1: J Agric Food Chem 2000 Dec;48(12):6352-4 
Resveratrol and piceid levels in natural and blended peanut butters. Ibern-Gomez M, Roig-Perez S, Lamuela-Raventos RM, de La Torre-Boronat MC. 
Nutricio i Bromatologia, CeRTA, Facultat de Farmacia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028- Barcelona, Spain. Peanut and its derivatives, especially peanut butter, are extensively consumed in many countries, mainly in the United States, which is also the major exporter of these products. trans-Resveratrol is present in peanuts, and recently this compound has been quantified in peanut butter. It is well-known that there are beneficial effects of trans-resveratrol and its glucoside, the piceid, in health. The absorption of trans-resveratrol has been proven in animals, and certain studies show that the absorption of some phenols is enhanced by conjugation with glucose, so that it could be possible that trans-piceid would be more absorbed than its aglycon (trans-resveratrol). In our work, we have identified the presence of trans-piceid in peanut butter with a new method to quantify trans-resveratrol and trans-piceid (3-beta-glucose of trans-resveratrol). This fact is very interesting because the glucosilated form could be more easily absorbed by the intestinal gut; in this way trans-piceid would exercise its beneficial function more efficiently than trans-resveratrol. To our knowledge, this is the first time that trans-piceid has been quantified in peanut butter. Resveratrol and piceid contents in natural peanut butters were found to be significantly higher than those in blended peanut butters. PMID: 11312807 [PubMed - in process]


2: J Agric Food Chem 2000 Apr;48(4):1243-6 Occurrence of resveratrol in edible peanuts. Sanders TH, McMichael RW Jr, Hendrix KW. 
Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695-7624, USA. mqhru@ncsu.edu 
Resveratrol has been associated with reduced cardiovascular disease and reduced cancer risk. This phytoalexin has been reported in a number of plant species, including grapes, and may be one of the compounds responsible for the health benefits of red wine. Analytical methods for measuring resveratrol in wine and peanuts were adapted to isolate, identify, and quantify resveratrol in several cultivars of peanuts. Aqueous ethanol (80% v/v) extracts from peanuts without seed coats were purified over alumina/silica gel columns and analyzed by reversed phase HPLC using a C-18 column. Peanuts from each market type, Virginia, runner, and Spanish, produced in four different locations contained from 0.03 to 0.14 microg of resveratrol/g. Seed coats from runner and Virginia types contained approximately 0.65 microg/g of seed coat, which is equivalent to <0.04 microg/seed. Quantitative analysis of 15 cultivars representing 3 peanut market types, which had been cold stored for up to 3 years, indicated a range of 
0.02-1.79 microg/g of peanut compared to 0.6-8.0 microg/mL in red wines. PMID: 10775379 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

3: J Agric Food Chem 1999 Apr;47(4):1435-9 trans-resveratrol content in commercial peanuts and peanut products. Sobolev VS, Cole RJ. National Peanut Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Dawson, Georgia 31742, USA. vsobolev@nprl.usda.gov A modified high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method for determination of trans-resveratrol (resveratrol) in peanuts and peanut products has been developed. Resveratrol was extracted with acetonitrile-water (90/10, v/v) by blending with diatomaceous earth at high speed followed by purification of an aliquot of the extract on a minicolumn packed with Al(2)O(3)-ODS (C(18)) mixture. The column was eluted with acetonitrile-water (90/10, v/v), eluate was evaporated under nitrogen, and residue was dissolved in HPLC mobile phase. Resveratrol in an aliquot of purified extract was quantitated by HPLC on silica gel with n-hexane-2-propanol-water-acetonitrile-acetic acid (1050/270/17/5/1, v/v) as a mobile phase. The recovery of resveratrol added to diatomaceous earth at 0.05 microg/g was 98.95 +/- 17.79%; the recovery of the standard added to fresh peanuts (with 0.070 microg/g natural level of resveratrol) at 0.50, 5.00, and 10.00 microg/g was 117.23 +/- 8.87, 100.10 +/- 2.49, and 100.45 +/- 1.51%, respectively. The quantitation limit of resveratrol in fresh peanuts was about 0. 01 microg/g. Roasted peanuts had the lowest content of resveratrol of 0.055 +/- 0.023 microg/g (n = 21), while in peanut butter its concentration was significantly higher, 0.324 +/- 0.129 microg/g (n = 46), and boiled peanuts had the highest level of 5.138 +/- 2.849 microg/g (n = 12). Resveratrol content in commercial peanut products was similar to the resveratrol content of the raw peanut fractions routinely used for making them. PMID: 10563995 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Nutr Cancer 2000;36(2):238-41 Peanuts as a source of beta-sitosterol, a sterol with anticancer properties. Awad AB, Chan KC, Downie AC, Fink CS. Department of Physical Therapy, Exercise, and Nutrition Sciences, State University of New York, Buffalo 14214, USA. awad@acsu.buffalo.edu Work from our laboratory, as well as others, suggests a protective role of phytosterols (PS), especially beta-sitosterol, from colon, prostate, and breast cancer. Asians and vegetarians consume higher amounts of PS than Western societies. The latter societies have a higher incidence of these cancers than Asians and vegetarians. The aim of this study was to evaluate peanuts and its products as sources of PS in the American diet. Roasted peanuts contain 61-114 mg PS/100 g depending on the peanut variety, 78-83% of which is in the form of beta-sitosterol. Unrefined peanut oil contains 207 mg PS/100 g, which is similar to that of the US Department of Agriculture Nutrient Database. This value is higher than that of unrefined olive oil. Refining these oils results in reduction in PS concentration in the oil. This loss is greater in the case of olive oil than peanut oil. Further refining, such as deodorization, results in significant loss in PS, but hydrogenation after refining has a minimal effect on PS loss. Peanut butter, which represents 50% of the peanuts consumed in the United States, contains 144-157 mg PS/100 g. Peanut flour, which results from partial removal of oil from peanuts, contains 55-60 mg PS/100 g. The data suggest that peanuts and its products, such as peanut oil, peanut butter, and peanut flour, are good sources of PS. PMID: 10890036 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

1: Proc Soc Exp Biol Med 2000 Sep;224(4):292-301 Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of tocopherols and tocotrienols on preneoplastic and neoplastic mouse mammary epithelial cells. McIntyre BS, Briski KP, Gapor A, Sylvester PW. College of Pharmacy, University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, Louisiana 71209-0470, USA. Studies were conducted to determine the comparative effects of tocopherols and tocotrienols on preneoplastic (CL-S1), neoplastic (-SA), and highly malignant (+SA) mouse mammary epithelial cell growth and viability in vitro. Over a 5-day culture period, treatment with 0-120 microM alpha- and gamma-tocopherol had no effect on cell proliferation, whereas growth was inhibited 50% (IC50) as compared with controls by treatment with the following: 13, 7, and 6 microM tocotrienol-rich-fraction of palm oil (TRF); 55, 47, and 23 microM delta-tocopherol; 12, 7, and 5 microM alpha-tocotrienol; 8, 5, and 4 microM gamma-tocotrienol; or 7, 4, and 3 microM delta-tocotrienol in CL-S1, -SA and +SA cells, respectively. Acute 24-hr exposure to 0-250 microM alpha- or gamma-tocopherol (CL-S1, -SA, and +SA) or 0-250 microM delta-tocopherol (CL-S1) had no effect on cell viability, whereas cell viability was reduced 50% (LD50) as compared with controls by treatment with 166 or 125 microM delta-tocopherol in -SA and +SA cells, respectively. Additional LD50 doses were determined as the following: 50, 43, and 38 microM TRF; 27, 28, and 23 microM alpha-tocotrienol; 19, 17, and 14 microM gamma-tocotrienol; or 16, 15, or 12 microM delta-tocotrienol in CL-S1, -SA, and +SA cells, respectively. Treatment-induced cell death resulted from activation of apoptosis, as indicated by DNA fragmentation. Results also showed that CL-S1, -SA, and +SA cells preferentially accumulate tocotrienols as compared with tocopherols, and this may partially explain why tocotrienols display greater biopotency than tocopherols. These data also showed that highly malignant +SA cells were the most sensitive, whereas the preneoplastic CL-S1 cells were the least sensitive to the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of tocotrienols, and suggest that tocotrienols may have potential health benefits in preventing and/or reducing the risk of breast cancer in women. PMID: 10964265 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 2: Nutr Cancer 1999;33(1):26-32 Induction of apoptosis in human breast cancer cells by tocopherols and tocotrienols. Yu W, Simmons-Menchaca M, Gapor A, Sanders BG, Kline K. Department of Zoology, University of Texas at Austin 78712, USA. The apoptosis-inducing properties of RRR-alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-tocopherols, alpha-, gamma-, and delta-tocotrienols, RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E acetate), and RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate (vitamin E succinate) were investigated in estrogen-responsive MCF7 and estrogen-nonresponsive MDA-MB-435 human breast cancer cell lines in culture. Apoptosis was characterized by two criteria: 1) morphology of 4,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole-stained cells and oligonucleosomal DNA laddering. Vitamin E succinate, a known inducer of apoptosis in several cell lines, including human breast cancer cells, served as a positive control. The estrogen-responsive MCF7 cells were more susceptible than the estrogen-nonresponsive MDA-MB-435 cells, with concentrations for half-maximal response for tocotrienols (alpha, gamma, and delta) and RRR-delta-tocopherol of 14, 15, 7, and 97 micrograms/ml, respectively. The tocotrienols (alpha, gamma, and delta) and RRR-delta-tocopherol induced MDA-MB-435 cells to undergo apoptosis, with concentrations for half-maximal response of 176, 28, 13, and 145 micrograms/ml, respectively. With the exception of RRR-delta-tocopherol, the tocopherols (alpha, beta, and gamma) and the acetate derivative of RRR-alpha-tocopherol (RRR-alpha-tocopheryl acetate) were ineffective in induction of apoptosis in both cell lines when tested within the range of their solubility, i.e., 10-200 micrograms/ml. In summary, these studies demonstrate that naturally occurring tocotrienols and RRR-delta-tocopherol are effective apoptotic inducers for human breast cancer cells. PMID: 10227040 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 3: Lipids 1998 May;33(5):461-9 Tocotrienols inhibit the growth of human breast cancer cells irrespective of estrogen receptor status. Nesaretnam K, Stephen R, Dils R, Darbre P. Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Animal and Microbial Sciences, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, England. sarnesar@porim.gov.my Potential antiproliferative effects of tocotrienols, the major vitamin E component in palm oil, were investigated on the growth of both estrogen-responsive (ER+) MCF7 human breast cancer cells and estrogen-unresponsive (ER-) MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells, and effects were compared with those of alpha-tocopherol (alphaT). The tocotrienol-rich fraction (TRF) of palm oil inhibited growth of MCF7 cells in both the presence and absence of estradiol with a nonlinear dose-response but such that complete suppression of growth was achieved at 8 microg/mL. MDA-MB-231 cells were also inhibited by TRF but with a linear dose-response such that 20 microg/mL TRF was needed for complete growth suppression. Separation of the TRF into individual tocotrienols revealed that all fractions could inhibit growth of both ER+ and ER- cells and of ER+ cells in both the presence and absence of estradiol. However, the gamma- and delta-fractions were the most inhibitory. Complete inhibition of MCF7 cell growth was achieved at 6 microg/mL of gamma-tocotrienol/delta-tocotrienol (gammaT3/deltaT3) in the absence of estradiol and 10 microg/mL of deltaT3 in the presence of estradiol, whereas complete suppression of MDA-MB-231 cell growth was not achieved even at concentrations of 10 microg/mL of deltaT3. By contrast to these inhibitory effects of tocotrienols, alphaT had no inhibitory effect on MCF7 cell growth in either the presence or the absence of estradiol, nor on MDA-MB-231 cell growth. These results confirm studies using other sublines of human breast cancer cells and demonstrate that tocotrienols can exert direct inhibitory effects on the growth of breast cancer cells. In searching for the mechanism of inhibition, studies of the effects of TRF on estrogen-regulated pS2 gene expression in MCF7 cells showed that tocotrienols do not act via an estrogen receptor-mediated pathway and must therefore act differently from estrogen antagonists. Furthermore, tocotrienols did not increase levels of growth-inhibitory insulin-like growth factor binding proteins (IGFBP) in MCF7 cells, implying also a different mechanism from that proposed for retinoic acid inhibition of estrogen-responsive breast cancer cell growth. Inhibition of the growth of breast cancer cells by tocotrienols could have important clinical implications not only because tocotrienols are able to inhibit the growth of both ER+ and ER- phenotypes but also because ER+ cells could be growth-inhibited in the presence as well as in the absence of estradiol. Future clinical applications of TRF could come from potential growth suppression of ER+ breast cancer cells otherwise resistant to growth inhibition by antiestrogens and retinoic acid. PMID: 9625593 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 4: J Nutr 1994 May;124(5):607-14 The chemoprevention of cancer by mevalonate-derived constituents of fruits and vegetables. Elson CE, Yu SG. Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison 53706-1571. Anutritive isoprenoid constituents of fruits, vegetables, cereal grains and essential oils exhibit a spectrum of anticarcinogenic activities. The induction of hepatic Phase II detoxifying activities by dietary isoprenoids appears to underlie their blocking action. The second anticarcinogenic action of the dietary isoprenoids, suppression of the growth of chemically initiated and transplanted tumors is, we suggest, secondary to the inhibition of mevalonate pathway activities. Mevinolin, a competitive inhibitor of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity, depletes cells of the intermediate products of the pathway that are required for the posttranslational modification of proteins, a process giving the proteins lipophilic anchors that bind to membranes. As a consequence, nuclear lamins and ras oncoproteins remain in nascent states, and cells do not proliferate. gamma-Tocotrienol, perillyl alcohol, geraniol and d-limonene suppress hepatic HMG-CoA reductase activity, a rate-limiting step in cholesterol synthesis, and modestly lower serum-cholesterol levels of animals. These isoprenoids also suppress tumor growth. The HMG-CoA reductase of neoplastic tissues differs from that of sterologenic tissues in being markedly resistant to sterol feedback inhibition. Our review suggests that the mevalonate pathway of tumor tissues is uniquely sensitive to the inhibitory actions of the dietary isoprenoids. Publication Types: Review Review, academic PMID: 8169651 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 5: Chem Pharm Bull (Tokyo) 1989 May;37(5):1369-71 Studies on the biological activity of tocotrienols. Komiyama K, Iizuka K, Yamaoka M, Watanabe H, Tsuchiya N, Umezawa I. Tocotrienols were evaluated for activity against transplantable murine tumors inoculated i.p. into mouse, and the activities of two tocotrienols and alpha-tocopherols were compared. When the compounds were injected i.p., alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols were effective against sarcoma 180, Ehrlich carcinoma, and IMC carcinoma, and gamma-tocotrienol showed a slight life-prolonging effect in mice with Meth A fibrosarcoma, but the tocotrienols had no antitumor activity against P388 leukemia at doses of 5-40 mg/kg/d. On the other hand alpha-tocopherol had only a slight effect against sarcoma 180 and IMC carcinoma. The antitumor activity of gamma-tocotrienol was higher than that of alpha-tocotrienol. Tocotrienols showed growth inhibition of human and mouse tumor cells when the cells were exposed to these agents for 72 h in vitro, whereas tocopherol did not show any marked cytotoxic activity. Alpha- and gamma-tocotrienols had inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation of murine microsomes by adriamycin. PMID: 2630104 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 1: Proc Nutr Soc 1999 May;58(2):265-9 The nutritional adequacy of plant-based diets. Sanders TA. Nutrition Food & Health Research Centre, King's College London, UK. Tom.Sanders@kcl.ac.uk The nutritional adequacy of plant-based diets is discussed. Energy and protein intakes are similar for plant-based diets compared with those containing meat. Fe and vitamin B12 are the nutrients most likely to be found lacking in such diets. Bioactive substances present in foods of plant origin significantly influence the bioavailability of minerals and requirements for vitamins. Well-balanced vegetarian diets are able to support normal growth and development. It is concluded that meat is an optional rather than an essential constituent of human diets. Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial PMID: 10466165 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 2: Pediatr Clin North Am 1995 Aug;42(4):955-65 Vegetarian diets and children. Sanders TA. Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, King's College London, United Kingdom. Although the general health and development of vegan and vegetarian children seem to be normal, there may be subtle differences compared with omnivores. They are at increased risk of iron deficiency, and impaired psychomotor development associated with iron deficiency has been reported in macrobiotic infants. Fortunately, this impairment is not permanent, and follow-up studies have reported higher-than-average intelligence quotients among older macrobiotic children. Several other hazards of vegetarian diets have been identified, including vitamin B12 deficiency, rickets, and a bulky diet that can restrict energy intake in the first few years of life; however, these pitfalls can be avoided easily, and children can be successfully reared on vegetarian diets. Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial PMID: 7610022 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 3: Mod Midwife 1994 Apr;4(4):23-6 Good nutrition for the vegetarian mother. Sanders T. A pregnant or nursing vegetarian mother needs to be aware of the need to vary her diet because the nutrients that she would otherwise get from meat or fish are more widely scattered in foods of plant origin. Diets which exclude dairy products require more careful planning. Particular attention needs to be made to the mother's intake of iron, calcium, vitamin B12 and vitamin D. Vegetarian mothers do not show a higher incidence of complications of pregnancy, but there are some links between vegetarians and lower birthweight and earlier labour. On weaning the infant's diet should not be too bulky and should provide adequate vitamin D and B12. PMID: 7788369 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 1: Nutr Rev 2001 Apr;59(4):103-11 The effects of nuts on coronary heart disease risk. Kris-Etherton PM, Zhao G, Binkoski AE, Coval SM, Etherton TD. Department of Nutrition, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA. Epidemiologic studies have consistently demonstrated beneficial effects of nut consumption on coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality in different population groups. Clinical studies have reported total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol-lowering effects of heart-healthy diets that contain various nuts or legume peanuts. It is evident that the favorable fatty acid profile of nuts (high in unsaturated fatty acids and low in saturated fatty acids) contributes to cholesterol lowering and, hence, CHD risk reduction. Dietary fiber and other bioactive constituents in nuts may confer additional cardioprotective effects. Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial PMID: 11368503 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 2: Am J Clin Nutr 1999 Sep;70(3 Suppl):504S-511S Nuts and their bioactive constituents: effects on serum lipids and other factors that affect disease risk. Kris-Etherton PM, Yu-Poth S, Sabate J, Ratcliffe HE, Zhao G, Etherton TD. Graduate Program in Nutrition and the Department of Dairy and Animal Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA. pmk3@psu.edu Because nuts have favorable fatty acid and nutrient profiles, there is growing interest in evaluating their role in a heart-healthy diet. Nuts are low in saturated fatty acids and high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. In addition, emerging evidence indicates that there are other bioactive molecules in nuts that elicit cardioprotective effects. These include plant protein, dietary fiber, micronutrients such as copper and magnesium, plant sterols, and phytochemicals. Few feeding studies have been conducted that have incorporated different nuts into the test diets to determine the effects on plasma lipids and lipoproteins. The total- and lipoprotein-cholesterol responses to these diets are summarized in this article. In addition, the actual cholesterol response was compared with the predicted response derived from the most current predictive equations for blood cholesterol. Results from this comparison showed that when subjects consumed test diets including nuts, there was an approximately 25% greater cholesterol-lowering response than that predicted by the equations. These results suggest that there are non-fatty acid constituents in nuts that have additional cholesterol-lowering effects. Further studies are needed to identify these constituents and establish their relative cholesterol-lowering potency. Publication Types: Review Review, tutorial PMID: 10479223 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]