- 1. Bicarbonate blocks iron translocation from cotyledons inducing iron stress responses in Citrus roots.
The effect of bicarbonate ion (HCO3<sup>-</sup>) on the mobilization of iron (Fe) reserves from cotyledons to roots during early growth of citrus seedlings and its influence on the components of the iron acquisition system were studied. Monoembryonic seeds of Citrus limon (L.) were germinated "in vitro" on two iron-deprived media, supplemented or not with 10mM HCO3<sup>-</sup> (-Fe+Bic and -Fe, respectively). After 21d of culture, Fe concentration in seedling organs was measured, as well as gene expression and enzymatic activities. Finally, the effect of Fe resupply on the above responses was tested in the presence and absence of HCO3<sup>-</sup> (+Fe+Bic or +Fe, respectively). -Fe+Bic seedlings exhibited lower Fe concentration in shoots and roots than -Fe ones but higher in cotyledons, associated to a significative inhibition of NRAMP3 expression. HCO3<sup>-</sup> upregulated Strategy I related genes (FRO1, FRO2, HA1 and IRT1) and FC-R and H<sup>+</sup>-ATPase activities in roots of Fe-starved seedlings. PEPC1 expression and PEPCase activity were also increased. When -Fe+Bic pre-treated seedlings were transferred to Fe-containing media for 15d, Fe content in shoots and roots increased, although to a lower extent in the +Fe+Bic medium. Consequently, the above-described root responses became markedly repressed, however, this effect was less pronounced in +Fe+Bic seedlings. In conclusion, it appears that HCO3<sup>-</sup> prevents Fe translocation from cotyledons to shoot and root, therefore reducing their Fe levels. This triggers Fe-stress responses in the root, enhancing the expression of genes related with Fe uptake and the corresponding enzymatic activities.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved....(more)
Martínez-Cuenca MR, et al. J Plant Physiol 2013 Feb 25.
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- 2. Temporal evolution of ¹³?Cs?, K? and Na? in fruits of South American tropical species.
Concentrations of (137)Cs, K and Na in fruits of lemon (Citrus limon B.) and of K and Na in fruits of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) trees were measured by both gamma spectrometry and neutron activation analysis, with the aim to understand the behaviour of monovalent inorganic cations in tropical plants as well as the plant ability to store these elements. Similar amounts of K(+) were incorporated by lemon and coconut trees during the growth and ripening processes of its fruits. The K concentration decreased exponentially during the growth of lemons and coconuts, ranging from 13 to 25 g kg(-1) dry weight. The incorporation of Na(+) differed considerably between the plant species studied. The Na concentration increased linearly during the lemon growth period (0.04 to 0.70 g kg(-1) d.w.) and decreased exponentially during the coconut growth period (1.4 to 0.5 g kg(-1) d.w.). Even though radiocaesium is not an essential element to plants, our results have shown that (137)Cs incorporation to vegetable tissues is positively correlated to K distribution within the studied tropical plant species, suggesting that the two elements might be assimilated in a similar way, going through the biological cycle together. A mathematical model was developed from the experimental data allowing simulating the incorporation process of monovalent inorganic cations by the fruits of such tropical species. The agreement between the theoretical approach and the experimental values is satisfactory along fruit development.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved....(more)
Cid AS, et al. Sci Total Environ 2013 Feb 1;444:115-20.
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- 3. Green synthesis of gold nanoparticles using Citrus fruits (Citrus limon, Citrus reticulata and Citrus sinensis) aqueous extract and its characterization.
This study reports the biological synthesis of gold nanoparticles by the reduction of HAuCl(4) by using citrus fruits (Citrus limon, Citrus reticulata and Citrus sinensis) juice extract as the reducing and stabilizing agent. A various shape and size of gold nanoparticles were formed when the ratio of the reactants were altered with respect to 1.0mM chloroauric acid solution. The gold nanoparticles obtained were characterized by UV-visible spectra, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). TEM studies showed the particles to be of various shapes and sizes and particle size ranges from 15 to 80 nm. Selected-area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern confirmed fcc phase and crystallinity of the particles. The X-ray diffraction analysis revealed the distinctive facets (111, 200, 220 and 222 planes) of gold nanoparticles. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) studies revealed that the average size for colloid gp(3) of C. limon, C. reticulata and C. sinensis are 32.2 nm, 43.4 nm and 56.7 nm respectively. The DLS graph showed that the particles size was larger and more polydispersed compared to the one observed by TEM due to the fact that the measured size also includes the bio-organic compounds enveloping the core of the Au NPs. Zeta potential value for gold nanoparticles obtained from colloid gp(3) of C. limon, C. reticulata and C. sinensis are -45.9, -37.9 and -31.4 respectively indicating the stability of the synthesized nanoparticles. Herein we propose a novel, previously unexploited method for the biological syntheses of polymorphic gold nanoparticles with potent biological applications.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved....(more)
Sujitha MV, et al. Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc 2013 Feb;102:15-23.
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- 4. Evaluation of Clausena pentaphylla (Roxb.) DC oil as a fungitoxicant against storage mycoflora of pigeon pea seeds.
BACKGROUND:
The present study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of 30 essential oils against four dominant fungi Aspergillus flavus Link., A. niger van Tieghem, A. ochraceus Wilhelm and A. terreus Thom of stored pigeon pea seeds at a concentration of 0.36 µL mL(-1) . Various fungitoxic properties, such as minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration and fungitoxic spectrum, of the most potent oil were determined. The efficacy of the most potent oil in preservation of pigeon pea seeds for 6 months was also carried out by storing 1 kg of seeds in the oil vapour.
RESULTS:
Clausena pentaphylla and Citrus limon oils were more effective against all the fungi tested, which exhibited 100% per cent mycelial inhibition. The minimum inhibitory concentration of C. pentaphylla oil was determined as 0.07 µL mL(-1) against all the test fungi and was found to be more toxic than Citrus limon oil. C. pentaphylla oil exhibited a broad range of fungitoxicity against 16 other storage fungi of pigeon pea seeds. C. pentaphylla oil significantly protected 1 kg seeds of pigeon pea from fungal deterioration and was superior to synthetic fumigants. The oil did not show any phytotoxicity and the protein content of the seeds was significantly retained for up to 6 months of storage.
CONCLUSION:
Thus, C. pentaphylla oil may be used as an effective fumigant in the ecofriendly management of storage fungi of pigeon pea seeds. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry.
© 2012 Society of Chemical Industry....(more)
Pandey AK, et al. J Sci Food Agric 2013 May;93(7):1680-6.
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- 5. Potentiating effects of honey on antioxidant properties of lemon-flavoured black tea.
Health benefits including antioxidant potential of black tea (Camellia sinensis), lemon (Citrus limon) and honey bees (Apis mellifera) have been extensively reported. Nevertheless, nothing is reported about the effects of their concomitant use. Herein, those effects were evaluated in infusions of lemon-flavoured black tea with three different kinds of honey (light amber, amber and dark amber) from Lavandula stoechas, Erica sp. pl. and other indigenous floral species from north-east Portugal, a region with high amounts of this food product. Data obtained showed that the use of honey (dark amber>amber>light amber) potentiates the antioxidant activity of lemon-flavoured black tea, increasing the reducing power and lipid peroxidation inhibition properties, as also the antioxidant contents such as phenolics, flavonoids and organic acids including ascorbic acid....(more)
Pereira C, et al. Int J Food Sci Nutr 2013 Mar;64(2):230-4.
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- 6. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of some essential oils against feline isolates of Microsporum canis.
The treatment of dermatophytoses due to Microsporum canis is cumbersome and relapses can occur. Volatile essential oils (EOs) obtained from plants would seem to represent suitable tools to contrast mycoses both in human and animals. The anti-M. canis activity of some EOs chemically characterized was evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. Eleven feline isolates of M. canis were tested by microdilution against EOs extracted from Thymus serpillum, Origanum vulgare, Rosmarinus officinalis, Illicium verum and Citrus limon. A mixture composed by 5% O. vulgare, 5% R. officinalis and 2% T. serpillum, in sweet almond oil was administered to seven infected, symptomatic cats. T. serpillum and O. vulgare showed the lowest MICs, followed by I. verum, R. officinalis and C. limon. The assay performed on mixture showed that antimycotic activity of each component was enhanced. Four out of seven treated cats recovered both clinically and culturally. T. serpillum and O. vulgare EOs showed a strong antifungal activity. Preliminary data suggest a possible application in managing feline microsporiasis. Considering the potential zoonotic impact of this infection, the use of alternative antimycotic compounds would be of aid to limit the risk of environmental spreading of arthrospores.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved....(more)
Mugnaini L, et al. J Mycol Med 2012 Jun;22(2):179-84.
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- 7. Characterization of a variant of Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri which triggers a host-specific defense response.
Citrus is an economically important fruit crop that is severely afflicted by Asiatic citrus bacterial canker (CBC), a disease caused by the phytopathogen Xanthomonas citri ssp. citri (X. citri). To gain insight into the molecular epidemiology of CBC, a total of 42 Xanthomonas isolates were collected from a range of Citrus species across seventeen different orchards in Tucumán, Argentina; and subjected to molecular, biochemical and pathogenicity tests. Analysis of genome-specific X. citri markers and DNA polymorphism based on rep-PCRs showed that all 42 isolates belonged to X. citri. Interestingly, pathogenicity tests showed that one isolate, which shares more than 90% genetic similarity to the reference strain X. citri T, has host range specificity. This new variant of X. citri ssp. citri, named X. citri A(T), which is deficient in xanthan production, induces an atypical non-cankerous chlorotic phenotype in Citrus limon and C. paradisi and weak cankerous lesions in C. aurantifolia and C. clementinaleaves. In C. limon, suppression of canker development is concomitant with an oxidative burst; however, xanthan is not implicated in the phenotype induced by this interaction, suggesting that other bacterial factors would be involved in triggering the defense response....(more)
Chiesa MA, et al. Phytopathology 2012 Dec 26.
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- 8. Mechanism of seedlessness in a new lemon cultivar 'Xiangshui' [Citrus limon (L.) Burm. F].
Seedlessness is an important economic trait of lemon. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of seedlessness in 'Xiangshui' lemon requires detailed data on pollen and embryo sac fertility, embryo development and compatibility mechanisms governing self- and cross-pollination. The results of the current study indicate that the fertility of pollen and mature embryo sac remains normal. When flowers were self- or cross-pollinated, pollen grains of 'Xiangshui' were able to germinate on the stigma. In the case of self-pollination, pollen tubes became twisted, tube tips enlarged and tubes ruptured in the bottom of stigma. Following cross-pollination, tubes were able to grow normally in the style and ovary and enter the embryo sac, where double fertilization took place. Embryonic development resulting from cross-pollination was normal. After cross-pollination, the zygote began to divide at 2 weeks post-pollination, with early globular embryos observed after 3 weeks, globular and heart-shaped embryos at 4 weeks, torpedo-shaped embryos at 5 weeks, cotyledonary embryos at 6 weeks and thereafter germinable seeds. After self-pollination, however, ovules began to abort at 2 weeks post-pollination, with ovules disappearing at 5 weeks, ultimately producing seedless fruits. Emasculated unpollinated flowers also developed into seedless fruits, indicating that seedlessness contributes to parthenocarpy. However, gametophytic self-incompatibility has a major role in seedlessness in 'Xiangshui' lemon by blocking fertilization at the bottom of the stigma....(more)
Zhang SW, et al. Sex Plant Reprod 2012 Dec;25(4):337-45.
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- 9. Conversion of protopanaxadiol type saponins to ginsenoside Rg3 by lemon.
The ability of fresh lemon (Citrus limon) to convert protopanaxadiol-type saponins into ginsenoside Rg3 was investigated, and the structures of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 (1) and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 (2) were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The experiment showed that lemon possesses the strong ability to hydrolyze ginsenosides. When protopanaxadiol-type saponins (16 mg/mL) were hydrolyzed by fresh lemon juice at 80 degrees C for 3 hrs, the conversion ratios of ginsenoside Rb1, Rb2, Rc and Rd were 92.9%, 90.0%, 96.90/0 and 55.5%, respectively, and the yields of 20(S)-ginsenoside Rg3 and 20(R)-ginsenoside Rg3 were, respectively, 31.2% and 28.3%....(more)
Sun CP, et al. Nat Prod Commun 2012 Sep;7(9):1155-6.
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- 10. Evaluation of bioefficacy of three Citrus essential oils against the dengue vector Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae) in correlation to their components enantiomeric distribution.
Laboratory experiments were conducted to study the bioefficacy against Ae. albopictus of three Citrus essential oils, derived from peels of Citrus sinensis, Citrus limon, and Citrus paradise and of their components. Chiral gas chromatography analysis revealed the dominant occurrence of R-(+)-limonene and (-)-β-pinene in all three essential oils while in the case of lemon oil γ-terpinene, neral, and geranial detected also among other components. The tested Citrus essential oils were toxic against mosquito larvae with LC(50) values ranging from 25.03 to 37.03 mg l(-1). Among citrus essential oils components tested, γ-terpinene was the most toxic (LC(50) = 20.21 mg l(-1)) followed by both enantiomeric forms of limonene (LC(50) = 35.99 and 34.89 mg l(-1), for R-(+)-limonene and S-(-)-limonene, respectively). The delayed toxic effects after exposure of larvae to sublethal (LC(50)) doses were also investigated for citrus essential oils and their major component R-(+)-limonene, indicating a significant reduction of pupal survival. In repellent bioassays, lemon essential oil, S-(-)-limonene, citral (mixture of neral\geranial) and (+)-β-pinene were the most effective compared with other citrus essential oils and components against adult mosquitoes. Repellent bioassays also revealed that limonenes and β-pinenes showed an isomer dependence repellent activity. Finally, according to enantiomeric distribution of limonene and α- and β-pinene, the repellency of lemon essential oil is possibly attributed to the presence of citral....(more)
Giatropoulos A, et al. Parasitol Res 2012 Dec;111(6):2253-63.
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- 11. New species and new records of Crinipellis from tropical and subtropical forests of the east coast of Mexico.
Crinipellis brunneoaurantiaca, C. pallidibrunnea and C. rubella are described as new species and their taxonomic position is discussed. The two former were collected in subdeciduous tropical forest and the latter in the montane cloud forest, all from the east coast of Mexico (central Veracruz). Crinipellis podocarpi, C. pseudostipitaria var. mesites, C. setipes, recorded in montane cloud forest, and C. tucumanensis, collected in subdeciduous tropical forest, also are discussed. Detailed macro- and microscopic descriptions, illustrations of distinctive microscopic characters and plates are presented for each species....(more)
Bandala VM, et al. Mycologia 2012 May-Jun;104(3):733-45.
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- 12. A new species of Lactarius (subgenus Gerardii) from two relict Fagus grandifolia var. mexicana populations in Mexican montane cloud forests.
A new milkcap species, Lactarius fuscomarginatus, was found in the subtropical region of central Veracruz (eastern Mexico) associated with two relict populations of Fagus grandifolia var. mexicana. The species is characterized macroscopically by its dark pileus and stipe and by its distant and whitish lamellae with blackish to blackish brown edges. A molecular phylogenetic analyses based on ITS and LSU nucDNA sequences confirms the delimitation of this new taxon and places L. fuscomarginatus in subgenus Gerardii. A detailed morphological comparison is given with similar species....(more)
Montoya L, et al. Mycologia 2012 Jan-Feb;104(1):175-81.
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- 13. Letter: "mushroom-cloud sign" of melanoma.
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- 14. Saturnispora quitensis sp. nov., a yeast species isolated from the Maquipucuna cloud forest reserve in Ecuador.
A single strain, CLQCA-10-114(T), representing a novel yeast species belonging to the genus Saturnispora was isolated from the fruit of an unidentified species of bramble (Rubus sp.), collected from the Maquipucuna cloud forest reserve, near Quito, in Ecuador. Sequence analyses of the D1/D2 domains of the large-subunit rRNA gene and ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region indicated that the novel species is most closely related to the recently described species Saturnispora gosingensis, isolated from the fruiting body of a mushroom collected in Taiwan, and Saturnispora hagleri, a Drosophila-associated yeast found in Brazil. The name Saturnispora quitensis sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate this strain; the type strain is CLQCA-10-114(T) (=CBS 12184(T)=NCYC 3744(T))....(more)
James SA, et al. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2011 Dec;61(Pt 12):3072-6.
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- 15. Aquatic manoeuvering with counter-propagating waves: a novel locomotive strategy.
Many aquatic organisms swim by means of an undulating fin. These undulations often form a single wave travelling from one end of the fin to the other. However, when these aquatic animals are holding station or hovering, there is often a travelling wave from the head to the tail, and another moving from the tail to the head, meeting in the middle of the fin. Our study uses a biomimetic fish robot and computational fluid dynamics on a model of a real fish to uncover the mechanics of these inward counter-propagating waves. In addition, we compare the flow structure and upward force generated by inward counter-propagating waves to standing waves, unidirectional waves, and outward counter-propagating waves (i.e. one wave travelling from the middle of the fin to the head, and another wave travelling from the middle of the fin to the tail). Using digital particle image velocimetry to capture the flow structure around the fish robot, and computational fluid dynamics, we show that inward counter-propagating waves generate a clear mushroom-cloud-like flow structure with an inverted jet. The two streams of fluid set up by the two travelling waves 'collide' together (forming the mushroom cap) and collect into a narrow jet away from the cap (the mushroom stem). The reaction force from this jet acts to push the body in the opposite direction to the jet, perpendicular to the direction of movement provided by a single travelling wave. This downward jet provides a substantial increase in the perpendicular force when compared with the other types of fin actuation. Animals can thereby move upward if the fin is along the bottom midline of the body (or downward if on top); or left-right if the fins are along the lateral margins. In addition to illuminating how a large number of undulatory swimmers can use elongated fins to move in unexpected directions, the phenomenon of counter-propagating waves provides novel motion capabilities for systems using robotic undulators, an emerging technology for propelling underwater vehicles....(more)
Curet OM, et al. J R Soc Interface 2011 Jul 6;8(60):1041-50.
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- 16. Cloud point extraction with/without chelating agent on-line coupled with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry for the determination of trace rare earth elements in biological samples.
The on-line incorporation of cloud point extraction (CPE) with/without 8-hydroxyquinoline (8-Ox) as chelating agent into flow injection analysis associated with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for determining trace rare earth elements (REEs) is presented and evaluated. The significant parameters affecting on-line cloud point extraction of REEs such as sample pH, flow rate, 8-Ox concentration, Triton X-114 concentration were systematically studied. Under the optimized conditions, with the consumption of 3.0 mL sample solution, the limits of detection (3 sigma) were ranged from 41.4 pg mL(-1) (Yb) to 448 pg mL(-1) (Gd) with relative standard deviations (RSDs) of 1.0% (Eu)-5.9% (Sm) for on-line CPE-ICP-OES with 8-Ox as chelating agent, and 69.0 pg mL(-1) (Sc) to 509.5 pg mL(-1) (Sm) with RSDs of 2.9% (Yb)-7.5% (Ho) for on-line CPE-ICP-OES without 8-Ox as chelating agent, respectively. The sample throughput of 17samples h(-1) was obtained for both systems. The developed methods of on-line CPE-ICP-OES were validated by the analysis of certified reference material (GBW07605, tea leaves) and real biological samples of pig liver, Auricularia auricula and mushroom....(more)
Li Y, et al. J Hazard Mater 2010 Feb 15;174(1-3):534-40.
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- 17. "Mushroom cloud": a giant left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after a myocardial infarction due to myocardial bridging--a case report.
Left ventricular pseudoaneurysm is an uncommon complication after transmural myocardial infarction, occurring when a free wall rupture is contained by adhesions of the overlying pericardium preventing acute tamponade. In this report, an unusual case of a 61 year-old male with a giant apical left ventricular pseudoaneurysm after an unnoticed myocardial infarction is presented. On coronary angiogram myocardial bridging of the distal left anterior descending artery was judged to be the infarct related lesion. The echocardiographic diagnosis allowed for a timely surgical intervention which resulted in the patient's full recovery....(more)
Gomes R, et al. Cardiovasc Ultrasound 2009 Jul 20;7:36.
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- 18. Sudden death in spondylo-meta-epiphyseal dysplasia, short limb-abnormal calcification type.
The spondylo-meta-epiphyseal dysplasias are an expanding group of skeletal dysplasias with specific features differentiating each subtype. We review the precocious carpal mineralization, unique metacarpal shape, triangular distal phalanges and mushroom cloud-shaped proximal phalanges present at an early age in spondylo-meta-epiphyseal dysplasia, short limb-abnormal calcification type (SMED SL-AC) and report two patients with clinical and radiographic features consistent with SMED SL-AC, who died suddenly because of spinal cord compression. The patients presented are female siblings, providing further evidence for autosomal recessive inheritance. Cervical cord compression is found in half of reported patients and is the major cause of mortality. SMED SL-AC should be added to the list of genetic causes of sudden death. Radiological features in the hand may be used in the first few years of life to support an early diagnosis and thus allow for prevention of premature demise....(more)
Dias C, et al. Clin Dysmorphol 2009 Jan;18(1):25-9.
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- 19. Anti-tumor effects of various furocoumarins isolated from the roots, seeds and fruits of Angelica and Cnidium species under ultraviolet A irradiation.
We examined the effects on cell proliferation of 10 methoxyfurocoumarins and 7 dihydrofurocumarins isolated from Umbelliferae medicinal plants, and their mechanisms of action against B16F10 melanoma cells or in melanin-possessing hairless mice implanted with B16F10 melanoma cells, under UVA irradiation. Furocoumarins having a methoxy group, such as bergapten (1), xanthotoxin (2), phellopterin (4), byakangelicin (6), neobyakangelicin (8), isobergapten (9) and sphondin (10), showed anti-proliferative activity and caused G2/M arrest at concentrations of 0.05-15.0 μM. The 7 dihydrofurocoumarins had no effect. UVA plus 1, 2, 4, 6 and sec-O-acetylbyakagelicin (7), having one methoxy group at the C-5 position and a linear-type conformation, reduced tumor growth and final tumor weight in B16F10-bearing mice at 0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg (intraperitoneal injection). UVA plus 1 and 2 increased Chk1 phosphorylation and decreased cdc2 (Thr 161) phosphorylation in the melanoma cells. The anti-tumor actions of UVA plus furocoumarins having a methoxy group might be due to the arrest of the cell cycle at G2/M through an increase in phospho-Chk1 and reduction in phospho-cdc2....(more)
Sumiyoshi M, et al. J Nat Med 2013 May 7.
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- 20. Xanthotoxol Exerts Neuroprotective Effects Via Suppression of the Inflammatory Response in a Rat Model of Focal Cerebral Ischemia.
We previously found that xanthotoxol, one of the major active ingredients in Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson, exerts protective effects in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury by alleviating brain edema, inhibiting the neutrophil infiltration, and decreasing the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin. The present study was designed to further determine the possible mechanisms of action of neuroprotective properties of xanthotoxol after cerebral ischemia. Transient focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model in male Sprague-Dawley rats was induced by 2-h middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 24-h reperfusion. Xanthotoxol (5 and 10 mg/kg) or vehicle were administered intraperitoneally at 1 and 12 h after the onset of ischemia. At 24 h after reperfusion, we assessed the effect of xanthotoxol on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-8, nitric oxide (NO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and the p65 subunit of the transcription factor, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in the cortex after ischemic insult. The results showed that xanthotoxol treatment significantly attenuated BBB disruption, reduced the IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-8 and NO level, and attenuated the iNOS activity compared with vehicle-treated animals. Further, xanthotoxol treatment also significantly prevented the ischemia/reperfusion-induced increase in the protein expression of iNOS, COX-2, and the nuclear NF-κB p65. These results, taken together with those of our previous study, suggest that the neuroprotection may be attributed to the ability of xanthotoxol to attenuate the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators and thereby inhibit the inflammatory response after cerebral ischemia....(more)
He W, et al. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2013 Apr 26.
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- 21. NBM-T-L-BMX-OS01, Semisynthesized from Osthole, Is a Novel Inhibitor of Histone Deacetylase and Enhances Learning and Memory in Rats.
NBM-T-L-BMX-OS01 (BMX) was derived from the semisynthesis of osthole, isolated from Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss., and was identified to be a potent inhibitor of HDAC8. This study shows that HDAC8 is highly expressed in the pancreas and the brain. The function of HDAC8 in the brain has not been adequately studied. Because BMX enhances neurite outgrowth and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) activation, the effect of BMX on neural plasticity such as learning and memory is examined. To examine declarative and nondeclarative memory, a water maze, a passive one-way avoidance task, and a novel object recognition task were performed. Results from the water maze revealed that BMX and suberoylanilide-hydroxamic-acid-(SAHA-) treated rats showed shorter escape latency in finding the hidden platform. The BMX-treated animals spent more time in the target quadrant in the probe trial performance. An analysis of the passive one-way avoidance results showed that the BMX-treated animals stayed longer in the illuminated chamber by 1 day and 7 days after footshock. The novel object recognition task revealed that the BMX-treated animals showed a marked increase in the time spent exploring novel objects. Furthermore, BMX ameliorates scopolamine-(Sco-) induced learning and memory impairment in animals, indicating a novel role of BMX in learning and memory....(more)
Yang YC, et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2013;2013:514908.
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- 22. Osthole Improves Spatial Memory Deficits in Rats via Hippocampal α 1-Adrenergic and D 1 /D 2 Receptors.
The present study evaluated the effect of osthole, an active ingredient isolated from Cnidium monnieri L. Cusson, on spatial memory deficits caused by central neurotoxins using the Morris water maze in rats. The involvement of catecholaminergic receptors on the memory-enhancing effect of osthole in rat hippocampus was further investigated by intrahippocampal injection of catecholaminergic receptor antagonists. Intracisternal injection of osthole (10 μ g/brain) improved the spatial performance and working memory impairments caused by the catecholaminergic neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine. No significant differences in swimming speeds were observed among sham, neurotoxin-induced, and osthole-treated groups. Intracisternal osthole injection also attenuated the spatial performance and working memory impairments caused by the α 1 receptor antagonist phenoxybenzamine, the D1 receptor antagonist SCH 23390, and the D2 receptor antagonist sulpiride. Therefore, we demonstrated that the effect of osthole on improving spatial memory deficits may be related to the activation of hippocampal α 1 and D1/D2 receptors....(more)
Lin LW, et al. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2013;2013:273682.
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- 23. Material basis of Chinese herbal formulas explored by combining pharmacokinetics with network pharmacology.
The clinical application of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), using several herbs in combination (called formulas), has a history of more than one thousand years. However, the bioactive compounds that account for their therapeutic effects remain unclear. We hypothesized that the material basis of a formula are those compounds with a high content in the decoction that are maintained at a certain level in the system circulation. Network pharmacology provides new methodological insights for complicated system studies. In this study, we propose combining pharmacokinetic (PK) analysis with network pharmacology to explore the material basis of TCM formulas as exemplified by the Bushen Zhuanggu formula (BZ) composed of Psoralea corylifolia L., Aconitum carmichaeli Debx., and Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cuss. A sensitive and credible liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was established for the simultaneous determination of 15 compounds present in the three herbs. The concentrations of these compounds in the BZ decoction and in rat plasma after oral BZ administration were determined. Up to 12 compounds were detected in the BZ decoction, but only 5 could be analyzed using PK parameters. Combined PK results, network pharmacology analysis revealed that 4 compounds might serve as the material basis for BZ. We concluded that a sensitive, reliable, and suitable LC-MS/MS method for both the composition and pharmacokinetic study of BZ has been established. The combination of PK with network pharmacology might be a potent method for exploring the material basis of TCM formulas....(more)
Pei L, et al. PLoS One 2013;8(2):e57414.
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- 24. Effect of methanol extracts of Cnidium officinale Makino and Capsella bursa-pastoris on the apoptosis of HSC-2 human oral cancer cells.
Cnidium officinale Makino and Capsella bursa-pastoris are used as traditional herbs with diverse medicinal effects, including the inhibition of inflammation, reduction of blood pressure and as diuretics, however, the anti-cancer effects of C. officinale Makino and C. bursa-pastoris are poorly defined. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of methanol extracts of C. officinale Makino (MECO) and methanol extracts of C. bursa-pastoris (MECB) on the cell growth and apoptosis of HSC-2 human oral cancer cells. MECO and MECB caused growth inhibition and the induction of apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner in HSC-2 cells. A marked reduction in specificity protein 1 (Sp1) expression following treatment with MECO or MECB was also observed. The downregulation of Sp1 by siRNA resulted in growth inhibition and a reduction of total poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) expression. In addition, MECO significantly increased Bax expression levels and MECB increased Bak expression levels and decreased Mcl-1 expression levels. These results suggest that MECO and MECB inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis via the Sp1 protein, indicating that MECO and MECB are useful bioactive materials and attractive drug candidates for oral cancer....(more)
Lee KE, et al. Exp Ther Med 2013 Mar;5(3):789-792.
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- 25. A rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the determination of osthole in rat plasma: application to pharmacokinetic study.
Osthole, a major component isolated from the fruit of Cnidium monnieri (L.) Cusson, has been widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. We developed and validated a rapid and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the quantification of osthole in rat plasma. Sample preparation involved simple liquid-liquid extraction by ethyl acetate after addition of imperatorin as internal standard (IS). The analyte was separated using a C18 column with the mobile phase of methanol-0.1% formic acid (80:20, v/v) at a flow rate of 0.4 mL/min. The elutes were detected under positive electrospray ionization in multiple reaction monitoring mode. The method was sensitive with 0.5 ng/mL as the lower limit of detection. Good linearity was obtained over the range of 1.0-500.0 ng/mL. The intra and inter-batch accuracy for osthole in rat plasma samples ranged from 99.5 to 108.1% and the variation was <8.9%. The stability, extraction efficiency and matrix effect were also acceptable. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of osthole in rat after intravenous and oral administration. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd....(more)
Yun F, et al. Biomed Chromatogr 2013 May;27(5):676-80.
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- 26. Coumarins from the Herb Cnidium monnieri and Chemically Modified Derivatives as Antifoulants against Balanus albicostatus and Bugula neritina Larvae.
In the search for new environmental friendly antifouling (AF) agents, four coumarins were isolated from the herbal plant Cnidium monnieri, known as osthole (1), imperatorin (2), isopimpinellin (3) and auraptenol (4). Furthermore, five coumarin derivatives, namely 8-epoxypentylcoumarin (5), meranzin hydrate (6), 2'-deoxymetranzin hydrate (7), 8-methylbutenalcoumarin (8), and micromarin-F (9) were synthesized from osthole. Compounds 1, 2, 4, 7 showed high inhibitory activities against larval settlement of Balanus albicostatus with EC(50) values of 4.64, 3.39, 3.38, 4.67 μg mL-1. Compound 8 could significantly inhibit larval settlement of Bugula neritina with an EC(50) value of 3.87 μg mL-1. The impact of functional groups on anti-larval settlement activities suggested that the groups on C-5' and C-2'/C-3' of isoamylene chian could affect the AF activities....(more)
Wang ZC, et al. Int J Mol Sci 2013 Jan 9;14(1):1197-206.
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- 27. Investigation of the biotransformation of osthole by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry.
Osthole is an active ingredient and one of the major coumarin compounds that were identified in the genus Cnidium moonnieri (L.) Cussion, the fruit of which was used as traditional Chinese medicine to treat male impotence, ringworm infection and blood stasis conventionally. Recent studies revealed that osthole has diverse pharmacological effects, such as improving male sexual dysfunction, anti-diabetes, and anti-hypertentions. The inhibition of thrombosis and platelet aggregation and protection of central nerve were also observed. On the other hand, the metabolism of osthole has not yet been investigated thoroughly. Herein the biotransformation of osthole in rat was investigated after oral administration of osthole by using efficient and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF/MS). Eighteen osthole metabolites and the parent drug were detected and identified in rat urine. Fourteen metabolites of osthole were identified and characterized for the first time. Structures of metabolites of osthole were elucidated by comparing fragment pattern under MS/MS scan and change of molecular weight with those of osthole. The main phase I metabolic pathways were summed as 7-demethylation, 8-dehydrogenation, hydroxylation on coumarin and 3,4-epoxide. Sulfate conjugates were detected as phase II metabolites of osthole.
Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved....(more)
Li J, et al. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2013 Feb 23;74:156-61.
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- 28. Anti-UV/HIV activity of Kampo medicines and constituent plant extracts.
AIM:
In order to search for new biological activities of Kampo medicines and their constituent plant extracts, we investigated whether they protect the cells from the cytotoxicity induced by UV irradiation and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.
MATERIALS AND METHODS:
Anti-UV/HIV activity (SI value) was evaluated as the ratio of the CC(50) (concentration that reduced the viable cell number by 50%) to the EC(50) (the concentration that increased the viability of UV-irradiated or HIV-infected cells to 50%): SI=CC(50)/EC(50). The content of glycyrrhizin in each sample was determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Caspase-3/-7 activity was assayed by cleavage of poly ADP ribose polymerase using western blot analysis.
RESULTS:
Among 25 plant extracts, Gardenia fruit had the highest anti-UV activity (SI≥8.0), followed by Glycyrrhiza (SI=4.3), Coptis rhizoma (SI=1.5), Cimicifuga rhizoma (SI>1.4), Saposhnikovia root (SI>1.3) and Japanese Gentian (SI>1.1). Among ten Kampo medicines, Unseiin and Hangesyashinto (SI>4.9) had the highest anti-UV activity, followed by Shosaikoto (SI>4.3), Saireito (SI>3.4), Rikkosan (SI>1.2) and Kikyoto (SI=1.1). Glycyrrhiza inhibited UV-induced caspase-3/-7 activation. Only Polyporus sclerotium (SI>4.4), Gardenia fruit (SI>2.7), Atractylodes lancea rhizoma (SI>1.9), Cnidium rhizoma (SI>1.5) and Japanese Angelica root (SI>1.1) exhibited some anti-HIV activity. There was no apparent correlation of their anti-UV/HIV activity and content of glycyrrhizin, a major component of Glycyrrhiza, which exhibited much higher anti-UV activity (SI=20.6) and some anti-HIV activity (SI>2.0).
CONCLUSION:
The present study suggests the involvement of substances other than glycyrrhizin in the anti-UV/HIV activity of Kampo medicines and their constituent plant extracts....(more)
Kato T, et al. In Vivo 2012 Nov-Dec;26(6):1007-13.
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- 29. Protective effect of coenzyme Q10 in paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in rats.
OBJECTIVE:
To investigate the possible protective effect of coenzyme Q10 (CQ10) on neuropathy in rats.
METHODS:
Experiments were conducted in the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey between January and March 2012. Forty rats were divided into 4 groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (paclitaxel), group 3 (control + CQ10), and group 4 (paclitaxel + CQ10). Group 2 and 4 rats received paclitaxel (2 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, on days 0, 2, 4, 6). Group 3 and 4 rats were treated with CQ10 (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). The rats that did not receive paclitaxel or CQ10 received vehicle. Mechanical allodynia tests were performed for each animal on day 0, 2, 6, 8, 10, 14, 16, 19, 39 and 41 for all groups with von Frey filaments.
RESULTS:
At day 0, mean mechanical withdrawal thresholds were similar among all groups. Starting from day 2, the threshold of the paclitaxel group decreased. Starting from day 10, paclitaxel+CQ10 treated rats had significantly higher thresholds compared with the paclitaxel group, but these values were still significantly lower than that of the controls. Control and control + CQ10 rats had similar threshold values during the protocol.
CONCLUSION:
The CQ10 treatment decreased the degree of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in rats....(more)
Celebi N, et al. Neurosciences (Riyadh) 2013 Apr;18(2):133-7.
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- 30. Supplementation with α-Lipoic Acid, CoQ10, and Vitamin E Augments Running Performance and Mitochondrial Function in Female Mice.
Antioxidant supplements are widely consumed by the general public; however, their effects of on exercise performance are controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of an antioxidant cocktail (α-lipoic acid, vitamin E and coenzyme Q10) on exercise performance, muscle function and training adaptations in mice. C57Bl/J6 mice were placed on antioxidant supplement or placebo-control diets (n=36/group) and divided into trained (8 wks treadmill running) (n=12/group) and untrained groups (n=24/group). Antioxidant supplementation had no effect on the running performance of trained mice nor did it affect training adaptations; however, untrained female mice that received antioxidants performed significantly better than placebo-control mice (p ≤ 0.05). Furthermore, antioxidant-supplemented females (untrained) showed elevated respiratory capacity in freshly excised muscle fibers (quadriceps femoris) (p ≤ 0.05), reduced oxidative damage to muscle proteins (p ≤ 0.05), and increased expression of mitochondrial proteins (p ≤ 0.05) compared to placebo-controls. These changes were attributed to increased expression of proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) (p ≤ 0.05) via activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) (p ≤ 0.05) by antioxidant supplementation. Overall, these results indicate that this antioxidant supplement exerts gender specific effects; augmenting performance and mitochondrial function in untrained females, but does not attenuate training adaptations....(more)
Abadi A, et al. PLoS One 2013;8(4):e60722.
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- 31. Co-Enzyme Q10 to Treat Neurological Disorders: Basic Mechanisms, Clinical Outcomes, and Future Research Direction.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) plays a pivotal role in mitochondrial respiratory chain which is the cell power supply. CoQ10 serves as a physiological electron (e-) shuttle from complexes I and II to complex III, as well as a potent antioxidant. Neurons are characterized by high rates of metabolic activity and need to respond promptly to activity-dependent fluctuations in bioenergetic demand. Consequently, it is not surprising that mitochondrial alterations can promote neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. In several neurological disorders, dysfunction of the respiratory chain leads to reduced ATP levels and increased generation of reactive oxygen species. CoQ10 supplementation has been widely used to treat aging, stroke, neuromuscular diseases, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Huntington's disease. Here we discuss a large number of preclinical and clinical trials for CoQ10. The mechanisms underlying the disease-modifying effects of CoQ10 are the principle subject of the current integrative review. The rational applications as a therapeutic agent in neurological disorders are discussed....(more)
Salama M, et al. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets 2013 Apr 4.
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- 32. Coenzyme q10 regulates osteoclast and osteoblast differentiation.
Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a powerful antioxidant, is a key component in mitochondrial bioenergy transfer, generating energy in the form of ATP. Many studies suggest that antioxidants act as inhibitors of osteoclastogenesis and we also have previously demonstrated the inhibitory effect of CoQ10 on osteoclast differentiation. Despite the significance of this effect, the molecular mechanism when CoQ10 is present at high concentrations in bone remodeling still remains to be elucidated. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of CoQ10 on osteoclastogenesis and its impact on osteoblastogenesis at concentrations ranging from 10 to 100 μM. We found that nontoxic CoQ10 markedly attenuated the formation of receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand (RANKL)-induced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated cells in both bone-marrow-derived monocytes (BMMs) and RAW 264.7 cells. Osteoclastogenesis with CoQ10 was significantly suppressed the gene expression of NFATc1, TRAP, and osteoclast-associated immunoglobulin-like receptor, which are genetic markers of osteoclast differentiation and scavenged intracellular reactive oxygen species, an osteoclast precursor, in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, CoQ10 strongly suppressed H2 O2 -induced IκBα, p38 signaling pathways for osteoclastogenesis. In bone formation study, CoQ10 acted to enhance the induction of osteoblastogenic biomarkers including alkaline phosphatase, type 1 collagen, bone sialoprotein, osteoblast-specific transcription factor Osterix, and Runt-related transcription factor 2 and, also promoted matrix mineralization by enhancing bone nodule formation in a dose-dependent manner. Together, CoQ10 acts as an inhibitor of RANKL-induced osteoclast differentiation and an enhancer of bone-forming osteoblast differentiation. These findings highlight the potential therapeutic applications of CoQ10 for the treatment of bone disease....(more)
Moon HJ, et al. J Food Sci 2013 May;78(5):H785-891.
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- 33. Coenzyme Q<sub>10</sub> deficiency in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes.
We evaluated coenzyme Q10 (CoQ) levels in patients studied under suspicion of mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes (MDS) (n=39). CoQ levels were quantified by HPLC, and the percentage of mtDNA depletion by quantitative real-time PCR. A high percentage of MDS patients presented with CoQ deficiency as compared to other mitochondrial patients (Mann-Whitney-U test: p=0.001). Our findings suggest that MDS are frequently associated with CoQ deficiency, as a possible secondary consequence of disease pathophysiology. Assessment of muscle CoQ status seems advisable in MDS patients since the possibility of CoQ supplementation may then be considered as a candidate therapy....(more)
Montero R, et al. Mitochondrion 2013 Apr 11.
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- 34. Coenzyme Q10 quantification in muscle, fibroblasts and cerebrospinal fluid by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry using a novel deuterated internal standard.
RATIONALE:
Neurological dysfunction is common in primary coenzyme Q10 (2,3-dimethoxy, 5-methyl, 6-polyisoprene parabenzoquinone; CoQ10 ; ubiquinone) deficiencies, the most readily treatable subgroup of mitochondrial disorders. Therapeutic benefit from CoQ10 supplementation has also been noted in other neurodegenerative diseases. CoQ10 can be measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in plasma, muscle or leucocytes; however, there is no reliable method to quantify CoQ10 in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Additionally, many methods use CoQ9 , an endogenous ubiquinone in humans, as an internal standard.
METHODS:
Deuterated CoQ10 (d6 -CoQ10 ) was synthesised by a novel, simple, method. Total CoQ10 was measured by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) using d6 -CoQ10 as internal standard and 5 mM methylamine as an ion-pairing reagent. Chromatography was performed using a Hypsersil GOLD C4 column (150 × 3 mm, 3 µm).
RESULTS:
CoQ10 levels were linear over a concentration range of 0-200 nM (R(2) = 0.9995). The lower limit of detection was 2 nM. The inter-assay coefficient of variation (CV) was 3.6% (10 nM) and 4.3% (20 nM), and intra-assay CV 3.4% (10 nM) and 3.6% (20 nM). Reference ranges were established for CoQ10 in CSF (5.7-8.7 nM; n = 17), fibroblasts (57.0-121.6 pmol/mg; n = 50) and muscle (187.3-430.1 pmol/mg; n = 15).
CONCLUSIONS:
Use of d6 -CoQ10 internal standard has enabled the development of a sensitive LC/MS/MS method to accurately determine total CoQ10 levels. Clinical applications of CSF CoQ10 determination include identification of patients with cerebral CoQ10 deficiency, and monitoring CSF CoQ10 levels following supplementation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd....(more)
Duberley KE, et al. Rapid Commun Mass Spectrom 2013 May 15;27(9):924-30.
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- 35. Variability in the contents of pork meat nutrients and how it may affect food composition databases.
Pork meat is generally recognised as a food with relevant nutritional properties because of its content in high biological value proteins, group B vitamins, minerals especially heme iron, trace elements and other bioactive compounds. But pork meat also contributes to the intake of fat, saturated fatty acids, cholesterol, and other substances that, in inappropriate amounts, may result in negative physiologically effects. However, there are relevant factors affecting the content of many of these substances and somehow such variability should be taken into consideration. So, genetics, age and even type of muscle have a relevant influence on the amount of fat and the contents in heme iron. Also the composition in fatty acids of triacylglycerols is very sensitive to the contents of cereals in the feed; for instance, polyunsaturated fatty acids may range from 10% to 22% in pork meat. The content of other nutrients, like vitamins E and A, are also depending on the type of feed. Some bioactive substances like coenzyme Q10, taurine, glutamine, creatine, creatinine, carnosine and anserine show a large dependence on the type of muscle. This manuscript describes the main factors affecting the composition of pork meat nutrients and how these changes may affect the general food composition databases....(more)
Reig M, et al. Food Chem 2013 Oct 1;140(3):478-82.
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