Recently, preventing the development of phenolic off-flavors ('phénole') has become a focus area in red wine production. Therefore, in this study, phénolé producing yeast strains were isolated during the red wine production process in Japan and were characterized. Eight yeast isolates were obtained from red wine samples collected from barrels. Using standard morphological and biochemical tests, these isolates were identified as strains belonging to the genus Brettanomyces. The isolates were inhibited by 0.6mg/ℓ molecular sulfur dioxide, and pasteurization was also found to be useful for sterilization. This is the first study to report the presence of Brettanomyces in the red wine making production process in Japan.

　We investigated the morphological characteristics and food functionalities of seven cultivar of Okinawan Welsh onions (Allium spp. 'Tsuken', 'Ginowan', 'Nakagusuku', 'Taketomi', 'Haneji', 'Bise', and 'Makabe') and cultivars of two other Welsh onions (Kujyo and Nagasaki of Kyoto and Nagasaki Prefectures, respectively) as controls. Further, their volatile aroma compounds were examined using gas chromatography (GC) and GC-mass spectrometry. Among the tested Welsh onions, only Tsuken, Ginowan, and Kujyo showed flower-bud formation with wide leaf sheath diameter (Type I). Among the Welsh onions, excluding the Type I cultivars, Nakagusuku, Taketomi, and Nagasaki were confirmed to have a dormant season (Type II), while the remaining three cultivars (Haneji, Bise, and Makabe) had no such dormant season (Type III). The volatile aroma compounds of all the tested cultivar samples consisted of four functional groups: primary thiols, sulfides, alcohols, and aldehydes. Two-dimensional principal component analysis was used to assess the relative concentrations of the four functional groups to classify the aroma characteristics; the classified compounds were found to be closely related to the morphological characteristics, except for those of Makabe. Further, to evaluate the food functionalities, the total polyphenol contents and antioxidant activities of the Welsh onions were determined. All the samples contained a polyphenol and showed antioxidant activities,; however, the activities had little association with each morphological characteristic of the seven cultivars.

　We investigated the inhibitory effects of Japanese apricot phenolic extract (JAPE) on d isaccharidase activity in samples obtained from the small intestine of rats and its suppressive effects on postprandial elevation of blood glucose levels in rats. JAPE inhibited maltase, glucoamylase, lactase but not sucrase, isomaltase, trehalase that were present in the samples from the small intestine. Kinetic analyses indicated that the inhibitory modes of JAPE were mixed/ non-competitive for maltase, uncompetitive for glucoamylase, and competitive for lactase. In the sugar load tests, postprandial blood glucose levels were significantly suppressed when maltose, sucrose, starch, but not glucose, was administered in combination with the JAPE to rats. The results indicated that the JAPE had no effect on glucose absorption and that the suppressive effects on blood glucose levels were caused by the inhibition of disaccharidase. The JAPE did not affect the amount of glucose absorption because AUC_0-120min was not altered by the JAPE. Hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives in JAPE may partly contribute to disaccharidase inhibition. These results suggest that JAPE could be useful as a food ingredient to reduce the risks of lifestyle diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity.

　Involvement of active vasoconstriction substances of sympathetic nervous system, endothelial cell dependent vasorelaxation substances and constriction substances of renin-angiotensin system in blood pressure suppression by oral administration of Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dubia) fruit juice was investigated. Wister-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR were used and divided into WKYW and SHRW groups given by water, and WKYC and SHRC groups given by Camu-Camu fruit juice 0.25mℓ (total polyphenol content 337μg, Vitamin C content 2.25mg). When measuring blood pressure by insertion method of carotid artery catheter, norepinephrine (NE) losartan and L-NAMA were orally administered and involvement of angiotensin II and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in blood pressure suppression was evaluated. In administration of orally Losartan, blood pressure in SHRC was less increased than in SHRW, suggesting that those except for angiotensin ATII involved blood pressure suppression. Blood pressure of SHRC was significantly increased as compared with that of SHRW. Response of removed thoracic aorta to NE, acethylcoline, phenylphrine (PHE) in Kerbs ringer liquid was examined. Vasoconstrictive response elicited from active substances of sympathetic nervous systems showed more desensitization in SHRC than SHRW and vasorelaxation response elicited from endothelial dependent relaxation substances was accelerated. Blood pressure measurement by insertion method of catheter and tension measurement of removed thoracic aorta revealed the enhancement of eNOS in SHR by oral administration of Camu-Camu fruit juice.