Kombucha Fermentation of Olympus Mountain Tea () Sweetened with Thyme Honey: Physicochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Functional Properties.

This study implemented kombucha fermentation of Olympus Mountain tea () sweetened with honey (OMTWH) in order to investigate the potential for producing a novel beverage with functional properties. The increase in the total count of bacteria and yeast suggests that the OMTWH acts as a viable substrate for supporting the proliferation of the microorganisms of the Kombucha symbiotic culture. The fermentation resulted in a reduction in pH and increased total titratable acidity.

Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Astaxanthin from Shrimp By-Products Using Vegetable Oils.

Background: The use of conventional astaxanthin extraction methods, typically involving organic solvents, leads to a heightened environmental impact. The aim of this study was to explore the potential use of environmentally friendly extraction solvents, such as vegetable oils, for recovering the shrimp by-product astaxanthin.

Methods: Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in vegetable oils, including olive oil (OO), sunflower oil (SO), and flaxseed oil (FO), was employed to extract astaxanthin.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Total Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activity Evaluation from Oregano ( ssp. ) Using Response Surface Methodology and Identification of Specific Phenolic Compounds with HPLC-PDA and Q-TOF-MS/MS.

Oregano is native to the Mediterranean region and it has been reported to contain several phenolic compounds particularly flavonoids that have been related with multiple bioactivities towards certain diseases. Oregano is cultivated in the island of Lemnos where the climate promotes its growth and thus it could be further used in promoting local economy. The aim of the present study was to establish a methodology for the extraction of total phenolic content along with the antioxidant capacity of oregano by using response surface methodology.

Postprandial Responses of Serum Cholesterol, Glucose and Plasma Antioxidant Activity, after Intake of an Innovative High Fat Mayonnaise-Based Appetizer, Enhanced with Olive Paste, in Healthy Volunteers.

Several Mediterranean functional foods and their process by-products may exert a beneficial role on hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and oxidative stress modulation, providing bioactive compounds with functional properties, contributing to possible chronic disease prevention (cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes mellitus, etc.). The purpose of the present interventional study was to investigate the postprandial responses of metabolic biomarkers, after the intake of an innovative mayonnaise-based appetizer, enhanced with olive paste, in healthy volunteers.

Valorization of Fruits by-products to Unconventional Sources of Additives, Oil, Biomolecules and Innovative Functional Foods.

Owning to the increase in the world population as well as the consumer's awareness on the health benefits of consumption of fruits, the demand for both fresh and processed fruits has been increased. The by-product and waste streams generated from fruit processing industries are extremely diverse, owning mainly to different fruits varieties and the wide range of the processes employed towards the production of the end fruit-based products. Due to the increasing production and processing of fruits, disposal of waste and by-product streams has become a serious issue, since these materials are prone to microbial spoilage.

Fish polar lipids retard atherosclerosis in rabbits by down-regulating PAF biosynthesis and up-regulating PAF catabolism.

Background: Platelet activating factor (PAF) has been proposed as a key factor and initial trigger in atherosclerosis. Recently, a modulation of PAF metabolism by bioactive food constituents has been suggested. In this study we investigated the effect of fish polar lipid consumption on PAF metabolism.

PAF effects on MCP-1 and IL-6 secretion in U-937 monocytes in comparison with oxLDL and IL-1β effects.

Objective: To study the effects of PAF, in comparison with oxLDL and IL-1β on MCP-1 and IL-6 secretion from U-937 monocytes and to investigate the mechanism of its action.

Methods: U-937 cell line was cultured in the presence or absence of PAF or oxLDL or IL-1β. Secretion of IL-6 and MCP-1 was measured by ELISA method, mRNA levels of MCP-1 and PAFR was measured using real-time PCR.

Triacylglycerol metabolism.

Apart from being the main energy reserves of the human body, triacylglycerols take part in metabolic processes that determine the rate of fatty acid oxidation, the plasma levels of free fatty acids, the biosynthesis of other lipid molecules and the metabolic fate of lipoproteins. Allosteric, hormonal, nutritional and transcriptional signals activate short-term and long-term regulatory mechanisms that assure the storage of triacylglycerols (TAGs) under states of excess energy and their mobilization under conditions of metabolic stress. New enzymes and novel regulatory mechanisms, involved in triacylglycerol metabolism, have been recently discovered and new details on the fine tuning of their metabolic reactions are coming to light.

Platelet-activating factor involvement in thioacetamide-induced experimental liver fibrosis and cirrhosis.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a potent lipid inflammatory mediator acting on cells through its specific receptor. Plasma PAF-acetylhydrolase (PAF-AH) is the main enzyme that inactivates PAF in blood, participating in its homeostasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the involvement of PAF in the liver fibrotic process using an experimental animal model.

Antibacterial and anti-PAF activity of lipid extracts from sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata).

The anti-PAF and the antibacterial activities of lipid extracts obtained from cultured sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) and cultured gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) were evaluated. Total lipids of sea bass and gilthead sea bream exerted PAF-like activity while, in higher amounts they inhibited this PAF activity. Neutral lipids of both sea bass and gilthead sea bream contained only PAF antagonists while the polar lipid fractions contained both PAF antagonists and agonists.

Antithrombotic and antiatherosclerotic properties of olive oil and olive pomace polar extracts in rabbits.

Olive oil polar lipid (OOPL) extract has been reported to inhibit atherosclerosis development on rabbits. Olive pomace polar lipid (PPL) extract inhibits PAF activity in vitro and the most potent antagonist has been identified as a glycerylether-sn-2-acetyl glycolipid with common structural characteristics with the respective potent antagonist of OOPL. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of PPL on early atherosclerosis development on rabbits and to compare it with the antiatherosclerotic effect of OOPL.

Effect of fast-food Mediterranean-type diet on human plasma oxidation.

Oxidation of lipoproteins, particularly of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is of prime importance in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. The Mediterranean diet has been associated with an unexpectedly low rate of cardiovascular events. Type 2 diabetic patients are at high risk of developing atherosclerosis.

Biological activity of acetylated phenolic compounds.

In recent years an effort has been made to isolate and identify biologically active compounds that are included in the Mediterranean diet. The existence of naturally occurring acetylated phenolics, as well as studies with synthetic ones, provide evidence that acetyl groups could be correlated with their biological activity. Platelet activating factor (PAF) is implicated in atherosclerosis, whereas its inhibitors seem to play a protective role against cardiovascular disease.

Effect of traditional Greek Mediterranean meals on platelet aggregation in normal subjects and in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between diet and incidence of coronary heart disease. The aim of the study is to determine the effect of a traditional Greek Mediterranean diet on platelet aggregation induced by ADP, arachidonic acid (AA), and especially platelet-activating factor (PAF) on patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus as well as on healthy volunteers.

In vivo antiatherogenic properties of olive oil and its constituent lipid classes in hyperlipidemic rabbits.

Background And Aim: The consumption of olive oil has been associated with lower incidence of cardiovascular disease in the Mediterranean countries. This may be due in part to the action of platelet-activating factor (PAF) antagonists which we have previously demonstrated to be present in olive oil. In order to assess the in vivo effects of olive oil lipids and PAF in the development of atherosclerosis, the effects of diet supplementation with olive oil (OO), olive oil polar lipid extract (OOPLE) and olive oil neutral lipid extract (OONLE) were studied in rabbits fed a cholesterol-enriched diet.

Effect of fast-food Mediterranean-type diet on type 2 diabetics and healthy human subjects' platelet aggregation.

Objective: The aim of our work was to carry out a randomized clinical trial with a fast-food Mediterranean type diet rich in platelet activating factor (PAF) antagonist to investigate the effect on type 2 diabetics and healthy human subject's platelet aggregation.

Research Design And Methods: We extracted lipids from fast-food Mediterranean type foodstuffs, and tested them in vitro for their ability to inhibit or antagonize PAF towards washed rabbit platelets. We chose the foodstuffs that exerted the most potent in vitro anti-PAF activity and fed 22 healthy (group A) and 23 type 2 diabetics (group B) subjects on a diet containing the chosen foodstuffs.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel steroid-modified ether phospholipids.

Platelet activating factor is one of the most potent inflammatory ether phospholipid mediators known and structurally modified analogues are of considerable interest as potential therapeutic preparations. Inspired by the proposed structure for a novel endogenous hydroxy-PAF analogue isolated recently from gingival crevicular fluid, we designed and prepared two novel steroid-modified ether phospholipids. These two novel compounds exhibit marked chemical and biological similarities to their endogenous prototype and they antagonize it being less active in inducing washed platelet aggregation through PAF receptors.

Bioactive polar lipids from Chroococcidiopsis sp. (Cyanobacteria).

Many studies indicate that various bioactive metabolites subsist in cyanobacteria. Glycolipids of cyanobacteria are reported as molecules that exert specific bioactivities. In this study, total lipids of Chroococcidiopsissp.

Isolation and structural elucidation of biologically active phospholipids from Scytonema julianum (cyanobacteria).

The role of platelet-activating factor (PAF) as a mediator appeared in rather primitive organisms like protozoans and was maintained in more evolved organisms. No reports exist for the presence of PAF or PAF analogues - or even compounds that exhibit PAF-like activity - in cyanobacteria, even though they belong to a a group of organisms at a low evolutionary level where the content of alkylacyl forms of ether lipids is expected to be high. In addition, cyanobacteria serve as a rich source of novel bioactive metabolites.

Antithrombotic lipid minor constituents from vegetable oils. Comparison between olive oils and others.

Many epidemiological studies suggest that vegetable oils and especially olive oil present a protective effect against atherosclerosis. In this study, total lipids (TL) of Greek olive oils and seed oils of four kinds, namely, soybean, corn, sunflower, and sesame oil, were separated into total polar lipids (TPL) and total neutral lipids (TNL) via a novel extraction procedure. TPL and TNL of olive oil were fractionated by HPLC for further study.