Dietary supplementation of ark clams protects gut health and modifies gut microbiota in d-galactose-induced aging rats.

BACKGROUND: Ark clams, a seafood abundant in various nutrients, are widely consumed worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the protective benefits of two common ark clams in Korea, Scapharca subcrenata (SS) and Tegillarca granosa (TG), on gut health in d-galactose (d-gal)-induced aging rats. RESULTS: Thirty-two Wistar rats (11 weeks old) were randomly allocated into four groups: a CON group (normal diet + saline intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection), a CD group (normal diet + d-gal i.p. injection), an SS group (normal diet with 5% SS supplementation + d-gal i.p. injection), and a TG group (normal diet with 5% TG supplementation + d-gal i.p. injection). After 12 weeks of treatment, histopathological results showed that gut barrier damage was alleviated in rats of the SS and TG groups, as evidenced by increases in mucus layer thickness and goblet cell numbers. Meanwhile, the two groups supplemented with ark clams showed an evident reduction in oxidative stress biomarkers (malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl content levels in the colon) and an increase in the immune-related factor (immunoglobulin A level in the plasma) in rats. The 16S ribosomal RNA analysis revealed that SS and TG ark clams significantly increased the proliferations of Bacteroidetes at the phylum level and Parabacteroides at the genus level. Additionally, the levels of the three main short-chain fatty acids in the cecal contents were also significantly increased in the SS and TG groups. CONCLUSION: Our results indicated a potent preventive effect of SS and TG ark clams on d-gal-induced gut injury, suggesting that ark clams may be a promising dietary component for intervening in aging. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

A Simple Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Method for Quantification and Classification of Edible Sea Salts Assisted by Surface-Hydrophilicity-Enhanced Silicon Wafer Substrates.

Salt, one of the most commonly consumed food additives worldwide, is produced in many countries. The chemical composition of edible salts is essential information for quality assessment and origin distinction. In this work, a simple laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy instrument was assembled with a diode-pumped solid-state laser and a miniature spectrometer. Its performances in analyzing Mg and Ca in six popular edible sea salts consumed in South Korea and classification of the products were investigated. Each salt was dissolved in water and a tiny amount of the solution was dropped and dried on the hydrophilicity-enhanced silicon wafer substrate, providing homogeneous distribution of salt crystals. Strong Mg II and Ca II emissions were chosen for both quantification and classification. Calibration curves could be constructed with limits-of-detection of 87 mg/kg for Mg and 45 mg/kg for Ca. Also, the Mg II and Ca II emission peak intensities were used in a k-nearest neighbors model providing 98.6% classification accuracy. In both quantification and classification, intensity normalization using a Na I emission line as a reference signal was effective. A concept of interclass distance was introduced, and the increase in the classification accuracy due to the intensity normalization was rationalized based on it. Our methodology will be useful for analyzing major mineral nutrients in various food materials in liquid phase or soluble in water, including salts.

Bamboo Salt and Triple Therapy Synergistically Inhibit Helicobacter pylori-Induced Gastritis In Vivo: A Preliminary Study.

Helicobacter pylori infections are a major cause of gastrointestinal disorders, including gastric ulcers, gastritis, and gastric cancer. Triple therapy, using two antibiotics and a proton pump inhibitor, is recommended for the treatment of H. pylori infections. However, antibiotic resistance in H. pylori is an emerging issue. Bamboo salt, a traditional Korean salt made by baking solar sea salt in bamboo barrels, can ameliorate the symptoms of various gastrointestinal diseases. Herein, we compared the anti-H. pylori activity of triple therapy (clarithromycin, metronidazole, and omeprazole), solar salt, and bamboo salt in vivo as a preliminary study. Four-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were inoculated for eight weeks with the H. pylori Sydney Strain 1 (SS-1) and orally administered triple therapy drugs and salts for five days. The transcript levels of the H. pylori-expressed gene CagA and inflammatory cytokines Tnfα and Il-1ß significantly decreased in the bamboo salt treated mice than those in the H. pylori-infected control group. This effect was further enhanced by using triple therapy and bamboo salt together. Solar salt caused modest inhibition of H. pylori-induced inflammation. We also demonstrated the synergistic effects of bamboo salt and triple therapy against H. pylori. Thus, bamboo salt may be a potential candidate agent against the treatment of H. pylori-associated gastritis.

Roasted garlic protects against leaky gut syndrome in dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis mice.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a potentially beneficial functional food that is extensively grown around the globe. We have investigated the effect of roasted garlic on a dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced intestinal permeability model in mice. Mice were divided into four diet groups: CON, DSS, RG (roasted garlic), and RG + Purple bamboo salt (RGP) in the AIN 93G diet for 3 weeks. All groups except the CON group received 2% DSS in drinking water at the last week of the experiment. DSS groups showed significantly elevated gut permeability levels and decreased tight junction protein expression compared to CON. However, RG and RGP displayed remarkably lower trends of gut permeability, increased tight junction protein expression, increased number of goblet cells than the DSS group in hematoxylin and eosin and alcian blue-nuclear fast red stained colon sections. These results indicate that roasted garlic could prevent gut leakage induced by DSS. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01116-w.

Effects of sea salt intake on metabolites, steroid hormones, and gut microbiota in rats.

High salt intake is positively linked to many health problems, but the effect of mineral-rich sea salt (SS) has rarely been studied. To better understand the physiological effects of SS intake, the changes in general characteristics, metabolites, steroid hormones, and gut microbiota of SS-fed rats were investigated. Male rats were fed either a normal diet (ND, control) or ND containing 1% SS or 4% SS for 5 weeks. SS intake decreased fat, spleen, liver, and body weight, and increased blood urea nitrogen (BUN), water intake, and gut salt content. Accumulated gut salt content led to a decrease in beneficial bacteria, such as Lachnospiraceae and Lactobacillus, but an increase in potentially harmful bacteria, resulting in a change in lipid metabolites associated with gut health. Interestingly, most renal lysophosphatidylcholines (LPCs) associated with many renal functions were dramatically decreased and female hormones, such as estrogens, were significantly more altered than the male hormones by high SS intake. Although further investigation is needed, these data suggest that high SS intake could be positively linked to kidney dysfunction and gut health problems, and salt-related physiological changes may be sex-specific. Additionally, these data will be useful to better under-stand the physiological effects of SS intake.

Bioactivities of Phenolic Compounds from Kiwifruit and Persimmon.

Fruit used in the common human diet in general, and kiwifruit and persimmon particularly, displays health properties in the prevention of heart disease. This study describes a combination of bioactivity, multivariate data analyses and fluorescence measurements for the differentiating of kiwifruit and persimmon, their quenching and antioxidant properties. The metabolic differences are shown, as well in the results of bioactivities and antioxidant capacities determined by ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC and DPPH assays. To complement the bioactivity of these fruits, the quenching properties between extracted polyphenols and human serum proteins were determined by 3D-fluorescence spectroscopy studies. These properties of the extracted polyphenols in interaction with the main serum proteins in the human metabolism (human serum albumin (HSA), α-ß-globulin (α-ß G) and fibrinogen (Fgn)), showed that kiwifruit was more reactive than persimmon. There was a direct correlation between the quenching properties of the polyphenols of the investigated fruits with serum human proteins, their relative quantification and bioactivity. The results of metabolites and fluorescence quenching show that these fruits possess multiple properties that have a great potential to be used in industry with emphasis on the formulation of functional foods and in the pharmaceutical industry. Based on the quenching properties of human serum proteins with polyphenols and recent reports in vivo on human studies, we hypothesize that HSA, α-ß G and Fgn will be predictors of coronary artery disease (CAD).

New lignan tyramide, phenolics, megastigmanes, and their glucosides from aerial parts of New Zealand spinach, Tetragonia tetragonoides.

Twenty compounds, including a new lignan amide, were isolated from the aerial parts of New Zealand spinach, Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze, which is an edible halophyte. These compounds were identified by mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments to be N-2,3-dihydroxy-3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenol)tyramine (new compound), methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, syringaldehyde, ethyl 4-hydroxybenzoate, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid, coniferyl alcohol, methyl caffeoate, trans- and cis-coumaroyl-ß-d-glucopyranosides, trans- and cis-feruloyl-ß-d-glucopyranosides, caffeic acid, staphylionoside E, canabiside D, apocyanol A, megastima-5,7-diene-3,4,9-triol, 1-O-oleoyl-3-O-ß-d-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol, 5,5'-dimethyl-lariciresinol, and kaempferol 3-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside. These compounds were identified in New Zealand spinach for the first time.

Three new decenynol glucosides from Artemisia scoparia (Asteraceae).

Three new decenynol glucosides were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia scoparia. Their structures were determined to be 6E,8Z-decadien-4-yn-ol 1-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, 6E,8E-decadien-4-yn-ol 1-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside, and 6E-decen-4-yn-ol 1-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside based on extensive spectroscopic (NMR and MS) analysis. [Formula: see text].

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy for rapid accurate analysis of Mg, Ca, and K in edible sea salts.

A compact laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) instrument and a simple sample preparation method were developed for rapid on-site analysis of Mg, Ca, and K in edible sea salt products. The LIBS instrument was assembled using a small diode-pumped solid-state laser and a handheld spectrometer. Aqueous solutions of salts were prepared and sampled by using pieces of filter papers. The dried filter paper was attached on the flat surface of a silicon wafer and then analyzed by LIBS. Calibration curves were obtained using binary mixtures of ${\rm NaCl} {-} {{\rm MgSO}_4}$NaCl-MgSO4, ${\rm NaCl} {-} {{\rm CaCl}_2}$NaCl-CaCl2, and NaCl-KCl and used to estimate the concentrations of Mg, Ca, and K in 13 edible sea salt products. Matrix effects on the results from LIBS were identified in comparison with those from inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. This indicates that the matrix of sea salt samples is significantly different from that of the binary mixture standards. The sea salts with known concentrations of Mg, Ca, and K were employed to match the matrices of samples and standards. This improved analysis accuracy remarkably. Furthermore, an alternative indirect method for estimating the concentration of K was suggested on the basis of the strong positive correlations observed between the concentrations of Mg and K in the sea salt samples.

Feasibility of Quantitative Analysis of Magnesium and Calcium in Edible Salts Using a Simple Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy Device.

Feasibility of a simple laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) device has been investigated for the analysis of Mg and Ca in edible salts. The LIBS spectrometer was assembled with a compact low-power diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) and a non-gated low-resolution handheld spectrometer. A simple sampling process was employed for on-site application. A piece of filter paper was dipped in the aqueous solution of a sample salt and dried for analysis using LIBS. Maintaining the sample surface height at the optimum position was critical to generate plasmas persistently due to the low pulse energy of the DPSSL. The varying height of the filter paper surface was monitored and compensated, while the sample stage was translated to collect spectra from different positions. The variation of line intensities of Mg and Ca could be attributed to the inhomogeneous distribution of dry residues. To correct this, the peak that consists of the Na(I) and C(II) lines at 568 nm was employed as a reference signal for intensity normalization of the analyte Mg(II) and Ca(II) lines. For edible salt products, the normalized Mg(II) and Ca(II) line intensities could be well correlated with the concentrations of Mg and Ca determined using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy. Our results indicate that a simple LIBS device in combination with the simple sampling method is promising as an on-site salt quality assessment methodology.

Effects of Different Salt Treatments on the Fermentation Metabolites and Bacterial Profiles of Kimchi.

The effects of purified salt (PS) and mineral-rich sea salt (MRS), both with different mineral profiles, on kimchi fermentation were studied using a culture-dependent 16S rRNA sequencing technique and mass-based metabolomic analysis. The different mineral profiles in the fermentation medium caused changes in the bacterial profiles of the 2 kimchi products. An increase of Leuconostoc species in MRS-kimchi decreased the Lactobacillus/Leuconostoc ratio, which led to changes in metabolites (including sugars, amino acids, organic acids, lipids, sulfur compounds, and terpenoids) associated with kimchi quality. Although further studies on the relationship between these salt types and kimchi fermentation are needed, these results suggested that the MRS treatment had positively affected the changes of the kimchi mineral contents, bacterial growth, and metabolite profiles, which are linked to kimchi quality.

Artemisia scoparia attenuates amyloid ß accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The preventive effects of Artemisia scoparia extract (AS) and AS + garlic extract (ASG) on the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) were evaluated in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Rats were supplemented with diets containing 2% (w/w) of AS or ASG for 6 weeks. The AS group showed lower levels of amyloid ß and beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 expressions and higher expression levels of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 than did the control group (p < 0.05). In addition, the AS showed remarkably reduced levels of phosphorylated tau proteins and suppressed expression of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3ß at tyrosine 216 (active form) (p < 0.05). The ASG group also suppressed amyloid ß accumulation and tau hyperphosphorylation. However, there was no synergistic effect of garlic with AS in lowering the risk of AD. These results indicate that AS could be a potential candidate to ameliorate the risk of AD.

Four New Dicaffeoylquinic Acid Derivatives from Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea L.) and Their Antioxidative Activity.

Four new dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives and two known 3-caffeoylquinic acid derivatives were isolated from methanol extracts using the aerial parts of Salicornia herbacea. The four new dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives were established as 3-caffeoyl-5-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid, 3-caffeoyl-5-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester, 3-caffeoyl-4-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester, and 3,5-di-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester. Their chemical structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy (LC-ESI-MS). In addition, the presence of dicaffeoylquinic acid derivatives in this plant was reconfirmed by LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis. The isolated compounds strongly scavenged 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals and inhibited cholesteryl ester hydroperoxide formation during rat blood plasma oxidation induced by copper ions. These results indicate that the caffeoylquinic acid derivatives may partially contribute to the antioxidative effect of S. herbacea.

Controlled Synthesis of Hollow Manganese Oxide Nanocrystals.

Carbon spheres have been prepared from glucose under hydrothermal conditions to facilitate the synthesis of hollow manganese oxides. The phases of manganese oxide are controlled by changing annealing temperature of the manganese monoxide on a carbon sphere template. The particles on the carbon surface get an agglomeration and make dense oxide shell during the calcination step, which result in typical hollow structures. The electrochemical properties of hollow manganese oxides have been investigated to elucidate their relative catalytic activities.

Impact of Cultivation Conditions, Ethylene Treatment, and Postharvest Storage on Selected Quality and Bioactivity Parameters of Kiwifruit "Hayward" Evaluated by Analytical and Chemometric Methods.

Organic, semiorganic, and conventional "Hayward" kiwifruits, treated with ethylene for 24 h and stored during 10 days, were assessed by UV spectrometry, fluorometry, and chemometrical analysis for changes in selected characteristics of quality (firmness, dry matter and soluble solid contents, pH, and acidity) and bioactivity (concentration of polyphenols via Folin-Ciocalteu and p-hydroxybenzoic acid assays). All of the monitored qualitative parameters and characteristics related to bioactivity were affected either by cultivation practices or by ethylene treatment and storage. Results obtained, supported by statistical evaluation (Friedman two-way ANOVA) and chemometric analysis, clearly proved that the most significant impact on the majority of the evaluated parameters of quality and bioactivity of "Hayward" kiwifruit had the ethylene treatment followed by the cultivation practices and the postharvest storage. Total concentration of polyphenols expressed via p-hydroxybenzoic acid assay exhibited the most significant sensitivity to all three evaluated parameters, reaching a 16.5% increase for fresh organic compared to a conventional control sample. As a result of postharvest storage coupled with ethylene treatment, the difference increased to 26.3%. Three-dimensional fluorescence showed differences in the position of the main peaks and their fluorescence intensity for conventional, semiorganic, and organic kiwifruits in comparison with ethylene nontreated samples.

A phenyl lipid alkaloid and flavone C-diglucosides from Spergularia marina.

A phenyl lipid alkaloid and seven phenolic compounds were isolated from the aerial part of Spergularia marina, a halophyte that grows on salt marshes and tidal flat. These compounds were identified as 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol, N-hexacosanoylanthranilic acid, tryptophan, 4-hydroxybenzyol glucopyranoside, luteolin 6-C-ß-D-glucopyranoside 8-C-ß-D-(2-O-feruloyl)glucopyranoside, luteolin 6-C-ß-D-(2-O-feruloyl)glucopyranoside 8-C-ß-D-glucopyranoside, apigenin 6-C-ß-D-glucopyranoside 8-C-ß-D-(2-O-feruloyl)glucopyranoside, and apigenin 6-C-ß-D-(2-O-feruloyl)glucopyranoside 8-C-ß-D-glucopyranoside. The structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy.

Antimicrobial activity of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EMD17 isolated from Cheonggukjang and potential use as a starter for fermented soy foods.

A Bacillus strain with antimicrobial activity was isolated from Cheonggukjang and identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Filtered culture supernatants of B. amyloliquefaciens EMD17 strongly inhibited growth of Bacillus cereus ATCC14579, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC19111, and an ochratoxin (OTA) producing Penicillium spp. The antimicrobial activity was not decreased by heat, pH, and proteases treatment, indicating a non-proteinous nature of the antimicrobial substance. A B. amyloliquefaciens EMD17 culture added to a B. cereus ATCC14579 culture killed B. cereus cells completely in 6 h, showing the bacteriocidal effect. The srfAA gene encoding surfactin synthetase A was detected using PCR, indicating that surfactin might be the responsible agent. Genes encoding fengycin and iturin were also detected. MS indicated production of lipopeptides, including surfactin. Cheonggukjang and Doenjang were prepared using B. amyloliquefaciens EMD17 as a starter and growth of spiked B. cereus cells was completely inhibited.

Phenolics, acyl galactopyranosyl glycerol, and lignan amides from Tetragonia tetragonioides (Pall.) Kuntze.

Eleven antioxidative compounds, including five lignin amides, were isolated from the aerial part of Tetragonia tetragonioides (New Zealand spinach) using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicalscavenging assay-guided purification. The structures were determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy. These compounds were identified as methyl linoleate (1), methyl coumarate (2), methyl ferulate (3), 1-O-stearoyl-3-O-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-sn-glycerol (4), 1-O-caffeoyl-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), N-trans-caffeoyltyramine (6), cannabisin B (7), cannabisin A (8), Ntrans-feruloyltyramine (9), N-cis-feruloyltyramine (10), and N-trans-sinapoyltyramine (11). Compounds 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8-11 were isolated for the first time from this plant.

Sesquiterpene lactones and scopoletins from Artemisia scoparia Waldst. & Kit. and their angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activities.

Ten compounds, including a new guaiane-type sesquiterpene lactone, were isolated from the aerial parts of Artemisia scoparia. The structure of the new compound was determined to be 5-hydroxyguaia-3(4),11(13),10(14)-trien-6α,12-olide, named scoparanolide. Six known sesquiterpene lactones [estafiatone, 3ß,4α-dihydroxyguaia-11(13),10(14)-dien-6α,12-olide, estafiatin, preeupatundin, 3ß-hydroxycostunolide, and ludovicin B] and three known coumarin derivatives (scopoletin, scoparone, and isofraxidin) were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy. Six known sesquiterpene lactones were found for the first time in this plant. The angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory activities of coumarin derivatives and scopoletins were significantly higher compared to those of sesquiterpene lactones and quercetin.

Antihypertensive Effects of Artemisia scoparia Waldst in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats and Identification of Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme Inhibitors.

We investigated the antihypertensive effects of Artemisia scoparia (AS) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The rats were fed diets containing 2% (w/w) hot water extracts of AS aerial parts for 6 weeks. The AS group had significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels than the control group. The AS group also had lower angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) activity and angiotensin II content in serum compared to the control group. The AS group showed higher vascular endothelial growth factor and lower ras homolog gene family member A expression levels in kidney compared to the control group. The AS group had significantly lower levels of plasma lipid oxidation and protein carbonyls than the control group. One new and six known compounds were isolated from AS by guided purification. The new compound was determined to be 4'-O-ß-D-glucopyranoyl (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl benzoate, based on its nuclear magnetic resonance and electrospray ionization-mass spectroscopy data.