The Potential Role of Naringin and Naringenin as Nutraceuticals Against Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome, an increasing problem in western society, is a cluster of conditions that affect cardiovascular health, lipid and glucose management, increasing the risk of heart diseases, stroke and diabetes. Bioactive flavonoids are a great resource of compounds with proven antiinflammatory activities. Naringin, a natural flavanone found in citrus fruits, and its aglycone have demonstrated to ameliorate obesity, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance in animal models. The principal mechanisms by which these flavonoids exert their action involve AMPK and PPARα up-regulation and the down-regulation of genes involved in lipid metabolism. Although different studies have been carried out to define the pharmacological effects of these flavonoids, their therapeutic use is still limited.

Supplementation with dairy matrices impacts on homocysteine levels and gut microbiota composition of hyperhomocysteinemic mice.

PURPOSE: Several studies highlighted a correlation between folic acid deficiency and high plasma homocysteine concentration, considered a risk factor for multifactorial diseases. Natural folates represent an emerging alternative strategy to supplementation with synthetic folic acid, whose effects are controversial. The present work was, therefore, performed in hyperhomocysteinemic mice to study the impact of supplementation with dairy matrices containing natural folates on plasma homocysteine levels and faecal microbiota composition. METHODS: Forty mice were divided into six groups, two of which fed control or folic acid deficient (FD) diets for 10 weeks. The remaining four groups were fed FD diet for the first 5 weeks and then shifted to a standard control diet containing synthetic folic acid (R) or a FD diet supplemented with folate-enriched fermented milk (FFM) produced by selected lactic acid bacteria, fermented milk (FM), or milk (M), for additional 5 weeks. RESULTS: Supplementation with dairy matrices restored homocysteine levels in FD mice, although impacting differently on hepatic S-adenosyl-methionine levels. In particular, FFM restored both homocysteine and S-adenosyl-methionine levels to the control conditions, in comparison with FM and M. Next generation sequencing analysis revealed that faecal microbiota of mice supplemented with FFM, FM and M were characterised by a higher richness of bacterial species in comparison with C, FD and R groups. Analysis of beta diversity highlighted that the three dairy matrices determined specific, significant variations of faecal microbiota composition, while hyperhomocysteinemia was not associated with significant changes. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the results represent a promising starting point for the applicability of food matrices enriched in natural folates to manage hyperhomocysteinemia.

Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Effects of Barberry (Berberis vulgaris) and Its Main Compounds.

Berberis vulgaris is a well-known herb in Iran that is widely used as a medicinal plant and a food additive. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects of Barberry and its main compounds. This narrative review was conducted by searching keywords such as B. vulgaris, Barberry, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, medicinal herbs, plants, and extract, separately or combined in various databases, such as Web of Sciences, PubMed, and Scopus. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, just English language articles, which reported effective whole plants or herbal compounds, were included. 21 articles were reviewed in this study. In the in vivo models (mice, rats, and human cells) and in the in vitro models (some organ cells such as the spleen, kidney, blood, and brain), B. vulgaris and its main components showed anti-inflammatory effects in both models. The main mechanisms were the shift of cell immune response to Th2, T reg induction, inhibition of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1, TNF, and IFN-γ), and stimulation of IL-4 and IL-10. The induction of apoptosis in APCs and other effector cells was another important mechanism.

Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Colon Cancer.

The standard treatment for cancer is generally based on using cytotoxic drugs, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. However, the use of traditional treatments has received attention in recent years. The aim of the present work was to provide an overview of medicinal plants effective on colon cancer with special emphasis on bioactive components and underlying mechanisms of action. Various literature databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, were used and English language articles were considered. Based on literature search, 172 experimental studies and 71 clinical cases on 190 plants were included. The results indicate that grape, soybean, green tea, garlic, olive, and pomegranate are the most effective plants against colon cancer. In these studies, fruits, seeds, leaves, and plant roots were used for in vitro and in vivo models. Various anticolon cancer mechanisms of these medicinal plants include induction of superoxide dismutase, reduction of DNA oxidation, induction of apoptosis by inducing a cell cycle arrest in S phase, reducing the expression of PI3K, P-Akt protein, and MMP as well; reduction of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, and decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A, cyclin D1, cyclin B1 and cyclin E. Plant compounds also increase both the expression of the cell cycle inhibitors p53, p21, and p27, and the BAD, Bax, caspase 3, caspase 7, caspase 8, and caspase 9 proteins levels. In fact, purification of herbal compounds and demonstration of their efficacy in appropriate in vivo models, as well as clinical studies, may lead to alternative and effective ways of controlling and treating colon cancer.

Nutraceutical-based Integrative Medicine: Adopting a Mediterranean Diet Pyramid for Attaining Healthy Ageing in Veterans with Disabilities.

Veterans with disability represent a big burden worldwide and often require long-term rehabilitation. Unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits, including smoke and alcohol abuse, are common in veterans. In the context of integrative medicine approaches, the "complementary and alternative medicine" has been suggested for the management of chronic diseases. However, the potential risk of interaction between herbal products, dietary supplements and drugs must be considered in veterans. The Mediterranean diet has been suggested as a natural, non-pharmacological nutraceutical for healthy ageing. Although there is a broad consensus on the positive effect of plant foods consumption, the presence of glucosinolates, flavonoids and furanocoumarins in some plant foods and beverages must be taken into consideration owing to their potential interfering with drugs metabolism and bioavailability. Albeit seasonality could ensure the maintenance of the single dose of phytochemical below that at which adverse effects in some individuals genetically predisposed or unpleasant drug interactions in diseased subjects can occur, a personalized nutrition is recommended in veterans who are under treatment for comorbidities. Furthermore, sports practice can lead veterans with motor disabilities and mental impairments to excel in some disciplines, giving rise to the phenomenon of the Paralympics and the development of "recreational therapy". Moreover, outdoor lifestyle, through vitamin D synthesis, and conviviality, improving socialization, could account for the Mediterranean lifestyle health benefits. In this work, we propose for veterans a Mediterranean Pyramid, which could be the basis for integrative medicine for veterans with disabilities, patient-centered approaches and interprofessional (including physical medicine and rehabilitation clinicians, pharmacists and nutritionists) interventions.