PMID: 

Food Funct. 2018 Dec 13 ;9(12):6508-6516. PMID: 30468238

Abstract Title: 

Could resistant starch supplementation improve inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers and uremic toxins levels in hemodialysis patients? A pilot randomized controlled trial.

Abstract: 

An imbalance of gut microbiota is considered a new cardiovascular risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, since it is directly associated with increased uremic toxin production, inflammation and oxidative stress. Strategies such as prebiotic supplementation have been suggested to mitigate these complications. We hypothesized that prebiotic-resistant starch could ameliorate uremic toxins levels, oxidative stress, and inflammatory states in hemodialysis (HD) patients. This pilot study evaluated 31 HD patients assigned to either resistant starch (16 g of resistant starch Hi-Maize® 260) or placebo (manioc flour) supplementation, which they received for 4 weeks on alternate days through cookies on dialysis days and powder in a sachet on non-dialysis days. Levels of interleukin (IL)-6, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances plasma (TBARS),protein carbonylation, indoxyl sulfate (IS) and p-cresyl sulfate were measured. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, as well as, food intake were also evaluated. As expected, resistant starch group increased fiber intake (p>0.01), in addition the prebiotic supplementation reduced IL-6 (p = 0.01), TBARS (p>0.01), and IS (p>0.01) plasma levels. No significant differences were evident in the placebo group. Prebiotic-resistant starch supplementation seems to be a promising nutritional strategy to improve inflammation, oxidative stress and to reduce IS plasma levels in CKD patients on HD.

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PMID: 

Eur J Pharmacol. 2017 Jul 5 ;806:75-82. Epub 2017 Apr 14. PMID: 28414056

Abstract Title: 

Protective effects of glycyrrhizic acid against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice.

Abstract: 

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has become a predictive factor of death from many diseases. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the protective effect of glycyrrhizic acid (GA), a natural triterpene glycoside, on NAFLD induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) in mice, and further to elucidate the mechanisms underlying GA protection. GA treatment significantly reduced the relative liver weight, serum ALT, AST activities, levels of serum lipid, blood glucose and insulin. GA suppressed lipid accumulation in liver. Further mechanism investigation indicated that GA reduced hepatic lipogenesis via downregulating SREBP-1c, FAS and SCD1 expression, increased fatty acidsβ-oxidation via an increase in PPARα, CPT1α and ACADS, and promoted triglyceride metabolism through inducing LPL activity. Furthermore, GA reduced gluconeogenesis through repressing PEPCK and G6Pase, and increased glycogen synthesis through an induction in gene expression of PDase and GSK3β. Inaddition, GA increased insulin sensitivity through upregulating phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2. In conclusion, GA produces protective effect against NAFLD, due to regulation of genes involved in lipid, glucose homeostasis and insulin sensitivity.

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2017 Oct 12 ;9(10). Epub 2017 Oct 12. PMID: 29023387

Abstract Title: 

Combination ofβ-glucan and Morus alba L. Leaf Extract Promotes Metabolic Benefits in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

Abstract: 

β-glucan (BG) and mulberry have received increasing attention for their benefits as natural sources of metabolic health. In the current study, we investigated the synergetic beneficial effects of BG and mulberry leaf extract (MLE) in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Male C57BL6 mice were fed a HFD for twelve weeks to induce significant obesity and insulin resistance. BG and MLE were administrated orally throughout the feeding period. The administration of BG resulted in a significant reduction in body weight gain, perirenal fat mass, fasting insulin, serum lipids, serum inflammation markers, and fatty liver, showing systemic health improvement. Likewise, the administration of MLE showed benefits similar to BG, with the exception of body weight gain. In addition to the systemic benefits, the combination of BG and MLE resulted in a synergetic improvement in insulin sensitivity. Meanwhile,only the combination of BG and MLE significantly enhanced liver GST (Glutathione S-Transferase) activity and CuZn-SOD (Superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn)) activity, resulting in a significant reduction in GSH/GSSG (Glutathione disulfide) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in the liver. These resultsfurther confirm the beneficial effects of BG and MLE on metabolic disorders and show that the combination of BG and MLE has synergetic effects.

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PMID: 

Microb Pathog. 2020 Mar ;140:103934. Epub 2019 Dec 17. PMID: 31862394

Abstract Title: 

Quercetin, a pneumolysin inhibitor, protects mice against Streptococcus pneumoniae infection.

Abstract: 

Pneumolysin (PLY), a pore-forming cytotoxin and a major virulence determinant, is a member of the cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC) family and essential for promoting Streptococcus pneumoniae (S.pneumoniae) infection. Due to the action characteristics of hemolysin itself, the pneumolysin released after killing bacteria with conventional antibiotics still has the ability to damage host cells; therefore, drug treatments directly inhibiting hemolysin activity are the most effective. Hemolysis assays were used to confirm that quercetin can inhibit the activity of PLY, protecting cells in vitro, and an oligomerization assay was used to determine the mechanism of quercetin to suppress PLY activity. Live/Dead testing, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release analysis and a murine model of endonasal pulmonary infection were used to explore the capability of quercetin to protect cells and mice from S. pneumoniae-mediated damage in vivo and in vitro. The results indicated that quercetin significantly reduced PLY-induced hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity via repressing the formation of oligomers. In addition, treatment with quercetin can reduce PLY-mediated cell injury, improve the survival rate of mice infected with a lethal dose of S. pneumoniae, alleviate the pathological damage of lung tissue and inhibit the release of cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α) in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. Considering the importance of these events in antimicrobial resistant S. pneumoniae pathogenesis, our results indicated that quercetin may be a novel potential drug candidate for the treatment of clinical pneumococcal infections.

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PMID: 

Food Funct. 2019 Aug 1 ;10(8):5091-5101. Epub 2019 Jul 31. PMID: 31363728

Abstract Title: 

Starch andβ-glucan in a whole-grain-like structural form improve hepatic insulin sensitivity in diet-induced obese mice.

Abstract: 

Whole-grain food (WGF) is well known for its anti-diabetic effect, and alleviation of obesity-induced insulin resistance (IR) might be one of the underlying mechanisms. In the current study, the effects of starch, as the main component in WGF, andβ-glucan in a whole-grain-like structural form (WGLSF) on hepatic IR and glucose homeostasis were investigated using high-fat (HF)-induced obese C57BL/6J mice. After treatment for 8 weeks, the body weight gain and IR of the mice were significantly reduced. The hepatic Akt, the key component in insulin signaling, was activated, and the hepatic expression and protein levels of glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-P) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) were reduced. Moreover, WGLSF effectively reduced the hepatic levels of free fatty acids and the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB. Additionally, the reduced level of the phosphorylated c-Jun-N-terminal kinases (JNK) indicated that WGLSF treatment might inactivate the JNK signaling, leading to improved hepatic IR. These results demonstrated that starch and β-glucan in a whole grain-like structural form have the potential as a dietary strategy to combat obesity-induced hepatic IR for improved health.

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n/a

PMID: 

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2010 Dec ;64(12):1472-80. Epub 2010 Oct 6. PMID: 20924392

Abstract Title: 

β-glucan from barley and its lipid-lowering capacity: a meta-analysis of randomized, controlled trials.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: To more precisely quantify the effect of barleyβ-glucan on blood lipid concentrations in humans and to examine the factors that could affect its efficacy.
SUBJECTS/METHODS: Eleven eligible randomized clinical trials published from 1989 to 2008 were identified from nine databases. Weighted mean effect sizes were calculated for net differences in lipid profile using a random effect model (RevMan 4.2).
RESULTS: Overall, barley andβ-glucan isolated from barley lowered total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol concentrations by 0.30 mmol/l (95% confidence interval (CI): -0.39 to -0.21, P<0.00001) and 0.27 mmol/l (95% CI: -0.34 to -0.20, P<0.00001), respectively, compared with control. The pattern of cholesterol-lowering action of barley in this analysis could not be viewed as a dose-dependent response. There were no significant subgroup differences by type of intervention and food matrix.
CONCLUSIONS: Increased consumption of barely products should be considered as a dietary approach to reduce LDL cholesterol concentrations.

PMID: 

Nutr Rev. 2011 Jun ;69(6):299-309. PMID: 21631511

Abstract Title: 

Cholesterol-lowering effects of oatβ-glucan.

Abstract: 

Elevated total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels are considered major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Oatβ-glucan, a soluble dietary fiber that is found in the endosperm cell walls of oats, has generated considerable interest due to its cholesterol-lowering properties. The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a health claim for β-glucan soluble fiber from oats for reducing plasmacholesterol levels and risk of heart disease in 1997. Similarly, in 2004 the United Kingdom Joint Health Claims Initiative (JHCI) allowed a cholesterol-lowering health claim for oat β-glucan. The present review aims to investigate if results from more recent studies are consistent with the original conclusions reached by the FDA and JHCI. Results of this analysis show that studies conducted during the past 13 years support the suggestion that intake of oat β-glucan at daily doses of at least 3 g may reduce plasma total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels by 5-10% in normocholesterolemic or hypercholesterolemic subjects. Studies described herein have shown that, on average, oat consumption is associated with 5% and 7% reductions in total and LDL cholesterol levels, respectively. Significant scientific agreement continues to support a relationship between oat β-glucanand blood cholesterol levels, with newer data being consistent with earlier conclusions made by the FDA and JHCI.

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PMID: 

Eur J Pharmacol. 2020 Feb 5 ;868:172885. Epub 2019 Dec 20. PMID: 31870832

Abstract Title: 

Quercetin protects the vascular endothelium against iron overload damages via ROS/ADMA/DDAHⅡ/eNOS/NO pathway.

Abstract: 

The aberrant accumulation of iron causes vascular endothelium damage, which is thought to be associated with excess reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Quercetin (Que), as a flavonoid, has a certain ability to scavenge free radicals. Therefore, we aimed to explore the protective mechanism of Que on iron overload induced HUVECs injury focused on ROS/ADMA/DDAHⅡ/eNOS/NO pathway. In this study, HUVECs was treated with 50 μM iron dextran and 20 μM Que for 48 h. We found that Que attenuated the damages induced by iron, as evidenced by decreased ROS generation, increased DDAHⅡexpression and activity, reduced ADMA level, increased NO content and p-eNOS/eNOS ratio, and eventually caused a decrease in apoptosis. After addition of pAD/DDAHⅡ-shRNA, the effects of Que mentioned above were reversed. Meanwhile, iron overload induced mitochondrial oxidative stress, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and increased mitochondrial permeability transition pores (mPTP) opening, which were also partially alleviated by Que. In addition, L-arginine (L-Arg), a ADMA competition substrate, ciclosporin A (CsA), a mPTP blocking agent, and edaravone (Eda), a free radical scavenger, were used as positive control reagents. The effects of Que were similar to that of L-Arg, CsA and Eda treatment. These results illustrated that Que could attenuate iron overload induced HUVECs mitochondrial dysfunction via ROS/ADMA/DDAHⅡ/eNOS/NO pathway.

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PMID: 

J Food Biochem. 2020 Feb ;44(2):e13127. Epub 2019 Dec 26. PMID: 31876980

Abstract Title: 

Quercetin modulates hyperglycemia by improving the pancreatic antioxidant status and enzymes activities linked with glucose metabolism in type 2 diabetes model of rats: In silico studies of molecular interaction of quercetin with hexokinase and catalase.

Abstract: 

Quercetin was assessed for its antihyperglycemic effect in fructose-streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats. The oral administration of quercetin at the dosage of 25 and 50 mg/kg for 28 days remarkably reduced the level of blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (Hb), and hepatic glycogen but enhanced plasma Hb concentration. The altered activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and hexokinase in diabetic rats were significantly improved upon quercetin treatment. Furthermore, the antioxidant activity of pancreatic superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), and reduced glutathione was effectively increased while the value for thiobarbituric acid reactive species was decreased. A significant reduction of glycemia was observed in the glucose tolerance test, 120 min after the glucose pulse. Also, the damage caused by fructose-STZ in the liver and pancreas of diabetic animals were restored to near normal. Molecular docking of quercetin showed a high affinity for hexokinase and CAT with a binding energy of -7.82 and -9.83 kcal/mol, respectively, more elevated than the standard drugs. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Functional foods and nutraceuticals have increasingly interested the consumers in terms of health benefits and have started focussing on the prevention or cure of disease by the foods and their health-enhancing phytochemicals. Quercetin is one of the most potent naturally occurring antioxidants within the flavonoid subclasses, mostly distributed as a secondary metabolite in fruits, vegetables, and black tea. Based on the results exhibited in the present study, we proposed that the consumption of foods rich in quercetin could be a cheap and affordable nutraceutical that can be developed for the treatment of T2DM and its complications. Further studies on the safety aspects of quercetin in long-term usage are strongly recommended before implementing for the treatment of human diseases.

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PMID: 

Eur J Clin Nutr. 2013 Feb ;67(2):226-7. Epub 2012 Nov 28. PMID: 23187951

Abstract Title: 

β-glucans reduce LDL cholesterol in patients with myasthenia gravis.

Abstract: 

We aimed at evaluating whetherβ-glucans could improve low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and/or glycemic control in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG), in whom statins usually have muscle-related side effects. Fifty-nine MG patients participated in the study and received a daily dietary supplement of 3 g of β-glucans during 8 weeks. Body mass index (BMI) and blood sample analysis of lipid and glucose status were performed before and after 8 weeks intake of β-glucans. In the 52 patients who completed the study, there was a significant reduction in total cholesterol, LDL, ApoA1 and ApoB (all P

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