Lineas de investigacion

Metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals (BIOCELL)

Description

Objetives

Bioactive compounds (polyphenols, methylxanthines, prebiotics) form vegetable foods (phytochemicals) play a crucial role in consumer`s health, although not the individual response of each person may differ. The reasons for this interindividual variability include the different capacity to absorb and metabolize these compounds, genetic and epigenetic factors of each person (nutri(epi)genetics) or life style, among other factors.

The group BIOCELL studies the bioavailability of plant phytochemicals, the mechanisms of action of these compounds and their metabolites, the involvement of the intestinal microbiota in the response to their consumption, and the activity of phytochemicals on non-communicable chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity or cardiovascular disease, with a focus on personalized nutrition.

The research methodology is based on experiments in cell culture, preclinical research in different animal models, and performing intervention clinical trials in humans, both in healthy volunteers and persons at risk.

Research Lines

  • Metabolomic bioavailability studies.
  • Molecular mechanisms of action of phytochemicals and their metabolites: cell signalling pathways.
  • Role of the intestinal microbiota in the metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals.
  • Precision nutrition in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.
Capacidades

Skills

  • Analysis of bioactive compounds (polyphenols, methylxanthines, dietary fiber, prebiotics) in foodstuff and biological samples.
  • Evaluation of in vitro antioxidant capacity (FRAP, ABTS, ORAC, etc.), ex vivo (oxidative stress cell model) and in vivo. Biomarkers
  • Cell bioaccessibility (transport, metabolism) of phytochemicals, tissue distribution in animals and pharmacokinetic bioavailability studies in humans. Analysis of metabolites (LC-DAD, LC-MS, LC-QTOF).
  • Transformed cell lines and animal models of dyslipemia, diabetes and cancer for biochemical and molecular mechanisms of action studies using phytochemicals to combat the pathologies.
  • Human intervention studies. Validation of the health effects of functional food (healthy and at-health risk populations, CVR, etc)

Patents

  • Inventores (p.o. de firma): Cert A, Romero A, Mateos R, Alcudia F, Espartero JL & Trujillo M.
    Título: Procedimiento de obtención de aceites o grasas con alto contenido antioxidante
    Nº Publicación Internacional: WO 2012/042080 A1
    País de prioridad: Comunidad Europea
    Entidad titular: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y Universidad de Sevilla.

Personnel

Group Leader:

Members:

Contact:

  • 91 544 56 07
  • lbravo@ictan.csic.es
  • luisgoya@ictan.csic.es

Keywords

Bioactive compounds, Polyphenols & phytochem, Oxidative stress, Bioavailability, Cell signalling pathways, Intervention studies

Publications

Alvarez-Cilleros D, Martín MA, Ramos S. Epicatechin and the colonic 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid metabolite regulate glucose uptake, glucose production, and improve insulin signalling in renal NRK-52E cells. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 62, 1700470 (2018) DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201700470

Baeza, G.,Sarriá, B., Mateos, R., Bravo, L. Improved LC-MSn characterization of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives and flavanols in mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and evaluation of the polyphenols and methylxanthines content and their antioxidant activity. Food Chem., 241, 232-241 (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2017.08.085.

Alvarez-Cilleros D, López-Oliva E, Morales-Cano D, Barreira B, Pérez-Vizcaino F, Goya L, Ramos S, Martín MA. Dietary cocoa prevents aortic remodelling and vascular oxidative stress in diabetic rats. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 63, 1900044 (2019) DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201900044

Gómez-Juaristi, M., Sarriá, B., Martínez-López, S., Bravo, L., Mateos, R. Flavanol bioavailability in two cocoa products with different phenolic contents. A comparative study in humans. Nutrients 11, 1441 (2019). DOI: 10.3390/nu11071441.

Martínez-López, S.,Sarriá, B., Mateos, R., Bravo, L. Moderate consumption of a soluble green/roasted coffee rich in caffeoylquinic acids reduces cardiovascular risk markers: results from a randomized, cross-over, controlled trial in healthy and hypercholesterolemic subjects. Eur. J. Nutr. 58, 865-878 (2019). DOI 10.1007/s00394-018-1726-x.

Alvarez-Cilleros D, Ramos S, López-Oliva E, Escriva F, Alvarez C, Fernandez-Millan E, Martín MA. Cocoa diet modulates gut microbiota composition and improves intestinal health in Zucker diabetic rats. Food Res. Inter. 132, 109058 (2020). DOI. 10.1016/j.foodres.2020.109058

Projects, Contracts, Agreements

FEDER projects

Exploratory study of the interindividual variation in response to consumption of a polyphenol-rich green coffee and factors influencing the response

Main Researcher: L. Bravo and B. I. Sarriá / Start Date: 01/01/2021 / End Date: 12/31/2024 / Institution: MCI/AEI/ERDF, EU / Reference number: PID2020-114102RB-I00
Research Group: Metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals (BIOCELL)

Dietary high molecular weight flavanols as cardioprotective adjuvants in type 2 diabetes: from their molecular mechanism to their pre-clinical and clinical effects

Main Researcher: M. A. Martín and S. Ramos / Start Date: 10/01/2019 / End Date: 09/30/2021 / Institution: MCIU/AEI/ERDF, EU / Reference number: RTI2018-095059-B-I00
Research Group: Metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals (BIOCELL)

Precision nutrition and physical exercise as modulators of human epigenome in disorders of dietary excess

Main Researcher: A. Dávalos (ICTAN: L. Bravo) / Start Date: 01/01/2018 / End Date: 12/31/2020 / Institution: AEI/ERDF, EU / Reference number: AGL2017-90623-REDT
Research Group: Metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals (BIOCELL)

Crosstalk between hypothalamic astrocytes and perivascular adipose tissue in the energy metabolism and cardiovascular function: impact of dietary modifications.

Main Researcher: J. A. Chowen and M. S. Fernández (ICTAN: L. Bravo) / Start Date: 01/01/2018 / End Date: 12/31/2021 / Institution: AEI/ERDF, EU / Reference number: BFU2017-82565-C2-2-R
Research Group: Metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals (BIOCELL)

Eficacy of new products combining hydroxycinnamates and beta-glucans as a dietary tool against obesity and associated dysfunctions (hyperglicaemia and dyslipemia)

Main Researcher: L. Bravo and R. Mateos / Start Date: 01/01/2016 / End Date: 12/31/2019 / Institution: MINECO/ERDF, EU / Reference number: AGL 2015-69986
Research Group: Metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals (BIOCELL)

PhD Thesis, Master's Thesis and Degree Thesis

Display PhD Thesis, Master's Thesis and Degree Thesis

Tesis Doctoral: Mechanisms of action for cocoa flavanols on kidney and endothelia during diabetes. Studies in cultured cells and experimental animals (2020)

Author: David Álvarez Cilleros / Director: María Ángeles Martín Arribas y Sonia Ramos Rivero

Institution: Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Tesis Doctoral: Evaluation of biological properties of phenolic antioxidants in grape pomace, green coffee and yerba mate as functional ingredients or nutraceuticals. (2016)

Author: Shenli Wang / Director: Laura Bravo Clemente, Beatriz Sarriá Ruiz y Myriam Amigo Benavent

Institution: Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Tesis Doctoral: Study in the biological effects of cocoa polyphenols during insulin resistance on hepatic cultured cells and experimental animals (2015)

Author: Isabel Cordero Herrera / Director: Sonia Ramos Rivero

Institution: Universidad Complutense de Madrid

Tesis Doctoral: Metabolism of dietary flavonoids and hydroxycinnamic acids. Study of in vitro transport and bioavailability in humans. (2015)

Author: Miren Gómez Juaristi / Director: Laura Bravo Clemente y Raquel Mateos Briz

Institution: Universidad Complutense de Madrid