Policosanol profiles and adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation potential of Korean wheat seedling extracts according to cultivar and growth time.

Policosanols is a health promoting aliphatic alcohol known as lipid-lowing agent. To enable maximising the functional properties of wheat, this research investigates the policosanol profiles and adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation potential of Korean wheat seedlings according to cultivars and growth times. GC-MS revealed six policosanols that differed markedly in content between 17 cultivars, especially, octacosanol (8) showed the most predominant component (49-83%), varying significantly in average concentrations with growth times as 361.4 (3 days) â†’ 613.0 (6 days) â†’ 203.1 (9 days) â†’ 196.5 (12 days) â†’ 50.9 mg/100 g (19 days). The highest average policosanol (738.7 mg/100 g) exhibited after 6 days, while the lowest was 104.4 mg/100 g on 19 days. Moreover, the wheat cultivars including Shinmichal 1, Anbaek, Namhae, and Joah at 6 days may be recommended as potential sources because of high policosanols (921.7-990.6 mg/100 g). Western blot analysis revealed markedly higher AMPK activation in cells treated with the hexane extracts (150-370% at 100 µg/ml) and octacosanol (8) possessed potent AMPK activator (control; 100 â†’ 280% at 200 µg/ml). It is confirmed that the AMPK activation by wheat seedlings are positively related to the highest policosanol content at the 6 days of growth time, independent of the cultivar. Our results may be contributed to enhance the wheat value regarding development of new cultivars and functional foods.

Identification and evaluation of flavone-glucosides isolated from barley sprouts and their inhibitory activity against bacterial neuraminidase.

Neuraminidase (NA) is one of the key enzymes responsible for bacterial infection and pathogenesis. This study aimed to gain deeper insights into the inhibitory effects of flavone-glucosides (1-9) isolated from barley sprouts (BS) on neuraminidase activity. The isolated compounds were identified as, lutonarin (1), saponarin (2), isoorientin (3), orientin (4), isovitexin (5), isoscoparin-7-O-[6-sinapoyl]-glucoside (6), isoscoparin-7-O-[6-feruloyl]-glucoside (7), isovitexin-7-O-[6-sinapoyl]-glucoside (8), and isovitexin-7-O-[6-feruloyl]-glucoside (9). Among them, compounds 1-5 exhibited neuraminidase-inhibitory activities in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values ranging from 20.1 to 32.7 µM, in a non-competitive inhibition mode according to kinetic studies. Moreover, the individual flavone-glucoside levels differed notably, in particular, lutonarin (1) and saponarin (2) were shown to be present in the greatest amounts, according to UPLC analysis. Consequently, our results suggest that BS may be utilized as an effective NA inhibitor in human health food, additives, and feed.

Saponarin from barley sprouts inhibits NF-κB and MAPK on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.

Saponarin (SA), a natural flavonoid, is known for its antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities. SA is the predominant compound (1142.7 ± 0.9 mg per 100 g) in barley sprouts, constituting 72% of the total polyphenol content. We investigated, for the first time, the effects of SA from barley sprouts on cellular anti-inflammatory responses. In lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, SA suppressed the activation of NF-κB, as evidenced by the inhibition of NF-κB DNA binding, nuclear translocation, IκBα phosphorylation, and reporter gene expression, and it downregulated the expression of the pro-inflammatory mediator IL-6. Furthermore, SA reduced the transcription of NF-κB target molecules COX2 and FLIP inhibited the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases ERK and p38. These results suggest that SA isolated from barley sprouts exerts anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages via inhibition of NF-κB, ERK and p38 signaling. Thus, SA may be a promising natural anti-inflammatory agent.

Co-development of autoimmune hepatitis and Sjögren's syndrome triggered by the administration of herbal medicines.

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) has been reported in association with Sjögren's syndrome (SS). Drug-induced AIH has been rarely reported. A rare case of the co-development of AIH and SS in a 53-year-old woman after the consumption of herbal medicines is described. After admission, the patient complained of dryness in her mouth, and she was subsequently diagnosed with SS, which had not been detected previously. The patient's bilirubin and aminotransferase levels initially decreased following conservative management; however, they later began to progressively increase. A diagnosis of AIH was made based on the scoring system proposed by the International Autoimmune Hepatitis Group. The patient was administered a combination of prednisolone and azathioprine, and the results of follow-up liver-function tests were found to be within the normal range. This is an unusual case of AIH and SS triggered simultaneously by the administration of herbal medicines.