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Our previous study indicated that learning and cognition of obese mice were enhanced by germinated Sang-Yod rice intervention. We recently discover that inferior effects of high fat diet on lipid metabolisms and functions of two vital organs, including the liver and the brain are attenuated by germinated Sang-Yod rice. Thirty-two male C57BL/6J mice are divided into 4 groups (n = 8), and distinctly assigned to receive a different diet for 12 weeks, including normal diet (CONTROL group), high fat diet (HFD group), high fat diet plus 20 mg simvastatin/kg/day (POSITIVE group), and high fat diet plus 0.5% germinated Sang-Yod rice/kg/day (HFD-GR group). Biochemical and histological assessments are performed using blood and tissue samples, respectively. The levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoproteins for all groups of mice are not different. Increases of low-density lipoprotein and total cholesterol concentrations and the albumin/globulin ratio are found for mice fed with high fat diet. The activities of alanine transaminase and aspartate transaminase enzymes are not different among these groups of mice. Fat degeneration, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and lipid droplets in the livers of mice treated with simvastatin and germinated Sang-Yod rice are reduced. Lastly, cells of the prefrontal cortex of these treated mice are morphologically normal with an absence of microglia. In contrast, microglia is simply observed in this brain area of mice in HFD group. Limitation of high fat in foods should be attended to maintain healthy life.

Health benefits of lady finger were explored in this study by which the ethanol extract from the seeds was utilized for testing. In high glucose (350 mmole/L) medium, the proliferative activity of C2C12 cells was inferior, but their viability was improved following treated with the extract. The activities of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), were also enhanced. In response to such high glucose concentration, glucose uptake ability of these cells was compromised. The extract was demonstrated to increase the ability of glucose uptake by approximately equal to the effect of 200 nmole/L insulin. High intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) of RBM-MCS cells grown in high glucose containing medium was elicited. The level of ROS was reduced when the cells were cultured in contact with the extract. L929 cells were made inflammation and oxidative stress by incubating with 37.5 µmole/L DPPH for 30 min. The release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) from these inflamed cells was inhibited by such treatment. Thus, lady finger might be advantageous in the protection of cells in the body that would be damaged or being susceptible to hyperglycemia and diabetes.

Every part of Calophyllum inophyllum L. has been used in various traditional remedies, especially the oil from its nut was mostly used to treat skin diseases. This study aimed to investigate the composition and antioxidant activity of C. inophyllum nut oil and formulate the oil as a cosmeceutical product. The chemical composition and the amount of total phenolic compounds (TPC) were demonstrated by Gas Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometer (GC-MS) and Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively. Additionally, the antioxidant activity was tested using the DPPH method. Calophyllolide (4.35%) was a major component. Additional components were calanolide A, inophyllum D, and inophyllum B. We found that the TPC contained 25.9 ± 1.2 mg GE/g oil and a free radical scavenging activity approximate to that of the synthetic Trolox. Emulgel formulation consisted of tween 80, span 80, and isopropyl alcohol as a surfactant, and carbopol 940 as a gelling agent. The microemulsion was formulated using distilled water, oil, tween 80 with span 80, as a surfactant, and isopropyl alcohol as a cosurfactant. The mean droplet size for optimized microemulsion formulations was 34.37 ± 1.06 nm. Furthermore, the results of thermodynamic stability tests (freeze-thaw cycle) and long-term stability tests indicated that emulsions and microemulsions remained stable. In conclusion, this nut oil could potentially be used as a cosmeceutical product, and the obtained emulgels and microemulsions exhibited good characteristics in terms of being a potential agent for skin antioxidant.

Background: Abelmoschus esculentus L. or okra is a vegetable of Malvaceae family. Aim: Okra seeds were dried at 60°C, ground, and extracted by using absolute ethanol. The acquired extract was investigated for chemical constituents, cytotoxicity, anti-tyrosinase activity, and anti-oxidant property. Results: Total phenolic content was equal to 4.6 mg gallic acid/g dry weight, as constituted by tannins, flavonoids, and polyphenols. Saponins and terpenoids were also existent. Based on molecular ion (M+) peaks of GC-MS, long chain fatty acids and their esters (~59%), as well as sterols and their derivatives (~40%) were identified as major components. Glutathione was of 2.5 mg/g dry weight. The anti-tyrosinase activity was equivalent to 15 mg ascorbic acid/g dry weight. The extract was nontoxic to cells of normal fibroblast L929, and exhibited the DPPH radical scavenging activity as well as the ferric reducing antioxidant power, which respectively equivalent to 350 µmol trolox and 170 µmol Fe2+ per g dry weight. Lotions (o/w) containing 1-7% w/w extract were physically and chemically stable over a 6-heating/cooling cycles-period of the stability test. Transdermal penetration of the lotion excipients and active compounds of the extract was not detected according to the Franz-type skin permeation study. Conclusion: Cosmeceuticals containing Abelmoschus esculentus L. seed extract might be useful for whitening effect and to delay skin aging.

Objective: Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench. or okra has revealed medical benefits. An attempt has been made in this study to incorporate the ethanol extract from okra seeds in a lotion and determine the product stability and permeability in vitro. Methods: Okra seeds were extracted with absolute ethanol. Phytochemical profiles of the resulting extract were carried out using GC/MS. DPPH antioxidant activity, total phenolic content (TPC) and anti-tyrosinase activity were measured using specific colorimetric assays. An O/W lotion containing the extract was developed and in vitro characterized for its stability and permeability, using heating-cooling method and Franz diffusion system, respectively. Results: An anti-tyrosinase activity of the extract was 14.96 ± 8.86 mg ascorbic acid equivalent/g DW. After 6-heating-cooling cycles, the formula' pH and viscosity were not changed. The TPC and DPPH antioxidant activity for the receiver part of the Franz diffusion cell were not detected after let it for 12 h. Interestingly, the antioxidant activity was determined to present in the porcine skin under investigated. Conclusion: Due to the existing antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activity, the developed okra lotion was stable and could be used for whitening and anti-aging. Moreover, its use would be safe regarding systemic impermeability.

Lactic acid is a product that finds several applications in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries. The main objective of this work is to evaluate potential use of the oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) sap as a substrate by Lactobacillus casei. The effects of pH control and nutrient supplement of oil palm sap on fermentation performance were investigated. In this report, when oil palm sap was used as a carbon source for L. casei, pH control did not significantly affect lactic acid production. The addition of de Man, Rogosa, and Sharpe medium improved the biomass and the product yield for which the lactic acid production in static flask at 37 °C and pH 5.5 using 20 g L−1 of total sugar was improved to 0.55 g L−1 h−1. Oil palm sap could serve as a good potential source of raw materials for efficient production of lactic acid by L. casei. When lactic acid was separated from the fermentation broth with Dowex™ 66 resin by water as eluant, the desorption yield was 75.16%. © 2012 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background Repairing bone loss by autologous grafting requires that a patient's marrow stromal cells (MSCs) be collected and cultured until the number of cells is adequate for implantation. Currently used techniques allow a slow proliferation rate and produce a culture that contains only small amounts of pluripotent stem cells that will become osteoblasts in culture. Objective To develop culture conditions that permit a rapid increase in the number of MSCs while retaining or improving their potential for complete differentiation in vivo. Results Sequential applications of low doses of basic fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) and bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) improved the growth and differentiation potential of MSCs. FGF2 also elevated sensitivity of the cells to BMP2. BMP2 increased the syntheses of alkaline phosphatase (ALP), collagen type I and bone sialoprotein, while FGF2 increased the expression of osteocalcin (OC). Full induction as determined by the formation of mineralised nodules in vitro was observed within 7 days. Seeding the induced cells onto scaffolds and then implanting them into nude mice resulted in newly formed bone 4 weeks later. The results of real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting suggested that FGF2 increased the pool of committed osteoblasts by up-regulating the Cbfa1/Runx2 gene. The later stages of bone formation seemed to be induced by Cbfa1/Runx2-downstream factors such as BMP2, ALP, collagen type I, bone sialoprotein and OC. Conclusion The culture system that was developed increased both the proliferation of MSC and the proportion that developed into pre-osteoblasts.

Aims: To characterize a minimal bacteriocin operon of Prevotella nigrescens ATCC 25261. Methods and Results: A genomic DNA library of Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261 was constructed and screened for bacteriocin production by an agar overlay assay. Sequence analysis of the bacteriocin-producing recombinant plasmid, pGP2, has shown that the insert DNA consists of 4868 base pairs, termed nig locus. There is a cluster of four genes within the nig locus, respectively designated nigA, B, C and D. Deleting 160 nucleotides at the 3′-end of nigAB resulted in loss of bacteriocin production, indicating that nigAB may belong to a bacteriocin operon. nigA is thought to be the bacteriocin gene, while nigB may encode an immunity protein. Escherichia coli containing pGP2 expressed the bacteriocin, which is similar in size, antimicrobial activity, and biochemical properties to that purified from Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261. Conclusion: nig Locus is a chromosomal fragment of Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261, consisting of 4868 base pairs, and has been proved to be important for bacteriocin production. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first report of the successful cloning and expression of the bacteriocin from Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261 into E. coli. This will facilitate the construction of bacteriocin analogues and permit investigation of their structure/function relationships.

Lactic acid is a product that finds several applications in food, cosmetic, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. The main objective of this work is to evaluate potential use of the sap from palmyra ( Borassus flabellifer Linn.) and oil palm ( Elaeis guineensis ) as substrate for lactic acid production by Lactobacillus casei TISTR 1500. The effects of acid hydrolysis, pH control and nutrient supplement of palmyra sap and oil palm sap on fermentation performance were investigated. It was found that lactic acid fermentation using palmyra sap was not significantly affected by either acid hydrolysis or pH control. The addition of MRS increased biomass and product yield. The final lactic acid concentration, dry cell weight and productivity were increased by increasing the total sugars of palmyra sap concentrations up to 134.0 g L -1 . The kinetic parameters for the palmyra sap at 134.0 g L -1 total sugars were calculated to be of: specific growth rate (µ) 0.05 h -1 , the maximum productivity ( R M ) 2.02 g lactic acid L -1 h -1 , cellular yield coefficient ( Y X/S ) 0.20 g cell g -1 sugar, and lactic acid yield ( Y P/S ) 0.78 g g -1 . When oil palm sap was used as carbon source for L. casei TISTR 1500, pH control did not significantly affect lactic acid production. The addition of MRS medium into oil palm sap improved the biomass and the product yield for which the lactic acid production in static flask at 37oC and pH 5.5 using 20 g L -1 of total sugars was improved to be of 0.55 g L -1 h -1 . Oil palm sap could be served as a good potential source of raw materials for efficient production of lactic acid by L. casei TISTR 1500.

Aims: To characterize the antimicrobial activity produced by Prevotella nigrescens ATCC 25261, and to evaluate its safety on cultured gingival fibroblasts. Methods and Results: An antimicrobial activity was obtained from purifying the culture supernatant of Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261. Purification of the active compound was achieved with ammonium sulphate precipitation followed by anion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. As revealed by SDS-PAGE, the active fraction was relatively homogeneous, showing a protein with an approximate molecular weight of 41 kDa. The antimicrobial compound, named nigrescin, exhibited a bactericidal mode of action against Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Tannerella forsythensis, and Actinomyces spp. Nigrescin was stable in a pH range between 6·5 and 9·5, at 100°C for 10 min, and resistant to lyophilization. But its activity was lost after proteinase K treatment. Despite at very high concentrations beyond the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), nigrescin was not toxic to the gingival fibroblasts. Conclusion: Nigrescin is a novel bacteriocin produced by Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261. It exhibits antimicrobial activity against species that are implicated in periodontal diseases. The absence of toxicity on the gingival fibroblasts suggests the possibility in using of nigrescin for an application in periodontal treatment. Significance and Impact of the Study: Novel evidence on nigrescin would make Pr. nigrescens ATCC 25261 attractive in biotechnological applications as an antimicrobial agent in clinical dentistry.

A rapid, specifi c and reliable ion-paired high performance liquid chromatographic assay of small organic acids in bacterial cultures was developed. The assay was conducted using a mixture of 6.0 x 10 -3 mM tetrabutylammonium phosphate and 5 % v/v acetonitrile in water as the mobile phase. Calibration curves for acetic, lactic, and pyruvic acid were linear within the concentration ranges determined (r 2 > 0.9990). Selective removal of interfering compounds from bacterial cultures improved the reliability of the method, demonstrating that more than 90% of the tested acids were recovered. Replicate regression analyses of acid standard plots obtained on three different days gave correlation coeffi cients of r 2 > 0.9995. The assay was precise within a day and between days as indicated by an ANOVA test. According to the validation results and from the analysis of the cultured samples, the described method may be adequate for the routine determination of acid metabolites of lactic acid bacteria.