Theaflavin Chemistry and Its Health Benefits

Huge epidemiological and clinical studies have confirmed that black tea is a rich source of health-promoting ingredients, such as catechins and theaflavins (TFs). Furthermore, TF derivatives mainly include theaflavin (TF1), theaflavin-3-gallate (TF2A), theaflavin-3 ′ -gallate (TF2B), and theaflavin-3,3 ′ -digallate (TF3). All of these TFs exhibit extensive usages in pharmaceutics, foods, and traditional medication systems. Various indepth studies reported that how TFs modulates health effects in cellular and molecular mechanisms. The available literature regarding the pharmacological activities of TFs has revealed that TF3 has remarkable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antiobesity, antiosteoporotic, and antimicrobial properties, thus posing significant effects on human health. The current manuscript summarizes both the chemistry and various pharmacological effects of TFs on human health, lifestyle or aging associated diseases, and populations of gut microbiota. Furthermore, the biological potential of TFs has also been focused to provide a deeper understanding of its mechanism of action.

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Dietary Components, Microbial Metabolites and Human Health: Reading between the Lines

Foods ◽

10.3390/foods9081045 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1045

Author(s):

Yao Guo ◽

Xiaohan Bian ◽

Jiali Liu ◽

Ming Zhu ◽

Lin Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Linoleic Acid ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Kynurenic Acid ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Eating Habits ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Human Gut ◽

Dietary Components ◽

Host Metabolism

Trillions of bacteria reside in the human gut and they metabolize dietary substances to obtain nutrients and energy while producing metabolites. Therefore, different dietary components could affect human health in various ways through microbial metabolism. Many such metabolites have been shown to affect human physiological activities, including short-chain fatty acids metabolized from carbohydrates; indole, kynurenic acid and para-cresol, metabolized from amino acids; conjugated linoleic acid and linoleic acid, metabolized from lipids. Here, we review the features of these metabolites and summarize the possible molecular mechanisms of their metabolisms by gut microbiota. We discuss the potential roles of these metabolites in health and diseases, and the interactions between host metabolism and the gut microbiota. We also show some of the major dietary patterns around the world and hope this review can provide insights into our eating habits and improve consumers’ health conditions.

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A Novel Promising Frontier for Human Health: The Beneficial Effects of Nutraceuticals in Cardiovascular Diseases

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21228706 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (22) ◽

pp. 8706

Author(s):

Albino Carrizzo ◽

Carmine Izzo ◽

Maurizio Forte ◽

Eduardo Sommella ◽

Paola Di Pietro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Human Health ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Cardiovascular Health ◽

Public Health Problem ◽

Cardiovascular Effects ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Significant Public Health ◽

Health Promoting ◽

The Individual

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and diabetes are a significant public health problem worldwide. Although several novel pharmacological treatments to reduce the progression of CVDs have been discovered during the last 20 years, the better way to contain the onset of CVDs remains prevention. In this regard, nutraceuticals seem to own a great potential in maintaining human health, exerting important protective cardiovascular effects. In the last years, there has been increased focus on identifying natural compounds with cardiovascular health-promoting effects and also to characterize the molecular mechanisms involved. Although many review articles have focused on the individual natural compound impact on cardiovascular diseases, the aim of this manuscript was to examine the role of the most studied nutraceuticals, such as resveratrol, cocoa, quercetin, curcumin, brassica, berberine and Spirulina platensis, on different CVDs.

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MicroRNA-Mediated Health-Promoting Effects of Phytochemicals

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms20102535 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (10) ◽

pp. 2535 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Hara Kang

Keyword(s):

Human Health ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Fine Tuning ◽

Cellular Functions ◽

Cellular Processes ◽

Target Mrnas ◽

Therapeutic Benefits ◽

Health Promoting ◽

Apoptosis And Inflammation ◽

Potential Use

Phytochemicals are known to benefit human health by modulating various cellular processes, including cell proliferation, apoptosis, and inflammation. Due to the potential use of phytochemicals as therapeutic agents against human diseases such as cancer, studies are ongoing to elucidate the molecular mechanisms by which phytochemicals affect cellular functions. It has recently been shown that phytochemicals may regulate the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs are responsible for the fine-tuning of gene expression by controlling the expression of their target mRNAs in both normal and pathological cells. This review summarizes the recent findings regarding phytochemicals that modulate miRNA expression and promote human health by exerting anticancer, photoprotective, and anti-hepatosteatosis effects. Identifying miRNAs modulated by phytochemicals and understanding the regulatory mechanisms mediated by their target mRNAs will facilitate the efforts to maximize the therapeutic benefits of phytochemicals.

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Nigella sativa L. Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities: A Review (2019–2021)

Biomolecules ◽

10.3390/biom12010020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 20

Author(s):

Mohammed Dalli ◽

Oussama Bekkouch ◽

Salah-eddine Azizi ◽

Ali Azghar ◽

Nadia Gseyra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Nigella Sativa ◽

Pharmacological Effects ◽

Aromatic Plants ◽

Medicinal And Aromatic Plants ◽

Pharmacological Activities ◽

Future Studies ◽

Therapeutic Activities

Medicinal and aromatic plants are mainly characterized by the presence of different bioactive compounds which exhibit various therapeutic activities. In order to investigate the different pharmacological properties of different Nigella sativa extracts, a multitude of research articles published in the period between 2019 and 2021 were obtained from different databases (Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, and Web of Science), and then explored and analyzed. The analysis of the collected articles allows us to classify the phytochemicals and the pharmacological activities through their underlying molecular mechanisms, as well as to explore the pharmacological activities exhibited by several identified compounds in Nigella sativa which allow a better understanding, and better elucidation, of the bioactive compounds responsible for the pharmacological effects. Also shown are the existence of other bioactive compounds that are still unexplored and could be of great interest. This review could be taken as a guide for future studies in the field.

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Therapeutic Potential of Neoechinulins and Their Derivatives: An Overview of the Molecular Mechanisms Behind Pharmacological Activities

Frontiers in Nutrition ◽

10.3389/fnut.2021.664197 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Javad Sharifi-Rad ◽

Amit Bahukhandi ◽

Praveen Dhyani ◽

Priyanka Sati ◽

Esra Capanoglu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Cannabis Sativa ◽

Therapeutic Potential ◽

Antiviral Drug ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Future Research ◽

Pharmacological Activities ◽

Biological Potential ◽

The Future

Neoechinulins are diketopiperazine type indole alkaloids that demonstrate radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-neurodegenerative, neurotrophic factor-like, anticancer, pro-apoptotic, and anti-apoptotic properties. An array of neoechinulins such as neoechinulins A-E, isoechinulins A-C, cryptoechunilin have been isolated from various fungal sources like Aspergillus sp., Xylaria euglossa, Eurotium cristatum, Microsporum sp., etc. Besides, neoechinulin derivatives or stereoisomers were also obtained from diverse non-fungal sources viz. Tinospora sagittata, Opuntia dillenii, Cyrtomium fortunei, Cannabis sativa, and so on. The main purpose of this review is to provide update information on neoechinulins and their analogues about the molecular mechanisms of the pharmacological action and possible future research. The recent data from this review can be used to create a basis for the discovery of new neoechinulin-based drugs and their analogues in the near future. The online databases PubMed, Science and Google scholar were researched for the selection and collection of data from the available literature on neoechinulins, their natural sources and their pharmacological properties. The published books on this topic were also analysed. In vitro and in vivo assays have established the potential of neoechinulin A as a promising anticancer and anti-neuroinflammatory lead molecule. Neoechinulin B was also identified as a potential antiviral drug against hepatitis C virus. Toxicological and clinical trials are needed in the future to improve the phyto-pharmacological profile of neoquinolines. From the analysis of the literature, we found that neoechinulins and their derivatives have special biological potential. Although some modern pharmacological analyzes have highlighted the molecular mechanisms of action and some signalling pathways, the correlation between these phytoconstituents and pharmacological activities must be validated in the future by preclinical toxicological and clinical studies.

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The Food-gut Human Axis: The Effects of Diet on Gut Microbiota and Metabolome

Current Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/0929867324666170428103848 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 26 (19) ◽

pp. 3567-3583 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Maria De Angelis ◽

Gabriella Garruti ◽

Fabio Minervini ◽

Leonilde Bonfrate ◽

Piero Portincasa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Dietary Habits ◽

Short Chain Fatty Acids ◽

Human Organism ◽

Immune Functions ◽

Intestinal Microbes ◽

Dietary Components ◽

Dietary Treatments ◽

The Relationship

Gut microbiota, the largest symbiont community hosted in human organism, is emerging as a pivotal player in the relationship between dietary habits and health. Oral and, especially, intestinal microbes metabolize dietary components, affecting human health by producing harmful or beneficial metabolites, which are involved in the incidence and progression of several intestinal related and non-related diseases. Habitual diet (Western, Agrarian and Mediterranean omnivore diets, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets) drives the composition of the gut microbiota and metabolome. Within the dietary components, polymers (mainly fibers, proteins, fat and polyphenols) that are not hydrolyzed by human enzymes seem to be the main leads of the metabolic pathways of gut microbiota, which in turn directly influence the human metabolome. Specific relationships between diet and microbes, microbes and metabolites, microbes and immune functions and microbes and/or their metabolites and some human diseases are being established. Dietary treatments with fibers are the most effective to benefit the metabolome profile, by improving the synthesis of short chain fatty acids and decreasing the level of molecules, such as p-cresyl sulfate, indoxyl sulfate and trimethylamine N-oxide, involved in disease state. Based on the axis diet-microbiota-health, this review aims at describing the most recent knowledge oriented towards a profitable use of diet to provide benefits to human health, both directly and indirectly, through the activity of gut microbiota.

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Natural Products for Regulating Macrophages M2 Polarization

Current Stem Cell Research & Therapy ◽

10.2174/1574888x14666190523093535 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 15 (7) ◽

pp. 559-569 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Zhen Chang ◽

Youhan Wang ◽

Chang Liu ◽

Wanli Smith ◽

Lingbo Kong

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Therapeutic Strategies ◽

Research Progress ◽

Cellular Mechanisms ◽

Pharmacological Activities ◽

Current Review ◽

M2 Polarization ◽

Macrophages Polarization ◽

Herbal Plants

Macrophages M2 polarization have been taken as an anti-inflammatory progression during inflammation. Natural plant-derived products, with potential therapeutic and preventive activities against inflammatory diseases, have received increasing attention in recent years because of their whole regulative effects and specific pharmacological activities. However, the molecular mechanisms about how different kinds of natural compounds regulate macrophages polarization still unclear. Therefore, in the current review, we summarized the detailed research progress on the active compounds derived from herbal plants with regulating effects on macrophages, especially M2 polarization. These natural occurring compounds including flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, lignans, coumarins, alkaloids, polyphenols and quinones. In addition, we extensively discussed the cellular mechanisms underlying the M2 polarization for each compound, which could provide potential therapeutic strategies aiming macrophages M2 polarization.

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Emerging cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying anticancer indications of chrysin

Cancer Cell International ◽

10.1186/s12935-021-01906-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Marjan Talebi ◽

Mohsen Talebi ◽

Tahereh Farkhondeh ◽

Jesus Simal-Gandara ◽

Dalia M. Kopustinskiene ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Cells ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Web Of Science ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Pharmacological Activities ◽

Current Review ◽

Mesh Terms ◽

Online Databases ◽

Anti Cancer

AbstractChrysin has been shown to exert several beneficial pharmacological activities. Chrysin has anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-diabetic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and renoprotective as well as gastrointestinal, respiratory, reproductive, ocular, and skin protective effects through modulating signaling pathway involved in apoptosis, oxidative stress, and inflammation. In the current review, we discussed the emerging cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying therapeutic indications of chrysin in various cancers. Online databases comprising Scopus, PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, Science Direct, Web of Science, and the search engine Google Scholar were searched for available and eligible research articles. The search was conducted by using MeSH terms and keywords in title, abstract, and keywords. In conclusion, experimental studies indicated that chrysin could ameliorate cancers of the breast, gastrointestinal tract, liver and hepatocytes, bladder, male and female reproductive systems, choroid, respiratory tract, thyroid, skin, eye, brain, blood cells, leukemia, osteoblast, and lymph. However, more studies are needed to enhance the bioavailability of chrysin and evaluate this agent in clinical trial studies. Graphic abstract

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Modulation of Gut Microbiota for the Prevention and Treatment of COVID-19

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10132903 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (13) ◽

pp. 2903

Author(s):

Jiezhong Chen ◽

Luis Vitetta

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Trace Elements ◽

Gut Microbiota ◽

Human Health ◽

Intestinal Microbiota ◽

Narrative Review ◽

Bacterial Metabolites ◽

Gut Dysbiosis ◽

Prevention And Treatment

The gut microbiota is well known to exert multiple benefits on human health including protection from disease causing pathobiont microbes. It has been recognized that healthy intestinal microbiota is of great importance in the pathogenesis of COVID-19. Gut dysbiosis caused by various reasons is associated with severe COVID-19. Therefore, the modulation of gut microbiota and supplementation of commensal bacterial metabolites could reduce the severity of COVID-19. Many approaches have been studied to improve gut microbiota in COVID-19 including probiotics, bacterial metabolites, and prebiotics, as well as nutraceuticals and trace elements. So far, 19 clinical trials for testing the efficacy of probiotics and synbiotics in COVID-19 prevention and treatment are ongoing. In this narrative review, we summarize the effects of various approaches on the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and discuss associated mechanisms.

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