Food & Function Blog

Isoflavonoids are a class of secondary metabolites mainly found in Leguminosae (also known as the legume, pea or bean family). Many isoflavanoids can bind the human estrogen receptor so have been termed phytoestrogens.  Dietary intake of phytoestrogens has been associated with positive effects on menopausal complaints, hormone-related cancers and osteoporosis.  The prenylation of some isoflavonoids results in tissue-specific activity much like selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMS) and they may have potential in food or pharma applications.

This review from Jean-Paul Vincken and co-workers in the Netherlands gives, for the first time, a detailed overview of the effect of isofavonoid structural features and the position and extent of their prenylation on thir estrogenic activity, demonstrating that anti-estrogenic and SERM activity of isoflavonoids was always associated with prenylation. Data on dietary occurrence, bioavailability and metabolism of prenylated isoflavonoids is also presented.

Read the full article for free until 11^th July by clicking on the title below:

Prenylated isoflavonoids from plants as selective estrogen receptor modulators (phytoSERMs)
Rudy Simons, Harry Gruppen, Toine F. H. Bovee, Marian A. Verbruggen and Jean-Paul Vincken
Food Funct., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2FO10290K

You may also be interested in this Food & Function article which is also free to acces!

The metabolism and analysis of isoflavones and other dietary polyphenols in foods and biological systems
Stephen Barnes, Jeevan Prasain, Tracy D’Alessandro, Ali Arabshahi, Nigel Botting, Mary Ann Lila, George Jackson, Elsa M. Janle and Connie M. Weaver
Food Funct., 2011,2, 235-244, DOI: 10.1039/C1FO10025D

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In this review article from Food & Function Editorial Board member Kevin Croft and co-workers from the University of Western Australia the effects of tea and coffee on cardiovascular risk is reviewed. 

Tea and coffee have been associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) both positively and negatively. Although tea has generally been associated with neutral or beneficial effects on CVD controversy still exists regarding the effects of coffee. 

This review article highlights the potential mechanisms by which tea and coffee phytochemicals can exert effects for CVD protection, and potential mechanisms affecting intermediate CVD risk factors are highlighted.  Read the full article for free until 21st May! 

Effects of tea and coffee on cardiovascular disease risk
Siv K Bøhn, Natalie C Ward, Jonathan M Hodgson and Kevin D Croft
Food Funct., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2FO10288A

Interested in tea and coffee? Food & Function is publishing a themed issue of research presented at the 1st International Congress of Cocoa Coffee and Tea, the issue is Guest Edited by Vincenzo Fogliano and Marco Arlorio and is due to be published lated in 2012.

You can keep up to date with the latest developments from Food & Function by signing up for free table of contents alerts and monthly e-newsletters.

A study recently published in Food & Function from Advisory Board member Junji Terao and co-workers in Japan shows that water-dispersible hesperetin, an aglycone of citrus flavonoids, is effectively accumulated in human plasma and works as a vasodilator through its metabolites.  The study concludes that hesperetin is a promising flavonoid as a component of functional foods and can be expected to help in maintaining vascular health.

Hesperetin is the aglycone of hesperidin which is present in citrus fruits and has been implicated in many of their beneficial effects including vascular protection; hesperetin has better bioavailability than hesperidin.  Previous work implies that elevation of water solubility results in even higher bioavailability of hesperetin, which has low aqueous solubility due to its hydrophobic flavanone structure. Therefore, in this study micronized water-diseprsable hesperetin was developed and its bioavailability and effects on vasodilation-related functions tested in vitro and in vivo.

Water-dispersible hesperetin, as compared to intact hesperetin, was absorbed into the blood rapidly and at high concentrations.  LC-MS analysis identified a range of metabolites and one, Hp7GA was shown, in cultured endothelial cells, to enhance NO release by inhibiting NADPH oxidase activity.  Furthermore, a volunteer study using women with cold sensitivity showed that a single dose was effective on peripheral vasodilation.  The results of this study suggest that hesperetin is able to exert potential vasodilation effects by the endothelial action of its plasma metabolites. 

Interested in knowing more?  Read the full article for free until March 9th.

Bioavailability of orally administered water-dispersible hesperetin and its effect on peripheral vasodilatation in human subjects: implication of endothelial functions of plasma conjugated metabolites
Hiroko Takumi, Hiroyasu Nakamura, Terumi Simizu, Ryoko Harada, Takashi Kometani, Tomonori Nadamoto, Rie Mukai, Kaeko Murota, Yoshichika Kawai and Junji Terao
Food Funct., 2012, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C2FO10224B

You may also be interested in this review from Professor Terao which is free to access.

Conjugated quercetin glucuronides as bioactive metabolites and precursors of aglycone in vivo
Junji Terao, Kaeko Murota and Yoshichika Kawai
Food Funct., 2011, 2, 11-17, DOI: 10.1039/C0FO00106F

You can keep up to date with the latest developments from Food & Function by signing up for free table of contents alerts and monthly e-newsletters.