Impact of L-theanine and L-tyrosine on markers of stress and cognitive performance in response to a virtual reality based active shooter training drill.

Ingestion of L-theanine and L-tyrosine has been shown to reduce salivary stress biomarkers and improve aspects of cognitive performance in response to stress. However, there have been no studies to concurrently examine the impact of both L-theanine and L-tyrosine ingestion during a mental stress challenge (MSC) involving a brief cognitive challenge and a virtual reality based active shooter training drill. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the impact of ingestion of L-theanine and L-tyrosine on markers of stress and cognitive performance in response to a virtual reality active shooter drill and cognitive challenge. The cognitive challenge involved a Stroop challenge and mental arithmetic. Eighty subjects (age = 21 ± 2.6 yrs; male = 46; female = 34) were randomly assigned L-tyrosine (n = 28; 2000 mg), L-theanine (n = 25; 200 mg), or placebo (n = 27) prior to MSC exposure. Saliva samples, state-anxiety inventory (SAI) scales, and heart rate (HR) were collected before and after exposure to the MSC. Saliva was analyzed for stress markers α-amylase (sAA) and secretory immunoglobulin A (SIgA). The MSC resulted in significant increases in sAA, SIgA, HR, and SAI. Ingestion of L-theanine and L-tyrosine did not impact markers of stress. However, the L-tyrosine treatment demonstrated significantly lower missed responses compared to the placebo treatment group during the Stroop challenge. These data demonstrate that ingestion of L-theanine or L-tyrosine does not impact markers of stress in response to a MSC but may impact cognitive performance. This study was pre-registered as a clinical trial ("Impact of supplements on stress markers": NCT05592561).

The role of self-reported and physiological stress in nocebo hyperalgesia.

Negative expectations can increase pain sensitivity, leading to nocebo hyperalgesia. However, the physiological and psychological factors that predispose individuals to this phenomenon are still not well understood. The present study examined whether stress induced by a social stressor affects nocebo hyperalgesia, and whether this effect is mediated by self-reported and physiological stress responses. We recruited 52 healthy participants (15 men) who were randomly assigned to either the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or a control condition (a friendly version of the TSST). Nocebo hyperalgesia was induced using negative suggestions combined with a validated pain conditioning paradigm. We assessed self-reported (anxiety and stress) and physiological (cortisol, alpha-amylase, heart rate, and skin conductance) responses to stress. Both groups exhibited significant nocebo hyperalgesia. The stress group showed higher levels of anxiety, self-reported stress, and cortisol levels compared to the control group while no significant differences were found in other physiological markers. The stress and control groups did not differ in the magnitude of nocebo hyperalgesia, but anxiety levels partially mediated the effects of the stress test on nocebo hyperalgesia. Our findings suggest that an external social stressor does not directly affect nocebo hyperalgesia, but that increased anxiety due to the stressor enhances its magnitude. Thus, it may be worthwhile to investigate whether reducing stress-related anxiety in clinical settings would help alleviate nocebo effects.

Analysis of the association between salivary proteins and oral mucositis in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing IMRT: a longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: This longitudinal study assessed the association between salivary protein composition and the clinical onset/severity of oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck tumours treated with intensity-modulated-radiotherapy (IMRT). METHODS: Saliva samples/clinical data were obtained from 40 head and neck cancer patients treated at Guy's Hospital before -IMRT(T0) and after-IMRT (T1 = 6 m, T2 = 12 m) (ethics approval/consent). Salivary flow rate, total protein concentration, and secretion rate were determined from saliva samples and compared with pre-treatment values. OM was assessed, total/specific salivary proteins, including mucin 5B and 7, IgA, cystatin-S, albumin, and α-amylase, were quantified. RESULTS: 95% patients experienced OM during IMRT, with 33 subjects reaching grade 2&3. At T1, there was a significant reduction in salivary flow rate, total protein secretion rate, α-amylase and cystatin-S compared to baseline. Remarkably IMRT did not significantly alter mucin 5B and 7, or the IgA secretion rate at any time point. At T1, all the analyzed proteins were associated with the OM outcomes. In addition, there was a significant inverse correlation between IgA concentration at T0 and the severity of OM during IMRT. CONCLUSION: This study revealed significant associations between several salivary proteins and OM in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing IMRT. Further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these results. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The study contributes to the understanding of certain salivary proteins association with OM. This could be the first step towards identifying potential salivary markers that could offer perspectives for personalized medicine approaches to improve their quality of life (QoL). RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the association between salivary proteins and the occurrence and severity of OM in head and neck cancer patients? AIM: To assess the association between salivary protein composition with the clinical onset/severity of oral mucositis (OM) in head and neck cancer patients treated with intensity modulated radiotherapy. NULL HYPOTHESIS: There is no association between salivary proteins and onset/severity of OM in HNC patients.

Screening of α-amylase/trypsin inhibitor activity in wheat, spelt and einkorn by high-performance thin-layer chromatography.

α-Amylase/trypsin inhibitor proteins (ATI) are discussed as possible triggers for non-celiac gluten sensitivity. The potential of high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) was studied for the first time to analyse the inhibitory properties of ATIs from flour of wheat, spelt, and einkorn. Inhibition by each flour of the digestive enzymes trypsin or α-amylase was determined by the reduction of released metabolisation products in comparison to non-digested flour, and positive (acarbose) and negative (water) controls. Firstly, amylolysis was carried out in miniaturized form on the HPTLC surface (HPTLC-nanoGIT) after in-vial pre-incubation of the amylase with the inhibitors from flour. α-Amylase inhibition was evident via the reduction of released saccharides, as analysed by normal phase HPTLC. A strong influence of the flour matrix on the assay results (individual saccharides) was evident, caused by an increased amylolysis of further polysaccharides present, making HPTLC analysis more reliable than currently used spectrophotometric sum value assays. The detection and visualization of such matrix influence helps to understand the problems associated with spectrophotometric assays. Only maltotriose was identified as a reliable marker of the amylolysis. The highest α-amylase inhibition and thus the lowest saccharide response was detected for maltotriose in refined spelt, whereas the lowest α-amylase inhibition and thus the highest saccharide response was detected for maltotriose in refined wheat. A comparison of refined and whole grain flours showed no clear trend in the responses. Secondly, trypsin inhibition and proteolysis were performed in-vial, and any inhibition was evident via the reduction of released peptides, analysed by reversed-phase HPTLC. Based on the product pattern of the proteolysis, einkorn and whole wheat showed the highest trypsin inhibition, whereas refined wheat and refined spelt showed the lowest inhibition. Advantageously, HPTLC analysis provided important information on changes in individual saccharides or peptides, which was more reliable and sustainable than spectrophotometric in-vial assays (only sum value) or liquid column chromatography analysis (targeting only the ATI proteins).

Enzyme-integrated metal-organic framework platform for cascade detection of α-amylase.

As one of the most important industrial enzymes, α-amylase is widely used in food processing, such as starch sugar and fermentation, bringing high added value to industry of more than a trillion dollars. We developed a multi-enzyme system (Glu&Gox@Cu-MOF-74) prepared by embedding α-glucosidase (Glu) and glucose oxidase (Gox) into the biomimetic metal-organic framework Cu-MOF-74 using in situ encapsulation within 15 min at room temperature for efficient and sensitive detection of α-amylase activity. Benefitting from the remarkable peroxidase-mimicking property and rigid skeleton of Cu-MOF-74, the biocatalytic platform exhibited excellent cascade activity and tolerance in various extremely harsh environments compared to natural enzymes. On this basis, a cascade biocatalytic platform was constructed for the detection of α-amylase activity with wide linear range (5-100 U/L) and low limit of detection (1.45 U/L). The colorimetric cascade scheme is important for the sensitive and selective determination of α-amylase in complex fermentation samples, and the detection time is short (∼0.5 h). This work provides new ideas for the detection of α-amylase based on the cascade amplification method.

Physiological Stress Responses to a Live-Fire Training Evolution in Career Structural Firefighters.

OBJECTIVE: This study assessed firefighters' physiological stress response to a live fire training evolution (LFTE). METHODS: Seventy-six ( n = 76) firefighters completed an LFTE. Salivary samples were collected pre-, immediately post, and 30-min post-LFTE and analyzed for α-amylase (AA), cortisol (CORT), and secretory immunoglobulin-A (SIgA). RESULTS: Concentrations of AA, CORT, and SIgA were elevated immediately post LFTE versus pre (P<0.001) and 30-min post (P<0.001). Cohen's d effect size comparing pre and immediately-post means were 0.83, 0.77, and 0.61 for AA, CORT, and SIgA and were 0.54, 0.44, and 0.69 for AA, CORT, and SIgA, comparing immediately-post and 30-min post, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate the stress response and activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal/sympathetic-adreno-medullar axis and immune system immediately after real-world firefighting operations. Future work is needed to understand the impact of elevated stress biomarkers on firefighter performance and disease risk.

Pain and salivary biomarkers of stress in temperomandibular disorders were affected by maxillary splints.

BACKGROUND: Longitudinal intervention studies on treatment options in temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) including self reports and salivary biomarkers of stress are rare and the exact therapeutic function of occlusal splints widely unknown. METHODS: We examined the therapeutic effects of a Michigan splint with occlusal relevance in patients with TMD using a placebo-controlled, delayed-start design. Two intervention groups received a Michigan splint, while one of them had a placebo palatine splint for the first 3 weeks. We collected pain intensities (at rest and after five occlusal movements), salivary measures associated with stress (cortisol and alpha-amylase) and self-reported psychological distress (stress, anxiety, catastrophizing) at baseline and 3 and 7 weeks after onset of intervention. RESULTS: At baseline, we observed increased pain intensity and psychological distress in TMD patients compared to 11 matched healthy controls. Baseline anxiety was linked to movement pain intensity through stress. Over therapy reductions in pain intensity and morning cortisol were more pronounced in those patients starting immediately with the Michigan splint, while psychological distress decreased similarly in both groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that perceived stress plays a role for the association between anxiety and TMD pain and underlines the need for an interdisciplinary perspective on the pathogenesis and therapy of TMD in a setting where psychotherapeutic knowledge is still scarce or rarely applied.

Saliva identification in forensic samples by automated microextraction and intact mass analysis of statherin.

The enzyme α-amylase has long been a commonly targeted protein in serological tests for saliva. While being especially abundant in saliva, α-amylase is detectable in vaginal secretions, sweat, fecal matter, breast milk and other matrices. As a result, assays for α-amylase only provide a presumptive indication of saliva. The availability of mass spectrometry-based tools for the detection of less abundant, but more specific, protein targets (e.g., human statherin) has enabled the development of high confidence assays for human saliva. Sample throughput, however, has traditionally been low due to multi-step workflows for protein extraction, quantitation, enzymatic digestion, solid phase cleanup, and nano-/capillary-based chromatography. Here, we present two novel "direct" single-stage extraction strategies for sample preparation. These feature immunoaffinity purification and reversed-phase solid-phase microextraction in conjunction with intact mass analysis of human statherin for saliva identification. Mass analysis was performed on the Thermo Scientific Q-Exactive™ Orbitrap mass spectrometer with a 10-min analytical run time. Data analysis was performed using Byos® from Protein Metrics. Two sample sets were analyzed with a population of 20 individuals to evaluate detection reliability. A series of casework-type samples were then assayed to evaluate performance in an authentic forensic context. Statherin was confidently identified in 92% and 71% of samples extracted using the immunoaffinity purification and solid phase microextraction approaches, respectively. Overall, immunoaffinity purification outperformed the solid phase microextraction, especially with complex mixtures. In toto, robotic extraction and intact mass spectrometry enable the reliable identification of trace human saliva in a variety of sample types.

Molecular docking studies on α-amylase inhibitory peptides from milk of different farm animals.

Milk-derived peptides have emerged as a popular mean to manage various lifestyle disorders such as diabetes. Fermentation is being explored as one of the faster and efficient way of producing peptides with antidiabetic potential. Therefore, in this study, an attempt was made to comparatively investigate the pancreatic α-amylase (PAA) inhibitory properties of peptides derived from milk of different farm animals through probiotic fermentation. Peptide's identification was carried out using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry and inhibition mechanisms were characterized by molecular docking. Results obtained showed a PAA-IC50 value (the amount of protein equivalent needed to inhibit 50% of enzymes) between 2.39 and 36.1 µg protein equivalent for different fermented samples. Overall, Pediococcus pentosaceus MF000957-derived fermented milk from all animals indicated higher PAA inhibition than other probiotic derived fermented milk (PAA-IC50 values of 6.01, 3.53, 15.6, and 10.8 µg protein equivalent for bovine, camel, goat, and sheep fermented milk). Further, molecular docking analysis indicated that camel milk-derived peptide IMEQQQTEDEQQDK and goat milk-derived peptide DQHQKAMKPWTQPK were the most potent PAA inhibitory peptides. Overall, the study concluded that fermentation derived peptides may prove useful in for managing diabetes via inhibition of carbohydrate digesting enzyme PAA.

Polyphenols in twenty cultivars of blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.): Profiling, antioxidant capacity, and α-amylase inhibitory activity.

The polyphenols extracted from 20 blue honeysuckle cultivars were comprehensively characterized and quantified by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS2 analyses and evaluated for antioxidant capacity (ABTS, DPPH, FRAP) and α-amylase inhibitory activity. The 17 anthocyanins and 59 non-anthocyanin phenolics were characterized. Among them, cyanidin-3-glucoside, quercetin-3-galactoside, myricetin-3-galactoside, and 3-caffeoylquinic acid were the major polyphenols. These polyphenols not only contributed to the antioxidant capacity, but were also good α-amylase inhibitors. 'Lanjingling' showed the strongest antioxidant capacity evaluated by FRAP, while 'CBS-2' and '14-13-1' showed the strongest antioxidant capacity evaluated by ABTS and DPPH. All the twenty cultivars showed α-amylase inhibitory activity, and the IC50 values ranged from 0.12 ± 0.01 to 0.69 ± 0.02 mg/mL. 'Lanjingling' showed the most potent α-amylase inhibitory activity. Additionally, principal component analysis indicated that Lonicera. caerulea subsp. emkuyedao bred in Japan differed markedly in phenolics and bioactivity compared to the other four subspecies bred in China and Russia.

Antidiabetic activity of Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet leaves: in-vitro and in-silico antidiabetic potential of isolated flavonoid glycosides and sulphated flavonoids.

Antidiabetic activity of methanolic extract, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet leaves was performed in-vitro using α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition methods. Phytochemical study of the ethyl acetate fraction which possessed the highest antidiabetic activity led to isolation of five flavonoids for the first time from this plant, including two rare flavonoid sulphates, ombuin-3-sulphate [1] and rhamnetin-3-sulphate [2] and three flavonoid glycosides, kaempferol 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside [3], kaempferol 3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside [4] and quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside [5]. The 1H and 13C NMR of 1 and 13C NMR of 2, were reported here for the first time. Compounds [1-4] showed a concentration-dependent in-vitro inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Furthermore, in-silico study predicted that compounds (1-5) showed good interactions with α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1b.

Extraction, identification, and starch-digestion inhibition of phenolics from Euryale ferox seed coat.

BACKGROUND: Euryale ferox is an important cash crop and valuable tonic in traditional medicine. The seeds of E. ferox are rich in starch, which is hard to digest, and the digestion speed is significantly slower than that of rice starch. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effects of E. ferox seed-coat phenolics (EFCPs) on the digestion of E. ferox seed starch. RESULTS: EFCPs were extracted and identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. We optimized the extraction parameters, and the final extraction yield was about 1.49%. We identified seven phenolics from the E. ferox seed-coat extracts: gallic acid, digalloylhexoside, catechin, procyanidin B2, epicatechin, ellagic acid, and epicatechin gallate. Quantitative analysis results showed that the E. ferox seed phenolics mainly distributed in the seed coat and the gallic acid, digalloylhexoside, and epicatechin gallate were three main phenolic compounds. The phenolics displayed strong inhibitory activities on α-glucosidase and α-amylase with an IC50 of 3.25 µg mL-1 and 1.36 mg mL-1 respectively. Furthermore, these phenolics could interact with starch by hydrogen bonds, which might make its starch more difficult to digest. CONCLUSION: Our investigation suggests that the EFCPs can strongly inhibit the digestion of E. ferox seed starch by inhibiting the α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities and interacting with starch by hydrogen bonds; therefore, E. ferox seeds have a promising application prospect in foods for hypoglycemia. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Phytochemical profiling, antidiabetic, antitumoral and cytotoxic potential of Psidium cattleianum Afzel. ex Sabine leaves of red variety.

In this study, phytochemical profiling, and antidiabetic, antitumoral and cytotoxic potential of aqueous extracts of leaves of red variety of Psidium cattleianum Afzel. ex Sabine were investigated. The extracts were obtained using a cellulase complex. The total phenolic compounds (TPC) were determined, and the individual phenolic compounds were quantified by HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. For the TPC, the amounts varied from 85.91 to 106.33 mg EAG g-1. Eighteen compounds have been identified. The compounds with the highest concentrations were gallic acid, quercetin and protocatechuic acid. Antidiabetic activity was obtained through α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition tests. The extract inhibited 17.94% of α-amylase activity and 73.34% of α-glucosidase activity. The antitumoral activity in cells of cutaneous melanoma (SK-MEL-28) and the cytotoxic activity was determined in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). The cellular migration was determined for cells SK-MEL-28. Antitumoral effects on cells SK-MEL-28 were observed and the absence of cytotoxicity on the PBMCs.

Analysis of the associations between salivary cortisol-, alpha-amylase-, and testosterone-responsiveness with the physical contact nature of team handball: a preliminary analysis.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated endocrine responsiveness (ER) to physical stress (contact vs. non-contact nature of play) during team handball matches, according to the playing positions, thereby contextualizing the contact nature of the handball match. METHODS: The participants were ten male team handball players (24.1±3.17 years, 188.2±6.42 cm, 94.6±9.6 kg) divided into two groups: contact playing positions (CPP) and non-contact playing positions (NCPP). To evaluate the ER, the salivary cortisol (C), testosterone (T), and alpha-amylase (AA) concentrations were assessed before the game, during the halftime break, and after the match. Moreover, playing time (PT) and the number of contacts (NC) were counted post-match by video analysis. To determine possible differences between PT and the NC in the first and second halves of the match, a paired-sample t-test was used. The differences among ER-measures were calculated by the magnitude-based Cohen's effect size. Possible associations between NC and ER were analyzed by comparing CPP and NCPP in C, T, and AA. RESULTS: The CPP group performed significantly more physical contacts, while there was no difference in playing time between the groups. A stronger C response was evidenced in players with a longer playing time. During the game, the C response was directly determined by physical contact, with CPP players showing a stronger C response than NCPP players. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided evidence of the importance of contact actions during matches and training sessions, as a parameter of calculating training loads and preparing strategies for recovery and injury prevention. Further studies examining larger samples are warranted.

Dual-target affinity analysis and separation of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitors from Morus alba leaves using a magnetic bifunctional immobilized enzyme system.

Morus alba leaves are a natural product with great antidiabetic potential. However, the therapeutic efficacy of natural products is usually achieved through the interaction of active compounds with specific targets. Among them, active compounds with multi-target therapeutic functions are more effective than single-target enzymes. In this study, a bienzyme system was constructed by co-immobilizing α-amylase and α-glucosidase onto Fe3 O4 for affinity screening of dual-target active components in the complex extract from M. alba leaves. As a result, a potential active compound was selectively screened by ligand fishing, separated by high-speed countercurrent chromatography using a solvent system of ethyl acetate-n-butanol-water (3:2:5, v/v), and identified as rutin. In addition, the result of molecular docking showed that rutin could interact with the active center of α-amylase and α-glucosidase through multiple hydrogen bonds, van der Waals forces, etc. to play an inhibitory role. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the polydopamine magnetically immobilized bienzyme system for dual-target affinity screening of active substances. This study not only reveals the chemical basis of the antidiabetic activity of M. alba leaves from a dual-target perspective, but also promotes the progress of multitarget affinity screening.

Symposium review: Fiber and in vitro methods, analytical variation, and contributions to feed analysis.

At least 2 basic inputs are needed to formulate rations: the nutritional requirements of the animals to be fed and the nutritional composition of the feeds. David R. Mertens not only defined fiber requirements for dairy cattle but became a leading expert in the laboratory measurement of fiber in feeds, digesta, and feces. Fiber is a heterogeneous nutritional entity composed mainly of polysaccharides and polyphenolics. Because the method defines the fiber that is measured, methods must be described thoroughly and followed exactly to obtain results that are repeatable within a laboratory and reproducible among others. Filtration of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) can be difficult, and those who have worked in his laboratory can attest that Mertens rigorously studied this, along with other method details to improve NDF analysis from sample preparation to blank corrections. Mertens's procedure for amylase-treated NDF (aNDF), using α-amylase and sodium sulfite with crucibles, culminated in the Association of Official Analytical Chemists Official Method 2002.04 for aNDF, which was also accepted as International Standard ISO 16472:2006 and is used worldwide as a reference method for feed evaluation. Because aNDF digestibility is variable and a key factor in overall digestibility, Mertens also worked to improve in vitro ruminal digestibility and gas production procedures within and among laboratories, including procedures using flasks or filter bags. His in vitro gas production method is currently used by commercial laboratories that generate a significant share of the aNDF digestibility results reported worldwide. Outside of the laboratory, his extensive outreach to commercial and research laboratories has had a huge impact on fiber analysis, in vitro digestibility, and other laboratory procedures. While advising the National Forage Testing Association, Mertens provided program infrastructure that improved laboratory proficiency in more than 120 laboratories in the United States and around the world. Most importantly, thanks to his advances in fiber analysis and in vitro digestibility techniques, Mertens has enhanced the evaluation of feeds and the nutrition and health of dairy cows. These contributions have helped thousands of dairy farmers and nutritionists around the globe and continue to have a substantial impact on the industry.

Characteristics of salivary cortisol and alpha-amylase as psychobiological study outcomes in palliative care research.

BACKGROUND: Psychosocial interventions are rapidly emerging in palliative care. However, randomized trials often fail to provide evidence for their effectiveness with regard to patient-reported outcomes. Stress biomarkers could complement self-report data, but little is known about their feasibility, acceptance, and interpretability. METHODS: Therefore, we designed a randomized crossover trial in which 42 patients in a palliative care unit participated in both a brief mindfulness intervention (MI) and a resting state control condition (CC) on two consecutive afternoons. On each day, we collected four saliva samples in 20-min intervals using Salivettes© to determine salivary cortisol (sCort) and alpha-amylase (sAA) concentration levels. At all measurement points, self-rated well-being and stress as well as cardiovascular markers were assessed. Baseline measurements further included self-rated quality of life and clinician-rated functional status. RESULTS: 78.6% of the patients provided the maximum number of 8 saliva samples and 62.2% reported no subjective difficulties with the sampling procedures. 66.6% (sCort) and 69.6% (sAA) of all possible samples were finally included in the analysis. Xerostomia and nausea were the main reasons for missing data. Higher sCort levels were associated with higher heart rate and lower quality of life, functional status, and heart rate variability. Corticosteroid and sedative medication as well as time since last meal were identified as potential confounders. Regarding reactivity to the MI, we found an overall decrease in sCort levels over time (b = -.03, p = .01), but this effect did not differ significantly between the study conditions (b = .03, p = .21). sAA levels were higher in men than in women. Trajectories over time did not significantly differ between the two conditions (b = -.02, p = .80) and associations with other stress and health-related constructs were weak. CONCLUSIONS: Findings indicate that sCort might serve as a psychobiological outcome in future palliative care trials. However, future research should refine the exact measurement and conceptualization strategies for sCort in palliative care research. High attrition rates should be expected in patients with xerostomia or nausea. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at the German Clinical Trials Registry (DRKS00013135) at 04/12/2017.

Characterization of crtRB1- and vte4-based biofortified sweet corn inbreds for seed vigour and physico-biochemical traits.

Sweet corn possessing recessive shrunken2 (sh2) gene is popular worldwide. Traditional sweet corn is poor in vitamin A and vitamin E. Plant breeders during the selection of sweet corn genotypes mainly emphasize on plant architecture and yield. Seed germination and seedling vigour play important role for early establishment in field, thereby increasing yield and income. Here, we analysed a set of 15 sh2-based biofortified sweet corn inbreds with crtRB1 (ß-carotene hydroxylase1) and vte4 (γ-tocopherol methyltransferase) genes and three traditional sh2-based sweet corn inbreds for nutritional quality, seed vigour and various physico-biochemical traits. The newly developed inbreds possessed significantly higher provitamin A (proA: 15.60 µg/g) and vitamin E [α-tocopherol (α-T): 20.42 µg/g] than the traditional sweet corn inbreds (proA: 2.51 µg/g, α-T: 11.16 µg/g). The biofortified sweet corn inbreds showed wide variation for germination (80.67-87.33%), vigour index-I (2097.17-2925.28 cm), vigour index-II (134.27-216.19 mg) and electrical conductivity (10.19-13.21 µS cm-1 g-1). Wide variation was also observed for dehydrogenase (1.29-1.59 OD g-1 ml-1), super oxide dismutase (4.01-9.82 g-1), peroxidase (11.66-16.47 µM min-1 g-1), esterase (22.98-34.76 nM min-1 g-1) and α-amylase (5.91-8.15 OD g-1 ml-1). Enrichment of proA and vitamin E in sweet corn did not affect seed vigour and physico-biochemical traits. Correlation analysis revealed that electrical conductivity and α-amylase activity was the reliable indicator for assessing seed germination and vigour. The study identified superior biofortified sweet corn genotypes that would contribute to better vigour and establishment in field. This is the first report of analysis of biofortified sweet corn genotypes for seed vigour and physico-biochemical traits.

First report of fatty acids in Mimosadiplotricha bee pollen with in vitro lipase inhibitory activity.

Bee pollen (BP) is full of nutrients and phytochemicals, and so it is widely used as a health food and alternative medicine. Its composition and bioactivity mainly depend on the floral pollens. In this work, BP collected by Apis mellifera with different monoculture flowering crops (BP1-6) were used. The types of floral pollen in each BP were initially identified by morphology, and subsequently confirmed using molecular phylogenetic analysis. Data from both approaches were consistent and revealed each BP to be monofloral and derived from the flowers of Camellia sinensis L., Helianthus annuus L., Mimosa diplotricha, Nelumbo nucifera, Xyris complanata, and Ageratum conyzoides for BP1 to BP6, respectively. The crude extracts of all six BPs were prepared by sequential partition with methanol, dichloromethane (DCM), and hexane. The crude extracts were then tested for the in vitro (i) α-amylase inhibitory, (ii) acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (AChEI), and (iii) porcine pancreatic lipase inhibitory (PPLI) activities in terms of the percentage enzyme inhibition and half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50). The DCM partitioned extract of X. complanata BP (DCMXBP) had the highest active α-amylase inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 1,792.48 ± 50.56 µg/mL. The DCM partitioned extracts of C. sinensis L. BP (DCMCBP) and M. diplotricha BP (DCMMBP) had the highest PPLI activities with an IC50 value of 458.5 ± 13.4 and 500.8 ± 24.8 µg/mL, respectively), while no crude extract showed any marked AChEI activity. Here, the in vitro PPLI activity was focused on. Unlike C. sinensis L. BP, there has been no previous report of M. diplotricha BP having PPLI activity. Hence, DCMMBP was further fractionated by silica gel 60 column chromatography, pooling fractions with the same thin layer chromatography profile. The pooled fraction of DCMMBP2-1 was found to be the most active (IC50 of 52.6 ± 3.5 µg/mL), while nuclear magnetic resonance analysis revealed the presence of unsaturated free fatty acids. Gas chromatography with flame-ionization detection analysis revealed the major fatty acids included one saturated acid (palmitic acid) and two polyunsaturated acids (linoleic and linolenic acids). In contrast, the pooled fraction of DCMMBP2-2 was inactive but pure, and was identified as naringenin, which has previously been reported to be present in M. pigra L. Thus, it can be concluded that naringenin was compound marker for Mimosa BP. The fatty acids in BP are nutritional and pose potent PPLI activity.

Prenylated xanthones with α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effects from the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana.

Two new prenylated xanthones, mangoxanthones A-B (1-2), together with four known compounds 3-6, were isolated from the ethanol extract of the pericarp of Garcinia mangostana. The structures of these compounds have been elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis. The analysis results of chiral HPLC revealed compounds 1 and 2 were scalemic mixtures respectively. All isolated compounds were biologically evaluated for their α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory effects using in-vitro assays. Compound 1 showed moderate inhibitory activities against α-glucosidase and α-amylase with IC50 of 29.06 ± 1.86 and 22.74 ± 2.07 µM, respectively. Molecular docking predicted the binding sites of compound 1 to α-glucosidase and α-amylase. A preliminary structure-activity relationship was discussed.