Lowering of platelet aggregation and serum eicosanoid levels in rats fed with a diet containing coconut oil blends with rice bran oil or sesame oil.

The present investigation was undertaken to study the effects of feeding a diet containing blended and interesterified fat to rats on thrombotic parameters such as platelet aggregation and eicosanoid levels in blood serum. Male Wistar rats were fed with a diet containing 10% fat from native; coconut oil (CNO), rice bran oil (RBO), sesame oil (SESO), blended; (CNO+RBO blend (B), CNO+SESO(B), or interesterified oils; CNO+RBO interesterified (I), CNO+SESO(I) for a period of 60 days. Rats given a diet containing blended oil of CNO+RBO(B) or CNO+SESO(B) showed a decrease in rate of ADP induced aggregation of platelets by 34% and 30%, respectively, compared to those fed with CNO.

Lutein and zeaxanthin in leafy greens and their bioavailability: olive oil influences the absorption of dietary lutein and its accumulation in adult rats.

This study determined the lutein level in various green leafy vegetables (GLVs) and the influence of olive and sunflower oils on the postprandial plasma and eye response of dietary lutein in adult rats, previously induced with lutein depletion (LD). Fresh GLVs (n = 35) were assessed for lutein (L) and its isomer zeaxanthin (Z) levels by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Among GLVs analyzed, Commelina benghalensis L.

Effect of horse gram lectin (Dolichos biflorus agglutinin) on degranulation of mast cells and basophils of atopic subjects: identification as an allergen.

Horse gram (Dolichos biflorus) is widely consumed in the tropical south Asian countries including rural areas of India. Since D. biflorus agglutinin (DBA) is an important dietary lectin in horse gram, we have studied its effect on the degranulation of mast cells and basophils of atopic subjects.

Micellar oleic and eicosapentaenoic acid but not linoleic acid influences the beta-carotene uptake and its cleavage into retinol in rats.

Improving the bioavailability of beta-carotene is vital to manage vitamin A deficiency. The influence of micellar oleic (OA), linoleic (LA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids on plasma beta-carotene response and its conversion to retinol has been studied in rats employing single (9 h time course) and repeated (10 days) dose administrations. After a single dose, the levels (area under the curve) of plasma beta-carotene and retinyl palmitate in OA and EPA groups were higher (p < 0.

Enhanced lutein bioavailability by lyso-phosphatidylcholine in rats.

The bioavailability of lutein solubilized in mixed micelles containing either phosphatidylcholine (PC) or lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) was evaluated in male rats. Mixed micelles contained 2.5 mM monooleoylglycerol, 7.

Modulation of antioxidant enzyme activities, platelet aggregation and serum prostaglandins in rats fed spray-dried milk containing n-3 fatty acid.

Spray-dried milk enriched with n-3 fatty acids from linseed oil or fish oil were fed to rats to study its influence on liver lipid peroxides, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, serum prostaglandins and platelet aggregation. Significant level of alpha linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were accumulated at the expense of arachidonic acid in the liver of rats fed n-3 fatty acid enriched formulation. The linseed oil and fish oil enriched formulation fed group had 44 and 112% higher level of lipid peroxides in liver homogenate compared to control rats fed groundnut oil enriched formulation.

Influence of phospholipids on beta-carotene absorption and conversion into vitamin A in rats.

This study determines the effect of lysophosphatidylcholine (lysoPC) and phosphatidylcholine (PC) in mixed micelles on beta-carotene and retinyl palmitate levels in rats in order to delineate the role of micellar phospholipids in the intestinal uptake of beta-carotene and its conversion into vitamin A. The rats were fed a single dose of beta-carotene solubilized in lysoPC (LPC group), PC (PC group) or no phospholipids (NoPL, control group) in micellar form. The level of beta-carotene and retinyl palmitate in plasma and beta-carotene in liver was analyzed by HPLC after 1, 2, 3, 6 and 9 h of feeding.

Inhibition of human platelet aggregation and membrane lipid peroxidation by food spice, saffron.

The inhibitory activity of saffron extract was studied on human platelets. Platelet aggregation and lipid peroxidation were evaluated with platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet membranes respectively obtained from blood of healthy human volunteers. Human platelets were subjected to stimulation with a variety of agonists like ADP (61 microM), epinephrine (76 microM), collagen (11 microg/ml), calcium ionophore A 23187 (6 microM) and ristocetin (1.

Modulation of antioxidant enzyme activities, platelet aggregation and serum prostaglandins in rats fed spray-dried milk containing n-3 fatty acid.

Spray-dried milk enriched with n-3 fatty acids from linseed oil (LSO) or fish oil (FO) were fed to rats to study its influence on liver lipid peroxides, hepatic antioxidant enzyme activities, serum prostaglandins and platelet aggregation. Significant level of alpha linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid were accumulated at the expense of arachidonic acid in the liver of rats fed n-3 fatty acid enriched formulation. The linseed oil and fish oil enriched formulation fed group had 44 and 112% higher level of lipid peroxides in liver homogenate compared to control rats fed groundnut oil enriched formulation.

Cardamom extract as inhibitor of human platelet aggregation.

The inhibitory activity of cardamom extract was studied on human platelets. Platelet aggregation and lipid peroxidation were evaluated with platelet rich plasma (PRP) and platelet membranes, respectively, obtained from blood of healthy volunteers. Human platelets were subjected to stimulation with a variety of agonists including ADP (2.

Determination of major carotenoids in a few Indian leafy vegetables by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Leafy vegetables [Basella rubra L., Peucedanum sowa Roxb., Moringa oleifera Lam.

Purification of a Class B1 platelet aggregation inhibitor phospholipase A2 from Indian cobra (Naja Naja) venom.

A platelet aggregation inhibitor phospholipase A(2) (NND-IV-PLA(2)) was isolated from Naja naja (Eastern India) venom by a combination of cation and anion exchange chromatography. NND-IV-PLA(2) is the most catalytically active enzyme isolated from the Indian cobra venom. The acidic PLA(2) profile of Eastern regional Indian cobra venom is distinctly different from that of the western regional venom.

Effect of dietary ghee--the anhydrous milk fat on lymphocytes in rats.

Lymphocytes are important components of the immune system. Dietary lipids affect the functioning of the immune system. Changes in the lipid composition of the lymphocyte membrane is a case in point.

Membrane changes in rat erythrocyte ghosts on ghee feeding.

Alterations in membrane lipid composition is known to result in functional and structural changes in the membrane, and dietary lipids play an important role in this change. It was of interest to study the influence of ghee feeding to the rat on membrane structure and function. The activities of membrane bound enzymes Na+ K+ ATPase and Acetylcholinesterase were studied as an index of membrane changes.

Influence of retinol deficiency and curcumin/turmeric feeding on tissue microsomal membrane lipid peroxidation and fatty acids in rats.

The effect of retinol deficiency and curcumin/turmeric on lipid peroxidation and fatty acid profile was studied in liver, kidney, spleen and brain microsomes of rats. Results revealed an increase in lipid peroxidation in retinol deficient liver by 32%, kidney 30%, spleen 24% and brain 43% compared to the controls. Feeding 0.

Scavenging of superoxide anions by spice principles.

Effect of spice principles on scavenging of superoxide anion has been investigated. The superoxide anions, as measured by nitrobluetetrazolium (NBT) reduction in xanthine-xanthine oxidase system, were inhibited by superoxide dismutase, spice principles eugenol (cloves) and cuminaldehyde (cumin), antioxidants, butylated hydroxy toluene and butylated hydroxyanisole in a dose-dependent manner. The K(i) values for the inhibition of NBT reduction by eugenol and cuminaldehyde were 64 microM and 120 microM respectively.

5'-Nucleotidase activity in retinol deficiency induced albino rats.

Retinol deficient rat liver, kidney and spleen showed a significant decrease in their enzyme activity (36% to 50%) compared to controls. The lectins could stimulate the enzyme activity in retinol deficient group by 57.6 to 92%, compared to controls (13.

Microsomal alkaline phosphatase activity in retinol deficiency induced albino rats.

The investigations showed a significant decrease in the alkaline phosphatase activity of retinol deficient liver (48.6%), kidney (65.8%) and spleen (61.

Tissue Na+K+ activated adenosine triphosphatase in retinol deficient albino rats.

The effect of retinol deficiency on Na+K+ ATPase was studied. Retinol deficient rat kidney, liver and spleen revealed a two to three-fold increase in ouabain sensitive Na+K+ ATPase activity in relation to controls. The activity in the controls could be stimulated more by concanavalin A than in the deficient group.

PAF-acether in AK-5 tumour cells.

PAF-Acether fraction derived from stimulated AK-5 tumour cells, aggregated human platelets. The platelet aggregating ability increased linearly with increasing concentration of the stimulant, calcium ionophore A23187, and reached a maximum at 6 microM in 25 minutes. This factor had biological and chemical properties identical to authentic PAF-acether.

Influence of oryzanol on platelet aggregation in rats.

Platelet aggregation was measured using platelet rich plasma prepared from rats fed oryzanol in the control diet and those fed oryzanol in a 1 per cent cholesterol diet (HCD). Oryzanol with the control diet did not alter platelet aggregation induced by ADP and collagen. On the other hand, oryzanol fed along with HCD significantly inhibited platelet aggregation induced by ADP and totally inhibited aggregation induced by collagen.

Human placental 5'-nucleotidase: purification and properties.

Subcellular fractionation of human term placenta showed that the highest relative specific activity of 5'-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase resided in the microsomal fraction; of the total 5'-nucleotidase activity present, 7 per cent was in the cytosol. 5'-Nucleotidase was reproducibly purified over 500-fold in 17 per cent yield from the insoluble component of homogenates of term placenta to give a single major glycoprotein with two minor inactive protein contaminants. Purified placental 5'-nucleotidase was free from non-specific or alkaline phosphatase, hydrolysed 12 to 22 mumol AMP/min/mg of protein at 30 degrees C, and was activated up to fivefold by Triton X-100.

Hepatic peroxisome proliferation: induction by two novel compounds structurally unrelated to clofibrate.

Two hypolipidemic compounds [ 4-chloro-6(2,3-xylidino)-2-pyrimidinyl-thio] acetic acid, and 2-chloro-5(3,5-dimethylpiperidinosufony)benzoic acid (tibric acid) greatly increased the number of peroxisomes (microbodies) in liver cells of rats and mice. This augmented peroxisome population was accompanied by significant elevation of liver catalase activity. These two hypolipidemic peroxisome proliferators are structurally different from ethyl a-p-chlorophenozyisobutyrate (clofibrate) and other hypolipidemic, arylocyisobutyrate derivatives which cause hepatic peroxisome proliferation.