Selective antitumoural action of pressurized mango leaf extracts against minimally and highly invasive breast cancer.

Mango leaf tea has been traditionally used by different cultures to reduce inflammation in the body. There is evidence that chronic inflammation increases the risk of cancer. This study investigates the antitumoural effects of pressurized mango leaf extracts on minimally (MCF7) and highly invasive (MDA-MB-231) breast cancer cells as well as on non-tumourigenic cells (MCF10). Extracts showed protective properties against oxidation and cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cell lines, causing minor damage to non-carcinogenic cells. Nonetheless, some selective activity, depending on hormone receptor status, was observed. This was possibly related to the presence of minor compounds. Extracts with high levels of gallotannins showed cytotoxic action against MCF7 cells, while those which had methyl gallate and homomangiferin as common components were more effective against MDA-MB-231 cells. Therefore, the cytotoxic effect of mango leaf extracts might be attributed to the synergistic effect of different polyphenols and not just to mangiferin on its own as the predominant compound in mango leaves.

Olive oil and health: summary of the II international conference on olive oil and health consensus report, Jaén and Córdoba (Spain) 2008.

Olive oil (OO) is the most representative food of the traditional Mediterranean Diet (MedDiet). Increasing evidence suggests that monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) as a nutrient, OO as a food, and the MedDiet as a food pattern are associated with a decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and hypertension. A MedDiet rich in OO and OO per se has been shown to improve cardiovascular risk factors, such as lipid profiles, blood pressure, postprandial hyperlipidemia, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and antithrombotic profiles. Some of these beneficial effects can be attributed to the OO minor components. Therefore, the definition of the MedDiet should include OO. Phenolic compounds in OO have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, prevent lipoperoxidation, induce favorable changes of lipid profile, improve endothelial function, and disclose antithrombotic properties. Observational studies from Mediterranean cohorts have suggested that dietary MUFA may be protective against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. Recent studies consistently support the concept that the OO-rich MedDiet is compatible with healthier aging and increased longevity. In countries where the population adheres to the MedDiet, such as Spain, Greece and Italy, and OO is the principal source of fat, rates of cancer incidence are lower than in northern European countries. Experimental and human cellular studies have provided new evidence on the potential protective effect of OO on cancer. Furthermore, results of case-control and cohort studies suggest that MUFA intake including OO is associated with a reduction in cancer risk (mainly breast, colorectal and prostate cancers).

[Preliminary study on efficacy and tolerance of a "coupage" of olive oil in patients with chronic kidney disease. Nutritonal evaluation]. / Estudio preliminar sobre eficacia y tolerancia de un "coupage" de aceite de oliva en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica. Evaluación del estado de nutrición.

The discrepancies among data reported by using olive oil (OO) in humans appear to be due to the great differences between the different OO used. Based on structure/function relationships we have chemically optimized an OO through the rational mixture ("coupage") of several Spanish extra virgin olive oils (methodology "oHo"). Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) develop a progressive picture of malnutrition and inflammation that lead them to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease. In a pilot, randomised trial the nutritional efficacy and safety of "oHo" were evaluated in 32 patients (mean age 60,8 +/- 13,2 years old; 16 women) with CKD (KDIGO stages 4-5) at predialysis. After a 7 days wash out for statins and ACE inhibitors 19 patients had "oHo" at doses of 60 mL/day (20 mL t.i.d) for 30 consecutive days, whilst 13 patients remain as a control group without "oHo". At the end of the study only patients having "oHo" showed significant increases of serum albumin (p<0.05) and not significant increases of total proteins, weight, and BMI. Total cholesterol (p<0.05) and HDL-cholesterol (p<0.01) increased with "oHo". The number of cases with pathologic HOMA-IR in the control group increased from 1 to 2 patients whilst in the "oHo" group decreased from 2 to none. No significant changes of minerals, arterial pressure, hemoglobin, and other parameters related to CKD were seen. After a 30 days follow-up in the "oHo" group all parameters came back to basal ones, excepting for blood pressure that significantly decreased (p<0,05). Tolerance was excellent and constipation significantly diminished (p<0,001) in the "oHo" group. Of importance, none of these biological changes were seen in regular consumers of other conventional olive oils (control group). These intriguing results, seen by the first time, appear to partially satisfy the recent claims ("reverse epidemiology") about the need of a more correct nutrition in CKD patients. However, these data need to be proved in more larger trials as well as in CKD patients under dialysis with harder inflammatory/malnutrition conditions.

International conference on the healthy effect of virgin olive oil.

1. Ageing represents a great concern in developed countries because the number of people involved and the pathologies related with it, like atherosclerosis, morbus Parkinson, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, cognitive decline, diabetes and cancer. 2. Epidemiological studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet (which is rich in virgin olive oil) decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease. 3. The Mediterranean diet, rich in virgin olive oil, improves the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as the lipoprotein profile, blood pressure, glucose metabolism and antithrombotic profile. Endothelial function, inflammation and oxidative stress are also positively modulated. Some of these effects are attributed to minor components of virgin olive oil. Therefore, the definition of the Mediterranean diet should include virgin olive oil. 4. Different observational studies conducted in humans have shown that the intake of monounsaturated fat may be protective against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. 5. Microconstituents from virgin olive oil are bioavailable in humans and have shown antioxidant properties and capacity to improve endothelial function. Furthermore they are also able to modify the haemostasis, showing antithrombotic properties. 6. In countries where the populations fulfilled a typical Mediterranean diet, such as Spain, Greece and Italy, where virgin olive oil is the principal source of fat, cancer incidence rates are lower than in northern European countries. 7. The protective effect of virgin olive oil can be most important in the first decades of life, which suggests that the dietetic benefit of virgin olive oil intake should be initiated before puberty, and maintained through life. 8. The more recent studies consistently support that the Mediterranean diet, based in virgin olive oil, is compatible with a healthier ageing and increased longevity. However, despite the significant advances of the recent years, the final proof about the specific mechanisms and contributing role of the different components of virgin olive oil to its beneficial effects requires further investigations.

Enhanced resistance to experimental systemic candidiasis in tilorone-treated mice.

Candida albicans is an increasingly important opportunistic fungal pathogen in immunocompromised patients. Natural killer (NK) cells constitute an important immune effector mechanism and are involved in the response to different pathological disorders. We wished to determine if this immune mechanism is involved in the specific response to C. albicans. Tilorone hydrochloride and related compounds have been described to display antiviral and antitumoral activity, as well as to enhance NK cell activity. In this study, we show the antimicrobial activity of different tilorone analogues and the enhanced resistance of tilorone-treated mice in experimental systemic candidiasis. We also present data suggesting that there is a correlation between NK cell activation and the resistance to experimental systemic candidiasis. Thus, it seems that the immunosurveillance of metastatic spread and the infection by C. albicans share some immune effector mechanisms, in particular activation of NK cells.