RESUMO
Blighia sapida, commonly known as the ackee, is a member of the Sapindaceae family. The tree is native to the forests of West Africa and was brought to the Caribbean and later Florida, where it is cultivated as an orchard crop in some areas. Arilli of the fruit are processed to make canned ackee in brine whereas the seeds, raphe and pods are discarded. Physiochemical studies were conducted on extracts of the seed. Qualitative analysis detected the presence of phenolics and reducing sugars. Aqueous extracts of the seeds (ASE) exhibited free radical scavenging activity and had an inhibitory concentration of 2.59 mg/mL. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry led to the identification of several metabolites including amino acids and fatty acids. Hypoglycin B was isolated utilizing ion exchange chromatography. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy of hypoglycin B detected a band resonating at 3070 cm-1 which may be attributed to the methylenecyclopropane moiety of hypoglycin B. The seeds had a lipid content of 5.72 ± 0.25 % (w/w). The ackee seed oil (ASO) had a saponification value of 152.07 ± 37 and a carotenoid content of 23.7 ± 1.8 mg/kg. The ackee seeds are a source of bioactive components.
Assuntos
Blighia , Hipoglicinas , Blighia/química , Hipoglicinas/química , Sementes/química , Frutas/química , Extratos Vegetais/metabolismoRESUMO
Discovering novel means of protection from harmful substances in toothpaste is essential due to its mass production, and frequent exposure to its ingredients by consumers. This method of safeguarding through discovery demonstrates toothpaste safety, which is at risk of being stifled by other commercial priorities. Among the ingredients in toothpaste that cause adverse effects is sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS). An understanding of this source and its effects therefore allows for investigating preventative strategies through the use of safer alternatives. Saponin, a naturally occurring chemical in several plant species was discovered to be an alternative compound that may parallel the effects of sodium lauryl sulphate, yet exude less ill effects. This article highlights the benefits of saponin and its presence in a heavily consumed and exported fruit in Jamaica (ackee, Blighia sapida). The possibility of extracting saponin from ackee, and its use in the toothpaste industry as an alternative to sodium lauryl sulphate are discussed. Through consideration of this alternative, the potential exists to improve the safety of toothpastes and consequently improve oral health.
Assuntos
Blighia , Saponinas , Humanos , Jamaica , Dodecilsulfato de Sódio , Cremes DentaisRESUMO
Ackee (Blighia sapida K. D. Koenig) is an exotic fruit widely consumed in the Caribbean countries. While there is extensive research on the presence of hypoglycin A, other bioactive compounds have not been studied. We identified and quantified the changes in bioactive molecules (total phenol, ascorbic acid, hypoglycin A, squalene, D: A-Friedooleanan-7-ol, (7.alpha.), and oleic acid), antioxidant potential, and volatile compounds during two stages of ripe. A clear reduction in hypoglycin A, ascorbic acid, and total polyphenols during the maturation process were observed. On the contrary, oleic acid, squalene, and D: A-Friedooleanan-7-ol, (7.alpha.) contents increased about 12, 12, and 13 times, respectively with advancing maturity. These bioactive molecules were positively correlated with radical scavenging (DDPH and ABTS). Solid phase microextraction (SPME) and gas chromatography coupled mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis revealed more than 50 compounds with 3-penten-2-one and hexanal as the major compounds in the fully ripe stage. The results suggested that ripe ackee arilli could serve as an appreciable source of natural bioactive micro-constituents.
Assuntos
Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Blighia/química , Frutas/química , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Hipoglicinas/química , Polifenóis/química , Esqualeno/químicaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To re-investigate the composition of ackee oil and unequivocally determine its principal fatty acid components. METHODS: Oil was extracted from the edible portion of ackees harvested in three different studies (I - III) by several analysts; studies I and II utilized composite samples from several trees while study III consisted of ackees from seven separate trees. The oils were either saponified and methylated or trans-methylated and the fatty acid methyl ester content analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Relative fatty acid composition was quantified based on chromatographic peak areas while fatty acids were identified by mass spectrometry. The degree of unsaturation of the ackee oils was characterized by determination of the iodine value. RESULTS: Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry data from the three studies were assessed. Relative fatty acid composition for the ackee oils was consistent across the three studies. The major fatty acid components were oleic acid (55.44%), palmitic acid (25.57%) and stearic acid (12.59%); linoleic acid was present in minor to undetectable amounts. An iodine value of 49 was determined which is consistent with the high oleic acid content of the ackee oil. CONCLUSION: The ackee samples analysed were rich in the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) oleic acid.Consideration should be given to potential protective health effects of diets which include ackee.
OBJETIVO: Re-investigar la composición del aceite del seso vegetal (ackee) y determinar de manera inequívoca sus componentes principales de ácidos grasos. MÉTODOS: Se extrajo el aceite de la porción comestible de sesos vegetales de la Blighia sapida (ackee), cosechados como parte de tres estudios diferentes (I - III) por varios analistas. Los estudios I y II utilizaron muestras combinadas de varios árboles de Blighia sapida, en tanto que el estudio III estuvo formado por muestras de siete árboles de Blighia sapida por separado. Los aceites fueron saponificados y metilados o transmetilados, y el contenido de éster metílico de ácidos grasos fue analizado mediante técnicas de cromatografía de gases y espectrometría de masas (GC-MS). La composición relativa de ácidos grasos se cuantificó sobre la base de las áreas cromatográficas pico, mientras que los ácidos grasos se identificaron mediante espectrometría de masas. El grado de insaturación de los aceites de seso vegetal fue caracterizado mediante la determinación del valor de yodo. RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron los datos de la cromatografía de gases acoplada con espectrometría de masas de los tres estudios. La composición relativa de ácido grasos de los aceites de seso vegetal, fue constante a través de los tres estudios. Los componentes principales del ácido graso fueron el ácido oleico (55.44%), el ácido palmítico (25.57%), y el ácido esteárico (12.59%). El ácido linoleico estuvo presente en cantidades que fluctuaron de menores a indetectables. Se determinó un valor de yodo de 49, el cual está en correspondencia con el alto contenido de ácido oleico en el seso vegetal. CONCLUSIÓN: Las muestras analizadas de sesos vegetales de la Blighia sapida (ackee) eran ricas en ácidos grasos monoinsaturados (MUFA por sus siglas en inglés) y ácidos oleicos. Debe prestarse atención a los posibles efectos protectores de la salud de dietas que incluyen sesos vegetales.
Assuntos
Óleos de Plantas/química , Blighia/química , Ácidos Graxos/análise , Espectrometria de Massas , Ácido Palmítico/análise , Ácido Oleico/análise , Jamaica , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de MassasRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The ripening of fruits is characterized by physical, chemical and biochemical compositional changes such as color, sugars and phenolic compounds. Ackee fruit is famous in Jamaica and the Caribbean. This study aimed to assess the variation of fatty acids in two varieties (cheese and butter) ackee (Blighia sapida) fruits during five different ripening stages. RESULTS: The total fatty acid content of ackee fruit was much higher in arils and ranged from 283.4 to 465.1 g kg(-1) dry weight (DW), while in husk they ranged from 235.2 to 465.1 g kg(-1) DW in both varieties. Total fatty acid content declined in the arils and the husks as the fruit ripened. Five major fatty acids were found: palmitic acid (C16:0) and stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1), linoleic acid (C18:2) and linolenic acid (C18:3). In the arils, oleic acid was found at the highest concentration, followed by palmitic, stearic, linoleic and last linolenic acid. The unsaturated:saturated ratio of fatty acids varied from 1.23 to 3.26 in the arils of both varieties, and from 1.03 to 5.05 in the husk. Monounsaturated:polyunsaturated fatty acids ranged from 8.56 to 25.19 in the arils and from 0.62 to 2.33 in the husk. CONCLUSION: The results show that ackee arils contain much higher levels of fats than the husk and the major fatty acid in the arils was oleic acid (Δ9-cis-oleic acid, an omega n-9), while in the husk unsaturated fatty acids were higher than the saturated ones. Oleic acid was the major fatty acid in both varieties, and aril fatty acid content was 10-20 times higher than in the husk. In both varieties, unsaturated fatty acids were relatively higher than saturated ones; however, total fatty acids showed a decline with ripening for arils and husk tissues.
Assuntos
Blighia/metabolismo , Ácidos Graxos/metabolismo , Frutas/metabolismo , Blighia/classificação , Blighia/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Dieta , Gorduras na Dieta/análise , Frutas/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Humanos , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
Consumption of improperly ripened ackee ( Blighia sapida K.D. Koenig) often results in fatalities. The causal toxin, hypoglycin A, decreases in the edible arilli upon maturity; regulation of hypoglycin A in the arilli is thus critical. Hypoglycin B, also toxic, is confined to the seeds. Hypoglycins A and B were tracked in ackees grown in Jamaica over different maturity stages using RP-HPLC. Studies on the 'Butter' and 'Cheese' ackee varieties and across two different harvest seasons were conducted. In 'Cheese' ackees, hypoglycin A decreased from about 8000 mg/kg in the green arilli and seeds to 271 and 1451 mg/kg, respectively, in the ripe fruit whereas hypoglycin B levels in the seeds increased from 1629 to 11774 mg/kg. The strong inverse relationship demonstrated that hypoglycin B in the seeds serves as a sink for hypoglycin A from the ripening arilli and is thereby involved in the detoxification mechanism of the fruit.
Assuntos
Blighia/química , Hipoglicinas/análise , Inativação Metabólica , Blighia/fisiologia , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética , Estações do AnoRESUMO
Between 1998 and 2001 the deaths of 16 Surinamese children were recorded along the Maroni River, which forms the border between Suriname and French Guyana. After a metabolic origin was eliminated, ethnobotanical research in the field led to a hypothesis of intoxication through the ingestion of ackee. Ackee (Blighia sapida) is a large green leafy tree of West African origin. Its unripe fruit contains large quantities of two toxic molecules: hypoglycin-A and hypoglycin-B, the former being the more toxic. We have developed a GC-MS procedure allowing us to demonstrate the presence of hypoglycin-A in the gastric fluid of one of the deceased children, and to compare the content of hypoglycin-A in fruit collected on the road to Paramaribo in Suriname (5.1mg/g) with samples from Burkina Faso (8.1mg/g) and Jamaica (9.2mg/g). Field research showed the misuse of this little-known plant by Maroon witch doctors. The Bushinengue witch doctors were informed about the dangers of ackee, and no new cases have been reported to date.
Assuntos
Blighia/intoxicação , Hipoglicinas/análise , Criança , Toxicologia Forense , Guiana Francesa , Frutas/química , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Conteúdo Gastrointestinal/química , Humanos , Hipoglicinas/intoxicação , Estrutura Molecular , Intoxicação por Plantas/diagnóstico , SurinameRESUMO
The dipeptide hypoglycin B, one of two toxins of the ackee fruit (Blighia sapida Koenig), was characterized for the first time by NMR spectral data, which led to the discovery that it exists naturally as a pair of diastereomers. No distinction was observed in the (1)H NMR signals of the diastereomers; however, complete and distinct (13)C NMR assignments for the individual diastereomers were made. The (13)C NMR spectrum of hypoglycin B compared very well with that of the corresponding signals in the spectrum for hypoglycin A, which is one of its constituent amino acids. The (1)H and (13)C NMR assignments were further supported by DEPT, gCOSY, gHSQC and gHMBC experiments.
Assuntos
Blighia/química , Frutas/química , Hipoglicinas/química , Espectroscopia de Ressonância Magnética/métodos , Extratos Vegetais/química , Hipoglicinas/classificação , EstereoisomerismoAssuntos
Blighia/intoxicação , Frutas/intoxicação , Hipoglicinas/intoxicação , Animais , Blighia/química , Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos/diagnóstico , Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos/terapia , Humanos , Hipoglicinas/análise , Hipoglicinas/toxicidade , Jamaica , Intoxicação por Plantas/diagnóstico , Intoxicação por Plantas/terapia , Vômito/induzido quimicamenteRESUMO
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provided technical assistance to the Ministry of Health of Haiti during an outbreak of over 100 cases of acute illness and death in the northern region of Haiti during a 4-month period beginning in November 2000. The epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory findings in this investigation indicated the ingestion of unripe ackee fruit as the most likely cause of this outbreak. This report describes the CDC field investigation in Haiti and gives a brief overview of the current state of knowledge about ackee poisoning.
Assuntos
Blighia/intoxicação , Surtos de Doenças , Frutas/intoxicação , Haiti/epidemiologia , Humanos , Intoxicação/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Hypoglycin A, the toxin found in the ackee fruit, has been reported in the literature as the causative agent in incidences of acute toxicity termed Jamaican vomiting sickness or toxic hypoglycemic syndrome. Hypoglycin A toxicity in this study was determined by feeding male and female Sprague-Dawley rats a control diet and ackee diets that contained 4-3840 ppm of hypoglycin. The fixed dose method was used to quantify the acute toxic dose of hypoglycin A and was determined by feeding a diet consisting of the lowest hypoglycin A concentration; this was increased to the next highest dose after 24h until toxicity was observed. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of hypoglycin A was determined by feeding rats the ackee and control diets over a 30-day period. The acute toxic dose for male and female rats was 231.19+/-62.5 5mg hypoglycinA/kgBW and 215.99+/-63.33 mg hypoglycinA/kgBW, respectively. This was considerably greater than the dose of 100 mg hypoglycin/kgBW reported in a previous study when aqueous hypoglycin was administered orally. The MTD of hypoglycin A in both male and female rats was 1.50+/-0.07 mg hypoglycinA/kgBW/day. These findings suggest that the form in which hypoglycin in ackee is administered could affect the toxicological properties it exhibits. Therefore, for the purpose of a hazard assessment, it may be best administered within the matrix of the fruit, which is the form that humans consume it.
Assuntos
Blighia/química , Hipoglicinas/toxicidade , Animais , Análise Química do Sangue , Peso Corporal/efeitos dos fármacos , Dieta , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Ácidos Graxos/química , Feminino , Frutas/química , Hemorragia/induzido quimicamente , Hemorragia/patologia , Hipoglicinas/química , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Sprague-DawleyRESUMO
This study reviewed cases of fatal poisoning in a coroner's autopsy series at the University Hospital of the West Indies and represented the first such study reported from Jamaica. The autopsy protocols of all coroner's autopsies performed over the 20-year period January 1980 to December 1999 were reviewed retrospectively; 22 (1.0%) cases were identified and relevant clinical and pathological data analysed. There were 13 males and nine females (M:F ratio 1.4:1) with an age range of 2 - 69 years (mean +/- SD = 27 +/- 16.1 years). The 20 - 29 year group was most commonly affected and five patients (22.7%) were children (< 18 years of age). Pesticides (herbicides/ insecticides) were implicated in nine (41%) cases: paraquat was the most common, found in six (27%) cases. Prescription drugs were the next most prevalent group with six (27%) cases, followed by anti-psychotic drugs in four (18%) cases. Cocaine and ackee were each implicated in two (9%) cases. The manner of death was suicidal in 14 (64%) cases and accidental in eight (36%) cases. Seven patients had documented psychiatric illnesses, six of whom committed suicide. Autopsy findings were largely non-specific. The relatively small number of cases was consistent with the low incidence of fatal poisoning in Jamaica.
Assuntos
Intoxicação/mortalidade , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Autopsia , Blighia/intoxicação , Causas de Morte/tendências , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Frutas/intoxicação , Hospitais Universitários , Humanos , Jamaica/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Praguicidas/intoxicação , Intoxicação/diagnóstico , Suicídio/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
In January and February 1991, the health officer in the parish of St. Ann, Jamaica, received reports of eight persons with Toxic Hypoglycemic Syndrome (THS), an illness associated with consumption of unripe ackee fruit and, possibly, renta yam; two cases were fatal. On July 25, the Jamaican Ministry of Health (JMH) contacted the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for assistance in investigating the continuous occurence of THS; the collaborative JMH and CDC epidemiologic investigation focused on characterizing the epidemiology of THS in Jamaica and assessing the role of ackee fruit, renta yams, and other factors (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Blighia/efeitos adversos , Blighia/toxicidade , Jamaica , Hipoglicemia/diagnóstico , Hipoglicemia/etiologiaRESUMO
A recent review article concluded that glutamic acid probable plays a central role in the vomiting and neurological features of ackee poisoning. The present article draws attention to misconceptions in the basis of that hypothesis, and reviews important evidence suppporting a different role (AU)
Assuntos
Humanos , Blighia/intoxicação , Ciclopropanos/intoxicação , Hipoglicinas/intoxicação , Intoxicação por Plantas , Vômito/induzido quimicamente , Acidose/induzido quimicamente , Ácido Aspártico/intoxicação , Glutamatos/intoxicaçãoRESUMO
The unripe ackee fruit, when eaten, is known to cause serious clinical manifestations, including vomiting, hypoglycaemia and acidosis. The effects, of various extracts from the arilli of the unripe fruit (including hypoglyin-A) on the lungs from rats were examined in an in vitro preparation. All the extracts were found to induce moderately severe broncho-constriction, indicating a possible contribution of these effects to the observed toxicity of ackee (AU)
Assuntos
21003 , Feminino , Masculino , Ratos , Brônquios/efeitos dos fármacos , Ciclopropanos/farmacologia , Ciclopropanos/intoxicação , Hipoglicinas/farmacologia , Hipoglicinas/intoxicação , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Blighia/intoxicação , Blighia/farmacologia , Blighia/intoxicação , Acetilcolina/farmacologia , Constrição Patológica , Ratos EndogâmicosAssuntos
Humanos , Criança , Adulto , Síndrome de Reye/diagnóstico , Hipoglicinas/intoxicação , Intoxicação por Plantas , Jamaica , Blighia , Vômito/etiologiaAssuntos
Humanos , Intoxicação por Plantas , Hipoglicinas/intoxicação , Jamaica , Vômito/etiologia , BlighiaRESUMO
The present work was carried out to investigate the effect of leucine on the biological activity of hypoglycin A. Leucine-free hypoglycin A, prepared from the ackee (Blighia sapida) seeds, has been shown to cause inhibition of the growth of broad bean radicles. When supplied simultaneously, leucine had no effect on the degree of inhibition produced by hypoglycin A even when the leucine concentration was four times that of hypoglycin A. Although the acceped structure of hypoglycin A bears a relationship to that of leucine, yet leucine does not antagonise the inhibitory action of hypoglycin A. When injected intraperitoneally into rats, fasted for 48 hours to ensure complete depletion of their liver glycogen, hypoglycin A induced hypoglycemia. This hypoglycemia was potentiated by leucine when administered one hour before hypoglycin A. These findings indicate that the hypooglycemia induced by hypoglycin A is not a result of the exhaustion of the liver glycogen as was suggested by Patrick (1954). They also indicate that the liver is not the principal site of action as thought by Chen et al. (1957).(AU)