Effects of Strigolactones on NLRP3 Activation, Nitrosative Stress, and Antioxidant Mox Phenotype: In Vitro and In Silico Evidence.

Phytohormones have significant roles in redox metabolism, inflammatory responses, and cellular survival mechanisms within the microenvironment of the mammalian brain. Herein, we identified the mammalian molecular targets of three representative strigolactone (SL) analogues structurally derived from apocarotenoids and the functional equivalent of plant hormones. All tested SL analogues have an inhibitory effect on NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated IL-1ß release in murine microglial cells. However, IND and EGO10 became prominent among them due to their high potency at low micromolar doses. All SL analogues dose-dependently suppressed the release and expression of proinflammatory factors. For EGO10 and IND, IC50 values for iNOS-associated NO secretion were as low as 1.72 and 1.02 µM, respectively. In silico analyses revealed that (S)-EGO10 interacted with iNOS, NLRP3, and Keap1 ligands with the highest binding affinities among all stereoisomeric SL analogues. Although all compounds were effective in microglial Mox phenotype polarization, 4-Br-debranone exhibited a differential pattern for upregulating Nrf2-driven downstream enzymes.

Optimizing bioreactor conditions for Spirulina fermentation by Lactobacillus helveticus and Kluyveromyces marxianus: Impact on chemical & bioactive properties.

This study focused on optimizing the production of fermented Spirulina (FS) products using a bioactivity-guided strategy with Lactobacillus helveticus B-4526 and Kluyveromyces marxianus Y-329 in a 3-L bioreactor. Various operating conditions, including aeration rates and pH modes, were tested. While both microorganisms thrived under all conditions, the "cascade" mode, controlling dissolved oxygen, enhanced protein hydrolysis and antioxidant activity, as confirmed by SDS-PAGE and DPPH/TEAC assays, respectively. Screening revealed that "cascade" FS significantly decreased viability of colon cancer cells (HT-29) in a dose-dependent manner, with up to a 72 % reduction. Doses ≤ 500 µg mL-1 of "cascade" FS proved safe and effective in suppressing NO release without compromising cellular viability. Additionally, "cascade" FS exhibited diverse volatile organic compounds and reducing the characteristic "seaweed" aroma. These findings highlight "cascade" FS as a promising alternative food source with improved bioactive properties, urging further exploration of its bioactive compounds, particularly bioactive peptides.

Strigolactone Analogs: Two New Potential Bioactiphores for Glioblastoma.

Strigolactones (SLs), carotenoid-derived phytohormones, control the plant response and signaling pathways for stressful conditions. In addition, they impact numerous cellular processes in mammalians and present new scaffolds for various biomedical applications. Recent studies demonstrated that SLs possess potent antitumor activity against several cancer cells. Herein, we sought to elucidate the inhibitory effects of SL analogs on the growth and survival of human brain tumor cell lines. Among four tested SLs, we showed for the first time that two lead bioactiphores, indanone-derived SL and EGO10, can inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, and induce G1 cell cycle arrest at low concentrations. SL analogs were marked by increased expression of Bax/Caspase-3 genes and downregulation of Bcl-2. In silico studies were conducted to identify drug-likeness, blood-brain barrier penetrating properties, and molecular docking with Bcl-2 protein. Taken together, this study indicates that SLs may be promising antiglioma agents, presenting novel pharmacophores for further preclinical and clinical assessment.

Biofortified Whey/Deglycosylated Whey and Chickpea Protein Matrices: Functional Enrichment by Black Mulberry Polyphenols.

Morus nigra L. (black mulberry-BM) is a promising nutraceutical fruit containing biologically active polyphenols like anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, catechins, and stilbenes, with well-established anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and anticancer biofunctions. However, these health-promoting properties in raw fruit are greatly masked due to the presence of soluble and insoluble carbohydrates in excess amounts restricting daily intake of the required dose to achieve targeted effects. In the current study, different protein sources (defatted whey and chickpea flours) were optimized through different conditions to capture polyphenols from BM juice while diminishing its glucose content. To optimize polyphenol-protein interactions, various pHs (3.7, 4.2, and 4.7), matrix concentrations (20, 50, and 80 g protein/L), and incubation times (5, 20, and 45 min) were tested. In the present work, optimized BM polyphenol enriched whey matrix inhibited pro-inflammatory mediators and promoted Nrf-2 dependent cytoprotective enzyme expressions in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced macrophages at low doses. In addition, whey proteins were also subjected to an enzymatic deglycosylation process by using recently identified EndoBI-1 enzyme for the specific cleavage of N-glycan core in all glycan types including high mannoses, hybrids as well as complex glycans found on defatted whey proteins. After this process, the polyphenol sorption capacity of deglycosylated whey proteins was found to be significantly higher (37%) than the capacity of non-treated normal whey protein under optimized conditions. In conclusion, deglycosylation of protein matrices could be a novel strategy for efficient sorption/concentration of polyphenols from fruits and vegetables, however, more detailed studies are needed to understand this effect.