Drosophila sechellia: A Genetic Model for Behavioral Evolution and Neuroecology.

Defining the mechanisms by which animals adapt to their ecological niche is an important problem bridging evolution, genetics, and neurobiology. We review the establishment of a powerful genetic model for comparative behavioral analysis and neuroecology, Drosophila sechellia. This island-endemic fly species is closely related to several cosmopolitan generalists, including Drosophila melanogaster, but has evolved extreme specialism, feeding and reproducing exclusively on the noni fruit of the tropical shrub Morinda citrifolia. We first describe the development and use of genetic approaches to facilitate genotype/phenotype associations in these drosophilids. Next, we survey the behavioral, physiological, and morphological adaptations of D. sechellia throughout its life cycle and outline our current understanding of the genetic and cellular basis of these traits. Finally, we discuss the principles this knowledge begins to establish in the context of host specialization, speciation, and the neurobiology of behavioral evolution and consider open questions and challenges in the field.

Olfactory receptor and circuit evolution promote host specialization.

The evolution of animal behaviour is poorly understood1,2. Despite numerous correlations between interspecific divergence in behaviour and nervous system structure and function, demonstrations of the genetic basis of these behavioural differences remain rare3-5. Here we develop a neurogenetic model, Drosophila sechellia, a species that displays marked differences in behaviour compared to its close cousin Drosophila melanogaster6,7, which are linked to its extreme specialization on noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia)8-16. Using calcium imaging, we identify olfactory pathways in D. sechellia that detect volatiles emitted by the noni host. Our mutational analysis indicates roles for different olfactory receptors in long- and short-range attraction to noni, and our cross-species allele-transfer experiments demonstrate that the tuning of one of these receptors is important for species-specific host-seeking. We identify the molecular determinants of this functional change, and characterize their evolutionary origin and behavioural importance. We perform circuit tracing in the D. sechellia brain, and find that receptor adaptations are accompanied by increased sensory pooling onto interneurons as well as species-specific central projection patterns. This work reveals an accumulation of molecular, physiological and anatomical traits that are linked to behavioural divergence between species, and defines a model for investigating speciation and the evolution of the nervous system.

Anticancer and chemopreventive potential of Morinda citrifolia L. bioactive compounds: A comprehensive update.

Morinda citrifolia L., commonly known as Noni, has a longstanding history in traditional medicine for treating various diseases. Recently, there has been an increased focus on exploring Noni extracts and phytoconstituents, particularly for their effectiveness against cancers such as lung, esophageal, liver, and breast cancer, and their potential in cancer chemoprevention. This study aims to provide a comprehensive review of in vitro and in vivo studies assessing Noni's impact on cancer, alongside an exploration of its bioactive compounds. A systematic review was conducted, encompassing a wide range of scientific databases to gather pertinent literature. This review focused on in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as clinical trials that explore the effects of Noni fruit and its phytoconstituents-including anthraquinones, flavonoids, sugar derivatives, and neolignans-on cancer. The search was meticulously structured around specific keywords and criteria to ensure a thorough analysis. The compiled studies highlight Noni's multifaceted role in cancer therapy, showcasing its various bioactive components and their modes of action. This includes mechanisms such as apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, antiangiogenesis, and immune system modulation, demonstrating significant anticancer and chemopreventive potential. The findings reinforce Noni's potential as a safe and effective option in cancer prevention and treatment. This review underscores the need for further research into Noni's anticancer properties, with the hope of stimulating additional studies and clinical trials to validate and expand upon these promising findings.

Ameliorative Effect of Morinda Officinalis Oligosaccharides on LPS-Induced Acute Lung Injury.

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a disease characterized by extensive lung damage and rampant inflammation, with a high mortality rate and no effective treatments available. Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides (MOOs), derived from the root of the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Morinda officinalis, known for its immune-boosting properties, presents a novel therapeutic possibility. To date, the impact of MOOs on ALI has not been explored. Our study aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of MOOs against ALI and to uncover the underlying mechanisms through an integrated approach of network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. We discovered that MOOs significantly mitigated the pathological damage and decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in LPS-induced ALI in mice. Complementary in vitro studies further demonstrated that MOOs effectively attenuated the M1 polarization induced by LPS. Network pharmacology analysis identified HSP90AA1, HSP90AB1, and NF-κB as key overlapping targets within a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Furthermore, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses elucidated the biological processes and signaling pathways implicated in MOOs' therapeutic action on ALI. Subsequently, molecular docking affirmed the binding of MOOs to the active sites of these identified targets. Corroborating these findings, our in vivo and in vitro experiments consistently demonstrated that MOOs significantly inhibited the LPS-induced upregulation of HSP90 and NF-κB. Collectively, these findings suggest that MOOs confer protection against ALI through a multi-target, multi-pathway mechanism, offering a promising new therapeutic strategy to mitigate this severe pulmonary condition.

Morinda citrifolia leaf assisted synthesis of ZnO decorated Ag bio-nanocomposites for in-vitro cytotoxicity, antimicrobial and anticancer applications.

This study used Morinda citrifolia leaf (MCL) extract to synthesise Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and ZnO decorated silver nanocomposites (ZnO/Ag NCs). The synthesized nanomaterials structural morphology and crystallinity were characterized using a Field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The antimicrobial activity of ZnO NPs and ZnO/Ag NCs was evaluated using human nosocomial bacterial pathogens. The highest antimicrobial activity was recorded for ZnO/Ag NCs at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 80 and 100 µg/mL for Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus than ZnO NPs at the MIC of 120 and 140 µg/mL for Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, ROS detection, viability assay and bacterial membrane integrity analysis of ZnO/Ag NCs treated P. aeruginosa and S. aureus revealed the fundamental bactericidal mechanism involving cell wall, cell membrane interaction and release of cytoplasmic contents. In addition, ZnO/Ag NCs and ZnO NPs showed higher toxicity towards A549 lung cancer cells than the non-cancerous RAW264 macrophage cells, with IC50 of 242 and 398 µg/mL respectively, compared to IC50 of 402 and 494 µg/mL for the macrophage cells. These results suggest that the ZnO/Ag NCs can be effectively used to develop antimicrobial and anticancer materials.

Repellent and larvicidal properties of selected indigenous plants in the control of Anopheles mosquitoes.

BACKGROUND OBJECTIVES: Widespread pyrethroid resistance and plastic-feeding behaviour of most malaria vectors across Africa threaten the efficacy of current insecticide-based vector control interventions like Insecticide-Treated Nets (ITNs) and Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS). This study examined the larvicidal activity ofMorinda citrifolia against Anopheles gambiae larvae and the repellent properties of Morinda citrifolia (Noni), Moringa oleifera (Moringa), and Ocimum basilicum (Basil) as complementary vector control tools against Anopheles gambiae sensu lato (s.l.). METHODS: Noni, Basil, and Moringa oil extracts were obtained with the extraction techniques; Soxhlet, steam distillation and maceration respectively, using hexane and ethanol. The effectiveness of the extracts was assessed using the WHO standard larval susceptibility bioassay and guidelines for repellent efficacy. Following bioassays, effective doses (ED) and lethal concentrations (LC) were determined. Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy analysis was performed to identify the bioactive chemical components of the extracts of Moringa oleifera and Ocimum basilicum. RESULTS: Emulsified Morinda citrifolia seed oil had LC50=68.3, LC90=130.9 and LC99.9=222.5, and ED99. 9=308.3%v/v, the ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera leaves had ED99.9= 1.25g/ml, and essential oil of Ocimum basilicum leaves had ED99.9=0.28g/ml against Anopheles gambiae. INTERPRETATION CONCLUSION: The results obtained indicated that seed oil of Morinda citrifolia, essential oil of Ocimum basilicum, and crude extract of Moringa oleifera have repellent activity against An. gambiae s.l. The complete protection time (CPT) of Morinda citrifolia, Moringa oleifera, and Ocimum basilicum was 120 min, 72 min and 84 min at ED99.9 respectively. Morinda citrifolia oil exhibited larvicidal effects against the larvae of An. gambiae s.l. The results provide valuable information for the use of the plants as biocides.

[UPLC-Q-TOF-MS-based metabolomics reveals mechanism of Morinda officinalis iridoid glycosides in treating rheumatoid arthritis and bone loss].

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Morinda officinalis iridoid glycosides(MOIG) on paw edema and bone loss of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) rats, and analyze its potential mechanism based on ultra-high performance liguid chromatography-guadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-TOF-MS) serum metabolomics. RA rats were established by injecting bovin type Ⅱ collagen. The collagen-induced arthritis(CIA) rats were administered drug by gavage for 8 weeks, the arthritic score were used to evaluate the severity of paw edem, serum bone metabolism biochemical parameters were measured by ELISA kits, Masson staining was used to observe the bone microstructure of the femur in CIA rats. UPLC-Q-TOF-MS was used to analyze the alteration of serum metabolite of CIA rats, principal component analysis(PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis(PLS-DA) were used to screen the potential biomarkers, KEGG database analysis were used to construct related metabolic pathways. The results demonstrated that the arthritic score, serum levels of IL-6 and parameters related with bone metabolism including OCN, CTX-Ⅰ, DPD and TRAP were significantly increased, and the ratio of OPG and RANKL was significantly decreased, the microstructure of bone tissue and cartilage were destructed in CIA rats, while MOIG treatments could significantly reduce arthritis score, mitigate the paw edema, reverse the changes of serum biochemical indicators related with bone metabolism, and improve the microstructure of bone tissue and cartilage of CIA rats. The non-targeted metabolomics results showed that 24 altered metabolites were identified in serum of CIA rats; compared with normal group, 13 significantly altered metabolites related to RA were identified in serum of CIA rats, mainly involving alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism; compared with CIA model group, MOIG treatment reversed the alteration of 15 differential metabolites, mainly involving into alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis. Therefore, MOIG significantly alleviated paw edema, improved the destruction of microstructure of bone and cartilage in CIA rats maybe through involving into the regulation of amino acid metabolism.

Physiological and transcriptomic analysis reveals the potential mechanism of Morinda officinalis How in response to freezing stress.

BACKGROUND: Morinda officinalis How (MO) is a vine shrub distributed in tropical and subtropical regions, known as one of the "Four Southern Herbal Medicines" in China. The unclear responsive mechanism by which MO adapt to freezing stress limits progress in molecular breeding for MO freezing tolerance. RESULTS: In this study, morphological, physiological and microstructure changes in MO exposed to -2℃ for 0 h, 3 h, 8 h and 24 h were comprehensively characterized. The results showed that freezing stress caused seedling dehydration, palisade cell and spongy mesophyll destruction. A significant increase in the content of proline, soluble protein and soluble sugars, as well as the activity of superoxide dismutase and peroxidase was observed. Subsequently, we analyzed the transcriptomic changes of MO leaves at different times under freezing treatment by RNA-seq. A total of 24,498 unigenes were annotated and 3252 unigenes were identified as differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Most of these DEGs were annotated in starch and sucrose metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction and MAPK signaling pathways. Family Enrichment analysis showed that the glucosyl/glucuronosyl transferases, oxidoreductase, chlorophyll a/b binding protein and calcium binding protein families were significantly enriched. We also characterized 7 types of transcription factors responding to freezing stress, among which the most abundant family was the MYBs, followed by the AP2/ERFs and NACs. Furthermore, 10 DEGs were selected for qRT-PCR analysis, which validated the reliability and accuracy of RNA-seq data. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide an overall view of the dynamic changes in physiology and insight into the molecular regulation mechanisms of MO in response to freezing stress. This study will lay a foundation for freezing tolerance molecular breeding and improving the quality of MO.

Genomic-wide identification and expression analysis of R2R3-MYB transcription factors related to flavonol biosynthesis in Morinda officinalis.

BACKGROUND: The R2R3-MYB transcription factors are a crucial and extensive gene family in plants, which participate in diverse processes, including development, metabolism, defense, differentiation, and stress response. In the Lingnan region of China, Morinda officinalis is extensively grown and is renowned for its use as both a medicinal herb and food source. However, there are relatively few reports on the R2R3-MYB transcription factor family in M.officinalis. RESULTS: In this study, we identified 97 R2R3-MYB genes in the genome of Morinda officinalis and classified them into 32 subgroups based on phylogenetic comparison with Arabidopsis thaliana. The lack of recent whole-genome duplication events in M.officinalis may be the reason for the relatively few members of the R2R3-MYB family. We also further analyzed the physical and chemical characteristics, conserved motifs, gene structure, and chromosomal location. Gene duplication events found 21 fragment duplication pairs and five tandem duplication event R2R3-MYB genes in M.officinalis may also affect gene family expansion. Based on phylogenetic analysis, cis-element analysis, co-expression analysis and RT-qPCR, we concluded that MoMYB33 might modulate flavonol levels by regulating the expression of 4-coumarate-CoA ligase Mo4CL2, chalcone isomerase MoCHI3, and flavonol synthase MoFLS4/11/12. MoMYB33 and AtMYB111 showed the highest similarity of 79% and may be involved in flavonol synthase networks by the STRING database. Moreover, we also identified MoMYB genes that respond to methyl Jasmonate (MeJA) and abscisic acid (ABA) stress by RT-qPCR. CONCLUSIONS: This study offers a thorough comprehension of R2R3-MYB in M.officinalis, which lays the foundation for the regulation of flavonol synthesis and the response of MoMYB genes to phytohormones in M.officinalis.

Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides mitigate depression-like behaviors in hypertension rats by regulating Mfn2-mediated mitophagy.

OBJECTIVE: Patients with hypertension have a risk of depression. Morinda officinalis oligosaccharides (MOOs) have anti-depressant properties. In this study, we aimed to determine whether MOOs can improve the symptoms of depression in individuals with hypertension. METHODS: Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed with a high-salt diet were stimulated by chronic unpredictable mild stress to mimic hypertension with depression. Primary astrocytes and neurons were isolated from these rats. Astrocytes underwent LPS stimulation to simulate the inflammatory astrocytes during depression. MOOs were administrated at 0.1 mg/g/day in vivo and 1.25, 2.5, and 5 mg/mL in vitro. Mitophagy was inhibited using 5 mM 3-methyladenine (3-MA). Astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity was detected by co-culturing astrocytes and neurons. RESULTS: MOOs decreased systolic pressure, diastolic pressure, and mean arterial pressure, thereby improving depression-like behavior, including behavioral despair, lack of enthusiasm, and loss of pleasure during hypertension with depression. Furthermore, MOOs inhibited inflammation, astrocytic dysfunction, and mitochondrial damage in the brain. Then, MOOs promoted autophagosome and lysosome enriched in mitochondria in LPS-stimulated astrocytes. MOOs suppressed mitochondrial damage and the release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-1ß in astrocytes undergoing LPS stimulation. Importantly, MOOs rescued the impaired neurons co-cultured with astrocytes. The effects of MOOs on LPS-stimulated astrocytes were reversed by 3-MA. Finally, MOOs upregulated LPS-downregulated Mfn2 expression in astrocytes. Mfn2 inhibition partly reversed the effects of MOOs on hypertension with depression. Intriguingly, Mfn2 suppression activated PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway during MOOs treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Astrocytes develop neuroinflammation in response to mitochondrial damage during hypertension with depression. MOOs upregulated Mfn2 expression to activate the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway-mediated mitophagy, thereby removing impaired mitochondria in astrocytes. HIGHLIGHTS: 1. MOOs have anti-hypertensive and anti-depressive properties. 2. MOOs inhibit inflammation and injury in astrocytes during hypertension with depression. 3. MOOs induce mitophagy activation in inflammatory astrocytes with mitochondrial damage. 4. MOOs upregulate Mfn2 expression in astrocytes. 5. Mfn2 activates mitophagy to resist mitochondrial damage in astrocytes.

Production of anthraquinones from cell and organ cultures of Morinda species.

Since ancient times, Morinda species, particularly Morinda citrifolia, have been used for their therapeutic benefits. Iridoids, anthraquinones, coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, phytosterols, and carotenoids are examples of natural substances with bioactivity. Anthraquinone derivatives are the most significant of these chemicals since they are utilized as natural coloring agents and have a wide range of medicinal functions. Utilizing cell and organ cultures of Morinda species, various biotechnological methods have been developed for the bioproduction of anthraquinone derivatives. The generation of anthraquinone derivatives in cell and organ cultures is summarized in this article. The methods used to produce these chemicals in bioreactor cultures have also been examined. KEY POINTS: • This review investigates the potential of cell and organ cultures for anthraquinone synthesis. • The overproduction of anthraquinones has been addressed using a variety of techniques. • The use of bioreactor technologies for anthraquinone manufacturing is highlighted.

Potential of pharmaceutical formulation based on Morinda citrifolia extract for the treatment of schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease that can be asymptomatic, but it can progress and cause serious damage, such as hospitalization and death. This work aimed to characterize and carry out the in vivo pharmacological test of the dry extract of Morinda citrifolia and obtain a pharmaceutical dosage form based on this extract for the treatment of schistosomiasis. The aqueous extract was characterized based on the evaluation of pH, dry residue and density. The aqueous extract was dried through the freeze-drying process. The obtained dry extract was characterized through phytochemical screening, rheological analysis, acute toxicity and in vivo pharmacology. Additionally, the pre-formulation development of a pharmaceutical dosage form was pursued with the dry extract. Through the HPLC chromatogram, characteristic rutin peaks were identified. The rheological behavior of the dry extract did not show good characteristics. Acute toxicity, at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, showed excitatory activity in the central and autonomous nervous system. The in vivo pharmacological test of the dry extract showed that, at a dose of 400 mg/kg, it was possible to reduce 67.5% of the total adult worms, 66% of female worms and 60% of the number of eggs. The pharmaceutical dosage form obtained was an oral solution that was clear, transparent, without the presence of lumps and precipitates, having a density of 1.1276 g mL-1 and pH of 5.92. The results obtained will provide parameters for the production of suitable pharmaceutical formulations, as well as for the quality control of products based on M. citrifolia, with promising schistosomicidal activity.

Inulin-type oligosaccharides of Morinda officinalis exerted antidepressant effects by reducing hippocampal inflammation.

Neuroinflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of depression. Inulin-type oligosaccharides of Morinda officinalis (IOMO) exert antidepressant-like effects in rodents and patients with depression, while the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study used chronic restraint stress (CRS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce depression-like behaviors in mice. Western blotting and ELISA analysis were used to investigate the effects of IOMO on inflammatory cytokine levels. Immunofluorescence analysis was used to investigate the effects of IOMO on hippocampal NLRP3 inflammasome and microglial cells. The results suggested that 6 weeks of CRS induced significant depression-like behaviors based on the sucrose preference test (SPT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swimming test (FST), which were accompanied by increases in the expression of IL-6 and the activation of hippocampal microglial cells. Chronic treatment with IOMO (25 mg/kg, i.g.) for 28 days significantly reversed these depression-like behaviors and inhibited the activation of microglial cells. Furthermore, LPS (0.5 mg/kg, i.p.) also significantly induced depression-like behaviors in the TST, FST, and novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSFT), as well as increased the expression of IL-1ß and caspase-1, and activated the microglial cells and the NLRP3 inflammasome in the hippocampus. Treatment with IOMO for 9 days significantly reversed these depression-like behaviors and normalized the LPS-induced activation of the microglial cells and NLRP3 inflammasome. Taken together, these results suggested that IOMO exerted antidepressant-like effects via hippocampal microglial NLRP3 inflammasome mediation followed by caspase-1 inhibition and the production of IL-1ß. These findings provide a basis for developing new antidepressants targeting the microglial NLRP3 inflammasome.

Alkaline lignins from Morinda citrifolia leaves are potential immunomodulatory, antitumor, and antimicrobial agents.

Morinda citrifolia, commonly known as noni, is a plant belonging to the Rubiaceae family. This plant has a high biological potential, which has different biological properties, including antioxidant, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, antitumor and anti-inflammatory. In this work, the immunomodulatory, antitumor and antimicrobial activities of lignin isolated from Morinda citrifolia leaves were investigated. The results showed that this lignin was not cytotoxic and that it was able to promote activation and differentiation of immune cells in addition to inducing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, it was able to inhibit the growth of different tumor and microbial cells in vitro. This pioneering study on these different activities shows that the lignin isolated in this study can be used as a raw material to obtain biomedical and pharmaceutical products.

Toxicological effects of the Morinda citrifolia L. fruit extract on maternal reproduction and fetal development in rats.

Morinda citrifolia L., also known as Noni, is widely used plant in folk medicine for various therapeutic purposes. However, reports on its effects during pregnancy are limited. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the M. citrifolia fruit extract on maternal performance and fetal development during pregnancy in rats. Pregnant Wistar rats (n = 12/group) were treated from gestational days (GD) 0-21 with water (control group) or the aqueous extract of M. citrifolia fruit at doses of 200, 400, or 750 mg/kg, orally. During pregnancy, clinical signs of toxicity, maternal weight, feed intake, and water consumption were noted. On GD 21, the rats were anesthetized and blood was collected to evaluate various biochemical parameters. During laparotomy, reproductive performance parameters were recorded, and fetuses were weighed and the anomalies analyzed. Reduced placental efficiency and fetal growth restriction were observed in the group treated with 400 mg/kg of M. citrifolia extract. The highest dose (750 mg/kg) augmented aspartate aminotransferase concentration and preimplantation losses, while reducing the number of live fetuses. Furthermore, both doses (400 and 750 mg/kg) of the plant extract caused fetal anomalies. In conclusion, consumption of high doses of the M. citrifolia aqueous extrac during pregnancy leads to maternal hepatotoxicity, anti-implantation effects, intrauterine growth restriction and fetal abnormalities, indicating that the plant fruit extract can be harmful to both the mother and the fetus.

A new iridoid glucoside from the roots of Morinda officinalis.

A new iridoid glucoside, moridoside (1), and nine known compounds, asperulosidic acid (2), 6-O-epi-acetylscandoside (3), geniposidic acid (4), 2-hydroxymethylanthraquinone (5), 2-hydroxymethyl-3-hydroxyanthraquinone (6), damnacanthol (7), lucidine-ω-methyl ether (8), 2-hydroxy-1-methoxyanthraquinone (9), and 3,8-dihydroxy-1,2-dimethoxyanthraquinone (10) were isolated from the methanol extract of Morinda officinalis How. roots. Their structural identification was carried out based on the spectroscopic evidence. All compounds were evaluated for their nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory activities in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Compounds 5-7 significantly inhibited the production of NO with IC50 values of 28.4, 33.6, and 30.5 µM, respectively.

Selenium Nanoparticles Based on Morinda officinalis Polysaccharides: Characterization, Anti-Cancer Activities, and Immune-Enhancing Activities Evaluation In Vitro.

Recently, selenium nanoparticles have been drawing attention worldwide, and it is crucial to increase the stability of nano-Se. Morinda officinalis polysaccharides (MOP) are the main active component in Morinda officinalis radix. However, their low activity has limited their application. A novel selenium nanoparticle (Se-MOP) was prepared to solve these problems using MOP as a dispersant. The zeta potential was measured to evaluate the stability, and UV and ATR-FTIR were used to investigate the binding type of selenium and MOP. The morphology was observed by the TEM method. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect on five selected cancer cells (HepG2, MCF-7, AGS, PC9, and HCT8) was evaluated, showing remarkable inhibition of all five cancer cells. The mechanism of inhibition was also investigated by cell circle assay, and it was found that Se-MOP could induce cell circle G0/G1 phase arrest. Immune-enhancing activities were evaluated by measuring the proliferation and cytokines of mouse spleen lymphocytes in vitro and quantitative RT-PCR. The results indicated that single stimulation of Se-MOP and synergistic stimulation with PHA or LPS increased immune capacity and improved immune by increasing the expression of cytokines.

Effect of Plant-Based Mouthwash (Morinda citrifolia and Ocimum sanctum) on TNF-α, IL-α, IL-ß, IL-2, and IL-6 in Gingival Crevicular Fluid and Plaque Scores of Patients Undergoing Fixed Orthodontic Treatment.

Background and Objectives: To investigate the antiplaque properties of two plant-based mouthwashes, Morinda citrifolia (MC) and Ocimum sanctum (OS), and their effect on TNF-α, IL-α, IL-ß, IL-2, and IL-6 in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of patients undergoing fixed orthodontic treatment. Materials and Methods: Seventy-five individuals were recruited according to defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. This study was structured into two distinct phases. Phase I was a combination of toothbrushing using toothpaste containing fluoride (Protocol A), while Phase II toothbrushing included fluoride toothpaste and use of a mouthwash (Protocol B). For Phase II, individuals participating in this study were allocated into different groups through a randomization process: Group 1-0.12% CHX, Group 2-5% MC, and Group 3-4% OS. Each individual's Phase I and Phase II scores were assessed. GCF was measured in three phases to determine the level of inflammatory biomarkers. The paired t-test evaluated the disparities between the pre- and post-plaque index. Categorical data were subjected to crosstab analysis to assess qualitative variables. The mean values of cytokine levels were presented. An unpaired t-test was employed to assess the levels of cytokines between individuals in Phase I and Phase II. Results: Toothbrushing, fluoride toothpaste, and the supplementary use of mouthwash (Phase II) resulted in mean plaque scores significantly lower than group A (p < 0.001). Cytokines TNF-α, IL-α, and IL-ß demonstrated a significant downward trend in herbal mouthwash users. Conclusions: In conjunction with fluoridated toothpaste and brushing, OS and MC can serve as a viable alternative to conventional synthetic mouthwash CHX. This combination demonstrates reducing mean plaque scores and diminishing the levels of cytokines TNF-α, IL-α, and IL-ß.

Morinda lucida stem bark reversed the pattern and extent of lead nitrate-induced liver injury in Wistar rats.

Lead toxicity remains one of the most important occupational and environmental health problems with characteristic features that are incompatible with life. Considering the foregoing, we investigated the ameliorative potentials of Morinda lucida stem bark (MLSB) extract on lead nitrate-induced hepatic injury with particular emphasis on its effects on the pattern and extent of lead nitrate toxicity. Thirty-six adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned into six groups (n=6). Normal control group received 2.2mL/kg distilled water only for 4 weeks while hepatic injury was induced by 2-week oral administration of 30mg/kg lead nitrate to experimental rats in the remaining five groups. Following induction, test groups were treated with MLSB for another 2 weeks at 100, 250, and 500mg/kg concentrations respectively while silymarin was administered orally for 2 weeks to positive control group. At the end of the study, serum activities of liver function enzymes and tissue levels of malondialdehyde were determined. Patterns and extent of injury were determined in hematoxylin and eosin-stained section. The result revealed a significant reduction in sera levels of liver function enzymes and tissue level of malondialdehyde (MDA) in extract treated groups. Lead nitrate-induced necrotic changes and other deranged features observed in histological sections were multifocal and they span through multiple zones of hepatic acini (panacinar), MLSB at 250mg/kg concentration reversed by some of these effects. The study concluded that ameliorative property of MLSB could be due to the antioxidant and membrane stabilizing properties of its phenolic compounds.

[Chemical constituents from fruits of Morinda citrifolia and their inhibitory effects on proliferation of synoviocytes in vitro].

The chemical constituents from the fruits of Morinda citrifolia were systematically explored by chromatographic fractionation methods including silica gel, octadecylsilyl(ODS) gel, Sephadex LH-20 gel, and preparative high performance liquid chromatography(pre-HPLC). The chemical structures of all isolated compounds were identified on the basis of their physicochemical properties, spectroscopic analyses, as well as the comparisons of their physicochemical and spectroscopic data with the reported data in literature. As a result, 22 isolated compounds from the 90% ethanol extract of the fruits of M. citrifolia were identified, which were moricitritone(1), 2'-deoxythymidine(2), cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Tyr)(3), methyl-5-hydroxy-2-pyridinecarboxylate(4), methyl pyroglutamate(5), bisbenzopyran(6), epipinoresinol(7), 3, 3'-bisdemethyl pinoresinol(8), 3, 3'-bisdemethyltanegool(9), trimesic acid(10), crypticin B(11), kojic acid(12), vanillic acid(13), protocatechoic acid(14), 5-hydroxymethyl furfural(15), blumenol A(16), 1-O-(9Z, 12Z-octadecadienoyl) glycerol(17), mucic acid dimethylester(18), methyl 2-O-ß-D-glucopyranosylbenzoate(19), 2-phenylethyl-O-ß-D-glucoside(20), scopoletin(21), and quercetin(22). Among them, compound 1 was a new pyrone derivative, compounds 2, 4-7, 10-12, and 17 were isolated from the plants belonging to Morinda genus for the first time, and compound 18 was obtained from M. citrifolia for the first time. Moreover, on the basis of testing the activities of all isolated compounds on inhibiting the proliferation of synovial fibroblasts in vitro by MTS assay, the anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities of all isolated compounds were initially evaluated. The results showed that compounds 1-6, 9, 19, and 20 exhibited remarkable anti-rheumatoid arthritis activities, which displayed the inhibitory effects on the proliferation of MH7A synovial fibroblast cells with the IC_(50) values in the range of(3.69±0.08) to(168.96±0.98) µmol·L~(-1).