ABSTRACT
Blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum L.) have various benefits for human health. In particular, a polysaccharide derived from blackcurrant was found to be an immunostimulating food ingredient in a mouse model. We named a polysaccharide derived from blackcurrant cassis polysaccharide (CAPS). In a previous clinical study, we reported that CAPS affects skin dehydration, demonstrating its effectiveness against skin inflammation was related to atopic dermatitis; skin inflammation caused skin dehydration. However, there are no studies regarding CAPS effectiveness against skin dehydration. The current study aimed to investigate CAPS effectiveness against skin dehydration. We further demonstrate the effect of oral administration of CAPS on skin dehydration caused by ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced inflammation in mice. We found that CAPS administration suppresses skin dehydration caused by UV irradiation. We also found that CAPS decreases interleukin-6 and matrix metalloproteinase transcription levels in the mouse skin. These results show that CAPS improves skin hydration in UV-irradiated mice.
Subject(s)
Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use , Dermatitis, Atopic/therapy , Dietary Carbohydrates/therapeutic use , Fruit/chemistry , Plant Extracts/therapeutic use , Ribes/chemistry , Skin/metabolism , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/administration & dosage , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/chemistry , Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/isolation & purification , Dermatitis, Atopic/etiology , Dermatitis, Atopic/immunology , Dermatitis, Atopic/metabolism , Dietary Carbohydrates/administration & dosage , Dietary Carbohydrates/analysis , Dietary Carbohydrates/isolation & purification , Dietary Fiber/administration & dosage , Dietary Fiber/analysis , Dietary Fiber/therapeutic use , Dietary Supplements/analysis , Female , Gene Expression Regulation/radiation effects , Interleukin-6/antagonists & inhibitors , Interleukin-6/genetics , Interleukin-6/metabolism , Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/chemistry , Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/genetics , Matrix Metalloproteinase 13/metabolism , Mice, Hairless , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/isolation & purification , Prebiotics/administration & dosage , Prebiotics/analysis , Radiation Injuries, Experimental/immunology , Radiation Injuries, Experimental/metabolism , Radiation Injuries, Experimental/therapy , Skin/immunology , Skin/radiation effects , Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms , Ultraviolet Rays/adverse effects , Water/metabolismABSTRACT
Resveratrol, a polyphenolic phytoalexin found in red wine and various plants, has been reported to up-regulate the expression of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). However, this effect was neither long term in nature nor physiologically relevant at the concentration of resveratrol studied. In the present study, we investigated the effects of repeated treatments with a lower concentration of resveratrol on the expression of genes in HUVEC. The expression levels of eNOS and silent mating type information regulation 2 homologue 1 (SIRT1) were up-regulated in HUVEC by repeated treatments with 1 µM-resveratrol for 6 d, but not with fenofibrate. Moreover, resveratrol treatment increased the expression of autophagy-regulated genes such as γ-aminobutyric acid A receptor-associated protein (GABARAP), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B) and autophagy-related protein 3 (ATG3), the radical scavenger activity-related metallothionein-1X (MT1X) gene and the anti-inflammatory activity-related annexin A2 (ANXA) gene. In addition, resveratrol treatment down-regulated the expression of the cell-cycle checkpoint control RAD9 homologue B (RAD9B) gene. These results indicate the beneficial effects of resveratrol on the cardiovascular system.
Subject(s)
Autophagy/drug effects , Gene Expression/drug effects , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/drug effects , Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/metabolism , Plant Extracts/administration & dosage , Sirtuin 1/metabolism , Stilbenes/administration & dosage , Autophagy/genetics , Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics , Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism , Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Humans , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Resveratrol , Stilbenes/pharmacology , Up-Regulation , WineABSTRACT
We investigated the efficacy of the polysaccharide derived from black currant, named cassis polysaccharide (CAPS), for inhibiting Japanese cedar pollinosis symptoms and improving quality of life by a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in 2006. A total of 28 subjects were enrolled in the study, and 10 subjects in each group completed the trial. Although there was no significant difference between the CAPS and placebo group in the weekly mean value of any symptom in the daily symptom diary at any time, a smaller degree of final symptom aggravation was found in the CAPS group. Significant aggravation of the score was finally observed in the placebo group with inferior conch swelling and with sneezing, itchy nose, itchy eye and watery eye in the Japan rhino-conjunctivitis quality of life questionnaire assessment, while the changes observed in the CAPS group were not significant. In conclusion, our findings clearly indicate that CAPS would be useful as a food supplement in assisting the treatment of Japanese cedar pollinosis.
Subject(s)
Anti-Allergic Agents/pharmacology , Cryptomeria/immunology , Polysaccharides/pharmacology , Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal/drug therapy , Ribes/chemistry , Adult , Aged , Allergens/immunology , Double-Blind Method , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pollen/immunologyABSTRACT
A polysaccharide-rich substance isolated from black currant, named cassis polysaccharide (CAPS), was partially digested with beta-galactosidase from Aspergillus oryzae and its immunostimulatory activity was investigated. The in vitro cytokine-inducing effect of CAPS on RAW264 cells was gradually decreased along with lowering of the average MW of CAPS. In vivo, partially digested CAPS with a mean MW of approximately 20,000 showed the most potent antitumor activity against Ehrlich carcinoma in mice.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Carcinoma, Ehrlich Tumor/drug therapy , Polysaccharides/metabolism , Polysaccharides/pharmacology , Ribes/chemistry , beta-Galactosidase/pharmacology , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry , Aspergillus oryzae/enzymology , Buffers , Cell Line , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Macrophage Activation/drug effects , Macrophages, Peritoneal/drug effects , Mice , Mice, Inbred ICR , Molecular Weight , Neoplasm Transplantation , Phosphates/chemistry , Polysaccharides/chemistry , Reference Standards , Temperature , Time Factors , Transplantation, HomologousABSTRACT
The fruit juice of black currant was found to contain a polysaccharide-rich substance, which was designated cassis polysaccharide (CAPS), with macrophage-stimulating activity. Especially, its interleukin (IL)-1beta-inducing activity was remarkably high, compared with other fruit juice preparations. CAPS was found to consist of rhamnose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, xylose, and glucose in a molar ratio of 11.3:0.9:54.1:29.8:2.0:1.9. CAPS turned out to be partitioned into a soluble component (CAPS-l.m.) and a precipitable component (CAPS-h.m.) with mean MWs of 80,000 and 600,000 respectively in 45% (v/v) ethanol solution. At least in vitro, CAPS-l.m. rather than CAPS-h.m. appeared to play an important role in macrophage activation. Oral administration of black currant juice and CAPS to Ehrlich carcinoma-bearing mice retarded the growth of the solid tumor by 45% and 51% respectively. CAPS administration had a stimulatory effect on the release of IL-2, IL-10, interferon-gamma, and IL-4 from splenocytes in comparison with PBS treatment in tumor-bearing mice. The IL-4 level was, however, still lower than that exhibited by a group of normal mice. CAPS showed a certain cytotoxicity directly against tumor cells.