1,721,033 research outputs found
Nutraceutical properties of lupin seed proteins : a great potential still waiting for full exploitation
No full textThis review reports the experimentally demonstrated nutraceutical properties of lupin seed proteins. Lupin seed is a non-starchy, low-oil, protein- and fibre-rich legume seed, whose techno- and nutri-functional properties still await to be fully explored and exploited. This paper provides a comprehensive and up-dated survey on the bioactivities of lupin proteins and includes results on fibres, too. The described beneficial effects to human body span from plasma glucosedecreasing and hypertension-lowering activities to obesity, satiety and plasma lipid homeostasis controls. The review is intended to provide nutritionists, food scientists and technologists the state-of-art of the knowledge in the field of lupin seed protein oriented utilisation, as well as the nutri-functional reference sources for the best exploitation of this valuable, accessible, wealthy and healthy plant food
Nutraceutical properties of lupin seed proteins : a great potential still waiting for full exploitation
No full textThis review reports the experimentally demonstrated nutraceutical properties of lupin seed proteins. Lupin seed is a non-starchy, low-oil, protein- and fibre-rich legume seed, whose techno- and nutri-functional properties still await to be fully explored and exploited. This paper provides a comprehensive and up-dated survey on the bioactivities of lupin proteins and includes results on fibres, too. The described beneficial effects to human body span from plasma glucosedecreasing and hypertension-lowering activities to obesity, satiety and plasma lipid homeostasis controls. The review is intended to provide nutritionists, food scientists and technologists the state-of-art of the knowledge in the field of lupin seed protein oriented utilisation, as well as the nutri-functional reference sources for the best exploitation of this valuable, accessible, wealthy and healthy plant food
Proanthocyanidins from Vitis vinifera inhibit oxidative stress-induced vascular impairment in pulmonary arteries from diabetic rats
Full text linkBackground Vitis vinifera L. (grape seed extract) is a natural source of proanthocyanidins with antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities. Hypothesis Grape seed extract supplementation may prevent vascular endothelium impairment associated with diabetes mellitus in rat pulmonary artery. Study design We evaluated endothelial function of rat pulmonary artery ex-vivo at the intermediate stage (4 weeks) of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes mellitus. We also evaluated the protective effect of grape seed extract administered daily, beginning the day after diabetes induction, or 15 days after diabetes induction, until the day of sacrifice. In addition, we compared the effect of grape seed extract supplementation with that of vitamin C. Methods Rats were made diabetic with streptozotocin (STZ, 65 mg/kg i.v.). Thirty days later rats were sacrificed and pulmonary vessels reactivity and endothelial function compared to that of age-matched healthy animals. Results Concentration-response curves to ACh, NE, sodium nitroprusside (NO donor), but not to histamine and iloprost (prostacyclin analog), were significantly altered 4 weeks after STZ-injection. Antioxidant supplementation (3 mg/kg/day) with either vitamin C or grape seed extract, starting the day after diabetes induction, significantly improved vasodilation to ACh and SNP. Norepinephrine-induced contractions were preserved by grape seed extract, but not vitamin C supplementation. Conversely, vitamin C but not grape seed extract showed beneficial effects contrasting the loss of body weight in diabetic animals. Abnormal vascular function was not reversed when antioxidant supplementations were postponed 15 days after the induction of diabetes. Conclusions This study provides scientific support for the therapeutic potential of an antioxidant therapy in endothelial impairment associated with diabetes. A daily supplementation of grape seed proanthocyanidins and/or vitamin C given at the earlier stage of disease may have a complementary role in the pharmacological therapy of diabetes and pulmonary vascular dysfunction
Green tea catechins in chemoprevention of cancer: A molecular docking investigation into their interaction with glutathione S-transferase (GST P1-1)
Full text linkThe anti- and pro-oxidant effects of green tea catechins have been implicated in the alterations of cellular functions determining their chemoprotective and therapeutic potentials in toxicity and diseases. The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs; EC 2.5.1.18) family is a widely distributed phase-II detoxifying enzymes and the GST P1-1 isoenzyme has been shown to catalyze the conjugation of GSH with some alkylating anti-cancer agents, suggesting that over-expression of GST P1-1 would result in tumor cell resistance. Here we report the docking study of four green tea catechins and four alkylating anticancer drugs into the GST P1-1 model, as GSTs were found to be affected by tea catechins. The EGCG ligands exhibit higher docking potential with respect to the anticancer agents, with a ligand-receptor interaction pattern indicating an high conformational stability. Consequently, the competition mechanisms favourable for the green tea catechins could lead to enzyme(s) desensitisation with a reduction of the alkylating drugs metabolism. The results provide a useful theoretical contribution in understanding the biochemical mechanisms implicated in the chemotherapeutic use of green tea catechins in oxidative stress-related diseases
A NOVEL ANTIOXIDANT FLAVONOID (IDB-1031) AFFECTING MOLECULAR MECHANISMS OF CELLULAR ACTIVATION
No full textOne-step purification of Kunitz soybean trypsin inhibitor
No full textA fast and simple method for the extraction and purification of Kunitz trypsin inhibitor from soybean seeds is described. The first step consisted in the heat treatment of whole soybean seeds in water at 60 degrees C for 90 min. It was found that 8.4% of total trypsin inhibitory activity of the seeds was secreted during heat treatment. The aqueous medium was loaded onto an affinity chromatography column with immobilized trypsin. The retained fraction, eluted with 0.01 N HCl, contained the purified Kunitz trypsin inhibitor, which was subsequently stabilized by freeze-drying without loss of activity. From 1g soybean seeds, 0.7 mg inhibitor with a specific trypsin inhibitory (TI) activity of 11,430 TIU/mg was obtained. The yield was greater than that obtained with established procedures. Due to the ease of the procedure proposed, the method is readily scalable to pilot plant or industrial preparations
A novel antioxidant flavonoid (IdB 1031) affecting molecular mechanisms of cellular activation
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