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Frontiers in Pharmacology 2023Guggulsterone (pregna-4,17-diene-3,16-dione; CHO) is an effective phytosterol isolated from the gum resin of the tree (Family Burseraceae) and is responsible for many...
Guggulsterone (pregna-4,17-diene-3,16-dione; CHO) is an effective phytosterol isolated from the gum resin of the tree (Family Burseraceae) and is responsible for many of the properties of guggul. This plant is widely used as traditional medicine in Ayurveda and Unani system of medicine. It exhibits several pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, anti-septic and anticancer. In this article, the activities of Guggulsterone against cancerous cells were determined and summarized. Using 7 databases (PubMed, PMC, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Scopus, Cochrane and Ctri.gov), the literature search was conducted since conception until June 2021. Extensive literature search yielded 55,280 studies from all the databases. A total of 40 articles were included in the systematic review and of them, 23 articles were included in the meta-analysis.The cancerous cell lines used in the studies were for pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, oesophageal adenocarcinoma, prostrate cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, gut derived adenocarcinoma, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, glioblastoma, histiocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia and non-small cell lung cancer. The reliability of the selected studies was assessed using ToxRTool. Based on this review, guggulsterone significantly affected pancreatic cancer (MiaPaCa-2, Panc-1, PC-Sw, CD18/HPAF, Capan1, PC-3), hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep3B, HepG2, PLC/PRF/5R), head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC4, UM-22b, 1483), cholangiocarcinoma (HuCC-T1, RBE, Sk-ChA-1, Mz-ChA-1) and oesophageal adenocarcinoma (CP-18821, OE19), prostrate cancer (PC-3), colon cancer (HT-29), breast cancer (MCF7/DOX), gut derived adenocarcinoma (Bic-1), gastric cancer (SGC-7901), colorectal cancer (HCT116), bladder cancer (T24, TSGH8301), glioblastoma (A172, U87MG, T98G), histiocytic leukemia (U937), acute myeloid leukemia (HL60, U937) and non-small cell lung cancer (A549, H1975) by inducing apoptotic pathways, inhibiting cell proliferation, and regulating the expression of genes involved in apoptosis. Guggulsterone is known to have therapeutic and preventive effects on various categories of cancers. It can inhibit the progression of tumors and can even reduce their size by inducing apoptosis, exerting anti-angiogenic effects, and modulating various signaling cascades. studies reveal that Guggulsterone inhibits and suppresses the proliferation of an extensive range of cancer cells by decreasing intrinsic mitochondrial apoptosis, regulating NF-kB/STAT3/β-Catenin/PI3K/Akt/CHOP pathway, modulating the expression of associated genes/proteins, and inhibiting angiogenesis. Furthermore, Guggulsterone reduces the production of inflammatory markers, such as CDX2 and COX-2. The other mechanism of the Guggulsterone activity is the reversal of P-glycoprotein-mediated multidrug resistance. Twenty three studies were selected for meta-analysis following the PRISMA statements. Fixed effect model was used for reporting the odds ratio. The primary endpoint was percentage apoptosis. 11 of 23 studies reported the apoptotic effect at t = 24 h and pooled odds ratio was 3.984 (CI 3.263 to 4.865, < 0.001). 12 studies used Guggulsterone for t > 24 h and the odds ratio was 11.171 (CI 9.148 to 13.643, 95% CI, < 0.001). The sub-group analysis based on cancer type, Guggulsterone dose, and treatment effects. Significant alterations in the level of apoptotic markers were reported by Guggulsterone treatment. This study suggested that Guggulsterone has apoptotic effects against various cancer types. Further investigation of its pharmacological activity and mechanism of action should be conducted. experiments and clinical trials are required to confirm the anticancer activity.
PubMed: 37201024
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1155163 -
Journal of Renal Nutrition : the... Nov 2023Plant-based protein is of growing interest for dietary management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is hypothesized to preserve kidney function and reduce CKD-mineral...
INTRODUCTION
Plant-based protein is of growing interest for dietary management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and is hypothesized to preserve kidney function and reduce CKD-mineral bone disorder (MBD) complications, among other benefits. This systematic review aimed to summarize the available clinical trial evidence for the effect of plant-based protein on kidney function and CKD-MBD outcomes in adults with stage 3-5 CKD not on dialysis.
METHODS
Searches of Medline, Embase, Agricola, CAB abstracts, Web of Science, Scopus, and hand searching were performed. Clinical trials with ≥8 participants ≥18 years of age with an estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m but not on dialysis were included. Additionally, only clinical trials with ≥1-week interventions with ≥50% dietary protein from plant-based sources and reported at least one outcome for both kidney function and CKD-MBD outcomes were included. Of the 10,962 identified abstracts, 32 met inclusion criteria and were assessed for risk of bias.
RESULTS
Results for kidney function and CKD-MBD outcomes were heterogenous, with most studies having suboptimal methodological quality. In most of the studies (27/32), protein source was altered only secondarily to low-protein diet interventions. Thus, data synthesis and interpretation were focused on a subset of five studies that investigated a change in protein source only (i.e., animal vs. plant). Of this subset, four studies reported no change in kidney function, while one study reported a decrease. Three studies reported no change in serum phosphorus, and one study reported lower serum phosphorus following a vegetarian diet. Further, limited data and inconclusive results were observed for phosphaturic hormones, parathyroid hormone, and fibroblast growth factor-23.
CONCLUSION
Current clinical trial evidence on plant-based protein interventions for preserving kidney function and preventing CKD-MBD is limited to inform clinical guidelines at this time. This systematic review emphasizes the ongoing need to research the effects of plant-based protein on kidney function and CKD-MBD outcomes.
Topics: Adult; Humans; Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder; Plant Proteins; Kidney Failure, Chronic; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Parathyroid Hormone; Minerals; Phosphorus; Dietary Proteins; Kidney
PubMed: 37116624
DOI: 10.1053/j.jrn.2023.04.004 -
Nutrition Reviews Dec 2023Research on the effects of gluten on dyspeptic symptoms has shown conflicting results. (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
CONTEXT
Research on the effects of gluten on dyspeptic symptoms has shown conflicting results.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials was to assess the effects of gluten on dyspeptic symptoms.
DATA SOURCES
A systematic search of the PubMed, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane, and Embase online databases was performed up to May 2022.
DATA EXTRACTION
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-RCTs that examined the impact of a gluten-free diet, a low-gluten diet, or a gluten challenge on dyspeptic symptoms, including early satiety, epigastric pain, bloating, and nausea, were selected independently by 2 authors. The GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) framework was used to assess the certainty of the evidence. Results were pooled using a random-effects model and expressed as weighted mean differences (WMDs) and 95%CIs.
DATA ANALYSIS
Of the 7641 citations retrieved, 27 articles (18 RCTs and 9 non-RCTs) were included in the systematic review. Of those, 5 RCTs were eligible for the meta-analysis. The pooled results indicated that gluten challenge significantly increased the severity of bloating (WMD = 0.67; 95%CI, 0.37-0.97; I2 = 81.8%; n = 6), early satiety (WMD = 0.91; 95%CI, 0.58-1.23; I2 = 27.2%; n = 5), and epigastric pain (WMD = 0.46; 95%CI, 0.17-0.75; I2 = 65.8%; n = 6). However, the effect of gluten challenge on the severity of nausea (WMD = 0.13; 95%CI, -0.17 to 0.43; I2 = 0.0%, n = 5) was nonsignificant.
CONCLUSION
Gluten challenge significantly worsened dyspeptic symptoms, including bloating, early satiety, and epigastric pain, but did not affect nausea. These findings suggest that gluten restriction could be efficient in reducing dyspeptic symptoms. Well-designed large RCTs recruiting homogenous groups of patients with functional dyspepsia are needed to clarify the effectiveness of gluten restriction on dyspeptic symptoms.
Topics: Humans; Diet, Gluten-Free; Glutens; Nausea; Pain; Clinical Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37115663
DOI: 10.1093/nutrit/nuad034 -
Food & Nutrition Research 2023To systematically review the evidence on the effect of replacing the intake of animal protein with plant protein on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes... (Review)
Review
Animal versus plant-based protein and risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and prospective cohort studies.
OBJECTIVES
To systematically review the evidence on the effect of replacing the intake of animal protein with plant protein on cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and their intermediate risk factors.
METHODS
We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus up to 12th May 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective cohort studies that investigated replacement of animal protein with plant protein from foods. Outcomes were CVDs, T2D, and in RCTs also the effects on blood lipids, glycemic markers, and blood pressure. Risk of bias was evaluated with the Cochrane's RoB2, ROBINS-I, and USDA's RoB-NObS tools. Random-effects meta-analyses assessed the effects of plant vs. animal proteins on blood lipids in RCTs. The evidence was appraised according to the World Cancer Research Fund's criteria.
RESULTS
After screening 15,090 titles/abstracts, full text of 124 papers was scrutinized in detail, from which 13 RCTs and seven cohort studies were included. Eight of the RCTs had either some concern or high risk of bias, while the corresponding evaluation of cohort studies resulted in moderate risk of bias for all seven. Meta-analyses of RCTs suggested a protective effect on total cholesterol (mean difference -0.11 mmol/L; 95% CI -0.22, -0.01) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-0.14 mmol/L; 95% CI -0.25, -0.02) by replacing animal protein with plant protein. The substitution of animal protein with plant protein (percentage of energy intake) in cohort studies was associated with lower CVD mortality ( = 4) and lower T2D incidence ( = 2). The evidence was considered for both outcomes.
CONCLUSION
Evidence that the substitution of animal protein with plant protein reduces risk of both CVD mortality and T2D incidence is . Replacing animal protein with plant protein for aspects of sustainability may also be a public health strategy to lower the risk of CVD mortality and T2D.
PubMed: 37050925
DOI: 10.29219/fnr.v67.9003 -
Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry 2023Neurodegenerative procedures include a large spectrum of disorders with diverse pathological features and clinical manifestations, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD),...
BACKGROUND
Neurodegenerative procedures include a large spectrum of disorders with diverse pathological features and clinical manifestations, such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Multiple sclerosis, and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are indicated by progressive loss of neurons and cognitive function, which is associated with free radical formation, extra and intercellular accumulation of misfolded proteins, oxidative stress, mitochondrial and neurotrophins dysfunction, bioenergetic impairment, inflammation, and apoptotic cell death. Boswellic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene molecule of plant origin that has been applied for treating several inflammatory disorders. Numerous studies have also investigated its' therapeutic potential against multiple NDs.
OBJECTIVE
In this article, we aim to review the neuroprotective effects of boswellic acid on NDs and the related mechanisms of action.
METHODS
The databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Sciences, and Scopus were searched to find studies that reported the effects of boswellic acid on NDs without time limits. Review articles, letters, editorials, unpublished data, and articles not published in the English language were not included in the study.
RESULTS
Overall, 17 studies were included in the present study (8 NDs in general, 5 AD, 3 PD, and 1 ALS). According to the reports, boswellic acid exerts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiapoptotic, and neuromodulatory effects against NDs. Boswellic acid decreases Tau phosphorylation and amyloid-β (Aβ) generation in AD. This substance also protects nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and improves motor impairments in PD and modulates neurotransmitters, decreases the demyelination region, and improves behavioral functions in ALS.
CONCLUSION
Due to the significant effects of boswellic acid in NDs, more clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of this substance because it seems that boswellic acid can be used as a complementary or alternative treatment in patients with NDs.
Topics: Humans; Neuroprotective Agents; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Alzheimer Disease; Parkinson Disease
PubMed: 36998129
DOI: 10.2174/1389557523666230330113611 -
Nutrients Mar 2023Gluten proteins are known as immunological triggers for inflammation resulting in mucosal lesions in patients with coeliac disease (CD). Adherence to a strict... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
Gluten proteins are known as immunological triggers for inflammation resulting in mucosal lesions in patients with coeliac disease (CD). Adherence to a strict gluten-free diet (GFD) is currently known as the only effective treatment for CD. In this study, we performed a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis on data from previous studies to investigate the association between different gluten doses administered and the risk of CD relapse. Electronic databases were systematically searched to retrieve studies that investigated the response of CD patients to different amounts of gluten intake and evaluated the clinical, serologic, and/or histologic evidence to recognize disease relapse. Study-specific relative risks (RRs) were combined using a random effects model. A total of 440 identified published papers were screened, of which 7 records were selected following full-text reviewing and eligibility assessment for dose-response meta-analysis. According to our analysis, the risk of CD relapse is estimated to be 0.2% (RR: 1.002; 95% CI: 1.001 to 1.004) following the consumption of 6 mg gluten/day, which was increased to 7% (RR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.10), 50% (RR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.23 to 1.82), 80% (RR: 1.80; 95% CI: 1.36 to 2.38), and 100% (RR: 2.00; 95% CI: 1.43 to 2.78) by the daily intake of 150, 881, 1276, and 1505 mg gluten, respectively. Although good adherence to a GFD can adequately control CD-related symptoms, disease relapse might happen even with a very low dose of gluten, and the duration of exposure to gluten is also an important matter. The current literature has substantial limitations, such as relying on the data from just a few countries that were different in terms of the amount of gluten administered, the duration of the challenge, etc. Therefore, more randomized clinical trials using a standardized gluten challenge protocol are needed to confirm the findings of the present study.
Topics: Humans; Celiac Disease; Diet, Gluten-Free; Glutens; Treatment Outcome
PubMed: 36986121
DOI: 10.3390/nu15061390 -
International Journal of Molecular... Mar 2023Significant scientific advances to elucidate the pathosystem have been achieved in recent years, but the molecular biology of this pathogen-host interaction is still a... (Review)
Review
Significant scientific advances to elucidate the pathosystem have been achieved in recent years, but the molecular biology of this pathogen-host interaction is still a field with many unanswered questions. In order to present insights at the molecular level, we present the first systematic review on the theme. All told, 1118 studies were extracted from public databases. Of these, 109 were eligible for the review, based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The results indicated that understanding the transition from the biotrophic-necrotrophic phase of the fungus is crucial for control of the disease. Proteins with strong biotechnological potential or that can be targets for pathosystem intervention were identified, but studies regarding possible applications are still limited. The studies identified revealed important genes in the -host interaction and efficient molecular markers in the search for genetic variability and sources of resistance, with being the most common host. An arsenal of effectors already identified and not explored in the pathosystem were highlighted. This systematic review contributes to the understanding of the pathosystem at the molecular level, offering new insights and proposing different paths for the development of new strategies to control witches' broom disease.
Topics: Cacao; Phytoplasma Disease; Plant Diseases; Molecular Biology; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Agaricales
PubMed: 36982760
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065684 -
PeerJ 2023Increased awareness of the relationship between certain components in food beyond basic nutrition and health has generated interest in the production and consumption....
BACKGROUND
Increased awareness of the relationship between certain components in food beyond basic nutrition and health has generated interest in the production and consumption. Functional foods owe much of their health benefits to the presence of bioactive components. Despite their importance, their poor stability, solubility, and bioavailability may require the use of different strategies including nano-delivery systems (NDS) to sustain delivery and protection during handling, storage, and ingestion. Moreover, increasing consumer trend for non-animal sourced ingredients and interest in sustainable production invigorate the need to evaluate the utility of plant-based NDS.
METHOD
In the present study, 129 articles were selected after screening from Google Scholar searches using key terms from current literature.
SCOPE
This review provides an overview of current trends in the use of bioactive compounds as health-promoting ingredients in functional foods and the main methods used to stabilize these components. The use of plant proteins as carriers in NDS for bioactive compounds and the merits and challenges of this approach are also explored. Finally, the review discusses the application of protein-based NDS in food product development and highlights challenges and opportunities for future research.
KEY FINDINGS
Plant-based NDS is gaining recognition in food research and industry for their role in improving the shelf life and bioavailability of bioactives. However, concerns about safety and possible toxicity limit their widespread application. Future research efforts that focus on mitigating or enhancing their safety for food applications is warranted.
Topics: Functional Food; Food Handling; Biological Availability; Plant Proteins
PubMed: 36949757
DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14980 -
Molecular Biology Reports May 2023Hairy roots are a plant-tissue culture raised by Rhizobium rhizogenes infection (formerly known as Agrobacterium rhizogenes). Nowadays, these roots have been gaining... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Hairy roots are a plant-tissue culture raised by Rhizobium rhizogenes infection (formerly known as Agrobacterium rhizogenes). Nowadays, these roots have been gaining more space in biotechnology due to their benefits for the recombinant expression of valuables proteins; it includes simplified downstream processing, protein rhizosecretion, and scalability in bioreactors. However, due to methodological inconsistency among reports, the tissue platform is still a promising technology.
METHODS AND RESULTS
In the current paper, we propose the first step to overcome this issue through a systematic review of studies that employ Nicotiana hairy roots for recombinant expression. We conducted a qualitative synthesis of 36 out of 387 publications initially selected. Following the PRISMA procedure, all papers were assessed for exclusion and inclusion criteria. Multiple points of root culture were explored, including transformation methods, root growth curve, external additives, and scale-up with bioreactors to determine which approaches performed best and what is still required to achieve a robust protocol.
CONCLUSION
The information presented here may help researchers who want to work with hairy roots in their laboratories trace a successful path to appraisal the literature status.
Topics: Nicotiana; Recombinant Proteins; Biotechnology; Bioreactors; Plants, Genetically Modified; Plant Roots; Transformation, Genetic
PubMed: 36917368
DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08360-1 -
Nutrients Feb 2023In recent years, a great deal of research has been conducted on consumers' attitudes and beliefs in favor and against alternative proteins (AP). By contrast, a much more... (Review)
Review
In recent years, a great deal of research has been conducted on consumers' attitudes and beliefs in favor and against alternative proteins (AP). By contrast, a much more limited research effort has been devoted to understanding stakeholders' point of view. The current work provides a first systematic review of the existing literature on stakeholders' beliefs towards alternative protein sources. Moreover, a secondary content analysis was carried out on the selected studies, providing an overview of the major themes emerging from the existing literature in relation to utilitarian, normative, and control beliefs that stakeholders hold towards AP. Results showed that stakeholders' beliefs are very different from those that emerged from previous research on consumers' views. Overall, stakeholders appear much more aware, compared to consumers, of the implications of using alternative proteins in relation to the main pillars of sustainability (economic, environmental, social). Stakeholders' beliefs were grouped into 13 categories, such as "economics", "consumers", and "rules". With respect to future scenarios, they attribute an important role to political institutions, with respect to both economic and communication aspects, which they consider crucial to overcome persistent consumer skepticism.
Topics: Dietary Proteins; Consumer Behavior
PubMed: 36839195
DOI: 10.3390/nu15040837