Formation of Short-Chain Fatty Acids, Excretion of Anthocyanins, and Microbial Diversity in Rats Fed Blackcurrants, Blackberries, and Raspberries

Introduction. Berries contain high amounts of dietary fibre and flavonoids and have been associated with improved metabolic health. The mechanisms are not clear but the formation of SCFAs, especially propionic and butyric acids, could be important. The potent antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of flavonoids could also be a factor, but little is known about their fate in the gastrointestinal tract. Aim. To compare how blackcurrants, blackberries, raspberries, and Lactobacillus plantarum HEAL19 affect formation of SCFAs, inflammatory status, caecal microbial diversity, and flavonoids. Results and Conclusions. Degradation of the dietary fibre, formation of SCFAs including propionic and butyric acids, the weight of the caecal content and tissue, and the faecal wet and dry weight were all higher in rats fed blackcurrants rather than blackberries or raspberries. However, the microbial diversity of the gut microbiota was higher in rats fed raspberries. The high content of soluble fibre in blackcurrants and the high proportion of mannose-containing polymers might explain these effects. Anthocyanins could only be detected in urine of rats fed blackcurrants, and the excretion was lower with HEAL19. No anthocyanins or anthocyanidins were detected in caecal content or blood. This may indicate uptake in the stomach or small intestine

Synthesis of C-1 indol-3-yl substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives via a Pictet-Spengler approach

A protocol for the diastereoselective synthesis of C-1 indol-3-yl substituted tetrahydroisoquinoline derivatives via Pictet-Spengler condensation with L-DOPA or L-DOPA derivatives and 1H-indole-3-carbaldehydes is presented. The protocol is used for the successful synthesis of several tetrahydroisoquinolines as well as diketopiperazine fused analogues. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Lectura, uso e interpretación de etiquetas nutricionales en usuarios de gimnasios de Huancayo, Perú 2015

Introducción: El etiquetado nutricional ayuda a los consumidores a realizar elecciones más saludables, sin embargo, este es poco leído, mal interpretado o no usado. Objetivos: Evaluar la frecuencia y factores asociados a la lectura, uso e interpretación de etiquetas nutricionales en usuarios de gimnasios en la ciudad de Huancayo, Perú. Materiales y métodos: Estudio de corte transversal en 385 usuarios de una cadena de gimnasios. Se midió la interpretación con un test a partir de dos etiquetas, lectura reportada (frecuentemente o no) y el uso reportado para elegir un producto (frecuentemente o no), así como variables demográficas, dietéticas y relacionadas al gimnasio. Se evaluó la asociación calculando las razones de prevalencias ajustadas en base a las variables significativas del modelo bivariado. Resultados: Los participantes tuvieron una edad media de 27,8 + 9,3 años, 44,7% fueron varones, 49,4% contaron con educación universitaria. El 27,5% reporta leer frecuentemente y dentro de estos el 55,7% reporta usarlas frecuentemente, asimismo el 17,4% sabe interpretar. La lectura se asoció con factores dietéticos y de uso de gimnasio y la interpretación con capacitación previa de lectura de la etiqueta. El uso fue principalmente para seleccionar productos bajos en grasa total (65,1%), alto en proteínas (64,2%) y en menor proporción, productos bajo en sodio (47,2%). Conclusiones: La frecuencia de lectura, uso e interpretación de etiquetas nutricionales es baja. La capacitación previa de lectura es un factor necesario para una elección saludable. Es necesario establecer estrategias educativas para enseñar a interpretar en forma adecuada las etiquetas nutricionales.Introduction: The nutritional labeling helps users to make healthier choices, nevertheless, this is overseen, misunderstood or not used at all. Objectives: To evaluate the frequency and the factors associated with the reading, interpretation and use of nutritional labels by fitness center users in the city of Huancayo, Peru. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 385 users of a fitness center chain. Interpretation was measured by using a test with 2 labels, reported reading (frequently or not) and the reported use to choose a product (frequently or not), as well as demographic, dietetic and fitness-center-related variables. The association was evaluated by calculating the prevalence ratios adjusted based on the significant variables from bivariate model. Results: The participants had an average age of 27,8± 9,3 years, 44,7% were men and 49,4% had college degree. 27,5% report reading frequently and 55,7% of them reports use frecuently, furthermore 17,4% know how to interpret. The reading was associated with dietetic factors and gym use, and interpretation with prior training of reading labeling. The use was mainly high to select low fat products (65,1%), high in protein (64,2%) and was mainly low in low sodium products (47,2%). Conclusions: The reading, use and interpretation frequency of nutritional labels is low. The prior training of reading labeling is a required factor to make healthier choices. It is necessary to establish educative strategies for teaching to interprete the nutrition labels in an adequate way.Tesi

Evaluation of Beneficial Metabolic Effects of Berries in High-Fat Fed C57BL/6J Mice.

Objective. The aim of the study was to screen eight species of berries for their ability to prevent obesity and metabolic abnormalities associated with type 2 diabetes. Methods. C57BL/6J mice were assigned the following diets for 13 weeks: low-fat diet, high-fat diet or high-fat diet supplemented (20%) with lingonberry, blackcurrant, bilberry, raspberry, açai, crowberry, prune or blackberry. Results. The groups receiving a high-fat diet supplemented with lingonberries, blackcurrants, raspberries or bilberries gained less weight and had lower fasting insulin levels than the control group receiving high-fat diet without berries. Lingonberries, and also blackcurrants and bilberries, significantly decreased body fat content, hepatic lipid accumulation, and plasma levels of the inflammatory marker PAI-1, as well as mediated positive effects on glucose homeostasis. The group receiving açai displayed increased weight gain and developed large, steatotic livers. Quercetin glycosides were detected in the lingonberry and the blackcurrant diets. Conclusion. Lingonberries were shown to fully or partially prevent the detrimental metabolic effects induced by high-fat diet. Blackcurrants and bilberries had similar properties, but to a lower degree. We propose that the beneficial metabolic effects of lingonberries could be useful in preventing obesity and related disorders

An efficient synthesis of pregaliellalactone and desoxygaliellalactone

A short and efficient total synthesis of rac-desoxygaliellalactone and (+)-desoxygaliellalactone, via the biosynthetic intermediate pregaliellalactone, is described. The synthesis was achieved in only three steps, for (+)-desoxygaliellalactone including an enantioselective alkyl propiolate addition to 4-pentenal, a palladium catalysed alkylative lactonisation and an intramolecular Diels-Alder cycloaddition. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Effects of Soluble and Insoluble Fractions from Bilberries, Black Currants, and Raspberries on Short-Chain Fatty Acid Formation, Anthocyanin Excretion, and Cholesterol in Rats

Dietary fiber and flavonoids, important components in berries, are suggested to improve metabolic health. This study investigates whether soluble and insoluble fractions isolated from bilberry, black currant, and raspberry affect the formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), uptake and excretion of flavonoids, and levels of cholesterol differently. Cecal SCFA pools were higher in rats fed the soluble than the insoluble fractions (525 vs 166 μmol, <i>P</i> < 0.001), whereas higher concentrations of butyric acid were found in the distal colon and serum of rats fed the insoluble fractions (5 vs 3 μmol/g and 58 vs 29 μmol/L, respectively, <i>P</i> < 0.001). The soluble bilberry fraction gave lower amounts of liver cholesterol (56 mg) than the other berry fractions (87 ± 5 mg), formed the highest amount of SCFAs (746 vs 266 ± 21 μmol), and contributed the highest intake of anthocyanins. Cyanidin-3-glucoside monoglucuronide was detected in the urine of all groups, whereas anthocyanins were found only in groups fed soluble black currant and raspberry

Physicochemical characterization of 2-hydroxybenzophenone with β-cyclodextrin in solution and solid state

The characterization of the inclusion complex between 2-hydroxybenzophenone (2OHBP) and β-cyclodextrin (βCD) in the solid state was performed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), powder X-ray diffractometry (PXRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The apparent formation constant of the complex was determined by phase solubility diagrams and liquid chromatography (HPLC) at different temperatures. The formation of the inclusion complex induced slight shifts in the FTIR spectrum while by PXRD a new crystalline phase was observed. TEM studies revealed that the complex forms aggregates of nanometric size. The inclusion complex showed a higher solubility in the tested dissolution media than free 2OHBP. Moreover, the freeze-dried solid complex exhibits a higher thermal stability than the solid free drug. The thermodynamic analysis allowed us to conclude that the encapsulation process is endothermic in water and exothermic in methanol-water.Fil: Sancho, Matias Israel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Russo, Marcos Guillermo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Moreno, Mario Sergio Jesus. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Centro Atómico Bariloche; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Gasull, Estela Isabel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Blanco, Sonia Encarnacion. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Narda, Griselda Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; Argentin

Influence of different activation strategies on the activity and stability of MIL-53(Fe) as a dark-Fenton heterogeneous catalyst

MIL-53(Fe) was synthesized using solvothermal method without HF. Three different activation methodologies were applied in order to remove N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) from the inner pores of the material. The incidence of these treatments in the activity and stability as heterogeneous catalyst in a dark-Fenton reaction was evaluated for Rhodamine 6G (Rh6G) degradation. Important improvements in the catalytic performance of MIL-53(Fe) were obtained after activation. Operational variables such as pH, reaction temperature, [H2O2]/[Fe3+] molar ratio, and initial Rh6G concentration were evaluated. Likewise, catalyst reusability assays were also performed. The obtained results indicate that a partial removal of DMF affects not only the stability but also the catalytic activity of MIL-53(Fe) in the Fenton reaction. Different solid state characterization techniques, including PXRD, SEM, FTIR, elemental analysis, XPS, and Mössbauer spectroscopy, were applied to the as-synthesized and activated materials as well as post-reaction catalysts in order to understand the catalytic behavior.Fil: Ortega Moreno, Gabriela Andreines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Bernini, Maria Celeste. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Garcia Blanco, Andres Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich". Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto de Física Aplicada "Dr. Jorge Andrés Zgrablich"; ArgentinaFil: Marchetti, Sergio Gustavo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas "Dr. Jorge J. Ronco". Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Ciencias Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Barbero, Bibiana Patricia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Narda, Griselda Edith. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; Argentin

Tuning the target composition of amine-grafted CPO-27-Mg for capture of CO2 under post-combustion and air filtering conditions: acombined experimental and computational study

A computational and experimental screening of hypothetical and real compounds exhibiting different degrees of ethylenediamine grafted to the CPO-27-Mg or Mg-DOBDC skeleton is performed in order to determine the target composition that optimizes the CO2 adsorption properties under flue gas and air filtering conditions. On the basis of the [Mg2(dobdc)] formula, eighteen hypothetical models involving 15?100% of functionalization of the coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUS) were considered by means of Grand Canonical Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the CO2 adsorption at 298 K. In addition, post-synthesis modification was applied to CPO-27-Mg leading to three kinds of samples exhibiting 15, 50, and 60% of CUS functionalization with ethylenediamine, named CPO-27-Mg-a, CPO-27-Mg-b and CPO-27-Mg-c. Compounds were characterized using elemental analysis, TGA, FTIR spectroscopy, PXRD and DSC.Finally, bare and functionalized CPO-27-Mg materials were evaluated using gas adsorption and microcalorimetry in the 0.001?1 bar range, which is pertinent for the mentioned applications. Valuable information related to design criteria for synthesis of tuned CO2 adsorbents is derived through this computational and experimental investigation.Fil: Bernini, Maria Celeste. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Garcia Blanco, Andres Alberto. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Villarroel Rocha, Jhonny. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Fairén Jimenez, D.. University Of Cambridge; Reino UnidoFil: Sapag, Manuel Karim. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Ramirez Pastor, Antonio Jose. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Física Aplicada; Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Narda, Griselda Edith. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; Argentina; Argentin

Effects of Soluble and Insoluble Fractions from Bilberries, Black Currants, and Raspberries on Short-Chain Fatty Acid Formation, Anthocyanin Excretion, and Cholesterol in Rats.

Dietary fiber and flavonoids, important components in berries, are suggested to improve metabolic health. This study investigates whether soluble and insoluble fractions isolated from bilberry, black currant, and raspberry affect the formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), uptake and excretion of flavonoids, and levels of cholesterol differently. Cecal SCFA pools were higher in rats fed the soluble than the insoluble fractions (525 vs 166 μmol, P < 0.001), whereas higher concentrations of butyric acid were found in the distal colon and serum of rats fed the insoluble fractions (5 vs 3 μmol/g and 58 vs 29 μmol/L, respectively, P < 0.001). The soluble bilberry fraction gave lower amounts of liver cholesterol (56 mg) than the other berry fractions (87 ± 5 mg), formed the highest amount of SCFAs (746 vs 266 ± 21 μmol), and contributed the highest intake of anthocyanins. Cyanidin-3-glucoside monoglucuronide was detected in the urine of all groups, whereas anthocyanins were found only in groups fed soluble black currant and raspberry