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The American Journal of Clinical... Jun 2023Evidence suggests that the intake of blueberry (poly)phenols is associated with improvements in vascular function and cognitive performance. Whether these cognitive... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
BACKGROUND
Evidence suggests that the intake of blueberry (poly)phenols is associated with improvements in vascular function and cognitive performance. Whether these cognitive effects are linked to increases in cerebral and vascular blood flow or changes in the gut microbiota is currently unknown.
METHODS
A double-blind, parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted in 61 healthy older individuals aged 65-80 y. Participants received either 26 g of freeze-dried wild blueberry (WBB) powder (302 mg anthocyanins) or a matched placebo (0 mg anthocyanins). Endothelial function measured by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), cognitive function, arterial stiffness, blood pressure (BP), cerebral blood flow (CBF), gut microbiome, and blood parameters were measured at baseline and 12 wk following daily consumption. Plasma and urinary (poly)phenol metabolites were analyzed using microelution solid-phase extraction coupled with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.
RESULTS
A significant increase in FMD and reduction in 24 h ambulatory systolic BP were found in the WBB group compared with the placebo group (0.86%; 95% CI: 0.56, 1.17, P < 0.001; -3.59 mmHg; 95% CI: -6.95, -0.23, P = 0.037; respectively). Enhanced immediate recall on the auditory verbal learning task, alongside better accuracy on a task-switch task was also found following WBB treatment compared with placebo (P < 0.05). Total 24 h urinary (poly)phenol excretion increased significantly in the WBB group compared with placebo. No changes in the CBF or gut microbiota composition were found.
CONCLUSIONS
Daily intake of WBB powder, equivalent to 178 g fresh weight, improves vascular and cognitive function and decreases 24 h ambulatory systolic BP in healthy older individuals. This suggests that WBB (poly)phenols may reduce future CVD risk in an older population and may improve episodic memory processes and executive functioning in older adults at risk for cognitive decline. Clinical Trial Registration number in clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04084457.
Topics: Humans; Aged; Anthocyanins; Blueberry Plants; Phenols; Phenol; Powders; Fruit; Cognition; Memory, Short-Term; Double-Blind Method
PubMed: 36972800
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajcnut.2023.03.017 -
Scientific Reports Nov 2022Boron tribromide-mediated demethylation of rhenium-oxo and gold meso-tris(4-methoxyphenyl)corrole and meso-tris(3,5-dimethoxyphenylcorrole), M[TpOMePC] and...
Boron tribromide-mediated demethylation of rhenium-oxo and gold meso-tris(4-methoxyphenyl)corrole and meso-tris(3,5-dimethoxyphenylcorrole), M[TpOMePC] and M[T(3,5-OMe)PC] (M = ReO, Au), have yielded the corresponding phenol- and resorcinol-appended metallocorroles, M[TpOHPC] and M[T(3,5-OH)PC], in good yields. The latter compounds proved insoluble in dichloromethane and chloroform but soluble in THF. The M[T(3,5-OH)PC] derivatives also proved moderately soluble in 0.05 M aqueous KOH. Unlike oxidation-prone aminophenyl-substituted corroles, the phenol- and resorcinol-appended metallocorroles could be readily handled in air without special precautions. The phenolic metallocorroles could be readily alkylated with 4,4,5,5,6,6,7,7,8,8,9,9,10,10,11,11,11-heptadecafluoroundecyl iodide ("FtI") to afford the fluorous-tagged metallocorroles M[TpOFtPC] and M[T(3,5-OFt)PC] in > 90% yields. The simplicity of the synthetic protocols promise a wide range of phenolic and fluorous-tagged porphyrin analogues with potential applications to diverse fields such as sensors, catalysis, and photodynamic therapy, among others.
Topics: Phenol; Phenols; Resorcinols; Catalysis
PubMed: 36357501
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-23889-0 -
Current Microbiology Aug 2022Haloalkophilic bacteria have a potential advantage as a bioremediation organism of high oil-polluted and industrial wastewater. In the current study, Haloalkaliphilic...
Haloalkophilic bacteria have a potential advantage as a bioremediation organism of high oil-polluted and industrial wastewater. In the current study, Haloalkaliphilic isolates were obtained from Hamralake, Wadi EL-Natrun, Egypt. The phenotype script, biochemical characters, and sequence analysis of bacterial-16S rRNA were used to identify the bacterial isolates; Halomonas HA1 and Marinobacter HA2. These strains required high concentrations of NaCl to ensure bacterial growth, especially Halomonas HA1 strain. Notably, both isolates can degrade phenol at optimal pH values, between 8 and 9, with the ability to grow in pH levels up to 11, like what was seen in the Halomonas HA1 strain. Moreover, both isolates represent two different mechanistic pathways for phenol degradation. Halomonas HA1 exploits the 1,2 phenol meta-cleavage pathway, while Marinobacter HA2 uses the 2,3 ortho-cleavage pathway as indicated by universal primers for 1,2 and 2,3 CTD genes. Interestingly, Marinobacter HA2 isolate eliminated the added phenol within an incubation period of 72 h, while the Halomonas HA1 isolate invested 96 h in degrading 84% of the same amount of phenol. Phylogenetic analysis of these 1,2 CTD (catechol dioxygenase) sequences clearly showed an evolutionary relationship between 1,2 dioxygenases of both Halomonadaceae and Pseudomonadaceae. In comparison, 2,3 CTD of Marinobacter HA2 shared the main domains of the closely related species. Furthermore, semi-quantitative RT-PCR analysis proved the constitutive expression pattern of both dioxygenase genes. These findings provide new isolates of Halomonas sp. and Marinobacter sp. that can degrade phenol at high salt and pH conditions via two independent mechanisms.
Topics: Dioxygenases; Halomonas; Marinobacter; Phenol; Phenols; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
PubMed: 35989347
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-02981-8 -
ACS Chemical Biology Sep 2021Membrane protein structures provide a fundamental understanding of their molecular actions and are of importance for drug development. Detergents are widely used to...
Membrane protein structures provide a fundamental understanding of their molecular actions and are of importance for drug development. Detergents are widely used to solubilize, stabilize, and crystallize membrane proteins, but membrane proteins solubilized in conventional detergents are prone to denaturation and aggregation. Thus, developing novel detergents with enhanced efficacy for protein stabilization remains important. We report herein the design and synthesis of a class of phenol-derived maltoside detergents. Using two different linkers, we prepared two sets of new detergents, designated maltose-bis(hydroxymethyl)phenol (MBPs) and maltose-tris(hydroxymethyl)phenol (MTPs). The evaluation of these detergents with three transporters and two G-protein coupled receptors allowed us to identify a couple of new detergents (MBP-C9 and MTP-C12) that consistently conferred enhanced stability to all tested proteins compared to a gold standard detergent (DDM). Furthermore, the data analysis based on the detergent structures provides key detergent features responsible for membrane protein stabilization that together will facilitate the future design of novel detergents.
Topics: Detergents; Glycolipids; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Membrane Transport Proteins; Phenol; Protein Conformation; Protein Denaturation; Protein Stability; Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; Structure-Activity Relationship; Thermodynamics
PubMed: 34445864
DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00578 -
Clinical Nutrition (Edinburgh, Scotland) Nov 2022Berry (poly)phenol consumption has been associated with cardioprotective benefits, however little is known on the role the gut microbiome may play on such health... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
The effects of Aronia berry (poly)phenol supplementation on arterial function and the gut microbiome in middle aged men and women: Results from a randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Berry (poly)phenol consumption has been associated with cardioprotective benefits, however little is known on the role the gut microbiome may play on such health benefits. Our objective was to investigate the effects of aronia berry (poly)phenol consumption on cardiometabolic health and gut microbiome richness and composition in prehypertensive middle-aged men and women.
METHODS
A total of 102 prehypertensive participants were included in a parallel 12-week randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Volunteers were randomly allocated to daily consume an encapsulated (poly)phenol-rich aronia berry extract (Aronia, n = 51) or a matched maltodextrin placebo (Control, n = 51). Blood pressure (BP) and arterial function (office and 24 h), endothelial function (measured as flow-mediated dilation), serum biochemistry (including blood lipids), plasma and urine (poly)phenol metabolites as well as gut microbiome composition through shotgun metagenomic sequencing were monitored over the study period. Relationships between vascular outcomes, (poly)phenol metabolites and gut microbiome were investigated using an integrated multi-levels approach.
RESULTS
A significant improvement in arterial indices measured as augmentation index (AIx) and pulse wave velocity (PWV) was found in the Aronia compared to Control group (awake Δ PWV = -0.24 m/s; 95% CI: -0.79, -0.01 m/s, P < 0.05; 24 h peripheral Δ AIx = -6.8; -11.2, -2.3, %, P = 0.003; 24 h central Δ AIx = -3.3; -5.5, -1.0, %, P = 0.006). No changes in BP, endothelial function or blood lipids were found following the intervention. Consumption of aronia (poly)phenols led to a significant increase in gut microbiome gene richness and in the abundance of butyrate-producing species such as Lawsonibacter asaccharolyticus and Intestinimonas butyriciproducens species, compared to Control group. Results from an approach including metabolomic, metagenomic and clinical outcomes highlighted associations between aronia-derived phenolic metabolites, arterial stiffness, and gut microbiome.
CONCLUSIONS
Aronia berry (poly)phenol consumption improved arterial function in prehypertensive middle-aged individuals, possibly via modulation of gut microbiome richness and composition based on the associations observed between these parameters.
CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY
The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-randomized trial records held on the NIH ClinicalTrials.gov website (NCT03434574). Aronia Berry Consumption on Blood Pressure.
Topics: Male; Middle Aged; Humans; Female; Photinia; Pulse Wave Analysis; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Phenol; Blood Pressure; Phenols; Double-Blind Method; Dietary Supplements; Plant Extracts; Butyrates
PubMed: 36228567
DOI: 10.1016/j.clnu.2022.08.024 -
Frontiers in Bioscience (Elite Edition) Dec 2023By considering the importance and role of soil in the health of humanity, it is important to remove the presence of harmful compounds, such as phenol.
BACKGROUND
By considering the importance and role of soil in the health of humanity, it is important to remove the presence of harmful compounds, such as phenol.
METHODS
In this study, four types of soil and leaf samples were collected from Kerman, Iran, and the amounts of heterotrophic and degradation bacteria were determined using the serial dilution and most probable number (MPN) methods. The amount of removed phenol was investigated using the Gibbs method with different concentrations of phenol. Then, an isolate with the highest percentage of phenol degradation was identified as the superior strain using 16 sRNA sequencing. The effects of the different factors, such as the carbon source (1% molasses and 1 g glucose), nitrogen source (0.1 g yeast extract), mixed culture, and time (14 and 28 days), on the biodegradation ability of the superior strain was investigated.
RESULTS
A total of 18 bacterial strains were isolated from the samples. Isolate B3 had the highest rate (75%) of phenol degradation, at a concentration of 1000 ppm, meaning it was identified as the superior strain. The molecular analysis results identified this isolate as the strain F4. This bacterium can degrade 89% of the phenol at 30 °C, 180 rpm, and 800 ppm over 28 days. did not show a favorable phenol degradation ability in the presence of the investigated carbon sources, while this ability was also reduced in mixed cultures.
CONCLUSIONS
bacterial strain isolated from soil samples of pistachio orchards in Kerman, Iran, has a favorable ability to biodegrade phenol.
Topics: Phenol; Iran; Phenols; Bacteria; Biodegradation, Environmental; Carbon
PubMed: 38163941
DOI: 10.31083/j.fbe1504029 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2022While microRNAs are considered as excellent biomarkers of various diseases, there are still several remaining challenges regarding their isolation. In this study, we...
While microRNAs are considered as excellent biomarkers of various diseases, there are still several remaining challenges regarding their isolation. In this study, we aimed to design a novel RNA isolation method that would help to overcome those challenges. Therefore, we present a novel phenol/chloroform-free, low-cost method for miRNA extraction. Within this method, RNA is extracted from cell lysate with an isopropanol/water/NaCl system, followed by solid-phase extraction using TiO microspheres to effectively separate short RNAs from long RNA molecules. We also demonstrated the pH-dependent selectivity of TiO microspheres towards different sizes of RNA. We were able to regulate the size range of extracted RNAs with simple adjustments in binding conditions used during the solid-phase extraction.
Topics: Chloroform; MicroRNAs; Phenol; Phenols; Titanium
PubMed: 36012112
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168848 -
Environmental Health Perspectives Aug 2023Gestational phthalate and phenol exposure disrupts adipogenesis, contributing to obesity in mice. Whether gestational phthalate or phenol exposure is associated with...
BACKGROUND
Gestational phthalate and phenol exposure disrupts adipogenesis, contributing to obesity in mice. Whether gestational phthalate or phenol exposure is associated with infant body composition has not been investigated in humans.
OBJECTIVE
We examined associations between biomarkers of phthalate and phenol exposure in midpregnancy and infant size and body composition at birth and at 5 months of age.
METHODS
Analyses were conducted among 438 infants from the Healthy Start prospective pregnancy cohort. Sixteen phthalate and phenol biomarkers were quantified in spot urine samples collected at 24-28 wk of gestation. Infant outcomes measured at birth and at 5 months of age included size [weight (in grams)] and body composition [fat and lean masses (in grams); percentage fat mass]. Single- (linear) and multipollutant (quantile g-computation) models were used to estimate associations of phthalate and phenol biomarkers with infant outcomes at birth and at 5 months of age. Models were adjusted for sociodemographics, sample collection timing, and lifestyle factors and used to examine for effect modification by infant sex.
RESULTS
In single-pollutant models, mono-benzyl phthalate and di--butyl phthalate were inversely associated with percentage fat mass [: (95% CI: , ) and (95% CI: , 0.01), respectively] in male but not female infants at birth. Similar, but less precise, associations were observed at 5 months of age. In multipollutant models, a 1-quartile increase in the phthalate and phenol biomarker mixture was inversely associated with percentage fat mass at birth [ (95% CI: , 0.1)] and at 5 months of age [ (95% CI: , )] among males, but associations were null among females [0.48 (95% CI: , 1.75) and (95% CI: , 1.41), respectively]. Similar associations were observed with infant weight.
CONCLUSION
In this U.S.-based prospective cohort, gestational phthalate and phenol biomarkers were inversely associated with infant weight and fat mass, particularly in males. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP12500.
Topics: Female; Pregnancy; Humans; Infant; Male; Animals; Mice; Phenol; Prospective Studies; Phenols; Biomarkers; Body Composition
PubMed: 37616158
DOI: 10.1289/EHP12500 -
Environmental Health Perspectives Nov 2022Studies characterizing associations between phenols, phthalates and thyroid hormones during pregnancy produce inconsistent results. This divergence may be partly...
BACKGROUND
Studies characterizing associations between phenols, phthalates and thyroid hormones during pregnancy produce inconsistent results. This divergence may be partly attributable to false positives due to multiple comparison testing of large numbers of chemicals, and measurement error as studies rely on small numbers of biospecimens despite high intra-individual variability in urinary chemical metabolite concentrations.
OBJECTIVES
This study employs chemical filtering and expanded urinary biomonitoring to evaluate associations between phenol/phthalate exposures and serum thyroid hormones assessed during pregnancy.
METHODS
A two-tiered approach was implemented: ) high-throughput screening results from the ToxCast/Tox21 database, as informed by a thyroid Adverse Outcome Pathway network, were evaluated to select phenols/phthalates with activity on known and putative molecular initiating events in the thyroid pathway; and ) Adjusted linear regressions were used to study associations between filtered compounds and serum thyroid hormones measured in 437 pregnant women recruited in Grenoble area (France) between 2014 and 2017. Phenol/phthalate metabolites were measured in repeated spot urine sample pools (median: 21 samples/women).
RESULTS
The ToxCast/Tox21 screening reduced the chemical set from 16 to 13 and the associated number of statistical comparisons by 19%. Parabens were negatively associated with free triiodothyronine (T3) and the T3/T4 (total thyroxine) ratio. Monobenzyl phthalate was positively associated with total T4 and negatively with the T3/T4 ratio. Effect modification by iodine status was detected for several compounds (among them and mono--butyl phthalate) that were associated with some hormones among women with normal iodine levels.
CONCLUSION
For these chemicals, screening for compounds with an increased likelihood for thyroid-related effects and relying on repeated urine samples to assess exposures improved the overall performance of multichemical analyses of thyroid disruption. This approach may improve future evaluations of human data for the thyroid pathway with implication for fetal health and may serve as a model for evaluating other toxicity outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10239.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Thyroid Gland; Adverse Outcome Pathways; Phenol; Phthalic Acids; Thyroid Hormones; Phenols; Iodine
PubMed: 36350136
DOI: 10.1289/EHP10239 -
International Journal of Molecular... Aug 2022The π-π interaction is a major driving force that stabilizes protein assemblies during protein folding. Recent studies have additionally demonstrated its involvement...
The π-π interaction is a major driving force that stabilizes protein assemblies during protein folding. Recent studies have additionally demonstrated its involvement in the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs). As the participating residues in IDPs are exposed to water, π-π interactions for LLPS must be modeled in water, as opposed to the interactions that are often established at the hydrophobic domains of folded proteins. Thus, we investigated the association of free energies of benzene and phenol dimers in water by integrating van der Waals (vdW)-corrected density functional theory (DFT) and DFT in classical explicit solvents (DFT-CES). By comparing the vdW-corrected DFT and DFT-CES results with high-level wavefunction calculations and experimental solvation free energies, respectively, we established the quantitative credibility of these approaches, enabling a reliable prediction of the benzene and phenol dimer association free energies in water. We discovered that solvation influences dimer association free energies, but not significantly when no direct hydrogen-bond-type interaction exists between two monomeric units, which can be explained by the enthalpy-entropy compensation. Our comprehensive computational study of the solvation effect on π-π interactions in water could help us understand the molecular-level driving mechanism underlying the IDP phase behaviors.
Topics: Benzene; Intrinsically Disordered Proteins; Phenol; Thermodynamics; Water
PubMed: 36077201
DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179811