Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) seed protein isolate exerts anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages via inhibiting NF-κB and MAPK pathways, and upregulating catalase activity.

Lotus seed has long been used in traditional medicine and cuisine. In this study, lotus seed protein (LSP) was isolated and evaluated its anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. LSP isolate (LSPI) treatment in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages resulted in the significant (p < 0.05) decrease of NO production by downregulation of the expressions of mRNA and protein, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). In addition, LSPI treatment attenuated the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through increasing catalase activity, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1ß in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, LPS stimulation in RAW264.7 macrophages caused the translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) into the nucleus and the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) but these stimulations were abolished by LSPI treatment.

Sea Squirt (Halocynthia roretzi) Hydrolysates Induce Apoptosis in Human Colon Cancer HT-29 Cells through Activation of Reactive Oxygen Species.

Recent evidence provides that seafood has a lot of health benefits due to its unique bioactive compounds. Sea squirt is widely cultured and consumed as a foodstuff in Korea; however, seldom reports with reference to bioactivities are available until now. In this study, edible part of sea squirt was hydrolyzed by pepsin and its hydrolysates was evaluated for anticancer effect on human colon cancer HT-29 cells. Sea squirt hydrolysates (SSQ) reduced HT-29 cell viability. Treatment with SSQ resulted in the increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation followed by disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). Flow cytometry analysis revealed that SSQ induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis evidenced by Hoechst 33342 staining. Levels of mRNA expression by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) showed that treatment with SSQ in HT-29 cells upregulated expression of p53, bax, and caspase-3 genes and downregulated expression of bcl-2 gene. Protein level of cytochrome c into cytosol and caspase-3 by Western blotting were also increased by treatment with SSQ in HT-29 cells. These results suggest that SSQ may be useful for functional food ingredients and/or nutraceuticals.

Phenolic composition and antioxidant effect of aqueous extract of Arisaema cum Bile, the Oriental Herb Medicine, in human fibroblast cells.

Phenolic composition and antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract of Arisaema cum Bile, which is widely used as a folk medicine in Korea, were determined. Phenolic composition profile revealed that the aqueous extract is rich in sinapic acid (13.14 mg/100 g extract), catechin (9.88 mg/100 g extract), neohesperidin (7.38 mg/100 g extract), and chlorogenic acid (3.64 mg/100 g extract). The aqueous extract effectively scavenged toward 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (90.63%), hydrogen peroxide (98.13%), and hydroxyl radical (59.62%) at 2.0 mg/mL, and also showed high reducing power. In cytotoxic evaluation, the aqueous extract exhibited no significant cytotoxicity in human fibroblast, and it also exhibited appreciable suppression of intracellular reactive oxygen species and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. In addition, the aqueous extract upregulated the level of glutathione in a dose-dependent manner. Taken together, the aqueous extract of Arisaema cum Bile could be considered as a potential natural source that may be useful for curing diseases arising from oxidative deterioration.

Antioxidant effects of fermented sea tangle (Laminaria japonica) by Lactobacillus brevis BJ20 in individuals with high level of γ-GT: A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical study.

A randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled clinical study was performed to evaluate the antioxidant effects of fermented sea tangle (FST) on healthy volunteers with high levels of γ-glutamyltransferse (γ-GT). Forty-eight participants were divided into a placebo group and an FST group that received FST (1.5 g/day) for 4 weeks. Serum γ-GT, malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities were determined before and after the trial. Administering FST significantly decreased serum levels of γ-GT and MDA. Additionally, SOD and CAT activities were significantly augmented compared to those in the placebo group after 4 weeks, but no significant alteration was observed in GPx activity compared to that in the placebo group. Our findings indicate that FST enhanced the antioxidant defense system in a healthy population and may be useful as a functional food ingredient.

Anti-inflammatory activity of the oriental herb medicine, Arisaema cum Bile, in LPS-induced PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells.

Arisaema cum Bile is widely used as a folk medicine in Korea. However, the systematic biological properties of Arisaema cum Bile have seldom been addressed. In this study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory activity of Arisaema cum Bile extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-differentiated THP-1 macrophages. The Arisaema cum Bile extract markedly inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines including interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and also suppressed the mRNA and protein expressions of these cytokines. Furthermore, the Arisaema cum Bile extract also inhibited LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein and gene expressions in PMA-differentiaed THP-1 macrophages. These results suggest that Arisaema cum Bile extract may have potential for development into an effective anti-inflammatory agent, and/or as an ingredient of functional foods.

Preparation and biological evaluation of enzyme-assisted extracts from edible seaweed (Enteromorpha prolifera) as antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase and inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide production in murine macrophages.

The multifunctional bioactive materials were prepared from Enteromorpha prolifera by enzyme-assisted extraction using four proteases and seven carbohydrases, and the biological activities of the enzyme-assisted extracts were evaluated as antioxidant, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and anti-inflammatory effect as the measures of inhibition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in RAW264.7 cells. The enzyme-assisted extracts were rich in polyphenols in the range 124 ± 4.2 to 844 ± 9.1 mg/100 g and flavonoids in the range 453 ± 6.0 to 675 ± 5.2 mg/100 g, and Protamex and Viscozyme extracts, which were rich in polyphenols and flavonoids, showed the highest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, ferrous ion chelating and reducing power. Flavourzyme extract (89.92%) and Promozyme extract (93.64%) showed the highest AChE inhibitory activities at the concentration of 1.0 mg/ml. All enzyme-assisted extracts showed no cytotoxic effect on RAW264.7 cells at the tested concentration and significantly inhibited the LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 cells.

Protective effect of fermented sea tangle against ethanol and carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic damage in Sprague-Dawley rats.

Sea tangle has long been used as Korean folk remedy to promote material health, and is one of the popular dietary supplement. This study was designed to evaluate the protective effect of fermented sea tangle (FST) against ethanol and carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sprague-Dawley rats were orally treated with FST (25, 250, 2500 mg/kg/day) with administration of ethanol (5 mL/kg) for 13 weeks and the single intraperitoneal (i.p.) dose of 50% CCl(4) (5 mL/kg/day, CCl(4) in olive oil) at 12 week, and repeated i.p. dose of 20% CCl(4) (2 mL/kg/day) for 1 week. Hepatotoxicity was evaluated by measuring the serum levels of glutamic pyruvate transaminase (GPT), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (gamma-GT) and malondialdehyde (MDA) as well as the tissue levels of antioxidant enzyme such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Ethanol and CCl(4)-induced the rat liver damage, and significantly increased (p<0.05) the GPT, gamma-GT and MDA levels, and decreased the SOD, CAT and GPx levels. However, treatment with FST could decrease serum GPT, gamma-GT, and MDA levels significantly in plasma, and increase the activities of SOD, CAT, and GPx in liver tissues compared with ethanol and CCl(4)-treated group.

Protective effects against H2O2-induced damage by enzymatic hydrolysates of an edible brown seaweed, sea tangle (Laminaria japonica).

Enzymatic hydrolysates of Laminaria japonica were evaluated for antioxidative activities using hydroxyl radical scavenging activity and protective effects against H(2)O(2)-induced DNA and cell damage. In addition, activities of antioxidative enzymes, including catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione S-transferase, of the enzymatic hydrolysates from L. japonica were also estimated. L. japonica was first enzymatically hydrolyzed by seven carbohydrases (Dextrozyme, AMG, Promozyme, Maltogenase, Termamyl, Viscozyme, and Celluclast [all from Novo Co., Novozyme Nordisk, Bagsvaerd, Denmark]) and five proteinases (Flavourzyme, Neutrase, Protamex, Alcalase [all from Novo Co.], and pancreatic trypsin). The hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of Promozyme and pancreatic trypsin hydrolysates from L. japonica were the highest as compared to those of the other carbohydrases and proteinases, and their 50% inhibitory concentration values were 1.67 and 317.49 mug/mL, respectively. The pancreatic trypsin hydrolysates of L. japonica exerted a protective effect on H(2)O(2)-induced DNA damage. We also evaluated the protective effect on hydroxyl radical-induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells via propidium iodide staining using a flow cytometer. The AMG and pancreatic trypsin hydrolysates of L. japonica dose-dependently protected PC12 cells against cell death caused by hydroxyl radical-induced oxidative damage. Additionally, we analyzed the activity of antioxidative enzymes such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and the phase II biotransformation enzyme glutathione S-transferase in L. japonica-treated cells. The activity of all antioxidative enzymes was higher in L. japonica-treated cells compared with the nontreated cells. These results indicate that enzymatic hydrolysates of L. japonica possess antioxidative activity.

Anti-asthmatic effect of marine red alga (Laurencia undulata) polyphenolic extracts in a murine model of asthma.

The aim of the present work is focused on protective effects of an edible red alga, Laurencia undulata ethanolic (EtOH) extracts (LU) containing a large amount of polyphenols against OVA-induced murine allergic airway reactions using in vivo histological and cytokine assay. Mice sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) showed typical asthmatic reactions as follows: an increase in the number of eosinophil in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; a marked influx of inflammatory cells into the lung around blood vessels and airways, and airway luminal narrowing; the development of airway hyperresponsiveness; the detection of TNF-alpha and Th2 cytokines, such as IL-4 and IL-5 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; and detection of allergen-specific IgE in the serum. The successive intraperitoneal administration of LU before the last airway OVA-challenge resulted in a significant inhibition of all asthmatic reactions. These results suggest that L. undulata polyphenolic extracts possess therapeutic potential for combating bronchial asthma associated with allergic diseases.