Xianrong Zhou

Effects of dietary hull-less barley β-glucan on the cholesterol metabolism of hypercholesterolemic hamsters.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the hypocholesterolemic effects of dietary hull-less barley β-glucan (HBG) on cholesterol metabolism in hamsters which were fed a hypercholesterolemic diet. The hamsters were divided into 3 groups and fed experimental diets, containing 5‰ HBG or 5‰ oat β-glucan (OG), for 30days. The HBG, as well as OG, lowered the concentration of plasma LDL-cholesterol significantly. The excretion of total lipids and cholesterol in feces were increased in HBG and OG groups compared with the control group. The activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase in liver was reduced significantly in the HBG group compared with the control and OG groups. The activity of cholesterol 7-α hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in the liver, in the HBG and OG groups, was significantly increased compared with the control group. The concentrations of acetate, propionate and total short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were not significantly different between the HBG and control groups. These results indicate that dietary HBG reduces the concentration of plasma LDL cholesterol by promoting the excretion of fecal lipids, and regulating the activities of HMG-CoA reductase and CYP7A1 in hypercholesterolemic hamsters.

Effects of dietary wheat bran arabinoxylans on cholesterol metabolism of hypercholesterolemic hamsters

The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of dietary wheat bran arabinoxylans (AXs) on cholesterol metabolism in hypercholesterolemic hamsters. The hamsters were divided into 3 groups and fed the experimental diets containing AXs or oat β-glucan at a dose of 5 g/kg for 30 days. As the results, the AXs lowered plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations, and increased excretions of total lipids, cholesterol and bile acids, as well as oat β-glucan. The AXs reduced the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, and increased the activity of cholesterol 7-α hydroxylase (CYP7A1) in liver. Moreover, the AXs increased propionate and the total short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) concentrations. These results indicated that dietary AXs reduced the plasma total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol concentrations by promoting the excretion of fecal lipids, regulating the activities of HMG-CoA reductase and CYP7A1, and increasing colonic SCFAs in hamsters.

Molecular weight degradation and rheological properties of schizophyllan under ultrasonic treatment

Molecular weight degradation effects of schizophyllan (SPG) under ultrasonic treatments were investigated in this study. The degradation product was treated by alcohol fractional precipitation technology, and the molecular weight and rheological properties of ultrasonic-treated SPG (USPG) fractions were evaluated. Average molecular weight of SPG decreased significantly after ultrasonic treatments, and degradation product had more narrow distribution of molecular weight. The molecular weight degradation kinetics of SPG is adequately described by a second-order reaction. USPG fractions with different molecular weight were obtained by fractional precipitation for final alcohol concentration fractions 0-40%, 40-60% and 60-80%, respectively. USPG fractions had near-Newtonian flow behaviors, and USPG₈₀% exhibited viscous responses over the entire accessible frequency range. Therefore, ultrasonic treatment is a viable modification technology for SPG and other polymer materials with high molecular weight.

Effect of steam explosion-assisted extraction on phenolic acid profiles and antioxidant properties of wheat bran.

BACKGROUND The majority of phenolic acids in wheat bran are bound to the cell walls. Hence, a high proportion of phenolic acids cannot be extracted with conventional extraction methods. This study aimed to investigate the efficiency of steam explosion pre-treatment in increasing the extractability of phenolic compounds from wheat bran. RESULTS Bound phenolic acids (BPA) can be released by steam explosion-assisted extraction. Within the experimental range, soluble free phenolic acids (FPA) and soluble conjugated phenolic acids (CPA) increased gradually with residence time and temperature. After steam explosion at 215 °C for 120 s, the total FPA and CPA reached 6671.8 and 2578.6 µg GAE g(-1) bran, respectively, which was about 39-fold and seven-fold higher than that of the untreated sample. Ferulic acid, the major individual phenolic acids in bran, increased from 55.7 to 586.3 µg g(-1) for FPA, and from 44.9 to 1108.4 µg g(-1) for CPA. The antioxidant properties of FPA and CPA extracts were significantly improved after treated. Correlation analysis indicated that the antioxidant capacity was in close relationship with phenolic content in FPA and CPA. CONCLUSION Steam explosion pre-treatment could be effectively used to release of BPA and enhance the antioxidant capacity of wheat bran.

Effects of dietary oat proteins on cholesterol metabolism of hypercholesterolaemic hamsters

BACKGROUND The aim of present study was to investigate the hypocholesterolaemic effects of oat proteins (OP) in hamsters fed with a hypercholesterolaemic diet. The hamsters were divided into five groups and fed with the experimental diets containing oat, OP, oat β-glucan (OG), or OP+OG for 30 days. RESULTS OP and the OG significantly lowered the concentrations of plasma low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and liver total cholesterol (TC), and increased the excretion of faecal bile acid and TC. Plasma and liver TC in the OP+OG group were significantly lower than those in the OP or OG groups. Both OP and OG increased the activity of liver cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1), while its activity in the OP+OG group was strongly increased compared with the OP or OG groups. CONCLUSION These results indicated that dietary OP could improve hypercholesterolaemia, while dietary OP and OG together would have better hypocholesterolaemic effects.

Phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of brown rice in China

Abstract The phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of brown rice are well known but the extent to which phenolics and antioxidant activity varies within rice (Oryza sativa) is not known. This study evaluated the natural variation of phenolic compounds in brown rice of the major cultivars currently grown in China. Free phenolics were extracted with chilled methanol, while bound phenolics were released and extracted by alkaline hydrolysis. There were significant differences in phenolic and flavonoid content between these cultivars and significant differences in bound and total phenolics between japonica and indica samples. Ferulic and p-coumaric acids were the major phenolic acids and existed in both free and bound forms, with the bound form of ferulic acid being a dominant phenolic compound in brown rice. Phenolic compounds were the major contributor to the antioxidant capacity of brown rice and bound phenolics contributed more than free phenolics as estimated using ABTS+ radical scavenging method. This study provides additional information on brown rice from japonica and indica subspecies and may assist in retaining or increasing phenolics and antioxidant activity in rice.