Certain flavonoids can influence glucose metabolism by inhibiting enzymes involved in carbohydrate digestion and suppressing intestinal glucose absorption. In this study, four structurally-related flavonols (quercetin, kaempferol, quercetagetin and galangin) were evaluated individually for their ability to inhibit human α-glucosidases (sucrase, maltase and isomaltase), and were compared with the antidiabetic drug acarbose and the flavan-3-ol(−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). Cell-free extracts from human intestinal Caco-2/TC7 cells were used as the enzyme source and products were quantified chromatographically with high accuracy, precision and sensitivity. Acarbose inhibited sucrase, maltase and isomaltase with IC₅₀ values of 1.65, 13.9 and 39.1 µM, respectively. A similar inhibition pattern, but with comparatively higher values, was observed with EGCG. Of the flavonols, quercetagetin was the strongest inhibitor of α-glucosidases, with inhibition constants approaching those of acarbose, followed by galangin and kaempferol, while the weakest were quercetin and EGCG. The varied inhibitory effects of flavonols against human α-glucosidases depend on their structures, the enzyme source and substrates employed. The flavonols were more effective than EGCG, but less so than acarbose, and so may be useful in regulating sugar digestion and postprandial glycaemia without the side effects associated with acarbose treatment.

Background: Lipid droplet (LD) formation and size regulation reflects both lipid influx and efflux, and is central in the regulation of adipocyte metabolism, including adipokine secretion. The length and degree of dietary fatty acid (FA) unsaturation is implicated in LD formation and regulation in adipocytes. The aims of this study were to establish the impact of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n-3) in comparison to SFA (STA; stearic acid, C18:0) and MUFA (OLA; oleic acid, C18:1n-9) on 3T3-L1 adipocyte LD formation, regulation of genes central to LD function and adipokine responsiveness. Cells were supplemented with 100 μM FA during 7-day differentiation. Results: EPA markedly reduced LD size and total lipid accumulation, suppressing PPARγ, Cidea and D9D/SCD1 genes, distinct from other treatments. These changes were independent of alterations of lipolytic genes, as both EPA and STA similarly elevated LPL and HSL gene expressions. In response to acute lipopolysaccharide exposure, EPA-differentiated adipocytes had distinct improvement in inflammatory response shown by reduction in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and interleukin-6 and elevation in adiponectin and leptin gene expressions. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that EPA differentially modulates adipogenesis and lipid accumulation to suppress LD formation and size. This may be due to suppressed gene expression of key proteins closely associated with LD function. Further analysis is required to determine if EPA exerts a similar influence on LD formation and regulation in-vivo.

Members of the SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive fusion protein attachment protein receptor) superfamily [syntaxins, VAMPs (vesicle-associated membrane proteins) and SNAP25 (synaptosome-associated protein-25)-related proteins] are required for intracellular membrane-fusion events in eukaryotes. In neurons, assembly of SNARE core complexes comprising the presynaptic membrane-associated SNAREs syntaxin 1 and SNAP25, and the vesicle-associated SNARE VAMP2, is necessary for synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Several accessory factors have been described that associate with the synaptic SNAREs and modulate core complex assembly or mediate Ca2+ regulation. One such factor, Snapin, has been reported to be a brain-specific protein that interacts with SNAP25, and regulates association of the putative Ca2+-sensor synaptotagmin with the synaptic SNARE complex [Ilardi, Mochida and Sheng (1999) Nat. Neurosci. 2, 119–124]. Here we demonstrate that Snapin is expressed ubiquitously in neuronal and non-neuronal cells. Furthermore, using protein–protein-interaction assays we show that Snapin interacts with SNAP23, the widely expressed homologue of SNAP25, and that the predicted C-terminal helical domain of Snapin contains the SNAP23-binding site. Subcellular localization experiments revealed that Snapin is a soluble protein that exists in both cytosolic and peripheral membrane-bound pools in adipocytes. Moreover, association of Snapin with the plasma membrane was detected in cells overexpressing a Snapin–green fluorescent protein fusion protein. Finally, we show that Snapin is able to form a ternary complex with SNAP23 and syntaxin 4, suggesting that it is a component of non-neuronal SNARE complexes. An important implication of our results is that Snapin is likely to perform a general role in SNARE-mediated vesicle fusion events in non-neuronal cells in addition to its participation in Ca2+-regulated neurosecretion.

Sugarcane ( Saccharum sp.) plants are grown in warmer climates throughout the world and processed to produce sugar as well as other useful byproducts such as molasses and bagasse. Sugarcane is rich in (poly)phenols, but there has been no attempt to critically evaluate the published information based on the use of suitable methodologies. The objective of this review is to evaluate the quantitative and qualitative (poly)phenolic profiles of individual parts of the sugarcane plant and its multiple industrial products, which will help develop new processes and uses for sugarcane (poly)phenols. The quantitative analysis involves the examination of extraction, concentration, and analytical techniques used in each study for each plant part and product. The qualitative analysis indicates the identification of various (poly)phenols throughout the sugarcane processing chain, using only compounds elucidated through robust analytical methodologies such as mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance. In conclusion, sugarcane (poly)phenols are predominantly flavonoids and phenolic acids. The main flavonoids, derivatives of apigenin, luteolin, and tricin, with a substantial proportion of C ‐glycosides, are consistently found across all phases of sugarcane processing. The principal phenolic acids reported throughout the process include chlorogenic acids, as well as ferulic and caffeic acids mostly observed after hydrolysis. The derivation of precise quantitative information across publications is impeded by inconsistencies in analytical methodologies. The presence of multiple (poly)phenols with potential benefits for industrial applications and for health suggests sugarcane could be a useful provider of valuable compounds for future use in research and industrial processes.