Dietary glucosinolates inhibit splenic inflammation in high fat/cholesterol diet-fed C57BL/6 mice

Isothiocyanates in medicine: A comprehensive review on phenylethyl-, allyl-, and benzyl-isothiocyanates

In recent years, isothiocyanates (ITCs), bioactive compounds primarily derived from Brassicaceae vegetables and herbs, have gained significant attention within the biomedical field due to their versatile biological effects. This comprehensive review provides an in-depth exploration of the therapeutic potential and individual biological mechanisms of the three specific ITCs phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), and benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), as well as their collective impact within the formulation of ANGOCIN® Anti-Infekt N (Angocin). Angocin comprises horseradish root (Armoracia rusticanae radix, 80 mg) and nasturtium (Tropaeoli majoris herba, 200 mg) and is authorized for treating inflammatory diseases affecting the respiratory and urinary tract. The antimicrobial efficacy of this substance has been confirmed both in vitro and in various clinical trials, with its primary effectiveness attributed to ITCs. PEITC, AITC, and BITC exhibit a wide array of health benefits, including potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties, along with noteworthy anticancer potentials. Moreover, we highlight their ability to modulate critical biochemical pathways, such as the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), and signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways, shedding light on their involvement in cellular apoptosis and their intricate role to guide immune responses.

The Trichinella spiralis-derived antigens alleviate HFD-induced obesity and inflammation in mice

Obesity, an increasingly prevalent disease worldwide, is accompanied by chronic inflammation and intestinal dysbiosis. Helminth infections have been increasingly proved to exhibit a protective role in several inflammation-associated diseases. Considering the side effects of live parasite therapy, efforts have been made to develop helminth-derived antigens as promising candidates with fewer adverse effects. This study aimed to evaluate the effect and mechanisms of TsAg (T. spiralis-derived antigens) on obesity and the associated inflammation in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet or HFD with or without TsAg treatment. The results reported that TsAg treatment alleviated body weight gain and chronic inflammation induced by HFD. In the adipose tissue, TsAg treatment prevented macrophage infiltration, reduced the expression of Th1-type (IFN-γ) and Th17-type (IL-17A) cytokines while upregulating the production of Th2-type (IL-4) cytokines. Furthermore, TsAg treatment enhanced brown adipose tissue activation and energy and lipid metabolism and reduced intestinal dysbiosis, intestinal barrier permeability and LPS/TLR4 axis inflammation. Finally, the protective role of TsAg against obesity was transmissible via the fecal microbiota transplantation approach. For the first time, our findings showed that TsAg alleviated HFD-induced obesity and inflammation via modulation of the gut microbiota and balancing the immune disorders, suggesting that TsAg might be a safer promising therapeutic strategy for obesity.