ALBERT

Beschreibung: Estrogen deficiency is associated with obesity, dyslipidemia, and increased insulin resistance in postmenopausal women. An efficient therapeutic agent prevents or improves postmenopausal conditions induced by estrogen deficiency. Here, we investigated the effects of aqueous Agrimonia pilosa Ledeb. extract on glucose and lipid metabolism in ovariectomized rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Female Sprague-Dawley rats were sham-operated or ovariectomized, and 3 weeks later were assigned to the following groups: sham-operated + HFD (S); ovariectomized + HFD (OVX); and ovariectomized + HFD with 0.5% A. pilosa aqueous extract (OVX + 0.5A) groups. Ovariectomy significantly increased body weight and dietary intake relative to the S group. However, A. pilosa treatment did not significantly affect weight gain or dietary intake. Blood triacylglycerol, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels tended to decrease in the A. pilosa-supplemented group. Blood glucose levels were significantly lower in the OVX + 0.5A group than those in the OVX group. Blood adiponectin and insulin concentrations increased significantly after A. pilosa treatment in the ovariectomized group. A. pilosa supplementation tended to decrease liver weights and prevented lipid accumulation. These effects correlated with reduced hepatic expression of lipogenesis-related genes (fatty acid synthase, acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase alpha, and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase). Therefore, A. pilosa may improve metabolic disorders in ovariectomized rats.

Beschreibung: In this study, a donkey-specific primer pair and probe were designed from mitochondrial cytochrome b gene for the detection of raw donkey meat and different processed meat mixtures. The PCR product size for donkey DNA was 99 bp, and primer specificity was verified using 20 animal species. The limit of detection (LOD) was examined by serially diluting donkey DNA. Using real-time PCR, 0.001 ng of donkey DNA could be detected. In addition, binary meat mixtures with various percentages of donkey meat (0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 1%, 10%, and 100%) in beef were analyzed to determine the sensitivity of this real-time PCR assay. At least 0.001% of donkey meat was detected in raw, boiled, roasted, dried, grinded, fried, and autoclaved meat mixtures. The developed real-time PCR method showed sufficient specificity and sensitivity in identification of donkey meat and could be a useful tool for the identification of donkey meat in processed products.

Beschreibung: To provide consumers correct information on meat species, specific and sensitive detection methods are needed. Thus, we developed a capillary electrophoresis-based multiplex PCR assay to simultaneously detect red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and water deer (Hydropotes inermis). Specific primer sets for these three species were newly designed. Each primer set only amplified target species without any reactivity against non-target species. To identify multiple targets in a single reaction, multiplex PCR was optimized and combined with capillary electrophoresis to increase resolution and accuracy for the detection of multiple targets. The detection levels of this assay were 0.1 pg for red deer and roe deer and 1 pg for water deer. In addition, its applicability was demonstrated using various concentrations of meat DNA mixtures. Consequently, as low as 0.1% of the target species was detectable using the developed method. This capillary electrophoresis-based multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of three types of deer meat could authenticate deer species labeled on products, thus protecting consumers from meat adulteration.

Beschreibung: White colony-forming yeast (WCFY), also referred to as film forming yeast or spoilage yeast, that appear on the surface of kimchi can deteriorate the sensory properties of kimchi, such as odor and texture. Thus, the aim of this study was to develop a method to inhibit the formation of the white colony in kimchi. First, alterations in kimchi manufacturing and storage conditions, including temperatures, pH, salinity, and anaerobic condition, were investigated to determine if they could inhibit the growth of WCFY (i.e., Kazachstania servazzii, Candida sake, Debaryomyces hansenii, Pichia kudriavzevii, and Hanseniaspora uvarum). Thereafter, the anti yeast activity of freeze-dried garlic powder (FGP) and cinnamon ethanol extract (CEE) was evaluated against WCFY using the agar-well diffusion assay. Following the direct application of FGP and CEE to the surface of the kimchi, the inhibitory effects on white colony were determined. The results showed that WCFY can grow under various manufacturing and storage conditions of kimchi. Regarding the growth inhibitory effect on WCFY, FGP exhibited anti yeast activity against four WCFYs. It did not show anti yeast activity against K. servazzii. However, CEE showed anti yeast activity against K. servazzii. In particular, the mixture of 10% FGP and 1.75% CEE, which was manufactured considering the influence of sensory properties in kimchi, exhibited anti yeast activity against all WCFY. Furthermore, the application of the FGP and CEE mixture supplemented with 0.02% xanthan gum to kimchi to enhance adhesion to the kimchi surface, led to a delay in the formation of a white colony on the surface of the kimchi by an average of 17 d at 10 °C compared to the control group. Collectively, the use of a FGP, CEE, and xanthan gum mixture could be an effective method for the inhibition of white colony formation on the surface of kimchi, extending its shelf life.

Beschreibung: Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP55 has anti-pathogenic bacterial and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. We investigated the dietary effect of CJLP55 supplement in patients with acne vulgaris, a prevalent inflammatory skin condition. Subjects ingested CJLP55 or placebo (n = 14 per group) supplements for 12 weeks in this double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized study. Acne lesion count and grade, skin sebum, hydration, pH and surface lipids were assessed. Metagenomic DNA analysis was performed on urine extracellular vesicles (EV), which indirectly reflect systemic bacterial flora. Compared to the placebo supplement, CJLP55 supplement improved acne lesion count and grade, decreased sebum triglycerides (TG), and increased hydration and ceramide 2, the major ceramide species that maintains the epidermal lipid barrier for hydration. In addition, CJLP55 supplement decreased the prevalence of Proteobacteria and increased Firmicutes, which were correlated with decreased TG, the major skin surface lipid of sebum origin. CJLP55 supplement further decreased the Bacteroidetes:Firmicutes ratio, a relevant marker of bacterial dysbiosis. No differences in skin pH, other skin surface lipids or urine bacterial EV phylum were noted between CJLP55 and placebo supplements. Dietary Lactobacillus plantarum CJLP55 was beneficial to clinical state, skin sebum, and hydration and urine bacterial EV phylum flora in patients with acne vulgaris.