Annonaceae acetogenins: A potential treatment for gynecological and breast cancer.

Breast and gynecological cancers are major health concerns due to their increasing incidence rates, and in some cases, their low survival probability. In recent years, multiple compounds of natural origin have been analyzed as alternative treatments for this disease. For instance, Acetogenins are plant secondary metabolites from the Annonaceae family, and its potential anticancer activity has been reported against a wide range of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Several studies have demonstrated promising results of Acetogenins' antitumor capacity, given their selective activity of cellular inhibition at low concentrations. This review outlines the origin, structure, and antineoplastic activities in vitro and in vivo of Acetogenins from Annonaceae against breast cancer and gynecological cancers reported to date. Here, we also provide a systematic summary of the activity and possible mechanisms of action of Acetogenins against these types of cancer and provide references for developing future therapies based on Acetogenins and nanotechnologies.

Curcumin and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids as bioactive food components with synergistic effects on Alzheimer's disease.

Curcumin and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) are multifunctional compounds which play an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and little has been addressed about the role of these two compounds together in the progression of the disease. There is evidence of the beneficial effect of combined administration of ω-3 PUFA and other dietary supplements such as vitamins and polyphenols in the prevention of AD, although much remains to be understood about their possible complementary or synergistic activity. Therefore, the objective of this work is to review the research focused on studying the effect and mechanisms of action of curcumin, ω-3 PUFA, and the combination of these nutraceutical compounds, particularly on AD, and to integrate the possible ways in which these compounds can potentiate their effect. The most important pathophysiologies that manifest in AD will be addressed, in order to have a better understanding of the mechanisms of action through which these bioactive compounds exert a neuroprotective effect.

Larval Rearing and Nutrition of the Polyphagous Tephritid Pest Anastrepha ludens on Artificial Diets with Calcium Alginate, Agar, or Carrageenan as Gelling Agents at Various Concentrations and across Extreme Larval Density Conditions.

Research on larval rearing and nutrition of tephritid flies on artificial diets is key for the sterile insect technique. Here, we examined the effects of the type of gel (calcium alginate, agar, or carrageenan), at varying percentages in artificial diets for the polyphagous pest Anastrepha ludens, on the physicochemical and nutritional traits of the diets, and the effects of the type of gel, the gel content and the larval density (larvae/g of diet) used in production, quality parameters for mass-reared tephritids, diet removal (an indirect estimation of diet consumption), and nutritional traits of flies. Regardless of the gel content, calcium alginate diets were firmer and more resistant to penetration than the agar and carrageenan diets. The larval recovery, pupation, pupal weight, and flight ability of A. ludens were lower in calcium alginate diets than in agar and carrageenan diets. Diet removal was higher in calcium alginate diets; however, low levels of ammonium and high levels of uric acid in excretions from larvae on these diets suggest an alteration in protein metabolism. The firmness and penetration resistance characteristics of calcium alginate diets may have limited movement and feeding of larvae, but this could be overcome by the collective feeding of large groups of larvae. Our findings provide insights into the mechanism governing gel-diet rearing systems for A. ludens.

Antioxidant addition improves cholesterol and astaxanthin stability in dry salted shrimp.

BACKGROUND: Traditional production of dry salted shrimp enhances cholesterol oxidation and astaxanthin degradation in the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of addition of the antioxidants butylhydroxytoluene (BHT) and tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) to cooked shrimp on the formation of cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) and astaxanthin degradation during solar drying of shrimp. RESULTS: The added antioxidants significantly inhibited COPs formation after the product was boiled in brine. Smaller amounts of COPs were formed in antioxidant-treated shrimps (~-23%) as compared to untreated samples. The antioxidants continued to significantly inhibit COPs formation (~-39%) during sun drying. Similarly, TBHQ and BHT reduced by 51.3% and 37.2%, respectively, the degradation rate of astaxanthin, favoring a higher retention of this carotenoid in the final product. CONCLUSION: The use of the antioxidants BHT and TBHQ in the preparation of dry salted shrimp significantly inhibited the formation of COPs after cooking raw shrimp and during direct solar drying. They also protected astaxanthin contained in the cooked shrimp from photodegradation. These results are technologically relevant because it is possible to prepare a product with a higher content of astaxanthin and lower the presence of hazardous COPs. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Anti-inflammatory Activity of Curcumin in Gel Carriers on Mice with Atrial Edema.

Curcumin is a bioactive compound with proven antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but has low water solubility and dermal absorption. The inflammatory process is considered as the biological response to damage induced by various stimuli. If this process fails to self-regulate, it becomes a potential risk of cancer. The objective of this work was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of curcumin administered to mice with induced atrial edema using two topical vehicles: organogels and O/W-type nanogels at pH 7, Organogels and O/W-type nanogels at pH 7 were prepared, characterized and the anti-inflammatory activity was assessed. A histopathological analysis of mouse ears was performed and two gel formulations were selected. Thermograms of organogels indicated that increasing the gelling agent improved the stability of the system. Deformation sweeps confirmed a viscoelastic behavior characteristic of gels in both systems. During the anti-inflammatory activity evaluations, the nanogels demonstrated greater activity (61.8 %) than organogels; Diclofenac® (2-(2,6-dichloranilino) phenylacetic acid), used as a control medication achieved the highest inhibition (85.4%); however, the drug produced the death of 2 (40%) of the study subjects caused by secondary adverse events. Histopathological analysis confirmed the data.

Enhanced Bioavailability of Curcumin Nanoemulsions Stabilized with Phosphatidylcholine Modified with Medium Chain Fatty Acids.

BACKGROUND: Curcumin is a natural, oil-soluble polyphenolic compound with potent anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. In its free form, it is very poorly absorbed in the gut due to its very low solubility. The use of nanoemulsions as carrier is a feasible way for improving curcumin bioavailability. To this end, the choice of emulsifying agent for stabilizing the nanoemulsions is of the upmost importance for achieving a desired functionality. METHODS: Phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidycholine enriched (PCE) with medium chain fatty acids (42.5 mol %) in combination with glycerol as co-surfactant, were used for preparing oil-in water nanoemulsions coded as NEPC and NEPCE, respectively. RESULTS: NEPCE displayed significantly smaller mean droplet size (30 nm), equal entrapment efficiency (100%), better droplet stability and suffered lower encapsulation efficiency loss (3%) during storage time (120 days, 4ºC) than NEPC. Bioavailability, measured in terms of area under the curve of curcumin concentration versus time, and maximum curcumin plasma concentration, was in general terms significantly higher for NEPCE than for NEPC, and for curcumin coarse aqueous suspension (CCS). Also, NEPCE produced significantly higher curcumin concentrations in liver and lung than NEPC and CCS. CONCLUSION: These data support the role of phosphatidylcholine enriched with medium chain fatty acids to increase the bioavailability of nanoemulsions for therapeutic applications.

Functional properties and dietary fiber characterization of mango processing by-products (Mangifera indica L., cv Ataulfo and Tommy Atkins).

Several reports have focused on utilization of post-harvest residues of crops, while neglecting those residues produced by mango processing. These residues represent a waste of nutrients and a source of environmental contaminants. Such by-products could be valuable sources of dietary fiber (DF), antioxidant compounds, and single carbohydrates. The aim of this study was to evaluate some functional properties (FP), and the content of DF and polyphenols (PP) of the peel and coarse material obtained from residues during the industrial processing of Ataulfo and Tommy Atkins mangoes. The total dietary fiber (TDF) content was about 225 mg/g and 387 mg/g (dry weight) for the coarse material and the peel, respectively, from which soluble dietary fiber represented 23 and 42%, respectively. The main neutral sugar identified was rhamnose, especially in peels; the klason lignin (KL) content was 92 mg/g, which highlights the Ataulfo peel (Ataulfo-P) and the Tommy Atkins peel (Tommy Atkins-P). The extractable PP content in Ataulfo-P was higher than in Tommy-Atkins-P, and interesting data for non-extractable PP were obtained in the residues. FP as swelling, water holding, oil holding, and glucose absorption in the residues was studied, obtaining better functional properties when compared to cellulose fiber. The results show that mango industrial by-products, mainly from the Ataulfo-P variety, could be used as ingredients in food products because of their functional properties as well as their DF and PP content.

Alteration of some inflammatory biomarkers by dietary oxysterols in rats.

Oxysterols are structurally similar to cholesterol, but are characterized by one or more additional oxygen-containing functional groups. These compounds are implicated in inflammation given their ability to cause irreversible damage to vascular cells. The aim of this study was to study the alteration of some inflammatory biomarkers in Wistar rats in response to dietary oxysterols. Eighteen rats were randomly divided into three groups of six rats each. A standard diet supplemented with 1% (w/w) pure cholesterol (Chol group) or 1% (w/w) of an oxidized cholesterol mixture (COPs group) was fed for 8 weeks. Blood serum was separated; abdominal, pericardial, and epididymal adipose tissue was removed carefully. The COPs subjects exhibited significant increase in blood pressure and serum triacylgycerols as well as increased body fat index and pericardic, abdominal, and epididymal adipose tissue. These effects were accompanied by elevated circulating levels of plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and resistin. We suggest that dietary oxysterols have an important pro-inflammatory effect.

Phase II-inducing, polyphenols content and antioxidant capacity of corn (Zea mays L.) from phenotypes of white, blue, red and purple colors processed into masa and tortillas.

White, blue, red and purple corns (Zea mays L.) were lime-cooked to obtain masa for tortillas. The total phenolics and anthocyanins content, antioxidant activity expressed as total reducing power (TRP), peroxyl radical bleaching (PRAC), total antioxidant activity (TAA) and quinone reductase (QR) induction in the murine hepatoma (Hepa 1 c1c7 cell line) as a biological marker for phase II detoxification enzymes were investigated. Among the extracts prepared from raw corn varieties the highest concentration of total phenolics, anthocyanins, antioxidant index and induction of QR-inducing activity were found in the Veracruz 42 (Ver 42) genotype. The nixtamalization process (masa) reduced total phenolics, anthocyanins and antioxidant activities and the ability for QR induction when was compared to raw grain. Processing masa into tortillas also negatively affected total phenolics, anthocyanin concentration, antioxidant activities, and QR induction in the colored corn varieties. The blue variety and its corresponding masa and tortillas did not induce QR. Ver 42 genotype and their products (masa and tortilla) showed the greatest antioxidant activity and capacity to induce QR.

Effect of conjugated linoleic acid on body fat, tumor necrosis factor alpha and resistin secretion in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a naturally occurring group of dienoic derivaties of linoleic acid found mainly in beef and dairy products. CLA has been reported to reduce body fat, as well as to possess anticarcinogenic, antiatherogenic and procatabolic activities in animals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of CLA supplementation to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) on body fat, biochemical parameters of serum related tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and resistin secretion. Thirty rats were divided in three groups, the first group of spontaneously hypertensive rats received a standard diet (V-SHR group, n=10), a second group of SHR was fed 1.5% of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA-SHR group, n=10) and the third was the control, non-hypertensive group (KW, n=10) also on a standard diet including 7.5% of sunflower oil during eight weeks. After CLA diet administration, spontaneously hypertensive rats showed a significant reduction in blood pressure, serum glucose, cholesterol and triacylglycerols, together with reduction of index of body fat, pericardic, abdominal and epididymal adipose tissue. These effects were accompanied by a decrease in the secretion of TNF-alpha and resistin.

Continuous enzymatic transesterification of sesame oil and a fully hydrogenated fat: effects of reaction conditions on product characteristics.

An immobilized lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus (TL IM) was employed to mediate the continuous transesterification of sesame oil and fully hydrogenated soybean oil (FHSBO) in a packed-bed reactor operating at 70 degrees C. Reactions between sesame oil (rich in LLL (15.97%), LOL (31.56%), and OLO (21.15%) [L = linoleic; O = oleic]) and the fully hydrogenated fat ((73.7% SSS, 26.3% SPS) [S = stearic; P = palmitic]) produced semi-solid fats. These products are complex mixtures of triacylglycerol (TAG) species whose compositions depend on reaction conditions. The dependence of the steady state product TAG profile on space time was determined for four initial weight ratios of sesame oil to hydrogenated fat (90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 60:40). Except for the trial involving a weight ratio of sesame oil to FHSBO of 60:40, near equilibrium conditions were achieved at space times of 30 min-1 h. The chemical, physical, and functional properties of the product semi-solid fats were characterized. The predominant TAG species in the quasi-equilibrium products obtained from the mixture initially containing 90% (w/w) sesame oil and 10% FHSBO were LOL (26.22%) and OLO (21.92%). For transesterification of 80% sesame oil and 20% FHSBO, the major product species were OOP (21.27%), LOL (17.46%), and OLO (13.93%). OOP (24.38%) was the major product for reaction of 70% sesame oil with 30% FHSBO. Appropriate choices of reaction conditions and initial ratios of sesame oil to FHSBO lead to TAG with melting profiles and solid fat contents (SFC) similar to those of a variety of commercial products.