Potential Effects of Soy Isoflavones on the Prevention of Metabolic Syndrome

Isoflavones are polyphenols primarily contained in soybean. As phytoestrogens, isoflavones exert beneficial effects on various chronic diseases. Metabolic syndrome increases the risk of death due to arteriosclerosis in individuals with various pathological conditions, including obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. Although the health benefits of soybean-derived isoflavones are widely known, their beneficial effects on the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome are incompletely understood. This review aims to describe the association between soybean-derived isoflavone intake and the risk of metabolic syndrome development. We reviewed studies on soy isoflavones, particularly daidzein and genistein, and metabolic syndrome, using PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. We describe the pathological characteristics of metabolic syndrome, including those contributing to multiple pathological conditions. Furthermore, we summarize the effects of soybean-derived daidzein and genistein on metabolic syndrome reported in human epidemiological studies and experiments using in vitro and in vivo models. In particular, we emphasize the role of soy isoflavones in metabolic syndrome-induced cardiovascular diseases. In conclusion, this review focuses on the potential of soy isoflavones to prevent metabolic syndrome by influencing the onset of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and arteriosclerosis and discusses the anti-inflammatory effects of isoflavones.

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Protective effects of Cathelicidin against glomerulonephritis through promotion of host defense

American Journal of BioMedicine ◽

10.18081/2333-5106/014-08/189-198 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 2 (3) ◽

pp. 189-198

Author(s):

Ajay H. Bahl ◽

Wanda Lee

Keyword(s):

Host Defense ◽

Disulfide Bonds ◽

Helical Conformation ◽

Antimicrobial Protein ◽

Protective Effects ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

E Coli ◽

Risk Of Death

Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptides are a family of polypeptides found in lysosomes of macrophages and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs). Some of these peptides can assume an alpha-helical conformation, others contain one or two disulfide bonds, still others are Pro- and Arg-rich, or Trp-rich. Higher levels of human cathelicidin antimicrobial protein (hCAP18), which are up-regulated by vitamin D, appear to significantly reduce the risk of death from infection in dialysis patients. Using in vitro and in vivo models of kidney infection, we demonstrate key antimicrobial and host immunomodulatory properties of cathelicidins. To directly assess the role of endogenous cathelicidin in the development of glomerulonephritis, WT and mCRAMP KO mice were provided with 5% DSS to induce glomerulonephritis. Some mice groups were administered with E. coli DNA I.P. Our findings showed that mCRAMP KO mice develop more severe glomerulonephritis. These data demonstrate key roles for cathelicidins in host defense against glomerulonephritis and the potential to inform the development of synthetic analogues to modulate specific host-pathogen interactions as novel antimicrobial therapeutics.

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Beneficial Role of Bitter Melon Supplementation in Obesity and Related Complications in Metabolic Syndrome

Journal of Lipids ◽

10.1155/2015/496169 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 2015 ◽

pp. 1-18 ◽

Cited By ~ 35

Author(s):

Md Ashraful Alam ◽

Riaz Uddin ◽

Nusrat Subhan ◽

Md Mahbubur Rahman ◽

Preeti Jain ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Therapeutic Benefit ◽

Bitter Melon ◽

Metabolic Dysfunction ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Alternative Medicines ◽

Daily Food ◽

Treatment Of Diabetes

Diabetes, obesity, and metabolic syndrome are becoming epidemic both in developed and developing countries in recent years. Complementary and alternative medicines have been used since ancient era for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Bitter melon is widely used as vegetables in daily food in Bangladesh and several other countries in Asia. The fruits extract of bitter melon showed strong antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities in experimental condition bothin vivoandin vitro. Recent scientific evaluation of this plant extracts also showed potential therapeutic benefit in diabetes and obesity related metabolic dysfunction in experimental animals and clinical studies. These beneficial effects are mediated probably by inducing lipid and fat metabolizing gene expression and increasing the function of AMPK and PPARs, and so forth. This review will thus focus on the recent findings on beneficial effect ofMomordica charantiaextracts on metabolic syndrome and discuss its potential mechanism of actions.

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Soy Isoflavones in Integrative Oncology: Increased Efficacy and Decreased Toxicity of Cancer Therapy

Integrative Cancer Therapies ◽

10.1177/1534735419835310 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 18 ◽

pp. 153473541983531 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ilyas Sahin ◽

Birdal Bilir ◽

Shakir Ali ◽

Kazim Sahin ◽

Omer Kucuk

Keyword(s):

Cancer Cells ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Soy Isoflavones ◽

Anti Oxidant ◽

Orally Bioavailable ◽

And Control ◽

Harmful Effects

Soy consumption in human diet has been linked to decreased incidence of a variety of cancers, suggesting a potential role of soy products in cancer prevention and control. Furthermore, a substantial body of evidence in the literature suggests that soy supplementation may improve the efficacy and prevent the adverse effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Isoflavones constitute the predominant anticancer bioactive compounds in soy. Genistein, which is the most abundant and active isoflavone in soy, has a multitude of effects on cancer cells, including inhibition of NF-κB activation and DNA methylation, enhancement of histone acetylation, inhibition of cell growth and metastasis, and antiangiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant effects. Isoflavones are orally bioavailable, easily metabolized, and usually considered safe. In this article, we review in vitro and in vivo evidence as well as the results of clinical and epidemiological studies on the effects of soy isoflavones, with a focus on sensitization of cancer cells to chemotherapy and radiation while at the same time protecting normal cells from the harmful effects of these treatments.

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The emerging role of iron in heart failure and vascular calcification in CKD

Clinical Kidney Journal ◽

10.1093/ckj/sfaa135 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Paola Ciceri ◽

Mario Cozzolino

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Iron Deficiency ◽

Vascular Calcification ◽

Strong Association ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Risk Of Death ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Cv Disease

Abstract Iron deficiency is a frequent comorbidity of cardiovascular (CV) diseases and nearly 50% of patients with heart failure (HF) with or without anaemia have low levels of available iron. There is a strong association between anaemia and the increase in mortality and hospitalizations in patients with CV disease and HF. Moreover, anaemia and chronic kidney disease (CKD) often coexist in patients with HF, with anaemia increasing the risk of death in these subjects and with a further increased risk in CKD population. The evidence that the treatment of iron deficiency and the increase in haemoglobin are associated with a better prognosis in HF patients has elicited new interest in the utilization of iron in HF and CKD patients. One of the central players in CV disease is vascular calcification (VC), which has been recognized as a major independent risk factor for incident CV disease and overall mortality in chronic disease patients. In this review, we summarize the evidences generated by clinical trials aimed to study the effect of iron deficiency correction, the effect of iron-based phosphate binder in in vivo models of kidney failure and the effect of iron in in vitro models of VC, trying to give an overview of the present knowledge on iron effect and its mechanisms of action.

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Nifedipine Upregulates ATF6-α, Caspases -12, -3, and -7 Implicating Lipotoxicity-Associated Renal ER Stress

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21093147 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (9) ◽

pp. 3147

Author(s):

Chiung-Chi Peng ◽

Chang-Rong Chen ◽

Chang-Yu Chen ◽

Yen-Chung Lin ◽

Kuan-Chou Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Er Stress ◽

Nile Red ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Homologous Protein ◽

Renal Tubular Cells ◽

Activating Transcription Factor ◽

Renal Tubular

Nifedipine (NF) is reported to have many beneficial effects in antihypertensive therapy. Recently, we found that NF induced lipid accumulation in renal tubular cells. Palmitic acid-induced renal lipotoxicity was found to be partially mediated by endoplasmic reticular (ER) stress, while it can also be elicited by NF in kidney cells; we examined the induction of suspected pathways in both in vitro and in vivo models. NRK52E cells cultured in high-glucose medium were treated with NF (30 µM) for 24–48 h. ER stress-induced lipotoxicity was explored by staining with thioflavin T and Nile red, transmission electron microscopy, terminal uridine nick-end labeling, and Western blotting. ER stress was also investigated in rats with induced chronic kidney disease (CKD) fed NF for four weeks. NF induced the production of unfolded protein aggregates, resulting in ER stress, as evidenced by the upregulation of glucose-regulated protein, 78 kDa (GRP78), activating transcription factor 6α (ATF6α), C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), and caspases-12, -3, and -7. In vitro early apoptosis was more predominant than late apoptosis. Most importantly, ATF6α was confirmed to play a unique role in NF-induced ER stress in both models. CKD patients with hypertension should not undergo NF therapy. In cases where it is required, alleviation of ER stress should be considered to avoid further damaging the kidneys.

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Quercetin and Its Nano-Scale Delivery Systems in Prostate Cancer Therapy: Paving the Way for Cancer Elimination and Reversing Chemoresistance

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13071602 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (7) ◽

pp. 1602

Author(s):

Yaseen Hussain ◽

Sepideh Mirzaei ◽

Milad Ashrafizadeh ◽

Ali Zarrabi ◽

Kiavash Hushmandi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Fruits And Vegetables ◽

Prostate Gland ◽

Epidemiological Studies ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Synthetic Drugs ◽

Cancer Agent ◽

Underlying Mechanisms

Prostate cancer is the second most leading and prevalent malignancy around the world, following lung cancer. Prostate cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells in the prostate gland. Prostate cancer morbidity and mortality have grown drastically, and intensive prostate cancer care is unlikely to produce adequate outcomes. The synthetic drugs for the treatment of prostate cancer in clinical practice face several challenges. Quercetin is a natural flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables. Apart from its beneficial effects, its plays a key role as an anti-cancer agent. Quercetin has shown anticancer potential, both alone and in combination. Therefore, the current study was designed to collect information from the literature regarding its therapeutic significance in the treatment of prostate cancer. Studies performed both in vitro and in vivo have confirmed that quercetin effectively prevents prostate cancer through different underlying mechanisms. Promising findings have also been achieved in clinical trials regarding the pharmacokinetics and human applications of quercetin. In the meantime, epidemiological studies have shown a negative correlation between the consumption of quercetin and the incidence of prostate cancer, and have indicated a chemopreventive effect of quercetin on prostate cancer in animal models. The major issues associated with quercetin are its low bioavailability and rapid metabolism, and these require priority attention. Chemoresistance is another main negative feature concerning prostate cancer treatment. This review highlights the chemotherapeutic effect, chemo preventive effect, and chemoresistance elimination potential of quercetin in prostate cancer. The underlying mechanisms for elimination of prostate cancer and eradication of resistance, either alone or in combination with other agents, are also discussed. In addition, the nanoscale delivery of quercetin is underpinned along with possible directions for future study.

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Ginger, a Possible Candidate for the Treatment of Dementias?

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26185700 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (18) ◽

pp. 5700

Author(s):

Giovanni Schepici ◽

Valentina Contestabile ◽

Andrea Valeri ◽

Emanuela Mazzon

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Vascular Dementia ◽

Human Life ◽

Zingiber Officinale ◽

Ancient Medicine ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Beneficial Effects

As the human life expectancy increases, age-linked diseases have become more and more frequent. The worldwide increment of dementia cases demands medical solutions, but the current available drugs do not meet all the expectations. Recently the attention of the scientific community was attracted by natural compounds, used in ancient medicine, known for their beneficial effects and high tolerability. This review is focused on Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and explore its properties against Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia, two of the most common and devastating forms of dementia. This work resumes the beneficial effects of Ginger compounds, tested in computational in vitro and in vivo models of Alzheimer’s Disease and Vascular Dementia, along with some human tests. All these evidences suggest a potential role of the compounds of ginger not only in the treatment of the disease, but also in its prevention.

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Brown Seaweeds for the Management of Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Diseases

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25184182 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (18) ◽

pp. 4182

Author(s):

Daniela Gabbia ◽

Sara De Martin

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Syndrome ◽

Metabolic Diseases ◽

Brown Seaweeds ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Associated Diseases ◽

Preclinical And Clinical Studies

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by the coexistence of different metabolic disorders which increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, metabolic syndrome leads to a reduction in patients’ quality of life as well as to an increase in morbidity and mortality. In the last few decades, it has been demonstrated that seaweeds exert multiple beneficial effects by virtue of their micro- and macronutrient content, which could help in the management of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. This review aims to provide an updated overview on the potential of brown seaweeds for the prevention and management of metabolic syndrome and its associated diseases, based on the most recent evidence obtained from in vitro and in vivo preclinical and clinical studies. Owing to their great potential for health benefits, brown seaweeds are successfully used in some nutraceuticals and functional foods for treating metabolic syndrome comorbidities. However, some issues still need to be tackled and deepened to improve the knowledge of their ADME/Tox profile in humans, in particular by finding validated indexes of their absorption and obtaining reliable information on their efficacy and long-term safety.

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Hydralazine targets cAMP-dependent protein kinase leading to sirtuin1/5 activation and lifespan extension in C. elegans

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-019-12425-w ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Esmaeil Dehghan ◽

Mohammad Goodarzi ◽

Bahar Saremi ◽

Rueyling Lin ◽

Hamid Mirzaei

Keyword(s):

Protein Kinase ◽

Mitochondrial Function ◽

Dependent Protein Kinase ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

C Elegans ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Camp Dependent Protein Kinase ◽

Dependent Protein

Abstract Therapeutic activation of mitochondrial function has been suggested as an effective strategy to combat aging. Hydralazine is an FDA-approved drug used in the treatment of hypertension, heart failure and cancer. Hydralazine has been recently shown to promote lifespan in C. elegans, rotifer and yeast through a mechanism which has remained elusive. Here we report cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) as the direct target of hydralazine. Using in vitro and in vivo models, we demonstrate a mechanism in which binding and stabilization of a catalytic subunit of PKA by hydralazine lead to improved mitochondrial function and metabolic homeostasis via the SIRT1/SIRT5 axis, which underlies hydralazine’s prolongevity and stress resistance benefits. Hydralazine also protects mitochondrial metabolism and function resulting in restoration of health and lifespan in C. elegans under high glucose and other stress conditions. Our data also provide new insights into the mechanism(s) that explain various other known beneficial effects of hydralazine.

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Non-Centrifugal Sugar (NCS) and Health: A Review on Functional Components and Health Benefits

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app12010460 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 460

Author(s):

Dina Zidan ◽

Azrina Azlan

Keyword(s):

Cane Sugar ◽

Solid Product ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Food And Agriculture ◽

Food And Agriculture Organization ◽

Functional Components ◽

Agronomic Conditions

Non-centrifugal sugar (NCS) is the scientific term the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) uses to define a solid product, produced by sugarcane juice evaporation, which is unrefined or minimally refined. NCS is referred to in various names globally, the most significant ones are whole cane sugar, panela (Latin America), jaggery (India) and kokuto (Japan). NCS contains minerals, bioactive compounds, flavonoids and phenolic acids, which have therapeutic potentials from time immemorial. Even though the bioactive property is dependent on the composition, which relies mainly on the agronomic conditions and production process, NCS possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hence, substituting the consumption of refined sugar with NCS might be helpful in the control of chronic diseases generally connected to oxidative stress and inflammation. Experimental facts from in vitro and in vivo models have proven that NCS plays an essential role in weight management, maintaining insulin sensitivity and preventing neurodegenerative diseases. NCS has also shown hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. This review aims to synopsize the recent literature pertaining to the benefits of NCS in human health. The NCS can be considered a nutraceutical and functional food. However, detailed and regulated studies are important to enhance the beneficial effects in human and animal interventions.

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