Current Issue : July - September Volume : 2015 Issue Number : 3 Articles : 6 Articles
Cladophora glomerata extract (CGE) has been shown to exhibit antigastric ulcer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, hypotensive, and\nantioxidant activities. The present study investigated antidiabetic and renoprotective effects of CGE in type 2 diabetes mellitus\n(T2DM) rats.Theratswere induced by high-fat diet and streptozotocin and supplemented dailywith 1 g/kg BWof CGE for 12weeks.\nThe renal transport function was assessed by the uptake of para-aminohippurate mediated organic anion transporters 1 (Oat1) and\n3 (Oat3), using renal cortical slices. These two transporters were known to be upregulated by insulin and PKC???? while they were\ndownregulated by PKC???? activation. Compared to T2DM, CGE supplemented rats had significantly improved hyperglycaemia,\nhypertriglyceridemia, insulin resistance, and renal morphology. The baseline uptake of para-aminohippurate was not different\namong experimental groups and was correlated with Oat1 and 3 mRNA expressions. Nevertheless, while insulin-stimulated Oat1\nand 3 functions in renal slices were blunted in T2DMrats, they were improved by CGE supplementation.The mechanism of CGErestored\ninsulin-stimulated Oat1 and 3 functions was clearly shown to be associated with upregulated PKC???? and downregulated\nPKC???? expressions and activations. These findings indicate that CGE has antidiabetic effect and suggest it may prevent diabetic\nnephropathy through PKCs in a T2DM rat model....
Stressful environments have been shown to affect the metabolism in some plants. In the present study, we assessedwhether semiarid\nenvironment (saline and saline alkaline soil) could affect the nutritional (total proteins, phenolics and riboflavin contents, and\ncatalase activity) and antinutritional (hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde contents) properties differently in different plant\nparts (leaves, flowers, and roots) of calendula. Although salinity decreased plant biomass, it did not affect total protein and phenolics\ncontents in the calendula. All plant parts were rich in riboflavin contents. However, plants grown under saline-alkali soil had\nrelatively more riboflavin contents in the flowers. Salinity increased hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentration in the flowers and\nroots, whereas saline-alkali soil did not affect it. Plants exposed to both saline and saline-alkali soil had greater catalase activity\nin the flowers and leaves. Plants exposed to salinity had higher malondialdehyde (MDA) contents in the flowers compared with\nnonsaline and saline-alkali conditions. Nonetheless, the possibility of safely using different parts of calendula as nutraceutical was\nin the order flower > root > leaf. Overall, the results suggested that plant can be grown in mild saline-alkali (EC ? 7; pH = 8.5) soils\nwithout affecting its nutraceutical properties....
Prunus serotina (black cherry), commonly known in Mexico as capulÃ?Ân, is used\nin Mexican traditional medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular, respiratory, and\ngastrointestinal diseases. Particularly, P. serotina seeds, consumed in Mexico as snacks, are\nused for treating cough. In the present study, nutritional and volatile analyses of black cherry\nseeds were carried out to determine their nutraceutical potential. Proximate analysis\nindicated that P. serotina raw and toasted seeds contain mostly fat, followed by protein,\nfiber, carbohydrates, and ash. The potassium content in black cherry raw and toasted seeds\nis high, and their protein digestibility-corrected amino acid scores suggest that they might\nrepresent a complementary source of proteins. Solid phase microextraction and gas\nchromatography/flame ionization detection/mass spectrometry analysis allowed identification of 59 and 99 volatile compounds in the raw and toasted seeds, respectively. The major volatile\ncompounds identified in raw and toasted seeds were 2,3-butanediol and benzaldehyde, which\ncontribute to the flavor and odor of the toasted seeds. Moreover, it has been previously\ndemonstrated that benzaldehyde possesses a significant vasodilator effect, therefore, the\npresence of this compound along with oleic, linoleic, and -eleostearic fatty acids indicate\nthat black cherry seeds consumption might have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system....
Aim: The aim of this research was to ascertain the quality of the honeydew honey harvested with wood smoke.\nMethodology: The sample was stored in a container underlined with aluminium foil and then covered with a cork and kept for subsequent analyses. The sample was analyzed for its qualities like phytochemical properties, antiradical activity, physicochemical properties, antibacterial potency, heavy metal composition and pesticide residue content. \nResults: The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents and antioxidant potential were comparatively higher than most honeys reported from other countries. The different concentrations of honey exhibited varying levels of antibacterial activity against the three different pathogenic indicator strains (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus). The inhibition of bactericidal activity was reduced with reduction in the honey concentration. The physicochemical parameters and pesticide residue studied were within the acceptable limit. Some heavy metals were present in the honey, but were within the permissible safe limits of Codex Alimentarius Commission and FAO/WHO. However, Cadmium, Manganese and Nickel levels were above the safe limit.\nConclusion: The inhibition of bacterial growth indicates the honey�s health benefits in fighting bacterial infections. Generally, the honeydew honey harvested with wood smoke honey exhibited medicinal/nutraceutical properties....
Background: Overweight subjects easily develop alterations of the glucose and lipid metabolism and are exposed\nto an increased cardiometabolic risk. This condition is potentially reversible through the improvement of dietary\nand behavioural habits. However, a well-assembled nutraceutical would be a useful tool to better improve the\nmetabolic parameters associated to overweight and insulin resistance.\nMethods: To evaluate the effect of a combined nutraceutical containing berberine, chlorogenic acid and\ntocotrienols, we performed a double blind, cross-over designed trial versus placebo, in 40 overweight subjects\nwith mixed hyperlipidaemia. After the first 8 weeks of treatment (or placebo), patients were asked to observe a\n2-week washout period, and they were then assigned to the alternative treatment for a further period of 8 weeks.\nClinical and laboratory data associated to hyperlipidaemia and insulin resistance have been obtained at the\nbaseline, at the end of the first treatment period, after the washout, and again after the second treatment period.\nResults: Both groups experienced a significant improvement of anthropometric and biochemical parameters\nversus baseline. However, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, non-HDL cholesterol, fasting insulin,\nHOMA-IR, GOT and Lipid Accumulation Product decreased more significantly in the nutraceutical group versus\nplacebo.\nConclusions: This combination seems to improve a large number of metabolic and liver parameters on the\nshort-term in overweight subjects. Further studies are needed to confirm these observations on the middle- and\nlong-term....
Crabs are a good source of nutrients protein, carbohydrates and various minerals. Therefore, determination of the proximate and mineral elements of crab species has a great importance due to the good effect on human health. In the presen study an attempt has been made to evaluate the nutritional status of the edible portunid crab Charybdis lucifera. Crabs were collected from the Annankovil fish landing center of Parangipettai coast. Protein, carbohydrate, lipid, ash and moisture content were examined. The maximum protein content was observed in berried females (40.22%) than females and males. Similarly carbohydrate (2.26%), lipid (2.03%), ash (0.99%) and moisture contents (79%) were high in berried females. The present study indicated that nutritional aspect of C. lucifera was not inferred to other marine crabs already studied. It can then be inferred that the C. lucifera could be employed as a supplement of nutrition so as to balance human nutrition. Hence the consumption of marine crabs would help to prevent nutritional deficiencies in near future....
Loading....