The Impact of Coffee and Its Selected Bioactive Compounds on the Development and Progression of Colorectal Cancer In Vivo and In Vitro

Understanding pre-metastatic niche formation: implications for colorectal cancer liver metastasis

The liver is the most commonly metastasized organ in colorectal cancer (CRC), and distant metastasis is the primary cause of mortality from CRC. In recent years, researchers have discovered that tumor cells create a "pre-metastatic niche (PMN)" favorable to metastasis before reaching the metastatic location. This review discusses the many processes and mechanisms that lead to PMN formation in CRC, including gut microbiota, stem cell stimulation, immunocyte interactions, and the induction of extracellular vesicles that carry important information. It examines research methods and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for treating metastatic CRC with PMN. The crucial significance of PMN formation in metastatic CRC is also highlighted.

Fabrication of smart nanogel based on carrageenan and green coffee extract as a long-term antifouling agent to improve biofilm prevention in food production

This study investigates the extract of the bioactive compounds from green coffee extract (GCE) and the loading of two different concentrations of GCE (1% and 2%) onto carrageenan nanogels (CAR NGs) to compare their antibacterial and antibiofilm effects with unloaded nanogels (NGs). The bioactive compounds of GCE were characterized using GC-MS analysis. The GCE1 and GCE2 were successfully deposited onto the surface of CAR NGs. The antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of prepared NGs were conducted against some foodborne pathogens (E. coli O157, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes). The results of GC-MS analysis indicated that there were identified 16 bioactive compounds in GCE, including caffeine (36.27%), Dodemorph (9.04%), and D-Glycero-d-ido-heptose (2.44%), contributing to its antimicrobial properties. The antibacterial coatings demonstrated a notable antimicrobial effect, showing zone of inhibition (ZOI) diameters of up to 37 mm for GCE2 loaded CAR NGs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for GCE2 loaded CAR NGs were 80 ppm for E. coli O157, and 120 ppm for S. enterica, S. aureus, and L. monocytogenes, achieving complete bacterial inactivation within 10-15 min of exposure. Both GCE1 and GCE2 loaded CAR NGs significantly reduced biofilm cell densities on stainless steel (SS) materials for E. coli O157, S. enterica, S. aureus, and L. monocytogenes, with reductions ranging from 60% to 95%. Specifically, biofilm densities were reduced by up to 95% for E. coli O157, 89% for S. enterica, 85% for S. aureus, and 80% for L. monocytogenes. Results of the toxicity evaluation indicated that the NGs were non-toxic and biocompatible, with predicted EC50 values proved their biocompatibility and safety. These results recommended that GCE loaded CAR NGs are promising as natural antimicrobial agents for enhancing food safety and extending shelf life. Further, the study concluded that incorporating GCE into CAR NGs is an effective strategy for developing sustainable antimicrobial coatings for the food industry and manufacturing.

Alkaloids in Cancer therapy: Targeting the tumor microenvironment and metastasis signaling pathways

The use of phytomedicine in cancer therapy is a growing field of research that takes use of the medicinal properties of plant-derived compounds. Under the domain of cancer therapy and management, alkaloids, a prominent group of natural compounds, have showed significant potential. Alkaloids often affect a wide range of essential cellular mechanisms involved in cancer progression. These multi-targeting capabilities, can give significant advantages to alkaloids in overcoming resistance mechanisms. For example, berberine, an alkaloid found in Berberis species, is widely reported to induce apoptosis by activating caspases and regulating apoptotic pathways. Notably, alkaloids like as quinine have showed promise in inhibiting the formation of new blood vessels required for tumor growth. In addition, alkaloids have shown anti-proliferative and anticancer properties mostly via modulating key signaling pathways involved in metastasis, including those regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition. This work provides a comprehensive overview of naturally occurring alkaloids that exhibit anticancer properties, with a specific emphasis on their underlying molecular mechanisms of action. Furthermore, many methods to modify previously reported difficult physicochemical properties using nanocarriers in order to enhance its systemic bioavailability have been discussed as well. This study also includes information on newly discovered alkaloids that are now being studied in clinical trials for their potential use in cancer treatment. Further, we have also briefly mentioned on the application of high-throughput screening and molecular dynamics simulation for acceleration on the identification of potent alkaloids based compounds to target and treat cancer.

Lifestyle, dietary pattern and colorectal cancer: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

In Iran, not only the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) is increasing but also the age of patients at diagnosis is alarmingly dropping. We need urgent actions to better understand the epidemiology of CRC and the contributing factors for such pattern in Iranian population. The aim of our study was to determine the potential contribution of lifestyle, including dietary pattern, to CRC in a large Iranian province.

METHODS

A hospital based case-control study was performed on 572 participants (275 cases and 297 controls). Patients in the case group were newly diagnosed with CRC in a referral hospital and patients in the control group were selected from those patients with non-malignancy diseases who were admitted to the same hospital. Control group was frequency matched to the case group for gender and age.

RESULTS

Based on the results of multivariable logistic regression analysis, direct associations were observed between usual pattern of defecation (OR> 3rd /every day =4.74, 95% CI: 1.78-12.59), chicken consumption (ORsometimes or always/occasionally = 6.33, 95% CI:3.23-12.43), family history of CRC (ORyes/no =5.79, 95% CI: 2.72-12.31), and alcohol consumption (ORyes/no =6.03, 95% CI: 2.14-16.98) with the odds of CRC among the study population. On the other hand, taking multivitamins (ORyes/no=0.09, 95% CI:0.04-0.20), consumption of coffee (ORalways/occasionally =0.29, 95% CI: 0.12-0.69), taking vitamins D supplement (ORyes/no =0.38,95% CI:0.22-0.66), and consumption of garlic (ORsometimes/occasionally =0.53,95% CI: 0.30-0.95) significantly reduced the odds of CRC.

CONCLUSIONS

We revealed potentially significant effects of several lifestyle related factors with CRC risk in Iranian population. More studies are required to understand the mechanism of action of the associated factors in developing CRC.

Post-diagnosis dietary factors, supplement use and colorectal cancer prognosis: A Global Cancer Update Programme (CUP Global) systematic literature review and meta-analysis

The role of diet in colorectal cancer prognosis is not well understood and specific lifestyle recommendations are lacking. We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and longitudinal observational studies on post-diagnosis dietary factors, supplement use and colorectal cancer survival outcomes in PubMed and Embase from inception until 28th February 2022. Random-effects dose-response meta-analyses were conducted when at least three studies had sufficient information. The evidence was interpreted and graded by the CUP Global independent Expert Committee on Cancer Survivorship and Expert Panel. Five RCTs and 35 observational studies were included (30,242 cases, over 8700 all-cause and 2100 colorectal cancer deaths, 3700 progression, recurrence, or disease-free events). Meta-analyses, including 3-10 observational studies each, were conducted for: whole grains, nuts/peanuts, red and processed meat, dairy products, sugary drinks, artificially sweetened beverages, coffee, alcohol, dietary glycaemic load/index, insulin load/index, marine omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, supplemental calcium, circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) and all-cause mortality; for alcohol, supplemental calcium, circulating 25(OH)D and colorectal cancer-specific mortality; and for circulating 25(OH)D and recurrence/disease-free survival. The overall evidence was graded as 'limited'. The inverse associations between healthy dietary and/or lifestyle patterns (including diets that comprised plant-based foods), whole grains, total, caffeinated, or decaffeinated coffee and all-cause mortality and the positive associations between unhealthy dietary patterns, sugary drinks and all-cause mortality provided 'limited-suggestive' evidence. All other exposure-outcome associations provided 'limited-no conclusion' evidence. Additional, well-conducted cohort studies and carefully designed RCTs are needed to develop specific lifestyle recommendations for colorectal cancer survivors.

Association of caffeine intake with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in diabetes and prediabetes

BACKGROUD

The association between caffeine intake and mortality in prediabetes and diabetes is not well defined. This study was designed to investigate the association between caffeine intake and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality in adults with prediabetes and diabetes in the United States.

METHODS

This analysis included 18,914 adult patients with diabetes and prediabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2003-2018. Follow-up extended to December 31, 2019. Weighted Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause mortality and CVD mortality.

RESULTS

During 142,460 person-years of follow-up, there were 3,166 cases of all-cause mortality and 1,031 cases of CVD mortality recorded. In the fully adjusted models, caffeine intake showed a significant dose-response association with the risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality in individuals with diabetes and prediabetes. When comparing extreme quartiles of caffeine intake, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality was 0.78 (0.67-0.91) (P for trend = 0.007); however, there was no significant association with the risk of CVD mortality. Results remained consistent in stratified analyses by sex, age, race/ethnicity, education level, family income-poverty ratio, BMI, hypertension, smoking status, alcohol intake, and HEI-2015.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that caffeine intake is significantly inversely associated with the risk of all-cause mortality in individuals with diabetes and prediabetes. In individuals with prediabetes, there is also a significant inverse association between caffeine intake and CVD events, but this association is not present in those with diabetes.

Metabolomics analysis reveals metabolite diversity of the rare cliff plant Oresitrophe rupifraga unge

Oresitrophe is monotypic, with the only species, Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge, which is exclusive to China, having special growth and developmental traits due to its habitat. Furthermore, it has bright flowers and medicinal benefits. This study investigated the metabolites present in various tissues of Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge. Using a widely targeted metabolomics approach, 1965 different metabolites were identified in Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge. Based on principal component analysis (PCA) and orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), the aboveground and underground metabolites of Oresitrophe rupifraga differed significantly. The comparison between bulblets and leaves revealed the differential expression of 461 metabolites, whereas the comparison between rhizomes and leaves showed the differential expression of 423 metabolites, and the comparison between bulblets and rhizomes showed the differential expression of 249 metabolites. The bulblets exhibited 49 metabolites that were higher and 412 metabolites that were lower than those of the leaves, whereas the rhizomes showed 123 upregulated and 300 downregulated metabolites. Bulblets showed an increase in 18 metabolites and a decrease in 231 metabolites compared to the rhizomes. Leaves contain more phenolic acids than the rhizomes and bulblets, whereas the rhizomes and bulblets contain more terpenoids than the leaves. KEGG pathway analysis showed an association between metabolites and metabolic pathways, as well as their effect on the progression and maturation of Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge. The research findings can provide some insight into the growth and developmental traits of Oresitrophe rupifraga Bunge, thus providing a theoretical foundation for cultivating and utilising this plant.

Exploring the Neuroprotective Potential of N-Methylpyridinium against LPS-Induced Neuroinflammation: Insights from Molecular Mechanisms

N-methylpyridinium (NMP) is produced through the pyrolysis of trigonelline during the coffee bean roasting process. Preliminary studies suggest that NMP may have health benefits, thanks to its antioxidant properties. Based on this background, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether NMP could have a protective effect against LPS-induced neuroinflammation in human glioblastoma cells (U87MG). With this aim, U87MG cells were pre-treated with NMP (0.5 μM) for 1 h and then exposed to LPS (1 μg/mL) for 24 h. Our findings show that NMP attenuates LPS-induced neuroinflammation by reducing the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6, through the inhibition of the NF-κB signaling pathway, which is critical in regulating inflammatory responses. NMP is able to suppress the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting its potential in preventing neuroinflammatory conditions. These outcomes support the notion that regular consumption of NMP, possibly through coffee consumption, may offer protection against neuroinflammatory states implicated in neurological disorders.

Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester: A Potential Therapeutic Cancer Agent?

BACKGROUND

Propolis and its major phenolic compound, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), have garnered considerable scientific interest due to their anti- inflammatory properties and potential therapeutic applications.

OBJECTIVES

This narrative review explores the potential utility of CAPE in cancer treatment.

METHODS

We comprehensively reviewed relevant studies from scientific databases (PubMed and Web of Science) from 2000 to 2022. Our search focused on keywords such as cancer, natural drugs, caffeic acid phenethyl ester, CAPE, cancer cell lines, antitumor effects, and propolis.

RESULTS

CAPE exhibits diverse biological benefits, including antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and potentially anti-carcinogenic properties. Numerous studies have demonstrated its wide-ranging antitumor effects on various cancer cell lines, including growth inhibition, apoptosis induction, tumor invasiveness prevention, malignancy suppression, and anti-angiogenic activity.

CONCLUSION

Following comprehensive preclinical toxicity assessments, further evaluation of CAPE's efficacy and safety through clinical trials is highly recommended to elucidate its potential health benefits in diverse forms of human cancer.

Novel Eubacterium rectale inhibitor from Coriandrum sativum L. for possible prevention of colorectal cancer: a computational approach

This research aims to screen out the effective bioactive compounds from Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.), which may be novel potential inhibitors of Eubacterium rectale for the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC). A series of 8 coriander-derived chemical compounds previously assessed for their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities were tested against Carbohydrate ABC transporter substrate-binding protein and compared to the standard inhibitor Acarbose, to support their use as novel Eubacterium rectale inhibitors. Herein, these derivatives were submitted to a thorough analysis of docking studies, in which detailed interactions of the selected phytocompounds with carbohydrate ABC transporter substrate-binding protein were revealed. Molecular docking analysis recommends Rutin, Gallocatechin, and Epigallocatechin as the most potential Eubacterium rectale inhibitors among the eight selected phytochemical compounds. Subsequently, the stability of the three selected phytochemical complexes was checked using molecular dynamics (MD) simulation at 100 ns and Molecular Mechanics combined with Poisson-Boltzmann Surface Area (MM-PBSA). The results show quite good stability for Rutin and Gallocatechin. In silico ADMET prediction was performed on the selected compounds, and the findings revealed a reasonably good ADMET profile for both Rutin and Gallocatechin. The current findings predict that Gallocatechin could be a better CRC preventive natural compound, and, further in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies may confirm its therapeutic potential.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Influence of Different Extraction Methods on the Changes in Bioactive Compound Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Solid-State Fermented Coffee Husk Extracts

In brewing coffee, a huge amount of food waste is generated; that waste, coffee husks in particular, should be comprehensively exploited. They offer a rich source of bioactive compounds such as caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and trigonelline. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of extraction methods on the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of such waste. Coffee husks in this study were fermented with S. cerevisiae based on a solid-state fermentation technique. The study method included ethanolic or water extraction with varied controllable factors, i.e., temperature (60, 100°C) and extraction technique. Bioactive contents were investigated with the Folin-Ciocalteu assay and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity was investigated with DPPH and FRAP assays. Results show that yields were the highest in the extract of fermented coffee husks at 100°C. The highest levels of bioactive contents (total trigonelline content at 3.59% and antioxidant activity at 23.35% (DPPH) and 25.9% (FRAP)) were found in the ethanolic extract of fermented coffee husks at 60°C. The bioactive content and bioactivity, including antioxidant activity, depended on different raw materials, preparation methods, and extraction conditions. This study illustrates the potential for using food waste such as coffee husks as a sustainable source of bioactive compounds or bioactive extracts.

Antioxidant and phytometabolite profiles of ethanolic extract from the cascara pulp of Coffea arabica collected from Gayo Highland: A study for potential anti-photoaging agent

Background: As the most abundant coffee by-product, cascara pulp has been considered a good source of antioxidants which could be used to prevent photoaging. The aim of this study was to determine the phytometabolite profiles, antioxidant and photoaging properties of the ethanolic extract of Coffea arabica cascara pulp. Methods: Ethanolic maceration was performed on the fine powder of C. arabica cascara pulp collected from Gayo Highland, Aceh Province, Indonesia. The filtrate obtained was evaluated for its 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity, total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). The phytometabolite profiling was conducted qualitatively using reagents and quantitatively using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The potential of the cascara pulp phytometabolites in inhibiting activator protein-1 (AP-1) was evaluated through molecular docking. Results: The extract had TPC and TFC of 2.04 mg gallic acid equivalent/g extract and 91.81 mg quercetin equivalent/g extract, respectively. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC 50) for the DPPH inhibition reached as low as 9.59 mg/L. Qualitative phytocompound screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, saponins, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, quinones, polyphenols, and triterpenoids. GC-MS revealed the extract containing 5-hydroxy-methylfurfural (22.31%); 2,5-dimethyl-4-hydroxy-3(2H)-furanone (0.74%); and caffeine (21.07%), which could form interaction with AP-1 with binding energies of -172.8, -150.8, and -63.188 kJ/mol, respectively. Conclusion: Ethanolic extract from C. arabica cascara pulp potentially have anti-photoaging properties which is worthy for further investigations in the future.

Potential Benefits of Coffee Consumption on Improving Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Healthy Individuals and Those at Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are considered the predominant cause of death globally. An abnormal increase in biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation are consistently linked with the development and even progression of metabolic diseases, including enhanced CVD risk. Coffee is considered one of the most consumed beverages in the world, while reviewed evidence regarding its capacity to modulate biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation remains limited. The current study made use of prominent electronic databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus to retrieve information from randomized controlled trials reporting on any association between coffee consumption and modulation of biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation in healthy individuals or those at increased risk of developing CVD. In fact, summarized evidence indicates that coffee consumption, mainly due to its abundant antioxidant properties, can reduce biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation, which can be essential in alleviating the CVD risk in healthy individuals. However, more evidence suggests that regular/prolonged use or long term (>4 weeks) consumption of coffee appeared to be more beneficial in comparison with short-term intake (<4 weeks). These positive effects are also observed in individuals already presenting with increased CVD risk, although such evidence is very limited. The current analysis of data highlights the importance of understanding how coffee consumption can be beneficial in strengthening intracellular antioxidants to alleviate pathological features of oxidative stress and inflammation to reduce CVD risk within the general population. Also covered within the review is essential information on the metabolism and bioavailability profile of coffee, especially caffeine as one of its major bioactive compounds.

Integrating HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, network pharmacology and experimental validation to decipher the chemical substances and mechanism of modified Gui-shao-liu-jun-zi decoction against gastric cancer

Background and aim

Gastric cancer (GC) is a common malignant tumor worldwide. Modified Gui-shao-liu-jun-zi decoction (mGSLJZ) is a clinically effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound in GC treatment. This study aimed to analyze main chemical substances of mGSLJZ and investigate active ingredients and molecular mechanism of mGSLJZ against GC.

Experimental procedure

HPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS was used to analyze chemical substances of mGSLJZ, and potential active ingredients were screened from TCMSP. The target set of mGSLJZ for GC was obtained based on SwissTargetPrediction. The PPI network was constructed to screen out core targets. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses were conducted to identify BPs, CCs, MFs and pathways. The "active ingredient-core target-pathway" regulatory network was constructed to obtain core substances. Subsequently, Oncomine, Proteinatlas and molecular docking were performed to validate these findings. The cell experiments were conducted to confirm the anti-GC effects of mGLSJZ.

Results and conclusion

Forty-one potential active ingredients were filtered out from 120 chemical substances in mGSLJZ, including various organic acids and flavonoids. The top 10 key targets, 20 related pathways and 6 core medicinal substances were obtained based on network pharmacology analysis. Molecular docking results indicated that the core substances and key targets had good binding activities. The cell experiments validated that mGSLJZ and the core substances inhibited the proliferation in multiple GC cells and that mGLSJZ restrained the migration of GC. Meanwhile, the top 5 targets and top 2 pathways were verified. The rescue experiments demonstrated that mGSLJZ suppressed the proliferation and migration of GC through the PI3K/AKT/HIF-1 pathway.

Effect of Different Coffee Brews on Tryptophan Metabolite-Induced Cytotoxicity in HT-29 Human Colon Cancer Cells

Coffee consumption positively influences colon health. Conversely, high levels of tryptophan metabolites such as skatole released from intestinal putrefactive fermentation in the presence of excessive dietary animal protein intake, and gut microbiota alterations, may have several adverse effects, including the development of colorectal cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the potential protective effects of coffee in the presence of different skatole levels. The results showed that skatole exposure induced reduced cell viability and oxidative stress in the HT-29 human colon cancer cell line. However, co-treatment of cells with skatole and coffee samples was able to reduce ROS production (up to 45% for espresso) compared to cells not treated with coffee. Real-time PCR analysis highlighted that treating HT-29 cells with skatole increased the levels of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, and IL12, whereas exposure to coffee extracts in cells that were pretreated with skatole showed anti-inflammatory effects with decreased levels of these cytokines. These findings demonstrate that coffee may counteract the adverse effects of putrefactive compounds by modulating oxidative stress and exerting anti-inflammatory activity in colonocytes, thus suggesting that coffee intake could improve health conditions in the presence of altered intestinal microbiota metabolism.

Modulatory Effect of Chlorogenic Acid and Coffee Extracts on Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway in Colorectal Cancer Cells

The Wnt/β-Catenin pathway alterations present in colorectal cancer (CRC) are of special interest in the development of new therapeutic strategies to impact carcinogenesis and the progression of CRC. In this context, different polyphenols present in natural products have been reported to have modulatory effects against the Wnt pathway in CRC. In this study, we evaluate the effect of two polyphenol-rich coffee extracts and chlorogenic acid (CGA) against SW480 and HT-29 CRC cells. This involved the use of MTT and SRB techniques for cell viability; wound healing and invasion assay for the evaluation of the migration and invasion process; T cell factor (TCF) reporter plasmid for the evaluation of transciption factor (TCF) transcriptional activity; polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of target genes and confocal fluorescence microscopy for β-Catenin and E-Cadherin protein fluorescence levels; and subcellular localization. Our results showed a potential modulatory effect of the Wnt pathway on CRC cells, and we observed a reduction in the transcriptional activity of β-catenin. All the results were prominent in SW480 cells, where the Wnt pathway deregulation has more relevance and implies a constitutive activation of the signaling pathway. These results establish a starting point for the discovery of a mechanism of action associated with these effects and corroborate the anticancer potential of polyphenols present in coffee, which could be explored as chemopreventive molecules or as adjunctive therapy in CRC.

Targeted and Non-Targeted HPLC Analysis of Coffee-Based Products as Effective Tools for Evaluating the Coffee Authenticity

Coffee is a very popular beverage worldwide. However, its composition and characteristics are affected by a number of factors, such as geographical and botanical origin, harvesting and roasting conditions, and brewing method used. As coffee consumption rises, the demands on its high quality and authenticity naturally grows as well. Unfortunately, at the same time, various tricks of coffee adulteration occur more frequently, with the intention of quick economic profit. Many analytical methods have already been developed to verify the coffee authenticity, in which the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) plays a crucial role, especially thanks to its high selectivity and sensitivity. Thus, this review summarizes the results of targeted and non-targeted HPLC analysis of coffee-based products over the last 10 years as an effective tool for determining coffee composition, which can help to reveal potential forgeries and non-compliance with good manufacturing practice, and subsequently protects consumers from buying overpriced low-quality product. The advantages and drawbacks of the targeted analysis are specified and contrasted with those of the non-targeted HPLC fingerprints, which simply consider the chemical profile of the sample, regardless of the determination of individual compounds present.

Metabolomics profiles of premenopausal women are different based on O-desmethylangolensin metabotype

Urinary O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA) concentrations provide a functional gut microbiome marker of dietary isoflavone daidzein metabolism to ODMA. Individuals who do not have gut microbial environments that produce ODMA have less favourable cardiometabolic and cancer risk profiles. Urinary metabolomics profiles were evaluated in relation to ODMA metabotypes within and between individuals over time. Secondary analysis of data was conducted from the BEAN2 trial, which was a cross-over study of premenopausal women consuming 6 months on a high and a low soya diet, each separated by a 1-month washout period. In all of the 672 samples in the study, sixty-six of the eighty-four women had the same ODMA metabotype at seven or all eight time points. Two or four urine samples per woman were selected based on temporal metabotypes in order to compare within and across individuals. Metabolomics assays for primary metabolism and biogenic amines were conducted in sixty urine samples from twenty women. Partial least-squares discriminant analysis was used to compare metabolomics profiles. For the same ODMA metabotype across different time points, no profile differences were detected. For changes in metabotype within individuals and across individuals with different metabotypes, distinct metabolomes emerged. Influential metabolites (variables importance in projection score > 2) included several phenolic compounds, carnitine and derivatives, fatty acid and amino acid metabolites and some medications. Based on the distinct metabolomes of producers v. non-producers, the ODMA metabotype may be a marker of gut microbiome functionality broadly involved in nutrient and bioactive metabolism and should be evaluated for relevance to precision nutrition initiatives.

Effect of Roasting Degree on Major Coffee Compounds: A Comparative Study between Coffee Beans with and without Supercritical CO2 Decaffeination Treatment

Coffee is a beverage that is consumed worldwide, and the demand for decaffeinated coffee has increased in recent years. This study aimed to investigate the effect of roasting conditions on the concentration of physiologically active compounds in coffee beans with and without supercritical CO₂ decaffeination treatment. Decaffeination treatment markedly reduced caffeine concentration and slightly reduced trigonelline concentration in the coffee beans, whereas the concentrations of chlorogenic acids (chlorogenic acid, cryptochlorogenic acid, and neochlorogenic acid) were largely unchanged. Roasting was performed using a hot-air coffee roaster machine and the coffee beans were treated at different peak temperatures (125-250℃), different hold times at the peak temperature (120-240 s), and different temperature increase times to reach the peak temperature (60-180 s). Roasting conditions such as long hold and long temperature rise times at high temperatures (≥ 225℃) significantly degraded coffee compounds except for caffeine, with similar degradation rates between non-decaffeinated and decaffeinated coffee beans. In contrast, the L* value of decaffeinated coffee decreased with less thermal history compared to that of non-decaffeinated coffee. This allowed for the complete roasting of decaffeinated coffee with a lower thermal history compared to those of non-decaffeinated counterparts, suppressing the degradation of several coffee compounds. For example, comparing the similar L* values between coffee beans with and without decaffeination treatment, it was found that the former tended to contain more chlorogenic acid. Generally, decaffeination results in the loss of physiologically active compounds along with caffeine, which is a major concern. However, this study showed that appropriate control of decaffeination and roasting conditions can limit the degradation of several valuable coffee compounds, such as trigonelline and chlorogenic acid.

Cumulative Coffee Consumption as a Protective Factor for Head and Neck Cancer in Brazil

There is still no consensus in the literature regarding the role of coffee in head and neck cancer. Thus, we sought to analyze the cumulative consumption of coffee as a protective factor in the genesis of head and neck cancer in Brazil, one of the main coffee producing countries, from January 2011 to February 2017. We carried out a case-control study in 5 referral centers for head and neck cancer with 839 cases and 842 non-cancer hospital controls matched by sex, data collection center and age group. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the cumulative consumption of >2 cups of coffee per day is an important protective factor (OR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.5-0.9) against head and neck cancer. Smoking increased the risk by 22 times (OR: 22.19; 95% CI: 13.7-35.8) in individuals who smoke more than 50 packs per year, and the habit of ingesting more than 155 ml of alcohol per day represented approximately twice as high risk (OR: 2.20; 95% CI: 1.4-3.4). In summary, this study suggests that coffee consumption is associated with a lower chance of head and neck cancer.

Coffee Chlorogenic Acids Incorporation for Bioactivity Enhancement of Foods: A Review

The demand of foods with high antioxidant capacity have increased and research on these foods continues to grow. This review is focused on chlorogenic acids (CGAs) from green coffee, which is the most abundant source. The main CGA in coffee is 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CQA). Coffee extracts are currently the most widely used source to enhance the antioxidant activity of foods. Due to the solubility of CGAs, their extraction is mainly performed with organic solvents. CGAs have been associated with health benefits, such as antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activity, and others that reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. However, the biological activities depend on the stability of CGAs, which are sensitive to pH, temperature, and light. The anti-inflammatory activity of 5-CQA is attributed to reducing the proinflammatory activity of cytokines. 5-CQA can negatively affect colon microbiota. An increase in anthocyanins and antioxidant activity was observed when CGAs extracts were added to different food matrices such as dairy products, coffee drinks, chocolate, and bakery products. The fortification of foods with coffee CGAs has the potential to improve the functionality of foods.

Evidence for Anticancer Effects of Chinese Medicine Monomers on Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers worldwide. Although clinical reports have indicated the anticancer effects of Chinese herbal medicine, the multiple underlying molecular and biochemical mechanisms of action remain to be fully characterized. Chinese medicine (CM) monomers, which are the active components of CM, serve as the material basis of the functional mechanisms of CM. The aim of this review is to summarize the current experimental evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies for the effects of CM monomers in colorectal cancer prevention and treatment, providing some useful references for future research.

Antibacterial, Antiradical and Antiproliferative Potential of Green, Roasted, and Spent Coffee Extracts

The phytochemical compositions of green coffee beans (GB), roasted coffee (RC), and the solid residue known as spent coffee grounds (SCG) have been associated with beneficial physiological effects. The objective of this study was to analyze the total phenolic compounds, antiradical scavenging ability, antibacterial activity, and antiproliferative activity on cancer cells of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of GB, RC, and SCG samples. The total phenolic content was quantified by Folin–Ciocalteu assay, while the antiradical activity was evaluated by ABTS●+ and DPPH radical assays, antibacterial activity was determined using the microtiter broth dilution method, and antiproliferative activity was evaluated by MTT assay in lung carcinoma cells (A549) and cervical cancer cells (C33A); furthermore, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest were evaluated by flow cytometry. Ethanolic extracts of RC and SCG showed the highest content of total phenols. The SCG ethanolic extract exhibited the lowest inhibitory capacity 50 (IC50) values for free radicals. The SCG extracts also had the lowest MIC values in bacteria. In antiproliferative assays, SCG extracts exhibited a significant decrease in viability in both cell lines, as well as increased apoptotic cells and promoted cell cycle arrest. The higher content of total phenols and antiradical activity of SCG ethanolic extracts was related to their antiproliferative activity in cancer cells, as well as their antibacterial activity against clinical isolates; therefore, the utilization of SCG adds value to an abundant and inexpensive residue.

Spent Coffee Grounds Valorization as Bioactive Phenolic Source Acquired Antifungal, Anti-Mycotoxigenic, and Anti-Cytotoxic Activities

Spent coffee grounds (SCGs), which constitute 75% of original coffee beans, represent an integral part of sustainability. Contamination by toxigenic fungi and their mycotoxins is a hazard that threatens food production. This investigation aimed to examine SCGs extract as antimycotic and anti-ochratoxigenic material. The SCGs were extracted in an eco-friendly way using isopropanol. Bioactive molecules of the extract were determined using the UPLC apparatus. The cytotoxicity on liver cancer cells (Hep-G2) showed moderate activity with selectivity compared with human healthy oral epithelial (OEC) cell lines but still lower than the positive control (Cisplatin). The antibacterial properties were examined against pathogenic strains, and the antifungal was examined against toxigenic fungi using two diffusion assays. Extract potency was investigated by two simulated models, a liquid medium and a food model. The results of the extract showed 15 phenolic acids and 8 flavonoids. Rosmarinic and syringic acids were the most abundant phenolic acids, while apigenin-7-glucoside, naringin, epicatechin, and catechin were the predominant flavonoids in the SCGs extract. The results reflected the degradation efficiency of the extract against the growth of Aspergillus strains. The SCGs recorded detoxification in liquid media for aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OCA). The incubation time of the extract within dough spiked with OCA was affected up to 2 h, where cooking was not affected. Therefore, SCGs in food products could be applied to reduce the mycotoxin contamination of raw materials to the acceptable regulated limits.

Dietary polyphenols and the risk of colorectal cancer in the prospective Southern Community Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Polyphenols are antioxidants with promising anticancer properties, but few studies have examined the associations of specific dietary polyphenols with colorectal cancer (CRC) risks or among Black individuals in the United States.

OBJECTIVES

We examined the associations between dietary polyphenols and CRC and assessed differences in these associations or polyphenol intakes by subgroups, including race (Black and White), that may contribute to cancer disparities.

METHODS

The Southern Community Cohort Study prospectively enrolled individuals from the southeastern United States during 2002-2009, most of whom had a low income or are Black. Validated FFQ data and polyphenol databases were used to estimate polyphenol intakes. Cox proportional hazards models were used to obtain HRs and 95% CIs for the highest compared to the lowest intake quintiles (Qs) of specific polyphenols. Median intakes of quintiles were used to obtain linear trends, and restricted cubic splines were used to obtain nonlinear trends. Subgroup analyses were conducted by cancer site, sex, race, household income, and BMI-defined obesity status.

RESULTS

Among 71,599 participants, the median polyphenol intake was lower for Black individuals (452 mg/day; IQR, 277-672 mg/day) than White individuals (958 mg/day; IQR, 587-1597 mg/day). A significant, inverse, nonlinear association was observed for total polyphenol intake with the CRC risk (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.38-0.86; P = 0.008 comparing 650 mg/day of intake to 0 mg/day). In addition, inverse linear associations were observed for tyrosols and the CRC risk (HRQ5vsQ1, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.50-0.91; P = 0.0014) and for hydroxybenzoic acids and the rectal cancer risk (HRQ5vsQ1, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.29-0.82; P = 0.0007). Associations were consistent by sex, race, income, and BMI.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing intakes of total polyphenols, tyrosols, and hydroxybenzoic acids were associated with decreased CRC or rectal cancer risks, and associations were consistent across subgroups. Differences in polyphenol intakes may contribute to the increased CRC incidence among Black US individuals.

Benefits of coffee consumption for human health: an overview

Background:

Coffee is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide and is popular for its characteristic flavor and rich organoleptic properties.

Aim:

Based on published articles, the aims of this review are i) study the association between coffee consumption and benefits to human health; ii) the effects of coffee consumption on some pathologies; and iii) provide a description of coffee’s bioactive compounds.

Discussion:

Coffee presents bioactive compounds, which include phenolic compounds, especially chlorogenic acid (caffeoylquinic acid), trigonelline, and diterpenes, such as cafestol and kahweol. These compounds are related to the beneficial effects for human health, including high antioxidant activity, antimutagenic activity, hepatoprotective action, reduced incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus, reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases, decreased incidence of inflammatory diseases, reduced menopausal symptoms, and others. Coffee’s bioactive compounds are caffeine, chlorogenic acid, trigonelline, cafestol and kahweol, which are closely related to coffee’s beneficial effects.

Conclusion:

The present review clarified that the benefits of moderate coffee consumption outweigh the associated risks.

Natural radioprotectors on current and future perspectives: A mini-review

Radiation therapy is used as the primary treatment for cancer. Eighty percent of cancer patients require radiation therapy during treatment or for medical purposes. During treatment, radiation causes various biological defects in the cells. The prevalence of cytotoxicity limits the dose used for effective treatment. This method is designed to strike a balance between removing cancer cells and protecting normal tissues. Unfortunately, effective radiation is unavailable once acute toxicity occurs during clinical radiation therapy. Therefore, a lot of research interest is needed in the discovery of radioprotective drugs to accelerate treatment to reduce this toxicity (i.e., normal tissue toxicity to cancer cell death). Radiation protectors may be chemicals or drugs that minimize the damage caused due to radiation therapy in living organisms. The determination of effective and nontoxic radiation protection is an essential goal for radiation oncologists and basic radiobiologists. However, despite the advantages, many radioprotectors were found to have disadvantages which include cost, less duration, toxicity, and effect on the central nervous system. Therefore in recent years, the focus has been diverted to finding out optimal natural products to act as radioprotectors. Natural radiation protectors are plant compounds that protect normal (noncancerous) cells from damage from radiation therapy. Natural herbal products are nontoxic with proven therapeutic benefits and have long been used to treat various diseases. In conclusion, we find that there are various radiation protectors with different purposes and mechanisms of action.

Does coffee, tea and caffeine consumption reduce the risk of incident breast cancer? A systematic review and network meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to evaluate the association between coffee and/or tea consumption and breast cancer (BC) risk among premenopausal and postmenopausal women and to conduct a network meta-analysis.

DESIGN

Systematic review and network meta-analysis.

SETTING

We conducted a systematic review of electronic publications in the last 30 years to identify case-control studies or prospective cohort studies that evaluated the effects of coffee and tea intake.

RESULTS

Forty-five studies that included more than 3 323 288 participants were eligible for analysis. Network meta-analysis was performed to determine the effects of coffee and/or tea consumption on reducing BC risk in a dose-dependent manner and differences in coffee/tea type, menopause status, hormone receptor and the BMI in subgroup and meta-regression analyses. According to the first pairwise meta-analysis, low-dose coffee intake and high-dose tea intake may exhibit efficacy in preventing ER(estrogen receptor)- BC, particularly in postmenopausal women. Then, we performed another pairwise and network meta-analysis and determined that the recommended daily doses were 2-3 cups/d of coffee or ≥5 cups/d of tea, which contained a high concentration of caffeine, particularly in postmenopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS

Coffee and tea consumption is not associated with a reduction in the overall BC risk in postmenopausal women and is associated with a potentially lower risk of ER- BC. And the highest recommended dose is 2-3 cups of coffee/d or ≥5 cups of tea/d. They are potentially useful dietary protectants for preventing BC.

Effects of Coffee Consumption on Insulin Resistance and Sensitivity: A Meta-Analysis

Coffee is widely consumed worldwide and impacts glucose metabolism. After a previous meta-analysis that evaluated the effects of coffee consumption on insulin resistance and sensitivity, additional randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were conducted. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects of coffee consumption on insulin resistance or sensitivity. We selected RCTs that evaluated the effects of coffee consumption for seven days or more on insulin sensitivity or resistance using surrogate indices (homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Matsuda index). The fixed-effects or random-effects model was used according to heterogeneity. Four studies with 268 participants were analyzed in this meta-analysis. Coffee consumption significantly decreased HOMA-IR compared to control (mean difference (MD) = -0.13; 95% CI = -0.24--0.03; p-value = 0.01). However, the significance was not maintained in the sensitivity analysis (MD = -0.04; 95% CI = -0.18-0.10; p-value = 0.55) after excluding data from the healthy, young, normal-weight group. Matsuda index was not significantly different between coffee and control groups (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.33; 95% CI = -0.70-0.03; p-value = 0.08). In conclusion, long-term coffee consumption has a nonsignificant effect on insulin resistance and sensitivity. More studies evaluating the effects of coffee consumption in the healthy, young, and normal-weight individuals are needed.

Association between Coffee Consumption/Physical Exercise and Gastric, Hepatic, Colon, Breast, Uterine Cervix, Lung, Thyroid, Prostate, and Bladder Cancer

Although the effects of coffee consumption and physical exercise on the risk of cancer have been suggested, their interactions have not been investigated. The present cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the correlation of coffee consumption and physical exercise with cancer. Participants ≥40 years old in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study 2004–2016 were included (n = 162,220). Histories of gastric cancer, hepatic cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, uterine cervix cancer, lung cancer, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer, and bladder cancer were analyzed according to the coffee consumption groups using logistic regression models. The odds among individuals in the >60 cups/month coffee group were lower for gastric cancer (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.80 (95% confidence intervals = 0.65–0.98)), hepatic cancer (0.32 (0.18–0.58)), colon cancer (0.53 (0.39–0.72)), breast cancer (0.56 (0.45–0.70)), and thyroid cancer (0.71 (0.59–0.85)) than for individuals in the no coffee group. Physical exercise of ≥150 min/week was correlated with higher odds for gastric cancer (1.18 (1.03–1.36)), colon cancer (1.52 (1.26–1.83)), breast cancer (1.53 (1.35–1.74)), thyroid cancer (1.42 (1.27–1.59)), and prostate cancer (1.61 (1.13–2.28)) compared to no exercise. Coffee consumption and physical exercise showed an interaction in thyroid cancer (p = 0.002). Coffee consumption was related to a decreased risk of gastric cancer, hepatic cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, and thyroid cancer in the adult population. Physical exercise was positively correlated with gastric cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, and prostate cancer.

The Effect of Toothpastes Containing Natural Ingredients Such As Theobromine and Caffeine on Enamel Microhardness: An In Vitro Study

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of biocompatible kinds of toothpastes containing natural ingredients such as theobromine and caffeine on the enamel microhardness after demineralization. 72 maxillary premolar teeth extracted for orthodontic purposes were used in this study. Primary enamel surface microhardness examinations were performed using a Digital Micro Vickers Hardness Tester following the Knoop technique (50 g load for 15 s with three indentations at various points). The specimens were immersed in lactic acid (pH = 5.4) for 7 days, washed with distilled water, dried, and then retested for microhardness. According to the type of toothpaste used for brushing, all specimens were categorized as follows: Group 1, Theodent classic® toothpaste (theobromine); Group 2, Power Energy toothpaste (caffeine); Group 3, Colgate toothpaste (fluoride); and Group 4, distilled water as the negative control. The specimens were retested for enamel microhardness after brushing 2 times a day for one month. After brushing with different types of toothpaste, for all experiment groups, the increase in microhardness values in the demineralized enamel surfaces was significant and there were significant differences between them (p value <0.05). The fluoride group had the highest microhardness and had a significant difference with the caffeine and distilled water groups, but there was no significant difference with the theobromine group (p value <0.05). In the theobromine group, the hardness was considerably higher than in the caffeine and distilled water groups. There was no significant difference between the caffeine and distilled water groups. Theobromine toothpaste had the same remineralization effect as that of fluoride toothpaste, while caffeine toothpaste had no positive effect on the remineralization process.

Targeting Autophagy with Natural Products as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for Cancer

Macro-autophagy (autophagy) is a highly conserved eukaryotic intracellular process of self-digestion caused by lysosomes on demand, which is upregulated as a survival strategy upon exposure to various stressors, such as metabolic insults, cytotoxic drugs, and alcohol abuse. Paradoxically, autophagy dysfunction also contributes to cancer and aging. It is well known that regulating autophagy by targeting specific regulatory molecules in its machinery can modulate multiple disease processes. Therefore, autophagy represents a significant pharmacological target for drug development and therapeutic interventions in various diseases, including cancers. According to the framework of autophagy, the suppression or induction of autophagy can exert therapeutic properties through the promotion of cell death or cell survival, which are the two main events targeted by cancer therapies. Remarkably, natural products have attracted attention in the anticancer drug discovery field, because they are biologically friendly and have potential therapeutic effects. In this review, we summarize the up-to-date knowledge regarding natural products that can modulate autophagy in various cancers. These findings will provide a new position to exploit more natural compounds as potential novel anticancer drugs and will lead to a better understanding of molecular pathways by targeting the various autophagy stages of upcoming cancer therapeutics.

Current strategies to guarantee the authenticity of coffee

As they become more health conscious, consumers are paying increasing attention to food quality and safety. In coffee production, fraudulent strategies to reduce costs and maximize profits include mixing beans from two species of different economic value, the addition of other substances and/or foods, and mislabeling. Therefore, testing for coffee authenticity and detecting adulterants is required for value assessment and consumer protection. Here we provide an overview of the chromatography, spectroscopy, and single-nucleotide polymorphism-based methods used to distinguish between the major coffee species Arabica and Robusta. This review also describes the techniques applied to trace the geographical origin of coffee, based mainly on the chemical composition of the beans, an approach that can discriminate between coffee-growing regions on a continental or more local level. Finally, the analytical techniques used to detect coffee adulteration with other foods and/or coffee by-products are discussed, with a look at the practice of adding pharmacologically active compounds to coffee, and their harmful effects on health.

Targeting Melanoma-Initiating Cells by Caffeine: In Silico and In Vitro Approaches

The beneficial effects of coffee on human diseases are well documented, but the molecular mechanisms of its bioactive compounds on cancer are not completely elucidated. This is likely due to the large heterogeneity of coffee preparations and different coffee-based beverages, but also to the choice of experimental models where proliferation, differentiation and immune responses are differently affected. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of one of the most interesting bioactive compounds in coffee, i.e., caffeine, using a cellular model of melanoma at a defined differentiation level. A preliminary in silico analysis carried out on public gene-expression databases identified genes potentially involved in caffeine’s effects and suggested some specific molecular targets, including tyrosinase. Proliferation was investigated in vitro on human melanoma initiating cells (MICs) and cytokine expression was measured in conditioned media. Tyrosinase was revealed as a key player in caffeine’s mechanisms of action, suggesting a crucial role in immunomodulation through the reduction in IL-1β, IP-10, MIP-1α, MIP-1β and RANTES secretion onto MICs conditioned media. The potent antiproliferative effects of caffeine on MICs are likely to occur by promoting melanin production and reducing inflammatory signals’ secretion. These data suggest tyrosinase as a key player mediating the effects of caffeine on melanoma.

Antitumor Effects of Freeze-Dried Robusta Coffee (Coffea canephora) Extracts on Breast Cancer Cell Lines

Coffee consumption is believed to have chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic effects and to contribute to preventing the development and progression of cancer. However, there is still controversy around these claims. As indicated in our previous works, diet can influence the risk of breast cancer. Intake of coffee is hypothesized to reduce this risk, but current scientific evidence is not conclusive. This work is aimed at studying the effects of Robusta coffee bean extract on cell viability, proliferation, and apoptosis of different human cancers, especially breast cancer cell lines. To this end, cell viability was evaluated by Alamar Blue in 2D and 3D models, the cell cycle by PI, apoptosis by annexin V, mitochondrial morphology, and functionality by mitoTracker, and colony formation capacity by the clonogenic assay. Green and dark coffee extract significantly reduced viability in human breast, colorectal, brain, and bone cancer cells. Coffee anticancer activity was clearly evidenced in MDA-MB-231 (ER⁻) and MCF-7 (ER⁺) breast cancer cells but not in the normal breast cell line. In addition, coffee extract induces an increase S phase and a decrease G2/M population in breast cancer cells, affected the mitochondrial morphology, and triggered apoptosis. MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells lost their clonogenic capacity after treatment. The antitumor activity was demonstrated in both 2D and 3D culture cell models.

Untargeted Metabolomics Reveals Major Differences in the Plasma Metabolome between Colorectal Cancer and Colorectal Adenomas

Sporadic colorectal cancer is characterized by a multistep progression from normal epithelium to precancerous low-risk and high-risk adenomas to invasive cancer. Yet, the underlying molecular mechanisms of colorectal carcinogenesis are not completely understood. Within the "Metabolomic profiles throughout the continuum of colorectal cancer" (MetaboCCC) consortium we analyzed data generated by untargeted, mass spectrometry-based metabolomics using plasma from 88 colorectal cancer patients, 200 patients with high-risk adenomas and 200 patients with low-risk adenomas recruited within the "Colorectal Cancer Study of Austria" (CORSA). Univariate logistic regression models comparing colorectal cancer to adenomas resulted in 442 statistically significant molecular features. Metabolites discriminating colorectal cancer patients from those with adenomas in our dataset included acylcarnitines, caffeine, amino acids, glycerophospholipids, fatty acids, bilirubin, bile acids and bacterial metabolites of tryptophan. The data obtained discovers metabolite profiles reflecting metabolic differences between colorectal cancer and colorectal adenomas and delineates a potentially underlying biological interpretation.

Catechin synergistically potentiates mast cell-stabilizing property of caffeine

Caffeine and catechin, contained in coffee and tea, are commonly consumed substances worldwide. Studies revealed their health promoting functions, such as anti-oxidant, anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties. Additionally, studies also revealed their roles in ameliorating the symptoms of allergic disorders, indicating their anti-allergic properties. In the present study, using the differential-interference contrast (DIC) microscopy, we examined the effects of caffeine and catechin on the degranulation from rat peritoneal mast cells. Both caffeine and catechin dose-dependently decreased the numbers of degranulating mast cells. At concentrations equal to or higher than 25 mM, caffeine and catechin markedly suppressed the numbers of degranulating mast cells. In contrast, at relatively lower concentrations, both substances did not significantly affect the numbers of degranulating mast cells. However, surprisingly enough, low concentrations of catechin (1, 2.5 mM) synergistically enhanced the suppressive effect of 10 mM caffeine on mast cell degranulation. These results provided direct evidence for the first time that caffeine and catechin dose-dependently inhibited the process of exocytosis. At relatively lower concentrations, caffeine or catechin alone did not stabilize mast cells. However, low concentrations of catechin synergistically potentiated the mast cell-stabilizing property of caffeine.

Artemisia scoparia and Metabolic Health: Untapped Potential of an Ancient Remedy for Modern Use

Botanicals have a long history of medicinal use for a multitude of ailments, and many modern pharmaceuticals were originally isolated from plants or derived from phytochemicals. Among these, artemisinin, first isolated from Artemisia annua, is the foundation for standard anti-malarial therapies. Plants of the genus Artemisia are among the most common herbal remedies across Asia and Central Europe. The species Artemisia scoparia (SCOPA) is widely used in traditional folk medicine for various liver diseases and inflammatory conditions, as well as for infections, fever, pain, cancer, and diabetes. Modern in vivo and in vitro studies have now investigated SCOPA's effects on these pathologies and its ability to mitigate hepatotoxicity, oxidative stress, obesity, diabetes, and other disease states. This review focuses on the effects of SCOPA that are particularly relevant to metabolic health. Indeed, in recent years, an ethanolic extract of SCOPA has been shown to enhance differentiation of cultured adipocytes and to share some properties of thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a class of insulin-sensitizing agonists of the adipogenic transcription factor PPARγ. In a mouse model of diet-induced obesity, SCOPA diet supplementation lowered fasting insulin and glucose levels, while inducing metabolically favorable changes in adipose tissue and liver. These observations are consistent with many lines of evidence from various tissues and cell types known to contribute to metabolic homeostasis, including immune cells, hepatocytes, and pancreatic beta-cells. Compounds belonging to several classes of phytochemicals have been implicated in these effects, and we provide an overview of these bioactives. The ongoing global epidemics of obesity and metabolic disease clearly require novel therapeutic approaches. While the mechanisms involved in SCOPA's effects on metabolic, anti-inflammatory, and oxidative stress pathways are not fully characterized, current data support further investigation of this plant and its bioactives as potential therapeutic agents in obesity-related metabolic dysfunction and many other conditions.

Effects of Coffee and Its Components on the Gastrointestinal Tract and the Brain-Gut Axis

Coffee is one of the most popular beverages consumed worldwide. Roasted coffee is a complex mixture of thousands of bioactive compounds, and some of them have numerous potential health-promoting properties that have been extensively studied in the cardiovascular and central nervous systems, with relatively much less attention given to other body systems, such as the gastrointestinal tract and its particular connection with the brain, known as the brain–gut axis. This narrative review provides an overview of the effect of coffee brew; its by-products; and its components on the gastrointestinal mucosa (mainly involved in permeability, secretion, and proliferation), the neural and non-neural components of the gut wall responsible for its motor function, and the brain–gut axis. Despite in vitro, in vivo, and epidemiological studies having shown that coffee may exert multiple effects on the digestive tract, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects on the mucosa, and pro-motility effects on the external muscle layers, much is still surprisingly unknown. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms of action of certain health-promoting properties of coffee on the gastrointestinal tract and to transfer this knowledge to the industry to develop functional foods to improve the gastrointestinal and brain–gut axis health.

Coffee Extends Yeast Chronological Lifespan through Antioxidant Properties

Aging is a multifactorial process accompanied by loss of cell function. Science has been looking for factors responsible for aging for many years. However, despite identifying a number of possible causes, the definite reason for aging has been elusive so far. One of the factors contributing to aging is oxygen free radicals. In this context, beneficial effects of coffee on various organisms, including humans, were investigated, although the results are far from unequivocal. In our research, we used the budding yeast-something of a workhorse in many studies, including the studies of aging. So far, the impact of coffee on the aging of cells in the budding yeast experimental setup has little known about it. Here, we provide strong evidence that coffee compounds, particularly flavonoids, are responsible for scavenging free radicals and longevity in yeast lacking Sod1, Sod2 and Rad52 proteins. In this paper, we compared Arabica and Robusta coffee types. We present an analysis of the concentration of caffeine and flavonoids measured by the High-Performance Liquid Chromatography method. We show that Robusta has a much greater antioxidant capacity than Arabica. We also conclude that coffee infusions significantly extend the chronological lifespan of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast cells by protecting cells against reactive oxygen species, double DNA-strand break and decrease in metabolic activity.

Coffee in cancer chemoprevention: an updated review

INTRODUCTION

Chemoprevention of cancer refers to the use of natural or synthetic compounds to abolish or perturb a variety of steps in tumor initiation, promotion, and progression. This can be realized through different mechanisms, including activation of free radical scavenging enzymes, control of chronic inflammation, and downregulation of specific signaling pathways.

AREAS COVERED

The goal of this article is to critically review recent evidence on association between coffee and prevention of different types of cancer, with particular emphasis on the molecular mechanisms and the bioactive compounds involved in its anticancer activity.

EXPERT OPINION

Coffee is a mixture of different compounds able to decrease the risk of many types of cancer. However, its potential anticancer activity is not completely understood. Hundreds of biologically active components such as caffeine, chlorogenic acid, diterpenes are contained in coffee. Further research is needed to fully elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of coffee and fully understand the role of different confounding factors playing a role in its reported anticancer activity.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Green Tea Epigallocatchin-3-Gallate and Coffee Chlorogenic Acid

Tea and coffee are consumed worldwide and epidemiological and clinical studies have shown their health beneficial effects, including anti-cancer effects. Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and chlorogenic acid (CGA) are the major components of green tea polyphenols and coffee polyphenols, respectively, and believed to be responsible for most of these effects. Although a large number of cell-based and animal experiments have provided convincing evidence to support the anti-cancer effects of green tea, coffee, EGCG, and CGA, human studies are still controversial and some studies have suggested even an increased risk for certain types of cancers such as esophageal and gynecological cancers with green tea consumption and bladder and lung cancers with coffee consumption. The reason for these inconsistent results may have been arisen from various confounding factors. Cell-based and animal studies have proposed several mechanisms whereby EGCG and CGA exert their anti-cancer effects. These components appear to share the common mechanisms, among which one related to reactive oxygen species is perhaps the most attractive. Meanwhile, EGCG and CGA have also different target molecules which might explain the site-specific differences of anti-cancer effects found in human studies. Further studies will be necessary to clarify what is the mechanism to cause such differences between green tea and coffee.

Contents of key bioactive and detrimental compounds in health performance coffees compared to conventional types of coffees sold in the United States market

The United States is the largest coffee consuming country worldwide. Recently, in addition to cup quality, the focus on health promotion has increased significantly in the country, with launching of many brands with health claims, mainly highlighting the antioxidative and stimulating properties of the beverage. On the other hand, mycotoxins and, to a lesser extent, acrylamide, have raised concerns among consumers and health authorities. This study investigated the contents of the main bioactive compounds (caffeine, chlorogenic acids and their 1,5-γ-quinolactones, and trigonelline) in health performance coffees and compared them to those of conventional roasted coffees available on the U.S. market. The following categories were compared by ANOVA at p ≤ 0.05, followed by Fisher's test: 1 - health performance, 2 - gourmet and 3 - traditional, totaling 127 samples. As complementary results, the contents of acrylamide and ochratoxin A were evaluated in part of the samples (n = 58). The mean contents (g per 100 g) of bioactive compounds for categories 1 to 3, respectively, were 1.09, 1.11 and 1.07 for caffeine; 1.75, 1.88 and 1.34 for chlorogenic acids/lactones, and 0.63, 0.64 and 0.56 for trigonelline. The mean contents (μg kg-1) of acrylamide for categories 1 to 3, respectively, were 82, 71 and 85. Only about 7% of the evaluated samples presented quantifiable amounts of OTA and all of them were within the maximum limits established by health authorities. In general, the contents of bioactive and potentially harmful compounds were not consistently different among categories, with high and low individual amounts in all of them. Most health claims on labels related to the amount of bioactive compounds in health performance coffees were unjustified, suggesting the need for improvement in coffee labeling regulation in the U.S.

A Cup of Hemp Coffee by Moka Pot from Southern Italy: An UHPLC-HRMS Investigation

After a long period defined by prohibition of hemp production, this crop has been recently re-evaluated in various industrial sectors. Until now, inflorescences have been considered a processing by-product, not useful for the food industry, and their disposal also represents an economic problem for farmers. The objects of the present work are coffee blends enriched with shredded inflorescences of different cultivars of industrial hemp that underwent solid/liquid extraction into the Italian “moka” coffee maker. The obtained coffee drinks were analyzed by Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) tools for their quali-quantitative phytocannabinoid profiles. The results showed that they are minor constituents compared to chlorogenic acids and caffeine in all samples. In particular, cannabidiolic acid was the most abundant among phytocannabinoids, followed by tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. Neither Δ⁹-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) nor cannabinol, its main oxidation product, were detected. The percentage of total THC never exceeded 0.04%, corresponding to 0.4 mg/kg, far below the current maximum limits imposed by the Italian Ministry of Health. This study opens up a new concrete possibility to exploit hemp processing by-products in order to obtain drinks with high added value and paves the way for further in vitro and in vivo investigations aimed at promoting their benefits for human health.

Coffee Consumption and Lung Cancer Risk: A Prospective Cohort Study in Khon Kaen Thailand

Background:

Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer death worldwide. The incidence of lung cancer in Thailand increasing, but risk factors are rarely reported.

Objective:

To investigate the effect of coffee consumption on lung cancer in Thai population.

Methods:

Between 1990 and 2001, lifestyle and demographic data were collected from 24,528 participants in the Khon Kaen Cohort Study (KKCS), who were followed through 2016, by linking to the Khon Kaen Population-based Cancer Registry. A total of 12,668 eligible participants (68.8% females, mean age 51.0 years at baseline) having complete datasets (239,488 person-years of follow up with 138 incident cases of lung cancer observed) were analyzed using a multi-variable adjusted Cox proportional hazard models.

Results:

Coffee consumption was associated with reduced risk for lung cancer (adj. HR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35-0.84) after adjusting for age and gender. Cigarette smoking (adj. HR = 2.76; 95% CI: 1.32-5.78) and family history of cancer (adj. HR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.10-2.48) were associated with higher risk.

Conclusion:

This study suggests coffee consumption may be a protective factor for lung cancer in among this cohort.

Caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and impact on global DNA methylation in human leukemic cell lines

Dietary phenolic compounds such as caffeic and chlorogenic acid exert an antiproliferative effect and modulate the gene-specific DNA methylation status in human breast tumor cells, but it remains unclear whether they interfere with global DNA methylation in human leukemia cells. We examined whether caffeic and chlorogenic acid (1-250 µM) exert antitumor action in human promyelocytic leukemia cells (HL-60) and human acute T-cell leukemia cells (Jurkat). Caffeic and chlorogenic acid did not reduce cell viability in the two cell lines, as assessed using the neutral red uptake and MTT assays. These phenolic acids (1-100 μM) neither induced DNA damage (comet assay) nor increased the micronuclei frequency (micronucleus assay) in HL-60 and Jurkat cells, indicating that they were not genotoxic or mutagenic. Analysis of global DNA methylation levels using a 5-mC DNA ELISA kit revealed that chlorogenic acid at a non-cytotoxic concentration (100 μM) induced global DNA hypomethylation in Jurkat cells, but not in HL-60 cells, suggesting that it exerts a cell-specific effect. Caffeic acid did not change global DNA methylation. As other phenolic compounds, chlorogenic acid probably modulates DNA methylation by targeting DNA methyltransferases. The hypomethylating action of chlorogenic acid can be beneficial against hematological malignances whose pathogenic processes involve impairment of DNA methylation.