Effects of flooding cultivation on the composition and quality of taro (Colocasia esculenta cv. Daikichi).

BACKGROUND: Taro (Colocasia esculenta cv. Daikichi) is believed to be one of the earliest cultivated tuber crops and it is a staple food in many parts of the world. The mother corm and side cormels (daughter and granddaughter tubers) form the major consumed parts; however, the former is rarely preferred. Taro is mainly cultivated using either unflooded or flooding cultivation, under dryland-rainfed and wetland-irrigated conditions, respectively. Although flooding cultivation has several advantages, such as lower risk of diseases, weeds, and insect pests, contributing to increased tuber yield, its effects on the quality characteristics of the tubers are largely unknown. In this study, the effects of controlled flooding cultivation on the quality of mother corm and side cormels were investigated. Their taste, color, physical properties, antioxidant activity, and starch, oxalic acid, nitrate ion, arabinogalactan (AG)/AG protein (AGP), γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and total polyphenol content was compared with those under unflooded cultivation. RESULTS: Flooding cultivation increased polyphenol levels and antioxidant activity and decreased oxalate, nitrate ion, GABA, and AG/AGP levels. Flooding cultivation also reduced the harshness and increased the hardness and stickiness of steamed mother corm paste, generally discarded under unflooded cultivation, thus rendering it suitable for consumption. CONCLUSION: Controlled flooding cultivation has economic advantages and the potential to improve the quality of cultivated taro. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Two jacalin-related lectins from seeds of the African breadfruit (Treculia africana L.).

Two jacalin-related lectins (JRLs) were purified by mannose-agarose and melibiose-agarose from seeds of Treculia africana. One is galactose-recognizing JRL (gJRL), named T. africana agglutinin-G (TAA-G), and another one is mannose-recognizing JRL (mJRL), TAA-M. The yields of the two lectins from the seed flour were approximately 7.0 mg/g for gJRL and 7.2 mg/g for mJRL. The primary structure of TAA-G was determined by protein sequencing of lysyl endopeptic peptides and chymotryptic peptides. The sequence identity of TAA-G to other gJRLs was around 70%. Two-residue insertion was found around the sugar-binding sites, compared with the sequences of other gJRLs. Crystallographic studies on other gJRLs have shown that the primary sugar-binding site of gJRLs can accommodate Gal, GalNAc, and GalNAc residue of T-antigen (Galß1-3GalNAcα-). However, hemagglutination inhibition and glycan array showed that TAA-G did not recognize GalNAc itself and T-antigen. TAA-G preferred melibiose and core 3 O-glycan.

Sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC), a Causative Factor of SPC-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Contraction, Is Taken Up via Endocytosis.

The reaction field of abnormal vascular contraction induced by sphingosylphosphorylcholine (SPC) and the action point of SPC around the plasma membranes remain unknown. However, we found in a previous study that fisetin prevents SPC-induced vascular smooth muscle cells contraction, while the mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to address the action point of SPC around the plasma membranes and the involvement of fisetin. We focused on microdomains and evaluated their markers flotillin-1 and caveolin-1 and the localization of SPC to investigate their action point. The results showed that microdomains of vascular smooth muscle cells were not involved in SPC-induced contraction. However, we found that after SPC had been affected on the plasma membrane, cells took up SPC via endocytosis. Moreover, SPC remained in the cells and did not undergo transcytosis, and SPC-induced contracting cells produced exosomes. These phenomena were similar to those observed in fisetin-treated cells. Thus, we speculated that, although not involved in the reaction field of SPC-induced contractions, the microdomain induced the endocytosis of SPCs, and fisetin prevented the contractions by directly targeting vascular smooth muscle cells. Notably, this preventive mechanism involves the cellular uptake of SPC via endocytosis.

Composition and taste of beef, pork, and duck meat and bioregulatory functions of imidazole dipeptides in meat.

This study quantified the nutritional components and imidazole dipeptide levels of commercially available meats (beef, pork, and duck), and their effects on taste were quantified via taste recognition devices. Although meat and its products are considered high-risk diets, meat components, such as imidazole dipeptides, exert bioregulatory functions. Further, considering their bioregulatory function, commercial meats' antioxidant activity and vascular endothelial function were examined. Characteristic variations in nutritional components were observed depending on the type and part of meat analyzed. These components affected the taste and texture of meat. The main imidazole dipeptides detected were anserine (duck meat) and carnosine (beef and pork). Meat with larger quantities of total imidazole dipeptide demonstrated better sensory test results. Therefore, anserine and carnosine effects on taste were determined using a taste recognition device; carnosine alone produced a noticeably bitter taste, whereas adding anserine reduced bitterness and enhanced umami taste. In a few cases, cooking enhanced the quantity of carnosine and/or anserine and their antioxidant activities. We demonstrated the ability of imidazole dipeptides, particularly anserine, to improve nitric oxide production in vascular endothelial cells. This study provides essential information for health-conscious consumers to develop high-quality, functional meat products.

Characterization and cloning of GNA-like lectin from the mushroom Marasmius oreades.

A new mannose-recognizing lectin (MOL) was purified on an asialofetuin-column from fruiting bodies of Marasmius oreades grown in Japan. The lectin (MOA) from the fruiting bodies of the same fungi is well known to be a ribosome-inactivating type lectin that recognizes blood-group B sugar. However, in our preliminary investigation, MOA was not found in Japanese fruiting bodies of M. oreades, and instead, MOL was isolated. Gel filtration showed MOL is a homodimer noncovalently associated with two subunits of 13 kDa. The N-terminal sequence of MOL was blocked. The sequence of MOL was determined by cloning from cDNA and by protein sequencing of enzyme-digested peptides. The sequence shows mannose-binding motifs of bulb-type mannose-binding lectins from plants, and similarity to the sequences. Analyses of sugar-binding specificity by hemagglutination inhibition revealed the preference of MOL toward mannose and thyroglobulin, but asialofetuin was the strongest inhibitor of glycoproteins tested. Furthermore, glycan-array analysis showed that the specificity pattern of MOL was different from those of typical mannose-specific lectins. MOL preferred complex-type N-glycans rather than high-mannose N-glycans.

Characterization of a new α-galactosyl-binding lectin from the mushroom Clavaria purpurea.

A galactose specific lectin (CpL) was purified from the Clavaria purpurea mushroom by affinity chromatography. CpL agglutinated only trypsin-treated rabbit erythrocytes. On enzyme linked lectin sorbent assay (ELLSA), the lectin bound with thyroglobulin and asialo bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM). The fine sugar binding specificity of CpL was elucidated using inhibition of hemagglutination and sugar immobilized gold nano-particles (SGNP). The results indicated a preference of CpL towards α-galactosyl sugar chains. Among several monosaccharides and disaccharides assayed for dissociation effect on the SGNP-CpL complex, Galα1-3Gal and raffinose were the best inhibitors. The partial amino acid sequence showed two QXW motifs in CpL and similarity towards members of the ricin B superfamily.

Fisetin, a major component derived from mulberry (Morus australis Poir.) leaves, prevents vascular abnormal contraction.

Mulberry (Morus australis Poir.) leaves have long been consumed in the form of tea or tincture especially in Asia, owing to their high antioxidant and blood pressure-regulating properties. Although it is thought that vascular abnormal contraction may be involved in the blood pressure-suppressing effect, the effect of mulberry on vascular abnormal contraction is still unknown. Therefore, we investigated mulberry leaves as a potential source of bioactive compounds that prevent vascular abnormal contraction. Mulberry leaves were divided into fresh leaves and tea leaves and further classified according to the age of the tree: more or less than 20 years old, into roasted and unroasted. Mulberry fruits were also evaluated. We assessed the preventive effect of mulberry extracts on vascular abnormal contraction. Extracts from mulberry leaves of trees more than 20 years old showed a strong preventive effect on vascular abnormal contraction of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells. Therefore, to identify the active components in mulberry leaves, we fractionated the active fractions by gel filtration chromatography and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The active fraction was further analyzed by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance; an active component of the mulberry leaf extract was fisetin. In addition, our results indicated that the hydroxyl group at the C-3 position of fisetin is crucial for its activity. These results prove that fisetin is effective in preventing vascular abnormal contraction. Overall, mulberry leaves and fisetin are expected to be used in a wide range of fields such as functional foods, nutraceuticals, and drug targets.

Primary structure and specificity of a new member of galectin family from the Amethyst deceiver mushroom Laccaria amethystina.

A new galectin was characterized in the Amethyst deceiver mushroom Laccaria amethystina. The complete amino acid (AA) sequence of the lectin, which exhibited ß-galactoside specificity, was deduced from its peptide sequences. The AA sequence of L. amethystina galectin (LAG) showed high homology with those of the same genus, at 75.6% identity to Laccaria bicolor, and 35.5-65.0% to galectins of Agrocybe spp. and Coprinopsis cinerea. The AA sequence of LAG contained all but one conserved residue known to be involved in ß-galactoside binding, with His at the position 57 residue replaced by Thr in LAG. Analysis of binding specificity by hemagglutination inhibition assay and enzyme-linked lectin-sorbent assay revealed high specificity of LAG towards O-glycoproteins.

Characteristic Analysis of Trigonelline Contained in Raphanus sativus Cv. Sakurajima Daikon and Results from the First Trial Examining Its Vasodilator Properties in Humans.

Vascular disease poses a major public health problem worldwide. Trigonelline isolated from Raphanus sativus cv. Sakurajima Daikon (Sakurajima radish) induces nitric oxide production from vascular endothelial cells and enhances vascular function. Here, we investigated the characteristics of trigonelline and its effects on endothelial function after consumption of Sakurajima radish by humans. Our results show that Sakurajima radish contains approximately 60 times more trigonelline than other radishes and squashes. Additionally, no significant differences were observed between varieties of Sakurajima radish, suggesting that any type of Sakurajima radish can be ingested for trigonelline supplementation. The effects of cooking and processing Sakurajima radish were also evaluated, as were the effects of freezing, and changes in osmotic pressure and pH. A first-in-human trial using Sakurajima radish showed that ingestion of 170 g/day of Sakurajima radish for ten days increased blood trigonelline concentrations and significantly improved flow-mediated dilation, which is a measure of vascular endothelial function. Overall, our findings suggest that the trigonelline contained in Sakurajima radish may contribute to improved human vascular endothelial function. Hence, Sakurajima radish may enhance vascular endothelial function as a functional food.

The chitin-binding capability of Cy-AMP1 from cycad is essential to antifungal activity.

Antimicrobial peptides are important components of the host innate immune responses by exerting broad-spectrum microbicidal activity against pathogenic microbes. Cy-AMP1 found in the cycad (Cycas revoluta) seeds has chitin-binding ability, and the chitin-binding domain was conserved in knottin-type and hevein-type antimicrobial peptides. The recombinant Cy-AMP1 was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified to study the role of chitin-binding domain. The mutants of Cy-AMP1 lost chitin-binding ability completely, and its antifungal activity was markedly decreased in comparison with native Cy-AMP1. However, the antimicrobial activities of the mutant peptides are nearly identical to that of native one. It was suggested that the chitin-binding domain plays an essential role in antifungal, but not antimicrobial, activity of Cy-AMP1.

Catechin and caffeine contents in green tea at different harvest periods and their metabolism in miniature swine.

The catechin content in green tea leaves varies according to cultivation conditions such as intensity of solar radiation, temperature, and precipitation, and thus, there is ambiguity about the best harvest time for obtaining optimal functional effects. In this study, the Yabukita (ordinary) and Benifuki varieties, which contain methylated catechin, were used to determine the difference in green tea catechins according to harvest times and tea manufacturing processes. Caffeine determination was also carried out to provide information about green tea intake for all age-groups of children and pregnant women. Determining the quantity of each catechin was difficult because of degradation, polymerization, and isomerization that had occurred during heat-drying in the refining process. In addition, the absorption of catechin compounds was tested using miniature swine because of their functional and physiological similarity to humans. Benifuki tea leaves contained epigallocatechin-3-(3"-O-methyl) gallate (EGCg3"Me) instead of epigallocatechin-3-(4"-O-methyl) gallate (EGCg4"Me). However, EGCg4"Me was detected during the entire intake period, but EGCg3"Me was not detected in the blood of miniature swine fed Benifuki tea. It is possible that the position of the methyl group was modified by the pig metabolism. Furthermore, caffeine from both Yabukita and Benifuki tea varieties was found to be easily accumulated in miniature swine. These results suggest that nonrefined September-October picking tea (autumn and winter tea) of the Benifuki variety is preferable over the Yabukita variety for consumption by children and pregnant women owing to its lower caffeine content and higher content of methylated catechin.

Transition of ovalbumin to thermostable structure entails conformational changes involving the reactive center loop.

Ovalbumin is a serpin without inhibitory activity against proteases. During embryonic development, ovalbumin in the native (N) form undergoes changes and takes a heat-stable form, which was previously named HS-ovalbumin. It has been known that N-ovalbumin is artificially converted to another thermostable form called S-ovalbumin by heating at an alkaline pH. Here, we characterized further the three ovalbumin forms, N, HS, and S. The epitope of the monoclonal antibody 2B3/2H11, which recognizes N- and HS-ovalbumin but not S-ovalbumin, was found to reside in the region Glu-Val-Val-Gly-Ala-Ser-Glu-Ala-Gly-Val-Asp-Ala-Ala-Ser-Val-Ser-Glu-Glu-Phe-Arg, which corresponds to 340-359 of amino acid residues and is contained in the reactive center loop (RCL). Removal of RCL by elastase or subtilisin mitigated binding of the antibody. Dephosphorylation experiments indicated that the phosphorylated Ser-344 residue located on RCL is crucial for the epitope recognition. We suggest that the shift to the heat-stable form of ovalbumin accompanies a movement of RCL.

Purification, characterization, and sequencing of antimicrobial peptides, Cy-AMP1, Cy-AMP2, and Cy-AMP3, from the Cycad (Cycas revoluta) seeds.

Novel antimicrobial peptides (AMP), designated Cy-AMP1, Cy-AMP2, and Cy-AMP3, were purified from seeds of the cycad (Cycas revoluta) by a CM cellulofine column, ion-exchange HPLC on SP COSMOGEL, and reverse-phase HPLC. They had molecular masses of 4583.2 Da, 4568.9 Da and 9275.8 Da, respectively, by MALDI-TOF MS analysis. Half of the amino acid residues of Cy-AMP1 and Cy-AMP2 were cysteine, glycine and proline, and their sequences were similar. The sequence of Cy-AMP3 showed high homology to various lipid transfer proteins. For Cy-AMP1 and Cy-AMP2, the concentrations of peptides required for 50% inhibition (IC(50)) of the growth of plant pathogenic fungi, Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were 7.0-8.9 microg/ml. The Cy-AMP3 had weak antimicrobial activity. The structural and antimicrobial characteristics of Cy-AMP1 and Cy-AMP2 indicated that they are a novel type of antimicrobial peptide belonging to a plant defensin family.

Elucidating the Improvement in Vascular Endothelial Function from Sakurajima Daikon and Its Mechanism of Action: A Comparative Study with Raphanus sativus.

Vascular diseases, such as myocardial and cerebral infarctions, are the leading causes of death. Some vascular diseases occur as the result of decreases in vascular endothelial function. The innermost layer of the vasculature is formed by vascular endothelial cells (VECs), which are critical for nitric oxide (NO) synthesis. In our search for active constituents in farm products with the potential for improving the vascular system, we examined the effect of Raphanus sativus cv. Sakurajima Daikon on NO production in VECs. In this study, we found that the underlying mechanism for stimulating NO production by Sakurajima Daikon extract involves endothelial-NO-synthase (eNOS) activation by the phosphorylation of Ser1177 and the dephosphorylation of Thr495, which are triggered by elevated concentrations of cytoplasmic Ca2+ resulting from the activation of Ca2+ channels in VECs. We observed that trigonelline, an active constituent of Sakurajima Daikon, improves NO production in VEC cultures.

Inhibition of alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase by flavonoids.

The inhibitory activity of six groups of flavonoids against yeast and rat small intestinal alpha-glucosidases and porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase was compared, and chemical structures of flavonoids responsible for the inhibitory activity were evaluated. Yeast alpha-glucosidase was potently inhibited by the anthocyanidin, isoflavone and flavonol groups with the IC50 values less than 15 microM. The following structures enhanced the inhibitory activity: the unsaturated C ring, 3-OH, 4-CO, the linkage of the B ring at the 3 position, and the hydroxyl substitution on the B ring. Rat small intestinal alpha-glucosidase was weakly inhibited by many flavonoids, and slightly by the anthocyanidin and isoflavone groups. 3-OH and the hydroxyl substitution on the B ring increased the inhibitory activity. In porcine pancreatic alpha-amylase, luteolin, myricetin and quercetin were potent inhibitors with the IC50 values less than 500 microM. The 2,3-double bond, 5-OH, the linkage of the B ring at the 3 position, and the hydroxyl substitution on the B ring enhanced the inhibitory activity, while 3-OH reduced it.

Two carbohydrate recognizing domains from Cycas revoluta leaf lectin show the distinct sugar-binding specificity-A unique mannooligosaccharide recognition by N-terminal domain.

Cycas revoluta leaf lectin (CRLL) of mannose-recognizing jacalin-related lectin (mJRL) has two tandem repeated carbohydrate recognition domains, and shows the characteristic sugar-binding specificity toward high mannose-glycans, compared with other mJRLs. We expressed the N-terminal domain and C-terminal domain (CRLL-N and CRLL-C) separately, to determine the fine sugar-binding specificity of each domain, using frontal affinity chromatography, glycan array and equilibrium dialysis. The specificity of CRLL toward high mannose was basically derived from CRLL-N, whereas CRLL-C had affinity for α1-6 extended mono-antennary complex-type glycans. Notably, the affinity of CRLL-N was most potent to one of three Man 8 glycans and Man 9 glycan, whereas the affinity of CRLL-C decreased with the increase in the number of extended α1-2 linked mannose residue. The recognition of the Man 8 glycans by CRLL-N has not been found for other mannose recognizing lectins. Glycan array reflected these specificities of the two domains. Furthermore, it was revealed by equilibrium dialysis method that the each domain had two sugar-binding sites, similar with Banlec, banana mannose-binding Jacalin-related lectin.

Synthesis and antioxidative activity of 6-hydroxypyridoxine.

An attempt to synthesize 6-hydroxypyridoxine (OPN), hydroxylation on C-6 of pyridoxine (PN) by hydroxyl radical (OH*). was conducted. Application of two well-known OH* generating reactions, i.e. the Fenton reaction and the Fe2+-EDTA/ascorbate reaction, were unsuccessful, as large amounts of by-products were formed. Although generation of OH* by autoxidation of ascorbic acid in the absence of metal ions was slow, by-products were formed in small quantities, and OPN was easily obtained in colorless crystals. Its structure was confirmed by spectral analyses. OPN was comparable to polyphenols such as (+)-catechin, rutin and gallic acid in the antioxidative activity against linoleic acid peroxidation, and was an effective DPPH radical scavenger, though the DPPH radical-scavenging activity of OPN was somewhat lower than that of the polyphenols. PN was relatively inactive under the conditions used here, indicating that the introduction of a hydroxyl group on C-6 of PN greatly enhanced both activities.

Amino acid sequence and antimicrobial activity of chitin-binding peptides, Pp-AMP 1 and Pp-AMP 2, from Japanese bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys pubescens).

Two novel chitin-binding peptides, designated Pp-AMP 1 and Pp-AMP 2, which had antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi, were purified from Japanese bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys pubescens) by a simple procedure based on chitin affinity chromatography. They had the common structural features of the plant defensin family, but they could not be grouped in any type of that family. They showed a high degree of homology to mistletoe toxins.

Interaction between acidic polysaccharides and proteins.

There was an ionic interaction between acidic polysaccharides (APS) and proteins at the pH range in which APS were negatively charged and proteins were positively charged, and in enzymes the interaction was detected as a change in the enzyme activity. At pH 4.7, acid phosphatase (pI, 5.4), alpha-glucosidase (pI, 5.7), and beta-glucosidase (pI, 7.3) were inhibited by APS to various extents. On the other hand, alpha-glucosidase and alkaline phosphatase (pI, 4.5) were not inhibited by APS at pH 6.8 and 9.8, respectively, most of these two enzymes being negatively charged at the respective pHs. Sulfated polysaccharides combined with hemoglobin (pI, 6.8 to approximately 7.0) by an ionic bond at pH 2 to make hemoglobin unsusceptible to proteolysis by pepsin, but polyuronides which were not charged at this pH did not affect hydrolysis of hemoglobin.

Purification, characterization, and sequencing of a novel type of antimicrobial peptides, Fa-AMP1 and Fa-AMP2, from seeds of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.).

Novel antimicrobial peptides (AMP), designated Fa-AMP1 and Fa-AMP2, were purified from the seeds of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench.) by gel filtration on Sephadex G75, ion-exchange HPLC on SP COSMOGEL, and reverse-phase HPLC. They were basic peptides having isoelectric points of over 10. Fa-AMP1 and Fa-AMP2 had molecular masses of 3,879 Da and 3,906 Da on MALDI-TOF MS analysis, and their extinction coefficients in 1% aqueous solutions at 280 nm were 42.8 and 38.9, respectively. Half of all amino acid residues of Fa-AMP1 and Fa-AMP2 were cysteine and glycine, and they had continuous sequences of cysteine and glycine. The concentrations of peptides required for 50% inhibition (IC50) of the growth of plant pathogenic fungi, and Gram-positive and -negative bacteria were 11 to 36 microg/ml. The structural and antimicrobial characteristics of Fa-AMPs indicated that they are a novel type of antimicrobial peptides belonging to a plant defensin family.