Open Access
Potential role of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) in the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases
(Frontiers Media, 2022) Arcusa, Raúl; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Marhuenda, Javier; Cano, Miguel; Cerdá, Begoña; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Ginger is composed of multiple bioactive compounds, including 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol, 10-gingerol, gingerdiones, gingerdiols, paradols, 6-dehydrogingerols, 5-acetoxy-6-gingerol, 3,5-diacetoxy-6-gingerdiol, and 12-gingerol, that contribute to its recognized biological activities. Among them, the major active compounds are 6-shogaol and 6-gingerol. Scientific evidence supports the beneficial properties of ginger, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities and in contrast, a specific and less studied bioactivity is the possible neuroprotective effect. The increase in life expectancy has raised the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs), which present common neuropathological features as increased oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and protein misfolding. The structure-activity relationships of ginger phytochemicals show that ginger can be a candidate to treat NDs by targeting different ligand sites. Its bioactive compounds may improve neurological symptoms and pathological conditions by modulating cell death or cell survival signaling molecules. The cognitive enhancing effects of ginger might be partly explained via alteration of both the monoamine and the cholinergic systems in various brain areas. Moreover, ginger decreases the production of inflammatory related factors. The aim of the present review is to summarize the effects of ginger in the prevention of major neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.
Open Access
Ginger in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases
(IntechOpen, 2022) Cerdá, Begoña; Marhuenda, Javier; Arcusa, Raúl; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Ballester, Purificación; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Ginger, Zingiber officinale, is a member of the Zingiberaceae family, used in traditional medicine for treatment of a variety of conditions. Many pharmacological activities have been reported for this plant (anti-inflammatory, anti-tumorigenic, anti-apoptotic, anti-hyperglycemic, cancer-chemopreventive, and anti-lipidemic). Cardiovascular disease, which includes coronary artery disease, acute myocardial infarction, peripheral arterial disease, and stroke, is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In recent years, several studies have described that ginger can control or improve some cardiovascular risk factors such as cholesterol levels, hypertension, or atherosclerosis. The aim of the present review is to summarize the effects of ginger bioactive compounds on cardiovascular diseases.
Open Access
Biological effects of stevia, sucralose and sucrose in citrus-maqui juices on overweight subjects
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2021-07-01) Zafrilla, Pilar; Masoodi, Hedyeh; Cerdá, Begoña; García-Viguera, Cristina; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Background: In the last few years there has been emerging interest in substituting added sugars from juices with other sweeteners to make them healthier. But their long-term effects have been poorly evaluated. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of the addition of stevia, sucralose and sucrose (control) to maqui-citrus beverages on antioxidant and inflammatory status. Methods: a 3-arm parallel, randomized and triple blind clinical trial was performed in overweight subjects (n = 138), who consumed the test beverage (330 mL day-1) for 60 days. The following markers were determined: antioxidant status (ORAC, homocysteine, and oxidized LDL), safety parameters (ALP, AST, ALT, and total bilirubin), lipid profile (total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglycerides) and inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6, TNF-a, and IL-10). Results: The homocysteine levels significantly increased after consumption of sucralose (27%, p = 0.001) and sucrose (40%, p = 0.006). A significant increase in the IL-10 concentration after consumption of the stevia sweetened beverage, and in ORAC values (21%) in subjects with lower basal antioxidant status were observed. The HDL and total cholesterol levels significantly increased after consumption of sucralose (p = 0.039) and sucrose (p = 0.001), respectively. No changes in triglycerides, LDL or oxidized LDL were observed. Conclusions: Oxidative stress and an inflammatory response were observed after consumption of these sweetened beverages, with the exception of stevia, which produced an anti-inflammatory response. The possible antioxidative effects of this polyphenol-rich beverage may only benefit those individuals with poorer antioxidant status. Many randomized controlled trials at normal levels of consumption using commonly consumed sweeteners are necessary to clarify their roles in health.
Open Access
Effects of a fruit and vegetable-based nutraceutical on biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative status in the plasma of a healthy population: a placebo-controlled, double-blind, and randomized clinical trial
(MDPI, 2021) Arcusa, Raúl; Carrillo, Juan Ángel; Xandri-Martínez, Raquel; Cerdá, Begoña; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Marhuenda, Javier; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
There is scientific evidence of the positive effect of polyphenols from plant foods on inflammation and oxidative status. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether treatment with a high-polyphenolic nutraceutical reduces the plasmatic concentration of certain oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in a healthy population. One hundred and eight subjects were selected and stratified by sex in the intervention group (n = 53) and the placebo group (n = 55). Ninety-two subjects completed the study after two 16-week treatment periods separated by a four-week washout period. The results revealed statistically significant differences in subjects treated with the polyphenolic extract compared to the placebo: A decrease in homocysteine, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL), TNF-α, sTNFR1, and C-reactive protein (CRP). The most significant decrease was observed for OxLDL (from 78.98 ± 24.48 to 69.52 ± 15.64; p < 0.05) and CRP (from 1.50 ± 0.33 to 1.39 ± 0.37; p < 0.05), both showing significant differences compared to the placebo (p < 0.001). Moreover, catecholamines increased after the administration of the product under investigation, especially in the case of dopamine (from 15.43 ± 2.66 to 19.61 ± 5.73; p < 0.05). Therefore, the consumption of a nutraceutical based on fruit and vegetables with a high polyphenol content seems to improve the parameters related to health benefits (oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers), including remarkable changes in the expression of catecholamines.
Open Access
Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacity of a fruit and vegetable-based nutraceutical measured by urinary oxylipin concentration in a healthy population: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial
(MDPI, 2022) Arcusa, Raúl; Carrillo, Juan Ángel; Cerdá, Begoña; Durand, Thierry; Gil-Izquierdo, Ángel; Medina, Sonia; Galano, Jean-Marie; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Marhuenda, Javier; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura
Oxylipins, lipid biomarkers of inflammation are considered the gold standard method to evaluate the inflammatory and antioxidant status. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the administration of a polyphenolic extract shot in the form of a nutraceutical was able to reduce inflammation, measured in urine markers. Ninety-two participants (45 males, 47 females, age 34 ± 11 years, weight 73.10 ± 14.29 kg, height 1.72 ± 9 cm, BMI 24.40 ± 3.43 kg/m2 ) completed the study after an intervention of two 16-week periods consuming extract or placebo separated by a 4-week washout period. The results showed significant differences in terms of reduction of different pro-inflammatory oxylipins (15-keto-PGF2α (from 0.90 ± 0.25 ng/mL to 0.74 ± 0.19 ng/mL p < 0.05), ent-PGF2α (from 1.59 ± 0.37 ng/mL to 1.44 ± 0.32 ng/mL p < 0.05), 2,3-dinor-15-F2t-Isop) (from 1.17 ± 0.35 ng/mL to 1.02 ± 0.27 ng/mL p < 0.05), in total oxylipins count (from 8.03 ± 1.86 ng/mL to 7.25 ± 1.23 ng/mL p < 0.05), and increase in PGE2 (from 1.02 ± 0.38 ng/mL to 1.26 ± 0.38 ng/mL p < 0.05) which has an anti-inflammatory character, after extract consumption compared to placebo. The available data seem to indicate that long-term consumption of a nutraceutical with high polyphenol content improves inflammation and oxidation parameters measured in urine, through UHPLCQqQ-ESI-MS/MS.
Open Access
Effect of black garlic consumption on endothelial function and lipid profile: a before-and-after study in hypercholesterolemic and non-hypercholesterolemic subjects
(MDPI, 2023) Villaño Valencia, Débora; Marhuenda, Javier; Arcusa, Raúl; Moreno-Rojas, José Manuel; Cerdá, Begoña; Pereira-Caro, Gema; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
Background: Black garlic is obtained from raw garlic (Allium sativum L.), by a fermentation process, under humidity and heat treatment, showing a high concentration of organosulfur compounds, which have been related to benefits in the prevention or delay of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The objective of the research was to evaluate whether long-term consumption of black garlic improves endothelial function and lipid profile in subjects with hypercholesterolemia. Methods: Single center, controlled clinical trial with two branches: Hypercholesterolemia vs. Healthy condition. Sixty-two subjects of both sexes were distributed in two groups, the hypercholesterolemia group (n = 31) (total cholesterol (TC) range 200-300 mg/dL and low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol range 135-175 mg/dL) and the healthy group (n = 31). The intervention consisted of the ingestion of 4 cloves of black garlic (12 g) daily for 12 weeks. Results: significant increases in Apolipoprotein (Apo)A1 occurred in both groups: Hypercholesterolemia (& UDelta; 11.8 mg/dL p < 0.001) vs Healthy (& UDelta; 11.1 mg/dL p < 0.001). Besides, significant reductions for endothelial adhesion molecules monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) (& UDelta; -121.5 pg/mL p = 0.007 vs. & UDelta; -56.3 pg/mL p = 0.015), intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) (& UDelta; -39.3 ng/mL p < 0.001 vs. & UDelta; 63.5 ng/mL p < 0.001), and vascular cyto-adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) (& UDelta; -144.4 ng/mL p < 0.001 vs. & UDelta; -83.4 ng/mL p = 0.061) were observed, for hypercholesterolemic and healthy subjects, respectively. Conclusions: These data show that black garlic consumption could improve some parameters related to endothelial function and lipid profile, which may have a favorable impact on the risk of CVDs, although more long-term studies are necessary to confirm.
Open Access
Soil and climate determine antioxidant capacity of walnuts
(United Arab Emirates University, 2017) Figueroa, Fernando; Marhuenda, Javier; Gironés-Vilaplana, Amadeo; Villaño Valencia, Débora; Martínez-Cachá, Adela; Mulero, Juana; Cerdá, Begoña; Zafrilla, Pilar; Agronomía, Biotecnología y Alimentación; Agronomia, Bioteknologia eta Elikadura; Institute on Innovation and Sustainable Development in Food Chain - ISFOOD
The aim of this work was to study the influence of soil and climate factors in the antioxidant capacity of 10 different varieties of nuts, obtained from two experimental cultivars with different weather and soil conditions. Ten different varieties of walnut samples were obtained from two experimental cultivars, analyzing the antioxidant capacity by ORAC, DPPH• and ABTS+ methods. Eureka and Tehama walnuts showed the highest antioxidant capacity. Only Chico and Serr varieties (measured by ABTS+ method) and Franquette variety (measured by ORAC assay) increased their antioxidant capacity when cultured in Torre Blanca plots. The growing in El Chaparral plots increased the antioxidant capacity of every different variety. Minor temperature (especially when it reaches over -0 ºC) and humidity, as well as an increase on the annual rainfall are noteworthy factors that influence on the increase of antioxidant capacity of the wide majority of the analyzed walnuts.