Affiliations: Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank
University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK | Amino Up Chemical Company, 363-32 Shin-ei, Kiyota-ku,
Sapporo, 004-0839, Japan | Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Sciences,
University of Mauritius, Réduit, Republic of Mauritius | Department of Veterinary Public Health, College of
Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Sillim 9-dong,
Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea | Department of Food and Nutrition, Sookmyung Women's
University, 52 Hyochangwon-gil, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 140-742, Korea
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Okezie I. Aruoma, PhD, DSc,
Faculty of Health and Social Care, London South Bank University, 103 Borough
Road, London SE1 0AA, UK. E-mail:
[email protected]/[email protected]
Abstract: Interdisciplinary research endeavors are directed at understanding
the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative and chronic diseases that affect
human lifestyle. Hence the potential for developing medicinal herb-derived and
food plant-derived prophylactic agents directed at neurological, metabolic,
cardiovascular and psychiatric disorders abounds. Oligonol is a novel
technology product emanating from the oligomerization of polyphenols, typically
proanthocyanidin from a variety of fruits (grapes, apples, persimmons etc.)
that has optimized bioavailability. It is an optimized phenolic product
containing catechin-type monomers and oligomeric proanthocyanidins, the easily
absorbed forms. Typically the constituents of Oligonol are 15–20%
monomers, 8–12% dimers and 5–10% trimers. Supplementation of mice
with Oligonol prior to the administration of ferric-nitrilotriacetic complex (a
Fenton chemistry model) significantly reduced the extent of lipid peroxidation
in the kidney, brain and liver. Oligonol triggers apoptosis in the MCF-7 and
MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through modulation of the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2
family of proteins and the MEK/ERK signaling pathway, an observation suggesting
its important chemopreventive effects. The senescence-accelerated strain of
mice (SAM) are models of senescence acceleration and geriatric disorders which
exhibit learning and memory deficits and enhanced production or defective
control of oxidative stress leading.
Journal: BioFactors, vol. 27, no. 1-4, pp. 245-265, 2006
