Acute Effects of Coffee Consumption on Blood Pressure and Endothelial Function in Individuals with Hypertension on Antihypertensive Drug Treatment: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Coffee is a complex brew that contains several bioactive compounds and some of them can influence blood pressure (BP) and endothelial function (EF), such as caffeine and chlorogenic acids (CGAs). AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the acute effects of coffee on BP and EF in individuals with hypertension on drug treatment who were habitual coffee consumers. METHODS: This randomized crossover trial assigned 16 adults with hypertension to receive three test beverages one week apart: caffeinated coffee (CC; 135 mg caffeine, 61 mg CGAs), decaffeinated coffee (DC; 5 mg caffeine, 68 mg CGAs), and water. BP was continuously evaluated from 15 min before to 90 min after test beverages by digital photoplethysmography. Reactive hyperemia index (RHI) assessed by peripheral arterial tonometry evaluated EF before and at 90 min after test beverages. At the same time points, microvascular reactivity was assessed by laser speckle contrast imaging. Repeated-measures-ANOVA evaluated the effect of time, the effect of beverage, and the interaction between time and beverage (treatment effect). RESULTS: Although the intake of CC produced a significant increase in BP and a significant decrease in RHI, these changes were also observed after the intake of DC and were not significantly different from the modifications observed after the consumption of DC and water. Microvascular reactivity did not present significant changes after the 3 beverages. CONCLUSION: CC in comparison with DC and water neither promoted an acute increase in BP nor produced an improvement or deleterious effect on EF in individuals with hypertension on drug treatment who were coffee consumers.

Lycopene induces bone marrow lymphopoiesis and differentiation of peritoneal IgA-producing cells.

Lycopene is a hydrocarbon-carotenoid commonly found in red fruits intake with major function correlated to antioxidative capacity in several pathological conditions, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, lycopene has been associated with hematopoiesis, although the effects on B lymphocyte differentiation and antibody production are poorly understood. In this work, the principal aim was to investigate whether lycopene affects B lymphopoiesis and terminal differentiation into plasma cells. Distinct in vivo and in vitro strategies based on lycopene supplementation were used direct in Balb/c mice or in culture systems with cells derived of these mice. In the bone marrow, lycopene expanded B220+IgM- progenitor B cells and B220+IgM+ immature B lymphocytes. In the spleen, lycopene induced terminal CD138+ plasma cell generation. In the blood, we found prominent IgA and low IgM levels after lycopene administration. Interestingly, the pattern of peritoneal IgM+ and IgA+ B cells indicated a significant IgM-to-IgA class switching after lycopene injection. These data indicated that lycopene induces B cell differentiation into IgA-producing plasma cells. Thus, a new cellular function has been attributed to lycopene for B lymphocyte biology and possibly associated with humoral responses and mucosal immunity.

Antiproliferative Activity on Human Colon Adenocarcinoma Cells and In Vitro Antioxidant Effect of Anthocyanin-Rich Extracts from Peels of Species of the Myrtaceae Family.

There is a significant indication of the beneficial health effects of fruit rich diets. Fruits of native plant species have noticeably different phytochemicals and bioactive effects. The aim of this work was to characterize and compare the constituents of jabuticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba, MJ), jamun-berry (Syzygium cumini, SC), and malay-apple (Syzygium malaccense, SM) extracts and their influence on antioxidant activity in vitro and antiproliferative effects on human colon adenocarcinoma cells. According to the results, dried peel powders (DP) have a high anthocyanin content, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity when compared to freeze dried extracts (FD). M. jaboticaba dried peel powder extract had a higher total anthocyanin and phenolic compounds content (802.90 ± 1.93 and 2152.92 ± 43.95 mg/100 g, respectively). A reduction in cell viability of HT-29 cells after treatment with M. jaboticaba extracts (DP-MJ and FD-MJ) was observed via MTT assay. Flow cytometry showed that the treatment with the anthocyanin-rich extracts from MJ, SC, and SM had an inhibitory impact on cell development due to G2/M arrest and caused a rise in apoptotic cells in relation to the control group. The findings of this study highlight the potential of peel powders from Myrtaceae fruits as an important source of natural antioxidants and a protective effect against colon adenocarcinoma.

Use of asparaginase for acrylamide mitigation in coffee and its influence on the content of caffeine, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid.

A factorial design with a duplicate in the central point was used to investigate the effect of treating arabica coffee beans with asparaginase. The investigated factors were enzymatic load (1000 and 5000 ASNU/Kg), water percentage (30 and 90%), and hydrolysis time (1 and 3 h). The acrylamide content was determined by UPLC-MS/MS, and the caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and caffeine concentrations were determined by HPLC-DAD. The statistical analysis was carried out in the R platform using RStudio graphical interface. The results indicated the importance of coffee bean pretreatment with steam, and that the enzyme load reduced the acrylamide content to 65 mg/kg in coffee beans. The predicted reduction was obtained with hydrolysis time of 2 h, water content of 90%, and asparaginase load of 5000 ASNU/kg. The asparaginase treatment did not influence the major bioactive compounds in coffee.

Reduction of ßN-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamides and diterpenes by yeast supplementation to green coffee during wet processing.

Coffee is one of the most consumed non-alcoholic beverages in the world. It is well known that some compounds present in coffee beans have important biological activities. In this study, evidence was turned to ßN-alkanoyl-5-hydroxytryptamides (C-5HTs) and to the furokaurane diterpenes cafestol and kahweol, associated with gastric irritation and increasing of blood cholesterol, respectively. Fermentation in coffee post-harvest wet process was induced by three Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeasts (for bakery, white and sparkling wines) as starter cultures. Variations in mass, time, temperature and pH (56 experiments under fractional factorial and mixture experimental designs) were tested. Substantial reductions for C-5HTs (up to 38% reduction for C20-5HT and 26% for C22-5HT) as well as for diterpenes (54% for cafestol and 53% for kahweol) were obtained after treating green coffee beans with 0.6 g of a 1:1:1 mixture the three yeasts for 12 h at 15 °C and pH 4. Caffeine and 5-CQA content, monitored in the green coffee beans, did not change. Therefore, the use of starter cultures during coffee post-harvest wet process has influence on the amount of some important compounds related to health and improves the sensory quality of the beverage.

Effects of boiling and frying on the bioaccessibility of beta-carotene in yellow-fleshed cassava roots (Manihot esculenta Crantz cv. BRS Jari).

BACKGROUND: The effects of boiling and frying on the bioaccessibility of all-trans-beta-carotene in biofortified BRS Jari cassava roots have not been investigated, although these are conventional methods of cassava preparation. OBJECTIVE: The aims of the present study were to investigate beta-carotene micellarization efficiency of yellow-fleshed BRS Jari cassava roots after boiling and frying, as an indicator of the bioaccessibility of this carotenoid, and to apply fluorescence microscopy to investigate beta-carotene in the emulsified fraction. METHODS: Uncooked, boiled, and fried cassava roots were digested in vitro for the evaluation, by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), of the efficiency of micellarization of all-trans-beta-carotene in BRS Jari cassava roots. Fluorescence microscopy of the micellar fraction was used to confirm the presence of beta-carotene in the emulsified fraction and to observe the structure of the microemulsion from the boiled and fried cassava samples. RESULTS: Fried cassava roots showed the highest (p < .05) micellarization efficiency for total carotenoids and all-trans-beta-carotene (14.1 +/- 2.25% and 14.37 +/- 2.44%, respectively), compared with boiled and raw samples. Fluorescence microscopy showed that after in vitro digestion there were no carotenoid crystals in the micellar fraction, but rather that this fraction presented a biphasic system compatible with emulsified carotenoids, which was consistent with the expected high bioavailability of beta-carotene in this fraction. CONCLUSIONS: Increased emulsification and bioaccessibility of beta-carotene from fried biofortified BRS Jari cassava roots compensates for chemical losses during preparation, indicating that this preparation is suitable for home use of BRS Jari cassava roots and might represent a relatively good food source of bioavailable provitamin A.

Teor de carotenoides em nutricosméticos: análise da adequação e qualidade do produto / Carotenoids content in nutricosmetics products: evaluation of product adequacy and quality

O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a adequação dos nutricosméticos contendo carotenoides em sua formulação em relação aos teores de β-caroteno, luteína, licopeno e zeaxantina, considerando-se as quantidades declaradas pelos fabricantes. Dezenove nutricosméticos foram adquiridos no comércio varejista do município do Rio de Janeiro, em 2012. Duas metodologias de extração foram aplicadas,variando-se de acordo com o tipo de invólucro (cápsula), veículos (excipientes) e carotenoides presentes.A quantificação e determinação do perfil de carotenoides nas amostras foram realizadas por cromatografialíquida de alta eficiência (CLAE) com método validado e acreditado. Quatro amostras das 19 analisadas estavam dentro dos limites estabelecidos pelas Boas Práticas de Fabricação (90 a 110 %). As demais amostras revelaram conteúdo inadequado de carotenoides e, consequentemente, falhas no controle de qualidade para a produção dos nutricosméticos. Desta forma, esta pesquisa demonstra que este setor deve ser objeto de atenção especial da vigilância sanitária, com necessidade de estabelecer legislação específica para regulamentar a fabricação, a rotulagem e a propaganda destes produtos.

The present study analyzed the nutricosmetics adequacy referring to the carotenoids contents, such asβ-carotene, lutein, lycopene and zeaxanthin, and these findings were compared with the contents declaredby the manufacturers. Nineteen carotenoids-containing nutricosmetics were purchased at retail marketin Rio de Janeiro city in 2012. Two methodologies of extraction were used according to the type of shell(capsules), carriers (excipients) and carotenoids. Quantification and determination of carotenoids profilewere performed in a High Performed Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC) with validated and accreditedmethodology. Of 19 analyzed samples, four were within the limits established by the Good ManufacturingPractice specification (90 to 110 %), and the others were out of this range, revealing an inadequacy inthe carotenoids contents and failures in the quality control of nutricosmetics production. This studydemonstrated that the nutricosmetics production sector should receive a special attention from the healthsurveillance, and it needs a specific legislation to regulate the manufacture, labeling and advertising ofthese products.

LC-MS based screening and targeted profiling methods for complex plant: coffee a case study.

In the recent years the way of thinking about human health necessarily passes by human food. Recent discoveries are not only concerned about valuable biomolecules but also contaminants. Thus, the screening of substances in animal and vegetable matrices by analytical techniques is focused on the presence and absence of target substance. In both cases, the majority of these substances are present as traces or in very low levels. Contaminants could be naturally present in the food, inserted on it or even developed on it as a consequence of food processing or cooking. Pesticides, mycotoxins, dioxins, acrylamide, Sudan red, melamine and now 4(5)-methylimidazole can be, at present, be listed as some of the world big problems related to food contaminants and adulterants. With the development of liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS), in the last few decades, analysis of some food contaminants in trace levels trace become less laborious, more accurate and precise. The multiple approach of those techniques make possible to obtain many results in one single run. On the other hand, European Union (2002/657/EC) established regulations for analytical methods regarding mass spectrometry as detection tool, showing the importance of this technique in food quality control. The EU criteria uses identification points (IPs) that could be achieved basically with four product ions (including molecular ion) or reduced with the use of high resolution equipments. This kind of mass spectrometers made the IPs criteria more accessible, as the exact mass information is a differential tool. In view of this the aim of this review is to present the actual scenario for mass spectrometry analysis in a complex vegetable food matrix such as roasted coffee, with emphasis on needs and challenges regarding the LC-MS technique in order to meet and contribute to food safety standards in this complex matrix.