David H. Byrne

Bio: David H. Byrne is an academic researcher from Texas A&M University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Quantitative trait locus & Medicine. The author has an hindex of 22, co-authored 73 publications receiving 4203 citations. Previous affiliations of David H. Byrne include University of Texas at Dallas.

Identifying peach and plum polyphenols with chemopreventive potential against estrogen-independent breast cancer cells.

Abstract: Our objective was to evaluate the cancer suppression activity of extracts from a commercial variety of yellow-fleshed peach ‘Rich Lady’ (RL) and a red-fleshed plum ‘Black Splendor’ (BS) and identify the phenolic fractions that may possess potential as chemopreventive and/or chemotherapeutic natural compounds. The peach RL extract effectively inhibited the proliferation of the estrogen-independent MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cell line. The concentration to inhibit 50% of cell proliferation (IC50) was ∼42 mg/L for this cell line compared to an IC50 of ∼130 and ∼515 mg/L for the noncancerous breast cell line MCF-10A and the estrogen-dependent breast cancer cell line MCF-7, respectively. Similarly, BS extracts showed greater effects on MDA-MB-435 cells as compared to the other breast cancer or the normal breast cell lines. In general, BS extracts were less effective than RL extracts. Within all RL and BS fractions, fraction 3 (F3, flavonoids) and fraction 4 (F4, procyanidins) were more potent than fraction 1 (F1...

Large Variation Found in the Phytochemical and Antioxidant Activity of Peach and Plum Germplasm

Abstract: Nineteen peach (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch) genotypes and 45 plum (prunus salicina Erhr. and hybrids) genotypes with different flesh and skin color were analyzed for their antioxidant content and activity. Anthocyanin content, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity were higher in red-flesh than in light-colored flesh peaches. Carotenoid content was higher in yellow-flesh peaches than in light-colored ones. Red-flesh plums generally had higher anthocyanin and phenolic contents than the other plums but not necessarily greater antioxidant capacity. The total phenolic content had the most consistent and highest correlation with antioxidant activity, indicating that it is more important in determining the antioxidant activity of peaches and plums than are the anthocyanin or carotenoid contents. In general, the wide range of phytochemical content and antioxidant activity found indicates that the genetic variability present can be used to develop cultivars with enhanced health benefits.

Two genetic linkage maps of tetraploid roses

Abstract: A tetraploid F2 progeny segregating for resistance to black spot, growth habit, and absence of prickles on the stem and petioles was used to construct genetic linkage maps of rose. The F1 of the progeny, 90–69, was created by crossing a black spot-resistant amphidiploid, 86–7, with a susceptible tetraploid, 82–1134. The F1 was open-pollinated to obtain 115 seedlings. AFLP and SSR markers were used to eliminate seedlings produced through cross-fertilization. The remaining progeny set of 52 F2 plants was used to study the inheritance of 675 AFLPs, one isozyme, three morphological and six SSR markers. AFLP markers were developed with three combinations of restriction enzymes, EcoRI/MseI, KpnI/MseI and PstI/MseI. Most of the markers appear to be in simplex or single-dose and segregated 3:1 in the progeny. One linkage map was constructed for each parent using only the single-dose markers. The map of 86–7 consists of 171 markers assigned to 15 linkage groups and covering more than 902 cM of the genome. The map of 82–1134 consists of 167 markers assigned to 14 linkage groups and covering more than 682 cM of the genome. In the AFLP analysis, EcoRI/MseI generated nearly twice as many markers per run than PstI/MseI. Markers developed with three restriction enzyme combinations showed a mixed distribution throughout the maps. A gene controlling the prickles on the petiole was located at the end of linkage group 7 on the map of 86–7. A gene for malate dehydrogenase locus 2 was located in the middle of linkage group 4 on the map of 86–7. These first-generation maps provide initial tools for marker- assisted selection and gene introgression for the improvement of modern tetraploid roses.

Comparative study of antioxidant properties and total phenolic content of 30 plant extracts of industrial interest using DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, SOD, and ORAC assays.

Abstract: Aqueous extracts of 30 plants were investigated for their antioxidant properties using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging capacity assay, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay, and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) assay. Total phenolic content was also determined by the Folin−Ciocalteu method. Antioxidant properties and total phenolic content differed significantly among selected plants. It was found that oak (Quercus robur), pine (Pinus maritima), and cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) aqueous extracts possessed the highest antioxidant capacities in most of the methods used, and thus could be potential rich sources of natural antioxidants. These extracts presented the highest phenolic content (300−400 mg GAE/g). Mate (Ilex paraguariensis) and clove (Eugenia caryophyllus clovis) aqueous extracts also showed strong antioxidant properties and a high phenolic content (about 200 mg GAE/g). A significant relationship between antioxidant capacity and total phe...

Bioavailability of the polyphenols: status and controversies.

Abstract: The current interest in polyphenols has been driven primarily by epidemiological studies. However, to establish conclusive evidence for the effectiveness of dietary polyphenols in disease prevention, it is useful to better define the bioavailability of the polyphenols, so that their biological activity can be evaluated. The bioavailability appears to differ greatly among the various phenolic compounds, and the most abundant ones in our diet are not necessarily those that have the best bioavailability profile. In the present review, we focus on the factors influencing the bioavailability of the polyphenols. Moreover, a critical overview on the difficulties and the controversies of the studies on the bioavailability is discussed.