Anthocyanins are one of the most widespread families of natural pigments in the plant kingdom. Their health beneficial effects have been documented in many in vivo and in vitro studies. This review summarizes the most recent literature regarding the health benefits of anthocyanins and their molecular mechanisms. It appears that several signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor κB, AMP-activated protein kinase, and Wnt/β-catenin, as well as some crucial cellular processes, such as cell cycle, apoptosis, autophagy, and biochemical metabolism, are involved in these beneficial effects and may provide potential therapeutic targets and strategies for the improvement of a wide range of diseases in future. In addition, specific anthocyanin metabolites contributing to the observed in vivo biological activities, structure-activity relationships as well as additive and synergistic efficacy of anthocyanins are also discussed.

https://tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10408398.2015.1030064

Health benefits of anthocyanins and molecular mechanisms: Update from recent decade

Autophagy in ischemic stroke.

Polyphenols are plant secondary metabolites containing antioxidant properties, which help to protect chronic diseases from free radical damage. Dietary polyphenols are the subject of enhancing scientific interest due to their possible beneficial effects on human health. In the last two decades, there has been more interest in the potential health benefits of dietary polyphenols as antioxidant. Black soybeans (Glycine max L. Merr) are merely a black variety of soybean containing a variety of phytochemicals. These phytochemicals in black soybean (BSB) are potentially effective in human health, including cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases. Taking into account exploratory study, the present review aims to provide up-to-date data on health benefit of BSB, which helps to explore their therapeutic values for future clinical settings. All data of in vitro and in vivo studies of BSB and its impact on human health were collected from a library database and electronic search (Science Direct, PubMed, and Google Scholar). The different pharmacological information was gathered and orchestrated in a suitable spot on the paper.

https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/9/5/455/pdf

A Critical Review on Polyphenols and Health Benefits of Black Soybeans.

Phytochemicals as potent modulators of autophagy for cancer therapy.

Targeting autophagy in ischemic stroke: From molecular mechanisms to clinical therapeutics.

Anthocyanins have received growing attention as dietary antioxidants for the prevention of oxidative damage. Astrocytes, which are specialized glial cells, exert numerous essential, complex functions in both healthy and diseased central nervous system (CNS) through a process known as reactive astrogilosis. Therefore, the maintenance of glial cell viability may be important because of its role as a key modulator of neuropathological events. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of anthocyanin on the survival of glial cells exposed to oxidative stress. Our results demonstrated that anthocyanin extracts from black soybean increased survival of U87 glioma cells in a dose dependent manner upon oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), accompanied by decrease levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). While treatment cells with anthocyanin extracts or OGD stress individually activated autophagy induction, the effect was significantly augmented by pretreatment cells with anthocyanin extracts prior to OGD. The contribution of autophagy induction to the protective effects of anthocyanin was verified by the observation that silencing the Atg5 expression, an essential regulator of autophagy induction, reversed the cytoprotective effect of anthocyanin extracts against OGD stress. Treatment of U87 cells with rapamycin, an autophagy inducer, increased cell survival upon OGD stress comparable to anthocyanin, indicating that autophagy functions as a survival mechanism against oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in glial cells. Our results, therefore, provide a rationale for the use of anthocyanin as a preventive agent for brain dysfunction caused by oxidative damage, such as a stroke.

/pdf/anthocyanin-extracts-from-black-soybean-glycine-max-l-2nrmbyj22k.pdf

Anthocyanin Extracts from Black Soybean (Glycine max L.) Protect Human Glial Cells Against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation by Promoting Autophagy

Bcl-2 interacting cell death suppressor (Bis) has been shown tohave anti-apoptotic and anti-stress functions. Recently, increasedBis expression was reported to correlate with gliomaaggressiveness. Here, we investigated the effect of Bis knockdownon the acquisition of the invasive phenotype of A172glioma cells, induced by 12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol- 3-acetate(TPA), using a Transwell assay. Bis knockdown resulted in asignificant decrease in the migration and invasion of A172cells. Furthermore, Bis knockdown notably decreased TPAinducedmatrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity andmRNA expression, as measured by zymography and quantitativereal time PCR, respectively. A luciferase reporter assayindicated that Bis suppression significantly down-regulatedNF-κB-driven transcription. Finally, we demonstrated that therapid phosphorylation and subsequent degradation of IκB-αinduced by TPA was remarkably delayed by Bis knockdown. These results suggest that Bis regulates the invasive ability ofglioma cells elicited by TPA, by modulating NF-κB activation,and subsequent induction of MMP-9 mRNA.[BMB Reports 2014; 47(5): 262-267]

Down-modulation of Bis reduces the invasive ability of glioma cells induced by TPA, through NF-κB mediated activation of MMP-9.

The Bcl-2 interacting death suppressor (Bis) protein is known to be involved in a variety of pathophysiological conditions. We recently generated bis-deficient mice, which exhibited early lethality with typical nutritional deprivation status. To further investigate the molecular basis for the malnutrition phenotype of bis deficient mice, we explored Bis expression in the digestive system of normal mice. Western blot analysis and quantitative real time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated that Bis expression is highest in the esophagus, followed by the stomach, colon, jejunum and ileum. Immunohistochemical data indicated that Bis expression is restricted to the stratified squamous epitheliums in the esophagus and forestomach, and was not notable in the columnar epitheliums in the stomach, small intestine and colon. In addition, strong Bis immunoreactivity was detected in the striated muscles surrounding the esophagus and smooth muscles at a lesser intensity throughout the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Ganglionated plexuses, located in submucous layers, as well as intermuscular layers, were specifically immunoreactive for Bis. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that Bis is co-localized in glial fibrillary acidic protein-expressing enteric glial cells. Immunostaining with neuron specific esterase antibodies indicate that Bis is also present in the cell bodies of ganglions in the enteric nervous system (ENS). Our findings indicate that Bis plays a role in regulating GI functions, such as motility and absorption, through modulating signal transmission between the ENS and smooth muscles or the intestinal epitheliums.

/pdf/expression-of-bis-in-the-mouse-gastrointestinal-system-3xdk9a6r3r.pdf

Young Dae Lee

Papers

Anthocyanin Extracts from Black Soybean (Glycine max L.) Protect Human Glial Cells Against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation by Promoting Autophagy

Down-modulation of Bis reduces the invasive ability of glioma cells induced by TPA, through NF-κB mediated activation of MMP-9.

Expression of Bis in the mouse gastrointestinal system