Post by beebs on Dec 27, 2011 14:28:46 GMT -5
Difficult to choose which thread to post this, since everything is connected!!
Prune melanoidins protect against oxidative stress and endothelial cell death.
Posadino AM, Cossu A, Piga A, Madrau MA, Del Caro A, Colombino M, Paglietti B, Rubino S, Iaccarino C, Crosio C, Sanna B, Pintus G.
Source
Department of Biomedical Sciences, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Sassari, Italy.
Abstract
The health-promoting effects of fruit and vegetable consumption are thought to be due to phytochemicals contained in fresh plant material. Whether processed plant foods provide the same benefits as unprocessed ones is an open question. Melanoidins from heat-processed plums (prunes) were isolated and their presence confirmed by hydroxymethylfurfural content and browning index. Oxidative-induced endothelial cell (EC) damage is the trigger for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD); therefore the potential protective effect of prune melanoidins on hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative cell damage was investigated on human endothelial ECV304 cells. Cytoplasmic and mitochondrial redox status was assessed by using the novel, redox-sensitive, ratiometric fluorescent protein sensor (roGFP), while mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was investigated with the fluorescent dye, JC-1. Treatment of ECV304 cells with hydrogen peroxide dose-dependently induced both mitochondrial and cytoplasmic oxidation, in addition to MMP dissipation, with ensuing cell death. Pretreatment of ECV304 with prune melanoidins, significantly counteracted and ultimately abolished hydrogen peroxide elicited phenomena, clearly indicating that these polymers protect human EC against oxidative stress.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21622112