Feeding of 1-Kestose Induces Glutathione-S-Transferase Expression in Mouse Liver.

Functional food ingredients, including prebiotics, have been increasingly developed for human health. The improvement of the human intestinal environment is one of their main targets. Fructooligosaccarides (FOS) are oligosaccharide fructans that are well studied and commercialized prebiotics.

Influence of the galloyl moiety in tea catechins on binding affinity for human serum albumin.

The major catechins of green tea extract are (-)-epicatechin (EC), (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC), (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg), and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg). Recent research has indicated that catechins form complexes with human serum albumin (HSA) in blood, and differences in their binding affinity toward HSA are believed to modulate their bioavailability. In this study, we kinetically investigated the interaction between the catechins and HSA immobilized on a quartz-crystal microbalance (QCM).

Human serum albumin as an antioxidant in the oxidation of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate: participation of reversible covalent binding for interaction and stabilization.

Human serum albumin (HSA) contributes to the stabilization of (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) in serum. We characterize in the present study the mechanisms for preventing EGCg oxidation by HSA. EGCg was stable in human serum or buffers with HSA, but (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) was unstable.

Binding affinity of tea catechins for HSA: characterization by high-performance affinity chromatography with immobilized albumin column.

Catechins are the major polyphenols in green tea leaves. Recent studies have suggested that the catechins form complexes with HSA for transport in human blood, and their binding affinity for albumin is believed to modulate their bioavailability. In this study, the binding affinities of catechins and their analogs were evaluated and the relationship between the chemical structure of each catechin and its binding property were investigated.

Functional new acylated sophoroses and deglucosylated anthocyanins in a fermented red vinegar.

The new acylated polyphenols were isolated from a red-colored vinegar produced via fermentation with purple-fleshed sweet potato storage roots, and identified mainly by MS and NMR. The three acylated sophoroses were determined as 6-O-(E)-caffeoyl-(2-O-(6-O-acyl)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-d-glucopyranoses, where acyl was (E)-caffeoyl, p-hydroxybenzoyl, and (E)-feruloyl, respectively. The four acylated anthocyanins were also determined as cyanidin 3-O-(6-O-(E)-caffeoyl-(2-O-(6-O-(E)-feruloyl)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-beta-d-glucopyranoside), in addition to peonidin 3-O-(6-O-(E)-caffeoyl-(2-O-(6-O-acyl)-beta-d-glucopyranosyl)-beta-d-glucopyranosides), where acyl was (E)-caffeoyl, p-hydroxybenzoyl, and (E)-feruloyl, respectively.

Albumin stabilizes (-)-epigallocatechin gallate in human serum: binding capacity and antioxidant property.

(-)-Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) is the major component of green tea and is known to show strong biological activity, although it can be easily oxidized under physiological conditions. In this study, we indicate that EGCg is stable in human serum and that human serum albumin (HSA) stabilizes EGCg under aerobic condition. Although EGCg is usually decomposed within 1 h in aqueous solution at neutral pH, EGCg in serum and phosphate buffer (pH 7.