Based on the systematic retrieval and the reported components of Sojae Semen Nigrum and Sojae Semen Praeparatum, this study conducted in-depth analysis of conversion of components in the fermentation process, and discussed types and possible mec-hanisms of conversion of chemical components, so as to provide the basis for studying technology, medicinal ingredients and quality standards. According to the analysis, there is a certain degree of conversion of nutrients(like protein, sugar, lipid), bioactive substances(like isoflavones, saponins, γ-aminobutyric acid) and other substances(like nucleosides, melanoids, biamines, etc) in the process of fermentation.
Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fermentation ; Isoflavones/analysis* ; Semen/chemistry* ; Soybeans

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The association between dietary patterns and depression has been reported but the results have been inconsistent. This study was conducted to investigate the association between dietary patterns and depression in middle-aged Korean adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The participants were selected from a community-based cohort, a subset of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. Depression was assessed using the Korean version of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and those with a BDI score ≥ 16 were defined as having depression. The subjects' food intakes over the year preceding the survey were estimated by using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Dietary patterns were identified by using factor analysis. Multiple logistic regression was used to assess the association of dietary pattern with depression. RESULTS: Among 3,388 participants, 448 (13.2%) were identified as having depression. We identified two major dietary patterns: ‘Healthy’ dietary pattern was characterized by high intakes of vegetables, soybeans, mushroom, seaweeds, white fish, shellfish and fruits and a low intake of white rice. ‘Unhealthy’ dietary pattern was characterized by high intakes of white rice, meats, ramen, noodles, bread and coffee and a low intake of rice with other grains. Compared with subjects in the lowest quartiles, those in the highest quartiles of the healthy dietary pattern had a significantly lower odds ratio (OR = 0.59, 95% CI: 0.42–0.82, P for trend = 0.0037) after adjusting for potential confounders. In contrast, the unhealthy dietary pattern was negatively associated with depression (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.19–2.28, P for trend = 0.0021). CONCLUSION: This results suggest that a healthy dietary pattern (rich in vegetables, soybeans, mushroom, seaweeds, white fish, shellfish, and fruits) is associated with low risk of depression. Whereas an unhealthy dietary pattern (rich in white rice, meats, ramen, noodles, bread, and coffee) is associated with a high risk of depression in middle-aged Korean adults.
Adult ; Agaricales ; Bread ; Coffee ; Cohort Studies ; Depression ; Epidemiology ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Fruit ; Genome ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Meat ; Odds Ratio ; Shellfish ; Soybeans ; Vegetables

In order to evaluate the characteristics of the spray drying of total flavonoids of Epimedium extracts assisted with soybean polysaccharide, a certain percentage of soybean polysaccharide or polyvidone were added to the total flavonoids of Epimedium extract to conduct the spray drying. The effect of soybean polysaccharides against the wall sticking effect of the spray drying was detected, as well as the powder property of total flavonoids of Epimedium spray drying powder and the dissolution in vitro behavior of the effective component. Compared with the total flavonoids of Epimedium spray drying powder, soybean polysaccharide revealed a significant anti-wall sticking effect. The spray drying power which had no notable change in the grain size made a increase in the fluidity, improvement in the moisture absorption and remarkable rise in the dissolution in vitro behavior. It was worth further studying the application of soybean polysaccharide in spray drying power of traditional Chinese medicine.
Epimedium ; chemistry ; Flavonoids ; analysis ; Particle Size ; Polysaccharides ; chemistry ; Powders ; Soybeans ; chemistry

AIMTo investigate possible correlation factors for prostate cancer by a population-based case-control study in China.

METHODSWe carried out a mass screening of prostate cancer in Changchun, China, using a prostate-specific antigen assisted by Japan International Cooperation Agency. From June 1998 to December 2000, 3 940 men over 50 years old were screened. Of these, 29 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer. We selected 28 cases and matched them with controls of low prostate-specific antigen value (< 4.1 ng/mL) by 1:10 according to age and place of employment. A case-control study of diet and prostate cancer was then carried out.

RESULTSAfter adjustment for education, body mass index (BMI), smoking, alcohol consumption, marriage and diet, intake of soybean product was discovered to be inversely related to prostate cancer. Men who consumed soybean product more than twice per week on different days had a multivariate odds ratio (OR) of 0.38 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.13-1.12). In addition, men who consumed soybean products more than once per day had a multivariate OR of 0.29 (95% CI, 0.11-0.79) compared with men who consumed soybean products less than once per week. The P for trend was 0.02, which showed significant difference. There was no significant difference in P trend for any dairy food. Even when we matched the cases and controls by other criteria, we found that soybean food was the only preventive factor associated with prostate cancer.

CONCLUSIONOur study suggests that consumption of soybeans, one of the most popular foods in Asia, would decrease the risk of prostate cancer.

Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Case-Control Studies ; China ; epidemiology ; Diet ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mass Screening ; methods ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; blood ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Soybeans

The effects of salinity (50 mmol/L NaCl) and Cd (1 micromol/L CdCl(2)) as sole and combined on growth and photosynthetic parameters were studied using two soybean genotypes, Huachun 18 and NGB. The concentrations of Cd(2+), Zn(2+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), K(+) and Na(+) were also determined in seeds and pods. Huachun 18 suffered a more serious decrease than NGB in net photosynthetic rate (P(n)) in the treatments of salinity stress alone and combined stress (NaCl+Cd), showing that it is relatively sensitive to salinity. The decrease in P(n) caused by salt stress in Huachun 18 was mainly due to the reduced total chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency (the ratio of variable fluorescence to maximal fluorescence, F(v)/F(m)), whereas the decease in NGB was mainly related to reduced stomatal conductance (G(s)). The combined stress of both Na and Cd did not induce further decrease in photosynthesis and fluorescence in the two genotypes relative to salt or Cd stress alone. Greater change in the pod concentrations of Zn(2+), Ca(2+), Mg(2+), K(+) and Na(+) was detected under salt stress for Huachun 18 than for NGB. The results suggested that the interactive effect of NaCl-Cd on growth and nutrient uptake differs between the two soybean genotypes.
Cadmium Chloride ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Osmotic Pressure ; Photosynthesis ; drug effects ; Sodium Chloride ; administration & dosage ; metabolism ; Soil ; analysis ; Soybeans ; drug effects ; growth & development ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo establish the optimized preparation procedure and study the method to determine the content for soybean isoflavone(SIF) Dropping Pills.

METHODThe preparation conditions, such as the proportion between SIF and PEGs, the temperature of mixture of SIF and PEGs, dropping distance, etc., were studied with Uniform Design and One-way ANOVA. SIF was identified by TLC and the content of SIF was determined by UV spectrometry at 262 nm detection wavelength.

RESULTThree batches of the prepared products meet the standards of the Chinese pharmacopoeia on dropping pills. SIF can be identified by TLC. Using UV spectrometry, the linear range of SIF was 0. 407 2 to 4. 072 g x mL(-1) and the correlation coefficient was 0. 999 8. In high, middle and low concentration, average recovery were 96. 54%, 97.27% and 97.21%, respectively (RSD were 1.3%, 0.78% and 0.71%).

CONCLUSIONThe preparation procedure is feasible, simple and suitable, the method established in this paper can be adopted for the quality control of SIF dropping pills, and the determination method is simple, relatively fast and accurate.

Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; Isoflavones ; analysis ; isolation & purification ; standards ; Particle Size ; Plants, Medicinal ; chemistry ; Polyethylene Glycols ; chemistry ; Quality Control ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet

PURPOSE: Recent studies have suggested that isoflavones have an inverse correlation with the risk of prostate cancer. In addition, the serum isoflavones levels are thought to be decided not only by the level of intake of isoflavones, but also by the metabolic processes or the genetic abilities required for ingestion of isoflavones. So, we conducted this study to determine the effects of dietary habits on the serum isoflavones levels. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred age- and community-matched healthy men between the ages of 10 and 59 years were interviewed using a food frequency questionnaire that was developed and validated for Korean populations. The individuals' dietary habits during the previous one-year period and the foods they ingested during the previous one-week period before blood sampling were assessed. The serum concentrations of isoflavones were analyzed by the reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography-multiple reaction ion monitoring-mass spectrometry method (HPLC-MS), (SRL Co. Tokyo, Japan). RESULTS: The genistein and daidzein levels were significantly correlated with age (p=0.026 and p=0.016, respectively), but the equol level was not (p=0.091). The foods associated with the genistein level were unmilled rice, beans, garlic and etc. The foods significantly related to the daidzein level were unmilled rice, garlic and etc. Of the foods ingested during the previous one-week period, fermented soybean soup, garlic, strawberries and mung-bean pancakes were associated with the equol level. CONCLUSIONS: The genistein and daidzein levels were associated with usual dietary habits, but the equol level was related to the short-period food consumption. Changes in dietary habit might induce significant changes in the genistein and daidzein levels.
Eating ; Equol ; Fabaceae ; Food Habits* ; Fragaria ; Garlic ; Genistein ; Humans ; Isoflavones* ; Male ; Metabolism ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Soybeans ; Spectrum Analysis

Alpha-linolenic acid(ALA, C18:3delta9,12,15 ) is an essential fatty acid which has many sanitary functions to human. However, its contents in diets are often not enough. In plants, omega-3 fatty acid desaturases(FAD) catalyze linoleic acid(LA, C18:2delta9,12) into ALA. The seed oil of Glycine max contains high level of ALA. To investigate the functions of Glycine max omega-3FAD, the cDNA of GmFAD3 C was amplified by RT-PCR from immature seeds, then cloned into the shuttle expression vector p416 to generate the recombinant vector p4GFAD3C. The resulting vector was transformed into Saccharomyces cerevisiae K601 throuth LiAc method. The positive clones were screened on the CM(Ura-) medium and identified by PCR, and then cultured in CM (Ura-) liquid medium with exogenous LA in 20 degrees C for three days. The intracellular fatty acid composition of the engineering strain Kp416 and Kp4GFAD3C was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC). A novel peak in strain Kp4GFAD3C was detected,which was not detectable in control, Comparison of the retention times of the newly yielded peak with that of authentic standard indicated that the fatty acid is ALA. The content of ALA reached to 3.1% of the total fatty acid in recombinant strain, the content of LA correspondingly decreased from 22% to 16.2% by contrast. It was suggested that the protein encoded by GmFAD3 C can specifically catalyze 18 carbon PUFA substrate of LA into ALA by taking off hydrogen atoms at delta15 location. In this study, we expressed a Glycine max omega-3 fatty acid desaturase gene in S. cerevisiae; An efficient and economical yeast expressing system(K601-p416 system) which is suitable for the expression of FAD was built.
Chromatography, Gas ; Cloning, Molecular ; Fatty Acid Desaturases ; biosynthesis ; genetics ; Saccharomyces cerevisiae ; genetics ; metabolism ; Soybeans ; enzymology ; genetics ; alpha-Linolenic Acid ; analysis ; biosynthesis ; genetics

Two sulfonylurea herbicides, metsulfuron methyl (Ally 20 WP) and chlorimuron ethyl (Classic 25 WP) were evaluated for their dissipation behaviour in alluvial, coastal saline and laterite soils under laboratory incubated condition at 60% water holding capacity of soils and 30 degrees C temperature was maintained. In field study herbicides were applied twice for the control of grasses, annual and perennials broad leaves weeds and sedges in rice, wheat and soybean to find out the residual fate of both the herbicides on different matrices of respective crops after harvest. Extraction and clean up methodologies for the herbicides were standardized and subsequently analyzed by HPLC. The study revealed that the half-lives of metsulfuron methyl and chlorimuron ethyl ranged from 10.75 to 13.94 d irrespective of soils and doses applied. Field trials with rice, wheat and soybean also revealed that these two herbicides could safely be recommended for application as no residues were detected in the harvest samples.
Arylsulfonates ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Herbicides ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Oryza ; metabolism ; Pyrimidines ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Soil ; analysis ; Soybeans ; metabolism ; Sulfonylurea Compounds ; analysis ; pharmacokinetics ; Triticum ; metabolism

Dietary pattern analysis is important complementary approach for identifying associations between diet and chronic disease. A case-control study was conducted in order to examine dietary patterns and the risk of colon cancer in Korea. Data were collected from both 137 cases with either colorectal cancer or large bowl adenomatous polyps and 134 controls regarding social-demographic characteristics and food intake using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. We conducted factor analysis and identified 6 major dietary patterns: "Well-being diet" characterized by higher intakes of potatoes, yogurt, soybean paste and vegetables, "Meat & fish", "Milk & juice", "Pork & alcohol", "Rice & kimchi", and "Coffee & cake". We calculated factor scores for each participant and examined the associations between dietary patterns and colon cancer risk. After adjusting for potential confounders, there was a relative risk for colon cancer of 0.16 (95% confidence interval, 0.07 - 0.34) when comparing the highest with the lowest tertile of the "Well-being" pattern. Significant trends of decreasing risk of colon cancer also emerged with the "Milk & juice" (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.20 - 0.79). In contrast, inverse associations of the risk were found for "Pork & alcohol" (OR = 1.92, 95% CI = 0.93 - 3.97), "Coffee & cake" (OR = 2.18, 95% CI = 1.07 - 4.46). For the "Meat & fish" pattern, the decreased risk of colon cancer was observed in the second tertile, but not in the highest tertile when comparing to the lowest. The "Rice & kimchi" pattern had a nonsignificant association with the risk. These data suggest that major dietary patterns derived from the FFQ associated with the risk of colon cancer in Korea. Since foods are not consumed in isolation, dietary pattern research in natural eating behavior may be useful for understanding dietary causes of colon cancer.
Adenomatous Polyps ; Case-Control Studies ; Chronic Disease ; Colon* ; Colonic Neoplasms* ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Diet ; Eating ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Feeding Behavior ; Korea ; Solanum tuberosum ; Soybeans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Vegetables ; Yogurt