Abstract
The structures of bioactive polar lipids (PLs) of Irish ale with potent antithrombotic and cardioprotective properties were elucidated. Ale PL was fractionated by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) into subclasses, and their antithrombotic effect was assessed against human platelet aggregation induced by the pro-inflammatory mediator, platelet-activating factor (PAF). The fatty acid content and the overall structures of ale PL were elucidated by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Phosphatidylcholines (PC) and molecules of the sphingomyelin (SM) family exhibited the strongest anti-PAF effects, followed by phosphatidylethanolamines (PE). PC contained higher amounts of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) and thus the lowest n-6/n-3 ratio. Bioactive diacyl and alkyl-acyl PC and PE molecules bearing n-3 PUFA at their sn-2 position, especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and α-linolenic acid (ALA) but mostly oleic acid (OA), were identified in both PC and PE subclasses. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) was present only in bioactive PC molecules and not in PE, explaining the lower anti-PAF effects of PE. Bioactive sphingolipid and glycolipid molecules with reported anti-inflammatory and anti-tumour properties, such as specific ceramides and glucosylcerebrosides with sphingosine, phytosphingosine and dihydrosphingosine bases but also specific monogalactodiglycerides and SM species bearing ALA at their sn-2 position, were identified in the SM subclass, providing a rational for its strong bioactivities against the PAF pathway. Further studies are required on the health benefits of bioactive PL from beer and brewery by-products.
Highlights
Human platelets are critically involved in normal haemostasis, while their abnormal activation is implicated in thrombosis and/or pathological bleeding [1,2,3]
More studies are required for the evaluation of the bioactivities of several glycolipid molecules in beers and brewery by-products against the platelet-activating factor (PAF) pathway, inflammation, thrombosis and related chronic disorders. This is the first study to elucidate the structures of bioactive polar lipids (PLs) molecules of Irish ale that have potent anti-inflammatory and antithrombotic properties against the PAF pathway
Several bioactive diacyl and alkyl-acyl PC molecules containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), mostly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) followed by ALA and Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) such as oleic acid (OA) were identified in the PL of Irish ale
Summary
Human platelets are critically involved in normal haemostasis, while their abnormal activation is implicated in thrombosis and/or pathological bleeding [1,2,3] Apart from their role in haemostasis, activated platelets acting together with other cells, including white blood cells, endothelial cells and/or smooth muscle cells, play a crucial part in inflammation and in the onset and progression of related chronic pathologies, which include cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and cancer [1,2,3]. Specific beverages produced from fermentation, including alcoholic ones, contain bioactive ingredients, such as bioactive polar lipids (PLs) with antithrombotic properties against platelet aggregation [10,11,12,13,14] Amongst such fermented products/beverages containing bioactive PL with highly potent antithrombotic properties, beer is one of these [13,14]. We have previously described that Irish beer extracts rich in bioactive PL have been found to inhibit platelet aggregation induced by the inflammatory and thrombotic mediators, namely platelet-activating factor (PAF) and thrombin [13,14]
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