Sustainable Applications of Nanopropolis to Combat Foodborne Illnesses.

Propolis has numerous biological properties and technological potential, but its low solubility in water makes its use quite difficult. With the advent of nanotechnology, better formulations with propolis, such as nanopropolis, can be achieved to improve its properties. Nanopropolis is a natural nanomaterial with several applications, including in the maintenance of food quality. Food safety is a global public health concern since food matrices are highly susceptible to contamination of various natures, leading to food loss and transmission of harmful foodborne illness. Due to their smaller size, propolis nanoparticles are more readily absorbed by the body and have higher antibacterial and antifungal activities than common propolis. This review aims to understand whether using propolis with nanotechnology can help preserve food and prevent foodborne illness. Nanotechnology applied to propolis formulations proved to be effective against pathogenic microorganisms of industrial interest, making it possible to solve problems of outbreaks that can occur through food.

Transport of cowpea bean derived peptides and their modulator effects on mRNA expression of cholesterol-related genes in Caco-2 and HepG2 cells.

This work studied the cell transport of peptidase-generated peptides from cowpea bean proteins and their effects on mRNA expression of cholesterol-related genes in intestinal and liver cells. The ≤3 kDa hydrolysate was obtained and incubated with Caco-2 intestinal cells using Transwell® plates. HepG2 liver cells were incubated with synthetic analogues of peptides (MELNAVSVVHS and MELNAVSVVSH) identified by "de novo" peptide sequencing in the Caco-2 monolayer permeates. The mRNA expression of NPC1L1, ABCA1 and ABCG1 was measured in Caco-2 cells, in the presence or absence of ≤3 kDa hydrolysate and the expression of HMGCR, SREBP2, LXRα, AMPK1, was determined in the HepG2 cells in the presence or absence of synthetic peptides. Exposure of Caco-2 cells to cowpea ≤3 kDa hydrolysate (2.5 and 5 mg/mL) increased ABCG1 expression at 6 h and 12 h. SREBP2, HMGCR and LDLR mRNA levels were reduced in HepG2 cells after 24 h of treatment with MELNAVSVVHS peptide (50 µM and 100 µM). These results suggest that MELNAVSVVHS peptide is able to cross intestinal barrier and to modulate genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis.

Transport of cowpea bean derived peptides and their modulator effects on mRNA expression of cholesterol-related genes in Caco-2 and HepG2 cells

This work studied the cell transport of peptidase-generated peptides from cowpea bean proteins and their effects on mRNA expression of cholesterol-related genes in intestinal and liver cells. The <= 3 kDa hydrolysate was obtained and incubated with Caco-2 intestinal cells using Transwell center dot plates. HepG2 liver cells were incubated with synthetic analogues of peptides (MELNAVSVVHS and MELNAVSVVSH) identified by "de novo" peptide sequencing in the Caco-2 monolayer permeates. The mRNA expression of NPC1L1, ABCA1 and ABCG1 was measured in Caco-2 cells, in the presence or absence of <= 3 kDa hydrolysate and the expression of HMGCR, SREBP2, LXRa, AMPK1, was determined in the HepG2 cells in the presence or absence of synthetic peptides. Exposure of Caco-2 cells to cowpea <= 3 kDa hydrolysate (2.5 and 5 mg/mL) increased ABCG1 expression at 6 h and 12 h. SREBP2, HMGCR and LDLR mRNA levels were reduced in HepG2 cells after 24 h of treatment with MELNAVSVVHS peptide (50 mu M and 100 mu M). These results suggest that MELNAVSVVHS peptide is able to cross intestinal barrier and to modulate genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis.

Transport of cowpea bean derived peptides and their modulator effects on mRNA expression of cholesterol-related genes in Caco-2 and HepG2 cells

This work studied the cell transport of peptidase-generated peptides from cowpea bean proteins and their effects on mRNA expression of cholesterol-related genes in intestinal and liver cells. The <= 3 kDa hydrolysate was obtained and incubated with Caco-2 intestinal cells using Transwell center dot plates. HepG2 liver cells were incubated with synthetic analogues of peptides (MELNAVSVVHS and MELNAVSVVSH) identified by "de novo" peptide sequencing in the Caco-2 monolayer permeates. The mRNA expression of NPC1L1, ABCA1 and ABCG1 was measured in Caco-2 cells, in the presence or absence of <= 3 kDa hydrolysate and the expression of HMGCR, SREBP2, LXRa, AMPK1, was determined in the HepG2 cells in the presence or absence of synthetic peptides. Exposure of Caco-2 cells to cowpea <= 3 kDa hydrolysate (2.5 and 5 mg/mL) increased ABCG1 expression at 6 h and 12 h. SREBP2, HMGCR and LDLR mRNA levels were reduced in HepG2 cells after 24 h of treatment with MELNAVSVVHS peptide (50 mu M and 100 mu M). These results suggest that MELNAVSVVHS peptide is able to cross intestinal barrier and to modulate genes involved in cholesterol homeostasis.

Peptides from cowpea present antioxidant activity, inhibit cholesterol synthesis and its solubilisation into micelles.

In previous studies, it was reported that the protein isolated from the cowpea interferes favourably in lipid metabolism, and reduces cholesterol synthesis. The present study investigated the role of cowpea peptide fractions in the micellar solubilisation of cholesterol, in the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) activity, and in the in vitro antioxidant capacity, considering the effects of thermal processing. The protein was isolated from the raw and cooked beans and digested to simulate human digestion. The peptides from the protein isolate of raw bean with molecular mass lower than 3kDa reduced 89% of the HMGCR enzymatic reaction velocity. The cooked cowpeas were more effective in inhibiting the micellar solubility of cholesterol than the raw ones but not the antioxidant activity. This is the first report that cowpea peptides inhibit cholesterol homeostasis in vitro in two distinct routes, and act as an antioxidant.

Cholesterol-lowering effect of whole lupin (Lupinus albus) seed and its protein isolate.

This study describes the hypocholesterolaemic effect of whole lupin and its protein in hamsters. The diets were: casein (control group HC), lupin protein isolate (group HPI) and whole lupin seed (group HWS). Diets from HPI and HWS promoted a significant reduction of total cholesterol and non-HDL cholesterol in the hamsters' plasma as compared with HC. The true digestibility of HPI and HC groups were similar and differed significantly from the HWS one, which in turn showed a significant difference in total sterol excretion as compared to the former groups. Histological analysis of the liver revealed that animals fed on HPI and HWS diets presented a low level of steatosis (level 1) as compared to the ones fed on HC diet (level 4). Our findings demonstrate that protein isolate from Lupinus albus from Brazil has a metabolic effect on endogenous cholesterol metabolism and a protector effect on development of hepatic steatosis.