bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Piper betle: a potential natural antioxidant
Authors: Arambewela Lakshmi , Arawwawala Menuka , Rajapaksa Damisha 
Published: August 2006

Summary Piper betle Linn. (Family: Piperaceae) is a common plant cultivated in Asian countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential and possible applications of P. betle leaves grown in Sri Lanka. This was carried out using P. betle cold ethanolic extract (CEE), hot water extract (HWE) and essential oil (EO). The initial free radical scavenging activity of CEE was higher than that of butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT). Further, antioxidant activity of CEE, EO and HWE did not significantly deviate from the initial antioxidant activity up to 12 months. However, at elevated temperature (200 °C) antioxidant activity was significantly reduced (EC50 values of CEE, EO and BHT increased by fourfold and HWE by threefold) compared to their initial values. The reduction of antioxidant activity of CEE was lesser than that of BHT. Peroxide values (PV) were significantly lower in CEE‐incorporated coconut and palm oil samples compared to that of BHT‐treated samples. Moreover, CEE extended the shelf‐life of potato chips and increased the stability of Aloe gel.
The antioxidant capacity of cocoa products: contribution to the Spanish diet
Authors: Tabernero Maria , Serrano Jose , Saura‐Calixto Fulgencio 
Published: August 2006

SummaryChocolate and soluble cocoa powders are dietary sources of antioxidants. The literature reports antioxidant capacity (AC) derived from aqueous‐organic extracts of cocoa polyphenols; however, the residue of these extracts contains appreciable amounts of nonextractable polyphenols (condensed tannins or proanthocyanidins), which may become bioactive antioxidants after colonic fermentation. The objective of this work was to determine the total AC of cocoa products including both extractable and nonextractable polyphenols. Three methods were used: ferric reducing/antioxidant power, 2,2,‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl and 2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) cations’ free‐radical scavenging capacity. With this last method, AC ranged from 42 to 79 and from 22 to 60 μmol Trolox per gram of sample for extractable and nonextractable polyphenols, respectively. Addition of milk reduces the AC of cocoa products by about 30%. On the other hand, it was estimated that cocoa products account for about 10% of the total AC of the Spanish diet.
Total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in selected medicinal plants of Zimbabwe
Authors: Muchuweti Maud , Nyamukonda Lynet , Chagonda Larmet S. , Ndhlala Ashrrell R. , Mupure Chipo , Benhura Mudadi 
Published: August 2006

SummarySeven commonly known medicinal plants from Zimbabwe were analysed for their antioxidant activity as well as their total phenolic content. The plant samples used in this study were Albizia amara, Elionurus muticus, Heteropyxis natalensis, Hoslundia opposita, Lippia javanica, Ocimum urticifolia and Warburgia salutaris. The plant samples were extracted using 70% ethanol. The 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl radical assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts, while the Folin–Ciocalteu method was used to determine the total phenolic content. The antioxidant activities of the plant extracts ranged from 95.84 ± 0.50% for E. muticus to 5.31 ± 4.47% for H. opposita. Total phenolics in the plant extract estimated as tannic acid equivalent (TAE) ranged from 0.098 ± 0.005 mg per 100 g for H. natalensis to 0.024 ± 0.006 TAE for H. opposita. There was a poor correlation (R = 0.522) between total phenolic content and antioxidant activity in the plant samples. The results indicate the presence of phenolic compounds as well as significant antioxidant activity.
Isolation and characterisation of antioxidant components from oregano (Origanum heracleoticum)
Authors: Tsimogiannis Dimitrios , Stavrakaki Maria , Oreopoulou Vassiliki 
Published: August 2006

SummaryIn this study, Origanum heracleoticum was examined as potential source of phenolic antioxidants. The components of the plant were extracted in a Soxhlet apparatus sequentially with solvents of increasing polarity, specifically with petroleum ether (P), diethyl ether (D) and ethanol (E); the ethanol extract was further fractionated to obtain a diethyl ether (ED) and an ethyl acetate (EEAc) fraction. The activity of the extracts to scavenge 2′2′‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl followed the order ED > E> D > EEAc >> P. Moreover, the antioxidant activity in refined cottonseed oil at a concentration of 500 ppm was monitored through peroxide value measurements and revealed that ED resulted in the highest decrease in the rate of peroxide formation followed by D. Specific flavonoids and rosmarinic acid were detected as the main components of D, ED through HPLC–DAD and HPLC–MS/MS analyses.
An update of US food safety, food technology, GM food and water protection and management legislation
Authors: Arvanitoyannis Ioannis S. , Tserkezou Persefoni , Varzakas Theodoros 
Published: August 2006

SummaryUS government was the first to introduce Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point, the system that had a tremendous impact on everybody's life starting from the food and packaging companies up to consumer themselves. The rest of the nations simply followed US approach with a considerable delay both in terms of legislation and implementation. In the case of genetically modified (GM) or genetically engineered foods, the situation was entirely different. United States benefited from the ‘dubious’, and definitely not proved, ‘substantial equivalence’ principle invoked as the most practical approach to assess the safety of GM foods and food ingredients. US legislation appeared to be considerably more lenient than the European Union. The latter required many more analyses and labelling of GM food or food components. In this article, an update is attempted of the entire US legislation falling in fields like food safety, food technology, GM foods and finally legislation referring to specific foods (animal origin – meat, poultry, fish, dairy; and agricultural produces – vegetables, fruits) and water quality by means of fourteen comprehensive tables.
2,2 ‐Diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazil free radical scavenging activity of antioxidant mixtures evaluated by response surface methodology
Authors: Castro Inar. A. , Rogero Marcelo M. , Junqueira Roberto M. , Carrapeiro Mariana M. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryThe objective of this study was to apply the statistical technique known as response surface methodology (RSM) to model the free radical scavenging activity of mixtures of three antioxidant compounds, using 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•). α‐Tocopherol showed the highest antioxidant power (EC50) while ascorbic acid showed maximum antiradical efficiency. Reduced glutathione was not effective using the DPPH• system. The binary and ternary mixture effects were evaluated considering percentage reduction in [DPPH•] and the time needed to reach this reduction caused by addition of each mixture at 1.0 mm concentration. Although the surface curves have shown significant interactions, no combination between the compounds resulted in a greater percentage reduction in [DPPH•]/min than that shown by ascorbic acid alone. Both polynomial regressions were statistically significant with elevated adjusted R2. This study showed that RSM can be applied to predict the free radical scavenging activity of mixtures of antioxidants using the stable DPPH• as a free radical.
Antioxidant capacity of fresh, sun‐ and sulphited‐dried Malatya apricot (Prunus armeniaca) assayed by CUPRAC, ABTS/TEAC and folin methods
Authors: Güçlü Kubilay , Altun Mehmet , Özyürek Mustafa , Karademir Saliha E. , Apak Resat 
Published: August 2006

SummaryApricots as five varieties of Malatya region have been assayed as fresh, sun‐ and sulphited‐dried samples, using the antioxidant capacity measurement methods Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) and 2,2′‐azinobis (3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) (ABTS), and total polyphenol measurement method Folin. The novel reagent for the CUPRAC total antioxidant capacity assay, bis(neocuproine)copper(II) chloride, was easily accessible, stable, selective and responding to all antioxidants. Sulphite (normally contributing to the colour formed in the CUPRAC assay) was removed prior to assay on a strongly basic anion exchanger at pH 3 in the form of HSO. The CUPRAC findings correlated well with the results of ABTS/TEAC and Folin assays (r = 0.93), all being electron‐transfer‐based antioxidant capacity assays. The calibration lines of pure flavonoids individually and in standard‐added apricot extracts were parallel, indicating the additivity of absorbances in CUPRAC. This work reports for the first time the use of a novel spectrophotometric method (CUPRAC) for the assay of both total antioxidant capacity and sulphite levels of diverse apricot samples.
Effect of drying in antioxidant activity and changes of ascorbic acid and colour by different drying and storage in Korean red pepper (Capsicum annuum, L.)
Authors: Kim Suna , Lee Ki Won , Park Jaebok , Lee Hyong J. , Hwang In K. 
Published: August 2006

SummaryThis study was conducted to investigate the effect of drying in antioxidant activity and to compare the changes of ascorbic acid and colour by drying and storage in Korean red pepper. The antioxidant activity of red pepper dried by modified method (MM, dried at 70 °C/6 h in cut pods) was about threefold higher than those dried by conventional method (CM, dried at 80 °C/5 h followed by 60 °C/18 h in whole pods) in the ([2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid)] (ABTS) and (2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH) radical‐scavenging assays, respectively. The ascorbic acid contents in MM and CM drying were 12.41 ± 2.15 mg g−1and 3.05 ± 0.39 mg g−1, and were not changed for 3 months at 0 °C in red pepper dried by MM. The ASTA colour values of red pepper dried by MM and CM were 114.0 and 107.4, respectively. For 6‐ month storage, 72–85% of the colour was retained regardless of drying and storage conditions.
Ammonia permeability of the aquaglyceroporins from Plasmodium falciparum, Toxoplasma gondii and Trypansoma brucei
Authors: Zeuthen Thomas , Wu Binghua , Pavlovic‐Djuranovic Slavica , Holm Lars M. , Uzcategui Nestor L. , Duszenko Michael , Kun Jürgen F. J. , Schultz Joachim E. , Beitz Eric 
Published: August 2006

Summary Plasmodium falciparum uses amino acids from haemoglobin degradation mainly for protein biosynthesis. Glutamine, however, is mostly oxidized to 2‐oxoglutarate to restore NAD(P)H + H+. In this process two molecules of ammonia are released. We determined an ammonia production of 9 mmol h−1 per litre of infected red blood cells in the early trophozoite stage. External application of ammonia yielded a cytotoxic IC50 concentration of 2.8 mM. As plasmodia cannot metabolize ammonia it must be exported. Yet, no biochemical or genomic evidences exist that plasmodia possess classical ammonium transporters. We expressed the P. falciparum aquaglyceroporin (PfAQP) in Xenopus laevis oocytes and examined whether it may serve as an exit pathway for ammonia. We show that injected oocytes: (i) acidify the medium due to ammonia uptake, (ii) take up [14C]methylamine and [14C]formamide, (iii) swell in solution with formamide and acetamide and (iv) display an ammonia‐induced NH4+‐dependent clamp current. Further, a yeast strain lacking the endogenous aquaglyceroporin (Fps1) is rescued by expression of PfAQP which provides for the efflux of toxic methylamine. Ammonia permeability was similarly established for the aquaglyceroporins from Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma brucei. Apparently, these aquaglyceroporins are important for the release of ammonia derived from amino acid breakdown.
Parallel analysis of transcript levels and physiological key parameters allows the identification of stress phase gene markers in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under copper excess
Authors: LUIS PATRICIA , BEHNKE KATJA , TOEPEL JÖRG , WILHELM CHRISTIAN 
Published: August 2006

ABSTRACTExcessive copper concentrations, known to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, have been tested with respect to their effects on transcript abundance and related proteins involved in oxidative stress responses. The results show that the stromal photosynthetic functions were more ROS sensitive than the membrane‐located reactions. The rbcL over‐expression compensated for the damage only at 10 µm Cu, whereas the genetic stimulation of α‐tocopherol biosynthesis led to the protection of membrane reactions up to 50–100 µm Cu. For this reason, the gradual growth drop of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cultures observed under increasing Cu2+ concentrations matched better with the loss of photosynthetic capacity than with those of photosynthetic quantum yields. According to Larcher’s stress concept, the results allow the identification of gene markers for the alarm (rbcL), the hardening (FeSOD, VTE3) and the exhaustion [cyclin‐dependent protein kinase (cdk), psbA] phases. These genes can be used to rapidly evaluate the state of oxidative stress in algae and putatively in other plant cells.
Comparison of basophil activation tests using CD63 or CD203c expression in patients with insect venom allergy
Authors: Eberlein‐König B. , Varga R. , Mempel M. , Darsow U. , Behrendt H. , Ring J. 
Published: August 2006

Background:  Flow cytometric basophil activation tests have been developed as cellular tests for in vitro diagnosis of IgE‐mediated reactions. Different activation markers (CD63 or CD203c) with distinct ways of regulation have been used after stimulation with various allergens.Objective:  It was the aim of the present study to compare basophil activation tests by measuring both CD63 and CD203c upregulation in patients with insect venom allergy.Materials and methods:  43 patients with a history of insect venom anaphylaxis were examined. A careful allergy history was taken, and skin tests and determination of specific IgE‐antibodies were performed. Basophil activation tests (BAT) using CD63 or CD203c expression were done after stimulation with different concentrations of bee and wasp venom extracts. 25 healthy subjects with negative history of insect venom allergy were studied as controls.Results:  The CD203c protocol showed a slightly higher sensitivity than the CD63 protocol (97% vs. 89%) with regard to patients’ history. The magnitude of basophil response was higher with CD203c in comparison to CD63 for both insect venoms. Specificity was 100% for the CD63 protocol and 89% for the CD203c protocol with regard to controls with negative history and negative RAST.Conclusion:  These results support the reliability of basophil activation tests using either CD63 or CD203c as cellular tests in the in vitro diagnosis of patients with bee or wasp venom allergy with a slightly higher sensitivity for the CD203c protocol.
Isolation of transcriptionally active umbilical cord blood‐derived basophils expressing FcɛRI, HLA‐DR and CD203c
Authors: Reimer J. M. , Magnusson S. , Juremalm M. , Nilsson G. , Hellman L. , Wernersson S. 
Published: August 2006

Background:  Basophils are inflammatory cells associated with allergy and parasite infections. Investigation of their true biological function has long been hampered by the difficulty in obtaining sufficient amounts of pure basophils and by the lack of phenotypic markers. Moreover, it has been very difficult to clone and identify basophil‐specific granule proteins, partially because of an almost complete lack of mRNA in mature circulating basophils.Methods:  To obtain transcriptionally active immature basophils, umbilical cord blood cells were cultured in the presence of interleukin (IL)‐3. The cells were analysed by flow cytometry and by histological staining.Results:  The continuous presence of IL‐3 in cord blood cultures resulted in the expansion of basophil precursors co‐expressing FcɛRI and the recently described mast cell/basophil marker, 97A6 (CD203c). Several nonbasophil markers (i.e. CD3, CD14, CD15, CD16, CD19 and CD21) were absent on the cultured basophils. However, we show that in early cultures, almost 60% of the CD203c+ cells co‐express human leukocyte antigen (HLA)‐DR, a marker that is absent on mature circulating basophils. The presence of HLA‐DR on basophil precursors may explain the low recovery (24 ± 5.2%) obtained after isolation of cultured basophils, when using a conventional basophil isolation kit that removes HLA‐DR+ cells. A novel purification method was developed, including a two‐step cocktail of antibodies against selected markers, which resulted in both high purity (95 ± 0.5%) and recovery (59 ± 1.5%) of cultured basophils.Conclusions:  We here establish cord blood cultures as a source from which transcriptionally active basophil precursors can be isolated in reasonable quantities for thorough biochemical characterization.
Increased expression of aquaporin 3 in atopic eczema
Authors: Olsson M. , Broberg A. , Jernås M. , Carlsson L. , Rudemo M. , Suurküla M. , Svensson P.‐A. , Benson M. 
Published: August 2006

Background:  Dry skin in atopic eczema depends on increased water loss. The mechanisms behind this are poorly understood. The aim of this work was to identify genes that may contribute to water loss in eczema.Methods:  Affymetrix DNA microarrays U133A were used to analyse gene expression in skin biopsies from 10 patients with atopic eczema and 10 healthy controls.Results:  DNA microarray analysis showed up‐regulation of 262 genes and down‐regulation of 129 genes in atopic eczema. The known functions of these genes were analysed using Gene Ontology to identify genes that could contribute to increased water loss. This led to identification of aquaporin 3 (AQP3), which has a key role in hydrating healthy epidermis. Increased expression of AQP3 was found in eczema compared with healthy skin. This was confirmed with real‐time polymerase chain reaction (P < 0.001). In healthy skin, epidermal AQP3 immunoreactivity was weak and mainly found in the stratum basale. A gradient was formed with decreasing AQP3 staining in the lower layers of the stratum spinosum. By contrast, in acute and chronic atopic eczema strong AQP3 staining was found in both the stratum basale and the stratum spinosum.Conclusions:  Aquaporin 3 is the predominant aquaporin in human skin. Increased expression and altered cellular distribution of AQP3 is found in eczema and this may contribute to water loss.
The type of sensitizing allergen can affect the evolution of respiratory allergy
Authors: Marogna M. , Massolo A. , Berra D. , Zanon P. , Chiodini E. , Canonica G. W. , Passalacqua G. 
Published: August 2006

Background:  Numerous factors affect the evolution of respiratory allergy, in children, but little is known in adults. We assessed in a prospective study the influence of the type of allergen on the progression of disease.Methods:  Outpatients, with respiratory allergy underwent skin tests and pulmonary function/methacholine challenge at baseline and after 3 years. Patients were subdivided in pure rhinitis or rhinitis + bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR). In polysensitized subjects a single relevant allergen (mites, grasses, birch, Parietaria) was identified based on symptom distribution and when needed on nasal challenge.Results:  6750 patients (age range 12–46) were studied. Of them, 17.8% were monosensitized but this percentage decreased to 10.4% after 3 years (P < 0.05). Subjects with pure rhinitis were 81% at the beginning and 48% at the end. After 3 years, the patients with bronchial responsiveness increased from 18% to 58% for mites, 22% to 49% for birch, 18% to 44% for grasses, 17% to 32% for Parietaria, with a significant difference among allergens (P < 0.05). Almost the same was seen in monosensitized subjects, being mites most likely to cause a worsening. All patients with BHR at baseline received immunotherapy. In these patients the onset of new sensitizations was significantly lower than in the group (pure rhinitis) receiving drugs only and lower airways symptoms disappeared more frequently.Conclusion:  The different type of allergen influences the course of the disease, as well as the use of immunotherapy.
Effects of intranasal corticosteroid on nasal adenosine monophosphate challenge in persistent allergic rhinitis*
Authors: Barnes M. L. , Biallosterski B. T. , Fujihara S. , Gray R. D. , Fardon T. C. , Lipworth B. J. 
Published: August 2006

Background:  Response to a single dose nasal adenosine monophosphate challenge has been used as a surrogate inflammatory marker for allergic rhinitis. Attenuation of response following intranasal corticosteroid would further validate the challenge.Objective:  To assess the effect of 4 weeks of 200 mcg once daily mometasone furoate nasal spray on a simplified (single 160 mg dose) nasal adenosine monophosphate challenge.Methods:  Twenty participants with persistent allergic rhinitis completed a double blind placebo‐controlled crossover study. Outcome measures were the peak nasal inspiratory flow and total nasal symptoms score responses to nasal adenosine monophosphate challenge, as well as domiciliary peak nasal inspiratory flow and patient symptom diary cards.Results:  Mometasone significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated response time profiles vs. placebo for peak nasal inspiratory flow but not total nasal symptom scores. For the maximum percentage fall this amounted to a mean difference of 9.6% (95% confidence interval 1.3–17.9%). The coefficient of variation for repeatability was 48.7%. Improvements were seen in prechallenge and domiciliary measurements of peak nasal inspiratory flow (both P < 0.05) and total nasal symptom scores (both P < 0.01).Conclusions:  Mometasone attenuates the peak nasal inspiratory flow response to a single 160 mg nasal adenosine monophosphate challenge. Such challenges have been shown to be sensitive to the effects of antihistamines, antileukotrienes and now nasal steroids. This further supports their application as surrogate inflammatory markers for therapeutic trials in allergic rhinitis, potentially as 20 min challenges which can be conducted in a non‐hospital setting.