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This article is part of a themed section on Principles of Pharmacological Research of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.11/issuetoc.

Cytokines are small secreted proteins released by different types of cells with specific effects on cellular signaling and communication via binding to their receptors on the cell surface. IL-10 is known to be a pleiotropic and potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive cytokine that is produced by both innate and adaptive immunity cells including dendritic cells, macrophages, mast cells, natural killer cells, eosinophils, neutrophils, B cells, CD8 T cells, and T1, T2, and T17 and regulatory T cells. Both direct and indirect activation of the stress axis promotes IL-10 secretion. IL-10 deregulation plays a role in the development of a large number of inflammatory diseases such as neuropathic pain, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type 1 diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, and allergy. Curcumin is a natural anti-inflammatory compound able to induce the expression and production of IL-10 and enhancing its action on a large number of tissues. In vitro and in pre-clinical models curcumin is able to modulate the disease pathophysiology of conditions such as pain and neurodegenerative diseases, bowel inflammation, and allergy, but also of infections and cancer through its effect on IL-10 secretion. In humans, at least one part of the positive effects of curcumin on health could be related to its ability to enhance IL-10 -mediated effects.

Diet is the first (and sometimes the only) therapeutic approach to hyperlipoproteinaemias. Rice bran oil and its main components (unsaturated fatty acids, triterpene alcohols, phytosterols, tocotrienols, alpha-tocopherol) have demonstrated an ability to improve the plasma lipid pattern of rodents, rabbits, non-human primates and humans, reducing total plasma cholesterol and triglyceride concentration and increasing the high density lipoprotein cholesterol level. Other potential properties of rice bran oil and gamma-oryzanol, studied both in vitro and in animal models, include modulation of pituitary secretion, inhibition of gastric acid secretion, antioxidant action and inhibition of platelet aggregation. This paper reviews the available data on the pharmacology and toxicology of rice bran oil and its main components with particular attention to those studies relating to plasma lipid altering effects.

Autophagy is a self-degradative process that plays a pivotal role in several medical conditions associated with infection, cancer, neurodegeneration, aging, and metabolic disorders. Its interplay with cancer development and treatment resistance is complicated and paramount for drug design since an autophagic response can lead to tumor suppression by enhancing cellular integrity and tumorigenesis by improving tumor cell survival. In addition, autophagy denotes the cellular ability of adapting to stress though it may end up in apoptosis activation when cells are exposed to a very powerful stress. Induction of autophagy is a therapeutic option in cancer and many anticancer drugs have been developed to this aim. Curcumin as a hydrophobic polyphenol compound extracted from the known spice turmeric has different pharmacological effects in both in vitro and in vivo models. Many reports exist reporting that curcumin is capable of triggering autophagy in several cancer cells. In this review, we will focus on how curcumin can target autophagy in different cellular settings that may extend our understanding of new pharmacological agents to overcome relevant diseases. K E Y W O R D S autophagy, cell death, curcumin, molecular mechanisms

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The data reported in literature revealed a novel function for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as modulators of adipogenesis. However, their expression profile and role in the cellular microenvironment during obesity-mediated adipose tissue development remain poorly defined. The authors hypothesized that MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels might be abnormal in obesity, reflecting alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) turnover. One hundred and sixty three obese patients and 165 controls were enrolled. The following were measured: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), fasting plasma insulin (FPI), homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) index, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides (Tg), lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), and plasma levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. A significant increase of BMI and WC (p< .0001) was observed in obese patients. No FPG change was present in obese group, whereas FPI and HOMA index increases (p< .0001) were obtained in obese patients compared to control subjects. No SBP and DBP variations were observed in obese group. Significant TC and LDL-C increases (p< .0001) were present in obese patients, whereas no HDL-C, Tg, and Lp(a) changes were obtained in both groups. MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in obese group (p< .0001). Plasma levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are increased in obese patients which may reflect abnormal ECM metabolism.

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