The Potential Health Benefits of Polyphenol‐Rich Extracts from Cichorium intybus L. Studied on Caco‐2 Cells Model

Abstract

Phytochemicals can exert their bioactivity without reaching the systemic circulation; scarcely absorbed antioxidants might reach the large bowel contributing to protection from oxidative damage-induced gastrointestinal diseases. In the present work, we aimed to study the relationship between potential activity of polyphenol-rich extracts from Cichorium intybus L. and changes in morphological characteristics on Caco-2 cells. Phytochemicals content (carotenoids and flavonoids) and total antioxidant activity of Red Chicory of Treviso and Variegated Chicory of Castelfranco were evaluated. The bioactivity of polyphenol-rich extracts from chicories was studied in in vitro Caco-2 cell monolayers model. Morphological characteristics changes to test the antioxidant and/or prooxidant effect were verified by histological analysis and observed by Electronic Scansion Microscopy (SEM). On Caco-2 cell model, the polyphenols fractions from chicories have indicated a moderate antioxidant behavior until 17 μM concentration, while 70 μM and 34 μM exert cytotoxic effects for Treviso's and Castelfranco's Chicory, respectively, highlighted by TEER decreasing, increased permeability, and alteration of epithelium. Our findings support the beneficial effects of these products in counteracting the oxidative stress and cellular damage, induced in vitro on Caco-2 cell model, through interaction with the mucopolysaccharide complexes in the glycocalyx, maintaining in vivo a healthy and effective intestinal barrier.

Purple Potato Extract Promotes Intestinal Epithelial Differentiation and Barrier Function by Activating AMP‐Activated Protein Kinase

“…PPE (10 μg mL –1 ) significantly strengthened barrier function, while 40 μg mL –1 PPE had no effects, which could be due to cell damage or apoptosis, as indicated by impaired cell viability. In support of our findings, 17 μ m chicory phenol extracts upregulated TEER in Caco‐2 cells, while 34 μ m downregulated . Baobab fruit extract (1 mg mL –1 ) enhanced barrier function in Caco‐2 cells, while 5 mg mL –1 baobab fruit extract induced cellular damage .…”

Eleutheroside B increase tight junction proteins and anti‐inflammatory cytokines expression in intestinal porcine jejunum epithelial cells (IPEC‐J2)

“…The TEER value of the cell membrane is a major measure of cell membrane permeability (Roselli et al, 2007). The TEER measurement constitutes the physiological evaluation of cell cultures indicating early intestinal barrier function damages in vivo conditions (Azzini et al, 2016). Pastorelli, Salvo, Mercado, Vecchi, and Pizarro (2013) reported that the destruction in the epi- and epithelial cell integrity (Pastorelli et al, 2013).…”

Polyphenols: A concise overview on the chemistry, occurrence, and human health

“…Flavonoids are classified into the following subclasses: anthocyanins, flavanols, flavanones, flavonols, flavonones, and isoflavones (Amarowicz et al, ; Kabera et al, ; Kumar & Pandey, ). A wide range of pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, antinflammatory, and antihyperlipidemic effect, are attributed to flavonoids (Abenavoli et al, ; Azzini et al, ; Belwal, Nabavi, Nabavi, & Habtemariam, ; D'Evoli et al, ; Farhadi, Khameneh, Iranshahi, & Iranshahy, ; Farhat, Drummond, & Al‐Dujaili, ; Iriti et al, ; Miccadei et al, ; Ninfali, Antonini, Frati, & Scarpa, ; Rasouli, Mohammad‐Bagher Hosseini‐Ghazvini, & Khodarahmi, ; Rees, Dodd, & Spencer, ; Riccio et al, ; Tungmunnithum, Thongboonyou, Pholboon, & Yangsabai, ). The term flavonoid generally indicates a phenol compound having a phenylbenzopyran chemical structure with a carbon skeleton of a C6–C3–C6 joined to a chroman ring (Pereira, Valentão, Pereira, & Andrade, ).…”