To quantitatively evaluate the constituents of Moringa (Drumstick tree, Moringa oleifera) leaves, the content of various minerals (potassium (K), calcium (Ca), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu)) and vitamin C in Moringa leaves and Aojiru (green juice) powder made from them were measured and compared with Aojiru powder made from other plants, and green tea powder. In addition, total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were measured and evaluated. Compared to the estimated average requirement (EAR) or adequate intake (AI), except for manganese in pine needles, no Aojiru or tea powder, including moringa, were found to be a valuable source of minerals and vitamin C. The freeze-dried powder of fresh Moringa leaves had a higher vitamin C content than the Aojiru powder, but the minerals content was comparable. Total polyphenol content and antioxidant activity were generally correlated, with green tea powder having the highest in both. Although Moringa contains some minerals, vitamin C, and antioxidants, the amount of these components were not found to be superior to those of other Aojiru ingredients and tea leaves. We concluded that Moringa is insignificant as a food rich in minerals, vitamin C, and antioxidants.

Mung beans were cultivated hydroponically in a sodium selenite solution with a selenium concentration of 10 μg/ mL to obtain selenium-enriched mung bean sprouts (SeMBS). The majority of selenium molecular species in the SeMBS were identified as selenohomolanthionine (SeHL) by HPLC-ICPMS. Twenty-four male 4-week-old ICR mice were fed a selenium-deficient diet; after 3 weeks of feeding, one group (control group) continued to receive the basal selenium-deficient diet, and the other two groups (selenite and SeMBS groups) received the basic diet supplemented with 0.2 μg/g selenium as sodium selenite or SeMBS dry powder, respectively, for an additional 1 week. Selenium concentration and glutathione peroxidase (GPx )activity were markedly increased in the two selenium-supplemented groups compared to the selenium-deficient control group. When comparing the selenite and SeMBS groups, which differ in selenium source, no difference was observed in GPx activity in the liver, kidney, or serum, but in selenium concentration, the SeMBS group showed slightly lower values than the selenite group in serum and kidney. These results indicate that SeHL, the major molecular species of selenium in SeMBS, can be effectively used as a selenium source.

The nutritional value of lotus root starch was compared with that of kudzu (Pueraria lobata), cassava, and corn starch. In vitro digestion studies showed that the digestibility of lotus root starch tended to slightly exceed that of other starches. Twenty-four 4-week-old male Wistr rats were divided into four groups and each group was fed a 12% casein diet containing 50% lotus root starch, kudzu starch, cassava starch, and corn starch, respectively. After 4 weeks of feeding, body weight, liver weight, white adipose tissue weight, and serum triacylglycerol concentration in the lotus starch group were similar to those of the cassava and corn starch groups and slightly higher than those of the kudzu starch group. These results indicate that the nutritional value of lotus root starch exceeds that of kudzu starch and is comparable to that of corn and cassava starch.

Type 2 diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder, is a major public health concern associated with high mortality and reduced life expectancy. Food-derived peptides have been suggested as potential dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP4) inhibitors which can help manage blood glucose levels. We evaluated DPP4 inhibitory activities in 79 sample of commercial natto. The commercial natto showed the comparatively high DPP4 inhibitory activity by an average of 70.88 ± 8.56%. We also compared the DPP4 inhibitory activities of natto samples which were produced with different six variety soybeans and three commercial natto starter strain. We found that the DPP4 inhibitory activity of various samples of natto produced by same fermentation condition did not vary much. We suggested that the DPP4 inhibitory activity of natto varied depending on the natto production conditions.

In recent years, various foods have been scientifically characterized by taste recognition devices, referred to as a “taste sensor”. Taste Sensing System (TS-5000Z) with multielectrode taste sensors have a mechanism similar to the sensory cells in the taste buds and can quantify the taste of various foods including Udondashi and soy sauce. Therefore, in this study we clarified the characteristics of commercial seasonings using the taste sensor and investigated the effects of food additives and raw materials on the taste response. Products on the market, “Ginger soy sauce” (A, B, C, D) and “Shirodashi”(E, F, G, H, I), were obtained from 4 food companies, respectively. As compared with “soy sauce” which is the raw material in Ginger soy sauce (A), “Ginger soy sauce” (C, D) had a response of 5 ~ 10 times or more bitter stimulus and general bitterness, and a decrease in sourness was observed. However, “Ginger soy sauce” (A, B) did not see these peaks. The presence of these peaks was consistent with the presence of vitamin B1 supplementation. Shirodashi (F, G, H, I) showed a high response to sourness and astringent stimuli, and a low saltiness. In addition, Shirodashi (I) showed peaks characteristic of bitter stimulus and general bitterness, which coincided with the supplementation of vitamin B1. When thiamin sodium lauryl sulfate was added as vitamin B1 to “condensate Udon dashi”, the taste response of bitter stimulus, astringent stimulus, astringency, and umami richness increased, but the sourness decreased. These taste responses were consistent with the taste response patterns of commercial Ginger soy sauce and Shirodashi supplemented with vitamin B1. In addition, when shiroshoyu (white soy sauce) was added to “additive-free Shirodashi” (E), the sourness response increased while the saltiness decreased. These responses coincided with the peaks of commercial Shirodashi mixed with soy sauce (F, G) and shiroshoyu (white soy sauce) (H, I). From these findings, taste responses by the taste sensor are a useful means for adjusting the taste of the food when food additives are used.

Serum vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women increases the risk of perinatal abnormalities. Serum vitamin D is obtained from food as a nutrient and synthesized by the body upon exposure to sunlight. The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between serum vitamin D level in pregnant women with nutrient intake, ingestion of vitamin D-rich foods and sun exposure. The study subjects were 24 pregnant women in the second trimester, who were divided into two groups according to their serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations: vitamin D deficient group (less than 20 ng/mL, n = 15) and non-deficient group (20 ng/mL or more, n = 9). Serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D concentrations were 15.2 ± 3.1 ng/mL in the deficient group and 25.4 ± 3.7 ng/mL in the non-deficient group. There were not any differences in the intakes of nutrients and vitamin D-rich foods between the two groups. By contrast, a difference was observed in the percentage of the subjects exposed to sunlight for at least 60 minutes per week: 100% in the non-deficient group, 60% in the deficient group (p = 0.052). To prevent vitamin D deficiency in pregnant women, nutritional education to increase vitamin D intake from food and lifestyle modification program to increase vitamin D synthesis are recommended.

Oyster-extract (OE) intake can afford numerous health benefits, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiplatelet aggregation, and antihyperglycemic effects. This study examined the effect of OE intake on the intestinal barrier function in mice. C57BL/6 J mice (4-week-old male) were fed either the AIN93G diet (control group) or the AIN93G diet containing 5.0% (w/w) OE (OE group). After 28 days of the experimental diet feeding, feces, distal ileum, and distal colon were collected. Fecal mucin contents were quantified using a fluorometric assay kit that discriminates O-linked glycoproteins from N-linked glycoproteins. The gene expression levels of Mucin (Muc) 1 and 2 in the distal ileum and colon were measured by real-time PCR. Fecal mucin contents were significantly increased in the OE group compared to the control group (p<0.01). The Muc2 expression level in the distal ileum was significantly increased in the OE group compared to the control group (p<0.01). These results indicate that OE intake increased the ileum Muc2 expression level and fecal mucin content in mice. OE intake may enhance intestinal barrier function by increasing mucin secretion in the distal ileum.

A standardized extract of Glycine max co-cultured with Basidiomycota (GCP®) is an isoflavone-rich soy extract. GCP® inhibits intracrine androgen synthesis in prostate cancer cells. Estrogen deficiency during menopause can alter lipid metabolism in the body, resulting in obesity and/or various disorders. In this study, the inhibitory effects of GCP® on altered lipid metabolism after menopause were investigated in ovariectomized C57BL/6JJmsSlc mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). GCP® mice showed a significant decrease in total body weight concomitantly with weight loss of the perirenal adipose tissue as compared to that in control mice. Histological studies showed that GCP® inhibited HFD-induced fatty liver in these mice. mRNA expression levels of ATP-binding cassette protein G1 (ABCG1) and liver X receptor α (LXRα) were increased in liver of GCP® mice compared to that in control mice, whereas no changes were observed in the levels of ATPbinding cassette protein A1 (ABCA1), scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI), or low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Our preliminary results may suggest GCP® as a novel functional supplement candidate for inhibition of HFD-induced altered lipid metabolism after the menopause via the LXRα/ABCG1-dependent pathway.

Oysters contain various nutritional and functional components, such as zinc, glycogen, and taurine. Therefore, oyster extract containing extracted and concentrated nutritional and functional components are marketed. However, the effective use of oyster extract by-products (OEBP) needs to be realized. A previous study revealed that several types of mollusc bivalves characteristically contain ceramide aminoethyl phosphonate (CAEP), a sphingophosphonolipid, that improves skin barrier function. In this study, we analyzed the chemical structure of CAEP in OEBP to differentiate it from other marine CAEP. CAEP was purified by alkali and acid treatments, followed by three types of column chromatography for Pacific oyster by-products. To analyze the chemical structure of CAEP, fatty acid composition analysis via methyl esterification and long-chain base composition analysis via trimethylsilyl derivatization were performed. The results showed that 26% of OEBP-derived phospholipids were CAEP. Chemical structural analysis indicated that the fatty acid composition of the OEBP-derived CAEP was C16:0 (68%), C17:0 (5%), and C18:0 (27%). Furthermore, the long-chain base composition of OEBP-derived CAEP was d16:1 (24%), d18:1 (13%), d18:2 (39%), d20:1 (4%), and d20:2 (12%). These results indicate that most of the long-chain bases of marine CAEP reported to date have carbon numbers of ≤19, whereas Pacific oyster-derived CAEP characteristically contains long-chain bases with carbon numbers of 20.

Plants are an important source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds. The antifungal action of p-hydroxyacetophenone (p-HAP) was reported in the manuscript investigating the antifungal activity of 2’,6’-dihydroxy-4’-methoxyacetophenone isolated from Ezomurasaki azalea leaves and taken up as a related compound. Further, when producing bioethanol using yeast, p-HAP exhibits growth inhibitory effects due to the p-HAP contained in raw materials such as wheat, which reduces the amount of ethanol produced. However, the pharmacological action of p-HAP on yeast has not been clarified in detail, so we attempted to examine it in this study. We extracted and identified three proteins using p-HAP-sepharose affinity chromatography. Among these three, we focused on NADPH dehydrogenase in particular and examined the effect of supplementation of NADP⁺. As a result of this study, we found that NADP ⁺ was effective in restoring the growth of the yeast. Assuming that the 15mM p-HAP as the NADP⁺ non-addition group was 100%, the effects were 136% ( 2.5mM NADP⁺, 15mM p-HAP addition group), 107% ( 1.25mM NADP⁺, 15mM p -HAP addition group ) and 102% ( 0.63 mM NADP⁺, 15 mM p-HAP added group) at 12 hours. At 25.5 hours, it was also elevated to 143% ( 2.5 mM NADP⁺, 15 mM p-HAP added group ), 113% ( 1.25 mM NADP⁺, 15 mM p-HAP added group) , and 104% ( 0.63 mM NADP⁺, 15 mM p-HAP added group) in a concentration dependent manner. Moreover, significant differences ( p < 0.01 or p < 0.05 ) were confirmed in the 2.5 mM NADP⁺, 15 mM p-HAP addition group from the 15 mM p-HAP addition group at all measurement times. Therefore, it is expected that the supplementary addition of NADP⁺ would partially recover the growth of the p-HAP-added group in the yeast.

The analyzing procedure for home cage activity of rats under dark cycle was developed. Forty-eight 4-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups according to a 2x2 factorial design. The first factor was dietary nickel level (no supplemental or 1 mg/kg diet). The second factor was surplus sodium chloride in diets (no additional or 4%(w/w)). Two rats were kept in a transparent acrylic cage for 10 weeks. At Day 67 or Day 68 rats were video recorded under dim red LED light (0.5-1.0 lux on the floor). Flickering and image noises were removed from the recorded videos. The 2-hour video records from 2 hours after the start of dark cycle was analyzed with both ANY-maze software and the visual observation. The freezing scores obtained with ANY-maze each second during bilateral fighting and unilateral attack visually observed were significantly higher than that during other behaviors. The freezing score indicators were positively and significantly correlated with both total fighting duration and total fighting bouts, enabling analysis of activities of two rats in a home cage under dark cycle.

Biotin is involved in carbon fixation reaction as a coenzyme of carboxylase and plays an important role in gluconeogenesis, synthesis of fatty acids and amino acids, and energy metabolism. Lysine is an essential amino acid and plays a role in protein synthesis and liver function enhancement necessary for the body such as internal organs, muscles, bones, and the brain. In this study, we investigated the effects on growth and development and biotin metabolism by feeding with excess biotin and excess lysine for a long term in young male mice. The four-week-old Slc:ICR male mice were divided into four groups (n = 4 for each group), and the control group was given CE-2 powder diet (CLEA Japan, Inc., Tokyo), and the experimental groups were given CE-2 diet with excess biotin (5 g/kg diet), excess lysine (5 g/kg diet), or excess biotin (5 g/kg diet) + excess lysine (5 g/kg diet). After feeding for five weeks, serum, liver, spleen, kidney, testis and brown adipocyte were sampled. Biotin was determined by the microbiological assay using Lactobacillus ATCC 8014, and lysine in serum was determined by HPLC. No effect of excess biotin and lysine diets on mouse growth and development was observed. As for organ weight, the excess biotin group had less weight of the spleen and liver than in other groups, but there was no significant difference in relative weight among these groups. The concentration of biotin in serum was 40.4 times higher in the excess biotin group than in the control group, but 9.5 times in the excess biotin + excess lysine group compared to the control group. The concentration of biotin in organs was also lower in the excess biotin + lysin group than in the excess biotin group. These findings suggest that excess lysine intake may affect the pharmacokinetics of biotin in vivo.

An increasing number of middle-aged and older adults are interested in preventing locomotive syndrome to extend healthy life expectancy, and supplements for preventing locomotive syndrome are increasing in the market. In this study, we measured the mineral concentration in locomotive syndrome-related supplements (glucosamine-based, calcium- based, BCAA-based, Chinese medicine) purchased from the market, and determined the daily mineral intake based on the recommended daily intake on the package label. The results showed that calcium, magnesium, and iron levels in calcium-based supplements were high and exceeded the EAR and RDA of the Dietary Reference Intakes. This suggested that the combination of food and supplements, or the intake of multiple supplements may lead to excessive intake of minerals and cause health problems. Further, to investigate the effects of excessive calcium intake on learning and memory in animal studies, we performed behavioral tests after long-term administration of calcium to aged female mice. The results showed that the administration of 2000 and 3000 ppm of calcium showed a tendency to decrease learning and memory ability in the novel object recognition test. Excessive intake of calcium may cause a decline in learning and memory ability. These results show that combined intake of food and supplements may result in excessive intake of calcium, which may lead to dementia.

To examine the effects of oyster extract (OE) on ATP production in a human hepatocytes, Hep-G2 cell was cultured in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s basal medium or the basal medium containg OE. The added OE enhanced ATP production in the human hepatocytes. To examine the effect of OE on ATP production in mouse skeletal muscle and activity of mitochondria, female 9-week-old C57BL/6 N mice were divided into two groups and fed AIN-93G basal diet or the basal diet containing 2% (w/w) OE for 7 days. Muscle of the OE-fed mice had significantly higher ATP production and citrate synthase activity than non-OE-fed mice. These results indicate that the OE enhanced the mitochondoria activity and production of ATP in the muscle and led a possibility that OE has fatigue-relieving properties.

Phytic acid is usually deposited in dormant seeds bound to minerals in the form of phytin. Bran is a byproduct of grain processing and used as a raw material for phytin production. In this study, commercially available rice bran and wheat bran were used as raw materials, and phytin was extracted and prepared by four typical production methods: alkali addition, calcium salt addition, magnesium salt addition, and ethanol precipitation. In addition to phosphorus, the raw bran contained magnesium, calcium, manganese, zinc, and iron, and these minerals were also recovered in all phytin products. The phytin products produced by alkali addition showed a mineral composition that was almost identical to the proportions found in the bran. The addition of alkali metal salts increased the corresponding metal content in the phytin products, suggesting that magnesium and calcium may be antagonistic in their binding to phytic acid. Ethanol precipitation resulted in lower calcium and magnesium recoveries and a relatively higher iron content. Among the phytate products obtained, those with a high iron ratio were amber in color, while those with a high manganese ratio were pink. The mineral composition in phytin is affected and complicated by the type of raw material and method of production, and the mineral composition in phytin and phytic acid must be noted when interpreting the results of animal studies on phytin and phytic acid.

The kynurenine pathway (KP) is a major route for the metabolism of the essential amino acid L-tryptophan (Trp) in mammalian cells. Activation of the KP during neuro-inflammation can lead to the production of various endogenous neuroactive metabolites that may impact brain functions and behaviors. Furthermore, neurotoxic metabolites and excitotoxicity resulting from KP activation can induce long-term changes in nutritional support, the glutamatergic system, and synaptic function. Therefore, investigating the role of KP metabolites during neurodevelopment is likely to enhance our understanding the pathophysiology of neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism spectrum dis- order (ASD). In this review, we elucidate alterations in KP metabolism during pregnancy and represent how KP metabolites during neurodevelopment period influence behavioral impairments in later stages of life.

This short review describes the molecular species of selenium that the Japanese intaked from general foods. Before the widespread use of HPLC-ICPMS as a means of identifying selenium molecular species, selenomethionine was known to be the selenium molecular species in both high-selenium wheat and soybean protein. After the dissemina- tion of HPLC-ICPMS, Se-methylselenocysteine, γ-glutamyl-Se-methylselenocysteine, and selenohomolanthionine in sele- nium-exposed plants, selenosugar, trimethylselenonium, and selenocyanate in animal urine and tissues, and selenoneine in dark muscle of tuna were identified. The authors analyzed protease hydrolysates of general fish, shellfish, and meat by HPLC-ICPMS and confirmed that selenomethionine was the selenium molecule species in fish and shellfish, and selenomethionine and selenocystine in meat. In summary, the selenium molecular species in cereals, soybeans, and seafood, which are the major sources of selenium in Japanese people, are mostly selenomethionine, while sele- nomethionine and selenocystine are the selenium molecular species in meat. It is considered that selenomethionine accounts for nearly 90% of the selenium intaked by the Japanese, with selenocystine making up the remainder.

Zinc is one of the essential micronutrients for all organisms, including microorganisms, plants, and animals. There are more than 300 zinc enzymes that use zinc as a cofactor, and zinc is thought to be required for enzyme activi- ty, structural maintenance, and function as a signaling factor. Some zinc enzymes have been characterized in detail, including the structure around the zinc, which generally forms a tetrahedral structure in which His, Glu, Asp, and Cys bind to the zinc and activate it. Zinc enzymes are valuable therapeutic targets because they exhibit important physiological functions, and the development of drugs and inhibitors has been investigated. However, the function, crystal structure, and chemistry of many zinc enzymes remain unexplored. In this mini-review, we describe the distribution of zinc-containing enzymes and proteins and their reaction mech- anisms, the role of zinc, and its pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications to clarify the important points to be clarified in this research area.

Glycation is a non-enzymatic reaction between the amino group of a protein or amino acid and the carbonyl group of a reducing sugar. Various advanced glycation end products formed through glycation reactions are suggested to be involved in diseases such as age-related diseases and diabetic complications. To inhibit glycation reactions in vivo has become an important issue, and various anti-glycation agents have been explored. In this manuscript, the current state and future perspective of free amino acids as anti-glycation agents will be described.

Selenium (Se) is one of the essential micronutrients. There are various chemical forms of Se in nature, and animals utilize these selenocompounds as Se sources in meat, fish, and vegetables. Although the nutritional availability of Se depends on their chemical forms, the difference is not fully understood. We demonstrated that the nutritional avail- ability of Se depended on not only their chemical forms but also the administration routes, and gut microflora played an important role in the Se metabolism of a host animal. In this review, we described the nutritional availability of various selenocompounds and the molecular mechanisms underlying the role of gut microflora in the Se nutrition in a host animal.

Oysters are among the most popular seafood products. The family Ostreidae is estimated to comprise 60 oyster species that are widely distributed in coastal waters worldwide. Three genera, Crassostrea, Saccostrea, and Ostrea, contain many important fishery species. The Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas, and the Iwagaki oyster, C. nippona, are the two main species farmed in Japan. The flat oyster, Ostrea denselamellosa, was commonly fished in the Seto Inland Sea and Mikawa Bay until the 1980s. This natural resource has since dwindled and is no longer available on the market. In some areas, Saccostrea mordax and Ostrea circumpicta are also considered edible, but apparently they are not sold on the market. Other species include the small Japanese spiny oyster, Saccostrea kegaki, which inhabits the rocky intertidal zone in western Japan. Thus, there are several species of oysters. This paper provides an overview of the ecology of oysters in Japan and of the techniques used in their aquaculture.