We studied how consumption of vitamin C (VC) affects the oxidative stress regulation system. SMP30/GNL knockout mice (males, n = 33), which cannot synthesize VC, were randomly divided into three groups: the VC 100 Group consuming 1.5 g/L VC, the VC 2.5 Group consuming 0.0375 g/L VC, and the VC 0 Group consuming 0 g/L VC. To examine the oxidative stress regulation system, the reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROM test) and biological anti-oxidant potential (BAP test) values were measured, and the BAP/d-ROM ratio was calculated. We obtained measurements at the beginning of the study (5 weeks old: baseline) and after VC consumption for 9 weeks (14 weeks old: 9 wk). For the plasma VC concentration, plasma reduced (ascorbic acid (AA)) and plasma oxidized (dehydroascorbic acid (DHA)) were measured at 9 wk, and the total VC (AA + DHA: total) concentration was calculated. Compared to the other groups at 9 wk, the VC 100 Group showed a significantly lower value for the d-ROM test, a significantly higher value for the BAP/d-ROM ratio, no significant difference in the BAP test, and a significantly lower senescence grading score. The VC 100 Group showed a significantly higher total VC concentration compared with the other groups. Differences in consumption of VC caused a change in the d-ROM test, the BAP/d-ROM ratio, and the plasma VC concentration.

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Hot water extract of adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) seed, commonly called Yokuinin, has been used as herbal medicine for treating verruca vulgaris, et al. Although there have been a number of studies on the usefulness of Yokuinin, the pharmacological assessment of its husk, pellicle, and astringent skin remains unclear. In this line, we evaluated the effect of methanol extract from all parts of adlay grain (seed, husk, pellicle, astringent skin) on cancer cells and identified its useful chemical components. Results revealed that a fraction of the extract have weak growth-suppressing activity on human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa cell). In particular, 5,7-dihydroxychromone and coixol were isolated and identified from the active fraction. This indicates the possible cancer chemopreventive efficacy of methanol extract from adlay. Moreover, further tests are needed to determine the role of 5,7-dihydroxychromone.

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Adlay( Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf ) is a grass crop that has long been used in traditional medicine as a nourishing food. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of adlay related substances on carcinogenesis and anti-inflammation. The hot water extract of all parts of adlay (CRD) were compared with the hot water extract of dehulled adlay (yokuinin). In addition, the Monoolein and Trilinolein components of adlay were compared.
As a screening date, antiproliferative effect of human cancer cells showed weak biological potency on physical dose response. Prevention effect of carcinogenesis and anti-inflammatory effect were also observed in all samplles. CRD showed stronger anti-UVB inflammatory effect than that of yokuinin; while yokuinin showed stronger anti-heating injury inflammatory effect than that of CRD. Moreover, Monoolein showed stronger effect than Trilinolein on both prevention effect of carcinogenesis and anti-inflammatory effect. These result indicated that these two extracts of adlay exhibited inhibitory effect on both tumor and inflammation. In addition, it is also suggested that Monoolein is more effective than Trilinolein.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare levels of knowledge of and attitudes toward complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in different groups of health care profession students.
Methods: The subjects of this study were 1465 students of nursing, medicine, radiologic science, laboratory science, nutrition, dentistry, oral health and welfare, and pharmaceutical science. We used a questionnaire to obtain information on knowledge, sources of information, interest, personal use, willingness to take lectures, opinions regarding effectiveness and willingness to recommend for 17 different CAM modalities.
Results: Knowledge of CAM differed depending on the CAM therapy in all students. Nursing students had high levels of interest in massage, aromatherapy, yoga and chiropractic. The proportions of nursing students with high levels of interest in these CAM therapies were significantly higher than the proportions in other groups of health profession students (p < 0.05). In addition, proportions of nursing students who had positive opinions regarding the usefulness of massage, chiropractic, psychotherapy, yoga and aromatherapy were significantly higher than the proportions in other groups of heath care profession students (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Nursing students tend to have positive and favorable attitudes toward CAM compared to other groups of health care profession students. If nursing students receive lectures on CAM in their curriculum, they may use CAM in clinical care and thereby contribute to an accumulation of evidence on the benefits of CAM as well as to improvement in the quality of medical service.

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The safety and immune potential function of Fucoidan from Cladosiphon okamuranus mixed with mushroom extracts from Grifola frondosa, Phellinus linteus and Cordyceps sinensis were evaluated. Five cancer patients and five elderly people in their 70s ingested the mixed extract for a period of 4 weeks. Results showed significant LDL-C decrease and Th1/2 increase. Moreover, Quality of Life(QOL) related to facialand extremity skin, anxiety, fatigue, cold tolerance and appetite improved significantly. Finally, the clinical test supported the safety of this mixed extracts.

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Objective: The psychophysiological and immunological effects of exposure to different varieties of essential oils on fatigue were extensively investigated in students performing personal computer tasks.
Design: Randomized crossover study
Methods: This study was approved by the Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine Research Ethics Committee, and informed consents were obtained from all subjects. Eight healthy male university students with mean age of 22.38±1.30 (range 21–24) who served as the subjects in this study were given a 120-minute personal computer task with 10-minute rest period before and after the task.
During the course of performing PC task, subjects were either exposed to one of the five essential oil odors (grapefruit, peppermint, true lavender, blend A, blend B) or not exposed to any odor at all, serving as the control in the study. Each of the six odor setting were carried out on separate days upon which psychophysiological and immunological parameters of fatigue in the subjects were evaluated.
Results and Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that exposure to essential oil odors affects the autonomic nervous and immunological system when engaged in a personal computer task. Moreover, different varieties of essential oils cause different vital reactions. In particular, peppermint essential oil exhibits fatigue-reducing effects.

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Cancer prevention is an important issue in the field of public health. In Oriental countries, Eucommia bark (the bark of Eucommia ulmoides) is used in tonics and anti-hypertensive medicines. Eucommia bark has inhibitory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced inflammation in mice. We demonstrated that at a dose of 1 mg/mouse, a methanol extract of Eucommia bark markedly inhibited the tumour-promoting activity of TPA in mice with skin tumour formation following initiation with 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). These results suggest the potential use of Eucommia bark in cancer prevention.

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We conducted an anonymous questionnaire survey to examine the results of regularly drinking FFC beverage. Over 70% of participants reported a positive reaction through consumption. By contrast, few negative reactions were recorded (0.7%). These would suggest its effectiveness as a health drink. Positive reactions were significantly related to the amount of FFC beverage consumed each day, the reason for starting to drink FFC beverage, participant’s age, the amount of FFC beverage consumed each time, and the no use of the other functional foods.

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