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Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology Oct 2022Plant hormones are signalling compounds that regulate crucial aspects of growth, development and environmental stress responses. Abiotic stresses, such as drought,... (Review)
Review
Plant hormones are signalling compounds that regulate crucial aspects of growth, development and environmental stress responses. Abiotic stresses, such as drought, salinity, heat, cold and flooding, have profound effects on plant growth and survival. Adaptation and tolerance to such stresses require sophisticated sensing, signalling and stress response mechanisms. In this Review, we discuss recent advances in understanding how diverse plant hormones control abiotic stress responses in plants and highlight points of hormonal crosstalk during abiotic stress signalling. Control mechanisms and stress responses mediated by plant hormones including abscisic acid, auxin, brassinosteroids, cytokinins, ethylene and gibberellins are discussed. We discuss new insights into osmotic stress sensing and signalling mechanisms, hormonal control of gene regulation and plant development during stress, hormone-regulated submergence tolerance and stomatal movements. We further explore how innovative imaging approaches are providing insights into single-cell and tissue hormone dynamics. Understanding stress tolerance mechanisms opens new opportunities for agricultural applications.
Topics: Abscisic Acid; Brassinosteroids; Cytokinins; Ethylenes; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Gibberellins; Hormones; Indoleacetic Acids; Plant Growth Regulators; Plants; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 35513717
DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00479-6 -
Current Atherosclerosis Reports Sep 2021Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Elevated blood cholesterol levels are not only the major but also the best modifiable cardiovascular... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of mortality worldwide. Elevated blood cholesterol levels are not only the major but also the best modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Lifestyle modifications which include a healthy diet are the cornerstone of lipid-lowering therapy. So-called functional foods supplemented with plant sterols lower blood cholesterol levels by about 10-15%.
RECENT FINDINGS
In the recent revision of the ESC/EAS dyslipidemia guideline 2019, plant sterols are recommended for the first time as an adjunct to lifestyle modification to lower blood cholesterol levels. However, the German Cardiac Society (DGK) is more critical of food supplementation with plant sterols and calls for randomized controlled trials investigating hard cardiovascular outcomes. An increasing body of evidence suggests that plant sterols per se are atherogenic. This review discusses this controversy based on findings from in vitro and in vivo studies, clinical trials, and genetic evidence.
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Dietary Supplements; Dyslipidemias; Humans; Hypercholesterolemia; Phytosterols
PubMed: 34468867
DOI: 10.1007/s11883-021-00964-x -
Nutrients Aug 2021The use of phytosterols (or plant sterols) for the control of plasma cholesterol concentrations has recently gained traction because their efficacy is acknowledged by... (Review)
Review
The use of phytosterols (or plant sterols) for the control of plasma cholesterol concentrations has recently gained traction because their efficacy is acknowledged by scientific authorities and leading guidelines. Phytosterols, marketed as supplements or functional foods, are formally classified as food in the European Union, are freely available for purchase, and are frequently used without any health professional advice; therefore, they are often self-prescribed, either inappropriately or in situations in which no significant advantage can be obtained. For this reason, a panel of experts with diverse medical and scientific backgrounds was convened by NFI-Nutrition Foundation of Italy-to critically evaluate and summarize the literature available on the topic, with the goal of providing medical doctors and all health professionals useful information to actively govern the use of phytosterols in the context of plasma cholesterol control. Some practical indications to help professionals identify subjects who will most likely benefit from the use of these products, optimizing the therapeutic outcomes, are also provided. The panel concluded that the use of phytosterols as supplements or functional foods to control Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels should be preceded by the assessment of some relevant individual characteristics: cardiovascular risk, lipid profile, correct understanding of how to use these products, and willingness to pay for the treatment.
Topics: Cardiovascular Diseases; Cholesterol; Dietary Supplements; Functional Food; Humans; Phytosterols
PubMed: 34444970
DOI: 10.3390/nu13082810 -
Journal of the American College of... Jan 2023Supplements are commonly used by individuals with indications for lipid-lowering therapy, but evidence of their effectiveness to lower low-density lipoprotein... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Supplements are commonly used by individuals with indications for lipid-lowering therapy, but evidence of their effectiveness to lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is lacking, particularly when compared with statins.
OBJECTIVES
The trial objective was to compare the efficacy of a low-dose statin with placebo and 6 common supplements in impacting lipid and inflammatory biomarkers.
METHODS
This was a single-center, prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial among adults with no history of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), an LDL-C of 70 to 189 mg/dL, and an increased 10-year risk of ASCVD. Participants were randomized to rosuvastatin 5 mg daily, placebo, fish oil, cinnamon, garlic, turmeric, plant sterols, or red yeast rice. The primary endpoint was the percent change in LDL-C from baseline for rosuvastatin 5 mg daily compared with placebo and each supplement after 28 days. The primary endpoint was evaluated in a hierarchical fashion with rosuvastatin first compared with placebo, then each supplement in a prespecified order using analysis of covariance.
RESULTS
A total of 190 participants completed the study. The percent LDL-C reduction with rosuvastatin was greater than all supplements and placebo (P < 0.001). The difference in LDL-C reduction with rosuvastatin compared with placebo was -35.2% (95% CI: -41.3% to -29.1%; P < 0.001). None of the dietary supplements demonstrated a significant decrease in LDL-C compared with placebo. Adverse event rates were similar across study groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Among individuals with increased 10-year risk for ASCVD, rosuvastatin 5 mg daily lowered LDL-C significantly more than placebo, fish oil, cinnamon, garlic, turmeric, plant sterols, and red yeast rice. (Supplements, Placebo, or Rosuvastatin Study [SPORT]; NCT04846231).
Topics: Rosuvastatin Calcium; Cholesterol, LDL; Single-Blind Method; Prospective Studies; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; Phytosterols; Biomarkers; Dietary Supplements; Fish Oils; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36351465
DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2022.10.013 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Nov 2020Phytosterols are bioactive compounds that are naturally present in plant cell membranes with chemical structure similar to the mammalian cell- derived cholesterol. They... (Review)
Review
Phytosterols are bioactive compounds that are naturally present in plant cell membranes with chemical structure similar to the mammalian cell- derived cholesterol. They are highly present in lipid-rich plant foods such as nuts, seed, legumes and olive oil. Among various phytosterols, β-sitosterol (SIT) is the major compound, found plentiful in plants. It has been evidenced in many in-vitro and in-vivo studies that SIT possesses various biological actions such as anxiolytic & sedative effects, analgesic, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti - inflammatory, lipid lowering effect, hepatoprotective, protective effect against NAFLD and respiratory diseases, wound healing effect, antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities. In this review, in order to compile the sources, characterization, biosynthesis, pharmacokinetics, antioxidant and anti-diabetic activities of SIT, classical and online-literature were studied which includes the electronic search (Sci Finder, Pubmed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science etc) and books on photochemistry. The experimental studies on SIT gives a clear evidence that the potential phytosterol can be used as supplements to fight against life threatening diseases. High potential of this compound, classifies it as the notable drug of the future. Therefore, immense researches regarding its action at molecular level on life threatening diseases in humans are highly endorsed.
Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Diabetes Mellitus; Dietary Supplements; Humans; Sitosterols
PubMed: 32882583
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110702 -
Nutrients Jun 2023Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the major mortality cause in developed countries with hypercholesterolaemia being one of the primary modifiable... (Review)
Review
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) remains the major mortality cause in developed countries with hypercholesterolaemia being one of the primary modifiable causes. Lifestyle intervention constitutes the first step in cholesterol management and includes dietary modifications along with the use of functional foods and supplements. Functional foods enriched with plant sterols/stanols have become the most widely used nonprescription cholesterol-lowering approach, despite the lack of randomized trials investigating their long-term safety and cardiovascular efficacy. The cholesterol-lowering effect of plant-sterol supplementation is well-established and a potential beneficial impact on other lipoproteins and glucose homeostasis has been described. Nevertheless, experimental and human observational studies investigating the association of phytosterol supplementation or circulating plant sterols with various markers of atherosclerosis and ASCVD events have demonstrated controversial results. Compelling evidence from recent genetic studies have also linked elevated plasma concentrations of circulating plant sterols with ASCVD presence, thus raising concerns about the safety of phytosterol supplementation. Thus, the aim of this review is to provide up-to-date data on the effect of plant sterols/stanols on lipid-modification and cardiovascular outcomes, as well as to discuss any safety issues and practical concerns.
Topics: Humans; Phytosterols; Hypercholesterolemia; Anticholesteremic Agents; Cholesterol; Atherosclerosis; Cardiovascular Diseases
PubMed: 37447172
DOI: 10.3390/nu15132845 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Oct 2021(Thunb.) Makino (GP), also named Jiaogulan in Chinese, was known to people for its function in both health care and disease treatment. Initially and traditionally, GP... (Review)
Review
(Thunb.) Makino (GP), also named Jiaogulan in Chinese, was known to people for its function in both health care and disease treatment. Initially and traditionally, GP was a kind of tea consumed by people for its pleasant taste and weight loss efficacy. With the passing of the centuries, GP became well known as more than just a tea. Until now, numbers of bioactive compounds, including saponins (also named gypenosides, GPS), polysaccharides (GPP), flavonoids, and phytosterols were isolated and identified in GP, which implied the great medicinal worth of this unusual tea. Both in vivo and in vitro tests, ranging from different cell lines to animals, indicated that GP possessed various biological activities including anti-cancer, anti-atherogenic, anti-dementia, and anti-Parkinson's diseases, and it also had lipid-regulating effects as well as neuroprotection, hepatoprotective, and hypoglycemic properties. With the further development and utilization of GP, the research on the chemical constituents and pharmacological properties of GP were deepening day by day and had made great progress. In this review, the recent research progress in the bioactive compounds, especially gypenosides, and the pharmacological activities of GP were summarized, which will be quite useful for practical applications of GP in the treatment of human diseases.
Topics: Animals; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Flavonoids; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Gynostemma; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Molecular Structure; Phytosterols; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts; Plants, Medicinal; Polysaccharides; Saponins; Structure-Activity Relationship
PubMed: 34684830
DOI: 10.3390/molecules26206249 -
Current Atherosclerosis Reports Aug 2021The aim of this review is to summarize the available clinical efficacy and safety data related to the most studied and used lipid-lowering nutraceuticals. (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The aim of this review is to summarize the available clinical efficacy and safety data related to the most studied and used lipid-lowering nutraceuticals.
RECENT FINDINGS
A growing number of meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials supports the effectiveness and tolerability of some lipid-lowering nutraceuticals such as red yeast rice, plant sterols and stanols, soluble fibers, berberine, artichoke extracts, bergamot polyphenol fraction, garlic, green tea, and spiruline. No significant safety concern has been raised for the use of such products. Association of more lipid-lowering nutraceuticals and of some nutraceuticals with lipid-lowering drugs has been tested as well. Current evidence suggests that some clinically tested lipid-lowering nutraceuticals could be safely used to improve plasma lipid levels in subjects affected by mild-to-moderate dyslipidaemia with low cardiovascular risk.
Topics: Dietary Supplements; Dyslipidemias; Humans; Hypolipidemic Agents; Lipids; Phytosterols
PubMed: 34345932
DOI: 10.1007/s11883-021-00955-y -
Molecular Plant Aug 2020Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a major horticultural crop worldwide and has emerged as a preeminent model for metabolic research. Although many research efforts have...
Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a major horticultural crop worldwide and has emerged as a preeminent model for metabolic research. Although many research efforts have focused on the analysis of metabolite differences between varieties and species, the dynamics of metabolic changes during the tomato growth cycle and the regulatory networks that underlie these changes are poorly understood. In this study, we integrated high-resolution spatio-temporal metabolome and transcriptome data to systematically explore the metabolic landscape across 20 major tomato tissues and growth stages. In the resulting MicroTom Metabolic Network, the 540 detected metabolites and their co-expressed genes could be divided into 10 distinct clusters based on their biological functions. Using this dataset, we constructed a global map of the major metabolic changes that occur throughout the tomato growth cycle and dissected the underlying regulatory network. In addition to verifying previously well-established regulatory networks for important metabolites, we identified novel transcription factors that regulate the biosynthesis of important secondary metabolites such as steroidal glycoalkaloids and flavonoids. Our findings provide insights into spatio-temporal changes in tomato metabolism and generate a valuable resource for the study of metabolic regulatory processes in model plants.
Topics: Datasets as Topic; Flavonoids; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Solanum lycopersicum; Metabolic Networks and Pathways; Metabolome; Phytosterols; Transcription Factors; Transcriptome
PubMed: 32561360
DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2020.06.005 -
The DJ1-Nrf2-STING axis mediates the neuroprotective effects of Withaferin A in Parkinson's disease.Cell Death and Differentiation Aug 2021The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear, and there is no disease-modifying agent for PD. Withaferin A (WA), a naturally occurring compound, has... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) remains unclear, and there is no disease-modifying agent for PD. Withaferin A (WA), a naturally occurring compound, has emerged as a neuroprotective agent. However, the mechanisms by which WA is neuroprotective in PD are unknown. Here we show that WA protected against loss of dopaminergic neurons, neuroinflammation, and motor deficits in MPTP-induced PD mouse models. Whole-genome deep sequencing analysis combined with Meta-analysis of human PD studies reveal that DJ1, Nrf2, and STING in substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) are linked to anti-PD effect of WA. We found that WA activated DJ1 and Nrf2, and suppressed STING within SNc; and overexpression of STING in SNc dampened the effect of WA. Using genetically modified mice (DJ1-KO, Nrf2-KO, STING and STING-KO) and immunolabeling technique, we identified that WA targeted DJ1-Nrf2-STING pathway in dopaminergic neurons; and we demonstrate that STING might be an important factor in PD pathogenesis. In addition, WA alleviated accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein (p-α-syn) and insoluble α-syn within SNc in adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated human α-syn overexpression PD model. Our comparative analysis on whole-genome transcriptome profiles suggests that STING might be a key target of WA and amantadine in PD treatment. This study highlights a multifaceted role for WA in neuroprotection, and suggests that WA can be a potential candidate for treatment of PD.
Topics: Aged; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Male; Mice; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Nervous System Diseases; Neuroprotective Agents; Parkinson Disease; Transfection; Withanolides
PubMed: 33762743
DOI: 10.1038/s41418-021-00767-2