Umbelliferone protects whole-body irradiated Swiss albino mice: Study on animal survival, tissue antioxidant status and DNA damage

Dietary Polyphenols: Review on Chemistry/Sources, Bioavailability/Metabolism, Antioxidant Effects, and Their Role in Disease Management

Polyphenols, as secondary metabolites ubiquitous in plant sources, have emerged as pivotal bioactive compounds with far-reaching implications for human health. Plant polyphenols exhibit direct or indirect associations with biomolecules capable of modulating diverse physiological pathways. Due to their inherent abundance and structural diversity, polyphenols have garnered substantial attention from both the scientific and clinical communities. The review begins by providing an in-depth analysis of the chemical intricacies of polyphenols, shedding light on their structural diversity and the implications of such diversity on their biological activities. Subsequently, an exploration of the dietary origins of polyphenols elucidates the natural plant-based sources that contribute to their global availability. The discussion extends to the bioavailability and metabolism of polyphenols within the human body, unraveling the complex journey from ingestion to systemic effects. A central focus of the review is dedicated to unravelling the antioxidant effects of polyphenols, highlighting their role in combating oxidative stress and associated health conditions. The comprehensive analysis encompasses their impact on diverse health concerns such as hypertension, allergies, aging, and chronic diseases like heart stroke and diabetes. Insights into the global beneficial effects of polyphenols further underscore their potential as preventive and therapeutic agents. This review article critically examines the multifaceted aspects of dietary polyphenols, encompassing their chemistry, dietary origins, bioavailability/metabolism dynamics, and profound antioxidant effects. The synthesis of information presented herein aims to provide a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and health enthusiasts, fostering a deeper understanding of the intricate relationship between polyphenols and human health.

Ginsenoside Rg1 Induces Apoptotic Cell Death in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Lines and Prevents Carcinogen-Induced Breast Tumorigenesis in Sprague Dawley Rats

The objective of this study is to investigate the anticancer potential of ginsenoside Rg1 using in vitro and in vivo experimental models. In this study, we found that ginsenoside Rg1 induces cytotoxicity and apoptotic cell death through reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in the triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-MD-231 cell lines). We found that ginsenoside Rg1 induces the formation of gamma H2AX foci, an indication of DNA damage, and subsequent TUNEL positive apoptotic nuclei in the MDA-MB-MD-231 cell lines. Further, we found that ginsenoside Rg1 prevents 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene (DMBA; 20 mg/rat) induced mammary gland carcinogenesis in experimental rats. We observed oral administration of ginsenoside Rg1 inhibited the DMBA-mediated tumor incidence, prevented the elevation of oxidative damage markers, and restored antioxidant enzymes near to normal. Furthermore, qRT-PCR gene expression studies revealed that ginsenoside Rg1 prevents the expression of markers associated with cell proliferation and survival, modulates apoptosis markers, downregulates invasion and angiogenesis markers, and regulates the EMT markers. Therefore, the present results suggest that ginsenoside Rg1 shows significant anticancer properties against breast cancer in experimental models.