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1.
Improving oxidative stress resilience in plants.
Kerchev, PI, Van Breusegem, F
The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology. 2022;(2):359-372
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Abstract
Originally conceived as harmful metabolic byproducts, reactive oxygen species (ROS) are now recognized as an integral part of numerous cellular programs. Thanks to their diverse physicochemical properties, compartmentalized production, and tight control exerted by the antioxidant machinery they activate signaling pathways that govern plant growth, development, and defense. Excessive ROS levels are often driven by adverse changes in environmental conditions, ultimately causing oxidative stress. The associated negative impact on cellular constituents have been a major focus of decade-long research efforts to improve the oxidative stress resilience by boosting the antioxidant machinery in model and crop species. We highlight the role of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants as integral factors of multiple signaling cascades beyond their mere function to prevent oxidative damage under adverse abiotic stress conditions.
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Phenylethyl Isothiocyanate: A Bioactive Agent for Gastrointestinal Health.
Coscueta, ER, Sousa, AS, Reis, CA, Pintado, MM
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2022;(3)
Abstract
The incidence of gastrointestinal pathologies (cancer in particular) has increased progressively, with considerable morbidity and mortality, and a high economic impact on the healthcare system. The dietary intake of natural phytochemicals with certain bioactive properties has shown therapeutic and preventive effects on these pathologies. This includes the cruciferous vegetable derivative phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a bioactive compound present in some vegetables, such as watercress. Notably, PEITC has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, bactericidal, and anticarcinogenic properties. This review summarized the current knowledge on the role of PEITC as a potential natural nutraceutical or an adjuvant against oxidative/inflammatory-related disorders in the gastrointestinal tract. We also discussed the safe and recommended dose of PEITC. In addition, we established a framework to guide the research and development of sustainable methodologies for obtaining and stabilizing this natural molecule for industrial use. With PEITC, there is great potential to develop a viable strategy for preventing cancer and other associated diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. However, this topic still needs more scientific studies to help develop new PEITC products for the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, or food industries.
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Biological properties and therapeutic applications of garlic and its components.
Melguizo-Rodríguez, L, García-Recio, E, Ruiz, C, De Luna-Bertos, E, Illescas-Montes, R, Costela-Ruiz, VJ
Food & function. 2022;(5):2415-2426
Abstract
Garlic is one of the most widely employed condiments in cooking. It has also been used since ancient times in traditional plant-based medicine, largely based on its organosulfur compounds. The objective of this study was to provide updated information on the biological and therapeutic garlic properties. Garlic has been found to possess important biological properties with high therapeutic potential, which is influenced by the mode of its utilization, preparation, and extraction. It has been attributed with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory capacities. Garlic, in particular its organosulfur compounds, can maintain immune system homeostasis through positive effects on immune cells, especially by regulating cytokine proliferation and expression. This may underlie their usefulness in the treatment of infectious and tumor processes. These compounds can also offer vascular benefits by regulating lipid metabolism or by exerting antihypertensive and antiaggregant effects. However, further clinical trials are warranted to confirm the therapeutic potential of garlic and its derivatives.
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Therapeutic potential of flavonoids in cancer: ROS-mediated mechanisms.
Slika, H, Mansour, H, Wehbe, N, Nasser, SA, Iratni, R, Nasrallah, G, Shaito, A, Ghaddar, T, Kobeissy, F, Eid, AH
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2022;:112442
Abstract
Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play contradicting roles in cancer incidence and progression. Antioxidants have attracted attention as emerging therapeutic agents. Among these are flavonoids, which are natural polyphenols with established anticancer and antioxidant capacities. Increasing evidence shows that flavonoids can inhibit carcinogenesis via suppressing ROS levels. Surprisingly, flavonoids can also trigger excessive oxidative stress, but this can also induce death of malignant cells. In this review, we explore the inherent characteristics that contribute to the antioxidant capacity of flavonoids, and we dissect the scenarios in which they play the contrasting role as pro-oxidants. Furthermore, we elaborate on the pathways that link flavonoid-mediated modulation of ROS to the prevention and treatment of cancer. Special attention is given to the ROS-mediated anticancer functions that (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), hesperetin, naringenin, quercetin, luteolin, and apigenin evoke in various cancers. We also delve into the structure-function relations that make flavonoids potent antioxidants. This review provides a detailed perspective that can be utilized in future experiments or trials that aim at utilizing flavonoids or verifying their efficacy for developing new pharmacologic agents. We support the argument that flavonoids are attractive candidates for cancer therapy.
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Does Oxidative Stress Management Help Alleviation of COVID-19 Symptoms in Patients Experiencing Diabetes?
Paul, AK, Hossain, MK, Mahboob, T, Nissapatorn, V, Wilairatana, P, Jahan, R, Jannat, K, Bondhon, TA, Hasan, A, de Lourdes Pereira, M, et al
Nutrients. 2022;(2)
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)-CoV-2 virus causes novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with other comorbidities such as diabetes. Diabetes is the most common cause of diabetic nephropathy, which is attributed to hyperglycemia. COVID-19 produces severe complications in people with diabetes mellitus. This article explains how SARS-CoV-2 causes more significant kidney damage in diabetic patients. Importantly, COVID-19 and diabetes share inflammatory pathways of disease progression. SARS-CoV-2 binding with ACE-2 causes depletion of ACE-2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2) from blood vessels, and subsequently, angiotensin-II interacts with angiotensin receptor-1 from vascular membranes that produce NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen phosphate) oxidase, oxidative stress, and constriction of blood vessels. Since diabetes and COVID-19 can create oxidative stress, we hypothesize that COVID-19 with comorbidities such as diabetes can synergistically increase oxidative stress leading to end-stage renal failure and death. Antioxidants may therefore prevent renal damage-induced death by inhibiting oxidative damage and thus can help protect people from COVID-19 related comorbidities. A few clinical trials indicated how effective the antioxidant therapy is against improving COVID-19 symptoms, based on a limited number of patients who experienced COVID-19. In this review, we tried to understand how effective antioxidants (such as vitamin D and flavonoids) can act as food supplements or therapeutics against COVID-19 with diabetes as comorbidity based on recently available clinical, preclinical, or in silico studies.
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Flavanols from Nature: A Phytochemistry and Biological Activity Review.
Luo, Y, Jian, Y, Liu, Y, Jiang, S, Muhammad, D, Wang, W
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland). 2022;(3)
Abstract
Flavanols, a common class of secondary plant metabolites, exhibit several beneficial health properties by acting as antioxidant, anticarcinogen, cardioprotective, anti-microbial, anti-viral, and neuroprotective agents. Furthermore, some flavanols are considered functional ingredients in dairy products. Based on their structural features and health-promoting functions, flavanols have gained the attention of pharmacologists and botanists worldwide. This review collects and summarizes 121 flavanols comprising four categories: flavan-3-ols, flavan-4-ols, isoflavan-4-ols, and flavan-3,4-ols. The research of the various structural features and pharmacological activities of flavanols and their derivatives aims to lay the groundwork for subsequent research and expect to provide mentality and inspiration for the research. The current study provides a starting point for further research and development.
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The potential role of resveratrol as supportive antiviral in treating conditions such as COVID-19 - A formulator's perspective.
van Brummelen, R, van Brummelen, AC
Biomedicine & pharmacotherapy = Biomedecine & pharmacotherapie. 2022;:112767
Abstract
With an increased transmissibility but milder form of disease of the omicron variant of COVID-19 and the newer antivirals often still out of reach of many populations, a refocus of the current treatment regimens is required. Safe, affordable, and available adjuvant treatments should also be considered and known drugs and substances need to be repurposed and tested. Resveratrol, a well-known antioxidant of natural origin, shown to act as an antiviral as well as playing a role in immune stimulation, down regulation of the pro-inflammatory cytokine release and reducing lung injury by reducing oxidative stress, is such an option. New initiatives and collaborations will however need to be found to unleash resveratrol's full potential in the pharmaceutical market.
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Regulation of Reactive Oxygen Species and Antioxidant Defense in Plants under Salinity.
Hasanuzzaman, M, Raihan, MRH, Masud, AAC, Rahman, K, Nowroz, F, Rahman, M, Nahar, K, Fujita, M
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(17)
Abstract
The generation of oxygen radicals and their derivatives, known as reactive oxygen species, (ROS) is a part of the signaling process in higher plants at lower concentrations, but at higher concentrations, those ROS cause oxidative stress. Salinity-induced osmotic stress and ionic stress trigger the overproduction of ROS and, ultimately, result in oxidative damage to cell organelles and membrane components, and at severe levels, they cause cell and plant death. The antioxidant defense system protects the plant from salt-induced oxidative damage by detoxifying the ROS and also by maintaining the balance of ROS generation under salt stress. Different plant hormones and genes are also associated with the signaling and antioxidant defense system to protect plants when they are exposed to salt stress. Salt-induced ROS overgeneration is one of the major reasons for hampering the morpho-physiological and biochemical activities of plants which can be largely restored through enhancing the antioxidant defense system that detoxifies ROS. In this review, we discuss the salt-induced generation of ROS, oxidative stress and antioxidant defense of plants under salinity.
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Antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory mechanisms of action of astaxanthin in cardiovascular diseases (Review).
Pereira, CPM, Souza, ACR, Vasconcelos, AR, Prado, PS, Name, JJ
International journal of molecular medicine. 2021;(1):37-48
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Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of mortality worldwide. Oxidative stress and inflammation are pathophysiological processes involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases; thus, anti‑inflammatory and antioxidant agents that modulate redox balance have become research targets so as to evaluate their molecular mechanisms of action and therapeutic properties. Astaxanthin, a carotenoid of the xanthophyll group, has potent antioxidant properties due to its molecular structure and its arrangement in the plasma membrane, factors that favor the neutralization of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. This carotenoid also has prominent anti‑inflammatory activity, possibly interrelated with its antioxidant effect, and is also involved in the modulation of lipid and glucose metabolism. Considering the potential beneficial effects of astaxanthin on cardiovascular health evidenced by preclinical and clinical studies, the aim of the present review was to describe the molecular and cellular mechanisms associated with the antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory properties of this carotenoid in cardiovascular diseases, particularly atherosclerosis. The beneficial properties and safety profile of astaxanthin indicate that this compound may be used for preventing progression or as an adjuvant in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
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Antioxidant and Signaling Role of Plastid-Derived Isoprenoid Quinones and Chromanols.
Nowicka, B, Trela-Makowej, A, Latowski, D, Strzalka, K, Szymańska, R
International journal of molecular sciences. 2021;(6)
Abstract
Plant prenyllipids, especially isoprenoid chromanols and quinols, are very efficient low-molecular-weight lipophilic antioxidants, protecting membranes and storage lipids from reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS are byproducts of aerobic metabolism that can damage cell components, they are also known to play a role in signaling. Plants are particularly prone to oxidative damage because oxygenic photosynthesis results in O2 formation in their green tissues. In addition, the photosynthetic electron transfer chain is an important source of ROS. Therefore, chloroplasts are the main site of ROS generation in plant cells during the light reactions of photosynthesis, and plastidic antioxidants are crucial to prevent oxidative stress, which occurs when plants are exposed to various types of stress factors, both biotic and abiotic. The increase in antioxidant content during stress acclimation is a common phenomenon. In the present review, we describe the mechanisms of ROS (singlet oxygen, superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical) production in chloroplasts in general and during exposure to abiotic stress factors, such as high light, low temperature, drought and salinity. We highlight the dual role of their presence: negative (i.e., lipid peroxidation, pigment and protein oxidation) and positive (i.e., contribution in redox-based physiological processes). Then we provide a summary of current knowledge concerning plastidic prenyllipid antioxidants belonging to isoprenoid chromanols and quinols, as well as their structure, occurrence, biosynthesis and function both in ROS detoxification and signaling.