Higher plants synthesize an amazing diversity of phenolic secondary metabolites. Phenolics are defined secondary metabolites or natural products because, originally, they were considered not ...essential for plant growth and development. Plant phenolics, like other natural compounds, provide the plant with specific adaptations to changing environmental conditions and, therefore, they are essential for plant defense mechanisms. Plant defensive traits are costly for plants due to the energy drain from growth toward defensive metabolite production. Being limited with environmental resources, plants have to decide how allocate these resources to various competing functions. This decision brings about trade-offs, i.e., promoting some functions by neglecting others as an inverse relationship. Many studies have been carried out in order to link an evaluation of plant performance (in terms of growth rate) with levels of defense-related metabolites. Available results suggest that environmental stresses and stress-induced phenolics could be linked by a transduction pathway that involves: (i) the proline redox cycle; (ii) the stimulated oxidative pentose phosphate pathway; and, in turn, (iii) the reduced growth of plant tissues.
Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. subsp. scolymus (L.) Hayek, (formerly Cynara scolymus L.) represents an important component of the Mediterranean diet, and is a rich source of bioactive ...phenolic compounds, and also inulin, fibre and minerals. In addition, artichoke leaf extracts have long been used in folk medicine, particularly for liver complaints. These therapeutic properties have been often been ascribed to the cynarin (1,3-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid) content of these extracts. In various pharmacological test systems, artichoke leaf extracts have exhibited hepatoprotective, anticarcinogenic, antioxidative, antibacterial, anti-HIV, bile-expelling, and urinative activities as well as the ability to inhibit cholesterol biosynthesis and LDL oxidation. These broad therapeutic indications cannot be ascribed to a single, but to several active compounds that together generate additive or synergistic pharmacologic effects; these include mono- and dicaffeoylquinic acids, and flavonoids such as luteolin and its 7-O-glucoside. Artichoke by-products such as leaves, external bracts and stems that are produced by the artichoke processing industry, represent a huge amount of discarded material (about 80–85% of the total biomass of the plant), which could be used as a source of inulin but also of phenolics, and should be considered as a raw material for the production of food additives and nutraceuticals.
A wide variety of polyphenols are reported to have considerable antioxidant and skin photoprotective effects, although the mechanisms of action are not fully known. Environmentally friendly and ...inexpensive sources of natural bioactive compounds, such as olive mill wastewater (OMWW), the by-product of olive-oil processing, can be considered an economic source of bioactive polyphenols, with a range of biological activities, useful as chemotherapeutic or cosmeceutical agents. Green strategies, such as the process based on membrane technologies, allow to recover active polyphenols from this complex matrix. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant, pro-oxidant, and photoprotective effects, including the underlying action mechanism(s), of the ultra-filtered (UF) OMWW fractions, in order to substantiate their use as natural cosmeceutical ingredient. Six chemically characterized UF-OMWW fractions, from Italian and Greek olive cultivar processing, were investigated for their antioxidant activities, measured by Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC), LDL oxidation inhibition, and ROS-quenching ability in UVA-irradiated HEKa (Human Epidermal Keratinocytes adult) cultures. The photoprotective properties of UF-OMWW were assayed as a pro-oxidant-mediated pro-apoptotic effect on the UVA-damaged HEKa cells, which can be potentially involved in the carcinogenesis process. All the UF-OMWW fractions exerted an effective antioxidant activity in vitro and in cells when administered together with UV-radiation on HEKa. A pro-oxidative and pro-apoptotic effect on the UVA-damaged HEKa cells were observed, suggesting some protective actions of polyphenol fraction on keratinocyte cell cultures.
The study aimed to assess the influence of three cooking methods (boiling, steaming, and microwave-cooking) on (i) composition in individual phenolic compounds, (ii) total phenolic content (TPC), and ...(iii) total antioxidant activity (TAA) of eight Mediterranean wild edible species (Asparagus acutifolius, Asphodeline lutea, Beta vulgaris, Helminthotheca echioides, Sonchus oleraceus, Taraxacum officinale, Urospermum picroides, Urtica dioica). In raw greens, several caffeic acid derivatives (chicoric, caftaric, chlorogenic, neochlorogenic, 1,5-and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acids) and flavonoids (glycosides of apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol) were identified. Cooking treatments did not affect qualitative phenolic composition, while quantitative changes were recorded in some phenolic compounds and in TPC. Generally, boiling decreased TPC and TAA, while chicoric, caftaric, chlorogenic acids and quercetin-3-rutinoside increased in some species after steaming and microwave-cooking, showing positive correlation with TAA. Results confirmed steaming and microwave-cooking as mild procedures able to increase antioxidant capacity of some species, producing beneficial effects on their nutraceutical properties.
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•Sicilian cultivars of durum wheat spaghetti enriched with inulin at different DP.•DP influences most of the sensorial attributes of pasta.•TIM and MAR maintained the OQS scores after ...inulin addition.•DP influences the inulin release during in vitro digestion.•CRI TIM cultivar showed the lower glycaemic index compared to the control.
The flours coming from four ancient Sicilian durum wheat cultivars were used to produce spaghetti enriched with 4% inulin at two degree of polymerization (DP): cardoon roots (CRI, high DP) and chicory (CHI, low DP). The influence of DP on quality, sensory properties, glycaemic index (GI) of enriched spaghetti was investigated; further the release of inulin after simulated in vitro digestion was also assessed. The DP affected most of the sensorial attributes of pasta as overall quality score (OQS), cooking loss and optimal cooking time. Among the cultivars, Timilia and Margherito maintained the OQS scores after inulin addition. Both the presence and the different DP of inulin did not influence the GI values, except a decrease recorded for Timilia spaghetti. Finally, in all the studied cultivars, DP significantly affected the inulin release in the digestive tract highlighting the highest amount of CRI inulin in solid fraction important for potential prebiotic effect.
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•Antioxidant, neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects of two artichoke varieties.•Romanesco Siciliano showed highest antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase capacities.•ex ...vivo-in vitro fecal fermentation model as tool to evaluate the food bioactives cardioprotective activities.•Romanesco Siciliano artichoke inhibited choline-d9 utilization and TMA-d9 production.
The chemical composition and in vitrobiological activities of two globe artichoke varieties, Romanesco Siciliano (RS) and Spinoso Sardo (SS), were studied for their antioxidant activity and potential effects against age-related diseases. The globe artichoke extracts were subjected to three antioxidant activity tests, DPPH, ABTS and FRAP, and to the acetylcholinesterase neuro-related assay. The potential artichoke cardioprotective capacity was investigated by evaluating the inhibition of choline-d9 conversion into proatherogenic trimethylamine-d9 (TMA-d9), in an ex vivo-in vitro fecal fermentation model. In both globe artichoke varieties, the polyphenols profile was similar with chlorogenic and di-caffeoylquinic acids as the main polyphenols identified, although the amount changed with the variety (RS: 108.5; SS: 64.8 mg polyphenols/g DW). The RS sample gave the highest values of antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities and mostly inhibited choline-d9 utilization (+28.0 % choline-d9 Area Under the Curve (AUC) compared to control), and TMA-d9 production (-31.9 % TMA-d9 AUC compared to control). All the reported results demonstrated that globe artichoke may provide potential cardioprotective, neuroprotective and antioxidant effects.
Artichoke is a characteristic crop of the Mediterranean area, recognized for its nutritional value and therapeutic properties due to the presence of bioactive components such as polyphenols, inulin, ...vitamins and minerals. Artichoke is mainly consumed after home and/or industrial processing, and the undersized heads, not suitable for the market, can be used for the recovery of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, for cosmetic applications. In this paper, the potential skin anti-age effect of a polyphenolic artichoke extract on endothelial cells was investigated. The methodology used was addressed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and the improvement of gene expression of some youth markers. The results showed that the artichoke extract was constituted by 87% of chlorogenic, 3,5-
-dicaffeoylquinic, and 1,5-
-dicaffeoylquinic acids. The extract induced important molecular markers responsible for the microcirculation and vasodilatation of endothelial cells, acted as a potential anti-inflammatory agent, protected the lymphatic vessels from oxidative damage by ROS formation, and enhanced the cellular cohesion by reinforcing the tight junction complex. In addition, the artichoke extract, through the modulation of molecular pathways, improved the expression of genes involved in anti-ageing mechanisms. Finally, clinical testing on human subjects highlighted the enhancement by 19.74% of roughness and 11.45% of elasticity from using an artichoke extract cosmetic formulation compared to placebo cream.
•Artichoke had the highest antioxidant activity respect to the individual polyphenols.•The main polyphenols of artichoke contributed to its bioactivity.•In vitro digestion did not modify the ...antioxidant activity of artichoke polyphenols.
Artichoke (Cynara cardunculus (L.) subsp. scolymus Hayek) is an important component of the Mediterranean diet, and a good source of health-promoting compounds, including polyphenols. The main phenolic compounds of artichoke are 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid), and 3,5-O-, 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acids and its beneficial effects are linked to their antioxidant activity that can be affected by their stability under gastro-intestinal conditions, during digestion. This study aimed to assess the antioxidant activity induced by artichoke head extract, and its main individual polyphenols, on a stimulated HT-29 cell line, using a DCFH-DA probe. In addition, influences of in vitro digestion on artichoke head and its individual polyphenols towards antioxidant activity, were tested. Artichoke extract showed higher antioxidant activity than the individual polyphenols, even after in vitro gastro-intestinal digestion. In addition, in vitro digestion did not modify the antioxidant activity of artichoke polyphenols, except for 1,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, which proved to be the least active.
An integrated device for real-time monitoring of glucose and phenols absorption, that consists of a sensors/biosensors system (SB) and a Caco-2TC7 human intestinal cell culture, is described in this ...study. The SB is composed of a glucose oxidase-based biosensor, a sentinel platinum sensor, a laccase/tyrosinase-based biosensor and a sentinel carbon sensor, all located in the basolateral compartment (BC) of a cell culture plate. Caco-2TC7 cells, differentiated on culture inserts, separated the apical compartment that simulates the intestinal lumen, from the BC which represented the bloodstream. The system recorded currents relative to glucose (1mM) absorption, obtaining bioavailability values (5.1%) comparable to HPLC analysis (4.8%). Phloridzin and phloretin, specific phenolic inhibitors of SGLT1 and GLUT2 glucose transporters, reduced the glucose transport of almost 10 times. They were minimally absorbed in the BC with a bioavailability of 0.13% and 0.49% respectively. The hypoglycemic potential of blueberry and pomegranate juices was also studied. In particular, the amount of glucose absorbed through the Caco-2TC7 monolayer was 8‰ for pomegranate and 1.7‰ for blueberry, demonstrating the potential hypoglycemic effect of the juices. Polyphenols absorption was also monitored by the SB and an increase was recorded during the first 50min in presence of both blueberry and pomegranate juices, then a constant decrease occurred. The proposed device has been developed as innovative tool for the dynamic monitoring of natural compounds effects on glucose absorption, in order to manage postprandial hyperglycemia.
•Telemetric device based on enzyme biosensors and Caco-2TC7 human intestinal cells.•Glucose and phenols intestinal absorption assessment without radiolabeled compounds.•Real-time monitoring of glucose and polyphenols absorption by Caco-2TC7.•Real-time study of the hypoglycemic effect of phloridzin and phloretin.•In-vitro study of hypoglycemic potential of blueberry and pomegranate juices.
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