Molecular crosstalk between polyphenols and gut microbiota in cancer prevention.

A growing body of evidence suggests that cancer remains a significant global health challenge, necessitating the development of novel therapeutic approaches. In recent years, the molecular crosstalk between polyphenols and gut microbiota has emerged as a promising pathway for cancer prevention. Polyphenols, abundant in many plant-based foods, possess diverse bioactive properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. The gut microbiota, a complex microbial community residing in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a crucial role in a host's health and disease risks. This review highlights cancer suppressive and oncogenic mechanisms of gut microbiota, the intricate interplay between gut microbiota modulation and polyphenol biotransformation, and the potential therapeutic implications of this interplay in cancer prevention. Furthermore, this review explores the molecular mechanisms underpinning the synergistic effects of polyphenols and the gut microbiota, such as modulation of signaling pathways and immune response and epigenetic modifications in animal and human studies. The current review also summarizes the challenges and future directions in this field, including the development of personalized approaches that consider interindividual variations in gut microbiota composition and function. Understanding the molecular crosstalk could offer new perspectives for the development of personalized cancer therapies targeting the polyphenol-gut axis. Future clinical trials are needed to validate the potential role of polyphenols and gut microbiota as innovative therapeutic strategies for cancer treatment.

Unraveling the potential nutritional benefits of fermented date syrup waste: Untargeted metabolomics and carbohydrate metabolites of in vitro digested fraction.

Valorization of fruit by-products is a crucial area of research for the development of innovative bio-based products. This study investigated the physicochemical properties and health-promoting benefits of date syrup waste, both fermented by Pichia cecembensis or Pichia kudriavzevii (FDSW), and unfermented (CDSW). Metabolomics profiles of these samples were identified post in vitro digestion. FDSW exhibited 42 volatile compounds, including 9 new ones, and contained (-)-epicatechin, tyrosol, and gallic acid. Bioaccessible fractions of FDSW demonstrated substantial α-amylase inhibition, with percentages of 40.7 % and 53.9 %, respectively. FDSW displayed superior cytotoxicity against Caco2 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines, with an average of âˆ¼75 % and 56 %, respectively. Untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed an increase in secondary metabolites, totaling 27 metabolites. LC-QTOF analysis of bioaccessible carbohydrate metabolites in FDSW identified two phytochemical groups, alkaloids, and terpenoids. This study underscores the potential of FDSW for producing value-added bio-based products with desirable characteristics and health benefits.

Caffeine intake and its association with nutrition, sleep, and physical activity among schoolchildren in the United Arab Emirates: a national cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Recent surveys indicate a significant increase in total caffeine intake among schoolchildren. Limited research has been published concerning the total intake of caffeine among schoolchildren in the Middle East and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including the UAE. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey estimated the total caffeine intake from foods and beverages among 10,275 schoolchildren in the UAE. Caffeine intakes were related to the European Food Safety Authority's level of no safety concern (3.0 mg/kg BW) and level of effects on sleep (1.4 mg/kg BW). RESULTS: More than half (56.2%) of the students consumed more than 100 mg (the upper limit allowed) of caffeine from dietary sources. High intake of caffeine (> 100 mg/day) was significantly associated (p = 0.001) with reduced sleep duration, difficulty falling asleep, infrequent exercising, using smart devices for more than 2 h a day, getting a lower GPA, skipping breakfast, eating fewer servings of vegetables than recommended, frequent consumption of fast food and more frequent snack consumption. CONCLUSION: Excessive intake of caffeine from different dietary sources coexists with unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors and sleep problems. Tailoring educational programs and intervention strategies is warranted to correct the unhealthy intake of caffeine and the associated unhealthy dietary and lifestyle behaviors among schoolchildren in the UAE.

Physicochemical, rheological, and bioactive properties of exopolysaccharide produced by a potential probiotic Enterococcus faecalis 84B.

Exopolysaccharides (EPS) have attracted a great interest due to their potential health-promoting properties and industrial applications. This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical, rheological, and biological properties of an EPS produced by a potential probiotic strain Enterococcus faecalis 84B. The results show that the extracted EPS, designated EPS-84B, had an average molecular weight of 604.8 kDa, particles size diameter of 322.0 nm, and mainly composed of arabinose and glucose with a molar ratio of 1:2. Furthermore, EPS-84B exhibited a shear-thinning behavior and had a high melting point. The rheological properties of EPS-84B were strongly influenced by the type of salt than by the pH value. EPS-84B displayed ideal viscoelastic properties, with both viscous and storage moduli increasing with frequency. The antioxidant activity of EPS-84B at a concentration of 5 mg/mL was 81.1 % against DPPH and 35.2 % against ABTS. At 5 mg/mL, the antitumor activity of EPS-84B against Caco-2 and MCF-7 cell lines was 74.6 and 38.6 %, respectively. In addition, the antidiabetic activity of EPS-84B towards α-amylase and α-glucosidase was 89.6 and 90.0 %, respectively at 100 µg/mL. The inhibition of foodborne pathogens by EPS-84B was up to 32.6 %. Overall, EPS-84B has promising properties that could be utilized in food and pharmaceutical industries.

A Status Review on Health-Promoting Properties and Global Regulation of Essential Oils.

Since ancient times, essential oils (EOs) have been known for their therapeutic potential against many health issues. Recent studies suggest that EOs may contribute to the regulation and modulation of various biomarkers and cellular pathways responsible for metabolic health as well as the development of many diseases, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and bacterial infections. During metabolic dysfunction and even infections, the immune system becomes compromised and releases pro-inflammatory cytokines that lead to serious health consequences. The bioactive compounds present in EOs (especially terpenoids and phenylpropanoids) with different chemical compositions from fruits, vegetables, and medicinal plants confer protection against these metabolic and infectious diseases through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. In this review, we have highlighted some targeted physiological and cellular actions through which EOs may exhibit anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial properties. In addition, it has been observed that EOs from specific plant sources may play a significant role in the prevention of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, microbial infections, and increasing breast milk production, along with improvements in heart, liver, and brain health. The current status of the bioactive activities of EOs and their therapeutic effects are covered in this review. However, with respect to the health benefits of EOs, it is very important to regulate the dose and usage of EOs to reduce their adverse health effects. Therefore, we specified that some countries have their own regulatory bodies while others follow WHO and FAO standards and legislation for the use of EOs.

Assessment of eating habits and lifestyle during the coronavirus 2019 pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa region: a cross-sectional study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread globally, forcing countries to apply lockdowns and strict social distancing measures. The aim of this study was to assess eating habits and lifestyle behaviours among residents of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during the lockdown. A cross-sectional study among adult residents of the MENA region was conducted using an online questionnaire designed on Google Forms during April 2020. A total of 2970 participants from eighteen countries participated in the present study. During the pandemic, over 30 % reported weight gain, 6·2 % consumed five or more meals per d compared with 2·2 % before the pandemic (P < 0·001) and 48·8 % did not consume fruits on a daily basis. Moreover, 39·1 % did not engage in physical activity, and over 35 % spent more than 5 h/d on screens. A significant association between the frequency of training during the pandemic and the reported change in weight was found (P < 0·001). A significantly higher percentage of participants reported physical and emotional exhaustion, irritability and tension either all the time or a large part of the time during the pandemic (P < 0·001). Although a high percentage of participants reported sleeping more hours per night during the pandemic, 63 % had sleep disturbances. The study highlights that the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic caused a variety of lifestyle changes, physical inactivity and psychological problems among adults in the MENA region.

Eating Habits and Lifestyle during COVID-19 Lockdown in the United Arab Emirates: A Cross-Sectional Study.

The coronavirus disease is still spreading in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with subsequent lockdowns and social distancing measures being enforced by the government. The purpose of this study was to assess the effect of the lockdown on eating habits and lifestyle behaviors among residents of the UAE. A cross-sectional study among adults in the UAE was conducted using an online questionnaire between April and May 2020. A total of 1012 subjects participated in the study. During the pandemic, 31% reported weight gain and 72.2% had less than eight cups of water per day. Furthermore, the dietary habits of the participants were distanced from the Mediterranean diet principles and closer to "unhealthy" dietary patterns. Moreover, 38.5% did not engage in physical activity and 36.2% spent over five hours per day on screens for entertainment. A significantly higher percentage of participants reported physical exhaustion, emotional exhaustion, irritability, and tension "all the time" during the pandemic compared to before the pandemic (p < 0.001). Sleep disturbances were prevalent among 60.8% of the participants during the pandemic. Although lockdowns are an important safety measure to protect public health, results indicate that they might cause a variety of lifestyle changes, physical inactivity, and psychological problems among adults in the UAE.

Characterization, bioactivities, and rheological properties of exopolysaccharide produced by novel probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum C70 isolated from camel milk.

Various industries highly regard the functionalities and bioactivities of bacterial polysaccharides. We aimed to characterize the exopolysaccharide (EPS) produced by novel probiotic Lactobacillus plantarum C70 (accession number KX881779) isolated from camel milk and to investigate its bioactivities and rheological properties. EPS-C70 had a weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of 3.8 × 105 Da. Arabinose (13.3%), mannose (7.1%), glucose (74.6%), and galactose (5.0%) were the major monosaccharides constituents. EPS-C70 had two endothermic peaks at 76.95 °C and 158.76 °C corresponding to glass transition (Tg) and melting point (Tm), respectively. Zeta potential and particle size of EPS-C70 were -330.71 mV and 525.5 nm, respectively. DPPH and ABTS of EPS-C70 were 75.91% and 49.42% at 10 mg/mL concentration, respectively. The cytotoxic activities against colon cancer and breast cancer lines were 88.1% and 73.1% at concentration 10 mg/mL, respectively. EPS-C70 exhibited shear-thinning behaviour. Salts and pH values had a significant impact on the rheological properties of EPS-C70.

Inactivation of Salmonella spp. in tahini using plant essential oil extracts.

Tahini is a popular food product in the Middle East region and is used as a major ingredient in several ready-to-eat food products. Tahini and its products have been linked to foodborne illness outbreaks and product recalls worldwide as a result of Salmonella spp. contamination. The objectives of the current study were to investigate: i) the effectiveness of 10 plant essential oil extracts on the viability of Salmonella spp. using disc diffusion ii) the antimicrobial activity of the most effective oils against Salmonella spp. in commercial or 10% w/v hydrated tahini (tahini-based product model) stored at 37, 25 and 10 °C for 28 d and iii) the effect of the addition of essential oil extracts on the sensory acceptability of tahini and hydrated tahini. Among the tested essential oils, thyme (TO) and cinnamon oil (CO) showed the highest antimicrobial activity against tested Salmonella spp. at 37 and 10 °C using a disc diffusion assay method. In tahini, the addition of 2.0% CO reduced the numbers of Salmonella spp. by 2.87, 2.64 or 2.35 log10 CFU/ml at 37, 25 or 10 °C, respectively, by 28 d. However, the antimicrobial activity of CO was more pronounced at all storage temperatures in hydrated tahini where no viable cells were detected after 3 d storage at 25 and 37 °C, or after 7 d at 10 °C. However, at 25 and 37 °C, the antimicrobial activity of CO was more evident since no viable cells were detected after 14 d when 0.5% was used. The numbers of Salmonella spp. were reduced by 3.29, 3.03 or 2.17 log10 CFU/ml at 37, 25 or 10 °C, respectively, after 28 d when 2.0% TO was added to tahini. Salmonella spp. were not detected in the hydrated tahini treated with 2.0% TO after 28 d at 37 °C or 25 °C, while at 10 °C, the numbers of Salmonella spp. were not significantly reduced after 28 d in hydrated tahini compared to the initial numbers at zero time. Therefore, the addition of TO and CO could be used to preclude the post process contamination of tahini with foodborne pathogens, yet, the addition of TO and CO to tahini reduced its consumer acceptability compared untreated tahini.

Physicochemical, bioactive and rheological properties of an exopolysaccharide produced by a probiotic Pediococcus pentosaceus M41.

This study aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties, health-promoting benefits and rheological properties of an EPS produced by a novel probiotic Pediococcus pentosaceus M41 isolated from a marine source. P. pentosaceus M41 was able to produce an EPS with average molecular weight of 682.07 kDa. EPS-M41 consisted of arabinose, mannose, glucose and galactose with a molar ratio of 1.2:1.8:15.1:1.0. EPS-M41 structure could be proposed as →3)α-D-Glc(1→2)ß-D-Man(1→2)α-D-Glc(1→6)α-D-Glc(1→4)α-D-Glc(1→4)α-D-Gal(1→ with arabinose linked at the terminals. At concentration of 10 mg.ml-1, the antioxidant capacity was 76.5% and 48.9% for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. EPS-M41 inhibited 86.8% and 90.8% of the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, respectively, at 100 µg.ml-1. A 77.5% and 46.4% of antitumor inhibition occurred by EPS-M41 against Caco-2 and MCF-7 cells, respectively. The apparent viscosity (ƞ) of all EPS-M41 solutions decreased with shear rate increases. Salt type and pH value had an impact on the rheological properties of EPS-M41.