RESVERATROL - Diabetes

The accumulating evidence indicates the benefits of resveratrol in diabetes and diabetic complications. It is known that resveratrol affects insulin secretion and blood insulin concentration. In animals with hyperinsulinemia, resveratrol was found to reduce blood insulin. Moreover, numerous data indicate that in diabetic rats, resveratrol is able to reduce hyperglycemia. The mechanism of resveratrol's action is complex and is demonstrated to involve both insulin-dependent and insulinindependent effects. These data point to the potential possibility of use of resveratrol in preventing and/or treating both obesity and diabetes.

Fuente: Katarzyna Szkudelska, Tomasz Szkudelski, "Resveratrol, obesity and diabetes", European Journal of Pharmacology 635 (2010) 1–8.

RESVERATROL - Enfermedades Cardíacas

Varias evidencias experimentales indican que el resveratrol puede proteger contra una diversidad de enfermedades cardíacas, tal como se muestra en la figura siguiente.



Fuente: Manika Das, Dipak K. Das, "Resveratrol and cardiovascular health", Molecular Aspects of Medicine, In Press, Available online 15 September 2010

RESVERATROL - Enfermedad de Crohn y Colitis Ulcerosa

La enfermedad de Crohn es una enfermedad crónica autoinmune en el cual el sistema inmunitario del individuo ataca su propio intestino produciendo inflamación. Este mal se engloba dentro del grupo de las enfermedades inflamatorias intestinales, del cual también forma parte la colitis ulcerosa.

El resveratrol es una fitoalexina presente en las uvas y en productos derivados como vino, y en otros alimentos como las ostras, el maní y las nueces.

En estudios realizados en ratas con colitis ulcerosa, se ha encontrado que la administración oral de resveratrol ejerce un marcado efecto inhibidor de la enfermedad.

Fuente: Jun Yao et al., "Anti-oxidant Effects of Resveratrol on Mice with DSS-induced Ulcerative Colitis", Archives of Medical Research 41 (2010) 288-294.

BERRIES - Ácido Elágico

Desde hace algún tiempo hemos escuchado decir que los berries tienen propiedades anticancerígenas. ¿A qué de debería ello?

Tratemos de justificar lo anterior, en base a evidencias científicas.
Los berries (arándanos, frutillas, frambuesas, moras, murta, etc.) son un tipo de frutas que poseen fibras que mejoran el tránsito intestinal y son una buena fuente de vitamina C, ácido cítrico, ácido elágico, flavonoides, derivados del ácido fólico, etc.

Analicemos, uno de sus componentes.

¿Había escuchado hablar del ácido elágico (ellagic acid)?
Varios estudios han mostrado que este ácido tiene efecto benéficos en varios tipos de cánceres: mamas, piel, esófago, colon, próstata y páncreas[http://www.phytochemicals.info/phytochemicals/ellagic-acid.php].

Y, ¿que cantidad de este ácido tienen los berries?

En la figura siguiente se muestra su contenido, en microgramos de ácido por cada gramo de fruta deshidratada por liofilización [G.D. Stoner, Prevention of gastrointestinal tract cancers with lyophilized berries, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine & Public Health, The Ohio State University].



¡Parece que vamos a tener que empezar a consumir una mayor cantidad de berries!

BERRIES - Secado por aire vs. liofilizado

Sublimation drying (liofilizado) was far more effective in preserving valuable food compounds than traditional air-drying. Stored lyophilisates of fruits maintained the properties of the raw material much better than air-dried products, in spite of exposure to atmospheric oxygen. There were considerable differences between the three species examined in maintaining total polyphenolic content, total anthocyanin content and antioxidant properties. The highest percentage losses of polyphenols and anthocyanins were found in stored bilberries, with very little accompanying change in antioxidant potential. Air-dried strawberries and raspberries showed reduced antioxidant properties after storage despite relatively high levels of polyphenols and anthocyanins.

Fuente:MAGDALENA MICHALCZYK, RYSZARD MACURA and IWONA MATUSZAK, "THE EFFECT OF AIR-DRYING, FREEZE-DRYING AND STORAGE ON THE QUALITY AND ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY OF SOME SELECTED BERRIES", Journal of Food Processing and Preservation 33 (2009) 11–21

BERRIES - Actividad biológica y propiedades medicinales

The diversity of bioactive compounds found in berry fruits and processed fruit products is reflected in the broad spectrum of their biological and medicinal properties.
Chokeberry fruit and its products supplement the treatment of hypertension, atherosclerosis and gastrointestinal tract disorders. The bioactive compounds found in chokeberry strengthen blood vessel walls and improve their elasticity.
Chokeberry juice improves peripheral circulation of the blood and boosts the body’s resistance to infections [30].
The compounds found in bilberry also have a beneficial impact on the circulatory system. Bilberry anthocyanins improve the elasticity and permeability of the capillary vessels of the eyeball, thus improving microcirculation of the blood and vision at dusk and at night. Owing to those properties, the anthocyanins of bilberry are applied in the production of ophthalmic preparations [117, 118].
Cranberry juice is used in the prevention and treatment of urinary system infections [119, 120, 121], as well as in the treatment of periodontitis [122–124] and other disorders. Yamanaka et al. [123] reported that cranberry juice can inhibit the colonization of the tooth surface by oral streptococci, and thus slow the development of dental plaque. By using a microplate system, these authors found
that the high-molecular weight constituents of cranberry juice inhibited biofilm formation by the tested streptococci. Labrecque et al. [124] suggest that cranberry NDM (nondialyzable material) may contribute to the prevention and treatment of periodontitis by reducing the capacity of Porphyromonas gingivalis to colonize periodontal sites. Howell [122] reported that high-molecular weight proanthocyanidins
(condensed tannins) from cranberry juice inhibit the adherence of uro-pathogenic fimbriated Escherichia coli and thus offer protection against urinary tract infections. Furthermore, a high-molecular weight cranberry fraction was also reported to inhibit the sialic acid-specific adhesion of Helicobacter pylori to human gastric mucosa, a critical step for gastric ulcer development [125].
In recognition of their biological activity, phenolic compounds have been long used as natural remedies in the treatment of various diseases (circulatory, respiratory,
digestive and urinary system ailments). They are applied in the production of various pharmaceutical products due to their ability to seal capillary vessels and improve circulation. Despite widespread research and the documented wide range of biological activity of those compounds, the mechanism responsible for their beneficial effect on the human body has not been sufficiently investigated [30, 33, 56, 104, 117, 120, 122].
In addition to provitamin activity and antioxidant properties, carotenoids, including β-carotene, have several other functions in the body at the molecular level where they act as immunomodulators, inhibit mutagenesis and prevent malignant transformations [80]. In addition to its antioxidant properties, vitamin C participates in other important biochemical transformations such as the synthesis
of collagen, neurotransmitters and hormones. It facilitates the absorption of nonheme iron and stimulates immunological resistance. Vitamin C is a detoxicant—it
neutralizes various mutagenic and cancerogenic compounds which are formed in the alimentary system or which enter the digestive tract with food. Thanks to those
properties as well as its antioxidant activity, vitamin C is regarded as an effective remedy in inhibiting the development of cancer [126, 127].

Fuente:Agnieszka Szajdek & E. J. Borowska, "Bioactive Compounds and Health-Promoting Properties of Berry Fruits: A Review", Plant Foods Hum Nutr (2008) 63:147–156

FLAVONOIDES y los Berries

There is an increasing amount of research into the health benefits of berry flavonoids. Moreover, the consumption of flavonoid-rich food is on the increase; with women in particular showing a interest in eating a diet whichmay benefit their long-termhealth. The aim of this reviewwas to examine the evidence for the benefits of berry flavonoids for cardiovascular health, cancer and cognition in the menopausal
woman. Due to the limited amount of clinical data on this subject both in vitro and animal as well as human studies have been included.
These data appear to support epidemiological studies that suggest cardiovascular benefits, cancer prevention and cognitive improvement fromberry flavonoid consumption. However to date, it is not possible to be definitive about the specific berry type, preparation or regime which confers maximum benefits, or to give specific advice to menopausal women. Limited data from a combination of pre-clinical and clinical studies suggest that the addition of berry flavonoids to the diet has moderate effects on cardiovascular function in subjects at risk and potential preventative effects in oesophageal cancer. Evidence for cognitive benefits is limited to animal data but shows promise.

Fuente: A.L. Huntley, "The health benefits of berry flavonoids for menopausal women: Cardiovascular disease, cancer and cognition", Maturitas 63 (2009) 297–301

ACIDO ELAGICO y la muerte de células cancerígenas

The potential cytotoxic and anti-proliferative activities of ellagic acid (a naturally occurring bioactive compound in berries, grapes, and nuts) was evaluated using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), normal human lung fibroblast cells HEL 299, Caco-2 colon, MCF-7 breast, Hs 578T breast, and DU 145 human prostatic cancer cells. Ellagic acid at concentration in the range 10–100 micro-mol/L did not affect the viability of normal fibroblast cells during a 24-hour incubation. An increase in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence of approximately 18–21% was observed in normal cells incubated with ellagic acid. In contrast, ellagic acid at 1–100 micro-mol/L dosedependently inhibited HUVEC tube formation and proliferation on a reconstituted extracellular matrix and showed strong anti-proliferative activity against the colon, breast, and prostatic cancer cell lines investigated. The most sensitive cells were the Caco-2, and the most resistant were the breast cancer cells. Ellagic acid induced cancer cell death by apoptosis as shown by the microscopic examination of cell gross morphology. Ellagic acid induced reduced cancer cell viability as shown by decreased ATP levels of the cancer cells. After 24 hours incubation of 100 micro-mol/L of ellagic acid with Caco-2, MCF-7, Hs 578T, and DU 145 cancer cells, ellagic acid suppressed fetal bovine serum (FBS) stimulation of cell migration. The apoptosis induction was accompanied by a decreased in the levels of pro-matrix metalloproteinase-2 (pro-MMP-2 or gelatinase A), pro-matrix metalloproteinase-9 (pro-MMP-9 or gelatinase B), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF165) in conditioned media. The results suggest that ellagic acid expressed a selective cytotoxicity and anti-proliferative activity, and induced apoptosis in Caco-2, MCF-7, Hs 578T, and DU 145 cancer cells without any toxic effect on the viability of normal human lung fibroblast cells. It was also observed that the mechanism of apoptosis induction in ellagic acid–treated cancer cells was associated with decreased ATP production, which is crucial for the viability of cancer cells.

Fuente: Jack N. Losso, Rishipal R. Bansode, Alfred Trappey, Hiba A. Bawadi, Robert Truax, "In vitro anti-proliferative activities of ellagic acid", Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry 15 (2004) 672–678

ENVEJECIMIENTO CEREBRAL - Efecto de los berries

Findings reviewed above suggest that oxidative stress and inflammation may be the major sources contributing to neuronal and behavioral deficits observed in the aging process and age-related neurodegenerative diseases [14,16, 68, 165–168].
A growing interest in dietary antioxidants has been heightened by the revelation that the plethora of natural antioxidants found in plant food matrices, such as fruits and vegetables, possess neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and chemoprotective properties [138,169–171].
In this regard, berryfruit may be especially potent in free radical quenching activity as assessed via the water-soluble ORAC index [132, 172, 173]. More importantly, it appears that berryfruit such as blueberries may also exert their antioxidant/anti-inflammatory effects by directly altering the oxidative and heat
stress signaling pathways. Additionally, blueberries have been shown to increase the expression of MAP kinases [144], as well as neuronal signaling associated with learning and memory, that result in increases in neurogenesis, accompanied by increases in the levels of ERK and IGF-1 expression [10]. These alterations, coupled with increases in downstream mediators such as cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), might be mechanistically involved in the enhanced cognitive and motor behavioral performance in berryfruit-supplemented animals in senescence. Importantly, results from C. elegans indicate that [6], in addition to their antioxidant activities, blueberries may increase mean life span by increasing thermotolerance by regulation of osmotic stress. Thus, nutritional interventions with high antioxidant fruits such as berryfruits may prove to be a valuable asset in strengthening the brain against the ravages of time and retard or prevent the development of age-related neurodegenerative diseases.

Fuente: FRANCIS C. LAU, BARBARA SHUKITT-HALE AND JAMES A. JOSEPH, "NUTRITIONAL INTERVENTION IN BRAIN AGING - Reducing the effects of inflammation and oxidative stress, Subcellular Biochemistry, 1, Volume 42, Inflammation in the Pathogenesis of Chronic Diseases, Section VI, Pages 299-318

METALLOPROTEINASA - Una enzima relacionada con varias enfermedades: Cardiovasculares, Neuropsiquiátricas y Cáncer

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9) has been implicated in numerous somatic illnesses, including cardiovascular disorders and cancer. Recently, MMP9 has been shown to be increasingly important in several aspects of central nervous system activity. Furthermore, a pathogenic role for this enzyme has been suggested in such neuropsychiatric disorders as schizophrenia, bipolar illness, and multiple sclerosis. In this paper, the results of biochemical and molecular-genetic studies on MMP9 that have been performed in these pathological conditions will be summarized. Furthermore, I hypothesize that the MMP9 gene, as shown by functional −1562 C/T polymorphism studies, may be mediating the relationship of neuropsychiatric illnesses (schizophrenia, bipolar mood disorder, multiple sclerosis) that are comorbid with cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Fuente: Janusz K. Rybakowski, "Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9)—A Mediating Enzyme in Cardiovascular Disease, Cancer, and Neuropsychiatric Disorders", Cardiovascular Psychiatry and Neurology, Volume 2009 (2009)

ARANDANOS y Metalloproteinasa

Blueberry flavonoids inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity in DU145 human prostate cancer cells

Regulation of the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), the major mediators of extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, is crucial to regulate ECM proteolysis, which is important in metastasis. This study examined the effects of 3 flavonoid-enriched fractions (a crude fraction, an anthocyanin-enriched fraction, and a proanthocyanidin-enriched fraction), which were prepared from lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), on MMP activity in DU145 human prostate cancer cells in vitro. Using gelatin gel electrophoresis, MMP activity was evaluated from cells after 24-hr exposure to blueberry fractions. All fractions elicited an ability to decrease the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9. Of the fractions tested, the proanthocyanidin-enriched fraction was found to be the most effective at inhibiting MMP activity in these cells. No induction of either necrotic or apoptotic cell death was noted in these cells in response to treatment with the blueberry fractions. These findings indicate that flavonoids from blueberry possess the ability to effectively decrease MMP activity, which may decrease overall ECM degradation. This ability may be important in controlling tumor metastasis formation.

Fuente: Michael D. Matchett, Shawna L. MacKinnon, Marva I. Sweeney, Katherine T. Gottschall-Pass, and Robert A.R Hurta, "Blueberry flavonoids inhibit matrix metalloproteinase activity in DU145 human prostate cancer cells", Biochem. Cell Biol. 83(5): 637–643 (2005)

GROSELLAS - Propiedades

Las Grosellas contienen 90% de agua, mucha Fibra, no tiene casi calorías, Hidratos de Carbono.

Las Grosellas contienen:
-Vitaminas: C , A y E.
- Minerales: Potasio, Magnesio, Calcio y Hierro.
Otros: Acido Cítricos, Acido Málico, Acido Oxálico, pigmentos naturales (antonianos y carotenoides) =Antioxidantes. Taninos.

Propiedades beneficiosas para:
- Resistencia a las infecciones
- Anemia ferropática.
- Problemas de transito intestinal, estreñimiento (gran poder laxante)
- Hipertensión.
- Transmisión y generación del impulso nervioso y muscular.
- Anticancerígeno.
- Problemas cardiovasculares y degenerativos.
- Embarazo, lactancia.
- Gota.
- Refuerza el sistema inmunológico, formación de anticuerpos. Refuerza las defensas y produce glóbulos rojos y blancos.
- Celiaquía.
- Antiinflamatorio.
- Astringentes, si las bayas están verdes.
- Piel, dientes, huesos.
- Laxantes, Tónicas y depurativas, si las bayas están maduras.
- Colesterol.
- Estrés.