scholarly journals Astaxanthin: structural and functional aspects

2010 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 1041-1050 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larissa Mont'Alverne Jucá Seabra ◽  
Lucia Fátima Campos Pedrosa
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Chemical Structure ◽  
Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Processing Waste ◽  
Natural Sources ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Functional Aspects ◽  
Nutritional Recommendation

Astaxanthin, a carotenoid belonging to the xanthophyll class, has stirred great interest due to its antioxidant capacity and its possible role in reducing the risk of some diseases. Astaxanthin occurs naturally in microalgae, such as Haematococcus pluvialis and the yeast Phaffia rhodozyma, and has also been considered to be the major carotenoid in salmon and crustaceans. Shrimp processing waste, which is generally discarded, is also an important source of astaxanthin. The antioxidant activity of astaxanthin has been observed to modulate biological functions related to lipid peroxidation, having beneficial effects on chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, macular degeneration and cancer. Researches have shown that both astaxanthin obtained from natural sources and its synthetic counterpart produce satisfactory effects, but studies in humans are limited to natural sources. There is no established nutritional recommendation regarding astaxanthin daily intake but most studies reported beneficial results from a daily intake of 4mg. Thus, this review discusses some aspects of the carotenoid astaxanthin, highlighting its chemical structure and antioxidant activity, and some studies that report its use in humans.

scholarly journals Dehulled Adlay Consumption Modulates Blood Pressure in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Overweight and Obese Young Adults

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2305
Author(s):  
Wan-Ju Yeh ◽  
Jung Ko ◽  
Wei-Yi Cheng ◽  
Hsin-Yi Yang
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Experimental Period ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Hypertensive Rats ◽  
Spontaneously Hypertensive ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Grain Foods

High blood pressure is a crucial risk factor for many cardiovascular diseases, and a diet rich in whole-grain foods may modulate blood pressure. This study investigated the effects of dehulled adlay consumption on blood pressure in vivo. We initially fed spontaneous hypertensive rats diets without (SHR group) or with 12 or 24% dehulled adlay (SHR + LA and SHR + HA groups), and discovered that it could limit blood pressure increases over a 12-week experimental period. Although we found no significant changes in plasma, heart, and kidney angiotensin-converting enzyme activities, both adlay-consuming groups had lower endothelin-1 and creatinine concentrations than the SHR group; the SHR + HA group also had lower aspartate aminotransferase and uric acid levels than the SHR group did. We later recruited 23 participants with overweight and obesity, and they consumed 60 g of dehulled adlay daily for a six-week experimental period. At the end of the study, we observed a significant decrease in the group’s systolic blood pressure (SBP), and the change in SBP was even more evident in participants with high baseline SBP. In conclusion, our results suggested that daily intake of dehulled adlay had beneficial effects in blood-pressure management. Future studies may further clarify the possible underlying mechanisms for the consuming of dehulled adlay as a beneficial dietary approach for people at risk of hypertension.

scholarly journals Nanostructure, Self-Assembly, Mechanical Properties, and Antioxidant Activity of a Lupin-Derived Peptide Hydrogel

Biomedicines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 294
Author(s):  
Raffaele Pugliese ◽  
Anna Arnoldi ◽  
Carmen Lammi
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Self Assembly ◽  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Cd Spectroscopy ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
New Research ◽  
Peptide Hydrogel

Naturally occurring food peptides are frequently used in the life sciences due to their beneficial effects through their impact on specific biochemical pathways. Furthermore, they are often leveraged for applications in areas as diverse as bioengineering, medicine, agriculture, and even fashion. However, progress toward understanding their self-assembling properties as functional materials are often hindered by their long aromatic and charged residue-enriched sequences encrypted in the parent protein sequence. In this study, we elucidate the nanostructure and the hierarchical self-assembly propensity of a lupin-derived peptide which belongs to the α-conglutin (11S globulin, legumin-like protein), with a straightforward N-terminal biotinylated oligoglycine tag-based methodology for controlling the nanostructures, biomechanics, and biological features. Extensive characterization was performed via Circular Dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), rheological measurements, and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) analyses. By using the biotin tag, we obtained a thixotropic lupin-derived peptide hydrogel (named BT13) with tunable mechanical properties (from 2 to 11 kPa), without impairing its spontaneous formation of β-sheet secondary structures. Lastly, we demonstrated that this hydrogel has antioxidant activity. Altogether, our findings address multiple challenges associated with the development of naturally occurring food peptide-based hydrogels, offering a new tool to both fine tune the mechanical properties and tailor the antioxidant activities, providing new research directions across food chemistry, biochemistry, and bioengineering.

scholarly journals Fungal Melanins and Applications in Healthcare, Bioremediation and Industry

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (6) ◽  
pp. 488
Author(s):  
Ellie Rose Mattoon ◽  
Radames J. B. Cordero ◽  
Arturo Casadevall
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Structure ◽  
Industrial Processes ◽  
Metal Chelation ◽  
Biological Functions ◽  
Societal Benefit ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Fungal Melanin ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Fungal Melanins ◽  
Isolated Species

Melanin is a complex multifunctional pigment found in all kingdoms of life, including fungi. The complex chemical structure of fungal melanins, yet to be fully elucidated, lends them multiple unique functions ranging from radioprotection and antioxidant activity to heavy metal chelation and organic compound absorption. Given their many biological functions, fungal melanins present many possibilities as natural compounds that could be exploited for human use. This review summarizes the current discourse and attempts to apply fungal melanin to enhance human health, remove pollutants from ecosystems, and streamline industrial processes. While the potential applications of fungal melanins are often discussed in the scientific community, they are successfully executed less often. Some of the challenges in the applications of fungal melanin to technology include the knowledge gap about their detailed structure, difficulties in isolating melanotic fungi, challenges in extracting melanin from isolated species, and the pathogenicity concerns that accompany working with live melanotic fungi. With proper acknowledgment of these challenges, fungal melanin holds great potential for societal benefit in the coming years.

scholarly journals Tea as a Source of Biologically Active Compounds in the Human Diet

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1487
Author(s):  
Joanna Klepacka ◽  
Elżbieta Tońska ◽  
Ryszard Rafałowski ◽  
Marta Czarnowska-Kujawska ◽  
Barbara Opara
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
The Body ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Sodium Potassium ◽  
Tea Infusions ◽  
Copper Manganese ◽  
Health Promoting ◽  
Average Consumption

Due to the different levels of bioactive compounds in tea reported in the literature, the aim of this study was to determine whether commercially available leaf teas could be an important source of phenolics and selected minerals (copper, manganese, iron, zinc, magnesium, calcium, sodium, potassium) and if the differences in the content of these components between various types of tea are significant. It was found that both the amount of these compounds in tea and the antioxidant activity of tea infusions were largely determined by the origin of tea leaves as well as the processing method, which can modify the content of the studied components up to several hundred-fold. The group of green teas was the best source of phenolic compounds (110.73 mg/100 mL) and magnesium (1885 µg/100 mL) and was also characterised by the highest antioxidant activity (59.02%). This type of tea is a great contributor to the daily intake of the studied components. The average consumption of green tea infusions, assumed to be 3–4 cups (1 L) a day, provides the body with health-promoting polyphenol levels significantly exceeding the recommended daily dose. Moreover, drinking one litre of an unfermented tea infusion provides more than three times the recommended daily intake of manganese. Tea infusions can be a fairly adequate, but only a supplementary, source of potassium, zinc, magnesium, and copper in the diet. Moreover, it could be concluded that the antioxidant activity of all the analysed types of tea infusions results not only from the high content of phenolic compounds and manganese but is also related to the presence of magnesium and potassium.

scholarly journals Effect of Thermal Processing on Color, Phenolic Compounds, and Antioxidant Activity of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Leaves and Seeds

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 1207
Author(s):  
Shu-Cheng Duan ◽  
Soon-Jae Kwon ◽  
Seok-Hyun Eom
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Faba Bean ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Cooking Methods ◽  
Thermal Treatments ◽  
Nutritional Values ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Young Leaves ◽  
Dry Heating ◽  
Positive Correlations

The leaves and seeds of the faba bean are good sources of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanin (L-dopa), and are usually eaten with thermal cooking methods. However, little information is available on the effect of thermal treatments on their nutritional value. We compared the changes in color, contents of L-dopa, vitamin C (Vc), total phenolics (TP), total flavonoids (TF) and antioxidant activity after dry heating or steaming faba bean leaves and seeds. The young leaves provided higher values of all the estimate factors, regardless of the thermal treatment. Steaming significantly degraded nutritional values of the leaves, but less changed in seeds, whereas dry heat maintained these attributes. The contents of L-dopa, Vc, TP and TF were shown to have strongly positive correlations with antioxidant activity in the leaves, whereas only L-dopa content was positively correlated with antioxidant activity of the seeds. Faba leaves contained relatively high L-dopa which possessed strong antioxidant activity compared to the Vc. As L-dopa is an important contributor to the antioxidant activity of faba leaves and seeds, consuming L-dopa from leaves may provide beneficial effects not only regarding Parkinson’s Disease.

scholarly journals Assessment of In Vitro Bioaccessibility of Polyphenols from Annurca, Limoncella, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious Apples Using a Sequential Enzymatic Digestion Model

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 541
Author(s):  
Giulia Graziani ◽  
Anna Gaspari ◽  
Claudio Di Vaio ◽  
Aurora Cirillo ◽  
Carolina Liana Ronca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Antioxidant Activities ◽  
In Vitro Digestion ◽  
Enzymatic Digestion ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Golden Delicious ◽  
In Vitro Bioaccessibility ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Great Relevance

Four different varieties of apples have been considered (Limoncella, Annurca, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious) to estimate the extent of colon polyphenolics release after in vitro sequential enzyme digestion. Since several studies report a positive effect of apple polyphenols in colonic damage, we found of interest to investigate the colon release of polyphenols in different varieties of apples in order to assess their prevention of colonic damage. UHPLC-HRMS analysis and antioxidant activity (ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP assays) were carried out on the apple extracts (peel, flesh, and whole fruit) obtained from not digested samples and on bioaccessible fractions (duodenal and colon bioaccessible fractions) after in vitro digestion. Polyphenolic content and antioxidant activities were found to vary significantly among the tested cultivars with Limoncella showing the highest polyphenol content accompanied by an excellent antioxidant activity in both flesh and whole fruit. The overall trend of soluble antioxidant capacity from the soluble duodenal phase (SDP) and soluble colonic phase (SCP) followed the concentrations of flavanols, procyandinis, and hydroxycinnamic acids under the same digestive steps. Our results highlighted that on average 64.2% of the total soluble antioxidant activity was released in the SCP with Limoncella exhibiting the highest values (82.31, 70.05, and 65.5%, respectively for whole fruit, flesh, and peel). This result suggested that enzymatic treatment with pronase E and viscozyme L, to reproduce biochemical conditions occurring in the colon, is effective for breaking the dietary fiber-polyphenols interactions and for the release of polyphenols which can exercise their beneficial effects in the colon. The beneficial effects related to the Limoncella consumption could thus be of potential great relevance to counteract the adverse effects of pro-oxidant and inflammatory processes on intestinal cells.

scholarly journals Implications for Degenerative Disorders: Antioxidative Activity, Total Phenols, Flavonoids, Ascorbic Acid, β-Carotene and β-Tocopherol inAloe vera

2009 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 99-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nurten Ozsoy ◽  
Eda Candoken ◽  
Nuriye Akev
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Aloe Vera ◽  
Total Phenols ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Degenerative Disorders ◽  
Phosphatidylcholine Liposome ◽  
Aqueous Leaf Extract ◽  
Β Carotene

In order to demonstrate whether the known biological effects ofAloe vera(L.) Burm. fil. could correlate with the antioxidant activity of the plant, the antioxidant activity of the aqueous leaf extract was investigated. The present study demonstrated that the aqueous extract fromA. veraleaves contained naturally occuring antioxidant components, including total phenols, flavonoids, ascorbic acid, β-carotene and α-tocopherol. The extract exhibited inhibitory capacity against Fe3+/ascorbic acid induced phosphatidylcholine liposome oxidation, scavenged stable DPPH•, ABTS•+and superoxide anion radicals, and acted as reductant. In contrast, the leaf inner gel did not show any antioxidant activity. It was concluded that the known beneficial effects ofAloe veracould be attributed to its antioxidant activity and could be related to the presence of phenolic compounds and antioxidant vitamins.

scholarly journals The Bioavailability of Astaxanthin Is Dependent on Both the Source and the Isomeric Variants of the Molecule

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 61 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myriam MIMOUN-BENARROCH ◽  
Cindy HOGOT ◽  
Larbi RHAZI ◽  
Claude Narcisse NIAMBA ◽  
Flore DEPEINT
Keyword(s):  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Haematococcus Pluvialis ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Intestinal Barrier ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Permeable Membrane ◽  
Natural Sources ◽  
Uptake Studies ◽  
Colonic Cells

Astaxanthin is a marine carotenoid that has a number of potential health benefits, including a very strong antioxidant potential. Present in the flesh of salmonids and shellfish, its natural sources currently on the market for food supplements come from the algae Haematococcus pluvialis and krill. However other natural sources can be found and may be of interest. Cellular uptake studies were performed on Caco-2/TC7 colonic cells. The cells were cultured on a semi-permeable membrane to create a polarized and functional epithelium, representative of the intestinal barrier. Four sources of astaxanthin were selected and compared; synthetic, natural extracts from bacteria, algae or yeast. Astaxanthin was incorporated at a concentration of 5µM into mixed micelles and applied to cultured cells and concentration of astaxanthin measured by HPLC in both apical and basolateral compartments. Small variations in bioavailability were observed at 3 hours. After 6 hours, only the algae source of astaxanthin was still present in the apical compartment as the esterified form. Structure-activity relationships are further discussed. Animal experiments using yeast and algae sources in different types of matrices confirm the role of source and formulation in the bioavailability potential of astaxanthin.

scholarly journals Antioxidant Activity and Polyphenolic Profile of Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Green Husks and Liqueurs

2020 ◽  
Vol 69 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 5-11
Author(s):  
Dijana Kulačanin ◽  
Sandra Bijelić ◽  
Jovana Šućur ◽  
Borivoje Bogdanović ◽  
Sezai Ercisli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Juglans Regia ◽  
Flavonoid Content ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Cultivar Selection ◽  
Polyphenolic Content ◽  
Polyphenolic Profile ◽  
Selection Of ◽  
Time Point

SummaryThe beneficial effects of walnuts and walnut products on human health, due primarily to their rich polyphenolic content, have been appreciated as an empirical fact for centuries. The purpose of this study is to determine the polyphenolic contents of liqueurs made from the walnut selections ‘Rasna’ and ‘Sava’ and the walnut cultivar ‘Šampion’ (all harvested at three different times), as well as the polyphenolic contents of their green husks. The walnut liqueurs were prepared according to two traditional recipes using young walnut fruits. The highest antioxidant capacity was recorded in the liqueur made from the ‘Rasna’ walnut selection (89.94%), whereas the highest contents of phenols (83.28 mg GAE/g FW), flavonoids (0.83 mg QE/g FW) and proanthocyanidins were found in the liqueur made from the ‘Šampion’ cultivar (14.75 mg CE/g FW). The youngest ‘Rasna’ walnuts, harvested at the first experimental time point, exhibited the highest phenolic and tannin contents, whereas the highest flavonoid content was observed in the ‘Šampion’ cultivar. The biochemical results obtained indicate a decrease in the polyphenolic content of walnut fruits with their growth and development. Moreover, the polyphenolic profiles of the walnut liqueurs considered were found to be greatly affected by the method of preparation and the cultivar/selection of walnuts.

scholarly journals Effect of strains and extraction methods on β-glucan production, antioxidant properties, and FTIR Spectra from mushroom fruiting bodies of Schizophyllum commune Fr. in Thailand

Food Research ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 410-415
Author(s):  
N. Mongkontanawat ◽  
D. Thumrongchote
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Activity ◽  
Chemical Structure ◽  
Nutritional Value ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Schizophyllum Commune ◽  
Extraction Methods ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Fruiting Bodies ◽  
Alkali Extraction ◽  
Medicinal Properties

Schizophyllum commune Fr., a native mushroom of Thailand, has a high nutritional value and is classified as a mushroom with medicinal properties that can neutralize the growth of many cancer cells. This research aimed to study the effect of S. commune strains and the extraction methods on the quantity and properties of β-glucan. The five S. commune Fr. strains used in this research consisted of Chanthaburi, 85-022, 85-023, 85-031, and 85- 043. There were two different β-glucan extraction methods employed: hot water (M1) and hot alkali extraction (M2), which were compared with the control (native-MR). The results indicated that the Chanthaburi strain has the highest β-glucan content 49.20±0.35% (w/w), and high potential antioxidant activity (79.14±0.77 DPPH% and 50.92±0.48 ABTS%) (p < 0.05). The extraction methods did not affect the yield of β-glucan, except the antioxidant properties and chemical structure of the extract substance. The extract substance from M2 has significantly the highest potential antioxidant activity (80.22±0.51). A mushroom juice drink in cans was developed using 1-day-old MR and adjusted pH of more than 7, which can increase the antioxidant properties of the product.

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