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Abstract Background Atherosclerosis is a major manifestation of the pathophysiology underlying cardiovascular disease. Flaxseed oil (FO) and α-lipoic acid (LA) have been reported to exert potential benefit to cardiovascular system. This study tried to assess the effect of supplement of FO and LA combination on the atherosclerosis risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet. Methods LA was dissolved in flaxseed oil to a final concentration of 8 g/kg (FO+LA) when used. The rodent diet contained 20% fat. One-fifth of the fat was soybean oil and the others were lard (HFD group), or 75% lard and 25% FO+LA (L-FO+LA group), or 50% lard and 50% FO+LA (M-FO+LA group), or FO+LA (H-FO+LA group). Animals were fed for 10 weeks and then killed for blood collection. Results Supplement of FO and LA combination significantly enhanced plasma antioxidant defense capacities, as evaluated by the marked increase in the activities of SOD, CAT and GPx as well as the level of GSH, and the significant reduction in lipid peroxidation. Simultaneous intake of FO and LA also reduced plasma TG, TC and LDL-C contents and elevated the ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C. Besides, in parallel with the increase of FO and LA combination, plasma IL-6 and CRP levels were remarkably reduced. Conclusion Supplement of FO and LA combination may contribute to prevent atherogenesis by improving plasma oxidative stress, lipid profile and inflammation.

Abstract Background The erythrocyte membrane lesion is a serious diabetic complication. A number of studies suggested that n-3 fatty acid could reduce lipid peroxidation and elevate α- or γ-tocopherol contents in membrane of erythrocytes. However, evidence regarding the protective effects of flaxseed oil, a natural product rich in n-3 fatty acid, on lipid peroxidation, antioxidative capacity and membrane deformation of erythrocytes exposed to high glucose is limited. Methods Human peripheral blood erythrocytes were isolated and treated with 50 mM glucose to mimic hyperglycemia in the absence or presence of three different doses of flaxseed oil (50, 100 or 200 μM) in the culture medium for 24 h. The malondialdehyde (MDA) and L-glutathione (GSH) were measured by HPLC and LC/MS respectively. The phospholipids symmetry and membrane fatty acid composition of human erythrocytes were detected by flow cytometry and gas chromatograph (GC). The morphology of human erythrocyte was illuminated by ultra scanning electron microscopy. Results Flaxseed oil attenuated hyperglycemia-induced increase of MDA and decrease of GSH in human erythrocytes. Human erythrocytes treated with flaxseed oil contained higher C22:5 and C22:6 than those in the 50 mM glucose control group, indicating that flaxseed oil could reduce lipid asymmetric distribution and membrane perturbation. The ultra scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometer have also indicated that flaxseed oil could protect the membrane of human erythrocytes from deformation at high glucose level. Conclusion The flaxseed oil supplementation may prevent lipid peroxidation and membrane dysfunction of human erythrocytes in hyperglycemia.

Abstract Background Constipation is a very common health problem in the world. Intake of sufficient amount of dietary fibers is a cornerstone in the prevention and treatment of constipation. As a traditional medicine, flaxseed has been used to treat constipation for centuries, but the controlled trials are rare. The purpose of the present study was to assess that whether partially defatted flaxseed meal (PDFM) has the potential role to facilitate fecal output in normal and experimental constipated mice. Methods After supplemented with 2.5%, 5% and 10% (w/w) PDFM (L-, M- and H -PDFM) for 14 days, the constipation models of mice were induced by atropine-diphenoxylate. The small intestinal transit rates, start time of defecation, amount of defecation and wet weight of feces were researched in normal and constipation model mice. Results M- and H-PDFM significantly increase small intestinal transit rates in constipation model mice. All dose of PDFM markedly shortened the start time of defecation and M- and H-PDFM significantly increase stool frequency and weight in both normal and constipation model mice. Conclusions PDFM may be a useful laxative to facilitate fecal output in normal and constipation conditions.

Abstract Background Micronutrients polyphenols, tocopherols and phytosterols in rapeseed exert potential benefit to cardiovascular system, but most of these micronutrients are removed by the refining process. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of rapeseed oil fortified with these micronutrients on the atherosclerosis risk factors in rats fed a high-fat diet. Methods The rodent diet contained 20% fat whose source was refined rapeseed oil (RRO) or fortified refined rapeseed oil with low, middle and high quantities of these micronutrients (L-, M- and H-FRRO). Forty male SD rats were divided into four groups. One group received RRO diet and other groups received L-, M- and H-FRRO diet for 10 weeks. Results Micronutrients supplementation significantly increased plasma antioxidant defense capacities, as evaluated by the significant elevation in the activities of GPx, CAT and SOD as well as the level of GSH, and the significant decline in lipid peroxidation. These micronutrients also reduced the plasma contents of TG, TC and LDL-C and increased the ratio of HDL-C/LDL-C. In addition, in parallel with the enhancement of these micronutrients, plasma levels of IL-6 and CRP declined remarkably. Conclusion Rapeseed oil fortified with micronutrients polyphenols, tocopherols and phytosterols may contribute to prevent atherogenesis by ameliorating plasma oxidative stress, lipid profile and inflammation.

The major purpose of this study was to determine the effects of procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod on cAMP-response element-binding protein phosphorylation in hippocampus and cerebral cortex in cognitively impaired aged rats. Based on Morris water maze, aged unimpaired and aged impaired rats were chosen from aged rats. Comparing with young and aged unimpaired animals, aged impaired rats exhibited significant reduction in hippocampal but not cortical cAMP-response element-binding phosphorylation states as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor messenger RNA and protein expressions, which were accompanied by decreased phosphorylation states of hippocampal extracellular signal-related kinase (42/44) and calcium calmodulin kinase IV. Lotus seedpod supplementation (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight intragastric administration) for 7 weeks significantly reversed all these declines happened in hippocampus except calcium calmodulin kinase IV phosphorylation levels. These results suggested that lotus seedpod might enhance cAMP-response element-binding--dependent transcription through the activation of extracellular signal-related kinase signalling pathway, which might contribute to its ameliorative effects on cognitive deficits in aged impaired animals. Key Words: Procyanidins--Memory--CREB--BDNF--ERK--Hippocampus. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glq094

The alleviative effect of procyanidins extracted from the lotus seedpod (LSPC) on oxidative stress in various tissues was evaluated by determining the activities of the antioxidant enzymes and the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in heart, liver, lung, kidney, skeletal muscle, and serum in aged rats. Aging led to antioxidant deficit in various tissues in this study, which is confirmed by remarkable increased lipid peroxidation, whereas the change patterns of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and GSH were diverse in various tissues of aged rats. LSPC treatment (50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) modified the activity of SOD, CAT, and GPx as well as GSH content alteration in these tissues, which reversed the age-related antioxidant deficit in aged rats. However, the regulatory patterns on the activities of these enzymes and GSH content by LSPC treatment were different according to the tissues in aged rats. Key Words: Procyanidins--Aging--Oxidative stress--Lipid peroxidation--Antioxidant enzymes. doi: 10.1093/gerona/glp211

Atherosclerosis (AS) is the main cause of cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated Yirui (YR) capsules, whose ingredients are available in health food stores, against AS and the underlying mechanisms. Male apolipoprotein E-deficient mice fed a high-fat diet for 10 weeks developed severe aortic lesions, but YR significantly decreased the plaque area in the total aorta and aortic root. YR affected the serum lipid profile by significantly reducing total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglyceride (TG), and oxidative modification of LDL-C (Ox-LDL) levels. In addition, multi-cytokine analysis revealed that higher serum levels of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-27 (IL-27), tumor necrosis factor alpha, interferon gamma, and regulated on activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES), which were induced by a high-fat diet, declined with YR treatment. These results suggest that YR reduces the atherosclerotic plaque burden, thereby alleviating AS by modulating the lipid profile and inhibiting inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to use a chemometric study to compare the in-vitro antioxidant activities and bioactive compounds of flaxseed based on the variety and geographical origins, and further explore the specific components constructed the endogenous antioxidant system of flaxseed in China. The differential contents of α-linolenic acid (35.83-58.91%), lignans (11.37-33.31 mg/g), total phenolic acids (109.93-246.88 mg/100 g) and phytosterols (56.52-125.12 mg/g) of 32 flaxseed varieties were observed. Concomitantly, the in-vitro antioxidant activities varied from 32.56 to 46.22 mg TE/100 g, 0.58 to 1.08 mg TE/g, and 14.22 to 36.14 mmol TE/g as determined by the 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline 6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, respectively. Significant correlations were found between the antioxidant activities and contents of free syringic acid, p-coumaric acid glucoside and secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) (p < 0.01). Principal component analysis showed a relatively dispersed distribution between samples, which was not effective enough to determine the geographical origins of the flaxseed samples. Hierarchical cluster analysis allowed flaxseed samples to be grouped based on their in-vitro antioxidant activities and bioactive component contents, primarily in relation to variety specificity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present, oil pressing is still the main process for extracting oil from flaxseed in China, but it cannot achieve efficient utilization of functional materials in flaxseed, such as flaxseed gum and lignin secoisolariciresinol diglycoside (SDG). So a comprehensive process that produces multiple products from flaxseed needs to be developed. On the basis of the structural characteristics that the flaxseed gum is in the outermost layer of flaxseeds, the grinding degumming technology using high-speed rotating sand roller grind flaxseed surface is studied before in our laboratory. Model 150 flaxseed degumming machine was designed and manufactured according to this technology, it is composes of motor, sand roller, sieve, gum powder collector etc. Electronic motor is used in the machine to drive the sand roller with high-speed rotation inner the sieve to grind flaxseed, the gum powder flow out the sieve and is collected, the sand roller length and diameter is 800 and 146 mm, the cylindrical sieve diameter is 158 mm with uniform distribution of F1.5 mm sieve size. In this paper, the feasibility of Model 150 flaxseed degumming machine was studied. Based on that, the research work of flaxseed degumming and oil pressing co-process was carried out with the commodity flaxseed from Gansu as the research material. The results showed that: the machine was able to obtain flaxseed gum-powder successfully when flaxseed flow rate was controlled at 40 to 220 kg/h. The rate of gum-powder grinded from flaxseed was 6.5%±0.3%. The viscosity of the defatted gum-powder was (5100 ± 520) mPaos. The oil contents of flaxseed and the degummed flaxseed were 39.30%±0.25% and 41.62%±0.22%, respectively. By using the method of adding 30% flaxseed cake to degummed flaxseed, the oil of degummed flaxseed can be screw pressed successfully. The oil yield pressed from degummed flaxseed was 34.65%±0.43%, higher than that pressed twice from flaxseed (33.94% ± 0.43%)when the flaxseed was pressed with the screw pressing machine without degumming. By the combination of degumming and screw-pressing for flaxseed processing, two benefits were achieved, they were: increase number of products and high pressed oil yield. The research results can provide reference for flaxseed processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main proposal of this study was to evaluate in vivo whether flaxseed oils fortified with micronutrients would have beneficial effects on lipid profile and antioxidant status in high-fat fed rats. Male Wistar rats were fed synthetic diets containing 10% of flaxseed oil (FO), phytosterols (PS) fortified FO (PS-FO), vitamin E (VE) fortified FO (VE-FO), VE, and PS fortified FO (VE-PS-FO), respectively, for 4 wk. The results showed that VE fortified FO enhanced the enzymatic (SOD and GPX) and nonenzymatic (GSH and VE) antioxidant system, lowered the lipid peroxide (TBARS) concentration compared with FO ( P < 0.05). And FO fortified with PS significantly reduced the plasma TG, TC and LDL-C levels, and hepatic TG and TC levels of rats compared with FO ( P < 0.05), but had no significant effect on antioxidant defense capacities. Combined addition of VE and PS in FO had a synergetic effect. These results indicated that flaxseed oils fortified micronutrients VE and PS may contribute to reduce the risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) by improving plasma antioxidant defenses and lipids profiles. Practical Application: Flaxseed oil usually contains greater than 50% of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) and is a desire origin for n-3 PUFA. But consuming high dose of n-3 PUFA could lead to oxidative damage through free radical-chain reaction in cellular and subcellular membranes. Our studies showed that a regular intake of VE and PS fortified flaxseed oils increased antioxidant defenses and ameliorated lipids profile in high-fat fed rats, and these indicated that the flaxseed oil fortified with these micronutrients might reduce the incidence of CVD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brain insulin resistance, induced by neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, contributes to neurodegeneration, that is, processes that are associated with Aβ accumulation and TAU hyperphosphorylation. Here, we tested the effect of chronic administration of melatonin (MLT) on brain insulin resistance and cognition deficits caused by a high‐fat diet (HFD) in aged rats. Results showed that MLT supplementation attenuated peripheral insulin resistance and lowered hippocampal oxidative stress levels. Activated microglia and astrocytes and hippocampal levels of TNF‐α in HFD‐fed rats were reduced by MLT treatment. Melatonin also prevented HFD‐induced increases in beta‐amyloid (Aβ) accumulation and TAU phosphorylation in the hippocampus. In addition, impairments of brain insulin signaling elicited by long‐term HFD were restored by MLT treatment, as confirmed by ex vivo insulin stimulation. Importantly, MLT reversed HFD‐induced cognitive decline as measured by a water maze test, normalized hippocampal LTP and restored CREB activity and BDNF levels as well as cholinergic neuronal activity in the hippocampus. Collectively, these findings indicate that MLT may exhibit substantial protective effects on cognition, via restoration of brain insulin signaling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Atherosclerosis (AS) is mainly responsible for cardiovascular diseases. The present study investigated whether Lipingshu capsule (LPS), whose ingredients are present in health food stores, has beneficial effect on AS. Methods: C57BL/6 J mice were given a low fat rodent diet and assigned as control group (CON). ApoE−/− mice were placed on high fat rodent diet and randomly separated into high fat diet (HFD) group and HFD + LPS group whose animals were given 0.9 g/kg.BW LPS daily for 10 weeks. Atherosclerotic lesions in aorta and aortic root were evaluated. Serum lipids and multiple cytokine were measured. Results: ApoE−/− mice fed with high fat diet had serious aortic lesions, whereas LPS markedly decreased plaque area of the total aorta and of the aortic root. LPS recovered the serum lipid profiles by substantially reducing TC, LDL-C, TG and Ox-LDL contents. Multi-cytokine analysis revealed greater serum levels of IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, GMCSF, RANTES and TNF-α induced by high fat diet slumped with LPS treatment. Conclusion: LPS reduces atherosclerotic lesions and thus alleviates AS by lipid profile modulation and inflammation inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract High-fat diet (HFD) consumption induces oxidative stress and microbial dysbiosis, the latter of which plays a vital role in the development of metabolic syndrome. We hypothesized that sinapic acid and resveratrol treatment might be a potential strategy to ameliorate the redox state and gut microbiota composition imbalance. In this study, rats were randomised into five groups and fed a high-fat diet supplemented with resveratrol (400 mg/kg), sinapic acid (200 mg/kg) or a combination of both polyphenols. Administration of resveratrol effectively reduced fasting blood glucose levels (p < 0.05) and increased the HDL-c levels (p < 0.05). Reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde levels were decreased in the colon (p < 0.05), total antioxidant capacity was increased in liver (p < 0.05) by sinapic acid consumption in HFD rats. Moreover, polyphenol supplementation impacted the intestinal microbiome at different taxonomic levels by improving the proportion of butyrate producer Blautia (p < 0.05) and Dorea (p < 0.01) in the Lachaospiraceae family and inhibiting the growth of bacterial species associated with diseases and inflammation such as Bacteroides (p < 0.05) and Desulfovibrionaceaesp (p < 0.01). Spearman correlation analysis showed that some oxidative stress variables were directly correlated with changes in gut microbiota. Our findings demonstrated qualitative differences between the treatments in their abilities to alleviate HFD-induced oxidative stress and modulate the gut microbiota. These findings might be helpful to better understand the effects of bioactive constituents on nutrition for human health. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Resveratrol and sinapic acid can ameliorate the redox state in HFD rats. • Polyphenols consumption can modulate the gut microbiota without changing the Firmicutes / Bacteroidetes ratio. • The suppression of oxidative stress by two Polyphenols was associated with improved diversity of the gut microbiota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The linseed gum/cellulose composite hydrogels were successfully fabricated by mixing cellulose and linseed gum solutions dissolved in the NaOH/urea aqueous system and cross-linked with epichlorohydrin. The morphology and structure of the composite hydrogels were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The swelling ratio and water retention properties were investigated. The results revealed that linseed gum mainly contributed to water adsorption, whereas the cellulose acted as a backbone to strengthen the porous structure. This work provided a simple way to prepare cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogels, which could be potentially applied as an effective water conservation material in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new MoS 2 nanosheet-based fluorescent biosensor for protein detection is developed. This method combines the terminal protection of small-molecule-linked DNA (TPSMLD) and exonuclease III (Exo III)-aided DNA recycling amplification to convert protein assay into the highly sensitive detection of DNA. Taking the streptavidin (SA)-biotin system as a model, a detection limit of 0.67 ng mL −1 SA is obtained with a good selectivity. The study demonstrated here not only offers simple, sensitive and selective detection method for protein assay, but also will expand the application of the emerging 2D nanomaterials into biological assay. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]