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
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
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
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
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Wenxia Qin, Baoyang Xu, Yuwen Chen, Wenbo Yang, Yunzheng Xu, Juncheng Huang, Ting Duo, Yihua Mao, Guozong Zhou, Xianghua Yan, Libao Ma
Summary: This study revealed that dietary supplementation of ellagic acid (EA) improved growth performance and mitigated intestinal damage and oxidative stress in weanling piglets by regulating the gut microbiota.
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
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
Microbiology
Wenxia Qin, Zhendong Yu, Zhechang Li, Hengfeng Liu, Wei Li, Jianan Zhao, Yin Ren, Libao Ma
Summary: Early weaning is effective in improving the utilization rate of sows in pig farms. The combination of berberine and ellagic acid can improve the growth performance and intestinal damage in weaned piglets by altering gut microbiota composition and short-chain fatty acids.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jiahao Li, Xinxin Huang, Linjiao He, Chao Li, Hongxin Jing, Jianwei Lin, Chaoyu Ma, Xiaobin Li
Summary: This study investigated the effects of ellagic acid supplementation on 1-year-old Thoroughbred horses. The results showed that ellagic acid supplementation can improve the body weight, nutrient digestibility, and fecal microbiota of horses, as well as increase the levels of certain blood biochemical indices.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Kailin Li, Yao Xiao, Ji Bian, Lin Han, Caian He, Emad El-Omar, Lan Gong, Min Wang
Summary: Urolithin A (Uro A) is a dietary metabolite with potential health benefits in various diseases. It has been found to improve pancreatic diseases by activating autophagy and inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress, resulting in reduced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Wenyan Xian, Shiying Yang, Yu Deng, Yuzhe Yang, Chunlian Chen, Wu Li, Ruili Yang
Summary: This study reported the distribution of urolithin metabotypes in Chinese youth and found differences in richness and diversity of gut microbiota among the three metabotypes. The abundance of Gordonibacter and presence of Akkermansia varied significantly among different metabotypes. Correlation analysis showed associations between urolithin types and gut microbiota at the genus level. Further research is needed to explore the mechanisms and health implications of these metabotypes.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Xiaomeng Zhang, Yaowei Fang, Guang Yang, Xiaoyue Hou, Yang Hai, Mengjie Xia, Fuxiang He, Yaling Zhao, Shu Liu
Summary: Urolithin A (UA) has health benefits and its production from ellagic acid (EA) by gut bacteria is poorly understood. In this study, a strain of Enterococcus faecium capable of converting EA into UA was isolated from fecal samples. UA production peaked at 50 hours, with a concentration of 10.80 mu M. This isolated strain provides valuable insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying the biotransformation of EA into UA.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nina A. Hering, Julia Luettig, Britta Jebautzke, Jorg D. Schulzke, Rita Rosenthal
Summary: The study found that ellagic acid and urolithin A affect intestinal barrier function in distinct ways, with ellagic acid acting preventively by strengthening the barrier per se and urolithin A protecting against inflammation-induced barrier dysfunction.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tai Yang, Bifan Liu, Yujie Wang, Xiangying Huang, Zhaoming Yan, Qian Jiang, Qinghua Chen
Summary: Environmental heat stress can damage the health and growth performance of broilers, but a study has found that dietary ellagic acid (EA) can improve the antioxidant capacity and intestinal barrier function of heat-stressed broilers by regulating the gut microbiota, thus alleviating the oxidative damages caused by heat stress.
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)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rocio Garcia-Villalba, Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan, Carlos E. Iglesias-Aguirre, Juan Antonio Gimenez-Bastida, Antonio Gonzalez-Sarrias, Maria Victoria Selma, Juan Carlos Espin
Summary: Ellagitannins (ETs) and ellagic acid (EA) are dietary polyphenols metabolized by gut microbiota to produce urolithins (Uros), which have potential health benefits. Consuming ET-rich foods, such as pomegranate, may improve brain health. However, the specific mechanism and metabolites responsible for these effects are still unknown. Uro-A, a metabolite of ETs, shows potential in neuroprotection through anti-inflammatory, mitophagy, autophagy, and mitochondrial biogenesis activities. Improving blood flow, gut microbiota ecology, and gut barrier integrity may also contribute to the neuroprotective effects. This article reviews the current evidence and proposes a roadmap for further research in this area.
MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Moustapha Soungalo Drabo, Habtu Shumoy, Jonas Koala, Aly Savadogo, Katleen Raes
Summary: This study explores the ecological niche, genetic variation, and seed development of Senegalia macrostachya, a promising legume for alleviating food insecurity in drought-prone regions of sub-Saharan Africa. The results show low genetic variation and fitness of S. macrostachya in poor soils and semi-arid climates, and the seeds' maturity involves specific protein accumulation and chlorophyll degradation.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Qi Xue, Ericmar Avila Dos Santos, Guy Smagghe, Moises Joao Zotti, Clauvis Nji Tizi Taning
Summary: This review focuses on the engineering approaches that have been successfully employed to modify insect viruses and different microbes for the production and delivery of dsRNA. It discusses different viral vector systems and microbe-based production and delivery systems. The review also provides future perspectives on the development of improved delivery systems for insect pest control.
ENTOMOLOGIA GENERALIS
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Ana M. Ares, Laura Toribio, Rocio Garcia-Villalba, Jose M. Villalgordo, Yusuf Althobaiti, Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan, Jose Bernal
Summary: Urolithins are metabolites produced in humans after consuming foods with ellagitannins and ellagic acid. This study reports a novel method for separating different isomers of urolithin glucuronides using supercritical fluid chromatography. The proposed method successfully analyzed these metabolites in urine samples from volunteers of different metabotypes.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Gabriela L. Salazar-Orbea, Rocio Garcia-Villalba, Maria J. Bernal, Alberto Hernandez-Jimenez, Jose A. Egea, Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan, Luis M. Sanchez-Siles
Summary: This research examined the impact of different storage conditions on the bioactive phenolic compounds, color, and sensory attributes of strawberry and apple purees produced with various industrial technologies. The study found that storage conditions had a stronger influence on phenolic compound levels in strawberry puree, particularly anthocyanins, while the initial processing techniques of apple puree had a greater impact than storage conditions. Proanthocyanidins were the most stable phenolic group during storage, while anthocyanins were the most affected. The stability of polyphenols varied between fruits during storage, and both processing and storage could have detrimental or beneficial effects.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jonathan Willow, Ana I. I. Silva, Clauvis Nji Tizi Taning, Guy Smagghe, Eve Veromann
Summary: Due to the growth of the medical Cannabis industry, this article discusses recent advancements in RNA interference (RNAi)-based crop protection research and development that can be applied to medical Cannabis cultivation. The increasing pest pressure in both indoor and outdoor Cannabis production systems, along with the need for effective nonchemical pest control methods for medical purposes, is considered. The development of RNAi strategies for protecting medical Cannabis is believed to play a significant role in maximizing success in this expanding industry. However, there are still knowledge gaps concerning the biosafety of RNA pesticides from a human toxicological perspective, given the medical context of Cannabis product use. Furthermore, further research is required to optimize Cannabis transformation and micropropagation, explore cutting-edge RNAi techniques for different Cannabis-pest scenarios, and investigate the combined application of RNAi and biological control methods in medical Cannabis cultivation.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ines Figueira, Paulo Bastos, Antonio Gonzalez-Sarrias, Juan Carlos Espin, Bruno Costa-Silva, Claudia Nunes dos Santos
Summary: Effective strategies to prolong life and health span are recognized as mild stressors, and dietary compounds such as polyphenols may have protective effects. This review discusses the current limited data on how polyphenols exposure can modify exosome activity, and highlights major questions regarding the interplay between exosomes and polyphenolic compounds that still need to be fully understood.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qun Yang, Guy Smagghe, An Staes, Kris Gevaert, Kristof De Schutter
Summary: Protein glycosylation is an important post-translational modification that affects protein properties. Insects utilize alpha-1,6-fucosyltransferase (FucT6) to modify N-glycan structures on glycoproteins. Silencing FucT6 in Nilaparvata lugens nymphs caused developmental failure and high mortality, highlighting its requirement during nymphal development. Silencing FucT6 in adults did not result in lethality, but parental RNAi led to complete failure in egg hatching, with FucT6 gene expression peaking during kata-trepsis event. This study emphasizes the crucial role of FucT6-mediated glycosylation in embryonic development and provides insights into N-glycosylation in insects.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tina Tuerlings, Amanda Hettiarachchi, Marie Joossens, Benoit Geslin, Nicolas J. J. Vereecken, Denis Michez, Guy Smagghe, Peter Vandamme
Summary: The study characterized the gut microbiota of invasive bee Megachile sculpturalis from native and invaded regions. The microbiota communities in bees from invaded regions were similar and different from those in Japan. Core amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) represented micro-organisms commonly present in bee-associated niches. The absence of known bee pathogens and presence of microparasite infections suggest a potential role of pathogen pressure and natural enemies in the invasion success of M. sculpturalis.
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Carlos E. Iglesias-Aguirre, Rocio Garcia-Villalba, David Beltran, Maria Dolores Frutos-Lison, Juan C. Espin, Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan, Maria V. Selma
Summary: We discovered a new bacterium in the feces of a healthy woman that can produce urolithins A and B as well as intermediate metabolites. Additionally, we developed co-culture systems that reproduced the production of urolithins upon fermentation of UM-A and UM-B. This finding demonstrates the potential of these urolithin-producing bacteria for use as probiotics and in the production of bioactive urolithins for various applications.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Nicolas Leclercq, Leon Marshall, Geoffrey Caruso, Kerry Schiel, Timothy Weekers, Luisa G. Carvalheiro, Holger H. Dathe, Michael Kuhlmann, Denis Michez, Simon G. Potts, Pierre Rasmont, Stuart P. M. Roberts, Guy Smagghe, Peter Vandamme, Nicolas J. Vereecken
Summary: This study aims to depict the large-scale biodiversity patterns of wild bees in Europe and identify understudied species and areas for targeted conservation actions. The findings suggest that wild bee diversity is higher in xeric, warm areas and that protecting taxonomic richness may require different strategies than protecting phylogenetic diversity.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Carlos Eduardo Iglesias-Aguirre, Maria Romo-Vaquero, Maria Victoria Selma, Juan Carlos Espin
Summary: This study analyzed the gut microbiota and polyphenol metabolism in adult humans and identified different clusters of gut microbiota metabotypes. The study found that a nutraceutical had different effects on the composition and function of gut microbiota, which provides a basis for personalized gut microbiota-targeted therapy.
FOOD RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
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
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Gabriela L. Salazar-Orbea, Rocio Garcia-Villalba, Maria J. Bernal, Alberto Hernandez-Jimenez, Jose A. Egea, Francisco A. Tomas-Barberan, Luis M. Sanchez-Siles
Summary: This research focused on how storage conditions and processing techniques affect the composition of nutrients, bioactive compounds, and sensory attributes in strawberry and apple purees. The study found that storage conditions had a stronger impact on phenolic compounds in strawberry puree, while initial processing techniques had a greater influence on apple puree. The stability of polyphenols varied between fruits during storage, and selecting the optimal storage conditions is crucial for maintaining the polyphenol content in sensitive fruits like strawberries.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)