Article
Food Science & Technology
Peiyu Xue, Guangjie Zhang, Hongmei Zhao, Wencheng Wang, Jie Zhang, Li Ren
Summary: The pomegranate peel, a by-product of fruit waste, is rich in bioactive compounds such as ellagic acid. It has been found that ellagic acid and its metabolite urolithin B can form complexes with serum albumin, with urolithin B showing stronger binding force and more binding sites. The anti-cancer activity of ellagic acid and urolithin B is enhanced when combined with serum albumin.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yan-Hong Wang, Goutam Mondal, Washim Khan, Bill J. Gurley, Charles R. Yates
Summary: Pomegranate extracts rich in ellagitannins and ellagic acid have pharmacological activity through gut microbiota-derived urolithin metabolites. This study developed a UHPLC-MS/MS assay to investigate the pharmacokinetics of ellagic acid and urolithins in humans after oral administration of pomegranate extract.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chun-yan Peng, Hua-dong Zhu, Lu Zhang, Xiao-feng Li, Wen-na Zhou, Zong-cai Tu
Summary: This study evaluated the mechanisms of Urolithin A (UroA) inhibiting advanced glycation end-product (AGE) formation, finding that UroA alleviated glycation of human serum albumin (HSA) by changing its conformational structure, trapping reactive MGO, and forming stable complexes. Additionally, the number of glycation sites was reduced with the addition of UroA, highlighting its potential as a promising glycation inhibitor.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Susanne M. Henning, Jieping Yang, Ru-Po Lee, Jianjun Huang, Gail Thames, Michelle Korn, Dina Ben-Nissan, David Heber, Zhaoping Li
Summary: This pilot study demonstrates that ellagic acid and its metabolites are transferred from breast milk to nursing infants and affect the infant gut microbiome. The concentration of ellagic acid metabolites in breast milk increased over time, indicating potential neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory health benefits for infants.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Victor Caballero, Mario Estevez, Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan, David Morcuende, Irene Martin, Josue Delgado
Summary: This study evaluated the ability of 30 lactic acid bacteria (LAB) to transform punicalagin from pomegranate into ellagic acid. All tested LAB strains were capable of transforming punicalagin into ellagic acid. Proteomic analysis revealed an increase of transglycosylases and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters during this transformation process.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carlos E. Iglesias-Aguirre, Antonio Gonzalez-Sarrias, Adrian Cortes-Martin, Maria Romo-Vaquero, Leire Osuna-Galisteo, Jose Joaquin Ceron, Juan Carlos Espin, Maria Victoria Selma
Summary: The capacity to produce urolithin varies among individuals due to differences in gut bacterial ecology. In this study, two urolithin-producing bacterial consortia were administered to rats, successfully colonizing their guts and transferring the ability to produce urolithins. The bacterial strains were well-tolerated and did not have adverse effects on gut bacteria, blood parameters, or biochemical parameters, making them potential probiotics for individuals who cannot produce bioactive urolithins.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Abdulaziz Musa Alzahrani, Mohammed Razeeth Shait Mohammed, Raed Ahmed Alghamdi, Abrar Ahmad, Mazin A. Zamzami, Hani Choudhry, Mohammad Imran Khan
Summary: The study demonstrated that both urolithin A and urolithin B exhibit inhibitory effects on leukemia cell proliferation and promote apoptosis. By altering leukemia cell metabolism, they lead to the halt of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
David Beltran, Maria D. Frutos-Lison, Rocio Garcia-Villalba, Jose E. Yuste, Victor Garcia, Juan C. Espin, Maria V. Selma, Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan
Summary: A novel urolithin G was identified and characterized from urolithin D by in vitro incubation with different human gut Enterocloster species. Urolithin G was found in the feces of overweight and obese volunteers after consuming an ellagitannin-rich pomegranate extract. The production of urolithin G required a bacterial 9-dehydroxylase activity and was not specific to the known human urolithin metabotypes A and B.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maciej Korczak, Piotr Roszkowski, Sebastian Granica, Jakub P. Piwowarski
Summary: This study developed stable UA derivatives (Mix 4a/4b) with anti-inflammatory activity towards THP-1 macrophages at non-cytotoxic concentrations.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Jose M. Villalgordo, Laura Trulli, Rocio Garcia-Villalba, Victor Garcia, Yusuf Althobaiti, Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan
Summary: Urolithins are human gut microbiota metabolites produced from ellagic acid. They are better absorbed than ellagic acid and have biological activities that may be responsible for the health effects observed after consuming foods containing ellagitannins and ellagic acid. This study successfully synthesized urolithin glucuronide conjugates and characterized their properties.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Long Jin, Hongyang Dang, Jinyong Wu, Lixia Yuan, Xiangsong Chen, Jianming Yao
Summary: The probiotic Weizmannia coagulans (W. coagulans) BC2000 and ellagic acid (EA) have inhibitory effects on hyperlipidemia-induced cholesterol metabolism disorders. Supplementation of W. coagulans BC2000 and EA prevented hypercholesterolemia and promoted fecal cholesterol excretion. The treatments also activated primary bile acid biosynthesis in the liver and increased intestinal Eggerthellaceae abundance and liver EA metabolites.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Qitong Liu, Shu Liu, Qinwen Ye, Xiaoyue Hou, Guang Yang, Jing Lu, Yang Hai, Juan Shen, Yaowei Fang
Summary: A novel urolithin A-producing bacterium, identified as Streptococcus thermophilus FUA329, was isolated and exhibited high conversion efficiency of ellagic acid to urolithin A. This strain has the potential for industrial production of urolithin A and could be developed as a next-generation probiotic.
Review
Oncology
Kanika Sharma, Payal Kesharwani, Shiv Kumar Prajapati, Ankit Jain, Dolly Jain, Nishi Mody, Swapnil Sharma
Summary: Cancer is a major cause of death worldwide. This review focuses on the use of pomegranate as an alternative source of medication for cancer treatment. The polyphenols found in pomegranate have shown promising anticancer activity. The review discusses the chemical structure, properties, and role of pomegranate in the treatment of breast, lung, thyroid, colon, and prostate cancer. It also explores targeted drug delivery approaches and ongoing clinical trials related to pomegranate compounds.
ANTI-CANCER AGENTS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Deming Looi, Mohanambal Moorthy, Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk, Uma Devi Palanisamy
Summary: The consumption of ellagitannin-rich fruits may have a significant effect in reducing diastolic blood pressure, especially in patients with hypertension and metabolic syndrome. There is a positive correlation between polyphenol dosage and changes in systolic blood pressure.
JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL FOODS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Wenyan Xian, Yu Deng, Yuzhe Yang, Zhaolun Tan, Chunlian Chen, Wu Li, Ruili Yang
Summary: Ellagic acid (EA) has potential antiaging activity, and its effects on D-galactose-induced aging may vary depending on individual ability to produce urolithin A. EA improved cognitive impairment and hippocampal damage, increased GABA and 5-HT levels, and suppressed inflammation and oxidative stress. The anti-aging effect of EA was better in high-UroA-producing rats than in low counterparts.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Victor Lopez, Guillermo Casedas, Kelly Petersen-Ross, Yigael Powrie, Carine Smith
Summary: Green rooibos extract demonstrates significant cytoprotective and antioxidant properties in neuronal cells, with inhibitory effects on key enzymes of the CNS. It also exhibits anxiolytic potential in zebrafish larvae, suggesting its potential as a functional brain food and starting ingredient for new nutraceuticals.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Ahmed M. Mustafa, Eugenia Mazzara, Doaa Abouelenein, Simone Angeloni, Sonia Nunez, Gianni Sagratini, Victor Lopez, Marco Cespi, Sauro Vittori, Giovanni Caprioli, Filippo Maggi
Summary: This study optimized a new method for extracting polyphenols and sugars from black mulberry and compared it with traditional extraction methods. The results showed that the optimized method performed better in terms of polyphenol content and lipase inhibition, while the traditional method showed better antioxidant and blood glucose regulation activities.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Eugenia Mazzara, Riccardo Carletti, Riccardo Petrelli, Ahmed M. Mustafa, Giovanni Caprioli, Dennis Fiorini, Serena Scortichini, Stefano Dall'Acqua, Stefania Sut, Sonia Nunez, Victor Lopez, Valtcho D. Zheljazkov, Giulia Bonacucina, Filippo Maggi, Marco Cespi
Summary: This study evaluated and optimized the variables affecting the efficiency of solvent-free microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) for hemp essential oil. The optimized conditions were used to recover essential oil, polyphenols, and phytocannabinoids. The products obtained were characterized in terms of yield, chemical profile, and antioxidant potential. The by-products were also analyzed for their biological activity. The aqueous residue showed strong alpha-glucosidase inhibition and superoxide radical scavenging activity, while the residual deterpenated biomass did not possess significant biological activity.
JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Monica. Butnariu, Deborah. Fratantonio, Jesus. Herrera-Bravo, Sonal. Sukreet, Miquel. Martorell, Garsiya Ekaterina. Robertovna, Francisco. Les, Victor. Lopez, Manoj. Kumar, Marius. Pentea, Ioan. Sarac, Alexandra. Becherescu, Natalia. Cruz-Martins, William N. Setzer, Marcello Iriti, Hafiz Ansar Rasul Suleria, Javad Sharifi-Rad
Summary: A sedentary lifestyle increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity, with hypertension as a common factor. The demand for plant-based medications has risen due to the side effects of traditional pharmacological therapies. Plant-derived bioactives such as polyphenols, organosulfur compounds, fatty acids, alkaloids, and terpenes have shown effectiveness in controlling high blood pressure through various mechanisms, including reducing oxidative stress and inflammation, regulating platelet aggregation, and promoting vasorelaxation.
CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rajeev K. Singla, Ronita De, Thomas Efferth, Bruno Mezzetti, Md Sahab Uddin, Sanusi, Fidele Ntie-Kang, Dongdong Wang, Fabien Schultz, Kiran R. Kharat, Hari Prasad Devkota, Maurizio Battino, Daniel Sur, Ronan Lordan, Sourav S. Patnaik, Christos Tsagkaris, Chandragiri Siva Sai, Surya Kant Tripathi, Mihnea-Alexandru Gaman, Mosa E. O. Ahmed, Elena Gonzalez-Burgos, Smith B. Babiaka, Shravan Kumar Paswan, Joy Ifunanya Odimegwu, Faizan Akram, Jesus Simal-Gandara, Magali S. Urquiza, Aleksei Tikhonov, Himel Mondal, Shailja Singla, Sara Di Lonardo, Eoghan J. Mulholland, Merisa Cenanovic, Abdulkadir Yusif Maigoro, Francesca Giampieri, Soojin Lee, Nikolay T. Tzvetkov, Anna Maria Louka, Pritt Verma, Hitesh Chopra, Scarlett Perez Olea, Johra Khan, Jose M. Alvarez Suarez, Xiaonan Zheng, Michal Tomczyk, Manoj Kumar Sabnani, Christhian Delfino Villanueva Medina, Garba M. Khalid, Hemanth Kumar Boyina, Milen Georgiev, Claudiu T. Supuran, Eduardo Sobarzo-Sanchez, Tai-Ping Fan, Valeria Pittala, Antoni Sureda, Nady Braidy, Gian Luigi Russo, Rosa Anna Vacca, Maciej Banach, Gerard Lizard, Amira Zarrouk, Sonia Hammami, Ilkay Erdogan Orhan, Bharat B. Aggarwal, George Perry, Mark J. S. Miller, Michael Heinrich, Anupam Bishayee, Anake Kijjoa, Nicolas Arkells, David Bredt, Michael Wink, Bernd L. Fiebich, Gangarapu Kiran, Andy Wai Kan Yeung, Girish Kumar Gupta, Antonello Santini, Massimo Lucarini, Alessandra Durazzo, Amr El-Demerdash, Albena T. Dinkova-Kostova, Alejandro Cifuentes, Eliana B. Souto, Muhammad Asim Masoom Zubair, Pravin Badhe, Javier Echeverria, Jaroslaw Olav Horbanczuk, Olaf K. Horbanczuk, Helen Sheridan, Sadeeq Muhammad Sheshe, Anna Maria Witkowska, Ibrahim M. Abu-Reidah, Muhammad Riaz, Hammad Ullah, Akolade R. Oladipupo, Victor Lopez, Neeraj Kumar Sethiya, Bhupal Govinda Shrestha, Palaniyandi Ravanan, Subash Chandra Gupta, Qushmua E. Alzahrani, Preethidan Dama Sreedhar, Jianbo Xiao, Mohammad Amin Moosavi, Parasuraman Aiya Subramani, Amit Kumar Singh, Ananda Kumar Chettupalli, Jayanta Kumar Patra, Gopal Singh, Tomasz M. Karpinski, Fuad Al-Rimawi, Rambod Abiri, Atallah F. Ahmed, Davide Barreca, Sharad Vats, Said Amrani, Carmela Fimognari, Andrei Mocan, Lucian Hritcu, Prabhakar Semwal, Md Shiblur Rahaman, Mila Emerald, Akinleye Stephen Akinrinde, Abhilasha Singh, Ashima Joshi, Tanuj Joshi, Shafaat Yar Khan, Gareeballah Osman Adam Balla, Aiping Lu, Sandeep Ramchandra Pai, Imen Ghzaiel, Niyazi Acar, Nour Eddine Es-Safi, Gokhan Zengin, Azazahemad A. Kureshi, Arvind Kumar Sharma, Bikash Baral, Neeraj Rani, Philippe Jeandet, Monica Gulati, Bhupinder Kapoor, Yugal Kishore Mohanta, Zahra Emam-Djomeh, Raphael Onuku, Jennifer R. Depew, Omar M. Atrooz, Bey Hing Goh, Jose Carlos Andrade, Bikramjit Konwar, V. J. Shine, Joao Miguel Lousa Dias Ferreira, Jamil Ahmad, Vivek K. Chaturvedi, Krystyna Skalicka-Wozniak, Rohit Sharma, Rupesh K. Gautam, Sebastian Granica, Salvatore Parisi, Rishabh Kumar, Atanas G. Atanasov, Bairong Shen
Summary: The development of digital technologies and open innovation approaches has enabled the creation of virtual organizations and enterprises. The International Natural Product Sciences Taskforce (INPST) is an open innovation platform that brings together individuals and organizations interested in natural product scientific research. This study presents an overview of INPST activities and showcases the use of Twitter as a powerful networking tool, demonstrated through the 2021 INPST Twitter Networking Event.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mihai Babota, Oleg Frumuzachi, Alexandru Nicolescu, Maria Ines Dias, Jose Pinela, Lillian Barros, Mikel Anibarro-Ortega, Dejan Stojkovic, Tamara Carevic, Andrei Mocan, Victor Lopez, Gianina Crisan
Summary: This study analyzed the phenolic composition, antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, and antimicrobial activity of hydroethanolic extracts from five Romanian wild thyme species. High rosmarinic acid contents were quantified in all species, and all species showed strong antioxidant potential and moderate anti-enzymatic effects.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sonia Nunez, Cristina Moliner, Marta Sofia Valero, Ahmed M. Mustafa, Filippo Maggi, Carlota Gomez-Rincon, Victor Lopez
Summary: Polyphenol-rich extract from T. erecta has shown potential antidiabetic and anti-obesity properties by inhibiting fat accumulation and high blood sugar, making it a candidate bioactive compound for prevention and improvement of metabolic chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristina Moliner, Sonia Nunez, Guillermo Casedas, Marta Sofia Valero, Maria Ines Dias, Lillian Barros, Victor Lopez, Carlota Gomez-Rincon
Summary: This study aimed to determine the polyphenolic profile of onion flowers and evaluate their antioxidant and anti-obesity capacity. The phenolic compounds kaempferol and isorhamnetin glucosides were identified, and the flower extract exhibited the ability to reduce fat accumulation, inhibit digestive enzyme activity, and enhance antioxidant activity. This suggests that onion flowers have potential as functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Article
Biology
Adrian Millan-Laleona, Francisco Javier Bielsa, Eduardo Aranda-Canada, Carlota Gomez-Rincon, Pilar Errea, Victor Lopez
Summary: Apples are important fruits with interesting nutritional value and health-promoting bioactive compounds. The study found that Spanish local varieties showed better behavior in terms of phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and bioactivity, acting as functional foods with potential anti-radical, antidiabetic, and anti-obesity effects.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Cadmiel Moldovan, Oleg Frumuzachi, Mihai Babota, Jose Pinela, Lillian Barros, Gabriele Rocchetti, Victor Lopez, Luigi Lucini, Gianina Crisan, Andrei Mocan
Summary: This study analyzed the phytochemical profiles and biological effects of hydroalcoholic extracts of Allium flavum. The results revealed clear differences between extracts from different regions of Romania. The AF flowers collected from Faget showed the highest content of polyphenols and exhibited the strongest antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. The study suggested that A. flavum has potential as a health-promoting edible flower.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Vittoria Borgonetti, Clarissa Caroli, Paolo Governa, Brighenti Virginia, Federica Pollastro, Silvia Franchini, Fabrizio Manetti, Francisco Les, Victor Lopez, Federica Pellati, Nicoletta Galeotti
Summary: The prevalence of obesity is increasing, and there is an urgent need for safe and efficient anti-obesity treatments. This study investigated the efficacy of a methanolic extract from Helichrysum stoechas, known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and its main constituent arzanol. The extract limited weight gain and comorbidities and showed potential as a therapeutic option for obesity and mood disorders.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sonia Nunez, Victor Lopez, Cristina Moliner, Marta Sofia Valero, Carlota Gomez-Rincon
Summary: This study investigated the anti-ageing and anti-obesity properties of Viola x wittrockiana flowers through in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results showed that Viola flowers exhibited inhibitory effects on enzymes related to ageing and fat storage, indicating their potential use as functional foods and nutraceuticals.
Article
Horticulture
Adria Farras, Victor Lopez, Filippo Maggi, Giovanni Caprioli, Maria Pilar Vinardell, Montserrat Mitjans
Summary: This study screened polyphenolic compounds from Asplenium adiantum-nigrum L. fronds and evaluated their in vitro activities. The results showed that the extract had strong antioxidant and cytoprotective effects without cytotoxicity, and it did not cause phototoxicity under specific conditions.