Epigenetic effects of four nutraceutical products on human liver cells
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v15i1.1524Abstract
Background: There are numerous botanical extracts and fractions that have been shown to have a diverse range of bioactivities. Many nutraceutical products and food supplements contain phytochemicals - often multiple numbers of them as constituents of a single product. There is a paucity of data on the net bioactivities of these multi-component products. This paper reports the effects of four such products on the expression of six genes that are critical to the maintenance of good health.
Objectives: We investigated several products that contain a number of constituents derived from plant species as well as essential minerals on the biochemical activities of liver cells in culture. The combination of these bioactives into one product results in multiple strong biological effects. Examples of these are presented in this paper with a discussion of how the constituents have provided this effect.
Methods: The expression of six genes (ppar-α, glp-1, bdnf, sirt-1, nrf1, sod-1) in a human liver cell line (THLE-2 cells) were cultured for 24 hours in the presence of Vitalité, Reviv, Revíve and Collagène (products from THREE International). The RNA was isolated from these cells and from the control unsupplemented cells. The levels of transcripts of these genes in these isolates were measured by RT-PCR. The changes in the concentrations of the mRNA from the supplemented cells were compared with those from reference cells.
Results: Of the four products, Revíve boosted the transcription of the glp-1, the bdnf, the sirt-1, the nrf1, and the sod-1 genes. Éternel boosted the transcription of ppar-α, and the sod-1 genes. Vitalité increased the transcription of the glp-1, the bdnf, the nrf1, and the sod-1 genes. Collagène stimulated the expression of the bdnf, and the sod-1 genes. The use of nutraceutical products, either as a complement or as a substitute for pharmaceuticals, has been receiving increased attention for maintaining good health. These products are multi-component. Evidence for their clinical efficacy is frequently lacking.
Conclusion: The results of this project provide evidence that the phytochemicals in the four products investigated can provide the bio-effects that regulate the expression of key genes that control fundamental essential metabolic activities and so can justify the claims made for them.
Keywords: Epigenetics, nutritional supplements, phytonutrients, liver health
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