Inflammation is a key contributor to both the initiation and progression of tumors, and it can be triggered by genetic instability within tumors, as well as by lifestyle and dietary factors. The inflammatory response plays a critical role in the genetic and epigenetic reprogramming of tumor cells, as well as in the cells that comprise the tumor microenvironment. Cells in the microenvironment acquire a phenotype that promotes immune evasion, progression, and metastasis. We will review the mechanisms and pathways involved in the interaction between tumors, inflammation, and nutrition, the limitations of current therapies, and discuss potential future therapeutic approaches.

Breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy among women worldwide. Significant achievements have been made in diagnostic tools and cancer treatments in the past decade; however, the complexity and heterogeneity of certain breast cancer subtypes often lead to drug resistance and metastatic progression. Owing to their low toxicity and high variety, natural products and their derivatives are becoming increasingly valuable sources for small‐molecule anticancer drugs. Polyphenols are becoming more widely known for their role in breast cancer prevention and as adjuvants in conventional treatment strategies. Therefore, this review focuses on the antitumor effects of curcumin, resveratrol, and polydatin on breast cancer. According to the main databases, only in vitro and preclinical studies with solid scientific backgrounds and reports of protective effects on breast cancer treatment were included. Curcumin, resveratrol, and polydatin have antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory, and anticancer effects; indeed, they improve drug efficacy; reduce chemoresistance, angiogenesis, and tumor growth; and induce apoptosis, autophagy, and cell cycle arrest in breast cancer through multiple molecular pathways, including the suppression of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), NF‐κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), MAPK, ERK1/2, and STAT signaling pathways; the inhibition of cyclins and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)‐2 and MMP‐9; and the activation of p53 and microtubule‐associated protein light chain 3 (LC3).

Breast cancer is the most common tumor in women. Chemotherapy is the gold standard for cancer treatment; however, severe side effects and tumor resistance are the major obstacles to chemotherapy success. Numerous dietary components and phytochemicals have been found to inhibit the molecular and signaling pathways associated with different stages of breast cancer development. In particular, this review is focused on the antitumor effects of PUFAs, dietary enzymes, and glucosinolates against breast cancer. The major databases were consulted to search in vitro and preclinical studies; only those with solid scientific evidence and reporting protective effects on breast cancer treatment were included. A consistent number of studies highlighted that dietary components and phytochemicals can have remarkable therapeutic effects as single agents or in combination with other anticancer agents, administered at different concentrations and via different routes of administration. These provide a natural strategy for chemoprevention, reduce the risk of breast cancer recurrence, impair cell proliferation and viability, and induce apoptosis. Some of these bioactive compounds of dietary origin, however, show poor solubility and low bioavailability; hence, encapsulation in nanoformulations are promising tools able to increase clinical efficiency.

Improvements in the yield and solubility of chestnut wood extractives, by using different extraction methods and molybdenum catalysts as support, have rarely been reported in literature. Many studies focus on the different parts of trees, except for the chemical characteristics of the remaining extractives achieved from thermally modified (THM) chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill) wood. This research seeks to better understand the effects of extraction techniques and catalysts on the yield and solubility of extractives. GC-MS analysis of the chloroform soluble and insoluble fractions was also used. Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) 110 °C, Soxhlet, and autoclave extraction techniques were used to obtain extractives from untreated and thermally modified (THM) chestnut wood (170 °C for 3 h). Ethanol/H₂O, ethanol/toluene, and water were the solvents used for each technique. A polyoxometalate compound (H₃PMo₁₂O₄₀) and MoO₃ supported on silica were used as catalysts. The THM induced a change in the wood’s surface color (ΔE = 21.5) and an increase in mass loss (5.9%), while the equilibrium moisture content (EMC) was reduced by 17.4% compared to the control wood. The yields of the extractives and their solubility were always higher in THM and mainly used ASE as the technique. GC-MS analysis of the extractives, without catalyst support, showed different results for each extraction technique and type of wood (untreated and THM). Ultimately, the amount of extractive compound dissolved in each solvent will differ, and the choice of extraction technique will depend on the intended final application of the extracted chemical product.

This study is part of a project devoted to determining the scent of all the orchid species present in Basilicata. All the analyses were performed by using the solid-phase microextraction technique coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The scent of eight species belonging to the Orchis genus was investigated. In the case of O. anthropophora, caryophyllene, tetradecanal and hexadecanal were the main components of the aroma; in O. purpurea, 3,5-dimethoxytoluene and elemicin were found; in O. italica, caryophyllene and 4-(3-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)butan-2-one were found; in O. pauciflora, linalool and 1,4-dimethoxybenzene were found; in O. mascula, linalool was found; in O. quadripunctata, penta- and heptadecane were found; in O. provincialis, β-farnesene and farnesal were found; and in O. pallens, curcumene was the main product.

Oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis are the main ATP-generating pathways in cell metabolism. The balance between these two pathways is frequently altered to carry out cell-specific activities in response to stimuli involving activation, proliferation, or differentiation. Despite being a useful tool for researching metabolic profiles in real time in relatively small numbers of cancer cells, the main Agilent Seahorse XF Pro Analyzer (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA) guideline is currently not fully detailed in the distinction between suspensions vs. adherent cancer cells. This article provides step-by-step protocols for profiling metabolic fluxes in suspension vs. adherent cancer cells via Seahorse technology, including adjustments for normalisation of data on the basis of the number of viable cells or the total protein content. Owing to the adaptations of plates, reagents, cell count, and protein quantification, it is possible to (i) analyse both adherent and suspension cells with a single instrument; (ii) conduct all experiments in 96-well plates, thus using fewer cells, media, and reagents; (iii) determine the effect of a drug or compound directly on cell metabolism; (iv) normalise data on the basis of the number of viable cells or the total protein content via a spectrophotometer; and (v) achieve notable savings in cost and time.