Beneficial effects of natural compounds: Studies in vitro and in vivo

In recent years, several studies have shown that plant and food extracts play a protective role in the etiology of various diseases. We have performed studies on Lisosan G a fermented of Triticum Sativum. In vivo, Lisosan G protects against the cisplatin induced toxicity (Longo et al. Food Chem Tox 49: 233-237, 2011), and a recent paper showed that Lisosan G helps prevent microcirculatory dysfunction (Lubrano et al., Indian J Med Res 136: 82-88, 2012). We also showed, by using primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, that this powder of wheat is an effective inducer of ARE/Nrf2-regulated antioxidant/detoxifying genes and has the potential to inhibit the translocation of NF-kB into the nucleus (La Marca et al. PLOSone 8: 1-9, 2013). We obtained similar results using an extract of a fermented powder of bean named Lady Joy (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) (La Marca et. al. CMBL, in press 2015). Over the past twenty years, glucosinolates (GLs), abundant in cruciferous vegetables, and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates (ITCs), have received much attention by scientists thanks to their anticancer and antioxidant properties. We used primary cultures of rat hepatocytes to investigate whether and how eight ITCs were able to modulate cytochrome P450 (CYP), antioxidant/detoxifying enzymes and to activate the Nrf2 transcription factor. Taken together, these results show that these ITCs are effective inducers of ARE/Nrf2-regulated antioxidant/detoxifying genes and have the potential to inhibit the bioactivation of carcinogens dependent on CYP3A2 catalysis ( La Marca et al. Food Chem Tox 50: 2822-2830, 2012).