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Abstract: The chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases have reached epidemic proportions in developed and developing countries. The high costs of the allopathic medicines represent a growing demand for non-allopathic alternatives. Curcuma longa is usually used as a spice in curries and as a dietary pigment and is considered a medicinal plant due important properties, with anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial and anti-tumor action.The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of Curcuma longa on the metabolic profile of Wistar rats treated with hyper caloric diet. Forty eight male rats were divided randomly into 4 groups (n=12) and treated for 40 days: G1 that received water (Control Group); G2 that received condensed milk solution ad libitum; G3 that received C. longa by gavage route and G4 that received condensed milk solution ad libitum and C. longa by gavage route. No significant differences for body weight and cholesterol were observed among the groups. Visceral fat, triglycerides and glycaemia were higher in the groups treated with condensed milk but did not differ when comparing G1 with G3 and G2 with G4. Analyzing our results it is possible to say that C. longa may not be efficient to promote benefits in lipid and glycemic profile as well as in the body weight and visceral fat of animals treated with hyper caloric diet. Keywords: Curcuma longa, glycaemia, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL-c. Download Full Article |
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Abstract: Sweeteners are presently largely consumed all over the world, essentially aspartame (North America, Europe) and stevia (South America, Asia). Aspartame has a pleasant taste but present some adverse effects; stevia has very few adverse effects but has not the sweetest taste. Using ants as biological models, we here examined if a 0.123% solution of stevia/aspartame 91/9 might have both a pleasant taste and nearly no adverse effects. We found that it did not change the ants’ food consumption while aspartame increased it and stevia slightly decreased it. It did not affect their locomotion, precision of reaction and response to pheromones as aspartame did. It did not increase their audacity as aspartame largely and stevia somewhat did. It did not affect the ants’ brood caring behavior and cognition as aspartame did, and it did not impact the conditioning ability and memory as aspartame drastically and stevia slightly did. Confronted to sugar water and a stevia/aspartame 91/9 solution, the ants equally drunk the two solutions, while having the choice between aspartame and sugar, they soon nearly exclusively chose the sugar, and while in presence of stevia and sugar, the ants progressively chose the sugar. Very probably aspartame enhanced the taste of stevia, and as the latter contains a true glycoside, a stevia/aspartame 91/9 solution did not affect the ants’ physiology and ethology as pure aspartame did. In front of sugar and a stevia/aspartame ca 96/4 solution, the ants chose the sugar. Thus, a 0.123% solution in which 9% aspartame (and no less) is mixed to 91% stevia (and no more) appears to constitute a safe and tasty sweetener which could be used instead of solutions containing only aspartame or stevia. Keywords: |
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Abstract: Introduction: It was suggested that specific plants may reduce cancer's resistance to chemotherapy. Resistance inhibits apoptosis, as well as other fundamental anti-cancer protective mechanisms. Soy bean has been found to reduce cellular stress and repair DNA damage caused by drought or parasites, and can transfer this defense mechanism to other plant species as well. The aim of this study is therefore to conduct a systematic comparison of the effect of soy bean formulation (FSWW08) on gene expression in in vitro human breast cancer cell line, and in in vivo in blood circulating tumor cells (CTC), after oral consumption of FSWW08 by patients suffering from breast-, ovarian-, and prostate cancer. Method: In vitro gene expressions studies were conducted with the human breast cancer cell line BT-474 that was exposed to doxorubicin or FSWW08, either alone or in combination. Ovarian-, prostate-, and breast cancer patients received FSWW08 for 30 days. CTC were extracted from their blood according to an established protocol. Gene expression evaluations were conducted before and after treatment. Results: In vitro,the multi-drug resistance (MDR) protein was reduced by FSWW08, but was increased by doxorubicin. The combination of FSWW08 and doxorubicin, however, showed a protective effect against the increase of MDR in physiologic concentrations, increased, however, also in high experimental concentrations of both agents. The expression of several cancer-related protective genes, such as tumor suppressor factors p21, p38 and p53, was improved by FSWW08 in vitro and in vivo, which helped cell differentiation and new tissue formation. Additionally, the BAX/Bcl2 ratio was improved, in vitro, as well as gene expression of estrogen receptor beta, NF-κB, MAP kinase, c-JUN, and matrix metalloproteinase 9, together with an increase of VEGF expression in vivo in CTC. Conclusion: It was demonstrated that FSWW08 improved the gene functions related to DNA repair and stress in human blood CTC and resistance marker, in vitro, when applied in combination with doxorubicin. As such, larger in vitro and in vivo clinical studies that investigate single botanical compounds from other plants, are warranted. Keywords: Tp53, Tp21, Bax/Bcl2, MAP kinase, VEGF, CTC, circulating tumor cell, fermented soy, MDR protein, estrogen receptor beta, NF-κB, RT-PCR technique, human breast cancer cell line BT-474, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer. Download Full Article |
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Abstract: Hydrolysable tannin polyphenols from pomegranate (punicalagin) have been reported to show a wide range of health properties correlated to their high antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities. The objective of the current study was to investigate the protective effect of punicalagin on cell viability and redox status of cultured Caco-2 cells exposed to oxidative stress induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide. The production of malondialdehyde, and total glutathione levels, as well as the generation of reactive oxygen species were used as markers of cellular oxidative status. Pretreatment of Caco-2 cells with 5 and 10 µM punicalagin for 24 hours significantly protected cell viability after exposure to tert-butyl hydroperoxide IC50 = 3 mM for 2 hours. The examined doses prevented the decrease of total glutathione and the increase of malondialdehyde induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide in Caco-2 cells. Reactive oxygen species generation provoked by tert-butyl hydroperoxide was significantly reduced at the same concnetrations. Finally, cell morphology with treatments before and after induction by tert-butyl hydroperoxide showed irreversible effect of the oxidizing agent. The results of the biomarkers analyzed showed that treatment of Caco-2 cells with the natural dietary antioxidant punicalagin protected the cells against oxidative stress. Keywords: Polyphenols, Malondialdehyde, Glutathione, Reactive oxygen species, morphology. |
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Abstract: Beetroot juice contains a high level of biologically accessible antioxidants, beneficial phytochemicals and dietary nitrate, which seem to exert beneficial effects in human health. Dietary nitrate, from beetroot has been reported to lower blood pressure. However the impact of beetroot on lipid profile and oxidative stress is unknown. In present study, the effect of supplementation with beetroot juice for 15 days was investigated. Plasma lipid profile, antioxidant status, oxidative stress and body composition changes were evaluated at baseline and after 15 days of beetroot juice supplementation. Beetroot juice supplementation beneficially influenced the lipid profile by significantly increasing the levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) from 42.9 ± 8.3 mg/dl to 50.2 ± 9.8 mg/dl and decreasing low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) from 129.7 ± 82.3 mg/dl to 119.5 ± 79.2 mg/dl compared with baseline values. Beetroot juice supplementation increased (P < 0.05) plasma nitrite level and guanosine 3’, 5’-cyclic monophosphate (c-GMP) levels. A significant increase in plasma total antioxidant capacity and vitamin C levels was observed after beetroot juice intake for 15 days. There was no significant change in the body fat mass and lean body mass of participants with the beetroot juice supplementation. Beetroot juice supplementation significantly decreased the stress markers plasma hydroperoxides and cortisol levels. Beetroot juice acts as a potent vasodilator by increasing plasma c-GMP levels and nitrite levels. Beetroot juice consumption improves plasma lipid profile and antioxidant status, encouraging further evaluation on a population with higher cardiovascular disease risk. Keywords: Antioxidants,Lipid profile,Cortisol, Supplementation, Cardiovascular health. Download Full Article |