Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Fermented Products with Avena sativa on RAW264.7and HT-29 Cells via Inhibition of Inflammatory Mediators

This study investigated therapeutic candidates with anti-inflammatory potential among traditional dietary ingredients targeting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Both Avena sativa and traditional fermented products, such as Korean soy paste, are popular health foods. We investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of soy paste combined with A. sativa (KDA), compared with soy paste without A. sativa (KD) by evaluating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophages and HT-29 human colon epithelial cells. KDA significantly inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) and downregulated the pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells. In another in vitro experiment involving LPS-stimulated HT-29 cells, KDA suppressed the levels of IL-8, which is the chemokine elevated in IBD. In addition, KDA exhibited anti-oxidative properties, such as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity. Our findings revealed that A. sativa combined with soy paste exhibits a synergistic anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effect following fermentation.These results suggest that KDA may be used as a potential anti-inflammatory therapy against IBD.

First Blindness Cases of Horses Infected with Setaria Digitata (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in the Republic of Korea

Ocular setariases of cattle were reported but those of equine hosts have never been reported in the Republic of Korea (Korea). We found motile worms in the aqueous humor of 15 horses (Equus spp.) from 12 localities in southern parts of Korea between January 2004 and November 2017. After the affected animals were properly restrained under sedation and local anesthesia, 10 ml disposable syringe with a 16-gauge needle was inserted into the anterior chamber of the affected eye to successfully remove the parasites. The male worm that was found in 7 of the cases showed a pair of lateral appendages near the posterior terminal end of the body. The papillar arrangement was 3 pairs of precloacal, a pair of adcloacal, and 3 pairs of postcloacal papillae, plus a central papilla just in front of the cloaca. The female worms found in the eyes of 8 horses were characterized by the tapering posterior terminal end of the body with a smooth knob. Worms were all identified as Setaria digitata (von Linstow, 1906) by the morphologic characteristics using light and electron microscopic observations. This is the first blindness cases of 15 horses infected with S. digitata (Nematoda: Filarioidea) in Korea.

Quality Characteristics of Rice Cookies Prepared with Stevia rebaudiana Leaf

The purpose of this study was to determine the optimal recipe of rice cookies with two different amounts of Stevia rebaudiana leaf and grape seed oil, using a central composite design (CCD). In addition, mixing conditions of rice cookies were optimized by sensory evaluation and mechanical and physicochemical analysis using response surface methodology (RSM). RSM was used to obtain 10 experimental points (including two replicates of Stevia rebaudiana leaf and Grape seed oil), and the formulation of Stevia rebaudiana leaf added rice cookies was optimized using rheology. The results of mechanical and physicochemical analysis showed significant values for lightness, redness, yellowness, hardness, spread factor, loss rate, leavening rate, sweetness, moisture, pH, and density (P<0.001), results of the sensory evaluation showed significant values for color, flavor, taste, texture, appearance, and overall quality (P<0.05). As a results, optimal sensory ratio was found to be 1.98 g of Stevia rebaudiana leaf and 37.94 g of Grape seed oil.