Shoichi Tokutake

Procyanidin B1 is detected in human serum after intake of proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract.

To confirm the absorption of proanthocyanidin (PA) into the human body, four healthy adults were administered 2.0 g of PA-rich grape seed extract (GSE). Blood were drawn before intake and 2 h after intake. Through the enzymatic treatment of sulfatase and β-glucuronidase, blood samples were analyzed by HPLC coupled with mass-spectrometry (LC/MS). Procyanidin B1 [epicatechin-(4β→8)-catechin] was detected in human serum 2 h after intake. Its concentration was 10.6±2.5 nmol/l.

Syntheses of modified 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl β-maltopentaosides as useful substrates for assay of human alpha amylase

Twenty-three novel 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl beta-D-maltopentaosides modified at the 6(5) and/or 4(5) position were synthesized as substrates for human alpha amylase. Two human alpha amylases hydrolyzed 6(5)-deoxy-6(5)-, 6(5)-O-, and 4(5),6(5)-di-O-substituted derivatives at essentially a single D-glucosidic linkage, but 4(5),6(5)-O-bridged and 4(5)-O-substituted derivatives were hydrolyzed at two or more linkages. The amylases displayed smaller Km values for the compounds having hydrophobic modifications. In these derivatives, 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-(6-bromo-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-tris[O-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10), 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-(6-azido-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)- tris[O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (19), and 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-[6-O-(N-isopropyl)carbamoyl-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl]-(1-->4)- tris[O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (30), which were rapidly hydrolyzed by the two amylases at a limited position at an approximately equal rate, were shown to be very useful blocked-type substrates for assay of human alpha amylase.

Syntheses of subtractively modified 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl β-maltopentaosides and their application to the differential assay of human alpha-amylases

Three novel maltopentaosides, 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-(6-deoxy-alpha-D-xylo-hex-5-enopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-tris[O-alpha-D - glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-(6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-tris[O- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (10), and 2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl O-(3,6-anhydro-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-tris[O-alpha-D-glucopyran osyl- (1-->4)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (26) were synthesized by chemical and enzymatic reactions. Two human alpha-amylases, salivary alpha-amylase (HSA) and pancreatic alpha-amylase (HPA), hydrolyzed 3 and 10 with the same specificity, almost entirely at a single D-glucosidic linkage, but had no hydrolytic activity for 26. Compound 3 was hydrolyzed by each of these amylases at an approximately equal rate, while 10 was hydrolyzed by HSA 4-fold faster than by HPA. Taking advantage of the difference in the hydrolytic rate of 10, we developed a new method for the differential assay of these two human alpha-amylases.

Proanthocyanidin-rich grape seed extract reduces leg swelling in healthy women during prolonged sitting.

BACKGROUND Leg swelling is a modern-day affliction of sedentary working women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the intake of grape seed extract (GSE) on leg swelling in healthy Japanese women while sitting. RESULTS Single intake trials and 14 day intake trials were held in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover clinical study. A prolonged sedentary position was maintained for 6 h after GSE or placebo administration. Leg volume distension, increase in body extracellular fluid, and leg water were significantly suppressed in the GSE groups. CONCLUSION The intake of GSE is a contributing factor in the inhibition of leg swelling in healthy women during prolonged sitting.

New enzymatic synthesis of 63-modified maltooligosaccharides and their inhibitory activities for human α-amylases

Ten new 6(3)-modified maltopentaoses and tetraoses were synthesized by enzymatic reactions utilizing cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.19) and subsequent human salivary alpha-amylase (HSA) (EC 3.2.1.1). Among these compounds, alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-(6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-glucopyranose (11) and alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-(6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)- alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-glucopyranose (12) showed strong inhibitory activities for human pancreatic alpha-amylase (HPA) and HSA. The IC50 of 6(3)-deoxymaltopentaose 11 (8.0 x 10(-5) M for HPA, 1.0 x 10(-4) M for HSA) and 6(3)-deoxymaltotetraose 12 (2.0 x 10(-3) M for HPA, 2.0 x 10(-3) M for HSA) were lower than that of 6(3)-deoxymaltotriose [(6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl)-(1-->4)-alpha-D- glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-D-glucopyranose 13; 2.0 x 10(-3) M for HPA, 4.2 x 10(-2) M for HSA].