Therapeutic properties of Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom): A review.

Inonotus obliquus, also known as Chaga, is a medicinal mushroom that has been used for therapeutic purposes since the sixteenth century. Collections of folk medicine record the application of Chaga for the treatment of diseases such as gastrointestinal cancer, diabetes, bacterial infection, and liver diseases. Modern research provides scientific evidence of the therapeutic properties of I. obliquus extracts, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, anti-fatigue, antibacterial, and antiviral activities. Various bioactive compounds, including polysaccharides, triterpenoids, polyphenols, and lignin metabolites have been found to be responsible for the health-benefiting properties of I. obliquus. Furthermore, some studies have elucidated the underlying mechanisms of the mushroom's medicinal effects, revealing the compounds' interactions with enzymes or proteins of important pathways. Thus, this review aims to explore available information on the therapeutic potentials of Inonotus obliquus for the development of an effective naturally sourced treatment option.

Glycerol Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Thanaka (Hesperethusa crenulata) Bark through LCMS Profiling and Their Antioxidant Properties.

Organic solvents are hazardous to human and environmental health. The emergence of interest in finding greener solvents to replace organic solvents has sparked a series of studies in the use of glycerol for extracting bioactive compounds from natural products. In this study, we will first identify the bioactive compounds of glycerol- and nonglycerol-based Thanaka (Hesperethusa crenulata) bark extracts using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry profiles; then, we will determine their antioxidant capacity, free radical scavenging activity, and total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Thanaka bark powder was extracted using solvents, namely, ethanol (TKE), water (TKW), glycerol (TKG), glycerol/water (1:1, v/v) (TKGW), and glycerol/ethanol (1:1, v/v) (TKGE). Among the five extracts, the extract of TKG has the highest number of bioactive compounds, as well as the highest total flavonoid content. TKGE possessed the highest total phenolic content and highest antioxidant activity shown in azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays among the five extracts. Overall, glycerol has better efficiency in extracting bioactive compounds from Thanaka bark as compared to ethanol and water. Hence, from the phytochemical content and antioxidant properties of Thanaka extracts, we conclude that glycerol is a good green solvent alternative to replace organic solvents.

Network pharmacology-integrated molecular docking analysis of phytocompounds of Caesalpinia pulcherrima (peacock flower) as potential anti-metastatic agents.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima, or peacock flower, has been a subject of cancer therapeutics research, showing promising anti-cancer and anti-metastatic properties. The present research aims to investigate the anti-metastatic potential of the flower, through bioinformatics approaches. Metastasis targets numbering 471 were identified through overlap analysis following NCBI gene, Gene Card and OMIM query. Phytocompounds of the flower were retrieved from PubChem and their protein interactions predicted using Super-PRED and TargetNet. The 28 targets that overlapped with the predicted proteins were used to generate STRING >0.7. Enrichment analysis revealed that C. pulcherrima may inhibit metastasis through angiogenesis-related and leukocyte migration-related pathways. HSP90AA1, ESR1, PIK3CA, ERBB2, KDR and MMP9 were identified as potential core targets while and 6 compounds (3-[(4-Hydroxyphenyl)methylidene]-7,8-dimethoxychromen-4-one (163076213), clotrimazole (2812), Isovouacapenol A (636673), [(4aR,5R,6aS,7R,11aS,11bR)-4a-hydroxy-4,4,7,11b-tetramethyl-9-oxo-1,2,3,5,6,6a,7,11a-octahydronaphtho[2,1-f][1]benzofuran-5-yl] benzoate (163104827), Stigmast-5-en-3beta-ol (86821) and 4,2'-dihydroxy-4'-methoxychalcone (592216)) were identified as potential core compounds. Molecular docking analysis and molecular dynamics simulations investigations revealed that ERBB2, HSP90AA1 and KDR, along with the newly discovered 163076213 compound to be the most significant metastasis targets and bioactive compound, respectively. These three core targets demonstrated interactions consistent with angiogenesis and leukocyte migration pathways. Furthermore, potentially novel interactions, such as KDR-MMP9, KDR-PIK3CA, ERBB2-HSP90AA1, ERBB2-ESR1, ERBB2-PIK3CA and ERBB2-MMP9 interactions were identified and may play a role in crosslinking the aforementioned metastatic pathways. Therefore, the present study revealed the main mechanisms behind the anti-metastatic effects of C. pulcherrima, paving the path for further research on these compounds and proteins to accelerate the research of cancer therapeutics and application of C. pulcherrima.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Insights from insulin resistance pathways: Therapeutic approaches against Alzheimer associated diabetes mellitus.

Alzheimer Associated Diabetes Mellitus, commonly known as Type 3 Diabetes Mellitus (T3DM) is a distinct subtype of diabetes with a pronounced association with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Insulin resistance serves as a pivotal link between these two conditions, leading to diminished insulin sensitivity, hyperglycemia, and impaired glucose uptake. The brain, a vital organ in AD context, is also significantly impacted by insulin resistance, resulting in energy deficits and neuronal damage, which are hallmark features of the neurodegenerative disorder. To pave the way for potential therapeutic interventions targeting the insulin resistance pathway, it is crucial to comprehend the intricate pathophysiology of T3DM and identify the overlapped features between diabetes and AD. This comprehensive review article aims to explore various pathway such as AMPK, PPARγ, cAMP and P13K/Akt pathway as potential target for management of T3DM. Through the analysis of these complex mechanisms, our goal is to reveal their interdependencies and support the discovery of innovative therapeutic strategies. The review extensively discusses several promising pharmaceutical candidates that have demonstrated dual drug action mechanisms, addressing both peripheral and cerebral insulin resistance observed in T3DM. These candidates hold significant promise for restoring insulin function and mitigating the detrimental effects of insulin resistance on the brain. The exploration of these therapeutic options contributes to the development of innovative interventions that alleviate the burden of T3DM and enhance patient care.

Experimental observation of the electron beam focusing effect induced by plasma currents with opposite directions.

We report on the experimental observation of the focusing effect of a 50MeV accelerator electron beam in a gas-discharge plasma target. The plasma is generated by igniting an electric discharge in two collinear quartz tubes, with the currents up to 1.5kA flowing in opposite directions in either of the two tubes. In such plasma current configuration, the electron beam is defocused in the first discharge tube and focused with a stronger force in the second one. With symmetric plasma currents, asymmetric effects are, however, induced on the beam transport process and the beam radius is reduced by a factor of 2.6 compared to the case of plasma discharge off. Experimental results are supported by two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations.

Different positive end expiratory pressure and tidal volume controls on lung protection and inflammatory factors during surgical anesthesia.

BACKGROUND: Mechanical ventilation can lead to the severe impairment of the metabolic pathway of alveolar surfactants, inactivating alveolar surfactants and significantly reducing lung-chest compliance. The cardiopulmonary function of elderly patients usually reduced to a certain extent, and there are lung complications after surgical anesthesia, just like lung barotrauma caused by mechanical ventilation, atelectasis and postoperative hypoxemia. AIM: To investigate the effects of different positive end expiratory pressures (PEEPs) and tidal volumes (VTs) on respiratory function, the degree of the inflammatory response and hemodynamic indexes in patients undergoing surgery under general anesthesia. METHODS: A total of 120 patients undergoing surgery for gastric or colon cancer under general anesthesia in Xinghua People's Hospital from January 2017 to January 2021 were randomly divided into Group A and Group B, with 60 cases in each group. The ventilation mode in Group A was VT (6.0 mL/kg) + PEEP (5.0 cmH2O), while that in Group B was VT (6.0 mL/kg) + PEEP (8.0 cmH2O). Blood gas parameters, respiratory mechanical parameters, inflammatory response indicators, hemodynamic indicators and related complications were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in PaCO2, PaO2, oxygen or the examined indexes at T0 between group A and group B (P > 0.05). The measured PaO2 value of patients in group A at T3 was higher than that in group B, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in peak airway pressure (Ppeak), mean airway pressure or dynamic pulmonary compliance (Cdyn) at T0 between group A and group B (P > 0.05). The measured Ppeak value of patients in group A at T1 was higher than that in group B, and the difference was significant (P < 0.05). The measured Cdyn value at T1 and T2 was greater than that in group B (P < 0.05). Before surgery, there were no significant differences in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 or IL-10 between group A and group B (P > 0.05). After 4 h, the measured values of TNF-α and IL-6 in group A were lower than those in group B, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05). The IL-10 Level in group A was higher than that in group B (P < 0.05). At T0, there were no significant differences in cardiac output, cardiac index (CI), stroke volume index (SVI) or mean arterial pressure between group A and group B (P > 0.05). The measured values of CI and SVI at T2 in patients in group A were higher than those in group B, and the differences were significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: For patients undergoing surgery for gastric or colon cancer under general anesthesia, the VT (6.0 mL/kg) + PEEP (5.0 cmH2O) regimen was more effective than the VT (6.0 mL/kg) + PEEP (8.0 cmH2O) regimen in protecting the lung function and ventilatory function of patients, and it had better effects on maintaining hemodynamic stability and reducing inflammatory reactions.