PhytoMilk - Open seminar

Programme for open seminar for the PhytoMilk project held at Studentersamfundet, UMB, Ås, Norway, 23 June 201

Differential Effects of Falcarinol and Related Aliphatic C17-Polyacetylenes on Intestinal Cell Proliferation

Quantitative major polyacetylenes of carrots (falcarinol and falcarindiol) and American ginseng roots (falcarinol and panaxydol) were isolated and tested in human intestinal epithelial cells of normal (FHs 74 Int.) and cancer (Caco-2) origin. A hormesis effect was seen for all isolated polyacetylenes when added to Caco-2 cells in concentrations ranging from 1 ng/mL to 20 μg/mL. The relative inhibitory potency was falcarinol > panaxydol > falcarindiol. No hormesis effect was observed when adding the polyacetylenes to FHs 74 Int. cells. Instead, an inhibitory growth response was observed above 1 μg/mL. The relative inhibitory potency was panaxydol > falcarinol > falcarindiol. Maximal inhibition at 20 μg/mL corresponded to approximately 95% and 80% inhibition of cell proliferation in normal and cancer cells, respectively. Combinations of falcarinol and falcarindiol added to normal and cancer cells showed a synergistic response for the inhibition of cell growth. Furthermore, the oxidized form of falcarinol, falcarinon, showed a significantly less growth inhibitory effect in intestinal cells of both normal and cancer origin; hence, a hydroxyl group at C-3 may be important for activity of falcarinol-type polyacetylenes. Extracts of carrots, containing different amounts of falcarinol, falcarindiol, and falcarindiol 3-acetate had significant inhibitory effects on both normal and cancer cell proliferation. In cancer cells, the extract containing the highest concentration of falcarinol tended to have the highest growth inhibitory effect, in accordance with a higher potency of falcarinol than falcarindiol. The present study demonstrates that aliphatic C17-polyacetylenes are potential anticancer principles of carrots and related vegetables and that synergistic interaction between bioactive polyacetylenes may be important for their bioactivity

Establishing cell lines from fresh or cryopreserved tissue from the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus):A preliminary protocol

This study describes a successful protocol for establishing cell lines from the threatened Triturus cristatus in terms of collection, preparing, establishing, cryopreserving, thawing and quality checking. Different parameters such as media, media change, fresh vs. cryopreserved tissue and seeding density were tested to optimize culture conditions for this species. With fresh tissue, no considerable differences in the use of two different media were found, but with cryopreserved tissue, a combination of ITS (insulin/transferrin/selenite) and 2-mercaptoethanol had a positive effect on growth. Real-time measurements on the cell lines were used, for the first time in amphibian cells, to investigate the effect of different treatments such as media change with or without washing. Media change had a positive impact on the cells, whereas the effect was negative when combined with washing. It is concluded that establishment of cell lines is possible from the great crested newt, especially when using fresh tissue, but much more challenging if the tissue has been cryopreserved. Real-time measurement during cell culture is a useful tool to visualize the sensitivity of amphibian cells during different culture treatments

Concentrations of phytoestrogens in conventional, organic and free-range retail milk in England

The effect of dairy management system (conventional, CNV; organic, ORG; free-range, FRG) and month on retail milk phytoestrogen composition was assessed for 12 consecutive months. ORG milk contained more secoisolariciresinol, matairesinol, lariciresinol, sum of plant lignans, daidzein, genistein, formononetin, naringenin, equol, sum of isoflavones and coumestrol, than CNV and FRG milk. This may be explained by the higher supply of pasture, and grazed or ensiled clover, in ORG dairy diets. Seasonal variation in milk phytoestrogen concentrations was higher for ORG than CNV and FRG systems. Phytoestrogen composition did not vary between FRG and CNV milk. Consuming organic milk can increase intake of potentially beneficial lignans and isoflavonoids, and in particular equol; but, any effects on human health from such milk compositional differences cannot be implied

Phytoestrogens and Their Metabolites in Bulk-Tank Milk: Effects of Farm Management and Season

Phytoestrogens have structures similar to endogenous steroids and may induce or inhibit the response of hormone receptors. The objectives of the present study were to compare the effects of long-term vs. short-term grassland management in organic and conventional dairy production systems, compare organic and conventional production systems and assess seasonal variation on phytoestrogen concentrations in bulk-tank milk. The concentrations of phytoestrogens were analyzed in bulk-tank milk sampled three times in two subsequent years from 28 dairy farms: Fourteen organic (ORG) dairy farms with either short-term or long-term grassland management were paired with 14 conventional (CON) farms with respect to grassland management. Grassland management varied in terms of time since establishment. Short-term grassland management (SG) was defined as establishment or reseeding every fourth year or more often, and long-term grassland management (LG) was defined as less frequent establishment or reseeding. The proportion of red clover (Trifolium pretense L.) in the herbage was positively correlated with milk concentrations of the mammalian isoflavone equol. Therefore, organically produced bulk-tank milk contained more equol than conventionally produced milk, and milk from ORG-SG farms had more equol than milk from ORG-LG farms. Milk produced during the indoor-feeding periods had more equol than milk produced during the outdoor feeding period, because pastures contained less red clover than fields intended for silage production. Organically produced milk had also higher concentrations of the mammalian lignan enterolactone, but in contrast to equol, concentrations increased in the outdoor-feeding periods compared to the indoor-feeding periods. There were no indications of fertility problems on ORG-SG farms who had the highest red clover proportions in the herbage. This study shows that production system, grassland management, and season affect milk concentrations of phytoestrogens. However, compared to soy products, milk concentrations of phytoestrogens are low and future studies are required to investigate if the intake of phytoestrogens from dairy products has physiological effects in human

Comparative nutrient profiling of retail goat and cow milk

Goat milk is globally consumed but nutritional profiling at retail level is scarce. This study compared the nutrient composition of retail cow and goat milk (basic solids, fatty acids, minerals, and phytoestrogens) throughout the year and quantified the potential implications on the consumers’ nutrient intakes. When compared to cow milk, goat milk demonstrated nutritionally desirable traits, such as lower concentrations of C12:0, C14:0, C16:0 and Na:K ratio, and the higher concentrations of cis PUFA, EPA, DHA, isoflavones, B, Cu, Mg, Mn, P and I; although the latter may be less desirable in cases of high milk intakes. However, in contrast with nutritional targets, it had lower concentrations of omega-3 PUFA, vaccenic acid, lignans, Ca, S and Zn. The extent of these differences was strongly influenced by season and may demonstrate a combination of differences on intrinsic species metabolism, and farm breeding/husbandry practices

Effekt av driftsmåte og engalder på kvalitet av kumelk

2007-2008 ble det gjennomført et feltstudie med målsetningen å finne sammenheng mellom engdriftsystem, produksjonssystem og melkekvalitet. Ni gårder med økologisk melkeproduksjon basert på kortvarig eng (KØ) ble paret med 9 gårder med konvensjonell melkeproduksjon basert på kortvarig eng (KK) og 7 gårder med økologisk melkeproduksjon basert på langvarig eng (LØ) ble paret med 7 gårder med konvensjonell melkeproduksjon basert på langvarig eng (LK). Fôrprøver og melkeprøver ble samlet inn annenhver måned. Botanisk sammensetning ble estimert før første slått i 2007. I tillegg ble data fra kukontrollen analysert. Melkeprøvene ble blant annet analysert for fettsyresammensetning, innhold av vitaminer, innhold av selen og innhold av fytoøstrogener. På de konvensjonelle gårdene var det grasarter som dominerte. På de økologiske gårdene var det i tillegg til grasarter en betydelig andel belgvekster (KØ) og urter (LØ). Kvalitetsegenskapene hos melk ble i større grad påvirket av produksjonssystem (økologisk eller konvensjonelt) enn av engdyrkingssystem (kortvarig eller langvarig eng). Det antas at hovedfaktorene var kraftfôrmengde, kraftfôrets innhold av lipider og botanisk sammensetning av grovfôre