Dynamic changes of total acid and bacterial communities during the traditional fermentation of Hong Qu glutinous rice wine

Background: Hong Qu glutinous rice wine (HQGRW) is brewed under non-aseptic fermentation conditions, so it usually has a relatively high total acid content. The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamics of the bacterial communities and total acid during the fermentation of HQGRW and elucidate the correlation between total acid and bacterial communities. Results: The results showed that the period of rapid acid increase during fermentation occurred at the early stage of fermentation. There was a negative response between total acid increase and the rate of increase in alcohol during the early fermentation stage. Bacterial community analysis using high-throughput sequencing technology was found that the dominant bacterial communities changed during the traditional fermentation of HQGRW. Both principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical clustering analysis revealed that there was a great difference between the bacterial communities of Hong Qu starter and those identified during the fermentation process. Furthermore, the key bacteria likely to be associated with total acid were identified by Spearman's correlation analysis. Lactobacillus, unclassified Lactobacillaceae, and Pediococcus were found, which can make significant contributions to the total acid development (| r| N 0.6 with FDR adjusted P b 0.05), establishing that these bacteria can associate closely with the total acid of rice wine. Conclusions: This was the first study to investigate the correlation between bacterial communities and total acid during the fermentation of HQGRW. These findings may be helpful in the development of a set of fermentation techniques for controlling total acid.

Changes in Cold and Hot Syndrome and Gastrointestinal Bacterial Community Structure in Mice by Intervention with Food of Different Nature / 中国结合医学杂志

OBJECTIVE@#To reveal the effect of foods with different natures on cold or hot syndrome and gastrointestinal bacterial community structure in mice.@*METHODS@#Forty-five 6-week-old male ICR Kunming mice of clean grade were divided into 5 groups, 9 per group, including the control (CK), hot nature herbs (HM), Hong Qu glutinous rice wine (RW), tea rice wine (TW), and cold nature herbs (CM) groups. Distilled water or corresponding herbs were administered to mice (0.01 mL/g body weight) in the 5 groups by gastric infusion respectively, once daily for 28 d. Appearance, behavior, and serum biochemical indicators, including 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), noradrenaline (NE), cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), the hot nature index, as well as the gastrointestinal bacterial community structure were analyzed in all groups after treatment.@*RESULTS@#After supplementation for 28 d, CM and TW mice showed different degrees of cold syndrome, and HM and RW mice showed different degrees of hot syndrome. Compared with the HM and RW mice, the TSH, NE, cAMP levels and hot nature indices in the CM and TW mice were significantly decreased and 5-HT and cGMP levels were significantly increased (P<0.05). There was no obvious change in appearance or behavior in CK mice. Results of clustering analysis showed that the gastrointestinal bacterial community structures were highly similar in TW and CM mice as well as in RW and HM mice, and that they were from the same branch, respectively, when the distance was 0.02. The key microbes associated with cold syndrome were Lachnospiraceae uncultured, Lactococcus, etc., and the key microbes associated with hot syndrome were S24-7 norank, Ruminococcaceae uncultured, etc. CONCLUSION: The interventions with different nature foods could change cold or hot syndrome in mice, leading to changes in gastrointestinal bacterial community structure.

Evaluation of black glutinous rice (Oryza sativa L) extract as a novel nuclear stain for human sperm head assessment by microscopic examination / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: To compare black rice (Oryza sativa L) extract with three different staining methods for human sperm head assessment. METHODS: Semen samples were collected from 34 volunteers. Four smears of each ejaculate were prepared for staining using the rapid Papanicolaou (PAP) stain, SpermBlue, DipQuick, and black rice extract. The percentage of defective sperm heads (mean±standard deviation) was compared. RESULTS: Black glutinous rice extract, a natural dye, was used instead of hematoxylin to stain the nuclei of the sperm heads. The percentage of defective sperm heads showed a significant difference between black rice extract and DipQuick (p=0.000). In contrast, black rice extract and rapid PAP showed no statistically significant difference (p=0.974). A strong correlation (r =0.761) was found between the findings obtained using rapid PAP and black rice extract. In contrast, a weak correlation (r =0.248) was obtained between DipQuick and black rice extract for the percentage of defective sperm heads. CONCLUSION: The results showed good agreement and a strong correlation between the rapid PAP and black rice extract stains. The advantages of black rice extract as a novel substitute for hematoxylin for nuclear staining include ease of preparation, local availability, and favorable nuclear staining properties. Further studies could also focus on comparing staining techniques in clinical samples.

Discussion on drug dosage in Treatise on Febrile Diseases / 中国中药杂志

This article aimed to discuss,the dosage problems in the first 100 published classic prescriptions,mainly on the dosage units involved in Treatise on Febrile Diseases. The dosage units were mainly classified into three types: weight unit,volume unit and length unit. The volume unit and length unit are basically not controversial. The weight unit is more problematic. Through textual research,measured data and the calculation by State Administration of Taxation on unearthed cultural relics,the basis for the weights and measures in the Han Dynasty was clarified,namely glutinous rice( Shu). The Zhu-Liang system was adopted for weight measurement,and the weight of glutinous rice( Shu) was used to measure the weight of others, " 1 Liang = 24 Zhu = 240 Lei = 2 400 Shu". Sheng-He system was adopted for volume measurement,and the volume of the glutinous rice( Shu) was used to measure the volume of others, " 1 Sheng = 10 He = 20 Yue = 24 000 Shu". The width of the glutinous rice( Shu) was used to measure the length, " 1 Chi = 10 Cun =100 Fen = 100 Shu". At the same time,the conversion relationship between ancient dosage units in Treatise on Febrile Diseases and modern dosage units was clarified in this paper, " 1 Jin = 250 g,1 Liang = 15. 625 g,1 Zhu = 0. 65 g", " 1 He = 20 m L,1 Sheng =200 m L", " 1 Chi = 23 cm,1 Cun = 2. 3 cm". Through research,it is found that the weight measurement in the Han Dynasty was " glutinous rice system",which was based on " glutinous rice",providing a powerful key to solve the weight disputes in the classic prescriptions. Through the combination of textual research and physical testing,disputes can be eliminated more quickly,and an " expert consensus" can be formed on the weight issues. The definite drug dosage in Treatise on Febrile Diseases can provide convenience for the clinical prescription system,and provide a dose basis for the development of the classic preparations.

Effect of rice varieties on quality of rice-washed water / 中草药

Objective: To study the effect of rice varieties on the quality for preparation of rice-washed water. Methods: The starch contents of rice-washed water were determined by acid hydrolysis-Fehling’s solution titration with the content of starch and rice-washed water characters as indicators. The characters of rice-washed water were determined by ultraviolet visible spectrophotometric method and the adsorption was verified to explore the effect of particle size of japonica rice, indica rice, round glutinous rice, and long glutinous rice on the quality of rice-washed water. Results: The comprehensive evaluation showed that the starch content and the characters of rice-washed water prepared by long glutinous rice fine powder were the highest. Verification test proved that it had the best adsorbability. Conclusion: The rice-washed water can be prepared with the flour of long glutinous rice.

Gastroprotective Effects of Glutinous Rice Extract against Ethanol-, Indomethacin-, and Stress-induced Ulcers in Rats / 전남의대학술지

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of an orally administered aqueous extract of glutinous rice (GRE) to protect against acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by ethanol, indomethacin, and water immersion restraint stress in rats and to characterize the active substances responsible for the protection. GRE was shown to dose-dependently prevent the gastric lesions induced by the above ulcerogenic treatments at doses of 30 to 300 mg/kg. GRE treatment increased the gastric mucin content and partially blocked the ethanol-induced depletion of the gastric mucus layer. Also, it increased the nonprotein sulfhydryl concentration in the gastric mucosa. The gastroprotective action of GRE was markedly enhanced by co-treatment with 4-8 mg/kg tea extracts. The activity of GRE was completely lost by heat treatment at 80degrees C for 3 min or treatment with 0.01% pepsin at 37degrees C for 1 h. Protein extraction studies indicated that prolamins are involved in the gastroprotective activity of GRE. Our results suggest that glutinous rice proteins are useful for the prevention and treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer.

Gastroprotective Effects of Glutinous Rice Extract against Ethanol-, Indomethacin-, and Stress-induced Ulcers in Rats / 전남의대학술지

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of an orally administered aqueous extract of glutinous rice (GRE) to protect against acute gastric mucosal lesions induced by ethanol, indomethacin, and water immersion restraint stress in rats and to characterize the active substances responsible for the protection. GRE was shown to dose-dependently prevent the gastric lesions induced by the above ulcerogenic treatments at doses of 30 to 300 mg/kg. GRE treatment increased the gastric mucin content and partially blocked the ethanol-induced depletion of the gastric mucus layer. Also, it increased the nonprotein sulfhydryl concentration in the gastric mucosa. The gastroprotective action of GRE was markedly enhanced by co-treatment with 4-8 mg/kg tea extracts. The activity of GRE was completely lost by heat treatment at 80degrees C for 3 min or treatment with 0.01% pepsin at 37degrees C for 1 h. Protein extraction studies indicated that prolamins are involved in the gastroprotective activity of GRE. Our results suggest that glutinous rice proteins are useful for the prevention and treatment of gastritis and peptic ulcer.