The concave urban space, a morphological innovation that dominated the European Modern Age, has an extensive historiography and numerous identifiable types: the Spanish plaza mayor, the French place ...royale, or the English squares. However, not enough attention has been paid to the examples of cities that did not succeed in implementing these plans, or to the alternative models that emerged from the oppositions they encountered on the ground. This is why the case of Seville and its Plaza de San Francisco, in apparent conflict with a general history of public space, is presented here - it shows, distinct from the plaza mayor, specifically the emergence of a city project based on the initiative of the private owners, with the connivance of the urban planning authorities. By consulting primary sources, a historical development of these processes is established as well as their consequences for the contemporary city.
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the phytochemical profile of a proprietary rosemary (
L.) extract rich in carnosic acid. A characterization of the (poly)phenolic and volatile ...fractions of the extract was carried out using mass spectrometric techniques. The (poly)phenolic composition was assessed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS
) and a total of 57 compounds were tentatively identified and quantified, 14 of these being detected in rosemary extract for the first time. The rosemary extract contained 24 flavonoids (mainly flavones, although flavonols and flavanones were also detected), 5 phenolic acids, 24 diterpenoids (carnosic acid, carnosol, and rosmanol derivatives), 1 triterpenoid (betulinic acid), and 3 lignans (medioresinol derivatives). Carnosic acid was the predominant phenolic compound. The volatile profile of the rosemary extract was evaluated by head space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) linked to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sixty-three volatile molecules (mainly terpenes, alcohols, esters, aldehydes, and ketones) were identified. This characterization extends the current knowledge on the phytochemistry of
and is, to our knowledge, the broadest profiling of its secondary metabolites to date. It can assist in the authentication of rosemary extracts or rosemary-containing products or in testing its bioactivity. Moreover, this methodological approach could be applied to the study of other plant-based food ingredients.
There is substantial interest in the role of plant secondary metabolites as protective dietary agents. In particular, the involvement of flavonoids and related compounds has become a major topic in ...human nutrition research. Evidence from epidemiological and human intervention studies is emerging regarding the protective effects of various (poly)phenol-rich foods against several chronic diseases, including neurodegeneration, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. In recent years, the use of HPLC–MS for the analysis of flavonoids and related compounds in foods and biological samples has significantly enhanced our understanding of (poly)phenol bioavailability. These advancements have also led to improvements in the available food composition and metabolomic databases, and consequently in the development of biomarkers of (poly)phenol intake to use in epidemiological studies. Efforts to create adequate standardised materials and well-matched controls to use in randomised controlled trials have also improved the quality of the available data. In vitro investigations using physiologically achievable concentrations of (poly)phenol metabolites and catabolites with appropriate model test systems have provided new and interesting insights on potential mechanisms of actions. This article will summarise recent findings on the bioavailability and biological activity of (poly)phenols, focusing on the epidemiological and clinical evidence of beneficial effects of flavonoids and related compounds on urinary tract infections, cognitive function and age-related cognitive decline, cancer and cardiovascular disease.
Food and beverage consumption has a great impact on the environment, although there is a lack of information concerning the whole diet. The environmental impact of 153 Italian adults (51 omnivores, ...51 ovo-lacto-vegetarians, 51 vegans) and the inter-individual variability within dietary groups were assessed in a real-life context. Food intake was monitored with a 7-d dietary record to calculate nutritional values and environmental impacts (carbon, water, and ecological footprints). The Italian Mediterranean Index was used to evaluate the nutritional quality of each diet. The omnivorous choice generated worse carbon, water and ecological footprints than other diets. No differences were found for the environmental impacts of ovo-lacto-vegetarians and vegans, which also had diets more adherent to the Mediterranean pattern. A high inter-individual variability was observed through principal component analysis, showing that some vegetarians and vegans have higher environmental impacts than those of some omnivores. Thus, regardless of the environmental benefits of plant-based diets, there is a need for thinking in terms of individual dietary habits. To our knowledge, this is the first time environmental impacts of three dietary regimens are evaluated using individual recorded dietary intakes rather than hypothetical diet or diets averaged over a population.
Over the last decades, there has been a substantial increase in the prevalence of mental health disorders, including an increased prevalence of depression, anxiety, cognitive, and sleep disorders. ...Diet and its bioactive components have been recognized among the modifiable risk factors, possibly influencing their pathogenesis. This review aimed to summarize molecular mechanisms underlying the putative beneficial effects toward brain health of different dietary factors, such as micro- and macronutrient intake and habits, such as feeding time and circadian rhythm. The role of hormonal homeostasis in the context of glucose metabolism and adiponectin regulation and its impact on systemic and neuro-inflammation has also been considered and deepened. In addition, the effect of individual bioactive molecules exerting antioxidant activities and acting as anti-inflammatory agents, such as omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols, considered beneficial for the central nervous system via modulation of adult neurogenesis, synaptic and neuronal plasticity, and microglia activation has been summarized. An overview of the regulation of the gut-brain axis and its effect on the modulation of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress has been provided. Finally, the impact of bioactive molecules on inflammation and oxidative stress and its association with brain health has been summarized.
Emerging evidence suggests that specific (poly)phenols may constitute new preventative strategies to counteract cell oxidative stress and myocardial tissue inflammation, which have a key role in the ...patho-physiology of diabetic cardiomyopathy. In a rat model of early diabetes, we evaluated whether in vivo administration of urolithin A (UA) or urolithin B (UB), the main gut microbiota phenolic metabolites of ellagitannin-rich foods, can reduce diabetes-induced microenvironmental changes in myocardial tissue, preventing cardiac functional impairment.
Adult Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced type-1 diabetes (n = 29) were studied in comparison with 10 control animals. Diabetic rats were either untreated (n = 9) or subjected to daily i.p. injection of UA (n = 10) or UB (n = 10). After 3 weeks of hyperglycaemia, hemodynamics, cardiomyocyte contractile properties and calcium transients were measured to assess cardiac performance. The myocardial expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine fractalkine and proteins involved in calcium dynamics (sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase, phospholamban and phosphorylated phospholamban) were evaluated by immunoblotting. Plasma, urine and tissue distribution of UA, UB and their phase II metabolites were determined.
In vivo urolithin treatment reduced by approximately 30% the myocardial expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine fractalkine, preventing the early inflammatory response of cardiac cells to hyperglycaemia. The improvement in myocardial microenvironment had a functional counterpart, as documented by the increase in the maximal rate of ventricular pressure rise compared to diabetic group (+18% and +31% in UA and UB treated rats, respectively), and the parallel reduction in the isovolumic contraction time (-12%). In line with hemodynamic data, both urolithins induced a recovery of cardiomyocyte contractility and calcium dynamics, leading to a higher re-lengthening rate (+21%, on average), lower re-lengthening times (-56%), and a more efficient cytosolic calcium clearing (-32% in tau values). UB treatment also increased the velocity of shortening (+27%). Urolithin metabolites accumulated in the myocardium, with a higher concentration of UB and UB-sulphate, potentially explaining the slightly higher efficacy of UB administration.
In vivo urolithin administration may be able to prevent the initial inflammatory response of myocardial tissue to hyperglycaemia and the negative impact of the altered diabetic milieu on cardiac performance.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Introduction
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegeneration characterized by extensive protein aggregation and deposition in the brain, associated with defective proteasomal and ...autophagic‐lysosomal proteolytic pathways. Since current drugs can only reduce specific symptoms, the identification of novel treatments is a major concern in AD research. Among natural compounds, (poly)phenols and their derivatives/metabolites are emerging as candidates in AD prevention due to their multiple beneficial effects. This study aims to investigate the ability of a selection of phenyl‐γ‐valerolactones, gut microbiota‐derived metabolites of flavan‐3‐ols, to modulate the functionality of cellular proteolytic pathways.
Methods and Results
Neuronal SH‐SY5Y cells transfected with either the wild‐type or the 717 valine‐to‐glycine amyloid precursor protein mutated gene are used as an AD model and treated with 5‐(4ʹ‐hydroxyphenyl)‐γ‐valerolactone, 5‐(3ʹ,4ʹ‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐γ‐valerolactone and 5‐(3ʹ‐hydroxyphenyl)‐γ‐valerolactone‐4ʹ‐sulfate. Combining in vitro and in silico studies, it is observed that the phenyl‐γ‐valerolactones of interest modulated cellular proteolysis via proteasome inhibition and consequent autophagy upregulation and inhibited cathepsin B activity, eventually reducing the amount of intra‐ and extracellular amyloid‐beta (1‐42) peptides.
Conclusion
The findings of this study establish, for the first time, that these metabolites exert a neuroprotective activity by regulating intracellular proteolysis and confirm the role of autophagy and cathepsin B as possible targets of AD preventive/therapeutic strategies.
Neuronal SH‐SY5Y cells treatment with phenyl‐γ‐valerolactones, gut microbiota‐derived metabolites of flavan‐3‐ols, results in intracellular proteolysis modulation. In detail, cells exhibit inhibition of the functionality of the proteasomal system and the simultaneous activation of the autophagic process. In addition, treated cells show a compromised cathepsin B activity. The fine regulation of these proteolytic systems finally results in the decrease of both intra‐ and extracellular Aβ(1‐42) peptides in neurons.
The comprehensive identification of phenolic compounds in food and beverages is a crucial starting point for assessing their biological, nutritional, and technological properties. Pomegranate (Punica ...granatum L.) has been described as a rich source of (poly)phenolic components, with a broad array of different structures (phenolic acids, flavonoids, and hydrolyzable tannins) and a quick, high throughput, and accurate screening of its complete profile is still lacking. In the present work, a method for UHPLC separation and linear ion trap mass spectrometric (MSn) characterization of pomegranate juice phenolic fraction was optimized by comparing several different analytical conditions. The best solutions for phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and ellagitannins have been delineated and more than 70 compounds have been identified and fully characterized in less than one hour total analysis time. Twenty-one compounds were tentatively detected for the first time in pomegranate juice. The proposed fingerprinting approach could be easily translated to other plant derived food extracts and beverages containing a wide array of phytochemical compounds.
Scope
Epidemiological evidence suggests that a reduced risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) is correlated with high consumption of fruits and vegetables, which are major sources of fiber and ...phytochemicals, such as flavan‐3‐ols. However, it remains unknown how these phytochemicals and their specific gut‐related metabolites may alter cancer cell behavior.
Methods and results
A focused screening using native (poly)phenols and gut microbial metabolites (GMMs) on 3D HCT116 spheroids is carried out using a high‐throughput imaging approach. Dose–responses, IC50, and long‐term exposure are calculated for the most promising native (poly)phenols and GMMs. As a result, this research shows that (poly)phenol catabolites may play a key role in preventing cancer propagation. Indeed, µM concentration levels of (4R)‐5‐(3′,4′‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐γ‐valerolactone significantly decrease spheroid size at early stages of spheroid aggregation and gene expression of matrix metalloproteinases.
Conclusion
A chronic exposure to (4R)‐5‐(3′,4′‐dihydroxyphenyl)‐γ‐valerolactone may lead to a reduced CRC risk. Daily intake of monomeric, oligomeric, and polymeric flavan‐3‐ols may increase the colonic concentrations of this metabolite, and, in turn, this compound may act locally interacting with intestinal epithelial cells, precancerous and cancer cells.
This work explores the potential of native phytochemicals and gut microbial metabolites in promoting gut health. 3D HCT116 spheroids are first exposed to (poly)phenols and (poly)phenols metabolized by the gut microbiota. Secondly, by combining high‐throughput imaging techniques and transcriptional profiling, this research shows that a flavan‐3‐ol metabolite may play a pivotal role in promoting gut health.
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