Gut Microbiota Modulation, Anti-Diabetic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Polyphenol Extract from Mung Bean Seed Coat (Vigna radiata L.).

The present study investigated the gut health, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities of mung bean seed coat extract (MSE). MSE was obtained by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) using 50% ethanol as the extracting solvent. After 24 h of in vitro human fecal fermentation, MSE exhibited higher productions of total short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) than those of the control group (CON) and other polyphenol-rich substrates, including gallic acid (GA) and vitexin (VIT) (p > 0.05), but still lower than the fructo-oligosaccharide (FOS). In 16S-rRNA next-generation sequencing, MSE regulated the composition of gut microbiota by stimulating the growth of the beneficial bacteria Enterococcus, Ruminococcus, Blautia, and Bacteroides and decreasing the growth of the potential pathogenic bacteria Escherichia-Shigella. Similarly, qPCR showed increased numbers of Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus, Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, and Prevotella, compared with those of CON (p < 0.05). MSE also reduced reactive oxygen species and increased glucose uptake in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells dose-dependently. The anti-inflammatory activity of MSE was observed in LPS-stimulated THP-1 monocytes with the reduction of TNFα, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-8 genes. The data demonstrated the potential applications of MSE as a dietary supplement with gut health benefits and its ability to mitigate diabetes and inflammatory-related diseases.

Extraction of Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds from Mung Bean (Vigna radiata L.) Seed Coat by Pressurized Liquid Extraction.

Mung bean seed coat (MBC) is a by-product of the mung bean processing industry. It contains a large number of phenolic compounds with therapeutic anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties. This research aimed to investigate the optimum conditions for phenolic and flavonoid extraction from MBC by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE). Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to study the effects of temperature (80-160 °C), pressure (1200-1800 psi) and ethanol concentration (5-95%) on total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) scavenging activity (ABTS). Scale-up extraction was also performed. The optimum conditions for extraction were 160 °C, 1300 psi and 50% ethanol. Under optimum conditions, the TPC was 55.27 ± 1.14 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g MBC, TFC was 34.04 ± 0.72 mg catechin equivalent (CE)/g MBC and ABTS scavenging activity was 195.05 ± 2.29 mg trolox equivalent (TE)/g MBC. The TFC and ABTS scavenging activity of the extracts obtained at the pilot scale (10 L) was not significantly different from the laboratory scale, while TPC was significantly increased. The freeze-dried MBC extract contained vitexin and isovitexin 130.53 ± 17.89, 21.21 ± 3.22 mg/g extract, respectively. In conclusion, PLE was able to extract phenolics, flavonoids with ABTS scavenging activity from MBC with the prospect for future scale-up for food industry.

Effect of chicken manure and chemical fertilizer on the yield and qualities of white mugwort at dissimilar harvesting times.

One of the key components that affects soil productiveness, plant growth, and crop quality is fertilization. The effect of fertilizer, both organic and chemical, on the extremely acidic (pH 4.10) sandy loam soil chemical properties, yield, and quality of white mugwort grown were evaluated in this study. The field experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design, with four replications was conducted in Prachin Buri province, Thailand. There were six treatments, no fertilization (control), chemical fertilizer (25-7-7 + 46-0-0) applied at 187.50 (66.56 N:6.77 P2O5:6.77 K2O kg ha-1) kg ha-1 and applied at 375.00 (133.12 N:13.13 P2O5:13.13 K2O kg ha-1) kg ha-1, chicken manure applied at 3.36, 6.72, and 10.08 t ha-1. After harvesting, application of chicken manure tended to increase soil organic matter compared to the control, however, the application of chemical fertilizer did not show the same effect. The fresh weight of white mugwort increased with the rise in both fertilizer levels. Chicken manure application at 10.08 t ha-1 produced the highest fresh weight at all times. The level of accumulated nitrate was significantly greater when fertilizer rates increased. In addition, the total phenolic content of the white mugwort fertilized with chicken manure was higher than that fertilized with chemical fertilizer. However, there was no association between the DPPH radical scavenging capacity at harvesting times and different fertilization. Based on the results, chicken manure applied at 10.08 t ha-1 gave the best yield and higher total phenolic content of white mugwort, which was probably due to the improved soil organic matter.

Water Extract of Mungbean (Vigna radiata L.) Inhibits Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase-1B in Insulin-Resistant HepG2 Cells.

The present study aimed to investigate the effects of mungbean water extract (MWE) on insulin downstream signaling in insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. Whole seed mungbean was extracted using boiling water, mimicking a traditional cooking method. Vitexin and isovitexin were identified in MWE. The results showed that MWE inhibited protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP)-1B (IC50 = 10 µg/mL), a negative regulator of insulin signaling. MWE enhanced cellular glucose uptake and altered expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism, including forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3ß in the insulin-resistant HepG2 cells. In addition, MWE inhibited both α-amylase (IC50 = 36.65 mg/mL) and α-glucosidase (IC50 = 3.07 mg/mL). MWE also inhibited the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) (IC50 = 2.28 mg/mL). This is the first study to show that mungbean water extract increased cellular glucose uptake and improved insulin sensitivity of insulin-resistant HepG2 cells through PTP-1B inhibition and modulating the expression of genes related to glucose metabolism. This suggests that mungbean water extract has the potential to be a functional ingredient for diabetes.

Mitigation of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in high-fat-fed mice by the combination of decaffeinated green tea extract and voluntary exercise.

We have shown that combination treatment with decaffeinated green tea extract (GTE) and voluntary exercise (Ex) reduces obesity and insulin resistance in high-fat (HF)-fed mice to a greater extent than either treatment alone. Here, we investigated the effects of GTE-, Ex- or the combination on the development of obesity-related NAFLD. Male C57BL/6 J mice were treated for 16 weeks with HF diet (60% energy from fat), HF supplemented with 7.7 g GTE/kg, HF plus access to a voluntary running wheel, or the combination. We found that treatment of mice with the combination mitigated the development of HF-induced NAFLD to a greater extent than either treatment alone. Combination-treated mice had lower plasma alanine aminotransferase (92% lower) and hepatic lipid accumulation (80% lower) than HF-fed controls: the effect of the single treatments was less significant. Mitigation of NAFLD was associated with higher fecal lipid and nitrogen levels. Combination treated, but not singly treated mice, had higher hepatic expression of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis (sirtuin 1 [59%]; peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α [42%]; nuclear respiratory factor 1 [38%]; and transcription factor B1, mitochondrial [89%]) compared to the HF-fed controls. GTE-, Ex-, and the combination-treatment groups also had higher hepatic expression of genes related to cholesterol synthesis and uptake, but the combination was not better than the single treatments. Our results suggest the combination of GTE and Ex can effectively mitigate NAFLD. Future studies should determine if the combination is additive or synergistic compared to the single treatments.

Tocopherols inhibit oxidative and nitrosative stress in estrogen-induced early mammary hyperplasia in ACI rats.

Oxidative stress is known to play a key role in estrogen-induced breast cancer. This study assessed the chemopreventive activity of the naturally occurring γ-tocopherol-rich mixture of tocopherols (γ-TmT) in early stages of estrogen-induced mammary hyperplasia in ACI rats. ACI rats provide an established model of rodent mammary carcinogenesis due to their high sensitivity to estrogen. Female rats were implanted with 9 mg of 17ß-estradiol (E2) in silastic tubings and fed with control or 0.3% γ-TmT diet for 1, 3, 7, and 14 d. γ-TmT increased the levels of tocopherols and their metabolites in the serum and mammary glands of the rats. Histological analysis revealed mammary hyperplasia in the E2 treated rats fed with control or γ-TmT diet. γ-TmT decreased the levels of E2-induced nitrosative and oxidative stress markers, nitrotyrosine, and 8-oxo-dG, respectively, in the hyperplastic mammary tissues. 8-Isoprostane, a marker of oxidative stress in the serum, was also reduced by γ-TmT. Noticeably, γ-TmT stimulated Nrf2-dependent antioxidant response in the mammary glands of E2 treated rats, evident from the induced mRNA levels of Nrf2 and its downstream antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase. Therefore, inhibition of nitrosative/oxidative stress through induction of antioxidant response is the primary effect of γ-TmT in early stages of E2-induced mammary hyperplasia. Due to its cytoprotective activity, γ-TmT could be a potential natural agent for the chemoprevention of estrogen-induced breast cancer.

Voluntary exercise and green tea enhance the expression of genes related to energy utilization and attenuate metabolic syndrome in high fat fed mice.

Obesity and metabolic syndrome are growing public health problems. We investigated the effects of decaffeinated green tea extract (GTE) and voluntary running exercise (Ex) alone or in combination against obesity and metabolic syndrome in high fat (HF) fed C57BL/6J mice. After 16 wk, GTE + Ex treatment reduced final body mass (27.1% decrease) and total visceral fat mass (36.6% decrease) compared to HF-fed mice. GTE + Ex reduced fasting blood glucose (17% decrease), plasma insulin (65% decrease), and insulin resistance (65% decrease) compared to HF-fed mice. GTE or Ex alone had less significant effects. In the skeletal muscle, the combination of Ex and GTE increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ coactivator-1α (Ppargc1a), mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase 5 (mt-Nd5), mitochondrial cytochrome b (mt-Cytb), and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase III (mt-Co3). An increase in hepatic expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (Ppara) and liver carnitine palmitoyl transferase-1α (Cpt1a) and a decrease in hepatic expression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1) mRNA was observed in GTE + Ex mice. GTE + Ex was more effective than either treatment alone in reducing diet-induced obesity. These effects are due in part to modulation of genes related to energy metabolism and de novo lipogenesis.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate inhibits pancreatic lipase and reduces body weight gain in high fat-fed obese mice.

Tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceae) has been shown to have obesity preventive effects in laboratory studies. We hypothesized that dietary epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could reverse metabolic syndrome in high fat-fed obese C57bl/6J mice, and that these effects were related to inhibition of pancreatic lipase (PL). Following treatment with 0.32% EGCG for 6 weeks, a 44% decrease in body weight (BW) gain in high fat-fed, obese mice (P < 0.01) was observed compared to controls. EGCG treatment increased fecal lipid content by 29.4% (P < 0.05) compared to high fat-fed control, whereas in vitro, EGCG dose-dependently inhibited PL (IC(50) = 7.5 µmol/l) in a noncompetitive manner with respect to substrate concentration. (-)-Epicatechin-3-gallate exhibited similar inhibitory activity, whereas the nonester-containing (-)-epigallocatechin did not. In conclusion, EGCG supplementation reduced final BW and BW gain in obese mice, and some of these effects may be due to inhibition of PL by EGCG.

Weight control and prevention of metabolic syndrome by green tea.

Green tea (Camellia sinensis, Theaceace) is the second most popular beverage in the world and has been extensively studied for its putative disease preventive effects. Green tea is characterized by the presence of a high concentrations of polyphenolic compounds known as catechins, with (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) being the most abundant and most well-studied. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a complex condition that is defined by the presence of elevated waist circumference, dysglycemia, elevated blood pressure, decrease serum high-density lipoprotein-associated cholesterol, and increased serum triglycerides. Studies in both in vitro and laboratory animal models have examined the preventive effects of green tea and EGCG against the symptoms of MetS. Overall, the results of these studies have been promising and demonstrate that green tea and EGCG have preventive effects in both genetic and dietary models of obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and hypercholesterolemia. Various mechanisms have been proposed based on these studies and include: modulation of dietary fat absorption and metabolism, increased glucose utilization, decreased de novo lipogenesis, enhanced vascular responsiveness, and antioxidative effects. In the present review, we discuss the current state of the science with regard to laboratory studies on green tea and MetS. We attempt to critically evaluate the available data and point out areas for future research. Although there is a considerable amount of data available, questions remain in terms of the primary mechanism(s) of action, the dose-response relationships involved, and the best way to translate the results to human intervention studies.