Effects of Thermal Treatment on the Physical Properties of Edible Calcium Alginate Gel Beads: Response Surface Methodological Approach.

Calcium alginate gel (CAG) has been widely investigated for the development of artificial foods; however, there are few studies on its thermal stability. This study aimed to monitor changes in the physical properties of CAG beads during heat treatment using response surface methodology. Heating temperature (X, 40-100 °C) and heating time (X, 5-60 min) were chosen as independent variables.

A Standardized Phlorotannin Supplement Attenuates Caffeine-Induced Sleep Disruption in Mice.

In our previous studies, a standardized phlorotannin (brown seaweed polyphenol) supplement (PS) exhibited sleep-promoting effects via type A γ-aminobutyric acid-benzodiazepine receptors in mice. In addition, in human clinical trials, it decreased wake after sleep onset in adults with sleep disturbance. In this follow-up study, we investigated whether PS attenuates caffeine-induced sleep disruption in mice.

In vitro antibacterial activity and synergistic antibiotic effects of phlorotannins isolated from Eisenia bicyclis against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Six phlorotannins, isolated from Eisenia bicyclis, were evaluated for antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of the compounds were in the range 32 to 64 µg/mL. Phlorofucofuroeckol-A (PFF) exhibited the highest anti-MRSA activity, with an MIC of 32 µg/mL.

13-Week oral toxicity study of oil derived from squid (Todarodes pacificus) in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Recommendations to increase the consumption of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are challenged by the global problem of declining fish stocks. Non-traditional and more sustainable sources of the long-chain omega-3 fatty acids are needed. Squid (Todarodes pacificus) represents a uniquely sustainable source of these fatty acids.

Depressive effects on the central nervous system and underlying mechanism of the enzymatic extract and its phlorotannin-rich fraction from Ecklonia cava edible brown seaweed.

Marine plants have been reported to possess various pharmacological properties; however, there have been few reports on their neuropharmacological effects. Terrestrial plants have depressive effects on the central nervous system (CNS) because of their polyphenols which make them effective as anticonvulsants and sleep inducers. We investigated in this study the depressive effects of the polyphenol-rich brown seaweed, Ecklonia cava (EC), on CNS.

Isolation and identification of antitumor promoters from the seeds of Cassia tora.

A methanol extract of Cassia tora seeds was successively partitioned with diethyl ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water, and the antitumor-promoting activity of the solvent fractions was determined by inhibition of Epstein- Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by teleocidin B-4 in Raji cells. The diethyl ether (68.7%) and chloroform (91.

Mutagenic and carcinogenic heterocyclic amines as affected by muscle types/skin and cooking in pan-roasted mackerel.

The dependence on muscle types/skin and on degrees of cooking in the formation of heterocyclic amines (HCAs) of pan-roasted mackerel was studied. High levels of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) were found in very well done skin and ordinary muscle, being 4.2 and 5.