Effect of carrot intake on glucose tolerance, microbiota, and gene expression in a type 2 diabetes mouse model.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) pathophysiology involves insulin resistance (IR) and inadequate insulin secretion. Current T2D management includes dietary adjustments and/or oral medications such as thiazolidinediones (TZDs). Carrots have shown to contain bioactive acetylenic oxylipins that are partial agonists of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (Pparg) that mimic the antidiabetic effect of TZDs without any adverse effects.

Carrot Juice Intake Affects the Cytokine and Chemokine Response in Human Blood after Ex Vivo Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammation.

In vitro and animal studies have shown that carrot juice containing bioactive natural products, such as falcarinol (FaOH) and falcarindiol (FaDOH), can affect inflammation. The present study was designed to test whether oral intake of carrot juice containing the bioactive acetylenic oxylipins FaOH and FaDOH affects mediators of acute inflammation or the innate immune response in human blood. Carrot juice (500 mL) was administered orally to healthy volunteers, and blood samples were drawn before and 1 h after juice intake.

Use of Fermented Red Clover Isoflavones in the Treatment of Overactive Bladder in Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Postmenopausal women are at risk of developing an overactive bladder (OAB). Conventional vaginal estrogen has shown promise for symptom relief. Isoflavones have proven effective as an alternative to estrogen treatment against menopause-related symptoms.

The Y-ome Conundrum: Insights into Uncharacterized Genes and Approaches for Functional Annotation.

The ever-increasing availability of genome sequencing data has revealed a substantial number of uncharacterized genes without known functions across various organisms. The first comprehensive genome sequencing of E. coli K12 revealed that more than 50% of its open reading frames corresponded to transcripts with no known functions.

Substrate space analysis of the bacterial proton-coupled oligopeptide transporter YdgR by cheminformatics.

Proton-dependent oligopeptide transporters (POTs) are recognized for their substrate promiscuity due to their ability to transport a wide range of substrates. POTs are conserved in all forms of life ranging from bacteria to humans. A dipeptide-fluorophore conjugate, H-(β-Ala)-Lys(AMCA)-OH, is a well-known substrate of the transporter YdgR that is commonly used as a fluorescent reporter.

Physiological response in E. coli to YdgR overexpression depends on whether the protein has an intact function.

Membrane transport proteins are essential for the transport of a wide variety of molecules across the cell membrane to maintain cellular homeostasis. Generally, these transport proteins can be overexpressed in a suitable host (bacteria, yeast, or mammalian cells), and it is well documented that overexpression of membrane proteins alters the global metabolomic and proteomic profiles of the host cells. In the present study, we investigated the physiological consequences of overexpression of a membrane transport protein YdgR that belongs to the POT/PTR family from E.

The Cyanobacterial "Nutraceutical" Phycocyanobilin Inhibits Cysteine Protease Legumain.

The blue biliprotein phycocyanin, produced by photo-autotrophic cyanobacteria including spirulina (Arthrospira) and marketed as a natural food supplement or "nutraceutical," is reported to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anticancer activity. These diverse biological activities have been specifically attributed to the phycocyanin chromophore, phycocyanobilin (PCB). However, the mechanism of action of PCB and the molecular targets responsible for the beneficial properties of PCB are not well understood.

Strong and Bitter Vegetables from Traditional Cultivars and Cropping Methods Improve the Health Status of Type 2 Diabetics: A Randomized Control Trial.

Vegetables rich in bitter-tasting phytochemicals may exert enhanced beneficial effects against key factors associated with type two diabetes (T2D). This study investigates whether selected cultivars of bitter and strong-tasting (BST) and root vegetables exert greater health benefits on T2D patients compared to equivalent modern mild and sweet tasting (MST) vegetables. A 12-week randomized, controlled, parallel intervention study involved 92 T2D patients, who were allocated three different diets: (1) 500 g daily of bitter and strong-tasting (BST) vegetables; (2) 500 g daily of mild and sweet-tasting (MST) vegetables; (3) 120 g daily MST normal diet (control).

Falcarindiol Purified From Carrots Leads to Elevated Levels of Lipid Droplets and Upregulation of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ Gene Expression in Cellular Models.

Falcarindiol (FaDOH) is a cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory polyacetylenic oxylipin found in food plants of the carrot family (Apiaceae). FaDOH has been shown to activate PPARγ and to increase the expression of the cholesterol transporter ABCA1 in cells, both of which play an important role in lipid metabolism. Thus, a common mechanism of action of the anticancer and antidiabetic properties of FaDOH may be due to a possible effect on lipid metabolism.

Bioactive C and C Acetylenic Oxylipins from Terrestrial Plants as Potential Lead Compounds for Anticancer Drug Development.

Bioactive C and C acetylenic oxylipins have shown to contribute to the cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and potential anticancer properties of terrestrial plants. These acetylenic oxylipins are widely distributed in plants belonging to the families Apiaceae, Araliaceae, and Asteraceae, and have shown to induce cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis of cancer cells in vitro and to exert a chemopreventive effect on cancer development in vivo. The triple bond functionality of these oxylipins transform them into highly alkylating compounds being reactive to proteins and other biomolecules.

Carrot Intake and Risk of Colorectal Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study of 57,053 Danes.

Carrots are consumed worldwide. Several meta-analysis studies on carrot consumption have indicated that carrots play a central role as a protecting vegetable against development of different types of cancers. A cancer-preventive role of carrots is plausible because they are the main dietary source of the bioactive polyacetylenic oxylipins falcarinol (FaOH) and falcarindiol (FaDOH), which have shown anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory activity in numerous in vitro studies.

Dietary Polyacetylenic Oxylipins Falcarinol and Falcarindiol Prevent Inflammation and Colorectal Neoplastic Transformation: A Mechanistic and Dose-Response Study in A Rat Model.

Falcarinol (FaOH) and falcarindiol (FaDOH) are cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory polyacetylenic oxylipins, which are commonly found in the carrot family (Apiaceae). FaOH and FaDOH have previously demonstrated a chemopreventive effect on precursor lesions of colorectal cancer (CRC) in azoxymethane (AOM)-induced rats. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate possible mechanisms of action for the preventive effect of FaOH and FaDOH on colorectal precancerous lesions and to determine how this effect was dependent on dose.

Stability of lysozyme incorporated into electrospun fibrous mats for wound healing.

In this study, we investigated the feasibility of incorporating protein drugs into electrospun fibrous mats (EFMs) for wound healing using lysozyme as a model drug. Lysozyme nanoparticles (Lyso- NPs) were first obtained by electrospray. Lysozyme solutions were prepared with a binary solvent mixture of ethanol (EtOH)-water (HO) at varied volume ratios.

Harvest Strategies for Optimization of the Content of Bioactive Alkamides and Caffeic Acid Derivatives in Aerial Parts and in Roots of Echinacea purpurea.

Aerial parts and roots of Echinacea purpurea were harvested consecutively in order to find the best strategy for harvest of both types of plant material for an optimal content of bioactive alkamides and caffeic acid derivatives. Four caffeic acid derivatives and 15 alkamides were identified and quantified. The aerial parts were harvested in bud, bloom, and wilting stage and the roots were harvested 1 week, 1 month, and 3 months after each harvest of aerial parts.

Effect of the dietary polyacetylenes falcarinol and falcarindiol on the gut microbiota composition in a rat model of colorectal cancer.

Objectives: (3R)-Falcarinol (FaOH) and (3R,8S)-falcarindiol (FaDOH) have previously been shown to reduce the number of neoplastic lesions and the growth rate of polyps in the colon of azoxymethane (AOM) treated rats. Based on previous investigations, it appears that different mechanisms of actions are involved in the antineoplastic effect of FaOH and FaDOH. One mechanism of action may be related to the antibacterial effect of FaOH and FaDOH and thus their effect on the gut microbiota.

Parthenolide in Danish biodynamic and organic milk: A new source of exposure to an allergenic sesquiterpene lactone.

Background: The sunflower family of plants (Compositae = Asteraceae) is currently the most allergenic plant family worldwide, according to the number of sensitizing species. Secondary plant metabolites, including the allergenic sesquiterpene lactones present in Compositae plants, may occur in food items either through their presence in, or through contamination of, plant-based raw materials, or through their occurrence in products of non-plant origin.

Objective: To analyse biodynamic, organic and conventional milk for the presence of the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide.

Ciprofloxacin-loaded sodium alginate/poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) electrospun fibrous mats for wound healing.

Wound dressings should ideally be able to maintain high humidity, remove excess wound exudate, permit thermal insulation, provide certain mechanical strength, and in some cases deliver antibiotics to prevent infections. Until now, none of the existing wound dressing products can meet all these requirements. To design a wound dressing with as many of the aforementioned features as possible, in this study, we attempted to prepare ciprofloxacin (CIP), an antibiotic, loaded electrospun hydrophobic poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) fibrous mats modified with hydrophilic sodium alginate (ALG) microparticles.

Fast cleavage of phycocyanobilin from phycocyanin for use in food colouring.

Phycocyanins from cyanobacteria are possible sources for new natural blue colourants. Their chromophore, phycocyanobilin (PCB), was cleaved from the apoprotein by solvolysis in alcohols and alcoholic aqueous solutions. In all cases two PCB isomers were obtained, while different solvent adducts were formed upon the use of different reagents.

Combined bioavailable isoflavones and probiotics improve bone status and estrogen metabolism in postmenopausal osteopenic women: a randomized controlled trial.

Female age-related estrogen deficiency increases the risk of osteoporosis, which can be effectively treated with the use of hormone replacement therapy. However, hormone replacement therapy is demonstrated to increase cancer risk. Bioavailable isoflavones with selective estrogen receptor affinity show potential to prevent and treat osteoporosis while minimizing or eliminating carcinogenic side effects.

Dietary polyacetylenes, falcarinol and falcarindiol, isolated from carrots prevents the formation of neoplastic lesions in the colon of azoxymethane-induced rats.

Falcarinol (FaOH) and falcarindiol (FaDOH) are found in many food plants of the Apiaceae family. Carrots are a major dietary source of these polyacetylenes. Feeding azoxymethane (AOM)-induced rats with carrots and purified FaOH have previously been shown to inhibit neoplastic transformations in the colon.

Allergenic sesquiterpene lactones from cushion bush (Leucophyta brownii Cass.): new and old sensitizers in a shrub-turned-a-pot plant.

Background: The Australian cushion bush (Leucophyta brownii) of the Compositae family of plants has become a popular pot and container plant. The plant produces the sesquiterpene lactone allergen calocephalin.

Objectives: To assess the sensitizing potential of sesquiterpene lactones from cushion bush.

Electrospinnability of Poly Lactic-co-glycolic Acid (PLGA): the Role of Solvent Type and Solvent Composition.

Purpose: In this study, the electrospinnability of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) solutions was investigated, with a focus on understanding the influence of molecular weight of PLGA, solvent type and solvent composition on the physical properties of electrospun nanofibers.

Method: Various solvents were tested to dissolve two PLGA grades (50 KDa-RG755, 100 KDa-RG750). The viscoelasticity, surface tension, and evaporation rate of the PLGA solutions were characterized prior to the electrospinning process.