Bulb of Lilium longiflorum Thunb Extract Fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus Reduces Inflammation in a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Model.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), one of the leading causes of death worldwide, is caused by repeated exposure to harmful matter, such as cigarette smoke. Although Lilium longiflorum Thunb (LLT) has anti-inflammatory effects, there is no report on the fermented LLT bulb extract regulating lung inflammation in COPD. Thus, we investigated the protective effect of LLT bulb extract fermented with Lactobacillus acidophilus 803 in COPD mouse models induced by cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and porcine pancreas elastase (PPE). Oral administration of the fermented product (LS803) suppressed the production of inflammatory mediators and the infiltration of immune cells involving neutrophils and macrophages, resulting in protective effects against lung damage. In addition, LS803 inhibited CSE- and LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 production in airway epithelial H292 cells as well as suppressed PMA-induced formation of neutrophil extracellular traps in HL-60 cells. In particular, LS803 significantly repressed the elevated IL-6 and MIP-2 production after CSE and LPS stimulation by suppressing the activity of the nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B (NFκB) in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Therefore, our results suggest that the fermented product LS803 is effective in preventing and alleviating lung inflammation.

Antiobesity and Antioxidative Effect of Fermented Brown Rice Using In Vitro with In Vivo Caenorhabditis elegans Model.

Naturally occurring phytochemicals from plants or grains are crucial in reducing various metabolic disorders. Bioactive phytonutrients are abundant in the Asian dietary staple, brown rice. This research evaluated the impact of lactic acid bacteria (LABs) bioconversion and fermentation on antioxidant and antiobesity activities and ferulic acid content in brown rice. The combination of bioconversion with Pediococcus acidilactici MNL5 among all LABs used showed a synergistic impact with 24 h of solid-state brown rice fermentation. The 24-h MNL5 fermented brown rice (FBR) demonstrated the most potent pancreatic lipase inhibitory activity (85.5 ± 1.25%) compared to raw brown rice (RBR) (54.4 ± 0.86%). The antioxidant potential of MNL5-FBR was also found to be highest in the DPPH assay (124.40 ± 2.40 mg Trolox Equiv./100 g, DW), ABTS assay (130.52 ± 2.32 mg Trolox Equiv./100 g, DW), and FRAP assay (116.16 ± 2.42 mg Trolox Equiv./100 g, DW). Based on higher antioxidant and antiobesity activities, samples were quantified for ferulic acid content using the HPLC-MS/MS approach. Furthermore, C. elegans supplementation with FBR showed enhanced life span and lipid reduction in fluorescence microscope analysis compared to the control. Our results indicate that the expression study using the C. elegans model (N2 and Daf-2 models) fat gene was conducted, showing a lowering of obesity ability in FBR-fed worms. Our study indicates that FBR has improved antioxidant and antiobesity actions, especially in MNL5-FBR, and can be employed to develop functional foods that combat obesity.

Effects of fermented ginseng on memory impairment and ß-amyloid reduction in Alzheimer's disease experimental models.

This study examined the effect of fermented ginseng (FG) on memory impairment and ß-amyloid (Aß) reduction in models of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in vitro and in vivo. FG extract was prepared by steaming and fermenting ginseng. In vitro assessment measured soluble Aß42 levels in HeLa cells, which stably express the Swedish mutant form of amyloid precursor protein. After 8 h incubation with the FG extract, the level of soluble Aß42 was reduced. For behavioral assessments, the passive avoidance test was used for the scopolamine-injected ICR mouse model, and the Morris water maze was used for a transgenic (TG) mouse model, which exhibits impaired memory function and increased Aß42 level in the brain. FG extract was treated for 2 wk or 4 mo on ICR and TG mice, respectively. FG extract treatment resulted in a significant recovery of memory function in both animal models. Brain soluble Aß42 levels measured from the cerebral cortex of TG mice were significantly reduced by the FG extract treatment. These findings extract was prepared by steaming and fermenting ginseng. of Aß42 protein, which results in enhanced behavioral memory function, thus, suggesting that FG extract may be an effective preventive or treatment for AD.

Chronological changes in inflammatory cytokines immunoreactivities in the mouse hippocampus after systemic administration of high dosage of tetanus toxin.

Tetanus toxin (TeT) is an exotoxin and has a capacity for neuronal binding and internalization. In the present study, we compared changes in the immunoreactivities and protein levels of interleukin (IL-) 2 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine and IL-4 as an anti-inflammatory cytokine in the hippocampus proper (HP) and dentate gyrus (DG) after systemic treatment of 10 or 100 ng/kg TeT into mice. In this study, we could not find any neuronal damage or loss in any subregions of the hippocampus after TeT treatment. In the control groups, strong IL-2 immunoreactivity was shown in the stratum pyramidal (SP) of the HP and in the granule cell layer (GCL) of the DG. At 6 h post-treatment, IL-2 immunoreactivity was hardly detected in the SP and GCL; however, strong IL-2 immunoreactivity was shown in the stratum oriens of the HP in both the groups. Thereafter, intermediate IL-2 immunoreactivity was shown in the SP and GCL. On the other hand, intermediate IL-4 immunoreactivity was detected in the SP and GCL of the control groups. At 6 h post-treatment, IL-4 immunoreactivity in the SP and GCL was apparently increased. Thereafter, IL-4 immunoreactivity was lower than that at 6 h post-treatment. In brief, IL-2 and 4 immunoreactivities were easily detected in SP and GCL in the controls and dramatically decreased and increased at 6 h post-treatment, respectively.

Comparison of inflammatory cytokines changes in the hippocampal CA1 region between the young and adult gerbil after transient cerebral ischemia.

Young animals appear much less vulnerable to ischemic insults. In present study, we compared neuronal damage and changes in the immunoreactivities and levels of inflammatory cytokine, interleukin (IL-) 2 as a pro-inflammatory cytokine and its receptor (IL-2Rß), IL-4 and IL-13 as anti-inflammatory cytokines, in the hippocampal CA1 region between adult and young gerbils after 5 min of transient cerebral ischemia. Most (about 89%) of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons showed neuronal damage only in the adult gerbil at 4 days post-ischemia; in the young ischemia-group, about 61% of CA1 pyramidal neurons showed neuronal damage at 7 days post-ischemia. Thereafter, the neuronal damage in the CA1 pyramidal neurons was not significantly changed in both the groups. IL-2 and IL-2Rß immunoreactivity in the stratum pyramidale (SP) of the CA1 region was similar in both the sham groups. At 4 days post-ischemia, IL-2 and IL-2Rß immunoreactivity in the adult SP was dramatically decreased; however, in the young SP, they were not changed, and they were decreased at 7 days post-ischemia. IL-4 and IL-13 immunoreactivity in the SP of the young sham-group were much lower than those in the adult group. Four days after ischemia-reperfusion, they were dramatically decreased in the adult ischemia-group; however, at this time, they were markedly increased in the young ischemia-group. In brief, our findings indicate that IL-2, 2Rß, IL-4 and IL-13 immunoreactivity in young gerbils was similar or low compared to those in the adult, and they were decreased at 4 days post-ischemia in the adult; however, at this time, they were distinctively increased in the young.

Identification of the epsilon-(gamma-glutamyl)lysine cross-linking sites in alpha-lactalbumin polymerized by mammalian and microbial transglutaminases.

To investigate the site specificity of two transglutaminases (TGases), that is, the enzymes from guinea pig liver (GTGase) and Streptoverticillium (MTGase), the acyl acceptor and donor sites in alpha-lactalbumin were determined. Alpha-lactalbumin was cross-linked in the presence of dithiothreitol by GTGase and MTGase for 15 and 30 min, respectively. Cross-linked alpha-lactalbumins by GTGase and MTGase were digested with lysylendopeptidase followed by the separation of the resulting peptides using reverse-phase HPLC. By the sequence analysis of the peptide fragments containing two N termini, which indicates the presence of cross-linked peptide, the lysine residues targeted by TGases were identified as follows: for GTGase, Lys16, Lys93, and Lys122; for MTGase, Lys5. These peptide fragments were further digested by V8 protease. Separation and sequence analyses of the resultant peptides were performed to identify glutamine residue involved in cross-linking. It was found that Gln54 was cross-linked to lysine residues by GTGase and MTGase in common. It is suggested that the difference in the numbers of lysine residues targeted by GTGase and MTGase may be responsible for the difference in the polymerization process of alpha-lactalbumin between GTGase- and MTGase-catalyzed systems.

Antigenotoxicity of Enzymatic Browning Reaction Products of Potatoes in the Micronucleus Test.

This study investigated the antigenotoxic effects of enzymatic browning reaction products (PEBRPs) obtained by reaction of polyphenol compounds with oxidase extracted from potato. Each of the PEBRPs by themselves at 100 mg/kg did not induce an increased frequency of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCEs) irrespective of the sampling time (up to 72 h), while the treatment with benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) significantly increased the incidence of MNPCEs (P < 0.05). Significant reductions were observed in the frequencies of MNPCEs (P < 0.05) when all PEBRPs were given to the mice 12 h before they were exposed to 100 mg/kg of B[a]P and inhibitory effects were 60%, 70%, and 60% in the catechol (Ca)-PEBRPs, hydroxyhydroquinone (HHQ)-PEBRPs, and pyrogallol (Py)-PEBRPs, respectively. When three kinds of PEBRPs were fed to mice 12 h before injecting 100 mg/kg of B[a]P, the most significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the frequencies of MNPCEs induced by B[a]P were observed and the relative frequency inhibitions by Ca-PEBRPs, HHQ-PEBRPs, and Py-PEBRPs were 70%, 70%, and 60%, respectively. Also, when each type of PEBRP was given to mice one time every day for 5 days, significant reductions were observed in the frequencies of MNPCEs induced by B[a]P (P < 0.05). The strongest relative frequency inhibitions were 60% and 70%, respectively, at 200 mg/kg for Ca-PEBRPs and HHQ-PEBRPs, but Py-PEBRPs had their strongest inhibitory effect at a concentration of 100 mg/kg. These results indicates that enzymatic browning reaction products of potatoes have a strong modulatory effect on B[a]P-induced MNPCEs.