Effects of safflower seed extract supplementation on oxidation and cardiovascular risk markers in healthy human volunteers

Abstract

We previously demonstrated that safflower seed extract (SSE) and its major antioxidant constituents, serotonin hydroxycinnamic acid amides, suppressed LDL oxidation in vitro, decreased plasma autoantibody titres to oxidized LDL and attenuated atherosclerotic lesion formation in apoE-deficient mice. In this report, we examined whether SSE, rich in serotonin derivatives, could affect markers of oxidative stress, inflammation and aortic stiffness in healthy human subjects. Twenty Japanese male volunteers were studied at baseline, after 2·1 g SSE supplementation daily (providing 290 mg serotonin derivatives/d) for 4 weeks, and after a 4-week washout period. Significant reductions in circulating oxidized LDL, autoantibody titres to malondialdehyde-modified LDL, the soluble form of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), and urinary 8-isoprostane were observed after a 4-week intervention. Although there were no statistically significant differences in blood pressure or brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), an index of arterial stiffness, baPWV was lower than baseline in eleven of twenty subjects and was accompanied by a reduction in blood pressure. Statistically significant negative correlations were observed between the extent of initial cardiovascular risk markers (autoantibody titres, 8-isoprostane, sVCAM-1 and baPWV) and the effect of intervention. This suggested that individuals with elevated oxidative stress, inflammation, and/or arterial stiffness may receive more benefit from SSE supplementation.

Estimation of organic matter digestibility, metabolizable energy, phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of stems and seeds of the <i>Juncus acutus</i> plant in ruminant nutrition

“…The CP and EE levels of the seeds were higher than that of the stems (P <0.01).The CP level of the seeds was similar to levels reported for safflower seed by Koyama et al (2009), for apple pomace by Mirzaei-Aghsaghali et al (2011) and pomegranate seed by Taher-Maddah et al (2012). The chemical composition of J. acutus seeds showed that these seeds could supply moderate concentrations of protein.…”

Chicken Collagen Hydrolysate-derived Peptides Inhibit Tumor Necrosis Factor-α-induced Inflammatory Response in Endothelial Cells

“…Pre-incubation of THP-1 cells with VPP significantly decreased the PMA-induced adhesion of THP-1 cells to HUVECs. In addition, buckwheat and safflower seed extracts have been evaluated for their potential vasorelaxation action (Ushida et al, 2008;Koyama et al, 2009). Comparison with these food components suggests that CCH is useful, not only as a supplement, but also in daily foods, such as easily cooked stews and soups.…”

Antioxidant Modulation of F2-Isoprostanes in Humans: A Systematic Review

“…Other interventions were conducted with isoflavonoids-rich extracts (from soy and subterranean clover), olive leaf extracts, tocotrienol supplements (from different oils), fruit and vegetables supplements, but in all of these cases, no change in isoprostanes concentration Downloaded by [University of West Florida] at 18:23 04 January 2015 was reported after supplementation. A reduction in urinary isoprostanes was, instead, found after the consumption of safflower seed extract (Koyama et al, 2009) and of a supplement containing extracts of fruits and berries (Abidov et al, 2006). The same results were also obtained in three interventions providing grape polyphenols: in the first two (Zern et al, 2005), the authors administered a lyophilized grape powder to 24 pre-and 20 postmenopausal women during four weeks, whereas in the third (Santus et al, 2005), 11 smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were given, for six weeks, a standardized polyphenol extract obtained from the skin of selected grapes.…”