scholarly journals Pistachio Nuts (Pistacia vera L.): Production, Nutrients, Bioactives and Novel Health Effects

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 18
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Mandalari ◽  
Davide Barreca ◽  
Teresa Gervasi ◽  
Michael A. Roussell ◽  
Bob Klein ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Pistacia Vera ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Pistachio Nuts ◽  
Inflammatory Effect

Epidemiological and clinical studies have indicated positive outcomes related to tree nut consumption. Here, we review the production, nutrient, phytochemical composition and emerging research trends on the health benefits of pistachio nuts (Pistacia vera L.). Pistachios are a good source of protein, fiber, monounsaturated fatty acids, minerals and vitamins, as well as carotenoids, phenolic acids, flavonoids and anthocyanins. Polyphenols in pistachios are important contributors to the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect, as demonstrated in vitro and in vivo through animal studies and clinical trials. The antimicrobial and antiviral potential of pistachio polyphenols has also been assessed and could help overcome drug resistance. Pistachio consumption may play a role in cognitive function and has been associated with a positive modulation of the human gut microbiota and beneficial effects on skin health. Pistachio polyphenol extracts may affect enzymes involved in glucose regulation and so type 2 diabetes. Taken together, these data demonstrate the health benefits of including pistachios in the diet. Further studies are required to investigate the mechanisms involved.

scholarly journals Antidiabetic Properties of Naringenin: A Citrus Fruit Polyphenol

Biomolecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danja J. Den Hartogh ◽  
Evangelia Tsiani
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Citrus Fruit ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Personal Health ◽  
Current Review ◽  
Vegetables And Fruits

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia and is associated with personal health and global economic burdens. Current strategies/approaches of insulin resistance and T2DM prevention and treatment are lacking in efficacy resulting in the need for new preventative and targeted therapies. In recent years, epidemiological studies have suggested that diets rich in vegetables and fruits are associated with health benefits including protection against insulin resistance and T2DM. Naringenin, a citrus flavanone, has been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, immunomodulatory and antidiabetic properties. The current review summarizes the existing in vitro and in vivo animal studies examining the anti-diabetic effects of naringenin.

scholarly journals Meteorin-like (Metrnl) adipomyokine improves glucose tolerance in type 2 diabetes via AMPK pathway

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jung Ok Lee ◽  
Hye Jeong Lee ◽  
Yong Woo Lee ◽  
Jeong Ah Han ◽  
Min Ju Kang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Glucose Metabolism ◽  
Glucose Tolerance ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Ampk Pathway

AbstractMeteorin-like (metrnl) is a recently identified adipomyokine that has beneficial effects on glucose metabolism. However, its underlying mechanism of action is not completely understood. In this study, we have shown that a level of metrnl increase in vitro under electrical-pulse-stimulation (EPS) and in vivo in exercise mice, suggesting that metrnl is an exercise-induced myokine. In addition, metrnl increases glucose uptake through the calcium-dependent AMPK pathway. Metrnl also increases the phosphorylation of HDAC5, a transcriptional repressor of GLUT4, in an AMPK-dependent manner. Phosphorylated HDAC5 interacts with 14-3-3 proteins and sequesters them in the cytoplasm, resulting in the activation of GLUT4 transcription. The intraperitoneal injection of recombinant metrnl improves glucose tolerance in mice with high fat-induced obesity or type 2 diabetes (db/db), but this is not seen in AMPK β1β2 muscle-specific null mice (AMPK β1β2 MKO). In conclusion, we have demonstrated that metrnl induces beneficial effects on glucose metabolism via AMPK and is a promising therapeutic candidate for glucose-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes.

scholarly journals Antidiabetic Properties of Curcumin I: Evidence from In Vitro Studies

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danja J. Den Hartogh ◽  
Alessandra Gabriel ◽  
Evangelia Tsiani
Keyword(s):  
Insulin Resistance ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
In Vitro Studies ◽  
Antidiabetic Effects

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a growing metabolic disease characterized by insulin resistance and hyperglycemia. Current preventative and treatment strategies for T2DM and insulin resistance lack in efficacy resulting in the need for new approaches to prevent and manage/treat the disease better. In recent years, epidemiological studies have suggested that diets rich in fruits and vegetables have beneficial health effects including protection against insulin resistance and T2DM. Curcumin, a polyphenol found in turmeric, and curcuminoids have been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory and antidiabetic properties. The current review (I of II) summarizes the existing in vitro studies examining the antidiabetic effects of curcumin, while a second (II of II) review summarizes evidence from existing in vivo animal studies and clinical trials focusing on curcumin’s antidiabetic properties.

scholarly journals Recent Research on the Health Benefits of Blueberries and Their Anthocyanins

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilhelmina Kalt ◽  
Aedin Cassidy ◽  
Luke R Howard ◽  
Robert Krikorian ◽  
April J Stull ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Weight Maintenance ◽  
Health Benefits ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Regular Consumption ◽  
Host Health

ABSTRACTAwareness of the human health benefits of blueberries is underpinned by a growing body of positive scientific evidence from human observational and clinical research, plus mechanistic research using animal and in vitro models. Blueberries contain a large number of phytochemicals, including abundant anthocyanin pigments. Of their various phytochemicals, anthocyanins probably make the greatest impact on blueberry health functionality. Epidemiological studies associate regular, moderate intake of blueberries and/or anthocyanins with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, death, and type 2 diabetes, and with improved weight maintenance and neuroprotection. These findings are supported by biomarker-based evidence from human clinical studies. Among the more important healthful aspects of blueberries are their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions and their beneficial effects on vascular and glucoregulatory function. Blueberry phytochemicals may affect gastrointestinal microflora and contribute to host health. These aspects have implications in degenerative diseases and conditions as well as the aging process. More evidence, and particularly human clinical evidence, is needed to better understand the potential for anthocyanin-rich blueberries to benefit public health. However, it is widely agreed that the regular consumption of tasty, ripe blueberries can be unconditionally recommended.

scholarly journals Edible insects as a source of food bioactives and their potential health effects

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Lange ◽  
Yukiko Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Oral Intake ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Food Ingredients ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Entomophagy (consumption of insects) is an issue of global nutritional and environmental interest. The nutritional value of insects appears to be high, since they are rich in protein and fat and provide a range of vitamins and minerals. Edible insects contain similar amounts of protein to conventional meat and higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Due to their high content of protein, micronutrients and fiber, insects could become a valuable alternative to food derived from other animals. The findings of various in vitro and in vivo animal studies suggest beneficial effects of entomophagy with respect to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and non-communicable diseases as well as immune functions and carcinogenesis. Edible insects appear to be a promising and insufficiently explored source of macronutrients, micronutrients and food bioactives. In the course of time, some edible insects may meet the criteria of functional food ingredients. However, there is a significant lack of research investigating health outcomes in humans. The available evidence in humans, derived from randomized controlled trials, suggests a role of edible insects in the promotion of mineral status and the modulation of gut microbiota, with some prebiotic effects. High-quality clinical studies assessing efficacy, oral intake safety and allergy risk are needed.

“New perspectives in the pharmacological potential of naringin in medicine”

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
María Angélica Rivoira ◽  
Valeria Rodriguez ◽  
Germán Talamoni ◽  
Nori Tolosa de Talamoni
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Pubmed Database ◽  
Dental Diseases ◽  
Pharmacological Potential

Background: Naringin (NAR) is a flavonoid enriched in several medicinal plants and fruits. An increasing interest in this molecule has been emerging because it has the potential to contribute to alleviating many health problems. Objective:: This review briefly describes the NAR pharmacokinetics and it mainly focus on in vitro and in vivo animal studies showing NAR beneficial effects on cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological and pulmonary disorders and cancer. The anabolic effects of NAR on different models of bone and dental diseases are also analyzed. In addition, the evidence of the NAR action on the gastrointestinal tract is reported as well as its influence on the microbiota composition and activity. Finally, current research on NAR formulations and clinical applications are discussed. Methods: The PubMed database was searched until 2019, using the keywords NAR, naringenin, cardiovascular and metabolic disorders, neurological and pulmonary disorders, cancer, bone and dental diseases, gastrointestinal tract, microbiota, NAR formulations, clinical trials. Results: The number of studies related to the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of NAR is limited. Positive effects of NAR have been reported on cardiovascular diseases, type 2 Diabetes mellitus (T2DM), metabolic syndrome, pulmonary disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and gastrointestinal pathologies. Current NAR formulations seem to improve its bioavailability, which would allow its clinical application. Conclusion: NAR is endowed with broad biological effects that could improve human health. Since a scarce number of clinical studies have been performed, the use of them requires more investigation in order to know better their safety, efficacy, delivery and bioavailability in humans.

Tongxinluo Inhibits Renal Fibrosis in Diabetic Nephropathy: Involvement of the Suppression of Intercellular Transfer of TGF-β1-Containing Exosomes from GECs to GMCs

2017 ◽  
Vol 45 (05) ◽  
pp. 1075-1092 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Ming Wu ◽  
Yan-Bin Gao ◽  
Li-Ping Xu ◽  
Da-Wei Zou ◽  
Zhi-Yao Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Nephropathy ◽  
Mesangial Cells ◽  
Glomerular Mesangial Cells ◽  
Intercellular Transfer ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Renal Structure ◽  
And Function

Glomerular mesangial cells (GMCs) activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Our previous study revealed that high glucose (HG)-treated glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) produce an increased number of TGF-[Formula: see text]1-containing exosomes to activate GMCs through the TGF-[Formula: see text]1/Smad3 signaling pathway. We also identified that Tongxinluo (TXL), a traditional Chinese medicine, has beneficial effects on the treatment of DN in DN patients and type 2 diabetic mice. However, it remained elusive whether TXL could ameliorate renal structure and function through suppression of intercellular transfer of TGF-[Formula: see text]1-containing exosomes from GECs to GMCs. In this study, we demonstrate that TXL can inhibit the secretion of TGF-[Formula: see text]1-containing exosomes from HG-treated GECs. Furthermore, exosomes produced by HG induced-GECs treated with TXL cannot trigger GMC activation, proliferation and extracellular matrix (ECM) overproduction both in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that TXL can prevent the transfer of TGF-[Formula: see text]1 from GECs to GMCs via exosomes, which may be one of the mechanisms of TXL in the treatment of DN.

scholarly journals Lycopene: A Critical Review of Digestion, Absorption, Metabolism, and Excretion

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 342
Author(s):  
Joseph Arballo ◽  
Jaume Amengual ◽  
John W. Erdman
Keyword(s):  
Health Benefits ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Tissue Level ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Dietary Factors ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Lycopene is a non-provitamin A carotenoid that exhibits several health benefits. Epidemiological data support a correlation between lycopene intake and the attenuation of several chronic diseases, including certain types of cancers and cardiovascular diseases. It is currently unknown whether the beneficial effects are from the native structure of lycopene or its metabolic derivatives: lycopenals, lycopenols, and lycopenoic acids. This literature review focuses on the current research on lycopene digestion, absorption, metabolism, and excretion. This review primarily focuses on in vivo studies because of the labile nature and difficulty of studying carotenoids within in vitro experimental models. The studies presented address tissue accumulation of lycopene, the modification of bioavailability due to genetic and dietary factors, and lycopene cleavage by the enzymes ß-carotene oxygenase 1 (BCO1) and ß-carotene oxygenase 2 (BCO2). The current literature suggests that the majority of lycopene is cleaved eccentrically by BCO2, yet further research is needed to probe the enzymatic cleavage activity at the tissue level. Additionally, results indicate that single nucleotide polymorphisms and dietary fat influence lycopene absorption and thus modify its health effects. Further research exploring the metabolism of lycopene, the mechanisms related to its health benefits, and optimal diet composition to increase the bioavailability is required.

scholarly journals Growth Hormone and the Auditory Pathway: Neuromodulation and Neuroregeneration

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 2829
Author(s):  
Joaquín Guerra Gómez ◽  
Jesús Devesa
Keyword(s):  
Growth Hormone ◽  
Auditory Processing ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Auditory Pathway ◽  
Central Auditory Processing ◽  
Protective Function ◽  
Central Auditory Processing Disorders ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Growth hormone (GH) plays an important role in auditory development during the embryonic stage. Exogenous agents such as sound, noise, drugs or trauma, can induce the release of this hormone to perform a protective function and stimulate other mediators that protect the auditory pathway. In addition, GH deficiency conditions hearing loss or central auditory processing disorders. There are promising animal studies that reflect a possible regenerative role when exogenous GH is used in hearing impairments, demonstrated in in vivo and in vitro studies, and also, even a few studies show beneficial effects in humans presented and substantiated in the main text, although they should not exaggerate the main conclusions.

scholarly journals Olive Oil Nutraceuticals in the Prevention and Management of Diabetes: From Molecules to Lifestyle

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 2024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Alkhatib ◽  
Catherine Tsang ◽  
Jaakko Tuomilehto
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Olive Oil ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Monounsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Gene Expressions ◽  
Glucose Lowering ◽  
Prevention Of Diabetes

Lifestyle is the primary prevention of diabetes, especially type-2 diabetes (T2D). Nutritional intake of olive oil (OO), the key Mediterranean diet component has been associated with the prevention and management of many chronic diseases including T2D. Several OO bioactive compounds such as monounsaturated fatty acids, and key biophenols including hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, have been associated with preventing inflammation and cytokine-induced oxidative damage, glucose lowering, reducing carbohydrate absorption, and increasing insulin sensitivity and related gene expression. However, research into the interaction of OO nutraceuticals with lifestyle components, especially physical activity, is lacking. Promising postprandial effects have been reported when OO or other similar monounsaturated fatty acids were the main dietary fat compared with other diets. Animal studies have shown a potential anabolic effect of oleuropein. Such effects could be further potentiated via exercise, especially strength training, which is an essential exercise prescription for individuals with T2D. There is also an evidence from in vitro, animal, and limited human studies for a dual preventative role of OO biophenols in diabetes and cancer, especially that they share similar risk factors. Putative antioxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms and associated gene expressions resulting from OO biophenols have produced paradoxical results, making suggested inferences from dual prevention T2D and cancer outcomes difficult. Well-designed human interventions and clinical trials are needed to decipher such a potential dual anticancer and antidiabetic effects of OO nutraceuticals. Exercise combined with OO consumption, individually or as part of a healthy diet is likely to induce reciprocal action for T2D prevention outcomes.

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