13 research outputs found
Anti-inflammatory properties of "Cantharellus cibarius" from "In vitro" culture enriched in zinc
Cantharellus cibarius Fr. (Basidiomycota), commonly known as Chanterelle, is one of the most valued and currently most often collected species of edible mushrooms in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the northern USA. Cantharellus genus (chanterelles) includes seventy species, seven of which are noted in Europe. Due to the valuable and biologically active metabolite content in the fruiting bodies, C. cibarius was selected for the study. The combinations of carbohydrates, amino acids, unsaturated fatty acids, and vitamins revealed the nutritional, in particular, anti-inflammatory properties of this species. Zinc (Zn) is one of the microelements present in significant quantities in the fruiting bodies and biomass from in vitro cultures of edible mushrooms. Zn plays a crucial role as an anti-inflammatory agent. This paper presents a study on investigation of the pro- or antiinflammatory properties of mushroom extracts from fruiting bodies and biomass from in vitro culture of C. cibarius enriched in Zn. As an additive to the modified Oddoux liquid medium, on which in vitro C. cibarius cultures were grown, the following two compounds were used: zinc sulfate and zinc hydroxyaspartate. In order to compare which complex will most effectively increase the anti-inflammatory activity of C. cibarius, inorganic and organic compounds were used. Both zinc salts were used in such quantities that the calculated additive amount of zinc into the culture media was the same. Control cultures were represented by in vitro cultures on Oddoux medium grown without the supplementation of zinc compounds. In addition, we studied whichsource of zinc is best for enhancing anti-inflammatory properties in A549 (Human Lung Epithelial Carcinoma, ATCC) cell models activated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce inflammation. Results of the study showed the important role of zinc during inflammation in the lung epithelial cells. Cantharellus cibarius in vitro cultures with high ability to accumulate zinc enabled the precise application of zinc compounds at a known concentration that may influence their immuno-modulatory properties
Fermented Vinegars from Apple Peels, Raspberries, Rosehips, Lavender, Mint, and Rose Petals : the Composition, Antioxidant Power, and Genoprotective Abilities in Comparison to Acetic Macerates, Decoctions, and Tinctures
The diet type: vegan or traditional European (non-excluding meat) affects the content of heavy metals, dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls in human milk
Introduction: Environmental pollution with heavy metals, dioxins and PCBs is a serious
ecological and health problem, as they enter our bodies with the food we consume. Metals
and dioxins can bioaccumulate and biomagnify, thus theoretically lower levels of toxins
in the body should characterize individuals using a vegan diet that excludes products of
animal origin.
Methods: The contents of heavy metals: arsenic (As), barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), zinc
(Zn), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) as
well as dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was analyzed in the breast milk of 50
women in relation to the type of diet they ate (traditional Polish or excluding meat). The
concentration of metals in breast milk was determined with mass spectrometry, whereas
the concentration of dioxins and PCBs was determined using gas chromatography.
Results: It was found that in some breast milk samples the content of arsenic, barium,
chromium, nickel, lead and mercury exceeded admissible concentrations. Higher concentrations of copper and barium were determined in samples from women using the
traditional diet, while in breast milk from women on a vegetable diet there was a higher
concentration of mercury and nickel. Higher levels of heavy metals were found in breast
milk samples collected in spring than in autumn. The concentration of dioxins and polychlorinated
biphenyls did not exceed admissible values.
Conclusions: The ambiguous influence of the diet type on toxin concentration in human
milk was observed. It cannot be stated unequivocally that vegetarian diet is a preventive
factor against the accumulation of heavy metals or dioxins and PCBs in human milk
Surowce polifenolowe. Zastosowania i perspektywy
PRZEDMOWA: "Polifenole są metabolitami wtórnymi roślin i grzybów. Powszechnie występują
w kwiatach, korze, korzeniach, łodygach, liściach i owocach roślin.
Ich strukturę chemiczną charakteryzuje obecność dwóch lub więcej grup
–OH przyłączonych do pierścieni aromatycznych. Do polifenoli zaliczamy
lignany, kurkuminoidy, taniny, stilbenoidy, kwasy fenolowe oraz flawonoidy.
Ta ostatnia klasa obejmuje: flawony (np. apigenina), flawanony
(np. naringenina), flawonole (np. kwercetyna), flawanole (np. katechiny),
izoflawony (np. genisteina), antocyjanidyny (np. malwidyna), chalkony
(np. buteina), aurony (np. aureuzydyna) i ksantony (np. α-mangostyna).
Do tej pory opisano ponad dziesięć tysięcy związków polifenolowych
i wciąż nie poznano ich wszystkich. Właściwości polifenoli to temat intensywnie
badany na całym świecie ze względu na możliwe wykorzystanie
związków polifenolowych w medycynie, farmakologii, kosmetologii,
rolnictwie, dietetyce i przemyśle."(...
Family - Health - Disease
Preface: "The family is the basic social cell and a person’s closest environment; it
plays the dominant non-medical role in shaping health as it is the primary
source of knowledge about nutrition, life-style and disease prevention.
The family may determine both healthy habits and anti-health behaviors;
it influences the entire duration of a person’s life. It is important to emphasize
the extremely significant role of the family in providing care, supporting
treatment processes, and giving company to an ill family member."(...
A study of the antibacterial properties of chitosan. Effects of chitosan on membrane lipids (DPPG) in Langmuir monolayers.
Chitozan, polikationowy polimer naturalnego pochodzenia, jest materiałem o wszechstronnym zastosowaniu. Wykazuje on wiele korzystnych właściwości - jest biokompatybilny, biodegradowalny i nietoksyczny. Szczególnie obiecująca jest aktywność bakteriobójcza i bakteriostatyczna chitozanu. Niniejsze badania miały na celu zbadanie charakteru oddziaływań chitozanu na błony komórkowe bakterii w układzie modelowym, jaki stanowią monowarstwy Langmuira. Do przygotowania monowarstw zastosowano lipid o charakterze anionowym, dipalmitynian fosfatydyloglicerolu (DPPG), który jest typowy dla błon bakteryjnych. Oddziaływania chitozanu z monowarstwą badano analizując różnice w przebiegu izoterm Langmuira (ciśnienie powierzchniowe w funkcji powierzchni) zarejestrowanych na buforze octanowym dla wybranych wartości pH buforu i stężeniach chitozanu w zakresie 0–1,0 mg/ml. Przebadano także wpływ temperatury (15, 19, 25, 31 i 37°C) na przebieg izoterm. Zaobserwowano, że obecność chitozanu zmniejsza gęstość upakowania warstwy DPPG prowadząc do jej rozluźnienia. To, jak duży jest wpływ chitozanu na rozluźnienie struktury monowarstwy zależy zarówno od temperatury jak i od pH buforu. Najsilniejszy efekt zaobserwowano dla pH 3,5 i temperaturze 37°C. Zachodzące zjawiska są wypadkową zmian zachodzących w cząsteczkach lipidu DPPG i chitozanu pod wpływem zmieniających się warunków temperatury i pH. Obecność chitozanu w subfazie zmniejsza gęstość upakowania warstwy lipidowej z powodu penetracji tej warstwy przez chitozan. Eksperyment potwierdza, że istnieją oddziaływania między cząsteczkami chitozanu i anionowymi składnikami bakteryjnych błon komórkowych, mogące prowadzić do zniszczenia błony komórkowej.Chitosan, a natural polycationic polymer is a comprehensive material. It has a number of beneficial properties, it is biocompatible, biodegradable and non-toxic. Especially promising is bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of chitosan. The purpose of this research was to elucidate the character of interactions between chitosan and bacterial cell membranes. To build model of bacterial cell membranes the Langmuir monolayer was used. Monolayers were generated with anionic lipid, dipalmitoyl phosphatidylglycerol (DPPG), lipid which is typical of bacterial membranes. Chitosan action on monolayers was studied by analyzing differences in the course of the Langmuir isotherms (surface pressure in the function of area). All isotherms were registered in conditions of acetate buffer in pH ranged 3,5 – 6,0 and concentration of chitosan range 0-1,0 mg/ml. Research included also the effect of temperature (15, 19, 25, 31 and 37°C). It was observed that the presence of chitosan loosened the DPPG monolayer density. The influence of chitosan molecules on monolayer density depended on the temperature and pH conditions. The most effective conditions were observed for pH 3,5 and temperature 37°C. The processes observed in the study were caused by the changes induced by temperature and pH conditions in both chitosan and DPPG molecules. The experiment confirms that electrostatic interactions are present between molecules of chitosan and anionic components of the bacterial cell membranes, which may damage those membranes
Freeze-dried rose hips decrease cortisol levels in students after the stress of exams
Wprowadzenie: Ekstrakty roślinne bogate w polifenole mogą modyfikować poziom stresu. Celem projektu było zbadanie, czy liofilizowane owoce róży (Rosa rugosa) przyjmowane doustnie przez studentów wpływają na poziom kortyzolu przed i po silnie stresującym egzaminie. Materiał i metody: Badanie o charakterze podwójnie ślepej próby objęło zdrowych ochotników rekrutowanych pośród studentów kierunków medycznych. Uczestnicy w grupie badanej przyjmowali kapsułki zawierające po 400 mg liofilizowanych mielonych owoców róży przez pięć kolejnych dni poprzedzających egzamin (stresor). W tym czasie grupa kontrolna przyjmowała placebo. Uczestnicy wypełnili ankietę dotyczącą ich płci, stylu życia, historii chorób, aktywności fizycznej, stosowanej diety, używek, leków i suplementów diety. Próbki śliny do oznaczenia poziomu kortyzolu zostały pobrane trzykrotnie: rano przed rozpoczęciem fazy eksperymentalnej, rano przed stresorem oraz godzinę po ustąpieniu stresora. Poziom kortyzolu w ślinie oznaczono metodą immunoenzymatyczną. Wyniki: Stwierdzono, że przyjmowanie liofilizowanych owoców róży przez pięć dni istotnie zmniejsza poziom kortyzolu u studentów po egzaminie w porównaniu z grupą przyjmującą placebo. Nie wykazano różnic w poziomie kortyzolu przed egzaminem niezależnie od przyjmowanego preparatu. Żaden inny analizowany czynnik nie wpływał na stężenie hormonu stresu u studentów. Wnioski: Liofilizowane owoce róży mogą pomagać w osłabieniu skutków stresu.Introduction: Plant extracts rich in phenolic compounds may modify the stress level. The aim of this project is to investigate whether freeze-dried rosehips (Rosa rugosa), taken orally by students, affect cortisol concentration before and after a highly stressful exam. Materials and methods: The double-blind study included healthy volunteers recruited from medical and health sciences students. Participants in the study group took capsules containing 400 mg of freeze-dried ground rosehips for five consecutive days preceding the exam (stressor). At that time, the control group was taking a placebo (120 mg of glucose). Participants completed a questionnaire on their gender, lifestyle, medical history, physical activity, diet, stimulants, medications and dietary supplements. Saliva samples for determining the level of cortisol in saliva were taken three times: in the morning before the beginning of the experimental phase, in the morning before the stressor, and one hour after the stressor subsided. The level of cortisol in saliva was determined using ELISA. Results: It was found that taking freeze-dried rosehips for five days significantly reduced the level of cortisol in students after the exam compared to the placebo group. There were no differences in the level of cortisol before the exam, regardless of the preparation taken. No other analyzed factor influenced the concentration of the stress hormone in students. Conclusions: Freeze-dried rosehips can help reduce the effects of stress