Characterization of Fruit Development, Antioxidant Capacity, and Potential Vasoprotective Action of Peumo (), a Native Fruit of Chile.

The peumo () is a native fruit from central Chile that belongs to the Lauraceae family. To characterize the development and the potential health benefits of this edible fruit, quality and physiological parameters, along with antioxidant capacity, were evaluated during three clearly defined developmental stages of the fruit in two seasons. The most distinguishable attributes of ripe fruit were the change in size and color.

A Review of Endothelium-Dependent and -Independent Vasodilation Induced by Phytochemicals in Isolated Rat Aorta.

This review discusses the contribution of the use of the isolated rat aorta (IRA) as a model for the evaluation of extracts and metabolites produced by plants with a vasodilator effect in animals. This model continues to be a valuable approach for the search and development of new phytochemicals consumed as medicinal plants or foods. In most cases, the sources of phytochemicals have been used in folk medicine to treat ailments that include hypertension.

A Review of the Actions of Endogenous and Exogenous Vasoactive Substances during the Estrous Cycle and Pregnancy in Rats.

Vascular endothelium plays a key role in regulating cardiovascular homeostasis by controlling the vascular tone. Variations in sex hormones during the reproductive cycle of females affect the homeostasis of the cardiovascular system. Also, the evidence shows that estrogens show a cardioprotective effect.

t-Resveratrol Protects against Acute High Glucose Damage in Endothelial Cells.

Postprandial hyperglycemia in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects is associated with endothelial dysfunction. Evidence shows that high glucose generates oxidative stress and a pro-inflammatory state promoting the development of cardiovascular diseases. trans-Resveratrol (t-RV) has been shown to reduce cardiovascular risk.

New 1H-Benzo[f]indazole-4,9-diones Conjugated with C-Protected Amino Acids and Other Derivatives: Synthesis and in Vitro Antiproliferative Evaluation.

1H-Benzo[f]indazole-4,9-dione derivatives conjugated with C-protected amino acids (glycine, l-alanine, l-phenylalanine and l-glutamic acid) 6a-l were prepared by chemically modifying the prenyl substituent of 3-methyl-7-(4-methylpent-3-enyl)-1H-benzo[f]indazole-4,9-dione 2 through epoxidation, degradative oxidation, oxidation and N-acyl condensation reactions. The chemical structures of the synthesized compounds were elucidated by analyzing their IR, ¹H-NMR and (13)C-NMR spectral data together with elemental analysis for carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen. The preliminary in vitro antiproliferative activity of the synthesized derivatives was evaluated on KATO-III and MCF-7 cell lines using a cell proliferation assay.

Glucose and lactate regulate maitotoxin-activated Ca2+ entry in spermatogenic cells: the role of intracellular [Ca2+].

Maitotoxin (MTX), a potent polyether marine biotoxin, induces Ca(2+) entry in different mammalian cells by activation of Ca(2+) channels. The identity and modulation of the MTX-activated Ca(2+) entry pathway is not known. In this work, we show, for the first time, that glucose and lactate can modulate the excitability of spermatogenic cell MTX-activated Ca(2+) channels.