Individual and Combined Antioxidant Activity of Spices and Spice Phenolics.

The present study investigated the interaction effects (additive, synergistic, and antagonistic) of different groups of spices, their constituent phenolic compounds, and synthetic antioxidants on the total phenol (TP) content and antioxidant activity, as measured by the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the mixtures. The results showed that there was an additive effect in all the groups studied, except for the group containing turmeric or curcumin. The groups containing turmeric or curcumin showed a moderate synergistic effect. Among the groups of spices, the highest summated TP (50.6 mg GAE/mL) and FRAP (106.2 mg Trolox/mL) values were observed in the group containing clove, cinnamon, pimento, rosemary, oregano, and cardamom. In the case of the groups of pure phenolics, the highest summated TP (364.96 mg GAE/mL) and FRAP (1124.25 mg Trolox/mL) values were observed in the group containing eugenol, acetyl eugenol, caffeic acid, and protocatechuic acid. The summated and combined TP and FRAP values of the samples correlated highly with the correlation coefficients (r2) of 0.976 and 0.988, respectively, inferring an additive nature of the interaction effect in most of the groups studied. The interactions of phenolics in mixtures are very complex, being affected by a number of factors, and requires more investigations. The current study will add considerable knowledge to the existing literature to understand the diversity and mechanisms of interactions.

Enrichment and Assessment of the Contributions of the Major Polyphenols to the Total Antioxidant Activity of Onion Extracts: A Fractionation by Flash Chromatography Approach.

The present study extensively fractionated crude red onion extract in order to identify the polyphenols which contributed most in the total antioxidant capacity of the onion extract using a flash chromatography system. The flash separations produced 70 fractions which were tested for their total phenol content, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacities as measured by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. Out of these 70 fractions, four fractions which were representatives of the four major peaks of the flash chromatograms, were further analysed for their constituent polyphenols using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The main contributor of onion antioxidant capacity is quercetin glycoside followed by quercetin aglycone although quercetin aglycone had higher antioxidant capacity than its glycosidic counterparts. High abundance of quercetin glycosides such as quercetin-3,4'-diglucoside and quercetin-4'-glucoside had compensated for their relatively low antioxidant capacities. A Higher degree of glycosylation resulted in lower antioxidant capacity. The fractionation approach also contributed in enrichment of the onion antioxidant polyphenols. A >9 folds enrichment was possible by discarding the early fractions (fractions 1⁻15) which contained the main bulk of the extracts, predominantly sugars.

Types of urinary incontinence in Bangladeshi women at midlife: Prevalence and risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of, and risk factors for, sub-types of urinary incontinence (UI) in a nationally representative sample of midlife Bangladeshi women. METHODS: Bangladeshi women, aged 30-59, recruited by multi-stage cluster sampling, completed the Questionnaire for the Diagnosis of Urinary Incontinence. The prevalence and the factors associated with each form of UI were explored using multivariable weighted logistic regression. RESULTS: 59.3% of the women were premenopausal, 8.4% perimenopausal and 32.3% postmenopausal. 83.2% had a BMI < 28 kg/m2 and none were using menopausal hormone therapy. The prevalence of stress UI was 5.4% (95% CI 4.4-6.6%), urgency UI 11.3% (9.8-12.9%), and mixed UI 7.0% (5.8-8.3%). Urgency UI was the most prevalent form of UI at each decade of age. Postmenopausal women were significantly more likely to have urgency UI (AOR 2.41, 95%CI 1.38-4.20; p = 0.002) and mixed UI (AOR 2.35, 95%CI 1.22-4.50; p = 0.010). Having more than 2 children was significantly associated with stress UI (AOR 2.79, 95%CI 1.30-6.00; p = 0.009) and urgency UI (AOR 2.34, 95%CI 1.28-4.30; p = 0.006), pelvic organ prolapse with stress UI (AOR 2.46, 95%CI 1.34-4.52; p = 0.004) and mixed UI (AOR 3.40, 95%CI 2.00-5.80; p < 0.0001), and diabetes with mixed UI (AOR 3.16, 95%CI 1.67-5.97; p < 0.0001). The women in the highest wealth quintile (AOR 0.27, 95%CI 0.10-0.72; p = 0.009) and underweight women had a lower risk of urgency UI (AOR 0.21, 95%CI 0.06-0.77; p = 0.018), while urgency UI was associated with working outside the home (AOR 3.11, 95%CI 1.36-7.15; p = 0.007) and obesity (AOR 3.00, 95%CI 1.57-5.74; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of UI amongst Bangladeshi midlife women is low, with urgency UI the most common form, in contrast to developed countries, where stress UI predominates. Being postmenopausal, having more than two children, being obese and working outside the home increase the likelihood of urgency UI, whereas higher socio-economic status and lower weight appear to be protective. Menopausal hormone therapy use was not reported by any study participants.

TIE2 Associates with Caveolae and Regulates Caveolin-1 To Promote Their Nuclear Translocation.

DNA repair pathways are aberrant in cancer, enabling tumor cells to survive standard therapies-chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Our group previously reported that, upon irradiation, the membrane-bound tyrosine kinase receptor TIE2 translocates into the nucleus and phosphorylates histone H4 at Tyr51, recruiting ABL1 to the DNA repair complexes that participate in the nonhomologous end-joining pathway. However, no specific molecular mechanisms of TIE2 endocytosis have been reported. Here, we show that irradiation or ligand-induced TIE2 trafficking is dependent on caveolin-1, the main component of caveolae. Subcellular fractionation and confocal microscopy demonstrated TIE2/caveolin-1 complexes in the nucleus, and using inhibitor or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) against caveolin-1 or Tie2 inhibited their trafficking. TIE2 was found in caveolae and directly phosphorylated caveolin-1 at Tyr14 in vitro and in vivo This modification regulated the generation of TIE2/caveolin-1 complexes and was essential for TIE2/caveolin-1 nuclear translocation. Our data further demonstrate that the combination of TIE2 and caveolin-1 inhibitors resulted in significant radiosensitization of malignant glioma cells, which will guide the development of combinatorial treatment with radiotherapy for patients with glioblastoma.

High levels of circulating folate concentrations are associated with DNA methylation of tumor suppressor and repair genes p16, MLH1, and MGMT in elderly Chileans.

BACKGROUND: Changes in DNA methylation, one of the most studied epigenetic mechanisms, are considered an initial marker for early cancer detection. We evaluated how availability of dietary factors (folates and vitamin B12) involved in one-carbon metabolism may contribute to DNA methylation changes of cancer-related genes in human subjects. METHODS: We studied, by pyrosequencing, the methylation of tumor suppressor gene p16, DNA repair genes MLH1 and MGMT, and the repetitive element LINE-1 (as a surrogate for global DNA methylation), in blood of elderly individuals (n = 249) who had been exposed to folic acid (FA) through FA-fortified wheat flour during the last 12 years. RESULTS: We found that serum folate and to a lesser extent, vitamin B12 concentrations, were significantly correlated with DNA methylation of p16, MLH1, and MGMT, but not with LINE-1. High serum folate concentrations (>45.3 nmol/L) were present in 31.1% of the participants. Although the methylated fraction of CpG sites in p16, MLH1, and MGMT was low (1.17-3.8%), high folate concentrations were significantly associated with methylation at the 3rd tertile of specific CpG sites in all genes with OR between 1.97 and 4.17. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that a public policy, like food fortification with FA that increases circulating serum folate levels, could affect methylation levels of specific genes linked to cancer risk. Our present results deserve additional studies to clarify the real impact of high FA levels for risk of cancer in a whole population chronically exposed to a fortified food such as wheat flour. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN 48153354 and ISRCTN 02694183.

Oncolytic Adenovirus and Tumor-Targeting Immune Modulatory Therapy Improve Autologous Cancer Vaccination.

Oncolytic viruses selectively lyse tumor cells, disrupt immunosuppression within the tumor, and reactivate antitumor immunity, but they have yet to live up to their therapeutic potential. Immune checkpoint modulation has been efficacious in a variety of cancer with an immunogenic microenvironment, but is associated with toxicity due to nonspecific T-cell activation. Therefore, combining these two strategies would likely result in both effective and specific cancer therapy. To test the hypothesis, we first constructed oncolytic adenovirus Delta-24-RGDOX expressing the immune costimulator OX40 ligand (OX40L). Like its predecessor Delta-24-RGD, Delta-24-RGDOX induced immunogenic cell death and recruit lymphocytes to the tumor site. Compared with Delta-24-RGD, Delta-24-RGDOX exhibited superior tumor-specific activation of lymphocytes and proliferation of CD8+ T cells specific to tumor-associated antigens, resulting in cancer-specific immunity. Delta-24-RGDOX mediated more potent antiglioma activity in immunocompetent C57BL/6 but not immunodeficient athymic mice, leading to specific immune memory against the tumor. To further overcome the immune suppression mediated by programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression on cancer cells accompanied with virotherapy, intratumoral injection of Delta-24-RGDOX and an anti-PD-L1 antibody showed synergistic inhibition of gliomas and significantly increased survival in mice. Our data demonstrate that combining an oncolytic virus with tumor-targeting immune checkpoint modulators elicits potent in situ autologous cancer vaccination, resulting in an efficacious, tumor-specific, and long-lasting therapeutic effect. Cancer Res; 77(14); 3894-907. ©2017 AACR.

TIE2-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation of H4 regulates DNA damage response by recruiting ABL1.

DNA repair pathways enable cancer cells to survive DNA damage induced after genotoxic therapies. Tyrosine kinase receptors (TKRs) have been reported as regulators of the DNA repair machinery. TIE2 is a TKR overexpressed in human gliomas at levels that correlate with the degree of increasing malignancy. Following ionizing radiation, TIE2 translocates to the nucleus, conferring cells with an enhanced nonhomologous end-joining mechanism of DNA repair that results in a radioresistant phenotype. Nuclear TIE2 binds to key components of DNA repair and phosphorylates H4 at tyrosine 51, which, in turn, is recognized by the proto-oncogene ABL1, indicating a role for nuclear TIE2 as a sensor for genotoxic stress by action as a histone modifier. H4Y51 constitutes the first tyrosine phosphorylation of core histones recognized by ABL1, defining this histone modification as a direct signal to couple genotoxic stress with the DNA repair machinery.

Antioxidant-guided isolation and mass spectrometric identification of the major polyphenols in barley (Hordeum vulgare) grain.

In the present study, the relative contribution of individual/classes of polyphenols in barley, to its antioxidant properties, was evaluated. Flash chromatography was used to fractionate the total polyphenol extract of Irish barley cultivar 'Irina', and fractions with highest antioxidant properties were identified using total phenolic content and three in vitro antioxidant assays: DPPH, FRAP, and ORAC. Flavanols (catechin, procyanidin B, prodelphinidin B, procyanidin C) and a novel substituted flavanol (catechin dihexoside, C27H33O16(-), m/z 613.17), were identified as constituents of the fraction with highest antioxidant capacity. Upon identification of phenolics in the other active fractions, the order of most potent contributors to observed antioxidant capacity of barley extract were, flavanols>flavonols (quercetin)>hydroxycinnamic acids (ferulic, caffeic, coumaric acids). The most abundant polyphenol in the overall extract was ferulic acid (277.7µg/gdw barley), followed by procyanidin B (73.7µg/gdw barley).

Critical Role of Autophagy in the Processing of Adenovirus Capsid-Incorporated Cancer-Specific Antigens.

Adenoviruses are highly immunogenic and are being examined as potential vectors for immunotherapy. Infection by oncolytic adenovirus is followed by massive autophagy in cancer cells. Here, we hypothesize that autophagy regulates the processing of adenoviral proteins for antigen presentation. To test this hypothesis, we first examined the presentation of viral antigens by infected cells using an antibody cocktail of viral capsid proteins. We found that viral antigens were processed by JNK-mediated autophagy, and that autophagy was required for their presentation. Consistent with these results, splenocytes isolated from virus-immunized mice were activated by infected cells in an MHC II-dependent manner. We then hypothesize that this mechanism can be utilized to generate an efficient cancer vaccine. To this end, we constructed an oncolytic virus encompassing an EGFRvIII cancer-specific epitope in the adenoviral fiber. Infection of cancer cells with this fiber-modified adenovirus resulted in recognition of infected cancer cells by a specific anti-EGFRvIII antibody. However, inhibition of autophagy drastically decreased the capability of the specific antibody to detect the cancer-related epitope in infected cells. Our data suggest that combination of adenoviruses with autophagy inducers may enhance the processing and presentation of cancer-specific antigens incorporated into capsid proteins.

Prevalence and severity of vasomotor symptoms and joint pain in women at midlife in Bangladesh: a population-based survey.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to document the prevalence of menopausal symptoms and the extent to which women are bothered by vasomotor symptoms (VMS) and joint pain in Bangladesh. METHODS: A total of 1,590 women, aged 30 to 59 years, participated in a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study between September 2013 and March 2014. The main outcome measures were moderate to severely bothersome VMS and joint pain, measured by the Menopause-Specific Quality of Life questionnaire. RESULTS: Of participants, 59.4% were premenopausal, 8.4% perimenopausal, and 32.3% postmenopausal. Approximately all women reached menopause by the age of 50 years. The prevalence of moderate to severely bothersome VMS was 4.1% in premenopausal, 33.3% in perimenopausal, and 28.2% in postmenopausal women. Factors associated with moderate to severely bothersome VMS were being perimenopausal (odds ratio [OR] 46.34, 95% CI 13.29-161.56; P < 0.001) or postmenopausal (OR 19.15, 95% CI 5.63-65.11; P < 0.001) and obesity (OR 2.20, 95% CI 1.03-4.71; P = 0.042). The prevalence of moderate to severely bothersome joint pain was 40.3% in postmenopausal, 36.2% in perimenopausal, and 15.3% in premenopausal women. Moderate to severely bothersome joint pain was more likely both in perimenopausal (OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.63-4.29; P < 0.001) and postmenopausal women (OR 2.96, 95% CI 2.06-4.24; P < 0.001). Moderate to severely bothersome joint pain was also more likely in women with no education compared with women having education beyond secondary school (OR 2.38, 95% CI 1.02-2.32; P < 0.001). No women reported prescription therapy for menopausal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that a high proportion of Bangladeshi women experience moderate to severely bothersome VMS and joint pain. Despite the considerable symptom prevalence, no women reported treatment, suggesting that menopause remains neglected in Bangladesh.

Effect of Drying Methods on the Steroidal Alkaloid Content of Potato Peels, Shoots and Berries.

The present study has found that dried potato samples yielded significantly higher levels of steroidal alkaloids such as α-solanine and α-chaconine than the corresponding fresh samples, as determined by the UPLC-MS/MS technique. Among the drying techniques used, air drying had the highest effect on steroidal alkaloid contents, followed by freeze drying and vacuum oven drying. There was no significant difference between the freeze dried and vacuum oven dried samples in their α-chaconine contents. However, freeze dried potato shoots and berries had significantly higher α-solanine contents (825 µg/g dry weight (DW) in shoots and 2453 µg/g DW in berries) than the vacuum oven dried ones (325 µg/g dry weight (DW) in shoots and 2080 µg/g DW in berries). The kinetics of steroidal alkaloid contents of potato shoots during air drying were monitored over a period of 21 days. Both α-solanine and α-chaconine content increased to their maximum values, 875 µg/g DW and 3385 µg/g DW, respectively, after 7 days of drying. The steroidal alkaloid contents of the shoots decreased significantly at day 9, and then remained unchanged until day 21. In line with the potato shoots, air dried potato tuber peels also had higher steroidal alkaloid content than the freeze dried and vacuum oven dried samples. However, a significant decrease of steroidal alkaloid content was observed in air dried potato berries, possibly due to degradation during slicing of the whole berries prior to air drying. Remarkable variation in steroidal alkaloid contents among different tissue types of potato plants was observed with the potato flowers having the highest content.

Soluble Tie2 overrides the heightened invasion induced by anti-angiogenesis therapies in gliomas.

Glioblastoma recurrence after treatment with the anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agent bevacizumab is characterized by a highly infiltrative and malignant behavior that renders surgical excision and chemotherapy ineffective. Our group has previously reported that Tie2-expressing monocytes (TEMs) are aberrantly present at the tumor/normal brain interface after anti-VEGF therapies and their significant role in the invasive outgrowth of these tumors. Here, we aimed to further understand the mechanisms leading to this pro-invasive tumor microenvironment. Examination of a U87MG xenogeneic glioma model and a GL261 murine syngeneic model showed increased tumor expression of angiopoietin 2 (Ang2), a natural ligand of Tie2, after anti-angiogenesis therapies targeting VEGF or VEGF receptor (VEGFR), as assessed by immunohistochemical analysis, immunofluorescence analysis, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays of tumor lysates. Migration and gelatinolytic assays showed that Ang2 acts as both a chemoattractant of TEMs and an enhancing signal for their tumor-remodeling properties. Accordingly, in vivo transduction of Ang2 into intracranial gliomas increased recruitment of TEMs into the tumor. To reduce invasive tumor outgrowth after anti-angiogenesis therapy, we targeted the Ang-Tie2 axis using a Tie2 decoy receptor. Using syngeneic models, we observed that overexpression of soluble Tie2 within the tumor prevented the recruitment of TEMs to the tumor and the development of invasion after anti-angiogenesis treatment. Taken together, these data indicate an active role for the Ang2-Tie2 pathway in invasive glioma recurrence after anti-angiogenesis treatment and provide a rationale for testing the combined targeting of VEGF and Ang-Tie2 pathways in patients with glioblastoma.

Awareness of breast cancer and barriers to breast screening uptake in Bangladesh: A population based survey.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the awareness of breast cancer (BCa) and BCa screening amongst women at midlife in Bangladesh. METHODS: A nationally representative cross-sectional survey of women aged 30-59 years was conducted in 7 districts of the 7 divisions in Bangladesh, using a multistage cluster sampling technique. The factors associated with the awareness of BCa and breast assessment of asymptomatic women were investigated separately, using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 1590 participants, mean age 42.3 (±8.0) years, 81.9% had ever heard of BCa and 64.2% of any methods of BCa screening, respectively. Awareness of BCa was associated with being aged 40-49 years (adjusted OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.46-2.84), aged 49-59 years (1.96, 1.32-2.91), being overweight (1.46, 1.07-2.01) and obesity (1.62, 1.01-2.62), while inversely associated with rural dwelling (0.37, 0.22-0.61), primary education (0.44, 0.27-0.70), having no education (0.23, 0.14-0.36) and parity (0.62, 0.44-0.87). Of the 750 women who were aware of clinical breast examination (CBE) or mammography, reasons provided for not undergoing screening included that they had no symptoms (92%) and that they did not know screening was needed (40%). 8% of women reported CBE. Women with no education were less likely to have undergone CBE (0.38, 0.141.04; p=0.059). CONCLUSION: Lack of understanding of the assessment of asymptomatic women is the key obstacle to BCa screening uptake in Bangladesh. Health education programs, especially BCa awareness programs, have the potential to increase BCa awareness and down-staging of the disease.

Lack of Understanding of Cervical Cancer and Screening Is the Leading Barrier to Screening Uptake in Women at Midlife in Bangladesh: Population-Based Cross-Sectional Survey.

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer (CCa) is the second most common cancer among women in Bangladesh. The uptake of CCa screening was less than 10% in areas where screening has been offered, so we investigated the awareness of CCa and CCa screening, and factors associated with women's preparedness to be screened. METHODS: A nationally representative, cross-sectional survey of women aged 30-59 years was conducted in 7 districts of the 7 divisions in Bangladesh, using a multistage cluster sampling technique. Factors associated with the awareness of CCa and screening uptake were investigated separately, using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS: On systematic questioning, 81.3% and 48.6% of the 1,590 participants, whose mean age was 42.3 (±8.0) years, had ever heard of CCa and CCa screening, respectively. Having heard of CCa was associated with living in a rural area (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.42; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.26-0.67), being 40-49 years old (OR: 1.59; 95% CI: 1.15-2.0), having no education (OR: 0.25; 95% CI: 0.16-0.38), and being obese (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.23-3.36). Of the 773 women who had ever heard of CCa screening, 86% reported that they had not been screened because they had no symptoms and 37% did not know screening was needed. Only 8.3% had ever been screened. Having been screened was associated with being 40-49 years old (OR: 2.17; 95% CI: 1.19-3.94) and employed outside the home (OR: 3.83; 95% CI: 1.65-8.9), and inversely associated with rural dwelling (OR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.30-0.98) and having no education (OR: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.10-0.85). CONCLUSION: Lack of awareness of CCa and of understanding of the concept of screening are the key barriers to screening uptake in women at midlife in Bangladesh. Targeted educational health programs are needed to increase screening in Bangladesh with the view to reducing mortality.

Exposure to welding fumes is associated with hypomethylation of the F2RL3 gene: a cardiovascular disease marker.

BACKGROUND: Welders are at risk for cardiovascular disease. Recent studies linked tobacco smoke exposure to hypomethylation of the F2RL3 (coagulation factor II (thrombin) receptor-like 3) gene, a marker for cardiovascular disease prognosis and mortality. However, whether welding fumes cause hypomethylation of F2RL3 remains unknown. METHODS: We investigated 101 welders (median span of working as a welder: 7 years) and 127 unexposed controls (non-welders with no obvious exposure to respirable dust at work), age range 23-60 years, all currently non-smoking, in Sweden. The participants were interviewed about their work history, lifestyle factors and diseases. Personal sampling of respirable dust was performed for the welders. DNA methylation of F2RL3 in blood was assessed by pyrosequencing of four CpG sites, CpG_2 (corresponds to cg03636183) to CpG_5, in F2RL3. Multivariable linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between exposure to welding fumes and F2RL3 methylation. RESULTS: Welders had 2.6% lower methylation of CpG_5 than controls (p<0.001). Higher concentrations of measured respirable dust among the welders were associated with hypomethylation of CpG_2, CpG_4 and CpG_5 (ß=-0.49 to -1.4, p<0.012); p<0.029 adjusted for age, previous smoking, passive smoking, education, current residence and respirator use. Increasing the number of years working as a welder was associated with hypomethylation of CpG_4 (linear regression analysis, ß=-0.11, p=0.039, adjusted for previous smoking). Previous tobacco smokers had 1.5-4.7% (p<0.014) lower methylation of 3 of the 4 CpG sites in F2RL3 (CpG_2, CpG_4 and CpG_5) compared to never-smokers. A non-significant lower risk of cardiovascular disease with more methylation was observed for all CpG sites. CONCLUSIONS: Welding fumes exposure and previous smoking were associated with F2RL3 hypomethylation. This finding links low-to-moderate exposure to welding fumes to adverse effects on the cardiovascular system, and suggests a potential mechanistic pathway for this link, via epigenetic effects on F2RL3 expression.

Laminarin from Irish Brown Seaweeds Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminaria hyperborea: Ultrasound Assisted Extraction, Characterization and Bioactivity.

Ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE), purification, characterization and antioxidant activity of laminarin from Irish brown seaweeds Ascophyllum nodosum and Laminarina hyperborea were investigated. UAE was carried out using 60% ultrasonic power amplitude and 0.1 M hydrochloric acid for 15 min. Separately, solid-liquid extraction was carried in an orbital shaker using 0.1 M hydrochloric acid at 70 °C for 2.5 h. UAE with hydrochloric acid resulted in the highest concentration of laminarin, 5.82% and 6.24% on dry weight basis from A. nodosum and L. hyperborea, respectively. Purification of all extracts was carried out using molecular weight cut off dialysis at 10 kDa. Characterization of the laminarin fraction was carried out using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Antioxidant activity of A. nodosum and L. hyperborea extracts had 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) inhibition levels of 93.23% and 87.57%, respectively. Moreover, these extracts have shown inihibition of bacterial growth of Staphylcoccus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium.

Optimisation and validation of ultra-high performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometry method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of potato steroidal alkaloids.

An ultra-high performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for quantification of potato steroidal alkaloids, namely α-solanine, α-chaconine, solanidine and demissidine was developed and validated. Three different column chemistries, i.e. ethylene bridged hybrid (BEH) C18, hydrophilic lipophilic interaction and amide columns, were assessed. The BEH C18 column showed best separation and sensitivity for the alkaloids. Validation data (inter-day and intra-day combined) for accuracy and recovery ranged from 94.3 to 107.7% and 97.0 to 103.5%, respectively. The accuracy data were within the acceptable range of 15% as outlined in the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) guidelines. The recovery data were consistent and reproducible with a coefficient of variation (CV) ranging from 6.2 to 9.7%. In addition, precision of the method also met the criteria of the USFDA with CV values lower than 15% even at lower limit of quantification (LLOQ), while the permissible variation is considered acceptable below 20%. The limit of detection and LLOQ of the four alkaloids were in the range of 0.001-0.004µg/mL whereas the linearities of the standard curves were between 0.980 and 0.995.

A Review of Extraction and Analysis of Bioactives in Oat and Barley and Scope for Use of Novel Food Processing Technologies.

Oat and barely are cereal crops mainly used as animal feed and for the purposes of malting and brewing, respectively. Some studies have indicated that consumption of oat and barley rich foods may reduce the risk of some chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease, type II diabetes and cancer. Whilst there is no absolute consensus, some of these benefits may be linked to presence of compounds such as phenolics, vitamin E and ß-glucan in these cereals. A number of benefits have also been linked to the lipid component (sterols, fatty acids) and the proteins and bioactive peptides in oats and barley. Since the available evidence is pointing toward the possible health benefits of oat and barley components, a number of authors have examined techniques for recovering them from their native sources. In the present review, we summarise and examine the range of conventional techniques that have been used for the purpose of extraction and detection of these bioactives. In addition, the recent advances in use of novel food processing technologies as a substitute to conventional processes for extraction of bioactives from oats and barley, has been discussed.