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Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) is produced by microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and fungi. Lactic acid bacteria play crucial roles in processing and preserving Vietnamese traditional fermented foods. The study aims to isolate high GABA-producing Lactobacillusstrains from traditional fermented foods. Eight bacterial strains, including BC3, BC4, BC5, BC6, BC7, K08, KC1, and KC2, were isolated from traditional fermented food sources (cabbage, pickled scallion, and kimchi). After 72 hrs of fermentation, the BC3 strain produced the highest GABA content (4.279 g/l). This strain was identified as Lactobacillus fermentum by 16S rRNA analysis. The results from the investigation of the fermentation time and concentration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) showed that the BC3 strain producing the highest GABA with the value of 6.734 g/l was after 72 hrs of fermentation and the concentration of MSG 4%.

The purpose of this study is to investigate in vitro hypoglycemic and free radical scavenging activities of some medicinal plants including Ficus glomerata (FG), Pandanus amaryllifolia (PaA), Artocarpus altilis (AA), Gomphrena celosioides (GC) and Gynostemma pentaphyllum (GP). Alpha-amylase inhibitory assay was examined by dinitrosalicylic acid reaction. Glucose uptake assay was investigated by LO-2 cell model. DPPH and ABTS+ scavenging assays were performed by spectrophotometry. Cell viability was determined by MTT method. It was found that the extracts including FG, PaA, AA, GC and GP were able to inhibit alphaamylase activity up to 38.4 ± 4.2%, 47.8 ± 4.3%, 49.3 ± 3.5%, 40.1 ± 4.4% and 38.5 ± 3.8%, respectively. Moreover, glucose adsorption and glucose uptake capacity of these extracts were evidenced. In addition, free radical scavenging activity of these extracts was indicated in a range of 30.6-54.5% for DPPH radical and 31.8-51.1% for ABTS+ radical. Especially, these extracts exhibited no cytotoxicity effect on human hepatic LO-2 cells and human gastric BGC-823 cells at the concentration of 100 μg/ml. The results indicated that A. altilis leaves were effective in inhibiting alpha-amylase activity, increasing glucose adsorption and glucose uptake and scavenging free radicals. Therefore, it could be suggested to be a promising hypoglycemic agent for managing type 2 diabetes.

Houttuynia cordata Thunb. is an edible and medicinal plant that belongs to the family of Saururaceae and widely distributes in Eastern Asia countries. H. cordata have been reported as a promising anticancer agent against various cancer cells. This study was to determine anti-proliferative effect of H. cordata extract on gastric cancer cells using an in vitro experimental model. The cytotoxicity was examined via the 2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, while cell migration was conducted by wound healing assay. The gene expression level was measured by real time PCR. The result showed that butanol extract exhibited highest anti-proliferative activity against BGC-823 cells with IC50 value of 193 µg/ml. Moreover, the wound healing assay determined the suppressive capacity of butanol extract on cell migration at concentration of 50 µg/ml. Notably, butanol extract treatment (50 µg/ml) was able to up-regulate the mRNA expression of apoptosis-mediated signaling molecules, including caspase-8, Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 in gastric cancer cells. These results indicate that butanol extract of H. cordata possesses inhibitory activity on tumor development and metastasis via induction of the process of programmed cell death.

Leaves of Combretum quadrangulare Kurz showed potent α-glucosidase inhibition. Two new cycloartane-type triterpenes, combretic acids D and E were isolated from the bioactive fraction. The chemical structures were determined using NMR and MS methods. Combretic acid D represents for the first cycloartane having a dihydrofuran ring in the side chain. Combretic acids D and E showed significant α-glucosidase inhibition, with IC

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-enriched products (GEP) exhibited a wide range of pharmaceutical properties. In this study, anti-inflammatory activity of GEP from Lactobacillus fermentum-fermented water solution of rice bran was evaluated on lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophage model. GABA content in L. fermentum-fermented rice bran solution was determined up to 1.27 g/L. GEP was shown to inhibit the expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 enzymes. Moreover, pretreatment of GEP attenuated the generation level of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. Especially, the activation of signaling pathways due to nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was interrupted in GEP-exposed cells. Notably, molecular docking result showed a potential binding of GABA to Toll-like receptor 4 with a binding energy of -3.88 kcal/mol, suggesting the role of GABA in suppression of Toll-like receptor 4-MAPK/NF-κB signaling cascades. As the result, GEP from L. fermentum-fermented rice bran solution could be suggested as a promising food for suppression of inflammatory responses. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: GABA-enriched products have been evidenced to possess various pharmaceutical properties and health beneficial effects. In this study, GABA-enriched product from L. fermentum-fermented rice bran solution exhibited the inhibition on inflammatory response in macrophages. Hence, it could be used as a potential ingredient for the mitigation of inflammatory responses.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a potent bioactive component that widely exists in both plants and animals, has numerous health benefits. This study aimed to optimise the fermentation process conditions for the growth of Lactobacillus fermentum from rice bran extracts that have high potential to produce GABA. GABA content was assessed by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method. In this study, fermenting conditions for medium production of GABA by L. fermentum from rice bran extracts were optimised. L. fermentum showed high potential for GABA-producing ability. Some factors influencing the GABA production such as carbon sources, nitrogen sources, mineral salt sources, substrate concentration of monosodium glutamate (MSG), pH, and the time of fermentation were investigated. When the L. fermentum is cultivated in the rice bran extracts medium supplemented with 1.5% lactose, 2% yeast extract, and 1% MSG with pH 6.0 in 48 h, this strain showed high GABA at a concentration of 736 mg/l.

Two new cycloartanes, combretic acid C (

Histamine plays a key role in inflammatory responses via increasing chemokine and adhesion molecule productions and augmenting vascular permeability in endothelial cells. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa has been found as a rich source of structurally diverse and biologically active metabolites. In this study, the role of phenolic compound from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa (Aiton) Hassk fruits in down-regulation of histamine-induced EA.hy926 endothelial cell activation was investigated. Herein, myricetin was successfully isolated from R. tomentosa fruits by HPLC and its characterization was identified by mass spectrometer and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. It was revealed that myricetin was effective in suppression of IL-8 and MCP-1 productions and adhesion molecule generation. Moreover, NF-κB activation was inhibited by myricetin via reducing IκB-α phosphorylation and p50/p65 subunit level. Notably, myricetin potentially attenuated vascular permeability of endothelial cells through decrease in eNOS phosphorylation and intracellular calcium elevation. These results indicate that myricetin from R. tomentosa possesses a promissing pharmaceutical property for the amelioration of endothelial inflammatory responses.

In this study, the essential oil profile of Callicarpa candicans (Burm. f.) Hochr was presented. Samples were collected from Vietnam and the oils were extracted from fresh leaves and dry leaves by hydrodistillation method. GC-MS data and retention indices were used to identify the chemical composition. The essential oil performance achieved 0.263% for fresh leaves and 1.503% for dry leaves. A total of 47 components were identified from fresh leaves oil and 39 constituents from dry leaves oil. Chemical compositions of the two essential oils were similar, with the major components being α-gurjunene, δ-cadinene, ε-caryophyllene (β-caryophyllene) and α-selinene.

Two new cycloartanes, combretic acid C (1) and combretanone I (3), were isolated from the leaves of Combretum quadrangulare Kurz, together with the previously-reported combretic acids A-B (2 and 5) and combretanone A (4). An extensive set of spectroscopic methods were used to elucidate the structures of these compounds. Cytotoxicity against the K562 cancer cell line was evaluated. Compound 1 showed strong activity, with an IC50 value of 9.7 µM. The other compounds showed moderate activity. Alpha-glucosidase inhibition was also evaluated. The isolated compounds showed moderate inhibition, with IC50 values in the range 102.2-194.7 µM.

Objective: To investigate the chemical components and biological activities of avocado seed extract and fractions in order to determine the nutritional and pharmaceutical values of avocado seed. Methods: Various organic solvents were applied for extraction and fractionation of avocado seed. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl, 2,2-azinobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, and DNA oxidation assays were applied for investigation of free radical scavenging activity. Nitric oxide production was measured by Griess reaction assay. Moreover, MTT assay was used to measure cancer cell growth inhibition. Results: The result indicated that the avocado seed contains (7.14 ± 0.40) g lipid/100 g, (1.67 ± 0.03) g protein/100 g, (54.0 ± 1.2) g carbohydrate/100 g, and (62.0 ± 2.3) mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried weight extract. Moreover, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate were revealed to be the highest free radical scavenging fractions with IC50 values of (48.0 ± 3.4) μg/mL (1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl assay) and (22.0 ± 1.8) μg/mL (2,2-azinobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid assay), respectively. Additionally, the avocado seed extract and fractions were able to protect against H2O2-induced DNA damage at the concentration of 100 μg/mL. On the other hand, the ethanol extract was effective in reducing nitric oxide production from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells without cytotoxic effect. Notably, the avocado seed significantly inhibited the proliferation of human lung A549 and human gastric BGC823 cancer cells at the concentration of 200 μg/mL, especially hexane (81 ± 3)% and dichloromethane (75 ± 2)% fractions. Conclusions: The results of the present study supported the avocado seed as potential by-product source for further development of health beneficial products.

Epidemiological studies have evidenced that natural dietary products can prevent or manage gastric cancer. Neptunia oleracea, an aquatic vegetable and edible plant, has been reported to have anti-cancer properties. In this study, N. oleracea extract’s suppression of gastric cancer cells was investigated on an in vitro experimental model. We found that ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract inhibited cell proliferation at IC50 value of 172 µg/mL. Moreover, the treatment of EtOAc extract at a concentration of 50 µg/mL for 24 h caused suppression of cancer cell migration. Notably, a real-time PCR assay revealed that EtOAc extract induced the process of apoptosis via upregulating the mRNA expression level of caspase-8, Bax, caspase-9, and caspase-3 in cancer cells. In conclusion, N. oleracea had potential anti-cancer activity against gastric cancer cells, suggesting its role in the prevention and management of gastric cancer.

Allergic diseases are among the commonest causes of chronic ill-health and are rapidly rising the prevalence and complexity. Although the current drugs are efficacy for treatment of allergic diseases, however the extensive clinical use of these drugs has led to the diverse and undesirable side effects. Thus, the extensive studies of alternative anti-allergic agents from natural products are essential for a long-term purpose. Marine environment covers a huge source of extremely potential secondary metabolites for drug discovery. Among them, fucoidans from brown seaweeds have been evidenced to possess various biological activities and health benefit effects. Notably, a great deal of interest has been expressed regarding anti-allergic activity of fucoidans. Consequently, this contribution presents an overview of potential anti-allergic therapeutics of fucoidans from brown seaweeds to emphasize its functions in prevention as well as treatment of allergic diseases.

Mast cells and basophils are important contributors for development of allergic reactions. The activation of these cells via cross-linking of IgE bound to FcεRI by allergen causes the generation of allergic mediators and the reaction of immediate hypersensitivity. Obviously, FcεRI is considered as a key trigger of acute allergic responses. Consequently, FcεRI is regarded as a potential target for downregulation of allergic diseases. So far, numerous synthetic agents have been reported for inhibition of FcεRI expression and FcεRI-IgE interaction. Meanwhile, natural products have received much attention due to their efficacy and safety. Recently, numerous anti-allergic agents from natural products have been revealed as promising inhibitors of allergic reactions via inhibiting the expression of FcεRI subunits as well as blocking FcεRI activation. Thus, the present contribution is mainly focused to describe natural products targeting FcεRI receptor and to emphasize their applicable potential as anti-allergic foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Phlorotannins, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, peptides, chitooligosaccharides, and other natural products have been revealed as potential inhibitors of allergic responses. These bioactive agents target to FcεRI receptor by inhibiting expression of FcεRI and blocking interaction of FcεRI-IgE. Hence, these compounds could be applied as functional ingredients of anti-allergic foods.

In this study, gallic acid-conjugated chitooligosaccharides (gallate-COS) was evaluated for its enhancing capabilities in free radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities in human lung epithelial A549 cells. It was found that gallate-COS possesses significantly high DPPH radical scavenging activity and protective effect against H2O2-induced DNA damage. Likewise, gallate-COS decreased the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species in H2O2-stimulated A549 cells. Moreover, the suppressive effects of gallate-COS on COX-2 expression and PGE2 production from LPS-stimulated A549 cells were evidenced. Finally, the productions of cytokines including IL-8 and TNF-α were also inhibited by gallate-COS in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these results suggest that gallate-COS could be used as a functional ingredient with potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. In this study, a bioactive derivative of chitooligosaccharide, named gallic acid-grafted-chitooligosaccharide (G-COS), was evaluated for its capabilities against the proliferation of AGS human gastric cancer cells. It was found that G-COS treatment caused significant inhibition of gastric cancer cell growth at concentrations of 200 and 400 μg mL−1. The anti-growth effect of G-COS in AGS cells was characterized using flow cytometry, fluorescence microscopy, DNA fragmentation and evaluation of protein expression. Notably, G-COS-induced apoptosis was related to the increase in the expression of p53, p21, Bax, and caspases (-9 and -3) and the decrease in the activation of Bcl-2, p-IκB-α and NF-κB (p50 and p65). These findings indicate that G-COS has potential to be applied in the treatment of gastric cancer as a cancer chemopreventative agent.

Unregulated activation of microglia is the major cause of neuronal degeneration in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is a common risk factor for chronic diseases, including neurodegeneration. In this study, N-acetyl chitooligomers (NA-COS, below 1 and 1–3 kDa) were produced from crab chitin using an ultrafiltration membrane system and investigated for their capabilities against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in murine microglia (BV-2 cells). NA-COS significantly decreased the oxidation of DNA by diminishing the intracellular ROS production. Furthermore, NA-COS upregulated the protein and gene expressions of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione), thereby enhancing the intracellular antioxidant. Notably, NA-COS inhibit NF-κB activation by blocking degradation of the inhibitor of kappaB-alpha (IκB-α) and translocation of nuclear factor NF-κB (p65 and p50). Collectively, NA-COS could be potential agents for the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases.

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa was reported to contain various bioactive metabolites, especially phenolic compounds. In the present study, the suppressive activity of phenolic compound from R. tomentosa fruits on mast cell activation was investigated in vitro. The result showed that myricetin was isolated from R. tomentosa fruits and its characterization was identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Notably, myricetin was found to be effective in inhibition of mast cell degranulation by attenuating the release of β-hexosaminidase and the elevation of intracellular calcium. Moreover, myricetin exhibited inhibitory effect on the production of IL-4 and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, high antioxidant activity of myricetin due to scavenging 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS+ radicals was also evidenced. Notably, the activation of FcɛRI-mediated signaling molecules including Syk, PLCγ, and NF-κB was also suppressed by myricetin treatment. Accordingly, myricetin from R. tomentosa fruits could be suggested as a functional food for the amelioration of allergic diseases. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Polyphenol have been shown to exert various biological activities and health beneficial effects. Results from the present study revealed that myricetin from R. tomentosa fruits possesses the inhibitory effect on allergic response in mast cells. Therefore, myricetin from R. tomentosa fruits could be developed as a functional ingredient for the amelioration of allergic diseases.

Wild bitter melon (Momordica charantia L. var. Abbreviata Ser.) is a wild edible variety of M. charantia, often used in folk medicine. In this study, the biological activities of its extract and fractions were investigated in vitro. It was found that ethyl acetate (EA) fraction exhibited high 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 0.43 &plusmn, 0.04 mg/mL, while the chloroform (CF), EA, and n-butanol (Bu) fractions had strong 2,2-azinobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)+ scavenging ability with IC50 values of 0.36 &plusmn, 0.04 mg/mL, 0.35 &plusmn, 0.02 mg/mL, and 0.35 &plusmn, 0.05 mg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the EA and Bu fractions exhibited the highest protective effect against H2O2-induced DNA damage in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the EA fraction was effective in the inhibition of enzyme &alpha, amylase activity with an IC50 value of 0.27 &plusmn, 0.029 mg/mL. Finally, it was observed that the production of nitric oxide (NO), a pro-inflammatory mediator, was significantly reduced from LPS-stimulated murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells by the ethanol extract (ET) and the EA fraction. Therefore, wild bitter melon could be considered as a promising biomaterial for the development of pharmaceutical products.

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, a flowering plant of Myrtaceae family from southern and southeastern Asia, was known to possess a rich source of structurally diverse and various biological activities. In this study, the inhibitory effect of R. tomentosa fruit extract (RFE) on allergic responses in calcium ionophore A23187-activated RBL-2H3 mast cells was investigated. The result showed that RFE was able to inhibit mast cell degranulation via decreasing β-hexosaminidase release and intracellular Ca2+ elevation at the concentration of 400 μg/ml. Moreover, the suppressive effects of RFE on the production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were evidenced. In addition, RFE effectively scavenged DPPH radical and suppressed the reactive oxygen species generation in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, the pretreatment of RFE caused the downregulation of tyrosine kinase Fyn phospholipid enzyme phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation. These results indicated that RFE could be a promising inhibitor of allergic responses and may be developed as bioactive ingredient for prevention or treatment of allergic diseases.

CBM20s are starch-binding domains found in many amylolytic enzymes, including glucoamylase, alpha-amylase, beta-amylases, and a new family of starch-active polysaccharide monooxygenases (AA13 PMOs). Previous studies of CBM20–substrate interaction only concerned relatively small or soluble amylose molecules, while amylolytic enzymes often work on extended chains of insoluble starch molecules. In this study, we utilized molecular simulation techniques to gain further insights into the interaction of CBM20 with substrates of various sizes via its two separate binding sites, termed as BdS1 and BdS2. Results show that substrate binding at BdS1 involving two conserved tryptophan residues is about 2–4 kcal mol−1 stronger than that at BdS2. CBM20 exhibits about two-fold higher affinity for helical substrates than for the amylose random coils. The affinity for amylose individual double helices does not depend on the helices' length. At least three parallel double helices are required for optimal binding. The binding affinity for a substrate containing 3 or more double helices is ∼−15 kcal mol−1, which is 2–3 kcal mol−1 larger than that for individual double helices. 100 ns molecular dynamics simulations were carried out for the binding of CBM20 to an extended substrate containing 3 layers of 9 60-unit double helices (A3L). A stable conformation of CBM20–A3L was found at BdS1. However, when CBM20 binds A3L via BdS2, it moves across the surface of the substrate and does not form a stable complex. MD simulations show that small amylose helices are quickly disrupted upon binding to CBM20. Our results provide some important molecular insights into the interactions of CBM20 with starch substrates, which will serve as the basis for further studies of CBM20-containing enzymes, including AA13 PMOs.

Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, a flowering plant of Myrtaceae family from southern and southeastern Asia, was known to possess a rich source of structurally diverse and various biological activities. In this study, the inhibitory effect of R. tomentosa fruit extract (RFE) on allergic responses in calcium ionophore A23187-activated RBL-2H3 mast cells was investigated. The result showed that RFE was able to inhibit mast cell degranulation via decreasing β-hexosaminidase release and intracellular Ca2+ elevation at the concentration of 400 μg/ml. Moreover, the suppressive effects of RFE on the production of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were evidenced. In addition, RFE effectively scavenged DPPH radical and suppressed the reactive oxygen species generation in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, the pretreatment of RFE caused the downregulation of tyrosine kinase Fyn phospholipid enzyme phospholipase Cγ (PLCγ), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) phosphorylation. These results indicated that RFE could be a promising inhibitor of allergic responses and may be developed as bioactive ingredient for prevention or treatment of allergic diseases.

The world’s oceans represent an enormous resource for the discovery of potential therapeutic agents. During the last decades, numerous novel compounds have been isolated from marine organisms and many of them have been applied for phamacological industry. Notably, marine algae are known to be one of the most important producers of variety of chemically active metabolites. Among them, phlorotannins, a polyphenol from brown algae, have been revealed to possess numerous biological activities such as UV-protective, anti-oxidant, anti-viral anti-allergic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, and anti-obesity activities. Therefore, phlorotannins are considered as promising agents for the development of pharmaceuticals. This contribution focuses on phlorotannins from brown algae and presents an overview of their biological activities and health benefit effects.

Angiotensin- I- converting enzyme (ACE) is crucial in the control of hypertension and the development of type- 2 diabetes and other diseases associated with metabolic syndrome. The aim of this work was to utilize Pacific cod skin to purify ACE inhibitory peptides. First, gelatin was extracted from Pacific cod skin and hydrolyzed with several enzymes (pepsin, papain, α-chymotrypsin, trypsin, neutrase, and alcalase). The pepsin hydrolysate showed the strongest ACE inhibitory effect and was further fractionated into different ranges of molecular weight ( 10 kDa) using ultrafiltration (UF) membranes. The peptic hydrolysate below 1 kDa resulted in two potent ACE inhibitory peptides, GASSGMPG (662 Da) and LAYA (436 Da), with IC50 values (concentration required to decrease the ACE activity by 50%) of 6.9 and 14.5 μM, respectively. Moreover, to explore the interaction between the peptides and ACE molecule, the tertiary structure of ACE and docking simulation to the peptides were predicted using Docking Server. Pacific cod peptides can be used as functional food ingredients to prevent hypertension and its related diseases.

Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. Cordata), an aromatic medicinal herb belonging to family Saururaceae, is a plant that grows in moist habitats, well known for its medicinal properties and widely used worldwide. H. Cordata is an aromatic medicinal herb belonging to family Saururaceae and is restricted to specialized moist habitats. Three extracts, successively obtained from the leaves of H. cordata, namely the diethyl ether leaves extract (DELE), the ethanolic leaves extract (ELE) and the aqueous leaves extract (ALE), were used to determine the polyphenol and flavonoid content in the leaves. Phytochemical screening of plant extracts showed the presence of flavonoid, saponin, alkaloid, tannin, and steroid compounds. Quantitative determination of total phenolics, total flavonoids of methanolic extract were carried out using colorimetric methods. The result of quantitative determination showed that total polyphenol content of the DELE, ELE and ALE were 32.18 ± 2.64, 97.98 ± 1.77, and 22.22 ± 2.00 mg of gallic acid equivalents per gram dry extract, respectively. Meanwhile total flavonoid content of the DELE, ELE and ALE achieved 31.65 ± 1.07, 35.72 ± 1.23, and 4.06 ± 0.54 mg of quercetin equivalents per gram dry extract, respectively.

In this study, the suppressive effects of peptides P1 (LDAVNR) and P2 (MMLDF) from enzymatic hydrolysate of Spirulina maxima on mast cell degranulation was elucidated. It was revealed that P1 and P2 exhibited significant inhibition on cell degranulation via decreasing β-hexosaminidase release at concentration of 200 μM. Moreover, the inhibitory effects of P1 and P2 on expression and production of interleukin (IL)-13 were evidenced. Furthermore, peptide treatment caused a remarkable inhibition on the phosphorylation of Akt and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including ERK, p38, and JNK. Notably, the inhibitory activity of P1 on cell degranulation was found due to blockade of FceRI receptor. Meanwhile, the inhibitory activity of P2 was involved in alleviation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Collectively, peptides P1 and P2 from S. maxima were suggested to be promising inhibitors of mast cell degranulation, contributing to the development of bioactive ingredients for amelioration of allergic diseases.

Chitosan is a natural nontoxic biopolymer produced by alkaline deacetylation of chitin. Chitin and chitosan are insoluble in water as well as most organic solvents. Chito-oligomers (COS), depolymerized products of chitosan, has received much attention in biomedical, food, pharmaceutical, agricultural and environmental industries due to their biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and non-allergenic natures. Chitosan and its derivatives have been shown to possess diverse biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-hypertensive, anti-coagulant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-allergic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-cancer, neuroprotective and matrix metalloproteinases inhibitory effects. Thus, this overview mainly focuses on biological effects of chitosan and its derivatives as well as presents their potential applications as ingredients in functional foods and nutraceuticals for the prevention or treatment of chronic diseases.

Marine polysaccharides have been found as the principle component in cell wall structures of seaweeds or exoskeletons of crustaceans. Due to numerous pharmaceutical properties of marine polysaccharides such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, antitumor, antiobesity, antidiabetes, anticoagulant, antiviral, immunomodulatory, cardioprotective, and antihepatopathy activities, they have been applied in many fields of biomaterials, food, cosmetic, and pharmacology. Recently, several marine polysaccharides such alginate, porphyran, fucoidan, and chitin and its derivatives have been evidenced as downregulators of allergic responses due to enhancement of innate immune system, alteration of Th1/Th2 balance forward to Th1 cells, inhibition of IgE production, and suppression of mast cell degranulation. This contribution, therefore, focuses on antiallergic properties of marine polysaccharides and emphasizes their potential application as bioactive food ingredients as well as nutraceuticals for prevention of allergic disorders.

A facile synthetic route has been developed for the covalent grafting of biocompatible poly(lactic acid) (PLA) onto CdSe Quantum Dots (QDs) using surface initiated ring opening polymerization (ROP) to afford CdSe-g-PLA nanocomposites. At first, 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) capped CdSe QDs were synthesized through a wet chemical process. The surface initiated ROP of lactide was accomplished with Sn(Oct)2 to give CdSe-g-PLA nanocomposites having surface hydroxyl functionality. FT-IR data suggested that a robust covalent bond was formed between ME capped CdSe QDs and polymer moieties. The grafting density of PLA on CdSe QDs was found to be moderate as measured by TGA analysis. The CdSe QDs were well dispersed in CdSe-g-PLA nanocomposites matrices as captured by TEM. The cubic phase crystal structure of CdSe QDs in the nanocomposites was determined by XRD. The optical properties of the CdSe-g-PLA nanocomposites were investigated by UV-vis and photoluminescence spectroscopy which suggested their potentialities as optical materials in biomedical application. Cell viability studies revealed that the biocompatibility of CdSe QDs was improved upon PLA immobilization.

The aim of this study was to investigate anti-inflammatory activity of 4-hydroxybenzyl-chitooligomers (HB-COS) in Chang liver cells stimulated by a cytokine mixture. It was revealed that HB-COS decreased the level of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production by diminishing the expressions of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) without significant cytotoxicity. Moreover, HB-COS exerted inhibitory effects on the production of pro-inflammatory mediator (interleukin-6) in Chang liver cells. Notably, HB-COS exhibited anti-inflammatory activities via blocking degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκB-α), translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in a dose-dependent manner. Collectively, these findings indicated that HB-COS possessed potential anti-inflammatory effects in Chang liver cells, and could be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of hepatic inflammatory diseases.

Recently, the relationship between apoptosis and cancer has been emphasized and the induction of apoptosis is recognized as one of the key mechanisms of anti-cancer agents. Marine-derived fungi are valuable sources of structurally diverse bioactive anticancer agents. In the present study, a marine-derived fungus, Microsporum sp. was cultured and an anthraquinone derivative, physcion (11.8 mg) was isolated from the culture broth extract (1710 mg). Physcion has shown cytotoxic effect on human cervical carcinoma HeLa cells and its apoptosis induction in HeLa cells was investigated by the expressions of p53, p21, Bax, Bcl-2, caspase-9, and caspase-3 proteins. The Western blot analysis has revealed that physcion could significantly induce cell apoptosis through down-regulating of Bcl-2 expression, up-regulating of Bax expression, and activating the caspase-3 pathway. Furthermore, physcion induced the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in HeLa cells. Collectively, these results suggest that physcion could be a potential candidate in the field of anticancer drug discovery against human cervical cancer.

In this study, a bioactive derivative of chitooligomers (1.0-3.0 kDa), 4-hydroxybenzyl-COS (HB-COS), was synthesized to enhance antioxidant activity. Hence, HB-COS was evaluated for its capabilities against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human Chang liver cells. It was found that HB-COS possessed the free radical scavenging activity via decreasing the intracellular reactive oxygen species production. Furthermore, HB-COS significantly reduced the oxidation of DNA in a dose-dependent manner. Notably, HB-COS treatment upregulated the gene and protein expressions of antioxidative enzymes and thereby enhancing the intracellular antioxidant mechanisms. In addition, HB-COS treatment caused a remarkable blockade on degradation of inhibitory kappa B alpha (IκB-α) protein and translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). The current study demonstrated that HB-COS effectively attenuated hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in Chang liver cells by increasing levels of antioxidant enzymes and inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation, DNA oxidation and the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Hs, roselle; Malvaceae) is a common ingredient used in the food and pharmaceutical industries for color and health benefits. Anthocyanins along with protocatechuic acid and quercetin have been recognized as bioactive compounds in Hibiscussabdariffa L. aqueous extracts. In this work, Response Surface Methodology was implemented together with Box-Behnken experimental design to investigate the impacts of process variables on anthocyanin extraction yields from Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Roselle) grown in Lam Dong, Vietnam. The effects of three independent variables; namely the extraction temperatures of solvent ethanol (X1); the duration of extraction (X2); solid-liquid ratios (X3) on the total anthocyanins content (Y1) were explored. The optimization model showed that with the solid liquid ratio 7.7:1, extraction time 33.29 min, and temperature 56.9°C, the highest anthocyanin concentration of 186.006 mg/L was obtained. Hibiscussabdariffa L. anthocyanin yield detailed significant correlation with high F values, low P values (

Nowadays, anthocyanins have become an interesting topic of much scientific research and act as potential sources of eco-friendly natural food dyes and their helpful effects on human health.. The purpose of the present article was to apply conventional extraction methods of pigments from Butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea L.Flowers) in Southern Vietnam were tested to extract anthocyanins. The effects of various factors, including the solvent concentration, extraction time, temperature, and solvent/material ratio on the extraction total anthocyanins from Butterfly pea were investigated. In this study, the concentration of monomeric anthocyanins was completed by the spectrophotometry pH differential method.The highest recovered anthocyanin level was achieved with 50 % ethanol (143.49 mg/L), while the lowest one was obtained with water (90.9 mg/L). The extraction yield was significantly affected by temperature and the excellent condition was 60°C. The extraction yield raised with increasing of solvent/material ratio until equilibrium has arrived at the optimal ratio of 25:1 (mL/g). The extraction yield increased first and then decreased with an extension in time values.

Diabetes is a major metabolic disorder whose prevalence is increasing daily. Medicinal plants have played an important role in the prevention and treatment of type 2 diabetes via prophylactic and therapeutic management. In this study, Mangifera Indica leaf (MIL) extract was investigated for its promising anti-diabetic activity via an in vitro model. It was found that MIL extract possessed significant inhibition on alpha-amylase activity up to (51.4 &plusmn, 2.7)% at a concentration of 200 &micro, g/mL. Moreover, glucose adsorption capacity of MIL was identified at (2.7 &plusmn, 0.19) mM glucose/g extract. Furthermore, the extract caused a significant increase in glucose uptake up to (143 &plusmn, 9.3)% in LO-2 liver cells. Notably, MIL extract was effective in scavenging (63.3 &plusmn, 2.1)% 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and (71.6 &plusmn, 4.3)% 2,2-azinobis-3-ethyl benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)+ radicals and inhibiting (66 &plusmn, 4.9)% NO production from RAW264.7 cells without any cytotoxicity effects. Accordingly, M. indica leaves are suggested as a promising material for development of hypoglycemic products.