Cardioprotective Activity of Selected Polyphenols Based on Epithelial and Aortic Cell Lines. A Review

The Role of Genistein in Mammalian Reproduction

Genistein is a natural compound belonging to flavonoids, having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-neoplastic properties. Genistein is considered a phytoestrogen. As such, genistein can bind estrogen receptors (ERα and ERβ), although with a lower affinity than that of estradiol. Despite considerable work, the effects of genistein are not well established yet. This review aims to clarify the role of genistein on female and male reproductive functions in mammals. In females, at a high dose, genistein diminishes the ovarian activity regulating several pathway molecules, such as topoisomerase isoform I and II, protein tyrosine kinases (v-src, Mek-4, ABL, PKC, Syk, EGFR, FGFR), ABC, CFTR, Glut1, Glut4, 5α-reductase, PPAR-γ, mitogen-activated protein kinase A, protein histidine kinase, and recently circulating RNA-miRNA. The effect of genistein on pregnancy is still controversial. In males, genistein exerts an estrogenic effect by inducing testosterone biosynthesis. The interaction of genistein with both natural and synthetic endocrine disruptors has a negative effect on testis function. The positive effect of genistein on sperm quality is still in debate. In conclusion, genistein has a potentially beneficial effect on the mechanisms regulating the reproduction of females and males. However, this is dependent on the dose, the species, the route, and the time of administration.

Gut microbial metabolites of dietary polyphenols and their potential role in human health and diseases

Polyphenols contribute as one of the largest groups of compounds among all the phytochemicals. Common sources of dietary polyphenols are vegetables, fruits, berries, cereals, whole grains, etc. Owing to their original form, they are difficult to get absorbed. Dietary polyphenols after undergoing gut microbial metabolism form bioaccessible and effective metabolites. Polyphenols and derived metabolites are all together a diversified group of compounds exhibiting pharmacological activities against cardiovascular, cancer, oxidative stress, inflammatory, and bacterial diseases. The formed metabolites are sometimes even more bioavailable and efficacious than the parent polyphenols. Studies on gut microbial metabolism of dietary polyphenols have introduced new approach for the use of polyphenol-rich food in the form of supplementary diet. This review provides insights on various aspects including classification of polyphenols, gut microbiota-mediated metabolism of polyphenols, chemistry of polyphenol metabolism, and pharmacological actions of gut microbial metabolites of polyphenols. It also suggests the use of polyphenols from marine source for the microbial metabolism studies. Till date, gut microbial metabolism of polyphenols from terrestrial sources is extensively studied as compared to marine polyphenols. Marine ecosystem is a profound but partially explored source of phytoconstituents. Among them, edible seaweeds contain high concentration of polyphenols, especially phlorotannins. Hence, microbial metabolism studies of seaweeds can unravel the pharmacological potential of marine polyphenol-derived metabolites.

Immunomodulatory and Antioxidant Properties of Ipomoea batatas Flour and Extracts Obtained by Green Extraction

Sweet potato (SP), Ipomoea batatas Lam, belongs to the Convolvulaceae family. It produces edible storage roots. Currently, orange varieties contribute to improving food systems and managing vitamin A deficiency. Processing of this food crop into flour allows better conservation. However, nutrition health data regarding SP flour obtained by green extraction remains scarce. In this study, we therefore explored its phytochemistry and its associated bioactivity potential for human health. We analyzed the nutritional composition of orange flesh sweet potato (OFSP) flour and assessed the antioxidant (free radical scavenging) and immunomodulatory (on inflammatory murine macrophages) properties of the extract. More specifically, we measured the impact of OFSP flour extract on mediators such as Nitric Oxide (NO) and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-alpha), Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 (MCP-1), and Prostaglandin-E2 (PGE-2). Our results indicated significant fiber, mineral, beta-carotene, and polyphenols content in the extracts, and antioxidant and immunomodulatory bioactivities were also demonstrated with a concentration-dependent inhibition of cytokine production. Taken together, our results suggest that Ipomoea batatas flour could, in addition to being a good source of energy and beta-carotene provitamin A, constitute a food of interest for the prophylaxis of metabolic diseases associated with an underlying low-grade inflammatory state.

Nutrition, Healthcare Benefits and Phytochemical Properties of Cassava (Manihot esculenta) Leaves Sourced from Three Countries (Reunion, Guinea, and Costa Rica)

(1) Background: Manihot esculenta, cassava, is an essential food crop for human consumption in many parts of the world. Besides the wide use of its roots, cassava leaves have been used locally as green vegetables and for medicinal purposes. However, nutritional health data regarding cassava leaves is limited, therefore we investigated its composition and associated potential bioactivity interest for human health. (2) Methods: Cassava leaf bioactivity investigations focused on antioxidant properties (free radical scavenging) in association with immunomodulatory activities on inflammatory murine macrophages to measure the impact of cassava extract on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-6, Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1, Prostaglandin-E2 and mediators such as nitric oxide. (3) Results: Antioxidant and immunomodulatory bioactivities were significant, with a concentration-dependent inhibition of cytokines production by inflammatory macrophages; (4) Conclusions: Taken together, our results tend to suggest that Manihot esculenta leaves might be underrated regarding the potential nutrition-health interest of this vegetal matrix for both human nutrition and prophylaxis of metabolic disease with underlying low grade inflammation status.

Stilbenes: Characterization, bioactivity, encapsulation and structural modifications. A review of their current limitations and promising approaches

Stilbenes are phenolic compounds naturally synthesized as secondary metabolites by the shikimate pathway in plants. Research on them has increased in recent years due to their therapeutic potential as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective and anti-obesity agents. Amongst them, resveratrol has attracted the most attention, although there are other natural and synthesized stilbenes with enhanced properties. However, stilbenes have some physicochemical and pharmacokinetic problems that need to be overcome before considering their applications. Human clinical evidence of their bioactivity is still controversial due to this fact and hence, exhaustive basis science on stilbenes is needed before applied science. This review gathers the main physicochemical and biological properties of natural stilbenes, establishes structure-activity relationships among them, emphasizing the current problems that limit their applications and presenting some promising approaches to overcome these issues: the encapsulation in different agents and the structural modification to obtain novel stilbenes with better features. The bioactivity of stilbenes should move from promising to evident.

Polyphenols' Cardioprotective Potential: Review of Rat Fibroblasts as Well as Rat and Human Cardiomyocyte Cell Lines Research

According to the World Health Organization, cardiovascular diseases are responsible for 31% of global deaths. A reduction in mortality can be achieved by promoting a healthy lifestyle, developing prevention strategies, and developing new therapies. Polyphenols are present in food and drinks such as tea, cocoa, fruits, berries, and vegetables. These compounds have strong antioxidative properties, which might have a cardioprotective effect. The aim of this paper is to examine the potential of polyphenols in cardioprotective use based on in vitro human and rat cardiomyocytes as well as fibroblast research. Based on the papers discussed in this review, polyphenols have the potential for cardioprotective use due to their multilevel points of action which include, among others, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antithrombotic, and vasodilatory. Polyphenols may have potential use in new and effective preventions or therapies for cardiovascular diseases, yet more clinical studies are needed.