Inhibitory effect of cinnamon essential oils on selected cheese-contaminating fungi (Penicillium spp.) during the cheese-ripening process

The antifungal effects of essential oils (EOs) on cultures of the known cheese fungal contaminants Penicillium spp. were evaluated. Cinnamon leaf and bark EOs were the most effective among 8 EOs tested. The main components of both cinnamon EOs were eugenol, cinnamaldehyde, and linalool. Both inhibited growth of Penicillium spp. at a concentration of 10% v/v (2,000 ppm/mm²) on a lawn cell plate. When tested using 3 commercially available cheese starters, cinnamon EOs showed no effect against the FD-DVS ABT-5 cheese starter. However, growth of lactobacilli was inhibited in the presence of ≥10% (v/v) of leaf and bark EOs for the KAZU 1 starter, and ≥5% (v/v) for the FD-DVS FLORA-DANICA starter. A concentration of 4,000 ppm/mm² of cinnamon EOs completely inhibited growth of the Penicillium spp. that naturally contaminates the surface of Appenzeller cheese.     

In vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities of mixed fruit and vegetable juice

Food Science and Biotechnology - In this study, we attempted to develop fruit-based functional juice with anti-inflammatory activity for consumers living under heavy air pollution. At first, four...     

An analysis method for determining residual hexane in health functional food products using static headspace gas chromatography

A method for analyzing the contents of residual hexane in health functional food products was developed. The dissolving solvents in the health functional food products and the internal standard selected were N,N-dimethylacetamide and heptane, respectively. The analysis conditions for headspace-gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (HS-GC/FID) and headspace-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS) were determined as 18 mL of headspace volume, 100°C of headspace oven temperature, and 30 min of equilibration time; a Durabond (DB)-624 column was selected for this analysis. To validate this method, which applies N,N-dimethylacetamide as a dissolving solvent, the limit of detection and limit of quantification (LOQ) values based on the HS-GC/FID and HS-GC/MS analyses results were found to be 0.10, 0.29 and 0.16, 0.47 mg/L, respectively. The recoveries and coefficient of variation (CV) obtained by HS-GC/MS were 96.39–119.86% and 0.04–1.25%, respectively, better than those obtained by HS-GC/FID. By applying the HS-GC/MS method, it was possible to analyze the content of the residual hexane in 60 different types of health functional food products.     

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Streptochlorin via TRIF-Dependent Signaling Pathways in Cellular and Mouse Models

Streptochlorin, a small compound derived from marine actinomycete, has been shown to have anti-angiogenic, anti-tumor, and anti-allergic activities. However, the anti-inflammatory effects and underlying mechanisms have not yet been reported. In the present study, we investigated the effect of streptochlorin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammatory responses in vitro and in vivo. Streptochlorin attenuated the production of proinflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide, cyclooxygenase-2, pro-interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells through inhibition of the Toll/interleukin-1 receptor (TIR)-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-β (TRIF)-dependent signaling pathway. Furthermore, streptochlorin suppressed the infiltration of immune cells such as neutrophils into the lung and proinflammatory cytokine production such as IL-6 and TNF-α in broncho-alveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in the LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) mouse model. Streptochlorin has potent anti-inflammatory effects through regulating TRIF-dependent signaling pathways, suggesting that streptochlorin may provide a valuable therapeutic strategy in treating various inflammatory diseases.     

Anti-Inflammatory Effect ofEmodin via Attenuation of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation

Emodin, an active constituent of oriental herbs, is widely used to treat allergy, inflammation, and other symptoms. This study provides the scientific basis for the anti-inflammasome effects of emodin on both in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were used to study the effects of emodin on inflammasome activation by using inflammasome inducers such as ATP, nigericin, and silica crystals. The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxin shock model was employed to study the effect of emodin on in vivo efficacy. Emodin treatment attenuated interleukin (IL)-1β secretion via the inhibition of NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation induced by ATP, nigericin, and silica crystals. Further, emodin ameliorated the severity of NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated symptoms in LPS-induced endotoxin mouse models. This study is the first to reveal mechanism-based evidence, especially with respect to regulation of inflammasome activation, substantiating traditional claims of emodin in the treatment of inflammation-related disorders.     

The antimicrobial effect of thiamine dilauryl sulfate in tofu inoculated with Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium,Listeria monocytogenes and Bacillus cereus

Food Science and Biotechnology - Thiamine dilauryl sulfate (TDS) is a food additive that is used as a bactericidal agent. This study examines the antimicrobial effect of TDS on tofu inoculated with...     

Physical and sensory characteristics of fibre-enriched sponge cakes made with Opuntia humifusa

Cheonnyuncho (Opuntia humifusa) has multiple functional properties and is a good source of dietary fibre. The purpose of this study was to investigate the quality characteristics of sponge cakes made with cheonnyuncho powder. The moisture, ash, and dietary fibre levels in the sponge cakes increased linearly with the addition of 0–9 g of cheonnyuncho powder/100 g of wheat flour, and the carbohydrate and calorie contents of the samples decreased. The specific gravity and yield of dough increased with the addition of cheonnyuncho powder. For the crumb colour values, L and a decreased with the addition of cheonnyuncho powder whereas the b and ΔE values increased. In the texture analysis, hardness and gumminess were reduced, but cohesiveness and springiness were increased by the addition of cheonnyuncho powder. When the sensory characteristics were evaluated, the addition of 9 g of cheonnyuncho powder/100 g of wheat flour showed the best sensory properties. Overall, the addition of 9 g of cheonnyuncho powder/100 g of wheat flour improved the physical quality and taste of the sponge cake.     

Effect of java citronella essential oil addition on the physicochemical properties of Gelidium corneum-chitosan composite films

Food Science and Biotechnology - A new composite film was developed by combining Gelidium corneum (GC) with chitosan to enhance the physicochemical characteristics of GC film. In addition, to...     

Evaluation of effectiveness of class-based nutrition intervention on changes in soft drink and milk consumption among young adults

Background

The repeatability of a risk factor measurement affects the ability to accurately ascertain its association with a specific outcome. Choline is involved in methylation of homocysteine, a putative risk factor for cardiovascular disease, to methionine through a betaine-dependent pathway (one-carbon metabolism). It is unknown whether dietary intake of choline meets the recommended Adequate Intake (AI) proposed for choline (550 mg/day for men and 425 mg/day for women). The Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) remains to be established in population settings. Our objectives were to ascertain the reliability of choline and related nutrients (folate and methionine) intakes assessed with a brief food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and to estimate dietary intake of choline and betaine in a bi-ethnic population.

Methods

We estimated the FFQ dietary instrument reliability for the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study and the measurement error for choline and related nutrients from a stratified random sample of the ARIC study participants at the second visit, 1990–92 (N = 1,004). In ARIC, a population-based cohort of 15,792 men and women aged 45–64 years (1987–89) recruited at four locales in the U.S., diet was assessed in 15,706 baseline study participants using a version of the Willett 61-item FFQ, expanded to include some ethnic foods. Intraindividual variability for choline, folate and methionine were estimated using mixed models regression.

Results

Measurement error was substantial for the nutrients considered. The reliability coefficients were 0.50 for choline (0.50 for choline plus betaine), 0.53 for folate, 0.48 for methionine and 0.43 for total energy intake. In the ARIC population, the median and the 75^th percentile of dietary choline intake were 284 mg/day and 367 mg/day, respectively. 94% of men and 89% of women had an intake of choline below that proposed as AI. African Americans had a lower dietary intake of choline in both genders.

Conclusion

The three-year reliability of reported dietary intake was similar for choline and related nutrients, in the range as that published in the literature for other micronutrients. Using a brief FFQ to estimate intake, the majority of individuals in the ARIC cohort had an intake of choline below the values proposed as AI.     

Proteomic analysis of human proximal tubular cells exposed to high glucose concentrations

Hyperglycemia is a major key factor in the pathogenesis of microvascular complications of diabetes, including diabetic nephropathy (DN). Most studies to date have focused on the glomerular abnormalities found in DN. However, nephromegaly in the early stages of diabetes and the correlation of tubulointerstitial pathology rather than glomerular pathology with declining renal function in DN suggests the involvement of the tubulointerstitium. The etiology of the tubulointerstitial pathology in DN, however, is not fully understood. In this study, to understand the DN pathways, we constructed an initial 2-DE reference map for primitively cultured human proximal tubule (HK-2) cell in the presence of 5?mM and 25?mM glucose, which correspond to blood glucose concentrations during the normal and hyperglycemia conditions, respectively. Differentially expressed HK-2 cell cellular proteins at the high glucose concentration were identified via ESI-Q-TOF MS/MS and confirmed by Western blotting; enolase 1 (up-regulated) and lactate dehydrogenase (down-regulated). The regulation of these proteins will help in understanding DN mechanism through the glycolysis metabolic pathways in high glucose stimulated HK-2 cells.