problems, and other diseases. Moreover, much attention is paid to the bioavailability of active berry components. Hence, this comprehensive review shows that berries and their bioactive compounds possess medicinal properties and have therapeutic potential. Nevertheless, future clinical trials are required to study and improve the bioavailability of berries' phenolic compounds and extend the evidence that the active compounds of berries can be used as medicinal foods against various diseases.

Cure lies in nature: medicinal plants and endophytic fungi in curbing cancer

Success of targeted cancer treatment modalities has generated an ambience of plausible cure for cancer. However, cancer remains to be the major cause of mortality across the globe. The emergence of chemoresistance, relapse after treatment and associated adverse effects has posed challenges to the present therapeutic regimes. Thus, investigating new therapeutic agents of natural origin and delineating the underlying mechanism of action is necessary. Since ages and still in continuum, the phytochemicals have been the prime source of identifying bioactive agents against cancer. They have been exploited for isolating targeted specific compounds to modulate the key regulating signaling pathways of cancer pathogenesis and progression. Capsaicin (alkaloid compound in chilli), catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (phytochemicals in green tea), lutein (carotenoid found in yellow fruits), Garcinol (phenolic compound present in kokum tree) and many other naturally available compounds are also very valuable to develop the drugs to treat the cancer. An alternate repository of similar chemical diversity exists in the form of endophytic fungi inhabiting the medicinal plants. There is a high diversity of plant associated endophytic fungi in nature which are potent producers of anti-cancer compounds and offers even stronger hope for the discovery of an efficient anti-cancer drug. These fungi provide various bioactive molecules, such as terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolic compounds, quinines, steroids etc. exhibiting anti-cancerous property. The review discusses the relevance of phytochemicals in chemoprevention and as modulators of miRNA. The perspective advocates the imperative role of anti-cancerous secondary metabolites containing repository of endophytic fungi, as an alternative route of drug discovery.

Proanthocyanidin-enriched cranberry extract induces resilient bacterial community dynamics in a gnotobiotic mouse model

Cranberry consumption has numerous health benefits, with experimental reports showing its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. Importantly, microbiome research has demonstrated that the gastrointestinal bacterial community modulates host immunity, raising the question of whether the cranberry-derived effect may be related to its ability to modulate the microbiome. Only a few studies have investigated the effect of cranberry products on the microbiome to date. Especially because cranberries are rich in dietary fibers, the extent of microbiome modulation by polyphenols, particularly proanthocyanidins (PACs), remains to be shown. Since previous work has only focused on long-term effects of cranberry extracts, in this study we investigated the effect of a water-soluble, PAC-rich cranberry juice extract (CJE) on the short-term dynamics of a human-derived bacterial community in a gnotobiotic mouse model. CJE characterization revealed a high enrichment in PACs (57%), the highest ever utilized in a microbiome study. In a 37-day experiment with a ten-day CJE intervention and 14-day recovery phase, we profiled the microbiota via 16S rRNA sequencing and applied diverse time-series analytics methods to identify individual bacterial responses. We show that daily administration of CJE induces distinct dynamic patterns in bacterial abundances during and after treatment, before recovering resiliently to pre-treatment levels. Specifically, we observed an increase of Akkermansia muciniphila and Clostridium hiranonis at the expense of Bacteroides ovatus after the offset of the selection pressure imposed by the PAC-rich CJE. This demonstrates that termination of an intervention with a cranberry product can induce changes of a magnitude as high as the intervention itself.

Suppression of Helicobacter pylori infection by daily cranberry intake: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Dietary strategies that contribute to reducing incidence of Helicobacter pylori infection without negative side effects are highly desirable owing to worldwide bacterial prevalence and carcinogenesis potential. The aim of this study was to determine dosage effect of daily cranberry consumption on H. pylori suppression over time in infected adults to assess the potential of this complementary management strategy in a region with high gastric cancer risk and high prevalence of H. pylori infection.

METHODS

This double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial on 522 H. pylori-positive adults evaluated dose-response effects of proanthocyanidin-standardized cranberry juice, cranberry powder, or their placebos on suppression of H. pylori at 2 and 8 weeks by ¹³ C-urea breath testing and eradication at 45 days post-intervention.

RESULTS

H. pylori-negative rates in placebo, low-proanthocyanidin, medium-proanthocyanidin, and high-proanthocyanidin cranberry juice groups at week 2 were 13.24%, 7.58%, 1.49%, and 13.85% and at week 8 were 7.35%, 7.58%, 4.48%, and 20.00%, respectively. Consumption of high-proanthocyanidin juice twice daily (44 mg proanthocyanidin/240-mL serving) for 8 weeks resulted in decreased H. pylori infection rate by 20% as compared with other dosages and placebo (P < 0.05). Percentage of H. pylori-negative participants increased from 2 to 8 weeks in subjects who consumed 44 mg proanthocyanidin/day juice once or twice daily, showing a statistically significant positive trend over time. Encapsulated cranberry powder doses were not significantly effective at either time point. Overall trial compliance was 94.25%. Cranberry juice and powder were well-tolerated.

CONCLUSIONS

Twice-daily consumption of proanthocyanidin-standardized cranberry juice may help potentiate suppression of H. pylori infection.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR1800017522, per WHO ICTRP.

Antioxidant Activity of Flavonoids in LPS-Treated IPEC-J2 Porcine Intestinal Epithelial Cells and Their Antibacterial Effect against Bacteria of Swine Origin

Beneficial effects of flavonoids are widely known in human medicine, but less information is available about their veterinary usage. Based on their antioxidant and antibacterial activity, proanthocyanidins (PAs) and luteolin (LUT) might be used in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal infections in swine. In this study, in vitro beneficial effects of grape seed oligomeric proanthocyanidins (GSOPs) and LUT were investigated against bacterial endotoxin (LPS)-induced oxidative stress in IPEC-J2 porcine epithelial intestinal cells. Furthermore, antibacterial effects of GSOP and LUT were assessed against field isolates of Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium. Both GSOP and LUT were found to possess potent in vitro antioxidant activity in LPS-treated IPEC-J2 cells; furthermore, they showed a bacteriostatic effect against the tested bacterial strains of porcine origin. Both flavonoids seem to be effective in the protection of porcine intestinal epithelial cells against Gram-negative bacteria in vitro, but further in vivo studies are necessary to confirm these activities and to establish their optimal dosage regimen for future usage in veterinary practice.

Quantification of cranberry proanthocyanidins by normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography using relative response factors

INTRODUCTION

American cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) contain primarily A-type proanthocyanidins (PACs), which have been shown to prevent urinary tract infection. Currently, the accurate quantification of cranberry PACs is still lacking.

OBJECTIVE

A normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (NP-HPLC) method using relative response factors was developed and validated to quantify cranberry PAC oligomers and polymers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PAC oligomers with degree of polymerisation (DP) 3-9 and total polymers were isolated from the cranberry juice concentrate. Characterisation of the isolated PAC oligomers was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry. The relative response factors of oligomers from DP 2-9 and total polymers were determined against procyanidin A2. Method validation was conducted to assess limit of detection, limit of quantification, the linearity and working range, precision and accuracy. In addition, quantifications of PACs by NP-HPLC using relative response factors and two other commonly used methods were conducted in three cranberry food products.

RESULTS

Cranberries PACs oligomers contained both A-type and B-type linkage, with epicatechin and epigallocatechin as basic units. Method validation results suggested this method is reliable and reproducible. Quantifications of PACs by NP-HPLC using relative response factors yielded higher values than that by the other two methods.

CONCLUSION

A NP-HPLC method using the relative response factors was developed and validated. This method provides a more accurate approach in determining cranberry PACs. It can be used to quantify individual oligomers from DP 2-9, total polymers and total PACs in cranberries and cranberry products.

Cytotoxic, genotoxic and apoptotic effects of Viburnum opulus on colon cancer cells: an in vitro study

Objective

Intake of various fruits is quite significant for maintaining the human body, due to their supply of useful constituents. V. opulus has been found to have outstanding antioxidant activity while showing a pro-oxidant effect at high doses. Due to this feature, V. opulus would be anticipated to have a healing impact on cancer treatment. In this study, it has been proposed to examine the cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects of V. opulus on human colorectal cancer cell.

Method

Different concentrations of V. opulus methanolic extract (5–2000 μg/mL) were incubated for 24 h with colorectal cancer cell line (Lovo). The cell viability, intracellular reactive oxygen species (iROS), DNA damage, and apoptosis were measured after incubation.

Results

The obtained results of this research demonstrate decreased cell viability and increased DNA damage, iROS, and apoptosis levels of V. opulus in Lovo cells in a concentration-dependent manner in the range of 14.88–52.06%. There were strong positive relationships between apoptosis, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity in V. opulus methanolic extract treated cancer cell line.

Discussion

This in vitro research clearly demonstrated that V. opulus methanolic extract induces DNA damage, apoptosis, and cytotoxicity in a dose-dependent manner in cancer cells due to its pro-oxidant activity.

Conclusion

Although in vitro results are favorable, in vivo and further studies are needed.

Dietary Factors and Supplements Influencing Prostate Specific-Antigen (PSA) Concentrations in Men with Prostate Cancer and Increased Cancer Risk: An Evidence Analysis Review Based on Randomized Controlled Trials

The quest for dietary patterns and supplements efficient in down-regulating prostate-specific antigen (PSA) concentrations among men with prostate cancer (PCa) or increased PCa risk has been long. Several antioxidants, including lycopene, selenium, curcumin, coenzyme Q10, phytoestrogens (including isoflavones and flavonoids), green tea catechins, cernitin, vitamins (C, E, D) and multivitamins, medicinal mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum), fruit extracts (saw palmetto, cranberries, pomegranate), walnuts and fatty acids, as well as combined supplementations of all, have been examined in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in humans, on the primary, secondary, and tertiary PCa prevention level. Despite the plethora of trials and the variety of examined interventions, the evidence supporting the efficacy of most dietary factors appears inadequate to recommend their use.

Cranberry extract initiates intrinsic apoptosis in HL-60 cells by increasing BAD activity through inhibition of AKT phosphorylation

Background

Cranberry has been studied as a potential anticancer agent as it is capable of inducing apoptosis within cancer cells. The aim of this study was to better define the mechanism by which cranberry triggers apoptosis in HL-60 cells.

Methods

The study was carried on cranberry extracts (CB). Anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) and pro-apoptotic BCL-2-associated death promoter death (BAD) proteins in cell lysates were detected through Western blotting techniques. Equivalent protein loading was confirmed through anti-α-tubulin antibody.

Results

The results showed that treatment of HL-60 cells with CB causes a significant increase in the levels of caspase-9 and caspases-3/7 and increased mitochondrial outer membrane permeability, leading to the release of cytochrome C and Smac. These apoptotic events were associated with a significant decrease in protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation, which caused significant increase in BAD de-phosphorylation and promoted a sequence of events that led to intrinsic apoptosis.

Conclusion

The study findings have described a molecular framework for CB-initiated apoptosis in HL-60 cells and suggested a direction for future in vivo studies investigating the anticancer effect of cranberry.

Pure Polyphenols and Cranberry Juice High in Anthocyanins Increase Antioxidant Capacity in Animal Organs

Anthocyanins and the broader class of polyphenols are strong antioxidants in vitro. Polyphenols are one of the major antioxidants in plant foods, and the beverages derived from them. There is extensive evidence in the literature that polyphenols are beneficial to health. In order to be bioactive in vivo, they need to be bioavailable and be transported from the circulation to target organs. To date, there have been few studies testing the extent to which polyphenols and especially anthocyanins affect the antioxidant capacity of animal organs. In our first pilot study, we investigated how three pure polyphenols (the flavonoids quercetin, catechin and hesperetin) given to rats by intraperitoneal injection (49 to 63 mg/kg) affected their organ antioxidant capacity. This was followed by a subsequent study that injected one ml of 100% cranberry juice (high in anthocyanins) to hamsters. Antioxidant capacity of animal organs was determined by using the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) colorimetric assay on methanolic extracts of select rat organs (i.e., liver, kidney, heart, prostate and brain) and in the hamster organs (i.e., liver, kidney, heart, bladder and brain). Overall the results showed that antioxidant capacity was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in experimental vs. control organs. Analysis of organs by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) from both animal studies provided evidence of polyphenol metabolites in the organ extracts. Taken together, this study provides data that the administration of anthocyanins and other polyphenols cause an increase in organ antioxidant capacity in two animal models. This result supports the growing evidence for the hypothesis that dietary polyphenols reduce the risk and extent of various chronic disease at the disease site.

Evaluation of the Degree of Polymerization of the Proanthocyanidins in Cranberry by Molecular Sieving and Characterization of the Low Molecular Weight Fractions by UHPLC-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometry

4-dimethylammino-cinnamaldehyde (DMAC) assays quantify total proanthocyanidins (PACs) but do not provide qualitative PAC molecular weight distribution information and cannot discriminate between A- and B-type PACs. We developed an efficient method for assessing PAC molecular weight distributions. The PACs from three commercial cranberry extracts (A1-A3) were fractionated by molecular sieves with cut-offs of 3, 10, 30, 50, and 100 kDa, and each fraction was analyzed by DMAC assays. A1, A2, and A3 contained 27%, 33%, and 15% PACs, respectively. Approximately 28 PACs, 20 flavonols, and 15 phenolic acids were identified by UHPLC-DAD-Orbitrap MS in A1 and A3, while A2 contained only flavan-3-ols. Epicatechin was the main monomer in A1 and A3, and catechin was the main in A2. Procyanidin A2 was the main dimer in A1 and A3, representing more than 85% of the total dimers, while it constituted approximately only 24% of A2. A1 and A3 contained quercetin, isorhamnetin, myricetin, and their glycosides, which were totally absent in A2. In A1 and A3 the PACs were mainly distributed in the fractions 30-3 and <3 kDa, while in A2 more than 70% were present in the fraction less than 3 kDa. Overall, obtained data strongly suggests that A2 is not cranberry-derived, or is adulterated with another source of PACs.

Constitutively Higher Level of GSTT2 in Esophageal Tissues From African Americans Protects Cells Against DNA Damage

BACKGROUND & AIMS

African American and European American individuals have a similar prevalence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), yet esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) disproportionately affects European American individuals. We investigated whether the esophageal squamous mucosa of African American individuals has features that protect against GERD-induced damage, compared with European American individuals.

METHODS

We performed transcriptional profile analysis of esophageal squamous mucosa tissues from 20 African American and 20 European American individuals (24 with no disease and 16 with Barrett's esophagus and/or EAC). We confirmed our findings in a cohort of 56 patients and analyzed DNA samples from patients to identify associated variants. Observations were validated using matched genomic sequence and expression data from lymphoblasts from the 1000 Genomes Project. A panel of esophageal samples from African American and European American subjects was used to confirm allele-related differences in protein levels. The esophageal squamous-derived cell line Het-1A and a rat esophagogastroduodenal anastomosis model for reflux-generated esophageal damage were used to investigate the effects of the DNA-damaging agent cumene-hydroperoxide (cum-OOH) and a chemopreventive cranberry proanthocyanidin (C-PAC) extract, respectively, on levels of protein and messenger RNA (mRNA).

RESULTS

We found significantly higher levels of glutathione S-transferase theta 2 (GSTT2) mRNA in squamous mucosa from African American compared with European American individuals and associated these with variants within the GSTT2 locus in African American individuals. We confirmed that 2 previously identified genomic variants at the GSTT2 locus, a 37-kb deletion and a 17-bp promoter duplication, reduce expression of GSTT2 in tissues from European American individuals. The nonduplicated 17-bp promoter was more common in tissue samples from populations of African descendant. GSTT2 protected Het-1A esophageal squamous cells from cum-OOH-induced DNA damage. Addition of C-PAC increased GSTT2 expression in Het-1A cells incubated with cum-OOH and in rats with reflux-induced esophageal damage. C-PAC also reduced levels of DNA damage in reflux-exposed rat esophagi, as observed by reduced levels of phospho-H2A histone family member X.

CONCLUSIONS

We found GSTT2 to protect esophageal squamous cells against DNA damage from genotoxic stress and that GSTT2 expression can be induced by C-PAC. Increased levels of GSTT2 in esophageal tissues of African American individuals might protect them from GERD-induced damage and contribute to the low incidence of EAC in this population.

Structural Characterization of Cranberry Arabinoxyloglucan Oligosaccharides

Cranberry ( Vaccinium macrocarpon) products are widely available in North American food, juice, and dietary supplement markets. The use of cranberry is popular for the prevention of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other reported health benefits. Preliminary findings by our research group indicate that arabinoxyloglucan oligosaccharides are present in cranberry products and may contribute to the antiadhesion properties of urine produced after cranberry consumption, but relatively little is known regarding the oligosaccharide components of cranberry. This report describes the isolation from two cranberry sources and the complete structure elucidation of two arabinoxyloglucan oligosaccharides through the use of carbohydrate-specific NMR spectroscopic and chemical derivatization methods. These compounds were identified as the heptasaccharide β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-[α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-[α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1→2)-α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranose (1) and the octasaccharide β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-[α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1→2)-α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-[α-l-arabinofuranosyl-(1→2)-α-d-xylopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-d-glucopyranose (2). Selected fractions and the isolated compounds were subjected to antimicrobial, cell viability, and E. coli antiadhesion assays. Results indicated that enriched fractions and purified compounds lacked antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects, supporting the potential use of such compounds for disease prevention without the risk for resistance development. Preliminary antiadhesion results indicated that mixtures of oligosaccharides exhibited greater antiadhesion properties than purified fractions or pure compounds. The potential use of cranberry oligosaccharides for the prevention of UTIs warrants continued investigations of this complex compound series.

Inhibitory effects of cranberry polyphenol and volatile extracts on nitric oxide production in LPS activated RAW 264.7 macrophages

Cranberry volatiles have received little attention for health-promoting properties.

The role of nutrition in influencing mechanisms involved in environmentally mediated diseases

Human exposure to environmental contaminants such as persistent chlorinated organics, heavy metals, pesticides, phthalates, flame retardants, electronic waste and airborne pollutants around the world, and especially in Southeast Asian regions, are significant and require urgent attention. Given this widespread contamination and abundance of such toxins as persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the ecosystem, it is unlikely that remediation alone will be sufficient to address the health impacts associated with this exposure. Furthermore, we must assume that the impact on health of some of these contaminants results in populations with extraordinary vulnerabilities to disease risks. Further exacerbating risk; infectious diseases, poverty and malnutrition are common in the Southeast Asian regions of the world. Thus, exploring preventive measures of environmental exposure and disease risk through new paradigms of environmental toxicology, optimal and/or healthful nutrition and health is essential. For example, folic acid supplementation can lower blood arsenic levels, and plant-derived bioactive nutrients can lower cardiovascular and cancer risks linked to pollutant exposure. Data also indicate that diets enriched with bioactive food components such as polyphenols and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids can prevent or decrease toxicant-induced inflammation. Thus, consuming healthy diets that exhibit high levels of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, is a meaningful way to reduce the vulnerability to non-communicable diseases linked to environmental toxic insults. This nutritional paradigm in environmental toxicology requires further study in order to improve our understanding of the relationship between nutrition or other lifestyle modifications and toxicant-induced diseases. Understanding mechanistic relationships between nutritional modulation of environmental toxicants and susceptibility to disease development are important for both cumulative risk assessment and the design and implementation of future public health programs and behavioral interventions.

Anti-cancer effects of naturally derived compounds targeting histone deacetylase 6-related pathways

Alterations of the epigenetic machinery, affecting multiple biological functions, represent a major hallmark enabling the development of tumors. Among epigenetic regulatory proteins, histone deacetylase (HDAC)6 has emerged as an interesting potential therapeutic target towards a variety of diseases including cancer. Accordingly, this isoenzyme regulates many vital cellular regulatory processes and pathways essential to physiological homeostasis, as well as tumor multistep transformation involving initiation, promotion, progression and metastasis. In this review, we will consequently discuss the critical implications of HDAC6 in distinct mechanisms relevant to physiological and cancerous conditions, as well as the anticancer properties of synthetic, natural and natural-derived compounds through the modulation of HDAC6-related pathways.