Ecklonia Cava Extract Attenuates Endothelial Cell Dysfunction by Modulation of Inflammation and Brown Adipocyte Function in Perivascular Fat Tissue.

It is well known that perivascular fat tissue (PVAT) dysfunction can induce endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, an event which is related with various cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we evaluated whether Ecklonia cava extract (ECE) and pyrogallol-phloroglucinol-6,6-bieckol (PPB), one component of ECE, could attenuate EC dysfunction by modulating diet-induced PVAT dysfunction mediated by inflammation and ER stress. A high fat diet (HFD) led to an increase in the number and size of white adipocytes in PVAT; PPB and ECE attenuated those increases. Additionally, ECE and PPB attenuated: (i) an increase in the number of M1 macrophages and the expression level of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), both of which are related to increases in macrophage infiltration and induction of inflammation in PVAT, and (ii) the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6, chemerin) in PVAT which led to vasoconstriction. Furthermore, ECE and PPB: (i) enhanced the expression of adiponectin and IL-10 which had anti-inflammatory and vasodilator effects, (ii) decreased HFD-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and (iii) attenuated the ER stress mediated reduction in sirtuin type 1 (Sirt1) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expression. Protective effects against decreased Sirt1 and PPARγ expression led to the restoration of uncoupling protein -1 (UCP-1) expression and the browning process in PVAT. PPB or ECE attenuated endothelial dysfunction by enhancing the pAMPK-PI3K-peNOS pathway and reducing the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1). In conclusion, PPB and ECE attenuated PVAT dysfunction and subsequent endothelial dysfunction by: (i) decreasing inflammation and ER stress, and (ii) modulating brown adipocyte function.

Antiobesity Effect of Fermented Chokeberry Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Mice.

Black-fruited chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa), growing mainly in the Central and Eastern European countries, have health benefits due to the high concentrations of polyphenolic compounds. However, a strong bitter taste of chokeberries limits its usage as functional food. We hypothesized that the fermented A. melanocarpa with a reduced bitter taste would improve insulin sensitivity and/or ameliorate weight gain induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in male C57BL/6J mice. The mice were administered with HFD together with the 100 mg/kg of natural A. melanocarpa (T1) or the fermented A. melanocarpa (T2) for 8 weeks. The treatment with T2 (100 mg/kg body weight, p.o.) markedly attenuated the weight gain and the increase in serum triglyceride level induced by HFD. The T2-treated group had better glucose tolerance and higher insulin sensitivity as measured by oral glucose tolerance test and intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test in comparison to the T1-treated group. Phytochemical analysis revealed that the main constituents of T2 were cyanidin-3-xyloside and 1-(3',4'-dihydroxycinnamoyl)cyclopenta-2,3-diol, and the content of cyanidin glycosides (3-glucoside, 3-xyloside) was significantly reduced during the fermentation process. From the above results, we postulated that antiobesity effect of black chokeberry was not closely correlated with the cyanidin content. Fermented chokeberry might be a viable dietary supplement rich in bioactive compounds useful in preventing obesity.

Hypouricemic effects of anthocyanin extracts of purple sweet potato on potassium oxonate-induced hyperuricemia in mice.

Gout is a clinical syndrome in which tissue damage is induced by a chronic metabolic disorder associated with increased concentrations of uric acid in the blood. The study investigated the hypouricemic effects of anthocyanin extracts from purple sweet potato (APSP), and allopurinol, on serum uric acid levels in hyperuricemic mice. It was found that administration of a single oral dose of 100 mg/kg APSP to such animals reduced the serum uric acid concentration to 4.10 ± 0.04 mg/dL, compared with a concentration of 10.25 ± 0.63 mg/dL in the hyperuricemic control group.

Regioselective deglycosylation of onion quercetin glucosides by Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Bioconversion of quercetin glucosides using four generally recognized as safe (GRAS) organisms (Aspergillus oryzae, Bacillus subtilis, Lactobacillus plantarum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was evaluated by measuring changes in the levels of quercetin compounds of onion. Of the four organisms, S. cerevisiae increased the content of quercetin-3-O-ß-D-glucoside (III; isoquercitrin) and quercetin (IV), whereas decreasing quercetin-3,4'-O-ß-D-glucoside (I) and quercetin-4'-O-ß-D-glucoside (II). Also, S. cerevisiae converted authentic compound I to III, and II to IV, respectively. These results suggest that S. cerevisiae can be used to increase the levels of isoquercitrin (III), the most bioavailable quercetin compound in onion.

A new fibrinolytic enzyme (55 kDa) from Allium tuberosum: purification, characterization, and comparison.

Chives have been used both as food and as medicine. Previously, two fibrinolytic enzymes, ATFE-I (90 kDa) and ATFE-II (55 kDa), were identified in chives (Allium tuberosum), a perennial herb. In the present work, ATFE-II was purified by ion-exchange chromatography followed by gel filtration. In addition, the enzyme properties of ATFE-I and ATFE-II were compared. The molecular mass and isoelectric point (pI value) of ATFE-II were 55 kDa and pI 4.0, respectively, as revealed using one- or two-dimensional fibrin zymography. ATFE-II was optimally active at pH 7.0 and 45°C. ATFE-II degraded the Aα-chain of human fibrinogen but did not hydrolyze the Bß-chain or the γ-chain, indicating that the enzyme is an α-fibrinogenase. The proteolytic activity of ATFE-II was completely inhibited by 1 mM leupeptin, indicating that the enzyme belongs to the cysteine protease class. ATFE-II was also inhibited by 1 mM Fe²(+). ATFE-II exhibited high specificity for MeO-Suc-Arg-Pro-Tyr-p-nitroaniline (S-2586), a synthetic chromogenic substrate of chymotrypsin. Thus proteolytic enzymes from A. tuberosum may be useful as thrombolytic agents.