Abstract
Caffeic and dihydrocaffeic acid are relevant microbial catabolites, being described as products from the degradation of different phenolic compounds i.e., hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives, anthocyanins or flavonols. Furthermore, caffeic acid is found both in free and esterified forms in many fruits and in high concentrations in coffee. These phenolic acids may be responsible for a part of the bioactivity associated with the intake of phenolic compounds. With the aim of progressing in the knowledge of the health effects and mechanisms of action of dietary phenolics, the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been used to evaluate the influence of caffeic and dihydrocaffeic acids on lifespan and the oxidative stress resistance. The involvement of different genes and transcription factors related to longevity and stress resistance in the response to these phenolic acids has also been explored. Caffeic acid (CA, 200 μM) and dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA, 300 μM) induced an increase in the survival rate of C. elegans under thermal stress. Both compounds also increased the mean and maximum lifespan of the nematode, compared to untreated worms. In general, treatment with these acids led to a reduction in intracellular ROS concentrations, although not always significant. Results of gene expression studies conducted by RT-qPCR showed that the favorable effects of CA and DHCA on oxidative stress and longevity involve the activation of several genes related to insulin/IGF-1 pathway, such as daf-16, daf-18, hsf-1 and sod-3, as well as a sirtuin gene (sir-2.1).
Highlights
Phenolic compounds are important components of the human diet because of their ubiquity in plant-based foods
The activity of phenolic compounds has traditionally been linked to their antioxidant properties as related to their reducing power and free radical scavenging capacity
Greater expression of ctl-1 could be expected in worms treated with Caffeic acid (CA) or dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA), where daf-16 was overexpressed taking into account that several genes encoding proteins responsible for antioxidant defenses are included among the target genes regulated by DAF-16, such as the mitochondrial superoxide dismutase SOD-3, the metallothionein homolog MTL-1, and the catalases CTL-1 and CTL-2 [66]
Summary
Phenolic compounds are important components of the human diet because of their ubiquity in plant-based foods. There is growing evidence that moderate intake of these compounds in the long-term may have benefits for human health in preventing or reducing the risk of different chronic diseases [1,2]. The actual contribution of these compounds to maintaining health and the mechanisms underlying their biological effects remain unclear. The activity of phenolic compounds has traditionally been linked to their antioxidant properties as related to their reducing power and free radical scavenging capacity. As progress has been made in understanding their bioavailability and metabolism, questions have arisen about the mechanisms of action really involved in the in vivo biological activity of these compounds [3].
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