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Obesity, a chronic disorder caused by excessive energy intake leading to fat accumulation in adipose tissue, increases the risk of severe diseases. Brassica rapa L. is known as a traditional vegetable in the Nagano area of Japan. C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three groups, with different diets as follows: a normal diet, a Western diet (WD), and a WD plus B. rapa L. powder (BP) in a 56-day experiment. Brassica rapa L. supplementation reduced the body weight gain and lipid accumulation of mice significantly. The BP group also had higher fecal bile acid, total cholesterol, and triglyceride excretion levels compared with those in the other groups. The antiobesity effects of B. rapa L. were due to its binding with cholesterol and fat, and possibly enhancing the bile acid excretion and modulating gut microbiota, suggesting that B. rapa L. could be a functional vegetable with potential uses in targeting obesity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dietary foods have functions that can prevent disease and improve immune function, eg. increasing resistance to infection and preventing allergies. Brassica rapa L., known as Nozawana in Japan, is a cruciferous plant and a traditional vegetable of the Shinshu area. Nozawana leaves and stalks are processed mainly into pickled products called Nozawana-zuke. However, it is unclear whether Nozawana exerts beneficial effects on immune function. In this review, we discuss the evidence we have accumulated, which indicate Nozawana has effects on immunomodulation and gut microbiota. We have shown that Nozawana exerts an immunostimulatory effect by enhancing interferon-gamma production and natural killer activity. During the fermentation of Nozawana, the number of lactic acid bacteria increases and cytokine production by spleen cells is enhanced. Moreover, the consumption of Nozawana pickle was shown to modulate gut microbiota and improve the intestinal environment. Thus, Nozawana could be a promising food for improving human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]