Role of “mate tea” extracts modulating DNA methylation: in vitro studies for future significances for human health

It is known that a healthy and balanced diet is essential for maintaining a state of good health of theindividual, and that the onset of many diseases is related to inadequate nutrition. Many small moleculescontained in foods (Food Small Molecules, SFMs) have the ability to influence the functioning of many cellularmetabolic pathways. The term nutrigenomics, in fact, refers to an emerging branch of genetics and biochemistrywhich has the aim of identifying how the nutrients can determine the innate risk of developing diseases(diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and some cancers). In addition, with the help of epigenetics, it ispossible to further understand how the SFMs act on DNA, influencing gene expression and, perhaps itstransmission to the future generations.Today it is known, in fact, that the gene expression depends not only from the primary sequence of itspromoter, but also from the local chromatin status: the methylation of cytosine in a DNA is one among the moststudied mechanisms of chromatin remodeling and, thus, of regulation of gene expression. Recently wasreported that plant derived SFMs, can act as epigenetic modulators. For example, epigallocatechin gallate andindicaxanthin, flavonoids present in green tea and Opuntia Ficus Indica, respectively, are, for these reasons, inprocess to be labelled as anticancer agents.It is known that drinks made from "Mate tea", highly consumed in Argentina, as well as in other South Americancountries, may provide important health effects. This project is aimed to investigate whether "Mate tea"extracts and components, given to cultured cell lines may act as a modulator of DNA methylation. If thisepigenetic action can be proved, it could promote the consumption of Mate tea – based beverages as precisenutritional strategy to prevent disease, as well as identify the component(s) that could have pharmacologicalproperty.