Search

Now under Clusiaceae and Hypericaceae, Clusia and Hypericum were previously categorized under one family until they were divided in 2003 by the APG III system. The Clusia genus is characterized by the presence of tocotrienol derivatives with antiangiogenic properties, and only Hypericum perforatum tocochromanol content has been studied in the Hypericum genus. Twelve species were analyzed: H. aegypticum , H. calycinum , H. empetrifolium , H. lancasteri , H. olympicum f. minus 'Sulphureum', H. perforatum , H. xylosteifolium , C. fluminensis , C. minor , C. odorata , C. palmicida , and C. tocuchensis . Plant leaves were analyzed for their tocochromanol (α-, β-, γ-, and δ-tocotrienol and tocopherol) contents using a reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescent light detector (RP-HPLC-FLD) method. While α-tocopherol (α-T) was present in the highest proportion, the leaves had significant tocotrienol (T3) contents. Following α-T, δ-T3 was present in most Clusia samples, and γ-T3 in most Hypericum samples, except H. olympicum , in which α-T3 followed. C. minor had the highest α-T (112.72 mg 100 g -1 ) and total tocochromanol (141.43 mg 100 g -1 ) content, followed by C. palmicida (65.97 and 82.96 mg 100 g -1 , respectively) and H. olympicum (α-T 32.08, α-T3 30.68, and total tocochromanols 89.06 mg 100 g -1 ). The Hypericum genus is a valuable source of tocotrienols, with potential use after purification.

Background: Juices are currently a fast-growing segment in the fruit and vegetable industry sector. However, there are still no reports on the diversity of the phytochemical profile and health-promoting properties of commercial sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides) juices. This study aimed to identify and quantify phytoprostanes, phytofurans by ultra high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UHPLC-QqQ-MS/MS), tocopherols, tocotrienols by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a fluorescence detector (UPLC-FL), carotenoids, and free amino acids by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode detector-quadrupole and tandem time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-PDA-Q/TOF-MS), and assess their anti-cholinergic, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential by in vitro assays of commercial sea buckthorn juices., Results: Phytoprostanes (PhytoPs) and phytofurans (PhytoFs) in sea buckthorn juices were identified for the first time. Juices contained eight F 1 -, D 1 -, B 1 - and L 1 -phytoprostanes and one phytofuran (32.31-1523.51 ng and up to 101.47 μg/100 g dry weight (DW)), four tocopherol congeners (22.23-94.08 mg 100 g -1 DW) and three tocotrienols (5.93-25.34 mg 100 g -1 DW). Eighteen carotenoids were identified, including ten xanthophylls, seven carotenes and phytofluene, at a concentration of 133.65 to 839.89 mg 100 g -1 DW. Among the 20 amino acids (175.92-1822.60 mg 100 g -1 DW), asparagine was dominant, and essential and conditionally essential amino acids constituted 11 to 41% of the total. The anti-enzyme and antioxidant potential of juices correlated selectively with the composition., Conclusion: Sea buckthorn juice can be a valuable dietary source of vitamins E and A, oxylipins and amino acids, used in the prevention of metabolic syndrome, inflammation, and neurodegenerative processes. The differentiation of the composition and the bioactive potential of commercial juices indicate that, for the consumer, it should be important to choose juices from the declared berry cultivars and crops. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Menopause is the leading cause of osteoporosis for elderly women due to imbalanced bone remodelling in the absence of oestrogen. The ability of tocotrienol in reversing established bone loss due to oestrogen deficiency remains unclear despite the plenitude of evidence showcasing its preventive effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of self-emulsified annatto tocotrienol (SEAT) on bone histomorphometry and remodelling in ovariectomised rats. Female Sprague Dawley rats (n=36) were randomly assigned into baseline, sham, ovariectomised (OVX) control, OVX-treated with annatto tocotrienol (AT) (60 mg/kg), SEAT (60 mg/kg) and raloxifene (1 mg/kg). Daily treatment given through oral gavage was started two months after castration. The rats were euthanised after eight weeks of treatment. Blood was collected for bone biomarkers. Femur and lumbar bones were collected for histomorphometry and remodelling markers. The results showed that AT and SEAT improved osteoblast numbers and trabecular mineralisation rate (p<0.05 vs untreated OVX). AT also decreased skeletal sclerostin expression in OVX rats (p<0.05 vs untreated OVX). Similar effects were observed in the raloxifene-treated group. Only SEAT significantly increased bone formation rate and reduced RANKL/OPG ratio (p<0.05 vs untreated OVX). However, no changes in osteoclast-related parameters were observed among the groups (p>0.05). In conclusion, SEAT exerts potential skeletal anabolic properties by increasing bone formation, suppressing sclerostin expression and reducing RANKL/OPG ratio in rats with oestrogen deficiency., Competing Interests: Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interest exists., (© The author(s).)

Tocotrienol has been shown to prevent bone loss in animal models of postmenopausal osteoporosis, but the low oral bioavailability might limit its use. A self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) could increase the bioavailability of tocotrienol. However, evidence of this system in improving the skeletal effects of tocotrienol is scanty. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of annatto tocotrienol with SEDDS in a rat model of postmenopausal bone loss. Ten-month-old female Sprague Dawley rats were randomized into six groups. The baseline group was euthanatized at the onset of the study. Four other groups underwent ovariectomy to induce estrogen deficiency. The sham underwent similar surgery procedure, but their ovaries were retained. Eight weeks after surgery, the ovariectomized rats received one of the four different regimens orally daily: (a) SEDDS, (b) annatto tocotrienol [60 mg/kg body weight (b.w.)] without SEDDS, (c) annatto-tocotrienol (60 mg/kg b.w.) with SEDDS, (d) raloxifene (1 mg/kg b.w.). After eight weeks of treatment, blood was collected for the measurement of delta-tocotrienol level and oxidative stress markers. The rats were euthanized and their bones were harvested for the evaluation of the bone microstructure, calcium content and strength. Circulating delta-tocotrienol level was significantly higher in rats receiving annatto tocotrienol with SEDDS compared to the group receiving unformulated annatto-tocotrienol (p < 0.05). Treatment with unformulated or SEDDS-formulated annatto tocotrienol improved cortical bone thickness, preserved bone calcium content, increased bone biomechanical strength and increased antioxidant enzyme activities compared with the ovariectomized group (p < 0.05). Only SEDDS-formulated annatto tocotrienol improved trabecular microstructure, bone stiffness and lowered malondialdehyde level (p < 0.05 vs the ovariectomized group). The improvement caused by annatto tocotrienol was comparable to raloxifene. In conclusion, SEDDS improves the bioavailability and skeletal therapeutic effects of annatto tocotrienol in a rat model of postmenopausal bone loss. This formulation should be tested in a human clinical trial to validate its efficacy., (Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

Background: The seeds of Vitis vinifera grapes have been studied extensively but knowledge about the interspecific crosses of other Vitis species (e.g. V. vinifera, V. amurensis, V. rupestris, V. riparia, and V. labruska) is very limited., Results: The oil yields recovered from the grape seeds ranged between 7 and 160 g kg -1 dw. The main fatty acids were linoleic (72.5-83.1%), oleic (6.2-15.5%), and palmitic (5.4-13.2%), which together constituted 92.8-97.1% of the total detected fatty acids. The total concentration of tocopherol (T) and tocotrienol (T3) homologues was between 0.785 and 9.033 g kg -1 oil. The concentration of sterols varied significantly and ranged between 2.912 and 105.962 g kg -1 oil. The β-sitosterol constituted 68.2-86.3% of the total content of sterols. The oil yield in grape seeds significantly correlated with the oleic acid, α-linolenic acid, α-T, α-T3, γ-T3, campesterol, Δ5-stigmasterol, β-sitosterol, and total Ts + T3 s and sterols., Conclusion: The present study demonstrated that seed oil recovered from different interspecific Vitis crosses is a rich source of minor lipophilic bioactive compounds, especially genotypes with low oil content. They can be used to enrich plant oils that are poor in tocotrienols and/or phytosterols without changing the fatty acid composition of main oil, due to low enrichment quantities (micro-blends). © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

Annatto tocotrienols (AnT3), which contain approximately 90% δ-tocotrienol (δ-T3), were added to mid-oleic sunflower oil used for frying tortilla chips over 3 d. The objectives were to evaluate their stability during frying, absorption by the fried food, and activity as antioxidants in frying oil and in tortilla chips during storage. AnT3 did not significantly affect the stability of the oil during frying or the sensory profiles of freshly fried chips. The naturally present α-tocopherol (α-T) in the oil degraded at a lower rate in the presence of AnT3, resulting in significantly higher α-T by the end of the frying study. Levels of tocopherols and tocotrienols in the chips mirrored oil levels. AnT3 did not affect the sensory profile of the chips after 1 wk of storage at 50 °C, but after 3 wk of storage, the control chips had higher levels of painty and rancid flavors compared to chips with AnT3. Headspace hexanal was also significantly higher in the control chips compared to the chips with AnT3 after 3 wk of storage., Practical Application: Annatto tocotrienols, containing primarily delta- and gamma-tocotrienols, were added to mid-oleic sunflower oil used for frying tortilla chips. The tocotrienols were absorbed by the chips along with the oil. They slowed the degradation of α tocopherol during frying, and reduced levels of painty and rancid flavor scores as well as headspace hexanal in chips that were stored for 3 wk at elevated temperatures. The results indicated that fried snack foods such as tortilla chips may be a suitable and convenient vehicle for enriching tocotrienols in the diet, and that tocotrienols may also enhance the shelf-life of fried foods., (© 2018 Institute of Food Technologists®.)

The abilities of annatto and palm tocotrienol-rich fractions (TRFs), as natural antioxidants, to inhibit lipid oxidation in menhaden fish oil and structured lipid-based infant formula emulsion, were evaluated and compared. The peroxide and anisidine values of the bulk oil and oil-in-water emulsion samples stored at 37°C were measured over a 28-day period. The results showed that annatto TRF was a more effective antioxidant than palm TRF and α-tocopherol in both food systems at 0.02% and 0.05%. Factors, including structural differences in chromanol head and isoprenoid tail, polarity, concentration, oxidation time, and the method used to monitor lipid oxidation, were responsible for the different behaviours of tocopherols and tocotrienols. In contrast to the reported findings in vivo, addition of α-tocopherol (0-75%) did not interfere with the antioxidant activity of tocopherol-free annatto TRF in foods. Our findings may lead to the development of new natural antioxidant products for food applications., (Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Human diploid fibroblasts (HDFs) undergo a limited number of cellular divisions in culture and progressively reach a state of irreversible growth arrest, a process termed cellular ageing. Even though beneficial effects of Piper betle, Chlorella vulgaris and tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) have been reported, ongoing studies in relation to ageing is of interest to determine possible protective effects that may reverse the effect of ageing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of P. betle, C. vulgaris and TRF in preventing cellular ageing of HDFs by determining the activity of antioxidant enzymes viz.; catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase., Methods: Different passages of HDFs were treated with P. betle, C. vulgaris and TRF for 24 h prior to enzymes activity determination. Senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA β-gal) expression was assayed to validate cellular ageing., Results: In cellular ageing of HDFs, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were reduced, but SOD activity was heightened during pre-senescence. P. betle exhibited the strongest antioxidant activity by reducing SA β-gal expression, catalase activities in all age groups, and SOD activity. TRF exhibited a strong antioxidant activity by reducing SA β-gal expression, and SOD activity in senescent HDFs. C. vulgaris extract managed to reduce SOD activity in senescent HDFs., Conclusion: P. betle, C. vulgaris, and TRF have the potential as anti-ageing entities which compensated the role of antioxidant enzymes in cellular ageing of HDFs.