Influence of dietary lipids on the fatty acid composition and stearoyl-CoA desaturase expression in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticusxO. aureus) under cold shock.

To improve hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticusxO. aureus) survival under cold shock, the influence of diets containing various dietary lipids was investigated. Four different diets were used which consisted of 12% fish oil, 12% palmitoleic oil 12% coconut oil, and a mixture of fish oil (7%) and corn oil (5%). Our results showed that during cold shock, the proportion of saturated fatty acids in the fish steadily and significantly decreased for all of the diets, but the proportion of monounsaturated fatty acids increased. Proportions of polyenoic fatty acids initially increased then stabilized for the mixed, fish, and coconut oil diets, but did not significantly increase until day 4 for the palmitoleic oil diet. The stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD) activity was the lowest on day 0 and then gradually increased for all diets. At any point, the enzymatic activity of SCD was the highest for fish on the mixed and the coconut oil diet, followed by the palmitoleic oil diet, and was lowest for the fish oil diet. The expression of SCD mRNA steadily increased for all diets, but increased more substantially for the mixed diet. On day 6, the expression was the highest for fish on the mixed diet, followed by the coconut oil diet, with the lowest levels for those on the palmitoleic and fish oil diets. These results show that dietary lipids strongly affect the fatty acid composition and SCD expression in tilapia under cold shock, and cold tolerance of this species is also affected.

Actinodaphnine induces apoptosis through increased nitric oxide, reactive oxygen species and down-regulation of NF-kappaB signaling in human hepatoma Mahlavu cells.

Actinodaphnine, extracted from Cinnamomum insularimontanum (Lauraceae), possesses cytotoxicity in some cancers, but the mechanism by which actinodaphnine induces apoptosis in human hepatoma cells remains poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of apoptosis induced by actinodaphnine in human hepatoma Mahlavu cells. Treatment with actinodaphnine dose-dependently induced apoptosis in Mahlavu cells that correlated with increased intracellular nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS), disruptive mitochondrial transmembrane potential (DeltaPsi(m)), and activation of caspase 3/7. Our data also demonstrated that actinodaphnine down-regulated activity of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB). The apoptotic response to actinodaphnine was markedly decreased in Mahlavu cells pretreated with dexsamethasone, a NO inhibitor, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), an antioxidant, and Boc-Asp(OMe)-fmk, a broad caspases inhibitor. These results suggested that actinodaphnine-induced apoptosis is initially mediated through the NO and/or ROS increase and caspases-dependent pathway. In conclusion, our results indicate that an increase of ROS and/or NO is the initial essential event that results in the decrease of DeltaPsi(m) and the activation of caspases that commits the cells to the apoptotic pathway in actinodaphnine-treated hepatoma Mahlavu cells.

Liriodenine inhibits the proliferation of human hepatoma cell lines by blocking cell cycle progression and nitric oxide-mediated activation of p53 expression.

Liriodenine was isolated from the leaves of Michelia compressa. This study was designed to assess cell cycle arrest, the production of nitric oxide (NO) and p53 expression in liriodenine-treated human hepatoma cell lines, including wild-type p53 (Hep G2 and SK-Hep-1). As evidenced by flowcytometric studies, liriodenine induced cell cycle G(1) arrest and inhibited DNA synthesis in Hep G2 and SK-Hep-1 cell lines. The p53, iNOS expression and intracellular NO level were markedly increased in Hep G2 cells after liriodenine treatment. A NO inhibitor, carboxy-PTIO inhibited the p53 expression induced by liriodenine. In addition, liriodenine could not induce obvious cytotoxicity in normal human IMR-90 cell line. These results demonstrate that NO production and p53 expression are critical factors in liriodenine-induced growth inhibition in human wild-type p53 hepatoma cells.

Induction of G0/G1 arrest and apoptosis by 3-hydroxycinnamic acid in human cervix epithelial carcinoma (HeLa) cells.

The present studies were undertaken to analyze the factors regulating 3-hydroxycinnamic acid-induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Treatment of human cervix HeLa cells with 3-hydroxycinnamic acid induced apoptosis and G0/G1-phase arrest. The percentage of apoptosis induced by 3-hydroxycinnamic acid in HeLa cells was increased with incubation time. The results also demonstrated that 3-hydroxycinnamic acid increased the expression of p53, caspase-3, Bax and cyclin B. These results demonstrated that 3-hydroxycinnamic acid induced apoptosis through p53- and caspase-3-dependent pathways.

Coumaronochromones and flavanones from Euchresta formosana roots.

Four coumaronochromones, formosanatins A-D (-4), and a flavanone, euchrenone a(16), along with four known compounds, euchretins E and G, euchrestaflavanone A, and daidzein, were isolated from the roots of Euchresta formosana. The structures of - were established by spectroscopic analyses.

Protective effect of methyl gallate from Toona sinensis (Meliaceae) against hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in MDCK cells.

Methyl gallate (MG) has been shown to be an effective antioxidant in a variety of acellular experiments. Accordingly, this study was designed to assess the ability of MG, extracting from Toona sinensis to protect cultured Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-mediated oxidative stress. Trolox, a cell permeable and water-soluble vitamin E analogue, was included for comparison. First, when MDCK cells were pretreated with MG and trolox for 1 h, followed by exposing to H2O2 (0.8 mM) for an additional hour, we found that the intracellular peroxide productions, as reflected by dichlorofluorescein (DCF) fluorescence, were shown to be decreased in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, using C11-BODIPY581/591 as a lipid peroxidation probe, we also found that MG, in a concentration of 100 microM, could alleviate lipid peroxidation of the cells exposed to a short-term H2O2 treatment. In addition, MG-treated cells could prevent intracellular glutathione (GSH) from being depleted following an exposure of H2O2 (8.0 mM) for a 3 h period. Next, we also examined the effect of MG on H2O2-mediated oxidative damage to DNA. Using 8-oxoguanine as an indicator for oxidative DNA damage, we demonstrated that the percentage of MDCK cells containing 8-oxoguanine was drastically increased by exposing to H2O2 (40 mM) for 3 h. However, 8-oxoguanine contents were shown to be significantly decreased in the presence of MG prior to H2O2 exposure. Comparatively, MG was shown to be a better protective agent against oxidative damage to DNA as compared to trolox. Taken together, our data suggest that MG is effective in preventing H2O2-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in MDCK cells. The underlying mechanisms involved scavenging of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), inhibition of lipid peroxidation and prevention of intracellular GSH depletion.

Effects of rutin from Toona sinensis on the immune and physiological responses of white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) under Vibrio alginolyticus challenge.

Rutin is a bioflavonoid with strong antioxidant activity. To investigate the regulatory roles of rutin in various functions in crustaceans, we examined physiological (haemolymph glucose, lactate, and lipid) and innate non-specific immune responses (total haemocyte count (THC), phenoloxidase activity (PO), respiratory bursts (release of superoxide anion, O(2)(-)) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity) to the pathogen Vibrio alginolyticus in white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) that were individually injected with rutin extracted from Toona sinensis at 10, 20, or 50 microg g(-1). Results showed that PO activity and respiratory burst of L. vannamei increased obviously (P<0.05) when injected with rutin at a dose of 20 and 50 microg g(-1) after 12 and 24 h, respectively. Both the THC and SOD activities of experimental and control groups revealed no significant difference at all doses. L. vannamei injected with rutin at either dose maintained lower glucose, lactate, and lipid levels in response to V. alginolyticus challenge after 12-36, 24-48, and 24-60 h, respectively. The survival rate of L. vannamei that received rutin at either dose was significantly higher than that received saline after 48-72 h. It was, therefore, concluded that the immune ability and resistance against V. alginolyticus infection of L. vannamei receiving rutin at > or = 10 microg g(-1) increased.

Cytotoxic constituents from the leaves of Cinnamomum subavenium.

Two new butanolides, subamolide D (1) and subamolide E (2), and a new secobutanolide, secosubamolide A (3), along with 21 known compounds were isolated from the leaves of Cinnamomum subavenium. The structures of 1-3 were determined by spectroscopic analysis. Propidium iodide staining and cytometry analysis were used to evaluate the cell cycle progression of the treated SW480 cells and it was found that 1 and 2 caused DNA damage in a dose- and time-dependent manner.

Annoglabayin, a novel dimeric kaurane diterpenoid, and apoptosis in Hep G2 cells of annomontacin from the fruits of Annona glabra.

Annoglabayin (1), a novel Annona dimeric kaurane diterpenoid, has been isolated from Annona glabra, and its structure was determined on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Annoglabayin (1) contains a unique carbon bridge between two nor-ent-kaurane monomeric units. The dose-response of 2 in Hep G2 cells indicated that 2 increased DNA damage. In addition, our results showed that 2 induced a noticeable decrease in mitochondrial transmembrane potential during treatment. These results indicate that 2 produces apoptotic events in Hep G2 cells, through inducing changes in mitochondria.

Cytotoxic constituents of the stem bark of Neolitsea acuminatissima.

Three new eudesmanolide sesquiterpenes, neolitacumone A-C (1-3), and one new benzylisoquinoline alkaloid, neolitacumonine (5), along with 27 known compounds were isolated from the stem bark of Neolitsea acuminatissima. The structures of compounds 1-3 and 5 were established on the basis of spectral and chemical evidence. Compounds 2, 3, and 20 were selectively inhibitory to Hep 2,2,15 cells with IC50 values in the range 0.24-0.04 microg/mL. Compound 20 was marginally cytotoxic to Hep G2 cells.