Astaxanthin is a carotenoid widely used in salmonid and crustacean aquaculture to provide the pink color characteristic of that species. This application has been well documented for over two decades and is currently the major market driver for the pigment. Additionally, astaxanthin also plays a key role as an intermediary in reproductive processes. Synthetic astaxanthin dominates the world market but recent interest in natural sources of the pigment has increased substantially. Common sources of natural astaxanthin are the green algae Haematococcus pluvialis, the red yeast, Phaffia rhodozyma, as well as crustacean byproducts. Astaxanthin possesses an unusual antioxidant activity which has caused a surge in the nutraceutical market for the encapsulated product. Also, health benefits such as cardiovascular disease prevention, immune system boosting, bioactivity against Helycobacter pylori, and cataract prevention, have been associated with astaxanthin consumption. Research on the health benefits of astaxanthin is very recent and has mostly been performed in vitro or at the pre-clinical level with humans. This paper reviews the current available evidence regarding astaxanthin chemistry and its potential beneficial effects in humans.

Astaxanthin: a review of its chemistry and applications.

Taurine in the central nervous system and the mammalian actions of taurine

BACKGROUND:
Critical examination of the quality and validity of available allergic rhinitis (AR) literature is necessary to improve understanding and to appropriately translate this knowledge to clinical care of the AR patient. To evaluate the existing AR literature, international multidisciplinary experts with an interest in AR have produced the International Consensus statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis (ICAR:AR).
METHODS:
Using previously described methodology, specific topics were developed relating to AR. Each topic was assigned a literature review, evidence-based review (EBR), or evidence-based review with recommendations (EBRR) format as dictated by available evidence and purpose within the ICAR:AR document. Following iterative reviews of each topic, the ICAR:AR document was synthesized and reviewed by all authors for consensus.
RESULTS:
The ICAR:AR document addresses over 100 individual topics related to AR, including diagnosis, pathophysiology, epidemiology, disease burden, risk factors for the development of AR, allergy testing modalities, treatment, and other conditions/comorbidities associated with AR.
CONCLUSION:
This critical review of the AR literature has identified several strengths; providers can be confident that treatment decisions are supported by rigorous studies. However, there are also substantial gaps in the AR literature. These knowledge gaps should be viewed as opportunities for improvement, as often the things that we teach and the medicine that we practice are not based on the best quality evidence. This document aims to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of the AR literature to identify areas for future AR research and improved understanding.

/pdf/international-consensus-statement-on-allergy-and-rhinology-pnvs6cds27.pdf

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Allergic Rhinitis.

Nonsynaptic Glycine Receptor Activation during Early Neocortical Development

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Taurine, a free amino acid, is found in millimolar concentrations in most mammalian tissues. Mammals are able to synthesize taurine endogenously, but some species such as humans are more dependent on dietary sources of taurine. A growing body of evidence suggests that taurine plays a preponderant role in many physiological processes, which will be summarized in this review. RECENT FINDINGS: Evidence for the requirement of taurine in the human diet has been obtained in many studies involving animal models and a few clinical trials. Recent and past studies suggested that taurine might be a pertinent candidate for use as a nutritional supplement to protect against oxidative stress, neurodegenerative diseases or atherosclerosis. Taurine has demonstrated promising actions in vitro, and as a result clinical trials have begun to investigate its effects on various diseases. SUMMARY: Taurine appears to have multiple functions and plays an important role in many physiological processes, such as osmoregulation, immunomodulation and bile salt formation. Taurine analogues/derivatives have recently been reported to have a marked activity on various disorders. Taken together, these observations actualize the old story of taurine.

Is taurine a functional nutrient

The antiallergic constituents of oolong tea stem were examined. The stem extracts inhibited the 48 h homologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reactions or rats in a dose-dependent manner and showed the same extent of inhibitory activity as ketotifen. All antiallergic constituents from the stem were concentrated into chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions, when extracted by various solvents. These fractions were treated with polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP), which resulted in the elimination of antiallergic activity in the ethyl acetate fraction, suggesting that one of the antiallergic constituents may be tea catechins. Then, six kinds of catechins, (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECG), -epicatechin (EC), (+)-catechin (C) and (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCG), were isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction, and the inhibitory activity of these catechins on histamine release from rat peritoneal mast cells passively sensitized with anti-egg albumin (EA) IgE antibody was investigated. Among these catechins, significant inhibitory activity was observed in all the catechins except for EC. In addition, the inhibitory activity of GCG was greater than that of EGCG, which is well known to be an antiallergic constituent in tea. These results suggest that GCG may be a novel antiallergic constituent among tea catechins, and also the most potent.

Masataka Kishi

Papers

Antiallergic constituents from oolong tea stem.

Development of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic neurons in cerebral cortical neurons in primary culture

Characteristics of taurine transport system and its developmental pattern in mouse cerebral cortical neurons in primary culture

Alterations in receptor-coupled second messenger systems at up-regulated muscarinic receptors: analysis using primary cultured neurons.

Ontogeny of β-adrenergic receptor-mediated cyclic AMP generating system in primary cultured neurons