X-Message-Number: 24208 Date: Mon, 7 Jun 2004 17:18:03 -0700 (PDT) From: Doug Skrecky <> Subject: coloured sweet potato as a health food Arch Pharm Res. 2003 Oct;26(10):821-5. Antioxidant and memory enhancing effects of purple sweet potato anthocyanin and cordyceps mushroom extract. The effects of purple sweet potato anthocyanin (SPA) and Cordyceps mushroom extract (CME) on lipid peroxidation, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and cognitive deficits were examined. Both SPA and CME exhibited DPPH radical scavenging activities with similar potency. In contrast, only SPA was shown to effectively inhibit lipid peroxidation initiated by Fe2+ and ascorbic acid in rat brain homogenates. Furthermore, SPA markedly enhanced cognitive performance, assessed by passive avoidance test in ethanol-treated mice. Combined treatments with SPA and CME did not significantly influence the effects of SPA alone. These results demonstrate that anthocyanin prepared from purple sweet potato exhibits memory enhancing effects, which may be associated with its antioxidant properties. J Agric Food Chem. 2003 Sep 24;51(20):5916-22 Potential chemopreventive properties of anthocyanin-rich aqueous extracts from in vitro produced tissue of sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas L.). Anthocyanin-rich aqueous extracts from cell suspension cultures of a high anthocyanin-producing sweetpotato PL (purple line) cell line grown under two different media conditions, MM (multiplication medium) and APM (high anthocyanin-producing medium) and from the cell line's donor tissue, field-grown storage root (SR) of sweetpotato, cv. Ayamurasaki, were evaluated for antioxidative (DPPH test), antimutagenic (Salmonella/reversion assay; mutagen, Trp-P-1), and antiproliferative (human promyelocytic leukaemia cells HL-60) activities. Both cell line extracts MM and APM exhibited higher radical scavenging activities (RSA), 3.8- and 1.4-fold, respectively, than the SR extract. The antimutagenic activity of all extracts was found to be dose-dependent. At a dose of 1 mg/plate, the highest activity exhibited APM (73% inhibition of Trp-P-1-induced reverse mutation of Salmonella typhimurium TA98), followed by MM (54% inhibition) and SR (36% inhibition). The MM extract was the strongest inhibitor of the proliferation of human promyelocytic leukemia cells. At a concentration of 1.6 mg/mL medium during 24 h, it suppressed the growth of 47% of HL-60 cells. A significantly lower growth suppression effect displayed APM and SR extracts (21 and 25%, respectively). Total anthocyanin levels and anthocyanin composition in evaluated samples seem to be related to their activities. The MM extract, which exhibited the highest RSA and antiproliferation activities, contained the highest level of anthocyanins. Among them, nonacylated cyanidin 3-sophoroside-5-glucoside dominated. It is speculated that the presence of this anthocyanin contributed toward enhanced activities of MM extract. Eur J Cancer Prev. 2002 Aug;11(4):365-8. Diet and gallbladder cancer: a case-control study. Cancer of the gallbladder is rare but fatal, and has an unusual geographic and demographic distribution. Gallstones and obesity have been suggested as possible risk factors. As diet is known to influence both these factors, we carried out the present study to evaluate the possible role of diet in gallbladder carcinogenesis. A case-control study involving 64 newly diagnosed cases of gallbladder cancer and 101 cases of gallstones was carried out. The dietary evaluation was carried out by the dietary recall method based on a preset questionnaire developed specifically for the present study, keeping in mind the common dietary habits prevailing in this part of the world. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated for various dietary items. A significant reduction in odds ratio was seen with the consumption of radish (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.17-0.94), green chilli (OR 0.45; 95% CI 0.21-0.94) and sweet potato (OR 0.33; 95% CI 0.13-0.83) among vegetables, and mango (OR 0.4; 95% CI 0.16-0.99), orange (OR; 0.45; 95% CI 0.22-0.93), melon (OR 0.3; 95% CI 0.14-0.64) and papaya (OR 0.44; 95% 0.2-0.64) among fruits. A reduction in odds was also seen with the consumption of cruciferous vegetables, beans, onion and turnip, however the difference was not statistically significant. On the other hand, an increase in the odds was observed with consumption of capsicum (OR 2.2), beef (OR 2.58), tea (OR 1.98), red chilli (OR 1.29) and mutton (OR 1.2), however the difference was statistically not significant. In conclusion, the results of the present study show a protective effect of vegetables and fruits on gallbladder carcinogenesis, but red meat (beef and mutton) was found to be associated with increased risk of gallbladder cancer. J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Mar 24;52(6):1511-3. In situ and in vitro antioxidant activity of sweetpotato anthocyanins. Anthocyanins from a variety of fruits and vegetables have been shown to possess potent antioxidant activity in vitro, but scavenging of free radicals by anthocyanins has only been demonstrated in situ in the leaves of certain plants. We report on a new sweetpotato that exhibits mottled purple flesh attributable to high concentrations of anthocyanins. By perfusing transverse sweetpotato sections with the reactive oxygen species H(2)O(2), followed by the H(2)O(2) sensitive fluorochrome scopletin, we show that anthocyanins act as antioxidants in situ within the sweetpotato storage roots. We also demonstrate in vitro antioxidant activity by sweetpotato anthocyanins, where an additive effect with hydroxycinnamic acids is observed. Anthocyanic foods have been shown to offer protection against a variety of degenerative disease processes. Given that sweetpotato can be eaten several hundred grams at a time and as a staple, these data are consistent with the possibility of superior health protection by anthocyanic varieties of sweetpotato in comparison to most common fruits and vegetables. Mutat Res. 2003 Feb-Mar;523-524:109-17 Potential functional foods in the traditional Maori diet. The Maori people were early New Zealand settlers of Polynesian descent. The incidence of non-infectious diseases appears to have been low in these people, perhaps in part due to the presence of protective chemical constituents within their food plant supply. Three of the tropical crops they introduced are still eaten here today: the sweet potato or kumara (Ipomoea batatas), the taro (Colocasia esculenta) and the cabbage tree or ti (Cordyline terminalis). Sporamins A and B, the major storage proteins of kumara tubers, act as proteinase inhibitors, and may have other anti-cancer properties. The tubers also contain the anti-coagulant coumarins, scopoletin, aesculetin, and umbelliferone. The corms of taro contain the anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-glucoside, pelargonidin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rhamnoside, reported to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Anthocyanins are also major components of a so-called "Maori potato", a variety officially known as Ureniki, which has a purple skin and flesh and was widely eaten in the early 1900s. Anthocyanins are also present in ripe berries of the ramarama (Lophomyrtus bullata) and rohutu (Neomyrtus pedunculata). Both the leaves and seeds of the introduced cabbage tree (Cordyline terminalis) and the native Cordyline spp., C. australis, C. indivisa, and C. pumilo, were eaten. The seeds of C. australis, of some Astelia spp., and of hinau (Elaeocarpus dentatus) are good sources of various essential fatty acids, generally regarded as protective against cardiovascular disease. Shoots and leaves from a wide range of native species were traditionally eaten as greens, especially "sow thistle" or puha (Sonchus spp.), reportedly high in Vitamin C and various phenolics. "New Zealand spinach" (Tetragonia tetragonioides or T. expansa) has anti-ulcerogenic activity that has been traced to two cerebrosides and anti-inflammatory activity that has been traced to novel water-soluble polysaccharides, as well as antioxidant phenylpropanoids including caffeic acid. Leaves of the "hen and chickens" fern (Asplenium bulbiferum) contain antioxidant flavonoids such as kaempferol glucosides. Native seaweeds also have useful nutritive properties. J Agric Food Chem. 2003 May 21;51(11):3313-9. Stoichiometric and kinetic studies of phenolic antioxidants from Andean purple corn and red-fleshed sweetpotato. Stoichiometric and kinetic values of phenolics against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) were determined for Andean purple corn (Zea mays L.) and red sweetpotato (Ipomoea batatas). Both crops had higher antioxidant capacity and antiradical kinetics than blueberries and higher or similar anthocyanin and phenolic contents. The second-order rate constant (k(2)) was 1.56, 1.12, 0.57, and 0.26 (mg antiradical/mL)(-1) s(-1) for red sweetpotato, Trolox, purple corn, and blueberry, respectively. On the molar basis of active hydroxyl groups, k(2)' showed the same order as for k(2). Corn cob and sweetpotato endodermis contributed the most in phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity. Both crops studied can be considered as excellent novel sources of natural antioxidants for the functional food and dietary supplement markets. Rate This Message: http://www.cryonet.org/cgi-bin/rate.cgi?msg=24208