Metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals
(BIOCELL)

Home » Research Teams » Metabolism and bioactivity of phytochemicals (BIOCELL)

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.
  • Precision nutrition in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

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).

Patent

  • Procedimiento de obtención de aceites o grasas con alto contenido antioxidante.
  • Author(s): Cert A, Romero A, Mateos R, Alcudia F, Espartero JL & Trujillo M.
  • Center: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas y Universidad de Sevilla.
  • Priority Country: European Community.
  • Number: WO 2012/042080 A1

BIOCELL Leaders:

Scientific Personnel:

Contact:

  • 91 549 23 00
  • lbravo@ictan.csic.es
  • luisgoya@ictan.csic.es

Publications

  • Oribio-Quinto C., Burgos-Blasco B., Pérez-García P., Espino-Paisán L., Sarriá B., Fernández-Vigo J.I., García-Feijóo J. Aqueous Humor Cytokine Profile in Primary Congenital Glaucoma. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12(9), 3142;
    https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12093142
  • Nabil Subhi-Issa Marin, Eduardo de la Fuente-Muñoz, Raquel Gil-Laborda, Ángela Villegas, Bárbara Alonso-Arenilla, Ignacio Cristóbal, Lydia Pilar-Suárez, Adolfo Jiménez-Huete, Marta Calvo, Beatriz Sarria, Mariló Mansilla-Ruiz, Juliana Ochoa, Miguel Fernández-Arquero, Silvia Sánchez-Ramón. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells as a potential biomarker for recurrent pregnancy loss and recurrent implantation failure. Am J Reprod Immunol.2023;90:e13783.
    https://doi.org/10.1111/aji.13783
  • Goya, L., Sánchez-Medina, A., Redondo-Puente, M., Dupak, R., Bravo, L. and Sarriá, B. Main colonic metabolites from coffee chlorogenic acid may counteract tumor necrosis factor--induced inflammation and oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 cells. Molecules, 29(1), 88 (2024).
    https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010088
  • Fernández-Cardero, A., Sierra-Cinos, J. L., López-Jiménez, A., Cuadrado, C., Beltrán, B.,García-Conesa, M.T., Bravo, L. and Sarriá, B. Characterizing factors associated with excess body weight: A descriptive study using principal component analysis in a population with overweight and obesity. Nutrients, 16(8), 1143 (2024).
    https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16081143
  • Fernández-Cardero, A., Sierra-Cinos, J. L., Bravo, L. and Sarriá, B. Consumption of a coffee rich in phenolic compounds may improve the body composition of people with overweight or obesity: preliminary insights from a randomized, controlled and blind crossover study. Nutrients, 16(17), 2848 (2024).
    https://doi.org/10.3390/nu16172848
  • Goya, L.; Mateos, R. “Anticancer potential of marine phenolic compounds phlorotannins and bromophenols”. Nutr. Rev. 2024.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/nutrit/nuae066

Projects, Contracts, Agreements

F.E.D.E.R

Other Projects

PhD Thesis, Master’s Thesis and Degree Thesis

PhD Thesis

Master's Thesis

Degree Thesis