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Bioproducts for Health II

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 February 2022) | Viewed by 47348

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Prof. Dr. Manuela Pintado

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Guest Editor

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal
Interests: biotechnology and biochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ezequiel Coscueta

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Assistant Guest Editor

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
Interests: molecular biology; biotechnology; food science and technology; food chemistry
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Dr. María Emilia Brassesco

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Assistant Guest Editor

Escola Superior de Biotecnologia da Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Porto, Portugal
Interests: material characterization; food chemistry; enzyme purification; biotechnological techniques
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In order to build a promising future, health and sustainability must go hand in hand. Marine, forestry, agriculture, and food systems are important sources of bioproducts used in health applications. To explore the potential of such sources for the development of natural products capable of biological activities, it is necessary to develop new technologically sustainable strategies. Despite the range of natural compounds already on the market, there is a need to identify bioactive molecules (e.g., polysaccharides, proteins and peptides, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and polyphenols) from different natural sources with positive health properties including antihypertensive, antidiabetic, antiobesity, antimicrobial, antiatherosclerotic, antioxidant, antithrombotic, immune-modulatory, relaxing, and satiety-inducing effects. This Second Edition of the Special Issue aims to identify and gather works on the latest varied sources of bioproducts, the biological and functional activities of these bioactive compounds, their mechanisms of action, and the methods used for extraction and purification, without losing our focus of alignment with a concept of green technology.

Prof. Dr. Manuela Pintado
Guest Editor

Dr. Ezequiel Coscueta
Dr. María Emilia Brassesco
Assistant Guest Editors

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Keywords

bioactive compounds
health applications
natural sources
purification
green methodologies

Related Special Issues

Bioproducts for Health III in Molecules (6 articles)
Bioproducts for Health in Molecules (11 articles)

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

15 pages, 2142 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bursatella leachii Purple Ink Secretion Concentrate Exerts Cytotoxic Properties against Human Hepatocarcinoma Cell Line (HepG2): In Vitro and In Silico Studies

by Zeyad I. Alehaideb, Anuradha Venkatraman, Mahadev Kokane, Syed Ali Mohamed, Saranya Rameshbabu, Rasha S. Suliman, Sahar S. Alghamdi, Hamad Al-Eidi, Bandar Alghanem, Maha-Hamadien Abdulla and Sabine Matou-Nasri

Molecules 2022, 27(3), 826; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030826 - 26 Jan 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2667

Abstract

Liver cancer is a leading cause of cancer death globally. Marine mollusc-derived drugs have gained attention as potential natural-based anti-cancer agents to overcome the side effects caused by conventional chemotherapeutic drugs during cancer therapy. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, the main biomolecules in the purple ink secretion released by the sea hare, named Bursatella leachii (B. leachii), were identified as hectochlorin, malyngamide X, malyngolide S, bursatellin and lyngbyatoxin A. The cytotoxic effects of B. leachii ink concentrate against human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells were determined to be dose- and time-dependent, and further exploration of the underlying mechanisms causing the programmed cell death (apoptosis) were performed. The expression of cleaved-caspase-8 and cleaved-caspase-3, key cysteine-aspartic proteases involved in the initiation and completion of the apoptosis process, appeared after HepG2 cell exposure to the B. leachii ink concentrate. The gene expression levels of pro-apoptotic BAX, TP53 and Cyclin D1 were increased after treatment with the B. leachii ink concentrate. Applying in silico approaches, the high scores predicted that bioactivities for the five compounds were protease and kinase inhibitors. The ADME and cytochrome profiles for the compounds were also predicted. Altogether, the B. leachii ink concentrate has high pro-apoptotic potentials, suggesting it as a promising safe natural product-based drug for the treatment of liver cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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17 pages, 2190 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydrolysate from Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis Meat: Enzymatic Hydrolysis, Optimization and Bioactive Properties

by Sara A. Cunha, Rita de Castro, Ezequiel R. Coscueta and Manuela Pintado

Molecules 2021, 26(17), 5228; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175228 - 28 Aug 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2719

Abstract

Mussel production generates losses and waste since their commercialisation must be aligned with target market criteria. Since mussels are rich in proteins, their meat can be explored as a source of bioactive hydrolysates. Thus, the main objective of this study was to establish the optimal production conditions through two Box–Behnken designs to produce, by enzymatic hydrolysis (using subtilisin and corolase), hydrolysates rich in proteins and with bioactive properties. The factorial design allowed for the evaluation of the effects of three factors (hydrolysis temperature, enzyme ratio, and hydrolysis time) on protein/peptides release as well as antioxidant and anti-hypertensive properties of the hydrolysates. The hydrolysates produced using the optimised conditions using the subtilisin protease showed 45.0 ± 0.38% of protein, antioxidant activity via ORAC method of 485.63 ± 60.65 µmol TE/g of hydrolysate, and an IC₅₀ for the inhibition of ACE of 1.0 ± 0.56 mg of protein/mL. The hydrolysates produced using corolase showed 46.35 ± 1.12% of protein, antioxidant activity of 389.48 ± 0.21 µmol TE/g of hydrolysate, and an IC₅₀ for the inhibition of ACE of 3.7 ± 0.33 mg of protein/mL. Mussel meat losses and waste can be used as a source of hydrolysates rich in peptides with relevant bioactive properties, and showing potential for use as ingredients in different industries, such as food and cosmetics, contributing to a circular economy and reducing world waste. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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22 pages, 10382 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Capacity, Prebiotic Activity and Anticancer Potential in Human Cells of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) Seed Flour

by Ibna Suli Trejo Rodríguez, Luz Eugenia Alcántara Quintana, Paola Algara Suarez, Miguel Angel Ruiz Cabrera and Alicia Grajales Lagunes

Molecules 2021, 26(16), 4854; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26164854 - 11 Aug 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4761

Abstract

The general aim of this study was to evaluate physicochemical properties, prebiotic activity and anticancer potential of jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) seed flour. The drying processes of jackfruit seeds were performed at 50, 60 and 70 °C in order to choose the optimal temperature for obtaining the flour based on drying time, polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity. The experimental values of the moisture ratio during jackfruit seed drying at different temperatures were obtained using Page’s equation to establish the drying time for the required moisture between 5 and 7% in the flour. The temperature of 60 °C was considered adequate for obtaining good flour and for performing its characterization. The chemical composition, total dietary fiber, functional properties and antioxidant capacity were then examined in the flour. The seed flour contains carbohydrates (73.87 g/100 g), dietary fiber (31 g/100 g), protein (14 g/100 g) and lipids (1 g/100 g). The lipid profile showed that the flour contained monounsaturated (4 g/100 g) and polyunsaturated (46 g/100 g) fatty acids. Sucrose, glucose, and fructose were found to be the predominant soluble sugars, and non-digestible oligosaccharides like 1-kestose were also found. The total polyphenol content was 2.42 mg of gallic acid/g of the sample; furthermore, the antioxidant capacity obtained by ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was 901.45 µmol Trolox/100 g and 1607.87 µmol Trolox/100 g, respectively. The obtained flour exhibited good functional properties, such as water and oil absorption capacity, swelling power and emulsifier capacity. Additionally, this flour had a protective and preventive effect which is associated with the potential prebiotic activity in Lactobacillus casei and Bifidobacterium longum. These results demonstrate that jackfruit seed flour has good nutritional value and antioxidant and prebiotic activity, as well as potential protective effects and functional properties, making it an attractive food or ingredient in developing innovative functional products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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17 pages, 3526 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Anthocyanin Recovery from Grape by-Products by Combining Ohmic Heating with Food-Grade Solvents: Phenolic Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Properties

by Marta Coelho, Sara Silva, Eduardo Costa, Ricardo N. Pereira, António Sebastião Rodrigues, José António Teixeira and Manuela Pintado

Molecules 2021, 26(13), 3838; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26133838 - 24 Jun 2021

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 3082

Abstract

Usually, wine-making by-products are discarded, presenting a significant environmental impact. However, they can be used as a source of bioactive compounds. Moreover, consumers’ increasing demand for naturally nutritious and healthy products requires new formulations and food product improvement, together with sustainable, environmentally friendly extraction methods. Thus, this work aimed to compare ohmic heating (OH) with conventional methodology (CONV), using food-grade solvents, mainly water, compared to standard methanol extraction of anthocyanins. No significant differences were found between the CONV and OH for total phenolic compounds, which were 2.84 ± 0.037 and 3.28 ± 0.46 mg/g DW gallic acid equivalent, respectively. The same tendency was found for antioxidant capacity, where CONV and OH presented values of 2.02 ± 0.007 g/100 g and 2.34 ± 0.066 g/100 g ascorbic acid equivalent, respectively. The major anthocyanins identified were malvidin-3-O-acetylglucoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, petunidine-3-O-glucoside, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and peonidine-3-O-glucoside. These extracts displayed antimicrobial potential against microorganisms such as Yersinia enterocolitica, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella enteritidis, methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus, a methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA), and Bacillus cereus. In conclusion, OH provides similar recovery yields with reduced treatment times, less energy consumption, and no need for organic solvents (green extraction routes). Thus, OH combined with water and citric acid allows a safe anthocyanin extraction from grape by-products, thus avoiding the use of toxic solvents such as methanol, and with high biological potential, including antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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18 pages, 2503 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Valonea Tannin: Tyrosinase Inhibition Activity, Structural Elucidation and Insights into the Inhibition Mechanism

by Jiaman Liu, Yuqing Liu, Xiaofeng He, Bo Teng and Jacqui M. McRae

Molecules 2021, 26(9), 2747; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26092747 - 7 May 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3071

Abstract

Valonea tannin is a natural product readily extracted from acorn shells that has been suggested to have potential skin whitening properties. This study investigated the tyrosinase inhibition activity of extracted valonea tannin and the associated structure–function activity. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and molecular weight analysis with gel permeation chromatography revealed that valonea tannin could be characterized as a hydrolysable tannin with galloyl, hexahydroxydiphenoyl and open formed-glucose moieties and an average molecular weight of 3042 ± 15 Da. Tyrosinase inhibition assays demonstrated that valonea tannin was 334 times more effective than gallic acid and 3.4 times more effective than tannic acid, which may relate to the larger molecular size. Kinetic studies of the inhibition reactions indicated that valonea tannin provided tyrosinase inhibition through mixed competitive–uncompetitive way. Stern–Volmer fitted fluorescence quenching analysis, isothermal titration calorimetry analysis and in silico molecule docking showed valonea tannin non-selectively bound to the surface of tyrosinase via hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy and free radical scavenging assays indicated the valonea tannin had copper ion chelating and antioxidant ability, which may also contribute to inhibition activity. These results demonstrated the structure–function activity of valonea tannin as a highly effective natural tyrosinase inhibitor that may have commercial application in dermatological medicines or cosmetic products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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16 pages, 3227 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Profiling of Lavandula coronopifolia Poir. Aerial Parts Extract and Its Larvicidal, Antibacterial, and Antibiofilm Activity Against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

by Mahmoud Emam, Doaa R. Abdel-Haleem, Maha M. Salem, Lina Jamil M. Abdel-Hafez, Rasha R. Abdel Latif, Shaimaa Mahmoud Farag, Mansour Sobeh and Mohamed A. El Raey

Molecules 2021, 26(6), 1710; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26061710 - 19 Mar 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3343

Abstract

Infections associated with the emergence of multidrug resistance and mosquito-borne diseases have resulted in serious crises associated with high mortality and left behind a huge socioeconomic burden. The chemical investigation of Lavandulacoronopifolia aerial parts extract using HPLC–MS/MS led to the tentative identification of 46 compounds belonging to phenolic acids, flavonoids and their glycosides, and biflavonoids. The extract displayed larvicidal activity against Culex pipiens larvae (LC₅₀ = 29.08 µg/mL at 72 h). It significantly inhibited cytochrome P-450 monooxygenase (CYP450), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and carboxylesterase (CarE) enzymes with the comparable pattern to the control group, which could explain the mode of larvae toxification. The extract also inhibited the biofilm formation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by 17–38% at different Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) (0.5–0.125 mg/mL) while the activity was doubled when combined with ciprofloxacin (ratio = 1:1 v:v). In conclusion, the wild plant, L.coronopifolia, can be considered a promising natural source against resistant bacteria and infectious carriers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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Review

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37 pages, 3039 KiB

Open AccessReview

Targeting HIF-1α by Natural and Synthetic Compounds: A Promising Approach for Anti-Cancer Therapeutics Development

by Rituparna Ghosh, Priya Samanta, Rupali Sarkar, Souradeep Biswas, Prosenjit Saha, Subhadip Hajra and Arijit Bhowmik

Molecules 2022, 27(16), 5192; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27165192 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 4667

Abstract

Advancement in novel target detection using improved molecular cancer biology has opened up new avenues for promising anti-cancer drug development. In the past two decades, the mechanism of tumor hypoxia has become more understandable with the discovery of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). It is a major transcriptional regulator that coordinates the activity of various transcription factors and their downstream molecules involved in tumorigenesis. HIF-1α not only plays a crucial role in the adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxia but also regulates different biological processes, including cell proliferation, survival, cellular metabolism, angiogenesis, metastasis, cancer stem cell maintenance, and propagation. Therefore, HIF-1α overexpression is strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with different solid cancers. Hence, pharmacological targeting of HIF-1α has been considered to be a novel cancer therapeutic strategy in recent years. In this review, we provide brief descriptions of natural and synthetic compounds as HIF-1α inhibitors that have the potential to accelerate anticancer drug discovery. This review also introduces the mode of action of these compounds for a better understanding of the chemical leads, which could be useful as cancer therapeutics in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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12 pages, 6177 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phenylethyl Isothiocyanate: A Bioactive Agent for Gastrointestinal Health

by Ezequiel R. Coscueta, Ana Sofia Sousa, Celso A. Reis and Maria Manuela Pintado

Molecules 2022, 27(3), 794; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27030794 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3651

Abstract

The incidence of gastrointestinal pathologies (cancer in particular) has increased progressively, with considerable morbidity and mortality, and a high economic impact on the healthcare system. The dietary intake of natural phytochemicals with certain bioactive properties has shown therapeutic and preventive effects on these pathologies. This includes the cruciferous vegetable derivative phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a bioactive compound present in some vegetables, such as watercress. Notably, PEITC has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and anticarcinogenic properties. This review summarized the current knowledge on the role of PEITC as a potential natural nutraceutical or an adjuvant against oxidative/inflammatory-related disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. We also discussed the safe and recommended dose of PEITC. In addition, we established a framework to guide the research and development of sustainable methodologies for obtaining and stabilizing this natural molecule for industrial use. With PEITC, there is great potential to develop a viable strategy for preventing cancer and other associated diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. However, this topic still needs more scientific studies to help develop new PEITC products for the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or food industries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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24 pages, 2699 KiB

Open AccessReview

Phages and Enzybiotics in Food Biopreservation

by José Ramos-Vivas, María Elexpuru-Zabaleta, María Luisa Samano, Alina Pascual Barrera, Tamara Y. Forbes-Hernández, Francesca Giampieri and Maurizio Battino

Molecules 2021, 26(17), 5138; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26175138 - 25 Aug 2021

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 5632

Abstract

Presently, biopreservation through protective bacterial cultures and their antimicrobial products or using antibacterial compounds derived from plants are proposed as feasible strategies to maintain the long shelf-life of products. Another emerging category of food biopreservatives are bacteriophages or their antibacterial enzymes called “phage lysins” or “enzybiotics”, which can be used directly as antibacterial agents due to their ability to act on the membranes of bacteria and destroy them. Bacteriophages are an alternative to antimicrobials in the fight against bacteria, mainly because they have a practically unique host range that gives them great specificity. In addition to their potential ability to specifically control strains of pathogenic bacteria, their use does not generate a negative environmental impact as in the case of antibiotics. Both phages and their enzymes can favor a reduction in antibiotic use, which is desirable given the alarming increase in resistance to antibiotics used not only in human medicine but also in veterinary medicine, agriculture, and in general all processes of manufacturing, preservation, and distribution of food. We present here an overview of the scientific background of phages and enzybiotics in the food industry, as well as food applications of these biopreservatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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19 pages, 1230 KiB

Open AccessReview

Role of Honey in Advanced Wound Care

by Hana Scepankova, Patricia Combarros-Fuertes, José María Fresno, María Eugenia Tornadijo, Miguel Sousa Dias, Carlos A. Pinto, Jorge A. Saraiva and Letícia M. Estevinho

Molecules 2021, 26(16), 4784; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26164784 - 7 Aug 2021

Cited by 38 | Viewed by 12227

Abstract

Honey is a natural product rich in several phenolic compounds, enzymes, and sugars with antioxidant, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial potential. Indeed, the development of honey-based adhesives for wound care and other biomedical applications are topics being widely investigated over the years. Some of the advantages of the use of honey for wound-healing solutions are the acceleration of dermal repair and epithelialization, angiogenesis promotion, immune response promotion and the reduction in healing-related infections with pathogenic microorganisms. This paper reviews the main role of honey on the development of wound-healing-based applications, the main compounds responsible for the healing capacity, how the honey origin can influence the healing properties, also highlighting promising results in in vitro and in vivo trials. The challenges in the use of honey for wound healing are also covered and discussed. The delivery methodology (direct application, incorporated in fibrous membranes and hydrogels) is also presented and discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioproducts for Health II)

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