Consumption of Tree Nuts in the Prevention of Coronary Heart and Cardiovascular Disease

Emerging research from epidemiologic studies and clinical trials is demonstrating that tree nuts promote satiety and weight maintenance. Moreover, tree nuts contain a plethora of nutrients, natural phenolic antioxidants, and other bioactive compounds (e.g., phytosterols), which are now being recognized for bestowing health benefits. As will be discussed in this review, tree nuts have been linked to improving heart health, lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and reducing inflammation. The strongest evidence that tree nuts are cardio-protective foodstuffs comes from epidemiological observations indicating a consistent and well-defined inverse association between the frequency of nut consumption and development of coronary heart disease, and several short-term clinical trials demonstrating the beneficial effects of nut intake on lipid profiles as well as other intermediate markers of heart disease. In this review research findings from the existing literature published within the last 15 years have been compiled and summarised. Three bases: SCOPUS, Web Science, and PubMed were used for search

Antioxidant Activity of Faba Bean Extracts

Phenolic compounds were extracted from seeds of 22 cultivars of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) by using 80% (v/v) aqueous acetone. The total phenolic compound and condensed tannins contents of the extracts and their antioxidant activity were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent, vanillin/HCl method, and ABTS and FRAP assays, respectively. The content of total phenolic compounds ranged from 40.7 to 66.1 mg/g extract and from 326 to 574 mg/100 g seeds. Contents of condensed tannins ranged from 2.40 to 49.9 mg/g extract and from 22.2 (FAB) to 365 mg/100 seeds. The extracts and seeds were characterized by Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) values ranging from 0.550 (FAB 443) to 1.030 mmol Trolox/g extract (FAB 187) and from 4.85 (FAB 318) to 9.81 mmol Trolox/100 g seeds (FAB 187). Ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) values varied from 0.595 (FAB 443) to 0.908 mmol Fe2+/g extract (FAB 5023) and from 4.61 (FAB 297) to 7.90 mmol Fe2+/100 g seeds (FAB 187). The total phenolic content of faba bean extract was correlated with the results of the ABTS (r = 0.864) and FRAP (r = 0.862) assays. The coefficients of correlations between the contents of condensed tannins and ABTS and FRAP results were 0.543 and 0.862. We also noted a correlation between results of ABTS and FRAP assays (r = 0.795)

Antioxidant Potential and Phenolic Compounds of Some Widely Consumed Turkish White Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Varieties

The antioxidant potential and phenolic compounds content were investigated in ten white bean varieties widely consumed in Turkey. Total phenolic contents of seeds varied between 0.33 and 0.63 mg GAE/g. The Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity (TEAC) determined by the ABTS assay and the Ferric-Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) of bean varieties ranged from 3.50 to 5.17 mu mol Trolox/g seed and from 7.99 to 11.20 mu mol Fe2+-/g seed, respectively. Strong correlations were found between total phenolic content and FRAP (r=0.850) and between TEAC and FRAP (r=0.734). The antioxidant activity was investigated in a beta-carotene-linoleic acid model system, as well. Differences in the inhibition of emulsion oxidation by extracts of white bean varieties were slight. The RP-HPLC fingerprint analysis of extracts showed the presence of five dominant phenolic compounds which were described as ferulic or caffeic acids derivatives. Four of them significantly contributed to reducing power and antiradical activity against ABTS(center dot+) of extracts

Iron, zinc, copper, manganese and chromium in green teas, their transfer to extracts and correlations between contents of elements and bioactive compounds

Green tea is used worldwide in the preparation of beverages, but also its extracts rich in bioactive compounds, especially flavan-3-ols, are of increasing interest. In addition to bioactive molecules, green tea represents a source of dietary elements. However, knowledge about their content in extracts is limited. The aim of our research was to determine the extent of transfer of selected elements, i.e., iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and chromium (Cr), from green teas to their extracts and to investigate whether the main bioactive compounds of the extracts affect this transfer. Twelve commercially available green teas were used in the study. The contents of elements in green teas and their extracts obtained with 80% acetone (v/v) were analysed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). High performance liquid chromatography in reverse phase (RP-HPLC) was used to determine contents of caffeine, (–)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (–)-epicatechin (EP), (–)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and (–)-epicatechin gallate (ECG). The element with the highest content in green teas was Mn (711–1402 µg/g), but its transfer to extracts was the lowest (0.269–0.646%). The mean Fe transfer, second abundant element in teas (115–725 µg/g), was 5.52%. The contents of Mn and Fe in extracts were 5.08–30.2 and 10.7–90.1 µg/g, respectively. Zn, Cu, and Cr were transferred with means of 10.4, 20.0, and 26.2%, respectively, which resulted in their contents in the extracts in the ranges of 5.03–12.6, 1.93–13.8, and 0.128–2.03 µg/g, respectively. The significant positive correlations of Zn content in extracts and/or transfer to extracts with EGCG, EGC and total flavan-3-ols as well as between the same Fe variables and EGC were determined, which suggested that these flavan-3-ols may positively affect the transfer of Fe and Zn from green tea to extracts. In turn, significant but negative correlations were found in the case of Mn and Cu. Future research is needed to identify the causes of the various transfer rate of elements from green teas to extracts

Changes in the Total Polyphenolic Content and Antioxidant Capacities of Perilla ( Perilla frutescens

Changes in the total polyphenolics and antioxidative capacity of the perilla (Perilla frutescens L.) plant, during the growth cycle, have been analyzed in this study. These parameters were evaluated at five morphological stages. The extracts characterized by the highest total phenolic compound content were obtained at the full flowering stage. The phenolic compound profile was characterized by the presence of three major compounds, with rosmarinic acid being the most abundant. Moreover, their contents were significantly different according to the growth stage. High Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity values were found for the last two growth stages. The lowest ferric-reducing antioxidant power value was observed for the medium vegetative stage. The highest antiradical activity against DPPH• was observed for extracts obtained from the early vegetative stage. The antioxidant activity changes during the growth cycle, and this change may be useful to determine the optimal harvest time

Antioxidant Activity of Mulberry Fruit Extracts

Phenolic compounds were extracted from the fruits of Morus nigra and Morus alba using methanol and acetone. The sugar-free extracts (SFEs) were prepared using Amberlite XAD-16 column chromatography. All of the SFEs exhibited antioxidant potential as determined by ABTS (0.75–1.25 mmol Trolox/g), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) (EC50 from 48 μg/mL to 79 μg/mL), and reducing power assays. However, a stronger activity was noted for the SFEs obtained from Morus nigra fruits. These extracts also possessed the highest contents of total phenolics: 164 mg/g (methanolic SFE) and 173 mg/g (acetonic SFE). The presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids in the extracts was confirmed using HPLC method and chlorogenic acid and rutin were found as the dominant phenolic constituents in the SFEs

Extracts of Phenolic Compounds from Seeds of Three Wild Grapevines—Comparison of Their Antioxidant Activities and the Content of Phenolic Compounds

Phenolic compounds were extracted from three wild grapevine species: Vitis californica, V. riparia and V. amurensis seeds using 80% methanol or 80% acetone. The total content of phenolic compounds was determined utilizing the Folin-Ciocalteu’s phenol reagent while the content of tannins was assayed with the vanillin and BSA precipitation methods. Additionally, the DPPH free radical scavenging activity and the reduction power of the extracts were measured. The RP-HPLC method was applied to identify the phenolic compounds in the extracts, such as phenolic acids and catechins. The seeds contained large amounts of tannins, catechins and gallic acid and observable quantities of p-coumaric acid. The total content of phenolic compounds and tannins was similar in the extracts from V. californica and V. riparia seeds. However, the total content of total phenolic compounds and tannins in the extracts from V. californica and V. riperia seeds were about two-fold higher than that in the extracts from V. amurensis seeds. Extracts from seeds of the American species (V. californica and V. riparia) contained similarly high concentrations of tannins, whereas extracts from seeds of V. amurensis had approximately half that amount of these compounds. The content of catechin and epicatechin was similar in all extracts. The highest DPPH• anti-radical scavenging activity was observed in the acetonic and methanolic extracts of V. californica and V. riparia seeds— while the acetonic extract from the V. californica seeds was the strongest reducing agent

Variations of genotypes of Vicia species as influenced by seed phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity

The phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of different Vicia species, which are cultivated in different areas of Turkey, and the diversity between analysed characters were investigated. For this purpose, 9 genotypes from three Vicia species: common vetch (Vicia sativa L.), Hungarian vetch (Vicia pannonica Crantz.) and Narbon vetch (Vicia narbonensis L.), were used. The experiment was carried out to determine total phenolic content (TPC), content of individual phenolic compounds, to determine ABTS(center dot+) and DPPH center dot scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) in methanol and acetone extracts of seeds. The TPC of vetch extracts was in range 11.18-30.42 mg GAE g(-1) (in methanol extract) and 17.05-59.88 mg GAE g(-1) (in acetone extract). Two V. sativa genotypes Cvoe and Cvke stood out among the others with regard to high TPC and antioxidant activity. They also had the highest content of individual hydroxybenzoic acids and flavones. All extracts of V. narbonensis genotypes were characterised by absence of flavones and low TPC and antioxidant activity. GGE biplot analysis revealed the differences of Vicia genotypes based on phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity. The significant correlations among TEAC, FRAP and DPPH center dot scavenging activity and the content of hydroxybenzoic acids were found in both methanol and acetone extracts (P < 0.01). The genotypes were divided into three clusters in acetone extract and two clusters in methanol extract with similarity above 60% in each group by a hierarchical cluster analysis. These results demonstrated that the genotypic differences of Vicia species in terms of TPC and antioxidant activity can be a tool for feed technology studies for animal nutrition, animal welfare and meat quality.Council of Higher Education (YOK) in TurkeyH. Hulya Orak thanks Council of Higher Education (YOK) in Turkey for financial support for her stay in Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn

Antioxidant Activity of a Red Lentil Extract and Its Fractions

Phenolic compounds were extracted from red lentil seeds using 80% (v/v) aqueous acetone. The crude extract was applied to a Sephadex LH-20 column. Fraction 1, consisting of sugars and low-molecular-weight phenolics, was eluted from the column by ethanol. Fraction 2, consisting of tannins, was obtained using acetone-water (1:1; v/v) as the mobile phase. Phenolic compounds present in the crude extract and its fractions demonstrated antioxidant and antiradical activities as revealed from studies using a β-carotene-linoleate model system, the total antioxidant activity (TAA) method, the DPPH radical-scavenging activity assay, and a reducing power evaluation. Results of these assays showed the highest values when tannins (fraction 2) were tested. For instance, the TAA of the tannin fraction was 5.85 μmol Trolox® eq./mg, whereas the crude extract and fraction 1 showed 0.68 and 0.33 μmol Trolox® eq./mg, respectively. The content of total phenolics in fraction 2 was the highest (290 mg/g); the tannin content, determined using the vanillin method and expressed as absorbance units at 500 nm per 1 g, was 129. There were 24 compounds identified in the crude extract using an HPLC-ESI-MS method: quercetin diglycoside, catechin, digallate procyanidin, and p-hydroxybenzoic were the dominant phenolics in the extract