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Nutrients May 2024Anthocyanins are phenolic compounds occurring in fruits and vegetables. Evidence from pre-clinical studies indicates their role in glucose level regulation, gut... (Review)
Review
Anthocyanins are phenolic compounds occurring in fruits and vegetables. Evidence from pre-clinical studies indicates their role in glucose level regulation, gut microbiota improvement, and inflammation reduction under diabetic conditions. Therefore, incorporating these research advancements into clinical practice would significantly improve the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes. This narrative review provides a concise overview of 18 findings from recent clinical research published over the last 5 years that investigate the therapeutic effects of dietary anthocyanins on diabetes. Anthocyanin supplementation has been shown to have a regulatory effect on fasting blood glucose levels, glycated hemoglobin, and other diabetes-related indicators. Furthermore, increased anthocyanin dosages had more favorable implications for diabetes treatment. This review provides evidence that an anthocyanin-rich diet can improve diabetes outcomes, especially in at-risk groups. Future research should focus on optimal intervention duration, consider multiple clinical biomarkers, and analyze anthocyanin effects among well-controlled versus poorly controlled groups of patients with diabetes.
Topics: Humans; Anthocyanins; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Blood Glucose; Glycated Hemoglobin; Dietary Supplements; Fruit; Clinical Trials as Topic; Gastrointestinal Microbiome
PubMed: 38892607
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111674 -
Nutrients May 2024Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Therefore, there is increasing interest in dietary interventions to reduce risk factors... (Review)
Review
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Therefore, there is increasing interest in dietary interventions to reduce risk factors associated with these conditions. Cherries and berries are rich sources of bioactive compounds and have attracted attention for their potential cardiovascular benefits. This review summarises the current research on the effects of cherry and berry consumption on cardiovascular health, including in vivo studies and clinical trials. These red fruits are rich in phenolic compounds, such as anthocyanins and flavonoids, which have multiple bioactive properties. These properties include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and vasodilatory effects. Studies suggest that regular consumption of these fruits may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to lower blood pressure, improved lipid profiles, and enhanced endothelial function. However, interpreting findings and establishing optimal dosages is a challenge due to the variability in fruit composition, processing methods, and study design. Despite these limitations, the evidence highlights the potential of cherries and berries as components of preventive strategies against CVD. Further research is needed to maximise their health benefits and improve clinical practice.
Topics: Fruit; Humans; Cardiovascular Diseases; Phenols; Antioxidants; Prunus avium; Chronic Disease; Flavonoids; Anthocyanins; Oxidative Stress; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 38892529
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111597 -
Nutrients May 2024Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and neurogenerative disease (NDD), and it is also one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The number... (Review)
Review
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia and neurogenerative disease (NDD), and it is also one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The number of AD patients is over 55 million according to 2020 Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI), and the number is increasing drastically without any effective cure. In this review, we discuss and analyze the potential role of anthocyanins (ACNs) against AD while understanding the molecular mechanisms. ACNs have been reported as having neuroprotective effects by mitigating cognitive impairments, apoptotic markers, neuroinflammation, aberrant amyloidogenesis, and tauopathy. Taken together, ACNs could be an important therapeutic agent for combating or delaying the onset of AD.
Topics: Alzheimer Disease; Anthocyanins; Humans; Neuroprotective Agents; Fatty Acids, Volatile; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Animals; Plant Extracts; Cognitive Dysfunction
PubMed: 38892488
DOI: 10.3390/nu16111554 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jun 2024Anthocyanins are amazing plant-derived colorants with highly valuable properties; however, their chemical and color instability issues limit their wide application in...
Anthocyanins are amazing plant-derived colorants with highly valuable properties; however, their chemical and color instability issues limit their wide application in different food industry-related products such as active and intelligent packaging. In a previous study, it was demonstrated that anthocyanins could be stabilized into green plasticizers namely deep eutectic solvents (DESs). In this work, the fabrication of edible films by integrating anthocyanins along with DESs into biocompatible chitosan (CHT)-based formulations enriched with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and PVA nanoparticles was investigated. CHT/PVA-DES films' physical properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, water vapor permeability, swelling index, moisture sorption isotherm, and thermogravimetry analysis. Innovative red-to-blue formulation films were achieved for CHT/PVA nanoparticles (for 5 min of sonication) at a molar ratio 1:1, and with 10% of ternary DES (TDES)-containing malvidin-3-glucoside (0.1%) where the physical properties of films were enhanced. After immersion in solutions at different pH values, films submitted to pHs 5-8 were revealed to be more color stable and resistant with time than at acidic pH values.
Topics: Polyvinyl Alcohol; Anthocyanins; Chitosan; Solvents; Biofilms; Nanoparticles; Food Packaging; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Color; Permeability
PubMed: 38892341
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116154 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Flavonoids are secondary metabolites that play important roles in the resistance of plants to abiotic stress. Despite the widely reported adverse effects of lead (Pb)...
Flavonoids are secondary metabolites that play important roles in the resistance of plants to abiotic stress. Despite the widely reported adverse effects of lead (Pb) contamination on maize, the effects of Pb on the biosynthetic processes of flavonoids in maize roots are still unknown. In the present work, we employed a combination of multi-omics and conventional assay methods to investigate the effects of two concentrations of Pb (40 and 250 mg/kg) on flavonoid biosynthesis in maize roots and the associated molecular regulatory mechanisms. Analysis using conventional assays revealed that 40 and 250 mg/kg Pb exposure increased the lead content of maize root to 0.67 ± 0.18 mg/kg and 3.09 ± 0.02 mg/kg, respectively, but they did not result in significant changes in maize root length. The multi-omics results suggested that exposure to 40 mg/kg of Pb caused differential expression of 33 genes and 34 metabolites related to flavonoids in the maize root system, while 250 mg/kg of Pb caused differential expression of 34 genes and 31 metabolites. Not only did these differentially expressed genes and metabolites participate in transferase activity, anthocyanin-containing compound biosynthetic processes, metal ion binding, hydroxyl group binding, cinnamoyl transferase activity, hydroxycinnamoyl transferase activity, and flavanone 4-reductase activity but they were also significantly enriched in the flavonoid, isoflavonoid, flavone, and flavonol biosynthesis pathways. These results show that Pb is involved in the regulation of maize root growth by interfering with the biosynthesis of flavonoids in the maize root system. The results of this study will enable the elucidation of the mechanisms of the effects of lead on maize root systems.
Topics: Zea mays; Flavonoids; Plant Roots; Lead; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Stress, Physiological; Transcriptome; Metabolomics; Metabolome; Gene Expression Profiling; Plant Proteins
PubMed: 38892238
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116050 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Petanin, an acylated anthocyanin from the Solanaceae family, shows potential in tyrosinase inhibitory activity and anti-melanogenic effects; however, its mechanism...
Petanin, an acylated anthocyanin from the Solanaceae family, shows potential in tyrosinase inhibitory activity and anti-melanogenic effects; however, its mechanism remains unclear. Therefore, to investigate the underlying mechanism of petanin's anti-melanogenic effects, the enzyme activity, protein expression and mRNA transcription of melanogenic and related signaling pathways in zebrafish using network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were combined for analysis. The results showed that petanin could inhibit tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis, change the distribution and arrangement of melanocytes and the structure of melanosomes, reduce the activities of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) and enhance the activity of glutathione reductase (GR). It also up-regulated JNK phosphorylation, inhibited ERK/RSK phosphorylation and down-regulated CREB/MITF-related protein expression and mRNA transcription. These results were consistent with the predictions provided through network pharmacology and molecular docking. Thus, petanin could inhibit the activity of tyrosinase and the expression of tyrosinase by inhibiting and negatively regulating the tyrosinase-related signaling pathway ERK/CREB/MITF through p-JNK. In conclusion, petanin is a good tyrosinase inhibitor and anti-melanin natural compound with significant market prospects in melanogenesis-related diseases and skin whitening cosmetics.
Topics: Animals; Zebrafish; Melanins; Molecular Docking Simulation; Phosphorylation; MAP Kinase Signaling System; Signal Transduction; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Monophenol Monooxygenase; Microphthalmia-Associated Transcription Factor; Melanocytes
PubMed: 38892131
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115939 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Global warming has caused such problems as the poor coloration of grape skin and the decreased production of high-quality berries. We investigated the effect of...
Global warming has caused such problems as the poor coloration of grape skin and the decreased production of high-quality berries. We investigated the effect of synephrine (Syn) on anthocyanin accumulation. Anthocyanin accumulation in cultured grape cells treated with Syn at concentrations of 1 mM or higher showed no significant difference, indicating that the accumulation was concentration-independent. On the other hand, anthocyanin accumulation was dependent on the compound used for treatment. The sugar/acid ratio of the juice from berries treated with Syn did not differ from the control. The expression of anthocyanin-biosynthesis-related genes, but not phytohormones, was increased by the treatment with Syn at 24 h or later. The Syn treatment of cultured cells increased expression and hydrogen peroxide (HO) production from 3 to 24 h after treatment. Subsequently, the expression of and encoding HO-scavenging enzymes was also increased. Treatment of cultured cells with Syn and HO increased the expression of the HO-responsive gene and the anthocyanin-biosynthesis-related genes and 4 days after the treatment and increased anthocyanin accumulation 7 days after the treatment. On the other hand, the treatment of berries with Syn and HO increased anthocyanin accumulation after 9 days. These results suggest that Syn increases anthocyanin accumulation through HO production without changing phytohormone biosynthesis. Syn is expected to improve grape skin coloration and contribute to high-quality berry production.
Topics: Hydrogen Peroxide; Anthocyanins; Vitis; Plant Growth Regulators; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Synephrine; Fruit; Plant Proteins
PubMed: 38892099
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115912 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Bone health is the result of a tightly regulated balance between bone modeling and bone remodeling, and alterations of these processes have been observed in several... (Review)
Review
Bone health is the result of a tightly regulated balance between bone modeling and bone remodeling, and alterations of these processes have been observed in several diseases both in adult and pediatric populations. The imbalance in bone remodeling can ultimately lead to osteoporosis, which is most often associated with aging, but contributing factors can already act during the developmental age, when over a third of bone mass is accumulated. The maintenance of an adequate bone mass is influenced by genetic and environmental factors, such as physical activity and diet, and particularly by an adequate intake of calcium and vitamin D. In addition, it has been claimed that the integration of specific nutraceuticals such as resveratrol, anthocyanins, isoflavones, lycopene, curcumin, lutein, and β-carotene and the intake of bioactive compounds from the diet such as honey, tea, dried plums, blueberry, and olive oil can be efficient strategies for bone loss prevention. Nutraceuticals and functional foods are largely used to provide medical or health benefits, but there is an urge to determine which products have adequate clinical evidence and a strong safety profile. The aim of this review is to explore the scientific and clinical evidence of the positive role of nutraceuticals and functional food in bone health, focusing both on molecular mechanisms and on real-world studies.
Topics: Humans; Dietary Supplements; Functional Food; Bone and Bones; Osteoporosis; Animals; Bone Remodeling; Bone Density
PubMed: 38892062
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115873 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Functional foods enriched with plant polyphenol anthocyanins attract particular attention due to their health-promoting properties, including antitumor activity. We...
Functional foods enriched with plant polyphenol anthocyanins attract particular attention due to their health-promoting properties, including antitumor activity. We evaluated the effects of a grain diet rich in anthocyanins in a mouse model of Lewis lung carcinoma. Mice of the C57BL/6 strain were fed with wheat of near-isogenic lines differing in the anthocyanin content for four months prior to tumor transplantation. Although a significant decrease in the size of the tumor and the number of metastases in the lungs was revealed in the groups with both types of grain diet, the highest percentage of animals without metastases and with attenuated cell proliferation in the primary tumor were observed in the mice with the anthocyanin-rich diet. Both grain diets reduced the body weight gain and spleen weight index. The antitumor effects of the grain diets were associated with the activation of different mechanisms: immune response of the allergic type with augmented interleukin(IL)-9 and eotaxin serum levels in mice fed with control grain vs. inhibition of the IL-6/LIF system accompanied by a decrease in the tumor-associated M2 macrophage marker arginase 1 gene mRNA levels and enhanced autophagy in the tumor evaluated by the mRNA levels of Beclin 1 gene. Thus, anthocyanin-rich wheat is suggested as a promising source of functional nutrition with confirmed in vivo antitumor activity.
Topics: Animals; Anthocyanins; Carcinoma, Lewis Lung; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Disease Models, Animal; Diet; Cell Proliferation; Lung Neoplasms; Edible Grain; Antineoplastic Agents; Triticum
PubMed: 38891915
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115727 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Chalcone synthase (CHS) and chalcone isomerase (CHI) catalyze the first two committed steps of the flavonoid pathway that plays a pivotal role in the growth and...
Chalcone synthase (CHS) and chalcone isomerase (CHI) catalyze the first two committed steps of the flavonoid pathway that plays a pivotal role in the growth and reproduction of land plants, including UV protection, pigmentation, symbiotic nitrogen fixation, and pathogen resistance. Based on the obtained X-ray crystal structures of CHS, CHI, and chalcone isomerase-like protein (CHIL) from the same monocotyledon, , along with the results of the steady-state kinetics, spectroscopic/thermodynamic analyses, intermolecular interactions, and their effect on each catalytic step are proposed. In addition, PvCHI's unique activity for both naringenin chalcone and isoliquiritigenin was analyzed, and the observed hierarchical activity for those type-I and -II substrates was explained with the intrinsic characteristics of the enzyme and two substrates. The structure of PvCHS complexed with naringenin supports uncompetitive inhibition. PvCHS displays intrinsic catalytic promiscuity, evident from the formation of -coumaroyltriacetic acid lactone (CTAL) in addition to naringenin chalcone. In the presence of PvCHIL, conversion of -coumaroyl-CoA to naringenin through PvCHS and PvCHI displayed ~400-fold increased with reduced formation of CTAL by 70%. Supporting this model, molecular docking, ITC (Isothermal Titration Calorimetry), and FRET (Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer) indicated that both PvCHI and PvCHIL interact with PvCHS in a non-competitive manner, indicating the plausible allosteric effect of naringenin on CHS. Significantly, the presence of naringenin increased the affinity between PvCHS and PvCHIL, whereas naringenin chalcone decreased the affinity, indicating a plausible feedback mechanism to minimize spontaneous incorrect stereoisomers. These are the first findings from a three-body system from the same species, indicating the importance of the macromolecular assembly of CHS-CHI-CHIL in determining the amount and type of flavonoids produced in plant cells.
Topics: Intramolecular Lyases; Acyltransferases; Plant Proteins; Flavonoids; Kinetics; Flavanones; Chalcones; Substrate Specificity; Crystallography, X-Ray; Molecular Docking Simulation; Models, Molecular; Protein Binding; Protein Conformation
PubMed: 38891840
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115651