ABSTRACT
In April 2015, Consumer Affairs Agency of Japan launched a new food labeling system known as "Foods with Function Claims (FFC)." Under this system, the food industry independently evaluates scientific evidence on foods and describes their functional properties. As of May 23, 2017, 1023 FFC containing 8 fresh foods have been launched. Meanwhile, to clarify the health-promoting effects of agricultural products, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (NARO) implemented the "Research Project on Development of Agricultural Products" and demonstrated the risk reduction of osteoporosis of ß-cryptoxanthin rich Satsuma mandarins and the anti-allergic effect of the O-methylated catechin rich tea cultivar Benifuuki. These foods were subsequently released as FFC. Moreover, NARO elucidated the health-promoting effects of various functional agricultural products (ß-glucan rich barley, ß-conglycinin rich soybean, quercetin rich onion, etc.) and a healthy boxed lunch. This review focuses on new food labeling system or research examining functional aspects of agricultural products.
Subject(s)
Crops, Agricultural , Food Labeling/standards , Functional Food/standards , Legislation, Food , Food Labeling/legislation & jurisprudence , Health Promotion , Humans , JapanABSTRACT
It has been reported that gamma-linolenic acid contained in borage oil is effective against atopic dermatitis. The clinical effects of undershirts coated with borage oil rich in gamma-linolenic acid on atopic dermatitis were evaluated. Thirty-two children, aged 1-10 years, were involved in the clinical control study. Sixteen had worn undershirts coated with borage oil everyday for 2 weeks, and 16 had worn non-coated undershirts as a placebo. Their symptoms were assessed on a 4-point scale. Those children who had worn undershirts coated with borage oil for 2 weeks showed improvements in their erythema and itch, which were statistically significant. Transepidermal water loss from the back was decreased. In the placebo group, there were no statistically significant differences. The undershirts coated with borage oil were found to be statistically effective, and had no side-effects on children with mild atopic dermatitis.
Subject(s)
Antirheumatic Agents/administration & dosage , Clothing , Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy , Plant Oils/administration & dosage , gamma-Linolenic Acid/administration & dosage , Administration, Cutaneous , Child , Child, Preschool , Dermatitis, Atopic/pathology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Infant , MaleSubject(s)
Dermatitis, Atopic/drug therapy , Dermatologic Agents/administration & dosage , Plant Oils/administration & dosage , Pruritus/drug therapy , gamma-Linolenic Acid/administration & dosage , Child , Child, Preschool , Clothing , Dermatitis, Atopic/complications , Dermatitis, Atopic/pathology , Female , Humans , Male , Pruritus/etiology , Skin/pathology , Statistics, NonparametricABSTRACT
Sairei-to, one of the Japanese-Chinese herbal medicines has been used for the treatment of various diseases, especially collagen disease and edema in nephrotic syndrome. However, the mechanism of the therapeutic effects remains uncertain. Therefore, we investigated the immunological changes of skin, kidney, spleen cells and serum in autoimmune-prone MRL/lpr, MRL/n and C57BL/6J mice treated with Sairei-to. In MRL/lpr mice treated with Sairei-to, the improvement of proteinuria, reduction in the number of hematoxylin bodies in kidney, and reduced serum levels of blood urea nitrogen were observed. These results indicate that Sairei-to can improve or inhibit the progression of lupus nephritis. The proportion of CD19 and the serum levels of IgG1, which is one of the pathogenesis of lupus dermatoses and lupus nephritis, were significantly reduced in Sairei-to-treated MRL/lpr mice. Therefore, it is suspected that the B cell function was suppressed by Sairei-to. In addition, CD4/8 ratio in spleen cells and the degree of lymphoproliferation in MRL/lpr mice also decreased. Interestingly, IL-4 producing spleen cells were increased significantly by ELISPOT assay, and IFN-gamma mRNA expressions were reduced in Sairei-to-treated MRL/lpr mice. Regarding the Th balance, an imbalance towards Th1 predominance may play a significant role in MRL/lpr mice, and the Th1 axis was suppressed and the Th2 axis became predominant in Sairei-to-treated MRL/lpr mice. On the other hand, Th2 cell type immunoglobulins (IgG1) were suppressed. These results suggested that Sairei-to is potential for impairing shifted Th1/Th2 balance and hypergammaglobulinemia resulting in therapeutic effects.