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This study investigated the growing environmental concern of particulate matter (PM)-induced pulmonary injury and explored novel preventive strategies. In particular, it evaluated the protective effects of Atractylodes japonica Koidz. ex. Kitam root extract (AJ), which is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, against PM2.5-induced subacute pulmonary injuries in Balb/c mice. The experimental design involved administering AJ at a concentration from 400 to 100 mg/kg over a ten-day period, with comparisons made to the mucolytic agent ambroxol hydrochloride (AX). The results revealed that AJ significantly alleviated PM2.5-induced pulmonary injuries, mucus overproduction, and respiratory acidosis in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, body surface redness was reduced by up to 55% at a concentration of 100 mg/kg compared to the control. These effects were evidenced by reduced mRNA expression of the mucus-associated genes MUC5B and MUC5AC and increased concentrations of substance P (up to 475%) and acetylcholine (up to 355%) in the lungs at 400 mg/kg, compared to the intact vehicle control. Particularly, the 400 mg/kg dose of AJ demonstrated comparable effectiveness to AX, highlighting its potent mucolytic and expectorant activities. The results of this study highlight the fact that AJ could act as a promising alternative for respiratory protection, with potential applications as a functional food ingredient. This study substantiates AJ's role in enhancing respiratory health, emphasizing its capacity as a candidate for further development into therapeutic agents against toxic environmental exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on developing a fried fish cake prototype with improved quality and extended shelf-life, enabling room-temperature distribution through an innovative high-temperature and high-process retort method. Surimi-based products typically necessitate cold storage and a refrigerated distribution system, affecting their physical properties and flavor while escalating costs. By incorporating Transglutaminase (TGase), trehalose, and herbal oils, and optimizing the heating process using the response surface methodology, this research addresses challenges related to changes in physical properties, color, and off-flavors during high-temperature and high-pressure treatment. The addition of 0.37% ACTIVA-K TGase significantly enhanced gel strength by promoting protein cross-linking, while 0.75% trehalose improved color stability by suppressing browning, thus enhancing visual appeal. A 0.1% concentration of bay oil effectively enhanced the flavor profile by masking undesirable odors without compromising the sensory quality. Optimized processing conditions maximized DPPH radical scavenging activity, whiteness, and gel strength, ensuring superior product quality and safety. Nutritional analysis confirmed a balanced composition of moisture, protein, essential amino acids, and minerals, in accordance with Korean national standards for acid values. Microstructural examination revealed a uniform network structure, contributing to excellent texture and sensory evaluations. Shelf-life predictions indicated a storage duration of approximately 19 months, surpassing commercially available products and offering a competitive edge. This novel approach allows surimi-based products to be stored and distributed at room temperature, while also providing the potential for increased profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish muscle and byproducts represent a valuable source of bioactive compounds, with their protein hydrolysates exhibiting noteworthy antioxidant properties. This study assessed the antioxidant activity of protein hydrolysates derived from the muscle and byproducts of redlip mullet (Chelon haematocheilus), utilizing different proteases (Neutrase, Alcalase, and Protamex). Hydrolysates were prepared from various parts of the fish, including muscle (white and red meat) and byproducts (frames, head, viscera, fins, skin, and scales). The enzymatic hydrolysis resulted in the highest degree of hydrolysis, achieving 83.24 ± 1.45% for skin at 60 min and 82.14 ± 4.35% for head at 30 min, when treated with Neutrase. Frames treated with Neutrase exhibited the highest protein concentration, measured at 1873.01 ± 71.11 µg/mL at 15 min. Significantly, skin hydrolysates treated with Protamex showed the highest DPPH• scavenging activity (70.07 ± 3.99% at 120 min), while those treated with Alcalase demonstrated the highest ABTS• scavenging activity (93.47 ± 0.02% at 15 min). The highest superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (92.01 ± 1.47%) was observed in head hydrolysates treated with Protamex after 90 min. These results suggest that C. haematocheilus protein hydrolysates possess significant antioxidant activity within a short time frame of less than 120 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climacteric symptoms, as well as postmenopausal estrogen deficiency, have been associated with many psychological problems and the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to evaluate, for the first time, the dose-dependent effect of water chestnut (WC), also known as Trapa bicornis, a fruit extract, on ovariectomy (OVX)-induced menopause in ICR mice. After bilateral OVX surgery, 200, 100, and 50 mg/kg of WC and 200 mg/kg of pomegranate concentrate powder (PCP) were administered orally for 84 days from 4 weeks after OVX operation. Then, anti-climacteric activities were evaluated in five groups: (1) estrogenic, (2) anti-obesity, (3) hypolipidemic, (4) hepatoprotective, and (5) anti-osteoporosis effects. Different biochemical assays, histopathological and morphological inspections, and mRNA expression findings showed that OVX-induced estrogen deficiency-related AMPK decrease was associated with climacteric symptoms such as obesity, hyperlipidemia, hepatic steatosis, and osteoporosis in ICR mice. However, these climacteric effects were reversed in OVX rats by treating them with WC at a dose relative to the same dose of PCP in OVX-ICR mice (200 and 100 mg/kg). Water chestnut fruit extract demonstrated promise as a complementary treatment for menopausal symptoms, indicating possible uses in the health of women through supplements or prescription drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The edible brown seaweed, Ecklonia cava, is highly valued for its bioactive compounds, and is widely used in food supplements and functional foods. The increasing demand for this seaweed in the food industry emphasizes the necessity for sustainable cultivation practices. This study focused on inducing callus in the meristem and stipe of E. cava using different culture media: Provasoli's enriched seawater medium (PESI), enriched artificial seawater medium (ESAW), artificial enriched seawater medium (ASP2), or Von Stosch's enriched seawater medium (VS). Various abiotic stress factors (photoperiod, agar concentration, and temperature), growth regulators, carbon sources, polyamines, and plasma treatments were explored for their impact on callus induction. Both stipe and meristem explants developed callus within three to six weeks across all media except ASP2. Callus development was favored at temperatures between 8 to 13 °C and in the absence of light. Stipe explants showed a higher callus induction rate (up to 65.59 ± 6.24%) compared to meristem (up to 57.53 ± 8.32%). Meristem explants showed optimal callus induction in PESI medium with a low concentration of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA; 40.93 ± 8.65%). However, higher concentrations of IAA and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) reduced meristem callus induction. Stipe showed high induced-callus (up to 50.37 ± 5.17%) in PESI medium with low concentrations of IAA, NAA, and 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP). Both stipe and meristem explants induced largest callus at 2% sucrose, but higher carbon source concentrations reduced callus induction. Spermine (Spm) at 1 µM resulted in high induced calluses; however, increasing Spm concentrations decreased callus induction. This tissue culture technique not only supports mass cultivation of E. cava, but also holds potential for extending to other seaweed species, contributing to the sustainability of seaweed stocks for the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) berry pulp extracts (CBP extracts) on the improvement of diabetes, obesity, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) were evaluated using various in vitro antioxidant activity assays and through a high-fat diet-induced mild diabetic obese mouse model. After an 84-day oral administration of CBP extracts (400–100 mg/kg), bioactivities were evaluated. The in vitro analysis showed the highest DPPH● scavenging activity of 73.10 ± 4.27%, ABTS● scavenging activity of 41.18 ± 1.14%, and SOD activity of 56.24 ± 2.81%, at a CBP extract concentration of 1000 µg/mL. The in vivo analysis of the CBP extracts showed favorable and dose-dependent anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, NAFLD, nephropathy, and hyperlipidemia refinement effects through hepatic glucose enzyme activity, 5′-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) up-regulation, antioxidant activity, lipid metabolism-related gene expression, and pancreatic lipid digestion enzyme modulatory activities. This study shows that an appropriate oral dosage of CBP extracts could function as a potent herbal formulation for a refinement agent or medicinal food ingredient to control type 2 diabetes and related complications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Obesity is implicated as a factor in several serious metabolic conditions, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes. This study aimed at the development of more potent and safer alternative medications to address these metabolic diseases with minimal side effects. Following oral administration of 400, 200, and 100 of mg/kg fermented Schizandrae fructus pomace extracts (fSFP) once daily for 84 days to high-fat diet (HFD)-supplied ICR mice, respectively, we measured liver enzyme activity related to glucose metabolism, gene expression related to fat metabolism, anti-obesity effect, liver and kidney protection effect, and anti-diabetic effect to confirm the effect of fSFP on improving related complications including obesity and diabetes. In the HFD control group, significant obesity and type II diabetes symptoms were developed. However, oral administration of 200 mg/kg of fSFP showed a protective effect on kidney damage and diabetes complications related to insulin-resistant type II diabetes mellitus, as well as oxidative stress-induced abnormalities in glucose and fat metabolism, comparable to that of metformin 250 mg/kg, a positive control. The major bioactive substance in fSFP was identified as shizandrin, which was quantitated as 1.25 mg/g (w/w). Therefore, fSFP extracts can be taken as a medicinal food in combating obesity and diabetes, two current major health concerns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of natural products in developing respiratory-function-protective pharmaceuticals is actively progressing. However, in this context, the improvement effects of young Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) extracts have not been evaluated yet. Thus, this study investigated the anti-inflammatory and lung damage improvement effects of immature Asian pear extract (IAP; 400, 200, and 100 mg/kg) using a particulate matter 2.5 μm (PM2.5)-induced sub-acute lung injury mouse model. The experimental results were compared with dexamethasone (0.75 mg/kg), used as a control drug. After two intranasal instillations of PM2.5 and ten doses of IAP extract for eight days, changes in macroscopic lung autopsy, leukocyte fractionation from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, lung antioxidant defense system, lung histopathology, and mRNA expression in lung tissue were confirmed. Stress-induced inflammatory lung damage through the increased expression of PM2.5-induced PI3K/Akt and p38 MAPK mRNA was significantly suppressed via the administration of IAP extract (400–100 mg/kg). Furthermore, IAP extract administration promoted serous fluid production in lung tissue, increased substance P and ACh levels, and decreased mucus-production-related expression of MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA. Interestingly, the observed effects showed a dose-dependent manner without serious hepatotoxicity. The results of this study indicate that a proper oral administration of IAP extract could be helpful in protecting against lung diseases, positioning IAP extract as a potential candidate for an alternative agent to safeguard the respiratory system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]