Purification, cloning, and functional characterization of a novel immunomodulatory protein from Antrodia camphorata (bitter mushroom) that exhibits TLR2-dependent NF-κB activation and M1 polarization within murine macrophages.

A new immunomodulatory protein, designated ACA, was purified from the mycelium extract of Antrodia camphorata , a well-known folk medicine bitter mushroom in Taiwan, and N-terminally sequenced. By taking advantage of its N-terminal amino acid sequence, the full-length ACA gene was cloned using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) approach. This gene encodes a 136 amino acid protein that is homologous to the phytotoxic proteins from fungi.

Particle size reduction effectively enhances the cholesterol-lowering activities of carrot insoluble fiber and cellulose.

This study investigated and compared the effects of particle size reduction on the cholesterol-lowering activities of carrot insoluble fiber-rich fraction (IFF) and plant cellulose. Our results demonstrated that micronization treatment effectively pulverized the particle sizes of these insoluble fibers to different microsizes. Feeding the micronized insoluble fibers, particularly the micronized carrot IFF, significantly (p < 0.

High processing tolerances of immunomodulatory proteins in Enoki and Reishi mushrooms.

This study investigated the processing tolerances of two mushroom proteins with immunomodulatory activities, including FVE from Enoki ( Flammulia velutipes ) and LZ8 from Reishi ( Ganoderma lucidum ) mushrooms, under food processing treatments such as heating, sterilization, frozen storage, extraction in acid/alkaline conditions, and dehydration. Results showed that the capability of these two proteins to induce IFN-gamma secretion by murine splenocytes remained after 100 degrees C heating for 30 min, 121 degrees C autoclaving for 15 min, and -80 degrees C freezing. The retained activities of both proteins on cell proliferation and IFN-gamma production did not decrease at 0.

Micronization increases vitamin E carrying and releasing abilities of insoluble fiber.

This study was to investigate the effects of micronization on vitamin-carrying capacity and slow-release ability of carambola (starfruit) insoluble fiber (IF) and cellulose using in vitro and in vivomodels. Upon micronization, carambola IF (8.1 microm) underwent structural changes to expose more functional groups in the fiber matrix and to exhibit higher oil-holding capacity ( approximately 20.