Lactoferrin protects against chemical-induced rat liver fibrosis by inhibiting stellate cell activation

Liver diseases, which can be caused by alcohol abuse, chemical intoxication, viral hepatitis infection, and autoimmune disorders, are a significant health issue because they can develop into liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. Lactoferrin (LF), a siderophilic protein with 2 iron-binding sites, has been demonstrated to possess a multitude of biological functions, including antiinflammation, anticancer, and antimicrobial effects, as well as immunomodulatory-enhancing functions. In the current study, we induced hepatotoxicity in rats with dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) to establish a situation that would enable us to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of LF against hepatic injury. Our results showed that DMN-induced hepatic pathological damage significantly decreased the body weight and liver index, increased the mRNA and protein levels of collagen α-1(I) (ColIα-1) and α-smooth muscle actin, and increased the hydroxyproline content. However, treatment with LF significantly increased body weight and liver index, decreased the mRNA and protein levels of ColIα-1 and α-smooth muscle actin, and suppressed the hydroxyproline content when compared with the DMN-treated group. Liver histopathology also showed that low-dose LF (100 mg/kg of body weight) or high-dose LF (300 mg/kg of body weight) could significantly reduce the incidences of liver lesions induced by DMN. These results suggest that the LF exhibits potent hepatoprotection against DMN-induced liver damage in rats and that the hepatoprotective effects of LF may be due to the inhibition of collagen production and to stellate cell activation.     

Water‐forming NADH oxidase protects Torulopsis glabrata against hyperosmotic stress

A heterologous water‐forming NADH oxidase was introduced into Torulopsis glabrata and the effect on cell growth under hyperosmotic conditions was investigated. Expression of the noxE gene from Lactococcus lactis NZ9000 in T. glabrata resulted in a marked decrease in the NADH : NAD⁺ ratio and higher activities of key enzymes in water‐regenerating pathways, leading to an increase in intracellular water content. NaCl‐induced reactive oxygen species production was also decreased by the introduction of NADH oxidase, resulting in a significant increase in the growth of T. glabrata under hyperosmotic stress conditions (3824 mOsmol/kg). The results indicated that the osmotolerance of cells can be enhanced by manipulating water‐production pathways. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The preservation of the quality of the muscle in frozen Australian red claw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus) by pre‐storage anti‐oxidant dipping treatments†

Australian red claw crayfish tails were dipped in either 0.06% (w/w) anti‐oxidant solutions (tocopherols, propyl gallate, or rosemary extract) or in water and subsequently stored in a ?20 °C freezer. At the end of 0, 1, 3, and 6 months of storage, the raw muscle samples were analysed for lipid oxidation, the thermal stability of proteins, cooking yield and shear force. Red claw treated with anti‐oxidants showed a lower (P < 0.05) thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances (TBARS) production than the non‐anti‐oxidant control (dipped in water). Enthalpy of denaturation (ΔH) for the myosin head and shear values for the tails decreased (P < 0.05) in all samples after 6 months of storage, while cooking yield was unaffected by storage. Overall, red claw muscle was quite stable and the oxidation, measured as TBARS values, was small (<0.3 mg kg^?1) but could be further stabilized by anti‐oxidant dipping treatments. However the anti‐oxidant dipping did not prevent texture softening in red claw muscle during frozen storage.     

Fermented soy‐powder milk with Lactobacillus plantarum P1201 protects against high‐fat diet‐induced obesity

Fermented soy‐powder milk (FSPM) with Lactobacillus plantarum P1201 contains more conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and isoflavone aglycones compared with unfermented soy‐powder milk (UFSPM). In this study, the antiobesity effect of FSPM was investigated in a high‐fat diet (HFD)‐induced obesity model. Results showed that FSPM reduced the weight of body, body weight gain, liver and mesenteric white adipose tissue by 10.7%, 17.7%, 32.8% and 24.1%, respectively, compared with the HFD group. Meanwhile, FSPM suppressed the HFD‐induced increase of serum parameters such as total and low‐density lipoprotein, cholesterol, alanine transaminase, glucose and c‐peptide. To investigate how FSPM ameliorated obesity, several lipid metabolism and inflammation‐related genes in liver were analysed. FSPM significantly ameliorated HFD‐induced hepatic steatosis by down‐regulating peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma, lipoprotein lipase, fatty acid synthase, acetyl CoA carboxylase, adipocyte fatty acid‐binding protein, tumour necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 1 beta. Our results showed FSPM can protect against HFD‐induced obesity.     

Structural analysis and anti-obesity effect of Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide against obesity induced by high-fat diet in mice

This study aimed to analyse the physicochemical properties of Polygonatum cyrtonema polysaccharide (PCP) and evaluated its effects in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Experimentally, PCP was established as a homogeneous heteropolysaccharide with both α- and β-configurations, and its estimated average molecular weight was ˜5.1 kDa. Besides, we discovered its major monosaccharides, including galactose, mannose, rhamnose, galacturonic acid and glucose. PCP markedly decreased obesity-related parameters, improved serum lipid profile, fasting blood glucose, and leptin levels and reversed insulin resistance. It also reduced the hepatic infiltration of lipid droplets and the size of adipocytes in adipose tissues. Finally, PCP simulation significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-α (C/EBPα), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c) and fatty acid synthase (FAS). On the contrary, it increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT1) and uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2) levels closely related to thermogenesis and glucolipid metabolism. Taken together, these findings have provided evidence that PCP could be a potential anti-obesity ingredient in preventing diet-induced obesity.