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Abstract
Bioactive compounds are constituents in foods or dietary supplements, other than those needed to meet basic human nutritional needs, that are responsible for changes in health status. Commonly studied bioactive compounds include polyphenols, alkaloids, carotenoids, terpenoids, and omega-3 and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). They exhibit anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, antidiabetic, anticancer, antimicrobial, and other health benefits that positively influence the biological functions such as the immune, endocrine, and nervous systems. Bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and ω3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are reported to support brain development and neurocognitive function. They also play a pivotal role in regulating metabolic functions such as insulin sensitivity, glycemic control, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The objective of this dissertation is to examine the roles of bioactive compounds in neurocognitive development and metabolic functions. In Manuscript #1, effects of perinatal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation on the neurocognitive function were examined by behavioral tests, Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), and functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) in a sow/piglet dyad model. Perinatal DHA intake enhanced exploratory behaviors and cognitive function, increased hippocampal fiber length, and altered brain functional connectivity. In Manuscript #2, impacts of green tea extract (GTE) and regulator of G-protein signaling 10 (RGS10), a negative immune modulator, on high-fat-diet (HFD)-induced metabolic dysfunction were examined in a mice model. The absence of RGS10 protein exacerbated HFD-induced weight gain, glucose metabolism, and inflammation, which was ameliorated by GTE. Since the efficacy of bioactive compounds may be limited by their low bioavailability, manuscript #3 examined the potential synergistic effects of single-dose GTE plus lemon juice (LJ) on circulating green tea catechin and antioxidative function in a pig model. The co-intake of LJ with GTE increased plasma levels of (−)-epigallocatechin3-gallate (EGCG) and (−)-epigallocatechin (EGC), whereas it did not affect oxidative stress and lipid metabolism. Findings from these studies provide valuable insights into the therapeutic roles of bioactive compounds in neural and metabolic regulations that may benefit brain development and obesity-related metabolic syndromes.