Structural and in vivo-in vitro myocardial injury protection features of two novel polysaccharides from Allium macrostemon Bunge and Allium chinense G. Don.

This study aimed to investigate the structural characteristics, in vivo antiatherosclerosis activity, and in vitro myocardial injury protection effects of polysaccharides from Allium macrostemon Bunge and Allium chinense G. Don. Thus, crude polysaccharides of Allium macrostemon Bunge and Allium chinense G. Don significantly reduced serum lipid levels, improved cardiac myocyte morphology and arrangement, and relieved the development of myocardial fibrosis. Meanwhile, the lesion areas of the aorta and aortic valve had evident visual improvements. Furthermore, two main novel purified polysaccharides, namely, AMB-1 and ACGD-1, were isolated and characterized from crude Allium macrostemon Bunge and Allium chinense G. Don fractions, respectively. The purified polysaccharides mainly consisted of fructose and glucose and had molecular weights of 25.22 and 19.53 kDa, respectively. In addition, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, methylation, and nuclear magnetic resonance data revealed the primary structures of the AMB1 (or ACGD1) backbone with branched side chains. Scanning electron microscope analysis showed that the purified polysaccharides were both piled together in a lamellar or clastic form with a smooth surface along with linear or irregular bulges. Moreover, the purified polysaccharides both showed nontoxicity on H9c2 cells and effectively dropped hypoxia/reoxygenation-induced apoptosis by the BCL-2/BAX pathway. Overall, the characterization of the structural properties and in vivo and in vitro myocardial injury protection effects of Allium macrostemon Bunge and Allium chinense G. Don polysaccharides enriched our understanding of their nutritional and medicinal values. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study on the structural characteristics and bioactivities of Allium chinense G. Don polysaccharides.

Characterization of volatile organic compounds with anti-atherosclerosis effects in Allium macrostemon Bge. and Allium chinense G. Don by head space solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Introduction: Allium macrostemon Bge. (AMB) and Allium chinense G. Don (ACGD) are both edible Allium vegetables and named officinal Xiebai (or Allii Macrostemonis Bulbus) in East Asia. Their medicinal qualities involve in lipid lowering and anti-atherosclerosis effects. And steroidal saponins, nitrogenous compounds and sulfur compounds are like the beneficial components responsible for medicinal functions. Sulfur compounds are the recognized main components both in the volatile oils of AMB and ACGD. Besides, few researches were reported about their holistic chemical profiles of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pharmacodynamic effects. Methods: In this study, we first investigated the lipid-lowering and anti-atherosclerotic effects of volatile oils derived from AMB and ACGD in ApoE -/- mice with high fat and high cholesterol diets. Results: The results showed the volatile oils of AMB and ACGD both could markedly reduce serum levels of TG, TC, and LDL-C (p < 0.05), and had no alterations of HDL-C, ALT, and AST levels (p > 0.05). Pathological results displayed they both could obviously improve the morphology of cardiomyocytes and the degree of myocardial fibrosis in model mice. Meanwhile, oil red O staining results also proved they could apparently decrease the lesion areas of plaques in the aortic intima (p < 0.05). Furthermore, head space solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography tandem mass spectrometry combined with metabolomics analysis was performed to characterize the VOCs profiles of AMB and ACGD, and screen their differential VOCs. A total of 121 and 115 VOCs were identified or tentatively characterized in the volatile oils of AMB and ACGD, respectively. Relative-quantification results also confirmed sulfur compounds, aldehydes, and heterocyclic compounds accounted for about 85.6% in AMB bulbs, while approximately 86.6% in ACGD bulbs were attributed to sulfur compounds, ketones, and heterocyclic compounds. Multivariate statistical analysis showed 62 differentially expressed VOCs were observed between AMB and ACGD, of which 17 sulfur compounds were found to be closely associated with the garlic flavor and efficacy. Discussion: Taken together, this study was the first analysis of holistic chemical profiles and anti-atherosclerosis effects of AMB and ACGD volatile oils, and would benefit the understanding of effective components in AMB and ACGD.

Hyperthermia inhibits growth of nasopharyngeal carcinoma through degradation of c-Myc.

BACKGROUND: Hyperthermia is a widely used adjunct treatment for different cancers including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The protooncogene c-Myc is up-regulated in NPC and its expression is associated with poor prognosis. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that c-Myc constitutes an important hyperthermia treatment target, and we investigated its contribution to hyperthermia responses in NPC. METHODS: The growth of the human NPC cell lines CNE1 and CNE2 was analyzed using CCK-8 and clonogenicity assays after 43 °C hyperthermia, knockdown or overexpression of c-Myc. Flow cytometry measurements assessed cell cycle parameters and apoptosis, while levels of c-Myc together with key transcriptional targets were determined using qPCR and Western blotting. Parallel experiments were undertaken using NPC xenografts in nude mice and lastly, global transcriptomic changes were determined using 'RNAseq'. RESULTS: Hyperthermia increased the ubiquitination and proteasomal destruction of c-Myc, causing a rapid decline in c-Myc protein levels in NPC cells. Similar to c-Myc knockdown, NPC cells treated with hyperthermia showed growth inhibition associated with the downregulation of c-Myc target genes. Moreover, low levels of c-Myc could be sustainably repressed in NPC cells through repeated hyperthermia treatments. Importantly, the key findings of growth inhibition and decreased c-Myc protein levels were reproduced in NPC tumor xenografts. Bioinformatic analyses showed that downregulation of c-Myc constituted a central node in the hyperthermia response of NPC cells. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals that hyperthermia can readily destabilize c-Myc levels in NPC cells and inhibit tumor growth. This proposes new strategies for implementing hyperthermia to target c-Myc-driven cancers to improve therapeutic efficacy.

[Effects of taurine on the ultrastructure and P2X7 receptor expression in brain following traumatic brain injury in rats].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of taurine on the ultrastructure and P2X7 receptor protein expression in brain following traumatic brain injury (TBI) in rats. METHODS: Forty male SD rats, were divided randomly into four groups that were sham-operated group, TBI group, TBI plus low-dose taurine group and TBI plus high-dose taurine group. The TBI model was established by Marmarou's method, the expression of P2X7 receptor protein in parietal cortex and hippocampus was detected by the immunohistochemical method, the ultrastructure of parietal cortex were observed by transmission electron microscope. RESULTS: Compared with sham-operated group, the positive expression cells of P2X7 receptor protein in parietal cortex and hippocampus of TBI group were significantly increased (P < 0.01). Compared with TBI group, the positive expression cells of P2X7 receptor protein in parietal cortex and hippocampus of TBI plus low-dose taurine group and TBI plus high-dose taurine group were significantly decreased (P <0.01 or P <0.05). Compared with TBI plus low-dose taurine group, the positive expression cells of P2X7 receptor protein in parietal cortex and hippocampus of TBI plus high-dose taurine group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). The pathological damage of parietal cortex in the TBI plus high-dose taurine group was obviously lightened. CONCLUSION: Taurine exerts the neuroprotective effect on TBI in rats, the protective mechanism might be associated with down-regulating the expression of P2X7 receptor protein in parietal cortex and hippocampus.

Effect of tiaozhi yanggan decoction in treating patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver.

OBJECTIVE: To observe the clinical efficacy and safety of Tiaozhi Yanggan Decoction (TZYGD) in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver. METHODS: One hundred and thirty-eight patients were enrolled and randomized into two groups according to the random number table in a ratio of 3:1, with 8 cases eventually dropping out. The symptoms, signs, liver function markers, blood lipids, iconographic indices and clinical comprehensive efficacy after a 12-week treatment course were assessed in 101 patients treated with TZYGD in the treated group and 29 patients treated with Thiola in the control group. RESULTS: The total effective rate in the treated group and the control group was 81.19% and 68.97%, respectively, showing a significant difference between the two groups with the former being significantly higher than the latter (P<0.05). Moreover, the improvements in the symptoms, signs, liver function, blood lipids and iconographic indices in the treated group were favorable with no serious adverse reactions. CONCLUSION: TZYGD is effective and highly safe in treating non-alcoholic fatty liver.