Purpose of Review
Allergen is an umbrella term for irritants of diverse origin. Along with other offenders such as pathogens, mutagens, xenobiotics, and pollutants, allergens can be grouped as ...inflammatory agents. Danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) are altered metabolism products of necrotic or stressed cells, which are deemed as alarm signals by the innate immune system. Like inflammation, DAMPs play a role in correcting the altered physiological state, but in excess, they can be lethal due to their signal transduction roles. In a vicious loop, inflammatory agents are DAMP generators and DAMPs create a pro-inflammatory state. Only a handful of DAMPs such as uric acid, mtDNA, extracellular ATP, HSPs, amyloid β, S100, HMGB1, and ECM proteins have been studied till now. A large number of DAMPs are still obscure, in need to be unveiled. The identification and functional characterization of those DAMPs in inflammation pathways can be insightful.
Recent Findings
As inflammation and immune activation have been implicated in almost all pathologies, studies on them have been intensified in recent times. Consequently, the pathologic mechanisms of various DAMPs have emerged. Following PRR ligation, the activation of inflammasome, MAPK, and NF-kB is some of the common pathways.
Summary
The limited number of recognized DAMPs are only a fraction of the vast array of other DAMPs. In fact, any misplaced or abnormal level of metabolite can be a DAMP. Sophisticated analysis studies can reveal the full profile of the DAMPs. Lowering the level of DAMPs is useful therapeutic intervention but certainly not as effective as avoiding the DAMP generators, i.e., the inflammatory agents. So, rather than mitigating DAMPs, efforts should be focused on the elimination of inflammatory agents.
•Whey protein is rich in essential amino acids and bioactive peptides.•It has been validated to confer antioxidant, anticancer, prebiotic, phenylketonuria management properties.•Whey protein should ...be incorporated in functional foods.
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The prospecting for nutrients has catapulted whey protein to the forefront of the functional food sector. This protein, filtered from cheese whey, has been characterized to contain a plethora of healthy components such as essential amino acids, bioactive peptides, antioxidants and immunomopotentiators. Consequently, whey protein has been validated to confer radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antitumour, immunostimulatory, hypotensive, gut homeostasis, antiobesity, antidiabetic, muscle biosynthesis, osteoprotective and radioprotective roles. As the multifarious benefits of whey protein cumulate amidst the dramatic rise in metabolic and degenerative health issues, it seems imperative to harness their potential. This review presents the significant biological aspects of whey protein and its derivatives. Further, it rationalizes their incorporation in functional foods.
The looming food insecurity demands the utilization of nutrient-rich residues from food industries as value-added products. Whey, a dairy industry waste has been characterized to be excellent ...nourishment with an array of bioactive components. Whey protein comprises 20 % of total milk protein and it is rich in branched and essential amino acids, functional peptides, antioxidants and immunoglobulins. It confers benefits against a wide range of metabolic diseases such as cardiovascular complications, hypertension, obesity, diabetes, cancer and phenylketonuria. The protein has been validated to boost recovery from resistance exercise-injuries, stimulate gut physiology and protect skin against detrimental radiations. Apart from health invigoration, whey protein has proved its suitability as fat replacer and emulsifier. Further, its edible and antimicrobial packaging potential renders its highly desirable in food as well as pharmaceutical sectors. Considering the enormous nutraceutical worth of whey protein, this review emphasizes on its established and emerging biological roles. Present and future scopes in food processing and dietary supplement formulation are discussed. Associated hurdles are identified and how technical advancement might augment its applications are explored. This review is expected to provide valuable insight on whey protein-fortified functional foods, associated technical hurdles and scopes of improvement.
•Aromatase, a cytochromes P450 enzyme converts androgen (C19) into estrogen (C18).•Both hyper and hypo level of this enzyme initiates a number of health conditions and diseases.•Several drugs, ...personal consumer products and pesticides can activate and inhibit this enzyme.•Better understanding of this enzyme can help in dealing with a number of diseases.
Human health is beset with a legion of ailments, which is exacerbated by lifestyle errors. Out of the numerous enzymes in human body, aromatase, a cytochrome P450 enzyme is particularly very critical. Occurring at the crossroads of multiple signalling pathways, its homeostasis is vital for optimal health. Unfortunately, medications, hormone therapy, chemical additives in food, and endocrine-disrupting personal care products are oscillating the aromatase concentration beyond the permissible level. As this enzyme converts androgens (C19) into estrogens (C18), its agitation has different outcomes in different genders and age groups. Some common pathologies associated with aromatase disruption include breast cancer, prostate cancer, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, osteoporosis, ovarian cancer, gastric cancer, pituitary cancer, Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, male hypogonadism, and transgender issues. Several drugs, cosmetics and pesticides act as the activators and suppressors of this enzyme. This carefully-compiled critical review is expected to increase public awareness regarding the threats resultant of the perturbations of this enzyme and to motivate researchers for further investigation of this field.
Highlights • Cardiac glycosides such as digitoxin, digoxin, ouabain, oleandrin are used for heart ailment treatment since ages. • Lack of information on proper dosage and specificity has led to ...accidental poisoning and mortality. • These glycosides have been validated to have anticancer roles. • The biological mechanism has been identified as Na-K-ATPase pump manipulation and regulation of renin-angiotensin axis. • This review discusses the latest findings in this area and suggests testable hypotheses for better exploitation of these glycosides in healthcare.
Red yeast rice (RYR), the fermentation product of mold
Monascus purpureus
has been an integral part of Oriental food and traditional Chinese medicine, long before the discovery of their medicinal ...roles. With the identification of bioactive components as polyketide pigments (statins), and unsaturated fatty acids, RYR has gained a nutraceutical status. Hypercholesterolemic effect of this fermented compound has been validated and monacolin K has been recognized as the pivotal component in cholesterol alleviation. Functional similarity with commercial drug lovastatin sans the side effects has catapulted its popularity in other parts of the world as well. Apart from the hypotensive role, ameliorative benefits of RYR as anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anticancer and osteogenic agent have emerged, fueling intense research on it. Mechanistic studies have revealed their interaction with functional agents like coenzyme Q10, astaxanthin, vitamin D, folic acid, policosanol, and berberine. On the other hand, concurrence of mycotoxin citrinin and variable content of statin has marred its integration in mainstream medication. In this disputable scenario, evaluation of the scopes and lacunae to overcome seems to contribute to an eminent area of healthcare.
Graphical Abstract
Red yeast rice (RYR), the rice-based fermentation product of mold
Monascus purpureus
is a functional food. Its bioactive component monacolin K acts like synthetic drug lovastatin, without the severe side effects of the latter. RYR has been validated to lower cholesterol, control high blood pressure; confer anti-flammation, hypoglycaemic, anticancer and osteogenic properties. However, dose inconsistency and co-occurrence of toxin citrinin hampers its dietary supplementation prospect. Further research might facilitate development of RYR as a nutraceutical.
•Metabolic diseases are emerging at alarming rate.•Food sustainability, waste minimization and nutrient recovery are essential.•Cereal bran is storehouse of dietary fibre, phenolic acids, flavonoid, ...vitamins etc.•It ameliorates insulin resistance, obesity risk and cardiovascular complications.•This paper reports the most recent developments in these aspects.
Cereal brans, the by-products of grain processing, have acquired a crucial status in functional food formulation. They have been recognized to be storehouse of non-starch carbohydrates (arabinoxylan, beta-glucan), phenolic acids (ferulic acid), flavonoids (anthocyanin), oil (γ-oryzanol), vitamins (carotenoids, tocols), oligosaccharides, folates and sterols among others. Their physico-chemical properties render them desirable for food fortification. Brans derived from rice, wheat, oat, barley, sorghum, millet, rye and maize have been characterized to possess a wealth of health-promoting ingredients. They have been validated to impart antilipaemic, antiatherogenic, antihypertensive and hypoglycaemic properties. They have been verified to combat oxidative stress, attenuate insulin resistance, avert obesity risk by inducing satiety and alleviate cardiovascular complications. This paper delineates the recent findings on their phytochesmitry, emerging therapeutic roles and mechanism of biological action in nutshell, with an aim to stimulate further research.
TMEM173 gene encodes the protein STING (stimulator of interferon genes), a key player in host defense against pathogens. Mutations in the human TMEM173 gene cause a life-threatening auto-inflammatory ...disease called SAVI (STING-associated vasculopathy with onset in infancy). Human STING is also a promising therapeutic target for cancers and infectious diseases. Recently, Aduro Biotech and Novartis announced a $250M-plus initiative to develop STING-targeting cancer immunotherapies. Thus, understanding the genetics of the human TMEM173 gene is important for both basic and translational research. The human TMEM173 gene has great heterogeneity and population stratification. R232 of STING is the most common human TMEM173 allele. However, >50% of Americans are not R232/R232. HAQ (R71H-G230A-R293Q) is the second most common human TMEM173 allele. While R232/R232 is the dominant TMEM173 genotype in Europeans, R232/HAQ is the most common TMEM173 genotype in East Asians. Importantly, recent studies suggested that HAQ and H232 are likely loss-of-function TMEM173 alleles. In all, ~30% of East Asians and ~10% of Europeans are HAQ/HAQ, HAQ/H232, or H232/H232. Here, we reviewed human TMEM173 alleles, mutations and their potential impact on human health and medicine.
Seaweeds, being prolific sources of bioactive components have garnered unprecedented interest in recent times. The complex polysaccharides from the brown, red and green seaweeds possess broad ...spectrum therapeutic properties. Especially, the sulfated polysaccharides, viz
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fucans, carrageenans and ulvans have exhibited strong antioxidant, antitumor, immunostimulatory, anti-inflammatory, pulmonary fibrosis anticoagulant/antithrombotic, lipid lowering, antiviral, antibacterial, antiprotozoan, hyperplasia prevention, gastrointestinal, regenerative and nano medicine applications. Considering the immense biomedical prospects of sulfated polysaccharides, the profound and emerging functional properties published in recent times will be discussed here with experimental evidences. The limitations of the seaweed-derived sulfated polysaccharides in healthcare will be summarized. Strategies to maximize extraction and bioavailability will be pondered.
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•Probiotics plausibly restore gut microflora as dietary and therapeutic supplements.•Probiotics display varying efficacies and risk factors in at-risk population groups.•Probiotics ...may affect certain infections, allergies, or antibiotic gene transfer.•Stringent regulation is required toward the therapeutic usage of probiotics.
Last few decades have witnessed the unprecedented growth in the application of probiotics for promoting the general gut health as well as their inception as biotherapeutics to alleviate certain clinical disorders related to dysbiosis. While numerous studies have substantiated the health-restoring potentials for a restricted group of microbial species, the marketed extrapolation of a similar probiotic label to a large number of partially characterized microbial formulations seems biased. In particular, the individuals under neonatal stages and/or those with some clinical conditions including malignancies, leaky gut, diabetes mellitus, and post-organ transplant convalescence likely fail to reap the benefits of probiotics. Further exacerbating the conditions, some probiotic strains might take advantage of the weak immunity in these vulnerable groups and turn into opportunistic pathogens engendering life-threatening pneumonia, endocarditis, and sepsis. Moreover, the unregulated and rampant use of probiotics potentially carry the risk of plasmid-mediated antibiotic resistance transfer to the gut infectious pathogens. In this review, we discuss the safety perspectives of probiotics and their therapeutic interventions in certain at-risk population groups. The embodied arguments and hypotheses certainly will shed light on the fact why probiotic usage should be treated with caution.
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