Deflamin, an edible anti-inflammatory and anticancer protein isolated from legume seeds

Doutoramento em Biologia / Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Universidade de LisboaPrevious reports revealed a novel MMP-2 and -9 inhibitor in Lupinus albus seeds, named deflamin, with a strong potential as a nutraceutical for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). In the present work our goal was 1) to better understand deflamin’s mode of action and 2) to produce an effective delivery system for it to be incorporated in IBD functional diets. Deflamin was found to be an oligomer comprising similar fragments from δ-conglutin and β-conglutin. It inhibited MMP-2 and -9 activities but not their gene expression and presented no cytotoxic effects. In vivo, it effectively reduced gelatinases activity in situ, hence minimizing the risk of secondary effects. Based on a previous patented method we were able to develop a lupin protein concentrate (LPC) which was used as an additive to cookies (10g/100g dough). Sweet and savory, as well as different flours (wheat, rice, buckwheat, oat, kamut and spelt) were tested. Overall, the LPC was found to improve the organoleptic and physical properties of the cookies. The biochemical compositions of all cookies with LPC presented higher protein and a golden-brown coloring. Furthermore, the aw and moisture content values suggested a high stability food product. Whilst the baking itself did not interfere with the gelatinase inhibitory activity in the cookies, the type of flour and the presence of sugar did, suggesting that the presence of carbohydrates can interfere with deflamin. Our final goal was tested the efficacy of the LPC in vivo, either alone or as added to cookies using two different types of colitis. Results confirmed that the LPC alone was effective against TNBS-induced colitis, in a dose dependent-manner, reducing more than 50% the DAI scores and inhibiting MMP-9 activity. When added to cookies, the LPC induced a significant protective effect against acetic acid-induced colitis, reducing lesion, oxidative stress and DNA damage levels. Overall, deflamin was shown to be an efficient and safe way to reduce IBDs symptoms, without prompting secondary effects. The developed LPC was found to be effective as a delivery system for deflamin and besides its activity towards MMP-9, the LPC further added a higher nutritional and antioxidant value to the already potential health benefits of deflamin. These findings can open new perspectives and novel approaches to tackle IBDS via functional diets.N/

Deflamin bioactivities : a novel inhibitory protein of MMP-9 from lupinus albus

ABSTRACT: Today, high-stressed lives paired with an increase in life expectancy lead to a natural increase in chronic diseases, which inexorably boosts medical and pharmaceutical costs worldwide. Despite the substantial advances in the treatment of complex, multigenic and chronic human diseases, their occurrence rate is still increasing significantly in the recent times. Also, many times traditional clinical treatments are not completely effective and have major disadvantages such as high cost and adverse side effects (Kunnumakkara et al., 2016). Hence, the development of cost effective, readily available, non-toxic and highly effective agents for the management of different human diseases are a rapidly increasing and desired area of research

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved