Effect of short-term consumption bitter apricot seeds on the body composition in healthy population

The distribution of fat in different areas of the body is important since accumulation of fat within the abdominal cavity represents a much more severe cardiovascular risk than accumulation in subcutaneous adipose tissues. Apricot seeds contain a wide variety of bioactive compounds and that consumption can decrease blood pressure and total blood cholesterol levels, fight oxidative stress and maintain body weight. The aim of the study was to analyse body composition: body fat mass (BFM), fat free mass (FFM), skeletal muscle mass (SMM), body fat percentage (%BFM), visceral fat area (VFA), total body water (TBW) - intracellular water (ICW) and extracellular water (ECW) and to evaluate the changes that occur after 6-weeks consumption of bitter apricot seeds. The study group finally consisted of 34 healthy adults volunteers (21 females and 13 males). Volunteers were recruited from the general population of Slovakia. Respondents were 23 - 65 years old, where the average age of women was 40.65 ±11.31 years and the average age of men was 36.91 ±9.98 years. All participants were asked to consume 60 mg.kg-1 of body weight of bitter apricot seeds daily during 6 weeks. Body composition was diagnosed by multi-frequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MFBIA) by InBody 720 (Biospace Co., Korea), which measures the total impedance at frequencies of 1, 5, 50, 100, 500, 1000 kHz. At baseline mean body weight was 85.78 ±14.66 and 62.84 ±12.19 kg in the male and female participants, respectively. After 6 weeks of consumation we observed non-significant decreasing of mean body weight. The mean BFM was 19.25 ±8.81 kg in the male group and 19.47 ±7.21 kg in the female group. After six weeks, BFM decreased non-significantly (on average 0.5 kg) in both groups. The mean FFM at baseline was 43.37 ±5.98 and 66.54 ±7.98 kg in the female and male participants, respectively. The statistical analysis confirmed that the increase of FFM (43.37 ±5.98 kg to 43.56 ±5.80 kg) in the female were statistically significant (p <0.05). VFA was greater in the men (82.04 ±39.82 cm2 at baseline and 78.65 ±39.79 cm2 after 6 weeks) comparison to women (79.82 ±29.03 cm2 at baseline and 78.29 ±29.90 cm2 after 6 weeks). The mean of TBW in males before the start of study was 48.78 ±5.77 kg and 47.88 ±5.57 kg after 6 weeks of consumption. The results of study show the small weight loss in the both group. Therefore, the results from this study indicate that daily consumption of bitter apricot seeds produce measurable health benefits, but further studies are also required

Does apricot seeds consumption cause changes in human urine?

Natural substances, such as amygdalin, used in alternative medicine gained high popularity. Common people as well as patients with different diseases have almost unlimited access to various natural supplements. To protect human health, it is very important to study effect of these substances. Amygdalin is a cyanogenic glucoside derived from seeds of rosaceous plants, for example seeds of bitter almonds (Prunus dulcis), or apricot, cherry, apple, peach, plum, etc. It is a natural product that owns antitumor activity, it has also been used for the treatment of asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, leprosy and diabetes and produces a kind of antitussive and antiasthmatic effects. The present in vivo study was designed to reveal whether amygdalin in apricot seeds has got an effect on human urine composition, pH value and urine associated health status after six weeks of oral administration. The study group finally consisted of 34 healthy adult volunteers (21 females and 13 males). All participants were asked to consume 60 mg.kg-1 body weight of bitter apricot seeds daily (approximately 3.0 mg.kg-1 of amygdalin) during 6 weeks. During the experiment, three urine collections were carried out (first collection - at the beginning of the experiment; second collection - after 21 days; third collection - after 42 days). Quantification of urine calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chlorides (Cl-), urea and pH value after apricot seeds supplementation was performed. Statistical analysis of variance showed, that consumption of bitter apricot seeds during 42 days had a significant (p <0.01) effect on amount of calcium excreted in urine, though this decrease shifted its level from elevated mean value in control collection into normal physiological range. Significant changes were observed in urea (p <0.05) and phosphorus (p <0.01) levels in urine after apricot seed ingestion, but gender was also considered to be a source of their variation

Co-administration of amygdalin and deoxynivalenol disrupted regulatory proteins linked to proliferation of porcine ovarian cells in vitro

Deoxynivalenol (DON) represents one of the most prevalent trichothecene mycotoxin produced by Fusarium species, causing economic and health impacts. On the other hand, amygdalin has been demonstrated to possess both prophylactic and curative properties, thus it has been used as a traditional drug because of its wide range of medicinal benefits, including curing or preventing cancer, relieving fever, suppressing cough, and quenching thirst. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate potential effects of natural product amygdalin combined with mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) on the key regulators of cell proliferation and apoptosis in porcine ovarian granulosa cells. Ovarian granulosa cells were incubated for 24h with amygdalin (1, 10, 100, 1000, 10 000 μg.mL-1) combined with deoxynivalenol (1 μg.mL-1), while the control group remained untreated. The presence of proliferative (cyclin B1, PCNA) and apoptotic markers (caspase-3) in porcine ovarian granulosa cells after amygdalin treatment (1, 10, 100, 1000, 10 000 μg.mL-1) combined with deoxynivalneol (1 μg.mL-1) was detected by immunocytochemistry. The presence of proliferative (cyclin B1, PCNA) and apoptotic markers (caspase-3) in porcine ovarian granulosa cells was detected by immunocytochemistry. Co-administration of amygdalin plus DON significantly (p <0.05) increased the number of granulosa cells containing cyclin B1 and PCNA at all tested concetrations, when compared to control. However, percentage of granulosa cells containing major apoptotic marker caspase-3 did not differ after co-administration of amygdalin and DON. In summary, results form this in vitro study indicate that co-exposure of amygdalin and deoxynivalenol  may act to stimulate proliferation-associated peptides in porcine ovarian granulosa cells, and thus alter cell proliferation and normal follicular development

Effect of apricot seeds on renal structure of rabbits

Amygdalin is the major cyanogenic glycoside present in apricot seeds and is degraded to cyanide by chewing or grinding. The animal data available did not provide a suitable basis for acute human health hazard. The apricot seeds are potentially useful in human nutrition and for treatment of several diseases especially cancer. The present study demonstrates the potential effect of short-term oral application of apricot seeds on renal structure of rabbit as a biological model. Meat line P91 Californian rabbits from the experimental farm of the Animal Production Research Centre Nitra (Slovak Republic) were used in the experiments. The animals were randomly divided into the three groups (C-control, P1, P2 - experimental groups) leading to 8 rabbits in each group. The control group received no apricot seeds while the experimental groups P1 and P2 received a daily dose 60 and 300 mg.kg-1 b.w. of crushed apricot seeds mixed with feed during 28 days, respectively. After 28 days all animals were slaughtered and kidney tissue was processed by standard histopathological techniques. Tissue sections were observed under an optical microscope with camera Olympus CX41 (Olympus, Japan) at a magnification of 10 x 0.40. The basic morphometric criteria of the preparations were quantified using image program MeasurIT (Olympus, Japan). From each sample (n = 24) three histological sections with five different fields of view in each section were analysed and followed parameters were analysed: diameter of renal corpuscles (RC), diameter of glomeruli (G), diameter of tubules (T) and the height of epithelial tubules (E). In our study, we observed a slight increase in the most frequent occurrence parenchyma dystrophy experimental animals. These changes were more pronounced in the experimental group (P2) rabbits received a daily dose of 300 mg.kg-1 of body weight of apricot seeds. Most often, we have found enlarged glomeruli filling the entire space of the capsule, and also glomerular basement membrane thickening. The most frequent alterations of tubular organs manifested by thickening and dilatation of proximal tubules and in the lumen of the occurrence fuchsinophilic mass, grains and hyaline cylinders. The occurrence of the vacuole and parenchymal atrophy was mostly balanced groups. Changes in P2 group are also reflected in morphometric evaluation structures. We have found significant decrease (p <0.001) in the average of all renal structures (diameter of renal corpuscles, diameter of glomeruli, diameter of tubules, and the height of epithelial tubules). Inversely, oral administration a daily dose of 60 mg.kg-1 of body weight of apricot seeds had no significant impact on these parameters. The change displays only the increase of renal tubule diameter. Our data may provide more specific evidence of oral application of apricot seeds on renal structure but further detailed studies are also required

The investigation of alfaalfa effect on the activity of superoxide dismutase in chicken meat in dependence on time storage

This study was conducted in order to monitor the effect of adding lucerne meal to chicken feed mixtures. The experiment was conducted at the Department Food Hygiene and Safety, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Science, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra. Chickens for meat production - final type Cobb 500 were used in the experiment. Chickens were placed in boxes all together for one group at the beginning of the experiment and from 14 days of age chickens were divided individually into floor enriched cages. Feeding of chickens lasted 38 days. The experiment was carried out without sex segregation. For the production of a feed composition was used alfalfa (Medicago sativa) as lucerne meal, which was added to the feed at a rate of 4%, namely: starter (HYD-01), growth (HYD-02) and final (HYD-03). The control group did not include the addition of lucerne meal. Chickens were fed ad libitum. Chickens were slaughtered after completion of feeding and the meat samples were taken for analysis. The collected samples were stored at -18 °C. Collected samples of meat were analyzed after slaughter chickens at time intervals of 6, 12 and 18 months. In the experiment was monitored the content of supeoxid dismutase in the chicken meat depending on the length of storage time. Superoxide dismutase content was increasing by storage time, while there were some statistically significant differences between groups

Effect of punicalagin on proliferation of porcine ovarian granulosa cells in vitro

Punicalagin is a major component responsible for pomegranate's (Punica granatum) antioxidant properties. Punicalagin is the predominant ellagitannin of Punica granatum and present in two isomeric forms: punicalagin α and β. Punicalagin is metabolised to ellagic acid (antioxidant) and microorganisms present in colon can metabolize ellagic acid to urolithins. The aim of in vitro study was to examine the effect of punicalagin on mitochondrial activity and markers of proliferation in porcine ovarian granulosa cells. The cells were cultivated during 24h without (control group) and with various doses (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 μg*ml-1) of pomegranate compound – punicalagin. MTT assay and immunocytochemistry were used in this study. Stimulatory influence of punicalagin on the mitochondrial activity of ovarian granulosa cells at concentrations 1 μg*ml-1 was found. Punicalagin (at 1 μg*ml-1) had a significant (P < 0.05) impact on the presence of proliferative markers cyclin B1 (increase) and PCNA - proliferating cell nuclear antigen (decrease) in porcine ovarian granulosa cells. These results suggest dose-dependent effect of punicalagin on cell proliferation. Further verification of possible role of punicalagin in proliferation is therefore needed

Possible stimulatory effect of quercetin on secretion of selected pituitary hormones

Quercetin is found in various types of foods such as apples, red onions, grapes, berries, citrus fruits, cherries, broccoli, tea etc. It is characterized by antioxidative, anti-carcinogenic, bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory effects on the animal organism. The aim of our study was to examine its effect on endocrine system of the rabbit in vivo. Twenty healthy adult female rabbits were divided into four groups (control group and three experimental groups). Various concentrations of quercetin (10, 100 and 1000 µg/kg body weight) were intramuscularly administrated to rabbits in experimental groups during 30 days. A sensitive, biochemical method, ELISA was used to determine the concentrations of selected hormones (follicle-stimulating hormone - FSH, luteinizing hormone – LH, prolactin – PRL) after 30 days of administration. Non-significant differences between groups were found after application of different quercetin concentrations. Stimulatory effect was observed on FSH secretion by higher dose of quercetin. Similarly, LH and PRL increased at concentration 100 µg/kg and 1000 µg/kg. Our results indicate the possible effect of quercetin on secretion of selected pituitary hormones