Application of yeast Candida utilis to ferment Eisenia bicyclis for enhanced antibacterial effect.

In this study, fermentation broth of Eisenia bicyclis with Candia utilis YM-1 exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and food-borne pathogenic bacteria. To perform a more detailed investigation on the antibacterial activity, the fermented broth of E. bicyclis was extracted with methanol and further fractionated with organic solvents. After 1-day fermentation, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc)-soluble extract exhibited the highest anti-MRSA activity with minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 128 to 512 µg/mL, suggesting that the fermentation of E. bicyclis with C. utilis YM-1 may enhance antibacterial activity against MRSA. This effect was correlated to the result obtained by an increase in total phenolic contents in EtOAc-soluble extract. In addition, high-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that eckol, dieckol, dioxinodehydroeckol, and phlorofucofuroeckol-A contents in the EtOAc-soluble extract increased significantly. Thus, these results show that anti-MRSA activity of E. bicyclis fermented with C. utilis most likely originated from phlorotannins and allow the possible application of a variety of seaweed functional foods.

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.

Effects of a multi-herbal extract on type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: An aqueous extract of multi-hypoglycemic herbs of Panax ginseng C.A.Meyer, Pueraria lobata, Dioscorea batatas Decaisne, Rehmannia glutinosa, Amomum cadamomum Linné, Poncirus fructus and Evodia officinalis was investigated for its anti-diabetic effects in cell and animal models. METHODS: Activities of PPARγ agonist, anti-inflammation, AMPK activator and anti-ER stress were measured in cell models and in db/db mice (a genetic animal model for type 2 diabetes). RESULTS: While the extract stimulated PPARγ-dependent luciferase activity and activated AMPK in C2C12 cells, it inhibited TNF-α-stimulated IKKß/NFkB signaling and attenuated ER stress in HepG2 cells. The db/db mice treated with the extract showed reduced fasting blood glucose and HbA1c levels, improved postprandial glucose levels, enhanced insulin sensitivity and significantly decreased plasma free fatty acid, triglyceride and total cholesterol. CONCLUSION: The aqueous extract of these seven hypoglycemic herbs demonstrated many therapeutic effects for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in cell and animal models.

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.