title: Effects of young barley leaf powder on gastrointestinal functions in rats and its efficacy-related physicochemical properties.
abstract: Young barley leaf is consumed as a popular green-colored drink, which is named "Aojiru" in Japan. In the present study, we examined effects of young barley leaf powder (BL) on gastrointestinal transit time (GTT) and fecal moisture and weight in comparison with wheat bran (WB) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. In addition, an attempt was made to identify BL components responsible for these effects by using various fractions of BL. Additionally, we examined the water-holding capacity and setting volume of BL in vitro. We also examined the granular structures of BL with a scanning electron microscope. As a result, BL supplementation in the diet increased the fecal weight and shortened GTT. Our results demonstrate that the active component responsible for the effect on increasing the fecal volume in BL is the water-insoluble dietary fiber fraction and that this effect is thought to be caused by stimulation of the gut tract by the pH lowering. Furthermore, the high laxative action of BL was thought to be ascribable to the high water-holding capacity due to the complicated structures of BL.
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Toyo Shinyaku Co. Ltd., 7-28 Yayoigaoka, Tosu-shi, Saga 841-0005, Japan.
authors.forename: Motoya
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-0029-1069
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeguchi
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Toyo Shinyaku Co. Ltd., 7-28 Yayoigaoka, Tosu-shi, Saga 841-0005, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahito
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsubata
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Toyo Shinyaku Co. Ltd., 7-28 Yayoigaoka, Tosu-shi, Saga 841-0005, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4622-4590
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Toyo Shinyaku Co. Ltd., 7-28 Yayoigaoka, Tosu-shi, Saga 841-0005, Japan.
authors.forename: Tomoyasu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kamiya
authors.affiliation: Research and Development Division, Toyo Shinyaku Co. Ltd., 7-28 Yayoigaoka, Tosu-shi, Saga 841-0005, Japan.
authors.forename: Kinya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takagaki
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University, 111 Kuboki, Soja-shi, Okayama 719-1197, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.affiliation: Department of Health and Nutrition, Osaka Aoyama University, 2-11-1 Niina, Minoh-shi, Osaka 562-8580, Japan.
authors.forename: Yohko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sugawa-Katayama
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University, 111 Kuboki, Soja-shi, Okayama 719-1197, Japan.
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tsuji
references.citation: Pharmacognosy Res. 2012 Jan;4(1):22-6
references.pmid: 22224057
references.citation: J Nutr. 1979 Mar;109(3):388-96
references.pmid: 430240
references.citation: J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 1993 Jun;39(3):279-88
references.pmid: 8229319
references.citation: Am J Gastroenterol. 1989 Aug;84(8):888-91
references.pmid: 2547312
references.citation: Lancet. 1972 Dec 30;2(7792):1408-12
references.pmid: 4118696
references.citation: Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2013;2013:137871
references.pmid: 24348688
references.citation: Diabetes Metab. 2002 Apr;28(2):107-14
references.pmid: 11976562
references.citation: Br Med J. 1973 Nov 17;4(5889):392-4
references.pmid: 4749759
references.citation: Br J Nutr. 2003 Apr;89(4):445-53
references.pmid: 12654162
references.citation: Br J Nutr. 1983 Sep;50(2):189-95
references.pmid: 6311242
references.citation: Dig Dis Sci. 1999 Apr;44(4):744-8
references.pmid: 10219832
references.citation: Jpn J Pharmacol. 2002 Jun;89(2):142-8
references.pmid: 12120756
references.citation: Br J Nutr. 2010 Aug;104 Suppl 2:S1-63
references.pmid: 20920376
references.citation: Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 Apr;33(4):754-9
references.pmid: 7361693
references.citation: Nutr Res Pract. 2010 Dec;4(6):470-6
references.pmid: 21286404
references.citation: Yakugaku Zasshi. 1985 Nov;105(11):1052-7
references.pmid: 3835251
references.citation: Am J Clin Nutr. 1980 Sep;33(9):1932-9
references.pmid: 6251711