Bioavailability of plant pigment phytochemicals in Angelica keiskei in older adults: A pilot absorption kinetic study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Angelica keiskei is a green leafy vegetable rich in plant pigment phytochemicals such as flavonoids and carotenoids. This study examined bioavailability of flavonoids and carotenoids in Angelica keiskei and the alteration of the antioxidant performance in vivo. SUBJECTS AND MATERIALS: Absorption kinetics of phytochemicals in Angelica keiskei were determined in healthy older adults (> 60 y, n = 5) and subjects with metabolic syndrome (n = 5). Subjects consumed 5 g dry Angelica keiskei powder encapsulated in gelatin capsules with a low flavonoid and carotenoid liquid meal. Plasma samples were collected at baseline, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 h. Samples were analyzed for flavonoids and carotenoids using HPLC systems with electrochemical and UV detection, respectively, and for total antioxidant performance by fluorometry. RESULTS: After ingestion of Angelica keiskei increases in plasma quercetin concentrations were observed at 1-3 and 6-8 hr in the healthy group and at all time points in the metabolic syndrome group compared to baseline (P < 0.05). Plasma lutein concentrations were significantly elevated in both the healthy and metabolic syndrome groups at 8 hr (P < 0.05). Significant increases in total antioxidant performance were also observed in both the healthy and the metabolic syndrome groups compared to baseline (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Findings of this study clearly demonstrate the bioavailability of phytonutrients of Angelica keiskei and their ability to increase antioxidant status in humans.

Aterosclerose, uma resposta inflamatória / Atherosclerosis, an inflammatory response

A aterosclerose é a doença responsável pelo maior índice de morbidade e mortalidade no mundo. A lesão aterosclerótica é a anormalidade mais comum encontrada nas artérias, decorrente inicialmente de dois processos básicos: acúmulo de colesterol e proliferação de células musculares lisas na túnica íntima o que leva à inflamação. Esse processo dará origem a uma placa fibrosa que se projeta para dentro do lúmen, modificando a túnica média, levando a uma série de complicações circulatórias decorrentes da resposta inflamatória desencadeada na parede do vaso. Assim, nesta revisão veremos o envolvimento da resposta inflamatória e do estresse oxidativo no desencadeamento e no estabelecimento da doença aterosclerótica promovido por macrófagos, uma das principais células envolvidas nesse processo, além de discutir sobre os principais marcadores bioquímicos como as citocinas, proteínas de fase aguda e moléculas de adesão.

Atherosclerosis and the direct outcomes of ischemia are the major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide.Dysfunction of the vascular endothelium can produce atherosclerotic disease processes with consequentinflammation, which is a significant component of atherosclerosis lesions. Atherosclerosis is characterizedby chronic inflammation and enrichment of inflammatory cells in the vessel wall. This review besides focusingon both the inflammatory response and the oxidative stress that play a major role in the atherogenesis and inthe development of cardiovascular disease stimulated by macrophages, the key cell involved in this process,will in addition discuss the several biochemical markers such as cytokines, acute phase proteins, and cellularadhesion molecules.