title: In vitro protective effects of two extracts from bergamot peels on human endothelial cells exposed to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha).
abstract: Bergamot ( Citrus bergamia Risso) is a less commercialized Citrus fruit, mainly used for its essential oil extracted from the peel. Bergamot peel (BP) represents about 60% of the processed fruits and is regarded as primary waste. However, it contains good amounts of useful compounds, such as pectins and flavonoids. Many of the bioactivities of Citrus flavonoids appear to impact vascular endothelial cells. Herein, we report the protective effect of two flavonoid-rich extracts from BP (endowed with radical-scavenging properties and lacking genotoxic activity) against alterations in cell modifications induced by the pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), as demonstrated by monitoring intracellular levels of malondialdehyde/4-hydroxynonenal, reduced and oxidized glutathione and superoxide dismutase activity, and the activation status of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB). Thus, BP appears to be a potential source of natural antioxidant/anti-inflammatory phytocomplexes to be employed as ingredients of nutraceutical products or functional foods.
authors.affiliation: Department Farmaco-Biologico, University of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Trombetta
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cimino
authors.forename: Mariateresa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cristani
authors.forename: Giuseppina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mandalari
authors.forename: Antonella
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saija
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ginestra
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Speciale
authors.forename: Joselita
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chirafisi
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bisignano
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Waldron
authors.forename: Arjan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Narbad
authors.forename: Craig B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Faulds
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002957:Citrus / Q000737:chemistry*; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D020011:Protective Agents; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha