Voghera Sweet Pepper: A Potential Ally against Oxidative Stress and Aging

Abstract

In the present study, the potential functional properties of the extracts from the edible part of Capsicum annuum L. var. Peperone di Voghera (VP) were studied. The phytochemical analysis revealed a high amount of ascorbic acid, paralleled by a low carotenoid content. Normal human diploid fibroblasts (NHDF) were chosen as the in vitro model models to investigate the effects of the VP extract on oxidative stress and aging pathways. The extract of Carmagnola pepper (CP), another important Italian variety, was used as the reference vegetable. The cytotoxicity evaluation was performed firstly, using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, while the VP potential antioxidant and antiaging activity was investigated by immunofluorescence staining focusing on specifically selected proteins. The MTT data revealed the highest cell viability at a concentration of up to 1 mg/mL. The immunocytochemical analyses highlighted an increased expression of transcription factors and enzymes involved in redox homeostasis (Nrf2, SOD2, catalase), improved mitochondrial functionality, and the up-regulation of the longevity gene SIRT1. The present results supported the functional role of the VP pepper ecotype, suggesting a feasible use of its derived products as valuable food supplements.

A Lombard Variety of Sweet Pepper Regulating Senescence and Proliferation: The Voghera Pepper

“…Our goal was to understand the key mechanisms behind the anti-aging effect of this bell pepper variety ( Figure 1 ). A specific concentration of Voghera and Carmagnola pepper extracts was used, based on our previous study [ 20 ].…”

“…Replicative senescent NHDF were induced by long-term passaging of the cells in cell culture. Cells acquired the senescence phenotype at passage 48 [ 20 ]. Forty-eight hours before the experiments, NHDF were seeded: (i) for phase contrast microscopy and fluorescence analyses (200,000 cells/glass coverslip) and (ii) for cell cycle and TEM evaluations (1 × 10 6 cells).…”

“…Young and old fibroblasts were treated for 24 h with Voghera pepper (VP) and control Carmagnola pepper (CP) extracts at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. This concentration was determined based on the results of the MTT assay performed in our previous study [ 20 ], as well as previous literature data concerning other natural extracts [ 21 , 22 ].…”

“…The Voghera pepper, a native Lombardy variety of vegetable cultivated in Italy between the provinces of Alessandria and Pavia by a limited number of producers as a niche product, disappeared from our diet in the past century and was subsequently reintroduced and cultivated again in 2006 [ 19 ]. The high nutritional value of this variety of pepper, rich in vitamin C and carotenoids, and its role in protection against oxidative damage have been previously reported in the literature, suggesting the importance that these pepper varieties may have as a potential anti-aging vegetable in the diet [ 20 ].…”