BACKGROUND Procyanidins are extensively metabolized via phase-II and microbial enzymes. However, their distribution in the body is not well characterized. AIM This study investigates the distribution of procyanidins (monomers and dimers) and their phase-II metabolites in plasma and tissues (thymus, heart, liver, testicle, lung, kidney, spleen and brain). METHODS Wistar rats were fed with 1 ...

The widespread consumption of diets rich in anthocyanin and catechin content prompted the evaluation of their in vitro inhibitory effects on cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes and on the proliferation of human cancer cell lines. Five anthocyanidins consisting of cyanidin (1), delphinidin (2), pelargonidin (3), peonidin (4), and malvidin (5) were tested for COX-1 and -2 enzyme inhibitory activities at...

Colorectal cancer is sensitive to dietary influences. Epidemiological data linking high intake of fruits and vegetables to decreased cancer risk have prompted the search for specific plant constituents implicated in tumor prevention. This task is difficult because of the complex chemical composition of plant foods and the multifactorial nature of carcinogenesis. Researchers are aided in this ef...

Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are distributed widely in Chinese bayberry fruit and have been associated with human health benefits, but molecular and biochemical characterization of PA biosynthesis remains unclear. Here, two genes encoding key PA biosynthetic enzymes, anthocyanidin reductase (ANR) and leucoanthocyanidin reductase (LAR) were isolated in bayberry fruit. MrANR was highly expressed at th...

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) noodles are a traditional food in Japan and contains catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, rutin and an oligomer of catechin and epicatechin. Catechin, epicatechin, quercetin and rutin have flavonoid structures, and their antioxidant action and neuroprotection have been widely studied. Buckwheat extract (BWE) has been also reported to have antioxidant activit...

Tetragonal (t)-LaVO4 has turned out to be a potential host for luminescent materials. Synthesis of t-LaVO4 till date has been based on chelating effect of EDTA making it not ideal for bioimaging applications. An alternative was proposed by us through the use of catechin. In recent times there is interest for new MRI contrast agents that can through appropriate doping function both as MRI contra...

BACKGROUND Resistance of antimalarial drugs to Plasmodium falciparum has become a major concern in malaria eradication. Although it is also affected by several socioeconomic factors, a new antiplasmodial agent is needed for a global malaria control program. OBJECTIVE In this study, we attempted to uncover the antiplasmodial properties of Garcinia celebica, an Indonesian medicinal plant, along...

Tea (Camellia sinensis) is rich in specialized metabolites, especially polyphenolic proanthocyanidins (PAs) and their precursors. To better understand the PA pathway in tea, we generated a complementary DNA library from leaf tissue of the blister blight-resistant tea cultivar TRI2043 and functionally characterized key enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of PA precursors. Structural genes e...

The antioxidant capacity of polyphenols (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin and myricetin, and of different types of red wines (Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec and blended wine) was evaluated by three assays. (a) NADH oxidation by peroxynitrite (ONOO-): the ONOO- scavenging activity was higher for myricetin (IC50=35 microM) than for (+)-catechin (IC50=275 microM) and (-)-epicatechin (IC50=313 microM). (b)...