Gamma-aminobutyric Acid Concentrations Research Articles

Encapsulation of Bioactive Compounds from Germinated Mung Bean by Freeze-Drying, Release Kinetics, and Storage Stability.

This research explores the application of germinated mung bean extract, rich in GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid) and polyphenols, in enhancing human health. Recognizing the instability of these bioactive compounds in environmental conditions, encapsulation emerges as a pivotal technique to broaden their applications in food and pharmaceuticals. Utilizing response surface methodology and Box-Behnken design, the freeze-drying formulation for encapsulating the aqueous extract was optimized. Second-order polynomial models were developed, exhibiting statistical adequacy in predicting key variables such as encapsulation efficiency for GABA (EE-GABA) and total polyphenol content (EE-TPC), as well as encapsulation yield for GABA (EY-GABA) and total polyphenol content (EY-TPC). The established optimal formulation was validated, resulting in predicted values for EE-GABA, EE-TPC, EY-GABA, and EY-TPC. The release kinetics of encapsulated particles were investigated, highlighting the suitability of the Korsmeyer-Peppas and Higuchi models. Assessing the stability of the encapsulated powder under varying temperatures and humidities revealed degradation rates, half-life, and activation energy, with moisture equilibrium established at 4.70%, indicative of long-term stability. In conclusion, the encapsulated germinated mung bean powder demonstrates high stability, making it a promising candidate for integration into food products and functional ingredients.

Influence of lacto-fermented traditional and colored wheat grain wholemeal flour on wheat biscuit quality

In this study, the non-treated and lacto-fermented (with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei LUHS244) wholemeal of new breed lines of colored wheat (blue 8558-1 and black 8472-5) and traditional wheat "Silva", was evaluated for the lactic acid bacteria (LAB) viable count, acidity, color parameters, amino acid (AA) profile, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and biogenic amine content. The addition of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 250 g of tested wheat wholemeal was used for biscuit preparation. The chromaticity characteristics of the dough and biscuits, dough pH, acrylamide concentration, overall acceptability, and volatile compounds (VC) were examined. In most cases, fermentation increased the AA and GABA contents in wheat wholemeal. The main biogenic amines in tested wholemeal were putrescine and spermidine. Wheat wholemeal, fermented for 48 h, was selected for biscuit preparation due to its lower pH and higher LAB viable counts. The acrylamide concentration showed correlations with individual VCs. In conclusion, wheat biscuits prepared with 200 and 250 g of non-fermented “Silva” wheat wholemeal, 50 and 100 g of non-fermented and fermented blue wheat wholemeal, as well as 50, 100, and 150 g of non-fermented black wheat wholemeal can be recommended for achieving appropriate acrylamide concentration reduction without impairing the sensory acceptability of the product.

Effect of quercetin-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid nanoparticles on lipopolysaccharide-induced memory decline, oxidative stress, amyloidogenesis, neurotransmission, and Nrf2/HO-1 expression

Neuroinflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders. This study examined the neuroprotective effect of quercetin (QUR)-loaded poly (lactic-co-glycolic) acid (PLGA) nanoparticles (QUR NANO) against the neurotoxicity induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. A QUR NANO formulation was prepared and characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, X-ray diffraction, entrapment efficiency (EE), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and in vitro drug release profile. Levels of glutathione, malondialdehyde, catalase, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), amyloid beta 42 (Aβ42), β-secretase, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) were measured in the mouse brain tissues. The gene expression of nuclear factor erythroid-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were also determined. The prepared QUR NANO formulation showed 92.07 ± 3.21% EE and drug loading of 4.62 ± 0.55. It exhibited clusters of nano-spherical particles with smooth surface areas, and the loading process was confirmed. In vivo, the QUR NANO preserved the spatial memory of mice and protected the hippocampus from LPS-induced histological lesions. The QUR NANO significantly reduced the levels of malondialdehyde, iNOS, Aβ42, β-secretase, and AChE in brain tissue homogenates. Conversely, QUR NANO increased the glutathione, catalase, and GABA concentrations and upregulated the expression of Nrf-2 and HO-1 genes. Remarkably, the neuroprotective effect of QUR NANO was significantly greater than that of herbal QUR. In summary, the prepared QUR NANO formulation was efficient in mitigating LPS-induced neurotoxicity by reducing memory loss, oxidative stress, and amyloidogenesis while preserving neurotransmission and upregulating the expression of Nrf2 and HO-1 genes. This study addresses several key factors in neuroinflammatory disorders and explores the potential of QUR-loaded nanoparticles as a novel therapeutic approach to alleviate these factors.

Characteristics of GABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid), antioxidant and sensory quality of modified Tempeh

ABSTRACTGABA (Gamma Amino Butyric Acid) is a non-protein amino acid that is beneficial to health. Tempeh is a fermentation product with GABA and antioxidant components that contribute to its health-promoting properties. This study aimed to determine the effect of the type of raw material and coloring method on the characteristics of the functional content of modified Tempeh. The research utilized a Completely Randomized Design with raw material types (sorghum, adlay, soybeans, and mung beans) and drying methods (oven drying and freeze-drying) as treatments. The results showed that the type of raw material and drying method had significant effect on the levels of GABA, flavonoids, total phenolic content, and the antioxidant activity of the modified Tempeh. The sorghum tempeh dried with a freeze dryer exhibits the highest GABA content at 1421 mg/100 grams. From a statistical perspective, the antioxidant capacity generated in fresh green bean and soybean tempeh is categorized as moderate. Modified Tempeh made from soybean had sensory acceptance and it did not significantly different from the control.

Quality Characteristics of Healthy Bread Produced from Germinated Brown Rice, Germinated Mung Bean, and Germinated White Kidney Bean

Germinated grains and pulses are known as sources of bioactive compounds that provide beneficial effects for human health. Moreover, germination improves their protein digestibility and biological properties. This research aimed to investigate the physicochemical properties of the composite flour made by blending germinated brown rice (GBR), germinated mung bean (GMB), and germinated white kidney bean (GWKB) at the ratio of 1:1:1. Additionally, the quality of bread made by substituting the composite flour for wheat flour at 25%, 30%, 35%, and 40% (w/w) was assessed. The results showed that the composite flour had significantly higher amounts of fat, protein, crude fiber, ash, GABA, and total phenolic content than wheat flour. The antioxidant capacity, calculated as vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC), of the composite flour was 42.86 mg/100 g, which was twice that of wheat flour. The pasting properties of the GBR, GMB, and GWKB flours, including the composite flour were considerably different from those of wheat flour. Based on this study, the optimized level of the composite flour substitution was 25 g per100 g of wheat flour. The wheat composite flour bread showed higher levels of beneficial components, such as protein, minerals, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and polyphenols, and antioxidant capacity, than the control bread. Bread made with a 25% substitution of composite flour had a more yellow hue than the control wheat bread, but there was no discernible difference in the loaf's specific volume, density, and firmness.

Metabolite profiling of fermented milks as affected by adjunct cultures during long-term storage

The effects of starter strains (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 156, Lactobacillus casei ATCC 334, Lactobacillus helveticus DPC 4571, and Streptococcus thermophilus 20S4) on the physicochemical and microbiological properties, volatiles, bioactive peptides, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) contents of fermented milks were evaluated during storage. The use of different adjunct culture combinations had no significant effect on the gross chemical composition. The bacterial strains remained highly viable in the fermented milk during storage. The peptide extracts exhibited a high ACE-inhibitory activity, which was particularly increased in the samples where L. casei ATCC 334 and L. helveticus DPC 4571 strains co-existed. Almost the same levels of antioxidant activity was observed in the peptides extracted from fermented milk. Peptide extracts showed a certain level of antimicrobial activitiy against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644, Salmonella Typhimurium RSHMB 95091, and Escherichia coli O157:H7; however, no inhibitory activity was observed against Bacillus cereus BC 6230. Among the free amino acids, His, Arg, Ala, and Pro were predominant in the samples. Significant differences were observed between samples regarding GABA content, which increased with increasing levels of proteolytic activity. A total of 33 volatile compounds were identified in fermented milks, with acetone, 2,3-butanedione, acetoin, 2-heptanone, acetic and hexanoic acids being the predominant volatiles. These results demonstrate the multifunctional role of peptides and GABA extracted from fermented milk through the action of specific Lactobacillus strains. Therefore, such a functional fermented milk product can be used to reduce the risk of disease or improve specific physiological functions.

Mouse intestinal microbiome modulation by oral administration of a GABA-producing Bifidobacterium adolescentis strain.

The gut microbiome-brain communication signaling has emerged in recent years as a novel target for intervention with the potential to ameliorate some conditions associated with the central nervous system. Hence, probiotics with capacity to produce neurotransmitters, for instance, have come up as appealing alternatives to treat disorders associated with disbalanced neurotransmitters. Herein, we further deep into the effects of administering a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-producing Bifidobacterium strain, previously demonstrated to contribute to reduce serum glutamate levels, in the gut microbiome composition and metabolic activity in a mouse model. Our results demonstrate that the GABA-producing strain administration results in a specific pattern of gut microbiota modulation, different from the one observed in animals receiving non-GABA-producing strains. This opens new avenues to delineate the specific mechanisms by which IPLA60004 administration contributes to reducing serum glutamate levels and to ascertain whether this effect could exert health benefits in patients of diseases associated with high-glutamate serum concentrations.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-mediated bone formation and its implications for anti-osteoporosis strategies: Exploring the relation between GABA and GABA receptors

Osteoporosis is a significant global health concern, linked to reduced bone density and an increased fracture risk, with effective treatments still lacking. This study explored the potential of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and its receptors as a novel approach to promote osteogenesis and address osteoporosis. GABA concentrations up to 10 mM were well-tolerated by MC3T3-E1 preosteoblast, stimulating osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In vivo experiments with zebrafish larvae demonstrated the ability of GABA to improve vertebral formation and enhanced bone density, indicating the potential therapeutic value for osteoporosis. Notably, GABA countered the adverse effects of prednisolone on vertebral formation, bone density, and osteogenic gene expression in zebrafish larvae, suggesting a promising therapeutic solution to counteract corticosteroid-induced osteoporosis. Moreover, our study highlighted the involvement of GABA receptors in mediating the observed osteogenic effects. By using GABAA, GABAB, and GABAC receptor antagonists, we demonstrated that blocking these receptors attenuated GABA-induced osteoblast differentiation and vertebral formation in both MC3T3-E1 cells and zebrafish larvae, underscoring the importance of GABA receptor interactions in promoting bone formation. In conclusion, these findings underscore the osteogenic potential of GABA and its ability to mitigate the detrimental effects of corticosteroids on bone health. Targeting GABA and its receptors could be a promising strategy for the development of novel therapeutic interventions to address osteoporosis. However, further investigations are warranted to fully elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism of GABA and its clinical applications in treating osteoporosis.

Асоціація поліморфізму Т102C (rs6313) гена рецептора серотоніну HTR2A з розвитком тривожних, депресивних розладів у дітей з органічними та функціональними респіраторними патологіями

Purpose - to establish the relationship between the polymorphism T102C (rs6313) of the HTR2A serotonin receptor gene and the risk of developing somatoform and comorbid anxiety and depressive disorders in children with respiratory pathologies. Materials and methods. The study involved 90 patients, whose average age was 11.6±3.3 years (M±σ), of whom 63.3% were boys (n=57) and 36.7% were girls (n=33). The patients were divided into three groups of 30 (33.3%) people in each: with bronchial asthma (BA), with pneumonia, and with somatoform autonomic dysfunction of the respiratory system (SАDRS). Also, 30 healthy children of the control group were examined. The Children’s depression inventory M. Kovacs (1992), questionnaire was used to detect depression, and the Spielberger-Hanin test-questionnaire was used to study anxiety. In all children, serotonin and gamma aminobutyric acid concentrations in blood serum were determined by the ELISA method. Genetic studies were carried out with the determination of the T102C (rs6313) serotonin receptor 5-HTR2A genetic polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analyses were performed to determine the absolute and attributable risk, odds ratio (OR) and relative risk, and the potential harm index. The significance of differences was assessed using the two-sample Student’s t-test and the construction of a 95% confidence interval (CI) for the difference in means, as well as Fisher’s exact test, χ2 with Yates’ correction, and Pearson's coefficient. Values with p<0.05 were considered significant. Results. In general, sick carriers of the T/T allele have the highest level of personal anxiety of 46.9±8.9 points, reaching the lowest level in sick carriers of the C/C allele of 41.6±8.5 points (95% CI: 0.13-10.47; p˂0.045). The highest level of personal anxiety was also observed in patients carrying the T/T allele with SАDRS (52.3±6.3 points), reaching the lowest level in patients carrying the C/C allele - 44.8±7.7 points (95% CI: 0.26-14.7; p˂0.05). The presence of the T/T allele increases, on average, the incidence of anxiety disorders in patients with SАDRS by 41.7±16.0%, while the OR is 7.00 (95% CI: 1.38-35.47) and anxiety disorders and SАDRS in patients with BA by 44.2±16.0%, while the OR is 8.10 (95% CI: 1.61-40.76). In general, the level of serotonin in patients with respiratory pathologies with the presence of the T/T allele was lower compared to the presence of the C/C allele (95% CI: 0.084-0.656 μmol; p˂0.012). Conclusions. The presence of the T/T polymorphism is a predictor of the development of SАDRS and anxiety disorders in children (p=0.021) and increases the incidence of SАDRS and anxiety disorders in patients with BA (p=0.010), probably due to disruption of serotonin metabolism. The research was carried out in accordance with the principles of the Helsinki Declaration. The study protocol was approved by the Local Ethics Committee of the participating institution. The informed consent of the patient was obtained for conducting the studies. No conflict of interests was declared by the authors.

Effects of Dendropanax morbiferus Leaf Extract on Sleep Parameters in Invertebrate and Vertebrate Models.

Dendropanax morbiferus is highly valued in traditional medicine and has been used to alleviate the symptoms of numerous diseases owing to its excellent antioxidant activity. This study aimed to evaluate the sleep promotion and related signaling pathways of D. morbiferus extract (DE) via behavioral analysis, molecular biological techniques, and electrophysiological measurements in invertebrate and vertebrate models. In Drosophila, the group treated with 4% DE experienced decreased subjective nighttime movement and sleep bout and increased total sleeping time. Moreover, substantial changes in locomotor activity, including distance moved, velocity, and movement, were confirmed in the 4% DE-treated group. Compared to Drosophila in which insomnia and oxidative stress were induced by exposure to 0.1% caffeine, the DE-treated group improved sleep-related parameters to the level of the normal group. In the Drosophila model, exposure to 4% DE upregulated the expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-related receptors and serotonin receptor (5-HT1A), along with the expression of antioxidant-related factors, glutathione, and catalase. In the pentobarbital-induced sleep test using ICR mice, the duration of sleep was markedly increased by high concentration of DE. In addition, through the electroencephalography analysis of SD-rats, a significant increase in non-rapid-eye-movement sleep and delta waves was confirmed with high concentrations of DE administration. The increase in sleep time and improvement in sleep quality were confirmed to be related to the expression of altered GABA receptors and the enhancement of the contents of the neurotransmitters GABA and serotonin (5-HT) because of high DE administration. High-dose administration of DE also increased the expression of antioxidant-related factors in the brain and significantly decreased malondialdehyde content. Taken together, DE induced improvements in sleep quantity and quality by regulating neurotransmitter content and related receptor expression, along with high antioxidant activity, and may have a therapeutic effect on sleep disorders.

Enrichment of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content using germinated parboiled rice in Thai layered dessert (kanom chan) products

This research aimed to study the Thai layered dessert (Kanom Chan) products, focusing on the composition of germinated parboiled rice, consumer acceptance, nutritional value, GABA content, and the recommended standard recipe. The recipe comprised arrowroot flour, tapioca flour, rice flour, granulated sugar, Jasmine-infused water, undiluted coconut milk, and food coloring in specific proportions.The desserts had visually appealing attributes with distinct layers, captivating colors, a pleasing aroma, a soft texture, and a delightful taste. The recipe received moderate to high satisfaction ratings from taste testers, ranging from 7.40 to 8.18.In the study comparing the substitution of rice flour with germinated parboiled rice flour at three levels (30, 40, and 50% of net weight), desserts with a 30% substitution achieved the highest scores in sensory tests for appearance, colour, smell, taste, and overall preference. The desserts' nutritional value was moderately accepted by 100 consumers. A detailed analysis of 100 g of germinated parboiled rice revealed an energy value of 268.80 kilocalories, along with protein, fat, carbohydrate, moisture, and ash contents of 0.66, 7.44, 49.80, 41.89, and 0.21%, respectively. Additionally, the desserts contained 10.76 mg of gamma amino butyric acid (GABA). Therefore, the germinated parboiled rice Thai layered desserts (Kanom Chan) exhibited low energy and more GABA content compared to general Thai layered dessert.

Experimental evidence of the neurotoxic effect of monosodium glutamate in adult female Sprague Dawley rats: The potential protective role of Zingiber officinale Rosc. rhizomes

Strategies to prevent the health abnormalities associated with the extensive use of MSG (monosodium glutamate) as a flavoring booster are badly needed. The current study was conducted to investigate oxidative stress, inflammation, and abnormal lipid profile as the main risk factors of neurotoxicity in MSG-exposed female albino rats. Besides, the effect of concurrent consumption of Zingiber officinale rhizomes powder was studied at low doses. Twenty rats (total) were split into 4 separate groups. The 1st group was a negative control group (without any treatment), while the others received 6 mg MSG/kg. The 2nd group was left untreated, whereas the 3rd and 4th groups were given a regular laboratory diet that included ginger rhizome powder supplements (GRP, 0.5 & 1%, respectively) for six weeks. In brain tissue homogenates, exposure to MSG caused a significant depletion of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and total protein levels, while triglycerides and cholesterol contents were significantly elevated. Moreover, a noteworthy upsurge in oxidative load and inflammation markers was also noticed associated with a marked reduction of antioxidant levels, which histopathological staining verified further. The rat diet formulated with GRP, with a dose-dependent effect, resulted in increased GABA and total protein contents and attenuated inflammation, oxidative stress, abnormal lipid profile, and marked histological changes in cerebral cortical neurons of MSG-administered animals. Therefore, this study reveals that GRP shields rats against the neurotoxicity that MSG causes. The anti-inflammatory as well as antioxidant, and lipid-normalizing properties of rhizomes of ginger may be accountable for their observed neuroprotective action.

Glutamatergic abnormalities in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex in obsessive-compulsive disorder using magnetic resonance spectroscopy: A controlled study

In this study, we utilized proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) to understand the role of glutamate (Glu), glutamine (Gln), and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) of OCD patients in the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (pgACC).In total, 54 patients with OCD and 54 healthy controls (HC) matched for age and sex were included in the study. They underwent MRS in the pgACC region to calculate the concentrations of Glu, Gln, GABA, and Glu + Gln (Glx). After quality control of the MRS data, 21 OCD and 21 HC were statistically analyzed. The severity of symptoms were evaluated using the Yale–Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (YBOCS). In the statistical analysis, we compared differences between groups for the metabolites; in the OCD we analyzed the correlations with symptom severity, medication status, age, and duration of illness.A significant decrease in Glx, in Glu, and in Gln in the pgACC were observed in the OCD compared to HC. The correlation statistics showed a significant positive correlation between Glu levels and the YBOCS compulsions subscale.The results indicate that patients with OCD present a disturbance in glutamatergic metabolism in the pgACC. The results also demonstrate that these changes correlate with the severity of compulsions.

Impact of bronchopulmonary dysplasia on brain GABA concentrations in preterm infants: Prospective cohort study

BackgroundBronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is associated with cognitive-behavioral deficits in very preterm (VPT) infants, often in the absence of structural brain injury. Advanced GABA-editing techniques like Mescher-Garwood point resolved spectroscopy (MEGA-PRESS) can quantify in-vivo gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA+, with macromolecules) and glutamate (Glx, with glutamine) concentrations to investigate for neurophysiologic perturbations in the developing brain of VPT infants. ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between the severity of BPD and basal-ganglia GABA+ and Glx concentrations in VPT infants. MethodsMRI studies were performed on a 3 T scanner in a cohort of VPT infants [born ≤32 weeks gestational age (GA)] without major structural brain injury and healthy-term infants (>37 weeks GA) at term-equivalent age. MEGA-PRESS (TE68ms, TR2000ms, 256averages) sequence was acquired from the right basal-ganglia voxel (∼3cm3) and metabolite concentrations were quantified in institutional units (i.u.). We stratified VPT infants into no/mild (grade 0/1) and moderate-severe (grade 2/3) BPD. ResultsReliable MEGA-PRESS data was available from 63 subjects: 29 healthy-term and 34 VPT infants without major structural brain injury. VPT infants with moderate-severe BPD (n = 20) had the lowest right basal-ganglia GABA+ (median 1.88 vs. 2.28 vs. 2.12 i.u., p = 0.025) and GABA+/choline (0.73 vs. 0.99 vs. 0.88, p = 0.004) in comparison to infants with no/mild BPD and healthy-term infants. The GABA+/Glx ratio was lower (0.34 vs. 0.44, p = 0.034) in VPT infants with moderate-severe BPD than in infants with no/mild BPD. ConclusionsReduced GABA+ and GABA+/Glx in VPT infants with moderate-severe BPD indicate neurophysiologic perturbations which could serve as early biomarkers of future cognitive deficits.

Effect of dietary gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) modulated the growth performance, immune and antioxidant capacity, digestive enzymes, intestinal histology and gene expression of Nile tilapia (Oreochromisniloticus)

Dietary GABA plays an important role in a variety of physiological functions in animals, but this has been rarely reported in fish. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with GABA on growth, serum antioxidant indicators, digestive enzyme activities, intestinal morphology, and the gene expression of Nile tilapia. Diets containing three different GABA concentrations, 0 (control), 200 mg/kg (GABA200), and 500 mg/kg (GABA500), were fed to Nile tilapia (6.97 ± 0.34 g) for 56 days. The present study found that increasing dietary GABA content could increase the fish growth performance including final body weight, weight gain, specific growth rate, average daily gain, protein efficiency ratio, and feed efficiency compared to the control diet. Interestingly, the feed conversion ratio was improved by dietary GABA supplementation. The antioxidant enzyme activities against ammonia stress of fish fed the GABA diets were significantly higher than the corresponding control group throughout the 96-h ammonia exposure. Moreover, significant increases in digestive enzyme activities including protease, amylase and lipase were found in fish fed the GABA diets. Intestinal morphology analysis revealed increased heights and widths of intestinal villi as well as thickness of the intestinal muscularis in fish fed the GABA diets compared to the control diet. The supplementation of diets with GABA significantly increased the expression level of immune- and growth-related genes. The above results indicate that dietary GABA can modulate the growth, improve their immune response and antioxidant status, gut health and morphology and gene expression of Nile tilapia. Therefore, GABA is a promising feed additive for Nile tilapia aquaculture.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals Salt-Tolerant Mechanism in Soybean Applied with Plant-Derived Smoke Solution.

Salt stress of soybean is a serious problem because it reduces plant growth and seed yield. To investigate the salt-tolerant mechanism of soybean, a plant-derived smoke (PDS) solution was used. Three-day-old soybeans were subjected to PDS solution under 100 mM NaCl for 2 days, resulting in PDS solution improving soybean root growth, even under salt stress. Under the same condition, proteins were analyzed using the proteomic technique. Differential abundance proteins were associated with transport/formaldehyde catabolic process/sucrose metabolism/glutathione metabolism/cell wall organization in the biological process and membrane/Golgi in the cellular component with or without PDS solution under salt stress. Immuno-blot analysis confirmed that osmotin, alcohol dehydrogenase, and sucrose synthase increased with salt stress and decreased with additional PDS solution; however, H+ATPase showed opposite effects. Cellulose synthase and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase increased with salt and decreased with additional PDS solution. Furthermore, glycoproteins decreased with salt stress and recovered with additional treatment. As mitochondrion-related events, the contents of ATP and gamma-aminobutyric acid increased with salt stress and recovered with additional treatment. These results suggest that PDS solution improves the soybean growth by alleviating salt stress. Additionally, the regulation of energy metabolism, protein glycosylation, and cell wall construction might be an important factor for the acquisition of salt tolerance in soybean.

Synergistic effects of GABA and hypoglycemic drugs

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the leading cause of premature death and disability. Despite a significant number of drugs, the effectiveness of therapy aimed at normalizing the level of glycemia and preventing complications does not fully satisfy doctors and patients. Therefore, the search for new approaches for the prevention and treatment of DM and its complications continues. Significant resources are used to develop new drugs, but recently the possibility of using «old» widely available drugs with newly discovered pleiotropic properties has been substantiated. These may include preparations of gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA) and agents that directly or indirectly activate GABAergic transmission, which have a pronounced pancreatic protective effect, which has been widely discussed in foreign literature over the past 10-15 years. However, there are few such publications in the domestic literature.It has been established that the content of GABA in β-cells in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes is reduced and this correlates with the severity of the disease. Genetic suppression of GABA receptors causes a significant decrease in the mass of β-cells and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, which confirms the importance of GABA in ensuring glucose homeostasis and the advisability of replenishing the GABA deficiency in DM with its additional administration. It has been established that in animals with DM, GABA suppresses apoptosis and stimulates the regeneration of β-cells, increases β-cell mass and insulin production.Experimental data have been obtained indicating a synergistic effect of GABA when combined with glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors and sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, when a more pronounced pancreoprotective effect is observed, due to decrease in oxidative and nitrosative stress, inflammation, increase in the level of Klotho protein, Nrf-2 activity and antioxidant defense enzymes, suppression of NF-kB activity and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. As a result, all this leads to a decrease in apoptosis and death of β-cells, an increase in β-cell mass, insulin production and, at the same time, a decrease in glucagon levels and insulin resistance.The review substantiates the feasibility of using GABA and drugs with a positive GABAeric effect in combination with new generation antidiabetic agents: GLP-1 receptor agonists, DPP-4 inhibitors and SGLT-2 inhibitors in order to increase their antidiabetic potential.The search was carried out in the databases Pubmed, eLibrary, Medline. Keywords: diabetes mellitus, gamma-aminobutyric acid, glucagon-like peptide-1, GLP-1 receptor agonists, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide, dipeptidyl peptidase inhibitors, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. The search was carried out from 2000 to 2022, but the review presents the results studies published mainly in the last 3 years, due to the requirements of the journal for the maximum amount of work and the number of sources.

Anti-fatigue activities of γ-aminobutyric acid-enriched soymilk in an acute exercise-treated mouse model via regulating AMPK/PGC-1α pathway

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a four carbon non-protein amino acid, is extensively distributed in nature and shows various biological functions. In the present study, Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 367 and Lactobacillus plantarum ASCC 276, two producers with high GABA production capacity, were selected to ferment soymilk and their optimal culture conditions were investigated. Then, the anti-fatigue ability of GABA-enriched soy protein isolate (SPI) fermented milk was assessed by the weight-loaded forced swimming test and the related biochemical parameters were recorded to find possible reasons. Results demonstrated that soymilk added with glucose was capable of yielding the highest GABA content when used Streptococcus thermophilus 1303 and Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 367 as starter bacteria, and exhibited the high anti-fatigue effect in mice, mainly manifested in extending the forced swimming time, suppressing the blood lactic acid, urea nitrogen and lactate dehydrogenase content, and promoting the level of liver glycogen, muscle glycogen and muscle ATP. More importantly, SPI fermented milk beverages decreased reactive oxygen species levels via improving the concentrations of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase and inhibiting the content of malondialdehyd and promoted energy reserves by stimulating the expression of AMPK and PGC-1α in muscle, thus showing its fatigue-alleviating effect. Our study disclosed that there was a positive correlation between GABA content and anti-fatigue-related indicators of SPI fermented milk, which will be of interest for developing fermented milk with high anti-fatigue activity.

Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid and Glutamate Concentrations in the Striatum and Anterior Cingulate Cortex Not Found to Be Associated with Cognitive Flexibility.

Behavioral flexibility and goal-directed behavior heavily depend on fronto-striatal networks. Within these circuits, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and glutamate play an important role in (motor) response inhibition, but it has remained largely unclear whether they are also relevant for cognitive inhibition. We hence investigated the functional role of these transmitters for cognitive inhibition during cognitive flexibility. Healthy young adults performed two paradigms assessing different aspects of cognitive flexibility. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to quantify GABA+ and total glutamate/glutamine (Glx) levels in the striatum and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) referenced to N-acetylaspartate (NAA). We observed typical task switching and backward inhibition effects, but striatal and ACC concentrations of GABA+/NAA and Glx/NAA were not associated with cognitive flexibility in a functionally relevant manner. The assumption of null effects was underpinned by Bayesian testing. These findings suggest that behavioral and cognitive inhibition are functionally distinct faculties, that depend on (at least partly) different brain structures and neurotransmitter systems. While previous studies consistently demonstrated that motor response inhibition is modulated by ACC and striatal GABA levels, our results suggest that the functionally distinct cognitive inhibition required for successful switching is not, or at least to a much lesser degree, modulated by these factors.

The role of neurotransmitters in mediating the relationship between brain alterations and depressive symptoms in patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

A growing body of evidence from neuroimaging studies suggests that inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is associated with functional and structural alterations in the central nervous system and that it has a potential link to emotional symptoms, such as anxiety and depression. However, the neurochemical underpinnings of depression symptoms in IBD remain unclear. We hypothesized that changes in cortical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA+) and glutamine (Glx) concentrations are related to cortical thickness and resting-state functional connectivity in IBD as compared to healthy controls. To test this, we measured whole-brain cortical thickness and functional connectivity within the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), as well as the concentrations of neurotransmitters in the same brain region. We used the edited magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) with the MEGA-PRESS sequence at a 3 T scanner to quantitate the neurotransmitter levels in the mPFC. Subjects with IBD (N = 37) and healthy control subjects (N = 32) were enrolled in the study. Compared with healthy controls, there were significantly decreased GABA+ and Glx concentrations in the mPFC of patients with IBD. The cortical thickness of patients with IBD was thin in two clusters that included the right medial orbitofrontal cortex and the right posterior cingulate cortex. A seed-based functional connectivity analysis indicated that there was higher connectivity of the mPFC with the left precuneus cortex (PC) and the posterior cingulate cortex, and conversely, lower connectivity in the left frontal pole was observed. The functional connectivity between the mPFC and the left PC was negatively correlated with the IBD questionnaire score (r = -0.388, p = 0.018). GABA+ concentrations had a negative correlation with the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) score (r = -0.497, p = 0.002). Glx concentration was negatively correlated with the HAMD score (r = -0.496, p = 0.002) and positively correlated with the Short-Form McGill Pain Questionnaire score (r = 0.330, p = 0.046, uncorrected). There was a significant positive correlation between the ratio of Glx to GABA+ and the HAMD score (r = 0.428, p = 0.008). Mediation analysis revealed that GABA+ significantly mediated the main effect of the relationship between the structural and functional alterations and the severity of depression in patients with IBD. Our study provides initial evidence of neurochemistry that can be used to identify potential mechanisms underlying the modulatory effects of GABA+ on the development of depression in patients with IBD.