Search Results (26)

Gray mold, caused by Botrytis cinerea, is the primary factor contributing to postharvest losses in table grape fruit. In this study, we have identified amphotericin B (AMB), a natural compound originating from Streptomyces nodosus, as a promising agent in managing postharvest gray mold in table grapes. In vitro experiments demonstrated that 0.2 mg/L AMB achieved an inhibition rate of over 90% against B. cinerea in PDA medium, and in vivo assays on grape berries showed that 200 mg/L AMB treatment could completely suppress the occurrence of gray mold disease. A mechanism analysis found that AMB treatment disrupted the plasma membrane structure, which consequently triggered cellular leakage and induced cell death. Furthermore, AMB application effectively modulated the transcriptional profile of genes related to redox homeostasis, transmembrane transport, and peroxidase functions in B. cinerea, thereby reducing the virulence of the fungus. In addition, AMB treatment had the potential to activate defense mechanisms in table grapes by enhancing the activities of ROS-scavenging enzymes and defense-associated enzymes. Collectively, AMB can be regarded as a natural antifungal agent that effectively combats B. cinerea, thereby extending the postharvest shelf life of table grape fruit. Full article

Neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by a progressive process of degeneration and neuronal death in the nervous system, with neuroinflammation being one of the main factors contributing to the progression of these diseases. Aristotelia chilensis (Maqui) is a native tree of Chile used in the Mapuche folk medicine for wounds and digestive treatment. It produces edible black berries with the highest antioxidant capacity among berries, and the Mapuche people used it for producing an alcoholic beverage. The leaves of Maqui contain indole alkaloids with different pharmacological properties that suggest neuroprotective effects. Here, the isolation and chemical characterization of a new alkaloid, named 9-hydroxyaristoquinolone, and the evaluation of its anti-inflammatory activity in the microglial cell line HMC-3, treated with LPS, are reported. 9-Hydroxyaristoquinolone protects microglia from LPS-induced morphological changes at concentrations as low as 1 µM, with a reduction in IKBα-P levels and inhibition of the NF-κB pathway, which was assessed by THP-1 NF-κB dual cell reporter and Western blot in HMC-3 cells. In silico studies suggest that 9-hydroxyaristoquinolone does not induce hepatotoxicity or genotoxicity and exhibits BBB permeability. Full article

Developing of functional foods is a promising strategy to reduce the increasing burden of colorectal cancer worldwide. Fruit pomace, particularly polyphenol and anthocyanin-rich chokeberry and blueberry, is a valuable ingredient for functional foods and nutraceuticals. Our study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects of chokeberry and blueberry pomace extracts on C2BBe1 colorectal carcinoma cells and explore the underlying signaling pathways. We analyzed both pomace extracts for total polyphenols and anthocyanins using Folin-Ciocalteu method and ultra-performance liquid chromatography, while antioxidative activity was assessed via the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging method. We evaluated the in vitro anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects using trypan blue exclusion, MTT and LDH assays, and assessed protein levels of p-Erk1/2, Akt-1, STAT1, STAT3, occludin, oxidized proteins, and MDA-protein adducts through western blotting, as well as analysis of a 37-plex panel of inflammatory markers. Chokeberry extracts exhibited higher total polyphenol content, anthocyanin levels, and antioxidative activity compared to blueberry extracts, however, blueberry extracts effects on cell viability and proliferation in C2BBe1 cells were stronger. Both fruit pomaces induced non-inflammatory cell death characterized by membrane integrity loss, beneficial in cancer therapy. Our data suggests chokeberry’s cytotoxicity may be mediated by Erk signaling and Akt-1 inhibition, while blueberry uniquely decreased occludin levels. These berries pomaces’ potential to mitigate cancer risks and enhance treatment efficacy is promising, warranting further investigation for functional foods development. Full article

Secondary metabolites and phytochemicals in plant-based diets are known to possess properties that inhibit the development of several diseases including a variety of cancers of the aerodigestive tract. Berries are currently of high interest to researchers due to their high dietary source of phytochemicals. Black raspberries (BRB), Rubus occidentalis, are of special interest due to their rich and diverse composition of phytochemicals. In this review, we present the most up-to-date preclinical and clinical data involving berries and their phytochemicals in the chemoprevention of a variety of cancers and diseases. BRBs possess a variety of health benefits including anti-proliferative properties, anti-inflammatory activity, activation of pro-cell-death pathways, modulation of the immune response, microbiome modulation, reduction in oxidative stress, and many more. However, little has been done in both preclinical and clinical settings on the effects of BRB administration in combination with other cancer therapies currently available for patients. With the high potential for BRBs as chemopreventive agents, there is a need to investigate their potential in combination with other treatments to improve therapeutic efficacy. Full article

Breast cancer (BC) is the largest contributor to cancer deaths in women worldwide. Various parts of plants, including fruits, are known for their therapeutic properties and are used in traditional medicine. Fruit species exhibit anticancer activities due to the presence of bioactive natural compounds such as flavonoids and carotenoids. The Vaccinium spp. are fleshy berry-like drupes and are rich in bioactive compounds, with flavonols, flavanols, chalcones, and phenolic acids as the major groups of compounds. While there is clear evidence linking Vaccinium berries with a decreased risk of BC both in in vivo and in vitro experiments, the exact mechanisms involved in the protective effects of Vaccinium spp. rich extracts on BC cells are not fully understood. Thus, the purpose of this review is to highlight the mechanisms of action involved in the therapeutic potential of Vaccinium berries against BC in experimental models. Full article

Quercetin is a flavonoid present in apples, onions, tea, red wines, and berries, and it has shown different beneficial effects, such as providing cardiovascular protection, possessing anti-inflammatory properties, and demonstrating anticancer activity, among others. These diseases are related to oxidizing molecules such as ROS because these species react and induce the oxidation of cellular biomolecules, such as proteins, lipids, DNA, or carbohydrates, which alters cellular homeostasis. Regarding lipids, the oxidation of these molecules induces lipid hydroperoxides which, if not decreased, particularly by GPX4, produce highly reactive aldehydes such as 4HNE and MDA. These oxidative conditions induce ferroptosis, a type of cell death associated with oxidation that differs from other types of cell death, such as apoptosis, necrosis, or autophagy. The induction of ferroptosis is desired in some diseases, such as cancer, but in others, such as cardiovascular diseases, this type of cell death is not wanted. The possible effects of quercetin associated with reducing or inducing ferroptosis have not been reviewed. Thus, this review focuses on the ability of quercetin to produce ferroptosis in diseases such as cancer as a treatment option and, conversely, on its role in deactivating ferroptosis to alleviate diseases such as cardiovascular diseases. Full article

In women, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer (11.7% of total cases) and the leading cause of cancer death (6.9%) worldwide. Bioactive dietary components such as Sea buckthorn berries are known for their high carotenoid content, which has been shown to possess anti-cancer properties. Considering the limited number of studies investigating the bioactive properties of carotenoids in breast cancer, the aim of this study was to investigate the antiproliferative, antioxidant, and proapoptotic properties of saponified lipophilic Sea buckthorn berries extract (LSBE) in two breast cancer cell lines with different phenotypes: T47D (ER+, PR+, HER2−) and BT-549 (ER-, PR-, HER2−). The antiproliferative effects of LSBE were evaluated by an Alamar Blue assay, the extracellular antioxidant capacity was evaluated through DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, the intracellular antioxidant capacity was evaluated through a DCFDA assay, and the apoptosis rate was assessed by flow cytometry. LSBE inhibited the proliferation of breast cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner, with a mean IC₅₀ of 16 µM. LSBE has proven to be a good antioxidant both at the intracellular level, due to its ability to significantly decrease the ROS levels in both cell lines (p = 0.0279 for T47D, and p = 0.0188 for BT-549), and at the extracellular level, where the ABTS and DPPH inhibition vried between 3.38–56.8%, respectively 5.68–68.65%, and 35.6 mg/L equivalent ascorbic acid/g LSBE were recorded. Based on the results from the antioxidant assays, LSBE was found to have good antioxidant activity due to its rich carotenoid content. The flow cytometry results revealed that LSBE treatment induced significant alterations in late-stage apoptotic cells represented by 80.29% of T47D cells (p = 0.0119), and 40.6% of BT-549 cells (p = 0.0137). Considering the antiproliferative, antioxidant, and proapoptotic properties of the carotenoids from LSBE on breast cancer cells, further studies should investigate whether these bioactive dietary compounds could be used as nutraceuticals in breast cancer therapy. Full article

Cancer is a complex and multifaceted group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells. While cancer can be challenging and life-altering, advances in research and development have led to the identification of new promising anti-cancer targets. Telomerase is one such target that is overexpressed in almost all cancer cells and plays a critical role in maintaining telomere length, which is essential for cell proliferation and survival. Inhibiting telomerase activity can lead to telomere shortening and eventual cell death, thus presenting itself as a potential target for cancer therapy. Naturally occurring flavonoids are a class of compounds that have already been shown to possess different biological properties, including the anti-cancer property. They are present in various everyday food sources and richly present in fruits, nuts, soybeans, vegetables, tea, wine, and berries, to name a few. Thus, these flavonoids could inhibit or deactivate telomerase expression in cancer cells by different mechanisms, which include inhibiting the expression of hTERT, mRNA, protein, and nuclear translocation, inhibiting the binding of transcription factors to hTERT promoters, and even telomere shortening. Numerous cell line studies and in vivo experiments have supported this hypothesis, and this development could serve as a vital and innovative therapeutic option for cancer. In this light, we aim to elucidate the role of telomerase as a potential anti-cancer target. Subsequently, we have illustrated that how commonly found natural flavonoids demonstrate their anti-cancer activity via telomerase inactivation in different cancer types, thus proving the potential of these naturally occurring flavonoids as useful therapeutic agents. Full article

Aberrant accumulation of the neurotransmitter L-glutamate (L-Glu) has been implicated as a mechanism of neurodegeneration, and the release of L-Glu after stroke onset leads to a toxicity cascade that results in neuronal death. The acai berry (Euterpe oleracea) is a potential dietary nutraceutical. The aim of this research was to investigate the neuroprotective effects of acai berry aqueous and ethanolic extracts to reduce the neurotoxicity to neuronal cells triggered by L-Glu application. L-Glu and acai berry effects on cell viability were quantified using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays, and effects on cellular bioenergetics were assessed via quantitation of the levels of cellular ATP, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in neuroblastoma cells. Cell viability was also evaluated in human cortical neuronal progenitor cell culture after L-Glu or/and acai berry application. In isolated cells, activated currents using patch-clamping were employed to determine whether L-Glu neurotoxicity was mediated by ionotropic L-Glu-receptors (iGluRs). L-Glu caused a significant reduction in cell viability, ATP, and MMP levels and increased ROS production. The co-application of both acai berry extracts with L-Glu provided neuroprotection against L-Glu with sustained cell viability, decreased LDH production, restored ATP and MMP levels, and reduced ROS levels. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that L-Glu toxicity is not mediated by the activation of iGluRs in neuroblastoma cells. Fractionation and analysis of acai berry extracts with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry identified several phytochemical antioxidants that may have provided neuroprotective effects. In summary, the acai berry contains nutraceuticals with antioxidant activity that may be a beneficial dietary component to limit pathological deficits triggered by excessive L-Glu accumulations. Full article

The development of efficient treatments for tumors affecting the central nervous system (CNS) remains an open challenge. Particularly, gliomas are the most malignant and lethal form of brain tumors in adults, causing death in patients just over 6 months after diagnosis without treatment. The current treatment protocol consists of surgery, followed using synthetic drugs and radiation. However, the efficacy of these protocols is associated with side effects, poor prognosis and with a median survival of fewer than two years. Recently, many studies were focused on applying plant-derived products to manage various diseases, including brain cancers. Quercetin is a bioactive compound derived from various fruits and vegetables (asparagus, apples, berries, cherries, onions and red leaf lettuce). Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies highlighted that quercetin through multitargeted molecular mechanisms (apoptosis, necrosis, anti-proliferative activity and suppression of tumor invasion and migration) effectively reduces the progression of tumor cells. This review aims to summarize current developments and recent advances of quercetin’s anticancer potential in brain tumors. Since all reported studies demonstrating the anti-cancer potential of quercetin were conducted using adult models, it is suggested to expand further research in the field of paediatrics. This could offer new perspectives on brain cancer treatment for paediatric patients. Full article

Berry volatiles are responsible for the berry aroma but there is limited information available on the health-promoting activities of berry volatiles. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the chemical composition of volatile extracts from black raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries and investigate their antiproliferative effect and apoptotic mechanisms on A549 lung cancer cells. The chemical composition of three berry volatile extracts (BVEs) was identified by using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Cells were treated with different dilutions of three BVEs for 48 h and determined for cell proliferation and apoptosis. Total volatiles in BVEs were 1.6–3.2 mg/L. Two-fold diluted BVEs significantly inhibited cell proliferation after 48 h, inducing apoptosis (p < 0.05). Blackberry volatile extract significantly reduced the inactive form of apoptotic proteins, including poly adenosine diphosphate-ribose polymerase (PARP), procaspase-9, and procaspase-3 compared to the control (p < 0.05). Blueberry volatile extract showed higher apoptotic cell death (p < 0.05) with a slightly higher cell population in G0/G1 phase than other berries. These results showed that volatile extracts from three berries have the antiproliferative effect on human lung adenocarcinoma cells partially via apoptosis, suggesting that volatiles from three berries may have potential anti-cancer activity through apoptosis in lung cancer. Full article

Berries are well-known fruits for their antioxidant effects due to their high content of flavonoids, and quercetin is one of the potent bioactive flavonoids. Although oxidative stress is an inevitable outcome in cells due to energy uptake and metabolism and other factors, excessive oxidative stress is considered a pivotal mediator for the cell death and leads to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs). Furthermore, oxidative stress triggers inflammation that leads to neuronal cell loss. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, Huntington’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, and so on are the main neurodegenerative diseases. Hence, AD and PD are the most affected NDDs and cause the most lethality without any effective cure. Since AD and PD are the most common NDDs, therefore, in this study, we will describe the effect of oxidative stress on AD and PD. Targeting oxidative stress could be a very effective way to prevent and cure NDDs. Thus, the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO1) are potent endogenous antioxidant modulatory pathways, which also show cytoprotective activities. Modulation of Nrf2/HO1 signaling pathways through a biological approach could be an effective way to treat with NDDs. Quercetin is a natural polyphenol, which protects neurodegeneration, remarkably by suppressing oxidative stress and inflammation. Thus, quercetin could be a very effective agent against NDDs. We will discuss the benefits and challenges of quercetin to treat against NDDs, focusing on molecular biology. Full article

Excessive glutamate neurotransmitters result in oxidative neurotoxicity, similar to neurodegeneration. An indigenous berry of Thailand, Cleistocalyx nervosum var. paniala (CNP), has been recognized for its robust antioxidants. We investigated the effects and mechanisms of CNP fruit extracts on antioxidant-related survival pathways against glutamate-induced neurotoxicity. The extract showed strong antioxidant capability and had high total phenolic and flavonoid contents, particularly resveratrol. Next, the protective effects of the CNP extract or resveratrol on the glutamate-induced neurotoxicity were examined in HT22 hippocampal cells. Our investigation showed that the pretreatment of cells with the CNP extract or resveratrol attenuated glutamate-induced neuronal death via suppression of apoptosis cascade by inhibiting the levels of cleaved- and pro-caspase-3 proteins. The CNP extract and resveratrol suppressed the intracellular ROS by increasing the mRNA expression level of antioxidant enzymes (SODs, GPx1, and CAT). We found that this extract and resveratrol significantly increased SIRT1 expression as a survival-related protein. Moreover, they also promoted the activity of the Nrf2 protein translocation into the nucleus and could bind to the promoter containing the antioxidant response element, inducing the expression of the downstream GPx1-antioxidant protein. Our data illustrate that the CNP extract and resveratrol inhibit apoptotic neuronal death via glutamate-induced oxidative neurotoxicity in HT22 cells through the activation of the SIRT1/Nrf2 survival mechanism. Full article

Accumulating evidence suggests that high consumption of natural antioxidants promotes health by reducing oxidative stress and, thus, the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Similarly, fermentation of natural compounds with lactic acid bacteria (LAB), such as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, enhances their beneficial properties as regulators of the immune, digestive, and cardiovascular system. We investigated the effects of fermentation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on the antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of Pushgay berries (Vaccinium floribundum, Ericaceae family) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and macrophage cell line RAW264.7. Polyphenol content was assayed by Folin–Ciocalteu and HPLC-MS/MS analysis. The effects of berries solutions on cell viability or proliferation were assessed by WST8 (2-(2-methoxy-4-nitrophenyl)-3-(4-nitrophenyl)-5-(2,4-disulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium, monosodium salt and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, Trypan blue exclusion test, and Alamar blue assay. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by a cell-based chemiluminescent probe for the detection of intracellular H₂O₂ production in HUVECs. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression levels were investigated by RT-qPCR. Glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities, as markers of intracellular antioxidant defense, were evaluated by spectrophotometric analysis. The immunomodulatory activity was examined in RAW 264.7 by quantification of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and Tumor Necrosis Factor—alpha (TNFα) by RT-qPCR. Data showed that fermentation of Pushgay berries (i) enhances the content of quercetin aglycone, and (ii) increases their intracellular antioxidant activity, as indicated by the reduction in H₂O₂-induced cell death and the decrease in H₂O₂-induced HO-1 gene expression in HUVECs treated for 24 h with fermented berries solution (10 µg/mL). Moreover, treatment with Pushgay berries for 72 h (10 µg/mL) promotes cells growth in RAW 264.7, and only fermented Pushgay berries increase the expression of iNOS in the same cell line. Taken together, our results show that LAB fermentation of Pushgay berries enhances their antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Full article

Cancer is one the most malignant diseases that is a leading cause of death worldwide. Vegetables and fruits contain beneficial nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, folates, dietary fibers, and various natural bioactive compounds. These can prevent the pathological processes of many cancers and reduce cancer related mortality. Specifically, the anti-cancer effect of vegetables and fruits is largely attributable to the natural bioactive compounds present within them. A lot of bioactive compounds have very specific colors with pigments and the action of them in the human body varies by their color. Red-pigmented foods, such as apples, oranges, tomatoes, cherries, grapes, berries, and red wine, have been widely reported to elicit beneficial effects and have been investigated for their anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidative properties, as well as anti-cancer effect. Most of the anti-cancer effects of bioactive compounds in red-pigmented foods arise from the suppression of cancer cell invasion and metastasis, as well as the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In this review, we assessed publications from the last 10 years and identified 10 bioactive compounds commonly studied in red-pigmented foods: lycopene, anthocyanin, β-carotene, pectin, betaine, rutin, ursolic acid, kaempferol, quercetin, and myricetin. We focused on the mechanisms and targets underlying the anti-cancer effect of the compounds and provided rationale for further investigation of the compounds to develop more potent anti-cancer treatment methods. Full article