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Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities

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A special issue of Current Issues in Molecular Biology (ISSN 1467-3045). This special issue belongs to the section "Biochemistry, Molecular and Cellular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2024) | Viewed by 26992

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Dr. Yanfang Li

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Department of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
Interests: nutrition; food; natural compounds; anti-oxidation; biologically active compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Consumer demand, industry advancements, and rapid social development are driving the interest in natural products. The increasing recognition of the importance of plant-based therapies, food ingredients, and good health has led to the emergence of research fields such as nutrigenomics and proteomics. This Special Issue will focus on the role of food-derived bioactives in health and disease, and we encourage reviews, original articles, and communications covering molecular studies. Special attention will be paid to the protective and therapeutic mechanisms of food bioactive molecules in tumors, metabolic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, etc.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

Molecular studies of food antioxidants, antioxidants/antioxidants; the role of isoflavones, astaxanthin and resveratrol in diseases and anti-aging;
The metabolic pathways and mechanisms of the bioactive compounds in food in the human body;
Nutrigenomics in preventive medicine;
The effects of bioactive compounds in food on the human microbiome.

Dr. Yanfang Li
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Current Issues in Molecular Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

food compounds
natural products
biologically active compounds
oxidative stress
anticancer
functionality of foods

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 5546 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Soy Isoflavone on Prostate Cancer Cell Apoptosis Through Inhibition of STAT3, ERK, and AKT

by Yoon-Jin Lee, Changyeol Lee, Dongsic Choi, Yeji Lee and Sang-Han Lee

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(11), 12512-12526; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46110743 - 6 Nov 2024

Viewed by 1176

Abstract

Genistein, an isoflavone found in soybeans, exhibits antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. This study explored the molecular mechanisms behind genistein’s anticancer effects in prostate cancer DU145 cells. In this study, genistein decreased cell viability, increased annexin V-PE(+) cells, and enhanced the sub-G₀/G₁ peak by flow cytometric analysis. Increased reactive oxygen species increased mitochondrial depolarization indicating mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of ATP formation were also observed in genistein-treated DU145 cells. Genistein upregulated p53 at the mRNA and protein levels and increased caspase-3/7 activity along with the cleavage of Bax, procaspase-3, and PARP. With the increasing genistein concentrations, the percentage of cells in the sub-G₀/G₁ peak and G₂/M phase increased, which was inhibited by treatment with the pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD together with 100 μM genistein, which had little toxicity to normal prostate epithelial HPrEC cells. Genistein treatment simultaneously inhibited the activation of STAT3 and other closely related oncogenic kinases such as AKT and ERK and p38 and decreased VEGF expression. Taken together, these results suggest that genistein inhibits the growth of DU145 cells and induces apoptosis by inhibiting STAT3, AKT, ERK, and p38 which provides a molecular basis for the anticancer activity of genistein and suggests its potential as a valuable therapeutic candidate for prostate cancer. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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14 pages, 825 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Secondary Metabolites with Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities from Camellia fascicularis

by Jiandong Tang, Ruonan Li, Boxiao Wu, Junrong Tang, Huan Kan, Ping Zhao, Yingjun Zhang, Weihua Wang and Yun Liu

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(7), 6769-6782; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46070404 - 2 Jul 2024

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1278

Abstract

Camellia fascicularis has important ornamental, medicinal, and food value. It also has tremendous potential for exploiting bioactivities. However, the bioactivities of secondary metabolites in C. fascicularis have not been reported. The structures of compounds were determined by spectral analysis and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) combined with the available literature on secondary metabolites of C. fascicularis leaves. In this study, 15 compounds were identified, including 5 flavonoids (1–5), a galactosylglycerol derivative (6), a terpenoid (7), 4 lignans (8–11), and 4 phenolic acids (12–15). Compounds 6–7 and 9–12 were isolated from the genus Camellia for the first time. The remaining compounds were also isolated from C. fascicularis for the first time. Evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities revealed that compounds 5 and 8–11 exhibited stronger antioxidant activity than the positive drug ascorbic acid, while compounds 7, 13, and 15 showed similar activity to ascorbic acid. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of antibacterial activity for compounds 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was comparable to that of the positive control drug tetracycline at a concentration of 62.50 µg/mL; other secondary metabolites inhibited Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus at concentrations ranging from 125–250 µg/mL. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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26 pages, 5705 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protective Potential of a Botanical-Based Supplement Ingredient against the Impact of Environmental Pollution on Cutaneous and Cardiopulmonary Systems: Preclinical Study

by Laurent Peno-Mazzarino, Nikita Radionov, Marián Merino, Sonia González, José L. Mullor, Jonathan Jones and Nuria Caturla

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(2), 1530-1555; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46020099 - 15 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2790

Abstract

Air pollution is a growing threat to human health. Airborne pollution effects on respiratory, cardiovascular and skin health are well-established. The main mechanisms of air-pollution-induced health effects involve oxidative stress and inflammation. The present study evaluates the potential of a polyphenol-enriched food supplement ingredient comprising Lippia citriodora, Olea europaea, Rosmarinus officinalis, and Sophora japonica extracts in mitigating the adverse effects of environmental pollution on skin and cardiopulmonary systems. Both in vitro and ex vivo studies were used to assess the blend’s effects against pollution-induced damage. In these studies, the botanical blend was found to reduce lipid peroxidation, inflammation (by reducing IL-1α), and metabolic alterations (by regulating MT-1H, AhR, and Nrf2 expression) in human skin explants exposed to a mixture of pollutants. Similar results were also observed in keratinocytes exposed to urban dust. Moreover, the ingredient significantly reduced pollutant-induced ROS production in human endothelial cells and lung fibroblasts, while downregulating the expression of apoptotic genes (bcl-2 and bax) in lung fibroblasts. Additionally, the blend counteracted the effect of urban dust on the heart rate in zebrafish embryos. These results support the potential use of this supplement as an adjuvant method to reduce the impact of environmental pollution on the skin, lungs, and cardiovascular tissues. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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14 pages, 2801 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Synergistically Enhanced Arecoline-Induced Cytotoxicity by Redirecting Cycle Arrest to Apoptosis

by Li-Jane Shih, Po-Chi Hsu, Chih-Pin Chuu, Hao-Ai Shui, Chien-Chih Yeh, Yueh-Chung Chen and Yung-Hsi Kao

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(2), 1516-1529; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46020098 - 14 Feb 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1819

Abstract

Carcinogens, such as arecoline, play a crucial role in cancer progression and continuous gene mutations by generating reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antioxidants can reduce ROS levels and potentially prevent cancer progression but may paradoxically enhance the survival of cancer cells. This study investigated whether epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), an antioxidant from green tea, could resolve this paradox. Prostate cancer cells (PC-3 cell line) were cultured and treated with arecoline combined with NAC (N-acetylcysteine) or EGCG; the combined effects on intracellular ROS levels and cell viability were examined using the MTT and DCFDA assays, respectively. In addition, apoptosis, cell cycle, and protein expression were investigated using flow cytometry and western blot analysis. Our results showed that EGCG, similar to NAC (N-acetylcysteine), reduced the intracellular ROS levels, which were elevated by arecoline. Moreover, EGCG not only caused cell cycle arrest but also facilitated cell apoptosis in arecoline-treated cells in a synergistic manner. These were evidenced by elevated levels of cyclin B1 and p27, and increased fragmentation of procaspase-3, PARP, and DNA. Our findings highlight the potential use of EGCG for cancer prevention and therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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11 pages, 1341 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantitative Analysis and Molecular Docking Simulation of Flavonols from Eruca sativa Mill. and Their Effect on Skin Barrier Function

by Jihye Park, Wonchul Choi, Jayoung Kim, Hye Won Kim, Jee-Young Lee, Jongsung Lee and Bora Kim

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(1), 398-408; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46010025 - 2 Jan 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2298

Abstract

Eruca sativa is a commonly used edible plant in Italian cuisine. E. sativa 70% ethanol extract (ES) was fractionated with five organic solvents, including n-hexane (EHex), chloroform (ECHCl₃), ethyl acetate (EEA), n-butyl alcohol (EBuOH), and water (EDW). Ethyl acetate fraction (EEA) had the highest antioxidant activity, which was correlated with the total polyphenol and flavonoid content. ES and EEA acted as PPAR-α ligands by PPAR-α competitive binding assay. EEA significantly increased cornified envelope formation as a keratinocyte terminal differentiation marker in HaCaT cells. Further, it significantly reduced nitric oxide and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The main flavonol forms detected in high amounts from EEA are mono-and di-glycoside of each aglycone. The main flavonol form of EEA is the mono-glycoside of each aglycone detected, and the most abundant flavonol mono-glycoside is kaempferol 3-glucoside 7.4%, followed by quercetin-3-glucoside 2.3% and isorhamnetin 3-glucoside 1.4%. Flavonol mono-glycosides were shown to be a potent PPAR-α ligand using molecular docking simulation and showed the inhibition of nitric oxide. These results suggest that the flavonol composition of E. sativa is suitable for use in improving skin barrier function and inflammation in skin disorders, such as atopic dermatitis. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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12 pages, 998 KiB

Open AccessReview

Effects of Pterostilbene on Cardiovascular Health and Disease

by Rui Tian, Lingchao Miao and Wai-San Cheang

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(9), 9576-9587; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46090569 - 30 Aug 2024

Viewed by 2762

Abstract

Pterostilbene is a phenolic compound commonly found in blueberries, peanuts, grapes, and other plants. It is a dimethoxy derivative of resveratrol. In recent years, it has gained significant attention due to its remarkable anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. In addition, its high bioavailability and low toxicity in many species has contributed to its promising research prospects. Cardiovascular disease is closely related to pathological processes such as inflammation and oxidative stress, which aligns well with the treatment applications of pterostilbene. As a result, numerous studies have investigated the effects of pterostilbene on cardiovascular health and disease. This paper summarizes the current research on pterostilbene, with a specific focus on its potential therapeutic role in treating cardiovascular disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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17 pages, 762 KiB

Open AccessReview

Functional Activities and Mechanisms of Aronia melanocarpa in Our Health

by Min Young Go, Jinsick Kim, Chae Young Jeon and Dong Wook Shin

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(8), 8071-8087; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46080477 - 26 Jul 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3450

Abstract

Aronia melanocarpa, known as black chokeberry, is rich in polyphenols, comprising flavonoids, such as anthocyanins, flavanols, and flavonols, and phenolic acids, such as chlorogenic acid. These polyphenols endow Aronia melanocarpa with preventive and therapeutic properties against various human diseases. Aronia melanocarpa has beneficial effects against diseases such as diabetes, inflammation, and hypertension. Considering the diverse functional components of Aronia melanocarpa, its efficacy in disease prevention and treatment can operate through multiple pathways, offering a more robust approach to disease control. This review covers the latest research results on the functional components of Aronia melanocarpa and their effects on human diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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34 pages, 824 KiB

Open AccessReview

Plant-Derived Compounds: A Promising Tool for Dental Caries Prevention

by Konstantinos Tzimas, Maria Antoniadou, Theodoros Varzakas and Chrysoula (Chrysa) Voidarou

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(6), 5257-5290; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46060315 - 26 May 2024

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4239

Abstract

There is a growing shift from the use of conventional pharmaceutical oral care products to the use of herbal extracts and traditional remedies in dental caries prevention. This is attributed to the potential environmental and health implications of contemporary oral products. This comprehensive review aims at the analysis of plant-derived compounds as preventive modalities in dental caries research. It focuses on data collected from 2019 until recently, trying to emphasize current trends in this topic. The research findings suggest that several plant-derived compounds, either aqueous or ethanolic, exhibit notable antibacterial effects against Streptococcus mutans and other bacteria related to dental caries, with some extracts demonstrating an efficacy comparable to that of chlorhexidine. Furthermore, in vivo studies using plant-derived compounds incorporated in food derivatives, such as lollipops, have shown promising results by significantly reducing Streptococcus mutans in high-risk caries children. In vitro studies on plant-derived compounds have revealed bactericidal and bacteriostatic activity against S. mutans, suggesting their potential use as dental caries preventive agents. Medicinal plants, plant-derived phytochemicals, essential oils, and other food compounds have exhibited promising antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens, either by their anti-adhesion activity, the inhibition of extracellular microbial enzymes, or their direct action on microbial species and acid production. However, further research is needed to assess their antimicrobial activity and to evaluate the cytotoxicity and safety profiles of these plant-derived compounds before their widespread clinical use can be recommended. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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31 pages, 1331 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review of Bioactive Compound Effects from Primary Legume Protein Sources in Human and Animal Health

by Zachary Shea, Matheus Ogando do Granja, Elizabeth B. Fletcher, Yaojie Zheng, Patrick Bewick, Zhibo Wang, William M. Singer and Bo Zhang

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(5), 4203-4233; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46050257 - 1 May 2024

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2783

Abstract

The global demand for sustainable and nutritious food sources has catalyzed interest in legumes, known for their rich repertoire of health-promoting compounds. This review delves into the diverse array of bioactive peptides, protein subunits, isoflavones, antinutritional factors, and saponins found in the primary legume protein sources—soybeans, peas, chickpeas, and mung beans. The current state of research on these compounds is critically evaluated, with an emphasis on the potential health benefits, ranging from antioxidant and anticancer properties to the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The extensively studied soybean is highlighted and the relatively unexplored potential of other legumes is also included, pointing to a significant, underutilized resource for developing health-enhancing foods. The review advocates for future interdisciplinary research to further unravel the mechanisms of action of these bioactive compounds and to explore their synergistic effects. The ultimate goal is to leverage the full spectrum of benefits offered by legumes, not only to advance human health but also to contribute to the sustainability of food systems. By providing a comprehensive overview of the nutraceutical potential of legumes, this manuscript sets a foundation for future investigations aimed at optimizing the use of legumes in the global pursuit of health and nutritional security. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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22 pages, 1225 KiB

Open AccessReview

Microbial-Based Bioactive Compounds to Alleviate Inflammation in Obesity

by Oladayo Emmanuel Apalowo, Grace Adeola Adegoye and Tolulope Mobolaji Obuotor

Curr. Issues Mol. Biol. 2024, 46(3), 1810-1831; https://doi.org/10.3390/cimb46030119 - 28 Feb 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2685

Abstract

The increased prevalence of obesity with several other metabolic disorders, including diabetes and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, has reached global pandemic proportions. Lifestyle changes may result in a persistent positive energy balance, hastening the onset of these age-related disorders and consequently leading to a diminished lifespan. Although suggestions have been raised on the possible link between obesity and the gut microbiota, progress has been hampered due to the extensive diversity and complexities of the gut microbiota. Being recognized as a potential biomarker owing to its pivotal role in metabolic activities, the dysregulation of the gut microbiota can give rise to a persistent low-grade inflammatory state associated with chronic diseases during aging. This chronic inflammatory state, also known as inflammaging, induced by the chronic activation of the innate immune system via the macrophage, is controlled by the gut microbiota, which links nutrition, metabolism, and the innate immune response. Here, we present the functional roles of prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics as bioactive compounds by underscoring their putative contributions to (1) the reduction in gut hyperpermeability due to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inactivation, (2) increased intestinal barrier function as a consequence of the upregulation of tight junction proteins, and (3) inhibition of proinflammatory pathways, overall leading to the alleviation of chronic inflammation in the management of obesity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Insights into Food-Derived Natural Products and Their Biological Activities)

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