4th C-TRIC Annual Translational Medicine Conference, Londonderry 9-10 May 2012
The SWAFAX long-term intervention study design and preliminary results were presented at the 4th C-TRIC Annual Translational Medicine Conference [see Dr Francina Baldrick's poster "The effect of seaweed derived polyphenols on inflammation and oxidative stress in vivo - The SWAFAX Study "below].
PROJECT RESULTS (December 2011)
Objectives
The overall objective of the proposal is to provide the SME partners with the information, expertise and capacity to develop polyphenol extracts with valuable biological activities and to exploit the commercial possibilities of these extracts. In order to achieve this aim a number of technological and scientific problems need to be solved and these are addressed within the current proposal. The objectives may be summarised as follows
1. To prepare a food grade polyphenol extract of Ascophyllum, plus novel polyphenol extracts of other seaweed varieties.
2. To characterize the extracts in terms of their polyphenol profiles.
3. To evaluate the biological activity of the food grade seaweed polyphenol extract in terms of the bioavailability of its components, plasma antioxidant capacity, reduction of oxidative damage to DNA, modulation of inflammatory responses and reduction on chronic, low level inflammation in vivo.
4. To screen the novel seaweed extracts for antioxidant and anti inflammatory activity in vitro.
Summary of work performed to date (December 2011)
Production of extracts
A polyphenol rich extract of Ascophyllum nodosum has been produced using
Ascophyllum supplied by project partner The Hebridean Seaweed Company. The
extract was produced using food grade pilot scale facilities that were identified by partner CyberColloids. For delivery to the human volunteers for the in vivo studies at the Universities of Reading and Ulster (WP3), the extract was put into 400mg capsules. Similarly a placebo material (Avebe Maltodextrin MD 14PS) was put into 400mg capsules. Due to an issue of high iodine content, the extract was blended with the placebo substance to produce a formulation that contained a sufficiently high content of polyphenols but with safe levels of iodine. This formulation and the dose for the in vivo studies was ratified by the appropriate ethics committees. A microbiological safety strategy is in place and monitoring will continue for the duration of the long term in vivo study.
Laboratory scale methods have been developed by CyberColloids for the production of novel polyphenol rich extracts from Ascophyllum nodosum. 3 different extraction systems have been assessed and where appropriate, optimised: (i) solvent:water extraction systems; (ii) aqueous extraction systems and (iii) enzyme assisted extraction systems. As part of this process, the effects of variation in several reaction parameters have also been determined, including: (i) temperature, (ii) time, (iii) solvent:seaweed ratio, (iv) stirring, (v)
absence/presence of light and (vi) use of acidic vs. alkaline conditions. The polyphenol content of these extracts has been quantified using the Folin-Ciocalteau method with a phloroglucinol standard for the brown seaweeds and gallic acid standard for the red and green seaweeds. The radical scavenging ability of extracts has been assayed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method as an indicator of antioxidant potential. A strong positive correlation has been established between polyphenol content and radical scavenging ability of the extracts. The presence of high levels of salts, in particular sodium and potassium salts, in the extracts was highlighted as a potential issue for future bioassay work and so an extraction method has been developed by CyberColloids which incorporates a step to remove these salts.
Four different extracts of Ascophyllum nodosum have been produced for screening at the University of Reading (WP5). These extracts have been characterised and the following components have been quantified: (i) polyphenol content; (ii) heavy metal content; (iii) iodine content; (iv) mineral content and (v) key carbohydrates.
Bioavailability of seaweed polyphenols
Ethical approval for the bioavailability study has been obtained and 24 volunteers have been recruited. On the study day, subjects attend the clinical trials unit and University of Reading are given the seaweed extract. Blood samples are taken at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 8 hours after the ingestion of extract. Urine is collected at baseline, and up to 8h. The subjects collect urine overnight (8-24 h) and to return to the unit to provide a final blood sample the following morning (24 hours).
It is anticipated that the trial will be finished by the end of September when analysis of samples for polyphenols and metabolites will begin.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of seaweed polyphenol extract in vivo.
Ethical approval for an intervention study at University of Ulster has been obtained, the 80 volunteers required have been recruited and the baseline blood samples collected. The study will continue for 24 weeks with further blood samples being collected. These will subsequently be analysed using antioxidant and anti-inflammatory assays.
International Conference of Polyphenols and Health, Barcelona 17-20 October 2011
SWAFAX results were presented at the International Conference of Polyphenols and Health [see Dr Giulia Corona's poster "The absorption and metabolism of seaweed polyphenols in humans" below].
Bioactives from Seaweed - Dissemination and Innovation Event
University of Ulster, Coleraine, 16th - 18th June 2011
In recent years, CyberColloids and partners have hosted an annual dissemination & innovation event as part of our interest in "Seaweed for Health" (www.seaweedforhealth.org) and in conjunction with EU project summer meetings. The aim of these events being, to explore how the human health research community and industry can work together to build innovative partnerships and to find commercial solutions for some of their ideas.
In 2009 & 2010 the meetings were held in conjunction with the HYFFI project - Hydrocolloid derivatives as Functional Food Ingredients. The key themes for these meetings were "Seaweed and Health" and "Hydrocolloids (Texture) and Health".
This year's event was held on 16th-18th June and was hosted by project partners from NICHE (the Northern Ireland Centre for Food & Health, University of Ulster, Coleraine). The event was linked to the SWAFAX project and had two key themes: (i) Polyphenols and other interesting bioactives from edible seaweeds and (ii) Innovative ingredients for salt reduction and health.
The programme started on Thursday 16th June with a University of Ulster Knowledge Club event "Market Opportunities for Seaweed: Polyphenols and other interesting Bioactives". Key speakers were Ian Rowland from The University of Reading, UK, Hélène Marfaing from CEVA, France and Robert Bunn from Invest NI.
Friday 17th was dedicated to a full conference programme on Friday 17th (attached). The morning session focussed on polyphenols and other interesting bioactives from seaweeds. The afternoon session focussed on innovative ingredients for salt reduction and health and featured guest speaker Ruth Bulmer from the Food Standards Agency.
Both events were well attended with representatives from universities, research institutes, companies and public bodies from Ireland, UK, France, Germany, Spain and Iceland.
A seaweed culinary event was held on the evening of 17th, hosted by Prannie Rhatigan and Johnny Waters with support from the University Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management. Gerard and Eileen Talty from Spanish Point Sea Vegetables also participated with a demonstration of Irish Sea vegetables. Everyone was invited to learn from Prannie and then to roll and taste their own sushi. Prannie's brown bread and dulse ice cream and carrot cake were also served up as part of the evening buffet, courtesy of the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management.
Saturday 18th was dedicated to a tour of the facilities at the Centre for Molecular Biosciences at NICHE and then a bus tour of the Antrim coast.
See below presentations from those who attended the conference.
