In this study, we examined whether AA can be produced in Fru + Asn and Glc + Asn solutions that are incubated at 37°C for a long time. Acrylamide was observed in both solutions at pH 7.4 and pH 12.0. The Fru + Asn group became a deeper brown, but had a lower AA production rate than the Glc + Asn group at each pH. This suggests the presence of an acrylamide production pathway different from those in related high-temperature processes. Moreover, the generation of acrylamide at pH 7.4 in the Glc + Asn solution at 37°C suggests that acrylamide can be produced as an advanced glycation end product in the living body.

Extract of Lentinula edodes mycelia (LEM) reportedly maintains and improves the quality of life (QOL) of patients with cancer who undergo chemotherapy. We investigated the influence of LEM extract on the QOL of 73 Japanese patients with different backgrounds and stages of cancer who were undergoing various types of therapy at 16 institutions. All patients were orally administered with LEM (1200 mg/day) for four weeks. We compared changes in their QOL before and after taking LEM using the EORTC-QLQ-C30. The QOL scores for emotional function and fatigue were significantly improved after LEM intake. Global QOL and physical function scores improved only in patients with cancer at stages III and IV. These findings suggest that oral LEM intake improves the QOL of patients with advanced cancer.

Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf is a grass long been used in traditional medicine as a nourishing food and reported to possess pharmacological effects including anti-tumor, anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, etc. In order to evaluate the possible mutagenicity of the hot water extract of all parts (husks, pellicles, and astringent skin) of the food, we performed a reverse mutation test in bacteria, a mouse lymphoma assay and a mouse micronucleus test. The results of all tests were negative. It was concluded that the extract has no mutagenicity for living bodies.

Hot water extract of adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf) seed, commonly called Yokuinin, has been used as herbal medicine for treating verruca vulgaris, et al. Although there have been a number of studies on the usefulness of Yokuinin, the pharmacological assessment of its husk, pellicle, and astringent skin remains unclear. In this line, we evaluated the effect of methanol extract from all parts of adlay grain (seed, husk, pellicle, astringent skin) on cancer cells and identified its useful chemical components. Results revealed that a fraction of the extract have weak growth-suppressing activity on human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa cell). In particular, 5,7-dihydroxychromone and coixol were isolated and identified from the active fraction. This indicates the possible cancer chemopreventive efficacy of methanol extract from adlay. Moreover, further tests are needed to determine the role of 5,7-dihydroxychromone.

Adlay( Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf ) is a grass crop that has long been used in traditional medicine as a nourishing food. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of adlay related substances on carcinogenesis and anti-inflammation. The hot water extract of all parts of adlay (CRD) were compared with the hot water extract of dehulled adlay (yokuinin). In addition, the Monoolein and Trilinolein components of adlay were compared.
As a screening date, antiproliferative effect of human cancer cells showed weak biological potency on physical dose response. Prevention effect of carcinogenesis and anti-inflammatory effect were also observed in all samplles. CRD showed stronger anti-UVB inflammatory effect than that of yokuinin; while yokuinin showed stronger anti-heating injury inflammatory effect than that of CRD. Moreover, Monoolein showed stronger effect than Trilinolein on both prevention effect of carcinogenesis and anti-inflammatory effect. These result indicated that these two extracts of adlay exhibited inhibitory effect on both tumor and inflammation. In addition, it is also suggested that Monoolein is more effective than Trilinolein.

Kaempferia parviflora rhizome is used in traditional folk medicines for the treatments of various symptoms in Thailand since ancient times. Several types of methoxyflavones were identified from that plant and the functions of some of those were reported. We determined that five kinds of methoxyflavones (5-hydroxy-3,7,3’,4’-tetramethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-3,7,4’-trimethoxyflavone, 5-hydroxy-7,4’-dimethoxyflavone) were included the following treatments of K. parviflora rhizome. The 80 %ethanol extract of that were adsorbed resin, removed 70 % ethanol elution and the rest adsorbed materials were eluted with 99.5 % ethanol. The safety of that five methoxyflavones mixture was evaluated. We performed a 28-day repeated dose of oral toxicity test and a mouse micronucleus test. The former results showed no significant toxicity on body weight, blood analyses, organ weight, blood biochemical analyses. The latter results showed negative, believed that the sample has no mutagenicity for living bodies.

Although introduced to Japan as a health food, Huaier granule emerged with abundant evidence, both from fundamental and clinical researches, and is being prescribed clinically in China, since it was originally developed as a new pharmaceutical. Huaier granule has a wide range of application and this review narrow down to the effects of it to hepatocellular carcinoma, the most reported one.

Objectives: To study the effect of astaxanthin contained drink to skin conditionMethod: The study was conducted to the Japanese females between age over thirty to less than fifty , who had weakening of skin (including aging, sag and dry skin) and skin dullness. In order to conduct the objective evaluation, the comparison between the groups by the double-blind test was taken. Twenty of subjects were randomly allocated to the intake group of astaxanthin contained drink (astaxanthin 3mg contained) and the placebo group. After eight weeks intake of the drink, each group was evaluated with skin water contents, transepidermal water loss, skin elasticity, VISIA and skin texture etc.Result: In between the groups, the intake group of astaxanthin contained drink was greatly excellent in the categories of skin moisture, transepidermal water loss, skin elasticity , erythema dose and skin texture.Conclusion:Astaxanthin has protecting effect of skin barrier and is considered to increase the water retention capability to reduce skin dryness. Astaxanthin is also effective to erythema dose, skin elasticity and skin texture.　As no adverse events resulting from the test drink was seen, such food containing astaxanthin is considered as a safe and useful health functional food material to skin.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to examine the effects of lactic fermenting beverage ANP71 on defecation, blood pressure, immune function, constitution of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and safety.Methods: An open Clinical study was conducted on 15 healthy adults (female 11, male 4). ANP71 150ml per day was administrated for 4 weeks. At week 0, 1 and 4, blood samples were collected. blood pressure, immune function and constitutionwere measured.Results:① Defecation amount and exhilarating feeling increased. Abdominal feeling of fullness decreased.② Decrease of blood pressure was observed. ③ The change of parameters of blood biochemistry was in normal range. ④ Humoral immunity was predominant(Th1/Th2 decreased). ⑤ In constitution of TCM, Gentleness type, Yang-deficiency type, Yin-deficiency type, Phlegm-wetness type, wet-heat type and Qi-depression type were improved. ⑥ No significant adverse events were observed.Conclusion: Lactic fermenting beverage ANP71 appears to have benefits in improving defecation and constitutional problems. Various other biological effects of ANP71 were also observed.

Kaempferia parviflora rhizome is used folk medicines for treatment of various symptoms in Thailand since anticent times.Several types of methoxyflavones has been identified in this plant and their physiological functions have been reported.We determined that six kinds of methoxyflavones (5,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone, 3,5,7,3',4'-pentamethoxyflavone, 5,7-dimethoxyflavone, 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone, 3,5,7,4'-tetramethoxyflavone) were included in the 80% ethanol extract of K. parviflora rhizome.The safety of six methoxyflavones mixture was evaluated with 28-day repeated oral dose toxicity test in mice.These results indicated no significant toxicity on body weight, blood analyses, organ weight, blood biochemical analyses.