Bisphenol A (BPA) and silybin are considered xenoestrogens and could interfere with the action of endogenous hormones. It was demonstrated a higher level of BPA in plasma of nonalcoholic ...steatohepatitis (NASH) patients, compared to those with steatosis (NAFL). We investigated the effect of BPA and silybin, alone or in combination, on proliferation, oxidative stress and steroid metabolism in HepG2 grown in high glucose concentration medium (H-HepG2). Cell viability was assessed by adding 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT). TBARS were quantified by spectrophotometry. The effect of BPA, silybin and their combination on the expression of phosphorilized extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), ERK and Caspase 3 was determined by Western blot analysis. The identifications of lipids and steroid hormones was performed by mass spectrometry. BPA elicited in H-HepG2 oxidative stress and steroid hormones oxidation leading to the formation of metabolite with estrogenic and genotoxic potentials. Silybin ameliorates the harmful BPA-induced effect decreasing glucose uptake and lipid peroxidation. Moreover silybin activates the synthesis of vitamin D3 metabolites and prevent the steroid hormones oxidation. BPA could be considered as an important risk factor in worsening and progression of NAFLD. At the same time silybin could be a valid support to counteract these effects in NASH patients.
Ulcerative colitis (UC), an inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), may increase the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) by activating chronic proinflammatory pathways. The goal of this study was to find serum ...prediction biomarkers in UC to CRC development by combining low-density miRNA microarray and biocomputational approaches. The UC and CRC miRNA expression profiles were compared by low-density miRNA microarray, finding five upregulated miRNAs specific to UC progression to CRC (hsa-let-7d-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, hsa-miR-145-5p, hsa-miR-223-5p, and hsa-miR-331-3p). The circRNA/miRNA/mRNA competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis showed that the candidate miRNAs were connected to well-known colitis-associated CRC ACVR2A, SOCS1, IGF2BP1, FAM126A, and CCDC85C mRNAs, and circ-SHPRH circRNA. SST and SCARA5 genes regulated by hsa-let-7d-5p, hsa-miR-145-5p, and hsa-miR-331-3p were linked to a poor survival prognosis in a CRC patient dataset from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Lastly, our mRNA and miRNA candidates were validated by comparing their expression to differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs from colitis-associated CRC tissue databases. A high level of hsa-miR-331-3p and a parallel reduction in SOCS1 mRNA were found in tissue and serum. We propose hsa-miR-331-3p and possibly hsa-let-7d-5p as novel serum biomarkers for predicting UC progression to CRC. More clinical sample analysis is required for further validation.
Inflammatory bowel conditions can involve nearly all organ systems and induce pathological processes through increased oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation and disruption of the immune response. ...Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are at high risk of having extra-intestinal manifestations, for example, in the hepatobiliary system. In 30% of patients with IBD, the blood values of liver enzymes, such as AST and ALT, are increased. Moreover, treatments for inflammatory bowel diseases may cause liver toxicity. Apple polyphenol extracts are widely acknowledged for their potential antioxidant effects, which help prevent damage from oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, provide protection to the liver, and enhance lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the polyphenol apple extract from Malus domestica cv. 'Limoncella' (LAPE) may be an effective intervention for the treatment of IBD-induced hepatotoxicity. The LAPE was administrated in vivo by oral gavage (3-300 mg/kg) once a day for 3 consecutive days, starting 24 h after the induction of dinitro-benzenesulfonic acid (DNBS) colitis in mice. The results showed that LAPE significantly attenuated histological bowel injury, myeloperoxidase activity, tumor necrosis factor and interleukin (IL-1β) expressions. Furthermore, LAPE significantly improved the serum lipid peroxidation and liver injury in DNBS-induced colitis, as well as reduced the nuclear transcription factor-kappaB activation. In conclusion, these results suggest that LAPE, through its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, could prevent liver damage induced by inflammatory bowel disease.
Silybin is a flavonolignan extracted from
(milk thistle) with hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity. Several studies have shown that silybin is highly effective to prevent and ...treat different types of cancer and that its antitumor mechanisms involve the arrest of the cell cycle and/or apoptosis. An MTT assay was performed to study cell viability, lipid peroxidation, extracellular NO production, and scavenger enzyme activity were studied by Thiobarbituric Acid-Reactive Species (TBARS) assay, NO assay, and MnSOD assay, respectively. Cell cycle and apoptosis analysis were performed by FACS. miRNA profiling were evaluated by real time PCR. In this study, we demonstrated that Silybin induced growth inhibition blocking the Hepg2 cells in G1 phase of cell cycle and activating the process of programmed cell death. Moreover, the antiproliferative effects of silybin were paralleled by a strong increase of the number of ceramides involved in the modulation of miRNA secretion. In particular, after treatment with silybin, miR223-3p and miR16-5p were upregulated, while miR-92-3p was downregulated (
< 0.05). In conclusion, our results suggest that silybin-Induced apoptosis occurs in parallel to the increase of ceramides synthesis and miRNAs secretion in HepG2 cells.
Over the centuries, humans have traditionally used garlic (
L.) as a food ingredient (spice) and remedy for many diseases. To confirm this, many extensive studies recognized the therapeutic effects ...of garlic bulbs. More recently, black garlic (BG), made by heat-ageing white garlic bulbs, has increased its popularity in cuisine and traditional medicine around the world, but there is still limited information on its composition and potential beneficial effects. In this study, the metabolite profile of methanol extract of BG (BGE) was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry in high-resolution mode. Results allowed to establish that BGE major components were sulfur derivatives, saccharides, peptides, organic acids, a phenylpropanoid derivative, saponins, and compounds typical of glycerophospholipid metabolism. Characterization of the BGE action in cancer cells revealed that antioxidant, metabolic, and hepatoprotective effects occur upon treatment as well as induction of maturation of acute myeloid leukemia cells. These results are interesting from the impact point of view of BG consumption as a functional food for potential prevention of metabolic and tumor diseases.
Various bi-directional associations exist between oral health and gastro-intestinal diseases. The oral microbiome plays a role in the gastro-intestinal carcinogenesis and fusobacteria are the most ...investigated bacteria involved. This paper aims to review the current knowledge and report the preliminary data on salivary levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis and Candida albicans in subjects with different gastro-intestinal conditions or pathologies, in order to determine any differences. The null hypothesis was “subjects with different gastro-intestinal diseases do not show significant differences in the composition of the oral microbiota”. Twenty-one subjects undergoing esophagastroduodenoscopy or colonscopy were recruited. For each subject, a salivary sample was collected before the endoscopy procedure, immediately stored at −20 °C and subsequently used for genomic bacterial DNA extraction by real-time PCR. Low levels of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis were peculiar in the oral microbiota in subjects affected by Helicobater pylori-negative chronic gastritis without cancerization and future studies will elucidate this association. The level of C. albicans did not statistically differ among groups. This preliminary study could be used in the future, following further investigation, as a non-invasive method for the search of gastrointestinal diseases and associated markers.
Under physiological conditions, the small intestine represents a barrier against harmful antigens and pathogens. Maintaining of the intestinal barrier depends largely on cell⁻cell interactions ...(adherent-junctions) and cell⁻matrix interactions (tight-junctions). Inflammatory bowel disease is characterized by chronic inflammation, which induces a destructuring of the architecture junctional epithelial proteins with consequent rupture of the intestinal barrier. Recently, a peptide identified by
milk-derived products (MBCP) has been able to reduce oxidative stress in intestinal epithelial cells and erythrocytes. Our aim was to evaluate the therapeutic potential of MBCP in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We studied the effect of MBCP on (i) inflamed human intestinal Caco2 cells and (ii) dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS) mice model of colitis. We have shown that MBCP, at non-cytotoxic concentrations, both
and
induced the adherent epithelial junctions organization, modulated the nuclear factor (NF)-κB pathway and reduced the intestinal permeability. Furthermore, the MBCP reverted the atropine and tubocurarine injury effects on adherent-junctions. The data obtained showed that MBCP possesses anti-inflammatory effects both
and
. These results could have an important impact on the therapeutic potential of MBCP in helping to restore the intestinal epithelium integrity damaged by inflammation.
•NMR-based identification of megastigmanes as antidiabetic molecules.•Molecules responsible for walnut leaf decoction antidiabetic activity are identified.•The bioactivity of megastigmanes against ...HepG2 and Caco2 cell lines is described.
Walnut trees (Juglans regia) are a priceless source of nutrients and beneficial molecules. Besides the nuts, also the leaves have been commonly used to prepare teas and decoctions, with the purpose of curing diabetic symptoms. In vivo trials have ascertained the walnut leaf capability to ameliorate hyperglycaemia in humans. However, conclusive studies aimed at identifying the molecules responsible for the antidiabetic activity of the walnut leaves are still missing. This paper reports on a bio-guided separation of the walnut leaf extract that led to the isolation and NMR-based identification of two compounds belonging to the megastigmane class as the major antidiabetic molecules of the extract. An in-depth evaluation of their potential to affect the glucose uptake in HepG2 and Caco-2 cell lines was also conducted. The presented results are ultimately expected to allow a more rational use of walnut leaf-based beverages in the therapy of diabetes.
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•Kashk, a fermented dairy product from Middle East, exhibits a complex peptidome.•Kashk peptide extracts have been characterized and their bioactivity assayed.•Antibacterial and wound ...healing activity was justified by peptidome analysis.•Skin care based on kashk peptides may help patients with atopic dermatitis.
Kashk is a fermented dairy product typical of the Middle East, traditionally produced with sour milk and/or dairy waste. The kashk water-soluble peptide fraction was characterized at the molecular level by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and its antibacterial and skin healing activity was evaluated. Antibacterial assays showed a significant antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) from patients with atopic dermatitis, inhibiting bacterial growth by approximately 45% (500 μg/mL). Skin repair activity was evaluated on keratinocytes through scratch tests showing accelerated wound closure in vitro in the presence of TNF-α, by approximately 44% (500 μg/mL), compared to control cells. Furthermore, based on the MTT assay, the kashk peptide fraction did not show toxicity on keratinocytes. The results suggested that the peptide kashk extract may be useful in skin care for patients with atopic dermatitis.
This study was conceived to evaluate the effects of three different diets on body composition, metabolic parameters, and serum oxidative status. We enrolled three groups of healthy men (omnivores, ...vegetarians, and vegans) with similar age, weight and BMI, and we observed a significant decrease in muscle mass index and lean body mass in vegan compared to vegetarian and omnivore groups, and higher serum homocysteine levels in vegetarians and vegans compared to omnivores. We studied whether serum from omnivore, vegetarian, and vegan subjects affected oxidative stress, growth and differentiation of both cardiomyoblast cell line H9c2 and H‐H9c2 (H9c2 treated with H2O2 to induce oxidative damage). We demonstrated that vegan sera treatment of both H9c2 and H‐H9c2 cells induced an increase of TBARS values and cell death and a decrease of free NO2− compared to vegetarian and omnivorous sera. Afterwards, we investigated the protective effects of vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore sera on the morphological changes induced by H2O2 in H9c2 cell line. We showed that the omnivorous sera had major antioxidant and differentiation properties compared to vegetarian and vegan sera. Finally, we evaluated the influence of the three different groups of sera on MAPKs pathway and our data suggested that ERK expression increased in H‐H9c2 cells treated with vegetarian and vegan sera and could promote cell death. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that restrictive vegan diet could not prevent the onset of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases nor protect by oxidative damage.
This study was conceived to evaluate the effects of three different diets on body composition, metabolic parameters, and serum oxidative status, and growth and differentiation of cardiomyoblast cell line H9c2 treated with H2O2 (H‐H9c2). We demonstrated that the vegan diets induced a decrease in muscle mass index and lean body mass. Therefore our data showed that the omnivorous sera have major antioxidant and differentiation property compared to vegetarian and vegan sera. The results obtained in this study demonstrated that restrictive vegan diet could not prevent the onset of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases nor protect by oxidative damage.