linoleic-acid and naringenin

The main scope of the present study was to analyze the membrane interaction of members of different classes of polyphenols, i.e. resveratrol, naringenin, epigallocatechin gallate and enterodiol, in model systems of different compositions and phase states. In addition, the possible association between membrane affinity and membrane protection against both lipid oxidation and bilayer-disruptive compounds was studied. Gibbs monolayer experiments indicated that even though polyphenols showed poor surface activity, it readily interacted with lipid films. Actually, a preferential interaction with expanded monolayers was observed, while condensed and cholesterol-containing monolayers decreased the affinity of these phenolic compounds. On the other hand, fluorescence anisotropy studies showed that polyphenols were able to modulate membrane order degree, but again this effect was dependent on the cholesterol concentration and membrane phase state. In fact, cholesterol induced a surface rather than deep into the hydrophobic core localization of phenolic compounds in the membranes. In general, the polyphenolic molecules tested had a better antioxidant activity when they were allowed to get inserted into the bilayers, i.e. in cholesterol-free membranes. On the other hand, a membrane-protective effect against bilayer permeabilizing activity of lysozyme, particularly in the presence of cholesterol, could be assessed. It can be hypothesized that phenolic compounds may protect membrane integrity by loosely covering the surface of lipid vesicles, once cholesterol push them off from the membrane hydrophobic core. However, this cholesterol-driven distribution may lead to a reduced antioxidant activity of linoleic acid double bonds.

Topics: 1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine; Antioxidants; Catechin; Cholesterol; Dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine; Flavanones; Fluorescence Polarization; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; Lignans; Linoleic Acid; Lipid Bilayers; Lipid Peroxidation; Liposomes; Muramidase; Reactive Oxygen Species; Resveratrol; Stilbenes; Surface Properties

Green tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves are known to contain active ingredients such as catechins and caffeine, and are widely useful materials. Recently, green tea flowers also have been in the spotlight. However, little attention has been paid to the tea seeds. In this work, the constituents of green tea seeds and green tea leaves were compared. Caffeine was found in the seeds, whereas catechins (usually obtained from green tea leaves) were not observed. Next, we investigated the constituents of hexane extracts and methanol extracts of green tea seeds. We found that the hexane extracts contained high amounts of oleic glyceride (79.9%) in addition to linoleic glyceride (20%). We confirmed the structures of these glycerides by NMR spectroscopy and by synthesis from a fatty acid and glycerol. The methanol extract was found to contain naringenin glucosides by mass spectrometry and NMR spectroscopic analysis.

Topics: Camellia sinensis; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Flavanones; Glycerides; Hexanes; Hydrolysis; Linoleic Acid; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; Models, Molecular; Molecular Conformation; Oleic Acid; Seeds; Solvents

Obesity is one of the predisposing factors for the development of overt Type 2 diabetes (T2D). T2D is caused by a combination of insulin resistance and beta-cell failure and can be treated with insulin sensitizing drugs that target the nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma. Extracts of elderflowers (Sambucus nigra) have been found to activate PPARgamma and to stimulate insulin-dependent glucose uptake suggesting that they have a potential use in the prevention and/or treatment of insulin resistance. Bioassay-guided chromatographic fractionation of a methanol extract of elderflowers resulted in the identification of two well-known PPARgamma agonists; alpha-linolenic acid and linoleic acid as well as the flavanone naringenin. Naringenin was found to activate PPARgamma without stimulating adipocyte differentiation. However, the bioactivities of these three metabolites were not able to fully account for the observed PPARgamma activation of the crude elderflower extracts and further studies are needed to determine whether this is due synergistic effects and/or other ligand-independent mechanisms. Elderflower metabolites such as quercetin-3-O-rutinoside, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, and 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid were unable to activate PPARgamma. These findings suggest that flavonoid glycosides cannot activate PPARgamma, whereas some of their aglycones are potential agonists of PPARgamma.

Topics: 3T3-L1 Cells; Adipocytes; alpha-Linolenic Acid; Animals; Flavanones; Flowers; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Mice; Plant Extracts; PPAR gamma; Sambucus nigra