Intracellular signaling pathways of inflammation modulated by dietary flavonoids: The most recent evidence

The role of dietary flavonoids for modulation of ATP binding cassette transporter mediated multidrug resistance

Flavonoids are widely existing compounds with enormous pharmacological effects from food and medicine. However, the low bioavailability in intestinal absorption and metabolism limits their clinical application. Intestinal efflux ABC (ATP binding cassette) transporters, including P-glycoprotein (P-gp), breast cancer resistance protein (BCRP) and multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs), act as "pumping doors" to regulate the efflux of flavonoids from intestinal epithelial cells into the intestinal cavity or the systemic circulation. The present review describes the critical effect of ABC transporters involved in the efflux of flavonoids which depend on its efflux direction. And the role of flavonoids for modulation of intestinal ABC transporters was emphasized and several examples were given. We summarized that the resistance effect of flavonoid-mediated multidrug on ABC transporters may influence the bioavailability of drugs, bioactive ingredients and/or toxic compounds upon dietary uptake. Meanwhile, flavonoids functionalized as reversing agents of the ABC transporter may be an important mechanism for unexpected food-drug, food-toxin or food-food interactions. The overview also indicates that elucidation of the action and mechanism of the intestinal metabolic enzymes-efflux transporters coupling will lay a foundation for improving the bioavailability of flavonoids <i>in vivo</i> and increasing their clinical efficacy.

The Potential Role of Phytonutrients Flavonoids Influencing Gut Microbiota in the Prophylaxis and Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), characterized by the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, is comprised of two idiopathic chronic intestinal inflammatory diseases. As the incidence of IBD increases, so does the need for safe and effective treatments. Trillions of microorganisms are colonized in the mammalian intestine, coevolve with the host in a symbiotic relationship. Gut microbiota has been reported to be involved in the pathophysiology of IBD. In this regard, phytonutrients flavonoids have received increasing attention for their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In this review, we address recent advances in the interactions among flavonoids, gut microbiota, and IBD. Moreover, their possible potential mechanisms of action in IBD have been discussed. We conclude that there is a complex interaction between flavonoids and gut microbiota. It is expected that flavonoids can change or reshape the gut microbiota to provide important considerations for developing treatments for IBD.

Targeting Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway by bioactive natural agents: Possible therapeutic strategy to combat liver disease

BACKGROUND

Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2), a stress-activated transcription factor, has been documented to induce a defense mechanism against oxidative stress damage, and growing evidence considers this signaling pathway a key pharmacological target for the treatment of liver diseases.

PURPOSE

The present review highlights the role of phytochemical compounds in activating Nrf2 and mitigate toxicant-induced stress on liver injury.

METHODS

A comprehensive search of published articles was carried out to focus on original publications related to Nrf2 activators against liver disease using various literature databases, including the scientific Databases of Science Direct, Web of Science, Pubmed, Google, EMBASE, and Scientific Information (SID).

RESULTS

Nrf2 activators exhibited promising effects in resisting a variety of liver diseases induced by different toxicants in preclinical experiments and in vitro studies by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as an antioxidant defense mechanism. We found that the phytochemical compounds, such as curcumin, naringenin, sulforaphane, diallyl disulfide, mangiferin, oleanolic acid, umbelliferone, daphnetin, quercetin, isorhamnetin-3-O-galactoside, hesperidin, diammonium glycyrrhizinate, corilagin, shikonin, farrerol, and chenpi, had the potential to improve the Nrf2-ARE signaling thereby combat hepatotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

Nrf2 activators may offer a novel potential strategy for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases. More extensive studies are essential to identify the underlying mechanisms and establish future therapeutic potentials of these signaling modulators. Further clinical trials are warranted to determine the safety and effectiveness of Nrf2 activators for hepatopathy.

Circulating Structurally Related (-)-Epicatechin Metabolite Species and Levels after Sustained Intake of a Cocoa Powder High in Polyphenols Are Comparable to Those Achieved after a Single Dose

BACKGROUND

While the bioavailability of cocoa polyphenols, particularly of the monomer (-)-epicatechin, has been investigated after a single-dose intake, the effect of sustained cocoa consumption on the metabolic profile of the structurally related (-)-epicatechin metabolites (SREMs) has not been investigated.

METHODS

A randomized, controlled crossover clinical trial in healthy young adults (18-40 year) was conducted to evaluate SREMs after consumption of a single-dose and after daily consumption of 1.3 g of polyphenol-rich cocoa powder for 28 days. The circulating SREMs were measured by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS).

RESULTS

Twenty subjects (eleven males and nine females) were enrolled. The SREMs concentrations increased to 1741 ± 337 nM after a single-dose and to 1445 ± 270 nM after sustained supplementation. Sulfate conjugates showed higher levels in females (p < 0.05). The epicatechin-3'-glucuronide (E3'G) and epicatechin-3'-sulfate (E3'S) were the most abundant metabolites in all subjects. A high intra-individual correlation (r = 0.72, p < 0.001) between SREMs concentrations after single-dose and sustained supplementation was observed. The antioxidant capacity of plasma did not change in response to the intervention and was not correlated with any of the SREMs.

CONCLUSION

The individual SREMs profile and concentrations after a 28-day supplementation are comparable to those after a single dose.

Exploring the Impact of Flavonoids on Symptoms of Depression: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Recent evidence suggests that diet modifies key biological factors associated with the development of depression. It has been suggested that this could be due to the high flavonoid content commonly found in many plant foods, beverages and dietary supplements. Our aim was to conduct a systematic review to evaluate the effects of dietary flavonoids on the symptoms of depression. A total of 46 studies met the eligibility criteria. Of these, 36 were intervention trials and 10 were observational studies. A meta-analysis of 36 clinical trials involving a total of 2788 participants was performed. The results showed a statistically significant effect of flavonoids on depressive symptoms (mean difference = −1.65; 95% C.I., −2.54, −0.77; p < 0.01). Five of the 10 observational studies included in the systematic review reported significant results, suggesting that a higher flavonoid intake may improve symptoms of depression. Further studies are urgently required to elucidate whether causal and mechanistic links exist, along with substantiation of functional brain changes associated with flavonoid consumption.

Immunomodulatory Role of Nutrients: How Can Pulmonary Dysfunctions Improve?

Nutrition is an important tool that can be used to modulate the immune response during infectious diseases. In addition, through diet, important substrates are acquired for the biosynthesis of regulatory molecules in the immune response, influencing the progression and treatment of chronic lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In this way, nutrition can promote lung health status. A range of nutrients, such as vitamins (A, C, D, and E), minerals (zinc, selenium, iron, and magnesium), flavonoids and fatty acids, play important roles in reducing the risk of pulmonary chronic diseases and viral infections. Through their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, nutrients are associated with better lung function and a lower risk of complications since they can decrease the harmful effects from the immune system during the inflammatory response. In addition, bioactive compounds can even contribute to epigenetic changes, including histone deacetylase (HDAC) modifications that inhibit the transcription of proinflammatory cytokines, which can contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis in the context of infections and chronic inflammatory diseases. These nutrients also play an important role in activating immune responses against pathogens, which can help the immune system during infections. Here, we provide an updated overview of the roles played by dietary factors and how they can affect respiratory health. Therefore, we will show the anti-inflammatory role of flavonoids, fatty acids, vitamins and microbiota, important for the control of chronic inflammatory diseases and allergies, in addition to the antiviral role of vitamins, flavonoids, and minerals during pulmonary viral infections, addressing the mechanisms involved in each function. These mechanisms are interesting in the discussion of perspectives associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and its pulmonary complications since patients with severe disease have vitamins deficiency, especially vitamin D. In addition, researches with the use of flavonoids have been shown to decrease viral replication in vitro. This way, a full understanding of dietary influences can improve the lung health of patients.

Determination of bioactive components in the fruits of Cercis chinensis Bunge by HPLC-MS/MS and quality evaluation by principal components and hierarchical cluster analyses

The fruits of leguminous plants Cercis Chinensis Bunge are still overlooked although they have been reported to be antioxidative because of the limited information on the phytochemicals of C. chinensis fruits. A simple, rapid and sensitive HPLC-MS/MS method was developed for the identification and quantitation of the major bioactive components in C. chinensis fruits. Eighteen polyphenols were identified, which are first reported in C. chinensis fruits. Moreover, ten components were simultaneously quantified. The validated quantitative method was proved to be sensitive, reproducible and accurate. Then, it was applied to analyze batches of C. chinensis fruits from different phytomorph and areas. The principal components analysis (PCA) realized visualization and reduction of data set dimension while the hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) indicated that the content of phenolic acids or all ten components might be used to differentiate C. chinensis fruits of different phytomorph.

Overview of the Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Selected Plant Compounds and Their Metal Ions Complexes

Numerous plant compounds and their metal-ion complexes exert antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and other beneficial effects. This review highlights the different bioactivities of flavonoids, chromones, and coumarins and their metal-ions complexes due to different structural characteristics. In addition to insight into the most studied antioxidative properties of these compounds, the first part of the review provides a comprehensive overview of exogenous and endogenous sources of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, oxidative stress-mediated damages of lipids and proteins, and on protective roles of antioxidant defense systems, including plant-derived antioxidants. Additionally, the review covers the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities of flavonoids, chromones, coumarins and their metal-ion complexes which support its application in medicine, pharmacy, and cosmetology.

Targeting Mammalian 5-Lipoxygenase by Dietary Phenolics as an Anti-Inflammatory Mechanism: A Systematic Review

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LOX) plays a key role in inflammation through the biosynthesis of leukotrienes and other lipid mediators. Current evidence suggests that dietary (poly)phenols exert a beneficial impact on human health through anti-inflammatory activities. Their mechanisms of action have mostly been associated with the modulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), prostaglandins (PGE2), and the interaction with NF-κB and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) pathways. Much less is known about the 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) pathway as a target of dietary (poly)phenols. This systematic review aimed to summarize how dietary (poly)phenols target the 5-LOX pathway in preclinical and human studies. The number of studies identified is low (5, 24, and 127 human, animal, and cellular studies, respectively) compared to the thousands of studies focusing on the COX-2 pathway. Some (poly)phenolics such as caffeic acid, hydroxytyrosol, resveratrol, curcumin, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), and quercetin have been reported to reduce the formation of 5-LOX eicosanoids in vitro. However, the in vivo evidence is inconclusive because of the low number of studies and the difficulty of attributing effects to (poly)phenols. Therefore, increasing the number of studies targeting the 5-LOX pathway would largely expand our knowledge on the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of (poly)phenols.

Recent Advances in Heterologous Synthesis Paving Way for Future Green-Modular Bioindustries: A Review With Special Reference to Isoflavonoids

Isoflavonoids are well-known plant secondary metabolites that have gained importance in recent time due to their multiple nutraceutical and pharmaceutical applications. In plants, isoflavonoids play a role in plant defense and can confer the host plant a competitive advantage to survive and flourish under environmental challenges. In animals, isoflavonoids have been found to interact with multiple signaling pathways and have demonstrated estrogenic, antioxidant and anti-oncologic activities in vivo. The activity of isoflavonoids in the estrogen pathways is such that the class has also been collectively called phytoestrogens. Over 2,400 isoflavonoids, predominantly from legumes, have been identified so far. The biosynthetic pathways of several key isoflavonoids have been established, and the genes and regulatory components involved in the biosynthesis have been characterized. The biosynthesis and accumulation of isoflavonoids in plants are regulated by multiple complex environmental and genetic factors and interactions. Due to this complexity of secondary metabolism regulation, the export and engineering of isoflavonoid biosynthetic pathways into non-endogenous plants are difficult, and instead, the microorganisms Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli have been adapted and engineered for heterologous isoflavonoid synthesis. However, the current ex-planta production approaches have been limited due to slow enzyme kinetics and traditionally laborious genetic engineering methods and require further optimization and development to address the required titers, reaction rates and yield for commercial application. With recent progress in metabolic engineering and the availability of advanced synthetic biology tools, it is envisaged that highly efficient heterologous hosts will soon be engineered to fulfill the growing market demand.

Role of Dietary Antioxidants in p53-Mediated Cancer Chemoprevention and Tumor Suppression

Cancer arises through a complex interplay between genetic, behavioral, metabolic, and environmental factors that combined trigger cellular changes that over time promote malignancy. In terms of cancer prevention, behavioral interventions such as diet can promote genetic programs that may facilitate tumor suppression; and one of the key tumor suppressors responsible for initiating such programs is p53. The p53 protein is activated by various cellular events such as DNA damage, hypoxia, heat shock, and overexpression of oncogenes. Due to its role in cell fate decisions after DNA damage, regulatory pathways controlled by p53 help to maintain genome stability and thus “guard the genome” against mutations that cause cancer. Dietary intake of flavonoids, a C₁₅ group of polyphenols, is known to inhibit cancer progression and assist DNA repair through p53-mediated mechanisms in human cells via their antioxidant activities. For example, quercetin arrests human cervical cancer cell growth by blocking the G₂/M phase cell cycle and inducing mitochondrial apoptosis through a p53-dependent mechanism. Other polyphenols such as resveratrol upregulate p53 expression in several cancer cell lines by promoting p53 stability, which in colon cancer cells results in the activation of p53-mediated apoptosis. Finally, among vitamins, folic acid seems to play an important role in the chemoprevention of gastric carcinogenesis by enhancing gastric epithelial apoptosis in patients with premalignant lesions by significantly increased expression of p53. In this review, we discuss the role of these and other dietary antioxidants in p53-mediated cell signaling in relation to cancer chemoprevention and tumor suppression in normal and cancer cells.

Naringenin Attenuates Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Enhancing Energy Expenditure and Regulating Autophagy via AMPK

Background: The prevalence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) keeps growing recently. Purpose: To investigate the effects and mechanisms of naringenin (NAR) on NAFLD. Methods: High-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD rats were orally administered with NAR at 10, 30, and 90 mg/kg for 2 weeks. The serum level of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (AST), and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) was measured. The hepatic histology was detected by H&E and oil red O staining. L02 and Huh-7 cells were induced by sodium oleate to establish a NAFLD cell model. The effects of NAR on lipid accumulation were detected by oil red O staining. The glucose uptake and ATP content of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes were measured. The expression of proteins of the AMPK signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes was assessed by Western blotting. The mitochondrial biogenesis of 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes was measured by mitotracker orange staining and Western blotting. The biomarkers of autophagy were detected by Western blotting and immunofluorescence. The binding of NAR to AMPKγ1 was analyzed by molecular docking. Chloroquine and compound C were employed to block autophagic flux and AMPK, respectively. Results: NAR alleviated HFD-induced NAFLD in rats at 10, 30, and 90 mg/kg. NAR attenuated lipid accumulation in L02 and Huh-7 cells at 0.7, 2.2, 6.7, and 20 μM. NAR increased glucose uptake, decreased the ATP content, activated the CaMKKβ/AMPK/ACC pathway, and enhanced the mitochondrial biogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and C2C12 myotubes. NAR increased autophagy and promoted the initiation of autophagic flux in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and C2C12 myoblasts, while it inhibited autophagy in NAFLD rats, 3T3-L1 adipocytes, and C2C12 myotubes. Molecular docking showed that NAR binds to AMPKγ1. Compound C blocked effects of NAR on lipid accumulation and autophagy in L02 cells. Conclusion: NAR alleviates NAFLD by increasing energy expenditure and regulating autophagy via activating AMPK directly and indirectly. The direct binding of NAR and AMPKγ1 needs further validation.

The roles of strawberry and honey phytochemicals on human health: A possible clue on the molecular mechanisms involved in the prevention of oxidative stress and inflammation

BACKGROUND

Oxidative stress and inflammation contribute to the etiopathogenesis of several human chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and metabolic syndrome. Besides classic stimuli, such as reactive oxidant species, endotoxins (i.e., bacteria lipopolysaccharide), cytokines or carcinogens, oxidative stress and inflammation can be triggered by a poor diet and an excess of body fat and energy intake. Strawberry and honey are common rich sources of nutrients and bioactive compounds, widely studied for their roles exerted in health maintenance and disease prevention.

PURPOSE

This review aims to summarize and update the effects of strawberry and honey against oxidative stress and inflammation, with emphasis on metabolism and on the main molecular mechanisms involved in these effects.

METHODS

A wide range of literature, published in the last 10 years, elucidating the effects of strawberry and honey in preventing oxidative stress and inflammation both in vitro (whole matrix and digested fractions) and in vivo was collected from online electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) and reviewed.

RESULTS

Strawberry and honey polyphenols may potentially prevent the chronic diseases related to oxidative stress and inflammation. Several in vitro and in vivo studies reported the effects of these foods in suppressing the oxidative stress, by decreasing ROS production and oxidative biomarkers, restoring the antioxidant enzyme activities, ameliorating the mitochondrial antioxidant status and functionality, among others, and the inflammatory process, by modulating the mediators of acute and chronic inflammation essential for the onset of several human diseases. These beneficial properties are mediated in part through their ability to target multiple signaling pathways, such as p38 MAPK, AMPK, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB and Nrf2.

CONCLUSIONS

Available scientific literature show that strawberry and honey may be effective in preventing oxidative stress and inflammation. The deep evaluation of the factors that affect their metabolism as well as the assessment of the main molecular mechanisms involved are of extreme importance for the possible therapeutic and preventive benefit against the most common human diseases. However, published literature is still scarce so that deeper studies should be performed in order to evaluate the bioavailability of these food matrices and their effects after digestion.

Yi-Qi-Jian-Pi Formula Suppresses RIPK1/RIPK3-Complex-Dependent Necroptosis of Hepatocytes Through ROS Signaling and Attenuates Liver Injury in Vivo and in Vitro

Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is described as a characteristic of acute jaundice and coagulation dysfunction. Effective treatments for ACLF are unavailable and hence are urgently required. We aimed to define the effect of Yi-Qi-Jian-Pi Formula (YQJPF) on liver injury and further examine the molecular mechanisms. In this study, we established CCl₄-, LPS-, and d-galactosamine (D-Gal)-induced ACLF rat models in vivo and LPS- and D-Gal-induced hepatocyte injury models in vitro. We found that YQJPF significantly ameliorates liver injury in vivo and in vitro that is associated with the regulation of hepatocyte necroptosis. Specifically, YQJPF decreased expression of receptor-interacting protein kinase 1 (RIPK1), receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and pseudokinase mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) to inhibit the migration of RIPK1 and RIPK3 into necrosome. YQJPF also reduces the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α, which were regulated by RIPK3 mediates cell death. RIPK1 depletion was found to enhance the protective effect of YQJPF. Furthermore, we showed that YQJPF significantly downregulates the mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and mitochondrial depolarization, with ROS scavenger, 4-hydroxy-TEMPO treatment recovering impaired RIPK1-mediated necroptosis and reducing the expression of IL-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and TNF-α. In summary, our study revealed the molecular mechanism of protective effect of YQJPF on hepatocyte necroptosis, targeting RIPK1/RIPK3-complex-dependent necroptosis via ROS signaling. Overall, our results provided a novel perspective to indicate the positive role of YQJPF in ACLF.

Flavonoids against the SARS-CoV-2 induced inflammatory storm

The disease severity of COVID-19, especially in the elderly and patients with co-morbidities, is characterized by hypercytokinemia, an exaggerated immune response associated with an uncontrolled and excessive release of proinflammatory cytokine mediators (cytokine storm). Flavonoids, important secondary metabolites of plants, have long been studied as therapeutic interventions in inflammatory diseases due to their cytokine-modulatory effects. In this review, we discuss the potential role of flavonoids in the modulation of signaling pathways that are crucial for COVID-19 disease, particularly those related to inflammation and immunity. The immunomodulatory ability of flavonoids, carried out by the regulation of inflammatory mediators, the inhibition of endothelial activation, NLRP3 inflammasome, toll-like receptors (TLRs) or bromodomain containing protein 4 (BRD4), and the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid-derived 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), might be beneficial in regulating the cytokine storm during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, the ability of flavonoids to inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4), neutralize 3-chymotrypsin-like protease (3CL^pro) or to affect gut microbiota to maintain immune response, and the dual action of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) may potentially also be applied to the exaggerated inflammatory responses induced by SARS-CoV-2. Based on the previously proven effects of flavonoids in other diseases or on the basis of newly published studies associated with COVID-19 (bioinformatics, molecular docking), it is reasonable to assume positive effects of flavonoids on inflammatory changes associated with COVID-19. This review highlights the current state of knowledge of the utility of flavonoids in the management of COVID-19 and also points to the multiple biological effects of flavonoids on signaling pathways associated with the inflammation processes that are deregulated in the pathology induced by SARS-CoV-2. The identification of agents, including naturally occurring substances such as flavonoids, represents great approach potentially utilizable in the management of COVID-19. Although not clinically investigated yet, the applicability of flavonoids against COVID-19 could be a promising strategy due to a broad spectrum of their biological activities.

Thymoquinone in autoimmune diseases: Therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms

Autoimmune diseases (AUDs) are a multifactorial disease, among which rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus and multiple sclerosis are more prevalent. Several anti-inflammatory, biologics, and AUD-modifying drugs are found effective against them, but their repeated use are associated with various adverse effects. In this review article, we have focused on the regulation of inflammatory molecules, molecular signaling pathways, immune cells, and epigenetics by natural product thymoquinone on AUDs. Studies indicate that thymoquinone can regulate inflammatory molecules including interferons, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), oxidative stress, regulatory T cells, and various signaling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κβ), janus kinase/signal transduction and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) at the molecular level and epigenetic alteration. As these molecules and signaling pathways with defective immune function play an important role in AUD development, controlling these molecules and deregulated molecular mechanism is a significant feature of AUD therapeutics. Interestingly thymoquinone is reported to possess all these potential. This article reviewed the deregulated mechanism of AUDs, and the action of thymoquinone on inflammatory molecules, immune cells, signaling pathways, and epigenetic machinery. Thymoquinone can be regarded as a potential drug candidate for AUD treatment.

Phenolic Compounds Impact on Rheumatoid Arthritis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Microbiota Modulation

Non-communicable chronic diseases (NCDs) are nowadays the principal cause of death, especially in most industrialized nations. These illnesses have increased exponentially with the consumption of diets very high in fat and sugar, not to mention stress and physical inactivity among other factors. The potential impact of suboptimal diets on NCDs’ morbidity and mortality rates brings to the forefront the necessity for a new way of improving dietary habits. The literature provides extensive scientific work that presents evidence that phenolic compounds from diets have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative activities that impact human health. Gut microbiota modulation by some phenolic compounds leads to favorable changes in abundance, diversity, and in the immune system. However, polyphenol’s limited bioavailability needs to be overcome, highlighting their application in new delivery systems and providing their health benefits in well-established ways such as health maintenance, treatment or adjuvant to conventional pharmacological treatments. In this context, novel dietary approaches, including new food supplements, have emerged to prevent diseases and preserve health.

Combination Effect of Three Main Constituents From Sarcandra glabra Inhibits Oxidative Stress in the Mice Following Acute Lung Injury: A Role of MAPK-NF-κB Pathway

Caffeoylquinic acids, coumarins and dicaffeoyl derivatives are considered to be three kinds of the most abundant bioactive components in Sarcandra glabra, an anti-inflammatory herb mainly found in Southern Asia. The combined anti-inflammatory effect of three typical constituents C + R + I (chlorogenic acid + rosmarinic acid + isofraxidin) from this plant has been investigated. The result implies that targeting the MAPK-NF-κB pathway would be one of the major mechanisms involved, using LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells as in vitro model and LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice as in vivo model. C + R + I can significantly suppress the levels of nitric oxide (NO), pro-inflammatory cytokines, and inhibit iNOS and COX-2 expression in LPS-treated RAW264.7 macrophage cells. Western blot analysis showed that C + R + I suppressed phosphorylation of NF-κB and MAPK, including phosphorylation of p65-NF-κB, IKB, ERK, JNK and P38. Besides, C + R + I suppressed MPO protein expression, but promoted SOD and HO-1 expression, and the related targets for C, R, and I were also predicted by molecular docking. This indicated that C + R + I could alleviate oxidative stress induced by LPS, which were further verified in the in vivo model of mice with acute lung injury through the measurement of corresponding inflammatory mediators and the analysis of immunehistochemistry.

Flavonoids: nutraceutical potential for counteracting muscle atrophy

Skeletal muscle plays a vital role in the conversion of chemical energy into physical force. Muscle atrophy, characterized by a reduction in muscle mass, is a symptom of chronic disease (cachexia), aging (sarcopenia), and muscle disuse (inactivity). To date, several trials have been conducted to prevent and inhibit muscle atrophy development; however, few interventions are currently available for muscle atrophy. Recently, food ingredients, plant extracts, and phytochemicals have received attention as treatment sources to prevent muscle wasting. Flavonoids are bioactive polyphenol compounds found in foods and plants. They possess diverse biological activities, including anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, and anti-inflammation. The effects of flavonoids on muscle atrophy have been investigated by monitoring molecular mechanisms involved in protein turnover, mitochondrial activity, and myogenesis. This review summarizes the reported effects of flavonoids on sarcopenia, cachexia, and disuse muscle atrophy, thus, providing an insight into the understanding of the associated molecular mechanisms.

Estrogen receptors-β and serotonin mediate the antidepressant-like effect of an aqueous extract of pomegranate in ovariectomized rats

Pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit is of particular interest because of its high nutritional value and therapeutic actions. Recently, we showed that an aqueous extract of pomegranate (AE-PG) given by oral route induced antidepressant-like actions mediated by estrogen receptors (ERs) suggesting its potential to function as an alternative to estrogen therapy replacement in menopause-related depression treatment. Orally administered AE-PG allows the biotransformation of ellagitannins into active estrogenic compounds through the intestinal microbiota. However, it is necessary to know if compounds that do not need to be biotransformed by the intestinal microbiota are involved in the antidepressant-like effects. Therefore, the first aim of this study was to determine if AE-PG produces an antidepressant-like effect when administered intraperitoneally. Also, to determine the participation of specific ER-subtypes (α or β) and to analyze the role of the serotonergic system. Young female Wistar rats were ovariectomized as a surgical model of menopause. The intraperitoneal administration of AE-PG (1 mg/kg; i. p.) was evaluated in the forced swimming test and open field tests. Also, the ERα antagonist (TPBM; 50 μg/rat; s. c.) or the ERβ antagonist (PHTPP; 25 μg/rat; s. c.) were administered with AE-PG to analyze the participation of the specific ERs. Finally, the effect of the serotonin neurotoxin 5,7-DHT (200 μg/rat; i. c.v.) on the antidepressant-like effect of the AE-PG was studied in independent experimental groups. RESULTS: showed that AE-PG administered by intraperitoneal route induced antidepressant-like effects. This result suggests that gut microbiota biotransformation is not necessary to exert its actions. The mechanism of action involves the activation of the ERβ and the serotonergic system. Altogether, this information contributes to the elucidation of the antidepressant action of the pomegranate fruit, which could be further considered as an alternative treatment for depression during menopause.

The Anti-Depression-Like Effects of Zhengtian Capsule via Induction of Neurogenesis and the Neurotrophic Signaling Pathway

Oxidative stress that causes neural damages in neurodegenerative disorders has been widely studied for the pathogenesis and diagnostic measures. Zhengtian capsule (ZTC), a type of traditional Chinese medicine for headaches, has been found to have extra effects in recent years, such as promoting the release of serotonin and dopamine in the brain, but its specific mechanism has not been clearly elucidated. In this study, we focus on revealing whether ZTC can regulate key proteins of neurotrophic signaling pathway to alleviate depression-like behavior caused by oxidative stress. Experimental results show that ZTC (M 0.34 and H 0.7 g/kg) can elevate the proliferation of neural stem cells and GABAergic-type neurons in the hippocampus, promote the protein levels of BDNF, phosphorylated ERK1/2, and CREB, and inhibit the expression level of a key inflammation factor NFκB in a dose-dependent manner. These data suggest ZTC acts on multiple pathways to resist excessive oxidative stress, proving it to be a potential neurotrophic drug.

Comprehensive Characterization of Secondary Metabolites from Colebrookea oppositifolia (Smith) Leaves from Nepal and Assessment of Cytotoxic Effect and Anti-Nf-κB and AP-1 Activities In Vitro

Here we report the comprehensive characterization of the secondary metabolites from the leaves of Colebrookea oppositifolia Smith, a species used as medicinal plant in the traditional medicine of Nepal. Phytochemical screening of bioactives was performed using an integrated LC-MSⁿ and high resolution MS (Mass Spectrometry) approach. Forty-three compounds were tentatively identified, mainly aglyconic and glycosilated flavonoids and phenolic acids, as well as other bioactives such as coumarins and terpenes were detected. Furthermore, the NF-κB and AP-1 inhibitory activity of C. oppositifolia extract were evaluated, as well as its cytotoxicity against THP-1 cells, in order to assess the potential use of this herb as a source of anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic compounds. The results so far obtained indicate that C. oppositifolia leaves extract could significantly reduce the viability of THP-1 cells (IC₅₀ = 6.2 ± 1.2 µg/mL), as well as the activation of both NF-κB and AP-1 at the concentration of 2 μg/mL. Our results indicate that Nepalese C. oppositifolia is a valuable source of anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic compounds. The phytochemical composition reported here can partially justify the traditional uses of C. oppositifolia in Nepal, especially in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, although further research will be needed to assess the full potential of this species.

Three common caffeoylquinic acids as potential hypoglycemic nutraceuticals: Evaluation of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and glucose consumption in HepG2 cells

The demand for plant-derived antidiabetic nutraceuticals is increasing. In this study, the effects of three common caffeoylquinic acids (CQAs) (chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and cynarin) on α-glucosidase activity and glucose consumption in HepG2 cells were systematically compared. Their α-glucosidase inhibitory activities followed the order of isochlorogenic acid A > chlorogenic acid > cynarin. The fluorescence analysis indicated that they exerted the inhibitory role by forming the complex with α-glucosidase at the molar ratio of 1:1. Isochlorogenic acid A possessed the highest binding capacity, followed by chlorogenic acid and cynarin. The effect of caffeoyl group distribution on the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity was clarified by the molecular docking results. In the HepG2 cells, isochlorogenic acid A also showed the best glucose consumption with negligible cytotoxicity, which might be related to its reactive oxygen species scavenging capacity in cells. Our results confirm its potential application as the antidiabetic nutraceutical. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The hypoglycemic activities of three common CQAs (chlorogenic acid, isochlorogenic acid A, and cynarin) were systemically evaluated in this study. Isochlorogenic acid A exhibited the strongest α-glucosidase inhibitory activity and highest glucose consumption in HepG2 cells with low cytotoxicity. The results suggest that isochlorogenic acid A can be used as the potential hypoglycemic nutraceutical in functional foods.

Gut Microbiome and Metabolome Response of Pu-erh Tea on Metabolism Disorder Induced by Chronic Alcohol Consumption

This study investigated the protective effects of pu-erh tea extract (PTE) on alcohol-induced microbiomic and metabolomic disorders. In chronic alcohol-exposed mice, PTE ameliorated chronic alcoholic consumption-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid accumulation, and liver and colon damage through modulating microbiomic and metabolomic responses. PTE restored the alcohol-induced fecal microbiota dysbiosis by elevating the relative abundance of potentially beneficial bacteria, for example, Bifidobacterium and Allobaculum, and decreasing the relative abundance of potentially harmful bacteria, for example, Helicobacter and Bacteroides. The alcohol-induced metabolomic disorder was modulated by PTE, which was characterized by regulations of lipid metabolism (sphingolipid, glycerophospholipid, and linoleic acid metabolism), amino acid metabolism (phenylalanine and tryptophan metabolism), and purine metabolism. Besides, the bacterial metabolites of phytochemicals in PTE might contribute to the protective effects of PTE. Overall, PTE could be a functional beverage to treat chronic alcohol consumption-induced microbiomic and metabolomic disorders.

Plasma Protein Binding of Herbal-Flavonoids to Human Serum Albumin and Their Anti-proliferative Activities

Herbal-flavonoids (HF) as polyphenolic secondary metabolites are taken in the daily diet to join in many metabolic processes in the human organism. Anti-proliferative activities and human serum albumin (HSA) binding capacities of herbal-flavonoids namely 7,5'-dimethoxyisoetin (HF1), homoorientin-6''-4-O-methyl-myo-inositol (HF2), (2R, 3R)-(+)-dihydrokaempferol-7,4'-dimethylether (HF3), eriodictyol-7,4'-dimethylether (HF4) and flavonoids isoorientin (HF5) and genkwanin (HF6) were investigated. Anti-proliferative activities were determined by the xCELLigence system by treatment with human prostate (PC3) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The binding capacities were studied by two-dimensional (2D-FL) and three-dimensional (3D-FL) fluorescence spectroscopy. HeLa and PC3 cell lines were treated with flavonoids at 10, 50 and 100 μg/mL concentrations over a 48 hour period. Stable anti-proliferative efficacy plots were obtained for tested flavonoids. From the flavonoids, HF3 and HF4 showed the strongest anti-proliferative effect against PC3 and HeLa cell line. HF1 and HF2 exhibited the strongest binding capacity to the HSA corresponding to Kb values of 3.81 x 104 M-1 and 6.00 x 104 M-1, respectively. The studies revealed that the flavonoids form the basis of in vivo preclinical studies as important nutraceuticals of the daily diet, as well as modelled in medical and pharmacological applications.

Phytochemical content, antioxidant activities and androgenic properties of four South African medicinal plants

Introduction:This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical contents, antioxidant activities, and androgenic properties ofPeltophorum africanumSond,Trichilia emeticaVahl,Terminalia sambesiaca, andXimenia caffra.Methods:The finely powdered leaves of the selected plants were extracted using acetone, aqueous, and methanol as solvents. The total phenolics and flavonoids contents were determined from gallic acid and quercetin standard curves. The antioxidant activities of these extracts were evaluated using 1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl ( DPPH) assay. The effect of plant extracts (100-1000 µg/mL) on TM3 Leydig cells was assessed using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium (MTT) assay. Testosterone levels were measured using ELISA kit.Results:The methanol extracts ofT. sambesiacaandX. caffrarevealed higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents (102.13±2.32 mg/g GAE and 1.05±0.04 mg/g QE, respectively) than other plant extracts. The acetone and methanol extracts ofP. africanumrevealed the best IC50value (12.50 ± 0.052 µg/mL) against DPPH than the other plant extracts and ascorbic acid. The MTT assay results showed that all varying concentrations of plant extracts maintained cell viability and were not cytotoxic with IC50values of greater than 20 µg/mL. The methanol extract ofT. sambesiacahad the highest testosterone production at 500 µg/mL (0.399 ng/mL) when compared with the basal control while at the concentration of 500 µg/mL the acetone extracts ofP. africanumandT. sambesiacahad significantly high testosterone production 0.147 and 0.188 ng/mL respectively when compared with basal control.Conclusion:The results reveal that these plants possess antioxidants and androgenic property and suggest the potential use for the treatment of male infertility.

Isochlorogenic Acid A Attenuates the Progression of Liver Fibrosis Through Regulating HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Liver fibrosis, a chronic damage process related to further progression of hepatic cirrhosis, has yet no truly effective treatment. Isochlorogenic acid A (ICQA), isolated from a traditional Chinese herbal medicine named Laggera alata (DC.) Sch.Bip. ex Oliv. (Asteraceae), is proved to exhibit anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and antiviral properties. However, the actions of ICQA on liver fibrosis are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the actions of ICQA on liver fibrosis and clarify the underlying mechanism. It was found that ICQA had significant protective actions on liver injury, inflammation as we as fibrosis in rats. Meanwhile, ICQA prevented hepatic stellate cells (HSC) activation, indicated by its inhibitory effect on the overexpression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). In addition, the reduced fibrosis was found to be associated with the decreased protein expression of high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) as well as toll like receptor (TLR) 4. Simultaneously, ICQA can suppress the cytoplasmic translocation of HMGB1 in rat liver. Further investigations indicated that ICQA treatment dramatically attenuated the nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor-kB (NF-κB) p65 and suppressed the hepatic expression of p−IκBα in rats with liver fibrosis. Taken together, our study indicated that ICQA could protect against CCl₄-induced liver fibrosis probably through suppressing the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathways.

The beneficial effects of Agaricus blazei Murrill on hepatic antioxidant enzymes and the pancreatic tissue recovery in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Agaricus blazei Murrill (ABM), is a medicinal mushroom, has beneficial effects on diabetes mellitus. In this study, ABM extracts (ethanol extract, EE and ethyl acetate extract, EA) were evaluated to explore the beneficial effect on hepatic antioxidant activity and recovery of the pancreatic tissue in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The hepatic antioxidant activities of ABM extracts were analyzed by superoxide dismutase, catalase activity, glutathione, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. Moreover, the effects of ABM extracts on pancreatic tissue restoration were investigated by histopathological analysis. The results revealed that the EA showed a better protective effect on hepatic antioxidant activity and recovery of the impaired pancreatic tissues, compared to EE. The results suggested that ABM treatment could effectively reduce oxidative stress and contribute to pancreatic tissue recovery. Therefore, ABM could be used as a functional food to control diabetes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The research may contribute to the development of ABM as functional foods or dietary supplements for diabetes in the future.

PPAR and functional foods: Rationale for natural neurosteroid-based interventions for postpartum depression

Allopregnanolone, a GABAergic neurosteroid and progesterone derivative, was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of postpartum depression (PPD). Several mechanisms appear to be involved in the pathogenesis of PPD, including neuroendocrine dysfunction, neuroinflammation, neurotransmitter alterations, genetic and epigenetic modifications. Recent evidence highlights the higher risk for incidence of PPD in mothers exposed to unhealthy diets that negatively impact the microbiome composition and increase inflammation, all effects that are strongly correlated with mood disorders. Conversely, healthy diets have consistently been reported to decrease the risk of peripartum depression and to protect the body and brain against low-grade systemic chronic inflammation. Several bioactive micronutrients found in the so-called functional foods have been shown to play a relevant role in preventing neuroinflammation and depression, such as vitamins, minerals, omega-3 fatty acids and flavonoids. An intriguing molecular substrate linking functional foods with improvement of mood disorders may be represented by the peroxisome-proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) pathway, which can regulate allopregnanolone biosynthesis and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) and thereby may reduce inflammation and elevate mood. Herein, we discuss the potential connection between functional foods and PPAR and their role in preventing neuroinflammation and symptoms of PPD through neurosteroid regulation. We suggest that healthy diets by targeting the PPAR-neurosteroid axis and thereby decreasing inflammation may offer a suitable functional strategy to prevent and safely alleviate mood symptoms during the perinatal period.

Quercus pyrenaica Honeydew Honey With High Phenolic Contents Cause DNA Damage, Apoptosis, and Cell Death Through Generation of Reactive Oxygen Species in Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cells

Many studies have shown that honey with high phenolic contents prevents cancer formation. Furthermore, recent studies have demonstrated that honey can be used for the treatment of cancer as well as cancer prevention. Antineoplastic effects of honey are often associated with their antioxidant phenolic contents. However, very few studies have dealt with the association of phenolic contents of honeys in terms of antiproliferative effects. The aim of this study was, therefore, to elucidate the cytotoxic, genotoxic, apoptotic, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generating effects of honey samples on the basis of their phenolic and flavonoid contents. Fourteen different honey varieties were collected from various parts of Turkey, and their characteristics regarding total phenols, flavonoids, and antioxidant contents were determined to test their effects on gastric cancer cells (AGS). For convenience, 2 honey varieties were selected, namely, Ida Mountains Quercus pyrenaica honeydew honey (QPHH-IM) having the highest phenolic and antioxidant content and Canakkale multifloral honey (MFH-C) with the lowest phenolic and antioxidant content. Levels of 11 different phenolic compounds in QPHH-IM and MFH-C samples were determined by LC-MS/MS. AGS cells were incubated with different concentrations of QPHH-IM and MFH-C for 24 hours, then the cell viability, DNA damage, apoptosis, and generation of ROS were determined. We found that QPHH-IM had more cytotoxic, genotoxic, and apoptotic effects than that of MFH-C. We think that these effects are probably related to pro-oxidant activities due to the high phenolic contents present. Therefore, further research on high-phenolic honey may contribute to the future development of cancer therapeutics.

Dietary Flavonoids in the Management of Huntington’s Disease: Mechanism and Clinical Perspective

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of neurons, which leads to behavioral systems and mental decline. HD is linked to repeat expansions of cytosine, adenine, and guanine in the Huntingtin (HTT) gene that give rise to mutation, leading to the formation of the HTT protein product. Oxidative stress also provokes the initiation and progression of HD as it leads to protein misfolding that results in the formation of inclusion which clumps together and alters neurotransmission. Despite the advancement in the field of pharmaceutical sciences, current therapeutic approaches suppress only the severity of symptoms and no therapy exists that can cure HD from its root cause. Flavonoids are the most abundant polyphenols widely present in daily dietary sources. Dietary flavonoids have a wide range of pharmacological bioactivities and many therapeutic applications. Dietary flavonoids including hesperidin, naringin, quercetin, rutin, fisetin, myricetin, luteolin, and epigallocatechin 3‐O‐gallate can prevent and manage HD through exerting antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities, altering intracellular pathways, genetic alterations, and metal ion chelation. This review highlights flavonoids as therapeutic options for HD and will open new dimensions for flavonoids as safe and effective therapeutic agents in diminishing HD.

Proteomic Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Response to Oxidative Stress Mediated by Cocoa Polyphenols Extract

The present study addressed the protective effects against oxidative stress (OS) of a cocoa powder extract (CPEX) on the protein expression profile of S. cerevisiae. A proteomic analysis was performed after culture preincubation with CPEX either without stress (−OS) or under stress conditions (+OS) (5 mM of H₂O₂). LC-MS/MS identified 33 differentially expressed proteins (–OS: 14, +OS: 19) that were included By Gene Ontology analysis in biological processes: biosynthesis of amino acids, carbohydrate metabolism and reactive oxygen species metabolic process. In a gene-knockout strains study, eight proteins were identified as putative candidates for being involved in the protective mechanism of cocoa polyphenols against OS induced by H₂O₂. CPEX was able to exert its antioxidant activity in yeast mainly through the regulation of: (a) amino acids metabolism proteins by modulating the production of molecules with known antioxidant roles; (b) stress-responsive protein Yhb1, but we were unable to fully understand its down-regulation; (c) protein Prb1, which can act by clipping Histone H3 N-terminal tails that are related to cellular resistance to DNA damaging agents.

Flavonoids and gut health

Flavonoids are dietary non-nutrient bioactives with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, legumes, and tea are rich in flavonoids. After consumption, flavonoids are extensively metabolized by the gut microbiota and host tissues. Flavonoid metabolism exhibits extensive variation between individuals. It is plausible that inter-individual differences in flavonoid metabolism impact the immune system. Pre-clinical studies have characterized direct and indirect mechanisms by which flavonoids modulate intestinal immune function. This includes modulation of T cell differentiation, alteration of gut microbiota, and modulation of cytokines. Defining the importance of these mechanisms to human chronic disease will improve dietary recommendations for the anti-inflammatory uses of flavonoids.

Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Combretum collinum Fresen Leaves Extracts from Benin

Leaves from Combretum collinum Fresen (Combretaceae) are commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, wound healing and bacterial infections in traditional West African medicine. This research focuses on the characterization of the phenolic profile and lipophilic compounds of leaves extracts of C. collinum. Studies of the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity were performed in TNFα stimulated HaCaT cells and antibacterial activity was evaluated with agar well diffusion and microdilution assays. Antioxidant activity was determined by DPPH and ABTS assays and compared to standards. The phytochemical studies confirmed myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside and myricetin-3-O-glucoside as major components of the leaves extracts, each contributing significantly to the antioxidant activity of the hydrophilic extracts. GC-MS analysis identified 19 substances that were confirmed by comparison with spectral library data and authentic standards. Combretum collinum aqueous leaves extract decreased pro-inflammatory mediators in TNFα stimulated HaCaT cells. Further investigations showed that myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside has an anti-inflammatory effect on IL-8 secretion. In the antimicrobial screening, the largest inhibition zones were found against S. epidermidis, MRSA and S. aureus. MIC values resulted in 275.0 µg/mL for S. epidermidis and 385.5 µg/mL for MRSA. The in vitro anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activity supports topical use of C. collinum leaves extracts in traditional West African medicine.

Anti-cancer effects of polyphenols via targeting p53 signaling pathway: updates and future directions

The anticancer effects of polyphenols are ascribed to several signaling pathways including the tumor suppressor gene tumor protein 53 (p53). Expression of endogenous p53 is silent in various types of cancers. A number of polyphenols from a wide variety of dietary sources could upregulate p53 expression in several cancer cell lines through distinct mechanisms of action. The aim of this review is to focus the significance of p53 signaling pathways and to provide molecular intuitions of dietary polyphenols in chemoprevention by monitoring p53 expression that have a prominent role in tumor suppression.

Anti-Osteoporotic Activity of an Edible Traditional Chinese Medicine Cistanche deserticola on Bone Metabolism of Ovariectomized Rats Through RANKL/RANK/TRAF6-Mediated Signaling Pathways

Given the limitations of existing therapeutic agents for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, there still remains a need for more options with both efficacy and less adverse effects. Cistanche deserticola Y. C. Ma is known as a popular tonic herb traditionally used to treatment deficiency of kidney energy including muscle weakness in minority area of Asian counties. Based on the theory of “kidney dominate bone,” an ovariectomized (OVX) rat model of postmenopausal osteoporosis was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect of C. deserticola extract (CDE) on bone loss. Forty eight female Sprague-Dawley rats, aged about 12 weeks, were randomly assigned into six groups including sham group orally administrated with 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose sodium (CMC-Na) (sham), positive group treated with 1 mg/kg of estradiol valerate (EV), low, moderate, and high dosage groups orally administrated with 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg/day of CDE, respectively. After 3 months of continuous intervention, CDE exhibited significant anti-osteoporotic activity evidenced by the enhanced total bone mineral density, ameliorated bone microarchitecture; increased alkaline phosphatase activity; decreased deoxypyridinoline, cathepsin K, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and malondialdehyde levels; whereas the body, uterus, and vagina weights in OVX rats were not influenced by CDE intervention. In addition, a seemed contradictory phenomenon on levels of calcium and phosphorus between OVX and sham rats were observed and elucidated. Mechanistically, CDE significantly down-regulated the levels of TRAF6, RANKL, RANK, NF-κB, IKKβ, NFAT2, and up-regulated the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT, osteoprotegerin, and c-Fos expressions, which implied CDE could suppress RANKL/RANK-induced activation of downstream NF-κB and PI3K/AKT pathways, and ultimately, preventing activity of the key osteoclastogenic proteins NFAT2 and c-Fos. All of the data suggested CDE possessed potential anti-osteoporotic activity and this effect was, at least in part, involved in modulation of RANKL/RANK/TRAF6-mediated NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling as well as c-Fos and NFAT2 levels. Therefore, CDE may represent a useful promising remedy candidate for treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis.