Lactic Acid Fermentation of Pomegranate Juice as a Tool to Improve Antioxidant Activity.

An increasing consumer demand for pomegranate has been globally observed, mainly thanks to the scientific evidence related to its functional and health-promoting features. Pomegranate fruits from twenty accessions identified in Southeastern Italy were characterized according to morphological and chemical features. Juices extracted from pomegranate fruits were fermented with selected Lactobacillus plantarum PU1 and the antioxidant activity investigated. Whey was added to juices to promote the microbial growth. Fermentation led to the increase of the radical scavenging activity (up to 40%) and significant inhibition of the linoleic acid peroxidation. The three fermented juices showing the highest antioxidant activity, and the corresponding unfermented controls, were further characterized. In detail, the cytotoxicity and the protective role toward artificially induced oxidative stress were determined on murine fibroblasts Balb 3T3 through the determination of the viability and the intracellular ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavenging activity (RSA). RSA reached values of ca. 70% in fermented juices, being ca. 40% higher than the unfermented and control samples. Phenols compounds of the pomegranate juices obtained from accessions "Bitonto Piscina," "Sanrà nero," and "Wonderful (reference cultivar) were analyzed through ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, showing that a marked increase (up to 60%) of the ellagitannins derivatives occurred during fermentation. Sensory analysis showed suitability of the fermented juices to be used as beverage and food ingredient.

Branched-chain amino acid supplementation does not enhance athletic performance but affects muscle recovery and the immune system.

Since the 1980's there has been high interest in branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) by sports nutrition scientists. The metabolism of BCAA is involved in some specific biochemical muscle processes and many studies have been carried out to understand whether sports performance can be enhanced by a BCAA supplementation. However, many of these researches have failed to confirm this hypothesis. Thus, in recent years investigators have changed their research target and focused on the effects of BCAA on the muscle protein matrix and the immune system. Data show that BCAA supplementation before and after exercise has beneficial effects for decreasing exercise-induced muscle damage and promoting muscle-protein synthesis. Muscle damage develops delayed onset muscle soreness: a syndrome that occurs 24-48 h after intensive physical activity that can inhibit athletic performance. Other recent works indicate that BCAA supplementation recovers peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation in response to mitogens after a long distance intense exercise, as well as plasma glutamine concentration. The BCAA also modifies the pattern of exercise-related cytokine production, leading to a diversion of the lymphocyte immune response towards a Th1 type. According to these findings, it is possible to consider the BCAA as a useful supplement for muscle recovery and immune regulation for sports events.

Mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in motor neuron degeneration (mnd) mouse central nervous system.

The mnd mouse spontaneously develops slowly evolving motoneuron pathology leading to progressive motor impairment. There is strong evidence that a complex interplay between oxidative stress, mitochondria abnormalities and alteration of glutamate neurotransmission plays an important role in the pathogenesis of motor neuron diseases. Therefore, we investigated the presence of mitochondrial dysfunction in frontal, central (comprising the motor area) and occipital regions of the cerebral cortex and in the spinal cord of 35-week-old mnd mice. Lipid peroxide derivatives reacting with thiobarbituric acid (TBARS) were measured in the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord. In addition biochemical and behavioural analyses were carried out in mnd mice chronically treated with l-carnitine from the 11th to the 34th week of life (mndT mice). Slight but significant alterations of mitochondrial enzyme activities were seen in the mnd cortical regions. The central area was the most affected and both complex I, IV and citrate synthase were decreased with respect to controls. The rate of oxygen consumption (QO2) was markedly decreased in both the upper (cervical + upper portion of the thoracic region) and lower (lumbar + lower portion of the thoracic region) mnd spinal cord. The level of TBARS showed a rostro-caudal trend to increase, being 30% higher in the lumbar tract of mnd mice in comparison with controls. L-carnitine treatment increased the mitochondrial enzyme activities in cortical regions towards control value and was effective in enhancing QO2 and decreasing TBARS levels in the spinal cord of mndT. Behavioural testing showed that L-carnitine significantly delayed the onset of motor behaviour impairment. This beneficial effect was declining at 35 week of age, when the biochemical measurements were performed.