The objectives of this research were to evaluate the policosanol profiles and adenosine-5′-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) properties in the seedlings of Korean oat (Avena sativa L.) cultivars at different growth times. Nine policosanols in the silylated hexane extracts were detected using GC-MS and their contents showed considerable differences; specifically, hexacosanol (6) exhibited the highest composition, constituting 88–91% of the total average content. Moreover, the average hexacosanol (6) contents showed remarkable variations of 337.8 (5 days) → 416.8 (7 days) → 458.9 (9 days) → 490.0 (11 days) → 479.2 (13 days) → 427.0 mg/100 g (15 days). The seedlings collected at 11 days showed the highest average policosanol content (541.7 mg/100 g), with the lowest content being 383.4 mg/100 g after 5 days. Interestingly, policosanols from oat seedlings grown for 11 days induced the most prevalent phenotype of AMPK activation in HepG2 cells, indicating that policosanols are an excellent AMPK activator.

Barley sprouts, the germinated and grown leaves of barley, contain various bioactive compounds, including policosanol, saponarin, and lutonarin. The ingestion of barley sprouts may benefit canine weight management, potentially owing to the anti-obesity properties of bioactive compounds. However, there is limited evidence on the efficacy and safety of barley sprout supplementation in dogs. Therefore, through this study, we assessed the impact of barley-sprout-supplemented diet on body weight and health markers in healthy adult beagles over a 16-week period. The results showed a 7.2% reduction in body weight in dogs fed the barley sprout diet. Hematology, complete blood cell count, and blood biochemistry analyses confirmed that all parameters remained within normal ranges, with no significant differences observed between the control and experimental groups. Although the levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, and insulin remained stable, leptin, a hormone associated with body fat, significantly decreased. Further analysis of alterations in the gut microbiota following barley sprout supplementation revealed no significant differences between the control and experimental groups with respect to alpha and beta diversity analysis. The shift at the phylum level, with a decrease in Firmicutes and an increase in Bacteroidetes, resulted in a reduced Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. Additionally, the abundance of the Ruminococcus gnavus group was high in the experimental group. Functional predictions indicated an enhancement in carbohydrate, amino acid, and cofactor and vitamin metabolism. These findings suggest that a barley sprouts diet is safe for dogs and may offer benefits for weight management through favorable alterations in body weight, hormone levels, and gut microbiota composition.

Ji Yeong Yang, Hyun Young Kim, Mi Ja Lee, Woo Duck Seo, June-Yeol Choi, and Seung-Yeob Song*. Korean J. Breed. Sci. 2022;54:195-202. https://doi.org/10.9787/KJBS.2022.54.3.195

Hye-Young Seo, Eun Ji Suh, Eun Bin Choi, Mi Ja Lee, Han Gyeol Lee, Woo Duck Seo, Jung In Kim, and Seung-Yeob Song. Korean J. Breed. Sci. 2024;56:11-8. https://doi.org/10.9787/KJBS.2024.56.1.11