Food Bioactive Compounds and Emerging Techniques for Their Extraction: Polyphenols as a Case Study

Experimental studies have provided convincing evidence that food bioactive compounds (FBCs) have a positive biological impact on human health, exerting protective effects against non-communicable diseases (NCD) including cancer and cardiovascular (CVDs), metabolic, and neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). These benefits have been associated with the presence of secondary metabolites, namely polyphenols, glucosinolates, carotenoids, terpenoids, alkaloids, saponins, vitamins, and fibres, among others, derived from their antioxidant, antiatherogenic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antithrombotic, cardioprotective, and vasodilator properties. Polyphenols as one of the most abundant classes of bioactive compounds present in plant-based foods emerge as a promising approach for the development of efficacious preventive agents against NCDs with reduced side effects. The aim of this review is to present comprehensive and deep insights into the potential of polyphenols, from their chemical structure classification and biosynthesis to preventive effects on NCDs, namely cancer, CVDs, and NDDS. The challenge of polyphenols bioavailability and bioaccessibility will be explored in addition to useful industrial and environmental applications. Advanced and emerging extraction techniques will be highlighted and the high-resolution analytical techniques used for FBCs characterization, identification, and quantification will be considered.

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Metal-Organic Frameworks vs. Buffers: Case Study of UiO-66 Stability

10.26434/chemrxiv.12588269.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Daniel Bůžek ◽

Slavomír Adamec ◽

Kamil Lang ◽

Jan Demel

Keyword(s):

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Buffer Capacity ◽

Metal Organic Framework ◽

Metal Organic Frameworks ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Aqueous Dispersions ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

Plasma Mass Spectrometry ◽

Metal Organic

<div><p>UiO-66 is a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) that has numerous applications. Our group recently determined that UiO-66 is not as inert in aqueous dispersions as previously reported in the literature. The present work therefore assessed the behaviour of UiO-66 in buffers: 2-amino-2-(hydroxymethyl)-1,3-propanediol (TRIS), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethane sulfonic acid (HEPES), N-ethylmorpholine (NEM) and phosphate buffer (PB), all of which are commonly used in many UiO-66 applications. High pressure liquid chromatography and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were used to monitor degradation of the MOF. In each buffer, the terephthalate linker was released to some extent, with a more pronounced leaching effect in the saline forms of these buffers. The HEPES buffer was found to be the most benign, whereas NEM and PB should be avoided at any concentration as they were shown to rapidly degrade the UiO-66 framework. Low concentration TRIS buffers are also recommended, although these offer minimal buffer capacity to adjust pH. Regardless of the buffer used, rapid terephthalate release was observed, indicating that the UiO-66 was attacked immediately after mixing with the buffer. In addition, the dissolution of zirconium, observed in some cases, intensified the UiO-66 decomposition process. These results demonstrate that sensitive analytical techniques have to be used to monitor the release of MOF components so as to quantify the stabilities of these materials in liquid environments.</p></div>

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From Abbott Thayer to the present day: what have we learned about the function of countershading?

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences ◽

10.1098/rstb.2008.0261 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 364 (1516) ◽

pp. 519-527 ◽

Cited By ~ 51

Author(s):

Hannah M Rowland

Keyword(s):

Empirical Work ◽

Quantitative Measure ◽

Convincing Evidence ◽

Colour Pattern ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Empirical Testing ◽

Background Matching ◽

Visual Characteristics ◽

Subjective Evidence ◽

The Many

Of the many visual characteristics of animals, countershading (darker pigmentation on those surfaces exposed to the most lighting) is one of the most common, and paradoxically one of the least well understood. Countershading has been hypothesized to reduce the detectability of prey to visually hunting predators, and while the function of a countershaded colour pattern was proposed over 100 years ago, the field has progressed slowly; convincing evidence for the protective effects of countershading has only recently emerged. Several mechanisms have been invoked for the concealing function of countershading and are discussed in this review, but the actual mechanisms by which countershading functions to reduce attacks by predators lack firm empirical testing. While there is some subjective evidence that countershaded animals match the background on which they rest, no quantitative measure of background matching has been published for countershaded animals; I now present the first such results. Most studies also fail to consider plausible alternative explanations for the colour pattern, such as protection from UV or abrasion, and thermoregulation. This paper examines the evidence to support each of these possible explanations for countershading and discusses the need for future empirical work.

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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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Extraction Techniques and Analytical Methods for Characterization of Active Compounds in Origanum Species

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25204735 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (20) ◽

pp. 4735

Author(s):

Maša Knez Hrnčič ◽

Darija Cör ◽

Jana Simonovska ◽

Željko Knez ◽

Zoran Kavrakovski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Activity ◽

Abiotic Stresses ◽

Plant Protection ◽

Analytical Techniques ◽

Extraction Techniques ◽

Isolation And Identification ◽

Activity Assessment ◽

Current Contribution ◽

Pharmaceutical Industries

Phytochemical research based on ethnopharmacology is gaining interest in industries such as functional food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. Plants and plant extracts are a rich source of bioactive secondary metabolites. These compounds are often involved in plant protection against biotic or abiotic stresses. The exploitation of available technologies should be oriented and intensified to extend and enhance the continued usefulness of the plants as renewable sources of chemicals, especially medicinal compounds. This current contribution is focused on extraction and analytical techniques for their isolation from the oregano species, their characterization and their potential antioxidative, as well as their antimicrobial, antifungal and anticarcinogenic properties. The work is structured rendering to the different steps involved in the research; starting with extraction and sample preparation, followed by discussing the analytical techniques employed for the isolation and identification of compound/s responsible for the biological activity and methods and techniques for biological activity assessment.

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Associations between Nature Exposure and Health: A Review of the Evidence

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094790 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4790

Author(s):

Marcia P. Jimenez ◽

Nicole V. DeVille ◽

Elise G. Elliott ◽

Jessica E. Schiff ◽

Grete E. Wilt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Physical Activity ◽

Cognitive Function ◽

Observational Studies ◽

Green Space ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Empirical Literature ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Long Term Effects

There is extensive empirical literature on the association between exposure to nature and health. In this narrative review, we discuss the strength of evidence from recent (i.e., the last decade) experimental and observational studies on nature exposure and health, highlighting research on children and youth where possible. We found evidence for associations between nature exposure and improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity, and sleep. Results from experimental studies provide evidence of protective effects of exposure to natural environments on mental health outcomes and cognitive function. Cross-sectional observational studies provide evidence of positive associations between nature exposure and increased levels of physical activity and decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, and longitudinal observational studies are beginning to assess long-term effects of nature exposure on depression, anxiety, cognitive function, and chronic disease. Limitations of current knowledge include inconsistent measures of exposure to nature, the impacts of the type and quality of green space, and health effects of duration and frequency of exposure. Future directions include incorporation of more rigorous study designs, investigation of the underlying mechanisms of the association between green space and health, advancement of exposure assessment, and evaluation of sensitive periods in the early life-course.

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