Showing papers in "Journal of Medicinal Food in 2004"
TL;DR: Collectively, fermentation increased protein content, eliminated trypsin inhibitors, and reduced peptide size in soybeans and soybean meals, which might make soy foods more useful in human diets as a functional food and benefit livestock as a novel feed ingredient.
Abstract: This study evaluated the effect of fermentation on the nutritional quality of food-grade soybeans and feedgrade soybean meals. Soybeans and soybean meals were fermented by Aspergillus oryzae GB-107 in a bed-packed solid fermentor for 48 hours. After fermentation, their nutrient contents as well as trypsin inhibitor were measured and compared with those of raw soybeans and soybean meals. Proteins were extracted from fermented and non-fermented soybeans and soybean meals, and the peptide characteristics were evaluated after electrophoresis. Fermented soybeans and fermented soybean meals contained 10% more (P 60 kDa) (P < .05). Fe...
443 citations
TL;DR: An optimum thermal process can increase the stability and maintain the saponins in canned bean products, which is useful for assisting the food industry to improve thermal processing technology and enhance bean product quality.
Abstract: Demand for bean products is growing because of the presence of several health-promoting components in edible bean products such as saponins. Saponins are naturally occurring compounds that are widely distributed in all cells of legume plants. Saponins, which derive their name from their ability to form stable, soaplike foams in aqueous solutions, constitute a complex and chemically diverse group of compounds. In chemical terms, saponins contain a carbohydrate moiety attached to a triterpenoid or steroids. Saponins are attracting considerable interest as a result of their diverse properties, both deleterious and beneficial. Clinical studies have suggested that these health-promoting components, saponins, affect the immune system in ways that help to protect the human body against cancers, and also lower cholesterol levels. Saponins decrease blood lipids, lower cancer risks, and lower blood glucose response. A high saponin diet can be used in the inhibition of dental caries and platelet aggregation, in the ...
387 citations
TL;DR: Honey reduces blood lipids, homocysteine, and CRP in normal and hyperlipidemic subjects and in diabetic patients, honey compared with dextrose caused a significantly lower rise of PGL.
Abstract: This study included the following experiments: (1) effects of dextrose solution (250 mL of water containing 75 g of dextrose) or honey solution (250 mL of water containing 75 g of natural honey) on plasma glucose level (PGL), plasma insulin, and plasma C-peptide (eight subjects); (2) effects of dextrose, honey, or artificial honey (250 mL of water containing 35 g of dextrose and 40 g of fructose) on cholesterol and triglycerides (TG) (nine subjects); (3) effects of honey solution, administered for 15 days, on PGL, blood lipids, C-reactive protein (CRP), and homocysteine (eight subjects); (4) effects of honey or artificial honey on cholesterol and TG in six patients with hypercholesterolemia and five patients with hypertriglyceridemia; (5) effects of honey for 15 days on blood lipid and CRP in five patients with elevated cholesterol and CRP; (6) effects of 70 g of dextrose or 90 g of honey on PGL in seven patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus; and (7) effects of 30 g of sucrose or 30 g of honey on PGL, pl...
222 citations
TL;DR: Results show that brown rice extracts with enhanced levels of GABA have an inhibitory action on leukemia cell proliferation and have a stimulatory action on the cancer cell apoptosis.
Abstract: In the present work we investigated the effects of brown rice extracts on proliferation and apoptosis of cancer cells. Brown rice extracts were prepared using nongerminated brown rice versus germinated brown rices. Mouse leukemia L1210 cells, human acute lymphoblastic leukemia Molt4 cells, and human cervical cancer HeLa cells were treated with either nongerminated brown rice extract (N ex), water-germinated extract (W ex), chitosan-germinated extract (C ex), glutamic acid-germinated brown rice extract (G ex), or chitosan/glutamic acid-germinated brown rice extract (CG ex). The concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the G ex and CG ex were three and 3.3 times higher than the GABA concentration in the N ex, respectively. The G ex and CG ex retarded significantly the proliferation rates of L1210 and Molt4 cells, and the highest retardation rate was with CG ex. In addition, the G ex and CG ex enhanced significantly apoptosis of the cultured L1210 cells, but no significant apoptosis was seen with the other extracts, which have lower concentrations of GABA than G ex and CG ex. These results show that brown rice extracts with enhanced levels of GABA have an inhibitory action on leukemia cell proliferation and have a stimulatory action on the cancer cell apoptosis.
216 citations
TL;DR: The present results suggest that these medicinal plants might be potent and novel therapeutic agents for scavenging ofNO and the regulation of pathological conditions caused by excessive generation of NO and its oxidation product, peroxynitrite.
Abstract: The plant extracts of 17 commonly used Indian medicinal plants were examined for their possible regulatory effect on nitric oxide (NO) levels using sodium nitroprusside as an NO donor in vitro. Most of the plant extracts tested demonstrated direct scavenging of NO and exhibited significant activity. The potency of scavenging activity was in the following order: Alstonia scholaris > Cynodon dactylon > Morinda citrifolia > Tylophora indica > Tectona grandis > Aegle marmelos (leaf) > Momordica charantia > Phyllanthus niruri > Ocimum sanctum > Tinospora cordifolia (hexane extract) = Coleus ambonicus > Vitex negundo (alcoholic) > T. cordifolia (dichloromethane extract) > T. cordifolia (methanol extract) > Ipomoea digitata > V. negundo (aqueous) > Boerhaavia diffusa > Eugenia jambolana (seed) > T. cordifolia (aqueous extract) > V. negundo (dichloromethane/methanol extract) > Gingko biloba > Picrorrhiza kurroa > A. marmelos (fruit) > Santalum album > E. jambolana (leaf). All the extracts evaluated exhibited a dose-dependent NO scavenging activity. The A. scholaris bark showed its greatest NO scavenging effect of 81.86% at 250 microg/mL, as compared with G. biloba, where 54.9% scavenging was observed at a similar concentration. The present results suggest that these medicinal plants might be potent and novel therapeutic agents for scavenging of NO and the regulation of pathological conditions caused by excessive generation of NO and its oxidation product, peroxynitrite.
205 citations
TL;DR: Oil, W, and P each acutely inhibited in vitro proliferation of LNCaP, PC-3, and DU 145 human cancer cell lines, and these effects were mediated by changes in both cell cycle distribution and induction of apoptosis.
Abstract: We completed a multicenter study of the effects of pomegranate cold-pressed (Oil) or supercritical CO2-extracted (S) seed oil, fermented juice polyphenols (W), and pericarp polyphenols (P) on human prostate cancer cell xenograft growth in vivo, and/or proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis, gene expression, and invasion across Matrigel, in vitro. Oil, W, and P each acutely inhibited in vitro proliferation of LNCaP, PC-3, and DU 145 human cancer cell lines. The dose of P required to inhibit cell proliferation of the prostate cancer cell line LNCaP by 50% (ED50) was 70 mg/mL, whereas normal prostate epithelial cells (hPrEC) were significantly less affected (ED50 5 250 mg/mL). These effects were mediated by changes in both cell cycle distribution and induction of apoptosis. For example, the androgen-independent cell line DU 145 showed a significant increase from 11% to 22% in G2/M cells (P , .05) by treatment with Oil (35 µg/mL) with a modest induction of apoptosis. In other cell lines/treatments,...
205 citations
TL;DR: An attempt has been made to evaluate the presence of hypoglycemic activity in the alcoholic extract of Aloe vera gel, which is believed to maintain the glucose homeostasis by controlling the carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes.
Abstract: In the present study an attempt has been made to evaluate the presence of hypoglycemic activity in the alcoholic extract of Aloe vera gel. Effects of oral administration of A. vera extract at a concentration of 200 and 300 mg/kg of body weight on (a) normal fasted rats, (b) oral glucose-loaded rats, and (c) streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats have been studied. A. vera extract maintain the glucose homeostasis by controlling the carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes.
198 citations
TL;DR: The methanolic extract of dried pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels showed the presence of a high content of phenolic compounds (44.0%) along with other constituents that supported the wound healing on application of the gels.
Abstract: The methanolic extract of dried pomegranate (Punica granatum) peels showed the presence of a high content of phenolic compounds (44.0%) along with other constituents. This extract was formulated as a 10% (wt/wt) water-soluble gel and was studied for its wound healing property against an excision wound on the skin of Wistar rats. The activity was compared with that of a commercial topical antibacterial applicant. The wound healing activity was assessed by measuring the percent contraction in skin and estimation of collagen content in terms of hydroxyproline content. Healed skin was also subjected to histopathological studies to examine the microscopic changes. The animals treated with 2.5% gel showed moderate healing (55.8% and 40.8% healing compared with negative and positive controls, respectively), whereas the group treated with 5.0% gel showed good healing (59.5% and 44.5% healing compared with negative and positive controls, respectively). The amount of hydroxyproline increased by twofold in the group treated with 5.0% gel. Histopathological studies also supported the wound healing on application of the gels. The group of rats that received 5.0% gel showed complete healing after 10 days, whereas in rats treated with 2.5% gel, healing was observed on day 12, in contrast to the positive control animals receiving the blank gel, which took 16-18 days for complete healing. The results of this study may be extended to different types of wounds so that the formulation could be exploited to develop it as a topical dermatological formulation. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis of the extract showed the presence of gallic acid and catechin as major components.
185 citations
TL;DR: Honey application into infective conjunctivitis reduced redness, swelling, pus discharge, and time for eradication of bacterial infections due to all the isolates tested, and antimicrobial activity of honey was stronger in acidic media than in neutral or alkaline media.
Abstract: Antimicrobial activities of 10–100% (wt/vol) concentrations of new honey, stored honey, heated honey, ultraviolet-exposed honey, and heated stored honey were tested against common human pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Entrobacter cloacae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella sp., Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolyticus group B, and Candida albicans. Antimicrobial activity of honey was tested in acidic, neutral, or alkaline media. These were compared with similar concentrations of glucose in nutrient broth. Surgical wounds were made on the dorsum of mice and infected with S. aureus or Klebsiella sp. The wounds were treated with local application of honey four times a day or appropriate antibiotics and compared with control values. Bacterial conjunctivitis due to E. coli, Proteus sp., S. aureus, Klebsiella sp., and P. aeruginosa was induced in rats. Conjunctival application of honey four times a day or appropriate antibiotics was used ...
173 citations
TL;DR: The antimicrobial effects of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) against 133 multidrug-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial isolates and five distinct time-kill profiles among the isolates tested support the use of garlic in health products and herbal remedies in Nigeria.
Abstract: The antimicrobial effects of aqueous garlic extract (AGE) against 133 multidrug-resistant gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial isolates, including Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenzae, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Shigella spp., and Proteus spp., and against 10 Candida spp. were studied. Antibacterial activity of AGE by well-diffusion and macrobroth dilution method was characterized by inhibition zones of 20.2-22.7 mm for gram-positives and 19.8-24.5 mm for gram-negatives and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranges of 15.6-48.3 mg/mL and 22.9-37.2 mg/mL, respectively. With the exception of P. aeruginosa, the observed disparity in MIC values at 24 and 48 hours was not significant (P >.05) in these isolates. The anticandidal effect of AGE resulted in a growth inhibition zone of 27.4 +/- 3.7 mm with no significant difference (P >.05) in MIC values at 24 and 48 hours, respectively. Minimum fungicidal concentrations were found to be 14.9 and 15.5 mg/mL, respectively, at these incubation periods. Further analysis revealed the antimicrobial efficacy of AGE to be dose and time dependent, producing five distinct time-kill profiles among the isolates tested. The results of this study support the use of garlic in health products and herbal remedies in Nigeria.
166 citations
TL;DR: It is concluded that CPJ consumption may modify heart disease risk factors in hyperlipidemic patients, and its inclusion therefore in their diets may be beneficial.
Abstract: This study assessed the effect of concentrated pomegranate juice (CPJ) consumption on lipid profiles of type II diabetic patients with hyperlipidemia (cholesterol >/= 5.2 mmol/L or triacylglycerol >/= 2.3 mmol/L). In this quasi-experimental study 22 otherwise healthy diabetic patients, 14 women (63.6%) and eight men (36.4%), were recruited from among patients referred to the Iranian Diabetes Society. The patients were followed for 8 weeks to establish a baseline for normal dietary intake before beginning the CPJ intervention. During the pre-study period a 24-hour food recall and food records (recording flavonoid-rich foods) were completed every 10 days. At the end of the eighth week, anthropometric and biochemical assessments were done. Thereafter the patients consumed 40 g/day of CPJ for 8 weeks, during which time dietary assessment was continued. After completing the study, anthropometric and blood indices were again evaluated. The Wilcoxon signed test was used for statistical analysis. A value of P <.05 was considered significant. Mean (+/-SD) age, weight, and duration of diabetes were 52.5 +/- 5.2 years, 71.5 +/- 10.3 kg, and 7.9 +/- 6.6 years, respectively. After consumption of CPJ, significant reductions were seen in total cholesterol (P <.006), low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol (P <.006), LDL-cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol (P <.001), and total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (P <.001). But, there were no significant changes in serum triacylglycerol and HDL-cholesterol concentrations. Anthropometric indices, physical activity, kind and doses of oral hypoglycemic agents, and the intakes of nutrients and flavonoid-rich foods showed no change during the CPJ consumption period. It is concluded that CPJ consumption may modify heart disease risk factors in hyperlipidemic patients, and its inclusion therefore in their diets may be beneficial.
TL;DR: The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3) has a wide range of beneficial effects in several human health conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cancer as mentioned in this paper. But, it has not been shown that intake of n-3 fatty acid from natural sources or supplements may influence the onset and progression of several disease states.
Abstract: The omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids have a wide range of beneficial effects in several human health conditions. Animal and in vitro studies have indicated that omega-3 fatty acids affect blood lipid profiles, cardiovascular health, membrane lipid composition, eicosanoid biosynthesis, cell signaling cascades, and gene expression. Findings from epidemiological studies suggest that intake of omega-3 fatty acids from natural sources or supplements may influence the onset and progression of several disease states, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. This review highlights some recent research findings that help advance our understanding of how omega-3 fatty acids influence cardiovascular disease and cancer.
TL;DR: It might be concluded that oral honey stimulates antibody production during primary and secondary immune responses against thymus-dependent and thymUS-independent antigens.
Abstract: The objective was to study the effect of natural pure honey on the antibody production against thymus-dependent antigen [sheep red blood cells (SRBCs)] and thymus-independent antigen (Escherichia coli) in mice. Forty-two mice (mean weight 28.33 +/- 3.44 g) were divided into two groups: group A (21 mice) fed regular diet and group B (21 mice) fed regular diet plus 0.8 g/kg of body weight/day of honey administered in four equally divided doses. Each animal was injected intraperitoneally with 0.1 mL of 5% SRBCs and 0.1 mL of killed E. coli. The same dose of both antigens was given after 17 days. At days 7 and 16 after primary immunization and at day 4 after secondary immunization, blood samples were collected from seven mice at each time interval from group A and group B to estimate antibody titer using the hemoaggulination test. At day 7 after primary immunization, the mean antibody titer against SRBCs was 9.14 +/- 3.02 in group A and 13.7 +/- 3.9 in group B (P < .05), while the mean antibody titer against E. coli was 14.8 +/- 8.5 in group A and 14.8 +/- 9.35 in group B. At day 16, the mean antibody titer against SRBCs was 13.71 +/- 3.9 in group A and 20 +/- 9.8 in group B, while the mean antibody titer against E. coli was 14.69 +/- 935 in group A and 26.67 +/- 8.26 in group B (P < .05). Four days after secondary immunization, the mean antibody titer against SRBCs was 13.33 +/- 4.62 in group A and 16 +/- 8.7 in group B, while the mean antibody titer against E. coli was 42.67 +/- 18.4 in group A and 69.33 +/- 31.4 in group B. It might be concluded that oral honey stimulates antibody production during primary and secondary immune responses against thymus-dependent and thymus-independent antigens.
TL;DR: The data suggest that capsaicin-induced apoptotic cell death in HT-29 human colon cancer cells could be associated with the PPARgamma pathway without the involvement of the vanilloid receptor.
Abstract: Capsaicin (N-vanillyl-8-methyl-alpha-nonenamide), a spicy component of hot pepper, is a homovanillic acid derivative that preferentially induces certain cancer cells to undergo apoptosis and has a putative role in cancer chemoprevention. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma(PPARgamma), a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily, is a ligand-dependent transcription factor. PAPRgamma activation results in growth arrest and/or apoptosis in a variety of cancer cells. In the present study, we investigated the potential of capsaicin to induce apoptotic cell death in human colon cancer cells and the association of PPARgamma in the capsaicin action. Cell viability was measured by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. PPARgamma and vanilloid receptor type 1 (VR-1) expressions at the protein or mRNA levels were detected by western blot analysis and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Apoptotic cell death was determined by DNA fragmentation and quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. HT-29 human colon cancer cells expressed PPARgamma and VR-1. Treatment with capsaicin or the PPARgamma ligand troglitazone induced apoptotic cell death in a dose-dependent manner in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. Capsaicin-induced cell death was completely blocked by bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, a specific PPARgamma antagonist. Capsazepine, a specific antagonist for vanilloid receptor, did not inhibit capsaicin-induced apoptosis. Our data suggest that capsaicin-induced apoptotic cell death in HT-29 human colon cancer cells could be associated with the PPARgamma pathway without the involvement of the vanilloid receptor. Capsaicin may have a beneficial effect for the treatment of colon cancer.
TL;DR: The results highlight an important, previously unknown, mechanism of the cancer preventive and suppressive potential of pomegranate fermented juice and pericarp extracts.
Abstract: Differentiation refers to the ability of cancer cells to revert to their normal counterparts, and its induction represents an important noncytotoxic therapy for leukemia, and also breast, prostate, and other solid malignancies Flavonoids are a group of differentiation-inducing chemicals with a potentially lower toxicology profile than retinoids Flavonoid-rich polyphenol fractions from the pomegranate (Punica granatum) fruit exert anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, anti-eicosanoid, and pro-apoptotic actions in breast and prostate cancer cells and anti-angiogenic activities in vitro and in vivo Here we tested flavonoid-rich fractions from fresh (J) and fermented (W) pomegranate juice and from an aqueous extraction of pomegranate pericarps (P) as potential differentiation-promoting agents of human HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells Four assays were used to assess differentiation: nitro blue tetrazolium reducing activity, nonspecific esterase activity, specific esterase activity, and phagocytic activity In addition, the effect of these extracts on HL-60 proliferation was evaluated Extracts W and P were strong promoters of differentiation in all settings, with extract J showing only a relatively mild differentiation-promoting effect The extracts had proportional inhibitory effects on HL-60 cell proliferation The results highlight an important, previously unknown, mechanism of the cancer preventive and suppressive potential of pomegranate fermented juice and pericarp extracts
TL;DR: Lycopene deserves further study as a potential chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic agent for cancer prevention and cell cycle arrest and apoptosis detection.
Abstract: Lycopene is one of the major carotenoids and is found almost exclusively in tomatoes and tomato products. Since tomato consumption is associated with decreased risk of prostate cancer, characterizing the effects of lycopene on cell growth or survival, cell cycle progression, and apoptosis in LCNaP human prostate cancer cells might elucidate the mechanisms of actions of lycopene. To discover the possible anti-cancer mechanism of lycopene, water-soluble lycopene was used, and cell cycle arrest and apoptosis were measured. Placebo formulation at each lycopene dose at 0.1, 1, and 5 microM was used as a control. After 6, 24, and 48 hours of incubation, cells were harvested and measured for cell viability. Lycopene at 1 microM inhibited cell growth by 31%, compared with its placebo formulation after a 48-hour incubation. Lycopene at 5 microM increased the number of cells in the G(2)/M phase of the cell cycle from 13% to 28% and decreased S-phase cells from 45% to 29%, while no shifts in cell cycle were detected in placebo-treated groups. Apoptosis was observed at the 5 microM lycopene formulation at the late stages during the 24- and 48-hour treatments. Lycopene, therefore, deserves further study as a potential chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic agent.
TL;DR: MF extract at the lowest dose of 5 mg/kg p.o. administered for 3 successive days significantly improved learning and memory of young and aged mice, and reversed scopolamine- and diazepam-induced impairment in learning andMemory of young mice.
Abstract: Memory is one of the most complex functions of the brain and involves multiple neural pathways and neurotransmitter systems. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Myristica fragrans (MF) seeds on learning and memory in mice. The n-hexane extract of MF was administered orally in three doses (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg p.o.) for 3 successive days to different groups of young and aged mice. The learning and memory parameters were assessed using elevated plus-maze and passive-avoidance apparatus. The effect of MF extract on scopolamine (0.4 mg/kg i.p.)- and diazepam (1 mg/kg i.p.)-induced impairment in learning and memory was also studied. MF extract at the lowest dose of 5 mg/kg p.o. administered for 3 successive days significantly improved learning and memory of young and aged mice. This extract also reversed scopolamine- and diazepam-induced impairment in learning and memory of young mice. MF extract enhanced learning and retention capacities of both young and aged mice. The exact mechanism of the memory-improving effect of MF extract was not explored in the present study. But, the observed memory-enhancing effect may be attributed to a variety of properties (individually or in combination) the plant is reported to possess, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, or perhaps procholinergic activity.
TL;DR: Resveratrol protects the cardiovascular system by mechanisms that include defense against ischemic-reperfusion injury, promotion of vasorelaxation, protection and maintenance of intact endothelium, anti-atherosclerotic properties, inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation, suppression of platelet aggregation, and estrogen-like actions.
Abstract: The phytoantitoxin resveratrol is a plant-derived polyphenol with phytoestrogenic properties. Resveratrol protects the cardiovascular system by mechanisms that include defense against ischemic-reperfusion injury, promotion of vasorelaxation, protection and maintenance of intact endothelium, anti-atherosclerotic properties, inhibition of low-density lipoprotein oxidation, suppression of platelet aggregation, and estrogen-like actions. The purpose of this article is to review the mechanisms of these effects.
TL;DR: Four natural compounds showed potent inhibitory activity on different strains of S. mutans bacteria, representing three major classes of natural products: tannins, alkaloids, and flavonoids, which suggest possible application of these compounds as inhibitors for dental caries.
Abstract: Selected natural compounds were evaluated for their effects on dental caries due to different strains of Streptococcus mutans bacteria. Out of 39 tested compounds, four (catechol, emetine, quinine, and flavone) showed potent inhibitory activity on different strains of S. mutans at 6.25 µg/mL or less with inhibition of adherence <50%, two compounds (5,7-dihydroxy- 49-methoxy isoflavone and ellagic acid) exhibited a moderate inhibitory effect at 12.5 mg/mL with inhibition to adherence <50%, and 12 compounds exhibited weak antibacterial activity at 125 µg/mL or more with inhibition of adherence <25%. These compounds represent three major classes of natural products: tannins, alkaloids, and flavonoids. Further study for possible application of these compounds as inhibitors for dental caries is underway.
TL;DR: Results suggest that GMP is an effective nonspecific immunomodulatory agent, and its immunostimulating effects may be due to its ability to stimulate the production of reactive oxygen intermediates.
Abstract: Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer has been traditionally used for the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases and infections. Ginseng marc is a fibrous and insoluble by-product remaining after the extraction process of ginseng. In this research an extrusion process was employed to disintegrate the insoluble ginseng marc structure, and water-soluble ginseng marc polysaccharide (GMP) was isolated. GMP was examined for immunomodulatory effects in murine peritoneal macrophages. GMP significantly increased the lysosomal phosphatase activity and the phagocytic index of peritoneal macrophages (P< .05). The peritoneal macrophages treated with GMP also produced significantly more H2O2 and nitrite than the control without GMP treatment (P< .05). In addition, GMP (100 μg/mL) significantly increased the cell viability of peritoneal macrophages (P< .05). These results suggest that GMP is an effective nonspecific immunomodulatory agent, and its immunostimulating effects may be due to its ability to stimulate the pr...
TL;DR: Curcumin may be useful for the treatment of gastric carcinoma, especially in conjunction with 5-FU, because the curcumin concentrations used in this study were similar to steady-state concentrations in human serum of subjects receiving chronic administration of a commonly recommended dose.
Abstract: The inhibitory effect of curcumin and its synergism with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the growth of the AGS human gastric carcinoma cell line was examined. Cell cycle analysis was used to elucidate the mechanisms for the inhibition by curcumin. Curcumin significantly inhibited the growth of AGS cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P <.05). Curcumin caused a 34% decrease in AGS proliferation at 5 micromol/L, 51% at 10 micromol/L, and 92% at 25 micromol/L after 4 days of treatment. When curcumin (10 micromol/L) was removed after a 24-hour exposure, the growth pattern of curcumin-treated AGS cells was similar to that of control cells, suggesting reversibility of curcumin on the growth of AGS cells. Combining curcumin with 5-FU significantly increased growth inhibition of AGS cells compared with either curcumin or 5-FU alone (P <.05), suggesting synergistic actions of the two drugs. After 4 days of treatment with 10 micromol/L of curcumin, the G2/M phase fraction of cells was 60.5% compared with 22.0% of the control group, suggesting a G2/M block by curcumin treatment. Because the curcumin concentrations (5 micromol/L) used in our study were similar to steady-state concentrations (1.77 +/- 1.87 micromol/L) in human serum of subjects receiving chronic administration of a commonly recommended dose (8 g/day), curcumin may be useful for the treatment of gastric carcinoma, especially in conjunction with 5-FU.
TL;DR: Administration of the ethanolic extract of kernel at a concentration of 100 mg/kg of body weight significantly decreased the levels of blood glucose, blood urea, and cholesterol, increased glucose tolerance and levels of total proteins and liver glycogen, and decreased the activities of glutamate oxaloacetatetransaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase in experimental diabetic rats.
Abstract: The present study evaluated the hypoglycemic activity of different parts of Eugenia jambolana seeds such as whole seed, kernel, and seed coat on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Administration of the ethanolic extract of kernel at a concentration of 100 mg/kg of body weight significantly decreased the levels of blood glucose, blood urea, and cholesterol, increased glucose tolerance and levels of total proteins and liver glycogen, and decreased the activities of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase and glutamate pyruvate transaminase in experimental diabetic rats. Whole seed showed a moderate hypoglycemic effect, and seed coat did not show any hypoglycemic effect. The hypoglycemic efficacy was compared with that of glibenclamide, a standard hypoglycemic drug.
TL;DR: Two studies show that nucleic acid-based methods are effective at identifying bacteria responsible for BV, and if such methods could be used to develop a commercially available, self-use kit, women would be much better placed to take control of their own health.
Abstract: Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a common condition in women that represents an imbalance of the vaginal microflora, lactobacilli depletion, and excess growth of mainly anaerobic Gram-negative pathogens. Diagnosis is made using a series of tests or a Gram stain of a vaginal smear. Treatment with antibiotics is quite effective, but recurrences are common. A study of 55 vaginal samples from 11 postmenopausal women showed the presence of BV by the Gram stain-based Nugent scoring system, and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis showed that Bacteroides or Prevotella species were the most common isolates recovered (24 of 25), with Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae also found in some samples. In one case, only Gardnerella vaginalis was found. These findings illustrate that BV remains common even among otherwise healthy women, but it is not caused solely by either Gardnerella or Mobiluncus. Use of a FemExam system (Cooper Surgical, Shelton, CT), based upon elevated pH and trimethylamine levels, to screen vaginal smears from 59 healthy women showed poor correlation with the Gram stain method. A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of these subjects showed that the lactobacilli-dominant microbiota was restored in subjects with BV but not in controls, following 2 months of daily oral intake of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GR-1 and Lactobacillus fermentum RC-14. These studies show that nucleic acid-based methods are effective at identifying bacteria responsible for BV. If such methods could be used to develop a commercially available, self-use kit, women would be much better placed to take control of their own health, for example, using medicinal food or dietary supplement products such as the clinically proven probiotic strains L. rhamnosus GR-1 and L. fermentum RC-14.
TL;DR: Results show that ferulic acid is an effective anti-hepatotoxic agent without side effects and may be a good candidate in the current search for a natural hepatoprotective agent.
Abstract: Alcohol use is contributing to an unprecedented decline in life expectancy. Damage to the liver after ethanol administration is a well-known phenomenon. Free radical mechanisms have been proposed to play a part in ethanol-induced liver toxicity. Ingestion of diets rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) along with alcohol is known to result in enhanced liver damage. The present work is aimed at evaluating the protective role of ferulic acid, a naturally occurring plant component, on alcohol- and PUFA-induced liver toxicity. Three different doses of ferulic acid (10, 20, and 40 mg/kg of body weight) were administered to rats given alcohol, heated PUFA (ΔPUFA), and alcohol + ΔPUFA. Influence of ferulic acid on alcohol-and PUFA-induced liver damage was evaluated by analyzing the activities of the liver marker enzymes alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase, alanine transaminase, and aspartate transaminase. The activities of these liver marker enzymes were increased in the alcohol, ΔPUFA, and alcohol...
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of two isomers of vitamin E (i.e., palm oil-derived gamma-tocotrienol and the commercially available alpha-tocopherol, 60 mg/kg of body weight/day) on body composition and bone calcium content in adrenalectomized rats were determined.
Abstract: Long-term glucocorticoid treatment is associated with severe side effects, such as obesity and osteoporosis. A palm oil-derived vitamin E mixture had been shown previously to be protective against osteoporosis in rats given 120 microg/kg dexamethasone daily for 12 weeks. In this study we determined the effects of two isomers of vitamin E (i.e., palm oil-derived gamma-tocotrienol and the commercially available alpha-tocopherol, 60 mg/kg of body weight/day) on body composition and bone calcium content in adrenalectomized rats replaced with two doses of dexamethasone, 120 microg/kg and 240 microg/kg daily. Treatment period was 8 weeks. gamma-Tocotrienol (60 mg/kg of body weight/day) was found to reduce body fat mass and increase the fourth lumbar vertebra bone calcium content in these rats, while alpha-tocopherol (60 mg/kg of body weight/day) was ineffective. Therefore, in conclusion, palm oil-derived gamma-tocotrienol has the potential to be utilized as a prophylactic agent in prevention of the side effects of long-term glucocorticoid use.
TL;DR: This study indicated that PU feeding transiently suppressed alcohol intake and abolished withdrawal symptoms at a time when alcohol intake had returned to the control level.
Abstract: Alcohol preferring (P) rats, given "free choice" of water, exhibited daily intake of 60-75 g of water/kg of body weight. When given "free choice" of water and 15% ethanol, P rats consumed 7-13 g of alcohol/kg. Their water intake decreased proportionally to the alcohol intake, but total fluid intake did not differ significantly. Alcohol withdrawal after 50 days of alcohol drinking caused withdrawal symptoms such as hypersensitivity, poor coordination, and tremors. A daily 50 mg/kg dose of puerarin (PU) caused approximately 50% suppression in alcohol intake, but did not affect body weight and food and total fluid intake in P rats receiving "free choice" of water and 15% ethanol. Alcohol ingestion gradually returned to the control level despite consistent PU intake. However, alcohol intake following alcohol withdrawal was suppressed in PU-fed P rats. PU suppressed the severity of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Thus, withdrawal symptoms do not occur in PU-fed rats even though their alcohol ingestion is comparable to that in control P rats. Brain, plasma, and liver samples were analyzed for the presence of kudzu root isoflavones, which are mostly PU (>90% of total isoflavones) and a trace amount of daidzin. Liver samples obtained from PU-fed P rats contained 20-30 microg/g of PU. An important observation was that plasma or brain samples obtained from PU-fed or alcohol + PU-fed rats did not contain PU. This study indicated that PU feeding transiently suppressed alcohol intake and abolished withdrawal symptoms at a time when alcohol intake had returned to the control level. The absence of PU in plasma and brain indicates the possibility that some nonspecific mechanism may be involved in the anti-alcoholism effects of PU in P rats.
TL;DR: In this article, fresh juices and organic solvent extracts from the fruits of strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the production of mutations by the direct-acting mutagen methyl methanesulfonate and the metabolically activated carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene.
Abstract: Plants are proven sources of useful anti-tumor and chemopreventative compounds. Hence, identification of phytochemicals useful in dietary prevention and intervention of cancer is of paramount importance. The initial step in the formation of cancer is damage to the genome of a somatic cell producing a mutation in an oncogene or a tumor-suppressor gene. Fresh juices and organic solvent extracts from the fruits of strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry were evaluated for their ability to inhibit the production of mutations by the direct-acting mutagen methyl methanesulfonate and the metabolically activated carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene. Juice from strawberry, blueberry, and raspberry fruit significantly inhibited mutagenesis caused by both carcinogens. Ethanol extracts from freeze-dried fruits of strawberry cultivars (Sweet Charlie and Carlsbad) and blueberry cultivars (Tifblue and Premier) were also tested. Of these, the hydrolyzable tannin-containing fraction from Sweet Charlie strawberries was most effective at...
TL;DR: Oral administration of B. diffusa leaf extract at 200 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks resulted in significant reduction in serum and tissue cholesterol, free fatty acids, phospholipids, and triglycerides, and BLEt supplementation was found to be more effective than glibenclamide in the treatment of diabetic rats.
Abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the antihyperlipidemic activity of an aqueous extract of Boerhavia diffusa leaves in alloxan diabetic rats Hyperlipidemia is an associated complication of diabetes mellitus Many herbs and spices are known to be antihyperglycemic Oral administration of B diffusa leaf extract (BLEt) at 200 mg/kg of body weight for 4 weeks resulted in significant reduction in serum and tissue cholesterol, free fatty acids, phospholipids, and triglycerides Moreover, BLEt supplementation was found to be more effective than glibenclamide in the treatment of diabetic rats
TL;DR: KdR isoflavones suppressed alcohol drinking and withdrawal symptoms without entering the brain, and alcohol suppressed the weight-reducing effects of KdR.
Abstract: Alcohol-preferring (P) rats, given free choice to drink water or 15% alcohol, drank 7-10 g of alcohol/kg/day, giving blood alcohol values ranging from 16 to 24 mg/dL. Body weight and food and total fluid intake values in control and alcohol-drinking P rats did not differ significantly, while water intake was inversely related to the amount of alcohol consumed. Alcohol withdrawal after 50 days of alcohol drinking caused withdrawal symptoms such as hypersensitivity, poor landing coordination, and tremors. A daily 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 g/kg dose of kudzu root (KdR) did not affect body weight and food and water intake values in control (no alcohol) P rats. Subchronic feeding of relatively higher KdR doses (0.75 and 1.0 g/kg) caused a 25-30% reduction in weight gain. The 0.5 g/kg KdR dose caused a 50-60% reduction in alcohol consumption, abolished the development of alcohol withdrawal symptoms, but did not affect blood alcohol levels. The higher KdR doses did not further reduce alcohol consumption. Alcohol suppressed the weight-reducing effects of KdR. The KdR extract used in this study contained 150 mg/g of puerarin, 13 mg/g of daidzin, 4 mg/g of daidzein, 3 mg/g of genistin, 0.2 mg/g of genistein, and 1 mg/g of glycetin. Blood and liver samples contained mostly puerarin and a trace amount of daidzein that may have been formed by the hydrolysis of daidzin by liver enzymes. An important observation was that brain samples obtained from KdR-fed or alcohol + KdR-fed rats did not contain any of the KdR isoflavones. Thus, KdR isoflavones suppressed alcohol drinking and withdrawal symptoms without entering the brain.
TL;DR: From these results, the strains isolated from kimchi were very effective for the depletion of sodium nitrite at high temperature, and all Sodium nitrite was depleted at the initial period of incubation (1-2 days) at 30 and 36 degrees C, but as the temperature was lowered, the depletion effect of sodium Nitrite was decreased in all the strains tested from kKimchi.
Abstract: Nitrites, whether added or naturally occurring in foods, are potential carcinogens, and controlling their concentrations is important for maintaining a safe food supply. In this study we investigated the depletion of sodium nitrite (150 μg/mL) during the fermentation in Lactobacilli MRS broth at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 36°C by lactic acid bacteria (LAB-A, -B, -C, and -D) isolated from kimchi and Leuconostoc mesenteroides strain KCTC3100. The four species of lactic acid bacteria isolated from kimchi were identified as L. mesenteroides, and all produced depletion of less than 20% of sodium nitrite after 10 days of incubation at 5°C. There was less than 40% depletion after 9 days at 10°C, 86.4-92.8% after 7 days at 15°C, 81.4-87.8% after 4 days and more than 90.0% after 5 days at 20°C, 76.3-85.7% after 3 days and more than 90.0% after 5 days at 25°C, and more than 90.0% after 2 days at 30 and 36°C. The depletion by LAB isolates was similar or higher than that by L. mesenteroides strain KCTC3100, and in pa...