Characterization of aroma profiles of kokuto-shochu prepared from three different cultivars of sugarcane.

Kokuto-shochu is a traditional Japanese spirit prepared from kokuto, obtained by evaporating water from sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) juice. To clarify the effects of sugarcane cultivars on the sensory quality of kokuto-shochu, we investigated the flavor characteristics and composition of volatiles in kokuto-shochu prepared from kokuto using three different sugarcane cultivars, NiF8, Ni15, and RK97-14. Furthermore, experiments were conducted by using the cultivars collected between 2018 and 2020 to observe annual variations in their properties. The amino acid content of the three kokuto varieties did not differ significantly, but the amino acid content of NiF8 was two to five times higher than that of RK97-14, which was the same for all samples collected in the selected years. The browning degrees of kokuto were also higher in NiF8, and they were positively correlated to the amino acid contents of kokuto. The kokuto-like aroma of shochu made from Ni15 was stronger than that of shochu made from RK97-14. The concentration of ethyl lactate in shochu made from Ni15 was higher, however, the concentration of guaiacol was the lowest in the three cultivars' products. Shochu made from NiF8 had the highest levels of Maillard reaction products (MRPs; pyrazines and furans), ß-damascenone, and guaiacol amounts. In contrast, shochu made from RK97-14 tended to have a fruity flavor, and lower MRP levels than those made from NiF8. Thus, it was shown that sugarcane cultivars affect the sensory characteristics and volatiles in kokuto-shochu.

Neurotransmitters in hermatypic coral, Acropora spp., and its contribution to synchronous spawning during reproductive event.

Synchronous spawning as mass reproduction is well known to occur in many hermatypic corals, which is one of the mysterious life birth events. However, its contributing mechanism has not yet been clarified. This study placed focus on elucidating a neurotransmitter as endocrine signals that contribute to the synchronous spawning. First, the determination method of the neurotransmitters in coral was established by LC/MS in the selective ion mode together with a solid phase extraction method. As a result, the similar contents of the neurotransmitters for dopamine (DA), adrenaline (AD) and noradrenaline (NR) were detected in both the hermatypic corals of Acropora intermedia and Acropora digitifera. More interestingly, these neurotransmitters increased through the reproductive event during the synchronous spawning of A. intermedia, particularly, remarkable changes in the NR and DA were observed. In addition, hydrogen peroxide is known as the spawning stimulant and the metabolic by-product of the neurotransmitters, which was exposed to A. digitifera, then the neurotransmitters increased as well as those of the synchronization of spawning. All of the results suggested that the neurotransmitters contribute to the synchronous spawning in the hermatypic corals.

Dual biological functions of the apoptotic activity and anti-inflammatory effect by alcyonolide congeners from the Okinawan soft coral, Cespitularia sp.

In our current study, alcyonolide and its congeners isolated from the Okinawan soft coral, Cespitularia sp., have shown an antitumor activity in HCT116 colon cancer cells. This study investigated the biological activities of these compounds (1-12) for the apoptotic activity in the HCT116 cells and the anti-inflammatory effect in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. As a result, the apoptotic cells with a nuclear condensation were detected by treatment with these compounds. The apoptotic cells dependent on the caspase 3/7 activation was also induced in the low concentration range of 2.5-10 µM. While a similar concentration of the compounds inhibited the NO production in the LPS-stimulated inflammatory RAW264.7 cells, the pro-inflammatory gene expressions of the iNOS and COX-2 mRNA were also suppressed. The structurally unique alcyonolides (5, 12) having the dual biological activity of apoptotic activity and anti-inflammatory effect could be a potential development as pharmaceutical agents.

Antioxidant capacity of betacyanins as radical scavengers for peroxyl radical and nitric oxide.

This study was designed to assess the antioxidant capacity of betacyanins as indole derived plant pigments, such as betanin, phyllocactin and betanidin. The antioxidant capacity of the betacyanins was evaluated as an index of radical scavenging ability using the peroxyl radical generating system in the presence of AAPH and NO generating system using NOR3 as an NO donor. The peroxyl radical scavenging capacity was dose-dependent in the low concentration range (25-100 nM). The mol-Trolox equivalent activity/mol compound (mol-TEA/mol-compound) as an index of the antioxidant capacity indicated the following order at 10.70 ± 0.01, 3.31 ± 0.14 and 2.83 ± 0.01 mol-TEA/mol-compound for betanidin, betanin and phyllocactin, respectively. In addition, betacyanins reduced the nitrite-level in the low concentration range of 2.5-20 µM. The IC50 values (µM) of nitrogen radical scavenging activity were 24.48, 17.51 and 6.81 for betanin, phyllocactin and betanidin. ESR studies provided evidence that the compounds directly scavenged NO. These results indicated that betacyanins have a strong antioxidant capacity, particularly betanidin with a catechol group had higher activity than those of the glycoside of betacyanins. This study demonstrated that the betacyanins will be useful as natural pigments to provide defence against oxidative stress.

Inhibition of the ß-catenin/Tcf signaling by caffeoylquinic acids in sweet potato leaf through down regulation of the Tcf-4 transcription.

Sweet potato leaves contain the highest levels of functional polyphenols. In this study the effects of the sweet potato leaf extract and its contents, such as mono (3, 4, and 5)-caffeoylquinic acid (CQA), di-CQA (4,5-diCQA, 3,5-diCQA, and 3,4-diCQA) and caffeic acid (CA), were evaluated on the ß-catenin/Tcf-4 signaling in human colorectal cancer HCT116 cells. The extract and the CQA derivatives inhibited the ß-catenin/Tcf-4 signaling, and the inhibition of the di-CQA (with two caffeoyl groups) was higher than that of the mono-CQA (one-caffeoyl group) and CA, suggesting that the caffeoyl structure in the presence of a catechol group plays a significant role in interfering with the ß-catenin/Tcf-4 signaling. In addition, the CQA derivatives had no effect on the ß-catenin protein expression, but all test compounds inhibited the expression of the Tcf-4 transcription, and the inhibition of the di-CQA derivatives was stronger than those of the mono-CQA derivatives as well as the ß-catenin/Tcf-4 transcriptional activity. These compounds can modulate the downstream Wnt signaling pathway, suggesting that sweet potato leaves can be a protective food for colorectal cancer.