Tul Blueberry 31964258T
Phytochemicals involved in the chemopreventive capacity of blueberry juice
We found that consumption of blueberry juice raises the total antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of blood plasma as well as the defence against ex vivo induced oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes.
Consumption of vegetables and fruits has been associated with decreased incidence of various diseases, and several classes of phytochemicals are held responsible for this chemopreventive action. As blueberries are known to contain high levels of flavonoids and other antioxidant molecules, we recently performed a human dietary intervention study to establish their potential health promoting effect. We found that consumption of blueberry juice raises the total antioxidant capacity (TEAC) of blood plasma as well as the defence against ex vivo induced oxidative DNA damage in lymphocytes. Interestingly, neither the increase in plasma vitamin C nor in plasma quercetin concentrations appeared exclusively responsible for the effect on TEAC or oxidative defence, suggesting that unidentified phytochemicals in blueberry juice, possibly in combination, may contribute to disease prevention by complementary molecular mechanisms. Therefore, the aim of the project is to reveal the molecular pathways involved in blueberry juice this project aims to:
- Link the markers of oxidant defense systems and genotoxic damage to gene expression modulation at the whole genome level, by analysis of changes in the transcriptome of lymphocytes from subjects who have participated in the blueberry intervention study;
- Identify the molecular pathways involved in the overall chemopreventieve capacity of blueberry juice, by whole genome microarray techniques and elaborate pathway analysis;
- Determine in detail the phytochemical composition of the blueberry juice applied in the intervention study;
- Establish the contribution of blueberry-derived phytochemicals in the prevention of genotoxic damage, by analyzing phenotypic parameters in relation to gene expression changes in vitro (peripheral lymphocytes versus Caco-2 cells);
- Establish the crucial combination of phytochemicals responsible for the blueberry induced preventive effect;
- Assessment of beneficial (antioxidative) effect of intake of blueberry juice for the human colon in vivo.