Different particle sizes of Momordica charantia leaf powder modify the rheological and textural properties of corn starch-based 3D food printing ink.

The study determined the effect of incorporating Momordica charantia leaf powder (MCLP) into corn-starch 3D food-printing ink as a functional ingredient. The effects of the particle size (75, 131, and 200 µm) and quantity of MCLP on 3D printing performance, structural, textural, and rheological properties of corn starch gel were evaluated with different concentrations (5, 10, and 15 % (w/w)) of corn starch. The viscoelastic properties of food inks were determined considering their behavior during extrusion and self-recovery after printing. Scanning electron microscope was used to characterize the microstructure. Based on the results, a high starch content (15 %) with 5 % MCLP was more favorable for 3D food printing. In addition, 3D printing performance, textural and rheological properties of formulated ink was mainly governed by the particle size of MCLP. The food ink with a 5 % mass fraction of 200 µm MCLP had the highest printing precision and the best masticatory properties.

Identification and characterization of gut-associated lactic acid bacteria isolated from the bean bug, Riptortus pedestris (Hemiptera: Alydidae).

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are beneficial bacteria for humans and animals. However, the characteristics and functions of LAB in insects remain unclear. Here, we isolated LAB from the gut of Riptortus pedestris, a pest that is a significant problem in soybean cultivation in Korea, and identified two Lactococcus lactis and one Enterococcus faecalis using matrix-associated laser desorption/ionization-time of flight and 16S rRNA analyses. All three LAB strains survived at pH 8, and L. lactis B103 and E. faecalis B105 survived at pH 9 for 24 h. In addition, these strains survived well in simulated gastric juice of humans containing pepsin and exhibited high resistance to bile salts. Two strains of L. lactis and one of E. faecalis maintained constant density (> 104 colony-forming units [CFU]/mL) at pH 2.5, but viability at pH 2.2 was strain-dependent. The three LAB were reinoculated into second-instar nymphs of R. pedestris and colonized well, reaching a constant density (> 105 CFU/gut) in the adult insect gut. Interestingly, feeding of these LAB increased the survival rate of insects compared to the negative control, with the largest increase seen for L. lactis B103. However, the LAB did not increase the weight or length of adult insects. These results indicate that insect-derived LAB possess the traits required for survival under gastrointestinal conditions and have beneficial effects on insect hosts. The LAB infection frequency of the wild bean bug populations was 89% (n = 18) in Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. These LAB can be utilized as a novel probiotic in the cultivation of beneficial insects. This study provides fundamental information about the symbiosis between insects and LAB, and a novel concept for pest control.

Inhibitory effects of Centella asiatica (L.) Urban on enlarged prostate through androgen receptor and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways.

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban (C. asiatica) is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used for wound healing and anti-inflammation since ancient times. Various biological effects of C. asiatica ethanolic extract (CAE) were previously reported. However, in our previous study, C. asiatica aqueous extract (CAA) exhibited higher inhibitory activity on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) than CAE. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CAA on BPH, and elucidate the inhibitory mechanism through in vitro and in vivo experiments as well as metabolite analysis of CAA. A BPH rat model was induced by daily subcutaneous injection of testosterone propionate (TP, 3 mg kg-1) dissolved in corn oil for 4 weeks after castration. The experimental group, the CAA treatment group, was orally administered CAA (100 mg kg-1) for 4 weeks while inducing prostatic hyperplasia. Saw palmetto extract (Saw, 100 mg kg-1) and Finasteride (Fi, 1 mg kg-1) were used as positive controls and were administered orally for 4 weeks. CAA significantly inhibited androgen receptor signaling related factors overexpressed by dihydrotestosterone (DHT) treatment in prostate cell lines. Afterwards, the testosterone-induced BPH model was used to verify the alleviation efficacy of CAA in prostatic hyperplasia. Prostate size and the thickness of the prostate tissue epithelium were significantly decreased in the group treated with CAA compared to those in the BPH group. The results of protein expression in the prostate tissue confirmed that CAA inhibited androgen receptor signaling in BPH and decreased the expression of growth factors. Moreover, CAA suppressed the expression of the PI3K/Akt pathway and cell proliferation-related factors compared to the BPH group. Taken together, these results indicate that CAA improves the inhibitory efficacy of BPH by inhibiting the androgen receptor and PI3K/Akt pathways, suggesting that CAA may be a promising candidate for biopharmaceutical formulations of BPH.

Ameliorative effect of Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai on benign prostatic hyperplasia in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common prostate disease and one of the most common chronic diseases caused by aging in men. On the other hand, there has been no research on BPH using Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai (A. distichum). Therefore, this study investigated the effects of A. distichum on BPH. MATERIALS/METHODS: A. distichum leaves were extracted with distilled water, 70% ethanol, and 95% hexane as solvents. Subsequently, the inhibitory effects of each A. distichum extract on androgen receptor (AR) signaling were evaluated in vitro. The testosterone-induced BPH model was then used to confirm the efficacy of A. distichum leaves in 70% ethanol extract (ADLE). RESULTS: ADLE had the strongest inhibitory effect on AR signaling. A comparison of the activity of ADLE by harvest time showed that the leaves of A. distichum harvested in autumn had a superior inhibitory effect on AR signaling to those harvested at other times. In the BPH rat model, the administration of ADLE reduced the prostate size and prostate epithelial cell thickness significantly and inhibited AR signaling. Subsequently, the administration of ADLE also reduced the expression of growth factors, thereby inactivating the PI3K/AKT pathway. CONCLUSIONS: An analysis of the efficacy of ADLE to relieve BPH showed that the ethanol extract grown in autumn exhibited the highest inhibitory ability of the androgen-signaling related factors in vitro. ADLE also inhibited the expression of growth factors by inhibiting the expression of the androgen-signaling related factors in vivo. Overall, ADLE is proposed as a functional food that is effective in preventing BPH.

Tenebrio molitor Larva Trypsin Hydrolysate Ameliorates Atopic Dermatitis in C57BL/6 Mice by Targeting the TLR-Mediated MyD88-Dependent MAPK Signaling Pathway.

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a widely researched chronic inflammatory skin disease with a complex etiology. The increased prevalence of AD necessitates exploration of natural sources as potential therapeutic agents with limited side effects. In the current study, a 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model was used to examine the anti-AD effects of Tenebrio molitor trypsin hydrolysate (TMTH) and its underlying molecular mechanism. DNCB-treated mice were treated with TMTH (1 and 10 mg/kg), and prednisolone (3 mg/kg) was used as the positive control. Serum and skin tissue samples were collected for subsequent analyses. The expression levels of proteins linked to the myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88)-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and serum IgE levels were estimated via Western blotting technique and ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), respectively. Inflammatory cell infiltration and thickening of the dorsal skin were measured using toluidine blue and hematoxylin and eosin staining, respectively. Oral administration of TMTH significantly reduced mast cell infiltration and dermal and epidermal thickness. Moreover, TMTH treatment reduced serum IgE levels. Western blotting confirmed that TMTH treatment suppressed the MyD88-dependent MAPK signaling pathway. Therefore, TMTH substantially inhibited AD-like skin lesion formation via immunomodulation, showing considerable potential for AD treatment.

AGL9: A Novel Hepatoprotective Peptide from the Larvae of Edible Insects Alleviates Obesity-Induced Hepatic Inflammation by Regulating AMPK/Nrf2 Signaling.

In this study, we investigated the anti-obesity properties of the novel peptide Ala-Gly-Leu-Gln-Phe-Pro-Val-Gly-Arg (AGL9), isolated from the enzymatic hydrolysate of Allomyrinadichotoma larvae. To investigate the preventive effects of AGL9 against hepatic steatosis and its possible mechanisms of action, we established an nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model by feeding C57BL/6 mice a high-fat diet. NAFLD mice were administered 100 mg/kg AGL9 and 60 mg/kg orlistat via gavage (10 mL/kg) for 5 weeks, followed by the collection of blood and liver tissues. We found that AGL9 normalized the levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein, very low-density lipoprotein (LDL)/LDL, adiponectin, and leptin in these mice. Additionally, AGL9 activated the protein-level expression of 5' AMP-activated protein kinase and acetyl-CoA carboxylase phosphorylation and the transcript-level expression of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glucocorticoid receptor, nuclear respiratory factor 2, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in hepatocytes. These results showed that AGL9 exhibited hepatoprotective effects by attenuating lipid deposition, oxidative stress, and inflammation via inhibition of AMPK/Nrf2 signaling, thereby reducing the production of hepatic proinflammatory mediators and indicating AGL9 as a potential therapeutic strategy for NAFLD.

Exploring the Role of a Novel Peptide from Allomyrina dichotoma Larvae in Ameliorating Lipid Metabolism in Obesity.

The aim of this study was to identify an anti-obesity peptide from Allomyrina dichotoma and investigate the lipid metabolic mechanism. Enzymatically hydrolyzed A. dichotoma larvae were further separated using tangential flow filtration and consecutive chromatographic processes. Finally, an anti-obesity peptide that showed the highest inhibitory effect on lipid accumulation was obtained, and the sequence was Glu-Ile-Ala-Gln-Asp-Phe-Lys-Thr-Asp-Leu (EIA10). EIA10 decreased lipid aggregation in vitro and significantly reduced the accumulation of body weight gain, liver weight, and adipose tissue weight in high-fat-fed mice. Compared with the control group, the levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), insulin, and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) in the high-fat diet (HFD) group increased significantly, and the content of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) in the serum decreased significantly. On the contrary, the levels of TC, TG, and insulin in the EIA10 group decreased significantly, and the HDL content increased significantly compared with the HFD group. Additionally, EIA10 dramatically decreased mRNA and protein levels of transcription factors involved in lipid adipogenesis. Taken together, our results suggest that EIA10 could be a promising agent for the treatment and prevention of obesity.

Effect of subcritical water extraction conditions on the activity of alcohol metabolizing enzymes, ACE inhibition, and tyrosinase inhibition in Protaetia brevitarsis larvae.

In order to develop processing methods with high physiological activity for Protaetia brevitarsis larvae (PBL), subcritical water (SCW) extraction was applied. The dried powder (1 g) of PBL was extracted with 10 mL distilled water at 100, 200, and 300 °C for 30 min. The SCW treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased some physiological activities of the PBL extracts. The SCW extract at 300 °C increased alcohol dehydrogenase, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, and tyrosinase inhibitory activities from 192.3 ± 4.1% to 452.2 ± 0.5%, 125.4 ± 2.9% to 153.3 ± 0.4%, and - 7.0 ± 0.7% to 26.1 ± 1.4%, respectively, compared to the extract at 100 °C. Contrarily, the inhibition activity of angiotensin converting enzyme was the highest at 200 °C. These results suggest that SCW is a suitable method to extract and maintain the physiological activity of PBL.

Efficacy and Mechanism of Polymerized Anthocyanin from Grape-Skin Extract on High-Fat-Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

We investigated the therapeutic potential of polymerized anthocyanin (PA) on a nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) model in mice. C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks to establish the NAFLD mouse model and randomly divided into four groups: control diet (con), NAFLD mice treated with saline (NAFLD), NAFLD mice treated with PA (PA), and NAFLD mice treated with orlistat (Orlistat) for four weeks. Mice were euthanized at the end of the four weeks. Total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels were estimated, and pathological changes in the liver, white adipose tissue, and signaling pathways related to lipid metabolism were evaluated. Results revealed that the body, liver, and white fat weight of the NAFLD group was significantly increased compared to that of the con group, while that of the PA group showed significant reduction. NAFLD led to an increase in blood lipids in mice (except for HDL). Conversely, PA effectively reduced TC and LDL-C. Compared to the control group, the degree of steatosis in the mice of PA group was decreased. Moreover, PA also regulated the NAFLD signaling pathway. In agreement with improved lipid deposition, PA supplementation inhibited the activation of inflammatory pathways, depressing oxidative stress through increased antioxidant levels, and increasing ß-oxidation to inhibit mitochondrial dysfunction. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PA can improve the liver function of NAFLD mice, regulating blood lipids, reducing liver-fat accumulation, and regulating lipid metabolism.

Taurine Attenuates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Related Genes in Human Prostate Cancer Cells.

Prostate cancer is the most common non-cutaneous cancers among men and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men. Aberrant activation of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) has been exhibited to be one of the most common causes of treatment failure and death in cancer patients. In cancer cells with metastatic competence, the E-cadherin switch is a well-established hallmark. Suppression of E-cadherin through its transcriptional repressor SNAIL is thus a determining factor for EMT. TWIST1 is an important transcription factor in EMT, which is present under both physiologic (embryogenesis) and pathologic (metastasis) conditions, and enhances the invasiveness and migration ability of cells. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effects of taurine on EMT-related genes, such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, TWIST1, ZEB1, SNAIL, and vimentin. EMT markers were detected by RT-PCR and western blotting. The results showed that taurine down-regulated the expression of N-cadherin, TWIST1, ZEB1, SNAIL, and vimentin. In contrast, taurine increased E-cadherin expression. Our findings indicate that taurine has EMT inhibitory effects on human prostate cancer cells.