Chelating and free radicals scavenging activities of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) enriched by Myrtus communis phenolic compounds (McPCs), α-tocopherol and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were evaluated using chemical assays, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and biological model as 2,2′-azobis (2-aminopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) or Fe+3/Ascorbic acid (Fe+3/AsA) system mediated peroxidation of l-α-phosphatidylcholine aqueous dispersions stabilized by bile salts (BS) under simulated intestinal conditions (pH 7.4). McPC-EEVOO increased significantly the neutralization of DPPH radical and AAPH-derived radicals in ORAC assay more than α-tocopherol and BHT. The phospholipid stability increased by a factor of 33.6%, 34.8%, 19.3% and 10.7% for myrtle microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and conventional extraction (CE) extracts, α-tocopherol and BHT, respectively, as compared to the control (EVOO without enrichment) in Fe+3/AsA system. But a slightly additive effect was observed when AAPH system was used. Our observation showed that McPCs may interact positively with EVOO to inhibit phospholipid peroxidation, and thus, McPC-EEVOO could be a potential functional food.

Introduction La biofortification est une strategie prometteuse pour lutter contre les carences en micronutriments en pays defavorises. La mise au point de telles strategies necessite d’etablir la part des carences provenant d’ingeres trop faibles. Une etude a ete realisee dans ce but aupres d’enfants âges de 36 a 59 mois et leurs meres en milieu rural au Burkina Faso. Methodes Une enquete transversale sur echantillon aleatoire de 480 couples mere-enfant a ete effectuee en 2010. La mesure de la consommation alimentaire a ete faite par rappel des 24-heures avec repetition sur un sous-echantillon. Les ingeres ont ete exprimes par la probabilite d’adequation (PA) aux ingeres moyens recommandes pour chaque micronutriment (fer, zinc, vitamine A). Les biomarqueurs seriques des micronutriments ont ete doses chez 180 meres-enfants (diagnostic des carences par rapport aux seuils internationaux). Les relations entre biomarqueurs et ingeres ont ete etudiees par modeles de regression lineaire multiple. Resultats Les PA moyennes pour le fer, zinc et vitamine A etaient respectivement de 49 %, 87 % et 48 % parmi les femmes et de 61 %, 95 % et 58 % chez les enfants. Les prevalences de faibles ferritine, zinc et retinol seriques etaient respectivement de 4,0 %, 39,4 % et 12,0 % chez les femmes et de 1,5 %, 63,7 % et 24,8 % chez les enfants. En modele multivarie, les faibles ingeres n’apparaissaient pas lies au statut biologique, pour aucun des micronutriments consideres. Discussion Des biomarqueurs plus appropries des carences en micronutriments ainsi que des mesures plus precises des ingeres, notamment tenant compte du niveau d’absorption des micronutriments, sont necessaires pour etablir ces relations au niveau individuel.

Antioxidant activities of Myrtus communis leaf phenolic compounds (McPCs) were investigated on 2,2'-9-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS(+) •) and oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) tests or on oxidation of biological models, human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and phospholipid aqueous dispersion (L-α-phosphatidylcholine stabilized by bile salts). Two extraction techniques, microwave-assisted (MAE) and conventional (CE), were used to isolate McPCs, producing similar results of phenolic compound content. ABTS(+) • assay showed clearly that myrtle extracts exhibited a stronger scavenging effect than butylated hydroxyanisole and α-tocopherol, with a slight advantage for myrtle CE extract. In ORAC assay, the both McPC extracts were similarly less effective than the pure compounds as caffeic acid and myricitrin (myricetin 3-O-rhamnoside) but stronger than butylated hydroxytoluene. Moreover, myrtle CE and MAE extracts, and myricitrin were able to inhibit similarly the production of conjugated dienes and to prolong the lag phase (Tlag) during Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation with a dose-response effect. The cryo-electron microscopy observations on studied phospholipid dispersion stabilized by bile salts (BS) revealed the presence of bilayer vesicles and micelles. In 2,2'-azobis (2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride-induced phospholipid/BS oxidation, myrtle CE and MAE extracts gave similar effects to α-tocopherol and caffeic acid but myricitrin showed a higher protective effect than myrtle extracts. We showed also that no synergic or additive effect between α-tocopherol and myrtle extracts or caffeic acid in α-tocopherol-enriched phospholipid/BS dispersion, but myricitrin showed an additive effect and thus promoted the total antioxidant activity. These data showed that myrtle extract could be used as potential natural antioxidants, food stabilizers, or natural health products. We show that microwave-assisted extraction could be an alternative method for plant phenolic compound recovery allowing important gain in time extraction.We report inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro initiated by Cu(2+) ions. We report that myrtle extract may be a source of natural antioxidants to counteract phospholipid peroxidation as well as α-tocopherol.

The aim of this study was to analyze factors influencing the growth pattern of children from birth to 18 months. A longitudinal prospective study was conducted in three maternity wards in Southern Benin. Inclusion took place between June 2007 and July 2008; children were followed-up until 18 months of age. Height-for-age and weight-for-height Z-scores were computed using the newborn's anthropometric measurements taken at delivery, every month up to 6 months and then quarterly. Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and malarial morbidity were recorded. Gestational age was estimated using the Ballard method; William's sex-specific reference curve of birth weight-for-gestational-age was used to determine intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR). Analyses were performed on 520 children using a linear mixed model. Low birth weight (coef=−0.43; p=0.002), IUGR (coef=−0.49; p<0.001), maternal short stature (coef=−0.25; p=0.001) and maternal low weight status (coef=−0.19; p=0.006) were significantly associated with growth impairment. Only LBW (coef=−0.28; p=0.05) and maternal low weight status (coef=−0.23; p=0.004) were associated with wasting. A good IYCF score was positively associated with weight gain (coef=0.14; p<0.001) whereas we found a paradoxical association with length (coef=−0.18; p<0.001). Malaria morbidity was not associated with growth. LBW, IUGR and maternal low weight status and height were important determinants of children's growth. These results reinforce and justify continuing public health initiatives to fight IUGR and LBW and break the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition.

Red sorghum is a source of phenolic compounds (PCs), including 3-deoxyanthocyanidins that may protect against oxidative stress related disease such as atherosclerosis. HPLC was used to characterise and quantify PCs extracted from red or white sorghum whole grain flour. Antioxidant activity was measured by an oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay and against LDL-oxidisability, and further compared to that of synthesised 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (i.e., luteolinidin and apigeninidin). Phenolic content of red and white sorghums was evaluated as 3.90±0.01 and 0.07±0.01mmol gallic acid equivalents L−1, respectively. Luteolinidin and apigeninidin were mainly found in red sorghum. Red sorghum had almost 3 and 10 times greater specific antioxidant activity compared to luteolinidin and apigeninidin, respectively. Red sorghum PCs and the two 3-deoxyanthocyanidins were also effective at preventing LDL vitamin E depletion and conjugated diene production. Red sorghum flour exhibits antioxidant capacity suggesting that it may be a valuable health-promoting food.

Antioxidant activities of polyphenolic compounds extracted (PPEs) from ripe fruits of oil palms are investigated by studying their in vitro effects on human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Four oil palm species ( Elaeis guineensis ) are issued from the National Centre of Agronomic Research of Côte d'Ivoire, of which two are parental varieties (HP1 and HP2), while the other two are crossing varieties (HP3 and HP4). The main identified compounds were rutin (HP3 and HP4) and caffeic and chlorogenic (5-caffeoyl quinic) acids (HP1, HP3, and HP4). The highest total phenolic content was found for HP4, while it was significantly lower for HP2. Antioxidative effects were monitored by Cu(2+)- or 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) hydrochloride (AAPH)-induced generation of conjugated dienes (lag time and oxidation rate). The highest PPE specific antioxidant activity (SAA) values were obtained with crossing varieties (HP3 and HP4) in the copper-oxidation assay. In the AAPH-oxidation assay, SAA values were comparable for all four varieties. PPEs were effective at preventing LDL-vitamin E depletion in vitro. They could exert direct beneficial antioxidant effects on vitamin E and other antioxidants contained in food and beverages in vivo, within the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. These data could also be of particular importance for a healthier nutrition or the management of chronic diseases by a polyphenol-rich diet.