An Anthocyanin-Rich Extract Obtained from Portuguese Blueberries Maintains Its Efficacy in Reducing Microglia-Driven Neuroinflammation after Simulated Digestion

• Published in: Nutrients 2020-11, Vol.12 (12), p.3670
• Main Authors: Serra, Diana, Henriques, Joana F, Serra, Teresa, Bento Silva, Andreia, Bronze, Maria Rosário, Dinis, Teresa C P, Almeida, Leonor M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acids; Animals; Anthocyanins; Anthocyanins - chemistry; Berries; Bioavailability; Blueberries; Blueberry Plants - chemistry; Cell Line; Cell Survival - drug effects; Chemical composition; Chemicals; Digestion; Digestive system; Disease; Fruit - chemistry; Gastrointestinal tract; Gene Expression Regulation - drug effects; Glutathione - metabolism; in vitro digestion; Inflammation; Inflammation - drug therapy; Mice; Microbiota; Microglia; Microglia - drug effects; neuroinflammation; Neurological diseases; Neurological disorders; NF-kappa B - genetics; NF-kappa B - metabolism; NF-kB; NF-κB protein; phenolic acids; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Polyphenols; Reactive oxygen species; Simulation; Stat1 protein; STAT1 Transcription Factor - genetics; STAT1 Transcription Factor - metabolism; Transcription; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; Tumor necrosis factor-TNF
• ISSN: 2072-6643; 2072-6643
• DOI: 10.3390/nu12123670

Dietary polyphenols are multi-target compounds that have been considered promising candidates in strategies for the mitigation of neurological diseases, acting particularly through reduction of microglia-driven neuroinflammation. In this study, an anthocyanin-rich extract obtained from Portuguese blueberries was subjected to a simulated gastrointestinal digestion; after chemical characterisation, the potential of both non-digested and digested extracts to combat neuroinflammation was evaluated using a microglia N9 cell line. Although the extracts have markedly different chemical composition, both were efficient in reducing the production of either key inflammatory markers or reactive oxygen species and in enhancing reduced glutathione levels in activated cells. Furthermore, this protection was shown to be related to the suppression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) activation, and to a signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1)-independent mechanism. These results demonstrate that the anthocyanin extract, after simulated digestion, maintains its efficacy against neuroinflammation, and can, therefore, assume a relevant role in prevention of neuroinflammation-related neurological disorders.