Alliin, an Allium sativum Nutraceutical, ReducesMetaflammation Markers in DIO Mice

Unravelling the Metabolic Underpinnings of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Comprehensive Mendelian Randomisation Analysis Identifying Causal Metabolites and Biological Pathways

BACKGROUND

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) has a strong genetic predisposition. Integrating metabolomics with Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis offers a potent method to uncover the metabolic factors causally linked to GDM pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to identify specific metabolites and metabolic pathways causally associated with GDM susceptibility through a comprehensive MR analysis. Additionally, it seeks to explore the potential of these identified metabolites as circulating biomarkers for early GDM detection and risk assessment. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the implicated metabolic pathways as potential therapeutic targets for preventive or interventional strategies against GDM.

METHODS

A two-sample MR study was conducted using summary statistics from a metabolite genome-wide association study (GWAS) of 8299 individuals and a GDM GWAS comprising 13,039 cases and 197,831 controls. Rigorous criteria were applied to select robust genetic instruments for 850 metabolites.

RESULTS

MR analysis revealed 47 metabolites exhibiting putative causal associations with GDM risk. Among these, five metabolites demonstrated statistically significant associations after multiple-testing correction: Beta-citrylglutamate, Isobutyrylcarnitine (c4), 1,2-dilinoleoyl-GPC (18:2/18:2), Alliin and Cis-3,4-methyleneheptanoylcarnitine. Importantly, all these metabolites exhibited protective effects against GDM development. Additionally, metabolic pathway enrichment analysis implicated the methionine metabolism and spermidine and spermine biosynthesis pathways in the pathogenesis of GDM.

CONCLUSION

This comprehensive MR study has robustly identified specific metabolites and metabolic pathways with causal links to GDM susceptibility. These findings provide novel insights into the metabolic underpinnings of GDM aetiology and offer promising translational implications. The identified metabolites could serve as potential circulating biomarkers for early detection and risk stratification, while the implicated metabolic pathways may represent therapeutic targets for preventive or interventional strategies against GDM.

Anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity potential of alliin mediated by modulating glycolipid metabolism via activating PPARγ signaling

Garlic exhibits hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and cardiovascular benefits. The inconsistent results of garlic preparations on adipogenesis have caused more confusion in the public and academia. The compounds responsible for the anti-adipogenesis effect of garlic remain unknown. The present study aimed to verify the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity component in garlic and explored its possible effects in metabolic syndrome. We verified the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity components of garlic in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and a 10-week-high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. In vitro, two water-soluble and four typical lipid-soluble compounds of garlic were tested for their anti-adipogenesis. Then, the water-soluble compound, alliin, and two processing methods produced garlic oils, were evaluated in vivo study. Mice received oral administration of alliin (25 mg/kg) and garlic oils (15 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks. Serum lipids, parameters of obesity, and indicators involved in regulating glycolipid metabolism were examined. Our findings confirmed that both water-soluble and lipid-soluble organosulfur compounds of garlic contributed to garlic's anti-adipogenesis effect, in which water-soluble sulfides, especially alliin, exhibited greater potency. Alliin possessed potent effects of anti-obesity and improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice. Alliin mediated these effects partly attributed to its modulation of enzymatic activities within glycolipid metabolism and activating PPARγ signaling pathway. In contrast to odorous lipid-soluble sulfides, alliin is odorless, stable, and safe, and is an ideal nutraceutical or even medicinal candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Alliin could be used to standardize the quality of garlic products.

Pectin a multifaceted biopolymer in the management of cancer: A review

This review article focuses on the multifaceted roles of pectin in cancer management, namely as an oncotherapeutic delivery vehicle and a pharmacological agent. Over the past decades, the potential of pectin as a novel therapeutical agent for the prevention and/or management of cancer has gained increasing interest. Pectin has been found to modulate different mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of carcinogenesis, such as galectin-3 inhibition, caspase-3-induced apoptosis, and autophagy. Elucidating the structure-activity relationship provides insight into the relationship between the structure of pectin and different mechanism/s. The bioactivity of pectin, with respect to its structure, was critically discussed to give a better insight of the relationship between the structure of the extracted pectin and the observed bioactive effects. The rhamnogalacturonan I part of the pectin chain was found to bind to galectin-3, associated with several cancer hallmarks. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of pectin were also described. The roles of pectin as a treatment enhancer and a drug delivery vehicle for oncotherapeutics were critically defined. The scientific findings presented in this paper are expected to highlight the potential and role of pectin recovered from various plant sources in preventing and managing cancer.

Beneficial Effects of Daily Consumption of Garlic and Onion Extract Concentrate on Infectious Respiratory Diseases in Elderly Resident Volunteers

Aging is a biological process with high susceptibility to several infections. This risk increases in older patients in residential care facilities (RCF). Thus, there is a clear demand for developing preventive interventions with new therapeutic compounds that combine efficacy and safety. This could be the case of compounds derived from plants of the genus Allium spp. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of a combination of a garlic and onion extract concentrate standardized in organosulfur compounds derived from propiin on the incidence of respiratory tract infections in elderly patients of RCF. Sixty-five volunteers were selected at random to receive a placebo or a single daily dose of the extract for thirty-six weeks. Different clinical visits were performed to evaluate the main respiratory diseases with an infectious origin, as well as the associated symptoms and their duration. The extract showed a clinical safety profile and significantly reduced the incidence of respiratory infections. Moreover, the treatment decreased the number and duration of the associated symptoms compared with the placebo group. For the first time, we demonstrated the protective effect of Alliaceae extract in respiratory infectious diseases in elderly healthy volunteers, which could be used prophylactically against the most common infectious respiratory diseases.

Essential Oils and COVID-19

Herbal products are a major source of herbal medicines and other medicines. Essential oils have shown various pharmacological activities, such as antiviral activity, and therefore are proposed to have potential activity against SARS-CoV-2. Due to their lipophilicity, essential oils can easily penetrate the viral membrane and cause the viral membrane to rupture. In addition, crude essential oils usually have many active constituents that can act on different parts of the virus including its cell entry, translation, transcription, and assembly. They have further beneficial pharmacological effects on the host's respiratory system, including anti-inflammatory, immune regulation, bronchiectasis, and mucolytics. This review reported potential essential oils which could be promising drugs for COVID-19 eradication. Essential oils have many advantages because they are promising volatile antiviral molecules, making them potential drug targets for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19, whether used alone or in combination with other chemotherapeutic drugs. The aim of the current review is to shed light on the potential essential oils against enveloped viruses and their proposed activity against SARS-CoV-2 which is also an enveloped virus. The objectives were to present all data reflecting the promising activities of diverse essential oils against enveloped viruses and how they could contribute to the eradication of COVID disease, especially in indoor places. The data collected for the current review were obtained through the SciFinder database, Google scholar, PubMed, and Mendeley database. The data of the current review focused on the most common essential oils which are available in the pharmaceutical market and showed noticeable activities against enveloped viruses such as HSV and influenza.

β-Caryophyllene: A Therapeutic Alternative for Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction Caused by Obesity

Obesity is an excessive accumulation of fat that exacerbates the metabolic and inflammatory processes. Studies associate these processes with conditions and dysregulation in the intestinal tract, increased concentrations of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) in the blood, differences in the abundance of intestinal microbiota, and the production of secondary metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids. β-Caryophyllene (BCP) is a natural sesquiterpene with anti-inflammatory properties and with the potential purpose of fighting metabolic diseases. A diet-induced obesity model was performed in 16-week-old C57BL/6 mice administered with BCP [50 mg/kg]. A reduction in the expression of Claudin-1 was observed in the group with a high-fat diet (HFD), which was caused by the administration of BCP; besides BCP, the phylaAkkermansia and Bacteroidetes decreased between the groups with a standard diet (STD) vs. HFD. Nevertheless, the use of BCP in the STD increased the expression of these phyla with respect to fatty acids; a similar effect was observed, in the HFD group that had a decreasing concentration that was restored with the use of BCP. The levels of endotoxemia and serum leptin increased in the HFD group, while in the HFD + BCP group, similar values were found to those of the STD group, attributing the ability to reduce these in conditions of obesity.

Cellular Mechanisms Underlying the Cardioprotective Role of Allicin on Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of diseases in which the common denominator is the affection of blood vessels, heart tissue, and heart rhythm. The genesis of CVD is complex and multifactorial; therefore, approaches are often based on multidisciplinary management and more than one drug is used to achieve the optimal control of risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypertrophy, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation). In this context, allicin, a sulfur compound naturally derived from garlic, has shown beneficial effects on several cardiovascular risk factors through the modulation of cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways. Effective pharmacological treatments for CVD or its risk factors have not been developed or are unknown in clinical practice. Thus, this work aimed to review the cellular mechanisms through which allicin exerts its therapeutic effects and to show why it could be a therapeutic option for the prevention or treatment of CVD and its risk factors.

Sulfur compounds: From plants to humans and their role in chronic disease prevention

Sulfur is essential for the health of plants and is an indispensable dietary component for human health and disease prevention. Its incorporation into our food supply is heavily reliant upon the uptake of sulfur into plant tissue and our subsequent intake. Dietary requirements for sulfur are largely calculated based upon requirements for the sulfur-containing amino acids (SAA), cysteine and methionine, to meet the demands for synthesis of proteins, enzymes, co-enzymes, vitamins, and hormones. SAA are found in abundance in animal sources and are relatively low in plants. However, some plants, particularly cruciferous and allium vegetables, produce many protective sulfur-containing secondary metabolites, such as glucosinolates and cysteine sulfoxides. The variety and quantity of these sulfur-containing metabolites are extensive and their effects on human health are wide-reaching. Many benefits appear to be related to sulfur's role in redox biochemistry, protecting against uncontrolled oxidative stress and inflammation; features consistent within cardiometabolic dysfunction and many chronic metabolic diseases of aging. This narrative explores the origins and importance of sulfur, its incorporation into our food supply and dietary sources. It also explores the overarching potential of sulfur for human health, particularly around the amelioration of oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, and subsequent chronic disease prevention.

The Nutraceutical Alliin From Garlic Is a Novel Substrate of the Essential Amino Acid Transporter LAT1 (SLC7A5)

The plasma membrane transporter LAT1 (SLC7A5) is a crucial player for cell homeostasis because it is responsible for providing cells with essential amino acids and hormones. LAT1 forms a functional heterodimer with the cell surface antigen heavy chain CD98 (also known as 4F2hc and SLC3A2), a type II membrane glycoprotein, which is essential for LAT1 stability and localization to the plasma membrane. The relevance of LAT1 for human metabolism is also related to its altered expression in human diseases, such as cancer and diabetes. These features boosted research toward molecules that are able to interact with LAT1; in this respect, the recent resolution of the LAT1-CD98 3D structure by Cryo-EM has opened important perspectives in the study of the interaction with different molecules in order to identify new drugs to be used in therapy or new substrates of natural origin to be employed as adjuvants and food supplements. In this work, the interaction of LAT1 with alliin, a garlic derivative, has been investigated by using a combined approach of bioinformatics and in vitro transport assays. Alliin is a nutraceutical that has several beneficial effects on human health, such as antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. The computational analysis suggested that alliin interacts with the substrate binding site of LAT1, to which alliin was docked. These data were then confirmed by the competitive type inhibition measured in proteoliposomes. Interestingly, in the same experimental model, alliin was also revealed to be a substrate of LAT1.

Dietary Organosulfur-Containing Compounds and Their Health-Promotion Mechanisms

Dietary organosulfur-containing compounds (DOSCs) in fruits, vegetables, and edible mushrooms may hold the key to the health-promotion benefits of these foods. Yet their action mechanisms are not clear, partially due to their high reactivity, which leads to the formation of complex compounds during postharvest processing. Among postharvest processing methods, thermal treatment is the most common way to process these edible plants rich in DOSCs, which undergo complex degradation pathways with the generation of numerous derivatives over a short time. At low temperatures, DOSCs are biotransformed slowly during fermentation to different metabolites (e.g., thiols, sulfides, peptides), whose distinctive biological activity remains largely unexplored. In this review, we discuss the bioavailability of DOSCs in human digestion before illustrating their potential mechanisms for health promotion related to cardiovascular health, cancer chemoprevention, and anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. In particular, it is interesting that different DOSCs react with glutathione or cysteine, leading to the slow release of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which has broad bioactivity in chronic disease prevention. In addition, DOSCs may interact with protein thiol groups of different protein targets of importance related to inflammation and phase II enzyme upregulation, among other action pathways critical for health promotion.

Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Food Science and Technology, Volume 13 is March 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

Morphological and molecular characterization of garlic (Allium sativum L.) genotypes sampled from Turkey

Garlic is a vegetable widely used both in food and as a pharmaceutical raw material in the world due to its contents. Although morphological differences are observed in garlic, which is obligatory apomictically propagated, clonal propagation causes narrowing variation, a genetic bottleneck. This situation complicates breeding programs aiming improvements in preferred agronomic characteristics. For this reason, determining the morphological and molecular differences between garlic genotypes originating from Turkey is important for breeding studies. In this study, morphological and molecular characteristics of 39 garlic genotypes, which are widely cultivated in Turkey, were determined. Kahramanmaraş4 genotype was different from other genotypes in terms of some morphological features (fresh weight, dry weight, and bulb diameter). In the molecular characterization study, 10 Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) primers were used, and it was determined that the genotype TekDiş31 of Tunceli region was different from other garlic genotypes. Genetic similarity coefficient was found to be high (0.85-1.0) in genotypes except for TekDiş31 garlic genotype. In general, some garlic clones (Maraş3 and Kayseri30, Urfa33 and Topaklı35, Kastamonu22 and Kastamonu28, Urfa10 and Kastamonu14, Kastamonu29 and Bademci23) were completely similar to each other, while few differences were found among others. In conclusion, this study revealed that the garlic plant, despite its clonal propagation, consisted of some level of morphological and partially molecular variation. Due to its mode of reproduction (vegetative), this variation may largely be due to point or chromosomal mutation. Furthermore, the 10 identified ISSR primers can generate valuable information for genetic diversity for use by garlic breeders.

Allicin, an Antioxidant and Neuroprotective Agent, Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment

Allicin (diallylthiosulfinate) is a defense molecule produced by cellular contents of garlic (Allium sativum L.). On tissue damage, the non-proteinogenic amino acid alliin (S-allylcysteine sulfoxide) is converted to allicin in an enzyme-mediated process catalysed by alliinase. Allicin is hydrophobic in nature, can efficiently cross the cellular membranes and behaves as a reactive sulfur species (RSS) inside the cells. It is physiologically active molecule with the ability to oxidise the thiol groups of glutathione and between cysteine residues in proteins. Allicin has shown anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties and also serves as an efficient therapeutic agent against cardiovascular diseases. In this context, the present review describes allicin as an antioxidant, and neuroprotective molecule that can ameliorate the cognitive abilities in case of neurodegenerative and neuropsychological disorders. As an antioxidant, allicin fights the reactive oxygen species (ROS) by downregulation of NOX (NADPH oxidizing) enzymes, it can directly interact to reduce the cellular levels of different types of ROS produced by a variety of peroxidases. Most of the neuroprotective actions of allicin are mediated via redox-dependent pathways. Allicin inhibits neuroinflammation by suppressing the ROS production, inhibition of TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB, P38 and JNK pathways. As an inhibitor of cholinesterase and (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) it can be applied to manage the Alzheimer's disease, helps to maintain the balance of neurotransmitters in case of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactive syndrome (ADHD). In case of acute traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) allicin protects neuron damage by regulating inflammation, apoptosis and promoting the expression levels of Nrf2 (nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2). Metal induced neurodegeneration can also be attenuated and cognitive abilities of patients suffering from neurological diseases can be ameliorates by allicin administration.

Nutraceuticals and Herbs in Reducing the Risk and Improving the Treatment of COVID-19 by Targeting SARS-CoV-2

The worldwide transmission of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) as a deadly or devastating disease is known to affect thousands of people every day, many of them dying all over the planet. The main reason for the massive effect of COVID-19 on society is its unpredictable spread, which does not allow for proper planning or management of this disease. Antibiotics, antivirals, and other prescription drugs, necessary and used in therapy, obviously have side effects (minor or significant) on the affected person, there are still not clear enough studies to elucidate their combined effect in this specific treatment, and existing protocols are sometimes unclear and uncertain. In contrast, it has been found that nutraceuticals, supplements, and various herbs can be effective in reducing the chances of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but also in alleviating COVID-19 symptoms. However, not enough specific details are yet available, and precise scientific studies to validate the approved benefits of natural food additives, probiotics, herbs, and nutraceuticals will need to be standardized according to current regulations. These alternative treatments may not have a direct effect on the virus or reduce the risk of infection with it, but these products certainly stimulate the human immune system so that the body is better prepared to fight the disease. This paper aims at a specialized literary foray precisely in the field of these “cures” that can provide real revelations in the therapy of coronavirus infection

Extraction process and method validation for bioactive compounds from Citrus reticulata cv. Chachiensis: Application of response surface methodology and HPLC–DAD

Citrus reticulata cv. Chachiensis, a traditional Chinese herb, has extensive medicinal and edible effects. 3′,4′,5,6,7,8-Hexamethoxyflavone (HM) and 5,6,7,8,4′-pentamethoxyflavone (PM) are main bioactive compounds in Chachiensis, which have been reported to possess various biological properties. In this study, supercritical CO2 extraction (SCE) and high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) were utilized to prepare HM and PM from Chachiensis. The contents of target compounds were determined by a high-performance liquid chromatography method with diode-array detection (HPLC-DAD), which was validated using the following parameters: linearity, sensitivity, repeatability, stability, precision and accuracy. The SCE conditions were optimized using response surface methodology with central composite design. Obtained optimum conditions were temperature of 37.9 °C, pressure of 26.3 MPa, and modifier volume of 81.0 mL. Under above conditions, the recoveries of target compounds were 92.52 ± 0.83 and 96.36 ± 0.43%, respectively. The most appropriate solvent system for HSCCC was selected as n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1:0.8:1:1.2, v/v). The HSCCC fractions were detected by HPLC-DAD, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR and 13C NMR). The results indicated that this method was successfully applied to obtain HM and PM with high purities and high recoveries from Chachiensis.

From the distinctive smell to therapeutic effects: Garlic for cardiovascular, hepatic, gut, diabetes and chronic kidney disease

Garlic, a member of the Allium family, widely used in cooking for many centuries, displays well described antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, as a result of its constituent organosulfur compounds, such as alliin, allicin, ajoene S-allyl-cysteine, diallyl sulfide and diallyl disulfide, among others. Although garlic has demonstrated beneficial effects in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer, its efficacy as a therapeutic intervention in chronic kidney disease remains to be proven. This review thus focuses on the potential benefits of garlic as a treatment option in chronic kidney disease. and its ability to mitigate associated cardiovascular complications and gut dysbiosis.

The effects of allium sativum on immunity within the scope of COVID-19 infection

The severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is quite variable and the manifestations varies from asymptomatic disease to severe acute respiratory infection. Fever, dry cough, dyspnea, myalgia, fatigue, loss of appetite, olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions are the most prevalent general symptoms. Decreased immune system cells such as suppressed regulatory T cells, cytotoxic and helper T cells, natural killer cells, monocytes/macrophages and increased proinflammatory cytokines are the characteristic features. Compounds derived from Allium sativum (garlic) have the potential to decrease the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and to reverse the immunological abnormalities to more acceptable levels. Allium sativum is suggested as a beneficial preventive measure before being infected with SARS-CoV-2 virus. Allium sativum is a functional food well-known for its immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiinflammatory, antimutagenic, antitumor properties. Its antiviral efficiency was also demonstrated. Some constituents of this plant were found to be active against protozoan parasites. Within this context, it appears to reverse most immune system dysfunctions observed in patients with COVID-19 infection. The relations among immune system parameters, leptin, leptin receptor, adenosin mono phosphate-activated protein kinase, peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma have also been interpreted. Leptin's role in boosting proinflammatory cytokines and in appetite decreasing suggest the possible beneficial effect of decreasing the concentration of this proinflammatory adipose tissue hormone in relieving some symptoms detected during COVID-19 infection. In conclusion, Allium sativum may be an acceptable preventive measure against COVID-19 infection to boost immune system cells and to repress the production and secretion of proinflammatory cytokines as well as an adipose tissue derived hormone leptin having the proinflammatory nature.

Natural Drugs as a Treatment Strategy for Cardiovascular Disease through the Regulation of Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress (OS) refers to the physiological imbalance between oxidative and antioxidative processes leading to increased oxidation, which then results in the inflammatory infiltration of neutrophils, increased protease secretion, and the production of a large number of oxidative intermediates. Oxidative stress is considered an important factor in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease (CVD). At present, active components of Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) have been widely used for the treatment of CVD, including coronary heart disease and hypertension. Since the discovery of artemisinin for the treatment of malaria by Nobel laureate Youyou Tu, the therapeutic effects of active components of CHM on various diseases have been widely investigated by the medical community. It has been found that various active CHM components can regulate oxidative stress and the circulatory system, including ginsenoside, astragaloside, and resveratrol. This paper reviews advances in the use of active CHM components that modulate oxidative stress, suggesting potential drugs for the treatment of various CVDs.