Glyconutrients

As an important factor leading to aging and chronic diseases, oxidative stress has become a hot research topic. Trehalose is a natural sugar widely fo…

The UVB-irradiated cornea is damaged by oxidative stress. Toxic oxygen products induced by UVB radiation in the cornea are insufficiently removed by antioxidants, whose numbers decrease with increasing UVB irradiation. In addition, the UVB-irradiated cornea suffers from hypoxic conditions because da …

Progranulin (PGRN) is a secreted growth factor important for neuronal survival and may do so, in part, by regulating lysosome homeostasis. Mutations in the PGRN gene (GRN) are a common cause of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) and lead to disease ...

This work reports several novel autophagy-lysosome modulators that enhance PGRN expression and identifies trehalose as a promising therapeutic for raising PGRN levels to treat multiple neurodegenerative diseases.

By Vince Giuliano and James P Watson. Trehalose is a natural disaccharide sugar contained in mushrooms and many other organisms.  It has remarkable health-producing and life-extending properties that work in mice and lower organisms.  That is why we choose to … Continue reading →

HCMV infects multiple cell types in vivo, establishes lifelong persistence in the host, and can cause serious health problems for fetuses and immunocompromised individuals. HCMV, like all other persistent pathogens, has to finely tune its interplay with the host cellular machinery to replicate effic …

Trehalose is a natural disaccharide that is found in a diverse range of organisms but not in mammals. Autophagy is a process which mediates the sequestration, lysosomal delivery and degradation of proteins and organelles. Studies have shown that trehalose exerts beneficial effects through inducing autophagy in mammalian cells. However, whether trehalose or other saccharides can activate autophagy in keratinocytes is unknown. Here, we found that trehalose treatment increased the LC3-I to LC3-II conversion, acridine orange-stained vacuoles and GFP-LC3B (LC3B protein tagged with green fluorescent protein) puncta in the HaCaT human keratinocyte cell line, indicating autophagy induction. Trehalose-induced autophagy was also observed in primary keratinocytes and the A431 epidermal cancer cell line. mTOR signalling was not affected by trehalose treatment, suggesting that trehalose induced autophagy through an mTOR-independent pathway. mTOR-independent autophagy induction was also observed in HaCaT and HeLa cells treated with sucrose or raffinose but not in glucose, maltose or sorbitol treated HaCaT cells, indicating that autophagy induction was not a general property of saccharides. Finally, although trehalose treatment had an inhibitory effect on cell proliferation, it had a cytoprotective effect on cells exposed to UVB radiation. Our study provides new insight into the saccharide-mediated regulation of autophagy in keratinocytes.

Trehalose is a natural disaccharide that is found in a diverse range of organisms but not in mammals. Autophagy is a process which mediates the sequestration, lysosomal delivery and degradation of proteins and organelles. Studies have shown that trehalose exerts beneficial effects through inducing a …

Trehalose has been proven to provide protection to different proteins to various extents, inhibiting at elevated concentrations the aggregation of proteins involved in neurodegenerative disorders such Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Moreover, 8-hydroxyquinolines have also been found to protect a

Trehalose (TRE) is a natural, nonreducing disaccharide synthesized by lower organisms. TRE exhibits an extraordinary ability to protect cells against …

Fibrillation of α-synuclein proceeds through distinct stages, with oligomers combining to form the seed or the nucleus, followed by exponential and saturation phases. Osmolytes are considered to act as protein stabilizers by virtue of their ability to inhibit protein aggregation. Trehalose, a non-re …

Fibrillation of α-synuclein proceeds through distinct stages, with oligomers combining to form the seed or the nucleus, followed by exponential and saturation phases. Osmolytes are considered to act as protein stabilizers by virtue of their ability to inhibit protein aggregation. Trehalose, a non-re …

Human rhinovirus (HRV) is the most common cause of acute exacerbations of chronic lung diseases including asthma. Impaired anti-viral IFN-λ1 production and increased HRV replication in human asthmatic airway epithelial cells may be one of the underlying mechanisms leading to asthma exacerbations. In …

Trehalose is a non-reducing sugar formed from two glucose units. Trehalose induces abundant autophagy in cultured cells and also reduces the rate of aggregation of the huntingtin protein in the animal model of Huntington disease, a chronic neurological disease in humans. The mechanism of this effect …

Insulin entrapped alginate-gum tragacanth (ALG-GT) hydrogels at different ALG replacement ratios (100, 75, 50, 25) were prepared through an ionotropic gelation method, followed by chitosan (CH) polyelectrolyte complexation. A mild gelation process without the use of harsh chemicals was proposed to improve insulin efficiency. Retention of almost the full amount of entrapped insulin in a simulated gastric environment and sustained insulin release in simulated intestinal buffer indicated the pH sensitivity of the gels. Insulin release from hydrogels with different formulations showed significant differences (p < 0.05). Time domain (TD) NMR relaxometry experiments also showed the differences for different formulations, and the presence of CH revealed that ALG-GT gel formulation could be used as an oral insulin carrier at optimum concentrations. The hydrogels formulated from biodegradable, biocompatible, and nontoxic natural polymers were seen as promising devices for potential oral insulin delivery.

The practice of bone implants is the standard procedure for the treatment of skeletal fissures, or to substitute and re-establish lost bone. A perfect…

Previous research indicated that fiber in the diet of men lowers plasma lipid and LDL cholesterol concentration. To further study the lipid lowering effect of fibre, we conducted an animal study using rats with diet induced hyperlipidaemia. Rats were randomly assigned to one of the three experimenta …

Learn more about TRAGACANTH uses, effectiveness, possible side effects, interactions, dosage, user ratings and products that contain TRAGACANTH.

The present study introduces the ultrasonic modification of two Iranian native gum exudates, Persian gum (PG) and gum tragacanth (GT) for the first ti…

The presence of pesticide residues in vegetable and fruit products, as a consequence of inappropriate application in some cases, constitutes a risk to the health of the exposed population. In Mexico, the official norm, NOM-003-STPS-1999, only allows the use of pesticides with the phytosanitary registry, the responsible state commission for the control of the process and use of pesticides and toxic substances, which recommends doses and permitted crops. Despite the above, it is still common to find pesticide residues in some vegetable products. In this study, the following were detected: Chlorpyriphos, Dimetomorph I, Malathion, Omethoate, Carbendazim, and Imidacloprid in Nopal. The study was carried out in two collection centers located in the state of Morelos. In total, sixty samples were taken, thirty for each collection center, for a period of 10 months. To determine the pesticide residues, the analytical methodology was used, according to the guide, SANTE/11945/2015; in a laboratory accredited by the Mexican Accreditation Entity A. C. in the norm, NMX-EC-17025-IMNC-2006. The procedure for extracting analytes was carried out using the method, QuEChERS. The highest concentration of the pesticides detected in the samples obtained from the non-Certified Supply Center were Chlorpyrifos 0.309 mg/kg (MRL 0.01), Dimetomorf I 0.029 mg/kg (MRL 0.01), Malathion 0.155 mg/kg (MRL 0.01), Omethoate 0.032 (MRL 0.01), Carbendazim 0.090 mg/kg (MRL 0.01), and Imidacloprid 0.058 mg/kg (MRL 0.01). Thirty percent of the samples analyzed showed pesticide residues; the most frequent were Carbendazim. The results for the estimated daily intake (EDI) oscillated between 6.5 &times; 10&minus;5 and 1.3 &times; 10&minus;4 mg/kg body weight for the vegetable, Nopal. In principle, it could be concluded that the consumption of Nopal with pesticide residues does not represent any toxicological risk for human health, however, the risk cannot be ruled out due to the intake of other vegetables and fruits that are cultivated in the Mexican Republic, which probably present pesticide residues, which together would raise potential risks to human health.

The aim of current study is detect the activity role of Aloe vera and Opuntia ficus extract against certain pathogenic bacteria and evaluation of Aloe vera and O. ficus extract against certain pathogenic bacteria inhibition in vitro. 100 samples were obtained from patients with different diseases at age 6 Mon. to 65 years from both genders. This study was carried out in Lab. of Biology Dept., Science College/Tikrit University, at the period from 1st of June 2019 to end of January 2020. The antimicrobial activity was performed with the agar well diffusion method. The results show the ability of Aloe vera for inhibition of bacteria according on concentration and the concentrations of 100 was caused in inhibitory effect on E. coli, Acinetobacte, S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus isolates at diameter 13, 12, 11, 9.8 and 15 mm respectively. While, Opuntia ficus extract at 100% concentration was caused in inhibitory effect bacteria isolates at diameter 10, 9.7, 8.2, 7 and 12 mm respectively. The results also show Aloe vera was found to be able for inhibition of bacteria concentration of 40% was caused in inhibitory effect on E. coli, Acinetobacte, S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. haemolyticus isolates at diameter 14, 12, 11, 9 and 15 mm respectively. While, Opuntia ficus extract at 40% concentration was caused in inhibitory effect bacteria isolates at diameter 11, 10, 8, 7 and 13 mm respectively, while other concentrations 10%, 20, 30% show less inhibitory effect compare with 100% and 40% concentrations

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the first cause of death in Mexican population. Metabolic disruptions induced by diet are, in turn, associated with ..

This work determines the effect nopal consumption at different maturity stages (60, 200, 400, and 600 g) as the only calcium source in bone metabolism. The apparent mineral absorption, the biomarkers of bone metabolism, the bone mineral density at different femoral regions, and crystal properties of the bone were evaluated during the growth stage. The Ca absorption was increased with the rat age in most of the experimental groups, while Mg supplementation decreased intestinal absorption probably due to a saturation process. Intestinal Ca and Mg absorption showed an opposite trend; this result suggests that both ions can compete for vitamin D absorption sites. The percentage of absorption of K was lower in the groups fed with Nopal; nevertheless, due to supplementation, the net absorption was higher than the control group. In all groups, osteocalcin levels decreased with the rat age. Nopal consumption increased osteocalcin levels during the adolescence stage in comparison to the control group. Amino N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen levels increased in puberty and adolescence in all groups compared to the control group. Bone mineral density in different femoral regions was lower in the groups fed with nopal at early maturity stages (N-60 and N-200) than the groups fed with nopal at late maturity stages (N-400 and N-600). The crystal size of hydroxyapatite exhibited changes for all the groups, indicating the inclusion of mono and divalent ions in calcium replacement. On this basis, the nopal at late maturity stage contributed to bone formation.

Current efforts are directed to reducing the gut dysbiosis and inflammation produced by obesity. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether consuming nopal, a vegetable rich in dietary fibre, vitamin C, and polyphenols can reduce the metabolic ...

Europe PMC is an archive of life sciences journal literature.

In this 7-day randomized controlled trial we found that a novel fiber supplement from the Mexican nopal cactus improved adequate relief in patients with IBS, irrespective of IBS subtype, sex or age, ...

Background and objectives: Type 2 diabetes has been increasing all over the world. A healthy diet, including particular functional foods is an effective strategy to prevent this form of diabetes. Nopal (Oputia ficus) is a cactus plant that, according to traditional medicine, has antidiabetic properties. The objective of this research was to examine the effects of different fractions of nopal cladodes on postprandial glycaemic regulation in healthy volunteers. Methods: Nopal cladodes flour was separated by centrifugation into two fractions (a water insoluble and a soluble fraction). The fractions were incorporated into two different test breads, i.e. insoluble fraction bread (INB) and soluble fraction bread (SNB), and evaluated with respect to acute glycaemic properties in 17 healthy subjects with normal body mass index, applying a randomized cross-over study design. The effects on glycaemic and insulinaemic responses were compared with the responses after a control product, which composed of a similar bread lacking the nopal fractions (white wheat bread, WWB). The products were characterized with respect to starch and dietary fibre content. In addition, starch hydrolysis index (HI) was determined with an in-vitro method in order to predict glycaemic index (pGI),and elucidate possibly underlying mechanisms on postprandial glycaemia. Results: Results regarding glycaemic regulation show that insoluble nopal fractions had a beneficial effect on postprandial glucose regulation. Consequently, the incremental area under the postprandial blood glucose curve (iAUC) after INB was significantly reduced compared to after intake of the WWB during the time periods 0 – 45 and 0 – 60 minutes (p < 0.05). In addition, the iPeak value, i.e. the individual highest incremental peak concentrations, was significantly lowered after INB compared to WWB (P < 0.05). Regarding the postprandial insulin secretion, both SNB and INB lowered the postprandial iAUC compared to the WWB during the time period 0 – 45 and 0 – 60 minutes (P < 0.05). On the other hand, only the INB significantly reduced the insulin iPeak value compared to WWB (P < 0.05). In terms of HI, INB had lower HI and pGI compared to WWB and SNB. Also, INB exhibited highest total, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre contents. Conclusion: The INB promoted lower postprandial glucose and insulin response, while SNB showed beneficial effects only on postprandial insulin secretion. The beneficial effects of nopal on glycaemic regulation might be to some extent explained by the dietary fibre content, especially the INB. However, with respect to the improved postprandial insulin economy observed after the SNB, additional mechanisms are probably involved.

The use of ultrasound treatment for improving the bioactive compounds and quality properties of a Brazilian nopal beverage was studied. Physicochemica…