Soy Isoflavones and Breast Cancer Cell Lines: Molecular Mechanisms and Future Perspectives

Daidzein nanosuspension in combination with cisplatin to enhance therapeutic efficacy against A549 non-small lung cancer cells: an in vitro evaluation

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality, chemo-resistance, and toxicity limit treatment. The focus is on innovative combined phytotherapy to improve treatment outcomes. Our aim was to investigate the potential effects of daidzein nanosuspension (DZ-NS) and its combination with cisplatin (CIS) on A549 non-small lung cancer cells. Cytotoxicity was investigated using MTT and Chou-Talalay methods. Oxidative, apoptotic, and inflammatory markers were analyzed by ELISA and qRT-PCR. The IC50 value for DZ-NS was 25.23 µM for 24 h and was lower than pure DZ (IC50 = 835 µM for pure DZ). DZ-NS (at IC50x2 and IC50 values) showed synergistic cytotoxicity with CIS. The cells treated with DZ-NS had low TOS and OSI levels. However, DZ-NS failed to regulate Cas3 and TGF-β1 activation in A549 cells. MMP-9 gene expression was significantly suppressed in DZ-NS-treated cells, especially in combination therapy. DZ represents a potential combination option for the treatment of lung cancer, and its poor toxicokinetic properties limit its clinical use. To overcome these limitations, the effects of the nanosuspension formulation were tested. DZ-NS showed a cytotoxic effect on A549 cells and optimized the therapeutic effect of CIS. This in vitro synergistic effect was mediated by suppression of MMP-9 and not by oxidative stress or Cas3-activated apoptosis. This study provides the basis for an in vivo and clinical trial of DZ-NS with concurrent chemotherapy.

[Soy isoflavones alleviates calcium overload in rats with cerebral ischemia-reperfusion by inhibiting the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To explore the mechanism by which soybean isoflavone (SI) reduces calcium overload induced by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion (I/R).

METHODS

Forty-eight SD rats were randomized into 4 groups to receive sham operation, cerebral middle artery occlusion for 2 h followed by 24 h of reperfusion (I/R model group), or injection of adeno-associated virus carrying Frizzled-2 siRNA or empty viral vector into the lateral cerebral ventricle after modeling.Western blotting was used to examine Frizzled-2 knockdown efficiency and changes in protein expressions in the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway.Calcium levels and pathological changes in the ischemic penumbra (IP) were measured using calcium chromogenic assay and HE staining, respectively.Another 72 SD randomly allocated for sham operation, I/R modeling, or soy isoflavones pretreatment before modeling were examined for regional cerebral blood flow using a Doppler flowmeter, and the cerebral infarct volume was assessed using TTC staining.Pathologies in the IP area were evaluated using HE and Nissl staining, and ROS level, Ca2+ level, cell apoptosis, and intracellular calcium concentration were analyzed using immunofluorescence assay or flow cytometry; the protein expressions of Wnt5a, Frizzled-2, and P-CaMK Ⅱ in the IP were detected with Western blotting and immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

In rats with cerebral I/R, Frizzled-2 knockdown significantly lowered calcium concentration (P < 0.001) and the expression levels of Wnt5a, Frizzled-2, and P-CaMK Ⅱ in the IP area.In soy isoflavones-pretreated rats, calcium concentration, ROS and MDA levels, cell apoptosis rate, cerebral infarct volume, and expression levels of Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway-related proteins were all significantly lower while SOD level was higher than those in rats in I/R model group.

CONCLUSION

Soy isoflavones can mitigate calcium overload in rats with cerebral I/R by inhibiting the Wnt/Ca2+ signaling pathway.

Molecular Pathways of Genistein Activity in Breast Cancer Cells

The most common malignancy in women is breast cancer. During the development of cancer, oncogenic transcription factors facilitate the overproduction of inflammatory cytokines and cell adhesion molecules. Antiapoptotic proteins are markedly upregulated in cancer cells, which promotes tumor development, metastasis, and cell survival. Promising findings have been found in studies on the cell cycle-mediated apoptosis pathway for medication development and treatment. Dietary phytoconstituents have been studied in great detail for their potential to prevent cancer by triggering the body's defense mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms of action may be clarified by considering the role of polyphenols in important cancer signaling pathways. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, lignans, lignins, naphthoquinones, anthraquinones, xanthones, and stilbenes are examples of natural chemicals that are being studied for potential anticancer drugs. These substances are also vital for signaling pathways. This review focuses on innovations in the study of polyphenol genistein's effects on breast cancer cells and presents integrated chemical biology methods to harness mechanisms of action for important therapeutic advances.

Regulation of cellular and molecular markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition by Brazilin in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the most common invasive neoplasm and the leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide. The main cause of mortality in cancer patients is invasion and metastasis, where the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial player in these processes. Pharmacological therapy has plants as its primary source, including isoflavonoids. Brazilin is an isoflavonoid isolated from Haematoxilum brasiletto that has shown antiproliferative activity in several cancer cell lines. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Brazilin on canonical markers of EMT such as E-cadherin, vimentin, Twist, and matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). By Western blot, we evaluated E-cadherin, vimentin, and Twist expression and the subcellular localization by immunofluorescence. Using gelatin zymography, we determined the levels of secretion of MMPs. We used Transwell chambers coated with matrigel to determine the in vitro invasion of breast cancer cells treated with Brazilin. Interestingly, our results show that Brazilin increases 50% in E-cadherin expression and decreases 50% in vimentin and Twist expression, MMPs, and cell invasion in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) MDA-MB-231 and to a lesser extend in MCF7 ER+ breast cancer cells. Together, these findings position Brazilin as a new molecule with great potential for use as complementary or alternative treatment in breast cancer therapy in the future.

Kombucha Fermentation of Olympus Mountain Tea (Sideritis scardica) Sweetened with Thyme Honey: Physicochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Functional Properties

This study implemented kombucha fermentation of Olympus Mountain tea (Sideritis scardica) sweetened with honey (OMTWH) in order to investigate the potential for producing a novel beverage with functional properties. The increase in the total count of bacteria and yeast suggests that the OMTWH acts as a viable substrate for supporting the proliferation of the microorganisms of the Kombucha symbiotic culture. The fermentation resulted in a reduction in pH and increased total titratable acidity. After fermentation, a statistically significant increase in the vitamins C, B1, B2, B6, B7, and B12 content was observed (p < 0.05). Total phenolics and antioxidant activity of the fermented beverage was significantly enhanced, as assessed by the method of Folin-Ciocalteu and ABTS assay, respectively. Results revealed that OMTWH had a potent inhibitory activity of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, acetylcholinesterase, and butyrylcholinesterase; OMTWH fermented with a kombucha consortium exhibited even higher inhibition. Hence, the process of kombucha fermentation can convert OMTWH into a novel beverage with enhanced functional properties.

Hepatotoxic effect of dietary phytoestrogens on juvenile cultured Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

In the last two decades, much controversy has grown over the use of soybean products in aquafeeds, especially for carnivorous fish like sturgeons. One point of discussion is the effect of soybean phytoestrogens on fish health. There are many aspects of phytoestrogen utilization in aquafeeds, therefore, the aim of this study is to verify if common legume phytoestrogens can affect juvenile cultured sturgeon erythrocyte and hepatocyte genotoxicity and cause liver pathology. Russian sturgeons were fed from 100 till 365 dph¹ with daidzein, genistein, and coumestrol supplemented diets in concentrations: 10, 0.05 and 0.001 g kg^-1 of feed, respectively. The SCGE² method combined with qPCR of three genes involved in DNA repair and genome maintenance, namely cyp1a1, gaad45a and p53 were analyzed. The results were compared with histopathological evaluation of liver tissue. In fish fed with coumestrol supplemented diet, DNA strand damage was the highest in both erythrocytes and hepatocytes, however, simultaneously the lowest level of oxidative DNA damage was found. Additionally, slightly elevated expression of the p53 gene was observed along with a decreased number of apoptotic hepatocytes, which suggests that low concentration of coumestrol may support DNA repair mechanisms in the liver. Although, daidzein showed a preventive effect only against fibrosis. Isoflavones did not show a significant effect on DNA damage in studied cells. Genistein was found to increase macro- and microvesicular steatosis, portal hepatitis and fibrosis, indicating its negative role in the development of liver injuries. Daidzein alleviated some sturgeon liver damage, especially macrovesicular steatosis and interface hepatitis. However, it increased hepatocyte apoptosis, which may suggest daidzein potentially inducing liver injury, though not manifested by other histopathological lesions. Therefore, it can be concluded that at given concentrations, the tested phytoestrogens did not show clearly hepatoprotective effect in sturgeons.

Postdiagnosis dietary factors, supplement use and breast cancer prognosis: Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) systematic literature review and meta-analysis

Little is known about how diet might influence breast cancer prognosis. The current systematic reviews and meta-analyses summarise the evidence on postdiagnosis dietary factors and breast cancer outcomes from randomised controlled trials and longitudinal observational studies. PubMed and Embase were searched through 31st October 2021. Random-effects linear dose-response meta-analysis was conducted when at least three studies with sufficient information were available. The quality of the evidence was evaluated by an independent Expert Panel. We identified 108 publications. No meta-analysis was conducted for dietary patterns, vegetables, wholegrains, fish, meat, and supplements due to few studies, often with insufficient data. Meta-analysis was only possible for all-cause mortality with dairy, isoflavone, carbohydrate, dietary fibre, alcohol intake and serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), and for breast cancer-specific mortality with fruit, dairy, carbohydrate, protein, dietary fat, fibre, alcohol intake and serum 25(OH)D. The results, with few exceptions, were generally null. There was limited-suggestive evidence that predefined dietary patterns may reduce the risk of all-cause and other causes of death; that isoflavone intake reduces the risk of all-cause mortality (relative risk (RR) per 2 mg/day: 0.96, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.92-1.02), breast cancer-specific mortality (RR for high vs low: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.64-1.07), and recurrence (RR for high vs low: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.61-0.92); that dietary fibre intake decreases all-cause mortality (RR per 10 g/day: 0.87, 95% CI: 0.80-0.94); and that serum 25(OH)D is inversely associated with all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality (RR per 10 nmol/L: 0.93, 95% CI: 0.89-0.97 and 0.94, 95% CI: 0.90-0.99, respectively). The remaining associations were graded as limited-no conclusion.

Validation of ELISAs for Isoflavones and Enterolactone for Phytoestrogen Intake Assessment in the French Population

Phytoestrogens are dietary compounds with low estrogenic activity. The two main categories in the French diet are isoflavones from pulses and enterolignans metabolized by the gut flora from various lignans found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and beverages. Isoflavones and lignans have different effects on human physiology and can antagonize each other. Comprehensive lists of phytoestrogen sources were constructed based on measurements and literature data. The 24 h and 48 h dietary recalls were proposed to the volunteers of the ISOLED cohort (NCT03421184). Urine and plasma samples from these volunteers were assayed for genistein, daidzein, equol, and enterolactone. A dietary score was constructed considering the pharmacokinetic characteristics of these compounds. Correlation analyses were applied to fluid concentrations associated with dietary scores. Pearson correlations reached 0.921 (p < 0.001) for urine_IF, 0.900 (p < 0.001) for plasma_IF, 0.764 (p < 0.001) for urine_ENL, and 0.723 (p < 0.001) for plasma_ENL. ELISAs associated with careful intake assessments proved to be good tools for phytoestrogens' exposure estimation.

Phytoestrogens and Health Effects

Phytoestrogens are literally estrogenic substances of plant origin. Although these substances are useful for plants in many aspects, their estrogenic properties are essentially relevant to their predators. As such, phytoestrogens can be considered to be substances potentially dedicated to plant-predator interaction. Therefore, it is not surprising to note that the word phytoestrogen comes from the early discovery of estrogenic effects in grazing animals and humans. Here, several compounds whose activities have been discovered at nutritional concentrations in animals and humans are examined. The substances analyzed belong to several chemical families, i.e., the flavanones, the coumestans, the resorcylic acid lactones, the isoflavones, and the enterolignans. Following their definition and the evocation of their role in plants, their metabolic transformations and bioavailabilities are discussed. A point is then made regarding their health effects, which can either be beneficial or adverse depending on the subject studied, the sex, the age, and the physiological status. Toxicological information is given based on official data. The effects are first presented in humans. Animal models are evoked when no data are available in humans. The effects are presented with a constant reference to doses and plausible exposure.

Multifaceted Pharmacological Potentials of Curcumin, Genistein, and Tanshinone IIA through Proteomic Approaches: An In-Depth Review

Phytochemicals possess various intriguing pharmacological properties against diverse pathological conditions. Extensive studies are on-going to understand the structural/functional properties of phytochemicals as well as the molecular mechanisms of their therapeutic function against various disease conditions. Phytochemicals such as curcumin (Cur), genistein (Gen), and tanshinone-IIA (Tan IIA) have multifaceted therapeutic potentials and various efforts are in progress to understand the molecular dynamics of their function with different tools and technologies. Cur is an active lipophilic polyphenol with pleiotropic function, and it has been shown to possess various intriguing properties including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anticancer, and anti-genotoxic properties besides others beneficial properties. Similarly, Gen (an isoflavone) exhibits a wide range of vital functions including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, pro-apoptotic, anti-proliferative, anti-angiogenic activities etc. In addition, Tan IIA, a lipophilic compound, possesses antioxidant, anti-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer activities, and so on. Over the last few decades, the field of proteomics has garnered great momentum mainly attributed to the recent advancement in mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. It is envisaged that the proteomics technology has considerably contributed to the biomedical research endeavors lately. Interestingly, they have also been explored as a reliable approach to understand the molecular intricacies related to phytochemical-based therapeutic interventions. The present review provides an overview of the proteomics studies performed to unravel the underlying molecular intricacies of various phytochemicals such as Cur, Gen, and Tan IIA. This in-depth study will help the researchers in better understanding of the pharmacological potential of the phytochemicals at the proteomics level. Certainly, this review will be highly instrumental in catalyzing the translational shift from phytochemical-based biomedical research to clinical practice in the near future.

Anticancer Properties of Probiotic Saccharomyces boulardii Supernatant on Human Breast Cancer Cells

Saccharomyces boulardii, a variety of S. cerevisiae, is used as a probiotic yeast in food and drug industries. However, S. boulardii is an opportunistic pathogen, and the supernatant of this organism has recently been recommended for its health-promoting benefits. Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer disease in women worldwide. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of S. boulardii supernatant (SBS) on cell viability, inducing apoptosis and suppression of survivin gene expression in MCF-7 and MCF-7/MX as human non-drug-resistant and multidrug-resistant breast cancer cells respectively. The IC₅₀ value of SBS against MCF-7 was calculated 1037, 542, and 543 µg/mL for 24, 48, and 72 h treatments, respectively. Also, this value against MCF-7/MX cells were measured 1242, 616, and 444 µg/mL after 24, 48, and 72 h respectively. We found that suppression of survivin gene expression should be one of the main molecular antitumor mechanisms which is contributed to apoptosis in breast cancer cells. However, anticancer activity of SBS was observed more efficient against MCF-7 than that against MCF-7/MX cells. SBS is suggested to be considered as one of the prospective anticancer drugs to treat human breast carcinoma. More investigations especially in vivo studies are strongly recommended to be implemented to characterize other antitumor mechanisms of SBS against breast carcinoma.

[Studies on the Isolation and Molecular Mechanisms of Bioactive Phytochemicals]

Studies on the isolation and molecular mechanisms of phytochemicals with anti-tumor or anti-inflammatory properties are important to developing new drugs for cancer and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. In the course of a study to screen bioactive isoflavones from Erythrina poeppigiana (Leguminosae), we isolated an isoflavone with potent apoptosis-inducing activity against human leukemia HL-60 cells. It was designated erypoegin K. The studies demonstrated an enantiomer, (S)-erypoegin K, displayed selective cytotoxic activity, was a novel inhibitor of topoisomerase II, and possessed anti-tumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. We identified other apoptosis-inducing isoflavones with the ability to inhibit glyoxalase I. Dimeric acridone alkaloids, carbazole alkaloids, and coumarin and quinoline derivatives-all obtained mainly from plants in the family Rutaceae-induced apoptosis of HL-60 cells via the production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial dysfunction. We also identified terpenoid coumarins, carbazole quinones, rotenoid derivatives, and quinolone alkaloids with anti-inflammatory activities. These compounds reduced nitric oxide (NO) production from RAW264.7 macrophage cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharides and interferon-γ. Some of the compounds displayed neuroprotective activity by reducing NO production. This review primarily describes our recent studies on erypoegin K, and other compounds with apoptosis-inducing and anti-inflammatory activities.

Genistein induces long-term expression of progesterone receptor regardless of estrogen receptor status and improves the prognosis of endometrial cancer patients

Progesterone is used to treat uterine endometrial cancer in young patients wishing to preserve their fertility as well as in advanced or recurrent patients, but its response rate is limited. The antitumor effect of progesterone is mediated by progesterone receptor (PR) binding. Hence, loss of progesterone’s therapeutic effect, i.e., development of progesterone resistance, is mainly due to decreased PR expression. However, little is known about underlying mechanisms that regulate PR expression. Immunohistochemistry analysis of specimens from 31 young, endometrial cancer patients showed that elevated PR expression significantly increased (P < 0.05) rates of progression-free and overall survival. We investigated mechanisms of regulating PR expression and suppressing cell proliferation using genistein, a chemotherapeutic agent against different cancers. Genistein inhibits cell growth by inducing cell cycle arrest in G2 and apoptosis; moreover, it upregulates prolonged expression of PR-B and forkhead box protein O1, regardless of estrogen receptor alpha expression in endometrial cancer cells. Genistein-induced PR expression decreases CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta expression and activates c-Jun N-terminal kinase pathway, rather than causing epigenetic alterations of the PR promoter. Therefore, increased PR expression is an important antitumor effect of genistein. This may help to improve the response rates of fertility-sparing treatments for young patients.

Molecular effects of genistein, as a potential anticancer agent, on CXCR-4 and VEGF pathway in acute lymphoblastic leukemia

BACKGROUND

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is one of the angiogenic mediators that can be secreted by leukemic cells and plays an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis. Another important agent contributing to the relapse of ALL is C-X-C chemokine receptor type-4 (CXCR-4), expression of this receptor in cancer cells has been related to metastasis. It has been identified that genistein-a soy-derived isoflavonoid-has anti-angiogenesis functions. We aimed to show the effects of this compound on VEGF and CXCR-4 in Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cell models.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The cytotoxicity of Genistein was measured using the MTS colorimetric assay. After being treated with Genistein, the expression of VEGF in mRNA and protein levels was measured in MOLT-4 and Jurkat cells. We also used flow cytometry assay to determine the expression of CXCR-4 in cell surfaces. We found that Genistein decreased cell viability in two cell models while was more effective on MOLT-4 cells. After Genistein-treatment, surface expression levels of CXCR-4 were decreased, while VEGF secretion and mRNA expression levels were increased in MOLT-4 and Jurkat cells.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that Genistein may not be a reliable choice for the treatment of ALL; however, this different identified pattern can be useful for the recognition of VEGF and CXCR-4 modulators and thus for planning new treatments for leukemia and other VEGF related disorders.

Impacts of nutritive and bioactive compounds on cancer development and therapy

For persons who survive with progressive cancer, nutritional therapy and exercise may be significant factors to improve the health condition and life quality of cancer patients. Nutritional therapy and medications are essential to managing progressive cancer. Cancer survivors, as well as cancer patients, are mostly extremely encouraged to search for knowledge about the selection of diet, exercise, and dietary supplements to recover as well as maintain their treatment consequences, living quality, and survival of patients. A healthy diet plays an important role in cancer treatment. Different articles are studied to collect information and knowledge about the use of nutrients in cancer treatment as well as cancer prevention. The report deliberates nutrition and exercise strategies during the range of cancer care, emphasizing significant concerns during treatment of cancer and for patients of advanced cancer, but concentrating mostly on the requirements of the population of persons who are healthy or who have constant disease following their repossession from management. It also deliberates choice nutrition and exercise problems such as dietary supplements, food care, food selections, and weight; problems interrelated to designated cancer sites, and common questions about diet, and cancer survival. Decrease the side effects of medicines both during and after treatment.

Intake of isoflavones reduces the risk of all-cause mortality in middle-aged Japanese

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To clarify the effects of intake of legumes and isoflavones on all-cause mortality in middle-aged and older Japanese.

SUBJECT/METHODS

The subjects were 2136 randomly chosen community-dwelling Japanese men and women aged 40-79 years who participated in a first-wave survey (1997-2000; baseline). The subjects were followed from baseline to December 31, 2017 (mean period of 16.6 ± 4.2 years). Intake of legumes, soybeans, and isoflavones at baseline was assessed using a 3-day dietary record with photographs. The relationships of intake amounts of legumes and isoflavones to mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression controlling for age, sex, education, employment, body mass index, smoking habits, medical histories, drinking, and energy intake.

RESULTS

There were 491 deaths during the follow-up period. We found inverse associations of the intake of total soy products and intake of each of the isoflavones with all-cause mortality (p for trend < 0.05) in subjects aged < 60 years: the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for all-cause mortality in the highest intake group (third tertile) of total soy products and total isoflavones were 0.32 (0.13-0.78) and 0.35 (0.17-0.73), respectively, compared with the reference group (first tertile). In contrast, there were no significant associations of intake amounts of legumes, soybeans, and isoflavones with all-cause mortality in subjects aged 60 years or older.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that a higher intake of isoflavones might decrease the risk of all-cause mortality, especially in middle-aged Japanese.

Genistein: A Potent Anti-Breast Cancer Agent

Genistein is an isoflavonoid present in high quantities in soybeans. Possessing a wide range of bioactives, it is being studied extensively for its tumoricidal effects. Investigations into mechanisms of the anti-cancer activity have revealed many pathways including induction of cell proliferation, suppression of tyrosine kinases, regulation of Hedgehog-Gli1 signaling, modulation of epigenetic activities, seizing of cell cycle and Akt and MEK signaling pathways, among others via which the cancer cell proliferation can be controlled. Notwithstanding, the observed activities have been time- and dose-dependent. In addition, genistein has also shown varying results in women depending on the physiological parameters, such as the early or post-menopausal states.

Potential Role of Natural Products to Combat Radiotherapy and Their Future Perspectives

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the world. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) are the common cancer treatments. In addition to these limitations, the development of adverse effects from chemotherapy and RT reduces the quality of life for cancer patients. Cellular radiosensitivity, or the ability to resist and overcome cell damage caused by ionizing radiation (IR), is directly related to cancer cells' response to RT. Therefore, radiobiological research is emphasizing chemical compounds 'radiosensitization of cancer cells so that they are more reactive in the IR spectrum. Recent years researchers have seen an increase in interest in natural products that have antitumor effects with minimal side effects. Natural products, on the other hand, are easy to recover and therefore less expensive. There have been several scientific studies done based on these compounds that have tested their ability in vitro and in vivo to induce tumor radiosensitization. The role of natural products in RT, as well as their usefulness and potential applications, is the goal of this current review.

Non-Alcoholic Fermentation of Maize (Zea mays) in Sub-Saharan Africa

Maize, together with its fermented products, is fundamental for human nutrition and animal feed globally. Non-alcoholic fermentation of maize using lactic acid bacteria (LAB) is one of the food preservation methods that has been utilised throughout the centuries and has played a vital role in the manufacturing of many fermented beverages consumed these days. However, the coincidence of LAB and yeasts during the spontaneous fermentation of maize-based products is inevitable. The involvement of other microorganisms such as moulds, Bacillus species and acetic acid bacteria in the fermentation of maize is important to the characteristics of the final product. Fermented beverages are affordable, have been produced traditionally and are known for their organoleptic properties, as well as their health-promoting compounds. The consumption of non-alcoholic beverages has the prospect of reducing the detrimental health and economic effects of a poor diet. Different fermented maize-based gruels and beverages such as ogi, mawe, banku and kenkey in West Africa, togwa in East Africa, as well as mahewu in South Africa have been documented. The physical and biochemical properties of most of these maize-based fermented products have been investigated and modified by various researchers. Attempts to enhance the nutritional properties of these products rely on supplementation with legumes to supply the insufficient amino acids. The production technology of these products has evolved from traditional to industrial production in recent years.

Genistein: An Integrative Overview of Its Mode of Action, Pharmacological Properties, and Health Benefits

Genistein is an isoflavone first isolated from the brooming plant Dyer's Genista tinctoria L. and is widely distributed in the Fabaceae family. As an isoflavone, mammalian genistein exerts estrogen-like functions. Several biological effects of genistein have been reported in preclinical studies, such as the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral activities, the effects of angiogenesis and estrogen, and the pharmacological activities on diabetes and lipid metabolism. The purpose of this review is to provide up-to-date evidence of preclinical pharmacological activities with mechanisms of action, bioavailability, and clinical evidence of genistein. The literature was researched using the most important keyword "genistein" from the PubMed, Science, and Google Scholar databases, and the taxonomy was validated using The Plant List. Data were also collected from specialized books and other online resources. The main positive effects of genistein refer to the protection against cardiovascular diseases and to the decrease of the incidence of some types of cancer, especially breast cancer. Although the mechanism of protection against cancer involves several aspects of genistein metabolism, the researchers attribute this effect to the similarity between the structure of soy genistein and that of estrogen. This structural similarity allows genistein to displace estrogen from cellular receptors, thus blocking their hormonal activity. The pharmacological activities resulting from the experimental studies of this review support the traditional uses of genistein, but in the future, further investigations are needed on the efficacy, safety, and use of nanotechnologies to increase bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy.

Calycosin inhibits breast cancer cell migration and invasion by suppressing EMT via BATF/TGF-β1

In this study, we investigated the effects of calycosin on breast cancer cell progression and their underlying mechanisms. Calycosin dose- and time-dependently inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion by T47D and MCF-7 breast cancer cells by downregulating basic leucine zipper ATF-like transcription factor (BATF) expression. Moreover, BATF promoted breast cancer cell migration and invasiveness by increasing TGFβ1 mRNA and protein levels. Bioinformatics analysis, dual luciferase reporter assays, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays confirmed the presence of BATF-binding sites in the promoter sequence of TGFβ1 gene. Calycosin treatment inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of breast cancer cells by significantly increasing E-cadherin levels and decreasing N-cadherin, Vimentin, CD147, MMP-2, and MMP-9 levels through downregulation of BATF and TGFβ1. TGFβ1 knockdown reduced the migration and invasiveness of BATF-overexpressing breast cancer cells, whereas incubation with TGFβ1 enhanced the migration and invasiveness of calycosin-treated breast cancer cells. Our findings demonstrated that calycosin inhibited EMT and progression of breast cancer cells by suppressing BATF/TGFβ1 signaling. This suggests calycosin would be a promising therapeutic option for breast cancer patients.

Dietary phytoestrogens and biomarkers of their intake in relation to cancer survival and recurrence: a comprehensive systematic review with meta-analysis

CONTEXT

Recent studies have outlined the potential role of dietary factors in patients who have survived cancer.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to summarize the evidence of the relation between dietary intake of phytoestrogens and their blood biomarkers and, overall, cancer-specific mortality and recurrence in patients with cancer.

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases of studies published up to September 2019 was performed. Databases were searched for prospective and retrospective cohort studies reporting on dietary phytoestrogen intake and/or blood biomarkers and the outcomes investigated.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted from each identified study using a standardized form.

DATA ANALYSIS

Twenty-eight articles on breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal cancer, and glioma were included for systematic review. Given the availability of studies, a quantitative meta-analysis was performed solely for breast cancer outcomes. A significant inverse association among higher dietary isoflavone intake, higher serum/plasma enterolactone concentrations, and overall mortality and cancer recurrence was found. Among other cancer types, 2 studies reported that higher serum enterolactone and higher intake of lignans were associated with cancer-specific survival for colorectal cancer and glioma, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Dietary phytoestrogens may play a role in survival from breast cancer ; evidence regarding other cancers is too limited to draw any conclusions.

A longitudinal association between the traditional Japanese diet score and incidence and mortality of breast cancer-an ecological study

BACKGROUND

The traditional Japanese diet is considered one of the important factors of health and longevity in Japanese people. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the world. However, the association between the traditional Japanese diet and breast cancer is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the longitudinal association between the traditional Japanese diet score (TJDS) with the incidence and mortality of breast cancer in an ecological study.

METHODS

Food supply and breast cancer incidence and mortality by country were obtained from an international database. TJDS by country was calculated from nine food groups and the total score ranged from -9 to 9, with higher scores indicating greater adherence to a traditional Japanese diet. Longitudinal associations of interaction between TJDS and fiscal year on breast cancer incidence and mortality were investigated in 139 countries with populations of 1 million or greater. The longitudinal analysis was evaluated using four linear mixed-effect models with different adjustment covariables.

RESULTS

Many countries with high scores on TJDS had lower distributions of breast cancer incidence and mortality in 1990-2017. Longitudinal analysis using a linear mixed-effect model controlled for socio-economic and lifestyle covariables showed that the interaction between TJDS and fiscal year was significantly associated with incidence of breast cancer (-0.453 ± 0.138, p < 0.01) and mortality of breast cancer (-0.455 ± 0.135, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This longitudinal analysis suggested that a traditional Japanese diet has been associated with lower breast cancer incidence and mortality worldwide in recent years.

Enhancement of cytotoxicity and induction of apoptosis by cationic nano-liposome formulation of n-butylidenephthalide in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the second most common malignancy in women. Current clinical therapy for breast cancer has many disadvantages, including metastasis, recurrence, and poor quality of life. Furthermore, it is necessary to find a new therapeutic drug for breast cancer patients to meet clinical demand. n-Butylidenephthalide (BP) is a natural and hydrophobic compound that can inhibit several tumors. However, BP is unstable in aqueous or protein-rich environments, which reduces the activity of BP. Therefore, we used an LPPC (Lipo-PEG-PEI complex) that can encapsulate both hydrophobic and hydrophilic compounds to improve the limitation of BP. The purpose of this study is to investigate the anti-tumor mechanisms of BP and BP/LPPC and further test the efficacy of BP encapsulated by LPPC on SK-BR-3 cells. BP inhibited breast cancer cell growth, and LPPC encapsulation (BP/LPPC complex) enhanced the cytotoxicity on breast cancer by stabilizing the BP activity and offering endocytic pathways. Additionally, BP and LPPC-encapsulated BP induced cell cycle arrest at the G₀/G₁ phase and might trigger both extrinsic as well as intrinsic cell apoptosis pathway, resulting in cell death. Moreover, the BP/LPPC complex had a synergistic effect with doxorubicin of enhancing the inhibitory effect on breast cancer cells. Consequently, LPPC-encapsulated BP could improve the anti-cancer effects on breast cancer in vitro. In conclusion, BP exhibited an anti-cancer effect on breast cancer cells, and LPPC encapsulation efficiently improved the cytotoxicity of BP via an acceleration of entrapment efficiency to induce cell cycle block and apoptosis. Furthermore, BP/LPPC exhibited a synergistic effect in combination with doxorubicin.

A unique high-diversity natural product collection as a reservoir of new therapeutic leads

We review the successful application of computer-aided methods to screen a unique and high-diversity in house collection library composed of around 1000 individual natural products.

From Proteomics to Personalized Medicine: The Importance of Isoflavone Dose and Estrogen Receptor Status in Breast Cancer Cells

Continuing efforts are directed towards finding alternative breast cancer chemotherapeutics, with improved safety and efficacy profiles. Soy isoflavones represent promising agents but, despite extensive research, limited information exists regarding their impact on the breast cancer cell proteome. The purpose of this study was to compare the proteomic profiles of MCF-7 (estrogen responsive) and MDA-MB-231 (estrogen non-responsive) breast cancer cells exposed to different concentrations of genistein, daidzein, and a soy seed extract, using a high throughput LC-UDMSE protein profiling approach. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay confirmed the dual activity of soy isoflavones on MCF-7 cells and the inhibitory effect on MDA-MB-231 cells. Proteome profiling of paramagnetic beads prepared peptides by nano-LC UDMSE and pathway enrichment analysis revealed that isoflavones affected distinct molecular pathways in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, such as tyrosine kinases signaling pathway, cytoskeleton organization, lipid and phospholipid catabolism, extracellular matrix degradation and mRNA splicing. Also, in MCF-7 cells, low and high isoflavone doses induced different changes of the proteome, including cell cycle alterations. Therefore, the expression of estrogen receptors and the isoflavone dose are determinant factors for the molecular impact of isoflavones and must be taken into account when considering adjuvant breast cancer therapy towards personalized medicine.

Effect of soy products and isoflavones on oxidative stress parameters: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Soy products and isoflavones intake have been shown to exert antioxidant effects. There are several randomized control trials (RCTs) that evaluated the effect of soy products intake on oxidative stress (OS) parameters. The aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to summarize the results of RCTs evaluating the effect of soy products and isoflavones intake on OS parameters. Randomized trials that assessed the effect of soy products and isoflavones intake on OS parameters in adults were identified through searching in electronic databases: Cochrane clinical trial center, Embase, PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Sciences up to April 2020. Random effects model was used to calculate the effects sizes of soy intake on OS parameters. Twenty-four trials with 1,852 participants were eligible and were included in the meta-analysis which measured OS parameters. Soy intake compared to control group significantly reduced MDA levels (SMD: -0.53; 95% CI: -0.86, -0.19; I2 = 88.3%), increased GSH levels (SMD: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.13, 0.88; I2 = 72.4%), SOD activity (SMD: 0.53; 95% CI: 0.08, 0.99; I2 = 84.1%), TAC (SMD: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.27, 0.82; I2 = 49.3%) and TRAP (SMD: 1.74; 95% CI: 0.82, 2.65; I2 = 81.3%) significantly compared to control group. Soy products and isoflavones intake are effective in improving OS parameters in adults compared with controls; thus, it could be a valuable advise to control OS progress in chronic diseases.

Current Functionality and Potential Improvements of Non-Alcoholic Fermented Cereal Beverages

Fermentation continues to be the most common biotechnological tool to be used in cereal-based beverages, as it is relatively simple and economical. Fermented beverages hold a long tradition and have become known for their sensory and health-promoting attributes. Considering the attractive sensory traits and due to increased consumer awareness of the importance of healthy nutrition, the market for functional, natural, and non-alcoholic beverages is steadily increasing all over the world. This paper outlines the current achievements and technological development employed to enhance the qualitative and nutritional status of non-alcoholic fermented cereal beverages (NFCBs). Following an in-depth review of various scientific publications, current production methods are discussed as having the potential to enhance the functional properties of NFCBs and their safety, as a promising approach to help consumers in their efforts to improve their nutrition and health status. Moreover, key aspects concerning production techniques, fermentation methods, and the nutritional value of NFCBs are highlighted, together with their potential health benefits and current consumption trends. Further research efforts are required in the segment of traditional fermented cereal beverages to identify new potentially probiotic microorganisms and starter cultures, novel ingredients as fermentation substrates, and to finally elucidate the contributions of microorganisms and enzymes in the fermentation process.

Trifolium pratense L. (red clover) extract and doxorubicin synergistically inhibits proliferation of 4T1 breast cancer in tumor-bearing BALB/c mice through modulation of apoptosis and increase antioxidant and anti-inflammatory related pathways

Therapeutic strategies against triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are associated with drug-induced toxicities. The tropical edible red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is rich in polyphenolic compounds which confer the plant potential anticancer properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of T. pratense and doxorubicin (DOX) on the apoptosis and proliferation of 4T1 tumor cells in an allograft model of tumor-bearing BALB/c mice. Fifty-six female 4T1-tumor bearing- BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 7 groups (n = 8/group) to receive different doses and combinations of DOX and T. pratense extract for 35 days. On the 36th day, serum estradiol (E2), IL-12 and IFN-γ cytokines, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were measured. Tumor's ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and the expressions of apoptosis-related genes (p53, Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3) were also evaluated. Immunohistochemical staining for Ki-67 and p53 were performed. Our results showed that the co-treatment of DOX and T. pratense (100-400 mg/kg) inhibited the proliferation of 4T1 tumor cells in dose- and time-dependent manners. The co-treatment of DOX and T. pratense (especially at the dose of 400 mg/kg) decreased the serum level of E2 (as a stimulant for breast tumor growth) and increased the serum levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ along with significant increments in serum GPx and tumor FRAP activities. The co-administration of DOX and T. pratense also decreased the expression of Ki-67 proliferation marker and increased the number p53 positive (i.e., apoptotic) cells within tumors. This was accompanied with the upregulation of pro-apoptotic and down-regulation of antiapoptotic genes. The key findings indicated the synergistic effects of DOX and T. pratense against TNBC xenografts.

A Hybrid In Silico/In Vitro Target Fishing Study to Mine Novel Targets of Urolithin A and B: A Step Towards a Better Comprehension of Their Estrogenicity

SCOPE

Urolithin A and B are gut metabolites of ellagic acid and ellagitannins associated with many beneficial effects. Evidence in vitro pointed to their potential as estrogenic modulators. However, both molecular mechanisms and biological targets involved in such activity are still poorly characterized, preventing a comprehensive understanding of their bioactivity in living organisms. This study aimed at rationally identifying novel biological targets underlying the estrogenic-modulatory activity of urolithins.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The work relies on an in silico/in vitro target fishing study coupling molecular modeling with biochemical and cell-based assays. Estrogen sulfotransferase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase are identified as potentially subject to inhibition by the investigated urolithins. The inhibition of the latter undergoes experimental confirmation either in a cell-free or cell-based assay, validating computational outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

The work describes target fishing as an effective tool to identify unexpected targets of food bioactives detailing the interaction at a molecular level. Specifically, it described, for the first time, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase as a target of urolithins and highlighted the need of further investigations to widen the understanding of urolithins as estrogen modulators in living organisms.

Soy intake and breast cancer risk: a prospective study of 300,000 Chinese women and a dose-response meta-analysis

Epidemiological evidence on the association of soy intake with breast cancer risk is still inconsistent due to different soy intake levels across previous studies and small number of breast cancer cases. We aimed to investigate this issue by analyzing data from the China Kadoorie Biobank (CKB) study and conducting a dose-response meta-analysis to integrate existing evidence. The CKB study included over 300,000 women aged 30-79 from 10 regions across China enrolled between 2004 and 2008, and followed-up for breast cancer events until 31 December 2016. Information on soy intake was collected from baseline, two resurveys and twelve 24-h dietary recalls. We also searched for relevant prospective cohort studies to do a dose-response meta-analysis. The mean (SD) soy intake was 9.4 (5.4) mg/day soy isoflavones among CKB women. During 10 years of follow-up, 2289 women developed breast cancers. The multivariable-adjusted relative risk was 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.81-1.22) for the fourth (19.1 mg/day) versus the first (4.5 mg/day) soy isoflavone intake quartile. Meta-analysis of prospective studies found that each 10 mg/day increment in soy isoflavone intake was associated with a 3% (95% CI 1-5%) reduced risk of breast cancer. The CKB study demonstrated that moderate soy intake was not associated with breast cancer risk among Chinese women. Higher amount of soy intake might provide reasonable benefits for the prevention of breast cancer.

Daidzein promotes milk synthesis and proliferation of mammary epithelial cells via the estrogen receptor α-dependent NFκB1 activation

Isoflavones possess a wide range of physiological effects. However, it is still unclear whether isoflavones can promote milk synthesis in mammary gland. This study aimed to determine the effects of a main soy isoflavone, daidzein, on milk synthesis and proliferation of mammary epithelial cells (MECs) and reveal the underlying molecular mechanism. Primary bovine MECs were treated with different concentrations of daidzein (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 μM). Daidzein dose-dependently promoted α- and β-casein and lipid synthesis, cell cycle transition, and cell amount, with the best stimulatory effect at 20 μM. Daidzein also stimulated mTOR activation and Cyclin D1 and SREBP-1c expression. Daidzein induced the expression and nuclear localization of estrogen receptor α (ERα), and ERα knockdown blocked the stimulation of daidzein on these above signaling pathways. ERα knockdown also abolished the stimulation of daidzein on NFκB1 expression and phosphorylation, and NFκB1 was required for daidzein to enhance the mTOR, Cyclin D1 and SREBP-1c signaling pathways. In summary, our findings reveal that daidzein stimulates milk synthesis and proliferation of MECs via the ERα-dependent NFκB1 activation.

Dietary Phenolic Acids and Flavonoids as Potential Anti-Cancer Agents: Current State of the Art and Future Perspectives

Background:

Cancer is a rapidly growing disease and the second most leading cause of death worldwide. Breast, colon, lung, and prostate cancer are the most diagnosed types of cancer among the majority of the population. The prevalence of these cancers is increasing rapidly due to the lack of effective drugs. The search for anti-cancer bioactive components from natural plant sources is gaining immense significance. The aim of the paper is to introduce the readers about the in vitro and in vivo biochemical mechanisms of phenolic acids and flavonoids in these four types of cancers.

Methods:

A literature search was carried out in databases, including Scopus, SciFinder, Springer, Science direct and Google. The main keywords used were fruits & vegetables, phenolic acids, flavonoids, anticancer, bioavailability, etc. The data obtained were integrated and analyzed.

Results:

The study revealed the potential molecular mechanisms of phenolic acids and flavonoids, which include the induction of apoptosis, inhibition of cell proliferation, cell-cycle arrest, induction of Poly ADP ribose polymerase cleavage, downregulation of Matrix metalloproteinases-2 and Matrix metalloproteinases-9 activities, decreased levels of B-cell lymphoma-2, etc. Promising effects of phenolic acids and flavonoids have been observed against breast, colon, lung and prostate cancers.

Conclusion:

The in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer mechanisms of phenolic acids and flavonoids have been revealed in this study. With the knowledge of specific molecular targets and the structural-functional relationship of bioactive compounds, the current review will open a new gateway for the scientific community and provide them a viable option to exploit more of these compounds for the development of novel and efficacious anticancer compounds.

Nutrigenomics and Breast Cancer: State-of-Art, Future Perspectives and Insights for Prevention

Proper nutrition plays a major role in preventing diseases and, therefore, nutritional interventions constitute crucial strategies in the field of Public Health. Nutrigenomics and nutriproteomics are arising from the integration of nutritional, genomics and proteomics specialties in the era of postgenomics medicine. In particular, nutrigenomics and nutriproteomics focus on the interaction between nutrients and the human genome and proteome, respectively, providing insights into the role of diet in carcinogenesis. Further omics disciplines, like metabonomics, interactomics and microbiomics, are expected to provide a better understanding of nutrition and its underlying factors. These fields represent an unprecedented opportunity for the development of personalized diets in women at risk of developing breast cancer.

Divergent Effects of Daidzein and its Metabolites on Estrogen-Induced Survival of Breast Cancer Cells

Although soy consumption is associated with breast cancer prevention, the low bioavailability and the extensive metabolism of soy-active components limit their clinical application. Here, the impact of daidzein (D) and its metabolites on estrogen-dependent anti-apoptotic pathway has been evaluated in breast cancer cells. In estrogen receptor α-positive breast cancer cells treated with D and its metabolites, single or in mixture, ERα activation and Neuroglobin (NGB) levels, an anti-apoptotic estrogen/ERα-inducible protein, were evaluated. Moreover, the apoptotic cascade activation, as well as the cell number after stimulation was assessed in the absence/presence of paclitaxel to determine the compound effects on cell susceptibility to a chemotherapeutic agent. Among the metabolites, only D-4'-sulfate maintains the anti-estrogenic effect of D, reducing the NGB levels and rendering breast cancer cells more prone to the paclitaxel treatment, whereas other metabolites showed estrogen mimetic effects, or even estrogen independent effects. Intriguingly, the co-stimulation of D and gut metabolites strongly reduced D effects. The results highlight the important and complex influence of metabolic transformation on isoflavones physiological effects and demonstrate the need to take biotransformation into account when assessing the potential health benefits of consumption of soy isoflavones in cancer.

Induction of a 5-lipoxygenase product by daidzein is involved in the regulation of influenza virus replication

This study was conducted to evaluate the regulation mechanism of influenza virus replication following treatment of Madin-Darby canine kidney cells with the soy isoflavone daidzein. We performed comparative qualitative and quantitative analyses of lipid peroxide between mock-infected and virus-infected cells treated with or without daidzein, as it had been reported that daidzein was an antioxidant and lipid peroxide levels increased upon virus infection. Contrary to our belief, lipid peroxides were not elevated in virus-infected cells and no decrease in lipid peroxides was observed in daidzein-treated cells. In daidzein-treated cells, 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, the 5-lipoxygenase product derived from arachidonate, was significantly elevated compared to other lipid peroxides. Zileuton (5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) and 5-lipoxygenase knockdown reduced the daidzein-induced antiviral effect. Moreover, virus replication was regulated by treatment with 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid, a precursor of 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid and 5-lipoxygenase primary product. These results suggest that daidzein regulates virus replication via signal transduction through 5-lipoxygenase products.

Molecular Mechanisms of Action of Genistein in Cancer: Recent Advances

Background: Genistein is one among the several other known isoflavones that is found in different soybeans and soy products. The chemical name of genistein is 4′,5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone. Genistein has drawn attention of scientific community because of its potential beneficial effects on human grave diseases, such as cancer. Mechanistic insight of genistein reveals its potential for apoptotic induction, cell cycle arrest, as well as antiangiogenic, antimetastatic, and anti-inflammatory effects.

Objective: The purpose of this review is to unravel and analyze various molecular mechanisms of genistein in diverse cancer models.

Data sources: English language literature was searched using various databases, such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBOSCOhost, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library. Key words used in various combinations included genistein, cancer, anticancer, molecular mechanisms prevention, treatment, in vivo, in vitro, and clinical studies.

Study selection: Study selection was carried out strictly in accordance with the statement of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses.

Data extraction: Four authors independently carried out the extraction of articles.

Data synthesis: One hundred one papers were found suitable for use in this review.

Conclusion: This review covers various molecular interactions of genistein with various cellular targets in cancer models. It will help the scientific community understand genistein and cancer biology and will provoke them to design novel therapeutic strategies.

Natural polyphenols for the prevention of irritable bowel syndrome: molecular mechanisms and targets; a comprehensive review

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a well diagnosed disease, thoroughly attributed to series of symptoms criteria that embrace a broad range of abdominal complainers. Such criteria help to diagnosis the disease and can guide controlled clinical trials to seek new therapeutic agents. Accordingly, a verity of mechanisms and pathophysiological conditions including inflammation, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and different life styles are involved in IBS. Predictably, diverse therapeutic approaches are available and prescribed by clinicians due to major manifestations (i.e., diarrhea-predominance, constipation-predominance, abdominal pain and visceral hypersensitivity), psychological disturbances, and patient preferences between herbal treatments versus pharmacological therapies, dietary or microbiological approaches. Herein, we gathered the latest scientific data between 1973 and 2019 from databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Cochrane library on relevant studies concerning beneficial effects of herbal treatments for IBS, in particular polyphenols. This is concluded that polyphenols might be applicable for preventing IBS and improving the IBS symptoms, mainly through suppressing the inflammatory signaling pathways, which nowadays are known as novel platform for the IBS management. Graphical abstract.

Nutraceutical Compounds as Sensitizers for Cancer Treatment in Radiation Therapy

The improvement of diagnostic techniques and the efficacy of new therapies in clinical practice have allowed cancer patients to reach a higher chance to be cured together with a better quality of life. However, tumors still represent the second leading cause of death worldwide. On the contrary, chemotherapy and radiotherapy (RT) still lack treatment plans which take into account the biological features of tumors and depend on this for their response to treatment. Tumor cells' response to RT is strictly-connected to their radiosensitivity, namely, their ability to resist and to overcome cell damage induced by ionizing radiation (IR). For this reason, radiobiological research is focusing on the ability of chemical compounds to radiosensitize cancer cells so to make them more responsive to IR. In recent years, the interests of researchers have been focused on natural compounds that show antitumoral effects with limited collateral issues. Moreover, nutraceuticals are easy to recover and are thus less expensive. On these bases, several scientific projects have aimed to test also their ability to induce tumor radiosensitization both in vitro and in vivo. The goal of this review is to describe what is known about the role of nutraceuticals in radiotherapy, their use and their potential application.

Cell Cycle Modulation of CHO-K1 Cells Under Genistein Treatment Correlates with Cells Senescence, Apoptosis and ROS Level but in a Dose-Dependent Manner

Purpose: Genistein, a soy isoflavone, exhibits a biphasic effect on cells proliferation with some different effects between ER-alpha and ER-beta. The objective of this present study is to determine the modulatory effect based on cell cycle progression under genistein treatment in combination with 17-β estradiol (E2) on CHO-K1 cells. Methods: The effect of genistein 0.1-100 µM on cells proliferation was examined by MTT assay. The modulation of genistein and estradiol (E2) on cell cycle and apoptosis were observed by using flowcytometry with PI and PI/AnnexinV staining, respectively. Moreover, the effect of genistein and E2 on senescence cells, and ROS level were determined by senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA β-gal) staining and by using flowcytometry with 2', 7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFDA) staining, respectively. The expression level of the cell cycle and senescence protein markers were observed by immunoblotting. Results: Single treatment of genistein at physiologically achievable (low) concentration (<2 µM) induced proliferation of CHO-K1 cells while at a pharmacological (high) concentration (50 and 100 µM) suppressed cells proliferation. Interestingly, treatment of genistein at the physiological concentration in combination with E2 for 24, 48 and 72 h decreased cells viability on CHO-K1 cells compared to untreated cells. Further analysis of the cells showed that 50 µM genistein induced G2/M phase accumulation and induced apoptosis. Moreover, genistein induced cell senescence and increased ROS level. Immunoblotting analysis showed the decreasing of ERalpha, Bcl2, and ppRb protein level upon treatment of 1 µM Gen and 1 nM E2. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the cell proliferation inhibitory mechanism of genistein at pharmacological concentration involved the induction of cell senescence, and the elevation of ROS level. Moreover, the decreased of cells proliferation upon treatment of physiological concentration of genistein in combination with E2 may be correlated with the alteration of ER expression.

Clinical candidate and genistein analogue AXP107-11 has chemoenhancing functions in pancreatic adenocarcinoma through G protein-coupled estrogen receptor signaling

Despite advances in cancer therapeutics, pancreatic cancer remains difficult to treat and often develops resistance to chemotherapies. We have evaluated a bioavailable genistein analogue, AXP107-11 which has completed phase Ib clinical trial, as an approach to sensitize tumor cells to chemotherapy. Using organotypic cultures of 14 patient-derived xenografts (PDX) of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, we found that addition of AXP107-11 indeed sensitized 57% of cases to gemcitabine treatment. Results were validated using PDX models in vivo. Further, RNA-Seq from responsive and unresponsive tumors proposed a 41-gene treatment-predictive signature. Functional and molecular assays were performed in cell lines and demonstrated that the effect was synergistic. Transcriptome analysis indicated activation of G-protein-coupled estrogen receptor (GPER1) as the main underlying mechanism of action, which was corroborated using GPER1-selective agonists and antagonists. GPER1 expression in pancreatic tumors was indicative of survival, and our study proposes that activation of GPER1 may constitute a new avenue for pancreatic cancer therapeutics.

Comparative Evaluation of Six Traditional Fermented Soybean Products in East Asia: A Metabolomics Approach

Many ethnic fermented soybean products (FSPs) have long been consumed as seasoning and protein sources in East Asia. To evaluate the quality of various FSPs in East Asia, non-targeted metabolite profiling with multivariate analysis of six traditional FSPs (Natto; NT, Cheonggukjang; CG, Doenjang; DJ, Miso; MS, Doubanjiang; DB, Tianmianjiang; TM) was performed. Six FSPs could be clearly distinguished by principle component analysis (PCA) and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Amino acid contents were relatively higher in NT and CG, sugar and sugar alcohol contents were relatively higher in MS and TM, isoflavone glycoside contents were relatively highest in CG, isoflavone aglycon contents were the highest in DJ, and soyasaponin contents were the highest in CG. Antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties were determined to examine the relationships between the FSPs and their antioxidant activities. We observed a negative correlation between isoflavone aglycon contents and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) activity. Furthermore, the order of ABTS activity of FSPs has a positive correlation with the order of soybean content in the six FSPs. Herein it was found that primary metabolites were affected by the main ingredients and secondary metabolites were most influenced by the fermentation time, and that soybean content contributed more to antioxidant activity than fermentation time.

Use of dietary supplements containing soy isoflavones and breast cancer risk among women aged >50 y: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Soy-based dietary supplements have been promoted as natural alternatives to menopausal hormone therapy, but their potential effect on breast cancer development is controversial.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the relation between the consumption of soy supplements and the risk of breast cancer, overall and by tumor hormone receptor status, among women aged >50 y.

METHODS

In total, 76,442 women from the Etude Epidemiologique aupres de Femmes de la Mutuelle Generale de l'Education Nationale (E3N) cohort, born between 1925 and 1950, were followed from 2000 to 2011 (11.2 y on average, starting at a mean age of 59.5 y; 3608 incident breast cancers), with soy supplement use assessed every 2-3 y. HRs of breast cancer were estimated with the use of multivariable Cox models.

RESULTS

Compared with never using soy supplements, the HRs associated with current use of soy supplements were 0.92 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.11) for all, 0.78 (95% CI: 0.60, 0.99) for estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, and 2.01 (95% CI: 1.41, 2.86) for ER-negative breast cancers. There was no association between past use of soy supplements and breast cancer. HRs for current use were 1.36 (95% CI: 0.95, 1.93) and 0.82 (95% CI: 0.65, 1.02) among women with and without a family history of breast cancer, respectively (P-interaction = 0.03) and 1.06 (95% CI: 0.87, 1.30) ≥5 y after menopause compared with 0.50 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.81) in premenopause or ≤5 y postmenopause (P-interaction = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of women aged >50 y, we report opposing associations of soy supplements with ER-positive and ER-negative breast cancer risk. Our results also caution against the use of these supplements in women with a family history of breast cancer. Whether the risk profile of soy supplements could be more favorable among premenopausal or recently postmenopausal women deserves further investigation.

Development of Health Products from Natural Sources

BioActive Compounds (BACs) recovered from food or food by-product matrices are useful in maintaining well being, enhancing human health, and modulating immune function to prevent or to treat chronic diseases. They are also generally seen by final consumers as safe, non-toxic and environment-friendly. Despite the complex process of production, chemical characterization, and assessment of health effects, BACs must also be manufactured in stable and bioactive ingredients to be used in pharmaceutical, food and nutraceutical industry. Generally, vegetable derivatives occur as sticky raw materials with pervasive smell and displeasing flavor. Also, they show critical water solubility and dramatic stability behavior over time, involving practical difficulties for industrial use. Therefore, the development of novel functional health products from natural sources requires the design of a suitable formulation to delivery BACs at the site of action, preserve stability during processing and storage, slow down the degradation processes, mask lousy tasting or smell, and increase the bioavailability, while maintaining the BACs functionality. The present review focuses on human health benefits, BACs composition, and innovative technologies or formulation approaches of natural ingredients from some selected foods and by-products from industrial food transformations.