In Vitro and In Vivo Antiglycation Effects of Connarus ruber Extract.

Accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) of the Maillard reaction has been implicated in the pathogenesis of diabetes and its complications. has been used as a folk remedy for several diseases, including diabetes; however, its underlying mechanism has not yet been investigated. This study investigated the effects of extract against glycation on collagen-linked AGEs and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats (STZ-DM rats) .

Environmental Impact of Tributyltin-Resistant Marine Bacteria in the Indigenous Microbial Population of Tributyltin-Polluted Surface Sediments.

　We compared the TBT-resistant ability of resting cells prepared from isolates that formed colonies on nutrient agar plates containing 100 µM tributyltin (TBT) chloride, such as Photobacterium sp. TKY1, Halomonas sp. TKY2, and Photobacterium sp.

Inhibitory effects of wasabi isothiocyanates on chemical mediator release in RBL-2H3 rat basophilic leukemia cells.

Wasabi is a plant of Japanese origin. It belongs to the family Brassicaceae and produces various isothiocyanates (ITCs). To clarify the type I allergies inhibited by wasabi ITCs, we investigated the inhibitory effect on chemical mediator release from dinitrophenylated bovine serum albumin (DNP-BSA)-stimulated RBL-2H3 rat basophilic leukemia cells.

Inhibitory effects of autolysate of Leuconostoc mesenteroides isolated from kimoto on melanogenesis.

We investigated the inhibitory effects of the autolysate of Leuconostoc mesenteroides, a lactic acid bacterium isolated from sake mash, on melanogenesis in B16F0 murine melanoma cells and a human skin model. The autolysate: induced a decrease in melanin content in B16F0 murine melanoma cells and a 17%, 36%, 41% and 58% decrease in the human skin model by the application of 0.125, 1.

Anti-allergic effect of lactic acid bacteria isolated from seed mash used for brewing sake is not dependent on the total IgE levels.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) in fermented foods have attracted considerable attention recently as treatment options for allergic diseases, the incidence of which has been increasing worldwide. Five strains of LAB isolated from kimoto, the traditional seed mash used for brewing sake, were screened for the ability to suppress IgE-mediated hypersensitivity reaction. Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus sakei, the normal microflora in kimoto, significantly suppressed the reaction, but the contaminant Lactobacillus curvatus did not.

TLR ligands of Lactobacillus sakei LK-117 isolated from seed mash for brewing sake are potent inducers of IL-12.

Many studies have investigated the immunostimulatory effects of bacteria, such as the anti-allergic effects of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and LAB-fermented milk. Importantly, these anti-allergic effects have been observed for both viable and nonviable bacteria. However, there are no reported immunological effects of LAB isolated from kimoto, the traditional yeast starter culture used for brewing sake, which also involves spontaneous lactate fermentation.

Accelerator analysis of tributyltin adsorbed onto the surface of a tributyltin resistant marine Pseudoalteromonas sp. cell.

Tributyltin (TBT) released into seawater from ship hulls is a stable marine pollutant and obviously remains in marine environments. We isolated a TBT resistant marine Pseudoalteromonas sp. TBT1 from sediment of a ship's ballast water.

Adsorption of tributyltin by tributyltin resistant marine Pseudoalteromonas sp. cells.

The isolate, Pesudoalteromonas sp. TBT1, could grow to overcome the toxicity of tributyltin chloride (TBTCl) up to 30 microM in the absence of Cl(-) in the medium until the cells reached an exponential phase of growth. The viability, however, was reduced after the cells reached a stationary phase.

Lethality of shock pressures to a marine Vibrio sp. isolated from a ship's ballast water.

The lethal effects of shock pressure treatment on suspended Vibrio sp. cells were examined. Lethality of shock pressures to the Vibrio sp.

Rotenoids and flavonoids with anti-invasion of HT1080, anti-proliferation of U937, and differentiation-inducing activity in HL-60 from Erycibe expansa.

Principal rotenoids (deguelin, tephrosin, rotenone, and 12a-hydroxyrotenone) (3-30microM) isolated from the stems of Erycibe expansa significantly inhibited invasion of human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells through Matrigel-coated filters and release of proMMPs-2 and 9. In addition, deguelin and tephrosin showed differentiation-inducing activity in human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60 cells. Furthermore, effects of various constituents isolated from the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction on proliferation of human leukemia U937 cells were examined.

Nuphar alkaloids with immediately apoptosis-inducing activity from Nuphar pumilum and their structural requirements for the activity.

The methanolic extract and its alkaloid fraction from the rhizomes of Nuphar pumilum showed cytotoxic effects on human leukemia cell (U937), mouse melanoma cell (B16F10), and human fibroblast (HT1080). Dimeric sesquiterpene thioalkaloids with the 6-hydroxyl group (6-hydroxythiobinupharidine, 6,6'-dihydroxythiobinupharidine, 6-hydroxythionuphlutine B) showed substantial cytotoxic activity at a concentration of 10 microM, but dimeric sesquiterpene thioalkaloids lacking the 6-hydroxyl group (thiobinupharidine, thionuphlutine B, 6'-hydroxythionuphlutine B, neothiobinupharidine, thionuphlutine B beta-sulfoxide, and neothiobinupharidine beta-sulfoxide) and monomeric sesquiterpene alkaloids (nupharidine, 7-epideoxynupharidine, and nupharolutine) showed weak activity. Next, apoptosis-inducing activity of a principal active constituent, 6-hydroxythiobinupharidine, on U937 was examined using morphological observation and DNA fragmentation assay (TUNEL method).

In vitro and in vivo anti-allergic activity of soy sauce.

Soy sauce (Shoyu) is a traditional fermented seasoning of Japan and available throughout the world. Polysaccharides were obtained from dialysate of Shoyu, and these Shoyu polysaccharides (SPS) were examined for anti-allergic activity in vitro and in vivo. The SPS originated from partially-degraded polysaccharides of soybeans by mold enzymatic hydrolyses, and Shoyu contained about 1% (w/v) SPS.