Earticle

We investigated the catechin content in green tea leaf (GTL) and green tea seed (GTS), the antiproliferative and detoxifying phase II enzyme-inducing activities of the methanolic (80%, v/v) extracts from GTL and GTS. GTL and GTS contained 8,685±1,061 and 108±32 ug/g epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), 11,486±506 and 116±72 ug/g epigallocatechin (EGC),3,535±308 and 821±95 ug/g epicatechin gallate (ECG), and 1,429±177 and 37±44 ug/g epicatechin (EC), respectively. The methanolic extract of GTS showed a greater increase in quinone reductase activity and antiproliferation potential against mouse hepatoma cells than GTL extract did. GTS treatment resulted in the accumulation at sub-G1 phase of mouse hepatoma hepa1c1c7 cells as assessed by flow cytometry. Enhancement of phase II enzyme activity by GTS extract was shown to be mediated, directly or indirectly, via interaction with the antioxidant response element (ARE) sequence in the genes encoding the phase enzymes. As the catechin content in GTS was significantly lower than that in GTL, components other than catechins appear to be responsible for the anticarcinogenic activity of the seed. In summary, these results suggest that the 80% methanolic extract of GTS deserves further study to evaluate its potential as an anticarcinogenic agent and to investigate its mechanism of action.

This paper investigates the production and optimization of β-galactosidase enzyme using synthetic medium by Kluyveromyces lactis NRRL Y-8279 in stirred tank bioreactor. Response surface methodology was used to investigate the effects of fermentation parameters on β-galactosidase enzyme production. Maximum specific enzyme activity of 4,622.7 U/g was obtained at the optimum levels of process variables (aeration rate 2.21 vvm, agitation speed 173.4 rpm, initial sugar concentration 33.8 g/L, incubation time 24.0 hr). The optimum temperature and pH of the β-galactosidase enzyme produced under optimized conditions were 37oC and pH 7.0, respectively. The enzyme was stable over a pH range of 6.0-7.5 and a temperature range of 25-37oC. The Km and Vmax values for O-nitrophenol-β-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG) were 1.20 mM and 1,000 μmol/min·mg protein, respectively. The response surface methodology was found to be useful in optimizing and determining the interactions among process variables in β-galactosidase enzyme production. Hence, this study fulfills the lack of using mathematical and statistical techniques in optimizing the β-galactosidase enzyme production in stirred tank bioreactor.

The protective effect of the water extract of Fraxinus rhynchophylla leaves (FLE) was determined using an animal model of acetaminophen (AAP)-induced nephrotoxicity. The BALB/c male mice used in this study were divided into 3 groups; the normal, AAP-administered, and FLE-pretreated AAP groups. A single dose of AAP induced necrosis of renal tubules and congestion along with edema to a remarkable degree as observed by hematoxylin and eosin stain, and also increased the numbers of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive renal tubular epithelial cells. Blood urea nitrogen and plasma creatinine levels were determined to be significantly higher in the AAP group than in the normal group. However, FLE pretreatment resulted in an attenuation of renal tubule necrosis. Regeneration and dilatation of renal tubules were noted, and the numbers of TUNEL-positive cells were reduced in the FLE-pretreated groups. In an effort to detect the bioactive compounds exerting protective effects in FLE, the analysis of phenolic compounds via gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) were performed, and identified esculetin and esculin. The present study indicates that these compounds may exert a protective effect against AAP-induced nephrotoxicity.

To enforce the maximum residue limit for residual hexane (0.005 g/kg) in commercially available Korean vegetable oil, convenient and accurate quantification methods were investigated. Using dual surrogate standards, pentane and heptane were dissolved in ethanol, and then added to hexane-tree sunflower oil for setting up the calibration curve. Gas Chromatograph-Flame Ionization Detector with a porous layer open tubular column, indicated good chromatographic separation of hexane from other inhibiting matrix components. The lowest calibration level was 0.5 ug/g, not exceeding a relative standard deviation of 10% (RSD%), and 1.0 ug/g$ not exceeding a deviation of 22% RSD% using heptane as an internal standard for the Static headspace analysis by using a headspace auto-sampler and manual injection, respectively. The residual hexane was detected in nine of the samples among 87 vegetable oil samples purchased on the local market.

Strain NK181 was isolated for probiotic use from jeotkal and based on results of API 50 CHL kit and 16S rDNA sequencing was tentatively named Lactobacillus plantarum NK181. L. plantarum NK181 was highly resistant to artificial gastric juice (pH 2.5) and bile acid and demonstrated strong adherence to Caco-2 cells. In test using API ZYM kit, eight enzymes were produced. Supernatant of L. plantarum NK181 exhibited about 30% 1,1-diphenyl-2-picyryl hedrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity and reduced cholesterol by 70%. These results demonstrate potential use of L. plantarum NK181 as health-promoting probiotic.

Multiple beneficial properties of Opuntia ficus indica (OPF) are well established. In the present study, we have investigated the immunological role of OPF extract (OPFE) on murine plenocytes. OPFE dose- and time-dependently enhanced the proliferation of splenocytes without cytotoxicity. Our results also showed that the number of CD4+ helper T cells and CD45R/B220+ pan B cells increased markedly, but not CD8+ cytotoxic T cells or CD11b+ granulocytes/macrophages. In addition, OPFE significantly decreased the production levels of T helper (Th) 1 type cytokines, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, although had no significantly differences in those of interleukin (IL)-4, a Th2 type cytokine in concanavalin A (Con A)-stimulated blastogenic cells. Furthermore, OPFE alone strongly increased IL-4 roduction and decreased TNF-α production even in the absence of Con A. On the basis of these results, this study suggests that OPFE enhances immunity by regulating the pro- and anti-inflammatory response, indicating that this extract exerts a marked immunomodulatory effect, confirming its usefulness as therapy for immune-related diseases.

The effects of fermented chaga mushroom (Inonotus obliquus) powder on the lipid concentrations and the activities of liver marker enzymes of serum in genetically diabetic Otsuka Long-Evans Tokushima fatty (OLETF) rats were investigated. Rats were fed a semisynthetic diet supplemented with 50 g/kg chaga mushroom powder (CM) or 50 g/kg fermented chaga mushroom powder (FCM) for 8 weeks (26 to 34 weeks of age). Nondiabetic Long-Evans Toknshima Otsuka (LETO) rats were used as age-matched nondiabetic control animals. Water consumption was significantly higher in the OLETF control than the LETO rats. Water consumption in the FCM-fed OLETF rats tended to be less than in both the OLETF control and CM-fed OLETF rats. Serum concentrations of triglycerides and total cholesterol were significantly higher in the OLETF control rats than in the LETO rats while within the OLETF rat groups, the consumption of FCM resulted in a significantly lower serum triglyceride concentration and slightly lowered serum total cholesterol concentration when compared to the OLETF control and CM-fed rats. The alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity was significantly higher in the OLETF control than in the LETO rats, but this difference was significantly reduced compared to the CM-fed rats and essentially no difference in the ALT levels was observed between the LETO and OLETF-FCM rats. This observation suggests an adaptive effect of the fermented chaga mushroom in liver function. Livers of the LETO rats showed no histopathological changes, whereas those of the OLETF control rats were characterized by many fat depositions in the central zone of the hepatocytes. The livers of the OLETF CM-fed rats showed less fatty changes compared to the OLETF control rats and fat deposition in the hepatocytes was nearly absent. These results suggest that orally ingested fermented chaga mushroom has a potential beneficial effect on the complications known to occur in the obesity-related non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NlDDM) OLETF rat.