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Heliyon Sep 2023Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and the main reason for premature death in older adults. Although antihypertensive medications... (Review)
Review
Hypertension is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and the main reason for premature death in older adults. Although antihypertensive medications have been used frequently, hypertension prevalence has increased in the last decade. Lifestyle improvement is a cornerstone of hypertension prevention and control. High dietary consumptions of fruits and vegetables are linked to reduced risks of high blood pressure. Carotenoids are natural tetraterpene pigments produced by bacteria, fungi, algae, some animals, and various plants. Because of their high pharmacological potential and safety, they have been mentioned as unique therapeutic agents for a diverse range of diseases. Carotenoids modulate high blood pressure. They also have several additional benefits for the cardiovascular system, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, and antiplatelet effects. They improve endothelial function and metabolic profile, as well. In the present article, we reviewed the literature data regarding carotenoids' influence on hypertension in both preclinical and clinical studies. Furthermore, we reviewed the underlying mechanisms associated with antihypertensive properties derived from and studies. Suppressing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Inhibiting angiotensin-II, endothelin-1, and oxidized low-density lipoprotein; and also nitric oxide enhancement are some of the mechanisms by which they lower blood pressure. The present article indicated that astaxanthine, β-carotene, bixin, capsanthin, lutein, crocin, and lycopene have antihypertensive properties. Having significant antioxidant properties, they can decrease high blood pressure and concomitant comorbidities.
PubMed: 37662767
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19399 -
Experimental Gerontology Jun 2023Mitochondria are subcellular organelles known for their central role in several energetic processes. Accumulating evidence supports a key role for mitochondria in the... (Review)
Review
Mitochondria are subcellular organelles known for their central role in several energetic processes. Accumulating evidence supports a key role for mitochondria in the physiological response to both acute and chronic stress exposure, and, ultimately, the biological embedding of adversity in health and psychological functioning that increases the interest of these organelles in several medical conditions typical of older people. At the same time, Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) seems to affect the function of mitochondria further justifying the role of this diet in lowering the risk of negative health outcomes. In this review, we have elucidated the role of mitochondria in human diseases including the fundamental role in stress, aging, and neuropsychiatric and metabolic disorders. Overall, MedDiet can limit the production of free radicals, being rich in polyphenols. Moreover, MedDiet reduced mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) production and ameliorated mitochondrial damage and apoptosis. Similarly, whole grains can maintain the mitochondrial respiration and membrane potential, finally improving mitochondrial function. Other components of MedDiet can have anti-inflammatory effects, again modulating mitochondrial function. For example, delphinidin (a flavonoid present in red wine and berries) restored the elevated level of mitochondrial respiration, mtDNA content, and complex IV activity; similarly, resveratrol and lycopene, present in grapefruits and tomatoes, exerted an anti-inflammatory effect modulating mitochondrial enzymes. Altogether, these findings support the notion that several positive effects of MedDiet can be mediated by a modulation in mitochondrial function indicating the necessity of further studies in human beings for finally confirming these findings.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Diet, Mediterranean; Mitochondria; DNA, Mitochondrial; Aging; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 37019345
DOI: 10.1016/j.exger.2023.112165 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive urological disease occurring in middle-aged and elderly men, which can be characterized by the non-malignant...
Combination of Lycopene and Curcumin Synergistically Alleviates Testosterone-Propionate-Induced Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Sprague Dawley Rats via Modulating Inflammation and Proliferation.
BACKGROUND
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a progressive urological disease occurring in middle-aged and elderly men, which can be characterized by the non-malignant overgrowth of stromal and epithelial cells in the transition zone of the prostate. Previous studies have demonstrated that lycopene can inhibit proliferation, while curcumin can strongly inhibit inflammation. This study aims to determine the inhibitory effect of the combination of lycopene and curcumin on BPH.
METHOD
To induce BPH models in vitro and in vivo, the BPH-1 cell line and Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used, respectively. Rats were divided into six groups and treated daily with a vehicle, lycopene (12.5 mg/kg), curcumin (2.4 mg/kg), a combination of lycopene and curcumin (12.5 mg/kg + 2.4 mg/kg) or finasteride (5 mg/kg). Histologic sections were examined via hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and immunohistochemistry. Hormone and inflammatory indicators were detected via ELISA. Network pharmacology analysis was used to fully predict the therapeutic mechanism of the combination of lycopene and curcumin on BPH.
RESULTS
Combination treatment significantly attenuated prostate hyperplasia, alleviated BPH pathological features and decreased the expression of Ki-67 in rats. The upregulation of the expression of testosterone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 5α-reductase, estradiol (E2) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in BPH rats was significantly blocked by the combination treatment. The expression levels of inflammatory factors including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α were strongly inhibited by the combination treatment. From the network pharmacology analysis, it was found that the main targets for inhibiting BPH are AKT1, TNF, EGFR, STAT3 and PTGS2, which are enriched in pathways in cancer.
CONCLUSION
The lycopene and curcumin combination is a potential and more effective agent to prevent or treat BPH.
Topics: Male; Humans; Rats; Animals; Prostatic Hyperplasia; Testosterone Propionate; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Lycopene; Curcumin; Propionates; Plant Extracts; Testosterone; Inflammation; Cell Proliferation
PubMed: 37446563
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28134900 -
Advances in Nutrition (Bethesda, Md.) Nov 2023Carotenoids have been associated with risk reduction for several chronic diseases, including the association of their dietary intake/circulating levels with reduced... (Review)
Review
Carotenoids have been associated with risk reduction for several chronic diseases, including the association of their dietary intake/circulating levels with reduced incidence of obesity, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, and even lower total mortality. In addition to some carotenoids constituting vitamin A precursors, they are implicated in potential antioxidant effects and pathways related to inflammation and oxidative stress, including transcription factors such as nuclear factor κB and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2. Carotenoids and metabolites may also interact with nuclear receptors, mainly retinoic acid receptor/retinoid X receptor and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, which play a role in the immune system and cellular differentiation. Therefore, a large number of downstream targets are likely influenced by carotenoids, including but not limited to genes and proteins implicated in oxidative stress and inflammation, antioxidation, and cellular differentiation processes. Furthermore, recent studies also propose an association between carotenoid intake and gut microbiota. While all these endpoints could be individually assessed, a more complete/integrative way to determine a multitude of health-related aspects of carotenoids includes (multi)omics-related techniques, especially transcriptomics, proteomics, lipidomics, and metabolomics, as well as metagenomics, measured in a variety of biospecimens including plasma, urine, stool, white blood cells, or other tissue cellular extracts. In this review, we highlight the use of omics technologies to assess health-related effects of carotenoids in mammalian organisms and models.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Carotenoids; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Inflammation; Antioxidants; Lutein; Mammals
PubMed: 37678712
DOI: 10.1016/j.advnut.2023.09.002 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023In recent years, special attention has been paid to the correlation between oxidation-reduction mechanisms and human health. The free radicals produced via physiological... (Review)
Review
In recent years, special attention has been paid to the correlation between oxidation-reduction mechanisms and human health. The free radicals produced via physiological cellular biochemical processes are major contributors to oxidation phenomena. Their instability is the major cause of cellular damage. Free radical reactive oxygen species containing oxygen are the best-known ones. The body neutralises the harmful effects of free radicals via the production of endogenous antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and melatonin). The field of study of nutraucetics has found antioxidant capacity in substances such as vitamins A, B, C, E, coenzyme Q-10, selenium, flavonoids, lipoic acid, carotenoids, and lycopene contained in some foods. There are several areas of investigation that aim to research the interaction between reactive oxygen species, exogenous antioxidants, and the microbiota to promote increased protection via the peroxidation of macromolecules (proteins, and lipids) by maintaining a dynamic balance among the species that make up the microbiota. In this scoping review, we aim to map the scientific literature on oxidative stress related to the oral microbiota, and the use of natural antioxidants to counteract it, to assess the volume, nature, characteristics, and type of studies available to date, and to suggest the possible gaps that will emerge from the analysis.
PubMed: 37372039
DOI: 10.3390/antiox12061309 -
Journal of Oleo Science Aug 2023Lycopene is a natural bioactive compound possessing higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are known to efficiently eliminate the risk of cancer,...
Lycopene is a natural bioactive compound possessing higher antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which are known to efficiently eliminate the risk of cancer, cardiac complications, and oxidative stress. Food manufacturers are keen on producing lycopene-fortified food products owing to their numerous health benefits and higher nutritional value. The incorporation of lycopene is limited to food products due to its hydrophobic nature and low chemical stability. This study aims to understand the incorporation of lycopene in Oleogel as a new delivery system. Briefly, lycopene and stearic acid (gelator) were combined at ratios of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% (w/w) and added to coconut oil (20 g (w/w) ) for the preparation of edible oleogel combinations. These combinations were characterized for oil binding capacity, swelling capacity, color analysis, and texture profile analysis. Further, the formulations were characterized by FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) and DSC (Differential scanning calorimetry). It was observed that samples prepared with a combination of 50% lycopene and stearic acid were found to possess a firm texture and good stability. Conversely, samples with no gelator produced oleogels with less stability. Further, the FTIR spectra helped determine the network formation in the oleogels, which was stabilized by the hydrogen bond. Furthermore, the results of DSC exhibited that the oleogel combinations with gelator and lycopene were not in the crystalline state, and the oleogels held superior internal structure till 45°C. Overall, oleogel-based carrier systems can be used as an alternative method to encapsulate various bioactive compounds having possible potential applications in the bakery and confectionery industries.
Topics: Coconut Oil; Lycopene; Stearic Acids
PubMed: 37468274
DOI: 10.5650/jos.ess22398 -
Food Science & Nutrition Oct 2023Aging and aging-related chronic disorders are one of the principal causes of death worldwide. The prevalence of these disorders is increasing gradually and globally.... (Review)
Review
Aging and aging-related chronic disorders are one of the principal causes of death worldwide. The prevalence of these disorders is increasing gradually and globally. Considering this unwavering acceleration of the global burden, seeking alternatives to traditional medication to prevent the risk of aging disorders is needed. Among them, lycopene, a carotenoid, is abundant in many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, grapefruits, and watermelons, and it has a unique chemical structure to be a potent antioxidant compound. This nutraceutical also possesses several anti-aging actions, including combating aging biomarkers and ameliorating several chronic disorders. However, no systematic evaluation has yet been carried out that can comprehensively elucidate the effectiveness of lycopene in halting the course of aging and the emergence of chronic diseases linked to aging. This review, therefore, incorporates previous pre-clinical, clinical, and epidemiological studies on lycopene to understand its potency in treating aging disorders and its role as a mimic of caloric restriction. Lycopene-rich foods are found to prevent or attenuate aging disorders in various research. Based on the evidence, this review suggests the clinical application of lycopene to improve human health and alleviate the prevalence of aging and aging disorders.
PubMed: 37823149
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.3523 -
BMC Oral Health Oct 2023The aim of this review is to evaluate the different medicinal interventions available for the management of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF). (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this review is to evaluate the different medicinal interventions available for the management of oral submucous fibrosis (OSF).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We conducted a comprehensive electronic search on PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases for articles related to OSF patients treated with medications from December 2011 to September 2022. GRADE system was used to evaluate the evidence quality. The reporting of the systematic review is in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) protocol. The main outcomes were the improvement of maximum mouth opening, burning sensation, cheek flexibility, and tongue protrusion.
RESULTS
Twenty-nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs), five clinical trials (CCTs) were included, and the use of drugs for OSF treatment were evaluated. Drugs like steroids, hyaluronidase, pentoxifylline, lycopene, curcumin, dpirulina, aloe vera, omega3, oxitard, allicin, colchicine have been used. It was found that drugs with evidence high quality were salvia miltiorrhiza combined with triamcinolone acetonide, lycopene, pentoxifylline, curcumin, and aloe vera, and those with evidence moderate quality were allicin, colchicine, omega 3, and oxitard.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results of our comprehensive analysis, for long-term treatment, we found lycopene with low side effects, whereas for relieving the symptoms of severe burning sensation, aloe vera is the most effective. Although the recent review has made some progress, drug therapy for OSF remains unclear, and more high-quality RCTs are needed to identify better treatments for OSF.
Topics: Humans; Oral Submucous Fibrosis; Lycopene; Curcumin; Pentoxifylline; Colchicine
PubMed: 37828490
DOI: 10.1186/s12903-023-03488-9 -
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology :... Dec 2023This study was designed to investigate the association between nutrients and female infertility.
BACKGROUND
This study was designed to investigate the association between nutrients and female infertility.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study on 18-45 years of age reproductive-age women was conducted using the data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES) for the periods 2013-2014 and 2015-2016. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the association between nutrients and female infertility. Subgroup analysis was applied to the body mass index (BMI). Results were summarised using an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI).
RESULTS
Of the total 1713 women, 204 women (11.91%) were infertile. The result demonstrated that higher intake of carbohydrate (OR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24-0.86, = 0.018), vitamin A (OR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24-0.80, = 0.009), vitamin C (OR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.26-0.88, = 0.020), magnesium (OR: 0.36, 95% CI: 0.17-0.76, = 0.009), iron (OR: 0.43, 95% CI: 0.23-0.82, = 0.012), lycopene (OR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.33-0.91, = 0.022), and total folate (OR: 0.38, 95% CI: 0.20-0.70, = 0.003) were associated with a lower risk of female infertility. The subgroup analysis also reported that intakes of vitamin A, vitamin C, and lycopene were related to a lower risk of female infertility among women with a BMI being 18.5-24.9 kg/m. Among women with BMI > 24.9 kg/m, high intakes of magnesium, iron and total folate were associated with a decreased risk of female infertility.
CONCLUSIONS
The intake of several nutrients is associated with a decreased risk of female infertility. These findings provide insight into potentially modifiable lifestyle factors associated with female infertility.
Topics: Female; Humans; Diet; Nutrition Surveys; Magnesium; Vitamin A; Infertility, Female; Cross-Sectional Studies; Lycopene; Eating; Vitamins; Folic Acid; Ascorbic Acid; Iron
PubMed: 38010776
DOI: 10.1080/01443615.2023.2285025 -
Plant Methods Nov 2023Object detection, size determination, and colour detection of images are tools commonly used in plant science. Key examples of this include identification of ripening...
BACKGROUND
Object detection, size determination, and colour detection of images are tools commonly used in plant science. Key examples of this include identification of ripening stages of fruit such as tomatoes and the determination of chlorophyll content as an indicator of plant health. While methods exist for determining these important phenotypes, they often require proprietary software or require coding knowledge to adapt existing code.
RESULTS
We provide a set of free and open-source Python scripts that, without any adaptation, are able to perform background correction and colour correction on images using a ColourChecker chart. Further scripts identify objects, use an object of known size to calibrate for size, and extract the average colour of objects in RGB, Lab, and YUV colour spaces. We use two examples to demonstrate the use of these scripts. We show the consistency of these scripts by imaging in four different lighting conditions, and then we use two examples to show how the scripts can be used. In the first example, we estimate the lycopene content in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum) var. Tiny Tim using fruit images and an exponential model to predict lycopene content. We demonstrate that three different cameras (a DSLR camera and two separate mobile phones) are all able to model lycopene content. The models that predict lycopene or chlorophyll need to be adjusted depending on the camera used. In the second example, we estimate the chlorophyll content of basil (Ocimum basilicum) using leaf images and an exponential model to predict chlorophyll content.
CONCLUSION
A fast, cheap, non-destructive, and inexpensive method is provided for the determination of the size and colour of plant materials using a rig consisting of a lightbox, camera, and colour checker card and using free and open-source scripts that run in Python 3.8. This method accurately predicted the lycopene content in tomato fruit and the chlorophyll content in basil leaves.
PubMed: 37964366
DOI: 10.1186/s13007-023-01103-0