Trace element water improves the antioxidant activity of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) sprouts

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) was grown in trace element water (TEW) (100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 ppm) and deionized water (DIW) to evaluate whether the beneficial effects of trace elements on the antioxidant activity could be accomplished with the supplement of TEW. At 300 ppm, TEW significantly increased the Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe contents in buckwheat sprout but not the Se content. However, the levels of rutin, isoorientin, vitexin, and isovitexin did not differ between buckwheat sprouts grown in TEW and DIW. The ethanolic extract from buckwheat sprout grown in 300 ppm of TEW showed higher ferrous ion chelating activity and inhibitory activity toward lipid peroxidation than that grown in DIW. The extract in the TEW group also enhanced intracellular superoxide dismutase activity and lowered reactive oxygen species and superoxide anion in the human Hep G2 cell. It was concluded that TEW could increase the antioxidant activities of buckwheat sprouts.     

电解水对荞麦芽酚酸含量及抗氧化能力的影响

为了能够更好地将发芽荞麦用作制备功能食品的原料,本研究采用理化指标不同的电解水制备荞麦芽,考察荞麦的发芽率及芽长、总酚含量、DPPH和ABTS自由基清除能力,以及铁离子还原力在发芽期间的动态变化,并分析各处理组发芽第7天荞麦芽中游离酚和结合酚种类和含量。结果表明,在7 d观测期内,电解水有利于荞麦发芽及生长。不同评价方法测定荞麦芽抗氧化能力的结果显示,pH值11.13电解水处理组发芽1~3 d荞麦芽总酚含量及抗氧化水平均显著高于对照组(P<0.05),而pH值3.21、pH值5.02和pH值9.02电解水处理组发芽5~7 d荞麦芽总酚含量及抗氧化水平均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。各处理组荞麦芽中主要的游离酚均为绿原酸,且电解水处理组荞麦芽游离绿原酸含量均显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。自来水处理组荞麦芽主要结合酚为香豆酸,而电解水处理组荞麦芽主要结合酚为咖啡酸。本研究结果为电解水应用于功能性荞麦芽的制备提供了理论依据。     

喷洒微酸性电解水对荞麦芽菜生长的影响

针对荞麦(F.tatarium)芽菜生产过程中微生物污染造成的烂种、烂苗和食品安全问题,该文利用微酸性电解水在荞麦芽菜浸种和发芽过程中进行喷洒,考察微酸性电解水对荞麦种子发芽特性、种子表面微生物和芽菜品质的影响。试验结果表明:荞麦种子浸种宜采用有效氯浓度(available chlorine concentration,ACC)为40mg/L、pH值为5.0的微酸性电解水,发芽过程喷洒ACC为50mg/L的微酸性电解水能有效控制荞麦芽菜表面细菌和真菌数量,增加芽菜的苗高以及还原糖、芦丁含量,对芽菜产量和干质量无影响。     

Berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid in herbal plants, protects pancreatic islets and serum lipids in nonobese diabetic mice

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) damages pancreatic islets, gradually causing chronic complications. This study investigated the berberine effect on T1D in vivo. Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice were grouped and administered 50, 150, and 500 mg of berberine/kg of body weight over 14 weeks using consecutive tube feeding. Changes in pancreatic islets, serum insulin, berberine, and lipid levels were determined. The results showed that berberine supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased the number of decreased islets and raised serum berberine levels in dose-dependent manners in experimental mice. Berberine supplementation also increased insulin levels, but decreased the ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/total cholesterol (TC). Furthermore, serum berberine levels showed a significantly positive correlation with high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and the HDL-C/TC ratio, but a negative correlation with the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio. This study suggests that berberine administration in vivo protects pancreatic islets and serum lipids in NOD mice.     

Use of cyclic voltammetry, photochemiluminescence, and spectrophotometric methods for the measurement of the antioxidant capacity of buckwheat sprouts

This paper describes the use of cyclic voltammetry, photochemiluminescence (PCL), and spectrophotometric methods (TEAC and FCR reducing capacity) for the measurement of the antioxidant capacity of dark- and light-grown buckwheat sprouts. Moreover, the flavonoid profile of studied material is provided. Methanol extracts (80%) from ungerminated buckwheat grain and 6 and 8 DAS (days after seeding) sprouts were used. The 8 day germination period was sufficient to obtain good quality sprouts with completely removed pericarps. The ungerminated buckwheat grain contained only rutin, whereas in sprouts produced in dark or light, a high level of isoorientin, orientin, vitexin, rutin, and isovitexin was found. The flavonoid content in sprouts produced under light was almost 2 times higher than those of sprouts produced in the dark. The antioxidant capacity of light-grown sprouts was higher than that of dark-grown ones. The results from voltammetric experiments obtained for buckwheat seeds and 6 and 8 DAS sprouts harvested under dark or light conditions highly correlated with those obtained by PCL antioxidant capacity of water-soluble substances (PCL ACW) (r = 0.99), PCL antioxidant capacity of lipid-soluble substances (r = 0.99), TEAC (r = 0.99), and FCR reducing capacity (r = 0.99). The use of cyclic voltammetry, PCL ACW, and TEAC was fully applicable for the evaluation of the antioxidant capacity of buckwheat sprouts.     

DHEA对肉鸡脂类代谢和相关激素的影响

本试验研究饲料中添加不同水平的DHEA对肉鸡脂类代谢和相关激素的影响。将180羽1日龄AA肉鸡随机分为饲料中不添加DHEA的对照组，添加20 mg•kg-1和5 mg•kg-1DHEA的高、低剂量组，饲喂至42日龄时分别从各组随机取12只公鸡和母鸡，采集血样、肝脏、腹脂、左侧胸肌和腿肌，分别测定血清葡萄糖(BG)、甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)、非酯化脂肪酸(NEFA)和三碘甲腺原氨酸(T3)、甲状腺素(T4)、游离T3(FT3)、游离T4(FT4)、胰高血糖素(glucagon)、瘦素(leptin)含量。结果表明：与对照组相比，DHEA显著降低肉鸡体重、腹脂重和腹脂率，显著降低TG、TC、HDL-C、FT3、FT4含量，显著升高瘦素含量，而对血糖和LDL-C没有影响；DHEA使公鸡血清NEFA含量升高，母鸡血清NEFA含量降低；DHEA使公鸡血清LPL活性和胰高血糖素含量显著升高，血清T4显著降低。提示，DHEA可能通过提高肉鸡体内脂类分解代谢相关酶的活性及激素水平，对脂类代谢起调节作用。     

Metabolomic analysis of phenolic compounds in buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum M.) sprouts treated with methyl jasmonate

The effects of exogenous methyl jasmonate (MeJA) on phytochemical production in buckwheat sprouts cultivated under dark conditions (0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 d) were investigated by metabolomic analysis, using ultra performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight (UPLC-Q-TOF) mass spectroscopy (MS) and partial least-squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA). MeJA-treated and control groups showed no differences in growth but were clearly discriminated from each other on PLS-DA score plots. The metabolites contributing to the discrimination were assigned as chlorogenic acid, catechin, isoorientin, orientin, rutin, vitexin, and quercitrin, which have various health effects. Moreover, isoorientin, orientin, rutin, and vitexin were assigned as the main phytochemicals of sprouts cultivated under dark conditions. The accumulation of these metabolites caused the phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity of the sprouts to increase. Further, this study revealed that their accumulation resulted from the stimulation of the phenylpropanoid pathway by MeJA treatment. Therefore, these metabolites may be useful for better understanding the effects of MeJA on buckwheat sprout phytochemicals and contribute to improving the functional quality of the sprouts.     

Alpinia zerumbet potentially elevates high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level in hamsters

In folkloric plant medicines, Alpinia zerumbet (AZ) has been popularly recognized as an exellent hepatoprotector. To search for a good high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) elevating herbal preparation, we examined AZ for its antioxidant and hypolipidaemic bioactivities, especially its HDL-C elevating activity. AZ seeds contain 0.51% essential oils (SO), which are comprised of monoterpenoids, oxygenated monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, oxygenated sesquiterpenoids, aldehydes, acid, and esters. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis indicated that most of the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were recoverable in pentane eluent, whilst the oxygenated monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids remained in ether eluent. The high contents of rutin, quercetin, and polyphenolics in ethanolic extract of AZ seeds exhibit moderate antilipoperoxidative but potent DPPH free radical scavenging bioactivities. Conclusively, both seed powder (SP) and SO are effective hypolipidaemics with amazingly potent HDL-C elevating capabilities. On the basis of hepatoprotectivity, SP is a more feasible hypolipidemic agent as well as a promising HDL-C elevating plant medicine.     

Hypocholesterolemic effects of a flavonoid-rich extract of Hypericum perforatum L. in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet

In a previous study, a flavonoid-rich extract of Hypericum perforatum L. (FEHP) was prepared and its antioxidant activity was determined by a series of models in vitro. In this study, the hypocholesterolemic effects of FEHP in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet were tested. Forty Wistar rats fed a standard laboratory diet or a cholesterol-rich diet for 16 weeks were used. The serum lipid levels, as well as malondialdehyde (MDA) and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in serum and liver, were examined. Cholesterol-rich diet induced hypercholesterolemia was manifested in the elevation of serum lipid levels such as total cholesterol (TC), total triglycerides (TG), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Administration of middle-dose (75 mg/kg of BW/day) and high-dose (150 mg/kg of BW/day) FEHP significantly lowered the serum levels of TC, TG, and LDL-C, while increasing the serum level of high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Also, the content of MDA in serum and liver decreased significantly after oral administration of FEHP compared with those of rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. In addition, FEHP increased the activity of SOD in serum and liver, but the activity of CAT was significantly elevated only in liver. These results suggested that the hypocholesterolemic effects of FEHP might be due to its abilities to lower serum TC, TG, and LDL-C levels as well as to slow the lipid peroxidation process and to enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity.     

脱氢表雄酮对肉鸡脂类代谢和相关激素的影响

将180羽1日龄Arbor Acres(AA)肉鸡随机分为饲料中不添加脱氢表雄酮(DHEA)的对照组,添加20和5mg/kgDHEA的高、低剂量组,饲喂至42日龄时分别从各组随机取12只公鸡和母鸡,采集血样、肝脏、腹脂、左侧胸肌和腿肌,分别测定血清葡萄糖(BG)、甘油三酯(TG)、总胆固醇(TC)、高密度脂蛋白(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白(LDL-C)、非酯化脂肪酸(NEFA)、三碘甲腺原氨酸(T3)、甲状腺素(T4)、游离三碘甲腺原氨酸(FT3)、游离甲状腺素(FT4)、胰高血糖素(glucagon)和瘦素(leptin)含量。结果表明,与对照组相比,DHEA显著降低肉鸡体重、腹脂重和腹脂率,显著降低TG、TC、HDL-C、FT3和FT4含量,显著升高瘦素含量,而对血糖和LDL-C没有影响;DHEA使公鸡血清NEFA含量升高,母鸡血清NEFA含量降低;DHEA使公鸡血清LPL活性和胰高血糖素含量显著升高,血清T4显著降低。DHEA可能通过提高肉鸡体内脂类分解代谢相关酶的活性及激素水平,对脂类代谢起调节作用。     

Hypocholesterolemic effects of phenolic extracts and purified hydroxytyrosol recovered from olive mill wastewater in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet

In our previous studies, a phenolic-rich extract of olive mill wastewaters (OMW) was prepared under optimal conditions, using a continuous countercurrent extraction unit, and hydroxytyrosol was purified from the obtained OMW extract. The antioxidant activity of OMW extract and hydroxytyrosol was determined by a series of models in vitro. In this study, the hypocholesterolemic effects of hydroxytyrosol and OMW extract in rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet were tested. Wistar rats, fed a standard laboratory diet or a cholesterol-rich diet for 16 weeks, were used. Serum lipid levels, as well as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and superoxide dismutase and catalase activities in liver were examined. Cholesterol-rich diet-induced hypercholesterolemia was manifested in the elevation of serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Administration of a low-dose (2.5 mg/kg of body weight) of hydroxytyrosol and a high-dose (10 mg/kg of body weight) of OMW extract significantly lowered the serum levels of TC and LDL-C while increasing the serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Furthermore, the TBARS contents in liver, heart, kidney, and aorta decreased significantly after oral administration of hydroxytyrosol and OMW extract as compared with those of rats fed a cholesterol-rich diet. In addition, OMW phenolics increased CAT and SOD activities in liver. These results suggested that the hypocholesterolemic effect of hydroxytyrosol and OMW extract might be due to their abilities to lower serum TC and LDL-C levels as well as slowing the lipid peroxidation process and enhancing antioxidant enzyme activity.     

Effects of a meal rich in 1,3-diacylglycerol on postprandial cardiovascular risk factors and the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide in subjects with high fasting triacylglycerol concentrations

It was previously reported that compared to triacylglycerol (TAG) oil, diacylglycerol (DAG) oil improves postprandial lipid response. However, the effects of DAG oil on postprandial hyperglycemia and incretin response have not yet been determined. In this study, the effects of DAG oil on both postprandial hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia and the response to the glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) were studied. This randomized, double-blind, crossover study analyzed data for 41 individuals with high fasting triacylglycerol concentrations. The subjects ingested test meals (30.3 g of protein, 18.6 g of fat, and 50.1 g of carbohydrate) containing 10 g of DAG oil (DAG meal) or TAG oil (TAG meal) after fasting for at least 12 h. Blood samples were collected prior to and 0.5, 2, 3, 4, and 6 h after ingestion of the test meal. Postprandial TAG concentrations were significantly lower after the DAG meal compared with the TAG meal. Postprandial TAG, insulin, and GIP concentrations were significantly lower after the DAG meal compared with the TAG meal in 26 subjects with fasting serum TAG levels between 1.36 and 2.83 mmol/L. DAG-oil-based meals, as a replacement for TAG oil, may provide cardiovascular benefits in high-risk individuals by limiting lipid and insulin excursions.     

Comparison of isoflavone concentrations in soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) sprouts grown under two different light conditions

We determined and compared the composition and content of isoflavones in the cotyledon, hypocotyl, and root of 17 soybean sprout varieties grown under dark and light conditions. The total average isoflavone concentrations in 17 soybean sprout varieties were 2167 microg g(-1) (green sprout) and 2538 microg g(-1) (yellow sprout) in cotyledons, 1169 microg g(-1) (green sprout) and 1132 microg g(-1) (yellow sprout) in hypocotyls, and 2399 microg g(-1) (green sprout) and 2852 microg g(-1) (yellow sprout) in roots. There were no significant differences in total isoflavone concentrations between the green and yellow sprouts. However, significant differences in total isoflavone amounts were observed among the three organs, with roots exhibiting the highest total isoflavone concentrations followed by cotyledons and hypocotyls. Total daidzin concentrations of green (775 microg g(-1)) and yellow (897 microg g(-1)) sprouts increased to more than 4 times that in seeds (187 microg g(-1)). Yellow sprouts contained the highest (1122 microg g(-1)) total genistin concentrations, and green (155 microg g(-1)) and yellow (155 microg g(-1)) sprouts had more total glycitin concentrations than seeds. In cotyledons of green and yellow sprouts, genistin, daidzen, and glycitin constituted more than 67%, more than 28%, and less than 4% of the total isoflavone contents, respectively. In hypocotyls, total daidzin represented more than 45% of the total isoflavones, and total glycitin was higher than in cotyledons and roots. Malonylglycoside concentrations were highest in cotyledons, whereas glycoside concentrations were highest in hypocotyls and roots. The high accumulation of isoflavones in roots is consistent with isoflavones serving as signal molecules in the induction of microbial genes involved in soybean (Glycine max) nodulation.     

Antidiabetic activity of Mung bean extracts in diabetic KK-Ay mice

The antidiabetic effects of Mung bean sprout (MBS) extracts and Mung bean seed coat (MBSC) extracts were investigated in type 2 diabetic mice. Male KK-A (y) mice and C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. In KK-A (y) mice, the blood glucose, plasma C-peptide, glucagon, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels were significantly higher than those in the C57BL/6 mice ( P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, P < 0.001, P < 0.01, and P < 0.01). In addition, KK-A (y) mice showed an obvious decrease in insulin immunoreactivity in pancreas as well. MBS and MBSC were orally administrated to KK-A (y) mice for 5 weeks. It was found that MBS (2 g/kg) and MBSC (3 g/kg) lowered blood glucose, plasma C-peptide, glucagon, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and BUN levels and at the same time markedly improved glucose tolerance and increased insulin immunoreactive levels. These results suggest that MBS and MBSC exert an antidiabetic effect in type 2 diabetic mice.     

Vicilin-like storage globulin from buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) seeds

An 8S storage globulin from buckwheat seed, which resembles the structure and features common to the vicilin-like family of seed storage proteins, was analyzed for this paper. It was found that expression of the 8S globulin gene precedes that of the 13S globulin (the main buckwheat storage protein) and starts from an early stage of buckwheat seed development (9-11 days after flowering), continuing to accumulate throughout seed development to contribute approximately 7% of total seed proteins. This protein fraction might be more interesting for biotechnological application than the 13S buckwheat legumin consisting of 23-25 kDa subunits reported to be the major buckwheat allergen. A partial cDNA was also isolated, showing high homology with cDNAs coding for vicilin-like storage proteins from various plant species, and its expression profile throughout seed development as well as in different buckwheat tissues was analyzed.     

Antioxidant activity of tartary (Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.) and common (Fagopyrum esculentum moench) buckwheat sprouts

This study compared the differences of two types of buckwheat sprouts, namely, common buckwheat ( Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) and tartary buckwheat ( Fagopyrum tataricum (L.) Gaertn.), in general composition, functional components, and antioxidant capacity. The ethanol extracts of tartary buckwheat sprouts (TBS) had higher reducing power, free radical scavenging activity, and superoxide anion scavenging activity than those of common buckwheat sprouts (CBS). As for chelating effects on ferrous ions, CBS had higher values than TBS. Rutin was the major flavonoid found in these two types of buckwheat sprouts, and TBS was 5 fold higher in rutin than CBS. The antioxidant effects of buckwheat sprouts on human hepatoma HepG2 cells revealed that both of TBS and CBS could decrease the production of intracellular peroxide and remove the intracellular superoxide anions in HepG2 cells, but TBS reduced the cellular oxidative stress more effectively than CBS, possibly because of its higher rutin (and quercetin) content.     

Identification of anthocyanins in the sprouts of buckwheat

The anthocyanin profiles and varieties/breeding line differences of anthocyanin concentrations in common/tartary buckwheat sprouts have been studied. Four anthocyanins, cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside, cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, and cyanidin 3-O-galactopyranosyl-rhamnoside, were isolated from the sprouts of common buckwheat, were separated using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and were identified using reversed-phase liquid chromatography (LC)/electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (ESI-MS)/MS techniques. In tartary buckwheat sprouts, two anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside) were identified. Among 19 common/tartary buckwheat varieties/breeding lines, Hokkai T10 contained the highest amounts of anthocyanins. Cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside concentrations in 6-10 days after seeding sprouts of Hokkai T10 ranged from 0.16 to 0.20 mg/g dry wt and from 5.55 to 6.57 mg/g dry wt, respectively. In addition, dark-grown sprouts of Hokkai T10 accumulated 0.091 and 2.77 mg/g dry wt of cyanidin 3-O-glucoside and cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside whereas other varieties/breeding lines accumulated trace amounts of anthocyanins. Given its anthocyanin-rich red cotyledons, Hokkai T10 is a promising line for use as "Moyashi" type sprouts and is strongly recommended as a new functional food, rich in dietary anthocyanins.     

Soy leaf lowers the ratio of non-HDL to HDL cholesterol in hamsters

The present study was to examine effect of soy leaf powder (SLP) and soy leaf ethanol extract (SLEE) on serum lipoproteins in hamsters. The control group was fed a semisynthetic diet containing 0.1% cholesterol, while the tested groups were maintained on the same diet but supplemented with 3% SLP or the equivalent amount of SLEE derived from 3% SLP for 4 weeks. SLP supplementation led to a trend of lowering serum total cholesterol (TC) and nonhigh density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDL-C), with HDL-C being unaffected, whereas incorporation of SLEE into the diet led to an elevated level of HDL-C and a lower level of non-HDL-C with TC being unchanged. Both SLP and SLEE supplementation caused favorably a decrease in the ratio of non-HDL-C to HDL-C. The present results demonstrate that not only soybean seeds but also soy leaves are cardioprotective, by favorably modulating serum lipid profile.