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Alismatis rhizoma (AR), the dried rhizome of Alisma orientale (Sam.) Juzep, is a well-known, traditional medicine that is used for the various biological activities including as a diuretic, to lower cholesterol and as an anti-inflammatory agent. The present study was carried out to investigate the potential toxicity of the Alismatis rhizoma aqueous extract (ARAE) following 90-day repeated oral administration to Sprague-Dawley rats. ARAE was administered orally to male and female rats for 90 days at 0 (control), 500, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg/day (n = 10 for male and female rats for each dose). Additional recovery groups from the control group and high dose group were observed for a 28-day recovery period. Chromatograms of ARAE detected main compounds with four peaks. Treatment-related effects including an increase in the red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, albumin, total protein, and urine volume were observed in males of the 2,000 mg/kg/day group (p < 0.05). However, the diuretic effect of ARAE was considered, a major cause of hematological and serum biochemical changes. The oral no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) of the ARAE was > 2,000 mg/kg/day in both genders, and no target organs were identified.

In the present study, we hypothesized that defatted safflower seed which is known to be rich in polyphenols might influence adipogenesis and obesity-related disorders, and therefore the anti-adipogenic and hypolipidemic effects of ethanol extract from defatted safflower (Cathamus tinctorius L.) seeds (CSE) were investigated both in cultured 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and in C57BL/6J ob/ob mice fed a high-fat diet. CSE inhibited adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and decreased expression of the adipogenic transcription factors, SREBP1c and PPARγ, and their target genes. Six-week-old obese (ob/ob) mice were fed a high-fat diet and treated with CSE (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) by oral gavage for 6 weeks. Body fat mass (epididymal and perirenal white adipose tissues) in the CSE-treated groups was significantly lower than that in the high-fat diet control (HFD) group, whereas average daily food intake was not significantly different among the groups. Plasma and hepatic triglyceride levels and plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level were also significantly lower in the CSE groups compared to the HFD group. These results suggest that CSE which decreases body fat mass and improves lipid profiles in plasma and liver, represents a potential treatment option for obesity and associated metabolic disorders, including hyperlipidemia.

Gelatin-based edible coating was used to reduce the oxidative degradation of low-fat sausages (LFSs) stored at 4 C for 8 wk under vacuum packaging. The gelatin coating reduced thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and peroxide value by 21.5 and 26.5%, respectively, compared with the controls. The moisture barrier effect was significantly better for the gelatin coating compared to the control. The gelatin coating reduced moisture loss in sausages by 32.6% over the control. However, the gelatin coating of sausages did not inhibit the growth of either the total plate counts or L. monocytogenes. Data show that gelatin can effectively be used as a natural antioxidative and moisture barrier coating to extend the quality and shelf life of sausages.

Effectiveness of edible coatings containing soy protein isolate (SPI), in reducing oxidative browning and moisture loss during storage (4 o C) of cut apples, potatoes, carrots, and onions was investigated. The SPI coatings were shown to have antioxidative activity. Furthermore, addition of carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) to the formulations significantly improved its antioxidative activity. Oxidative discoloration, as determined by Commission Internationale De I’Eclairage (CIE) lightness (L*), redness (a*), and yellowness (b*) color scale, was significantly reduced (p