Anthocyanin-rich tea Sunrouge upregulates expressions of heat shock proteins in the gastrointestinal tract of ICR mice: A comparison with the conventional tea cultivar Yabukita

New Zealand blackcurrant extract modulates the heat shock response in men during exercise in hot ambient conditions

PURPOSE

To determine if 7d of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract alters the heat shock, inflammatory and apoptotic response during prolonged exertional-heat stress.

METHODS

Ten men (Age: 29 ± 2 years, Stature: 1.82 ± 0.02 m, Mass: 80.3 ± 2.7 kg, V̇O2max: 56 ± 2 mL·kg-1·min-1) ingested two capsules of CurraNZ™ (NZBC extract: 210 mg anthocyanins·day-1) or PLACEBO for 7d prior to 1 h treadmill run (65% V̇O2max) in hot ambient conditions (34 °C/40% RH). Blood samples were collected before (Pre), immediately after (Post), 1 h after (1-Post), and 4 h after (4-Post) exercise. Heat shock proteins (HSP90, HSP70, HSP32) were measured in plasma. HSP and protein markers of inflammatory capacity (TLR4, NF-κB) and apoptosis (BAX/BCL-2, Caspase 9) were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

RESULTS

eHSP32 was elevated at baseline in NZBC(+ 31%; p < 0.001). In PLACEBO HSP32 content in PBMC was elevated at 4-Post(+ 98%; p = 0.002), whereas in NZBC it fell at Post(- 45%; p = 0.030) and 1-Post(- 48%; p = 0.026). eHSP70 was increased at Post in PLACEBO(+ 55.6%, p = 0.001) and NZBC (+ 50.7%, p = 0.010). eHSP90 was increased at Post(+ 77.9%, p < 0.001) and 1-Post(+ 73.2%, p < 0.001) in PLACEBO, with similar increases being shown in NZBC (+ 49.0%, p = 0.006 and + 66.2%, p = 0.001; respectively). TLR4 and NF-κB were both elevated in NZBC at PRE(+ 54%, p = 0.003 and + 57%, p = 0.004; respectively). Main effects of study condition were also shown for BAX/BCL-2(p = 0.025) and Caspase 9 (p = 0.043); both were higher in NZBC.

CONCLUSION

7d of NZBC extract supplementation increased eHSP32 and PBMC HSP32 content. It also increased inflammatory and apoptotic markers in PBMC, suggesting that NZBC supports the putative inflammatory response that accompanies exertional-heat stress.

Antioxidant Properties and Geroprotective Potential of Wheat Bran Extracts with Increased Content of Anthocyanins

In recent years, there has been a focus on breeding wheat with high anthocyanin levels in order to improve food quality and human health. The objective of this study was to examine the antioxidant and geroprotective properties of wheat bran extracts using both in vitro and in vivo research methods. Two wheat lines were used: one with uncolored pericarp (anthocyanin-free) and another with colored pericarp (anthocyanin-containing). These lines differed in a specific region of chromosome 2A containing the Pp3/TaMyc1 gene, which regulates anthocyanin production. High-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed the presence of cyanidin glucoside and cyanidin arabinoside in the anthocyanin-containing wheat bran extract (+AWBE), while no anthocyanins were found in the anthocyanin-free wheat bran extract (-AWBE). The +AWBE showed higher radical scavenging activity (DPPH and ABTS assays) and membrane protective activity (AAPH oxidative hemolysis model) compared to the -AWBE. Both extracts extended the lifespan of female Drosophila, indicating geroprotective properties. This study demonstrates that wheat bran extracts with high anthocyanin levels have antioxidant and geroprotective effects. However, other secondary metabolites in wheat bran can also contribute to its antioxidant and geroprotective potential.

Effects of the Polyphenols Delphinidin and Rosmarinic Acid on the Inducible Intra-cellular Aggregation of Alpha-Synuclein in Model Neuron Cells

Intracellular aggregation of α-synuclein is a major pathological feature of Parkinson's disease. In this study, we show that the polyphenols delphinidin and rosmarinic acid suppress intracellular aggregation of α-synuclein in a mouse neuron cell model when added under oxidative stress conditions. To enhance the detection threshold of this preventive effect of the two polyphenols, we generated a new strain of "aggregation prone model cells" that tended to show prominent α-synuclein aggregation even under normal conditions. Using this new highly sensitive cell line, we demonstrate that addition of delphinidin to model cell cultures effectively suppresses the formation of intracellular α-synuclein aggregates. Flow cytometric analysis shows that adding delphinidin decreases the fraction of "dying cells," cells that were alive but in a damaged state. Our findings suggest the possibility of using polyphenols to prevent and treat the symptoms correlated with the onset of Parkinson's disease. Additionally, our aggregation-prone cell model may be used in future studies to probe numerous neurodegenerative diseases with high sensitivity.

Anthocyanin-Rich Blackcurrant Extract Preserves Gastrointestinal Barrier Permeability and Reduces Enterocyte Damage but Has No Effect on Microbial Translocation and Inflammation After Exertional Heat Stress

This study investigated the effects of 7 days of 600 mg/day anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract intake on small intestinal permeability, enterocyte damage, microbial translocation, and inflammation following exertional heat stress. Twelve recreationally active men (maximal aerobic capacity = 55.6 ± 6.0 ml·kg-1·min-1) ran (70% VO2max) for 60 min in an environmental chamber (34 °C, 40% relative humidity) on two occasions (placebo/blackcurrant, randomized double-blind crossover). Permeability was assessed from a 4-hr urinary excretion of lactulose and rhamnose and expressed as a ratio of lactulose/rhamnose. Venous blood samples were taken at rest and 20, 60, and 240 min after exercise to measure enterocyte damage (intestinal fatty acid-binding protein); microbial translocation (soluble CD14, lipopolysaccharide-binding protein); and interleukins 6, interleukins 10, and interleukins 1 receptor antagonist. Exercise increased rectal temperature (by ∼2.8 °C) and heart rate (by ∼123 beats/min) in each condition. Blackcurrant supplementation led to a ∼12% reduction in lactulose/rhamnose ratio (p < .0034) and enterocyte damage (∼40% reduction in intestinal fatty acid-binding protein area under the curve; p < .0001) relative to placebo. No between-condition differences were observed immediately after exercise for lipopolysaccharide-binding protein (mean, 95% confidence interval [CI]; +80%, 95% CI [+61%, +99%]); soluble CD14 (+37%, 95% CI [+22%, +51%]); interleukins 6 (+494%, 95% CI [+394%, +690%]); interleukins 10 (+288%, 95% CI [+105%, +470%]); or interleukins 1 receptor antagonist (+47%, 95% CI [+13%, +80%]; all time main effects). No between-condition differences for these markers were observed after 60 or 240 min of recovery. Blackcurrant extract preserves the GI barrier; however, at subclinical levels, this had no effect on microbial translocation and downstream inflammatory processes.

Antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic potential of Theobroma cacao Linn. husk aqueous extracts

Background

Theobroma cacao Linn. husks are considered agricultural wastes, but studies show that they exhibit natural compounds that may be used in alternative medicine. Hence, this study was conducted to determine the antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic potential of T. cacao husk aqueous extracts (TCE).

Results

A significantly higher glucose dialysis retardation index (GDRI) was shown by 10% TCE than the rest of the concentrations (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%) (P<0.05), and its activity is comparable with 5% Metformin (positive control) after 30 min, 60 min, 120 min and 180 min of incubation. The 7% TCE also showed significantly higher GDRI than the 5%, 3%, and 1% concentrations (P<0.05), and its activity is comparable with 5% Metformin after 60 min and 180 min of incubation. Moreover, 10% TCE exhibited a significantly higher glucose uptake percentage than the rest of the samples (P<0.05) and has activity comparable with 5% Metformin. The anti-inflammatory assay showed a significantly higher inhibition rate of 10% TCE than the rest of the concentrations (P<0.05), and its activity is comparable with 5% Diclofenac (positive control). The cytotoxicity assay showed that the percentage mortality of brine shrimps after 24 h of exposure to the different TCE samples is less than 50%.

Conclusion

This study concludes that T. cacao husk aqueous extract has potential antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory properties without being toxic to cells.

The Dark-Purple Tea Cultivar 'Ziyan' Accumulates a Large Amount of Delphinidin-Related Anthocyanins

Recently, we developed a novel tea cultivar 'Ziyan' with distinct purple leaves. There was a significant correlation between leaf color and anthocyanin pigment content in the leaves. A distinct allocation of metabolic flow for B-ring trihydroxylated anthocyanins and catechins in 'Ziyan' was observed. Delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin (88.15 mg/100 g FW in total) but no other anthocyanin pigments were detected in 'Ziyan', and delphinidin (70.76 mg/100 g FW) was particularly predominant. An analysis of the catechin content in 'Ziyan' and eight other cultivars indicated that 'Ziyan' exhibits a preference for synthesizing B-ring trihydroxylated catechins (with a proportion of 74%). The full-length cDNA sequences of flavonoid pathway genes were isolated by RNA-Seq coupled with conventional TA cloning, and their expression patterns were characterized. Purple-leaved cultivars had lower amounts of total catechins, polyphenols, and water extract than ordinary non-anthocyanin cultivars but similar levels of caffeine. Because dark-purple-leaved Camellia species are rare in nature, this study provides new insights into the interplay between the accumulations of anthocyanins and other bioactive components in tea leaves.