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The Role of Dietary Bioactive Compounds in Human Health

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2024 | Viewed by 12041

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Baojun Xu

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Guest Editor

Food Science and Technology Program, Department of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College, Zhuhai 519087, China
Interests: food science; phytochemicals; nutraceuticals; pharmaceuticals; functional foods; molecular nutrition; cell biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Bin Du

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Guest Editor

Hebei Key Laboratory of Natural Products Activity Components and Function, Hebei Normal University of Science and Technology, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Interests: anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities; polysaccharides; molecular mechanism; natural product
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and severe mental health issues, has been constantly increasing in the last two decades. It has been recognized that greater adherence to dietary advice is a critical component in preventing and managing chronic diseases. Bioactive compounds are ingredients obtained from natural raw materials (e.g., plants, fruits, vegetables, grains, meat or seafood). Dietary bioactive compounds play an important role in the daily life of consumers as they are shown to improve health. However, the molecular mechanisms behind anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities are not quite clear yet; further studies are needed to discover the cross-connection in signaling pathway networks between oxidative stress and disease prevention. In this Special Issue, we will collect and summarize the existing knowledge regarding the disease prevention effects (including anti-tumor, anti-obesity, anti-diabetes, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective activity, etc.) of dietary bioactive compounds. Collections may cover in vitro models, animal models and human studies. Finally, the underlying molecular mechanisms (such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK, TLR-4, NF-кB, etc.) of how these dietary bioactive compounds regulate their health-promoting effects will be discussed.

Prof. Dr. Baojun Xu
Prof. Dr. Bin Du
Guest Editors

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Keywords

dietary bioactive compounds
chronic diseases
molecular mechanisms
oxidative stress
inflammation
signal pathways

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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12 pages, 3048 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Esculetin against H₂O₂-Induced Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis, and Pyroptosis in Human Hepatoma HepG2 Cells

by Ying Luo, Tenglong Chang, Shiting Huang, Jing Xiang, Shuangyang Tang and Haiyan Shen

Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1415; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071415 - 22 Mar 2024

Viewed by 584

Abstract

Oxidative stress plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of many diseases. Esculetin is a natural coumarin compound with good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, whether esculetin can protect HepG2 cells through inhibiting H₂O₂-induced apoptosis and pyroptosis is still ambiguous. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of esculetin against oxidative stress-induced cell damage in HepG2 cells. The results of this study demonstrate that pretreatment with esculetin could significantly improve the decrease in cell viability induced by H₂O₂ and reduce intracellular ROS levels. Esculetin not only apparently reduced the apoptotic rates and prevented MMP loss, but also markedly decreased cleaved-Caspase-3, cleaved-PARP, pro-apoptotic protein (Bax), and MMP-related protein (Cyt-c) expression, and increased anti-apoptotic protein (Bcl-2) expression in H₂O₂-induced HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, esculetin also remarkably reduced the level of LDH and decreased the expression of the pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, cleaved-Caspase-1, Il-1β, and GSDMD-N. Furthermore, esculetin pretreatment evidently downregulated the protein expression of p-JNK, p-c-Fos, and p-c-Jun. Additionally, anisomycin, a specific activator of JNK, blocked the protection of esculetin against H₂O₂-induced HepG2 cells apoptosis and pyroptosis. In conclusion, esculetin can protect HepG2 cells against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, apoptosis, and pyroptosis via inhibiting the JNK signaling pathway. These findings indicate that esculetin has the potential to be used as an antioxidant that improves oxidative stress-related diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Dietary Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)

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19 pages, 3250 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Ultrasonic Irradiation on the Physicochemical and Structural Properties of Laminaria japonica Polysaccharides and Their Performance in Biological Activities

by Jinhui Wu, Huiying Wang, Yanfei Liu, Baojun Xu, Bin Du and Yuedong Yang

Molecules 2023, 28(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28010008 - 20 Dec 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1811

Abstract

Due to the large molecular weight and complex structure of Laminaria japonica polysaccharides (LJP), which limit their absorption and utilization by the body, methods to effectively degrade polysaccharides had received more and more attention. In the present research, hot water extraction coupled with three-phase partitioning (TPP) was developed to extract and isolate LJP. Ultrasonic L. japonica polysaccharides (ULJP) were obtained by ultrasonic degradation. In addition, their physicochemical characteristics and in vitro biological activities were investigated. Results indicated that ULJP had lower weight-average molecular weight (153 kDa) and looser surface morphology than the LJP. The primary structures of LJP and ULJP were basically unchanged, both contained α-hexo-pyranoses and were mainly connected by 1,4-glycosidic bonds. Compared with LJP, ULJP had stronger antioxidant activity, α-amylase inhibitory effect and anti-inflammatory effect on RAW264.7 macrophages. The scavenging rate of DPPH free radicals by ULJP is 35.85%. Therefore, ultrasonic degradation could effectively degrade LJP and significantly improve the biological activity of LJP, which provided a theoretical basis for the in-depth utilization and research and development of L. japonica in the fields of medicine and food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Dietary Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)

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14 pages, 2736 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sodium Butyrate Attenuates AGEs-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation by Inhibiting Autophagy and Affecting Cellular Metabolism in THP-1 Cells

by Man Yan, Xiang Li, Chang Sun, Jiajun Tan, Yuanyuan Liu, Mengqi Li, Zishang Qi, Jiayuan He, Dongxu Wang and Liang Wu

Molecules 2022, 27(24), 8715; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27248715 - 09 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1919

Abstract

In recent years, sodium butyrate has gained increased attention for its numerous beneficial properties. However, whether sodium butyrate could alleviate inflammatory damage by macrophage activation and its underlying mechanism remains unclear. The present study used an advanced glycosylation products- (AGEs-) induced inflammatory damage model to study whether sodium butyrate could alleviate oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction of human monocyte-macrophage originated THP-1 cells in a PI3K-dependent autophagy pathway. The results indicated that sodium butyrate alleviated the AGEs-induced oxidative stress, decreased the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines of interleukin (IL)-1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and increased the content of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Sodium butyrate reduced the protein expression of the NLR family, pyrin domain-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and Caspase-1, and decreased the nucleus expression of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB). Sodium butyrate decreased the expression of light-chain-associated protein B (LC3B) and Beclin-1, and inhibited autophagy. Moreover, sodium butyrate inhibited the activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in AGEs-induced THP-1 cells. In addition, the metabolomics analysis showed that sodium butyrate could affect the production of phosphatidylcholine, L-glutamic acid, UDP-N-acetylmuraminate, biotinyl-5’-AMP, and other metabolites. In summary, these results revealed that sodium butyrate inhibited autophagy and NLRP3 inflammasome activation by blocking the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, thereby alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic disorder induced by AGEs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Dietary Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)

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Review

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31 pages, 3044 KiB

Open AccessReview

Plant Polyphenols and Their Potential Benefits on Cardiovascular Health: A Review

by Iram Iqbal, Polrat Wilairatana, Fatima Saqib, Bushra Nasir, Muqeet Wahid, Muhammad Farhaj Latif, Ahmar Iqbal, Rabia Naz and Mohammad S. Mubarak

Molecules 2023, 28(17), 6403; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176403 - 01 Sep 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3256

Abstract

Fruits, vegetables, and other food items contain phytochemicals or secondary metabolites which may be considered non-essential nutrients but have medicinal importance. These dietary phytochemicals exhibit chemopreventive and therapeutic effects against numerous diseases. Polyphenols are secondary metabolites found in vegetables, fruits, and grains. These compounds exhibit several health benefits such as immune modulators, vasodilators, and antioxidants. This review focuses on recent studies on using dietary polyphenols to treat cardiovascular disorders, atherosclerosis, and vascular endothelium deficits. We focus on exploring the safety of highly effective polyphenols to ensure their maximum impact on cardiac abnormalities and discuss recent epidemiological evidence and intervention trials related to these properties. Kaempferol, quercetin, and resveratrol prevent oxidative stress by regulating proteins that induce oxidation in heart tissues. In addition, polyphenols modulate the tone of the endothelium of vessels by releasing nitric oxide (NO) and reducing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation to prevent atherosclerosis. In cardiomyocytes, polyphenols suppress the expression of inflammatory markers and inhibit the production of inflammation markers to exert an anti-inflammatory response. Consequently, heart diseases such as strokes, hypertension, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease could be prevented by dietary polyphenols. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Dietary Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)

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17 pages, 3625 KiB

Open AccessReview

Health-Promoting Properties: Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Sambucus nigra L. Flowers and Fruits

by Agnieszka Ewa Stępień, Julia Trojniak and Jacek Tabarkiewicz

Molecules 2023, 28(17), 6235; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28176235 - 24 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1519

Abstract

Sambucus nigra L. has been used for centuries in traditional medicine thanks to its valuable healing properties. The healing properties result from its high content of biologically active compounds, mainly antioxidants, which contribute to its anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. In our review, we have presented scientific studies evaluating the anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects of extracts and their components from S. nigra L. flowers and fruits. The results of the research show that the effect of antioxidant phytochemicals contained in their composition reduces the level of free radicals and pro-inflammatory cytokines, prevents mutations that increase the risk of cancer development, and inhibits cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and changes in intracellular signaling, consequently inhibiting the growth of malignant tumors and the formation of metastases. Flowers and fruits of S. nigra L. are a valuable source of nutraceutical and pharmacological substances that can support prevention and anti-inflammatory and oncological therapy without negative side effects for the patient. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Dietary Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)

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21 pages, 8815 KiB

Open AccessReview

Hirsutine, an Emerging Natural Product with Promising Therapeutic Benefits: A Systematic Review

by Md. Shimul Bhuia, Polrat Wilairatana, Jannatul Ferdous, Raihan Chowdhury, Mehedi Hasan Bappi, Md Anisur Rahman, Mohammad S. Mubarak and Muhammad Torequl Islam

Molecules 2023, 28(16), 6141; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28166141 - 19 Aug 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2018

Abstract

Fruits and vegetables are used not only for nutritional purposes but also as therapeutics to treat various diseases and ailments. These food items are prominent sources of phytochemicals that exhibit chemopreventive and therapeutic effects against several diseases. Hirsutine (HSN) is a naturally occurring indole alkaloid found in various Uncaria species and has a multitude of therapeutic benefits. It is found in foodstuffs such as fish, seafood, meat, poultry, dairy, and some grain products among other things. In addition, it is present in fruits and vegetables including corn, cauliflower, mushrooms, potatoes, bamboo shoots, bananas, cantaloupe, and citrus fruits. The primary emphasis of this study is to summarize the pharmacological activities and the underlying mechanisms of HSN against different diseases, as well as the biopharmaceutical features. For this, data were collected (up to date as of 1 July 2023) from various reliable and authentic literature by searching different academic search engines, including PubMed, Springer Link, Scopus, Wiley Online, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. Findings indicated that HSN exerts several effects in various preclinical and pharmacological experimental systems. It exhibits anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant activities with beneficial effects in neurological and cardiovascular diseases. Our findings also indicate that HSN exerts promising anticancer potentials via several molecular mechanisms, including apoptotic cell death, induction of oxidative stress, cytotoxic effect, anti-proliferative effect, genotoxic effect, and inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion against various cancers such as lung, breast, and antitumor effects in human T-cell leukemia. Taken all together, findings from this study show that HSN can be a promising therapeutic agent to treat various diseases including cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Dietary Bioactive Compounds in Human Health)

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