EVALUATION OF PEPPER (CAPSICUM ANNUUM) FOR MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION

Natural α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibitors from food‐grade plants offer an attractive strategy to control postprandial hyperglycemia for type 2 diabetes management. Concurrently associated macrovascular complication of hypertension can be managed by similar extracts by inhibition of angiotensin I‐converting enzyme (ACE ). In this study, nine types of pepper were investigated for inhibitory activity against said enzymes. Several pepper extracts had high α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity, which was not correlated to total phenolic content and free radical scavenging‐linked antioxidant activity. Select extracts such as Green pepper and Long hot pepper had less or no inhibitory effect on the α‐amylase activity, which indicates the potential for reduced side effects. Among various water extracts, Yellow, Cubanelle and Red pepper had the highest ACE inhibitory activity. Therefore, combinations of pepper could be screened for dietary management of type 2 diabetes, associated hypertension and microvascular complications linked to oxidative dysfunction, and provide the basis for clinical studies.     

OVER-EXPRESSION OF PROLINE-LINKED ANTIOXIDANT PATHWAY AND MODULATION OF PHENOLIC METABOLITES IN LONG LIFE SPAN CLONAL LINE OF ORIGANUM VULGARE IN RESPONSE TO ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION

Tissue culture-generated shoot-based clonal lines of oregano that have a short and long life span during in vitro culture were investigated to determine the role of proline-linked pentose phosphate pathway in modulating phenolic response following ultraviolet (UV) exposure. This novel reductant cycling pathway for energy and oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is more efficient in long life span O-17 clonal line in response to UV and this supported antioxidant response. UV treatment stimulated rosmarinic acid and associated antioxidant enzyme response in O-17 clonal line compared with short life span O-3 clonal line. Additionally, O-17 clonal line had higher glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and guaicol peroxidase activity in response to UV exposure compared with O-3 clonal line, indicating stimulation of anabolic pathway supporting PPP during UV treatment. The stimulation of proline dehydrogenase (PDH) activity in O-17 clonal line in response to UV indicated a switch to PDH-linked energy pathway via proline oxidation.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

This oregano clonal model of ultraviolet (UV)-induced oxidative stress management has implications for designing dietary phytochemicals to manage oxidation-linked disease in humans. Further, the correlation between UV-linked inducibility of phenolic-linked antioxidant enzyme response through proline-linked pentose phosphate pathway and life span of in vitro shoot cultures of specific oregano clonal lines can be a good model for aging studies. The metabolic response link to aging and protective phytochemicals can be investigated in oregano tissue cultures, and phenolic extracts from various responding clonal lines could be explored in other eukaryotic aging models.     

APPLE POSTHARVEST PRESERVATION IS LINKED TO PHENOLIC CONTENT AND SUPEROXIDE DISMUTASE ACTIVITY

The postharvest preservation of apples indicated that well-preserved varieties of apples had increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity initially, and the activity declined during later storage as apples deteriorated. The increased SOD activity linked to better preservation correlated with higher phenolic content and free-radical scavenging-linked antioxidant activity. Well-preserved varieties were able to maintain a more stable pentose phosphate pathway (measured by the activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) throughout the storage period. Proline content increased with proline dehydrogenase (PDH) activity in the initial storage period, indicating proline catabolism supporting potential adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) synthesis. During later storage, succinate dehydrogenase activity increased, while PDH activity declined indicating a shift to tricarboxylic acid cycle and likely nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen (NADH) generation for ATP synthesis. This shift, coupled with the declining SOD activity, coincides with rapid deterioration. The guaiacol peroxidase activity generally declined in late stages, indicating postharvest deterioration.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Understanding the phenolic-linked antioxidant response during postharvest preservation of apples has implications for understanding critical control points for preservation and determination of better biochemical markers associated with preservation and long-term storage. These insights would also help elucidate markers such as high phenolic content and antioxidant enzyme response pathways that would allow for selection and breeding of varieties that would preserve better. Higher phenolic content not only improves the postharvest storage of apples but have also shown human health benefits.     

EVALUATION OF RED CURRANTS (RIBES RUBRUM L.), BLACK CURRANTS (RIBES NIGRUM L.), RED AND GREEN GOOSEBERRIES (RIBES UVA-CRISPA) FOR POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION USING IN VITRO MODELS

Red currants (Ribes rubrum L.), black currants (Ribes nigrum L.), red and green gooseberries (Ribes uva-crispa) were evaluated for the total phenolics, antioxidant capacity based on 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay and functionality such as in vitro inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) relevant for potential management of hyperglycemia and hypertension. The total phenolics content ranged from 3.2 (green gooseberries) to 13.5 (black currants) mg/g fruit fresh weight. No correlation was found between total phenolics and antioxidant activity. The major phenolic compounds were quercetin derivatives (black currants and green gooseberries) and chlorogenic acid (red currants and red gooseberries). Red currants had the highest α-glucosidase, α-amylase and ACE inhibitory activities. Therefore red currants could be good dietary sources with potential antidiabetes and antihypertension functionality to compliment overall dietary management of early stages of type 2 diabetes.     

INHIBITORY POTENTIAL OF WINE AND TEA AGAINST α-AMYLASE AND α-GLUCOSIDASE FOR MANAGEMENT OF HYPERGLYCEMIA LINKED TO TYPE 2 DIABETES

ABSTRACT

Natural α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibitors from food‐grade plants offer an attractive strategy to manage postprandial hyperglycemia for type 2 diabetes management via control of starch breakdown and intestinal glucose absorption. In this study, four random sources of red and white wines as well as four types of teas were investigated for α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase inhibitory potential. Water extracts of black tea had the highest α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity, followed by white tea and oolong tea. All the randomly selected red wines had significant α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity compared to white wine. The α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity of the tea and wines correlated to the phenolic content, antioxidant activity and phenolic profile of the extracts. Further, these extracts had less or no α‐amylase inhibitory activity, indicating potential to overcome the side effects of undigested starch. This research has relevance for managing hyperglycemia and related oxidation‐linked dysfunction and concurrently reducing problems of undigested starch.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

In this study anti‐diabetic‐relevant potential of wines and teas were confirmed in four types of red and white wines as well as four types of commonly available teas using in vitro enzyme assays for alpha‐glucosidase and alpha‐amylase inhibitory activities. In vitro inhibitory activities of these enzymes provide a strong biochemical rationale for further in vivo studies and dietary management strategy for type 2 diabetes through the control of glucose absorption. Further this phenolic antioxidant‐enriched dietary strategy using specific beverage combinations can generate a whole food profile that has the potential to reduce hyperglycemia‐induced pathogenesis and also associated complications linked to cellular oxidation stress.     

POTENTIAL OF SELECT YOGURTS FOR DIABETES AND HYPERTENSION MANAGEMENT

Select brands of dairy and soy yogurt, enriched with strawberry, blueberry and peach, were screened for total phenolic content, antioxidant activity and inhibition of α‐glucosidase, pancreatic α‐amylase inhibition and the angiotensin converting enzyme‐I (ACE‐I). Blueberry yogurt had the highest phenolic content in all selected brands (A, 104 µg/mL; B, 91 µg/mL; C, 105 µg/mL; D, 79 µg/mL). Blueberry yogurt also had the highest activity in terms of 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity (A, 93%; B, 82%; C, 93%; D, 80%) and α?glucosidase inhibition (A, 58%; B, 78%; C, 90%; D, 83%), which correlated to phenolic content. The α?amylase inhibitory activity was not correlated to any specific type of yogurt, whether it was plain, soy based or fruit enriched. α‐Amylase inhibition ranged from 48 to 69% in brands that were plain or soy based and/or fruit enriched. However, with ACE‐I inhibition, the highest activity was found in soy‐based and fruit‐enriched yogurts.     

HEALTH BENEFITS OF APPLE PHENOLICS FROM POSTHARVEST STAGES FOR POTENTIAL TYPE 2 DIABETES MANAGEMENT USING IN VITRO MODELS

An increasing number of studies indicate that regular intake of fruits and vegetables have clear links to reduced risk of chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The beneficial effects in many cases have been attributed to the phenolic and antioxidant content of the fruits and vegetables. Apples are a major source of fiber and contain good dietary phenolics with antioxidant function. Previous epidemiological studies have indicated that intake of apples reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Our studies indicate that this reduced risk is potentially because of the modulation of postprandial glucose increase by phenolics present in apples via inhibition of α -glucosidase. Phenolic content was evaluated during 3 months of postharvest storage of four varieties of apples and results indicated positive linkage to enhanced postharvest preservation and α -glucosidase inhibition. These in vitro results along with existing epidemiological studies provide strong biochemical rationale for further animal or human clinical studies.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The understanding of phenolic-linked antioxidant enzyme responses during postharvest storage of apples has implications for using the same phenolic functional ingredients toward health benefits such as α-glucosidase inhibition linked to glycemic index control associated with type 2 diabetes. Therefore strategies to understand phenolic-linked postharvest preservation and natural treatments to extend this preservation in selected varieties, such as McIntosh and Cortland in this study, can be basis for food ingredient design for health benefits. These strategies can then be extended to prolong postharvest preservation and enhance phenolic linked human health benefits of a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.