Steroid hormones sulfatase inactivation extends lifespan and ameliorates age-related diseases.

Aging and fertility are two interconnected processes. From invertebrates to mammals, absence of the germline increases longevity. Here we show that loss of function of sul-2, the Caenorhabditis elegans steroid sulfatase (STS), raises the pool of sulfated steroid hormones, increases longevity and ameliorates protein aggregation diseases.

Vanillic Acid Restores Coenzyme Q Biosynthesis and ATP Production in Human Cells Lacking .

Coenzyme Q (CoQ), a redox-active lipid, is comprised of a quinone group and a polyisoprenoid tail. It is an electron carrier in the mitochondrial respiratory chain, a cofactor of other mitochondrial dehydrogenases, and an essential antioxidant. CoQ requires a large set of enzymes for its biosynthesis; mutations in genes encoding these proteins cause primary CoQ deficiency, a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of diseases.

Non-fluorescent and yellow chlorophyll catabolites in Japanese plum fruits (Prunus salicina, Lindl.).

Although several chlorophyll metabolites have been shown to exert prominent benefits to human health when consumed, the battery of linear chlorophyll derivatives (phyllobilins) presents in fruits is poorly understood. Yellow chlorophyll catabolites (YCCs) are a new kind of phyllobilins recently identified in senescent leaves, probably arising from an oxidative process of the terminal chlorophyll catabolites, NCCs (non-fluorescent chlorophyll catabolites). This work deals with the characterization by first time of this kind of phytochemicals in edible fruits.

Xanthophyll esters are found in human colostrum.

Scope: Carotenoids in human milk are associated with other lipid counterparts in several metabolic processes. One interesting association that has not been demonstrated to date is the presence of xanthophyll esters. Colostrum and mature milk samples were analyzed to determine the occurrence of xanthophyll esters and identify the compounds.

Comprehensive chlorophyll composition in the main edible seaweeds.

Natural chlorophylls present in seaweeds have been studied regarding their biological activities and health benefit effects. However, detailed studies regarding characterization of the complete chlorophyll profile either qualitatively and quantitatively are scarce. This work deals with the comprehensive spectrometric study of the chlorophyll derivatives present in the five main coloured edible seaweeds.

Chlorophyll catabolism in olive fruits (var. Arbequina and Hojiblanca) during maturation.

The central reaction of chlorophyll (chl) breakdown pathway occurring during olive fruits maturation is the cleavage of the macrocycle pheophorbide a to a primary fluorescent chl catabolite (pFCC) and it is catalyzed by two enzymes: pheophorbide a oxygenase (PaO) and red chl catabolite reductase (RCCR). In subsequent steps, pFCC is converted to different fluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (FCCs) and nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs). This work demonstrated that RCCR activity of olive fruits is type II.

Extraction of phenolic compounds from virgin olive oil by deep eutectic solvents (DESs).

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are "green" solvents, applied in this study for the extraction of phenolic compounds from virgin olive oil (VOO). Different combinations of DES consisting of choline chloride (ChCl) in various mixing ratios with sugars, alcohols, organic acids, and urea, as well as a mixture of three sugars were used. The yields of the DES extractions were compared with those from conventional 80% (v/v) methanol/water.

Development of an accurate and high-throughput methodology for structural comprehension of chlorophylls derivatives. (II) Dephytylated derivatives.

Dephytylated chlorophylls (chlorophyllides and pheophorbides) are the starting point of the chlorophyll catabolism in green tissues, components of the chlorophyll pattern in storage/processed food vegetables, as well as the favoured structural arrangement for chlorophyll absorption. In addition, dephytylated native chlorophylls are prone to several modifications of their structure yielding pyro-, 13(2)-hydroxy- and 15(1)-hydroxy-lactone derivatives. Despite of these outstanding remarks only few of them have been analysed by MS(n).

Development of an accurate and high-throughput methodology for structural comprehension of chlorophylls derivatives. (I) Phytylated derivatives.

Phytylated chlorophyll derivatives undergo specific oxidative reactions through the natural metabolism or during food processing or storage, and consequently pyro-, 13(2)-hydroxy-, 15(1)-hydroxy-lactone chlorophylls, and pheophytins (a and b) are originated. New analytical procedures have been developed here to reproduce controlled oxidation reactions that specifically, and in reasonable amounts, produce those natural target standards. At the same time and under the same conditions, 16 natural chlorophyll derivatives have been analyzed by APCI-HPLC-hrMS(2) and most of them by the first time.

Systematic HPLC/ESI-High Resolution-qTOF-MS Methodology for Metabolomic Studies in Nonfluorescent Chlorophyll Catabolites Pathway.

Characterization of nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) and dioxobilane-type nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolite (DNCC) in peel extracts of ripened lemon fruits (Citrus limon L.) was performed by HPLC/ESI-high resolution-qTOF-MS method. Compounds were identified in samples on the basis of measured accurate mass, isotopic pattern, and characteristic fragmentation profile with an implemented software postprocessing routine.

Nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites in loquat fruits (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.).

Nonfluorescent chlorophyll catabolites (NCCs) and nonfluorescent dioxobilane chlorophyll catabolites (NDCCs) are the terminal compounds of the chlorophyll degradation pathway that may display beneficial properties to human health related to their antioxidant properties, which were recently shown. A profile of NCCs/NDCC of the loquat fruit Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. is described.

A new high-performance liquid chromatographic method with evaporative light scattering detector for the analysis of phospholipids. Application to Iberian pig subcutaneous fat.

A new method for the analysis of phospholipids by normal-phase HPLC is described using a silica column. Addition of ammonia and triethylamine to a gradient based on chloroform/methanol/water promoted a good and rapid separation of phospholipid classes (20 min run). The use of an evaporative light scattering detector permitted an accurate analysis of a mixture of phospholipids.

In vitro intestinal absorption of carotenoids delivered as molecular inclusion complexes with beta-cyclodextrin is not inhibited by high-density lipoproteins.

This study analyzed the assimilation efficiency of carotenoids when they are delivered as inclusion complexes with beta-cyclodextrin (CyDIC) in water. The in vitro assimilation model used was the brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) system in which the BBMVs were incubated with CyDIC. Carotenoid suspensions in Tween were used as a reference.

Determination of ent-kaurene in subcutaneous fat of Iberian pigs by gas chromatography multi-stage mass spectrometry with the aim to differentiate between intensive and extensive fattening systems.

This work presents a gas chromatography multi-stage mass spectrometry (GC-MS(3)) method for the determination of ent-kaurene in subcutaneous fat of Iberian pig, present in adipose tissue of animals due to pasture ingestion (extensive fattening system). The method comprises a saponification and a liquid-liquid extraction of the unsaponifiable fraction, followed by an isolation of the hydrocarbon fraction by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and analysis by GC-MS(3) (ion trap) with electronic ionization. The GC-MS(3) analysis allows the isolation and characterization of specific fragments from the original (MS(1)) molecular structure, and particularly, those fragments originated from the precursor ion (m/z=229) characteristic of ent-kaurene.

Changes in phenolic composition induced by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. Savastanoi infection in olive tree: presence of large amounts of verbascoside in nodules of tuberculosis disease.

A study was carried out to determine the changes in phenolic composition induced by tuberculosis infection in olive trees. Four ethanolic extracts were compared: olive leaf from shoots affected by Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. Savastanoi, nodules induced by this bacteria, leaf from healthy (asymptomatic) shoots, and shoots.

Thermal degradation products formed from carotenoids during a heat-induced degradation process of paprika oleoresins (Capsicum annuum L.).

The high-temperature treatment of paprika oleoresins (Capsicum annuum L.) modified the carotenoid profile, yielding several degradation products, which were analyzed by HPLC-APCI-MS. From the initial MS data, compounds were grouped in two sets.

Modification of volatile compound profile of virgin olive oil due to hot-water treatment of olive fruit.

The effect of hot-water treatments of olive fruits before processing on the biosynthesis of virgin olive oil aroma was investigated by quantifying the variation within the major classes of volatile compounds. Data showed that hot-water treatments gave rise to changes in the volatile aroma profile of virgin olive oil from the three olive cultivars under study, Manzanilla, Picual, and Verdial. Different effects by thermal treatments were observed according to cultivar.

Characterization of anthocyanins from the fruits of baguaçu (Eugenia umbelliflora Berg).

Anthocyanin pigments in the berries of baguaçu (Eugenia umbelliflora Berg), a tropical fruit from Brazil, were extracted with 0.1% HCl in ethanol, and the crude anthocyanin extract was purified by Amberlite XAD-7 open-column chromatography. Six major anthocyanins were isolated by preparative HPLC, and their chemical structures were identified by spectroscopic methods (TLC, UV-vis, MS, and (1)H NMR).