1,721,130 research outputs found
Bioactive phytochemicals and functional food ingredients in fruits and vegetables
No full textToday, it is widely accepted that a plant-based diet produces wellbeing and prevents the onset of several human diseases [...]
Effetto di una dieta arricchita in fragole nella modulazione della risposta infiammatoria
No full textNutraceutical compounds targeting inflammasomes in human diseases
No full textThe macromolecular complex known as “inflammasome” is defined as an intracellular multi-protein complex composed of a sensor receptor (PRR), an adaptor protein and an effector enzyme (caspase-1), which oligomerize when they sense danger, such as how the NLR family, AIM-2 and RIG-1 receptors protect the body against danger via cytokine secretion. Within the NLR members, NLRP3 is the most widely known and studied inflammasome and has been linked to many diseases. Nowadays, people’s interest in their lifestyles and nutritional habits is increasing, mainly due to the large number of diseases that seem to be related to both. The term “nutraceutical” has recently emerged as a hybrid term between “nutrition” and “pharmacological” and it refers to a wide range of bioactive compounds contained in food with relevant effects on human health. The relationship between these compounds and diseases based on inflammatory processes has been widely exposed and the compounds stand out as an alternative to the pathological consequences that inflammatory processes may have, beyond their defense and repair action. Against this backdrop, here we review the results of studies using several nutraceutical compounds in common diseases associated with the inflammation and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasomes complex. In general, it was found that there is a wide range of nutraceuticals with effects through different molecular pathways that affect the activation of the inflammasome complex, with positive effects mainly in cardiovascular, neurological diseases, cancer and type 2 diabetes
Status of strawberry breeding programs and cultivation systems in Europe and the rest of the world
No full textNon-nutrient, naturally occurring phenolic compounds with antioxidant activity for the prevention and treatment of periodontal diseases
No full textOne of the main factors able to explain the pathophysiological mechanism of inflammatory conditions that occur in periodontal disease is oxidative stress. Given the emerging understanding of this relationship, host-modulatory therapies using antioxidants could be interesting to prevent or slow the breakdown of soft and hard periodontal tissues. In this context, non-nutrient phenolic compounds of various foods and plants have received considerable attention in the last decade. Here, studies focusing on the relationship between different compounds of this type with periodontal disease have been collected. Among them, thymoquinone, coenzyme Q (CoQ), mangiferin, resveratrol, verbascoside and some flavonoids have shown to prevent or ameliorate periodontal tissues damage in animal models. However evidence regarding this effect in humans is poor and only limited to topical treatments with CoQ and catechins. Along with animal experiments, in vitro studies indicate that possible mechanisms by which these compounds might exert their protective effects include antioxidative properties, oxygen and nitrogen scavenging abilities, and also inhibitory effects on cell signaling cascades related to inflammatory processes which have an effect on RNS or ROS production as well as on antioxidant defense systems
A review of mushrooms in human nutrition and health
No full textBackground: mushrooms are traditionally used as a food ingredient and in folk medicine. Many in vitro and animal studies have reported their potential health effects, but without any clear application in human health. Although they have a worldwide history of use in dishes and folk medicine, mushroom extracts are commonly taken as supplements but need to be evaluated regarding clinical effects and safety, in particular among patients searching for further efficacy for their disease beside pharmacological treatments already prescribed. Scope and approach: this review summarizes available data from the scientific literature about the nutritional and effects of mushrooms on human health by selecting clinical studies on humans in English. At the same time, the safety profile and unwanted effects were highlighted. Key findings and conclusions: in spite of their wide use among populations, data on humans were scant and did not justify extensive use without more well-designed trials on mushroom efficacy. Overall, their use seems to be safe, but with some side effects, easily reversible after intake interruption. Nutritional use seems promising for coping with the energy surplus of the Western countries and could be useful for some nutritional aspects
Manuka honey, oxidative stress, 5-fluorouracil treatment, and colon cancer cells
No full textManuka honey (MH) is a rich source of several biological and pharmacological bioactive compounds, as well as natural antioxidants. The phenolic compounds of MH are significantly correlated with its antioxidant capacity and its beneficial effect in human health is becoming more apparent. This chapter focuses on the antioxidant and anticancer activity of MH in in vitro and in vivo models. A rising amount of evidence indicates that MH exerts protective effects against oxidative damage through scavenging or quenching of oxygen free radicals, protecting biomolecules, activating antioxidant enzymes, and increasing antioxidant responsive element expressions both in in vitro and in vivo models. In colon cancer cells, MH induced preventive and therapeutic effects by suppressing cancer cells proliferation, activating apoptosis, inducing oxidative stress, and inhibiting metastatic processes through altering multiple molecular targets. Additionally, the anticancer effectiveness of 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy was augmented in the presence of MH at less doses
Anticancer effect of a strawberry tree honey in human colon carcinoma cell line: Possible mechanisms of anti-proliferation, apoptosis induction, ROS production and mitochondrial dysfunction
No full textEffects of phytochemicals on thyroid function and their possible role in thyroid disease
No full textAbout 1 of 10 women, particularly those older than 60 years of age, shows some degree of thyroid hormone deficiency. Thyroid diseases are generally characterized by perturbations of thyroid signaling homeostasis. The most common examples of thyroid diseases include hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and several types of thyroid cancers. Phytochemicals have been shown to have either beneficial or detrimental effects on thyroid function. Some flavonoids have been reported to affect the expression and the activity of several thyroid-related enzymes and proteins, and for this reason some concerns have been raised about the possible thyroid-disruptive properties of foods enriched in these substances. On the other hand, the beneficial effects of some plant-derived compounds, such as myricetin, quercetin, apigenin, rutin, genistein, and curcumin, and their possible role as adjuvants for the treatment of thyroid cancers have been described. Here, the role of phytochemicals in thyroid signaling modulation and their possible beneficial or detrimental effects on thyroid disease risk are discussed
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