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Dietary Bioactives and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutritional Epidemiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2021) | Viewed by 11690

Special Issue Editor

Department of Clinical Internal, Anesthesiologic and Cardiovascular Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: atherosclerosis; inflammation; oxidative stress; biomarkers; molecular mechanisms
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The prevention of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) is currently one of the greatest medical challenges at a global level. Atherosclerosis is a silent progressive inflammatory disease and is the cause most frequently associated with the manifestation of acute coronary syndromes. The aetiology of atherosclerosis is multifactorial, and triggers can be either systemic or local factors including 1) hypercholesterolemia, and especially an accumulation of LDL in the subendothelial space, where modifications increase their atherogenicity and retention in the intima vascular; 2) the infiltration of circulating monocytes into the intravascular space and their differentiation into macrophages internalizing cholesterol; 3) the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, growth factors and metalloproteinases (MMPs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS); 4) platelet activation and aggregation, thus contributing to thrombus formation.

Even if different pharmacological interventions are being used to treat atherosclerosis, nutritional approaches have become increasingly attractive. In this context, bioactive compounds might have a crucial role both in preventing the development of atherosclerotic diseases and in modulating the clinical outcome. Even if some of these compounds have been widely studied, others are new potential candidates which need to be investigated. Moreover, more research in this field is necessary to better define the possible additional or synergistic benefits and potential greater effectiveness, to search for new biomarkers or more accurate biomarkers, or to define the molecular mechanisms.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to collect original research articles and reviews dealing with the health effects of bioactive compounds in the atherosclerotic process, with particular reference to the molecular pathways involved in the cardioprotection to develop new therapeutic approaches for the prevention of atherosclerosis or for the slowing of its progression.

Dr. Cristina Nocella
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Inflammation
  • Oxidative stress
  • Biomarkers
  • Molecular mechanisms

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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22 pages, 4602 KiB  
Article
Cornelian Cherry (Cornus mas L.) Iridoid and Anthocyanin Extract Enhances PPAR-α, PPAR-γ Expression and Reduces I/M Ratio in Aorta, Increases LXR-α Expression and Alters Adipokines and Triglycerides Levels in Cholesterol-Rich Diet Rabbit Model
by Maciej Danielewski, Alicja Z. Kucharska, Agnieszka Matuszewska, Andrzej Rapak, Agnieszka Gomułkiewicz, Stanisław Dzimira, Piotr Dzięgiel, Beata Nowak, Małgorzata Trocha, Jan Magdalan, Narcyz Piórecki, Adam Szeląg and Tomasz Sozański
Nutrients 2021, 13(10), 3621; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13103621 - 16 Oct 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2808
Abstract
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits possess potential cardiovascular, lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic bioactivities. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of resin-purified cornelian cherry extract rich in iridoids and anthocyanins on several transcription factors, intima/media ratio in aorta and [...] Read more.
Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L.) fruits possess potential cardiovascular, lipid-lowering and hypoglycemic bioactivities. The aim of this study is to evaluate the influence of resin-purified cornelian cherry extract rich in iridoids and anthocyanins on several transcription factors, intima/media ratio in aorta and serum parameters, which determine or are valuable indicators of the adverse changes observed in the course of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome. For this purpose, male New Zealand rabbits were fed a diet enriched in 1% cholesterol for 60 days. Additionally, one group received 10 mg/kg b.w. of cornelian cherry extract and the second group 50 mg/kg b.w. of cornelian cherry extract. PPAR-α and PPAR-γ expression in the aorta, LXR-α expression in the liver; cholesterol, triglycerides, adipokines, apolipoproteins, glucose and insulin levels in serum; the intima and media diameter in the thoracic and abdominal aorta were determined. Administration of cornelian cherry extract resulted in an enhancement in the expression of all tested transcription factors, a decrease in triglycerides, leptin and resistin, and an increase in adiponectin levels. In addition, a significant reduction in the I/M ratio was observed for both the thoracic and abdominal aorta. The results we have obtained confirm the potential contribution of cornelian cherry extract to mitigation of the risk of developing and the intensity of symptoms of obesity-related cardiovascular diseases and metabolic disorders such as atherosclerosis or metabolic syndrome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Bioactives and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease)
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11 pages, 3022 KiB  
Article
Betulinic Acid Improves Cardiac-Renal Dysfunction Caused by Hypertrophy through Calcineurin-NFATc3 Signaling
by Mi-Hyeon Hong, Se-Won Na, Youn-Jae Jang, Jung-Joo Yoon, Yun-Jung Lee, Ho-Sub Lee, Hye-Yoom Kim and Dae-Gill Kang
Nutrients 2021, 13(10), 3484; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13103484 - 30 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2439
Abstract
Cardiac hypertrophy can lead to congestive heart failure and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In recent years, it has been essential to find the treatment and prevention of cardiac hypertrophy. Betulinic acid (BA), the main active ingredient in many [...] Read more.
Cardiac hypertrophy can lead to congestive heart failure and is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In recent years, it has been essential to find the treatment and prevention of cardiac hypertrophy. Betulinic acid (BA), the main active ingredient in many natural products, is known to have various physiological effects. However, as the potential effect of BA on cardiac hypertrophy and consequent renal dysfunction is unknown, we investigated the effect of BA on isoprenaline (ISO)-induced cardiac hypertrophy and related signaling. ISO was known to induce left ventricular hypertrophy by stimulating the β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR). ISO was injected into Sprague Dawley rats (SD rats) by intraperitoneal injection once a day for 28 days to induce cardiac hypertrophy. From the 14th day onwards, the BA (10 or 30 mg/kg/day) and propranolol (10 mg/kg/day) were administered orally. The study was conducted in a total of 5 groups, as follows: C, control; Is, ISO (10 mg/kg/day); Pr, positive-control, ISO + propranolol (10 mg/kg/day); Bl, ISO + BA (10 mg/kg/day); Bh, ISO + BA (30 mg/kg/day). As a result, the total cardiac tissue and left ventricular tissue weights of the ISO group increased compared to the control group and were significantly reduced by BA treatment. In addition, as a result of echocardiography, the effect of BA on improving cardiac function, deteriorated by ISO, was confirmed. Cardiac hypertrophy biomarkers such as β-MHC, ANP, BNP, LDH, and CK-MB, which were increased by ISO, were significantly decreased by BA treatment. Also, the cardiac function improvement effect of BA was confirmed to improve cardiac function by inhibiting calcineurin/NFATc3 signaling. Renal dysfunction is a typical complication caused by cardiac hypertrophy. Therefore, the study of renal function indicators, creatinine clearance (Ccr) and osmolality (BUN) was aggravated by ISO treatment but was significantly restored by BA treatment. Therefore, it is thought that BA in cardiac hypertrophy can be used as valuable data to develop as a functional material effective in improving cardiac-renal dysfunction. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Bioactives and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease)
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25 pages, 4064 KiB  
Article
Development of a High-Throughput Method to Study the Inhibitory Effect of Phytochemicals on Trimethylamine Formation
by Lisard Iglesias-Carres, Lauren A. Essenmacher, Kathryn C. Racine and Andrew P. Neilson
Nutrients 2021, 13(5), 1466; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13051466 - 26 Apr 2021
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2628
Abstract
Choline is metabolized by the gut microbiota into trimethylamine (TMA), the precursor of pro-atherosclerotic molecule trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). A reduction in TMA formation has shown cardioprotective effects, and some phytochemicals may reduce TMA formation. This study aimed to develop an optimized, high-throughput anaerobic [...] Read more.
Choline is metabolized by the gut microbiota into trimethylamine (TMA), the precursor of pro-atherosclerotic molecule trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO). A reduction in TMA formation has shown cardioprotective effects, and some phytochemicals may reduce TMA formation. This study aimed to develop an optimized, high-throughput anaerobic fermentation methodology to study the inhibition of choline microbial metabolism into TMA by phenolic compounds with healthy human fecal starter. Optimal fermentation conditions were: 20% fecal slurry (1:10 in PBS), 100 µM choline, and 12 h fermentation. Additionally, 10 mM of 3,3-dimethyl-1-butanol (DMB) was defined as a positive TMA production inhibitor, achieving a ~50% reduction in TMA production. Gallic acid and chlorogenic acid reported higher TMA inhibitory potential (maximum of 80–90% TMA production inhibition), with IC50 around 5 mM. Neither DMB nor gallic acid or chlorogenic acid reduced TMA production through cytotoxic effects, indicating mechanisms such as altered TMA-lyase activity or expression. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Bioactives and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease)
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Review

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23 pages, 674 KiB  
Review
Phytochemicals as Therapeutic Interventions in Peripheral Artery Disease
by Ahmed Ismaeel, K. Leigh Greathouse, Nathan Newton, Dimitrios Miserlis, Evlampia Papoutsi, Robert S. Smith, Jack L. Eidson, David L. Dawson, Craig W. Milner, Robert J. Widmer, William T. Bohannon and Panagiotis Koutakis
Nutrients 2021, 13(7), 2143; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/nu13072143 - 22 Jun 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3206
Abstract
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects over 200 million people worldwide, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality, yet treatment options remain limited. Among the manifestations of PAD is a severe functional disability and decline, which is thought to be the result of different pathophysiological [...] Read more.
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects over 200 million people worldwide, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality, yet treatment options remain limited. Among the manifestations of PAD is a severe functional disability and decline, which is thought to be the result of different pathophysiological mechanisms including oxidative stress, skeletal muscle pathology, and reduced nitric oxide bioavailability. Thus, compounds that target these mechanisms may have a therapeutic effect on walking performance in PAD patients. Phytochemicals produced by plants have been widely studied for their potential health effects and role in various diseases including cardiovascular disease and cancer. In this review, we focus on PAD and discuss the evidence related to the clinical utility of different phytochemicals. We discuss phytochemical research in preclinical models of PAD, and we highlight the results of the available clinical trials that have assessed the effects of these compounds on PAD patient functional outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dietary Bioactives and Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease)
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