Amelioration of oxidative and inflammatory status in hearts of cholesterol-fed rats supplemented with oils or oil-products with extra virgin olive oil components.

PURPOSE: The contribution of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) macro- and micro-constituents in heart oxidative and inflammatory status in a hypercholesterolemic rat model was evaluated. Fatty acid profile as well as α-tocopherol, sterol, and squalene content was identified directly in rat hearts to distinguish the effect of individual components or to enlighten the potential synergisms. METHODS: Oils and oil-products with discernible lipid and polar phenolic content were used. Wistar rats were fed a high-cholesterol diet solely, or supplemented with one of the following oils, i.e., EVOO, sunflower oil (SO), and high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO) or oil-products, i.e., phenolics-deprived EVOO [EVOO(-)], SO enriched with the EVOO phenolics [SO(+)], and HOSO enriched with the EVOO phenolics [HOSO(+)]. Dietary treatment lasted 9 weeks; at the end of the intervention blood and heart samples were collected. RESULTS: High-cholesterol-diet-induced dyslipidemia was shown by increase in serum total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triacylglycerols. Dyslipidemia resulted in increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels, while glutathione and interleukin 6 levels remained unaffected in all intervention groups. Augmentation observed in MDA and TNF-α was attenuated in EVOO, SO(+), and HOSO(+) groups. Heart squalene and cholesterol content remained unaffected among all groups studied. Heart α-tocopherol was determined by oil α-tocopherol content. Variations were observed for heart ß-sitosterol, while heterogeneity was reported with respect to heart fatty acid profile in all intervention groups. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, we suggest that the EVOO-polar phenolic compounds decreased MDA and TNF-α in hearts of cholesterol-fed rats.

Serum lipid profile and inflammatory markers in the aorta of cholesterol-fed rats supplemented with extra virgin olive oil, sunflower oils and oil-products.

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) major and minor component anti-inflammatory effect on aorta was evaluated; Wistar rats were fed (9 weeks) on either a high-cholesterol diet (HCD) or a HCD supplemented with oils, i.e. EVOO, sunflower oil (SO), high-oleic sunflower oil (HOSO), or oil-products modified to their phenolic content, i.e. phenolics deprived-EVOO [EVOO(-)], SO enriched with the EVOO phenolics [SO(+)], HOSO enriched with the EVOO phenolics [HOSO(+)]. HCD induced dyslipidemia and resulted in higher aorta adhesion molecules levels at euthanasia. Groups receiving EVOO, EVOO(-), HOSO, HOSO(+) presented higher serum TC and LDL-c levels compared to cholesterol-fed rats; attenuation of aorta E-selectin levels was also observed. In EVOO/EVOO(-) groups, aorta vascular endothelial adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was lower compared to HCD animals. SO/SO(+) diets had no effect on endothelial dysfunction amelioration. Overall, our results suggest that major and/or minor EVOO constituents improve aorta E-selectin and VCAM-1, while serum lipids do not benefit.

Carob: A Sustainable Opportunity for Metabolic Health.

Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is an evergreen tree that belongs to the Leguminosae family and grows in the arid and semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean basin. The carob tree is resistant to droughts and salinity, while its deep root systems allow CO2 to sink, mitigating global warming effects. Traditionally, carob has been used to produce animal feed, but for many years, it was excluded from the human diet. Nowadays, agricultural and industrial sectors exploit carob fruit, also referred to as carob pod, and its primary products (i.e., flour, powder and syrup) to develop a variety of foods and beverages. The nutritional composition varies depending on the carob part but also on genetic, cultivar, seasonal and environmental factors. Despite the high sugar content, the carob pod is rich in insoluble fiber and microconstituents including phenolic compounds, inositols (mainly d-pinitol) and vitamins. In the present review article, we aimed to (a) highlight the role of carob cultivation in addressing climate change challenges and the need for sustainability, and (b) summarize the effects of carob consumption on obesity and related metabolic disorders.

Breast milk tocopherol content during the first six months in exclusively breastfeeding Greek women.

PURPOSE: To determine tocopherol and fat content of Greek mother's milk during the first 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and correlate with maternal diet characteristics. METHODS: Milk samples and dietary records were obtained by mothers at 1st (n = 64), 3rd (n = 39) and 6th (n = 23) month postpartum. Milk tocopherol content was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography method (HPLC) and fat content by the crematocrit method. RESULTS: Milk's α-tocopherol content at 1st, 3rd and 6th month postpartum was 8.3 ± 3.4, 8.1 ± 4.2 and 8.5 ± 4.7 µmol/L, while total tocopherol values were 8.9 ± 3.6, 8.7 ± 4.6 and 9.5 ± 5.6 µmol/L, respectively, and were closely related to milk's fat content. No significant differences were observed for α- and total tocopherol content in breast milk among the three time points. Maternal vitamin E dietary intake was 7.2 ± 3.7, 6.8 ± 3.5 and 10.9 ± 5.2 mg/day at 1st, 3rd and 6th month postpartum, respectively. Though vitamin E dietary intake was less than the recommended one, vitamin E content in breast milk was considered sufficient for infant needs. Milk tocopherol content was found to be associated only with mothers' total fat and saturated fat dietary intake. CONCLUSION: This study is among few in literature to determine tocopherol content of breast milk in European women and detect dietary factors that may influence its values. The only maternal dietary characteristic to affect breast milk tocopherol content was mothers' total fat intake, while tocopherol intake seems to have no effect.

Effect of Greek raisins (Vitis vinifera L.) from different origins on gastric cancer cell growth.

Currants and Sultanas (Vitis vinifera L.) are dried vine products produced in Greece and used broadly in the Mediterranean diet. We aimed to investigate the gastric cancer preventive activity of methanol extracts obtained from currants from three different origins in Greece (Vostizza, Nemea, and Messinia) as well as methanol extracts obtained from Sultanas cultivated in the island of Crete as to inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, and inhibition of inflammation. All extracts from 500 microg dried raisins studied suppressed cell proliferation, significantly those obtained from Sultanas from Crete and currants from Nemea. Flow cytometric analysis of Annexin-V labeled cells indicated that Cretan Sultana, Nemea, and Messinia currants at 500 microg dried product/ml medium significantly induced cell death. All extracts from 500 microg dried raisins statistically decreased protein and mRNA levels of ICAM-1 in TNF-alpha stimulated cells. Measurement of IL-8 protein levels and quantification for IL-8 mRNA showed no significant decrease. These results indicate that the methanol extracts from currants, rich in phenolic compounds, exhibit cancer preventive efficacy by limiting cell proliferation, inducing cell death, and suppressing ICAM-1 levels in AGS cells.

Chios mastic treatment of patients with active Crohn's disease.

AIM: To evaluate the effectiveness of mastic administration on the clinical course and plasma inflammatory mediators of patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: This pilot study was conducted in patients with established mild to moderately active CD, attending the outpatient clinics of the hospital, and in healthy controls. Ten patients and 8 controls were recruited for a 4-wk treatment with mastic caps (6 caps/d, 0.37 g/cap). All patients successfully completed the protocol. CD Activity Index (CDAI), Nutritional Risk Index (NRI), C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and total antioxidant potential (TAP) were evaluated in the plasma at baseline and at the end of the treatment period. Results were expressed as mean values +/- SE and P < 0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. RESULTS: Patients exhibited significant reduction of CDAI (222.9 +/- 18.7 vs 136.3 +/- 12.3, P = 0.05) as compared to pretreament values. Plasma IL-6 was significantly decreased (21.2 +/- 9.3 pg/mL vs 7.2 +/- 2.8 pg/ mL, P = 0.027), and so did CRP (40.3 +/- 13.1 mg/mL vs 19.7 +/- 5.5, P = 0.028). TAP was significantly increased (0.15 +/- 0.09 vs 0.57 +/- 0.15 mmol/L uric acid, P = 0.036). No patient or control exhibited any kind of side effects. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that mastic significantly decreased the activity index and the plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP in patients with mildly to moderately active CD. Further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in a larger number of patients are required to clarify the role of this natural product in the treatment of patients with CD.

Alterations in the function of circulating mononuclear cells derived from patients with Crohn's disease treated with mastic.

AIM: To assess the effects of mastic administration on cytokine production of circulating mononuclear cells of patients with active Crohn's disease (CD). METHODS: The study was conducted in patients with established mildly to moderately active CD, attending the outpatient clinics of the hospital, and in healthy controls. Recruited to a 4 wk treatment with mastic caps (6 caps/d, 0.37 g/cap) were 10 patients and 8 controls, all of who successfully completed the protocol. Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) and intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH) were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) before and after treatment. RESULTS: Treating CD patients with mastic resulted in the reduction of TNF-alpha secretion (2.1 +/- 0.9 ng/mL vs 0.5 +/- 0.4 ng/mL, P = 0.028). MIF release was significantly increased (1.2 +/- 0.4 ng/mL vs 2.5 +/- 0.7 ng/mL, P = 0.026) meaning that random migration and chemotaxis of monocytes/macrophages was inhibited. No significant changes were observed in IL-6, MCP-1 and GSH concentrations. CONCLUSION: This study shows that mastic acts as an immunomodulator on PBMC, acting as a TNF-alpha inhibitor and a MIF stimulator. Although further double-blind, placebo-controlled studies in a large number of patients is required to clarify the role of this natural product, this finding provides strong evidence that mastic might be an important regulator of immunity in CD.

Recovery of antioxidant phenolics from white vinification solid by-products employing water/ethanol mixtures.

Solid wastes from white vinification, including grape peels, seeds and stems, were used as raw material for the recovery of antioxidant polyphenols. Extractions were performed using non-toxic media composed of water/ethanol mixtures and hydrochloric, acetic or tartaric acid. Recovery efficiency was assessed by monitoring the antioxidant potency of extracts and several indices related to their polyphenolic composition, including total polyphenol, total flavonoid, total flavanol and condensed tannin (proanthocyanidin) content. Among the by-products tested, seeds were shown to contain exceptional amounts of total polyphenols (13.76 g per 100g dry weight), followed by stems (7.47 g per 100g dry weight) and peels (0.97 g per 100g dry weight). Extracts with the highest antioxidant activity from all by-products were obtained with 57% ethanol. Acidification of this medium with 0.1% HCl improved polyphenol recovery and antiradical activity for stem extracts, but it was unfavourable for seed extraction.

Antiatherogenic effect of Pistacia lentiscus via GSH restoration and downregulation of CD36 mRNA expression.

Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia (Anacardiaceae) grows almost exclusively on Chios Island, Greece, and gives a resinous exudate resin used for culinary purposes by Mediterranean people. We investigated the molecular mechanisms through which total polar extract of the resin inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) cytotoxic effect on peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC). Cells exposed to oxLDL underwent apoptosis and necrosis, dependent on the duration of exposure. When culturing cells with oxLDL and the polar extract concurrently, we observed inhibition of both the phenomena. Because under oxidative stress the pro-oxidant systems outbalance the antioxidant, potentially producing oxidative damage and ultimately leading to cell death, we measured the levels of intracellular antioxidant glutathione (GSH). Additionally, we measured CD36 expression, a class B scavenger receptor, on CD14-positive cells, as CD36 has been identified as the oxLDL receptor in macrophages and may play a pivotal role in atherosclerotic foam cell formation. oxLDL decreased GSH levels and upregulated CD36 expression. P. lentiscus extract restored GSH levels and downregulated CD36 expression, even at the mRNA level. In order to find out the biologically drastic constituents of the resin's polar extract, fractions derived from RP-HPLC analysis were examined for their antioxidant effect on oxidatively stressed PBMC. The triterpenoid fraction revealed remarkable increase in intracellular GSH. We suggest GSH restoration and downregulation of CD36 mRNA expression as the pathways via which P. lentiscus triterpenes exert antioxidant/antiatherogenic effect. Additionally, our results provide strong evidence of the resin's antiatherogenic effect; therefore it is credited with beneficial health aspects.

Inhibitory activity of minor polyphenolic and nonpolyphenolic constituents of olive oil against in vitro low-density lipoprotein oxidation.

The minor polyphenolic and nonpolyphenolic constituents of olive oil were examined, in various doses, against copper ion-induced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation and were found, in optimal doses (final concentration, 10 microM or 20 microM), to have remarkable biological activity, contributing to that previously reported for the major phenolic compounds. The main phytosterols, beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol, were found to have 43.8%, 37.3%, and 33.4% LDL mean protection (MP) activity, respectively, while free cholesterol exhibited 43.2% MP. The triterpenoid derivative compounds, ursolic acid, uvaol, and oleanolic acid, had similar MP activities of 50.5%, 46.8%, and 46.0%, respectively. Tocopherol (Toc) isomers exhibited an increasing effect in the following order: alpha-Toc (33.6%) < beta-Toc (36.1%) < gamma-Toc (42.9%) < delta-Toc (46.0%). The flavonoid polyphenols, quercetin, luteolin, and rutin, exhibited the highest activities--46.8%, 49.5%, and 53.7% MP, respectively, comparable to the 49.0% MP activity found for oleuropein. These findings indicate the relative independence of LDL protection activity in regard to structural differences among the involved compounds. A relation to the Mediterranean diet is also demonstrated.

Chios mastic fractions in experimental colitis: implication of the nuclear factor κB pathway in cultured HT29 cells.

The Pistacia lentiscus tree gives a resinous exudate called Chios mastic (CM) rich in triterpenoids. CM can be fractionated into acidic and neutral fractions (AF and NF, respectively). Oleanolic acid (OA) is a major triterpenic acid in CM with several antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We have recently shown that CM is beneficial in experimental colitis in the form of powder mixture with inulin, as supplied commercially. However, the bioactive fraction or compound of CM is unidentified. Thus, based on the hypothesis that terpenoids exhibit functional activities via distinguishable pathways, we fractionated CM and applied different fractions or individual OA in experimental colitis. Furthermore, we investigated the mechanism underlying this effect in human colon epithelial cells. CM powder mixture (100 mg/kg of body weight) or the respective CM powder mixture components (i.e., inulin, AF, NF, or OA) were individually administered in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-treated rats. Colonic damage was assessed microscopically, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1were measured. A model of inflammation in co-cultured human colon epithelial HT29 cells and monocytes/macrophages was established. Lactate dehydrogenase release and levels of TNF-α, IL-8, and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 were measured. In vivo, histological amelioration of colitis and significant regulation in inflammation occurred with CM powder mixture, even at the mRNA level. Although no histological improvement was observed, AF and NF reduced levels of inflammatory markers. Inulin was ineffective. In vitro, CM treatment down-regulated IL-8 and NF-κB p65. Neither fractions nor OA was the bioactive component solely. Most probably, the entire CM rather than its individual fractions reduces inflammation via NF-κB regulation.

Pistacia lentiscus resin regulates intestinal damage and inflammation in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitis.

Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) of the Anacardiaceae family has exhibited anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties in patients with Crohn's disease. This study was based on the hypothesis that mastic inhibits intestinal damage in inflammatory bowel disease, regulating inflammation and oxidative stress in intestinal epithelium. Four different dosages of P. lentiscus powder in the form of powder were administered orally to trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid-induced colitic rats. Eighty-four male Wistar rats were randomly assigned to seven groups: A, control; B, colitic; C-F, colitic rats daily supplemented with P. lentiscus powder at (C) 50 mg/kg, (D) 100 mg/kg, (E) 200 mg/kg, and (F) 300 mg/kg of body weight; and G, colitic rats treated daily with cortisone (25 µg/kg of body weight). Colonic damage was assessed microscopically. The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and IL-10 and malonaldehyde were measured in colonic specimens. Results were expressed as mean ± SE values. Histological amelioration of colitis (P≤.001) and significant differences in colonic indices occurred after 3 days of treatment. Daily administration of 100 mg of P. lentiscus powder/kg of body weight decreased all inflammatory cytokines (P≤.05), whereas 50 mg of P. lentiscus powder/kg of body weight and cortisone treatment reduced only ICAM-1 (P≤.05 and P≤.01, respectively). Malonaldehyde was significantly suppressed in all treated groups (P≤.01). IL-10 remained unchanged. Cytokines and malonaldehyde remained unaltered after 6 days of treatment. Thus P. lentiscus powder could possibly have a therapeutic role in Crohn's disease, regulating oxidant/antioxidant balance and modulating inflammation.

In-vitro gastric cancer prevention by a polyphenol-rich extract from olives through induction of apoptosis.

In recent years, natural dietary agents have drawn a great deal of attention owing to their demonstrated ability to suppress cancer. We aimed to investigate the in-vitro gastric cancer preventive activity of a methanol extract obtained from table olives of Greek origin. Tested were AGS cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis and inhibition of inflammation. AGS stomach cancer cells were cultured at a density of 10 cells/ml. Methanol extract of olive was added to cultures at concentrations of 2.0, 1.6, 1.0, and 0.4 microg phenols/ml. Effect on cellular viability was evaluated via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay and percentages of early and late apoptotic cells were assayed by annexin V-FITC staining on a FACS scan. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 mRNA and protein production were measured by applying reverse transcriptase-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Olive extract significantly suppressed cell proliferation at 2.0, 1.6, and 1.0 microg phenols/ml. Flow cytometric analysis of Annexin-V labeled cells indicated that 2.0 microg phenols/ml significantly induced apoptosis. Similarly, at 2.0, 1.6, and 1.0 microg phenols/ml a significant decrease of ICAM-1 and IL-8 protein levels was observed. ICAM-1, as well as IL-8, mRNA expression were decreased in the presence of 2.0 microg phenols/ml. Results indicate that the methanol extract from olives, rich in phenolic compounds, exhibits gastric cancer preventive efficacy by limiting cell proliferation, inducing cell death and suppressing inflammation in AGS cells.

Effect of Alkanna albugam root on LDL oxidation. A comparative study with species of the Lamiaceae family.

The role of natural products in preventing diseases, such as atherosclerosis, is being recognized increasingly. In this study, the in vitro antioxidant activity of the polar extract obtained from Alkanna albugam root, belonging to the Boraginaceae family, against LDL oxidation, was investigated and compared with the respective activity of Greek Mentha piperita, Rosmarinus officinalis and Sideritis clandestina, belonging to the Lamiaceae family. Of the extracts tested, only those from Alkanna albugam root and Mentha piperita exhibited statistically significant activity. Weaker activity was shown by the extracts obtained from Rosmarinus officinalis and Sideritis clandestina.

Effect of phenols on natural killer (NK) cell-mediated death in the K562 human leukemic cell line.

Cancer disease is a major cause of death in Western societies. Epidemiologically, antioxidant phenols have been associated with diminished incidence of cancer, while experimentally, they have cytotoxic effects on cancer cells. The aim of this study was to clarify whether natural antioxidant phenols render K562 human leukemic cells more susceptible to natural killer (NK) cell apoptosis and/or necrosis. K562 cells were pre-incubated with 7 different phenols (p-hydroxy benzoic acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, p-coumaric acid, o-coumaric acid, gallic acid, and rutin) individually and afterwards targeted with NK cells at a ratio 1/5. Percentages of apoptotic and necrotic cells were assayed via flow cytometric analysis of annexin V and PI-stained cells. For the morphological assessment, cells were stained with acridine orange and ethidium bromide and were examined under a fluorescence microscope. Pre-treatment with gallic acid significantly rendered K562 cells more susceptible to NK cell-mediated necrosis, while pre-treatment with rutin significantly rendered K562 cells more susceptible to apoptosis. Gallic acid and rutin exert anticarcinogenic activity via the enhancement of K562 cell susceptibility to NK cell-mediated necrosis and apoptosis, respectively.

Chromatographic and spectroscopic methods in the analysis of triacylglycerol species and regiospecific isomers of oils and fats.

The chromatographic, spectrophotometric, and spectroscopic methods usually used for the analysis of oils and fats are reviewed, with special attention to the detection, identification, and quantitation of the triacylglycerol species present in the most common edible vegetable oils. Also, a review of the methods used for the identification of the regiospecific types of the triacylcglycerol species of oils and fats is presented. Methods of high-performance liquid chromatography in the normal, reversed, silver ion, size exclusion, and chiral modes of thin layer chromatography in the normal, reversed, and silver ion modes of supercritical fluid chromatography with capillary glass or stainless steel columns of capillary gas chromatography and of mass spectrometry in different modes are presented and evaluated. The different sample pretreatment methods, the chromatographic columns, the elution systems, and the detectors and detection modes that have been combined with the above methods are also reviewed. Other spectroscopic methods used for the characterization of the status of an oil or fat, such as ultraviolet, fluorescence, chemiluminescence, infrared, and nuclear magnetic resonance are also reported, selectively. The majority of the triacylglycerol species present in an oil or fat could be analyzed and identified by a particular technique of the reviewed methods, but a complete separation in one single run requires a combination of two or more of the existing techniques, especially for samples with high triacylglycerol species variability.

Squalene in oils and fats from domestic and commercial fryings of potatoes.

Squalene was determined in commercial frying oils and fats (sunflower oil, cottonseed oil, corn oil, soybean oil, palm kernel oil, palm oil, vegetable shortening oil, and cooking fats) sampled during deep-frying of potatoes from 21 restaurants in Athens, Greece, and in domestic frying oils [virgin olive oil (VOO), vegetable shortening and sunflower oil] used during the domestic pan-frying and deep-frying of potatoes. The analyses were carried out after cold saponification of the oils followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the hexane extract. Quantification was carried out by reference curve, using standard squalene solutions. Fresh vegetable oils and fats were found to contain small amounts of squalene (10.2-49.3 mg/100 g oil or fat), with the exception of fresh VOO, which contained 454 mg/100 g. The squalene content of the frying oils was reduced during frying, its lower concentration found in cooked fats (5.9 mg/100 g fat) and its higher in fried VOO (428 mg/100 g oil) after the first frying session. Squalene appeared to be rather stable during frying. Its retention in used restaurant seed oils and fats remained over 50% even after 30 h of frying while a high recovery of 84-96% was observed during the domestic deep-frying of potatoes in VOO. It seems that by using VOO as frying medium a considerable amount of squalene is absorbed by the fried potatoes, thus becoming part of our diet.

Biological activity of some naturally occurring resins, gums and pigments against in vitro LDL oxidation.

Naturally occurring gums and resins with beneficial pharmaceutical and nutraceutical properties were tested for their possible protective effect against copper-induced LDL oxidation in vitro. Chiosmastic gum (CMG) (Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia resin) was the most effective in protecting human LDL from oxidation. The minimum and maximum doses for the saturation phenomena of inhibition of LDL oxidation were 2.5 mg and 50 mg CMG (75.3% and 99.9%, respectively). The methanol/water extract of CMG was the most effective compared with other solvent combinations. CMG when fractionated in order to determine a structure-activity relationship showed that the total mastic essential oil, collofonium-like residue and acidic fractions of CMG exhibited a high protective activity ranging from 65.0% to 77.8%. The other natural gums and resins (CMG resin 'liquid collection', P. terebinthus var. Chia resin, dammar resin, acacia gum, tragacanth gum, storax gum) also tested as above, showed 27.0%-78.8% of the maximum LDL protection. The other naturally occurring substances, i.e. triterpenes (amyrin, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid, lupeol, 18-a-glycyrrhetinic acid) and hydroxynaphthoquinones (naphthazarin, shikonin and alkannin) showed 53.5%-78.8% and 27.0%-64.1% LDL protective activity, respectively. The combination effects (68.7%-76.2% LDL protection) of ursolic-, oleanolic- and ursodeoxycholic- acids were almost equal to the effect (75.3%) of the CMG extract in comparable doses.

Deterioration of natural antioxidant species of vegetable edible oils during the domestic deep-frying and pan-frying of potatoes.

In the present work, virgin olive oil, sunflower oil and a vegetable shortening were used as cooking oils for the deep-frying and pan-frying of potatoes, for eight successive sessions, under the usual domestic practice. Several chemical and physicochemical parameters (acidic value, peroxide value, total polar artefacts, total phenol content and triglyceride fatty acyl moiety composition) were assayed during frying operations in order to evaluate the status of the frying oils, which were found within expected ranges similar to those previously reported. The oil fatty acids were effectively protected from oxidation by the natural antioxidants. The frying oil absorption by the potatoes was quantitated within 6.1-12.8%, depending on the oil type and the frying process. The retention of alpha- and (beta + gamma)-tocopherols during the eight fryings ranged from 85-90% (first frying) to 15-40% (eighth frying), except for the (beta + gamma)-tocopherols of sunflower oil, which almost disappeared after the sixth frying. The deterioration during the successive frying of several phenolic species present in virgin olive oil is reported for the first time. The retention of total phenolics ranged from 70-80% (first frying) to 20-30% (eighth frying). Tannic acid, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol-elenolic acid dialdeydic form showed remarkable resistance in all frying sessions in both frying methods, while hydroxytyrosol and hydroxytyrosol-elenolic acid were the faster eliminated. The deterioration of the other phenolic species account for 40-50% and 20-30% for deep-frying and pan-frying, respectively, after three to four frying sessions, which are the most usual in the household kitchen. Deep-frying resulted in better recoveries of all the parameters examined. The correlation of the deterioration rate of the phenolic compounds and tocopherols during frying is discussed and the nutritional aspects of the natural antioxidant intake, through the oil absorbed by the potatoes, are evaluated.