Beneficial Effects of Plant-Based Diets on Skin Health and Inflammatory Skin Diseases.

The human skin is a crucial organ that protects the organism from the outer environment. Skin integrity and health depend on both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors such as aging and genetic background contribute to weakened skin and disease susceptibility. Meanwhile, extrinsic factors including UV radiation, pollution, smoking, humidity, and poor diet also affect skin health and disease. On the other hand, healthy dietary patterns such as plant-based diets have gained popularity as a complementary therapy for skin health. A plant-based diet is defined as all diets based on plant foods, including an abundance of vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, legumes, nuts, seeds, fungi, and whole grains, with limited or no animal products or processed foods. However, some authors also exclude or limit processed foods in the definition. Recent research has shown that these diets have beneficial effects on inflammatory skin diseases. This review explored the beneficial effects of plant-based diets on inflammatory skin diseases and plant-based functional foods on healthy skin. In conclusion, plant-based diets and plant-based functional foods may have beneficial effects on skin health through the gut microbiome.

Role of Sulfur Compounds in Garlic as Potential Therapeutic Option for Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Asthma.

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease in the airways with a multifactorial origin but with inflammation and oxidative stress as related pathogenic mechanisms. Garlic (Allium sativum) is a nutraceutical with different biological properties due to sulfur-containing natural compounds. Studies have shown that several compounds in garlic may have beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases, including those related to the lungs. Therefore, it is possible to take advantage of the compounds from garlic as nutraceuticals for treating lung diseases. The objective of this article is to review the biological properties of the sulfur compounds present in garlic for the treatment of asthma, as well as the cellular mechanisms involved. Here, we discuss the potential therapeutic effects of garlic compounds in the modulation of inflammation and oxidative stress, as well as its antibiotic and antiviral activities for identifying and testing potential treatment options for asthma management.

Cellular Mechanisms Underlying the Cardioprotective Role of Allicin on Cardiovascular Diseases.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of diseases in which the common denominator is the affection of blood vessels, heart tissue, and heart rhythm. The genesis of CVD is complex and multifactorial; therefore, approaches are often based on multidisciplinary management and more than one drug is used to achieve the optimal control of risk factors (dyslipidemia, hypertension, hypertrophy, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, inflammation). In this context, allicin, a sulfur compound naturally derived from garlic, has shown beneficial effects on several cardiovascular risk factors through the modulation of cellular mechanisms and signaling pathways. Effective pharmacological treatments for CVD or its risk factors have not been developed or are unknown in clinical practice. Thus, this work aimed to review the cellular mechanisms through which allicin exerts its therapeutic effects and to show why it could be a therapeutic option for the prevention or treatment of CVD and its risk factors.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Allicin Associated with Fibrosis in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling. Recent evidence supports that inflammation plays a key role in triggering and maintaining pulmonary vascular remodeling. Recent studies have shown that garlic extract has protective effects in PAH, but the precise role of allicin, a compound derived from garlic, is unknown. Thus, we used allicin to evaluate its effects on inflammation and fibrosis in PAH. Male Wistar rats were divided into three groups: control (CON), monocrotaline (60 mg/kg) (MCT), and MCT plus allicin (16 mg/kg/oral gavage) (MCT + A). Right ventricle (RV) hypertrophy and pulmonary arterial medial wall thickness were determined. IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, NFκB p65, Iκß, TGF-ß, and α-SMA were determined by Western blot analysis. In addition, TNF-α and TGF-ß were determined by immunohistochemistry, and miR-21-5p and mRNA expressions of Cd68, Bmpr2, and Smad5 were determined by RT-qPCR. Results: Allicin prevented increases in vessel wall thickness due to TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1ß, and Cd68 in the lung. In addition, TGF-ß, α-SMA, and fibrosis were lower in the MCT + A group compared with the MCT group. In the RV, allicin prevented increases in TNF-α, IL-6, and TGF-ß. These observations suggest that, through the modulation of proinflammatory and profibrotic markers in the lung and heart, allicin delays the progression of PAH.

Nutraceuticals in the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe disease characterized by the loss and obstructive remodeling of the pulmonary arterial wall, causing a rise in pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance, which is responsible for right heart failure, functional decline, and death. Although many drugs are available for the treatment of this condition, it continues to be life-threatening, and its long-term treatment is expensive. On the other hand, many natural compounds present in food have beneficial effects on several cardiovascular conditions. Several studies have explored many of the potential beneficial effects of natural plant products on PAH. However, the mechanisms by which natural products, such as nutraceuticals, exert protective and therapeutic effects on PAH are not fully understood. In this review, we analyze the current knowledge on nutraceuticals and their potential use in the protection and treatment of PAH, as well as whether nutraceuticals could enhance the effects of drugs used in PAH through similar mechanisms.