Search

Polyphenols have widely accepted health benefits which are limited by their low uptake, low bioavailability, and rapid degradation in the gut. While milk proteins are excellent carriers for polyphenols, the specific interactions of the polyphenols with the milk proteins, need to be understood to facilitate the utilization of these delivery systems in food and pharmaceutical applications. We have evaluated the relevance of different factors affecting milk protein-polyphenol interactions and the subsequent impact on the bioavailability and health promoting aspects of polyphenols. Hydrophobic forces are the primary binding forces of polyphenols to milk proteins. The significant factors affecting the interactions and binding affinity are the molecular weight and the hydrophobicity of the polyphenols. The interaction of polyphenols with milk proteins improved the antioxidant activity in comparison to milk proteins, while conflicting results exists for comparisons with polyphenols. In-vitro and cell line studies demonstrated enhanced bioavailability of polyphenols in the presence of milk proteins as well as higher anti-cancer and anti-allergy benefits. Overall, this work will pave the way for better understanding of polyphenol interactions with milk proteins and enable the tailoring of complexes through sustainable green processes, enabling higher bioavailability and health promoting effects of the polyphenols in food and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urticaria affects all age groups of a population. It is triggered by allergens in foods, insect bites, medications, and environmental conditions. Urticaria is characterized by itching, a burning sensation, wheals and flares, erythema, and localized edema. The aim of this study was to develop a polymeric dosage form of ebastine using Carbopol 940 and mixture of span and tween. The emulsion was prepared, the gelling agent was added and the desired emulgel loaded with active drug was formulated. The formulations were subjected to physical stability, pH, viscosity, spreadability, drug content analysis, thermal analysis, in vitro drug release, and in vivo anti-allergic activity in animal model. The formulated emulgel exhibited good physical stability. The pH of the formulation was in the range of 5.2 ± 0.17 to 5.5 ± 0.20 which is suitable for topical application. Insignificant changes (p>.05) were observed in viscosity and spreadability of stored emulgels. The drug content was in the official limit of Pharmacopeia (i.e. 100 ± 10%). DSC measurements predicted that there is no interaction between the active moiety and excipients in emulgel formulation. The optimized formulation (ES3) released 74.25 ± 1.8% of ebastine after 12 h. The ebastine emulgel showed significant (p<.05; ANOVA) in vivo anti-allergic activity as compared to commercial product BenadrylVR in histamine-induced allergy in rabbits. This study concluded that a topical drug delivery of ebastine-loaded emulgel could be well tolerated and safe for the treatment of urticaria/hives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the deep-sea-derived fungus Aspergillus candidus, one novel (1) and three known (2–4) p-terphenyl derivates were isolated. The structure of the new compound was established mainly on the basis of extensive analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data. All four isolates were tested for in vitro anti-food allergic and antitumor bioactivities. Compounds 3 and 4 showed potent antiproliferative effect against four cancer cells of Hela, Eca-109, Bel-7402, and PANC-1 with IC50 values ranging from 5.5 μM to 9.4 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quercetin, luteolin and chrysoeriol were identified from rooibos tea as degranulation inhibitors in rat basophilic leukaemia cells. The degranulation inhibitory activity of chrysoeriol was first discovered in the present study. When quercetin, luteolin and chrysoeriol were mixed in the ratio that occurs in rooibos tea extract, the mixture inhibited antigen- and calcium ionophore-stimulated degranulation to the same degree as that by the whole rooibos tea extract. These findings indicate that these three flavonoids are the key factors underlying the degranulation inhibitory activity of rooibos tea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From the deep-sea-derived bacterium Bacillus subterraneus 11593, a new indole alkaloid (1) was isolated along with three known compounds (2‒4). By detailed analysis of its NMR spectroscopic data, and further by the theoretical ECD calculations, the absolute configuration of the new compound was determined to be (R)-N-[2-(3-hydroxy-2-oxoindolin-3-yl)ethyl]acetamide, and named bacilsubteramide A. All four isolates were tested for anti-allergic bioactivities; however, none exhibited positive effect (IC50 > 0.2 mM). Noteworthily, it is the first report on secondary metabolites from the bacterium B. subterraneus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A genome mining analysis on the deep-sea derived actinomycete Saccharopolyspora cebuensis MCCC 1A09850 indicated its potential to produce polypeptides. Accordingly, a systematic chemical investigation was conducted, which resulted in the isolation of one new cyclic tetrapeptide (saccharopolytide A, 1) and two known polyketides (2, 3) along with six other miscellaneous compounds (4‒9). Mainly by analysis of the 1D, 2D NMR and MS data, the chemical structure of saccharopolytide A was established as cyclo-(L-Leu-4-hydroxy-L-Pro-L-Phe-4-hydroxy-L-Pro). All isolates were evaluated for anti-allergic and anti-tumor bioactivities. Indol-3-carbaldehyde (4) showed weak anti-allergic effect with IC50 value of 55.75 μg/mL. And 2 showed weak anti-proliferative activity against Hela and H1299 tumor cell lines. Our results consolidate the potential of deep-sea-derived microorganisms to produce structurally interesting compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: The major groups of phytonutrients found in plants include polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenes, amines, etc., all of which are observed to have potential anti-allergic activity. In this study, we evaluated the anti-allergic activity of the standardized extract of Albizia lebbeck with respect to the catechin, a polyphenolic phytomarker. Material and methods: The percentage of catechin in the ethanolic extract was found to be 14.72 mg/g. We administered Albizia lebbeck (50–300 mg/kg) and 50 mg/kg of catechin to mice to evaluate the mast cell stabilization and estimation of histamine elevation in the plasma. Results and conclusion: Results support the conclusion that Albizia lebbeck at different concentrations has got potent mast cell stabilizing property and the IC50 value of Albizia lebbeck was found to be 85 μg/ml. This inhibitory potential of catechin from Albizia lebbeck is perhaps due to modulation of two important effector’s functions, histamine release and cytokine expression of antigen -IgE activated mast cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]