Studies were conducted to evaluate the cell damage caused by exposing human colon carcinoma cells, Caco-2, to hydrogen peroxide at concentrations varying from 0 to 250 microM for 30 min. Evaluation of cell viability, as measured by trypan blue dye exclusion test, showed that the loss of viability was < 5% at concentrations up to 250 microM hydrogen peroxide. Cell membrane damage and DNA damage as measured by the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase and the comet assay, respectively, were significantly high at concentrations >100 microM hydrogen peroxide compared to those of the control. Antioxidant mechanisms in Caco-2 cells were evaluated by measuring catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities. Catalase activities remained constant in cells treated with 50-250 microM hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide dismutase activity decreased, whereas glutathione peroxidase activity increased in cells treated with H(2)O(2) concentrations of >50 microM. This study showed that with increasing hydrogen peroxide concentration, cell membrane leakage and DNA damage increased, whereas the three antioxidant enzymes responded differently, as shown by mathematical models.

A modification of McKellar and Cholette's (1986) calorimetric method for determining lipase activity in reconstituted non-fat dry milk was develooed. The method uses the color reaction between Fast Blue BB and the S-naphthol (BN) enzymatically cleaved from f3-naphthyl cap@ate (BNC) as a measure of lipase activity. In the modified method, a solvent system is used to clarify the sample rather than extracting the colored product. This modification allows measurement of total sample lipase by excluding centrifugation. In addition, the modified method has greater sensitivity with equal ease of use.

Fuel properties of beef tallow, soybean oil, their esters, and blends with No. 2 diesel fuel and ethanol were determined. Fuel properties tested were viscosity, specific gravity, API gravity, distillation ranges, calculated cetane index, energy content, flash point, water content, sulfur content, carbon residue, particulate matter, acid value, copper-strip corrosion test, ash content, melting point, cloud point, and pour point. Gas-chromatographic analyses of tallow, soybean oil, and their esters were performed to determine their major constituents. Viscosities of soybean oil and tallow were significantly reduced by esterification. Other fuel properties of the esters and their blends with No. 2 diesel fuel and ethanol were similar to the properties of No. 2 diesel fuel. JAOCS 72, 1557JAOCS 72, -1564JAOCS 72, (1995.

Glycerol‐plasticized soy protein films were cast from alkaline aqueous film‐forming solutions of laboratory‐prepared 7S, 11S, and soy isolate (LSI) fractions and from commercial soy isolate (CSI). Tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (E), water vapor permeability (WVP), total soluble matter (TSM), protein solubility (PS), and Hunter L, a, and b color values of these films were determined. The 11S films had greater TS than 7S films (P < 0.05), while LSI films had greater TS than CSI films (P < 0.05). No significant differences were detected among mean E values and among mean WVP values of all films (P > 0.05). The 7S films had higher TSM and PS values than 11S films (P < 0.05). CSI films were significantly darker (lower L value) and more yellow (greater positive b value) than LSI films (P < 0.05).

Grain sorghum is a rich source of phytochemicals that could potentially benefit human health. In this study, male hamsters were fed AIN-93M diets supplemented with a hexane-extractable lipid fraction from grain sorghum whole kernels. The grain sorghum lipids (GSL) comprised 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, or 5.0% of the diet by weight. After 4 wk, dietary GSL significantly reduced plasma non-HDL cholesterol concentration in a dose-dependent manner with reductions of 18, 36, and 69% in hamsters fed 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0% GSL, respectively, compared with controls. Liver cholesteryl ester concentration was also significantly reduced in hamsters fed GSL. Plasma HDL cholesterol concentration was not altered (P > 0.05) by dietary treatment. Cholesterol absorption efficiency was significantly reduced by GSL in a dose-dependent manner. Cholesterol absorption was also directly correlated with plasma non-HDL cholesterol concentration (r = 0.97, P < 0.05), suggesting that dietary GSL lowers non-HDL cholesterol, at least in part, by inhibiting cholesterol absorption. TLC and GLC analyses of the GSL extract revealed the presence of plant sterols and policosanols at concentrations of 0.35 and 8.0 g/100 g GSL, respectively. Although plant sterols reduce cholesterol absorption, policosanols may inhibit endogenous cholesterol synthesis. The data suggest that these components of GSL extract may work collectively in lowering plasma and liver cholesterol concentrations. Our findings further indicate that grain sorghum contains beneficial components that could be used as food ingredients or dietary supplements to manage cholesterol levels in humans.