Researchers from the Federal University of Sergipe, Brazil, conducted a review focusing on the healing potential of flavonoids in treating skin wounds. Flavonoids, a diverse class of compounds found abundantly in various plants, have long been recognized for their multifaceted biological functions. This systematic review, adhering to the rigorous guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, studied the extensive body of literature to assess the efficacy of flavonoids in promoting skin wound recovery in animal models.
Graphical Abstract. Credits: Mikaella T.B.Carvalho et al., 2021Carvalho et al., 2021.
The review meticulously analyzed fifty-five articles, carefully selected based on stringent inclusion and exclusion criteria. The findings revealed an abundance of mechanisms through which flavonoids exert their therapeutic effects on skin wounds. From modulating the inflammatory cascade to facilitating angiogenesis and re-epithelialization, flavonoids showcased their remarkable ability to orchestrate various aspects of the wound healing process.
One of the pivotal revelations of the study was the intricate molecular interactions orchestrated by flavonoids within the wound microenvironment. These compounds were found to exert their influence on crucial cellular players such as macrophages, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells. Through mediating the expression of key signaling molecules including TGF-β1, VEGF, and IL-10, flavonoids demonstrated their proficiency in regulating essential pathways involved in wound repair.
Moreover, flavonoids exhibited a remarkable capacity to mitigate oxidative stress, dampen inflammatory cytokine release, and promote a favorable wound healing milieu by modulating various molecular pathways including MMPs and the Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK signaling cascade.
In conclusion, this comprehensive review highlights the promising therapeutic potential of flavonoids in advancing the field of wound healing. By clarifying the complex mechanisms underlying their efficacy, this study paves the way for future endeavors in both basic and translational research aimed at utilizing the therapeutic benefits of flavonoids for treating skin lesions.
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Researchers from the State University of Campinas and Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas in Brazil have published a new study revealing that therapeutic targeting of senescent cells could be promising in treating chronic lung diseases associated with aging.
Recent clinical trials have previously demonstrated the potential of dasatinib and quercetin in alleviating physical dysfunction in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a chronic lung disease often associated with aging.
Exploring New Drug and Polyphenol Combinations
This new study has explored and tested novel drug and polyphenol combinations, aiming to identify effective senolytic activity. The research was conducted using human lung fibroblasts with induced senescence.
The drugs tested in the study included azithromycin, rapamycin, metformin, FK-506, aspirin, and dasatinib. These were combined with nine different polyphenols, such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and others.
Promising Senolytic Combinations
The study found that dasatinib, when combined with ellagic acid and resveratrol, showed significant senolytic activity. This was evidenced by increased apoptosis (programmed cell death) and caspase activity (a family of proteins playing essential roles in cell death) in senescent cells.
Ellagic Acid and Resveratrol: Potent Senolytic Agents
The results indicated that ellagic acid exhibited more potent senolytic activity than quercetin. Additionally, resveratrol was found to help counteract the release of inflammatory cytokines (substances secreted by certain cells of the immune system that have an effect on other cells).
Future Prospects for Senotherapy
The findings suggest that the combinations of dasatinib with ellagic acid or resveratrol could offer senolytic effects comparable to those of dasatinib and quercetin. This opens up potential future alternatives for senotherapy, a therapeutic approach that targets senescent cells to counteract aging-related diseases.
Join Polyphenols Applications 2024 to learn more about the senolytic activity of polyphenols.
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Researchers from the Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China, have published a comprehensive review that highlights the potential of dietary polyphenols in the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis, a common urological disease that is seeing an alarming rise in prevalence worldwide.
Urolithiasis, or the formation of stones in the urinary tract, has been linked to reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress (OS), which are crucial pathogenic factors in stone formation. The review underscores the importance of dietary polyphenols, a large group of natural antioxidant compounds found in plant-based foods and beverages, in combating these factors.
Mechanisms involved in the antioxidant potential of dietary polyphenols. Credits: Hong SY, Qin BL, 2024.
The researchers cover the classification and sources of dietary polyphenols, providing a comprehensive understanding of these beneficial compounds. They also present current evidence that underscores the antioxidant potential of polyphenols against stone formation. This potential is attributed to their ability to scavenge free radicals and ROS, modulate the expression and activity of endogenous antioxidant and prooxidant enzymes, regulate signaling pathways associated with OS, and maintain cell morphology and function.
The review concludes by addressing the challenges and future perspectives of dietary polyphenols, emphasizing their potential applications in the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis.
Stay tuned to Polyphenols Applications 2024 for more updates on the latest research and developments in the field of polyphenols and their health benefits.
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In the continuous quest for effective and safe treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS), a debilitating autoimmune disease, the focus has turned towards natural substances with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and their interactions with the gut microbiome. Among these, polyphenols have emerged as a promising adjuvant therapy, owing to their neuroprotective effects and their ability to modulate both metabolic pathways and gut microbiota.
Molecular mechanisms of action of polyphenols in MS - Credits: Giuliana La Rosa et al., 2024
A recent review paper explores the relationship between the microbiome and polyphenols, clarifying the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of polyphenols in MS. The authors focus on key compounds such as resveratrol, curcumin, luteolin, quercetin, and hydroxytyrosol, examining experiments conducted in vitro and in animal models of the disease. The review reveals how these polyphenols exert their beneficial effects through direct and indirect actions, including the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and interact with the microbiota.
The clinical evidence supporting the use of polyphenols as an adjuvant therapy in MS is still growing, with curcumin and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) currently leading the way. The review also provides insights into the results of a clinical trial investigating the effects of these polyphenols in MS patients, paving the way for further research and potential therapeutic applications that target the microbiome.
Stay tuned to Polyphenols Applications 2024 this September for the latest updates and breakthroughs in the field of polyphenols and microbiome.
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September 19-20, 2024 - Milan
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In a new exploration of the protective potential hidden in our daily diet, a recent paper sheds light on the role of flavonoids in safeguarding the heart against the detrimental effects of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion (MI/R). Published in Phytomedicine Journal, the study identifies key flavonoids and unveils their mechanisms of action, providing valuable insights for designing heart-conscious dietary strategies.
Flavonoids, abundantly found in fruits, vegetables, grains, and medicinal plants, have long been recognized for their health benefits. The focus of this review is on their potential as cardioprotective agents against the sequence of harmful events that follow myocardial ischemia. The primary objective of the research is to identify specific flavonoids with cardioprotective properties, delve into their mechanisms of action, and explore their application in mitigating the impact of myocardial ischemia.
Conducting an extensive review, the researchers utilized the PubMed database and Google Scholar, employing keywords such as "myocardial ischemia" and "flavonoids." The analysis focused on studies published within the last decade, specifically those reporting on the cardioprotective effects of natural flavonoids on animal models.
The comprehensive review identified a total of 55 natural flavonoids exhibiting cardioprotective effects. The study outlines that flavonoids exert their protective influence through various key strategies, including antioxidation, anti-inflammation, calcium modulation, mitochondrial protection, ER stress inhibition, anti-apoptosis, ferroptosis inhibition, autophagy modulation, and inhibition of adverse cardiac remodeling. Furthermore, it highlights the potential significance of the number and position of hydroxyl groups, 3'4'-catechol, C2=C3, and C4=O in determining the cardioprotective activity of flavonoids.
This illuminating review serves as a valuable reference for individuals looking to structure a heart-healthy daily diet aimed at preventing or minimizing damages following ischemia. Additionally, it provides a roadmap for researchers exploring flavonoids for clinical applications in cardiovascular health.
Polyphenols Applications 2024 will all recent advances in the role of polyphenols in health and diseases. Don't miss the chance to join the 16th World Congress on September 19-20, 2024 at the University of Milan, Italy!
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In our modern era, the spotlight is increasingly turning towards the remarkable properties of dietary polyphenols. A recent study led by researchers from Ningbo University, shedding light on their profound impact, underscores the pivotal role they play in enhancing satiety, regulating energy metabolism, and shaping overall metabolic health.
Graphical Abstract: Dietary polyphenols promote the production of intermediary metabolites by the gut microbiota that regulate appetite, obesity and gut homeostasis in the host. Credits: Hongyan Liu et al., 2024.
Central to their efficacy is the relationship between dietary polyphenols and the gut microbiota. Through this symbiotic relationship, polyphenols unleash a cascade of metabolites that intricately influence appetite regulation. These metabolites, in turn, stimulate the release of satiety hormones such as peptide YY (PYY) and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) along the gut-brain axis, orchestrating a harmonious balance between hunger and satisfaction.
But the influence of polyphenols doesn't stop there. Their prebiotic effects foster a flourishing gut microbiome, crucial for maintaining gut barrier integrity and overall homeostasis. By modulating the gut microbiota composition, polyphenols pave the way for a healthier internal ecosystem, with far-reaching implications for metabolic health.
Moreover, polyphenols emerge as potent allies in the battle against metabolic syndrome. By navigating various biochemical pathways, they help alleviate symptoms like inflammation and obesity, offering a multifaceted approach to holistic well-being.
The research also underscores the pressing need to delve deeper into the polyphenol-gut-brain axis, revealing its complexities and unlocking new avenues for health promotion.
Join Polyphenols Applications 2024 this September in Milan to know more about polyphenols and gut microbiota. You can submit a related abstract.
Read the full paper.Read the full paper.
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A summary, written by researchers from the University of Padova, the University of Molise, Queen’s University Belfast and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, outlines the complex roles of polyphenols in the processes of cell survival, death, and proliferation, particularly focusing on senescent and cancer cells.
Anticancer and longevity mechanisms of quercetin and fisetin. AKT, protein kinase B; CAT, catalase; CDK1, cyclin dependent kinase 1; COX-2, cyclooxygenase 2; DDX3X, DEAD-box helicase 3 X-linked; ERK1/2, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2; G3BP1, Ras-GTPase-activating protein (GAP)-binding protein 1; GSH, glutathione; GSK3, glycogen synthase kinase 3; hTERT, human telomerase reverse transcriptase; JNK, c-Jun N-terminal kinase; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; MMP7, matrix metalloproteinase 7; mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa B; PI3K, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; ROS, reactive oxygen species; SASP, senescence-associated secretory phenotype; SOD, superoxide dismutase.
Cellular senescence, once deemed a permanent halt in cell division due to stressors, is now recognized for its dual role: as a defense mechanism and as a contributor to chronic inflammation and cancer risk through the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Senescent cells, which accumulate with age, are characterized by shortened telomeres — a hallmark of aging that, when maintained by telomerase in cancer cells, supports tumorigenesis.
Polyphenols' Impact on Cellular Processes
The review highlights the paradoxical effects of polyphenols, natural compounds with potent bioactive properties, on these cellular processes. While polyphenols generally support telomere maintenance and telomerase activity, contributing to cell survival and longevity, they can also inhibit these processes in cancer cells, promoting cell death. This dual functionality suggests their potential as both anti-aging agents, through direct elimination of senescent cells, and as anticancer agents, by inhibiting SASP and thus indirectly combating cancer.
Bridging Roles and Necessity for Further Research
The significance of this review lies in its comprehensive examination of polyphenols' effects on senescence and cancer, bridging the gap between their anti-proliferative and pro-survival roles. It underscores the necessity for further clinical research into polyphenols, particularly focusing on bioavailability, the influence of gut microbiota on their efficacy, and the establishment of dose-response relationships for therapeutic use.
Promising Applications in Preventive Medicine: Personalized Approach and Potential Conditions
The review also points to the promising applications of polyphenols in preventive medicine, suggesting a personalized approach to dietary integration for the prevention of cancer, aging, and chronic inflammatory conditions, while calling for more research into their pharmacokinetics and long-term usability in preventive strategies.
Polyphenols Applications 2024 will highlight the role of polyphenols in health and diseases - with a focus on cancer and aging. Don't miss the chance to join the 16th World Congress on September 19-20, 2024 at the University of Milan, Italy!
Picture credits: Vincenzo Sorrenti et al., 2023.
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Researchers at the University of Tsukuba have developed a nondestructive method utilizing light to estimate the total amount of polyphenols and flavonoids in spice extracts, along with their antioxidant and reducing capacities. By comprehensively capturing the autofluorescence emitted by components, such as polyphenols and flavonoids, they have demonstrated the precise evaluation of chemical constituents using the application of machine learning methods.
Spices and other plant-derived products contain many active components, such as polyphenols and flavonoids. However, even the slightest variations in conditions can considerably affect the extraction efficiency of these active components, posing challenges in determining the exact quantity of active components in the extract solution.
In this study, researchers comprehensively measured the fluorescence emitted by polyphenols and flavonoids and analyzed the acquired data using machine learning methods. This approach yielded a highly accurate, simple, and rapid method of estimating the total polyphenol and flavonoid contents and antioxidant capacity. The crucial factor in achieving accuracy was to integrate measurements acquired at multiple concentrations. While the conventional practice during measuring fluorescence involves diluting the sample to a single concentration, the wide variation in component amounts in plant extracts renders determining a universally suitable dilution concentration. Consequently, the researchers conducted exhaustive fluorescence measurements at four different dilution levels and integrated this data into the machine learning process.
Therefore, machine learning was able to accurately estimate important indices for evaluating spice extracts, including the total polyphenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, and reducing capacity. Notably, the optical measurement's estimation of total flavonoid content, in particular, represents a groundbreaking achievement, marking the effectiveness of this method where such estimations have not been conducted optically in the past.
Support: This work was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 17H03891 and 22J11143 and the Sapporo Bioscience Foundation.
News Source: Univeristy of Tsukuba.
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The COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS), by Vyas et al., offered fresh insights into the effects of cocoa extract (CE) on cognitive function among adults aged 60 and above.
COSMOS-Clinic subcohort, comprising 573 participants, underwent detailed neuropsychological assessments over a span of 2 years. CE, rich in flavanols (500 mg/d, including 80 mg (–)-epicatechin), was put to the test against a placebo. Could chocolate be a secret weapon for brain health?
Contrary to some expectations, daily CE supplementation exhibited no significant impact on global cognition over the 2-year period. Secondary outcomes, including episodic memory and executive function/attention, also showed no substantial differences between the CE group and the placebo group.
However, interesting subgroup analyses hinted at potential cognitive benefits for those with poorer baseline diet quality. A clue to personalized approaches in the future?
What's Next?
While this study does not point to an overall cognitive benefit from CE supplementation, the nuanced responses in specific subgroups underscore the need for further investigation. Is there a personalized path to unlocking cocoa's cognitive potential?
Photo credits: wirestock on Freepik
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Why do red wines give some people headaches? There have numerous unproven culprits: sulfites, histamines or maybe just too much alcohol. But a new study, published in Scientific Reports by researchers at the University of California, Davis, has found that one of the healthier polyphenols in red wines keeps some people from quickly metabolizing alcohol, which can lead to an aching head.
Quercetin is a type of polyphenol called a flavanol, and it is naturally present in all kinds of fruits and vegetables, including grapes. It’s considered a healthy antioxidant and is even available in supplement form. Scientific research has linked it to some of red wine’s health benefits.
How Can a Healthy Wine Component Give Me a Headache?
When you consume alcohol, your body uses a two-step process to break it down. Alcohol is metabolized in the liver, converted to acetaldehyde by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). The liver then breaks down acetaldehyde acetate with a second enzyme, aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH).
When you drink too much alcohol too rapidly, acetaldehyde builds up before it can be converted, which can produce adverse effects. But some people suffer from these conditions from just a little red wine, including many people of East Asian ancestry.
“Acetaldehyde is a well-known toxin, irritant and inflammatory substance,” said the study’s lead author, Apramita Devi, a post-doctoral researcher with the UC Davis Department of Viticulture and Enology. “Researchers know that high levels of acetaldehyde can cause facial flushing, headache and nausea.”
Isolating the Cause of Wine Headaches
For this study, Devi and colleagues looked at how various polyphenols in red wine react with the enzymes that metabolize acetaldehyde. They found quercetin showed the highest inhibitory activity.
“When [quercetin] gets in your bloodstream, your body converts it to a different form called quercetin glucuronide,” said wine chemist and corresponding author Andrew Waterhouse, professor emeritus with the Department of Viticulture and Enology. “In that form, it blocks the metabolism of alcohol.”
As a result, people can end up accumulating the toxin acetaldehyde, leading to a headache, flushing and an unpleasant evening.
Clinical Trial on Wine Headaches
“We postulate that when susceptible people consume wine with even modest amounts of quercetin, they develop headaches, particularly if they have a preexisting migraine or another primary headache condition,” said co-author Morris Levin, professor of neurology and director of the Headache Center at the University of California, San Francisco. “We think we are finally on the right track toward explaining this millennia-old mystery.”
Scientists at the Headache Center will launch the next phase of this research. They plan to compare red wines that contain a lot of quercetin with those that have very little to test their theory about red wine headaches on people. This clinical trial is funded by the Wine Spectator Scholarship Foundation, which is dedicated to supporting education in the wine, food and hospitality industries.
Waterhouse and Devi say there are still many unknown factors behind red wine headaches, particularly why some people seem more susceptible. “If our hypothesis pans out, then we will have the tools to start addressing these important questions,” said Waterhouse.
Full paper published in Nature.
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