Browsing by Author "Capasso, Raffaele"

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A Comprehensive Review on Food Hydrocolloids as Gut Modulators in the Food Matrix and Nutrition: The Hydrocolloid-Gut Axis
(Elsevier Sci Ltd, 2023) Agagunduz, Duygu; Ozata-Uyar, Gizem; Kocaadam-Bozkurt, Betul; Ozturan-Sirin, Aycil; Capasso, Raffaele; Al -Assaf, Saphwan; Ozogul, Fatih
Background: Food hydrocolloids are versatile natural food ingredients, which can be authentically present in food matrices or can be added as functional food ingredients and/or food additives. All hydrocolloids are common in industrial use with enhancers of viscosity, emulsifiers, coating, gelling agents, stabilizing agents and/or thermodynamic stability providers. While safety issues of hydrocolloids in the food industry have been discussed until now, research has turned to their effects on gut modulation, human health and wellbeing. Scope and approach: This review focuses on a comprehensive discussion of certain food hydrocolloids in gut modulation and their potential interaction with health through gut modulation. Key findings and conclusions: Novel literature suggests that certain food hydrocolloids could substantially change the range and structure of the microbiota of the gut and the primary bioactive metabolites. Besides, hydrocolloids show important outcomes on gut microbiota because of their physicochemical and structural properties. Moreover, they may have various impacts, and the mechanisms of gut microbiota activity are quite diverse depending on their polymeric structure and source. Despite some discrepancies and divergences in their impacts on the gut microbiota-health axis, their reassuring outcomes on health are mainly associated with their prebiotic or prebiotic-like effects. In this way, it can directly/indirectly affect host health. Therefore, while investigating the possible health and safety effects of the use of hydrocolloids in the form of food additives, it may be useful to investigate the benefits and side effects on the gut.
Microbiota Alteration and Modulation in Alzheimer's Disease by Gerobiotics: The Gut-Health Axis for a Good Mind
(Elsevier France-Éditions Scientifiques Médicales Elsevier, 2022) Agagunduz, Duygu; Kocaadam-Bozkurt, Betul; Bozkurt, Osman; Sharma, Heena; Esposito, Renata; Ozogul, Fatih; Capasso, Raffaele
The role of the gut microbiota in human health is one of the most important research topics. There is a strong relationship between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and cognitive functions. Since Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disease characterized by cognitive impairment, the influence of the gut microbiota in the development and treatment of the disease attracts considerable attention. Gerobiotics is a new concept that includes probiotics or derived postbiotics involved in delaying the aging process. Increasing evidence in the literature suggests that gerobiotics has important roles in the pathogenesis and progression of AD, and even in its treatment, through various mechanisms of action. Several researchers have established the linkage between ingestion of gerobiotics and improved gut dysbiosis and cognitive functions, nevertheless the dose and duration of treatment differ based on strain. Furthermore, oxidative-inflammatory pathways are mainly involved in the neuroprotective effects caused by gerobiotics. This review provides the effects of gerobiotics on microbiota alteration and modulation in AD.
Plant Toxic Proteins: Their Biological Activities, Mechanism of Action and Removal Strategies
(MDPI, 2023) Kocyigit, Emine; Kocaadam-Bozkurt, Betul; Bozkurt, Osman; Agagunduz, Duygu; Capasso, Raffaele
Plants evolve to synthesize various natural metabolites to protect themselves against threats, such as insects, predators, microorganisms, and environmental conditions (such as temperature, pH, humidity, salt, and drought). Plant-derived toxic proteins are often secondary metabolites generated by plants. These proteins, including ribosome-inactivating proteins, lectins, protease inhibitors, & alpha;-amylase inhibitors, canatoxin-like proteins and ureases, arcelins, antimicrobial peptides, and pore-forming toxins, are found in different plant parts, such as the roots, tubers, stems, fruits, buds, and foliage. Several investigations have been conducted to explore the potential applications of these plant proteins by analyzing their toxic effects and modes of action. In biomedical applications, such as crop protection, drug development, cancer therapy, and genetic engineering, toxic plant proteins have been utilized as potentially useful instruments due to their biological activities. However, these noxious metabolites can be detrimental to human health and cause problems when consumed in high amounts. This review focuses on different plant toxic proteins, their biological activities, and their mechanisms of action. Furthermore, possible usage and removal strategies for these proteins are discussed.