scholarly journals A multicarotenoid beadlet for human nutrition - proof of concept of in vitro timed release.

2012 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin Gellenbeck ◽  
Dawna Salter-Venzon ◽  
Rajendra Lala ◽  
Jayanthi Chavan
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Beta Carotene ◽  
Nutritional Supplements ◽  
Immediate Release ◽  
Release Profile ◽  
Steady Increase ◽  
Proof Of Concept ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Since the 1980's when the predominate focus of study and use of carotenoids in human nutritional formulations was solely on beta-carotene, there has been a steady increase in research aimed to understand the role of a wide variety of carotenoids in human health. This work has increasingly demonstrated the benefits of a number of carotenoids, and there has been a corresponding increase in the number of carotenoids provided in nutritional supplements (multicarotenoids). Numerous published observations in both human and animal studies suggest significant interaction and competition between various carotenoids during absorption and metabolism, resulting in the inhibition of uptake of one over the other. This competition has the end result of reducing the beneficial effects of the inhibited carotenoid. To limit such competition and maximize carotenoid uptakes, a layered beadlet was designed to release a defined ratio of carotenoids sequentially. Preliminary dissolution testing is presented showing the release profile in simulated digestive conditions of a combination of beta-carotene, alpha carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene and astaxanthin derived from natural sources. Comparison is made to an immediate release beadlet formulation using the same combination of carotenoids. These results will be used to guide proof of concept clinical testing for effectiveness in humans.

scholarly journals Edible insects as a source of food bioactives and their potential health effects

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus Lange ◽  
Yukiko Nakamura
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Oral Intake ◽  
Edible Insects ◽  
Immune Functions ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Food Ingredients ◽  
Beneficial Effects

Entomophagy (consumption of insects) is an issue of global nutritional and environmental interest. The nutritional value of insects appears to be high, since they are rich in protein and fat and provide a range of vitamins and minerals. Edible insects contain similar amounts of protein to conventional meat and higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Due to their high content of protein, micronutrients and fiber, insects could become a valuable alternative to food derived from other animals. The findings of various in vitro and in vivo animal studies suggest beneficial effects of entomophagy with respect to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and non-communicable diseases as well as immune functions and carcinogenesis. Edible insects appear to be a promising and insufficiently explored source of macronutrients, micronutrients and food bioactives. In the course of time, some edible insects may meet the criteria of functional food ingredients. However, there is a significant lack of research investigating health outcomes in humans. The available evidence in humans, derived from randomized controlled trials, suggests a role of edible insects in the promotion of mineral status and the modulation of gut microbiota, with some prebiotic effects. High-quality clinical studies assessing efficacy, oral intake safety and allergy risk are needed.

scholarly journals Oxidative Stress as a Possible Target in the Treatment of Toxoplasmosis: Perspectives and Ambiguities

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5705
Author(s):  
Karolina Szewczyk-Golec ◽  
Marta Pawłowska ◽  
Roland Wesołowski ◽  
Marcin Wróblewski ◽  
Celestyna Mila-Kierzenkowska
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Natural Antioxidants ◽  
Redox Status ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Parasite Viability

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite causing toxoplasmosis, a common disease, which is most typically asymptomatic. However, toxoplasmosis can be severe and even fatal in immunocompromised patients and fetuses. Available treatment options are limited, so there is a strong impetus to develop novel therapeutics. This review focuses on the role of oxidative stress in the pathophysiology and treatment of T. gondii infection. Chemical compounds that modify redox status can reduce the parasite viability and thus be potential anti-Toxoplasma drugs. On the other hand, oxidative stress caused by the activation of the inflammatory response may have some deleterious consequences in host cells. In this respect, the potential use of natural antioxidants is worth considering, including melatonin and some vitamins, as possible novel anti-Toxoplasma therapeutics. Results of in vitro and animal studies are promising. However, supplementation with some antioxidants was found to promote the increase in parasitemia, and the disease was then characterized by a milder course. Undoubtedly, research in this area may have a significant impact on the future prospects of toxoplasmosis therapy.

Factors affecting in vitro and in vivo antioxidant effects. Experimental conditions and nature of oxidants determine antioxidant efficacy

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Etsuo Niki
Keyword(s):  
Biological Molecules ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Multiple Oxidants ◽  
Antioxidant Effects

Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species have been implicated in the onset and progression of various diseases and the role of antioxidants in the maintenance of health and prevention of diseases has received much attention. The action and effect of antioxidants have been studied extensively under different reaction conditions in multiple media. The antioxidant effects are determined by many factors. This review aims to discuss several important issues that should be considered for determination of experimental conditions and interpretation of experimental results in order to understand the beneficial effects and limit of antioxidants against detrimental oxidation of biological molecules. Emphasis was laid on cell culture experiments and effects of diversity of multiple oxidants on antioxidant efficacy.

scholarly journals Antioxidant Properties of Ergosterol and Its Role in Yeast Resistance to Oxidation

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1024
Author(s):  
Sebastien Dupont ◽  
Paul Fleurat-Lessard ◽  
Richtier Gonçalves Cruz ◽  
Céline Lafarge ◽  
Cédric Grangeteau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Computational Study ◽  
Antioxidant Properties ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Tert Butyl Hydroperoxide ◽  
Resistance To Oxidation ◽  
Specific Accumulation ◽  
The Subject

Although the functions and structural roles of sterols have been the subject of numerous studies, the reasons for the diversity of sterols in the different eukaryotic kingdoms remain unclear. It is thought that the specificity of sterols is linked to unidentified supplementary functions that could enable organisms to be better adapted to their environment. Ergosterol is accumulated by late branching fungi that encounter oxidative perturbations in their interfacial habitats. Here, we investigated the antioxidant properties of ergosterol using in vivo, in vitro, and in silico approaches. The results showed that ergosterol is involved in yeast resistance to tert-butyl hydroperoxide and protects lipids against oxidation in liposomes. A computational study based on quantum chemistry revealed that this protection could be related to its antioxidant properties operating through an electron transfer followed by a proton transfer mechanism. This study demonstrates the antioxidant role of ergosterol and proposes knowledge elements to explain the specific accumulation of this sterol in late branching fungi. Ergosterol, as a natural antioxidant molecule, could also play a role in the incompletely understood beneficial effects of some mushrooms on health.

scholarly journals Subinhibitory Antimicrobial Concentrations: A Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Data

1992 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
George G Zhanel ◽  
Daryl J Hoban ◽  
Godfrey KM Harding
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Bacterial Virulence ◽  
Antibacterial Effects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Immune Defences

Antimicrobial activity is not an ‘all or none’ effect. An increase in the rate and extent of antimicrobial action is usually observed over a wide range of antimicrobial concentrations. Subinhibitory antimicrobial concentrations are well known to produce significant antibacterial effects, and various antimicrobials at subinhibitory concentrations have been reported to inhibit the rate of bacterial growth. Bacterial virulence may be increased or decreased by subinhibitory antimicrobial concentrations by changes in the ability of bacteria to adhere to epithelial cells or by alterations in bacterial susceptibility to host immune defences. Animal studies performed in rats, hamsters and rabbits demonstrate decreased bacterial adherence, reduced infectivity and increased survival of animals treated with subinhibitory antimicrobial concentrations compared to untreated controls. The major future role of investigation of subinhibitory antimicrobial concentrations will be to define more fully, at a molecular level, how antimicrobials exert their antibacterial effects.

scholarly journals Metformin-stimulated AMPK-α1 promotes microvascular repair in acute lung injury

2013 ◽  
Vol 305 (11) ◽  
pp. L844-L855 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming-Yuan Jian ◽  
Mikhail F. Alexeyev ◽  
Paul E. Wolkowicz ◽  
Jaroslaw W. Zmijewski ◽  
Judy R. Creighton
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Acute Lung Injury ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Endothelial Permeability ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
Isolated Lung

Acute lung injury secondary to sepsis is a leading cause of mortality in sepsis-related death. Present therapies are not effective in reversing endothelial cell dysfunction, which plays a key role in increased vascular permeability and compromised lung function. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a molecular sensor important for detection and mediation of cellular adaptations to vascular disruptive stimuli. In this study, we sought to determine the role of AMPK in resolving increased endothelial permeability in the sepsis-injured lung. AMPK function was determined in vivo using a rat model of endotoxin-induced lung injury, ex vivo using the isolated lung, and in vitro using cultured rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMVECs). AMPK stimulation using N1-(α-d-ribofuranosyl)-5-aminoimidizole-4-carboxamide or metformin decreased the LPS-induced increase in permeability, as determined by filtration coefficient ( Kf) measurements, and resolved edema as indicated by decreased wet-to-dry ratios. The role of AMPK in the endothelial response to LPS was determined by shRNA designed to decrease expression of the AMPK-α1 isoform in capillary endothelial cells. Permeability, wounding, and barrier resistance assays using PMVECs identified AMPK-α1 as the molecule responsible for the beneficial effects of AMPK in the lung. Our findings provide novel evidence for AMPK-α1 as a vascular repair mechanism important in the pulmonary response to sepsis and identify a role for metformin treatment in the management of capillary injury.

Plasminogen: an enigmatic zymogen

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charithani B Keragala ◽  
Robert L Medcalf
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Wound Repair ◽  
Active Form ◽  
Cell Behaviour ◽  
Surface Receptors ◽  
Enzymatic Cascades ◽  
Inflammatory Processes ◽  
Over 40 Years

Plasminogen is an abundant plasma protein that exists in various zymogenic forms. Plasmin, the proteolytically active form of plasminogen, is known for its essential role in fibrinolysis. The therapeutic targeting of the fibrinolytic system to date has been for two purposes: to promote plasmin generation for thromboembolic conditions, or to stop plasmin to reduce bleeding. However, both plasmin and plasminogen serve other important functions, some of which are unrelated to fibrin removal. Indeed, for over 40 years, the anti-fibrinolytic agent, tranexamic acid, has been administered for its serendipitously discovered skin whitening properties. Plasmin also plays an important role in the removal of misfolded/aggregated proteins and can trigger other enzymatic cascades including complement. In addition, plasminogen, via binding to one of its dozen cell-surface receptors, can modulate cell behaviour and further influence immune and inflammatory processes. Plasminogen administration itself has been reported to improve thrombolysis and to accelerate wound repair. While many of these more recent findings have been derived from in vitro or animal studies, the use of anti-fibrinolytics to reduce bleeding in humans has revealed additional clinically relevant consequences, particularly in relation to reducing infection risk that is independent of its haemostatic effects. The finding that many viruses harness the host plasminogen to aid infectivity has suggested that anti-fibrinolytic agents may have anti-viral benefits. Here we review the broadening role of the plasminogen activating system in physiology and pathophysiology and how manipulation of this system may be harnessed for benefits unrelated to its conventional application in thrombosis and haemostasis.

scholarly journals Ozone Therapy as Adjuvant for Cancer Treatment: Is Further Research Warranted?

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardino Clavo ◽  
Norberto Santana-Rodríguez ◽  
Pedro Llontop ◽  
Dominga Gutiérrez ◽  
Gerardo Suárez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Treatment ◽  
Immune Modulation ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Potential Role ◽  
Randomized Clinical Trials ◽  
Tumor Hypoxia ◽  
Tumor Resection ◽  
Ozone Therapy

Introduction. This article provides an overview of the potential use of ozone as an adjuvant during cancer treatment.Methods. We summarize the findings of the most relevant publications focused on this goal, and we include our related clinical experience.Results. Over several decades, prestigious journals have publishedin vitrostudies on the capacity of ozone to induce direct damage on tumor cells and, as well, to enhance the effects of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Indirect effects have been demonstrated in animal models: immune modulation by ozone alone and sensitizing effect of radiotherapy by concurrent ozone administration. The effects of ozone in modifying hemoglobin dissociation curve, 2,3-diphosphoglycerate levels, locoregional blood flow, and tumor hypoxia provide additional support for potential beneficial effects during cancer treatment. Unfortunately, only a few clinical studies are available. Finally, we describe some works and our experience supporting the potential role of local ozone therapy in treating delayed healing after tumor resection, to avoid delays in commencing radiotherapy and chemotherapy.Conclusions.In vitroand animal studies, as well as isolated clinical reports, suggest the potential role of ozone as an adjuvant during radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. However, further research, such as randomized clinical trials, is required to demonstrate its potential usefulness as an adjuvant therapeutic tool.

scholarly journals Mast Cells in Cardiovascular Disease: From Bench to Bedside

2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 3395 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hermans ◽  
Lennep ◽  
van Daele ◽  
Bot
Keyword(s):  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Mast Cells ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Intraplaque Hemorrhage ◽  
Hematological Disease ◽  
Plaque Instability ◽  
Clonal Proliferation ◽  
Progression Of Atherosclerosis

Mast cells are pluripotent leukocytes that reside in the mucosa and connective tissue. Recent studies show an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease among patients with mastocytosis, which is a hematological disease that is characterized by the accumulation of mast cells due to clonal proliferation. This association suggests an important role for mast cells in cardiovascular disease. Indeed, the evidence establishing the contribution of mast cells to the development and progression of atherosclerosis is continually increasing. Mast cells may contribute to plaque formation by stimulating the formation of foam cells and causing a pro-inflammatory micro-environment. In addition, these cells are able to promote plaque instability by neo-vessel formation and also by inducing intraplaque hemorrhage. Furthermore, mast cells appear to stimulate the formation of fibrosis after a cardiac infarction. In this review, the available data on the role of mast cells in cardiovascular disease are summarized, containing both in vitro research and animal studies, followed by a discussion of human data on the association between cardiovascular morbidity and diseases in which mast cells are important: Kounis syndrome, mastocytosis and allergy.

scholarly journals High doses of immunoglobulin G attenuate immune aggregate-mediated complement activation by enhancing physiologic cleavage of C3b in C3bn- IgG complexes

Blood ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 88 (1) ◽  
pp. 184-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
HU Lutz ◽  
P Stammler ◽  
E Jelezarova ◽  
M Nater ◽  
PJ Spath
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Factor H ◽  
Human Igg ◽  
Partial Protection ◽  
Beneficial Effects ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Immune Aggregates

Abstract Intravenously applied human IgG has beneficial effects in treating inflammatory diseases, presumably because it has a complement attenuating role. This role of IgG was studied in vitro by following C3 activation and inactivation in sera that were supplemented with exogenous human IgG and incubated with immune aggregates. IgG added at 2 to 10 mg/mL stimulated the physiologic inactivation of C3b-containing complexes twofold to threefold in 20% sera. This, in turn, lowered the overall C3 activation by 28%, as new C3 convertases primarily assembled on C3b-containing complexes. Exogenous IgG (5 mg/mL) also stimulated inactivation of purified C3b2-IgG complexes, whereby their half-life dropped from 3–4 to 1.5 minutes in 20% serum. IgG appeared to act like a modulator of factor H and I because it did not stimulate inactivation of C3b-containing complexes in factor I-deficient serum. Thus, the known partial protection of C3bn-IgG complexes from inactivation by factor H and I was downregulated by high concentrations of IgG. The ability of high doses of IgG to stimulate complement inactivation is a novel regulatory role of IgG. This may be one of the molecular principles for its therapeutic efficacy in treating complement-mediated inflammations.

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