Evaluation of the Relationship Between Bioactive Components in Seaweeds and Advanced Glycation End-Products Inhibitory Activities Using Principal Component Analysis.

This study comprehensively presents the relationship between the bioactive substance of 70% (v/v) aqueous ethanol extract of 38 species of seaweeds (SWEs), and anti-glycation activities. The contents of bioactive substance of SWEs, such as total phenolic, total flavonoid and condensed tannins, were determined through a colorimetric analysis. Among the tested species, Ecklonia bicyclis, Ishige foliacea, and Cladophora urightiana var. minor had the highest amount of total phenolic (255.75 mg GAE/g DW), total condensed tannins (63.36 mg CE/g DW), and total flavonoid content (85.26 mg CE/g DW), respectively. Anti-glycation properties of SWEs were evaluated through advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) formation, AGEs-collagen cross-link formation, and AGEs-collagen cross-link breaking assay. Brown algae species exhibited a more prominent inhibitory activity on AGEs formation and AGEs-collagen cross-links, and the breaking of AGEs-collagen cross-links compared to that exhibited by aminoguanidine and ALT-711 (positive controls). Using principal component analysis, we confirmed that the AGEs formation inhibitory property and AGEs-collagen cross-links breaking activity were closely correlated with total phenolic and the condensed tannin contents contained in SWEs. Therefore, the bioactive substances such as phenolics and condensed tannins in seaweeds can be used as predictive indices in selecting compounds for the development of a therapeutic agent that prevents diabetic complications related to the AGEs. In addition, our results suggest that brown algae species, which contains more bioactive substances than green and red algae species, can be utilized as a promising natural resource for the prevention and alleviation of AGEs-related diabetic complications as AGE inhibitor and cross-links breaker.

Hepatoprotective Effects of Soybean Embryo by Enhancing Adiponectin-Mediated AMP-Activated Protein Kinase α Pathway in High-Fat and High-Cholesterol Diet-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is characterized by >5% deposition of triglycerides in hepatocytes, is often referred as a major risk factor for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. We investigated the hepatoprotective effect of whole soybean embryos containing bioactive substances such as isoflavones and soyasaponins. For this study, mice were randomly allocated into four groups that were fed different diets for 10 weeks: normal diets and high-fat and high-cholesterol diets (HD), and HD with 10% or 20% soybean embryo powder (10SE-HD and 20SE-HD). Hepatic superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity of the experimental groups increased during the period of the study (P < .05). Hepatic mRNA expressions of tumor necrosis factor α, nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, and Caspase 3 were decreased when soybean embryos were increased in the mice's diets. Both of the soybean embryo-treated groups showed significantly decreased serum and liver triglyceride and total cholesterol. Adiponectin, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) α, hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase, sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c, fatty acid synthase, and apolipoprotein B mRNA expressions were decreased in the mice that were fed soybean embryos. We suggest that the regular supplementation of soybean embryos might be a useful treatment for preventing NAFLD and associated complications through upregulation of adiponectin-mediated AMPKα pathway parameters, which are implicated in antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lipid metabolism activities.

The radioprotective effects of bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang: a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine.

We evaluated the effect of bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang, a prescription of traditional Oriental medicine, and its major ingredients on protection of the intestine and hematopoietic organs against radiation damage in this study. The jejunal crypt survival, endogenous spleen colony formation, and apoptosis in jejunal crypt cells were investigated in mice irradiated with high and low doses of gamma-rays. bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang administration before irradiation protected the jejunal crypts (p < 0.0001), increased the formation of the endogenous spleen colony (p < 0.05) and reduced the frequency of radiation-induced apoptosis (p < 0.05). In experiments on the effects of the individual ingredient of bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang, Rensan (Radix Ginseng), Danggui (Radix Angelicae gigantis), Shengma (Rhizoma Cimicifugae) and Chaihu (Radix Bupleuri) might have major radioprotective effects, and each might have different degrees of effect on these three endpoints. These results indicated that bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang might be a better agent than any one of its ingredients to satisfy all three endpoints. Although the mechanisms of this inhibitory effect remain to be elucidated, these results indicated that bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang might be a useful radioprotector, especially since it is a relatively non-toxic natural product. Further studies are needed to better characterize the protective nature of bu-zhong-yi-qi-tang extract and its ingredients.

Protective effect of ginsenosides, active ingredients of Panax ginseng, on kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus.

Ginsenosides are known to attenuate glutamate-induced cell injuries in vitro. We investigated the in vivo effect of ginsenosides on kainic acid (KA)-induced neurotoxicity in rat hippocampus using the methods of acid fuchsin (AF) staining and heat-shock protein-70 (HSP-70) immunoreactivity to detect neuronal death and stress, respectively. Pretreatment of ginsenosides (50 or 100 mg/kg for 7 days) via intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration significantly attenuated KA (10 mg/kg i.p.)-induced cell death by decreasing AF-positive neurons in both CA1 and CA3 regions of rat hippocampus compared with KA treatment alone. Pretreatment of ginsenosides (50 or 100 mg/kg for 7 days) via i.p. administration also significantly suppressed KA-induced induction of HSP-70 in both regions of rat hippocampus. These results show that ginsenosides are effective in protecting hippocampal CA1 and CA3 cells against KA-induced neurotoxicity.