Synthetic methods allow the growth of metal nanoparticles with intrinsic chiral morphology and plasmonic optical activity in the visible and near-IR.

Scope Phaseolus vulgaris L. is rich in alpha‐amylase inhibitor and has been used for reducing glycemia and calories absorption through preventing or delaying the digestion of complex carbohydrate. A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study was conducted on obese volunteers to evaluate the degree of significate weight loss by regular intake Phaseolus vulgaris cultivated from Southwestern region of China. Method The volunteers were divided into two groups, homogeneous for age, gender, and body weight. Phaseolus vulgaris extract or placebo was given 2,400 mg per day before each daily meal for 35 consecutive days. Each subject's body weight, fat mass, body mass index, blood biochemical parameters, skinfold fat thickness, and waist/hip circumferences were monitored and analyzed. Result and conclusion As a result, the average amount of weight lost by the Phaseolus vulgaris extract group was 2.24 kg (average of 0.448 kg per week), compared with a 0.29 kg weight loss (average of 0.058 kg per week) in placebo group after 35 days. The differences between groups were significant (p < .01). The body mass index decreased by an average of 0.79, and the body fat decreased by 1.53% on average compared to baseline (p < .05). The thickness of subcutaneous fat was significantly reduced at the four measurement points, and the decrease of waist circumference and hip circumference was significant as well. No adverse or side effects were observed during the trial period. The results indicate that Phaseolus vulgaris extract can significantly induce weight loss in a short time period.

YME and to a lower degree GCBE, their phenolic components and metabolites may decrease cancer cell viability and proliferation.

Chiral Au nanorods (c-Au NRs) with diverse architectures constitute an interesting nanospecies in the field of chiral nanophotonics. The numerous possible plasmonic behaviors of Au NRs can be coupled with chirality to initiate, tune, and amplify their chiroptical response. Interdisciplinary technologies have boosted the development of fabrication and applications of c-Au NRs. Herein, we have focused on the role of chirality in c-Au NRs which helps to manipulate the light− matter interaction in nontraditional ways. A broad overview on the chirality origin, chirality transfer, chiroptical activities, artificially synthetic methodologies, and circularly polarized applications of c-Au NRs will be summarized and discussed. A deeper understanding of light−matter interaction in c-Au NRs will help to manipulate the chirality at the nanoscale, reveal the natural evolution process taking place, and set up a series of circularly polarized applications.

The main phenol in mate and coffee, 5-caffeoylquinic-acid (5-CQA), and its relevant microbial metabolites, dihydrocaffeic (DHCA) and dihydroferulic (DHFA) acids, have shown oxidative-stress protective effects in HepG2 cells. To evaluate possible endothelial-protective effects of the extracts and compounds, endothelial EA.hy926 cells were pre-treated with yerba mate (YME) and green coffee bean (GCBE) phenolic extracts, 5-CQA, DHCA and DHFA and afterwards stressed with tumour-necrosis-factor-alpha (TNF-α). Then oxidative-stress markers and endothelial-nitric-oxide-synthase levels were studied. TNF-α (10 ng/mL, 24 h) depleted reduced glutathione (GSH) and eNOS levels, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reductase (GR) activities, and protein oxidation (carbonyl groups, CG) in EA.hy926 cells. Pre-treatment with YME, GCBE, 5-CQA, DHCA at certain physiological concentrations, lowered ROS production, recovered depleted GSH, reduced GR and GPx activities, and CG levels, and enhanced eNOS concentration.. YME, GCBE and 5-CQA show antioxidant effects in endothelial cells playing DHCA an important role in such protection; moreover, the extracts, 5-CQA, DHCA and DHFA increased eNOS levels.

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Red grape pomace (RGP) is a major winery by-product with interesting applications due to its high phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Effects of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and storage on the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of RGP were studied. RGP polyphenols were stable under stomach-mimicking conditions and more sensitive to small intestine conditions, reducing anthocyanins and flavonols. After 3- and 6-month storage, at either 4 or 25 °C, there were no changes in the total phenolic and condensed tannin content, or antioxidant capacity (evaluated by ABTS, FRAP, ORAC assays); however, after 9 months these parameters decreased. Contrarily, chromatic b* values were higher, thus the samples had more intense red color, which may be related to the increased condensed tannin content. Storage time or temperature induced no changes in microbiological load. RGP preserves high antioxidant capacity after storage and in vitro digestion and thus presents potential as a functional ingredient or nutraceutical.

White kidney beans contain α-amylase inhibitors that can be used in diet for weight reduction. In this study, we investigated the potential of white kidney bean (phaseolus vulgaris L.) extract enriched in α-amylase inhibitor as a food additive in yogurt to regulate blood glucose in hyperglycemic animals. Five groups of C57BL/6J mice were fed for 8 weeks with standard chow diets, high-fat diets (HFD), or high-fat diets with supplement of α-amylase inhibitor in white kidney beans (P. vulgaris extract, PVE), yogurt (Y), and PVE added yogurt (YPVE), respectively. The HFD weakened glucose tolerance and caused insulin resistance in mice, and changed the characteristics of intestinal flora. The intervention of Y, PVE, and YPVE decreased blood glucose, insulin, hyperlipidemia, and inflammatory cytokine levels in mice fed with HFD. Moreover, the YPVE could regulate the components of host intestinal microbiota toward a healthy pattern, significantly increased the metabolic-related flora Corynebacterium, Granulicatella, and Streptococcus, while it decreased Paraprevotella and Allobaculum. Thus, YPVE markedly increased functions of “Amino Acid Metabolism,” “Energy Metabolism,” “Nucleotide Metabolism,” and declined functions of “Glycan Biosynthesis and Metabolism.” Consequently, YPVE could be developed as a new functional food because of its beneficial prebiotic properties in the metabolic syndrome.