14^th Euro Obesity and Endocrinology Congress September 13-14, 2018 London, UK

Biography:

Abstract:

Our laboratory has investigated the ability of different formulations of black raspberries (brb) to prevent the development of aerodigestive tract cancers. Preclinical studies have shown protective effects of dietary freeze-dried black raspberries against oral, esophageal and colon cancer in animals. Mechanistically, the berries inhibited tumor development in these sites by reducing abnormal cell proliferation, angiogenesis and inflammation, and by increasing apoptosis in carcinogen-treated premalignant tissues. Gene expression changes in these tissues correlated with the cellular events associated with tumor inhibition. Promising preclinical results have led to clinical evaluations in cancer patients or in patients at increased risk for cancer development. The initial clinical study in humans was a phase i trial in which freeze-dried brbs were administered to humans at a dose known to be chemopreventive in animal models. The berries were found to be well tolerated, however, the uptake of both brb anthocyanins and ellagic acid into blood was less than 1% of the administered dose. Thus, berries are most effective in tissues where localized absorption is possible. With this in mind, different formulations of brbs have been evaluated for their effects on preneoplastic lesions or cancers of the human oral cavity, esophagus and colon. These are follows: 1. Oral cavity: topical application of a brb gel to dysplastic lesions (oral leukoplakia) caused histologic regression associated with improved histologic grade and reduced loss of heterozygosity at tumor suppressor gene loci, as well as protective modulation of genes linked to RNA processing and growth factor recycling. 2. Esophagus: in patients with Barrett’s esophagus, oral consumption of brbs increased tissue levels of GST-pi and decreased urinary 8-isoprostane, a marker of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress. There was little effect on lesion size. 3. Colon: in colorectal cancer patients, brb consumption inhibited cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation) and caused demethylation of tumor suppressor genes associated with the Wnt signaling pathway. In patients with familial adenomatous polyposis, brb suppositories inhibited rectal polyp progression and improved plasma cytokine profiles. 4. Stomach: because we have found recently that an extract of brbs inhibits the growth of Helicobacter pylori, there is an ongoing trial to evaluate the effects of brbs on stomach cancer. Common themes across studies support that berries are anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, reduce oxidative stress and restore tumor suppressive activity.

Biography:

Marcello Menapace completed his first master’s Degree in Chemistry at the University of Milan (Italy); second master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA) at the London School of Business and Finance in London (UK) and his PhD in Life Science at the H S University in Philadelphia, USA. He is a Researcher, Philosopher, Scientist, Medical Writer and Professional Regulatory Consultant. He has worked in the pharmaceutical industry for over 15 years as a Lead Consultant and Research Scientist for various biotech companies and is a Member of the professional organization TOPRA. He is the Director of M&Ms Consulting Ltd., a high-end consultancy service organization. He has published one scientific paper on Science and Ethics and is an Honourable Speaker at the European Congress of Applied Science and is currently collaborating with biotech companies to publish other biological and chemical research manuscripts.

Abstract:

There are many nutritional substances that humans consume on a daily basis: water, carbohydrates lipids and proteins are main biochemical components of food. Others in a smaller amount are vitamins minerals and enzymes. At a possibly lesser quantity are glycans and miRNAs. The presence of oligoglycans in all food sources is an established fact for many years. These special carbohydrates are present as glycoconjugates (glycoproteins or glycolipids) in and on the surface of all the cells (glycocalyx) of all organisms that we eat and remain intact through the GI tract as we lack the enzymatic repertoire of the human body to unbind their particular β-linkages. Glycans bind to naturally present human lectins (through protein-carbohydrate interactions), but also with other human glycans (through carbohydrate-carbohydrate interactions, or CCI). Moreover, these glycans like fibres, are digested by the gut microbiota that resides within the intestine. As our biochemistry shapes the composition of the microbiome, so does the composition of glycans and foods that we consume, triggering biological responses. miRNAs are small, single-stranded, 19 to 23 nucleotide long RNA molecules and affect the stability of messenger RNA (mRNA) influencing protein synthesis. miRNAs are also present in foods and act on both the microbial composition in our gut and may be absorbed by the walls of the GI tract, demonstrating resistance to food processing and enzymatic attack. Though still a topic of controversy these small, noncoding RNAs that control gene expression may directly enter into the circulating miRNA population of dietary exogenous miRNAs. It can hence be possible to identify a relationship between glycans and miRNAs in food one side, microbiota composition on the other and the resultant health status of the host (immune system) on the third side.

Figure: Interaction among food, microbiome and gut. Three-way interaction of food, GI microbial communities and GI tract. Firstly, food shapes the commensal microbiota in the gut by defining which microorganism will thrive and which won’t. Secondly, human gut will modulate the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Finally, glycans and miRNAs from both food and commensal bacteria can be pass through the GI tract walls and interact with the immune system.

Biography:

Muscolo Adele pursued MSc in Biological Sciences and PhD in Food Science at the Policlinic Federico II University of Naples, Italy. In 1988 she started her professional career as a Researcher at Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria (Italy), where she is still working as Full Professor in Soil Chemistry and Ecology. Since 1990 she is a Reviewer for international scientific journals and since 2008 she is an Evaluator of projects for European Community, International Funding Research Agencies and Italian and Foreign Research Ministries. She is an Examiner of international PhD dissertation. She has over 180 papers in international journals with IF. Citations: 1597 H index: 21. She has been serving as an editorial board member of many international journals. She is Associate Editor for JFR.

Abstract:

Lentil is a grain legume important in human diet for its richness in protein and bioactive compounds. Lentil is cultivated worldwide but salinity is limiting its productivity mainly in Mediterranean and Eastern Countries. Few studies evaluated changes in the edible part of lentil under salinity. Considering the importance of this legume from a nutritional point of view, we cultivated three lentil accessions native to south and central Italy in 100 mM NaCl conditioned soils to verify if salinity affected the productivity, the nutritive values and phytochemical contents of their edible part (grain). The growth and nutritive properties of each local variety (Castelluccio di Norcia, Ustica and Pantelleria) have been compared to lentil cultivated in unsalinized soil (own control) and to the same local variety sold to the market. Our results evidenced that NaCl increased total proteins in respect to all the commercial and control lentils. No differences in the carbohydrate content among the salinized, commercial and control lentils were instead detected. The antioxidant capacity, detected as ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid), DPPH ( 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) and Ferrozine activities increased in salt affected lentils. In addition, we observed an increase in total phenols, flavonoids and carotenoids that are considered potent antioxidants. The ethanolic extracts of the edible seeds of the different local varieties of lentils showed a higher number of compounds in all the NaCl grown lentils compared to the corresponding varieties grown in the same soil without salts or to the own commercial variety. In respect to the increase and appearance of antioxidant compounds in the edible part of lentils grown under salinity we can assume that NaCl, changing the ratio of nutrients availability, can cause nutritional alterations and/or osmotic stress that activate the secondary metabolism of plants causing an over production of phytochemicals with proven positive effects on human health.

Biography:

Surajit Mitra acquired his BSc (Ag.) Hons. Degree securing a first class in 1990; MSc (Ag.) in Horticulture (1993) and PhD in Horticulture Degree (1998) from Bidhan Chandra Krishi Viswavidyalaya respectively. He is currently a Professor and Head of the Department of Post-Harvest Technology under the Faculty of Horticulture at the same university. He was awarded several National and International Fellowships, and participated in International Training Courses on Postharvest Technology, and has research experience of having worked at Kasetsart University, Thailand; Postharvest Education Foundation, USA; Agricultural Research Organization, Israel; and Wageningen University, The Netherlands. He also attended and presented several research papers on postharvest technology in International Conferences in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Germany. He delivered a Lead Lecture on “Tropical tubers as alternate staple crops for food and nutrition security” at the International Seminar on ‘Agriculture and Food for Inclusive Growth and Development during 14-15 January 2017 at Lucknow, UP, India. He also delivered an Invited Lecture in the workshop on Strengthening Impact Assessment in the CGIAR (SIAC) – Sweet potato organized by International Potato Center (CIP), Peru at Jameson Inn Shiraz, Kolkata on April 10, 2016.

Abstract:

Tropical tuber crops are used either as a staple or subsidiary food in several countries of South America, Africa and South East Asia, and form the means of sustenance for millions of people in the tropical and subtropical world. Being the rich source of starch, the tubers are used as staple food in many counties. Tubers are boiled, baked, fried or processed into various delicious dishes. Sweet potato, an important member of the tropical tuber crops has a great potential to be an efficient and economic source of energy due to its high production potential in a very short period of time. Both the tubers and tender leaves are good source of vitamin B₁, vitamin C, β-carotene, calcium, iron, potassium, sodium and dietary fiber. Sweet potato flour is widely used in bakery and confectionery in some countries. Orange-fleshed sweet potatoes having high β-carotene, the pro-vitamin A can be included in the regular diet to tackle the problem of vitamin A deficiency in developing countries. Purple-fleshed sweet potato having high anthocyanin is also gaining importance as an antioxidant food. Anthocyanins, as a functional food component having free-radical scavenging and antioxidant capacities are linked to a broad-based range of health benefits including improvement in visual acuity and liver function, and the prevention of obesity and diabetes. Increased consumption of purple-fleshed sweet potato tubers rich in anthocyanins, the important members of the flavonoid group of phytochemicals, referred as bioflavonoids can play important roles in maintenance of human health. Sweet potato has now been labeled as an anti-diabetic food and is considered as new world’s food

security crop. Tubers of sweet potato, elephant foot yam and yams were quantified for proximate contents such as carbohydrate, starch, total soluble solids, sugar, protein, fat, vitamin C, β-carotene, antioxidant, phenol, tannin, oxalate and trypsin inhibitor using standard methods. Irrespective of flesh and skin colour of tubers, a linear increase in dry matter, starch and total sugar content of different cultivars of sweet potato were found throughout the growing periods, while b-carotene content showed an increasing trend only up to 105 days of planting and declined thereafter. A declining trend in ascorbic acid content was observed with the maturity of the tubers. Yam cultivars were found to have high nutrient and low anti-nutrient values. Antioxidant activities of all the cultivars of yam were very high. The Dioscorea alata cultivars showed comparatively higher carbohydrate, protein, fat, vitamin C, β-carotene, and antioxidant activities than D. rotundata. A decreasing trend in starch, ascorbic acid, titratable acidity and carbohydrate content of elephant foot yam corms was observed, while total sugars, TSS and phenol contents were found to increase during storage.