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Grande T, Vornoli A, Lubrano V, Vizzarri F, Raffaelli A, Gabriele M, Novoa J, Sandoval C, Longo V, Echeverria MC, Pozzo L. Chlamydomonas agloeformis from the Ecuadorian Highlands: Nutrients and Bioactive Compounds Profiling and In Vitro Antioxidant Activity. Foods 2023; 12:3147. [PMID: 37685081 PMCID: PMC10487033 DOI: 10.3390/foods12173147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Green microalgae are single-celled eukaryotic organisms that, in recent years, are becoming increasingly important in the nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields because of their high content of bioactive compounds. In this study, a particular green microalga was isolated from freshwater highland lakes of Ecuador and morphologically and molecularly identified as Chlamydomonas agloeformis (ChA), and it was studied for nutritional and nutraceutical properties. The phenolic composition and the fatty acids profile of lyophilized cells were determined. The methanolic extract was analyzed for the phenolic compounds profile and the antioxidant capacity by means of in vitro tests. Finally, Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC-1) were exploited to explore the capacity of ChA to reduce the endothelial damage induced by oxidized LDL-mediated oxidative stress. The extract showed a good antioxidant ability thanks to the high content in polyphenolic compounds. The observed decrease in HMEC-1 cells endothelial damage also was probably due to the antioxidant compounds present in the extract. Based on the outcomes of our in vitro assays, ChA demonstrated to be a promising source of bioactive compounds possessing exceptional antioxidant capacities which make it a prospective functional food.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Grande
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology-National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (T.G.); (A.V.); (A.R.); (M.G.); (V.L.)
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences “Mario Serio”, University of Florence, Viale Morgagni 50, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Andrea Vornoli
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology-National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (T.G.); (A.V.); (A.R.); (M.G.); (V.L.)
| | - Valter Lubrano
- Fondazione G. Monasterio, CNR/Regione Toscana, 56124 Pisa, Italy;
| | - Francesco Vizzarri
- National Agricultural and Food Centre Nitra, Hlohovecká 2, 95141 Lužianky, Slovakia;
| | - Andrea Raffaelli
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology-National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (T.G.); (A.V.); (A.R.); (M.G.); (V.L.)
- Crop Science Research Center, Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Piazza Martiri della Libertà 33, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Morena Gabriele
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology-National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (T.G.); (A.V.); (A.R.); (M.G.); (V.L.)
| | - Jeniffer Novoa
- eCIER Research Group, Department of Biotechnology, Universidad Técnica del Norte, Av. 17 de Julio 5–21 y Gral. José María Córdova, Ibarra 100150, Ecuador; (J.N.); (C.S.); (M.C.E.)
| | - Carla Sandoval
- eCIER Research Group, Department of Biotechnology, Universidad Técnica del Norte, Av. 17 de Julio 5–21 y Gral. José María Córdova, Ibarra 100150, Ecuador; (J.N.); (C.S.); (M.C.E.)
| | - Vincenzo Longo
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology-National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (T.G.); (A.V.); (A.R.); (M.G.); (V.L.)
| | - Maria Cristina Echeverria
- eCIER Research Group, Department of Biotechnology, Universidad Técnica del Norte, Av. 17 de Julio 5–21 y Gral. José María Córdova, Ibarra 100150, Ecuador; (J.N.); (C.S.); (M.C.E.)
| | - Luisa Pozzo
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology-National Research Council (IBBA-CNR), Via Moruzzi 1, 56124 Pisa, Italy; (T.G.); (A.V.); (A.R.); (M.G.); (V.L.)
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Dolci M, Signorini L, D'Alessandro S, Perego F, Parapini S, Sommariva M, Taramelli D, Ferrante P, Basilico N, Delbue S. In Vitro SARS-CoV-2 Infection of Microvascular Endothelial Cells: Effect on Pro-Inflammatory Cytokine and Chemokine Release. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23. [PMID: 35409421 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23074063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the novel pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019, high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines lead to endothelial activation and dysfunction, promoting a pro-coagulative state, thrombotic events, and microvasculature injuries. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 on pro-inflammatory cytokines, tissue factor, and chemokine release, with Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells (HMEC-1). ACE2 receptor expression was evaluated by western blot analysis. SARS-CoV-2 infection was assessed by one-step RT-PCR until 7 days post-infection (p.i.), and by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). IL-6, TNF-α, IL-8, IFN-α, and hTF mRNA expression levels were detected by RT-PCR, while cytokine release was evaluated by ELISA. HMEC-1 expressed ACE2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2 infection showed a constant viral load. TEM analysis showed virions localized in the cytoplasm. Expression of IL-6 at 24 h and IFN-α mRNA at 24 h and 48 h p.i. was higher in infected than uninfected HMEC-1 (p < 0.05). IL-6 levels were significantly higher in supernatants from infected HMEC-1 (p < 0.001) at 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h p.i., while IL-8 levels were significantly lower at 24 h p.i. (p < 0.001). These data indicate that in vitro microvascular endothelial cells are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection but slightly contribute to viral amplification. However, SARS-CoV-2 infection might trigger the increase of pro-inflammatory mediators.
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Gabriele M, Frassinetti S, Pucci L. Antimicrobial Activity and Protective Effect of Tuscan Bee Pollens on Oxidative and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Different Cell-Based Models. Foods 2021; 10:1422. [PMID: 34207468 DOI: 10.3390/foods10061422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Bee pollen is an apiary product of great interest owing to its high nutritional and therapeutic properties. This study aimed to assess the cellular antioxidant activity and the antihemolytic effect of Castanea, Rubus, and Cistus bee pollens on human erythrocytes. We also tested the antimicrobial potential of each sample on selected Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Finally, the effect of Castanea bee pollen, showing the best phytochemical profile, was analyzed on human microvascular endothelial cells exposed to thapsigargin, used as endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stressor. Our results showed good biological activities of all bee pollen samples that, under oxidative conditions, significantly improved the erythrocytes’ antioxidant activity and limited cell lyses. Castanea and Cistus showed comparable antihemolytic activities, with higher % hemolysis inhibition than Rubus. All samples exerted antimicrobial activity with different selectivity among all the tested microorganisms with minimal inhibitory concentration values ranging from 5 to 10 mg/mL. Finally, Castanea bee pollen was effective in reducing gene over-expression and oxidation process arising from thapsigargin treatment, with a maximum protective effect at 10 µg/mL. In conclusion, bee pollen represents a potential natural antibacterial and a good nutraceutical product useful in the prevention of free radical and ER stress-associated diseases.
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