Jonathan Ferrier

The effects of dietary polyphenols on reproductive health and early development

BACKGROUND Emerging evidence from clinical and epidemiological studies suggests that dietary polyphenols play an important role in the prevention of chronic diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and neurodegenerative disorders. Although these beneficial health claims are supported by experimental data for many subpopulation groups, some studies purport that excessive polyphenol consumption may have negative health effects in other subpopulations. The ever-growing interest and public awareness surrounding the potential benefits of natural health products and polyphenols, in addition to their widespread availability and accessibility through nutritional supplements and fortified foods, has led to increased consumption throughout gestation. Therefore, understanding the implications of polyphenol intake on obstetrical health outcomes is of utmost importance with respect to safe consumption during pregnancy. METHODS Using relevant keywords, a literature search was performed to gather information regarding polyphenol pharmacology and the molecular mechanisms by which polyphenols exert their biological effects. The primary focus of this paper is to understand the relevance of these findings in the context of reproductive physiology and medicine. RESULTS Evidence from both in vitro experiments and in vivo studies using animals and humans demonstrates that polyphenols regulate key targets related to oxidative stress, inflammation and advanced glycation end products. Although the majority of these studies have been conducted in the context of chronic diseases, such as cancer and diabetes, several of the key targets influenced by polyphenols are also related to a variety of obstetrical complications, including pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth. Polyphenols have also been shown to influence fertility and sexual development, fetal health and the bioavailability of nutrients. CONCLUSIONS Further research leading to a thorough understanding of the physiological roles and potential clinical value that polyphenol consumption may play in pregnancy is urgently needed to help inform patient safety.

Distinguishing Vaccinium Species by Chemical Fingerprinting Based on NMR Spectra, Validated with Spectra Collected in Different Laboratories

A method was developed to distinguish Vaccinium species based on leaf extracts using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Reference spectra were measured on leaf extracts from several species, including lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), oval leaf huckleberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium), and cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon). Using principal component analysis, these leaf extracts were resolved in the scores plot. Analysis of variance statistical tests demonstrated that the three groups differ significantly on PC2, establishing that the three species can be distinguished by nuclear magnetic resonance. Soft independent modeling of class analogies models for each species also showed discrimination between species. To demonstrate the robustness of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for botanical identification, spectra of a sample of lowbush blueberry leaf extract were measured at five different sites, with different field strengths (600 versus 700 MHz), different probe types (cryogenic versus room temperature probes), different sample diameters (1.7 mm versus 5 mm), and different consoles (Avance I versus Avance III). Each laboratory independently demonstrated the linearity of their NMR measurements by acquiring a standard curve for chlorogenic acid (R(2) = 0.9782 to 0.9998). Spectra acquired on different spectrometers at different sites classifed into the expected group for the Vaccinium spp., confirming the utility of the method to distinguish Vaccinium species and demonstrating nuclear magnetic resonance fingerprinting for material validation of a natural health product.

An ethnobotany of the Lukomir Highlanders of Bosnia & Herzegovina

BackgroundThis aim of this study is to report upon traditional knowledge and use of wild medicinal plants by the Highlanders of Lukomir, Bjelašnica, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). The Highlanders are an indigenous community of approximately 60 transhumant pastoralist families who speak Bosnian (Bosanski) and inhabit a highly biodiverse region of Europe. This paper adds to the growing record of traditional use of wild plants within isolated communities in the Balkans.MethodsAn ethnobotanical study using consensus methodology was conducted in Lukomir in Bjelašnica’s mountains and canyons. Field work involved individual semi-structured interviews during which informants described plants, natural product remedies, and preparation methods on field trips, garden tours, while shepherding, or in settings of their choice. Plant use categories were ranked with informant consensus factor and incorporated into a phylogenetic tree. Plants cited were compared to other ethnobotanical surveys of the country.ResultsTwenty five people were interviewed, resulting in identification of 58 species (including two subspecies) from 35 families, which were cited in 307 medicinal, 40 food, and seven material use reports. Individual plant uses had an average consensus of five and a maximum consensus of 15 out of 25. There were a number of rare and endangered species used as poisons or medicine that are endemic to Flora Europaea and found in Lukomir. Ten species (including subspecies) cited in our research have not previously been reported in the systematic ethnobotanical surveys of medicinal plant use in B&H: (Elymus repens (L.) Gould, Euphorbia myrsinites L., Jovibarba hirta (L.) Opiz, Lilium bosniacum (Beck) Fritsch, Matricaria matricarioides (Less.) Porter ex Britton, Phyllitis scolopendrium (L.) Newman, Rubus saxatilis L., Silene uniflora Roth ssp. glareosa (Jord.) Chater & Walters, Silene uniflora Roth ssp. prostrata (Gaudin) Chater & Walters, Smyrnium perfoliatum L.). New uses not reported in any of the aforementioned systematic surveys were cited for a total of 28 species. Thirteen percent of medicinal plants cited are endemic: Helleborus odorus Waldst. et Kit., Gentiana lutea L., Lilium bosniacum (Beck) Fritsch, Silene uniflora Roth ssp. glareosa (Jord.) Chater & Walters., Silene uniflora Roth ssp. prostrata (Gaudin) Chater & Walters, Salvia officinalis L., Jovibarba hirta (L.) Opiz, and Satureja montana L.ConclusionsThese results report on the cohesive tradition of medicinal plant use among healers in Lukomir, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This work facilitates the community’s development by facilitating local and international conversations about their traditional medicine and sharing insight for conservation in one of Europe’s most diverse endemic floristic regions, stewarded by one of Europe’s last traditional Highland peoples.

Ways the Lukomir Highlanders of Bosnia and Herzegovina Treat Diabetes

In a Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H) and Canada postwar development research collaboration, health authorities have identified type 2 diabetes (T2D) as a top health concern for the mountain community of Lukomir, B&H, located in the Bjelasnica of the Dinaric Alps. Lukomir lacks a health-care facility but is home to many traditional healers. A consensus ethnobotanical survey of plants was conducted with Lukomir Highlanders to identify plants used to treat diabetes and highly associated symptoms. Twenty-five people were interviewed, resulting in 41 species from 26 families. Physicians determined diabetes symptom association rank values, which were used to evaluate the syndromic importance value (SIV) function. SIVs were determined for families and species. Caryophyllaceae, Equisetaceae, Asteraceae, Ericaceae were the top-ranked antidiabetic families, and Matricaria matricarioides (Less.) Porter ex Britton, Silene spp., Achillea millefolium L., and Equisetum arvense L. were the top species. Five species were endemic, and Gentiana lutea L. is considered endangered. A cross-cultural comparison with the Cree of James Bay, Canada, revealed that Vaccinium was the only consensus genus. Extracts of Vaccinium myrtillus L. and V. vitis-idaea L. leaves were potent inhibitors of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranging from 12.43 to 44.09 µg mL−1. High-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (HPLC–MS) confirmed the presence of (+)-catechin, chlorogenic acid, para coumaric acid, taxifolin, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, rutin, quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside, and myricetin. Rutin was absent in both species. This work provides a baseline study of available complimentary medicines for the T2D problem in the Lukomir community.

Vaccinium angustifolium (lowbush blueberry) leaf extract increases extravillous trophoblast cell migration and invasion in vitro

Perturbations to extravillous trophoblast (EVT) cell migration and invasion are associated with the development of placenta‐mediated diseases. Phytochemicals found in the lowbush blueberry plant (Vaccinium angustifolium) have been shown to influence cell migration and invasion in models of tumorigenesis and noncancerous, healthy cells, however never in EVT cells. We hypothesized that the phenolic compounds present in V. angustifolium leaf extract promote trophoblast migration and invasion. Using the HTR‐8/SVneo human EVT cell line and Boyden chamber assays, the influence of V. angustifolium leaf extract (0 to 2 × 104 ng/ml) on trophoblast cell migration (n = 4) and invasion (n = 4) was determined. Cellular proliferation and viability were assessed using immunoreactivity to Ki67 (n = 3) and trypan blue exclusion assays (n = 3), respectively. At 20 ng/ml, V. angustifolium leaf extract increased HTR‐8/SVneo cell migration and invasion (p < .01) and did not affect cell proliferation or viability. Chlorogenic acid was identified as a major phenolic compound of the leaf extract and the most active compound. Evidence from Western blot analysis (n = 3) suggests that the effects of the leaf extract and chlorogenic acid on trophoblast migration and invasion are mediated through an adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein (AMP) kinase‐dependent mechanism. Further investigations examining the potential therapeutic applications of this natural health product extract and its major chemical compounds in the context of placenta‐mediated diseases are warranted.