Probiotic Lactic Acid Bacteria and Skin Health.

Human skin is the first defense barrier against the external environment, especially microbial pathogens and physical stimulation. Many studies on skin health with Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) have been published for many years, including prevention of skin disease and improvement of skin conditions. LAB, a major group of gram-positive bacteria, are known to be beneficial to human health by acting as probiotics. Recent studies have shown that LAB and their extracts have beneficial effects on maintenance and improvement of skin health. Oral administration of Lactobacillus delbrueckii inhibits the development of atopic disease. In addition, LAB and LAB extracts are known to have beneficial effects on intestinal diseases, with Lactobacillus plantarum having been shown to attenuate IL-10 deficient colitis. In addition to intestinal health, L. plantarum also has beneficial effects on skin. pLTA, which is lipoteichoic acid isolated from L. plantarum, has anti-photoaging effects on human skin cells by regulating the expression matrix meralloprotionase-1 (MMP-1) expression. While several studies have proposed a relationship between diseases of the skin and small intestines, there are currently no published reviews of the effects of LAB for skin health through regulation of intestinal conditions and the immune system. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the effects of LAB on skin health and its potential applications in beauty foods.

Target-Activated DNA Polymerase Activity for Sensitive RNase H Activity Assay.

Herein, the ribonuclease H (RNase H) activity assay based on the target-activated DNA polymerase activity is described. In this method, a detection probe composed of two functional sequences, a binding site for DNA polymerase and a catalytic substrate for RNase H, serves as a key component. The detection probe, at its initial state, suppresses the DNA polymerase activity, but it becomes destabilized by RNase H, which specifically hydrolyzes RNA in RNA/DNA hybrid duplexes. As a result, DNA polymerase recovers its activity and initiates multiple primer extension reactions in a separate TaqMan probe-based signal transduction module, leading to a significantly enhanced fluorescence "turn-on" signal. This assay can detect RNase H activity as low as 0.016 U mL-1 under optimized conditions. Furthermore, its potential use for evaluating RNase H inhibitors, which have been considered potential therapeutic agents against acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), is successfully explored. In summary, this approach is quite promising for the sensitive and accurate determination of enzyme activity and inhibitor screening.

Protective effect of steamed American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) on V79-4 cells induced by oxidative stress.

Heat-processed Asian ginseng roots (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), also known as "red ginseng" in Asia, are reported to have more bioactivity than the no-processed white ginseng roots. Therefore, American fresh ginseng roots (Panax quinquefolius L.) were processed to the red ginseng and examined changes in bioactivity during heating process. The fresh America ginseng roots were steamed at 100 degrees C for 30, 60, 90 and 120 min, and their bioactivities were examined by analyzing the content of ginsenosides and total phenolics, and measuring DPPH and superoxide radical scavenging acivity and their protective effects on V79-4 cells viability and lipid peroxidation. The heating treatment proportionally increased total ginsenosides (4.97%, w/w) content compared with white ginseng (3.27%) and total phenolics from 444.5 mg GAE/100 g to 489.6-574.2 mg GAE/100 g. The antioxidant activity also increased from 285 mg/100 g (vitamin C equivalent) to 353-487 mg/100 g. Heated ginseng showed high levels of DPPH radical scavenging activity (59.5-88.5%) and the high level of superoxide radical scavenging activity (44.2-90.9%). The heated ginseng protected cell viability against H2O2-induced oxidative damage, and enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase by dose dependently in V79-4 cells.

Antioxidant activity and polyphenol and procyanidin contents of selected commercially available cocoa-containing and chocolate products in the United States.

In the United States, commercially available foods, including cocoa and chocolate, are being marketed with statements referring to the level of antioxidant activity and polyphenols. For cocoa-containing foods, there has been no comprehensive survey of the content of these and other chemistries. A survey of cocoa and chocolate-containing products marketed in the United States was conducted to determine antioxidant activity and polyphenol and procyanidin contents. Commercially available samples consisted of the top market share products in each of the following six categories: natural cocoa, unsweetened baking chocolate, dark chocolate, semisweet baking chips, milk chocolate, and chocolate syrup. Composite samples were characterized using four different methods: oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), vitamin C equivalence antioxidant capacity (VCEAC), total polyphenols, and procyanidins. All composite lots were further characterized for percent nonfat cocoa solids (NFCS) and percent fat. Natural cocoas had the highest levels of antioxidant activities, total polyphenols, and procyanidins followed by baking chocolates, dark chocolates and baking chips, and finally milk chocolate and syrups. The results showed a strong linear correlation between NFCS and ORAC (R (2) = 0.9849), total polyphenols (R (2) = 0.9793), and procyanidins (R (2) = 0.946), respectively. On the basis of principal component analysis, 81.4% of the sample set was associated with NFCS, antioxidant activity, total polyphenols, and procyanidins. The results indicated that, regardless of the product category, NFCS were the primary factor contributing to the level of cocoa antioxidants in the products tested. Results further suggested that differences in cocoa bean blends and processing, with the possible exception of Dutching, are minor factors in determining the level of antioxidants in commercially available cocoa-containing products in the United States.

Sweet and sour cherry phenolics and their protective effects on neuronal cells.

The identification of phenolics from various cultivars of fresh sweet and sour cherries and their protective effects on neuronal cells were comparatively evaluated in this study. Phenolics in cherries of four sweet and four sour cultivars were extracted and analyzed for total phenolics, total anthocyanins, and their antineurodegenerative activities. Total phenolics in sweet and sour cherries per 100 g ranged from 92.1 to 146.8 and from 146.1 to 312.4 mg gallic acid equivalents, respectively. Total anthocyanins of sweet and sour cherries ranged from 30.2 to 76.6 and from 49.1 to 109.2 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside equivalents, respectively. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis revealed that anthocyanins such as cyanidin and peonidin derivatives were prevalent phenolics. Hydroxycinnamic acids consisted of neochlorogenic acid, chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid derivatives. Glycosides of quercetin, kaempferol, and isorhamnetin were also found. Generally, sour cherries had higher concentrations of total phenolics than sweet cherries, due to a higher concentration of anthocyanins and hydroxycinnamic acids. A positive linear correlation (r2 = 0.985) was revealed between the total anthocyanins measured by summation of individual peaks from HPLC analysis and the total anthocyanins measured by the pH differential method, indicating that there was in a close agreement with two quantifying methods for measuring anthocyanin contents. Cherry phenolics protected neuronal cells (PC 12) from cell-damaging oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner mainly due to anthocyanins. Overall results showed that cherries are rich in phenolics, especially in anthocyanins, with a strong antineurodegenerative activity and that they can serve as a good source of biofunctional phytochemicals in our diet.

Quantification of polyphenolics and their antioxidant capacity in fresh plums.

Total phenolics, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity of 11 cultivars of fresh plums were determined using spectrophotometric methods. Identification and quantification of individual polyphenolics were performed using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography equipped with a diode array detector. The total phenolic contents of various cultivars widely varied from 125.0 to 372.6 mg/100 g expressed as gallic acid equivalents. The level of total flavonoids in fresh plums ranged between 64.8 and 257.5 mg/100 g expressed as catechin equivalents. Antioxidant capacity, expressed as vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity (VCEAC), ranged from 204.9 to 567.0 mg/100 g with an average of 290.9 mg/100 g of fresh weight. Cv. Beltsville Elite B70197 showed the highest amounts of total phenolics and total flavonoids and the highest VCEAC. A positive relationship (correlation coefficient r (2)() = 0.977) was presented between total phenolics and VCEAC, suggesting polyphenolics would play an important role in free radical scavenging. The level of IC(50) value of superoxide radical anion scavenging activity of the plum cultivars ranged from 13.4 to 45.7 mg of VCEAC/100 g. Neochlorogenic acid was the predominant polyphenolic among fresh plums tested. Flavonols found in plum were commonly quercetin derivatives. Rutin was the most predominant flavonol in plums. Various anthocyanins containing cyanidin aglycon and peonidin aglycon were commonly found in all plums except for cv. Mirabellier and NY 101.

Chlorogenic acid and coffee prevent hypoxia-induced retinal degeneration.

This study explored whether chlorogenic acid (CGA) and coffee have protective effects against retinal degeneration. Under hypoxic conditions, the viability of transformed retinal ganglion (RGC-5) cells was significantly reduced by treatment with the nitric oxide (NO) donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP). However, pretreatment with CGA attenuated cell death in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, CGA prevented the up-regulation of apoptotic proteins such as Bad and cleaved caspase-3. Similar beneficial effects of both CGA and coffee extracts were observed in mice that had undergone an optic nerve crush (ONC) procedure. CGA and coffee extract reduced cell death by preventing the down-regulation of Thy-1. Our in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that coffee and its major component, CGA, significantly reduce apoptosis of retinal cells induced by hypoxia and NO, and that coffee consumption may help in preventing retinal degeneration.

Development of new strains and related SCAR markers for an edible mushroom, Hypsizygus marmoreus.

New fast-growing and less bitter varieties of Hypsizygus marmoreus were developed by crossing monokaryotic mycelia from a commercial strain (Hm1-1) and a wild strain (Hm3-10). Six of the better tasting new strains with a shorter cultivation period were selected from 400 crosses in a large-scale cultivation experiment. We attempted to develop sequence characterized amplified region (SCAR) markers to identify the new strain from other commercial strains. For the SCAR markers, we conducted molecular genetic analysis on a wild strain and the eight most cultivated H. marmoreus strains collected from various areas in East Asia by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA. Ten unique DNA bands for a commercial Hm1-1 strain and the Hm3-10 strain were extracted and their sequences were determined. Primer sets were designed based on the determined sequences. PCR reactions with the primer sets revealed that four primer sets successfully discriminated the new strains from other commercial strains and are thus suitable for commercial purposes.

Angiotensin II induces IL-6 expression and the Jak-STAT3 pathway in aortic adventitia of LDL receptor-deficient mice.

Angiotensin II (A-II), the major effector peptide of the renin angiotensin system potently accelerates progression of atherosclerosis. To investigate its effects on vascular inflammatory mechanisms, we elucidated vascular cytokine expression during early lesion development in A-II-infused atherosclerosis-prone LDLR-/- mice. Male LDLR-/- mice were placed on a "Western" high-fat diet for 4 weeks, followed by sham or A-II infusion for 7 weeks. Equal blood pressures and elevations in serum lipids were seen in both groups. Mice were sacrificed when significant A-II-induced plaque development was first detectable, aortae were explanted and culture media assayed for secreted cytokines. Nine cytokines were significantly induced with interleukin-6 (IL-6) being the most highly secreted. Local IL-6 production was confirmed by in situ mRNA hybridization and immunostaining, where the most abundant IL-6 was found in the aortic adventitia, with lesser production by the medial and intimal layers. Immunofluorescence colocalization showed IL-6 expression by fibroblasts and activated macrophages. Activation of downstream IL-6 signaling mediated by the Jak-STAT3 pathway was demonstrated by inducible phospho-Tyr705-STAT3 formation in the adventitia and endothelium (of IL-6+/+ mice only). These findings define cytokine profiles in the A-II infusion model and demonstrate that IL-6, produced by activated macrophages and fibroblasts in the adventitia, induces the Jak-STAT3 pathway during early A-II-induced atherosclerosis.

Microbial Quality of Fresh Potatoes: Effect of Minimal Processing.

Fresh-cut potatoes were treated with an antibrowning solution (l-cysteine-citric acid mixture) and chlorine solutions, and then packaged under a modified atmosphere. The effect of these treatments on the microbiology of the potatoes was evaluated. Dipping the potato strips in sodium hypochlorite solutions (100 and 300 ppm) resulted in higher microbial populations during the storage period, while potatoes treated with the antibrowning solution combined with modified-atmosphere packaging showed only a slight increase. Modified-atmosphere packaging had no significant-effect on the microbial population compared to nonpackaged samples. The predominant organisms were Pseudomonas fluorescens , along with other Pseudomonas species, and Vibrio fluvialis .