The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Anacardium occidentale L. Cashew Nuts in a Mouse Model of Colitis.
Background: Anacardium occidentale L. is a tropical plant used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The goal of the present work was to investigate the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant potential of oral administration of cashew nuts (from Anacardium occidentale L.) in a mouse model of colitis. Methods: Induction of colitis was performed by intrarectally injection of dinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (DNBS). Cashew nuts were administered daily orally (100 mg/kg) in DNBS-injected mice. Results: Four days after DNBS, histological and macroscopic colon alterations as well as marked clinical signs and increased cytokine production were observed. Neutrophil infiltration, measured by myeloperoxidase (MPO) positive immunostaining, was correlated with up-regulation of adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and P-selectin in colons. Oxidative stress was detected with increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, nitrotyrosine, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) positive staining in inflamed colons. Oral treatment with cashew nuts reduced histological, macroscopic damage, neutrophil infiltration, pro-inflammatory cytokines and MDA levels, as well as nitrotyrosine, PARP and ICAM-1, and P-selectin expressions. Colon inflammation could be related to nuclear factor (NF)-kB pathway activation and reduced manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) antioxidant activity. Cashew nuts administration inhibited NF-kB and increased MnSOD antioxidant expressions. Conclusions: The results suggested that oral assumption of cashew nuts may be beneficial for the management of colitis.
In Vitro Anti-HSV-1 Activity of Polyphenol-Rich Extracts and Pure Polyphenol Compounds Derived from Pistachios Kernels (Pistacia vera L.).
Natural compounds are a prominent source of novel antiviral drugs. Several reports have previously shown the antimicrobial activity of pistachio polyphenol extracts. Therefore, the aim of our research was to investigate the activity of polyphenol-rich extracts of natural shelled (NPRE) pistachios kernels (Pistacia vera L.) on herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication. The Vero cell line was used to assess the cytotoxicity and antiviral activity. The cell viability was calculated by detection of cellular ATP after treatment with various concentrations of NPRE. For antiviral studies, five nontoxic-concentrations (0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mg/mL) were tested. Our study demonstrated that treatment with NPRE (0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mg/mL) reduced the expression of the viral proteins ICP8 (infected cell polypeptide 8), UL42 (unique long UL42 DNA polymerase processivity factor), and US11 (unique short US11 protein), and resulted in a decrease of viral DNA synthesis. The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50), 50% inhibitory concentration (EC50), and the selectivity index (SI) values for NPRE were 1.2 mg/mL, 0.4mg/mL, and 3, respectively. Furthermore, we assessed the anti-herpetic effect of a mix of pure polyphenol compounds (NS MIX) present in NPRE. In conclusion, our findings indicate that natural shelled pistachio kernels have remarkable inhibitory activity against HSV-1.
Association of Adherence to Specific Mediterranean Diet Components and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Young Adults.
Objective: Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and a healthy diet may be part of an overall healthy lifestyle. The association between cardiorespiratory fitness and adherence to an overall Mediterranean Diet (MedD) pattern and specific MedD foods has been assessed. Design: Subjects completed a lifestyle survey and dietary pattern, using the validated MedD Adherence 14-item questionnaire and two self-reported 24-h dietary recalls. Participants' height, body weight, waist circumference (WC), and CRF (maximum oxygen uptake, VO2max, ml/kg/min) were measured. Setting: University of Cádiz, Spain. Subjects: A sample of young adults (n = 275, 22.2 ± 6.3 years). Results: Mean VO2max was 43.9 mL/kg/min (SD 8.5 mL/kg/min). Most participants had healthy CRF (75.9%). The average MedD score was 6.2 points (SD 1.8 points). Participants who consumed more servings of nuts had higher VO2max. Those who showed low CRF performed less physical activity (PA) and had a higher body mass index (BMI) and WC compared with those classified as having healthy CRF. Nut consumption was positively associated with VO2max (β = 0.320; 95% CI 2.4, 10.7; p < 0.002), adjusting for sex, age, smoking PA, BMI, WC, and energy intake, showing the subjects who consumed more nuts were fitter than young adults who consumed less. Conclusions: CRF is positively associated with nut consumption but not with the overall MedD pattern and all other MedD foods in the young adults. The subjects who consumed more servings of nuts were fitter than young adults who consumed less. Moreover, fitter subjects performed more PA and had a lower BMI and WC than those who had lower fitness levels.
Legume and nut consumption in relation to depression, anxiety and psychological distress in Iranian adults.
Purpose: Although considerable research has been devoted to the link between consumption of legume and nuts and metabolic abnormalities, few studies have examined legume and nut consumption in relation to psychological disorders. The current study aimed to examine the association of legume and nut consumption with depression, anxiety and psychological distress in Iranian adults. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 3172 adult participants aged 18-55 years. Assessment of legume and nut consumption was conducted using a validated dish-based 106-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. The Iranian validated version of Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used to examine psychological health. Scores of 8 or more on either subscale in the questionnaire were considered to indicate the presence of depression or anxiety. Data on psychological distress were collected using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), in which the score of 4 or more was considered as having psychological distress. Results: The mean age of participants was 36.5 ± 7.9 years. In the fully adjusted model, men in the top quintile of legume and nut consumption were 66% less likely to be anxious than those in the bottom quintile (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.14-0.82). However, such significant relationship was not observed among women (OR 1.06; 95% CI 0.63-1.77). We failed to find any other significant association between legume and nut consumption and depression or psychological distress after adjustment for potential confounders either in men or women. Conclusions: We found that consumption of legume and nuts was associated with lower odds of anxiety in men, but not in women. No other significant association was seen among participants. Legume and nut consumption might be promising and, along with medications, could be used to prevent, control or delay psychological disorders.
Tree Nuts and Peanuts as a Source of Natural Antioxidants in our Daily Diet.
Tree nuts and peanuts are healthful foods with a track record of helping to reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, most notably cardiovascular disease. At the point of consumption, all nuts contain low moisture and ≥ 50% lipid contents, but this is where similarities end. The levels of key nutrients and bioactives including vitamin C, vitamin E, L-arginine, minerals (such as selenium and zinc), and phenolics differ. Distinctions in the types and quantities of phenolic constituents for tree nut species as well as the impact of digestion will affect the nuts' antioxidant potential in vivo. This chapter provides some insight into the different types of phenolics found in tree nuts and peanuts, the antioxidant potential of phenolic extracts using in vitro chemical assays, the effect of thermal processing on the stability of the nuts' endogenous phenolics, and the impact on biomarkers of human health arising from randomized clinical trials. Key biomarkers include measures in the reduction of LDL oxidation as well as increases in the levels of vitamin E and selected phenolic compounds in blood plasma postprandially from those of baseline.
Macadamia Nuts Oil in Nanocream and Conventional Cream as Skin Anti-Aging: A Comparative Study.
Background: The effect of an active substance in a dosage form can be influenced by the different method of preparation. Nanotechnology has been used widely in all aspects including drug delivery system. Nanocream is one of the cosmetic dosage forms to improve the absorption of active substances on the skin. Aim: The study was to compare macadamia nuts oil nanocream with conventional cream as skin antiaging dosage form. Methods: The formulation of nanocream was consisted of macadamia nuts oil 10%, tween 80, propylene glycol, cetyl alcohol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben and distilled water. The anti-aging was conducted by comparing the nanocream and conventional cream. The evaluation of anti-aging activity was conducted using skin analyzer apparatus. The aging parameters were moisture, evenness, pore size, black spot, and wrinkle of the skin. The data were collected for 4 weeks. All the data obtained were statistically analyzed. Results: Macadamia nut oil nanocream dosage form showed better antiaging activity on the skin compared to conventional cream which were characterized by changes in skin condition on each aging skin parameter such as water content, pore size, melanin, and wrinkles. Conclusion: It is concluded that macadamia nuts oil in nanocream dosage form has better antiaging activity on the skin compared to conventional cream and macadamia nuts oil can be used as an effective skin anti-aging dosage form.
The Mediterranean diet decreases prothrombotic microvesicle release in asymptomatic individuals at high cardiovascular risk.
Background & aims: Circulating microvesicles (cMV) are small phospholipid-rich vesicles that contribute to the atherothrombotic process, and are biomarkers of cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden and progression. Diet is a cornerstone for CVD prevention, but dietary effects on cMV shedding are poorly characterized. We aimed at assessing the long term effects of a Mediterranean diet compared to a low-fat diet (LFD) on MV shedding by cells of the blood and vascular compartments in patients at high cardiovascular risk treated as per guidelines. Methods: A total of 155 participants from the PREDIMED trial free of cardiovascular events after a mean follow-up of 5 years (n = 53 from the Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil -EVOO-; n = 49 from the Mediterranean diet supplemented with mixed nuts -Nuts-; and n = 53 from the LFD) were included in the study. At baseline and after one-year intervention, cMV were quantified and characterized by flow cytometry to identify their activated parental cell origin and prothrombotic potential by Annexin V (AV) binding. Results: After one year of dietary intervention, platelet-derived PAC-1+/AV+ and CD62P+/AV+ cMV concentrations were lower in the Nuts group compared with the LFD and EVOO interventions (P = 0.036 and 0.003, respectively). In addition, prothrombotic cMV carrying tissue factor (CD142+/AV+) and CD11a+/AV+ cMV derived from activated cells, were significantly lower in both Mediterranean diet (EVOO and Nuts) interventions compared to one year of LFD (P < 0.0001 and 0.028, respectively). SMAα+/AV- cMV were lower in the LFD compared to the Nuts group after one year of intervention (P = 0.038). Conclusions: cMV are markers of cell activation and vascular injury that appear to be sensitive to dietary changes. Following a Mediterranean diet rich in EVOO or nuts is associated with lower cell activation towards a pro-atherothrombotic phenotype, suggesting a delay in the development of CV complications.
Oxidative Stress Biomarkers, Nut-Related Antioxidants, and Cardiovascular Disease.
Atherosclerosis is related to fat accumulation in the arterial walls and vascular stiffening, and results in acute coronary syndrome which is commonly associated with acute myocardial infarction. Oxidative stress participates in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Thus, the inclusion of food sources of dietary antioxidants, such as different kinds of nuts, may improve biomarkers related to oxidative stress, contributing to a possible reduction in atherosclerosis progression. This article has briefly highlighted the interaction between oxidative stress, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease, in addition to the effect of the consumption of different nuts and related dietary antioxidants-like polyphenols and vitamin E-on biomarkers of oxidative stress in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention. Studies in vitro suggest that nuts may exert antioxidant effects by DNA repair mechanisms, lipid peroxidation prevention, modulation of the signaling pathways, and inhibition of the MAPK pathways through the suppression of NF-κB and activation of the Nrf2 pathways. Studies conducted in animal models showed the ability of dietary nuts in improving biomarkers of oxidative stress, such as oxLDL and GPx. However, clinical trials in humans have not been conclusive, especially with regards to the secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease.
New Harvard Research Supports the Role of Nut Consumption in Cardiovascular Health
The study included a total of 192,655 participants from three different cohorts. Researchers assessed nut consumption every 4 years using validated food frequency questionnaires. Per 0.5 serving/day increase in total nut consumption was associated with lower risk of CVD, coronary heart disease and stroke. Compared with individuals who remained non-consumers in a 4‐year interval, those who had higher consumption of total nuts (≥0.5 servings/day) had a lower risk of CVD, coronary heart disease and stroke in next 4 years.
The study concluded that increasing total consumption of nuts and intake of individual types of nuts (e.g. walnuts, other tree nuts and peanuts) was associated with a lower risk of CVD. This analysis provides further evidence that incorporating nuts into diet is beneficial for CVD risk, even among those who previously did not consume nuts. These data also support the role of nut intake in the primary prevention of CVD.
Liu, X., Guasch-Ferré, M., Drouin-Chartier, J. P., Tobias, D. K., Bhupathiraju, S. N., Rexrode, K. M., Willett, W. C., Sun, Q., & Li, Y. (2020). Changes in Nut Consumption and Subsequent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among US Men and Women: 3 Large Prospective Cohort Studies. Journal of the American Heart Association, 9(7), e013877. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.013877
The study concluded that increasing total consumption of nuts and intake of individual types of nuts (e.g. walnuts, other tree nuts and peanuts) was associated with a lower risk of CVD. This analysis provides further evidence that incorporating nuts into diet is beneficial for CVD risk, even among those who previously did not consume nuts. These data also support the role of nut intake in the primary prevention of CVD.
Liu, X., Guasch-Ferré, M., Drouin-Chartier, J. P., Tobias, D. K., Bhupathiraju, S. N., Rexrode, K. M., Willett, W. C., Sun, Q., & Li, Y. (2020). Changes in Nut Consumption and Subsequent Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among US Men and Women: 3 Large Prospective Cohort Studies. Journal of the American Heart Association, 9(7), e013877. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.119.013877