Marigot (Ireland)

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a central role in innate immune responses through recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Activation of TLRs leads to the induction of inflammatory cytokines via MyD88- and TRIF-dependent signaling pathways. Aquamin, a multi-mineral supplement derived from the marine red algae Lithothamnion, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we demonstrate that Aquamin dose-dependently inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β) and chemokines in both human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) and murine bone marrow-derived macrophages (mBMDMs), without causing cytotoxicity. Mechanistic studies demonstrate that Aquamin specifically suppressed TRIF dependent IRF3 activation downstream of TLR3 and TLR4. These findings support Aquamin as a promising agent for use as an intervention in counteracting inflammatory diseases states where TLR signalling is implicated.

Calcareous marine algae (CMA) products are included in dairy diets as buffers and sources of slow-release calcium. Studies have shown that milk yield, feed intake and rumen fermentation responses to CMA depend on baseline diet. In vitro studies suggest that CMA buffers might lower methane emissions, but this has never been tested in dairy cows. The objective of this study was to determine whether CMA products influence milk yield, feed intake, feed efficiency, rumen pH and volatile fatty acids (VFA), and methane emissions, in high-yielding dairy cows. Products investigated were Acid Buf and Acid Buf 10 (Celtic Sea Minerals, Carrigaline, Ireland), both derived from CMA, with additional Mg of marine origin in the latter. Two experiments were conducted, both involving partial-mixed rations (PMR) and concentrates fed during robotic milking. Experiment 1 used a Latin square design with four diets fed in four three-week periods to 48 cows. The control diet (CON1) was the normal farm diet containing limestone and MgO; these were replaced by Acid Buf for Diet AB1, by Acid Buf 10 for Diet AB+Mg1, and by Acid Buf plus garlic powder for Diet AB+GP. Experiment 2 used a randomised complete block design with three diets fed to 16 cows per treatment for 12 weeks. Diets CON2, AB2 and AB+Mg2 were the same as CON1, AB1 and AB+Mg1, except formulation of the baseline diet changed to allow for different forage composition. Energy-corrected milk yield was higher for AB+Mg1 and lower for AB+GP, compared with CON1. Milk yield was higher for AB2 compared with CON2. Diet did not affect feed intake in either experiment. Rumen pH was higher for AB+Mg1 compared with CON1 and was below pH 6.0 for fewer hours per day for AB+Mg1 and AB+GP. Rumen VFA were not affected by treatment in Experiment 1, but AB+Mg2 had higher total VFA and lower acetate to propionate ratio in Experiment 2. Methane production was lower for all CMA treatments. Methane yield was lower for AB1, AB+Mg1, AB+GP and AB+Mg2, and tended to be lower for AB2. These results suggest that CMA lower enteric methane synthesis by providing an alternative hydrogen sink. It is concluded that milk production and rumen fermentation responses were variable, but CMA products consistently lowered methane emissions in high-yielding dairy cows. • Calcareous marine algae were included in dairy diets as buffers and sources of calcium. • Milk yield was increased by some treatments with no change in feed intake. • Rumen pH was stabilised by long-term feeding of calcareous marine algae. • Calcareous marine algae consistently lowered methane production in all treatments.

Abstract Prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus has significantly increased in the last three decades and currently affects about 1 in 10 globally. A common therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes is α- glucosidase, an essential enzyme located at the brush border of the small intestinal epithelium. The inhibition of α-glucosidase results in a reduced digestion of carbohydrates and a decrease of postprandial blood glucose. Although, synthetic inhibitors are available in the market, these are usually associated with significant gastrointestinal side effects. In this study, natural inhibitors derived from edible brown algae are being investigated as an alternative.Polysaccharide- and polyphenolic-enriched extracts from Ascophyllum nodosum and Fucus vesiculosus were characterized and screened for their inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase obtained from rat intestine using maltose, sucrose, and p-nitrophenyl (pNPG) as substrates. Acarbose was used as a synthetic inhibitor. Furthermore, enzyme kinetics and mechanism of inhibition of α- glucosidase were determined using linear and non-linear regression methods (GraphPad Prism ver. 6, GraphPad Software, La Jolla California USA).All tested extracts showed a dose-dependent inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase. However, the type of inhibition varied between the extracts. Most importantly, the composition analysis showed that the seaweed extracts had different polysaccharide and phenolic contents, suggesting different mode of actions against α-glucosidase. The relation between chemical composition and inhibitory activity of the compounds are discussed.In summary, the current study demonstrates the mechanisms in which different brown seaweed extracts with various composition effectively inhibit α-glucosidase. Therefore, this natural inhibitor can be considered as a potential candidate for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Accumulating evidence demonstrates that dietary supplementation with functional food ingredients play a role in systemic and brain health as well as in healthy ageing. Conversely, deficiencies in calcium and magnesium as a result of the increasing prevalence of a high fat/high sugar “Western diet” have been associated with health problems such as obesity, inflammatory bowel diseases, and cardiovascular diseases, as well as metabolic, immune, and psychiatric disorders. It is now recognized that modulating the diversity of gut microbiota, the population of intestinal bacteria, through dietary intervention can significantly impact upon gut health as well as systemic and brain health. In the current study, we show that supplementation with a seaweed and seawater-derived functional food ingredient rich in bioactive calcium and magnesium (0.1% supplementation) as well as 70 other trace elements, significantly enhanced the gut microbial diversity in adult male rats. Given the significant impact of gut microbiota on health, these results position this marine multi-mineral blend (MMB) as a promising digestive-health promoting functional food ingredient.

It is well established that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a central regulator of the immune response and that dysregulation of NF-κB contributes to the pathogenesis of many autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. The food supplement Aquamin is a natural multi-mineral derived from the red algae Lithothamnion corallioides, rich in calcium, magnesium and 72 other trace minerals. This study describes an anti-inflammatory role for Aquamin in inhibiting NF-κB activation through reducing the phosphorylation and degradation of its upstream inhibitor IκBα. Aquamin inhibition of NF-κB activation results in significantly reduced cyclo-oxygenase-2 gene expression following treatment of macrophage cells with lipopolysaccharide. These data suggest that nutritional supplements such as Aquamin may play an important role in regulating the inflammatory response by modulating the nuclear factor kappa B signalling pathway.