Mg Of Starch Research Articles

Assessment of glycemic index of the unripe green papaya in mice

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) is a rich-nutrition fruit include vitamins (A, B and C), carbohydrates, proteins, alkaloids, proteolytic enzymes, and benzyl isothiocyanate. Papaya contains papain, which helps strengthen the constitution of diabetes patients. Its water-soluble fiber can stabilize blood sugar levels, reducing the risk of complications. Papaya has benefits such as lowering blood lipids and softening blood vessels due to the fruit acids it contains, which is advantageous for patients with diabetes complicated by hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and dyslipidemia. Additionally, the proteolytic enzymes in papaya are beneficial for the digestive system. Unripe green bananas have been found to contain a significant amount of resistant starch, giving them potential as a low glycemic index (GI) food. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of unripe green papaya on blood glucose regulation. The blood glucose values were measured in C57BL/6 mice before and within 120 minutes after consuming 50 mg of glucose and the grated unripe green papaya containing 50 mg of starch was conducted to calculate the incremental area under the curve (IAUC) for blood glucose changes post-consumption of glucose and the grated unripe green papaya. The results showed that the average IAUC for the grated unripe green papaya was 11,176.67, while the average IAUC for glucose was 7,666.25. According to the GI calculation formula, GI of the grated unripe green papaya was determined to be 146. Therefore, based on the results of this study, these results will be used as the basis for the development of related blood glucose regulation products of the unripe green papaya (Carica papaya L.) in the future.

Can curcumin supplementation break the vicious cycle of inflammation, oxidative stress, and uremia in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis?

Background & AimsTurmeric (a source of curcumin) is an excellent food to modulate oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, no studies report the benefits of curcumin in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). This study aims to evaluate the effects of curcuminoid supplementation on oxidative stress, inflammatory markers, and uremic toxins originating from gut microbiota in patients with CKD undergoing PD. MethodsThis longitudinal, randomized, single-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated 48 patients who were randomized into two groups: Curcumin (three capsules of 500mg of Curcuma longa extract, with 98.42% total curcuminoids) or placebo (three capsules of 500mg of starch) for twelve weeks. In the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the transcriptional expression levels of Nrf2, HOX-1 and NF-κB were evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR. Oxidative stress was evaluated by malondialdehyde (MDA) and total Thiol (T-SH). TNF-α and IL-6 plasma levels were measured by ELISA. P-cresyl sulphate plasma level, a uremic toxin, was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescent detection. ResultsTwenty-four patients finished the study: 10 in the curcumin group (57.5 ± 11.6 years) and 14 in the placebo group (56.5 ± 10.0 years). The plasma levels of MDA were reduced after 12 weeks in the curcumin group (p = 0.01), while the placebo group remained unchanged. However, regarding the difference between the groups at the endpoint, no change was observed in MDA. Still, there was a trend to reduce the p-CS plasma levels in the curcumin group compared to the placebo group (p = 0.07). Likewise, the concentrations of protein thiols, mRNA expression of Nrf2, HOX-1, NF-κB, and cytokines plasma levels did not show significant changes. ConclusionCurcuminoid supplementation for twelve weeks attenuates lipid peroxidation and might reduce uremic toxin in patients with CKD undergoing PD. This study was registered on Clinicaltrials.gov as NCT 04413266

Modified simultaneous saccharification and fermentation for the production of bioethanol from highly concentrated raw corn starch

Bioethanol is one of the main bio-based molecules produced mainly from sugar cane, molasses and corn. Its environmental advantages allow it to be considered as safe and the cleanest fuel alternative. Starch is a widespread renewable carbohydrate conventionally used for bioethanol production via energy demanding liquefaction and saccharification processes. Raw starch hydrolysis using enzymes capable of degrading it below the gelatinization temperature significantly simplifies the process and reduces the cost of starch processing. In this study, an innovative modified simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process is proposed for the production of bioethanol from highly concentrated raw corn starch (30 % w/v). A two-step synergistic hydrolysis and fermentation was carried out in a single bioreactor vessel. To ensure high process efficiency, factors influencing the hydrolysis of concentrated raw corn starch by raw starch degrading α-amylase from Bacillus paralicheniformis ATCC 9945a (BliAmy) and commercial glucoamylase were investigated. Box–Behnken experimental design was used to predict the effects of different ratios of added enzymes, glucoamylase addition time, incubation time, and pH on hydrolysis yield. Optimal conditions for the highest yield of hydrolysis of raw corn starch (90 %) were obtained after 8 h using 5.0 IU BliAmy per mg of starch and 0.5 % (v/v) glucoamylase at pH 4.5 and 60 °C. Obtained glucose was further fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 30 °C in the same vessel for bioethanol production. Bioethanol concentration at 129.2 g/L, with productivity of 2.94 g/L/h and ethanol yield (YP/S) at 0.50 g EtOH/g total sugar, equivalent to 87.8 % theoretical yield, was obtained by modified simultaneous saccharification and fermentation. This work enriches the information of bioethanol production and offers a novel strategy for raw starch hydrolysis under industrial conditions.

The Effect of Dracocephalum Extract on Sleep Quality in Post-Menopausal Women: A Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Objective: Sleep disturbance is one of the most prevalent problems in post-menopausal females. The current research intended to evaluate the effects of Dracocephalum on sleep disorder in post-menopausal females. Method : The current study is a randomized, double-blind controlled trial, in which 110 post-menopausal women were randomly allocated to Dracocephalum or placebo groups. The intervention group took Dracocephalum capsules containing 250 mg Dracocephalum extract twice daily for one month. While, the placebo group took the same capsule containing 250 mg of starch twice daily for one month. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was completed by the participants of both groups before and after the treatment and the data obtained were analyzed with Chi-square, paired and independent t-test in SPSS (version 20). Results: The mean score of sleep quality before and after the treatment was 12.69 ± 3.98 and 8.58 ± 1.97 in the treatment group, respectively. Also, the score of sleep quality in the placebo group was 13.48 ± 2.60 and 11.21 ± 2.74 at the beginning and end of the research, respectively. The symptoms of sleep disorder in the intervention group significantly improved after the treatment (P < 0.001), while this was not the case with the placebo group (P = 0.155). Besides, there was a significant difference between the two groups in the mean score of sleep quality after the treatment (P = 0.012). Conclusion: Dracocephalum extracts are effective in reducing symptoms of sleep disorders in post-menopausal women.

Effectiveness of L-carnitine Supplementation to Sertraline for Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Double-blind Randomized Placebo-controlled Trial

Objectives: Despite the various treatment approaches proposed for major depressive disorder (MDD), the right treatment protocol for different patients is not the same. Supplementation of L-carnitine to antidepressants has been recommended in some studies; however, different results have been reported. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of adding L-carnitine to sertraline in the treatment of patients diagnosed with MDD. Material and Methods: This double-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted on 60 patients with MDD. The severity of the depressive disorder, as the primary research outcome, was assessed using the Beck depression inventory. The intervention group received 1000 mg of daily L-carnitine oral capsule along with 100 mg of sertraline; and the control group received a placebo (oral capsule containing 1000 mg of starch), along with 100 mg of sertraline every day. The primary outcome was assessed at baseline, the 3rd, and the 6th week. Results: Although depression score decreased in both groups over time, the difference between the two groups was not significant (P = 0.634). Three patients reported adverse side effects; however, the difference between the two groups was not significant (P = 0.554). Conclusion: Supplementation of L-carnitine to sertraline in patients with MDD did not show a significant effect on the improvement of depression severity.

Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium L.) Intake Before Submaximal Aerobic Exercise Is Safe for Cardiovascular and Autonomic Systems in Healthy Males: A Randomized Trial.

BackgroundThere are still no studies of the cardiovascular safety of the isolated use of Citrus aurantium in aerobic submaximal exercise.ObjectiveTo evaluate the effect of C. aurantium supplementation on the recovery of cardiorespiratory and autonomic parameters following a session of submaximal aerobic exercise.MethodsTwelve healthy male adults achieved a crossover, randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled trial. C. aurantium (600 mg, p-synephrine at 30% amount [180 mg]) or placebo (600 mg of starch) were ingested 90 min before evaluation in randomized days. We evaluated systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and, HR variability indexes at Rest and during 60 min of recovery from exercise.ResultsCitrus aurantium ingestion accelerated the reduction in SBP after exercise, anticipated the return of vagal modulation of the heart after exercise via the HF (ms2), pNN50 (%), and 2 UV% indices. Moreover, rushed the output of sympathetic modulation after exercise via the 0V% index. No unfavorable cardiovascular effects were achieved for HR, DBP, PP, and MAP parameters.ConclusionsCitrus aurantium was shown to be safe for the cardiovascular and autonomic systems alongside submaximal aerobic exercise in healthy males.

Orally Disintegrating Tablet Formulation of Avicennia Fruit Ethanol Extract (Avicennia marina)

The fruit produced from Avicennia tree (in the form of ethanol extract) has the property of reducing blood glucose levels (oral antidiabetic mellitus) with an effective dose of 10 mg / 50 kg human body weight. Most of the elderly with diabetes mellitus in Indonesia are aged 60-74 years (83.3%) who have a decreased ability to swallow drugs. In addition, antidiabetic drugs are expected to be able to produce fast action, so that it can reduce blood sugar levels immediately. Therefore, the Avicennia fruit ethanol extract formulated in the form of Orally Disintegrating Tablet (ODT). The aim of this study was to determine the effect of Starch 1500 and Crospovidone as a superdisintegrant in either single or combination use in the Avicennia fruit ethanol extract ODT formulation. The ODT was made by direct compression. There were three formulas that was carried out in this study : FI with 10 mg of Starch 1500, FII with 10 mg of Crospovidone and FIII with a combination of superdisintegrant Starch 1500 and Crospovidone (7 mg and 3 mg). In this study it could be conclued that the best compatible superdisintegrant in ODT for Avicennia fruit ethanol extract was Crospovidone, not combination with Starch 1500.

Phoenix dactylifera pollen does not affect eccentric resistance exercise-induced delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) in female athletes

This study is intended to investigate the effects of Phoneix Dactylifera pollen on markers of delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) induced by eccentric resistance exercise in female athletes. Thirty-six female athletes were randomly selected and equally divided into 3 groups of 12 subjects, including: (1) 100 mg of P. dactylifera, (2) 200 mg of P. dactylifera, and (3) 100 mg of starch (placebo). Having received 10-day supplementation based on their groups label, all participants performed a bout of eccentric leg curl exercise by lying leg curl machine (five sets, three repetitions, each set with 110–130% one-repetition maximum, 1-min rest between sets). The blood samples were collected before and 1, 2, 3 and 4 days after the exercise. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) at a significance level of P < 0.05). Neither 100 mg nor 200 mg doses of P. dactylifera had considerably significant effects on blood levels of creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), lymphocytes and neutrophils, thigh circumference, the angle of leg extension and the Sargent jump (the markers of DOMS) compared to the placebo. Eccentric resistance exercise increased markers of DOMS; however, consuming either 100 or 200 mg P. dactylifera for 10 days before the exercise had no favorable effects on the DOMS markers in female athletes.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Antrodia cinnamomea Mycelium in Patients with Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objective Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become a prominent liver disease in contemporary society because of the changing dieting styles. Complicated syndromes often accompanied by obesity and diabetes makes no standard treatment for NASH. Therefore, we investigated the potential role of Antrodia cinnamomea mycelium (ACM) as nutraceutical supplementation in the treatment of NASH in this 6-month randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Method 28 Participants were treated with three capsules per day containing either 420 mg of ACM or 420 mg of starch as a placebo. The participants were required to follow a predetermined regular visit to hospital every three months during the intervention period (6 months). During each study visit, subjects underwent anthropometric measurements and blood testing for biochemical analysis, immune function assay, inflammatory cytokines assay, and FibroMax test. Results The ACM supplemented group had a significant improvement in steatosis and decreased in the inflammatory marker of TNF-α after three and six months. NASH patients who received ACM showed a significant decrease in the SteatoTest mean value from 0.66 at baseline to 0.49 at 6 months (p < 0.029) and the ActiTest mean value decreased from 0.46 at baseline to 0.30 at 6 months (p < 0.029). Conclusion This is the first clinical investigation that explores the hepatoprotective effect of A. cinnamomea mycelium in patients with NASH. No participants experienced any adverse events during the study, which suggested that ACM is a safe alternative treatment for NASH.

Effect of Schisandra Chinensis Extract Supplementation on Quadriceps Muscle Strength and Fatigue in Adult Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

The fruit of Schisandra chinensis (SC) is a well-known traditional herb used for pharmacological purposes in Asian countries (e.g., Korea, China, and Japan). In animal studies, SC extract supplementation had beneficial effects on muscle strength and lactate level. However, the effect of SC extract supplementation on skeletal muscle strength and lactate at rest in humans remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of SC extract supplementation on quadriceps muscle strength (QMS) and lactate at rest in adult women. Forty five healthy post-menopausal middle-aged women (61.9 ± 8.4 years) were randomly divided into the SC (n = 24) or the placebo group (n = 21). The SC group consumed 1000 mg of SC extract per day, whereas the placebo group consumed 1000 mg of starch per day for 12 weeks. The difference in muscle mass, physical function, and biomarkers and the relative changes between baseline and 12 weeks were evaluated. We used two-factor repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine interaction (group × time) effects for variables. Statistical significance was accepted at p < 0.05. In ANOVA results, QMS (p = 0.001) and lactate level (p = 0.038) showed significant interactions. With paired t-tests, QMS was significantly increased (p < 0.001) and lactate level at rest was significantly decreased (p < 0.05) after 12 weeks in the SC group. However, no interactions were found between the other variables. Supplementation of SC extract may help to improve QMS as well as decrease lactate level at rest in adult women. We believe that SC extract is a health supplement that can support healthy life in this population.

Investigation the effect of oleoylethanolamide supplementation on the abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium and the dietary intakes in people with obesity: A randomized clinical trial

Akkermansia muciniphila bacterium is one of the inhabitant gut microbiota involving in the energy homeostasis and inhibition of the inflammations. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of Oleoylethanolamide (OEA) supplementation on the abundance of A. muciniphila and the dietary intakes in obese people. In this randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial, 60 eligible obese people were selected and divided randomly into two groups including OEA group (received two capsules containing 125 mg of OEA daily) and placebo group (received two capsules containing 125 mg of starch daily). The treatment lasted for 8 weeks. Dietary intakes were evaluated according to the three -day food record and, were analyzed by the Nutritionist 4 software. In order to evaluate the changes in the abundance of A. muciniphila bacterium, faeces samples were collected at baseline and at the end of study. The targeting of the 16S rRNA gene in A. muciniphila was measured by the quantitative real-time PCR analysis.For OEA group, the energy and carbohydrate intakes decreased significantly after adjusting for baseline values and confounder factors; (p = 0.035), the amount of carbohydrate was reported as 422.25 (SD = 103.11) gr and 368.44 (SD = 99.08) gr; (p = 0.042)), before and after the treatment, respectively. The abundance of A. muciniphila bacterium increased significantly in OEA group compared to placebo group (p < 0.001). Considering the accumulating evidence identified OEA as a novel, safe, and efficacious pharmaceutical agent increasing the abundance of A. muciniphila bacterium and modifying the energy balance, therefore it is suggested to use its supplement for treatment of the obese people. However, future studies are needed to confirm the positive results obtained in this study.

Cerebral Hyperperfusion and Metabolic Regulation in Response to Hypoxia: Do ATP‐Sensitive Potassium Channels Play a Role?

ATP‐sensitive K+ channels (K+ATP) mediate hypoxia‐induced cerebral vasodilatation and hyperperfusion in animals, a compensatory mechanism that maintains the oxidative metabolic stability of the brain. We then tested whether K+ATP blockade attenuates the increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) in humans and leads to a shift towards brain non‐oxidative metabolism during isocapnic hypoxia (IH). Seven men (25 ± 4 yrs.) were exposed to 5‐min of normoxia and IH (10% O2) before (BG) and 3 h after Glibenclamide oral administration (AG – 5 mg). Invasive mean arterial pressure (MAP), radial artery and right jugular venous blood saturation, oxygen (PO2) and carbon dioxide (PCO2) partial pressure, glucose and lactate levels, and internal carotid (ICA) and vertebral (VA) artery blood flow (BF, Doppler ultrasound) were quantified over the last 30 s. In another protocol, 5 male subjects (24 ± 4 yrs.) underwent the same procedures before (BPL) and 3 h after placebo ingestion (APL – 5 mg of starch). CBF ((ICA BF + VA BF)×2 (mL/min)), cerebral metabolic rate of O2 (CMRO2), oxygen‐glucose (OGI) and oxygen‐carbohydrate (OCI) indexes were determined in each trial. IH provoked similar arterial desaturation (ΔBG −18.3 ± 6.0 vs. ΔAG −17.9 ± 3.5%, p = 0.784) and PaO2 reduction (ΔBG −80.6 ± 4.8 vs. ΔAG −77.6 ± 9.0 mmHg, p = 0.351). MAP and PaCO2 remained unchanged under both conditions. Smaller increases in ICA (ΔBG +111 ± 94 vs. ΔAG +66 ± 68 mL/min, p = 0.021) and VA BF (ΔBG +44 ± 38 vs. ΔAG +26 ± 39 mL/min, p=0.035) were observed under K+ATP blockade. IH‐induced increase in CBF (ΔBG +310 ± 215 vs. ΔAG +184 ± 150 mL/min, p = 0.017) was attenuated and followed by a smaller increase in CMRO2 (ΔBG +18.9 ± 14.8 vs. ΔAG +4.5 ± 12.2 mmol/100 g/min, p = 0.015). There was no IH‐induced shift to cerebral non‐oxidative metabolism as OGI and OCI did not change. CBF and metabolic responses to IH did not differ between BPL and APL. Therefore, our findings indicate that K+ATP play a role in the human cerebral hyperemia and maintenance of the brain metabolic stability during isocapnic hypoxia.Support or Funding InformationCNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ, FINEPThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

A Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Clinical Trial Examining the Effects of Green Tea Extract on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity and Quality of Life.

Antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory benefit of green tea (Camellia sinensis) in autoimmune disease has been proven in recent studies. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of green tea on disease activity and quality of life in systemic lupus erythematosus patients. A randomized controlled trial on subjects with lupus was conducted, and 68 patients in the age range of 39.1±10.3years and body mass index of 25.7±5.21kg/m2 completed the 12-week study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups of intervention (1000mg green tea extract, two capsules/day) and control (1000mg of starch, two capsules/day). Main outcome measure, systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity, was assessed by the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index at the first and after 3months of intervention. In addition, patient's quality of life was evaluated by short form of quality-of-life questionnaire at baseline and after 3months. Green tea extract supplementation significantly reduced disease activity in lupus patients (p<0.004); in addition, it significantly increased the vitality (p<0.006) and general health (p<0.01). This study showed that daily consumption of green tea extracts for 12weeks improves the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity as well as some aspects of quality of life. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Effect of Tribulus terrestris, ginger, saffron, and Cinnamomum on menopausal symptoms: a randomised, placebo-controlled clinical trial.

Menopausal symptoms experienced by women vary widely, and while many women transition through menopause with manageable symptoms, others experience severe symptoms, which may impair their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of Tribulus terrestris, ginger, saffron, and Cinnamomum on menopausal symptoms. A randomised, triple-blind, controlled trial design was used for this study. The participants were 80 postmenopausal women aged 50–60 years. A demographic data form and the Menopause Rating Scale were used to collect data. The women were randomly divided into two groups, each of which received either an Aphrodit capsule or a placebo twice a day for four weeks. The two bottles looked exactly the same, so that the investigator and the participants were not aware of the contents of the bottles. Each Aphrodit capsule contained 40 mg of Tribulus terrestris, 12.27 mg of Zingiber officinale, 3 mg of Crocus sativus extract, and 11 mg of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, while the placebo capsules contained 50 mg of starch. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyse the data. A statistically significant change was reported in the menopausal symptoms of the intervention group compared with the placebo group. The results of the study demonstrate that the Aphrodit capsule was effective in reducing menopausal symptoms.

Contents of non-structural carbohydrates in fruiting cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) plants

Although the cape gooseberry has become the second most important export fruit in Colombia, information is scarce for its carbohydrate partitioning, which plays a major role in plant productivity. Seed-propagated Colombia ecotypes were kept in a greenhouse in 2.5-L plastic containers filled with washed quartz sand and were ferti-irrigated. The plants were pruned to one main vegetative stem with two generative stems. Dry matter (DM) partitioning during the initial plant growth showed the highest accumulation rate in the roots during the first 20 days, whereas, at a later stage of development, the shoot DM gain was higher and the leaf DM gain was lower than that of the roots. Sixty days after transplant, the plant parts were quantified and analyzed for glucose, fructose, sucrose, and starch. The roots were the largest carbohydrate pool for starch, but the sucrose content was lower in the roots than in the vegetative stem and the lower part of the reproductive stems. At 5-15 cm of the vegetative stem base, 6.4 mg of starch, 1.4 mg of monosaccharides and 5.3 mg/100 g of DM sucrose were found, indicating that this lower organ is also important for starch accumulation and, especially, for sucrose transport. In the two reproductive stems, the starch contents were much higher in the base part than in the apical part; the same relationship was found in the leaves. The monosaccharide content was the highest in the apical stem position with 8.2 mg/100 g DM. In contrast, the apical-positioned 10-day-old fruits had maximum starch concentrations (11.6 mg/100 g DM), possibly due to the assimilatory starch from green fruit photosynthesis, whereas the mature basal fruits (60-day-old) mainly accumulated sucrose (25.7 mg) and monosaccharides (21.2 mg/100 g DM).

Effect of ginger powder supplementation on nitric oxide and C-reactive protein in elderly knee osteoarthritis patients: A 12-week double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial

There is limited evidence that ginger (生薑 shēng jiāng) powder consumption can relieve pain and inflammation because of its special phytochemical properties. This study is aimed at investigating the effect of ginger powder supplementation on some inflammatory markers in patients suffering from knee osteoarthritis. This is a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial with a follow-up period of 3 months that was conducted on 120 outpatients with moderately painful knee osteoarthritis. Patients were randomly divided up into two groups: ginger group (GG) or placebo group (PG). Both groups received two identical capsules on a daily basis for 3 months. Each ginger capsule contained 500 mg of ginger powder; the placebo capsules had 500 mg of starch in them. Serum samples were collected prior to and after the intervention and were stored at −70 °C until the end of the study. Serum concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and hs-C reactive protein (hs-CRP) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of inflammatory markers (i.e., NO and hs-CRP) prior to the intervention. However, after 3 months of supplementation, serum concentration of NO and hs-CRP decreased in the GG. After 12 weeks, the concentration of these markers declined more in the GG than in the PG. Ginger powder supplementation at a dose of 1 g/d can reduce inflammatory markers in patients with knee osteoarthritis, and it thus can be recommended as a suitable supplement for these patients.

Changes in Organic and Inorganic Nutrients in Terminal Shoots of ‘Fuyu’ Persimmon during Spring Growth

감나무 신초의 초기 생장기 동안 양분 조성 및 분배 양상을 파악하기 위하여 전엽 후부터 약 40일 동안 정단신초의 유기화합물과 무기원소를 조사하였다. 성목 '부유'를 3년간 시험재료로 사용하였으며, 신초는 줄기, 잎, 과실(화뢰 포함)로 나누어 분석하였다. 신초생장기에 가용성당 농도는 잎과 과실에서, 전분은 잎에서만 증가하였다. 아미노산 농도는 세 부위 모두에서 감소하는 경향이었으나 단백질은 변화가 뚜렷하지 않았다. 신초당 이들 유기화합물의 함량은 신초생장과 함께 증가하였는데, 줄기나 과실보다 잎에서 월등히 많아 5월 동안 각 양분 총량의 60% 이상을 차지하였다. 생장이 진행됨에 따라 N과 P 농도는 세 부위에서 점진적으로 낮아진 반면, K 농도는 줄기에서만 감소하였다. Ca와 Mg농도는 부위별로 경시적인 변화가 뚜렷하지 않고 해에 따른 차이도 컸다. 각 무기원소의 단위 신초당 함량은 생장량의 증가로 모든 부위에서 증가하였는데, 잎이 5월 중순 이후 각 무기원소 함량의 54-82%를 차지하였다. 신초의 길이 생장이 완료된 때의 단위 신초당 가용성당과 전분 함량은 3년동안 각각 526-768과 245-844mg의 범위에 있었으며, 아미노산과 단백질 함량은 각각 26-31과 66-103mg이었다. 신초당 무기원소 함량은 K가 203-388mg으로 가장 많았고 다음으로 N이 132-159mg이었다. 발아 직후의 생장 전반부와 생장이 정지되는 시기에 가까운 후반부의 각 양분 함량의 상대적인 변화율을 조사한 결과 모두 전반부의 값이 후반부 값보다 월등히 높아 생장 초기에 양분의 증가속도가 월등하게 높음을 나타냈다. 초기에 변화율이 이렇게 높은 것은 저장양분의 공급 때문이며, 연차간 차이는 기상이나 재배 조건에 따른 초기 변화율의 차이와 깊은 관련이 있을 것으로 판단되었다. To understand changes in composition and distribution of nutrients during early shoot growth of persimmon, organic compounds and inorganic elements of terminal shoots were analyzed for about 40 days from the time of foliation. Sample shoots were collected from mature 'Fuyu' trees for this three-year experiment and they were divided to stem, leaves, and the fruits including flower buds at the earliest stage. During shoot growth, concentration of soluble sugars increased in both leaves and fruits, but that of starch increased only in leaves. Those of amino acids tended to decrease in all the parts but there was no consistent change in proteins. As shoots grew, contents of all the organic compounds in a shoot increased, and they were especially higher in May leaves accounting for more than 60% of the shoot total for each nutrient. Along with shoot growth, concentrations of N and P gradually decreased in all three parts, while K decreased only in stem. However, those of Ca and Mg did not show notable changes in all the parts with wide variations depending on the year. Due to the quantitative increase in growth, contents of inorganic elements in a shoot increased in all the parts and the leaves accounted for 54-82% of the shoot total. At the cessation time of extension growth, a shoot contained 526-768 mg of soluble sugars, 245-844 mg of starch, 26-31 mg of amino acids, and 66-103 mg of proteins for three years. On the other hand, a shoot contained 203-388 mg of K, the greatest among the inorganic elements, followed by 132-159 mg of N. Changes of the nutrients in a shoot were much greater during the earlier stage of growth after foliation than during the later stage toward growth cessation, suggesting the importance of mobilizing reserve nutrients for the early growth of the shoots. The results of this study also suggested that the rate of nutrient changes, especially during the earlier stage of shoot growth, could be affected by environmental and cultural conditions.

Silver nanoparticles: a potential nanocatalyst for the rapid degradation of starch hydrolysis by α-amylase

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are proven to be an effective catalytic material for various applications due to their excellent optical and electronic properties. In this paper, we describe a novel approach for the degradation of starch using the catalytic behaviour of AgNPs in an enzyme catalysed reaction of starch hydrolysis by α-amylase. AgNPs were synthesized by soluble starch reducing silver nitrate to silver atoms. An increase of 4.7-fold in reducing sugar formation and 1.5 times faster enzyme activity confirmed the catalytic activity of AgNPs as a nanocatalyst. Surprisingly, starch degradation tests revealed that 9.9mg of starch was hydrolysed within 5min, which corroborates with the reducing sugar assay. In short, the present study paves way for the faster degradation of starch by immobilizing the enzyme onto the surface of the AgNP, which could be a promising application in the food industry.

Starch-bound 2S proteins and kernel texture in einkorn, Triticum monococcum ssp monococcum

The starch granule proteins from 113 einkorn wheat (Triticum monococcum ssp monococcum) accessions were analyzed by acidic, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (A-PAGE), and two-dimensional A-PAGE x SDS-PAGE. All accessions were confirmed to contain equal amounts of two polypeptide chains corresponding to puroindoline B (Pin-B), as well as a prominent component plus a faint band corresponding to puroindoline A (Pin-A). When compared with soft-textured common wheat, "monococcum" accessions showed an increase of 3.2- and 2.7-fold in Pin-A and Pin-B levels on the starch granules, respectively. In addition, all accessions contained a novel component of the 2S super-family of seed proteins named Einkorn Trypsin Inhibitor (ETI), which was found to be encoded as a pre-protein 148 residues long. Wild-type ETI encoded by allele Eti-A(m) 1a and "valine-type" ETI encoded by allele Eti-A(m) 1b, which occurred in 107 and six einkorn accessions, respectively, were found to accumulate on starch granules as a mature protein of 121 amino acids with a hydrophobic central domain. The einkorn accessions exhibited an average SKCS index as low as -2.05 +/- 11.4, which is typical of extra-soft kernels. The total surface area of starch granules in "monococcum" wheat, as determined by visual assessments in counting chambers, was estimated at 764 mm(2)/mg of starch, and was about 1.5 times higher than that for common wheat. The results are discussed in relation to the identification of factors that cause the extra-soft texture of einkorn kernels.

Mass spectrometric quantification of the relative amounts of C6 and C3 position phosphorylated glucosyl residues in starch

The quantification of phosphate bound to the C6 and C3 positions of glucose residues in starch has received increasing interest since the importance of starch phosphorylation for plant metabolism was discovered. The method described here is based on the observation that the isobaric compounds glucose-6-phosphate (Glc6P) and glucose-3-phosphate (Glc3P) exhibit significantly different fragmentation patterns in negative ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). A simple experiment involving collision-induced dissociation (CID) MS 2 spectra of the sample and the two reference substances Glc3P and Glc6P permitted the quantification of the relative amounts of the two compounds in monosaccharide mixtures generated by acid hydrolysis of starch. The method was tested on well-characterized potato tuber starch. The results are consistent with those obtained by NMR analysis. In contrast to NMR, however, the presented method is fast and can be performed on less than 1 mg of starch. Starch samples of other origins exhibiting a variety of phosphorylation degrees were analyzed to assess the sensitivity and robustness of the method.