Animal Studies
related to Fermented Vegetable Extract OM-X
We performed not only human clinical studies, but also many laboratory animal studies with the fermented vegetable extract OM-X (OM-X extract) and keep accumulating more data every year. The obtained study results are presented to the academy and published in academic journals. OM-X is a functional fermented extract that receives scholarly attention from foreign countries.
Anti-Allergy Action
Natural Product Communications. 10, 1597-1601 (2015)
The fermented vegetable extract OM-X (OM-X extract) showed an inhibitory effect on model cells and mice with type I allergy.
Objective
We conducted a study to evaluate the anti-allergic property of the OM-X extract by using cell and mouse models which is an index of the type I allergy, including asthma and hay fever.
Methods
In order to evaluate the anti-allergic effect of the OM-X extract, we examined the action of the OM-X extract on the degranulation on rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) which is a model of mast cell and on passive cutaneous anaphylaxis reaction (PCA) by using mouse models of the type I allergy.
Results
<The inhibitory effect against the degranulation of RBL-2H3 cells>
The degranulation that provokes allergic reactions was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner of the OM-X extract.
<The inhibitory effect against the type I allergy (mice)>
In the aspect of PCA reaction in mouse models of the type I allergy, the degree of pigmentation decreased and the allergic reactions were suppressed by an ingestion of the OM-X extract.
Muscular Endurance Improvement
Annual Conference of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology and Agrochemistry (2015)
The fermented vegetable extract OM-X (OM-X extract) is effective in prolonging swimming duration and enhancing the muscle endurance of mice.
Objective
We examined mice to see if they can extend their swimming duration, which is an index of their athletic ability (muscle endurance), by giving them the OM-X extract.
Methods
We divided the test mice into 2 groups: with and without the administration of the OM-X extract, and recorded their swimming duration. The mice in the administered group received the OM-X extract for four consecutive weeks. Both groups underwent the swimming test once a week for four weeks. We set their swimming duration recorded at the first week as 100% and evaluated results of each test.
Results
The group without the OM-X extract decreased their swimming duration to approx 40% at the second week and the duration became around 50% at the fourth week. In contrast, the swimming duration of the group with the OM-X extract became about 65% at the second week which was significantly extended compared with the group without the OM-X extract. At the fourth week, the swimming duration of the group with the OM-X extract extended 2 times longer than the other group. This record showed a longer swimming duration than their records measured at the first week. On the basis of these results, the OM-X extract contributed to enhance the muscle endurance of mice.
Anti-Fatigue Action
Annual Conference of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology and Agrochemistry (2015)
The fermented vegetable extract OM-X (OM-X extract) is effective in the reduction of substances causing fatigue among mouse models for fatigue test.
Objective
We measured the levels of the substances causing fatigue and the gene expression that is involved in the metabolism of ammonia by ingestion of the OM-X extract among mouse models for fatigue test.
Methods
We divided test mice into 2 groups: with and without the OM-X extract, and both groups were given a forced swimming in order to make them be a model for fatigue test. Then, we examined the capacity of lipid metabolism in their blood and liver, and the gene expression of ammonia metabolism in their ornithine cycle.
Results
The results from the examination on the capacity of lipid metabolism in the liver of both groups showed that the level of triglycerides in the blood and the liver of the OM-X group has significantly decreased. There was no change in the level of glucose in the blood and glycogen in the muscles and the liver. In the ornithine cycle, the gene expression (Cps1,Arg1) that is involved in metabolism of ammonia, which is know as a fatigue-causing substance, was significantly increased in the OM-X group. These results suggested that the OM-X extract is effective against the fatigue factors.
Anti-Inflammatory Action
J Functional Foods. 10, 117-127 (2014)
The anti-inflammatory effect of the fermented vegetable extract OM-X (OM-X extract) suppressed the inflammatory reaction in the intestinal tract
on a mouse model of Citrobacter rodentium infection.
Objective
We examined the anti-inflammatory effect of the OM-X extract by using mouse models with bowel inflammation induced by the infection with Citrobacter rodentium which is a mouse pathogen.
Methods
We prepared mouse models with bowel inflammation induced by Citrobacter rodentium in both groups with and without administration of the OM-X extract in order to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of the OM-X extract. After completion of the dosing period, we observed the subject groups with respect to enteritis scores and gene expressions of immune cells which are involved in inflammation and anti-inflammatory activities.
Results
The group given the OM-X extract and infected with the pathogen showed a tendency to reduce the inflammation scores.
Once the subjects are infected with pathogens, they trigger overactive immune responses which in turn invoke inflammation. The group given the OM-X extract before the infection of the pathogen showed a significant increment in FoxP3 expression: the index of Treg cells which play an important role in anti-inflammatory activities.
Moreover, the expression of IL-10 which is an anti-inflammatory cytokine significantly increased.
Improvement of Leaky Gut Symptom
J Functional Foods. 10, 117-127 (2014)
The fermented vegetable extract OM-X (OM-X extract) is effective for the recovery of tight junctions and epithelial cells in the intestine of the infected mice with the pathogen.
Objective
We examined the contribution of the OM-X extract for the recovery of epithelial cells in the intestine of mouse models with a leaky gut symptom induced by the infection with mouse pathogen.
Methods
We destroyed the epithelial cells in the mice intestines and orally administered Citrobacter rodentium in order to prepare the mouse models with a leaky gut symptom. Then, we confirmed the conditions of the epithelial cells through the examinations on the gene expression that is involved in the tight junctions and the cellular proliferative potential by pigmenting the epithelial cells.
Results
The group that was given the OM-X extract showed a significant increment of the gene expression of ZO-1 and ZO-2 proteins associated with tight junctions where they join two cells together in the intestines. At the time of infection with the pathogen, the control group showed little pigmentation on the cells indicating the cellular proliferative potential, but the group that was given the OM-X extract showed a lot of pigmentation on the cells. These results suggested that the destructed epithelial cells in the intestines recovered over the active cellular proliferation.
Prevention of the Deterioration of Liver Functions
The 138th Annual Meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan (2018)
The deterioration of the liver function of the mice incapable of synthesizing vitamin C within their body was prevented by the administration of the fermented vegetable extract OM-X.
Objective
We examined the protective effect of OM-X extract on liver function by using mice incapable of synthesizing vitamin C within their bodies (SMP 30/GNL knockout mice), which are known to have functional liver deterioration.
Methods
The antioxidant activity in the body of the mice incapable of synthesizing vitamin C was reduced and the level of their liver function worsened. The liver function markers in the blood were measured in the group with OM-X. A metabolome analysis for the liver was also performed and an encompassing analysis was performed on the genes related to liver function.
Results
The mice incapable of synthesizing vitamin C internally showed a significant increase in transaminases (AST, ALT), which are indicators of the deterioration of liver function. On the other hand, the rise of both levels of AST and ALT were significantly suppressed among the mice administrated with OM-X. Although, it is not shown in this graph, the result of the metabolome analysis of the liver proved that the administration of OM-X can prevent the reduction of antioxidant capacity and the ATP production in the body of the mice.
Prevention of the Reduction of Collagen Levels
Collaborative research with Hokkaido University of Scienc (2018)
Functional decline in the synthesis of type 1 and 17 collagens was prevented as a result of administering the fermented vegetable extract OM-X to the test mice.
Objective
When collagen is synthesized in the body, vitamin C takes an essential role. Therefore, this study used mice incapable of synthesizing vitamin C within their bodies and examined the influence of the administration of OM-X on the synthesis of collagen.
Methods
We used the mice incapable of synthesizing vitamin C within their bodies. Vitamin C was removed from their feed and OM-X was given to them for 8 weeks. Thereafter, the levels of type 1 and 17 collagen were measure and verified how the administration of OM-X influences the production of collagen in the mice.
Results
Type 1 collagen is mainly related to the elasticity of the skin. Type 17 collagen becomes a core of roots of hair and its insufficiency makes hairs thin or gray. Production of both type 1 and type 17 collagen decreased among the mice incapable of synthesizing vitamin C.
On the other hand, the decrease of type 1 collagen tended to be suppressed and the reduction of type 17 collagen was significantly prevented among the mice administrated with OM-X.
Improvement of Candidiasis
Joint research with The University of Lille, France (2014)
The fermented vegetable extract OM-X (OM-X extract) showed the capability to defend against Candida albicans in a mouse model.
Objective
We examined the property of the OM-X extract to defend against candidiasis by using mouse models which are inoculated with Candida albicans, a type of fungus causes an intestinal infection.
Methods
Candida albicans was orally administered in order to prepare the mouse models with candidiasis. Then, we set a group which was given the OM-X extract continuously before and after the inoculation with Candida (preventive treatment model) and a group which was given OM-X only after the inoculation with Candida (curative treatment model). We confirmed that the number of Candida infection and inflammatory scores in the miceʼs intestines.
Results
The inoculated group which did not receive the OM-X extract showed an increment of the number of Candida, but the inoculated groups that were given the OM-X extract for both preventive and curative treatments showed a reduction of the number of Candida. According to the result from the measurement of inflammatory scores in the intestines, the inoculated group with no administration of the OM-X extract showed high scores. On the other hand, both inoculated groups with the administration of OM-X extract showed significantly low scores. These results suggested that the levels of inflammation in the intestines of mice from the inoculated group with the administration of OM-X extract have been improved.
Improvement in Balance of Gut Microbiota
Joint research with Kinki University (2012)
The fermented vegetable extract OM-X (OM-X extract) is effective for the increase of the bifidobacteria and Butyrate-producing Clostridium ratio in feces of mice.
Objective
The study was conducted to see how the administration of the OM-X extract would alter the microbiota of mice by T-RFLP analysis which assesses microbial community.
Methods
DNA was extracted from mice feces for T-RFLP analysis to see the changes in their microbiota. We assessed the effect of the OM-X extract by the comparison of microbiota before and after the administration.
Results
Compared with the data prior to the administration of the OM-X extract, the increase of Clostridium cluster XIVa was observed after the administration. Clostridium cluster XIVa is known as a butyrate-producing species, and it is predicted that the bacteria are involved in butyrate production which is one of important organic acids and responsible for cell proliferation, the anti-inflammatory action in the intestine etc. The study also showed an increase with bifidobacterium, which is known as good bacteria in the gut, after the OM-X administration. The result indicates that the administration of the OM-X extract altered the balance of gut microbiota.
