Chestnut (Castanea crenata) inner shell extract inhibits development of hepatic steatosis in C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat diet

Effect of Adding Chestnut Inner Skin on Allergenic Protein, Antioxidant Properties, and Quality of Bread

Wheat-dependent, exercise-induced anaphylaxis has no fundamental cure and requires patients to refrain from wheat consumption or to rest after eating. Although hypoallergenic wheat production by enzymatic degradation or thioredoxin treatment has been investigated, challenges still exist in terms of labor and efficacy. We investigated a hypoallergenic wheat product manufacturing technology that takes advantage of the property of tannins to bind tightly to proteins. Commercially available bread wheat (BW) and hypoallergenic wheat (1BS-18 "Minaminokaori", 1BS-18M) were used. Chestnut inner skin (CIS) was selected as a tannin material based on the screening of breads with added unused parts of persimmon and chestnut. Hypoallergenicity was evaluated using Western blotting. The effect of CIS addition on the antioxidative properties of bread was also measured. For both BW and 1BS-18M, CIS addition reduced the immunoreactivity of wheat allergens. Antioxidant activities increased with increasing CIS substitution. However, 10% CIS-substituted breads were substantially less puffy. Five percent CIS substitution was optimal for achieving low allergenicity, while maintaining bread quality. The strategy investigated herein can reduce allergies related to wheat bread consumption. In this study, the evaluation of hypoallergenicity was limited to instrumental analysis. In the future, we will evaluate hypoallergenicity through clinical trials in humans.

Possible Beneficial Effects of Hydrolyzable Tannins Deriving from Castanea sativa L. in Internal Medicine

Hydrolyzable tannins (HTs) deriving from chestnuts have demonstrated, through numerous studies, the ability to exert multiple beneficial effects, including antioxidant and antimicrobial effects, on the lipid metabolism and cancer cells. The latter effect is very fascinating, since different polyphenols deriving from chestnuts were able to synergistically induce the inhibition of cancerous cells through multiple pathways. Moreover, the main mechanisms by which tannins induce antioxidant functions include: the reduction in oxidative stress, the ability to scavenge free radicals, and the modulation of specific enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase. HTs have also been shown to exert significant antimicrobial activity by suppressing microbial growth. The actions on the lipid metabolism are several, among which is the inhibition of lipid accumulation. Thus, tannins seem to induce a cardioprotective effect. In fact, through various mechanisms, such as the relaxation of the vascular smooth muscle, HTs were proven to be efficient against arterial hypertension. Therefore, the great number of studies in this field prove the growing interest on the utilization of natural bioactive compounds, such as HTs deriving from natural sources or obtained by circular economy models, as potential nutraceuticals or adjuvants therapies.

Genome-wide identification, evolution and expression profiles analysis of bHLH gene family in Castanea mollissima

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) gene family is an important gene family in plants, and participates in regulation of plant apical meristem growth, metabolic regulation and stress resistance. However, its characteristics and potential functions have not been studied in chestnut (Castanea mollissima), an important nut with high ecological and economic value. In the present study, 94 CmbHLHs were identified in chestnut genome, of which 88 were unevenly distributed on chromosomes, and other six were located on five unanchored scaffolds. Almost all CmbHLH proteins were predicted in the nucleus, and subcellular localization demonstrated the correctness of the above predictions. Based on the phylogenetic analysis, all of the CmbHLH genes were divided into 19 subgroups with distinct features. Abundant cis-acting regulatory elements related to endosperm expression, meristem expression, and responses to gibberellin (GA) and auxin were identified in the upstream sequences of CmbHLH genes. This indicates that these genes may have potential functions in the morphogenesis of chestnut. Comparative genome analysis showed that dispersed duplication was the main driving force for the expansion of the CmbHLH gene family inferred to have evolved through purifying selection. Transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR experiments showed that the expression patterns of CmbHLHs were different in different chestnut tissues, and revealed some members may have potential functions in chestnut buds, nuts, fertile/abortive ovules development. The results from this study will be helpful to understand the characteristics and potential functions of the bHLH gene family in chestnut.

Improvements in Metabolic Health with Consumption of Ellagic Acid and Subsequent Conversion into Urolithins: Evidence and Mechanisms

Ellagic acid (EA) is a naturally occurring polyphenol found in some fruits and nuts, including berries, pomegranates, grapes, and walnuts. EA has been investigated extensively because of its antiproliferative action in some cancers, along with its anti-inflammatory effects. A growing body of evidence suggests that the intake of EA is effective in attenuating obesity and ameliorating obesity-mediated metabolic complications, such as insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and atherosclerosis. In this review, we summarize how intake of EA regulates lipid metabolism in vitro and in vivo, and delineate the potential mechanisms of action of EA on obesity-mediated metabolic complications. We also discuss EA as an epigenetic effector, as well as a modulator of the gut microbiome, suggesting that EA may exert a broader spectrum of health benefits than has been demonstrated to date. Therefore, this review aims to suggest the potential metabolic benefits of consumption of EA-containing fruits and nuts against obesity-associated health conditions.

Scoparone inhibits adipocyte differentiation through down-regulation of peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor γ in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes

This study was performed to investigate the effect of scoparone on the differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Scoparone inhibited triglyceride (TG) accumulation in the mature adipocytes, evidenced by Oil-red O staining and intracellular quantification. Real time-PCR analysis showed that scoparone significantly down-regulated the mRNA expression of key adipogenic transcription factors, PPARγ, C/EBPα, compared with mature adipocytes. Scoparone appeared to reduce mRNA expression of SREBP1c and FAS being related to the late stage of adipogenesis. Furthermore, aP2 and CD36/FAT, as adipocyte-specific genes, were decreased in mature adipocytes by scoparone treatment. Moreover, scoparone inhibited the up-regulated expression of PPARγ target genes by rosiglitazone to near that observed in cells treated with GW9662. The luciferase assay revealed that scoparone negatively regulates the transcriptional activity of PPARγ. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay also showed that participation of scoparone in the regulation of PPARγ. Collectively, scoparone has a PPARγ antagonic effect and suppresses differentiation through down-regulation of adipogenic genes by PPARγ inhibition in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes.

Antioxidant effects of the chestnut (Castanea crenata) inner shell extract in t-BHP-treated HepG2 cells, and CCl4- and high-fat diet-treated mice

The antioxidant effects of chestnut inner shell extract (CISE) were investigated in a tert-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP)-treated HepG2 cells, and in mice that were administered carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) and fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Pre-incubation with CISE significantly blocked the oxidative stress induced by t-BHP treatment in HepG2 cells (P<0.05) and preserved the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase compared to group treated with t-BHP only. Similarly, the CCl(4)- and HFD-induced reduction of antioxidant enzymes activities in liver was prevented by CISE treatment compared to control groups. Furthermore, hepatic lipid peroxidation were remarkably lower (P<0.05) in the CISE-treated groups with t-BHP or HFD. To determine the active compound of CISE, the fractionation of CISE has been conducted and scoparone and scopoletin were identified as main compounds. These compounds were also shown to inhibit the t-BHP-induced ROS generation and reduction in antioxidant enzyme activity in an in vitro model system. From these results, it was demonstrated that CISE has the ability to protect against damage from oxidative stressors such as t-BHP, CCl(4) and HFD in in vitro and in vivo models. The CISE might be useful for the prevention of oxidative damage in liver cells and tissues.