The dietary consumption of grape and its products is associated with a lower incidence of degenerative diseases such as cardiovascular disease and certain types of cancers. Most recent interest has focused on the bioactive phenolic compounds in grape. Anthocyanins, flavanols, flavonols and resveratrol are the most important grape polyphenols because they possess many biological activities, such as antioxidant, cardioprotective, anticancer, anti-inflammation, antiaging and antimicrobial properties. This review summarizes current knowledge on the bioactivities of grape phenolics. The extraction, isolation and identification methods of polyphenols from grape as well as their bioavailability and potential toxicity also are included.

https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/11/2/622/pdf

Biological Activities of Polyphenols from Grapes

Spirulina is free-floating filamentous microalgae growing in alkaline water bodies. With its high nutritional value, Spirulina has been consumed as food for centuries in Central Africa. It is now widely used as nutraceutical food supplement worldwide. Recently, great attention and extensive studies have been devoted to evaluate its therapeutic benefits on an array of diseased conditions including hypercholesterolemia, hyperglycerolemia, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory diseases, cancer, and viral infections. The cardiovascular benefits of Spirulina are primarily resulted from its hypolipidemic, antioxidant, and antiinflammatory activities. Data from preclinical studies with various animal models consistently demonstrate the hypolipidemic activity of Spirulina. Although differences in study design, sample size, and patient conditions resulting in minor inconsistency in response to Spirulina supplementation, the findings from human clinical trials are largely consistent with the hypolipidemic effects of Spirulina observed in the preclinical studies. However, most of the human clinical trials are suffered with limited sample size and some with poor experimental design. The antioxidant and/or antiinflammatory activities of Spirulina were demonstrated in a large number of preclinical studies. However, a limited number of clinical trials have been carried out so far to confirm such activities in human. Currently, our understanding on the underlying mechanisms for Spirulina's activities, especially the hypolipidemic effect, is limited. Spirulina is generally considered safe for human consumption supported by its long history of use as food source and its favorable safety profile in animal studies. However, rare cases of side-effects in human have been reported. Quality control in the growth and process of Spirulina to avoid contamination is mandatory to guarantee the safety of Spirulina products.

/pdf/hypolipidemic-antioxidant-and-antiinflammatory-activities-of-4y61f2bakn.pdf

Hypolipidemic, Antioxidant, and Antiinflammatory Activities of Microalgae Spirulina

Molecular mechanisms in C-Phycocyanin induced apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line-K562.

In vivo and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Mangifera indica L. extract (VIMANG).

Anti-inflammatory activity of phycocyanin extract in acetic acid-induced colitis in rats.

Objective: To examine the effects of C-phyco- cyanin, a pigment found in blue-green algae which acts as an antioxidant in vitro and in vivo, in different animal models of inflammation. Material: Male Sprague Dawley rats and OF1 mice were used. Treatments: Oedema was induced by: a) AA (0.5 mg/ear) or TPA (4 mg/ear) in the mouse ear b) carrageenan injection (0.1 mL of 1% suspension) in the rat paw (6 adrenalectomy) and c) cotton pellet implantation in the rat axilla. Phyco- cyanin (50-300 mg/kg, p.o.) or indomethacin (1 mg/ear or 3-10 mg/kg, p.o.) as control were tested in the four animal models. Methods: Measurement of the increase in the weight (mg) of 6 mm ear punch biopsies from treated ears were made in comparison to control ears, together with myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity as an index of neutrophil infiltration. The increase in the paw thickness (mm) was measured with a dial caliper. Cotton pellet was implanted and seven days afterwards the granuloma was removed and the dry weight was determined. Acute toxicity was studied in mice and rats. Statistics were performed using one-way analysis of variance with the Duncan Multirange test. Results: Phycocyanin reduced significantly (p < 0.05) and in a dose-dependent manner ear oedema induced by AA and TPA in mice as well as carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema (both in intact and adrenalectomized animals). In the TPA test, phycocyanin also reduced MPO content. Phycocyanin also exerted an inhibitory effect in the cotton pellet granuloma test. In the acute toxicity test in rats and mice, even at the highest dose tested (3 000 mg/kg, p.o.), no toxicity was found. Conclusions: Phycocyanin shows anti-inflammatory activity in four experimental models of inflammation. Its anti- oxidative and oxygen free radical scavenging properties may contribute, at least in part, to its anti-inflammatory activity.

R González

Papers

Further studies on anti-inflammatory activity of phycocyanin in some animal models of inflammation