Effects of eugenol-reduced clove extract on glycogen phosphorylase b and the development of diabetes in db/db mice.

We found that the 50% aqueous EtOH extract of clove (Syzygium aromaticum) had potent dose-dependent inhibitory activity toward glycogen phosphorylase b and glucagon-stimulated glucose production in primary rat hepatocytes. Among the components, eugeniin inhibited glycogen phosphorylase b and glucagon-stimulated glucose production in primary rat hepatocytes, with IC50 values of 0.14 and 4.7 µM, respectively. In sharp contrast, eugenol showed no significant inhibition toward glycogen phosphorylase b, even at a concentration of 400 µM. Eugenol-reduced clove extracts (erCE) were prepared and when fed to a db/db mouse they clearly suppressed the blood glucose and HbA1c levels. Furthermore, plasma triglyceride and non-esterified fatty acid levels in 5% and 10% erCE-fed db/db mice were significantly lowered, compared with control db/db mice without erCE supplementation. These results suggested that dietary supplementation with the erCE could beneficially modify glucose and lipid metabolism and contribute to the prevention of the progress of hyperglycemia and metabolic syndrome.

In vitro inhibition of glycogen-degrading enzymes and glycosidases by six-membered sugar mimics and their evaluation in cell cultures.

We investigated in vitro inhibition of mammalian carbohydrate-degrading enzymes by six-membered sugar mimics and their evaluation in cell cultures. 1-Deoxynojirimycin (DNJ) showed no significant inhibition toward glycogen phosphorylase (GP) but was a potent inhibitor of another glycogen-degrading enzyme, amylo-1,6-glucosidase (1,6-GL), with an IC(50) value of 0.16 microM. In primary rat hepatocytes, the inhibition of glycogen breakdown by DNJ reached plateau at 100 microM with 25% inhibition and then remained unchanged. The potent GP inhibitor 1,4-dideoxy-1,4-imino-D-arabinitol (D-AB1) inhibited hepatic glucose production with an IC(50) value of about 9 microM and the inhibition by D-AB1 was further enhanced in the presence of DNJ. DNJ and alpha-homonojirimycin (HNJ) are very potent inhibitors of rat intestinal maltase, with IC(50) values of 0.13 and 0.08 microM, respectively, and also showed a similar strong inhibition toward maltase in Caco-2 cell model system, with IC(50) value of 0.05 and 0.10 microM, respectively. D-Isofagomine (D-IFG) and L-IFG are competitive and noncompetitive inhibitors of human lysosomal beta-glucosidase (beta-GL), respectively, with K(i) values of 8.4 nM and 6.9 microM. D-IFG increased intracellular beta-GL activity by twofold at 10 microM in Gaucher N370S cell line as an 'active-site-specific' chaperone, and surprisingly a noncompetitive inhibitor L-IFG also increased intracellular beta-GL activity by 1.6-fold at 500 microM.

Structure-activity relationships of flavonoids as potential inhibitors of glycogen phosphorylase.

Flavonoids are ubiquitous components in vegetables, fruits, tea, and wine. Therefore, they are often consumed in large quantities in our daily diet. Several flavonoids have been shown to have potential as antidiabetic agents. In the present study, we focused on inhibition of glycogen phosphorylase (GP) by flavonoids. 6-Hydroxyluteolin, hypolaetin, and quercetagetin were identified as good inhibitors of dephosphorylated GP (GPb), with IC 50 values of 11.6, 15.7, and 9.7 microM, respectively. Furthermore, a structure-activity relationship study revealed that the presence of the 3' and 4' OH groups in the B-ring and double bonds between C2 and C3 in flavones and flavonols are important factors for enzyme recognition and binding. Quercetagetin inhibited GPb in a noncompetitive manner, with a K i value of 3.5 microM. Multiple inhibition studies by Dixon plots suggested that quercetagetin binds to the allosteric site. In primary cultured rat hepatocytes, quercetagetin and quercetin suppressed glucagon-stimulated glycogenolysis, with IC 50 values of 66.2 and 68.7 microM, respectively. These results suggested that as a group of novel GP inhibitors, flavonoids have potential to contribute to the protection or improvement of control of diabetes type II.

Adsorption of bile acid by chitosan salts prepared with cinnamic acid and analogue compounds.

A chitosan (CS) powder treated with cinnamic acid and an analogue compound (CN) was prepared as CS-CN. Using it, bile acid adsorption by CS-CN and the release of CN were investigated in vitro. When CS-CN was soaked in a taurocholate solution, it released CN and simultaneously adsorbed the bile acid. For CS-CN prepared with cinnamic acid, the amount of CN released was 0.286 +/- 0.001 mmol/g CS-CN; the amount of taurocholate adsorbed was 0.284 +/- 0.003 mmol/g CS-CN. These two functions were recognized on alginate or pectin gel beads containing CS-CN. The amount of released CN was altered extensively by the species of CN used for gel-bead preparation. Results suggest that CS-CN is a candidate for complementary medicine to prevent lifestyle-related diseases.

Mutational analysis of the MRP2 gene and long-term follow-up of Dubin-Johnson syndrome in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have indicated that dysfunction or loss of the multidrug resistance protein 2 (MRP2) is the molecular basis of Dubin-Johnson syndrome (DJS). To clarify the genetic basis of the disease and the long-term stability of serum bilirubin levels, we conducted a mutational analysis of the MRP2 gene and followed up serum bilirubin levels in Japanese DJS patients 30 years after they were originally diagnosed, based on traditional criteria. METHODS: Patients were interviewed by telephone, and blood tests, including a genetic analysis of MRP2, were performed on the patients and family members who gave informed consent. RESULTS: Over the 30 years, hyperbilirubinemia remained unchanged in four of the five patients studied, while it worsened in 1 patient whose DJS was complicated by chronic hepatitis C. From an MRP2 gene mutational analysis, six mutations, including the novel mutation 1177C>T, were found. Three patients of a consanguineous family were homozygotes for three mutations (298C>T, 1967+2T>C, and 2439+2T>C). Two patients were compound heterozygotes (1177C>T/2302C>T and 1967+2T>C/2026G>C). A familial study showed no difference in serum bilirubin levels between mutant/wild heterozygotes and wild/wild homozygotes. CONCLUSIONS: The hyperbilirubinemia of four Japanese patients with DJS, one of whom had a novel mutation, 1177C>T, of the MRP2 gene, had not worsened with aging.

AVAQ 594-597 deletion of the TfR2 gene in a Japanese family with hemochromatosis.

The majority of Caucasian patients with hemochromatosis are homozygous for C282Y mutation of the HFE gene. In contrast to its high prevalence in Caucasians, hemochromatosis is a rare disorder in Japan. This may be due to the low prevalence of the C282Y mutation of the HFE gene in Japanese. Recent reports suggest that the mutations of transferrin receptor 2 (TfR2) gene may be involved in non-HFE hemochromatosis. Therefore, we investigated the TfR2 gene of 6 sporadic and 5 familiar cases of Japanese hemochromatosis. Three siblings in one family were found to be homozygous for an AVAQ 594-597 deletion. All three had severe iron deposits in the hepatocytes and bile ducts, but none was affected by diabetes mellitus. This mutation was not detected in 100 control individuals. Further study was undertaken to investigate whether the large deletion of the TfR2 gene is the mutation responsible for some of the Japanese hemochromatosis cases.

Endothelium-dependent contraction of rat thoracic aorta induced by gallic acid.

The vascular effect of a component of hydrolysable tannins, gallic acid, was examined in isolated rat thoracic aorta. Gallic acid exerted a contractile effect on the phenylephrine- or prostaglandin F(2/alpha)-precontracted endothelium-intact arteries. In endothelium-denuded arteries, the contractile response to-gallic acid was absent. Pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (30 microM) abolished the gallic acid-induced contraction. Pretreatment with indomethacin (10 microM) or BQ610 (100 nM) had no observed effect. Pretreatment with gallic acid (1-10 microM) significantly attenuated the relaxation induced by acetylcholine, and that with 10 microM gallic acid also reduced the potency of sodium nitroprusside in the relaxation, without a reduction in efficacy, in endothelium-denuded arteries. These findings indicate that gallic acid induced endothelium-dependent contraction and strongly inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxation rather than the endothelium-independent relaxation, probably through inhibition of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production. Since NO plays an important role in vasodilative regulation and inflammatory disorders, these findings may also indicate that gallic acid interferes with the inflammatory responses.

Effects of catechins on vascular tone in rat thoracic aorta with endothelium.

The effects of eight catechin derivatives on vascular tone in rat thoracic aorta were examined. Catechin derivatives (10 microM) potentiated the contractile response to phenylephrine in endothelium-intact arteries. The potentiations produced by EGCg and EGC were almost absent in endothelium-denuded arteries and abolished by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis. The catechin derivatives also inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine. The order of catechin derivatives ranked in terms of both increasing vascular reactivity and impairing endothelium-dependent relaxation was similar; (-)-gallocatechin (GC) >or= (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) >or= (-)-gallocatechin gallate (GCg) >or= (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg) >or= (-)-catechin (C) >or= (-)-epicatechin (EC) >or= (-)-catechin gallate (Cg) >or= (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg). In addition, EGC inhibited the endothelium-independent relaxation evoked by both sodium nitroprusside and NOC-7, a spontanous NO releaser, but EGCg inhibited only that by NOC-7. These findings indicate that catechin derivatives produce a potentiation of the contractile response and an inhibition of the vasorelaxant response, probably through inactivation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO), and that the hydroxyl on C-5 of the B ring together with the stereoscopic structure between the C-3 group and the B ring of flavanols was of importance in mediating the above effects and that the substitution of a gallate group of C-3 attenuated the effects, probably due to a decreased response to solube guanylate cyclase in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Potentiation of vasoconstrictor response and inhibition of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation by gallic acid in rat aorta.

In the isolated rat thoracic aorta, gallic acid potentiated the vasoconstrictor response to phenylephrine. The potentiation produced by gallic acid was absent in endothelium-denuded arteries. The potentiation was abolished by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, and slightly attenuated by an addition of L-arginine, while indomethacin or BQ610 had no effect. The potentiation of response to phenylephrine was not found for structural modifications of gallic acid, except for caffeic acid. Gallic acid also inhibited vasorelaxation induced by acetylcholine, sodium nitroprusside or prostacyclin, especially that by acetylcholine. The effect on vasorelaxation induced by acetylcholine was decreased by esterification of the carboxy group of gallic acid, and in the absence or by the methylation of the o-dihydroxy group. Caffeic acid inhibited the vasorelaxation, though the effect was smaller than that of gallic acid. These findings indicate that gallic acid produces a potentiation of contractile response and inhibition of vasorelaxant responses, probably through inactivation of nitric oxide (NO), in which endothelially produced NO is principally involved, and that the modification of functional groups of the gallic acid molecule abolishes the potentiation of contractile response and attenuates the inhibition of vasorelaxant responses.

Long term effects of phlebotomy on biochemical and histological parameters of chronic hepatitis C.

OBJECTIVES: There is considerable evidence that iron is a risk factor for liver injury in chronic hepatitis C. Known as iron reduction therapy, phlebotomy reduces serum ALT activity. This effect might continue with maintenance phlebotomy and result in slower progression of liver fibrosis. METHODS: We examined the biochemical parameters and liver histology of patients with chronic hepatitis C treated by maintenance phlebotomy. For biochemical evaluation, 25 patients were treated by initial phlebotomy to reduce serum ferritin levels to 10 ng/ml or less and then observed for 5 yr with maintenance phlebotomy to maintain the iron-deficient state. For histological evaluation, liver biopsies were performed before and after the study period in 13 of the patients. Thirteen patients who were virological nonresponders to interferon alone and had undergone second liver biopsies after more than 3 yr served as histological controls. RESULTS: Serum aminotransferase levels were decreased significantly by initial phlebotomy and remained at the same levels during the study period (p < 0.05). The grading scores were improved significantly in the study group (p < 0.05) and unchanged in the controls. The staging scores remained unchanged in the study group but were increased in the controls (p < 0.005). Disease progression was significantly different between the two groups (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that phlebotomy with maintenance lowers serum aminotransferase levels, improves liver inflammation, and suppresses the progression of liver fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C.