Abstract: Garlic is a vegetable known to be a good antioxidant food resource around the world. Several studies on the antioxidant activity of garlic, mainly conducted using one or two methods, have been reported. However, comparison of the antioxidant activity of garlic before and after cooking is rarely reported. In this study, we compared the antioxidant activity of garlic aqueous and methanol extracts processed before and after boiling to mimic the cooking process. By testing the antioxidant activities of the extracts in different chemical mimic systems in vitro, namely, ABTS [2, 2’-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] and DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activities, reducing power, and metal chelating ability, we found the following data: (1) no significant difference was observed on the ABTS radical scavenging activities of garlic aqueous and methanol extracts before and after boiling process; (2) the reducing power of garlic aqueous and methanol extracts decreased by 25.9% and 14.1%, respectively, whereas the metal chelating activity of boiled garlic aqueous extracts increased by 54.7%; and (3) DPPH radical scavenging test may not be suitable to examine the garlic extracts. In addition, the ABTS radical scavenging activities of garlic extracts were very stable at pH ranges similar in human bodies, and both sulfhydryl and phenolic compounds were probably responsible for the antioxidant ability of garlic. The boiling process destroyed only a small part of garlic bio-ingredients related to antioxidant activity properties.

Abstract: Owing to the favorable effects of essential fatty acids on human health, a great degree of interest on fatty acid profiles and nutritional quality of fish species have been of interest in the recent years. The present study investigated the lipid content, fatty acid profiles and nutritional quality in nine freshwater fish species from the Ganjiang River in the Yangtze basin, China. Results showed that total lipid content of the dorsal muscle was 0.59–2.2% and that was inversely linked to moisture content (r² = 0.79, p < 0.01). Wide ranges of monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (21.83 to 50.53%) and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (19.43 to 45.60%) were found. The ratios of n-3 to n-6 PUFA ranged from 0.25 to 1.16 (p < 0.001). N-3 PUFA was dominated by eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acids varying from 2.77 to 15.11% of total fatty acids. Indices of atherogenicity and thrombogenicity (IA and IT) based on fatty acid compositions ranged from 0.36 to 0.52 and 0.36 to 0.64 in all species, respectively (p < 0.001). These results indicated fatty acid profiles were different among the fish species and the potential of these species as dietary source of essential fatty acids from the nutritional standpoint.

Abstract: This study aimed to characterize the effect of jasmonic acid (JA) on volatile compounds in grains of Kam sweet rice. Using GC-O and SPME-GC-MS, nonanal displayed the highest odor activity value (OAV) in the filling grains and increased after applicaton of jasmonic acid in the rice seedlings. The relative expression of rice OsLOX3 (rice lipoxygenase 3) and OsHPL1 (rice hydroperoxide lyase 1) was assessed by RT-PCR in Kam sweet rice Gou Cengao and the non-aromatic Kam rice Lailong rice after rice pollination. Our data showed that OsLOX3 was elevated in Gou Cengao compared with the non-aromatic rice. In agreement, lipoxygenase (OsLOX3 gene product) levels and activity were elevated in aromatic rice samples. The positive Pearson correlation (0.715) was found between JA and lipoxygenase activity (p < 0.01). Interestingly, a significant positive Pearson correlation (0.936) was found between the concentrations of endogenous JA and the relative expression of rice OsLOX3 (p < 0.01). The results suggest that the enhancing effect of JA on the biosynthetic pathway of nonanal.

Abstract: In this study, three extraction methods of polysaccharides in Purslane were compared and analyzed, and the best method was ascertained. Purslane polysaccharides were extracted using water, ultrasonic and microwave. By the results of single factor experiments and orthogonal experiments, the optimal extracting conditions were selected and then the best extraction method was determined. In order to calculate the extraction yield of polysaccharides, its content were measured by the phenol–sulfuric acid method using glucose as the standard, and then the efficiency of three extraction methods was evaluated. The results showed that the extraction yield of ultrasonic was 35.42% under the optimal conditions of 60C, 60 min, 1:20 and 200w. The extraction yield of microwave method was 32.12% under the optimal conditions of 3 min, 1:25 and 500w. The extraction yield of water method was 31.22% under the optimal conditions of 80C, 2 h, 1:30 and 3 times. It could be concluded that ultrasonic method was the best one in these three methods.

Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between the fat intake and the morbidity of hyperglycemia(the fasting blood glucose over 6.1mmol/L, or the blood glucose one hour after the meal over 11.1mmol/L, or the blood glucose two hours after the meal over 7.8mmol/L, or the participants diagnosed diabetes previously) of middle aged and elderly people in Zhang Fang village, Fang Shan District, Beijing. Methods In 16^th July 2011, our nutrition department went to the Zhang Fang village Fang Shan District to do the free clinic. Totally 134 middle aged and elderly villagers were selected randomly. Our study was a cross-sectional study. We investigated the villagers about the diet intake, the life habit and disease history, measured the parameters of anthropometry and immediately glucose using Roche glucometer, and recorded the measure time. According to the glucose level, we categorized the villagers into hyperglycemia group and euglycemia group. According to the median of fat intake, we separated the villagers into relatively high fat group and relatively low fat group. We analyzed the differences between these groups, then used Logistic regression to analyze the indexes which can influence the blood glucose. Result The morbidity of hyperglycemia in our survey was 47.01%. The morbidity of hyperglycemia in relatively high fat group was significantly higher than that in relatively low group. The intake of protein, dietary fiber, total energy and mixed dietary glycemic load in relatively high fat group were significantly higher than those in relatively low group group. The fat intake, energy intake, BMI and body fat in hyperglycemia group were significantly higher than those in euglycemia group. Logistic regression showed that high fat intake and increased BMI can raise the morbidity of hyperglycemia. Conclusion The morbidity of hyperglycemia of middle aged and elderly people in Zhang Fang Village was in high level. This phenomenon is associated with the high fat intake and increased BMI.

Abstract: In this work, the reaction of a S. pasteuri carotenoid cleavage enzyme (SpCCE) was elucidated by using bicyclic and monocyclic substrates to produce products. The optimal conditions were obtained to increase the product contents by applying quadratic polynomial stepwise regression analysis. Four mathematical models were established. The effect of pH, temperature (T), time (t), and their interaction on the amounts of apocarotenoids was investigated by path coefficient analyses under the optimized analytical conditions. The largest direct path coefficient in products cleaved from β-carotene (-25.9647, p < 0.01) and canthaxanthin (9.1153, p < 0.01) by SpCCE were explained by incubation time. While, pH×T interaction contributed more in total z1 and z2 contents (40.7541, p < 0.01), and pH×t interaction affected more on the contents of a1 and a2 (40.5796, p < 0.01). Moreover, the optimal pH values were 4.5, 4.5, 4.5 and 4.0 for getting the maximal contents of β1, z1 and z2, a1 and a2, c1 and c2 respectively. Analogously, the optimal values of temperature for products of β1, z1 and z2, a1 and a2, c1 and c2 were 30, 30, 33 and 30C. The optimal incubation time was 15, 13, 45 and 41 min respectively.

Abstract: The production of many edible and medicinal mushrooms has been steadily increasing, because of several of their physiological effects. In the present study, we investigated the antihyperglycemic activity of large exopolysaccharide molecules (PSF), which are produced in the fermented broth of ferula mushroom Pleurotus ferulae, on streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. All experimental rats were divided into 6 groups consist of 8 rats. The diabetic rats were fed a diet containing PSF for 6 weeks at a dose of 30 mg (PSFL-group), 90 mg (PSFM-group), or 250 mg/kg body weight (PSFH-group) daily, respectively. The fasting blood glucose level of the PSFH-group was the lowest among all 3 PSF-fed groups. Insulin levels increased and HbA1c levels decreased significantly for the three PSF-fed groups in comparison with negative control group during period of breeding. The PSFH-group’s low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and triglyceride levels were lower than those of other groups. A dose-dependent effect revealed that the exopolysaccharide of P. ferulae might mitigate hyperglycemia at the highest dose of 250 mg/kg body weight.

Abstract: Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), the major polyphenol found in green tea, has been shown to downregulate inflammatory responses in macrophages; however, the underlying mechanism has not been understood. Overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is known to be closely correlated with the pathology of a variety of diseases and inflammations. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of EGCG on NO production and its molecular mechanism in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophage RAW264.7 cells. Besides a decrease in NO secretion, protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) also decreased in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophage cells treated with EGCG. These results suggest that EGCG possesses a potent anti-inflammatory activity.

Abstract: The aim of present work was the determination of antioxidant activities of the ethanol extract from three mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidium, Lentinula edodes and Coprinus micaceus) by using DPPH radical scavenging and total antioxidant status assays. Additionally, in this study, GC/MS analyses and antimicrobial activity assay of three mushrooms were made. Ethanol, chloroform and distilled water used as solvent for preparation of mushrooms extract. Radical scavenging activities and total antioxidant status of three mushrooms extracted in ethanol were measured via spectrophotometric methods. In addition, for chromatographic analysis GC/MS were used. At the same time, diphenic acid and bis(2-ethylhexyl)pthalate derivatives were found the highest in contents of all extracts with GC/MS. The determination of antimicrobial activity of mushrooms extracts against Pseudomonas aeroginosa (ATCC 27853), Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Candida albicans (ATCC 10231) was investigated by disc and agar-well diffusion methods. As result, radical scavenging activities and total antioxidant status values of G. lucidium extract were found higher than those of both L. edodes and C. micaceus. All mushrooms used in this study were found to have antimicrobial effects at a variety of degrees against microorganisms tested. Moreover, all extracts together with solvents were analyzed, ethanol and chloroform extracts were found to be more effective for G. lucidum and C. micaceus, and L. edodes than other solvents, respectively.

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the total phenolic and flavonoid contents in acid methanol extracts of 19 plant species grown and used in Taiwan. The antioxidant activity of leafy plant extracts was determined by measuring the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity. Polyphenol, flavonol, and flavonoid levels were high in Sonchus oleraceus (SO), Ohwia caudate Thunb. Ohashi (OC), Foeniculum vulgare Mill. (FV), and Artemisia princeps Pamp. var. orientalis (Pamp.) Hars. (ArP, fresh) as compared to the rest of tested plants. In addition, quercetin, myricetin, and morin were abundant in Dendranthe mamori folium (Ramat.) Tzvelev. (DM, dry), FV, SO, Alternanthera philoxeroides (Moq.) Griseb. (AlP), ArP (fresh) and Lonicera japonica Thunb. (LJ). Higher levels of the TEAC, ORAC, and DPPH radical scavenger were generated from extracts of OC, SO, DM (dry), and ArP (fresh). Significant and positive correlations among antioxidant activity and polyphenols and anthocyanidins were observed. ORAC values were also correlated with quercitin and morin. Therefore, these phytochemicals were some of the main components responsible for the antioxidant efficacy of tested plants.