Marine organisms contain unique lipid-soluble components. Therefore, we focused on the health benefits of these lipid-soluble components and conducted molecular nutritional studies. Fucoxanthin (Fx) is a typical marine carotenoid, found in brown seaweeds, such as Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame) and Saccharina japonica (Makonbu), and we demonstrated its anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects in animal models. As the molecular mechanism for anti-diabetic effect, dietary Fx has found to activate insulin signaling pathways and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4) in the skeletal muscles of diabetic/obese KK-A^y mice. Notably, Fx promoted GLUT4 translocation in the soleus muscle, up-regulated GLUT4 expression in the EDL muscle, and prevented and improved hyperglycemia through effective glucose uptake depending on the muscle types. On the other hand, n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA), an n-3 poly unsaturated fatty acid found in salmon and trout, is converted to EPA and DHA in cultured cells. The intracellular conversion of n-3 DPA differed different among cells derived from macrophages, liver, and intestines. n-3 DPA markedly down-regulates the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors in activated macrophages. The suppressive effect of n-3 DPA on IL-6 mRNA expression was similar to that of DHA, but stronger than that of EPA. In addition, we demonstrated that n-3 PUFA-binding phosphatidylglycerol (PG) exhibited anti-inflammatory effects against activated macrophages, and that the effect was stronger than that of n-3 PUFA-phosphatidylcholine (PC). Furthermore, n-3 PUFA-PG significantly increased the intracellular EPA and DHA content compared to n-3 PUFA-PC treatment and induced Nrf2 activation. n-3 PUFA-PG, which enhances intracellular PUFAs, is contained in several microalgae such as Phaeodactylum tricornutum. It can also be enzymatically prepared and is expected to be used as a new functional lipid.

Margarine, fat spread, and shortening made with partially hydrogenated fats and oils as their raw materials have been known as foods containing trans fatty acids. Due to concerns about the health effects of trans fatty acids, the content of trans fatty acids in these products has now been reduced to around 1 g/100 g (median value) through the use of alternative oils and fats, which is about the same level as that for vegetable oil used as main raw material. In this review, we summarized the trends in trans fatty acid content in products manufactured in Japan from 1969 to 2022.

A collaborative study among 11 different Japanese laboratories was undertaken to devise an analytical method for determining the fatty acid composition of fats and oils by gas chromatography (GC) using hydrogen (H₂) or nitrogen (N₂) as carrier gases alternative to helium (He). This collaborative study was organized by the Alternative Gas for the GC Subcommittee of the Japan Oil Chemists’ Society and was evaluated by analyzing a standard mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (Supelco 37 Component FAME Mix), soybean, and sardine oils. On a 50% cyanopropyl siloxane capillary column, the resolution of 37 FAME mixtures using He, H₂, or N₂ gas was greater than 1.0. For the area% of the 37 FAME mixtures, the reproducibility relative standard deviations ranged from 0.59 to 4.72% for He gas, 0.39 to 4.96% for H₂ gas, and 0.60 to 4.91% for N₂ gas. No significant difference was observed in the area% for the 37 FAME mixtures among the three carrier gases. Furthermore, no significant differences in the percentages of major fatty acids in the soybean and sardine oils were detected between the different carrier gases. This study also determined that the analysis time was prolonged when N₂ gas was used compared to when H₂ or He gas was used. However, a cyanopropyl siloxane capillary column for fast and selective separation could improve the analysis time using N₂ gas. Therefore, we conclude that the present method using H₂ or N₂ gas qualifies as a tentative official method of the Japan Oil Chemists’ Society.

To accurately quantify the phospholipids in infant formula by subclass, we developed an analytical method using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (³¹P NMR). We performed heated extraction method using a mixture of ethanol and water to extract phospholipids from infant formula and replace the highly toxic chloroform traditionally used for extraction. In the ³¹P NMR measurement, we also avoided using chloroform by dispersing the extracts in surfactants with a strong affinity for phospholipids. Although polar lipids in milk are characterized by a high content of sphingomyelin, the separation of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine signals was insufficient to accurately determine their signal areas. To overcome this issue, we applied and evaluated two different methods, integration and deconvolution, for calculating the signal areas. During method validation in a spiked recovery test, the deconvolution method gave a recovery rate closer to 100% than the integration method. The main phospholipid subclasses found in infant formula were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin. However, when the formula contained soy lecithin, additional soy-derived phospholipids, such as phosphatidic acid, were detected. Using equipment with a phosphorus resonance frequency of 202 MHz and a measurement time of approximately 4 h, the quantification limit was 5 mg/100 g. The developed method will be useful for analysis of phospholipids in infant formula.

Balancing detergent power and foam formation is important for developing dishwashing detergents. Many ingredients that improve foaming have been studied, but the mechanism of action in the formulation system is not clear. The purpose of this study is to clarify the components that improve foam formation while maintaining detergent power as well as their mechanisms of action. In this study, the maximum rate of decrease in dynamic surface tension ((dγ_t/dt)_max) was used as an indicator of foam formation. Rapid bubble generation promotes fine foam forming. The index of bubble formation is how much energy required to expand the area of foam can be reduced. (dγ_t/dt)_max represents the point at which the adsorption rate changes from surface adsorption dominated to surface diffusion dominated. The effects of pH, (dγ_t/dt)_max, and molecular mobility within micelles were evaluated to understand the foaming mechanism. The foam-boosting effect of fatty acid monoethanol amide (MEA) and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AE) on aqueous solutions of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate (AES) and N,N-dimethyldodecylamine N-oxide (DDAO), which are the essential components of dishwashing detergents, was evaluated. When polyoxyethylene n-dodecyl monoethanolamide (C12MEA(2)) was added to the AES/DDAO solution, (dγ_t/dt)_max increased at pH values above 6, suggesting enhanced DDAO deprotonation compared with that in the AES/DDAO aqueous solution without MEA. When polyoxyethylene n-dodecyl ether (C12AE(20)) was added to the AES/DDAO solution, (dγ_t/dt)_max did not change with increasing pH. However, a comparison of molecular mobility within micelles revealed that AES/DDAO/C12AE(20) had higher molecular mobility than AES/DDAO/C12MEA(2). The present study indicates that a nonionic surfactant that can promote DDAO deprotonation with increasing pH without weakening the intermolecular interactions of AES and DDAO could effectively promote adsorption at the air–water interface and foam formation in aqueous AES/DDAO solutions.

This study aims to improve the larvicidal activity of crude Chisocheton erythrocarpus extract (CCEE) against Aedes aegypti larvae via nano-emulsion formulation method. The fruits of C. erythrocarpus possesses limonoids with good larvicidal activity against Aedes mosquitoes. Using ternary phase diagrams, four selected formulations were prepared using non-ionic surfactants, methylester and water. The optimized nano-emulsion (S5) was discovered to possess submicron particle size (36.32 nm), low polydispersity index (0.348) and higher zeta potential value (–18.2 mV). After 48-hours, the CCEE and S5 demonstrated respective LC₅₀ values of 139.44 ppm and 75.83 ppm against Ae. aegypti larvae. Higher larvicidal activity of S5 signified improved cuticular penetration of the active ingredient. Moreover, morphological deformities of treated larvae indicated possible interference with the larvae’s breathing mechanism, contributing to their death. Thus, the nano-emulsion formulation of C. erythrocarpus extract has the potential to be used as a vector control agent to prevent the spread of dengue infections.

We examine the spray characteristics of mist aerosol containing emulsifier-free oil-in-water (EF-O/W) emulsion, which are prepared by ultrasonic emulsification of only oil and water in the absence of any emulsifiers such as surfactants, as a mist aerosol formulation. We found the unique spray characteristics of mist aerosol containing EF-O/W emulsion, which is a larger angle of mist sprayed and the resulting larger mist area, compared to the water and ethanol as a mist aerosol formulation. The unique spray characteristics observed for mist aerosol containing EF-O/W emulsion were not related to the physical properties of mist aerosol formulations, concentration of oil in EF-O/W emulsions, size of oil droplets in EF-O/W emulsions, size of droplets in mist sprayed from mist aerosol and flow rate of mist aerosol formulation in the actuator. By monitoring the liquid film sprayed from the actuator of mist aerosol, the splitting of liquid film sprayed from mist aerosol containing EF-O/W emulsion occurs at shorter distance from the actuator compared to the splitting of liquid film sprayed from mist aerosol containing water and ethanol. Namely, the earlier splitting of liquid film sprayed from mist aerosol results in the mist with larger angle and larger area of mist sprayed while the later splitting of liquid film sprayed from mist aerosol leads to the mist with smaller angle and smaller area of mist sprayed.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has no therapeutic target; therefore, treatment is restricted to anticancer agents. However, TNBC is highly drug-resistant, meaning that novel therapeutic drugs for TNBC are required. Fatty acids can both inhibit and promote different cancers. Nervonic acid (NA) is a monovalent unsaturated fatty acid with anti-inflammatory effects, although its effect on cancer is unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of NA on TNBC. BT-549 cells, a TNBC cell line, were exposed to different concentrations of NA (1, 10, 100, and 1000 µM) or a control (dimethylsulfoxide). In addition, 9-week-old, female BALB/cSlc-nu/nu mice had a BT-549 cell transplant into the right side of the fourth mammary fat pad before being administered NA (100 mg/kg) or sterile tap water for 1 week. Increasing NA concentrations reduced the viability of BT-549 cells. At 100 µM, NA increased the expression of single-stranded DNA, a marker of apoptosis; decreased the expression of nuclear factor-κ B, an apoptosis inhibitor; and decreased the expression of Ki-67, a marker of proliferation. Furthermore, 10 µM NA inhibited cell migration and invasion of BT-549 cells via a non-significant increase in the mRNA expression of E-cadherin (CDH1) and significant decreases in the mRNA expression of N-cadherin (CDH2) and the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and 2. In addition, the growth and metastasis to the lungs of mammary gland tumors were significantly lower in NA-treated mice than in control mice. These results suggest that NA has an antitumor effect both in vitro and in vivo; therefore, NA may be a novel therapeutic agent for TNBC.

We developed a novel approach for direct and rapid evaluation of the fat-burning effects of various food ingredients in vivo. Male ICR mice were fed a diet containing stable isotope-labeled palmitic acid, and fat oxidation was quantified by measuring the production of labeled carbon dioxide (¹³CO₂) generated during β-oxidation. By evaluating the 24-h fat burning profile, we demonstrated the immediate fat-burning effect of caffeine and the gradual fat-burning effect of curcumin. This methodology allows fat-burning-specific detection rather than fat absorption inhibition, thereby providing a powerful tool for comparing fat-burning effects of different food components in vivo.

The reduction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with Alzheimer’s disease and depression. Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 10 (SAMP10), a rapid aging animal model, exhibits age-related cognitive deficits and depression-like behavior; however, it is unclear the variation of serum BDNF levels. Here, we showed that serum BDNF levels in SAMP10 were lower than those in the normal aging characteristics mouse SAM-resistant 1 (SAMR1), and Hochuekkito suppressed the decline of serum BDNF levels in SAMP10. These results suggest that SAMP10 may be used as an animal model in decreasing serum BDNF levels and Hochuekkito could prevent the age-related BDNF decline.