No abstract

In this study, we combined enzymatic hydrolysis and lactic acid fermentation to generate an antihypertensive product. Soybean protein isolates were first hydrolyzed by Prozyme and subsequently fermented with Lactobacillus rhamnosus EBD1. After fermentation, the in vitro angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity of the product (P-SPI) increased from 60.8 ± 2.0 % to 88.24 ± 3.2 %, while captopril (a positive control) had an inhibitory activity of 94.20 ± 5.4 %. Mass spectrometry revealed the presence of three potent and abundant ACE inhibitory peptides, PPNNNPASPSFSSSS, GPKALPII, and IIRCTGC in P-SPI. Hydrolyzing P-SPI with gastrointestinal proteases did not significantly affect its ACE inhibitory ability. Also, oral administration of P-SPI (200 mg/kg body weight) to spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHRs) for 6 weeks significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (−19 ± 4 mm Hg, p < 0.05) and controlled body weight gain relative to control SHRs that were fed with physiological saline. Overall, P-SPI could be used as an antihypertensive functional food.

Rice bran arabinoxylan compound (RBAC) is derived from defatted rice bran hydrolyzed with Lentinus edodes mycelial enzyme. It has been marketed as a functional food and a nutraceutical with health-promoting properties. Some research has demonstrated this rice bran derivative to be a potent immunomodulator, which also possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-angiogenic properties. To date, research on RBAC has predominantly focused on its immunomodulatory action and application as a complementary therapy for cancer. Nonetheless, the clinical applications of RBAC can extend beyond cancer therapy. This article is a narrative review of the research on the potential benefits of RBAC for cancer and other health conditions based on the available literature. RBAC research has shown it to be useful as a complementary treatment for cancer and human immunodeficiency virus infection. It can positively modulate serum glucose, lipid and protein metabolism in diabetic patients. Additionally, RBAC has been shown to ameliorate irritable bowel syndrome and protect against liver injury caused by hepatitis or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. It can potentially ease symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome and prevent the common cold. RBAC is safe to consume and has no known side effects at the typical dosage of 2–3 g/day. Nevertheless, further research in both basic studies and human clinical trials are required to investigate the clinical applications, mechanisms, and effects of RBAC.

N‐diethylnitrosamine (DEN), a well‐known carcinogen, not only induces excessive reactive oxygen species but also suppresses DNA methylation. This study investigated the effect of fermented rice bran (FRB) treatment on DEN‐induced oxidative stress through DNA methylation and telomere length analysis. To evaluate the potential protective role of FRB in oxidative stress, two different doses of FRB, DEN, and their combination were administered to mice that were preadapted or not to FRB. Glutathione‐S‐transferase P1 (GSTP1) methylation levels significantly decreased at 2 and 24 hr after FRB and DEN co‐administration in mice with and without pre‐adaptation. Moreover, GSTP1 mRNA was upregulated under DEN‐induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, changes in long interspersed nuclear element‐1 methylation were observed from the viewpoint of genomic instability. In addition, FRB preadapted mice displayed a lower telomere length ratio than the non‐adapted mice, suggesting that FRB adaptation offers advantages over the non‐adapted conditions in terms of inflammation suppression. Practical applications DEN induces excessive ROS, which is associated with oxidative stress on DNA and other cellular components, resulting in inflammation. This study shows that FRB may alleviate DEN‐triggered oxidative stress, based on changes in GSTP1, LINE‐1 methylation, and telomere length ratios, thereby, revealing the potential of dietary intervention during inflammation. Furthermore, this study furthers the current understanding of DNA methylation mechanisms underlying the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory effects of functional food components. These results indicate that dietary inclusion of FRB may help decrease oxidative DNA damage and its associated inflammation at early stages of a disease.

Saengshik is a type of meal-replacement product or dietary supplement comprising an uncooked and dried plant-based food mixture with various health-promoting properties, such as antidiabetic, anti-dyslipidemic, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Although these properties are considered attributable to the various bioactive components absorbed through the intestine and its remolding effect on intestinal microorganisms, the effect of Saengshik supplementation on gut microbiota profiles has not yet been studied. In this study, we investigated the effect of Saengshik administration on the composition of gut microbiota. This single-group design trial was conducted on 102 healthy men and women who received 40 g/day of Saengshik powder for 8 weeks, during which stool samples were collected at two fixed time points (baseline and the endpoint) for gut microbiota-profiling analysis. We observed a significant decrease in the α-diversity of gut microbiota after Saengshik consumption (P &lt; 0.05), with significant changes identified in the composition of major microbial taxa, such as Bacteroidetes (P &lt; 0.0001), Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia (P &lt; 0.0001). Notably, the gut microbial response was related to the inter-individual variability of habitual dietary intake and enterotype at baseline. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the effects of Saengshik intake on changes in gut microbiota, with the results suggesting that individual habitual diet patterns and gut microbial shapes should be considered key aspects in Saengshik-mediated health-promotion effects.