Phenolic composition of hydrophilic extract of manna from sicilian Fraxinus angustifolia vahl and its reducing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in vitro

Manna, a very singular vegetable product derived from the spontaneous solidification of the sap of some Fraxinus species, has long been known for its mild laxative and emollient properties. In this work, a hydro-alcoholic extract of manna (HME) from Sicilian Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl was investigated using HPLC-DAD to find phenol components and using chemical and biological in vitro assays to determine its reducing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. We identified elenolic acid, tyrosol, hydroxytyrosol, catechin, fraxetin, verbascoside, gallic acid, procyanidin-B1, and luteolin 3,7 glucoside, in order of abundance. Measurements of total antioxidant activity by Folin-Ciocalteu reaction and ferric reducing ability (FRAP), as well as of scavenger activity towards ABTS•+, DPPH•, and perferryl-myoglobin radicals, showed that the phytocomplex effectively reduced oxidants with different standard potentials. When compared with vitamin E, HME also behaved as an efficient chain-breaking antioxidant against lipoperoxyl radicals from methyl linoleate. In cellular models for oxidative stress, HME counteracted membrane lipid oxidation of human erythrocytes stimulated by tert-butyl hydroperoxide and prevented the generation of reactive oxygen species, as well as the GSH decay in IL-1β–activated intestinal normal-like cells. Moreover, in this in vitro intestinal bowel disease model, HME reduced the release of the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6 and IL-8. These findings may suggest that manna acts as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory natural product in humans, beyond its well-known effects against constipation

Suicidal erythrocyte death in metabolic syndrome

Eryptosis is a coordinated, programmed cell death culminating with the disposal of cells without disruption of the cell membrane and the release of endocellular oxidative and pro-inflammatory milieu. While providing a convenient form of death for erythrocytes, dysregulated eryptosis may result in a series of detrimental and harmful pathological consequences highly related to the endothelial dysfunction (ED). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is described as a cluster of cardiometabolic factors (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) that increases the risk of cardiovascular complications such as those related to diabetes and atherosclerosis. In the light of the crucial role exerted by the eryptotic process in the ED, the focus of the present review is to report and discuss the involvement of eryptosis within MetS, where vascular complications are utterly relevant. Current knowledge on the mechanisms leading to eryptosis in MetS-related conditions (hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity) will be analyzed. Moreover, clinical evidence supporting or proposing a role for eryptosis in the ED, associated to MetS cardiovascular complications, will be discussed

Antioxidant Betalains from Cactus Pear (Opuntia Ficus Indica) inhibit endothelial ICAM-1 expression

It has been suggested that some pigments would have antioxidant properties and that their presence in dietary constituents would contribute to reduce the risk of oxidative stress\u2013correlated diseases. Among others, inflammatory response depends on redox status and may implicate oxidative stress. Vascular endothelial cells are a direct target of oxidative stress in inflammation. We have tested the impact of the free radical scavenger and antioxidant properties of betalains from the prickle pear in an in vitro model of endothelial cells. Here we show the capacity of betalains to protect endothelium from cytokine- induced redox state alteration, through ICAM-1 inhibition. KEYWORDS: endothelial cells; ICAM-1; betalains; antiinflammatory drug

Cytoprotective effects of the antioxidant phytochemical indicaxanthin in beta-thalassemia red blood cells

Antioxidant phytochemicals are investigated as novel treatments for supportive therapy in b-thalassemia. The dietary indicaxanthin was assessed for its protective effects on human b-thalassemic RBCs submitted in vitro to oxidative haemolysis by cumene hydroperoxide. Indicaxanthin at 1.0\u201310 mMenhanced the resistance to haemolysis dose-dependently. In addition, it prevented lipid and haemoglobin (Hb) oxidation, and retarded vitamin E and GSH depletion. After ex vivo spiking of blood from thalassemia patients with indicaxanthin, the phytochemical was recovered in the soluble cell compartment of the RBCs. A spectrophotometric study showed that indicaxanthin can reduce perferryl-Hb generated in solution from met-Hb and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), more effectively than either Trolox or vitamin C. Collectively our results demonstrate that indicaxanthin can be incorporated into the redox machinery of b-thalassemic RBC and defend the cell from oxidation, possibly interfering with perferryl-Hb, a reactive intermediate in the hydroperoxidedependent Hb degradation. Opportunities of therapeutic interest for b-thalassemia may be considered

Anti-proliferative effect of main dietary phytosterols and \u3b2-cryptoxanthin alone or combined in human colon cancer Caco-2 cells through cytosolic Ca+2 \u2013 and oxidative stress induced apoptosis

\u3b2-cryptoxanthin (\u3b2-Cx) and phytosterols (Ps) have potential against different cancer types,including colon cancer. However, their combined action has not been reported so far. Human colon cancer Caco-2 cells were treated 24 h with \u3b2-Cx and/or main dietary Ps (\u3b2-sitosterol, campesterol and stigmasterol), alone or in combination, at concentrations compatible with physiological human serum levels. A decrease in cell viability due to apoptosis (rise in sub-G1 population and exposure of membrane phosphatidylserine) was accompanied with dephosphorylation of BAD, mitochondrial depolarization and caspase 3-dependent PARP cleavage, with intracellular Ca2+ influx and increase of RONS levels as initial triggers. Ps and \u3b2-Cx, alone or in combination showed anti-proliferative activity against human colon adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells through the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. No additive or synergistic effects were observed.The importance of bioactivity-guided assays with mixtures of dietary bioactive compounds to determine their eventual interactions in the functional food context is demonstrated

Antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of the phytochemical Indicaxanthin on human intestinal (Caco-2) and hepatic (Ha 22T) cancer cell lines

In the present study antiproliferative effects of Indicaxanthin (Ind), a highly bioavailable pigment from the fruits of Opuntia ficus-indica (1), were investigated on a number of human cancer cell lines including hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2, Ha22T, HUH 7), breast cancer cells (MCF7), cervix epithelial carcinoma (HeLa), and colorectal carcinoma cells (Caco-2). Cytotoxicity of Ind, in a concentration range between 25 to 100 \uf06dM, was evaluated by Trypan blue exclusion method and MTT assay. Ind caused a clear dose- and time-dependent decrease in the proliferation of Caco-2 and Ha 22T cells with an IC(50) of about 50 \uf06dM, with minor effect on the other cell lines. Flow cytometric analysis after Annexin V-FITC and propidium iodure double staining, at 24, 48 and 72 h of treatment with 100 \uf06dM Ind, showed a pro-apoptotic effect of the pigment at 48 and 72 h. Effect of Ind on DNA methylation investigated on DNA from Ha22T cells line and Caco2 cells line at 48 h of treatment with 10 \uf06dM Ind, using MESAP-PCR (Methylation-Sensitive Arbitrarily-Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction) (3) showed that Ind induces a slight global demethylation. While antiproliferative effects of indicaxanthin add further value to the nutritional characteristics of the fruits of O. ficus-indica (2), our results also are consistent with the emerging role of dietary phytochemicals on the epigenetic regulation of gene expression

Evaluation of the IKKβ Binding of Indicaxanthin by Induced-Fit Docking, Binding Pose Metadynamics, and Molecular Dynamics

Background: Indicaxanthin, a betaxanthin belonging to the betalain class of compounds, has been recently demonstrated to exert significant antiproliferative effects inducing apoptosis of human melanoma cells through the inhibition of NF-κB as the predominant pathway. Specifically, Indicaxanthin inhibited IκBα degradation in A375 cells. In resting cells, NF-κB is arrested in the cytoplasm by binding to its inhibitor protein IκBα. Upon stimulation, IκBα is phosphorylated by the IKK complex, and degraded by the proteasome, liberating free NF-κB into the nucleus to initiate target gene transcription. Inhibition of the IKK complex leads to the arrest of the NF-κB pathway. Methods: To acquire details at the molecular level of Indicaxanthin’s inhibitory activity against hIKKβ, molecular modeling and simulation techniques including induced-fit docking (IFD), binding pose metadynamics (BPMD), molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA (molecular mechanics-generalized Born surface area continuum solvation) have been performed. Results: The computational calculations performed on the active and inactive form, and the allosteric binding site of hIKKβ, revealed that Indicaxanthin inhibits prevalently the active form of the hIKKβ. MM-GBSA computations provide further evidence of Indicaxanthin’s stability inside the active binding pocket with a binding free energy of −22.2 ± 4.3 kcal/mol with respect to the inactive binding pocket with a binding free energy of −20.7 ± 4.7 kcal/mol. BPMD and MD simulation revealed that Indicaxanthin is likely not an allosteric inhibitor of hIKKβ. Conclusion: As a whole, these in silico pieces of evidence show that Indicaxanthin can inhibit the active form of the hIKKβ adding novel mechanistic insights on its recently discovered ability to impair NF-κB signaling in melanoma A375 cells. Moreover, our results suggest the phytochemical as a new lead compound for novel, more potent IKKβ inhibitors to be employed in the treatment of cancer and inflammation-related conditions

Anti-Eryptotic Activity of Food-Derived Phytochemicals and Natural Compounds

Human red blood cells (RBCs), senescent or damaged due to particular stress, can be removed by programmed suicidal death, a process called eryptosis. There are various molecular mechanisms underlying eryptosis. The most frequent is the increase in the cytoplasmic concentration of Ca2+ ions, later exposure of erythrocytes to oxidative stress, hyperosmotic shock, ceramide formation, stimulation of caspases, and energy depletion. Phosphatidylserine (PS) exposed by eryptotic RBCs due to interaction with endothelial CXC-Motiv-Chemokin-16/Scavenger-receptor, causes the RBCs to adhere to vascular wall with consequent damage to the microcirculation. Eryptosis can be triggered by various xenobiotics and endogenous molecules, such as high cholesterol levels. The possible diseases associated with eryptosis are various, including anemia, chronic kidney disease, liver failure, diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, thrombosis, obesity, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, and lupus. This review addresses and collates the existing ex vivo and animal studies on the inhibition of eryptosis by food-derived phytochemicals and natural compounds including phenolic compounds (PC), alkaloids, and other substances that could be a therapeutic and/or co-adjuvant option in eryptotic-driven disorders, especially if they are introduced through the diet

Indicaxanthin from Opuntia ficus-indica fruit ameliorates glucose dysmetabolism and counteracts insulin resistance in high-fat-diet-fed mice

Obesity-related dysmetabolic conditions are amongst the most common causes of death globally. Indicaxanthin, a bioavailable betalain pigment from Opuntia ficus-indica fruit, has been demonstrated to modulate redox-dependent signalling pathways, exerting significant anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo. In light of the strict interconnections between in-flammation, oxidative stress and insulin resistance (IR), a nutritionally relevant dose of indicaxanthin has been evaluated in a high-fat diet (HFD) model of obesity-related IR. To this end, biochemical and histological analysis, oxidative stress and inflammation evaluations in liver and adipose tissue were carried out. Our results showed that indicaxanthin treatment significantly reduced body weight, daily food intake and visceral fat mass. Moreover, indicaxanthin administration induced remark-able, beneficial effects on HFD-induced glucose dysmetabolism, reducing fasting glycaemia and insulinaemia, improving glucose and insulin tolerance and restoring the HOMA index to physiological values. These effects were associated with a reduction in hepatic and adipose tissue oxidative stress and inflammation. A decrease in RONS, malondialdehyde and NO levels, in TNF-α, CCL-2 and F4-80 gene expression, in p65, p-JNK, COX-2 and i-NOS protein levels, in crown-like structures and hepatic inflammatory foci was, indeed, observed. The current findings encourage further clinical studies to confirm the effectiveness of indicaxanthin to prevent and treat obesity-related dysmetabolic conditions