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Phytochemistry Reviews : Proceedings of... Mar 2023Viral infections have always been the main global health challenge, as several potentially lethal viruses, including the hepatitis virus, herpes virus, and influenza... (Review)
Review
Viral infections have always been the main global health challenge, as several potentially lethal viruses, including the hepatitis virus, herpes virus, and influenza virus, have affected human health for decades. Unfortunately, most licensed antiviral drugs are characterized by many adverse reactions and, in the long-term therapy, also develop viral resistance; for these reasons, researchers have focused their attention on investigating potential antiviral molecules from plants. Natural resources indeed offer a variety of specialized therapeutic metabolites that have been demonstrated to inhibit viral entry into the host cells and replication through the regulation of viral absorption, cell receptor binding, and competition for the activation of intracellular signaling pathways. Many active phytochemicals, including flavonoids, lignans, terpenoids, coumarins, saponins, alkaloids, etc., have been identified as potential candidates for preventing and treating viral infections. Using a systematic approach, this review summarises the knowledge obtained to date on the in vivo antiviral activity of specialized metabolites extracted from plant matrices by focusing on their mechanism of action.
PubMed: 37359711
DOI: 10.1007/s11101-023-09855-2 -
Thrombosis and Haemostasis Jun 2022Cardiovascular disease, in particular due to arterial thrombosis, is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, with crucial roles of platelets in thrombus formation....
Cardiovascular disease, in particular due to arterial thrombosis, is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, with crucial roles of platelets in thrombus formation. For multiple plant-derived phytochemicals found in common dietary components, claims have been made regarding cardiovascular health and antiplatelet activities. Here we present a systematic overview of the published effects of common phytochemicals, applied in vitro or in nutritional intervention studies, on agonist-induced platelet activation properties and platelet signaling pathways. Comparing the phytochemical effects per structural class, we included general phenols: curcuminoids (e.g., curcumin), lignans (honokiol, silybin), phenolic acids (caffeic and chlorogenic acid), derivatives of these (shikimic acid), and stilbenoids (isorhapontigenin, resveratrol). Furthermore, we evaluated the flavonoid polyphenols, including anthocyanidins (delphinidin, malvidin), flavan-3-ols (catechins), flavanones (hesperidin), flavones (apigenin, nobiletin), flavonols (kaempferol, myricetin, quercetin), and isoflavones (daidzein, genistein); and terpenoids including carotenes and limonene; and finally miscellaneous compounds like betalains, indoles, organosulfides (diallyl trisulfide), and phytosterols. We furthermore discuss the implications for selected phytochemicals to interfere in thrombosis and hemostasis, indicating their possible clinical relevance. Lastly, we provide guidance on which compounds are of interest for further platelet-related research.
Topics: Blood Platelets; Flavonoids; Hemostasis; Humans; Phenols; Phytochemicals; Thrombosis
PubMed: 34715717
DOI: 10.1055/a-1683-5599 -
Frontiers in Endocrinology 2022Sesamin, the main lignin constituent of sesame, plays a pivotal role in regulating physical state. Some studies have evidenced that the supplementation of sesamin may... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
AIMS
Sesamin, the main lignin constituent of sesame, plays a pivotal role in regulating physical state. Some studies have evidenced that the supplementation of sesamin may decrease cardiovascular disease risk. The goal of this systematic review was to summarize evidence of the effects of sesamin supplementation on obesity, blood pressure, and lipid profile in humans by performing a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
DATA SYNTHESIS
Five databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched electronically from inception to July 2021 to identify randomized controlled trials that assessed the impact of sesamin on obesity, blood pressure, and lipid profile. Weighted mean difference (WMD) and standard deviation (SD) were used to present the major outcomes.
CONCLUSIONS
Seven trials (n = 212 participants) were included in the overall analysis. Results showed that sesamin supplementation caused a great reduction in TC (WMD: -10.893 mg/dl, 95% CI: -19.745 to -2.041, p = 0.016), LDL-c (WMD: -8.429 mg/dl, 95% CI: -16.086 to -0.771, p = 0.031), and SBP (WMD: -3.662 mmHg, 95% CI: -6.220 to -1.105, p = 0.005), whereas it had no effect on HDL-c, TG, DBP, or weight. Subgroup analysis showed that duration, parallel design, and unhealthy status can affect TC, LDL-c, and SBP evidently. We did not discover a strong link between indicators' changes and duration of supplementation. Sesamin can be used as an obtainable dietary supplement to improve blood pressure and blood lipids, and further as a health product to prevent cardiovascular diseases.
Topics: Blood Pressure; Cholesterol, LDL; Dietary Supplements; Dioxoles; Humans; Lignans; Lipids; Obesity; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
PubMed: 35311241
DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.842152 -
Nutrients Mar 2016Functional food-flaxseed and its derivatives (flaxseed oil or lignans) are beneficial for human health, possibly because of their anti-inflammatory effects. C-reactive... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis Review
Functional food-flaxseed and its derivatives (flaxseed oil or lignans) are beneficial for human health, possibly because of their anti-inflammatory effects. C-reactive protein (CRP), a sensitive marker of inflammation was chosen to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of flaxseed. We searched randomized controlled trials from PubMed and the Cochrane Library in October 2015 and conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the effectiveness of flaxseed and its derivatives on CRP. The mean differences (net change) in CRP (mg/L) concentrations were pooled with a random- or a fixed-effects model depending on the results of heterogeneity tests. Overall, flaxseed interventions had no effects on reduction of CRP (p = 0.428). The null effects were consistent in the subgroup analysis with multiple studies and population characteristics. Significant heterogeneity was observed in most of the analyses. Meta-regression identified baseline body mass index (BMI) as a significant source of heterogeneity (P-interaction = 0.032), with a significant reduction in CRP of 0.83 mg/L (95% confidence interval -1.34 to -0.31; p = 0.002) among subjects with a BMI of ≥30 kg/m². In conclusion, our meta-analysis did not find sufficient evidence that flaxseed and its derivatives have a beneficial effect on reducing circulating CRP. However, they may significantly reduce CRP in obese populations.
Topics: Adult; Biomarkers; Body Mass Index; C-Reactive Protein; Diet; Female; Flax; Humans; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators; Lignans; Linseed Oil; Male; Middle Aged; Obesity; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Risk Factors; Seeds; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 26959052
DOI: 10.3390/nu8030136 -
BMC Endocrine Disorders Mar 2024Accumulating evidence has suggested that dietary polyphenols may be protective against metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, the available evidence is contradictory. The... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Accumulating evidence has suggested that dietary polyphenols may be protective against metabolic syndrome (MetS); however, the available evidence is contradictory. The aim of this meta-analysis was to assess the association between dietary intake of polyphenols and the odds of MetS.
METHODS
The PubMed and Scopus databases were systematically searched to obtain eligible studies. The risk of MetS for the highest versus the lowest intakes of total, subclasses and individual polyphenols were examined by pooling odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) using the random effects model.
RESULTS
A total of 14 studies (6 cohort and 8 cross-sectional studies) involving a total of 50,366 participants with 10,879 cases of MetS were included. When various polyphenol compounds were pooled, they were significantly related to a 22% decreased odds of MetS (([5 studies]; OR: 0.78; 95%CI: 0.72-0.85). Higher intakes of total flavonoids (([9 studies]; OR: 0.78; 95%CI: 0.72-0.85), flavan-3-ols (([2 studies]; OR: 0.64; 95%CI: 0.43-0.94), isoflavones (([3 studies]; OR: 0.84; 95%CI: 0.75-0.93), stilbenes (([4 studies]; OR: 0.86; 95%CI: 0.76-0.97), flavones (([2 studies]; OR: 0.79; 95%CI: 0.71-0.89), and quercetin (([2 studies]; OR: 0.63; 95%CI: 0.43-0.93) were also significantly associated with a decreased risk of MetS. The associations were not modified by the age of the participants. No association was found for total polyphenols, phenolic acids, lignans, anthocyanins, and flavonols.
CONCLUSION
The results of this meta-analysis supported that higher polyphenol intake can lower the risk of MetS.
Topics: Humans; Anthocyanins; Diet; Metabolic Syndrome; Polyphenols
PubMed: 38429765
DOI: 10.1186/s12902-024-01556-x -
PloS One 2018Cancer is an increasingly frequent malignancy worldwide, and despite the advances in drug development, it is still necessary to develop new plant-derived medicines....
Cancer is an increasingly frequent malignancy worldwide, and despite the advances in drug development, it is still necessary to develop new plant-derived medicines. Euterpe oleracea (açaí) is abundant in South and Central America and has health benefits due to its high levels of phytochemicals, including lignans and polyphenols. The aim of this review was to systematically describe the safety and antitumor effects of açaí in preclinical models using rodents to provide a more comprehensive assessment of açaí for both therapeutic uses and the development of future clinical studies in cancer. Eligible studies were identified using four international databases (PubMed, Medline, Lilacs and SciELO) from their inception date through December 2017. The included studies were analyzed with methodological rigor (QATRS) to enable better quality control for these experimental studies. Sixty publications were identified in the databases, but only 9 articles were eligible: 6 evaluated the pharmacological effects of açaí in animal models of cancer (1 model each of esophageal cancer, urothelial cancer, melanoma and Walker-256 tumor and 2 models of colon cancer), and 3 were toxicological assays using preclinical models with rodents. Overall, 747 animals were analyzed. On a QATRS score scale of 0-20, the quality of the studies ranged from 16 to 20 points. Pulp was the main fraction of açaí administered, and an oral administration route was most common. The açaí dosage administered by gavage ranged from 30 mg/kg to 40,000 mg/kg, and açaí fed in the diet accounted for 2.5% to 5% of the diet. The anticarcinogenic and chemopreventive activities of açaí were observed in all experimental models of cancer and reduced the incidence, tumor cell proliferation, multiplicity and size of the tumors due to the antiinflammatory, antiproliferative and proapoptotic properties of açaí. No genotoxic effects were observed after açaí administration. The results of this review suggest that açaí is safe and can be used as a chemoprotective agent against cancer development. Açaí therapy may be a novel strategy for treating cancer.
Topics: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents; Euterpe; Humans; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 29966007
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200101 -
Endocrine Regulations Jan 2023Hyperglycemia in diabetes mediates the release of angiogenic factors, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and inflammation, which in turn stimulate angiogenesis. Excessive...
Hyperglycemia in diabetes mediates the release of angiogenic factors, oxidative stress, hypoxia, and inflammation, which in turn stimulate angiogenesis. Excessive angiogenesis can cause diabetic retinopathy, diabetic neuropathy, and diabetic nephropathy. All of these complications are debilitating, which may lead to an increased susceptibility to lower-limb amputations due to ulcerations and infections. In addition, microvascular alterations, segmental demyelination, and endoneurial microangiopathy may cause progressive deterioration ultimately leading to kidney failure and permanent blindness. Some medicinal plants have potent anti-angiogenic, antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties that can ameliorate angiogenesis in diabetes. The purpose of this systematic review is to demonstrate the potential of medicinal plants in ameliorating the neovascularization activities in diabetes. Manuscripts were searched from PubMed, Science Direct, and Scopus databases, and Google Scholar was used for searching additional papers. From 1862 manuscripts searched, 1854 were excluded based on inclusion and exclusion criteria and 8 were included into this systematic review, whereas the required information was extracted and summarized. All identified medicinal plants decreased the high blood glucose levels in diabetes, except the aqueous extract of Lonicerae japonicae flos (FJL) and Vasant Kusumakar Ras. They also increased the reduced body weight in diabetes, except the aqueous extract of FL and total lignans from Fructus arctii. However, methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia and Vasant Kusumakar Ras were not tested for their ability to affect the body weight. Besides, all medicinal plants identified in this systematic review decreased the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression and vasculature activity demonstrated by histopathological examination indicating promising anti-angiogenic properties. All medicinal plants identified in this systematic review have a potential to ameliorate neovascularization activities in diabetes by targeting the mechanistic pathways related to oxidative stress, inflammation, and angiogenesis.
Topics: Plants, Medicinal; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Diabetic Nephropathies; Hyperglycemia; Inflammation; Body Weight; Diabetes Mellitus
PubMed: 38345496
DOI: 10.2478/enr-2024-0004 -
Nutrients Nov 2021Evidence on the impact of diet, alcohol, body-mass index (BMI), and physical activity on mortality due to cancer and other cancer-related outcomes is still scarce....
Evidence on the impact of diet, alcohol, body-mass index (BMI), and physical activity on mortality due to cancer and other cancer-related outcomes is still scarce. Herein, we reviewed the contribution of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study to the current state of the art on the role of these factors in cancer mortality. We identified 45 studies using a rapid systematic review methodology. Dietary factors associated with reduced cancer mortality included raw vegetable intake; dietary fiber intake; the Mediterranean diet; other dietary scores; other diet patterns including low meat eaters, vegetarians/vegans, or fish eaters; dietary intake (or biomarkers) of some vitamins (e.g., vitamin D, vitamin K2, or Vitamin C); and intake of lignans. Physical activity and following healthy lifestyle recommendations also reduced cancer mortality risk. In contrast, dietary factors associated with higher cancer mortality risk included poor diet quality, consumption of alcohol and soft drinks including juice, and, to a lesser extent, intake of some fatty acids. Excess weight and obesity also increased the risk of cancer mortality. The EPIC study holds valuable information on diet and lifestyle factors and offers a unique opportunity to identify key diet-related factors for cancer mortality prevention.
Topics: Adult; Alcohol Drinking; Body Mass Index; Diet; Diet, Healthy; Exercise; Female; Humans; Life Style; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasms; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 34959845
DOI: 10.3390/nu13124293 -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Nov 2019There have been various clinical studies on the effect of flaxseed-derived products on circulating inflammatory biomarkers, but the findings from these are... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
There have been various clinical studies on the effect of flaxseed-derived products on circulating inflammatory biomarkers, but the findings from these are contradictory. The aim of the present study was to clarify any association. A comprehensive literature search was conducted from inception to May 2018. From the eligible trials, 32 articles describing studies conducted on adults aged 18-70 y were selected for the meta-analysis. Meta-analyses using the random-effects model were performed to investigate the data and results showed significant effects of flaxseed intake on circulating high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) [weighted mean difference (WMD) = -0.75; 95% CI: -1.19, -0.30; P < 0.001] and TNFα (WMD = -0.38; 95% CI: -0.75,-0.01; P = 0.04). However, no significant changes were found in IL6 concentration (WMD = -0.24; 95% CI: -0.70, 0.21; P = 0.28) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (WMD = -0.34; 95% CI:-0.89, 0.20; P = 0.22). Moreover, by eliminating 1 of the studies from the sensitivity analysis, changes in IL6 concentration were significant (WMD = -0.44; 95% CI: -0.81, -0.08). The changes in inflammatory biomarkers were dependent on study design (parallel or crossover), supplement type (flaxseed, flaxseed oil, or lignan), study quality (high or low), and participants' age and BMI. According to this meta-analysis, flaxseed significantly reduced circulating concentrations of hs-CRP and TNFα, but did not affect IL6 and CRP. Further research is needed to examine the effect of different doses and long-term benefits of flaxseed and its derivatives on inflammatory factors.
Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; C-Reactive Protein; Dietary Supplements; Female; Flax; Humans; Inflammation; Interleukin-6; Lignin; Linseed Oil; Male; Middle Aged; Seeds; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Young Adult
PubMed: 31115436
DOI: 10.1093/advances/nmz048