Caracterización geográfica de los aceites de oliva vírgenes de la denominación de origen protegida ’Les Garrigues’ por su perfil de ácidos grasos

Main fatty acid composition from Les Garrigues (Lleida. Spain) virgin olive oils were evaluated in three consecutive harvests (1995/96 to 1997/98). Results show that the variability is due to climate events and geographical area of production. Principal Components Analysis was applied to fatty acid composition of olive oil classified in two agroclimate geographical zones. The two first principal components accounting for 80 percent of the variance. A stepwise selection algorithm in discriminant analysis was used to obtain one discriminating function amongst the two zones. Above 83 % for the 188 observations used to fit the model were correctly classified. To verify the model, 20 additional oil samples from 1998/99 harvest were added to the data set and 84,6 % were correctly classified.Se ha analizado el perfil de ácidos grasos en 190 muestras de aceite de oliva virgen de la DOP Les Garrigues (Lleida) de tres campañas consecutivas (1995/96, 1996/97 y 1997/98). Se ha encontrado que la mayor variabilidad entre los ácidos grasos es debida a aspectos relacionados con la climatología de la campaña oleícola y con la procedencia de los aceites. El análisis de componentes principales ha permitido obtener dos componentes principales que explican más del 80 % de la variabilidad observada. La representación de los aceites según sus componentes principales, permite separar aceites procedentes de dos subzonas con diferencias agroclimáticas. Se ha aplicado un análisis discriminante paso a paso y se ha obtenido una función que ha permitido clasificar correctamente en la subzona de procedencia más del 83 % de los 188 aceites. El modelo ha sido validado con 20 muestras de aceites procedentes de la campaña 1998/99, habiéndose clasificado correctamente el 84,6 % de las muestras

Fucoxanthin-Containing Cream Prevents Epidermal Hyperplasia and UVB-Induced Skin Erythema in Mice

Microalgae represent a source of bio-active compounds such as carotenoids with potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. We aimed to investigate the effects of fucoxanthin (FX) in both in vitro and in vivo skin models. Firstly, its anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in LPS-stimulated THP-1 macrophages and TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT keratinocytes, and its antioxidant activity in UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. Next, in vitro and ex vivo permeation studies were developed to determine the most suitable formulation for in vivo FX topical application. Then, we evaluated the effects of a FX-containing cream on TPA-induced epidermal hyperplasia in mice, as well as on UVB-induced acute erythema in hairless mice. Our results confirmed the in vitro reduction of TNF-α, IL-6, ROS and LDH production. Since the permeation results showed that cream was the most favourable vehicle, FX-cream was elaborated. This formulation effectively ameliorated TPA-induced hyperplasia, by reducing skin edema, epidermal thickness, MPO activity and COX-2 expression. Moreover, FX-cream reduced UVB-induced erythema through down-regulation of COX-2 and iNOS as well as up-regulation of HO-1 protein via Nrf-2 pathway. In conclusion, FX, administered in a topical formulation, could be a novel natural adjuvant for preventing exacerbations associated with skin inflammatory pathologies as well as protecting skin against UV radiation

Impact of dietary supplementation with olive and thyme phenols on alpha-tocopherol concentration in the muscle and liver of adult Wistar rats

A preliminary study to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with olive phenols (oleuropein, hydroxytyrosol and secoiridoids), thyme phenols and a combination of these (5 mg per kg rat weight per day) on the α-tocopherol concentrations in the muscle and liver of healthy adult Wistar rats over 21 days was conducted. In addition, the excretion of α-tocopherol through the faeces was examined. The results demonstrated that the diet supplemented with some phenolic compounds of olive and thyme increased α-tocopherol (P < 0.05) in the liver of female rats, although the α-tocopherol content in the diet of all groups was identical. In addition, a synergic effect between the olive phenols and thyme was observed. Therefore, our study indicates a protective effect of olive and thyme phenols supplemented in the diet on α-tocopherol, resulting in a higher concentration of endogenous α-tocopherol in the rat liver.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (AGL2012-40144-C03-03 project), by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport through the ‘Formación Profesorado Universitario’ D. Bars-Cortina grant (FPU014/02902), and by the University of Lleida through the M.C. López de las Hazas grant

Design, optimization and validation of genes commonly used in expression studies on DMH/AOM rat colon carcinogenesis model

Colorectal cancer (CRC), also known as colon cancer, is the third most common form of cancer worldwide in men and the second in women and is characterized by several genetic alterations, among them the expression of several genes. 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and its metabolite azoxymethane (AOM) are procarcinogens commonly used to induce colon cancer in rats (DMH/AOM rat model). This rat model has been used to study changes in mRNA expression in genes involved in this pathological condition. However, a lack of proper detailed PCR primer design in the literature limits the reproducibility of the published data. The present study aims to design, optimize and validate the qPCR, in accordance with the MIQE (Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments) guidelines, for seventeen genes commonly used in the DMH/AOM rat model of CRC (Apc, Aurka, Bax, Bcl2, β -catenin, Ccnd1, Cdkn1a, Cox2, Gsk3beta, IL-33, iNOs, Nrf2, p53, RelA, Smad4, Tnfα and Vegfa) and two reference genes (Actb or β - actin and B2m). The specificity of all primer pairs was empirically validated on agarose gel, and furthermore, the melting curve inspection was checked as was their efficiency (%) ranging from 90 to 110 with a correlation coefficient of r 2 > 0.980. Finally, a pilot study was performed to compare the robustness of two candidate reference genes

Role of vascular mechanisms involved in the acute gastric mucosal injury induced by droxicam and piroxicam in rats

We describe the formation of severe gastric erosions produced in fasted rats by intragastric administration of droxicam and its active species piroxicam, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs of the oxicam group. The time course of gastric damage and the possible role of mucus secretion, changes of gastric vascular permeability, and neutrophil activation in the development of droxicam- and piroxicam-induced astric lesions, were also investigated. Both drugs dose-dependently (1-25-20 mg kg - ) caused acute gastric haemorrhagic erosions in the rat. These lesions were significantly greater with piroxicam treatment 6 h after dosing. Only the lower doses of droxicam and piroxicam (1.25 mg kg-') induced a significant increase of mucus gel production at different times (3 and 6 h). However, there was no increase in the concentration of its components. Oral pretreatment of the animals with either agent did not induce any changes on the values of mucosal vascular permeability. In contrast, myeloperoxidase activity as an index of neutrophil infiltration was significantly increased. A marked relationship was found between the lesion index and myeloperoxidase activity. These results suggest that neutrophil infiltration could play an important role in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal injury induced by these oxicam agent

Protective Effect of L‐Arginine Against Ibuprofen‐induced Gastric Injury in Rats

This study has been designed to confirm the protective effect of different single oral doses of L‐arginine in the presence of equimolar doses of ibuprofen, and to compare the results with those obtained after treatment with ibuprofen alone. Different parameters were assessed in rats: gastric damage (mm2 and score), ratio of lesionated stomachs/total stomachs evaluated, and presence of haemorrhage. Six hours after dosing, oral administration of ibuprofen (0·3, 0·6 and 1·2 mmol kg −1) produced a progressive dose‐dependent increase in damage to the gastric mucosa. All treatments with equimolar doses of L‐arginine considerably reduced lesions (mm2 and score) and the same tendency was observed with the other parameters examined. We also evaluated the gastroprotective effect of L‐arginine against anti‐ulcer reference drugs, ranitidine and roxatidine (two antisecretory agents) and misoprostol (a cytoprotective drug). The degree of inhibition of damage provided by L‐arginine was similar to those obtained with the other drugs. Thus, we conclude that the simultaneous administration of equimolar doses of ibuprofen and L‐arginine offers significant protection compared with gastrolesive doses of ibuprofen alone, with an important decrease in the lesionated areas and improvement of the vascular state. The extent of this protective action is comparable with that observed with anti‐ulcer reference drugs