Journal of Functional Foods

Publications in this journal

• Article: Pistachio (Pistacia vera var Kerman) from Argentinean cultivars. A natural product with potential to improve human health

  Gabriela Feresin, María P. Fabani, Lorena Luna, María V. Baroni, Magdalena V. Monferran, Maximiliano Ighani, Alejandro Tapia, Daniel A. Wunderlin, Gabriela Egly Feresin
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  ABSTRACT: The chemical profile, mineral content as well as antioxidant activities of three cultivars of Pistacia vera cv Kerman were investigated. The total phenolic (TP) content flavonoids (FT) and anthocyanins (TA) were measured. Additionally, the profile of polyphenols was analyzed. A slight, not significant, increment was observed in TP content between cultivars with different age (5, 9 and 11 years old). The 9 years old cultivar showed the highest FL value, while the 11 years old cultivar had the higher TA content. Main polyphenols were separated by HPLC and identified by electrospray ionization (ESI) coupled to quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (LC–ESI–QTOF–MS). Gallic acid and (+)-catechin were present in higher amounts. The presence of myricetin, isoquercitrin and a dimer of procyanidin are reported for the first time in pistachio. Additionally, K, Ca and Mg were found in high proportion. The highest antioxidant capacity was measured in the 11 years old pistachio cultivar. This work presents the first evidence that Pistacia vera cv Kerman from Argentinean cultivars could be considered as a functional food or ingredient in a diet, with potential to improve human health
  Journal of Functional Foods 06/2013;
• Article: In vitro and in vivo antioxidant activity of musts and skin extracts from off-vine dried Vitis vinifera cv. “Tempranillo” grapes

  López de Lerma N, Peinado J, Peinado RA
  Journal of Functional Foods 04/2013;
• Article: Asiatic acid prevents lipid peroxidation and improves antioxidant status in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes

  Vinayagam Ramachandran, Ramalingam Saravanan
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  ABSTRACT: Oxidative stress is a common pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus and asiatic acid (AA) plays an important role in ameliorating those difficulties. The present study was designed the protective effects of AA on altered lipid peroxidation products, enzymic and nonenzymic antioxidants in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in experimental rats by single dose STZ (40 mg/kg b.w.) injection. Diabetic rats showed significantly increased levels of plasma glucose, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, lipid hydroperoxides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, bilirubin, creatine kinase, urea, uric acid, creatinine and decreased levels of plasma insulin. The activities of enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase and the levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and reduced glutathione were decreased in diabetic rats. Oral treatment with AA (20 mg/kg b.w.) showed near normalized levels of plasma glucose, insulin, lipid peroxidation products, enzymatic and nonenzymatic markers in diabetic rats. The results demonstrate that AA possesses potent antioxidant effect comparable with glibenclamide in improving antihyperglycemia and attenuating antioxidant status in diabetic rats.
  Journal of Functional Foods 03/2013;
• Article: Impact of microalgal feed supplementation on omega-3 fatty acid enrichment of hen eggs

  Charlotte Bruneel, Charlotte Lemahieu, Ilse Fraeye, Eline Ryckebosch, Koenraad Muylaert, Johan Buyse, Imogen Foubert
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  ABSTRACT: In many Western countries, the average intake of the health beneficial omega-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), is below the recommended level, raising interest in food enrichment with n-3 LC-PUFA. To that end, the impact of feed supplementation with EPA rich autotrophic microalgal biomass on n-3 L-PUFA enrichment of eggs was studied. Hens were divided in three groups receiving different diets for 28 days: a standard diet (C) for laying hens, (C) supplemented with 5.0% spray dried Nannochloropsis gaditana, and (C) to which 10.0% of these microalgae were added. Microalgal EPA was hardly accumulated in yolk lipids, but preferentially converted to DHA and deposited in yolk phospholipids. The efficiency of deposition of microalgal n-3 LC-PUFA to eggs was rather low. Switching back to standard feed ensured that the n-3 LC-PUFA level obtained in enriched eggs decreased back to that of the control eggs. Moreover, the colour of egg yolk shifted from yellow to more orange-red, which is presumably due to transfer of microalgal carotenoids to egg yolk. Thus, the use of autotrophic microalgae as supplement for standard feed offers an alternative to current sources for the production of DHA enriched eggs.
  Journal of Functional Foods 03/2013;
• Article: Antioxidant and antiviral activities of lipophilic epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) derivatives

  Zhong, Ma, C.M. and Shahidi
  Journal of Functional Foods 02/2013; 4:87.
• Article: Protective effects of epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) derivatives on azoxymethane-induced colonic tumorigenesis in mice

  Zhong, Y, Chiou, Y.S, Pan, M.H, Tang, C.H, Shahidi, F
  Journal of Functional Foods 02/2013; 4:323.
• Article: Wild bitter gourd increased metabolic rate and up-regulated genes related to mitoc hondria biogenesis and UCP-1 in mice

  Kan-Ni Lu, Chin Hsu, Mei-Ling Chang, Ching-jang Huang
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  ABSTRACT: The effects of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia, BG) on metabolic rate, mRNA expressions of UCP-1, genes related to mitochondria biogenesis and glucose homeostasis were investigated. C57BL/6J male mice were fed modified AIN-93G diets supplemented without (the Basal group) or with 5%(w/w) lyophilized BG powder (the BGP group) for 22 weeks. The BGP group had higher O2 consumption, CO 2 production and respiratory quotient in the dark phase (p < 0.05) measured at 5th week. Compared to the Basal group, the BGP group had lower body weight and adipose mass, higher mRNA of UCP1, PGC -1alpha and NrF1 in white adipose tissue (p < 0.05), PGC-1 alpha and NrF1 or tfam in skeletal muscle and brown adipose tissue (p < 0.05) and better glucose homeostasis. These results imply that BGP might increase mitochondria biogenesis and metabolic rate , which may lead to less fat accumulation and contribute, at least in part, to the improved control of glucose homeostasis.
  Journal of Functional Foods 02/2013;
• Article: Journal - Functional Foods in Health and Disease: Anti - cancer activities of Ganoderma lucidum : active ingredients and pathways

  Chi H.J. Kao, Amalini C. Jesuthasan, Karen S. bishop, Marcus P. Glucina, and Lynnette R. Ferguson
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  ABSTRACT: Ganoderma lucidum, commonly referred to as Lingzhi, has been used in Asia for health promotion for centuries. The anti-cancer effects of G. lucidum have been demonstrated in both in vitro and in vivo studies. In addition, the observed anti-cancer activities of Ganoderma have prompted its usage by cancer patients alongside chemotherapy. The main two bioactive components of G. lucidum can be broadly grouped into triterpenes and polysaccharides. Despite triterpenes and polysaccharides being widely known as the major active ingredients, the different biological pathways by which they exert their anti-cancer effect remain poorly defined. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of action may lead to more widespread use of Ganoderma as an anti-cancer agent. The aim of this paper is to summarise the various bioactive mechanisms that have been proposed for the anti-cancer properties of triterpenes and polysaccharides extracted from G. lucidum. A literature search of published papers on NCBI with keywords “Ganoderma” and “cancer” was performed. Among those, studies which specifically examined the anti-cancer activities of Ganoderma triterpenes and polysaccharides were selected to be included in this paper. We have found five potential mechanisms which are associated with the anti-cancer activities of Ganoderma triterpenes and three potential mechanisms for Ganoderma polysaccharides. In addition, G. lucidum has been used in combination with known anti-cancer agents to improve the anti-cancer efficacies. This suggests Ganoderma’s bioactive pathways may compliment that of anti-cancer agents. In this paper we present several potential anti-cancer mechanisms of Ganoderma triterpenes and polysaccharides which can be used for the development of Ganoderma as an anti-cancer agent.
  Journal of Functional Foods 01/2013; 3(2):48-65.
• Article: Bioactive compounds and health benefits of exotic tropical red–black berries

  Andre´ Gustavo Vasconcelos Costa, Diego F. Garcia-Diaz, Paula Jimenez, Pollyanna Ibrahim Silva
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  ABSTRACT: Tropical countries produce a large amount of native and exotic fruit species which are potentially interested in the food industry. The nutritional and therapeutic values in this fruits are mainly due to the presence of bioactive compounds, especially polyphenols. The anthocyanins belong to the flavonoid family and represent a group of pigments responsible for most of the colors in fruits, leaves, flowers, stems and roots of plants. Several investigations have focused on the health benefits of consumption of red–black fruit, claiming these as natural sources of bioactive compounds with highly promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Furthermore, the consumption of red–black berries brings a positive impact on several chronic conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. This article summarizes the foremost bioactive compounds and the health properties of exotic tropical red–black berries, specifically Euterpe oleracea, Eugenia uniflora, Myrciaria cauliflora, Myrciaria dubia, Syzygium cumini.
  Journal of Functional Foods 01/2013;
• Article: Challenges in providing credible scientific evidence of health benefits of dietary polyphenols

  Chang Yong Lee
  Journal of Functional Foods 01/2013; 5(1):524-526.
• Article: Phenolic composition and antioxidant capacities of ten Algerian date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars: A comparative study

  Zahia Benmeddoura, Emira Mehinagicb, Dominique Le Meurlayb, Hayette Louaile
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  ABSTRACT: Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacities of ten Algerian date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) cultivars were investigated. The total phenolic, flavonoid, flavonol and condensed tannin contents of the different cultivars were measured using colorimetric methods. Free phenolic acid and flavonoid profiles of the date cultivars were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC-DAD), while antioxidant capacities were evaluated in vitro using scavenging assays of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and hydrogen peroxide, ferric reducing power, and ferrous ion chelating ability. The results showed that the cultivars exerted different antioxidant capacities, and had different phenolic acid and flavonoid patterns. Among the tested cultivars, Ghazi, Arechti and Sebt Mira possessed the strongest antioxidant capacities and the highest phenolic contents. Four phenolic acids (gallic, ferulic, coumaric and caffeic acids) and five flavonoids (isoquercetrin, quercetrin, rutin, quercetin and luteolin) were identified and quantified. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Journal of Functional Foods 01/2013; 5(1):346-354.