Beneficial effects of chrysin on the reproductive system of adult male rats

Chrysin treated male albino rats had significantly higher sperm count, fertility rate and litter size when they were permitted to mate with proven proestrous female rats[26]. These promoting effects of Chrysin was confirmed by Ciftci et al.[27]report in which testis antioxidant enzyme levels such as SOD, CAT and GSH-Px along with GSH were significantly improved following Chrysin administration. Higher sperm count and motility along with lower abnormality percentage were also recorded in their study. …
… Higher sperm count and motility along with lower abnormality percentage were also recorded in their study. Beside antioxidant effect, both in vivo and in vitro studies have confirmed Chrysin potential for enhancing testosterone level and subsequently male sex drive[23,27]. According to the broad range of pharmacological activities of Chrysin and considering the fact that information on feeding this flavonoid to birds is lacking in literature. …
… In the light of obtained results, Chrysin successfully improved total and forward motility, plasma membrane functionality and integrity, semen concentration and MDA level, sperm fatty acid composition, blood testosterone as well as fertility and hatchability rates. These results were in concert with previous studies in which oral administration of Chrysin to male rats significantly enhanced sperm total motility and count, blood testosterone level[27]as well as fertility and litter size in their partners. An appropriate level of dietary n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio along with reduced MDA level (by feeding an antioxidant) resulted in increase of sperm forward motility in boar.

Chrysin (on the left) and harman (right) are organic compounds with distinctly different structures, but both are found in the passionflower species Passiflora caerulea and P. incarnata.Sesamol powder

Chrysin, also called 5,7-dihydroxyflavone, was first isolated from the wood of pine trees (Pinus spp.) in 1949 by Gösta Linstedt at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Stockholm). Harman (or harmane), a pyridoindole derivative, was discovered much earlier (1861) in the bark of P. incarnata and other trees by German researcher R. Rieth.

What do chrysin and harman have in common besides occurrence in trees, specifically P. incarnata? More than 500 passionflower species have been used as traditional folk remedies for anxiety and other medical conditions almost everywhere that they grow on Earth. For at least 20 years, drug researchers have sought to elucidate mechanisms by which passionflower biochemicals provide relief.

In a key 2001 study, P. incarnata extract was compared with oxazepam, an early benzodiazepine anxiolytic drug, for efficacy against generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). Shaheen Akhondzadeh and colleagues at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences and the Institute of Medicinal Plants (both in Tehran, Iran) treated 36 patients diagnosed with GAD with P. incarnata extract, oxazepam, or placebo in a 4-week trial.

The extract and the drug gave equally positive results. Oxazepam acted more rapidly, but it also impaired the subjects’ job performance whereas the extract did not. In the time since this report was issued, however, there is no record of US Food and Drug Administration filings for chrysin, harman, or passionflower extracts.

This discussion of anxiety remedies reminds us that today is the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Week.

The oxalate salts and free bases of fentanyl and N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidyl]-N-(1-phenyl-4-pyrazolyl)propanamide, a new lead compound for long-acting analgesia, have been characterized by (1)H- and (13)C-NMR spectroscopy. The crystal structure of the hydrochloride of N-[1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-piperidyl]-N-(1-phenyl-4-pyrazolyl)propanamide monohydrate has been determined. N-Phenyl-N-(4-piperidinyl)propanamide HCL
Two centrosymmetrically related cations, joined through C(phenyl)-H em leader pi contacts, encapsulate a large void that contains pairs of anions and bridged water molecules into a zero-dimensional (0D) supramolecular motif. The cations are linked to this framework via N(+)H em leader Cl(-) contacts. GIAO/B3LYP calculations have been carried out to compare the experimental (13)C chemical shifts with the absolute shieldings thus calculated. The protonation of both molecules takes place on the piperidine ring (axial protonation), as has been verified both in the solid state (X-ray) and in solution (NMR).

Tomato hot pot sauce (THPS) at different storage temperatures (0, 25, and 37°C) and with two kinds of packaging for 120 days was investigated in this study. High performance liquid chromatography was employed for detecting lycopene and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF). The changes of lycopene and HMF during storage were regressed with kinetic equation of both zero-order and first-order models, and the latter fitted better. The kinetic equation constant ( value) of lycopene or HMF at 37°C was higher than that at 25°C. The value of lycopene of PET/PE (P1) packaged THPS was 1.60 times of that of PET/Al/EAA/PE (P2) packaged at 37°C, while it was 2.12 times at 25°C. The value of HMF of P1 packaged THPS was 1.69 times of that of P2 packaged at 37°C, while it was 1.01 times at 25°C. Significant correlations between color index of , , and and lycopene or HMF were found at storage temperature. Browning color was attributed to both Maillard reaction and degradation of lycopene. In conclusion, lower storage temperature and stronger oxygen barrier property of package could maintain color stability and extend shelf life.Lycopene powder

1. Introduction

Hot pot is one of the most popular Chinese foods in China and has spread all over the world since it is very easy to keep its authentic taste. The core of hot pot taste is the hot pot sauce, which is used to prepare the base soup of hot pot. In the last decade, hot pot sauce has been upgraded from handmade in small kitchen to industrialized central kitchens which are equipped with large sauce cooking bowl up to 1000 kg/batch. This upgrade not only benefits the hot pot restaurants to uniform the recipe and increase the kitchen efficiency, but also provides consumers with alternative choice to cook top-taste hot pot in their own home. Tomato hot pot sauce (THPS) is made from tomato paste, soybean oil, tomato, onion, ginger, and other seasonings and could be classified as vegetable-based semisolid seasoning. Because of its unique soup color, sour taste, and nutritional value, THPS is growing popular among consumers. The sales of THPS also increase rapidly in supermarkets and wholesale market place; thus it becomes a favored product category by food companies and chain restaurant with central kitchen. But the long time storage on shelf (usually 6–12 months) could lead to unfavorable quality changes such as nutrients degradation or browning color, which might be taken as unsuitable for consumption [1″>.

There are many studies on the color changes of tomato paste [1″>, tomato juice [2″>, tomato powder [3″>, and tomato sauce [4″> during processing and storage. But the color change of THPS during processing and storage remains unclear, and the mechanism behind the color change needs further investigation. Maillard reaction and the ascorbic acid oxidation might be two reasons that contribute to the color change of tomato product during the long-term storage [3″>. Lycopene is not only an important characteristic component, but also the major coloring ingredient of tomato and tomato products. Thus lycopene has been a hot topic among the researches on the color changes of tomato products [5″>, although the changes of amino acid content or reducing sugar are also related to the quality change in storage.

In this study, the quality of THPS was investigated to explore the mechanism of color change during storage. The contents changes of lycopene and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) were tracked under different packaging and storage conditions. It is helpful to guide the optimization of packaging and storage conditions of THPS, so as to improve the shelf life of the products and meet the market demand.
2.1. Chemicals

Standard lycopene and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Chemical Co. (United States). Ethanol and acetonitrile of HPLC grade were purchased from Fluka Chemical Co. (Germany). Pyrogallic acid, potassium ferrocyanide, zinc sulphate, and other reagents were of analytical grade.

2.2. Tomato Hot Pot Sauce and Preparation

Tomato paste (cold break) was purchased from COFCO Tunhe Co., Ltd. (China). Other food materials were purchased from local market.

The THPS was prepared according to the following procedures. Firstly, the samples were weighed and waited for further cooking, including tomato paste (cold break, 28.5 Brix°) 40%, soybean oil 25%, sucrose 14%, fresh onion 10%, pickle ginger 4%, chicken essence 3%, salt 2.5%, soy sauce 1%, citric acid 0.25%, and dry spice mixture (cinnamon, amomum tsao-ko, clove, aniseed, fennel, white cardamom, bay leaf, dried orange peel, and Chinese red pepper, with equal weight) 0.25%. Secondly, as shown in Figure 1, the soybean oil was heated up to 160°C, followed by adding compound spice, pickle ginger, and onion and stirring for 3 min. Thirdly, the tomato paste was added and the sample was kept at the intermittent boiling state for 20 min by gentle heat. Fourthly, sucrose, citric acid, and salt were added and stirred for 6 min. Fifthly, soy sauce was added together with chicken essence with one-minute stirring. Finally the samples were cooled down to 80°C and packaged into 200 g per bag.

Men who eat plenty of tomato products, especially tomato sauce-laden foods, have a lower risk of prostate cancer. Why? So far, the search for the tomato’s “active ingredient” has homed in on lycopene, the molecule that gives tomatoes their red color. “Lycopene accumulates in the prostate. That’s its favorite place to hang out,” explains Holly Hantz, an undergraduate who is doing research on lycopene’s effects. In one of the few cases of processed foods trumping fresh-picked, research suggests that cooking tomatoes, even briefly, releases the lycopene and makes it easier for the body to absorb.Lycopene powder
Lycopene, the molecule that gives tomatoes their red color, may also be responsible for decreasingthe risk of prostate cancer.
Hantz’s adviser, assistant professor of nutrition Keith Martin, points out that “data show that high intakes of tomato-based foods significantly decrease the incidence of prostate cancer. However, whether lycopene alone is beneficial compared to tomatoes or tomato powder is inconclusive.” How can we determine whether lycopene is responsible for the anti-cancer properties of tomatoes? “A convincing experiment,” says Martin, “is to get some cancer cells, culture them on a dish, deliver some pure lycopene or tomato extract, and see if the cells live or die.”

Hantz decided to do just that. She exposed fully developed human prostate cancer cells to lycopene in doses equivalent to the levels present the bloodstream of people who eat two-to- three servings of vegetables daily. The cells showed depressed mitochondrial metabolism within 20 hours, followed by apoptosis, or “orderly cell death.” When the lycopene level was raised to the equivalent of five-to-ten servings a day the effect was even more potent. In contrast, cancer cells that received no lycopene maintained the strong metabolism needed for rapid growth and showed no signs of apoptosis. This experiment provided substantial evidence that lycopene itself was a factor in inducing cancer cells to call it quits. Martin concluded, “It appears that lycopene alone can kill cancer cells by inducing programmed death without necessarily affecting cell division.”

“In a nutshell, there are numerous benefits to understanding the mechanism of lycopene’s protective effect,” Martin explains. “Lycopene is a really long molecule that goes into the cell membrane, and that’s where many of your receptors are for cell survival and growth. Right now, we are running tests to see which genes are being affected by the lycopene in these cells. If we can find out which signals are affected by lycopene to kill cancer cells, then more effective drugs or nutritional intervention strategies can be designed based on this information.

According to a new study from the People’s Republic of China, regular adequate intakes of lycopene may significantly decrease blood pressure, particularly among Asians or patients with moderately elevated blood pressure.lycopene dosage

The meta-analysis included six intervention trials investigating the effect of daily lycopene supplementation (a mean dosage of 12.4 mg/day for a mean duration of 8.3 weeks) on blood pressure (1). The study results showed a significant reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP) by an average of 5 mmHg in participants who used lycopene supplements, compared to the placebo group. A dose of more than 12 mg lycopene per day reduced SBP more significantly than lower doses, especially for participants with moderately elevated blood pressure (SBP above 120 mmHg) or Asian participants. The lycopene interventions showed no statistically significant effect on diastolic blood pressure (DBP).

The researchers commented that these findings confirm earlier study results reporting the important role of lycopene in lowering systolic blood pressure. Considering the uncomfortable side effects of antihypertensive drugs and the fact that many hypertensive patients need more than two kinds of drugs per day, the alter- native of a dietary intervention has been suggested. Increasing evidence indicates that dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables decreases blood pressure, which is often ascribed to natural antioxidants, such as lycopene, which improve vascular function (2). Lycopene, one of the most powerful antioxidants, has receiv- ed attention for its pivotal role in inhibiting oxidative stress, improving vascular function, and preventing cardiovascular disease in humans (3). Several studies demonstrated that at least four weeks of daily oral supplementation with lycopene-rich tomato extract or tomato juice significantly decreased blood pressure; others showed no relation.

Foods rich in the antioxidant lycopene, like tomato juice and paste—may reduce the risk of certain cancers and have heart-health benefits, and preliminary studies suggest that lycopene supplements may also be helpful. But do lycopene supplements on the market contain what they claim, and if so, which products provide the best quality and value?

To find out, ConsumerLab recently purchased and tested and reviewed popular lycopene supplements sold in the U.S. The tests revealed that one product contained just 59% of the lycopene claimed on the label. The cost for a 10 mg dose of lycopene from products varied widely, from just 7 cents to as much as 58 cents. lycopene dosage

Among products found to contain their claimed amounts of lycopene, ConsumerLab selected one that provided high-quality lycopene at a good dose and cost as its Top Pick.

The results are available online now in ConsumerLab’s new Lycopene Supplements Review, which includes test results and comparisons. Products covered in the report are: 21st Century Maximum Strength Lycopene, Douglas Laboratories Lycopene, GNC Lycopene 15 mg, Healthy Origins Natural Lyc-O-Mato Tomato Lycopene Complex, Jarrow Formulas Lyco-Sorb Lycopene, NOW Lycopene 10 mg, Puritan’s Pride Lycopene, Source Naturals Lycopene, Spring Valley (Walmart) Lycopene, Swanson Lycopene and Vitacost Root2 Lycopene. Eight of the products were selected for testing by ConsumerLab and three others underwent the same testing through CL’s voluntary Quality Certification Program. The review also summarizes the clinical evidence for lycopene for heart health, cancer prevention, prostate disease, skin health, and other conditions. In addition, it provides information about lycopene dosage and potential side effects, natural and synthetic forms of lycopene, how to get lycopene from foods, and how to maximize absorption of lycopene. 

In the fight against cancer, there is a surprising tool in the arsenal: the food we eat. That’s because some nutrients in food have been found to play a role in preventing cancer, and it’s relevant because the World Cancer Research Fund reports that 30 to 50 percent of cancer cases are preventable, putting a focus on stopping cancer from developing in the first place.Lycopene

Xiang-Dong Wang, a senior scientist and associate director of the Jean Mayer USDA Human Research Center on Aging at Tufts, studies how food can help prevent cancer development, particularly lung, liver, and colon cancer.

Although the rate of most cancers is dropping, there is increasing concern about the rise in both incidence and death rate of liver cancer in the United States, partially due to the parallel rise in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, obesity, and diabetes.

One food of interest is tomatoes and tomato products rich in lycopene, a naturally occurring pigment that gives many fruits and vegetables their reddish hue.

In a research study recently published in the journal Cancer Prevention Research, Wang’s Nutrition and Cancer Biology lab examined the cancer preventive effects of tomatoes as a whole food rich in lycopene. In infancy, mice were infected with a liver carcinogen and then fed an unhealthy high fat diet, akin to a Western diet, with or without tomato powder containing lycopene.

Researchers then evaluated how well the tomato powder protected mice against inflammation and cancer. In humans, the equivalent supplementation amounts to eating two to three tomatoes a day or a serving of tomato sauce over pasta.
What do we know about lycopene?

The richest source of lycopene is from tomatoes. Other foods, including guava, watermelon, grapefruit, papaya, and sweet red pepper also contain lycopene, but in much lower concentrations compared to tomatoes. Eating tomatoes and tomato products such as tomato sauce rich in lycopene is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, and certain cancers, including prostate, lung, breast, and colon cancer.

Although these associations come from observational studies, many laboratory studies have demonstrated that lycopene is a strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent.

How can we maximize the benefits of lycopene?

Consuming whole foods, like tomatoes and processed tomatoes from sauces, tomato paste, canned whole tomato products, ketchup and juice, provides the best source of lycopene. Cooking tomatoes and adding a small amount of fat, like olive oil, can help improve lycopene absorption.

A decade ago, the casino industry wasn’t a place investors would look for a dividend of any kind, much less a dividend that could be in their portfolio for decades. But the industry is now generating so much cash and has so few opportunities for expansion that it’s bursting with money. casino affiliate program

Some of the biggest names in the industry are now paying dividends that are steadily growing each year, and I think Las Vegas Sands (NYSE:LVS), Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ:WYNN), and Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI) boast dividends any investor should be interested in right now.
The biggest casino company in the world is Las Vegas Sands, which owns resorts in Las Vegas, Macao, and Singapore. It may be headquartered in Las Vegas, but make no mistake that this is an Asia-focused company. Eighty-eight percent of its adjusted EBITDA, a measure of cash flow coming from a resort and casino, came from Asia in the second quarter, and that’s consistent with its performance the past few years.

You can see above that EBITDA can be lumpy over time, but long-term there are billions per year coming out of the company’s casinos. This cash flow is ultimately what pays the dividend, which currently yields 5.8%.

What makes Las Vegas Sands such a great dividend stock today is that it has very few places to put the cash it generates to work besides investors’ pockets. Macao and Singapore are now mature markets that only allow minimal investment, and the company doesn’t have big expansion plans in Las Vegas. Outside of a $3.3 billion expansion in Singapore, Las Vegas Sands doesn’t have any large capital commitments, and that will keep the dividend flowing for the foreseeable future.
Wynn Resorts operates in Las Vegas and Macao like Las Vegas Sands, but it’s been spending more to expand its operations recently. The $2.6 billion Encore Boston Harbor opened this summer and a $400 million convention expansion will open in Las Vegas early next year. On top of U.S. projects, there are plans for another $2 billion expansion at Wynn Palace in Macao.

Wynn Resorts has been able to grow and pay a 3.8% dividend yield without adding debt because of the cash flow it generates from Las Vegas and Macao. What’s great about Wynn Resorts today is that we should see EBITDA rise over the next few years as new resorts ramp up, and that will help its ability to grow the dividend. Encore Boston Harbor is just getting started, the Las Vegas expansion is still a few months away, and Macao’s build-out won’t be done for a couple of years. If you want a growing dividend in casinos, this is a good bet.

Betting on casinos can be a risky endeavor for investors because factors like luck on the casino floor and the economy can swing revenue and EBITDA wildly over time. But stocks like Gaming and Leisure Properties are a lot more stable because it’s a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns the real estate the casino operates in.

Gaming and Leisure Properties started as an offshoot of Penn National Gaming, but it’s become a favorite REIT for regional casino companies to tap when they need financing. Pinnacle Entertainment used the REIT to pull money out of its operations before ultimately being acquired by Penn National. Eldorado Resorts used the REIT to acquire the real estate under Tropicana Entertainment’s properties as part of its acquisition of the company last year.

As a REIT, Gaming and Leisure Properties has to pay out 90% of what it earns, and that’s driving a 7.1% dividend yield today. If you’re looking for a way to invest in the casino industry without betting on a risky casino stock, this is a great way to do it. 

It’s 6:30 on a Monday morning in China, and the Guangdong Club online gambling platform is humming as a stream of wagers placed in Chinese yuan flows through the portal. The club, which lists its place of registration as Costa Rica, hosts operators offering hundreds of sessions for such popular games as baccarat and blackjack, lotteries, and sports betting—many of them in Chinese. A single baccarat table can draw betting volumes touching 75,000 yuan ($10,500) in a 30-second game.affiliate program
This is gambling with a digital twist, and it allows Chinese to bet without traveling to Macau or Las Vegas. It’s also a growing problem for China’s Communist Party, which says the transactions are draining hundreds of millions of yuan from the country. Beijing views betting as a vice that fuels social unrest, and Chinese law prohibits gambling on the mainland—including online. But the anonymity the internet affords has Chinese bettors flocking to digital gaming halls. They’re fueling growth in Asia’s online gambling sector, which is expected to reach $24 billion in sales this year, according to market researcher Technavio.
BOTTOM LINE – China says online gambling is draining hundreds of millions of yuan from the country. But it’s finding it hard to stop websites registered and operated abroad.
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