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Chronic inflammatory diseases pose a substantial health challenge globally, significantly contributing to morbidity and mortality. Addressing this issue requires the use of effective anti-inflammatory strategies with fewer side effects than those provoked by currently used drugs. In this study, a range of phytochemicals (phenolic di-caffeoylquinic acid (Di-CQA), flavonoid cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside (Cy3,5DiG), aromatic isothiocyanate sinalbin (SNB) and aliphatic isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SFN)) sourced from vegetables and fruits underwent assessment for their potential anti-inflammatory activity. An in vitro model of human macrophage-like cells treated with a low dose of LPS to obtain a low degree of inflammation that emulates a chronic inflammation scenario revealed promising results. Cell viability and production of the key pro-inflammatory cytokines were assessed in the presence of various phytochemicals. The compounds Di-CQA and Cy-3,5-DiG, within low physiologically relevant doses, demonstrated notable anti-inflammatory effects by significantly reducing the production of key pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6 without affecting cell viability. These findings underscore the potential of plant-derived bioactive compounds as valuable contributors to the prevention or treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases. These results suggest that these compounds, whether used individually or as part of natural mixtures, hold promise for their inclusion in nutritional interventions designed to mitigate inflammation in associated pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glucosinolates, a class of secondary metabolites, mainly found in Brassicaceae, are affected by the changing environment. This review is focusing on the physiological significance of glucosinolates and their hydrolysis products in the plant response to different abiotic stresses. Special attention is paid to the crosstalk between some of the physiological processes involved in stress response and glucosinolate metabolism, with the resulting connection between both pathways in which signaling mechanisms glucosinolate may act as signals themselves. The function of glucosinolates, further than in defense switching, is discussed in terms of alleviating pathogen attack under abiotic stress. The fact that the exogenous addition of glucosinolate hydrolysis products may alleviate certain stress conditions through its effect on specific proteins is described in light of the recent reports, but the molecular mechanisms involved in this response merit further research. Finally, the transient allocation and re-distribution of glucosinolates as a response to environmental changes is summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major nosocomial pathogen worldwide and has acquired multiple resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. Hence, there is a pressing need to explore novel strategies to overcome the increase in antimicrobial resistance. The present study aims to investigate the efficacy and mechanism of plant-derived antimicrobials, trans-cinnamaldehyde (TCA) in decreasing MRSA's resistance to eight conventional antibiotics. A checkerboard dilution test and time–kill curve assay are used to determine the synergistic effects of TCA combined with the antibiotics. The results indicated that TCA increased the antibacterial activity of the antibiotics by 2-16-fold. To study the mechanism of the synergism, we analyzed the mecA transcription gene and the penicillin-binding protein 2a level of MRSA treated with TCA by quantitative RT-PCR or Western blot assay. The gene transcription and the protein level were significantly inhibited. Additionally, it was verified that TCA can significantly inhibit the biofilm, which is highly resistant to antibiotics. The expression of the biofilm regulatory gene hld of MRSA after TCA treatment was also significantly downregulated. These findings suggest that TCA maybe is an exceptionally potent modulator of antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]