Abstract: Mainly, papaya is a fruit grown in tropical and subtropical regions. It is a nutritionally rich fruit that is widely recognized for its various benefits. There are some common benefits of papaya include improvement of digestion, abundant vitamin C, immune system boosts, promotion of cardiovascular health, support of eye health, enhance of gut health etc. Papaya polysaccharides (PP) are natural polysaccharide compounds extracted from papaya. They are complex compounds composed of polysaccharide molecules obtained from papaya pulp, peel, or juice. PP are believed to possess various pharmacological activities and health benefits include immunomodulation, antioxidant effects, anti-inflammatory effects, blood glucose-lowering effects, hepatoprotective effects etc. It is important to note that although papaya polysaccharides have potential health benefits, current research on them is still relatively limited. Further scientific studies are needed to validate and deepen our understanding of their mechanisms of action and their application in different disease conditions. Therefore, we focused on the effects of PP regulate intestinal flora in vivo in this study. The results were revealed that long-read sequencing platform, Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT), was used to classify the gut microbiota in rat fecal samples. A total of 945 bacterial strains were identified through comprehensive strain identification. The obtained sequencing reads were analyzed using the CLC Genomics Workbench software. Moreover, CLC Genomics Workbench software performed Weighted UniFrac and Bray-Curtis analyses to measure the dissimilarity of identified bacterial species between different groups. Subsequently, the PERMANOVA statistical method was employed to determine the significance of differences in the composition of bacterial species between groups. Comparing the relative abundance changes of identified bacterial species in the fecal samples after 28 days of low-dose PP consumption [100 mg/kg body weight (BW)] with the normal diet group, 46 intestinal bacterial strains showed statistically significant differences. After comparing the relative abundance changes of identified bacterial species in the fecal samples following 28 days of high-dose PP consumption (200 mg/kg BW) with the normal diet group, 45 intestinal bacterial strains showed statistically significant differences. Using CLC Genomics Workbench software, a heat map was generated by selecting bacter ial strains in the high (28) group that exhibited a relative abundance increase or decrease of more than 4-fold. After database analysis, a total of 945 intestinal bacterial strains were identified in this study. It was observed that the proportions of intestinal bacterial communities changed after consuming PP. Among them, 42 bacterial strains showed an increase in abundance after PP consumption. According to the criteria for determining good and bad bacteria, out of the total 118 bacterial genera considered, 69 belong to the "good bacteria" category (probable probiotics), while 49 belong to the "bad bacteria" category (potential pathogens). After PP treatment, PP (100 mg/kg BW and 200 mg/kg BW) can decrease the percentage of potential pathogens in the stool of SD rats. Taken all results together, to consume PP for 28 days can alter the composition of SD rats’ gut microbiota. Further analysis is needed to explore the effects of changes in SD rats’ gut microbiota on relevant mechanisms in the body. The findings of this study can serve as a foundation for the application of PP in regulating gut microbiota as raw materials or products.

Abstract: Dragon fruit is cactus based fruit that has loads of health benefits such as lowering risks of a blood sugar spike, aids in digestion etc. Its nutritional content is rich in vitamin C, vitamin E, magnesium, iron etc. Its functions on the physiological regulation are well known. Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are multifactorial chronic intestinal disorders. Currently, mesalamine etc. and therapeutic strategies were suggested for IBD therapy. However, the etiology of IBD remains unclear which is an ongoing challenge and side effects of therapeutic drugs must be also considered. Thus, the aim of this study was evaluated the efficacy and therapeutic strategies investigations on the attenuated IBD symptoms via administrating three doses of dragon fruit powders in the 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced IBD mouse model. The female C57BL/6 mice were divided respectively the normal control group (n = 10), the negative control group (n = 10), three dose groups (n = 10 per group) of dragon fruit powders (250 mg/kg BW, 500 mg/kg BW, and 1,000 mg/kg BW). Exception of the normal control group, other groups were administrated with 2% DSS for 5 days. Later, the normal drinking water was provide to C57BL/6 mice until the end of the experiment. At the end of the experiment, the body weight (BW), the stool appearance/status, the macroscopic and microscopic colonic injuries, and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity were monitored, measured and scored. The results were showed that BW of C57BL/6 mice in the negative control group, three dragon fruit powder groups was gradually reduced during the IBD period induced by 2% DSS, and BW of C57BL/6 mice gradually increased when the 2% DSS in drinking water was replaced with the normal drinking water. When the experiment was carried out to the 3rd to 4th week, BW of the negative control group was significantly lower than that of the normal control group. The stool appearance/status was presented that stool score in the negative control group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (p 〈 0.001). The stool score in the high-dose dragon fruit powder group was significantly lower than that in the negative control group (p 〈 0.001). The macroscopic colons of C57BL/6 mice were performed at the end of the experiment. (1) Gut weight: It can be seen that gut weight in the normal control group is lowest and the gut weight in the negative control group is highest between all groups. The gut weight in the negative control group was higher than that in the normal control group, medium-dose dragon fruit powder group, and high-dose dragon fruit powder group were seen. (2) Gut length: It can be seen that gut length in the normal control group is longest. The gut length in the normal control group is significantly longer than that in the other groups. Exception of the normal control group, other groups were not significant difference compared to each other. (3) Gut weight-to-gut length ratio: It can be seen that gut weight-to-gut length ratio in the normal control group is lowest and the gut weight-to-gut length ratio in the negative control group is highest between all groups. The gut weight-to-gut length ratio in the negative control group was significantly higher than that in the normal control group (p 〈 0.01). The gut weight-to-gut length ratio in the high-dose dragon fruit powder group was significantly lower than that in the negative control group. The microscopic colons of C57BL/6 mice was performed at the end of the experiment. The pathological analysis items were divided into ulcer area ratio, mucosal ulcer depth, inflammatory cell infiltration, and submucosal edema. Total histopathologic scores in the 2% DSS-induced group was also significantly higher than that of the normal control group. Finally, the evaluating MPO activity was performed by using MPO activity assay kit. It can be seen that MPO activity was significant higher in the negative control group than that in the normal control group. MPO activity in the three dragon fruit powder groups were significant lower than that in the negative control group. Taken all results together, the consumption of medium-dose (500 mg/kg BW) and high-dose (1,000 mg/kg BW) dragon fruit powders has a positive improvement effect on relieving various symptoms caused by IBD via a successful 2% DSS-induced IBD mouse model.

Abstract: Over-nutrition rather than under-nutrition is an important public health challenge in some developed countries. However, the under-nutrition is a major problem according to the global perspective. Therefore, the research and development (R & D) of agricultural functional materials or products for the prevention of fat accumulation is urgently needed. In this experiment, Sprague Dawley (SD) rats in the normal control group were fed with the normal composition for 8 weeks during the experiment. SD rats in the negative control group and three sweet potato fermented products (SPFP) groups were fed a high fat diet for 8 weeks during the experiment. According to the experimental design, three doses SPFP [250, 500, and 1,000 mg/kg body weight (BW)] will be administered after 4 weeks of feeding the high fat diet. During the experiment, BW o f the SD rats was recorded every week and blood, liver, and body fat were collected for analysis of body fat rate, blood lipid content, blood glucose content, liver lipid content, and liver and renal functions. Based on the results, the consumption of SPFP does not affect liver and kidney functions, indicating that SPFP is a safe and edible agricultural material. BW change of the normal control group was significantly lower than that of the negative control group and three SPFP groups (p 〈 0.05). In addition, there was no significant difference in the BW change rate among the groups eat the high fat feed (p 〉 0.05), but the trend of BW change rate in the low and middle doses of SPFP groups was lower than that in the other high fat feed groups. The food utilization rate of the high fat diet group was significantly higher than that of the normal diet group (p 〈 0.05). The body fat rate of the normal control group was significantly lower than that of the high fat feed groups (p 〈 0.05). There was no significant difference between the high fat feed groups (p 〉 0.05). However, the trend showed that the body fat rate of the low and middle doses of SPFP groups were lower than that of the negative control group and the high dose of SPFP group. In addition, the results of other measurement indicators such as blood lipid content, blood glucose content, and liver lipid content did not show any negative effects of SPFP. Based on the above results, although SPFP on the prevention of body fat accumulation was not significantly exhibited, however, the trend shows that the low and middle doses of SPFP can decrease body fat production. Taken these results together, SPFP may has the potential for the prevention of fat accumulation.

Abstract: Eukaryotic cells can store and converse excess lipid to the cytosolic lipid droplets. Adipogenesis of preadipocytes has been often used to study the molecular basis and the effect of obesity drugs on fat cell conversion. Many methods were developed for the detection of the cytosolic lipid droplets as Nile red, BODIPY 493/503 (4, 4-difluoro-1, 3, 5, 7, 8-pentamethyl-4-bora-3a, 4adiaza-s-indacene), BODIPY 665/676, 1,6-diphenylhexatriene (DPH), DAPI, Hoechst, Sudan III, and Oil-red O. The differences in the spectral properties of these lipophilic dyes and their advantages of each are discussed. In this study, an in vitro flow cytometric detection method was established for the detection of lipid-accumulated cells. Commonly, the longer the period of adipogenic induction, the greater the quantity of lipid in fat cell can accumulate. Thus, to determine whether increasing the fat stored within a cell would result in the greater granularity. 3T3-L1 cells in culture were hormonally induced for adipogenesis. Then, these cells were dissociated and analyzed in a flow cytometer at 0, 5, and 10 days post-induction. After adipogenic induction, the cells had become increasingly heterogeneous in their cellular granularity. The cells containing greater granular structure were markedly increased, and this increase in granularity positively correlated with the time of the post-adipogenic induction. On the other analysis, the 0 and 10 days post adipogenic induction of 3T3-L1 cells were gated for 4 regions. The R1 region contains cells with a level of granularity similar to that seen in the control cells (non-adipogenic induction), whereas R2 to R4 regions contain cells with increasing granularity. According to all data, we have successfully established an in vitro flow cytometric detection method for the detection of lipid-accumulated cells. We wish this method will be applied on the research of obesity drugs and the design of therapeutic strategies for obesity in the future.

Abstract: Faced with the impact of extreme climate, countries have proposed carbon dioxide emission reductions, hoping to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and Taiwan’s industries must also face the transformation of low-carbon green energy. Light-emitting diode (LED) is a cost effective semiconductor device that produces light within a narrow bandwidth of wavelength through electroluminescence. Recently, LED technology has attention to apply in the area of food production, preservation, and safety. At present, some researches have been demonstrated that the antimicrobial LED visible light is less anti-microbial efficacy than ultraviolet (UV) light. However, the antimicrobial LED visible light has been recognized as an alternative technology to UV light since it is an environmentally friendly and safe technology for human and animals. For this reason, LED technology has recently received attention for applying in many test fields as laboratory, pig farms, computer, bio-medical industries etc. In this study, this novel clean and disinfect tool-novel environment-cleaned LED devices were tested in the various fields and obtained the positive results as the application of novel environment-cleaned LED devices on anti-fungal efficacy, and ethylene, PM2.5, and harmful gas degradations in laboratory, anti-bacterial and virus efficacy in laboratory and/or pig farms, anti-microbial notebook panel development, and anti-colorectal cancer in vitro. In the future, we wish this novel environment-cleaned LED devices will friendly used in human and animal environments to decrease the harmful matters in the environments.

Abstract: Plants have been used as traditional medicine or health products for several thousands of years. The present study was aimed to evaluate the genotoxicity of pomelo flower powders by micronucleus assay In vivo. During the In vivo genotoxicity-evaluated experiment, the experimental animal’s clinical behavior, body weight (BW), food consumption, and the percentage of RET/RBCs (reticulocytes/red blood cells) and MN-RET/RETs (micronucleated reticulocytes/reticulocytes) after the treatments of pomelo (Citrus maxima) flower powders were evaluated. Both sexes ICR mice were treated three daily treatments by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg of mitomycin C (genotoxicity induction) or by oral route of 200 μL of PBS (the normal control group). Until 30th hours after the last treatment, K2-EDTA-anticoagulated peripheral blood specimens were collected. These blood samples were processed for the microscopy-based analysis using Giemsa stain and the percentage of reticulocytes and micronucleated reticulocytes was determined. The results were shown that the experimental animal’s clinical behaviors were normal in all groups. The BW and food consumption were no significant difference between all groups. RET/RBCs (%) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group, the normal control group, the low dose of pomelo (C. maxima) flower powder group, the middle dose of pomelo (C. maxima) flower powder group, and the high dose of pomelo (C. maxima) flower powder group were respectively 8.8 ± 2.3 / 9.6 ± 2.6, 23.0 ± 2.5 / 22.4 ± 2.3, 23.4 ± 2.1 / 23.2 ± 3.8, 24.2 ± 3.6 / 23.0 ± 1.9, and 21.6 ± 3.2 / 21.6 ± 2.4; MN-RET/RETs (‰) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group, the normal control group, the low dose of pomelo (C. maxima) flower powders group, the middle dose of pomelo (C. maxima) flower powder group, and the high dose of pomelo (C. maxima) flower powder group were 43.0 ± 12.5 / 39.4 ± 9.8, 2.6 ± 1.5 / 2.6 ± 1.5, 2.4 ± 1.1 / 2.2 ± 1.3, 2.2 ± 1.3 / 2.0 ± 1.2, and 1.8 ± 0.8 / 1.8 ± 0.8, respectively. Both RET/RBCs (%) and MN-RET/RETs (%) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group were significantly difference than the other groups (p 〈 0.001). Taken all results together, pomelo (C. maxima) flower powders were without genotoxicity. Therefore, pomelo (C. maxima) flower powders were safety.

Abstract: Allergic rhinitis (AR) was also called hay fever which was a type of nasal inflammation when the immune system overreacts to environmental allergen exposures. AR’s clinical symptoms included a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, red, itchy, watery eyes, and eye swelling. The fluid in the nasal cavity was usually clear. Patients with AR can affect sleep and work qualities. Seriously, the AR symptoms can also cause asthma, allergic conjunctivitis, or atopic dermatitis. Therefore, it is an important issue to attenuate AR symptoms and research the novel therapeutic drugs for AR patients. The purpose of this study was to introduce an easy-to-establish experimental mouse model of AR. In this study, the male BALB/c mice were divided respectively into as the Group A (n = 12) and the Group B (n = 12). Group A and Group B were designed as the normal control and RA, respectively. BALB/c mice in Group B were sensitized by intraperitoneal injection of ovalbumin (OVA) on day 0, day 4, day 13, and day 20, followed by continuous nasal administration of OVA solution once per day between day 21-43. BALB/c mice in Group A received sensitization of intraperitoneal injection of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) on day 0, day 4, day 13, and day 20 and continuous nasal administration of PBS instead of OVA once per day between day 21-43. Before and after sensitization, the frequencies of nasal symptoms (sneezing, nasal rubbing) were recorded and counted. Results were showed that sneezing times in Group B were higher than Group A on D29, D30, D36, and D43 of the experiment. The sneezing times in Group A were significant higher on D29 and D30 of the experiment. However, the sneezing times in Group B were significant higher on D29, D30, D36, and D43 of the experiment. The rubbing times in Group B were higher than Group A on D29, D30, D36, and D43 of the experiment. The rubbing times in Group A were significant higher on D30 and D43 of the experiment. However, the rubbing times in Group B were significant higher on D29, D30, D36, and D43 of the experiment. Based on these results, a successful mouse model of AR has been established. We hope that this RA mouse model will provide a tool for the research of the novel AR therapeutic drugs and apply these novel AR therapeutic drugs to attenuate the AR symptoms in AR patients in the future.

Abstract: Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) light that causes sunburn and makes the skin age faster, leading to more wrinkles as older. The UV light can come from the natural and artificial sources. Moreover, UV light has shorter wavelengths than the visible light. Therefore, people’ eyes can’t see UV, but people’ skin can feel it. In this study, the in vivo skin health test efficacy modules have been established via the detection of skin’s moisture retention (%), skin’s cytokine expression levels, enzymatic expressions in the skin, the expression levels of hyaluronic acid (HA), collagen type I, melanin, and malondialdehyde (MDA) in the skin, and the experimental mice’ skin thickness and lesions via histo-pathologic examination. According to the results, the clinical behavior observation indexes of Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice in each group were normal during the experiments. Moreover, all ICR mice were survival until the end of the experiments. The moisture retention (%) of skin in ICR mice in UVB group was significant decrease after D1, D3, and D5 of UVB irradiation compared to the normal control group. Based on the IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α analysis expressions, both IL-1β and IL-6 expressions in UVB group were significantly increase than the control group, while there was no significant difference in the TNF-α expression between the groups. ICR mice’ skin enzymatic expressions in each group presented that catalase (CAT) expression and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in UVB group were significantly lower than the control group. The MDA expression in UVB group were significantly higher than the control group. The HA and collagen type I expressions in UVB group were significantly lower than the control group. However, the melanin expressions in UVB group and the control groups were not significantly different. The matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) expressions in UVB group was significantly higher than the control group. The skin epidermal thickness in UVB group was significantly thicker than the control group. The dermal thickness in two groups was not significantly different. The number of sunburn cells in the derma in UVB group was significantly increase than the control group. The solar elastosis in the derma in two groups was not significantly different. Based on the above results, we have successfully established in vivo skin health test efficacy modules to evaluate the status of skin health. We hope the modules should be provide for the research and development (R & D) of the effective treatment included drugs and therapeutic strategies.

Abstract: Platostoma palustre jelly is a traditional food. Platostoma palustre has been used as folk medicine and is effective against heat-shock, hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, the aim of in vivo study was to determine the effects of herbal tea (Platostoma palustre) on blood lipid regulation. The commercial herbal tea (Platostoma palustre) was kindly provided by Yueta Agricultural Biotechnology Inc. Adult male 18 Syrian hamsters (outbred stock) [5 weeks old; body weight (BW) between 90-100 g] with specific pathogen-free conditions were used in this study. In this experiment, all Syrian hamsters (n = 18) were divided respectively the normal control group (n = 6), the negative control group (n = 6), and the herbal tea group (n = 6). The high-fat feed (containing 0.2% cholesterol) was used to feed Syrian hamsters for 8 weeks to induce hyperlipidemia in the negative control group and the herbal tea group. In the herbal tea group, the herbal tea (10 mL/kg BW) was administrated to Syrian hamsters by gavage. Blood were collected before hyperlipidemia was induced (D0) and blood was collected after hyperlipidemia was induced (D28 and D56). The BW of Syrian hamsters were weighed weekly. The TG (triglyceride), TCHO (total cholesterol), HDL (high-density lipoprotein), and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) contents in blood were detected and analyzed at each experimental time point. In addition, at the end of the experiment, the liver tissue was dissected out for analysis of CHO (cholesterol) and TG contents. The results were shown that the average BW of the Syrian hamsters in the negative control group was significantly higher than that of the Syrian hamsters in the normal control group during hyperlipidemia induction (W5-W8). The BW of the herbal tea group was slightly higher than that of the normal control group after hyperlipidemia induction. However, there was no significant difference between the negative group and the herbal tea group each week of the experiment. The TG level of Syrian hamsters in the negative control group was significantly higher than that of Syrian hamsters in the normal control group at the 8th weeks-experiment. The TG level of Syrian hamsters in the herbal tea group was between the negative control group and the normal control group and there were no significant differences between two groups (the herbal tea group and the negative control group). The TCHO levels in blood of Syrian hamsters in the negative control group and the herbal tea group were both significantly higher than that of the normal control group at the 4th week- and 8th week-experiment. At the 4th and 8th weeks-experiment, the TCHO of the herbal tea group was slightly lower than that of the negative control group after hyperlipidemia induction. The TCHO levels in blood of Syrian hamsters in the herbal tea group and the negative control group had no significant difference. At the experiment (W4 and W8), the HDL cholesterol level in blood of Syrian hamsters in the negative control and the herbal tea group were significantly higher than that in the normal control group. The HDL cholesterol level in blood of the herbal tea group was slightly higher than that of the negative control group after hyperlipidemia induction (W4 and W8). At the experiment (W4 and W8), the HDL cholesterol level in blood of the negative control group and the herbal tea group were significantly higher than that of the normal control group. There was no significant difference between the herbal tea group and the negative control group. Addi tionally, the LDL cholesterol level in blood of the herbal tea group was significantly lower than that of the negative control group after hyperlipidemia induction (W4 and W8). At the experiment (W4 and W8), the ratio of HDL cholesterol level /LDL cholesterol level in blood of the negative control group were significantly lower than that of the normal control group. The ratio of HDL cholesterol level /LDL cholesterol level in blood of the herbal tea group was higher than that of the negative control group after hyperlipidemia induction (W4 and W8). However, there was no significant difference between the herbal tea group and the normal control group. At the end of experiment (W8), the TG and CHO levels in liver tissues of the negative control group and the herbal tea group were significantly higher than that of the normal control group. The TG and CHO contents in liver tissues of the herbal tea group was lower than that of the negative control group at the end of experiment (W8). However, there was no significant difference between the herbal tea group and the negative control group. Taken all in vivo results together, the hyperlipidemia was successfully induced in the experimental Syrian hamsters. After administrating with the herbal tea, the blood and liver lipid levels of the Syrian hamsters tended to improve. Therefore, based on the results of this experiment, it is speculated that drinking the herbal tea for 2 months has considerable potential for blood lipid regulation, which can be used as the basis for the development of related products of the herbal tea in the future.

Abstract: Platostoma palustre (Pp) jelly is a traditional food. Pp has been used as folk medicine and is effective against heat-shock, hypertension and diabetes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ethanolic extracts of Pp’ genotoxicity. The ethanolic extracts of Pp by using 40% ethanol for extraction. Evaluation of genotoxicity of ethanolic extracts of Pp by micronucleus assay was performed in vivo. During the in vivo genotoxicity-evaluated experiment, the experimental animal’s clinical behavior, body weight (BW), food consumption, and the percentage of RET/RBCs (reticulocytes/red blood cells) and MN-RET/RETs (micronucleated reticulocytes/reticulocytes) after the treatments of Pp ethanolic extracts were evaluated. Both sexes Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) mice were given three daily treatments by intraperitoneal injection of 2 mg/kg of mitomycin C (genotoxicity induction) or by oral route of 200 μL of PBS (normal control group). Until 48 h after the last treatment, K2-EDTA-anticoagulated peripheral blood specimens were collected. These blood samples were processed for the microscopy-based analysis using Giemsa stain and the percentage of reticulocytes and micronucleated reticulocytes was determined. The results were shown that the experimental animal’s clinical behaviors were normal in all groups. The BW and food consumption were no significant difference between all groups. RET/RBCs (‰) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group, the normal control group, the high dose of Pp ethanolic extract group, the middle dose of Pp ethanolic extract group, and the low dose of Pp ethanolic extract group were respectively 7.8 ± 0.8 / 8.6 ± 0.8, 23.2 ± 1.5 / 22.1 ± 1.3, 22.8 ± 1.6 / 22.1 ± 1.7, 23.2 ± 1.5 / 22.6 ± 1.0 and 22.2 ± 1.9 / 23.9 ± 1.9; MN-RET/RETs (‰) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group, the normal control group, the high dose of Pp ethanolic extract group, the middle dose of Pp ethanolic extract group, and the low dose of Pp ethanolic extract group were 2.0 ± 0.0 / 2.0 ± 0.0, 43.2 ± 10.6 / 39.6 ± 10.9, 1.8 ± 0.4 / 1.6 ± 0.5, 1.6 ± 0.5 / 1.4 ± 0.5, and 1.8 ± 0.4 / 1.6 ± 0.5, respectively. Both RET/RBCs (‰) and MN-RET/RETs (‰) in male or female ICR mice in the negative control group were significantly difference than the other groups (p 〈 0.001). Taken all results together, Pp ethanolic extracts were without genotoxicity. Therefore, Pp ethanolic extracts were safety.