Location: Food Processing and Sensory Quality Research
Project Number: 6054-41000-112-007-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 9, 2025
End Date: Sep 8, 2028
Objective:
Cooperator will evaluate the beneficial effects of activated foods and isolated compounds from rice, soybean, and sugarcane using both in-vitro and in-vivo models.
Approach:
In vitro cell assays will screen plant extracts and isolated compounds for beneficial health effects. Methods will determine if activated foods can target gene pathways that would lead to improved health. Selected plant extracts and activated foods will be used in in vivo animal models to determine effectiveness in animal systems.
Determine appropriate tests and model systems to test plant phytoalexins for applications in animal model systems. Conduct research on plant phytoalexins as described below:
Soybean seeds and pods will be treated with either a yeast extract, Aspergillus sojae inoculum, or UV-B irradiation for induction of glyceollin, a group of phytoalexins that have potential anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties. The seeds will then be stored for 48-72 hours, dried (optional step to be determined at the time), and defatted (Pilot Plant). Development of new methods for induction of glyceollins will focus on the use of high powered UV-B irradiation. The addition of yeast or A. sojae inoculum could alter flavor of a processed soy food and UV-B treatments have the potential to eliminate this problem. Soybean seeds (cut, chopped and sliced) treated with UV-B irradiation will be compared with yeast and A. sojae treated seeds for glyceollin content, and optimal protocols will be developed to purify maximal amounts of glyceollin.
Lab procedures indicate that A. sojae induces the largest amount of glyceollin when compared to other methods. Initial scale up of soybean seeds will be treated with A. sojae and used for the isolation of 10 g of glyceollin mixture. Development of new procedures will be conducted using commercially available preparative HPLC.
In vitro cell assays will be used to investigate the effects of the glyceollins on enhancing glucose uptake in adipocyte cells and stimulating GLP-1 production in human colon cells. The glyceollins will be incorporated into medicinal food products and evaluated as a potential therapeutic treatment for cancer and diabetes.