Structural Characteristics of Semen coicis Resistant Starch and Its Effect on the Proliferation of Bifidobacterium bifidum

Semen coicis resistant starch is a type of starch which has undergone retrogradation. In this study,the structural characteristics of Semen coicis native starch,high-amylose maize starch,and heat-moisture treated Semen coicis resistant starch were investigated. The field emission scanning electron microscopy results indicated that compared to Semen coicis native starch and high-amylose maize starch,the surface of heat-moisture treated Semen coicis resistant starch was rough and full of irregular layered strips. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements indicated the degree of ordered structure values of Semen coicis native starch,high-amylose maize starch,and heat-moisture treated Semen coicis resistant starch are 1.355,1.372,and 1.410,respectively,and the degree of double helix values is 1.931,1.942,and 2.027,respectively,indicating that the degree of ordered structure and double helix structure of heat-moisture treated Semen coicis resistant starch is both higher than those of Semen coicis native starch and high-amylose maize starch. ^（13） C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed that Semen coicis native starch and high-amylose maize starch exhibited A-type crystal structures,while heat-moisture treated Semen coicis resistant starch displayed B-type crystal structures. The relative crystallinity of Semen coicis native starch,high-amylose maize starch,and heat-moisture treated Semen coicis resistant starch is 76.41,85.36,and 87.25,respectively,and the percentages of amorphous region are 5.78,4.72,and 4.39,respectively. Additionally,heat-moisture treated Semen coicis resistant starch could increase the proliferation of Bifidobacterium bifidum more than Semen coicis native starch or high-amylose maize starch. Bifidobacterium bifidum displayed a higher tolerance under simulated gastrointestinal tract conditions such as low p H,bile acid,pepsin,and trypsin in heat-moisture treated Semen coicis resistant starch medium than in Semen coicis native starch or high-amylose maize starch media.

Different frequencies of electroacupuncture and semen coicis decrease glial fibrillary acidic protein expression in rats with hemisection spinal cord injury

This study established the following groups of rats： a normal group, a sham surgery group, a spinal cord injury model group, a low-frequency electroacupuncture group, a high-frequency electroacupuncture group and a semen coicis group. In all but the normal and sham surgery groups the left half of Tlo was transected. Four hours after model induction, 5-Hz and 100-Hz electroacupuncture were used to stimulate the acupoints I-luantiao （GB 30）, Zusan/i （ST 36）, Zhiyan9 （DU 9） and Xuanshu （DU 5）, or crude extract from semen coicis was intraperitoneally injected, for 8 consecutive weeks. The results indicated that electroacupuncture stimulation and intraperitoneal injection of semen coicis improved the morphology of spinal cord tissue, promoted the recovery of motion-evoked potentials, suppressed glial fibrillary acidic protein expression, and ameliorated motor function in rats with hemisection spinal cord injury. The effects of high-frequency （100 Hz） electroacupuncture ancl semen coicis were significant.

Hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cell apoptosis and caspase-8 and Bcl-2 expression induced by injectable seed extract of Coix lacryma-jobi

BACKGROUND:Many Chinese herbs,especially herbal injections,have been shown to have anti-tumor effects in recent years.However,since most reports focus on the clinical effectiveness of these herbs,their mechanisms of action are not well understood.In this study,we assessed apoptosis in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell line HepG2 induced by an injectable extract from the seed of Coix lacryma-jobi (Semen coicis,SC),and monitored the expression of Bcl-2 and caspase-8.METHODS:Injectable SC was applied to HepG2 cells at different concentrations and the cells were collected 12,24 and 48 hours later.5-fluorouracil was used as a positive control group,and fluorescence-activated cell-sorting cytometry was used to measure the apoptosis rate of HepG2 cells and the expression of Bcl-2 and caspase-8 proteins.RESULTS:SC induced apoptosis in HepG2 cells in a concentration and time-dependent manner,and the expression of caspase-8 was elevated and prolonged.However,it did not significantly influence the expression of Bcl-2.CONCLUSION:Injectable SC may induce apoptosis in HCC cells by regulating the expression of caspase-8.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Chang-Chul-Eui-Ee-ln-Tang(苍术薏苡仁汤) in Female Rats with Diet-Induced Obesity

Objective： To investigate the effects of Chang-ChuI-Eui-Ee-ln-Tang （苍术薏苡仁汤, CCEET）, modified CCEET （MCCEET）, and Semen Coicis （SC, a major component of CCEET） on energy and glucose homeostasis. The possible mechanism of action of CCEET was also determined. Methods： A total of 100 Sprague Dawley female rats were randomly assigned to 5 groups, with 20 in each group. Rats in 4 groups were fed with a high fat diet supplementation （2 g/kg body weight）, and water extracts of CCEET, MCCEET, SC, and cellulose （negative control）, respectively. The last group was fed with a low-fat diet as a positive control. Results： CCEET and MCCEET decreased body weight and body fat （mesenteric and retroperitoneal fat） more than SC. This decrease was due to decreased energy intake and increased energy expenditure and fat oxidation. The improvement in energy homeostasis was associated with the enhancement of the hypothalamic leptin signalling pathway involving potentiating the phosphorylation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription-3, as well as attenuating the phosphorylation of 5＇ adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase （AMPK）. Both CCEET and MCCEET improved glucose tolerance without changing serum insulin levels during an oral glucose tolerance test but MCCEET had a better effect than CCEET. Conclusions： Both CCEET and MCCEET safely exerted anti-obesity effects by enhancing energy balance in female rats with diet-induced obesity; MCCEET showed a better effect on glucose homeostasis.