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International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2023The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic effect of pomegranate seed oil as a source of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) (-9,-11,-13; punicic acid)...
Pomegranate Seed Oil as a Source of Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLnA) Has No Effect on Atherosclerosis Development but Improves Lipid Profile and Affects the Expression of Lipid Metabolism Genes in apoE/LDLR Mice.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-atherosclerotic effect of pomegranate seed oil as a source of conjugated linolenic acid (CLnA) (-9,-11,-13; punicic acid) compared to linolenic acid (LnA) and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (-9,-11) in apoE/LDLR mice. In the LONG experiment, 10-week old mice were fed for the 18 weeks. In the SHORT experiment, 18-week old mice were fed for the 10 weeks. Diets were supplied with seed oils equivalent to an amount of 0.5% of studied fatty acids. In the SHORT experiment, plasma TCh and LDL+VLDL cholesterol levels were significantly decreased in animals fed CLnA and CLA compared to the Control. The expression of in liver was four-fold increased in CLnA group in the SHORT experiment, and as a consequence the expression of its target gene was three-fold increased, whereas the liver's expression of and were decreased in CLnA mice only in the LONG experiment. Punicic acid and CLA isomers were determined in the adipose tissue and liver in animals receiving pomegranate seed oil. In both experiments, there were no effects on the area of atherosclerotic plaque in aortic roots. However, in the SHORT experiment, the area of atherosclerosis in the entire aorta in the CLA group compared to CLnA and LnA was significantly decreased. In conclusion, CLnA improved the lipid profile and affected the lipid metabolism gene expression, but did not have the impact on the development of atherosclerotic plaque in apoE/LDLR mice.
Topics: Mice; Animals; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Pomegranate; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Lipid Metabolism; Linolenic Acids; Atherosclerosis; Plant Oils; Apolipoproteins E; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated
PubMed: 36675252
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021737 -
Journal of Food Science and Technology Mar 2018During the industrial manufacturing of pomegranate juice, large amounts of pomace are produced. The aim of this work was to find the effective method to dry pomegranate...
During the industrial manufacturing of pomegranate juice, large amounts of pomace are produced. The aim of this work was to find the effective method to dry pomegranate pomace to open new commercial applications for this co-product. The effects of three drying methods: (i) convective drying (CD) at 50, 60, and 70 °C; (ii) vacuum microwave drying (VMD) at 240, 360, and 480 W, and (iii) a combined method (CPD-VMFD); convective pre-drying (60 °C) followed by vacuum microwave finish drying (360 W), on drying kinetics and quality of PomP (pomegranate pomace obtained after preparing pomegranate juice by squeezing only arils) were evaluated. The shortest treatments were VMD at 240 and 360 W (52 and 33 min, respectively); besides, these treatments led to interesting values of the green-red coordinate, *, (12.2 and 4.1, respectively), total phenolic content (4.0 and 4.1 mg eq gallic acid g dry weight, respectively), and antioxidant activity (30.8 and 29.0 µmol g dry weight, respectively). On the other hand, this study demonstrated that this co-product is a rich source of punicic acid (average value = 66.4%), being a good opportunity for the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Moreover, no significant changes in the fatty acid profile was observed as affected by the drying treatments, and no off-flavors were generated by any of the drying methods.
PubMed: 29487450
DOI: 10.1007/s13197-017-3022-9 -
Frontiers in Nutrition 2023The food industry generates a diverse range of waste byproducts during fruit processing, which can be repurposed to create functional foods and other valuable...
The food industry generates a diverse range of waste byproducts during fruit processing, which can be repurposed to create functional foods and other valuable commodities. In this particular study, leftover agro-waste from pomegranate juice was valorized to obtain pomegranate seed oil (PSO), while utilizing sunflower oilseed cake to produce sunflower meal protein concentrate (SMPC). These two extracted components were then combined as ingredients to produce High Nutria Omega 5 (HNO5) cookies. To ensure the quality and viability of pomegranate seed oil, a comprehensive set of laboratory analytical procedures were employed to evaluate its characteristics. Subsequently, different ratios of pomegranate seed oil and sunflower meal protein concentrate were utilized to develop the HNO5 cookie products. These cookies underwent thorough sensory, physicochemical, storage, and proximate evaluations as well as efficacy studies to assess their overall nutritional quality and shelf-life properties. As compared to the control feed, the findings of the renal and liver functional tests indicated a favorable effect on ALT, AST, ALP, serum urea, creatinine, albumin, globulins, total proteins, and A/G ratio. The results revealed that PSO and SMPC cookies containing 15% PSO and 15% SMPC exhibited stability in numerous physicochemical and sensory assessments. The punicic acid in HNO5 cookies significantly reduced the effects of starvation in rats and progressively improved several metabolic processes and overall health profiles. Graphical Abstract.
PubMed: 37457988
DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2023.1199645 -
Nutrients Feb 2021Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), rumenic acid (RmA), and punicic acid (PunA) are claimed to influence several physiological functions including... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
A Three-Month Consumption of Eggs Enriched with ω-3, ω-5 and ω-7 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Significantly Decreases the Waist Circumference of Subjects at Risk of Developing Metabolic Syndrome: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Trial.
Alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), rumenic acid (RmA), and punicic acid (PunA) are claimed to influence several physiological functions including insulin sensitivity, lipid metabolism and inflammatory processes. In this double-blind randomized controlled trial, we investigated the combined effect of ALA, DHA, RmA and PunA on subjects at risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Twenty-four women and men were randomly assigned to two groups. Each day, they consumed two eggs enriched with oleic acid (control group) or enriched with ALA, DHA, RmA, and PunA (test group) for 3 months. The waist circumference decreased significantly (-3.17 cm; < 0.001) in the test group. There were no major changes in plasma insulin and blood glucose in the two groups. The dietary treatments had no significant effect on endothelial function as measured by peripheral arterial tonometry, although erythrocyte nitrosylated hemoglobin concentrations tended to decrease. The high consumption of eggs induced significant elevations in plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL)- and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol ( < 0.001), which did not result in any change in the LDL/HDL ratio in both groups. These results indicate that consumption of eggs enriched with ALA, DHA, RmA and PunA resulted in favorable changes in abdominal obesity without affecting other factors of the metabolic syndrome.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Cardiometabolic Risk Factors; Cholesterol, HDL; Diet; Docosahexaenoic Acids; Double-Blind Method; Eggs; Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; Female; Food, Fortified; Humans; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated; Linolenic Acids; Lipoproteins, LDL; Male; Metabolic Syndrome; Middle Aged; Obesity, Abdominal; Waist Circumference; alpha-Linolenic Acid
PubMed: 33670720
DOI: 10.3390/nu13020663 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2022Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy has saved numerous lives of cancer patients; however, it only exerts efficacy in 10-15% of patients with colorectal cancer. Fecal microbiota...
Anti-PD-1 immunotherapy has saved numerous lives of cancer patients; however, it only exerts efficacy in 10-15% of patients with colorectal cancer. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a potential approach to improving the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy, whereas the detailed mechanisms and the applicability of this combination therapy remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the synergistic effect of FMT with anti-PD-1 in curing colorectal tumor-bearing mice using a multi-omics approach. Mice treated with the combination therapy showed superior survival rate and tumor control, compared to the mice received anti-PD-1 therapy or FMT alone. Metagenomic analysis showed that composition of gut microbiota in tumor-bearing mice treated with anti-PD-1 therapy was remarkably altered through receiving FMT. Particularly, genus, including FMT-increased , , and FMT-decreased might contribute to the enhanced efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy. Furthermore, metabolomic analysis upon mouse plasma revealed several potential metabolites that upregulated after FMT, including punicic acid and aspirin, might promote the response to anti-PD-1 therapy their immunomodulatory functions. This work broadens our understanding of the mechanism by which FMT improves the efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy, which may contribute to the development of novel microbiota-based anti-cancer therapies.
Topics: Animals; Bacteroides; Colorectal Neoplasms; Fecal Microbiota Transplantation; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Metagenome; Mice
PubMed: 35911731
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.874922 -
Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2022Pomegranate is a polyphenol-rich fruit. Studies have shown that extracts prepared from its juice or from different parts of the pomegranate plant have various biological...
Pomegranate is a polyphenol-rich fruit. Studies have shown that extracts prepared from its juice or from different parts of the pomegranate plant have various biological activities including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, cardioprotective, and antidiabetic. The therapeutic potential has been attributed to various phytochemicals, including ellagic acid, punicic acid, flavonoids, anthocyanidins, anthocyanins, flavonols, and flavones. This review focuses on the scientific evidence of pomegranate juice as hypoglycemic, emphasizing the chemical composition and the possible mechanisms of action associated with this effect. Studies were identified using the PubMed, Scopus, and ISI Web of Science databases to identify relevant articles focused on the hypoglycemic effect of pomegranate juice. The physiological responses to pomegranate juice are reported here, including a decrease of oxidative stress damage, an increase of insulin-dependent glucose uptake, maintenance of β-cell integrity, inhibition of nonenzymatic protein glycation, an increase of insulin sensitivity, modulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, inhibition of α-amylase, inhibition of α-glucosidase and dipeptidyl peptidase-4, and decreases in inflammation. Overall, we found a significant hypoglycemic effect of pomegranate in in vitro and in vivo studies and we summarize the potential mechanisms of action.
PubMed: 35326203
DOI: 10.3390/antiox11030553 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2020This study investigated the effect of blanching pomegranate seeds (PS) on oil yield, refractive index (RI), yellowness index (YI), conjugated dienes (K232), conjugated...
This study investigated the effect of blanching pomegranate seeds (PS) on oil yield, refractive index (RI), yellowness index (YI), conjugated dienes (K232), conjugated trienes (K270), total carotenoid content (TCC), total phenolic compounds (TPC) and DPPH radical scavenging of the extracted oil. Furthermore, phytosterol and fatty acid compositions of the oil extracted under optimum blanching conditions were compared with those from the oil extracted from unblanched PS. Three different blanching temperature levels (80, 90, and 100 °C) were studied at a constant blanching time of 3 min. The blanching time was then increased to 5 min at the established optimum blanching temperature (90 °C). Blanching PS increased oil yield, K232, K270, stigmasterol, punicic acid, TPC and DPPH radical scavenging, whereas YI, β-sitosterol, palmitic acid and linoleic acid were decreased. The RI, TCC, brassicasterol, stearic acid, oleic acid and arachidic acid of the extracted oil were not significantly ( > 0.05) affected by blanching. Blanching PS at 90 °C for 3 to 5 min was associated with oil yield, TPC and DPPH. Blanching PS at 90 °C for 3 to 5 min will not only increase oil yield but could also improve functional properties such as antioxidant activity, which are desirable in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, nutraceutical and food industries.
Topics: Antioxidants; Biphenyl Compounds; Carotenoids; Cholestadienols; Dietary Supplements; Eicosanoic Acids; Fatty Acids; Food Technology; Free Radical Scavengers; Linoleic Acid; Linolenic Acids; Oleic Acid; Phenol; Phenols; Phytosterols; Picrates; Plant Oils; Pomegranate; Refractometry; Seeds; Stearic Acids; Temperature
PubMed: 32486338
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25112554 -
Food Chemistry. Molecular Sciences Dec 2021The biological importance of fatty acids in different metabolic routes and/or specific activities with medical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical interest makes it increasingly...
The biological importance of fatty acids in different metabolic routes and/or specific activities with medical, cosmetic, pharmaceutical interest makes it increasingly necessary to know in detail the lipid composition of foods. The objective of this work was to identify and characterize the fatty acids profile of seven pomegranate varieties with commercial interest, differentiating between its edible (seeds) and non-edible (peel plus carpellary membranes) parts, aiming to have a holistic and characteristic vision. The results confirmed the compositional fatty acids variations of the pomegranate, both between different varieties and the parts of the fruit. 29-101 variety presents a fatty acid profile with a higher potential for antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties. The content of punicic acid in the Kingdom variety makes it the most pomegranate varieties interesting for its nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, food and medical applications. The specific fatty acid content could define the best pomegranate variety depending on its potential use/application.
PubMed: 35415665
DOI: 10.1016/j.fochms.2021.100046 -
The Journal of Biological Chemistry May 2012Conjugated linolenic acids (CLNs), 18:3 Δ(9,11,13), lack the methylene groups found between the double bonds of linolenic acid (18:3 Δ(9,12,15)). CLNs are produced by...
Conjugated linolenic acids (CLNs), 18:3 Δ(9,11,13), lack the methylene groups found between the double bonds of linolenic acid (18:3 Δ(9,12,15)). CLNs are produced by conjugase enzymes that are homologs of the oleate desaturases FAD2. The goal of this study was to map the domain(s) within the Momordica charantia conjugase (FADX) responsible for CLN formation. To achieve this, a series of Momordica FADX-Arabidopsis FAD2 chimeras were expressed in the Arabidopsis fad3fae1 mutant, and the transformed seeds were analyzed for the accumulation of CLN. These experiments identified helix 2 and the first histidine box as a determinant of conjugase product partitioning into punicic acid (18:3 Δ(9cis,11trans,13cis)) or α-eleostearic acid (18:3 Δ(9cis,11trans,13trans)). This was confirmed by analysis of a FADX mutant containing six substitutions in which the sequence of helix 2 and first histidine box was converted to that of FAD2. Each of the six FAD2 substitutions was individually converted back to the FADX equivalent identifying residues 111 and 115, adjacent to the first histidine box, as key determinants of conjugase product partitioning. Additionally, expression of FADX G111V and FADX G111V/D115E resulted in an approximate doubling of eleostearic acid accumulation to 20.4% and 21.2%, respectively, compared with 9.9% upon expression of the native Momordica FADX. Like the Momordica conjugase, FADX G111V and FADX D115E produced predominantly α-eleostearic acid and little punicic acid, but the FADX G111V/D115E double mutant produced approximately equal amounts of α-eleostearic acid and its isomer, punicic acid, implicating an interactive effect of residues 111 and 115 in punicic acid formation.
Topics: Arabidopsis; Linolenic Acids; Momordica charantia; Plant Proteins; Plants, Genetically Modified; gamma-Glutamyl Hydrolase
PubMed: 22451660
DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M111.325316 -
International Journal of Fertility &... Oct 2021Pomegranate is an ancient fruit containing Punicalagin, which has known as an effective antioxidant. Pomegranate peel was recognized as a phenol and tannin source, and...
BACKGROUND
Pomegranate is an ancient fruit containing Punicalagin, which has known as an effective antioxidant. Pomegranate peel was recognized as a phenol and tannin source, and pomegranate seed contains unique fatty acid (Punicic acid). Limited information exists about the influences of pomegranate peel and seed on antioxidant enzymes and proteins in the male reproduction system. This study was performed to determine the pomegranate peel and seed effects on the expression of antioxidant genes and DJ-1 protein in ram's testis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
In this experimental study, twenty-one mature Iranian rams were randomly divided into three groups (n=7 in each group), and fed experimental diets consisted of a control diet (C), a diet containing dry pomegranate seed pulp (S), and a diet containing pomegranate peel (P) for 80 days. All rams were offered isoenergetic and isonitrogenous rations. Testicular tissue samples were collected, and expression of , and genes was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). In addition, western blotting was used to evaluate DJ-1 expression at the protein level.
RESULTS
and mRNA levels in the peel group were significantly (P<0.05) higher than control. mRNA level was increased (P<0.05) in the seeds group than in the control group. and expression were statistically not affected significantly by the experimental diet. Data analysis showed a significant (P<0.05) increase (1.5-fold) in the expression level of DJ-1 in peel groups than in control.
CONCLUSION
The expression of antioxidant genes and DJ-1 protein in ram testes are more influenced by pomegranate peel than seed.
PubMed: 34913293
DOI: 10.22074/IJFS.2021.141725.1052