Search results for "Betalains"
showing 10 items of 20 documents
Redox Properties, Bioactivity and Health Effects of Indicaxanthin, a Bioavailable Phytochemical from Opuntia ficus indica, L.: A Critical Review of A…
2022
Phytochemicals from plant foods are considered essential to human health. Known for their role in the adaptation of plants to their environment, these compounds can induce adaptive responses in cells, many of which are directed at maintaining the redox tone. Indicaxanthin is a long-known betalain pigment found in the genus Opuntia of cactus pear and highly concentrated in the edible fruits of O. ficus indica, L. whose bioactivity has been overlooked until recently. This review summarizes studies conducted so far in vitro and in vivo, most of which have been performed in our laboratory. The chemical and physicochemical characteristics of Indicaxanthin are reflected in the molecule’s reducing…
Synthesis and Antioxidative Properties of 1,2,3,4-Tetrahydropyridine Derivatives with Different Substituents in 4-Position
2022
Natural products are an excellent source of inspiration for the development of new drugs. Among them, betalains have been extensively studied for their antioxidant properties and potential application as natural food dyes. Herein, we describe the seven-step synthesis of new betalamic acid analogs without carboxy groups in the 2- and 6-position with an overall yield of ~70%. The Folin–Ciocalteu assay was used to determine the antioxidant properties of protected intermediate 21. Additionally, the five-step synthesis of betalamic acid analog 35 with three ester moieties was performed. Using NMR techniques, the stability of the obtained compounds towards oxygen was analyzed.
Cytoprotective effects of the antioxidant phytochemical indicaxanthin in beta-thalassemia red blood cells
2006
Antioxidant phytochemicals are investigated as novel treatments for supportive therapy in beta-thalassemia. The dietary indicaxanthin was assessed for its protective effects on human beta-thalassemic RBCs submitted in vitro to oxidative haemolysis by cumene hydroperoxide. Indicaxanthin at 1.0-10 microM enhanced the resistance to haemolysis dose-dependently. In addition, it prevented lipid and haemoglobin (Hb) oxidation, and retarded vitamin E and GSH depletion. After ex vivo spiking of blood from thalassemia patients with indicaxanthin, the phytochemical was recovered in the soluble cell compartment of the RBCs. A spectrophotometric study showed that indicaxanthin can reduce perferryl-Hb ge…
Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of betalains from Cactus Pear
2004
Anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Betalains from Cactus Pear. C. Gentile1, A. Marconi1, M. A. Livrea2, G. Uzan1, P. D’Alessio1. 1 Inserm U602, Paris, France. 2 Dip. Farmacochimico, Tossicologico e Biologico, Università Palermo, Italy. Betalains of phytochemical origin, known as potent radical-scavengers in chemical and biological systems, have been tested in a model of inflammation. New phytochemicals are continuously inspected for potential pharmacological applications. The red betanin and the yellow indicaxanthin have recently been isolated and characterized from Cactus Pear. Reactive Oxygen Species may be toxic or display a regulatory character. During the inflammation rea…
Antioxidant betalains from cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) inhibit endothelial ICAM-1 expression.
2004
It has been suggested that some pigments would have antioxidant properties and that their presence in dietary constituents would contribute to reduce the risk of oxidative stress–correlated diseases. Among others, inflammatory response depends on redox status and may implicate oxidative stress. Vascular endothelial cells are a direct target of oxidative stress in inflammation. We have tested the impact of the free radical scavenger and antioxidant properties of betalains from the prickle pear in an in vitro model of endothelial cells. Here we show the capacity of betalains to protect endothelium from cytokine- induced redox state alteration, through ICAM-1 inhibition. KEYWORDS: endothelial …
Betalains: colours for human health.
2022
In the last years, the use of natural phytochemical compounds as protective agents in the prevention and treatment of obesity and the related-metabolic syndrome has gained much attention worldwide. Different studies have shown health benefits for many vegetables such Opuntia ficus-indica and Beta vulgaris and their pigments collectively referred as betalains. Betalains exert antioxidative, anti-inflammation, lipid lowering, antidiabetic and anti-obesity effects. This review summarizes findings in the literature and highlights the therapeutic potential of betalains and their natural source as valid alternative for supplementation in obesity-related disorders treatment. Further research is ne…
Trans-epithelial transport of the betalain pigments indicaxanthin and betanin across Caco-2 cell monolayers and influence of food matrix.
2012
Purpose: This study investigated the absorption mechanism of the phytochemicals indicaxanthin and betanin and the influence of their food matrix (cactus pear and red beet) on the intestinal transport. Methods: Trans-epithelial transport of dietary-consistent amounts of indicaxanthin and betanin in Caco-2 cell monolayers seeded on TranswellR inserts was measured in apical to basolateral (AP-BL) and basolateral to apical (BL-AP) direction, under an inwardly directed pH gradient (pH 6.0/7.4, AP/BL) mimicking luminal and serosal sides of human intestinal epithelium. The effect of inhibitors of membrane transporters on the absorption was also evaluated. Contribution of the paracellular route was…
Effect of opuntia ficus-indica mucilage edible coating on quality, nutraceutical, and sensorial parameters of minimally processed cactus pear fruits
2021
Cactus pear (Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill.) is a non-climacteric fruit with a relatively short postharvest life span, being very sensitive to water loss, darkening and decay. Cactus pear is a spiny fruit, and the presence of glochids limits fruit consumption and diffusion
Phytochemical Indicaxanthin Inhibits Colon Cancer Cell Growth and Affects the DNA Methylation Status by Influencing Epigenetically Modifying Enzyme E…
2015
<b><i>Background:</i></b> Recently, we have shown anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects of indicaxanthin associated with epigenetic modulation of the onco-suppressor <i>p16</i><sup><i>INK4a</i></sup> in the human colon cancer cell line CACO2. In the present study, the epigenetic activity of indicaxanthin and the mechanisms involved were further investigated in other colorectal cancer cell lines. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> LOVO1, CACO2, HT29, HCT116, and DLD1 cells were used to evaluate the potential influence of consistent dietary concentrations of indicaxanthin on DNA methylation, and the epigenetic mech…
Increased resistance to oxidation of betalain-enriched human low density lipoproteins
2003
Betalains are natural pigments recently considered as compounds with potential antioxidative properties. In this work, ex vivo plasma spiking of pure either betanin or indicaxanthin, followed by isolation of low density lipoprotein (LDL), and measurement of its resistance to copper-induced oxidation, has been used to research if these betalains can bind to LDL and prevent oxidation of LDL lipids. When pooled human plasma from 10 healthy volunteers was incubated in the presence of 25-100 microM either betanin or indicaxanthin, incorporation of both compounds in LDL was observed, with a maximum binding of 0.52 +/- 0.08, and 0.51 +/- 0.06 nmoles of indicaxanthin and betanin, respectively, per …