Acute effects of dietary plant nutrients on transcriptome profiles: evidence from human studies

Abstract

The health benefits of long-term dietary plant ingestion are well-established. However, literature on acute nutritional challenges is very limited. This study aimed to identify available evidence on transcriptomics responses to acute ingestion of plants or plant extracts and identify signature gene profiles that may serve as biomarkers of health status. We systematically searched electronic databases and extracted information based-on inclusion criteria such as human clinical studies, single plant-based nutrients and outcomes reported on acute transcriptome responses. A total of 11 studies reported on acute intake of plant dietary interventions. Four studies investigating natural oil extracts with three reporting on whole plants and two studies on natural plant-derived extracts. Gene expression was found to be associated with immune response (7 studies), inflammation (9 studies), metabolism (8 studies), cellular processes and cancer. The finding of this systematic review suggests that acute ingestion may significantly impact diverse physiological and pathological pathways including inflammatory, immune, cancer and oxidative stress pathways. Transcriptomics approach is proven to be an effective strategy in discovery of these anticipated mechanisms. Further studies are now required to validate and continue exploring the short-term health impact of dietary plants and their bioactive phytochemicals on gene expression and function.

Keywords:

• Gene expression
• plant extracts
• polyphenols
• postprandial
• transcriptome

Acknowledgments

Negar Jamshidi is a Ph.D. student supported by an RMIT University Scholarship. The authors are grateful to Professor Ji-Ming Ye for helpful discussions. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Negar Jamshidi is a Ph.D. student supported by an RMIT University Scholarship. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.