Lotus root extract inhibits skin damage through suppression of collagenase production in vitro.

Lotus root is a traditional food ingredient used primarily in Asia and is rich in polyphenols. To determine its potential use in antiphotoaging, polyphenols were extracted from lotus root with 50% ethanol, and the activity of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) was measured in dermal cells treated with ultraviolet A (UVA). UVA exposure increased the gene expression of IL-1α, the mRNA levels of MMP-1, and hence, the levels of MMP-1 protein in HaCaT cells, whereas cells treated with lotus polyphenol (LP) normalized these values to the control. In the presence of LP at concentrations of 1 and 10 µg/mL, both the secretion of IL-1α and protein levels of MMP-1 in human keratinocyte cells significantly reduced. Similarly, in the LabCyte EPI-MODEL24, irradiation with UVA caused an increase in mRNA expression of IL-1α and MMP-1, which was prevented by adding LP to the cells. Our results with three different skin cells accordingly showed that LP may help maintain skin health through decreased levels of MMP-1 activity via its anti-inflammatory properties.

Inhibitory Effects of Green Asparagus Extract, Especially Phospholipids, on Allergic Responses in Vitro and in Vivo.

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis L.) is one of the widely consumed vegetables. To investigate the mechanism underlying the anti-allergic responses of asparagus, we extracted different fractions from asparagus and measured their inhibitory effects on ß-hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 cells in vitro and an atopic dermatitis NC/Nga mouse model in vivo. The lipid fractions from asparagus were extracted with 50% ethanol, separated using chloroform by liquid-liquid phase separation, and fractionated by solid-phase extraction. Among them, acetone fraction (rich in glycolipid) and MeOH fraction (rich in phospholipid) markedly inhibited ß-hexosaminidase release from RBL-2H3 cells. In NC/Nga mice treated with picryl chloride, atopic dermatitis was alleviated following exposure to the 50% EtOH extract, acetone fraction, and methanol fraction. The inhibitory effects of asparagus fractions in vivo were supported by the significant decrease in serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels. The phospholipid fractions showed significantly better inhibitory effects, and phosphatidic acid from this fraction showed the best inhibitory effect on ß-hexosaminidase release. In mice challenged with ovalbumin (OVA), oral administration of asparagus extract and its fractions decreased the OVA-specific IgE level and total IgE, indicating that these effects may be partly mediated through the downregulation of antigen-specific IgE production. Taken together, the present study shows for the first time that asparagus extract and its lipid fractions could potentially mitigate allergic reactions by decreasing degranulation in granulocytes. Our study provides useful information to develop nutraceuticals and functional foods fortified with asparagus.

Effects of lotus root (the edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera) on the deveolopment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in obese diabetic db/db mice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common liver disease in industrialized countries. The discovery of food components that would ameliorate NAFLD is therefore of interest. Lotus root, the edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera, contains a high level of polyphenolic compounds, and several health-promoting properties of lotus root have been reported. The present study examines whether dietary lotus root powder can protect db/db mice from hepatic injury. After 3 weeks of feeding, the hepatomegaly, hepatic triglyceride accumulation, and elevated hepatic injury markers in the serum were markedly alleviated in the Lotus diet-fed db/db mice relative to the control mice. These effects were partly attributable to suppression of the lipogenic enzyme activities and mRNA expression by the Lotus diet. The serum levels of adiponectin, which has been reported to have a protective effect against NAFLD, were significantly higher in the Lotus group than in the Control group of the db/db mice. Moreover, the hepatic expression of such inflammatory genes as tumor necrosis factor-alpha and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were markedly suppressed by the Lotus diet. We speculate that the development and progression of NAFLD were prevented by suppressing the expression of lipogenic and inflammatory genes as a result of the higher serum adioponectin level in the Lotus diet-fed db/db mice.

Polyphenolic extract of lotus root (edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera) alleviates hepatic steatosis in obese diabetic db/db mice.

BACKGROUND: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is emerging as the most common liver disease of industrialized countries. Thus, discovering food components that can ameliorate NAFLD is of interest. Lotus root, the edible rhizome of Nelumbo nucifera, contains high levels of polyphenolic compounds, and several health-promoting properties of lotus root have been reported. In this study, we tested whether feeding a polyphenolic extract of lotus root to db/db mice protects them from hepatic steatosis. RESULTS: After 3 weeks of feeding, the hepatomegaly and hepatic triglyceride accumulation were markedly alleviated in the lotus polyphenol-diet-fed db/db mice relative to the control mice. Although the lipolytic enzyme activity was not changed, the activities of lipogenic enzymes, such as fatty acid synthase and malic enzyme, were significantly lower in the lotus polyphenol diet-fed db/db mice. Additionally, the ESI-IT/MS and MALDI-TOF MS spectra revealed the presence of B-type proanthocyanidin polymers with polymerization degree up to 9 in the polyphenolic lotus root extract. CONCLUSION: We speculate that the condensed tannins contained in lotus root can alleviate hepatic steatosis by suppressing the lipogenic enzyme activity in the livers of db/db mice.

Isolation of porphyran-degrading marine microorganisms from the surface of red alga, Porphyra yezoensis.

Marine microorganisms degrading porphyran (POR) were found on the surface of thalli of Porphyra yezoensis. Fifteen crude microorganism groups softened and liquefied the surface of agar-rich plate medium. Among these, 11 microorganism groups degraded porphyran that consisted of sulfated polysaccharide in Porphyra yezoensis. Following isolation, 7 POR-degradable microorganisms were isolated from the 11 POR-degradable microorganism groups.

Cycloalliin, a cyclic sulfur imino acid, reduces serum triacylglycerol in rats.

Allium species such as onions and garlic are used as foodstuff, condiment, flavoring, and folk medicine. Onions may decrease hyperlipidemia and improve atherosclerosis. However, the ingredients in onion that are responsible for this phenomenon are not known. In the present study, we investigated the effects of cycloalliin, a sulfur-containing imino acid in onions, on lipid metabolism in Sprague-Dawley rats. When supplemented at the 0.1% and 0.3% levels to the atherogenic diet, cycloalliin reduced serum triacylglycerol (TAG) concentration by approximately 40% compared to the control. Serum cholesterol ester level also showed a tendency to decrease in cycloalliin groups. Hepatic lipid levels were comparable among the groups, although TAG and phospholipid contents were slightly higher in both cycloalliin groups. Dietary cycloalliin had no significant effect on hepatic enzyme activities responsible for TAG synthesis (phosphatidate phosphohydrolase, malic enzyme, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH)). In conclusion, dietary cycloalliin has serum TG-lowering effect without affecting hepatic TAG synthesis and content in rats, suggesting an alteration of lipoprotein assembly and secretion processes in the liver.

Complete regression of esophageal cancer with concomitant liver metastasis achieved by concurrent chemoradiation therapy.

We report a patient with esophageal cancer with concomitant liver metastasis in whom complete response was achieved by chemoradiation therapy. A 66-year-old man was diagnosed as having stage IVB esophageal cancer with synchronous metastasis in the liver and cardiac lymph node, and concurrent chemoradiation therapy was started. The chemotherapy, consisting of 5-fluorouracil (300 mg/body per day, continuous infusion) and low-dose cisplatin (5 mg/body per day on 1-5 days every week), was performed for 7 weeks. In addition, radiation therapy (2 Gy/day on 1-5 days every week) was employed for both the local and the metastatic lesions, along with the chemotherapy. Throughout the course of this therapy, the patient did not experience severe toxicity, and this chemoradiation therapy resulted in complete regression of both the local and the metastatic diseases. Subsequently, he was followed-up as an outpatient without any maintenance therapy, and he has been free of disease for 38 months after completion of the therapy. This concurrent chemoradiation therapy may be effective for esophageal cancer even with visceral metastasis.