Changes in Phospholipid Composition Studied by HPLC and Electric Properties of Liver Cell Membrane of Ethanol-Poisoned Rats

Ethanol introduced into the organism undergoes rapid metabolism to acetaldehyde and then to acetic acid. The process is accompanied by formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which damage mainly lipids of membrane cells. The effects of ROS can be neutralized by administering preparations with antioxidant properties. The natural preparations of this kind are teas

The effects of theaflavin-enriched black tea extract on muscle soreness, oxidative stress, inflammation, and endocrine responses to acute anaerobic interval training: a randomized, double-blind, crossover study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Muscle soreness and decreased performance often follow a bout of high-intensity exercise. By reducing these effects, an athlete can train more frequently and increase long-term performance. The purpose of this study is to examine whether a high-potency, black tea extract (BTE) alters the delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), oxidative stress, inflammation, and cortisol (CORT) responses to high-intensity anaerobic exercise.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>College-age males (N = 18) with 1+ yrs of weight training experience completed a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study. Subjects consumed the BTE (1,760 mg BTE·d^-1) or placebo (PLA) for 9 days. Each subject completed two testing sessions (T1 & T2), which occurred on day 7 of the intervention. T1 & T2 consisted of a 30 s Wingate Test plus eight 10 s intervals. Blood samples were obtained before, 0, 30 & 60 min following the interval sessions and were used to analyze the total to oxidized glutathione ratio (GSH:GSSG), 8-isoprostane (8-iso), CORT, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) secretion. DOMS was recorded at 24 & 48 h post-test using a visual analog scale while BTE or PLA continued to be administered. Significance was set at <it>P < 0.05</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to PLA, BTE produced significantly higher average peak power (<it>P = 0.013</it>) and higher average mean power (<it>P = 0.067</it>) across nine WAnT intervals. BTE produced significantly lower DOMS compared to PLA at 24 h post test (<it>P < 0.001</it>) and 48 h post test (<it>P < 0.001</it>). Compared to PLA, BTE had a slightly higher GSH:GSSG ratio at baseline which became significantly higher at 30 and 60 min post test (<it>P < 0.002</it>). AUC analysis revealed BTE to elicit significantly lower GSSG secretion (<it>P = 0.009</it>), significantly higher GSH:GSSG ratio (<it>P = 0.001</it>), and lower CORT secretion (<it>P = 0.078</it>) than PLA. AUC analysis did not reveal a significant difference in total IL-6 response (<it>P = 0.145</it>) between conditions.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Consumption of theaflavin-enriched black tea extract led to improved recovery and a reduction in oxidative stress and DOMS responses to acute anaerobic intervals. An improved rate of recovery can benefit all individuals engaging in high intensity, anaerobic exercise as it facilitates increased frequency of exercise.</p

Traditional knowledge of wild edible plants used in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal): a comparative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We compare traditional knowledge and use of wild edible plants in six rural regions of the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula as follows: Campoo, Picos de Europa, Piloña, Sanabria and Caurel in Spain and Parque Natural de Montesinho in Portugal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data on the use of 97 species were collected through informed consent semi-structured interviews with local informants. A semi-quantitative approach was used to document the relative importance of each species and to indicate differences in selection criteria for consuming wild food species in the regions studied.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>The most significant species include many wild berries and nuts (e.g. <it>Castanea sativa, Rubus ulmifolius, Fragaria vesca</it>) and the most popular species in each food-category (e.g. fruits or herbs used to prepare liqueurs such as <it>Prunus spinosa</it>, vegetables such as <it>Rumex acetosa</it>, condiments such as <it>Origanum vulgare</it>, or plants used to prepare herbal teas such as <it>Chamaemelum nobile</it>). The most important species in the study area as a whole are consumed at five or all six of the survey sites.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Social, economic and cultural factors, such as poor communications, fads and direct contact with nature in everyday life should be taken into account in determining why some wild foods and traditional vegetables have been consumed, but others not. They may be even more important than biological factors such as richness and abundance of wild edible flora. Although most are no longer consumed, demand is growing for those regarded as local specialties that reflect regional identity.</p

Wild food plants used on the Dubrovnik coast (south-eastern Croatia)

Croatia’s versatile plant use traditions are still not sufficiently documented. The aim of this study was to record local traditions of wild food plant use on the Dubrovnik coast. We interviewed 40 inhabitants of 23 villages, mainly knowledgeable informants. On average 19 species were listed, which in total produced an inventory of 95 food plant species (including species whose leaves or inflorescences are used as recreational teas). The most commonly collected are: Sonchus oleraceus and S. asper, Asparagus acutifolius, Dioscorea communis, Cichorium intybus, Crepis zacintha, Allium ampeloprasum, Picris echioides and Foeniculum vulgare (all of them used as vegetables), the fruits of Rubus ulmifolius (mainly eaten raw), the fruits of roses (Rosa sempervirens and R. canina) and the leaves of Salvia officinalis (both roses and salvia are used for making recreational teas). A particular feature of the local gastronomy is the collection of young Ruscus aculeatus shoots

Content of selected minerals and inorganic anions in tree saps from Podkarpacie Region

Analizowano soki drzewne ośmiu gatunków drzew z Podkarpacia: brzozy zwisłej (brodawkowatej) – Betula pendula Ehrh., brzozy omszonej – Betula pubescens Ehrh., grabu pospolitego – Carpinus betulus L., klonu zwyczajnego – Acer platanoides L,. klonu jawora – Acer pseudoplatanus L., klonu polnego – Acer campestre L., klonu jesionolistnego – Acer negundo L. i klonu srebrzystego – Acer saccharinum L. Określono zawartość anionów nieorganicznych: chlorków, azotanów(V), siarczanów(VI) oraz fosforanów(V), a także składników mineralnych: miedzi, cynku, wapnia, magnezu, sodu i potasu. Największą średnią zawartość chlorków (32,68 mg·l⁻¹) i siarczanów (21,8 mg·l⁻¹) oznaczono w sokach grabowych, a magnezu (18,96 mg·l⁻¹) i wapnia (30,52 mg·l⁻¹) w sokach z klonu polnego. W sokach z klonu jesionolistnego stwierdzono największą średnią zawartość fosforanów (114,53 mg·l⁻¹), miedzi (1,45 mg·l⁻¹) i azotanów (25,99 mg·l⁻¹), a w soku z brzozy zwisłej – cynku (1,85 mg·l⁻¹) i sodu (0,59 mg·l⁻¹). Soki z klonu zwyczajnego odznaczały się z kolei największą średnią zawartością potasu (82,15 mg·l⁻¹). Otrzymane wyniki zestawiono z obowiązującymi w Polsce normami żywieniowymi. Wskazują one, że soki drzewne mogą być wartościowym źródłem składników mineralnych, szczególnie miedzi i cynku, w mniejszym stopniu wapnia, magnezu i fosforu. Jednocześnie stwierdzono znikome zagrożenie ze strony składników potencjalnie niekorzystnych dla ludzkiego zdrowia, tzn. anionów nieorganicznych: azotanów(V) i siarczanów(VI) oraz sodu.There were analyzed tree saps of eight tree species: silver birch - Betula pendula, downy birch - Betula pubescens, common hornbeam - Carpinus betulus, Norway maple - Acer platanoides, sycamore maple - Acer pseudoplatanus, field maple - Acer campestre, boxelder maple - Acer negundo, and silver maple - Acer saccharinum). The contents of the following inorganic anions were determined: chlorides, nitrates (V), sulphates (VI), and phosphates (V) as well as of the following minerals: copper, zinc, calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium. The highest average content of chlorides (32.68 mg·l⁻¹) and sulphates (21.8 mg·l⁻¹) was determined in common hornbeam saps, whereas of magnesium (18.96 mg·l⁻¹) and calcium (30.52 mg·l⁻¹) in field maple saps. The highest average content of phosphates (114.53 mg·l⁻¹), copper (1.45 mg·l⁻¹), and nitrates (25.99 mg·l⁻¹) was detected in boxelder maple saps. The highest average contents of zinc (1.85 mg·l⁻¹) and sodium (0.59 mg·l⁻¹) were found in the silver birch saps,. The Norway maple tree saps, in turn, were characterized by the highest average content of potassium (82.15 mg·l⁻¹). The results obtained were compared with the nutrition standards in force in Poland. They indicate that tree saps could be a valuable source of minerals, especially of copper and zinc, and to a lesser degree, of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. At the same time, it was reported that the ingredients showing a potentially adverse impact on human health, i.e. inorganic anions: nitrates(V), sulphates(VI), and sodium, present a negligible risk

Wild food plants and fungi used by Ukrainians in the western part of the Maramures region in Romania

Wild food and fungi use in the countryside has always been an important part of human-nature relationships. Due to social changes in most rural areas of Europe this part of traditional ecological knowledge is shrinking. The aim of our study was to record the use of wild foods and plants among the Ukrainian (Carpatho-Rusyns) minority in the western part of Romanian Maramureę. We carried out 64 interviews in two villages. Voucher specimens were collected and DNA barcoding was used to identify most fungi taxa. We recorded the use of 44 taxa of plants altogether (including 8 taxa used only for herbal teas) and 24 taxa of fungi. On average 7.7 species of plants and 9.7 species of fungi were listed per interview. Edible fungi are thus an important part of local cuisine and they are eagerly gathered by everyone. The use of a few woodland bracket fungi is worth pointing out. No signs of degeneration of this knowledge were observed. Wild fruits are less collected now and wild greens are rarely collected nowadays. This pattern is typical of many places in Central Europe

A century of changes in wild food plant use in coastal Croatia: the example of Krk and Poljica

The aim of this study was to document the use of wild foods in two locations in the coastal part of Croatia – on the island of Krk and in the Poljica area, near Split. We chose these places as they have historical data on plant use (1900 and 1903 respectively). We carried out 67 interviews in Poljica and 55 interviews in Krk to estimate the current use and knowledge of wild foods. Altogether, 80 species of wild food and herbal tea species of plants were recorded in Poljica and 76 in Krk. On average, 13.2 species were listed by per interview in Poljica, including 7.1 species of wild vegetables, and in Krk 14.6 species, including 7.9 species of wild vegetables. Out of the list of plant names recorded in the past, in Krk, we identified 82% of the taxa and in Poljica 86%

Archaic Food Uses of Large Graminoids in Agro Peligno Wetlands (Abruzzo, Central Italy) Compared With the European Ethnobotanical and Archaeological Literature

Large graminoid species, which often dominate wetland ecosystems with extensive and dense formations, are among the most indicative plants from the first human settlements, where they have been used (even transformed) for various functions ranging from food, cordage, weaving and other utilities. Wetland large graminoid foraging today represents one of the rarest and most archaic customs still in existence, as they have frequently disappeared following changes in society or the disappearance of marshes. These customs have (almost) disappeared in Europe, especially in Italy, following socio-economic changes and wetland reclamation; remaining uses can generally only be found in prehistoric traces. This research in Agro Peligno documents and describes for the first time the remains of these prehistoric uses, which are related to the ancient Peligni (or Paeligni) people. The data collected in the current field study were later compared with food uses of graminoids arising from a large spectrum of archaeological, ethnobotanical, and folkloric literature from other European areas, in a large sense. Problems and outlook regarding the loss of this traditional knowledge are also briefly discussed