Source Of Dietary Polyphenols Research Articles

Castanea sativa Mill. By-Products: Investigation of Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects in Human Intestinal Epithelial Cells.

Castanea sativa Mill. (C. sativa) processing and pruning generate several by-products, including leaves, burs, and shells (inner and outer teguments), which are considered an important source of high-value phytochemicals. Ellagitannins from C. sativa leaf extracts have been described to impair H. pylori viability and inflammation in gastric cells. Furthermore, chestnut shells showed an important anti-inflammatory effect in gastric epithelial cells. Dietary polyphenols, including tannins, have been reported to interfere with targets of inflammation, including the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). A promising role as a further therapeutical target for gut disorders has been recently proposed for the regulatory subunit of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α), as a potential stabilizer of intestinal barrier integrity. Therefore, the main objective of this work is the chemical characterization of several chestnut by-products (bud, spiny bur, wood, pericarp and episperm), together with the exploitation of their anti-inflammatory properties in intestinal cells, scavenging capacity, and stability following gastrointestinal digestion. The chemical characterization confirmed the presence of bioactive polyphenols in the extracts, including ellagitannins. In CaCo-2 cells stimulated by an IL-1β-IFN-γ cocktail, nearly all chestnut by-products (50 µg/mL) inhibited the release of proinflammatory mediators (CXCL-10, IL-8, MCP-1, ICAM), along with the NF-κB-driven transcription, and induced the HRE-driven transcription. The stability of the most promising extracts, identified through PCA and cluster analysis, was addressed by in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. Despite the significant reduction in total polyphenol index of chestnut bud and wood after gastric and intestinal digestion, the activity of these extracts on both scavenging and anti-inflammatory parameters remained promising. These data contribute to exploit the potential of chestnut by-products as sources of dietary polyphenols with anti-inflammatory properties at the intestinal level. Moreover, this study could represent an important step to encourage the recycling and valorization of chestnut by-products, promoting the circular economy and reducing the environmental impact related to the management of agriculture waste.

The Protective Role of Dietary Polyphenols in Urolithiasis: Insights into Antioxidant Effects and Mechanisms of Action.

Urolithiasis is a common urological disease with increasing prevalence and high recurrence rates around the world. Numerous studies have indicated reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress (OS) were crucial pathogenic factors in stone formation. Dietary polyphenols are a large group of natural antioxidant compounds widely distributed in plant-based foods and beverages. Their diverse health benefits have attracted growing scientific attention in recent decades. Many literatures have reported the effectiveness of dietary polyphenols against stone formation. The antiurolithiatic mechanisms of polyphenols have been explained by their antioxidant potential to scavenge free radicals and ROS, modulate the expression and the activity of endogenous antioxidant and prooxidant enzymes, regulate signaling pathways associated with OS, and maintain cell morphology and function. In this review, we first describe OS and its pathogenic effects in urolithiasis and summarize the classification and sources of dietary polyphenols. Then, we focus on the current evidence defining their antioxidant potential against stone formation and put forward challenges and future perspectives of dietary polyphenols. To conclude, dietary polyphenols offer potential applications in the treatment and prevention of urolithiasis.

Apple Polyphenol Extract Suppresses Clostridioides difficile Infection in a Mouse Model.

Fruits such as apples are a dietary source of polyphenols and have health benefits. We studied the benefits of apple polyphenols in reducing intestinal infections. We explored the potential roles of apple polyphenols in combating Clostridioides difficile-induced intestinal infections by modulating the intestinal microbiota and metabolism in our study. Mice fed with apple polyphenols exhibited higher survival rates and improved diarrhea symptoms in a C. difficile infection mouse model given once-daily apple polyphenol extract (200 or 400 mg/kg bw) or phosphate-buffered saline. Feeding polyphenols enhanced anti-inflammatory effects and colon barrier integrity. In addition, apple polyphenols mitigated intestinal microbiota disorders in C. difficile infection, modulating the intestinal microbiota and increasing the abundance of beneficial microbiota. Apple polyphenols also improved fecal metabolic alterations in C. difficile-infected mice and modulated the expression of pathways related to intestinal inflammation. Our results suggest that apple polyphenol extract is a potential prebiotic agent that affects the intestinal microbiota and metabolism, thereby positively influencing intestinal infections.

Lemon Juice Formulations Modulate In Vitro Digestive Recovery of Spinach Phytochemicals.

Citrus limon (L.) Burm lemon juice is rich in many important natural chemical components (flavonoids, citric acid and vitamin C) and its use in traditional medicine is well known. Formulations of lemon juice with fruit polyphenols in beverages have been investigated, but there is very little information about their ability to modulate the digestive behaviour of polyphenols. The goal of this study is to determine the stability and digestive availability of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) polyphenols by adding different volume fractions of lemon juice (0, 2, 5, 10 and 20%) during in vitro digestion. The content of polyphenols and other abundant compounds including nitrates, oxalic acid and l-ascorbic acid in spinach formulation with various volume fractions of lemon juice were measured in predigested and digested samples using in vitro human digestion model. Antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities of spinach lemon juice formulation were also measured. The highest increases in total polyphenols, total flavonoids, total phenolic acids, oxalic acid and nitrate content were noted in predigested and almost all digested spinach samples formulated with the highest volume fraction of lemon juice. In the same sample, the content of individual compounds significantly increased after salivary (l-ascorbic acid), initial (p-coumaric acid) and intestinal (quercetin) phase of digestion. High bioaccessibility of polyphenols and l-ascorbic acid in all phases of digestion was observed in almost all spinach lemon juice formulations, with the exception of nitrates in gastric and intestinal phases and oxalic acid in the intestinal phase, which had moderate bioaccessibility. For the first time the stability and digestive availability of spinach polyphenols, oxalic acid, nitrates and l-ascorbic acid were tested with the addition of different volume fractions of lemon juice. The pH of lemon juice and its l-ascorbic acid content increase the stability and availability of polyphenols in spinach lemon juice formulation during in vitro digestion. Antioxidant and α-amylase inhibitory activities increase in dose-dependent manner after lemon juice addition. Accordingly, spinach formulated with 20% of lemon juice appears as the best source of dietary polyphenols with antioxidant and antidiabetic activities and nitrates that may be used as a functional drink.

Dietary Polyphenols and Their Role in Oxidative Stress-Induced Human Diseases: Insights Into Protective Effects, Antioxidant Potentials and Mechanism(s) of Action.

Dietary polyphenols including phenolic acids, flavonoids, catechins, tannins, lignans, stilbenes, and anthocyanidins are widely found in grains, cereals, pulses, vegetables, spices, fruits, chocolates, and beverages like fruit juices, tea, coffee and wine. In recent years, dietary polyphenols have gained significant interest among researchers due to their potential chemopreventive/protective functions in the maintenance of human health and diseases. It is believed that dietary polyphenols/flavonoids exert powerful antioxidant action for protection against reactive oxygen species (ROS)/cellular oxidative stress (OS) towards the prevention of OS-related pathological conditions or diseases. Pre-clinical and clinical evidence strongly suggest that long term consumption of diets rich in polyphenols offer protection against the development of various chronic diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, diabetes, inflammatory disorders and infectious illness. Increased intake of foods containing polyphenols (for example, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, resveratrol, cyanidin etc.) has been claimed to reduce the extent of a majority of chronic oxidative cellular damage, DNA damage, tissue inflammations, viral/bacterial infections, and neurodegenerative diseases. It has been suggested that the antioxidant activity of dietary polyphenols plays a pivotal role in the prevention of OS-induced human diseases. In this narrative review, the biological/pharmacological significance of dietary polyphenols in the prevention of and/or protection against OS-induced major human diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, CVDs, diabetes mellitus, cancer, inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases have been delineated. This review specifically focuses a current understanding on the dietary sources of polyphenols and their protective effects including mechanisms of action against various major human diseases.

Chemical Composition, In Vitro Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Activity of Polyphenolic Compounds from Nutraceutical Fennel Waste Extract.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) waste contains a broad range of bioactive molecules, including polyphenols, which have poor bioaccessibility during gastrointestinal digestion. This work aimed to investigate the bioaccessibility of total phenolic compounds and the antioxidant capacity during simulated gastrointestinal digestion using two nutraceutical formulations based on non-acid-resistant (NAR) and acid-resistant (AR) capsules containing aqueous-based extracts from fennel waste. Moreover, to obtain a comprehensive investigation of the polyphenolic constituents of the fennel waste extract, a high-resolution mass spectrometry (Q-Orbitrap) analysis was performed. Notably, chlorogenic acids, such as 4-caffeoylquinic acid and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid, were the most detected compounds found in assayed samples (1.949 and 0.490 mg/g, respectively). After in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, the extract contained in AR capsules displayed higher bioaccessibility in both the duodenal and colonic stages (1.96 and 5.19 mg GAE/g, respectively) than NAR capsules (1.72 and 3.50 mg GAE/g, respectively), suggesting that the acidic gastric conditions negatively affected the polyphenol compounds released from the NAR capsules. Therefore, the aqueous extract of fennel waste could be proposed as an innovative and easily available source of dietary polyphenols. Furthermore, the use of an AR capsule could improve the polyphenol bioaccessibility and can be proposed as a nutraceutical formulation.

Effect of Blueberry Consumption on Cardiometabolic Health Parameters in Men with Type 2 Diabetes: An 8-Week, Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

ABSTRACTBackgroundBlueberries are dietary sources of polyphenols, specifically anthocyanins. Anthocyanins have been identified as having a strong association with type 2 diabetes risk reduction; however, to date few human clinical trials have evaluated the potential beneficial health effects of blueberries in populations with type 2 diabetes.ObjectivesWe investigated the effects of blueberry consumption for 8 wk on cardiometabolic parameters in men with type 2 diabetes.MethodsIn a double-blind, parallel-arm, randomized controlled trial, 52 men who are US veterans [mean baseline characteristics: age, 67 y (range: 51–75 y); weight, 102 kg (range: 80–130 kg); BMI (in kg/m2), 34 (range: 26–45)] were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 intervention groups. The interventions were either 22 g freeze-dried blueberries or 22 g placebo. The study participants were asked to consume 11 g freeze-dried blueberries or placebo with each of their morning and evening meals along with their typical diet.ResultsMean ± SE hemoglobin A1c (7.1% ± 0.1% compared with 7.5% ± 0.2%; P = 0.03), fructosamine (275.5 ± 4.1 compared with 292.4 ± 7.9 µmol/L; P = 0.04), triglycerides (179.6 ± 10.1 compared with 199.6 ± 19.9 mg/dL; P = 0.03), aspartate transaminase (23.2 ± 1.4 compared with 30.5 ± 2.7 units/L; P = 0.02), and alanine transaminase (35.6 ± 1.5 compared with 48.3 ± 2.9 units/L; P = 0.0003) were significantly lower for those consuming blueberries for 8 wk than for those consuming the placebo. Fasting plasma glucose concentrations; serum insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and C-reactive protein concentrations; blood pressure; and body weight were not significantly different after 8 wk consumption of blueberries compared with the placebo.ConclusionsConsumption of 22 g freeze-dried blueberries for 8 wk may beneficially affect cardiometabolic health parameters in men with type 2 diabetes.This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT02972996.

A New Perspective on the Health Benefits of Moderate Beer Consumption: Involvement of the Gut Microbiota.

Beer is the most widely consumed fermented beverage in the world. A moderate consumption of beer has been related to important healthy outcomes, although the mechanisms have not been fully understood. Beer contains only a few raw ingredients but transformations that occur during the brewing process turn beer into a beverage that is enriched in micronutrients. Beer also contains an important number of phenolic compounds and it could be considered to be a source of dietary polyphenols. On the other hand, gut microbiota is now attracting special attention due to its metabolic effects and as because polyphenols are known to interact with gut microbiota. Among others, ferulic acid, xanthohumol, catechins, epicatechins, proanthocyanidins, quercetin, and rutin are some of the beer polyphenols that have been related to microbiota. However, scarce literature exists about the effects of moderate beer consumption on gut microbiota. In this review, we focus on the relationship between beer polyphenols and gut microbiota, with special emphasis on the health outcomes.

Blueberry polyphenols extract as a potential prebiotic with anti-obesity effects on C57BL/6 J mice by modulating the gut microbiota

Polyphenols are known for their various health benefits. Blueberries are dietary sources of polyphenols with reported health benefits. However, the role of blueberry polyphenols in alleviating obesity is not completely understood. This study investigated the potential positive effect of blueberry polyphenol extract (PPE) on high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in C57BL/6 J mice by modulation of the gut microbiota. Four-week-old C57BL/6 J mice were fed a normal-fat diet or HFD with or without PPE or Orlistat for 12 weeks. Mice fed HFD exhibited increased body weight and adipose tissue weight and disordered lipid metabolism. In contrast, PPE inhibited body weight gain and returned lipid metabolism to normal. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequencing of the fecal microbiota suggested that PPE changed the composition of the gut microbiota in C57BL/6 J mice and modulated specific bacteria such as Proteobacteria, Deferribacteres, Actinobacteria, Bifidobacterium, Desulfovibrio, Adlercreutzia, Helicobacter, Flexispira, and Prevotella. Orlistat also improved obesity and metabolic alterations of HFD mice and modulated the composition of the gut microbiota. Our findings suggest that PPE, as a potential prebiotic agent, influences the gut microbiota to positively affect HFD-induced obesity in C57BL/6 J mice.

Association between polyphenol intake and adherence to the Mediterranean diet in Sicily, southern Italy

BackgroundMediterranean diet has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects toward various health outcomes. Among the compounds that may be responsible for such benefits, polyphenols have been proposed as potential candidates. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether dietary polyphenols were associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet in a Sicilian cohort. MethodsA total of 1937 adults were recruited in the urban area of Catania, southern Italy. Background characteristics and dietary habits were collected through validated questionnaires. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was evaluated through application of a validated score (MEDI-LITE score). Dietary intake of polyphenols was estimated through the Phenol-explorer database. Differences in mean intake between quartiles of the MEDI-LITE score and association between quartiles of polyphenol intake and high adherence to the Mediterranean diet (highest quartile of the score) were calculated though logistic regression analyses. ResultsMean intake of most polyphenols was significantly different between quartiles of the MEDI-LITE score, being generally higher in individuals more adherent to the Mediterranean diet. Only few compounds, such as lignans, anthocyanins, and flavanones, showed a linear positive association with high adherence to the Mediterranean diet, while other polyphenol classes were associated in a non-linear manner. Among individual polyphenols, apigenin, hesperetin, naringenin, lariciresinol, matairesinol, pinoresinol, secoisolariciresinol, and ferulic acid were associated with high adherence to Mediterranean diet in a linear manner, while all the others (except for myricetin) were associated in a non-linear way. ConclusionsMean polyphenol intake was higher in individuals more adherent to the Mediterranean diet compared to less adherent. However, dietary sources of polyphenols not included in the traditional foods comprised in the Mediterranean diet may contribute to total and specific classes of polyphenols irrespectively of their inclusion within the context of the Mediterranean diet.

Dietary sources of polyphenols in the Mediterranean healthy Eating, Aging and Lifestyle (MEAL) study cohort

The aim of this study was to estimate the dietary intake and major food sources of polyphenols in the Mediterranean healthy Eating, Aging and Lifestyles (MEAL) study cohort. A total of 1937 individuals (18 + y) of urban population of Catania, Italy, completed a validated 110-item food frequency questionnaire; Phenol-Explorer database was used to estimate polyphenol intake. Mean intake of polyphenols was 663.7 mg/d; the most abundant classes were phenolic acids (362.7 mg/d) and flavonoids (258.7 mg/d). The main dietary sources of total polyphenols were nuts, followed by tea and coffee as source of flavanols and hydroxycinnamic acids, respectively, fruits (i.e. cherries were sources of anthocyanins and citrus fruits of flavanones) and vegetables (i.e. artichokes and olives were sources of flavones and spinach and beans of flavonols); chocolate, red wine and pasta contributed to flavanols and tyrosols, respectively. These findings will be useful to assess the potential benefits of foods with high polyphenol content.

Abstract P166: The Effect of a Muscadine Grape Extract on Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension and Cardiac Damage

Muscadine grapes, indigenous to the southeastern United States, are a dietary source of polyphenols, such as ellagic acid, quercetin, and resveratrol, which have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Preclinical studies show that ground muscadine grape skins and seeds have anti-cancer effects, suggesting that supplementation with a muscadine grape extract (MGE) may serve as a chemotherapeutic or chemopreventive agent. As cancer patients often present with hypertension, diabetes, and other vascular pathologies, it is imperative to determine the effect of a muscadine grape supplement on these underlying comorbidities. The goal of this study was to determine whether MGE administered in the drinking water will exacerbate or improve hypertension and cardiac damage. Sprague-Dawley rats receiving a 4-week infusion of Ang II via subcutaneous osmotic mini-pump (24 μg/kg/h) had a significant increase in systolic blood pressure (123.1 ± 2.3 mm Hg in control vs. 213.1 ± 6.8 mm Hg in Ang II-treated; n=8; p < 0.0001). MGE supplementation had no effect on blood pressure or gross cardiac hypertrophy in either normotensive or hypertensive rats. Additionally, MGE did not alter stroke volume or cardiac output, measured by VEVO ultrasound. However, MGE ameliorated the Ang-II induced decrease in diastolic function, as measured by the E/E’ ratio (19.9 ± 0.8 in control, 28.1 ± 1.1 in Ang II-treated rats, 22.3 ± 2.0 in Ang II/MGE-treated rats; p < 0.05). Co-treatment with MGE also significantly reduced the Ang II-mediated increase in cardiomyocyte cross-sectional area (340.5 ± 12.0 μm 2 in control, 423.2 ± 17.1 μm 2 in Ang II-treated rats, and 342.6 ± 13.2 μm 2 in Ang II/MGE-treated rats, p < 0.01). MGE supplementation of Ang II-treated rats decreased interstitial cardiac fibrosis, measured by Picrosirius red staining (1.0 ± 0.1% in control, 2.0 ± 0.2% in Ang II-treated rats and 1.4 ± 0.1% in Ang II/MGE-treated rats, p < 0.05). These results demonstrate that treatment with MGE does not exacerbate hypertension or hypertension-induced cardiac damage but ameliorates cardiac hypertrophy, suggesting that MGE supplementation has an acceptable safety profile for use as an anti-cancer agent in hypertensive patients and may be used to treat cardiac hypertrophy and damage.

Blueberry anthocyanins induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of oral cancer KB cells through down-regulation methylation of p53

Blueberries are an excellent source of dietary polyphenols such as anthocyanins and phenolic acids. In this study, we investigated the ability of anthocyanins from the wild blueberries of Inner Mongolia to suppress the growth of the oral cancer cell line KB. The blueberry anthocyanins were extracted with methanol-containing 0.1% (v/v) hydrochloric acid. Fourteen unique anthocyanins were identified using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). The anticancer bioactivity of the extracts on KB cells was analyzed using methylthiazolyl-tetrazolium (MTT), flow cytometry (FCM) and immunocytochemistry. It was shown that the blueberry anthocyanins suppressed the proliferation of KB cells in a dose-dependent manner, as well as induced G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of oral cancer KB cells. Immunocytochemistry analysis showed that the expression of caspase-9 and cytochrome c were obviously increased after the anthocyanins treatment. Western blot analysis also indicated that the expression of p53 was increased. Methylation-specific PCR (MSP) showed that the amount of unmethylated p53 increased, indicating that the anthocyanins can down-regulate the methylation of p53.

Berries: Anti-inflammatory Effects in Humans

A sustained pro-inflammatory state is a major contributing factor in chronic disease development, progression, and complication, including the most commonly known diseases: cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, and type 2 diabetes. Fruits, such as berries, contain polyphenol compounds purported to have anti-inflammatory activity in humans. Among the most notable polyphenols in berries are anthocyanins, responsible for their distinctive colors of red, blue, and purple. Berries have been studied widely for their antioxidant properties; however, preclinical data suggest important effects on inflammatory pathways. Correspondingly, the effects of berries, including extracts and purified anthocyanins, have been the subject of a number of human trials. This review aims to evaluate the current state of the human science on berry (products) as a source of dietary polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, to modulate inflammatory status. Identifying dietary strategies that manage the modern-day inflammatory burden has important implications for chronic disease risk reduction and informing dietary guidelines aimed at achieving and maintaining health.

Strawberry As a Functional Food: An Evidence-Based Review

Emerging research provides substantial evidence to classify strawberries as a functional food with several preventive and therapeutic health benefits. Strawberries, a rich source of phytochemicals (ellagic acid, anthocyanins, quercetin, and catechin) and vitamins (ascorbic acid and folic acid), have been highly ranked among dietary sources of polyphenols and antioxidant capacity. It should however be noted that these bioactive factors can be significantly affected by differences in strawberry cultivars, agricultural practices, storage, and processing methods: freezing versus dry heat has been associated with maximum retention of strawberry bioactives in several studies. Nutritional epidemiology shows inverse association between strawberry consumption and incidence of hypertension or serum C-reactive protein; controlled feeding studies have identified the ability of strawberries to attenuate high-fat diet induced postprandial oxidative stress and inflammation, or postprandial hyperglycemia, or hyperlipidemia in subjects with cardiovascular risk factors. Mechanistic studies have elucidated specific biochemical pathways that might confer these protective effects of strawberries: upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity, downregulation of NF-kB activity and subsequent inflammation, or inhibitions of carbohydrate digestive enzymes. These health effects may be attributed to the synergistic effects of nutrients and phytochemicals in strawberries. Further studies are needed to define the optimal dose and duration of strawberry intake in affecting levels of biomarkers or pathways related to chronic diseases.

A review of the mechanisms and effectiveness of dietary polyphenols in reducing oxidative stress and thrombotic risk

Dietary sources of polyphenols, which are derivatives and/or isomers of flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, catechins and phenolic acids, possess antioxidant properties and therefore might be important in preventing oxidative-stress-induced platelet activation and attenuating adverse haemostatic function. Free radicals, including reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, promote oxidative stress, leading to platelet hyperactivation and the risk of thrombosis. The consumption of antioxidant/polyphenol rich foods might therefore impart anti-thrombotic and cardiovascular protective effects via their inhibition of platelet hyperactivation or aggregation. Most commonly-used anti-platelet drugs such as aspirin block the cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 pathway of platelet activation, similar to the action of antioxidants with respect to neutralising hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), with a similar effect on thromboxane production via the COX-1 pathway. Polyphenols also target various additional platelet activation pathways (e.g. by blocking platelet-ADP, collagen receptors); thus alleviating fibrinogen binding to platelet surface (GPIIb-IIIa) receptors, reducing further platelet recruitment for aggregation and inhibiting platelet degranulation. As a result of the ability of polyphenols to target additional pathways of platelet activation, they may have the potential to substitute or complement currently used anti-platelet drugs in sedentary, obese, pre-diabetic or diabetic populations who can be resistant or sensitive to pharmacological anti-platelet therapy.

Polyphenol‐rich red and purple aronia berry extracts inhibit interleukin‐6 from mouse splenocytes.

Viking aronia berries are a rich source of dietary polyphenols, but less is known about other aronia genotypes. The objective of this work was to assess the anti‐inflammatory activity of underutilized aronia berries to relative to Viking. Aqueous acetone extracts were prepared from Aronia melanocarpa (black), prunifolia (purple), and arbutifolia (red) berries (n = 5). Extract polyphenols were quantitated by UPLC‐MS and the total phenols assay. Primary mouse splenocytes were stimulated for 12 h by LPS with berry extracts and interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was determined in media. On an equivalent total phenols basis, Viking had at least 1.5‐fold greater anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins than other accessions. Phenolic acids were highest in the purple UCO47 and red UCO57 accessions. The UCO57 extract inhibited IL‐6 by 75% and was the most potent among the tested aronia extracts. In contrast, Viking inhibited IL‐6 by 32%. Among all aronia accessions, IL‐6 inhibition was correlated more strongly to phenolic acid and flavonoid content than proanthocyanidin and anthocyanin content. Thus, underutilized aronia accessions have in vitro anti‐inflammatory efficacy, and are promising candidates for evaluation in models of chronic disease.Grant Funding Source: University of Connecticut Diet and Health Initiative

Dose-dependent effects of walnuts on motor and cognitive function in aged rats

Aged rats show decrements in performance on motor and cognitive tasks that require the use of spatial learning and memory. Previously we have shown that these deficits can be reversed by the polyphenolics in fruits and vegetables. Walnuts, which contain the n-3 fatty acids a-linolenic acid and linoleic acid, are a dietary source of polyphenols, antioxidants and lipids. Thus, the present study examined the effects of walnut supplementation on motor and cognitive ability in aged rats. Fischer 344 rats, aged 19 months, were fed a control, or a 2, 6 or 9% walnut diet for 8 weeks before motor and cognitive testing. Results for the motor testing showed that the 2% walnut diet improved performance on rod walking, while the 6% walnut diet improved performance on the medium plank walk; the higher dose of the 9% walnut diet did not improve psychomotor performance and on the large plank actually impaired performance. All of the walnut diets improved working memory in the Morris water maze, although the 9% diet showed impaired reference memory. These findings show for the first time that moderate dietary walnut supplementation can improve cognitive and motor performance in aged rats.

Stability of polyphenols in chokeberry ( Aronia melanocarpa) subjected to in vitro gastric and pancreatic digestion

Berries and red fruits are dietary sources of polyphenols with reported health benefits. As part of the diet, polyphenols are ingested as complex mixtures immersed in a food matrix which is digested in the gut. Epithelial cells lining the gut are regularly exposed to these digested mixtures. To understand the effects of dietary polyphenols on human gut health it is essential to determine their stability and fate in the lumen. In this work, we investigated the effects of an in vitro gastric and pancreatic digestion on the stability and composition of the major polyphenols in chokeberry juice. Digestion was carried out with a mixture of pepsin-HCl for 2 h, followed by a 2 h incubation with pancreatin and bile salts at 37 °C with shaking, in the absence of light and under N 2. After digestion, the chokeberry samples were acidified, filtered and HPLC-DAD/HPLC–MS–MS analysed to determine the content of total soluble recovered phenolics. Gastric digestion had no substantial effect on any of the major phenolic compounds in chokeberry, namely anthocyanins, flavan-3-ols, flavonols and caffeic acid derivatives. However, these compounds were significantly altered during the pancreatic digestion and this effect was more marked for anthocyanins (approximately 43% was lost during the 2 h treatment with pancreatin). Flavonols and flavan-3-ols decreased by 26% and 19%, respectively. Neochlorogenic acid decreased by 28% whereas chlorogenic acid was increased by 24%. In vitro digestion of standard phenolic compounds, representing each of the groups of phenolics in chokeberry, confirmed some of the observed changes. Interactions with the digestive enzymes were not responsible for the observed losses which were mostly due to the chemical conditions during pancreatic digestion. Our results, in accordance with previously published results, show that dietary polyphenols are highly sensitive to the mild alkaline conditions in the small intestine and that a good proportion of these compounds can be transformed into other unknown and/or undetected structural forms with different chemical properties and, consequently, different bioaccessibility, bioavailability and biological activity.