Pawel Pasko

Effect of Diet Supplemented with Quinoa Seeds on Oxidative Status in Plasma and Selected Tissues of High Fructose-Fed Rats

Oxidative stress plays an important role as a mediator of damage produced by fructose metabolism. This work was designed to investigate the effect of diet supplemented with quinoa seeds on oxidative stress in plasma, heart, kidney, liver, spleen, lung, testis and pancreas of fructose administered rats. Fructose administration (310 g/kg fodder for 5 weeks) caused oxidative stress that was manifested by the increase in plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) (p<0.05), and by the non-significant changes in the enzymatic antioxidant potential in plasma and most of tissues. Co-administration of quinoa seeds (310 g/kg fodder) maintained normal activities of some enzymes. It also influenced the oxidative stress as was evidenced by decreasing MDA in plasma, and decreasing the activities of antioxidant enzymes (erythrocyte superoxide dismutase - eSOD, catalase -CAT, plasma glutathione peroxidase - pGPX). These findings demonstrate that quinoa seeds can act as a moderate protective agent against potential of fructose-induced changes in rats by reducing lipid peroxidation and by enhancing the antioxidant capacity of blood (plasma) and heart, kidney, testis, lung and pancreas.

Screening of the antioxidant and nutritional properties, phenolic contents and proteins of five durian cultivars

The antioxidant activities of different durian cultivars at the same stage of ripening (Mon Thong, Chani, Kan Yao, Pung Manee and Kradum) were compared in order to choose the best as a supplement in the human diet. Total polyphenols (mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g fresh weight (FW)) and flavonoids (mg catechin equivalent (CE)/100 g FW) in Mon Thong (361.4±23.2 and 93.9±7.4) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than in Kradum (271.5±11.2 and 69.2±5.3) and Kan Yao (283.2±16.5 and 72.1±6.8). The free polyphenols and flavonoids showed lower results than the hydrolyzed ones. Anthocyanins (µg cyanidin-3-glucoside equivalent/100 g FW) and flavanols (µg CE/100 g FW) were significantly higher in Mon Thong (427.3±23.8 and 171.4±16.3) than in Kradum (320.2±12.1 and 128.6±9.7) and Kan Yao (335.3±14.1 and 134.4±11.7). Ultraviolet spectroscopy and high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detection analyses showed that caffeic acid and quercetin were the dominant bioactive substances in Mon Thong cultivar. The antioxidant activity (µM trolox equivalent/100 g FW) of Mon Thong cultivar (260.8±20.2, 1,075.6±81.4 and 2,352.7±124.2) determined by ferric-reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP), cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and 2,2′-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) with Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays was significantly higher (P<0.05) than in Kradum (197.4±8.9, 806.5±31.2 and 1,773.2±102.5) and in Kan Yao (204.7±9.7, 845.5±48.6 and 1,843.6±107.5). The correlation coefficients between polyphenols, flavonoids, flavanols and FRAP, CUPRAC and TEAC capacities were between 0.89 and 0.98. In extracted and separated by electrophoresis durian proteins, some differences were found in the sodium dodecyl sulfate–protein bands in the region of 16 and 68 kDa for Kradum, 45 kDa for Mon Thong and three bands for Kan Yao. Antioxidants and proteins can be used for characterization of the quality of durian cultivars. In conclusion, the bioactivity of durian cultivars Mon Thong, Chani and Pung Manee was high and the total polyphenols were the main contributors to the overall antioxidant capacity. The results of our investigation in vitro are comparable with other fruits that widely used in human diets. Therefore, Durian can be used as a supplement for nutritional and healthy purposes, especially Durian Mon Thong, Chani and Pung Manee.

Rutabaga (Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica) seeds, roots, and sprouts: a novel kind of food with antioxidant properties and proapoptotic potential in Hep G2 hepatoma cell line.

Although rutabaga (Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica) is a popular crop, especially in North Europe and North America, its sprouts are a new kind of vegetable. Rutabaga roots, and particularly sprouts, have not been investigated so far for antioxidant and anticancer effect on human tumor cells (Hep G2). Therefore, in vitro tests were conducted to find out whether rutabaga seeds, roots, and sprouts exert a cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells and combine them with other biological properties of particular parts of the plant. Rutabaga methanol extracts were measured for total phenolic, total flavonoid concentrations, and total antioxidant activity. Cytotoxicity of the investigated extracts was measured using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay in Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) and Hep G2 cells culture. Cell membrane integrity was assessed in CHO-K1 and Hep G2 cells by luminescence ToxiLight BioAssay. The results of the investigation have shown that sprouts have significantly higher antioxidant activity than seeds and roots, which may result from different contents of polyphenols. Rutabaga extracts (especially 8 day sprouts) inhibited the tumor cell line Hep G2 proliferation and had a slight effect on the normal mammalian CHO-K1 culture. An advanced analysis of previously observed morphological changes and cytotoxic properties demonstrated that the evaluated extracts exerted cell death via apoptosis. These findings strongly suggest that one of the biological activities of rutabaga is antiproliferative and proapoptotic potential specific to tumor cells. The obtained results demonstrate the antioxidant property of rutabaga and its potential as a nutritional supplement in cancer prevention. These findings also strongly advocate the application of rutabaga sprouts (especially harvested in conditions presented in this article) in functional food.

Antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties and zinc content of five south Portugal herbs

Abstract Context: Crataegus monogyna L. (Rosaceae) (CM), Equisetum telmateia L. (Equisataceae) (ET), Geranium purpureum Vil. (Geraniaceae) (GP), Mentha suaveolens Ehrh. (Lamiaceae) (MS), and Lavandula stoechas L. spp. luisieri (Lamiaceae) (LS) are all medicinal. Objective: To evaluate the antioxidant, antiproliferative and antimicrobial activities of plant extracts and quantify individual phenolics and zinc. Material and methods: Aerial part extracts were prepared with water (W), ethanol (E) and an 80% mixture (80EW). Antioxidant activity was measured with TAA, FRAP and RP methods. Phenolics were quantified with a HPLC. Zinc was quantified using voltammetry. Antibacterial activity (after 48 h) was tested using Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes. Antiproliferative activity (after 24 h) was tested using HEP G2 cells and fibroblasts. Results: Solvents influenced results; the best were E and 80EW. GP had the highest antioxidant activity (TAA and FRAP of 536.90 mg AAE/g dw and 783.48 mg TE/g dw, respectively). CM had the highest zinc concentration (37.21 mg/kg) and phenolic variety, with neochlorogenic acid as the most abundant (92.91 mg/100 g dw). LS was rich in rosmarinic acid (301.71 mg/100 g dw). GP and LS inhibited the most microorganisms: B. cereus, E. coli and S. aureus. GP also inhibited E. faecalis. CM had the lowest MIC: 5830 μg/mL. The antibacterial activity is explained by the phenolics present. LS and CM showed the most significant anti-proliferative activity, which is explained by their zinc content. Conclusion: The most promising plants for further studies are CM, LS and GP.

Intestinal parameters of oxidative imbalance in celiac adults with extraintestinal manifestations

AIM To evaluate selected intestinal parameters of oxidative stress, and antioxidant capacity in adult celiac disease patients with extraintestinal manifestations. METHODS The study involved 85 adult patients divided into the following subgroups: (1) patients with newly diagnosed celiac disease (CD) (n = 7); (2) celiac patients not adhering to a gluten-free diet (GFD) (n = 22); (3) patients with CD on the GFD (n = 31); and (4) patients with functional disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, serving as controls (n = 25). Celiac patients presented with non-classic symptoms or extraintestinal manifestations. Standard blood tests including serum antioxidant levels (uric acid, bilirubin, and vitamin D), celiac antibody levels, and histopathological status of duodenal biopsy specimens have been determined. The expression of mRNA for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), interleukin 10 (IL-10), superoxide dismutase (SOD), heat-shock protein 70 (HSP-70), hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1α), and BAX in the duodenal mucosa of patients was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS The mean plasma uric acid level in patients with active CD (newly diagnosed and nonadherent patients) and treated celiac patients was significantly higher than in controls (260.17 ± 53.65 vs 190.8 ± 22.98, P < 0.001, and 261.7 ± 51.79 vs 190.8 ± 22.98, P < 0.001, respectively). The mean bilirubin concentration in active and treated celiac patients was significantly lower than in controls (8.23 ± 5.04 vs 10.48 ± 4.08, P < 0.05 and 8.06 ± 3.31 vs 10.48 ± 4.08, P < 0.05, respectively). The mean plasma vitamin D level was significantly lower in active celiac patients than in treated celiac patients and controls (19.37 ± 9.03 vs 25.15 ± 11.2, P < 0.05 and 19.37 ± 9.03 vs 29.67 ± 5.12, P < 0.001, respectively). The expression of TNF-α, IL-10, and HSP-70 mRNAs was significantly elevated in the celiac groups regardless of the diet when compared with controls. Patients on the GFD presented a significantly lower mRNA expression of TNF-α and IL-10 than in newly diagnosed and nonadherent patients (P < 0.05). The expression of SOD mRNA was significantly elevated in celiac patients compared with controls (P < 0.05), with a significant difference between treated and untreated patients (P < 0.05). The expression of HIF-1α mRNA and BAX mRNA was significantly higher in patients with active CD compared with controls and patients on GFD, while no difference was observed between the latter two groups. CONCLUSION Increased intestinal expression of HSP-70 despite GFD indicates that GFD only partially reduced oxidative stress. CD patients exhibited an oxidative imbalance and inflammatory response despite GFD. Uric acid may act as an important antioxidant in CD.