Ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1, R1, Rd, and Re are major constituents of Panax notoginseng, a famous traditional Chinese medicinal herb, which has both stimulative and inhibitory effects on the central nervous system (CNS). The monoamine hypothesis proposes that depression is a result of the depletion of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) in addition to the activation of monoamine oxidase in the CNS. The purpose of this study was to determine whether P. notoginseng Saponin (PNS) has an antidepressant activity. We investigated the antidepressant-like activities of Rg1, Rb1, R1, Rd, and Re in mice, using two animal models of depression. In addition, we analyzed the neurochemicals by the chronic unpredictable mild stress test. Our results showed that Rb1, Rd, and Re treatment at 10 mg kg-1 significantly reduced the duration of immobility in both the tail suspension and forced swimming tests. Rb1, Rd, and Re increases in 5- HT and NE levels at 10 mg kg-1 in both the frontal cortex and hippocampus. Dopamine levels increased in the hippocampus and the striatum. Moreover, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels were found increased in the hippocampus. These findings suggest that the antidepressant effects of Rb1, Rd, and Re may be related to the increase in 5-HT and NE in the CNS, and through the alterations in the synthesis or metabolism of dopamine.

The antioxidant ability of capsules containing oats avenanthramides on human body was evaluated in present study.Healthy people were randomized to supplementation with oats-derived avenanthramides capsules or placebo for 1 mon.Plasma lipid peroxides and antioxidant status were measured. For 8 capsules (containing 3.12 mg avenanthramides)groups, the levels of serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reduced glutathione hormone (GSH) were significantlyincreased by 8.4 and 17.9%, respectively (P<0.05), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level significantly decreased by 28.1%.The total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were lowered by 11.1,28.1, and 15.1%, respectively (P<0.05). The high density blood lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels in the same treatwas increased by 13.2%. Based on our research, it can be concluded that oats extract containing avenanthramidespossessed a high antioxidative activity on humans. It indicated that oat avenanthramides could be used to preventhyperlipemic and angiocardiopathy.

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is rich in D-chiro-inositol (DCI), vitexin, and isovitexin, which has beneficial effects on antidiabetic and inhibits the formation of advanced glycation end-products. In this study, near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to predict the contents of DCI, vitexin, and isovitexin in mung bean. The spectra data were linearized with those determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The models for predicting the DCI, vitexin, and isovitexin contents in mung bean were developed using partial least-squares (PLS) algorithm. Cross-validation procedures indicated good correlations between HPLC data and NIRS predictions (R2=0.90 for DCI, R2=0.81 for vitexin, and R2=0.90 for isovitexin). The predictive contents of DCI, vitexin, and isovitexin ranged from 2.082 to 3.084%, 1.277 to 1.307%, and 0.5998 to 0.6286%, respectively. The results showed that NIRS, a well-established and widely applied technique, could be applied to rapid detection of DCI, vitexin, and isovitexin contents in mung bean.

Mung bean (Vigna radiata L.) is rich in bioactive compounds including D-chiro-inositol (DCI), vitexin, and isovitexin, which have beneficial effects on patients with diabetes. To find a better source for these valuable chemicals, we have collected 110 varieties of mung bean seed samples and 8 mung bean products to determine the levels of these bioactive compounds. We also measured the DCI content in mung bean sprouts at different germination stages. Content of DCI, vitexin, and isovitexin in all mung bean varieties ranged from 0.43 to 5.79, 0.12 to 3.00, and 0.03 to 1.16 mg g-1, respectively. The varieties of C0001321, C0003522, and C0004485 have the highest DCI, vitexin, and isovitexin contents, respectively. The mung bean products in the market contained relatively lower level of these bioactive components. Contents of DCI, vitexin, and isovitexin in all mung bean products ranged from 0.119 to 0.717, 0 to 0.547, and 0 to 0.923 mg g-1, respectively. During the 112 h of germination test, DCI level steadily increased at first stage and reached the highest level at 80 h of germination (4.79 mg g-1). These results provide useful information for the selection of suitable varieties and proper germination stages to obtain functional ingredients from mung beans.