Innate Immune-Enhancing Effect of Pinus densiflora Pollen Extract via NF-κB Pathway Activation.

Considering the emergence of various infectious diseases, including the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), people's attention has shifted towards immune health. Consequently, immune-enhancing functional foods have been increasingly consumed. Hence, developing new immune-enhancing functional food products is needed. Pinus densiflora pollen can be collected from the male red pine tree, which is commonly found in Korea. P. densiflora pollen extract (PDE), obtained by water extraction, contained polyphenols (216.29 ± 0.22 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoids (35.14 ± 0.04 mg CE/100 g). PDE significantly increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) but, did not exhibit cytotoxicity in RAW 264.7 cells. Western blot results indicated that PDE induced the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. PDE also significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of cytokines and the phosphorylation of IKKα/ß and p65, as well as the activation and degradation of IκBα. Additionally, western blot analysis of cytosolic and nuclear fractions and immunofluorescence assay confirmed that the translocation of p65 to the nucleus after PDE treatment. These results confirmed that PDE increases the production of cytokines, NO, and ROS by activating NF-κB. Therefore, PDE is a promising nutraceutical candidate for immune-enhancing functional foods.

Optimisation of microwave-assisted extraction for functional properties of Vitis coignetiae extract by response surface methodology.

BACKGROUND: Consumer preference for selection of natural substances, with their safe and beneficial effects on the human body as well as various physiological efficacies, is increasing. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was used to monitor the extraction characteristics of Vitis coignetiae (wild grape) and thereby optimise the functional properties of the resulting extract. RESULTS: A maximum total polyphenol content (TPC) of 415.74 mg per 100 g was obtained at a microwave power (MWP) of 102.36 W, an ethanol concentration (ETC) of 42.62% (by volume) and an extraction time (EXT) of 12.35 min. Electron-donating ability (EDA) reached a maximum of 69.20% at 125.65 W MWP, 41.81% ETC and 13.65 min EXT. The maximum nitrite-scavenging ability (NSA) obtained was 87.50% at 119.13 W MWP, 37.41% ETC and 13.20 min EXT. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed a maximum pseudo-activity (SDA) of 56.74% at 69.54 W MWP, 94.88% ETC and 10.32 min EXT. The effect of ETC was most prominent among the studied factors. CONCLUSION: Based on the superimposition of four-dimensional response surfaces with respect to TPC, EDA, NSA and SDA, the optimum ranges of extraction conditions were 70-150 W MWP, 30-50% ETC and 8-18 min EXT.

Ginsenoside composition and antiproliferative activities of explosively puffed ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer).

UNLABELLED: The puffing process was evaluated as an alternative to the steaming process for producing a biologically more active ginseng product, like red ginseng, from raw ginseng. A puffing treatment of dried raw ginseng roots induced an overall increase in crude saponin content. As puffing pressure increased, the content of ginsenoside Re, Rg1, Rb1, Rc, and Rb2 decreased, while ginsenoside Rg3 increased significantly as compared to raw ginseng. The content of ginsenoside Rg3 in puffed ginseng at a pressure of 490 kPa was similar to that of red ginseng. Cancer cell lines (HeLa, MCF-7, and HepG2) showed that antiproliferative effects of saponin extract of puffed ginseng increased with an increase in puffing pressure. Ginseng explosively puffed at 490 kPa had similar saponin constituents and antiproliferative effects as those of red ginseng. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The puffing process could provide an alternative mean to produce functional ginseng products, along with a reduction in processing time as compared to traditional red ginseng processing by steam.