Interesterified blends of hard palm stearin (IV of 11) and canola oil (hPS/CO) in ratios of 20 : 80, 30 : 70, 40 : 60, 50 : 50, 60 : 40 and 70 : 30 were prepared using immobilized Thermomyces lanuginosus lipase (Lipozyme TL IM). Comparison of physical properties was carried out between non-interesterified and enzymatically interesterified products by monitoring their slip melting point (SMP), solid fat content (SFC), melting thermogram and polymorphism behavior. The Lipozyme TL IM-catalyzed interesterification significantly modified the physical properties of the hPS:CO blends. The results showed that all the interesterified blends had lower SMP and SFC than their unreacted blends. The SMP result showed that the interesterified blends of hPS/CO 40 : 60, 50 : 50 and 60 : 40 could be useful for stick margarine and shortening applications, respectively. From the SFC analysis, the interesterified blends of hPS/CO 40 : 60 have SFC curves similar to vanaspati. The interesterified blends of hPS/CO 50 : 50 and 60 : 40 have SFC curves similar to margarines, puff pastry margarine and shortening. Interesterification had replaced the higher-and lower-melting triacylglycerols by the middle-melting triacylglycerols, yielding mixtures of lower SMP and SFC, compared to the original palm stearin. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated the appearance of b' crystals in all the interesterified hPS/CO blends from predominantly b-type oils.

In the study, using ethanol extracts of Renshen (Panax ginseng C A Meyer), Xiyangshen (Panax quinquefolius L.) and Dangshen (Codonopsis pilosulae), we investigated the effect of these "Qi-invigorating" Chinese tonic herbs on mitochondrial ATP generation capacity (ATP-GC) in H9c2 cardiomyocytes in situ and rat hearts ex vivo. All three types of "Shens" stimulated mitochondrial ATP-GC, with Renshen being most potent. While a parallel enhancement in mitochondrial ATP-GC was observed in Renshen-and Xiyangshen-pretreated rats, Dangshen treatment did not produce detectable effect ex vivo. The discrepancy between in situ and ex vivo assays for Dangshen may be attributed by its limited oral-bioavailability to the heart. The tissue specific activity of Shens on mitochondrial ATP-GC may be explained by the "Meridian Theory" in traditional Chinese medicine.