Determination of phytosterols in oenological matrices by liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization and ion-trap mass spectrometry

The aim of the present study is the identification of plant sterols and the development of an analytical method that allows for the quantification of such family of compounds in oenological matrices. The application of liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization ion-trap mass spectrometry (LC-APCI-ITMS) to sterol characterization is a useful tool and was selected to perform this research. Sterol separation was achieved using a C8 column with a mobile phase consisting of water and acetonitrile under gradient conditions and column temperature of 35 °C, which leads to analyte elution in less than 25 min. Retention times, precursor ions and MRM transitions of analytes allowed for the identification and sensitive quantitative determination of phytosterols in oenological matrices at trace levels. The method showed a dynamic linear range over the concentration ranges from 0.02 to 320 mg kg⁻¹ for the different parts of grapes and from 8 to 100 ng mL⁻¹ in case of wine. The most abundant phytosterol in all samples was β-sitosterol. The seeds are the richest source of phytosterols having a great amount of β-sitosterol, 314 mg kg⁻¹ fresh berry mass, followed by stigmasterol, fucosterol and campesterol at much lower concentrations (ranging from 3 to 10 mg kg⁻¹).     

Comparison between ethanolic and aqueous extracts from Chinese juniper berries for hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic effects in alloxan-induced diabetic rats

AIM OF THE STUDY: Hypoglycaemic and hypolipidemic properties of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively, from Chinese juniper (Juniperus chinensis L.) berries were investigated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After oral administration of each extract singly or repeatedly to alloxan-induced diabetic rats, the blood glucose, glutamate-pyruvate transferase (GPT), glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels were assayed. RESULTS: The blood glucose levels after a single oral administration of the ethanolic extract significantly reduced in a time-dependent manner, which is much faster and more than that of glibenclamide. The blood glucose levels of alloxan-induced diabetic rats treated with the ethanolic extract were reduced to 94, 81%, 66%, 45% and 40% at 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9h, respectively (p<0.05), while the aqueous extract had no effect at all. Repeated oral administration of the ethanolic extract also effectively reduced the GPT value to 58% of the diabetic rats, but slightly reduced the GOT value to 87% of the diabetic rats (p<0.05). On the other hand, the repeated oral administration of aqueous extract effectively reduced the GOT value to 43% of the diabetic rats, without affecting the GPT level. Effects of both extracts on the TC and TG levels were different. There was no significant difference in the TC and TG levels between diabetic control and diabetic groups when repeatedly administered orally with ethanolic extract. On the other hand, the aqueous extract brought down the TC value to 57% and the TG value to 37% of the diabetic control rats (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that the ethanolic extract of Chinese juniper berries possesses a potential hypoglycaemic effect while the aqueous extract has a potential hypolipidemic effect.     

Effects of Extracts of Commonly Consumed Food Supplements and Food Fractions on the Permeability of Drugs Across Caco-2 Cell Monolayers

PURPOSE: Extracts made from berries, herbs, and various plant materials, which might possess a range of activities, are used as health promoting products. Because little is known about their effects on the absorption of co-administered drugs, the effects of some food supplements, Finnish berries, and herbs were studied on the permeability of some commonly used drugs. METHODS: The permeabilities of verapamil, metoprolol, ketoprofen, paracetamol, and furosemide were studied across Caco-2 cell monolayers with contemporaneously administered extracts from flax seed, purple loosestrife, and Scots pine bark; bilberries, cowberries, and raspberries; oregano, rosemary, and sage. Toxicological tests were conducted to determine cellular damage. RESULTS: The effects of extracts on drug permeabilities were generally minor. Flax seed decreased the permeability of all drugs except verapamil. Purple loosestrife and pine decreased verapamil and metoprolol permeability. Changes caused by berries were mainly pH-related. Rosemary and oregano enhanced furosemide permeability. CONCLUSIONS: Ingestion of extracts of herbs and berries studied are not expected to markedly change the permeabilities of highly permeable drugs. Harmful effects at sites of or during absorption are unlikely. However, if high doses of extracts are administered with low permeable drugs in vitro, effects on drug permeabilities could not be excluded. Use of such extracts should therefore be evaluated during continuous medication.     

Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Properties of Goji fruits (Lycium barbarum L.) Cultivated in Serbia

Objective: Goji fruit extracts, methanol (MGE) and hexane (HGE), were subjected to evaluation as potential source of phenolic antioxidants and antiradical activity.

Methods: Some phenolic compounds (gallic, protocatechuic, vanillic, chlorogenic, coumaric, caffeic and ferulic acid and catechin and rutin), vitamin C and carotenoids were identified and quantified by HPLC. Antioxidant activity was tested by measuring ability to scavenge DPPH and hydroxyl radicals. Also, reducing power of goji fruit extracts was determined.

Results: HPLC analysis results showed predominance of gallic acid (40.44 mg/g g.f). Vitamin C content in MGE was 716.91 mg vitC/100 g g.f. IC₅₀^DPPH· varied from 26.64 μmolTEAC/g for HGE to 62.15 μmolTEAC/g for MGE, while RP_0.5 values varied from 952.23 μmolTEAC/g for MGE to 1360.48 mg/mL for HGE. IC₅₀·^OH for MGE was 1844.01 μmolTEAC/g.

Conclusions: Our results support the use of goji fruits as rich sources of phytochemicals for further utilization in the food industry as supplements and functional food ingredients.     

Oxalate content of New Zealand grown and imported fruits

Total and soluble oxalate contents of 21 locally grown and 9 imported fruits commonly consumed in New Zealand were determined by extracting total oxalates with 2 M HCL for 20 min and soluble oxalates with nanopure water for 20 min at room temperature (21 °C). The extracted oxalates were analysed by ion exchange HPLC. Total oxalate content of locally grown fruit ranged from 2.0 to 640.2 mg/100 g fresh weight (FW) while the soluble oxalate ranged from not detected to 431.3 mg/100 g FW. The total oxalate content of a selection of imported fruits ranged from 2.9 to 7566.5 mg/100 g FW and the soluble oxalate content ranged from 1.2 to 3855.4 mg/100 g FW. Very high levels of total oxalates were measured in 2 imported fruits, Indian gooseberry (Phyllanthus emblica L.) and carambola (Averrhoa carambola L., star fruit), and in New Zealand-grown rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum L.), at 7566.5, 436.1 and 640.2 mg/100 g FW, respectively, and their soluble oxalates were also the highest measured of all the fruits.     

Polyphenols: Benefits to the Cardiovascular System in Health and in Aging

Numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of naturally occurring dietary polyphenols in promoting cardiovascular health and emphasized the significant role these compounds play in limiting the effects of cellular aging. Polyphenols such as resveratrol, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and curcumin have been acknowledged for having beneficial effects on cardiovascular health, while some have also been shown to be protective in aging. This review highlights the literature surrounding this topic on the prominently studied and documented polyphenols as pertaining to cardiovascular health and aging.     

Nutritive values of wild edible fruits,berries, nuts,roots and spices consumed by the Khasi tribes of India

Fourteen wild edible berries, fruits, roots, and nuts consumed by the Khasi tribe of Meghalaya were botanically identified and analyzed for their nutrient contents in terms of macronutrients, minerals, and vitamins. The study revealed that Coix lachryma jobi, a nut, was rich in protein (13.3 g %), Zanthoxylum acanthopodium a spice, rich in fat (20.9 g %), and Solanum indicum a berry, rich in crude fiber (47.2 g %). Castanopsis indica a nut, contained good amounts of calcium (1540 mg %), Kaempfaria galanga a root, considerable amounts of iron (69.91 mg %) and zinc (8.4 mg %), and Vangeria spinosaa fruit, a good amount of zinc (23.0 mg %). The berry Solanum indicum contained 826.4 mg % of vitamin C, whereas Prunus nepalensis contained β-carotene (257.1 µg %) and vitamin C (608.9 mg %). It can be concluded that the wild edibles eaten by the Khasi are a good source of nutrients, and considering their low cost and easy availability, need to be popularized and recommended for commercial exploitation.     

毛酸浆浆果的化学成分研究

目的 研究毛酸浆Physalis pubescens浆果的化学成分。方法 利用反复硅胶柱色谱、Sephadex LH-20凝胶柱色谱、中压柱色谱及半制备高效液相色谱等方法分离纯化,根据核磁共振谱、质谱等谱学数据鉴定化合物结构。结果 从毛酸浆浆果中分离得到16个化合物,分别鉴定为3, 7, 3′-三甲基槲皮素（1）、山柰酚（2）、金圣草酚（3）、槲皮素-3-O-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖苷（4）、2α, 3β, 23-三羟基-12-烯-28-齐墩果酸（5）、白头翁皂苷A（6）、白头翁皂苷D（7）、咖啡酸（8）、1-O-咖啡酰基-β-D-吡喃葡萄糖（9）、N-反式-阿魏酰酪胺（10）、新橄榄脂素（11）、梣皮树脂醇（12）、松脂醇（13）、蔗糖（14）、尿苷（15）、β-谷甾醇（16）。结论 化合物5～7、9～15为首次从酸浆属植物中分离得到,化合物3、8为首次从该植物中分离得到。     

Berry-Derived Polyphenols in Cardiovascular Pathologies: Mechanisms of Disease and the Role of Diet and Sex

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence, pathogenesis, and manifestation is differentially influenced by biological sex. Berry polyphenols target several signaling pathways pertinent to CVD development, including inflammation, oxidative stress, and cardiac and vascular remodeling, and there are innate differences in these pathways that also vary by sex. There is limited research systematically investigating sex differences in berry polyphenol effects on these pathways, but there are fundamental findings at this time that suggest a sex-specific effect. This review will detail mechanisms within these pathological pathways, how they differ by sex, and how they may be individually targeted by berry polyphenols in a sex-specific manner. Because of the substantial polyphenolic profile of berries, berry consumption represents a promising interventional tool in the treatment and prevention of CVD in both sexes, but the mechanisms in which they function within each sex may vary.     

Persistence of Imidacloprid on Grape Leaves,Grape Berries and Soil

Residues of imidacloprid were estimated in grape leaves, grape berries and soil following four applications of Confidor 200SL at 400 and 800 mL ha⁻¹ using 1,000 L water. The average initial deposits of imidacloprid on grape leaves were found to be 10.01 and 16.97 mg kg⁻¹ at single and double dosages, respectively. These residues of imidacloprid dissipated to be the extract of 98.8% and 97.0%, respectively, at single and double dosages in 15 days, with half-life period of 2.35 and 2.97 days. Residues of imidacloprid in grape berries at harvest time were observed to below determination limit of 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ at single dose and 0.06 mg kg⁻¹ at double dose. However, acceptable daily intake (ADI) of imidacloprid is 0.06 mg kg⁻¹ body weight day⁻¹, which means an adult of 60 kg and a child of 10 kg can safely tolerate intake of 3,600 and 600 μg imidacloprid, respectively, without any appreciable risk to their life. Assuming consumption of 200 g grape berries contaminated at 0.06 mg kg⁻¹, it will lead to an intake of only 12 μg of imidacloprid, which is quite safe for a child as well as for an adult. Hence, the use of imidacloprid on grape crop seems to be toxicologically acceptable.