Binding of polyphenols to plant cell wall analogues - Part 2: Phenolic acids

Bacterial cellulose and cellulose-pectin composites were used as well-defined model plant cell wall (PCW) systems to study the interaction between phenolic acids (PA) derived from purple carrot juice concentrate (PCJC) and PCW components. Significant PA depletion from solution occurred, with pure cellulose initially (30 s-1 h) absorbing more than cellulose-pectin composites in the first hour (ca 20% cf 10-15%), but with all composites absorbing similar levels (ca 30%) after several days. Individual PAs bound to different relative extents with caffeic acid > chlorogenic acid > ferulic acid. Extrapolation of data for these model systems to carrot puree suggests that nutritionally-significant amounts of PAs could bind to cell walls, potentially restricting bioavailability in the small intestine and, as a consequence, delivering PAs to the large intestine for fermentation and metabolism by gut bacteria. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Antioxidative long chain alkylresorcinols. Synthesis and deuterium labelling of bioactive compounds present in whole grains

The first synthesis of long chain 5-n-alkylresorcinols (C15-C25) in whole grains and whole grain products by a novel modification of Wittig reaction is described. 5-n-Alkylresorcinols are phenolic lipids that have various effects on biological systems, such as antioxidant activity and interaction with biological membranes. These compounds are considered as biomarkers of whole grain intake, which is connected with reduced risk of cardiovascular diseases and certain cancers. Novel hapten derivatives of 5-n-alkylresorcinols, potential compounds for immunoanalytical techniques, are prepared by the same procedure utilizing microwave catalysed aqueous Wittig reaction as the key step. The synthesised analogues are required by various analytical, metabolism and bioactivity investigations. Four alternative strategies for producing deuterium polylabelled 5-n-alkylresorcinols are explored. Ring-labelled D3-alkylresorcinols were synthesized by acidic H/D exchange. Side chain -labelled D4-derivative was prepared by a total synthesis approach utilizing D2 deuterogenation of a D2-alkene derivative, and deuterogenation of alkynes was investigated in another total synthesis approach. An -D3-labelled alkylresorcinol is isotopically pure and completely stable under all relevant conditions encountered during analytical work. The labelling of another phenolic component of whole grains was explored. The preparation of D3-ferulic acid and related compounds by way of selective methylation of the precursors is described. The deuterated compounds are useful as standards in the quantification of these natural products in various substances, such as food and human fluids. The pure 5-n-alkylresorcinol analogues prepared were used in in vitro experiments on alkylresorcinol antioxidant activity and antigenotoxicity. The in vitro experiments show that alkylresorcinols act as antioxidants, especially when incorporated into biological systems, but possess lower activity in chemical tests (FRAP and DPPH assay). Whole grain alkylresorcinols are shown for the first time to have a protective effect against copper induced oxidation of LDL, and H2O2 or genotoxic faecal water induced damage on HT29 cells.

Fenyylipropanoidien, erityisesti ferulahappojen hapettavat kytkeytymisreaktiot kasvin soluseinän biosynteesissä

Tässä kirjallisuuskatsauksessa perehdyttiin ensisijaisesti puuvartisten- ja ruohokasvien soluseinien fenyylipropanoidien ja ferulahappojen biosynteesiin ja kytkeytymisreaktioihin. Fenyylipropanoidireitti alkaa fenyylialaniinista ja johtaa monien prekursoreiden kuten lignaanien, flavonoidien, salisyylihappojen ja ligniiniprekursoreiden syntymiseen. Tutkielmassa keskityttiin ligniiniprekursoreiden muodostumiseen ja erityisesti sen biosynteesireitin välituotteen, ferulahapon hapetettuihin kytkeytymisreaktioihin kasvien soluseinillä. Fenyylipropanoiditutkimuksen lähtökohtana on jo vuosia ollut selvittää biosynteesireittejä ja menetelmiä, joiden avulla ligniini saadaan kasvin soluseinältä liukenemaan ja hiilihydraatti otettua talteen. Eräs tapa tunnistaa näitä hajoamistapahtumia on tutkia fenyylipropanoidien kytkentöjen muodostumista. Tässä pro gradu -tutkielmassa fenyylipropanoidireitin välituotteiden entsyymien säätelyä tarkasteltiin luonnonvaraisissa ja geneettisesti muunnelluissa kasveissa. Bieosynteesireitti selkeytyi paljon. Lisäksi siirtogeenisillä kasveilla havaittiin kokonaan uusia kytkentöjä ja rakenteita. Eräillä geeniyhdistelmillä voitiin lisätä tuntuvasti hiilihydraattimäärää samalla kun ligniinin kokonaismäärä väheni. Näin arveltiin voitavan kasvattaa biomassan määrää puukasveilla. Ferulahapot dehydrogenoituvat entsymaattisesti hapettavissa olosuhteissa fenoksiradikaaleiksi, jotka reagoivat edelleen muodostaen toisen radikaalimonomeerin tai -polymeerin kanssa kytkentöjä. Soluseinä tuottaa radikaalireaktioissa tarvitsemansa hapettimet ja entsyymit, vetyperoksidin ja peroksidaasin itse. Ferulahapon monomeerit ja dimeerit muodostavat esterisidoksia soluseinän hemiselluloosan kanssa. Näin syntyneet ferulaattidimeerit ja -trimeerit muodostivat ristikytkentöjä hiilihydraattien ja ligniinin välille sekä yhden tai useamman polysakkaridiketjun välille. Ferulahappojen katsottiin olevan lignifioitumisen aloituskohtia soluseinillä ja yhdistävän kaksi suurta polymeerista verkkorakennetta toisiinsa. Myös soluseinän hiilihydraattien koostumuksen havaittiin vaikuttavan muodostuvien kytkentöjen rakenteeseen. Lopuksi tarkasteltiin vielä ferulahapon antioksidatiivisia ominaisuuksia. Todettiin ligniinin ja ferulahapon määrän korreloivan soluseinän peroksidaasi- ja vetyperoksidimäärän kanssa. Kaveissa monet taudinaiheuttajat, vioittuneet kasvin osat sekä UV-säteily lisäsivät peroksidaasien tuotantoa ja edelleen ferulahappojen määrää. Fenoksiradikaalina ferulahappo kykeni eliminoimaan vetyperoksidin haitallisten happiradikaalien vaikutuksia pelkistämällä ne hapettuen itse radikaalisessa kytkeytymisreaktiossa. Tämä johti mielenkiintoisiin tulevaisuuden näkymiin ferulahaposta funktionaalisena elintarvikkeena, lääkeaineena sekä kosmeettisena valmisteena.

野桂花的化学成分研究

首次从野桂花（Osmanthus yunnanensis Fr. P. S. Green）地上部分95%乙醇提取物中通过色谱分离得到20个化合物, 其中化合物20为新化合物。基于波谱数据它们被鉴定为(E)-阿魏酸二十烷基酯(1)、β-谷甾醇(2)、羽扇豆醇(3)、齐墩果酸(4)、7-oxo-β-sitosterol(5)、乙酰齐墩果酸(6)、(6′-O-palmitoyl)-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside(7)、rotundioic acid(8)、地榆糖甙Ⅱ(9)、27-O-(E)-对羟基肉桂酰-28-齐墩果酸(10)、27-O-(Z)-对羟基肉桂酰-28-齐墩果酸(11)、hycandinic acid ester(12)、绿原酸丁酯(13)、4,5-二咖啡酰奎尼酸丁酯(14)、4,5-dihydroxyprenyl caffeate(15)、28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl rotundioic acid (16)、4-(6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxyprenyl caffeate (aohada-glycoside C, 17)、 4-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-5-hydroxy-prenyl caffeate (aohada-glycoside A, 18)、β-胡萝卜甙(19)以及3-[O-β-D-(6-O-咖啡酰吡喃葡萄糖)]-甲基-2-烯-γ-内酯 (20)。化合物13、14、15和17有较强的α-葡萄糖甙酶抑制活性。当浓度为1 mg/ml时，它们对α-葡萄糖甙酶的抑制分别为61.5%、95.5%、72.1%、62.6%，活性高于阿卡波糖。 综述了木犀属植物化学成分及1993年以来苯丙素甙类化合物活性研究进展。 Twenty compounds were isolated from the 95% ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Osmanthus yunnanensis Fr. P. S. Green by chromatography for the first time. On the basis of spectral data, they were identified as (E)-ferulic acid eicosyl ester (1), β-sitosterol (2), lupenol (3), oleanolic acid (4), 7-oxo-β-sitosterol (5), acetyloleanolic acid (6), (6′-O-palmitoyl)-sitosterol 3-O-β-D-glucoside (7), rotundioic acid (8), ziyu glycosideⅡ (9), 3β-hydroxy-27-p-(E)-coumaroyloxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid (10), 3β-hydroxy-27-p-(Z)-coumaroyloxyolean-12-en-28-oic acid (11), hycandinic acid ester (12), chlorogenic acid butyl ester (13), 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid butyl ester (14), 4,5-dihydroxyprenyl caffeate (15), 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl rotundioic acid (16), 4-(6-O-caffeoyl-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy)-5-hydroxyprenyl caffeate (aohada- glycoside C, 17), 4-β-D-glucopyranosyloxy-5-hydroxyprenyl caffeate (aohada- glycoside A, 18), β-daucosterol(19) and 3-[O-β-D-(6-O-caffeoylglucopyranosyl)]- methyl-2-en-γ-lactone (20). Compound 20 is a new one. Compounds 13, 14, 15 and 17 inhibit α-glucosidase with corresponding inhibitory rate of 61.5%, 95.5%, 72.1% and 62.6% at a concentration of 1 mg/ml, higher than acarbose. The chemical studies on Osmanthus genus and bioactivities of phenylpropanoid glycosides were summarized.

花椒水浸液及酚酸类化感物质对作物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响效应

花椒（Zanthoxylum piperitum）是川西干旱河谷地区的重要经济作物，化感作用是花椒连作障碍的原因之一。系统研究花椒化感作用有助于深入理解并最终解决花椒连作障碍。本文通过研究花椒叶、林下土壤浸提液及单一纯化感物质对花椒幼苗生长、苜蓿种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响作用，从生理生化角度揭示浸提液及纯化感物质的作用方式。通过室外和室内模拟实验，对浸提液及纯化感物质的化感效应进行比较，为花椒连作障碍的解决和化感作用机制的深入理解提供依据。主要结果如下： 1.花椒叶及林下土壤浸提液对地下生物量影响作用强与对地上生物量的化感效应，两种浸提液的化感效应强度不同，叶浸提液作用表现更显著。其中在Y6、Y8 、T6和T8处理时，花椒幼苗地下生物量分别降低了31.2%、32.1%、31.6%和31.7%。 2.两种浸提液均能显著影响花椒幼苗体内的保护性酶活性，总体说来，在高浓度下抑制各种抗氧化物酶活性，幼苗体内丙二醛含量增加，幼苗受害严重；在较低浓度下，各种保护性酶活性有所增加，丙二醛含量减少，幼苗伤害减轻。同时，不同月份里，各种酶的活性高低显著不同，9月份的活性显著低于7月份的酶活性。对于养分含量的影响，Y8、T8的影响强度最大，分别使碳元素含量降低了27.8%和30.8%，使钾元素含量降低了34.7%和25.6%。 3.花椒叶及林下土壤浸提液对苜蓿种子萌发及幼苗生长有化感作用，表现在最终萌发率、不同物质代谢及保护性酶活性的差异上。两种浸提液对苜蓿种子萌发过程中蛋白质的含量均无显著性影响，对淀粉和可溶性糖的影响作用类似，高浓度处理无明显化感效应，较低浓度处理显著降低二者在萌发苜蓿种子中的含量。Y2、Y4与T4处理分别使可溶性糖含量减少了32.3%、29.1%和18.8%，Y2与T2处理分别使淀粉含量降低了29.3%和26.8%。 4.苜蓿种子在4种单一化感物质最高浓度即10-3 mol•L-1处理下，萌发率显著降低，半数萌发时间推迟，随着处理浓度降低，抑制作用逐渐减弱，当降低到10-6 mol•L-1时，又能够表现出对苜蓿种子萌发的促进作用。 5.纯化感物质在10-6 mol•L-1时使苜蓿幼苗叶片的保护性酶活性显著升高，丙二醛含量显著降低；在10-3 mol•L-1时使苜蓿叶片中保护性酶活性显著降低，丙二醛含量增加，膜脂过氧化程度加重。 Zanthoxylum piperitum is one of the most important cash crops and has been extensively cultivated in Eastern Tibetan Plateau, especially in the fragile dry valley areas. Allelopathic effects could be a reason for Z. piperitum’s continuous cropping impediment. Systemmatically research of the effect of Z. piperitum allelopathy could help to comprehend the continuous cropping impediment. The allelopathic effects on seedlings growth and seed germination of aqueous extracts of Zanthoxylum piperitum and phenolic allelochemicals were studied, and the action mechanism of the two substances was also discussed from physiology. Indoor and outdoor experiments were set to compare the difference between aqueous extracts and pure allelochemicals. The main results showed that: 1. The aqueous extracts of leaf and soil had significant allelopathic effects on aboveground and underground biomass, but the effect on underground biomass was stronger than the effect on underground evidently. Treated with Y6、Y8 、T6 and T8, the underground biomass was reduced 31.2%、32.1%、31.6% and 31.7% respectively. 2. The activity of activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase and ascorbate peroxidase were significantly reduced, while the content of MDA was increased and the seedlings were suffered stronger, when treated by the high concentration; but at the low concentration, these were reversed. And then, at the different month, the activities of antioxidant enzyme were significantly distinct. As for the contents of nutrient element, Y8、T8 had the more intensive effects than other treatments. 3. The results showed that the two types of aqueous extracts had significant allelopathic effects on seed germination, substances metabolize and the activity of antioxidant enzyme. But the aqueous extracts had no effects on the content of protein, while had the similar effects on the content of starch and soluble sugar. At Y2、Y4 and T4, the content of soluble sugar decreased 32.3%、29.1% and 18.8% respectively. 4. Treated with 10-3 mol•L-1 of the four allelochemicals, the seed germination of alfalfa was significantly inhibited. Ferulic acid, coumarin and vanillic acid at 10-3 mol•L-1 significantly reduced the activities of antioxidant enzyme, while the content of MDA in alfalfa seedling was significantly increased. The restrain effects became weakened with the treat concentration falled. However, ferulic acid, coumarin and vanillic acid could increase the activities of antioxidant enzyme at 10-6mol•L-1.

A New Method for Analysis of Disulfide-Containing Proteins by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization (MALDI) Mass Spectrometry

A simple and high-throughput method for the identification of disulfide-containing peptides utilizing peptide-matrix adducts is described. Some commonly used matrices in MALDI mass spectrometry were found to specifically react with sulfhydryl groups within peptide, thus allowing the observation of the peptide-matrix adduct ion [M + n + n' matrix + H](+) or [M + n + n' matrix + Na](+) (n = the number of cysteine residues, n' = 1, 2, ..., n) in MALDI mass spectra after chemical reduction of disulfide-linked peptides. Among several matrices tested, alpha-cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid (CHCA, molecular mass 189 Da) and alpha-cyano-3-hydroxycinnamic acid (3-HCCA) were found to be more effective for MALDI analysis of disulfide-containing peptides/proteins. Two reduced cysteines involved in a disulfide bridge resulted in a mass shift of 189 Da per cysteine, so the number of disulfide bonds could then be determined, while for the other matrices (sinapinic acid, ferulic acid, and caffeic acid), a similar addition reaction could not occur unless the reaction was carried out under alkaline conditions. The underlying mechanism of the reaction of the matrix addition at sulfhydryl groups is proposed, and several factors that might affect the formation of the peptide-matrix adducts were investigated.

Screening and analysis of biologically active compounds in Angelica sinensis by molecular biochromatography

A novel strategy for the screening and analysis of biologically active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine by molecular biochromatography is proposed. Molecular biochromatography with human serum albumin (HSA) immobilized on silica as stationary phase was used to screen and analyse the bioactive compounds in the typical Chinese medicine of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels. Ten peaks showed retention on this column, which is based on their affinity for HSA. Ferulic acid and liguistilide were identified as the principal active components, which agrees very well with the results in the literature. A quality control method was also developed based on the simultaneous determination the concentrations of ferulic acid and liguistilide in solutions of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels extracted with water and methanol. It was observed that the concentrations of ferulic acid and liguistilide in solution extracted with methanol were 2 and 53 times higher, respectively, than those with water. It was shown that molecular biochromatography is an effective way of analysing and screening biologically active compounds in traditional Chinese medicine.

Separation of compounds interacting with liposome membrane in combined prescription of traditional Chinese medicines with immobilized liposome chromatography

Immobilized liposome chromatography (ILC), the stationary phase of which has been regarded as a mimic biomembranes system was used to separate and analyze compounds interacting with liposome membrane in Danggui Buxue decoction, a combined prescription of traditional Chinese medicines (CPTCMs), and its compositions Radix Astragli and Radix Angelica Sinensis. More than 10 main peaks in the extract of Danggui Buxue decoction were resolved on the ILC column, suggesting that more than 10 components in the prescription have significant retention on ILC column. Ligustilide, astragaloside, TV and formononetin, three main bioactive ingredients in Danggui Buxue decoction, were found to have relatively significant, while ferulic acid, another bioactive ingredient in the prescription, relatively weak retention on ILC column. Effects of the eluent pH and amount of immobilized phosphatidylcholine (PC) on separation of interactional compounds in the extract of Danggui Buxue decoction were also investigated. It was found that these two factors strongly affected the retention of some interactional compounds. In addition, the fractions partitioned with different solvents from water extract of this combined prescription were evaluated with this ILC column system. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Characterization of interaction property of multicomponents in Chinese Herb with protein by microdialysis combined with HPLC

Interaction of traditional Chinese Herb Rhizoma Chuanxiong and protein was studied by microdialysis coupled with high performance liquid chromatography. Compounds in Rhizoma Chuanxiong, such as ferulic acid, senkyunolide A and 3-butylphthalide, were identified by HPLC, HPLC-MS and UV-vis. Microdialysis recoveries and binding degrees of compounds in Rhizoma Chuanxiong with human serum albumin (HSA) and other human plasma protein were determined: recoveries of microdialysis sampling ranged from 36.7 to 98.4% with R.S.D. below 3.1%; while binding to HSA ranged from 0 to 91.5% (0.3 mM HSA) and from 0 to 93.5% (0.6 mM HSA), respectively. Compared with HSA, most of compounds bound to human blood serum more extensively and the results showed that binding of these compounds in Rhizoma Chuanxiong was influenced by pH. Two compounds were found to bind to HSA and human blood serum. their binding degrees were consistent with ferulic acid and 3-butylphthalide, the active compounds in Rhizoma Chuanoxiong. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Novel ingredients from brewers' spent grain - bioactivity in cell culture model systems and bioactivity retention in fortified food products

Functional food ingredients, with scientifically proven and validated bioactive effects, present an effective means of inferring physiological health benefits to consumers to reduce the risk of certain diseases. The search for novel bioactive compounds for incorporation into functional foods is particularly active, with brewers’ spent grain (BSG, a brewing industry co-product) representing a unique source of potentially bioactive compounds. The DNA protective, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects of phenolic extracts from both pale (P1 - P4) and black (B1 – B4) BSG were examined. Black BSG extracts significantly (P < 0.05) protected against DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and extracts with the highest total phenolic content (TPC) protected against 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1)-induced oxidative DNA damage, measured by the comet assay. Cellular antioxidant activity assays were used to measured antioxidant potential in the U937 cell line. Extracts P1 – P3 and B2 - B4 demonstrated significant (P < 0.05) antioxidant activity, measured by the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, catalase (CAT) activity and gluatathione (GSH) content assays. Phenolic extracts P2 and P3 from pale BSG possess anti-inflammatory activity measured in concanavalin-A (conA) stimulated Jurkat T cells by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA); significantly (P < 0.05) reducing production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-4 (IL-4, P2 only), interleukin-10 (IL-10) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Black BSG phenolic extracts did not exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in vitro. Hydroxycinnamic acids (HA) have previously been shown to be the phenolic acids present at highest concentration in BSG; therefore the HA profile of the phenolic extracts used in this research, the original barley (before brewing) and whole BSG was characterised and quantified using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The concentration of HA present in the samples was in the order of ferulic acid (FA) > p-coumaric acid (p-CA) derivatives > FA derivatives > p-CA > caffeic acid (CA) > CA derivatives. Results suggested that brewing and roasting decreased the HA content. Protein hydrolysates from BSG were also screened for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential. A total of 34 BSG protein samples were tested. Initial analyses of samples A – J found the protein samples did not exert DNA protective effects (except hydrolysate H) or antioxidant effects by the comet and SOD assays, respectively. Samples D, E, F and J selectively reduced IFN-γ production (P < 0.05) in Jurkat T cells, measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Further testing of hydrolysates K – W, including fractionated hydrolysates with molecular weight < 3, < 5 and > 5 kDa, found that higher molecular weight (> 5 kDa) and unfractionated hydrolysates demonstrate greatest anti-inflammatory effects, while fractionated hydrolysates were also shown to have antioxidant activity, by the SOD activity assay. A commercially available yogurt drink (Actimel) and snack-bar and chocolate-drink formulations were fortified with the most bioactive phenolic and protein samples – P2, B2, W, W < 3 kDa, W < 5 kDa, W > 5 kDa. All fortified foods were subjected to a simulated gastrointestinal in vitro digestion procedure and bioactivity retention in the digestates was determined using the comet and ELISA assays. Yogurt fortified with B2 digestate significantly (P < 0.05) protected against H2O2-induced DNA damage in Caco-2 cells. Greatest immunomodulatory activity was demonstrated by the snack-bar formulation, significantly (P < 0.05) reducing IFN-γ production in con-A stimulated Jurkat T cells. Hydrolysate W significantly (P < 0.05) increased the IFN-γ reducing capacity of the snack-bar. Addition of fractionated hydrolysate W < 3 kDa and W < 5 kDa to yogurt also reduced IL-2 production to a greater extent than the unfortified yogurt (P < 0.05).

Antioxidant properties of kilned and roasted malts

Compounds possessing antioxidant activity play a crucial role in delaying or preventing lipid oxidation in foods and beverages during processing and storage. Such reactions lead to loss of product quality, especially as a consequence of off-flavor formation. The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity of kilned (standard) and roasted (speciality) malts in relation to phenolic compounds, sugars, amino acids, and color [assessed as European Brewing Convention units (degrees EBC) and absorbance at 420 nm]. The concentrations of sugars and amino acids decreased with the intensity of the applied heat treatment, and this was attributed to the extent of the Maillard reaction, as well as sugar caramelization, in the highly roasted malts. Proline, followed by glutamine, was the most abundant free amino/imino acid in the malt samples, except those that were highly roasted, and maltose was the most abundant sugar in all malts. Levels of total phenolic compounds decreased with heat treatment. Catechin and ferulic acid were the most abundant phenolic compounds in the majority of the malts, and amounts were highest in the kilned samples. In highly roasted malts, degradation products of ferulic acid were identified. Antioxidant activity increased with the intensity of heating, in parallel with color formation, and was significantly higher for roasted malts compared to kilned malts. In kilned malts, phenolic compounds were the main identified contributors to antioxidant activity, with Maillard reaction products also playing a role. In roasted malts, Maillard reaction products were responsible for the majority of the antioxidant activity.

Critical stages of the brewing process for changes in antioxidant activity and levels of phenolic compounds in ale

Samples were taken at each stage of brewing (malt, milling, mashing, wort separation, hop addition, boiling, whirlpool, dilution, fermentation, warm rest, chill-lagering, beer filtration, carbonation and bottling, pasteurization, and storage). The level of antioxidant activity of unfractionated, low-molecular-mass (LMM) and high-molecular-mass (HMM) fractions was measured by the 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfortic acid) radical cation (ABTS(.+)) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) procedures. Polyphenol levels were assessed by HPLC. The LMM fraction ( 0.001) in catechin and ferulic acid levels. Increases in antioxidant activity levels were observed after mashing, boiling, fermentation, chill-lagering, and pasteurization, in line with previous studies on lager. Additionally, increases in the level of antioxidant activity occurred after wort separation and carbonation and bottling and were accompanied by increases in levels of most monitored polyphenols. Data from the ABTS(.-) and FRAP assays indicated that the compounds contributing to the levels of antioxidant activity responded differently in the two procedures. Levels of ferulic, vanillic, and chlorogenic acids and catechin accounted for 45-61% of the variation in antioxidant activity levels.

Growth Inhibitory Activity of Extracted Material and Isolated Compounds from the Fruits of Kigelia pinnata

A study of the components of the fruits of Kigelia pinnata was undertaken to identify compounds with potential growth inhibitory activity against human melanoma cells, since extracts from the fruits of this plant have been described in traditional medicine to have application in the treatment of skin cancer and other skin ailments. A bioactivity-guided fractionation process yielded a number of crude fractions, which demonstrated cytotoxicity in vitro against human melanoma cells. Compounds isolated and identified included the isocoumarins, demethylkigelin (1) and kigelin 2), fatty acids, oleic (3) and heneicosanoic acids (4), the furonaphthoquinone, 2-(1-hydroxyethyl)-naphtho[2,3-b]furan-4,9-dione (5), and ferulic acid (6). A number of structurally related synthetic compounds were also tested using the MTT assay. The most potent series of these compounds, the furonaphthoquinones, also demonstrated a cytotoxic effect in two human breast cancer cell lines tested.

Electrospun medicated shellac nanofibers for colon-targeted drug delivery

Medicated shellac nanofibers providing colon-specific sustained release were fabricated using coaxial electrospinning. A solution of 7.5 g shellac and 1.5 g of ferulic acid (FA) in 10 mL ethanol was used as the core fluid, and a mixture of ethanol and N,N-dimethylformamide (8/10 v/v) as the shell. The presence of the shell fluid was required to prevent frequent clogging of the spinneret. The diameters of the fibers (D) can be manipulated by varying the ratio of shell to core flow rates (F), according to the equation D = 0.52F−0.19. Scanning electron microscopy images revealed that fibers prepared with F values of 0.1 and 0.25 had linear morphologies with smooth surfaces, but when the shell fluid flow rate was increased to 0.5 the fiber integrity was compromised. FA was found to be amorphously distributed in the fibers on the basis of X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry results. This can be attributed to good compatibility between the drug and carrier: IR spectra indicated the presence of hydrogen bonds between the two. In vitro dissolution tests demonstrated that there was minimal FA release at pH 2.0, and sustained release in a neutral dissolution medium. The latter occurred through an erosion mechanism. During the dissolution processes, the shellac fibers were gradually converted into nanoparticles as the FA was freed into solution, and ultimately completely dissolved.

Effect of condensed tannins from tropical legumes on the activity of fibrolytic enzymes from the rumen fungus Neocallimastyx hurleyensis

A study was conducted to assess the effect of condensed tannins on the activity of fibrolytic enzymes from the anaerobic rumen fungus, Neocallimastix hurleyensis and a recombinant ferulic acid esterase (FAE) from the aerobic fungus Aspergillus niger. Condensed tannins were extracted from the tropical legumes Desmodium ovalifolium, Flemingia macrophylla, Leucaena leticocephala, Leucaena pallida, Calliandra calothyrsus and Clitoria fairchildiana and incubated in fungal enzyme mixtures or with the recombinant FAE. In most cases, the greatest reductions in enzyme activities were observed with tannins purified from D. ovalifolium and F macrophylla and the least with tannins from L leucocephala. Thus, whereas 40 mu g ml(-1) of condensed tannins from C. calothyrsus and L. leucocephala were needed to halve the activity of N. hurleyensis carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), just 5.5 mu g ml(-1) of the same tannins were required to inhibit 50% of xylanase activity. The beta-D-glucosidase and beta-D-Xylosidase enzymes were less sensitive to tannin inhibition and concentrations greater than 100 mu g ml(-1) were required to reduce their activity by 50%. In other assays, the inhibitory effect of condensed tannins when added to incubation mixtures containing particulate substrates (the primary cell walls of E arundinacea) or when bound to these substrate was compared. Substrate-associated tannins were more effective in preventing fibrolytic activities than tannins added directly to incubations solutions. It was concluded that condensed tannins from tropical legumes can inhibit fibrolytic enzyme activities, although the extent of the effect was dependent on the tannin, the nature of its association with the substrate and the enzyme involved. (c) 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.