Effect of long-chain fatty alcohols from orujo olive oil on nitric oxide and eicosanoid generation

1st International Immunonutrition Workshop, Valencia, 3–5 October 2007, Valencia, SpainOlive pomace oil (‘orujo’ oil) is an olive oil product suitable for human consumption that is traditionally produced in Spain(1). The non-acylglycerol component of this oil is a good source of interesting minor components, e.g. triterpenes(2), or fatty alcohols, derived from waxy materials.This study is part of the project AGL2005–00572/ALI, financially supported by the Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT).Peer reviewe

Effect of long-chain fatty alcohols from orujo olive oil on nitric oxide and eicosanoid generation

Comision Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnologia (CICYT) AGL2005–00572/AL

Systematic review of the efficacy of statins for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia. Recent studies have assessed the possibility of using statins as treatment for AD. However, their efficacy is not clear. In this study, we collected the most relevant information about the efficacy of statins for the treatment of AD. We conducted a systematic literature search using MEDLINE, EMBASE and The Cochrane Library. We included clinical trials, meta-analyses and systematic reviews that analysed the efficacy of statins in AD. We also extracted the characteristics and efficacy results of the studies selected. Of the 304 articles identified, 13 complied with the inclusion criteria. The scientific quality of studies was high and their results indicated that there were no significant differences in the main efficacy variables between statins and placebo treatment for AD. Therefore, according to the available scientific evidence, statins have not shown an improvement in cognition and do not appear to offer significant benefits to patients with AD

The sterols isolated from evening primrose oil inhibit human colon adenocarcinoma cell proliferation and induce cell cycle arrest through upregulation of LXR

© 2014 Elsevier Ltd. Evening primrose oil (EPO) is widely used as a dietary supplement from which beneficial effects have been reported in rheumatic and arthritic conditions, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, premenstrual and menopausal syndrome, and diabetic neuropathy. The aim of this study was to determine whether phytosterols isolated from evening primrose oil (PS-EPO), and its main components β-sitosterol and campesterol, affect proliferation, cell death, and the cell cycle of human colon adenocarcinoma (HT-29) cells. PS-EPO were a potent antiproliferative agents in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with an IC50 of 62.9 μg/mL after 48 h, lower than β-sitosterol and campesterol (79.0 μM and 71.6 μM respectively). Flow cytometry showed that PS-EPO exerted a stimulatory effect on apoptosis and necrosis, increasing the number of cells in G0/G1 phase. PS-EPO produced a significant upregulation in liver X receptor (LXR) gene expression that may be one of the principal mechanisms of the tumor shrinkage by PS-EPO.Peer Reviewe

The siliciclastic Permian-Triassic deposits in Central and Northeastern Iberian Peninsula (Iberian, Ebro and Catalan Basins): a proposal for correlation

The siliciclastic deposits of the Iberian, Ebro and Catalan Basins have been described for more than a century, but facies similarities and a lack of biostratigaphic data have difficulted the correlation of the local stratigraphic units in a general framework up to now. Combining pollen and spores data, the identification of the regional unconformities and hiatuses and the quantitative analysis of the subsidence by backstripping methods, a new correlation scheme for these facies is proposed

Dual Role of Phenyl Amides from Hempseed on BACE 1, PPARγ, and PGC-1α in N2a-APP Cells

n Alzheimer’s disease (AD) the accumulation of amyloid β (Aβ) plaques in the brain leads to neuroinflammation, neuronal cell dysfunction, and progressive memory loss. Therefore, blocking the formation of Aβ plaques has emerged as one of the most promising strategies to develop AD treatments. Hempseed is widely used as a food, and recently its compounds have shown beneficial effects on neuroinflammation. The objective of this study was to investigate whether a fraction rich in phenyl amide compounds, N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (CAFT) and N-trans-coumaroyltyramine (CUMT), can affect gene expression: β-site amyloid-precursor-protein-cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE 1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR γ), and PPARγ-coactivator-1α (PGC-1α) in N2a-APP cells. The mRNA levels were measured using RT-qPCR. The ethyl acetate fraction and CAFT were found to reduce BACE1 gene expression and are promissory PPARγ and PGC-1α natural agonists. The results show that hempseed compounds can inhibit the expression of BACE 1, which is involved in the accumulation of Aβ plaques and positively affect transcription factors involved in complex and diverse biological functions

Hypocholesterolemic and Hepatoprotective Effects of “Triguero” Asparagus from Andalusia in Rats Fed a High Cholesterol Diet

The cultivated species of the wild autochthonous Asparagus officinalis in Andalusia in Spain is commonly called “triguero” asparagus. This vegetable has traditionally been very much appreciated for its organoleptic and nutritional characteristics. This study has been designed to evaluate the potential effect of different concentrations of freeze-dried asparagus (500, 250, and 125 mg/Kg of body weight/day) on oxidative status and lipid profile in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. After five weeks of treatment, doses of 250 and 500 mg/Kg of asparagus were able to significantly reduce total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels. Atherogenic index was also significantly reduced in a dose-dependent manner by administrating freeze-dried asparagus. A beneficial effect was observed in the HDL cholesterol levels in asparagus-fed groups although the increase was not significant. Consumption of asparagus also improved antioxidant status, assayed superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes, and protected against lipid peroxidation. These results show that the intake of green asparagus from Andalusia (Spain) helps to regulate plasma lipid levels and prevents oxidative damage in hypercholesterolemic conditions

Caracterización de la unidad Conglomerados de Valdemeca en la transición Pérmico-Triásico de la Cordillera Ibérica centro- oriental.

The Valdemeca Conglomerates unit is here described as the basal part of the Late Permian-Early Triassic sedimentary cycle in the central-eastern part of the Iberian Ranges, equivalent to the upper part of the Hoz de Callo Conglomerates Formation of the classic Molina de Aragón area. It is interpreted as braided river deposits with paleocurrents parallel to the basin axis. The identification in this new area represents the expand of the sedimentation realm of this cycle to the SE of the Iberian Ranges

Validation of ethnopharmacological use as anti-inflammatory of a decoction from Annona muricata leaves

Background: Through this work we evaluated the potential of the aqueous extract of Annona muricata L. leaves (AMAEL) to treat inflammatory conditions. The use of decoction or infusion of this important medicinal resource is still not scientifically validated. Methods: Different doses of AMAEL were assayed in carrageenan-induced inflammation and tetradecanoylphorbol acetate (TPA)-induced edema in mice, myeloperoxidase activity (MPO) in inflamed tissue, MPO released by A-23187-stimulated rat neutrophils and nitric oxide released by murine macrophages. Acute oral toxicity and cell viability of murine macrophages were also tested. Results: A single dose of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg of AMAEL did not show any symptoms associated with toxicity in vivo and the viability of murine macrophages was of 100% at the assayed doses. AMAEL at 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg exerted a significant edema reduction in the carrageenan inflammation model (26.82±0.02%, p<0.05 and 52.70±0.12%, p<0.001 inhibition respectively, after the first hour). The TPAinduced topical edema model showed a significantly and dose-dependently inhibition (56% and 78% at doses of 2.5 mg/ear and 5 mg/ear, respectively). The decrease in (MPO) enzyme activity in the ear homogenates assayed at 5 mg/ear were highly significant (92.5% ± 1.83 inhibition, p<0.001) and MPO was also reduced in activated rat neutrophils at 200 μg/ml (81.98% ± 1.01 inhibition, p<0.001). AMAEL considerably decreased dose-dependently nitrite production in LPS-stimulated murine macrophages, the highest inhibition was achieved at 500 μg/ml (73.18% ± 2.36, p<001). Conclusion: this study validates the ethnomedicinal use of the decoction of Annona muricata L. leaves as anti-inflammatory agent