Rind from purple mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) attenuates diet-induced physiological and metabolic changes in obese rats

The pulp of the purple mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana, is a popular tropical fruit but the rind containing xanthones such as α-mangostin together with procyanidins and anthocyanidins is usually discarded as waste. However, this rind has been used in South-East Asia for diarrhoea, dysentery, skin infections and wounds. As xanthones have reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidant responses, this study has determined the bioactive compounds and evaluated the effects of G. mangostana rind on physiological, metabolic, liver and cardiovascular parameters in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome. Rats fed a diet with increased simple sugars and saturated fats developed obesity, hypertension, increased left ventricular stiffness, dyslipidaemia and fatty liver. Administration of G. mangostana rind as 5% of the food to rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome gave a dose of 168 mg/kg/day α-mangostin, 355 mg/kg/day procyanidins, 3.9 mg/kg/day anthocyanins and 11.8 mg/kg/day hydroxycitric acid for 8 weeks which reduced body weight and attenuated physiological and metabolic changes in rats including decreased abdominal fat deposition, decreased abdominal circumference and whole-body fat mass, improved liver structure and function and improved cardiovascular parameters such as systolic blood pressure, left ventricular stiffness and endothelial function. These responses were associated with decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells, decreased deposition of collagen in both heart and liver and decreased mean adipocyte size in retroperitoneal adipose tissues. We conclude that, in rats with diet-induced metabolic syndrome, chronic intake of G. mangostana rind decreased infiltration of inflammatory cells which decreased physiological, metabolic, liver and cardiovascular symptoms

Coffee pulp, a by-product of coffee production, modulates gut microbiota and improves metabolic syndrome in high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats

Waste from food production can be re‐purposed as raw material for usable products to decrease industrial waste. Coffee pulp is 29% of the dry weight of coffee cherries and contains caf‐feine, chlorogenic acid, trigonelline, diterpenes and fibre. We investigated the attenuation of signs of metabolic syndrome induced by high‐carbohydrate, high‐fat diet in rats by dietary supplementation with 5% freeze‐dried coffee pulp for the final 8 weeks of a 16‐week protocol. Coffee pulp decreased body weight, feed efficiency and abdominal fat; normalised systolic blood pressure, left ventricular diastolic stiffness, and plasma concentrations of triglycerides and non‐esterified fatty acids; and improved glucose tolerance in rats fed high‐carbohydrate, high‐fat diet. Further, the gut microbiota was modulated with high‐carbohydrate, high‐fat diet and coffee pulp supplementation and 14 physiological parameters were correlated with the changes in bacterial community structures. This study suggested that coffee pulp, as a waste from the coffee industry, is useful as a functional food for improving obesity‐associated metabolic, cardiovascular and liver structure and function, and gut microbiota

Physiological and metabolic effects of yellow mangosteen (Garcinia dulcis) rind in rats with food-induced metabolic syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of disorders that increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. This study has investigated the responses to rind of yellow mangosteen (Garcinia dulcis), usually discarded as waste, in a rat model of human metabolic syndrome. The rind contains higher concentrations of phytochemicals (such as garcinol, morelloflavone and citric acid) than the pulp. Male Wistar rats aged 8–9 weeks were fed either corn starch diet or high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet for 16 weeks, which were supplemented with 5% freeze-dried G. dulcis fruit rind powder during the last 8 weeks. We characterised metabolic, cardiovascular, liver and gut microbiota parameters. High-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats developed abdominal obesity, hypertension, increased left ventricular diastolic stiffness, decreased glucose tolerance, fatty liver and reduced Bacteroidia with increased Clostridia in the colonic microbiota. G. dulcis fruit rind powder attenuated these changes, improved cardiovascular and liver structure and function, and attenuated changes in colonic microbiota. G. dulcis fruit rind powder may be effective in metabolic syndrome by appetite suppression, inhibition of inflammatory processes and increased fat metabolism, possibly related to changes in the colonic microbiota. Hence, we propose the use of G. dulcis fruit rind as a functional food to ameliorate symptoms of metabolic syndrome

The State Issue of Currency without Usury

We humans are in the midst of a potentially terminal economic, social and environmental crisis. In order to address that crisis this chapter outlines a proposal for the structural reform of a national monetary system, with practical and beneficial consequences. It is recognised, of course, that monetary reform per se is not a holistic panacea to all of our global ills. Yet, it is hoped that the incremental transition recommended, using the national bank to issue interest-free currency (credit-money), could promote the cause of social and economic justice through a more sustainable monetary system. In addition, interest-free currency could be used to finance other reform proposals such as the spread of capital ownership or the creation of a basic income. At the core of the reform is the insight that, usury (defined here as an interest-charge in excess of justifiable administration cost) is not necessary. Whilst it can be argued that administration charges, collateral and properly conceived repayment plans are imperative for the proper functioning of credit markets, usury is not so easily defended (especially for state expenditure) unless the motive is to profit the private financial sector and their investor

Green coffee ameliorates components of diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

Metabolic syndrome, especially obesity, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We hypothesised that green coffee will attenuate metabolic, cardiovascular and liver parameters in high-carbohy-drate high-fat diet-fed rats. Male Wistar rats (8–9 weeks old) were divided into 6 groups and fed for 16 weeks with either corn starch diet (C), C with either 5% green or decaffeinated green coffee in food for the last 8 weeks, high-carbohydrate high-fat diet (H) or H with either 5% green or decaffeinated green coffee in food for the last8 weeks. Green coffee contained chlorogenic acids, trigonelline, caffeine and diterpenoids; decaffeinated green coffee contained these compounds but no caffeine. Green coffee attenuated body weight, systolic blood pressure, inflammation in the heart and liver and diastolic stiffness without improving glucose sensitivity or plasma lipids. We suggest that chlorogenic acids, trigonelline and diterpenoids in green coffee attenuate diet-induced abnormalities in heart and liver

International efforts to enhance innovation in the construction industry: what do they mean for Canada?

Aussi disponible en fran\ue7ais: \uc9chos - Les initiatives internationales pour encourager l'innovation dans l'industrie de la construction: quel est leur impact pour le Canada?Peer reviewed: NoNRC publication: Ye

Bromoperoxidase Producing <i>Bacillus</i> spp. Isolated from the Hypobranchial Glands of A Muricid Mollusc Are Capable of Tyrian Purple Precursor Biogenesis

The secondary metabolite Tyrian purple, also known as shellfish purple and royal purple, is a dye with historical importance for humans. The biosynthetic origin of Tyrian purple in Muricidae molluscs is not currently known. A possible role for symbiotic bacteria in the production of tyrindoxyl sulphate, the precursor to Tyrian purple stored in the Australian species, Dicathais orbita, has been proposed. This study aimed to culture bacterial symbionts from the purple producing hypobranchial gland, and screen the isolates for bromoperoxidase genes using molecular methods. The ability of bromoperoxidase positive isolates to produce the brominated indole precursor to Tyrian purple was then established by extraction of the culture, and analysis by liquid chromatography&#8722;mass spectrometry (LC&#8722;MS). In total, 32 bacterial isolates were cultured from D. orbita hypobranchial glands, using marine agar, marine agar with hypobranchial gland aqueous extracts, blood agar, thiosulphate citrate bile salts sucrose agar, and cetrimide agar at pH 7.2. These included 26 Vibrio spp., two Bacillus spp., one Phaeobacter sp., one Shewanella sp., one Halobacillus sp. and one Pseudoalteromonas sp. The two Bacillus species were the only isolates found to have coding sequences for bromoperoxidase enzymes. LC&#8722;MS analysis of the supernatant and cell pellets from the bromoperoxidase producing Bacillus spp. cultured in tryptone broth, supplemented with KBr, confirmed their ability to produce the brominated precursor to Tyrian purple, tyrindoxyl sulphate. This study supports a potential role for symbiotic Bacillus spp. in the biosynthesis of Tyrian purple

Modulation of gut microbiota by spent coffee grounds attenuates diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

Coffee brewing produces spent coffee grounds as waste; few studies have investigated the health benefits of these grounds. This study investigated responses to spent coffee grounds in a diet-induced rat model of metabolic syndrome. Male Wistar rats aged 8-9 weeks were fed either corn starch-rich diet or high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet for 16 weeks, which were supplemented with 5% spent coffee grounds during the last 8 weeks. Rats fed non-supplemented diets were used as controls. High-carbohydrate, high-fat diet-fed rats developed metabolic syndrome including abdominal obesity, impaired glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and cardiovascular and liver damage. Body weight, abdominal fat, total body fat mass, systolic blood pressure, and concentrations of plasma triglycerides and non-esterified fatty acids were reduced by spent coffee grounds along with improved glucose tolerance and structure and function of heart and liver. Spent coffee grounds increased the diversity of the gut microbiota and decreased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes. Changes in gut microbiota correlated with the reduction in obesity and improvement in glucose tolerance and systolic blood pressure. These findings indicate that intervention with spent coffee grounds may be useful for managing obesity and metabolic syndrome by altering the gut microbiota, thus increasing the value of this food waste