Different Parts of the Chicken Embryo Egg Improve D-Galactose-Induced Aging in a Mice Model.

Chick (CE) or duck embryo eggs are known for nutritional supplement foods in traditional East countries for physical fitness enhancement and postpartum conditioning for many years. In this study, we evaluated the effects of different parts of the 10-day CE (embryo: CEr, yolk: CEw, and chorioallantoic membrane: CEp) on the antifatigue and antiaging activities in a D-galactose- (D-gal) induced aging mice model. The results showed CEp obviously increased the muscle weight and the liver and muscle glycogen content and enhanced exercise performance. In the antiaging assay, CEp significantly increased the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx). Moreover, the immunohistochemistry results of NRF-2 and HO-1 were also detected in the livers of mice in the D-gal/CEp group. The only partially potential such as CEr might improve OFT function with TG level, and CEw had strange grip strength. Therefore, we suggest that CEp has a potent antifatigue ability and could minimize the occurrence of age-associated disorders, more than other parts of the 10 days chicken embryo egg.

Anti-liver fibrotic lignans from the fruits of Schisandra arisanensis and Schisandra sphenanthera.

Three new polyoxygenated C(18)-dibenzocyclooctadiene lignans, arisanschinins M and N (1 and 2) and schisphenin A (3), together with eight related metabolites (4-11), were isolated from the fruits of Schisandra arisanensis and Schisandra sphenanthera, respectively. The structures of 1-3 were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectroscopic and 2D NMR (HSQC, HMBC, and NOESY) analyses. The configuration of the biphenyl moiety in the octadiene ring was determined by circular dichroism (CD). Compound 1 possessed an unprecedented 3-(1-hydroxypropan-2-yl)-3-methyl-1,4-dioxo-2-one lactonide ring system attaching at C-6/C-14. Pharmacological studies revealed that compounds 3, 4, 6, 7, and 10 exhibited significant anti-hepatic fibrosis activity, while 9 and 11 showed cytotoxicity against HSC-T6 cells. The biogenetic pathway for compound 1 was also proposed.

Administration of recombinant Reishi immunomodulatory protein (rLZ-8) diet enhances innate immune responses and elicits protection against nervous necrosis virus in grouper Epinephelus coioides.

Nervous necrosis virus (NNV) infection during larvae and juvenile stage in grouper (Epinephelus coioides) has caused severe economic losses in the aquaculture industry in Asia. The aims of this study were to evaluate the influence of recombinant Reishi protein, rLZ-8, on the innate immune responses and the viral resisting ability in fish. Groupers were fed with rLZ-8 supplemented diet (1.25-37.5 mg (rLZ-8)/kg(diet)), and the cytokine gene expression, innate immune responses, and survival rate after NNV challenge were examined. The fish fed with rLZ-8 diet showed 6- to 11-fold upregulated TNF-α and IL-1ß gene expression, along with significant increased respiratory burst and phagocytic activity. Moreover, feeding the fish with 37.5 mg/kg rLZ-8 diet elicited significant improvement in post viral challenge survival rate (85.7%). These discoveries indicated that rLZ-8 could be utilized as an ant-pathogen immunostimulant, and provided a new candidate to fight against NNV infection in fish.

Rapid and economic DNA extraction from a single salmon egg for real-time PCR amplification.

Salmon eggs are common in Japanese sushi and other seafood products; however, certain fish eggs are used as counterfeit salmon eggs which are found in foods and processed products. This study develops a simple, rapid, and cost-effective method for DNA extraction, filtration (FT) and dilution (DL) protocols from a single salmon egg with good DNA quality for real-time PCR amplification. The DNA amount, DNA quality, and real-time PCR performance for different dilutions and different lengths of PCR amplicons were evaluated and compared with the common Qiagen tissue kit (QTK) and Chelex-100-based (CX) protocols. The extracted DNA from a single salmon egg using the FT or DL protocol can be applied in phylogenic research, food authentication and post-marketing monitoring of genetically modified (GM) food products.