Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of the Iberian Peninsula Endemic Species Eryngium dilatatum Lam.

Eryngium dilatatum Lam. is a thorny Iberian Peninsula endemic species belonging to the Apiaceae family that has not been previously analysed from a chemical point of view. Following our studies on this genus, we characterized the chemical composition of the essential oils from the different parts (inflorescences, stems + leaves, and roots) of this species; these parts were gathered in Cádiz (Spain). The specimens were collected in July during the flowering period and air-dried before the oil extraction by hydro-distillation. The essential oils were analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. The different parts of the plant yielded low amounts of pale yellow oil, with the roots being the fraction that provided the lowest amount of oil. The chemical characterization of the essential oils showed qualitative and quantitative differences between the fractions examined, but all of them showed the same principal compound, germacrene D (9.1-46.5%). Similarly, all the fractions shared most of their representative constituents, with their percentage compositions being different from one sample to the other: α-cadinol (3.8%), bicyclogermacrene (3.5%), octanal (3.1%), and spathulenol (2.5%) were found in the inflorescences; octanal (8.1%), α-cadinol (3.7%), δ-cadinene (3.6%), (E)-caryophyllene (2.6%), bicyclogermacrene (2.5%), and spathulenol (2.4%) were found in the stems and leaves; and spathulenol (4.6%), α-cadinol (4.4%), khusinol (3.2%), α-muurolol (3.1%), and δ-cadinene (2.6%) were found in the roots. As far as we know, this is the first report about the chemical composition of this endemic species of the Iberian Peninsula. It contributes to the knowledge of this species and to the genus to which it belongs. This species could be considered as a natural source of germacrene D, which is a sesquiterpene hydrocarbon with active properties.

Genistein supplementation has no effects on vitamin D levels in healthy Spanish postmenopausal women.

Background: In vitro studies have shown that genistein inhibits the CYP240 enzyme, which is involved in the degradation of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol and its precursor 25-hydroxycholecalciferol, and increases their plasma levels. However, no clinical studies have primarily assessed the synergistic effect of isoflavones on vitamin D levels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible additive effect of genistein supplementation on vitamin D levels, calcium metabolism and bone remodeling markers in healthy postmenopausal women during the spring-summer months. Patients and methods: We made a prospective, double-blind study with 150 healthy postmenopausal women that were randomized to three groups. One received placebo, another received calcium (1000 mg/day) and vitamin D (cholecalciferol, 800 U/day) and the third received calcium (1000 mg/day), vitamin D (cholecalciferol, 800 U/day) and genistein (90 mg/day). The study period was from May to September (spring-summer). Vitamin D, PTH, CTX and P1NP were determined by electrochemiluminescence at baseline and after 12 weeks. Results: Vitamin D levels increased in all groups: placebo (23±9 ng/ml vs. 29±10 ng/ml, p<0.05), calcium+vitamin D (26±10 ng/ml vs. 33±8 ng/ml, p<0.05) and calcium+vitamin D+genistein (24±9 ng/ml vs. 31±8 ng/l, p<0.05) without between-group differences. At study end, the percentage of women with vitamin D <20 ng/ml (11%) and <30 ng/ml (39%) had fallen without between-group differences. The effects on calcium metabolism and bone remodeling markers were similar between groups: rises in vitamin D were significantly linked to reductions in PTH, CTX and P1NP. Conclusion: Adding genistein to supplementation with calcium and vitamin D provided not additional changes in vitamin D levels, calcium metabolism or bone remodeling markers in healthy Spanish postmenopausal women during the spring-summer months.

Influence of Obesity on Bone Turnover Markers and Fracture Risk in Postmenopausal Women.

Background and aims: The relationship between obesity and bone metabolism is controversial. In recent decades, the protective role of obesity in the development of osteoporosis is questioned. The aims of this study are the following: to evaluate the differences in bone turnover markers between postmenopausal women with and without obesity and to compare the risk of fracture at five years between these groups. Methods: An observational longitudinal prospective cohort study of postmenopausal women with obesity (O) (body mass index (BMI) > 30 kg/m2) and non-obesity (NoO) (BMI < 30 kg/m2) is designed. 250 postmenopausal women are included in the study (NoO: 124 (49.6%) and O: 126 (50.4%)). It measures epidemiological variables, dietary variables (calcium intake, vitamin D intake, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity), biochemicals (ß-crosslap, type I procollagen amino-terminal peptide (P1NP), 25OH-vitamin D, and parathyroid hormone (PTH)), anthropometric variables, and fracture data five years after the start of the study. The mean age is 56.17 (3.91) years. Women with obesity showed lower levels of vitamin D (O: 17.27 (7.85) ng/mL, NoO: 24.51 (9.60) ng/mL; p < 0.01), and higher levels of PTH (O: 53.24 (38.44−65.96) pg/mL, NoO: 35.24 (25.36−42.40) pg/mL; p < 0.01). Regarding the bone formation marker (P1NP), it was found to be high in women without obesity, O: 45.46 (34.39−55.16) ng/mL, NoO: 56.74 (45.34−70.74) ng/mL; p < 0.01; the bone resorption marker (ß-crosslap) was found to be high in women with obesity, being significant in those older than 59 years (O: 0.39 (0.14) ng/mL, NoO 0.24 (0.09) ng/mL; p < 0.05). No differences are observed in the risk of fracture at 5 years based on BMI (OR = 0.90 (95%CI 0.30−2.72); p = 0.85). Conclusions: Postmenopausal women with obesity showed lower levels of bone formation markers; older women with obesity showed higher markers of bone resorption.

Association Between Bat Vitamin D Receptor 3' Haplotypes and Vitamin D Levels at Baseline and a Lower Response After Increased Vitamin D Supplementation and Exposure to Sunlight.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between vitamin D levels at baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation/exposure to sunlight and VDR genotypes (BsmI, TaqI and ApaI) and haplotypes in a homogeneous population of postmenopausal women. Methods: We made a prospective study in which 151 women were randomized to two groups: One with 1000 mg of calcium and 800 IU vitamin D supplementation (102 women) and a placebo group with neither calcium or vitamin D supplementation (49 women). The follow-up was from May to September 2012.Vitamin D was determined by chemiluminescent immunoassay. Genotypes were determined using the Sequenomi Plexplatform and haplotypes using PHASE software. Results: Baseline (25 ± 10 ng/mlvs.23 ± 9 ng/ml, p > 0.05) and 12-week (32 ± 8 ng/mlvs.29 ± 10 ng/ml, p > 0.05) vitamin D levels were similar between the two groups. The genetic study was made in the total population. There were no differences in baseline and final levels of vitamin D in terms of genotypes and haplotypes, except for the Bat haplotype, whose baseline values were lower (25OHD: 21 ± 10 ng/mlvs. 21 ± 10 ng/ml, p = 0.038). The rate of nonresponders in this group was 15 % (p = 0.001), compared with 9 %, 2 % and 3 % in the other groups. Conclusions: The Bat haplotype was associated with lower baseline levels of vitamin D and a worse response to supplementation and, therefore, may be a risk factor for vitamin D deficiency.

Estrogen receptor genes polymorphisms determine serum lipid profile in healthy postmenopausal women treated with calcium, vitamin D, and genistein.

Cardiovascular risk increases in women after menopause. Unfavorable lipid-lipoprotein changes due to a lack of estrogens may have an important role in this context. Estrogen actions are mainly mediated by their binding to two estrogen receptors (ERs) whose signaling may be conditioned by different factors. Calcium, vitamin D, and genistein, among others, cause a beneficial effect on serum lipid profile by its modulation. Some genetic factors can also determine this signal. We determined the possible additive effect of genistein on calcium and vitamin D supplementation regarding serum lipid profile changes and whether ER polymorphisms may mediate in this effect. We performed a prospective, double blind study in which women were randomized in two groups: one group received calcium and vitamin D and the other group received calcium, vitamin D and genistein. Subsequently, we studied rs9340799, rs928554, and rs4986938 ER polymorphisms in both groups. Our results showed that being a carrier of the variant allele G of rs928554 polymorphism was associated with a greater decrease in triglyceride levels and that the homozygous AA genotype of rs9340799 polymorphism was associated with a greater decrease in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels after calcium, vitamin D, and genistein supplementation. This is the first report showing an association between polymorphisms in ER genes and an improvement of the serum lipid profile after taking calcium, vitamin D, and genistein supplementation in postmenopausal women. It reinforces the hypothesis that genetic factors are crucial in ER signalling.

The Effect of Genistein Supplementation on Vitamin D Levels and Bone Turnover Markers during the Summer in Healthy Postmenopausal Women: Role of Genotypes of Isoflavone Metabolism.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to determine whether vitamin D and genistein supplementation had an additive beneficial effect on levels of vitamin D and bone markers and whether this effect was mediated by genes regulating isoflavone metabolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We carried out a prospective study in postmenopausal women randomized to calcium and vitamin D supplementation or calcium, vitamin D, and genistein supplementation. Vitamin D, parathyroid hormone (PTH), cross-linked C-telopeptide (CTX), and procollagen 1 N-terminal (P1NP) were determined by electrochemiluminescence. Three SNPs - rs2231142 (ABCG2), rs358231 (cytosolic ß-glucosidase [CBG]), and rs2273697 (ABCC2) - were determined. RESULTS: We included 102 women. The effects on bone remodeling were similar: rises in vitamin D were significantly associated with reductions in PTH, CTX, and P1NP. Pharmacogenomic analysis of the genotypes showed that, in AT heterozygotes of the CBG1368T>A polymorphism, CTX and P1NP were not reduced. CONCLUSION: Genistein added to calcium and vitamin D supplementation had no additional effect. The supplementation of individual AT heterozygotes of the CBG1368T>A polymorphism had no effect on markers of bone remodeling.

Essential oil composition of the different parts of Eryngium aquifolium from Spain.

The essential oils from the different parts [inflorescences (E.a.I), stems + leaves (E.a.SL) and roots (E.a.R)] of E. aquifolium Cav. gathered in Cádiz (Spain), have been extracted by steam distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Quantitative and qualitative differences have been found between the analyzed plant parts. A total of 107 compounds have been identified. The main constituents were germacrene D (30.3%) and sesquicineole (26.7%) for E.a.I fraction, germacrene D (46.0%) and myrcene (13.8%) in the E.a.SL, while E.a.R showed phyllocladene isomer (63.6%) as a unique major compound. The percentage composition of the other constituents was lower than 5.5% in all the analyzed fractions. In agreement with other Eryngium species, no specific compound could be used as a marker for the chemotaxonomy of E. aquifolium. However, similarities in volatile composition were found between E. aquifolium and other species growing under similar environmental conditions. As far as we know, this is the first report on the essential oil of this species.

Analysis of the essential oil composition from the different parts of Eryngiumglaciale Boiss. from Spain.

The essential oil from the different parts (inflorescences, stems + leaves and roots) of Eryngium glaciale Boiss. gathered in Sierra Nevada (Spain) has been extracted by steam distillation and analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Quantitative but not qualitative differences have been found between the analysed parts. The principal compounds from the inflorescences oil were found to be phyllocladene isomer (43.5%), (E)-caryophyllene (15.2%) and valencene (11.5%), while the oil from stems and leaves only showed phyllocladene isomer (41.3%) as main one. The oil from the roots presented phyllocladene isomer (49.4%) and linalool (19.1%) as major constituents. This is the first report on the chemical composition of this species.

The Biflavonoid Pattern of the Moss Bartramia ithyphylla (Bartramiaceae, Musci).

From Bartramia ithyphylla the following five biflavonoids were isolated: philonotisflavone, 2,3-dihydrophilonotisflavone, dicranolomin, 5',3'''-dihydroxyamentoflavone and 5'-hydroxyamentoflavone.