fruits (CF) are among the most widely cultivated fruit crops throughout the world and their production is constantly increasing along with consumers' demand. Therefore, huge amounts of waste are ...annually generated through CF processing, causing high costs for their disposal, as well as environmental and human health damage, if inappropriately performed. According to the most recent indications of an economic, environmental and pharmaceutical nature, CF processing residues must be transformed from a waste to be disposed to a valuable resource to be reused. Based on a circular economy model, CF residues (i.e., seeds, exhausted peel, pressed pulp, secondary juice and leaves) have increasingly been re-evaluated to also obtain, but not limited to, valuable compounds to be employed in the food, packaging, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. However, the use of CF by-products is still limited because of their underestimated nutritional and economic value, hence more awareness and knowledge are needed to overcome traditional approaches for their disposal. This review summarizes recent evidence on the pharmacological potential of CF waste to support the switch towards a more environmentally sustainable society.
Natural compounds have always represented valuable allies in the battle against several illnesses, particularly cancer. In this field, flavonoids are known to modulate a wide panel of mechanisms ...involved in tumorigenesis, thus rendering them worthy candidates for both cancer prevention and treatment. In particular, it was reported that flavonoids regulate apoptosis, as well as hamper migration and proliferation, crucial events for the progression of cancer. In this review, we collect recent evidence concerning the anti-cancer properties of the flavonols myricetin and kaempferol, discussing their mechanisms of action to give a thorough overview of their noteworthy capabilities, which are comparable to those of their most famous analogue, namely quercetin. On the whole, these flavonols possess great potential, and hence further study is highly advised to allow a proper definition of their pharmaco-toxicological profile and assess their potential use in protocols of chemoprevention and adjuvant therapies.
Sirtuins (SIRTs) belong to the family of nicotine adenine dinucleotide (NAD
)-dependent class III histone deacetylases, which come into play in the regulation of epigenetic processes through the ...deacetylation of histones and other substrates. The human genome encodes for seven homologs (SIRT1-7), which are localized into the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria, with different enzymatic activities and regulatory mechanisms. Indeed, SIRTs are involved in different physio-pathological processes responsible for the onset of several human illnesses, such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, obesity and diabetes, age-related disorders, and cancer. Nowadays, it is well-known that
fruits, typical of the Mediterranean diet, are an important source of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols. Among these, flavonoids are recognized as potential agents endowed with a wide range of beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hypolipidemic, and antitumoral ones. On these bases, we offer a comprehensive overview on biological effects exerted by
flavonoids via targeting SIRTs, which acted as modulator of several signaling pathways. According to the reported studies,
flavonoids appear to be promising SIRT modulators in many different pathologies, a role which might be potentially evaluated in future therapies, along with encouraging the study of those SIRT members which still lack proper evidence on their support.
The role of environmental factors in influencing health status is well documented. Heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, pesticides, ultrafine ...particles, produced by human activities put a strain on the body's entire defense system. Therefore, together with public health measures, evidence-based individual resilience measures are necessary to mitigate cancer risk under environmental stress and to prevent reproductive dysfunction and non-communicable diseases; this is especially relevant for workers occupationally exposed to pollutants and/or populations residing in highly polluted areas. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids, that can promote the elimination of pollutants in tissues and fluids and/or mitigate their effects through different mechanisms. In this review, we collected evidence from pre-clinical and clinical studies showing that the impairment of male fertility and gonadal development, as well as cancers of reproductive system, due to the exposure of organic and inorganic pollutants, may be counteracted by flavonoids.
Autoimmune diseases are chronic disorders in which the immune system does not recognize and attacks one self's healthy components. In this context, although natural remedies might represent a ...promising therapeutic strategy, evidence regarding Citrus flavonoids is still controversial.
To summarize and critically discuss the clinical evidence on the effects of Citrus flavonoids on managing autoimmune diseases.
A systematic review of articles has been carried out independently by two authors using MEDLINE, Scopus and ISI Web of Science databases. Search terms comprised keywords related to Citrus flavonoids and autoimmune diseases. The last search was performed on the 16th of March, 2021. No language restrictions were applied. Systematic review and study selection were conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Before starting the review, the authors defined the types of articles to be included. Three reviewers independently carried out the extraction of papers.
Ten clinical studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and were included in the final review.
The studies discussed in this review are heterogeneous. Indeed, some studies suggest using Citrus flavonoids in the frame of autoimmune disorders, whereas others discourage it. Hence, this systematic review highlights the need for further large-scale clinical studies to define the exact role of Citrus flavonoids in managing autoimmune diseases (PROSPERO number CRD42021234903).
Phytochemicals have long been effective partners in the fight against several diseases, including cancer. Among these, flavonoids are valuable allies for both cancer prevention and therapy since they ...are known to influence a large panel of tumor-related processes. Particularly, it was revealed that quercetin, one of the most common flavonoids, controls apoptosis and inhibits migration and proliferation, events essential for the development of cancer. In this review, we collected the evidence on the anti-cancer activity of quercetin exploring the network of interactions between this flavonol and the proteins responsible for cancer onset and progression focusing on breast, colorectal and liver cancers, owing to their high worldwide incidence. Moreover, quercetin proved to be also a potentiating agent able to push further the anti-cancer activity of common employed anti-neoplastic agents, thus allowing to lower their dosages and, above all, to sensitize again resistant cancer cells. Finally, novel approaches to delivery systems can enhance quercetin's pharmacokinetics, thus boosting its great potentiality even further. Overall, quercetin has a lot of promise, given its multi-target potentiality; thus, more research is strongly encouraged to properly define its pharmaco-toxicological profile and evaluate its potential for usage in adjuvant and chemoprevention therapy.
A Mediterranean-style diet is highly encouraged thanks to its healthy food pattern, which includes valuable nutraceuticals such as polyphenols. Among these, flavonoids are associated with relevant ...biological properties through which they prevent or fight the onset of several human pathologies. Globally, the enhanced incidence of overweight and obese people has caused a dramatic increase in comorbidities, raising the need to provide better therapies. Therefore, the development of sophisticated animal models of metabolic dysregulation has allowed for a deepening of knowledge on this subject. Recent advances in using zebrafish (
) as model for metabolic disease have yielded fundamental insights into the potential anti-obesity effects of flavonoids. Chronic low-grade inflammation and immune system activation seem to characterize the pathogenesis of obesity; thus, their reduction might improve the lipid profile of obese patients or prevent the development of associated metabolic illnesses. In this review, we highlight the beneficial role of flavonoids on obesity and related diseases linked to their anti-inflammatory properties. In light of the summarized studies, we suggest that anti-inflammatory therapies could have a relevant place in the prevention and treatment of obesity and metabolic disorders.
Pharmacology and toxicology of tannins Maugeri, Alessandro; Lombardo, Giovanni Enrico; Cirmi, Santa ...
Archives of toxicology,
05/2022, Volume:
96, Issue:
5
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Tannins are an interesting class of polyphenols, characterized, in almost all cases, by a different degree of polymerization, which, inevitably, markedly influences their bioavailability, as well as ...biochemical and pharmacological activities. They have been used for the process of tanning to transform hides into leather, from which their name derives. For several time, they have not been accurately evaluated, but now researchers have started to unravel their potential, highlighting anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activities, as well as their involvement in cardiovascular, neuroprotective and in general metabolic diseases prevention. The mechanisms underlying their activity are often complex, but the main targets of their action (such as key enzymes modulation, activation of metabolic pathways and changes in the metabolic fluxes) are highlighted in this review, without losing sight of their toxicity. This aspect still needs further and better-designed study to be thoroughly understood and allow a more conscious use of tannins for human health.
It is known that plant phenolic compounds exert anti-inflammatory activity through both anti-oxidant effects and modulation of pivotal pro-inflammatory factors. Recently,
has been studied as a ...natural source of bioactive molecules; however, few studies have focused on the biological effect of oleacein (OLC), the most abundant secoiridoid. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential anti-oxidant activity of OLC, as well as to study its anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated THP-1-derived macrophages. LPS brought a dramatic increase of both release and gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β and TNF-α), as well as a decrease of anti-inflammatory ones (IL-10), the effects of which are reverted by OLC. Moreover, it reduced the levels of COX-2, NO and PGE
elicited by LPS exposure in THP-1 macrophages. Interestingly, OLC modulated inflammatory signaling pathways through the inhibition of CD14/TLR4/CD14/MyD88 axis and the activation of NF-κB. Finally, OLC showed relevant anti-oxidant capability, assessed by abiotic assays, and reduced the intracellular amount of ROS generated by LPS exposure in THP-1 macrophages. Overall, these results suggest that the anti-oxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effect of OLC may cooperate in its protective effect against inflammatory stressors, thus being a possible alternative pharmacological strategy aimed at reducing the inflammatory process.
During the last decades, a huge body of evidence has been accumulated suggesting that
fruits and their juices might have a role in preventing many diseases including cancer.
To summarize the numerous ...evidences on the potential of
juices and their extracts as anticancer agents.
A systematic review of articles written in English using MEDLINE (1946-present), EMBASE (1974-present) and Web of Sciences (1970-present) was performed independently by two reviewers. Search terms included
fruits,
fruits extract, cancer, neoplasm, neoplasia, tumor, metastasis, carcinogenesis, proliferation. The last search was performed on March 16th, 2017.
Study selection and systematic review were carried out in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Prior to the beginning of the review, Authors defined a checklist for inclusion criteria, thus including articles which meet the following: (i) published on peer-reviewed scientific journals; (ii)
juice used alone; (iii) extracts derived from
juice; (iii) for preclinical studies, an exposure time to
juices and their extracts more than 24 h. Reviews, meta-analyses, conference abstracts and book chapters were excluded.
Three reviewers independently performed the extraction of articles.
22 papers met our inclusion criteria and were eligible for inclusion in the final review. According to the kind of study, the selected ones were further divided in preclinical (
= 20) and observational (
= 2) studies.
The studies discussed in this review strongly corroborate the role of
juices and their derivatives as potential resource against cancer.
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