Introduction: Folkloric claims have surrounded essential oils, including their enhancement of learning and memory through inhalational exposure. Few studies in humans have shown a benefit in cognition, albeit incremental. However, this benefit may not be entirely attributable to the essential oil aroma but may be confounded by psychological associations. We investigated rosemary, peppermint, lemon, and coffee aromas in a learning and memory model of Drosophila melanogaster to eliminate this confounder. Methods: We screened for concentrations of the four treatments that are non-stimulatory for altered locomotory behavior in the flies. At these concentrations, we determined if they were chemoneutral (i.e., neither chemoattractant nor chemorepellent) to the flies. Learning and memory of the flies exposed to these aromas were determined using an Aversive Phototaxis Suppression (APS) assay. Results: The aromas of rosemary, peppermint, and lemon that did not elicit altered mobility in the flies were from dilute essential oil solutions that ranged from 0.2 to 0.5% v/v; whereas for the aroma in coffee, it was at a higher concentration of 7.5% m/v. At these concentrations, the aromas used were found to be chemoneutral towards the flies. We observed no improvement in both learning and memory in the four aromas tested. While a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in learning was observed when flies were treated with the aromas of rosemary, peppermint, and coffee, a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in memory was only observed in the peppermint aroma treatment. Conclusion This study demonstrated that in the absence of psychological association, the four aromas do not enhance learning and memory
Drosophila melanogaster ; Learning ; Memory ; Rosmarinus ; Mentha piperita ; Citrus ; Coffea

AIM: Trigonelline (Tr) is the second most abundant alkaloid in coffee beans. This study developed an assay combining hydrophilic interaction chromatography with ultra performance liquid chromatography (HILIC-UPLC) for the quantification of Tr in rat plasma to determine its pharmacokinetic behavior. METHODS: After the administration of Tr by gavage as well as intravenous injection and that of methanol extract of coffee beans (MECB) orally, blood samples from the experimental rats were analyzed using the HILIC-UPLC assay. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using the standard non-compartmental method and calculated using Practical Pharmacokinetic Program Version 87/97. RESULTS: The HILIC-UPLC assay was validated with the linear range of 0.12-100 μg·mL(-1) and a lower limit of quantitation of 0.12 μg·mL(-1). Its accuracy, precision, recovery, and stability were within acceptable limits. The AUC(0-∞) (where AUC is the area under the plasma concentration-time curve) values were determined to be (4 066.83 ± 1 244.41) and (3 544.29 ± 908.80) min·μg·mL(-1) after Tr was orally and intravenously administered, respectively. It was (4 566.75 ± 1 435.64) min·μg·mL(-1) after MECB was orally administered. The absolute bioavailability of Tr alone reached 57.37%, whereas that of Tr in MECB was 64.42%. The relative bioavailability of the alkaloid was 112.29%. CONCLUSIONS The HILIC-UPLC assay for Tr determination is simple and accurate, and also exhibits good reproducibility. The bioavailability of stand-alone Tr and that of Tr in MECB were both good. Tr alone and that in MECB orally administered did not exhibit any significant difference.
Alkaloids ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Animals ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; methods ; Chromatography, Liquid ; methods ; Coffea ; chemistry ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; blood ; pharmacokinetics ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

It has been reported that the immune response due to alpha-Gal epitopes is an important factor in tissue valve failure. The elimination of the interaction between the natural anti-Gal antibodies and alpha-gal epitopes on the xenografts is a prerequisite to the success of xenografts in humans. Previously, we reported that the green coffee bean alpha-galactosidase could remove all alpha-Gal epitopes from cell surface of porcine aortic valve and pericardial tissue, but it has limitations on cost effectiveness. In this study we wanted to know whether the recently produced recombinant human alpha-galactosidase A has the same effective enzymatic activity as green coffee bean alpha-galactosidase in removing alpha-Gal epitopes from the same tissues. After treating fresh porcine aortic valve and pericardial tissue with recombinant alpha-galactosidase A, each sample was stained with Griffonia simplicifolia type I isolectin B4 indirect immunoperoxidase avidin-biotin technique. We then examined whether the alpha-Gal epitopes were reduced or abolished in each consecutive concentration of recombinant alpha-galactosidase A by comparing the degree of the Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4 staining. As a result, the recombinant alpha-galactosidase A could remove cell surface alpha-Gals on porcine aortic valve and pericardial tissue as effectively as green coffee bean alpha-galactosidase.
Adolescent ; Animals ; Aortic Valve/chemistry/cytology/*immunology ; Child ; Coffea/enzymology ; Epitopes/*immunology ; Heart Valve Prosthesis Implantation ; Humans ; Pericardium/chemistry/cytology/*immunology ; Recombinant Proteins/genetics/*immunology ; Swine ; Transplantation, Heterologous/immunology ; alpha-Galactosidase/genetics/*immunology