Granular Activated Carbons from Agricultural By-products: Process Description and Estimated Cost of Production (Bulletin #881)

This bulletin is a follow-up, in part, of Bulletin #869, “Granular Activated Carbons from Agricultural By-products: Preparation, Properties and Application in Cane Sugar Refining.” An estimation of production costs for these by product-based carbons was considered prudent because of the potential interest from both bagasse and shell producers and activated carbon manufacturers based on the use of these carbons in various applications compared to commercial carbons.https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/agcenter_bulletins/1034/thumbnail.jp

The Maillard Reaction Reconsidered: Cooking and Eating for Health

Cooking involves chemical reactions that can make food smell and taste better. However, the same process that is responsible for creating the aroma, flavor, palatability, color, and taste of grilled and seared foods has also been linked to the development of chronic degenerative diseases. The Maillard reaction produces advanced glycation end products (AGEs) which are associated with diabetes complications and several other chronic degenerative diseases including obesity, chronic inflammation, erectile dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s. Regardless of whether you are a chef, a food scientist, a dietician, a culinologist, or simply a home cook, The Maillard Reaction Reconsidered: Cooking and Eating for Health will help you understand the link between the Maillard reaction, the AGEs, and resulting physiological conditions. Written in nontechnical terms, it elaborates on dietary factors that can help you prevent the development of chronic degenerative diseases as well as the factors that pose dietary risk. The book is divided into three parts. Part I describes the Maillard reaction in layman’s terms to help you understand the chemistry that takes place when food ingredients are mixed in the presence of heat. Part II links the Maillard reaction products to chronic inflammatory degenerative diseases and discusses the consumption of protective foods. Part III covers champagne, caviar, good cuisine, and ice wine, and shows you how to develop a healthy pantry both at home and away from home. The author also gives you some healthy cooking and eating strategies and discusses the advantages associated with each strategy.https://repository.lsu.edu/facultybooks/1121/thumbnail.jp

The Potential of Dietary Bioactive Compounds against SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction

COVID-19 is an endothelial disease. All the major comorbidities that increase the risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and severe COVID-19 including old age, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, respiratory disease, compromised immune system, coronary artery disease or heart failure are associated with dysfunctional endothelium. Genetics and environmental factors (epigenetics) are major risk factors for endothelial dysfunction. Individuals with metabolic syndrome are at increased risk for severe SARS-CoV-2 infection and poor COVID-19 outcomes and higher risk of mortality. Old age is a non-modifiable risk factor. All other risk factors are modifiable. This review also identifies dietary risk factors for endothelial dysfunction. Potential dietary preventions that address endothelial dysfunction and its sequelae may have an important role in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection severity and are key factors for future research to address. This review presents some dietary bioactives with demonstrated efficacy against dysfunctional endothelial cells. This review also covers dietary bioactives with efficacy against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Dietary bioactive compounds that prevent endothelial dysfunction and its sequelae, especially in the gastrointestinal tract, will result in more effective prevention of SARS-CoV-2 variant infection severity and are key factors for future food research to address

In vitro and in vivo anti-angiogenic activities and inhibition of hormone-dependent and -independent breast cancer cells by ceramide methylaminoethylphosphonate

Ceramide methylaminoethylphosphonate (CMAEPn) was isolated from eastern oyster ( Crassostrea virginica ) and screened against in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis and against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435s breast cancer cell lines. In vitro angiogenesis was evaluated by the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) tube formation assay. MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435s cell viability was evaluated by the CellTiter 96 AQ(ueous) One Solution Cell Proliferation assay. Apoptosis was evaluated by the caspase-9 assay, autophagy by acridine orange staining and beclin-1 level. Our study indicates that CMAEPn at 50 microM inhibited VEGF-induced tube formation by HUVEC. The viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435s breast cancer cells exposed to 125 microM CMAEPn for 48 h was reduced to 76 and 85%, respectively. The viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435s cells exposed to 250 microM CMAEPn for 48 h under the same conditions was reduced to 38 and 45%, respectively. CMAEPn at 125 microM inhibited VEGF-induced MDA-MB-435s cell migration and invasion. CMAEPn at 125 microM also decreased VEGF, EGF levels in the conditioned media, PI3K, IkappaB phosphorylation and degradation in the cytoplasmic extracts, and NFkappaB nuclear translocation. Both acridine orange staining and beclin-1 indicated autophagic cell death in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435s cells, respectively. In vivo, CMAEPn at 30 mg/kg body weight inhibited bFGF-induced angiogenesis and caused a 57% reduction in hemoglobin levels in the matrigel plug assay within 7 days. This is the first report on CMAEPn-inhibited angiogenesis both in vitro and in vivo

Coupling In vitro and In vivo Paradigm Reveals a Dose Dependent Inhibition of Angiogenesis Followed by Initiation of Autophagy by C6-Ceramide

The activity of N-hexanoyl-D-erythro-sphingosine, a C6-ceramide against angiogenesis was tested in vitro and in vivo. The effect of ceramide in inhibiting MCF-7 cancer cells was also determined. The aim of this study was to potentiate the effect of ceramide as anti-angiogenic compound that can regulate tumor induced angiogenesis.C6-ceramide inhibited vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) tube formation in a dose-dependent manner within 24 hours. Ceramide at concentrations between 12.5 and 25 &#956;M inhibited the viability of MCF-7 cells and reduced VEGF-induced cell migration in 24 hours. At 50 &#956;M, ceramide induced MCF-7 cell death via autophagy as demonstrated by accumulation of MDC in ceramide-treated MCF-7 vacuoles. The expression of VEGF was reduced and the levels of cathepsin D in MCF-7 increased. In vivo, 50 &#956;M ceramide caused a 40% reduction of new vessel formation in the CAM assay within 24 hours. Zebrafish exposed to 100 - 400 &#956;M ceramide had a distinct disruption of blood vessel development at 48 hours post-fertilization. Ceramide-exposed embryos also had primary motoneurons exhibiting abnormal axonal trajectories and ectopic branching. Ceramide induced cell-death was not detected in the zebrafish assay. Collectively, these data indicate that ceramide is a potent anti-angiogenic compound and that the mechanism underlying its anti-angiogenic capabilities does not rely upon the induction of apoptosis.</p

Targeting MicroRNA in Cancer Using Plant-Based Proanthocyanidins

Proanthocyanidins are oligomeric flavonoids found in plant sources, most notably in apples, cinnamon, grape skin and cocoa beans. They have been also found in substantial amounts in cranberry, black currant, green tea, black tea and peanut skins. These compounds have been recently investigated for their health benefits. Proanthocyanidins have been demonstrated to have positive effects on various metabolic disorders such as inflammation, obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance. Another upcoming area of research that has gained widespread interest is microRNA (miRNA)-based anticancer therapies. MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNA segments, which plays a crucial role in RNA silencing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Currently, miRNA based anticancer therapies are being investigated either alone or in combination with current treatment methods. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and investigate the potential of naturally occurring proanthocyanidins in modulating miRNA expression. We will also assess the strategies and challenges of using this approach as potential cancer therapeutics