Anti-inflammatory effect of pepper extract with high polyamine levels; inhibition of ERK/MAPK pathway in mice.

Unlabelled: Polyamines have been reported to have cell proliferative and anti-inflammatory effects on normal metabolism in the body. This study aimed to investigate polyamine content of AIG01 pepper and the anti-inflammatory effect of AIG01 pepper extract (PAE) in mice. Polyamine content was analyzed by HPLC after acid hydrolysis of peppers with different acidic solvents.

Intestinal Production of Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitor by Spores.

This study examines the possibility of directly producing and utilizing useful substances in the intestines of animals using anaerobic bacteria that can grow in the intestines of animals. A facultative anaerobe producing a large amount of α-glucosidase inhibitor was isolated from hay and identified and named CC. The main compound of α-glucosidase inhibitor produced by CC was identified as 1-deoxynojirimycin.

Production of α-glucosidase inhibitor in the intestines by Bacillus licheniformis.

We selected Bacillus licheniformis NY1505 by screening a strain capable of producing α-glucosidase inhibitors in both aerobic and anaerobic environments in vitro and spore formation. To confirm whether this strain proliferates in the intestine and produces α-glucosidase inhibitor, the spores of this strain were administered to mice orally. As the results, it was confirmed that 10 cells and about 300 units of α-glucosidase inhibitor per 1 g feces were excreted in the feces after three weeks of administration as spores.

Construction of genetic linkage map and identification of QTLs related to agronomic traits in DH population of maize (Zea mays L.) using SSR markers.

Background: In this study, we used phenotypic and genetic analysis to investigate Double haploid (DH) lines derived from normal corn parents (HF1 and 11S6169). DH technology offers an array of advantages in maize genetics and breeding as follows: first, it significantly shortens the breeding cycle by development of completely homozygous lines in two or three generations; and second, it simplifies logistics, including requiring less time, labor, and financial resources for developing new DH lines compared with the conventional RIL population development process.

Objectives: In our study, we constructed a maize genetic linkage map using SSR markers and a DH population derived from a cross of normal corn (HF1) and normal corn (11S6169).

The monoclonal antibody for discrimination of natural honey against artificial honey.

Background: Honey is a natural product used as food, medicine, or cosmetics for very long time and is made by bees. Honey contains various components such as sugar, protein, minerals, and vitamins. Honey is made by or , which commonly has major royal jelly proteins (MRJPs) as a major protein.

Rapid determination of capsaicinoids by colorimetric method.

Capsaicinoids, the pungent component of chili peppers, are generally analyzed by precise analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), but these are not practical for the mass analyses of samples. To analyze mass samples rapidly, a colorimetric method was suggested. In this work, pigments and capsaicinoids were efficiently separated from chili pepper extract by sequential solid-liquid extraction and liquid-liquid extraction in test tubes followed by a colorimetric analysis on the capsaicinoids by a selective chromogenic reaction with Gibbs reagent (2,6-dichloroquinone-4-chloroimide).

Coptis chinensis Franch. extract up-regulate type I helper T-cell cytokine through MAPK activation in MOLT-4 T cell.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: The dried rhizome of Coptis chinensis Franch. (Huanglian) has been widely used in Asian traditional medicine. It was already known that Coptis chinensis Franch.

PTP1B, α-glucosidase, and DPP-IV inhibitory effects for chromene derivatives from the leaves of Smilax china L.

Two new flavonoids, bismilachinone (11) and smilachinin (14), were isolated from the leaves of Smilax china L. together with 14 known compounds. Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods.

Antioxidative effect of purple corn extracts during storage of mayonnaise.

Anthocyanin is a powerful natural antioxidant. Purple corn husk is rich in anthocyanin. In this paper the antioxidative effect of anthocyanin-rich purple corn husk extract (PCHE) in mayonnaise during storage was studied.

Gastroprotective effect of cyanidin 3-glucoside on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats.

This study investigated the in vivo protective effect of cyanidin 3-glucoside (C3G) against ethanol-induced gastric lesions in rats. The experimental rats were treated with 80% ethanol after pretreatment with various doses of C3G (4 and 8 mg/kg of body weight), and the control rats received only 80% ethanol. Oral pretreatment with C3G significantly inhibited the formation of ethanol-induced gastric lesions and the elevation of the lipid peroxide level.

Corn husk as a potential source of anthocyanins.

Anthocyanin pigments are extracted from various plants and used for diverse purposes. The overall goal of this study was to develop high-anthocyanin corn to enhance the economic efficiency of anthocyanin production. We determined and compared the anthocyanin contents from the different parts of purple corn in various breeding lines.

Oleic acid: an efficient inhibitor of glucosyltransferase.

Among the extracts from 420 kinds of herbs, Prunus salicina, showing the highest glucosyltransferase inhibition activity, was purified and designated GTI-0163. Structural determination of GTI-0163 revealed it to be an oleic acid-based unsaturated fatty acid. GTI-0163 was an uncompetitive inhibitor of GTase.

Free radical scavenging and hepatoprotective actions of Quercus aliena acorn extract against CCl4-induced liver.

In the present study, we investigated the protective effect of Quercus aliena acorn extracts against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats, and the mechanism underlying the protective effects. Aqueous extracts of Quercus aliena acorn had higher superoxide radical scavenging activity than other types of extracts. The Quercus aliena acorn extracts displayed dose-dependent superoxide radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 4.

Inhibitory effect of pine extract on alpha-glucosidase activity and postprandial hyperglycemia.

Objective: This study investigated the inhibitory effect of pine bark extract (PBE) and needle extract on carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzymes and the hypoglycemic effect in diabetic mice (Lep(ob) [ob/ob]).

Methods: Pine bark and needle were dried and then placed in ethanol, and the extracts were assayed for the measurement of inhibition mode of PBE against alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.

Overexpression of Arabidopsis ACK1 alters leaf morphology and retards growth and development.

Cyclin dependent kinases (CDKs) play important roles in the plant cell cycle, a highly coordinated process in plant growth and development. To understand the regulatory network involving the CDKs, we have examined the role of ACK1, a gene that has significant homology to known ICKs (inhibitors of CDKs), but occupies a distinct branch of the ICK phylogenetic tree. Overexpression of ACK1 in transgenic Arabidopsis significantly inhibited growth, leading to effects such as serration of leaves, as a result of strong inhibition of cell division in the leaf meristem.

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Morus bombycis Koidzumi on CCl4-induced liver damage.

The antioxidant activity and liver protective effect of Morus bombycis Koidzumi were investigated. Aqueous extracts of M. bombycis Koidzumi had higher superoxide radical scavenging activity than other types of extracts.

A novel alpha-glucosidase inhibitor from pine bark.

Inhibitors of carbohydrate-hydrolysing enzymes play an important role for the treatment of diabetes. To our knowledge, a number of inhibitors such as, 1-deoxynojirimycin, acarbose and voglibose have been identified as a result of screening of secondary metabolites up to now. In this note, we report the inhibitory effect on carbohydrate hydrolysis of ethanol extracts from more than 1400 species of plants with the aim of identifying a potential antihyperglycemic drug.