OBJECTIVES Previous research demonstrated that diabetes is one of the leading causes of learning and memory deficits. Naringin, a bioflavonoid isolated from grapefruits and oranges, has potent protective effects on streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Recently, the effects of naringin on learning and memory performances were monitored in many animal models of cognitive impairment. Howeve...

Excising plant tissues has been found to increase the activity of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (EC 4.1.3.5) (1, 4, 11, 12). This increase is probably due to de novo synthesis of this enzyme, since inhibitors of protein synthesis block the rise of PAL' activity (4, 11, 12). We suggested earlier (4) that the increase of PAL in gherkin hypocotyl segments was due to the release into the medium of re...

Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons and a biochemical reduction of striatal dopamine levels. Despite the lack of fully understanding of the etiology of Parkinson's disease, accumulating evidences suggest that Parkinson's disease may be caused by the insufficient support of neurotrophic fac...

Some phytosanitary irradiation treatment research against tephritid fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) has used artificially infested fruit with the unstated and untested assumption that the method adequately simulated a natural situation. We compare grapefruit, Citrus paradisi Macfayden, naturally infested by Mexican fruit fly, Anastrepha ludens (Loew), via oviposition until larvae reached the...

Citrus Bent Leaf Viroid (CBLVd) and Dwarfing (CDVd), from genus Apscaviroid, are two of the widely distributed citrus viroids among eight reported to date. They have been found induce reduction in canopy volume fruit production trees on trifoliate orange hybrids rootstocks. Moreover, infected only with CBLVd or combinations Exocortis (CEVd), Hop Stunt (HSVd) CDVd associated a poor development r...

Naringenin, one of the most abundant flavonoids in citrus fruits and grapefruits, has been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the naringenin anti-inflammatory activity are poorly understood. In this study, we conducted an investigation of the inhibitory effects ...

Enzymatic conjugation with fatty acids including omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFAs) derived from fish oil to three citrus fruit-derived flavonoids: grapefruit extract, naringin, and neohesperidin dihydrochalcone were investigated. The conversions were achieved over 85% under the catalysis of lipase Novozyme 435 in acetone at 45°C at semi-preparative scale. The conjugates were purif...

Some phytosanitary irradiation treatment research against tephritid fruit ßies (Diptera: Tephritidae) has used artiÞcially infested fruit with the unstated and untested assumption that the method adequately simulated a natural situation. We compare grapefruit, Citrus paradisiMacfayden, naturally infested byMexican fruit ßy,Anastrepha ludens (Loew), via oviposition until larvae reached the late ...

Epidemiological evidence suggests that polyphenols may, in part, explain the cardioprotective properties of fruits. This review aims to summarise the evidence for the effects of fruit polyphenols on four risk factors of CVD: platelet function, blood pressure, vascular function and blood lipids. This review includes human dietary intervention studies investigating fruits and their polyphenols. T...

We recently showed that imbalance of TGF-β/Smad signaling with over-activation of Smad3 but lower levels of Smad7 is a central mechanism of tissue fibrosis. In the present study, we report here that inhibition of Smad3 with naringenin (NG) and upregulation of Smad7 with asiatic acid (AA) produced an additive effect on inhibition of renal fibrosis in a mouse model of obstructive nephropathy. We ...