•Flavanols and proanthocyanidins degradation rates upon cocoa roasting were studied.•Polyphenols degradation rate was strictly temperature dependent.•High temperature-short time roasting processes ...minimised proanthocyanidins loss.•Antioxidant activity changed upon roasting at different temperatures.•Low temperature-long time roasting processes maximised chain-breaking activity.
The effect of roasting on the content of flavanols and proanthocyanidins and on the antioxidant activity of cocoa beans was investigated. Cocoa beans were roasted at three temperatures (125, 135 and 145°C), for different times, to reach moisture contents of about 2g100g−1. Flavanols and proanthocyanidins were determined, and the antioxidant activity was tested by total phenolic index (TPI), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and total radical trapping antioxidant parameter (TRAP) methods.
The rates of flavanol and total proanthocyanidin loss increased with roasting temperatures. Moisture content of the roasted beans being equal, high temperature-short time processes minimised proanthocyanidins loss. Moisture content being equal, the average roasting temperature (135°C) determined the highest TPI and FRAP values and the highest temperature (145°C) determined the lowest TPI values. Moisture content being equal, low temperature-long time roasting processes maximised the chain-breaking activity, as determined by the TRAP method.
We investigated the seasonal spatial and temporal co-occurrence of three carnivore species in Liguria region (NW Italy)—the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), the European badger (Meles meles) and the wolf ...(Canis lupus)—using the information provided by camera-trapping monitoring. Data were collected from January 2013 to January 2015 by positioning camera traps in 200 sample stations. During 3479 trap days, we collected 1048 independent videos of target carnivore species, which revealed a general spatial coexistence among carnivores with some differences in seasonal occurrence of species. The red fox and the European badger showed temporal segregation, as their activity patterns suggested a differential use of night-time in all seasons. Activity patterns of the red fox and the wolf revealed moderate-high overlap and similar density distributions in all seasons except during winter. Coexistence between these species may be allowed by temporal segregation during winter and spatial segregation during spring. Finally, results regarding the European badger and the wolf suggest a moderate temporal segregation with a marked avoidance effect for the European badger induced by the presence of tracks left by wolves. Programmes aimed at carnivore conservation, and management should treat the entire guild, as it has been demonstrated that populations of different carnivores interact with each other in complex ways and that fine-scale mechanisms regulating carnivore assemblage influence different aspects of natural communities.
To study the impact of the dietary antioxidant quercetin on risk of gastric adenocarcinoma.
Using data from a large Swedish population-based case–control study of gastric cancer (505 cases and 1116 ...controls), we studied the association between quercetin and risk of anatomic (cardia/noncardia) and histological (intestinal and diffuse) subtypes of gastric cancer.
We found strong inverse associations between quercetin and the risk of noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma, with an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 0.57 (95% confidence interval 0.40–0.83) for the highest quintile (≥11.9 mg) of daily quercetin intake relative to the lowest quintile of intake (<4 mg quercetin/day), supported by a significant decreasing linear trend (P value < 0.001). Similar findings were observed for the intestinal and diffuse subtype. For cardia cancer, we found a less evident and nonsignificant inverse relationship. The protection of quercetin appeared to be stronger among female smokers, with the OR leveled of at values <0.2 in quintiles 3–5 (>6 mg quercetin/day).
High dietary quercetin intake is inversely related to the risk of noncardia gastric adenocarcinoma, and the protection appears to be particularly strong for women exposed to oxidative stress, such as tobacco smoking.
Consumption of edible insects has been widely suggested as an environmentally sustainable substitute for meat to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, the novel research field for edible insects ...relies on the content of bioactive ingredients and on the ability to induce a functional effect in humans. The goal of this manuscript is to review the available body of evidence on the properties of edible insects in modulating oxidative and inflammatory stress, platelet aggregation, lipid and glucose metabolism and weight control. A search for literature investigating the functional role of edible insects was carried out in the PubMed database using specific keywords. A total of 55 studies, meeting inclusion criteria after screening, were divided on the basis of the experimental approach: in vitro studies, cellular models/ex vivo studies or in vivo studies. In the majority of the studies, insects demonstrated the ability to reduce oxidative stress, modulate antioxidant status, restore the impaired activity of antioxidant enzymes and reduce markers of oxidative damage. Edible insects displayed anti-inflammatory activity reducing cytokines and modulating specific transcription factors. Results from animal studies suggest that edible insects can modulate lipid and glucose metabolism. The limited number of studies focused on the assessment of anti-coagulation activity of edible insects makes it difficult to draw conclusions. More evidence from dietary intervention studies in humans is needed to support the promising evidence from in vitro and animal models about the functional role of edible insect consumption.
Abstract Background and aims The intake of antioxidant-rich foods may increase the blood levels of non enzymatic antioxidant capacity (NEAC). NEAC takes into account all antioxidants from food and ...synergistic effects between them. We examined the effect of a 1-year intervention with Mediterranean diet on plasma NEAC and assessed whether it was related to baseline NEAC levels. Methods and results Five hundred sixty-four participants at high cardiovascular risk were randomly selected from the PREDIMED (Prevención con DIeta MEDiterránea) Study, a large 3-arm randomized clinical trial. Blood NEAC levels were measured at baseline and after 1-year of dietary intervention with 1) a Mediterranean diet supplemented with virgin olive oil (MED + VOO); 2) a Mediterranean diet supplemented with nuts (MED + nuts), or 3) a control low-fat diet. Plasma NEAC was analyzed using FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant potential) and TRAP (total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter) assays. Plasma FRAP levels increased after 1-year of intervention with MED + VOO 72.0 μmol/L (95% CI, 34.2–109.9) and MED + nuts 48.9 μmol/L (24.3–73.5), but not after the control low-fat diet 13.9 μmol/L (−11.9 to 39.8). Participants in the lowest quartile of plasma FRAP at baseline significantly increased their levels after any intervention, while those in the highest quartile decreased. Similar results occurred with TRAP levels. Conclusions This study shows that a 1-year of MED diet intervention increases plasma TAC level in subjects at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Moreover, the effectiveness of dietary supplementation with antioxidants may be related to baseline levels of plasma NEAC.
Immunosenescence defines the decline in immune function that occurs with aging. This has been associated, at least in part, with defective cellular signaling via protein kinase C (PKC) signal ...transduction pathways. Our data suggest reduced PKC activation and consequently reduced response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation and cytokine release. The lack of PKC activation seems to be dependent on the reduced expression of the receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1), a scaffolding protein involved in multiple signal transduction cascades. The defective expression of RACK1 may be dependent on age-related alteration of the balance between the adrenal hormones cortisol and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). DHEA levels reduce with aging, while cortisol levels remain substantially unchanged, resulting in an overall increase in the cortisol:DHEA ratio. These hormonal changes are significant in the context of RACK1 expression and signaling function because DHEA administration in vivo and in vitro can restore the levels of RACK1 and the function of the PKC signaling cascade in aged animals and in human cells. In contrast, there is evidence that cortisol can act as a negative transcriptional regulator of RACK1 expression. The
gene promoter contains a glucocorticoid responsive element that is also involved in androgen signaling. Furthermore DHEA may have an indirect influence on the post-transcriptional regulation of the functions of the glucocorticoid receptor. In this review, we will examine the role of the hormonal regulation of
gene transcriptional regulation and the consequences on signaling and function in immune cells and immunosenescence.
•Analytical methods to identify when inclusion complexes are formed.•Complexes prepared with monoterpenes and different cyclodextrins.•Freeze-drying is the best option to form inclusion complexes of ...borneol.
Monoterpenes are non-polar secondary metabolites widely used by industry due to their excellent therapeutic, food-ingredient and cosmetic properties. However, their low solubility in water limits their use. In this sense, cyclodextrins (CDs) have been widely used to solve these technological challenges. Thus, this study aims to use (–)-borneol as a monoterpene model to prepare inclusion complexes between β-CD and hydroxypropyl-β-CD (HP-β-CD) through different ways and characterize them in order to choose the best inclusion method to improve physicochemical properties of monoterpenes. To achieve this goal, the samples were prepared by physical mixture (PM), paste complex (PA) and freeze-drying complex (FD) and then, extensively characterized by thermal analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, size particle, X-ray diffraction and nuclear magnetic resonance. The physicochemical results showed that freeze-drying was more effective to form inclusion complexes between (–)-borneol with both CDs. This research highlights the importance of recognizing the best method to prepare inclusion complexes, including food additives as (–)-borneol, to achieve better results in food preparations.
•Analytical method for the determination of isoprostanes in the urine by HPLC-MS/MS.•dLLME extraction allowed a significant enrichment factor.•μSPE clean-up provided the removal of ion-suppressing ...compounds from the sample.•Combination of dLLME and μSPE allowed matrix effect reduction and high sensitivity.
Oxidative stress is a pathological condition characterized by an imbalance between body’s antioxidant defenses and oxidizing agents, resulting in damage of endogenous molecules. These products can be used as markers of oxidative conditions; in particular, isoprostanes (IsoPs) come from the reaction of arachidonic acid with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and are currently defined as gold markers of oxidative stress in urine. Our main goal was the development of a reliable analytical method for the determination and quantification of the IsoPs in human urine by dispersive Liquid–Liquid Micro Extraction (dLLME) coupled with micro Solid Phase Extraction (μSPE) clean-up and HPLC-MS/MS analysis. The selected compounds are present in very small concentration in urine, furthermore, due to relevant matrix effect, they are challenging for ESI-MS/MS analysis. This approach provided selectivity and sensitivity for 8-isoprotaglandine F2α (8-iso-PGF2α), the “gold” OS marker, together with the main isomers. dLLME extraction allowed a significant enrichment factor and μSPE clean-up provided the removal of ion-suppressing compounds from the sample resulting in low matrix effect. The chromatographic separation was also challenging as the target compounds possess very similar chemical characteristics, so experimental conditions were carefully tuned. The reported method represents a useful tool for the detection of IsoPs in urine taking advantage of the combination of dLLME extraction and μSPE clean-up; overall recoveries were above 50 % and matrix effects were ≤15 %, with LOQs ranging between 0.020 and 0.060 ng mL−1. The procedure is easy to use and rapid allowing the removal of interfering compounds and matrix effect maintaining a highly sensitive determination.
Inflammation is a stereotypical physiological response to infections and tissue injury; it initiates pathogen killing as well as tissue repair processes and helps to restore homeostasis at infected ...or damaged sites. Acute inflammatory reactions are usually self-limiting and resolve rapidly, due to the involvement of negative feedback mechanisms. Thus, regulated inflammatory responses are essential to remain healthy and maintain homeostasis. However, inflammatory responses that fail to regulate themselves can become chronic and contribute to the perpetuation and progression of disease. Characteristics typical of chronic inflammatory responses underlying the pathophysiology of several disorders include loss of barrier function, responsiveness to a normally benign stimulus, infiltration of inflammatory cells into compartments where they are not normally found in such high numbers, and overproduction of oxidants, cytokines, chemokines, eicosanoids and matrix metalloproteinases. The levels of these mediators amplify the inflammatory response, are destructive and contribute to the clinical symptoms. Various dietary components including long chain ω-3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins, plant flavonoids, prebiotics and probiotics have the potential to modulate predisposition to chronic inflammatory conditions and may have a role in their therapy. These components act through a variety of mechanisms including decreasing inflammatory mediator production through effects on cell signaling and gene expression (ω-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, plant flavonoids), reducing the production of damaging oxidants (vitamin E and other antioxidants), and promoting gut barrier function and anti-inflammatory responses (prebiotics and probiotics). However, in general really strong evidence of benefit to human health through anti-inflammatory actions is lacking for most of these dietary components. Thus, further studies addressing efficacy in humans linked to studies providing greater understanding of the mechanisms of action involved are required.
Nowadays, practice of tattooing is very common worldwide and, along with this increasing trend, there is also an increased risk of adverse reactions to tattoo pigments that are well known and ...described in literature. Previous studies have reported that cutaneous and allergic reactions to a particular pigment can manifest in several ways (allergic contact dermatitis and photo-allergic dermatitis).
In this paper, a new high-throughput method is presented, in order to achieve a new system for the quality control on tattoo inks based on chromatographic-spectroscopic approach. The samples, twenty-one tattoo inks and three permanent makeup, comprised the following colors: black inks, yellow, blue, green, white, pink and various shades of red (pigment that gives many allergic responses) were analyzed through the combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, the HPTLC-Raman.
In particular, Raman technique has been chosen because of its high sensitivity towards the inorganic and organic pigments, main constituents of tattoo inks.
Moreover, the advantage of this hyphenated technique is to overcome the problem of analysing the complex mixture of tattoo inks, allowing to obtain a Raman spectrum of each single component, isolated by chromatographic separation.
This approach aims at developing a powerful instrument to establish the nature of tattoo inks and substances that could be cause adverse reactions in tattooed patients.
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•New high-throughput method to make a quality control on tattoo inks•Combination of HPTLC and Raman techniques, for the identification of all the components in tattoo ink mixture•New system development for the application of information obtained to tattooed skins.
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