Protective effects of saponins from Panax japonicus on neurons of the colon myenteric plexus in aging rats through reduction of α-synuclein through endoplasmic reticulum stress.

AIM: The enteric nervous system degenerates gradually with age, and α-synuclein (α-syn) is a suitable marker of enteric nervous system degeneration, which is intimately related with endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response (UPRER ). Saponins from Panax japonicus (SPJ) have obvious protective effects on neurons in several degenerative disease models. Here, the study was designed to investigate whether SPJ could reverse the neuron degeneration through regulating the UPRER in the colon myenteric plexus of aging rats. METHODS: Aging rats had been treated with SPJ for 6 months since they were aged 18 months. Then, the colon samples were collected and neuron morphology in the myenteric plexus was observed. Immunohistochemistry staining was used to detect the expressions of NeuN, α-syn, GRP78 and three different UPRER branches. Double immunofluorescence was used to determine the co-localization of α-syn and NeuN, GRP78 and NeuN. RESULTS: Neurons degenerated in the colon myenteric plexus of aging rats, but co-localization of α-syn and NeuN increased. In addition, both the expressions of GRP78 and three UPRER branch signaling pathway proteins decreased in the colon myenteric plexus of aging rats. Treatment of SPJ almost alleviated the above effects in aging rats, except for ATF6. CONCLUSIONS: SPJ could reverse the neuron loss caused by accumulation of α-syn in the myenteric plexus of colon in aging rats, which is potentially associated with increased GRP78 and most URPER changes. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2021; 21: 85-93.

Comprehensive ESI-Q TRAP-MS/MS based characterization of metabolome of two mango (Mangifera indica L) cultivars from China.

Polyphenols based bioactive compounds from vegetables and fruits are known for impressive antioxidant activity. Ingestion of these antioxidants may promote human health against cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Mango is a popular tropical fruit with special taste, high nutritional value and health-enhancing metabolites. The aim was to investigate the diversity of phytochemicals between two mango cultivars of china at three stages of fruit maturity. We used ESI-QTRAP-MS/MS approach to characterize comprehensively the metabolome of two mango cultivars named Hongguifei (HGF) and Tainong (TN). HPLC was used to quantify selected catechin based phenolic compounds. Moreover, real-time qPCR was used to study the expression profiles of two key genes (ANR and LAR) involved in proanthocyanidin biosynthesis from catechins and derivatives. A total of 651 metabolites were identified, which include at least 257 phenolic compounds. Higher number of metabolites were differentially modulated in peel as compared to pulp. Overall, the relative quantities of amino acids, carbohydrates, organic acids, and other metabolites were increased in the pulp of TN cultivar. While the contents of phenolic compounds were relatively higher in HGF cultivar. Moreover, HPLC based quantification of catechin and derivatives exhibited cultivar specific variations. The ANR and LAR genes exhibited an opposite expression profile in both cultivars. Current study is the first report of numerous metabolites including catechin-based derivatives in mango fruit. These findings open novel possibilities for the use of mango as a source of bioactive compounds.

Association of gestational weight gain rate with infant anaemia in China: a birth cohort study.

Excessive gestational weight gain (GWG) increases the risk of maternal anaemia during pregnancy, but whether it is associated with offspring anaemia has not been investigated. We aimed to prospectively investigate the association of GWG rate in the second/third trimester with infant Hb concentration and anaemia risk. The present study comprised 13 765 infants born during 2006-2009 to mothers who participated in a trial on prenatal micronutrient supplementation. The GWG was calculated by subtracting the maternal weight at enrolment from that at end-pregnancy. The GWG rate was calculated as dividing the GWG by number of weeks between the two measurements and classified into quintiles within each category of maternal BMI. Infant Hb concentrations were measured at 6 and 12 months of age, and anaemia was defined as an Hb concentration <110 g/l. Of the 13 765 infants, 949 (6·9 %) were anaemic at 6 months and 728 (5·3 %) at 12 months. The GWG rate was inversely and linearly associated with the infant Hb concentrations at both 6 and 12 months (P < 0·001 for linearity). Compared with the middle quintile of GWG rate, the highest quintile was associated with an increased risk of anaemia at 6 months (adjusted OR 1·30, 95 % CI 1·07, 1·59) and 12 months (adjusted OR 1·74, 95 % CI 1·40, 2·17). The associations were consistently mediated by maternal anaemia during pregnancy (P < 0·001). In conclusion, excessive GWG rate appears to be associated with an increased risk of infant anaemia, partly independent of maternal anaemia during pregnancy that mediates the association.