Plant Foods for Human Nutrition最新文献

The 'Zingara' pear, an ancient and neglected Italian variety, is traditionally consumed either cooked or after post-harvest ripening due to its firm, bitter, and astringent pulp. This study investigated the physicochemical properties, nutritional and nutraceutical profile and antioxidant activity of 'Zingara' pears across six post-harvest ripening stages (S1-S6). The peel color transitioned from yellow (S1) to orange (S3) and brown (S6), while the pulp darkened at S5. Browning was linked to phenolic oxidation and decreased malic acid content. Early ripening stages (S1-S3) were characterized by higher acidity, abundant bioactive compounds, and the highest antioxidant activity, with peels showing higher total phenolic content (TPC) than pulps. In contrast, later stages (S4-S6) exhibited a sweeter flavor and higher pH, alongside a decline in bioactive substances. These findings highlight the dual value of the 'Zingara' pear: high nutraceutical potential in early stages and enhanced sensory qualities in later stages. This research underscores the importance of rediscovering ancient cultivars like 'Zingara' for modern functional foods and sustainable agriculture.

Anthocyanins are phenolic compounds that can be used as natural food colorants, which have stimulated science and industries toward the search for fruits and other plant parts to be used as sources of these pigments. Extraction, identification, composition, and stability of anthocyanins are the most widely studied aspects. Regarding anthocyanins' sources, Eugenia brasiliensis - commonly known as grumixama - is an underexploited Brazilian fruit, yet it belongs to the high-anthocyanin berries group due to its high contents of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside. Herein, we compiled and discussed recent data about grumixama fruits, especially their anthocyanin composition, stability, biological, and technological properties. According to the recent literature, the anthocyanins from grumixama were reported as stable when exposed to fluorescent and incandescent light. Moreover, the anthocyanin extract of grumixama fruits was extremely sensitive to ultraviolet radiation, as well as temperatures above 50 °C. Regarding the biological properties of grumixama anthocyanins, studies on their health effects remain limited, particularly those involving cellular, animal, and human research. This underscore the need for further investigation into the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of these anthocyanins, which are crucial for understanding their potential health benefits.

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide, with thrombosis playing a major role. Synthetic antithrombotic therapies often have adverse effects, highlighting the need for safer, natural alternatives. This study investigates the antithrombotic potential (antiplatelet and anticoagulant activities) and hemocompatibility of protein and anthocyanin extracts from sweet potato byproducts. Since polyphenol oxidase (PPO) can impact on the biological activity of these extracts, treatments to inactivate PPO were applied with ascorbic acid immersion and bleaching. Anthocyanin extract (1 mg/mL) inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, and PMA. Both anthocyanin and protein extract prolonged coagulation times (aPTT, thrombin time, and fibrinogen assay) and exhibited no toxicity in hemolysis and cytotoxicity analyses. Additionally, anthocyanins reduced key platelet activation markers (P-selectin, CD63, fibrinogen). Ascorbic acid pre-treatment against PPO enhanced the biological activity of anthocyanins. This study demonstrates that sweet potato anthocyanins and proteins possess significant antithrombotic properties, offering potential as sustainable, natural alternatives to synthetic thrombosis treatments. Further studies are needed to explore their bioavailability, in vivo effects, and clinical applications.

Red Yeast Rice (RYR), the fermentation of cooked rice kernels with Monascus purpureus, has been traditionally and increasingly applied to alleviate atherosclerosis (AS). Nonetheless, the precise mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects in AS treatment remain elusive. Metabolomics combined with serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology was utilized to explore the potential molecular mechanisms by which RYR improves AS. RYR showed a significant inhibitory effect on metabolic dysfunction in mice. Specifically, through metabolomics analysis, 45 metabolic biomarkers were identified, which are associated with 5 metabolic pathways, particularly arachidonic acid metabolism. Serum pharmacochemistry identified 11 absorbed constituents of RYR that entered the bloodstream. Subsequent correlation analysis determined that 10 constituents may serve as bioactive ingredients significantly associated with the metabolic biomarkers. Network pharmacology identified 5 core targets and enriched 129 representative pathways, among which the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway received the highest score. Molecular docking verified that there existed strong binding energy between the absorbable components and pivotal targets. The pharmacodynamic evaluation results verified that the down-regulation of PI3K and p-AKT expressions in the PI3K/AKT pathway served as the underlying mechanism of RYR in addressing AS. These findings underscore the pharmacodynamic components, pivotal targets, and pathways of RYR in AS treatment, as well as the development of functional foods involving RYR.

Lipotoxicity has raised intense public concerns for its cytotoxicity and associated chronic diseases. Pancreatic β-cells are highly susceptible to lipotoxicity, since the excessive lipids may produce massive reactive oxygen species (ROS), cause severe oxidative stress, induce the dysfunction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER), damage lipid membranes and trigger the eventual cell death. This study explored the mechanism of cynarine (CYN) in preventing rat pancreatic cells (RINm5F) from the cytotoxicity induced by representative fatty acids, palmitate (PA, physiologically abundant) and linoleic acid (LA, prevalent in Western-style diets). In 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, CYN administration significantly enhanced the viability of pancreatic β cells exposed to PA or LA, validating its protective efficacy against lipotoxicity in RINm5F cells. Further experiments demonstrated that CYN treatment prevented PA-treated beta cells from apoptosis by quenching the intracellular ROS, ameliorating the cellular damages of lipid peroxidation, mitigating cellular calcium dysregulation, suppressing crucial ER stress mediator proteins' expression, attenuating aberrant sub-G1 cell population, and inhibiting the expression of key proapoptotic proteins. In the β cells stressed by LA, CYN treatment efficiently abrogated the abnormal elevation of cellular ferric iron content, inhibited lipid peroxidation, improved the declined GSH content, enhanced the expression of glutathione peroxidase 4, and thereby alleviated the LA-provoked ferroptosis. The findings provide experimental evidence for employing CYN as a preferential antagonist to intervene in lipotoxicity and relevant diseases like diabetes mellitus.

Gliomas are the most common malignant brain tumors in adults, characterized by a high proliferation and invasiveness. Treatment remains challenging due to their immunomodulatory properties, which promote immune evasion and tumor progression. Given the substantial consumption of yerba mate in the southern hemisphere, this study evaluated the effects of caffeinated and decaffeinated yerba mate infusion extracts (ECaf and EDCaf, respectively) on glioblastoma cell lines (U87 and U251). Both extracts reduced cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, with U87 being more sensitive. ECaf and EDCaf inhibited cell migration and adhesion, particularly in U87 cells. Real-time PCR showed a reduction in CD73 and MMP2 expression in U87, whereas U251 exhibited a slight increase in MMP2 expression. CD73 enzymatic activity was reduced in U87 cells by both extracts but remained unaffected in U251 cells. Overall, the results suggest that caffeine absence does not alter the bioactivity of yerba mate extracts, highlighting their potential to modulate glioblastoma cell behavior.

Background: Jicama (Pachyrhizus erosus) tubers contain isoflavones and phenolic acids with potential chemopreventive and anti-inflammatory effects. This study analyzed bioactive and toxic compounds in fresh jicama tuber (flesh and peel) and assessed changes during freezing for 3 and 4 months. Antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated on human thyroid cancer (FTC133, 8505 C, TPC1), and normal cells (Nthy-ori 3 - 1), and RAW 264.7 macrophages.

Methods: High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) identified active compounds. Antioxidant activity was tested using FRAP and DPPH assays. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using the MTT assay, while anti-inflammatory effects were measured via TNF-α, IL-6 (ELISA), and nitric oxide levels (Griess assay).

Results: Fresh peel contained the highest levels of isoflavones (mg/100 g dry weight) - biochanin A; 52.5, daidzein; 23.0, genistein; 2.6) and phenolic acids (chlorogenic; 61.7, isochlorogenic acids; 95.8), which declined significantly after freezing. No rotenone was detected. Peel extracts exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity against thyroid cancer cells, particularly FTC133, showing dose-dependent inhibition of cell viability. However, they also exhibited cytotoxicity against normal thyroid cells, highlighting potential risks. Flesh extracts showed weaker cytotoxic effects but demonstrated slightly stronger anti-inflammatory activity than peel extracts. Both extracts effectively reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and nitric oxide levels in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Storage time during freezing had no significant impact on anti-inflammatory activity or cytotoxic potency, but it significantly reduced antioxidant activity.

Conclusion: Jicama peel is richer in bioactive compounds than the flesh and exhibits strong cytotoxic effects on thyroid cancer cells, although it also affects normal cells. Freezing reduces phytonutrient content and antioxidant potential but does not alter anti-inflammatory efficacy.