The Improvement Effect of D-Chiro-Inositol and Ecklonia cava K. in the Rat Model of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

Introduction: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) is known to be an endocrine state that is characterized by oligomenorrhea, hyperandrogenism, and highly cystic follicles in the ovaries. The use of food ingredients and traditional medicine in Asian countries is well known, and previous studies have shown that Ecklonia cava K. [Alariaceae] (EC) is able to alleviate PCOS symptoms. D-Chiro-inositol (DCI) administration in pathologies where steroid biosynthesis is a crucial factor, i.e., PCOS, has provided satisfactory results. Methods: Therefore, we studied the synergistic effects of the two previously known active compounds. In rats with letrozole-induced PCOS, we focused on alternative therapies using EC and/or DCI extracts to alleviate ovarian failure. Results: As a nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor, letrozole inhibits the conversion of testosterone to estrogen and subsequently causes PCOS. We divided 6-week-old female mice into the following six groups and evaluated them: vehicle, PCOS, PCOS + MET (metformin), PCOS + DCI, PCOS + EC, and PCOS + DCI + EC. In our study, PCOS rats treated with EC and DCI had low serum LH and T levels and low serum levels of inflammatory cytokines such as TNFα and IL-6. These treatments also appeared to regulate the production of factors that affect follicle formation and inflammation in the ovaries. Conclusion: We concluded that EC extract and/or DCI administration influenced aromatase production and reduced LH and T stimulation, and cotreatment with EC and DCI consequently restored ovarian dysfunction or anti-inflammatory responses in rats with PCOS-like symptoms.

High-efficiency enzymatic production of α-isoquercitrin glucosides by amylosucrase from Deinococcus geothermalis.

Isoquercitrin (IQ, quercetin-3-O-ß-d-glucopyranoside) has diverse biological functions, such as anti-oxidant and anti-cancer activity, but its use is limited by poor solubility and bioavailability. Enzymatically modified IQ (EMIQ) is a mixture of transglycosylated IQs that have better solubility and bioavailability than do quercetin and IQ. Two different enzymes, cyclodextrin glucanotransferase (CGTase) and amylosucrase (ASase), have the transglycosylation activity to produce EMIQ. Both enzymes produce a variety of EMIQs including IQ, IQ-glucoside (IQ-G1), IQ-diglucoside (IQ-G2), and IQ-triglucoside (IQ-G3). ASase had a higher bioconversion yield from IQ to EMIQ (97.6%) than did CGTase (76.8%). In addition, the yield of IQ-G3, which was the most bioavailable form, was higher with ASase (46%) than with CGTases (8%). Taken together, these results suggest that ASase can be used to synthesize EMIQ in a simple and specific process.