Effect of blueberry feeding on plasma lipids in pigs

Vaccinium Species (Ericaceae): From Chemical Composition to Bio-Functional Activities

The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) includes more than 450 species, which mainly grow in cooler areas of the northern hemisphere. Vaccinium species have been used in traditional medicine of different cultures and the berries are widely consumed as food. Indeed, Vaccinium supplement-based herbal medicine and functional food, mainly from V. myrtillus and V. macrocarpon, are used in Europe and North America. Biological studies support traditional uses since, for many Vaccinium components, important biological functions have been described, including antioxidant, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and endothelium protective activities. Vaccinium components, such as polyphenols, anthocyanins and flavonoids, are widely recognized as modulators of cellular pathways involved in pathological conditions, thus indicating that Vaccinium may be an important source of bioactive molecules. This review aims to better describe the bioactivity of Vaccinium species, focusing on anti-inflammatory and endothelial protective cellular pathways, modulated by their components, to better understand their importance for public health.

Healthcare Cost Implications of Utilizing a Dietary Intervention to Lower LDL Cholesterol: Proof of Concept Actuarial Analysis and Recommendations

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To determine if subsidizing the cost of a food-based intervention for managing hyperlipidemia could be cost-effective under commercial insurance and/or Medicare coverage scenarios.

RECENT FINDINGS

A large number of patients eligible for pharmaceutical treatment of hyperlipidemia either cannot or will not use lipid lowering drugs, leaving them at increased cardiovascular risk. Lipid levels can be modified by diet, but food has never enjoyed covered benefit status. We evaluated the financial implications of providing insurance coverage for a specifically formulated suite of food products previously documented to yield statistically significant lipid reductions, using multiple product uptake and lipid impact scenarios in both commercially covered and Medicare-covered populations. Even after controlling for multiple confounders, we noted positive payback on subsidizing the cost of lipid-lowering foods under all scenarios. Addressing a root cause of hyperlipidemia by directly encouraging dietary modification provides a cost-effective alternative for cholesterol management, especially for statin intolerant or statin unwilling patients.

A Review of Biologically Active Natural Products from Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants: Benefits in the Treatment of Obesity and Its Related Disorders

Wild foods constitute an essential component of people’s diets around the world. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over 100 million people in the EU consume wild foods, while 65 million collect some form of wild food themselves. The Mediterranean basin is a biodiversity hotspot of wild edible species. Nowadays, due to the renewed interest in alimurgic plants and the recent findings on the beneficial role of their phytochemical constituents, these species have been defined as “new functional foods”. Research on natural products has recently regained importance with the growing understanding of their biological significance. Botanical food supplements marketed for weight and fat loss in obese subjects will be one of the most important items in marketed nutraceuticals. The aim of this report was to review the phytochemical compounds of Mediterranean wild edible species and their therapeutic potential against obesity and its related disorders. Results on the in vitro and in vivo activity of the most interesting plant extracts and their bioactive components are presented and discussed. The most interesting discoveries on their mechanisms of action are reported as well. Overall, this contribution highlights the importance and beneficial health roles of wild edible species.

Blueberry extract attenuates γ-radiation-induced hepatocyte damage by modulating oxidative stress and suppressing NF-κB in male rats

Radiation exposure is known to produce many harmful effects in biological systems, and these effects are often mediated by oxygen free radicals. Because blueberries are rich in antioxidant compounds such as anthocyanins and phenolic acids, we divided forty adult rats into four treatment groups of 10 (G1-4) as follows: G1 rats were used as a control, G2 rats were irradiated with 8 Gy at 2 Gy/week at a dose rate of 0.5 Gy/min, G3 rats were administered blueberry extract (200 mg/kg) and G4 rats were administered blueberry extract during the same irradiation period. In subsequent determinations, γ-irradiated rats had increased levels of cholesterol, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL), and significantly elevated liver enzyme activities, including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and total bilirubin. In contrast, significant reductions in albumin, total protein and globulin were observed, whereas gamma irradiation decreased activities of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). We also observed incremental increases in DNA fragmentation percentages and histopathological changes in liver tissues. Serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (IL-6, IL-10 and TNF-α) were significantly elevated and hepatic NF-кB was upregulated. In G4 rats, treatments with blueberry extract restored liver pro-oxidant status, reduced cytokine levels, ameliorated histopathological parameters and reduced DNA damage. In conclusion, γ-radiation exerts toxic effects in the rat livers, and blueberry extract is protective against these.

Prevention of Atherosclerosis by Berries: The Case of Blueberries

Berry consumption has been associated with cardiovascular disease prevention in recent years. Atherosclerosis is one of the major causes of cardiovascular diseases. However, research on the prevention of atherosclerosis through consuming individual whole berries, specifically direct evidence, remains scarce. Therefore, further elucidating the role that berries play in the prevention of atherosclerosis is warranted. In this perspective, blueberries were selected to articulate research strategies for studying atheroprotective effects of berries. Studies from human subjects and various animal models are summarized. The mechanisms by which blueberries may act, through reducing oxidative stress, decreasing inflammation, improving endothelial dysfunction, regulating cholesterol accumulation and trafficking, along with potentially influencing gut microbiota, are also discussed. Blueberries contain high levels of polyphenolic compounds, which were widely indicated as major bioactive compounds. Nonetheless, the metabolites/catabolites after blueberry consumption, such as simple phenolic acids, rather than original compounds in berries, may be the actual in vivo bioactive compounds. Future research should focus on obtaining more direct evidence, preferably in humans, understanding of the mechanisms of action at the molecular level, and identifying bioactive compounds as well as which compounds act synergistically to convey health benefits. The research strategy discussed here may also be applied to the studies of other fruits and berries.

Mechanistic insights into the vascular effects of blueberries: Evidence from recent studies

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Dietary habits influence a variety of cardiovascular complications such as peripheral artery disease, heart failure, and kidney disease. We along with others have previously reported the cardiovascular beneficial effects of dietary flavonoids. Anthocyanins, one class of flavonoids widely available in berries, have recently drawn wide scientific attention because of their diverse health benefits. Epidemiological, clinical, and animal studies indicate that blueberry anthocyanins exert protection against cardiovascular complications by acting on multiple targets in the vascular system. These include activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase signaling, reducing oxidative stress, improving inflammatory pathways, and ameliorating dyslipidemia. Anthocyanins are extensively metabolized in humans suggesting that their vascular benefits are likely mediated by their circulating metabolites. However, the bioactivities of blueberry metabolites are unknown. Evaluating the bioactivities of metabolites, analyzing their structure-activity relationship, and well-designed human trials are needed to understand the potential vascular effects of blueberries and their metabolites. Understanding the vascular effects will provide a solid scientific foundation to recommend blueberries to improve vascular health. This review highlights the recent developments in the understanding of the vascular effects of blueberries with special emphasis on the molecular mechanisms involved.

Antiproliferative and antioxidant properties of anthocyanin rich extracts from blueberry and blackcurrant juice

The present study was aimed at evaluating the antiproliferative potential of anthocyanin-rich fractions (ARFs) obtained from two commercially available juices (blueberry and blackcurrant juices) on three tumor cell lines; B16F10 (murine melanoma), A2780 (ovarian cancer) and HeLa (cervical cancer). Individual anthocyanin determination, identification and quantification were done using HPLC-MS. Antioxidant activity of the juices was determined through different mechanism methods such as DPPH and ORAC. For biological testing, the juices were purified through C18 cartridges in order to obtain fractions rich in anthocyanins. The major anthocyanins identified were glycosylated cyanidin derivatives. The antiproliferative activity of the fractions was tested using the MTT assay. The antiproliferative potential of ARF was found to be associated with those bioactive molecules, anthocyanins due to their antioxidant potential. The results obtained indicated that both blueberry and blackcurrants are rich sources of antioxidants including anthocyanins and therefore these fruits are highly recommended for daily consumption to prevent numerous degenerative diseases.

Anti-inflammatory effect of the blueberry anthocyanins malvidin-3-glucoside and malvidin-3-galactoside in endothelial cells

Blueberry fruits have a wide range of health benefits because of their abundant anthocyanins, which are natural antioxidants. The purpose of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of blueberry's two main anthocyanins (malvidin-3-glucoside and malvidin-3-galactoside) on inflammatory response in endothelial cells. These two malvidin glycosides could inhibit tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) induced increases of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) production both in the protein and mRNA levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Mv-3-glc at the concentration of 1 μM could inhibit 35.9% increased MCP-1, 54.4% ICAM-1, and 44.7% VCAM-1 protein in supernatant, as well as 9.88% MCP-1 and 48.6% ICAM-1 mRNA expression (p<0.05). In addition, they could decrease IκBα degradation (Mv-3-glc, Mv-3-gal, and their mixture at the concentration of 50 μM had the inhibition rate of 84.8%, 75.3%, and 43.2%, respectively, p<0.01) and block the nuclear translocation of p65, which suggested their anti-inflammation mechanism was mediated by the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathway. In general malvidin-3-glucoside had better anti-inflammatory effect than malvidin-3-galactoside. These results indicated that blueberry is good resource of anti-inflammatory anthocyanins, which can be promising molecules for the development of nutraceuticals to prevent chronic inflammation in many diseases.

Nutraceuticals in cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease

Several chemical substances belonging to classes of natural dietary origin display protective properties against some age-related diseases including neurodegenerative ones, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD). These compounds, known as nutraceuticals, differ structurally, act therefore at different biochemical and metabolic levels and have shown different types of neuroprotective properties. The aim of this review is to summarize data from observational studies, clinical trials, and randomized clinical trials (RCTs) in humans on the effects of selected nutraceuticals against age-related cognitive impairment and dementia. We report results from studies on flavonoids, some vitamins and other natural substances that have been studied in AD and that might be beneficial for the maintenance of a good cognitive performance. Due to the substantial lack of high-level evidence studies there is no possibility for recommendation of nutraceuticals in dementia-related therapeutic guidelines. Nevertheless, the strong potential for their neuroprotective action warrants further studies in the field.

Berry (poly)phenols and cardiovascular health

Berries are a rich source of (poly)phenols, including anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, procyanidins, flavonols, ellagitannins, and hydroxycinnamates. Epidemiological evidence indicates that the cardiovascular health benefits of diets rich in berries are related to their (poly)phenol content. These findings are supported by small-scale randomized controlled studies (RCTs) that have shown improvements in several surrogate markers of cardiovascular risk such as blood pressure, endothelial function, arterial stiffness, and blood lipids after acute and short-term consumption of blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, or purified anthocyanin extracts in healthy or diseased individuals. However, firm conclusions regarding the preventive value of berry (poly)phenols cannot be drawn due to the small number of existing studies and limitations that apply to the available data, such as lack of controls or failure to assess the absorption and metabolism of (poly)phenols. Although the current evidence is promising, more long-term RCTs are needed to establish the role of berry (poly)phenols to support cardiovascular health.

Reverse osmosis as a potential technique to improve antioxidant properties of fruit juices used for functional beverages

Reverse osmosis (RO) as a potential technique to improve the antioxidant properties of cranberry, blueberry and apple juices was evaluated for the formulation of a functional beverage. The effects of temperature (20-40 °C) and trans-membrane pressure (25-35 bars) on physico-chemical and antioxidant properties of fruit juices were evaluated to optimize the operating parameters for each fruit juice. There was no significant effect on any quality parameters of fruit juices under studied operating parameters of RO. However, total soluble solid, total acidity and colour (a(∗)) of the concentrated juices increased in proportion to their volumetric concentrations. Antioxidant capacity measured by FRAP assay of concentrated apple, blueberry and cranberry juice was increased by 40%, 34%, and 30%, respectively. LDL oxidation inhibition by concentrated blueberry and cranberry juice was increased up to 41% and 45%, respectively. The results suggest that RO can be used for enhancing the health promoting properties of fruit juices.

Jaboticaba (Myrciaria jaboticaba (Vell.) Berg.) peel improved triglycerides excretion and hepatic lipid peroxidation in high-fat-fed rats

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of high-fat diets with 1%, 2%, and 4% freeze-dried jaboticaba peel on the serum, liver, and fecal lipid profile of obese rats. METHODS: Thirty male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 5 groups. Obesity was induced in four groups using a high-fat diet (35% lipids). One group was used as a high-fat diet control (High-fat group - HF). The other three high-fat-diet groups were given 1%, 2%, and 4% freeze-dried jaboticaba peel (High-Fat Jaboticaba - HFJ1, HFJ2, and HFJ4, respectively) in the last 40 experimental days. Blood and the liver were collected after 70 days of treatment and feces were collected in the last experimental week. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipids were measured in the serum, liver, and dried feces. ffer in the experimental groups. HFJ2 group had the highest hepatic and fecal lipid contents compared with the group fed a diet with normal fat content (N), but low hepatic lipid peroxidation. HFJ4 group had the highest mean hepatic and fecal cholesterol levels. Hepatic triglyceride levels did not differ among the groups, and groups HFJ1 and HFJ4 presented the highest fecal triglyceride content. CONCLUSION: The amounts of jaboticaba peel used by this study did not protect against hepatic steatosis or undesired levels of other studied lipids, but it did increase fecal triglycerides. Lipid peroxidation in the liver decreased in the HFJ2 group.

Wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)-enriched diet improves dyslipidaemia and modulates the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in obese Zucker rats

The present study investigated the potential of a wild blueberry (WB)-enriched diet to improve blood lipid profile and modulate the expression of genes related to lipid homeostasis in obese Zucker rats (OZR), a model of the metabolic syndrome with severe dyslipidaemia. For this purpose, twenty OZR and twenty lean Zucker rats (LZR; controls) were placed either on a control (C) or an 8 % WB diet for 8 weeks. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), HDL-cholesterol and TAG concentrations were determined. The relative expression of six genes involved in lipid metabolism was also determined in both the liver and the abdominal adipose tissue (AAT). Plasma TAG and TC concentrations were significantly lower in the OZR following WB consumption (4228 (sem 471) and 2287 (sem 125) mg/l, respectively) than in those on the C diet (5475 (sem 315) and 2631 (sem 129) mg/l, P< 0·05), while there was no change in HDL-cholesterol concentration. No significant effects were observed for plasma lipids in the LZR. Following WB consumption, the expression of the transcription factors PPARα and PPARγ in the OZR was increased in the AAT, while that of sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1 (SREBP-1) was decreased in the liver and AAT. The expression of fatty acid synthase was significantly decreased in both the liver and AAT and that of ATP-binding cassette transporter 1 was increased in the AAT following WB consumption. In conclusion, WB consumption appears to improve lipid profiles and modulate the expression of key enzymes and transcription factors of lipid metabolism in severely dyslipidaemic rats.

Blueberry peel extracts inhibit adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells and reduce high-fat diet-induced obesity

This study examined the anti-obesity effect and mechanism of action of blueberry peel extracts (BPE) in 3T3-L1 cells and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats. The levels of lipid accumulation were measured, along with the changes in the expression of genes and proteins associated with adipocyte differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. Evidenced by Oil-red O staining and triglyceride assay, BPE dose-dependently inhibited lipid accumulation at concentrations of 0, 50, and 200 µg/ml. BPE decreased the expression of the key adipocyte differentiation regulator C/EBPβ, as well as the C/EBPα and PPARγ genes, during the differentiation of preadipocytes into adipocytes. Moreover, BPE down-regulated adipocyte-specific genes such as aP2 and FAS compared with control adipocytes. The specific mechanism mediating the effects of BP revealed that insulin-stimulated phosphorylation of Akt was strongly decreased, and its downstream substrate, phospho-GSK3β, was downregulated by BPE treatment in 3T3-L1 cells. Together, these data indicated that BP exerted anti-adipogenic activity by inhibiting the expression of PPARγ and C/EBPβ and the Akt signaling pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Next, we investigated whether BP extracts attenuated HFD-induced obesity in rats. Oral administration of BPE reduced HFD-induced body weight gain significantly without affecting food intake. The epididymal or perirenal adipose tissue weights were lower in rats on an HFD plus BPE compared with the tissue weights of HFD-induced obese rats. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the rats fed BPE were modestly reduced, and the HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased in HFD plus BP-fed rats compared with those of HFD-fed rats. Taken together, these results demonstrated an inhibitory effect of BP on adipogenesis through the down-regulation of C/EBPβ, C/EBPα, and PPARγ and the reduction of the phospho-Akt adipogenic factor in 3T3-L1 cells. Moreover, BPE reduced body weight gain and inhibited fat accumulation in an HFD-induced animal model of obesity.

Blueberry anthocyanins at doses of 0.5 and 1 % lowered plasma cholesterol by increasing fecal excretion of acidic and neutral sterols in hamsters fed a cholesterol-enriched diet

PURPOSE

The present study investigated the underlying mechanism associated with the hypocholesterolemic activity of blueberry anthocyanins by examining its effect on fecal sterol excretion and gene expression of major receptors, enzymes, and transporters involved in cholesterol metabolism.

METHODS

Hamsters were divided into three groups and fed a 0.1 % cholesterol diet containing 0 % (CTL), 0.5 % (BL), and 1.0 % (BH) blueberry anthocyanins, respectively, for six weeks. Plasma total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerols (TAG), and non-high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (non-HDL-C) were measured using the enzymatic kits, and the gene expression of transporters, enzymes, and receptors involved in cholesterol absorption and metabolism was quantified using the quantitative PCR. GC analysis was used to quantify hepatic cholesterol and fecal acidic and neutral sterols.

RESULTS

Dietary supplementation of 0.5 and 1.0 % blueberry anthocyanins for 6 weeks decreased plasma TC concentration by 6-12 % in a dose-dependent manner. This was accompanied by increasing the excretion of fecal neutral and acidic sterols by 22-29 % and 41-74 %, respectively. Real-time PCR analyses demonstrated that incorporation of blueberry anthocyanins into diet down-regulated the genes of NPC1L1, ACAT-2, MTP, and ABCG 8. In addition, blueberry anthocyanins were also able to down-regulate the gene expression of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase.

CONCLUSION

The cholesterol-lowering activity of blueberry anthocyanins was most likely mediated by enhancing the excretion of sterols accompanied with down-regulation on gene expression of intestinal NPC1L1, ACAT-2, MTP, and ABCG 8.

Wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) consumption improves inflammatory status in the obese Zucker rat model of the metabolic syndrome

The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health problem in the United States. Chronic inflammation is a critical component of the MetS, leading to dramatically increased risk of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study investigates the ability of a wild-blueberry-enriched diet to improve the proinflammatory status associated with MetS in the obese Zucker rat (OZR). Circulating levels of key inflammatory markers and their expression in the liver and abdominal adipose tissue were examined in OZR and its genetic control, the lean Zucker rat (LZR), after feeding a control or an 8% wild blueberry diet (WB) for 8 weeks from age 8 to 16 weeks. In the OZR, WB consumption resulted in decreased plasma concentrations of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (-25.6%, P<.05), interleukin (IL)-6 (-14.9%, P<.05) and C-reactive protein (CRP) (-13.1%, P<.05) and increased adiponectin concentration (+21.8%, P<.05). Furthermore, expression of IL-6, TNF-α and nuclear factor (NF)-kB was down-regulated in both the liver (-65%, -59% and -25%, respectively) and the abdominal adipose tissue (-64%, -52% and -65%), while CRP expression was down-regulated only in the liver (-25%). In the abdominal adipose tissue, similar trends were also observed in LZR following WB treatment, with decreased liver expression of NF-kB, CRP, IL-6 and TNF-α (-24%, -16%, -21% and -50%) and increased adiponectin expression (+25%). Results of this study suggest that wild blueberry consumption exerts an overall anti-inflammatory effect in the OZR, a model of the metabolic syndrome.

Effect of blueberry feeding on lipids and oxidative stress in the serum, liver and aorta of guinea pigs fed on a high-cholesterol diet

We investigated the effect of blueberries (BB) on lipids and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic guinea pigs. The animals were fed for 75 d on a high-cholesterol (HC) diet supplemented with fresh BB. BB reduced oxidative stress and cholesterol accumulation in the aorta and liver of the guinea pigs. This effect may be related to its antioxidative potential and lipid-reducing effect.

Blueberry intervention improves vascular reactivity and lowers blood pressure in high-fat-, high-cholesterol-fed rats

Growing evidence suggests that intake of flavonoid-containing foods may exert cardiovascular benefits in human subjects. We have investigated the effects of a 10-week blueberry (BB) supplementation on blood pressure (BP) and vascular reactivity in rats fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet, known to induce endothelial dysfunction. Rats were randomly assigned to follow a control chow diet, a chow diet supplemented with 2 % (w/w) BB, a high-fat diet (10 % lard; 0·5 % cholesterol) or the high fat plus BB for 10 weeks. Rats supplemented with BB showed significant reductions in systolic BP (SBP) of 11 and 14 %, at weeks 8 and 10, respectively, relative to rats fed the control chow diet (week 8 SBP: 107·5 (SEM 4·7) v. 122·2 (SEM 2·1) mmHg, P= 0·018; week 10 SBP: 115·0 (SEM 3·1) v. 132·7 (SEM 1·5) mmHg, P< 0·0001). Furthermore, SBP was reduced by 14 % in rats fed with the high fat plus 2 % BB diet at week 10, compared to those on the high-fat diet only (SBP: 118·2 (SEM 3·6) v. 139·5 (SEM 4·5) mmHg, P< 0·0001). Aortas harvested from BB-fed animals exhibited significantly reduced contractile responses (to L-phenylephrine) compared to those fed the control chow or high-fat diets. Furthermore, in rats fed with high fat supplemented with BB, aorta relaxation was significantly greater in response to acetylcholine compared to animals fed with the fat diet. These data suggest that BB consumption can lower BP and improve endothelial dysfunction induced by a high fat, high cholesterol containing diet.

Survey of antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition of blueberry, blackberry, and strawberry in Nanjing

Berries are a good source of natural antioxidants. In the present study, the total antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition of three berry fruits (blueberry, blackberry, and strawberry) cultivated in Nanjing were investigated. Blueberry, with a Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) value of 14.98 mmol Trolox/100 g dry weight (DW), exhibited the strongest total antioxidant capacity using both the 2,2-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) and the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) methods. Blueberry also had the highest total phenolic content (TPC, 9.44 mg gallic acid/g DW), total flavonoid content (TFC, 36.08 mg rutin/g DW), and total anthocyanidin content (TAC, 24.38 mg catechin/g DW). A preliminary analysis using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) showed that the blueberry, blackberry, and strawberry samples tested contained a range of phenolic acids (including gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, vanillic acid, caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, ellagic acid, and cinnamic acid) and various types of flavonoids (flavone: luteolin; flavonols: rutin, myricetin, quercetrin, and quercetin; flavanols: gallocatechin, epigallocatechin, catechin, and catechin gallate; anthocyanidins: malvidin-3-galactoside, malvidin-3-glucoside, and cyanidin). In particular, the blueberries had high levels of proanthocyanidins and anthocyanidins, which might be responsible for their strong antioxidant activities. These results indicate a potential market role for berries (especially blueberries) as a functional food ingredient or nutraceutical.

The effects of aqueous extract of vaccinium arctostaphylos leaves on blood pressure in renal hypertensive rats

BACKGROUND

The leaves of Vaccinium arctostaphylos (Qare qat) is advocated for the treatment of hypertension in Iran' folk medicine. The objective of was to examine the possible hypotensive activity of aqueous extract of Vaccinium arctostaphylos leaves in rat model of two-kidney, one-clip hypertension.

METHODS

Rats were subjected to sham operation of the placement of Plexiglass clip on left renal arteries. Four weeks later, renal artery clipped rats were given intravenous injection of normal saline or the extract at 10, 25, or 75 mg/kg, and mean blood pressure and heart rate were measured before and 20, 40 and 60 minutes after vehicle or drug administration.

RESULTS

Compared to sham group, renal artery clipped groups had a significantly higher mean blood pressure, heart and right kidney weights, lower left kidney weight and significantly indifferent heart rate. Compared to vehicle treatment, the extract at 75 mg/kg, but not at 10 or 25 mg/kg, did reduce the mean blood pressure at 20, 40 and 60 minutes after administration without changing the heart rate.

CONCLUSION

The findings showed that at a higher dose the extract did have hypotensive activity without changing the heart rate. The exact hypotensive mechanism remains to be investigated.

Blueberry supplementation improves memory in older adults

The prevalence of dementia is increasing with expansion of the older adult population. In the absence of effective therapy, preventive approaches are essential to address this public health problem. Blueberries contain polyphenolic compounds, most prominently anthocyanins, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. In addition, anthocyanins have been associated with increased neuronal signaling in brain centers, mediating memory function as well as improved glucose disposal, benefits that would be expected to mitigate neurodegeneration. This study investigated the effects of daily consumption of wild blueberry juice in a sample of nine older adults with early memory changes. At 12 weeks, improved paired associate learning (p = 0.009) and word list recall (p = 0.04) were observed. In addition, there were trends suggesting reduced depressive symptoms (p = 0.08) and lower glucose levels (p = 0.10). We also compared the memory performances of the blueberry subjects with a demographically matched sample who consumed a berry placebo beverage in a companion trial of identical design and observed comparable results for paired associate learning. The findings of this preliminary study suggest that moderate-term blueberry supplementation can confer neurocognitive benefit and establish a basis for more comprehensive human trials to study preventive potential and neuronal mechanisms.

Hepatic gene expression related to lower plasma cholesterol in hamsters fed high-fat diets supplemented with blueberry peels and peel extract

This study analyzed plasma lipid profiles, genes related to cholesterol and bile acid metabolism, and inflammation in liver as well as adipose tissue from Syrian Golden hamsters fed high-fat diets supplemented with blueberry (BB) pomace byproducts including 8% dried whole blueberry peels (BBPWHL), 2% dried extract of peels (BBPX; 95% ethanol extract), and 6% residue from extracted peel (BBPEXT) compared to a diet containing 5% (w/w) microcrystalline cellulose (control). All BB diets significantly lowered plasma very low density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol concentrations. Interestingly, BB diets increased fecal lipid excretion. Hepatic CYP7A1 expression was up-regulated by all BB diets, and the expression of CYP51 was up-regulated by BBPX and BBPEXT diets, suggesting that both bile acid and cholesterol synthesis were increased. No significant changes in adipocyte gene expression related to inflammatory markers were observed with any BB diet. These data suggest that hepatic modulation of bile acid and cholesterol synthesis primarily contributes to the cholesterol-lowering effect of BB pomace byproducts.

Effect of the novel radiant zone drying method on anthocyanins and phenolics of three blueberry liquids

The Radiant Zone dryer (RZD) is a novel drying method designed to dry liquid food products into powders. The impact of RZD on the phytochemical content of three blueberry liquid products (extract, juice, and puree) was examined. Comparative analysis between liquid and dried products revealed no statistically significant changes in the total anthocyanins (extract liquid/powder, 11.7/11.2 mg/g of dry weight; juice liquid/powder, 2.7/2.5 mg/g of dry weight; puree liquid/powder, 1.7/1.6 mg/g of dry weight, quantified as cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalents) and total phenolics (extract liquid/powder, 97.1/113.1 mg/g of dry weight; juice liquid/powder, 16.6/17.4 mg/g of dry weight; puree liquid/powder, 8.3/6.2 mg/g of dry weight, quantified as gallic acid equivalents). Total antioxidant activity also showed no significant variation between wet and dried products. The high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) analysis of the products exhibited a similar profile of 13 glycosylated anthocyanins. This study demonstrates that the novel RZD produces high-quality products because the retention of anthocyanins and phenolics during dehydration using RZD is the same as that for freeze drying. The RZD method of operation and its advantages over other dryers is also discussed.