BACKGROUND

The Philippines has a wide variety of plant species with potential to produce allergenic pollen grains. Most of the study subjects which are residents in Manila tested positive to Fabaceae and Amaranthaceae. Weeds, especially the Amaranthaceae and Fabaceae families, are relevant triggers of allergy as they are highly adaptive and can grow despite adverse weather conditions. However, only a few allergens have been identified among these families and listed in the International Union of Immunological Societies allergen nomenclature database. Currently, local pollen grains are being processed at the Medical Research Laboratory of our institution to produce crude pollen extracts for use in specific diagnostic skin tests and in subcutaneous immunotherapy of patients with respiratory allergies all over the country. However, these extracts have not been characterized and data of cross-reactivity is limited.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the IgE binding activity of allergen extracts from Philippine weeds and trees, and determine their cross-reactive components.

METHODS

Pollen extracts from Amaranthus spinosus (pigweed), Mimosa pudica (makahiya), Tridax procumbens (wild daisy), Albizia saman (acacia), Leucaena leucocephala (ipil-ipil), Mangifera indica (mango), and Cocos nucifera (coconut) were extracted and analyzed for crossreactivity using ELISA and Western blot. 

RESULTS

Cross-reaction was observed between ipil-ipil and coconut, and between makahiya and wild daisy. IgE bound to protein components at ~20, 18, and 15 kDa of the weeds, while for the trees, IgE bound to protein components at ~35 and ~15 kDa which may be responsible for the cross-inhibitions observed.

CONCLUSION

Data may contribute to the development of immunotherapeutic strategies and diagnostic applications for respiratory allergies, comprising the production of standardized panel of allergens thus eliminating unwanted side effects and providing patients with safer diagnosis and therapy.

Plants ; Pollen ; Allergens ; Amaranthus ; Arecaceae

Anti-melanogenic effects of amaranth (AT), one of the key source of squalene, were investigated in melanocytes. Amaranth seed powder was extracted with water and melan-a cells were treated with various concentrations of AT. By using HPLC, content of myo-inositol, one of potential active components, was measured in the crude extract of AT.AT reduced the melanin content in melan-a melanocytes and down-regulated melanogenic enzyme activity such as tyrosinase, TRP-1 and TRP-2. By regulating melanogenic enzyme activity, AT may be a potential natural source for whitening agent. Myo-inositol was detected in AT by HPLC and may be one of the active compounds from AT involved in the regulation of anti-melanogenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that AT has anti-melanogenesis properties. This new function of amaranth may be useful in the development of new skin-whitening products and its value as food.
Amaranthus* ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; MART-1 Antigen* ; Melanins* ; Melanocytes ; Monophenol Monooxygenase ; Squalene ; Water

OBJECTIVEThe present work was undertaken to determine the effects of Amaranthus roxburghianus Nevski. (Amaranthaceae) root alone and in combination with piperine in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice.

METHODSSwiss albino mice were divided into seven groups (n = 6). Standard group received prednisolone (5 mg/kg, intraperitoneally). Treatment groups received hydroalcoholic extract of roots of A. roxburghianus (50 and 100 mg/kg, per oral) and a combination of hydroalcoholic extract of roots of A. roxburghianus (50 and 100 mg/kg, per oral) and piperine (5 mg/kg, per oral). Ulcer index, colitis severity, myeloperoxidase (MPO), malondialdehyde and glutathione were estimated from blood and tissue. Column chromatography of the extract was done and purified fractions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).

RESULTSTreatment with the combination of hydroalcoholic extract of A. roxburghianus and piperine showed minimal ulceration, hemorrhage, necrosis and leucocyte infiltration by histopathological observation. Acetic acid increased MPO levels in blood and colon tissue to 355 U/mL and 385 U/mg, respectively. The combination of hydroalcoholic extract of A. roxburghianus (100 mg/kg) and piperine (5 mg/kg) significantly decreased MPO in blood and tissue to 182 U/mL and 193 U/mg, respectively (P < 0.05). Similarly, this combination significantly reduced malondialdehyde levels and increased glutathione levels in blood and tissue. Various phytoconstituents were detected by GC-MS.

CONCLUSIONThe combination of hydroalcoholic extract of A. roxburghianus and piperine is effective in the treatment of UC and the effects are comparable with the standard drug prednisolone. 4H-pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl, eugenol and benzene, and 1-(1,5-dimethyl-4-hexenyl)-4-methyl are reported having analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties; they may play a role in the biological activity of A. roxburghianus root.

Alkaloids ; administration & dosage ; Amaranthus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Benzodioxoles ; administration & dosage ; Colitis, Ulcerative ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Colon ; metabolism ; Drug Therapy, Combination ; Glutathione ; metabolism ; Humans ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; metabolism ; Mice ; Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Piperidines ; administration & dosage ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Plant Roots ; chemistry ; Polyunsaturated Alkamides ; administration & dosage

AIM: The present study was aimed at evaluating the antiulcer activity of the polyherbal formulation (PHF) containing the leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera, Raphinus sativus, and Amaranthus tricolor in rats. METHODS: The antiulcer activity of the polyherbal formulation (PHF) was evaluated using different models of gastric ulcers: ethanol-induced, indomethacin-induced and ischemia reperfusion-induced gastric ulcers. Efficacy was assessed by determining the ulcer index. RESULTS: Administration of the polyherbal formulation (150 mg·kg(-1), p.o.) offered significant protection against indomethacin-induced, ethanol-induced, and ischemic reperfusion-induced ulcer models when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION PHF, containing leaf extracts of Moringa oleifera, Raphinus sativus, and Amaranthus tricolor, was found to possess antiulcer properties in three experimental animal models of gastric ulcers, and these findings suggest that the significant gastroprotective activity could be mediated by its antioxidant activity.
Amaranthus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Anti-Ulcer Agents ; administration & dosage ; Brassicaceae ; chemistry ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Humans ; India ; Male ; Moringa oleifera ; chemistry ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; Plant Leaves ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats, Wistar ; Stomach Ulcer ; drug therapy ; prevention & control

This research was performed to evaluate the effects of nutrition education on food waste reduction at school food service. A dietitian conducted nutrition education on environmental protection and proper eating attitude and poor eating habits for 3rd and 5th graders at an elementary school in Seoul. The effectiveness of the education was evaluated by surveying the students before and after the education; 375 responses were analyzed. A questionnaire was designed to compare changes of the students' attitudes and plate waste before and after education. Plate wastes of boiled black rice(p<0.05), potato soup(p<0.05), amaranthus herb salad(p<0.01), and cabbage kimchi(p<0.05) decreased significantly after education. Students' eating attitudes improved significantly(t= -6.22, p<0.01) after nutrition education. Major reasons the students did not eat all foods they were served were large portion sizes (30.59%), low menu preference (29.79%), and tastes (17.82%). The menus with high plate waste rates were cooked vegetable items (35.64%) and soup items (26.6%). After education, students' attitudes on 'food waste pollutes the Earth(p=0.013)', 'food preparation for birthday parties(p<0.01)', and 'restaurant selection for eating out (p<0.01)' changed significantly. After education, plate waste and portion sizes that the students perceived were not negatively correlated. In conclusion, nutrition education on proper eating habits and source reduction is an effective method to reduce food waste generation and to improve students' eating attitudes and awareness on environment.
Amaranthus ; Brassica ; Natural Resources ; Eating ; Education* ; Food Services ; Humans ; Nutritionists ; Portion Size ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul ; Solanum tuberosum ; Vegetables

Using total DNA isolated from Amaranthus caudatus as the template, a DNA fragment of about 700bp upstream of the coding sequence of Amaranthus caudatus agglutinin (ACA) gene was amplified by TAIL-PCR and cloned. To examine the regulatory function of this DNA fragment, it was inserted into a plant expression vector containing GUS gene to substitute the CaMV 35S promoter and the resulted recombinant plasmid was designated as pBpAG. The expression vector pBpAG was transferred to different tissues of plants, via Agrobacterium-mediated transformation in vacuum condition. Transient expression of GUS in the transformed tissues was detected by histochemical GUS staining and the results showed that the GUS activity was expressed specifically in seeds. These preliminary results indicate that this DNA fragment upstream of the ACA coding sequence could very possibly be a promoter with seed specificity. Some putative cis-elements within the promoter were discussed.
Amaranthus ; genetics ; Base Sequence ; Cloning, Molecular ; Escherichia coli ; genetics ; metabolism ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Plant Lectins ; genetics ; Promoter Regions, Genetic ; genetics ; Rhizobium ; genetics ; metabolism

Consumption pattern of beta carotene rich foods from 500 households of Coimbatore district was elicited. Through market surveys in four seasons namely: summer, south-west monsoon, north-east monsoon and winter, a year calendar of beta carotene rich foods was developed. The total and beta carotene contents of five commonly consumed beta carotene rich foods both in raw and cooked states were determined. Results indicated that greens were mainly purchased from market and consumed 2-3 times per week. Cooking loss was maximum in boiling and minimum in shallow fat frying. Curry leaves (Murraya koenigii), amaranth tender (Amaranthus gangeticus), agathi (Sesbania grandiflora), and ponnanganni (Alternanthera sessilis) were the carotene rich foods available round the year. Cost of most greens was highest in summer and lowest in north-east monsoon. Within a cost of 13-14 ps in summer, 4-10 ps in south-west monsoon and north-west monsoon and 4-12 ps in winter season, the entire day's requirement of beta carotene (2400 micrograms) could be obtained in the form of agathi/amaranth throughout the year: in the form of drumstick leaves and mint in south-west monsoon; as curry leaves and coriander leaves in winter and as agathi, paruppukeerai and amaranth in summer. From this year calendar, according to seasonal availability and cost, low-cost high carotene foods can be selected and used for increasing the beta carotene intake in the intervention programmes and in the community.
Amaranthus ; Eating ; physiology ; Feeding Behavior ; Food Analysis ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; India ; Nutrition Surveys ; Seasons ; Urban Health ; Vitamin A Deficiency ; diet therapy ; beta Carotene ; analysis