Porcine hemoglobin promotes lipid excretion to feces more strongly than globin protein in rats

In an effort to clarify whether the lipid-lowering effect of hemoglobin is due to globin protein or heme, this study investigated the effects of dietary porcine hemoglobin (PH) and porcine globin (PG) on lipids contents of serum, liver, and feces in rats. Five-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into 3 dietary groups of 7 rats each, with one group receiving a control diet and the other groups receiving diets containing 1.25% (w/w) PH or 1.18% (w/w) PG for 4 weeks. The PH diet decreased triacylglycerol content in serum and cholesterol in serum and liver, whereas the PG diet reduced triacylglycerol content in serum and cholesterol in liver. Fecal lipid excretion in the PH group was significantly higher than in the PG group. Therefore, PH affected lipid excretion to feces due to globin protein as well as heme.     

Three-dimensional rainbow schlieren measurements in underexpanded sonic jets from axisymmetric convergent nozzles

The rainbow schlieren deflectometry has been combined with the computed tomography to obtain three-dimensional density fields of shock containing free jets and we call the method the schlieren CT. Experiments on the schlieren CT have been performed at a nozzle pressure ratio of 4.0 by using an axisymmetric convergent nozzle with an inner diameter of 10 mm at the exit where the nozzle was operated at an underexpanded condition. Multidirectional rainbow schlieren pictures of an underexpanded sonic jet can be acquired by rotating the nozzle about its longitudinal axis in equal angular intervals and the three-dimensional density fields are reconstructed by the schlieren CT. The validity of the schlieren CT is verified by a comparison with the density fields reconstructed by the Abel inversion method. As a result, it is found that excellent quantitative agreement is reached between the three-dimensional jet density fields reconstructed from both methods.     

Purification and some properties of beta-fructofuranosidase I formed by Aureobasidium pullulans DSM 2404

beta-Fructofuranosidase I (FFase I) formed by Aureobasidium pullulans DSM 2404 was purified. The enzyme had a molecular weight of about 430 kDa, was not affected by various metal ions and showed high transfructosylating activity. The yield of fructooligosaccharides production using purified FFase I was 62%.     

Recent advances in phosphorylation of food proteins: A review

Phosphorylation is a useful method for improving the functional properties of food proteins. In this article, various methods of phosphorylation are reviewed. Dry-heating phosphorylation, a method developed recently, is also introduced. Some characteristics of phosphate groups are involved, and the effects of phosphorylation on the structural changes, the functional properties, and the physiological functions in vitro of food proteins, are discussed. The types of phosphate linkages and the phosphopeptides from phosphorylated proteins are identified. The molten (partially unfolded) conformations of food proteins formed by phosphorylation are discussed. The phosphorylation of food proteins improved a number of functional properties, including heat stability, emulsifying properties, foaming properties, gelling properties, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, and calcium phosphate-solubilizing ability. In vitro physiological function studies of protein (α-lactoalbumin) indicated that the digestibility (ovalbumin) was improved and the inflammatory response (α-lactoalbumin) was suppressed by phosphorylation. Experiments with animals are necessary to evaluate the toxicity and physiological functions of phosphorylated proteins.     

Survey of histamine content in seafood on the market

Food poisoning involving histamine has occurred almost every year for 20 years in Tokyo, and is usually due to ingestion of fish with lean meat, such as sardine, mackerel, horse mackerel and so on. Therefore, we were investigated the levels of histamine and 4 non-volatile amines (tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine, spermidine) in 637 samples on the market. The water activity of samples in which histamine was detected at 5 mg/100 g and over was examined. Histamine, tyramine, putrescine, cadaverine and spermidine were detected in 66, 43, 26, 64 and 5 samples, and the detection ranges were 5-340, 5-51, 5-42, 5-180 and 5-8 mg/100 g, respectively. Most of the samples in which histamine was detected were semi-dried round and split sardine. Water activity of 24 samples of semi-dried round and split sardine in which histamine was detected was in the range of 0.68-0.96.     

Combination effect of phospholipids and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on rat cholesterol metabolism

This study evaluated phospholipids (PLs) containing n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) for their specific inherent effects and effects due to a combination of the presence of glycerophosphate structure and n-3 PUFAs on cholesterol metabolism in rats. Rats were fed a diet of AIN-93G containing soybean oil (SO, 7%), SO (5.8%)+fish oil (1.2%), SO (5.2%)+soybean PLs (1.8%), SO (5.2%)+PLs containing n-3 PUFAs (1.8%), and SO (4.0%)+fish oil (1.2%)+soybean PLs (1.8%). Diets with PLs containing n-3 PUFAs, and soybean PLs in combination with fish oil, resulted in decreased serum and liver cholesterol levels through enhancement of fecal cholesterol excretion and suppression of liver sterol regulatory element binding protein-2 mRNA expression compared with the diet containing soybean oil alone. This study shows that soybean PLs with added triacylglycerol that included n-3 PUFAs have the same effects on cholesterol metabolism as PLs containing n-3 PUFAs, and that these could be of benefit to people.     

Chemical analysis and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect of anthocyanin-rich red leaf tea (cv. Sunrouge)

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of leaf order or crop season on anthocyanins and other chemicals in the anthocyanin‐rich tea cultivar ‘Sunrouge’ (Camellia sinensis x C. taliensis) by using high‐performance liquid chromatography, and to study the effect of ‘Sunrouge’ extract on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in human neuroblastoma SK‐N‐SH cells. RESULTS: The total anthocyanin content was higher in the third (3.09 mg g^?1) than in the second (2.24 mg g^?1) or first crop season (1.79 mg g^?1). The amount of anthocyanins contained in the stem was high (1.61 mg g^?1). In the third crop season, the concentrations of delphinidin‐3‐O‐β‐D ‐(6‐(E)‐p‐coumaroyl)galactopyranoside (DCGa), cyanidin‐3‐O‐β‐D ‐(6‐(E)‐p‐coumaroyl)galactopyranoside, delphinidin‐3‐O‐β‐D ‐galactopyranoside, delphinidin‐3‐O‐β‐D ‐(6‐O‐(Z)‐p‐coumaroyl)galactopyranoside, cyanidin‐3‐O‐β‐D ‐galactoside, and delphinidin‐3‐O‐β‐D ‐glucoside were 1.57 mg g^?1, 0.52 mg g^?1, 0.40 mg g^?1, 0.22 mg g^?1, 0.14 mg g^?1, and 0.11 mg g^?1, respectively. DCGa accounted for about 50% of the anthocyanins present. The suppressive effect of ‘Sunrouge’ water extract on AChE activity in human neuroblastoma SK‐N‐SH cells was the strongest among the three tea cultivars (‘Sunrouge’, ‘Yabukita’ and ‘Benifuuki’). CONCLUSION: These results suggested that ‘Sunrouge’ might protect humans from humans from AChE‐related diseases by suppressing AChE activity. To obtain sufficient amounts of anthocyanins, catechins and/or caffeine for a functional food material, ‘Sunrouge’ from the third crop season should be used. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

Factors affecting the oxidative activity of laccase towards biphenyl derivatives in homogeneous aqueous-organic systems

Catalytic oxidation of biphenyl derivatives was investigated using laccase in a homogeneous aqueous-organic system. A thermostable laccase from Trametes sp. showed the highest catalytic activity for the oxidation of 4-hydroxybiphenyl (4-HB) at a reaction temperature of 60 degrees C when dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) was employed as a co-solvent. Furthermore, the catalytic performance was successfully enhanced by the incorporation of a laccase mediator system (LMS) into the aqueous-DMSO media. The catalytic performance strongly depended on the type of mediator, and the highest activity was observed with 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) as mediator, suggesting the importance of the selection of a suitable mediator. It was verified that this mediator system is applicable to the oxidation of several biphenyl derivatives with hydroxyl groups.