Antidepressant-like effect of caffeic acid: Involvement of the cellular signaling pathways

Abstract Caffeic acid is a phenolic compound widely distributed in plants and beverages such as coffee. Although its mechanism of action is poorly understood, caffeic acid reportedly induces antidepressant-like and neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate the involvement of cellular signaling pathways in acute antidepressant-like effect induced by caffeic acid in mice. All procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Ethics Committee of the UNIVALI n. 021/2013. Female Swiss mice were administered with vehicle, caffeic acid (5 mg/ kg, p.o.), inhibitor (H-89, U0126, chelerythrine, or PD9859, i.c.v.) or caffeic acid plus inhibitor. The behavioral effects were evaluated 1h after the administration of compounds to mice using tail suspension test (TST) and open field test (OFT). The results showed that the antidepressant- like effect of caffeic acid in mice was possibly mediated by the activation of PKA, MEK 1/2, PKC and MAPK (as assessed using TST), without compromising their locomotor activity (as assessed using OFT). Our results demonstrated, at least in part, the pathways involved in the neuroprotective and behavioral effects of caffeic acid.

Propolis from Southwest of Parana produced by selected bees: Influence of seasonality and food supplementation on antioxidant activity and phenolic profile

ABSTRACT Propolis produced by selected bees Apis mellifera were collected from March to June of 2013 and in March of 2015 and analyzed in order to evaluate the influence of climate, colony of origin, and food supplementation of colonies on the content of total phenolic and flavonoid by chromatographic analysis and antioxidant activity by radical scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl hydrate (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was carried out with propolis collected in 2013 and two clusters were formed. Propolis produced in the months of March and April showed a higher content of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant capacity than those produced in May and June. The results of PCA obtained from samples collected in March of 2013 and 2015 showed two clusters, and propolis collected in 2015 were more bioactive and presented a higher content of TPC. The chromatographic analysis of extracts allowed the identification of phenolic acids p-coumaric, ferulic and caffeic with similar chemical profiles that could be closely related to the botanical origin of propolis. It can be concluded that the season and food supplementation of colonies influenced the chemical composition and the biological activity of samples analysed.

Sugars, organic acids, and phenolic compounds of ancient grape cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) from Igdir province of Eastern Turkey

BACKGROUND: The Eurasian grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) is the most widely cultivated and economically important horticultural crop in the world. As a one of the origin area, Anatolia played an important role in the diversification and spread of the cultivated form V. vinifera ssp. vinifera cultivars and also the wild form V. vinifera ssp. sylvestris ecotypes. Although several biodiversity studies have been conducted with local cultivars in different regions of Anatolia, no information has been reported so far on the biochemical (organic acids, sugars, phenolic acids, vitamin C) and antioxidant diversity of local historical table V. vinifera cultivars grown in Igdir province. In this work, we studied these traits in nine local table grape cultivars viz. 'Beyaz Kismis' (synonym name of Sultanina or Thompson seedless), 'Askeri', 'El Hakki', 'Kirmizi Kismis', 'Inek Emcegi', 'Hacabas', 'Kerim Gandi', 'Yazen Dayi', and 'Miskali' spread in the Igdir province of Eastern part of Turkey. RESULTS: Variability of all studied parameters is strongly influenced by cultivars (P < 0.01). Among the cultivars investigated, 'Miskali' showed the highest citric acid content (0.959 g/l) while 'Kirmizi Kismis' produced predominant contents in tartaric acid (12.71 g/l). The highest glucose (16.47 g/100 g) and fructose (15.55 g/100 g) contents were provided with 'Beyaz Kismis'. 'Kirmizi Kismis' cultivar had also the highest quercetin (0.55 mg/l), o-coumaric acid (1.90 mg/l), and caffeic acid (2.73 mg/l) content. The highest ferulic acid (0.94 mg/l), and syringic acid (2.00 mg/l) contents were observed with 'Beyaz Kismis' cultivar. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained as 9.09 μmol TE g-1 from 'Inek Emcegi' in TEAC (Trolox equivalent Antioxidant Capacity) assay. 'Hacabas' cultivar had the highest vitamin C content of 35.74 mg/100 g. CONCLUSIONS: Present results illustrated that the historical table grape cultivars grown in Igdir province of Eastern part of Turkey contained diverse and valuable sugars, organic acids, phenolic acids, Vitamin C values and demonstrated important antioxidant capacity for human health benefits. Further preservation and use of this gene pool will be helpful to avoid genetic erosion and to promote continued agriculture in the region.

Efectos del tratamiento de la pulpa de cafe, fresca o ensilado, con hidroxido de cálcio, sobre su valor nutritivo / Effects of the treatment of coffee pulp, fresh or ensilaged, with calcium hydroxide, on its nutritive value

El presente estudio se efectuó para determinar los efectos de la adición de hidróxido de calcio sobre la composición química y valor nutritivo de la pulpa de café, fresca o ensilada. Se mezcló pulpa fresca o ensilada con 1,2 y 3% de hidróxido de calcio. El proceso se llevó a cabo en dos períodos de tiempo, 0 y 16 horas, respectivamente, después de los cuales las pulpas se dejaron secar al sol durante 36 horas, hasta alcanzar 12% de humedad. Estas muestras se analizaron para determinar su composición química proximal y de algunos minerales (Ca, P, Na, K), así como por su contenido de cafeína, taninos y ácidos clorogénico y cafeíco. Con los materiales ya analizados, se elaboraron raciones con 15% de proteína y 15 ó 30% de pulpa de café fresca o ensilada, las que se ofrecieron a ratas recién destetadas durante seis semanas. Se recoletó la información requerida, y los materiales necesarios para determinar ganancia de peso, eficiencia de alimentación, digestibilidad aparente y toxicidad de las raciones. Los resultados del análisis químico mostraron que los principales cambios ocurridos en las pulpas a causa del efecto del hidróxido de calcio, fueron los siguientes: disminución del extracto etéreo (de 4.0 a 2.5), de la fibra cruda (de 18.3 a 11.9), y de la proteína (de 12.3 a 8.6), en una relación inversa al porcentaje de hidróxido de calcio utilizando ambas pulpas. La cantidad de ceniza se incrementó, fluctuando los valores entre 5.5 y 14.4% como consecuencia del Ca(OH)2 agregado, lo que influyó al calcular la relación calcio: fósforo en las dieta. Se encontró una relación promedio de 7.2:1 en las pulpas control (0% de Ca(OH)2 y de 59.0:1 en las pulpas que contenían el mayor porcentaje de Ca(OH)2 (3%). Con respecto al contenido de cafeína, taninos y ácidos cloregénico y cafeico, se encontró que los tratamientos alcalinos sólo fueron efectivos en reducir ls taninos de la pulpa, más en la fresca que en la ensilada...