A novel method for assessing the renal biopsy specimens using an activatable fluorescent probe

Gamma-glutamyl hydroxymethyl rhodamine green (gGlu-HMRG) is an activatable fluorescent probe that can be activated by γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT). The expression of GGT in the kidney, which is one of the major organs exhibiting enhanced GGT expression, is exclusively localised to the cortex. Here, we aimed to investigate the feasibility of gGlu-HMRG as a probe for the on-site assessment of renal biopsy specimens. gGlu-HMRG fluorescent probe was applied to the renal proximal tubular epithelial cells and cortical collecting duct cells in vitro, mouse kidneys ex vivo, and human biopsy specimens. In addition, the fluorescence intensities in the cortex and the medulla were comparatively evaluated in the biopsy specimens. The fluorescence signal was rapidly detected in the renal proximal tubular epithelial cells, whereas that in the cortical collecting duct cells was not detected. The fluorescence signal was detected in the mouse kidneys ex vivo without markedly affecting the tissue morphology. In the human biopsy specimens, the fluorescence signal in the cortex was significantly distinct from that in the medulla (p?<?0.05). Thus, this fluorescent probe can be used to distinctly identify the renal cortex in the biopsy specimens

Utilization of Flavonoid Compounds from Bark and Wood. III. Application in Health Foods

Dietary supplements ACAPOLIA&reg; and ACAPOLIA PLUS have been sold in Japan under the classification &ldquo;Foods in General&rdquo; for a number of years. In April 2015, the classification of &ldquo;Foods with Function Claims&rdquo; was introduced in Japan to make more products available to the public that were clearly labeled with functional claims based on scientific evidence. In order to obtain recognition of ACAPOLIA PLUS under this new classification, the following information needed to be established. The safety of the bark extract of Acacia mearnsii was shown from the history of the long-term safe consumption of the extract as a health supplement, together with several additional clinical safety tests. Robinetinidol-(4&alpha;,8)-catechin was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the supplement and was suitable for use as the basis of the quantitative analysis. In clinical tests, the amount of change in the plasma glucose concentration in the initial 60 min after rice consumption by a test group who had been given the Acadia extract was significantly lower than the glucose concentration in the group that was given a placebo. The blood glucose incremental areas under the curve (IAUC) in the first 60 min after rice consumption were also significantly lower in the Acacia group. The functional mechanisms were explained in terms of the inhibition of the absorption of glucose in the small intestine and the reduction in the activity of the digestive enzymes caused by proanthocyanidins derived from A. mearnsii bark. As a result, ACAPOLIA PLUS was accepted as a &ldquo;Food with Function Claims&rdquo; in August 2016. ACAPOLIA PLUS is now sold under this new classification. The growth of a typical intestinal bacterium is inhibited by an extract containing flavonoid compounds from A. mearnsii bark; thus, one of the future directions of study must be a comprehensive investigation of the effect that flavonoid compounds, proanthocyanidins, have on intestinal bacteria

Tannins from Acacia mearnsii De Wild. Bark: Tannin Determination and Biological Activities

The bark of Acacia mearnsii De Wild. (black wattle) contains significant amounts of water-soluble components acalled “wattle tannin”. Following the discovery of its strong antioxidant activity, a wattle tannin dietary supplement has been developed and as part of developing new dietary supplements, a literature search was conducted using the SciFinder data base for “Acacia species and their biological activities”. An analysis of the references found indicated that the name of Acacia nilotica had been changed to Vachellia nilotica, even though the name of the genus Acacia originated from its original name. This review briefly describes why and how the name of A. nilotica changed. Tannin has been analyzed using the Stiasny method when the tannin is used to make adhesives and the hide-powder method is used when the tannin is to be used for leather tanning. A simple UV method is also able to be used to estimate the values for both adhesives and leather tanning applications. The tannin content in bark can also be estimated using NIR and NMR. Tannin content estimations using pyrolysis/GC, electrospray mass spectrometry and quantitative 31P-NMR analyses have also been described. Tannins consists mostly of polyflavanoids and all the compounds isolated have been updated. Antioxidant activities of the tannin relating to anti-tumor properties, the viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and also anti-hypertensive effects have been studied. The antioxidant activity of proanthocyanidins was found to be higher than that of flavan-3-ol monomers. A total of fourteen papers and two patents reported the antimicrobial activities of wattle tannin. Bacteria were more susceptible to the tannins than the fungal strains tested. Several bacteria were inhibited by the extract from A. mearnsii bark. The growth inhibition mechanisms of E. coli were investigated. An interaction between extracts from A. mearnsii bark and antibiotics has also been studied. The extracts from A. mearnsii bark inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria. Wattle tannin has the ability to inactivate α-amylase, lipase and glucosidase. In vivo experiments on anti-obesity and anti-diabetes were also reported. Several patents relating to these enzymes for anti-diabetes and anti-obesity are in the literature. In addition, studies on Acacia bark extract regarding its antitermite activities, inhibition of itching in atopic dermatitis and anti-inflammatory effects have also been reported. The growth of bacteria was inhibited by the extract from A. mearnsii bark, and typical intestinal bacteria such as E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris and S. marcescenes was also inhibited in vitro by extracts. Based on these results, the Acacia bark extract may inhibit not only the growth of these typical intestinal bacteria but also the growth of other types of intestinal bacteria such as Clostridium and Bacteroides, a so-called “bad bacteria”. If the tannin extract from A. mearnsii bark inhibits growth of these “bad bacteria” in vivo evaluation, the extracts might be usable as a new dietary supplement, which could control the human intestinal microbiome to keep the body healthy

Tannins from Acacia mearnsii De Wild. Bark: Tannin Determination and Biological Activities

The bark of Acacia mearnsii De Wild. (black wattle) contains significant amounts of water-soluble components acalled “wattle tannin”. Following the discovery of its strong antioxidant activity, a wattle tannin dietary supplement has been developed and as part of developing new dietary supplements, a literature search was conducted using the SciFinder data base for “Acacia species and their biological activities”. An analysis of the references found indicated that the name of Acacia nilotica had been changed to Vachellia nilotica, even though the name of the genus Acacia originated from its original name. This review briefly describes why and how the name of A. nilotica changed. Tannin has been analyzed using the Stiasny method when the tannin is used to make adhesives and the hide-powder method is used when the tannin is to be used for leather tanning. A simple UV method is also able to be used to estimate the values for both adhesives and leather tanning applications. The tannin content in bark can also be estimated using NIR and NMR. Tannin content estimations using pyrolysis/GC, electrospray mass spectrometry and quantitative 31P-NMR analyses have also been described. Tannins consists mostly of polyflavanoids and all the compounds isolated have been updated. Antioxidant activities of the tannin relating to anti-tumor properties, the viability of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells and also anti-hypertensive effects have been studied. The antioxidant activity of proanthocyanidins was found to be higher than that of flavan-3-ol monomers. A total of fourteen papers and two patents reported the antimicrobial activities of wattle tannin. Bacteria were more susceptible to the tannins than the fungal strains tested. Several bacteria were inhibited by the extract from A. mearnsii bark. The growth inhibition mechanisms of E. coli were investigated. An interaction between extracts from A. mearnsii bark and antibiotics has also been studied. The extracts from A. mearnsii bark inhibit the growth of cyanobacteria. Wattle tannin has the ability to inactivate α-amylase, lipase and glucosidase. In vivo experiments on anti-obesity and anti-diabetes were also reported. Several patents relating to these enzymes for anti-diabetes and anti-obesity are in the literature. In addition, studies on Acacia bark extract regarding its antitermite activities, inhibition of itching in atopic dermatitis and anti-inflammatory effects have also been reported. The growth of bacteria was inhibited by the extract from A. mearnsii bark, and typical intestinal bacteria such as E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. vulgaris and S. marcescenes was also inhibited in vitro by extracts. Based on these results, the Acacia bark extract may inhibit not only the growth of these typical intestinal bacteria but also the growth of other types of intestinal bacteria such as Clostridium and Bacteroides, a so-called “bad bacteria”. If the tannin extract from A. mearnsii bark inhibits growth of these “bad bacteria” in vivo evaluation, the extracts might be usable as a new dietary supplement, which could control the human intestinal microbiome to keep the body healthy

Mechanical Condensation of Tannin in Acacia mangium Bark

この論文は国立情報学研究所の学術雑誌公開支援事業により電子化されました

Utilization of Flavonoid Compounds from Bark and Wood. III. Application in Health Foods

Dietary supplements ACAPOLIAR and ACAPOLIA PLUS have been sold in Japan under the classification “Foods in General” for a number of years. In April 2015, the classification of “Foods with Function Claims” was introduced in Japan to make more products available to the public that were clearly labeled with functional claims based on scientific evidence. In order to obtain recognition of ACAPOLIA PLUS under this new classification, the following information needed to be established. The safety of the bark extract of Acacia mearnsii was shown from the history of the long-term safe consumption of the extract as a health supplement, together with several additional clinical safety tests. Robinetinidol-(4α,8)-catechin was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the supplement and was suitable for use as the basis of the quantitative analysis. In clinical tests, the amount of change in the plasma glucose concentration in the initial 60 min after rice consumption by a test group who had been given the Acadia extract was significantly lower than the glucose concentration in the group that was given a placebo. The blood glucose incremental areas under the curve (IAUC) in the first 60 min after rice consumption were also significantly lower in the Acacia group. The functional mechanisms were explained in terms of the inhibition of the absorption of glucose in the small intestine and the reduction in the activity of the digestive enzymes caused by proanthocyanidins derived from A. mearnsii bark. As a result, ACAPOLIA PLUS was accepted as a “Food with Function Claims” in August 2016. ACAPOLIA PLUS is now sold under this new classification. The growth of a typical intestinal bacterium is inhibited by an extract containing flavonoid compounds from A. mearnsii bark; thus, one of the future directions of study must be a comprehensive investigation of the effect that flavonoid compounds, proanthocyanidins, have on intestinal bacteria

Anti-Hypertensive Effects of Acacia Polyphenol in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

We have previously demonstrated that acacia polyphenol (AP) exerts strong anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, and anti-atopic dermatitis effects. In the present study, we investigated the anti-hypertensive effects of AP. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) with hypertension and control Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) were used. WKY and SHR were fed AP-containing food or AP-free food (control group) ad libitum for 4 weeks, and their blood pressures were measured. After AP administration, both systolic and diastolic blood pressures were significantly lower in the SHR group than in the control group. There were no differences in the systolic or diastolic blood pressure of WKY between the AP group and the control group. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase expression, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in SHR kidneys were not altered by AP administration. Blood SOD activity in SHR was significantly higher in the AP group than in the control group. AP exerts anti-hypertensive effects on hypertension but has almost no effect on normal blood pressure. The anti-hypertensive effects of AP may be related to the anti-oxidative effects of increased blood SOD activity