We conducted an experiment to clarify the improvement effect of drinking Angelica acutiloba tea on cold sensitivity. Young women who had cold sensitivity drank either Angelica acutiloba tea or hot water for 2 weeks. We measured changes in peripheral surface temperatures and cold symptoms. The surface temperature of the right index finger increased significantly on day 12 after Angelica tea drinking (before tea drinking: 23.01±4.09°C, 2 weeks after tea drinking: 27.14±4.32°C). On the other hand, the surface temperature of the right index finger did not increase significantly after hot water drinking. In addition, the surface temperatures of the right thumb and abdomen did not increase significantly in both conditions. Surface temperatures did not significantly differ between the two conditions. After Angelica tea drinking for 2 weeks, cold symptoms improved in 8 of the 10 participants. On the other hand, after hot water drinking for 2 weeks, cold symptoms improved in 5 of the 10 participants. These results suggest that continuos drinking of Angelica acutiloba tea may help maintain peripheral surface temperatures and improve cold symptoms.

To examine an effect of administration period on nutritional availability of selenite or selenomethionine (SeM) as selenium (Se) source, both Se compounds were administered to rats with a low-Se state for 1 or 4 weeks and measured tissue Se content and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity. Male 4-week Wistar rats were fed a casein-based low Se basal diet (Se content, 0.061 mg/kg) for 3 weeks and then divided into three groups. One group was fed the low-Se basal diet continuously and other two groups were fed the basal diet supplemented with Se (0.2 mg/kg) as sodium selenite or l-SeM for further 1 or 4 weeks. Dietary Se-supplementation caused an increase of Se content and GPX activity in the serum, liver and kidney. Effect of selenite exceeded that of SeM in the kidney Se, liver GPX and kidney GPX after the 1-week supplementation. After the 4-week supplementation, effect of SeM exceeded that of selenite in the liver Se and the difference among Se compounds in the liver and kidney GPX observed in the 1-week supplementation disappeared. The serum GPX was not increased by the 1-week Se supplementation and was increased only by the selenite-supplementation for 4 weeks. These results indicate that a nutritional availability of selenite exceeds that of SeM at a short-term administration but the availability of SeM becomes to be comparable to that of selenite at a long-term administration.

Fungi contain several types of glycosphingolipids (GSLs) in their cell membranes, which play important roles in various biological processes. Recently, novel fungal neogala-series GSLs were identified in some fungal species, including Neurospora crassa. GSLs have also been implicated in mycelial synthesis. However, little is known about the physiological functions, metabolic regulation, and biosynthetic pathway of GSLs. In this study, we demonstrated that several N. crassa mutant strains that had a defect in a gene putatively involved in GSL biosynthesis were deficient in mycelial growth in a temperature-dependent manner. In addition, results of the component analysis of phospholipids and GSLs from these strains suggested a novel relationship among phospholipids, GSLs, and mycelial growth.

Glucosylceramide extracted from Tamogitake (Pleurotus cornucopia var. citrinopileatus) is expected to lead to skin improvement effect. Therefore, we have developed at 50 mL beverage containing 0.6 mg glucosylceramide extracted from Tamogitake. It has a final purpose is to clarify the safety and efficacy for human in this developed beverage. As a first step, we were carried out a trial to 33 Japanese women of the 40-60 years old to be troubled with skin roughness by an open trial system.

During 12-week trial period, it was drunk this developed beverage of 50 mL/day to 33 subjects. The subjects were allowed to visit the drinking start day (0 week), 6 weeks and 12 weeks. And, we performed medical examination, laboratory tests and skin checks by instruments to the visited subjects.

As a result, this developed beverage which contained 0.6 mg glucosylceramide was suggested to be safety by 50 mL/day drinking of 12 weeks. In addition, it was also suggested that it might be useful for arranging disturbed epidermal turnover rate.

Biological effect of tiron (4,5-dihydroxy-1,3-benzene disulfonic acid disodium), a water soluble compound used for the determination of iron and titanium, was analyzed in relation to the generation and scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Tiron reduced cupric ion and scavenged DPPH, stable radical. Tiron/iron or tiron/copper complex inactivated aconitase, the most sensitive enzyme to oxidative stress. The inactivation required sodium azide, inhibitor of catalase, suggesting that these complexes can generate hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a principal product. Ascorbate protected aconitase from the inactivation, whereas ascorbate/copper complex generated H₂O₂. Cellular damage by tiron can be explained by its transition metal complex-mediated generation of ROS.

A psychrotrophic Gram-negative bacterium, Shewanella livingstonensis Ac10, inducibly produces eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) as a component of membrane phospholipids at low temperatures. We disrupted the genes required for EPA biosynthesis and found that the levels of the outer membrane porin homolog, Omp417, were markedly decreased in the EPA-less mutant (ΔEPA). To examine the effects of EPA on the folding of Omp417, in vitro refolding of recombinant Omp417 was carried out with liposomes in the presence or absence of EPA-containing phospholipids (EPA-PLs). Tryptophan (Trp) fluorescence dynamics of Omp417 reconstituted into liposomes with or without EPA-PLs demonstrated that the presence of EPA-PLs did not affect the local environments of Omp417 Trp residues. This result suggests that EPA-PLs are not involved in the folding of this protein at low temperatures. On the other hand, the transcription of omp417 was suppressed in the ΔEPA mutant, and the amount of omp417 transcript in the ΔEPA mutant was less than 2% of that in the wild type strain. To analyze the effects of EPA-PLs on omp417 expression, exogenous supplementation of EPA to ΔEPA cells and rescue of Δorf2 cells, a gene-disrupted mutant of a phosphopantetheinyl transferase required for the de novo synthesis of EPA, by using an orf2-expression vector were performed. Although these treatments restored EPA-PLs in the ΔEPA mutant, the transcriptional defect was not restored. These results suggest that the suppression of the transcription of omp417 is not due to the lack of EPA, but due to the insertion of a knockout plasmid for EPA-biosynthesis genes into the chromosome.

This study demonstrated the effect of oyster-extract on hepatic lipid accumulation and cholesterol metabolism in rats fed high-fat diet. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups and fed an AIN-93G modified high-fat diet (control diet) and 5% (w/w) oyster-extract containing diet (OE diet) for four weeks. Cholesterol metabolism was measured through serum and liver cholesterol contents, fecal neutral and acidic steroids excretions, and hepatic mRNA expression levels of enzymes and nuclear receptors involved in cholesterol homeostasis. Dietary oyster-extract decreased hepatic cholesterol contents, perhaps through increasing fecal neutral and acidic steroids excretions and decreasing hepatic 3-hydroxy-3methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR) and acyl-coenzyme A:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 expression levels. In addition, the suppression of HMGCR expression in the liver could be through the reduction of sterol regulatory element binding factor-2 pathway due to oyster-extract intake. This study found that dietary administration of oyster-extract has hypocholesterolemic effects that may help prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

This study investigated the effects of differences in ferrous sulfate and hemoglobin on iron nutritional statuses in rats. Male Wistar rats were fed an AIN93G-based diet containing iron at a level of 20 μg/g as ferrous sulfate or porcine hemoglobin for 4 weeks. Iron nutritional statuses were measured through blood hemoglobin levels, organ iron contents, fecal iron excretion, and the intestinal mucosa mRNA expression levels of genes encoding proteins involved in iron and heme absorption. Rats fed a hemoglobin-containing diet had significantly lower blood hemoglobin levels, hematocrits, organ iron contents, and serum iron contents, and a higher serum total iron-binding capacity and serum unsaturated iron-binding capacity than rats fed a ferrous sulfate-containing diet. Apparent iron absorption by rats administered hemoglobin was significantly lower than that by rats given ferrous sulfate. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of the divalent metal transporter 1 and heme oxygenase 1 genes in the duodenal mucosa of the hemoglobin group may be induced by iron deficiency. These results indicate that the iron bioavailability of hemoglobin is lower than of ferrous sulfate in normal rats.

To estimate iodine intake from ingredients cooked with kombu soup stock, we examined a release of iodine from kombu to the soup stock and an infiltration of iodine from the kombu soup stock to ingredients. Approximately 10 g of tabular dried kombu (Saccharina japonica in Hokkaido; iodine content, 5.98 mg/g) was immersed in pure water 100 times in volume at room temperature. After the immersion for 60 min, the water with kombu was heated until boiling. Iodine content in the kombu soup stock thus prepared was 47.9 μg/mL. Small pieces of ingredients (taro, shiitake mushroom, carrot or Japanese radish) were boiled with a commercial kombu soup stock (iodine content, 4.53 μg/mL) for 30 min and were stayed in the soup stock at room temperature for further 30 min. Iodine content of the cooked ingredients increased to 2.56 to 3.93 μg/g wet weight. These results indicate that approximately 80% of iodine in kombu is released to the soup stock and that iodine content in ingredients cooked with kombu soup stock increases to the value of 60 to 85% of that of the soup stock.

The present study was conducted to clarify the effects of peptide Zn on IgA induction in the intestine or mammary glands of weanling and lactating mice. Weanling mice were fed rodent feed and 100 or 150 ppm peptide Zn-supplemented rodent feed for 14 or 21 days, and maternal mice were fed rodent feed or 150 ppm peptide Zn-supplemented rodent feed from 6.5 days postcoitus to 14 days postpartum. Supplemental peptide Zn had no effects on the numbers of IgA antibody-secreting cells (ASC) in the jejunum and ileum of weanling mice, but IgA concentrations in the jejunum tended to be lower in the 150 ppm peptide Zn-supplemented mice after 14 days of treatment. Supplemental peptide Zn tended to increase IgA ASC in the mammary glands and IgA concentrations in the jejunum of lactating mice and IgA concentrations in the feces of neonatal mice. These results indicate that supplementation of peptide Zn is slightly effective to enhance IgA induction in the mammary glands of lactating mice.

Under anaerobic conditions, some bacteria use various metal compounds as terminal electron acceptors, and can thus obtain energy for their growth by respiration in the absence of oxygen. Molecular mechanism of anaerobic metal reduction by the mesophilic Shewanella and Geobacter strains, model organisms of bacterial dissimilatory metal reduction, has been well studied so far. In this study, we focused on the iron respiration by an Antarctic cold-adapted bacterium, Shewanella livingstonensis Ac10, which can grow at a temperature range of 0°C–25°C, and has a potential application in the biological reduction of metal contaminants under cold environments. In the presence of iron (III) citrate, S. livingstonensis Ac10 inducibly produced an outer membrane phosphoporin homolog, PhoE, but not in the fumarate-containing medium. By western blotting and real-time RT-PCR analyses, it was confirmed that the production of PhoE was dependent on the presence of iron (III) citrate, and the expression of phoE was regulated at the transcriptional level. When the gene coding for PhoE in S. livingstonensis Ac10 was disrupted, the cell proliferation and iron (II) ion (Fe²⁺) production by the mutant strain grown in the presence of iron (III) citrate was significantly reduced than that by the wild-type strain. Introduction of an expression vector for phoE into the phoE-disrupted mutant restored the growth defect of the mutant, revealing that a phosphoporin homolog plays a critical role in the dissimilatory iron reduction by S. livingstonensis Ac10.

Bumble foot, an inflammatory pododermatitis, is frequently developed in rearing and exhibiting penguins. Inflammatory dermatitis due to hyperkeratosis is induced by deficiency and excess of vitamin A, and there have been some reports indicating the improvement of inflammatory pododermatitis by supplementation with vitamin E and/or zinc in other bird species. For clarifying the relationship between the incidences of bumble foot and vitamin A, vitamin E or zinc nutrition in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus), we investigated dietary and plasma vitamin A, vitamin E and zinc concentrations in penguins with and without bumble foot. The diet contained 27-fold more vitamin A than its estimated requirement (ER). Dietary vitamin E concentration was less than ER in almost all of penguins. Dietary zinc concentration was close to and satisfied ER. Plasma retinol and zinc concentrations were lower in the penguins with bumble foot than in the healthy penguins. On the other hand, the incidence of bumble foot did not affect plasma concentrations of retinyl ester and α-tocopherol.

Because of high vitamin A concentration in diet, the low plasma retinol concentration is not owing to vitamin A deficiency in the penguins with bumble foot and is assumed to result from the suppressed production of retinol binding protein 4 by inflammatory response. Plasma α-tocopherol concentration was not lower than its reported levels, suggesting that dietary vitamin E satisfied its requirement. The incidence of bumble foot may be related to the shortage of zinc. Further experiment is necessary for clarifying the effect of zinc supplementation on the prevention and improvement of bumble foot in penguins.

Human solute carrier family 35 member F2 (SLC35F2) belongs in drug/metabolite transporter superfamily and is suggested to be a potential oncogene of non-small cell lung cancer. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of SLC25F2 in cell proliferation and gefitinib sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma using A549 (low gefitinib sensitivity) and PC-9 (high gefitinib sensitivity) cell lines. Gene silencing of SLC35F2 using siRNA suppressed cell proliferation and arrested cell cycle in both A549 and PC-9 cells. The expression of SLC35F2 gene was attenuated in gefitinib-resistant PC-9 cells; however, gene silencing of SLC35F2 did not affect gefitinib sensitivity in both A549 and PC-9 cells. None of thiamine, pyridoxine, folic acid, and nicotinamide had effects on SLC35F2 function and gefitinib sensitivity in both A549 and PC-9 cells. These results indicate that SLC35F2 plays a role in cell proliferation of lung adenocarcinoma but is not involved in its gefitinib sensitivity.

Hijiki (Sargassum fusiforme, a brown algae) plants were harvested on the Hime Coast, Kushimoto, Wakayama, Japan, in early April, 2016. The harvested Hijiki plants were classified to “grade A” when normal in appearance and “grade B” when rather discolored.

The sample plants were cut at a length of 10cm along the stalk, and the stalks and leaves were separately lyophilized. Respective samples were ashed in conc HNO₃-conc HClO₄ on an electric heater for a few hours. The concentrations of arsenic (As), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), potassium (K) and zinc (Zn) in the tissues were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The correlative coefficient values of some pairs of elements in grade B plants were higher than those in grade A plants, and the number of pairs of a higher correlative coefficient in grade B plants was more than in grade A plants. The grade B plants becoming chlorotic contained less amount of chlorophyll a and more homogenous concentrations of various elements. The growing conditions of the Hijiki plants and accumulation patterns of those elements were discussed in relation to the warming ocean sea water.

Several powdered food samples were purchased from local retail shops in Osaka area or by a mail order, and their chromium (Cr) concentration determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry were compared the values cited in the Standard Food Composition Table of Japan (2015). The analytical values were almost identical to the cited values. Among the samples, pure cocoa powder showed a marked variation in the Cr concentration (14 to 187 μg/100 g). To examine the cause of the variation in the Cr concentration in cacao bean products including pure cocoa powder, the Cr concentration was determined in a large number of chocolate samples. In the 8 chocolate samples purchased from a confectionery company (Valrhona, Paris), a strong correlation (r = 0.88) was observed between the Cr concentration and the cacao content. Chromium concentration in 22 samples of single origin chocolate purchased from another confectionery company (Meiji Co., Ltd, Tokyo) was 3 to 22 μg/100 g. Since the variation of Cr concentration in pure cocoa powder is much greater than that of cacao mass, which is estimated by the Cr concentration of chocolate, the high Cr concentration in pure cocoa powder is estimated to be assocated with a contamination of Cr in the manufacturing process of pure cocoa powder from cacao mass.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a straight chain, glycosaminoglycan polymer composed of repeating units of the disaccharide [-β(1,4)-d-glucuronic acid-β(1,3)-N-acetyl-d-glucosamine-]n that is found in the extracellular matrix. HA has been reported to have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive properties. However, little information is available on the anti-inflammatory effects of dietary HA. In this study, we evaluated the effect of dietary low-molecular-weight HA (LMW-HA) on 2,4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced contact hypersensitivity in BALB/c mice because the absorption of LMW-HA in the small intestine seems to be better than that of high-molecular-weight HA (HMW-HA). Dietary LMW-HA significantly inhibited ear swelling in mice. Analysis of cytokine mRNA expression in the spleen indicated that supplementation with dietary LMW-HA may improve the Th1/Th2 imbalance in DNFB-treated mice. Our results suggest that dietary LMW-HA exerts anti-inflammatory effects via improvement of Th1/Th2 balance.

In order to obtain an effective diet composition to relieve irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), an experiment using rats as a model was performed. Male 7 week-old Wistar rats were maintained for one week on five diets; (i) 0% cellulose (C-0), (ii) 3% cellulose (C-3), (iii) 5% cellulose (C-5), (iv) 3% young barley leaf powder (YBLP) plus 3% cellulose (Y-3+C-3), and (v) 10% YBLP (Y-10). The IBS of rat was produced by restraining a rat in a tight holder for four hrs. The degree of IBS was assessed by measuring fecal excretion frequency and serotonin concentration in serum and colonic mucosa. Under restraint stress, the number of feces in the groups of C-0 and C-3 were more than those in C-5 without (control). Restraint stress could have stimulated secretion of a large quantity of serotonin from colonic mucosa, resulting in abnormal intestinal movement. However, such fecal excretion increment was not observed in the group of Y-3+C-3, suggesting that YBLP inhibits stress-induced IBS.

This study evaluated the effects of exogenously supplemented selenite on the growth and variations in gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. After cultivation at 25°C for 14 days with 0, 1, 5, and 10 ppm selenite, we measured growth parameters, selenium contents, and comprehensively analyzed the expression of A. thaliana genes using a DNA microarray. Fresh weight was approximately 60% (w/w) lower following exposure to 5 ppm selenite. Selenium contents in leaves increased in a dependent manner on selenium exposure levels up to 10 ppm; the content of selenium in leaves exposed to 10 ppm was 23.2 μg/g fresh weight. A DNA microarray analysis was conducted and revealed that the expression of 2723 genes significantly differed between A. thaliana exposed to 1 ppm selenite and 0 ppm selenite. Gene ontology terms related to responses to heat, responses to a temperature stimulus, immune responses, and innate immune responses were enriched significantly more by 1 ppm selenite than by 0 ppm selenite. The expression levels of cystathionine beta-lyase, pyridoxal phosphate-dependent transferase superfamily protein, and cysteine desulfurase 2, which are involved in the metabolism of selenocompounds, were increased following the exposure to 10 ppm selenite. These results provide insights into the genetic and biochemical mechanisms underlying the effects of exogenously supplemented selenite on A. thaliana.

Many researchers have studied d-amino acid in Arabidopsis thaliana focusing on its composition and biochemical functions of its metabolizing enzymes. Their extensive efforts revealed that A. thaliana contains trace amount of d-amino acid and its content changes during germination or growth, and some enzymes show degrading and/or synthesizing activity toward various d-amino acids not only in vitro but also in vivo. These informations lead us to consider that A. thaliana will be a promising model plant for d-amino acid research on higher plant. However, only a few physiological function(s) of d-amino acid and its metabolizing enzymes in A. thaliana have been reported so far. In this manuscript, we describe the outline of d-amino acids metabolizing enzymes of A. thaliana previously reported and perspective of d-amino acid research on A. thaliana.

Recent progress in understanding the molecules involved in zinc metabolism have opened a new field of research called “Zinc Biology.” This area of study has received much attention due to its association with several physiopathological events. In contrast, zinc absorption process in the small intestine is relatively less clarified at the molecular level. Molecular understanding of the zinc absorption process and zinc metabolism in the small intestine might possibly lead to the prevention of zinc deficiency and improving human health.

Many zinc transporters are expressed in the intestinal epithelial cells. Of them, ZIP4 and ZIP5 are thought to play pivotal roles in the absorption and homeostatic control of zinc because of their unique expression regulation. ZIP4 localizes to the apical membrane in zinc-deficient conditions and probably contributes to the efficient uptake of zinc into the enterocytes. ZIP5 localizes to the basolateral membrane in zinc excess conditions and possibly contributes to the uptake of zinc from circulation, thus leading to its efflux through gastrointestinal secretion. In this review, we provide an overview of the reciprocal expression regulation of ZIP4 and ZIP5 with a focus on the current progress in our understanding. We also discuss the importance of zinc as an essential nutritional element.