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Dietary Phytoestrogen Intake is Inversely Associated with Hypertension in a Cohort of Adults Living in the Mediterranean Area.
Godos, J, Bergante, S, Satriano, A, Pluchinotta, FR, Marranzano, M
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2018;(2)
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dietary polyphenols, including phytoestrogens are abundantly present in a balanced diet. Evidence for their role in preventing non-communicable diseases is emerging. METHODS We examined the association between estimated habitual intakes of dietary phytoestrogens and hypertension in a cohort study. The baseline data included 1936 men and women aged 18 years and older. Intakes of total phytoestrogens, isoflavones, and lignans were calculated from validated food frequency questionnaire. Data on the polyphenols content in foods were retrieved from the Phenol-Explorer database. RESULTS Individuals in the highest quartile of dietary phytoestrogens intake were less likely to be hypertensive (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44-0.98); moreover, the association showed a significant decreasing trend. Isoflavones and lignans were not associated with lower odds of hypertension; however, some individual compounds, such as biochanin A and pinoresinol showed an independent inverse association with hypertension. CONCLUSIONS Dietary phytoestrogens are associated with lower likelihood of hypertension in adults living in the Mediterranean area. Future studies are needed to confirm the present findings (i.e., prospective cohort studies) and to better understand the mechanisms underlying such associations.
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Translational opportunities for broad-spectrum natural phytochemicals and targeted agent combinations in breast cancer.
Dalasanur Nagaprashantha, L, Adhikari, R, Singhal, J, Chikara, S, Awasthi, S, Horne, D, Singhal, SS
International journal of cancer. 2018;(4):658-670
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Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) prevention and therapy in the context of life-style risk factors and biological drivers is a major focus of developmental therapeutics in oncology. Obesity, alcohol, chronic estrogen signaling and smoking have distinct BC precipitating and facilitating effects that may act alone or in combination. A spectrum of signaling events including enhanced oxidative stress and changes in estrogen-receptor (ER)-dependent and -independent signaling drive the progression of BC. Breast tumors modulate ERα/ERβ ratio, upregulate proliferative pathways driven by ERα and HER2 with a parallel loss and/or downregulation of tumor suppressors such as TP53 and PTEN which together impact the efficacy of therapeutic strategies and frequently lead to emergence of drug resistance. Natural phytochemicals modulate oxidative stress, leptin, integrin, HER2, MAPK, ERK, Wnt/β-catenin and NFκB signaling along with regulating ERα and ERβ, thereby presenting unique opportunities for both primary and combinatorial interventions in BC. In this regard, this article focuses on critical analyses of the evidence from multiple studies on the efficacy of natural phytochemicals in BC. In addition, areas in which the combinations of such effective natural phytochemicals with approved and/or developing anticancer agents can be translationally beneficial are discussed to derive evidence-based inference for addressing challenges in BC control and therapy.
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Prevention from radiation damage by natural products.
Fischer, N, Seo, EJ, Efferth, T
Phytomedicine : international journal of phytotherapy and phytopharmacology. 2018;:192-200
Abstract
BACKGROUND Radiotherapy is a mainstay of cancer treatment since decades. Ionizing radiation (IR) is used for destruction of cancer cells and shrinkage of tumors. However, the increase of radioresistance in cancer cells and radiation toxicity to normal tissues are severe concerns. The exposure to radiation generates intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to DNA damage by lipid peroxidation, removal of thiol groups from cellular and membrane proteins, strand breaks and base alterations. HYPOTHESIS Plants have to deal with radiation-induced damage (UV-light of sun, other natural radiation sources). Therefore, it is worth speculating that radioprotective mechanisms have evolved during evolution of life. We hypothesize that natural products from plants may also protect from radiation damage caused as adverse side effects of cancer radiotherapy. METHODS The basis of this systematic review, we searched the relevant literature in the PubMed database. RESULTS Flavonoids, such as genistein, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, epicatechin, apigenin and silibinin mainly act as antioxidant, free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory compounds, thus, providing cytoprotection in addition to downregulation of several pro-inflammatory cytokines. Comparable effects have been found in phenylpropanoids, especially caffeic acid phenylethylester, curcumin, thymol and zingerone. Besides, resveratrol and quercetin are the most important cytoprotective polyphenols. Their radioprotective effects are mediated by a wide range of mechanisms mainly leading to direct or indirect reduction of cellular stress. Ascorbic acid is broadly used as antioxidant, but it has also shown activity in reducing cellular damage after irradiation mainly due to its antioxidant capabilities. The metal ion chelator, gallic acid, represents another natural product attenuating cellular damage caused by radiation. CONCLUSIONS Some secondary metabolites from plants reveal radioprotective features against cellular damage caused by irradiation. These results warrant further analysis to develop phytochemicals as radioprotectors for clinical use.
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New Light for Phytochemicals.
Holopainen, JK, Kivimäenpää, M, Julkunen-Tiitto, R
Trends in biotechnology. 2018;(1):7-10
Abstract
Light-emitting diode (LED) lighting technology with narrow-bandwidth illumination helps to reduce energy consumption on covered crops. Here, we discuss how this new technology, which provides flexible modification of light spectra, will open new avenues for natural modulation of medicinal and crop plant metabolomes for better colour, flavour, fragrance, and antioxidant properties.
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Production of plant-derived polyphenols in microorganisms: current state and perspectives.
Milke, L, Aschenbrenner, J, Marienhagen, J, Kallscheuer, N
Applied microbiology and biotechnology. 2018;(4):1575-1585
Abstract
Plants synthesize several thousand different polyphenols of which many have the potential to aid in preventing or treating cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. However, plants usually contain complex polyphenol mixtures impeding access to individual compounds in larger quantities. In contrast, functional integration of biosynthetic plant polyphenol pathways into microorganisms allows for the production of individual polyphenols as chemically distinct compounds, which can be synthesized in large amounts and can be more easily isolated. Over the last decade, microbial synthesis of many plant polyphenols could be achieved, and along the way, many decisive bottlenecks in the endogenous microbial host metabolism as well as in the heterologous plant pathways could be identified. In this review, we present recent advancements in metabolic engineering of microorganisms for the production of plant polyphenols and discuss how current challenges could be addressed in the future.
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Prevention of Breast Cancer by Natural Phytochemicals: Focusing on Molecular Targets and Combinational Strategy.
Chiou, YS, Li, S, Ho, CT, Pan, MH
Molecular nutrition & food research. 2018;(23):e1800392
Abstract
Starting from the 21st century, breast cancer can be classified as the most common invasive malignancy in women. Among the preventive or therapeutic strategies of breast cancer, combination therapy is the most promising approach. This mode of treatment of breast cancer concurrently maximizes efficacy, overcomes multidrug resistance, and minimizes harmful side effects caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy alone. The risk of cancer can be reduced by supplementing diets with naturally occurring products known as phytochemicals. These phytochemicals have well-defined roles in the management of every stage of breast carcinogenesis. In this review, the collective data of dietary phytochemicals used to sensitize breast cancer cells to therapeutic approaches are reported and their specific molecular targets through synergistic, additive, and potentiation effects are highlighted. The concept of combining natural agents with medicines to augment therapeutic responses creates an optimal modality, which may facilitate clinical applications of combination regimens in the future.
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Role of soybean-derived bioactive compounds in inflammatory bowel disease.
Juritsch, AF, Moreau, R
Nutrition reviews. 2018;(8):618-638
Abstract
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with IBD present with debilitating symptoms that alter the quality of life and can develop into severe complications requiring surgery. Epidemiological evidence indicates Westernized societies have an elevated IBD burden when compared with Asian societies. Considering the stark contrast between the typical Western and Eastern dietary patterns, it is postulated that differences in food and lifestyle contribute to lower IBD incidence in Asian countries. Soybeans (Glycine max), which are consumed in high quantities and as various preparations in Eastern societies, contain a wealth of natural, biologically active compounds that include isoflavones, bioactive peptides, protease inhibitors, and phytosterols, among many others. These compounds have been shown to improve human health, and preclinical evidence suggests they have potential to improve the prognosis of IBD. This review summarizes the current state of evidence regarding the effects and the mechanisms of action of these soybean-derived bioactive compounds in experimental models of IBD.
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Vegetable-derived bioactive nitrate and cardiovascular health.
Bondonno, CP, Blekkenhorst, LC, Liu, AH, Bondonno, NP, Ward, NC, Croft, KD, Hodgson, JM
Molecular aspects of medicine. 2018;:83-91
Abstract
Vegetable derived nitrate is now recognised as an important bioactive phytochemical with cardioprotective properties. Nitrate, through the recently described enterosalivary nitrate-nitrite-nitric oxide (NO) pathway, increases NO, a molecule pivotal for cardiovascular health. Clinical trials have observed that dietary nitrate has similar effects to NO when supplied exogenously. These effects include reduced blood pressure and improvements in other markers of vascular health such as endothelial function, arterial stiffness, ischemia reperfusion injury, blood flow, and platelet aggregation. Few observational studies, however, have examined dietary nitrate intake and long term cardiovascular health outcomes. This represents a significant gap in the literature. There is also a lingering concern about a possible carcinogenic effect of nitrate intake. Additionally, a number of potential factors that could impact nitrate to nitrite to NO reduction have been identified. This review will provide an overview of the evidence to date that nitrate, through its effects on endogenous NO and vascular health, is an important bioactive cardioprotective component of a diet rich in vegetables.
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Effects and mechanisms of actions of phytochemicals on Alzheimer's disease neuropathology.
Hartman, RE, Ross, DM
Frontiers in bioscience (Elite edition). 2018;(2):300-333
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease affects millions of people, yet, there are only a limited number approaches for it pharmacological treatment. Thus, identifying factors that decrease the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is of paramount importance. A growing body of epidemiological and experimental evidence suggests that dietary fruits and vegetables have neuroprotective effects against the harmful effects of oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and aging. These effects are mediated by various phytochemical compounds found in plants that exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and other beneficial properties. This review addresses epidemiological and experimental evidence for the effects and potential mechanisms of several commonly consumed phytochemicals on neuropathology and outcomes of Alzheimer's disease. Based on available evidence, we suggest that regular consumption of bioactive phytochemicals from a variety of fruits and vegetables attenuates age- and insult-related neuropathology in Alzheimer's disease.
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Food Bioactive HDAC Inhibitors in the Epigenetic Regulation of Heart Failure.
Evans, LW, Ferguson, BS
Nutrients. 2018;(8)
Abstract
Approximately 5.7 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with heart failure (HF). More concerning is that one in nine U.S. deaths included HF as a contributing cause. Current HF drugs (e.g., β-blockers, ACEi) target intracellular signaling cascades downstream of cell surface receptors to prevent cardiac pump dysfunction. However, these drugs fail to target other redundant intracellular signaling pathways and, therefore, limit drug efficacy. As such, it has been postulated that compounds designed to target shared downstream mediators of these signaling pathways would be more efficacious for the treatment of HF. Histone deacetylation has been linked as a key pathogenetic element for the development of HF. Lysine residues undergo diverse and reversible post-translational modifications that include acetylation and have historically been studied as epigenetic modifiers of histone tails within chromatin that provide an important mechanism for regulating gene expression. Of recent, bioactive compounds within our diet have been linked to the regulation of gene expression, in part, through regulation of the epi-genome. It has been reported that food bioactives regulate histone acetylation via direct regulation of writer (histone acetyl transferases, HATs) and eraser (histone deacetylases, HDACs) proteins. Therefore, bioactive food compounds offer unique therapeutic strategies as epigenetic modifiers of heart failure. This review will highlight food bio-actives as modifiers of histone deacetylase activity in the heart.