Effects of an aglycone-rich biotransformed soybean extract in human endothelial cells

Soybean extract modified by Aspergillus awamori stimulates a greater collagen-I synthesis in the intracellular matrix of human fibroblasts

Aglycone isoflavones are estrogen-like bioactive compounds found in low amounts in soybean, which are increased by biotransformation processes. This study investigated two biotransformation processes of soybean extracts with Aspergillus awamori fungus, evaluating aglycone content and capability of stimulation of collagen-I deposition. Isoflavones were quantified via HPLC; cytotoxicity of biotransformed extracts toward mouse and human fibroblasts was evaluated via NRU and apoptosis/necrosis assays; and collagen-I deposition was measured through Western blot, immunofluorescence, and immunoassay. BSE-2 was the biotransformed soybean extract with the highest aglycone content and did not decrease viability or demonstrated cytotoxicity to either L929 or HDFa cells. BSE-2, at the optimal concentration of 1.33 μg/mL, increased substantially collagen-I amount in HDFa intracellular matrix compared to non-biotransformed soybean extract (NBSE) and immunoassay demonstrated that the extracellular deposition was mostly inhibited by BSE-2 concentrations, except at 1.33 μg/mL. Hence, biotransformed soybean extract by the enzymatic filtrate of Aspergillus awamori fungus demonstrated a high nutricosmetic potential, showing safeness and effective collagen-I augmentation.

Effects of crotoxin, a neurotoxin from Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom, on human endothelial cells

Vascular endothelium plays an important modulatory role due to the production of molecules that mediate vasomotricity, inflammation, and leukocyte adhesion and rolling. Here we addressed whether crotoxin (25-200 μg/mL) - the main component of Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom - interferes with cell viability, apotosis/necrosis, and cell response to oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. We also examined whether crotoxin alters the levels of interleukins, adhesion molecules, and endothelial vasoactive factors in HUVEC cells treated or not with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 1 μg/mL; 24 h). Crotoxin was not cytotoxic towards HUVEC cells, and downregulated the LPS-induced production of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1, and E-selectin), vasoactive factors (endothelin-1 and prostaglandin I2), and interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, and IL1β), as well as protected cells against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress. Hence, crotoxin played anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulating, and vasoactive actions on HUVEC cells, in vitro. Considering that the initial stages of atherosclerosis is characterized by vasoconstriction, increased levels of adhesion molecules, inflammatory cytokines, and oxidative stress in the vascular endothelium; and crotoxin downmodulated all these events, our findings indicate that the actions of crotoxin here demonstrated suggest that it may have an anti-atherogenic action in vivo, which deserves to be tested in future studies.

The role of soybean extracts and isoflavones in hormone-dependent breast cancer: aromatase activity and biological effects

Estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer death in women worldwide. Nowadays, the relationship between soya diet and breast cancer is controversial due to the unknown role of its isoflavones, genistein (G) and daidzein (D). In this work, we investigated not only the anti-tumor properties of a soybean extract (NBSE) but also whether the biotransformation of extract (BSE) by the fungus Aspergillus awamori increased its effectiveness. The BSE showed a stronger anti-aromatase activity and anti-proliferative efficacy in ER+ aromatase-overexpressing breast cancer cells. D and G were weak aromatase inhibitors, but inhibited cancer cell growth, being G the isoflavone that contributed to the BSE-induced effects. This work demonstrated that the biotransformation increased the anti-aromatase activity and the anti-tumoral efficacy of soybean extract in breast cancer cells. Moreover, it elucidated the potential use of soya in the prevention and/or treatment of ER+ breast cancer.