Microbiological Status and Nutritional Composition of Spices Used in Food Preparation

The present study showed significant initial microbial load, as well nutritional value of ten spices used widely across the world in food preparation. The microbiological tests demonstrated that sumac and cloves had the highest antimicrobial activity with respect to total plate counting and spore forming count. Results showed that chemical composition of the spices and herbs varied significantly. Dry matter content ranged between 83.6% and 92.4%. The highest ash content 10.4% was found in sweet cumin, protein 21.2% in cumin, fat 19.7% in sumac, fiber 59.2% in turmeric and carbohydrates 27.3% in sumac. These spices were also differing in their minerals content. Substantial amounts of Ca, Na, K and Mg were found, while Cu, Fe, P, Mn and Zn were present in trace amounts in all investigated spices.

Effect of Carrot and Pumpkin Pulps Adding on Chemical, Rheological, Nutritional and Organoleptic Properties of Ice Cream

Ice cream manufactured using a substantial amount of pumpkin pulp (PP) and carrot pulp (CP) has a high organoleptic acceptability. PP and CP were added to typical control ice cream (TC) up to 20%. Through adding PP and CP, natural flavor, unique color, and health-promoting constituents were presented. The resultant ice cream was subjected to chemical, rheological, nutritional, and organoleptic properties investigation. Results revealed that dry matter especially SNF in both PPand CP-ice creams were increased significantly. Accordingly, ash, fiber, and available carbohydrates contents were significantly increased whereas opposite result was recorded for crude protein as a result of PP and CP substitution. The ice cream containing high PP and CP contents had higher melting resistance and lower overrun %. Health beneficial phytochemicals such as carotenoids, flavonoids (TF), flavonols (TFL), and vit. C were commonly detected in PP and CP-ice creams, reflecting the attributes of PP and CP ingredients. PP and CP-ice cream had the valuable content of TPC, vit. C and antioxidant capacity. However, only ice cream made with 15% of PP and CP was highly accepted than others. Therefore, it is possible to use a substantial amount from PP and CP to produce ice cream up to 15% with retained much of natural color, unique vit. C, TPC, carotenoids, TF, TFL contents as well as valuable antioxidant capacity. Health beneficial compounds and organoleptic attributes of prepared ice cream formulas were encouragingly the commercial possibility of using PP and CP for scaling up further.

The Effects of Heat Shock on the D-Values of <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i>on Selected Seafood Matrices

With more ready-to-eat foods and increased shelf-lives, prevention of Listeria monocytogenes contamination has become a necessity for the food industry. This study examined the effects of sublethal heat treatment on the decimal reduction time (D-values) of three L. monocytogenes serotypes (1/2a, 1/2b, 4c), and non-pathogenic L. innocua. The D70 (D-value at 70℃) values of heat-shocked (HS) and non-heat-shocked (NHS) Listeria grown in tryptic soy broth (TSB) were determined. The D70 values of HS L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a and L. innocua were significantly higher compared to NHS cultures, although by 48 h, the values returned to NHS levels. When HS and NHS 1/2a and 1/2b were inoculated on crab meat and cooked shrimp, the D70 values of HS cultures were at least 2-fold higher, compared to when they were grown in TSB. This increase in heat resistance for the HS cultures may be attributed to the protective effect of the seafood matrix itself.

Abnormal β-catenin gene expression with invasiveness of primary hepatocellular carcinoma in China

AIM To study the abnormal expression of β-catenin gene and its relationship with invasiveness of primary hepatocellular carcinoma among Chinese people.METHODS Thirty-four hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens and adjacent para-cancerous tissues, 4 normal liver tissues were immunohistochemically stained to study subcellular distribution of β-catenin. Semiquantitive analysis of expression of β-catenin gene exon 3 mRNA was examined by RT-PCR and in situ hybridization. The relationship between expressions of both β-catenin protein, mRNA and clinicopathological characteristics of HCC was also analyzed.RESULTS Immunohistochemistry showed that all normal liver tissues and para-cancerous tissues examined displayed membranous type staining for β-catenin protein,occasionally with weak expression in the cytoplasm.While 21 cases (61.8%) of HCC examined showed accumulated type in cytoplasms or nuclei. The accumuled type Labling Index (LI) of cancer tissue and paracancarous tissue was (59.9 ± 26.3) and (18.3 ± 9.7)respectively (P＜0.01). Higher accumulated type LI was closely related with invasiveness of HCC. Results of RTPCR showed the β-catenin gene exon 3 mRNA Expression Index (El) of 34 HCCs was higher than that of paracancerous tissue and normal liver tissue. Using in situ hybridization, the signal corresponding to β-catenin gene exon 3 mRNA was particularly strong in cytoplasm of HCC when compared with those of para-cancerous and normal liver tissues. Over expression of β-catenin exon 3 was also found to be correlated with high metastatic potential of HCC.CONCLUSION Abnormal expression of β-catenin gene may contribute importantly to the invasiveness of HCC among Chinese people.

Effects of exergaming on motor skill competence,perceived competence,and physical activity in preschool children

Background: Few school settings offer opportunities for preschool children to engage in structured physical activity, and only a few studies have been conducted examining exergaming's effectiveness on health outcomes in this age group. This study's purpose, therefore, was to examine a school-based exergaming intervention's effect on preschool children's perceived competence(PC), motor skill competence(MSC), and physical activity versus usual care(recess), as well as to examine gender differences for these outcomes.Methods: A total of 65 preschool children from 2 underserved urban schools were assigned to 1 of 2 conditions, with the school as the experimental unit:(1) usual care recess group(8 weeks of 100 min of recess/week(5 days ￡ 20 min)) and(2) exergaming intervention group(8 weeks of100 min of exergaming/week(5 days ￡ 20 min) at school). All children underwent identical assessments of PC, MSC, and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity(MVPA) at baseline and at the end of the 8 th week.Results: A significant Group ￡ Time effect was observed for MVPA, F(1, 52) = 4.37, p = 0.04, h2 p= 0.04, but not for PC, F(1, 52) = 0.83, p = 0.37,h2 p= 0.02, or MSC, F(1, 52) = 0.02, p = 0.88, h2 p= 0.00. Specifically, the intervention children displayed significantly greater increased MVPA after8 weeks than the comparison children. Additionally, there was a significant time effect for MSC, F(1, 52) = 15.61, p < 0.01, h2 p= 0.23, and gender effect for MVPA, F(1, 52) = 5.06, p = 0.02, h2 p= 0.09. Although all preschoolers' MSC improved across time, boys demonstrated greater MVPA than girls at both time points.Conclusion: Exergaming showed a positive effect in promoting preschool children's MVPA at school and has the potential to enhance PC and MSC. More research with larger sample sizes and longer study durations are warranted.

Antioxidant Activity of Isothiocyanate Extracts from Broccoli

Isothiocyanates(ITCs) extracts were prepared from fresh broccoli.Their antioxidant properties were evaluated by using the in vitro bioassays,including superoxide anion radical( 2 O·-) ,hydroxyl radical(HO·-) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydracyl(DPPH·) radical-scavenging methods,lipid peroxidation assay,and reducing power assay.The ITCs extracts exhibited significant dose-dependent antioxidant activities(P<0.01) .Its antioxidant-stability was affected by temperature and storage condition,although it was more stable than vitamin C(Vc) .GC-MS iden-tified sulforaphane in the ITCs extracts.The antioxidant activity of sulforaphane was approximately one tenth to one fifth of that of Vc.Sulforaphane was experimented to be one of dominating contributors to antioxidant capacity of ITCs extracts.However,there was no direct antioxidant activity found for benzyl isothiocyanate(BITC) in vitro. Therefore,it could be concluded that the general group(-N=C=S) was not the essential part for the antioxidant activity of sulforaphane.It is suggested that the ITCs extracts from broccoli can be developed into a promising food additive for healthy food.

Application of derivative ratio spectrophotometry for determination of β-carotene and astaxanthin from Phaffia rhodozyma extract

A derivative ratio spectrophotometric method was used for the simultaneous determination of β-carotene and astaxanthin produced from Phaffia rhodozyma. Absorbencies of a series of the standard carotenoids in the range of 441 nm to 490 nm demonstrated that their absorptive spectra accorded with Beer’s law and that the additivity when the concentrations of β-carotene and astaxanthin and their mixture were within the range of 0 to 5 μg/ml, 0 to 6 μg/ml, and 0 to 6 μg/ml, respectively. When the wavelength interval (?λ) at 2 nm was selected to calculate the first derivative ratio spectra values, the first derivative amplitudes at 461 nm and 466 nm were suitable for quantitatively determining β-carotene and astaxanthin, respectively. Effect of divisor on derivative ratio spectra could be neglected; any concentration used as divisor in range of 1.0 to 4.0 μg/ml is ideal for calculating the derivative ratio spectra values of the two carotenoids. Calibration graphs were established for β-carotene within 0?6.0 μg/ml and for astaxanthin within 0?5.0 μg/ml with their corresponding regressive equations in: y=?0.0082x?0.0002 and y=0.0146x?0.0006, respectively. R-square values in excess of 0.999 indicated the good linearity of the calibration graphs. Sample recovery rates were found satisfactory (>99%) with relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 5%. This method was suc- cessfully applied to simultaneous determination of β-carotene and astaxanthin in the laboratory-prepared mixtures and the extract from the Phaffia rhodozyma culture.

Increased presence of effector lymphocytes during Helicobacter hepaticus-induced colitis

AIM:To identify and characterize drosophila mothers against decapentaplegic(SMAD)3-dependent changes in immune cell populations following infection with Helicobacter hepaticus(H.hepaticus).METHODS:SMAD3 -/-(n=19)and colitis-resistant SMAD3+/-(n=24)mice(8-10 wk of age)were in-fected with H.hepaticus and changes in immune cell populations[T lymphocytes,natural killer(NK)cells,T regulatory cells]were measured in the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes(MsLNs)at 0 d,3 d,7 d and 28 d post-infection using flow cytometry.Genotypedependent changes in T lymphocytes and granzyme B+ cells were also assessed after 28 d in proximal colon tissue using immunohistochemistry.RESULTS:As previously observed,SMAD3 -/-,but not SMAD3+/-mice,developed colitis,peaking at 4 wk post-infection.No significant changes in T cell subsets were observed in the spleen or in the MsLNs between genotypes at any time point.However,CD4+and CD8+/ CD62Llo cells,an effector T lymphocyte population,as well as NK cells(NKp46/DX5+)were significantly higher in the MsLNs of SMAD3-/-mice at 7 d and 28 d post-infection.In the colon,a higher number of CD3+cells were present in SMAD3-/-compared to SMAD3+/-mice at baseline,which did not significantly change during infection.However,the number of granzyme B+cells,a marker of cytolytic lymphocytes,significantly increased in SMAD3-/-mice 28 d post-infection compared to both SMAD3+/-mice and to baseline values.This was consistent with more severe colitis development in these animals.CONCLUSION:Data suggest that defects in SMAD3 signaling increase susceptibility to H.hepaticus-induced colitis through aberrant activation and/or dysregulation of effector lymphocytes.

FTIR Analysis of Protein Secondary Structure in Cheddar Cheese during Ripening

Proteolysis is one of the most important biochemical reactions during cheese ripening.Studies on the secondary structure of proteins during ripening would be helpful for characterizing protein changes for assessing cheese quality.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR),with self-deconvolution,second derivative analysis and band curve-fitting,was used to characterize the secondary structure of proteins in Cheddar cheese during ripening.The spectra of the amide I region showed great similarity,while the relative contents of the secondary structures underwent a series of changes.As ripening progressed,the α-helix content decreased and the β-sheet content increased.This structural shift was attributed to the strengthening of hydrogen bonds that resulted from hydrolysis of caseins.In summary,FTIR could provide the basis for rapid characterization of cheese that is undergoing ripening.

Social-ecological correlates of fundamental movement skills in young children

Purpose: To identify the social-ecological correlates associated with fundamental movement skills at the child, family, and environment levels in young children.Methods: Preschool children from 4 Colorado Head Start/preschool centers were recruited from 2010 to 2012. Two hundred twenty-eight children(128 girls; age = 56.08 § 4.09 months; body mass index(BMI) z-score = 0.53 § 1.12(mean § SD); 42.1% Hispanic/Latino) and 159 families were included in the final analysis. Children's perceived competence and fundamental movement skills were assessed via the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance and the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, 2 nd edition. Data on the number of children in the family, parent age, BMI, education, employment status, family income, perception of child coordination, and home physical activity environment were collected via a questionnaire. Linear regressions adjusted for child BMI, age, sex, and school site were performed at each level.Results: Child perceived cognitive competence was positively associated with locomotor skills(p = 0.04; adjusted R2= 0.035) and object-control skills(p = 0.003; adjusted R2= 0.083) at the child level. Parent education, BMI, and perception of child coordination were positively associated with locomotor skills and explained 8.8% of variance, but only parent education was significant(p = 0.04) at the family level. In addition, physical environment was positively associated with locomotor skills(p = 0.02) and explained 5.5% of variance at the environment level.Conclusion: Social-ecological correlates associated with young children's fundamental movement skills are multidimensional and differ according to skill category at the child, family, and environment levels.

Anti-Alzheimer's disease potential of coumarins from Angelica decursiva and Artemisia capillaris and structure-activity analysis

Objective: To use structure-activity analysis to study the anti-Alzheimer's disease(anti-AD) activity of natural coumarins isolated from Angelica decursiva and Artemisia capillaries, along with one purchased coumarin(daphnetin). Methods: Umbelliferone, umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid, scopoletin, isoscopoletin, 7-methoxy coumarin, scoparone, scopolin, and esculetin have been previously isolated; however 2'-isopropyl psoralene was isolated from Angelica decursiva for the first time to evaluate their inhibitory effects against acetylcholinesterase(ACh E), butyrylcholinesterase(BCh E), and β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1) enzyme activity. We scrutinized the potentials of coumarins as cholinesterase and BACE1 inhibitors via enzyme kinetics and molecular docking simulation. Results: Among the test compounds, umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid, esculetin and daphnetin exhibited potent inhibitory activity against ACh E, BCh E and BACE1. Both esculetin and daphnetin have a catechol group and exhibit significant anti-AD activity against ACh E and BCh E. In contrast, presence of a sugar moiety and methoxylation markedly reduced the anti-AD activity of the coumarins investigated in this study. With respect to BACE1 inhibition, umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid, esculetin and daphnetin contained carboxyl or catechol groups, which significantly contributed to their antiAD activities. To further investigate these results, we generated a 3D structure of BACE1 using Autodock 4.2 and simulated binding of umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid, esculetin and daphnetin. Docking simulations showed that different residues of BACE1 interacted with hydroxyl and carboxylic groups, and the binding energies of umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid, esculetin and daphnetin were negative(-4.58,-6.25 and-6.37 kcal/mol respectively). Conclusions: Taken together, our results suggest that umbelliferone 6-carboxylic acid, esculetin and daphnetin have anti-AD effects by inhibiting ACh E, BCh E and BACE1, which might be useful against AD.

Chemical Composition, Phenolics, Anthocyanins Concentration and Antioxidant Activity of Ten Wild Edible Plants

Plants were collected and prepared for chemical analysis, total phenolics, anthocyanins concentrations, and free radical scavenging activity. Results showed that, protein concentration of Malva parviflora (22.9%) was the highest among the plants. Ruta chalepensis had high levels of fat and carbohydrates (4.2% and 51.7%, respectively), but had the lowest level of ash (8.7%). Mineral concentrations varied and found to have appreciable amounts of Ca, Na, K, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Zn and P. Total phenolic ranged from 163.1 (Tetragonolobus palaestinus) to 1328.8 mg GAE/100g (Ruta chalepensis). Anthocyanins ranged between 18.1 (Gundelia tournefortii) and 100.1 mg/100g (Rumex acetosella). These plants differed in free radical scavenging activity. It was concluded that these plants could be considered as natural sources for antioxidants and valuable natural resources as a new addition to the diet of inhabitants.

Comparative molecular docking studies of lupeol and lupenone isolated from Pueraria lobata that inhibits BACE1: Probable remedies for Alzheimer's disease

Objective: To discover lead lupane triterpenoid's potential isolated from Pueraria lobata roots against b-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1(BACE1), which serve as a rate limiting step in amyloid beta(Aβ) production altering the course of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, enzyme kinetics study and molecular docking were conducted to establish the inhibition type and structure activity relationship.Methods: A systematic study of 70% ethanolic P. lobata root extract was employed to identify its BACE1 inhibitory potential. Further, BACE1 inhibitory potential of two lupane terpenoids, yielded from ethanolic extract, was assessed. In order to determine their inhibition mode, Lineweaver–Burk plots and Michaelis–Menten model for BACE1 was performed. Auto Dock 4.2 program in addition determined the molecular interaction of BACE1 with isolated terpenoids.Results: Considering the inhibitory potential of 70% ethanolic extract of P. lobata against BACE1(IC_(50)= 80.35 mg/mL), lupeol and lupenone were subsequently isolated and exhibited notable or moderate BACE1 inhibitory activity with IC_(50) values of 5.12 and 62.98 mmol/L, respectively, as compared to the positive control quercetin(IC_(50)= 21.28 mmol/L). The enzyme kinetics study enabled us to identify both compounds as competitive inhibitors, where lupeol displayed a very potent inhibition against BACE1 with low inhibition constant(Ki) value of 1.43 mmol/L, signifying greater binding affinity.In order to understand the binding mechanism and structure–activity relationship of two triterpene-based BACE1 inhibitors, we employed computer aided docking studies which evidently revealed that hydroxyl group of lupeol formed two hydrogen bonds with the ASP32(catalytic aspartic residue) and SER35 residues of BACE1 with the binding energy of(-8.2 kcal/mol), while the ketone group of lupenone did not form any hydrogen bonds with BACE1 giving evidence for less binding affinity. These results in turn have predicted the dependence of the inhibitory activity in the presence of hydroxyl group which has provided a new basis for BACE1 blockade.Conclusions: Our results have successfully explored the molecular mechanism of lupane triterpenoids via BACE1 inhibition, suggesting that lupeol in particular could be utilized as a useful therapeutic and preventive agent to mitigate Alzheimer's disease.

Inhibition of advanced glycation endproducts formation by Korean thistle,Cirsium maackii

Objective:To evaluate inhibitoy potential of seven Korean thistles against the advanced glyeatinn endproducts(AGE) formation as well as to identify responsible compounds from the most active species.Methods:We used an in vitro AGE inhibition assay to evaluate the antidiabetic complication potential of the methanol extracts of the selected Korean thistles.Results:Among the seven Korean thistles,the leaves of Cirsium maackii(C.maackii) exhibited the most significant inhibitory activity against AGE formation.By means of bioassay-directed fractionation,a lignan.chlorogenic acid and 14 flavonoids were isolated from the active ethyl acetate soluble fraction of a methanol extract from C.maackii leaves.Luteolin and its 5-O-glueoside have been previously isolated:however,a lignan and 13 known compounds were isolated for the first lime from C maackii leaves in this study.Most of the isolated compounds exhibited inhibitory activities against potential AGE formation.Among them,cernuoside was shown to be the most potent AGE inhibitor with an IC_(50) value of 21.21 μ mol/L.Most importantly,two major flavonoids,luteolin and ils 5-O-glucoside,also significantly inhibited AGE formation,with IC_(50) values of36.33 and 37.47 μmol/L,respectively.Structure activity relationship revealed that the presence of free 3'and 4' dihydroxyl group in flavonoids skeleton played an important role in AGE inhibition.Conclusions:These results indicate that C.maackii and C maackii-derived flavonoids might be explored further to develop therapeutic agents for the prevention of diabetic eoniplicalions due to their significant inhibitory activity against AGE formation.

The effects of the extract of oolong tea and its metabolites from Andraca theae in high fat diet induced obese Wistar rat

Obesity is a critical health issue worldwide.For a long time,the concept of drinking tea for health and pleasure is widely accepted.The strain of Andraca theae lives on the tea leaf and the bioactivity of its metabolites in the feces is unknown yet.Thus,the objective of this study was to investigate whether the extract of tea(Taiwan Tea Experiment Station No.12(TE))and its metabolites from Andraca theae(TME)could prevent obesity in the high fat diet-induced obese rats.Our results showed that TE had higher concentrations of epigallocatechin gallate(EGCG)and caffeine than that from TME.TE significantly decreased abdominal adipose tissue,especially epididymal fat via increasing preadipocyte factor 1(Pref-1),SRY(sex determining region Y)-box 9(SOX-9)and decreasing peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ(PPARγ),CCAAT/enhancer binding protein(C/EBP)β,C/EBPαand C/EBPβprotein expression.Taken together,these results suggest that the content of tea polyphenols in TE play an important role for alleviating abdominal fat.

Exploring nutrition literacy: Attention to assessment and the skills clients need

This exploratory study examines nutrition literacy in two parts: 1) the level of attention to health literacy among nutrition professionals, and 2) the nutrition professional’s perspective of skills/ knowledge needed to understand nutrition education. Part 1 included an online survey in which RD participants (n = 206), recruited from three dietetic practice groups, identified use of health literacy assessments during client education. Most participants (79%) did not use a validated health literacy assessment. There was a significant difference in response to having written materials for different health literacy levels depending on time spent providing nutrition education, with those sending less time in education responding they more often had more materials (Chi-square 8.6, p = 0.035) and depending on job description, public health more often than outpatient dietitian (p = 0.006). Part 2 utilized key informant interviews (n = 8), administered by telephone. Content analysis revealed a significant theme among answers that the skills required for understanding diet education is dependent on the type of diet instruction provided, with diabetes frequently noted as a disease requiring greater knowledge and skills. Nutrition educators need an instrument to assess client nutrition literacy. Potential instruments should assess skills related to portion size estimation, macronutrient knowledge, interpretation of food labels, and food grouping.

Hypolipidemic effect of coffee silver skin in rats fed a high-fat diet

The present study was conducted to evaluate the hypolipidemic effects of coffee silver skin(CSS)supplementation in rats fed a highfat diet(HFD).A total of 40 albino rats were used in the present study.The groups were as follows:Rats fed a normal diet,N group;high fat diet,HFD group;high fat diet+10%CSS,HFD 10;HFD+15%CSS,HFD 15;HFD+20%CSS,HFD 20;the diets were followed for 8 weeks.Blood samples were collected at the end of the experiment.At the time of sacrifice,the weights of heart,liver,kidneys,epididymal fat and retroperitoneal fat of the experimental rats with respect to body weight were recorded.The lipid parameter of the serum was recorded and liver and kidney function tests were conducted.Finally,a histopathological assay was performed on the liver and kidney tissues of the rats fed the tested diets.The weight gain of the rats fed a HFD supplemented with 10,15 and 20%CSS was∼1.05,1.08 and 1.12 times lower than that of those rats fed HFD,respectively.The incorporation of CSS at a level of 20%reduced the increase in liver,kidney,epididymal fat and retroperitoneal fat weight by 17.84,19.38,47.23 and 18.00%,respectively,compared with HFD alone.HFD administration induced considerable increases in alanine aminotransferase,aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase activities compared with the control group.The results also indicated that the HFD-fed rats exhibited increased levels of urea,uric acid and creatinine,by∼26.38,8.40 and 6.75%,respectively,compared with the control rats.With the exception of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol,all lipid fractions increased significantly in rats fed a HFD.The administration of a HFD induced marked pathological changes in the liver and kidneys of the rats.However,the incorporation of various levels of CSS in to a HFD reduced these changes.The results of the present study illustrate that the incorporation of CSS into HFDs reduces the hyperlipidemia effect of these diets.

Liquid Chromatographic Assay of Peptides Activity with Inhibiting Angiotensin Converting Enzyme

A rapid, simple and interference-free method was developed to evaluate the inhibitory activity of hydrolyzed peptides from egg white protein against the angiotensin-converting enzyme. The total reaction volume was 60 μL, saving the cost. The assay was based on a HPLC separation and quantification of the synthetic substrate hippuryl-L-histidyl-L-leucine and its hydrolyzed product-hippuric acid; the separation was performed on a C18 column eluted by a mobile phase of acetonitrile/water（0.5% TFA） at a volume ratio of 25：75. At a signal to noise ratio（S/N） of 10, the detective limit of the quantitation of hippuric acid was （0.4600±0.0097） μmol/L. The standard curve shows a linear response with a slope of 49488 and a correlation coefficient of 0.9995. The assay was adequate for the study of ACE inhibition by Captopril and peptides derived from food protein, and showed a very good correlation with the previous methods.

Potential of Lunasin Orally-Administered in Comparison to Intraperitoneal Injection to Inhibit Colon Cancer Metastasis <i>in Vivo</i>

Lunasin is a bioactive peptide originally isolated from soybean and has demonstrated chemopreventive and anti-cancer properties against skin, colon and breast cancers. The objective of the study was to evaluate the capability of intraperitoneally and orally-administered soybean-derived peptide lunasin to inhibit KM12L4 human colon cancer cell metastasis in a mouse model. Intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of lunasin (4 mg/kg bw/day) reduced the number of liver metastasis by 50% (P = 0.047) and the liver weight/body weight ratio by 23% (P = 0.039). Oral administration of lunasin reduced the number of liver metastasis by 56% (8 mg/kg bw/day, P = 0.293) and 94% (20 mg/kg bw/day, P = 0.247). Immunohistochemical staining of the liver-tissue section showed that lunasin at 20 mg/kg bw dose did not significantly reduce the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, increased the expression of proapoptotic Bax by 2.7-fold but also increased the expression of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 by 3.8-fold. Regarding epigenetic markers, H3K18 was not significantly affected by either oral dose while H4K8 was dose dependently increased by 2.3-fold (P = 0.001, 8 mg/kg bw) and 2.7-fold (P s of administration used leading to digestion of lunasin when given by oral gavage. In conclusion, lunasin reduced colon cancer metastasis in vivo;however, more studies are needed to determine the oral dose of lunasin and prevent colon cancer metastasis.

Effect of Peaches, Pears and Green Tea on Plasma Lipids Profile and Antioxidant Content in Rats Fed High Sucrose Diet

The beneficial effects of feeding syrup of peaches and pears (peel and pulp) & green tea on the restoration of the changes produced by feeding high sucrose diet on plasma lipid profile, plasma antioxidant activity, and antioxidant enzymes in red blood cells (RBC) hemolysate were studied. High sucrose diet induced hyperlipidemia as manifested by significant (P ≤ 0.05) increases in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides (TG) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) in plasma from 103.33 ± 1.8, 61.17 ± 0.48 and 26.6 ± 5.01 mg/dl to 136.67 ± 2.2, 81.3 ± 1.5 and 64.6 ± 6.5 mg/dl respectively. The high density lipoproteins (HDL) level was not significantly affected. TG levels in heart muscles increased significantly P ≤ 0.05 from the level of 194.14 ± 4.35 μg/g in the negative control to 269.72 ± 5.39 μg/g. Administration of fruits syrup and green tea resulted in a significant variable reduction in the elevated levels of cholesterol, TG and LDL and TG in the heart. Administration of sucrose resulted also in elevation of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in plasma from 5.06 ± 0.18 in the negative control to 14.81 ± 0.48 μmol/L in the positive control. This was also accompanied by reduction in the activities of supper oxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and a decrease in the concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH) in plasma, indicating lipid peroxidation. The activities of SOD, GSH-Px, CAT in the negative control were 8.96 ± 0.19, 315.67 ± 5.86, 209 ± 2.18 U/gHb respectively and were reduced significantly in the positive control to 4.7 ± 0.2, 273.83 ± 7.85, 207 ± 2.53 U/g Hb. There was a significant decrease in the level of total antioxidant status (TAS) in plasma from 1.45 ± 0.09 to 0.88 ± 0.09 nmol/L. However, no statistically significant changes were noticed in the concentrations of plasma total proteins and albumin. Intake of syrup of peaches and pears (peel and pulp) & green tea increased the level of TAS and GSH and decreased the level of LDL. The treatment also decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) the levels of plasma cholesterol, TG and heart TG levels. The activities of SOD and GSH-Px were increased following the treatment. It can be concluded that syrup of peaches and pears (peel and pulp) & green tea modulate lipid metabolism and enhance antioxidant status and in this respect green tea produced the best effect followed by peels of pears and peaches. The beneficial effect produced by fruits syrup and green tea may be due to their contents of phytochemicals.