Saponin extract from Achyranthes bidentata Blume alleviates disuse-induced muscle atrophy through PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The roots of Achyranthes bidentata Blume are one of the regularly used herbal drugs in Chinese medicine, and has been applied for strengthening the muscle and bone for a long time. However, its effect on muscle remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: This paper aims to explore the anti-muscle atrophy effect of A. bidentata, and to clarify the possible signaling pathways involved. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The saponin extract of the roots of A. bidentata (ABSE) was prepared and analyzed, and its activity on myoblast differentiation was assayed with C2C12 cell culture. ABSE was then orally administered at dosage of 35, 70 and 140 mg/kg/day to disuse-induced muscle atrophy mice. The studies on mice body weight and muscle quality were conducted, and Western blot was used for exploring the possible signaling pathways involved in the muscle protective action aided with transcriptome analysis. RESULTS: The total saponin content of ABSE was 59.1%. ABSE promoted the C2C12 cells differentiation to myotube in C2C12 differentiation assay. Further study with disuse-induced muscle atrophy mice model demonstrated that ABSE significantly increased muscle fiber diameter as well as the proportion of slow muscle fibers. Possible mechanism study aided with transcriptome analysis revealed that ABSE alleviated muscle atrophy at least through activation of PI3K/Akt pathway in vivo & vitro. CONCLUSIONS: The saponin extract of the root of A. bidentata (ABSE) has a protective effect on muscle atrophy, and showed a considerable potential in prevention and treatment of muscle atrophy.

Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) ferritin should be a promising Fe2+ nanocarrier.

Ferritin, one of the storage forms of iron, which widely exists in all living organisms and shows its potential as functional nanomaterial. In this study, Fe2+ were added to oyster ferritin (GF1) in vitro until reached experimental saturation state. The structure characterization and monodisperse morphology of ferritin were showed that the protein structure of ferritin did not change significantly after adding Fe2+ and GF1 with 1000 Fe2+ (GF1-1000 Fe2+) was selected for subsequent experiments. The storage stability results showed that 11.27 % of the protein remained cage-like structure when GF1-1000 Fe2+ was stored at 4 °C for 12 days. The thermal treatment results showed that GF1-1000 Fe2+ still maintained certain structure and activity at 80 °C, and 82.8 % of Fe2+ was still retained at 80 °C. These experimental results may provide a theoretical basis for the development of novel iron supplement that are non-toxic and highly stable.

Expert consensus on indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for thoracoscopic lung resection (The Version 2022).

The use of the white-light thoracoscopy is hampered by the low contrast between oncologic margins and surrounding normal parenchyma. As a result, many patients with in situ or micro-infiltrating adenocarcinoma have to undergo lobectomy due to a lack of tactile and visual feedback in the resection of solitary pulmonary nodules. Near-infrared (NIR) guided indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging technique has been widely investigated due to its unique capability in addressing the current challenges; however, there is no special consensus on the evidence and recommendations for its preoperative and intraoperative applications. This manuscript will describe the development process of a consensus on ICG fluorescence-guided thoracoscopic resection of pulmonary lesions and make recommendations that can be applied in a greater number of centers. Specifically, an expert panel of thoracic surgeons and radiographers was formed. Based on the quality of evidence and strength of recommendations, the consensus was developed in conjunction with the Chinese Guidelines on Video-assisted Thoracoscopy, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines on the management of pulmonary lesions. Each of the statements was discussed and agreed upon with a unanimous consensus amongst the panel. A total of 6 consensus statements were developed. Fluorescence-guided thoracoscopy has unique advantages in the visualization of pulmonary nodules, and recognition and resection of the anterior plane of the pulmonary segment. The expert panel agrees that fluorescence-guided thoracoscopic surgery has the potential to become a routine operation for the treatment of pulmonary lesions.

Ultra-thermostable soy protein particles prepared by combining preheating treatment with slightly alkaline pH.

The development of beverages with high protein concentrations has received considerable interest. Nevertheless, the unwanted protein aggregation and gelation of proteins caused by the pasteurization process are currently posing a significant obstacle. Herein, we describe a facile but robust approach to enhance the heat stability of soy proteins (SPs) by preheating at alkaline pH values. When the modified SPs were reheated at a concentration of 2% (w/v), the anti-aggregation properties of the modified SPs were confirmed without any further increase in the size of the particles. Even at concentrations as high as 20% (w/v), the modified protein suspensions preserved their flowability when reheated, whereas the control sample had already gelled at 10% (w/v) concentration. The fluorescence and circular dichroism (CD) spectra indicated that the structures of the modified SPs unfolded and their conformational integrity was diminished after modification. These changes contributed to the reduced unfolding of soy protein and the decreased exposure of active sites during reheating, which inhibited the cross-linking between soy protein molecules during reheating. Meanwhile, the increased surface charge also inhibited the secondary aggregation behavior, improving the thermal stability of protein particles. These findings show that preheating in combination with alkaline pH can be successfully applied to improve the thermal stability of soy proteins, providing a feasible technique and essential insights into the application of soy proteins in protein-enriched liquid systems.

Characterization of Chelation and Absorption of Calcium by a Mytilus edulis Derived Osteogenic Peptide.

In a previous study, the peptide LGKDQVRT, which was identified by enzymatic hydrolysis, released during the proteolysis of Mytilus edulis, had potential osteogenic activity. In this study, the octapeptide LGKDQVRT was able to spontaneously bind calcium in a 1:1 stoichiometric ratio, and the calcium-binding site likely involves calcium and amino acid VAL6 in the LGKDQVRT peptide to form a metal-donor to metal acceptor complex. The peptide LGKDQVRT has the activity of promoting the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. The results of this study suggest that hydrolyzed peptides from Mytilus edulis protein can be used as a dietary supplement to improve calcium absorption and prevent osteoporosis.

Application of a Mytilus edulis-derived promoting calcium absorption peptide in calcium phosphate cements for bone.

The IEELEEELEAER peptide (PIE) identified from the protein hydrolysate of Mytilus edulis is reported to enhance osteoblast growth and differentiation, which also possesses a superior bone formation ability both in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, PIE bound to calcium spontaneously at the stoichiometry of 1:1, and there were amino nitrogen and carboxyl oxygen atoms in 2 glutamic acid residues at the calcium-binding sites in the PIE. The PIE-calcium complex facilitated calcium uptake through the Caco-2 cell monolayers. Incorporation of PIE into calcium phosphate cements enhanced calcium ion uptake and proliferation of osteoblasts and inhibit bacteria. This study suggest that calcium phosphate cements supplemented with PIE can serve as a potentially efficient material for bone graft used during spinal surgery.

Inhibitory effects of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) peptides on RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in vitro and osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice.

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is one of the most important fishes in the world with high nutritional value and economic value. However, the impact and underlying mechanism of the G. morhua peptides (GMPs) on osteoclastogenesis and bone mineral density (BMD) regulation remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of GMPs on osteoclast formation and anti-osteoporosis activity in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that GMPs significantly reduced receptor activator of nuclear factor (RANKL) induced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) activity, and decreased the expression of osteoclast regulatory factors c-Fos and NFATc1 by inhibiting the activation of MAPK and NF-κB pathways, and thereby inhibiting osteoclast formation and bone resorption. In vivo, GMP protects mice against ovariectomy-induced bone loss by regulating the balance of major factors released in bone formation and resorption. Taken together, GMP could be a potential candidate or dietary supplement for the prevention of osteoporosis.

Effects of Zinc Adaptation on Histological Morphology, Antioxidant Responses, and Expression of Immune-Related Genes of Grass Carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of zinc adaptation on histological morphology and antioxidant and immune responses of grass carp(Ctenopharyngodon idella). A total of 180 young grass carp (20.0 ± 2.0 g) was equally distributed into 9 groups, and triplicate groups were subjected to 0 µg/L Zn2+ (control group), 200 µg/L Zn2+, and 300 µg/L Zn2+ solution for 42 days, respectively. The results indicated that the liver and gill have obvious pathological changes after long-term adaptation to zinc except the intestine; the zinc adaptation can positively influence intestinal morphology. The activities of GPX (glutathione peroxidase activity), SOD (superoxide dismutase), and CAT (Catalase) were significantly increased in zinc treatment groups (P < 0.05). The genes expression levels of CuZnSOD (copper zinc superoxide dismutase), CAT, Hsp70 (heat shock protein-70), IL-1b (interleukin-1-b), and TGF-ß1 (transforming growth factor-ß1) were upregulated in the gill and intestine of grass carp following waterborne adaptation to zinc solution for 42 days (P < 0.05). In conclusion, zinc adaptation has different effects on organs of grass carp and may reduce the inflammatory response of the body's gills and intestines by improving the body's antioxidant and anti-stress defense capabilities.

Fabrication of flavour oil high internal phase emulsions by casein/pectin hybrid particles: 3D printing performance.

In this study, three-dimensional (3D) printable oil/water (O/W) high-internal-phase emulsions (HIPEs) (internal phase fraction = 75%) were fabricated using casein (3% w/v)/pectin (1-5% w/v) hybrid particles with flavour oil. The morphologies of the HIPEs, revealed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and cryo-scanning electron microscopy (cryo-SEM), indicated that the casein/pectin hybrid particles were mainly distributed on the interface of oil droplets. Additionally, the results of rheological and gel-strength measurements indicated that the viscosity (ranging from 1316.51-0.21 to 4301.84-0.79 Pa.s) of HIPEs increased with increasing pectin content (from 0% to 4% w/v), and the gel strength of printed HIPEs increased (from 10.37 to 21.19 g) with increasing pectin (from 1% to 5% w/v). The developed HIPEs were applied for 3D printing and the thus-printed objects could adequately maintain the designed shape and structure. The developed 3D printable HIPEs have excellent potential applications in the food, medical, and cosmetic industries.

Characterizations and the Mechanism Underlying Osteogenic Activity of Peptides from Enzymatic Hydrolysates of Stichopus japonicus.

Sea cucumber (Stichopus japonicus) is a kind of fishery product with high nutritional value. It exhibits a wide range of biological activity and has potential application in the food, pharmaceutical, and biomedical industries. However, there are no reports available on the effects of S. japonicus peptides (SJP) on bone mineral density regulations. The purpose of this work was to analyze the composition and osteogenic activity of SJP and explore its underlying mechanism. The results showed that SJP stimulated cell proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, SJP could promote the proliferation of MC3T3-E1 cells by altering the cell cycle progression and regulating the expression of Cyclins. Besides, SJP activated the WNT/ß-catenin pathway and increased the nuclear level of the active form ß-catenin. Furthermore, SJP also induced the expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP-2) and increase the phosphorylation levels of p38, JNK, and ERK, suggesting that the osteogenic activity of SJP may be achieved through the activation of WNT/ß-catenin and BMP/MAPK signal pathways. In vivo, SJP significantly inhibited the serum levels of RANKL, ALP, and TRAP, whereas it increased the levels of osteocalcin and osteoprotegerin in OVX-mice. These results indicate that SJP may have the potential to stimulate bone formation and regeneration, and may be used as a functional food or nutritional supplement to prevent osteoporosis.

Bee Pollen: Current Status and Therapeutic Potential.

Bee pollen is a combination of plant pollen and honeybee secretions and nectar. The Bible and ancient Egyptian texts are documented proof of its use in public health. It is considered a gold mine of nutrition due to its active components that have significant health and medicinal properties. Bee pollen contains bioactive compounds including proteins, amino acids, lipids, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and polyphenols. The vital components of bee pollen enhance different bodily functions and offer protection against many diseases. It is generally marketed as a functional food with affordable and inexpensive prices with promising future industrial potentials. This review highlights the dietary properties of bee pollen and its influence on human health, and its applications in the food industry.

Cyanobacteria-From the Oceans to the Potential Biotechnological and Biomedical Applications.

Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms which represent a significant source of novel, bioactive, secondary metabolites, and they are also considered an abundant source of bioactive compounds/drugs, such as dolastatin, cryptophycin 1, curacin toyocamycin, phytoalexin, cyanovirin-N and phycocyanin. Some of these compounds have displayed promising results in successful Phase I, II, III and IV clinical trials. Additionally, the cyanobacterial compounds applied to medical research have demonstrated an exciting future with great potential to be developed into new medicines. Most of these compounds have exhibited strong pharmacological activities, including neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity and antiviral activity against HCMV, HSV-1, HHV-6 and HIV-1, so these metabolites could be promising candidates for COVID-19 treatment. Therefore, the effective large-scale production of natural marine products through synthesis is important for resolving the existing issues associated with chemical isolation, including small yields, and may be necessary to better investigate their biological activities. Herein, we highlight the total synthesized and stereochemical determinations of the cyanobacterial bioactive compounds. Furthermore, this review primarily focuses on the biotechnological applications of cyanobacteria, including applications as cosmetics, food supplements, and the nanobiotechnological applications of cyanobacterial bioactive compounds in potential medicinal applications for various human diseases are discussed.

Reduced Adhesive Force Leading to Enhanced Thermal Stability of Soy Protein Particles by Combined Preheating and Ultrasonic Treatment.

Developing liquid systems with high protein contents is drawing intensive attention; however, this is challenged by heat-induced aggregation and gelation of proteins. Herein, we described a facile but robust approach of combined preheating and ultrasonic treatment (CPUT) to fabricate soy protein particles (SPPs) with enhanced heat stability. Results showed that these heat-stable particles, upon reheating at 1% (w/v), showed antiaggregation property evidenced from no obvious changes of the particle size distributions of suspensions. Besides, no gelation was found in the reheated test for SPPs suspended even at a concentration of 10% (w/v). In contrast, the control formed sol-gel after heating. The rearrangements of soy protein molecules by CPUT led to the formation of SPPs with reduced surface energy, which was primarily responsible for their heat stability. These findings highlighted that the CPUT could prepare thermally stable soy proteins, providing insights into the application of soy proteins in protein-enriched beverages.

Screening for natural and derived bio-active compounds in preclinical and clinical studies: One of the frontlines of fighting the coronaviruses pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Starting December 2019, mankind faced an unprecedented enemy, the COVID-19 virus. The world convened in international efforts, experiences and technologies in order to fight the emerging pandemic. Isolation, hygiene measure, diagnosis, and treatment are the most efficient ways of prevention and intervention nowadays. The health organizations and global care systems screened the available resources and offered recommendations of approved and proposed medications. However, the search for a specific selective therapy or vaccine against COVID-19 remains a challenge. METHODS: A literature search was performed for the screening of natural and derived bio-active compounds which showed potent antiviral activity against coronaviruses using published articles, patents, clinical trials website (https://clinicaltrials.gov/) and web databases (PubMed, SCI Finder, Science Direct, and Google Scholar). RESULTS: Through the screening for natural products with antiviral activities against different types of the human coronavirus, extracts of Lycoris radiata (L'Hér.), Gentiana scabra Bunge, Dioscorea batatas Decne., Cassia tora L., Taxillus chinensis (DC.), Cibotium barometz L. and Echinacea purpurea L. showed a promising effect against SARS-CoV. Out of the listed compound Lycorine, emetine dihydrochloride hydrate, pristimerin, harmine, conessine, berbamine, 4`-hydroxychalcone, papaverine, mycophenolic acid, mycophenolate mofetil, monensin sodium, cycloheximide, oligomycin and valinomycin show potent activity against human coronaviruses. Additionally, it is worth noting that some compounds have already moved into clinical trials for their activity against COVID-19 including fingolimod, methylprednisolone, chloroquine, tetrandrine and tocilizumab. CONCLUSION: Natural compounds and their derivatives could be used for developing potent therapeutics with significant activity against SARS-COV-2, providing a promising frontline in the fighting against COVID-19.

Exploring natural products-based cancer therapeutics derived from egyptian flora.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Egyptian plants are a rich source of natural molecules, representing considerable biodiversity due to climate variations between the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western regions of the country. Sinai is considered a precious nature reserves preserving flora, fauna, marine organisms, and historical habitats with ancient origins. Here, traditional medicinal approaches have been used for hundreds of years. Healthy lifestyles, low levels of stress and microbial infections, and a dependence on flora and herbal medicine might in combination explain why the burden of cancer is lower in some regions than in others. AIM OF THE STUDY: The primary aim of this review is to document the plants and natural products that are used as foods and medicines in Egypt, in general, and in Sinai, in particular, with a focus on those with demonstrated anticancer activities. The documented traditional uses of these plants are described, together with their chemical and pharmacological activities and the reported outcomes of clinical trials against cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed to identify texts describing the medicinal plants that are cultivated and grown in Egypt, including information found in textbooks, published articles, the plant list website (http://www.theplantlist.org/), the medicinal plant names services website (http://mpns.kew.org/mpns-portal/), and web databases (PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We collected data for most of the plants cultivated or grown in Egypt that have been previously investigated for anticancer effects and reported their identified bioactive elements. Several plant species, belonging to different families and associated with 67 bioactive compounds, were investigated as potential anticancer agents (in vitro studies). The most potent cytotoxic activities were identified for the families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gramineae, and Liliaceae. The anticancer activities of some species, such as Punica granatum L., Nerium oleander L., Olea europea L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Cassia acutifolia L., Nigella sativa L., Capsicum frutescens L., Withania somnifera L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe, have been examined in clinical trials. Among the various Egyptian plant habitats, we found that most of these plants are grown in the North Sinai, New-Delta, and Giza Governorates. CONCLUSION: In this review, we highlight the role played by Egyptian flora in current medicinal therapies and the possibility that these plants may be examined in further studies for the development of anticancer drugs. These bioactive plant extracts form the basis for the isolation of phytochemicals with demonstrated anticancer activities. Some active components derived from these plants have been applied to preclinical and clinical settings, including resveratrol, quercetin, isoquercetin, and rutin.

Polysaccharides from Hemp Seed Protect against Cyclophosphamide-Induced Intestinal Oxidative Damage via Nrf2-Keap1 Signaling Pathway in Mice.

Hemp seed has been used as a traditional oriental medicine and health food in China for centuries. Polysaccharides from hemp seed (HSP) exhibit important properties of intestinal protection, but there are limited data on the specific underlying mechanism. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the protective effect of HSP on intestinal oxidative damage induced by cyclophosphamide (Cy) in mice. The results showed that pretreatment with HSP significantly increased the average daily gain, thymus index, spleen index, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity in serum and ileal homogenate and significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) content in ileal homogenate. In addition, the expression levels of SOD, GSH-Px, Nrf2, heme oxidase-1 (HO-1), and quinoneoxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) mRNA in ileal homogenate were significantly increased. Western blot results showed that HSP significantly upregulated the expression of Nrf2 protein and downregulated the expression of Keap1 protein in the ileum. Collectively, our findings indicated that HSP had protective effects on intestinal oxidative damage induced by Cy in mice, and its mechanism might be related to the activation of Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway.

Dynamics of microbial communities, texture and flavor in Suan zuo yu during fermentation.

Suan zuo yu is a traditional Chinese fermented product. We explored the microbial diversity, the dynamic changes of texture and flavor compounds at different fermentation times (up to 24 d). Results showed that Weissella and Lactobacillus may play a vital role in fermentation especially for the flavor. At the end of fermentation, the taste activity value of Asp, Glu, and His were 21.61, 17.29 and 7.73, respectively. The bound water increased gradually indicated by low-field nuclear magnetic resonance, and the hardness was also increased. During the whole fermentation process, the myosin heavy chain protein and actin decreased obviously. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry showed that a total of 80 volatile compounds were detected, and 6 alcohols, 6 aldehydes and 6 esters increased significantly, which mainly contributed to the flavor of Suan zuo yu. This study provides a theoretical basis for the industrial production of fermented fish.

Dominant protozoan species in rhizosphere soil over growth of Beta vulgaris L. in Northeast China.

This paper identified the dominant protozoan species in the four layers of rhizosphere soil during the six growth stages of Beta vulgaris L. and analyzed the correlations of the abundance and diversity of the dominant protozoan species with soil properties at different growth stages and soil depth. A total of 15 species of protozoa were identified; among them, Colpoda sp., Bodo sp., two kinds of Oxytricha sp., and Tachysoma sp. were the most dominant species of Beta vulgaris L. rhizosphere soil. The Colpoda sp. was eurytopic species in the Beta vulgaris L. rhizosphere soil and Tachysoma sp., Vorticella sp., Colpoda sp., Oxytricha sp.1, and Oxytricha sp. 2 were noted closely related to the acceleration function of circulation of N and P elements in soils. These dominant protozoan species were proposed to play a significant role of fertilization on N supply in rhizosphere soil during the initial growth of Beta vulgaris L.

Apitoxin and Its Components against Cancer, Neurodegeneration and Rheumatoid Arthritis: Limitations and Possibilities.

Natural products represent important sources for the discovery and design of novel drugs. Bee venom and its isolated components have been intensively studied with respect to their potential to counteract or ameliorate diverse human diseases. Despite extensive research and significant advances in recent years, multifactorial diseases such as cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and neurodegenerative diseases remain major healthcare issues at present. Although pure bee venom, apitoxin, is mostly described to mediate anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritic and neuroprotective effects, its primary component melittin may represent an anticancer therapeutic. In this review, we approach the possibilities and limitations of apitoxin and its components in the treatment of these multifactorial diseases. We further discuss the observed unspecific cytotoxicity of melittin that strongly restricts its therapeutic use and review interesting possibilities of a beneficial use by selectively targeting melittin to cancer cells.

Protection against oxidative stress and anti-aging effect in Drosophila of royal jelly-collagen peptide.

Dietary peptide has been of great interest because of its perspective in nutrition and health of human body. The aim of this study was to develop a dietary nutritional supplement exerting both antioxidant and anti-aging effects. Peptide, named as ERJ-CP, was prepared by mixing enzyme-treated royal jelly (ERJ) with collagen peptide (CP), showing stronger antioxidant activity in vitro. Drosophila was used as model animal to investigate anti-aging effect of ERJ-CP in vivo. ERJ-CP significantly prolonged the average life span of Drosophila treated with H2O2 and paraquat, reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PCO) levels in Drosophila. In addition, 3 mg/mL of ERJ-CP could prolong the lifespan of natural aging Drosophila by 11.16%. ERJ-CP could up-regulate the levels of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), catalase (CAT) and down-regulate the contents of MDA and PCO. Moreover, the intake of ERJ-CP increased the food consumption, weight gain and exercise capacity of Drosophila. The results showed that ERJ-CP played a protective role in both antioxidant and anti-aging effects on Drosophila, and the anti-aging effect may be achieved by alleviating oxidative damage. It suggests that ERJ-CP could be developed as a health-promoting ingredient with antioxidant and anti-aging effects for human body.