Nutraceuticals, Volume 2, Issue 3 (September 2022) – 9 articles

Several lines of evidence indicate that plant-derived antioxidant compounds can be used as anticancer agents to support conventional pharmacological therapy. In this context, heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1) modulation has been proven to represent a valid approach for reducing cancer cells’ proliferation through the activation of apoptosis and ferroptosis. This study focused on three little studied HO-1 inducers (paeonol, rosolic acid and dimethoxy resveratrol) in order to evaluate their efficacy as antiproliferative compounds on breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB 231). Cell viability data showed an interesting selectivity of dimethoxy resveratrol (DMR) for MDA-MB 231 cells. The ineffectiveness of Ferrostatin-1 and Trolox treatment led to the exclusion of ferroptosis involvement; meanwhile, cell viability reduction was associated with caspase 3/7 activation and apoptosis. Taken together, our results suggest a potential role of DMR as an adjuvant in conventional chemotherapy for breast cancer treatment. Full article

Solanum lycopersicum and Moringa oleifera are two essential nutraceutical-containing plants from two different families, and are sources of abundant metabolites. They have a variety of applications in medicines, functional food additives and even water purification. This review aims to complement earlier reviews by comparing the metabolite profiles and modern-day pharmacological relevance of both plants. The metabolome of Moringa oleifera was compared to that of Solanum lycopersicum, to evaluate the common metabolites found within the two plants and how these compounds can be used for same pharmacological and nutritional benefits. While these plants contain similar metabolites, they also contain different compounds of the same class that differ in terms of their biological functions. In such instances, Moringa oleifera and Solanum lycopersicum may have similar applications, but remain distinguishable from each other in terms of pharmacological potential. Full article

Brewer’s spent grain is the residue left after the separation of wort during the beer-brewing process. Although this by-product has been reported to have a high protein content, it is normally treated as waste. This work aims to isolate bioactive hydrolysates from BSG, and then explore their bioactivities. Two groups (A and B) of BSG were subjected to protein extraction using the alkaline extraction method at pH 12, where group A was pre-treated with cellulase, while group B was not pre-treated and was directly extracted. The final isolate yielded 50.18 ± 1.22% recovery of the BSGP from group A and 66.41 ± 0.37% recovery from group B. RP-HPLC profiles showed that the extracted BSGPs are mainly hydrophilic proteins. The proteins extracted by the two methods were hydrolyzed enzymatically using Alcalase and α-chymotrypsin. The hydrolysates obtained displayed blood pressure regulation activity and antioxidant properties, when assayed with angiotensin-converting enzyme assay, 2,2-diphenyl-picryl-hydrazyl assay, and ferric antioxidant power assay. It can be concluded that it is possible to extract good quality proteins from BSG and this by-product presents potential as a source for the extraction of a variety of proteins that might be of interest to the food industries. Full article

Carbohydrate consumption during exercise enhances endurance performance. A food-focused approach may offer an alternative, ‘healthier’ approach given the potential health concerns associated with artificial fructose sources, but food-based carbohydrate sources may increase gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. This study compared the cycling performance and GI comfort of two different fructose sources (fruit and artificial) ingested during exercise. Nine trained male cyclists (age 24 ± 7 years; VO_2peak 65 ± 6 mL/kg/min) completed a familiarisation and two experimental trials (60 g/h carbohydrate, 120 min at 55% W_max and ~15 min time trial). In the two experimental trials, carbohydrate was ingested in a 2:1 glucose-to-fructose ratio, with fructose provided as artificial crystalline fructose (GLU/FRU) or natural apple puree (APPLE PUREE) and maltodextrin added to provide sufficient glucose. Time trial (TT) performance was not different between trials (GLU/FRU 792 ± 68 s, APPLE PUREE 800 ± 65 s; p = 0.313). No GI symptoms were significantly different between trials (p ≥ 0.085). Heart rate, blood glucose/lactate concentrations, and RPE were not different between trials, but all, excluding blood glucose concentration, increased from rest to exercise and further increased post-TT. Apple puree as a natural fructose source provides an alternative to artificial fructose sources without influencing cycling performance or GI symptoms. Full article

The concept of food and aging is of great concern to humans. So far, more than 300 theories of aging have been suggested, and approaches based on these principles have been investigated. It has been reported that antioxidants in foods might play a role in human aging. To clarify the current recognition and positioning of the relationship between these food antioxidants and aging, this review is presented in the following order: (1) aging theories, (2) food and aging, and (3) individual food antioxidants and aging. Clarifying the significance of food antioxidants in the field of aging will lead to the development of strategies to achieve healthy human aging. Full article

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) is classified in the Apiaceae family and used as an herb. Coriander leaf has been reported to possess various health functions. Here, we report the anti-allergic effect of aqueous coriander leaf extract (ACLE). ACLE with 1.0 mg/mL or higher concentration significantly inhibited degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells in a concentration-dependent manner with no cytotoxicity. ACLE suppressed the increase in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in response to antigen-specific stimulation. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that ACLE significantly downregulates phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase and tends to downregulate phosphorylation of Syk kinase in the signaling pathways activated by antigen-mediated stimulation. Oral administration of ACLE did not alter the sneezing frequency of pollinosis model mice stimulated with cedar pollen, but significantly reduced the serum IgE level. Our data show anti-allergic effects of coriander leaf in both cultured cells and pollinosis mice. These results suggest that coriander leaf has the potential to be a functional foodstuff with anti-allergy effects. Full article

Mistletoe (Viscum album L.; VA) has been traditionally used in folk medicine to combat fatigue and stress. Evidence has shown that chronic consumption of VA results in an enhancement of oxidative metabolism and exercise performance. However, no studies have investigated how acute VA consumption influences performance. The purpose of this brief report was to investigate the effects of acute VA ingestion on rowing exercise performance. Physically active females were recruited for this study. In a crossover, counterbalanced design, participants completed two trials each with a different treatment: (1) VA (2000 mg) and (2) placebo (PL; gluten-free cornstarch; 2000 mg). A total of 30 minutes prior to exercise, participants consumed their treatment. The participants were familiarized with the rowing ergometer and warmed up for 5 min at 50% of age-predicted heart rate max. Immediately following the warm-up, the participants completed a 2000 m rowing time trial. Blood lactate (La) was obtained with a lactate meter via finger prick before and after exercise. Power output, trial time, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and La were analyzed. The findings revealed no significant differences for the relative power output (p = 0.936), trial time (p = 0.842) or heart rate (p = 0.762). Rating of perceived exertion was lower with VA ingestion (p = 0.027). La was significantly higher post-exercise regardless of treatment (p < 0.001). However, post-exercise La was lower with VA ingestion (p = 0.032). Findings do not support VA as an ergogenic aid but suggest ingestion may alter metabolism resulting in less La formation and subjective fatigue. Full article

Facing a climate emergency and an increasingly unhealthy population, functional foods should not only address health issues but must be prepared from sustainable ingredients while contributing to our sustainable development goals, such as tackling waste and promoting a healthy environment. High-protein crop flours, i.e., buckwheat, hemp and fava bean, are investigated as potential matrices to be fortified with key bioactive phytochemicals from soft fruits to explore potential waste valorization and to deliver sustainable functional food ingredients. Hemp flour provided the best matrix for anthocyanin fortification, adsorbing of 88.45 ± 0.88% anthocyanins and 69.77 mg/kg of additional phytochemicals. Buckwheat and fava bean absorbed 78.64 ± 3.15% and 50.46 ± 2.94% of anthocyanins 118.22 mg/kg and 103.88 mg/kg of additional phytochemicals, respectively. During the fortification, there was no detectable adsorption of the berry sugars to the flours, and the quantities of free sugars from the flours were also removed. One gram of fortified hemp flour provides the same amount of anthocyanins found in 20 g of fresh bilberries but has substantially less sugar. The optimum conditions for high protein flour fortification with anthocyanins was established and showed that it is a viable way to reduce and valorize potential agricultural waste, contributing to a circular and greener nutrition. Full article

Mibyou has been defined in traditional oriental medicine as a certain physiological condition whereby an individual is not ill but not healthy; it is also often referred to as a sub-healthy condition. In a society focused on longevity, “Mibyou-care” becomes of primary importance for healthy lifespan expenditure. Functional foods can play crucial roles in Mibyou-care; thus, the search for novel resources of functional food is an important and attractive research field. Mushrooms are the target of such studies because of their wide variety of biological functions, such as immune modulation and anti-obesity and anticancer activities, in addition to their nutritional importance. Basidiomycetes-X (BDM-X; Shirayukidake in Japanese) is a mushroom which has several attractive beneficial health functions. A metabolome analysis revealed more than 470 components of both nutritional and functional interest in BDM-X. Further isolation and purification studies on its components using radical scavenging activity and UV absorbance identified ergosterol, (10E,12Z)-octadeca-10,12-dienoic acid (CLA), 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-4H-pyran-4-one (DDMP), formyl pyrrole analogues (FPA), including 4-[2-foemyl-5-(hydroxymethyl)-1H-pyrrole-1-yl] butanamide (FPAII), adenosine and uridine as major components. Biological activities attributed to these components were related to the observed biological functions of BDM-X, which suggest that this novel mushroom is a useful resource for Mibyou-care functional foods and medicines. Full article