Role Of Nutraceuticals Research Articles

Oleuropein as a novel topical antipsoriatic nutraceutical: formulation in microemulsion nanocarrier and exploratory clinical appraisal

ABSTRACT Introduction: Oleuropein is a promising nutraceutical found in abundance in olive leaf, with reported antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and hence could be a valuable treatment for dermatological diseases such as psoriasis. Areas covered: In order to overcome the poor skin penetration of oleuropein, it was formulated in a microemulsion nanocarrier. The selected microemulsion formulation displayed a particle size of 30.25 ± 4.8 nm, zeta potential 0.15 ± 0.08 mV and polydispersity index 0.3 ± 0.08, with storage stability for 1 year in room temperature and total deposition in skin layers amounting to 95.67%. Upon clinical examination in psoriatic patients, the oleuropein microemulsion formulation was proven superior to the marketed Dermovate cream composed of clobetasol propionate, in terms of reduction of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) scores, as well dermoscopic imaging and morphometric analysis of the psoriasis lesions, in which oleuropein microemulsion exhibited marked improvement in the clinical manifestations of psoriasis. Expert opinion: The findings of this study further prove the promising role of nutraceuticals, as well as nanoparticles in enhancing the therapeutic outcome of treatments, and open new era of applications in a variety of diseases.

Role of Physical Exercise and Nutraceuticals in Modulating Molecular Pathways of Osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful and disabling disease that affects millions of patients. Its etiology is largely unknown, but it is most likely multifactorial. OA pathogenesis involves the catabolism of the cartilage extracellular matrix and is supported by inflammatory and oxidative signaling pathways and marked epigenetic changes. To delay OA progression, a wide range of exercise programs and naturally derived compounds have been suggested. This literature review aims to analyze the main signaling pathways and the evidence about the synergistic effects of these two interventions to counter OA. The converging nutrigenomic and physiogenomic intervention could slow down and reduce the complex pathological features of OA. This review provides a comprehensive picture of a possible signaling approach for targeting OA molecular pathways, initiation, and progression.

Could Nutraceutical Approaches Possibly Attenuate the Cytokine Storm in COVID-19 Patients?

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has had a colossal impact on public health, testified by being announced as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March 2020. As of 1st April 2021, there have been over 128,223,872 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and over 2,804,120 fatalities reported by WHO (WHO Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Dashboard, 2021). Though COVID-19 vaccines are developed and being deployed around the world, considering the logistic challenges, vaccine-induced herd immunity is still a long way off (Vignesh et al., 2020). Despite being primarily a respiratory disease, mounting pieces of evidence point towards the impact of COVID-19 on the gastrointestinal system and the presentation of gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations (McDermott et al., 2020). In this opinion article, we summarize the effects of COVID-19 on the GI tract and also provide evidence of the role of nutraceuticals as a potential treatment strategy against COVID-19.

Elucidating the Multi-Targeted Role of Nutraceuticals: A Complementary Therapy to Starve Neurodegenerative Diseases.

The mechanisms underlying multifactorial diseases are always complex and challenging. Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) are common around the globe, posing a critical healthcare issue and financial burden to the country. However, integrative evidence implies some common shared mechanisms and pathways in NDs, which include mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, intracellular calcium overload, protein aggregates, oxidative stress (OS), and neuronal destruction in specific regions of the brain, owing to multifaceted pathologies. The co-existence of these multiple pathways often limits the advantages of available therapies. The nutraceutical-based approach has opened the doors to target these common multifaceted pathways in a slow and more physiological manner to starve the NDs. Peer-reviewed articles were searched via MEDLINE and PubMed published to date for in-depth research and database collection. Considered to be complementary therapy with current clinical management and common drug therapy, the intake of nutraceuticals is considered safe to target multiple mechanisms of action in NDs. The current review summarizes the popular nutraceuticals showing different effects (anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuro-protectant, mitochondrial homeostasis, neurogenesis promotion, and autophagy regulation) on vital molecular mechanisms involved in NDs, which can be considered as complementary therapy to first-line treatment. Moreover, owing to its natural source, lower toxicity, therapeutic interventions, biocompatibility, potential nutritional effects, and presence of various anti-oxidative and neuroprotective constituents, the nutraceuticals serve as an attractive option to tackle NDs.

Uncovering Prospective Role and Applications of Existing and New Nutraceuticals from Bacterial, Fungal, Algal and Cyanobacterial, and Plant Sources

Nutraceuticals are a category of products more often associated with food but having pharmaceuticals property and characteristics. However, there is still no internationally accepted concept of these food-pharmaceutical properties, and their interpretation can differ from country to country. Nutraceuticals are used as part of dietary supplements in most countries. They can be phytochemicals which are biologically active and have health benefits. These can be supplied as a supplement and/or as a functional food to the customer. For human health and longevity, these materials are likely to play a vital role. Consumption of these items is typical without a therapeutic prescription and/or supervision by the vast majority of the public. The development of nutraceuticals can be achieved through many bioresources and organisms. This review article will discuss the current research on nutraceuticals from different biological sources and their potential use as an agent for improving human health and well-being, as well as the gaps and future perspective of research related to nutraceutical development.

In Vivo Hepatoprotective and Nephroprotective Activity of Acylated Iridoid Glycosides from Scrophularia hepericifolia.

Simple SummaryChronic liver disease is a major life-threating problem worldwide. Deaths due to liver disease constituted 2.4% of total deaths globally in 2017. Yet most of the available drugs for improving liver conditions are of natural origin. More research is necessary to discover agents that are more effective. Previously, the extract of Scrophularia hypericifolia showed promising protection of liver and kidney tissues against induced toxicity in experimental animals. The current phytochemical study aimed to identify the active molecules in the extract. Nine iridoid glycoside derivatives were identified from the plant extract, including four new compounds after extensive chromatographic purification. The structures were identified by applying various spectroscopic methods. Biological evaluation for protective effect on liver and kidney tissues was conducted on compounds isolated with a high enough yield. Serum and tissue parameters as well as histopathological studies were conducted for efficacy evaluation. Two of the new compounds showed the best protection of liver and kidney tissues as indicated by the studied parameters. These findings indicated that natural products could provide solutions to health problems. The role of nutraceuticals in managing liver problems is a promising field for further studies.Phytochemical investigation of the chloroform fraction obtained from Scrophularia hypericifolia aerial parts led to the isolation of nine acylated iridoid glycosides. The new compounds were identified as 6-O-α-L(2″-acetyl, 3″,4″-di-O-trans-cinnamoyl) rhamnopyranosyl-6′-acetyl catalpol (6′-acetyl hypericifolin A) (1), 6-O-α-L(2″, 4″-diacetyl, 3″-O-trans-cinnamoyl) rhamnopyranosyl-6′-acetyl catalpol (6′-acetyl hypericifolin B) (2), 6-O-α-L(2″-acetyl, 3″,4″-di-O-trans-cinnamoyl) rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (hypericifolin A) (3) and 6-O-α-L(2″, 4″-diacetyl, 3″-O-trans-cinnamoyl) rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (hypericifolin B) (4). Previously reported compounds were identified as laterioside (5), 8-O-acetylharpagide (6), 6-O-α-L(4′-O-trans-cinnamoyl) rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (7), lagotisoside D (8) and harpagoside (9). Identification achieved via analyses of physical and spectral data including 1D, 2D NMR and High Resolution Electrospray Ionization Mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS). Compounds 2–4 and 6 were subjected to biological evaluation against paracetamol-induced toxicity. The biochemical parameters aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) as well as total bilirubin were used to access the liver condition. Measurement of serum levels of urea, creatinine, sodium and potassium cations were indicators for kidney condition. Liver and kidney samples were subjected to histopathological study. The best protection was found in the group treated with 3 followed by 4 and 6, while 2 was almost inactive.

The Role of Nutraceuticals in Osteoarthritis Prevention and Treatment: Focus on n-3 PUFAs.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease caused by joint degeneration with massive cartilage loss, and obesity is among the risk factors for its onset, though the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the disease and better therapeutic approach still remain to be assessed. In recent years, several nutraceutical interventions have been investigated in order to define better solutions for preventing and treating OA. Among them, polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) appear to represent potential candidates in counteracting OA and its consequences, due to their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and chondroinductive effects. PUFAs have been found to counteract the onset and progression of OA by reducing bone and cartilage destruction, inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine release, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and the NF-κB pathway's activation. Moreover, a diet rich in n-3 PUFAs and their derivatives (maresins and resolvins) demonstrates beneficial effects on associated pain reduction. Finally, it has been shown that together with the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of eicosapentaenoic (EPA) and docosahexaenoic (DHA) acids, their antiapoptotic and antiangiogenic effects contribute in reducing OA development. The present review is aimed at assessing evidence suggesting the potential benefit of nutraceutical supplementation with PUFAs in OA management according to their efficacy in targeting relevant pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for inflammation and joint destruction processes, and this may represent a novel and potentially useful approach in OA prevention and treatment. For that purpose, a PubMed literature survey was conducted with a focus on some in vitro and in vivo studies and clinical trials from 2015 to 2020.

COVID-19: is greater attention needed in pauci-symptomatic and asymptomatic cases? Is there a clinical role for nutraceuticals?

article: COVID-19: is greater attention needed in pauci-symptomatic and asymptomatic cases? Is there a clinical role for nutraceuticals? - Gazzetta Medica Italiana - Archivio per le Scienze Mediche 2020 December;179(12):645-7 - Minerva Medica - Journals

The Protective Role of Nutraceuticals in Critically Ill Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) has become a leading health problem with no effective treatment. TBI imposes a significant burden of morbidity and mortality and is a major challenge in the intensive care unit (ICU). The lack of proven effective treatments for TBI is related to the range of severity of injury, the complexity of approaching a disease that involves multiple tissue and cell types, rapid onset of pathophysiology, common co-morbidity presentation, and other environmental and developmental factors. However, prompt treatment for TBI is critical, including surgery, intensive care, drugs, and alternative treatments, since cerebral edema can result in a variety of pathologies associated with primary and secondary injuries, as well as death. There is a need for interventions to be performed with the aim of preventing or treating the complications and accelerating the recovery of patients with TBI. Considering that nutritional support, when combined with other TBI treatments, is very effective, in this narrative review we focused on the role of herbal and nutrient supplements, identifying their protective effects on TBI outcomes. Combination of vitamins, amino acids, plant extracts, and herbs as a nutritional support may reduce recovery time in people with TBI, which work synergistically to repair TBI damage and improve areas of brain and body function that are most affected by TBI. Effective nutritional support is an emerging factor that may be added to help improving outcomes of TBI, but further clinical trials and empirical studies are definitely needed in this rapidly progressing field.

Diverse roles of bitter melon (Momordica charantia) in prevention of oral cancer.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the common lethal malignancies which is increasing rapidly in the world. Increasing risks from alcohol and tobacco habits, lack of early detection markers, lack of effective chemotherapeutic agents, recurrence and distant metastasis make the disease more complicated to manage. Laboratory-based studies and epidemiological studies indicate important roles of nutraceuticals to manage different cancers. The plant bitter melon (Momordica charantia) is a good source of nutrients and bio-active phytochemicals such as triterpenoids, triterpene glycosides, phenolic acids, flavonoids, lectins, sterols and proteins. The plant is widely grown in Asia, Africa, and South America. Bitter melon has traditionally been used as a folk medicine and Ayurvedic medicine in Asian culture to treat diseases such as diabetes, since ancient times. The crude extract and some of the isolated pure compounds of bitter melon show potential anticancer effects against different cancers. In this review, we shed light on its effect on OSCC. Bitter melon extract has been found to inhibit cell proliferation and metabolism, induce cell death and enhance the immune defense system in the prevention of OSCC in vitro and in vivo. Thus, bitter melon may be used as an attractive chemopreventive agent in progression towards OSCC clinical study.

Nutraceuticals for the treatment of sarcopenia in chronic liver disease.

Sarcopenia, defined as loss of muscle mass, strength and function, is associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with cirrhosis. Despite improved understanding of the multifaceted pathogenesis, there are few established therapies to treat or prevent muscle loss in this population. This narrative review examines the available literature investigating the role of nutraceuticals for the prevention or treatment of muscle wasting in chronic liver disease. A comprehensive search or Medline and PubMED databases was conducted. Reference lists were screened to identify additional articles. A number of nutritional supplements and vitamins target the specific metabolic derangements that contribute to sarcopenia in cirrhosis including altered amino acid metabolism, hyperammonaemia and inflammation. Branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation has proposed anabolic effects through dual pathways of enhanced ammonia clearance and stimulation of muscle protein synthesis. l-carnitine also has multimodal effects on muscle and shows promise as a therapy for muscle loss through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and ammonia lowering properties. Other nutraceuticals including l-ornithine l-aspartate, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and zinc and vitamin D supplementation, may similarly have positive effects on muscle homeostasis, however further evidence to support their use in cirrhotic populations is required. Nutraceuticals offer a promising and likely safe adjunct to standard care for sarcopenia in cirrhosis. While there is most evidence to support the use of BCAA and l-carnitine supplementation, further well-designed clinical trials are needed to elucidate their efficacy as a therapy for muscle loss in this population.

Mitochondria, Oxidative Stress, cAMP Signalling and Apoptosis: A Crossroads in Lymphocytes of Multiple Sclerosis, a Possible Role of Nutraceutics.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex inflammatory and neurodegenerative chronic disease that involves the immune and central nervous systems (CNS). The pathogenesis involves the loss of blood–brain barrier integrity, resulting in the invasion of lymphocytes into the CNS with consequent tissue damage. The MS etiology is probably a combination of immunological, genetic, and environmental factors. It has been proposed that T lymphocytes have a main role in the onset and propagation of MS, leading to the inflammation of white matter and myelin sheath destruction. Cyclic AMP (cAMP), mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress exert a role in the alteration of T lymphocytes homeostasis and are involved in the apoptosis resistance of immune cells with the consequent development of autoimmune diseases. The defective apoptosis of autoreactive lymphocytes in patients with MS, allows these cells to perpetuate, within the CNS, a continuous cycle of inflammation. In this review, we discuss the involvement in MS of cAMP pathway, mitochondria, reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptosis, and their interaction in the alteration of T lymphocytes homeostasis. In addition, we discuss a series of nutraceutical compounds that could influence these aspects.

Role of Nutraceuticals in COVID-19 Mediated Liver Dysfunction.

COVID-19 is known as one of the deadliest pandemics of the century. The rapid spread of this deadly virus at incredible speed has stunned the planet and poses a challenge to global scientific and medical communities. Patients with COVID-19 are at an increased risk of co-morbidities associated with liver dysfunction and injury. Moreover, hepatotoxicity induced by antiviral therapy is gaining importance and is an area of great concern. Currently, alternatives therapies are being sought to mitigate hepatic damage, and there has been growing interest in the research on bioactive phytochemical agents (nutraceuticals) due to their versatility in health benefits reported in various epidemiological studies. Therefore, this review provides information and summarizes the juncture of antiviral, immunomodulatory, and hepatoprotective nutraceuticals that can be useful during the management of COVID-19.

Phytotherapics in COVID19: Why palmitoylethanolamide?

At present, googling the search terms "COVID-19" and "Functional foods" yields nearly 500,000,000 hits, witnessing the growing interest of the scientific community and the general public in the role of nutrition and nutraceuticals during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many compounds have been proposed as phytotherapics in the prevention and/or treatment of COVID-19. The extensive interest of the general public and the enormous social media coverage on this topic urges the scientific community to address the question of whether which nutraceuticals can actually be employed in preventing and treating this newly described coronavirus-related disease. Recently, the Canadian biotech pharma company "FSD Pharma" received the green light from the Food and Drug Administration to design a proof-of-concept study evaluating the effects of ultramicronized palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) in COVID-19 patients. The story of PEA as a nutraceutical to prevent and treat infectious diseases dates back to the 1970s where the molecule was branded under the name Impulsin and was used for its immunomodulatory properties in influenza virus infection. The present paper aims at analyzing the potential of PEA as a nutraceutical and the previous evidence suggesting its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties in infectious and respiratory diseases and how these could translate to COVID-19 care.

Prospective options of algae-derived nutraceuticals as supplements to combat COVID-19 and human coronavirus diseases.

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 that has created huge trepidation worldwide, has a mortality rate of 0.5% to 1% and is growing incessantly. There are currently no therapies and/or vaccines that may help abate this viral disease, but the use of masks and social distancing can limit the spread. Boosting immunity has been a simple way to resist viral infection and limit fatalities. In this context, the use of nutraceuticals appears to be a potential panacea. The ability of algae-based nutraceuticals, mainly Spirulina, to boost immunity against viral diseases has already been reported clinically. Spirulina-based nutraceuticals boost the adaptive and innate immunity, and bioactive compounds, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor peptides, phycobiliproteins, sulfated polysaccharides, and calcium-Spirulan, can serve as antiviral agents. The presence of these molecules indicates its potential role in resisting infection and COVID-19 disease progression. This review focuses on the potential role of algal nutraceuticals as immune boosters to combat the human coronavirus and other viral diseases. The potential use of Spirulina-based nutraceuticals for combating COVID-19, its mechanism, and future directions have also been discussed.

The Potential Role of Nutraceuticals as an Adjuvant in Breast Cancer Patients to Prevent Hair Loss Induced by Endocrine Therapy.

Nutraceuticals, natural dietary and botanical supplements offering health benefits, provide a basis for complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). Use of CAM by healthy individuals and patients with medical conditions is rapidly increasing. For the majority of breast cancer patients, treatment plans involve 5–10 yrs of endocrine therapy, but hair loss/thinning is a common side effect. Many women consider this significant, severely impacting on quality of life, even leading to non-compliance of therapy. Therefore, nutraceuticals that stimulate/maintain hair growth can be proposed. Although nutraceuticals are often available without prescription and taken at the discretion of patients, physicians can be reluctant to recommend them, even as adjuvants, since potential interactions with endocrine therapy have not been fully elucidated. It is, therefore, important to understand the modus operandi of ingredients to be confident that their use will not interfere/interact with therapy. The aim is to improve clinical/healthcare outcomes by combining specific nutraceuticals with conventional care whilst avoiding detrimental interactions. This review presents the current understanding of nutraceuticals beneficial to hair wellness and outcomes concerning efficacy/safety in breast cancer patients. We will focus on describing endocrine therapy and the role of estrogens in cancer and hair growth before evaluating the effects of natural ingredients on breast cancer and hair growth.

Emerging Role of Nutraceuticals in Covid 19

The global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2, claiming thousands of lives each day has brought the world to a standstill. Such devastating and great impact of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is due to unexpectedly rapid spread, which did not allow for much preparedness. The scientists are working hard to come up with a vaccine, but nothing fruitful has been produced so far due to the rapid spread of the virus. Multiple drugs have been tried to target the virus, but no specific drug is there to prevent the spread of virus. Hence, we analysed the role of non-pharmacological substances such as nutraceuticals, probiotics and dietary supplements in reducing the susceptibility and mitigating the symptoms of COVID 19. In current scenario, when there is dearth of specific antiviral agents, theses substances could prove to be great importance due to their easy availability and no known side effects if administered in large doses. Scientific evidence has also suggested the beneficial role of bacterial and molecular products on immune response against the viruses. They could also regulate the inflammatory response and prevent endothelial damage. However, due to lack of specific data, rigorous clinical trials should be conducted to confirm the beneficial role of these supplements, probiotics and nutraceuticals in this period of crises.

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

Lactic Acid Bacteria: Food Safety and Human Health Applications

Research on lactic acid bacteria has confirmed how specific strains possess probiotic properties and impart unique sensory characteristics to food products. The use of probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in many food products, thus confers various health benefits to humans when they are frequently consumed in adequate amounts. The advent of functional food or the concept of nutraceuticals objectively places more emphasis on seeking alternatives to limit the use of medications thus promoting the regular consumption of fermented foods. Probiotic use has thus been recommended to fulfill the role of nutraceuticals, as no side effects on human health have been reported. Probiotics and lactic acid bacteria can boost and strengthen the human immune system, thereby increasing its resistance against numerous disease conditions. Consumer safety and confidence in dairy and fermented food products and the desire of the food industry to meet the sensory and health needs of consumers, has thus increased the demand for probiotic starter cultures with exceptional performance coupled with health benefiting properties. The potential of probiotic cultures and lactic acid bacteria in many industrial applications including fermented food products generally affects product characteristics and also serves as health-promoting foods for humans. The alleviation of lactose intolerance in many populations globally has been one of the widely accepted health claims attributed to probiotics and lactic acid bacteria, although many diseases have been treated with probiotic lactic acid bacteria and have been proven with scientific and clinical studies. The aim of our review was to present information related to lactic acid bacteria, the new classification and perspectives on industrial applications with a special emphasis on food safety and human health.

Interesterification of Egg-Yolk Phosphatidylcholine with p-Methoxycinnamic Acid Catalyzed by Immobilized Lipase B from Candida Antarctica

The p-methoxycinnamic acid (p-MCA) is one of the most popular phenylpropanoids, the beneficial impact of which on the human health is well documented in the literature. This compound has shown many valuable activities including anticancer, antidiabetic, and neuro- and hepatoprotective. However, its practical application is limited by its low bioavailability resulting from rapid metabolism in the human body. The latest strategy, aimed at overcoming these limitations, is based on the production of more stability in systemic circulation bioconjugates with phospholipids. Therefore, the aim of this research was to develop the biotechnological method for the synthesis of phospholipid derivatives of p-methoxycinnamic acid, which can play a role of new nutraceuticals. We developed and optimized enzymatic interesterification of phosphatidylcholine (PC) with ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (Ep-MCA). Novozym 435 and a binary solvent system of toluene/chloroform 9:1 (v/v) were found to be the effective biocatalyst and reaction medium for the synthesis of structured p-MCA phospholipids, respectively. The effects of the other reaction parameters, such as substrate molar ratio, enzyme dosage, and reaction time, on the degree of incorporation of p-MCA into PC were evaluated by use of an experimental factorial design method. The results showed that substrate molar ratio and biocatalyst load have significant effects on the synthesis of p-methoxycinnamoylated phospholipids. The optimum conditions were: Reaction time of three days, 30% (w/w) of Novozym 435, and 1/10 substrate molar ratio PC/Ep-MCA. Under these parameters, p-methoxycinnamoylated lysophosphatidylcholine (p-MCA-LPC) and p-methoxycinnamoylated phosphatidylcholine (p-MCA-PC) were obtained in isolated yields of 32% and 3% (w/w), respectively.