Study of the antioxidant effects of coffee metabolites in C6 glioma cells exposed to diesel exhaust particles

The attention on neurodegenerative diseases is growing due to the increase of the life expectancy and the consequent increase of average age. A contributory cause of neurodegeneration is the chronical exposure to ambient air pollution that can affect the SNC inducing neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. In this scenario, nutrition, through the assumption of essential micronutrients, might modify the oxidative impacts of air pollution on health. Recently, it has been shown that the use of phenolic acids such as caffeic, chlorogenic and ferulic, can modulate oxidative stress. Once introduced into the body through the diet, these substances undergo a process of metabolization by the microbiota and liver leading to different metabolites generation. To investigate the possible antioxidant action of these molecules, C6 glioma cells were pretreated with coffee metabolites and subsequently treated with Diesel Exaust Particles (DEP). ROS levels and cell viability were assessed. Preliminary results showed that cell vitality reduction and significant ROS level increase obtained after DEP treatment, are decreased after coffee metabolites administration, bringing back vitality and ROS levels comparable to those of the controls. Therefore, this data suggest an antioxidant effect that might counteract the oxidative stress induced by DEP. The results obtained may potentially be applicable in the future for the production of functionalized foods containing coffee metabolites, in order to mitigate the harmful effects of atmospheric pollution