New Insights in (Poly)Phenolic Compounds: From Dietary Sources to Health Evidences

A special issue of Foods (ISSN 2304-8158). This special issue belongs to the section "Food Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 November 2019) | Viewed by 39282

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Guest Editor
1. Phytochemistry and Healthy Foods Laboratory, Department of Food Science and Technology, National Council for Scientific Research (CEBAS-CSIC), Murcia, Spain
2. Associated Unit of R&D and Innovation CEBAS-CSIC+UPCT on “Quality and Risk Assessment of Foods”, CEBAS-CSIC, Campus Espinardo - 25, E-30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: food science and technology; phytochemistry; bioactive compounds; health promoters; functional ingredients, beverages and foods; natural and minimally processed foods; healthy foods; energy metabolism (obesity, diabetes); chronic inflammation; human nutrition; wellbeing
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Research Group on Quality, Safety, and Bioactivity of Plant Foods, Department of Food Science and Technology, Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura, Spanish National Research Council (CEBAS-CSIC), University Campus of Espinardo, Edif. 25, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: lipidomics; plant oxylipins; bioaccessibility; bioavailability; bioactivity; structure-activity relationship (SAR); in vitro models of biological activity; inflammation; oxidative stress; immune system
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Guest Editor
Department of Food Technology, Food Science and Nutrition, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: bioactive compounds of vegetable origin; nutrition and health; development of new plant foods and natural products; pharmacology applications; in vitro and in vivo animal models; bioaccessibility, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability of bioactive compounds
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is intended to cover the existing gap between classical studies and the occurrence of new types of (poly)phenol derivatives (e.g., lipophenols) that have been scarcely explored to-date. We are also interested in the influence of the digestive process on the bioaccessibility and bioavailability of these compounds and the advantages of nanoencapsulation and their application in functional foods, which could allow research focusing on the actual biological dimension of (poly)phenols. Additionally, we welcome reports on the current strategies to enhance the content of these bioactives in foods; on setting up formulations that increase their bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivity; and on the determination of their mechanism of action through in vitro and in vivo models. Altogether, these would expand the application of these compounds in the clinical frame, thus reducing the application of pharmacological treatments while envisaging a new horizon for therapy. The successful achievement of these objectives can only be done by bringing together the contributions of multidisciplinary experts working in the diverse fields of food, nutrition, and health.

Prof. Cristina García-Viguera
Dr. Raúl Domínguez-Perles
Dr. Nieves Baenas Navarro
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • plant foods
  • flavonoids
  • extracting methods
  • in vitro and in vivo functionality
  • bioaccessibility and bioavailability
  • nutritional studies
  • pre-clinical and clinical trials
  • metabolism
  • health

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 204 KiB  
Editorial
New Insights in (Poly)phenolic Compounds: From Dietary Sources to Health Evidence
by Raúl Domínguez-Perles, Nieves Baenas and Cristina García-Viguera
Foods 2020, 9(5), 543; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods9050543 - 30 Apr 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2008
Abstract
Nowadays, there is a gap between the theoretical bioactivity of (poly)phenols and their real influence in health, once ingested. Due to this, new studies, including in vitro and in vivo models that allow for exploring bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivity, need to be developed [...] Read more.
Nowadays, there is a gap between the theoretical bioactivity of (poly)phenols and their real influence in health, once ingested. Due to this, new studies, including in vitro and in vivo models that allow for exploring bioaccessibility, bioavailability, and bioactivity, need to be developed to understand the actual importance of consuming functional foods, rich in these plant secondary metabolites. Moreover, current new strategies need to be developed to enhance the content of these foods, as well as setting up new formulations rich in bioaccessible and bioavailable compounds. Altogether, it could give a new horizon in therapy, expanding the use of these natural functional compounds, ingredients, and foods in the clinical frame, reducing the use of synthetic drugs. As a result, the joint contribution of multidisciplinary experts from the food science, health, and nutrition areas, together with the industrial sector, would help to reach these objectives. Taking this into account, diverse studies have been included in this study, which comprises different strategies to approach these objectives from different, complementary, points of view, ranging from the enrichment of by-products in bioactive compounds, through different agricultural techniques, to the assimilation of these compounds by the human body, both in vitro and in vivo, as well as by clinical studies. Full article

Research

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20 pages, 3006 KiB  
Article
New Evidences of Antibacterial Effects of Cranberry Against Periodontal Pathogens
by María C. Sánchez, Honorato Ribeiro-Vidal, Begoña Bartolomé, Elena Figuero, M. Victoria Moreno-Arribas, Mariano Sanz and David Herrera
Foods 2020, 9(2), 246; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods9020246 - 24 Feb 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5283
Abstract
The worrying rise in antibiotic resistances emphasizes the need to seek new approaches for treating and preventing periodontal diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of cranberry in a validated in vitro biofilm model. After chemical [...] Read more.
The worrying rise in antibiotic resistances emphasizes the need to seek new approaches for treating and preventing periodontal diseases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity of cranberry in a validated in vitro biofilm model. After chemical characterization of a selected phenolic-rich cranberry extract, its values for minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were calculated for the six bacteria forming the biofilm (Streptococcus oralis, Actinomyces naeslundii, Veillonella parvula, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Porphyromonas gingivalis, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans). Antibacterial activity of the cranberry extract in the formed biofilm was evaluated by assessing the reduction in bacteria viability, using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) combined with propidium monoazide (PMA), and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), and anti-biofilm activity by studying the inhibition of the incorporation of different bacteria species in biofilms formed in the presence of the cranberry extract, using qPCR and CLSM. In planktonic state, bacteria viability was significantly reduced by cranberry (p < 0.05). When growing in biofilms, a significant effect was observed against initial and early colonizers (S. oralis (p ≤ 0.017), A. naeslundii (p = 0.006) and V. parvula (p = 0.010)) after 30 or 60 s of exposure, while no significant effects were detected against periodontal pathogens (F. nucleatum, P. gingivalis or A. actinomycetemcomitans (p > 0.05)). Conversely, cranberry significantly (p < 0.001 in all cases) interfered with the incorporation of five of the six bacteria species during the development of 6 h-biofilms, including P. gingivalis, A. actinomycetemcomitans, and F. nucleatum. It was concluded that cranberry had a moderate antibacterial effect against periodontal pathogens in biofilms, but relevant anti-biofilm properties, by affecting bacteria adhesion in the first 6 h of development of biofilms. Full article
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12 pages, 944 KiB  
Article
Improvement of the Flavanol Profile and the Antioxidant Capacity of Chocolate Using a Phenolic Rich Cocoa Powder
by Rocío González-Barrio, Vanesa Nuñez-Gomez, Elena Cienfuegos-Jovellanos, Francisco Javier García-Alonso and Mª Jesús Periago-Castón
Foods 2020, 9(2), 189; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods9020189 - 14 Feb 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 5432
Abstract
Chocolate is made from cocoa, which is rich in (poly)phenols that have a high antioxidant capacity and are associated with the prevention of chronic diseases. In this study, a new production process was evaluated in order to obtain a dark chocolate enriched in [...] Read more.
Chocolate is made from cocoa, which is rich in (poly)phenols that have a high antioxidant capacity and are associated with the prevention of chronic diseases. In this study, a new production process was evaluated in order to obtain a dark chocolate enriched in (poly)phenols using a cocoa powder with an improved flavanol profile. The antioxidant capacity (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay) and the flavanol profile (HPLC-DAD and HPLC-FL) was determined. The analysis of the enriched chocolate showed that the total flavan-3-ols (monomers) content was 4 mg/g representing a 3-fold higher than that quantified in the conventional one. Total levels of dimers (procyanidin B1 and B2) were 2.4-fold higher in the enriched chocolate than in the conventional, with a total content of 6 mg/g. The total flavanol content (flavan-3-ols and procyanidins) in the enriched chocolate was increased by 39% compared to the conventional one which led to a 56% increase in the antioxidant capacity. The new flavanol-enriched dark chocolate is expected to provide greater beneficial effect to consumers. Moreover, the amount of flavonols provided by a single dose (ca. 200 mg per 10 g) would allow the use of a health claim on cardiovascular function, a fact of interest for the cocoa industry. Full article
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15 pages, 2878 KiB  
Article
Management of Plant Physiology with Beneficial Bacteria to Improve Leaf Bioactive Profiles and Plant Adaptation under Saline Stress in Olea europea L.
by Estrella Galicia-Campos, Beatriz Ramos-Solano, Mª. Belén Montero-Palmero, F. Javier Gutierrez-Mañero and Ana García-Villaraco
Foods 2020, 9(1), 57; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods9010057 - 07 Jan 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3419
Abstract
Global climate change has increased warming with a concomitant decrease in water availability and increased soil salinity, factors that compromise agronomic production. On the other hand, new agronomic developments using irrigation systems demand increasing amounts of water to achieve an increase in yields. [...] Read more.
Global climate change has increased warming with a concomitant decrease in water availability and increased soil salinity, factors that compromise agronomic production. On the other hand, new agronomic developments using irrigation systems demand increasing amounts of water to achieve an increase in yields. Therefore, new challenges appear to improve plant fitness and yield, while limiting water supply for specific crops, particularly, olive trees. Plants have developed several innate mechanisms to overcome water shortage and the use of beneficial microorganisms to ameliorate symptoms appears as a challenging alternative. Our aim is to improve plant fitness with beneficial bacterial strains capable of triggering plant metabolism that targets several mechanisms simultaneously. Our secondary aim is to improve the content of molecules with bioactive effects to valorize pruning residues. To analyze bacterial effects on olive plantlets that are grown in saline soil, photosynthesis, photosynthetic pigments, osmolytes (proline and soluble sugars), and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzymes (superoxide dismutase-SOD and ascorbate peroxidase-APX) and molecules (phenols, flavonols, and oleuropein) were determined. We found photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant molecules, net photosynthesis, and water use efficiency to be the most affected parameters. Most strains decreased pigments and increased osmolytes and phenols, and only one strain increased the antihypertensive molecule oleuropein. All strains increased net photosynthesis, but only three increased water use efficiency. In conclusion, among the ten strains, three improved water use efficiency and one increased values of pruning residues. Full article
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11 pages, 1164 KiB  
Article
A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness a Polyphenolic Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora) in the Reduction of Body Fat Mass in Healthy Subjects
by Javier Marhuenda, Silvia Perez, Desirée Victoria-Montesinos, María Salud Abellán, Nuria Caturla, Jonathan Jones and Javier López-Román
Foods 2020, 9(1), 55; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods9010055 - 06 Jan 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 6936 | Correction
Abstract
The location and quantity of body fat determine the health risks, limiting people with obesity. Recently, polyphenols have attracted the attention of the scientific community because of their potential use for the reduction of obesity. A proprietary formula comprised of a blend of [...] Read more.
The location and quantity of body fat determine the health risks, limiting people with obesity. Recently, polyphenols have attracted the attention of the scientific community because of their potential use for the reduction of obesity. A proprietary formula comprised of a blend of Lippia citriodora and Hibiscus sabdariffa has been recognized for its high content of polyphenols, powerful antioxidant molecules that may prevent weight gain and could be helpful for the treatment of obesity, as proven previously by in vivo models. The aim of the present study is to determine if the supplementation with Lippia citriodora and Hibiscus sabdariffa is useful for the treatment of obesity and/or weight control in subjects without a controlled diet. The intake of the extract for 84 days reduced body weight, the body mass index, and the fat mass measured with both bioimpedance and densitometry. This decrease in fat mass was observed to a greater extent, being significant, in the fat mass of the trunk (chest and torso). Full article
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9 pages, 649 KiB  
Article
Alternative Sweeteners Modify the Urinary Excretion of Flavanones Metabolites Ingested through a New Maqui-Berry Beverage
by Vicente Agulló, Raúl Domínguez-Perles, Diego A. Moreno, Pilar Zafrilla and Cristina García-Viguera
Foods 2020, 9(1), 41; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods9010041 - 03 Jan 2020
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3328
Abstract
Dietary sugar has been largely related to the onset of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, among others. The growing awareness on the close relationship between the dietary habits and this health disturbance has encouraged the development of new beverages [...] Read more.
Dietary sugar has been largely related to the onset of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity, among others. The growing awareness on the close relationship between the dietary habits and this health disturbance has encouraged the development of new beverages using alternative sweeteners that could contribute to combat the above referred pathophysiological disorders. To gain further insight into this issue, the present work, upon an acute dietary intervention, evaluated the urinary excretion of flavanones ingested through polyphenols-rich beverages composed of maqui berry and citrus, with the aim of establishing the highest urinary excretion rate and metabolite profiles. The functional beverages evaluated were supplemented with a range of sweeteners including sucrose (natural and high caloric), stevia (natural and non-caloric), and sucralose (artificial and non-caloric) as an approach that would allow reducing the intake of sugars and provide bioactive phenolics (flavanones). The juices developed were ingested by volunteers (n = 20) and the resulting flavanones and their phase II metabolites in urine were analyzed by Ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography ElectroSpray Ionization Mass Spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-MS/MS). A total of 16 metabolites were detected: eriodyctiol, naringenin, and homoeriodyctiol derivatives, where peak concentrations were attained 3.5 h after beverage intake. Sucralose and stevia were the sweeteners that provided the highest urinary excretion for most compounds. Sucrose did not provide a remarkable higher elimination through urine of any compounds in comparison with sucralose or stevia. These results propose two alternative sweeteners to sucrose (sucralose and stevia), an overused, high caloric sweetener that promotes some metabolic diseases. Full article
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13 pages, 1633 KiB  
Article
Polydatin and Resveratrol Inhibit the Inflammatory Process Induced by Urate and Pyrophosphate Crystals in THP-1 Cells
by Francesca Oliviero, Yessica Zamudio-Cuevas, Elisa Belluzzi, Lisa Andretto, Anna Scanu, Marta Favero, Roberta Ramonda, Giampietro Ravagnan, Alberto López-Reyes, Paolo Spinella and Leonardo Punzi
Foods 2019, 8(11), 560; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods8110560 - 07 Nov 2019
Cited by 28 | Viewed by 3470
Abstract
Resveratol (RES) and its natural precursor polydatin (PD) are polyphenols that may display a broad variety of beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the role of RES and PD in the inflammatory process induced by monosodium urate (MSU) and [...] Read more.
Resveratol (RES) and its natural precursor polydatin (PD) are polyphenols that may display a broad variety of beneficial effects including anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to investigate the role of RES and PD in the inflammatory process induced by monosodium urate (MSU) and calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals in vitro. A monocytic cell line (THP-1) was primed for 3 hours with phorbol myristate acetate (100 ng/mL) and stimulated with synthetic MSU (0.05 mg/mL) and CPP (0.025 mg/mL) crystals. RES and PD were added to cultures concurrently with the crystals, or as 2-hour pretreatment. The effect of the two polyphenols was evaluated on intracellular and extracellular IL-1β levels, NACHT-LRRPYD-containing protein-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) production, and the assessment of crystal phagocytosis. RES and PD strongly inhibited IL-1β induced by crystals after cell pretreatment. Cell pretreatment was effective also in reducing IL-1 mRNA expression while no effect was observed on NLRP3 gene expression. RES and PD had no effect on crystal phagocytosis when used as pretreatment. Both polyphenols were significantly effective in inhibiting ROS and NO production. Our results demonstrated that RES and PD are effective in inhibiting crystal-induced inflammation. Data obtained after cell pretreatment allow us to hypothesize that these polyphenols act on specific signaling pathways, preventing inflammation. Full article
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Review

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17 pages, 291 KiB  
Review
Cognitive Function and Consumption of Fruit and Vegetable Polyphenols in a Young Population: Is There a Relationship?
by Juan Ángel Carrillo, M Pilar Zafrilla and Javier Marhuenda
Foods 2019, 8(10), 507; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods8100507 - 17 Oct 2019
Cited by 36 | Viewed by 6773
Abstract
Scientific evidence has shown the relationship between consumption of fruits and vegetables and their polyphenols with the prevention or treatment of diseases. The aim of this review was to find out whether the same relationship exists between fruits and vegetables and cognitive function, [...] Read more.
Scientific evidence has shown the relationship between consumption of fruits and vegetables and their polyphenols with the prevention or treatment of diseases. The aim of this review was to find out whether the same relationship exists between fruits and vegetables and cognitive function, especially memory, in a young population. The mechanisms by which polyphenols of fruits and vegetables can exert cognitive benefits were also evaluated. These compounds act to improve neuronal plasticity through the protein CREB (Camp Response Element Binding) in the hippocampus, modulating pathways of signaling and transcription factors (ERK/Akt). In the same way, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is implicated in the maintenance, survival, growth, and differentiation of neurons. All these effects are produced by an increase of cerebral blood flow and an increase of the blood’s nitric oxide levels and oxygenation. Full article

Other

4 pages, 1032 KiB  
Correction
Correction: Marhuenda, J., et al. A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial to Determine the Effectiveness a Polyphenolic Extract (Hibiscus sabdariffa and Lippia citriodora) in the Reduction of Body Fat Mass in Healthy Subjects. Foods 2020, 9(1), 55
by Javier Marhuenda, Silvia Perez-Piñero, Desirée Victoria-Montesinos, María Salud Abellán-Ruiz, Nuria Caturla, Jonathan Jones and Javier López-Román
Foods 2020, 9(3), 279; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/foods9030279 - 03 Mar 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1921
Abstract
The authors wish to make the following correction to this paper [...] Full article
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