Anti-inflammatory effects of phenolic crude extracts from five fractions of Corchorus Olitorius L.

Corchorus olitorius L. is grown in Taiwan during summer. Tender leaves are crushed and washed by running water before eating. Five fractions including crude phenolic extracts (using 80 per cent aqueous acetone) of whole plant, leaf, stem, washed leaf (WL) and dried water washing material (WW) were used in this study. Linoleic acid autoxidation inhibitions on all fractions were higher than that on α-tocopherol. Except for WL and WW, other fractions also showed DPPH radical scavenging efficiency. The effect of all fractions on the regulation of inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated J774A.1 macrophage cells was investigated. All fractions diminished LPS-induced protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2). Nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)), downstream products, were also suppressed in dose-dependent manners, except for WL and WW. Oxidative modification and loss of leaf phenolics after kneading and washing greatly affected DPPH radical scavenging and inflammatory responses.

Effect of citronellol and the Chinese medical herb complex on cellular immunity of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy/radiotherapy.

Leukopenia and immunity impairment usually occur during cancer therapy. Citronellol, an oil soluble compound derived from the geranium, has anticancer and antiinflammatory properties, as well as promoting wound healing. Ganoderma lucidum, Codonopsis pilosula and Angelicae sinensis are traditional Chinese herbs, all of which have proven immunomodulatory functions in laboratory-based research. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study examined whether the Chinese medicinal herb complex (CCMH; a mixture of citronellol and extracts of G. lucidum, C. pilosula and A. sinensis) improves the immune cell counts of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. A total of 105 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy were enrolled. The quantities of immune cells in the blood of the subjects were determined before and after 6 weeks of cancer treatment, with either CCMH or a placebo. CCMH significantly reduced the depletion of leukocytes (14.2% compared with 28.2%) and neutrophils (11.0% compared with 29.1%). Analysis of the lymphocyte phenotype revealed that the patients receiving the placebo had reduced CD4 lymphocytes and natural killer (NK) cells than the CCMH-treated patients. Treatment with CCMH for patients receiving chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy may improve their immune function, improving their ability to fight off the cancer, as well as any secondary infections that could compromise their treatment and their health.

Kinetics of color development, pH decreasing, and anti-oxidative activity reduction of Maillard reaction in galactose/glycine model systems.

Galactose/glycine model systems of sugar concentration 0.035, 0.069, 0.139, and 0.278M were incubated at 60, 75, and 90°C separately for studying the reaction kinetics of color development, pH change, and system anti-oxidative activity change in Maillard reaction. The results indicated that system color development followed first-ordered kinetics on galactose concentration; system pH went linearly down with a logarithm-ordered kinetics on galactose concentration; and anti-oxidative activity reduced linearly with a first-ordered kinetics on galactose concentration. The values of Q10 and activation energy ranged from 1.98 to 2.00 and from 68.8 to 69.5kJ/mol, respectively, for these three properties.

Contribution of tomato phenolics to antioxidation and down-regulation of blood lipids.

This study was performed to understand the characteristics and biological activities of phenolics in tomatoes and to examine the effect of tomato on the regulation of blood lipids. Tomatoes of both big and small sizes were used fresh, after blanching, or after blanching and heating. Moreover, a human clinical trial was conducted to examine plasma antioxidation, status of blood lipids, and phenolic responses after ingestion of fresh tomato, tomato juice, and a lycopene drink. The contents of tomato phenolics were increased by 34% for small tomato and by 23% for big tomato after treatment by blanching and heating at 100 degrees C for 30 min. Tomato phenolics showed fair antioxidant activity (57-71%) and also synergistically promoted the antioxidation (81-100%) of tomato carotenoids. In the human clinical study, total antioxidant capacity and phenolic contents in plasma were increased after administration of fresh tomato and tomato juice, but no significant difference was found for lycopene drink consumption. Triglyceride levels and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were decreased after administration of fresh tomato and tomato juice, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was increased.

Bovine casein hydrolysate (c12 Peptide) reduces blood pressure in prehypertensive subjects.

BACKGROUND: About one in four adults suffer from prehypertension. People with prehypertension are at risk of developing hypertension, being a biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk. The use of milk-derived protein hydrolysates containing peptides with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibiting properties may reduce blood pressure (BP) and thus the risk of developing hypertension. METHODS: We investigated the BP-lowering effect of a casein-derived protein hydrolysate (C12 Peptide) during a 4-week intervention period in prehypertensive subjects. After a 2-week run-in period, 48 Taiwanese volunteers were randomly assigned to either placebo or C12 Peptide tablets for 4 weeks, followed by a 2-week off-treatment period. After the run-in period, BP was measured weekly. RESULTS: Baseline values for systolic BP (mean +/- SEM) in the placebo and C12 Peptide groups were 137.1 +/- 3.1 and 137.9 +/- 2.4 mm Hg, respectively; those for diastolic BP were 85.2 +/- 2.1 and 86.9 +/- 2.0 mm Hg, respectively. Four weeks repeated daily intake of 3.8 g C12 Peptide reduced significantly systolic and diastolic BP by 10.7 +/- 1.6 mm Hg and 6.9 +/- 1.2 mm Hg, respectively, compared to baseline. Furthermore, plasma angiotensin II and aldosterone levels were reduced significantly (P < .05). The placebo group showed a BP reduction of 3.6 +/- 2.4 and 2.7 +/- 1.6 mm Hg in systolic and diastolic BP, respectively (P = not significant). No evidence of side effects was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that C12 Peptide reduces BP in prehypertensive people.

Effects of domestic processing on steroidal saponins in Taiwanese yam cultivar (Dioscorea pseudojaponica Yamamoto).

The effects of domestic processing on steroidal saponins and furostanol and spirostanol glycosides in Taiwanese yam cultivar (Dioscorea pseudojaponica Yamamoto) were studied. The baking or frying of yam slices was conducted at 150, 180, and 200 degrees C for 3, 5, and 10 min. Yam slices were steamed or microwave cooked at 2450 MHz with an output power of 850 W for 3, 5, and 10 min. The various saponins were quantified by HPLC with an evaporative light scattering detector (ELSD). Results showed that the contents of saponins were decreased along with increasing cooking temperature and time except for the steaming treatment. None of the steamed yam slices significantly change their initial compositions or quantities of furostanol and spirostanol glycosides. Fried yam slices had the highest loss of saponins, especially at 200 degrees C for 10 min (93 and 97% reductions for total furostanol and spirostanol glycosides, respectively). After baking for 10 min at 200 degrees C, the total furostanol and spirostanol glycosides were reduced by 67 and 74%, respectively. There were 12, 44, and 84% decreases for total furostanol glycosides and 10, 35, and 75% reductions for total spirostanol glycosides in yam slices after microwave cooking for 3, 5, and 10 min, respectively. Diosgenin, the aglycone of these saponins, could be found in yams after microwave cooking and baking, but not in steamed and fried yams.