Background. This study sought to investigate the antidiabetic and antihypertensive mechanisms of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) bean through inhibition of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, angiotensin-1 converting enzyme, and oxidative stress. Methodology. The total phenol and flavonoid contents of the water extractable phytochemicals from the powdered cocoa bean were determined and the effects of the extract...

The edible straw mushroom, Volvariella volvacea, produces a multicomponent enzyme system consisting of endo-1,4-beta-glucanase, cellobiohydrolase, and beta-glucosidase for the conversion of cellulose to glucose. The highest levels of endoglucanase and cellobiohydrolase were recorded in cultures containing microcrystalline cellulose (Avicel) or filter paper, while lower but detectable levels of ...

background: glycosidases profusion in male reproductive fluids suggests a possible relationship with sperm function. although hexosaminidase (hex) is the most active glycosidase in epididymal fluid and seminal plasma, as well as in spermatozoa, glucosidase is considered a marker for epididymal function and azoospermia. objective: the aim of this study was to determine hex activity in seminal pl...

Phenolic composition of virgin olive oil is determined by the enzymatic and/or chemical reactions that take place during olive fruit processing. Of these enzymes, β-glucosidase activity plays a relevant role in the transformation of the phenolic glycosides present in the olive fruit, generating different secoiridoid derivatives. The main goal of the present study was to characterize olive fruit...

A thermostable β-glucosidase was effectively immobilized on alginate by the method of gel entrapment. After optimization of immobilized conditions, recovered enzyme activity was 60%. Optimum pH, temperature, kinetic parameters, thermal and pH stability, reusability, and storage stability were investigated. The K m and V max for immobilized β-glucosidase were estimated to be 5.0 mM and 0.64 U/ml...

Serum-free cultured neuroblastoma cells (clone NlE-115) have been shown to absorb emulsified glucosylceramide, glucosylceramide glucosidase, an activator protein for the enzyme, and phosphatidylserine from a synthetic medium. Uptake of the enzyme was augmented by phosphatidylserine, and vice versa. Uptake of the enzyme-lipid complex was further augmented by the activator protein. It appears lik...

The mechanism of nutrient-evoked insulin release is clearly complex. One part of that mechanism is postulated to be the activation of the glycogenolytic enzyme acid glucan-1,4-alpha-glucosidase. As nitric oxide (NO) has been found to be a potent inhibitor of glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, we have now investigated a possible influence of exogenous NO and inhibition of endogenous NO produc...

The thermophilic fungus Thermoascus aurantiacus 179-5 produced large quantities of a glucosidase which preferentially hydrolyzed maltose over starch. Enzyme production was high in submerged fermentation, with a maximal activity of 30 U/ml after 336 h of fermentation. In solid-state fermentation, the activity of the enzyme was 22 U/ml at 144 h in medium containing wheat bran and 5.8 U/ml at 48 h...

The H antigen of the dimorphic fungal pathogen Histoplasma capsulatum was first described over 40 years ago. It is a secreted glycoprotein that is immunogenic during infection. Recent cloning of the H antigen gene (HAG1) indicated sequence homology with genes for fungal beta-glucosidases. To understand the biological role of this immunodominant antigen in H. capsulatum, enzymatic assays were pe...