Canavalia Gladiata Research Articles

First report of sclerotium rot in sword bean caused by Athelia rolfsii

In 2018, sclerotium rot was observed in sword beans (Canavalia gladiata DC.) grown in a field at Gyeongsangnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services. The disease mainly affected the stems and pods of sword beans that touched the ground. The stems that touched the ground were water-soaked at the start of the infection and rotted, slowly withered, and eventually died. White mycelia spread across the lesions, and numerous sclerotia formed on the petiole near the soil line. The sclerotia were globoid, 1–3 mm in diameter, and white to brown in color. Hyphae on PDA were 4–8 μm wide, and clamp connections were observed. Pathogenicity of isolated fungus on sword beans was confirmed according to Koch’s postulates. For molecular identification, we sequenced the entire ITS rDNA sequence of the causative fungus and analyzed its phylogenetic relationships. The fungi isolated from sword beans were in a clade r-1 containing the reference strains of A. rolfsii and S. delphinii. The 540-bp PCR amplicons corresponding to A. rolfsii-specific amplification were produced in all three isolates. Mycological characteristics, ITS rDNA sequencing, the species-specific PCR analysis, and pathogenicity in the host plant identified this fungus as Athelia rolfsii (Curzi) C.C. Tu & Kimbr. This is the first report of sclerotium rot on sword bean caused by A. rolfsii.

Sword Bean (Canavalia gladiata) Pod Exerts Anti-Allergic and Anti-Inflammatory Effects through Modulation of Th1/Th2 Cell Differentiation.

Allergy is an immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated process, and its incidence and prevalence have increased worldwide in recent years. Therapeutic agents for allergic diseases are continuously being developed, but side effects follow when used for a long-term use. Therefore, treatments based on natural products that are safe for the body are urgently required. Sword bean (Canavalia gladiata) pod (SBP) has been traditionally used to treat inflammatory diseases, but there is still no scientific basis for its anti-allergic effect. Accordingly, this study investigates the anti-allergic effect and its mechanism of SBP in vitro and in vivo. SBP reduced the nitric oxide production and decreased mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory mediates (inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2)), and inhibited the phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), a major signaling molecule in the inflammatory response. Additionally, SBP extract treatment inhibited phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/mTOR) signaling activity to further inhibit degranulation and allergy mediator generation and control the balance of Th1/Th2 cells, which can induce an allergic reaction when disrupted. Furthermore, the SBP extract exhibited anti-allergic effects in anti-dinitrophenyl IgE-induced RBL-2H3 cells and ovalbumin-treated mice. These findings have potential clinical implications for the treatment as well as prevention of allergic diseases.

Isolation and characterization of Bradyrhizobium elkanii as a root nodule symbiont of red sword bean Canavalia gladiata var. gladiata

ABSTRACT Bacterial strains were isolated from root nodules of red sword bean (Canavalia gladiata var. gladiata) cultivated in Shizuoka, Japan, in order to elucidate the taxonomy of the symbionts. Of the 52 bacterial isolates, 28 strains were identified as the genus Bradyrhizobium and 10 as Rhizobium, based on the nucleotide sequences of 16S rRNA genes. Nine Bradyrhizobium isolates, which were phylogenetically selected from the 28 strains, exhibited nucleotide sequences of ITS regions that were 99.9% or 100% identical with known B. elkanii strains. These nine strains shared more than 70% similarity with B. elkanii USDA 76 T or USDA 94 in DNA-DNA hybridization analysis, indicating that the strains are B. elkanii. In a nodule formation experiment using red sword bean seeds treated with mercury chloride solution, all of the plants which were inoculated with each of the B. elkanii strains (the isolate TI06 or MI08, or the type strain USDA 76 T) formed round-type root nodules (234–664 nodules per plant), while no nodules were observed in control plants that were cultivated without inoculating bacterial strains. The bacterial strains, which were isolated from the obtained nodules, exhibited nucleotide sequences of the ITS regions that were identical to those of the corresponding inoculated strains. The root nodules formed in the experiment exhibited acetylene-reducing activity, suggesting the nitrogen-fixation activity of the nodules. We thus conclude that B. elkanii is a root nodule symbiont of red sword bean.

Iconography of Beans and Related Legumes Following the Columbian Exchange.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), maize, and squash were described by explorers as early as 1492. The illustration of common bean recognized as the first in Europe is in Fuchs’ Di Historias Stirpium, published in 1542 and a half-century after beans were observed in the Caribbean. Besides herbals and herbarium specimens, the sources of information on the introduction of New World crops are paintings and illustrations. Two early sources of images of maize and squash are the Grandes Heures d’Anne de Bretagne and the Loggia di Amore e Psiche in the Villa Farnesina, Rome. The former was illustrated between 1507 and 1508 and has an image identified as the common bean. The Villa Farnesina Loggia was decorated in 1515–1518, with festoons containing three instances of bean pods. Our first objective was to evaluate these images to determine whether they represented depictions of common bean earlier than the illustration by Fuchs. Neither image appears to be a common bean based on a combination of botanical characters and size. Folio 194 of the Grandes Heures d’Anne de Bretagne is most likely a Vigna species in the Ceratotropis subgenus. In the Loggia, one set of pods appears to be a species in the Mimosoideae subfamily and the second and third sets of pods most closely resemble Canavalia gladiata. Neither image likely represents common beans and are probably Old-World species. Secondly, illustrations of common beans from ten early herbals were analyzed for traits that are characteristic of the centers of domestication and races of common beans. Our objective was to characterize the diversity observed among herbals and determine whether beans from both centers of domestication were present. We potentially identified both Middle American, race Mesoamerica and Andean, race Nueva Granada types. We posit that both Middle American and Andean types were in the Caribbean at the time of the Columbian exchange and that beans from both centers were informally introduced into Europe early on. This review of 16th-century manuscripts and illustrations has provided some answers to the questions of what and when common beans reached Europe and provide new hypotheses for researchers studying the origins, diversity, and distribution of this crop.

Immature sword bean pods (Canavalia gladiata) inhibit adipogenesis in C3H10T1/2 cells and mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Sword bean (SB; Canavalia gladiata) is a perennial vine used as a food and medicinal plant in Asia. SB is rich in nutrients, such as flavonoids and urease, and has various functions, including beneficial effects on dysentery, nausea, and hemorrhoids, as well as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. Various plant parts are used; however, little is known about the physiological effects of SB pods (SBP). In this study, the anti-obesity effects of SBP extract were evaluated. To investigate the anti-obesity effects of SBP extract, we confirmed the SBP extract downregulated lipogenesis-related genes and upregulated genes involved in lipolysis and brown adipocyte markers in differentiated C3H10T1/2 adipocytes in vitro. Next, we use a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model to determine the anti-obesity effects of SBP extract. Treatment with SBP extract significantly reduced adipocytes. The extract decreased the HFD-induced increases in body weight and plasma triglyceride levels in mice after 8 weeks. mRNA and protein levels of the adipogenesis and lipogenesis-related factors CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-β, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ), and their target genes Ap2, SREBP-1c, FAS, and SCD-1 were reduced by SBP extract. In contrast, AMP-activated protein kinase and sirtuin1, involved in the thermogenic catabolism of fat, were activated by SBP extract in adipocytes and white adipose tissue, increasing the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α (PPARα), and uncoupling protein 1 and activating thermogenic activity. SBP extract exerts an anti-obesity effect by inhibiting lipogenesis-related factors and activating fat-catabolizing factors; it is, therefore, a promising functional food and natural anti-obesity agent.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Canavalia gladiata (Jacq.) DC. leaves and seeds: GC-MS based metabolic profiling

Canavalia gladiata (Sword Bean; family Fabaceae) is a fast-growing climber crop that has been widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical areas for its edible seeds and legumes. It has also been used as grain legume and medicinal plant in China for thousands of years. The metabolites from leaves and seeds of C. gladiata were extracted in petroleum ether and chloroform. Further, extracts were subjected to GC-MS analysis for metabolite profiling. Total of 31 phytoconstituents were identified; 14 compounds were reported to have biological activities. The Tridecane reported from leaves and seeds petroleum ether extract showed 10.67 and 2.72% of relative quantity of compound respectively and has antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. Octasiloxane,1,1,3,3,5,5,7,7,9,9,11,11,11,15,15-hexadecamethyl (3.42%) found in petroleum ether leaves extracts showed antimicrobial activity. Moreover, 1- Hexadecane constituted 10.23% in seeds and 3.71% relative quantity in leaves extracted with chloroform showed antibacterial activity. The seeds and leaves extracted with chloroform reported 1-Tetradecene in 6.59 and 6.03% relative quantity respectively has antifungal potential. While Phenol 2, 4-bis [1, 1-dimethylethyl] reported in leaves (6.12%) and seeds (6.47%) chloroform extract act as antioxidant and antimicrobial agents. The 1-Nonadecene in seeds (3.47%) and leaves (2.14%) chloroform extracts showed antifungal activity while 1-Docosene in seeds (2.98%) and leaves (1.71%) of chloroform extract showed antimicrobial potential. Nonadecane constituted 3.06% in seeds and 2.78% in leaves chloroform extracts and has antioxidant potential. The present study revealed that the leaves and seeds of C. gladiata are a good source of antioxidants and other biologically active ingredients. However, petroleum ether and chloroform extracted different metabolites from seeds and leaves. Therefore, these findings highlighted the importance of solvent in phytochemical extractions and further bioactivity of C. gladiata metabolites creates an attention of researchers for their use in the field of paramedical industries and herbal medicine.

Using PF-MOUTH GELTM for Sore or Painful Tongue Improved Symptoms and Stabilized Dryness and Trapping of Food: A Case Report

We describe herein the case of a 72-year-old woman with persistent and symptomatic sore or painful tongue (SPT) treated using PF-MOUTH GELTM (PF-Gel; Daiichi-Sangyo, Osaka, Japan), which includes 30% fucoidan and 0.75% sword bean. PF-MOUTH GELTM was applied to the tongue and kept in place for 3-min. Application was performed twice a day (morning and evening) for 3-months, and resulted in marked improvement of symptomatic sore or painful tongue. Because only one case was reported in this study, clinical trials are required to confirm the efficacy and safety of topical PF-MOUTH GELTM for the treatment of symptomatic sore or painful tongue.

Potential Importance of Molybdenum Priming to Metabolism and Nutritive Value of Canavalia spp. Sprouts.

Molybdenum ions (Mo) can improve plants’ nutritional value primarily by enhancing nitrogenous metabolism. In this study, the comparative effects of seed priming using Mo were evaluated among sproutings of Canavalia species/cultivars, including Canavalia ensiformis var. gladiata (CA1), Canavalia ensiformis var. truncata Ricker (CA2), and Canavalia gladiata var. alba Hisauc (CA3). Mo impacts on growth, metabolism (e.g., nitrogen and phenolic metabolism, pigment and total nutrient profiles), and biological activities were assayed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to correlate Mo-mediated impacts. The results showed that Mo induced photosynthetic pigments that resulted in an improvement in growth and increased biomass. The N content was increased 0.3-fold in CA3 and 0.2-fold in CA1 and CA2. Enhanced nitrogen metabolism by Mo provided the precursors for amino acids, protein, and lipid biosynthesis. At the secondary metabolic level, phenolic metabolism-related precursors and enzyme activities were also differentially increased in Canavalia species/cultivars. The observed increase in metabolism resulted in the enhancement of the antioxidant (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) free radical scavenging, 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)) and antidiabetic potential (Glycemic index (GI) and inhibition activity of α-amylase, and α-glucosidase) of species. The antioxidant activity increased 20% in CA3, 14% in CA1, and 8% in CA2. Furthermore, PCA showed significant variations not only between Mo-treated and untreated samples but also among Canavalia species. Overall, this study indicated that the sprouts of Canavalia species have tremendous potential for commercial usage due to their high nutritive value, which can be enhanced further with Mo treatment to accomplish the demand for nutritious feed.

Effects of Bacillus Subtilis-Fermented White Sword Bean Extract on Adipogenesis and Lipolysis of 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

To investigate the adipogenesis and lipolysis effects of the Bacillus subtilis-fermented white sword bean extract (FWSBE) on 3T3-L1 adipocytes, we treated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes before and after differentiation with FWSBE and measured triglyceride, free glycerol, mRNA, and protein levels. First, FWSBE reduced the cell viability of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes under 1000 µg/mL conditions. Triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes was suppressed, and free glycerol content in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes was increased in the FWSBE treatment groups, indicating that FWSBE has anti-obesity effects. Further, FWSBE suppressed adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes by lowering the protein levels of C/EBPα, PPARγ, and FAS and increasing the level of pACC and pAMPK. Additionally, FWSBE promoted lipolysis in mature 3T3-L1 adipocytes by increasing the transcription levels of Ppara, Acox, and Lcad and the protein levels of pHSL and ATGL. Thus, we suggest that FWSBE can be a potential dietary supplement because of its anti-obesity properties.

High energy density supercapacitors with hierarchical nitrogen-doped porous carbon as active material obtained from bio-waste

Supercapacitors (SCs) is a promising energy storage approach to solve the intermittent problems of most renewable energy sources. N-doped hierarchically activated porous carbon materials (ACBS) for supercapacitor applicaitons are obtained by pre-carbonization and KOH activation of N-rich sword bean shells. ACBS containing 1–2% of N show hierarchical porosity, very high surface area and pore volume (equal to 2917 m2/g and 1.73 cm3/g, respectively). These materials are incorporated into supercapacitors. The device containing ACBS obtained using 700 °C as a post-treatment temperature shows a very high specific capacity (equal to 264 F/g at 1 A/g), which remains high (∼180 F/g) even at 20 A/g current density. Corresponding symmetric coin-cell supercapacitor demonstrats 12.5 Wh/kg energy density at 100 W/kg power density. This cell is capable of maintaining its energy density at the 11.1 Wh/kg level at 5000 W/kg power density and demonstrats almost 100% capacity retention after one thousand 1 A/g charge/discharge cycles. Such superior electrochemical performance of devices fabricated using ACBS as active materials is possible because of synergy between electrical double-layer capacitance and faradaic pseudocapacitance, which strongly depend on the surface area, pore volume and size distribution as well as dopant of heteroatoams.

Abiotic benefits of intercropping legumes and maize to reduce pests

This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of intercropping maize (Zea mays L.) with different types of bean (Phaseolus spp.) on bean pests, diseases and yield. The experiment was design as randomised complete block design (RCBD) with three replicates at Sari Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University in the north of Iran during 2010. The experimental treatments were mono-cropping of maize, white bean, bush bean, red bean, pinto bean, sword bean and intercropping of maize with bean types a 50:50 ratio. Pests and diseases infection was recorded under naturally infected in the field. The results showed that the two-spotted spider, Tetranychus urticae, population density was decreased markedly (62% and 83%, respectively) in sword bean and white bean intercropped with maize as compared to solitary treatment. The leaf miner, Delia platura, severity on bean was reduced up to 30% compared to mono-cropping treatment. In contrast, the population of thrips (Thrips tabaci) in intercropping treatments was increased up to 30% as compared to mono-cropping. Furthermore, the rust disease rate caused by Uromyces appendiculatus was reduced significantly in pinto bean or sword bean with maize (37% and 98%, respectively) compared to pinto bean and sword bean sole cropped. Shannon-Wiener and Simpson index indicates that the diversity of pests is more in intercropping than the mono-cropping by 4.5% and 1.6%, respectively. However, the degree of red bean and pinto bean pest suppression by intercropping increased as the pest community in the surrounding mono-cropping increased. It is recommended that further studies focussed on the possible time for mix sowing to controlling pest and disease.

The effect of temperature variations on koro sword bean flour (Canavalia ensiformis L) and the concentration of the addition of koro sword bean flour on cyanide acid (HCN) content and consumer acceptance of fried chicken seasoning flour

This study aims to determine the effect of drying temperature and concentration of addition of koro sword bean flour on the HCN content and organoleptic properties of the fried chicken seasoning flour produced and to obtain the drying temperature and concentration of koro sword bean flour that are right for producing fried chicken seasoning flour that is most liked by consumers. The experimental design used was a factorial completely randomized block design (RABL) consisting of two treatment factors with three replications. The first factor was the variation in drying temperature of koro sword bean flour (600C, 700C, and 800C). The second factor is the concentration of the addition of koro sword bean flour (10%, 15%, and 20%). The results showed that drying temperature had an effect on HCN content and taste preferences but did not affect colour preferences of fried chicken seasoning. The most preferred fried chicken seasoning flour is at a drying temperature of 800C with 29.73ppm HCN, while the concentration of flour which was able to produce the most preferred fried chicken spice flour was 20% with 36.50ppm HCN.

Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Efficacy of Concanavalins Isolated from Canavalia ensiformis and Canavalia gladiata on Colon Carcinoma Cells

Concanavalin a lectin from seeds of Canavalia spp. is extracted and purified to study antitumor effect in vitro. Canavalia ensiformis and Canavalia gladiata were tested for their cytotoxicity, apoptotic potential and effect on cell cycle phases in HT-29 colon carcinoma cells. It was revealed that both lectins inhibit growth of HT-29 cells in dose dependent manner without affecting normal Human embryonic kidney 293T cells. The half maximal inhibitory concentration values were 14.86 and 10.45 μg/ml for Canavalia ensiformis and Canavalia gladiata respectively. Both lectins induced apoptotic morphology like chromatin condensation, deoxyribonucleic acid fragmentation and apoptotic bodies in HT-29 cells. Moreover, apoptosis was further confirmed in Canavalia ensiformis and Canavalia gladiata by increased proportion of cells in sub-G0/G1 phase. Apoptosis was induced by down regulation via tumor suppressor protein, serine/ threonine kinase and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 pathways as demonstrated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The above results indicated that both lectins selectively induce apoptosis in HT-29 cellss.

A COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF LEAF MEALS OF PAWPAW (C. Papaya), SWORDBEAN (C. gladiata), JACKBEAN (C. ensiformis) AND PIGEONPEA (C. cajan) AS FEED INGREDIENTS AND YOLK COLOURING AGENTS IN LAYERS' DIETS

Leaf meals of the above-named tropical plants at 0.2,3,4 and 5% dietary levels were investigated for their values as feed ingredients and egg yolk pigmenters in white maize based layer diets. Each diet was fed as 5 replicates of 15 hyaline layers for 14 weeks. Pawpaw leaf meal (RM) at 4% and 5% dietary levels significantly (P<0.05) depressed feed intake without affecting egg production and body weights. It, however, had no colouring affecting egg yolk. Sword Bean leaf meal (SBIM), jackbean leaf meal (JBM) and pigeon pea leaf meal (PPLM) compared favourably with the control group in terms of feed intake, egg production and body weights, SBLM exceptionally improved egg yolk colour, scoring 4, 5, 8 and 12 on the Roche egg yolk colour fan at 2,3,4 and 5% dietary levels respectively. JBLM and PPLM only gave a score of 4 and 5% dietary level. SBLM appears to be very high in biological available xanthophylls and should be considered for development as commercial egg yolk pigmenter.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Canavalia gladiata

Canavalia gladiata is a member of genus Canavalia, which includes 60 species around world. And the species in genus of Canavalia have similar character so we use complete chloroplast genome to identify C. gladiata and other species. Here, we assembled and analyzed the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of C. gladiata. The cp genome of C. gladiata is 157,923 bp, with a total GC content of 34.6%. The complete cp genome has a typical quadripartite structure, including a large single-copy (LSC) region of 77,660 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,945 bp and two inverted repeat (IRS) regions of 30,659 bp. The complete cp genome contains 136 genes, including 91 protein-coding genes, 37tRNA and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis result showed that C. gladiata is closely related to C. rosea.

Comparative nutritional and functional properties of selected underutilized legumes

Underutilized and neglected legumes have numerous nutritional potentials with great contributions to food security but they are usually excluded from research and development agenda. This study evaluates the nutritional and functional properties of six different underutilized and neglected legumes; Lima bean (LB) (Phaseolus lunatus) (2006-009), Bambara groundnut (BG) (Vigna subterranea) (TVSU- 1482), winged bean (WB) (Psophocarpus tetragonolobus) (Tpt-48), jack bean (JB) (Canavalia ensiformis) (Tce-4), sword bean (SB) (Canavalia gladiata) (Tcg-4) and African yam bean (AYB) (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) (TSS-95) from the Genetic Resources Unit (GRU), International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Nutritional and functional properties were evaluated using proximate composition, mineral analyses and functional properties like bulk density, water absorption capacity, oil absorption capacity, emulsion capacity and dispersibility. All the procedures were carried out using standard protocols. Statistical analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Results of proximate analysis showed that crude protein ranged from18.88 0.15%(WB) to 26.60±0.14%(AYB), crude fat ranged from 1.84 0.02% (JB) to 6.39 0.03% (BG), crude fibre ranged from 3.70 ±0.00% (AYB) to 5.04 0.03% (SB), ash ranged from 3.10 ± 0.14% (AYB) to 4.66 0.02% (LB), nitrogen free extract ranged from 55.60 0.04% (SB) to 62.97 0.12% (WB), moisture content ranged from 5.75 0.48% (AYB) to 10.77 0.03% (JB), dry matter ranged from 89.23 0.03% (JB) to 94.25 ± 0.488% (AYB) and gross energy ranged from 4.39 0.003 kcal/g (SB) to 4.66 0.00 (BG). Mineral content results revealed that calcium varied from 0.14 0.000% (LB) to 0.23 0.0003% (AYB), phosphorus varied from 0.20 0.0001% (AYB) to 0.38 0.00% (BG), sodium varied from 0.12 0.00% (LB and WB) to 0.35 0.0006% (AYB), potassium varied from 0.69 0.00% (LB) to 1.12 0.00% (BG), magnesium varied from 0.15 0.0002% (AYB) to 0.27 0.000% (BG) and iron varied from 44.84 0.03 (mg/g) (WB) to 80.98 0.0007(mg/g) (AYB). Results of functional properties showed that bulk density ranged from 0.45±0.04 g/mL (WB) to 0.77±0.08 g/mL (SB), water absorption capacity ranged from 168.33±0.03 g/100g (LB) to 183.62±0.01 g/100g (SB), oil absorption capacity ranged from 146.54 ±0.02 g/100g (LB) to 161.55±0.02 g/100g (JB), emulsion capacity ranged from 79.67 ±0.02 g/100g (LB) to 89.46±0.02 g/100g (SB) and dispersibility ranged from81.0±1.41%(SB) to 86.5±0.71% (BG). The study concluded that all the underutilized legumes have varying nutritional and functional properties, which should be exploited for nutritional benefits and industrial applications, as a solution to the problem of food shortage, especially in the developing countries.

Efficacy and safety of CAEC (Canavalia gladiata arctium lappa extract complex) on immune function enhancement: An 8 week, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

• CAEC enhanced immune function by stimulating NK cell activity and IL-10 expression. • CAEC significantly increased NK cell activity at E:T = 25:1 and 50:1 after 8 weeks. • CAEC significantly increased the level of IL-10 after 8 weeks. • CAEC will be able to serve as a functional food for stimulating immunity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of CAEC (Canavalia gladiata arctium lappa extract complex) in adults with white blood cells between 3 and 8 × 10 3 cells/µL by assessing natural killer (NK) cell activity and immune-related biomarkers. Overall, 100 participants (CAEC group = 50, placebo group = 50) were randomised, and administered CAEC or placebo once daily for 8 weeks, with an evaluation visit performed every 4 weeks. NK cell activity, the primary outcome, significantly increased in CAEC when compared with the placebo at effector-to-target (E:T) ratios of 25:1 and 50:1 after 8 weeks. Compared with the placebo group, IL-10 demonstrated significant differences at week 8 in the CAEC group. Our findings demonstrate that CAEC is safe and enhances immune function by stimulating NK cell activity through IL-10 expression. Hence, we anticipate that CAEC can be developed as a functional food for stimulating immunity.

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Immature Sword Bean Pod (Canavalia gladiata) in Lipopolysaccharide-Induced RAW264.7 Cells.

Sword bean has been known as a traditional medicinal plant to treat cancer, sinus infection, and suppurative disease. It also possesses hypertension-relieving, antioxidation, and antibacterial effects. However, studies on the efficacy of sword bean are limited to mature beans. Few studies have focused on immature sword bean pod (ISBP). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of ISBP in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). After LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells were treated with ISBP at concentrations (0.5, 1, 2, and 5 mg/mL), levels of nitrite oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production, protein, and mRNA levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inflammatory cytokine secretion level, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activity were determined. Under inflammatory conditions induced by LPS, ISBP reduced levels of inflammatory mediators NO and PGE2 by 60% and 23%, respectively. It also decreased protein and mRNA expression levels of iNOS and COX-2 known to synthesize inflammatory mediators. Inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1β, levels were decreased, while interferon gamma level was increased by ISBP based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and real time-polymerase chain reaction results. Finally, ISBP showed the ability to inhibit NF-κB activity. In conclusion, ISBP can alleviate inflammation by controlling inflammation-related substances, and may have efficacy as a healthful functional food and natural anti-inflammatory drug.

Crude Urease Extract for Biocementation

A crude extract from jack beans (Canavalia gladiata) is demonstrated to be an effective source of urease enzyme for biocementation via enzyme-induced carbonate precipitation (EICP). Test tube tests of crude and purified extracts from jack beans, jack bean meal, soybeans, and watermelon seeds show that the crude jack bean extract results in the highest unit yield, defined as urease content per initial mass of source material, among these four plant sources. The efficacy of EICP using crude jack bean extract for biocementation was compared with the efficacy of three commercially available enzymes by biocementation of a granular soil. Unconfined compression tests on the granular soil specimens subject to biocementation via EICP demonstrated that the crude extract and the less purified commercially available enzyme were actually more effective than commercially available highly purified urease enzymes at enhancing soil strength, an effect attributed to the presence of complementary proteins in the less purified enzyme sources. The simple technique used to produce the crude extract from jack beans significantly lowers the cost of EICP, eliminating a major barrier to practical applications, including infrastructure construction and environmental protection.

ESTIMATING MOISTURE ABSORPTION KINETICS OF SWORD BEANS DURING SOAKING USING MIDILLI MODEL

Midilli model was used to estimate the moisture ratio of four varieties of Sword beans. The experiment was carried out using distilled water at temperature of 530C for 100 minutes. The standard model of water absorption was fitted into the experimental data. Coefficient of determination [R2] and root mean square error were used to evaluate the model. The Midilli model was chosen based on maximum value of Coefficient of determination and minimum value of root mean square error. The result showed that Midilli model is the most appropriate for TCG-4 with R2 value of 0.9924 and RMSE value of 0.1758 to estimate moisture ratio changes versus time in soaking. The moisture ratio against soaking time was plotted in each case using Midilli equation. The plotted curves of each variety of bean indicated that moisture ratio decreases with increasing in time. The effective moisture diffusivity coefficient of four varieties of varieties of Sword beans increased.