Anti-Hyperglycemic Effects of Bioactive Compounds in the Context of the Prevention of Diet-Related Diseases

Effect of NaCl stress germination on microstructure and physicochemical properties of wheat starch

Germination can enhance the nutritional properties of wheat and improve its bioavailability, while simultaneously altering the microstructure of wheat starch, which further impacts its physicochemical characteristics. This work investigated the synergistic effects of germination and NaCl on the microstructure and physicochemical properties of wheat starch by applying a 60 mmol/L NaCl solution. The results indicated that germination significantly influenced both the chemical composition and microstructure of wheat starch, as evidenced by cracks and pores, variations in size, crystallinity, lamellar order, hydrogen bond disruption, branching degree, and molecular weight distribution. These changes affected the pasting and gel properties of the starch. The NaCl treatment enhanced enzyme activity, resulting in a higher phenolic content (4.70 mg GAE/g DW) at 48 h, rougher and irregular surfaces, smaller dimensions (D10 from 3.87 to 2.20 μm), and increased degree of heterogeneity. Over time, the NaCl-induced treatment led to a greater structural disruption, including reduced crystallinity (from 17.93 % to 14.95 %), damage the lamellar structure, and the breaking of hydrogen and glycosidic bonds. The germinated starch exhibited improved solubility and swelling power, thereby altering its pasting, gel, and thermal properties. Overall, this study provides valuable insights for the application of germinated wheat in food.

Hypoglycemic effects and associated mechanisms of resveratrol and related stilbenes in diet

Hyperglycemia has become a global health problem due to changes in diet and lifestyle. Most importantly, persistent hyperglycemia can eventually develop into type II diabetes. While the usage of current drugs is limited by their side effects, stilbenes derived from fruits and herbal/dietary plants are considered as important phytochemicals with potential hypoglycemic properties. Herein, the most common stilbenoids in consumed foods, i.e. resveratrol, pterostilbene, piceatannol, oxyresveratrol, and 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-glucopyranoside (THSG), are reviewed in this paper. These stilbenes are found to regulate glucose homeostasis via (a) modulation of feeding behaviour and nutrition absorption; (b) restoration of insulin signalling by enhancing insulin production/insulin sensitivity; (c) improvement of gut permeability, gut microbial profile and resulting metabolomes; and (d) amelioration of circadian rhythm disruption. In this review, we have summarized the underlying mechanisms for the hypoglycemic effects of the five most common dietary stilbenoids listed above, providing a comprehensive framework for future study and applications.

Cranberry Proanthocyanidins Mitigate Reflux-Induced Transporter Dysregulation in an Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Model

We recently reported that cranberry proanthocyanidins (C-PACs) inhibit esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) by 83% through reversing reflux-induced bacterial, inflammatory and immune-implicated proteins and genes as well as reducing esophageal bile acids, which drive EAC progression. This study investigated whether C-PACs' mitigation of bile reflux-induced transporter dysregulation mechanistically contributes to EAC prevention. RNA was isolated from water-, C-PAC- and reflux-exposed rat esophagi with and without C-PAC treatment. Differential gene expression was determined by means of RNA sequencing and RT-PCR, followed by protein assessments. The literature, coupled with the publicly available Gene Expression Omnibus dataset GSE26886, was used to assess transporter expression levels in normal and EAC patient biopsies for translational relevance. Significant changes in ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters implicated in therapeutic resistance in humans (i.e., Abcb1, Abcb4, Abcc1, Abcc3, Abcc4, Abcc6 and Abcc10) and the transport of drugs, xenobiotics, lipids, and bile were altered in the reflux model with C-PACs' mitigating changes. Additionally, C-PACs restored reflux-induced changes in solute carrier (SLC), aquaporin, proton and cation transporters (i.e., Slc2a1, Slc7a11, Slc9a1, Slco2a1 and Atp6v0c). This research supports the suggestion that transporters merit investigation not only for their roles in metabolism and therapeutic resistance, but as targets for cancer prevention and targeting preventive agents in combination with chemotherapeutics.