Coffee-Derived Phenolic Compounds Activate Nrf2 Antioxidant Pathway in I/R Injury In Vitro Model: A Nutritional Approach Preventing Age Related-Damages.

Age-related injuries are often connected to alterations in redox homeostasis. The imbalance between free radical oxygen species and endogenous antioxidants defenses could be associated with a growing risk of transient ischemic attack and stroke. In this context, a daily supply of dietary antioxidants could counteract oxidative stress occurring during ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/R), preventing brain damage. Here we investigated the potential antioxidant properties of coffee-derived circulating metabolites and a coffee pulp phytoextract, testing their efficacy as ROS scavengers in an in vitro model of ischemia. Indeed, the coffee fruit is an important source of phenolic compounds, such as chlorogenic acids, present both in the brewed seed and in the discarded pulp. Therefore, rat brain endothelial cells, subjected to oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) and recovery (ogR) to mimic reperfusion, were pretreated or not with coffee by-products. The results indicate that, under OGD/ogR, the ROS accumulation was reduced by coffee by-product. Additionally, the coffee extract activated the Nrf2 antioxidant pathway via Erk and Akt kinases phosphorylation, as shown by increased Nrf2 and HO-1 protein levels. The data indicate that the daily intake of coffee by-products as a dietary food supplement represents a potential nutritional strategy to counteract aging.

Valorizing coffee pulp by-products as anti-inflammatory ingredient of food supplements acting on IL-8 release.

Coffee is the second traded food commodity in the world. Beyond roasted seeds, the most part of the original fruit -and in particular pulp- is discarded as waste, with severe environmental and economic consequences in many developing countries. Our research focused on developing an eco-friendly extraction protocol of phytocomplexes from coffee pulp and evaluating their bioactivity and beneficial effects to human health as food supplements. Antioxidant activity assays (Folin-Ciocalteu and DPPH assays) were adopted to select the most effective extraction technique and results show antioxidant activity of coffee pulp extracts. After analysis of cytotoxicity on human epithelial gastric cells, measurements of IL-8 release of treated or pre-treated cells were performed. Results showed that the use of soft technical equipment and sustainable solvents (i.e. maceration process, aqueous extraction) can extract phytocomplexes with antioxidant properties. Moreover, IL-8 measurements showed impairment of this chemokine release at concentrations that may be reached in vivo in the gastrointestinal tract, following consumption of reasonable amount of extract. Pre-treatments analysis demonstrated the ability of coffee pulp extracts to prevent IL-8 release by gastric epithelial cells. Chemical evaluation performed by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry showed that quinic acid derivatives are abundant in coffee pulp extract together with procyanidins derivatives: those compounds might be responsible for the high biological activity. This evidence supports future applications of coffee pulp extracts as food supplement with high added value, starting from a waste that can be valorized through simple yet efficient extraction methods.

A DNA barcoding approach to characterize pollen collected by honeybees.

In the present study, we investigated DNA barcoding effectiveness to characterize honeybee pollen pellets, a food supplement largely used for human nutrition due to its therapeutic properties. We collected pollen pellets using modified beehives placed in three zones within an alpine protected area (Grigna Settentrionale Regional Park, Italy). A DNA barcoding reference database, including rbcL and trnH-psbA sequences from 693 plant species (104 sequenced in this study) was assembled. The database was used to identify pollen collected from the hives. Fifty-two plant species were identified at the molecular level. Results suggested rbcL alone could not distinguish among congeneric plants; however, psbA-trnH identified most of the pollen samples at the species level. Substantial variability in pollen composition was observed between the highest elevation locality (Alpe Moconodeno), characterized by arid grasslands and a rocky substrate, and the other two sites (Cornisella and Ortanella) at lower altitudes. Pollen from Ortanella and Cornisella showed the presence of typical deciduous forest species; however in samples collected at Ortanella, pollen of the invasive Lonicera japonica, and the ornamental Pelargonium x hortorum were observed. Our results indicated pollen composition was largely influenced by floristic local biodiversity, plant phenology, and the presence of alien flowering species. Therefore, pollen molecular characterization based on DNA barcoding might serve useful to beekeepers in obtaining honeybee products with specific nutritional or therapeutic characteristics desired by food market demands.