On the study of polyphenols from Fragaria ananassa fruit, we reported that some polyphenols showed inhibition of metabolic enzyme, cytochrome P450. Continuous study of health effects of F. ananassa fruit, we isolated a new quercetin glycoside, flagarin, quercetin-3-O- β-glucuronyl- (2→1)- β-D-xyloside along with ten known compounds. Those compounds showed inhibitory activity of fat accumulation in rat white adipocyte. Among the isolated compounds, strictinin and the new compound, flagarin showed high inhibitory activity of fat accumulation in rat white adipocyte.

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The prevalence of joint diseases in Japan is increasing yearly and it causes the need of nursing care and reduces quality of life. Therefore, there is an urgent need for the development of approaches to prevent and treat the diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effective, healthy food material focusing on the metabolism of joint cartilage. Ampelopsis glandulosa (A. g. ) extract improved exacerbation of hyaluronic acid metabolism and NFκB nuclear translocation caused by inflammatory cytokines, and it suppressed the onset of collagen-induced arthritis in mice. Moreover, intake of the drink containing A. g. extract for three months improved discomfort, pain, and bending angle of knee joint in activities of daily living. These results suggest that A. g. extract improves hyaluronic acid metabolism of joint cartilage, and it is expected to prevent and improve joint disease by long-term intake of the drink containing A. g. extract.

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Lentinula edodes mycelia extract has been reported to maintain and improve immune function and QOL in cancer patients. In this study, the effects of Lentinula edodes mycelia extract on immune function were investigated in 10 healthy volunteers. Ten subjects were administrated Lentinula edodes mycelia extract orally for 20 weeks on average (846 mg / day ), and the immunological function (IFNγ production amount, IL-10 production amount, lymphocyte subset)was evaluated before and after ingestion at Fukuoka Tenjin Southern Clinic. Immune function following ingestion of Lentinula edodes mycelia extract showed a tendency of IFNγ production to increase, IL - 10 to decrease, and IFNγ / IL - 10 production ratio to be improved remarkably. No significant change was observed in lymphocyte subsets such as regulatory T cells before and after ingestion. Adverse events during the intake period were not observed. It was suggested that oral intake of Lentinula edodes mycelia extract has an action to improve the immune function of healthy adults.

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In food science, natural ingredients that can inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase IV ( DPP IV ) may be useful for preventing diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of bonito dashi having a high DPP IV inhibitory activity (IC50 ; 3049 µg/ ml) on the postprandial increase in blood glucose levels in 14 subjects. Bonito dashi (5 g) was subsequently subjected to oral glucose tolerance tests. Blood glucose levels of all subjects were measured at fasting and at 30 min after ingesting of bonito dashi or of warmed tap water as a control, and were also measured at 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, and 150 min after ingestion of cooked rice. The maximum blood glucose level between 0 and 150 min after ingesting of bonito dashi was for 30 min, of warmed tap water for 45 min ). The blood glucose levels after ingestion of bonito dashi and warmed tap water were 135.6 ± 8.7 mg/ dl and 140.3 mg/ dl, respectively at 30 min ( p = 0.602 ); 135.6 ± 8.7 mg/ dl and 144.1 ± 10.7 mg/ dl, respectively at 45 min ( p = 0.057 ); 120.0 ± 4.9 mg/ dl and 136.8 ± 7.8 mg/ dl, respectively at 60 min ( p = 0.063 ); 110.0 ± 5.9 mg/ dl and 134.9 ± 6.9 mg/ dl, respectively at 75 min ( p = 0.006 ); 110.3 ± 6.8 mg/ dl and 129.3 ± 6.6 mg/ dl, respectively, at 90 min ( p = 0.036 ); 103.4 ± 4.1 mg/ dl and 118.7 ± 8.0 mg/ dl, respectively, at 120 min ( p = 0.091 ); 91.5 ± 3.8 mg/ dl and 102.3 ± 5.9 mg/ dl, respectively, at 150 min ( p = 0.232 ). The area under the curve for blood glucose levels after ingestion of bonito dashi and warmed tap water was 4753.1 ± 439.7 mg/ dl ×min and 6879.4 ± 728.1 mg/ dl ×min, respectively ( p = 0.005 ). Postprandial increase in blood glucose levels was lower in subjects ingestion of bonito dashi than in those ingestion of the warmed tap water. No serious adverse events related to ingestion of bonito dashi were observed. Our findings suggested that the ingestion of bonito dashi (5 g) suppressed postprandial increase in blood glucose levels in our subjects.

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Objective: Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide in brown seaweeds. Previous studies show that fucoidan from Gagome kombu (GKF) exhibit immune-enhancing capabilities on healthy adults. In this study, we focused on the women with the history of gynecological cancer and evaluated the safety and immune-efficacy of GKF. Methods: Ten Japanese women subjects were chosen to ingest the test samples (1 drink / day containing 200 mg GKF) for 4 weeks. Before and after ingestion, blood chemistry analysis, hematological analysis, urinalysis and immune analysis were conducted. Result: Results showed no adverse clinical changes in blood and urinary analysis. In addition, no serious symptoms were observed. Moreover, decrease of serum levels of Eotaxin, IL-7, IL-17 and VEGF were observed. Conclusion: These results indicate that in the case of women with the history of gynecological cancer, GKF is a safe functional food ingredient.

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Variety of accessibility to edible species in different regions has climatic and historical roots. In the present study, we try to systematically analyze 28,064 records of relationships between 11,752 edible species and 228 geographic zones by hierarchical clustering. The 228 geographic regions were classified into 11 super groups named as A to K, which were further divided into 39 clusters (CLs). Of them, at least one member of each of 28 CLs is associated to 20 or more edible species according to present information of KNApSAcK DB (http://kanaya.naist.jp/KNApSAcK_World/top.jsp). We examined those 28 CLs and found that majority of the members of each of the 27 CLs (96%) have specific type of climate. Diversity of accessibility to edible species makes it possible to separate 8 geographic regions on continental landmasses namely Mediterraneum, Baltic Sea, Western Europe, Yucatan Peninsula, South America, Africa and Arabian Peninsula, Southeast Asia, and Arctic Ocean; and three archipelagos namely, Caribbean Islands, Southeast Asian Islands and Pacific Islands. In addition, we also examined clusters based on cultural exchanges by colonization and migration and mass movement of people and material by modern transportation and trades as well as biogeographic factors. The era of big data science or data intensive science make it possible to systematically understand the content in huge data and how to acquire suitable data for specific purposes. Human healthcare should be considered on the basis of culture, climate, accessibility of edible foods and preferences, and based on molecular level information of genome and digestive systems.

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We orally administered Chlorella pyrenoidosa to mice 1 week before infection with the influenza virus up to 14 days after infection, and investigated its effects on mice with the viral infection. The survival rate was determined using the Kaplan-Meier cumulative survival curve, and the distilled water- and Chlorella-administered groups were assessed using the log-rank test. The duration of survival of the Chlorella-administered group was significantly extended (P=0.0394), and Chlorella showed high efficacy against influenza infection.

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