Acacetin Protects against Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease by Regulating Lipid Accumulation and Inflammation in Mice.

We previously demonstrated that acacetin reduces adipogenesis in adipocytes, and decreases lipid accumulation in visceral adipocyte tissue. Here we investigated whether acacetin regulated the mechanisms of lipogenesis and inflammation in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese mice. Male C57BL/6 mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and then administered acacetin by intraperitoneal injection. Acacetin reduced body weight and liver weight in obese mice. Acacetin-treated obese mice exhibited decreased lipid accumulation, increased glycogen accumulation, and improved hepatocyte steatosis. Acacetin regulated triglycerides and total cholesterol in the liver and serum. Acacetin decreased low-density lipoprotein and leptin concentrations, but increased high-density lipoprotein and adiponectin levels in obese mice. Acacetin effectively weakened the gene expressions of transcription factors related to lipogenesis, and promoted the expressions of genes related to lipolysis and fatty acid ß-oxidation in liver. Acacetin also reduced expressions of inflammation-related cytokines in the serum and liver. Oleic acid induced lipid accumulation in murine FL83B hepatocytes, and the effects of acacetin treatment indicated that acacetin may regulate lipid metabolism through the AMPK pathway. Acacetin may protect against hepatic steatosis by modulating inflammation and AMPK expression.

Urolithin A Inactivation of TLR3/TRIF Signaling to Block the NF-κB/STAT1 Axis Reduces Inflammation and Enhances Antioxidant Defense in Poly(I:C)-Induced RAW264.7 Cells.

Urolithin A is an active compound of gut-microbiota-derived metabolites of polyphenol ellagic acid that has anti-aging, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effects of urolithin A on polyinosinic acid-polycytidylic acid (poly(I:C))-induced inflammation remain unclear. Poly(I:C) is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) similar to a virus and is recognized by Toll-like receptor-3 (TLR3), inducing an inflammatory response in immune cells, such as macrophages. Inflammation is a natural defense process of the innate immune system. Therefore, we used poly(I:C)-induced RAW264.7 cells and attenuated the inflammation induced by urolithin A. First, our data suggested that 1-30 µM urolithin A does not reduce RAW264.7 cell viability, whereas 1 µM urolithin A is sufficient for antioxidation and the decreased production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and C-C chemokine ligand 5. The inflammation-related proteins cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase were also downregulated by urolithin A. Next, 1 µM urolithin A inhibited the levels of interferon (INF)-α and INF-ß. Urolithin A was applied to investigate the blockade of the TLR3 signaling pathway in poly(I:C)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Moreover, the TLR3 signaling pathway, subsequent inflammatory-related pathways, and antioxidation pathways showed changes in nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling and blocked ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling. Urolithin A enhanced catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, but decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in poly(I:C)-induced RAW264.7 cells. Thus, our results suggest that urolithin A inhibits TLR3-activated inflammatory and oxidative-associated pathways in macrophages, and that this inhibition is induced by poly(I:C). Therefore, urolithin A may have antiviral effects and could be used to treat viral-infection-related diseases.

Oleuropein attenuates inflammation and regulates immune responses in a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Olive (Olea europaea Linn) leaves contain a phenolic compound oleuropein (Ole) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. However, whether Ole might be an effective treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unknown. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the functional role of oleuropein in a 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced AD-like mouse model, with a focus on allergic inflammation. METHODS: We evaluated cytokine gene expression, COX-2 inflammatory protein production, and Th2 related cytokine regulation of mast cells and eosinophils that infiltrated AD-like skin lesions. RESULTS: A topical application of Ole significantly reduced Th2-related cytokine gene expression (IL-4 and IL-5) and inflammatory COX-2 protein production in AD-like skin lesions. Additionally, Ole suppressed serum IgE levels. Furthermore, Ole effectively reduced ear swelling and epidermal and dermal thickening. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggested that, mechanistically, Ole treatment improved allergic inflammation by blocking the Th2-driven inflammatory axis. In conclusion, our findings indicated that Ole showed promise in treating AD by regulating serum IgE and Th2 cytokine levels. Although the effects of Ole on AD in humans require clinical trials, our results provided insights into how AD treatments might be improved.

Luteolin Attenuates IL-1ß-Induced THP-1 Adhesion to ARPE-19 Cells via Suppression of NF-κB and MAPK Pathways.

Cytokine-induced endothelial dysfunction leads to inflammation and vascular adhesion molecule production in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells. Inflammation is a critical mediator in retinal degeneration (RD) diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and RD progression may be prevented through anti-inflammatory activity in RPE cells. The flavonoid polyphenol luteolin (LU) has anti-inflammatory and antidiabetes activities, but its effects regarding retinal protection remain unknown. Here, we examined the ability of luteolin to alleviate markers of inflammation related to RD in cytokine-primed APPE-19 cells. We found that luteolin decreased the levels of interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-8, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and attenuated adherence of the human monocytic leukemia cell line THP-1 to IL-1ß-stimulated ARPE-19 cells. Luteolin also increased anti-inflammatory protein heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) levels. Interestingly, luteolin induced protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation, thus inhibiting nuclear factor- (NF-) κB transfer from cytoplasm into the nucleus and suppressing mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inflammatory pathways. Furthermore, cotreatment with MAPK inhibitors and luteolin decreased inflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels, and further suppressed THP-1 adhesion. Overall, these results provide evidence that luteolin protects ARPE-19 cells from IL-1ß-stimulated increases of IL-6, IL-8, sICAM-1, and MCP-1 production by blocking the activation of MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, thus ameliorating the inflammatory response.

Gallic Acid Alleviates Hypertriglyceridemia and Fat Accumulation via Modulating Glycolysis and Lipolysis Pathways in Perirenal Adipose Tissues of Rats Fed a High-Fructose Diet.

This study investigated the ameliorative effect of gallic acid (GA) on hypertriglyceridemia and fat accumulation in perirenal adipose tissues of high-fructose diet (HFD)-induced diabetic rats. The previous results showed that orally administered GA (30 mg/kg body weight) for four weeks significantly reduced the levels of plasma glucose and triglyceride (TG) in HFD rats. GA also markedly decreased the perirenal adipose tissues weight of HFD rats in present study (p < 0.05). Western blot assay indicated that GA restored expression of insulin signaling-related proteins, such as insulin receptor (IR), protein kinase C-zeta (PKC-ζ), and glucose transporter-4 (GLUT4) in the perirenal adipose tissues of HFD rats. Moreover, GA enhanced expression of glycolysis-related proteins, such as phosphofructokinase (PFK) and pyruvate kinase (PK), and increased the expression of lipolysis-related proteins, such as adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL), which is involved in lipolysis in the perirenal adipose tissues of HFD rats. This study revealed that GA may alleviate hypertriglyceridemia and fat accumulation through enhancing glycolysis and lipolysis pathways in perirenal adipose tissues of HFD rats. These findings also suggest the potential of GA in preventing the progression of diabetes mellitus (DM) complications.

Effects of Maillard reaction products in a glucose-glycine alcoholic solution on antioxidative and antimutagenic activities.

BACKGROUND: Marinating meat with alcohol, such as wine and beer, is a common culinary practice in cultures worldwide. In this study we use a model marination solution comprising 0.2  mol L-1 glucose-0.2  mol L-1 glycine buffered to pH 4.3 containing either 0 or 50% ethanol and mimicked the cooking process by heating for 12 h. Antioxidative and antimutagenic characteristics of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) were investigated. Reducing power, antioxidant activity (ferrous ion chelating ability), and free radical neutralization ability generated from 1,1-diphenyl-2-pichrylhydrazyl and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) were determined. Ames testing was performed. RESULTS: Results indicate that MRPs from aqueous and alcoholic solution exhibit four antioxidative assays in a dose-dependent manner from 0.16 to 10.00 mg mL-1 . However, MRPs from the alcoholic model were superior. In Ames testing, MRPs from both models are neither toxic nor mutagenic at the test concentrations of 0.63-10.00 mg/plate. However, MRPs from the alcoholic model exhibited a higher inhibitory effect on the direct-acting mutagen 4-nitroquinoline-N-oxide compared with the aqueous model. This result is consistent with the observation that MRPs with higher antioxidative capacity exhibit superior antimutagenic activity, suggesting that there are more different products in the alcoholic model. CONCLUSION: Our results add to the current knowledge about the antioxidative and antimutagenic properties of MRPs arising when food is cooked in the presence of ethanol. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Punicalagin from pomegranate ameliorates TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced inflammatory responses in HaCaT cells via regulation of SIRT1/STAT3 axis and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Punicalagin (PUN) was isolated from the peel of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), is a polyphenol with anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant activities. However, it remains unclear whether PUN alleviates the inflammation and anti-inflammatory mechanisms in pro-inflammatory cytokines-induced human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Here, we investigated that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) mixture-stimulated HaCaT cells were treated with various concentrations of PUN, followed by analyzed the expression of inflammation-related mediators and evaluate anti-inflammatory-related pathways. Our results demonstrated that PUN ≤ 100 µM did not reduce HaCaT cell viability, and PUN ≥ 3 µM was sufficient to decrease interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5), CCL17 and CCL20 concentrations. We found that PUN ≥ 10 µM and ≥ 3 µM significantly increased sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) expression and inhibited signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) phosphorylation, respectively. PUN downregulated inflammation-related proteins cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), enhanced nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. Moreover, PUN decreased intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) expression and inhibited monocyte adhesion to inflamed HaCaT cells. PUN also suppressed inflammatory-related pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways in TNF-α/IFN-γ- stimulated HaCat cells. Collectively, there is significant evidence that PUN has effective protective defenses against TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced skin inflammation by enhancing SIRT1 to mediate STAT3 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway.

Prevalence and determinants of constipation in children in Asia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Constipation is prevalent worldwide, significantly increasing healthcare costs and diminishing the quality of life in children affected. Current studies have yielded mixed results regarding the factors associated with constipation, and mainly focusing on patients outside of Asia. Moreover, most of these studies lack focus on the paediatric population. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and associated factors of constipation among children in Asia. Methods: In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane for cohort and cross-sectional studies published from database inception up to October 12, 2022, and continued with manual searching until September 2, 2023. Eligible studies were those that included children in Asia aged 0-18 years old suffering from idiopathic constipation, with prevalence value provided in the English abstract. The analysis included clinical and general population. Children with organic constipation, who had undergone gastrointestinal surgery, or with congenital defects were excluded, as these factors affect the incidence of constipation. Data included in the analysis were extracted from published reports only. The extracted data were pooled using random-effects model to analyse the prevalence of constipation in children in Asia. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42022367122. Findings: Out of 4410 systematically searched studies and 36 manually searched ones, a total of 50 studies were included in the final analysis, encompassing data from 311,660 children residing in Asia. The pooled prevalence of constipation was 12.0% (95% CI 9.3-14.6%, I2 = 99.8%). There was no significant difference in constipation prevalence observed by sex and geographical location. Nonetheless, adolescents and children aged 1-9 years exhibited a significantly higher prevalence constipation compared to infants (p < 0.0001) Additionally, significant differences in constipation rates were observed across various diagnostic methods, population sources, and mental health conditions. Interpretation: Despite the high heterogeneity resulting from varying diagnostic tools or definitions used among studies, our review adds to the literature on constipation among children in Asia. It reveals a notably high prevalence of constipation in this demographic. Diagnostic methods, age, and compromised mental health emerged as significant influencers of constipation among children in Asia, highlighting potential strategies to mitigate constipation prevalence in children in Asia. Funding: The National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan.

Therapeutic Application of Dendrobium fimbriatum Hook for Retinopathy Caused by Ultraviolet Radiation and Chemotherapy Using ARPE-19 Cells and Mouse Retina.

Retinopathy caused by ultraviolet radiation and cancer chemotherapy has increased dramatically in humans due to rapid environmental and social changes. Therefore, it is very important to develop therapeutic strategies to effectively alleviate retinopathy. In China, people often choose dendrobium to improve their eyesight. In this study, we explored how Dendrobium fimbriatum extract (DFE) protects ARPE-19 cells and mouse retinal tissue from damage of ultraviolet (UV) radiation and chemotherapy. We evaluated the antioxidant capacity of DFE using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-trinitophenylhydrazine (DPPH) assay. The protective effects of DEF from UV- and oxaliplatin (OXA)-induced damage were examined in ARPE-19 cells using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and immunofluorescence (IF) stains, and in mouse retinal tissue using immunohistochemistry (IHC) stains. Our results show that DFE has excellent antioxidant capacity. The ARPE-19 cell viability was decreased and the F-actin cytoskeleton structure was damaged by UV radiation and OXA chemotherapy, but both were alleviated after the DFE treatment. Furthermore, DFE treatment can alleviate OXA chemotherapy-induced reduced expressions of rhodopsin and SOD2 and increased expressions of TNF-α and caspase 3 in mouse retinal tissue. Thus, we suggest that DFE can act as suitable treatment for retinopathy through reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis.

Effect of water extracts from edible Myrtaceae plants on uptake of 2-(n-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose in TNF-α-treated FL83B mouse hepatocytes.

This study investigated the glucose uptake activity of the water extracts from the leaves and fruit of edible Myrtaceae plants, including guava (Psidium guajava Linn.), wax apples [Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. and L.M. Perry], Pu-Tau [Syzygium jambo (L.) Alston], and Kan-Shi Pu-Tau (Syzygium cumini Linn.) in FL83B mouse hepatocytes. The fluorescent dye 2-(n-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)amino)-2-deoxyglucose was used to estimate the uptake ability of the cells. Glucose uptake test showed that pink wax apple fruit extract (PWFE) exhibits the highest glucose uptake activity, at an increment of 21% in the insulin-resistant FL83B mouse hepatocytes as compared with the TNF-α-treated control group. Vescalagin was isolated using column chromatography of PWFE. This compound, at the concentration of 6.25 µg/mL, exhibits the same glucose uptake improvement in insulin-resistant cells as PWFE at a 100-µg/mL dose. We postulate that vescalagin is an active component in PWFE that may alleviate the insulin resistance in mouse hepatocytes.

Alleviative Effect of Ficus formosana Extract on Peripheral Neuropathy in Ovariectomized Diabetic Mice.

In diabetes mellitus, Ficus formosana has been reported to ameliorate blood sugar levels and inhibit inflammation through its polyphenol and flavonoid contents. However, its effect on diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Ficus formosana extract (FFE) on DPN in ovariectomized diabetic mice. Ovariectomized female C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet plus streptozotocin injections to induce type 2 diabetes were orally administered FEE at 20 or 200 mg/kg BW daily, for 6 weeks. To evaluate the pain responses in the paws of the mice, a von Frey filament test and a thermal hyperalgesia test were performed. Additionally, the intraepidermal and sciatic nerve sections were examined, along with an assessment of inflammation- and pain response-related mRNA expression in the paws of the mice. The results showed that the oral administration of both 20 and 200 mg/kg BW FEE significantly alleviated the hypersensitivity of the paw and the abnormal proliferation and rupture of the C fiber, and reduced the mRNA expression of interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, interferon-γ, cyclooxygenase-2, and voltage-gated sodium channel 1.8 in the sciatic nerve of ovariectomized diabetic mice. We propose that FFE ameliorates peripheral neuropathy by suppressing oxidative damage in ovariectomized diabetic mice.

Alleviating Effects of Ovatodiolide and Antcin K Supplements on High-Fat Diet-Induced Cardiovascular Dysfunction in ApoE-Knockout Mice by Attenuating Oxidative Stress.

A high-fat diet (HFD) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Many pure compounds have been demonstrated to be effective in treating cardiovascular diseases. In this study, we investigated the alleviating effects of oral ovatodiolide and antcin K (OAK) supplements on HFD-induced cardiovascular dysfunction in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-knockout mice. Cardiovascular dysfunction was induced in ApoE-knockout mice by feeding them an HFD for 12 weeks. The degree of cardiovascular dysfunction was assessed through echocardiography, hematological and biochemical analyses, and immunofluorescence and immunohistochemical staining. The HFD-fed mice exhibited cardiovascular dysfunction-abnormal blood biochemical index. The arterial wall tissue exhibited the marked deposition of lipids, upregulated expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and CD36 receptors, and downregulated expression of the ABCA1 receptor. Macrophages isolated from the peritoneal cavity of the mice exhibited increased levels of lipid accumulation, reactive oxygen species, and CD11b expression but reduced mitochondrial membrane potential. The expression of superoxide dismutase 2 was downregulated and that of tumor necrosis factor-α was upregulated in the myocardial tissue. Oral OAK supplements twice a day for 12 weeks significantly mitigated HFD-induced cardiovascular dysfunction in the experimental mice. Oral OAK supplements appear to be a promising strategy for treating HFD-induced cardiovascular dysfunction. The underlying mechanisms may involve the reduction of lipid accumulation in the artery and oxidative stress and inflammation in the cardiovascular tissue.

The Distribution of Autoantibodies by Age Group in Children with Type 1 Diabetes versus Type 2 Diabetes in Southern Vietnam.

Asian children are increasingly being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D), and the presence of coexisting islet autoimmune antibodies complicate diagnosis. Here, we aimed to determine the prevalence of islet cell autoantibodies (ICAs) and glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 autoantibodies (GADAs) in children with T1D versus T2D living in Vietnam. This cross-sectional study included 145 pediatric patients aged 10.3 ± 3.6 years, with 53.1% and 46.9% having T1D and T2D, respectively. ICAs were reported in only 3.9% of pediatric T1Ds, which was not significantly different from the 1.5% of those with T2D. Older children with T1D were positive for either ICAs, or ICAs and GADAs (5-9 and 10-15 years), whereas only a small proportion of children aged 0-4 years were positive for GADAs (18%). Notably, 27.9% of children with T2D aged 10-15 were positive for GADAs, and all were classified as overweight (n = 9) or obese (n = 10). GADAs were more commonly observed in T1D patients younger than four years than ICAs, which were more prevalent in older children (5-15 years). Even though few children with T2D carried ICAs and GADAs, finding a better biomarker or an appropriate time to confirm diabetes type may require further investigation.

Alleviative effects of α-lipoic acid on muscle atrophy via the modulation of TNF-α/JNK and PI3K/AKT pathways in high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetic rats.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is often accompanied by clinical complications such as sarcopenia. Previous studies have indicated that oxidative stress and insulin resistance (IR) are highly associated with the pathogenesis of diabetic myopathy. α-lipoic acid (ALA), a potent biological antioxidant, exists abundantly in a variety of plants and vegetables. This study aimed to investigate the ameliorative effect of ALA on muscle atrophy in type 2 diabetic rats induced by high-fat diet feeding (HFD) plus streptozotocin (STZ) injection. The HFD/STZ-induced diabetic rats were orally administered 50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight ALA once a day for 13 weeks. The results showed that ALA at the tested concentrations significantly increased the soleus muscle mass and muscle fibers in diabetic rats. Proinflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, were found to decrease in both the serum and muscle of ALA-treated diabetic rats. ALA significantly reduced the protein-expression levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (pJNK)/JNK, forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), and muscle ring-finger protein-1 (Murf1); whereas, it enhanced the protein-expression levels of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), phosphorylated protein kinase B (pAKT)/AKT, myogenin determination gene D (MyoD), the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR), and myosin heavy chain (MyHC) in the soleus muscle of diabetic rats. The results from this study suggested that ALA treatment may preserve soleus muscle mass, alleviate muscle atrophy by suppressing the TNF-α/JNK pathway, and ameliorate the PI3K/AKT pathway in HFD/STZ-induced type 2 diabetic rats.

Therapeutic Effects of Plant Extracts of Anoectochilus roxburghii on Side Effects of Chemotherapy in BALB/c Breast Cancer Mice.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and chemotherapy is an effective treatment. However, chemotherapy often causes adverse side effects such as cardiotoxicity, myelosuppression, immunodeficiency, and osteoporosis. Our study focused on the alleviating effects of Anoectochilus roxburghii extracts (AREs) on the adverse side effects of chemotherapy in mice with breast cancer. We individually evaluated the antioxidant capacity and cytotoxicity of the AREs using DPPH and MTT assays. We also examined the effects of the AREs on intracellular F-actin, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) of 4T1 cancer cells before and after doxorubicin (DOX) treatment. Our results showed that ARE treatment enhanced the effects of DOX chemotherapy by promoting cell morphology damage, oxidative stress, and ROS generation, as well as by reducing MMP in the 4T1 breast cancer cells. By using BALB/c mice with breast cancer with DOX treatment, our results showed that the DOX treatment reduced body weight, blood pressure, and heart rate and induced myelosuppression, immunodeficiency, cardiotoxicity, and osteoporosis. After oral ARE treatment of BALB/c mice with breast cancer, the chemotherapeutic effects of DOX were enhanced, and the adverse side effects of DOX chemotherapy were alleviated. Based on the above results, we suggest that AREs can be used as an adjuvant reliever to DOX chemotherapy in BALB/c mice with breast cancer.

Glycine-rich peptides from fermented Chenopodium formosanum sprout as an antioxidant to modulate the oxidative stress.

Rhizopus oligosporus was utilized in the solid-state fermentation of Chenopodiumformosanumsprouts (FCS) in a bioreactor. Subsequently, the antioxidant activity of food proteins derived from FCS was investigated. Results showed that glycine-rich peptide (GGGGGKP, G-rich peptide), identified from the <2 kDa FCS proteins, had antioxidant values. According to SwissADME, AllerTOP, ToxinPred, and BIOPEP-UWM analyses, G-rich peptide was identified as safe, non-toxic, and non-allergenic. Afterward, the peptide was examined using in silico and in vitro studies to evaluate its potential alleviating oxidative stress caused by particulate matter. This study proposed plausible mechanisms that involve the binding of G-rich peptide which inhibited phosphorylation of the v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homologA(RELA) subunit onNF-κB pathway. The inhibition then resulted in down regulation of NF-κB transcription and genetic expression of inflammatory responses. These findings suggested that G-rich peptide from FCS proteins can potentially alleviate oxidative stress.

Fraction from wax apple [Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merrill and Perry] fruit extract ameliorates insulin resistance via modulating insulin signaling and inflammation pathway in tumor necrosis factor α-treated FL83B mouse hepatocytes.

Inflammation is associated with the development of insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. In the present study, mouse FL83B cells were treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) to induce insulin resistance, and then co-incubated with a fraction from wax apple fruit extract (FWFE). This fraction significantly increased the uptake of the nonradioactive fluorescent indicator 2-[N-(7-nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl) amino]-2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-NBDG) in insulin resistant cells. Western blot analysis revealed that, compared with the TNF-α-treated control group, FWFE increased the expression of the insulin receptor (IR), insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), protein kinase B (Akt/PKB), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K), and glucose transporter 2 (GLUT-2), and increased IR tyrosyl phosporylation, in insulin resistant FL83B cells. However, FWFE decreased phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNK), but not the expression of the intercellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK), in the same cells. These results suggest that FWFE might alleviate insulin resistance in TNF-α-treated FL83B cells by activating PI3K-Akt/PKB signaling and inhibiting inflammatory response via suppression of JNK, rather than ERK, activation.

Plant Therapeutics.

Plants for therapeutics and the phytotherapy for disorders are the same thing in practice [...].

Botanical Antcin K Alleviates High-Fat Damage in Palm Acid Oil-Treated Vascular Endothelial Cells and Macrophages.

Lipid metabolism disorder is the most critical risk factor for atherosclerosis, and the process involves lipid deposition in the arterial intima. In Taiwan, antcin K, an active triterpenoid from the fruiting bodies of Antrodia camphorata, has been considered a potential lipid-lowering agent. Despite this, the possible therapeutic mechanisms of antcin K remain unclear. To explore the crucial role of botanical antcin K in reducing atherosclerotic plaque, we used SVEC4-10 vascular endothelial cells and RAW264.7 macrophages with palm acid oil-induced high-fat damage as our cell models. Our results showed through using the DPPH assay that antcin K had excellent free radical scavenging ability. Antcin K treatment can significantly alleviate the high-fat damage and reduce the levels of inflammatory factors of TNF-α and IL-1ß in vascular endothelial cells and macrophages, as shown through MTT assay and ELISA. Furthermore, antcin K treatment can effectively enhance migration ability and clear lipid deposition in macrophages, as shown by using cell migration assay and oil red O staining. When stained with immunofluorescence, antcin K was shown to significantly decrease the expression of adhesion molecules of vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in vascular endothelial cells involved in monocyte migration and inflammation. Antcin K not only reduced the expression of the CD36 scavenger receptor but also augmented the expression of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) transcription factor in macrophages, which inhibits the transformation of macrophages into foam cells underlying the pathological process of atherosclerosis. Taking our findings into account, we suggested that botanical antcin K could have therapeutic potential for the treatment of atherosclerosis.

Vescalagin from Pink Wax Apple (Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merrill and Perry) Protects Pancreatic ß-Cells against Methylglyoxal-Induced Inflammation in Rats.

Methylglyoxal (MG) is the primary precursor of advanced glycation end products involved in the pathogenesis of inflammation and diabetes. A previous study in our laboratory found anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperglycemic effects of the polyphenol vescalagin (VES) in rats with MG-induced carbohydrate metabolic disorder. The present study further investigated the occurrence of inflammation in pancreatic ß-cells in MG-induced diabetic rats and the mechanism by which VES prevents it. The results showed that VES downregulates the protein expression levels of advanced glycation end product receptors and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-ß and upregulates the protein expression levels of pancreatic duodenal homeobox-1, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and glyoxalase I from the pancreatic cells. The results also revealed that VES elevates glutathione and antioxidant enzyme contents and then downregulates c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases pathways to protect pancreatic ß-cells in MG-administered rats.