Modulation of Free Amino Acid Profile in Healthy Humans Administered with Mastiha Terpenes. An Open-Label Trial.

Efstathia Papada,Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos,Ilias Smyrnioudis,Charalampia Amerikanou,Ljilja Torović,Andriana Kaliora

doi:10.3390/nu10060715

Efstathia Papada, Nikolaos Kalogeropoulos + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10060715

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Abstract

We aimed to explore whether plasma-free amino acids are modified in response to terpenes administration in healthy humans. In this open-label, single-arm acute trial, seventeen healthy male volunteers were administered with a naturally occurring product of known terpenes—namely mastiha—after overnight fasting. Blood samples were collected at different time points before and after ingestion. We aimed at identifying and quantifying 60 free amino acids in plasma applying Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. A total of 24 free amino acids were quantified. Branched-chain valine significantly decreased 4 h post-ingestion, whereas proline decreased at 6 h and ornithine at 2 h, compared to 0 h. These novel findings demonstrate that free amino acids levels are modulated in response to terpenes intake in healthy subjects.

Highlights

Amino acids (AAs) play key roles in pathways regulating intestinal health, participating in protein synthesis, gene expression, intracellular protein turnover, antioxidant/oxidant status and immunity [1,2]
Increased plasma-free AAs are correlated with insulin resistance in healthy non-obese individuals, independent of dietary protein intake [3]
In healthy obese, hyperaminoacidemia is proposed as a sign of increased insulin resistance, and decreased plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) correlate with reduced insulin resistance after weight loss [4]

Summary

Introduction

Amino acids (AAs) play key roles in pathways regulating intestinal health, participating in protein synthesis, gene expression, intracellular protein turnover, antioxidant/oxidant status and immunity [1,2]. Increased plasma-free AAs are correlated with insulin resistance in healthy non-obese individuals, independent of dietary protein intake [3]. In healthy obese, hyperaminoacidemia is proposed as a sign of increased insulin resistance, and decreased plasma branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) correlate with reduced insulin resistance after weight loss [4]. Terpenes represent a heterogenous group of secondary metabolites of plants. They have been proposed as potential pharmacological therapeutic agents, as previous research has pointed towards their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, analgesic, immune modulating and wound healing properties [8]. A recent study has shown that the rich-in-terpenes methanolic extract of the fruit Sechium edule (cultivated from Mexico to South America and Antilles) inhibits

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