Japanese butterbur (Petasites japonicus) leaves increase hepatic oxidative stress in male rats.

We investigated the adverse effects of Japanese butterbur leaves (Petasites japonicus, Compositae) in male F344/DuCrj rats. The rats were fed a control diet or a treatment diet containing 5% butterbur leaf powder for 4 weeks. No differences were observed in body weight gain, food intake or feed efficiency between treatments, but relative liver weight in the butterbur group was significantly higher than that of the control group.

Amelioration of D-galactosamine-induced acute liver injury in rats by dietary supplementation with betaine derived from sugar beet molasses.

The effects of betaine supplementation on D-galactosamine-induced liver injury were examined in terms of hepatic and serum enzyme activities and of the levels of glutathione and betaine-derived intermediates. The rats induced with liver injury showed marked increases in serum enzyme activity, but those receiving dietary supplementation of 1% betaine showed enzyme activity levels similar to a control group without liver injury. Administration of betaine also increased both hepatic and serum glutathione levels, even following D-galactosamine injection.

Utilization of adzuki bean extract as a natural antioxidant in cured and uncured cooked pork sausages.

A commercial adzuki bean extract (AE) was evaluated for antioxidant effectiveness in cured and uncured cooked pork sausages. TBARS values, instrumental color evaluation and sensory panel scores were assessed. For uncured sausages, AE at 0.

Effect of fermented bean paste on serum lipids in rats fed a cholesterol-free diet.

We examined the effects of fermented bean pastes derived from bean vinegar by-products on serum cholesterol in rats. The rats were fed boiled paste from adzuki (A), kintoki (K), or tebou (T), or fermented paste from adzuki (AP), kintoki (KP), or tebou (TP) for 4 weeks. The serum non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels in all the experimental groups, except for A group, were significantly lower than in the control (CN) group.

Effect of white wheat bread containing sugar beet fiber on serum lipids and hepatic mRNA in rats fed on a cholesterol-free diet.

We examined the effects of white wheat bread powder (BP) and white wheat bread powder containing sugar beet fiber (BBP) on serum cholesterol. The total cholesterol (-11%, -16%), HDL-cholesterol (-12%, -11%), non-HDL-cholesterol (-9%, -18%) and triacylglycerol (-44%, -58%) concentrations in the BP and BBP groups, respectively, were significantly different from those in the control group. The fecal excretion of neutral sterols in the BP and BBP groups and of acidic sterols in the BBP group was significantly higher than that in the control group.

Substance P immunoreactivity in the rat adrenal gland during postnatal development.

Substance P (SP)-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the adrenal medulla was very few during postnatal day 0-5, indicating that its synthesis in the neurons and the transport to nerve endings was incomplete by the end of this period. Since the number of SP-immunoreactive nerve fibers gradually increased during postnatal week 1-2, it was hypothesized that SP was not fully transported to nerve endings until postnatal week 1-2. At postnatal week 3, numerous SP-immunoreactive nerve fibers contacted some noradrenaline (NA) cells but not adrenaline (A) cells in the medulla.

Acetylcholinesterase activity, choline acetyltransferase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter immunoreactivities in the rat adrenal gland during postnatal development.

From postnatal-day-0 to postnatal-day-2, a few acetylcholinesterase (AChE)-active and choline acetytransferase (ChAT)-immunoreactive nerve fibers and relatively numerous vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT)-immunoreactive puncta were observed in the rat adrenal medulla. Despite relatively numerous clear vesicles in the nerve fibers, the synthesis and hydrolysis of acetylcholine may not be fully activated until postnatal-day-2. The number of AChE-active and ChAT-immunoreactive nerve fibers dramatically increased and that of VAChT-immunoreactive puncta gradually increased from postnatal-day-3 to postnatal-week-1.

Purification and characterization of a novel exo-beta-1,3-1,6-glucanase from the fruiting body of the edible mushroom Enoki (Flammulina velutipes).

To elucidate the role of beta-glucanases in the cell-wall degradation involved in morphogenesis, an exo-beta-1,3-1,6-glucanase (FvBGL1) was purified from fruiting bodies of the edible mushroom Enoki (Flammulina velutipes), and its enzymatic properties were studied. At least three beta-glucanases were detected in the crude extract by zymogram assay when 1% laminarin was used as substrate. The molecular mass of FvBGL1 was estimated by SDS-PAGE to be 80 kDa.

Potato and soy peptide diets modulate lipid metabolism in rats.

Dietary plant and animal peptides have been shown to reduce serum lipids. However, the potential of food-derived peptides has yet to be fully elucidated. We investigated the physiological importance of potato peptides in rats fed on a cholesterol-free diet containing 20% potato peptides (PP), when compared with two diets containing either 20% casein (CN) or 20% soy peptides (SP).

Feeding potato flakes affects cecal short-chain fatty acids, microflora and fecal bile acids in rats.

Background/aims: Feeding rats potato resistant starch improves large bowel health; however, there is little information on the physiological effects of preprocessed starch like potato flakes in animal experiments. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of the consumption of various colored potato (white, red and purple) flakes on cecal fermentation and fecal bile acid excretions in rats.

Methods: The control group was fed a basal diet (BD) containing alpha-cornstarch for 4 weeks.

Tartary buckwheat sprout powder lowers plasma cholesterol level in rats.

We examined the effects of different types of buckwheat sprouts on the plasma cholesterol concentration, fecal steroid excretion and hepatic mRNA expression related to cholesterol metabolism in rats. Rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet with 5 g of Kitawasesoba common buckwheat sprout powder (KS)/100 g, 5 g of Hokkai T no. 8 tartary buckwheat sprout powder (HS-8)/100 g or 5 g of Hokkai T no.

Effects of anthocyanin-rich purple potato flakes on antioxidant status in F344 rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet.

We examined the antioxidant effects of polyphenol/anthocyanin-rich potato (Solanum tuberosum cv. Shadow-Queen) flakes in male rats fed a high-cholesterol diet. The rats were served either a high-cholesterol (0.

Anthocyanin-rich red potato flakes affect serum lipid peroxidation and hepatic SOD mRNA level in rats.

We examined the effects of red potato flakes (RPF) on serum antioxidant potential and hepatic mRNA in rats. The serum thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances concentration and hepatic superoxide dismutase mRNA level in rats fed RPF were significantly lower and higher respectively than those in control rats. These results suggest that RPF might improve the antioxidant system by enhancing hepatic SOD mRNA.

Some bovine proteins behave as dietary fibres and reduce serum lipids in rats.

We examined the physiological importance of bovine dietary proteins in rats fed diets prepared from bovine Achilles' tendons and arteries. Rats were fed for 4 weeks, with a 20% casein diet (CON), in comparison with two diets containing 15% casein and 5% of either bovine Achilles' tendon (AC) or artery (AR) protein preparations. The serum total cholesterol concentration and non-HDL-cholesterol level in the AR-fed group were significantly lower (P< 0.

Potato pulps lowered the serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels in rats.

In our previous study, we demonstrated that retrograded starch, a kind of resistant starch, of beans reduced serum lipid levels in rats. In this study, we examined whether retrograded starch in potato pulps could reduce serum lipid concentrations. Rats were given diets containing 15 g of retrograded starch in potato pulps from the Benimaru potato (BM) or Hokkaikogane potato (HK) in a 100 g diet for 4 wk.

Anthocyanin-rich purple potato flake extract has antioxidant capacity and improves antioxidant potential in rats.

Anthocyanins from various vegetables and fruits have antioxidant activities, however, the bioactivities of coloured potato anthocyanins are not well studied. We examined the antioxidant capacities of pigmented fractions from purple potato flakes in vitro, and the antioxidant potentials of purple potato flakes in vivo. 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of the pigmented fraction from Hokkai no.

A water extract of Artemisia capillaris prevents 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride-induced liver damage in rats.

A water extract of Artemisia capillaris Thunberg (Compositae) was investigated for protective effects against oxidative stress induced by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) in Sprague-Dawley male rats. Rats were orally administered A. capillaris water extract (ACWE; 7.

Red potato extract protects from D-galactosamine-induced liver injury in rats.

The protective effects of red potato extract (RPE) as to liver damage were determined in D-galactosamine (GalN)-intoxicated rats. Increases in serum aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and lactate dehydrogenase activities, all of which were induced by GalN injection, decreased in RPE administered rats, suggesting that RPE acts as a functional food showing anti-hepatotoxicity.

Hepatoprotective effects of purple potato extract against D-galactosamine-induced liver injury in rats.

We investigated the hepatoprotective effect of purple potato extract (PPE) against D-galactosamine (GalN)-induced liver injury in rats. PPE (400 mg) was administered once daily for 8 d, and then GalN (250 mg/kg of body weight) was injected at 22 h before the rats were killed. Serum tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and asparate aminotranferase (AST) levels increased significantly after injection of GalN, but PPE inhibited GalN-induced alterations in serum TNF-alpha, LDH, ALT, and AST levels.

Amylomyces rouxii strain CBS 438.76 affects cholesterol metabolism in cholesterol-fed rats.

We examined the effects of Amylomyces rouxii, which is a mold found in some fermented foods in Indonesia, on serum cholesterol and hepatic LDL receptor mRNA in rats. Rats were fed a 0.5% cholesterol-enriched diet with (A.

Adzuki resistant starch lowered serum cholesterol and hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA mRNA levels and increased hepatic LDL-receptor and cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase mRNA levels in rats fed a cholesterol diet.

We examined the effects of adzuki bean resistant starch on serum cholesterol and hepatic mRNA in rats fed a cholesterol diet. The mRNA coded for key regulatory proteins of cholesterol metabolism. The control rats were fed 15 % cornstarch (basal diet, BD).

Effect of an adzuki bean extract on hepatic anti-oxidant enzyme mRNAs in D-galactosamine-treated rats.

In acute hepatic injury tests, an adzuki bean extract decreased D-galactosamine (GalN)-induced alterations in the serum alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotranferase activities to about 37% and 25%, respectively, although there were no significant differences in these activities between the GalN-treated group with the adzuki bean extract and the GalN-treated group without the adzuki bean extract. Furthermore, the hepatic glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and Mn- and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase mRNA levels in the GalN-treated group with the adzuki bean extract were higher than those in the control group and GalN-treated group without the adzuki bean extract.

Hepatoprotective effects of the water extract from adzuki bean hulls on acetaminophen-induced damage in rat liver.

We examined the hepatoprotective effect of water-extract from adzuki bean (Vigna angularis) hulls on acetaminophen (AAP)-induced damage in rat liver. F344/DuCrj rats of 8 weeks of age were fed diets without and with 0.5% AAP or besides it 5% adzuki extract (lyophilized) on a daily basis over a period of 4 wk.

Species and muscle differences in L-carnitine levels in skeletal muscles based on a new simple assay.

We have adapted the enzymatic method [Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 176 (3) (1991) 1617] for the safe and rapid assay of L-carnitine (L-CA) in skeletal muscle using a microplate reader. The concentration of L-CA in fresh semitendinosus muscle from broiler chicken, pig, beef cattle, deer, horse and goat muscle were 0.69, 1.

Resistant starch fraction prepared from kintoki bean affects gene expression of genes associated with cholesterol metabolism in rats.

Feeding rats beans with resistant starch reduces the serum cholesterol concentration; however, the mechanism is not fully understood. We examined the effects of resistant starch of kintoki (Phaseolus vulgaris, variety) bean on serum cholesterol and hepatic mRNAs in rats. Male F344/Du Crj rats were fed a cholesterol-free diet either with 5 g of cellulose powder (control)/100 g or 5 g of pancreatin-resistant fraction prepared from kintoki bean (kintoki)/100 g diet for 4 weeks.