Effects of Genotype and Growing Year on the Nutritional Composition and Pasting Properties of Glabrous Canary Seed (Phalaris canariensis L.) Groat Flours.

Canary seed flour is a new food ingredient that the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada recently granted Generally Regarded as Safe (GRAS) status. Stability in nutritional composition and functional properties is an essential characteristic of food ingredients for consistency in nutritional quality and performance in processing. This work assessed the effect of genotypic and environmental variation on the nutritional (protein, starch, amylose, oil, dietary fiber, minerals and fat-soluble vitamins) and pasting (as measured in viscosity (peak, trough, breakdown, final, and setback), peak time, and pasting temperatures) properties of Canary seed. The samples included four Canary seed varieties grown in randomized complete block design experiments at one location for two growing seasons. In general, the nutritional composition of Canary seed flour was not affected by genotype, growing year, and their interaction except for starch content, which was significantly affected by the growing year (p < 0.0001), and iron content, which was affected by genotypic variation (p < 0.0001). The pasting properties of Canary seed flour were significantly (p < 0.001) affected by both genotypic and growing year variation but not their interaction. Our results suggest that the food industry should measure starch and iron content prior to processing to ensure consistency in nutritional labeling. Also, for those applications where starch pasting properties are essential, the manufacturer should consider measuring the RVA pasting viscosities for every batch of raw material. The results have provided the baseline knowledge of which nutritional or functional properties of Canary seed flour can be improved through breeding and agronomy programs to ensure the reliability of Canary seed as an ingredient.

Oat Beta-Glucan Alone and in Combination with Hydrochlorothiazide Lowers High Blood Pressure in Male but Not Female Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Oats are considered a functional food due to the beneficial health effects associated with their consumption and are suitable to be explored for their ability to prevent or manage chronic disease, such as hypertension. Here, we examined the cardiovascular benefits of an oat beta-glucan extract in male and female spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) to unravel its sex-specific roles when used with an anti-hypertensive medication, hydrochlorothiazide. Five-week-old male and female SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were treated with oat beta-glucan and hydrochlorothiazide for 15 weeks. Twenty-week-old male and female SHRs showed high blood pressure (BP), cardiac remodeling, and cardiac dysfunction. These animals also had significantly increased levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), angiotensin II, and norepinephrine. Treatments with beta-glucan and hydrochlorothiazide were able to differentially prevent high BP, cardiac dysfunction, and alterations in malondialdehyde (MDA), angiotensin II, and norepinephrine in 20-week-old male and female SHRs. To conclude, beta-glucan alone and in combination with hydrochlorothiazide may be a promising a strategy for managing hypertension and related cardiac complications.

Therapeutic Potential of Select Dietary Compounds in the Management of Hypertension and its Cardiovascular Complications.

Hypertension is a common risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality worldwide. Proper nutrition and diet are known to play an indispensable role in the treatment and management of hypertension. Bioactive compounds that occur in small quantities in foods such as onions, fish and red wine are being intensively studied to uncover their vasoprotective, antioxidant, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects which are beneficial to attenuate chronic disease and protect human health. In this article, the anti-hypertensive, and cardio-protective effects of five food-derived bioactive compounds: resveratrol, quercetin, coenzyme Q10, DHA and EPA and their proposed mechanisms of action are reviewed in detail.

The inhibition of intestinal glucose absorption by oat-derived avenanthramides.

Avenanthramides are phenolic compounds unique to oats and may contribute to health-promoting properties associated with oat consumption. This study used Xenopus laevis oocytes expressing the glucose transporters, glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) or sodium-glucose transport protein 1 (SGLT1) and human Caco-2 cells models to investigate the effect of oat avenanthramides on human intestinal glucose transporters. The presence of avenanthramide reduced the glucose uptake in a dose-dependent manner in Caco-2 cells. Glucose uptake in oocytes expressing either GLUT2 or SGLT1 was nullified by oat avenanthramide. There was no significant difference between the inhibition potencies of avenanthramides C and B. Thus, our results suggest that avenanthramides may contribute to the antidiabetic properties of oats. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The present research focus on the antidiabetic properties of avenanthramides, which are unique phenolic compounds found in oats. Inhibiting the activities of the glucose transport proteins expressed in the small intestine is a known strategy to improve the control of postprandial glucose level. We therefore examined the inhibitory effects of avenanthramides on two glucose transporters, glucose transporter 2 and sodium-glucose transport protein 1, predominantly found in the small intestine using the human small intestinal cell model Caco-2 cell line and by heterologously expressing these two transporters in the Xenopus laevis oocytes. Based on our results, we have confirmed for the first time that the glucose uptake is indeed inhibited by the presence of avenanthramides, suggesting the possibility of incorporating avenanthramides in foods to enhance postprandial glucose response, and ultimately improve the management of diabetes. Therefore, future research could consider utilizing this evidence in the development of diabetic-friendly functional foods or nutraceuticals containing avenanthramides.

Health Benefits of Cereal Grain- and Pulse-Derived Proteins.

Pulses and whole grains are considered staple foods that provide a significant amount of calories, fibre and protein, making them key food sources in a nutritionally balanced diet. Additionally, pulses and whole grains contain many bioactive compounds such as dietary fibre, resistant starch, phenolic compounds and mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids that are known to combat chronic disease. Notably, recent research has demonstrated that protein derived from pulse and whole grain sources contains bioactive peptides that also possess disease-fighting properties. Mechanisms of action include inhibition or alteration of enzyme activities, vasodilatation, modulation of lipid metabolism and gut microbiome and oxidative stress reduction. Consumer demand for plant-based proteins has skyrocketed primarily based on the perceived health benefits and lower carbon footprint of consuming foods from plant sources versus animal. Therefore, more research should be invested in discovering the health-promoting effects that pulse and whole grain proteins have to offer.

Effects of blueberry polyphenolic extract on vascular remodeling in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Blueberry is considered a functional food due to various beneficial health effects associated with its consumption. Therefore, we examined the cardiovascular benefits of a blueberry polyphenolic extract in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Male SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were administered with blueberry polyphenolic extract for 15 weeks. SHR showed significant augmented media-to-lumen ratio compared to WKY rats and blueberry polyphenolic extract significantly improved media-to-lumen ratio. SHR also had high blood pressure (BP), cardiac remodeling, and diastolic dysfunction and treatment did not affect BP or cardiac structure and function. SHR showed significantly increased the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and blueberry polyphenolic extract did not lower MDA. The levels of interleukin 6 and nitrate/nitrite ratio were unaltered in SHR. SHR showed a significant increase in the pro-apoptotic marker, Bax. Blueberry polyphenolic extract significantly lowered Bax. Our study shows that blueberry polyphenolic extract is beneficial in preventing vascular remodeling and cardiac apoptosis. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Similar to many other berries, blueberries are repertoire of many phytochemicals including polyphenols. Along with its considerably well-established role as a sought after berry, blueberries have been at the forefront of approaches to hharnessing health benefits from plant food sources. Several studies have attempted to unravel the role of blueberry and their major phytochemicals in reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases and reported their beneficial effects. Our pre-clinical study found that blueberry polyphenolic extract can reduce vascular remodeling in the setting of hypertension. This new finding further suggests the potential of blueberry-based phytochemicals. Further exploration of blueberries and their phytochemicals and positive outcomes from such studies can lead to substantial benefits for consumers and economy as a whole.

Impact of oats in the prevention/management of hypertension.

Oats are a rich source of a soluble fibre, beta-glucan, phenolic compounds, as well as functional lipid and protein components that could potentially aid in preventing and managing hypertension. Processing techniques commonly used to manufacture oat based foods have been shown to improve its physiological efficacy. Hypertension is a common condition that is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a primary cause of mortality worldwide. Though exercise and pharmacological interventions are often used in the management of hypertension, diet is an incredibly important factor. One preclinical study and a handful of clinical studies have shown that oat components/products are effective in lowering blood pressure. However, research in this area is limited and more studies are needed to elucidate the anti-hypertensive potential of oats.

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Efficacy of Resveratrol in Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease, Myocardial Infarction and Heart Failure.

Atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF) are the main causes of mortality and morbidity around the globe. New therapies are needed to better manage ischemic heart disease and HF as existing strategies are not curative. Resveratrol is a stilbene polyphenolic compound with favorable biological effects that counter chronic diseases. Current evidence suggests that resveratrol is cardioprotective in animal models of atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, and HF. Though clinical studies for resveratrol have been promising, evidence remains inadequate to introduce it to the clinical setting. In this narrative review, we have comprehensively discussed the relevant compelling evidence regarding the efficacy of resveratrol as a new therapeutic agent for the management of atherosclerosis, MI and HF.

Beta-Glucan From Barley Attenuates Post-prandial Glycemic Response by Inhibiting the Activities of Glucose Transporters but Not Intestinal Brush Border Enzymes and Amylolysis of Starch.

Beta (ß)-glucan (BG) from cereal grains is associated with lowering post-prandial blood glucose but the precise mechanism is not well-elucidated. The main aim of this study was to understand the mechanism through which BG from barley affects post-prandial glycemic response. Waffles containing 0, 1, 2, and 3 g barley BG and the same amount of available carbohydrate (15 g) were fed to the TIM-1 dynamic gastrointestinal digestion system to study the effect of BG on starch hydrolysis. Intestinal acetone powder and Xenopus laevis oocytes were used to study BG's effect on mammalian intestinal α-glucosidase and glucose transporters. The presence of BG did not significantly affect the in vitro starch digestion profiles of waffles suggesting that BG does not affect α-amylase activity. Intestinal α-glucosidase and glucose transport activities were significantly (p < 0.0001) inhibited in the presence of barley BG. Interestingly, BG viscosity did not influence α-amylase, α-glucosidase, GLUT2, and SGLT1 activities. This study provides the first evidence for the mechanism by which BG from barley attenuates post-prandial glycemic response is via alteration of α-glucosidase, GLUT2, and SGLT1 activity, but not amylolysis of starch. The decrease in post-prandial blood glucose in the presence of BG is likely a consequence of the interaction between BG and membrane active proteins (brush border enzymes and glucose transporters) as opposed to the commonly held hypothesis that increased viscosity caused by BG inhibits starch digestion.

Valorization of Heat-Treated Brewers' Spent Grain Through the Identification of Bioactive Phenolics by UPLC-PDA and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant Activities.

Thermal processing not only disrupts cell membranes and cell walls, but also cleaves covalent bonds releasing low molecular phenolic. This study examined the impact of various heat treatments (100, 140, and 160°C) on the composition of phenolic acids and antioxidant activities in extracts obtained from defatted brewers spent grain (BSG) meal. Heating BSG at 160°C resulted in a 2-fold increase in total phenolic content [TPC, 172.98 ± 7.3 mg Gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g defatted meal] and total flavonoid content [TFC, 16.15 ± 2.22 catechin equivalents (CE)/100 g defatted meal] compared to the untreated BSG extracts. The antioxidant activities of treated BSG extracts, determined by radical scavenging and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were significantly (p < 0.5) higher than the corresponding untreated BSG extracts. Eleven phenolic acids were identified and quantified in BSG extracts by Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography with Photodiode Array (UPLC-PDA). The amounts varied significantly (p < 0.05) depending on the degree of toasting BSG was subjected to. Chlorogenic acid, an ester of caffeic and quinic acid was the predominant phenolic acid present in all fractions. Significant (p < 0.05) increases in TPC, TFC, individual phenolic acids and antioxidant activity were observed in BSG extracts exposed to increasing oven temperatures. These results confirm the ability of heat processing to release bioactive phenolic from their bound forms thereby enhancing the phenolic acids and the digestibility of BSG meal in the intestinal tract.

Effect of processing on oat ß-glucan viscosity, postprandial glycemic response and subjective measures of appetite.

Oat has procured its acclaim as a health promoting food partially due to its positive effect on glucose control. It has been demonstrated that oat ß-glucan can interfere with postprandial glucose response. A large majority of this action is attributed to the increase in viscosity due to the ß-glucan content in oat foods. While it is known that an increase in viscosity due to higher molecular weight of ß-glucan can improve its glycemic effects, it is not known if an increase in viscosity attained by processing variables can further enhance the positive effect of oat on glucose control. In the current study we have examined the effect of kilning, tempering, microwaving, cooking, soaking and flaking on oat ß-glucan viscosity. An acute randomized crossover clinical trial was also conducted to test oatmeal products containing low, medium and high ß-glucan viscosity for their effect on postprandial glycemic response. Results from the processing experiments demonstrate that kilned samples, when tempered to 25% moisture and microwaved for 2 minutes, can produce much higher final viscosity compared to other samples with similar ß-glucan content, molecular weight and solubility. However, results from the clinical trial show that the increase in the viscosity of the oat ß-glucan attained through processing in this study did not have any effect on postprandial glucose control.

Association of asparagine concentration in wheat with cultivar, location, fertilizer, and their interaction.

The need to produce wheat with low asparagine concentration is of great importance as a measure to mitigate acrylamide concentration in wheat-based products. The association of asparagine concentration in Canadian bread wheat with cultivar, growing location, fertilizer and their interaction were investigated. Wheat cultivars (8) were grown in 2 locations under 4 fertilizer treatments in triplicate (which consisted of two nitrogen rates (90 or 120 lbs/acre) with or without 15 lbs sulphur per acre). The asparagine concentration ranged from 168.9 to 1050 µg/g and was significantly affected by cultivar, location, and their interaction but not fertilizer treatment. Location and cultivar were responsible for 80% and 14% of the variation, respectively. Some cultivars were not affected by location and maintained their low asparagine accumulation trait. Thus, breeding strategies should aim to identify cultivars that are low asparagine accumulating and are stable across different growing environments.

Pullulanase activity: A novel indicator of inherent resistant starch in rice (Oryza sativa. L).

Starch quality studies over the decades highlighted the immense health benefits of resistant starch (RS), but still much is needed to elucidate the science behind its inherent formation. Till date, there is no report to establish the relationship between inherent RS content and pullulanase (PUL) activity in any of the crops. In this study, we emphasize the novel role of debranching enzyme, PUL towards inherent RS formation, using rice as a model crop. Biochemical analysis of 51 rice genotypes for amylose content (AC) revealed a good amount of variation ranging from 7.03 to 37.33%. Further, hierarchical clustering which resulted in 11 genotypes of varying RS (0.33-2.7%), highlighted medium dependency towards amylose and low dependency towards amylopectin content. The discrete differences in microstructure, unimodal distribution and tight packing of starch granules observed in higher RS genotype indicated the higher possibility of compact cluster structure of amylopectin, modulated by PUL. Qualitative and quantitative assays performed validated the relevant role of PUL towards inherent RS content with very high dependency score (R2 = 0.98). This is the first report regarding the fact that higher PUL activity contribute to inherent RS using novel hypothetical 'Pullulanase-Amylopectin Trimming Model'.

Canola oil rich in oleic acid improves diastolic heart function in diet-induced obese rats.

Obesity is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease. It directly affects heart structure and function and contributes to heart failure. Diet is a major factor involved in the development of obesity along with genetic factors. We examined the effects of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acid-rich oils on cardiac structure and function in the diet-induced rodent model of obesity (DIO). Obese prone (OP) rats were fed a high-fat diet (HF; 55% of kcal) for 12 weeks; Sprague-Dawley rats fed commercial chow served as control. Echocardiography was performed to assess the cardiac structure and function in all rats at 12 weeks. OP rats fed the HF diet showed significant impairment in diastolic function compared to control rats. The HF diet containing high oleic canola oil significantly improved diastolic function of OP rats compared to the HF diet with lard. In conclusion, canola oil rich in oleic acid, when incorporated into an HF diet, prevents the development of diastolic dysfunction in DIO rats.

The efficacy of resveratrol in controlling hypertension: study protocol for a randomized, crossover, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is a global health concern for which novel treatment strategies are necessary. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of resveratrol (trans-3, 5, 4'-trihydroxystilbene, a polyphenol present in grapes) in controlling blood pressure in participants diagnosed with prehypertension and stage 1 hypertension. METHODS/DESIGN: In a randomized, crossover, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study, 50 participants with prehypertension (diastolic blood pressure and systolic blood pressure, 80-89 mmHg and 120-139 mmHg, respectively) and 50 participants with stage 1 hypertension (diastolic and systolic, 90-99 mmHg and 140-159 mmHg, respectively) will be assigned to receive resveratrol (99 % pure, from Biotivia Longevity Bioceuticals LLC Company, USA, in 500 mg capsules, twice daily for 4 weeks, orally) or placebo (500 mg neutral microcellulose capsules, twice daily for 4 weeks) in a 2 × 2 crossover design (4 weeks treatment-4 weeks washout-4 weeks treatment). The blood pressure of each participant will be recorded (a mean of two times within a 15-minute interval) every week during the study. The participants in the prehypertensive group will not receive any medication, while those in the stage 1 hypertensive group will continue to receive their routine medications during the study. Blood samples will be taken from all groups and examined for various biochemical parameters. DISCUSSION: This trial will help to establish whether resveratrol is an effective antihypertensive agent in prehypertensive and stage 1-hypertensive patients. The trial outcome will provide novel insight into the clinical efficacy of resveratrol and provide valuable information for conducting future clinical studies with resveratrol. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials, IRCT201407078129N7. Registered on 15 August 2014.

Blueberry polyphenols prevent cardiomyocyte death by preventing calpain activation and oxidative stress.

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of an aqueous wild blueberry extract and five wild blueberry polyphenol fractions on an in vitro model of heart disease. Adult rat cardiomyocytes were pretreated with extract and fractions, and then exposed to norepinephrine (NE). Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, cell death, oxidative stress, apoptosis and cardiomyocyte contractile function as well as the activities of calpain, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were measured in cardiomyocytes treated with and without NE and blueberry fraction (BF). Four of five blueberry fractions prevented cell death and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy induced by NE. Total phenolic fraction was used for all further analysis. The NE-induced increase in oxidative stress, nuclear condensation, calpain activity and lowering of SOD and CAT activities were prevented upon pretreatment with BF. Reduced contractile function was also significantly improved with BF pretreatment. Blueberry polyphenols prevent NE-induced adult cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cell death. The protective effects of BF may be in part attributed to a reduction in calpain activity and oxidative stress.

Potential of resveratrol in the treatment of heart failure.

The concept of food has expanded beyond its traditional role of survival and hunger satisfaction, to include a role in the prevention and treatment of disease. Polyphenols are classes of compounds that are synthesized by plants to serve a wide variety of functions including growth pollination and defense. These compounds have recently received increased attention in medical research. In this group, one of the most studied has been resveratrol (3,5,4,-trihydroxystilbene), a polyphenol, which is found predominantly in grapes and berries. Over the past two decades, researchers have studied the ability of resveratrol to prevent or reverse the development of abnormalities in heart structure and function in animal models of heart disease and heart failure. The results from animal studies have been promising, and very recently, this knowledge has been translated into examining the efficacy of resveratrol in humans with heart disease/failure. In this review we will discuss the current status of resveratrol research on cardioprotection.

Antihyperglycemic effects of short term resveratrol supplementation in type 2 diabetic patients.

The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of resveratrol in lowering blood glucose in the presence of standard antidiabetic treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes, in a randomized placebo-controlled double-blinded parallel clinical trial. A total of 66 subjects with type 2 diabetes were enrolled in this study and randomly assigned to intervention group which was supplemented with resveratrol at a dose 1 g/day for 45 days and control group which received placebo tablets. Body weight, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, haemoglobin A1c, insulin, homeostatic assessments for insulin resistance, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, high density lipoprotein, and markers of liver and kidney damage were measured at baseline and after 45 days of resveratrol or placebo supplementation. Resveratrol treatment significantly decreased systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, haemoglobin A1c, insulin, and insulin resistance, while HDL was significantly increased, when compared to their baseline levels. On the other hand, the placebo group had slightly increased fasting glucose and LDL when compared to their baseline levels. Liver and kidney function markers were unchanged in the intervention group. Overall, this study showed that resveratrol supplementation exerted strong antidiabetic effects in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Reduced hemodynamic load aids low-dose resveratrol in reversing cardiovascular defects in hypertensive rats.

Cardiac hypertrophy and associated myocardial remodeling is one of the main complications of hypertension resulting in the development of heart failure. It is of great significance to explore novel treatments to reverse cardiac hypertrophy in hypertensives with or without affecting blood pressure. In the present study, we investigated whether low-dose resveratrol alone or in a combination with a blood pressure-lowering agent can reverse hypertension-induced cardiovascular dysfunction. Twenty-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar-Kyoto rats were treated with resveratrol (2.5 mg kg⁻¹ per day) and/or hydralazine (25 mg kg⁻¹ per day) for 8 weeks. Blood pressure, cardiac structure and function, and electrocardiogram measurements were examined. Pressure myography of resistance arteries, histological examinations of heart tissues, oxidative stress and inflammatory measurements were also preformed to assess the efficacy of the treatment. Although resveratrol treatment alone was ineffective in reducing systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, diastolic dysfunction and vascular remodeling, it significantly prevented the systolic impairment and reduced myocardial fibrosis, and reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in hypertensive rats. Furthermore, a combination of resveratrol with hydralazine treatment significantly reduced blood pressure, improved systolic and diastolic function, decreased fibrosis and improved vascular geometry. In summary, low-dose resveratrol itself was unable to reduce systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, diastolic dysfunction and vascular remodeling. However, resveratrol alone alleviated cardiac fibrosis and some of the functional abnormalities in SHRs. And a combination of resveratrol with hydralazine was more effective than resveratrol or hydralazine alone in improving overall cardiovascular parameters.

Garlic extracts prevent oxidative stress, hypertrophy and apoptosis in cardiomyocytes: a role for nitric oxide and hydrogen sulfide.

BACKGROUND: In ancient times, plants were recognized for their medicinal properties. Later, the arrival of synthetic drugs pushed it to the backstage. However, from being merely used for food, plants are now been widely explored for their therapeutic value. The current study explores the potential of skin and flesh extracts from a hard-necked Rocambole variety of purple garlic in preventing cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cell death. METHODS: Norepinephrine (NE) was used to induce hypertrophy in adult rat cardiomyocytes pretreated with garlic skin and flesh extracts. Cell death was measured as ratio of rod to round shaped cardiomyocytes. Fluorescent probes were used to measure apoptosis and oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes treated with and without extracts and NE. Pharmacological blockade of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) were used to elucidate the mechanism of action of garlic extracts. Garlic extract samples were also tested for alliin and allicin concentrations. RESULTS: Exposure of cardiomyocytes to NE induced an increase in cell size and cell death; this increase was significantly prevented upon treatment with garlic skin and flesh extracts. Norepinephrine increased apoptosis and oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes which was prevented upon pretreatment with skin and flesh extracts; NO, and H2S blockers significantly inhibited this beneficial effect. Allicin and alliin concentration were significantly higher in garlic flesh extract when compared to the skin extract. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that both skin and flesh garlic extracts are effective in preventing NE induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and cell death. Reduction in oxidative stress may also play an important role in the anti-hypertrophic and anti-apoptotic properties of garlic extracts. These beneficial effects may in part be mediated by NO and H2S.