In-silico HMG-CoA reductase-inhibitory and in-vivo anti-lipidaemic/anticancer effects of carotenoids from Spondias mombin.

OBJECTIVES: Inhibition of HMG-CoA (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A) reductase, the rate rate-determining enzyme for the biogenesis of cholesterol is known to show antineoplastic effects. Therefore, this study investigates the in-silico HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR)-inhibitory and in-vivo anti-lipidaemic/anticancer effects of carotenoids from Spondias mombin. METHODS: Carotenoids from S. mombin leaves were characterized with the aid of liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS). The characterized phytochemicals were obtained from PubChem. They were docked into the orthosteric site of human HMGCR (Protein Data Bank code 1HW8) using AutoDock 4.0 suites. DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) model of breast cancer was treated with the carotenoids extract from S. mombin (100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg doses) to assess its anti-lipidaemic cum anticancer effects. KEY FINDINGS: Carotenoids from S. mombin; beta-carotene-15,15'-epoxide, astaxanthin and 7,7',8,8'-tetrahydro-ß-ß-carotene demonstrate HMGCR inhibition. They form hydrophobic interactions with key residues within the catalytic domain of HMGCR. The carotenoids extract exhibits anti-lipidaemic/anticancer effects, lowering serum triglyceride, LDL and cholesterol concentration. It increases HDL concentration and downregulates the expression of HMGR, AFP, CEACAM-3, BRCA-1 and HIF-1 mRNAs. CONCLUSION: Carotenoids from S. mombin demonstrate HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) inhibition, anti-lipidaemic, and anticancer effects. The inhibition of HMGCR by the carotenoids extract further poses it as a potential anti-hypercholesterolaemia compounds.

Cross-Sectional Study of Plant Sterols Intake as a Basis for Designing Appropriate Plant Sterol-Enriched Food in Indonesia.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of mortality in many low-income and middle-income countries, including Indonesia, with elevated blood cholesterol level being one of significant risk factors for this condition. The problem should be addressed by combining healthy lifestyle and diet, where functional foods having a cholesterol-lowering activity could play a significant role. A group of compounds that had been proven to show cholesterol-lowering ability are plant sterols. To develop more suitable functional foods that could substantially contribute to hypercholesterolemia prevention in Indonesian population, up-to-date data about plant sterols dietary intake are required, and were not available until this research was done. This study aimed to estimate daily plant sterols intake and to determine the consumption pattern of foods containing plant sterols in rural and urban area of Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. The research was conducted with a cross-sectional design, with 200 respondents. The study revealed that the level of plant sterols intake in Bogor reached on average 229.76 mg/day and was not significantly different between urban and rural area. Cereals, vegetables, and fruit products were the main food sources of plant sterols in both areas. In addition, a list of several surveyed food items possible to be enriched with plant sterols was developed within the study. These results provide baseline data to develop functional foods fortified with plant sterols suitable for the Indonesian needs and taste. However, further studies are needed to confirm efficacy and safety of introducing such phytosterol-enriched products into a habitual diet, especially considering possible long-term side effects of plant sterol treatment.

Consortia of bioactives in supercritical carbon dioxide extracts of mustard and small cardamom seeds lower serum cholesterol levels in rats: new leads for hypocholesterolaemic supplements from spices.

Melatonin-rich and 1,8-cineole-rich extracts have been successfully obtained from yellow mustard (YM) and small cardamom (SC) seeds, respectively, employing green technology of supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) extraction. Chemical profiling confirmed the presence of melatonin and 1,8-cineole and co-extractants in the respective extracts. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy attested strong antioxidant activities of the extracts foregoing pan-assay interference compounds involved in spectroscopic analysis. These extracts also exhibited synergistic efficacies greater than unity confirming antioxidant synergy among the co-extracted bioactives therein. To ascertain hypocholesterolaemic efficacies, these extracts were co-administered orally with Triton X (at the pre-optimised dose of 175 mg/kg body weight (BW)) to Wistar albino rats at doses of 550, 175 and 55 mg/kg BW. Serum total cholesterol levels in the rats were monitored on days 3, 7, 15 and 21. On day 21, total cholesterol level reduced appreciably by 49·44 % in rats treated with YM seed extract and by 48·95 % in rats treated with SC seed extract, comparable with atorvastatin-administered rats (51·09 %). Either extract demonstrated inhibitory effects on hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase activity. A molecular docking exercise identified specific compounds in the extracts which possessed binding affinities comparable with therapeutically used HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. In silico and in vivo studies concertedly concluded that the consortium of bioactive components in the extracts cannot be considered as invalid metabolic panaceas and therefore these 'green' extracts could be safely subjected to clinical studies as preventive biotherapeutics for hypercholesterolaemia. These extracts could be consumed per se as hypocholesterolaemic supplements or could be ingredients of new spice-based therapeutic foods.

Lovastatin in lactone and hydroxy acid forms and citrinin in red yeast rice powders analyzed by HPTLC-UV/FLD.

For the analysis of pigment-rich red yeast rice products, a fast quantitative high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method was newly developed and validated. The active ingredient lovastatin, present in lactone (LL) and hydroxy acid forms (LH), as well as the mycotoxin citrinin were analyzed in 19 red yeast rice products, including powders, dietary supplements, and Chinese proprietary medicines (Xuezhikang and Zhibituo). The HPTLC method including sample preparation allows a high throughput of matrix-rich samples (10 min per analysis) and is highly cost-efficient (running costs of 0.5 Euro per analysis). For a fast protocol, application volumes up to 10 µL were selected although higher application volumes will lower still the LODs, which were 30 mg/kg for LL and LH as well as 4 mg/kg for citrinin. Thanks to the minimalistic sample preparation, the overall mean recovery rate was good (109.9% ± 5.9%; repeated measurements of the three analytes per fresh sample preparation at three spike levels). Repeated calibrations (five per analyte) in the red yeast rice matrix showed highly satisfying determination coefficients (≥ 0.9991; mean 0.9996). For three analytes at three concentration levels, the obtained mean intermediate precisions in red yeast rice matrix analyzed over the whole procedure including sample preparation were highly satisfying (≤ 2.6%). Citrinin was not detectable in the samples down to the given LOD of 4.0 mg/kg for the 10-µL sample volume applied. The mean content of lovastatin in 15 RYR powders was 8.7 g/kg, with a rang of 1.5-26.2 g/kg. The content of lovastatin in Zhibituo tablets and Xuezhikang capsules was determined to be 2.7 and 11.1 g/kg, respectively. The two commercially available RYR dietary supplement samples showed the highest lovastatin contents of 40.7 and 41.4 g/kg. By these figures of merit, the HPTLC method was proven to be suited for the control of such matrix-rich, fermented food. Graphical abstract.

Fully automated method based on on-line molecularly imprinted polymer solid-phase extraction for determination of lovastatin in dietary supplements containing red yeast rice.

A fully automated method for the determination of lovastatin in dietary supplements containing red yeast rice has been developed. It uses a sequential injection analysis system combined with solid-phase extraction applying highly selective molecularly imprinted polymer sorbent. A miniaturized column for on-line extraction was prepared by packing 4.5 mg of the sorbent in a 5.0 × 2.5-mm-i.d. cartridge, which was used in the flow manifold. Sequential injection analysis manifold enabled all steps of lovastatin extraction and continuous spectrophotometric detection at 240 nm. A limit of detection of 60 µg g-1, a limit of quantitation of 200 µg g-1, and a linear calibration range of 200-2000 µg g-1 were achieved. Intra-day and inter-day precision values (RSD) were ≤ 6.7% and ≤ 4.9%, respectively, and method recovery values of spiked red yeast rice extracts at 200, 1000, and 2000 µg g-1 concentration levels were 82.9, 95.2, and 87.7%. Our method was used for determination of lovastatin lactone in four dietary supplements containing red yeast rice as a natural source of lovastatin, also known as monacolin K. The extracted samples were subsequently analyzed by the reference UHPLC-MS/MS method. Statistical comparison of results (F test, t test, α = 0.05) obtained by both methods did not reveal significant difference. A substantial advantage of the new automated approach is high sample throughput thanks to the analysis time of 7.5 min, miniaturization via down-scaling the extraction column, and smaller sample and solvent consumption, as well as reduced generation of waste. Graphical abstract ᅟ.

Bioactive peptides from selected latin american food crops - A nutraceutical and molecular approach.

This review reported an updated survey on the molecular functional properties of bioactive peptides derived from different Latin American ancient grains such as Maize, common Bean, Amaranth, Quinoa and Chia seeds. Seed storage proteins ecrypt in their sequences diverse peptides associated with a wide range of beneficial effects on the human health and the most studied are antihypertensive, anti-cholesterolemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Additionally, in the last decades molecular properties have been also used for their characterization to understand their activities and it makes them highly attractive to be incorporated into food formulations and to complement or replace some conventional cereal grains. Due to the nutraceutical effects, today, these seeds are one of the main gastronomic trends of consumption worldwide due to their nutritional benefits and are part of the shopping lists of many people, among them vegetarians, vegans, celiacs or lovers of raw food. These seeds are a legacy of pre-Columbian civilizations reason why in our time they are considered as "Superfoods of the Gods", "The pre-hispanic superfoods of the future" and "The new golden seeds of the XXI century".

Safety assessment of Morus nigra L. leaves: Acute and subacute oral toxicity studies in Wistar rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Morus nigra L. is a plant native to Asia, and well adapted to the Brazilian climate. It is popularly known as "amoreira preta", and is part of the National List of Plants of Interest to the Brazilian Unified Health System. It is used in folk medicine mainly to soften the effects of menopause, as anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and antihypertensive. However, information on safe doses and use is still precarious. AIM OF THE STUDY: To identify the chemical composition of the ethanolic extract of Morus nigra L. leaves (EEMN), as well as perform a toxicological study in male and female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition of the extract was performed by HPLC/DAD. In the acute study, the dose administered was 2000 mg/kg, and signs of toxicity and mortality was observed. In the sub-acute study, the extract was administered at doses of 500, 750 and 1000 mg/kg for 28 days. Behavioral changes, object recognition test, renal and hepatic tissue assessments, biochemical and hematological parameters were determined. The extract was administered orally to male and female rats in both studies. RESULTS: Quercetin and caffeic acid showed as major compounds in the extract. In the acute treatment, the extract was classified as safe (category 5), according to the protocol. In the subacute study, there was a decrease in AST in males (750 and 1000 mg/kg) and females (1000 mg/kg), reduction of total cholesterol in females (750 and 1000 mg/kg), and increase in renal and hepatic change the LPO levels. CONCLUSION: The present investigation showed that EEMN did not present significant toxic effects when administered orally. Moreover, presented a potentially protective action of organs and possesses hypocholesterolemic activity, thus, it is shown as a promising natural source to be used in pharmacology.

Antinutritional factors and hypocholesterolemic effect of wild apricot kernel (Prunus armeniaca L.) as affected by detoxification.

The present investigation was aimed to study the effect of detoxification on the nutrients and antinutrients of wild apricot kernel followed by its hypocholesterolemic effect in male Wistar albino rats. The results revealed a non-significant (p > 0.05) effect of detoxification on the proximate composition except total carbohydrates and protein content. However, detoxification led to a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in l-ascorbic acid (76.82%), ß-carotene (25.90%), dietary fiber constituents (10.51-28.92%), minerals (4.76-31.08%) and antinutritional factors (23.92-77.05%) (phenolics, tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity, saponins, phytic acid, alkaloids, flavonoids, oxalates) along with the complete removal (100%) of bitter and potentially toxic hydrocyanic acid (HCN). The quality parameters of kernel oil indicated no adverse effects of detoxification on free fatty acids, lipase activity, acid value and peroxide value, which remained well below the maximum permissible limit. Blood lipid profile demonstrated that the detoxified apricot kernel group exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) increased levels of HDL-cholesterol (48.79%) and triglycerides (15.09%), and decreased levels of total blood cholesterol (6.99%), LDL-C (22.95%) and VLDL-C (7.90%) compared to that of the raw (untreated) kernel group. Overall, it can be concluded that wild apricot kernel flour could be detoxified efficiently by employing a simple, safe, domestic and cost-effective method, which further has the potential for formulating protein supplements and value-added food products.

Estudio experimental y controlado en farmacia comunitaria: influencia de la administración de un complemento alimenticio de ajo en la evolución de la hipercolesterolemia / Experimental and controlled study on community pharmacy: impact of the administration of a garlic-based dietary supplement on high cholesterol

Introducción: Las dislipemias son alteraciones de las lipoproteínas que transportan el colesterol y los triglicéridos, siendo consideradas factor de riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares. La eficacia de la utilización de productos vegetales cono el ajo (Allium sativum) para prevenir y tratar dislipemias es discutida. Hay pocos estudios publicados sobre el efecto de estos productos en el ámbito de la farmacia comunitaria. Objetivos: Estudiar la variación de los valores de colesterol total en pacientes tratados con un complemento alimenticio a base de ajo en cápsulas. Relacionar dichos valores con factores demográficos y con la toma o no de medicamentos hipocolesterolemiantes de prescripción médica (MHPM). Comprobar si los resultados obtenidos concuerdan con los encontrados en la bibliografía. Material y métodos: Estudio experimental y controlado realizado en una farmacia comunitaria. Los pacientes que aceptaron participar se dividieron aleatoriamente en dos grupos, grupo intervención (GI) que tomaba complemento alimenticio de ajo y grupo control (GC) que no lo tomaba. Resultados: 59 sujetos, 29 pertenecientes al GC y 30 al GI. Mayor descenso del colesterol total en los que no tomaban MHPM, pero no puede atribuirse al efecto del complemento alimenticio administrado ya que el descenso se produce en los dos grupos. No se encontraron diferencias significativas entre los grupos. En los que ya tomaban MHP, el efecto del complemento alimenticio fue prácticamente inapreciable. Conclusiones: En las condiciones del estudio realizado, el efecto del complemento alimenticio de ajo no parece ser lo suficientemente efectivo como para reducir los niveles de colesterol de forma significativa (AU)

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is an abnormal level of the lipoproteins that transport cholesterol and triglycerides, and it is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The effectiveness of using plant-based products like garlic (Allium sativum) to prevent and treat dyslipidemia is under debate. Few studies have been published on the effect of these products in the context of the community pharmacy. Objectives: Study the variation of total cholesterol values in patients treated with a garlic-based dietary supplement in capsule form. Link these values to demographic factors and to the use or non-use of prescription cholesterol-lowering drugs. Determine whether the results are consistent with those found in the bibliography. Materials and Methods: Experimental, controlled study conducted in a community pharmacy. The patients who agreed to participate were divided randomly into two groups, the intervention group (IG), which took a garlic-based dietary supplement, and the control group (CG), which did not take it. Results: 59 subjects, 29 corresponding to the CG and 30 to the IG. Greater decrease in total cholesterol in the subjects who did not take the prescription cholesterol-lowering drugs, but this result cannot be attributed to the effect of the dietary supplement administered since a decrease occurred in both groups. No significant differences were detected between the groups. In the subjects who were already taking the prescription cholesterol-lowering drugs, the effect of the dietary supplement was practically negligible. Conclusions: Under the conditions of the study, administration of the garlic-based dietary supplement does not appear to be effective enough to reduce cholesterol levels significantly (AU)

Dietary supplementation of defatted kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) seed meal and its phenolics-saponins rich extract effectively attenuates diet-induced hypercholesterolemia in rats.

Kenaf is one of the important commercial fiber crops worldwide and defatted kenaf seed meal (DKSM) is a secondary by-product from the kenaf industry. Thus, efforts to turn this low-cost agricultural waste into value-added functional food ingredients will definitely bring advantageous impacts to the community health, environment and economy. The present study was aimed to investigate the cardioprotective properties of DKSM and its phenolics-saponins rich extract (PSRE) in diet-induced hypercholesterolemic rat model. Hypercholesterolemia was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats via atherogenic diet feeding and dietary interventions were conducted by incorporating DKSM (15% and 30%) and equivalent levels of PSRE (2.3% and 4.6%, respectively, equivalent to the total content of phenolics and saponins in DKSM groups) into the atherogenic diets. After 10 weeks of DKSM and PSRE supplementation, the hepatosomatic index, hepatosteatosis, serum lipid profile, Castelli risk indexes as well as hepatic and renal functions of hypercholesterolemic rats were significantly improved (p < 0.05). Besides, the levels of hepatic Hmgcr and serum Pcsk9 were lowered, along with transcriptional upregulations of hepatic Cyp7a1, Abca1, Lcat, ApoA2 and ApoE (p < 0.05). The gene expression of hepatic Ldlr was marginally enhanced by DKSM supplementation (p > 0.05), but superiorly upregulated by PSRE (p < 0.05). The combined results showed that hypercholesterolemia and the atherogenic risk in rats were effectively attenuated by DKSM and PSRE supplementation, possibly via modulations of multiple vital processes in hepatic cholesterol metabolism. Furthermore, phenolics and saponins may be the bioactives conferring DKSM and PSRE with their anti-hypercholesterolemic properties. In conclusion, DKSM and PSRE are prospective cardioprotective functional food ingredients for hypercholesterolemic individuals.

Validation of an LC-MS/MS method for analysis of anti-diabetic drugs in botanical dietary supplements labeled for blood sugar management.

We developed and validated a liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to detect and quantitate 14 anti-diabetic, 2 anti-obesity, and 3 cholesterol-lowering drugs in botanical dietary supplements marketed for blood sugar management. Many botanical dietary supplements which carry label statements related to blood sugar management are available over the Internet. Potential adulteration of such dietary supplements with anti-diabetic and other prescription drugs, some of which have been removed from the market due to adverse events, is of concern. No significant matrix effects were observed and mean recoveries of all 19 analytes from a single product matrix were 88 to 113% at spiking concentrations from 500 to 2000 µg/g. Mean recoveries of metformin, phenformin, and sibutramine from matrices prepared from multiple product composites ranged from 93 to 115% at a spiking concentration of 100 µg/g. The relative standard deviations (RSD) (%) of intra-day analyses ranged from 0.2 to 13 for all recovery studies. Eighty dietary supplements obtained in the USA and carrying label statements related to blood sugar management were analyzed using this method and none were found to be adulterated with the above 19 drugs. Two products obtained outside of the USA and known to be adulterated were also analyzed by this method and found to contain phenformin, glibenclamide, and sibutramine. This method provided satisfactory selectivity, linearity, accuracy, precision, and sensitivity for rapid determination of 19 drugs and has broad applicability for the analysis of dietary supplements for possible adulteration with these compounds.

Rice Bran Oil: A Versatile Source for Edible and Industrial Applications.

Rice bran oil (RBO) is healthy gift generously given by nature to mankind. RBO is obtained from rice husk, a byproduct of rice milling industry and is gaining lot of importance as cooking oil due to presence of important micronutrient, gamma oryzanol. Its high smoke point is beneficial for its use for frying and deep frying of food stuff. It is popular because of balanced fatty acid profile (most ideal ratio of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids), antioxidant capacity, and cholesterollowering abilities. Rice bran wax which is secondary by-product obtained as tank settling from RBO is used as a substitute for carnauba wax in cosmetics, confectionery, shoe creams etc. It can be also used as a source for fatty acid and fatty alcohol. The article is intended to highlight for the importance of RBO and its applications.

Efecto reductor del colesterol de una combinación de levadura roja de arroz y policosanol / Efeito de reduçao do colesterol de uma combinaçao de arroz vermelho fermentado e policosanol / Cholesterol lowering effect of a combination of red yeast rice and polycosanol

Es ampliamente conocido que los niveles altos de colesterol están relacionados con el riesgo cardiovascular. La levadura de arroz rojo o levadura roja de arroz es un producto obtenido a partir de una levadura (Monascus purpureus Went.), que crece sobre este cereal. Entre sus componentes destaca la monacolina K, también conocida como lovastatina, sustancia relacionada con la disminución del colesterol mediante la inhibición de la HMG-CoA reductasa. El policosanol, mezcla de alcoholes alifáticos, obtenido de la caña de azúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.), además de modular dicha enzima, aumenta la actividad de los receptores LDL y tiene un efecto antioxidante y antiagregante. Mediante este trabajo se aportan los resultados de 65 pacientes en los cuales se ha observado una disminución media, estadísticamente significativa, de los niveles de colesterol (22% del colesterol total y 29% del LDL) y una disminución del 22% de los triglicéridos, tras tomar durante 2 meses un producto compuesto por: levadura roja de arroz con un contenido diario de 10 mg monacolina K y 14 mg de policosanol extraído de la caña de azúcar. La combinación de la monacolina K y el policosanol se plantean como una opción en pacientes con riesgo cardiovascular bajo o moderado (AU)

É amplamente conhecido que os níveis elevados de colesterol estão associados a um risco acrescido de doença cardiovascular. O arroz vermelho fermentado (ou levedura de arroz vermelho) é um produto obtido a partir de uma levedura (Monascus purpureus Went.), que cresce no arroz. Entre os seus componentes destaca-se a monacolina K, também conhecida como lovastatina, substância relacionada com a redução do colesterol através da inibição da HMG-CoA redutase. O policosanol, que consiste numa mistura de álcoois alifáticos de cadeia longa obtida a partir da cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.), além de modular a mesma enzima (HMG-CoA redutase), aumenta a actividade de receptores de LDL e tem efeitos antioxidantes e antiagregantes plaquetários. Este trabalho reporta os resultados de 65 participantes nos quais se observou uma diminuição média estatisticamente significativa do valor de colesterol (22% do colesterol total e 29% do LDL), assim como uma diminuição de 22% do valor dos triglicéridos, após a toma, durante dois meses, de um produto composto por arroz vermelho fermentado e policosanol, correspondendo a uma toma diária de 10 mg de monacolina K e 14 mg de policosanol. Assim, a associação de monacolina K, e policosanol apresenta-se como uma opção para doentes com risco cardiovascular baixo ou moderado (AU)

It is widely known that high cholesterol levels are associated with cardiovascular risk. Red yeast rice or red rice yeast is a product obtained from a yeast (Monascus purpureus Went.), which grows on rice. Among its constituents, it stand out monacolin K, also known as lovastatin, compound related to the cholesterol lowering effect through the inhibition of the HMG-CoA reductase. Polycosanol is a mixture of long chain aliphatic alcohols obtained from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.). In addition of modulating that enzyme, it increases the activity of LDL receptors and has antioxidant and antiplatelet effect. In the present work, results in 65 patients treated for 2 mounts with a product combining red yeast rice (providing 10 mg/day of monacolin K) and policosanol from sugar cane (14 mg/day). An average decrease, statistically significant, of blood cholesterol (22% of total cholesterol and 29% of LDL) and triglycerides (22% ) has been observed. The combination of monacolin K and polycosanol is considered an option for patients with low or moderate cardiovascular risk (AU)

Atheroprotective effects of (poly)phenols: a focus on cell cholesterol metabolism.

Collated observations from several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that dietary intake of (poly)phenols from nuts, coffee, cocoa, grapes, and berries may protect against the development of atherosclerosis. Whereas this beneficial activity has previously been linked mainly to antioxidant or anti-inflammatory properties, recently emerging data suggest mechanisms by which (poly)phenolic substances can modulate cellular lipid metabolism, thereby mitigating atherosclerotic plaque formation. In this review, both experimental studies and clinical trials investigating the atheroprotective effects of the most relevant dietary (poly)phenols are critically discussed.

Evolution of fatty alcohols in olive oils produced in Calabria (Southern Italy) during fruit ripening.

A study was conducted on olive oils extracted from olives collected in South West Calabria (Southern Italy) over three harvest years 2010-2011-2012. Three autochthonous cultivars were considered: Cassanese, Ottobratica and Sinopolese and seven allochtonous cultivars: Coratina, Itrana, Leccino, Nocellara Messinese, Nociara, Pendolino and Picholine. Thin Layer Chromatography - Gas Chromatograph (TLC-GC) technique permitted the separation and analysis of the fatty alcohol compounds. A general decline in fatty alcohol content was found during the three months of sampling, most evident in hexacosanol. Pendolino showed the greatest decline. A less evident decrease was measured in the odd chained fatty alcohols, mainly in heptacosanol. Both harvest date and cultivar significantly influenced the fatty alcohol content. This is the first report about the fatty alcohol variation during ripening in olive oil produced in South West Calabria (Southern Italy).

Rice bran: a novel functional ingredient.

Rice (Oryza sativa) is the most important staple food for a large part of the world's human population, especially in East and South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, and the West Indies. It provides more than one fifth of the calories consumed worldwide by the human. It is the second leading cereal crop and staple food of half of the world's population. It is grown in at least 114 countries with global production of 645 million tons; share of Asian farmers is about 90% of the total produce. Rice bran, brown outer layer of rice kernel, is mainly composed of pericarp, aleurone, subaleurone layer, and germ. It contains appreciable quantities of nutrients like protein, fat, and dietary fiber. Furthermore, it contains substantial amount of minerals like K, Ca, Mg, and Fe. Presence of antioxidants like tocopherols, tocotrienols, and γ-oryzanol also brighten prospects of rice bran utilization for humans as functional ingredient to mitigate the life-threatening disorders. Moreover, in the developing countries, budding dilemma of food crisis, arising due to lower crop yields and escalating population, needs to utilize each pent of available resources. To provide enough food to all people, there is the holistic approach of using the by-products generated during food processing and preparations. Rice is being processed in well-established industry, but the major apprehension is the utilization of its by-products; rice bran (5-8%) and polishing (2-3%) that are going as waste. Rice processing or milling produces several streams of materials including milled rice, bran, and husk. In developing countries, rice bran is considered as a by-product of the milling process and commonly used in animal feed or discarded as a waste. The potential of producing rice bran at the global level is 29.3 million tons annually, whereas the share of Pakistan is worked out to be 0.5 million tons. In present paper, attempt has been made to highlight the significance of these valuable but neglected ingredients under various headings.

Effect of flavonoids and saponins extracted from black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed coats as cholesterol micelle disruptors.

Strategies for reducing plasma cholesterol have been focused on reducing the absorption or synthesis of cholesterol. The aim of this study was to correlate the content of flavonoids and saponins in black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) seed coats extracts with a potential effect in lowering cholesterol absorption by the inhibition of cholesterol micellar solubility. Extracts with different flavonoids and saponins concentration were obtained from a Box-Behnken design used to optimize extraction temperature, stirring time and solvent composition. Major flavonoids and saponins were quantified by HPLC-PDA-ELSD and confirmed through mass spectrometry. Contrary to the flavonoid content, saponins were correlated to the inhibitory effect of cholesterol micelle solubility as an approach to a potential reduction of cholesterol absorption. Extracts with the highest saponin content strongly inhibited cholesterol micellization with values of 55.4 ± 1.9 %, while stigmasterol used as control, only reached 12 ± 2.3 % at the same concentration (5 mg/ml). The optimal extracting conditions for saponins were 25 °C, during 3 h in 85 % aqueous-methanol. Correlations of inhibitory effect of cholesterol micellar solubility with the content of each identified saponin suggested that the reduction of cholesterol micellization depends on the C-22 substitution of saponins.

Influence of different particle processing on hypocholesterolemic and antiatherogenic activities of yam (Dioscorea pseudojaponica) in cholesterol-fed rabbit model.

BACKGROUND: Nanoparticle processing is implicated in enhancing bioactive or nutritional compound release from raw foods. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether different particle processing might affect the lipid-lowering activity of Dioscorea pseudojaponica (DP) and to investigate whether DP could be a potential functional food for prevention of atherogenesis. Its possible molecular mechanisms were also evaluated. RESULTS: The results indicated that 50 mesh-size DP (50 mesh DP) particles exhibited stronger effects than nanoscale DP (nano DP) particles in terms of lowering the level of serum cholesterol as well as reducing the extent of fatty liver and aortic fatty streak. Moreover, both DP particle types, particularly 50 mesh DP, significantly activated AMPK (5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase) and deactivated ACC (acetyl-CoA carboxylase), as demonstrated by the increased levels of both enzymes in their phosphorylated form. Coincidently, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed a higher content (P < 0.01) of dioscin, a known lipid-lowering compound, in 50 mesh DP than in nano DP. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that improper processing conditions will lead to the decomposition of bioactive components in yam. They also demonstrate for the first time that the lipid-lowering mechanisms of DP may occur through the AMPK-ACC pathway.

Blueberry anthocyanins at doses of 0.5 and 1 % lowered plasma cholesterol by increasing fecal excretion of acidic and neutral sterols in hamsters fed a cholesterol-enriched diet.

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the underlying mechanism associated with the hypocholesterolemic activity of blueberry anthocyanins by examining its effect on fecal sterol excretion and gene expression of major receptors, enzymes, and transporters involved in cholesterol metabolism. METHODS: Hamsters were divided into three groups and fed a 0.1 % cholesterol diet containing 0 % (CTL), 0.5 % (BL), and 1.0 % (BH) blueberry anthocyanins, respectively, for six weeks. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TAG), and non-high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (non-HDL-C) were measured using the enzymatic kits, and the gene expression of transporters, enzymes, and receptors involved in cholesterol absorption and metabolism was quantified using the quantitative PCR. GC analysis was used to quantify hepatic cholesterol and fecal acidic and neutral sterols. RESULTS: Dietary supplementation of 0.5 and 1.0 % blueberry anthocyanins for 6 weeks decreased plasma TC concentration by 6-12 % in a dose-dependent manner. This was accompanied by increasing the excretion of fecal neutral and acidic sterols by 22-29 % and 41-74 %, respectively. Real-time PCR analyses demonstrated that incorporation of blueberry anthocyanins into diet down-regulated the genes of NPC1L1, ACAT-2, MTP, and ABCG 8. In addition, blueberry anthocyanins were also able to down-regulate the gene expression of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase. CONCLUSION: The cholesterol-lowering activity of blueberry anthocyanins was most likely mediated by enhancing the excretion of sterols accompanied with down-regulation on gene expression of intestinal NPC1L1, ACAT-2, MTP, and ABCG 8.

Chronic cranberry juice consumption restores cholesterol profiles and improves endothelial function in ovariectomized rats.

PURPOSE: Postmenopausal women experience higher risks for cardiovascular diseases than age-matched men and pre-menopausal women. There is a need for better treatment strategy for estrogen-deficient-related cardiovascular complications. We and others have recently reported that activated renin-angiotensin system and the associated oxidative stress impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in ovariectomized rat, while angiotensin receptor blocker rescues endothelial dysfunction. Dietary supplements and lifestyle modifications provide an alternative way to improve cardiovascular health. The present study tests the hypothesis that chronic cranberry juice consumption improves cholesterol profiles and vascular functions in estrogen-deficient animal model. The effect of cranberry consumption on expression and activity of renin-angiotensin system in the vasculature will be determined. METHODS: Ovariectomized rats were treated daily with commercial cranberry juice at 7 mg/kg for 8 weeks, a dosage comparable to recent clinical studies. Serum was collected for measuring cholesterol levels while aorta was isolated for isometric force assay and expression studies. RESULTS: Cranberry juice consumption reduced circulating levels of total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, HDL, nHDL, and nHDL/HDL ratio. Meanwhile, cranberry juice consumption improved endothelium-dependent relaxation in aorta of ovariectomized rats by restoring p-eNOS level (endothelial nitric oxide synthase phosphorylated at ser-1177), reversing the up-regulated levels of renin-angiotensin system markers (angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensin II, and angiotensin II type 1 receptor), and normalizing the elevated NAD(P)H oxidase expression and oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate the novel cardiovascular benefits of cranberry juice consumption in improving both vascular functions and cholesterol profiles, providing insight into developing cranberry products into useful dietary supplements for postmenopausal women.