Plants are historically recognized as a source of bioactive molecules useful for several applications in the fields of medicine, cosmetic, and food industry. In recent years, the protective effects of these bioactive compounds have been highlighted on a wide variety of diseases among which diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (Pohl, F., et al., 2018). Aging and age-related neurodegeneration are among the main challenges in modern medicine (Tripodi, F., et al., 2020) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is associated to the misfolding of -synuclein protein, affects about 10 million people worldwide (Oliveira, L. M. A., et al., 2021). In response to the substantial waste generated by the conventional linear food industry, there is a growing emphasis on exploring alternative and environmentally friendly strategies to mitigate food waste. One such approach involves the utilization of cocoa shells, a by-product typically discarded during the roasting process of cocoa beans (Pagliari, S. et al., 2022). This study, developed in collaboration with the “ON Foods” NRRP project, aims to unlock the potential of cocoa-shell bioactive compounds by investigating their potential antioxidant, anti-aging and neuroprotective properties. To enhance the value of this by-product, eukaryotic cells expressing human -synuclein have been used as a model of PD. Using budding yeast cells and SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells overexpressing human α-synuclein, we have assessed the effects on cell growth, cellular longevity, ROS levels and protein aggregation, all phenotypes associated with -synuclein-dependent toxicity. Additionally, this promising extract was investigated for its effect on the induction of catabolic processes, such as autophagy and was characterized through proteomic and metabolomic analyses. The most significant components of this extract, caffeine and theobromine, were tested to identify their protective effects and their contribution to the prevention and inhibition of α-synuclein aggregation.
Lambiase, A., Moukham, H., Spandri, G., Pagliari, S., Campone, L., Tripodi, F., et al. (2024). Neuroprotective and anti-aging effects of cocoa-shell extract on eukaryotic models of Parkinson’s disease. Intervento presentato a: NeuroMI 2024 - October 23-25, 2024, Milano, Italia.
Neuroprotective and anti-aging effects of cocoa-shell extract on eukaryotic models of Parkinson’s disease
Lambiase A.;Moukham H.;Spandri G.;Pagliari S.;Campone L.;Tripodi F.;Coccetti P.
2024
Abstract
Plants are historically recognized as a source of bioactive molecules useful for several applications in the fields of medicine, cosmetic, and food industry. In recent years, the protective effects of these bioactive compounds have been highlighted on a wide variety of diseases among which diabetes, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (Pohl, F., et al., 2018). Aging and age-related neurodegeneration are among the main challenges in modern medicine (Tripodi, F., et al., 2020) and Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is associated to the misfolding of -synuclein protein, affects about 10 million people worldwide (Oliveira, L. M. A., et al., 2021). In response to the substantial waste generated by the conventional linear food industry, there is a growing emphasis on exploring alternative and environmentally friendly strategies to mitigate food waste. One such approach involves the utilization of cocoa shells, a by-product typically discarded during the roasting process of cocoa beans (Pagliari, S. et al., 2022). This study, developed in collaboration with the “ON Foods” NRRP project, aims to unlock the potential of cocoa-shell bioactive compounds by investigating their potential antioxidant, anti-aging and neuroprotective properties. To enhance the value of this by-product, eukaryotic cells expressing human -synuclein have been used as a model of PD. Using budding yeast cells and SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells overexpressing human α-synuclein, we have assessed the effects on cell growth, cellular longevity, ROS levels and protein aggregation, all phenotypes associated with -synuclein-dependent toxicity. Additionally, this promising extract was investigated for its effect on the induction of catabolic processes, such as autophagy and was characterized through proteomic and metabolomic analyses. The most significant components of this extract, caffeine and theobromine, were tested to identify their protective effects and their contribution to the prevention and inhibition of α-synuclein aggregation.
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