RESUMEN
Korean ginseng (Panax ginseng) is a traditional herbal supplement known to have a variety of pharmacological activities. A smart farm system could provide potential standardization of ginseng seedlings after investigating plant metabolic responses to various parameters in order to design optimal conditions. This research was performed to investigate the effect of smart-farmed ginseng on memory improvement in a scopolamine-induced memory deficit mouse model and an LPS-induced microglial cell model. A smart farming system was applied to culture ginseng. The administration of its extract (S2 extract) under specific culture conditions significantly attenuated cognitive and spatial memory deficits by regulating AKT/ERK/CREB signaling, as well as the cortical inflammation associated with suppression of COX-2 and NLRP3 induced by scopolamine. In addition, S2 extract improved the activation of iNOS and COX-2, and the secretion of NO in LPS-induced BV-2 microglia. Based on the HPLC fingerprint and in vitro data, ginsenosides Rb2 and Rd were found to be the main contributors to the anti-inflammatory effects of the S2 extract. Our findings suggest that integrating a smart farm system may enhance the metabolic productivity of ginseng and provides evidence of its potential impact on natural bioactive compounds of medicinal plants with beneficial qualities, such as ginsenosides Rb2 and Rd.
RESUMEN
We earlier reported that CM-AIa isolated from Chelidonium majus had mitogenic activity, generated lymphokine-activated killer cells, and increased the number of granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming cells (GM-CFC). In an extended effort to search for other immunostimulatory effects, we evaluated the protective effects of in vivo injected CM-AIa against irradiation. CM-AIa was found to increase the number of bone marrow cells, spleen cells, GM-CFC, and platelets in irradiated mice. In addition, this agent induced endogenous production of cytokines such as interleukin 1 and tumor necrosis factor alpha, which are required for hematopoietic recovery. We also demonstrated that CM-AIa treatment 24 hours before irradiation protected mice with 80% survival at lethal dose 100/15. These findings indicate that CM-AIa may be a useful agent for reducing the time needed for reconstitution of hematopoietic cells after irradiation treatment.
Asunto(s)
Chelidonium/química , Sistema Hematopoyético/efectos de los fármacos , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Protectores contra Radiación/farmacología , Animales , Células de la Médula Ósea/efectos de los fármacos , Células de la Médula Ósea/efectos de la radiación , Citocinas/biosíntesis , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Rayos gamma , Sistema Hematopoyético/citología , Sistema Hematopoyético/efectos de la radiación , Sistema Inmunológico/citología , Sistema Inmunológico/efectos de los fármacos , Sistema Inmunológico/efectos de la radiación , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Bazo/citología , Bazo/efectos de los fármacos , Bazo/efectos de la radiación , Irradiación Corporal Total/mortalidadRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to investigate the effect of hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa) on adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells at the cellular and molecular levels. DESIGN: Various concentrations of hibiscus extract were added to confluent 3T3-L1 preadipocytes at the outset of the differentiation program and further incubated for 36 hours. Cells were maintained in postdifferentiation medium containing insulin with hibiscus extract in complete culture medium. RESULTS: Hibiscus extract inhibited the adipocyte differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes induced by insulin, dexamethasone, and isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) in a dose-dependent manner. Hibiscus blocked the cytoplasmic lipid accumulation when administered at the onset of differentiation and 4 days after induction of differentiation. The inhibitory effect of hibiscus on adipogenic lipid accumulation of preadipocytes was significant (p < 0.01) between control cells and cells treated with hibiscus. Hibiscus extract significantly attenuated the expression of key adipogenic transcription factors, including CCAAT element binding protein (C/EBP)alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)gamma at protein levels. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that hibiscus extract blocks adipogenesis, in part, by its suppression on the expression of adipogenic transcription factors, including C/EBPalpha and PPARgamma.
Asunto(s)
Adipocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Adipocitos/metabolismo , Hibiscus , Receptores Citoplasmáticos y Nucleares/metabolismo , Factores de Transcripción/efectos de los fármacos , Factores de Transcripción/metabolismo , Células 3T3/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Western Blotting , Factor de Unión a CCAAT/efectos de los fármacos , Factor de Unión a CCAAT/metabolismo , Proteínas Potenciadoras de Unión a CCAAT/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas Potenciadoras de Unión a CCAAT/metabolismo , Diferenciación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Regulación de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Hibiscus/metabolismo , Humanos , Ratones , Extractos Vegetales , Receptores Citoplasmáticos y Nucleares/efectos de los fármacos , Factor de Transcripción CHOPRESUMEN
In the course of searching immunomodulators from natural sources, the protein-bound polysaccharide, CM-Ala, has been isolated from the water extract of Chelidonium majus L. (Papaveraceae). The immunostimulatory characteristics have been investigated in several experiments such as generation of activated killer (AK) cells, proliferation of splenocytes, activation of macrophages and granulocyte macrophage-colony forming cell (GM-CFC) assay. Of the fractions obtained using Sephacryl S200 column chromatography, CM-Ala was the most effective fraction that augmented the cytotoxicity against Yac-1 tumor cells from 0.88% to 34.18% by culturing with splenocytes for 5 days. CM-Ala also enhanced nitric oxide production by two fold in peritoneal macrophages and exhibited antitumor activity. It showed mitogenic activity on both spleen cells and bone marrow cells. CM-Ala induced proliferation of splenocytes by 84 fold and increased GM-CFC numbers by 1.48 fold over than the non-treated. On the contrary, CM-Ala had cytotoxic activity to a diverse group of tumor cells. From the above results, we proposed that CM-Ala has a possibility of an effective antitumor immunostimulator.
Asunto(s)
Adyuvantes Inmunológicos/farmacología , Chelidonium/química , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Polisacáridos/farmacología , Animales , Antineoplásicos Fitogénicos/farmacología , Citotoxicidad Inmunológica/efectos de los fármacos , Femenino , Células Madre Hematopoyéticas/efectos de los fármacos , Células Asesinas Naturales/efectos de los fármacos , Activación de Linfocitos/efectos de los fármacos , Macrófagos/efectos de los fármacos , Macrófagos/inmunología , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos BALB C , Ratones Endogámicos C3H , Polisacáridos/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
[6]-Gingerol, a pungent ingredient of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Zingiberaceae), has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor-promoting activities. Here, we describe its novel anti-angiogenic activity in vitro and in vivo. In vitro, [6]-gingerol inhibited both the VEGF- and bFGF-induced proliferation of human endothelial cells and caused cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase. It also blocked capillary-like tube formation by endothelial cells in response to VEGF, and strongly inhibited sprouting of endothelial cells in the rat aorta and formation of new blood vessel in the mouse cornea in response to VEGF. Moreover, i.p. administration, without reaching tumor cytotoxic blood levels, to mice receiving i.v. injection of B16F10 melanoma cells, reduced the number of lung metastasis, with preservation of apparently healthy behavior. Taken together, these results demonstrate that [6]-gingerol inhibits angiogenesis and may be useful in the treatment of tumors and other angiogenesis-dependent diseases.
Asunto(s)
Alcoholes Grasos/farmacología , Neoplasias Experimentales/tratamiento farmacológico , Neovascularización Patológica , Zingiber officinale/química , Animales , Aorta/metabolismo , Aorta/patología , Western Blotting , Catecoles , Ciclo Celular , Línea Celular Tumoral , Movimiento Celular , Proliferación Celular , Células Cultivadas , Colágeno/química , Córnea/metabolismo , Ciclina D1/metabolismo , ADN/química , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Combinación de Medicamentos , Electroforesis en Gel de Poliacrilamida , Endotelio Vascular/citología , Factor 2 de Crecimiento de Fibroblastos/metabolismo , Fase G1 , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Laminina/química , Neoplasias Pulmonares/secundario , Masculino , Ratones , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Modelos Químicos , Mutágenos , Células 3T3 NIH , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Trasplante de Neoplasias , Extractos Vegetales , Proteoglicanos/química , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Venas Umbilicales/citología , Factor A de Crecimiento Endotelial Vascular/metabolismoRESUMEN
The root of Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer is one of the most popular natural tonics in oriental countries. In this study, we have isolated polysaccharide fraction of Panax ginseng (ginsan) and examined its effect on the function of murine peritoneal macrophages. When macrophages were treated with ginsan, cytotoxic activity against B16 melanoma cells was significantly induced. In addition, the levels of cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), IL-6 and Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) were increased and the production of reactive oxygen/nitrogen components such as nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was enhanced. Moreover, phagocytic activity was induced in ginsan-treated macrophages compared to the control. The expression of CD14 and 1-Ab on murine peritoneal macrophages was increased by the treatment with ginsan, while the expression of CD11b was decreased. Taken together, these results suggest that ginsan has an immunopotentiating effects on macrophages and these abilities could be used clinically for the treatment of diseases such as cancer.