Determination of the Optimal Concentration of Natural Antimicrobial Agents in Marinade Sauce for Meal Kits.

This study aimed to determine the antimicrobial effectiveness of natural antimicrobial agents (NAAs) (yuzu juice, wasabi extract, and rosemary extract) against three target microorganisms (TMs) (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella Typhimurium) and to determine the optimal concentration of these agents using response surface methodology (RSM) to ensure the safety of meal kits manufactured using marinade sauce. The three NAAs added to marinade sauce effectively inactivated TMs (P<0.05), in particular, yuzu juice had the greatest antimicrobial effect against TMs, followed by wasabi and rosemary extracts. To determine the optimal concentration of NAAs using RSM, 17 concentrations were tested with three TMs as dependent variables and three NAAs as independent variables. The results showed that E. coli was not present under any of the conditions tested, whereas S. aureus and S. Typhimurium exhibited different characteristics depending on the conditions. Through response surface analysis of the TMs except for E. coli, which was not detected, it was determined that S. aureus had a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.928 and a lack of fit of 0.074, and the linear regression of [yuzu juice] (X1) and quadratic regression of [yuzu juice]2 (X12) were both significant (P<0.05). S. Typhimurium had an R2 of 0.8955 and a lack of fit of 0.051, and only the quadratic regression of [yuzu juice]2 (X12) was significant (P<0.05). Based on RSM and ridge analysis, the optimal mixed conditions were determined to be 3.92% (v/w) yuzu juice, 23.41% (v/w) wasabi extract, and 3.93% (v/w) rosemary extract. After investigating the antimicrobial effect under the optimal conditions, E. coli and S. Typhimurium were absent, and S. aureus was reduced to 2.50 ± 0.09 log colony-forming units/g after 24 h. The results indicated that mixed treatment with the three NAAs had a more significant antimicrobial effect due to their synergistic properties compared to when used in isolation.

Effect of onion peel extract on endothelial function and endothelial progenitor cells in overweight and obese individuals.

OBJECTIVES: Acute or chronic intake of polyphenol-rich foods has been reported to improve endothelial function. Quercetin, found abundantly in onion, is a potent antioxidant flavonoid. The aim of this study was to investigate whether consumption of onion peel extract (OPE) improves endothelial function in healthy overweight and obese individuals. METHODS: This was a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Seventy-two healthy overweight and obese participants were randomly assigned to receive a red, soft capsule of OPE (100 mg quercetin/d, 50 mg quercetin twice daily; n = 36 participants) or an identical placebo capsule (n = 36) for 12 wk. Endothelial function, defined by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by flow cytometry, and laboratory test were determined at baseline and after treatment. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics and laboratory findings did not significantly differ between the two groups. Compared with baseline values, the OPE group showed significantly improved FMD at 12 wk (from 12.5 ± 5.2 to 15.2 ± 6.1; P = 0.002), whereas the placebo group showed no difference. Nitroglycerin-mediated dilation did not change in either group. EPC counts (44.2 ± 25.6 versus 52.3 ± 18.6; P = 0.005) and the percentage of EPCs were significantly increased in the OPE group. When FMD was divided into quartiles, rate of patients with endothelial dysfunction defined as lowest quartile (cutoff value, 8.6%) of FMD improved from 26% to 9% by OPE. CONCLUSION: Medium-term administration of OPE an improvement in FMD and circulating EPCs.

The effect of feedback respiratory training on pulmonary function of children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled preliminary report.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of feedback respiratory training on pulmonary function of children with cerebral palsy. DESIGN: Randomized controlled experimental study. SETTING: Outpatient rehabilitation hospital. SUBJECTS: Twenty-two children with cerebral palsy were randomly assigned to two groups: the experimental group (feedback respiratory training) and the control group. INTERVENTIONS: Feedback respiratory training and comprehensive rehabilitation therapy were performed by children in the experimental group. Comprehensive rehabilitation therapy was performed by children in the control group. Children in both groups received training three times per week for a period of four weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES: Forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume at one second, peak expiratory flow, vital capacity, tidal volume, inspiratory reserve volume and expiratory reserve volume were assessed before and after four weeks training period. RESULTS: Significant improvements in pulmonary function were observed after training in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Greater gains were observed in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). Values of forced vital capacity increased by 50%, forced expiratory volume at one second increased by 40% as a result of training in the experimental group. The control group showed no significant changes in pulmonary function after training (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Participation in feedback respiratory training resulted in improvement of pulmonary function of children with cerebral palsy.

Effect of onion peel extract supplementation on the lipid profile and antioxidative status of healthy young women: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial.

The consumption of fruits and vegetables that have high polyphenol content has been previously associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease. We investigated the effects of onion peel extract on plasma total antioxidant capacity, lipid peroxidation, and leukocyte DNA damage. This study was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Healthy female subjects received either onion peel extract or placebo (dextrin) for two weeks, underwent a 1-week washout period, and then received the other treatment for an additional two weeks. After two weeks of onion peel extract supplementation, the total cholesterol level, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and atherogenic index significantly decreased (P < 0.05). No changes were observed in activities of erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes or levels of lipid peroxidation markers following onion peel extract supplementation. Additionally, no significant difference was found in plasma antioxidant vitamin (retinol, tocopherols, carotenoids, and coenzyme Q10) levels or ex vivo H2O2-provoked oxidative DNA damage after onion peel extract supplementation. The present interventional study provides evidence of the health benefits of onion peel extract and demonstrates its effects in modulating lipid profiles in healthy young Korean women.

Effect of quercetin-rich onion peel extracts on arterial thrombosis in rats.

The aim of this study was to examine whether oral supplementation of quercetin-rich onion peel extract (OPE) influences blood coagulation and arterial thrombosis in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. 24 male rats, 5 weeks old, were divided into three groups with different diets (C: control, 2mg OPE: chow diet with 2mg OPE supplementation, 10mg OPE: chow diet with 10mg OPE supplementation) for 6 weeks. Blood coagulation parameters including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) and platelet aggregation were examined. The OPE did not affect blood cholesterol levels but significantly decreased blood triglyceride and glucose levels. PT, aPTT and platelet aggregation were not significantly different among all tested groups. However, in vivo arterial thrombosis was significantly delayed in groups that were fed 2mg and 10mg OPE diets compared to the control group. In addition, the OPE greatly diminished thrombin-induced expression of tissue factor in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), a coagulation initiator. In addition, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways activated by thrombin treatment were prevented by the OPE pre-treatment. These results indicate that OPE may have anti-thrombotic effects through restricting the induced expression of tissue factor via down-regulating mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation upon coagulation stimulus, leading to the prolongation of time for arterial thrombosis.

Onion peel extract increases hepatic low-density lipoprotein receptor and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 messenger RNA expressions in Sprague-Dawley rats fed a high-fat diet.

In the present study, we hypothesized that onion peel extract (OPE) alters hepatic gene expression to improve blood cholesterol profiles. To investigate the effect of OPE to test our hypothesis, Sprague-Dawley rats were fed ad libitum for 8 weeks with the control, high-fat diet (HFD) or the high-fat diet with 0.2% OPE supplementations (HFD + OPE). Messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of genes in cholesterol metabolism and fatty acid metabolism were examined by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The OPE in HFD reverted high fat-induced reduction in mRNA levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-2, low-density lipoprotein receptor, and hydroxyl-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme reductase genes in the liver comparable with the levels of the control group. Onion peel extract slightly increased stearoyl-coA desaturase 1 (SCD-1) expression compared with high-fat feeding. However, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c and fatty acid synthase were not affected by high-fat or OPE feeding. Onion peel extract also enhanced expression of ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ2 and scavenger receptor class B type I genes when compared with high-fat feeding. However, OPE did not influence high fat-triggered changes in apolipoprotein A1 mRNA levels and liver X receptor α were not affected by either high-fat or OPE feeding. Our results suggest that OPE changes the expression of genes associated with cholesterol metabolism in favor of lowering blood low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and enhancing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol through increasing mRNA abundance of low-density lipoprotein receptor and ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 genes.

Influence of quercetin-rich onion peel extracts on adipokine expression in the visceral adipose tissue of rats.

We examined the effects of quercetin-rich onion peel extract supplementation on adipokine expressions from adipose tissues in a diet-induced obese animal model. Male Sprague-Dawley rats (n = 24) were randomly assigned into control (n = 8), high fat diet (HF, n = 8) and high fat diet with onion peel extract (HFOE, n = 8). After 8 weeks, serum biochemical parameters, weights of adipose tissues (epididymal, perirenal and mesenteric fats) and adipokine mRNA levels (adiponectin, IL (interleukin)-6 and visfatin) along with PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor) γ2 from adipose tissues were measured. After the 8 week supplementation, mesenteric fat weights were lower in the HFOE group than the HF group (p < 0.05). Adiponectin mRNA levels (mesenteric fats) were remarkably higher in the HFOE group than the other groups (p < 0.05 for both). Levels of PPARγ2 mRNA (mesenteric fats) were significantly higher in the HF group (p < 0.05) than those in the control group, but those in the HFOE group were not different from those in the control group. The IL-6 mRNA levels (perirenal and mesenteric fats) were higher in the HF and HFOE groups, but those in the HFOE group were slightly lower than those in the HF group. In conclusion, quercetin-rich onion peel extract supplementation influenced adipokine expressions, particularly from mesenteric fat, addressing the modulatory effect of this substance on obesity-induced inflammation.