Biologically Active Hen Egg Components in Human Health and Disease

Abstract

It is widely recognized that eggs are more than a source of dietary nutrients, and extensive studies identifying and characterizing the biologically active components of eggs have been carried out. Numerous biological activities have now been associated with egg components, including antibacterial and antiviral activity, immunomodulatory activity, and anti-cancer activity, indicating the importance of eggs and egg components in human health, and disease prevention and treatment. The potential of some of these biologically active components has already been realized, including egg white lysozyme and avidin, and yolk IgY and lecithin, which are currently produced on an industrial scale, and have been applied for the prevention and treatment of various medical conditions. The information presented here serves to demonstrate the significant potential of biologically active egg components, for medical, nutraceutical, and foodfortification applications.

Effects of egg weight on egg quality traits in partridge (Alectoris Chukar)

“…Moreover avian eggs are culturally accepted worldwide and are not subject to any religious or tradition prohibition. Nowadays, it is widely recognized that eggs are more than a source of nutrients, numerous studies describe biological properties potentially exploitable by the pharmaceutical, food-processing and cosmetic industries (Mine & Kovacs-Nolan 2004;Moulo et al 2010). The egg size and internal quality of eggs are important for both table and hatching eggs.…”

Activity and immunodetection of lysozyme in earthworm Dendrobaena veneta (Annelida)

“…This enzyme destroys the AIDS virus (Singh et al, 2005). Lysozymes are also well-known immune-modulating, immune-stimulating, and anti-cancer agents (Mine and Kovacs-Nolan, 2004).…”

Using rifapentine – hen egg lipoprotein conjugate as macrophage-targeted drug delivery carrier against intracellularStaphylococcus aureus

“…Viability of the U937 macrophage was increased at concentrations of no more than 150 mg/mL. Mine & Nolan (2004) also reported that heLDL could modulate immunity and promote the growth of human U937 monocyte-like cells and U937-derived macrophage-like cells (Frostegard et al, 1990;Mine & Nolan, 2004). Staphylococcus aureus could easily invade professional phagocytes and persists in the acidic lysosome compartment for several days (Imbuluzqueta et al, 2010).…”