The purpose of this study was to clarify the effects on oxidative stress and the kidney tissues of obese type2 diabetes model rats when catechins were ingested. 5-week-old obese type 2 diabetes model male rats were kept for 4 weeks. A normal diet was fed to a control group (n=6), while an experimental catechin group (n=6) was fed catechin. Posterior subcutaneous abdominal fat weight and oxidative stress were measured, and kidney tissues were observed. Posterior subcutaneous abdominal fat weight and oxidative stress were significantly lower in the catechin group than in the control group. In the kidney tissues, the mesangial region in the control group was larger than in the capillary space, and the glomerulus was lobulated. The mesangial area in the catechin group was almost equivalent to the capillary space. Ingestion of catechin in obese type 2 diabetes model rats reduced fat accumulation and oxidative stress. It has also been suggested that catechin suppresses damage to mesangial cells in kidney tissue. Catechin intake likely suppresses oxidative stress and diabetic nephropathy inflammation, and it could be useful for the prevention of diabetes.

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This study aimed to assess the effects of Listening to forest sounds and viewing forest videos on the prefrontal cortex and autonomic nervous activity.
Oxy-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) levels were determined using near-infrared spectroscopy as an indicator of prefrontal cortex activity. Heart rate variability (HRV) was used as an indicator of autonomic nervous activity. The natural logarithmic high-frequency component (LnHF) of HRV, which reflects parasympathetic nervous activity, and the natural logarithmic ratio of low-frequency and high-frequency components (LnLF/HF), which reflects sympathetic nervous activity, were measured. The general emotion scale was used to assess emotions. Overall, 21 healthy male and female participants were recruited for this study. All subjects were exposed to forest sounds, forest videos, and urban videos in a random order. Comparisons of oxy-Hb levels in the prefrontal cortex among the three conditions revealed a significant decrease while listening to the forest sound (p=0.004, p=0.005). Furthermore, a significant decrease in oxy-Hb levels was observed during forest sound exposure compared with that after exposure (p=0.000). No significant differences in HRV were found among the three conditions and within each condition. In terms of the general emotion scale, exposure to forest sounds and videos significantly increased “Calmness” scores. Moreover, significantly improved scores of the scale item “Negative Affect” were observed with the forest video. These results suggest that forest sounds induced a significant reduction in oxy-Hb concentrations in the prefrontal cortex and that forest sounds and videos enhance a state of subjective calmness after exposure.

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We comprehensively investigated the clinical reports that examined the efficacy of functional ingredients in healthy individuals. As a result, of the 25 literature articles ultimately reviewed, one intervention trial each on reduced coenzyme Q10, black soybean seeds, inulin, rosemary extract, theanine, fermented ginseng, arctigenin, sulforaphane, curcumin and Vitamin E, tongkat ali, Apocynum venetum Leaf Extract, matured Red ginseng txtract, hotrienol, vitamin C, soy protein enzyme hydrolysate, 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzyl alcohol, chlorogenic acid, succulent plant caralluma fimbriata extract, and L-ornithine, two on fish oil, two on citric acid, and two on enzyme-treated asparagus extract were reported.

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Friction melanosis is a cutaneous entity characterized by a brownish pigmentation distributed on the skin over bony regions of various sites including a trunk or the limbs. In this report, we presented the case of a 44-year-old woman who developed severe friction melanosis around both knees and lower extremities for about 10 years. Coix-seed Reactive Derivatives (CRD) was administrated orally 4.0 g/day for 20 weeks and the lesions of pigmentation improved moderately. Further research is needed to define the optimal duration of CRD intake against friction melanosis.

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In this report, we presented the case of a 37-year-old woman who developed facial seborrheic keratosis for about 8 years. Coix-seed Reactive Derivatives(CRD) was administrated orally 4.0 g/day for 20 weeks, and the lesions of seborrheic keratosis improved moderately. Further research is needed to define the optimal dose and duration of CRD intake against these lesions.

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