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APPLE |
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Instituto de Medicina Social, State University
of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
We investigated the effect of fruit
intake on body weight change.Hypercholesterolemic, overweight
(body mass index > 25 kg/m(2)), and non-smoking women,
30 to 50 y of age, were randomized to receive, free of charge,
one of three dietary supplements: apples, pears, or oat
cookies. Women were instructed to eat one supplement three
times a day in a total of six meals a day. Participants
(411 women) were recruited at a primary care center of the
State University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Fifty-one women
had fasting blood cholesterol levels greater than 6.2 mM/L
(240 mg/dL) and 49 were randomized. Subjects were instructed
by a dietitian to eat a diet (55% of energy from carbohydrate,
15% from protein, and 30% from fat) to encourage weight
reduction at the rate of 1 kg/mo.After 12 wk of follow-up,
the fruit group lost 1.22 kg (95% confidence interval =
0.44-1.85), whereas the oat group had a non-significant
weight loss of 0.88 kg (0.37-2.13). The difference between
the two groups was statistically significant (P = 0.004).
To explore further the body weight loss associated with
fruit intake, we measured the ratio of glucose to insulin.
A significantly greater decrease of blood glucose was observed
among those who had eaten fruits compared with those who
had eaten oat cookies, but the glucose:insulin ratio was
not statistically different from baseline to follow-up.
Adherence to the diet was high, as indicated by changes
in serum triacylglycerols, total cholesterol, and reported
fruit intake. Fruit intake in the oat group throughout treatment
was minimal.Intake of fruits may contribute to weight loss.
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Laboratoire des Regulations des Metabolismes
et Nutrition, CNRS, Universite Paul Sabatier, Toulouse, France.
The effect of consumption of apples
as a supplement to a standard diet on hepatic acylcoenzyme
A: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) activity was investigated
in adult golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). The experimental
diet was given for 2 months. IN response to the high-fruit
intake, the level of cholesteryl esters was reduced in the
liver, and hepatic ACAT activity, determined in vitro under
various conditions of incubation, was lowered by about 30%.
Moreover, plasma cholesterol was redistributed among the
lipoproteins, with a decrease in the cholesterol transported
in the ApoB-rich lipoproteins.
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The intent of this study was to
determine the effect of a high consumption of either apples
or grapes on the caries experience (DMFT), and periodontal
health. Farm workers employed by apple-producing, grape-producing
and grain (control) producing farms in low fluoride areas
(F less than 0.10 ppm) were investigated. To avoid contamination,
only these farms where either apples, grapes or grain were
cultivated solely, were included in the study. The caries
incidence was found to be the highest for the apple group
(24.2), lower for the grape group (17.4), and the lowest
for the control group (9.9). The caries incidence differed
statistically significantly (P less than 0.01) among the
three groups. A higher caries incidence was found in the
group of older subjects (35+ years) than in the 15-34 year
old group. In general, for both age groups the control group
showed conspicuously the highest number of dentate sextants
with advanced periodontitis. Significantly less (P less
than 0.01) advanced periodontitis and pocket formation could
be seen in the youngest age group (15-34 years) of all three
test groups. Thus, to conclude, it was found that the consumption
of a high amount of apples and to a lesser degree grapes
contributed significantly to dental caries. However, the
above fruits had a beneficial effect on the periodontal
status.
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Institute of Comparative and Environmental
Toxicology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-7201,
USA.
There is some evidence that chronic
diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular disease, may
occur as a result of oxidative stress. Apple peels have
high concentrations of phenolic compounds and may assist
in the prevention of chronic diseases. Millions of pounds
of waste apple peels are generated in the production of
applesauce and canned apples in New York State each year.
We proposed that a valuable food ingredient could be made
using the peels of these apples if they could be dried and
ground to a powder without large losses of phytochemicals.
Rome Beauty apple peels were treated with citric acid dips,
ascorbic acid dips, and blanches before being oven-dried
at 60 degrees C. Only blanching treatments greatly preserved
the phenolic compounds, and peels blanched for 10 s had
the highest total phenolic content. Rome Beauty apple peels
were then blanched for 10 s and dried under various conditions
(oven-dried at 40, 60, or 80 degrees C, air-dried, or freeze-dried).
The air-dried and freeze-dried apple peels had the highest
total phenolic, flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents. On
a fresh weight basis, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents
of these samples were similar to those of the fresh apple
peels. Freeze-dried peels had a lower water activity than
air-dried peels on a fresh weight basis. The optimal processing
conditions for the ingredient were blanching for 10s and
freeze-drying. The process was scaled up, and the apple
peel powder ingredient was characterized. The total phenolic
content was 3342 +/- 12 mg gallic acid equivalents/100 g
dried peels, the flavonoid content was 2299 +/- 52 mg catechin
equivalents/100 g dried peels, and the anthocyanin content
was 169.7 +/- 1.6 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalents/100
g dried peels. These phytochemical contents were a significantly
higher than those of the fresh apple peels if calculated
on a fresh weight basis (p < 0.05). The apple peel powder
had a total antioxidant activity of 1251 +/- 56 micromol
vitamin C equivalents/g, similar to fresh Rome Beauty peels
on a fresh weight basis (p > 0.05). One gram of powder
had an antioxidant activity equivalent to 220 mg of vitamin
C. The freeze-dried apple peels also had a strong antiproliferative
effect on HepG(2) liver cancer cells with a median effective
dose (EC(50)) of 1.88 +/- 0.01 mg/mL. This was lower than
the EC(50) exhibited by the fresh apple peels (p < 0.05).
Apple peel powder may be used in a various food products
to add phytochemicals and promote good health.
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| APRICOT |
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Hamawy apricot seed kernels (sweet),
Amar apricot seed kernels (bitter) and treated Amar apricot
kernels (bitterness removed) were evaluated biochemically.
All kernels were found to be high in fat (42.2--50.91%),
protein (23.74--25.70%) and fiber (15.08--18.02%). Phosphorus,
calcium, and iron were determined in all experimental samples.
The three different apricot seed kernels were used for extensive
study including the qualitative determination of the amino
acid constituents by acid hydrolysis, quantitative determination
of some amino acids, and biological evaluation of the kernel
proteins in order to use them as new protein sources. Weanling
albino rats failed to grow on diets containing the Amar
apricot seed kernels due to low food consumption because
of its bitterness. There was no loss in weight in that case.
The Protein Efficiency Ratio data and blood analysis results
showed the Hamawy apricot seed kernels to be higher in biological
value than treated apricot seed kernels. The Net Protein
Ratio data which accounts for both weight, maintenance and
growth showed the treated apricot seed kernels to be higher
in biological value than both Hamawy and Amar kernels. The
Net Protein Ratio for the last two kernels were nearly equal.
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| AVOCADO |
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Department of Food Engineering and Biotechnology,
Technion, Israel.
The potential use of avocado as
a fiber source was evaluated. The total dietary fiber content
of fresh avocado fruit of the Ettinger variety was 5.2 g/100
g. Approximately 75% was insoluble, and 25% soluble. The
water-holding capacity of dry defatted avocado pulp was
similar to that of cellulose, and trypsin inhibitors were
not detected. The dietary and metabolic consequences of
the avocado pulp were studied in male rats fed normal and
hypercholesterolemic diets. Rats consumed semipurified diets
containing either avocado pulp as the dietary fiber source
or cellulose (control) with or without 10 g/kg cholesterol
and 5 g/kg cholic acid. Food consumption and body weight
gain were lower in rats fed avocado compared with those
fed cellulose. Relative cecum weight was higher in avocado-fed
rats. Plasma and hepatic cholesterol levels did not differ
in rats fed diets without cholesterol, but plasma cholesterol
was greater in avocado-fed than in cellulose-fed rats that
consumed cholesterol. Regardless of dietary cholesterol,
hepatic total fat levels, as evaluated histologically, but
not directly, were lower in avocado-fed rats. These data
suggest the presence of an appetite depressant in avocado
and that avocado pulp interferes with hepatic fat metabolism.
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Department of Dermatology and Allergology,
Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany.
BACKGROUND: There are already many
effective topical therapies available for use in the treatment
of chronic plaque psoriasis. Unfortunately, these treatments
are often associated with a rather significant risk of undesirable
effects. OBJECTIVE AND METHODS: In this randomized, prospective
clinical trial, the effects of the vitamin D(3) analog calcipotriol
were evaluated against those of a recently developed vitamin
B(12) cream containing avocado oil in an intraindividual
right/left-side comparison. The trial population consisted
of 13 patients, 10 men and 3 women, with chronic plaque
psoriasis. The observation period was 12 weeks; the effects
of therapy were assessed on the basis of a PASI score adapted
to the right/left-side comparison technique, the subjective
evaluations of the investigator and patients and the results
of 20-MHz sonography. RESULTS: There was a more rapid development
of beneficial effects with the use of calcipotriol in the
initial 8 weeks, although differences in effects were significant
only at the time point of therapy week 8 (p < 0.05).
After 12 weeks, neither the PASI score nor 20-MHz sonography
showed significant differences between the two treatments.
While the efficacy of the calcipotriol preparation reached
a maximum in the first 4 weeks and then began to subside,
the effects of the vitamin B(12) cream containing avocado
oil remained at a constant level over the whole observation
period. This would indicate that the vitamin B(12) preparation
containing avocado oil may be suitable for use in long-term
therapy, a hypothesis further supported by the fact that
the investigator and the patients assessed the tolerability
of the vitamin B(12) cream containing avocado oil as significantly
better in comparison with that of calcipotriol. CONCLUSION:
The results of this clinical trial provide evidence that
the recently developed vitamin B(12) cream containing avocado
oil has considerable potential as a well-tolerated, long-term
topical therapy of psoriasis.
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Departamento de Investigacion Clinica
y Biomedica, Hospital General Dr. Miguel Silva, Morelia,
Michoacan, Mexico.
To determine the effects of a vegetarian
diet with avocado as a source of monounsaturated fat on
serum lipids, thirteen patients with phenotype II (twelve
with IIa and one with IIb) dyslipidemia were included in
a prospective, transversal and comparative study in which
three four-week diets randomly assigned were assessed. One
vegetarian diet (ALVD) was composed of 70% carbohydrates,
10% proteins and 20% lipids. Another was composed of 60%
carbohydrates, 10% proteins and 30% lipids, 75% of which
was supplied by avocado (AVD). A third diet was an avocado-added
free diet (FDWA). Body weight, body mass index (BMI), and
serum lipids (total cholesterol (TC), high (HDL) and low
density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides
(TG)) were evaluated. AVD produced a significant decrease
in LDL. ALVD did not change TC and LDL, while FDWA increased
them slightly. The three diets reduced TG levels, but only
ALVD did so significantly. All three diets reduced HDL levels,
particularly ALVD, which produced the greatest reduction.
Low-fat, carbohydrate-rich vegetarian diets may be harmful
to hypercholesterolemic patients. The avocado addition to
a vegetarian diet does not correct these undesirable effects.
To obtain beneficial effects on lipid profile with avocado,
lower amounts of carbohydrates and polyunsaturated fatty
acids are probably needed.
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BANANA |
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Department of Pharmacology, Institute
of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.
Studies with plantain banana (Musa
sapientum var. paradisiaca) have indicated its ulcer protective
and healing activities through its predominant effect on
various mucosal defensive factors [Sanyal et.al, Arch Int
Pharmacodyn, 149 (1964) 393; 155 (1965) 244]. Oxidative
stress and Helicobactorpylori colonization are considered
to be important factors in the pathogenesis of gastric ulcers.
In the present study methanolic extract of plantain banana
pulp (BE) was evaluated for its (i) antiulcer and antioxidant
activities in 2 hr cold restraint stress and (ii) anti-H.pylori
activity in vitro. The extract (BE, 50 mg/kg, twice daily
for 5 days) showed significant antiulcer effect and antioxidant
activity in gastric mucosal homogenates, where it reversed
the increase in ulcer index, lipid peroxidation and super
oxide dismutase values induced by stress. However it did
not produce any change in catalase values, which was significantly
decreased by stress. Further, in the in vitro study. BE
(0.32-1,000 microg/ml) did not show any anti-H.pylori activity.
The results suggest absence of anti-H. pyloric activity
of methanolic extract of banana in vitro and its antioxidant
activity may be involved in its ulcerprotective activity.
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Laboratory of Food and Nutritional Chemistry,
Faculty of Agriculture, Kobe University, Rokkodai, Nada-ku,
Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
A strong water-soluble antioxidant
was identified in the popular commercial banana Musa cavendishii.
It is dopamine, one of the catecholamines. For suppressing
the oxygen uptake of linoleic acid in an emulsion and scavenging
a diphenylpicrylhydrazyl radical, dopamine had greater antioxidative
potency than glutathione, food additives such as butylated
hydroxyanisole and hydroxytoluene, flavone luteolin, flavonol
quercetin, and catechin, and similar potency to the strongest
antioxidants gallocatechin gallate and ascorbic acid. Banana
contained dopamine at high levels in both the peel and pulp.
Dopamine levels ranged from 80-560 mg per 100 g in peel
and 2.5-10 mg in pulp, even in ripened bananas ready to
eat. Banana is thus one of the antioxidative foods.
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Department of Pharmacology, Kasturba
Medical College, Manipal.
The effect of banana on cold stress
induced hypertension, peak expiratory flow rate and plasma
ACE activity in healthy human volunteers was tested. Systolic
blood pressure (P < 0.005), diastolic blood pressure
(P < 0.025) and mean arterial blood pressure (P <
0.005) were significantly decreased during cold stress after
banana treatment compared to controls subjected to cold
stress. There was no significant changes in heart rate and
peak expiratory flow rate but only significant decrease
in plasma ACE activity after banana treatment. Banana decreased
the rise of systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood
pressure in healthy volunteers subjected to cold stress
test without much effect on heart rate and peak expiratory
flow rate.
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Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia,
USA.
Diarrhea occurs frequently in the
critically ill tube-fed population and may result from a
multitude of causes. Despite the availability of antidiarrheal
medications, diarrhea associated with enteral feedings remains
a problem for clinicians and for the patients affected by
it. We tested the hypothesis that administration of banana
flakes would control diarrhea in critically ill patients
receiving enteral feedings. Thirty-one patients with diarrhea
and receiving enteral feedings were randomized to receive
either banana flakes or medical treatment for diarrhea.
Medical treatments included the use of pharmacological agents
according to the discretion of the patient's physician or
reducing feeding rates. Both banana flakes and medical treatments
reduced the severity of diarrhea in critically ill tube-fed
patients. Over the course of treatment, mean diarrhea scores
were 21.64 +/- 7.81 for the banana flake group and 25.41
+/- 9.76 for the medical group. These differences were not
statistically significant. Both groups achieved similar
levels of nutrition support. The banana flake group had
less diarrhea clinically, with 57% of the subjects diarrhea
free on their last study day as opposed to 24% of the medically
treated subjects. This occurred despite a threefold increase
in the number of patients testing positive for Clostridium
difficile toxin in the banana flake group. We conclude that
banana flakes can be used as a safe, cost-effective treatment
for diarrhea in critically ill tube-fed patients. Banana
flakes can be given concurrently with a workup for C. difficile
colitis, thereby expediting treatment of diarrhea.
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BLUEBERRY |
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Department of Biology, University of
Prince Edward Island, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PEI,
Canada C1A 4P3.
Oxidative stress is an important
element in the etiology of ischemic stroke. Lowbush blueberries
(Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) have a high antioxidant
capacity and thus we determined whether consumption of lowbush
blueberries would protect neurons from stroke-induced damage.
Rats were fed AIN-93G diets containing 0 or 14.3% blueberries
(g fresh weight/100 g feed) for 6 weeks. Stroke was then
simulated by ligation of the left common carotid artery
(ischemia), followed by hypoxia. One week later, plasma
and urine were collected, and neuronal damage in the hippocampus
was determined histologically. In control rats, hypoxia-ischemia
resulted in 40 +/- 2% loss of neurons in the hippocampus
of the left cerebral hemisphere, as compared to the right
hemisphere. Rats on blueberry-supplemented diets lost only
17 +/- 2% of neurons in the ischemic hippocampus. Neuroprotection
was observed in the CA1 and CA2 regions, but not CA3 region,
of the hippocampus. The blueberry diet had no detectable
effects on the plasma or urine oxygen radical absorbance
capacity (ORAC) or plasma lipids. We conclude that consumption
of lowbush blueberries by rats confers protection to the
brain against damage from ischemia, suggesting that inclusion
of blueberries in the diet may improve ischemic stroke outcomes.
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Food Research Program, Pacific Agri-Food
Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Summerland,
British Columbia, Canada.
In recent years, numerous studies
have shown that the polyphenolics present in fruit and vegetable
products exhibit a wide range of biological effects. However,
there is little reliable information on the absorption of
glycosylated and acylated anthocyanins in humans. In the
present study, the absorption of anthocyanins in humans
was investigated after the consumption of a high-fat meal
with a freeze-dried blueberry powder containing 25 individual
anthocyanins including 6 acylated structures. Nineteen of
the 25 anthocyanins present in the blueberries were detected
in human blood serum. Furthermore, the appearance of total
anthocyanins in the serum was directly correlated with an
increase in serum antioxidant capacity (ORAC(acetone), P
< 0.01). These results show that anthocyanins can be
absorbed in their intact glycosylated and possibly acylated
forms in human subjects and that consumption of blueberries,
a food source with high in vitro antioxidant properties,
is associated with a diet-induced increase in ex vivo serum
antioxidant status.
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Department of Human Biology and Nutritional
Sciences, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
The aim of the present study was
to determine whether the consumption of wild blueberries
(Vaccinium angustifolium), a concentrated source of non-nutritive
antioxidant phytochemicals, would enhance postprandial serum
antioxidant status in healthy human subjects. A single-blinded
crossover study was performed in a group of eight middle-aged
male subjects (38-54 years). Subjects consumed a high-fat
meal and a control supplement followed 1 week later by the
same high-fat meal supplemented with 100.0 g freeze-dried
wild blueberry powder. Upon brachial vein catheterization,
fasting and postprandial serum samples were taken sequentially
and analysed for lipids and glucose and for serum antioxidant
status. Serum antioxidant status was determined using the
oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay and the
total antioxidant status (TAS) assay. The wild-blueberry
treatment was associated with a significant treatment effect
as determined by the ORAC assay (water-soluble fraction
ORAC(perchloric acid (PCA)), P=0.04). Significant increases
in serum antioxidant status above the controls were observed
at 1 h (ORAC(PCA) (8.5 % greater), P=0.02; TAS (4.5 % greater),
P=0.05), and 4 h (ORAC(total) (15.0 % greater), P=0.009;
ORAC(acetone) (16.0 % greater), P=0.007) post-consumption
of the high-fat meal. In conclusion, the consumption of
wild blueberries, a food source with high in vitro antioxidant
properties, is associated with a diet-induced increase in
ex vivo serum antioxidant status. It has been suggested
that increasing the antioxidant status of serum may result
in the reduced risk of many chronic degenerative diseases.
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Technical University of Denmark, 2800-Lyngby,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether consumption
of 500 ml of blueberry juice or cranberry juice by healthy
female subjects increased plasma phenolic content and antioxidant
capacity. DESIGN: Latin square arrangement to eliminate
ordering effects. After an overnight fast, nine volunteers
consumed 500 ml of blueberry juice, cranberry juice or a
sucrose solution (control); each volunteer participated
on three occasions one week apart, consuming one of the
beverages each time. Blood samples were obtained by venipuncture
at intervals up to four hours after consumption of the juices.
Urine samples were also obtained four hours after consuming
the juice. RESULTS: Consumption of cranberry juice resulted
in a significant increase in the ability of plasma to reduce
potassium nitrosodisulphonate and Fe(III)-2,4, 6-Tri(2-pyridyl)-s-triazine,
these measures of antioxidant capacity attaining a maximum
after 60-120 min. This corresponded to a 30% increase in
vitamin C and a small but significant increase in total
phenols in plasma. Consumption of blueberry juice had no
such effects. CONCLUSION: The increase in plasma antioxidant
capacity following consumption of cranberry juice could
mainly be accounted for by an increase in vitamin C rather
than phenolics. This also accounted for the lack of an effect
of the phenolic-rich but vitamin C-low blueberry juice.
Sponsorship: Funded by the Scottish Executive Rural Affairs
Department and the Danish Government.
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BLACKBERRY |
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Fruit Laboratory, Beltsville Agricultural
Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department
of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA.
Fruits and leaves from different
cultivars of thornless blackberry (Rubus sp.), red raspberry
(Rubus idaeus L.), black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.),
and strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa D.) plants were analyzed
for total antioxidant capacity (oxygen radical absorbance
capacity, ORAC) and total phenolic content. In addition,
fruits were analyzed for total anthocyanin content. Blackberries
and strawberries had the highest ORAC values during the
green stages, whereas red raspberries had the highest ORAC
activity at the ripe stage. Total anthocyanin content increased
with maturity for all three species of fruits. Compared
with fruits, leaves were found to have higher ORAC values.
In fruits, ORAC values ranged from 7.8 to 33.7 micromol
of Trolox equivalents (TE)/g of fresh berries (35. 0-162.1
micromol of TE/g of dry matter), whereas in leaves, ORAC
values ranged from 69.7 to 182.2 micromol of TE/g of fresh
leaves (205.0-728.8 micromol of TE/g of dry matter). As
the leaves become older, the ORAC values and total phenolic
contents decreased. The results showed a linear correlation
between total phenolic content and ORAC activity for fruits
and leaves. For ripe berries, a linear relationship existed
between ORAC values and anthocyanin content. Of the ripe
fruits tested, on the basis of wet weight of fruit, cv.
Jewel black raspberry and blackberries may be the richest
source for antioxidants. On the basis of the dry weight
of fruit, strawberries had the highest ORAC activity followed
by black raspberries (cv. Jewel), blackberries, and red
raspberries.
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CHERRY |
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U.S. Department of Agriculture/ARS Western
Human Nutrition Research Center, University of California
at Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
To assess the physiologic effects
of cherry consumption, we measured plasma urate, antioxidant
and inflammatory markers in 10 healthy women who consumed
Bing sweet cherries. The women, age 22-40 y, consumed two
servings (280 g) of cherries after an overnight fast. Blood
and urine samples were taken before the cherry dose, and
at 1.5, 3 and 5 h postdose. Plasma urate decreased 5 h postdose,
mean +/- SEM = 183 +/- 15 micro mol/L compared with predose
baseline of 214 +/- 13 micro mol/L (P < 0.05). Urinary
urate increased postdose, with peak excretion of 350 +/-
33 micro mol/mmol creatinine 3 h postdose compared with
202 +/- 13 at baseline (P < 0.01). Plasma C-reactive
protein (CRP) and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations had decreased
marginally 3 h postdose (P < 0.1), whereas plasma albumin
and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were unchanged. The vitamin
C content of the cherries was solely as dehydroascorbic
acid, but postdose increases in plasma ascorbic acid indicated
that dehydroascorbic acid in fruits is bioavailable as vitamin
C. The decrease in plasma urate after cherry consumption
supports the reputed anti-gout efficacy of cherries. The
trend toward decreased inflammatory indices (CRP and NO)
adds to the in vitro evidence that compounds in cherries
may inhibit inflammatory pathways.
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Experimental Animal Research Laboratory,
Meiji University, Kawasaki, Japan.
We previously observed that the
ingestion by mice of a hot water extract (CC) and the methanol-extracted
and water-soluble fraction (CC-W) of coffee cherry, the
residue remaining after the removal of coffee beans from
the fruit, enhanced the differentiation of thymocytes and
the activation of peripheral T-lymphocytes; and the anti-mammary
tumour effects of coffee cherry extract was considered to
be associated with this immunomodulation. To study further
these effects, mitogen response and some immune parameters
were examined in a high mammary tumour strain of SHN mice.
While the T-lymphocyte response to concanavalin A was not
significantly changed by either CC or CC-W, the lipopolysaccharide
response was significantly enhanced by both treatments.
The proportion of CD45R/B220+ (B) cells in the splenic lymphocytes
was significantly increased by CC, and the percentage of
activated (CD25+) cells in B-lymphocytes was increased by
CC and CC-W. These data indicate that coffee cherry extract
can enhance B-lymphocyte response, and suggest that this
immunopotentiation contributes to the antitumourigenic role
of coffee cherry.
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CRANBERRIES |
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1F1, 130 Portobello High Street, Edinburgh,
UK, EH15 1AH.
BACKGROUND: Cranberries (particularly
in the form of cranberry juice) have been used widely for
several decades for the prevention and treatment of urinary
tract infections (UTIs). The aim of this review is to assess
the effectiveness of cranberries in preventing such infections.
OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of cranberry juice
and other cranberry products in preventing UTIs in susceptible
populations. SEARCH STRATEGY: Electronic databases and the
Internet were searched using English and non English language
terms; companies involved with the promotion and distribution
of cranberry preparations were contacted; reference lists
of review articles and relevant trials were searched. SELECTION
CRITERIA: All randomised or quasi randomised controlled
trials of cranberry juice/products for the prevention of
urinary tract infections in susceptible populations. Trials
of men, women or children were included. DATA COLLECTION
AND ANALYSIS: Two reviewers independently assessed and extracted
information. For each included trial, information was collected
on methods, participants, interventions and outcomes (urinary
tract infections (symptomatic and asymptomatic), side effects
and adherence to therapy). We were unable to perform statistical
analysis due to the nature of the data available for review,
so a narrative synthesis was undertaken. Quality was assessed
using the Cochrane criteria. MAIN RESULTS: Five trials met
the inclusion criteria (four cross-over, one parallel group).
Four compared the effectiveness of cranberry juice versus
placebo juice or water, and one compared the effectiveness
of cranberry capsules versus placebo. Two further trials
were excluded. Data from two out of the five trials indicated
that cranberries were effective for either symptomatic or
asymptomatic UTIs, but this result was not obtained in an
intention-to-treat analysis. Side effects were common, and
dropouts high. Overall, the quality of the five included
trials was poor, the sample sizes were small, and thus the
reliability of the results must be questionable. REVIEWER'S
CONCLUSIONS: The small number of poor quality trials gives
no reliable evidence of the effectiveness of cranberry juice
and other cranberry products. The large number of dropouts/withdrawals
from the trials indicates that cranberry juice may not be
acceptable over long periods of time. There is no conclusive
evidence to recommend cranberry juice for the prevention
of UTIs. Further properly designed trials with relevant
outcomes are needed.
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Division of Experimental Urology, Department
of Urology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence
of plum-, cranberry- and blackcurrant juice on urinary stone
risk factors. DESIGN: Investigations were carried out in
12 healthy male subjects aged 18-38 y. All subjects received
a standardized diet formulated according to the dietary
recommendations of the German Society of Nutrition. The
subjects provided 24 h urine collections in a control, three
loading phases. In each loading phase a neutral mineral
water was substituted for 330 ml of the particular juice.
RESULTS: Cranberry juice decreased the urinary pH, whereas
the excretion of oxalic acid and the relative supersaturation
for uric acid were increased. Blackcurrant juice increased
the urinary pH and the excretion of citric acid. The excretion
of oxalic acid was increased too. All changes were statistically
significant. The plum juice had no significant effect on
the urinary composition. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that
blackcurrant juice could support the treatment and metaphylaxis
of uric acid stone disease because of its alkalizing effect.
Since cranberry juice acidifies urine it could be useful
in the treatment of brushite and struvite stones as well
as urinary tract infection.
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Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry,
University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, Massachusetts
02747, USA.
Polyphenolic compounds in cranberries
have been investigated to determine their role in protection
against cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Extracts
of whole fruit were assayed for radical-scavenging activity
and tumor growth inhibition using seven tumor cell lines.
Selective inhibition of K562 and HT-29 cells was observed
from a methanolic extract in the range of 16-125 microg/mL.
Radical-scavenging activity was greatest in an extract composed
primarily of flavonol glycosides. Seven flavonol glycosides
were isolated and purified from whole fruit for further
evaluation; the anthocyanin cyanidin 3-galactoside was also
purified for comparison with the flavonoids. Three flavonol
monoglycosides were newly identified by (13)C NMR as myricetin
3-alpha-arabinofuranoside, quercetin 3-xyloside, and 3-methoxyquercetin
3-beta-galactoside (isorhamnetin); the other four isolated
were the previously identified myricetin 3-beta-galactoside,
quercetin 3-beta-galactoside, quercetin 3-alpha-arabinofuranoside,
and quercetin 3-alpha-rhamnopyranoside. These compounds
were evaluated for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging
activity and ability to inhibit low-density lipoprotein
oxidation in vitro. Most of the flavonol glycosides showed
antioxidant activity comparable or superior to that of vitamin
E; cyanidin 3-galactoside showed activity superior to that
of the flavonoids as well as vitamin E or Trolox in both
antioxidant assays.
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DATE |
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Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine,
Kuwait University, Kuwait.
Fruits of the date palm (Phoenix
dactylifera L. Arecaceae) are very commonly consumed in
many parts of the world and are a vital component of the
diet in most of the Arabian countries. This preliminary
study documents for the first time its antioxidant and antimutagenic
properties in vitro. There was a dose-dependent inhibition
of superoxide and hydroxyl radicals by an aqueous extract
of date fruit. The amount of fresh extract required to scavenge
50% of superoxide radicals was equivalent to 0.8 mg/mL of
date fruit in the riboflavin photoreduction method. An extract
of 2.2 mg/mL of date fruit was needed for 50% hydroxyl-radical-scavenging
activity in the deoxyribose degradation method. Concentrations
of 1.5 and 4.0 mg/mL completely inhibited superoxide and
hydroxyl radicals, respectively. Aqueous date extract was
also found to inhibit significantly the lipid peroxidation
and protein oxidation in a dose-dependent manner. In an
Fe(2+)/ascorbate system, an extract of 1.9 mg/mL of date
fruit was needed for 50% inhibition of lipid peroxides.
In a time course inhibition study of lipid peroxide, at
a 2.0 mg/mL concentration of date extract, there was a complete
inhibition of TBARS formation in the early stages of the
incubation period that increased during later stages of
the incubation. Similarly, in the high Fe(2+)/ascorbate
induction system a concentration of 2.3 mg/mL inhibited
carbonyl formation measured by DNPH reaction by 50%. Moreover,
a concentration of 4.0 mg/mL completely inhibited lipid
peroxide and protein carbonyl formation. Date fruit extract
also produced a dose-dependent inhibition of benzo(a)pyrene-induced
mutagenecity on Salmonella tester strains TA-98 and TA-100
with metabolic activation. Extract from 3.6 mg/plate and
4.3 mg/plate was found required for 50% inhibition of His+
revertant formation in TA-98 and TA-100, respectively. These
results indicate that antioxidant and antimutagenic activity
in date fruit is quite potent and implicates the presence
of compounds with potent free-radical-scavenging activity.
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Department of Bacteriology, Belfast City
Hospital, Northern Ireland.
Edible dates (Phoenix dactylifera)
were examined for the presence of endogenous yeasts and
filimentous fungi. Mean counts of fungi were 530 colony
forming units (cfu) per gram of fruit, representing a mixture
of two phenotypic colony types. Subsequent DNA extraction
and PCR amplification of these two morphotypes yielded an
amplicon of approximately 350 bp with the 5.8S-28S rRNA
ITS region. Sequence analysis identified these to be Cladosporium
cladosporioides (230 cfu/g) and Sporobolomyces roseus. Both
organisms have been previously reported in opportunistic
infections involving skin or in immunocompromised patients.
This is the first report of edible dates being a source
of these organisms and we emphasize the importance of the
common practice of washing hands following the consumption
of these fruits by hand.
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| ELDERBERRY |
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Antioxidants Research Laboratory, Jean
Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts
University, Room 507, 711 Washington St. Boston, MA 02111,
USA.
Considerable epidemiological evidence
suggests a link between the consumption of diets rich in
fruits and vegetables and a decreased risk of cardiovascular
disease and cancers. Anthocyanins have received attention
as important dietary constituents that may provide health
benefits and contribute antioxidant capacity beyond that
provided by essential micronutrients such as ascorbate,
tocopherols, and selenium. The emergence of renewed interest
by industrial countries in traditional herbal medicines
and the development of 'functional foods' are stimulating
the need for more information regarding the bioavailability
and efficacy of plant polyphenols. Flavonoids represent
a numerous group of secondary plant metabolites based on
the structure of a pyran ring flanked by two or more phenyl
rings and varying subtly in the degree of unsaturation and
the pattern of hydroxylation or methylation. Flavonoids
also vary in the type of sugar attached or the degree of
polymerization. Anthocyanins, potent flavonoid antioxidants
widely distributed in fruits, vegetables and red wines,
normally occur in nature as glycosides, a form not usually
considered as bioavailable. We have examined the bioavailability
and pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins in humans. Anthocyanins
were detected as glycosides in both plasma and urine samples.
The elimination of plasma anthocyanins appeared to follow
first-order kinetics and most anthocyanin compounds were
excreted in urine within 4 h after feeding. The current
findings appear to refute assumptions that anthocyanins
are not absorbed in their unchanged glycosylated forms in
humans.
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FIG |
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Department of Physiology, Faculty of
Medicine, Badajoz and Serv. Endocrinology, University Hospital
12 Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
The effect of a decoction of fig
leaves (Ficus carica), as a supplement to breakfast, on
diabetes control was studied in insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus (IDDM) patients (six men, four women, age 22-38
years, body mass index (BMI): 20.8 +/- 3.0 kg/m2, HbA1c
7.6 +/- 0.9% with a mean duration of diabetes of 9 +/- 6.3
years). The patients were managed with their usual diabetes
diet and their twice-daily insulin injection. During the
first month, patients were given a decoction of fig leaves
(FC) and during the next month a non-sweet commercial tea
(TC). The patients were divided into two groups (n = 5)
with random allocation and cross-over design. A standard
breakfast was given at the beginning and end of each month-run.
C-peptide, 2 h pre- and post-prandial glycemia, HbA1c, cholesterol,
lipid fractions and hematology data, were analyzed during
each visit. Glycemic profiles (7/day per week) were recorded
by patients. Only two patients had intolerance dropout.
Post-prandial glycemia was significantly lower during supplementation
with FC 156.6 +/- 75.9 mg/dl versus TC 293.7 +/- 45.0 mg/dl
(P < 0.001) without pre-prandial differences 145.0 +/-
41.5 and 196.6 +/- 43.2 mg/dl, respectively. Medium average
capillary profiles were also lower in the two sub-groups
of patients during FC 166.7 +/- 23.6 mg/dl, P < 0.05
and 157.1 +/- 17.0 mg/dl versus TC 245.8 +/- 14.2 mg/dl
and 221.4 +/- 27.3 mg/dl. Average insulin dose was 12% lower
during FC in the total group. The addition of FC to diet
in IDDM could be of help to control postprandial glycemia.
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Immature fig fruits did not support
colonization and aflatoxin production by Aspergillus flavus
Lk. but became susceptible when ripe. While sun-drying on
the tree, fruits were particularly vulnerable to fungal
infection and colonization. Aflatoxin accumulation equaled
levels frequently reported for such seeds as peanuts and
cereal grains.
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Faculty of Health Sciences, Division
of Health in the Community, Department of Family Medicine,
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, POB 572, Kiryat-Gat 82104,
Israel.
BACKGROUND: Anthrax is an often
fatal bacterial infection, occurring in cutaneous, inhalational,
gastrointestinal, and meningeal forms. Evaluation of anthrax
treatment from ancient history may help healthcare providers
to handle this serious disease more efficiently. OBJECTIVE:
To evaluate the biblical descriptions of anthrax, focusing
on its therapy in ancient times. STUDY SELECTION: All biblical
texts associated with anthrax were examined and passages
relating to this disease were studied closely. DATA SYNTHESIS:
Biblical passages such as: "Take a cluster of figs.
And they took and laid it on the boil [anthrax], and he
recovered," and "Let them take a cluster of figs,
and lay it upon the boil [anthrax], and he shall recover,"
convincingly indicate that figs have healing properties
in cutaneous anthrax lesions. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis
of this study, the National Institutes of Health together
with the pharmaceutical industry may consider to work on
isolation of compounds from fig plants to develop products
against cutaneous and possibly other forms of anthrax once
screening tests are completed.
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GOOSEBERRY |
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Department of Home Science, Sri Satya
Sai Institute of Higher Learning, Anantapur, AP, India.
The effect of supplementation of
three fruits, Indian gall nut, bedda nut and gooseberry,
on serum lipid levels and excretion of bile acids was investigated.
Rats made hypercholesterolemic by feeding hypercholesterolemia
inducing diet (HID) for a period of 30 days were used as
the test model. Feeding of a dried powder of these fruits
along with the HID resulted in significant (p<0.01) reduction
in total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
HDL cholesterol remained unchanged in groups fed gall nut
and bedda nut. However, the levels were significantly (p<0.01)
higher in groups fed mixed and gooseberry diets in comparison
to the control diet. Excretion of bile acids was found to
be significantly (p<0.01) higher in animals receiving
the three fruits in combination in comparison to those receiving
the individual fruits.
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Department of Foods and Nutrition, Lady
Irwin College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India.
The effect on total serum cholesterol
and its lipoprotein fractions of supplementation of the
diet with amla (Emblica officinalis, Gaertn., the Indian
gooseberry) was studied in normal and hypercholesterolaemic
men aged 35-55 years. The supplement was given for a period
of 28 d in the raw form. Both normal and hypercholesterolaemic
subjects showed a decrease in cholesterol levels. Two weeks
after withdrawing the supplement, the total serum cholesterol
levels of the hypercholesterolaemic subjects rose significantly
almost to initial levels.
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GRAPEFRUIT |
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Department of Urology, IRCCS Ospedale
Maggiore, Milan, Italy.
The effect of citrus fruit juice
ingestion on the risk of calcium oxalate stone formation
is still debated. The present study was undertaken to investigate
changes in urinary stone risk factors after administration
of a soft drink containing grapefruit juice. Seven healthy
subjects, with no history of kidney stones, were submitted
to an acute oral load (20 ml/kg body weight over 60 min)
of a soft drink containing grapefruit juice diluted (10%)
in mineral water. After a 7-day wash-out period, each subject
underwent an oral load with mineral water alone under the
same conditions. Urine specimens were collected before (for
120 min) and after each oral fluid load (for 180 min). Urinary
flow was significantly increased after both grapefruit juice
(46+/-26 vs 186+/-109 ml/h, p = 0.01) and mineral water
(42+/-16 vs 230+/-72 ml/h, p=0.001) compared to baseline.
Compared to mineral water, grapefruit juice significantly
(p=0.021) increased urinary excretion of citrate (25.8+/-9.3
vs 18.7+/-6.2 mg/h), calcium (6.7+/-4.3 vs 3.3+/-2.3 mg/h,
p=0.015) and magnesium (2.9+/-1.5 vs 1.0+/-0.7 mg/h, p=0.003).
Citrus fruit juices could represent a natural alternative
to potassium citrate in the management of nephrolithiasis,
because they could be better tolerated and cost-effective
than pharmacological calcium treatment. However, in order
to obtain a beneficial effect in the prevention of calcium
renal stones a reduced sugar content is desirable to avoid
the increase of urinary calcium due to the effect of sugar
supplementation.
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Istituto di Botanica, Universita di Urbino
Via Bramante, 28-61029, Urbino, Italy.
This review reports the last decade
acquisitions on grapefruit. New coumarins and limonoids
were isolated and characterised. The bioavailability of
many drugs was tested with grapefruit juice (GJ) coadministration;
the inhibition on cytochrome P450 seems due to a synergic
action between flavonoids and coumarins. Antimicrobial,
antifeeding, insecticidal, and antitumour activities were
also reported.
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Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of
Medicine, Novi Sad, Yugoslavia.
In the last few years, more attention
has been paid to the influence of grapefruit juice on metabolism
on many drugs. It has been reported that grapefruit juice
increases the plasma concentrations of orally administrated
drugs, that undergo metabolism in liver. However, all these
experiments were done with a single dose of grapefruit juice.
The primary aim of this study was to evaluate if the chronical
ingestion of grapefruit juice could also cause these effects.
Paracetamol is metabolized by reactions of oxidation and
conjugation to nontoxic ineffective metabolites. These reactions,
partly catalyzed by cytochrome P450 izoenzymes, take place
in liver. The analgesic effect of paracetamol was examined
by Writhing tests, where we used acetic acid as an irritating
agent. We used three groups of male mice: the control group,
the group which was administrated 0.2 mL of grapefruit juice
per os 10 days (GPOch) and the group which was administrated
single dose of 0.5 mL grapefruit juice per os 90 min. before
the experiment (GPOac). Dose of 50 mg/kg of paracetamol
was applicated s.c. 5 min. before i.p. application of 3
% acetic acid. The writhing phenomenon was observed in periods
of 5-15 min. and 15-30 min. after the application of paracetamol.
The results show that paracetamol in GPOch group significantly
decreases irritant effect of acetic acid in the period of
15-30 min. after the application in relation to the control
group. However, the acetic acid shows stronger irritant
effect in GPOch group than in the control group and less
irritant effect in GPOac group than in the control group.
In the period of 5-15 min. after the application, paracetamol
shows analgesic effect neither in the control nor in the
other groups.
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Department of Medicine, University of
Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610.
Dietary intake of cholesterol has
been linked to coronary heart disease. The effect of grapefruit
pectin (Citrus paradisi) on plasma cholesterol, triglycerides,
very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein
cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and the
low-density lipoprotein:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol
ratio was studied. The study design was a 16-week double-blind,
crossover (placebo or pectin) using 27 human volunteers
screened to be at medium to high risk for coronary heart
disease due to hypercholesterolemia. The study did not interfere
with the subjects' current diet or lifestyle. Grapefruit
pectin supplementation decreased plasma cholesterol 7.6%,
low-density lipoprotein cholesterol 10.8%, and the low-density
lipoprotein:high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio 9.8%.
The other plasma lipid fractions studied showed no significant
differences. We conclude that a grapefruit pectin-supplemented
diet, without change in lifestyle, can significantly reduce
plasma cholesterol.
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Food Science and Human Nutrition Department,
IFAS, University of Florida, Gainesville.
This study was based on in vitro
observations that naringin isolated from grapefruit induced
red cell aggregation and evidence that clumped red cells
are removed from the circulation by phagocytosis. The effect
on hematocrits of adding grapefruit to the daily diet was
determined using 36 human subjects (12 F, 24 M) over a 42-day
study. The hematocrits ranged from 36.5 to 55.8% at the
start and 38.8% to 49.2% at the end of the study. There
was a differential effect on the hematocrit. The largest
decreases occurred at the highest hematocrits and the effect
decreased on the intermediate hematocrits; however, the
low hematocrits increased. There was no significant difference
between ingesting 1/2 or 1 grapefruit per day but a decrease
in hematocrit due to ingestion of grapefruit was statistically
significant at the p less than 0.01 level.
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GRAPES |
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Departamento de Biologia Vegetal (Fisiologia
Vegetal), Facultad de Biologia, Campus Espinardo, Universidad
de Murcia, E-30100 Murcia, Spain.
The 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic
acid)/H2O2/horseradish peroxidase (ABTS/H2O2/HRP) decoloration
method permits the evaluation of the antioxidant activity
of complex food samples. This method is capable of determining
both hydrophilic (in buffered media) and lipophilic (in
organic media) antioxidant properties in the same sample.
Its application to the study of the antioxidant properties
of grapes, one white and two black, has permitted us to
establish important differences in the antioxidant activity.
The black grapes showed higher antioxidant activity than
the white variety. The determination of hydrophilic antioxidant
activity (HAA) and lipophilic antioxidant activity (LAA)
in the three grapes showed that a minor contribution (4-13%)
of total antioxidant activity (TAA) was due to LAA in all
cases. The experimentally determined HAA could be approximated
using the relative contributions of the calculated values
of reference compounds (total phenols as gallic acid and
anthocyanins as malvidin).
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Cardiovascular Research Center, University
of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.
Epidemiologic studies suggest that
mild-to-moderate wine consumption is associated with a reduced
incidence of mortality and morbidity from coronary heart
disease. Because wines are produced from grapes, this study
was done to determine whether the grapes were equally cardioprotective.
Sprague-Dawley male rats were given (orally) standardized
grape extract (SGE) (obtained from the California Table
Grape Commission, Fresno, CA, U.S.A.) (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg
body weight per day) for 3 weeks. Time-matched control experiments
were performed by feeding the animals 45 microg/100 g of
glucose plus 45 microg/100 g of fructose per day for 3 weeks.
After 21 days, rats were killed and the hearts excised and
perfused via working mode. Hearts were made ischemic for
30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion. At 100 mg/kg and
at 200 mg/kg, grapes provided significant cardioprotection
as evidenced by improved postischemic ventricular recovery
(aortic flow, developed pressure, the maximum first derivative
of the developed pressure) and reduced amount of myocardial
infarction. There were no differences in results between
the two groups (100 mg/kg versus 200 mg/kg). No cardioprotection
was apparent when rats were given grape samples at a dose
of 50 mg/100 g/d. SGE reduced the malonaldehyde content
of the heart, indicating reduction of oxidative stress during
ischemia and reperfusion. In vitro studies demonstrated
that the SGE could directly scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl
radicals that are formed in the ischemic reperfused myocardium.
The results demonstrate that the hearts of the rats fed
SGE are resistant to myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury,
suggesting a cardioprotective role of grapes.
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Department of Human Anatomy, University
of Milan, 20133 Milan Italy.
Ischemia is an inciting factor in
50% of incidences of acute renal failure, and it increases
the risk of organ rejection after renal transplantation.
We have previously demonstrated that resveratrol (RSV) reduces
ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of rat kidney both by
antioxidant and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. However, a
clear morphological demonstration of this activity has not
been made. To answer this question we have performed a new
set of experiments following the experimental protocol reported
below to investigate the effects of I/R injury and RSV pretreatment
on kidney morphology by computerized morphometric analysis.
Both renal arteries were clamped for 40 minutes in 40 male
Wistar rats (b.w. 220 +/- 20 g); 20 rats were pretreated
with RSV 1 microM e.v. 40 minutes before clamping. All animals
were reperfused for 24 hours and then sacrificed. Histological
examination showed tissue conservation in treated rats.
I/R-induced glomerular collapse (as revealed by mean glomerular
volume and glomerular shape factor) was significantly reduced
by RSV pretreatment. Capillary tuft/Bowman's capsule area
ratio was enhanced in the I/R group suggesting tubular hypertension.
RSV pre-treatments significantly reduced this parameter
to the control value. The number of platelet clots in the
capillary tuft and tubular necrosis were also reduced by
RSV versus I/R group. L-NAME administration worsened both
functional and structural damage. Finally, cGMP urinary
levels were markedly reduced from 12.1 +/- 8.4 nmol/day
to 0.10 +/- 0.10 nmol/day in the I/R group. RSV provided
cGMP (5.01 +/- 1.5 nmol/day, P < 0.05). As expected,
L-NAME administration significantly reduced cGMP in urine
(0.71 +/- 0.6 nmol/day). The present study confirms the
protective effect of RSV pretreatment in I/R injury of rat
kidney and suggests multiple mechanisms of action.
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Institute of Pharmacology, College of
Medicine, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 1, Jen-Ai
Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
BACKGROUND: The major objective
of the present study was to examine the cardioprotective
effect of resveratrol, an antioxidant presents in red wines,
in the rat after ischemia and ischemia-reperfusion (I-R).
METHODS: The left main coronary artery was occluded for
30 or 5 min followed by a 30-min reperfusion in anesthetized
rats. Animals were preinfused with and without resveratrol
before occlusion and the severity of ischemia- and I-R-induced
arrhythmias and mortality were compared. RESULTS: Resveratrol
pretreatment had no effect on ischemia-induced arrhythmias
nor on mortality. In contrast, a dramatic protective effects
were observed against I-R-induced arrhythmias and mortality.
Resveratrol pretreatment both reduced the incidence and
duration of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular
fibrillation (VF). During the same period, resveratrol pretreatment
also increased nitric oxide (NO) and decreased lactate dehydrogenase
levels in the carotid blood. CONCLUSIONS: Resveratrol is
a potent antiarrhythmic agent with cardioprotective properties
in I-R rats. The cardioprotective effects of resveratrol
in the I-R rats may be correlated with its antioxidant activity
and upregulation of NO production.
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Institute of Human Anatomy, Faculty of
Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
Trans-resveratrol, a natural stilbene
present in wine and grapes, has been studied mainly for
its antiinflammatory and anticancer activities. In this
study the activity of resveratrol on proliferative immunological
parameters (differentiation, apoptosis, phagocytosis and
intracellular killing) was studied using a U937 human promonocytic
cell line in comparison with another polyphenol, quercetin.
After incubation of the pathogen, Candida albicans, intracellular
killing by macrophage-like cells was decreased by quercetin
and resveratrol 10 microM but was enhanced by resveratrol
1 microM after 20 h of treatment. Phagocytosis rate, expressed
as phagocytosis frequency, (i.e., percentage number of phagocytosing
cells/total cells) at 20 h was highest with resveratrol
10 microM and was higher with quercetin 10 microM than with
resveratrol 1 microM. The phagocytosis index exhibited the
same trend. While both polyphenols demonstrated cytostatic
activity on U937 growth, a prointraphagocytic effect for
resveratrol 10 microM-treated cells at 10 min, resveratrol
1 microM-treated cells at 20 h and resveratrol 10 microM-treated
cells at 48 h was observed. Morphological examination with
optic microscopy demonstrated both apoptotic and differentiating
cells, even after 10 min treatment. Resveratrol-induced
apoptosis (following 4 h treatment) was confirmed by flow
cytometry at concentrations as low as 1 microM and 100 nM
in the assay for detection of membrane phosphatidylserine.
Resveratrol- or quercetin-treated, but unstimulated cells,
did not produce tumor necrosis factor-alpha protein. As
phosphatidylserine externalization triggers specific recognition
by monocytes and macrophages, removal of intact apoptotic
cells is important a) in cell population selection and differentiation
for antiblastic therapy, and b) in preventing the release
of toxic inflammatory substances such as reactive oxygen
substances and proteolytic enzymes by dying cells. This
observation suggests that wine polyphenols, at the same
concentrations as those found in plasma after moderate wine
consumption, are important cofactors in antiinfective, antiinflammatory
and anticancer nonspecific immune reactions.
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KIWI |
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Department of Dermatology, University
of Ulm, Germany.
BACKGROUND: To determine the cross-reacting
antigens of kiwi fruit and other foods and pollen, we investigated
22 patients allergic to kiwi fruit: 10 with severe systemic
reactions and 12 with localized symptoms confined to oral
and pharyngeal mucosa (oral allergy syndrome). Seven patients
with birch pollen allergy who tolerated kiwi fruit were
included as a control group. METHODS: All patients were
evaluated by skin testing and RAST; three patients were
evaluated by RAST inhibition assays. RESULTS: Prick tests
showed positive reactions to kiwi fruit in all patients,
whereas specific IgE to kiwi fruit could be demonstrated
only in patients with generalized severe symptoms. Surprisingly,
all 22 patients with clinical kiwi allergy showed positive
prick test results and elevated IgE to birch pollen. Clinically,
all complained of rhinitis during birch pollen season. Many
patients showed sensitization to grass and mugwort pollen.
Also, food allergy was found to be associated with kiwi
allergy: we found strong reactions to apple and hazelnut;
moderate reactions to carrot, potato, and avocado; and weak
reactions to wheat and rye flour, pineapple and papaya,
and their enzymes bromelain and papain. RAST inhibition
studies revealed cross-reacting antigens between birch pollen
and kiwi fruit. Interestingly, patients with birch pollen
allergy without clinical signs of kiwi allergy had positive
prick test reactions to kiwi. Patients with kiwi allergy
showed higher concentrations to birch pollen IgE compared
with patients with isolated birch pollen allergy. CONCLUSIONS:
Our results indicate that kiwi allergy is a new manifestation
of birch pollen-associated food allergy and is mediated
by cross-reacting antigens in the kiwi fruit. Kiwi allergy
can be expected in patients with birch pollen allergy exhibiting
high levels of IgE to birch pollen.
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LEMON |
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Department of Laboratory Animal Science,
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, The Netherlands.
BACKGROUND: We found in preliminary
studies with hamsters that citrus peels have a cholesterol
lowering effect comparable to that of pectin extracted from
these peels. AIM OF THE STUDY: We wanted to examine whether
the cholesterol lowering effect of the peels could be completely
accounted for by the pectin in the peels. METHODS: We fed
cholesterol enriched (0.1 %,w/w) semipurified diets containing
3% (w/w) of cellulose, lemon peels, lemon pectin, and the
waste stream material of the lemon peels to hybrid F1B hamsters
for a period of 8 weeks. The waste stream of the lemon peels
is the left over after extraction of the lemon pectin. RESULTS:
Feeding the semipurified diets resulted in an increase of
plasma cholesterol levels in all the dietary groups after
2 and 4 weeks on the diets. Cholesterol concentrations in
the cellulose fed hamsters continued to increase after 4
weeks on the diet, whereas cholesterol levels in the other
groups had reached a plateau. As a consequence, the plasma
cholesterol levels in the hamsters fed the peels (5.59 +/-
0.74 mmol/L, mean +/- SD, n = 14), pectin (5.19 +/- 0.48
mmol/L), or waste stream (5.53 +/- 0.94 mmol/L) were lower
than those in the hamsters fed cellulose (6.71 +/- 1.52
mmol/L) after 8 weeks on the diets. Differences in total
plasma cholesterol were reflected in differences in both
VLDL and LDL cholesterol concentration, but this effect
was more distinct for the VLDL. There was no effect of the
type of fiber on HDL cholesterol levels. Liver cholesterol
concentrations paralleled. the concentrations of plasma
cholesterol and the liver cholesterol concentrations in
the hamsters fed the peels (3.57+/- 1.01 micromol/g liver,
mean +/- SD, n = 14), pectin (4.86 +/- 1.42), and the waste
stream (4.96 +/- 1.89) were lower than those in the cellulose
group (7.19 +/- 2.32). The hamsters fed the peels, pectin,
or waste stream tended to have a higher excretion of fecal
bile acids and neutral sterols then the cellulose fed hamsters.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that lemon
peels and the waste stream of the lemon peels are as effective
in lowering plasma and liver cholesterol in hamsters as
the pectin extracted from the peels and that also compounds
other than pectin are probably responsible for the cholesterol
lowering effect of the citrus peels.
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Clinical Microbiology Department, Instituto
de Microiologia Di. Luis C. Verna, Facultad de Bioquimica
Qumica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucman, Argentina.
Food products can be possible vectors
of the agent responsible for cholera epidemics, because
some of these products allow Vibrio cholerae O1 to develop
to concentrations above the dangerous level. This study
deals with the behaviour of essential oils, natural and
concentrated lemon juice and fresh and dehydrated lemon
peel against V. cholerae O1 biotype Eltor serotype Inaba
tox+. Our aim was to evaluate whether these products, used
at different dilutions, exhibit bactericidal or bacteriostatic
activity against the microorganism, when present at concentrations
of 10(2), 10(4), 10(6) and 10(8) colony forming units (CFU)
ml(-1), and after different exposure times. 10(8) CFU ml(-1)
was considered an infectious dose. Concentrated lemon juice
and essential oils inhibited V. cholerae completely at all
studied dilutions and exposure times. Fresh lemon peel and
dehydrated lemon peel partially inhibited growth of V. cholerae.
Freshly squeezed lemon juice, diluted to 10(-2), showed
complete inhibition of V. cholerae at a concentration of
10(8) CFU ml(-1) after 5 min of exposure time; a dilution
of 2 x 10(-3) produced inhibition after 15 min and a dilution
of 10(-3) after 30 min. It can be concluded that lemon,
a natural product which is easily obtained, acts as a biocide
against V. cholerae, and is, therefore, an efficient decontaminant,
harmless to humans.
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Central Research Laboratory of Pokka
Corporation, Ltd., Aichi, Japan.
The effects of lemon flavonoids,
as crude flavonoids prepared from lemon juice, were investigated
in diabetic rats. The oxidative stress of eriocitrin (eriodictyol
7-O-beta-rutinoside) and hesperidin (hesperetin 7-O-beta-rutinoside)
on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was investigated.
Diabetic rats were given a diet which contained 0.2% crude
flavonoids, 0.2% eriocitrin, and 0.2% hesperidin. After
the 28-d feeding period, the concentration of the thiobarbituric
acid-reactive substance in the serum, liver, and kidney
of diabetic rats administered crude flavonoids, eriocitrin,
and hesperidin significantly decreased as compared with
that of the diabetic group. The levels of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine,
which is exchanged from deoxyguanosine owing to oxidative
stress, in the urine of diabetic rats administered eriocitrin
and hesperidin significantly decreased as compared with
that of the diabetic rat group. Crude flavonoids, eriocitrin,
and hesperidin suppressed the oxidative stress in the diabetic
rats. These results demonstrated that dietary lemon flavonoids
of eriocitrin and hesperidin play a role as antioxidant
in vivo.
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Gastroenerologic Unit, Hospital de Clinicas
(Universidad de Buenos Aires), Argentina.
The secretory effect elicited by
the ingestion of 100 ml of orange-lemon juice (O.-L.J.)
was studied on pure pancreatic juice obtained from a catheter
placed in the human Wirsung duct at surgery. These changes
were compared with those evoked by a regular meal (R.M.),
the ingestion of a Sorbitol solution (S.S.), the intragastric
infusion of an acidified peptone broth (A.P.B.) and an i.v.
single injection of secretin (Boots, 1.0 U/kg). The O.-L.J.
induced purer pancreatic secretion response (flow, bicarbonate
and enzyme output) than that triggered by the R.M., S.S.
and A.P.B. The O.-L.J. evoked peak values, were observed
earlier (60 min) than with a R.M. (90 min) ingestion. The
120-min-cumulative values confirmed these findings and disclosed
that O.-L.J. elicits a rate of secretion and bicarbonate
output closely similar to that of an i.v. secretin injection
and amylase response greater than that evoked by this hormone.
Thus, O.-L.J. ingestion proved to be an unexpected powerful
stimulus of exocrine pancreatic secretion.
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LIME |
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Immunology Department, Medical School,
Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, PO Box 71345-1798,
Shiraz, Iran.
In this study, the in vitro immunomodulatory
effect of concentrated juice of Citrus aurantifolia cv.
swingle (Lime) was investigated. Clarified fresh lime juice
was concentrated by freeze-drying. After dialysis against
phosphate buffered saline and sterilization by a Millipore
filter, it was used for further experiments. Immunogenic
property of the CLJ extract was documented by production
of specific polyclonal antibodies in rabbits. The immunomodulatory
effect of the extract was tested in mitogen activated cultured
mononuclear cells. The culture results indicated that proliferation
of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) activated mononuclear cells
were significantly inhibited by 250 and 500 microg/ml of
CLJ extract, whereas only 500 microg/ml of the extract could
inhibit proliferation of staphylococcal protein A (SPA)
activated mononuclear cells (P<0.05). The abrogation
of this inhibitory effect of the CLJ extract was noted by
adding anti-CLJ antibody to the lymphocyte culture. Considering
these data, it can be concluded that the CLJ extract possesses
immunomodulatory principles, which may mainly be due to
the protein components of the extract.
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Departamento de Investigacion y Posgrado
en Alimentos, University of Sonora, Hermosillo, Mexico.
Lime-treated maize husks (LTCH),
a by-product of tortilla manufacturing in Mexico, have been
shown to decrease plasma LDL-cholesterol levels in guinea-pigs
by specific alterations in hepatic cholesterol metabolism.
To determine whether LTCH would also lower plasma cholesterol
levels in normal and hyperlipidaemic individuals, the fibre
content of a typical diet was increased by supplementing
free-living subjects in North-West Mexico with cookies containing
450 g LTCH/kg. Normal subjects (n 11) with plasma cholesterol
levels of less than 5.7 mmol/l and hypercholesterolaemic
subjects (n 12) with plasma cholesterol levels higher than
5.7 mmol/l participated in the study. Plasma glucose, cholesterol,
triacylglycerol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations,
LDL:HDL values and blood pressure were determined at baseline
and after 6 weeks of supplementation with LTCH. LTCH supplementation
significantly lowered the plasma total cholesterol level
by 11-15% and LDL-cholesterol by 25%, and improved the LDL:HDL
value by 29-33% (P < 0.01) in both normal and hypercholesterolaemic
subjects. HDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerol and glucose concentrations
did not change. Both groups consumed equal amounts of LTCH
per week; individuals showed excellent compliance and good
acceptance of the product. Neither group changed their dietary
habits during the time of the experiment as determined by
3 d dietary records at baseline and at week 6. We conclude
that LTCH supplements are suitable to increase fibre intake
and reduce plasma LDL-cholesterol levels in healthy and
hypercholesterolaemic subjects in this population.
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Servico de Epidemiologia, Ministerio
de Saude Publica, Bissau, Guine-Bissau.
Epidemiological studies have shown
that food plays an important role in the transmission of
Vibrio cholerae, and different foods have been incriminated
in many epidemic outbreaks of cholera. Storing contaminated
meals at ambient temperatures allows growth of V. cholerae.
Some ingredients such as lime juice may inhibit the survival
of V. cholerae in foods. During an epidemic caused by V.
cholerae O1 in Guinea-Bissau in 1996, a case control study
was conducted in the capital Bissau, the main affected region
with an attack rate of 7.4%. Cases were hospitalized patients
and controls were matched for area, gender and age. Lime
juice in the sauce eaten with rice gave a strong protective
effect (odds ratio [OR] = 0.31, 95% confidence interval
[CI] = 0.17-0.56), and tomato sauce was also protective
(OR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.24-0.54). On the other hand, use
of a bucket for storage of water in the house was associated
with increased risk (OR = 4.4, CI = 2.21-8.74). Laboratory
experiments to elucidate the inhibitory effect of different
concentrations of lime juice on survival of V. cholerae
in meals showed that V. cholerae thrives in rice with peanut
sauce, but lime juice inhibited its growth. Since lime juice
is a common ingredient of sauces, its use should be further
encouraged to prevent foodborne transmission in the household
during cholera outbreaks.
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MANGO |
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Department of Epidemiology and International
Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, USA.
Supplementation with carotene-rich
fruits may be an effective and sustainable approach to prevent
vitamin A deficiency. To test the effectiveness of mango
supplementation, 176 Gambian children, aged 2 to 7 y, were
randomly assigned to one of four treatments: 75 g of dried
mango containing approximately 150 micro g retinol activity
equivalents with (MF) or without (M) 5 g of fat, 5 d/wk
for 4 mo or 60,000 micro g of vitamin A (A) or placebo (P)
capsule at baseline. After 4 mo, plasma beta-carotene was
greater in both the M (P < 0.05) and MF (P = 0.07) groups
compared with the P group. After controlling for baseline
plasma retinol, elevated acute phase proteins and age, plasma
retinol concentrations in the A and MF, but not M, groups
were higher than in the P group at the end of the study
(P < 0.01). Increases in retinol concentrations, however,
were small in both groups. These results support the use
of dietary supplementation with dried mangoes and a source
of fat as one of several concurrent strategies that can
be used to help maintain vitamin A status of children in
developing countries where there is a severe seasonal shortage
of carotenoid-rich foods.
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MELON |
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Lampang Regional Cancer Center, Lampang
52000, Thailand.
Cervical cancer patients have a defective
immune system. There is a decrease of total white blood
cell count including lymphocytes and natural killer (NK)
cells. NK cells, one type of lymphocytes, play a role to
eliminate cancer cells by antibody dependent cell mediated
cytotoxicity (ADCC) mechanism. Previous studies have shown
that P-glycoprotein (170 kDa, transmembrane protein) may
be a transporter for cytokine releasing in ADCC mechanism.
This study proposed to explore the role of bitter melon
intake in cervical cancer patients undergoing normal treatment
(radiotherapy). Subjects were divided into three groups:
1) normal control (women 35-55 years, n = 35), 2) patient
control (n = 30) and 3) patient treatment (n = 30) groups.
Patient control and patient treatment groups were cervical
cancer patients (stage II or III) treated with radiotherapy
(without or with bitter melon ingestion). Blood samples
of patient control and patient treatment groups were analyzed
for NK cells percentage and P-glycoprotein level. Bitter
melon is a Thai herb. Previous studies have shown that bitter
melon can stimulate lymphocyte activity in vitro and in
vivo (mouse). The authors hope that bitter melon could stimulate
the increase of NK cells percentage and P-glycoprotein level
on the membrane in blood samples from cervical cancer patients
who ingest bitter melon. The results showed an increased
percentage of NK cells in patient control and patient treatment
groups. The increase in each group is significant (p <
0.05) when compared with the percentage of NK cells from
second and third blood sampling time (after radiation with
of without bitter melon intake for 45 and 90 days) with
first blood sampling time (before treatment). The results
also show a significant decrease of P-glycoprotein level
(p < 0.05) in second and third blood sampling times when
compared with first blood sampling time of the patient treatment
group. There was no significant difference of P-glycoprotein
(P-gp) level from first, second and third blood sampling
times in patient control group. Bitter melon ingestion did
not affect NK cell level but it affected the decrease of
P-gp level on NK cell membrane.
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Food and Nutritional Science Program,
Department of Zoology, The University of Hong Kong, The People's
Republic of China.
Bitter melon (BM) is known for its
hypoglycemic effect but its effect on rats fed a hyperinsulinemic
high fat diet has not been examined. In a dose-response
(0.375, 0.75 and 1.5%) study, oral glucose tolerance was
improved in rats fed a high fat (HF; 30%) diet supplemented
with freeze-dried BM juice at a dose of 0.75% or higher
(P < 0.05). At the highest dose, BM-supplemented rats
had lower energy efficiency (P < 0.05) and tended (P
= 0.10) to have less visceral fat mass. In a subsequent
experiment, rats habitually fed a HF diet either continued
to consume the diet or were switched to a HF+BM, low fat
(LF; 7%) or LF+BM diet for 7 wk. BM was added at 0.75%.
Final body weight and visceral fat mass of the two last-mentioned
groups were similar to those of rats fed a LF diet for the
entire duration. Rats switched to the HF+BM diet gained
less weight and had less visceral fat than those fed the
HF diet (P < 0.05). The addition of BM did not change
apparent fat absorption. BM supplementation to the HF diet
improved insulin resistance, lowered serum insulin and leptin
but raised serum free fatty acid concentration (P < 0.05).
This study reveals for the first time that BM reduces adiposity
in rats fed a HF diet. BM appears to have multiple influences
on glucose and lipid metabolism that strongly counteract
the untoward effects of a high fat diet.
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PIP: People in Asia often use a medicinal
plant, bitter melon (Mamordica charantia), to treat various
diseases (e.g., malaria). It has anti-viral, anti-tumor,
and immune system boosting properties. Some Asians, especially
Filipinos, eat bitter melon. They believe that bitter melon
cleanses the blood and boosts the immune system. Rural Filipino
midwives place a strong bitter melon extract in a newborn's
mouth to activate the immune system. An HIV-infected man
in California uses bitter melon therapy. Bitter melon therapy
can be prepared by extracting juices from fresh leaves and
fruits and adding purified water to the extract to control
the potency. Another preparation involves bringing two pounds
of leaves and fruits in a gallon of purified water to a
boil, allowing it to simmer for five minutes, filtering
the decoction in a sterile strainer, and storing it in the
refrigerator. The therapy can be administered either orally
or via the rectum. The HIV-infected California man drank
10 ounces of the juices or a combination of juices and decoction
each day for five days a week during the first year. He
then switched to rectal retention enema due to the bad taste.
He increased the dosage to 16 ounces/day and the duration
to seven days a week. He held an inserted enema bag or rectal
syringe until the juices/decoction had been absorbed. Sometimes
he would infuse most of the therapy two times a day. Within
seven days of rectal retention enema delivery of the bitter
melon therapy, his energy level increased rapidly and his
physical stamina and appetite improved. One year after therapy
began, his CD4 count increased greatly. Later, his CD4/CD8
ratios had returned to normal. He no longer experiences
acute sinusitis or recurrent respiratory infections. He
has had no serious side effects.
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Department of Biochemistry, New York
University School of Medicine, New York 10016, USA.
MAP30 is an anti-HIV plant protein
that we have identified and purified to homogeneity from
bitter melon (Momordica charantia). It is capable of acting
against multiple stages of the viral life cycle, on acute
infection as well as replication in chronically infected
cells. In addition to antiviral action, MAP30 also possesses
anti-tumor activity, topological inactivation of viral DNA,
inhibition of viral integrase and cell-free ribosome-inactivation
activities. We have cloned and expressed the MAP30 gene.
The objective of this study is to characterize recombinant
MAP30 (re-MAP30) and to determine its anti-HIV, anti-tumor
and other activities. We report here that re-MAP30 inhibits
HIV-1 and certain human tumors to the same extent as its
native counterpart, natural MAP30 (nMAP30). The anti-HIV
activity was measured by quantitative focal syncytium formation
on CEM-ss cell monolayers, viral core protein p24 _expression
and viral-associated reverse transcriptase activity in HIV-1-infected
H9 cells. The anti-tumor activity was measured by metabolic
labeling of protein synthesis in tumor cells. In the dose
range of the assay, re-MAP30 exhibits little toxicity to
the uninfected viral target cells and other normal human
cells. Identical to nMAP30, re-MAP30 is also active in topological
inactivation of viral DNA, inhibition of viral DNA integration
and cell-free ribosome inactivation. The cloning and _expression
of the gene encoding biologically active re-MAP30 provides
an abundant source of homogeneous material for clinical
investigations, as well as structure-function studies of
this novel antiviral and anti-tumor agent.
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WATERMELON |
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U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural
Research Service, Phytonutrients Laboratory, Beltsville Human
Nutrition Research Center, MD 20705, USA.
Watermelon is a rich natural source
of lycopene, a carotenoid of great interest because of its
antioxidant capacity and potential health benefits. Assessment
of bioavailability of lycopene from foods has been limited
to tomato products, in which heat processing promotes lycopene
bioavailability. We examined the bioavailability of lycopene
from fresh-frozen watermelon juice in a 19-wk crossover
study. Healthy, nonsmoking adults (36-69 y) completed three
3-wk treatment periods, each with a controlled, weight-maintenance
diet. Treatment periods were preceded by "washout"
periods of 2-4 wk during which lycopene-rich foods were
restricted. All 23 subjects consumed the W-20 (20.1 mg/d
lycopene, 2.5 mg/d beta-carotene from watermelon juice)
and C-0 treatments (controlled diet, no juice). As a third
treatment, subjects consumed either the W-40 (40.2 mg/d
lycopene, 5.0 mg/d beta-carotene from watermelon juice,
n = 12) or T-20 treatment (18.4 mg/d lycopene, 0.6 mg/d
beta-carotene from tomato juice, n = 10). After 3 wk of
treatment, plasma lycopene concentrations for the W-20,
W-40, T-20 and C-0 treatments were (least squares means
+/- SEM) 1078 +/- 106, 1183 +/- 139, 960 +/- 117 and 272
+/- 27 nmol/L, respectively. Plasma concentrations of beta-carotene
were significantly greater after W-20 (574 +/- 49 nmol/L)
and W-40 (694 +/- 73 nmol/L) treatments than after the C-0
treatment (313 +/- 27 nmol/L). Plasma lycopene concentrations
did not differ at wk 3 after W-20, W-40 and T-20 treatments,
indicating that lycopene was bioavailable from both fresh-frozen
watermelon juice and canned tomato juice, and that a dose-response
effect was not apparent in plasma when the watermelon dose
was doubled.
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OLIVE |
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Department of Pharmacological Sciences,
University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Olive oil is the principal source
of fats in the Mediterranean diet, which has been associated
with a lower incidence of coronary heart disease and certain
cancers. Phenolic compounds, e.g., hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein,
in extra-virgin olive oil are responsible for its peculiar
pungent taste and for its high stability. Recent findings
demonstrate that olive oil phenolics are powerful antioxidants,
both in vitro and in vivo, and possess other potent biological
activities that could partially account for the observed
healthful effects of the Mediterranean diet.
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Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of
Agriculture Cairo University Giza.
Free and total polyphenolic compounds
were extracted from the fruits and leaves of the Picual
cultivar. The safety limits of these compounds were recognized
by measuring the activities of alanine aminotransferase
(ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and the levels
of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and total
lipids of rat serum. The free and total phenolic compounds
(400, 800, and 1600 ppm) and butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT)
(200 ppm) were daily ingested for 7 weeks. The administration
of olive total and free phenolic compounds at 400 and 800
ppm did not cause any significant changes on ALT and AST
activities and serum total lipids. These compounds at 1600
ppm caused significant increase in ALT and AST activities
and the content of total lipids. Both olive phenolic compounds
were superior to that of BHT in increasing HDL-cholesterol
level. Nutritional experiments demonstrated that BHT at
200 ppm caused an enlargement in the kidney and liver of
the rat compared with the administration of total and free
olive phenolic compounds at 1200 and 1600 ppm. Microscopical
examination of kidney and liver tissues of rats administered
free and total phenolic compounds at 1200 ppm had the same
histological character as that of control rats, while the
administration of BHT (200 ppm) and phenolic compounds (1600
ppm) induced severe damage to the tissues of the rat kidney
and liver.
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ORANGE |
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Dental School of Erfurt, Department of
Preventive Dentistry, Friedrich-Schiller-University of Jena,
Germany.
Marked erosion at the mesial edges
of upper front teeth was observed during an examination
of Cuban children. The preferential erosion of mesial edges
produced characteristic V-shaped defects on upper central
incisors, and the aim of the present study, carried out
on 12-yr-old children (N = 1010) in 10 communities in the
Province of Havana was to establish the frequency of dental
erosion and explain its occurrence. The symmetrical erosion
of teeth 11 and 21 (excluding crown injuries and attrition)
were clinically classified into four grades: 0.5 = objectionable;
1 = abnormal mesial shortening of incisal edges; 2 = V-shaped
defect of cutting edges; 3 = exposure of dentine and extension
of the erosive defect to the lateral incisors. In four of
the communities, children did not show or rarely showed
incisal erosion. In the other six communities, the frequency
was surprisingly high (16.6-40.9%). Overall, 17.4% of children
exhibited erosion, and the occurrence was significantly
higher in girls (20.7%) than in boys (15.0%). The typical
V-shaped pattern of erosion seems to be a consequence of
the manner in which citrus fruits are eaten. There was also
a positive correlation between the frequency of dental erosion
and the proximity of citrus plantations, which presumably
related to the extent of (daily) orange consumption.
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PAPAYA |
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Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology,
National University of Singapore, 10 Kent Ridge Crescent,
Singapore 119260.
Using controlled in vivo and in vitro
pharmacological methods, we evaluated the safety of papaya
(Carica papaya) consumption in pregnancy with reference
to its common avoidance during pregnancy in some parts of
Asia. Ripe papaya (Carica papaya L. (Caricaecae) blend (500
ml/l water) was freely given to four groups of Sprague-Dawley
rats at different stages of gestation (days 1-5, 6-11, 12-17
and 1-20). The control group received water. The effect
of ripe papaya juice and crude papaya latex on pregnant
and non-pregnant rats' uteri was also evaluated using standard
isolated-organ-bath methods. The daily volumes (ml) of ripe
papaya blend consumed by the treated group were significantly
(P<0.05) more than water consumed by the control (control
40.3 (sd 11.6) v. treated 64 (sd 19.0)). There was no significant
difference in the number of implantation sites and viable
fetuses in the rats given ripe papaya relative to the control.
No sign of fetal or maternal toxicity was observed in all
the groups. In the in vitro study, ripe papaya juice (0.1-0.8
ml) did not show any significant contractile effect on uterine
smooth muscles isolated from pregnant and non-pregnant rats;
conversely, crude papaya latex (0.1-3.2 mg/ml) induced spasmodic
contraction of the uterine muscles similar to oxytocin (1-64
mU/ml) and prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (0.028-1.81 microm).
The response of the isolated rat uterine smooth muscles
to 0.2 mg crude papaya latex/ml was comparable to 0.23 microm
prostaglandin F(2 alpha) and 32 mU oxytocin/ml. In the 18-19
d pregnant rat uterus, the contractile effect of crude papaya
latex was characterized by tetanic spasms. The results of
the present study suggest that normal consumption of ripe
papaya during pregnancy may not pose any significant danger.
However, the unripe or semi-ripe papaya (which contains
high concentration of the latex that produces marked uterine
contractions) could be unsafe in pregnancy. Though evaluation
of potentially toxic agents often relies on animal experimental
results to predict risk in man, further studies will be
necessary to ascertain the ultimate risk of unripe papaya-semi-ripe
papaya consumption during pregnancy in man.
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Hepatogastroenterology Dept., S. Giuseppe
Hospital, Milano, Italy.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Thirty alcoholic
patients and 24 teetotaler dyspeptic patients were considered
and underwent baseline blood chemical evaluation and the
Schilling test. METHODOLOGY: During gastroscopy, biopsy
samples were taken to assay: routine histology, malonyldialdehyde,
vitamin E and glutathione concentration and for testing
vitamin B12-Intrinsic Factor binding. Examinations were
repeated after 1-week supplementation with Bionormalizer.
RESULTS: Plasma malonyldialdehyde level and lipid hydroperoxides
concentration as well as either malonyldialdehyde and xanthine
oxidase concentration in the gastric mucosa in alcoholics
were significantly higher than in controls and despite unchanged
alcohol consumption, significantly decreased after Bionormalizer
supplementation. Gastric mucosal glutathione was markedly
depressed in alcoholics and partly recovered after Bionormalizer
supplementation. Although the alcoholics showed a normal
intrinsic factor secretion in the gastric juice, they exhibited
a markedly depressed intrinsic factor-cobalamin binding
on the "ex vivo" study. Moreover, nearly 23% of
them had an abnormal Schilling test. Both these impairments
reverted to normal after Bio-normalizer supplementation.
CONCLUSIONS: It can be postulated that the antioxidative
action played by Bionormalizer, possibly due to its availability
substrates for glutathione synthesis as well as to its effects
on local oxidative burst from neutrophil, is able to recover
a normal cobalamin absorption.
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Department of Advanced Nursing Education,
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies,
Kingston, Jamaica.
The objective of the study was to
determine the prevalence of the use of the fruit (papaya)
of Carica papaya as topical ulcer dressings by registered
nurses in the Spanish Town Hospital (STH), Kingston Public
Hospital (KPH) and the University Hospital of the West Indies
(UHWI), Jamaica. A ten-item pretested self-administered
questionnaire was distributed to 285 randomly selected registered
nurses at the UHWI, KPH and STH. There was a 72% response
rate. The prevalence of topical papaya use among the respondents
was 75%. Comments from the users of papaya suggested that
topical application of the unripe fruit promoted desloughing,
granulation and healing and reduced odour in chronic skin
ulcers. It was cost effective. Papaya was considered to
be more effective than other topical applications in the
treatment of chronic ulcers. There was some difficulty in
preparation of the fruit and occasionally a sensation of
burning was reported by the patients. There was concern
about the use of a non-sterile, non-standardised procedure
but there were no reports of wound infection from its use.
Papaya is widely used by nurses as a form of dressing for
chronic ulcers and there is need for standardisation of
its preparation and application.
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Department of Zoology, University of
Rajasthan, Jaipur, India.
The influence of the crude aqueous
extract of Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae) seeds has been
studied on semen profile, fertility, body and organ weight
response, and toxicology in male albino rats. The extract
was administered at the dose regimens of 10 and 50 mg/animal/day
orally for 30, 60, and 90 days and 0.1 and 1.0 mg/animal/day
intramuscularly for 15 and 30 days. Cauda epididymal sperm
motility and count was reduced significantly at low and
high dose regimens both in the oral as well as the intramuscular
groups. The reduced sperm motility was associated with morphological
defects. Testicular sperm counts were also reduced in all
the treatment groups except the low dose intramuscular group.
Fertility tests showed dose- and duration-dependent reduction
and zero fertility was observed at high dose regimens of
the oral and intramuscular groups following 60 and 30 days
of treatment, respectively. Testicular weight was reduced
in all the treatment groups, whereas accessory sex organs
showed a variable response. Body weight and toxicological
observations did not show any untoward response. Fertility
and all other associated changes returned to normal within
45 and 30 days of treatment cessation in the oral and intramuscular
groups, respectively. The data revealed that reversible
sterility could be induced in male rats by papaya seeds
aqueous extract treatment without adverse effects on libido
and toxicological profile.
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Sun-O International Inc., Gifu, Japan.
The meat, seed and pulp of Carica
papaya Linn., a popular traditional medicinal herb grown
in the tropics, was shown by the agar-cup method to be bacteriostatic
against several enteropathogens such as Bacillus subtilis,
Enterobacter cloacae, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi,
Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The same parts of papaya were
unequivocably demonstrated by electron spin resonance spectrometry
to scavenge 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (5.8 x 10(14)
spins/ml), hydroxyl (5.1 x 10(14) spins/ml) and superoxide
(1.2 x 10(14) spins/ml) radicals with the seed giving the
highest activity at concentrations (IC50) of 2.1, 10.0 and
8.7 mg/ml, respectively. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like
activity in the meat, seed and pulp amounts to about 32,
98 and 33 units/ml; comparable to those of soybean paste
miso, rice bran and baker's yeast. Vitamin C, malic acid,
citric acid and glucose are some of the possible antioxidative
components in papaya. Our study correlates the bacteriostatic
activity of papaya with its scavenging action on superoxide
and hydroxyl radicals which could be part of the cellular
metabolism of such enteropathogens. This is indicative of
the pathophysiological role of these reactive oxygen species
in gastrointestinal diseases and papaya's ability to counteract
the oxidative stress.
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Ripe and unripe Carica papaya fruits
(epicarp, endocarp, seeds and leaves) were extracted separately
and purified. All the extracts except that of leaves produced
very significant antibacterial activity on Staphylococcus
aureus, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa
and Shigella flexneri. The MIC of the substance was small
(0.2-0.3 mg/ml) for gram-positive bacteria and large (1.5-4
mg/ml) for gram-negative bacteria. The substance was bactericidal
and showed properties of a protein. Other proteins previously
found in C. papaya did not show antibacterial activity.
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PASSION FRUIT |
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Department of Food Science and Human
Nutrition, University of Florida, P.O. Box 110370, Gainesville,
FL 32611-0370, USA.
Yellow passion fruit juice (PFJ,
Passiflora edulis f. flavicarpa) is an important component
of many tropical fruit beverages, but limited data exist
on its antioxidant chemical composition and stability during
processing and storage. PFJ fortified with ascorbic acid
(450 mg/L) and sucrose (10%) was compared to a nonfortified
control, and each was evaluated with and without vacuum
deaeration to remove dissolved oxygen. Following pasteurization,
juices were stored for 28 days at 37 degrees C to accentuate
physicochemical changes. Pasteurization (85 degrees C for
30 min) resulted in minor changes to physicochemical attributes,
but appreciable changes occurred during storage that resulted
in termination of the study after 28 days. Oxygen control
strategies proved to be ineffective for quality retention
and indicated oxygen-independent reactions affecting juice
color, phytochemical content, and antioxidant activity.
Ascorbic acid and sucrose fortification had an overall preservation
effect on total carotenoids, the former resulting in hyperchromic
shifts in absorbance, indicating their chemoprotection.
Pasteurization resulted in a 25% loss in l-ascorbic acid,
which was completely destroyed after 14 days of storage;
losses coincided with increased juice browning and formation
of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Numerous polyphenolics were
present in PFJ, and 16 of them were tentatively characterized
on the basis of spectral similarities to known standards.
Individually, polyphenolics increased during pasteurization,
only to decline during storage at elevated temperatures.
Antioxidant activity was measured in PFJ and in two subfractions
(hydrophilic and lipophilic) after processing and storage,
but antioxidant values were nonadditive. A significant chemical
interaction affecting antioxidant capacity was found for
hydrophilic juice components, but none was observed in the
presence of lipophilic phytochemicals. Physicochemical attributes
and overall quality of PFJ were retained following pasteurization
but were significantly impacted by degradative reactions
during accelerated storage.
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PEACH |
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Department of Food Science and Technology,
University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA.
The antioxidant potential of eight
clingstone peach cultivars was investigated by determining
phenolic compounds and inhibition of low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) oxidation. Cultivars low in polyphenol oxidase (PPO)
were also selected to minimize enzymatic browning. Inhibition
of LDL oxidation varied from 17.0 to 37.1% in peach flesh
extract, from 15.2 to 49.8% in whole peach extract, and
from 18.2 to 48.1% in peel extract. Total phenols were 432.8-768.1
mg/kg in flesh extract, 483.3-803.0 mg/kg in whole extract,
and 910.9-1922.9 mg/kg in peel extract. The correlation
coefficient between relative LDL antioxidant activity and
concentration of total phenols was 0.76. Peel PPO activity
was higher than flesh activity in most cultivars. The lowest
PPO and specific activities were found in the Walgant cultivar,
followed by Kakamas and 18-8-23. These three cultivars combine
the desirable characteristics of strong antioxidant activity,
low PPO activity, and lower susceptibility to browning reactions.
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Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazonia,
Manaus, AM-Brasil.
The effect of supplementation with
peach palm (Bactris gasipaes H.B.K.), as an alternative
source of vit. A, in the regional diet of Manaus, AM, Brazil,
in which the pulp was cooked and transformed into flour,
was studied. The biological trial involved rats which were
depleted in zinc and vitamin A, followed by repletion using
the regional diet (RD), RD plus peach palm and RD plus vitamin
A. The parameters used to determine the utilization of vitamin
A were the vitamin A concentrations in the liver and plasma,
and the growth of the animals. The diet was prepared according
to the data of Shrimpton and Giugliano for families earning
less than two legal minimum salaries. Adult post-partum
rats were used, with six male pups each, which received
a diet based on casein washed with 1% EDTA, without the
addition of zinc or vitamin A for a period of 25 days, for
the purpose of obtaining newly-weaned animals which were
deficient in Zn and Vit.A. A control group received a diet
also based on casein washed with 1% EDTA, but with all the
nutrients in the quantities suggested by the Committee on
Laboratory Animal Diets. The repletion period of the newly-weaned
rats was of 30 days and the experimental design was entirely
randomized with four groups of eight rats each. The diet
supplementation followed the recommendations of the Committee
on Laboratory Animal Diets. At the end of the experiment,
it was observed that rats which consumed the diet based
on the regional diet of Manaus supplemented with either
peach palm or vitamin A showed a significantly greater concentration
of vitamin A in the liver, 43.3 +/- 6.5 micrograms/g, 42.0
+/- 4.3 micrograms/g, respectively in relation to the regional
diet, 5.5 +/- 1.1 micrograms/g (p < 0.05). The amount
of zinc present in the regional diet, 10.7 mg per day, was
bioavailable as determined by the concentration of zinc
in the femurs. The results suggest that the regional diet
of Manaus needs to be supplemented with vitamin A to maintain
the hepatic reserves, and that such supplementation can
be accomplished with peach palm, an abundant local commodity.
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Instituto Costarricense de Investigacion
y Ensenanza en Nutricion y Salud (INCIENSA), Tres Rios.
Four introductions of ripe peach
palm fruit (Bactris gasipaes) were analyzed for ether extract,
total carotenoids and their biological conversion into vitamin
A. Also, edible portion in cooked fruit was estimated. Ether
extract content in raw fruit ranged from 8.2 to 12.9% dry
basis (DB), cooked between 5.7 to 12.4% DB and nutrient
retention after cooking was 69 to 100%. Carotenoids content
in raw and cooked pejibaye was similar, 4.8 to 29.6% DB
and 4.8 to 29.9% DB, respectively, giving a nutrient retention
after cooking greater than 85%. Average edible portion was
68 +/- 2%. The biological study showed significant differences
(p < 0.05) of pejibaye carotenoids efficiency conversion
in retinol, the values varied from 14 to 50%. Food efficiency
results in the control and experimental diets were not statistically
significant (p > 0.05). Carotenoids content was inversely
related (r = -0.8, p < 0.02) with ether extract. Cooking
had no significant effect in ether extract and carotenoids
content, except in one introduction. Based in the results
generated in the study and vitamin A Recommended Daily Allowances
(RDA) it was estimated that one, in three introductions
and seven in the remaining one satisfies an adult RDA's.
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PEAR |
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Department of Angiology, University of
Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
BACKGROUND: Besides others pectin,
a soluble fibre, has been reported to be effective in lowering
cholesterol levels in both animals and man with hyperlipidemia
as well as being able to slow carbohydrate absorption and
hence reduce the postprandial rise in blood glucose and
serum insulin in patients with type-II diabetes. Aim of
this pilot study was to assess the effect of prickly pear
consumption on glucose- and lipid metabolism. DESIGN: In
24 non-diabetic, non-obese males (aged 37-55 years) suffering
from primary isolated hypercholesterolemia (n = 12; group
A) or combined hyperlipidemia (n = 12; group B) respectively,
the influence of prickly pear pectin (Opuntia robusta)-intake
on glucose- and lipid metabolism was examined. After an
8 week pre-running phase with a 7506 KJ step-I diet (phase
I), 625 KJ were replaced by prickly pear edible pulp (250
g/day) for 8 further weeks (phase II). RESULTS: Prickly
pear leads to a decrease of total cholesterol (12%), low-density
lipoprotein-cholesterol (15%), apolipoprotein B (9%), triglycerides
(12%), fibrinogen (11%), blood glucose (11%), insulin (11%)
and uric acid (10%), while body weight, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol,
apolipoprotein A-I, and lipoprotein(a) remained unchanged.
CONCLUSION: The hypocholesterolemic action of prickly pear
may be partly explained by the fibre (pectin) content, but
the hypoglycaemic actions (improvement of insulin sensitivity)
in the non-obese, non-diabetic need further investigation
to get more insights on the potential advantage of treating
the metabolic syndrome.
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Departments of Pharmaceutical, Toxicological
and Biological Chemistry, and Medical Biotechnologies and
Forensic Medicine, Policlinico, University of Palermo, 90134
Palermo, Italy.
Sicilian cultivars of prickly pear
(Opuntia ficus indica) produce yellow, red, and white fruits,
due to the combination of two betalain pigments, the purple-red
betanin and the yellow-orange indicaxanthin. The betalain
distribution in the three cultivars and the antioxidant
activities of methanolic extracts from edible pulp were
investigated. In addition, the reducing capacity of purified
betanin and indicaxanthin was measured. According to a spectrophotometric
analysis, the yellow cultivar exhibited the highest amount
of betalains, followed by the red and white ones. Indicaxanthin
accounted for about 99% of betalains in the white fruit,
while the ratio of betanin to indicaxanthin varied from
1:8 (w:w) in the yellow fruit to 2:1 (w:w) in the red one.
Polyphenol pigments were negligible components only in the
red fruit. When measured as 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchroman-2-carboxylic
acid (Trolox) equivalents per gram of pulp, the methanolic
fruit extracts showed a marked antioxidant activity. Vitamin
C did not account for more than 40% of the measured activity.
In addition, the extracts dose-dependently inhibited the
organic hydroperoxide-stimulated red cell membrane lipid
oxidation, as well as the metal-dependent and -independent
low-density lipoprotein oxidation. The extract from the
white fruit showed the highest protection in all models
of lipid oxidation. Purified betanin and indicaxanthin were
more effective than Trolox at scavenging the [2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic
acid)] diammonium salt cation radical. Cyclic voltammetric
measurements show two anodic waves for betanin and indicaxanthin,
and differential pulse voltammetry shows three anodic waves
for betanin, with calculated peak potentials of 404, 616,
and 998 mV, and two anodic waves for indicaxanthin, with
peak potentials of 611 and 895 mV. Betanin underwent complex
formation through chelation with Cu(2+), whereas indicaxanthin
was not modified. These findings suggest that the above
betalains contribute to the antioxidant activity of prickly
pear fruits.
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Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales,
Universidad de Chile, Casilla, Santiago.
The use of cactus pear (Opuntia ficus
indica L.) to obtain a new natural liquid sweetener was
studied. The juice of the fruit (16.5 degrees Brix) was
clarified with enzymes, treated with active carbon to take
out the color and vacuum concentrated to obtain a 60 degrees
Brix syrup or liquid sweetener. Physical and chemical characteristics
determined included: a(w); reducing sugars (as inverted
sugar); glucose (%); ash content (%); sugar composition
by TLC; OD (420 nm) and Y, x, y chromaticity coordinates;
viscosity (cps) and density (g/ml). Sensory analyses to
determine the relative sweetness were also conducted. Cactus
pear syrup contained 52.38% reducing sugar. The syrup had
a pH of 4.31, a viscosity of 27.05 cps, an Aw of 0.83, a
density of 1.2900 g/ml, an acidity (as citric acid) of 0.74%
and an ash content of 1.4%. Compared with traditional sweeteners
such as fructose and glucose syrup, the acidity was greater
than that of HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) of 0.035%,
and the ash values were considered a little high compared
to glucose syrup which is 1.0%; these disparities can be
attributed to the different processing conditions employed.
Sensory evaluation revealed the same relative sweetness
for cactus pear syrup and glucose, but lower than fructose;
cactus pear syrup had a relative sweetness value of 67 with
respect to sucrose (100).
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Department of Nutrition and Food Science,
University of Arizona, Tucson 85721.
The effects of prickly pear pectin
on plasma LDL metabolism were investigated by feeding guinea
pigs either a diet containing 15 g/100 g lard and 0.25 g/100
g cholesterol (LC diet) or the LC diet in which cellulose
was partially replaced (2.5 g/100 g) by prickly pear pectin
(LC-P diet). The LC-P diet lowered plasma LDL cholesterol
concentrations by 33% (P < 0.001). Low density lipoprotein
composition was modified by intake of prickly pear pectin;
the relative percentages of free and esterified cholesterol
were lower and triglycerides were higher in LDL from animals
fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.05). Intake of prickly pear
pectin did not affect hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl
coenzyme A reductase activity; however, hepatic free and
esterified cholesterol concentrations were lowered by 46
and 64%, respectively. Hepatic apolipoprotein B/E receptor
_expression (Bmax) was 60% higher in animals fed the LC-P
diet (P < 0.01). Similar to the in vitro data, receptor-mediated
LDL fractional catabolic rates were 190% higher in animals
fed the LC-P diet (P < 0.05), whereas apolipoprotein
LDL flux rates were not affected. Apolipoprotein LDL pool
size and fractional catabolic rates exhibited a significant
correlation (r = -0.52, P < 0.01). These data indicate
that an increase in apolipoprotein B/E receptor _expression
is a major metabolic response by which intake of prickly
pear pectin decreases plasma LDL concentrations.
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PERSIMMON |
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Endoscopy Unit, Gastroenterology Department,
Son Dureta Hospital, Palma (Mallorca), Spain.
BACKGROUND: Persimmon phytobezoar,
although an infrequent entity, is not rare in some countries.
Because of their particular features, management of diospyrobezoars
is difficult. A number of surgical, endoscopic, and pharmacologic
treatments have been proposed with variable success. This
is a description of our experience with 10 patients with
a new combination therapy. METHODS: Ten patients (7 men,
3 women; mean age 46.4 years) were treated with a new fragmentation
technique consisting of a saw-like effect with a large polypectomy
snare followed by administration of cellulase, cysteine,
and metoclopramide. RESULTS: Resolution was achieved in
8 patients. Complications (intestinal obstruction) developed
in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our combined therapy is safe
and highly efficacious but caution must be exercised because
intestinal obstruction can occur if large fragments pass
through the pylorus. A more extensive study is required
to assess these clinical observations.
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Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry,
School of Pharmacy, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem,
Israel.
The effect of dietary persimmon (Pers,
7.0%) on lipid metabolism and antioxidant activity was investigated
in 40 male Wistar rats adapted to cholesterol-free or 1%
cholesterol diets. The rats were divided in four groups
of 10. The basal diet contained wheat starch, casein, soybean
oil, and mineral and vitamin mixtures. The control group
(C) consumed the basal diet. To the basal diet were added
7 g/100 g dry persimmon (Pers), 1 g/100 g cholesterol (Chol),
or both (Chol/Pers). The experiment lasted 4 wk. Plasma
total cholesterol (TC), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol
(HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), total phospholipids (TPH),
HDL phospholipids (HDL-PH), lipid peroxides (LP) and liver
TC concentrations were measured. Groups did not differ before
the experiment. In the Chol/Pers vs. Chol group, the persimmon-supplemented
diet significantly (P < 0.05) lessened the rise in plasma
lipids due to dietary cholesterol: TC (3.88 vs. 4. 88 mmol/L;
-20%), LDL-C (2.24 vs. 3.27 mmol/L; -31%), TG (0.72 vs.
0. 89 mmol/L; -19%), LP (2.20 vs. 3.25 mmol/L; -32%) and
TC in liver (32.8 vs. 49.9 micromol/g; -34%), (P < 0.001).
The Chol/Pers diet significantly reduced the decrease in
HDL-PH due to dietary cholesterol (0.73 vs. 0.58 mmol/L;
-25.8%, P < 0.001) and decreased the level of TPH (1.32
vs. 1.73 mmol/L; -23%, P < 0.001). Persimmon in rats
fed the basal diet without cholesterol did not significantly
affect the variables measured. These results demonstrate
that persimmon possesses hypolipidemic and antioxidant properties
that are evident when persimmon is added to the diet of
rats fed cholesterol. These properties are attributed to
its water-soluble dietary fiber, carotenoids and polyphenols.
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PINAPLE |
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Clinical Sciences Division, International
Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh.
Some foods may initiate allergic
reactions. Anaphylaxis due to mangoes, oranges, nuts and
other foods has been reported earlier. We report the clinical
and laboratory features of 32 patients who became symptomatic
shortly after they had eaten pineapples. Seventeen patients
were males and 15 females with ages ranging from 5 to 70
years. Most of the patients complained of intense itching
and urticarial rashes, followed by abdominal pain, vomiting
and diarrhoea. Sixty-eight percent of the patients became
symptomatic within half an hour of eating the pineapple.
On examination 18 patients had an urticarial rash and a
flushed face. Although none of the patients were severely
dehydrated, 20 patients presented with shock. Their peripheral
pulse and blood pressure were low or absent suggesting an
anaphylactoid reaction. The median total eosinophil count
was 1850 (250-6375/mm3). The serum IgE level measured in
4 patients was raised. The patients were treated with intravenous
fluids and antihistamine. Some patients also received steroid
and adrenaline. All patients recovered uneventfully. Our
findings suggest that ingestion of pineapple may occasionally
cause an anaphylactoid reaction.
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POMEGRANATE |
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Department of Food Science and Technology,
CEBAS (CSIC), P. O. Box 4195, Murcia 30080, Spain.
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Punicalagin
is an antioxidant ellagitannin of pomegranate juice. This
compound is responsible for the high antioxidant activity
of this juice. Nothing is known about the bioavailability
and metabolism of punicalagin or other food ellagitannins.
The present work aims to evaluate the bioavailability and
metabolism of punicalagin in the rat as an animal model.
DESIGN: Two groups of rats were studied. One fed with standard
rat diet (n = 5) and another with the same diet plus 6 %
punicalagin (n = 5). Samples of urine and faeces were taken
during 37 days and plasma every week. The different metabolites
were analysed by HPLC-MS-MS. RESULTS: The daily intake of
punicalagin ranged from 0.6 to 1.2 g. Values around 3-6
% the ingested punicalagin were excreted as identified metabolites
in faeces and urine. In faeces, punicalagin is transformed
to hydrolysis products and partly metabolites by the rat
microflora to 6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-6-one derivatives. In
plasma, punicalagin was detected at concentrations around
30 microg/mL, and glucuronides of methyl ether derivatives
of ellagic acid were also detected. 6H-Dibenzo[b,d]pyran-6-one
derivatives were also detected especially during the last
few weeks of the experiment. In urine, the main metabolites
observed were the 6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-6-one derivatives,
as aglycones or glucuronides. CONCLUSION: As only 3-6 %
of the ingested punicalagin was detected as such or as metabolites
in urine and faeces, the majority of this ellagitannin has
to be converted to undetectable metabolites (i. e. CO(2))
or accumulated in non-analysed tissues, however with only
traces of punicalagin metabolites being detected in liver
or kidney. This is the first report on the absorption of
an ellagitannin and its presence in plasma. In addition,
the transformation of ellagic acid derivatives to 6H-dibenzo[b,d]pyran-6-one
derivatives in the rat is also confirmed.
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Lipid Research Laboratory, Technion Faculty
of Medicine, Rappaport Family Institute for Research in the
Medical Sciences, Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel, 31096.
The beneficial health effects attributed
to the consumption of fruit and vegetables are related,
at least in part, to their antioxidant activity. Of special
interest is the inverse relationship between the intake
of dietary nutrients rich in polyphenols and cardiovascular
diseases. This effect is attributed to polyphenols' ability
to inhibit low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, macrophage
foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. Pomegranate polyphenols
can protect LDL against cell-mediated oxidation via two
pathways, including either direct interaction of the polyphenols
with the lipoprotein and/or an indirect effect through accumulation
of polyphenols in arterial macrophages. Pomegranate polyphenols
were shown to reduce the capacity of macrophages to oxidatively
modify LDL, due to their interaction with LDL to inhibit
its oxidation by scavenging reactive oxygen species and
reactive nitrogen species and also due to accumulation of
polyphenols in arterial macrophages; hence, the inhibition
of macrophage lipid peroxidation and the formation of lipid
peroxide-rich macrophages. Furthermore, pomegranate polyphenols
increase serum paraoxonase activity, resulting in the hydrolysis
of lipid peroxides in oxidized lipoproteins and in atherosclerotic
lesions. These antioxidative and antiatherogenic effects
of pomegranate polyphenols were demonstrated in vitro, as
well as in vivo in humans and in atherosclerotic apolipoprotein
E deficient mice. Dietary supplementation of polyphenol-rich
pomegranate juice to atherosclerotic mice significantly
inhibited the development of atherosclerotic lesions and
this may be attributed to the protection of LDL against
oxidation.
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Department of Pharmacy, Pusan National
University, Korea.
Fresh organically grown pomegranates
(Punica granatum L.) of the Wonderful cultivar were processed
into three components: fermented juice, aqueous pericarp
extract and cold-pressed or supercritical CO2-extracted
seed oil. Exposure to additional solvents yielded polyphenol-rich
fractions ('polyphenols') from each of the three components.
Their actions, and of the crude whole oil and crude fermented
and unfermented juice concentrate, were assessed in vitro
for possible chemopreventive or adjuvant therapeutic potential
in human breast cancer. The ability to effect a blockade
of endogenous active estrogen biosynthesis was shown by
polyphenols from fermented juice, pericarp, and oil, which
inhibited aromatase activity by 60-80%. Fermented juice
and pericarp polyphenols, and whole seed oil, inhibited
17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase Type 1 from 34 to 79%,
at concentrations ranging from 100 to 1,000 microg/ml according
to seed oil >> fermented juice polyphenols > pericarp
polyphenols. In a yeast estrogen screen (YES) lyophilized
fresh pomegranate juice effected a 55% inhibition of the
estrogenic activity of 17-beta-estradiol; whereas the lyophilized
juice by itself displayed only minimal estrogenic action.
Inhibition of cell lines by fermented juice and pericarp
polyphenols was according to estrogen-dependent (MCF-7)
>> estrogen-independent (MB-MDA-231) > normal human
breast epithelial cells (MCF-10A). In both MCF-7 and MB-MDA-231
cells, fermented pomegranate juice polyphenols consistently
showed about twice the anti-proliferative effect as fresh
pomegranate juice polyphenols. Pomegranate seed oil effected
90% inhibition of proliferation of MCF-7 at 100 microg/ml
medium, 75% inhibition of invasion of MCF-7 across a Matrigel
membrane at 10 microg/ml, and 54% apoptosis in MDA-MB-435
estrogen receptor negative metastatic human breast cancer
cells at 50 microg/ml. In a murine mammary gland organ culture,
fermented juice polyphenols effected 47% inhibition of cancerous
lesion formation induced by the carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene
(DMBA). The findings suggest that clinical trials to further
assess chemopreventive and adjuvant therapeutic applications
of pomegranate in human breast cancer may be warranted.
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The Lipid Research Laboratory, Technion
Faculty of Medicine, The Rappaport Family Institute for Research
in the Medical Sciences, 31096 Haifa, Israel.
Consumption of pomegranate juice
which is rich in tannins, possess anti-atherosclerotic properties
which could be related to its potent anti-oxidative characteristics.
As some antioxidants were recently shown to reduce blood
pressure, we studied the effect of pomegranate juice consumption
(50 ml, 1.5mmol of total polyphenols per day, for 2 weeks)
by hypertensive patients on their blood pressure and on
serum angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity. A 36%
decrement in serum ACE activity and a 5% reduction in systolic
blood pressure were noted. Similar dose-dependent inhibitory
effect (31%) of pomegranate juice on serum ACE activity
was observed also in vitro. As reduction in serum ACE activity,
even with no decrement in blood pressure, was previously
shown to attenuate atherosclerosis, pomegranate juice can
offer a wide protection against cardiovascular diseases
which could be related to its inhibitory effect on oxidative
stress and on serum ACE activity.
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PLUM |
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Department of Nutritional Sciences, Oklahoma
State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma 74078-6141, USA.
Menopause drastically increases the
risk of osteoporosis. Aside from drug therapy, lifestyle
and nutritional factors play an important role in the maintenance
of skeletal health. Our recent findings suggest that dried
plums, a rich source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds,
are highly effective in modulating bone mass in an ovarian
hormone-deficient rat model of osteoporosis. The objective
of this study was to examine whether the addition of dried
plums to the diets of postmenopausal women positively influences
markers of bone turnover. Fifty-eight postmenopausal women
not on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were randomly assigned
to consume either 100 g dried plums or 75 g dried apples
daily for 3 months. Both dried fruit regimens provided similar
amount of calories, fat, carbohydrate, and fiber. Serum
and urinary biochemical markers of bone status were assessed
before and after treatment. In comparison with corresponding
baseline values, only dried plums significantly increased
serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and
bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BSAP) activity. Higher
levels of both serum IGF-I and BSAP are associated with
greater rates of bone formation. Serum and urinary markers
of bone resorption, however, were not affected by either
dietary regimen. The results of this study suggest that
dried plums may exert positive effects on bone in postmenopausal
women. Longer duration studies are needed to confirm the
beneficial effects of dried plum on bone mineral density
(BMD) and the skeletal health of postmenopausal women.
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RASPBERRY |
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Division of Environmental Health Sciences,
School of Public Health, Ohio State University, Columbus,
OH 43210, USA.
Oral cavity cancers represent 2.5%
of the cancers that occur in the United States and are ranked
sixth worldwide. Since current therapeutic protocols are
relatively ineffective, alternative strategies for prevention
need to be developed and tested in appropriate animal models.
In the study reported herein, the hamster cheek pouch (HCP)
was used to evaluate the ability of black raspberries to
inhibit oral cavity tumors. Male Syrian Golden hamsters,
3-4 weeks of age, were fed 5% and 10% lyophilized black
raspberries (LBR) in the diet for two weeks prior to treatment
with 0.2% 7,12-dimethylbenz(a) anthracene in dimethylsulfoxide
and for 10 weeks thereafter. HCPs were painted 3X/week for
eight weeks. The animals were sacrificed 12-13 weeks from
the beginning of DMBA treatment and the number and volume
of tumors (mm3) determined. There was a significant difference
(p = 0.02) in the number of tumors between the 5% LBR and
control groups (27 tumors/14 animals and 48 tumors/15 animals,
respectively) and an intermediate number of tumors in the
10% berry-treated animals (39 tumors/15 animals). These
experiments support previous studies from our laboratories
showing the chemopreventive activity of black raspberries
and show, for the first time, that dietary black raspberries
will inhibit tumor formation in the oral cavity.
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Department of Food Science and Institute
of Comparative and Environmental Toxicology, Stocking Hall,
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
Raspberries are rich in phenolic
phytochemicals. To study the health benefits of raspberries,
four fresh raspberry varieties (Heritage, Kiwigold, Goldie,
and Anne) were evaluated for total antioxidant and antiproliferative
activities. The total amount of phenolics and flavonoids
for each of the four raspberry varieties was determined.
The Heritage raspberry variety had the highest total phenolic
content (512.7 +/- 4.7 mg/100 g of raspberry) of the varieties
measured followed by Kiwigold (451.1 +/- 4.5 mg/100 g of
raspberry), Goldie (427.5 +/- 7.5 mg/100 g of raspberry),
and Anne (359.2 +/- 3.4 mg/100 g of raspberry). Similarly,
the Heritage raspberry variety contained the highest total
flavonoids (103.4 +/- 2.0 mg/100 g of raspberry) of the
varieties tested, followed by Kiwigold (87.3 +/- 1.8 mg/100
g of raspberry), Goldie (84.2 +/- 1.8 mg/100 g of raspberry),
and Anne (63.5 +/- 0.7 mg/100 g of raspberry). The color
of the raspberry juice correlated well to the total phenolic,
flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents of the raspberry. Heritage
had the highest a/b ratio and the darkest colored juice,
and the Anne variety showed the lowest phytochemical content
and the palest color. Heritage raspberry variety had the
highest total antioxidant activity, followed by Kiwigold
and Goldie, and the Anne raspberry variety had the lowest
antioxidant activity of the varieties tested. The proliferation
of HepG(2) human liver cancer cells was significantly inhibited
in a dose-dependent manner after exposure to the raspberry
extracts. The extract equivalent to 50 mg of Goldie, Heritage,
and Kiwigold fruit inhibited the proliferation of those
cells by 89.4 +/- 0.1, 88 +/- 0.2, and 87.6 +/- 1.0%, respectively.
Anne had the lowest antiproliferative activity of the varieties
measured but still exhibited a significant inhibition of
70.3+/- 1.2% with an extract equivalent to 50 mg of fruit.
The antioxidant activity of the raspberry was directly related
to the total amount of phenolics and flavonoids found in
the raspberry (p < 0.01). No relationship was found between
antiproliferative activity and the total amount of phenolics/flavonoids
found in the same raspberry (p > 0.05).
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STRAWBERRY |
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USDA-ARS, Natural Products Utilization
Research Unit, The Thad Cochran National Center for Natural
Products Research, University of Mississippi, University,
MS 38677.
Freeze-dried fruits of two strawberry
cultivars, Sweet Charlie and Carlsbad, and two blueberry
cultivars, Tifblue and Premier were sequentially extracted
with hexane, 50% hexane/ethyl acetate, ethyl acetate, ethanol,
and 70% acetone/water at ambient temperature. Each extract
was tested separately for in vitro anticancer activity on
cervical and breast cancer cell lines. Ethanol extracts
from all four fruits strongly inhibited CaSki and SiHa cervical
cancer cell lines and MCF-7 and T47-D breast cancer cell
lines. An unfractionated aqueous extract of raspberry and
the ethanol extract of Premier blueberry significantly inhibited
mutagenesis by both direct-acting and metabolically activated
carcinogens.
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