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Environment International Mar 2018Environmental phenols are used commonly in personal care products and exposure is widespread in pregnant women. In this study, we sought to assess the association...
Environmental phenols are used commonly in personal care products and exposure is widespread in pregnant women. In this study, we sought to assess the association between maternal urinary phenol concentrations in pregnancy and fetal growth. The study population included 476 mothers who participated in the prospective LIFECODES birth cohort between 2006 and 2008 at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Dichlorophenols (DCPs), benzophenone-3, parabens, triclosan, triclocarban, and bisphenol-S were measured in urine from three time points during pregnancy and averaged. Outcome measures were all standardized to create gestational-age specific z-scores and included: 1) birth weight; 2) ultrasound parameters measured at up to two time points in pregnancy (head and abdominal circumference and femur length); and 3) ultrasound estimates of fetal weight from two time points in combination with birth weight. Models were stratified to investigate sex differences. Inverse associations were observed between average 2,4- and 2,5-DCP concentrations and birth weight z-scores in males. For example, an interquartile range difference in 2,4-DCP was associated with a 0.18 standard deviation decrease in birth weight z-score (95% confidence interval [CI]=-0.33, -0.02). These associations were observed in models that included repeated ultrasound estimates of fetal weight during gestation as well. Also in males, we noted inverse associations between average triclosan exposure over pregnancy and estimated fetal weight combined with birth weight in repeated measures models. For females, associations were generally null. However, mothers with a detectable concentration of bisphenol-S at any of the study visits had lower weight females. In conclusion, we observed inverse associations between indicators of maternal phenol exposure during pregnancy and fetal growth, with several differences observed by sex.
Topics: Birth Weight; Female; Fetal Development; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Maternal Exposure; Phenol; Pregnancy; Prospective Studies
PubMed: 29294443
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2017.12.011 -
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 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2022Studies on genetic diversity, adaptive potential and fitness of species have become a major tool in conservation biology. These studies require biological material...
Studies on genetic diversity, adaptive potential and fitness of species have become a major tool in conservation biology. These studies require biological material containing a reliable source of DNA which can be extracted and analysed. Recently, non-invasive sampling has become the preferred sampling method of such biological material; particularly when studying endangered species. Elasmoid scales from teleost fish are an example of non-invasive samples from which DNA can successfully be extracted. This study compared different extraction protocols to find an optimal method for extracting DNA from teleost fish scales. This was done with the intent to use the protocol that yielded the highest quantity of DNA on dried, archived scales. The protocols tested in this study included (1) phenol/chloroform with a TNES-urea digestion buffer, (2) phenol/chloroform with an amniocyte digestion buffer and (3) Qiagen DNeasy Blood and Tissue Kit with variations in incubation times and temperatures of each protocol. While the phenol/chloroform with TNES-urea digestion buffer yielded significantly higher concentrations of DNA compared to the other protocols, all protocols followed in this study yielded sufficient quantities of DNA for further downstream applications. Therefore, while there are multiple viable options when selecting a DNA extraction protocol, each research project's individual needs, requirements and resources need to be carefully considered in order to choose the most effective protocol.
Topics: Animals; Chloroform; DNA; Fishes; Phenol; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Specimen Handling
PubMed: 35181723
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06889-y -
Environment International Jan 2024Humans are exposed to various bisphenols, alkylphenols and nitrophenols through dietary intake, food packaging and container materials, indoor and outdoor air/dust. This...
Humans are exposed to various bisphenols, alkylphenols and nitrophenols through dietary intake, food packaging and container materials, indoor and outdoor air/dust. This study aimed to evaluate exposure of Japanese pregnant women to environmental phenols by measuring target compounds in urine samples. From a cohort of the Japan Environment and Children's Study, 4577 pregnant women were selected. Bisphenol A (BPA), bisphenol S (BPS), bisphenol F (BPF), bisphenol AF (BPAF), para-nitrophenol (PNP), 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol (PNMC), branched 4-nonylphenol (4-NP), linear 4-nonylphenol and 4-tert-octylphenol (4-t-OP) were analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatograph coupled to a triple-quadrupole mass spectrometer. The urinary metabolite data were combined with a questionnaire to examine the determinants of phenol exposure by machine learning. The estimated daily intake (EDI) and hazard quotient (HQ) of BPA were calculated. PNP (68.2%) and BPA (71.5%) had the highest detection frequencies, with median concentrations of 0.76 and 0.46 μg/g creatinine, respectively. PNMC, BPS, BPF and 4-NP were determined in 24.9%, 11.9%, 1.3% and 0.4% of samples, respectively, whereas BPAF (0.02%) and 4-t-OP (0.02%) were only determined in a few samples. The PNP concentrations measured in this study were comparable with those reported in previous studies, whereas the BPA concentrations were lower than those reported previously worldwide. The EDI of BPA was 0.014 μg/kg body weight/day. Compared with the tolerable daily intake set by the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, the median (95th percentile) HQ was 0.044 (0.2). This indicates that the observed levels of BPA exposure pose a negligible health risk to Japanese pregnant women. Determinants of bisphenol and nitrophenol exposure could not be identified by analysing the questionnaire solely, suggesting that biological measurement is necessary to assess exposure of pregnant women to bisphenols and nitrophenols. This is the first study to report environmental phenol exposure of Japanese pregnant women on a nationwide scale.
Topics: Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Benzhydryl Compounds; Fluorocarbons; Japan; Nitrophenols; Phenol; Phenols; Pregnant Women; Sulfones
PubMed: 38088018
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108373 -
Annals of Nutrition & Metabolism 2024Dietary intake of (poly)phenols has been linked to reduced adiposity and body weight (BW) in several epidemiological studies. However, epidemiological evidence on...
INTRODUCTION
Dietary intake of (poly)phenols has been linked to reduced adiposity and body weight (BW) in several epidemiological studies. However, epidemiological evidence on (poly)phenol biomarkers, particularly plasma concentrations, is scarce. We aimed to investigate the associations between plasma (poly)phenols and prospective BW change in participants from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort.
METHODS
This study included 761 participants with data on BW at baseline and after 5 years of follow-up. Plasma concentrations of 36 (poly)phenols were measured at baseline using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Associations were assessed through general linear mixed models and multinomial logistic regression models, using change in BW as a continuous or as a categorical variable (BW loss, maintenance, gain), respectively. Plasma (poly)phenols were assessed as log2-transformed continuous variables. The false discovery rate (FDR) was used to control for multiple comparisons.
RESULTS
Doubling plasma (poly)phenol concentrations showed a borderline trend towards a positive association with BW loss. Plasma vanillic acid showed the strongest association (-0.53 kg/5 years; 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.99, -0.07). Similar results were observed for plasma naringenin comparing BW loss versus BW maintenance (odds ratio: 1.1; 95% CI: 1.0, 1.2). These results did not remain significant after FDR correction.
CONCLUSION
Higher concentrations of plasma (poly)phenols suggested a tendency towards 5-year BW maintenance or loss. While certain associations seemed promising, they did not withstand FDR correction, indicating the need for caution in interpreting these results. Further studies using (poly)phenol biomarkers are needed to confirm these suggestive protective trends.
Topics: Humans; Phenols; Prospective Studies; Phenol; Body Weight; Neoplasms; Biomarkers
PubMed: 38272006
DOI: 10.1159/000535803 -
Scientific Reports Jan 2023Aromatic compounds and metalloid oxyanions are abundant in the environment due to natural resources and industrial wastes. The high toxicity of phenol and tellurite...
Aromatic compounds and metalloid oxyanions are abundant in the environment due to natural resources and industrial wastes. The high toxicity of phenol and tellurite poses a significant threat to all forms of life. A halotolerant bacterium was isolated and identified as Lysinibacillus sp. EBL303. The remediation analysis shows that 500 mg/L phenol and 0.5 mM tellurite can be remediated entirely in separate cultures within 74 and 56 h, respectively. In addition, co-remediation of pollutants resulted in the same phenol degradation and 27% less tellurite reduction within 98 h. Since phenol and tellurite exhibited inhibitory behavior, their removal kinetics fitted well with the first-order model. In the characterization of biosynthesized tellurium nanoparticles (TeNPs), transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, FE-SEM, and dispersive X-ray (EDX) showed that the separated intracellular TeNPs were spherical and consisted of only tellurium with 22-148 nm in size. Additionally, investigations using X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy revealed proteins and lipids covering the surface of these amorphous TeNPs. Remarkably, this study is the first report to demonstrate the simultaneous bioremediation of phenol and tellurite and the biosynthesis of TeNPs, indicating the potential of Lysinibacillus sp. EBL303 in this matter, which can be applied to environmental remediation and the nanotechnology industry.
Topics: Tellurium; Biodegradation, Environmental; Phenol; Nanoparticles; Bacillaceae; Phenols
PubMed: 36690691
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-28468-5 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024Herbal spices are widely consumed as food additives owing to their distinct aroma and taste as well as a myriad of economic and health value. The aroma profile of four...
Herbal spices are widely consumed as food additives owing to their distinct aroma and taste as well as a myriad of economic and health value. The aroma profile of four major spices including bay leaf, black pepper, capsicum, and fennel was tested using HS-SPME/GC-MS and in response to the most widely used spices´ processing methods including autoclaving and γ-radiation at low and high doses. Additionally, the impact of processing on microbial contamination of spices was tested using total aerobic count. GC-MS analysis led to the identification of 22 volatiles in bay leaf, 34 in black pepper, 23 in capsicum, and 24 in fennel. All the identified volatiles belonged to oxides/phenols/ethers, esters, ketones, alcohols, sesquiterpene and monoterpene hydrocarbons. Oxides/phenol/ethers were detected at high levels in all tested spices at ca. 44, 28.2, 48.8, 61.1%, in bay leaves, black pepper, capsicum, and fennel, respectively of the total blend and signifying their typical use as spices. Total oxides/phenol/ethers showed an increase in bay leaf upon exposure to γ-radiation from 44 to 47.5%, while monoterpene hydrocarbons were enriched in black pepper upon autoclaving from 11.4 in control to reach 65.9 and 82.6% for high dose and low dose of autoclaving, respectively. Cineole was detected in bay leaf at 17.9% and upon exposure to autoclaving at high dose and γ-radiation (both doses) its level increased by 29-31%. Both autoclaving and γ-radiation distinctly affected aroma profiles in examined spices. Further, volatile variations in response to processing were assessed using multivariate data analysis (MVA) revealing distinct separation between autoclaved and γ-radiated samples compared to control. Both autoclaving at 115 °C for 15 min and radiation at 10 kGy eliminated detected bioburden in all tested spices i.e., reduced the microbial counts below the detection limit (< 10 cfu/g).
Topics: Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Odorants; Phenol; Solid Phase Microextraction; Chemometrics; Spices; Piper nigrum; Monoterpenes; Foeniculum; Ethers; Oxides; Volatile Organic Compounds
PubMed: 38459176
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56422-6 -
Journal of Agricultural and Food... Aug 2021The anti-inflammatory and prebiotic activity and the content and profile of bioaccessible (poly)phenols and catabolites of raw and -cooked red cardoon ( L. var. DC)...
The anti-inflammatory and prebiotic activity and the content and profile of bioaccessible (poly)phenols and catabolites of raw and -cooked red cardoon ( L. var. DC) were investigated during gastrointestinal (GI) digestion. Raw cardoon after GI digestion had 0.7% bioaccessible (poly)phenols, which protected against lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation by counteracting IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-10 secretions in differentiated Caco-2 cells. Contrarily, GI-digested s cardoon showed higher (poly)phenol bioaccessibility (59.8%) and exerted proinflammatory effects in Caco-2 cells. (Poly)phenols were highly metabolized during the first 8 h of fermentation, and nine catabolites were produced during 48 h of fermentation. Colonic-fermented raw and -cooked cardoon did not show anti-inflammatory activity in HT-29 cells but presented potential prebiotic activity, comparable to the commercial prebiotic FOS, by stimulating health-promoting bacteria such as spp. and / spp. and by increasing the production of total SCFAs, especially acetate.
Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Caco-2 Cells; Colon; Cynara; Humans; Phenol; Phenols; Prebiotics
PubMed: 34347467
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.1c03014 -
Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Apr 2024Erianin is an important bibenzyl compound in dendrobium and has a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties. Since Erianin was discovered, abundant results have been... (Review)
Review
Erianin is an important bibenzyl compound in dendrobium and has a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties. Since Erianin was discovered, abundant results have been achieved in the in vitro synthesis, structural modification, and pharmacological mechanism research. Researchers have developed a series of simple and efficient in vitro synthesis methods to improve the shortcomings of poor water solubility by replacing the chemical structure or coating it in nanomaterials. Erianin has a broad anti-tumor spectrum and significant anti-tumor effects. In addition, Erianin also has pharmacological actions like immune regulation, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenesis. A comprehensive understanding of the synthesis, metabolism, structural modification, and pharmacological action pathways of Erianin is of great value for the utilization of Erianin. Therefore, this review conducts a relatively systematic look back at Erianin from the above four aspects, to give a reference for the evolvement and further appliance of Erianin.
Topics: Bibenzyls; Phenol; Anti-Inflammatory Agents
PubMed: 38401517
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116295 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2023Environmental pollution is a global phenomenon and troublesome fact that poses a grave risk to all living entities. Via coupling carbonaceous feedstocks with outstanding...
Environmental pollution is a global phenomenon and troublesome fact that poses a grave risk to all living entities. Via coupling carbonaceous feedstocks with outstanding microbial activity, kinetic experiments were established using the consortium of Proteus mirabilis and Raoultella planticola, biochar-derived sunflower seed husk (SHB) and rice straw (RSB), and their composites, which investigated at 30 °C (150 rpm) to eliminate 700 mg L lead (120 h) and phenol (168 h) from synthetic wastewater. The derived biochars physicochemical properties of were studied. According to adsorption capacity (q), consortium-SHB composites and consortium-RSB composites removed lead completely (70 mg g) within 48 h and 66 h, respectively. Besides, phenol was remediated entirely after 42 h and 48 h by both composite systems (69.90 mg g), respectively, comparing with bacterial consortium only or parent SHB and RSB. Moreover, four kinetic models were studied to describe the bioremediation process. Fractional power and Elovich models could be recommended for describing the adsorption kinetics for lead and phenol removal by the studied biomaterials with high correlation coefficient (R ≥ 0.91 for Pb and ≥ 0.93 for phenol) and lower residual root mean square error (RMSE) and chi-square (X). Overall, bacterial consortium-biochar composites exhibited greater remediation of lead and phenol than the sum of each single bacterial consortium and biochar systems; reflecting synergistic interaction of adsorptive capability of biochar and metabolic performance of bacterial consortium, as denoted by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The current study addressed the successful design of employing functional remediating consortium immobilized on waste biomass-derived biochar as a conducive alternative eco-sorbent and economic platform to detoxify organic and inorganic pollutants.
Topics: Adsorption; Biodegradation, Environmental; Charcoal; Helianthus; Kinetics; Lead; Oryza; Phenol; Phenols; Seeds; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Water Purification
PubMed: 38081934
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-49036-x