Effect of Grifola frondosa polysaccharide on anti-tumor activity in combination with 5-Fu in Heps-bearing mice.

GP11 had been reported to have effectively anti-tumor activity by improving the immune function in our previous study. To avoid drawbacks of the 5-Fu, GP11 in combination with 5-Fu was investigated in this study. The results demonstrated that such synergism displayed enhance the anti-tumor activity of 5-Fu. Additionally, a strength effect was also observed in regulating immune function of GP11 and 5-Fu simultaneous administration, such as enhancing serum interleukin-2 (IL-2) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) secretion, and increasing immune organs weights. Moreover, GP11 could improve the haematological and biochemical parameters deterioration, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities reduction and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels enhancement in non-immune organs induced by 5-Fu. All these results illustrated that GP11 exhibited attenuated and synergized effect on 5-Fu by improving the immune function. It could be developed as an auxiliary preparation for chemotherapeutic drugs.

Schisandra polysaccharide increased glucose consumption by up-regulating the expression of GLUT-4.

In our previous study, a polysaccharide was extracted from Schisandra Chinensis (Trucz.) Baill and found with anti-diabetic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-diabetic effects of the low weight molecular polysaccharide (SCPP11) purified from crude Schisandra polysaccharide and illustrate the underlying mechanism in buffalo rat liver cells. The insulin resistance model of BRL cells was established by incubating with insulin solution for 24h. The effects of SCPP11 on regulating related protein and mRNA expression in an insulin and AMPK signal pathway were investigated by western blot and RT-PCR analysis. SCPP11 showed no cytotoxicity to BRL cells and could improve the glucose consumption in BRL cells. SCPP11 increased the protein expression of Akt, p-AMPK and GLUT-4 in BRL cells. Moreover, SCPP11 could enhance the mRNA expression levels of IRS-1, PI3K, Akt, GLUT-4, AMPKα and PPAR-γ in BRL cells at the same time. In conclusion, SCPP11 possessed effects in improving glucose consumption by up-regulating the expression of GLUT-4 which might occur via insulin and AMPK signal pathway and could be a potential functional food to prevent and mitigate the insulin resistance condition.

Anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of selenium (Se)-polysaccharide from Se-enriched Grifola frondosa.

A polysaccharide termed Se-GP11 was extracted and purified from Se-enriched Grifola frondosa in our previous study. This study investigated the characterization, anti-tumor and immunomodulatory activity of Se-GP11. The results showed that Se-GP11 was composed of mannose, glucose and galactose with a molar ratio of 1:4.91:2.41. The weight-average molecular weight (Mw) and weight-average mean square radius (Rw) of Se-GP11 in 0.1M sodium chloride solution were 3.3×10(4)Da and 32.8 nm. Se-GP11 existed as a globular conformation with random coil structure. Se-GP11 had no anti-tumor activity against HepG-2 cells in vitro, and it significantly inhibited the growth of Heps tumor in vivo. Se-GP11 increased the relatively thymus and spleen weights as well as serum necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) levels. In addition, Se-GP11 promoted the phagocytosis and NO production of RAW264.7 as compared with that of the normal control group. The results revealed that the Se-GP11 may exhibit the anti-tumor through improving immunologic function of the tumor bearing mice.

Antitumor and immunomodulatory activity of a water-soluble polysaccharide from Grifola frondosa.

Grifola frondosa has long been known and respected as a medically important fungus. This study investigated the characterization, antitumor and immunomodulatory activity of a polysaccharide named GP11 purified from G. frondosa. The results revealed that GP11 was composed of → 1)-D-Manp-(6 →,→ 1)-D-Glcp-(4 →,→ 1)-D-Galp-(6 → and → 2,3,6)-D-Glcp-(1 →, with branches attached at O-2,3 of 1,2,3,6-linked Glcp residues and terminal T-Glcp. GP11 exhibited indirect cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 cells in vitro, and it significantly inhibited the growth of Heps cells in vivo. GP11 increased the relative thymus and spleen weights as well as serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-2 levels. GP11 stimulated tumoricidal activity and the production of nitric oxide (NO), TNF-α and interleukin-1ß, and it also stimulated the protein expression of iNOS and mRNA expression of iNOS and TNF-α. TLR-4 is a potential receptor for GP11-mediated macrophage activation. The results suggested that the antitumor activity of GP11 may be due to the improvement of immune functions through the TLR-4-mediated up-regulation of NO and TNF-α.

Alkyl caffeates improve the antioxidant activity, antitumor property and oxidation stability of edible oil.

Caffeic acid (CA) is distributed widely in nature and possesses strong antioxidant activity. However, CA has lower solubility in non-polar media, which limits its application in fat-soluble food. To increase the lipophilicity of natural antioxidant CA, a series of alkyl caffeates were synthesized and their antioxidant and antitumor activities were investigated. The antioxidant parameters, including the induction period, acid value and unsaturated fatty acid content, of the alkyl caffeates in edible oil were firstly investigated. The results indicated that alkyl caffeates had a lower DPPH IC50 (14-23 µM) compared to CA, dibutyl hydroxy toluene (BHT) and Vitamin C (24-51 µM), and significantly inhibited four human cancer cells (SW620, SW480, SGC7901 and HepG2) with inhibition ratio of 71.4-78.0% by a MTT assay. With regard to the induction period and acid value assays, methyl and butyl caffeates had higher abilities than BHT to restrain the oxidation process and improve the stability of edible oil. The addition of ethyl caffeate to oil allowed maintenance of a higher unsaturated fatty acid methyl ester content (68.53%) at high temperatures. Overall, the alkyl caffeats with short chain length (n<5) assessed better oxidative stability than those with long chain length. To date, this is the first report to the correlations among the antioxidant activity, anticancer activity and oxidative stability of alkyl caffeates.

Five new degraded diterpenoids from Trigonostemon xyphophylloides.

Five new degraded diterpenoids trigoxyphins J-N (1-5), among them trigoxyphins K and L have a novel carbon skeleton, together with four known analogues (6-9) have been obtained from the ethanol extract of the twigs of Trigonostemon xyphophylloides. Compounds 1-5 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity in vitro against three human tumor cell lines by MTT assay. The results exhibited that Trigoxyphin N (5) showed moderate cytotoxicities against SPC-A-1 and SGC-7901 cancer cell lines.

Trigoxyphins H and I: two new daphnane diterpenoids from Trigonostemon xyphophylloides.

Two new daphnane diterpenoids (1 and 2), together with four known analogues (3-6) were isolated from Trigonostemon xyphophylloides. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activities against the SPCA-1 (human lung cancer) and BEL-7402 (human hepatocellular carcinoma) cancer cell lines. Trigoxyphin I (2) showed modest cytotoxicity against two tumor cell lines.

[The "window" surgical exposure strategy of the upper anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach for anterior decompression at upper cervical spine].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the "window" surgical exposure strategy of the upper anterior cervical retropharyngeal approach for the exposure and decompression and instrumentation of the upper cervical spine. METHODS: From Jan. 2000 to July 2008, 5 patients with upper cervical spinal injuries were treated by surgical operation included 4 males and 1 female with and average age of 35 years old ranging from 16 to 68 years. There were 2 cases of Hangman's fractures (type II ), 2 of C2.3 intervertebral disc displacement and 1 of C2 vertebral body tuberculosis. All patients underwent the upper cervical anterior retropharyngeal approach through the "window" between the hypoglossal nerve and the superior laryngeal nerve and pharynx and carotid artery. Two patients of Hangman's fractures underwent the C2,3 intervertebral disc discectomy, bone graft fusion and internal fixation. Two patients of C2,3 intervertebral disc displacement underwent the C2,3 intervertebral disc discectomy, decompression bone graft fusion and internal fixation. One patient of C2 vertebral body tuberculosis was dissected and resected and the focus and the cavity was filled by bone autografting. RESULTS: C1 anterior arch to C3 anterior vertebral body were successful exposed. Lesion resection or decompression and fusion were successful in all patients. All patients were followed-up for from 5 to 26 months (means 13.5 months). There was no important vascular and nerve injury and no wound infection. Neutral symptoms was improved and all patient got successful fusion. CONCLUSION: The "window" surgical exposure surgical technique of the upper cervical anterior retropharyngeal approach is a favorable strategy. This approach strategy can be performed with full exposure for C1-C3 anterior anatomical structure, and can get minimally invasive surgery results and few and far between wound complication, that is safe if corresponding experience is achieved.

Reactive oxygen species mediate ERK activation through different Raf-1-dependent signaling pathways following cerebral ischemia.

Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) results in up-regulation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) cascade in response to numerous stimuli. Cerebral ischemia induces calcium-dependent kinase activation followed by ROS production. Here, we examined how ROS mediates the activation of ERK following cerebral ischemia in the rat hippocampus. We found that alpha-tocopherol, a free radical scavenger, attenuated the initial, robust activation of ERK by inhibiting Raf-1 dephosphorylation at Ser259. Alpha-tocopherol also down-regulated the second and mild activation of ERK through inhibition of Src-dependent phosphorylation of Raf-1 at Tyr340/341. Our results suggest that ROS production mediates the biphasic activation of ERK through different signaling cascades following post-ischemic reperfusion. Mediation of these signaling pathways involves changes in Raf-1 phosphorylation at different sites.

[Progress in research on constituents and pharmacological activities of sarcotestas of Ginkgo biloba].

The latest progress in research on constituents and pharmacological activities of sarcotestas of Ginkgo biloba has been studied. The main constituents in sarcotestas of G. biloba include flavones, ginkgolides, alkylphenols, polysaccharides and amino acids, etc. They show the following activities, such as bacteriostatic, bactericidal and pesticidal activities, antitumor and mutagenic, carcinogenic effects, antianaphylaxis and allergenic activity, effects on immunologic function, scavenging free radical, antisenile action, etc. The problems at present and the reseach direction for the future on sarcotestas of G. biloba have been put forward.