[Anti-Candida activity of aroma candy and its protective activity against murine oral candidiasis].

A daily eatable candy that has possible protective activity against oral candidiasis was experimentally produced. The candy was made from reduced-maltose as main constituent and from several natural products, such as oligonol (depolymerized polyphenols derived from lychee), cinnamon (cassia), citral, and capric acid, which are known to have anti-Candida activity in vitro and in vivo. The candy effectively inhibited the mycelial growth of C. albicans, even when it was diluted 1,000 times with culture media. We assessed the protective activity of the candy against murine candidiasis. When 50µl of candy dissolved and diluted 4 times with water was administered 3 times into the oral cavity of Candida infected mice, the score of lesions on the Candida-infected tongues improved on day 2. These findings suggest that this candy has potential as food that provides protective activity against oral candidiasis.

[The effects of an aroma candy on oral Candida albicans colony-forming units (CFU) and oral hygiene states in healthy elderly carrying Candida albicans].

In a preceding paper, we showed that aroma candy containing oligonol, capric acid, and cinnamon (cassia) powder had potent inhibitory activity against mycelial growth of Candida albicans in vitro and protective activity against murine oral candidiasis. In order to assess the effects of this candy (the test candy) on oral C. albicans colony-forming units (CFU) and oral hygiene states, a placebo-controlled double-blind crossover comparative study was performed. Twenty subjects were divided into two groups. One group ingested the test candy in the first 7 days followed by 2 weeks washing-off period, then ingested the placebo candy (control candy) for 7 days. The other group was vice versa. C. albicans CFU in all oral rinse samples from the subjects before and after 7 days ingestion of candy was measured. The degree of oral malodor in all subjects was monitored using a portable measuring instrument. The results showed no statistically significant difference between test-candy group and placebo group for C. albicans CFU. However, C. albicans CFU in test-candy group with>4,000 CFUs was significantly decreased after 7 days ingestion of test-candy (p<0.05). Scores of oral malodor in the test-candy group was significantly decreased after 7 days ingestion of test-candy (p<0.05). A questionnaire survey of oral hygiene states indicated that in the test-candy group, oral malodor, glutinous feeling, and refreshing feeling significantly improved in comparison with control-candy group (p<0.05). Our study suggests that the aroma candy is effective in oral health care of elderly carrying C. albicans.

[Biological activities of Salacia chinensis originating in Thailand: the quality evaluation guided by alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity].

In the course of our characterization studies on anti-obese and antidiabetogenic principles in medicinal foodstuffs, we found that the methanolic extract from the stems of Salacia chinensis (Hippocerateaceae) showed potent anti-hyperglycemic effects in oral sucrose or maltose-loaded rats, inhibitory effects on intestinal alpha-glucosidase, rat lens aldose reductase, formation of Amadori compounds and advanced glycation end-products, nitric oxide production from lipopolysaccharide-activated mouse peritoneal macrophage, and radical scavenging activities. Those in vivo and in vitro biological activities were compared with those of S. oblonga and S. reticulata. In addition, we isolated the principal alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, salacinol, from the stems of S. chinensis and examined alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activities of eleven samples of S. chinensis collected in Thailand.

Structures of new friedelane-type triterpenes and eudesmane-type sesquiterpene and aldose reductase inhibitors from Salacia chinensis.

Three new friedelane-type triterpenes named salasones A (1), B (2), and C (3), a new norfriedelane-type triterpene, salaquinone A (4), and a new acylated eudesmane-type sesquiterpene, salasol A (5), were isolated from the 80% aqueous methanolic extract of the stems of Salacia chinensis collected in Thailand. Their stereostructures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. In addition, six constituents, 3beta,22beta-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid, tingenone, tingenine B, regeol A, triptocalline A, and mangiferin, were found to show an inhibitory effect on rat lens aldose reductase.

Structures of new friedelane- and norfriedelane-type triterpenes and polyacylated eudesmane-type sesquiterpene from Salacia chinensis LINN. (S. prinoides DC., Hippocrateaceae) and radical scavenging activities of principal constituents.

Two new friedelane-type triterpenes, salasones D and E, a new norfriedelane-type triterpene, salaquinone B, and a new polyacylated eudesmane-type sesquiterpene, salasol B, were isolated from the stems of Salacia chinensis LINN. (S. prinoides DC., Hippocrateaceae) collected in Thailand. Their stereostructures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Some norfriedelane-type triterpene, lignan, and catechin constituents were found to show radical scavenging activity.

Protective effects of steroid saponins from Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis on ethanol- or indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats: structural requirement for activity and mode of action.

The methanolic extract from the rhizomes of Paris polyphylla SM. var. yunnanensis (FR.) H-M. was found to potently inhibit ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. Through bioassay-guided separation, four known spirostanol-type steroid saponins, pennogenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-[alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), pennogenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), diosgenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)-[alpha-L-arabinofuranosyl(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), and diosgenin 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4), and a new furostanol-type steroid saponin, parisaponin I (5), together with two known furostanol-type steroid saponins, trigofoenoside A (6) and protogracillin (7), were isolated from the active fraction. Compounds 1-4 (1.25-10 mg/kg, po) strongly inhibited gastric lesions induced by ethanol and indomethacin. With regard to structural requirement of steroid saponins, the 3-O-glycoside moiety and spirostanol structure were found to be essential for the activity and the 17-hydroxyl group in the aglycon part enhanced the protective effects against ethanol-induced gastric lesions. The protective effects of 1 and 3 against ethanol-induced gastric lesions were attenuated by pretreatment with indomethacin and N-ethylmaleimide. Compounds 1 and 3 weakly inhibited acid secretions in pylorus-ligated rats. These findings suggested that endogenous prostaglandins and sulfhydryl compounds were involved in the protective activity.