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Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2018) | Viewed by 79928

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Prof. Dr. Fabio Galvano

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Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Interests: polyphenols; mediterranean diet; coffee; functional foods; cardiovascular diseases; cancer; nutritional epidemiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antioxidants are abundant micronutrients in human diet and evidence for their protective role against noncommunicable chronic diseases is emerging. Antioxidants are abundantly present in fruits and vegetables, nuts, cocoa, whole-grains, olive oil, and beverages, such as coffee and tea. It is known that a diet, plentiful in antioxidant-rich foods, may reduce the risk of chronic disease. However, due to the complexity of this relationship, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of bioactive food components is needed to better assume the role of complex dietary patterns in human health.

This Special Issue welcomes original research and reviews of literature concerning dietary antioxidants and the following issues:

observational studies on nutritional cohorts or case-control studies on the association with chronic disease;
clinical trials of dietary antioxidants on disease prevention;
level of evidence on the association with human health (systematic reviews and meta-analyses);
comprehensive reviews on dietary antioxidants;
in vitro and in vivo studies on molecular mechanisms and targets of dietary antioxidants.

Prof. Fabio Galvano
Guest Editor

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Keywords

antioxidants
dietary
polyphenols
antioxidant-rich foods
antioxidant-rich beverages
nutrition
chronic disease

Published Papers (13 papers)

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Research

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7 pages, 577 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness and Safety of Dietetic Supplementation of a New Nutraceutical on Lipid Profile and Serum Inflammation Biomarkers in Hypercholesterolemic Patients

by Graziano Riccioni, Maria Alessandra Gammone, Walter Currenti and Nicolantonio D’Orazio

Molecules 2018, 23(5), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23051168 - 14 May 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 3834

Abstract

Background: To assess the effectiveness and safety of a new nutraceutical (NC) on lipid profile, inflammation biomarkers and creatine phosphokinase (CPK) serum levels in hypercholesterolemic patients. Methods: 40 patients underwent hypolipemic treatment with NC. Initial and final (after 12 weeks) screening included medical history, physical examination, and measurement of serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides), hepatic (GOT, GPT, γGT), and renal (serum creatinine and urea) functions, CPK level and many inflammation biomarkers (hs-CRP and fibrinogen). At the screening visit, all patients were instructed to follow a normocaloric and hypolipidic diet during the study period. Results: The treatment with supplementation of NC demonstrated a significant reduction of serum total cholesterol (224 ± 11.2 mg/dL vs. 178 ± 10.7; p < 0.001), LDL-cholesterol (141 ± 10.6 vs. 116 + 10.1; p < 0.001), triglycerides (183 ± 13 vs. 159 ± 11.5; p < 0.01), serum inflammatory biomarkers as hs-CRP (2.24 ± 0.83 vs. 1.76 ± 0.61 mg/dL; p < 0.01), fibrinogen (315 ± 43 vs. 199 ± 41 mg/dL; p < 0.01) and a significantly increase of HDL-cholesterol (44 ± 7 vs. 53 ± 7 mg/dL; p < 0.01). Hepatic and renal function and serum CPK were normal. No adverse events was reported. Conclusions: The treatment with NC has demonstrated a significant reduction of LDL-cholesterol (−17.73%), total cholesterol (−20.53%) and triglycerides (−13.1%), with a significant increase of HDL-cholesterol values (+20.45%). The improvement of lipid profile was associated with a significant reduction of serum inflammation biomarkers as hs-PCR (−27%) and fibrinogen (−36.8%) with good tolerability profile. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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15 pages, 298 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Polyphenol Intake and Depression: Results from the Mediterranean Healthy Eating, Lifestyle and Aging (MEAL) Study

by Justyna Godos, Sabrina Castellano, Sumantra Ray, Giuseppe Grosso and Fabio Galvano

Molecules 2018, 23(5), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23050999 - 24 Apr 2018

Cited by 109 | Viewed by 10426

Abstract

Background: The epidemiological evidence for a relation between dietary polyphenol intake and depression is limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the association between habitual dietary intake of total polyphenols, their classes, subclasses and individual compounds and depressive symptoms among the participants of the Mediterranean healthy Eating, Lifestyle and Aging (MEAL) study. Methods: Demographic and dietary characteristics of 1572 adults living in southern Italy were analyzed. Food frequency questionnaires and Phenol-Explorer were used to calculate habitual dietary intakes of polyphenols. The Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10) was used as screening tool for depressive symptoms. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to test associations and were expressed as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A total of 509 individuals reported having depressive symptoms. Based on multivariate logistic regression analyses, total polyphenol intake was not associated with depressive symptoms. After adjustment for potential confounding factors, dietary intake of phenolic acid (OR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.44, 0.93), flavanones (OR = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.91), and anthocyanins (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.89) showed significant inverse association with depressive symptoms, when comparing the highest with the lowest quartile. Moreover, flavanones and anthocyanins, were associated with depressive symptoms in a dose-response manner. Among individual compounds, inverse association was observed for quercetin (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.32, 0.86) and naringenin (OR = 0.51, 95% CI: 0.30, 0.85), for the highest versus lowest quartile of intake. When taking into consideration the major sources of the polyphenols, only citrus fruits and wine consumption was inversely associated with depressive symptoms (Q4 vs. Q1: OR= 0.51, 95% CI: 0.35, 0.75; Q4 vs. Q1: OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.38, 0.74, respectively). Conclusions: Higher dietary intake of flavonoid may be inversely associated with depressive symptoms. Further studies are needed to definitively confirm these observed associations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

12 pages, 4445 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Plasma and Salivary Non-Urate Total Antioxidant Capacity Does Not Depend on Dietary Vitamin C, E, or β-Carotene Intake in Older Subjects

by Anna Gawron-Skarbek, Agnieszka Guligowska, Anna Prymont-Przymińska, Dariusz Nowak and Tomasz Kostka

Molecules 2018, 23(4), 983; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23040983 - 23 Apr 2018

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4081

Abstract

The native Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) of plasma and saliva is generally determined by uric acid (UA). Several studies have assessed the impact of habitual dietary antioxidative vitamin intake on TAC, but it remains unknown whether it influences Non-Urate Total Antioxidant Capacity (Nu-TAC), i.e., TAC after enzymatic UA elimination. The purpose of this study was to assess whether the intake of antioxidative vitamins C, E, and β-carotene, provided with usual daily food rations, affects plasma and salivary Nu-TAC. The study involved 56 older subjects (aged 66.9 ± 4.3 years), divided into two age- and sex-matched groups: group 1 (n = 28), with lower combined vitamin C, E, and β-carotene intake, and group 2 (n = 28), with higher intake. A 24 h dietary recall was obtained from each individual. Nu-TAC was assessed simultaneously with two methods in plasma (Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma—Nu-FRAP, 2.2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl—Nu-DPPH) and in saliva (Nu-FRAS and Nu-DPPHS test). No differences were found in the Nu-TAC parameters between the groups, either in plasma (Nu-FRAP, Nu-DPPH) or in saliva (Nu-FRAS, Nu-DPPHS) (p > 0.05). No plasma or salivary Nu-TAC indices correlated with dietary vitamin C, E, or β-carotene intake or with other nutrients. Habitual, not extra-supplemented dietary intake does not significantly affect plasma or salivary Nu-TAC. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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12 pages, 4431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemical Characterization of an Encapsulated Red Wine Powder and Its Effects on Neuronal Cells

by Diego Rocha-Parra, Jorge Chirife, Clara Zamora and Sonia De Pascual-Teresa

Molecules 2018, 23(4), 842; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23040842 - 07 Apr 2018

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4805

Abstract

Red wine polyphenols are known for their implications for human health protection, although they suffer from high instability. For this reason, a red wine powder was prepared by freeze-drying encapsulation in maltodextrin/arabic gum matrix, and its composition was determined by means of high-performance liquid chromatography coupled quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-QTOF). More than thirty polyphenols, including anthocyanins, flavanols, flavonols, phenolic acids and stilbenoids, were identified. Some of the main quantified polyphenols were: malvidin-3-O-glucoside, malvidin 3-O-(6″-acetyl-glucose), petunidin-3-O-glucoside, quercetin-3-O-glucuronide, syringenin-3-O-glucoside, epicatechin, gallic acid and syringic acid. The biological activity of this de-alcoholized and encapsulated red wine on human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells was studied. The results showed that the encapsulated red wine powder has active redox properties, as verified by performing reactive oxygen species (ROS) analysis utilizing a neuronal model. This could help explain its action against the neurotoxicity induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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11 pages, 1721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Differences in the Effects of EGCG on Chromosomal Stability and Cell Growth between Normal and Colon Cancer Cells

by Juan Ni, Xihan Guo, Han Wang, Tao Zhou and Xu Wang

Molecules 2018, 23(4), 788; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23040788 - 29 Mar 2018

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4538

Abstract

The tea catechin epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) proved to be the most potent physiologically active tea compound in vitro. It possesses antioxidant as well as pro-oxidant properties. EGCG has the effect of inducing apoptosis of tumor cells and inhibiting cell proliferation. Whether this effect is associated with the antioxidant or pro-oxidative effects of EGCG affecting the genome stability of normal and cancer cells has not been confirmed. Here, we selected Human normal colon epithelial cells NCM460 and colon adenocarcinoma cells COLO205 to investigate the effects of EGCG (0–40 μg/mL) on the genome stability and cell growth status. Chromosomal instability (CIN), nuclear division index (NDI), and apoptosis was measured by cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN), and the expression of core genes in mismatch repair (hMLMLH1 and hMSH2) was examined by RT-qPCR. We found that EGCG significantly reduced CIN and apoptosis rate of NCM460 at all concentrations (5–40 μg/mL) and treatment time, EGCG at 5 μg/mL promoted cell division; EGCG could significantly induce chromosome instability in COLO205 cells and trigger apoptosis and inhibition of cell division. These results suggest that EGCG exhibits different genetic and cytological effects in normal and colon cancer cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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13 pages, 1146 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Anti-Amyloid Aggregation Activity of Black Sesame Pigment: Toward a Novel Alzheimer’s Disease Preventive Agent

by Lucia Panzella, Thomas Eidenberger and Alessandra Napolitano

Molecules 2018, 23(3), 676; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23030676 - 16 Mar 2018

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4620

Abstract

Black sesame pigment (BSP) represents a low cost, easily accessible material of plant origin exhibiting marked antioxidant and heavy metal-binding properties with potential as a food supplement. We report herein the inhibitory properties of the potentially bioaccessible fraction of BSP following simulated gastrointestinal digestion against key enzymes involved in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). HPLC analysis indicated that BSP is transformed under the pH conditions mimicking the intestinal environment and the most abundant of the released compounds was identified as vanillic acid. More than 80% inhibition of acetylcholinesterase-induced aggregation of the β-amyloid Aβ1-40 was observed in the presence of the potentially bioaccessible fraction of BSP, which also efficiently inhibited self-induced Aβ1-42 aggregation and β-secretase (BACE-1) activity, even at high dilution. These properties open new perspectives toward the use of BSP as an ingredient of functional food or as a food supplement for the prevention of AD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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12 pages, 6786 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO)-Induced Impairment of Cardiomyocyte Function and the Protective Role of Urolithin B-Glucuronide

by Monia Savi, Leonardo Bocchi, Letizia Bresciani, Angela Falco, Federico Quaini, Pedro Mena, Furio Brighenti, Alan Crozier, Donatella Stilli and Daniele Del Rio

Molecules 2018, 23(3), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23030549 - 01 Mar 2018

Cited by 74 | Viewed by 6376

Abstract

One of the most recently proposed candidates as a potential trigger for cardiovascular diseases is trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO). Possible direct effects of TMAO on myocardial tissue, independent of vascular damage, have been only partially explored so far. In the present study, we assessed the detrimental direct effects of TMAO on cardiomyocyte contractility and intracellular calcium dynamics, and the ability of urolithin B-glucuronide (Uro B-gluc) in counteracting TMAO-induced cell damage. Cell mechanics and calcium transients were measured, and ultrastructural analysis was performed in ventricular cardiomyocytes isolated from the heart of normal adult rats. Cells were either untreated, exposed to TMAO, or to TMAO and Uro B-gluc. TMAO exposure worsened cardiomyocyte mechanics and intracellular calcium handling, as documented by the decrease in the fraction of shortening (FS) and the maximal rate of shortening and re-lengthening, associated with reduced efficiency in the intracellular calcium removal. Ultrastructurally, TMAO-treated cardiomyocytes also exhibited glycogen accumulation, a higher number of mitochondria and lipofuscin-like pigment deposition, suggesting an altered cellular energetic metabolism and a higher rate of protein oxidative damage, respectively. Uro B-gluc led to a complete recovery of cellular contractility and calcium dynamics, and morphologically to a reduced glycogen accumulation. We demonstrated for the first time a direct negative role of TMAO on cardiomyocyte functional properties and the ability of Uro B-gluc in counteracting these detrimental effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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11 pages, 431 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dietary Phytoestrogen Intake is Inversely Associated with Hypertension in a Cohort of Adults Living in the Mediterranean Area

by Justyna Godos, Sonia Bergante, Angela Satriano, Francesca Romana Pluchinotta and Marina Marranzano

Molecules 2018, 23(2), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23020368 - 09 Feb 2018

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5087

Abstract

Background: Dietary polyphenols, including phytoestrogens are abundantly present in a balanced diet. Evidence for their role in preventing non-communicable diseases is emerging. Methods: We examined the association between estimated habitual intakes of dietary phytoestrogens and hypertension in a cohort study. The baseline data included 1936 men and women aged 18 years and older. Intakes of total phytoestrogens, isoflavones, and lignans were calculated from validated food frequency questionnaire. Data on the polyphenols content in foods were retrieved from the Phenol-Explorer database. Results: Individuals in the highest quartile of dietary phytoestrogens intake were less likely to be hypertensive (OR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.44–0.98); moreover, the association showed a significant decreasing trend. Isoflavones and lignans were not associated with lower odds of hypertension; however, some individual compounds, such as biochanin A and pinoresinol showed an independent inverse association with hypertension. Conclusions: Dietary phytoestrogens are associated with lower likelihood of hypertension in adults living in the Mediterranean area. Future studies are needed to confirm the present findings (i.e., prospective cohort studies) and to better understand the mechanisms underlying such associations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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534 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Dietary Consumption of Phenolic Acids and Prostate Cancer: A Case-Control Study in Sicily, Southern Italy

by Giorgio Ivan Russo, Daniele Campisi, Marina Di Mauro, Federica Regis, Giulio Reale, Marina Marranzano, Rosalia Ragusa, Tatiana Solinas, Massimo Madonia, Sebastiano Cimino and Giuseppe Morgia

Molecules 2017, 22(12), 2159; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22122159 - 05 Dec 2017

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 5214

Abstract

Dietary polyphenols gained the interest of the scientific community due to their wide content in a variety of plant-derived foods and beverages commonly consumed, such as fruits, vegetables, coffee, tea, and cocoa. We aimed to investigate whether there was an association between dietary phenolic acid consumption and prostate cancer (PCa) in South Italy. We conducted a population-based case-control study from January 2015 to December 2016 in a single institution of the municipality of Catania, southern Italy (Registration number: 41/2015). Patients with elevated PSA and/or suspicious PCa underwent transperineal prostate biopsy. A total of 118 histopathological-verified PCa cases were collected and a total of 222 controls were selected from a sample of 2044 individuals. Dietary data were collected by using two food frequency questionnaires and data on the phenolic acids content in foods was obtained from the Phenol-Explorer database (www.phenol-explorer.eu). Association between dietary intake of phenolic acids and PCa was calculated through logistic regression analysis. We found lower levels of caffeic acid (2.28 mg/day vs. 2.76 mg/day; p < 0.05) and ferulic acid (2.80 mg/day vs. 4.04 mg/day; p < 0.01) in PCa when compared to controls. The multivariate logistic regression showed that both caffeic acid (OR = 0.32; p < 0.05) and ferulic acid (OR = 0.30; p < 0.05) were associated with reduced risk of PCa. Higher intake of hydroxybenzoic acids and caffeic acids were associated with lower risk of advanced PCa. High intake of caffeic acid and ferulic acid may be associated with reduced risk of PCa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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3209 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Protective Effects of Astaxanthin on the OVA-Induced Asthma Mice Model

by Yun-Ho Hwang, Seong-Gyeol Hong, Seul-Ki Mun, Su-Jin Kim, Sung-Ju Lee, Jong-Jin Kim, Kyung-Yun Kang and Sung-Tae Yee

Molecules 2017, 22(11), 2019; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22112019 - 21 Nov 2017

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 8248

Abstract

Although astaxanthin has a variety of biological activities such as anti-oxidant effects, inhibitory effects on skin deterioration and anti-inflammatory effects, its effect on asthma has not been studied. In this paper, the inhibitory effect of astaxanthin on airway inflammation in a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma was investigated. We evaluated the number of total cells, Th1/2 mediated inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and airway hyperresponsiveness as well as histological structure. The level of total IgE, IgG1, IgG2a, OVA-specific IgG1, and OVA-specific IgG2a were also examined. The oral administration of 50 mg/mL astaxanthin inhibited the respiratory system resistance, elastance, newtonian resistance, tissue damping, and tissue elastance. Also, astaxanthin suppressed the total cell number, IL-4, and IL-5, and increased the IFN-γ in the BALF. In the sera, total IgE, IgG1, and OVA-specific IgG1 were reduced by astaxanthin exposure and IgG2a and OVA-specific IgG2a were enhanced via oral administration of astaxanthin. Infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung, production of mucus, lung fibrosis, and expression of caspase-1 or caspase-3 were suppressed in OVA-induced asthmatic animal treated with astaxanthin. These results suggest that astaxanthin may have therapeutic potential for treating asthma via inhibiting Th2-mediated cytokine and enhancing Th1-mediated cytokine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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3080 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Olive (Olea europaea L.) Biophenols: A Nutriceutical against Oxidative Stress in SH-SY5Y Cells

by Syed Haris Omar, Philip G. Kerr, Christopher J. Scott, Adam S. Hamlin and Hassan K. Obied

Molecules 2017, 22(11), 1858; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22111858 - 29 Oct 2017

Cited by 35 | Viewed by 9205

Abstract

Plant biophenols have been shown to be effective in the modulation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathology resulting from free radical-induced oxidative stress and imbalance of the redox chemistry of transition metal ions (e.g., iron and copper). On the basis of earlier reported pharmacological activities, olive biophenols would also be expected to have anti-Alzheimer’s activity. In the present study, the antioxidant activity of individual olive biophenols (viz. caffeic acid, hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, verbascoside, quercetin, rutin and luteolin) were evaluated using superoxide radical scavenging activity (SOR), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenging activity, and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) assays. The identification and antioxidant activities in four commercial olive extracts—Olive leaf extract^TM (OLE), Olive fruit extract^TM (OFE), Hydroxytyrosol Extreme^TM (HTE), and Olivenol plus^TM (OLP)—were evaluated using an on-line HPLC-ABTS^•+ assay, and HPLC-DAD-MS analysis. Oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol were the predominant biophenols in all the extracts. Among the single compounds examined, quercetin (EC₅₀: 93.97 μM) and verbascoside (EC₅₀: 0.66 mM) were the most potent SOR and H₂O₂ scavengers respectively. However, OLE and HTE were the highest SOR (EC₅₀: 1.89 μg/mL) and H₂O₂ (EC₅₀: 115.8 μg/mL) scavengers among the biophenol extracts. The neuroprotection of the biophenols was evaluated against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress and copper (Cu)-induced toxicity in neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) cells. The highest neuroprotection values (98% and 92%) against H₂O₂-induced and Cu-induced toxicities were shown by the commercial extract HTE^TM. These were followed by the individual biophenols, caffeic acid (77% and 64%) and verbascoside (71% and 72%). Our results suggest that olive biophenols potentially serve as agents for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases such as AD, and other neurodegenerative ailments that are caused by oxidative stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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1220 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Fenton Discoloration of Ultrasonicated Purple Cactus Pear Juice

by Isidro Reyes-Hernández, Nelly Del S. Cruz-Cansino, Ingrid Renata Santander-Martínez, Ernesto Alanís-García, Luis Delgado-Olivares, Esther Ramírez-Moreno, José A. Ariza-Ortega, Ariana Omaña-Covarrubias, Jesús Martín Torres-Valencia and José De Jesús Manríquez-Torres

Molecules 2017, 22(8), 1344; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22081344 - 15 Aug 2017

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4168

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the stability of color, betaxanthin, and betacyanin pigments in the presence of Cu(II)-dependent hydroxyl radicals (HO•) from ultrasonicated purple cactus pear juice at amplitudes of 40%, 60%, and 80%, in comparison to untreated sample. L* parameter of juice treated at 40% and 80% amplitude for 25 and 15 min, respectively (11.3 and 9.3, respectively), were significantly higher compared to the control; b* and hue parameters of juice treated at 80%, 25 min showed values of 1.7 and 0.1, respectively. Color differences (ΔE) were lower (<3) for juices treated at high amplitude (80%) and short times (3–5 min). Juice treated at 40% 15 min, 60% 25 min, 80% 15 and 25 min presented high values of betacyanins (281.7 mg·L⁻¹, 255.9 mg·L⁻¹, 294.4 mg·L⁻¹, and 276.7 mg·L⁻¹, respectively). Betaxanthin values were higher in the juices treated at 40% 5 min and 80% 15 and 25 min (154.2 mg·L⁻¹, 135.2 mg·L⁻¹, and 128.5 mg·L⁻¹, respectively). Purple cactus pear juice exhibited significant chelating activity of copper ions and great stability when exposed to HO•. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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Review

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Open AccessReview

Bioactive Compounds in Brassicaceae Vegetables with a Role in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases

by Assunta Raiola, Angela Errico, Ganna Petruk, Daria Maria Monti, Amalia Barone and Maria Manuela Rigano

Molecules 2018, 23(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules23010015 - 23 Dec 2017

Cited by 85 | Viewed by 8538

Abstract

The beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet in the prevention of chronic diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity, is well-recognized. In this context, Brassicaceae are considered important vegetables due to several evidences of their health promoting effects that are associated to bioactive compounds present in the edible parts of the plants. In this review, the mechanisms of action and the factors regulating the levels of the bioactive compounds in Brassicaceae have been discussed. In addition, the impact of industrial and domestic processing on the amount of these compounds have been considered, in order to identify the best conditions that are able to preserve the functional properties of the Brassicaceae products before consumption. Finally, the main strategies used to increase the content of health-promoting metabolites in Brassica plants through biofortification have been analyzed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Antioxidants: Evidence of Protective Effects against Chronic Disease)

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