Enzymatically modified isoquercitrin supplementation intensifies plantaris muscle fiber hypertrophy in functionally overloaded mice.

BACKGROUND: Enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ) is produced from rutin using enzymatic hydrolysis followed by treatment with glycosyltransferase in the presence of dextrin to add glucose residues. EMIQ is absorbed in the same way as quercetin, a powerful antioxidant reported to prevent disused muscle atrophy by targeting mitochondria and to have ergogenic effects. The present study investigated the effect of EMIQ on skeletal muscle hypertrophy induced by functional overload. METHODS: In Study 1, 6-week-old ICR male mice were divided into 4 groups: sham-operated control, sham-operated EMIQ, overload-operated control, and overload-operated EMIQ groups. In Study 2, mice were divided into 3 groups: overload-operated whey control, overload-operated whey/EMIQ (low dose), and overload-operated whey/EMIQ (high dose) groups. The functional overload of the plantaris muscle was induced by ablation of the synergist (gastrocnemius and soleus) muscles. EMIQ and whey protein were administered with food. Three weeks after the operation, the cross-sectional area and minimal fiber diameter of the plantaris muscle fibers were measured. RESULTS: In Study 1, functional overload increased the cross-sectional area and minimal fiber diameter of the plantaris muscle. EMIQ supplementation significantly increased the cross-sectional area and minimal fiber diameter of the plantaris muscle in both the sham-operated and overload-operated groups. In Study 2, EMIQ supplementation combined with whey protein administration significantly increased the cross-sectional area and minimal fiber diameter of the plantaris muscle. CONCLUSION: EMIQ, even when administered as an addition to whey protein supplementation, significantly intensified the fiber hypertrophy of the plantaris muscle in functionally overloaded mice. EMIQ supplementation also induced fiber hypertrophy of the plantaris in sham-operated mice.

Administration of Piceatannol Complexed with α-Cyclodextrin Improves Its Absorption in Rats.

Piceatannol is polyphenolic antioxidant found in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds. The aim of this study was to improve the absorption of piceatannol using α-cyclodextrin (αCD). The solubility of piceatannol in neutral and acidic solutions increased in an αCD concentration-dependent manner. The maximum plasma concentration of intact piceatannol and the time-to-maximum plasma concentration of O-methylated piceatannol metabolites increased in rats administered αCD-piceatannol inclusion complexes (PICs). Administering the αCD inclusion complexes significantly increased the area under the concentration-time curve of total stilbene derivatives (0-3 h) in terms of the total amount of intact piceatannol, O-methylated piceatannol, conjugated piceatannol, and isorhapontigenin. Gastrointestinal ligation experiments demonstrated that substantially higher levels of piceatannol metabolites were present in the lower intestine (the ileum) at 1 h postintragastric αCD-PICs administration as compared to those observed following piceatannol administration only. These results suggested that αCD enhanced piceatannol movement and absorption in the small intestine.

Piceatannol lowers the blood glucose level in diabetic mice.

We previously found that passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds contained a high amount of piceatannol (3,5,3',4'-trans-tetrahydroxystilbene), a natural analog of resveratrol (3,5,4'-trans-trihydroxystilbene). Resveratrol has been proposed as a potential anti-metabolic disorder compound, by its activation of sirtuin and AMP-activated protein kinase. Many reports show that resveratrol ameliorates diet-induced obesity and insulin resistance. However, it is not known whether piceatannol also affects diet-induced obesity. We explored the effect of piceatannol on high fat diet-fed mice. The results showed that piceatannol did not affect high fat diet-induced body weight gain or visceral fat gain in mice. However, piceatannol did reduce fasting blood glucose levels. Furthermore, to explore the potential of passion fruit seed extract containing piceatannol as a functional food, passion fruit seed extract was administered in a genetic diabetic mouse model (db/db mice). Single administration of passion fruit seed extract, as well as piceatannol reduced the blood glucose levels of these db/db mice. These results suggest that piceatannol and passion fruit seed extract may have potential application in the prevention of diabetes.

Absorption and metabolism of piceatannol in rats.

Piceatannol (trans-3,3',4,5'-tetrahydroxystilbene), a natural analogue of resveratrol, has multiple biological functions. Nevertheless, piceatannol's biological fate is yet to be determined. In this study, we evaluated the absorption and metabolism of piceatannol in rats. Furthermore, the area under the plasma concentration curves (AUC) and metabolic pathway of piceatannol were compared with those of resveratrol. We determined the plasma concentrations of piceatannol, resveratrol, and their respective metabolites following their intragastric administration. Resveratrol metabolites were only conjugates, whereas piceatannol metabolites were piceatannol conjugates, O-methyl piceatannol, and its conjugates. The AUC for piceatannol, resveratrol, and their metabolites increased in a dose-dependent manner (90-360 µmol/kg). The AUC for total piceatannol was less than that for total resveratrol, whereas the AUC for piceatannol (8.6 µmol·h/L) after piceatannol and resveratrol coadministration was 2.1 times greater than that for resveratrol (4.1 µmol·h/L). The greater AUC for piceatannol was a result of its higher metabolic stability.

Effect of long-term piceatannol treatment on eNOS levels in cultured endothelial cells.

Piceatannol (3, 3', 4, 5'-tetrahydroxy-trans-stilbene) is a naturally occurring phytochemical found in passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) seeds. Previously, we demonstrated that piceatannol has acute vasorelaxant effects in rat thoracic aorta. It was suggested that endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) might be involved in piceatannol-induced acute vasorelaxation. Here, we investigated the expression of eNOS in EA.hy926 human umbilical vein cells after long-term treatment with piceatannol, and compared this effect with that of resveratrol, an analog of piceatannol. Long-term treatment with piceatannol up-regulated eNOS mRNA expression and increased eNOS protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, piceatannol increased the levels of phosphorylated eNOS. Treatment with resveratrol also increased eNOS expression, but to a lesser degree than piceatannol. These findings indicate that piceatannol may improve vascular function by up-regulating eNOS expression.