Heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Shinshu N-07 exerts antiobesity effects in western diet-induced obese mice.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiobesity effects of heat-killed Lactiplantibacillus plantarum Shinshu N-07 (N-07) isolated from fermented Brassica rapa L.

Methods And Results: Male mice were divided into three groups (n = 10/group); normal diet, western diet (WD), or WD + N-07 (N-07) group and administered each diet for 56 days. The N-07 group showed significant suppression of body weight gain and epididymal fat, perirenal fat, and liver weights compared with the WD group.

Metabolomic evaluation of different starter culture effects on water-soluble and volatile compound profiles in pickle fermentation.

Metabolomic characterization of a lactic-fermented pickle of ( L. var. ) was conducted to evaluate the effects of different starter culture strains on the chemical profiles.

Strain KT-11 S-Layer Protein Inhibits Rotavirus Infection.

S-layer proteins (SLPs), which are present in the external layer of certain strains of lactic acid bacteria isolated from the intestinal tract, are known to recognize and bind to specific proteins and glycan structures and contribute to adsorption to the host intestinal mucosa. The binding properties of certain SLPs are considered to exert a competitive inhibitory effect on infection because similar properties are involved in the infection mechanisms of several viruses. However, little is known regarding whether SLPs directly inhibit viral infection.

Inhibitory effect of strawberry geranium (Saxifraga stolonifera) on Toll-like receptor 2-mediated inflammatory response in human skin keratinocytes.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Strawberry geranium (Saxifraga stolonifera [L.] Meeb) has traditionally been used as a drug to treat skin disorders in Japan. However, little is known about its physiological effects on skin keratinocytes.

Suppressive Effects of Hot-water Extract of Magnolia obovata on Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin-induced Cytotoxicity in Human Intestinal Caco-2 Cells.

The physiological functions of the leaves of Japanese big-leaf magnolia () against enterotoxins produced by foodborne pathogens remain unclear. In this study, we evaluated the protective effects of leaf extract (MLE) against the cytotoxicity of enterotoxin (CPE), which causes the symptoms of type A food poisoning. The protective effects of MLE against CPE-induced cytotoxicity were evaluated in human intestinal epithelial Caco-2 cells.

Characterization of Microbiota that Influence Immunomodulatory Effects of Fermented Brassica rapa L.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) exert beneficial health effects by regulating immune responses. Brassica rapa L., known as Nozawana, is commonly consumed as a lactic acid-fermented food called nozawana-zuke.

Effect of the topical application of an ethanol extract of quince seeds on the development of atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in NC/Nga mice.

Background: Quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) is a deciduous shrub belonging to the Rosaceae family. Quince seed extract has long been used as a cosmetic ingredient for its moisturizing effect. However, little is known about whether quince seed extract has therapeutic effects on keratinocyte-associated skin inflammation.

Inhibitory Effect of a Hot-Water Extract of Leaves of Japanese Big-Leaf Magnolia (Magnolia obovata) on Rotavirus-Induced Diarrhea in Mouse Pups.

The leaf of Japanese big-leaf magnolia (Magnolia obovata Thunb.) has long been used as a natural packaging material for traditional foods in Japan. However, many of the physiological functions of the leaves against oral infection and resultant illness remain unclear.

Establishment and characterization of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cell hybridomas.

Interleukin (IL)-3-dependent mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) are an important model for studying the function of mucosal-type mast cells. In the present study, BMMCs were successfully immortalized by cell fusion using a hypoxanthine-aminopterin-thymidine medium-sensitive variant of P815 mouse mastocytoma (P815-6TgR) as a partner cell line. The established mouse mast cell hybridomas (MMCHs) expressed α, β, and γ subunits of high-affinity immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptor (FcεRI) and possessed cytoplasmic granules devoid of or partially filled with electron-dense material.

Inhibitory effect of hot-water extract of quince (Cydonia oblonga) on immunoglobulin E-dependent late-phase immune reactions of mast cells.

We evaluated the effect of a crude hot-water extract (HW) of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) fruit on immunoglobulin E (IgE)-dependent late-phase immune reactions of mast cells using in vitro system. Mast cell-like RBL-2H3 cells were treated with quince HW and late-phase reaction was then induced by stimulation with IgE + Antigen. Quince HW reduced the elevation of interleukin-13 and tumor necrosis factor-α expression level.

Inhibitory effect of heat-killed Lactobacillus strain on immunoglobulin E-mediated degranulation and late-phase immune reactions of mouse bone marrow-derived mast cells.

This study investigated the in vitro effect of Lactobacillus strains, a major group of probiotic lactic acid bacteria, on immunoglobulin E (IgE)- and antigen-induced mast cell degranulation and subsequent gene expression. Bone marrow-derived mast cells (BMMCs) from DBA/2 mice were cultured with heat-killed Lactobacillus strains for 24 h. Some strains significantly inhibited IgE- and antigen-induced β-hexosaminidase release from BMMCs.

Anti-allergic effect of a hot-water extract of quince (Cydonia oblonga).

We examined the effect of a crude hot-water extract (HW) of quince (Cydonia oblonga Miller) fruit on type I allergy in vivo and in vitro. The oral administration of the quince HW-added diet to NC/Nga mice for 63 d showed a significant decrease in the development of atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions under conventional conditions. The concentration of IgE in the serum collected from mice fed with quince HW was also lowered in a dose-dependent manner.

Protective mechanism of reduced water against alloxan-induced pancreatic beta-cell damage: Scavenging effect against reactive oxygen species.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause irreversible damage to biological macromolecules, resulting in many diseases. Reduced water (RW) such as hydrogen-rich electrolyzed reduced water and natural reduced waters like Hita Tenryosui water in Japan and Nordenau water in Germany that are known to improve various diseases, could protect a hamster pancreatic beta cell line, HIT-T15 from alloxan-induced cell damage. Alloxan, a diabetogenic compound, is used to induce type 1 diabetes mellitus in animals.

Catalyser-21(TM), a mineral water derived from leaf soil, inhibits tumor cell invasion and angiogenesis.

Catalyser-21(TM) is a mineral water derived from natural leaf soil containing various organic and inorganic substances. Previous reports suggested a possibility that Catalyser-21(TM) has antioxidative potential and could inhibit angiogenesis and cancer cell invasiveness. Angiogenesis is a prerequisite for cancer cells to spread to surrounding tissues.

Inhibitory effect of electrolyzed reduced water on tumor angiogenesis.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key mediator of tumor angiogenesis. Tumor cells are exposed to higher oxidative stress compared to normal cells. Numerous reports have demonstrated that the intracellular redox (oxidation/reduction) state is closely associated with the pattern of VEGF expression.

Oral ingestion of phosphorylated dextrin stimulates antibody responses in mice.

Corn dextrin with an average degradation degree of 16.7, or molecular mass of 2,700, was covalently introduced with 4.5 mol of phosphoric acid per mole by dry-heating with sodium phosphate.

[A case of adenosquamous gastric carcinoma successfully treated with TS-1, low-dose CDDP and docetaxel as neoadjuvant chemotherapy].

The patient was a 66-year-old male with extremely advanced gastric cancer type 3 and diagnosed with adenocarcinoma by endoscopic biopsies specimens. Combined chemotherapy of TS-1, CDDP and docetaxel was prescribed in order for tumor reduction and downstaging. TS-1 (80 mg/m(2)) was administered 28 days followed by 14 days rest as one course.

Bovine beta-casein (1-28), a casein phosphopeptide, enhances proliferation and IL-6 expression of mouse CD19+ cells via Toll-like receptor 4.

This study was conducted to elucidate the target cells and receptors which participate in the mitogenic and interleukin (IL)-6-enhancing effect of bovine beta-casein (1-28), a casein phosphopeptide. When the spleen lymphocyte subset (CD4+, CD8+, and CD19+ cells) from C3H/HeN mice was cultured with the beta-casein (1-28), it exerted a dose-dependent mitogenic effect on CD19+ cells. The effect of beta-casein (1-28) was not apparent in the case of CD19+ cells from C3H/HeJ mouse.

Stimulatory effect of lactic acid bacteria from commercially available Nozawana-zuke pickle on cytokine expression by mouse spleen cells.

We investigated the effect of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from eight samples of commercially available Nozawana-zuke, a traditional Japanese pickle, on cytokine expression by mouse spleen cell cultures. The 12 isolated strains of LAB (Nz1-Nz12), which were identified as genus Lactobacillus or Leuconostoc by the API50CHL test, enhanced the expression of interferon (IFN)-gamma with 6 h of culture. Ten of these 12 LAB, particularly Nz8, enhanced interleukin (IL)-12 p40 expression.

Characterization of casein phosphopeptides from fermented milk products.

This study dealt with the potential of fermented milk products as a source of functional casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) using plain yogurts and Camembert cheeses. The CPPs were prepared by tryptic digestion from four commercially available plain yogurts (P1-P4), five Camembert cheeses (C1-C5), and raw milk. From portions with a 1-g protein content of the plain yogurts, the Camembert cheeses, and the raw milk, 171 mg, 139 mg, and 146 mg of CPPs were obtained, respectively.

Effect of beta-casein (1-28) on proliferative responses and secretory functions of human immunocompetent cell lines.

The effect of bovine beta-casein (1-28) purified from commercial casein phosphopeptide preparations on human T, B, and monocyte cell lines was evaluated. Beta-casein (1-28) enhanced the proliferation of the following: T cell lines HUT-78, Jurkat Clone E6-1, and MOLT-4; B cell lines BALL, KHM-1B, and U266B1; and monocyte cell lines U937 and HL-60. Moreover, beta-casein (1-28) stimulated IgA production by KHM-1B over 96 h of culture.

Stimulatory effects of casein phosphopeptide (CPP-III) on mRNA expression of cytokines in Caco-2 cells.

The effect of CPP-III, a commercially available casein phosphopeptide, on the mRNA expression of cytokines in Caco-2 cells was investigated. CPP-III enhanced the mRNAs of interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha while IL-1beta was not affected. The mRNA expression of IL-6 was stronger in the presence of both CPP-III and bacterial components such as peptidoglycan from Lactobacillus acidophilus and lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella typhimurium.

Stimulatory effect of a dietary casein phosphopeptide preparation on the mucosal IgA response of mice to orally ingested lipopolysaccharide from Salmonella typhimurium.

The effect on immunoglobulin production of a commercially available casein phosphopeptide preparation (CPP-III) consisting mainly of bovine alpha s2-casein (1-32) and beta-casein (1-28) in mice that had orally ingested lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Salmonella typhimurium was investigated. No significant difference in body weight gain was observed between the mice fed on the CPP-III-added diet and those fed on the control diet. The mice fed on the CPP-III-added diet exhibited similar serum and intestinal IgG, IgM, and IgE responses towards LPS to those fed on the control diet.