Traditional Chinese medicine treats ulcerative colitis by regulating gut microbiota, signaling pathway and cytokine: Future novel method option for pharmacotherapy.

Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic non-specific inflammatory disease with intestinal tract as the main site. The pathogenic of UC has not yet been clarified, and multiple mechanisms can lead to the pathogenesis of UC. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) offers an opportunity for UC treatment. TCM has become the preferred treatment for UC with characteristics of multiple targets, multiple pathways and high safety. This review attempted to summarize the characteristics of TCM (compound prescriptions, single Chinese herbs, and active ingredients) for UC treatment and discussed their pathogenesis based on analyzing the UC-related gut microbiota, signaling pathway and cytokine. In order to provide more systematic and diverse reference for TCM in the prevention and treatment of UC, and provide theoretical reference for clinical treatment of UC. Materials and methods: The information was acquired from different databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP databases. We then focused on the recent research progress in UC treatment by TCM. Finally, the deficiencies and future perspectives are proposed. Results: Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the compound prescriptions (strengthening spleen, clearing heat and removing dampness, clearing heat and removing toxin), single Chinese herbs (replenishing Qi, clearing heat, tonifying blood, etc.), and active ingredients (alkaloids, polysaccharides, flavonoids, polyphenols, terpenes, etc.) have an efficiency in UC treatment by regulating gut microbiota, signaling pathway and cytokine. Conclusions: TCM can achieve its purpose of UC prevention and treatment by acting in multiple ways, and TCM deserves further research and development in this field.

Plant-derived monoterpene S-linalool and ß-ocimene generated by CsLIS and CsOCS-SCZ are key chemical cues for attracting parasitoid wasps for suppressing Ectropis obliqua infestation in Camellia sinensis L.

Insect-induced plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may function as either direct defence molecules to deter insects or indirect defence signals to attract the natural enemies of the invading insects. Tea (Camellia sinensis L.), an important leaf-based beverage crop, is mainly infested by Ectropis obliqua which causes the most serious damage. Here, we report a mechanistic investigation of tea plant-derived VOCs in an indirect defence mechanism against E. obliqua. Parasitoid wasp Parapanteles hyposidrae, a natural enemy of E. obliqua, showed strong electrophysiological response and selection behaviour towards S-linalool and ß-ocimene, two monoterpenes with elevated emission from E. obliqua-damaged tea plants. Larvae frass of E. obliqua, which also released S-linalool and ß-ocimene, was found to attract both mated female or male Pa. hyposidrae according to gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection and Y-tube olfactometer assays. In a field setting, both S-linalool and ß-ocimene were effective in recruiting both female and male Pa. hyposidrae wasps. To understand the molecular mechanism of monoterpenes-mediated indirect defence in tea plants, two novel monoterpene synthase genes, CsLIS and CsOCS-SCZ, involved in the biosynthesis of S-linalool or ß-ocimene, respectively, were identified and biochemically characterised. When the expression of these two genes in tea plants was inhibited by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide, both volatile emission and attraction of wasps were reduced. Furthermore, gene expression analysis suggested that the expression of CsLIS and CsOCS-SCZ is regulated by the jasmonic acid signalling pathway in the tea plant.

Bioactive Components and Biological Activities of Crocus sativus L. Byproducts: A Comprehensive Review.

The production of saffron spice results in numerous byproducts, as only 15 g of spice can be produced from 1 kg of flowers, indicating that over 90% of the saffron flower material is eventually discarded as waste. In view of this, the paper reviews current knowledge on the natural active components in saffron byproducts and their biological activities, aiming to lay a theoretical and scientific foundation for the further utilization. Saffron byproducts contain a variety of phytochemical components, such as flavonoids, anthocyanins, carotenoids, phenolic acids, monoterpenoids, alkaloids, glycosides, and saponins. The activities of saffron byproducts and their mechanisms are also discussed in detail here.

Alleviation of ultraviolet-B radiation-induced photoaging using Saussurea medusa Maxim polysaccharide.

Saussurea medusa polysaccharide, the polysaccharide extract of Saussurea medusa Maxim, a traditional Chinese herbal medicine, is used to combat intense ultraviolet radiation, cold, and hypoxia in patients, as well as during drought. This polysaccharide has rich medicinal and ecological values. We aimed to determine whether saussurea medusa polysaccharides can reduce ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin photoaging. Seventy-five male Kunming mice were divided into five groups: control, UVB-only, UVB plus vitamin E (VE group), UVB plus saussurea medusa (2 g/kg), and UVB plus saussurea medusa (6 g/kg). The control group was irradiated with normal light, while the other four groups were subcutaneously administered 10 mL/kg/day D-galactose and irradiated with narrow-spectrum UVB for 40 min daily. From day 11, the VE group was administered 0.25 g/kg/day vitamin E, while the saussurea medusa intervention groups were administered 2 and 6 g/kg/day saussurea medusa polysaccharide. After 30 days of continuous administration, treatment with saussurea medusa polysaccharides was found to reduce UVB-induced skin photoaging in mice by elevating the levels of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and hydroxyproline (HYP), while reducing the level of MDA, and inhibiting the EGFR/MEK/ERK/c-Fos pathway. Overall, our findings suggest that treatment with saussurea medusa polysaccharides positively influences skin photoaging.

Fingerprint characteristics of refined oils and their traceability in the groundwater environment.

Chemical fingerprinting is essential for identifying the presence and responding to oil spills that frequently contaminate the groundwater environment of refineries. In this study, crude oil and oil products from the atmospheric and vacuum distillation units of a refinery were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to evaluate their chemical variability before and after refinery. A series of experiments involving evaporation and soil column penetration were conducted to simulate refined oil spilling into groundwater and determine appropriate characteristic ratios (CRs) for principal component analysis (PCA) for oil source identification. The simulated study demonstrated that all products had bell-shaped n-alkane distributions, with dominant peaks that remained unchanged or shifted towards longer chain lengths compared to the source oil. Similarly, naphthalene and dibenzothiophene series remained the main PAH components like the source oil. Ten relatively stable CRs were selected for PCA to identify different oil products through the simulated experiments. The chosen CRs were then utilized to identify the sources for two groundwater oil spills recently occurred, one that occurred in an oil depot area, and another near a continuous catalytic reforming unit in a refinery. This study showed that the components with long-chain n-alkanes (n ≥ C18), pristane, phytane, and phenanthrene and dibenzothiophene series PAHs played an important role in the identification of refined oil products spilling into the groundwater environment. The selected CRs provide an effective tool for rapid and accurate identification of oil spills, especially for newly occurring spills in the groundwater environment, which can aid in developing appropriate response strategies.

Effects of mesotherapy introduction of compound glycyrrhizin injection on the treatment of moderate to severe acne.

BACKGROUND: Compound glycyrrhizin has achieved outstanding results in the treatment of various skin diseases. However, the use of mesotherapy to inject compound glycyrrhizin into the skin to treat acne is still understudied. AIMS: This paper aims to explore the effects of mesotherapy introduction of compound glycyrrhizin injection on the acne. MATERIALS & METHODS: A total of 108 patients were included in this study and divided into the control group (n = 54) and the observation group (n = 54). The control group was treated with topical clindamycin gel, while the study group was treated with topical clindamycin gel + mesotherapy and compound glycyrrhizin injection. Skin transepidermal water loss (TEWL), cuticle water content, acne severity, adverse reactions, and inflammatory reactions were documented before and after treatment in the two groups. RESULTS: The usage of mesotherapy to inject compound glycyrrhizin into the skin of acne patients more effectively treat acne than traditional clindamycin gel. The mesotherapy compound glycyrrhizin can more effectively protect the skin barrier of patients and reduce the loss of skin moisture. Compared with the traditional clindamycin gel, the combination of mesotherapy and compound glycyrrhizin more effectively inhibit the inflammatory reaction in acne patients and reduce skin damage in acne patients. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: Mesoderm introduction of compound glycyrrhizin injection has better effects on the treatment of moderate to severe acne than clindamycin gel.

Effectiveness of Tai Chi exercise on fear of falling and balance in older adults: A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of Tai Chi exercise on fear of falling (FOF) and balance in older adults. METHOD: Chinese and English databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of Tai Chi on the fear of falling and balance of older adults. The search time limit was from inception until 13 December 2022. RESULTS: A total of 13 RCTs were included and the overall quality was moderate. The results showed that Tai Chi exercise could significantly improve fear of falling [SMD = -0.54, 95%CI(-1.09, 0.01), Z =1.94, P = 0.05], dynamic balance [SMD = -2.23, 95%CI(-3.89, -0.75), Z=2.90, P = 0.004] and fall incidence [RR = 0.48, 95%CI(0.35, 0.65), Z =4.67, P <0.001] in older adults. However, its significant benefits in improving the static balance [MD = 4.16, 95%CI(-3.71, 12.04), Z =1.04, P = 0.30] in older adults were not found. The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the short-term effect of Tai Chi in reducing the fear of falling was more significant (P = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Tai Chi could alleviate the FOF of older adults, improve balance and reduce fall incidence. However, large-sample, multi-center, high-quality randomized controlled studies are still verified in the future.

Bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated soil by microorganisms immobilized on sludge modified by non-ionic surfactant.

The immobilization of microorganisms on high-quality and inexpensive carriers to remediate oil-contaminated soil is an effective strategy for contaminated soil remediation. Due to the abundance in nutrients, large specific surface area, and fewer pathogens, the composting sludge is considered a high-quality immobilized material. Herein, two non-ionic surfactants, TW-80 and sophorolipid, were used to modify composted sludge. High-efficiency petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria groups selected in the laboratory were fixed on the modified composting sludge under optimal conditions. The immobilized material was placed in the soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons at an additive amount of 2wt/%, and a simulated remediation experiment was performed for 90 days. Both soil properties and microbial structure were characterized. Surfactant-modified compost sludge enhances the adsorption capacity to petroleum hydrocarbon. The immobilized microorganisms in the modified compost sludge showed a good effect on the remediation of soil contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons. In addition, immobilized materials also increase the diversity of the microbial community structure in the soil. High-efficiency petroleum hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria immobilized on surfactant-modified compost can effectively promote the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in the soil and increase the abundance of microorganisms in the soil. It shows the feasibility of eco-friendly remediation of hydrocarbon-contaminated soil.

[Mechanism of Shenling Baizhu Powder in alleviation of ulcerative colitis in mice based on high-throughput transcriptome sequencing].

High-throughput transcriptome sequencing was used to study the mechanism of Shenling Baizhu Powder(SLBZP) in the alleviation of the dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC) in mice. The mouse model of DDS-induced UC was treated with SLBZP by gavage. The changes in general state, disease activity index(DAI), and colon length were observed. The hematoxylin-eosin(HE) staining was used to observe the pathological changes in the colon tissues of mice. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) was used to determine the expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α), interleukin(IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-4, and IL-10 in the serum and tissues of mice. The differentially expressed genes in the control group, the model group, and the SLBZP group were analyzed by high-throughput transcriptome sequencing, and the Gene Ontology(GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted on the differentially expressed genes. The results showed that after intragastric administration of SLBZP, the symptoms of diarrhea and bloody stool were improved, and the disease active index(DAI) score was reduced. SLBZP effectively reduced the inflammatory cell infiltration and goblet cell loss in the colonic mucosal tissue, reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 in the serum and colon tissue, and increased the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 in the serum and colon tissue. There were 25 differential genes in SLBZP vs the model group, which were significantly enriched in immune response, immune system process, immunoglobulin production, and other biological processes. KEGG pathway analysis showed that the differential genes were enriched in signaling pathways such as neomycin, kanamycin, and gentamicin biosynthesis, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, primary immunodeficiency, and IgA synthesis of the intestinal immune network. This study shows that SLBZP may alleviate UC through immune regulation.

Efficacy of indwelling trocar therapy for postherpetic neuralgia: A retrospective study of an acupuncture method.

Postherpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a common complication of herpes zoster. As a kind of continuous acupuncture, indwelling trocar therapy (ITT) involves inserting a trocar into the skin and retaining the soft cannula in the body for 24 h. However, the efficacy and safety of ITT on PHN require further verification. In this study, the medical records of 122 patients with PHN were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were divided into the control group (patients who received conventional drug therapy) and the ITT group (patients who underwent ITT combined with conventional drug therapy). The Visual Analog Scale (VAS), Quality of Sleep (QS), 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), dosage of drug and adverse events were analyzed at days 1, 3, 7, 14, 28, 90, and 180 after treatment. The total efficiency rate (TER) was analyzed after 6 months of follow-up. The VAS, QS and SF-36 scores in the ITT group improved substantially compared with those in the control group after 6 months of follow-up (p < 0.001). The average dosage of anticonvulsants and analgesics decreased significantly in the ITT group (p < 0.001). The TER in the control group was 52.46%, compared with 73.77% in the ITT group (p < 0.05). There were no adverse events, such as bleeding and infection, observed in the ITT group. For PHN patients, the combination of ITT and medicine therapy reduced VAS, improved quality of life, increased the efficiency rate, remarkably reduced the dosage of traditional medicine, and had no significant side effects. In addition, ITT was more effective in patients with a short duration of PHN than in chronic PHN patients.

Exploring the Mechanism of Wenshen Huatan Quyu Decotion for PCOS Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Verification.

Objective: To identify the active chemical in Wenshen Huatan Quyu Decotion (WHQD) and to explore its possible network interactions with the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and the Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanisms in Chinese Medicine (BATMAN-TCM) were used to decompose compound formulations, detect active chemicals and their corresponding target genes, and then convert them into UniProt gene symbols. Meanwhile, PCOS-related target genes were collected from GeneCards to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, which was further analyzed by STRING online database. Gene Ontology (GO) functional analysis was also performed afterwards to construct the component-target gene-disease network to visualize the correlation between WHQD and PCOS. We then performed an in silico molecular docking study to validate the predicted relationships. Results: WHQD consists of 14 single drugs containing a total of 67 chemical components. 216 genes were predicted as possible targets. 123 of the 216 target genes overlapped with PCOS. GO annotation analysis revealed that 1968 genes were associated with biological processes, 145 with molecular functions, and 71 with cellular components. KEGG analysis revealed 146 pathways involved PPI, and chemical-target gene-disease networks suggest that PGR, AR, ADRB2, IL-6, MAPK1/8, ESR1/2, CHRM3, RXRA, PPARG, BCL2/BAX, GABRA1, and NR3C2 may be key genes for the pharmacological effects of WHQD on PCOS. Molecular docking analysis confirmed that hydrogen bonding was the main interaction between WHQD and its targets. Conclusion: WHQD exerts its pharmacological effects by improving insulin sensitivity, subfertility, and hormonal imbalance, increasing ovulation rates, which in turn may increase pregnancy rates in patients with significant efficacy.

Effects of autotoxicity and allelopathy on seed germination and seedling growth in Medicago truncatula.

Autotoxicity is a form of intraspecific allelopathy, in which a plant species inhibits the establishment or growth of the same species through the release of toxic chemical compounds into the environment. The phenomenon of autotoxicity in crops is best traced in alfalfa (Medicago sativa). A close relative of alfalfa, M. truncatula, has been developed into an excellent model species for leguminous plants. However, it is not known whether M. truncatula has autotoxicity. In this study, M. truncatula root exudates showed a negative impact on the growth of M. truncatula seedlings, indicating autotoxicity. Detailed analyses with plant extracts from M. truncatula and alfalfa revealed varying degrees of suppression effects in the two species. The extracts negatively affected seed germination potential, germination rate, radicle length, hypocotyl length, synthetic allelopathic effect index, plant height, root growth, fresh weight, dry weight, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance in both M. truncatula and alfalfa. The results demonstrated that autotoxicity and allelopathic effects exist in M. truncatula. This opens up a new way to use M. truncatula as a model species to carry out in-depth studies of autotoxicity and allelopathy to elucidate biochemical pathways of allelochemicals and molecular networks controlling biosynthesis of the chemicals.

Supplementation of cooked broccoli with exogenous moringa myrosinase enhanced isothiocyanate formation.

Brassica vegetables, especially broccoli, have health benefits such as anticancer activity, which are attributed to isothiocyanate (ITC), products of glucosinolate hydrolysis. This study aimed to explore the effect of cooking time and addition of exogenous myrosinase (MYR) from moringa seeds on the yield of ITCs. The results showed that raw broccoli produced a significantly high amount of ITCs, which decreased by almost 40% after microwaving the broccoli for 1 min. Introducing exogenous MYR by adding ground moringa seeds to cooked broccoli caused a notable increase in ITC of 38%. At pH 4.0-6.0, MYR showed optimal activity, and the thermal stability of MYR from moringa seeds was better than that from broccoli. The kinetic parameters indicated that MYR from moringa seeds had a higher affinity to sinigrin than that from broccoli seeds. This study was novel in reporting that adding ground moringa seeds to cooked broccoli enhanced ITC formation.

[Mechanism of Sanhuang Decoction in alleviating dextran sulfate sodium induced ulcerative colitis in mice with Candida albicans colonization:based on high-throughput transcriptome sequencing].

This study explored the mechanism of Sanhuang Decoction(SHD) in treating dextran sulfate sodium(DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis(UC) in mice with Candida albicans(Ca) colonization via high-throughput transcriptome sequencing. Specifically, the animal model was established by oral administration of 3.0% DSS for 7 days followed by intragastrical administration of Ca suspension at 1.0 × 10~8 cells for 4 days and then the mice were treated with SHD enema for 7 days. Afterwards, the general signs were observed and the disease activity index(DAI) was recorded every day. After mice were sacrificed, colon length and colon mucosa damage index(CMDI) were determined and the histomorphology was observed with the HE staining method. The fungal loads of feces were detected with the plate method. Anti-saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody(ASCA) and ß-1,3-glucan in serum, and TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in serum and colon were detected by ELISA. High-throughput RNA sequencing method was adopted to identify transcriptome of colon tissues from the control, model and SHD(15.0 g·kg~(-1)) groups. Differentially expressed genes(DEGs) among groups were screened and the GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs was performed. The expression levels of NLRP3, ASC, caspase-1, and IL-1ß genes related to the NOD-like receptor signaling pathway which involved 9 DEGs, were examined by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The results demonstrated that SHD improved the general signs, decreased DAI and Ca loads of feaces, alleviated colon edema, erosion, and shortening, and lowered the content of ß-1,3-glucan in serum and TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 in serum and colon tissues of mice. Transcriptome sequencing revealed 383 DEGs between SHD and model groups, which were mainly involved in the biological processes of immune system, response to bacterium, and innate immune response. They were mainly enriched in the NOD-like signaling pathway, cytokine-cytokine interaction pathway, and retinol metabolism pathway. Moreover, SHD down-regulated the mRNA and protein levels of NLRP3, caspase-1, and IL-1ß. In a word, SHD ameliorates DSS-induced UC in mice colonized with Ca, which probably relates to its regulation of NOD-like receptor signaling pathway.

Systems pharmacology and transcriptomics reveal the mechanisms of Sanhuang decoction enema in the treatment of ulcerative colitis with additional Candida albicans infection.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is an important inflammatory phenotype in bowel disease (IBD), which is caused by multiple potential factors, including fungal dysbiosis. Candida albicans (C. albicans) was confirmed to be an important factor promoting the occurrence and development of UC. Sanhuang decoction (SHD) has been used for UC therapy in China for thousand of years, although its core active constituents and pharmacological mechanism remain undefined. METHODS: In this work, a murine model of UC with C. albicans colonization was established with dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) and C. albicans intragastric administration. The major bioactive constituents and potential mechanism of SHD against UC with fungal dysbiosis were comprehensively examined by combining systems pharmacology and in vivo transcriptomics. RESULTS: SHD attenuated C. albicans burden, reduced DAI, increased mucosal integrity and relived systemic inflammation in UC mice. Systems pharmacology analysis identified 9 core bioactive ingredients and 45 hub targets of SHD against UC. Transcriptomics analysis confirmed 370 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) after SHD treatment, which were mainly enriched in inflammatory and immune response related signaling pathways. Toll-like receptor and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway were screened out as the candidate targets involved in the action of SHD on fungal dysbiosis-associated UC, which were consistent with the findings in systems pharmacology. The expression of TLR4, IL-1ß, NF-κB, PI3K and Akt proteins were stimulated by C. albicans, and partially reversed by SHD in UC mice. CONCLUSION: These findings suggested SHD could be a candidate for the treatment of fungal dysbiosis-associated UC via TLR4-NF-κB and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways.

Low urinary iodine is a protective factor of central lymph node metastasis in papillary thyroid cancer: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: An abrupt increase of thyroid cancer has been witnessed paralleling the supplemented iodine intake in formerly iodine-deficient countries. And increased iodine intake has been linked to the rising incidence rate of papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). However, the correlation between iodine and clinicopathological features of PTC has not been well-characterized. This study aimed to investigate the associations between iodine intake and the clinicopathological features of PTC patients. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty-nine PTC patients who received surgical treatment in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from May 2015 to November 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. The associations between urinary iodine (UI), urinary iodine/creatinine ratio (UI/U-Cr), and the clinicopathological features of PTC were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to investigate the relationship between UI level and central lymph node metastasis (CLNM). RESULTS: There were no significant differences in UI in different groups according to the variables studied, except that patients with CLNM had higher UI level than CLNM(-) patients. No associations were found between UI/U-Cr and clinicopathological features except variant subtypes (classic/follicular). After dividing patients into high-iodine group and low-iodine group, more patients were found to have CLNM in the high-iodine group (p = 0.02). In addition, younger age, larger tumor size, and classic variant were positively correlated with CLNM (p < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that insufficient iodine intake (≤ 99 µg/L) was associated with decreased CLNM risk in PTC. And after defining insufficient iodine intake as ≤ 109 µg/L and above requirements as ≥ 190 µg/L, multivariate analysis showed that lower iodine was associated with CLNM in total population of PTC (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.31-0.91) and in PTC < 1 cm (papillary thyroid microcarcinoma, PTMC) (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.21-0.87). CONCLUSIONS: Low iodine was a protective factor for CLNM in papillary thyroid cancer, particularly in those < 1 cm. These results indicated that iodine may not only be an initiator of tumorigenesis, but also a promoter of the development of PTC.

Engineering Exosome-Like Nanovesicles Derived from Asparagus cochinchinensis Can Inhibit the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells with Better Safety Profile.

BACKGROUND: Exosomes are a type of membrane vesicles secreted by living cells. Recent studies suggest exosome-like nanovesicles (ELNVs) from fruits and vegetables are involved in tissue renewal process and functional regulation against inflammatory diseases or cancers. However, there are few reports on ELNVs derived from medicinal plants. METHODS: ELNVs derived from Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. (ACNVs) were isolated and characterized. Cytotoxicity, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing capacity of ACNVs against hepatoma carcinoma cell were assessed. The endocytosis mechanism of ACNVs was evaluated on Hep G2 cells in the presence of different endocytosis inhibitors. In vivo distribution of ACNVs was detected in healthy and tumor-bearing mice after scavenger receptors (SRs) blockade. PEG engineering of ACNVs was achieved through optimizing the pharmacokinetic profiles. In vivo antitumor activity and toxicity were evaluated in Hep G2 cell xenograft model. RESULTS: ACNVs were isolated and purified using a differential centrifugation method accompanied by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. The optimized ACNVs had an average size of about 119 nm and showed a typical cup-shaped nanostructure containing lipids, proteins, and RNAs. ACNVs were found to possess specific antitumor cell proliferation activity associated with an apoptosis-inducing pathway. ACNVs could be internalized into tumor cells mainly via phagocytosis, but they were quickly cleared once entering the blood. Blocking the SRs or PEGylation decoration prolonged the blood circulation time and increased the accumulation of ACNVs in tumor sites. In vivo antitumor results showed that PEGylated ACNVs could significantly inhibit tumor growth without side effects. CONCLUSION: This study provides a promising functional nano platform derived from edible Asparagus cochinchinensis that can be used in antitumor therapy with negligible side effects.

The impact of flavonoids-rich Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Extract on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the in vitro antibacterial effect of flavonoids-rich Ziziphus jujuba Mill. extract (FZM) against the formation of bacterial biofilms (BBFs) in Staphylococcus aureus. RESULTS: FZM can effectively inhibit the formation of S. aureus biofilms in vitro. Morphological observation showed a decrease in both biofilm adhesion and thickness. Results of confocal laser scanning microscopy used to detect the thickness of the BBFs showed that FZM treatment reduced the thickness of the BBFs. Furthermore, after the Image-Pro Plus v.6.0 analysis of the fluorescence intensity, FZM treatment reduced the thickness of the BBFs as well as the proportion of green fluorescence. Scanning electron microscopy showed that FZM can disrupt the channels available for substance exchange in the biofilm, thus exposing the bacterial cells and damaging its three-dimensional structures. CONCLUSION: FZM can inhibit biofilm formation, improve the bacterial pH environment, and eliminate the hydrophobic effect of reactive oxygen species and flavonoids.

Modification, Antitumor Activity, and Targeted PPARγ Study of 18ß-Glycyrrhetinic Acid, an Important Active Ingredient of Licorice.

Licorice is a traditional Chinese medicine, which is often used as sweetener and cosmetic ingredients in food and pharmaceutical industries. Among them, glycyrrhetic acid is one of the most important agents. Studies have shown that glycyrrhetic acid exhibited antitumor activities as PPARγ agonist. However, the limited number of PPARγ glycyrrhetinic agonists and their high toxicity greatly limit the design based on the structure. Therefore, clarifying the binding mode between PPARγ and small molecules, we focused on the introduction of a natural active piperazine skeleton in the position of glycyrrhetinic acid C-3. According to the Combination Principle and the Structure-Based Drug Design, 19 glycyrrhetic acid derivatives were designed and synthesized as potential PPARγ agonists. Compounds 4c and 4q were screened as high-efficiency and low-toxicity lead compounds.

Recovery of unstable digestion of vegetable waste by adding trace elements using the bicarbonate alkalinity to total alkalinity ratio as an early warning indicator.

Vegetable waste (VW) is highly perishable and susceptible to acidification during anaerobic digestion, which inhibits biogas production. Effective process monitoring, diagnosis and control are necessary to maintain stable anaerobic digestion at a high organic loading rate (OLR). Continuous mesophilic digestion was conducted at OLRs of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0 g volatile solids (VS)/(L d) with effluent recirculation (ER) in a reactor with total volume of 70 L. The effectiveness of three early warning indicators was validated. The ability of trace elements (TEs) (Fe, Co and Ni) to recover unstable VW digestion systems was evaluated. The results showed that the ratio of bicarbonate alkalinity (BA) to total alkalinity (TA) was a more effective warning indicator than the ratios of methane (CH4) to carbon dioxide and volatile fatty acids (VFAs) to TA. When the ratio of BA/TA was lower than 0.9, the digestion system tended to be unstable. ER maintained a stable OLR of 1.5 g VS/(L d). The addition of TEs achieved a maximum stable OLR of 3.5 g VS/(L d) with an average volumetric biogas production rate of 1.91 L/(L d). Severe VFAs accumulation and unrecoverable instability occurred at an OLR of 4.0 g VS/(L d). The supplementation of ammonium bicarbonate was not useful for the recovery of the unstable system when the OLR was greater than 3.5 g VS/(L d) for the digestion of VW. The specific methane production was approximately 340 L/kg VS during the stable period with a digestion efficiency of 85%.