Ginkgo biloba. Antioxidant activity. Novel polysaccharide. “… GBP50S2 was found to possess DPPH radical-scavenging activity and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity …”

March 17, 2010 – 2:42 pm
  • “A novel polysaccharide (GBP50S2) with antioxidant activity was isolated from Ginkgo biloba.”

Researchers from Department of Natural Products Chemistry, Jinan University, Guangzhou, (Canton), Guangdong, China; have presented an article titled: “Structure characterization and antioxidant activity of a novel polysaccharide isolated from Ginkgo biloba.” 1

The researchers from Jinan University, Guangzhou, have also noted:

  • “The structure of GBP50S2 was elucidated on the basis of physico-chemical and instrumental analyses, and its average molecular weight (Mw=2.30×10(5)) was determined by gel permeation chromatography.”
  • “The backbone of GBP50S2 was composed of (1–>4)-linked alpha-d-mannopyranosyl residues which branched at O-3.”
  • “The three branches consisted of beta-l-rhamnopyranosyl residues, (1–>4)-linked alpha-d-galactopyranosyl terminated with beta-l-rhamnopyranosyl residues, and (1–>3,4)-linked alpha-d-mannopyranosyl terminated with beta-l-rhamnopyranosyl residues, respectively.”
  • “In the in vitro antioxidant assay, GBP50S2 was found to possess DPPH radical-scavenging activity and hydroxyl radical-scavenging activity with an IC(50) value of 0.412mg/mL and 0.482mg/mL, respectively.”
(1) Yuan F, Yu R, Yin Y, Shen J, Dong Q, Zhong L, Song L: Structure characterization and antioxidant activity of a novel polysaccharide isolated from Ginkgo biloba. Int J Biol Macromol. 2010 Feb 11; (Article in Press)
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Omega-3 fatty acid. Soybean oil.

March 16, 2010 – 11:50 am

According to a Release dated March 16, sourced from United Soybean Board:

  • ‘A new heart-healthy, essential omega-3 fatty acid is about to improve an American pantry staple: soybean oil.’
  • ‘The new scientific advance will move biotechnology onto the average consumer’s daily radar.’
  • ‘U.S. soybean farmers are also using biotechnology to deliver positive environmental impacts and increase production to feed a growing world population.’

More from the Release dated March 16, sourced from United Soybean Board:
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King palm flour. Dietary fiber. “… yielded the best antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH()) and 2,2′-azino-di(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate) (ABTS()(+)) methods.”

March 15, 2010 – 11:04 pm
  • “The objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition, microstructure, and antioxidant capacity of king palm flour obtained from residues from organic king palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) processing.” 1

Researchers from Department of Food Science and Technology, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Rodovia Admar Gonzaga, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Department of Botany, Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil; have presented an article titled: “Microstructure, nutrient composition and antioxidant capacity of king palm flour: A new potential source of dietary fibre.”

The researchers from Curitiba and Florianópolis have also noted:

  • “King palm flour exhibited high levels of dietary fibre (70.85%) and total ash (3.27%); low contents of protein (3.51%) and lipid (0.91%).”
  • “Iron, magnesium, calcium and potassium contents were 7.31, 517.03, 801.33 and 1041.95mg/100g, respectively.”
  • “The high concentration of glucose, xylose and arabinose suggests the presence of some polysaccharides, such as cellulose and hemicelluloses (xyloglucans and arabinoxylans).”
  • “Methanol and aqueous extracts of king palm flour showed 1.27 and 0.95mg/g (Gallic Acid Equivalents) of total polyphenols, respectively.”
  • “Methanol extract yielded the best antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH()) and 2,2′-azino-di(3-ethylbenzthiazoline sulphonate) (ABTS()(+)) methods.”
  • “The micrographs of leaf sheath showed the presence of druses, which are characterized as calcium oxalate deposition, contributing to the calcium content in king palm flour.”
  • “The presence of primary and secondary cell walls lignified in leaf sheath contributed to high levels of dietary fibre detected in king palm flour.”
(1) de Simas KN, Vieira LD, Podestá R, Vieira MA, Rockenbach II, Petkowicz CL, de Deus Medeiros J, de Francisco A, Amante ER, Amboni RD: Microstructure, nutrient composition and antioxidant capacity of king palm flour: A new potential source of dietary fibre. Bioresour Technol. 2010 Mar 8; (Article in Press)
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Raspberries. Anthocyanins. Ellagitannins.

March 14, 2010 – 10:52 pm
  • “The fate of anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and ellagitannins was studied following the consumption of 300 g of raspberries by healthy human volunteers and subjects with an ileostomy.”
  • “Postingestion plasma and urine from the former and ileal fluid and urine from the latter group were collected and analyzed by HPLC-PDA-MS(2).”
  • “Plasma from the healthy volunteers did not contain detectable quantities of either the native raspberry polyphenolics or their metabolites.”

Researchers from University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom; have presented an article titled: “Bioavailability of Anthocyanins and Ellagitannins Following Consumption of Raspberries by Healthy Humans and Subjects with an Ileostomy (dagger).” 1

The researchers from University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom; have also noted:

  • “The three main raspberry anthocyanins were excreted in urine in both healthy and ileostomy volunteers 0-7 h after ingestion, in quantities corresponding to <0.1% of intake.”
  • “This indicates a low level of absorption in the small intestine.”
  • “With ileostomy volunteers 40% of anthocyanins and 23% of the ellagitannin sanguiin H-6 were recovered in ileal fluid with the main excretion period being the first 4 h after raspberry consumption.”
  • “The recovery of ellagic acid in ileal fluid was 241%, indicating hydrolysis of ellagitannins in the stomach and/or the small intestine.”
  • “Urinary excretion of ellagic acid and an ellagic acid-O-glucuronide was <1% of intake.”
  • “No intact or conjugated forms of ellagitannins were detected in urine from either healthy subjects or ileostomy volunteers.”
  • “However, in healthy subjects, but not the ileostomists, ellagitannins were catabolized with the appearance of urolithin A-O-glucuronide, two of its isomers, and urolithin B-O-glucuronide in urine collected 7-48 h after raspberry consumption.”
  • “There was marked variation in the urolithin profile of individual volunteers, indicating differences in the colonic microflora responsible for ellagitannin degradation.”
(1) González-Bario R, Borges G, Mullen W, Crozier A.: Bioavailability of Anthocyanins and Ellagitannins Following Consumption of Raspberries by Healthy Humans and Subjects with an Ileostomy (dagger). J Agric Food Chem. 2010 Mar 10; (Article in Press)
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Luteolin. Flavonoid. Onion. Broccoli. Ultraviolet UVB. “… suggest that luteolin exerts potent chemopreventive activity against UVB-induced skin cancer mainly by targeting PKCepsilon and Src.”

March 11, 2010 – 11:31 pm
  • “Luteolin, a flavonoid present in various vegetables including onion and broccoli, has been reported to possess anticarcinogenic effects.”1
  • “However, its chemopreventive effect on UV-induced skin cancer and its mechanism are not fully understood.”

Researchers from Authors’ Affiliations: Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Major in Biomodulation, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea; Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Bio/Molecular Informatics Center, Konkuk University, Seoul, Korea; The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA; have presented an article titled: “Luteolin Inhibits Protein Kinase Cε and c-Src Activities and UVB-Induced Skin Cancer.”

The researchers from Seoul and Austin, have also noted:

  • “… examined the chemopreventive effect and associated mechanisms of luteolin in the JB6 P+ cell line and the SKH-1 hairless mouse model.”
  • “Luteolin suppressed UVB-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression and activator protein-1 and nuclear factor-kappaB activity in JB6 P+ cells.”
  • “Immunoblot and kinase assay data showed that luteolin attenuated protein kinase Cepsilon (PKCepsilon) and Src kinase activities and subsequently inhibited UVB-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and the Akt signaling pathway.”
  • “In addition, pull-down assays revealed that luteolin binds directly to PKCepsilon and Src in an ATP-competitive manner.”
  • “Importantly, luteolin suppressed tumor incidence, multiplicity, and overall size in SKH-1 hairless mice.”
  • “Analysis of the skin by immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting showed that luteolin-treated groups had a substantial reduction in the levels of cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen compared with groups treated with only UVB.”
  • “Further analysis using skin lysates showed that luteolin inhibited PKCepsilon and Src kinase activity.”
  • “Together, these data suggest that luteolin exerts potent chemopreventive activity against UVB-induced skin cancer mainly by targeting PKCepsilon and Src.”
(1) Byun S, Lee KW, Jung SK, Lee EJ, Hwang MK, Lim SH, Bode AM, Lee HJ, Dong Z: Luteolin Inhibits Protein Kinase Cε and c-Src Activities and UVB-Induced Skin Cancer. Cancer Res. 2010 Mar 9; (Article in Press)

Luteolin Inhibits Protein Kinase C{varepsilon} and c-Src Activities and UVB-Induced Skin Cancer

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Walnuts. Anti-inflammatory effects. Essential fatty acids. “… English walnuts (Juglans regia) and examined the effects of walnut extract exposure on LPS-induced activation in BV-2 microglial cells.”

March 11, 2010 – 12:42 am
  • “Walnuts are a rich source of essential fatty acids, including the polyunsaturated fatty acids alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid.”1

Researchers from USDA-ARS, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts; and Cardiovascular Nutrition Laboratory, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts; have presented an article titled: “Walnut Extract Inhibits LPS-induced Activation of Bv-2 Microglia via Internalization of TLR4: Possible Involvement of Phospholipase D2.”

The researchers from Boston, Massachusetts, have also noted:

  • “Essential fatty acids have been shown to modulate a number of cellular processes in the brain, including the activation state of microglia.”
  • “Microglial activation can result in the generation of cytotoxic intermediates and is associated with a variety of age-related and neurodegenerative conditions.”
  • “In vitro, microglial activation can be induced with the bacterial cell wall component lipopolysaccharide (LPS).”
  • “In the present study, we generated a methanolic extract of English walnuts (Juglans regia) and examined the effects of walnut extract exposure on LPS-induced activation in BV-2 microglial cells.”
  • “When cells were treated with walnut extract prior to LPS stimulation, production of nitric oxide and expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase were attenuated.”
  • “Walnut extract also induced a decrease in tumor necrosis-alpha (TNFalpha) production.”
  • “We further found that walnut extract induced internalization of the LPS receptor, toll-like receptor 4, and that the anti-inflammatory effects of walnut were dependent on functional activation of phospholipase D2.”
  • “These studies represent the first to describe the anti-inflammatory effects of walnuts in microglia, which could lead to nutritional interventions in the prevention and treatment of neurodegeneration.”
(1) Willis LM, Bielinski DF, Fisher DR, Matthan NR, Joseph JA: Walnut Extract Inhibits LPS-induced Activation of Bv-2 Microglia via Internalization of TLR4: Possible Involvement of Phospholipase D2. Inflammation. 2010 Mar 6; (Article in Press)
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Resveratrol. “… modulated adipokines expression and improved insulin sensitivity which relative to inhibition of inflammatory-like response in adipocytes.”

March 10, 2010 – 11:07 pm
  • “Resveratrol is a potent inhibitor of inflammation and has anti-diabetic potentiality, however whether its anti-inflammatory potency contributes to the amelioration of diabetes or insulin resistance remains to be determined.”1
  • “… effects of resveratrol on inflammation-related adipokines expression and insulin sensitivity in adipocytes.”

Researchers from Department of Pharmacology for Chinese Material Medica, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; have presented an article titled: “Resveratrol modulates adipokine expression and improves insulin sensitivity in adipocytes: Relative to inhibition of inflammatory responses.”

The researchers from Nanjing, Jiangsu, China; have also noted:

  • “We stimulated RAW264.7 cells with LPS and collected the supernatant as a conditioned medium (CM) for the culture of adipocytes.”
  • “Resveratrol, at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10 muM, effectively inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNF-alpha and IL-6 production with the downregulation of relative genes expression in macrophages.”
  • “Exposing differentiated 3T3-L1 cells to RAW264.7 CM resulted in gene over-expressions of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and resistin, however, mRNA expression of adiponectin and PPARgamma were down-regulated.”
  • “Pretreatment of CM from resveratrol-treated macrophages reduced the elevated levels of TNF-alpha and IL-6, and significantly reversed inflammation-related changes in adipokine gene expression in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.”
  • “Resveratrol suppressed extracellular receptor-activated kinase (ERK) and transcription factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation by reducing the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and NF-kappaB p65; moreover, it modulated insulin signaling transduction by modification of Ser/Thr phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1) and downstream AKT (T308), and thereby improved insulin sensitivity in adiposities.”
  • “These results demonstrated that resveratrol modulated adipokines expression and improved insulin sensitivity which relative to inhibition of inflammatory-like response in adipocytes.”
(1) Kang L, Heng W, Yuan A, Baolin L, Fang H: Resveratrol modulates adipokine expression and improves insulin sensitivity in adipocytes: Relative to inhibition of inflammatory responses. Biochimie. 2010 Feb 25; (Article in Press)
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Antioxidants. Polyphenols. Olives. Hydroxytyrosol. Virgin olive oil. “… studies support the antioxidant effect of olive polyphenols.”

March 9, 2010 – 9:42 pm
  • “In vitro and animal studies show that polyphenols from olives have potent antioxidant activities; 50 % of the phenolic compounds contained in olives and virgin olive oil are hydroxytyrosol and derivatives thereof.”1

Researchers from DSM Nutritional Products Ltd, Department of Human Nutrition and Health, Basel, Switzerland; have presented an article titled: “Antioxidant activity of olive polyphenols in humans: a review.”

The researchers from DSM Nutritional Products Ltd, Department of Human Nutrition and Health, Basel, Switzerland; have also noted

  • “Hydroxytyrosol is the major olive polyphenol consumed and well absorbed in humans.”
  • “It is considered to have the highest antioxidant potency compared to the other olive polyphenols.”
  • “Review of the human intervention studies showed that olive polyphenols decreased the levels of oxidized-LDL in plasma and positively affected several biomarkers of oxidative damage.”
  • “The antioxidant effects of olive polyphenols on low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation are observed after a dietary intake of about 10 mg per day.”
  • “The overall evidence from in vitro assays, and animal and human studies support the antioxidant effect of olive polyphenols.”
  • “However, further larger human studies are needed to clarify the effect of olive polyphenols on markers of oxidative stress, particularly DNA damage and plasma isoprostane levels.”
(1) Raederstorff D: Antioxidant activity of olive polyphenols in humans: a review. Int J Vitam Nutr Res. 2009 May;79(3):152-65.
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SHAKE syndrome. Consciousness level. “… can be prevented by excluding high protein dietary supplements in a patients’ diet …’

March 9, 2010 – 2:50 am

Boston University School of Medicine scientists have reported:

  • ‘… a new syndrome affecting potentially thousands of hospital inpatients.’
  • ‘Coined SHAKE (Supplement-associated Hyperammonemia After C(K)achetic Episode), the condition, which results in altered mental status and difficulty walking, can be prevented by excluding high protein dietary supplements in a patients’ diet if they have experienced poor eating for more than a week prior to their admittance.’

Michael Perloff MD PhD, from the Department of Neurology at Boston University School of Medicine, has said:

  • “When an altered mental status occurs in the inpatient setting, many possible causes are considered. However, in these two medically complex patients, the initiation of high-protein dietary supplements was probably discounted, if even noticed …”
  • “With advances in nutritional education and supplements, this syndrome likely occurs thousands of times per year in hospitals across the United States.”
  • “We believe it may account for more than 10,000 hospital days, countless morbidity and even some mortality …”

More from a Release dated March 8, sourced from Boston University Medical Center:
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Zinc bioavailability. “… factor known to impair zinc bioavailability is inositol hexa- (and penta-) phosphate or phytate.”

March 8, 2010 – 8:12 pm
  • “Zinc has earned recognition recently as a micronutrient of outstanding and diverse biological, clinical, and global public health importance.”1
  • “Regulation of absorption by zinc transporters in the enterocyte, together with saturation kinetics of the absorption process into and across the enterocyte, are the principal means by which whole-body zinc homeostasis is maintained.”
  • “Several physiologic factors, most notably the quantity of zinc ingested, determine the quantity of zinc absorbed and the efficiency of absorption.”
  • “Other factors are age and the time over which zinc is ingested.”

Researchers from the Department of Pediatrics Section of Nutrition University of Colorado Denver, in Denver, Colorado, USA; and from Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Xin-Hua Hospital, Shanghai, China; have presented an article titled: “Zinc bioavailability and homeostasis.”

The researchers from Denver and Shanghai have also noted:

  • “Zinc from supplements has not been shown to be absorbed differently from that taken with meals that lack inhibitors of zinc absorption.”
  • “The principal dietary factor known to impair zinc bioavailability is inositol hexa- (and penta-) phosphate or phytate.”
  • “Modeling of zinc absorption as a function of dietary zinc and phytate accounts for >80% of the variability in the quantity of zinc absorbed.”
  • “Fitting the model to new data has resulted in continual improvement in parameter estimates, which currently indicate a maximal absorption in adults of approximately 6 mg Zn/d and that the average estimated dietary requirement doubles with 1000 mg dietary phytate/d.”
  • “Intestinal excretion of endogenous zinc is regulated in response to recent absorption and to zinc status.”
  • “The quantitative relation of intestinal excretion of endogenous zinc to zinc absorption is currently considered to be of major importance in the determination of zinc requirements.”
  • “The effects of phytate on intestinal losses of endogenous zinc merit further investigation but are probably not of the same magnitude as its inhibitory effects on absorption of exogenous zinc.”
(1) Hambidge KM, Miller LV, Westcott JE, Sheng X, Krebs NF: Zinc bioavailability and homeostasis. Am J Clin Nutr. 2010 Mar 3; (Article in Press)
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