Olive-pomace oil slows down AIDS

Escrito por

Olive-pomace oil slows down AIDS
Medical Research News
Published: Monday, 9-Jul-2007
Printer Friendly Email to a Friend

Olive oil has become part of the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – the cause of AIDS – thanks to the research carried out by the Bionat team, from the University of Granada, headed by Prof. Andres Garcia-Granados, senior lecturer in Organic Chemistry.
Their work shows that maslinic acid – a natural product extracted from dry olive-pomace oil in oil mills – inhibits serin-protease, an enzyme used by HIV to release itself from the infected cell into the extracellular environment and, consequently, to spread the infection into the whole body. These scientists from Granada determined that the use of olive-pomace oil can produce an 80% slowing down in AIDS spreading in the body.

Maslinic or crataegolic acid is a pentacyclic terpene with antioxidant and anticancer effects found in wax from olive skin, alongside oleanolic acid. The effects of this compound in the fight against AIDS are simultaneously being studied in the UGR [http://www.ugr.es] and in Hospital Carlos III in Madrid by a team headed by Prof. Vallejo Nájera.

Maslinic acid innovative properties stem from its powerful protease-inhibition activity, allowing researchers from Granada to register two patents on behalf of the UGR to produce drugs for treatment of diseases caused by protozoa Cryptosporidium – a parasite causing small intestine infection and diarrhoea – and by HIV. The University of Granada has already registered almost ten other patents related to this compounds properties.

Maslinic acid is also a very active compound in opportunistic parasitic infections seriously affecting HIV patients.

In trials carried out by these researchers with the MT2 cell line, for concentrations of 25 and 30 µg/ml maslinic acid inhibited replication of a primary HIV-1 isolate. For 25 µg/ml a decrease in the cytopathic effect and in p24 antigen levels in the supernatant culture medium was detected. For 30 µg/ml, there was total absence of the cytopathic effect and also a decrease of p24 antigen levels.

The UGR Faculty of Sciences hosts a unique maslinic acid production pilot plant where the company MANINVEST S.L. – staffing scientists from the UGR departments of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Parasitology, as well as a coordinating economist – is carrying out research on technology implementation and business programmes tuning aimed at making manitol and maslinic and oleanolic acids programmes more profitable.

Whilst manitol is obtained from olive oil waste water (alpechin) and olive-tree leaves, both acids are extracted from dry olive-pomace oil (orujo) produced at the olive-milling stage during olive oil elaboration process.

To this day, only oleanolic acid – produced in China – has been marketed. However, maslinic acid has gained importance as it is not still on the market and has a greater biological activity.

Prof. Andrés Garcia-Granadoss team intends to continue working in the design and implementation of new maslinic acid by-products to fight against HIV, as well as in other innovative research projects financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the Andalusian Regional Government.

Descargar

Compound From Olive-pomace Oil Inhibits HIV Spread

Escrito por

Compound From Olive-pomace Oil Inhibits HIV Spread

Updated: 7/9/2007 12:06:16 PM
Print Article Email Article

Science Daily — Researchers from the University of Granada and Hospital Carlos III in Madrid, verified that maslinic acid – found in wax from olive skin – inhibits serin-protease, the enzyme used by HIV to release itself from the infected cell into the extracellular environment.

Olive oil has become part of the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – the cause of AIDS – thanks to the research carried out by the Bionat team, from the University of Granada, headed by Prof. Andrés García-Granados, senior lecturer in Organic Chemistry. Their work shows that maslinic acid – a natural product extracted from dry olive-pomace oil in oil mills – inhibits serin-protease, an enzyme used by HIV to release itself from the infected cell into the extracellular environment and, consequently, to spread the infection into the whole body. These scientists from Granada determined that the use of olive-pomace oil can produce an 80% slowing down in AIDS spreading in the body.

Maslinic or crataegolic acid is a pentacyclic terpene with antioxidant and anticancer effects found in wax from olive skin, alongside oleanolic acid. The effects of this compound in the fight against AIDS are simultaneously being studied in the UGR and in Hospital Carlos III in Madrid by a team headed by Prof. Vallejo Nájera.

Maslinic acid innovative properties stem from its powerful protease-inhibition activity, allowing researchers from Granada to register two patents on behalf of the UGR to produce drugs for treatment of diseases caused by protozoa Cryptosporidium – a parasite causing small intestine infection and diarrhoea – and by HIV. The University of Granada has already registered almost ten other patents related to this compound’s properties.

Maslinic acid is also a very active compound in opportunistic parasitic infections seriously affecting HIV patients.

In trials carried out by these researchers with the MT2 cell line, for concentrations of 25 and 30 µg/ml maslinic acid inhibited replication of a primary HIV-1 isolate. For 25 µg/ml a decrease in the cytopathic effect and in p24 antigen levels in the supernatant culture medium was detected. For 30 µg/ml, there was total absence of the cytopathic effect and also a decrease of p24 antigen levels.

Pilot Plant

The UGR Faculty of Sciences hosts a unique maslinic acid production pilot plant where the company MANINVEST S.L. – staffing scientists from the UGR departments of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Parasitology, as well as a coordinating economist – is carrying out research on technology implementation and business programmes tuning aimed at making manitol and maslinic and oleanolic acids programmes more profitable.

Whilst manitol is obtained from olive oil waste water (alpechín) and olive-tree leaves, both acids are extracted from dry olive-pomace oil (orujo) produced at the olive-milling stage during olive oil elaboration process.

To this day, only oleanolic acid – produced in China – has been marketed. However, maslinic acid has gained importance as it is not still on the market and has a greater biological activity.

Prof. Andrés García-Granados’s team intends to continue working in the design and implementation of new maslinic acid by-products to fight against HIV, as well as in other innovative research projects financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the Andalusian Regional Government.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Universidad de Granada.

Descargar

Olive compound slows HIV spread

Escrito por

Olive compound slows HIV spread
Researchers from the University of Granada and Hospital Carlos III in Madrid, verified that maslinic acid – found in wax from olive skin – inhibits serin-protease, the enzyme used by HIV to release itself from the infected cell into the extracellular environment.

Olive oil has become part of the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – the cause of AIDS – thanks to the research carried out by the Bionat team, from the University of Granada, headed by Prof. Andrés García-Granados, senior lecturer in Organic Chemistry. Their work shows that maslinic acid – a natural product extracted from dry olive-pomace oil in oil mills – inhibits serin-protease, an enzyme used by HIV to release itself from the infected cell into the extracellular environment and, consequently, to spread the infection into the whole body. These scientists from Granada determined that the use of olive-pomace oil can produce an 80% slowing down in AIDS spreading in the body.

Top Stories
– Electroshock therapy for tumours
– Altruism among amoebae
– Dephosphorylation key to phototropism
– A programme to prevent sexually transmittable infections
– Super-Genotype: Global Monoclonality Defies the Odds of Nature
– The Toxic Origins of Disease
– Should the Health Community Promote Smokeless Tobacco as a Harm Reduction Measure?
MORE…

Maslinic or crataegolic acid is a pentacyclic terpene with antioxidant and anticancer effects found in wax from olive skin, alongside oleanolic acid. The effects of this compound in the fight against AIDS are simultaneously being studied in the UGR and in Hospital Carlos III in Madrid by a team headed by Prof. Vallejo Nájera.

Maslinic acid innovative properties stem from its powerful protease-inhibition activity, allowing researchers from Granada to register two patents on behalf of the UGR to produce drugs for treatment of diseases caused by protozoa Cryptosporidium – a parasite causing small intestine infection and diarrhoea – and by HIV. The University of Granada has already registered almost ten other patents related to this compound’s properties.

Maslinic acid is also a very active compound in opportunistic parasitic infections seriously affecting HIV patients.

In trials carried out by these researchers with the MT2 cell line, for concentrations of 25 and 30 µg/ml maslinic acid inhibited replication of a primary HIV-1 isolate. For 25 µg/ml a decrease in the cytopathic effect and in p24 antigen levels in the supernatant culture medium was detected. For 30 µg/ml, there was total absence of the cytopathic effect and also a decrease of p24 antigen levels.

The UGR Faculty of Sciences hosts a unique maslinic acid production pilot plant where the company MANINVEST S.L. – staffing scientists from the UGR departments of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Parasitology, as well as a coordinating economist – is carrying out research on technology implementation and business programmes tuning aimed at making manitol and maslinic and oleanolic acids programmes more profitable.

Whilst manitol is obtained from olive oil waste water (alpechín) and olive-tree leaves, both acids are extracted from dry olive-pomace oil (orujo) produced at the olive-milling stage during olive oil elaboration process.

To this day, only oleanolic acid – produced in China – has been marketed. However, maslinic acid has gained importance as it is not still on the market and has a greater biological activity.

Prof. Andrés García-Granados’s team intends to continue working in the design and implementation of new maslinic acid by-products to fight against HIV, as well as in other innovative research projects financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the Andalusian Regional Government.

Descargar

Olive-pomace oil compound inhibits HIV spread

Escrito por

Olive-pomace oil compound inhibits HIV spread

Washington, July 10: A new study has found that a compound from olive-pomace oil slows down the spread of HIV virus.

Researchers from the University of Granada and Hospital Carlos III in Madrid, established that maslinic acid, found in wax from olive skin, inhibits serin-protease, the enzyme used by HIV to discharge itself from the infected cell into the extra cellular environment and, subsequently, to spread the infection into the whole body.

These scientists, headed by Prof. Andres Garcia-Granados, senior lecturer in Organic Chemistry are firm that the use of olive-pomace oil can produce an 80% slowing down in AIDS spreading in the body.

Maslinic or crataegolic acid is a pentacyclic terpene with antioxidant and anticancer effects found in wax from olive skin, together with oleanolic acid. The effects of this compound in the battle against AIDS are concurrently being studied in the UGR and in Hospital Carlos III in Madrid by a team headed by Prof Vallejo Najera.

Maslinic acid’s novel properties shoot from its powerful protease-inhibition activity, allowing researchers from Granada to register two patents on behalf of the UGR to produce drugs for treatment of diseases caused by protozoa Cryptosporidium – a parasite causing small intestine infection and diarrhoea – and by HIV. The University of Granada has already registered almost ten other patents related to this compound’s properties.

Maslinic acid is also a very active compound in opportunistic parasitic infections seriously affecting HIV patients.

Prof Andres Garcia-Granados’ team intends to continue working in the design and implementation of new maslinic acid by-products to fight against HIV, as well as in other innovative research projects.

Descargar

Olive oil compound gets 80% slowing down of HIV spread

Escrito por

Olive oil compound gets 80% slowing down of HIV spread
Similar Stories
Cancer risk in HIV, transplant patients
Self-monitoring reduces HIV-positive peoples high risk behavior
New genetics research advances possibility of HIV vaccine
New method for screening drug-resistant forms of HIV
Ancient retrovirus sheds light on modern pandemic
Olive oil has become part of the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – the cause of AIDS – thanks to the research carried out by the Bionat team, from the University of Granada, headed by Prof. Andrés García-Granados, senior lecturer in Organic Chemistry.

Their work shows that maslinic acid – a natural product extracted from dry olive-pomace oil in oil mills – inhibits serin-protease, an enzyme used by HIV to release itself from the infected cell into the extracellular environment and, consequently, to spread the infection into the whole body. These scientists from Granada determined that the use of olive-pomace oil can produce an 80% slowing down in AIDS spreading in the body.

Maslinic or crataegolic acid is a pentacyclic terpene with antioxidant and anticancer effects found in wax from olive skin, alongside oleanolic acid. The effects of this compound in the fight against AIDS are simultaneously being studied in the UGR and in Hospital Carlos III in Madrid by a team headed by Prof. Vallejo Nájera.

Maslinic acid innovative properties stem from its powerful protease-inhibition activity, allowing researchers from Granada to register two patents on behalf of the UGR to produce drugs for treatment of diseases caused by protozoa Cryptosporidium – a parasite causing small intestine infection and diarrhoea – and by HIV. The University of Granada has already registered almost ten other patents related to this compound’s properties.

Maslinic acid is also a very active compound in opportunistic parasitic infections seriously affecting HIV patients.

In trials carried out by these researchers with the MT2 cell line, for concentrations of 25 and 30 µg/ml maslinic acid inhibited replication of a primary HIV-1 isolate. For 25 µg/ml a decrease in the cytopathic effect and in p24 antigen levels in the supernatant culture medium was detected. For 30 µg/ml, there was total absence of the cytopathic effect and also a decrease of p24 antigen levels.

Pilot Plant

The UGR Faculty of Sciences hosts a unique maslinic acid production pilot plant where the company MANINVEST S.L. – staffing scientists from the UGR departments of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Parasitology, as well as a coordinating economist – is carrying out research on technology implementation and business programmes tuning aimed at making manitol and maslinic and oleanolic acids programmes more profitable.

Whilst manitol is obtained from olive oil waste water (alpechín) and olive-tree leaves, both acids are extracted from dry olive-pomace oil (orujo) produced at the olive-milling stage during olive oil elaboration process.

To this day, only oleanolic acid – produced in China – has been marketed. However, maslinic acid has gained importance as it is not still on the market and has a greater biological activity.

Prof. Andrés García-Granados’s team intends to continue working in the design and implementation of new maslinic acid by-products to fight against HIV, as well as in other innovative research projects financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the Andalusian Regional Government.-Universidad de Granada

Descargar

2.000 Alumnos y 400 profesores participarán en los cursos de verano de la Universidad

Escrito por

2.000 Alumnos y 400 profesores participarán en los cursos de verano de la Universidad

Almuñécar acogió hoy el acto de inauguración de la XXIV edición de los cursos de verano del Centro Mediterráneo de la Universidad de Granada (CEMED), en los que se darán cita más de 2.000 alumnos y 400 profesores.
El acto, presidido por el rector de la Universidad de Granada, David Aguilar Peña, dio la bienvenida a profesores y estudiantes que participarán en 24 cursos, en un tiempo de convivencia y aprendizaje en el que, además, podrán contar con unos servicios culturales que crecen durante el verano para atender las demandas, según la concejal de Cultura de Almuñécar, María Dolores Rull.

El director del Centro Mediterráneo de la UGR, Juan Francisco García Casanova, destacó que éste lleva 24 años organizando actividades de forma ininterrumpida en sus diversas sedes de la provincia de Granada (Granada, Guadix, Lanjarón y Motril), con sede principal en Almuñécar.

Aguilar destacó la importancia de los cursos de verano para alcanzar los niveles de convivencia intelectual que propone la universidad europea en su conjunto, en el marco del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES) y el sistema europeo de créditos (ECTS), que rompen la tradicional frontera entre horario de clases y de estudio.

Por otra parte, el rector de la Universidad de Granada subrayó que la temática de los cursos responde a cuestiones de actualidad poco abordadas en los planes de estudio oficiales y de utilidad para profesionales en activo.

Descargar

La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

Escrito por

La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

EP – La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

Noticia publicada a las 15:00
lunes, 09 de julio de 2007

MADRID, 9 (EUROPA PRESS)

Una investigación realizada en el Departamento de Fisiología de la Universidad de Granada ha puesto de manifiesto que la leche de cabra posee más propiedades beneficiosas para la salud que la de vaca, entre ellas, ayuda a prevenir la anemia ferropénica (falta de hierro) y la desmineralización ósea (osteomalacia), informó hoy la Universidad de Granada (UGR).

En concreto, este trabajo, realizado por el doctor Javier Díaz Castro y dirigido por las profesoras Margarita Sánchez Campos, Mª Inmaculada López Aliaga y Mª José Muñoz Alférez, se ha centrado en el estudio comparativo de las propiedades nutricionales de la leche de cabra respecto a la de vaca, con un contenido normal o enriquecidas en calcio, sobre la biodisponibilidad de hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio.

Para ello, han empleado la técnica de balance metabólico en ratas con anemia ferropénica nutricional inducida experimentalmente, y otro grupo empleado como control.

El investigador de la UGR, con el fin de conocer cómo la utilización nutritiva de estos minerales puede incidir en la distribución y destino metabólico de los mismos, ha determinado su concentración a nivel de los distintos órganos implicados en su regulación homeostática y diversos parámetros hematológicos relacionados con el metabolismo de los minerales estudiados, explicó la UGR.

Así, los resultados obtenidos revelan que la anemia ferropénica, así como la desmineralización ósea provocada por esta patología se recuperan mejor con la leche de cabra, debido a la mayor biodisponibilidad de hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio.

A pesar de los resultados, el investigador de la UGR advierte de que todavía se requieren estudios en humanos para confirmar los hallazgos obtenidos en la rata y fomentar su consumo tanto en la población general como en la afectada por anemia ferropénica nutricional, así como patologías relacionadas con la desmineralización ósea.

Algunos de los contenidos de esta investigación han sido publicados en revistas científicas como Journal Dairy Science e International Dairy Journal.

Descargar

La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

Escrito por

La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

EP – La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

Noticia publicada a las 15:00
lunes, 09 de julio de 2007

MADRID, 9 (EUROPA PRESS)

Una investigación realizada en el Departamento de Fisiología de la Universidad de Granada ha puesto de manifiesto que la leche de cabra posee más propiedades beneficiosas para la salud que la de vaca, entre ellas, ayuda a prevenir la anemia ferropénica (falta de hierro) y la desmineralización ósea (osteomalacia), informó hoy la Universidad de Granada (UGR).

En concreto, este trabajo, realizado por el doctor Javier Díaz Castro y dirigido por las profesoras Margarita Sánchez Campos, Mª Inmaculada López Aliaga y Mª José Muñoz Alférez, se ha centrado en el estudio comparativo de las propiedades nutricionales de la leche de cabra respecto a la de vaca, con un contenido normal o enriquecidas en calcio, sobre la biodisponibilidad de hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio.

Para ello, han empleado la técnica de balance metabólico en ratas con anemia ferropénica nutricional inducida experimentalmente, y otro grupo empleado como control.

El investigador de la UGR, con el fin de conocer cómo la utilización nutritiva de estos minerales puede incidir en la distribución y destino metabólico de los mismos, ha determinado su concentración a nivel de los distintos órganos implicados en su regulación homeostática y diversos parámetros hematológicos relacionados con el metabolismo de los minerales estudiados, explicó la UGR.

Así, los resultados obtenidos revelan que la anemia ferropénica, así como la desmineralización ósea provocada por esta patología se recuperan mejor con la leche de cabra, debido a la mayor biodisponibilidad de hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio.

A pesar de los resultados, el investigador de la UGR advierte de que todavía se requieren estudios en humanos para confirmar los hallazgos obtenidos en la rata y fomentar su consumo tanto en la población general como en la afectada por anemia ferropénica nutricional, así como patologías relacionadas con la desmineralización ósea.

Algunos de los contenidos de esta investigación han sido publicados en revistas científicas como Journal Dairy Science e International Dairy Journal.

Descargar

La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

Escrito por

La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

Ampliar imagen

Redacción / EP
Una investigación realizada en el Departamento de Fisiología de la Universidad de Granada ha puesto de manifiesto que la leche de cabra posee más propiedades beneficiosas para la salud que la de vaca, entre ellas, ayuda a prevenir la anemia ferropénica (falta de hierro) y la desmineralización ósea (osteomalacia), informó hoy la Universidad de Granada (UGR).

En concreto, este trabajo, realizado por el doctor Javier Díaz Castro y dirigido por las profesoras Margarita Sánchez Campos, Mª Inmaculada López Aliaga y Mª José Muñoz Alférez, se ha centrado en el estudio comparativo de las propiedades nutricionales de la leche de cabra respecto a la de vaca, con un contenido normal o enriquecidas en calcio, sobre la biodisponibilidad de hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio.

Para ello, han empleado la técnica de balance metabólico en ratas con anemia ferropénica nutricional inducida experimentalmente, y otro grupo empleado como control.

El investigador de la UGR, con el fin de conocer cómo la utilización nutritiva de estos minerales puede incidir en la distribución y destino metabólico de los mismos, ha determinado su concentración a nivel de los distintos órganos implicados en su regulación homeostática y diversos parámetros hematológicos relacionados con el metabolismo de los minerales estudiados, explicó la UGR.

Así, los resultados obtenidos revelan que la anemia ferropénica, así como la desmineralización ósea provocada por esta patología se recuperan mejor con la leche de cabra, debido a la mayor biodisponibilidad de hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio.

A pesar de los resultados, el investigador de la UGR advierte de que todavía se requieren estudios en humanos para confirmar los hallazgos obtenidos en la rata y fomentar su consumo tanto en la población general como en la afectada por anemia ferropénica nutricional, así como patologías relacionadas con la desmineralización ósea.

Algunos de los contenidos de esta investigación han sido publicados en revistas científicas como Journal Dairy Science e International Dairy Journal.

Descargar

La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

Escrito por

La leche de cabra es más beneficiosa para la salud que la leche de vaca, según un estudio

MADRID, 9 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –

Una investigación realizada en el Departamento de Fisiología de la Universidad de Granada ha puesto de manifiesto que la leche de cabra posee más propiedades beneficiosas para la salud que la de vaca, entre ellas, ayuda a prevenir la anemia ferropénica (falta de hierro) y la desmineralización ósea (osteomalacia), informó hoy la Universidad de Granada (UGR).

En concreto, este trabajo, realizado por el doctor Javier Díaz Castro y dirigido por las profesoras Margarita Sánchez Campos, Mª Inmaculada López Aliaga y Mª José Muñoz Alférez, se ha centrado en el estudio comparativo de las propiedades nutricionales de la leche de cabra respecto a la de vaca, con un contenido normal o enriquecidas en calcio, sobre la biodisponibilidad de hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio.

Para ello, han empleado la técnica de balance metabólico en ratas con anemia ferropénica nutricional inducida experimentalmente, y otro grupo empleado como control.

El investigador de la UGR, con el fin de conocer cómo la utilización nutritiva de estos minerales puede incidir en la distribución y destino metabólico de los mismos, ha determinado su concentración a nivel de los distintos órganos implicados en su regulación homeostática y diversos parámetros hematológicos relacionados con el metabolismo de los minerales estudiados, explicó la UGR.

Así, los resultados obtenidos revelan que la anemia ferropénica, así como la desmineralización ósea provocada por esta patología se recuperan mejor con la leche de cabra, debido a la mayor biodisponibilidad de hierro, calcio, fósforo y magnesio.

A pesar de los resultados, el investigador de la UGR advierte de que todavía se requieren estudios en humanos para confirmar los hallazgos obtenidos en la rata y fomentar su consumo tanto en la población general como en la afectada por anemia ferropénica nutricional, así como patologías relacionadas con la desmineralización ósea.

Algunos de los contenidos de esta investigación han sido publicados en revistas científicas como Journal Dairy Science e International Dairy Journal.

Descargar

Compound From Olive-pomace Oil Inhibits HIV Spread

Escrito por

Compound From Olive-pomace Oil Inhibits HIV Spread
Science Daily — Researchers from the University of Granada and Hospital Carlos III in Madrid, verified that maslinic acid – found in wax from olive skin – inhibits serin-protease, the enzyme used by HIV to release itself from the infected cell into the extracellular environment.

Ads by Google Advertise on this site

——————————————————————————–

Granada Apartments
Cheap property in Granada Spain direct from developer.
www.propertyunder100k.com
Granada Airport car hire
Ford Ka from £53 week Car Hire of the year 2006
www.carjet.co.uk
Cell Biology
Research, articles, info, reviews Free Biotech Research Newsletter
www.FierceBioresearcher.com
Magnetic Beads – MagSi
COOH, NH2, CHO, SH, C18, C4, Tosyl High quality MagSi Beads for R&D
www.magnamedics.com
Rural caves and cortijos
Spanish lake district property cave farm and town houses from €30.000
www.rusticom.co.uk

——————————————————————————–
Olive oil has become part of the fight against the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) – the cause of AIDS – thanks to the research carried out by the Bionat team, from the University of Granada, headed by Prof. Andrés García-Granados, senior lecturer in Organic Chemistry. Their work shows that maslinic acid – a natural product extracted from dry olive-pomace oil in oil mills – inhibits serin-protease, an enzyme used by HIV to release itself from the infected cell into the extracellular environment and, consequently, to spread the infection into the whole body. These scientists from Granada determined that the use of olive-pomace oil can produce an 80% slowing down in AIDS spreading in the body.

Maslinic or crataegolic acid is a pentacyclic terpene with antioxidant and anticancer effects found in wax from olive skin, alongside oleanolic acid. The effects of this compound in the fight against AIDS are simultaneously being studied in the UGR and in Hospital Carlos III in Madrid by a team headed by Prof. Vallejo Nájera.

Maslinic acid innovative properties stem from its powerful protease-inhibition activity, allowing researchers from Granada to register two patents on behalf of the UGR to produce drugs for treatment of diseases caused by protozoa Cryptosporidium – a parasite causing small intestine infection and diarrhoea – and by HIV. The University of Granada has already registered almost ten other patents related to this compound’s properties.

Maslinic acid is also a very active compound in opportunistic parasitic infections seriously affecting HIV patients.

In trials carried out by these researchers with the MT2 cell line, for concentrations of 25 and 30 µg/ml maslinic acid inhibited replication of a primary HIV-1 isolate. For 25 µg/ml a decrease in the cytopathic effect and in p24 antigen levels in the supernatant culture medium was detected. For 30 µg/ml, there was total absence of the cytopathic effect and also a decrease of p24 antigen levels.

Pilot Plant

The UGR Faculty of Sciences hosts a unique maslinic acid production pilot plant where the company MANINVEST S.L. – staffing scientists from the UGR departments of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Parasitology, as well as a coordinating economist – is carrying out research on technology implementation and business programmes tuning aimed at making manitol and maslinic and oleanolic acids programmes more profitable.

Whilst manitol is obtained from olive oil waste water (alpechín) and olive-tree leaves, both acids are extracted from dry olive-pomace oil (orujo) produced at the olive-milling stage during olive oil elaboration process.

To this day, only oleanolic acid – produced in China – has been marketed. However, maslinic acid has gained importance as it is not still on the market and has a greater biological activity.

Prof. Andrés García-Granados’s team intends to continue working in the design and implementation of new maslinic acid by-products to fight against HIV, as well as in other innovative research projects financed by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Technology and the Andalusian Regional Government.

Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued by Universidad de Granada.

Descargar

La adaptación a Europa, un camino arduo

Escrito por

La adaptación a Europa, un camino arduo

La convergencia con Europa es un proceso laborioso en el que se encuentra inmersa la universidad española y que afectará a todos los estudios universitarios.

La adapatación al Espacio Europeo de Eduación Superior es una empresa en la que la universidad española esta embarcada. Toda la comunidad universitaria muestra inquietudes y opiniones sobre el llamado proceso Bolonia.

Las universidades están implantando programas piloto y pasando los créditos de las materias a ECTS para conseguir llegar al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES). Con este nuevo sistema los resultados han sido completamente diferentes, mientras los alumnos que realizaban un seguimiento continuo del curso han obtenido mejores notas, los que compaginan el trabajo con los estudios lo han tenido más difícil.

Antonio Sánchez, comisionado para el Espacio Europeo de Educación de la Universidad de Granada, piensa que se deberían buscar nuevas formulas para que todos tengan oportunidades. Aunque la Universidad de Granada lleva trabajando en la implantación de programas piloto y créditos ECTS, las carreras técnicas se encuentran más retrasadas, algunas de ellas incluso sin programas pilotos.

Tras los programas piloto se deberían instaurar los nuevos títulos pero para ello es necesario que el Ministerio publique la normativa que los regule. Las fechas aún no se saben puesto que los plazos establecidos se han demorado. Antonio Sánchez cree que, aunque todavía no es tarde, el proceso se debe realizar de manera gradual. También aclara que algunas carreras serán más dificultosas y cree en la posibilidad de que los cambios no afecten a la desaparición de algunas carreras.

Por su parte Miguel Ángel Comendador, vicerrector de Postgrado y Convergencia Europea en la Universidad de Oviedo se muestra más crítico refleja las preocupaciones de los profesores de Oviedo que se ven sin tiempo para llegar a la tan ansiada convergencia. Comendador apuntó la necesidad de una normativa que establezca los derechos y deberes del profesorado.

La preocupación por parte de todos los integrantes de la comunidad universitaria queda reflejado en la opinión de cargos de responsabilidad en la adaptación al Espacio Europeo pero también en jornadas como las II Jornadas sobre Innovación en Docencia Universitaria, que ha organizado la Universidad de Alcalá y las muchas propuestas que ofrecen las universidades españolas en sus cursos de verano.

Descargar