Food Science & Nutrition最新文献

Phytosterols, a form of naturally occurring substance structurally related to cholesterol, have been getting considerable interest due to their possible anticancer property. They have multifactorial modes of action such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and apoptotic, which render them useful in the prevention and treatment of prostate, breast, colon, bladder, and skin cancer. Phytosterol prevents cancer development by scavenging reactive oxidative species (ROS) and boosting antioxidant enzymes, thus inhibiting DNA damage and cell mutations that cause cancerous development. They also regulate important signal transduction processes such as NF-kB, PI3K/Akt, and MAPK/ERK that drive cell growth, survival, and metastasis. Phytosterols induce apoptosis, block the cell cycle, and abrogate the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, offering a multi-manifestation treatment of cancer. Nevertheless, their clinical use is limited due to factors like low bioavailability, which can be overcome with research in nanotechnology and drug delivery schemes. However, based on preclinical and epidemiological studies, phytosterols can be used as a useful adjunctive component to cancer treatments. More studies are required to work out clinical testing and streamlined delivery to maximize their effectiveness in cancer treatment.

Ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1), a major bioactive component of Panax ginseng, exhibits potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, positioning it as a promising therapeutic agent in neurodegenerative and metabolic disorders. This review critically examines the current literature on GRg1, emphasizing its molecular mechanisms, pharmacological pathways, and clinical translation in complementary medicine. GRg1 demonstrates protective effects in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), ischemic stroke, cardiovascular dysfunction, diabetes, and aging, acting primarily through the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), Wnt/β-catenin, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma/heme oxygenase-1 (PPARγ/HO-1) signaling pathways. Evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies indicates that GRg1 enhances cellular resilience, reduces oxidative damage, and regulates apoptosis. Despite its broad therapeutic potential, low bioavailability remains a major limitation, warranting the development of advanced delivery systems such as nanoparticles and liposomes. Overall, this review provides a comprehensive assessment of GRg1's pharmacological actions and highlights its growing relevance as a multifunctional therapeutic agent in complementary and integrative medicine.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is characterized by insulin resistance and chronic inflammation. This study investigated whether alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), a redox-active compound with established anti-inflammatory properties, can inhibit the activation of the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated Kupffer cells and mitigate inflammation-induced insulin resistance in FL83B hepatocytes. Kupffer cells were pretreated with ALA prior to exposure to LPS and either adenosine triphosphate or nigericin to activate NLRP3 inflammasome. The resulting conditioned medium was collected for cytokine analysis and subsequently used to treat FL83B hepatocytes. ALA reduced LPS-induced interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion in a concentration-dependent manner, whereas a modest but significant decrease in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was observed only at the highest dose (2000 μM; p < 0.05). Western blot analysis demonstrated that ALA suppressed the expression of NLRP3 and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) (p < 0.05) and inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). Additionally, ALA preserved mitochondrial membrane potential in Kupffer cells. Kupffer cells treated with ALA (100 μM) prior to LPS stimulation significantly enhanced glucose uptake and upregulated the expression of insulin signaling related proteins, including phosphorylated phosphoinositide 3-kinase (p-PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt) and glucose transporter type 2 (GLUT2) expression, in FL83B hepatocytes cultured with a conditioned medium from LPS-primed and ATP/nigericin-stimulated Kupffer cells (p < 0.05). These findings highlight the potential of ALA as a modulator of hepatic immune-metabolic interactions and support its therapeutic relevance for managing insulin resistance in T2DM.

Honey, bee pollen, propolis, bee bread, royal jelly, bee venom, beeswax, and apilarnil are among the bee-derived products that may serve health-related purposes, as they exhibit various biological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, vasodilatory, and blood pressure-lowering effects. In this review, the possible health effects and action mechanisms of bee products frequently used in apitherapy were examined. The therapeutic potential of bee-derived products is attributed to their content of amino acids, fatty acids, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, flavonoids, polyphenols, and various other bioactive components that contribute to immune system support. In addition, it is known that these products have anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory effects, thanks to their bioactive component content, and have a positive effect on cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular and neurological diseases caused by oxidative stress. The lack of standardization of bee products hinders the clarity of relevant studies. To comprehensively clarify the health impacts of bee-derived products, further research employing standardized preparations is required. Future research involving clinical trials of bee-derived products with varying dosages and durations may help elucidate their potential link to human health. Additionally, epidemiological and clinical studies are needed on the usefulness of bee products to make generalizations.

Curcuminoids are bioactive polyphenols, mainly extracted from Curcuma longa (turmeric), and have received much attention due to their pleiotropic anticancer properties. Recent evidence suggests that curcumin and analogs prevent the activation of a variety of signaling pathways, including the MAPK, PI3K/Akt, and NF-kB pathways, resulting in the induction of apoptosis, prevention of proliferation, and suppression. In addition to these processes, curcumin has been shown to enhance the efficacy of the conventional anti-cancer modalities such as radiation and chemotherapy. By suppressing the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are enzymes that break down the extracellular matrix and promote cancer cell invasion and metastasis, curcumin also demonstrates anti-metastatic qualities. Inflammation and the advancement of cancer are linked to the NF-κB signaling pathways, which are also suppressed by curcuminoids. Along with these processes, curcumin has demonstrated the ability to improve the effectiveness of traditional cancer treatments, including radiation and chemotherapy. It increases the sensitivity of cancer cells to various therapies, which enhances the therapeutic results. However, curcumin's low bioavailability limits its therapeutic use. Its anticancer potency may be increased, and this restriction may be overcome due to recent developments in drug delivery technologies, such as curcumin-loaded nanoparticles. Since they can target several different molecular pathways and improve the effectiveness of current treatments, curcuminoids are a promising family of chemicals for the prevention and treatment of cancer.

Human health and ever-increasing disease burden demand the inclusion of traditional medicines in modern healthcare sectors. Phytochemicals extracted from medicinal plants can be utilized to prepare nutritious and quality food products that could offer nutritional and curative benefits. This review highlights the nutritional, phytochemical, and therapeutic profile of Salvia coccinea and its bioactive compound i.e., apigenin. Salvia coccinea, the urban green, scarlet, lance-shaped flower, is cultivated in warm climatic conditions from summer to autumn. The micronutrient-dense (sodium, calcium, potassium, zinc, nitrogen, and copper) leaves can prevent micronutrient-deficiency disorders among consumers. Furthermore, apigenin along with other bioactive constituents e.g., luteolin, flavonoids, and phenolic acids offer strong antioxidants, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and anti-cardiovascular properties. The free radical scavenging potential of Salvia coccinea and apigenin is responsible for reduced oxidative stress and tumor cell metastasis modulated through PARP-cleavage, caspase-3, ERK, CDK-1, JAK2/STAT3, Bax/Bcl-2, AMPK, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. They attenuate inflammation-induced disorders such as cardiovascular and neurological disorders via down-regulating pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, CRP, COX-2, LPO, TGF-β1, NF-κB, and TNF-α), and pathways (IRAK4, MAPK, JAK/STAT3, TLR4, and ERK). The antimicrobial properties against multiple bacterial, viral, and fungal strains make them effective candidates for alleviating microbial disorders. Furthermore, apigenin and Salvia coccinea promote hypoglycemic effect by attenuating α-amylase activity, cholesterol levels, insulin resistance, DRP1 expression by improving GLUT4, GSK-3β, AMPK/PI3K/Nrf2, and Akt pathways. Moreover, Salvia coccinea regulates wound healing after infection, injury, or surgery, in addition to improving agricultural productivity by reducing rodent attacks.

Date palm leaves (DPL), a widely available lignocellulosic by-product, are used as ruminant feed but are limited by high lignin and low protein content. This study evaluated the enhancement of DPL's nutritional value using a lignocellulose-degrading bacterial consortium (Staphylococcus sp., Brevibacterium sp., and Enterobacter sp.) isolated from the leopard moth (Zeuzera pyrina L.) gut, supplemented with microbial growth stimulators. Six treatments were applied: untreated DPL (control), DPL with M9 medium (T1), DPL with bacterial inoculum (T2), T2 + 0.5% glucose (T3), T2 + 0.5% urea (T4), and T2 + 0.5% glucose + 0.5% urea (T5). Parameters assessed included chemical composition, lignin peroxidase (LiP) activity, in vitro gas production (IVGP), fermentation characteristics, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal enzyme activities. LiP activity was highest in T5 (0.328 U/mL/min), representing a significant increase over controls. Inoculated treatments significantly reduced acid detergent lignin (ADL) and increased crude protein (CP), with T5 showing the greatest improvement: ADL decreased from 97.8 to 83.8 g/kg DM, and CP increased from 52.2 to 70.3 g/kg DM. T5 also exhibited the highest dry matter (DM) loss (61.1 g/kg DM), IVGP (61.2 mL), metabolizable energy (5.61 MJ/kg DM), short-chain fatty acid concentration (2.43 mmol/g DM), microbial protein synthesis (405 mg/g DM), and ammonia-N (10.2 mg/dL). Activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, microcrystalline cellulase, and filter paper-degrading enzymes were significantly elevated in all inoculated treatments, with T5 consistently yielding the highest values. These results demonstrate that co-application of the leopard moth gut-derived bacterial consortium with glucose and urea effectively delignifies DPL, substantially enhances its fermentability and nutritive value, and offers a sustainable strategy for valorizing agricultural residues in ruminant nutrition.

This study examined the independent/joint effects of diet-gut microbiota (DI-GM) scores and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) on central obesity and mediation via biological aging. Using NHANES 2007–2018 data (17,012 adults), DI-GM scores and MVPA (MET-minutes/week) were assessed. Central obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 25 + waist-height ratio ≥ 0.5. Biological age was measured via Klemera Doubal Method (KDM), phenotypic age (PA), and homeostasis disorder (HD). Multivariable logistic regression and mediation analyses evaluated associations. Each 1-point DI-GM increase reduced central obesity prevalence by 9% (OR = 0.91, 95% CI, 0.89%–0.94%, p < 0.001). Meeting MVPA recommendations (≥ 600 MET-min/week) lowered prevalence by 18% (OR = 0.82, 0.71%–0.94%, p < 0.001). Participants with DI-GM ≥ 6 + adequate MVPA had maximal risk reduction (OR = 0.60 vs. DI-GM ≤ 4 + inadequate MVPA, 0.49%–0.75%, p < 0.001). Biological aging mediated 20.12% (KDM), 22.63% (PA), and 1.68% (HD) of DI-GM's protective effects (p < 0.05), but not MVPA's effects. Stronger associations occurred in females, college-educated individuals, and those with 7–8 h sleep (p-interaction < 0.05). Higher DI-GM scores and adequate MVPA significantly reduced central obesity prevalence, partially mediated by slower biological aging. Integrating gut microbiota-targeted diets with physical activity may enhance obesity prevention.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has garnered considerable attention due to its multifaceted therapeutic potential, characterized by a broad spectrum of pharmacological activities, multiple biological targets, and a generally favorable safety profile. Atractylone, a bioactive sesquiterpenoid, has been noted to exhibit numerous pharmacological effects, including cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and gastroprotective activities. The isolation and structural characterization of this compound are essential for optimizing its pharmacological applications and unlocking its full therapeutic potential. Despite its promising bioactivity, to our knowledge, no comprehensive review has yet been dedicated to summarizing the current state of research on Atractylone. To tackle this gap, we conducted a systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines to define a clear research question and methodology. A comprehensive literature search was performed using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to collect all available information on Atractylone. This review aims to furnish a detailed analysis of its natural sources, biosynthetic pathways, and biological activities. By summarizing current knowledge, this article establishes a foundation for future research and encourages further exploration of Atractylone's therapeutic applications.

α-Glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs) are compounds used to treat type 2 diabetes (T2D) by preventing the breakdown of dietary starch into monosaccharides, which reduces their absorption by the body and lowers blood glucose levels. AGIs often cause gastrointestinal issues such as diarrhea and flatulence due to excessive α-amylase inhibition, leading to excess residual starch reaching the colon and being fermented by microbes. There is a need to prospect for novel AGIs that are effective and have fewer adverse effects. This study investigated the potential of citrus-derived flavonoids as AGIs targeting amylolytic enzymes: α-amylase and α-glucosidase. Firstly, flavonoids were extracted from Citrus reticulata (tangerines) peels using an ultrasound-assisted methanolic procedure, followed by C18 column-purification and profiling with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Select citrus peel-derived flavonoids, quercetin (−9.2 kcal/mol) and rutin (−10.8 kcal/mol), and the commercial AGI, acarbose (−8.7 kcal/mol), showed strong binding affinities against α-glucosidase. Molecular dynamics simulations of the compounds were also assessed, revealing flexibility and stability in response to ligand interactions with the α-glucosidase. The in silico data correlated positively with the results from the in vitro inhibition assays; acarbose (Ki = 0.14 mg/mL), quercetin (Ki = 0.12 mg/mL) and rutin (Ki = 0.19 mg/mL) recorded low inhibition constant values. The cytotoxicity profile of the selected compounds was also conducted on Caco-2 cells, with flavonoids showing no significant cytotoxic effects. Flavonoids could be used as AGIs with minimal gastrointestinal impacts, reducing residual starch entering the colon and decreasing glucose uptake.