Fangmei Yang

Changes in non-volatile taste components of button mushroom (Agaricus bisporus) during different stages of freeze drying and freeze drying combined with microwave vacuum drying

Button mushroom slices were dehydrated using freeze drying (FD) or FD combined with microwave vacuum drying (FMVD), and the non-volatile component profiles were studied. The results showed that the level of non-volatile components in button mushroom firstly increased during sublimation of FD/FMVD process and then fell during desorption in FD process and MVD in FMVD process. Compared to FD products, the contents of soluble sugars and polyols in FMVD products were relatively low, whereas the contents of total free amino acids were significantly higher, close to the level of fresh mushroom. However, there was no significant difference in the contents of 5-nucleotides and organic acids between FD and FMVD products. The equivalent umami concentration (EUC) values for FD and FMVD products did not differ from fresh, indicating that both drying methods could effectively preserve MSG (monosodium glutamate)-like components in button mushroom.

Effect of the application of selenium on selenium content of soybean and its products.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effect of the application of selenium on the selenium content of soybean and its products in two counties with selenium-deficient soil. Selenium-enriched soybean was produced by the application of sodium selenite and Se-enriched fertilizer. The selenium contents of soybeans, soybean protein and okra were determined by hydride-generation atomic fluorescence spectrometry. The results showed that the selenium contents of soybean, soybean protein, and okra were significantly increased by the application of sodium selenite and selenium-enriched fertilizer. Foliar application of selenium provided a higher efficiency for increasing the selenium content of soybean than soil application. Significant differences were found in that soybean cultivars exhibited different accumulation of selenium. There was no remarkable difference in soybean yield, soybean protein, and lipid between selenium and control. The selenium-enriched protein derived from selenium-enriched soybean could be used as a functional ingredient and soybean okra as a selenium-enriched feed for animals for increasing selenium intake.

Size effect of se-enriched green tea particles on in vitro antioxidant and antitumor activities.

The antioxidant and antitumor activities (in vitro) of superfine regular and Se-enriched green tea particles with different sizes (3.52 microm and 220 nm) were investigated in this paper. The vitamin C and tea polyphenol contents of green tea in different sizes were significantly different, and amino acid and chlorophyll just changed a little. The antioxidant activity of green tea particles was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging and linoleic acid peroxidation inhibition methods, and the antitumor activity was evaluated by antiproliferation assay on HepG2, A549, and MGC803 cells. The results indicated that enrichment of selenium endowed green tea with higher antioxidant activity and antitumor activity on HepG2 and A549 cells but not on MGC803 cells. The DPPH radical scavenging rates of regular and Se-enriched green tea of 220 nm (67.87% and 69.49%, respectively) were significantly greater than that of 3.52 microm, but the inhibition of linoleic acid peroxidation for green tea of 220 nm was lower. The inhibitory rates of green tea of 220 nm on HepG2, A549, and MGC803 cells achieved 77.35%, 80.76%, and 87.54% for regular green tea, and 82.51%, 88.09%, and 74.48% for Se-enriched green tea at the dose of 100 microg mL (-1), values that were all significantly higher compared to that of 3.52 microm.

Evaluation of anti-fatigue property of the extruded product of cereal grains mixed with Cordyceps militaris on mice

BackgroundFatigue is a biological phenomenon that involves a feeling of extreme physical or mental tiredness that could potentially cause some severe chronic diseases. Recently, diet therapy has provided a new alternative to alleviate physical fatigue. In our previous study, addition of Cordyceps militaris (C. militaris) into an extruded product was shown to provide high nutrition and unique flavors; however, little is known whether this product has some scientific evidence regarding anti-fatigue property. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-fatigue effects of extruded products of cereal grains (EC) and EC mixed with C. militaris (ECC).MethodsThe mice were divided into seven groups: one group received distilled water (Control group, nu2009=u200920), and the other groups received different dosages of EC (5, 10 and 20xa0g/kg body weight, nu2009=u200920 per group) or of ECC (5, 10 and 20xa0g/kg body weight, nu2009=u200920 per group) solution in water. All of the mice were administered with distilled water, EC or ECC continuously for 30xa0days by gavage and the anti-fatigue activity was evaluated using a weight-loaded swimming test, along with assessments of fatigue-related indicators. The mode of fighting fatigue was investigated by determining changes in exercise endurance and biochemical markers, including exhaustive swimming time, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood lactic acid (BLA), creatine kinase (CK), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and hepatic and muscle glycogen levels.ResultsEC and ECC prolonged the swimming endurance time of mice compared to the control. The content of BLA at high dose of ECC group (20xa0g/kg) was significantly lower than that in the negative control group. CK, BUN and MDA levels were significantly reduced by treatment with EC and ECC compared to the negative control, while the low and middle dose of EC had no significant effect on MDA levels. Additionally, only the middle and high dose of EC (10, 20xa0g/kg) could significantly decrease the BUN level. EC and ECC treatments increased glycogen, LDH, SOD, CAT and GSH-Px levels. Low and middle dose of EC had no significant effects on muscle glycogen. Moreover, low dose of EC could increase the level of SOD but it was not statistically significant. Compared to the EC treatment groups, ECC demonstrated the efficacy of anti-fatigue potential, particularly at a high dose of ECC, the best performance in relieving fatigue.ConclusionsThese results suggest that EC and ECC could prevent exercise-induced fatigue in mice and ECC provided a better effect. In addition, C. militaris in ECC might play a crucial role in the anti-fatigue activity of ECC.