Anti-obesity effects of onion extract were determined in obesity and diabetes-prone Zucker diabetic fatty rats by measuring the efficacy of markers concerned with diabetes and obesity. Body and adipose tissue weights in 5% of onion extract-fed group were found to be significantly lower than the control group without onion extract. Fasting blood glucose and HOMA-IR levels were also improved, although the serum insulin and leptin levels did not show any remarkable difference. Serum triglyceride and free fatty acid levels in both the 3% and 5%-fed group were found to be reduced compared to the control group. Additionally the feeding of the onion extract increased the glucose tolerance. These results suggest that dietary onion extract is beneficial for improving diabetes by decreasing lipid levels. We also examined differentiation ability of rat white preadipocyte cells using the onion extract and its sulfur-containing components. Cycloalliin, S-methyl-L-cysteine, S-propyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide, dimethyl trisulfide, especially S-methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide were reported to be effective in inhibiting formation of oil drop in the cells, suggesting that these compounds may be involved in the anti-obesity effect of the onion extract.

Earlier studies have reported the efficacy of type II collagen (C II) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, a few studies have investigated the ability of the antigenic collagen to induce oral tolerance, which is defined as active nonresponse to an orally administered antigen. We hypothesized that water-soluble undenatured C II had a similar effect as C II in RA. The present study was designed to examine the oral administration of a novel, water-soluble, undenatured C II (commercially known as NEXT-II) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in mice. In addition, the underlying mechanism of NEXT-II was also identified. After a booster dose (collagen-Freund's complete adjuvant), mice were assigned to control CIA group, or NEXT-II treatment group, to which saline and NEXT-II were administered, respectively. The arthritis index in the NEXT-II group was significantly lower compared with the CIA group. Serum IL-6 levels in the NEXT-II group were significantly lower compared with the CIA group, while serum IL-2 level was higher. Furthermore, oral administration of NEXT-II enhanced the proportion of CD4+CD25+T (Treg) cells, and gene expressions of stimulated dendritic cells induced markers for regulatory T cells such as forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, and CD25. These results demonstrated that orally administered water-soluble undenatured C II (NEXT-II) is highly efficacious in the suppression of CIA by inducing CD4+CD25+ Treg cells.

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These results demonstrate the broad-spectrum safety and efficacy of NEXT-II in ameliorating the symptoms of arthritis. Key Teaching Points: •A novel, water-soluble, undenatured type II collagen (NEXT-II) was developed for osteoarthritis. •The safety studies including acute oral and dermal toxicity, primary dermal and primary eye irritation, Ames' bacterial reverse mutation assay, mouse lymphoma assay, and 150-day long-term safety studies were conducted. •NEXT-II exhibited significant efficacy in ameliorating pain and inflammation in collagen-induced arthritis in mice. •NEXT-II exhibited a significant reduction in overall pain in moderately arthritic dogs without changing physical parameters.

In the present study, the protective effects of dietary Spirulina (SP) and germanium-containing Spirulina (GeSP) were compared in rats with liver injury induced by an intraperitoneal injection of D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS). Wistar rats were fed one of the following diets: the basal diet (GalN/LPS-CON group; n 6), the basal diet supplemented with 5 % SP or GeSP (GalN/LPS-SP and GalN/LPS-GeSP group, respectively; n 7 each). After administering these diets for 7 d, each rat was intraperitoneally injected with GalN/LPS. Increases in plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities were suppressed in the GalN/LPS-GeSP group (GalN/LPS-CON v. GalN/LPS-GeSP: ALT 1052 (SEM 187) v. 509 (SEM 88) IU/l and AST 2183 (SEM 368) v. 1170 (SEM 196) IU/l) following the injection of GalN/LPS. Plasma levels of interferon-g (IFN-g) and TNF-a in GeSP-fed rats were significantly lower when compared with those in the GalN/LPS-CON group (GalN/LPS-CON v. GalN/LPS-GeSP: IFN-g 142·8 (SEM 17·5) v. 66·8 (SEM 9·7) pg/ml and TNF-a 72·3 (SEM 15·4) v. 31·2 (SEM 6·8) pg/ml). However, the decrease in these levels observed in the GalN/LPS-SP group was not as prominent as those observed in the GalN/LPS-GeSP group. Furthermore, the increase in liver catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, as well as the level of oxidised glutathione (GSSG), was more suppressed in GeSP-fed rats (GalN/ LPS-CON v. GalN/LPS-GeSP: CAT 457 (SEM 47) v. 262 (SEM 54) U/mg liver protein; GPx 1·30 (SEM 0·11) v. 0·53 (SEM 0·09) U/mg liver protein; GSSG 2·18 (SEM 0·33) v. 1·31 (SEM 0·24) mmol/kg liver) after the injection of GalN/LPS. These changes were more pronounced in the GalN/ LPS-GeSP group than in the GalN/LPS-SP group. These results suggest that GeSP could afford a significant protective effect in the alleviation of GalN/LPS-induced hepatic damage. In addition, the results indicate that GeSP is more effective than SP.Key words: Germanium-containing Spirulina: D-Galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide: Liver injury: Antioxidant enzymes Hepatic failure induced by the injection of D-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide (GalN/LPS) has been considered as an inflammatory response, involving the accumulation of mononuclear cells in the liver and an increase in plasma alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. This phenomenon is observed in patients with acute hepatic failure (1) . GalN/LPS-induced liver injury is also known to cause cytokine release (TNF-a is the main mediator) that contributes to increased oxidative stress and the formation of reactive oxygen species, followed by hepatocyte death (2,3) .The blue-green alga Spirulina (Spirulina platensis, SP) is used as a health food source because it contains large amounts of vitamins, minerals and amino acids. Its consumption by humans and rodents is believed to be efficacious in improving diabetes (4) , osteopenia (5) and immunity (6) . Furthermore, it has been reported that SP and its component phycocyanin mitigate D-galac...

This study was conducted to determine the broad-spectrum safety of a novel, water-soluble undenatured type II collagen (NEXT-II) derived from chicken sternum cartilage. The presence of epitope in NEXT-II was confirmed by using a commercial kit. The acute oral LD₅₀ of NEXT-II was found to be greater than 5000 mg/kg bw in rats, while the single-dose acute dermal LD₅₀ was greater than 2000 mg/kg bw. The primary dermal irritation index (PDII) of NEXT-II was found to be 1.8 and classified as slightly irritating to the skin. In primary eye irritation studies, the maximum mean total score (MMTS) of NEXT-II was observed to be 7.3 and classified as minimally irritating to the eye. Long-term safety studies were conducted in dogs over a period of 150 d, and no significant changes were observed in body weight, heart rate, respiration rate and blood chemistry. NEXT-II does not induce mutagenicity in the bacterial reverse mutation test in five Salmonella typhimurium strains either with or without metabolic activation. Furthermore, two experiments were conducted to assess the potential of NEXT-II to induce mutations with and without metabolic activation at the mouse lymphoma thymidine kinase locus using the cell line L5178Y. No biologically relevant increase of mutants was observed. Also, no dose-dependent toxicity was observed. Furthermore, colony sizing showed no clastogenic effects induced by NEXT-II under the experimental conditions. These studies demonstrated the broad spectrum of safety of NEXT-II.

Background: Nutraceuticals and functional foods are increasingly being used to help manage hypertension. Treatment with either pumpkin or onion can significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in animal studies. Traditionally, pumpkin has been used to support healthy blood pressure, glucose tolerance and lipid levels. Onion contains high levels of flavonoids, including quercetin, which decreases blood pressure and promotes restoration of healthy endothelial function. However, human trials on these food sources are limited, and the combined effects of pumpkin and onion have not been examined yet.Objective: We performed an open-label clinical study to evaluate the effects of a proprietary onion-pumpkin extract (OPtain120) on systolic and diastolic blood pressure.Methods: Healthy adults with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the elevated range of 140-159 and 80-90 mmHg, respectively, were enrolled in this study. Subjects consumed one capsule of onion-pumpkin extract twice daily for 12 weeks. Daily Home Blood Pressure Measurement (HBPM) was taken upon waking and before bed. Office Blood Pressure Measurement (OBPM) was taken in-clinic at Week 0, 6, and 12.Results:  52 subjects were screened and 12 were enrolled in the study, with a total of 10 subjects completing the study. Systolic HBPM taken before bed demonstrated a statistically significant reduction from baseline (147.23 mmHg) to Week 12 (138.14 mmHg), representing a reduction of 9.09 mmHg (6.17%, p=0.021). Diastolic HBPM taken before bed demonstrated a decrease of 4.06 mmHg (4.46%, p=0.085), a significant reduction from baseline (91.07 mmHg) at Week 12 (87.02 mmHg). Non-statistically significant reductions were seen in the early morning Systolic (3.14%) and Diastolic (2.57%) HBPM and in the Systolic (1.36%) OBPM.Conclusion: OPtain120 was safely consumed over a 12-week period. OPtain120 appears to be effective in lowering Systolic Blood Pressure at bedtime in healthy individuals with slightly elevated blood pressure. This study suggests that onion-pumpkin extract may aid individuals who manage their cardiovascular risk factors with diet and lifestyle.Key Words: pumpkin, onion, extract, blood pressure

Introduction: Undenatured type II collagen, derived from chicken sternum cartilage, is a novel functional ingredient, which has been demonstrated to improve joint health, flexibility and mobility, and enhancing motor functions. Undenatured type II collagen has been commercially available as functional dietary supplement worldwide for many years. Research studies demonstrated its broad-spectrum safety and clinical efficacy. Undenatured type II collagen requires very small amount to exhibit clinical efficacy and hence can be easily consumed over a long period of time as compared to the other joint care functional ingredients such as glucosamine and chondroitin. Since undenatured type II collagen is effective in relatively small amount, its accurate measurement in various dosage forms such as tablets and capsules become crucial to provide consumers optimal cost and joint-health benefits. Objective: In the present study, we modified the previously used Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method to determine the active constituents precisely and accurately in formulations to affirm broad spectrum safety and clinical efficacy. Methods: Improved precision ELISA methodology was utilized to determine the amount of undenatured type II collagen extracted from chicken sternum cartilage. A commercially available Chondrex Collagen Detection Kit was used to determine the number of epitope (antigenic determinant) sites on the three-dimensional tightly-folded structured collagen. Time and temperature were set at ≥16 h or preferably within the range of 16 h to 24 h and at room temperatureResults: The results obtained from this improved ELISA method strongly supported the accuracy and validity, which correlates very well with the results of our earlier clinical studies, revealing the efficacy of undenatured type II collagen concentrations used. Furthermore, the modified ELISA method, designed by our team, revealed consistent and reproducible results on the basis of counting the epitope sites in undenatured type II collagen (NEXT-II®) of commercial batchesConclusion: Using this precisely modified ELISA method gave 8% of undenatured type II collagen in NEXT-II®, resulting in 3.2 mg in 40.0 mg of NEXT-II®. It also confirmed that administration of 3.2 mg of undenatured type II collagen a day, both in open-label and randomized clinical trials, was safe and efficacious for joint pain, flexibility and mobility, and motor function. Keywords: Undenatured type II collagen, NEXT-II®, ELISA method, Pepsin