Development of Low Glycemic Index Pancakes Formulated with Canary Seed (Phalaris Canariensis) Flour.

Consumers prefer food products that, in addition to nutritional properties, also have effects beneficial to health. Non-conventional food plants such as canary seed (Phalaris canariensis) constitute an alternative in the food industry due to nutritional properties, chemical, and bioactive potential. The aim of this research was to develop pancake formulations with the inclusion of canary seed flour to evaluate their proximate composition, overall score, taste and texture sensory acceptability, and glycemic index. Pancakes based on whole-wheat flour mixed with canary seed flour were developed at four substitution levels (control 0, 10, 30, and 50%). The formulations exhibited attractive nutritional properties, mainly due to the levels of protein (~ 8.7%), minerals (~ 5.1%), and total dietary fiber (4.7-5.9%). The overall score and taste showed a statistical difference (p < 0.05) between the formulations. The flours with 10 and 30% showed high sensory acceptability with scores of 6.22 and 6.67 respect to 7-point hedonic scale, between the categories "I like it" and "I like it a lot". All formulations presented a low glycemic index (34-39%) that was significantly influenced (p < 0.05) as the level of substitution increased. The findings represent a new approach to the use of canary seed in the development of healthy food products.

Application of Molecular Dynamics Simulations to Determine Interactions between Canary Seed (Phalaris canariensis L.) Bioactive Peptides and Skin-Aging Enzymes.

Food bioactive peptides are well recognized for their health benefits such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antihypertensive benefits, among others. Their drug-like behavior has led to their potential use in targeting skin-related aging factors like the inhibition of enzymes related with the skin-aging process. In this study, canary seed peptides (CSP) after simulated gastrointestinal digestion (<3 kDa) were fractioned by RP-HPLC and their enzyme-inhibition activity towards elastase and tyrosinase was evaluated in vitro. CSP inhibited elastase (IC50 = 6.2 mg/mL) and tyrosinase (IC50 = 6.1 mg/mL), while the hydrophobic fraction-VI (0.2 mg/mL) showed the highest inhibition towards elastase (93%) and tyrosinase (67%). The peptide fraction with the highest inhibition was further characterized by a multilevel in silico workflow, including physicochemical descriptor calculations, antioxidant activity predictions, and molecular dynamics-ensemble docking towards elastase and tyrosinase. To gain insights into the skin permeation process during molecular dynamics simulations, based on their docking scores, five peptides (GGWH, VPPH, EGLEPNHRVE, FLPH, and RPVNKYTPPQ) were identified to have favorable intermolecular interactions, such as hydrogen bonding of polar residues (W, H, and K) to lipid polar groups and 2-3 Å van der Waals close contact of hydrophobic aliphatic residues (P, V, and L). These interactions can play a critical role for the passive insertion of peptides into stratum corneum model skin-membranes, suggesting a promising application of CSP for skin-aging treatments.

Diterpenes from seeds of Phalaris canariensis and their PTP1B inhibitory activity and hypoglycemic effects in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

This present study was to evaluate the protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) inhibitory activity of nine diterpenes isolated from seeds of Phalaris canariensis, as well as their effect on streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic mice. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analyses. Diterpenes, 1, 4, and 2 exhibited the strongest inhibitory activity on PTP1B with IC50 values of 6.9, 7.3, and 6.5 µM, respectively, The administration of 1-9 showed significant effect on hyperglycemia, among them 1, 4, and 2 reduced fasting glucose levels (55.65%, 54.27%, and 51.22%, respectively). Results revealed that diterpenes performed potential antidiabetic activity via inhibition of PTP1B.[Formula: see text].

Antioxidant and Antihypertensive Potential of Protein Fractions from Flour and Milk Substitutes from Canary Seeds (Phalaris canariensis L.).

Canary seed (Phalaris canariensis) is used to feed birds but it has been recently considered a promising cereal with nutraceutical potential for humans. The aim of this work was to analyze the protein fractions from canary seed flour and from milk substitutes (prepared by soaking the seeds in water 12 and 24 h), and to evaluate antioxidant and antihypertensive capacity of peptides obtained after in vitro digestion. Prolamins were the major protein fraction, followed by glutelins. After digestion, albumins and prolamins fractions from milks presented higher levels of peptides than flour, globulins showed more peptides in flour and glutelins were found in similar concentrations in all samples; 24 h milk prolamins had the highest concentration of peptides. Purification by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), sequencing of peptides, in vitro antioxidant ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis, 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays, and antihypertensive capacity (angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) assay), indicated that peptides from canary seed prolamins were the most efficient compounds with antioxidant and antihypertensive activity. Canary seeds may be considered an accessible and cheap source to prepare milk substitutes with high contents of bioactive peptides with remarkable functional properties to promote better human health and healthy ageing.

Cardiovascular and Renal Effects of Birdseed Associated with Aerobic Exercise in Rats.

INTRODUCTION: Phalaris canariensis L. (Pc), known as birdseed, is rich in tryptophan. The aqueous extract of Pc (AEPc) treatment reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) via mechanisms mediated by the tryptophan metabolizing enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). Hypertension is a risk factor to cardiovascular and renal diseases. Considering that physical exercise improves hypertension and cardiovascular function, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the benefits of exercise (Ex) would be enhanced by concomitant AEPc treatment (400 mg·kg·d p.o.). METHODS: Vascular reactivity was assessed in aorta rings from SHR treated with AEPc for 4 wk. Training intensity was based on maximal lactate steady state obtained during the 2-wk adaptation period in a treadmill running. Then exercised (60 min running, five times per week during 8 wk) or sedentary SHR were untreated or treated with AEPc during 8 wk. SBP was estimated by plethysmograph. Heart mass and body mass were used to obtain the index of cardiac hypertrophy. Glucose tolerance test was evaluated by oral glucose overload, and the mRNA expressions of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), and IL-10 in the kidney were obtained by real time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: AEPc induced endothelial-mediated vascular relaxation. AEPc or Ex alone reduced SBP, the index of cardiac hypertrophy and ventricular fibrosis, improved glucose metabolism, and attenuated proteinuria and the renal expression of the proinflammatory IL-1ß with an overexpression in the anti-inflammatory IL-10. AEPc potentiated the benefits of the Ex on the cardiovascular system, metabolic parameters, and renal inflammation. CONCLUSION: Birdseed reduced cardiovascular risk related to hypertension and had positive effects when associated to physical exercise.

Ile-1781-Leu and Asp-2078-Gly Mutations in ACCase Gene, Endow Cross-resistance to APP, CHD, and PPZ in Phalaris minor from Mexico.

Herbicides that inhibit acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) are commonly used in Mexico to control weedy grasses such as little seed canarygrass (Phalaris minor). These herbicides are classified into three major families (ariloxyphenoxypropionates (APP), cyclohexanodiones (CHD), and, recently, phenylpyrazolines (PPZ)). In this work, the resistance to ACCase (APP, CHD, and PPZ) inhibiting herbicides was studied in a biotype of Phalaris minor (P. minor) from Mexico, by carrying out bioassays at the whole-plant level and investigating the mechanism behind this resistance. Dose-response and ACCase in vitro activity assays showed cross-resistance to all ACCase herbicides used. There was no difference in the absorption, translocation, and metabolism of the (14)C-diclofop-methyl between the R and S biotypes. The PCR generated CT domain fragments of ACCase from the R biotype and an S reference were sequenced and compared. The Ile-1781-Leu and Asp-2078-Gly point mutations were identified. These mutations could explain the loss of affinity for ACCase by the ACCase-inhibing herbicides. This is the first report showing that this substitution confers resistance to APP, CHD, and PPZ herbicides in P. minor from Mexico. The mutations have been described previously only in a few cases; however, this is the first study reporting on a pattern of cross-resistance with these mutations in P. minor. The findings could be useful for better management of resistant biotypes carrying similar mutations.

Isolation of the P5CS gene from reed canary grass and its expression under salt stress.

Reed canary grass (RCG) is a perennial grass traditionally cultivated for forage. It is also used as fuel to produce energy in Finland and Sweden, and other countries have expressed interest in the cultivation of RCG. In China, arable land is limited. Salinity is considered to be a major factor limiting plant crop development and productivity. To boost biofuel production of RCG and extend its range in saline soil, we seek to improve its salt tolerance. Proline acts as an osmolyte that accumulates when plants are subjected to abiotic stress. P5CS plays a crucial role in proline biosynthesis. We isolated a P5CS gene from RCG, designated B231P5CS (GenBank accession No. JQ622685). B231P5CS is a fragment (971 bp) that encodes a 323-amino acid polypeptide. We also cloned an actin gene fragment from RCG as a reference gene in expression analysis of B231P5CS gene. Expression analysis revealed that B231P5CS transcripts were upregulated in leaves after treatment with salt (200 mM NaCl) and that transcript levels of B231P5CS reached a maximum 12 h after exposure, which was 14.69 times the level in control plants. The trends of expression were exactly opposite in roots; transcripts were downregulated after salt treatment. Proline concentration increased in leaves after stress. In contrast, proline content of roots decreased up to 3.6-fold relative to controls. Changes in proline concentration after stress were correlated with B231P5CS expression. Our results suggest that B231P5CS is a stress-inducible gene and plays a non-redundant role in plant development. This gene may be used to improve stress tolerance of RGC and other bioenergy feedstock.

Characterization of antidiabetic and antihypertensive properties of canary seed (Phalaris canariensis L.) peptides.

Canary grass is used as traditional food for diabetes and hypertension treatment. The aim of this work is to characterize the biological activity of encrypted peptides released after gastrointestinal digestion of canary seed proteins. Canary peptides showed 43.5% inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) and 73.5% inhibition of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. An isolated perfused rat heart system was used to evaluate the canary seed vasoactive effect. Nitric oxide (NO), a major vasodilator agent, was evaluated in the venous effluent from isolated perfused rat heart. Canary seed peptides (1 µg/mL) were able to induce the production of NO (12.24 µM) in amounts similar to those induced by captopril (CPT) and bradykinin (BK). These results show that encrypted peptides in canary seed have inhibitory activity against DPPIV and ACE, enzymes that are targets for diabetes and hypertension treatments.

Blood pressure reducing effects of Phalaris canariensis in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The birdseed Phalaris canariensis (Pc) is popularly used as an antihypertensive agent. The aqueous extract of Pc (AEPc) was administered in adult normotensive Wistar rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and in prehypertensive young SHR (SHR(Y), 3 weeks old). Animals received AEPc (400 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1), by gavage) for 30 days, then groups were divided into 2 subgroups: one was treated for another 30 days and the other received water instead of AEPc for 30 days. AEPc reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) in both adult groups; however, treatment interruption was followed by a gradual return of the SBP to baseline levels. SHR(Y) became hypertensive 30 days after weaning. AEPc minimized the increase in SBP in SHR(Y), but blood pressure rose to levels similar to those in the untreated group with treatment interruption. There were no changes in renal function, diuresis, or Na(+) excretion. Pc is rich in tryptophan, and the inhibition of the metabolism of tryptophan to kynurenine, a potential vasodilator factor, prevented the blood pressure reducing effect of AEPc. Moreover, AEPc significantly reduced sympathoexcitation. Data indicate that the metabolic derivative of tryptophan, kynurenine, may be a mediator of the volume-independent antihypertensive effect of Pc, which was at least in part mediated by suppression of the sympathetic tonus.

Elaboración de una bebida de alpiste (Phalaris canariensis L) y su aplicación en ratas con hipercolesterolemia inducida experimentalmente / Development of a drink canary seed (Phalaris canariensis L) and its application in rats with experimentally induced hypercholesterolemia

Objetivo: Elaborar una bebida de alpiste (Phalaris canariensis L.) y determinar su efecto en ratas hipercolesterolémicas inducidas experimentalmente. Método: Se elaboró una bebida de alpiste saborizada con jugo de maracuyá la cual fue utilizada cruda o sometida a cocción por 10 minutos. Esta bebida también fue sometida a almacenamiento para evaluar el impacto del mismo sobre las características físico-químicas y organolépticas. La bebida fue luego administrada a ratas hipercolesterolémicas inducidas experimentalmente. Resultados: Las características de la bebida de alpiste con cocción de diez minutos, saborizada con jugo de maracuyá y pasteurizada fueron: pH, 3.57; °BRIX, 4; Acidez, 0.59 (gr. Ácido cítrico/100ml) y color, (tinte, amarillo verde limón; iluminación, 18; y saturación, 4) y calorías, 85 kcal/250ml. El tiempo de vida útil fue de, 8 días para aquellas almacenada al medio ambiente y de 20 días cuando fue almacenada a 4°C. En la evaluación del efecto hipocolesterolémico, se trabajó con 16 ratas de experimentación (rattus norvegicus) hipercolesterolémicos, los cuales fueron separados en 4 grupos de 4 animales. Se demostró el efecto de la dosis hipocolestorolémica (1.64 ml) de la bebida de alpiste (Phalaris canariensis L.), sometido a cocción de diez minutos, saborizada con jugo de maracuyá y pasteurizada; en ratas con hipercolesterolemia inducidas experimentalmente, pues produce disminución significativa (p<0.05) de los niveles de colesterol de 90.80 mg/dl a 78.75 mg/dl, triglicéridos de 105.075 mg/dl a 78.75 mg/dl y LDL-C de 22.6 mg/dl a 8.05 mg/dl. Conclusión: Se elaboró una bebida de alpiste con cocción de diez minutos, saborizada con jugo de maracuyá y pasteurizada que mostró en efecto hipercolesterolémico en ratas hipercolesterolémicas inducidas experimentalmente.

Acute and chronic nervous signs in cattle associated with Phalaris angusta poisoning in Argentina / Sinais nervosos agudos e crônicos em bovinos na Argentina associados à intoxicação por Phalaris angusta

Phalaris angusta is a South American natural grass that produces poisoning in sheep and cattle in Argentina and Brazil. Phalaris spp. can produce unrelated forms of poisoning in ruminants, acute and chronic syndromes. The objective of this paper was to describe an outbreak of acute and chronic Phalaris nervous syndrome in 53 of 980 fattening steers and heifers in a farm of Buenos Aires province. On September of 2006 the animals developed nervous signs and died after 3-5 days. The herd was removed to a phalarisfree pasture. Three months later (on December) 15 new clinical cases developed in the herd. Necropsy performed in one affected calf showed neither grossly nor microscopic changes. Microscopically, there were no major alterations in tissues. Nervous signs had been described in some field cases where neither pigment deposition nor axonal degeneration could be detected. Clinical findings displayed by affected cattle after consumption of Phalaris angusta pastures resemble those observed by other authors in Phalaris staggers. This is the first report in Argentina where both syndromes were seen in the same herd.(AU)

Phalaris angusta é uma gramínea originária da América do Sul, que causa intoxicação em ovinos e bovinos na Argentina e Brasil. A intoxicação pode ocasionar quadros nervosos agudos ou crônicos, independentes um do outro. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever ambos os quadros (agudo e crônico) da intoxicação por Phalaris em um rebanho de 980 garrotes em engorda na província de Buenos Aires. Em setembro de 2006, 53 animais desenvolveram sinais nervosos e morreram após um curso clínico de 3-5 dias. O rebanho foi trocado para uma pastagem sem Phalaris. Em dezembro, alguns animais apresentaram diarréia, depressão e perda progressiva de peso. Quando eram forçados a se movimentar, os sinais progrediam para incoordenação dos membros torácicos, impossibilidade de se manter em pé e decúbito lateral. Havia perda de peso e os animais morriam após um curso clínico de 5-7 dias. Não foram observadas lesões macroscópicas nem histológicas nos animais com as duas formas da doença. Os sinais clínicos observados são semelhantes aos observados em outros surtos de intoxicação aguda ou crônica por Phalaris angusta.(AU)

Acute and chronic nervous signs in cattle associated with Phalaris angusta poisoning in Argentina / Sinais nervosos agudos e crônicos em bovinos na Argentina associados à intoxicação por Phalaris angusta

Phalaris angusta is a South American natural grass that produces poisoning in sheep and cattle in Argentina and Brazil. Phalaris spp. can produce unrelated forms of poisoning in ruminants, acute and chronic syndromes. The objective of this paper was to describe an outbreak of acute and chronic Phalaris nervous syndrome in 53 of 980 fattening steers and heifers in a farm of Buenos Aires province. On September of 2006 the animals developed nervous signs and died after 3-5 days. The herd was removed to a phalarisfree pasture. Three months later (on December) 15 new clinical cases developed in the herd. Necropsy performed in one affected calf showed neither grossly nor microscopic changes. Microscopically, there were no major alterations in tissues. Nervous signs had been described in some field cases where neither pigment deposition nor axonal degeneration could be detected. Clinical findings displayed by affected cattle after consumption of Phalaris angusta pastures resemble those observed by other authors in Phalaris staggers. This is the first report in Argentina where both syndromes were seen in the same herd.

Phalaris angusta é uma gramínea originária da América do Sul, que causa intoxicação em ovinos e bovinos na Argentina e Brasil. A intoxicação pode ocasionar quadros nervosos agudos ou crônicos, independentes um do outro. O objetivo deste trabalho é descrever ambos os quadros (agudo e crônico) da intoxicação por Phalaris em um rebanho de 980 garrotes em engorda na província de Buenos Aires. Em setembro de 2006, 53 animais desenvolveram sinais nervosos e morreram após um curso clínico de 3-5 dias. O rebanho foi trocado para uma pastagem sem Phalaris. Em dezembro, alguns animais apresentaram diarréia, depressão e perda progressiva de peso. Quando eram forçados a se movimentar, os sinais progrediam para incoordenação dos membros torácicos, impossibilidade de se manter em pé e decúbito lateral. Havia perda de peso e os animais morriam após um curso clínico de 5-7 dias. Não foram observadas lesões macroscópicas nem histológicas nos animais com as duas formas da doença. Os sinais clínicos observados são semelhantes aos observados em outros surtos de intoxicação aguda ou crônica por Phalaris angusta.

Phytotoxic withanolides from Jaborosa rotacea.

Twelve new withanolides were isolated from the aerial part of Jaborosa rotacea: five had a spiranoid delta-lactone (1-5); one contained a 26,12-delta-lactone and a C-12-C-23 bond (6); five corresponded to trechonolide-type withanolides with configuration at C-23 opposite of those previously isolated (7, 8, 10-12); two of these have an additional oxido-bridge between C-21 and C-24; finally a withanolide with a hemiketal ring formed between a 21-hydroxyl and a 12-ketone (13) and the closely related jaborosalactone R were also isolated. New compounds were fully characterized by a combination of spectroscopic methods (1D and 2D NMR and MS). The structures of the spiranoid withanolide and of the epimer of trechonolide A were confirmed by X-ray diffraction studies. Compounds 4, 5, 6, and 8 showed selective phytotoxicity toward monocotyledoneous and dicotyledoneous species.