Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Barodon on Growth Performance,Innate Immunity and Disease Resistance of Juvenile Olive Flounder,Paralichthys olivaceus,Against Streptococcus iniae

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of Barodon, an anionic alkali mineral complex, on growth, feed utilization, humoral innate immunity and disease resistance of olive flounder. A basal experimental diet was used as a control and supplemented with 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, or 0.5% Barodon. Triplicate groups of fish (26.4 ± 0.2 g) were fed one of the diets to apparent satiation twice daily for 10 wk. The growth performance was enhanced (P < 0.05) linearly and quadratically in fish fed diets containing Barodon compared with that in fish fed the control. Feed utilization was significantly improved by Barodon supplementation. Serum lysozyme and antiprotease activities were increased quadratically in Barodon fed groups. Also, significantly higher superoxide dismutase activity was found in Barodon‐fed fish. Dietary supplementation of 0.1–0.3% Barodon resulted in significant enhancement of fish disease resistance against Streptococcus iniae. The findings in this study indicate that dietary supplementation of Barodon can enhance growth, feed utilization, innate immunity, and disease resistance of olive flounder and that the optimum level seems to be 0.1% in diets.     

Sargassum horneri as a Functional Food Ameliorated IgE/BSA-Induced Mast Cell Activation and Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis in Mice

Sargassum horneri (S. horneri), an edible brown alga, has been proposed as a functional food with an improvement effect on abnormal skin immune responses. The present study investigates the anti-allergic effect of an ethanol extract from S. horneri (SHE) on immunoglobulin E (IgE)/bovine serum albumin (BSA)-mediated activation in bone marrow-derived cultured-mast cells (BMCMCs) and passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction in mice. SHE markedly and dose-dependently suppressed the degranulation of BMCMCs by reducing the β-hexosaminidase and histamine release without cytotoxicity. In addition, SHE significantly decreased the FcεRI expression on the surface of BMCMCs and its IgE binding. Moreover, SHE reduced the mRNA expression and the production of allergic cytokines; interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13; interferon (IFN)-γ and/or tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α; and a chemokine, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), by suppressing the activation of Src-family kinases and nuclear factor (NF)-κB signaling. In further study, the application of SHE reduced the PCA reaction in an IgE/BSA-induced type I allergic mice model. Taken together, we suggest that SHE has an anti-allergic effect in type I allergic responses.     

Antibacterial and antifungal activity of pinosylvin, a constituent of pine

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of pinosylvin (3,5-dihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a constituent of pine, were studied and compared with those of resveratrol (3,5,4'-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene). Pinosylvin exhibited more potent growth inhibitory activity against Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the detection of the organophosphorus insecticide acephate

A competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ciELISA) for the organophosphorus insecticide acephate, O,S-dimethyl acetylphosphoramidothioate, was developed using a polyclonal antibody. Five different haptens mimicking the analyte were synthesized and conjugated with the carrier proteins bovine serum albumin (BSA) and keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) by the N-hydroxysuccinimide active ester and diazotization methods. Polyclonal antibodies raised against hapten-KLH conjugates in rabbits and hapten-BSA conjugates as coating antigens were screened and selected for the assay in the homologous and heterologous ELISA systems. The effects of various assay conditions such as detergent, organic solvents, pH, and preincubation of the mixture of the polyclonal antibody and the analyte on the sensitivity were evaluated. The IC(50) value for acephate was 25 ng/mL in an optimized heterologous system using hapten-4-BSA as a coating antigen and a polyclonal antibody no. 8377 against hapten-1-KLH, showing the detection range of 5-140 ng/mL and the lowest detection limit of 2 ng/mL. The cross-reactivities of the structurally related organophosphorus insecticides, including the major metabolite of the analyte, methamidophos, were less than 1%. Recoveries from the analyte-fortified tap water, mulberry leaves, and lettuce samples in the assay were in the range of 72-121% by simple extraction, concentration, and dilution. These results indicate that the ELISA could be a convenient and supplemental analytical tool for monitoring acephate residues in environmental and agricultural samples.     

Ovicidal and adulticidal activity of Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil terpenoids against Pediculus humanus capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae)

The toxic effects of Eucalyptus globulus leaf oil-derived monoterpenoids [1,8-cineole, l-phellandrene, (-)-alpha-pinene, 2-beta-pinene, trans-pinocarveol, gamma-terpinene, and 1-alpha-terpineol] and the known Eucalyptusleaf oil terpenoids (beta-eudesmol and geranyl acetate) on eggs and females of the human head louse, Pediculus humanus capitis, were examined using direct contact and fumigation bioassays and compared with the lethal activity of delta-phenothrin and pyrethrum, two commonly used pediculicides. In a filter paper contact bioassay with female P. h. capitis, the pediculicidal activity was more pronounced with Eucalyptus leaf oil than with either delta-phenothrin or pyrethrum on the basis of LT(50) values (0.125 vs 0.25 mg/cm(2)). 1,8-Cineole was 2.2- and 2.3-fold more toxic than either delta-phenothrin or pyrethrum, respectively. The pediculicidal activities of (-)-alpha-pinene, 2-beta-pinene, and (E)-pinocarveol were comparable to those of delta-phenothrin and pyrethrum. l-Phellandrene, gamma-terpinene, and 1-alpha-terpineol were relatively less active than delta-phenothrin and pyrethrum. beta-Eudesmol and geranyl acetate were ineffective. 1-alpha-Terpineol and (E)-pinocaveol were highly effective at 0.5 and 1.0 mg/cm(2), respectively, against P. h. capitis eggs. At 1.0 mg/cm(2), (-)-alpha-pinene, 2-beta-pinene, and gamma-terpinene exhibited moderate ovicidal activity, whereas little or no ovicidal activity was observed with the other terpenoids and with delta-phenothrin and pyrethrum. In fumigation tests with female P. h. capitis at 0.25 mg/cm(2), 1,8-cineole, (-)-alpha-pinene, (E)-pinocarveol, and 1-alpha-terpineol were more effective in closed cups than in open ones, indicating that the effect of the monoterpenoids was largely due to action in the vapor phase. Neither delta-phenothrin nor pyrethrum exhibited fumigant toxicity. Eucalyptus leaf oil, particularly 1,8-cineole, 1-alpha-terpineol, and (E)-pinocaveol, merits further study as potential pediculicides or lead compounds for the control of P. h. capitis.     

Changes in allergenicity and digestibility of squid tropomyosin during the Maillard reaction with ribose

The effect of the Maillard reaction on the allergenicity of squid tropomyosin (TM) was investigated. When TM was reacted with ribose (TM-ribose), its human-specific IgE-binding ability decreased markedly and alpha-chymotryptic digestibility of TM was also altered at the early stage of the Maillard reaction. On the other hand, the modification of the lysine residues in TM using 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid had no effect on the allergenicity and alpha-chymotryptic digestibility of TM. Therefore, the structural change in TM induced by the Maillard reaction would cause the reduction of the allergenicity, rather than the block of lysine residues. Although peptic digestion diminished the specific IgE-binding ability of TM, the reduction of the allergenicity by the Maillard reaction remained after peptic digestion. These results suggest that hypersensitive reaction of TM-ribose in the human body might be lower than that of native TM.     

His-His-Leu, an angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptide derived from Korean soybean paste, exerts antihypertensive activity in vivo.

It has been reported that soybean peptide fractions isolated from Korean fermented soybean paste exert angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity in vitro. In this study, further purification and identification of the most active fraction inhibiting ACE activity were performed, and its antihypertensive activity in vivo was confirmed. Subsequently, a novel ACE inhibitory peptide was isolated by preparative HPLC. The amino acid sequence of the isolated peptide was identified as His-His-Leu (HHL) by Edman degradation. The IC(50) value of the HHL for ACE activity was 2.2 microg/mL in vitro. Moreover, the synthetic tripeptide HHL (spHHL) resulted in a significant decrease of ACE activity in the aorta and led to lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) in spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats compared to control. Triple injections of spHHL, 5 mg/kg of body weight/injection resulted in a significant decrease of SBP by 61 mmHg (p < 0.01) after the third injection. These results demonstrated that the ACE inhibitory peptide HHL derived from Korean fermented soybean paste exerted antihypertensive activity in vivo.     

Effect of far-infrared radiation on the antioxidant activity of rice hulls

After far-infrared (FIR) radiation onto rice hull, a methanolic extract was prepared for the determination of antioxidant ability. After 30 min of FIR treatment, the radical scavenging activity and total phenol contents of rice hull extracts increased from 47.74 to 79.63% and from 0.12 to 0.19 mM, respectively, compared to control. Inhibition of lipid peroxidation in extracts was also increased from 41.07 to 47.96%. According to the GC-MS analysis, more phenolic compounds (p-coumaric acid, 3-vinyl-1-oxybenzene, p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, vanillin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 4,7-dihydroxyvanillic acid) were detected in FIR-irradiated rice hull extract. These results indicated that FIR radiation onto rice hull could liberate and activate covalently bound phenolic compounds that have antioxidant activities.     

Metabolic characterization of newly isolated Pseudomonas nitroreducens Jin1 growing on eugenol and isoeugenol

Newly isolated soil bacterium strain Jin1 was able to grow on both eugenol and isoeugenol each as sole source of carbon and energy. Based on bacterial 16S rDNA analysis, Jin1 belongs to Pseudomonas nitroreducens with a similarity of 98.92% (14/1297). P. nitroreducens Jin1 was found to biotransform eugenol and isoeugenol to vanillin by different pathways. Eugenol was biotransformed to vanillin through coniferyl alcohol and ferulic acid similarly to the pathway shown previously by Pseudomonassp. HR199 and vanillin produced from eugenol was rapidly metabolized to vanillic acid. Contrastively, Pseudomonas nitroreducens Jin1 did not appear to produce metabolic intermediates during the biotransformation of isoeugenol to vanillin which was finally biotransformed to vanillic acid with much slower rate. These results indicate that there seems to be different metabolic regulation systems for the biotransformation of eugenol and isoeugenol by this bacterium. Herein, we report on Pseudomonas nitroreducens Jin1, a novel bacterium that produces vanillin from eugenol and isoeugenol by two different metabolic pathways.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the pyrethroid cypermethrin

A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of cypermethrin was developed. Two haptens, the trans- and cis-isomers of 3-[(+/-)-cyano-3-(2,2-dichloroethenyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarbonyloxy]methyl]phenoxyacetic acid, were conjugated with thyroglobulin as immunogens. Four antisera were generated and screened against six different coating antigens. The assay that was the most sensitive for cypermethrin was optimized and characterized. The IC(50) for cypermethrin was 13.5 +/- 4.3 microg/L, and the lower detection limit (LDL) was 1.3 +/- 0.5 microg/L. This ELISA had relatively low cross-reactivities with other major pyrethroids, such as deltamethrin, phenothrin, resmethrin, fluvalinate, and permethrin. Methanol was found to be the best organic cosolvent for this ELISA, with an optimal sensitivity observed at a concentration of 40% (v/v). The assay parameters were unchanged at pH values between 5.0 and 8.0, whereas higher ionic strengths strongly suppressed the absorbances. To increase the sensitivity of the overall method, a C(18) sorbent-based solid-phase extraction was applied to various domestic and environmental water samples. The water samples, fortified with cypermethrin, were analyzed according to this method. Good recoveries and correlation with spike levels were observed.