One of the wild herbs that grows naturally in the springtime in Kurdistan's mountainous regions is Eremurus robustus. The study aimed to detect the proximate analysis, polyphenols, fatty acid profile, and mineral composition in the leaves of Eremurus robustus. Proximate composition revealed it is a source of vitamin C, fiber, and protein. Nine phenolic compounds and 24 fatty acids were detected, along with 14 saturated and 10 unsaturated fatty acids using high-performance liquid chromatography (HP-LC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometers (GC-MS). Seventeen mineral compositions were found using an inductively coupled spectrophotometric technique. Vegetable trace metal concentrations can be assessed by comparing the daily diets of plants and humans. The research suggests that Eremurus robustus leaves can serve as nutritional supplements and functional foods, not just for therapeutic uses.

Water chestnut (Trapa japonica) is a thorny aquatic floating plant that contains hydrolyzable polyphenols (WCPs) such as eugeniin, 1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-d-glucopyranose (TGG), and trapain. Previous studies have revealed that WCPs have antioxidant properties and can suppress postprandial blood glucose elevation in mice and human participants. However, the functionality of WCPs in treating obesity and metabolic syndrome, which have become significant issues in recent years, remains unclear. Here, we aimed to determine the effects of WCPs on lipid metabolism. We initially investigated the effects of WCPs on pancreatic lipase in vitro. Among WCPs, eugeniin and trapain, which contain a hexahydroxybiphenyl group, particularly inhibited lipase activity. We also found that WCPs suppressed fat accumulation in mouse adipose progenitor 3T3-L1 cells. We compared the effects of WCPs on lipid metabolism among groups of mice (n=7 each) fed for four weeks without (standard control and high-fat (HF) diet controls) or with HFWP 0.5 or HFWP 1 supplemented with 0.5 and 1% WCPs, respectively. Subsequently, we examined lipid-related parameters in adipose tissue, liver, and blood. We found significantly lower plasma triacylglycerol content in the HFWP1 than in the HF group. These findings suggest that WCPs may help prevent the onset of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

Marine organisms contain unique lipid-soluble components. Therefore, we focused on the health benefits of these lipid-soluble components and conducted molecular nutritional studies. Fucoxanthin (Fx) is a typical marine carotenoid, found in brown seaweeds, such as Undaria pinnatifida (Wakame) and Saccharina japonica (Makonbu), and we demonstrated its anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects in animal models. As the molecular mechanism for anti-diabetic effect, dietary Fx has found to activate insulin signaling pathways and glucose transporter 4 (GLUT 4) in the skeletal muscles of diabetic/obese KK-A mice. Notably, Fx promoted GLUT4 translocation in the soleus muscle, up-regulated GLUT4 expression in the EDL muscle, and prevented and improved hyperglycemia through effective glucose uptake depending on the muscle types. On the other hand, n-3 docosapentaenoic acid (n-3 DPA), an n-3 poly unsaturated fatty acid found in salmon and trout, is converted to EPA and DHA in cultured cells. The intracellular conversion of n-3 DPA differed different among cells derived from macrophages, liver, and intestines. n-3 DPA markedly down-regulates the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory factors in activated macrophages. The suppressive effect of n-3 DPA on IL-6 mRNA expression was similar to that of DHA, but stronger than that of EPA. In addition, we demonstrated that n-3 PUFA-binding phosphatidylglycerol (PG) exhibited anti-inflammatory effects against activated macrophages, and that the effect was stronger than that of n-3 PUFA-phosphatidylcholine (PC). Furthermore, n-3 PUFA-PG significantly increased the intracellular EPA and DHA content compared to n-3 PUFA-PC treatment and induced Nrf2 activation. n-3 PUFA-PG, which enhances intracellular PUFAs, is contained in several microalgae such as Phaeodactylum tricornutum. It can also be enzymatically prepared and is expected to be used as a new functional lipid.

Preventing hyperlipidemia and the risk of cardiovascular disease are attractive to public health. Essential oils are extremely promising nutrients for use in the treatment of hyperlipidemia, whose effectiveness is closely related to its volatile composition. We extracted fingered citron essential oil (FCEO) with steam distillation, analyzed the chemical composition, and evaluated its effects on hyperlipidemia. We identified 25 volatile compounds of FCEO with GC/MS, of which the main constituents were limonene and γ-terpinene. This study explored the protective effects of FCEOs against diet-induced hyperlipidemia Syrian hamsters. FCEOs treatment ranges from 0.03% to 0.05% with a daily diet. As of 12 weeks later, we found that the administration of the FCEOs improved the serum total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels (p < 0.05). Further, LDL-C/HDL-C (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) ratios were significantly reduced (39.02-68.07 vs. 80.27). Simultaneously, the FCEOs had improved lipid metabolism and histopathology in the liver. These actions suggest the potential of FCEO as a valuable source of nutraceuticals in diet-based therapies.

Conjugated fatty acids are a promising ingredient for cancer prevention and treatment. Conjugated fatty acids are minor fatty acids that are rarely found in nature, although a wide variety of structures are known. In recent years, studies have been conducted to screen natural products containing conjugated fatty acids and to synthesize conjugated fatty acids using enzymes derived from natural products. As a result, it was found that the seed oils of Centranthus ruber and Valeriana officinalis, which belong to the Valerianaceae family, contain conjugated linolenic acid, which has a conjugated triene structure in the molecule. Furthermore, it was found that parinaric acid, a conjugated tetraenoic fatty acid, can be synthesized by adding α-linolenic acid to enzymes extracted from the brown alga Padina arborescens Holmes. These research results are expected to be useful in securing conjugated fatty acids in quantities that can withstand practical application. Recent studies have reported that the cytotoxic effect of conjugated fatty acids is due to a programmed cell death called "ferroptosis". Many anticancer drugs exhibit anticancer activity through DNA modification, cell cycle arrest, angiogenesis inhibition, and epidermal growth factor receptor inhibition. Conjugated fatty acids, however, induce cell death through a mechanism distinct from these mechanisms and are therefore expected to be effective against cancers resistant to currently used anticancer drugs. The results of these studies will help to promote research on the use of conjugated fatty acids to overcome intractable cancers in the future.

Balancing detergent power and foam formation is important for developing dishwashing detergents. Many ingredients that improve foaming have been studied, but the mechanism of action in the formulation system is not clear. The purpose of this study is to clarify the components that improve foam formation while maintaining detergent power as well as their mechanisms of action. In this study, the maximum rate of decrease in dynamic surface tension ((dγ/dt)) was used as an indicator of foam formation. Rapid bubble generation promotes fine foam forming. The index of bubble formation is how much energy required to expand the area of foam can be reduced. (dγ/dt) represents the point at which the adsorption rate changes from surface adsorption dominated to surface diffusion dominated. The effects of pH, (dγ/dt), and molecular mobility within micelles were evaluated to understand the foaming mechanism. The foam-boosting effect of fatty acid monoethanol amide (MEA) and fatty alcohol polyoxyethylene ether (AE) on aqueous solutions of polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate (AES) and N,N-dimethyldodecylamine N-oxide (DDAO), which are the essential components of dishwashing detergents, was evaluated. When polyoxyethylene n-dodecyl monoethanolamide (C12MEA(2)) was added to the AES/DDAO solution, (dγ/dt) increased at pH values above 6, suggesting enhanced DDAO deprotonation compared with that in the AES/DDAO aqueous solution without MEA. When polyoxyethylene n-dodecyl ether (C12AE(20)) was added to the AES/DDAO solution, (dγ/dt) did not change with increasing pH. However, a comparison of molecular mobility within micelles revealed that AES/DDAO/C12AE(20) had higher molecular mobility than AES/DDAO/C12MEA(2). The present study indicates that a nonionic surfactant that can promote DDAO deprotonation with increasing pH without weakening the intermolecular interactions of AES and DDAO could effectively promote adsorption at the air-water interface and foam formation in aqueous AES/DDAO solutions.

Among primary brain tumors, glioma has one of the highest fatality rates. Routine chemotherapy often faces off-target drug loss and sub-optimal drug availability at brain tissue. The present study aims at the development of transferrin-conjugated gemcitabine loaded poly (lactic co glycolic acid) nanoparticles (Tf-GB-PLGA-NPs) targeted strategy for brain cancer cell. GB-PLGA-NPs were prepared using solvent evaporation and nanoprecipitation method and then conjugated with Tf. The formulation was characterized for physicochemical parameters, in-vitro release, cytotoxicity, apoptosis (U87MG cell line), and in-vivo pharmacokinetic study. Tf-GB-PLGA-NPs showed 143±6.23 nm of particle size, 0.213 of PDI, -25 mV of zeta potential, and 77.53±1.43% of entrapment efficiency, respectively. Tf-GB-PLGA-NPs exhibited spherical morphology and sustained release of GB (76.54±4.08%) over 24 h. Tf-GB-PLGA-NPs exhibited significant (p < 0.05) cell inhibition against cell line (U87MG) than GB-PLGA-NPs and pure GB. The Tf-GB-PLGA-NPs exhibited higher U87MG apoptosis (61.25%) than GB-PLGA-NPs (31.61%). The Tf-GB-PLGA-NPs exhibited a significantly higher concentration in the brain than pure GB and GB-PLGA-NPs. Tf-GB-PLGA-NPs showed 11.16-fold higher AUC0-t (bioavailability) than pure GB solution and 2.23-fold higher bioavailability than GB-PLGA-NPs. The finding concludes that the Tf-GB-PLGA-NPs are an alternative potent carrier for GB to brain delivery for treating brain cancer.

We examine the spray characteristics of mist aerosol containing emulsifier-free oil-in-water (EF-O/W) emulsion, which are prepared by ultrasonic emulsification of only oil and water in the absence of any emulsifiers such as surfactants, as a mist aerosol formulation. We found the unique spray characteristics of mist aerosol containing EF-O/W emulsion, which is a larger angle of mist sprayed and the resulting larger mist area, compared to the water and ethanol as a mist aerosol formulation. The unique spray characteristics observed for mist aerosol containing EF-O/W emulsion were not related to the physical properties of mist aerosol formulations, concentration of oil in EF-O/W emulsions, size of oil droplets in EF-O/W emulsions, size of droplets in mist sprayed from mist aerosol and flow rate of mist aerosol formulation in the actuator. By monitoring the liquid film sprayed from the actuator of mist aerosol, the splitting of liquid film sprayed from mist aerosol containing EF-O/W emulsion occurs at shorter distance from the actuator compared to the splitting of liquid film sprayed from mist aerosol containing water and ethanol. Namely, the earlier splitting of liquid film sprayed from mist aerosol results in the mist with larger angle and larger area of mist sprayed while the later splitting of liquid film sprayed from mist aerosol leads to the mist with smaller angle and smaller area of mist sprayed.

This study aims to improve the larvicidal activity of crude Chisocheton erythrocarpus extract (CCEE) against Aedes aegypti larvae via nano-emulsion formulation method. The fruits of C. erythrocarpus possesses limonoids with good larvicidal activity against Aedes mosquitoes. Using ternary phase diagrams, four selected formulations were prepared using non-ionic surfactants, methylester and water. The optimized nano-emulsion (S5) was discovered to possess submicron particle size (36.32 nm), low polydispersity index (0.348) and higher zeta potential value (-18.2 mV). After 48-hours, the CCEE and S5 demonstrated respective LC values of 139.44 ppm and 75.83 ppm against Ae. aegypti larvae. Higher larvicidal activity of S5 signified improved cuticular penetration of the active ingredient. Moreover, morphological deformities of treated larvae indicated possible interference with the larvae's breathing mechanism, contributing to their death. Thus, the nano-emulsion formulation of C. erythrocarpus extract has the potential to be used as a vector control agent to prevent the spread of dengue infections.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has no therapeutic target; therefore, treatment is restricted to anticancer agents. However, TNBC is highly drug-resistant, meaning that novel therapeutic drugs for TNBC are required. Fatty acids can both inhibit and promote different cancers. Nervonic acid (NA) is a monovalent unsaturated fatty acid with anti-inflammatory effects, although its effect on cancer is unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the effect of NA on TNBC. BT-549 cells, a TNBC cell line, were exposed to different concentrations of NA (1, 10, 100, and 1000 µM) or a control (dimethylsulfoxide). In addition, 9-week-old, female BALB/cSlc-nu/nu mice had a BT-549 cell transplant into the right side of the fourth mammary fat pad before being administered NA (100 mg/kg) or sterile tap water for 1 week. Increasing NA concentrations reduced the viability of BT-549 cells. At 100 µM, NA increased the expression of single-stranded DNA, a marker of apoptosis; decreased the expression of nuclear factor-κ B, an apoptosis inhibitor; and decreased the expression of Ki-67, a marker of proliferation. Furthermore, 10 µM NA inhibited cell migration and invasion of BT-549 cells via a non-significant increase in the mRNA expression of E-cadherin (CDH1) and significant decreases in the mRNA expression of N-cadherin (CDH2) and the protein expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and 2. In addition, the growth and metastasis to the lungs of mammary gland tumors were significantly lower in NA-treated mice than in control mice. These results suggest that NA has an antitumor effect both in vitro and in vivo; therefore, NA may be a novel therapeutic agent for TNBC.

We developed a novel approach for direct and rapid evaluation of the fat-burning effects of various food ingredients in vivo. Male ICR mice were fed a diet containing stable isotope-labeled palmitic acid, and fat oxidation was quantified by measuring the production of labeled carbon dioxide (CO) generated during β-oxidation. By evaluating the 24-h fat burning profile, we demonstrated the immediate fat-burning effect of caffeine and the gradual fat-burning effect of curcumin. This methodology allows fat-burning-specific detection rather than fat absorption inhibition, thereby providing a powerful tool for comparing fat-burning effects of different food components in vivo.

The reduction of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with Alzheimer's disease and depression. Senescence-accelerated mouse prone 10 (SAMP10), a rapid aging animal model, exhibits age-related cognitive deficits and depression-like behavior; however, it is unclear the variation of serum BDNF levels. Here, we showed that serum BDNF levels in SAMP10 were lower than those in the normal aging characteristics mouse SAM-resistant 1 (SAMR1), and Hochuekkito suppressed the decline of serum BDNF levels in SAMP10. These results suggest that SAMP10 may be used as an animal model in decreasing serum BDNF levels and Hochuekkito could prevent the age-related BDNF decline.

In this study, we investigated the effects of germination on the phytochemical content, antioxidant activity, and oxidative stability of soybean oil. Soybeans were germinated for different periods (0, 2, 4, 6-days). The germinated soybean oil (GSO) contained more α-tocopherol, phytosterols, and carotenoids, while there were no significant differences in fatty acid content. In particular, lutein accumulation was influenced by the modulation of phytoene synthase, lycopene ε-cyclase, and lycopene β-cyclase genes during soybean germination. Antioxidant activities in vitro were the most effective after treatment with 6-day GSO. Moreover, the oxidative stability of GSO was significantly enhanced compared to that of control soybean oil. These results were attributed to the increased content of phytochemicals in soybean oil during germination. This research holds promise not only for the development of functional foods owing to the increased phytochemical content but also for the food industry owing to the enhanced oxidative stability of soybean oil.

To accurately quantify the phospholipids in infant formula by subclass, we developed an analytical method using phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (P NMR). We performed heated extraction method using a mixture of ethanol and water to extract phospholipids from infant formula and replace the highly toxic chloroform traditionally used for extraction. In the P NMR measurement, we also avoided using chloroform by dispersing the extracts in surfactants with a strong affinity for phospholipids. Although polar lipids in milk are characterized by a high content of sphingomyelin, the separation of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylethanolamine signals was insufficient to accurately determine their signal areas. To overcome this issue, we applied and evaluated two different methods, integration and deconvolution, for calculating the signal areas. During method validation in a spiked recovery test, the deconvolution method gave a recovery rate closer to 100% than the integration method. The main phospholipid subclasses found in infant formula were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine, and sphingomyelin. However, when the formula contained soy lecithin, additional soy-derived phospholipids, such as phosphatidic acid, were detected. Using equipment with a phosphorus resonance frequency of 202 MHz and a measurement time of approximately 4 h, the quantification limit was 5 mg/100 g. The developed method will be useful for analysis of phospholipids in infant formula.

The influence of calcium chloride (2% (w/v), 3% (w/v), 4% (w/v) or 5% (w/v)) as crosslinker on the performance of sodium alginate (SA) and anthocyanin extracted from black wolfberry (BWA) based films was observed. The results showed that after CaCl treatment, the elongation at break reduced, but the water resistance, thermal stability, and tensile strength of SA/BWA films were significantly improved and they increased with the increase of CaCl concentration. In which, 5%-CaCl treatment endowed the films with optimal performance, which was specifically manifested by a decrease in the swelling ratio from complete dissolution to 163.4% within 60 minutes, water content from 24.9% to 13.1%, water vapor permeation (WVP) from 6.1 g·cm·cm·s·Pa·10 to 1.6 g·cm·cm·s· Pa·10, and an increase in water contact angle from 2.19° to 43.85°, tensile strength from 0.76 MPa to 13.15 MPa. Interestingly, CaCl treatment slightly weakened the antioxidant activity (p < 0.05) but also had around 80% of DPPH radical scavenging rate and improved the visual color change of the film to pH. The films treated by 5%-CaCl monitored the freshness of pork well. Therefore, comparing with traditional SA-based films, the CaCl treated SA/BWA film is a better candidate for active and intelligent packaging application.

A collaborative study among 11 different Japanese laboratories was undertaken to devise an analytical method for determining the fatty acid composition of fats and oils by gas chromatography (GC) using hydrogen (H) or nitrogen (N) as carrier gases alternative to helium (He). This collaborative study was organized by the Alternative Gas for the GC Subcommittee of the Japan Oil Chemists' Society and was evaluated by analyzing a standard mixture of fatty acid methyl esters (Supelco 37 Component FAME Mix), soybean, and sardine oils. On a 50% cyanopropyl siloxane capillary column, the resolution of 37 FAME mixtures using He, H, or N gas was greater than 1.0. For the area% of the 37 FAME mixtures, the reproducibility relative standard deviations ranged from 0.59 to 4.72% for He gas, 0.39 to 4.96% for H gas, and 0.60 to 4.91% for N gas. No significant difference was observed in the area% for the 37 FAME mixtures among the three carrier gases. Furthermore, no significant differences in the percentages of major fatty acids in the soybean and sardine oils were detected between the different carrier gases. This study also determined that the analysis time was prolonged when N gas was used compared to when H or He gas was used. However, a cyanopropyl siloxane capillary column for fast and selective separation could improve the analysis time using N gas. Therefore, we conclude that the present method using H or N gas qualifies as a tentative official method of the Japan Oil Chemists' Society.

In this study, the fluctuations in the oil content, total phenol, total flavonoid, radical scavenging capacity, phenolic constituent profiles and fatty acids of turpentine fruits during roasting of turpentine fruits and oils in the oven and microwave treatments were revealed. Total phenolic amounts of turpentine fruit and oils varied between 153.57 (oven) and 197.86 mgGAE/100 g (control) to 17.68 (control) and 30.65 mg GAE/100 g (oven), respectively. Total flavonoid values of the turpentine fruit and oils were characterized to be between 370.36 (microwave) and 567.50 mg/100 g (control) to 89.64 (oven) and 227.50 mg/100 g (microwave), respectively. While quercetin values of the turpentine fruits change between 171.73 (oven) and 330.88 mg/100 g (control), rutin amounts of fruits were defined to be between 3.66 (oven) and 10.00 mg/100 g (control). Catechin amounts of the turpentine fruits roasted in oven and microwave were specified to be between 3.42 (microwave) and 13.69 mg/100 g (oven). Oleic and linoleic acid contents of the oils extracted from raw and roasted turpentine fruits were assessed to be between 50.19 (oven) and 51.30% (control) to 22.89 (control) and 23.39% (oven), respectively. As a result, the phenolic components of turpentine oils were generally higher than those of turpentine fruits.

Margarine, fat spread, and shortening made with partially hydrogenated fats and oils as their raw materials have been known as foods containing trans fatty acids. Due to concerns about the health effects of trans fatty acids, the content of trans fatty acids in these products has now been reduced to around 1 g/100 g (median value) through the use of alternative oils and fats, which is about the same level as that for vegetable oil used as main raw material. In this review, we summarized the trends in trans fatty acid content in products manufactured in Japan from 1969 to 2022.

The comfortable application of creams and powders and the texture of human skin and hair are essential factors in the design of cosmetics and cosmetic raw materials. However, the mechanisms underlying these diverse and delicate tactile sensations are poorly understood. We developed a "biomimetic tactile sensing system" to reproduce the interfacial phenomena that occur on the skin surfaces and evaluated the "moist" and "dry" sensations of surface-treated cosmetic powders and the texture of organogel and dispersion formulations. This tactile sensing system consists of a finger model contact probe that mimics the fingerprint and mechanical properties of a human finger and a sinusoidal motion friction evaluation device that can reproduce natural and smooth motions. The finger model contact probe, which mimics the fingerprint and mechanical properties of a human finger, was designed such that the elastic modulus, which reflects hardness, and the surface energy, which affects adhesion, were comparable to those of human skin. In addition, grooves of hundreds of micrometers were engraved to imitate fingerprints. A scotch yoke mechanism that converts elliptical motion into sinusoidal motion was introduced into a sinusoidal motion friction evaluation device to reproduce natural and smooth motions. We analyzed the relationship between sensory evaluation and friction data for cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients and constructed a physical model of tactile sensation evocation. For example, the "moistness" of cosmetic powder was strongly felt when the friction coefficient in the sliding process was low, and a gap existed where the frictional force reached its maximum value. Commercially available makeup cosmetics and sunscreens were characterized based on their friction dynamics and classified accordingly. The wax derived from rice bran and rice paraffin was shown to have high oil-gelling ability, and the resulting gel was smooth to the touch, indicating that it is suitable as a raw material for lipstick and cleansing products.