OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of ultrasonic wave on extracting Konjac Glucomannan(KGM) in Konjac refined powder.

METHODFree reduced sugar in Konjac refined powder was removed and Konjac refined powder in the aqueous solution was processed by ultrasonic wave and KGM content was measured by spectrophotometry.

RESULTKGM content in the Konjac refined powder aqueous solution by ultrasonic process at fixed 40 kHz, 100 W, 30-45 min was equal to that by routine method at 4 h; whereas, by 1 h of ultrasonic process, KGM content was significantly enhanced than that by 4 h of routine method(P < 0.01), enhancement rate was 6.5%. Linearity of standard glucose was good (r = 0.9996) in range of 0.2-1.6 mg. The average recovery was 97.8%, RSD of repeatability was 1.27%.

CONCLUSIONUltrasonic extraction in aqueous solution is a reliable and rapid method that can enhance extraction efficiency of KGM in Konjac refined powder.

Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Mannans ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Powders ; Ultrasonics

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to compare the diagnostic yield of five systematic randomized protocols using 12–20 biopsy cores with variably-sized phantoms. METHODS: A total of 100 prostate phantom models were produced by casting liquid devil's tongue jelly using silicone molds. Sets of 20 phantoms were created with the following volumes: 20 mL, 40 mL, 60 mL, 80 mL, and 100 mL. Three focal lesions were created by injecting 0.5 mL of warm agar solution stained with red, blue, and green ink into each phantom model. The focal lesions were verified by ultrasonography. The systematic randomized biopsy protocols consisted of 12, 14, 16, 18, and 20 biopsy cores. The diagnostic yield of the multiple systematic biopsy protocols was compared. RESULTS: The overall detection rates of each model set were 93.3% for 20 mL, 88.3% for 40 mL, 71.7% for 60 mL, 43.3% for 80 mL, and 30.0% for 100 mL. Statistically significant differences in the detection rate were found between 40 mL and 60 mL and between 60 mL and 80 mL. No statistically significant increase in the detection rate was observed within a given volume set even when the number of core biopsies increased from 12 to 20. CONCLUSION: The diagnostic yield of systematic randomized biopsies is inversely proportional to the phantom volume.
Agar ; Amorphophallus ; Biopsy* ; Fungi ; Ink ; Prostate* ; Silicon ; Silicones ; Tongue* ; Ultrasonography

Research into occupational asthma (OA) in Japan has been led by the Japanese Society of Occupational and Environmental Allergy. The first report about allergic OA identified konjac asthma. After that, many kinds of OA have been reported. Cases of some types of OA, such as konjac asthma and sea squirt asthma, have been dramatically reduced by the efforts of medical personnel. Recently, with the development of new technologies, chemical antigen-induced asthma has increased in Japan. Due to advances in anti-asthma medication, control by medical treatment tends to be emphasized and the search for causative antigens seems to be neglected. Furthermore, we do not have a Japanese guideline for diagnosis and management of OA. This article discusses the current state of OA in Japan.
Amorphophallus ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Asthma ; Asthma, Occupational ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Japan

OBJECTIVETo establish a quantitative method for the content determination and monosaccharide composition analysis of Konjac glucomannan (KGM) in Konjac refined powder by pre-column derivatization high performance liquid chromatographic method (HPLC).

METHODThe two derivatives combined reducing monosaccharides with 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PMP) were separated by reverse-phase HPLC using a developed fragment gradient elution process, and monitored by ultraviolet detector at 250 nm. The broad reagent peak of PMP was separated very well from all the PMP-sugars, and good separation was achieved for derivatives of mannose and glucose. The quantitative methods of two reducing monosaccharides were studied by the method combined internal and external standard; while the KGM content in Konjac refined powder was determined.

RESULTLinearity of glucose was good (r = 0.9990) in range of 1.002-8.016 nmol; while mannose (r = 0.9994) in range of 1.001-8.008 nmol. The average recovery of this method was 98.1%, RSD of repeatability was 1.72%. KGM content in Konjac refined powder was 79.5%, ratio of glucose to mannose in KGM was 1:1.51.

CONCLUSIONThis method is a sample, convenient and rapid method that can determine KGM content and analyze monosaccharide compositions in KGM, which will be helpful to quality assessment of Konjac refined powder.

Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Glucose ; chemistry ; Mannans ; analysis ; chemistry ; Mannose ; chemistry ; Monosaccharides ; analysis ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Powders ; chemistry

To explore the function of a heat shock transcription factor gene (HSFB1) and its promoter in Amorphophallus, a 1 365 bp DNA sequence was obtained by homologous cloning from Amorphophallus albus. The gene expression level of AaHSFB1 determined by qRT-PCR indicated that AaHSFB1 gene is more sensitive to heat stress. The expression level of AaHSFB1 in roots increased followed by a decrease upon heat treatment, and the highest expression level was observed after heat treatment for 1 h. The expression level of AaHSFB1 in leaves reached the highest after heat treatment for 12 h. The expression level in bulbs did not change greatly during the heat treatment. Subcellular localization analysis showed that AaHSFB1 protein was localized in the nucleus. A 1 509 bp DNA sequence which contains the AaHSFB1 promoter was obtained by FPNI-PCR method. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the promoter contained heat stress response elements HSE and a plurality of cis-acting elements related to plant development and stress response. A prAaHSFB1::GUS fusion expression vector was constructed to further analyze the function of AaHSFB1 promoter. The expression vector was transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method, and GUS staining analysis on transgenic plants after heat treatment was performed. The results showed that AaHSFB1 promoter had very high activity in the leaves. Therefore, we speculate that AaHSFB1 may play an important role in the stress resistance of A. albus, especially when encountering heat stress.
Amorphophallus/metabolism* ; Arabidopsis/genetics* ; Cloning, Molecular ; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant ; Plant Proteins/metabolism* ; Plants, Genetically Modified/genetics*

AIMTo study the molecular chain morphology and chain parameters of konjac glucomannan (KGM).

METHODSSolution behavior was studied by using light scattering(LS), gel permeation chromatograph (GPC) and method of viscosity. The molecular morphology was observed directly by atom force microscope (AFM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM).

RESULTSThe average molecular weight (Mw), root-mean-square ratio of gyration(1/2), second Viral coefficients (A2) and multi-disperse coefficients (Mw/Mn) are 1.04 x 10(6), 105.0 +/- 0.9 nm, (-1.59 +/- 0.28) x 10(-3) mol.mL.g-2 and (1.020 +/- 0.003) respectively; Mark-Houwink equation was established as [eta] = 5.96 x 10(-2) Mw0.73, the molecular chain parameters were as follows: ML = 982.82 nm-1, q = 27.93 nm, d = 0.74 nm, h = 0.26 nm, L = 1,054.11 nm.

CONCLUSIONBoth the result showed by direct observation and the deduction drawn by solution behavior confirmed that the KGM molecular is stentering semi-flexible linear chain without branch.

Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Chromatography, Gel ; methods ; Light ; Mannans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Microscopy, Atomic Force ; Molecular Weight ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Scattering, Radiation ; Viscosity

OBJECTIVEIn vitro aminophylline release from matrix tablets with konjac glucomannan (KGM) were studied to elevate the feasibility of KGM used as carrier materials to prepare matrix tablets.

METHODKGM hydrophilic matrix tablets were prepared by direct compression method with aminophylline as the model drug. The effects of test methods, pH values, ionic strength of dissolution media and rotation speeds on drug release were studied by in vitro dissolution experiment.

RESULTThe MDT value tested by Paddle method was less than that tested by Basket method (P < 0.05). Among the rate of drug release in different dissolution media, distillded water is the fastest, pH 6. 8 PBS is the second, 0.1 mol x L(-1) HCL is the slowest. MDT increased with increasing the ionic strength of dissolution media (P < 0.05). MDT decreased with increasing the rotation speed, but the rate of drug release did not increase when the rotation speed was more than 100 r x min(-1) (P > 0.1). The mechanism of drug release were diffusion and erosion.

CONCLUSIONKGM can be used in sustained delivery systems as a good candidate of hydrophilic polymer.

Aminophylline ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Bronchodilator Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Chemistry, Pharmaceutical ; Delayed-Action Preparations ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Drug Carriers ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Mannans ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Solubility ; Tablets

OBJECTIVEIn vitro enzymatic degradation of carboxymethy konjac glucomannan (CMKGM) were studied to evaluate the feasibility of CMKGM used as carrier materials to prepare colon-specific drug delivery systems.

METHODThe solutions with rat gastrointestinal tract (GIT) contents or with commercial enzymes were chosen to stimulate in vivo GIT environment, respectively. Enzymatic degradation of CMKGM were studied by viscometic procedure. Degradation kinetics of CMKGM and konjac glucomannan (KGM) by enzymes, the effects of the degree of substitution (DS) of CMKGM and the pH of solution on its susceptibility to degradation were investigated.

RESULTCMKGM were degraded mainly in the simulated cecal and colonic media, but not in the simulated gastric and enteric media. Degradation of KGM and CMKGM by enzymes obeyed Michaelis-Menton kinetics. CMKGM with lower DS were more susceptible substrates. CMKGM were more susceptible substrates in solution with pH 6. 0-6. 8.

CONCLUSIONCMKGM had colon-specific enzymatic degradation characteristics and could be used as carrier materials to prepare colon-specific drug delivery systems.

Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Cecum ; enzymology ; Colon ; enzymology ; Drug Carriers ; chemistry ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Kinetics ; Mannans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; metabolism ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; beta-Mannosidase ; metabolism

OBJECTIVEPrepare konjac glucomannan-hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC) compression coated tablets and study the effects of the formulation, technics and in vitro dissolution condition on drug release behavior to elevate the colon-specific effects of preparation.

METHODBerberine hydrochloride core tablets were prepared by wet granulation technique and konjac glucomannan-HPMC mixture as the coating layer were used with compression coated technique. The effects of the formulation and technics on drug release behavior were investigated by dissolution test. The erosion of coat layer during dissolution test was investigated.

RESULTDrug almost not released in dissolution medium stimulating gastric and intestinal condition, and released completely by coating layer erosion and rupture by enzyme in stimulating colonic condition. Drug release decreased with decreasing the ratio of konjac glucomannan-HPMC and increasing coat weight (P < 0.05), compression force was not found to be a significant factor on drug release. Drug release increased with increasing the concentration of beta-mannase in dissolution medium (P < 0.05), rotation speed has no effect on drug release. The release of drug was correlative with erosion of coat layer. The mechanism of drug release were diffusion and erosion.

CONCLUSIONThe konjac glucomannan-HPMC compression coated tablets was a promising delivery system for drugs to be delivered to the colon.

Administration, Oral ; Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Berberine ; administration & dosage ; chemistry ; pharmacokinetics ; Colon ; metabolism ; Drug Compounding ; methods ; Drug Delivery Systems ; Hypromellose Derivatives ; Mannans ; chemistry ; isolation & purification ; Methylcellulose ; analogs & derivatives ; chemistry ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Tablets, Enteric-Coated

Konjac glucomannan (KGM) is a water-soluble polysaccharide obtained from the roots and tubers of konjac plants. Recently, a degraded product of KGM, depolymerized KGM (DKGM), has attracted attention because of its low viscosity, improved hydrophily, and favorable physiological functions. In this review, we describe the preparation of DKGM and its prebiotic effects. Other health benefits of DKGM, covering antioxidant and immune activity, are also discussed, as well as its safety. DKGM could be a candidate for use as a tool for the treatment of various diseases, including intestinal flora imbalance, and oxidative- and immune-related disorders.
Amorphophallus ; chemistry ; Animals ; Antioxidants ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Humans ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Immunologic Factors ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Mannans ; isolation & purification ; therapeutic use ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polymerization ; Prebiotics ; Safety ; Viscosity