•We analyse the potential broccoli enriched with selenium to a functional food.•Broccoli has significant antioxidant and antiproliferative activities.•Biofortification increased the amount of ...phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity.•The activities studied are influenced by the development of broccoli.•The broccoli seedlings had higher antioxidant and anti-proliferative activity.
In this work, three different broccoli maturity stages subjected to biofortification with selenium were evaluated for antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. Antioxidant trials have shown that the maturation stages biofortified with selenium had significantly higher amounts of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity, especially seedlings. Although non-polar extracts of all samples show antiproliferative activity, the extract of broccoli seedlings biofortified with selenium stood out, presenting cytocidal activity for a glioma line (U251, GI50 28.5mgL−1).
•Senescence cells of any origin reprogram their genome and metabolism to become secretory cells.•The Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP) includes cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, ...proteases and lipids.•The SASP mediates tumor suppression and wound healing but also chronic inflammation and age-related diseases.•The transcription factors NF-κB, C/EBP and p53 control the SASP.•Drugs like metformin inhibit the inflammatory components of the SASP.
The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) defines the ability of senescent cells to express and secrete a variety of extracellular modulators that includes cytokines, chemokines, proteases, growth factors and bioactive lipids. The role of the SASP depends on the context. The SASP reinforces the senescent cell cycle arrest, stimulates the immune-mediated clearance of potentially tumorigenic cells, limits fibrosis and promotes wound healing and tissue regeneration. On the other hand, the SASP can mediate chronic inflammation and stimulate the growth and survival of tumor cells. The regulation of the SASP occurs at multiple levels including chromatin remodelling, activation of specific transcription factors such as C/EBP and NF-κB, control of mRNA translation and intracellular trafficking. Several SASP modulators have already been identified setting the stage for future research on their clinical applications.
This study addresses relationships between leaf phenology, xylogenesis, and functional xylem anatomy in two ring‐porous oak species, the temperate Quercus robur and the sub‐Mediterranean ...Q. pyrenaica. Earlywood vessel (EV) formation and leaf phenology were monitored in 2012 and 2013. Ten individuals per species were sampled at each of three sites located in NW Iberian Peninsula. EV areas measured on microcore sections were used to calculate the hydraulic tree diameter (Dₕ), in order to model relationships to phenology. Thermal requirements were evaluated using growing degree days (GDD). A species‐specific timing of growth resumption was found. The onset of EV formation and budburst were associated to a particular GDD in each species. The onset and duration of EV enlargement affected Dₕ (and EV size) in Q. robur, but hardly in Q. pyrenaica. The relationship between the timings of EV formation and xylem structure appears to be stronger for the temperate oak, whose larger vessels may result from thermal‐induced earlier resumption. In contrast, the sub‐Mediterranean oak would maintain a more conservative hydraulic architecture under warming conditions.
The Arabidopsis PIF4 and BES1/BZR1 transcription factors antagonize light signaling by facilitating co‐activated expression of a large number of cell wall‐loosening and auxin‐related genes. While ...PIF4 directly activates expression of these targets, BES1 and BZR1 activity switch from a repressive to an activator function, depending on interaction with TOPLESS and other families of regulators including PIFs. However, the complexity of this regulation and its role in diurnal control of plant growth and brassinosteroid (BR) levels is little understood. We show by using a protein array that BES1, PIF4, and the BES1‐PIF4 complex recognize different DNA elements, thus revealing a distinctive cis‐regulatory code beneath BES1‐repressive and PIF4 co‐activation function. BES1 homodimers bind to conserved BRRE‐ and G‐box elements in the BR biosynthetic promoters and inhibit their expression during the day, while elevated PIF4 competes for BES1 homodimer formation, resulting in de‐repressed BR biosynthesis at dawn and in response to warmth. Our findings demonstrate a central role of PIF4 in BR synthesis activation, increased BR levels being essential to thermomorphogenic hypocotyl growth.
Synopsis
Plant elongation in response to warmth and light is tightly controlled by steroid hormone‐sensitive gene expression, but the dynamic regulation of this circuitry remains unresolved. Here, crosstalk between the Arabidopsis transcription factors PIF4 and BES1 is shown to activate brassinosteroid (BR) synthesis and adjust seed stem growth to the daily changes of environmental stimuli.
Interaction with PIF4 switches BES1 activity from a repressive to an activator function.
BES1 binds as a homodimer to conserved BRRE and G‐box elements in the promoters of BR biosynthetic and BES‐DOWN genes.
The PIF4‐BES1 complex recognizes a CATGTG motif or PBE‐element that is enriched in the promoters of PIF‐UP and PIF + BES‐UP targets.
Accumulation of PIF4 at warm temperatures up‐regulates BR levels by competing for BES1 homodimerization.
The transcription factor PIF4 confers adaptation of plant hormone activation during warmth‐dependent hypocotyl growth.
Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors, characterized by abdominal obesity, dyslipidemia, low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), hypertension, and insulin ...resistance. Lifestyle modifications, especially dietary habits, are the main therapeutic strategy for the treatment and management of metabolic syndrome, but the most effective dietary pattern for its management has not been established. Specific dietary modifications, such as improving the quality of the foods or changing macronutrient distribution, showed beneficial effects on metabolic syndrome conditions and individual parameters. On comparing low-fat and restricted diets, the scientific evidence supports the use of the Mediterranean Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet intervention as the new paradigm for metabolic syndrome prevention and treatment. The nutritional distribution and quality of these healthy diets allows health professionals to provide easy-to-follow dietary advice without the need for restricted diets. Nonetheless, energy-restricted dietary patterns and improvements in physical activity are crucial to improve the metabolic disturbances observed in metabolic syndrome patients.
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► UAE allows for the extraction of phenolic compounds from grapes in 6min. ► UAE showed high reproducibility: RSD<5%. ► UAE was a suitable method for its application in grapes through ...the ripening period.
A new ultrasound-assisted extraction method was developed for the determination of phenolic compounds present in grapes. Several extraction variables including extraction temperature (0–75°C), output amplitude (20, 50 and 100%), duty cycle (0.2s, 0.6s and 1s), the quantity of sample (0.5–2g), and the total extraction time (3–15min) were evaluated. One of the most widely used extraction methods of polyphenol extraction has been used as reference method. Three parameters were compared: total amount of phenolic compounds, total amount of anthocyanins and total amount of tannic components. The resulting method produced similar or higher recoveries for these three parameters; however a much shorter extraction time was needed: 6min (ultrasound assisted extraction method) instead of 60min (reference method).
Analytical properties for the new method were established, including limit of detection, limit of quantification, repeatability and reproducibility.
The developed method was applied to two different types of grapes in different ripening degree.
A series of Biginelli adducts bearing different substituents at C-4 position were synthesized by using p-sulfonic acid calix4arene as a catalyst. The in vitro potential to scavenge reactive ...nitrogen/oxygen species (RNS and ROS) and the ability to inhibit cancer cells growth were then investigated. Four adducts were found to be potent scavengers of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (RNS) and/or superoxide anion (ROS) radicals. The antiproliferative activity against cancer cells was disclosed for the first time for 16 monastrol analogs. The capacity of all compounds to inhibit cancer cells growth was dependent on the histological origin of cells, except for BA24, which was highly active against all cell lines. BA20 and BA33 were as potent as the reference drug doxorubicin against adriamycin-resistant ovarian and prostate cancer cells, respectively. These results highlight some monastrol analogs as lead compounds for the design of new free radical scavengers and anticancer agents.
Background To our knowledge, there are no large multicenter studies concerning frontal fibrosing alopecia (FFA) that could give clues about its pathogenesis and best treatment. Objective We sought to ...describe the epidemiology, comorbidities, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, and therapeutic choices in a large series of patients with FFA. Methods This retrospective multicenter study included patients given the diagnosis of FFA. Clinical severity was classified based on the recession of the frontotemporal hairline. Results In all, 355 patients (343 women 49 premenopausal and 12 men) with a mean age of 61 years (range 23-86) were included. Early menopause was detected in 49 patients (14%), whereas 46 (13%) had undergone hysterectomy. Severe FFA was observed in 131 patients (37%). Independent factors associated with severe FFA after multivariate analysis were: eyelash loss, facial papules, and body hair involvement. Eyebrow loss as the initial clinical presentation was associated with mild forms. Antiandrogens such as finasteride and dutasteride were used in 111 patients (31%), with improvement in 52 (47%) and stabilization in 59 (53%). Limitations The retrospective design is a limitation. Conclusions Eyelash loss, facial papules, and body hair involvement were associated with severe FFA. Antiandrogens were the most useful treatment.
•Optimisation of enzymatic activity for the production of quercetin-3-glucoside.•Hesperidinase allowed higher conversion rates than naringinase.•Quercetin-3-glucoside has higher antiproliferative ...activity than rutin or quercetin.•Quercetin-3-glucoside shows high antioxidant activity evaluated by the DPPH method.
Bioavailability and biological properties of flavonoid glycosides can be improved after the enzymatic hydrolysis of specific glycosyl groups. In this study, we evaluate the antioxidant and antiproliferative potential of rutin after enzymatic hydrolysis performed by α-l-rhamnosidases (hesperidinase from Penicillium sp. and naringinase from Penicillium decumbens) previously heated at 70°C for 30min to inactivate the undesirable β-d-glucosidase activity. The highest in vitro antioxidant activity determined by DPPH radical scavenging was achieved with rutin hydrolyzed by hesperidinase. Rutin was predominantly bioconverted into quercetin-3-glucoside. There was no statistical difference between xanthine oxidase inhibition by rutin before and after hydrolysis. However, in vitro inhibitory activity against ten human tumor cell lines showed that hydrolyzed rutin exerted a more potent antiproliferative effect than quercetin and rutin on various cancer cell lines, specially glioma, and ovarian and breast adenocarcinomas. These results indicate that quercetin-3-glucoside could be a promising functional derivative obtained by rutin hydrolysis.
Obesity has been known to be a major risk factor for various types of cancers for several decades. More recently, the relationship between dysregulated adipokines and cancer development has been the ...focus of much research. Adipose tissue is an important endocrine organ that secretes adipokines that affect both autocrine and paracrine signaling. These adipokines modulate inflammation, induce insulin resistance, and regulate their own behavior and production.
Adipokine-production dysregulation is due to physiological changes in adipose tissue that prompt molecular modifications, including low-grade inflammation and the stimulatory production of reactive oxygen species. Additionally, studies have linked DNA damage response, genomic instability, and the innate immune response to tumorigenesis. Further investigation of adipokines and their role in the promotion of genomic instability may clarify the link between obesity and cancer, as well as elucidate potential pharmaceutical targets. In this review, we discuss the progress of recent literature, focusing on the impact of adipokines, genomic instability, and the innate immune response on increasing the risk of cancer.
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