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Quality of berries is a difficult concept to describe objectively. The aim of this review is, to better define the concept of quality in berries, and summarize the main pre-harvest factors that influence quality of the fruit. Berry quality could be defined as a set of agronomic/commercial, organoleptic and nutritional qualities: the first one comprising of characters that belong to the adaptation of the plant to specific cultivation such as fruit size, plant yield, harvesting speed, and resistance to pests and diseases. Organoleptic quality is the main set of characteristics generally related to quality attributes that are recognizable through the five senses of the consumer. Finally, nutritional quality is the “hidden” quality present in berry fruits, that comprises all the macro- and micro-nutrients, vitamins and bioactive compounds. Not only are these characteristics very variable among different species, but also among different cultivars within the same species. This kind of variability is ascribed to the category of genetic factors. The adaptability of berries to different climatic conditions (different latitude, soil conditions, production cycle, light exposition, etc.) represent the environmental factor that influence fruit quality. Finally, also the so called agronomic factors, related to the cultivation systems (open field or protected or soilless cultivation, organic or conventional cultivation), fertilization, water stress and salinity, and fruit harvest, influence the final quality of the berry fruits.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that nutritional habits, like those based on high consumption of fruits and vegetables, have been associated with a longer life expectancy and a significant decrease in the incidence and prevalence of several chronic diseases with inflammatory basis, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This beneficial activity has been related to the content of several bioactive compounds in fruit and vegetables, such as polyphenols. The cardioprotective effects of polyphenols have been linked mainly to its antioxidant properties; however, recent findings attribute its anti-atherosclerotic potential to modulate simultaneous signaling and mechanistic pathways. Emerging data suggest that polyphenols can regulate cellular lipid metabolism; vascular and endothelial function; haemostasis; as well as platelet function; which represent primary conditions for atherosclerotic plaque formation and development. This review presents the results of a selection of experimental studies and clinical trials regarding the atheroprotective effects of the most common dietary polyphenols.

This study investigates the effect of lifelong intake of different fat sources rich in monounsaturated (virgin olive oil), n6 polyunsaturated (sunflower oil) or n3 polyunsaturated (fish oil) fatty acids in the aged liver. Male Wistar rats fed lifelong on diets differing in the fat source were killed at 6 and at 24 months of age. Liver histopathology, mitochondrial ultrastructure, biogenesis, oxidative stress, mitochondrial electron-transport chain, relative telomere length, and gene-expression profiles were studied. Aging led to lipid accumulation in the liver. Virgin olive oil led to the lowest oxidation and ultrastructural alterations. Sunflower oil induced fibrosis, ultrastructural alterations, and high oxidation. Fish oil intensified oxidation associated with age, lowered electron-transport-chain activity, and shortened the relative telomere length. Gene-expression changes associated with age in animals fed virgin olive oil and fish oil were related mostly to mitochondrial function and oxidative stress pathways, followed by cell-cycle and telomere-length control. Sunflower oil avoided gene-expression changes related to age. According to the results, virgin olive oil might be considered the dietary fat source that best preserves the liver during the aging process.

During the process of beeswax recycling, many industrial derivatives are obtained. These matrices may have an interesting healthy and commercial potential but to date they have not been properly studied. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the proximal and phytochemical composition, the antioxidant capacity and cytotoxic effects of two by-products from beeswax recycling process named MUD 1 and MUD 2 on liver hepatocellular carcinoma. Our results showed that MUD 1 presented the highest (P

Despite its high content of phenolic compounds, the chemopreventive activity of Manuka honey (MH) is still elusive. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of MH on oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes, cellular metabolism and the metastatic ability in HCT-116 and LoVo cells, paying particular attention to the molecular mechanisms involved. We observed a strong induction of oxidative stress after MH treatment since it augmented the accumulation of reactive oxygen species and increased the damage to proteins, lipids and DNA. Furthermore, MH suppressed the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant enzyme expression (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and heme oxygenase-1) and the activity of SOD, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione reductase. Cell metabolisms were markedly disrupted after MH treatment. It decreased maximal oxygen consumption and spare respiratory capacity, which could reduce the mitochondrial function that is correlated with cell survival potential. Simultaneously, MH decreased the extracellular acidification rate (glycolysis) of HCT-116 and LoVo cells. Furthermore, MH suppressed the p-AMPK/AMPK, PGC1α and SIRT1 activation, involved in the survival of HCT-116 and LoVo cells under metabolic stress conditions. Dose-dependently, MH reduced the migration and invasion (MMP-2 and MMP-9) ability, and concurrently regulated EMT-related markers (E cadherin, N cadherin, and β-catenin) in both cell types. The above findings indicate that MH induces HCT-116 and LoVo cell death partly by enhancing oxidative stress, as well as by regulating the energy metabolism in both aerobic and anaerobic pathways and suppressing the metastatic ability.

Several polifloral honeys from the Apis mellifera and Melipona beecheii bee were analyzed to evaluate their pollen profile, physicochemical parameters, chemical composition and their antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Flavonoids and other phenolic derivatives, 16 compounds in Apis mellifera honeys and 19 compounds in Melipona beecheii honeys, were identified using the HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS analysis. The physicochemical parameters were within the ranges reported for these honeys, showing some of the distinctive characteristics of M. beecheii honeys compared to A. mellifera honeys, such as their high moisture and acidity. M. beecheii honey showed the highest values of total antioxidant capacity and total phenolic, flavonoid, carotenoids, ascorbic acid, free amino acid and protein contents compared to A. mellifera honey. M. beecheii honey also exhibited a higher antimicrobial activity. Our result shows that M. beecheii honeys is an important source of bioactive compounds with relevant biological properties compared to A. mellifera honey.

Thermal liquefaction is a conventional method used by beekeepers to liquefy crystallized honey. However, an abusive use of heat may affect its quality, chemical composition and bioactivity. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of thermal liquefaction on the quality, chemical composition and antibiofilm properties of eucalyptus honey. Thermal liquefaction (at 45 and 60 °C) did not affect the honey’s quality; however, a significant reduction in the reducing capacity, total phenolic content and hydrogen peroxide content was observed. At 60 °C, a significant reduction in the honey’s ability to inhibit biofilm formation was observed in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as a reduction in its ability to remove preformed biofilms in both Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Structural changes in biofilm architecture caused by honey were not affected by thermal treatment. Therefore, we recommend liquefaction at 45 °C as the most convenient for honey liquefaction without affecting its characteristics.

Tamara Y. Forbes-Hernandez is supported by a "Juan de la CiervaFormacion" post-doctoral contract. APROCAL provided the honeys used in this study. A grant from Regione Calabria and APROCAL supported the study., The aim of this study was to evaluate for the first time the anti-inflammatory effects of chestnut (Castanea sativa) and Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus occidentalis) honeys collected in Italy on murine RAW 264.7 macrophages stressed with the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Pre-treatment with the two honeys markedly decreased apoptosis and stimulated wound healing in macrophages stressed with LPS, where they also reduced the intracellular levels of ROS and nitrite. Additionally, treatment with LPS decreased the levels of glutathione and suppressed the antioxidant enzyme activities, which were significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the presence of the two honeys, through the modulation of Nrf2 expression; in LPS-stressed macrophages, Chestnut or Eucalyptus honeys protected against inflammation by regulating the main inflammatory biomarkers, including TNF-alpha, IL-10 and iNOS, through the decrease of NF-KB expression. Finally, they improved mitochondrial respiration and the main related parameters., Juan de la CiervaFormacion" post-doctoral contract, Regione Calabria

Among gynaecological cancers, ovarian cancer represents the leading cause of death in women. Current treatment for ovarian cancer entails surgery followed by combined chemotherapy with platinum and taxane, which are associated, particularly cisplatin, with severe side effects. While this treatment approach appears to be initially effective in a high number of patients, nearly 70% of them suffer a relapse within a few months after initial treatment. Therefore, more effective and better-tolerated treatment options are clearly needed. In recent years, several natural compounds (such as curcumin, epigallocatechin 3-gallate (EGCG), resveratrol, sulforaphane and Withaferin-A), characterized by long-term safety and negligible and/or inexistent side effects, have been proposed as possible adjuvants of traditional chemotherapy. Indeed, several in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that phytocompounds can effectively inhibit tumor cell proliferation, stimulate autophagy, induce apoptosis, and specifically target ovarian cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are generally considered to be responsible for tumor recurrence in several types of cancer. Here we review current literature on the role of natural products in ovarian cancer chemoprevention, highlighting their effects particularly on the regulation of inflammation, autophagy, proliferation and apoptosis, chemotherapy resistance, and ovarian CSC growth.

Presently, biopreservation through protective bacterial cultures and their antimicrobial products or using antibacterial compounds derived from plants are proposed as feasible strategies to maintain the long shelf-life of products. Another emerging category of food biopreservatives are bacteriophages or their antibacterial enzymes called “phage lysins” or “enzybiotics”, which can be used directly as antibacterial agents due to their ability to act on the membranes of bacteria and destroy them. Bacteriophages are an alternative to antimicrobials in the fight against bacteria, mainly because they have a practically unique host range that gives them great specificity. In addition to their potential ability to specifically control strains of pathogenic bacteria, their use does not generate a negative environmental impact as in the case of antibiotics. Both phages and their enzymes can favor a reduction in antibiotic use, which is desirable given the alarming increase in resistance to antibiotics used not only in human medicine but also in veterinary medicine, agriculture, and in general all processes of manufacturing, preservation, and distribution of food. We present here an overview of the scientific background of phages and enzybiotics in the food industry, as well as food applications of these biopreservatives. SODERCAN | Ref. RH20-XX-032, FAGOFOOD

Dietary flavonoids, which occur in many plant foods, are considered as the most active constituents among the plant-derived ones in vitro and in vivo. To date, many studies have addressed the anti-inflammatory activity of flavonoids. However, their considerable structural diversity and in vivo bioavailability make them able to modulate different signaling pathways. The present review attempted to summarize and highlight a broad range of inflammation-associated signaling pathways modulated by flavonoids. Finally, based on the current scientist's literature, structure-activity relationships were concluded. Dietary flavonoids have the ability to attenuate inflammation by targeting different intracellular signaling pathways triggered by NF-κB, AP-1, PPAR, Nrf2, and MAPKs. Identification of the main structural features required for the modulation of these inflammation-related pathways (hydroxylation pattern, C2=C3 double bond) have an important role to play in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs.

It is generally accepted that a fruit and vegetable-enriched diet is favorable for human health. The consumption of strawberries, in particular, has been related to the maintenance of well-being and the prevention of several chronic diseases, owing to the high contents of antioxidants and phytochemicals present in the fruit. Several biological effects have been explained through the total antioxidant capacity exerted by these bioactive compounds, but recently more intricate mechanisms have begun to be examined. In this context, it has been reported that strawberry phenolics are able to exert anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, antiproliferative, and antiatherosclerotic activities, acting on specific molecular pathways related to antioxidant defenses, metabolism, survival, and proliferation. The overall aim of this work is to discuss and update the cellular and molecular mechanisms recently proposed to clarify the effects of strawberry phenolics on human health, with particular attention to the most common chronic diseases, such as metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

// Md Soriful Islam 1, 2, * , Francesca Giampieri 3, * , Milijana Janjusevic 1 , Massimiliano Gasparrini 3 , Tamara Y. Forbes-Hernandez 3 , Luca Mazzoni 3 , Stefania Greco 1 , Stefano Raffaele Giannubilo 3 , Andrea Ciavattini 3 , Bruno Mezzetti 4 , Franco Capocasa 4 , Mario Castellucci 1 , Maurizio Battino 3 , Pasquapina Ciarmela 1, 5 1 Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy 2 Biotechnology and Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Botany, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh 3 Department of Clinical Science, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy 4 Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy 5 Department of Information Engineering, Universita Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy * These authors have contributed equally to this work Correspondence to: Pasquapina Ciarmela, email: p.ciarmela@univpm.it Maurizio Battino, email: m.a.battino@univpm.it Keywords: strawberry, uterine leiomyoma, fibrosis, apoptosis, ROS Received: September 20, 2016 Accepted: January 10, 2017 Published: February 15, 2017 ABSTRACT Uterine leiomyomas are highly prevalent benign tumors in reproductive aged women. Unfortunately, medical treatments are still limited and no preventive therapies have been developed. In the present study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of strawberry extract on uterine leiomyoma cells. Leiomyoma and myometrial cells were treated with strawberry (cultivar Alba ) extract (250 μg/ml) for 48 h to measure apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), oxidative phosphorylation (OCR, oxygen consumption rate) and glycolysis (ECAR, extracellular acidification rate) as well as fibrosis associated gene and/or protein expression. In leiomyoma cells, strawberry increased the percentage of apoptotic and dead cells. Strawberry significantly increased ROS concentration in leiomyoma cells, while decreased it in myometrial cells. After strawberry treatment, leiomyoma cells showed a significant decreased rate of ECAR, while OCR was unchanged in both myometrial and leiomyoma cells. Strawberry significantly decreased collagen1A1, fibronectin and versican mRNA expression in leiomyoma cells. The reduced protein expression of fibronectin was observed by strawberry extract in leiomyoma cells as well. Furthermore, strawberry was able to reduce activin A induced fibronectin, collagen1A1, and versican as well as activin A and PAI-1 mRNA expression in leiomyoma cells. This study suggests that strawberry can be developed as therapeutic and/or preventive agent for uterine leiomyomas.

Background Cultivation of highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) has been increasing in Europe in recent years, in particular due to the availability of new genotypes suitable for cultivation in many different environmental conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resilience and nutritional quality of 11 highbush blueberry cultivars and two new selections (from the New Zealand Institute for Plant and Food Research Ltd breeding program) in Mediterranean hot summer climate conditions by measuring plant yield, seasonality, fruit sensorial traits, and phytochemical content in the fruits. Results The new blueberry genotype PFR005 showed a high level of adaptability to these environmental conditions, with the highest total plant yield, whereas PFR075 was the best genotype for nutritional characteristics. Among the cultivars, 'Cosmopolitan' showed the maximum average fruit weight, 'Blueray' and 'Hortblue Poppins' demonstrated a good sensorial profile, while the best cultivars from the nutritional point of view were 'Hortblue Poppins', 'Hortblue Petite', and 'Early Blue'. Conclusion New cultivars and new genotypes able to satisfy the needs of different users, have been identified. The integration of germplasm evaluation with a tailored breeding program will help to create new cultivars that will be useful for the expansion of blueberry cultivation in hot Mediterranean summer climate conditions, which up to now have limited this crop. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the change in the total content of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and the antioxidant capacity in Manuka Honey (MH) after gastrointestinal digestion and different purification methods. MH was subjected to an in vitro gastrointestinal simulation process, and various spectrophotometric analyses [total phenolic content, total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, ferric ion reducing antioxidant power, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity] were carried out on raw MH and on bioaccessible and eliminated fractions. Our results demonstrated that there was a significant decrease in the quantity of phenolic compounds (between 3.59% and 1.52% of the total amount of phenolic compounds found in undigested honey) and flavonoids in the bioaccessible fraction (between 15% and 19% of the TFC found in undigested honey) after gastrointestinal digestion and that the decrease was lower also for the antioxidant activity of the samples (ranging between 12.39% and 13.67% of the activity of raw honey), suggesting that the phenolic compounds are not only responsible for this activity. Additionally, we demonstrated that the purification method can affect the amount of phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity, showing that centrifugation is the most efficient method of purification.

Coenzyme Q (CoQ) is an essential endogenously synthesized molecule that links different metabolic pathways to mitochondrial energy production thanks to its location in the mitochondrial inner membrane and its redox capacity, which also provide it with the capability to work as an antioxidant. Although defects in CoQ biosynthesis in human and mouse models cause CoQ deficiency syndrome, some animals models with particular defects in the CoQ biosynthetic pathway have shown an increase in life span, a fact that has been attributed to the concept of mitohormesis. Paradoxically, CoQ levels decline in some tissues in human and rodents during aging and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) supplementation has shown benefits as an anti-aging agent, especially under certain conditions associated with increased oxidative stress. Also, CoQ10 has shown therapeutic benefits in aging-related disorders, particularly in cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Thus, we discuss the paradox of health benefits due to a defect in the CoQ biosynthetic pathway or exogenous supplementation of CoQ10., This work was supported by grants from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Spain, and the ERDF (Grant Number RTI2018-093503-B-I00), from the Muscular Dystrophy Association (grant number 602322) and from the University of Granada (grant reference “UNETE”, UCE-PP2017-06). E.B.-C. is supported by the Junta de Andalucía. P.G.-G. is a “FPU fellow” from the Ministerio de Educación Cultura y Deporte, Spain

Resveratrol and the biosynthetically related stilbenes are plant secondary metabolites with diverse pharmacological effects. The versatile functions of these compounds in plant defense mechanisms as phytoalexins on one hand, and in human health as potential pharmaceutical agents on the other, have attracted lots of interest in recent years to understand their biosynthetic pathways and their biological properties. Because of difficulties in obtaining resveratrol and its glucosylated derivatives as well as oligomeric forms in sufficient amounts for evaluation of their activity by plant sourcing or total synthesis, biotechnology may provide a competitive approach for the large-scale and low cost production of biologically active stilbenes. Additionally, one major limitation in the use of resveratrol and related aglycone derivatives as therapeutic agents is associated with their inherent poor aqueous solubility and low bioavailability. This article examines approaches for the synthesis of potential pharmacologically resveratrol derivatives in vivo by exploiting whole microorganisms, enzymatic and biocatalytic approaches allowing their full utilization for medicine, food and cosmetic applications. These methods also have the advantage of enabling the one-step production of stilbene compounds, compared to the time-consuming and environmentally unfriendly procedures used for their total synthesis or their extraction from plants. Increasing the desired products yield and biological activity through glucosylation (β-D-glucosides versus α-D-glucosides) and oligomerization methodologies of resveratrol including green chemistry methods in organic solvent-free media are discussed as well.

Thirteen fruits, eight legumes and three tubers consumed in the Andean regions of Ecuador were studied to determine their bioactive compounds, organic acids, sugars content, total antioxidant capacity, as well as to determine which among them showed the greatest contribution in terms of antioxidant activity and which compounds contributed to it. Among fruits, taxo fruits (Passiflora mollissima (Kunth) L.H. Bailey) presented the highest values of total phenolic, carotene content, and total antioxidant capacity. The aji raton (Capsicum chinense Jacq) showed the highest content of vitamin C. Taxo showed the highest content of β carotene, whilst lycopene was identified only in guayaba fruits (Psidium guajava L.) and aji raton was the principal source of lutein. In legumes, chocho perla (Lupinus mutabilis Sweet) showed the highest values for both total phenolic and flavonoid content, whilst frejol negro (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and frejol canario (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) showed the highest values for FRAP and DPPH assay, respectively. Between tubers, the jicama (Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp.) H. Rob.) had the majors values in terms of total phenolic, flavonoid content, and total antioxidant capacity. In terms of total antioxidant capacity, taxo fruits have the highest contribution in terms of total antioxidant capacity, whilst the dendogram shown the occurrence of five distinct groups in which taxo was located in the first largest group. Our data contributing towards gaining better knowledge about the Andean Ecuadorian diet and the composition of Andean food in order to estimate dietary intakes of health-promoting components.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of resveratrol (RSV) in A375 and A431 melanoma cells, by assessing cell viability (CCK-8 assay), apoptosis through flow cytometer and cell morphology, cell cycle assay by flow cytometer and western blot (Cyclin D1, Rac1 and PCDH9). Our results demonstrated that RSV strongly inhibited A375 cells proliferation, by decreasing cell viability, promoting apoptosis and arresting cell cycle. Besides, to clarify the main factor - duration or concentration of RSV, the double variance analysis of independent factors was operated after Bartlett's test for homogeneity by R project. According to the outcomes obtained from statistical analyses, Cyclin D1 and PCDH9 were strongly affected by RSV duration while Rac1 was not influenced. In conclusion, RSV can inhibit A375 proliferation and trigger apoptosis by influencing cell cycle proteins; for these effects, treatment duration of RSV played more important role than concentration.

Studies on the development of non-dairy probiotic foods and beverages are emerging. The optimal Lactobacillus and carbon resources were screened to improve the viability of probiotics in blueberry pomace. During fermentation, the total titratable acid and the viable counts were measured and peaked at 24 h, 15.75 mM and 11.59 Log CFU mL−1 respectively. Lactic acid content increased from 2.361 mg mL−1 to 6.334 mg mL−1, while citric acid content was decreased significantly. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was improved, which may be attributed to the increase of total phenols and flavonoids up to 4629.21 μg GAE mL−1 and 404.99 μg RE mL−1. Simulated gastrointestinal digestion in vitro showed that the total polyphenols were decreased slightly, while anthocyanins were increased. We also studied the cholesterol-lowing capability of fermented BPL and found that the cholesterol-clearance rate could reach 67.17%. Moreover, through mice weight-loaded swimming experiments, we observed that the physical strength of mice fed a fermented juice for one month was significantly better than that of the control group (p

María Dolores Navarro-Hortal is a FPU fellow from the Spanish Ministry of Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades. We acknowledge Nutraceutical Translations for English language editing of this manuscript., Beeswax is useful for the beekeeping sector but also for the agro-food, pharmaceutical or cosmetics sectors. Frequently, this bee product is contaminated with pesticides reducing its utility and causing the decline in its market. This study aimed to prove the effectiveness of an industrial-scale decontamination method in removing acaricides from beeswax. Chlorfenvinphos and coumaphos decrease was higher than 90%, whereas tau fluvalinate decrease was only 30%. No changes were observed in the beeswax content of hydrocarbons and monoesters, whereas a decrease in the concentrations of Ca, Fe, Zn, Hg, Mn and P, and an increase in the concentrations of As and Si were found after the decontamination. Filtration reduced total phenolics, flavonoids and the antioxidant capacity of the lipophilic extract. These results demonstrate that the industrial method used was as effective as the method previously tested on a laboratory scale. The study also contributes to a better knowledge and characterization of beeswax, specially related to trace and ultra-trace elements and antioxidant capacity. Moreover, it offers the chance to further develop a method to effectively detect wax adulterations based on the chemical elements profile., The present study was partially funded by the “National Beekeeping Aid Program (Programa Nacional de Ayudas a la Apicultura)”, cofounded by the European Union and assigned to Spanish FEGA and FEAGA agencies (2016).

Biotechnology is an evolving research field that covers a broad range of topics. Here we aimed to evaluate the latest research literature, to identify prominent research themes, major contributors in terms of institutions, countries/regions, and journals. The Web of Science Core Collection online database was searched to retrieve biotechnology articles published since 2017. In total, 12,351 publications were identified and analyzed. Over 8500 institutions contributed to these biotechnology publications, with the top 5 most productive ones scattered over France, China, the United States of America, Spain, and Brazil. Over 140 countries/regions contributed to the biotechnology research literature, led by the United States of America, China, Germany, Brazil, and India. Journal of Bioscience and Bioengineering was the most productive journal in terms of number of publications. Metabolic engineering was among the most prevalent biotechnology study themes, and Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were frequently used in biotechnology investigations, including the biosynthesis of useful biomolecules, such as myo-inositol (vitamin B8), monoterpenes, adipic acid, astaxanthin, and ethanol. Nanoparticles and nanotechnology were identified too as emerging biotechnology research themes of great significance. Biotechnology continues to evolve and will remain a major driver of societal innovation and development.

Diet plays a decisive role in heart physiology, with lipids having especial importance in pathology prevention and development. This study aimed to investigate how dietary lipids varying in lipid profile (virgin olive oil, sunflower oil or fish oil) affected the heart of rats during aging. Heart histopathology, mitochondrial morphometry, and oxidative status were assessed. Typical histopathological features associated with aging, such as valvular lesions, endomyocardical hyperplasia, or papillary muscle calcification, were found at a low extent in all the experimental groups. The most relevant finding was that inflammation registered by fish oil group was lower compared to the other treatments. At the ultrastructural level, heart mitochondrial area, perimeter, and aspect ratio were higher in fish oil-fed rats than in those fed on sunflower oil. Concerning oxidative stress markers, there were differences only in coenzyme Q levels and catalase activity, lower in sunflower oil-fed animals compared with those fed on fish oil. In summary, dietary intake for a long period on dietary fats with different fatty acids profile led to differences in some aspects associated with the aging process at the heart. Fish oil seems to be the fat most protective of heart during aging., This research was supported by R + D grants from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science [AGL2008-01057] and the Government of Andalusia [AGR832].

Authors are indebted with Ms Monica Glebocki for extensive editing of the manuscript, Background: Periodontitis, the most prevalent chronic inflammatory disease, has been related to cardiovascular diseases. Autophagy provides a mechanism for the turnover of cellular organelles and proteins through a lysosome-dependent degradation pathway. The aim of this research was to study the role of autophagy in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with periodontitis and gingival fibroblasts treated with a lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas gingivalis. Autophagy-dependent mechanisms have been proposed in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders and in other diseases related to periodontitis, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Thus it is important to study the role of autophagy in the pathophysiology of periodontitis. Methods: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with periodontitis (n = 38) and without periodontitis (n = 20) were used to study autophagy. To investigate the mechanism of autophagy, we evaluated the influence of a lipopolysaccharide from P. gingivalis in human gingival fibroblasts, and autophagy was monitored morphologically and biochemically. Autophagosomes were observed by immunofluorescence and electron microscopy. Results: We found increased levels of autophagy gene expression and high levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with periodontitis compared with controls. A significantly positive correlation between both was observed. In human gingival fibroblasts treated with lipopolysaccharide from P. gingivalis, there was an increase of protein and transcript of autophagy-related protein 12 (ATG12) and microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 alpha LC3. A reduction of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species induced a decrease in autophagy whereas inhibition of autophagy in infected cells increased apoptosis, showing the protective role of autophagy. Conclusion: Results from the present study suggest that autophagy is an important and shared mechanism in other conditions related to inflammation or alterations of the immune system, such as periodontitis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune inflammatory disease characterized by progressive bone and cartilage destruction, functional impairment, and long-term disability. Although RA has been described in the medical lit­erature for over two hundred years, its etiology and pathophysiology are insufficiently understood. The current treatment of RA is mainly empirical or based on drugs that interfere with generic steps of the immune response, with limited efficacy and/or significant side effects. Much of RA research has been traditionally based on animals and simplistic in vitro models, which have been shown to poorly recapitulate human RA etiopathogenesis and drug responses. A revolution in science and technology has produced a new generation of more relevant and predictive tools. These tools, which include patient-derived cells, innovative 3D cell culture systems, computational analyses and models, together with omics and large-scale epidemiological studies represent novel and exciting approaches to enhance and forward RA research in a human biology-based perspective. After considering some pitfalls and flaws of traditional models, in this review we discuss novel tools applicable to design human-oriented RA research, while fostering the need for a more holistic and pre­ventative approach to the disease. Our goal is to stimulate discussion, both at scientific and public level, on the need to explore new avenues in RA research and to support a paradigm-shift from animal-based towards human biology-based systems to better understand human pathophysiology and to develop more effective targeted therapies for personalized treatment and prevention.

In recent times, scientific attention has been paid to different foods and their bioactive components for the ability to inhibit the onset and progress of different types of cancer. Nigella sativa extract, powder and seed oil and its main components, thymoquinone and α-hederin, have showed potent anticancer and chemosensitizing effects against various types of cancer, such as liver, colon, breast, renal, cervical, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and skin tumors, through the modulation of various molecular signaling pathways. Herein, the purpose of this review was to highlight the anticancer activity of Nigella sativa and it constitutes, focusing on different in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies and projects, in order to underline their antiproliferative, proapoptotic, cytotoxic and antimetastatic effects. Particular attention has been also given to the synergistic effect of Nigella sativa and it constitutes with chemotherapeutic drugs, and to the synthesized analogs of thymoquinone that seem to enhance the chemo-sensitizing potential. This review could be a useful step towards new research on N. sativa and cancer, to include this plant in the dietary treatments in support to conventional therapies, for the best achievement of therapeutic goals.

Edible flowers are being used as a new ingredient in modern gastronomy. Recently, these products have also gained interest as an important source of phenolic compounds with potential for biomedical applications. The present work studied a methanolic extract of Rosa x hybrida in which 35 individual phenolic compounds were identified. The extract has been evaluated for its antiproliferative properties in ovarian carcinoma cells. Results showed that the antiproliferative effect was associated with the induction of autophagy and apoptosis with the concomitant ROS increase probably related to mitochondria dysfunction. These antiproliferative effects might be associated with some components of the extract such as quercetin. The extract did not induce damage in healthy cells and that it was able to improve the wound healing activity. The present study also evaluated the properties of the mentioned extract in vivo in C. elegans. Tests demonstrated a lack of toxicity in the worm model. Promising results have been obtained in transgenic strains of C. elegans that produce human beta amyloid peptide, suggesting the possible utility of the extract from the point of view of Alzheimer disease. Altogether, results suggest that Rosa x hybrida extracts could be a new tool for the development of functional foods.

The repositioning of therapeutic agents already approved by the regulatory agencies for the use of drugs is very interesting due to the immediacy of their use; similarly, the possibility of using molecules derived from foods, whether nutrients or not, is of great importance, also because of their immediate therapeutic applicability. Candidates for these natural therapies against COVID-19 should show certain effects, such as restoring mitochondrial function and cellular redox balance. This would allow reducing the susceptibility of risk groups and the cascade of events after SARS-CoV-2 infection, responsible for the clinical picture, triggered by the imbalance towards oxidation, inflammation, and cytokine storm. Possible strategies to follow through the use of substances of food origin would include: a) the promotion of mitophagy to remove dysfunctional mitochondria originating from free radicals, proton imbalance and virus evasion of the immune system; b) the administration of transition metals whose redox activity would lead to their own oxidation and the consequent generation of a reduced environment, which would normalize the oxidative state and the intracellular pH; c) the administration of molecules with demonstrated antioxidant capacity; d) the administration of compounds with anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory activity; e) the administration of immunomodulatory compounds., Highlights • Repositioning of drugs or the use of natural substances may be a good opportunity to fight against COVID-19. • Food-derived bioactive molecules should act on redox balance and mitochondrial function restoring to be effective against SARS-CoV-2. • Nutrients and non-nutrient food-derived compounds like polyphenols might be considered of interest because the interaction with many molecular pathways affected by SARS-CoV-2 infection. • Combinatory therapy between natural and non-natural drugs is of great interest. • It must be mandatory the promotion of clinical trials against COVID-19 in which food-derived molecules are included.

Commercial strawberries (Fragaria × ananassa) are one of the most investigated berries for nutritional and nutraceutical properties. A strawberry breeding program, including inter-specific back-cro...

Excessive amounts of free radicals are deleterious for cells, resulting in cell damage, affecting the wound healing process and causing premature ageing or even neoplastic transformation. Here the capacity of Manuka honey (MH) to protect against oxidative damage and improve the process of skin wound healing was investigated. Up to 16 compounds were identified in MH, with leptosin derivatives and methyl syringate as the major ones. MH protected against apoptosis, intracellular ROS production, and lipid and protein oxidative damage. MH also protected mitochondrial functionality, promoted cell proliferation and activated the AMPK/Nrf2/ARE signalling pathway, as well as the expression of the antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and CAT. Here we describe for the first time that one of the possible mechanisms by which MH exhibits its ability to promote wound healing could be due to its capacity to improve the antioxidant response by activating AMPK phosphorylation and the ARE response.

Doxorubicin (Dox), one of the most used chemotherapeutic agents, is known to generate oxidative stress and block DNA synthesis, which result in severe dose-limiting toxicity. A strategy to protect against Dox toxic effects could be to use dietary antioxidants of which fruits and vegetable are a rich source. In this context, strawberry consumption is associated with the maintenance of good health and the prevention of several diseases, thanks to the antioxidant capacities of its bioactive compounds. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of strawberry consumption against oxidative stress induced by Dox in rats. Animals were fed with strawberry enriched diet (15% of the total calories) for two months and Dox (10 mg/kg; i.p.) was injected at the end of the experimental period. Strawberry consumption significantly inhibited ROS production and oxidative damage biomarkers accumulation in plasma and liver tissue and alleviated histopathological changes in rat livers treated with Dox. The reduction of antioxidant enzyme activities was significantly mitigated after strawberry consumption. In addition, strawberry enriched diet ameliorated liver mitochondrial antioxidant levels and functionality. In conclusion, strawberry intake protects against Dox-induced toxicity, at plasma, liver and mitochondrial levels thanks to its high contents of bioactive compounds.

Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus L. var. scolymus) plants of a typical landrace (‘Montelupone A’) from the Marche region (Italy) and three commercial cultivars (‘Apollo’, ‘Romanesco C3’, ‘Exploter’) were compared as a detailed analysis of their productive, morphological, qualitative, and nutritional parameters was carried out to characterise their particularities and suitability for the fresh market or the processing industry. Cultivar ‘Apollo’ stands out for its qualitative and agronomic aspects, with ‘Romanesco C3’ showing high flower head yield, as the most important Romanesco cultivar that is widely cultivated in central Italy. ‘Exploter’ shows high productivity and qualitative characteristics. The lower phenol content of ‘Exploter’ indicates its suitability for processing as a fresh cut preparation. The ‘Montelupone A’ landrace is characterised by beneficial nutritional values that indicate its use for fresh consumption and as a source of antioxidant compounds. The ‘Apollo’ and ‘Romanesco ...

Accumulation of proteinaceous amyloid β plaques and tau oligomers may occur several years before the onset of Alzheimer disease (AD). Under normal circumstances, misfolded proteins get cleared by proteasome degradation, autophagy, and the recently discovered brain glymphatic system, an astroglial-mediated interstitial fluid bulk flow. It has been shown that the activity of the glymphatic system is higher during sleep and disengaged or low during wakefulness. As a consequence, poor sleep quality, which is associated with dementia, might negatively affect glymphatic system activity, thus contributing to amyloid accumulation. The diet is another important factor to consider in the regulation of this complex network. Diets characterized by high intakes of refined sugars, salt, animal-derived proteins and fats and by low intakes of fruit and vegetables are associated with a higher risk of AD and can perturb the circadian modulation of cortisol secretion, which is associated with poor sleep quality. For this reason, diets and nutritional interventions aimed at restoring cortisol concentrations may ease sleep disorders and may facilitate brain clearance, consequentially reducing the risk of cognitive impairment and dementia. Here, we describe the associations that exist between sleep, cortisol regulation, and diet and their possible implications for the risk of cognitive impairment and AD.

The potential health benefits associated with dietary intake of fruits have attracted increasing interest. Among berries, the strawberry is a rich source of several nutritive and non-nutritive bioactive compounds, which are implicated in various health-promoting and disease preventive effects. A plethora of studies have examined the benefits of strawberry consumption, such as prevention of inflammation disorders and oxidative stress, reduction of obesity related disorders and heart disease risk, and protection against various types of cancer. This review provides an overview of their nutritional and non-nutritional bioactive compounds and which factors affect their content in strawberries. In addition, the bioavailability and metabolism of major strawberry phytochemicals as well as their actions in combating many pathologies, including cancer, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, neurodegeneration, along with microbial pathogenesis have been reviewed, with a particular attention to human studies.

HER2-positive breast cancer is one of the most aggressive subtypes accounting for nearly 30% of diagnosed cases. It is associated with reduced disease-free survival, tumor invasiveness, and a poor overall prognosis. Unfortunately, numerous patients develop resistance to conventional therapies; therefore, many ongoing clinical trials are testing new possible treatments. Polyphenols are the main bioactive components of the Mediterranean diet with multiple beneficial properties playing a key role in cancer prevention through epigenetic regulation. Aberrant variations in microRNAs levels regulating oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes expression may lead to tumor development. Evidence has shown that dietary polyphenols modulate HER2-positive breast cancer-associated microRNAs, resulting in a reduction of tumor growth and metastatic potential, and chemosensitivity restoration without displaying toxicity-derived adverse effects. These beneficial properties make polyphenols a potential therapeutic approach for HER2-positive breast cancer patients in the clinical setting, alone or in combination with conventional therapies.

Poor stability of fish hydrolyzed collagen (HC) hampers its applications, especially as food ingredients. The use of liposome as a vesicle can be a potential means to enhance bioactivities and stability of HC. HC from defatted Asian sea bass skin at different levels (0.25%-2%, w/v) were loaded into liposomes prepared from soy phosphatidylcholine (SPC) with various stabilizers (cholesterol (CHO) or glycerol (GLY)). The highest encapsulation efficiency (EE) was found in SPC-CHO-0.5%HC (P 0.05) (85.42%), while liposome stabilized with GLY had the highest EE (74.54%) for SPC-GLY-0.25%HC (P 0.05). After lyophilization, SPC-CHO-0.5%HC had higher EE than SPC-GLY-0.25%HC (P 0.05). Increasing particle size and decreasing negative surface charge were found for both lyophilized samples. Lyophilized SPC-CHO-0.5%HC exhibited higher stability than lyophilized SPC-GLY-0.25%HC during storage at 25 °C for 28 days. Also, higher antioxidant activities in gastrointestinal track model system was found for SPC-CHO-0.5%HC. Thus, SPC-CHO liposome could be used as a promising carrier of HC.

Chemoresistance and development of relapses are ascribable to a rare cell population of tumour mass: cancer stem cells (CSCs). Targeting CSCs could increase patients' survival rate and it is important to identify molecules that can act on the main pathways of these cells. Natural bioactive compounds, of which Manuka honey (MH) is rich, could be a good opportunity to target them. This work aims to evaluate the effect of MH on CSCs-like from human colorectal carcinoma (HCT-116 cell line) enriched through the in vitro sphere-forming assay. The results showed that MH reduced the volume of the entire culture of spheroids, affecting also their morphological parameters and induced apoptosis and ROS intracellular accumulation in CSCs-like. In addition, MH decreased the mRNA expression of one of ABC transporters (ABCG2) and affected self-renewal ability through the downregulation of the mRNA expression of one of the receptor membranes of Wnt/β-catenin pathway (Frizzled 7).

Eucalyptus honey is an important unifloral honey commercialized worldwide and much desired by consumers due to the medicinal properties attributed to it because of the plant from which it is produced. In general, eucalyptus honey has been classified as being rich in pollen grains from the eucalyptus tree as well as having physicochemical characteristics that, in a way, have made it stand out from other honeys. Similar to other types of honey, eucalyptus honey can suffer contaminations and adulterations that compromise its quality, safety and authenticity. Thus, detailed knowledge of the composition and properties of this monofloral honeys is of great importance. With this background, the aim of this review is to present and discuss recent data regarding the physicochemical characteristics, chemical and health-promoting properties of eucalyptus honey as well as microbial contamination, authenticity, processing and adulteration.

Garlic is a polyphenolic and organosulfur enriched nutraceutical spice consumed since ancient times. Garlic and its secondary metabolites have shown excellent health-promoting and disease-preventing effects on many human common diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, blood pressure, and diabetes, through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid-lowering properties, as demonstrated in several in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive overview on the consumption of garlic, garlic preparation, garlic extract, and garlic extract-derived bioactive constituents on oxidative stress, inflammation, cancer, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, skin, bone, and other common diseases. Among the 83 human interventional trials considered, the consumption of garlic has been reported to modulate multiple biomarkers of different diseases; in addition, its combination with drugs or other food matrices has been shown to be safe and to prolong their therapeutic effects. The rapid metabolism and poor bioavailability that have limited the therapeutic use of garlic in the last years are also discussed.

Introduction: Ovarian cancer is an aggressive cancer with poor survival rates once diagnosed, due to its insidious onset and the consequent late diagnosis in many women. Current screening methods do not allow for effective early diagnosis, and current therapeutic regimens often result in remission after initial treatment. Phytochemical compounds in natural food products, such as berries, have yielded a viable therapeutic option for multiple diseases, including various types of cancers, but have not yet been investigated in ovarian cancer. As such, this study aims to investigate the anticarcinogenic effects of bioactive components of berries on ovarian cancer cells cultured in 2- and 3-dimensional systems with the intention of creating berry-based dietary interventions and/or innovative, natural food products. Methods: Methodology was split into two parts: the strawberry analysis and the in vitro studies of the NIH:OVCAR-3 epithelial cancer cells. Romina strawberries, a new cultivar released in 2011 from a breeding program at Marche Polytechnic University (UNIVPM, Ancona, Italy), were evaluated for standard parameters of nutritional value and bioactive compound quantity including total phenolic content and total flavonoid content (measured using spectrophotometric methods), total anthocyanin content (measured using mass spectrophotometer-high pressure liquid chromatography (MS-HPLC) analysis), and total antioxidant capacity (measured using Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power, Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity, and the 2,2 Diphenyl-1-picrythydrazyl [DPPH] assay). For the in vitro studies NIH:OVCAR-3 were treated with berry extracts of different concentrations from 0-10 mg/ml and incubated for 28hr, 48hr, and 72 hr. NIH:OVCAR-3 were then assessed for cell viability, cell cycle, apoptosis rate, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Results: Cell viability decreased with increasing concentration of strawberry extract and incubation time. After 48 hr of incubation, the IC70, IC50, and IC30 were 6.77 ug/ml, 10.22 ug/ml, and 13.67 ug/ml and these concentrations were selected for subsequent analysis. Strawberry extracts led to an increase in apoptotic rate and a remarkable rise in intracellular ROS levels in a dose-dependent manner; in addition, an arrest in cell cycle was detected after strawberry treatment. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates that a phenolic-enriched strawberry extract can induce apoptosis and ROS as well as block cell cycle in ovarian cancer cells. These interesting results encourage further studies to further investigate the bioactive compounds and the molecular mechanism involved, as well as test the in vivo effects on ovarian cancer cells. Citation Format: Raisa S. Haq, Tamara Y. Forbes-Hernandez, Danila Cianciosi, Johura Ansari, Maurizio Battino, Francesca Giampieri. The chemopreventive effects of natural compounds in Romina strawberries in human ovarian cancer cells [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 13-16, 2019; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(13_Suppl):Abstract nr A14.

Today, it is widely accepted that a plant-based diet produces wellbeing and prevents the onset of several human diseases [...]

In the last decade, the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) has dramatically escalated worldwide. Currently available drugs mainly target some co-occurring symptoms of ASD, but are not effective on the core symptoms, namely impairments in communication and social interaction, and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviors. On the other hand, transplantation of hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells in ASD children has been shown promising to stimulate the recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of tissue-residing native stem cells, reducing inflammation, and improving some ASD symptoms. Moreover, several comorbidities have also been associated with ASD, such as immune dysregulation, gastrointestinal issues and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Non-pharmacological approaches, such as dietary supplementations with certain vitamins, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, probiotics, some phytochemicals (e.g., luteolin and sulforaphane), or overall diet interventions (e.g., gluten free and casein free diets) have been considered for the reduction of such comorbidities and the management of ASD. Here, interventional studies describing pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments in ASD children and adolescents, along with stem cell-based therapies, are reviewed.