Sathe, S.K., W.J. Wolf, K.H. Roux, S.S. Teuber, M. Venkatachalam, K.W.C. Sze-Tao, 2002. Biochemical characterization of amandin, the major storage protein in almond (Prunus dulcis L.). J Agric Food Chem.50(15):4333-41.
The almond major storage protein, amandin, was prepared by column chromatography (amandin-1), cryoprecipitation (amandin-2), and isoelectric precipitation (amandin-3) methods. Amandin is a legumin type protein characterized by a sedimentation value of 14S. Amandin is composed of two major types of polypeptides with estimated molecular weights of 42-46 and 20-22 kDa linked via disulfide bonds. Several additional minor polypeptides were also present in amandin. Amandin is a storage protein with an estimated molecular weight of 427,300 +/- 47,600 Da (n = 7) and a Stokes radius of 65.88 +/- 3.21 A (n = 7). Amandin is not a glycoprotein. Amandin-1, amandin-2, and amandin-3 are antigenically related and have similar biochemical properties. Amandin-3 is more negatively charged than either amandin-1 or amandin-2. Methionine is the first essential limiting amino acid in amandin followed by lysine and threonine.
Sang, S., G. Li, S. Tian, K. Lapsley, R.E. Stark, R.K. Pandey, R.T. Rosen, C.T. Ho, 2002. An unusual diterpene glycoside from the nuts of almond (Prunus amygdalus Batsch). Tetrahedron Letters. 44:1199-1202.
A new unusual diterpene glycoside, named amygdaloside, was isolated from almonds. Since this family of compounds is known to have anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects, further research is needed in this area.
Sang, S., K. Lapsley, W.S. Jeong, P.A. Lachance, R.T. Rosen, C.T. Ho, 2002. Antioxidative phenolic compounds isolated from almond skin (Prunus Amygdalus Batsch). J Agric Food Chem. 50:2459-63.
Nine phenolic compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of almond (Prunus amygdalus) skins. On the basis of NMR data, MS data, and comparison with the literature, these compounds were identified as 3′-O-methylquercetin 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1); 3′-O-methylquercetin 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside (2); 3′-O-methylquercetin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1–>6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3); kaempferol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1–>6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4); naringenin 7-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (5); catechin (6); protocatechuic acid (7); vanillic acid (8); and p-hydroxybenzoic acid (9). All of these compounds have been isolated from almond skins for the first time. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activities for compounds 1-9 were determined. Compounds 6 and 7 show very strong DPPH radical scavenging activity. Compounds 1-3, 5, 8, and 9 show strong activity, whereas compound 4 has very weak activity.
Sang, S., K. Lapsley, R.T. Rosen, C.T. Ho, 2002. New prenylated benzoic acid and other constituents from almond hulls (Prunus Amygdalus Batsch). J Agric Food Chem. 50:607-9.
One new prenylated benzoic acid derivative, 3-prenyl-4-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-hydroxylbenzoic acid, and three known constituents, catechin, protocatechuic acid, and ursolic acid, have been isolated from the hulls of almond (Prunus amygdalus). Complete assignments of the proton and carbon chemical shifts for the new prenylated benzoic acid derivative were accomplished on the basis of high-resolution 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance data. All of these compounds except ursolic acid are being reported from almond hulls (P. amygdalus) for the first time.
Sang, S., K. Lapsley, X. Cheng, H.-Y. Fu, D.-E. Shieh, N. Bai, R.T. Rosen, R.E. Stark, C.-T. Ho, 2002. New type sesquiterpene lactone from almond hulls (Prunus Amygdalus Batch). Tetrahedron Letters. 43:2547-9.
An unusual sesquiterpene lactone, named amygdalactone, was isolated from almond hulls for the first time. This class of compounds is comprised of natural products with known anti-carcinogenic properties.
Sang, S., H. Kikuzaki, K. Lapsley, R.T. Rosen, N. Nakatani, C.-T. Ho, 2002. Sphingolipid and other constituents from almond nuts (Prunus Amygdalus Batsch). J Agric Food Chem. 50:4709-12.
One sphingolipid, 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R,4E,8Z)-2-[(2R)-2-hydroxyhexadecanoylamino]-4,8-octadecadiene-1,3-diol, and four other constituents, beta-sitosterol, daucosterol, uridine, and adenosine, have been isolated from the nuts of almond (Prunus amygdalus). Complete assignments of the proton and carbon chemical shifts for the sphingolipid were accomplished on the basis of high-resolution 1D and 2D NMR data. All of these compounds are being reported from almond nuts (P. amygdalus) for the first time.
Milbury, P., C.-Y. Chen, K,, H.-K. Kwak, J. Blumberg, 2002. Almond skins polyphenolics act synergistically with α-tocopherol to increase the resistance of low-density lipoproteins to oxidation. Free Radical Research. 36:1 Supp.: 78-80.
Researchers found in this study that the nutrients in almonds work together in synergy to produce a greater health-promoting effect than from individual nutrients consumed alone. Their emerging evidence indicates that the unique combination of almond skins keep LDL cholesterol from oxidizing, a mechanism associated with the formation of plaque in arteries of the heart. Even at very low levels, when the almond skins compounds combine with the vitamin E in the almonds and vitamin C from other foods, they act in synergy and play a co-defensive role against atherosclerosis–in a fashion where the sum of their actions is much greater than each par
Lovejoy, J. C., M.M. Most, M. Lefevre, F.L. Greenway, J.C. Reed, 2002. Effect of diets enriched in almonds on insulin action and serum lipids in adults with normal glucose tolerance or type 2 diabetes. Am J Clin Nutr. 76(5):1000-6.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Nuts appear to have cardiovascular benefits but their effect in diabetic patients is unclear. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to assess effects of almond-enriched diets on insulin sensitivity and lipids in patients with normoglycemia or type 2 diabetes. DESIGN: Study 1 assessed the effect of almonds on insulin sensitivity in 20 free-living healthy volunteers who received 100 g almonds/d for 4 wk. Study 2 was a randomized crossover study that compared 4 diets in 30 volunteers with type 2 diabetes: 1) high-fat, high-almond (HFA; 37% total fat, 10% from almonds); 2) low-fat, high-almond (LFA; 25% total fat, 10% from almonds); 3) high-fat control (HFC; 37% total fat, 10% from olive or canola oil); and 4) low-fat control (LFC; 25% total fat, 10% from olive or canola oil). After each 4-wk diet, serum lipids and oral glucose tolerance were measured. RESULTS: In study 1, almond consumption did not change insulin sensitivity significantly, although body weight increased and total and LDL cholesterol decreased by 21% and 29%, respectively (P < 0.05). In study 2, total cholesterol was lowest with the HFA diet (4.46 +/- 0.14, 4.52 +/- 0.14, 4.63 +/- 0.14, and 4.63 +/- 0.14 mmol/L with the HFA, HFC, LFA, and LFC diets, respectively; P = 0.0004 for fat level). HDL cholesterol was significantly lower with the almond diets (P = 0.002); however, no significant effect of fat source on LDL:HDL was observed. Glycemia was unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: Almond-enriched diets do not alter insulin sensitivity in healthy adults or glycemia in patients with diabetes. Almonds had beneficial effects on serum lipids in healthy adults and produced changes similar to high monounsaturated fat oils in diabetic patients.
Albert, C.M., M. Gaziano, W.C. Willett, J.E. Manson, 2002. Nut consumption and decreased risk of sudden cardiac death in the Physicians’ Health Study. Arch. Intern. Med. 162:1382.
Background: Dietary nut intake has been associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease mortality; however, the mechanism is unclear. Since components of nuts may have antiarrhythmic properties, part of the benefit may be due to a reduction in sudden cardiac death. – Methods: We prospectively assessed whether increasing frequency of nut consumption, as ascertained by an abbreviated food frequency questionnaire at 12 months of follow-up, was associated with a lower risk of sudden cardiac death and other coronary heart disease end points among 21454 male participants enrolled in the US Physicians’ Health Study. Participants were followed up for an average of 17 years. Results: Dietary nut intake was associated with a significantly reduced risk of sudden cardiac death after controlling for known cardiac risk factors and other dietary habits (P for trend, .01). Compared with men who rarely or never consumed nuts, those who consumed nuts 2 or more times per week had reduced risks of sudden cardiac death (relative risk, 0.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.30-0.92) and total coronary heart disease death (relative risk, 0.70; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.98). In contrast, nut intake was not associated with significantly reduced risks of non-sudden coronary heart disease death or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Conclusion: These prospective data in US male physicians suggest that the inverse association between nut consumption and total coronary heart disease death is primarily due to a reduction in the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Background: A voluntary registry of individuals with peanut and/or tree nut allergy was established in 1997 to learn more about these food allergies. Objective: The purpose of this study was to elucidate a variety of features of peanut and tree nut allergy among the first 5149 registry participants. Methods: The registry was established through use of a structured questionnaire distributed to all members of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network and to patients by allergists. Parental surrogates completed the forms for children under the age of 18 years. Results: Registrants were primarily children (89% of registrants were younger than 18 years of age; the median age was 5 years), reflecting the membership of the Network. Isolated peanut allergy was reported by 3482 registrants (68%), isolated tree nut allergy by 464 (9%), and allergy to both foods by 1203 (23%). Registrants were more likely to have been born in October, November, or December (odds ratio, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.18-1.23; P < .0001). The median age of reaction to peanut was 14 months, and the median age of reaction to tree nuts was 36 months; these represented the first known exposure for 74% and 68% of registrants, respectively. One half of the reactions involved more than 1 organ system, and more than 75% required treatment, frequently from medical personnel. Registrants with asthma were more likely than those without asthma to have severe reactions (33% vs 21%; P < .0001). In comparison with initial reactions, subsequent reactions due to accidental ingestion were more severe, more common outside the home, and more likely to be treated with epinephrine. Conclusions: Allergic reactions to peanut and tree nut are frequently severe, often occur on the first known exposure, and can become more severe over time.
