Effect of a diet rich in potato peel on platelet aggregation / Efecto de una dieta rica en cáscara de papa sobre la agregación plaquetaria

Background: Potato peel extract has demonstrated the ability to reduce platelet aggregation in vitro, suggesting its potential as a dietary intervention for preventing atherothrombotic disorders. Objective: This study aims to evaluate the impact of a potato peel-rich diet on platelet aggregation. Methods: A randomized, crossover-controlled, open two-period study was carried out with the participation of 12 healthy volunteers. Platelet aggregation was assessed before and after a seven-day dietary intervention. Participants consumed either a diet rich in potato peel (2 g/kg/d) or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) as a reference (100 mg/d). Platelet aggregation percentages were measured following stimulation with arachidonic acid (AA, 150 µg/mL), adenosine diphosphate (ADP, 10 µM), and collagen (COL, 10 µg/mL). Results: The potato peel-rich diet resulted in a slight but significant reduction in platelet aggregation when stimulated with arachidonic acid compared to baseline values (85.0±2.0% vs. 91.3±1.7%, p<0.05). This effect was less pronounced than the reduction achieved with ASA (16±1.9%, p<0.001). Conclusion: The administration of a diet rich in potato peel reduces platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid, suggesting its potential role in the prevention of atherothrombotic disorders.

Introducción: El extracto de cáscara de patata ha demostrado su capacidad para reducir la agregación plaquetaria in vitro, lo que sugiere su potencial como intervención dietética para prevenir trastornos aterotrombóticos. Objetivo: Evaluar el impacto de una dieta rica en cáscara de patata en la agregación plaquetaria. Materiales y métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio aleatorizado, controlado, cruzado y abierto con la participación de 12 voluntarios sanos. Se evaluó la agregación plaquetaria antes y después de una intervención dietética de siete días. Los participantes consumieron una dieta rica en cáscara de patata (2 g/kg/d) o ácido acetilsalicílico (ASA) como referente (100 mg/d). Se midieron los porcentajes de agregación plaquetaria después de la estimulación con ácido araquidónico (AA, 150 µg/mL), difosfato de adenosina (ADP, 10 µM) y colágeno (COL, 10 µg/mL). Resultados: La dieta rica en cáscara de patata resultó en una ligera pero significativa reducción en la agregación plaquetaria cuando se estimuló con ácido araquidónico en comparación con los valores iniciales (85,0 ± 2,0% vs. 91,3 ± 1,7%, p <0,05). Este efecto fue menos pronunciado que la reducción lograda con ASA (16 ± 1,9%, p <0,001). Conclusión: La administración de una dieta rica en cáscara de patata reduce la agregación plaquetaria inducida por ácido araquidónico, lo que sugiere su papel potencial en la prevención de trastornos aterotrombóticos.

[Determination of 13 chemical components of Epimedii Folium in pharmacopoeia by UPLC method combined with quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single-marker].

The quantitative analysis of multicomponents by single-marker(QAMS) was established for 13 chemical components of Epimedii Folium, including neoglycolic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryo-chlorogenic acid, magnolidine, hypericin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin, baohuoside Ⅱ, sagittatoside A, icariin subside Ⅰ, and baohuoside Ⅰ, so as to investigate the feasibility and accuracy of this method in evaluating the quality of Epimedii Folium materials from different origins and different varieties. Through the scientific and accurate investigation of the experimental method, the external standard method was used to determine the content of 13 chemical components in epimedium brevieornu. At the same time, icariin was used as the internal standard, and the relative correction factors of icariin with neoglycolic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryo-chlorogenic acid, magnolidine, hypericin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin, baohuoside Ⅱ, sagittatoside A, icariin subside Ⅰ, and baohuoside Ⅰ were established, respectively. The contens of neoglycolic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryo-chlorogenic acid, magnolidine, hypericin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin, baohuoside Ⅱ, sagittatoside A, icariin subside Ⅰ, and baohuosideⅠ in Epimedii Folium were calculated by QAMS. Finally, the difference between the measured value and the calculated value was compared to verify the accuracy and scientific nature of QAMS in the determination. The relative correction factor of each component had better repeatability, and there was no significant difference between the results of the external standard method and those of QAMS. With icariin as the internal standard, QAMS simultaneously determining neoglycolic acid, chlorogenic acid, cryo-chlorogenic acid, magnolidine, hypericin, epimedin A, epimedin B, epimedin C, icariin, baohuoside Ⅱ, sagittatoside A, icariin subside Ⅰ, and baohuoside Ⅰ can be used for quantitative analysis of Epimedii Folium.

Eucommia ulmoides Leaves Alleviate Cognitive Dysfunction in Dextran Sulfate Sodium (DSS)-Induced Colitis Mice through Regulating JNK/TLR4 Signaling Pathway.

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is one of the inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) that is characterized by systemic immune system activation. This study was performed to assess the alleviative effect of administering an aqueous extract of Eucommia ulmoides leaves (AEEL) on cognitive dysfunction in mice with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. The major bioactive compounds of AEEL were identified as a quinic acid derivative, caffeic acid-O-hexoside, and 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid using UPLC Q-TOF/MSE. AEEL administration alleviated colitis symptoms, which are bodyweight change and colon shortening. Moreover, AEEL administration protected intestinal barrier integrity by increasing the tight junction protein expression levels in colon tissues. Likewise, AEEL improved behavioral dysfunction in the Y-maze, passive avoidance, and Morris water maze tests. Additionally, AEEL improved short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) content in the feces of DSS-induced mice. In addition, AEEL improved damaged cholinergic systems in brain tissue and damaged mitochondrial and antioxidant functions in colon and brain tissues caused by DSS. Also, AEEL protected against DSS-induced cytotoxicity and inflammation in colon and brain tissues by c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway. Therefore, these results suggest that AEEL is a natural material that alleviates DSS-induced cognitive dysfunction with the modulation of gut-brain interaction.

Chlorogenic Acid: A Systematic Review on the Biological Functions, Mechanistic Actions, and Therapeutic Potentials.

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a type of polyphenol compound found in rich concentrations in many plants such as green coffee beans. As an active natural substance, CGA exerts diverse therapeutic effects in response to a variety of pathological challenges, particularly conditions associated with chronic metabolic diseases and age-related disorders. It shows multidimensional functions, including neuroprotection for neurodegenerative disorders and diabetic peripheral neuropathy, anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-pathogens, mitigation of cardiovascular disorders, skin diseases, diabetes mellitus, liver and kidney injuries, and anti-tumor activities. Mechanistically, its integrative functions act through the modulation of anti-inflammation/oxidation and metabolic homeostasis. It can thwart inflammatory constituents at multiple levels such as curtailing NF-kB pathways to neutralize primitive inflammatory factors, hindering inflammatory propagation, and alleviating inflammation-related tissue injury. It concurrently raises pivotal antioxidants by activating the Nrf2 pathway, thus scavenging excessive cellular free radicals. It elevates AMPK pathways for the maintenance and restoration of metabolic homeostasis of glucose and lipids. Additionally, CGA shows functions of neuromodulation by targeting neuroreceptors and ion channels. In this review, we systematically recapitulate CGA's pharmacological activities, medicinal properties, and mechanistic actions as a potential therapeutic agent. Further studies for defining its specific targeting molecules, improving its bioavailability, and validating its clinical efficacy are required to corroborate the therapeutic effects of CGA.

Investigation of bioactive compounds and their correlation with the antioxidant capacity in different functional vinegars.

There are complex and diverse substances in traditional vinegars, some of which have been identified as biologically active factors, but the variety of functional compounds is currently restricted. In this study, it was aimed to determine the bioactive compounds in 10 typical functional vinegars. The findings shown that total flavonoids (0.21-7.19 mg rutin equivalent/mL), total phenolics (0.36-3.20 mg gallic acid equivalent/mL), and antioxidant activities (DPPH: 3.17-47.63 mmol trolox equivalent/L, ABTS: 6.85-178.29 mmol trolox equivalent/L) varied among different functional vinegars. In addition, the concentrations of the polysaccharides (1.17-44.87 mg glucose equivalent/mL) and total saponins (0.67-12.46 mg oleanic acid equivalent/mL) were determined, which might play key role for the function of tested vinegars. A total of 8 organic acids, 7 polyphenol compounds and 124 volatile compounds were measured and tentatively identified. The protocatechuic acid (4.81-485.72 mg/L), chlorogenic acid (2.69-7.52 mg/L), and epicatechin (1.18-97.42 mg/L) were important polyphenol compounds in the functional vinegars. Redundancy analysis indicated that tartaric acid, oxalic acid and chlorogenic acid were significantly positively correlated with antioxidant capacity. Various physiologically active ingredients including cyclo (Pro-Leu), cyclo (Phe-Pro), cyclo (Phe-Val), cyclo (Pro-Val), 1-monopalmitin and 1-eicosanol were firstly detected in functional vinegars. Principle component analysis revealed that volatiles profile of bergamot Monascus aromatic vinegar and Hengshun honey vinegar exhibited distinctive differences from other eight vinegar samples. Moreover, the partial least squares regression analysis demonstrated that 11 volatile compounds were positively correlated with the antioxidant activity of vinegars, which suggested these compounds might be important functional substances in tested vinegars. This study explored several new functionally active compounds in different functional vinegars, which could widen the knowledge of bioactive factor in vinegars and provide new ideas for further development of functional vinegar beverages.

RNA-seq analysis of chlorogenic acid intervention in duck embryo fibroblasts infected with duck plague virus.

INTRODUCTION: Chlorogenic acid, the primary active component in Chinese medicines like honeysuckle, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antiviral effects. It has been demonstrated that chlorogenic acid effectively prevents and treats Duck enteritis virus (DEV) infection. This study aims to further elucidate the mechanism by which chlorogenic acid prevents DEV infection. METHODS: Duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cells were pre-treated with chlorogenic acid before being infected with DEV. Cell samples were collected at different time points for transcriptomic sequencing, while qPCR was used to detect the proliferation of DEV. Additionally, 30-day-old ducks were treated with chlorogenic acid, and their lymphoid organs were harvested for histopathological sections to observe pathological damage. The proliferation of DEV in the lymphoid organs was also detected using qPCR Based on the transcriptomic sequencing results, NF-κB1 gene was silenced by RNAi technology to analyze the effect of NF-κB1 gene on DEV proliferation. RESULTS: Compared to the viral infection group, DEF cells in the chlorogenic acid intervention group exhibited significantly reduced DEV load (P < 0.05). Transcriptomic sequencing results suggested that chlorogenic acid inhibited DEV proliferation in DEF cells by regulating NF-κB signaling pathway. The results of RNAi silencing suggested that in the three treatment groups, compared with the DEV experimental group, there was no significant difference in the effect of pre-transfection after transfection on DEV proliferation, while both the pre-transfection after transfection and the simultaneous transfection group showed significant inhibition on DEV proliferation Furthermore, compared to the virus infection group, ducks in the chlorogenic acid intervention group showed significantly decreased DEV load in their lymphoid organs (P < 0.05), along with alleviated pathological damage such as nuclear pyretosis and nuclear fragmentation. CONCLUSIONS: Chlorogenic acid effectively inhibits DEV proliferation in DEF and duck lymphatic organs, mitigates viral-induced pathological damage, and provides a theoretical basis for screening targeted drugs against DEV.

Evaluation of Environmental Factor Effects on the Polyphenol and Flavonoid Content in the Leaves of Chrysanthemum indicum L. and Its Habitat Suitability Prediction Mapping.

The leaves of Chrysanthemum indicum L. are known to have various bioactive compounds; however, industrial use is extremely limited. To overcome this situation by producing high-quality leaves with high bioactive content, this study examined the environmental factors affecting the phytochemical content and antioxidant activity using C. indicum leaves collected from 22 sites in Kochi Prefecture, Japan. Total phenolic and flavonoid content in the dry leaves ranged between 15.0 and 64.1 (mg gallic acid g-1) and 2.3 and 11.4 (mg quercetin g-1), while the antioxidant activity (EC50) of the 50% ethanol extracts ranged between 28.0 and 123.2 (µg mL-1) in 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay. Among the identified compounds, chlorogenic acid and 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid were the main constituents in C. indicum leaves. The antioxidant activity demonstrated a positive correlation with 1,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (R2 = 0.62) and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (R2 = 0.77). The content of chlorogenic acid and dicaffeoylquinic acid isomers varied significantly according to the effects of exchangeable magnesium, cation exchange capacity, annual temperature, and precipitation, based on analysis of variance. The habitat suitability map using the geographical information system and the MaxEnt model predicted very high and high regions, comprising 3.2% and 10.1% of the total area, respectively. These findings could be used in future cultivation to produce high-quality leaves of C. indicum.

An Innovative Inducer of Platelet Production, Isochlorogenic Acid A, Is Uncovered through the Application of Deep Neural Networks.

(1) Background: Radiation-induced thrombocytopenia (RIT) often occurs in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy, which can result in morbidity and even death. However, a notable deficiency exists in the availability of specific drugs designed for the treatment of RIT. (2) Methods: In our pursuit of new drugs for RIT treatment, we employed three deep learning (DL) algorithms: convolutional neural network (CNN), deep neural network (DNN), and a hybrid neural network that combines the computational characteristics of the two. These algorithms construct computational models that can screen compounds for drug activity by utilizing the distinct physicochemical properties of the molecules. The best model underwent testing using a set of 10 drugs endorsed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically for the treatment of thrombocytopenia. (3) Results: The Hybrid CNN+DNN (HCD) model demonstrated the most effective predictive performance on the test dataset, achieving an accuracy of 98.3% and a precision of 97.0%. Both metrics surpassed the performance of the other models, and the model predicted that seven FDA drugs would exhibit activity. Isochlorogenic acid A, identified through screening the Chinese Pharmacopoeia Natural Product Library, was subsequently subjected to experimental verification. The results indicated a substantial enhancement in the differentiation and maturation of megakaryocytes (MKs), along with a notable increase in platelet production. (4) Conclusions: This underscores the potential therapeutic efficacy of isochlorogenic acid A in addressing RIT.

Improving the Effects of Mulberry Leaves and Neochlorogenic Acid on Glucotoxicity-Induced Hepatic Steatosis in High Fat Diet Treated db/db Mice.

There are many complications of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are two complications related to the increased lipid accumulation in the liver. Previous studies have shown that mulberry leaf water extract (MLE) has the effect of lowering lipid levels in peripheral blood, inhibiting the expression of fatty acid synthase (FASN) and increasing the activity of liver antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase. Our study aimed to investigate the role of MLE and its main component, neochlorogenic acid (nCGA), in reducing serum lipid profiles, decreasing lipid deposition in the liver, and improving steatohepatitis levels. We evaluated the antioxidant activity including glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GRd), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase was tested in mice fed with MLE and nCGA. The results showed a serum lipid profile, and fatty liver scores were significantly increased in the HFD group compared to the db/m and db mice groups, while liver antioxidant activity significantly decreased in the HFD group. When fed with HFD + MLE or nCGA, there was a significant improvement in serum lipid profiles, liver fatty deposition conditions, steatohepatitis levels, and liver antioxidant activity compared to the HFD group. Although MLE and nCGA do not directly affect the blood sugar level of db/db mice, they do regulate abnormalities in lipid metabolism. These results demonstrate the potential of MLE/nCGA as a treatment against glucotoxicity-induced diabetic fatty liver disease in animal models.

Chlorogenic acid prevents ovariectomized-induced bone loss by facilitating osteoblast functions and suppressing osteoclast formation.

Osteoporosis is a usual bone disease in aging populations, principally in postmenopausal women. Anti-resorptive and anabolic drugs have been applied to prevent and cure osteoporosis and are associated to a different of adverse effects. Du-Zhong is usually applied in Traditional Chinese Medicine to strengthen bone, regulate bone metabolism, and treat osteoporosis. Chlorogenic acid is a major polyphenol in Du-Zhong. In the current study, chlorogenic acid was found to enhance osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. Chlorogenic acid also inhibits the RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis. Notably, ovariectomy significantly decreased bone volume and mechanical properties in the ovariectomized (OVX) rats. Administration of chlorogenic acid antagonized OVX-induced bone loss. Taken together, chlorogenic acid seems to be a hopeful molecule for the development of novel anti-osteoporosis treatment.

In Vitro Effects of Charged and Zwitterionic Liposomes on Human Spermatozoa and Supplementation with Liposomes and Chlorogenic Acid during Sperm Freezing.

Semen handling and cryopreservation induce oxidative stress that should be minimized. In this study, human semen was supplemented during cryopreservation with formulations of handmade liposomes and chlorogenic acid (CGA), an antioxidant compound. Zwitterionic (ZL), anionic (AL), and cationic (CL) liposomes were synthesized and characterized. Three aliquots of swim-up-selected sperm were incubated with ZL, AL, and CL (1:10,000), respectively. The percentages of sperm with progressive motility, high mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; JC-1), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA acridine orange), and acrosome integrity (Pisum sativum agglutinin) were assessed. Then, human semen was frozen using both 1:10,000 ZL and CGA as follows: freezing medium/empty ZL (EL), freezing medium/empty ZL/CGA in the medium (CGA + EL), freezing medium/CGA loaded ZL (CGA), freezing medium (CTR). The same sperm endpoints were evaluated. ZL were the most tolerated and used for semen cryopreservation protocols. All the supplemented samples showed better endpoints versus CTR (p < 0.001). In particular, spermatozoa from the CGA and CGA + EL A samples showed increased motility, dsDNA, and acrosome integrity versus CTR and EL (p < 0.001; motility EL vs. CGA + EL p < 0.05). ZL and CGA can improve post-thaw sperm quality, acting on both cold shock effect management and oxidative stress. These findings open new perspectives on human and animal reproduction.

Exogenous chlorogenic acid inhibits quality deterioration in fresh-cut potato slices.

Fresh-cut potatoes are prone to surface browning and physiological degradation. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a natural phenolic antioxidant, has demonstrated preservative properties in various postharvest products. However, the underlying mechanisms of its application on maintaining quality remain unclear. Therefore, the effect of exogenous CGA treatment on quality deterioration of potato slices and the mechanisms involved were investigated. Results revealed CGA treatment retarded the browning coloration, suppressed microbial growth and inhibited the declines in starch, and ascorbic acid contents in potato slices. Meanwhile, the treatment activated the phenylpropanoid pathway but decreased the activities of phenolic decomposition-related enzymes such as polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and tyrosinase and downregulated StPPO expression. Moreover, the treated slices exhibited reduced accumulation of reactive oxygen species and increased activity of antioxidant enzymes. Additionally, they displayed enhanced 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals scavenging capacity and higher ATP levels. Therefore, these findings indicated that CGA treatment was effective for quality maintenance and antioxidant capacity enhancement in fresh-cut potatoes, thereby providing potential strategies for the preservation and processing of fresh-cut produce.

Structure and properties of chlorogenic acid-loaded polylactide fiber prepared by melt spinning.

Polylactide/chlorogenic acid (PLA/CGA) blends with different weight ratios were prepared by melt mixing, and corresponding PLA/CGA fibers were produced via a two-step melt spinning process. For PLA/CGA blends, CGA was distributed uniformly in the PLA matrix. The intermolecular interactions between CGA and PLA existed. The viscosity of PLA/CGA blends was much lower than that of neat PLA. With the increase of CGA content, the viscosity of PLA/CGA blends decreased. As the CGA content increased, the crystallinity of both PLA/CGA blends and fibers decreased. In addition, the tensile strength of PLA/CGA fibers was slightly lower than that of neat PLA fiber. For PLA/CGA fibers, the 6-fold drawn PLA/CGA fiber with 3 % CGA owned the highest tensile strength of 420 MPa. The ultraviolet (UV) resistance of PLA/CGA fibers were enhanced significantly by the introduction of CGA. When the CGA content was not <3 %, the UV transmittance of PLA/CGA fibers was <8 %. Moreover, PLA/CGA fibers exhibited good antioxidant properties. PLA/CGA fibers with 10 % CGA owned the highest antioxidant rate of >90 %. In addition, the 6-fold drawn PLA/CGA fiber with 10 % CGA presented excellent release performance with a 7-day cumulative CGA release rate of 19 %.

Evaluation of multiscale mechanisms of ultrasound-assisted extraction from porous plant materials: Experiment and modeling on this intensified process.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) is an intensified mass transfer process, which can utilize natural resources effectively, but still lacks detailed mechanisms for multiscale effects. This study investigates the mass transfer mechanisms of UAE combined with material's pore structure at multiscale. Porous material was prepared by roasting green coffee beans (GCB) at 120 °C (RCB120) and 180 °C (RCB180), and their UAE efficiency for phytochemicals (caffeine, trigonelline, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid) were evaluated by experiment and modeling. Besides, the physicochemical properties, mass transfer kinetics, and multi-physical field simulation were studied. Results indicated that positive synergy effects on extraction existed between ultrasound and material's pore structure. Higher mass transfer coefficients of UAE (GCB 0.16 min-1, RCB120 0.38 min-1, RCB180 0.46 min-1) was achieved with higher total porosity (4.47 %, 9.17 %, 13.52 %) and connected porosity (0 %, 3.79 %, 5.98 %). Moreover, simulation results revealed that micro acoustic streaming and pressure difference around particles were the main driving force for enhancing mass transfer, and the velocity (0.29-0.36 m/s) increased with power density (0.64-1.01 W/mL). The microscale model proved that increased yield from UAE-RCB was attributed to internal convection diffusion within particles. This study exploited a novel benefit of ultrasound on extraction and inspired its future application in non-thermal food processing.

[Chlorogenic acid alleviates acute kidney injury in septic mice by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasomes and the caspase-1 canonical pyroptosis pathway].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of caspase-1-medicated canonical pyroptosis pathway in chlorogenic acid (CGA) treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice. METHOD: Twenty-four C57Bl/6J mice were randomized into sham-operated group, cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) group, CLP+dexamethasone group (CLP+DXM group), and CLP+CGA group (n=6) and subjected to either sham operation (laparotomy only) or CLP. After modeling the mice received intravenous infusion of 10 mg/kg normal saline (in sham and CLP groups), 1 µg/kg dexamethasone or 15 mg/kg of chlorogenic acid for 6 h delivered using an intravenous pump. Eight hours after the infusion, renal morphology and histology, renal cell apoptosis, and the renal function parameters such as urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Scr), and kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) were compared among the 4 groups; the 7-day survival rates of the mice were recorded, and the expressions of NLRP3 inflammasomes and key proteins of the caspase-1 pathway in the renal tissue were detected. RESULTS: CGA treatment significantly improved the 7-day survival rate, reduced renal pathologies of the septic mice (P < 0.05), and lowered the levels of BUN, Scr, KIM-1, NLRP3 inflammasome and expressions of key proteins of the caspase-1 pathway. CONCLUSION: CGA alleviates AKI in mice with CLP-induced sepsis by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasomes and the caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Protective Effect of Que Zui Tea on d-Galactose-Induced Oxidative Stress Damage in Mice via Regulating SIRT1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway.

Que Zui tea (QT) is an important herbal tea in the diet of the 'Yi' people, an ethnic group in China, and it has shown significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective effects in vitro. This study aims to explore the protective effects of the aqueous-ethanol extract (QE) taken from QT against ᴅ-galactose (ᴅ-gal)-induced oxidative stress damage in mice and its potential mechanisms. QE was identified as UHPLC-HRMS/MS for its chemical composition and possible bioactive substances. Thus, QE is rich in phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Twelve compounds were identified, the main components of which were chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, and 6'-O-caffeoylarbutin. Histopathological and biochemical analysis revealed that QE significantly alleviated brain, liver, and kidney damage in ᴅ-gal-treated mice. Moreover, QE remarkably attenuated oxidative stress by activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway to increase the expression of antioxidant indexes, including GSH, GSH-Px, CAT, SOD, and T-AOC. In addition, QE administration could inhibit the IL-1ß and IL-6 levels, which suppress the inflammatory response. QE could noticeably alleviate apoptosis by inhibiting the expressions of Caspase-3 and Bax proteins in the brains, livers, and kidneys of mice. The anti-apoptosis mechanism may be related to the upregulation of the SIRT1 protein and the downregulation of the p53 protein induced by QE in the brain, liver, and kidney tissues of mice. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that the main components of QE, 6'-O-caffeoylarbutin, chlorogenic acid, quinic acid, and robustaside A, had good binding ability with Nrf2 and SIRT1 proteins. The present study indicated that QE could alleviate ᴅ-gal-induced brain, liver and kidney damage in mice by inhibiting the oxidative stress and cell apoptosis; additionally, the potential mechanism may be associated with the SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Uncovering the Role of Hydroxycinnamoyl Transferase in Boosting Chlorogenic Acid Accumulation in Carthamus tinctorius Cells under Methyl Jasmonate Elicitation.

Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) are bioactive compounds widely used in the food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Carthamus tinctorius is an important economic crop, and its suspension cells are rich in CGAs. However, little is known about the biosynthesis and regulation of CGAs in Carthamus tinctorius cells. This study first elucidated the regulatory mechanism of CGA biosynthesis in methyl jasmonate (MeJA)-treated Carthamus tinctorius cells and the role of the MeJA-responsive hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT) gene in enhancing their CGA accumulation. Firstly, temporal changes in intracellular metabolites showed that MeJA increased the intracellular CGA content up to 1.61-fold to 100.23 mg·g-1. Meanwhile, 31 primary metabolites showed significant differences, with 6 precursors related to increasing CGA biosynthesis. Secondly, the transcriptome data revealed 3637 new genes previously unannotated in the Carthamus tinctorius genome and 3653 differentially expressed genes. The genes involved in the plant signaling pathway and the biosynthesis of CGAs and their precursors showed a general up-regulation, especially the HCT gene family, which ultimately promoted CGA biosynthesis. Thirdly, the expression of a newly annotated and MeJA-responsive HCT gene (CtHCT, CtNewGene_3476) was demonstrated to be positively correlated with CGA accumulation in the cells, and transient overexpression of CtHCT enhanced CGA accumulation in tobacco. Finally, in vitro catalysis kinetics and molecular docking simulations revealed the ability and mechanism of the CtHCT protein to bind to various substrates and catalyze the formation of four hydroxycinnamic esters, including CGAs. These findings strengthened our understanding of the regulatory mechanism of CGA biosynthesis, thereby providing theoretical support for the efficient production of CGAs.

Quantitative Phosphoproteomics Analysis Reveals the Protective Mechanism of Chlorogenic Acid on Immunologically Stressed Broiler Meat Quality.

Modern poultry production is stressful for the birds, and this stress is recognized as a major cause of inferior meat quality. Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a plant phenolic acid, has excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The antioxidant capacity and phosphoproteomics of immunologically stressed broiler breast muscle were assessed to elucidate the mechanism of the beneficial effects of CGA on meat quality. Dietary CGA decreased drip and cooking loss, postmortem pH and antioxidant capacity of breast muscle from stressed broilers, and increased MyHC-I mRNA levels. Quantitative phosphoproteomics revealed that CGA supplementation downregulated the phosphorylation of myofibrillar proteins, glycolytic enzymes, and endoplasmic reticulum proteins involved in homeostasis, which contributed to improving the meat quality of broilers. Moreover, 14 phosphorylation sites (e.g., P13538-Ser1236 and F1NN63-Ser117) in 13 phosphoproteins were identified as key regulators of processes related to broiler meat quality. Together, these findings provide novel regulatory targets and nutritional strategies for improving the stressed broiler meat quality.

Modulation of thioredoxin by chlorogenic acid in an ischemic stroke model and glutamate-exposed neurons.

Ischemic stroke increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can eventually lead to neuronal death. Thioredoxin is a small reductase protein that acts as an eliminator of ROS and protects neurons from brain damage. Chlorogenic acid is known as a phenolic compound that has a neuroprotective effect. We investigated the change of thioredoxin expression by chlorogenic acid in a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) animal model. Adult rats were injected intraperitoneally with phosphate buffered saline or chlorogenic acid (30 mg/kg) 2 h after MCAO. MCAO damage induced neurological defects and increased ROS and lipid peroxidation levels, however, chlorogenic acid mitigated these changes. MCAO damage reduced thioredoxin expression, which was mitigated by chlorogenic acid treatment. The interaction between thioredoxin and apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) was decreased in MCAO animals, chlorogenic acid treatment prevented this decrease. In cultured neurons, chlorogenic acid dose-dependently attenuated glutamate-induced decreases in cell viability and thioredoxin expression. Glutamate toxicity downregulated bcl-2 and upregulated bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3, however, chlorogenic acid attenuated these changes. The mitigating effect of chlorogenic acid was lower in thioredoxin siRNA-transfected cells than in non-transfected cells. These results provide evidence that chlorogenic acid exerts potent antioxidant and neuroprotective effects through regulation of thioredoxin and modulation of ASK1 and thioredoxin binding in ischemic brain injury. These findings indicate that chlorogenic acid exerts a neuroprotective effect by regulating thioredoxin expression in cerebral ischemia and glutamate exposure conditions.

Protective role of chlorogenic acid in preserving cytochrome-c stability against HFIP-induced molten globule state at physiological pH.

Numerous neurodegenerative disorders are characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation. The mechanism of protein aggregation is intricate, and it is very challenging to study at cellular level. Inhibition of protein aggregation by interfering with its pathway is one of the ways to prevent neurodegenerative diseases. In the present work, we have evaluated the protective effect of a polyphenol compound chlorogenic acid (CGA) on the native and molten globule state of horse heart cytochrome c (cyt c). A molten globule state of this heme protein was achieved in the presence of fluorinated alcohol 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) at physiological pH, as studied by UV-Vis absorption, circular dichroism, intrinsic and ANS fluorescence. We found that at 50 % (v/v) HFIP, the native cyt c transformed into a molten globule state. The same techniques were also used to analyze the protective effect of CGA on the molten globule state of cyt c, and the results show that the CGA prevented the molten globular state and retained the protein close to the native state at 1:1 protein:CGA sub molar ratio. Molecular dynamics study also revealed that CGA retains the stability of cyt c in HFIP medium by preserving it in an intermediate state close to native conformation.