Antihypertensive effects of sesamin in humans.

Sesamin, one of the lignans contained in sesame, has been considered to have medicinal effects. It has been reported that sesamin suppressed the development of hypertension in rats. In this study, using a double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial, we investigated the effect of 4-wk administration of sesamin on blood pressure (BP) in mildly hypertensive humans.

Subchronic (13-week) oral toxicity study of dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) oil in rats.

Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) is one of the essential fatty acids, and has anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic effects. To assess the toxicity of a novel DGLA oil produced by the fungus Mortierella alpina, we examined it in the Ames test and in acute and subchronic oral toxicity tests in rats. In the Ames test, no mutagenicity was found up to 5000 microg/plate.

Suppression of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in rats and mice by oolong tea polymerized polyphenols.

Oolong tea-polymerized polyphenols (OTPP) are characterized polyphenols produced from semi-fermented tea (oolong tea). In the present study, we evaluated the suppressive effects of oolong tea extract and OTPP on postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in rats and mice. Lymphatic recovery of triglycerides in rats cannulated in the thoracic duct was delayed by the administration of oolong tea extract at 100 and 200 mg per head, and more effectively than with green tea extract.

Inhibitory effects of oolong tea polyphenols on pancreatic lipase in vitro.

Fifty-four polyphenols isolated from tea leaves were evaluated for their inhibitory activities against pancreatic lipase, the key enzyme of lipid absorption in the gut. (-)-Epigallocatechin 3-O-gallate (EGCG), which is one of major polyphenols in green tea, showed lipase inhibition with an IC50 of 0.349 microM.

Arachidonic acid improves aged rats' spatial cognition.

To examine the effects of arachidonic acid (AA) on age-related cognitive deficits, F-344 rats were administered with an AA-supplemented powder diet from 79 weeks of age (OA group). For comparison, we also used an age-matched control group of animals (OC group) that were fed with a non AA-supplemented powder diet. When the subjects reached 87 weeks old, they were trained for Morris water maze place and cue tasks.

2-O-(beta-D-Glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid, a novel ascorbic acid analogue isolated from Lycium fruit.

A novel stable precursor of ascorbic acid (vitamin C), 2-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)ascorbic acid, was isolated from both the ripe fresh fruit and dried fruit of Lycium barbarum L., a plant of the Solanaceae family. The chemical structure was inferred by instrumental analyses and confirmed by chemical synthesis.

Synaptic plasticity preserved with arachidonic acid diet in aged rats.

We examined whether synaptic plasticity was preserved in aged rats administered an arachidonic acid (AA) containing diet. Young male Fischer-344 rats (2 mo of age), and two groups of aged rats of the same strain (2 y of age) who consumed either a control diet or an AA ethyl ester-containing diet for at least 3 mo were used. In the Morris water maze task, aged rats on the AA diet had tendency to show better performance than aged rats on the control diet.