Bioactivity and health effects of garlic essential oil: A review.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.), the underground bulb of the Allium plant in the family Liliaceae, is a common and popular spice that has historically been used to prevent and treat many different diseases such as pain, deafness, diarrhea, tumors, and other healthy problems. Garlic essential oil contains a variety of organosulfur compounds, such as the most representative diallyl disulfides (DADS) and diallyl trisulfides (DATS), which have attracted great interest in medicine, food, and agriculture because of their rich biological activities. This paper reviews the research progress on the composition and bioactivities of garlic essential oil mixtures and the bioactivity of some typical monomeric sulfides in garlic essential oil. The active mechanisms of representative sulfides in garlic essential oil were analyzed, and the applications of garlic essential oil in functional food, food additives, and clinical treatment were discussed. Combined with the current research status, the limitations and development direction of garlic essential oil in the study of molecular mechanism were discussed, which is of great significance to the development of garlic essential oil as a natural and safe alternative medicine for treatment.

Monitoring H2S fluctuation during autophagic fusion of lysosomes and mitochondria using a lysosome-targeting fluorogenic probe.

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) plays a cytoprotective role during mitophagy by detoxifying superfluous reactive oxygen species (ROS), and its concentration fluctuates in this process. However, no work has been reported to reveal the variation in H2S levels during autophagic fusion of lysosomes and mitochondria. Herein, we present a lysosome-targeted fluorogenic probe, named NA-HS, for real-time monitoring of H2S fluctuation for the first time. The newly synthesized probe exhibits good selectivity and high sensitivity (detection limit of 23.6 nM). Fluorescence imaging results demonstrated that NA-HS could image exogenous and endogenous H2S in living cells. Interestingly, the colocalization results revealed that the level of H2S was upregulated after autophagy began because of the cytoprotective effect, and was finally gradually reduced during subsequent autophagic fusion. This work not only affords a powerful fluorescence tool to monitor the variations in H2S levels during mitophagy, but also offers new insights into targeting small molecules for elaborating the complex cellular signal pathways.

Modified ß-cyclodextrin microspheres towards the application in intumescent fire resistance and smoke-suppressing of bio-based poly(L-lactic acid).

In this work, the ß-cyclodextrin (ß-CD) was modified by a phosphazene compound to prepare a novel amorphous derivate (ß-CDCP), which was combined with the ammonium polyphosphate (APP) as a synergistic flame retardant (FR) of the bio-based poly(L-lactic acid) (PLA). The effects of the APP/ß-CDCP on the thermal stability, combustion behavior, pyrolysis process, fire resistance performance and crystallizability of the PLA were investigated comprehensively and in depth by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, limited oxygen index (LOI) analysis, UL-94 test, cone calorimetry measurement, TG-infrared (TG-IR), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectrometer, Raman spectroscopy, pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and differential scanning calorimetry. The PLA/5%APP/10%ß-CDCP showed a highest LOI of 33.2 %, passed V-0 rating and exhibited self-extinguish phenomenon in the UL-94 test. Also, it presented a lowest peak of heat release rate, total heat release, peak of smoke production rate and total smoke release, and a highest char yield treated by cone calorimetry analysis. In addition, the 5%APP/10%ß-CDCP shortened significantly crystallization time and enhanced crystallization rate of the PLA. Gas phase and intumescent condensed phase fire proofing mechanisms are proposed to elucidate enhanced fire resistance in this system in detail.

Preparation and pharmacological effects of minor ginsenoside nanoparticles: a review.

Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to Panax genus of Araliaceae. Ginsenosides are a kind of important compounds in ginseng and minor ginsenosides are secondary metabolic derivatives of ginsenosides. Studies have shown that minor ginsenosides have many pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-platelet aggregation, and neuroprotective effects. However, the therapeutic effects of minor ginsenosides are limited due to poor solubility in water, short half-life, and poor targeting accuracy. In recent years, to improve the application efficiency, the research on the nanocrystallization of minor ginsenosides have attracted extensive attention from researchers. This review focuses on the classification, preparation methods, pharmacological effects, and action mechanisms of minor ginsenoside nanoparticles, as well as existing problems and future direction of relevant research, which provides a reference for the in-depth research of minor ginsenoside nanoparticles.

Hesperetin ameliorates diabetic nephropathy in rats by activating Nrf2/ARE/glyoxalase 1 pathway.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the most common diabetic complications, and alpha-carbonyl aldehydes and their detoxicating enzyme glyoxalase 1 (Glo-1) play vital roles in pathogenesis of diabetic complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renoprotective effects of hesperetin against DN in rats, and to investigate mechanisms from the aspect of Nrf2/ARE/Glo-1 pathway. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were treated orally with hesperetin (50 and 150 mg/kg), or nuclear factor erythroid-derived-2-like 2 (Nrf2) inducer tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ, 25 mg/kg) for 10 weeks. Then proteinuria, creatinine, urea nitrogen, and uric acid were assayed for renal functions, fibronectin and collagen IV levels by immunohistochemistry, as well as periodic acid-Schiff staining and electron microscope observation, were used to assess renal morphology. Glo-1 activity, protein, and mRNA levels and the classic Nrf2/ARE pathway were investigated. Moreover, advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and its receptor RAGE, interleukin-1ß and tumor necrosis factor-α levels were also examined in the kidney. Hesperetin markedly ameliorated the renal functions and structural changes of diabetic rats, accompanied by up-regulation of Glo-1 as well as inhibition of AGEs/RAGE axis and inflammation. Meanwhile, hesperetin caused significant increases in Nrf2 and p-Nrf2 levels, as well as up-regulation of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, a well-known target gene of Nrf2/ARE signaling. Our results demonstrated that hesperetin could slow down the pathological process of DN, and Glo-1 enhancement contributed to the beneficial effects, which was obtained by the activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway.

Protective effects of sarsasapogenin against early stage of diabetic nephropathy in rats.

Rhizome of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (AA, family Liliaceae) has been widely used in China for thousands of years to treat febrile diseases and diabetes. Steroidal saponins from AA show good antidiabetes effects and ameliorate diabetic complications. This study was designed to investigate the effects of sarsasapogenin (Sar), a major sapogenin from AA, on diabetic nephropathy (DN) in rats, and to explore the possible mechanisms. Diabetic rats were divided into 3 groups treated orally with Sar (0, 20, or 60 mg/kg) and carboxymethylcellulose sodium, whereas normal rats for Sar (0 or 60 mg/kg) and carboxymethylcellulose sodium. We found that chronic treatment with Sar for 9 weeks significantly ameliorated renal dysfunction of diabetic rats, as evidenced by decreases in albuminuria, kidney weight index, serum uric acid, and morphologic changes such as extracellular matrix expansion and accumulation (fibronectin and collagen IV levels, etc.). Meanwhile, Sar treatment resulted in decreases in interleukin-18, NLRP3, and activated caspase 1 levels as well as advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) and their receptor (RAGE) levels in the renal cortex of diabetic rats. However, Sar has no effects on the above indices in the normal rats. Therefore, Sar can markedly ameliorate diabetic nephropathy in rats via inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and AGEs-RAGE interaction.

Isoflavones from green vegetable soya beans and their antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

BACKGROUND: Green vegetable soya beans, known as Maodou in China, are supplied as vegetable-type fruits of the soybean plant. Previous study indicated that green vegetable soya beans exhibited antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the material basis and pharmacological activities of green soybean plant were not unravelled clearly. In this study, we investigated the chemical ingredients and their pharmacological activities. RESULTS: Investigation of the chemical ingredients indicated that two new isoflavones, 2'-hydroxyerythrin A (1), and daidzein-7-O-ß-d-{6″-[(E)-but-2-enoyl]}glycoside (2), together with seven known ones - 7,4'-dihydroxy-6-methoxyisoflavone (3), daidzein (4), daidzin (5), genistein (6), formononetin (7), ononin (8), and isoerythrinin A (9) - were obtained. The structures of compounds 1-9 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical analysis. We evaluated the antimicrobial efficacies and free-radical scavenging potential of the isolated compounds (1-9). Compounds 1 and 9 exhibited the most pronounced efficacy against the tested bacterial strains with IC50 values ranging from 10.6 to 22.6 µg mL-1 . The isolated compounds showed moderate radical scavenging properties with compound 6 being the most active, followed by compounds 3, 1 and 4. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicated that the isoflavones from soya beans could be considered as potential antioxidants or antimicrobials in the food, cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.

New Triterpenoid Saponins from Green Vegetable Soya Beans and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Ten compounds were isolated and identified from green vegetable soya beans, of which five are new triterpenoid saponins (1-5) and five are known compounds (6-10). The chemical structures of the five triterpenoid saponins (1-5) were elucidated to be 3ß,24-dihydroxy-22ß,30-epoxy-30-oxoolean-12-en 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-xylopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-glucuronopyranoside, 1; 3ß,24-dihydroxy-22ß,30-epoxy-30-oxoolean-12-en 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-(3″-O-formyl)-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-glucuronopyranoside, 2; 22-keto-3ß,24-dihydroxy oleanane-12-ene 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-(3″-O-formyl)-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-glucuronopyranoside, 3; 3ß,22ß,24-trihydroxy oxyolean-18(19)-ene-29-acid 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-glucuronopyranoside, 4; and punicanolic acid 3-O-α-l-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-galactopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-ß-d-glucuronopyranoside, 5 from the spectroscopic data (IR, GTC/FID, HR-ESI-MS, and 1D and 2D NMR). The nitric oxide release inhibitions of compounds 1-10 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells were evaluated, and the data suggested that compounds 1, 2, and 5 might possess moderate anti-inflammatory activities, with IC50 values of 18.8, 16.1, and 13.2 µM, respectively.

New Alkaloids from Green Vegetable Soybeans and Their Inhibitory Activities on the Proliferation of Concanavalin A-Activated Lymphocytes.

A comprehensive phytochemical study of the chemical constituents of green vegetable soybeans resulted in the isolation of two new alkaloids, soyalkaloid A, 1, and isoginsenine, 2, together with four known ones, ginsenine, 3, (1S,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-ß-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, 4, (1R,3S)-1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-ß-carboline-3-carboxylic acid, 5, and indole-3-carboxylic acid, 6. The structures of compounds 1-6 were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical analyses. All of the alkaloids were isolated from soybeans for the first time, and compound 1 was a new indole-type alkaloid with a novel carbocyclic skeleton. Their inhibitory activities on the proliferation of concanalin A-activated lymphocytes were assessed by CCK8 assay.

New monoterpene glycosides from sunflower seeds and their protective effects against H2O2-induced myocardial cell injury.

Three new monoterpene glycosides (1-3) and eleven known compounds (4-14) were isolated from seeds of Helianthus annuus L. (sunflower). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods. All the compounds were isolated from sunflower seeds for the first time. Protective effects of compounds 1-14 against H2O2-induced H9c2 cardiomyocyte injury were evaluated, and compounds 1 and 2 showed some cell-protective effects. No significant DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed for compounds 1-14.

Anti-proliferative effects of Atractylis lancea (Thunb.) DC. via down-regulation of the c-myc/hTERT/telomerase pathway in Hep-G2 cells.

Atractylis lancea (Thunb.) DC. (AL), an important medicinal herb in Asia, has been shown to have anti-tumor effects on cancer cells, but the involved mechanisms are poorly understood. This study focused on potential effects and molecular mechanisms of AL on the proliferation of the Hep-G2 liver cancer cell line in vitro. Cell viability was assessed by MTT test in Hep-G2 cells incubated with an ethanol extract of AL. Then, the effects of AL on apoptosis and cell cycle progression were determined by flow cytometry. Telomeric repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) assays was performed to investigate telomerase activity. The mRNA and protein expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and c-myc were determined by real-time RT-PCR and Western blotting. Our results show that AL effectively inhibits proliferation in Hep-G2 cells in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. When Hep-G2 cells were treated with AL after 48h,the IC50 was about 72.1 µg/ mL. Apoptosis was induced by AL via arresting the cells in the G1 phase. Furthermore, AL effectively reduced telomerase activity through inhibition of mRNA and protein expression of hTERT and c-myc. Hence, these data demonstrate that AL exerts anti-proliferative effects in Hep-G2 cells via down-regulation of the c-myc/hTERT/ telomerase pathway.

[Effect of soybean isoflavones on the cognitive performance of mice deprived of sleeping for 72h].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect and mechanism of Soybean Isoflavones (SIF) on the cognitive performance of female mice after sleep deprivation for 72h. METHOD: Forty female mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:the control, sleep deprivation control (SDC), and three SIF groups (SIF L, SIF M and SIF H). SIF groups were administered by intra-gastric injection of SIF 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg bw respectively for 30 days. The control and SDC groups were administered with equal volume of normal saline. The 72h SD mice model was induced by the single platform technique. The cognitive ability of mice was tested by Y-maze. Antioxidant indicators (CAT, MDA and T-AOC) and neurotransmitters (NO, Glu and Ach) in cerebra were measured. RESULT: Compared with the control group, the cognitive abilities, CAT activities, T-AOC and Ach levels were decreased and NO, MDA and GLu contents were increased in mice after sleep deprivation for 72h. Compared with the SDC group, the cognitive abilities were improved and Ach contents were increased in SIF M and SIF H groups, T-AOC levels were improved in three SIF groups. CAT activities, MDA, NO and Glu contents were decreased in SIF H group only. CONCLUSION: The cognitive ability of 72h SD female mice could be improved by SIF, the mechanism of which might be involved in increasing antioxidant function, decreasing the damage of free radicals on cranial nerves and adjusting the neuron transmitter of cerebra.