In vivo influence of extract from Aronia melanocarpa on the erythrocyte membranes in patients with hypercholesterolemia

Eight-week supplementation of Aronia berry extract promoted the glutathione defence system against acute aerobic exercise-induced oxidative load immediately and 30 min post-exercise in healthy adults: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Food antioxidants have received prompt attention for controlling oxidative stress encountered in daily life. This study aimed to examine the protective effects of Aronia berry extract (ABE) supplementation on acute aerobic exercise (AAE)-induced oxidative stress in healthy subjects.

METHODS

We assessed a battery of antioxidant defence and oxidative stress parameters at pre-exercise, immediately post-exercise and 30 min post-exercise in healthy middle-aged adults with habitually low intakes of fruit and vegetables in an 8-week, double-blind, randomised, controlled clinical trial with two arms (n = 70). The AAE challenge model, characterised as a treadmill exercise for 30 min at 60% VO2 maximum, was applied to load oxidative stress at the end of the study. Pearson's correlation analysis assessed the association between the changes in antioxidant defence capacities and oxidative stress levels.

RESULTS

The time-course-dependent oxidative stress was well observed in the placebo group regarding the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity and the reduced glutathione (GSH) availability for antioxidant defence and erythrocyte malondialdehyde, interleukin-6 and lactate levels for oxidative damage. Meanwhile, the ABE supplementation effectively strengthened the glutathione defence system by increasing GSH availability and GPx activity immediately post-exercise and 30 min post-exercise. In addition, the scatter plot and linear regression analysis revealed strong negative correlations of GSH availability with oxidised low-density lipoprotein and plasma malonaldehyde levels.

CONCLUSION

These findings suggest that daily supplementation of 300 mg ABE might help boost GSH levels and an adaptive antioxidant enzyme defence system of erythrocytes in healthy adults with habitually low fruit and vegetable intakes.

Chokeberry (A. melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott)—A Natural Product for Metabolic Disorders?

Abnormal metabolism of substances in the body can result in metabolic disorders which include obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, or cancer. Foods rich in antioxidants can help to prevent and treat various types of disorders. Chokeberry fruits are rich in polyphenols, especially cyanidins, and therefore, can show a beneficial health effect. The aim of this study was to summarize and systematize reports about the effects of chokeberry on various metabolic parameters. Studies from 2000 to 2021, published in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases, were reviewed. The review of studies shows that chokeberry may have a positive effect in dyslipidemia and hypertension and may increase the body’s antioxidant defense mechanisms. The anti-inflammatory effect, in turn, may translate into a reduction in the risk of metabolic disorders over a longer period of use. Changes in glucose levels were reported by studies in which the intervention lasted more than 10 weeks in patients with carbohydrate metabolism disorders. The effects of protecting the liver, inhibiting platelet aggregation, lowering uric acid levels, and having a protective effect on the kidneys require additional confirmation in human clinical trials. Consumption of chokeberry fruit did not impact on anthropometric measurements; however, it seems that chokeberry fruit can be recommended in many metabolic disorders due to the richness of bioactive ingredients.

Radical Scavenging Actions and Immunomodulatory Activity of Aronia melanocarpa Propylene Glycol Extracts

Researchers are attracted to the wide-ranging, useful components in Aronia melanocarpa berries. They are searching for the most effective ways to extract the active substances that can enhance the body's protective properties. The current study presents detailed information about the extracts from A. melanocarpa fruits frozen and dried under mild conditions and their chemical composition. In Wistar rats with induced immunosuppression, the effect of chokeberry fruit extracts on the leukocyte formula, phagocytic activity, and cytokine system was studied. It was shown that the A. melanocarpa frozen fruit extract contains more anthocyanins, sugars, and ascorbic acid, and has a more pronounced antioxidant activity determined by the ability to bind APPH-radicals. Moreover, the extract showed membrane-protective and cytoprotective properties against RPMI-1788 cell line. The extract from dried raw material shows a higher antioxidant activity due to the ability to bind DPPH-radicals. It was revealed that extracts from A. melanocarpa fruits promote rapid immune system recovery in rats, normalize the leukocyte count, and improve monocyte and neutrophil phagocytic indicators. Research on the cytokine profile revealed that the anti-inflammatory properties in A. melanocarpa extracts were more pronounced in dried extracts. For several cytokines, a normalization of quantity was noted.

The Efficacy of Black Chokeberry Fruits against Cardiovascular Diseases

Epidemiological studies have emphasized the association between a diet rich in fruits and vegetables and a lower frequency of occurrence of inflammatory-related disorders. Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa L.) is a valuable source of biologically active compounds that have been widely investigated for their role in health promotion and cardiovascular disease prevention. Many in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that consumption of these fruits is associated with significant improvements in hypertension, LDL oxidation, lipid peroxidation, total plasma antioxidant capacity and dyslipidemia. The mechanisms for these beneficial effects include upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, decreased oxidative stress, and inhibition of inflammatory gene expression. Collected findings support the recommendation of such berries as an essential fruit group in a heart-healthy diet. The aim of this review was to summarize the reports on the impact of black chokeberry fruits and extracts against several cardiovascular diseases, e.g., hyperlipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, as well as to provide an analysis of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect of these fruits in the abovementioned disorders.

Effects of different dietary regimes alone or in combination with standardized Aronia melanocarpa extract supplementation on lipid and fatty acids profiles in rats

This study investigated different dietary strategies, high-fat (HFd), or standard diet (Sd) alone or in combination with standardized Aronia melanocarpa extract (SAE), as a polyphenol-rich diet, and their effects on lipids and fatty acids (FA) in rats with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Wistar albino rats were randomly divided into two groups: healthy and rats with MetS, and then depending on dietary patterns on six groups: healthy rats fed with Sd, healthy rats fed with Sd and SAE, rats with MetS fed with HFd, rats with MetS fed with HFd and SAE, rats with MetS fed with Sd, and rats with MetS fed with Sd and SAE. 4 weeks later, after an overnight fast (12-14 h), blood for determination of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), index of lipid peroxidation (measured as TBARS), and FA was collected. Increased FA and lipid concentration found in MetS rats were reduced when changing dietary habits from HFd to Sd with or without SAE consumption. Consumption of SAE slightly affects the FA profiles, mostly palmitoleic acid in healthy rats and PUFA in MetS + HFd rats. Nevertheless, in a high-fat diet, SAE supplementation significantly decreases n-6/n-3 ratio, thereby decreasing systemic inflammation. Further researches are warranted to confirm these effects in humans.

HEMOGLOBIN A1c LEVEL HIGHER THAN 9.05% CAUSES A SIGNIFICANT IMPAIRMENT OF ERYTHROCYTE DEFORMABILITY IN DIABETES MELLITUS

Context

Clinical studies demonstrated erythrocyte deformability (ED) is impaired in diabetic patients and described the correlations between HbA1c and ED. Few studies further investigated what an exact elevated HbA1c level linked to the impairment of ED in diabetes.

Objective

This study was to determine a cut-off point of HbA1c level leading to the impairment of ED in patients with diabetes.

Design

This was a retrospective observational study. ROC curve analysis was used to determine an optimal cut-off value of HbA1c for the increasing HSRV.

Subjects and Methods

In this study, 300 type 2 diabetic patients were enrolled. The whole blood viscosity was measured. High shear reductive viscosity (HSRV) was used to indirectly estimate ED. Based on the obtained cut-off value and glycemic control criteria for HbA1c, we divided all the cases into different groups to further confirm the accuracy of the cut-off value.

Results

In 300 patients, ROC curve illustrated that 9.05% was the optimal cut-off value as a predictor of the increasing HSRV. And higher odds ratio (OR) for significant decrease in ED was seen in the patients with HbA1c >9.05% compared to those with HbA1c≤9.05% (OR: 3.78, 95% CI: 2.08-6.87). HSRV increased significantly in patients with HbA1c level >9.05% in comparison to patients with HbA1c levels <6.5% between 6.5 and 8.0% and between 8.0 and 9.05%.

Conclusion

ED decreased significantly in diabetic patients as soon as HbA1c level was higher than 9.05%.

The role of red blood cell deformability and Na,K-ATPase function in selected risk factors of cardiovascular diseases in humans: focus on hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hypercholesterolemia

Deformability of red blood cells (RBC) is the ability of RBC to change their shape in order to pass through narrow capillaries in circulation. Deterioration in deformability of RBC contributes to alterations in microcirculatory blood flow and delivery of oxygen to tissues. Several factors are responsible for maintenance of RBC deformability. One of them is the Na,K-ATPase known as crucial enzyme in maintenance of intracellular ionic homeostasis affecting thus regulation of cellular volume and consequently RBC deformability. Decreased deformability of RBC has been found to be the marker of adverse outcomes in cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and the presence of cardiovascular risk factors influences rheological properties of the blood. This review summarizes knowledge concerning the RBC deformability in connection with selected risk factors of CVD, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes mellitus, based exclusively on papers from human studies. We attempted to provide an update on important issues regarding the role of Na,K-ATPase in RBC deformability. In patients suffering from hypertension as well as diabetes mellitus the Na,K-ATPase appears to be responsible for the changes leading to alterations in RBC deformability. The triggering factor for changes of RBC deformability during hypercholesterolemia seems to be the increased content of cholesterol in erythrocyte membranes.

Anthocyans-rich Aronia melanocarpa extract possesses ability to protect endothelial progenitor cells against angiotensin II induced dysfunction

BACKGROUND

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) may provide protection against atherosclerosis and plaque rupture by their innate ability to replace dysfunctional or damaged endothelial cells in plaque microvessels. There is evidence that angiotensin II may impair the angiogenic functions of EPCs in the atherosclerotic plaque by accelerating senescence and inhibiting their proliferation through oxidative stress induction.

PURPOSE

In this study, we examined whether chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) fruit extract, containing mainly anthocyanins with potent antioxidative properties, could protect EPCs against angiotensin-induced oxidative stress.

METHODS

EPCs were isolated from peripheral blood of young healthy volunteers and cultivated on fibronectin-coated plates in the presence or absence of angiotensin II (1 µM) and chokeberry extract (1-25 µg/ml).

RESULTS

EPCs exposed to chokeberry extract prior to angiotensin II showed a significant increase of proliferation and telomerase activity, and a decrease in the percentage of senescent cells and intracellular ROS formation in comparison to angiotensin II treated cells. Furthermore, extract increased migration ability, adhesion to fibronectin and the angiogenic potential of EPC in vitro diminished by angiotensin II in a concentration-dependent manner. That effect was related to the activation of the Nrf2 transcription factor and the increase of HO-1 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that chokeberry extract may protect EPCs against angiotensin II-induced dysfunction and could play a potential role in the prevention of coronary artery disease.

Quantification of anthocyanins in elderberry and chokeberry dietary supplements

Elderberry and chokeberry food supplements may be 'functional food' in patients with metabolic syndrome or influenza but, for this, adequate amounts of co-active ingredients must be consumed in the daily dose. This study aimed to quantify the anthocyanin content in three elderberry and six chokeberry products to assess their usefulness as functional food. Analyses were carried out using an established HPLC procedure. The minimum anthocyanin doses for the treatment of metabolic syndrome disorders were estimated as 110 mg per day and 3.5 g per day for influenza. Three products were inappropriate for clinical use. The lowest liquid supplies were achieved with a proprietary elderberry concentrate (11 mL) and a proprietary chokeberry mother juice (100 mL). Clinical studies are now required to prove the effectiveness and adapt the doses according to the clinical symptoms.