Isolated Conglutin γ from Lupin, but not Phytate, Lowers Serum Cholesterol Without Influencing Vascular Lesion Development in the ApoE-deficient Mouse Model.

Conglutin γ and phytate are considered as potential biofunctional compounds of lupin protein isolate, but their impact on vascular health is unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of conglutin γ and phytate, respectively, on circulating levels of sterols, markers of cholesterol biosynthesis and minerals, and on the development and progression of aortic lesions in apoE-deficient mice. To this end, mice were fed a western diet with either casein (200 g/kg; served as a control), conglutin γ from L. angustifolius (200 g/kg) or casein (200 g/kg) supplemented with phytate (5 g/kg) for 16 weeks. Here we found that conglutin γ but not phytate was capable of reducing the circulating concentration of cholesterol. Plasma levels of desmosterol and lathosterol as markers of the cholesterol synthesis were not affected, and 7-dehydrocholesterol was even higher in mice fed conglutin γ than in mice fed casein or casein + phytate. All mice developed pronounced aortic lesions, but histological characterization of plaque area and composition showed no differences between the three groups of mice. Conclusively, conglutin γ exerts cholesterol-lowering effects but appears to have no anti-atherosclerotic properties in the apoE-deficient mice. Phytate neither affected plasma cholesterol nor aortic lesion development.

Prevention of osteoporosis by oral administration of phytate-removed and deamidated soybean ß-conglycinin.

Phytate-removed and deamidated soybean ß-conglycinin (PrDS) prepared by ion-exchange resins was supplemented to be 4% in the diet administered to ovariectomized rats to investigate its preventive effect on osteoporosis. The apparent calcium absorption rate decreased following ovariectomy and was not replenished by oral administration of phytate-removed soybean ß-conglycinin (PrS) or casein. On the other hand, administration of PrDS restored the calcium absorption rate to the same level as the sham group. Markers of bone resorption, such as serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) and urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD), increased, and the bone mineral density and breaking stress decreased following ovariectomy. However, PrDS supplementation suppressed the changes caused by the decrease in calcium absorption from the small intestine. Therefore, PrDS supplementation shows promise for the prevention of postmenopausal osteoporosis.

Mechanism of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate sorption on amorphous aluminum hydroxide: spectroscopic evidence for rapid surface precipitation.

Inositol hexakisphosphates are the most abundant organic phosphates (OPs) in most soils and sediments. Adsorption, desorption, and precipitation reactions at environmental interfaces govern the reactivity, speciation, mobility, and bioavailability of inositol hexakisphosphates in terrestrial and aquatic environments. However, surface complexation and precipitation reactions of inositol hexakisphosphates on soil minerals have not been well understood. Here we investigate the surface complexation-precipitation process and mechanism of myo-inositol hexakisphosphate (IHP, phytate) on amorphous aluminum hydroxide (AAH) using macroscopic sorption experiments and multiple spectroscopic tools. The AAH (16.01 µmol m(-2)) exhibits much higher sorption density than boehmite (0.73 µmol m(-2)) and α-Al2O3 (1.13 µmol m(-2)). Kinetics of IHP sorption and accompanying OH(-) release, as well as zeta potential measurements, indicate that IHP is initially adsorbed on AAH through inner-sphere complexation via ligand exchange, followed by AAH dissolution and ternary complex formation; last, the ternary complexes rapidly transform to surface precipitates and bulk phase analogous to aluminum phytate (Al-IHP). The pH level, reaction time, and initial IHP loading evidently affect the interaction of IHP on AAH. In situ ATR-FTIR and solid-state NMR spectra further demonstrate that IHP sorbs on AAH and transforms to surface precipitates analogous to Al-IHP, consistent with the results of XRD analysis. This study indicates that active metal oxides such as AAH strongly mediate the speciation and behavior of IHP via rapid surface complexation-precipitation reactions, thus controlling the mobility and bioavailability of inositol phosphates in the environment.

Synthesis of inositol phosphate ligands of plant hormone-receptor complexes: pathways of inositol hexakisphosphate turnover.

Reduction of phytate is a major goal of plant breeding programs to improve the nutritional quality of crops. Remarkably, except for the storage organs of crops such as barley, maize and soybean, we know little of the stereoisomeric composition of inositol phosphates in plant tissues. To investigate the metabolic origins of higher inositol phosphates in photosynthetic tissues, we have radiolabelled leaf tissue of Solanum tuberosum with myo-[2-3H]inositol, undertaken a detailed analysis of inositol phosphate stereoisomerism and permeabilized mesophyll protoplasts in media containing inositol phosphates. We describe the inositol phosphate composition of leaf tissue and identify pathways of inositol phosphate metabolism that we reveal to be common to other kingdoms. Our results identify the metabolic origins of a number of higher inositol phosphates including ones that are precursors of cofactors, or cofactors of plant hormone-receptor complexes. The present study affords alternative explanations of the effects of disruption of inositol phosphate metabolism reported in other species, and identifies different inositol phosphates from that described in photosynthetic tissue of the monocot Spirodela polyrhiza. We define the pathways of inositol hexakisphosphate turnover and shed light on the occurrence of a number of inositol phosphates identified in animals, for which metabolic origins have not been defined.

Experimental assessment of toxic phytochemicals in Jatropha curcas: oil, cake, bio-diesel and glycerol.

BACKGROUND: Jatropha curcas seed is a rich source of oil; however, it can not be utilised for nutritional purposes due to presence of toxic and anti-nutritive compounds. The main objective of the present study was to quantify the toxic phytochemicals present in Indian J. curcas (oil, cake, bio-diesel and glycerol). RESULTS: The amount of phorbol esters is greater in solvent extracted oil (2.8 g kg⁻¹) than in expeller oil (2.1 g kg⁻¹). Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of the purified compound from an active extract of oil confirmed the presence of phorbol esters. Similarly, the phorbol esters content is greater in solvent extracted cake (1.1 g kg⁻¹) than in cake after being expelled (0.8 g kg⁻¹). The phytate and trypsin inhibitory activity of the cake was found to be 98 g kg⁻¹ and 8347 TIU g⁻¹ of cake, respectively. Identification of curcin was achieved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the concentration of curcin was 0.95 g L⁻¹ of crude concentrate obtained from cake. CONCLUSION: Higher amounts of phorbol esters are present in oil than cake but bio-diesel and glycerol are free of phorbol esters. The other anti-nutritional components such as trypsin inhibitors, phytates and curcin are present in cake, so the cake should be detoxified before being used for animal feed.

Isolation of phytate from Jatropha curcas kernel meal and effects of isolated phytate on growth, digestive physiology and metabolic changes in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.).

Jatropha curcas seeds are rich in oil and protein. The oil is used for biodiesel production. The defatted Jatropha kernel meal obtained after oil extraction is rich in protein (58-66%) and phytate (9-11%). The phytate rich fraction was isolated from defatted kernel meal using organic solvents (acetone and carbon tetracholride). It had 66% phytate and 22% crude protein. The fingerlings (n=50, 16.2 ± 0.64 g) were randomly distributed into five groups containing 10 replicates and fed iso-nitrogenous diets (crude protein 36%): control diet containing casein and gelatin as proteins; control diet containing 1.5% and 3% Jatropha phytate (PWP(1.5) and PWP(3), respectively); and control diet containing 1.5% and 3% Jatropha phytate supplemented with phytase (1500 FTU/kg) (PWP(1.5+Phytase) and PWP(3+Phytase), respectively). Significantly lower (P<0.05) growth and feed utilization in PWP(1.5) and PWP(3) groups than for control and both phytase containing groups were observed; whereas feed gain ratio exhibited opposite trend. Protein and lipid digestibilities of the diets, amylase and protease enzyme activities in the intestine were significantly higher (P<0.05) in PWP(1.5+Phytase) and PWP(3+Phytase) groups than for PWP(1.5) and PWP(3) groups. Lowest red blood cell counts, and hemoglobin and hematocrit concentrations were observed in PWP(3) group which were not statistically different to those for PWP(1.5) group, but were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those for all other groups. Highest albumin, globulin and total protein concentrations were observed in PP(3+Phytase) group and lowest in PWP(1.5) group; and values for the latter were statistically similar to those for control group. Calcium, phosphorus and glucose concentrations in blood and cholesterol concentration in plasma were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the phytate enriched groups compared with control and phytase treated groups (PP(1.5+Phytase) and PP(3+Phytase)). Higher (P<0.05) alkaline phosphatase activity was observed in phytase supplemented groups compared with that in non-supplemented groups which (PP(1.5+Phytase)) was statistically similar to that in control group, whereas alanine transaminase activity in blood exhibited opposite trend. In conclusion, Jatropha phytate present in DJKM is an antinutrient and addition of phytase in the diet containing DJKM is recommended.

Influence of dietary phytic acid and source of microbial phytase on ileal endogenous amino acid flows in broiler chickens.

The effects of phytic acid and 2 sources of exogenous phytase (bacterial vs. fungal) on the flow of endogenous amino acids at the terminal ileum of broilers were assessed using the enzyme-hydrolyzed casein method. Phytic acid (as the sodium salt) was included in a purified diet at 8.5 and 14.5 g/kg, and each diet was fed without or with a fungal (Aspergillus niger-derived) or a bacterial (Escherichia coli-derived) microbial phytase at 500 phytase units/kg of diet. Increasing the concentration of phytic acid in the diet from 8.5 to 14.5 g/kg increased (P < 0.001) the flow of all measured amino acids by an average of 68%, with a range from 17% for proline to 145% for phenylalanine. The flow of endogenous aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, glycine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, and histidine were increased by more than the mean, indicating changes in the composition of endogenous protein in response to the presence of higher concentrations of phytic acid. Supplementation of both phytases reduced (P < 0.001) the flow of endogenous amino acids, but the reduction (P = 0.06) was greater for the bacterial phytase compared with the fungal phytase. These data suggest that a substantial part of the amino acid and energy responses observed following phytase supplementation in broiler chickens stems from reduced endogenous amino acid flows and that the capacity of different phytases to counteract the antinutritive properties of phytic acid vary.

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6): a novel treatment for pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND: Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6) is a naturally occurring polyphosphorylated carbohydrate found in food sources high in fiber content. IP6 has been reported to have significant inhibitory effects against a variety of primary tumors including breast and colon. The effects of IP6 have not been evaluated in pancreatic cancer. We hypothesized that IP6 would significantly inhibit cell growth and increase the apoptotic rate of pancreatic cancer in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two pancreatic cancer cell lines (MIAPACA and PANC1) were cultured using standard techniques and treated with IP6 at doses of 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 mm. Cell viability was measured by MTT at 24 and 72 h. Apoptosis was evaluated by Annexin V-FITC and results calculated using FACS analysis. Statistical analysis was performed by ANOVA. RESULTS: Significant reductions (P < 0.01) in cellular proliferation were observed with all IP6 concentrations tested in both cell lines and at both time points. Reductions in cell proliferation ranged from 37.1 to 91.5%. IP6 increased early and late apoptotic activity (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment of pancreatic cancer with the common dietary polyphosphorylated carbohydrate IP6 significantly decreased cellular growth and increased apoptosis. Our findings suggest that IP6 has the potential to become an effective adjunct for pancreatic cancer treatment. Further in vivo and human studies are needed to evaluate safety and clinical utility of this agent in patients with pancreatic cancer.