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Antioxidant Effects of Peptides
Published in Mesut Karahan, Synthetic Peptide Vaccine Models, 2021
Rümeysa Rabia Kocatürk, Fatmanur Zehra Zelka, Öznur Özge Özcan, Fadime Canbolat
Alfalfa leaf: Due to its high protein content and nutritional value, the Food and Agriculture Organization recommended it for human consumption as a potential protein source. Mice fed with the proteins of these leaves were observed to have an increase in GSH-Px and SOD enzymes and a decrease in the concentration of malonaldehyde (MDA). In the leaf, albumin was found to be the dominant protein, while gluten and globin were found in small amounts. It is found that cloverleaf peptides have a good antioxidant activity (Xie et al. 2008). In a study they have found that hydrolysate of carrot seed protein peptides can be promising oxidative damage scavengers in food. They have antioxidant activities (Ye et al. 2018). In another study, peptides were produced from pollen using the alcalase enzyme. It was purified by size-exclusion chromatography after enzymatic hydrolysis. Reverse-phase HPLC was used to lyse the antioxidant activity of pollen-derived peptides. The DPPH radical removal activity of the fractions obtained was 66.61% (Maqsoudlou et al. 2018) (Table 12.1).
Resources along the Silk Road in Central Asia: Lagochilus inebrians Bunge (Turkestan Mint) and Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa)
Published in Raymond Cooper, Jeffrey John Deakin, Natural Products of Silk Road Plants, 2020
Oimahmad Rahmonov, David E. Zaurov, Buston S. Islamov, Sasha W. Eisenman
Although alfalfa is generally known as a feed source for livestock, it is becoming more popular in many parts of the world for human consumption as it is a valuable source of protein which could contribute to sustainable food development in developed countries (Mielmann, 2013). Alfalfa sprouts are widely consumed by humans as a garnish. Concentrates of proteins from leaves and the dehydrated plant are components of many nutritional supplement products (Hatfield, 1990). Alfalfa has been used as food in parts of Russia, China, America, and South Africa. In the past, alfalfa meal was incorporated into a cereal mixture and used to nourish small children (Levy and Fox, 1935). Chinese farmers have also consumed it as a vegetable, and it has been utilized to increase the protein, dietary fiber, mineral, and vitamin content of wheat flour (Hao et al., 2008). Alfalfa is one of the most popular sprouts available and is often consumed raw or slightly cooked in salads and sandwiches or as decorative appetizers (Peñas et al., 2009). Alfalfa sometimes has a bitter taste due to its saponin content (Sen et al., 1998). Recent sensory tests conducted with human volunteers using saponins isolated from above-ground parts of alfalfa have shown that zahnic acid tredismoside is responsible for the taste (Oleszek, 2002). L-canavanine is a potentially toxic non-protein amino acid, antimetabolite of L-arginine that is stored by many leguminous plants. This compound has shown anticancer activity against a number of carcinomas and cancer cell lines. The occurrence of canavanine in alfalfa products has also stimulated considerable interest due to the correlation between high amounts of canavanine consumption and the onset of a systemic lupus erythematosus-like syndrome (Rosenthal and Nkomo, 2000). An investigation was conducted to determine the canavanine content in commercially available sprouts and in the seed of ten alfalfa cultivars. The sprouts contained canavanine ranging from 1.3% to 2.4% of the dry matter, depending on the source. Alfalfa seeds were also rich in canavanine with contents varying from 1.4% to 1.8% of the dry matter. On average, the tested seeds contained 1.5% ± 0.03% canavanine. Breeding cultivars of alfalfa with high protein and nutrient content and low canavanine will be important if human consumption of alfalfa is going to increase substantially.
Catalog of Herbs
Published in James A. Duke, Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, 2018
Tender shoots of alfalfa are reported to contain, per 100 g. 52 calories, 82.7% moisture, 6 g protein, 0.4 g fat, 9.5 g total carbohydrate, 3.1 g fiber, 1.4 g ash, 12 mg Ca. 51 mg P, 5.4 mg Fe, 3410 IU vitamin A, 0.13 mg thiamine, 0.14 mg riboflavin, 0.5 mg niacin, and 162 mg ascorbic acid. Green forage of M. sativa is reported to contain, per 100 g 80.0% moisture, 5.2 g protein, 0.9 g fat, 3.5 g fiber, and 2.4 g ash. Silages contain, per 100 g, 69.5% moisture, 5.7 g protein, 1.0 g fat, 8.8 g fiber, and 2.4 ash Alfalfa whole meal and leaf meal are reported to contain, per 100 g, 66 and 77 calories, 7.5 and 8.0% moisture, 16.0 and 20.4 g protein. 2 5 and 2.6 g fat, 27.3 and 17.1 g fiber, 9.1 and 11.5 g ash. respectively. Many other details will be found in the references.293340 The “betaine fraction” of alfalfa contains: 0.785% stachydnne, 0.063% choline, 0.0069 trimethylamine, and 0.00527c betaine. The following purines have been identified: adenine, guanine, xanthine, and hy-poxanthine; the pnmidine, isocytosine; and the ribosides adenosine, guanosine, inosine. and cytidine. These factors stimulate the growth of Bacillus subtilis. The three most abundant compounds in alfalfa juice were adenine (0.17%). adenosine (0.25%), and guanosine (0.367c) One study cites 5.1 g arginine/16 g N; 3.1 g cystine and methionine. 1.5 g histidine. 4.6 g isoleucine, 7.2 g leucine, 5.6 g lysine, 4.6 g phenylalanine, 4.1 g threonine, 1.5 g tryptophane, and 4.6 g valine for alfalfa hay. Alfalfa is a valuable source of vitamins A and E; it contains beta-carotene 6.24, thiamine 0.15, riboflavin 0.46, niacin 1 81, and alpha-tocopherol, 15.23 mg/100 g; pantothenic acid, biotin, folic acid, choline, inositol, pyridox-ine, vitamin B12, and vitamin K are also present. One report gives total crude lipids as 5 27r of total dry weight, with 117r fatty acids, 10% digalactolipids, 16% monogalactolipids, 87c phospholipids, 44% neutral lipids, and 12% others. In the chloroplasts. linoleic, linolenic, and palmitic acids are the predominant acids, whereas stearic and oleic are low. The triglyceride fraction of alfalfa meal contains 16.9% linoleic acid 32.2% linolenic acid, 31.0% oleic acid, and 19.97c saturated fatty acids. The phospholipid fraction (0.247c dry alfalfa meal) contained 35.27c linolenic acid, 36.87c oleic acid, 14.77c linoleic acid and 13.37c saturated acids. Good alfalfa hay contains 138 to 198 mg choline per 100 g hay. Alfalfa meal contains 21 mg A-spinasterol/100 g. Five xanthophylls comprise 997c of the xanthophyll fraction of fresh alfalfa, viz, 407c lutein, 347c violaxanthin, 197c neoxanthin, 47c cryptox-anthin, and 2% zeaxanthin. Alfalfa volátiles include acetone, butanone, propanal, pentanal, 2-methyl-propanal, and 3-methylbutanal.40 Alfalfa honey gave the following average values, water 16.56, invert sugar 76.90, sucrose 4.42, dextrin 0.34, protein 0.11, acid (as formic) 0.08, and ash 0,077c. Alfalfa seeds contained: moisture 11.7, protein 33.2, fat 10.6, N-free extract 32.0, fiber 8.1, and mineral matter 4.4%>.
Medicago sativa ameliorated cyclophosphamide-induced thrombocytopenia and oxidative stress in rats
Published in Toxin Reviews, 2023
Zahra Gholamnezhad, Vajihe Rouki, Ramin Rezaee, Mohammad Hossein Boskabady
Medicago sativa (M. sativa) known as “alfalfa” is a herb that has been used as food, as an anti-asthmatic, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic agent and to cure digestive tract and nervous system disorders (Bora and Sharma 2011). This herb contains several secondary metabolites and nutritional constituents including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, and phytosterols (Karimi et al.2013, Rafińska et al.2017). It is also rich in protein and vitamins including vitamin A, C, D, E, and K, and the whole family of B vitamins as well as many minerals such as calcium, folic acid, iron, magnesium, and potassium. Various pharmacological properties of M. sativa such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-anemic, antihyperlipidemic cardioprotective, neuroprotective, anxiolytic, hepatoprotective, and immune-protective effects, were described (Basch et al.2003). The modulatory effects of M. sativa on coagulation could be explained by mechanisms such as the presence of high levels of vitamin K, inhibition of ADP-induced platelet aggregation, and collagen and inhibition of thromboxane synthesis in platelets (Pierre et al.2005). However, to the best of our knowledge, the impact of M. sativa on thrombocytopenia has not been determined. Therefore, effects of M. sativa hydro-ethanolic extract on CP-induced thrombocytopenia, hematological and hepatic toxicity and oxidative stress, were evaluated in this study.
The potential of plant-made vaccines to fight picornavirus
Published in Expert Review of Vaccines, 2020
Omayra C. Bolaños-Martínez, Sergio Rosales-Mendoza
Dus Santos et al. (2005) generated alfalfa plants expressing P1, the 2A sequence, the first 61 amino acid residues of the N terminus of 2B, the complete sequence of 3B1, 3B2, 3B3, and 3 C; and the first 16 amino acid residues of the 3D N terminus of FMDV O1 C [34]. Transgenic plants were developed by A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation; generating empty capsids of FMDV. Mice were immunized i.p. four times with 150 μL of leaf extract obtained from 15 to 20 mg of fresh tissue; leading to the induction of humoral responses against the structural protein VP1 and purified FMDV particles. Mice were subsequently challenged with FMDV observing full protection against infection. This interesting work demonstrated the capability of the plant-made FMDV-P1 to induce a protective antibody response.
Effects of estrogen deficiency on liver function and uterine development: assessments of Medicago sativa's activities as estrogenic, anti-lipidemic, and antioxidant agents using an ovariectomized mouse model
Published in Archives of Physiology and Biochemistry, 2021
Hajer Jdidi, Fatma Ghorbel Kouba, Nissaf Aoiadni, Raed Abdennabi, Mouna Turki, Fatma Makni-Ayadi, Abdelfattah El Feki
Based on all the aforementioned effects of alfalfa, it was able to minimize the alterations in serum levels, lipid profile, and oxidative stress caused by sexual female hormone deprivation in OVX mice. Our results show that Medicago sativa has the a potential to treat estrogen lack effects due to menopause. Medicago sativa exhibited noticeable estrogenic activity, thus providing additional support to the traditional use of the plant in the treatment of female reproductive disorders. This property of the plant may be harnessed by using it in as a raw material in various formulations of phytopharmaceuticals.