Journal of Functional Foods

Curcumin metabolism by human intestinal bacteria in vitro Publication date: October 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 61 Author(s): Toshio Niwa, Shin-ichiro Yokoyama, Mika Mochizuki, Toshihiko Osawa Abstract We tried to isolate metabolite in curcumin by incubation with human feces in vitro for the better understanding of curcumin activity in vivo. One group containing some bacteria, referred as 1C, produced a metabolite other than tetrahydrocurcumin. Structural analysis revealed that this new metabolite was 3-hydroxy-1,7-bis(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)heptane by comparing it to the reported optically active compound rubranol, which has 3R stereochemistry. In order to determine the absolute stereochemistry of the secondary alcohol of this metabolite, we synthesized its racemic tetramethyl derivative. From HPLC analysis that separate the synthetic sample to two peaks, this metabolite was optically active and was primarily an enantiomer of rubranol. We also compared the activities of curcumin and the metabolite using monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) which is produced in vitro by murine adipocytes. The metabolite exhibited an inhibition effect associated with the production of MCP-1, which was similar to that of curcumin with attenuated cytotoxicity. Graphical abstract

Protective effect of L-cysteine on biomarkers and peripheral nervous system in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats Publication date: October 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 61 Author(s): Yang Yu, Zuogong Zhao, Tiehu Liu, Hua Wan, Dongnan Qi Abstract The present study investigated the protective effect of L-cysteine on biomarkers and peripheral nervous system in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The experimental groups included sham, control, 0.1 mM cysteine treatment, and 0.2 mM cysteine treatment. Behavioral assessment, fasting glucose, lipid peroxidation, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities, as well as reduced GSH, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), -α, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, and MMP-9 levels were determined. Both mRNA and protein expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were assessed. L-Cysteine increased paw withdrawal threshold and latency to rat paw withdrawal. Fasting glucose, lipid peroxidation was reduced, while antioxidant markers returned to normal levels. TNF-α, IL-6, MMP-2/9 were also reduced following treatment. Treatment of rats with L-cysteine reduced MMP-2/9 mRNA and protein levels by more than 40%. Taken together, our findings show that L-cysteine supplementation is effective against biomarkers and peripheral neuropathy in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model. Graphical abstract

Flavonoids from Livistona chinensis fruit ameliorates LPS/D-GalN-induced acute liver injury by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation Publication date: October 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 61 Author(s): Meimei Wu, Chunli Wang, Chutian Mai, Jiannan Chen, Xiaoping Lai, Lian He, Song Huang, Xiaojun Zhang Abstract Livistona chinensis fruit is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used for treating hepatitis, but its protective effect against hepatitis remains unknown. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect and mechanism of flavonoids from Livistona chinensis fruit (FLCF). Mice received FLCF pre-treatment for 7 days and induced liver injury with LPS+D-GalN. RAW264.7 cells were triggered inflammation by LPS and received FLCF for 24 h. The result showed that FLCF ameliorated the liver pathology in mice, decreased the levels of AST, ALT, MDA, but increased SOD and GSH. Moreover, FLCF inhibited TLR4/NF-κB signaling, while activated Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in LPS+D-GalN mice. These effects were consistent with the in vitro data revealing that FLCF suppressed TLR4/NF-κB signaling, while promoting Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in RAW264.7 cell. The effects of FLCF were neutralized by Nrf2 siRNA. Taken together, these results demonstrated that FLCF has a protective role against acute liver injury and supports its use as a dietotherapy. Graphical abstract

Identification of bioactive peptides from brewers’ spent grain and contribution of Leu/Ile to bioactive potency Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 60 Author(s): Maria Cermeño, Alan Connolly, Martina B. O'Keeffe, Cal Flynn, Adeola M. Alashi, Rotimi E. Aluko, Richard J. FitzGerald Abstract Brewer's spent grain (BSG) is a co-product of the brewing industry and is a potentially rich source of bioactive peptides. A BSG protein hydrolysate, manufactured at a semi-pilot scale, mediated significant hypotensive effects 6 h after ingestion in spontaneously hypertensive rats. This hydrolysate was fractionated and further analysed by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS for peptide identification. The peptides, IPY and LPY demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity (0.37 ± 0.02 and 0.34 ± 0.02 µmol Trolox equivalents µM peptide−1, respectively), IPLQP and LPLQP had the highest ACE inhibitory activity (IC50: 3.10 ± 0.60 and 3.17 ± 0.60 µM, respectively) while IPVP had the highest DPP-IV inhibitory activity (IC50: 38.67 ± 5.94 µM). Overall, peptides containing I had higher in vitro bioactivities when compared to peptides having L. Novel BSG peptides were identified with potential for application as naturally derived ingredients for the management of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Graphical abstract

Blueberry intake included in hypocaloric diet decreases weight, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and adenosine levels in obese subjects Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 60 Author(s): María Fernanda Higuera-Hernández, Elena Reyes-Cuapio, Marissa Gutiérrez-Mendoza, Henning Budde, Carlos Blanco-Centurión, André Barciela Veras, Nuno Barbosa Rocha, Tetsuya Yamamoto, Diogo Monteiro, Jaime Zaldívar-Rae, Dalila Aldana-Aranda, Sérgio Machado, Eric Murillo-Rodríguez Abstract Obesity is a disease characterized by an excessive accumulation of fat in the body and it has been linked the enhancement of inflammation-related endogenous molecules, such as adenosine (AD). Since blueberries may induce anti-obesity effects, we tested the hypothesis that blueberries consumption contained in hypocaloric diet would decrease weight, BMI as well as glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and AD levels in obese subjects. The baseline conditions of obesity-related variables were collected for all subjects prior the implementation of blueberries intake. Later, participants received a hypocaloric diet that included the consumption of blueberries (50 g/day) during 30 days. We found that male obese subjects that consumed blueberries showed a decrease in weight, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides and AD whereas female obese subjects that ate blueberries in hypocaloric diet showed no differences in weight, BMI, glucose and triglycerides but displayed a diminution in cholesterol and AD levels. Data suggest that intake of blueberries seems to decrease some of the obese-linked parameters in male or female subjects. Importantly, blueberry consumption decreased the inflammation-related compound AD in both sexes. Graphical abstract

Coreopsis tinctoria flowers extract ameliorates D-galactose induced aging in mice via regulation of Sirt1-Nrf2 signaling pathway Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 60 Author(s): Yong Tian, Zhen Wen, Lin Lei, Fuhua Li, Jichun Zhao, Qi Zhi, Fuxiang Li, Ran Yin, Jian Ming Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects and its underlying signaling pathways of Coreopsis tinctoria flowers extract (CTE) on D-galactose induced aging in mice. UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis of CTE identified 12 active compounds, including three phenolic acids and nine flavonoids. The extract showed superior antioxidant activities in vitro using DPPH, FRAP, and ORAC assay. Administration with CTE remarkably improved body weight, organ indexes of aging mice, and liver histological injury as well as decreased oxidative stress markers levels of aged mice. Further studies showed CTE treatment significantly enhanced Sirt1 expression and activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway by the increase of Nrf2 nuclear translocation, NQO-1 and HO-1 expression. Furthermore, CTE treatment resulted in the increase of Sirt3 and the suppression of p53. These results demonstrated that the promising anti-aging effects of Coreopsis tinctoria flowers extract might be related to up-regulation of Sirt1-Nrf2 signaling pathway. Graphical abstract

Lipase inhibitory activity of skim milk fermented with different strains of lactic acid bacteria Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 60 Author(s): Ana María Gil-Rodríguez, Thomas P. Beresford Abstract One of the main causes of obesity is an imbalance between energy intake and expenditure. One approach to facilitate weight loss is to decrease absorption of energy-rich nutrients by inhibition of pancreatic lipase. A spectrophotometric method was developed to evaluate the potential of milk fermented with lactic acid bacteria to inhibit pancreatic lipase in vitro. Fermentates produced with Lactobacillus helveticus strains at 42 °C exhibited the highest levels of lipase inhibition, with strains SC8, SC44 and SC45 inhibiting pancreatic lipase by >49%, significantly higher than the activity of a milk control. In all cases activity was retained after removal of large proteins including casein and in the <3 kDa fraction, but not in the 3–10 kDa fraction. Although these results require validation with in vivo models, the strains L. helveticus SC8, SC44 and SC45 are good candidates for use in the production of functional food products with potential anti-obesity effects. Graphical abstract

Structural characterisation and immunomodulatory activity of a polysaccharide isolated from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) root residues Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 60 Author(s): Weicheng Hu, Yunyao Jiang, Qi Xue, Fengting Sun, Jianmei Zhang, Jing Zhou, Zhiqiang Niu, Qiuting Li, Fu Li, Ting Shen Abstract An active water-soluble lotus root polysaccharide (LRP) with average molecular weight of 1.24 × 104 Da was purified from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) root residues. The structure of LRP was determined to be α-D-(1 → 4)-linked glucopyranosyl moieties with non-reducing terminal α-D-Glcp at O-6 as branches approximately every six residues. An immunological activity assay indicated that LRP significantly promoted the production of nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). LRP induced nuclear translocation of activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-κB. Intriguingly, LRP remarkably increased phosphorylation of upstream signalling molecules, including extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal protein kinase, IκBα, Akt, and p85. Moreover, LRP promoted the secretion of TNF-α and interleukin-2 in cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppressive mice. Collectively, these results suggest that LRP can improve immunity by enhancing immune function both in vitro and in vivo and this substance might be explored as an immunomodulatory agent for use in dietary supplements. Graphical abstract

Phenolic rich extracts from cowpea sprouts decrease cell proliferation and enhance 5-fluorouracil effect in human colorectal cancer cell lines Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 60 Author(s): Catarina I. Teixeira-Guedes, David Oppolzer, Ana I. Barros, Cristina Pereira-Wilson Abstract It is known that diets high in legumes can help in the prevention and/or reduction of colorectal cancer. These effects may result, in part, from their high phenolic content. The aims of this study were to characterize the effect of sprouting on phenolic content and antioxidant activity, and test the anti-colorectal cancer effects including possible potentiation of 5-fluorouracil efficacy. Sprouting increased 1.7-fold the total phenolic content and 2.8-fold the antioxidant activity relative to raw extracts. The extract from sprouts produced a significant decrease in cell viability particularly in HCT116 and HCT15. The sprout extracts also induced significant cell death in all cell lines. The combination of extracts of cowpea sprouts with 5-fluorouracil increased sensitivity to the drug in the most resistant cells. Overall, spouting increased the anti-colorectal cancer activity of cowpea and potentiated 5-fluorouracil efficacy which warrants further research on the potential of cowpea sprouts as anti-colorectal cancer functional foods. Graphical abstract

Wheat bran thermal treatment in a hot air oven does not affect the fermentation and colonisation process by human faecal microbiota Publication date: September 2019 Source: Journal of Functional Foods, Volume 60 Author(s): Kim De Paepe, Joran Verspreet, Christophe M. Courtin, Tom Van de Wiele Abstract Wheat bran, rich in dietary fibre, serves as an important fermentation substrate and provides a unique colonisation site for the human gut microbiota. Dry heat treatment is frequently applied to stabilise wheat bran by inactivating endogenous enzymes that otherwise cause rancidity. It, however, alters wheat bran surface properties, which might affect wheat bran colonisation and fermentation, possibly interfering with the production of health promoting microbial metabolites. We found that the heat-induced increased bran surface hydrophobicity was obliterated during in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. As a consequence, the prebiotic action was preserved during in vitro batch incubations with faecal microbiota from ten healthy individuals. The microbial community both in suspension and colonising the insoluble wheat bran residue, remained unaffected and sustained a similar microbial activity compared to unmodified wheat bran. The wheat-bran attached and luminal community differed significantly, confirming our previous results and this was unaffected by dry heat-treatment. Graphical abstract