Degree of methyl esterification: A key factor for the encapsulation of icaritin with pectin.

Pectin is a promising nano-carrier. The degree of methyl esterification (DM) influences the physiochemical properties of pectin. However, the effect of DM on the encapsulation capacity of pectin remains unclear. In this work, low methyl-esterified pectin (LMP) and high methyl-esterified pectin (HMP) were prepared. The molecular weight, rheological properties of these pectins with various DM levels were determined. Then icaritin/pectin micelles (IPMs) were prepared using HMP and LMP. Notably, higher loading capacities (18.75-20.12 %) were observed in HMP-IPMs compared to LMP-IPMs (15.72-16.64 %). Furthermore, LMP-IPMs demonstrated a DM-dependent reduction in particle sizes, ranging from 449 to 527 nm. In contrast, the particle sizes of HMP-IPMs varied between 342 and 566 nm, with smaller particle sizes observed in HMP-IPMs at higher DM levels. A significant positive correlation was found between DM and the formation of IPMs, including encapsulation efficiency, loading capacity, Zeta potential, and polydispersity index. Alkali de-esterification showed a weak impact on the pectin structure. Hydroxyl groups like 7-OH and 5-OH of icaritin might be involved in the formation of IPMs. The hydrogen-bond interactions between pectin and icaritin could be enhanced as DM increased.

Interaction between ultrasound-modified pectin and icaritin.

Pectin can improve the bioaccessibility of icaritin as a nanocarrier, and ultrasound can modify the pectin structure. However, the interaction between ultrasound-modified pectin (UMP) and icaritin remains unclearly. In this work, the effects of UMP on the physiochemical properties of icaritin/pectin micelles (IPMs) were investigated. The IPMs prepared with UMP (UMP-IPMs) showed lower encapsulation efficiencies and loading capacities, comparing with native IPMs. UMP-IPMs had smaller particle sizes (325-399 nm) than native IPMs (551 nm). The Mw, viscosity, G' and G" of pectin were determined. NMR spectra indicated that the repeating unit in pectins remained consistently before and after ultrasound treatment, and 7-OH of icaritin was involved in hydrogen bond formation with pectin. The larger chemical shift movement of 6-H and 7-OH for U3-IPMs than P0-IPMs suggested that stronger hydrogen bond interaction between icaritin and pectin. UMP-IPMs exhibited stronger anti-proliferation activities against HepG2 cells than native IPMs.

The role of ursodeoxycholic acid in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a condition that occurs during the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Effective therapy for NASH is still lacking. In this study, we investigated the effects of Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) in the treatment of NASH. METHODS: Western and Chinese databases were searched by independent investigators using appropriate MESH headings to identify randomized, controlled Western and Chinese clinical trials, published between January 1990 and October 2012, testing the effects of UDCA in patients with NASH. Patient characteristics and trial endpoints were analyzed, with quality assessment according to widely acknowledged criteria. P < 0.05 was defined as statistically significant in all trials. RESULTS: Twelve qualified randomized clinical trials, including six from China and involving 1160 subjects, were selected. Seven of these trials assessed the effects of UDCA Monotherapy, with the other five testing combinations of UDCA with vitamin E, polyene phosphatidylcholine, silymarin, glycyrrhizin and tiopronin. The duration of therapy ranged from 3 to 24 months, with two studies using high doses of UDCA (23-35 mg/kg/d). The average quality point was 2.69, and was significantly lower in articles from China than in those from Western countries (2.2 ± 0.4 vs. 3.8 ± 1.1, respectively, p < 0.05). UDCA Monotherapy significantly improved liver function in five studies and improved steatosis and fibrosis in two studies. All five studies assessing UDCA combination therapy showed significant improvements liver function, while two studies also improved steatosis and inflammation. One study of high-dose UDCA showed significant improvements in ALT, γGT and liver fibrosis, whereas the other study showed no significant change in ALT and liver pathology. CONCLUSIONS: UDCA therapy is effective in NASH, especially when combined with other drugs. However, the low quality of these studies and the heterogeneity of their results precluded further meta-analysis. Additional carefully designed clinical trials are needed, especially in China.

Effects of nanogold on the alleviation of carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic injury in rats.

Gold particles have been used in complementary medicine for decades, and many beneficial effects have been reported. Our present study sought to evaluate the therapeutic effects of nanogold in carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-injured liver of rats. Male SD rats were subjected to liver injury induction by CCl4, then the rats were fed with zero to high dose (0, 1, 5 or 10 ppm) of nanogold water every day for 4 weeks. Biochemical analyses on liver functions were then performed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of nanogold. Our results revealed that gold nanoparticles lowered serum aspartate aminotransaminase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase and exerted serum total protein-recovering effects, which might be partially associated with the elevation of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 level. In addition, serum triglyceride level fell after continuous ingestion of nanogold. Finally, the experimental animals recovered body weight after 4 weeks of nanogold ingestion. This is the first report indicating inflammation alleviating effects of nanogold on hepatic injury.

Macrophage mediated anti-proliferation effects of Anthodia camphorata non-polysaccharide based extracts on human hepatoma cells.

It has been reported that medicinal mushrooms might induce different types of immune responses. Anthodia camphorata (A. camphorata) has attracted much attention for its therapeutic effects in treating hepatoma. We tested this anti-tumor effects using immunomodulation of macrophages and extracts of A. camphorata. We evaluated the anti-proliferation effects of various extracts of A. camphorata from fruiting bodies (AC-FB), mycelium of solid-state cultures (AC-SS), liquid-state cultures (AC-LS) and polyaccharide extracts from liquid-state cultures (AC-PS), and extracts of A. camphorata stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cell-conditioned mediums (MC-CMs). We measured cell proliferation and, did migration assays by cell cycle analysis and by observing apoptosis-related proteins (AKT, PARP-1, and NF-κB) and the mRNA expression of cytokines (TNF-α and IL-1ß) of macrophages in human hepatoma cell lines. Our results revealed that two of the extracts (AC-FB and AC-SS) had better anti-proliferation effects, implying an immunomodulatory role the macrophages might play. This outcome is consistent with findings that AC-FB and AC-SS increase mRNA expression of TNF-α and the corresponding expression of apoptosis-related proteins on activation of MC-CMs, while A. camphorata polysaccharides induce macrophage-derived anti-tumor activities in human hepatoma cells via IL-1ß and Akt activation. These results indicate that anti-tumor effects exerted by modulation of macrophage activation of A. camphorate may be influenced by the other constituents which (contained little or no polysaccharide) of A. camphorata.

The augmented anti-tumor effects of Antrodia camphorata co-fermented with Chinese medicinal herb in human hepatoma cells.

Antrodia camphorata, unique fungal specie, has been used as a folk medicine in Taiwan for many years. The purpose of this study was to compare the extracts from the solid-state culture of A. camphorata co-fermented with Chinese medicinal herb (AC-CF) with two other extracts from fruiting bodies (AC-FB) or solid-state culture (AC-SS), for their anti-tumor effects in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. We measured in vitro cell proliferation, percentage of apoptosis, population distribution of cell cycles, Western blot analysis of multiple drugs resistance-1 (MDR-1), and apoptosis-related proteins in HepG2 cells treated with three different preparations of A. camphorate extracts. Our results showed that AC-CF had better anti-proliferation effect on human hepatoma HepG2 cells than AC-FB or AC-SS dose-dependently. In addition, AC-CF in combination with anti-tumor agents (mitomycin C or methotrexate) showed better adjuvant anti-tumor effects than AC-FB or AC-SS. We further demonstrated the augmented adjuvant anti-tumor effects of AC-CF not only through down regulation of MDR-1 expression but also through a COX-2 dependent apoptosis pathway, involving down-regulation of COX-2 and p-AKT and up-regulation of PARP-1. In conclusion, in this study, we have demonstrated a novel strategy of fermenting A. camphorata with Chinese medicinal herb (AC-CF), which augmented their anti-tumor effects in human hepatoma HepG2 cells as compared to the traditional ones (AC-FB or AC-SS).

The adjuvant effects of Antrodia Camphorata extracts combined with anti-tumor agents on multidrug resistant human hepatoma cells.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The objectives of this study were to investigate the adjuvant anti-tumor effects of Antrodia camphorate in human hepatoma cells (C3A and PLC/PRF/5) which are resistance to most anti-tumor agents, elucidate the possible regulation pathways, and measure the tumor growth and survival rate in xenograft-nude mice after combined with anti-tumor agents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The AC extracts were measured by using a phenol/sulfuric acid method as previously described. The in vitro cell proliferation assay of ACs and anti-tumor agents was tested on C3A and PLC/PRF/5 cell lines. The percentage of human hepatoma cells undergoing apoptosis and distributing in different phases of cell cycle were determined by Flow cytometric analysis. Western blot analysis for MDR-1 and apoptosis- related proteins. The measurements of tumor growth and survival analysis of hepatoma implanted nude mice treated with Antrodia camphorata extracts and anti-tumor agents alone or in combinations. RESULTS: We have found that Antrodia camphorata extracts, when combined with anti-tumor agents, showed adjuvant antiproliferative effects on hepatoma cells (in vitro) and on xenografted cells in tumor-implanted nude mice (in vivo), which then extended their median survival days. Furthermore, solid-state extracts of Antrodia camphorata (AC-SS) showed its adjuvant effects through the inhibition of MDR gene expressions and the pathway of COX-2- dependent inhibition of p-AKT, which ultimately resulted in the induction of apoptosis in hepatoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, we have found that Antrodia camphorata extract, when combined with anti-tumor agents, showed adjuvant antiproliferative effects on hepatoma cells (in vitro) and on xenografted cells in tumor-implanted nude mice (in vivo).