Masanobu Nagano

Chiral amino acid analysis of Japanese traditional Kurozu and the developmental changes during earthenware jar fermentation processes.

Enantioselective amino acid metabolome analysis of the Japanese traditional black vinegars (amber rice vinegar, Kurozu) was performed using two-dimensional high-performance liquid chromatography combining a microbore-monolithic ODS column and narrowbore-enantioselective columns. d-Amino acids, the enantiomers of widely observed l-amino acids, are currently paid attention as novel physiologically active substances, and the foodstuffs and beverages containing high amounts of d-amino acids are the subjects of interest. In the present study, the amino acid enantiomers were determined by two-dimensional HPLC techniques after pre-column fluorescence derivatization with 4-fluoro-7-nitro-2,1,3-benzoxadiazole. In the first dimension, the amino acid enantiomers are separated as their d plus l mixtures by the reversed-phase mode, then the d-amino acids and their l-counterparts are separately determined in the second dimension by the enantioselective columns. As a result, large amounts of d-Ala (800-4000nmol/mL), d-Asp (200-400nmol/mL) and d-Glu (150-500nmol/mL) were observed in some of the traditionally produced Kurozu vinegars. Relatively large or small amounts of d-Ser (50-100nmol/mL), d-Leu (10-50nmol/mL) and d-allo-Ile (less than 20nmol/mL) were also present in these samples. Developmental changes in the d-amino acid amounts during the fermentation and aging processes have also been investigated.

Protective effects of fermented rice vinegar sediment (Kurozu moromimatsu) in a diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma animal model

Low-dose acetylsalicylic acid has been widely used. We evaluated small bowel and gastric injuries during acetylsalicylic acid administration using video capsule endoscopy and gastroduodenal endoscopy. We also investigated blood flow using contrast-enhanced ultrasonography. Six healthy volunteers were enrolled in this preliminary study. The subjects were administered 100 mg of enteric-coated aspirin daily for 14 days. Video capsule endoscopy and gastroduodenal endoscopy were simultaneously performed before administration and on days 1, 3, 7 and 14. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography was performed before administration and on day 2, and 8. Video capsule endoscopy after administration of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid revealed small bowel mucosal damages of petechiae and erythema in all cases, and denuded area in one case. The total number of lesions in the small bowel increased according to duration of low-dose acetylsalicylic acid administration. However, the total number of lesions in the stomach peaked on day 3. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography showed that the time-intensity curve peak value and Areas under the curves after acetylsalicylic acid administration were reduced. We observed not only gastric mucosal injuries but also small intestinal injuries with short-term low-dose acetylsalicylic acid administration. Acetylsalicylic acid administration also caused a decrease in small intestinal blood flow. Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography is useful for evaluation blood flow in the small bowel mucosa.

Amelioration of late asthmatic bronchial-bronchiolar lesions in BALB/c mice by kurozu moromi powder

Abstract The preventive effect of the development of bronchial-bronchiolar lesions of the late asthmatic response (LAR), a T helper (Th)2 type immune response, in BALB/c mice kurozu moromi powder (kmp) was examined. Mice were pre-treated with or without (control) kmp intra-gastrically for 30 days (50 mg/kg/day) and LAR was induced by ovalbumin (OVA). Compared to the control group, it was recognizable that kmp resulted in reduction of the IgE values and the number of eosinophils, but not lymphocytes, in the blood. Also, the kmp treatment increased significantly in a production of OVA-specific interferon (IFN)-γ from splenic cells. On the other hand, there was no difference in the production of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 between two groups. The control group showed severe bronchial-bronchiolar inflammation, such as goblet cell hyperplasia with prominent mucous secretion, infiltration of eosinophils and lymphocytes, and hypertrophy of smooth muscle in bronchial-bronchiolar walls. These changes were less severe in the mice treated with the kmp. Compared between the two groups, the beneficial effects of kmp were clearly demonstrated and the development of LAR was reduced. This may be due to the activated OVA-specific Th1 cell responses induced by the effects of kmp which leads to the suppression of the development of LAR mediated by Th2 responses.

Inhibitory effect of Japanese black vinegar on IgE-mediated degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells and a murine model of Japanese cedar pollinosis

Japanese black vinegar (JBV) is a traditional vinegar manufactured with steamed unpolished rice. After screening, beneficial effects of JBV on IgE-mediated allergic responses were found. In this study, acetic acid-free JBV was used to evaluate its antiallergic effects. JBV suppressed degranulation of rat basophilic leukemia RBL-2H3 cells in a dose-dependent manner without cytotoxicity. The inhibitory effect of JBV on the degranulation seemed to be caused by the bioactive ingredients other than proteins, because the activity was not affected by heat treatment or protease digestion. JBV inhibited the elevation in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration induced by antigen. Immunoblot analysis revealed that JBV suppresses degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells by downregulated phosphorylation of PI3K, Akt, and PLCγ1. In addition, oral administration of JBV significantly suppressed passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction in mice and an allergic symptom in Cry j1-induced pollinosis model mice. Thus, JBV has a potential as a health-promoting food with the antiallergy effect.