The dietary flavonoid eupatilin attenuates in vitro lipid peroxidation and targets lipid profile in cancer HeLa cells

Eupatilin is a dietary flavonoid isolated from the alpine wormwoods, used for the genepy liqueur production. This flavone protects cells and tissues against oxidative stress and targets cancer cells, inducing cytotoxicity, cell circle arrest, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. This study examines the EUP in vitro antioxidant effects on cholesterol and phospholipid membrane oxidation and explores its ability to modulate the cancer cell lipid profile. This flavone remarkably protected fatty acids and cholesterol against oxidative degradation by scavenging lipoperoxyl radicals. EUP (24 h of incubation) significantly reduced viability and modulated the total lipid and fatty acid profiles in cancer HeLa cells. It induced marked changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, significant decreases in the levels of oleic and palmitic acids and a marked increase of stearic acid, involving an inhibitory effect on de novo lipogenesis and desaturation in cancer cells. Moreover, a noteworthy mitochondrial membrane depolarization, signs of apoptosis, abnormal mitosis with multi-nucleation (mitotic catastrophe) and morphological alterations were observed in cancer EUP-treated cells. Our results validate the EUP role as antioxidant agent for the treatment/prevention of disorders implicating a membrane lipid oxidative damage and substantiate cell lipid metabolism as another possible target of this dietary natural flavonoid in cancer HeLa cells.

Waste salt from the manufacturing process of mullet bottarga as source of oil with nutritional and nutraceutical properties

BACKGROUND

The Sardinian food delicacy 'bottarga' is the final product of a number of treatments (salting and drying) on the ovaries of mullet (Mugil spp) and represents an important natural source of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) with nutraceutical properties. During the salting process of mullet roes to obtain bottarga, huge amounts of waste salt are generated, rich in residual ovary material.

RESULTS

We evaluated the lipid composition (main lipid components and fatty acids) and bioactivity of oil obtained from the ovary material separated from waste salt (waste salt oil). Oil was obtained by supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide (SFE-CO₂ ), an environmentally friendly separation technique. The lipid composition of waste salt oil was determined by carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (¹³ C-NMR) spectroscopy and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector and an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-DAD/ELSD) chromatography. The oil was characterized by a relatively high level of n-3 PUFA (122 ± 7 g kg^-1 of oil), and these beneficial health compounds were mainly present in the form of wax esters. Waste salt oil showed a marked cytotoxic effect [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay] in cancer B16F10 melanoma cells, with a slight cytotoxic effect in normal cells (3T3 fibroblasts). Waste salt and its derivatives (salt oil and residual material after oil extraction) were also tested for the attractant effect and acceptability to insects (Ceratitis capitata) to gain preliminary information about their potential application for animal supplementation.

CONCLUSION

The results qualify waste salt as a potential resource for veterinary dietary supplements, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceutical applications. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Role of Lipid Composition in the Sensory Attributes and Acceptability of the Salted and Dried Mullet Roes (Bottarga): A Study in Human and Animal Models

A taste component is implicated in the oro-sensory detection of dietary lipids and free fatty acids seem to be involved in fatty food recognition. Bottarga, the salted and semi-dried ovary product of mullet (Mugil spp.), is a rich-fat food. A comparative sensory assessment of different commercial bottarga samples was performed in insect and human models in relation to their lipid composition. The bottarga attractant effect to Ceratitis capitata was assessed by behavioral tests. The subjective odor and taste perception of bottarga samples was investigated in human determining the rate of pleasantness, familiarity, and intensity dimensions using the 7-points Likert-type scale. Bottarga samples showed similar lipid profiles, but differences emerged in total and free fatty acid levels. Significant differences were observed in the attractant effect/acceptability of samples to medflies, negatively correlated to their total and free fatty acids. Insect female exhibited the ability to select among bottarga samples based on their visual and olfactory properties. In the human model, a potential contribution of free fatty acid amount in the pleasantness and familiarity dimensions of taste of bottarga samples was evidenced. Women exhibited a greater ability than men to select bottarga samples based on their better olfactory perception. Our results increase the knowledge about this outstanding product with nutritional and nutraceutical properties.

Dietary zerumbone from shampoo ginger: new insights into its antioxidant and anticancer activity

The dietary sesquiterpene dienone zerumbone (ZER) selectively targets cancer cells, inducing mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis, and protects non-cancerous cells towards oxidative stress and insult. This study examines the in vitro effects of ZER on lipid peroxidation in biological systems (cholesterol and phospholipid membrane oxidation) and explores its antitumor action in terms of its ability to modulate cancer cell lipid profile. Evaluation of the antioxidant activity of ZER showed that this compound is unable to trap lipoperoxyl radicals per se. ZER significantly modulated the total lipid and fatty acid profiles in cancer cells, inducing marked changes in the phospholipid/cholesterol ratio, with significant decreases in the levels of oleic and palmitic acids and a marked increase of stearic acid. Cell-based fluorescent measurements of intracellular membranes and lipid droplets using the Nile Red staining technique showed that in cancer cells, ZER induced significant accumulation of cytosolic lipid droplets and altered cell membrane organization/protein dynamics, depolarizing the mitochondrial membranes and inducing apoptosis and alteration of nuclear morphology. The modulatory activity of ZER on the total lipid and fatty acid profiles and lipid droplets may therefore represent another possible mechanism of its anticancer properties.

Evaluation of the attractant effect and lipid profile modulation of natural fixed oils on the medfly Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann)

The Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann, 1824; Diptera: Tephritidae), is a polyphagous pest in horticulture, mainly targeting Citrus fruits. Natural essential and fixed oils are currently under investigation for their broad-spectrum in pest control. To gain better knowledge about medfly behavior and biochemistry, we examined with behavioral and biochemical assays, the effects on C. capitata from six natural fixed oils obtained from vegetable (five) or animal (one) matrices using the eco-friendly supercritical CO ₂ extraction. Oils were obtained at 250/300 bar and 40°C from the seeds of Laurus nobilis and Citrus paradisi, the fruits of Myristica fragrans and Pistacia terebinthus, wheat germ, and mullet roes (marine oil). Behavioral experiments were performed by means of two-choice tests to analyze the oil attractant effect compared with control (water or standard diet). The fatty acid composition of oils and the total lipid and fatty acid profile of medflies were characterized by chromatographic techniques. Behavioral bioassays showed that fixed oil obtained from M. fragrans (nutmeg butter) was more attractive than other oils. Medflies fed (24 hr) on marine oil showed significant changes in the total lipid and fatty acid profile induced by oil ingestion without toxic effects. However, 56% mortality was observed in insects fed on M. fragrans oil and no biochemical changes ascribable to oil ingestion were detected in the medflies that survived. Our results advance knowledge about the behavioral and biochemical response of medflies to fixed oils and will be potentially useful in developing new pest management strategies.