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‘Nagasaki Kogane’ is a new potato variety bred from a cross between ‘Saikai 35’ as a female parent and ‘Saikai 33’ as a male. ‘Saikai 35’ is resistant to bacterial wilt, contains the H1 and Rychc genes for resistance to the potato cyst nematode (PCN) and potato virus Y (PVY), respectively, and has high carotenoid content, while ‘Saikai 33’ has large and high-yielding tubers and is resistant to both bacterial wilt and PCN. The carotenoid content of ‘Nagasaki Kogane’ is higher than that of ‘Dejima’, a common double cropping variety. The taste quality of steamed ‘Nagasaki Kogane’ is comparable to that of ‘Inca-no-mezame’ tubers, which has high levels of carotenoid, and superior to ‘Nishiyutaka’, another popular double cropping variety. ‘Nagasaki Kogane’ is suitable for French fries, because its tuber has high starch content. The marketable yield of ‘Nagasaki Kogane’ was higher than that of ‘Inca-no-mezame’ in spring cropping, although it was lower than that of ‘Nishiyutaka’ in double cropping regions. ‘Nagasaki Kogane’ tubers are larger on average than ‘Inca-no-mezame’ tubers in spring cropping. Moreover, the ‘Nagasaki Kogane’ variety is resistant to PCN and PVY, and exhibits a high level of resistance to bacterial wilt.

The effects of groundnut ( Apios americana Medik) extract on osteoblast differentiation were examined using MC3T3-E1 cells. MC3T3-E1 cells were treated with the crude extract along with other differentiating reagents. The alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of cells cultured in a differentiation medium supplemented with 0.01% crude groundnut extract was 1.5‐1.6 times higher than that of cells cultured in a differentiation medium without the extract. Crude groundnut extract was further separated into aqueous and methanol fractions. The methanol fraction enhanced ALP activity, osteocalcin, integrin-binding sialoprotein, and type I collagen expression, and calcium mineralization. Conversely, the aqueous fraction did not show such effects. Groundnut extract may enhance osteoblast differentiation, and this effect is likely conferred by water insoluble substance(s).

Antioxidant activities of four kinds of Japanese traditional fermented tea, Gishi‐cha, Ishizuchi‐kurocha, Awa‐bancha, and Batabatacha, were compared. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by three parameters: copper ion reduction ability, radical trapping ability, and oxygen consumption rate. Processes of fermentation of these fermented teas are different. Goichi‐cha and Ishizuchi‐kurocha are produced by a two‐stage fermentation process, aerobic fermentation and subsequent anaerobic fermentation. Awa‐bancha is produced by anaerobic fermentation. And batabata‐cha is produced by aerobic fermentation. Additionally, unfermented green tea was also employed as control. These tea leaves were extracted by boiling water and measured antioxidant activities. And concentrations of caffeine and catechins were measured in green tea and in the four kinds of fermented tea: Ishizuchi‐kurocha, Goishi‐cha, Awa‐Bancha, and Batabata‐cha. Concentrations of caffeine and catechins were lower in the fermented teas than in green tea. Among the fermented teas, epigallocatechin content was the highest in Ishizuchi‐kurocha, whereas Batabata‐cha hardly contained any epigallocatechin. Goichi‐cha, Ishizuchi‐kurocha, and Awa‐bancha showed antioxidative activity regardless of measurement method. Batabatacha had hardly any antioxidative activity. Among the fermented teas, Ishizuchi‐kurocha had the strongest antioxidant activity. The antioxidative activities of green tea and the four kinds of fermented tea were significantly different among each other (p

Groundnut (Apios americana Medik) contains a novel isoflavone, genistein-7-O-gentiobioside. In the present study, we examined the biological activities of an alcohol extract of groundnut containing genistein-7-O-gentiobioside as the main component. Although the groundnut extract by itself did not show antioxidative activity, it drove the antioxidative system in cells. Pretreatment of human breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells for 24 h with the groundnut extract and soybean isoflavone increased gene expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a major antioxidative stress enzyme. These groundnut extract-treated cells showed antioxidative activity against free radicals derived from a radical initiator. Pretreatment of cells with 100 μg/mL groundnut extract prevented the depletion of glutathione by the radical initiator; however, treatment with 100 μg/mL of soybean isoflavone injured the cell membrane, indicating that glutathione might be released to the extracellular environment. These results suggest that the groundnut extract had isoflavone-like activity. Like soybean, groundnuts are a good source of isoflavones.

Saikai 35 was bred from a cross between TD0101 as the female, which was created by chromosome-doubling of a good-tasting and bacterial wilt resistant diploid variety, Inca-no-mezame, and Sakurafubuki as the male, the latter of which has H1 and Rychc genes showing resistance to potato cyst nematode (PCN) and Potato virus Y (PVY), respectively. All favorable traits were combined into Saikai 35, although marketable yield in the spring cropping was 20.4–21.0% lower than those of major double-cropping varieties. Saikai 35 is particularly useful for having Solanum phureja-derived cytoplasm (S/e), which resulted in high male and female fertility. In addition, sets of very tightly linked DNA markers sandwiching H1 and Rychc are available. Therefore, Saikai 35 is being released as a breeding line, which can confer efficiently PCN and PVY resistance genes.

In the present HPLC-based analysis of the isoflavone profile of groundnut ( Apios americana Medik) tubers, we identified a major peak that did not correspond to any known isoflavones. A water extract of groundnut tubers prepared at 4 °C showed the major and genistin peaks, whereas that prepared at 45 °C did not yield these peaks but showed a peak for genistein on HPLC analysis. When the extract was treated with β-glucosidase after the inactivation of endogenous enzymes, the major peak decreased over time and the genistin peak also decreased after a transient increase, changes which were accompanied by the appearance of a genistein peak. The HPLC elution pattern of the β-glucosidase-treated extract was markedly similar to that observed for the extract prepared at 45 °C. The major peak was then isolated and purified through HP-20 and ODS columns, and the chemical structure of the resultant component was analysed and identified as genistein-7-O-genitiobioside. The component was degraded by β-glucosidase to produce genistein, suggesting that the groundnut isoflavone is converted to genistein, similarly to soybean isoflavones, by enterobacterial β-glucosidase, a deglycosylation process which has a significant impact on the absorption efficiency and bioactivity of isoflavones. The genistein-7-O-genitiobioside content of groundnut tubers ranged from 106.2 to 352.5 mg/100 g fresh weight, depending on their cultivation area. Additionally, genistein-7-O-genitiobioside showed 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity in a concentration-dependent manner, implying its potential as an antioxidative component. Soybeans have been recognised as the major or only food source of isoflavones; however, the present study suggests that groundnut tubers can serve as potential functional foods that provide a sufficient amount of isoflavones and significant health benefits.

各種剪定材（カキ，クワ，サクラ，ウメ，ナラ，ブドウおよびリンゴ）を菌床に用いて栽培した鹿角霊芝子実体の水抽出物の差異について検討した．子実体から抽出した水溶性画分（WS）は，菌床の違いで収量（全糖量）が異なり，WSから得られた水溶性多糖画分（WS-H）でも収量に差異が認められた．WS-Hの全糖量はカキで最も多く，次いでリンゴとクワが多かった．構成糖組成の比較を行ったところ，カキおよびクワではアラビノースおよびキシロースが顕著に多く見られた．他のものではガラクトース，マンノースおよびグルコースが多く含まれていた．糖結合様式について検討したところ，ガラクタン系多糖およびグルカン系多糖で構成されていた．一方，カキおよびクワではガラクタン系多糖の他に，キシラン系多糖も多く含まれていた．したがって，異なる剪定材を菌床に用いて栽培した鹿角霊芝の子実体より抽出した水溶性多糖には違いがあることがわかった．今回の結果から，菌床を変えることで，異なる効能を備えた鹿角霊芝子実体の栽培が期待できるとともに，本来廃棄物として処理されている剪定材を有効に利用する可能性が示唆された．

Rolled oats, a processed oat product, contain about 4 g of (1→3),(1→4)-β-glucan (β-glucan) per 100 g. It also contains 27.0 mg of ferulic acid and 3.5 mg of p-coumaric acid. Moreover, the presence of β-glucan, ferulic acid, and p-coumaric acid was confirmed in commercial food products with rolled oats in their lists of ingredients. The radical scavenging activity of a water-soluble polysaccharide fraction (WS) extracted from rolled oats was examined and components involved in this activity were evaluated. This WS exhibited radical scavenging activity and a strong correlation (r=0.9982) was observed between this activity in terms of the ferulic acid equivalent and WS sample concentration. Concerning the neutral sugar composition of the WS, glucose accounted for about 49 mol%, followed by xylose (about 28 mol%) and arabinose (about 15 mol%). In addition, ferulic acid was contained in a macromolecular fraction collected by gel-filtration chromatography of lichenase-treated WS. Therefore, arabinoxylan containing ferulic acid may be a component leading to the radical scavenging activity of the WS.

The hemicellulose fraction which is soluble in 24% KOH solution (HC-II) from the cell-walls of apple flesh contained a small amount of galactoglucomannan in addition to a large amount of xyloglucan. A crude galactoglucomannan was isolated from the HC-II fraction with binding capacity to cellulose microfibrils. The crude galactoglucomannan fraction was treated with xyloglucanase to remove concomitant xyloglucan, followed by DEAE-Sephadex A-25 chromatography to give a purified galactoglucomannan fraction. Sugar composition analysis showed that the purified galactoglucomannan fraction consisted of Man, Glc and Gal in the molar ratio of 5.7:3.0:1.1. Methylation analysis suggested that a galactoglucomannan present in apple flesh had β-(1→4)-linked Glc and Man residues, some of which were branched at the O-6 position with Gal residues.

We evaluated the antioxidative activity of a water soluble polysaccharide fraction (WSP) from pumpkin fruits (Cucurbita maxima Duchesne). In the WSP, DPPH radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase-like activity increased depending on the total sugar content. Furthermore, the WSP can serve as an inhibitor of ascorbic acid oxidation. The efficacy was also affected by the total sugar content.

Free and bound-form phenolics were isolated from potato (cv. Toyoshiro) flesh and peel. The free and bound-form phenolics in the peel showed high DPPH radical scavenging activity, while those in the flesh showed low activity. The total amount of chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid in the free-form phenolics from the peel was highly correlated with the DPPH radical scavenging activity. Ferulic acid was identified as the active radical scavenging compound in the bound-form phenolics from the peel. The potato peel may therefore offer an effective source of an antioxidative.

In this Chapter we described HPLC-based analysis of isoflavones profile of groundnut (Apios americana Medik) tubers. We identified a major peak that did not correspond to any known isoflavones. A water extract of groundnut tubers prepared at 4 °C showed the major and genistin peaks, whereas that prepared at 45 °C did not yield these peaks but showed a peak for genistein. The major peak was then isolated and purified through columns, and the chemical structure of the resultant component was analyzed and identified as genistein-7-O-genitiobioside. The component was degraded by β-glucosidase to produce genistein, suggesting that the groundnut isoflavone is converted into genistein, similarly to soybean isoflavones, by enterobacterial β-glucosidase, a deglycosylation process which has a significant impact on the absorption efficiency and bioactivity of isoflavones. The genistein-7-O-genitiobioside content of groundnut tubers ranged from 106.2 to 352.5 mg (100 g of fresh weight)−1, depending on their cultivation area. In addition, the content of genistein-7-O-genitiobioside and genistein, tended to be more peel than flesh. Soybeans have been recognized as the major or only food source of isoflavones; however, the present study suggests that groundnut tubers can serve as potential functional foods that provide a sufficient amount of isoflavones and significant health benefits. It is possible that these techniques and approaches described in this Chapter can be applied to other foods.

PURPOSE A mouthguard can protect stomatognathic systems from traumatic damage. However, severe occlusal wear of teeth and loss of teeth have often been found in players clinically. These problems might originate in strong clenching during sports. Although it is thought that a mouthguard may be effective for these types of clenching, the relation between mouthguards and clenching has not been sufficiently examined. In this study, the effect of a mouthguard (Drufosoft 3mm, EVA) on tooth distortion caused by clenching was measured and examined at three different clenching strengths. METHODS As a test tooth, a lower first molar was selected. A strain gauge applied to the outer surface of the buccal cusp was used to measure the distortion. A muscle balance monitor (GC) was used to regulate clenching strengths (10, 50, and 100%). The maximum-effort clenching without a mouthguard was assumed to be the 100% clenching strength. Measurements were conducted with or without mouthguard. A maximum value during clenching was assumed to be date of distortion by using analytical software AcquKnowledge (BIOPAC System Inc.). Statistical analysis software SPSS (SPSS Japan Inc.) was used for the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS 1. The tooth distortion by clenching, regardless of the presence of the mouthguard, increased as clenching power strengthened, from 10, 50 to 100%. 2. The tooth distortion, regardless of strength of clenching, was decreased by wearing the mouthguard in all subjects. At 50 and 100% clenching, it was decreased significantly by the mouthguard in all subjects. CONCLUSIONS Mouthguards decreaseed the tooth distortion caused by clenching. Therefore, a mouthguard may prevent not only traumatic injuries in contact sports but also damage to teeth and periodontal tissues and so on, which occur due to frequent strong clenching in many sports.

A cysteine-rich polypeptide, termed CRP1, with a molecular mass of 5829 Da was found to occur in the mid-gut gland of the scallop Patinopecten yessoensis. CRP1 was purified by reverse phase and cation-exchange chromatographies. The amino acid sequence of CRP1 was deduced from its N-terminal amino acid sequence, amino acid composition and the sequence of a partial cDNA, indicating that CRP1 is a 57-amino-acid polypeptide containing 12 cysteine residues with a calculated molecular mass of 5841 Da (5829 Da when oxidized to form six disulfide bridges). A homology search of databases revealed that the deduced amino acid sequence of CRP1 displays significant similarity to those of granulin/epithelins, a family of growth-modulating factors; all cysteine residues in CRP1 are located at the same positions as those conserved characteristically in other known granulin/epithelins. Purified CRP1 inhibited the proliferation of mouse embryo cells. The results suggest that CRP1 functions as a growth-modulating factor in the scallop, and that granulin/epithelin family polypeptides and their precursors play physiologically important roles in invertebrates.