Yong Chen

Bio: Yong Chen is an academic researcher from Rutgers University. The author has contributed to research in topics: DPPH & Maillard reaction. The author has an hindex of 4, co-authored 6 publications receiving 550 citations.

2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical-scavenging active components from Polygonum multiflorum thunb.

Abstract: An activity-directed fractionation and purification process was used to identify the antioxidative components of Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. (PM). Dried root of PM was extracted with 95% ethanol and then separated into water, ethyl acetate, and hexane fractions. Among these only the ethyl acetate phase showed strong antioxidant activity by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test when compared with water and hexane phases. The ethyl acetate fraction was then subjected to separation and purification using silica gel column chromatography and Sephadex LH-20 chromatography. Three compounds showing strong antioxidant activity were identified by spectral methods ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and MS) and by comparison with authentic samples to be gallic acid, catechin, and 2,3,5, 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene 2-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside.

Isolation and identification of stilbenes in two varieties of Polygonum cuspidatum.

Abstract: The roots of two varieties of Polygonum cuspidatum (Hu Zhang and Mexican Bamboo) were analyzed for resveratrol and analogues. The roots of each variety were dried and ground into a powder. The powdered roots were then extracted with methanol and ethyl acetate. The ethyl acetate fraction of the Mexican Bamboo was then subjected to fractionation and purification using silica gel column chromatography and semipreparative HPLC. In addition to resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene), three stilbene glucosides were identified by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, and MS. The stilbene glucosides were shown to be a piceatannol glucoside (3,5,3', 4'-tetrahydroxystilbene 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside), resveratroloside (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene 4'-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside), and piceid (3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside). The levels of the piceatannol glucoside and piceid were twice as high in the Mexican Bamboo as compared to the Hu Zhang.

Effects of carnosine on volatile generation from Maillard reaction of ribose and cysteine.

Abstract: Carnosine occurs naturally in meat and meat products in significant quantity, and it possesses strong antioxidant activity that inhibits lipid oxidation and enhances shelf life. In this study, the effects of carnosine on thermal flavor generation were investigated using the model system of cysteine and ribose, which was heated to the roasting temperature of 180 °C for 2 h at pH 5 and pH 8.5. The results indicated that carnosine affected volatile formation in a complex manner. Volatiles identified from the liquid phase of the reaction systems of ribose and cysteine showed that the sulfur-containing compounds such as thiophenes, thiazoles, and polysulfides were the most abundant compounds. The addition of carnosine into the reaction mixtures in general caused a reduction in contents of thiophenes and some important meaty flavor compounds such as 2-methyl-3-furanthiol, 2-furfurylthiol, and their associated dimers. On the other hand, it facilitated the generation of several important nitrogen-containing volat...

Effect of urea on volatile generation from Maillard reaction of cysteine and ribose.

Abstract: Urea occurs naturally in many food products, and its presence affects food quality. However, little is known about its impact on flavor generation in food production. In this study, the urea contents in beef, pork, and chicken were determined. The effects of urea and pH on thermal flavor generation were investigated using the model system of cysteine with ribose, which was heated to the roasting temperature of 180 °C for 2 h at pH 5 and pH 8.5. The results revealed relatively large amounts of urea in these meats and demonstrated that pH affects aroma generation. Volatiles identified from the reaction system of ribose and cysteine showed that sulfur-containing compounds such as thiophenes, thiazoles, and thiophenethiols were the most abundant compounds. The addition of urea into the reaction mixture caused the disappearance or reduction in content of some sulfur-containing compounds but resulted in the generation of several important nitrogen-containing volatiles, like pyrazine, methylpyrazine, 2,5- (and 2...

Dietary (Poly)phenolics in Human Health: Structures, Bioavailability, and Evidence of Protective Effects Against Chronic Diseases

Abstract: Human intervention trials have provided evidence for protective effects of various (poly)phenol-rich foods against chronic disease, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer. While there are considerable data suggesting benefits of (poly)phenol intake, conclusions regarding their preventive potential remain unresolved due to several limitations in existing studies. Bioactivity investigations using cell lines have made an extensive use of both (poly)phenolic aglycones and sugar conjugates, these being the typical forms that exist in planta, at concentrations in the low-μM-to-mM range. However, after ingestion, dietary (poly)phenolics appear in the circulatory system not as the parent compounds, but as phase II metabolites, and their presence in plasma after dietary intake rarely exceeds nM concentrations. Substantial quantities of both the parent compounds and their metabolites pass to the colon where they are degraded by the action of the local microbiota, giving rise principally to small phenolic acid and aromatic catabolites that are absorbed into the circulatory system. This comprehensive review describes the different groups of compounds that have been reported to be involved in human nutrition, their fate in the body as they pass through the gastrointestinal tract and are absorbed into the circulatory system, the evidence of their impact on human chronic diseases, and the possible mechanisms of action through which (poly)phenol metabolites and catabolites may exert these protective actions. It is concluded that better performed in vivo intervention and in vitro mechanistic studies are needed to fully understand how these molecules interact with human physiological and pathological processes.

Role of Resveratrol in Prevention and Therapy of Cancer: Preclinical and Clinical Studies

Abstract: Resveratrol, trans-3,5,4'-trihydroxystilbene, was first isolated in 1940 as a constituent of the roots of white hellebore (Veratrum grandiflorum O. Loes), but has since been found in various plants, including grapes, berries and peanuts. Besides cardioprotective effects, resveratrol exhibits anticancer properties, as suggested by its ability to suppress proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells, including lymphoid and myeloid cancers; multiple myeloma; cancers of the breast, prostate, stomach, colon, pancreas, and thyroid; melanoma; head and neck squamous cell carcinoma; ovarian carcinoma; and cervical carcinoma. The growth-inhibitory effects of resveratrol are mediated through cell-cycle arrest; upregulation of p21Cip1/WAF1, p53 and Bax; down-regulation of survivin, cyclin D1, cyclin E, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL and clAPs; and activation of caspases. Resveratrol has been shown to suppress the activation of several transcription factors, including NF-kappaB, AP-1 and Egr-1; to inhibit protein kinases including IkappaBalpha kinase, JNK, MAPK, Akt, PKC, PKD and casein kinase II; and to down-regulate products of genes such as COX-2, 5-LOX, VEGF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, AR and PSA. These activities account for the suppression of angiogenesis by this stilbene. Resveratrol also has been shown to potentiate the apoptotic effects of cytokines (e.g., TRAIL), chemotherapeutic agents and gamma-radiation. Phamacokinetic studies revealed that the target organs of resveratrol are liver and kidney, where it is concentrated after absorption and is mainly converted to a sulfated form and a glucuronide conjugate. In vivo, resveratrol blocks the multistep process of carcinogenesis at various stages: it blocks carcinogen activation by inhibiting aryl hydrocarbon-induced CYP1A1 expression and activity, and suppresses tumor initiation, promotion and progression. Besides chemopreventive effects, resveratrol appears to exhibit therapeutic effects against cancer. Limited data in humans have revealed that resveratrol is pharmacologically quite safe. Currently, structural analogues of resveratrol with improved bioavailability are being pursued as potential therapeutic agents for cancer.

Review: Methods Used to Evaluate the Free Radical Scavenging Activity in Foods and Biological Systems:

Abstract: Free radical generation is directly related with oxidation in foods and biological systems. Therefore, the search for methods to determine free radical scavenging is important. In this work are described the methods used for this purpose in both substrates as well as in specific cases of their application. The main methods comprise superoxide radicals scavenging (O2·-); hydrogen peroxide scavenging (H2O2); hypochlorous acid scavenging (HOCl); hydroxyl radical scavenging (HO.); peroxyl radical scavenging (ROO.), among them are the methods that use azo-compounds to generate peroxyl radicals, such as the ``TRAP'' method (Total Radical-Trapping Antioxidant Parameter) and the ``ORAC'' method (Oxygen-Radical Absorbance Capacity); the scavenging of radical cation 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonate) or the ABTS or the ``TEAC'' method (Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity); the scavenging of stable radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl or DPPH . method and the scavenging of radical cation N,N-dime...

Antioxidant properties of resveratrol: A structure–activity insight

Abstract: Resveratrol, a natural product, is known to affect a broad range of intracellular mediators. In the present study, we clarified the antioxidant activity of resveratrol by employing various in vitro antioxidant assays such as DPPH•, ABTS•+, DMPD•+, O2•− and H2O2 scavenging activities, total antioxidant activity, reducing abilities, and Fe2+ chelating activities. Resveratrol inhibited 89.1% of the lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at 30 µg/mL concentration. On the other hand, BHA, BHT, α-tocopherol, and trolox exhibited inhibitions of 83.3, 82.1, 68.1, and 81.3% against peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion at the same concentration, respectively. In addition, resveratrol had effective DPPH•, ABTS•+, DMPD•+, O2•− and H2O2 scavenging activities, reducing power, and Fe2+ chelating activities. The present study found that resveratrol had effective in vitro antioxidant and radical scavenging activity. It can be used in pharmacological and food industry due to its antioxidant properties. Industrial relevance Antioxidants are often added to foods to prevent the radical chain reactions of oxidation and they act by inhibiting the initiation and propagation step leading to the termination of the reaction and delay the oxidation process. At the present time, the most commonly used antioxidants are BHA, BHT, propylgallate and tert-butyl hydroquinone. Besides that BHA and BHT are restricted by legislative rules because of doubts over their toxic and carcinogenic effects. Therefore, there is a growing interest on natural and safer antioxidants in food applications, and a growing trend in consumer preferences for natural antioxidants, all of which has given more impetus to explore natural sources of antioxidants. A variety of foods and beverages of vegetable origin contain several nonflavonoid classes of phenolic compounds synthesized by plants. Among them, resveratrol has been identified as the major active compound of stilbene phytoalexins and is presumed to be beneficial for human health. Resveratrol is naturally occurring in the fruits and leaves of edible plants, peanuts, mulberries, grapes and red wine. Resveratrol is currently in the limelight all over the world due to their beneficial effects on the human body. Resveratrol can be used for minimizing or preventing lipid oxidation in pharmaceutical products, retarding the formation of toxic oxidation products, maintaining nutritional quality and prolonging the shelf life of food products and pharmaceuticals instead of BHA and BHT and other antioxidant compounds because of their safer usage.