Dietary of Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium longum improve nonspecific immune responses, growth performance, and resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Penaeus vannamei.

This study investigated the effects of two probiotics, namely Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium longum, as feed additives on growth performance, nonspecific immunity, immune-related gene expression, and disease resistance against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Penaeus vannamei. The experimental diets were prepared using L. paracasei and B. longum at concentrations of 105 and 107 CFU/g; these diets were referred to as P5, P7, B5, and B7. After 8 weeks of the diets, regarding growth performance, the B7 group showed the highest weight gain rate (890.34 ± 103.65%), special growth rate (4.08 ± 0.19%), and feed conversion rate (1.52 ± 0.19%) compared with the other groups. Moreover, the total hemocyte counts were significantly increased (p < 0.05) in the P7 groups on day 14 during the 28-day feeding trial. The phagocytosis rate in all experimental groups was increased on day 14 and was persistently significantly activated to day 21, especially in the P7 and B5 group. The phagocytic index of the P7 group showed a significant increase on day 14 and persistent activation to day 21. In the analysis of respiratory burst activity and phenoloxidase activity, the P7 and B5 groups showed a significant increase on day 7 and persistent activation to day 21. The expression level of the immune-related genes of superoxide dismutase, clotting protein, Penaeidin2, Penaeidin3, Penaeidin4, anti-LPS factor, crustin, and lysozyme was significantly increased in the experimental groups, especially in the P7 group. Furthermore, the optimum conditions of feed additives were determined in challenge trials conducted using P7 and B5. Shrimps fed P7 and B5 showed an increased survival rate (72.73% and 66.67%) after the V. parahaemolyticus challenge. In sum, the results revealed that B. longum, as a feed additive at 107 CFU/g, enhanced growth performance. L. paracasei at 107 CFU/g and B. longum at 105 CFU/g can enhance nonspecific immune responses and immune-related gene expression, and 107 CFU/g L. paracasei has the highest resistance ability for V. parahaemolyticus. Thus, dietary supplementation with L. paracasei and B. longum may be a valuable approach in white shrimp aquaculture.

The Protection of Lactic Acid Bacteria Fermented-Mango Peel against Neuronal Damage Induced by Amyloid-Beta.

Mango peels are usually discarded as waste; however, they contain phytochemicals and could provide functional properties to food and promote human health. This study aimed to determine the optimal lactic acid bacteria for fermentation of mango peel and evaluate the effect of mango peel on neuronal protection in Neuron-2A cells against amyloid beta (Aß) treatment (50 µM). Mango peel can be fermented by different lactic acid bacteria species. Lactobacillus acidophilus (BCRC14079)-fermented mango peel produced the highest concentration of lactic acid bacteria (exceeding 108 CFU/mL). Mango peel and fermented mango peel extracts upregulated brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) expression for 1.74-fold in Neuron-2A cells. Furthermore, mango peel fermented products attenuated oxidative stress in Aß-treated neural cells by 27%. Extracts of L. acidophilus (BCRC14079)-fermented mango peel treatment decreased Aß accumulation and attenuated the increase of subG1 caused by Aß induction in Neuron-2A cells. In conclusion, L. acidophilus (BCRC14079)-fermented mango peel acts as a novel neuronal protective product by inhibiting oxidative stress and increasing BDNF expression in neural cells.

Paris Polyphylla Inhibits Colorectal Cancer Cells via Inducing Autophagy and Enhancing the Efficacy of Chemotherapeutic Drug Doxorubicin.

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide and chemotherapy is the main approach for the treatment of advanced and recurrent cases. Developing an effective complementary therapy could help to improve tumor suppression efficiency and control adverse effects from chemotherapy. Paris polyphylla is a folk medicine for treating various forms of cancer, but its effect on colorectal cancer is largely unexplored. The aim of the present study is to investigate the tumor suppression efficacy and the mechanism of action of the ethanolic extract from P. polyphylla (EEPP) in DLD-1 human colorectal carcinoma cells and to evaluate its combined effect with chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin. The data indicated that EEPP induced DLD-1 cell death via the upregulation of the autophagy markers, without triggering p53- and caspase-3-dependent apoptosis. Moreover, EEPP treatment in combination with doxorubicin enhanced cytotoxicity in these tumor cells. Pennogenin 3-O-beta-chacotrioside and polyphyllin VI were isolated from EEPP and identified as the main candidate active components. Our results suggest that EEPP deserves further evaluation for development as complementary chemotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Inhibition of aqueous extracts of Solanum nigrum (AESN) on oral cancer through regulation of mitochondrial fission.

The present study is designed to investigate the anti-oral cancer properties of Solanum nigrum on oral squamous cell carcinoma. S. nigrum is a Chinese herb used for suppression of various cancers. However, the inhibition of S. nigrum on oral cancer is unclear. Therefore, human oral squamous cancer cells (SCC)-4 were used to evaluate the effect of aqueous extracts of S. nigrum (AESN) on cancer cell proliferation, cell cycle, mitochondrial function and apoptosis. The SCC-4 cells were treated by AESN to evaluate the inhibition of cell proliferation and mitochondrial function in vitro. Our results suggested that AESN markedly increased reactive oxygen species production. AESN also promoted caspase-9 and caspase-3 activation and subsequent triggering of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. The inhibition of glucose uptake was alleviated mediated by a dose-dependent manner in SCC-4 cells with AESN treatment for 24 h, resulting in mitochondrial fission. These results suggested that AESN has potential to be used as a functional food in adjuvant chemotherapy for treating human oral cancer by suppression of mitochondrial function.

Aqueous Extract of Paris polyphylla (AEPP) Inhibits Ovarian Cancer via Suppression of Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-Gamma Coactivator (PGC)-1alpha.

Chemotherapy, a major approach was used in carcinoma treatment, always involves the development of drug resistance as well as side-effects that affect the quality of patients' lives. An association between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and chemotherapy resistance was established recently. We demonstrate in this paper that the aqueous extract of Paris polyphylla (AEPP)-a traditional Chinese medicine-can be used in various cancer types for suppression of carcinogenesis. We evaluated the suppressions of EMT and mitochondrial activity by AEPP treatment in a high-glucose (HG) induced-human ovarian carcinoma cell line (OVCAR-3 cells). The mitochondrial morphology was investigated using MitoTracker Deep Red FM staining. Our results indicated that AEPP reduced the viability of OVCAR-3 cells considerably through induction of apoptosis. However, this inhibitory potential of AEPP was attenuated by HG induction in OVCAR-3 cells. The levels of estrogen-related receptor (ERR)-alpha activator and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha were elevated by HG induction, but were suppressed by AEPP treatment. Down-regulations of cell survival and EMT were oberved in OVCAR-3 cells through suppression of PGC-1alpha by AEPP treatment. These results were confirmed through PGC-1alpha knockdown and overexpression in OVCAR-3 cells. Thus, AEPP can be beneficial for treating ovarian cancer and has potential for development of an integrative cancer therapy against ovarian cancer proliferation, metastasis, and migration.

Anti-Cancer Activity of Solanum nigrum (AESN) through Suppression of Mitochondrial Function and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Breast Cancer Cells.

Chemotherapy is the main approach for treating advanced and recurrent carcinoma, but the clinical performance of chemotherapy is limited by relatively low response rates, drug resistance, and adverse effects that severely affect the quality of life of patients. An association between epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and chemotherapy resistance has been investigated in recent studies. Our recent studies have found that the aqueous extract of Solanum nigrum (AESN) is a crucial ingredient in some traditional Chinese medicine formulas for treating various types of cancer patients and exhibits antitumor effects. We evaluated the suppression of EMT in MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with AESN. The mitochondrial morphology was investigated using Mitotracker Deep-Red FM stain. Our results indicated that AESN markedly inhibited cell viability of MCF-7 breast cancer cells through apoptosis induction and cell cycle arrest mediated by activation of caspase-3 and production of reactive oxygen species. Furthermore, mitochondrial fission was observed in MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with AESN. In addition to elevation of E-cadherin, downregulations of ZEB1, N-cadherin, and vimentin were found in AESN-treated MCF-7 breast cancer cells. These results suggested that AESN could inhibit EMT of MCF-7 breast cancer cells mediated by attenuation of mitochondrial function. AESN could be potentially beneficial in treating breast cancer cells, and may be of interest for future studies in developing integrative cancer therapy against proliferation, metastasis, and migration of breast cancer cells.

Solanum nigrum Protects against Hepatic Fibrosis via Suppression of Hyperglycemia in High-Fat/Ethanol Diet-Induced Rats.

BACKGROUND: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) signal through the receptor for AGE (RAGE), which can lead to hepatic fibrosis in hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia. We investigated the inhibitory effect of aqueous extracts from Solanum nigrum (AESN) on AGEs-induced RAGE signaling and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) and hyperglycemia induced by high-fat diet with ethanol. METHODS: An animal model was used to evaluate the anti-hepatic fibrosis activity of AESN in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD; 30%) with ethanol (10%). Male Wistar rats (4 weeks of age) were randomly divided into four groups (n = 6): (1) control (basal diet); (2) HFD (30%) + ethanol (10%) (HFD/ethanol); (3) HFD/ethanol + AESN (100 mg/kg, oral administration); and (4) HFD/ethanol + pioglitazone (10 mg/kg, oral administration) and treated with HFD for 6 months in the presence or absence of 10% ethanol in dietary water. RESULTS: We found that AESN improved insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia, and downregulated lipogenesis via regulation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), PPARγ co-activator (PGC-1α), carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), and fatty acid synthase (FAS) mRNA levels in the liver of HFD/ethanol-treated rats. In turn, AESN may delay and inhibit the progression of hepatic fibrosis, including α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) inhibition and MMP-2 production. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that AESN may be further explored as a novel anti-fibrotic strategy for the prevention of liver disease.

Miracle Fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) Exhibits as a Novel Anti-Hyperuricaemia Agent.

Miracle fruit (Synsepalum dulcificum) belongs to the Sapotaceae family. It can change flavors on taste buds, transforming acidic tastes to sweet. We evaluated various miracle fruit extracts, including water, butanol, ethyl acetate (EA), and hexane fractions, to determine its antioxidant effects. These extracts isolated from miracle fruit exerted potential for reduction of uric acid and inhibited xanthine oxidase activity in vitro and in monosodiumurate (MSU)-treated RAW264.7 macrophages. Moreover, we also found that the butanol extracts of miracle fruit attenuated oxonic acid potassium salt-induced hyperuricaemia in ICR mice by lowering serum uric acid levels and activating hepatic xanthine oxidase. These effects were equal to those of allopurinol, suggesting that the butanol extract of miracle fruit could be developed as a novel anti-hyperuricaemia agent or health food.

Actinidia callosa peel (kiwi fruit) ethanol extracts protected neural cells apoptosis induced by methylglyoxal through Nrf2 activation.

CONTEXT: Methylglyoxal (MG) is a reactive dicarbonyl compound generated as an intermediate of glycolysis during the physical glycation in the diabetic condition. MG itself has been commonly implicated in the development of diabetic neuropathy. Several active compounds in Actinidia callosa have been found to inhibit glycation and MG-protein reaction. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the protective effects of A. callosa (kiwi fruits) peel ethanol extracts (ACE) on MG-induced Neuro-2A cell apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Neuro-2A cells pre-treated by ACE (50-200 µg/mL) or allyl-isothiocyanate (AITC) (50 µM) for 6 h, in turn, the cells were treated with MG (250 µM) for 24 h. RESULTS: ACE or AITC treatment markedly inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the elevation of caspase-3 and capase-9 levels induced by MG in Neuro-2A cells. ACE and AITC elevated Bcl2 and inhibited Bax expressions in MG-induced Neuro-2A cells. ACE elevated Nrf2 transcriptional activity and nuclear translocation in MG-induced Neuro-2A cells. Nrf2 down-stream molecules including HO-1 and GCL were elevated by ACE or AITC treatment in MG-induced Neuro-2A cells. The protective effects of ACE on MG-induced Neuro-2A apoptosis were attenuated while Nrf2 knockdown. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We established the first evidence that ACE might contribute to the prevention of the development of diabetic neuropathy by blocking the MG-mediated intracellular glycation system.

Ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) improves hyperglycaemia and memory impairments in a Wistar rat model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Ice plant (Mesembryanthemum crystallinum) has been used as an anti-diabetic agent in Japan because it contains d-pinitol. The efficacy of ice plant in the regulation of blood glucose is unclear at present. Recently, memory impairment and development of Alzheimer's disease found in diabetic patients are thought to be caused by high blood glucose. The mechanism by which ice plant protects against the impairment of memory and learning abilities caused by high blood glucose remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protection of ice plant water extracts (IPE) and D-pinitol against memory impairments in a Wistar rat model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. We hypothesised that IPE and D-pinitol could suppress blood glucose and elevate insulin sensitivity in these rats. RESULTS: For memory evaluation, IPE and D-pinitol also improved the passive avoidance task and the working memory task. In addition, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase activity in hippocampus and cortex was found in this rat model administered IPE or D-pinitol. IPE and D-pinitol also markedly elevated superoxide dismutase activity against oxidative stress and reduced malondialdehyde production in hippocampus and cortex of the rats. CONCLUSION: These findings indicated that IPE and D-pinitol possess beneficial effects for neural protection and memory ability in a rat model of diabetes.

Graptopetalum paraguayense and resveratrol ameliorates carboxymethyllysine (CML)-induced pancreas dysfunction and hyperglycemia.

Hyperglycemia is associated with advanced glycation end products (AGEs). Recently, AGEs were found to cause pancreatic damage, oxidative stress, and hyperglycemia through the AGE receptor. Carboxymethyllysine (CML) is an AGE but whether it induces pancreatic dysfunction remains unclear. Graptopetalum paraguayense, a vegetable consumed in Taiwan, has been used in folk medicine and is an antioxidant that protects against liver damage. We investigated the protective properties of G. paraguayense 95% ethanol extracts (GPEs) against CML-induced pancreatic damage. The results indicated that resveratrol, GPE, and gallic acid (the active compound of GPE) increased insulin synthesis via upregulation of pancreatic peroxisome proliferator activated-receptor-γ (PPARγ) and pancreatic-duodenal homeobox-1 (PDX-1) but inhibited the expression of CML-mediated CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-ß (C/EBPß), a negative regulator of insulin production. Moreover, resveratrol and GPE also strongly activated nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) to attenuate oxidative stress and improve insulin sensitivity in the liver and muscle of CML-injected C57BL/6 mice and resulted in reduced blood glucose levels. Taken together, these findings suggested that GPE and gallic acid could potentially be used as a food supplement to protect against pancreatic damage and the development of diabetes.

Graptopetalum paraguayense Ameliorates Airway Inflammation and Allergy in Ovalbumin- (OVA-) Sensitized BALB/C Mice by Inhibiting Th2 Signal.

Role of inflammation-induced oxidative stress in the pathogenesis and progression of chronic inflammatory airways diseases has received increasing attention in recent years. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 is the primary transcription factor that regulates the expression of antioxidant and detoxifying enzymes. Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther, a vegetable consumed in Taiwan, has been used in folk medicine for protection against liver injury through elevating antioxidation. Recently, we found that gallic acid is an active compound of Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther, which has been reported to inhibit T-helper 2 cytokines. Currently, we assumed that Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther may potentially protect against ovalbumin-induced allergy and airway inflammation. Results demonstrated that Graptopetalum paraguayense E. Walther ethanolic extracts (GPE) clearly inhibited airway inflammation, mucus cell hyperplasia, and eosinophilia in OVA-challenged mice. Additionally, GPE also prevented T-cell infiltration and Th2 cytokines, including interleukin- (IL-)4, IL-5, and IL-13 generations in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid. The adhesion molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were substantially reduced by GPE treatment mediated by Nrf2 activation. Moreover, GPE attenuated GATA3 expression and inhibited Th2 signals of the T cells. These findings suggested that GPE ameliorated the development of airway inflammation through immune regulation.

Monascin improves diabetes and dyslipidemia by regulating PPARγ and inhibiting lipogenesis in fructose-rich diet-induced C57BL/6 mice.

Monascin (MS) is a yellow compound isolated from Monascus-fermented products that has pancreatic protective, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and hypolipidemic activity. We recently found that MS also acts as a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ) agonist, thereby promoting insulin sensitivity in C2C12 cells. However, the attenuation of hyperglycemia by MS treatment in vivo remains uncertain. In the present study, both MS and pioglitazone significantly down-regulated blood glucose and hyperinsulinemia in fructose-rich diet (FRD)-induced C57BL/6 mice (8 weeks). In addition, inhibitions of inflammatory factor production, serum dyslipidemia, and hepatic fatty acid accumulation by MS and pioglitazone were attenuated by GW9662 (PPARγ antagonist). These results were mediated by MS-suppressing FRD-elevated lipogenic transcription factors, including sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), carbohydrate response element-binding protein (ChREBP), PPARγ coactivator-1α (PGC-1α), and PPARγ coactivator-1ß (PGC-1ß). Taken together, de novo lipogenesis results in hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia by fructose induction thereby leading to diabetes development; we found that MS may inhibit lipogenesis in FRD-induced mice. These findings suggest that MS acts as an antidiabetic agent and thus may have therapeutic potential for prevention of diabetes.

Benefit of Monascus-fermented products for hypertension prevention: a review.

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been reported to play a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system thereby exerting an inhibition in nerve impulse, in turn ameliorating depression; in addition, recent study also reveals the anti-hypertensive effect of GABA in vivo. Edible fungi of the Monascus species have been used as traditional Chinese medicine in eastern Asia for several centuries. Monascus-fermented products possess a number of functional secondary metabolites, including anti-inflammatory pigments (such as monascin and ankaflavin), monacolins, dimerumic acid, and GABA. Several scientific studies have shown that these secondary metabolites have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, and anti-tumor activities. Moreover, many published reports have shown the efficacy of Monascus-fermented products in the prevention or amelioration of some diseases, including hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and numerous types of cancer in recent studies. The current article discusses and provides evidence to elucidate the anti-hypertensive benefit of Monascus-fermented metabolites, including anti-inflammatory pigments and GABA.

Red Mold Rice against Hepatic Inflammatory Damage in Zn-deficient Rats.

The protective effect of red mold rice (RMR) against liver injury in rats fed with a Zn-deficient diet for 12 weeks was investigated in this study. Rats were orally administered RMR (151 mg/kg body weight or 755 mg/kg body weight; 1 × dose or 5 × dose, respectively) with or without Zn once a day for 4 consecutive weeks. The severity of liver damage was evaluated by measuring the serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels in Zn-deficient rats. RMR significantly inhibited the elevation of serum ALT levels by Zn-deficient induction. Hepatic antioxidase activity was also significantly increased in the RMR + Zn group (RZ), thereby suppressing the productions of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and proinflammatory cytokines in the liver of Zn-deficient rats. These findings suggested that RMR exerted hepatoprotective effects against Zn deficiency-induced liver inflammation.

Hepatoprotection of emodin and Polygonum multiflorum against CCl(4)-induced liver injury.

CONTEXT: Polygonum multiflorum is known as a medicinal plant. It has been used as a folk medicine which showed antioxidative property. OBJECTIVE: Protective effects of the water extracts (w/v:1/10) from fresh P. multiflorum (WEP) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4))-induced liver damage in rats were investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CCl(4) was used for inducing liver damage of SD rats, and WEP and emodin were fed for eight consecutive weeks. RESULTS: We found that emodin levels in fresh WEP was higher than that in ripening WEP. Rats were administered WEP and emodin, the main active compound, for 56 consecutive days. WEP significantly lowered the serum levels of hepatic enzyme markers, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and reduced the generation of malonaldehyde. Treatment with WEP recovered glutathione S-transferase and catalase activity in rats as compared to treatment with CCl(4) alone. In addition, serum tumor necrosis factor-α, an inflammatory marker, was found to decrease in rats treated with WEP. In histopathological evaluation, fatty degeneration and necrosis were found to be significantly decreased in the CCl(4) plus WEP treatment group. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: WEP may be effective in attenuating liver damage by reducing lipid peroxidation as well as by positively modulating inflammation.

Immunomodulatory and antioxidant potential of Lactobacillus exopolysaccharides.

BACKGROUND: Immunomodulation by probiotic microorganisms has become a topic of increasing interest in food microbiology. Polysaccharides are broadly used in the food industry as gelling, thickening, stabilizing, or emulsifying agents. Some probiotics such as lactic acid bacteria also produce exopolysaccharides that stimulate macrophage production of cytokines. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of exopolysaccharides of Lactobacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei NTU 101 (101EP) and Lactobacillus plantarum NTU 102 (102EP) exopolysaccharides on antioxidant activity and immunomodulation in vitro. RESULTS: The sugar composition (including arabinose, galactose, glucose, fructose, mannose, and maltose) of 101EP and 102EP was quantified by high-performance anion-exchange chromatography. Cytokine production (including IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1ß) was induced by 101EP and 102EP in Raw 264.7 in a dose-dependent manner (5-500 µg mL(-1) ). 101EP and 102EP also demonstrated potential antioxidant properties (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity, chelation of ferrous ions, inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation, and reducing power) in vitro. CONCLUSION: 101EP and 102EP stimulate cell proliferation and may be useful as a mild immune modulator of macrophages.

Effects of red mold dioscorea on oral carcinogenesis in DMBA-induced hamster animal model.

Monascus-fermented products offer valuable therapeutic benefits and have been extensively used for centuries in East Asia. Dioscorea has been proved to have anti-cancer effect. The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-tumor ability of the ethanol extract of red mold dioscorea (RMDE) on 7,12-dimethyl-1,2-benz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced hamster buccal pouch carcinogenesis. We induced oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the buccal pouch of male Syrian golden hamsters by painting with 0.5% DMBA three times a week for 14 weeks. From 9 to 14 weeks, a dose of 50, 100, and 200 mg RMDE per kg body weight were painting with the hamsters for 6 weeks on days alternate to the DMBA application. The results demonstrated that RMDE decreased nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) overexpression in hamster buccal pouches in the DMBA treatment group and increased p53, serum tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) to significantly stimulate caspase-8 and -3 activities, indicating that RMDE reduced oxidative damage causing by DMBA and induced apoptosis in oral cancer cells. Therefore, RMDE may have therapeutic potentials against OSCC.

Buckwheat polysaccharide exerts antiproliferative effects in THP-1 human leukemia cells by inducing differentiation.

Buckwheat is a healthy food commonly eaten worldwide. The antitumor activity of buckwheat polysaccharides (BWPSs) has not yet been evaluated. In recent years, inducing differentiation of leukemic cells has become one of the most important therapeutic approaches for curing leukemia, and this strategy effectively inhibits leukemia cell proliferation and growth because the differentiation inducer changes leukemic cell morphology and cellular characters by inducing cellular maturity. The ability of BWPS to induce the differentiation of human leukemic THP-1 cells (monocyte [MNC]/macrophage-like cells) was investigated by both direct and indirect treatments in this study. In the indirect treatment, BWPS significantly stimulated cytokine secretion (differentiation inducer) in MNCs from peripheral blood mononuclear cells in MNC-conditioned medium (BWPS-MNC-CM) following a 24-hour treatment, and THP-1 cell differentiation and maturity were significantly increased after 5 days of treatment with the BWPS-MNC-CM. On the other hand, BWPS directly induced THP-1 cell differentiation and maturity following 3-day and 5-day treatments in a dose-dependent manner and exerted phagocytic activity and superoxide anion production in these mature cells. These findings indicate that BWPS has potential for differentiation therapy in leukemia.

Optimization of culture condition for ACEI and GABA production by lactic acid bacteria.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) are compounds which can influence hypertension. The goal of this study is to optimize the culture condition for GABA and ACEI production by Lactobacillus plantarum NTU 102 fermented skim milk. In this study, we used 3-factor-3-level Box-Behnken design combining with response surface methodology, where the 3 factors represent the concentration of skim milk, the concentration of monosodium glutamate, and culture temperature. Best conditions for GABA and ACEI production differed. The results indicated that L. plantarum NTU 102 produced the highest combined levels of GABA and ACEI at 37 °C, in milk having 8% to 12% nonfat solids supplemented with 0.6% to 1% MSG. Agitation of the medium during fermentation had no effect on GABA or ACEI production but extended incubation (up to 6 d) increases levels of the bioactive compounds. L. plantarum NTU 102 fermented products may be a potential functional food source for regulating hypertension.