Intravenous Administration of Lycopene, a Tomato Extract, Protects against Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Nutrients. 2016;8:138. [PMID: 26950150 PMCID: PMC4808867 DOI: 10.3390/nu8030138]

Ischemia-reperfusion injury: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury paradoxically occurs during reperfusion following ischemia, exacerbating the initial tissue damage. The limited understanding of the intricate mechanisms underlying I/R injury hinders the development of effective therapeutic interventions. The Wnt signaling pathway exhibits extensive crosstalk with various other pathways, forming a network system of signaling pathways involved in I/R injury. This review article elucidates the underlying mechanisms involved in Wnt signaling, as well as the complex interplay between Wnt and other pathways, including Notch, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B, transforming growth factor-β, nuclear factor kappa, bone morphogenetic protein, N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor-Ca2+-Activin A, Hippo-Yes-associated protein, toll-like receptor 4/toll-interleukine-1 receptor domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β, and hepatocyte growth factor/mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor. In particular, we delve into their respective contributions to key pathological processes, including apoptosis, the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, extracellular matrix remodeling, angiogenesis, cell hypertrophy, fibrosis, ferroptosis, neurogenesis, and blood-brain barrier damage during I/R injury. Our comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms involved in Wnt signaling during I/R reveals that activation of the canonical Wnt pathway promotes organ recovery, while activation of the non-canonical Wnt pathways exacerbates injury. Moreover, we explore novel therapeutic approaches based on these mechanistic findings, incorporating evidence from animal experiments, current standards, and clinical trials. The objective of this review is to provide deeper insights into the roles of Wnt and its crosstalk signaling pathways in I/R-mediated processes and organ dysfunction, to facilitate the development of innovative therapeutic agents for I/R injury.

Potential Role of Natural Antioxidants in Countering Reperfusion Injury in Acute Myocardial Infarction and Ischemic Stroke

Stroke and acute myocardial infarction are leading causes of mortality worldwide. The latter accounts for approximately 9 million deaths annually. In turn, ischemic stroke is a significant contributor to adult physical disability globally. While reperfusion is crucial for tissue recovery, it can paradoxically exacerbate damage through oxidative stress (OS), inflammation, and cell death. Therefore, it is imperative to explore diverse approaches aimed at minimizing ischemia/reperfusion injury to enhance clinical outcomes. OS primarily arises from an excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and/or decreased endogenous antioxidant potential. Natural antioxidant compounds can counteract the injury mechanisms linked to ROS. While promising preclinical results, based on monotherapies, account for protective effects against tissue injury by ROS, translating these models into human applications has yielded controversial evidence. However, since the wide spectrum of antioxidants having diverse chemical characteristics offers varied biological actions on cell signaling pathways, multitherapy has emerged as a valuable therapeutic resource. Moreover, the combination of antioxidants in multitherapy holds significant potential for synergistic effects. This study was designed with the aim of providing an updated overview of natural antioxidants suitable for preventing myocardial and cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injuries.

LED Technology Applied to Plant Development for Promoting the Accumulation of Bioactive Compounds: A Review

Light is an important environmental factor for plants. The quality of light and the wavelength stimulate enzyme activation, regulate enzyme synthesis pathways and promote bioactive compound accumulation. In this respect, the utilization of LED light under controlled conditions in agriculture and horticulture could be the most suitable choice for increasing the nutritional values of various crops. In recent decades, LED lighting has been increasingly used in horticulture and agriculture for commercial-scale breeding of many species of economic interest. Most studies on the influence of LED lighting on the accumulation of bioactive compounds in any type of plants (horticultural, agricultural species or sprouts) and also biomass production, were carried out in growth chambers under controlled conditions, without natural light. Illumination with LED could be a solution for obtaining an important crop with maximum efficiency, with a high nutritional value and minimum effort. To demonstrate the importance of LED lighting in agriculture and horticulture, we carried out a review based on a large number of results cited in the literature. The results were collected from 95 articles and were obtained using the keyword LED combined with plant growth; flavonoids; phenols; carotenoids; terpenes; glucosinolates; food preservation. We found the subject regarding the LED effect on plant growth and development in 11 of the articles analyzed. The treatment of LED on phenol content was registered in 19 articles, while information regarding flavonoid concentrations was revealed by 11 articles. Two articles we reviewed debate the accumulation of glucosinolates and four articles analyzed the synthesis of terpenes under LED illumination and 14 papers analyzed the variation in content of carotenoids. The effect of LED on food preservation was reported in 18 of the works analyzed. Some of the 95 papers contained references which included more keywords.

Lycopene attenuates the inflammation and apoptosis in aristolochic acid nephropathy by targeting the Nrf2 antioxidant system

Lycopene (LYC) is a carotenoid, has antioxidant properties. This study investigated whether lycopene attenuates aristolochic acids (AAs) -induced chronic kidney disease. In this experiment, lycopene was used to intervene C57BL/6 mice with renal injury induced by aristolochic acid exposure. The histomorphological changes and serological parameters of the kidney were measured in order to assess the alleviating effect of lycopene on renal injury in aristolochic acid nephropathy. In vitro and in vivo experiments were carried out to verify the main mechanism of action and drug targets of lycopene in improving aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) and by various experimental methods such as ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western-blot and qRT-PCR. The results showed that oxidative stress injury was induced in the kidney of mice after AAI exposure, resulting in inflammatory response and tubular epithelial cell apoptosis. The results showed that the Nrf2/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway was inhibited after AAI exposure. AAI induces oxidative stress injury in the kidney, which ultimately leads to inflammation and tubular epithelial cell apoptosis. After LYC intervened in the body, it activated Nrf2 nuclear translocation and its downstream HO-1 and NQO1 antioxidant signaling pathways. LYC inhibited ROS production by renal tubular epithelial cells, and alleviated mitochondrial damage. LYC further modulated the TNF-α/NF-κB signaling cascade, thereby reduced the accumulation of inflammatory factors in the renal interstitium. Moreover, LYC was able to up-regulate the expression of Bcl-2, down-regulate Bax expression and inhibit the activation of cleaved forms of Caspase-9 and Caspase-3, which finally attenuated the apoptosis of the mitochondrial pathway induced by AAI exposure. It was concluded that lycopene was able to activate the Nrf2 antioxidant signaling pathway to maintain the homeostasis of renal oxidative stress and ultimately attenuated renal inflammatory response and apoptosis. These results suggested that lycopene can be used as a drug to relieve AAN.

Effects of Lycopene Attenuating Injuries in Ischemia and Reperfusion

Tissue and organ ischemia can lead to cell trauma, tissue necrosis, irreversible damage, and death. While intended to reverse ischemia, reperfusion can further aggravate an ischemic injury (ischemia-reperfusion injury, I/R injury) through a range of pathologic processes. An I/R injury to one organ can also harm other organs, leading to systemic multiorgan failure. A type of carotenoid, lycopene, has been shown to treat and prevent many diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, male infertility, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disease), making it a hot research topic in health care. Some recent researches have suggested that lycopene can evidently ameliorate ischemic and I/R injuries to many organs, but few clinical studies are available. Therefore, it is essential to review the effects of lycopene on ischemic and I/R injuries to different organs, which may help further research into its potential clinical applications.

Cardiovascular Disease and Possible Ways in Which Lycopene Acts as an Efficient Cardio-Protectant against Different Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Foods rich in antioxidants such as lycopene have a major role in maintaining cardiac health. Lycopene, 80% of which can be obtained by consuming a common vegetable such as tomato, can prevent the disturbances that contribute to cardiovascular disease (CVD). The present work begins with a brief introduction to CVD and lycopene and its various properties such as bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, etc. In this review, the potential cardio-protective effects of lycopene that reduce the progression of CVD and thrombotic complications are detailed. Further, the protective effects of lycopene including in vitro, in vivo and clinical trials conducted on lycopene for CVD protective effects are explained. Finally, the controversial aspect of lycopene as a protective agent against CVD and toxicity are also mentioned.

Promising Therapeutic Candidate for Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury: What Are the Possible Mechanisms and Roles of Phytochemicals?

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the most effective reperfusion strategies for acute myocardial infarction (AMI) despite myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, causing one of the causes of most cardiomyocyte injuries and deaths. The pathological processes of myocardial I/R injury include apoptosis, autophagy, and irreversible cell death caused by calcium overload, oxidative stress, and inflammation. Eventually, myocardial I/R injury causes a spike of further cardiomyocyte injury that contributes to final infarct size (IS) and bound with hospitalization of heart failure as well as all-cause mortality within the following 12 months. Therefore, the addition of adjuvant intervention to improve myocardial salvage and cardiac function calls for further investigation. Phytochemicals are non-nutritive bioactive secondary compounds abundantly found in Chinese herbal medicine. Great effort has been put into phytochemicals because they are often in line with the expectations to improve myocardial I/R injury without compromising the clinical efficacy or to even produce synergy. We summarized the previous efforts, briefly outlined the mechanism of myocardial I/R injury, and focused on exploring the cardioprotective effects and potential mechanisms of all phytochemical types that have been investigated under myocardial I/R injury. Phytochemicals deserve to be utilized as promising therapeutic candidates for further development and research on combating myocardial I/R injury. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to provide a better understanding of the mechanism of myocardial I/R injury treatment using phytochemicals and possible side effects associated with this approach.

Lycopene prevents oxygen-glucose deprivation-induced autophagic death in SH-SY5Y cells via inhibition of the oxidative stress-activated AMPK/mTOR pathway

Lycopene has been reported to exert a protective effect on the brain against transient ischemia‑induced damage; however, whether it could regulate autophagic neuronal death remains elusive. The present study aimed to investigate the role of autophagy in the protective effects of lycopene against neuronal damage and its underlying mechanism. Oxygen‑glucose deprivation (OGD) was used to simulate neuronal ischemic injury in human SH‑SY5Y cells. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay revealed that OGD induced SH‑SY5Y cell death. Western blotting demonstrated that OGD upregulated the expression levels of the autophagy marker proteins autophagy protein 5 (ATG5) and LC3II, but downregulated the autophagy substrate p62 in a time‑dependent manner. By contrast, OGD‑induced cell death was significantly inhibited by the autophagy inhibitors 3‑methyladenine or bafilomycin A1 or by knockdown of ATG5, indicating that OGD may induce autophagic death in SH‑SY5Y cells. Notably, lycopene was shown not only to prevent OGD‑induced SH‑SY5Y cell death, but was also able to effectively inhibit OGD‑induced upregulation of ATG5 and LC3II, and downregulation of p62 in a dose‑dependent manner. Mechanistically, it was suggested that lycopene inhibited OGD‑induced activation of the AMPK/mTOR pathway via attenuation of oxidative stress by maintaining the intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, the inhibitory role of lycopene in GSH depletion was found to be associated with the prevention of OGD‑induced depletion of intracellular cysteine and downregulation of xCT. Collectively, the present study demonstrated that lycopene protected SH‑SY5Y cells against OGD‑induced autophagic death by inhibiting oxidative stress‑dependent activation of the AMPK/mTOR pathway.

Role of Oxidative Stress in Reperfusion following Myocardial Ischemia and Its Treatments

Myocardial ischemia is a disease with high morbidity and mortality, for which reperfusion is currently the standard intervention. However, the reperfusion may lead to further myocardial damage, known as myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (MI/RI). Oxidative stress is one of the most important pathological mechanisms in reperfusion injury, which causes apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation, and some other damage in cardiomyocytes through multiple pathways, thus causing irreversible cardiomyocyte damage and cardiac dysfunction. This article reviews the pathological mechanisms of oxidative stress involved in reperfusion injury and the interventions for different pathways and targets, so as to form systematic treatments for oxidative stress-induced myocardial reperfusion injury and make up for the lack of monotherapy.

Application of Light-Emitting Diodes for Improving the Nutritional Quality and Bioactive Compound Levels of Some Crops and Medicinal Plants

Light is a key factor that affects phytochemical synthesis and accumulation in plants. Due to limitations of the environment or cultivated land, there is an urgent need to develop indoor cultivation systems to obtain higher yields with increased phytochemical concentrations using convenient light sources. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have several advantages, including consumption of lesser power, longer half-life, higher efficacy, and wider variation in the spectral wavelength than traditional light sources; therefore, these devices are preferred for in vitro culture and indoor plant growth. Moreover, LED irradiation of seedlings enhances plant biomass, nutrient and secondary metabolite levels, and antioxidant properties. Specifically, red and blue LED irradiation exerts strong effects on photosynthesis, stomatal functioning, phototropism, photomorphogenesis, and photosynthetic pigment levels. Additionally, ex vitro plantlet development and acclimatization can be enhanced by regulating the spectral properties of LEDs. Applying an appropriate LED spectral wavelength significantly increases antioxidant enzyme activity in plants, thereby enhancing the cell defense system and providing protection from oxidative damage. Since different plant species respond differently to lighting in the cultivation environment, it is necessary to evaluate specific wavebands before large-scale LED application for controlled in vitro plant growth. This review focuses on the most recent advances and applications of LEDs for in vitro culture organogenesis. The mechanisms underlying the production of different phytochemicals, including phenolics, flavonoids, carotenoids, anthocyanins, and antioxidant enzymes, have also been discussed.

Lycopene as a Natural Antioxidant Used to Prevent Human Health Disorders

Lycopene, belonging to the carotenoids, is a tetraterpene compound abundantly found in tomato and tomato-based products. It is fundamentally recognized as a potent antioxidant and a non-pro-vitamin A carotenoid. Lycopene has been found to be efficient in ameliorating cancer insurgences, diabetes mellitus, cardiac complications, oxidative stress-mediated malfunctions, inflammatory events, skin and bone diseases, hepatic, neural and reproductive disorders. This review summarizes information regarding its sources and uses amongst different societies, its biochemistry aspects, and the potential utilization of lycopene and possible mechanisms involved in alleviating the abovementioned disorders. Furthermore, future directions with the possible use of this nutraceutical against lifestyle-related disorders are emphasized. Its protective effects against recommended doses of toxic agents and toxicity and safety are also discussed.

Potential inhibitory effect of lycopene on prostate cancer

Studying prostate cancer is important due to its high annual incidences and mortality rates in the world. Although prostate cancer mortality rates are reduced using new therapy, complicated routes and side effects of these current drugs require a daily available treatment for prevention. Lycopene is a natural, prominent, and effective product which has a high value in diet. The anti-cancer effect, non-toxicity, safety and preventive or therapeutic roles of lycopene have been investigated in several studies. In the current review, we have collected information about the anti-cancer, anti-progressive and apoptotic effects of lycopene on prostate cancer. This article is a summary of the most important original and review articles on lycopene and its anticancer effects that are systematically categorized and presents information about the molecular structure, different sources, biological functions, and its in-vivo and in-vitro effects of lycopene on variety of cancerous and normal cells. The clinical studies provide a clear image for continuous use of this adjunctive dietary for different type of cancers, especially prostate cancer in men. In addition, this article discusses the various molecular pathways activated by lycopene that eventually prevent or suppress cancer. Lycopene has been found to effectively suppress the progression and proliferation, arrest in-cell cycle, and induce apoptosis of prostate cancer cells in both in-vivo and in-vitro conditions. Additionally, lycopene showed that it could modulate the signaling pathways and their protein for the treatment or prevention of prostate cancer.

Myocardial reperfusion injury and oxidative stress: Therapeutic opportunities

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is the leading cause of death worldwide. Its associated mortality, morbidity and complications have significantly decreased with the development of interventional cardiology and percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PCA) treatment, which quickly and effectively restore the blood flow to the area previously subjected to ischemia. Paradoxically, the restoration of blood flow to the ischemic zone leads to a massive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) which generate rapid and severe damage to biomolecules, generating a phenomenon called myocardial reperfusion injury (MRI). In the clinical setting, MRI is associated with multiple complications such as lethal reperfusion, no-reflow, myocardial stunning, and reperfusion arrhythmias. Despite significant advances in the understanding of the mechanisms accounting for the myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury, it remains an unsolved problem. Although promising results have been obtained in experimental studies (mainly in animal models), these benefits have not been translated into clinical settings. Thus, clinical trials have failed to find benefits from any therapy to prevent MRI. There is major evidence with respect to the contribution of oxidative stress to MRI in cardiovascular diseases. The lack of consistency between basic studies and clinical trials is not solely based on the diversity inherent in epidemiology but is also a result of the methodological weaknesses of some studies. It is quite possible that pharmacological issues, such as doses, active ingredients, bioavailability, routes of administration, co-therapies, startup time of the drug intervention, and its continuity may also have some responsibility for the lack of consistency between different studies. Furthermore, the administration of high ascorbate doses prior to reperfusion appears to be a safe and rational therapy against the development of oxidative damage associated with myocardial reperfusion. In addition, the association with N-acetylcysteine (a glutathione donor) and deferoxamine (an iron chelator) could improve the antioxidant cardioprotection by ascorbate, making it even more effective in preventing myocardial reperfusion damage associated with PCA following AMI.

Quantification of Lycopene, β-Carotene, and Total Soluble Solids in Intact Red-Flesh Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) Using On-Line Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

A great interest has recently been focused on lycopene and β-carotene, because of their antioxidant action in the organism. Red-flesh watermelon is one of the main sources of lycopene as the most abundant carotenoid. The use of near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) in post-harvesting has permitted us to rapidly quantify lycopene, β-carotene, and total soluble solids (TSS) on single intact fruits. Watermelons, harvested in 2013–2015, were submitted to near-infrared (NIR) radiation while being transported along a conveyor belt system, stationary and in movement, and at different positions on the belt. Eight hundred spectra from 100 samples were collected as calibration set in the 900–1700 nm interval. Calibration models were performed using partial least squares (PLS) regression on pre-treated spectra (derivatives and SNV) in the ranges 2.65–151.75 mg/kg (lycopene), 0.19–9.39 mg/kg (β-carotene), and 5.3%–13.7% (TSS). External validation was carried out with 35 new samples and on 35 spectra. The PLS models for intact watermelon could predict lycopene with R² = 0.877 and SECV = 15.68 mg/kg, β-carotene with R² = 0.822 and SECV = 0.81 mg/kg, and TSS with R² = 0.836 and SECV = 0.8%. External validation has confirmed predictive ability with R² = 0.805 and RMSEP = 16.19 mg/kg for lycopene, R2 = 0.737 and RMSEP = 0.96 mg/kg for β-carotene, and R² = 0.707 and RMSEP = 1.4% for TSS. The results allow for the market valorization of fruits.

Protective effect of lycopene on high-fat diet-induced cognitive impairment in rats

A Western diet, high in saturated fats, has been linked to the development of cognitive impairment. Lycopene has recently received considerable attention for its potent protective properties demonstrated in several models of nervous system dysfunction. However, it remains unclear whether lycopene exerts protective effects on cognition. The present study aimed to investigate the protective effects of lycopene on learning and memory impairment and the potential underlying mechanism in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). One-month-old male rats were fed different diets for 16 weeks (n=12 per group), including a standard chow diet (CD), a HFD, or a HFD plus lycopene (4mg/kg, oral gavage in the last three weeks). Behavioral testing, including the Morris water maze (MWM), object recognition task (ORT), and anxiety-like behavior in an open field (OF), were assessed at week 16. The dendritic spine density and neuronal density in the hippocampal CA1 subfield were subsequently measured. The results indicate that HFD consumption for 16 weeks significantly impaired spatial memory (P<0.001), working memory (P<0.01), and object recognition memory (P<0.01), decreased the dendritic spine density (P<0.001), damaged pyramidal neurons in the CA1 subfield (P<0.001) compared with the CD group. However, lycopene significantly attenuated learning and memory impairments and prevented the reduction in dendritic spine density (P<0.001). Thus, this study indicated that lycopene helps to protect HFD induced cognitive dysfunction.