scholarly journals Utilizing Plant Synthetic Biology to Improve Human Health and Wellness

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Collin R. Barnum ◽  
Benjamin J. Endelman ◽  
Patrick M. Shih
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Potential Therapeutics ◽  
Plant Synthetic Biology

Plants offer a vast source of bioactive chemicals with the potential to improve human health through the prevention and treatment of disease. However, many potential therapeutics are produced in small amounts or in species that are difficult to cultivate. The rapidly evolving field of plant synthetic biology provides tools to capitalize on the inventive chemistry of plants by transferring metabolic pathways for therapeutics into far more tenable plants, increasing our ability to produce complex pharmaceuticals in well-studied plant systems. Plant synthetic biology also provides methods to enhance the ability to fortify crops with nutrients and nutraceuticals. In this review, we discuss (1) the potential of plant synthetic biology to improve human health by generating plants that produce pharmaceuticals, nutrients, and nutraceuticals and (2) the technological challenges hindering our ability to generate plants producing health-promoting small molecules.

scholarly journals Microbial Metabolic Pathways and the “Fermented Plant Foods—Human Health” Axis

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1105
Author(s):  
Raffaella Di Cagno ◽  
Pasquale Filannino ◽  
Marco Gobbetti
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Plant Foods ◽  
Health Promoting

Plant matrices are widely recognized as valuable sources of several health promoting compounds [...]

GondenBraid2.0: A comprehensive toolkit for plant synthetic biology

Planta Medica ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 79 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Sarrion-Perdigones ◽  
M Vazquez-Vilar ◽  
J Palaci ◽  
A Granell ◽  
D Orzáez
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Plant Synthetic Biology

Effects of Minor Compounds of Edible Oils on Human Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. 1196-1208
Author(s):  
Ramin Ghodsi ◽  
Rahmat Nosrati
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Edible Oils ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Bioactive Constituents ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Anti Cancer ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Minor Compounds ◽  
Anti Inflammation

Background: Oils and fats are the densest sources of food energy among food groups. Vegetable oils are constituted predominantly of triglycerides. Due to the importance of edible oils in nutrition, food industry and human health, great attention has been paid to them in recent years. Some minor bioactive constituents in oils include phospholipids, tocols, sterols, carotenoid, chlorophyll, phenols, phylokynon and terpenes. Objective: The aim of the present study was to examine beneficial effects of minor compounds in edible oils on human health. Results: Minor compounds of edible oils that we use daily can produce remarkable results in the prevention and treatment of various diseases like diabetes, inflammation, hypertension, cancer, allergy and central nervous system disorders due to their antimicrobial, anti-cancer, anti-viral, anti-oxidative, anti-inflammation, anti-mutagenic, hypolipidemic, and hypoglycemic properties, among others. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that the presence of beneficial minor compounds in oils could have significant impact on the prevention and treatment of various diseases. Therefore, the type of consumed oil can play an important role in human health.

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

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.

scholarly journals Pinus Species as Prospective Reserves of Bioactive Compounds with Potential Use in Functional Food—Current State of Knowledge

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1306
Author(s):  
Marcin Dziedziński ◽  
Joanna Kobus-Cisowska ◽  
Barbara Stachowiak
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Functional Food ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Food Ingredients ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pine Tree ◽  
Pine Trees ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Few Data

The pine (Pinus L.) is the largest and most heteromorphic plant genus of the pine family (Pinaceae Lindl.), which grows almost exclusively in the northern hemisphere. The demand for plant-based remedies, supplements and functional food is growing worldwide. Although pine-based products are widely available in many parts of the world, they are almost absent as food ingredients. The literature shows the beneficial effects of pine preparations on human health. Despite the wide geographical distribution of pine trees in the natural environment, there are very few data in the literature on the widespread use of pine in food technology. This study aims to present, characterise and evaluate the content of phytochemicals in pine trees, including shoots, bark and conifer needles, as well as to summarise the available data on their health-promoting and functional properties, and the potential of their use in food and the pharmaceutical industry to support health. Various species of pine tree contain different compositions of bioactive compounds. Regardless of the solvent, method, pine species and plant part used, all pine extracts contain a high number of polyphenols. Pine tree extracts exhibit several described biological activities that may be beneficial to human health. The available examples of the application of pine elements in food are promising. The reuse of residual pine elements is still limited compared to its potential. In this case, it is necessary to conduct more research to find and develop new products and applications of pine residues and by-products.

scholarly journals Grapes and Their Derivatives in Functional Foods

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 672
Author(s):  
Panagiotis Kandylis
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Functional Foods ◽  
Consumer Interest ◽  
Health Promoting

Consumer interest in the consumption of health promoting foods is growing worldwide due to the realization of the link between diet and human health [...]

Enabling plant synthetic biology through genome engineering

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas J. Baltes ◽  
Daniel F. Voytas
Keyword(s):  
Synthetic Biology ◽  
Genome Engineering ◽  
Plant Synthetic Biology

scholarly journals Acute graft-versus-host disease: a bench-to-bedside update

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 363-373 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shernan G. Holtan ◽  
Marcelo Pasquini ◽  
Daniel J. Weisdorf
Keyword(s):  
Small Molecules ◽  
Graft Versus Host Disease ◽  
Host Disease ◽  
Multiple Modalities ◽  
Graft Versus Host ◽  
The Past ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Acute Graft

Abstract Over the past 5 years, many novel approaches to early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) have been translated from the bench to the bedside. In this review, we highlight recent discoveries in the context of current aGVHD care. The most significant innovations that have already reached the clinic are prophylaxis strategies based upon a refinement of our understanding of key sensors, effectors, suppressors of the immune alloreactive response, and the resultant tissue damage from the aGVHD inflammatory cascade. In the near future, aGVHD prevention and treatment will likely involve multiple modalities, including small molecules regulating immunologic checkpoints, enhancement of suppressor cytokines and cellular subsets, modulation of the microbiota, graft manipulation, and other donor-based prophylaxis strategies. Despite long-term efforts, major challenges in treatment of established aGVHD still remain. Resolution of inflammation and facilitation of rapid immune reconstitution in those with only a limited response to corticosteroids is a research arena that remains rife with opportunity and urgent clinical need.

scholarly journals Metabolomics in nutrition research–a powerful window into nutritional metabolism

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 451-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorraine Brennan
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Data Acquisition ◽  
Small Molecules ◽  
Biological Samples ◽  
Metabolic Pathways ◽  
Recent Trend ◽  
Disease States ◽  
Nutrition Research

Metabolomics is the study of small molecules present in biological samples. In recent years it has become evident that such small molecules, called metabolites, play a key role in the development of disease states. Furthermore, metabolomic applications can reveal information about alterations in certain metabolic pathways under different conditions. Data acquisition in metabolomics is usually performed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based approaches or mass spectrometry (MS)-based approaches with a more recent trend including the application of multiple platforms in order to maximise the coverage in terms of metabolites measured. The application of metabolomics is rapidly increasing and the present review will highlight applications in nutrition research.

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