Albizia julibrissin Ameliorates Memory Loss Induced by Insomnia in Drosophila.

In clinical practice in Taiwan, Albizia julibrissin is the most prescribed Chinese herbal medicine for insomnia. Short-term insomnia and hypnotic use both attenuate cognitive functions, especially learning memory. In previous studies, A. julibrissin exhibits sedative activity, antidepressant-like effects, and protection of learning and memory against amnesia. However, whether A. julibrissin ameliorates memory loss caused by short-term sleep deprivation is not clear. We utilized the sleep-deprived Drosophila model and olfactory associative learning-memory assay to test the effects of A. julibrissin on sleep-deprivation induced memory loss. We found that A. julibrissin ameliorated 3-hour memory but not 1-hour memory or instant learning. The findings might be applied to an anticipated short-term sleep disturbance.

Preventive Effects of Velvet Antler (Cervus elaphus) against Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury in Mice by Inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB Activation and Inducing AMPK/Nrf2 Pathways.

Velvet antler (Cervus elaphus) is a typical traditional animal medicine. It is considered to have various pharmacological effects including stimulation of the immune system, increase in the physical strength, and enhancement of sexual function. This paper aims to investigate the aqueous extract of velvet antler (AVA) in the mouse models of LPS-induced ALI. Inhibition of NO, TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, and IL-10 productions contributes to the attenuation of LPS-induced lung inflammation by AVA. A 5-day pretreatment of AVA prevented histological alterations and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity in lung tissues. AVA significantly reduced the material (total number of cells and proteins) in the BALF. Western blot analysis revealed that the expression of iNOS and COX-2 and phosphorylation of IκB-α and MAPKs proteins are blocked in LPS-stimulated macrophages as well as LPS-induced lung injury in mice. Consistent with this concept, the phosphorylation of CaMKKß, LKB1, AMPK, Nrf2, and HO-1 was activated after AVA treatment. The results from this study indicate AVA has anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and AVA is a potential model for the development of health food. In addition, its pathways may be at least partially associated with inhibiting MAPK/NF-κB activation and upregulating AMPK/Nrf2 pathways and the regulation of antioxidant enzyme activity.

Actinidia callosa var. callosa suppresses metastatic potential of human hepatoma cell SK-Hep1 by inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase-2 through PI3K/Akt and MAPK signaling pathways.

BACKGROUND: Cancer cell metastasis involving multi-step procedures and cytophysiological property changes may make difficult in the clinical management and death rate increasing. RESULTS: In this study, we first observed that ethyl acetate fraction of Actinidia callosa var. callosa (EAAC) carry out a dose-dependent inhibitory effect without cytotoxicity on the mobility and invasion of highly metastatic SK-Hep1 cells. To investigate the EAAC in cancer metastasis, SK-Hep1 cells were treated with EAAC at various concentrations and then subjected to gelatin zymography, casein zymography and western blot to study the impacts of EAAC on metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1/2 (TIMP-1/2), respectively. Our results showed that EAAC treatment may decrease the expressions of MMP-2 and enhance the expression of TIMP-1/2 in a concentration-dependent manner. EAAC also inhibited effect on the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/serine/threonine protein kinase [or protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt)] and focal adhesion kinase (FAK). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that EAAC inhibited SK-Hep1 cell of metastasis by reduced protein level of MMP-2 through the suppression of MAPK and FAK signaling pathway and of the activity of PI3K/Akt. These findings suggest that EAAC may be used as an antimetastatic agent.

Antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects of the aqueous extracts from Glycine species and its bioactive compounds.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the possible antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects of the aqueous extracts from three Glycine species. In HPLC analysis, the chromatograms of three Glycine species were established. Flavonoid-related compounds might be important bioactive compounds in Glycine species. RESULTS: The results showed that the aqueous extract of Glycine tabacina (AGTa) had the strongest antioxidant activity compared with the other Glycine species extracts. We also found that AGTa had higher contents of total polyphenol compounds and flavonoids than the other extracts. We also have investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of the three Glycine species using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage (RAW264.7) ex vivo. When RAW264.7 macrophages were treated with different concentrations of three Glycine species together with LPS, a significant concentration-dependent inhibition of NO production was detected. The aqueous extract of Glycine max (AGM) had the strongest anti-inflammatory activity in comparison with the other Glycine species extracts. Western blotting revealed that three Glycine species blocked protein expression of iNOS and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages, significantly. The antidiabetic activities of the three Glycine species were studied in vitro using α-glucosidase and aldose reductase (AR) inhibitory methods. AGTa had the highest inhibitory activities on α-glucosidase and aldose reductase, with IC50 of 188.1 and 126.42 µg/mL, respectively. The bioactive compounds, genistein and daidzein, had high inhibitory activities on antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, α-glucosidase and aldose reductase. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that Glycine species might be a good resource for future development of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic heath foods.

Acupuncture at SP6 Point in Lower Extremities Improved Patients' Insomnia, Which Was Also Shown Through Ryodoraku Electrical Measurements.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) applies acupuncture to treat insomnia and the SP6 is known to be beneficial for sleep. This study aimed to investigate the effects of acupuncture at SP6 on resting electroencephalogram (EEG), meridian electrical activity (Ryodoraku), and stress in patients with confirmed insomnia. In this single-blind, randomized clinical trial subjects (N=70) from TCM treated outpatients were randomized to receive TCM based acupuncture with manual stimulation (experimental) or sham stimulation (control) treatment. Acupuncture was applied to SP6 for 20 minutes on the spleen meridian of the foot in experimental subjects and controls received sham intervention. Significant changes between pre- and post-intervention were found in all electrical conductance values for the 12 meridians (Ryodoraku scores) in either control or experimental groups (fold change from 1.15 to 2.03) (P values <0.00 1). Eight meridians showed significantly different changes in Ryodoraku scores between pre- and post-intervention in the experimental group compared to the control group (fold change from 1.16 to 1.36) (P<0.05). EEG wave signals did not change with intervention in either group (P values ≥0.209). In summary, acupuncture at the SP6 acupoint altered meridian electrical activity of the lung periecardium, har, small intestine, sanjiao, spleen, bladder, and stomach meridians (P values <0.05) in patients with insomnia. Further studies are necessary to evaluate how changes in these meridians may affect insomnia.