Glycolipoprotein extract (G-90) from earthworm Eisenia foetida exerts some antioxidative activity

Antioxidants protect DNA, proteins and lipids in the body from damage. These types of damages are a major contributor to aging and to degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction and cataracts. The effect of glycolipoprotein extract of Eisenia foetida (G-90) as an antioxidant was investigated in cultured human fibroblasts and epithelial cells. After treatment of the cells with H2O2 for 4 h, G-90 completely allows the cells to recover and stimulated their growth. When the cells were incubated with G-90 48 h before the treatment with H2O2, the oxidative damage of the cells did not occur. Thus, G-90 had an apparent protective effect against the toxicity of H2O2 and stimulated the growth of the cells. Ascorbic acid, a known antioxidant, did not allow the growth of the cells to recover after damage nor did it protect them, unless it was added simultaneously with H2O2. The antioxidative activity of G-90, together with its antibacterial and mitogen activities, could be useful in the study of G-90 as a wound-healing agent.     

The antioxidative activity of traditional Japanese herbs

The objective of this research was to examine the radical scavenging activity of traditional Japanese herbs. Samples used in the experiments were gennoshoko (Geranium nepalense var. thunbergii), yomogi (Artemisia vulgaris var.indica), senburi (Swertia japonica), iwa-tobacco (Conandron ramondioides), sarunokoshikake (Elfvingia applanata), kanzo (Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch) and matatabi (Actinidia polygama). The water-soluble components of the herbs were extracted in boiling water, and the volatile oil was extracted by a distillation apparatus or steeping in some organic solvents such as petroleum ether and ethyl ether. The radical scavenging activity was determined by the decrease of free radicals of DPPH detected by both colorimetric assay and HPLC method at 517 nm. The extracts of gennoshoko, yomogi and iwa-tobacco showed remarkable radical scavenging activity. The volatile oil of yomogi obtained by distillation or steeping in organic solvents had especially strong antioxidative activity.     

Glycolipoprotein extract (G-90) from earthworm Eisenia foetida exerts some antioxidative activity

Antioxidants protect DNA, proteins and lipids in the body from damage. These types of damages are a major contributor to aging and to degenerative diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, immune-system decline, brain dysfunction and cataracts. The effect of glycolipoprotein extract of Eisenia foetida (G-90) as an antioxidant was investigated in cultured human fibroblasts and epithelial cells. After treatment of the cells with H₂O₂ for 4 h, G-90 completely allows the cells to recover and stimulated their growth. When the cells were incubated with G-90 48 h before the treatment with H₂O₂, the oxidative damage of the cells did not occur. Thus, G-90 had an apparent protective effect against the toxicity of H₂O₂ and stimulated the growth of the cells. Ascorbic acid, a known antioxidant, did not allow the growth of the cells to recover after damage nor did it protect them, unless it was added simultaneously with H₂O₂. The antioxidative activity of G-90, together with its antibacterial and mitogen activities, could be useful in the study of G-90 as a wound-healing agent.     

Incorporation of a high level of vitamin B12 into a vegetable, kaiware daikon (Japanese radish sprout), by the absorption from its seeds

High level of vitamin B(12) was incorporated into kaiware daikon (Japanese radish sprout) by soaking its seeds in B(12) solutions. Vitamin B(12) amount incorporated into kaiware daikon increased up to 1.5 microg/g wet sprout with the soaking time of seeds in 0-200 microg/ml B(12) solution. Vitamin B(12) could be extracted more from the sample heated for a short time than from that of control without heat treatment.     

Immunopotentiator separated from hot water extract of the seed of Benincasa cerifera Savi (Tohgashi)

Summary The separation and properties of a new immunopotentiator, Benincasa cerifera mitogen (BCM) fraction, were investigated. BCM fraction was separated from hot water extract of the seed of Benincasa cerifera Savi (Tohgashi) by gel filtration using Sepharose 4B. BCM fraction is a heteropolymer consisting of uronic acid, neutral sugars, protein, and phosphorus. The proliferation and differentiation of murine B cells were markedly stimulated by BCM fraction. The in vitro development of peritoneal macrophages into antitumor macrophages was also activated by the addition of BCM fraction to cultures. BCM fraction augmented the IgM and IgG antibody responses against sheep erythrocytes (SRBC) and the induction of delayed-type footpad reaction against SRBC. The antitumor activity of BCM fraction was observed in terms of prolongation of the survival period of mice bearing Meth A fibrosarcoma. After hydrolysis with 1% acetic acid at 100° C for 4 h, marked mitogenic activity was found in a precipitate composed of 29% neutral sugars, 50% uronic acid, 1% protein, and 0.1% phosphorus. The precipitate did not contain detectable amino sugar. The possibility that the biological activities of BCM fraction may be due to contamination by bacterial lipopoly-saccharide was ruled out on the basis of the results of chemical analysis and of marked mitogenicity noted in C3H/HeJ spleen cell cultures. Abbreviations used: BCM, Benincasa cerifera mitogen; SRBC, sheep erythrocytes; PFC, plaque-forming cells; TNP-HRBC, trinitrophenylated horse erythrocytes; PBA, polyclonal B-cell activation; SI, stimulation index     

Antiviral activity of a hot water extract of black soybean against a human respiratory illness virus

Significant antiviral activity against respiratory illness viruses has been found in a hot-water extract of black soybean. This black soybean extract showed significant antiviral activity against human adenovirus type 1 and coxsackievirus B1 in a dose-dependent manner, while the hot-water extract from common yellowish soybean showed only weak activity. The antiviral activity could not be extracted from the black soybean by 70% aqueous ethanol, suggesting that saponin in the seed did not contribute to this activity. The antiviral activity was only recovered from cotyledons and not from seed coats with the hot water, showing that the activity was distributed in the cotyledons and that antocyanins in the black soybean seed coats did not contribute to the antiviral activity. The antiviral compound(s) in the black soybean was partially purified by up to 166 times by a combination of gel filtration, reversed phase HPLC, and ion-exchange HPLC. The partially purified antiviral compound showed hydrophilic and anionic properties, and a maximum absorption at 260 nm, suggesting that this antiviral fraction may contain a phenyl group(s). On the other hand, an amino acid analysis with the acid hydrolyzate and a neutral sugar analysis showed that the antiviral compound from black soybean might not be a polypeptide or glycoconjugate bearing neutral sugar(s).     

Protective effects of an extract of young radish (Raphanus sativus L) cultivated with sulfur (sulfur-radish extract) and of sulforaphane on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity

The protective effects of an extract of young radish (Raphanus sativus L) cultivated with sulfur (sulfur-radish extract) and of sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate, on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver injury were observed in mice. CCl(4) produced a marked increase in the serum level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), primed lipid peroxidation, and resulted in intense necrosis due to oxidative stress. Oral administration of the sulfur-radish extract and of sulforaphane after CCl(4)-induced liver injury both decreased the serum level of ALT, reduced the necrotic zones, inhibited lipid peroxidation, and induced phase 2 enzymes without affecting cytochrome P450-2E1 (CYP2E1). These results suggest that the administration of the sulfur-radish extract and of sulforaphane may partially prevent CCl(4)-induced hepatotoxicity, possibly by indirectly acting as an antioxidant by improving the detoxification system.     

Involvement of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent halide/thiol methyltransferase (HTMT) in methyl halide emissions from agricultural plants: isolation and characterization of an HTMT-coding gene from Raphanus sativus (daikon radish)

Background  

Biogenic emissions of methyl halides (CH₃Cl, CH₃Br and CH₃I) are the major source of these compounds in the atmosphere; however, there are few reports about the halide profiles and strengths of these emissions. Halide ion methyltransferase (HMT) and halide/thiol methyltransferase (HTMT) enzymes concerning these emissions have been purified and characterized from several organisms including marine algae, fungi, and higher plants; however, the correlation between emission profiles of methyl halides and the enzymatic properties of HMT/HTMT, and their role in vivo remains unclear.     

Micropropagation of Raphanus sativus L. var. longipinnatus (Japanese radish) cv. Gungjung

Shoot cultures were established from seedling shoot tips of Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus Bailey cv. Gungjung, (Japanese radish) cultured on a Murashige-Skoog medium supplemented with ca. 4.5–135 M kinetin or N⁶-benzyladenine. The latter cytokinin supported overall better growth, and 22.2 M was adopted for maintenance of established cultures. The nitrate: ammonium levels in the medium proved optimal for growth and shoot proliferation and both these parameters were significantly increased by addition of adenine sulfate or sodium phosphate. Rooting of excised shoots was achieved on auxin containing medium. Indole-3-butyric acid (ca. 5 or 10 M) also enhanced shoot growth. Plants were easily established in soil, appeared morphologically normal, and flowered.     

Chemistry and antioxidative factors in rosemary and sage

Rosemary and sage are common spices used in food. In our recent search of cancer chemopreventive agents from spices, the alcohol extracts of rosemary and sage showed strong antumorigenic activities. Rosemary and sage extracts contain active antioxidative factors such as phenolic diterpenes, flavonoids and phenolic acids. Here we discuss chromatographic methods used to separate and purify compounds from these spices and MS and NMR spectrometry to identify the isolated compounds. Several new compounds isolated from sage were determined to be 6-O-caffeoyl-beta-D-fructofuranosyl-(2-->1)-beta-glucopyranoside, 1-O-caffeoyl-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 1-O-p-hydroxybenzoyl-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 1-O-(3-methyl-2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-6-O-feruloyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 4-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-[5-O-(3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxybenzoyl)-beta-D-apiofrunosyl]-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 1-O-[2-hydroxy-5-(2-hydroxyethyl)phenyl]-6-O-trans-caffeoyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside.     

Assessment of antioxidative activity of extract from fermented grain food mixture using chemical and cellular systems

Fermented food is a rich source of antioxidants and micronutrients with the potential to prevent various human diseases. The increasing evidence indicates that in addition to its direct action, radical-scavenging antioxidants may modulate the cellular antioxidant system such as glutathione. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidant activity of Antioxidant Biofactor (AOB) extracts, a mixture of commercially available fermented grain food by using chemical and cellular experimental systems. In the former system, the total radical scavenging capacity was assessed from the bleaching of pyranine and pyrogallol red that is induced by free radicals generated from an azo initiator. In this assay system, the radical scavenging capacity per gram of AOB was estimated to be 95 micromol. On the other hand, the cytoprotective effect of AOB was also investigated on the basis of PC12 cell death induced by 6-hydroxydopamine. In this cellular system, AOB extract exhibited a cytoprotective effect only when the cells were pretreated with AOB. This pretreatment resulted in a significant increase in the levels of cellular glutathione as well as regulator of glutathione synthesis, such as the cystine/glutamate exchange transport system (xCT). This evidence suggests that AOB possesses both direct and indirect antioxidant activities to cope with oxidative insults.     

小球藻热水提取物功能成分的活性跟踪分离

本研究旨在以自由基清除作用和促巨噬细胞增殖作用为导向,对小球藻热水提取物(CPE)的分离纯化产物进行活性跟踪,以确定CPE的主要功能成分。采用高压热水提取、Sevag除蛋白、乙醇沉淀和超滤的方法得到CPE粗多糖,然后通过DEAE52离子交换层析柱和Sephadex G-100对CPE粗多糖组分进一步分离纯化。研究结果表明,通过上述方法对CPE进行分离纯化,得到3种高活性成分PS-1-4-2、PS-1-3-2和PS-2-3-3,经凝胶渗透色谱GPC分析得知其分子质量分别为3.97×10~4 Da、2.28×10~4 Da和4.1×10~3 Da。活性跟踪结果表明,CPE能够清除自由基并促进巨噬细胞Ana-1细胞生长,主要是由于其多种活性组分共同发挥作用,清除自由基作用的功能成分主要集中于PS-1-3、PS-1-4、PS-2-3和PS-2-4,促Ana-1细胞增殖作用的功能成分主要集中于PS-1-3、PS-1-4和PS-2-3。本研究确立了CPE主要功能成分的活性筛选手段,并获得3种新型功能成分,可用于指导小球藻高附加值产品的开发,从而进一步推动微藻能源的产业化进程,实现"高附加值微藻产品、微藻能源与微藻固碳"一体化的示范作用。     

Hot spring frogs (Buergeria japonica) prefer cooler water to hot water

“Hot spring frog” is an informal name used for the Japanese stream tree frog (Buergeria japonica), which is widely distributed in Taiwan and the Ryukyu Archipelago in Japan. Some populations of the species are known to inhabit hot springs. However, water temperature can be extremely high around the sources of hot springs. Thus, it is questionable whether B. japonica selectively inhabits such dangerous environments. To address this question, we conducted a series of observations of water temperature preferences of a hot spring population of B. japonica in Kuchinoshima Island in Japan: (a) a field observation of tadpole density in water pools of different temperatures, (b) a field observation of water temperatures where adult males appear for breeding, and (c) an indoor observation of water temperatures selected by adult females for oviposition. As a result, tadpoles showed a higher density in cooler water. Adult males avoided water pools hotter than 37°C, and adult females selected cooler pools for oviposition. Camera records also showed that adult individuals tend to appear around cooler pools. Thus, we did not find any support for the hypothesis that hot spring frogs prefer hot water. Conversely, they apparently tended to prefer cooler water if it was available. Water temperatures around the sources of the hot spring exceed thermal tolerances of the species and could be a strong selective pressure on the population. Thus, the ability to sense and avoid lethal temperatures may be a key ecological and physiological characteristic for the species that inhabit hot springs.     

热水提取酿酒酵母中S-腺苷-L-甲硫氨酸的研究

研究了采用热水法直接提取酿酒酵母胞内产物S-腺苷-L-甲硫氨酸（SAM）北京,并且通过实验对影响SAM抽提的5个条件：抽提温度、抽提时间、热水用量、搅拌转速、硫酸用量等进行了优化。得出的最佳实验条件为：温度70℃、每30g湿菌体加入热水100mL、硫酸浓度0．25mol／L、搅拌转速160r／min,此时SAM的抽提率可达91．5％。与其他方法相比,该方法耗时少、仪器简单、抽提液中S-腺苷-L-甲硫氨酸质量浓度高、经济且无污染。     

Anti-inflammatory activity of tea (Camellia sinensis) root extract

Pharmacological studies were carried out with methanol-water (1:1) extract of dried tea (Camellia sinensis) root extract (TRE). TRE was found to possess anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic activities at 1/10th of its LD50 dose of 100 mg/kg i.p. It was found that TRE inhibited the arachidonic acid-induced paw oedema in rats which indicated that TRE produced the anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting both the cyclooxygenase and lypooxygenase pathways of arachidonic acid metabolism. TRE also enhanced peritoneal cell count and the number of macrophages in normal mice. It is plausible that the saponins present in TRE may be responsible for these activities of TRE.     

Suppressive effect of a hot water extract of adzuki beans (Vigna angularis) on hyperglycemia after sucrose loading in mice and diabetic rats

A hot water extract obtained by boiling adzuki beans (Vigna angularis) to produce bean paste for Japanese cake showed inhibitory activity against alpha-glucosidase, alpha-amylase, maltase, sucrase, and isomaltase after HP-20 column chromatography. The IC(50) values for each hydrolylase were 0.78 mg/ml (alpha-amylase), 2.45 mg/ml (maltase), 5.37 mg/ml (sucrase), and 1.75 mg/ml (isomaltase). The active fraction showed potential hypoglycemic activity in both normal mice and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats after an oral administration of sucrose, but did not show any effect on the blood glucose concentration after glucose administration, suggesting that the active fraction suppressed the postprandial blood glucose level by inhibiting alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase, irrespective of the endogenous blood insulin level.