Intake of Koji Amazake Improves Defecation Frequency in Healthy Adults

Reportedly, the intake of koji amazake, a beverage made from steamed rice fermented by Aspergillus oryzae, improves defecation frequency. However, its functional ingredients and mechanism of action remain unclear. To compare the effects of koji amazake and a placebo beverage on defecation frequency and to identify the functional ingredients and mechanism of action, a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel-group comparative trial was performed on two groups. The Koji amazake had 302 ± 15.5 mg/118 g of A. oryzae cells, which was not in the placebo. Compared with the placebo group, the koji amazake group showed a significant increase in weekly defecation frequency at 2 weeks (5.09 days vs. 4.14 days), 3 weeks (5.41 days vs. 4.18 days), and 4 weeks (5.09 days vs. 3.95 days), along with an increase in the weekly fecal weight at 4 weeks (724 g vs. 501 g). The intake of koji amazake did not induce significant intergroup differences in the fecal SCFA concentration, whereas it significantly decreased the relative abundance of Blautia and significantly increased that of Bacteroides at 3 weeks. Therefore, koji amazake intake improved defecation frequency, and A. oryzae cells played potentially important roles as functional ingredients.

Effectiveness of Antidiarrheal Unripe Wooden Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) in Male Balb-C/Mice Induced with Escherichia coli

The survey results in Indonesia in 2017 showed that the diarrhea morbidity rate for all age groups was 6.897.463. In Indonesia, unripe wooden banana has been used empirically as an antidiarrheal by the people in Senduro village, Lumajang, East Java. The study aimed to prove the antidiarrheal effect of ethanol extract of unripe wooden banana (Musa paradisiaca L) in male Balb-C/mice induced by Escherichia coli bacteria.This study was a laboratory experimental study with post-test only control group design that used 40 micedivided into 8 groups, namely 1group without treatment (normal mice) and 7 groups induced by Escherichia coli(1negative controlgroup given CMC-Na, 3 groups positive controls were given Loperamid HCL 0,5 mg/kgBB, 1 mg/kgBB and 2 mg/kgBB and 3 treatment groups were given extracts 100 mg/kgBB, 200 mg/kgBB and 400 mg/kgBB). Observation of animals in this study was carried out for 4 hours. Data were analyzed of frequency of diarrhea, fecal weight and fecal consistency used Kruskal Wallis and the results showed significant differences between treatment groups (p <0.05). From the results of the Mann-Whitney test, the ethanol extract of unripe wooden banana with a dose of 100 mg/kgBB was notsignificantly different (p> 0.05) with the control group of Loperamid HCL dose of 0.5 mg/kgBB. Unripe wooden banana had been shown to have antidiarrheal activity at an extract dose of 100 mg/kg BB in terms of the parameters of fecal consistency, frequency of diarrhea, and fecal weight. The results showed that the higher the dose, the better antidiarrheal activity

Effectiveness of Antidiarrheal Unripe Wooden Banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) in Male Balb-C/Mice Induced with Escherichia coli

The survey results in Indonesia in 2017 showed that the diarrhea morbidity rate for all age groups was 6.897.463. In Indonesia, unripe wooden banana has been used empirically as an antidiarrheal by the people in Senduro village, Lumajang, East Java. The study aimed to prove the antidiarrheal effect of ethanol extract of unripe wooden banana (Musa paradisiaca L.) in male Balb-C/mice induced by Escherichia coli bacteria. This study was a laboratory experimental study with post-test only control group design that used 40 mice divided into 8 groups, namely 1 group without treatment (normal mice) and 7 groups induced by Escherichia coli (1 negative control group given CMC-Na, 3 groups positive controls were given Loperamid HCL 0,5 mg/kgBW, 1 mg/kgBW and 2 mg/kgBW and 3 treatment groups were given extracts 100 mg/kgBW, 200 mg/kgBW and 400 mg/kgBW). Observation of animals in this study was carried out for 4 hours. Data were analyzed of frequency of diarrhea, fecal weight and fecal consistency used Kruskal Wallis and the results showed significant differences between treatment groups (p <0.05). From the results of the Mann-Whitney test, the ethanol extract of unripe wooden banana with a dose of 100 mg/kgBW was not significantly different (p> 0.05) with the control group of Loperamid HCL dose of 0.5 mg/kgBW. Unripe wooden banana had been shown to have antidiarrheal activity at an extract dose of 100 mg/kg BW in terms of the parameters of fecal consistency, frequency of diarrhea, and fecal weight. The results showed that the higher the dose, the better antidiarrheal activity.

Highly Cross-linked Starch and Modified Cellulose as Dietary Fibers, and their Acclimation Effect on Hydrogen Excretion in Rats

Background: Highly cross-linked phosphate starch (HCPS) and modified cellulose (MC) were newly developed and modified dietary fiber materials to prevent lifestyle-related diseases. Objective: We investigated the physiological property of HCPS and MC to be a dietary fiber. Methods: HCPS was made from tapioca starch by polymerization in the presence of 0.5% phosphoric acid, and MC was made from cellulose, maltodextrin and karaya gum by high-speed mixing. In the present study, rats were raised on a diet containing 10% or 15% HCPS, or 10% MC for four weeks, and physical effects such as growth, organ weights, blood biomedical parameters, fecal weight, and hydrogen excretion were recorded. Results: Growth was normal among all groups, and there was no significant difference in total body weight gain. Some organ weights including the adipose tissues differed slightly among groups, but no difference based on diet composition was observed. Blood biomedical parameters were normal and not significantly different among groups. Cecum tissue and content weights were significantly greater in the 15% HCPS, 10% MC, and 10% fructooligosaccharide (FOS) groups than in the control group, and fecal weight was significantly increased in the 10% and 15% HCPS, and 10% MC groups compared with the control group. Hydrogen excretion over 24 h was negligible when HCPS was administered orally to rats non-acclimatized to HCPS but increased significantly in rats acclimatized to 10% HCPS diet for one week. Conclusion: We conclude that both HCPS and MC could be suitable for use as low energy bulking materials.

Protective Effects of Natrii Sulfas on Cerebral Focal Ischemia Induced by MCAO in Rats

This study examined the effect of Natrii sulfas, a treatment for stroke patients suffering constipation in Oriental medicine, on the physiological indices and brain edema of rats. Brain edema was induced by a middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), Natrii sulfas was administered after the MCAO. At 3, 6, 15, 24, and 48 hours after reperfusion, the physiological indices such as the fecal weight, urine volume and water content in the stools were assessed. The edema index was measured 48 hours after reperfusion. At 48 hours, the expressions of iNOS, MMP9, VEGF, GFAP, Bax, Bcl-2, c-Fos, and HSP72 positive astrocytes were observed on the brain tissues by immunohistochemistry. Natrii sulfas significantly improved the decrease in fecal weight, urine volume and water content in the stool caused by the ischemic insult (p < 0.05) and attenuated the brain edema caused by the ischemia insult (p < 0.05). Natrii sulfas significantly down-regulated iNOS and MMP9 expressions and attenuated the astrocyte swelling due to brain edema in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex of MCAO rats. Natrii sulfas reduced the excess Bax and HSP72 expressions in ischemic brain, which was statistically significant in the penumbra of the cerebral cortex but not in the caudate putamen. These results suggest Natrii sulfas has a protective effect on ischemia-induced brain edema and improves the physiological symptoms.