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In the last years, the transport and release mechanism of bioactive compounds has been studied. The liposomes are multivesicular systems that enhance the absorption, stability, and transport of these compounds. The glucosamine is an amino-monosaccharide, it has been associated with many biological activities, but its bioavailability and oral stability are very low. For this reason, the glucosamine formulation in liposomal systems is a good alternative. In this paper, the physicochemical characterization of a liposomal formulation based on glucosamine and vitamin D was realized, this formulation is commercialized as a diet supplement. The determination of pH, degrees Brix, refraction index and specific gravity was realized to characterize the formulation. On the other hand, the structure, size (diameter) and membrane thickness of the liposomes were measured by microscopic observation. From the formulation analysis, it is possible to affirm that the liposomes are multivesicular structures. Also, the external membrane thickness is higher than the membrane thickness of the encapsulated liposomes, indicating the liposomes could be multilamellar structures. The multilamellar and multivesicular structures are related to a high stability, resulting in a beneficial aspect of the formulation. Additionally, the dimension and structure conformation are related with an efficient encapsulation process of the active components, which are glucosamine and vitamin D. UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR) UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Farmacia

The study of has increased in the last decades. One of the mechanisms that has acquired great relevance is to formulate using liposomal vesicles. Liposomes are structures that enh and transport of active compounds, which is reflected by an increase in the bioactivity of the encapsulated molecules. The guarana extract has proven to be rich in methylxanthines and phenolic compounds. These metabolites are exert a stimulating effect. For this reason, it has become popular in nutritional products. was characterized physicochemically a nutritional product based on guarana, vitamins In this product the active components were encapsulated in liposomal vesicles, which were analyzed to know their structure, size (diameter) and membrane thickness. liposomes are multivesicular and multilam greater stability of the vesicles, which represents a favorable aspect for the formulation. hand, the data obtained from the physicochemical characterization can be used as part of control performed on the formulation. Additionally, they represent a starting point for improvements and optimization of this nutritional product. Copyright©2017, Madrigal-Redondo et al. This is an open access article distributed under the use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacéuticas (INIFAR) UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Farmacia

Chicken essence (CE) is a popular traditional remedy in Asia, which is believed to improve cognitive functions. CE company claimed that the health benefits were proven with research studies. A systematic review was conducted to determine the cognitive-enhancing effects of CE. We systematically searched a number of databases for randomized controlled trials with human subjects consuming CE and cognitive tests involved. Cochrane’s Risk of Bias (ROB) tool was used to assess the quality of trials and meta-analysis was performed. Seven trials were included, where six healthy subjects and one subject with poorer cognitive functions were recruited. One trial had unclear ROB while the rest had high ROB. For executive function tests, there was a significant difference favoring CE (pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of −0.55 (−1.04, −0.06)) and another with no significant difference (pooled SMD of 0.70 (−0.001, 1.40)). For short-term memory tests, no significant difference was found (pooled SMD of 0.63 (−0.16, 1.42)). Currently, there is a lack of convincing evidence to show a cognitive enhancing effect of CE.

A new nutritional product (SF-1008C) containing a high proportion of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) and low proportion of aromatic amino acids (AAA) and methionine was tested to see its effect on the impaired protein metabolism and abnormal nutritional state frequently observed in patients with advanced liver cirrhosis. A sharp increase in plasma BCAA levels and fall of AAA and methionine levels were found following the administration of an SF-1008C-supplemented diet to healthy controls and cirrhotic patients, which the BCAA levels increased only slightly following an isocaloric control diet. Blood ammonia levels increased within the normal range transiently following the diets. The SF-1008C-supplemented diet was given for 2 weeks to cirrhotic patients with histories of hepatic encephalopathy, who were taking a low-protein diet because of hyperammonemia. Serum prealbumin levels, nitrogen balance, molar ratio of plasma BCAA/phenylalanine and tyrosine, the number connection test and electroencephalograms improved during the period of the experimental diet. The results, therefore, indicate that a BCAA-supplemented diet is well tolerated by patients with advanced cirrhosis and useful for treatment of impaired protein metabolism. Furthermore, this product is beneficial in preventing hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotics.