A. Berger Extracts Induce Immunity-Enhancing Effects on Cyclophosphamide-Treated Immunosuppressed Rats.

In this study, we evaluated the immunity-enhancing effects of A. Berger (OJ). To examine the immune protective effect in vitro, primary mouse splenocytes were treated with water or ethanol extracts of OJ in the absence or presence of cyclophosphamide (CY), which is a cytotoxic, immunosuppressive agent.

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Ficus carica paste for the management of functional constipation.

Background And Objectives: Constipation affects up to 20% of the world's population. The aim of this study was to investigate whether supplementation with Ficus carica paste could be used to treat constipation in Korean subjects with functional constipation.

Methods And Study Design: We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Fermenting soybeans with Bacillus licheniformis potentiates their capacity to improve cognitive function and glucose homeostaisis in diabetic rats with experimental Alzheimer's type dementia.

Purpose: Brain insulin resistance is related to both diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. We investigated whether both chungkookjangs, soybeans fermented in a traditional method (TFC) and with Bacillus lichenifomis (SFC), can protect against cognitive dysfunction and glucose dysregulation in rats with Alzheimer's disease and type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Partial pancreatectomy (Px) and ICV β-amyloid (25-35) infusion into the CA1 region were fed either control diet (AD-CON), 10% cooked soybeans (CSB), 10% TFC, or 10% SFC in a high fat diet for 8 weeks.

Soybean fermentation with Bacillus licheniformis increases insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic activity.

Traditionally fermented soybeans (chungkookjang; TFC) may have potent anti-diabetic activity, depending on the ambient microorganisms and conditions. We hypothesized that one of the major Bacillus species in TFC contributes to the anti-diabetic activity and could be used to standardize a highly functional TFC. We tested the hypothesis by using cell-based studies to evaluate insulin sensitizing and insulinotropic action of chungkookjangs fermented with various Bacillus spp.

The effectiveness of fermented turmeric powder in subjects with elevated alanine transaminase levels: a randomised controlled study.

Background: Previous animal studies have shown that Curcuma longa (turmeric) improves liver function. Turmeric may thus be a promising ingredient in functional foods aimed at improving liver function. The purpose of the study is to investigate the hepatoprotective effect of fermented turmeric powder (FTP) on liver function in subjects with elevated alanine transaminase (ALT) levels.

A placebo-controlled trial of Korean red ginseng extract for preventing influenza-like illness in healthy adults.

Background: Standardized Korean red ginseng extract has become the best-selling influenza-like illness (ILI) remedy in Korea, yet much controversy regarding the efficacy of the Korean red ginseng (KRG) in reducing ILI incidence remains. The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of the KRG extract on the ILI incidence in healthy adults.

Methods/design: We will conduct a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study at the onset of the influenza seasons.

Influence of the Chungkookjang on histamine-induced wheal and flare skin response: a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial.

Background: Allergic disease is a consequence of exposure to normally innocuous substances that elicit the activation of mast cells. Mast-cell-mediated allergic response is involved in many diseases such as anaphylaxis, urticaria, allergic rhinitis, asthma and allergic dermatitis. The development of food products for the prevention of allergic disease is an important subject in human health.

Metabolomic analysis of meju during fermentation by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS).

Changes in the water-soluble metabolites of meju during fermentation were analysed by ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF MS), and the resultant data were statistically processed by partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). Various metabolites, including amino acids, small peptides, nucleosides, urea cycle intermediates, and organic acids, which are responsible for the unique taste and nutritional and functional quality of fermented soy foods, were clearly altered by increasing the fermentation period. Changes in these metabolites allowed discrimination among meju samples with different fermentation periods (0, 10, 20, 40, and 60d) on a PLS-DA score plot, and the fermentation was mainly processed between 10 and 40d of fermentation.