Current Insights on the Photoprotective Mechanism of the Macular Carotenoids, Lutein and Zeaxanthin: Safety, Efficacy and Bio-Delivery.

Ocular health has emerged as one of the major issues of global health concern with a decline in quality of life in an aging population, in particular and rise in the number of associated morbidities and mortalities. One of the chief reasons for vision impairment is oxidative damage inflicted to photoreceptors in rods and cone cells by blue light as well as UV radiation. The scenario has been aggravated by unprecedented rise in screen-time during the COVID and post-COVID era.

Safety assessment of a novel, dietary pyrroloquinoline quinone disodium salt (mnemoPQQ).

Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a potent coenzyme antioxidant naturally occurring in foods, has been demonstrated to protect brain cells by enhancing the expression of nerve growth factors (NGF) and NGF receptors, and suppressing the fibril formation and aggression of amyloid β. We developed mnemoPQQ, a novel PQQ disodium salt and assessed its safety in GLP compliant toxicity studies. Acute toxicity studies of mnemoPQQ in Wistar rats revealed that its LD was 1825- and 1410 mg/kg body weight (bw) in male and female rats, respectively, whereas its acute dermal LD was >2000 mg/kg bw.

Efficacy and Safety of Dietary Undenatured Type II Collagen on Joint and Motor Function in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study.

Prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) is increasing alarmingly worldwide. Slowing down the progression of OA and diverse locomotive organ disorders is gaining interest in improving the quality of life (QOL) and extending healthy life-span. In a pilot study, intake of a small amount of undenatured type II collagen exhibited suppression of damage to the articular cartilage via oral immune tolerance.

Effect of Dietary Pyrroloquinoline Quinone Disodium Salt on Cognitive Function in Healthy Volunteers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Parallel-Group Study.

Background: Cognitive dysfunctions are increasing alarmingly around the world, and researchers are exploring preventive measures for improving brain performance. Pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ), a naturally occurring coenzyme in foods, exhibits potent antioxidant activity, and improves diverse functions which include mitochondrial activation, growth, repair, protection of nerve cells by increased expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and NGF receptors; and suppression of fibril formation and aggregation of amyloid β.

Objective: This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical investigation (RCT) evaluated the efficacy and safety of PQQ disodium salt powder (mnemoPQQ®) for improved cognitive function after 12 weeks of supplementation in healthy Japanese male and female (age 40 to <80 Y).

An overview of a novel, water-soluble undenatured type II collagen (NEXT-II).

Background: Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis, is a crippling, chronic debilitating bone disease that commonly affects humans, dogs, and horses. Inflammation and inflammatory responses are key factors for causing swelling, redness, pain, and loss of movement in arthritic animals and humans.

Methods And Results: We developed a novel, water-soluble, undenatured type II collagen (NEXT-II) for osteoarthritis.

Safety and toxicological evaluation of a novel, fermented, peptide-enriched, hydrolyzed swine placenta extract powder.

Placenta is an important organ that connects the developing fetus to allow nutrient uptake, antibody provisions and gas exchange via the blood supply of the mother. We developed a novel, standardized, stable, water-soluble, peptide-enriched hydrolyzed, Horus fermented placenta powder (HFPEP) from healthy, pathogen-free, swine placenta. Earlier studies demonstrated that HFPEP significantly improves physical fatigue, hepatic functions and repair of muscle fibers.

Water-soluble undenatured type II collagen ameliorates collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

Earlier studies have reported the efficacy of type II collagen (C II) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, a few studies have investigated the ability of the antigenic collagen to induce oral tolerance, which is defined as active nonresponse to an orally administered antigen. We hypothesized that water-soluble undenatured C II had a similar effect as C II in RA.

Safety and toxicological evaluation of a novel, water-soluble undenatured type II collagen.

This study was conducted to determine the broad-spectrum safety of a novel, water-soluble undenatured type II collagen (NEXT-II) derived from chicken sternum cartilage. The presence of epitope in NEXT-II was confirmed by using a commercial kit. The acute oral LD₅₀ of NEXT-II was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg bw in rats, while the single-dose acute dermal LD₅₀ was greater than 2000 mg/kg bw.

Safety of oligonol, a highly bioavailable lychee-derived polyphenolic antioxidant, on liver, kidney and heart function in rats.

Oligonol (OLG), derived from lychee fruit, is a novel compound produced from the oligomerization of polyphenols. In this study, the acute effect of OLG treatment was investigated on heart, liver and kidney in rats. OLG treatment at two different doses (15 or 30 mg/kg body weight) and two different time points (1 day or 7 days of treatment) demonstrated that no toxic effects were observed on heart, liver and renal functions.

Vasorelaxant effects of Acer nikoense extract and isolated coumarinolignans on rat aortic rings.

The organic extract of the heartwood of Acer nikoense Maxim. (Aceraceae) showed vasorelaxant activity on rat aorta with or without endothelium. Coumarin [scopoletin (1)] and coumarinolignans [cleomiscosin A (2) and aquillochin (3)] were isolated as major constituents from the organic extract of the heartwood of A.

Inhibitory effects of methyl brevifolincarboxylate isolated from Phyllanthus niruri L. on platelet aggregation.

A platelet-aggregatory inhibitor was isolated from the 50% MeOH extract of Phyllanthus niruri L. leaf. Its structure was determined to be methyl brevifolincarboxylate on the basis of the 1H-, 13C-NMR, and high-resolution mass spectral data.

Health foods and foods with health claims in Japan.

The terms 'nutraceuticals' and 'dietary or food supplements' are not very popular in Japan as compared to most of other countries. However, the concept of 'functional foods', which benefits the structure and function of the human body, is known as a result of research studies initiated on the health benefits of foods in 1984. The Ministry of Education organized a national research and development project to evaluate the functionalities of various foods.

Vasorelaxant effects of methyl brevifolincarboxylate from the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri.

Methyl brevifolincarboxylate (1) isolated from the leaves of Phyllanthus niruri L. showed a vasorelaxant effect on rat aortic rings. Compound 1 exhibited slow relaxation activity against norepinephrine (NE)-induced contractions of rat aorta with or without endothelium.

Adenine, an inhibitor of platelet aggregation, from the leaves of Cassia alata.

Adenine was isolated as a platelet aggregating inhibitor from the leaves of Cassia alata by HPLC using a triacontylsilyl silica (C(30)) column. The inhibitory effects of adenine and adenosine (positive control) on the platelet aggregation induced by collagen or adenosine 5'-diphosphate (ADP) as an aggregating agent was evaluated with a platelet aggregometer using a laser-scattering method. As a result, the inhibitory effect of adenine was observed in the platelet aggregation induced by collagen (1.

Antiinflammatory activity of heat-treated Cassia alata leaf extract and its flavonoid glycoside.

Antiinflammatory activities of heat-treated Cassia alata leaf extract and kaempferol 3-O-gentiobioside (K3G) isolated from C. alata as an abundant flavonoid glycoside were studied by comparing their activities with the activities of sun-dried C. alata leaf extract.

HPLC quantification of kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside in Cassia alata.

Kaempferol-3-O-gentiobioside, the major flavonoid glycoside in Indonesian Cassia alata was quantified in various parts of the plant. The mature leaf was found to contain the highest content of this metabolite. A decrease of the flavonoid content in the juvenile leaf during the period of October through December was also observed.