Spirulina, wakame or goji berries do not lower markers of low-grade systemic inflammation in healthy subjects

Introduction: We have earlier reported that consumption of the algae spirulina (Arthrospira platensis or maxima) and wakame (Undaria pinnatifida) for 17 days, and a single dose of goji berries (Lycium barbarum) did not affect fasting or postprandial CVD risk markers in healthy subjects. However, evidence is increasing that low-grade systemic inflammation is also an important marker for CVD risk. Based on information from in vitro and animal studies, we hypothesize that both consumption of the algae spirulina and wakame as well as a single dose of goji berries lowers markers for low-grade inflammation. Methods: Two randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover trials were performed. In the algae study, 35 non-hypercholesterolemic, healthy subjects consumed 4.8 grams of spirulina, wakame or placebo for 17 days, separated by 14-day washout periods. After 17 days, fasting serum TNFα, IL-6, IL-8, and hsCRP concentrations were measured. In the goji berry study, 17 healthy, overweight men received a mixed meal with or without 25 grams of dried goji berries. Before and up to 4 hours after meal intake, serum concentrations of TNFα, IL-6 and IL-8 were measured. Results: Consumption of spirulina or wakame did not affect serum concentrations of TNFα, IL-6, IL-8 or hsCRP. In the goji berry study, serum IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations increased postprandially. For IL-8, these increases were more pronounced after the goji berry meal compared to the control meal (P = 0.003). No effects on TNFα were observed. Conclusion: 17 days of spirulina or wakame consumption, or a single dose of goji berries did not lower markers of low-grade systemic inflammation in healthy, non-immunocompromised subjects. It is plausible that anti-inflammatory effects of these interventions can only be expected in subjects with an inflammatory risk.Keywords: spirulina, wakame, goji berries, low-grade systemic inflammation, cytokines

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Μελέτη της σύστασης σε βιοδραστικές και ευεργετικές για την υγεία του ανθρώπου ενώσεις σε καρπούς του φυτού goji-berry (L. barbarum & L. chinense) θεσσαλικής παραγωγής

10.12681/eadd/44380 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

Πρόδρομος Σκενδερίδης

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Lycium Barbarum ◽

Goji Berry ◽

Goji Berries

Η επιμήκυνση του προσδόκιμου χρόνου ζωής και η υιοθέτηση του δυτικού βιομηχανοποιημένου τρόπου ζωής από τον σύγχρονο άνθρωπο έχει οδηγήσει στη μετάβαση του πληθυσμού προς γηραιότερες ηλικίες και συνεπώς στην επικράτηση ασθενειών όπως οι διάφοροι τύποι νεοπλασιών, οι εκφυλιστικές νόσοι κ.λ.π. Στο πλαίσιο αυτό έχει αρχίσει να γίνεται συνείδηση η ανάγκη αποδοχής ενός νέου τρόπου ζωής που θα περιλαμβάνει και την αξιοποίηση των βιοδραστικών συστατικών που προέρχονται από φυσικές πηγές και για την προφύλαξη και ενδυνάμωση της υγείας του ανθρώπου. Ένα τέτοιο παράδειγμα αποτελούν οι καρποί του φυτού goji berry που για πάνω από 2000 χρόνια η χρήση τους βρίσκει εφαρμογή στην Παραδοσιακή Κινεζική Ιατρική (Traditional Chinese medicine TCM). Οι καρποί goji berries κατέχουν μία κυρίαρχη θέση στην παραγωγή λειτουργικών τροφίμων και θεωρείται ότι σχετίζονται με ευεργετικές επιδράσεις στην πρόληψη και θεραπεία των διαφόρων χρόνιων παθήσεων όπως οι καρδιαγγειακές παθήσεις, ο διαβήτης καθώς και στην πρόληψη του καρκίνου. Εκτός από την υψηλή περιεκτικότητα των καρπών σε πολυσακχαρίτες και πολυφαινόλες, μια πληθώρα ωφέλιμων για την υγεία ενώσεων έχει αναγνωριστεί σε αυτά όπως αμινοξέα, απαραίτητα λιπαρά οξέα, καροτενοειδή, βιταμίνες και ιχνοστοιχεία. Οι ενώσεις αυτές, είναι πιθανώς υπεύθυνες για τις ευεργετικές ιδιότητες των καρπών. Έχοντας υπ’ όψιν τα παραπάνω και σε συνδυασμό με το γεγονός ότι στην Ελλάδα αλλά και ειδικότερα στον Θεσσαλικό χώρο, καλλιεργείται ένας μεγάλος αριθμός δένδρων goji berry, έγινε επιτακτική η συγκριτική αξιολόγηση των εγχώριων καρπών καθώς και η αξιοποίηση των βιοδραστικών συστατικών αυτών.Στα πλαίσια της αξιολόγησης των εγχώριων καρπών και της αναζήτησης μεθόδων παραλαβής εκχυλισμάτων με συγκεκριμένη βιοδραστικότητα, διενεργήθηκε ένας πειραματικός σχεδιασμός και σχεδιάστηκαν 27 πειράματα υδατικής εκχύλισης με υπερήχους, που διενεργήθηκαν εις διπλούν για καρπούς Θεσσαλικής παραγωγής και εισαγωγής της ποικιλίας Lycium barbarum. Από τα αποτελέσματα παρατηρήθηκε ως σημαντική διαφορά το αυξημένο ποσοστό των ολικών σακχάρων στα εκχυλίσματα των εγχώριων καρπών, σε σχέση με τα εισαγόμενα. Επιπρόσθετα, τα εγχώρια εκχυλίσματα μπορούν να αποτελέσουν σημαντική πηγή χημειοπροστατευτικών παραγόντων. Συγκεκριμένα, παρουσίασαν σημαντική ικανότητα να εξουδετερώνουν ελεύθερες ρίζες και να παρεμποδίζουν την επαγόμενη από ελεύθερες ρίζες πρόκληση μονόκλωνων θραυσμάτων στο DNA. Ακόμη, το εκχύλισμα παρουσίασε πρoστατευτική ικανότατα για τα κύτταρα C2C12 έναντι της οξειδωτικής βλάβης βελτιώνοντας τους δείκτες οξειδωτικού στρες και πιο συγκεκριμένα αυξάνοντας τα επίπεδα της γλουταθειόνης. Επιπλέον, τα κύτταρα στα οποία χορηγήθηκε το εκχύλισμα παρουσίασαν μειωμένο οξειδωτικό στρες που προκαλείται από βλάβη σε λιπίδια και πρωτεΐνες, όπως φαίνεται από τις μειώσεις στα TBARS και στα καρβονύλια αντίστοιχα. Τέλος, αξιολογήθηκε η αντιμικροβιακή δραστικότητα in vitro, καθώς και η πρεβιοτική δράση των εκχυλισμάτων έναντι προβιοτικών βακτηρίων.Συνοπτικά, στην παρούσα διατριβή επιτεύχθηκαν:1. Η ανάπτυξη μίας διαδικασίας απομόνωσης βιοδραστικών ενώσεων από τους καρπούς goji berry κάτω από βέλτιστες συνθήκες εκχύλισης που επιλέχθηκαν με τη διαδικασία πειραματικού σχεδιασμού Box – Benhken. 2. Διαπιστώθηκε ότι η περιεκτικότητα σε βιοδραστικές ιδιότητες των καρπών goji berry Θεσσαλικής προέλευσης είναι απολύτως συγκρίσιμες με τις εισαγόμενες κινεζικής προέλευσης. 3.Αποδείχθηκε ότι τα εκχυλίσματα των καρπών goji berry της Θεσσαλικής παραγωγής διαθέτουν ευεργετικές για την υγεία του ανθρώπου αντιοξειδωτικές, αντιμικροβιακές και πρεβιοτικές ιδιότητες. Συμπερασματικά, με βάση τα αποτελέσματα της συγκριτικής αξιολόγησης των εκχυλισμάτων goji berries θεσσαλικής παραγωγής αποδείχθηκε ότι οι βιοδραστικές τους ιδιότητες είναι συγκρίσιμες με τις ανάλογες ιδιότητες των καρπών goji berry εισαγωγής της ποικιλίας Lycium barbarum. Επιπρόσθετα το αποτέλεσμα της αξιολόγησης των αντιοξειδωτικών, αντιμεταλλαξιογόννων αντιμικροβιακών αλλά και πρεβιοτικών ιδιοτήτων των καρπών αλλά και των εκχυλισμάτων θεσσαλικής προέλευσης επιβεβαίωσε ότι αποτελούν μία ιδανική λύση για τη δημιουργία βιολειτουργικών τροφίμων υψηλής προστιθέμενης αξίας.

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Black goji berry (Lycium ruthenicum) tea has higher phytochemical contents and in vitro antioxidant properties than red goji berry (Lycium barbarum) tea

Food Quality and Safety ◽

10.1093/fqsafe/fyaa022 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 193-201

Author(s):

Bei Liu ◽

Qingqing Xu ◽

Yujing Sun

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Bioactive Compounds ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Antioxidant Property ◽

Lycium Barbarum ◽

Antioxidant Power ◽

Goji Berry ◽

Good Habit

Abstract Goji berry tea, a traditional herbal tea, is the main ate mode of goji berry in Asia, yet few studies in comparison with red goji berry tea and black goji berry tea are carried out. This study investigated the effects of water temperature and soak time on the colour, phytochemicals, and the antioxidant capacity [2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)] of two goji berry tea. A comparison of the bioactive compounds and antioxidant activities between black and red goji berry tea was conducted. Results showed that both red and black goji berry tea were rich in phytochemicals, giving high antioxidant ability. The levels of bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of the two goji berry tea increased as the increases in soak temperature and time. Black goji berry tea had higher phytochemicals and antioxidant property than those of red goji berry tea. Infused at 100° water for the same time, the levels of total polysaccharides (150 mg/100 ml), total polyphenols (238 mg/ml), and antioxidant capacity (550 μmol/100 ml) of black goji berry tea were 3.5, 2, and 5 times higher, respectively, in comparison with red goji berry tea. The results of this study demonstrate that hot drink of goji berry in China is a good habit and black goji berry tea may be a better choice.

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In vitro inhibitions of CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 by fractions isolated from Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) fruits

Scripta Scientifica Pharmaceutica ◽

10.14748/ssp.v6i1.6038 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 26

Author(s):

Kaloyan Georgiev ◽

Maya Radeva-Ilieva

Keyword(s):

Lycium Barbarum ◽

Goji Berry

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Therapeutic Roles of Goji Berry and Ginseng in Traditional Chinese

Journal of Nutrition and Food Security ◽

10.18502/jnfs.v4i4.1727 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Wenli Sun ◽

Mohamad Hesam Shahrajabian ◽

Qi Cheng

Keyword(s):

Chinese Medicine ◽

Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽

Liver Glycogen ◽

Lycium Barbarum ◽

Traditional Use ◽

Stress Ulcers ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Goji Berry ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Goji Berries

Background: Goji berries (Lycium barbarum), widely used in traditional Chinese medicine, can be applied as a dietary supplement. They are classified as nutraceutical food due to their long and safe traditional use. Ginseng has been increasingly used in the last decades and has become well known for its significant role in preventing and treating many diseases. Methods: The keywords of Goji berry, Ginseng, Traditional Chinese medicine were searched in Google Scholar, Scopus, Research Gate, and PubMed in both English and Chinese languages. Results: Goji berry significantly inhibited the generation and spread of cancer cells, improved eyesight, and increased reserves of muscle glycogen and liver glycogen, which may increase human energy and has anti-fatigue effect. Usage of Goji berries improved brain function and enhanced learning and memory. It had positive effects on anti-cancer, anti-oxidant activities, retinal function preservation, anti-diabetes, immune function, and anti-fatigue. Pharmacological activities of ginseng extracts affected the central nervous system, antipsychotic action, tranquilizing effects, protection from stress ulcers, increase of gastrointestinal motility, anti-fatigue action, endocrinological effects, enhancement of sexual behavior, acceleration of metabolism, or synthesis of carbohydrates, lipids, RNA, and proteins. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, ginseng helps to maintain a healthy immune system. Conclusions: In this review article we found that Goji berries and Ginseng were sources of compounds with valuable nutritional and bioactive properties. Therefore, they could be incorporated into foods with functional properties. More clinical studies are necessary to uncover the numerous substances and their effects in goji berries and ginseng that contribute to public health.

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Patterns of dietary intake and serum carotenoid and tocopherol status are associated with biomarkers of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation and cardiovascular risk

British Journal Of Nutrition ◽

10.1017/s0007114514001962 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 112 (8) ◽

pp. 1341-1352 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Adrian D. Wood ◽

Anna A. Strachan ◽

Frank Thies ◽

Lorna S. Aucott ◽

David M. Reid ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systemic Inflammation ◽

Dietary Patterns ◽

Dietary Pattern ◽

Vegetable Consumption ◽

Low Grade ◽

Fruit And Vegetable ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Inflammatory Biomarker ◽

Amyloid A ◽

Hs Crp

Dietary modification may affect inflammatory processes and protect against chronic disease. In the present study, we examined the relationship between dietary patterns, circulating carotenoid and tocopherol concentrations, and biomarkers of chronic low-grade systemic inflammation in a 10-year longitudinal study of Scottish postmenopausal women. Diet was assessed by FFQ during 1997–2000 (n3237, mean age 54·8 (sd2·2) years). Participants (n2130, mean age 66·0 (sd2·2) years) returned during 2007–11 for follow-up. Diet was assessed by FFQ (n1682) and blood was collected for the analysis of serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), IL-6, serum amyloid A, E-selectin, lipid profile and dietary biomarkers (carotenoids, tocopherols and retinol). Dietary pattern and dietary biomarker (serum carotenoid) components were generated by principal components analysis. A past ‘prudent’ dietary pattern predicted serum concentrations of hs-CRP and IL-6 (which decreased across the quintiles of the dietary pattern;P= 0·002 andP= 0·001, respectively; ANCOVA). Contemporary dietary patterns were also associated with inflammatory biomarkers. The concentrations of hs-CRP and IL-6 decreased across the quintiles of the ‘prudent’ dietary pattern (P= 0·030 andP= 0·006, respectively). hs-CRP concentration increased across the quintiles of a ‘meat-dominated’ dietary pattern (P= 0·001). Inflammatory biomarker concentrations decreased markedly across the quintiles of carotenoid component score (P< 0·001 for hs-CRP and IL-6, andP= 0·016 for E-selectin; ANCOVA). Prudent dietary pattern and carotenoid component scores were negatively associated with serum hs-CRP concentration (unstandardised β for prudent component: − 0·053, 95 % CI − 0·102, − 0·003; carotenoid component: − 0·183, 95 % CI − 0·233, − 0·134) independent of study covariates. A prudent dietary pattern (which reflects a diet high in the intakes of fish, yogurt, pulses, rice, pasta and wine, in addition to fruit and vegetable consumption) and a serum carotenoid profile characteristic of a fruit and vegetable-rich diet are associated with lower concentrations of intermediary markers that are indicative of CVD risk reduction.

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Chemical Properties, Fatty-Acid Composition, and Antioxidant Activity of Goji Berry (Lycium barbarum L. and Lycium chinense Mill.) Fruits

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox8030060 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 60 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Prodromos Skenderidis ◽

Dimitrios Lampakis ◽

Ioannis Giavasis ◽

Stefanos Leontopoulos ◽

Konstantinos Petrotos ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Attenuated Total Reflection ◽

Lycium Chinense ◽

Total Carbohydrate ◽

Lycium Barbarum ◽

Goji Berry ◽

Ft Ir

In this study, the content composition and antioxidant activity of goji berry fruits from two species (Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense) were assessed. The total carbohydrate and phenolic contents were evaluated using attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy, while the antioxidant activity of fruits was examined with two in vitro methods, which are based on the scavenging activity of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-sulfonic acid) (ABTS•+) free radicals. The fatty-acid profile was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The results of this study indicate that the fruits of L. barbarum present higher concentrations in carbohydrates and phenolics than L. chinense Mill. fruits. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity based on the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) measurements of DPPH• and ABTS•+ free-radical scavenging was higher in L. barbarum than L. chinense Mill. Also, the GCMS analysis confirms the high levels of linoleic, palmitic, and oleic acids contained in the fruits of both species. Finally, the results of this study clearly show that the concentration of bioactive and antioxidant molecules is higher in L. barbarum than in L. chinense fruits, which was also confirmed by ATR-FT-IR measurements.

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YOGHURT WITH GOJI BERRY FRUITS (LICIUM BARBARUM L.)

Applied Researches in Technics Technologies and Education ◽

10.15547/artte.2019.02.007 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 131-137

Author(s):

Ira Taneva

Keyword(s):

Control Sample ◽

Storage Period ◽

Lycium Barbarum ◽

Goji Berry ◽

Goji Berries ◽

Berry Fruits

A yoghurt was obtained with the addition of goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) fruits. The sequence of technological operations has been established. The active acidity of the yoghurt samples was determined during coagulation and in the storage period for 20 days (1, 10 and 20 days). During storage, pH and syneresis decreases. As a result of organoleptic assessments, yogurt with a 4% addition of goji berry fruits is preferred after a control sample. The study shows that goji berries can be used in the production of yoghurt as a functional nutritional ingredient.

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Serum Cholinesterase Level as a Marker of Systemic Low-Grade Inflammation in Isolated Systolic Hypertension: A Cross-Sectional Study

European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences ◽

10.24018/ejmed.2020.2.6.534 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 2 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Williamjeet Sidhu ◽

Lovleen Bhatia ◽

Kanchan Vohra

Keyword(s):

Systemic Inflammation ◽

Healthy Subjects ◽

Systolic Hypertension ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Low Grade ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Isolated Systolic Hypertension ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Severe Inflammation ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Background: Autonomic regulation of local and systemic inflammation through the ‘cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway’ may have role in persistence of low-grade systemic inflammation in isolated systolic hypertension (ISH). The augmented activity of the enzyme cholinesterase (ChE) leads to degradation of the main anti-inflammatory neurotransmitter ‘acetylcholine’ of this pathway. Despite the role of inflammation in hypertension, serum level of cholinesterase enzyme has not been determined till now in ISH. The study aimed to measure the serum levels of inflammatory marker ChE in comparison to high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) to predict the presence of low-grade systemic inflammation and their correlation with blood pressure in ISH patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in ISH patients (n=30; mean age, 51.00±1.24 years; male/female (M/F) number=18/12). Age and sex matched healthy subjects (n=30, mean age, 51.86±1.40 years; M/F=16/14) were taken as control. Subjects were divided into three groups based on hsCRP levels; group I (healthy: hsCRP≤1.0mg/L), group IIa (patients with mild inflammation: hsCRP≤1.0mg/L), group IIb (patients with moderate to severe inflammation: hsCRP 1.0-10.0mg/L). Overnight fasting blood samples were collected and ChE and hsCRP were assessed using Cholinesterase Liqui-Check and hsCRP turbi-latex diagnostic kits, respectively. Results: hsCRP and ChE levels were found significantly high in hypertensive patients than in healthy subjects (p<0.05). In patients at mild stage of inflammation, there was an increase in both ChE and hsCRP, but not linearly as they had no significant correlation with each other. But at moderate to severe inflammation stage, there was a linear rise in both hsCRP and ChE levels. SBP, DBP and PP were significantly correlated with both ChE and hsCRP in patients (p<0.01). Moreover, as the SBP was increased from grade I to II, both hsCRP and ChE levels were also increased. Conclusion: Many factors interplay in propagating inflammatory cascade in ISH and all biomarkers of inflammation may not elevate at same point in time and in linear manner. ChE may act as a marker of low-grade systemic inflammation but its comparison must be tested against a standard marker such as hsCRP in large scale studies for finding its true significance in predicting cardiovascular disease risk.

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Dietary Supplementation with Goji Berries (Lycium barbarum) Modulates the Microbiota of Digestive Tract and Caecal Metabolites in Rabbits

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani12010121 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

pp. 121

Author(s):

Paola Cremonesi ◽

Giulio Curone ◽

Filippo Biscarini ◽

Elisa Cotozzolo ◽

Laura Menchetti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lactic Acid ◽

Control Group ◽

Rrna Gene ◽

Microbiota Composition ◽

Gastrointestinal Microbiota ◽

Acid Fermentation ◽

Lycium Barbarum ◽

Microbial Composition ◽

Goji Berry ◽

Goji Berries

Goji berries show health benefits, although the possible mechanisms of action, including compositional changes in the gut microbiome, are still not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Goji berry supplementation on microbiota composition and metabolites in the digestive tracts of rabbits. Twenty-eight New Zealand White rabbits were fed with a commercial feed (control group, C; n = 14) or the same diet supplemented with 3% of Goji berries (Goji group, G; n = 14), from weaning (35 days old) until slaughter (90 days old). At slaughter, samples from the content of the gastrointestinal tracts were collected and analyzed by Next Generation 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing to evaluate the microbial composition. Ammonia and lactic acid were also quantified in caecum. Results showed differences in microbiota composition between the groups for two phyla (Cyanobacteria and Euryarchaeota), two classes (Methanobacteria and Bacilli), five orders, fourteen families, and forty-five genera. Ruminococcaceae (p < 0.05) and Lachnospiraceae (p < 0.01) were more abundant in G than in C group. Lactobacillaceae also showed differences between the two groups, with Lactobacillus as the predominant genus (p = 0.002). Finally, Goji berry supplementation stimulated lactic acid fermentation (p < 0.05). Thus, Goji berry supplementation could modulate gastrointestinal microbiota composition and caecal fermentation.

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