The Potential Chemopreventive Effect of Andrographis paniculata on 1,2-Dimethylhydrazine and High-Fat-Diet-Induced Colorectal Cancer in Sprague Dawley Rats.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is responsible for a notable rise in the overall mortality rate. Obesity is found to be one of the main factors behind CRC development. Andrographis paniculata is a herbaceous plant famous for its medicinal properties, particularly in Southeast Asia for its anti-cancer properties. This study examines the chemopreventive impact of A. paniculata ethanolic extract (APEE) against a high-fat diet and 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer in Sprague Dawley rats. Sprague Dawley rats were administered 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (40 mg/kg, i.p. once a week for 10 weeks) and a high-fat diet (HFD) for 20 weeks to induce colorectal cancer. APEE was administered at 125 mg/kg, 250 mg/kg, and 500 mg/kg for 20 weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood serum and organs were collected. DMH/HFD-induced rats had abnormal crypts and more aberrant crypt foci (ACF). APEE at a dose of 500 mg/kg improved the dysplastic state of the colon tissue and caused a 32% reduction in the total ACF. HFD increased adipocyte cell size, while 500 mg/kg APEE reduced it. HFD and DMH/HFD rats had elevated serum insulin and leptin levels. Moreover, UHPLC-QTOF-MS analysis revealed that APEE was rich in anti-cancer phytochemicals. This finding suggests that APEE has anti-cancer potential against HFD/DMH-induced CRC and anti-adipogenic and anti-obesity properties.

Bisphenol A (BPA) Leading to Obesity and Cardiovascular Complications: A Compilation of Current In Vivo Study.

BPA is one of the most common endocrine disruptors that is widely being manufactured daily nationwide. Although scientific evidence supports claims of negative effects of BPA on humans, there is also evidence suggesting that a low level of BPA is safe. However, numerous in vivo trials contraindicate with this claim and there is a high possibility of BPA exposure could lead to obesity. It has been speculated that this does not stop with the exposed subjects only, but may also cause transgenerational effects. Direct disruption of endocrine regulation, neuroimmune and signaling pathways, as well as gut microbiata, has been identified to be interrupted by BPA exposure, leading to overweight or obesity. In these instances, cardiovascular complications are one of the primary notable clinical signs. In regard to this claim, this review paper discusses the role of BPA on obesity in the perspective of endocrine disruptions and possible cardiovascular complications that may arise due to BPA. Thus, the aim of this review is to outline the changes in gut microbiota and neuroimmune or signaling mechanisms involved in obesity in relation to BPA. To identify potentially relevant articles, a depth search was done on the databases Nature, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, and Medline & Ovid from the past 5 years. According to Boolean operator guideline, selected keywords such as (1) BPA OR environmental chemical AND fat OR LDL OR obese AND transgenerational effects or phenocopy (2) Endocrine disruptors OR chemical AND lipodystrophy AND phenocopy (3) Lipid profile OR weight changes AND cardiovascular effect (4) BPA AND neuroimmune OR gene signaling, were used as search terms. Upon screening, 11 articles were finalized to be further reviewed and data extraction tables containing information on (1) the type of animal model (2) duration and dosage of BPA exposure (3) changes in the lipid profile or weight (4) genes, signaling mechanism, or any neuroimmune signal involved, and (5) transgenerational effects were created. In toto, the study indicates there are high chances of BPA exposure affecting lipid profile and gene associated with lipolysis, leading to obesity. Therefore, this scoping review recapitulates the possible effects of BPA that may lead to obesity with the evidence of current in vivo trials. The biomarkers, safety concerns, recommended dosage, and the impact of COVID-19 on BPA are also briefly described.

Mechanisms of Natural Extracts of Andrographis paniculata That Target Lipid-Dependent Cancer Pathways: A View from the Signaling Pathway.

Andrographis paniculata is a local medicinal plant that is widely cultivated in Malaysia. It is comprised of numerous bioactive compounds that can be isolated using water, ethanol or methanol. Among these compounds, andrographolide has been found to be the major compound and it exhibits varieties of pharmacological activities, including anti-cancer properties, particularly in the lipid-dependent cancer pathway. Lipids act as crucial membrane-building elements, fuel for energy-demanding activities, signaling molecules, and regulators of several cellular functions. Studies have shown that alterations in lipid composition assist cancer cells in changing microenvironments. Thus, compounds that target the lipid pathway might serve as potential anti-cancer therapeutic agents. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the medicinal chemistry and pharmacology of A. paniculata and its active compounds in terms of anti-cancer activity, primary mechanism of action, and cellular targets, particularly in the lipid-dependent cancer pathway.

Potential Effects of Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) in Hyperglycemia and Dyslipidemia-A Systematic Review in Diabetic Retinopathy Context.

Hyperglycemia is a condition with high glucose levels that may result in dyslipidemia. In severe cases, this alteration may lead to diabetic retinopathy. Numerous drugs have been approved by officials to treat these conditions, but usage of any synthetic drugs in the long term will result in unavoidable side effects such as kidney failure. Therefore, more emphasis is being placed on natural ingredients due to their bioavailability and absence of side effects. In regards to this claim, promising results have been witnessed in the usage of Ipomoea batatas (I. batatas) in treating the hyperglycemic and dyslipidemic condition. Thus, the aim of this paper is to conduct an overview of the reported effects of I. batatas focusing on in vitro and in vivo trials in reducing high glucose levels and regulating the dyslipidemic condition. A comprehensive literature search was performed using Scopus, Web of Science, Springer Nature, and PubMed databases to identify the potential articles on particular topics. The search query was accomplished based on the Boolean operators involving keywords such as (1) Beneficial effect OR healing OR intervention AND (2) sweet potato OR Ipomoea batatas OR traditional herb AND (3) blood glucose OR LDL OR lipid OR cholesterol OR dyslipidemia. Only articles published from 2011 onwards were selected for further analysis. This review includes the (1) method of intervention and the outcome (2) signaling mechanism involved (3) underlying mechanism of action, and the possible side effects observed based on the phytoconstiuents isolated. The comprehensive literature search retrieved a total of 2491 articles using the appropriate keywords. However, on the basis of the inclusion and exclusion criteria, only 23 articles were chosen for further review. The results from these articles indicate that I. batatas has proven to be effective in treating the hyperglycemic condition and is able to regulate dyslipidemia. Therefore, this systematic review summarizes the signaling mechanism, mechanism of action, and phytoconstituents responsible for those activities of I. batatas in treating hyperglycemic based on the in vitro and in vivo study.

Methanol extract of Dicranopteris linearis L. leaves impedes acetaminophen-induced liver intoxication partly by enhancing the endogenous antioxidant system.

BACKGROUND: The present study investigated the potential of methanolic extract of Dicranopteris linearis (MEDL) leaves to attenuate liver intoxication induced by acetaminophen (APAP) in rats. METHODS: A group of mice (n = 5) treated orally with a single dose (5000 mg/kg) of MEDL was first subjected to the acute toxicity study using the OECD 420 model. In the hepatoprotective study, six groups of rats (n = 6) were used and each received as follows: Group 1 (normal control; pretreated with 10% DMSO (extract's vehicle) followed by treatment with 10% DMSO (hepatotoxin's vehicle) (10% DMSO +10% DMSO)), Group 2 (hepatotoxic control; 10% DMSO +3 g/kg APAP (hepatotoxin)), Group 3 (positive control; 200 mg/kg silymarin +3 g/kg APAP), Group 4 (50 mg/kg MEDL +3 g/kg APAP), Group 5 (250 mg/kg MEDL +3 g/kg APAP) or Group 6 (500 mg/kg MEDL +3 g/kg APAP). The test solutions pre-treatment were made orally once daily for 7 consecutive days, and 1 h after the last test solutions administration (on Day 7th), the rats were treated with vehicle or APAP. Blood were collected from those treated rats for biochemical analyses, which were then euthanized to collect their liver for endogenous antioxidant enzymes determination and histopathological examination. The extract was also subjected to in vitro anti-inflammatory investigation and, HPLC and GCMS analyses. RESULTS: Pre-treatment of rats (Group 2) with 10% DMSO failed to attenuate the toxic effect of APAP on the liver as seen under the microscopic examination. This observation was supported by the significant (p < 0.05) increased in the level of serum liver enzymes of alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and significant (p < 0.05) decreased in the activity of endogenous antioxidant enzymes of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in comparison to Group 1. Pre-treatment with MEDL, at all doses, significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the level of ALT and AST while the levels of CAT and SOD was significantly (p < 0.05) restored to their normal value. Histopathological studies showed remarkable improvement in the liver cells architecture with increase in dose of the extract. MEDL also demonstrated a low to none inhibitory activity against the respective LOX- and NO-mediated inflammatory activity. The HPLC and GCMS analyses of MEDL demonstrated the presence of several non-volatile (such as rutin, gallic acid etc.) and volatile (such as methyl palmitate, shikimic acid etc.) bioactive compounds. CONCLUSION: MEDL exerts hepatoprotective activity against APAP-induced intoxication possibly via its ability to partly activate the endogenous antioxidant system and presence of various volatile and non-volatile bioactive compounds that might act synergistically to enhance the hepatoprotective effect.

Anticarcinogenic activity of Muntingia calabura leaves methanol extract against the azoxymethane-induced colon cancer in rats involved modulation of the colonic antioxidant system partly by flavonoids.

CONTEXT: Leaves of Muntingia calabura (Elaeocarpaceae) are widely used in traditional medical practice; scientific findings show various pharmacological activities. However, its anticancer effect has not been investigated thoroughly yet. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to study the chemoprevention effects of MEMCL against azoxymethane (AOM)-induced colon cancer and to examine the involvement of endogenous antioxidants Materials and methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats, divided into five groups (n = 7), were injected intraperitoneally once weekly for 2 weeks with 15 mg/kg AOM, except for the normal group (received saline). The animals were then administered orally for 8 weeks with 8% Tween-80 (vehicle; normal group), 8% Tween-80 (vehicle; cancer group) or, 50, 250 or 500 mg/kg MEMC. After treatments, colon samples were collected from each rat for the histopathological analysis, quantification of aberrant crypt foci formed and determination of colon antioxidant levels. MEMC was also subjected to HPLC analysis. RESULTS: The extract exerted significant (p < 0.05): (i) anti-carcinogenesis activity, indicated by a decrease in the total aberrant crypt formation; (ii) antioxidant activity by increasing the colon tissue antioxidant markers [i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione (GSH)] and reducing the oxidant marker (i.e., malonaldehyde (MDA) levels in comparison with the cancer group. HPLC analysis demonstrated the presence of rutin. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Muntingia calabura leaves exert anticancer effect against AOM-induced colon cancer possibly via the action of flavonoids on the colon tissue antioxidant activity.

Correction: Naomi et al. E. tapos Yoghurt-A View from Nutritional Composition and Toxicological Evaluation. Foods 2022, 11, 1903.

(1) In the original publication [...].

Correction: Naomi et al. Elateriospermum tapos Yogurt Supplement in Maternal Obese Dams during Pregnancy Modulates the Body Composition of F1 Generation. Nutrients 2023, 15, 1258.

After a careful and comprehensive review of our data and the figures in our manuscript, we have identified an area where we believe a correction is warranted in order to enhance the clarity and precision of our findings [...].

Chemopreventive effect of Ardisia crispa hexane fraction on the peri-initiation phase of mouse skin tumorigenesis.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the chemopreventive effect of the hexane extract of Ardisia crispa during the peri-initiation phase of mouse skin tumorigenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted for 12 weeks on two-stage 7,12-dimethylbenz(α)-anthracene (DMBA)-induced tumor initiation followed by croton-oil-induced tumor promotion in mice. A. crispa root hexane extract (ACRH) was applied at various doses (30, 100, 300 mg/kg) 7 days prior to and after DMBA treatment. Throughout the study, morphological observations, i.e., tumor incidence, tumor volume and tumor burden were measured for each of the treated groups. At the end of the experiment, the mice were sacrificed and their skin tissues were examined histopathologically. RESULTS: The highest dose of ACRH (300 mg/kg) significantly delayed tumor formation (week 9, p < 0.05) and exhibited the lowest tumor volume (0.71 ± 0.00 mm(3), p < 0.05), tumor burden (2.00 ± 0.00, p < 0.05), and tumor incidence (16.67%, p < 0.05) compared to other doses of ACRH. A 100-mg/kg dose produced tumor latency at week 7, tumor volume of 2.44 ± 0.88 mm(3) (p < 0.05), tumor burden of 1.60 ± 0.60 (p < 0.05), and tumor incidence of 50%; 30 mg/kg produced tumor latency at week 8, tumor volume of 2.04 ± 0.45 mm(3) (p < 0.05), tumor burden of 2.17 ± 0.54, tumor incidence of 60% and carcinogen control (tumor latency at week 7; tumor volume, 3.56 mm(3); tumor incidence of 66.67%). CONCLUSION: The highest dose of A. crispa hexane extract delayed tumor development, thus showing a chemopreventive effect on mouse skin tumorigenesis.

The Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Obesity and Its Impact on Cognitive Impairments-A Narrative Review.

Obesity is a chronic low-grade inflammatory condition that induces the generation of oxidative stress and inflammation. This oxidative stress and inflammation stimulate brain atrophy and some morphological changes in the brain that eventually result in cognitive impairments. However, there is no exact study that has summarized the role of oxidative stress and inflammation in obesity and its impact on cognitive impairments. Thus, the objective of this review is to recapitulate the current role of oxidative stress and inflammation in cognitive decline based on in vivo evidence. A comprehensive search was performed in Nature, Medline and Ovid, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, and the search was limited to the past 10 years of publication. From the search, we identified 27 articles to be further reviewed. The outcome of this study indicates that a greater amount of fat stored in individual adipocytes in obesity induces the formation of reactive oxygen species and inflammation. This will lead to the generation of oxidative stress, which may cause morphological changes in the brain, suppress the endogenous antioxidant system, and promote neuroinflammation and, eventually, neuronal apoptosis. This will impair the normal function of the brain and specific regions that are involved in learning, as well as memory. This shows that obesity has a strong positive correlation with cognitive impairments. Hence, this review summarizes the mechanism of oxidative stress and inflammation that induce memory loss based on animal model evidence. In conclusion, this review may serve as an insight into therapeutic development focusing on oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways to manage an obesity-induced cognitive decline in the future.

Analyzing Active Compounds in Elateriospermum tapos Yogurt for Maternal Obesity: A Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study.

Maternal obesity, characterized by an elevated body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy, is known to have adverse effects on the offspring. However, a recent study suggests that Elateriospermum tapos (E. tapos) yogurt may hold potential in mitigating excessive weight retention post-pregnancy. Thus, this study aims to employ network pharmacology to explore the pharmacological effects of the bioactive compounds present in E. tapos yogurt against maternal obesity. Initially, a screening process is conducted to identify the bioactive compounds in E. tapos yogurt, followed by the prediction of potential gene targets for these compounds using Swiss Target Prediction and the SuperPred databases. Maternal obesity-associated genes are sourced from the OMIM, DisGeNet, and GeneCards databases. The interaction between the identified compounds and maternal obesity genes is established via protein-protein interaction analysis, gene ontology examination, and KEGG pathway analysis. To validate the results, molecular docking studies are conducted using AutoDock Tools software. The findings reveal that out of the 64 compounds analyzed, three meet the screening criteria, resulting in a total of 380 potential gene targets. Among these targets, 240 are shared with maternal obesity-related genes. Further analysis demonstrates the favorable affinity of these active compounds with key targets, linking them to biological processes involving protein phosphorylation, inflammation, as well as the pathways related to lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, and the other signaling pathways. In conclusion, this study provides valuable insights into the potential pharmacological effects of the bioactive compounds found in E. tapos yogurt against maternal obesity. These findings open avenues for further exploration and potential therapeutic interventions targeting maternal obesity.

Phytochemical Analysis and Toxicity Assessment of Bouea Macrophylla Yoghurt.

The Bouea macrophylla fruit is native to Malaysia and is known for its many beneficial effects on one's health. Probiotics are well-known for their roles as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-tumour properties due to their widespread use. As a result, the purpose of this study was to incorporate the ethanolic extract of Bouea macrophylla into yoghurt and then assess the rodents for any toxicological effects. According to the findings of the nutritional analysis, each 100 mL serving of the newly formulated yoghurt contains 3.29 g of fat, 5.79 g of carbohydrates, 2.92 g of total protein, and 2.72 g of sugar. The ability of the newly developed yoghurt to stimulate the growth of Lactobacilli was demonstrated by the fact that the peak intensity of Lactobacillus species was measured at 1.2 × 106 CFU/g while the titratable acidity of the lactic acid was measured at 0.599 CFU/g. In order to carry out the toxicological evaluation, forty-eight male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were utilized. Oral administration of single doses of 2000 mg/kg over the course of 14 days was used for the study of acute toxicity. Subacute toxicity was studied by giving animals Bouea macrophylla yoghurt (BMY) at repeated doses of 50, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/day over a period of 28 days, while the control group was given normal saline. The results of the acute toxicity test revealed that rats treated with increasing doses up to a maximum of 2000 mg/kg exhibited no signs of toxicity. After an additional 14 days without treatment, acute toxicity of a single dose (2000 mg/kg) of BMY did not show any treatment-related toxicity in any of the rats that were observed. According to the data from the subacute toxicity study, there were no differences between the treated groups and the control groups in terms of food and water intake, body weight, plasma biochemistry (AST, ALT, ALP, and creatinine), haematological products, or organ weights. The architecture of the liver, heart, and kidney were all found to be normal upon histological examination. This indicates that oral consumption of BMY did not result in any negative effects being manifested in the rodents.

The role of Elateriospermum tapos yoghurt in mitigating high-fat dietary cause of maternal obesity-an experimental study.

Maternal obesity is the key predictor for childhood obesity and neurodevelopmental delay in the offspring. Medicinal plants are considered to be the safe and best option, and at the same time, probiotic consumption during pregnancy provides beneficial effects for both the mother and the child. Current research has shown that Elateriospermum tapos (E. tapos) yoghurt is safe to consume and consists of many bioactive compounds that can exert an anti-obesity effect. Thus, this study has been designed to study the role of E. tapos yoghurt in mitigating maternal obesity. In this study, a total of 48 female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were assigned to six groups, with eight rats per group, and obesity was induced over 16 weeks with a high-fat diet (HFD) pellet. On the 17th week, the rats were allowed to mate and pregnancy was confirmed through vaginal smear. The obese induced group was further divided into negative and positive control groups, followed by E. tapos yoghurt treatment groups with three different concentrations (5, 50, and 500 mg/kg). The changes in body weight, calorie intake, lipid profile, liver profile, renal profile, and histopathological analysis were measured on postnatal day (PND) 21. The results show that the group with the highest concentration of E. tapos yoghurt (HYT500) supplementation shows gradual reduction in body weight and calorie intake on PND 21 and modulates the lipid level, liver, and renal enzymes to a normal level similar to the normal group. In histological analysis, HYT500 reverses the damage caused by HFD in liver and colon, and reverses the adipocytes' hypertrophy in retroperitoneal white adipose tissue and visceral fat. In conclusion, supplementation of E. tapos yoghurt during the gestational period up to weaning is effective in the gradual weight loss of maternal obese dams from the 500-mg/kg-supplemented group in this study.

Phytochemical component and toxicological evaluation of purple sweet potato leaf extract in male Sprague-Dawley rats.

This study assessed the toxicity of lutein-rich purple sweet potato leaf (PSPL) extract in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Methods and study design: A total of 54 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were used. For the acute toxicity study, three rats in the acute control group were fed 2,000 mg/kg of PSPL for 14 days. The subacute toxicity study included six rats each in four groups administered 50, 250, 500, or 1,000 mg/kg for 28 days and observed for further 14 days without treatment in the subacute control and subacute satellite groups. Changes in body weight; blood biochemistry; hematological parameters; relative organ weight; and histological sections of the heart, kidney, liver, pancreas, aorta, and retina were observed for signs of toxicity. Results: The gradual increase in weekly body weight, normal level full blood count, normal liver and kidney profile, relative organ weight, and histological sections of all stained organ tissue in the treated group compared with the acute, subacute, and satellite control groups demonstrated the absence of signs of toxicity. Conclusion: Lutein-rich PSPL extract shows no signs of toxicity up to 2,000 mg/kg/day.

The role of lutein-rich purple sweet potato leaf extract on the amelioration of diabetic retinopathy in streptozotocin-induced Sprague-Dawley rats.

The objective of this study is to access the effect of purple sweet potato leaf (PSPL) extract on diabetic retinopathy (DR) of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. In this study, rats were injected intraperitoneally with a single dose of 60 mg/kg STZ, and diabetes was confirmed on day 7. Rats were further divided into a few groups, which were then orally administered with one of the following treatments: 25 mg/kg of gliclazide (D25G), 200 mg/kg of PSPL extract (DT 200), and 400 mg/kg of PSPL extract (DT 400). However, the normal control (NS) and control group for diabetic (DNS) were given normal saline (NS) for 12 weeks. The results show that the treated group demonstrated a reduction in serum oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) levels of DT 200 and DT 400, and an increase in the serum and retinal insulin levels, and restored oxidative stress markers in serum and retina on week 12. The PSPL extract exhibited protective effects in maintaining the kidney, liver, retina, and pancreas architecture in 400 mg/kg compared to the 200 mg/kg treated group and D25G, thereby restoring fully transparent lenses in diabetes-induced rats. In conclusion, 400 mg/kg PSPL is the most effective dose for the amelioration of STZ-induced DR pathology in male SD rats.

Elateriospermum tapos Yogurt Supplement in Maternal Obese Dams during Pregnancy Modulates the Body Composition of F1 Generation.

Maternal obesity is a key predictor of childhood obesity and a determining factor for a child's body composition. Thus, any form of maternal nutrition during the gestational period plays a vital role in influencing the growth of the fetus. Elateriospermum tapos (E. tapos) yogurt has been found to comprise many bioactive compounds such as tannins, saponins, α-linolenic acid, and 5'-methoxy-bilobate with apocynoside I that could cross the placenta and exhibit an anti-obesity effect. As such, this study aimed to investigate the role of maternal E. tapos yogurt supplementation on offspring body composition. In this study, 48 female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were induced with obesity using a high-fat diet (HFD) and were allowed to breed. Upon confirmation of pregnancy, treatment was initiated with E. tapos yogurt on the obese dams up to postnatal day 21. The weaning offspring were then designated into six groups according to their dam's group (n = 8) as follows; normal food and saline (NS), HFD and saline (HS), HFD and yogurt (HY), HFD and 5 mg/kg of E. tapos yogurt (HYT5), HFD and 50 mg/kg of E. tapos yogurt (HYT50), and HFD and 500 mg/kg of E. tapos yogurt (HYT500). The body weight of the offspring was accessed every 3 days up to PND 21. All the offspring were euthanized on PND 21 for tissue harvesting and blood sample collection. The results showed that both male and female offspring of obese dams treated with E. tapos yogurt showed growth patterns similar to NS and reduced levels of triglycerides (TG), cholesterol, LDL, non-HDL, and leptin. Liver enzymes such as ALT, ALP, AST, GGT, and globulin, and renal markers such as sodium, potassium, chloride, urea, and creatinine levels significantly reduced (p < 0.05) in the offspring of E. tapos yogurt-treated obese dams with the normal histological architecture of the liver, kidney, colon, RpWAT, and visceral tissue that is comparable to NS. In toto, E. tapos yogurt supplementation of obese dams exerted an anti-obesity effect by preventing intergenerational obesity by reversing HFD-induced damage in the fat tissue of the offspring.

Antiproliferative and Proapoptotic Effects of Labisia pumila Ethanol Extract and Its Active Fraction in Human Melanoma HM3KO Cells.

The present study was to determine the anticancer potential of Labisia pumila in in vitro models. Results from the study revealed that ethanol extract of L. pumila was more cytotoxic against HM3KO cells while having reduced effects on nonmalignant cells as compared to aqueous and hexane extracts. Thus, ethanol extract was selected to be further separated by using the bioassay-guided fractionation method to give an active fraction, SF2Lp. Results obtained from the flow cytometry analysis showed that SF2Lp was able to arrest the HM3KO cell cycle at the G1 phase, while morphological findings from AO-EB nuclear staining assays along with the Apoptotic Index confirmed the induction of apoptosis by SF2Lp in HM3KO cells. Results from the mechanistic study further revealed that SF2Lp treatment was able to concurrently increase the expression level of p53 and pro-apoptotic protein Bax and also reduce the expression level of anti-apoptotic protein BCl-2 in HM3KO cells, directly contributing to the increase in Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. These findings, therefore, suggested that L. pumila was able to inhibit HM3KO cell growth possibly by arresting the cell cycle at G1 phase and inducing apoptosis in HM3KO cells via the up- and down-regulation of Bax/Bcl-2 protein, mediated through a p53-dependent pathway.

Antiulcer activity of the chloroform extract of Bauhinia purpurea leaf.

CONTEXT: Bauhinia purpurea L. (Fabaceae) is a native plant species of many Asian countries, including Malaysia and India. In India, the root, stem, bark, and leaf of B. purpurea are used to treat various ailments, including ulcers and stomach cancer. OBJECTIVE: In an attempt to establish its pharmacological potential, we studied the antiulcer activity of lipid-soluble extract of B. purpurea obtained via extraction of air-dried leaves using chloroform. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The rats were administered the chloroform extract (dose range of 100-1000 mg/kg) orally after 24 h fasting. They were subjected to the absolute ethanol- and indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer, and pyloric ligation assays after 30 min. The acute toxicity study was conducted using a single oral dose of 5000 mg/kg extract and the rats were observed for the period of 14 days. omeprazole (30 mg/kg) was used as the standard control. RESULTS: At 5000 mg/kg, the extract produced no sign of toxicity in rats. The extract exhibited significant (p < 0.05) dose-dependent antiulcer activity for the ethanol-induced model. The extract also significantly (p < 0.05) increased the gastric wall mucus production and pH of gastric content, while significantly (p < 0.05) reducing the total volume and total acidity of the gastric content in the pylorus ligation assay. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The extract possesses antiulcer, antisecretory and cytoprotective activities, which could be attributed to its flavonoid and tannin content. These findings provide new information regarding the potential of lipid-soluble compounds of B. purpurea for the prevention and treatment of gastric ulcers.

E. tapos Yoghurt-A View from Nutritional Composition and Toxicological Evaluation.

Elateriospermum tapos (E. tapos) is a natural tropical plant that possess a wide range of health benefits. Recent discovery proves that E. tapos extract is able to reduce weight, increase cognitive performance, and ameliorate anxiety and stress hormone. However, this extraction has not been incorporated into yoghurt, and no toxicity studies have been done previously to prove its safety. Thus, this study was aimed to formulate the ethanolic extracted E. tapos into yoghurt and access the toxicological effects on rodents. Forty female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were used in this study and force fed with either one of the following doses of 250, 500, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg, while the control group received normal saline. The nutritional analysis result showed that the newly formulated yoghurt comprised 328 kJ of energy per 100 mL of servings, 3.6 g of fats, 8.2 g of carbohydrates, 2.7 g of total protein, and 1.2 g of fibre. The peak intensity of Lactobacillus species was observed at 1.6 × 105 CFU/g with a titratable acidity as lactic acid of 0.432 CFU/g, indicating the ability of the formulated yoghurt in stimulating the growth of Lactobacilli. In the experimental study, the E. tapos yoghurt in a single dose (2000 mg/kg) did not show any treatment related to toxicity in any of the rats observed in an additional 14 days. There were no changes in body weight, food and water intake, plasma biochemistry (ALT, AST, ALP, and creatinine), haematological products, and organ weights of the treated groups compared to the subacute control groups. Histological examination of all organs including liver, heart, and kidney were comparable to the control groups. In toto, oral consumptions of E. tapos yoghurt did not induce any adverse effects on rodents.

Exogenous L-Glutathione Improves Vitrification Outcomes in Murine Preimplantation Embryos.

Vitrification is an important tool to store surplus embryos in assisted reproductive technology (ART). However, vitrification increases oxidative damage and results in decreased viability. Studies have reported that L-glutathione (GSH) supplementation improves the preimplantation development of murine embryos. Glutathione constitutes the major non-protein sulphydryl compound in mammalian cells, which confers protection against oxidative damage. However, the effect of GSH supplementation on embryonic vitrification outcomes has yet to be reported. This study aims to determine whether GSH supplementation in culture media improves in vitro culture and vitrification outcomes, as observed through embryo morphology and preimplantation development. Female BALB/c mice aged 6−8 weeks were superovulated through an intraperitoneal injection of 10 IU of pregnant mare serum gonadotrophin (PMSG), followed by 10 IU of human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) 48 h later. The mated mice were euthanized by cervical dislocation 48 h after hCG to harvest embryos. Two-cell embryos were randomly assigned to be cultured in either Group 1 (GSH-free medium), Group 2 (GSH-free medium with vitrification), Group 3 (0.01 mM GSH-supplemented medium), or Group 4 (0.01 mM GSH-supplemented medium with vitrification). Non-vitrified (Groups 1 and 3) and vitrified (Groups 2 and 4) embryos were observed for morphological quality and preimplantation development at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. In the non-vitrified groups, there were significant increases in the number of Grade-1 blastocysts in GSH cultures (p < 0.05). Similarly, in the vitrified groups, GSH supplementation was also seen to significantly increase blastocyst formation. Exogenous GSH supplementation resulted in a significant increase in intracellular GSH, a release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, and a parallel decrease in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in vitrified eight-cell embryos (p < 0.05). GSH supplementation was shown to upregulate Bcl2 expression and downregulate Bax expression in the vitrified preimplantation embryo group. The action of exogenous GSH was concomitant with an increase in the relative abundance of Gpx1 and Sod1. In conclusion, our study demonstrated the novel use and practical applicability of GSH supplementation for improving embryonic cryotolerance via a decrease in ROS levels and the inhibition of apoptotic events by improvement in oxidative status.