Effects of honey addition on antioxidative properties of different herbal teas

Tea and herbal infusions are among the major contributors of phenolic compounds, specifically flavonoids, in our daily diet. Honey is another antioxidant-rich food that is widely used as a natural sweetener. In this work, the effects of honey addition on antioxidant properties of different herbal teas were investigated. For this purpose, 2 different types of honey (flower and pine honey) were added into 9 different herbal teas (melissa, green tea, rosehip, sage, echinacea, fennel, linden, daisy, and ginger) at 4 different temperatures (55°C, 65°C, 75°C, and 85°C), and the changes in the content of total pheolics, total flavonoids, and total antioxidant capacity were determined. The total phenolic content and the total antioxidant capacity of the honey-added-tea samples were found to be increased (up to 57% for both), especially with pine honey and at higher temperatures of honey addition. The findings of this study supported the use of honey as a natural sweetener in tea in order to be able to benefit from the health-enhancing antioxidative properties of these two promising food products

Insights on the use of a-lipoic acid for therapeutic purposes

a-lipoic acid (ALA, thioctic acid) is an organosulfur component produced from plants, animals, and humans. It has various properties, among them great antioxidant potential and is widely used as a racemic drug for diabetic polyneuropathy-associated pain and paresthesia. Naturally, ALA is located in mitochondria, where it is used as a cofactor for pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) and a-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase complexes. Despite its various potentials, ALA therapeutic efficacy is relatively low due to its pharmacokinetic profile. Data suggests that ALA has a short half-life and bioavailability (about 30%) triggered by its hepatic degradation, reduced solubility as well as instability in the stomach. However, the use of various innovative formulations has greatly improved ALA bioavailability. The R enantiomer of ALA shows better pharmacokinetic parameters, including increased bioavailability as compared to its S enantiomer. Indeed, the use of amphiphilic matrices has capability to improve ALA bioavailability and intestinal absorption. Also, ALA’s liquid formulations are associated with greater plasma concentration and bioavailability as compared to its solidified dosage form. Thus, improved formulations can increase both ALA absorption and bioavailability, leading to a raise in therapeutic efficacy. Interestingly, ALA bioavailability will be dependent on age, while no difference has been found for gender. The present review aims to provide an updated on studies from preclinical to clinical trials assessing ALA’s usages in diabetic patients with neuropathy, obesity, central nervous system-related diseases and abnormalities in pregnancy.N. Martins would like to thank the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT-Portugal) for the Strategic project ref. UID/BIM/04293/2013 and “NORTE2020 - Northern Regional Operational Program” (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000012)

Investigation of the impact of black chokeberry polyphenols in different matrices on the human gut microbiota using the in vitro model of the large intestine (TIM-2)

BACKGROUND: Despite the great range of health-beneficial activities associated with dietary polyphenols, their influence on gut ecology remains poorly understood. Only a few studies have examined the impact of black chokeberry polyphenols present in different matrices on human gut microbiota, and in fact none have examined encapsulated black chokeberry polyphenols.OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of black chokeberry polyphenols in pulp, extract and encapsulate (in a maltodextrin:gum Arabic polymer system) on human gut microbiota and fecal short-chain and branchedchain fatty acids (SCFA and BCFA, respectively).METHODS: The effect of black chokeberry polyphenols on gut microbiota was tested in a validated, dynamic in vitro model of the colon (TIM-2) for 24 h by applying five different interventions (Pulp, Extract, Encapsulate, Encapsulate control, SIEM) to the standardized microbiota from five healthy donors.RESULTS: We observed that the fermentation of black chokeberry polyphenols in the in vitro colon model resulted in shifts in the standardized microbiota and differentiation in the extent of the production of SCFA and BCFAs. Synergy between maltodextrin+gum Arabic+polyphenols resulted in an increase in the relative abundances of some health-promoting taxa and decrease in the disease related taxa Alistipes. Encapsulation increased the SCFA production and decreased the BCFA production in the lumen.CONCLUSIONS: Although encapsulation of polyphenols may provide a robust way for their protection during their transit along the upper gastrointestinal tract, their effect on the gut microbiota should be further investigated both by using different coating materials and with in vivo studies

The experimental mouse model in building an in vitro fertilization centre [DAS VERSUCHSTIERMODELL DER MAUS BEIM AUFBAU EINES IVF-ZENTRUMS]

PubMed ID: 2058341Experimental studies on animal models are necessary for the maintanence of practice and experience on IVF and ET, before starting an IVF program. Only so the handling skill of gametes zygote and human embryo culture can be improved. We have started for this reason with IVF on mouse occytes of CB6F1 Han hybrid strains and used modificated Ham's F-10 with 0.75BSA as culture medium. Until December 1988, 3652 oocytes were collected by the superovulation of 178 oocyte donor mice. The fertilization rate was 67.94%. After the transfer of 62 hybrid embryos obtained from 4 other oocyte donor mice to 4 Balb/c recipient females, 1 recipient mouse delivered 10 living hybrid mice