• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.931-936
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• 2006

This study sought to investigate any additive or interactive effects that soy isoflavones may have on the ecosystem of the gut, which is influenced by fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in colon-cancer model rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats treated with 1,2-dimethylhydrazine were given experimental diets containing 0, 3, 6, or 9% FOS with or without 0.1% soy isoflavone for 12 weeks. In addition to the effects of FOS dosage on the gut ecosystem, dietary supplementation with soy isoflavone reduced the number of colonic aberrant crypts (ACs). The fecal weight, fecal pH, and gut transit time significantly decreased in a dose-dependent manner in rats fed FOS and the fecal concentration of bifidobacteria was higher in rats fed FOS than in control rats. The fecal output of total short-chain fatty acids, acetate, and propionate was significantly increased by the presence of FOS and was negatively correlated with the number of ACs, whereas the fecal output of butyrate showed no significant correlation with FOS dosage. The addition of soy isoflavone to the diet did not result in any significant differences in gut ecosystem parameters. Therefore, we conclude that the suppressive effect of soy isoflavone on ACs was not associated with the intestinal ecosystem, which was significantly altered by the dosage of FOS.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.599-602
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• 2006

The effects of ethanol extract from radish seeds on gastrointestinal function in rats were investigated. Rats were divided into 2 groups of 8 rats each, the basal group and the radish seed ethanol extract group. The radish seed ethanol extract group had a significantly decreased gastrointestinal transit time, but a significantly increased fecal weight compared with the basal group. The radish seed ethanol extract group also had significantly higher duodenal villus height and greater colonic mucosal thickness than the basal group. The radish seed ethanol extract group had a greater proliferation of 5-bromo-2-deoxy-uridine (BrdU) immunoreactive cells in the gastric mucosa as well as in the mucosa and submucosa of the small and large intestine than did the basal group. Thus, radish seed ethanol extract may be useful in preventing constipation based on the observation of an increase in fecal weight, a decrease in gastrointestinal transit time, and positive changes in the intestinal mucosa.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.219-230
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• 1993

This research aims to study the changes In gastrointestinal function attributed to aging In human. The thresholds for recognition and detection of flavors became elevated and salivary gland acinar cells decreased in the old age. But most esophageal function remained relatively Intact. Although gastric emptying time has been slowed with aging, the total intestinal transit time did not differ. Atropic gastritis due to H. pylori in old man decreased secretion of acid and Intrinsic factor and absorbability of calcium and iron. Pancreatic secretion is droned in older persons. Prevalence of gallstones rised with age. Liver size and portal blood flow decreased significantly with age. Mucosal surface area has been reported to be slightly diminished in the aging man. Glucose transporters decreased and Insulin tolerance Increased. Absorption of aromatic amino acid is diminished with age. Dietary protein In that aging human increased fecal nitrogen excretion. Vitamin A tolerance increased. Vitamin D receptor concentration decreased and resistance to 1,25-(OH)2D3 action increased. Permeability of aging small Intestine Increased. Zinc balance dirt not differ Copper absorption appeared not to be significantly affected by age. Neurotensin secretion decreased thus slowed colonic peristaltic movements and Intestinal mucosal growth.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.640-646
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• 2018

Cassia obtusifolia L. is commonly used as medicinal foods to treat gastrointestinal disease in many countries. This study evaluated the anti-constipation effects of ethanolic extract of Cassia obtusifolia L. in rats with loperamide-induced constipation. Diffferent concentrations of ethanolic extract of Cassia obtusifolia L. (0, 10, 250, and 500 mg/kg) was administered to rat orally once daily for 3 weeks following loperamide treatment. Six-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats (N=25) were randomly divided into five groups: normal control and experimental groups and injected loperamide intraperitoneally to induce constipation in the latter four experimental groups. Following the induction of loperamide-induced constipation, a marked decrease was observed in the fecal weight and water content discharged for over 1 week and intestinal transit time while an increase was observed in the number of fecal pellets remaining in the colonic lumen as compared with the normal control group. These conditions were significantly alleviated following the administration of the two doses (250 and 500 mg/kg) of ethanolic extract of Cassia obtusifolia L. when compared to the loperamide-treated (constipation control) group. More specifically, the number of fecal pellets in the colon was 3, 5, 4, 2.8, and 1.2 in the five groups, respectively and the corresponding GIT ratio was 70.77, 56.59, 58.67, 66.81, and 72.10%, respectively. The fecal water content, transit distance, and GIT ratio in the high-dose treatment group were significantly higher than that in the medium-dose treatment group, but a significant decrease in the number of fecal pellets in the colon. In conclusion, the Cassia obtusifolia L. extract is suggested to have beneficial effects as a therapeutic and preventive strategy to alleviate constipation and to relieve the symptoms of constipation such as pain, flatulence, distention, bloating, and unpleasant taste.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.55-61
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• 2008

We investigated the combinatorial effects of different doses of dietary soy isoflavones (SI) and fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in a rat model of colon cancer. We hypothesized that increased bioavailability of SI metabolites due to dietary FOS may increase production of bioactive equol and affect colon carcinogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. Sprague-Dawley male rats were injected with 12-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) and were providec experimental diets that contained 0, 10, 50, 150, or 500 mg SI per kg of diet and 6% FOS for 12 weeks. The number of aberrant crypt foci (ACF) and the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in colonic tissues were significantly decreased in the 6% FOS-fed groups compared to the control group. Gut transit time and fecal pH were significantly lower, and fecal concentrations of bifidobacteria were increased with 6% FOS. However, dietary SI supplementation in combination with 6% dietary FOS did not affect ACF formation or COX-2 expression. Plasma equol concentrations were dose-dependently increased by supplementation of SI up to 500 mg/kg of diet. In conclusion, SI supplementation up to 500 mg/kg of diet appeared to have no additive beneficial effects in rats with chemically-induced colon cancer that were fed 6% FOS, although plasma equol was dose-dependently increased.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.720-726
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate effects of raw sea tangle products on idiopathic constipation. A total of thirty-eight women participated voluntarily in this study. They were placed into one of four groups by their total colonic transit time (TCTT) to make the four groups have the same TCTT. In the first trial, the subjects in Control group were fed 3 times of 150 mL of mineral water per day for 2 weeks, those in +Control group were fed a kind of stool softener as well as the same mineral water for 3 times, those in STT group were fed 3 times of 150 mL of sea tangle tea and those in STB group were fed 3 times of 150 mL of sea tangle beverage. After 6 weeks, a second trial was performed for another 2 weeks. Although the TCTT of the group exposed to of KolomarkTM was not significantly reduced, the subjects in STT group answered that their evacuation activities were significantly improved; evacuation frequency was increased, stool hardness was reduced, evacuation straining was lessened, stool amount was increased, incomplete sense of evacuation was lessened, and major evacuation time was improved like those in +Control group. The results imply that it is worthy to develop some products of raw sea tangle such as STT, which are effective in treating or preventing constipation.