Safety tests and antinutrient analyses of noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) leaf.

BACKGROUND: Noni (Morinda citrifolia L.) leaves have a documented history of food use. However, previous safety and antinutrient studies are absent. The current investigation was conducted to assess the utility of noni leaves as food. RESULTS: No evidence of toxicity or differences in weight gain were observed in acute, subacute, and subchronic oral toxicity tests of ethanol-water (1:1 v/v) and hot-water extracts of noni leaves in mice at doses of 2000, 200, and 20 mg kg(-1) body weight, respectively. Acute systemic anaphylaxis tests of the ethanol-water (4:1 v/v) and hot-water extracts were negative. Further, leaf proteins were readily digested in simulated gastric fluid. Tannic acid concentrations in frozen and dried leaf were 1.6 and 25.8 g kg(-1), respectively. Phytic acid was not detected in the raw leaf (<1 g kg(-1)). The average oxalic acid content was 1 g kg(-1) and was fairly uniform among 22 leaf samples from 11 islands throughout French Polynesia. Similarly, campesterol, stigmasterol, and ß-sitosterol content did not vary widely, suggesting low inter-island content variability. CONCLUSIONS: The apparent lack of toxicity of the leaves and the hardiness of the plant make it ideal for further agricultural development, especially where sustained growth of other food crops is difficult. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.

Inhibition of Helicobacter pylori infection by orally administered yolk-derived anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We studied highly specific chicken egg yolk-derived anti-Helicobacter pylori antibody, and examined efficacy in inducing passive immunity and a bacteriostatic effect on H. pylori. METHODOLOGY: Heat-killed H. pylori were administered orally to hens, and specific anti-H. pylori antibody was purified from the yolk of eggs laid by these hens. The antibody's ability to inhibit H. pylori growth, urease activity, ammonia production, the cytopathic effects, and its effects on serum anti-H. pylori immunoglobulin G (IgG) production were investigated in vitro and in vivo. In addition, H. pylori-infected volunteers received the antibody orally and underwent repeated 13C-urea breath test after antibody ingestion. RESULTS: Anti-H. pylori antibody derived from egg yolk strongly inhibited growth of H. pylori and increased agglutination of H. pylori in vitro. It also strongly inhibited H. pylori-associated urease activity and ammonia production as well as the cytopathic effect of H. pylori on cultured cells. The antibody also inhibited serum anti-H. pylori IgG production and the incidence of acute gastritis in H. pylori-infected Mongolian gerbils. In volunteers, urea breath testing showed decreased urease activity after antibody ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: Anti-H. pylori antibody derived from egg yolk was specific for H. pylori. The antibody had a bacteriostatic effect on H. pylori, inhibited H. pylori urease activity, and inhibited H. pylori infection in Mongolian gerbils and humans.

Adhesive property of Bifidobacterium lactis LKM512 and predominant bacteria of intestinal microflora to human intestinal mucin.

The adhesive property to the intestinal mucin of Bifidobacterium lactis LKM512, B. longum, B. breve, B. bifidum, B. adolescentis, B. infantis, Bacteroides vulgatus, Bacteroides distasonis, Eubacterium aerofaciens, Clostridium perfringens, Escherichia coli, and Lactobacillus acidophilus were examined. Adhesive rate of LKM512 to the mucin was significantly (p < 0.05, 0.01, or 0.001) stronger than the other strains from 2 to 100 time. Though the adhesive property of many strains was almost same to the mucin of 20-year-old and 50-year-old generations, in case of 4-month-old was different. Adhesive inhibitory effect of C. perfringens to the mucin by LKM512 was examined. Under the condition that LKM512 was 108/ml and that C. perfringens was 106/ml, adhesion of C. perfringens to the mucin was inhibited at 99.6%, when LKM512 adhered in advance. There was the strong inhibition of adhesion at 74.0%, when C. perfringens adhered to mucin in advance. Thus, LKM512 can inhibit the adhesion of harmful bacteria to the intestinal mucin, the possibility of using as a probiotic strain has to be verified.