This study was conducted to investigate the free‐radical‐scavenging activity and antioxidant activity of silk sericin. Silk sericin was prepared from silkworm Bombyx mori and its ability to scavenge hydroxyl, superoxide and 1,1‐diphenyl‐2‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals was determined by Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and ultraviolet spectrophotometry, respectively. The antioxidant activities of the silk sericin, including lipid peroxidation in the linoleic acid system, reducing power and ferrous‐ion‐chelating ability, were evaluated. The results showed that silk sericin had a strong scavenging capacity for hydroxyl, superoxide and DPPH radicals. The results also showed that silk sericin had potent antioxidative activity on the peroxidation of linoleic acid. The reducing power and ferrous‐ion‐chelating ability of silk sericin were significant. These results indicated that silk sericin from silkworm B. mori was a natural antioxidant with potent antioxidative activity. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Most of silk sericin must be removed during raw silk production at the reeling mill and other stages of silk processing. At present, silk sericin is mostly discarded in silk processing waste water. If silk sericin is recovered and recycled, it can represent a significant economic and social benefit. Silk sericin is a natural macromolecular protein derived from the silkworm Bombyx mori. Silk sericin is useful because of its antioxidant activity. Silk sericin can be cross linked, copolymerized and blended with other macromolecular materials, especially artificial polymers, to produce materials with improved properties. The protein is also used as an improving reagent or a coating material for natural and artificial fibers, fabrics and articles. The materials modified with silk sericin and sericin composites are useful as degradable biomaterials, biomedical materials and functional membranes.

-Consumption of dairy products containing probiotics with cholesterol-lowering activity has been proposed as a means to lower serum cholesterol. In the present work, 19 yeast strains, isolated from raw milk, were tested to obtain potential probiotic yeasts for assimilating cholesterol. During in vitro tests, 17 yeast strains were capable of growth in bile salt solutions, and most of the yeast strains tolerated low pH, surviving in gastric juice. Among the 19 strains assessed, Geotrichum sp. BY2 and Pichia kudriavzevii BY10 showed highest adhesive ability to HT-29 cells. All yeast strains were able to assimilate cholesterol in the range of 3.6-44.4% over a 72 h incubation, and seven of the yeast strains were significantly higher at assimilating cholesterol (P < 0.05). According to these results, the yeast strains P. fermentans BY5, P. kudriavzevii BY10, P. kudriavzevii BY15 and Yarrowia lipolytica HY4 may serve as potential probiotics to assimilate cholesterol in the human intestine.Résumé -Cribable du potentiel d'assimilation du cholestérol de souches probiotiques de levure isolées à partir de lait cru. La consommation de produits laitiers contenant des probiotiques ayant une activité hypo-cholestérolémiante a été proposée comme moyen d'abaisser le cholestérol sanguin. Dans la présente étude, 19 souches de levure isolées à partir de lait cru ont été testées comme probiotiques potentiels pour assimiler le cholestérol. Au cours des tests in vitro, Article published by EDP Sciences 17 souches étaient capables de croissance dans des solutions de sels biliaires, et la plupart des souches tolérait bien les faibles pH, en survivant dans le jus gastrique. Parmi les 19 souches testées, Geotrichum sp. BY2 et Pichia kudriavzenii BY10 montraient la plus grande capacité d'adhésion aux cellules HT-29. Toutes les souches de levure étaient capables d'assimiler le cholestérol à hauteur de 3,6 à 44,4 % après une incubation de 72 h et 7 souches avaient des taux d'assimilation significativement plus élevés (P < 0,05). D'après ces résultats, les souches de levure Pichia fermentans BY5, P. kudriavzenii BY10, P. kudriavzenii BY15 et Yarrowia lipolytica HY4 pourraient être utilisées comme probiotiques potentiels pour assimiler le cholestérol au niveau de l'intestin chez l'Homme.levure / probiotique / lait cru / cholestérol

Scope Phaseolus vulgaris L. is rich in alpha‐amylase inhibitor and has been used for reducing glycemia and calories absorption through preventing or delaying the digestion of complex carbohydrate. A randomized, double‐blinded, placebo‐controlled study was conducted on obese volunteers to evaluate the degree of significate weight loss by regular intake Phaseolus vulgaris cultivated from Southwestern region of China. Method The volunteers were divided into two groups, homogeneous for age, gender, and body weight. Phaseolus vulgaris extract or placebo was given 2,400 mg per day before each daily meal for 35 consecutive days. Each subject's body weight, fat mass, body mass index, blood biochemical parameters, skinfold fat thickness, and waist/hip circumferences were monitored and analyzed. Result and conclusion As a result, the average amount of weight lost by the Phaseolus vulgaris extract group was 2.24 kg (average of 0.448 kg per week), compared with a 0.29 kg weight loss (average of 0.058 kg per week) in placebo group after 35 days. The differences between groups were significant (p < .01). The body mass index decreased by an average of 0.79, and the body fat decreased by 1.53% on average compared to baseline (p < .05). The thickness of subcutaneous fat was significantly reduced at the four measurement points, and the decrease of waist circumference and hip circumference was significant as well. No adverse or side effects were observed during the trial period. The results indicate that Phaseolus vulgaris extract can significantly induce weight loss in a short time period.

Eleven different species of yeasts isolated from raw milk, such as Issatchenkia orientalis, Pichia fermentans, Rhodotorula mucilaginosa and Yarrowia lipolytica were identified using an integrated approach, including phenotypic and genotypic methods and the API 20C AUX system. Eleven selected strains which tolerated low pH levels, gastric juice and bile salt were further analysed for the presence of functional traits useful for probiotic application as antioxidants. The ability to scavenge DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and inhibit linoleic acid peroxidation indicated that P. fermentans BY5 and HJ15 may be promising candidate strains for use as probiotics with antioxidant activity.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of 10 Chinese medicinal herb extracts were evaluated by dipping raw sheep meat in extracts, packaging the samples in polyethylene, and refrigerating them at 4 degrees C. The optimum concentrations of Codonopsis pilosula, Platycodon grandiflorum, Artemisia capillaris, Cinnamomum cassia, Rheum palmatum, Ziziphus jujuba, Gardenia jasminoides, Santalum album, Angelica sinensis, and Bletilla striata were 0.10, 0.10, 0.25, 0.10, 0.25, 0.25, 0.25, 0.10, 0.25, and 0.25%, respectively. Analysis revealed that test ingredients were more effective in reducing lipid oxidation and microbial counts in raw sheep meat. Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative linear relationship between the inhibition of hydroxyl and lipid oxidation, and inhibition of hydroxyl was the main factor affecting lipid oxidation. A. capillaris (0.25%), C. pilosula (0.10%), and P. grandiflorum (0.10%) were identified as the most effective antioxidants. S. album (0.10%), A. capillaris (0.10%), and C. cassia (0.10%) were the most effective antimicrobials. A. capillaris (0.25%), C. pilosula (0.10%), and P. grandiflorum (0.10%) increased meat redness significantly (P < 0.05) when compared with the control samples on days 0, 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, and 11. The pH values of sheep meat treated with C. pilosula (0.10%) and A. capillaris (0.10%) were lower than those of meat treated with other extracts.