Spices, widely used to improve the sensory characteristics of food, contain several bioactive compounds as well, including polyphenols, carotenoids, and glucosynolates. Acting through multiple pathways, these bioactive molecules affect a wide variety of cellular processes involved in molecular mechanisms important in the onset and progress of human diseases. Capparis spinosa L. is an aromatic plant characteristic of the Mediterranean diet. Previous studies have reported that different parts (aerial parts, roots, and seeds) of C. spinosa exert various pharmacological activities. Flower buds of C. spinosa contain several bioactive compounds, including polyphenols and glucosinolates. Two different subspecies of C. spinosa L., namely, C. spinosa L. subsp. spinosa, and C. spinosa L. subsp. rupestris, have been reported. Few studies have been carried out in C. spinosa L. subsp. rupestris. The aim of our study was to investigate the phytochemical profile of floral buds of the less investigated species C. spinosa subsp. rupestris. Moreover, we investigated the effect of the extract from buds of C. spinosa subsp. rupestris (CSE) on cell proliferation, intracellular ROS levels, and expression of the antioxidant and anti-apoptotic enzyme paraoxonase-2 (PON2) in normal and cancer cells. T24 cells and Caco-2 cells were selected as models of advanced-stage human bladder cancer and human colorectal adenocarcinoma, respectively. The immortalized human urothelial cell line (UROtsa) and human dermal fibroblast (HuDe) were chosen as normal cell models. Through an untargeted metabolomic approach based on ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QTOF-MS), our results demonstrate that C. spinosa subsp. rupestris flower buds contain polyphenols and glucosinolates able to exert a higher cytotoxic effect and higher intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cancer cells compared to normal cells. Moreover, upregulation of the expression of the enzyme PON2 was observed in cancer cells. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that normal and cancer cells are differentially sensitive to CSE, which has different effects on PON2 gene expression as well. The overexpression of PON2 in T24 cells treated with CSE could represent a mechanism by which tumor cells protect themselves from the apoptotic process induced by glucosinolates and polyphenols.

Chronic high glucose (HG) exposure increases methylglyoxal (MGO)-derived advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) and is involved in the onset of pathological conditions, such as diabetes, atherosclerosis and chronic-degenerative diseases. Under physiologic conditions the harmful effects of MGO are contrasted by glyoxalase system that is implicated in the detoxification of Reactive Carbonyl Species (RCS) and maintain the homeostasis of the redox environment of the cell. Polyphenols are the most abundant antioxidants in the diet and present various health benefits. Aims of the study were to investigate the effects of HG-chronic exposure on glyco-oxidation and glyoxalase system in intestinal cells, using CaCo-2 cells. Moreover, we studied the effect of apple polyphenols on glyco-oxidative stress. Our data demonstrated that HG-treatment triggers glyco-oxidation stress with a significant increase in intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, AGEs, and increase of Glyoxalase I (GlxI) activity. On the contrary, Glyoxalase II (GlxII) activity was lower in HG-treated cells. We demonstrate that apple polyphenols exert a protective effect against oxidative stress and dicarbonyl stress. The increase of total antioxidant capacity and glutathione (GSH) levels in HG-treated cells in the presence of apple polyphenols was associated with a decrease of GlxI activity.

Several studies have demonstrated that stigmas of Crocus sativus contain several bioactive compounds with potential health-promoting properties. However, during the processing of stigmas, large amounts of floral bio-residues are normally discarded as by-products. In this study, using untargeted metabolomics, the comprehensive phytochemical composition of C. sativus stigma and tepals was investigated. Moreover, the antibacterial and anti-biofilm properties of the extracts of C. sativus stigmas and tepals were compared. The study was carried out using two methicillin-resistant staphylococcal reference strains (i.e., Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 and Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 35984), representing important Gram-positive biofilm-forming human pathogens. The antibacterial properties were correlated with total polyphenol content, total terpenoid content, and in vitro antioxidant properties of tepals and stigmas. The results demonstrated that stigma and tepal extracts, at the sub-toxic concentrations, were able to interfere with biofilm formation by ATCC 43300 and ATCC 35984. Besides, the higher antibacterial activity of tepals than stigmas was associated with higher levels of phycompounds. Therefore, our results demonstrated that C. sativus stigmas and bio-residues, such as tepals, are potential antioxidant sources and good candidates as antibacterial agents to prevent biofilm formation. Taken together, these findings showed that C. sativus could be used as functional ingredient by the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Saffron production from Crocus sativus flowers produces large amounts of by‐products that may represent an excellent source of polyphenols. The aim of this work was to evaluate infusions originating from different brewing processes and from different saffron flower portions, in terms of both functional and sensory traits. For this aim, total polyphenols and total flavonoids, in vitro antioxidant assays and an untargeted phenolic profiling were applied. In general, tepals showed higher polyphenol and flavonoid content than stamen infusions, and their bioactive content depended more on brewing temperature than brewing time. These findings were consistent with both antioxidant capacity and phenolic profiling. Multivariate statistics highlighted polyphenols discriminating ‘boiled’ vs. ‘cold’ infusions, being mainly flavonoids, phenolic acids and the alkylphenol 5‐pentadecylresorcinol (showing a strong down‐accumulation at the higher brewing temperatures). Positive correlations could be highlighted between anthocyanins, flavones, flavonols and lignans, and the in vitro antioxidant assays. In general, cold brewing was successful in extracting phenolic compounds and provided better sensory properties, thus indicating that this may represent a valuable strategy to develop saffron‐based functional beverages with better consumers' acceptability.

Alterations of plasma lipoprotein levels and oxidative stress are frequently observed in obese patients, including low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and alterations of HDL composition. Dysfunctional HDL with lower antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have also been demonstrated in obesity. There is increasing evidence that white adipose tissue (WAT) participates in several metabolic activities and modulates HDL-C levels and function. In obese subjects, the changes in morphology and function of adipose tissue lead to impaired regulatory function and are associated with a state of low-grade chronic inflammation, with increased release of pro-inflammatory adipokines and cytokines. These alterations may affect HDL metabolism and functions; thus, adipose tissue is considered a potential target for the prevention and treatment of obesity. A cornerstone of obesity prevention and therapy is lifestyle modification through dietary changes, which is reflected in the modulation of plasma lipoprotein metabolism. Some dietary components and metabolites directly affect the composition and structure of HDL and modulate its anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective properties. The aims of the review are to summarize the crosstalk between adipocytes and HDL dysfunction in human obesity and to highlight recent discoveries on beneficial dietary patterns as well as nutritional components on inflammation and HDL function in human obesity.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory, immune-mediated skin disease associated with several comorbidities and vascular risk factors. Oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered high-density lipoprotein (HDL) functions play key roles in inflammatory skin diseases. However, the relationship between these factors and HS is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between HS and oxidative stress, inflammation, and HDL functions, focusing on inflammatory markers and HDL-related antioxidant properties. We evaluated the serum levels of inflammation markers serum amyloid A (SAA) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in 44 HS patients and 16 healthy controls. Additionally, we assessed the activity of the antioxidant enzyme paraoxonase-1 (PON1) associated with HDL, as well as the HDL redox properties using a cell-free method. HS patients showed significantly higher serum levels of MCP-1 and SAA compared to controls. PON1 activity was considerably lower in HS patients, suggesting impaired antioxidant functions of HDL. These changes in HDL correlated with the severity of HS but occurred without significant alterations in plasma HDL levels. Our findings indicate that inflammation and oxidative stress could contribute to the dysfunction of HDL in HS patients. Identifying dysfunctional HDL could provide valuable insights into the pathogenesis of HS and its associated complications, offering potential targets for new therapeutic strategies.