Enzymatic browning reaction of apple juices prepared using a blender and a low-speed masticating household juicer.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of juicer type (blender or LSM household juicer) on the browning reaction of apple juice and evaluate the remaining antioxidant activity in the juice. The blender apple juice showed a darker brown color and 4.5 times higher PPO activity than LSM apple juice. This result suggested that the blender caused severer damage to plastids in cells leading to leakage of PPO into the juice than the LSM juicer. The total polyphenol and flavonoid content of LSM apple juice was approximately 2 times higher than that of blender apple juice because polyphenols and flavonoids can be used as substrates by PPO. The antioxidant activity of LSM juice was higher than that of blender juice. Together, these results suggested that the LSM juicer is superior to the blender for preparation of fresh apple juices due to the minimization of enzymatic oxidation reactions. Abbreviations: LSM: low-speed masticating; PPO: polyphenol oxidase; ABTS: 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid); DPPH: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl.

Inhibitory effects of the root extract of Dipsacus asperoides C.Y. Cheng et al T.M.Ai on collagen-induced arthritis in mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Dipsaci radix, the dried root of Dipsacus asperoides C.Y. Cheng et al T.M.Ai is used as a medicinal plant in oriental clinics for the treatment of bone diseases and functions by strengthening bone and healing bone fractures. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Dipsaci radix in treating rheumatoid arthritis using a type II collagen (CII)-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Arthritis was induced in male DBA/1 mice by immunization with CII. Dipsaci radix water (DR-W) extract at 50mg/kg and 100mg/kg was orally administered from days to after the induction of arthritis. Arthritic score, serum levels of anti-CII IgG2a, the inflammatory mediator prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6), and histological changes in the ankle joint were analyzed in CIA mice. RESULTS: Arthritic induction increased the arthritic score, as well as serum levels of anti-CII IgG2a antibody, PGE(2), TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 in mice. However, administration of DR-W extract in CIA mice significantly reduced arthritic scores and serum levels of anti-CII IgG2a antibody, PGE(2), TNF-α, IL-1ß and IL-6 compared with those in vehicle-treated CIA mice. Furthermore, histopathological improvement in joint architecture was also observed in DR-W extract-treated CIA mice. CONCLUSIONS: DR-W extract has anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic effects in arthritic mice. This suggests that Dipsaci radix might be used as a therapeutic agent for the treatment of human arthritis.