Botanical origin of Mei-gui Hua in Chinese markets.

The petals or buds of Rosa species have been used as an important Chinese crude drug called "Mei-gui Hua" and also an ingredient for herbal tea in China. The 15 flavonol glycosides in 34 commercially available "Mei-gui Hua" were quantitatively determined by UPLC, and the data were compared with those of known Rosa sp. belong to Cinnamomeae, Gallicanae, Caninae and Synstylae by principal component analysis for the estimation of original plants of these "Mei-gui Hua". Seven samples were classified into two groups (Types A and B) composed of species in Gallicae and Synstilae and 11 samples into a group (Type D) composed of species in Cinnamomeae. Six samples were plotted among Types B, C and D. However, nine samples were shown to form a new group (Type F), and the original plants of these samples were assumed to be more complex hybrids of Rosa species including other sections than Cinnamomeae, Gallicanae, Caninae and Synstylae. This method must be useful and convenient to estimate the origin of crude drug "Mei-gui Hua" commercially available in markets. The results of this study also demonstrated that "Mei-gui Hua" commercially available in Chinese market must be prepared from hybrids of various species of Rosa, and it is not reasonable to assign only R. rugosa as scientific name of the origin plants.

Antimicrobial constituents of peel and seeds of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia).

Various antimicrobial constituents of camu-camu fruit were isolated. Acylphloroglucinol (compound 1) and rhodomyrtone (compound 2) were isolated from the peel of camu-camu (Myrciaria dubia) fruit, while two other acylphloroglucinols (compounds 3 and 4) were obtained from camu-camu seeds. The structures of the isolated compounds were characterized by spectrophotometric methods. Compounds 1 and 4 were confirmed to be new acylphloroglucinols with different substituents at the C7 or C9 position of 2, and were named myrciarone A and B, respectively. Compound 3 was determined to be isomyrtucommulone B. This is the first report of the isolation of 3 from a natural resource. The antimicrobial activities of compounds 1, 3, and 4 were similar to those of 2, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations were either similar to or lower than that of kanamycin. These results suggest that the peel and seeds of camu-camu fruit could be utilized for therapeutic applications.

Volatile Components of the Essential Oil of Artemisia montana and Their Sedative Effects.

The sedative effects of volatile components in the essential oil of Artemisia montana ("Yomogi") were investigated and measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Major components identified included 1,8-cineol, camphor, borneol, α-piperitone, and caryophyllene oxide. Among them, 1,8-cineol exhibited the highest flavor dilution (FD) value in an aroma extract dilution analysis (AEDA), followed by borneol, o-cymene, ß-thujone, and bornyl acetate. The sedative effects of yomogi oil aroma were evaluated by sensory testing, analysis of salivary α-amylase activity, and measurement of relative fluctuation of oxygenated hemoglobin concentration in the brain using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). All results indicated the stress-reducing effects of the essential oil following nasal exposure, and according to the NIRS analysis, 1,8-cineol is likely responsible for the sedative effects of yomogi oil.

Diversity in aconitine alkaloid profile of Aconitum plants in Hokkaido contrasts with their genetic similarity.

Aconite tuber is a representative crude drug for warming the body internally in Japanese Kampo medicine and Chinese traditional medicine. The crude drug is used in major prescriptions for the aged. Varieties of Aconitum plants are distributed throughout the Japanese Islands, especially Hokkaido. With the aim of identifying the medicinal potential of Aconitum plants from Hokkaido, 107 specimens were collected from 36 sites in the summer of 2011 and 2012. Their nuclear DNA region, internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and aconitine alkaloid contents were analyzed. Phylogenic analysis of ITS by maximum parsimony analysis showed that the majority of the specimens were grouped into one cluster (cluster I), separated from the other cluster (cluster II) consisting of alpine specimens. The aconitine alkaloid content of the tuberous roots of 76 specimens showed 2 aspects-specimens from the same collection site showed similar aconitine alkaloid profiles, and cluster I specimens from different habitats showed various alkaloid profiles. Environmental pressure of each habitat is presumed to have caused the morphology and aconitine alkaloid profile of these genetically similar specimens to diversify.

Effects of holdfast of Laminaria japonica on listeria invasion on enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells and NO production of macrophage RAW 264.7 cells.

Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) causes food poisoning in humans mainly through consumption of ready-to-eat foods. Immunocompromised persons are at the highest risk for infection. We investigated effects of crude soluble polysaccharides (SPS) and ethanolic extract (EE) fractions of frond (kombu) and holdfast (ganiashi) parts of Laminaria japonica on Lm invasion into human enterocyte-like Caco-2 cells and immune and/or inflammatory reactions of murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. Recovery and viscosity were high in kombu SPS. Total phenolic content and antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity and Fe-reducing power) were higher in ganiashi EE. EE of ganiashi, rather than kombu, suppressed the Lm invasion into the differentiated Caco-2 cells, though the inhibitory effect of SPS was not significant. Ganiashi SPS increased the nitric oxide (NO) production of intact RAW 264.7 cells. On the other hand, the NO production from Escherichia coli O111 lipopolysaccharide-activated cells was suppressed by kombu SPS and ganiashi EE. These results suggest that L. japonica, particularly ganiashi, might suppress the invasion and infection of Lm and also the inflammation.

Elevated serum levels of interleukin-18 in patients with overt diabetic nephropathy: effects of miglitol.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-18 (IL-18), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is a predictor of cardiovascular and renal disease in diabetic patients. Postprandial hyperglycemia is one of the important factors contributing to an increase in the circulating pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. This study investigated the effect of miglitol, an α-glucosidase inhibitor, on postprandial hyperglycemia and IL-18 levels in diabetic patients with nephropathy. METHODS: Fifteen Japanese diabetic patients with persistent proteinuria and preserved renal function were recruited. The patients received 50 mg miglitol thrice daily after the baseline examinations and were followed up for 12 weeks. A meal tolerance test was performed on eight patients at baseline and week 12. The fasting miglitol concentration was measured in seven patients just before the meal tolerance test. RESULTS: There were no changes in the body weight, blood pressure, liver and renal function, and proteinuria from baseline to week 12. However, the levels of glycated hemoglobin and interleukin 18 significantly decreased from baseline to week 12. During the meal tolerance test, plasma glucose was significantly decreased 60 min after treatment with miglitol, whereas the serum concentration of insulin was not changed. Fasting and postprandial levels of IL-18 were significantly decreased from baseline to week 12. Serum miglitol concentrations showed a significantly negative correlation with eGFR (r = -0.82, p = 0.02). However, the serum miglitol concentrations did not changed during the course of this study. CONCLUSION: Miglitol improved postprandial hyperglycemia and reduced serum IL-18 levels in patients with stage 3 diabetic nephropathy. Miglitol may therefore prevent atherosclerotic diseases and diabetic micro-vascular complications through decreasing glucose swings and/or the circulating IL-18 level.

Low-Frequency Electroacupuncture Improves Insulin Sensitivity in Obese Diabetic Mice through Activation of SIRT1/PGC-1α in Skeletal Muscle.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been observed to reduce insulin resistance in obesity and diabetes. However, the biochemical mechanism underlying this effect remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of low-frequency EA on metabolic action in genetically obese and type 2 diabetic db/db mice. Nine-week-old db/m and db/db mice were randomly divided into four groups, namely, db/m, db/m + EA, db/db, and db/db + EA. db/m + EA and db/db + EA mice received 3-Hz electroacupuncture five times weekly for eight consecutive weeks. In db/db mice, EA tempered the increase in fasting blood glucose, food intake, and body mass and maintained insulin levels. In EA-treated db/db mice, improved insulin sensitivity was established through intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test. EA was likewise observed to decrease free fatty acid levels in db/db mice; it increased protein expression in skeletal muscle Sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) and induced gene expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC-1α), nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1), and acyl-CoA oxidase (ACOX). These results indicated that EA offers a beneficial effect on insulin resistance in obese and diabetic db/db mice, at least partly, via stimulation of SIRT1/PGC-1α, thus resulting in improved insulin signal.

Botanical origin of mei-gui hua (petal of a Rosa species).

Mei-gui hua has been used as a crude drug in traditional medicine and as herbal tea in China. The scientific name of Mei-gui is Rosa rugosa thunb. However, the morphological characteristics and botanical ecology of Mei-gui were different from those of R. rugosa. Since the botanical origins of Mei-gui cultivated in China have not yet been clarified, we compared Mei-gui and R. rugosa in terms of their morphological characteristics, phylogenetic analysis, and phytochemical studies. Our research suggested that Mei-gui cultivated around Tarim Basin in Xinjiang Province showed homology to Rosa gallica, while those cultivated in the northeastern parts of China are considered to be hybrids of R. rugosa.

Simultaneous determination of hydrolysable tannins in the petals of Rosa rugosa and allied plants.

The petals of Rosa rugosa and allied plants for medicinal use contain abundant hydrolysable tannins, and they show remarkable biological activities. The activities are dependent on the structures of the hydrolysable tannins, so their contents and compositions are essential for evaluation of medicinal potency. Therefore, we optimized the simultaneous quantitative determination of the hydrolysable tannins using ultra-performance liquid chromatography. A column of ethylene bridged hybrid (BEH) phenyl (C(6) alkyl phenyl group as solid-phase modification) was shown to be most effective for the separation of hydrolysable tannins isolated from R. rugosa and related compounds when the column temperature was kept under 25 degrees C. The efficacy of the BEH phenyl column might be due to the interaction between solid phase and phenolic ester groups of hydrolysable tannins such as galloyl, hexahydroxydiphenoyl and valoneoyl groups. The relation between the retention times on the BEH phenyl column and the column temperature was demonstrated to depend on the structural characteristics of hydrolysable tannins.

Inhibitory effects of Rosa gallica on the digestive enzymes.

The 50% aqueous ethanol extracts of petals of Rosa gallica collected in Xinjiang province, China, exhibited potent inhibitory effects against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase. As the active principles, seven hydrolysable tannins were isolated from this species for the first time and elucidated by NMR and ESI-TOF-MS analysis. Quantitative analysis by ultra-performance liquid chromatography demonstrated that the contents of these hydrolysable tannins were 3-5% of the dry weight of the petals, and the hydrolysable tannins must be related to the medicinal utilization of this species.

Effects of Rosa rugosa petals on intestinal bacteria.

The effects of pulverized petal of Rosa rugosa on the growth of 10 species of intestinal and pathogenic bacteria were investigated. Growth of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli was not affected by the addition of the petal in plate cultivation. However, the growth of Bacteroides vulgatus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus cereus was completely inhibited by the addition of 0.1, 0.5, 0.1, and 0.05% (w/v) of the petal respectively. In liquid cultivation, the addition of the petal (0.5%) stimulated the growth of Bifidobacterium breve and slightly inhibited the growth of Lactobacillus salivarius. But the growth of E. coli, S. aureus, B. cereus, and Salmonella sp. was inhibited by nearly 50%. Hydrolyzable tannins isolated from R. rugosa, rugosin D, and tellimagradin II showed antibacterial activities against E. coli, S. aureus, B. cereus, and Salmonella sp., but little or no effect against Bif. breve and L. salivarius. R. rugosa petal showed selective antibacterial activities against intestinal and pathogenic bacteria, and the selectivity resembled that of prebiotics such as oligosaccharides and dietary fiber. Hydrolyzable tannins in R. rugosa, such as rugosin D and tellimagradin II, must be active constituents.

Two fucoidans in the holdfast of cultivated Laminaria japonica.

Two fucoidans have been isolated from the holdfast of cultivated Laminaira japonica. One (L-fucoidan) is rich in fucose and sulfate; the other (GA-fucoidan) is rich in uronate. L-fucoidan was found in the fronds of L. japonica (cultivated and wild), L. angustata, and Kjellmaniella crassifolia whereas GA-fucoidan was not detected in these fronds and may be a fucoidan specific to the holdfast. These two fucoidans were proved to have anti-tumor activity against Adenocarcinoma 755-transplanted mice by i.p. and p.o. administration.