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Sugar cane extract (SCE) is the end product of glucose, fructose, and sucrose elimination in molasses. SCE has various biological effects, such as anti‐inflammation and antioxidation, and it is commonly found in animal feed. The present research is aimed at investigating the reproductive endocrine influence of SCE in male Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica) by feeding SCE containing food. In addition, in vitro Leydig cell culture was conducted to clarify the mechanism of SCE's influence. Our results showed that SCE feed extended the latency to the first neck grab, decreased male quail testis and epididymis weights, cloaca gland size, and reduced serum testosterone concentrations. Steroidogenic enzymes 3βHSD, 17βHSD, P450c17, and P450scc gene expression in the testis were decreased in the SCE groups. Western blot analysis showed decreased 3βHSD in the testis after feeding SCE. Isolated testicular interstitial cells cultured with SCE and ovine‐LH suppressed testosterone secretion and 3βHSD gene expression. In conclusion, SCE as a feed additive has an impact on the sexual behavior and reproductive function of male Japanese quail, with the suppression of steroidogenesis in the Leydig cell. Our results may provide beneficial information to the livestock management and the poultry industry. Research highlights: Sugar cane extract (SCE) influences the sexual behavior of male quail.SCE decreases testosterone production and 3βHSD expression in the testis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dramatic enhancement in the cytokine secretion is observed when the beta-(1-3)-D-glucan schizophyllan (SPG) is chemically modified with octaarginine (R8), arginine-glycine-aspartic acid tripeptide (RGD), and cholesterol (Chol) and when the CpG DNA complex made therefrom is exposed to macrophages a dramatic enhancement in the cytokine secretion is observed. This performance shows that SPG can be an excellent carrier for CpG DNA.

Distinguishing the taste and aroma of different sugar syrups is important in determining their utility in the food and beverage industries and for their marketing to consumers. Herein, thick sugar syrups were prepared from the squeezed stalk juices of two important sugar crops: sweet sorghum and sugarcane. The sugar syrups were distinguished in terms of composition, taste characteristics, volatile profile, and antioxidant activity. Sweet sorghum syrup contained lower sucrose and total sugar, but retained greater amounts of minerals and organic acids than sugarcane syrup. Correspondingly, sweet sorghum syrup exhibited lower sweetness and higher saltiness and bitterness than sugarcane syrup. Sweet sorghum syrup exhibited a more complex volatile aroma composition, the major components of which were acetaldehyde, 2-methylpropanal, 3-methylbutanal, and 2-methylbutanal, followed by intermediate amounts of ketones, alcohols, and pyrazines. Additionally, sweet sorghum syrup exhibited a higher total phenolic content and superior antioxidant capabilities in oxygen radical absorbance capacity and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazine radical-scavenging activity assays than sugarcane syrup. The results of the present study demonstrate the suitability of sweet sorghum and sugarcane syrups as sweeteners and food ingredients for consumer and industrial applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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BACKGROUND Sugarcane molasses is a potential by-product of the sugarcane manufacturing industry that is rich in antioxidant materials. The present study aimed to obtain antioxidative compounds from sugarcane molasses and to evaluate their ability to protect DNA from oxidative damage. RESULTS Two neolignan glucosides were isolated from sugarcane molasses using bioassay and UV spectra monitoring-guided fractionation. The compounds were elucidated as (7 R,8 S)-dehydrodiconiferyl alcohol-4- O-β- d-glucoside ( 1) and (7 S,8 R)-simulanol-9′- O-β- d-glucoside ( 2). Neolignan glucoside 2 protected against DNA damage caused by free radicals more effectively than did neolignan glucoside 1 (13.62 and 9.08 µmol L−1 for peroxyl and hydroxyl radicals, respectively, compared to 48.07 and 14.42 µmol L−1). Additionally, neolignan glucoside 2 exhibited superior DNA protection against free radicals compared with various known antioxidative compounds, including p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, vanillic acid and epigallocatechin gallate. CONCLUSION The isolated neolignan glucosides from sugarcane molasses are able to protect DNA from oxidative damage caused by free radicals. This is the first identification of these two compounds in sugarcane molasses. The sugarcane molasses can therefore be used as potential nutraceutical preventative agents, and the findings may foster the utilization of this by-product as a bioresource-based product. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effects of sugar cane extract (SCE) on the piglet intestinal histology were observed. Twelve castrated male piglets weaned at the age of 26 days were allotted to three groups fed diets containing 0, 0.05 or 0.10% SCE. At the end of feeding experiment, each intestinal segment was taken for light or scanning electron microscopy. Feed intake, body weight gain and feed efficiency did not show a difference among groups. Most of the values for villus height, villus area, cell area and cell mitosis numbers were not different among groups, except for that the villus area of the 0.10% SCE group and the cell area of both SCE groups increased significantly at the jejunum compared to the control (P<0.05). For cell mitosis numbers, the 0.10% SCE group was higher than the 0.05% SCE group at the jejunum. Compared with the majority of flat cells of each intestinal segment in the control, the SCE groups had protuberated cells. In the 0.05% SCE group, deeper cells at the sites of recently exfoliated cells in the duodenum, cell clusters aggregated by protuberated cells in the jejunum and much more protuberant cells in the ileum were observed. These histological intestinal alterations suggest that SCE could raise the functions of intestinal villi and epithelial cells, especially at the 0.05%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, we found that schizophyllan belonging to a β-l,3-glucan polysaccharide family forms macromolecular complexes with certain single-stranded polynucleotides. The specific complex formation is originated from the β-1,3-glucan skeleton in the main chain. In this paper, we have reported that curdlan, which is a β-1,3-glucan polysaccharide without a side chain glucose unit, shows unique poly(C) binding properties different from those of schizophyllan; in the experiments using curdlan samples with the controlled molecular weight, the complexation ability appeared only in a limited "Mw range window". Stoichiometric analysis revealed that the "Mw range window" appears as a result of the competition between curdlan--curdlan self-association and curdlan-polynucleotide complexation. Furthermore, when the experiments were extended to other polynucleotides such as poly(A), poly(dA) and poly(dT), the "Mw range window" also appeared at their characteristic molecular weights. We believe, therefore, that curdlan can be applicable, in spite of its cheapness, as a precious functional material to gene technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the relationship between the conformation and solvent for the poly(dA)/s-SPG complex using circular dichroism in the 240-300 nm wavelength region. At the low temperature and low salt concentration, poly(dA) in the complex is estimated to take C2'-endo with a different torsional angle from the anti form. With increasing temperature, the circular dichroism (CD) spectrum starts to bear characteristics of C3'-endo and anti as a minority among the majority of C2'-endo and anti. When the salt concentration is increased, the spectrum becomes almost identical to that of the high temperature form under the non-salt condition. Therefore, addition of salt provides the identical effect to increasing temperature. D[sub2]O induces the same effect as decreasing temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Stored brown sugar becomes darker and has higher moisture content and a w. [•] Levels of fructose, glucose, and some acids decrease over storage. [•] Acidic and sulfuric odours decrease but the volatile flavour of MRPs increases. [•] The browning rate is positively associated with the development of volatile MRPs. [•] 3-Deoxyglucosone has weak association with brown colour due to its slow degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Sugarcane bagasse soluble fiber fermentation influenced lower cecal pH in rats. • Bagasse had highest acetate and total short chain fatty acid contents. • Bagasse soluble fibers influenced highest mucin content in the cecal content. • R. faecis and B. producta were higher in bagasse soluble fiber fed group. Biochemical effects of the water soluble fiber fraction of sugarcane bagasse (BSF) fermented in the colon was examined to evaluate its potential health promoting effects. A feeding experiment involving Fischer 344 rats, was conducted with 3 experimental diets containing, cellulose (CON), a commercial xylo-oligosaccharide (XYO) and BSF (BGS). Cumulative feed intake was significantly lower in XYO group while cecal weight was significantly higher. Acetic and propionic acid contents in the cecal content were significantly higher in the BGS and XYO, respectively. Total short chain fatty acid content was significantly higher in BGS and XYO resulting significantly lower cecal pH. Beneficial bacteria such as Bifidobacterium , Blautia , Akkermansia and Roseburia abundance was significantly higher in the XYO and BGS groups. Further, mucin and immunoglobulin-A contents were significantly higher in BGS group compared to CON group. Thus, BSF exhibited its ability to enhance the intestinal and systemic health upon fermentation in the colon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Sugarcane molasses constituents effectively scavenge AAPH-induced peroxyl radicals. [•] Antioxidative fractions were evaluated via chemical, cellular, and DNA approaches. [•] The range of ORAC value is 4399–6266μmol TE/g, and EC50 for CAA is 3.7–5.9μg/ml. [•] Two fractions protect against oxidative DNA damage as potent as gallic acid. [•] Phenolic constituents were identified in the sugarcane molasses fractions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stress is a part of everyday life, but excessive stress can be related to diverse diseases. Recently, oral intake of a non-centrifuged cane sugar, Kokuto, was reported to produce potential anti-stress effects in humans. However, the molecular components associated with the anti-stress property of Kokuto remain mostly unknown. Therefore, we focused on the non-sugar component (NSC) fractions of Kokuto, and investigated how serum corticosterone level (used as a stress marker) and antioxidant activity were affected in restraint-stressed mice treated with NSC fractions obtained from the elusion on HP-20 resin with 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% aqueous methanol (MeOH) solutions. Among the four NSC fractions, the 50% MeOH fraction showed a high content of phenolic compounds and high antioxidant activity. Moreover, oral administration of the 50% MeOH fraction suppressed both corticosterone secretion into the serum and reduction of antioxidant activity in serum and liver in restraint-stressed mice. Component analysis of the 50% MeOH fraction identified five antioxidative phenolic compounds: p-hydroxybenzaldehyde, p-hydroxyacetophenone, schaftoside, isoschaftoside, and p-coumaric acid. Phenolic compounds detected in the NSC fractions of Kokuto might contribute to the anti-stress property of Kokuto. In addition, this research provides more understanding of potential health benefits offered by the constituents of Kokuto.

Oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated CpG sequences (CpG DNAs) activate the vertebrate innate immune system via toll-like receptor 9 (TLR-9). Although CpG DNA is a promising immunotherapeutic agent, its short circulation time in biological fluids due to nuclease is the major drawback. This paper proposes that a natural polysaccharide called schizophyllan (SPG) can be used as an effective CpG DNA carrier because SPG can complex with CpG DNA and the resultant complex shows the nuclease resistance of the bound DNA. In order to increase cellular uptake in vitro, we chemically attached spermine, cholesterol, arginine octamer, or RGD peptide to SPG. The complexes made of the chemically modified SPG and CpG DNA having a phosphorothioate (PS) or phosphodiester (PO) backbone led to increased secretion of cytokines of about 4- to 15-fold, compared with the uncomplexed dose. Furthermore, when PO CpG DNA was complexed with unmodified SPG, the IL-12 level increased by almost 3- to 11-fold compared with the naked dose. The PO CpG DNA/unmodified SPG complex data suggested that unmodified SPG might effectively deliver PO in vivo due to the electrically neutral nature of unmodified SPG. When the complexed CpG DNAs were injected intraperitoneally, a large amount of IL-12 production was observed compared with the uncomplexed material. Both in vivo and vitro assays indicated that the SPG complex may be of use for CpG DNA therapy.

We already found that beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides form polymeric complexes with certain polynucleotides, but the parallel vs. anti-parallel orientation in those complexes had remained unsolved. In this paper, this controversial problem has been discussed for curdlan/oligo(dA) complexes utilizing two different energy transfer techniques. The first system consists of a combination of fluorescein-labeled curdlan and 3'-(or 5'-)tetramethyl-rhodamine (TAMRA)-labeled oligo(dA). The second system utilizes gold nanoparticles: that is, two curdlan chains were linked by a disulfide bond and after complexation with oligo(dA), the complex was immobilized on gold nanoparticles. In this system, TAMRA was attached to the 3'(or 5') end of oligo(dA) and the gold particle acted as a fluorescence quencher (energy acceptor). These experiments have led us to conclude that in the curdlan/oligo(dA) complex, parallel orientation is more favourable than anti-parallel orientation. These findings have enabled us to envision a clearer image for the complexation mode between beta-1,3-glucan polysaccharides and polynucleotides.

Schizophyllans carrying beta-lactoside and alpha-mannoside appendages were prepared from native schizophyllan through NaIO4 oxidation followed by reductive amination using aminoethyl-beta-lactoside and alpha-mannoside, respectively. The resulting schizophyllans form stable macromolecular complexes with polynucleotides, such as poly(C) and poly(dA). Specific affinity between these macromolecular complexes and saccharide-binding proteins was demonstrated by surface plasmon resonance and agarose gel staining assays. beta-lactoside-appended schizophyllan enhanced an antisense activity in hepatocytes which express lactoside-binding proteins on their cell surfaces.

Among the various synthetic gene carriers based on biomaterials, cationic polymers with polysaccharide backbones have long been studied as nonviral vectors due to their low immunogenicity and high water solubility. Schizophyllan, a beta-(1,3)-glucan, is one of the various polysaccharides that are clinically administered. Furthermore, its safety in the human body has already been confirmed. Various functional groups can be selectively introduced into the side chain, not into the main chain of schizophyllan. Therefore, we have synthesized various oligoamine conjugates from schizophyllan. It was confirmed that their in vitro transfection efficiencies are superior to that of polyethylenimine by adjusting the molecular weight and the degree of amination of cationic schizophyllan. While it was possible to reduce cytotoxicity by adjusting the amount of DNA complex per cell, as seen with poly-L-lysine, polyethylenimine, and chitosan, PEGylation was the most effective means of reducing toxicity. Furthermore, using cationic schizophyllan carriers, it was also possible to express a reporter protein for a long period of time due to a long residence time of plasmid DNA in cells.

A schizophyllan (beta-1,3-glucan) derivative carrying lactose-appendages prepared by reductive amination can form stable macromolecular complexes with polynucleotides, shows excellent affinity with a lactose-binding lectin, and effectively mediates gene transfection into hepatocytes.