Inhibitory effect of anthocyanin-rich black soybean testa (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) on the inflammation-induced adipogenesis in a DIO mouse model

Black and Yellow Soybean Consumption Prevents High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity by Regulating Lipid Metabolism in C57BL/6 Mice

To evaluate the antiobesity effects of yellow and black soybean, C57BL/6 mice were provided with a normal diet, high-fat diet, HFD-containing yellow soybean powder (YS), and black soybean powder (BS) for six weeks. Compared with the HFD group, both YS and BS decreased body weight by 30.1% and 37.2% and fat in tissue by 33.3% and 55.8%, respectively. Simultaneously, both soybeans significantly reduced the serum triglyceride and total cholesterol levels and regulated the lipogenic mRNA expressions of Pparγ, Acc, and Fas genes in the liver, supporting reduced body adiposity. Furthermore, BS significantly increased Pgc-1α and Ucp1 mRNA expression levels in epididymal adipose tissue, indicating thermogenesis is the key mechanism of BS. Taken together, our findings suggest that both soybeans prevent high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice by regulating lipid metabolism, and BS, in particular, has a greater antiobesity potential than YS.

Adipose tissue plays a major role in retinoic acid-mediated metabolic homoeostasis

Retinoic acid (RA), a bioactive metabolite of vitamin A, has shown therapeutic effects in liver disease, and its effect in improving non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with the inhibition of adipogenesis in the white adipose tissue (WAT) and fatty acid oxidation induction in the liver. However, the major target organ of RA is unknown. We performed chronic administration of RA in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD mice. Further, hepatic and adipose cells were used to study the direct effect of RA on lipid metabolism. In addition, qRT-PCR was performed to examine differential gene expression in mouse adipose tissue. RA administration ameliorated NAFLD in HFD-induced obese mice and increased mouse energy expenditure. Although RA had therapeutic effects on liver histology and lipid accumulation, it did not directly affect lipid metabolism in HepG2 cells. In contrast, RA reduced the weight of several adipose tissues and improved lipid accumulation in OP9 cells. In addition, RA upregulated genes responsible for fatty acid oxidation and thermogenesis in three different WATs. Our work suggests that the liver may not be the main target organ of RA during NAFLD treatment. WAT browning induced by RA may be the primary contributor towards the amelioration of NAFLD in HFD-induced obese mice.

Machine and Deep Learning in the Evaluation of Selected Qualitative Characteristics of Sweet Potatoes Obtained under Different Convective Drying Conditions

This paper discusses the use of various methods to distinguish between slices of sweet potato dried in different conditions. The drying conditions varied in terms of temperature, the values were: 60 °C, 70 °C, 80 °C, and 90 °C. Examination methods included instrumental texture analysis using a texturometer and digital texture analysis based on macroscopic images. Classification of acquired data involved the use of machine learning techniques using various types of artificial neural networks, such as convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and multi-layer perceptron (MLP). As a result, in the convective drying, changes in color darkening were found in products with the following temperature values: 60 °C (L = 83.41), 70 °C (L = 81.11), 80 °C (L = 79.02), and 90 °C (L = 75.53). The best-generated model achieved an overall classification efficiency of 77%. Sweet potato dried at 90 °C proved to be completely distinguishable from other classes, among which classification efficiency varied between 61–83% depending on the class. This means that image analysis using deep convolutional artificial neural networks is a valuable tool in the context of assessing the quality of convective-dried sweet potato slices.

Black soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.): paving the way toward new nutraceutical

Black soybean (BS) is a nutritious legume that is high in proteins, essential amino acids, dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, isoflavones, and flavones. Traditional approaches for extracting BS bioactive compounds are commonly employed because they are simple and inexpensive, but they use toxic solvents and have lower yields. As a result, new extraction techniques have been developed, such as microwave, ultrasound, and enzyme-assisted extraction. Modern approaches are less harmful to the environment, are faster, and produce higher yields. The major anthocyanin in the BS seed coat was discovered as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, accounting for nearly 75% of the total anthocyanins. BS and its seed coat also contains phenolic acids (p-hydroxybenzoic, gallic, vanillin, syringic acid), isoflavones (daidzein, glycitein and genistein), flavones, flavonols, flavanones, and flavanols. Bioactive compounds present in BS exhibit antioxidant, anti-cancerous, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory, cardio and neuroprotective activities. The characterization and biological activity investigation of these bioactive compounds has provided researchers and food manufacturers with valuable information for developing functional food products and nutraceutical ingredients. In this review, the nutritional makeup of BS is reviewed, and the paper seeks to provide an insight of bioactive compound extraction methods as well as bioactive compounds identified by various researchers. The biological activities of BS extracts and their potential applications in food products (noodles), biodegradable films (pH sensitive film), and therapeutic applications (wound healing and anti-inflammation) are also discussed in the study. Therefore, BS have enormous potential for use in developing functional foods and nutraceutical components. This is the first review of its sort to describe and explain various extraction methodologies and characterization of bioactives, as well as their biological activity recorded in diverse works of literature, making it possible for food manufacturers and scientists to get a quick overview.

A Correlation Study on In Vitro Physiological Activities of Soybean Cultivars, 19 Individual Isoflavone Derivatives, and Genetic Characteristics

The functionality of soybeans is an important factor in the selection and utilization of excellent soybean cultivars, and isoflavones are representative functional substances in soybeans, which exhibit effects on antioxidants, estrogen activity, and cancer, and prevent cardiovascular diseases. This study analyzed ABTS, DPPH, estrogen, ER (ER) alpha, UCP-1, and NO inhibition activities in 48 types of soybean cultivars, as well as the relationship with 19 isolated types of individual isoflavone derivatives. Statistical analysis was conducted to find individual isoflavone derivatives affecting physiological activities, revealing the high correlation of three types of derivatives: genistein 7-O-(6″-O-acetyl)glucoside (6″-O-acetylgenistin), genistein 7-O-(2″-O-apiosyl)glucoside, and glycitein. Based on these results, 15 types of soybean cultivars were selected (one control type, seven yellow types, six black types, and one green type), which have both high physiological activities and a high content of individual isoflavone derivatives. In addition, these high correlations were further verified through a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to determine the association between activities, substances, and genetic characteristics. This study comprehensively describes the relationship between the specific physiological activities of soybean resources, individual isoflavone derivative substances, and SNPs, which will be utilized for in-depth research, such as selection of excellent soybean resources with specific physiological activities.

Natural Dietary and Medicinal Plants with Anti-Obesity Therapeutics Activities for Treatment and Prevention of Obesity during Lock Down and in Post-COVID-19 Era

Overweight and obesity have become global epidemics, especially during the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The potential of medicinal plants as a better and safe option in treating obesity and overweight has gained attention in recent years. Obesity and overweight has become a major public health concern, and its incidence rising at an alarming rate. Obesity is one of the major types of metabolic syndrome, resulting in various types of problems such as hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and excess fat accumulation. The current searching was done by the keywords in main indexing systems including Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, the search engine of Google Scholar, and Institute for Scientific Web of Science. The keywords were traditional medicine, health benefits, pharmaceutical science, pomegranate, punicalin, punicalagin, and ellagitannins. Google Scholar was searched manually for possible missing manuscripts, and there was no language restriction in the search. This review was carried out to highlight the importance of medicinal plants which are common in traditional medicinal sciences of different countries, especially Asia to prevent and treatment of obesity and overweight during the global pandemic and the post-COVID-19 era.

Protein, Amino Acid, Oil, Fatty Acid, Sugar, Anthocyanin, Isoflavone, Lutein, and Antioxidant Variations in Colored Seed-Coated Soybeans

Different physiological and genetic studies show that the variations in the accumulation of pigment-stimulating metabolites result in color differences in soybean seed coats. The objective of this study was to analyze the nutrient contents and antioxidant potential in black, brown, and green seed-coated soybeans. Significant variations in protein (38.9-43.3%), oil (13.9-20.4%), total sugar (63.5-97.0 mg/g seed), total anthocyanin (3826.0-21,856.0 μg/g seed coat), total isoflavone (709.5-3394.3 μg/g seed), lutein (1.9-14.8 μg/g), total polyphenol (123.0-385.8 mg gallic acid/100 g seed), total flavonoid (22.1-208.5 mg catechin/100 g seed), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS; 275.0-818.8 mg Trolox/100 g seed), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH; 96.3-579.7 mg Trolox/100 g seed) were found among the soybean genotypes. Ilpumgeomjeong2 contained the lowest protein but the highest oil and total sugar. The lowest oil-containing Wonheug had the highest protein content. Socheong2 was rich in all four variables of antioxidants. Anthocyanins were detected only in black soybeans but not in brown and green soybeans. The variation in isoflavone content was up to 5-fold among the soybean genotypes. This study could be a valuable resource for the selection and improvement of soybean because an understanding of the nutrient content and antioxidant potentials is useful to develop effective strategies for improving the economic traits; for example, the major emphasis of soybean breeding for fatty acids is to enhance the oleic and linoleic acid contents and to decrease linolenic acid content.

A multi-targeting strategy to ameliorate high-fat-diet- and fructose-induced (western diet-induced) non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with supplementation of a mixture of legume ethanol extracts

NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) is a multifactorial liver disease related to multiple causes or unhealthy conditions, including obesity and chronic inflammation. The accumulation of excess triglycerides, called steatosis, is known as a hallmark of an imbalance between the rates of hepatic fatty acid uptake/synthesis and oxidation/export. Furthermore, occurrence of NAFLD may lead to a cocktail of disease consequences caused by the altered metabolism of glucose, lipids, and lipoproteins, for instance, insulin resistance, type II diabetes, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver fibrosis, and even hepatocarcinogenesis. Due to the complexity of the occurrence of NAFLD, a multi-targeting strategy is highly recommended to effectively address the issue and combat the causal loop. Ethanol extracts of legumes are popular supplements due to their richness and diversity in phytochemicals, especially isoflavones and anthocyanins. Although many of them have been reported to have efficacy in the treatment of different metabolic syndromes and obesity, there have not been many studies on them as a supplemental mixture. In this study, the alleviative effects of selected legume ethanol extracts (CrE) on high-fat-diet- and fructose-induced obesity, liver steatosis, and hyperglycemia are discussed. As revealed by the findings, CrE not only ameliorated obesity in terms of weight gained and enlargement of adipose tissue, but also significantly reduced the incidence of steatosis via phosphorylation of AMPK, resulting in inhibition of the downstream SREBP-1c/FAS pathway and an increase in an indicator of β-oxidation (carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1a, CPT1A). Furthermore, CrE dramatically alleviated inflammatory responses, including both plasma and hepatic TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1 levels. CrE also had attenuating effects on hyperglycemia and insulin resistance and significantly reduced the fasting glucose level, fasting insulin level, and plasma leptin, and it exhibited positive effects in the Oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) and Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). At the molecular level, CrE could activate the PI3K/Akt/Glut2 pathway, which indicated an increase in insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake. Taken together, these results suggest that ethanol extracts of legumes could be potential supplements for metabolic syndromes, and their efficacy and effectiveness might facilitate the multi-targeting strategy required to mitigate NAFLD.

Mechanisms of action for the anti-obesogenic activities of phytochemicals

The prevalence of obesity is increasing rapidly globally and has recently reached pandemic proportions. It is a multifactorial disorder linked to a number of non-communicable diseases such as type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Over-nutrition and a sedentary lifestyle are considered the most significant causes of obesity; a healthy lifestyle and behavioural interventions are the most powerful ways to achieve successful weight loss, but to maintain this in the long term can prove difficult for many individuals, without medical intervention. Various pharmacological anti-obesogenic drugs have been tested and marketed in the past and have been moderately successful in the management of obesity, but their adverse effects on human health often outweigh the benefits. Natural products from plants, either in the form of crude extracts or purified phytochemicals, have been shown to have anti-obesogenic properties and are generally considered as nontoxic and cost-effective compared to synthetic alternatives. These plant products combat obesity by targeting the various pathways and/or regulatory functions intricately linked to obesity. Their mechanisms of action include inhibition of pancreatic lipase activities, an increase in energy expenditure, appetite regulation, lipolytic effects, and inhibition of white adipose tissue development. In this review, we discuss the distinct anti-obesogenic properties of recently reported plant extracts and specific bioactive compounds, along with their molecular mechanisms of action. This review will provide a common platform for understanding the different causes of obesity and the possible approaches to using plant products in tackling this worldwide health issue.

Isoflavones, anthocyanins, phenolic content, and antioxidant activities of black soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merrill) as affected by seed weight

Seed weight is regulated by several genes which in turn could affect the metabolite contents, yield, and quality of soybean seeds. Due to these, seed weight is receiving much attention in soybean breeding. In this study, seeds of 24 black soybean varieties and a reference genotype were grown in Korea, and grouped as small (< 13 g), medium (13-24 g), and large (> 24 g) seeds based on their seed weight. The contents of six anthocyanins, twelve isoflavones, and total phenolic, and the antioxidant activities were determined, and the association of each with seed weight was analyzed. The total anthocyanin (TAC) and total isoflavone (TIC) contents were in the ranges of 189.461-2633.454 mg/100 g and 2.110-5.777 mg/g, respectively and were significantly different among the black soybean varieties. By comparison, the average TAC and TIC were the highest in large seeds than in small and medium seeds while the total phenolic content (TPC) was in the order of small seeds > large seeds > medium seeds. Besides, large seeds showed the maximum 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging activity, whereas small seeds showed the maximum ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (ABTS) scavenging activities. FRAP activity was positively associated with TIC and TAC, the former association being significant. On the other hand, ABTS and DPPH activities were positively correlated to TPC, the later association being significant. Overall, our findings demonstrated the influence of seed weight on anthocyanin, isoflavone, and phenolic contents and antioxidant activities in black soybeans. Besides, the dominant anthocyanins and isoflavones were the principal contributors to the variations observed in the black soybean varieties, and hence, these components could be selectively targeted to discriminate a large population of black soybean genetic resources.

The Effects of C3G and D3G Anthocyanin-Rich Black Soybean on Energy Metabolism in Beige-like Adipocytes

Various mechanisms of obesity prevention have been identified; however, the roles of brown or beige fat as regulators of the energy balance are unclear. The effects of anthocyanin-rich black soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr., testa (ABS) extracts on the energy balance were investigated by comparing beige-like adipocytes (BLA) and white adipocytes (WAT). ABS extracts reduced peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma protein expression and triglyceride accumulation in WAT and BLA without inducing nuclear damage. The biomarkers of fat degradation (phospho-AMPKα and ATGL) or glycerol secretion in the medium and β-oxidation of fatty acids (CPT2) in the ABS-treated BLA were increased compared to those in WAT. ABS extracts significantly increased the expression of thermogenesis markers (UCP1 and CIDEA) and biomarkers related to mitochondrial activation (cytochrome c and NRF1) in BLA. In the primary cell culture of brown adipocytes (BAT) from rats fed ABS, the expression levels of PGC1-α, cytochrome c, and UCP1 proteins were increased compared to those in BAT from nonfed rats. A reduction in the NAD/NADH ratio was consistently associated with an increase in the oxygen consumption rate and basal/maximal respiration rate in ABS-treated BLA. Anthocyanins promote beiging in the body, contribute to the prevention of obesity, and are potentially useful functional materials.

Anti-obesity activity of anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts from color-fleshed sweet potatoes

The anti-obesity effects of anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts from color-fleshed potatoes were studied with 3T3-L1 cells in vitro and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice in vivo. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes with anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts, respectively, after differentiation induction significantly inhibited fat accumulation by 63.1 and 83.5%. Studies of adipogenesis inhibition showed that the anthocyanin extract acts at intermediate stages, whereas the carotenoid extract influences all the stages. The extracts significantly diminished triglyceride (TG) content and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) protein expression during adipogenesis of the intermediate stage. Oral administration of anthocyanin and carotenoid extracts, respectively, to HFD-fed mice significantly reduced weight gain and restored TG levels to normal or lower as compared to the HFD-fed group with improvement of a lipid profile, TG to HDL-C ratio. Histological differences in liver tissues revealed that the extracts protected the liver tissue from adipogenesis by HFD fed. This research presents the first direct demonstration that the two pigment extracts from sweet potato exhibit anti-obesity activities. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Anthocyanins and carotenoids are the main pigments of purple- and orange-fleshed sweet potatoes, respectively, which are highly nutritious foods with antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. Obesity is a rapidly growing health problem that increases major risk factors of several serious diseases including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. The results of this research suggest that anthocyanin and carotenoid-rich extracts from color-fleshed sweet potatoes may be useful as supplementary ingredients for the treatment of obesity and related diseases.

Metabolic Impact of Flavonoids Consumption in Obesity: From Central to Peripheral

The prevention and treatment of obesity is primary based on the follow-up of a healthy lifestyle, which includes a healthy diet with an important presence of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. For many years, the health benefits of polyphenols have been attributed to their anti-oxidant capacity as free radical scavengers. More recently it has been described that polyphenols activate other cell-signaling pathways that are not related to ROS production but rather involved in metabolic regulation. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge in this field by focusing on the metabolic effects of flavonoids. Flavonoids are widely distributed in the plant kingdom where they are used for growing and defensing. They are structurally characterized by two benzene rings and a heterocyclic pyrone ring and based on the oxidation and saturation status of the heterocyclic ring flavonoids are grouped in seven different subclasses. The present work is focused on describing the molecular mechanisms underlying the metabolic impact of flavonoids in obesity and obesity-related diseases. We described the effects of each group of flavonoids in liver, white and brown adipose tissue and central nervous system and the metabolic and signaling pathways involved on them.

The Influence of Supplementation of Anthocyanins on Obesity-Associated Comorbidities: A Concise Review

Anthocyanins are water-soluble plant pigments, and based on their chemical structure (nature, position, and the number of sugar moieties attached; the number of hydroxyl groups; acylation of sugars with acids) about 635 different anthocyanins have been identified and reported from plants. Cyanidin, peonidin, pelargonidin, petunidin, and malvidin are the commonly found anthocyanidins (aglycon forms of anthocyanins) in edible plants out of almost 25 anthocyanidins that are identified (based on the position of methoxyl and hydroxyl groups in the rings) in nature. Anthocyanins are known for numerous health benefits including anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, anti-inflammatory bowel disease, anti-cancer, etc. Obesity can be defined as excessive or abnormal adipose tissue and body mass, which increases the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, etc. The manuscript summarizes the recent updates in the effects of anthocyanins supplementation on the health status of obese subjects, and briefly the results of in vitro and in vivo studies. Several studies confirmed that the consumption of anthocyanins-rich food improved obesity-associated dysbiosis in gut microbiota and inflammation in adipose tissue. Anthocyanin consumption prevents obesity in healthy subjects, and aids in maintaining or reducing the body weight of obese subjects, also improving the metabolism and energy balance. Though preclinical studies proved the beneficial effects of anthocyanins such as the fact that daily intake of anthocyanin rich fruits and vegetables might aid weight maintenance in every healthy individual, Juҫara pulp might control the inflammatory status of obesity, Queen garnet plum juice reduced the blood pressure and risk factors associated with metabolic disorders, and highbush organic blueberries improved the metabolism of obese individuals, we don't have an established treatment procedure to prevent or manage the over-weight condition and its comorbidities. Thus, further studies on the optimum dose, duration, and mode of supplementation of anthocyanins are required to develop an anthocyanins-based clinical procedure.

Research trends in obesity & obesogenic environments in Korea

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Globally, it has been projected that there will be 2 billion overweight and 1 billion obese individuals by 2030. In Korea, the prevalence of adult obesity (BMI>25) increased from 29.7% in 2009 to 32.4% in 2015. Moreover, childhood obesity, which leads to adulthood obesity, has increasingly become a social problem. The purpose of this review is to summarize the scientific basis for the development of effective models and policies aimed at preventing obesity over a lifetime based on research modeling obesogenic environments.

MATERIALS/METHODS

The review focuses on the characteristics of obesity prevalence and trends in 3P analysis (papers, patents, and products) as well as government-funded projects in Korean obesity obesogenic environments over the last 10 years.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

As a result of the 3P analysis, studies on obesity risk factors were frequently carried out, according to two data bases RISS (4.9%) and PubMed (24.7%). Since there were only 17% patents related to the mechanism of preventing obesity in 7,951 Korean patents related to obesity, new paradigms of technologies to dominate the global obesity markets are needed. After government-funded projects were analyzed, communication and cooperation in multi-governmental departments were suggested to elucidate the characteristics of Korean obesity. Government should also produce short- and long-term road maps to develop a practical, successful outcome. Although the rate of obesity in Korea is currently lower than in other developed countries according to WHO criteria, without adequate governmental intervention, obesity rates will approach those of the top countries with high incidence rates of obesity within the next 10 years.

Pelargonidin 3-glucoside-enriched strawberry attenuates symptoms of DSS-induced inflammatory bowel disease and diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats

PURPOSE

To determine whether the anthocyanin, pelargonidin 3-glucoside (P3G), attenuates symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and metabolic syndrome in rats.

METHODS

We tested P3G-enriched strawberry in two models of chronic inflammation in rats, chronic IBD induced by 0.5% dextran sodium sulphate in the drinking water for 12 weeks (D) and metabolic syndrome induced by a high-carbohydrate, high-fat diet (H) for 16 weeks. P3G-enriched strawberry was added to the diet for the final 6 weeks in IBD rats (DP) or 8 weeks in H rats (HP) to provide a dose of 8 mg P3G/kg/day.

RESULTS

D rats had marked diarrhoea, bloody stools, erosion of mucosal epithelium, crypt atrophy, loss of villi and goblet cells, and inflammatory cell infiltration. These symptoms were reversed by P3G with healthy stools and mucosal lining of ileum and colon including increased villi, crypts and goblet cells and reduced inflammation. H rats developed hypertension, dyslipidaemia, central obesity, increased ventricular stiffness, cardiac and liver inflammation, and steatosis. P3G treatment in H rats improved systolic blood pressure, ventricular stiffness, and cardiac and liver structure, and reduced abdominal fat, abdominal circumference and body weight gain.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study indicates that dietary P3G decreased inflammation to decrease the symptoms of IBD, and to improve cardiovascular, liver and metabolic functions in metabolic syndrome.

A novel angiotensin-I converting enzyme inhibitory peptide derived from the glutelin of vinegar soaked black soybean and its antihypertensive effect in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Vinegar soaked black soybean is a traditional Chinese food widely used for the treatment of hypertension. While its pharmacodynamic substance was not fully unveiled. It contained abundant glutelin, thus the purpose of this study was to obtain potent antihypertensive peptides from vinegar soaked black soybean. Black soybean was soaked with vinegar and then glutelin was first catalyzed by alcalase. Ultrafiltration, ion exchange chromatography and reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography were sequentially applied to separate and purify the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides from glutelin hydrolysates. As a result, the fraction L1-4 with the highest ACE inhibitory activity (83.41%) at the final concentration of 0.01 mg/ml was obtained and five peptides were then identified. These peptides were further optimized by virtual screening combining with in silico proteolysis. Finally, a novel tetrapeptide Phe-Gly-Ser-Phe (FGSF) was obtained. FGSF exhibited high in vitro ACE inhibitory activity (IC50 = 117.11 μM) and in vivo hypotensive effect which maximally reduced systolic blood pressure of 21.95 mmHg at 20 mg/kg body weight in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Our study demonstrated that FGSF derived from vinegar soaked black soybean might be used as a promising ingredient for pharmaceuticals against hypertension and its related diseases.

Interaction characterization of preheated soy protein isolate with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and their effects on the stability of black soybean seed coat anthocyanins extracts

The interactions of soy protein isolate with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside were investigated to study the protective effect of protein on anthocyanin's stability by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism and fluorescence spectroscopy. Preheat treatment and binding of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside effectively changed the secondary structure of soy protein isolate, with a decrease in α-helix, random coil structure and an increase in β-sheet and β-turn. The soy protein isolate preheated at 121 °C exhibited a strong binding affinity towards cyanidin-3-O-glucoside with strong Ks of 147.40 × 104 M-1 and also effectively increased the thermal and oxidation stabilities of black soybean seed coat extract via decreasing the degradation rate by 67% and 23%, respectively. Soy protein isolate interacted with cyanidin-3-O-glucoside mainly through hydrophobic interactions and static quenching process. Altogether, the results suggested that preheated soy protein isolate-cyanidin-3-O-glucoside interaction could effectively protect anthocyanins' stability through strong binding affinity influenced by the systematic alterations in the secondary structure.

Black soybeans protect human keratinocytes from oxidative stress-induced cell death

Black soybeans are functional foods containing a variety of bioactives such as isoflavones, carotenoids, tocopherols, phenolic acid as well as anthocyanins. Here, we examined whether Cheongja#3 black soybean extract has a protective effect on oxidative stress-induced cell death in human keratinocytes HaCaT. First, we identified fat-soluble bioactives in three varieties of soybean extracts (Saedanbaek, Daechan, and Cheongja#3). In particular, black soybean Cheongja#3 had high amounts of lutein than other varieties. We demonstrated that Cheongja#3 extract reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species levels in HaCaT cells. Furthermore, Cheongja#3 protected cells from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress and triggered cell death determined by cell viabilities and apoptotic caspase activities. Next, we identified the underlying mechanism is due to increased Nrf2 antioxidant system by Cheongja#3, thus increasing the expression of heme oxygenases (HO)-1. These results indicated that Cheongja#3 soybean extract has protective role against oxidative stress by upregulating the Nrf-2 antioxidant system in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Agar free-Gelidium amansii (GA) extracts in high-fat diet-induced obese mice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Gelidium amansii (GA) contains plenty of agars and various biological substances, which make them a popular functional food to control body weight in previous studies. Unlike previous studies focused on agar in GA, objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of agar-free GA extract (AfGAE) on preventive and treatment models by using diets-induced obese (DIO) C57BL/6J mice.

MATERIALS/METHODS

AfGAE were used to test their effects on the prevention (Exp-1) and treatment (Exp-2) against obesity after pilot study in DIO mice. The weight changes of the body and fat tissues and protein expression related to lipid metabolism and inflammation as well as plasma lipid profile and insulin were detected.

RESULTS

Although AfGAE did not prevent long-term DIO, it did increase the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine production and lipolysis protein. We further evaluated various doses of AfGAE in preventive and treatment models. As a result, our findings suggested that an AfGAE administration as a preventive model might be a better approach to achieve its anti-inflammatory and lipolysis-promoting effects in DIO mice.

CONCLUSION

Although future studies to investigate the target materials such as polyphenols in AfGAE are required, the result suggests that GA without agar might be a therapeutic tool to improve health conditions related to inflammation.

The suppressive effect of Gelidium amansi-EtOH extracts on the adipogenesis with MAPK signals in adipocytes with or without macrophages

To elucidate the anti-inflammatory and anti-adipogenetic effects of Gelidium amansii (GA) ethanol extracts and their mechanisms, we performed two culture systems, adipocytes cultured with or without macrophages. Purified GA-3 fraction (GAE) contains high flavonoids and phenolics, reduced the mRNA levels of PPARγ and C/EBPα with GLUT4 expression in adipocyte with or without macrophages. GAE also increased the protein expression of HSL and ATGL enzymes, lipolysis biomarkers in fat cells. In co-culture system, GAE suppressed not only the transcription factors for adipogenesis, but also the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF-α. Compared to MAPK pathways such as JNK and p-38, the phosphorylation of both ERK1/2 (Thr²⁰²/Tyr²⁰⁴) was strongly suppressed by GAE with dose-dependent manner in both culture system. Otherwise, an increased JNK expression caused by GAE treatments blocked an insulin-induced GLUT4 translocation in adipocytes culture. In conclusion, GAE depressed the expression of adipogenetic genes, corresponding to a reduction in fat accumulation while preadipocytes developed into adipocytes with the modulation of MAPK pathways and inflammatory cytokines.

Enhanced Antioxidant Activity of Bioactives in Colored Grains by Nano-Carriers in Human Lens Epithelial Cells

The use of phytochemicals for preventing chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress such as cataracts is hindered by their low bioavailability. The effects of nano-carriers on the antioxidant activities of extracts of black rice with giant embryo (BRGEx) and soybeans (SBx) have been determined in human lens epithelial B3 cells. Scanning (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that rGO (reduced graphene oxide) has a flat surface unlike GO (graphene oxide), which has a distinctive wrinkled structure with defects. UPLC analysis revealed 41.9 μg/100 g of γ-oryzanols in water extract of BRGE, and 111.8 μg /100 g of lutein, 757.7 μg/100 g of γ-tocotrienol, 4071.4 μg/100 g of γ-tocopherol in 40% ethanol extract of soybeans, respectively. Even though a low concentration of BRGEx alone did not show any antioxidant activity in B3 cells, co-treatment of BRGEx with rGO together substantially reduced hydrogen peroxide and methylglyoxal-induced DNA damage, as determined by phosphorylated γH2AX. In addition, SBx with rGO also attenuated DNA damage. Furthermore, intracellular reactive oxygen species were significantly decreased by combining extracts of these colored grains with rGO. These results suggest a potential application of nanocarriers for enhancing the bioavailability of phytochemicals.

Hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of anthocyanins extract from black soybean seed coat in high fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice

Black soybean seed coat extract (BSSCE) is a rich source of anthocyanins with multiple health effects. This study was aimed at investigating the composition and hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects of BSSCE in vitro and in a high-fat diet and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. The anthocyanins of BSSCE were identified as cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, and peonidin-3-O-glucoside by HPLC-MS. Results demonstrated that BSSCE exhibited strong inhibitory activities for α-amylase, potent inhibition activity against lipid accumulation in HepG2 cells and protection effect on H2O2-induced oxidative stress-damaged HepG2 cells. The food and water intake, body weight loss, blood glucose and insulin level of BSSCE treatment group were found to be significantly reduced when compared with those of diabetic mice group (p < 0.05). The fasting blood glucose level and insulin level of the BSSCE 400 mg kg-1 group mice significantly decreased by 47.97% and 46.49%, respectively. The oral glucose tolerance and activities of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and catalase (CAT) notably improved (p < 0.05). BSSCE could also ameliorate the atherogenic dyslipidaemia of diabetic mice by remarkably decreasing the content of total cholesterol (T-CHO), total triglyceride (TG), and non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and increasing the content of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) (p < 0.05). BSSCE could protect against liver, kidney and pancreas damages in diabetic mice. This study suggested that cyanidin-3-O-glucoside contributed to BSSCE-induced hypoglycemia and hypolipidemia effects in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and BSSCE might be a promising functional food or medicine for T2DM treatment.

Ilex latifolia Thunb protects mice from HFD-induced body weight gain

Kuding tea is implicated in alleviating metabolic disorders in traditional Chinese medicine. However, the role of Ilex latifolia Thunb (kuding tea), one of the large leaf kuding tea species, in the prevention of the development of obesity remains to be determined. We show here that 7-week-old male mice treated with an Ilex latifolia Thunb supplement for 14 weeks were resistant to HFD-induced body weight gain and hepatic steatosis, accompanied by improved insulin sensitivity. Ilex latifolia Thunb supplementation dramatically reduced the systemic and tissue inflammation levels of mice via reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, increasing anti-inflammatory cytokine levels in the circulation and inhibiting p38 MAPK and p65 NF-κB signaling in adipose tissue. Together, these results indicate that Ilex latifolia Thunb protects mice from the development of obesity and is a potential compound pool for the development of novel anti-obesity drugs.

Dietary Anthocyanins against Obesity and Inflammation

Chronic low-grade inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of obesity, due to its associated chronic diseases such as type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases and cancer. Thus, targeting inflammation is an attractive strategy to counter the burden of obesity-induced health problems. Recently, food-derived bioactive compounds have been spotlighted as a regulator against various chronic diseases due to their low toxicity, as opposed to drugs that induce severe side effects. Here we describe the beneficial effects of dietary anthocyanins on obesity-induced metabolic disorders and inflammation. Red cabbage microgreen, blueberry, blackcurrant, mulberry, cherry, black elderberry, black soybean, chokeberry and jaboticaba peel contain a variety of anthocyanins including cyanidins, delphinidins, malvidins, pelargonidins, peonidins and petunidins, and have been reported to alter both metabolic markers and inflammatory markers in cells, animals, and humans. This review discusses the interplay between inflammation and obesity, and their subsequent regulation via the use of dietary anthocyanins, suggesting an alternative dietary strategy to ameliorate obesity and obesity associated chronic diseases.

Anthocyanin Rich-Black Soybean Testa Improved Visceral Fat and Plasma Lipid Profiles in Overweight/Obese Korean Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Anthocyanin-rich black soybeans have been used in traditional East Asian medicine to cure diseases related to oxidative stress and carcinogens, but not obesity. Our objective was to investigate the effects of anthocyanin-rich black soybean testa extracts (BBT), Glycine max (Chongja No. 3), on obesity. In total, 63 participants defined as overweight or obese by their body mass index (BMI >23) or waist circumference (WC >90 cm for males, >85 cm for females) were sorted into two groups: 32 receiving the trial medication (BBT, 2.5 g/d) and 31 receiving the placebo (starch, 2.5 g/d). Participants completed an 8-week, randomized, double-blinded, and placebo-controlled clinical trial. There were no significant differences between the two groups at the beginning of the trial, and both required the same safety assessments. Significant decreases in abdominal fat, described according to WC and hip circumference, and lipid profiles such as triacylglycerols (TG), low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLc), and non-high density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDLc) were observed in the BBT group at the conclusion of the clinical trial. The indicators for arteriosclerosis such as total cholesterol (TC)/HDLc and LDLc/HDLc were significantly decreased in the BBT group, but had not changed in the placebo group. With no difference between the two groups in energy-adjusted dietary intakes and physical activity, BBT was shown to strongly improve plasma lipid profiles, related to the reduction of WC (an indicator of abdominal fat) as long as high dietary fiber and low cholesterol diets were maintained. In conclusion, BBT can potentially be developed as a functional food for preventing abdominal obesity with high fiber and low cholesterol diets.

A Testa Extract of Black Soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) suppresses Adipogenic Activity of Adipose-derived Stem Cells

Black soybean teata is helpful to preventing obesity through enhancing energy expenditure and suppressing accumulation in mesenteric adipose tissue. The ethanol testa-extract of Cheongja #3 black soybean (ETCBS) is also have similar effects on obesity. So far, it is not clear whether the ethanol testa extract of black soybean can have effect on the characters of subcutaneous adipose stem cells such as proliferation, activity, and adipogenicity. The doubling time was different between subcutaneous adipose-derived stem (ADS) and visceral ADS cells. By the in vitro culture and passage, the doubling time was increased both of them. The shape was not different between groups and their passages were not cause the change of shapes. In the case of visceral ADS cells, the doubling time was 62.3 h or 40.3 h in control or high fat diet administrated mice, respectively, but not modified in subcutaneous ADS cells. ETCBS administration caused of increased the doubling time from 62.3 h to 84.2 h. ETCBS had suppressive effects on the cellular activity of subcutaneous ADS cells. The intensity of Oil Red O staining was very faint in 100 and 200 μg/mL ETCBS treated groups. The amounts of accumulated triglyceride were also significantly low in 100 and 200 μg/mL treated groups. From these results we know that the doubling times and the effects of ETCBS are different by the anatomical origin of ADS cells. It also suggested that ETCBS may suppress the differentiation of subcutaneous ADS cells into the precursors and maturing of adipocytes.

Mulberry and cherry anthocyanin consumption prevents oxidative stress and inflammation in diet-induced obese mice

SCOPE

This study aimed to determine whether cherry anthocyanin (CA) and mulberry anthocyanin (MA) can alleviate oxidative stress and inflammation associated with developing obesity in mice fed with high-fat diet (HFD).

METHODS AND RESULTS

CA and MA were added in the daily food of mice throughout the experiment. Sixty mice were randomly divided into two groups: a low-fat diet (LFD, n = 12) group and HFD (n = 48) group. Mice in the HFD group were supplied with a HFD for 8 wks to induce obesity. The HFD-fed mice were then divided into four subgroups for another 8-wk experiment. The subgroups included the control group, HFD plus Orlistat group, and HFD plus CA or MA group, with each group consisting of 12 mice. Consumption of CA and MA at 200 mg/kg food reduced bodyweight gain by 29.6 and 32.7%, respectively, in HFD-fed C57BL/6 mice. CA and MA supplementation could effectively improve the lipid profiles, decrease serum glucose and leptin levels, reduce MDA production, increase SOD and GPX activities, and down-regulate the expression of the TNFα, IL-6, iNOS, and NF-кB genes.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, MA and CA can potentially alter bodyweight by alleviating oxidative stress and inflammation in diet-induced obesity.