Retort pouch peanuts are a new product manufactured with the aim of increasing peanut production and consumption. Retort pouch peanuts are produced using raw pods and have a soft texture, similar to when boiled. This product is ready-to-eat and can be stored for long periods at room temperature. Cultivation controls and low temperature maintenance of raw pods, from harvest to retort treatment, are important for the manufacture of high quality products, both in appearance and taste. Retort pouch peanuts are a food produced by close co-operation of the grower and manufacturer, and since its introduction over 10 years ago, it has maintained a stable presence in the peanut-processing sector.

View full abstract

We investigated the effects of carotenoid and/or anthocyanin pigment extracts from purple carrot on the reactions induced by restraint stress in mice. Purple carrot contained β-, α-carotene, and phytoene as carotenoid compounds, and five anthocyanin compounds that contained cyanidin as aglycon. Aliquots of carotenoid and/or anthocyanin pigment extracts from purple carrot in an acidic detergent solution (citric acid, Tween 80) were administered intragastrically once per day for three days to mice, after which they were restrained for 24h. Unrestrained mice were administered acidic Tween solution with or without free access to feed and water. Restraint stress induced elevation in plasma arteriosclerotic index, hepatic total cholesterol and the amount of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) of plasma and liver tissues in mice. In contrast, these variables were suppressed in the restraint mice that were administered purple carrot pigment extracts. Furthermore, additional effects of carotenoid and anthocyanin pigment extracts on a reduction in hepatic cholesterol level were observed. These results suggest that purple carrot pigment extracts have in vivo anti-stress effects against the reactions induced by immobilization in mice.

View full abstract

The constituents of functional polyphenols, such as caffeic acid (CA), chlorogenic acid (ChA), 4,5-di-caffeoylquinic acid (4,5-diCQA), 3,5-diCQA, 3,4-diCQA and 3,4,5-triCQA, in 9 cultivars of Okinawan sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas L.) and two comparable sweet potato cultivars were examined. The total amounts of caffeic acid derivatives correlated with the polyphenol contents (r=0.94), and were the main polyphenol constituents of sweet potato leaf. 4,5-diCQA and 3,5-diCQA were the main components in all cultivars, and were higher in harukogane, koganeyutaka and nagomasari than in the other cultivars. The inhibition of LDL-oxidation of the sweet potato leaf extracts was correlated with the total amounts of caffeic acid derivatives, suggesting that sweet potato leaves may prevent atherosclerosis via reducing early atherogenesis. This study demonstrated that Okinawan sweet potato leaves have potential as a functional food.

View full abstract

Optimizing the concentration of Viburnum dilatatum polyphenols, such as cyanidin 3-sambubioside (C3S) and chlorogenic acid, is important for improving the quality and health functions of its fruit. In order to determine the suitable harvesting season of V. dilatatum fruit, brix, total polyphenol contents, DPPH radical scavenging activity and individual V. dilatatum polyphenol concentrations in the fruit were measured from August to November. Brix and radical scavenging activity increased with time, exhibiting good correlations among each parameter. The concentrations of C3S and cyanidin 3-glucoside in fruits increased greatly with maturation. These results demonstrate that the most suitable harvesting season and usage of V. dilatatum fruit was November, when brix, polyphenol contents, radical scavenging activity and C3S concentration were the highest. Moreover, it is suggested that the brix can be an index of C3S content and DPPH radical scavenging activity in V. dilatatum fruit.

View full abstract

A simple method for detecting glutinous rice cultivars has been developed. We developed DNA markers for identifying two previously reported waxy mutations, and showed that 48 cultivars, accounting for 99.6% of the Japanese glutinous rice supply, could be detected by either one of the markers. To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the markers, we analyzed a mixture of glutinous and non-glutinous rice cultivar DNA. We show that both markers are specific for glutinous rice, and can be detected in samples containing ≥0.5% glutinous rice DNA.

View full abstract

[in Japanese]

View full abstract