Bitter gourd ( Momordica charantia L.) is a popular tropical vegetable in Asian countries. Previously it was shown that bitter gourd placenta extract suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced TNFalpha production in RAW 264.7 macrophage-like cells. Here it is shown that the butanol-soluble fraction of bitter gourd placenta extract strongly suppresses LPS-induced TNFalpha production in RAW 264.7 cells. Gene expression analysis using a fibrous DNA microarray showed that the bitter gourd butanol fraction suppressed expression of various LPS-induced inflammatory genes, such as those for TNF, IL1alpha, IL1beta, G1p2, and Ccl5. The butanol fraction significantly suppressed NFkappaB DNA binding activity and phosphorylation of p38, JNK, and ERK MAPKs. Components in the active fraction from bitter gourd were identified as 1-alpha-linolenoyl-lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), 2-alpha-linolenoyl-LPC, 1-lynoleoyl-LPC, and 2-linoleoyl-LPC. Purified 1-alpha-linolenoyl-LPC and 1-linoleoyl-LPC suppressed the LPS-induced TNFalpha production of RAW 264.7 cells at a concentration of 10 microg/mL.

We studied the physiological functions of enzymatic hydrolysates of collagen or keratin contained in livestock and fish waste, for the purpose of determining optimal utilization of those wastes. The enzymatic hydrolysate of meat meal, a collagen-waste, showed strong angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibiting activity (IC 50 ‫8.2-6.0؍‬ mg/ml). In contrast, the enzymatic hydrolysate of a mixture of horn and hoof, a keratin-waste, showed high antioxidative activity. Thus, collagen or keratin contained in livestock and fish waste may be convertible to useful products by enzymatic hydrolysis, providing new physiologically functional food materials.

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A novel purple pigment called hordeumin, a type of anthocyanin-tannin pigment, was produced from barley bran-fermented broth. The radical scavenging activity of hordeumin was analyzed by using an electron-spin resonance (ESR) spectrometer. The hordeumin scavenged superoxide radical in a concentration-dependent manner. Superoxide dismutase-like activity values were 118 and 195 units/mg for crude and partially purified hordeumin, respectively. The two types of hordeumins also scavenged the DPPH radical. Furthermore, barley bran-fermented filtrate before pigment formation and extract of barley bran also scavenged the DPPH radical. However, the DPPH radical scavenging activity of a filtrate, fermented over a long period, was stronger than that fermented over a short period. Thus, it was considered that radical scavenging activity of hordeumin resulted from barley bran polyphenol such as proanthocyanidins.

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