77 research outputs found
Quantitative structural organisation model for wheat endosperm cell walls: Cellulose as an important constituent
No full textAvailable online 14 May 2018Abstract not availableGhanendra Gartaula, Sushil Dhital, Gabriele Netzel, Bernadine M. Flanagan, Gleb E. Yakubov, Cherie T. Beahan, Helen M. Collins, Rachel A. Burton, Antony Baci, Michael J. Gidle
Polyphenol metabolites in biological fluids as potential biomarkers to assess their dietary intake
No full textPolyphenols are abundant in many fruits, vegetables and derived beverages and make significant nutritional contributions to the human diet. Epidemiological studies have shown that a polyphenol-rich diet is associated with a decreased risk of developing certain chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. Polyphenol metabolites in body tissues and fluids may provide valuable information regarding the intake of dietary polyphenols (types and amounts) as well as their biological relevance in disease prevention. The usefulness, but also limitations, of polyphenol metabolites as biological biomarkers to assess the intake of dietary polyphenols is presented
Rosinante's Sallies: Animal Fables for Adults
No full textHere is the paperbound version of the hardbound book I have listed under 2008. This turns out to be a print upon demand book, with the tell-tale date on the last page of May 5, 2012. I can find no other differences. Let me repeat my remarks from there. I have read the first three of these animal stories and found them engaging. Yes, Rosinante turns out to be Don Quixote's old nag. The fascination here, as far as I can tell, lies in Netzel's ability to get into the animals' experience and to approach human experience as the animals would perceive it. Each story seems also to open up a good question. In the first story, Peaceful, a young eaglet, tries to convince his mother that there is a kind of ethics not about being the stronger, but she will not have it. The debate goes on even into the next generation. The second story reports a Virgin Birth by a Komodo Dragon, who starts to eat her young but is interrupted in the process. The Komodo Dragon offspring grow up, curious about family life; they see monkey parents interacting with each other and their children and press the questions, especially Why? The answers seem irrelevant to them, so they eat the mother monkey and several of her young. Then they start to eat each other. . . . The third story concerns an Armageddon for cats. It all takes place in the home of an old cat-collecting woman who has let things get out of hand. Now she faces a demand to disperse the cats she has collected. Instead, the old woman torches the house with herself inside it. Two highly refined cats, Patty Persian and Susie Siamese, are the last to leave and thank their lucky stars that they survive!As Told to Sally Netze
Investigating the bioavailability and antioxidant capacity of antioxidant compounds from red wine, red grape juice concentrate, authentic apple juice, and an "Antiox"-beverage in humans
No full textIn der vorliegenden Arbeit wurden in drei verschiedenen Humanstudien, drei unterschiedliche Fragestellungen, hinsichtlich der Bioverfügbarkeit von antioxidativ wirksamen Substanzen (Polyphenole und Ascorbinsäure), geprüft:1. Gibt es Unterschiede in der Bioverfügbarkeit von Anthocyanen (Monoglukoside) aus Rotwein und rotem Traubensaftkonzentrat?2. Wird durch die Zufuhr eines sortenreinen und polyphenolreichen Apfelsafts die antioxidative Kapazität im Urin erhöht?3. Wird durch die Zufuhr eines polyphenol- und ascorbinsäurereichen Getränks ("Antiox"-Getränk) der antioxidative Status verbessert?Zu (1): Bei neun gesunden Probanden beiderlei Geschlechts konnte kein statistisch signifikanter Unterschied in der Bioverfügbarkeit der untersuchten Anthocyane aus Rotwein (400 ml) oder rotem Traubensaftkonzentrat (400 ml), festgestellt werden. Analysiert wurden Plasma (nüchtern sowie bis 3 Std. nach Zufuhr der Studiengetränke) und Urin (nüchtern sowie bis 7 Std. nach Zufuhr der Studiengetränke) mittels HPLC.Zu (2):Nach Zufuhr von 700 ml Weißer-Trierer-Weinapfelsaft war bei acht gesunden, weiblichen Probanden die antioxidative Kapazität im 24 Std. Urin signifikant im Vergleich zur Kontrolle (Zufuhr von 700 ml Wasser), erhöht. Weiterhin konnten nach Apfelsaftzufuhr eine erhöhte Hippursäurekonzentration sowie Phloretinmonoglukuronide und Phloretin in den Urinproben der Probanden gemessen werden. Dies weist auf eine intensive Metabolisierung der mit dem Apfelsaft zugeführten Polyphenole hin.Zu (3):Nach Zufuhr von 400 ml eines polyphenol- und ascorbinsäurereichen Getränks (Antiox-Getränk) konnte bei sechs gesunden Probanden beiderlei Geschlechts eine erhöhte antioxidative Kapazität im Plasma (0 - 10 Std.) und Urin (24 Std.) gemessen werden (im Vergleich zur Kontrolle; Zufuhr von 400 ml Wasser). Weiterhin war die Malondialdehydausscheidung im Urin nach Antiox-Getränk signifikant erniedrigt. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie lassen vermuten, dass durch die Zufuhr des Antiox-Getränks (400 ml), der antioxidative Status kurzfristig verbessert werden kann.This submitted PhD thesis reports on three different human studies conducted to address the following research questions, regarding the bioavailability of antioxidants (polyphenols and ascorbic acid):1. Are there differences in the bioavailability of anthocyanins (monoglucosides) from red wine and red grape juice concentrate?2. Does the consumption of an authentic and polyphenol rich apple juice increase the urinary antioxidant capacity?3. Does the consumption of a beverage rich in polyphenols and ascorbic acid ("Antiox"-beverage) improve the antioxidant status of the subject?To (1):No significant differences in the bioavailability of several dietary anthocyanins, following consumption of red wine (400 ml) and red grape juice concentrate (400 ml), could be observed in nine healthy volunteers. Plasma and urine were analysed over a period of 3 and 7 hours, respectively. To (2):Compared to the ingestion of 700 ml water (control), the consumption of 700 ml Weisser-Trierer-Weinapfelsaft resulted in an increased urinary antioxidant capacity in eight healthy subjects. Furthermore, an increase in hippuric acid, phloretin monoglucuronides, and phloretin could be detected in the subjects´ urine, after apple juice consumption, indicating a high biotransformation (metabolism) of apple polyphenols.To (3):Compared to the ingestion of 400 ml water (control), the consumption of 400 ml of a beverage rich in polyphenols and ascorbic acid resulted in an increased antioxidant capacity in plasma and urine of six healthy subjects. Furthermore, urinary malondialdehyde was reduced (vs. control) following beverage consumption. These results suggest that consumption of a beverage rich in bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols and ascorbic acid, can improve the antioxidant status in vivo
Understanding the metabolic fate and bioactivity of dietary anthocyanins
No full textAnthocyanins are plant pigments and dietary phytochemicals, and may have potential health benefits. There is emerging evidence from epidemiological and experimental studies that suggests a higher consumption of anthocyanin-rich foods is associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and diabetes. To better understand the observed beneficial effects of anthocyanins and their underlying mode of action, bioavailability and metabolic fate needs to be studied in more detail. Healthy human subjects (10–12 in two different studies) received red grape pomace (700 mg anthocyanins/mainly as malvidin-3-glucoside) or Queen Garnet plum (QGP) juice (426 mg anthocyanins/mainly as cyanidin-3-glucoside) and an anthocyanin-free control in a randomised crossover design. Malvidin- and cyanidin-glycosides are common in many fruits and beverages such as red grapes, red grape juice, red wine, blueberry, cherry, elderberry, (Japanese) plum and are therefore of dietary significance. 24-hr urine samples were collected and analysed for anthocyanins and metabolites by UHPLC-PDA-MS. Methylated, glucuronidated and sulphated anthocyanins could be identified as characteristic metabolites in both studies. Furthermore, the increase in urinary hippuric acid (microbial/hepatic metabolite) was considerable in both studies after the consumption of red grape pomace or QGP juice (1.8–4.5-fold vs. control; p < 0.05). These findings suggest that structurally different anthocyanins are exposed to a similar extensive metabolism by enzymes and the gut microbiome and that the generated metabolites are most likely the bioactive compounds in vivo. Therefore, more human studies are warranted to investigate the metabolic fate of dietary anthocyanins and the bioactivity of generated metabolites
Food safety and natural toxins
No full textNatural toxins are poisonous secondary metabolites produced by living organisms, which are typically not harmful to the organisms themselves but can impact on human or animal health when consumed [...]
Identification and quantification of dietary anthocyanins and metabolites in human urine
No full textNative Australian fruits - a novel source of antioxidants for food
No full textTwelve native Australian fruits, finger lime (red and yellow), riberry, brush cherry, Cedar Bay cherry, muntries, Illawarra plum, Burdekin plum, Davidson's plum, Kakadu plum, Molucca raspberry and Tasmanian Pepper, were investigated for their antioxidant capacity and presence of phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and ascorbic acid. The radical scavenging activities of five of the evaluated fruits were significantly higher (3.1 to 5.2-fold in the TEAC assay and 1.2 to 4.2-fold in the PCL assay, respectively) than that of the control blueberry, cv. Biloxi. The total phenolics level (Folin-Ciocalteu assay) in six of the twelve fruits was 2.5 to 3.9-fold of that of blueberry. Kakadu plum was identified as the richest source of ascorbic acid (938-fold of that of control). A high correlation between total phenolics (but not anthocyanins) and antioxidant capacity was observed. The HPLC-DAD/ESI/MS-MS profiles revealed simple anthocyanin composition (one to four individual pigments) with cyanidin as the dominating type. Australian native fruits investigated in this study are shown to be a novel rich source of antioxidant compounds. Industrial relevance: The search for world unique food ingredients and flavors with enhanced health-beneficial properties is at present one of the key market trends. Botanicals from the regions linked to wellness and natural functionality with exotic fruits called "superfruits", such as acai from Amazonia, are becoming a popular target of health-conscious consumers and industry managers. Sustainability and responsibility for the environment is another important reason which brings a commitment to ethical products. Utilization of local and seasonal fruits will not only enhance the variety of exotic fruits available on international market, but will contribute toward sustainable agriculture. Our research program addresses all these essential issues. In this manuscript we are describing for the first time twelve native Australian fruits as a rich source of antioxidants. We propose these exotic fruits to be considered as a potential source of bioactive phytochemicals for application in health promoting foods
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