The alimentary impact of the hemp seed

Hemp seed and hemp seed oil can supply us with many important substances. Their essential fatty acid compositions are favourable, but they may contain non-psychotropic cannabinoids. Emerging data show that these components can influence the health status of the population beneficially. Some data also showed trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol in seed oils, the main psychotropic cannabinoid that is contraindicated.Our aim was to examine cannabinoids and fatty acid composition as well as metal and non-metal element compositions in products, like hemp seed oil and chopped hemp seed capsule.The cannabinoids were separated by thin layer chromatography. Fatty acid composition was determined with gas chromatography, and elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, S, Si, Sn, Sr, V, and Zn) were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometric method. Selenium was determined with polarographic analyser.Cannabinoids were not detectable by thin layer chromatography, so hemp seed oil, as well as the capsule, have no psychotropic adverse effect. Our data showed that hemp seed contains essential fatty acids close to the recommended ratio. The B and Se concentrations of the oils and the P concentration of the capsule are also relevant

Method development for measurement of elements in Hungarian red wines by inductivelvy coupled plasma optival emission spectrometry (ICP-OES)

ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry) was used to determine the element content of red wines. Development of the method involves various procedures of sample handling as well as repeatability and reproducibility measurements. Measurements were made for the following 16 elements: Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr and Zn. The relative standard deviation of repeatability ranged from 0.41% (potassium) to 27% (cadmium) and that of reproducibility varied between 0.73% (boron) to 52% (cobalt). Recovery of the elements was determined by standard addition with results ranging from 90.6% (phosphorus) to 116.2% (boron). After that, 15 red wine samples were measured. Significant differences were found in the Al, B, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sr and Zn (P<0.001) concentration of wine samples. Correlation studies revealed parallel changes in phosphorus-potassium, phosphorus-magnesium and zinc-manganese concentrations (r=0.857, 0.875, 0.838). According to principal component analysis, measurements of zinc-, sodium-, boron-, copper- and strontium content gave almost the same results as obtained with 16 different elements. According to a two dimensional non-linear map of absolute values of principal component analysis, wines from Szekszárd and Eger could be differentiated, whereas the analysis of wines from Villány, the Mátra Mountains and Lake Balaton showed overlapping results

Altered element homeostasis and transmethylation ability in short-term polyphenol rich supplementation in hyperlipidemic animal model

Abstract Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most common chronic liver diseases with unclarified pathomechanism and without evidence-proven therapy. Dietary polyphenols, targeting oxidative stress, are at the center of investigations. Our aim was to examine the effects of a polyphenol rich extract on metal element homeostasis and transmethylation ability in non-alcoholic fatty liver model. A ten-day rat model was used (control group, hyperlipidemic group with fat-rich diet, hyperlipidemic group with fat-rich diet and polyphenol supplementation, N = 8 in each group). The hyperlipidemic diet increased the concentration of the majority of the elements with significantly higher contents of B, Co, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Se, Si, and Zn in the liver. Further elevation of Al, Pb, and Sn concentrations could be observed in polyphenol supplemented animals. The polyphenol supplement unexpectedly decreased the transmethylation ability of the liver (132.00 vs. 114.15 vs. 92.25 HCHO μg g−1) further. The results emphasize the possible role of altered metal and non-metal element concentrations and decreased transmethylation ability in the pathomechanism of fatty liver disease. Dietary supplementation with natural compounds may have undesirable effect as well, there is the necessity to improve the efficacy of polyphenol formulations because of their low oral bioavailability

Why do not polyphenols of red wine protect against the harmful effects of alcohol in alcoholism?

The effect of polyphenolic bioactive substances, especially resveratrol (12.03 mg l−1), of an often consumed Hungarian red wine was investigated in a short term rat experiment. Male young Wistar albino rats were treated with high volumes of red wine (matching one bottle of wine/day for a 85 kg man) (N=5) and another alcoholic drink of the same alcohol concentration (N=5), corresponding to the circumstances of alcoholism, and 5 rats were in the control group. A total of 7 routine laboratory parameters were measured from the sera by kits. The changes of redox homeostasis (H-donor activity, induced chemiluminescence, diene-conjugates, GSHPx) were studied in blood plasma and/or in liver homogenates by spectrophotometric and luminometric methods. Transmethylation property of the liver was measured by overpressured layer chromatography (OPLC) technique. It was proven with in vitro OPLC analytical study that resveratrol reacted with methyl groups, and resveratrol was demonstrated to influence transmethylation processes as well as redox homeostasis. Red wine compounds do not protect from the harmful effects of alcohol, and even by high doses of resveratrol, the liver further deteriorates and the negative effect of alcohol increases. It has been confirmed that high doses of resveratrol do not provide protection against liver damage in those suffering from alcoholism

The effect of fat rich diet and alcohol on ion concentration in bile fluid in rats

The metabolic alteration of fatty liver causes significant changes in the composition of bile fluid secreted by epithelial liver cells. These processes include both organic molecular and inorganic ion content changes in bile juice as well. In this work ion concentration differences of bile fluid in experimental hyperlipidemic rats compared to normal ones were monitored. Fatty liver in young male Wistar albino rats was induced by 2% cholesterol, 20% sunflower oil and 0.5% cholic acid added to the normal food and 3% alcoholic water was administered to rats for 9 days. The development of hyperlipidemy was detected by measuring serum parameters and fatty liver was proved by morphological investigations. The ion concentrations of bile fluid samples were determined by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry). The bile fluid samples were digested with a mixture of HNO3 and H2O2 . The results show that the concentration of calcium and phosphorus in bile juice increased significantly in hyperlipidemic rats compared to the control. Significant concentration changes have also been detected for chromium and manganese. The changes in metal ion metabolism also point to the damage of liver cells owing to metal complex evacuation

Examination of microelements in medicinal plants of the Carpathian basin

The application of medicinal plant drugs for curing has become popular again. The favourable effects of most of them have been examined and proven. Nevertheless, the beneficial properties of plants and extracts may be due to inorganic mineral elements besides organic constituents. Investigation of microelement content in plant drugs may be relevant for the determination of environmental relations. In pharmacological aspect microelement content in teas is essential. For plants, all extracts (teas, alcoholic extracts, etc.) prepared by divers ways (traditional-, microwave extraction, etc.) contain elements in different quantity. The comparison of microelement content of definite amount of tea consumed with Recommended Dietary Allowances, Dietary Reference Intake may give information on possible nutritional value

Element transfer from extract of greater celandine (Chelidonium majus L.)

Greater celandine ( Chelidonium majus L.) is used internally as a herbal remedy besides external applications. It was supposed that the elements besides organic compounds in greater celandine also have favourable effect as adjuvants, therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the bioavailability of the elements. The element transfer through the gastrointestinal system was measured by in vitro model from the pressed extract into buffer solutions with different pH (stomach pH=1.1, intestine pH=2.8, plasma pH=7.5). It was stated that the elements (Al, B, Ba, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, S, Zn) were able to be absorbed through the stomach-bowel system, since they passed through the membrane. The transfer of the elements from the latex into the different buffer solutions greatly depends on the element and the pH of applied buffer solution. The transfer of the elements from the latex ranged between 0.9% (Ca into buffer solution pH=7.5) and 59.3% (B into buffer solution pH=2.8). The transfer of the highest amount of elements was observed in the case of buffer solution pH=2.8, and less transferable elements were Ca with 33.64% and Mg with 33.89% of the initial value. On the basis of results, it can be stated that the elements are able to transfer through the gastrointestinal system and may have adjuvant effects

Element determination in volatile oil containing fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) by ICP-OES and polarography

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) is frequently used for making tea and it is also applied as spice. Since the digestion of oils is relatively difficult and the undigested oil may greatly alter the element data, three different acid mixtures (nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide; nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide; nitric acid, hydrochloric acid and hydrofluoric acid) were tested for determination of element content in fennel. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and polarography were applied for the determination of elements (Al, Ba, Ca, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Ni, P, S, Se and Zn). The extraction was realised by using microwave digestion technique under low and high pressure. Lucerna p-alfalfa as reference material was used for the accuracy and precision of the analytical procedures. According to the results, it can be stated that the digestion of medicinal plants containing oil could be realised by aqua regia