Search for Antiageing Factors in the Okinawa Diet

冲绳是日本最长寿的县。我们关注冲绳饮食，从传统食用植物中寻找一些抗衰老因子，如生物保护能力和疾病预防成分。这份报告由四个主题汇编而成。首先，对冲绳传统上用作食品和食品保存的热带植物叶片的抗氧化活性进行了筛选。从日本芍药（Peucedanum joponicum， BOTANBOUFU）的叶片中分离并测定了主要抗氧化剂黄酮类化合物和绿原酸类似物。其次，从古阿斯勒姆（Asplenium antium， OOTANIWATARI）中鉴定出多个具有较强抑菌活性的化合物。第三，对冲绳一些蔬菜和水果的提取物进行了预防血栓形成的研究。柑桔中的多甲氧基黄酮类化合物，如褐皮素和橘皮素，具有显著的抗血小板活性。最后，利用自然杀伤细胞（NK）建立了免疫增强效果评价体系。这种方法必须广泛适用于检查预防癌症和其他疾病的因素。总之，这项研究资助为老年人的抗衰老和改善人类健康取得了有价值和有希望的成果。

Okinawa is the most longevity prefecture in Japan. Our attention has been paid on the diet in Okinawa to find out some antiageing factors such as biologically protecting ability and diseases preventing components from edible plants traditionally used. This report is compiled from four subjects. First, antioxidant activity was screened for tropical plants leaves traditionally used as food and for food preservation in Okinawa. Remarkably active antioxidants, some flavonoids and chlorogenic acid analogues as major antioxidants, were isolated and determined from the leaves of Peucedanum joponicum, BOTANBOUFU in Japanese. Second, several compounds were structurally identified in Asplenium antiquum, OOTANIWATARI, showing strong antimicrobial activity against bacteria. Third, the extracts of some vegetables and fruits in Okinawa were examined for preventing thrombosis. Polymethoxyflavonoids, such as nobiletin and tangeretin, in Citrus depressa Hayata showed significant antiplatelet activity. Last, a system to evaluate the immunoenhancing effects was established using natural killer (NK) cells. This method must be widely useful to examine for prevention factors against cancer and other diseases. In conclusion, valuable and promising results were obtained for antiageing and improvement for human health for elderly people by this research grant.