Omega-3 fatty acids for nutrition and medicine considering microalgae oil as a vegetarian source of EPA and DHA

Abstract: Long-chain EPA/DHA omega-3 fatty acid supplementation can be co-preventative and co-therapeutic. Current research suggests increasing accumulated long chain omega-3s for health benefits and as natural medicine in several major diseases. But many believe plant omega-3 sources are nutritionally and therapeutically equivalent to the EPA/DHA omega-3 in fish oil. Although healthy, precursor ALA bio-conversion to EPA is inefficient and production of DHA is nearly absent, limiting the protective value of ALA supplementation from flax-oil, for example. Along with pollutants certain fish acquire high levels of EPA/DHA as predatory species. However, the origin of EPA/DHA in aquatic ecosystems is algae. Certain microalgae produce high levels of EPA or DHA. Now, organically produced DHA-rich microalgae oil is available. Clinical trials with DHA-rich oil indicate comparable efficacies to fish oil for protection from cardiovascular risk factors by lowering plasma triglycerides and oxidative stress. This review discusses 1) omega-3 fatty acids in nutrition and medicine; 2) omega-3s in physiology and gene regulation; 3) possible protective mechanisms of EPA/DHA in major diseases such as coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis, cancer and type 2 diabetes; 4) EPA and DHA requirements considering fish oil safety; and 5) microalgae EPA and DHA-rich oils and recent clinical results

Screening of Ipomoea tuba Leaf Extract for Identification of Bioactive Compounds and Evaluation of Its in vitro Antiproliferative Activity Against MCF-7 and HeLa Cells

Biljke mangrova sadržavaju širok raspon bioaktivnih sastojaka s farmakološkim svojstvima. U ovom su radu iz lišća slaka (Ipomoea tuba) pomoću metanola ekstrahirani fitokonstituenti, čiji je sastav određen metodom plinske kromatografije/masene spektrometrije (GC-MS), te je in vitro ispitan njihov antiproliferacijski učinak na tumorske stanične linije MCF-7 i HeLa. U ekstraktu lišća su pronađene fitokemikalije poput: behenične, α-linolenske i linolne kiseline, triterpenoida γ-sitosterola i terpenskih alkohola. Zatim je in vitro ispitan antiproliferacijski učinak ekstrakta na tumorske stanične linije i utvrđeno je da je došlo do smanjenja vijabilnosti stanične linije MCF-7 za 37,43 % i HeLa za 41,89 %. Zaključeno je da je ekstrakt lišća slaka dobiven primjenom metanola kao otapala učinkovit u zaštiti stanica od oksidacijskog stresa. Ovo je prvi izvještaj o in vitro citotoksičnom učinku ekstrakta lišća slaka na stanične linije MCF-7 i HeLa.Mangroves contain a wide range of bioactive compounds with pharmacological activities. In the present study, we analysed the separation and detection of phytoconstituents with the methanol extract of Ipomoea tuba leaf using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and tested its in vitro cytotoxicity effect against MCF-7 and HeLa cells. Phytochemical compounds such as docosanoic, octadecatrienoic and cis-9-octadecanoic acids, triterpenoid γ-sitosterol, and terpene alcohol in methanol extract of I. tuba leaf were identified. Furthermore, in vitro antiproliferative activity of the extract of I. tuba leaf was evaluated using MCF-7 and HeLa cells. The results indicated a reduction of cell viability of 37.43 and 41.89 % of MCF-7 and HeLa cells respectively. The methanol extract of I. tuba leaf proved to be effective in protecting the cells against oxidative stress. This is the first report on the in vitro cytotoxicity effect of I. tuba leaf extract on MCF-7 and HeLa cells

An Update on Clinical Burden, Diagnostic Tools, and Therapeutic Options of

Staphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen responsible for a variety of diseases ranging from mild skin and soft tissue infections, food poisoning to highly serious diseases such as osteomyelitis, endocarditis, and toxic shock syndrome. Proper diagnosis of pathogen and virulence factors is important for providing timely intervention in the therapy. Owing to the invasive nature of infections and the limited treatment options due to rampant spread of antibiotic-resistant strains, the trend for development of vaccines and antibody therapy is increasing at rapid rate than development of new antibiotics. In this article, we have discussed elaborately about the host-pathogen interactions, clinical burden due to S aureus infections, status of diagnostic tools, and treatment options in terms of prophylaxis and therapy