Reishi (Ganoderma lingzhi) has been used as a traditional medicine for millennia. However, relatively little is known about this mushroom's proteins and their bioactivities. In this study, we used reishi's own proteases to hydrolyze its protein and obtained auto-digested reishi (ADR) extract. The extract was subjected to in vitro assays and administered to spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) to determine its potential for use as a hypotensive medication. Bioassay-guided fractionation and de novo sequencing were used for identifying the active compounds. After 4 h administration of ADR, the systolic pressure of SHRs significantly decreased to 34.3 mmHg (19.5% change) and the effect was maintained up to 8 h of administration, with the decrease reaching as low as 26.8 mmHg (15% reduction-compare to base line a decrease of 26.8 mmHg is less than a decrease of 34.3 mmHg so it should give a smaller % reduction). Eleven peptides were identified and four of them showed potent inhibition against ACE with IC 50 values ranging from 73.1 μM to 162.7 μM. The results showed that ADR could be a good source of hypotensive peptides that could be used for antihypertensive medication or incorporation into functional foods.
FG was shown to possess hepatoprotective activity against paracetamol (APAP)-induced liver injury better than FRG. Compound K might play an important role for an anti-inflammatory activity of FG by inhibiting JNK signalling in the liver.
The interplay between food components and gut microbiota has been considered an important factor affecting the functionality of health-promoting foods. In this study, the effects of the probiotic Lactobacillus paracasei A221 on the functionality and bioavailability of kaempferol-3-o-sophroside (KP3S), a kaempferol-glucoside contained in kale, were investigated in vitro and in vivo. Unlike the type strain NBRC15889, the A221 strain converted standard KP3S as well as the kaempferol-glucosides in kale extract into kaempferol (KP). Using an intestinal barrier model, treatment with A221 significantly improved the effects of kale extract on the barrier integrity in vitro. KP, but not KP3S, clearly induced similar effects, suggesting that KP contributes to the functional improvement of the kale extract by A221. Pharmacokinetics analyses revealed that the co-administration of A221 and KP3S significantly enhanced the amount of deconjugated KP in murine plasma samples at 3 h post-administration. Finally, the oral administration of KP to Sod1-deficinet mice, which is a good mouse model of age-related disease, clearly ameliorated various pathologies, including skin thinning, fatty liver and anemia. These findings suggest that Lactobacillus paracasei A221 is effective for enhancing the anti-aging properties of kaempferol-glucosides by modulating their functionality and bioavailability through the direct bioconversion.
The effect of γ-CyD on enhancing the solubility of compound K is much higher than that for the β-CyD complex, and the dissolution rate of the guest when it is partially included in the γ-CyD is faster the corresponding value when it is completely included in the cavity.
Aim: Ginseng, a traditional herbal medicine, has been shown to prevent the progression of dementia, but its therapeutic effects vary because ginseng's components must first be activated by intestinal bacteria before being absorbed into the blood. We therefore focused on a fermented ginseng (FG), which contains activated components prepared by Lactobacillus paracasei A221, and compared its effects with those of non-FG. In this study, we investigated whether FG is effective on spatial memory impairment in rats. Methods: Rats with spatial memory impairment were prepared with transient cerebral ischemia and intraventricular injection of β-amyloid 1-42 for 7 days (CI + Aβ). Oral FG or non-FG was given for 7 days after the cerebral ischemia. Spatial memory was evaluated using the Morris water maze (MWM). We observed neuronal neuclei-positive cells to assess hippocampal neuron loss, and investigated the protein expression of caspase-3 and cleaved caspase-3 for neuronal apoptosis, ionized calciumbinding adapter molecule 1 (Iba-1) for microglia, and glial fibrillary acidic protein for astrocytes. Results: FG treatment in the CI + Aβ-operated rats shortened the extended time to reach the platform in the MWM, whereas non-FG treatment did not affect the extended time. FG ameliorated loss of hippocampal cornu amonis (CA)1 neurons and the increase in caspase-3 and Iba-1 in the CI + Aβ-operated rats. Conclusion: FG improved spatial memory impairment in CI + Aβ-operated rats. The effect of FG might be attributed to the amelioration of apoptotic neuronal cell death and the inactivation of microglia. FG is a more useful treatment for patients with cognitive dysfunction than non-FG.
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