Current clinical status on the preventive effects of cranberry consumption against urinary tract infections

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) represent a common and quite costly medical problem, primarily affecting the female population which may be due to a shorter urethra. The bacterium Escherichia coli are mainly responsible for most uncomplicated UTIs. Cranberry antibacterial effects have widely been studied in vitro, and laboratory and clinical studies have also been performed to elucidate the mechanisms of cranberry actions and the clinical benefits of cranberry consumption against UTIs. The present review aimed to summarize the proposed mechanisms of cranberry actions against UTIs and the clinical trials that evaluated the efficacy of supplementing cranberry products in different subpopulations. Taking into consideration the existing data, cranberry consumption may prevent bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells which reduces the development of UTI. Cranberry consumption could also decreasing UTI related symptoms by suppressing inflammatory cascades as an immunologic response to bacteria invasion. The existing clinical trials suggest that the beneficial effects of cranberry against UTIs seem to be prophylactic by preventing the development of infections; however, they exert low effectiveness in populations at increased risk for contracting UTIs. Additional well-designed, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials that use standardized cranberry products are strongly justified in order to determine the efficiency of cranberry on the prevention of UTIs in susceptible populations.     

葡萄籽原花青素及其组合物对家兔实验性动脉粥样硬化的抑制作用

目的 研究葡萄籽原花青素及其组合物对家兔实验性动脉粥样硬化的抑制作用。 方法 喂养高脂饲料建立实验性动脉粥样硬化家兔模型,实验分为正常对照组、模型组、原花青素组、原花青素与茶多酚组合物组、原花青素与姜黄素组合物组和辛伐他汀组;造模成功后灌胃给药4周,取血测定血脂水平,然后麻醉,取肝脏和部分主动脉做透射电镜检查和油红O脂肪染色。结果 原花青素及其组合物可显著降低动脉粥样硬化家兔血清甘油三酯、总胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白水平;显著减轻血管内皮损伤,减轻血管和肝脏的脂滴沉积。结论 原花青素及其组合物通过保护血管内皮细胞和降低血管的脂质沉积发挥抗动脉粥样硬化作用。     

Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and cardiovascular disease risk factors

The American cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) is one of the three commercially important fruits native to North America. Cranberries are a particularly rich source of phenolic phytochemicals, including phenolic acids (benzoic, hydroxycinnamic, and ellagic acids) and flavonoids (anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavan-3-ols). A growing body of evidence suggests that polyphenols, including those found in cranberries, may contribute to reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by increasing the resistance of LDL to oxidation, inhibiting platelet aggregation, reducing blood pressure, and via other anti-thrombotic and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Research regarding the bioactivity of cranberries and their constituents on risk factors for CVD is reviewed.     

葡萄籽提取物原花青素诱导胃癌细胞脱落凋亡

目的　研究葡萄籽提取物原花青素诱导胃癌细胞脱落凋亡的作用。方法　采用细胞形态学观察、Annxin V和PI细胞染色实验和流式细胞仪检测方法观察原花青素对悬浮培养的胃癌细胞生长状态和细胞周期的影响以及诱导脱落凋亡的作用。结果　 0 1mmol·L-1原花青素可抑制抗脱落凋亡的胃癌细胞聚集成团 ,0 5mmol·L-1原花青素可阻滞悬浮培养的不同胃癌细胞于不同的细胞周期 ,并诱导胃癌细胞发生脱落凋亡。结论　原花青素可诱导胃癌细胞发生脱落凋亡     

葡萄籽原花青素对实验性动脉粥样硬化兔基质金属蛋白酶的影响

目的:观察葡萄籽原花青素(GSPE)对实验性动脉粥样硬化基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)的影响,探讨其抗动脉粥样硬化的可能机制。方法:随机将雄性新西兰兔24只分为三组:正常对照组,饲喂标准颗粒饲料;模型组,饲喂含1%胆固醇的颗粒饲料;干预组,饲喂含1%GSPE和1%胆固醇的颗粒饲料。于实验前及实验的第4、8、12周末经耳中动脉采空腹血,检测血清MMP-9水平。于12周末,留取主动脉作常规病理观察和免疫组化染色。结果:与模型组相比,GSPE干预组病变明显减轻,主动脉MMP-9表达明显减少,血清MMP-9水平明显下降(1.06±0.24vs1.33±0.29,P<0.05)。结论:GSPE具有抗动脉粥样硬化效应,该效应的发挥与其抑制MMP有关。     

Reactive radical scavenging and xanthine oxidase inhibition of proanthocyanidins from Carallia brachiata

Antioxidant-guided separation of Carallia brachiata bark led to a new A-type trimeric proanthocyanidin named carallidin (1), along with mahuannin A (2) and p-hydroxy benzoic acid (3). The structure of 1 was fully characterized by interpretation of spectroscopic data and chemical means. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited radical scavenging against DPPH (IC(50) 102 and 182 microm) and superoxide radical (IC(50) 1.47 and 9.74 microm). In addition, 1 and 2 also inhibited xanthine oxidase with IC(50) values of 12.9 and 16.0 microm.     

原花青素纳米乳的制备及其质量评价*

目的:研制原花青素纳米乳制剂并对其进行质量评价。方法:采用伪三元相图法进行处方筛选,并考察纳米乳的理化性质、稳定性及安全性。结果:制备的原花青素纳米乳,在透射电镜下观察为球状液滴,平均粒径为40 nm,影响因素实验表明该纳米乳制剂稳定,并对完整皮肤无毒性和刺激性。结论:原花青素纳米乳制备简单,性质稳定,有望成为原花青素新制剂。     

葡萄籽原花青素对糖基终产物诱导的内皮细胞分泌TNF-α的影响

目的观察葡萄籽原花青素(GSP)对糖基化终产物(AGEs)诱导的人脐静脉内皮细胞(HUVEC)肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)分泌及其mRNA表达的抑制作用。方法牛血清白蛋白(BSA)与葡萄糖在体外共同孵育以制备糖基化终产物(AGE-BSA),将培养的HUVEC与不同浓度的GSP(5、15、25μg/ml)预孵育4h,再加入200μg/mlAGE-BSA共同培养,分别用ELISA法测定培养上清液中TNF-α蛋白的浓度,用逆转录PCR(RT-PC)检测TNF-αmRNA的表达,用激光共聚焦显微镜检测细胞内活性氧簇(ROS)的产生。结果HUVEC用AGE-BSA刺激后能明显的增强细胞内ROS产生,并增加TNF-α蛋白分泌及其mRNA表达,与空白对照相比差异显著(P<0.001),而GSP预孵育则对AGE-BSA诱导的上述作用具有显著的抑制作用(P<0.001),并呈剂量依赖性。结论GSP可下调AGEs刺激的内皮细胞TNF-α的产生,其机制可能与抑制细胞内氧化应激有关。     

Anti-apoptotic and anti-oxidant effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract in preventing cyclosporine A-induced nephropathy

Aim: Although the pathogenesis of cyclosporine (CsA) nephropathy is not completely understood, it is attributed to oxidative damage and apoptosis. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) is a molecule with anti‐oxidant and anti‐apoptotic properties. Our aim was to demonstrate the effects of GSPE in preventing CsA nephropathy. Methods: Twenty‐four Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups. The control, GSPE, CsA and CsA+GSPE groups were given 1 mL olive oil, 100 mg/kg GSPE, 25 mg/kg CsA and 100 mg/kg GSPE+25 mg/kg CsA, respectively. On day 21, blood samples were taken for blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine and CsA levels, and renal tissue was used for total oxidant system (TOS), total anti‐oxidant system (TAS), oxidative stress index (OSI) and malondialdehyde (MDA) measurements. In addition to renal histopathology, apoptosis staining was performed on renal tissue. Results: The BUN, creatinine, TOS, OSI, MDA, histopathological score, and apoptotic index exhibited increases in the CsA group. In the CsA+GSPE group, however, BUN, creatinine, OSI, MDA, renal histopathological score and apoptotic index (AI) decreased and TAS levels increased. In addition, there was no difference between the CsA and CsA+GSPE groups with regard to CsA levels. Conclusion: We demonstrated that GSPE prevents CsA nephropathy and that this effect is achieved by anti‐apoptotic and anti‐oxidant activity. We also achieved a significant recovery in kidney functions without affecting CsA plasma levels.     

Beneficial clinical effects of grape seed proanthocyanidin extract on the progression of carotid atherosclerotic plaques

Background Atherosclerotic plaques indicate the occurrence of ischemia events and it is a difficult task for clinical physicians. Grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) has been reported to exert an antiatherogenic effect by inducing regression of atherosclerotic plaques in animal experimental studies. In this study, the antiatherogenic effect of GSPE has been investigated in clinical use. Methods Consecutive 287 patients diagnosed with asymptomatic carotid plaques or abnormal plaque free carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) were randomly assigned to the GSPE group (n = 146) or control group (n = 141). The patients in the GSPE group received GSPE 200 mg per day orally, while patients in the control group were only enrolled in a lifestyle intervention program. Carotid ultrasound examination was performed at baseline and 6, 12, 24 months during follow-up. Mean maximum CIMT (MMCIMT), plaque score, echogenicity of plaques and ischemic vascular events were recorded. Results As anticipated, after treatment, GSPE resulted in significant reduction in MMCIMT progression (4.2% decrease after six months, 4.9% decrease after 12 months and 5.8% decrease after 24 months) and plaque score (10.9% decrease after six months, 24.1% decrease after 12 months and 33.1% decrease after 24 months) for the primary outcome, while MMCIMT and plaque score were stable and even increased with the time going on in control group. The number of plaques and unstable plaques also decreased after treatment of GSPE. Furthermore, the carotid plaque can disappear after treatment with GSPE. The incidence rate for transitory ischemic attack (TIA), arterial revascularization procedure, and hospital readmission for unstable angina in GSPE group were statistically significant lower (P = 0.02, 0.08, 0.002, respectively) compared with the control group. Conclusions GSPE inhibited the progression of MMCIMT and reduced carotid plaque size in GSPE treated patients, and with extended treatment, the superior efficacy on MMCIMT and carotid plaque occurred. Furthermore, the GSPE group showed lower rates of clinical vascular events.