− Lactulose is well known for functional component in the food and pharmaceutical field and utilized in a wide variety of foods as a bifidus factor or functional ingredient for intestinal regulation. Lactulose synthesis can be classified into chemical and biological methods. In chemical methods, lactulose is synthesized by alkaline isomerization, but it has many disadvantages such as including product purification, lactulose degradation, side reactions and waste management. Therefore, the enzymatic synthesis methods were recently studied to solve these problems. β-galactosidase is a important enzyme in the dairy industry, because of the production of lactose-hydrolyzed products. Also, β-galactosidases can be utilized to synthesize lactulose from lactose by a trans-galactosylation reaction, using fructose as a galactosyl acceptor. However, the synthesis of lactulose from lactose is economically not suitable due to high levels of lactose price. This review summarizes the current state of lactulose production by chemical and biological processes.
Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays a pivotal role in augmenting Protein C activation through the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex. EPCR activity is markedly changed by ectodomain cleavage and released as the soluble protein (sEPCR). EPCR shedding is mediated by tumor necrosis factor-α converting enzyme (TACE). Lycopene found in tomatoes and tomato products has anti-oxidant, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, little is known about the effects of lycopene on EPCR shedding. We investigated this issue by monitoring the effects of lycopene on the phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and on the cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-mediated EPCR shedding. Data showed that lycopene potently inhibited the PMA, TNF-α, IL-1β and CLP-induced EPCR shedding by suppressing TACE expression. Furthermore, lycopene reduced PMA-stimulated phosphorylation of p38, extracellular regulated kinases (ERK) 1/2 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Given these results, lycopene should be viewed as a candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of various severe vascular inflammatory diseases via inhibition of the EPCR shedding.
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