Hexane fraction of Prunus japonica thunb. Seed extract enhances boar sperm motility via CatSper ion channel.

Introduction: Mammalian sperm motility is facilitated by flagellar beating, which depends on active ion movement through ion channels and their regulation. Prunus japonica Thunb., also known as oriental bush cherry, is a widely used traditional medicinal plant. However, its significance in improving fertility and sperm quality has not been fully elucidated yet. One of our previous reports revealed that P. japonica seed extract (PJE) can improve human sperm motility through intracellular pH modulation. Aim of the study: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of PJE on boar spermatozoa and potential underlying mechanisms. Materials and methods: Sperm motility changes were examined using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system under both capacitated and non-capacitated conditions. Intracellular calcium concentration was measured using either confocal microscopy or a fluorescent microplate reader with Fluo-4AM calcium fluorescent dye. Sperm capacitation-related proteins were analyzed using western blotting. Results: A significant increase in rapid motility, velocity, and linear displacement of sperm was observed in PJE-treated capacitated boar sperm, whereas the effect was insignificant in the non-capacitated counterparts. Intracellular calcium levels were significantly elevated upon PJE treatment (20-100 µg/L) in a concentration-dependent manner. The increase in intracellular calcium levels was inhibited when the sperm were treated with a CatSper (cation channel of sperm) channel inhibitor, 10 µM Mibefradil, indicating the involvement of the ion channel in the PJE modulatory mechanism. In addition, western blotting revealed an increased level of protein phosphorylation (p-tyrosine and p-PKA), which is a hallmark of sperm capacitation. Conclusions: PJE treatment resulted in a combination of increased motility, intracellular calcium concentration, and capacitation, thereby indicating its potential to ameliorate sperm motility parameters and induce capacitation of boar spermatozoa as a result of intracellular calcium elevation via the CatSper channel. Our observations further elaborate ion channel-related underlying mechanisms and show putative implications of the seed extract of traditionally used P. japonica Thunb. in ameliorating sperm quality.

An Ethanolic Extract of Allium hookeri Root Alleviates Reflux Esophagitis and Modulates NF-κB Signaling.

Reflux esophagitis (RE) is a kind of gastroesophageal reflux disease, of which an esophageal inflammatory lesion is caused by the contents of the stomach and duodenum flowing back into the esophagus. Allium hookeri is a plant possessing both nutritional and medicinal properties. In our study, we investigated the inhibition effect of inflammation of A. hookeri root extract (AHE) on inflammatory RAW264.7 macrophage cells induced by lipopolysaccharide and rat models of RE. The results showed that AHE significantly reduced the production of nitric oxide (NO) and the protein expression levels of various mediators related to inflammation including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). Furthermore, AHE also inhibited the nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) by inhibiting the phosphorylation IκBα. In addition, AHE administration significantly ameliorated esophageal mucosal damage upon histological evaluation of RE in rats. AHE was also found to downregulate the expression levels of proteins such as COX-2, TNF-α, and IL-1ß in the rat esophagus. AHE markedly attenuated activation of NF-κB and phosphorylation of IκBα at the same time. These results indicated that AHE suppressed LPS-induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells and may help reduce the development of esophagitis through the modulation of inflammation by regulating NF-κB activation.

The Effect of Aronia Berry on Type 1 Diabetes In Vivo and In Vitro.

The number of diabetic patients worldwide is increasing, and complications such as stroke and cardiovascular disease are becoming a serious cause of death. Diabetes mellitus is classified into two types according to the etiopathogenic mechanism and insulin dependence. Type 1 diabetes (T1D), an insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, is caused by damage and destruction of pancreatic ß cells that produce insulin. It is a disease that is characterized by hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia. Aronia berry has been used as a medicinal food in Europe. Aronia contains a variety of ingredients such as polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and tannins. Especially, anthocyanin content in aronia berry is known to be much higher than in other plants and berries. It is known for exerting antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-aging effects. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the effects of aronia berry extract intake in multiple low-dose streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T1D and to confirm the functional properties of aronia berry. ICR mice (6-week male) were divided into four groups: control (normal control group), STZ (100 mg/kg of STZ-induced T1D group), AR 10 (STZ with oral administration of aronia 10 mg/kg), and AR 100 (STZ with oral administration of aronia 100 mg/kg). Afterward, STZ was injected in a single dose to induce T1D, and the extract was orally administered daily. Dietary intake and body weight were measured twice a week. We confirmed that aronia berry has the effect of decreasing the increase of blood glucose level and also has the protection effect of pancreas ß cell (RINm5F cell). This study confirms the anti-diabetic activity of aronia berry, and it can be expected to increase the utilization according to the results.

Aronia Berry Extract Ameliorates the Severity of Dextran Sodium Sulfate-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice.

Inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a group of inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine. UC is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the colon and rectum that includes intervals of acute exacerbation. Although recent studies have suggested that proinflammatory cytokines might have initiated the inflammatory responses in UC, its etiology remains unclear. Aronia berries are rich in dietary polyphenols such as phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and proanthocyanidins with various health benefits, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging activities. The objective of this study was to determine whether Aronia berry can be an effective intervention for the treatment of UC. BALB/c mice were administered 5% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) to induce UC. They were then given Aronia berry extracts at concentrations of 10 or 100 mg/kg. During the induction of UC, the expression levels of nuclear factor-kappa B were increased in colonic epithelial cells and immune cells, leading to increased proinflammatory cytokine levels. Aronia berry extract significantly improved the clinical signs of DSS-induced UC, including body weight loss, colon length shortening, and disease activity index increase, with histological markers of colon injury. Furthermore, oral administration of Aronia berry extract inhibited prostaglandin E2 production in DSS-induced colitis and decreased the levels of nitric oxide, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages. These results suggest that Aronia berry extract could efficiently ameliorate clinical signs and inflammatory mediators of UC. Therefore, Aronia berry might be a promising natural treatment for UC.

Aronia melanocarpa (Black Chokeberry) Reduces Ethanol-Induced Gastric Damage via Regulation of HSP-70, NF-κB, and MCP-1 Signaling.

Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Ell. belongs to the Rosaceae family. The purpose of this study is to explore the gastroprotective effect of the Aronia melanocarpa hydro-alcoholic extract (AMHAE) against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in a rat model. Different concentrations (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) of AMHAE, or 30 mg/kg of omeprazole, significantly inhibited the gastric injury formation. The ethanol-induced ulcer group showed significant increases of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nuclear factor-kappaB p65 (NF-κB p65), and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, and decreased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-px), and interleukin (IL)-4. However, AMHAE (200 mg/kg) pretreatment significantly reversed the altered pathophysiological levels of these biomolecules to near normal stages. The gastroprotective activity of AMHAE was abolished by pretreatment with l-NAME, naloxone, capsazepine, and indomethacin, demonstrating the participation of nitric oxide (NO), opioids, TRPV (vanilloid receptor-related transient receptor potential), and prostaglandins in AMHAE-assisted gastroprotection against ethanol-induced gastric injuries. This gastroprotective effect of AMHAE might be due to the downregulation of TNF-α-based NF-κB, MCP-1 signaling and strong antioxidant properties.

Anticoccidial effect of supplemental dietary Galla Rhois against infection with Eimeria tenella in chickens.

The anticoccidial effects of Galla Rhois (GR) powder, which contains a major tannin-derived component of 52.7%, were evaluated in chickens following oral infection with Eimeria tenella. One-day-old chickens were assigned to five groups (control, unsupplemented, GR 0.5% supplemented [GRS 0.5%], GRS 1.0% [GRS 1.0%] and salinomycin supplemented [SS]). The chickens were fed a standard diet supplemented or not supplemented with GR or salinomycin for 10 days prior to infection. The birds received the supplemented diets continuously until 10 days post infection. The effects of GR on a E. tenella infection were evaluated by several parameters, including body weight gain, feed intake, oocyst excretion, bloody diarrhoea, and lesion scores. Infected chickens on the GRS and SS diets had a relatively moderate body weight loss (reduction ratio < 15%) and improved feed conversion. GRS and SS chickens produced significantly fewer faecal oocysts (P<0.05) and showed milder bloody diarrhoea compared with the E. tenella-infected control group. Furthermore, the lesion scores of both the GRS 0.5% and GRS 1.0% groups were significantly lower than the scores of the unsupplemented group on day 5 post infection. The lesion scores for the GR groups were similar to the scores for the SS group. In conclusion, this study suggests that GR appears to be as efficacious as salinomycin against E. tenella infection. GR supplementation leads to a reduction in infected chickens, although infected chickens are still affected compared with the uninfected control group. GR-based diets may be beneficial in preventing or treating coccidial infections in poultry.

Intracellular replication inhibitory effects of Galla Rhois ethanol extract for Brucella abortus infection.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Galla Rhois (GR) has long been applied in traditional Korean and Oriental medicine. Although GR has an anti-bacterial effect, the anti-bacterial mechanism and therapeutic efficiency of GR for intracellular parasitic Brucella infection are still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and therapeutic effects of GR ethanol extract (GRE), which is a natural antibacterial component for the treatment of Brucella abortus infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antibacterial activity of GRE towards Brucella abortus was evaluated by incubating Brucella abortus with GRE. Following treatment with GRE, Brucella abortus adherence, uptake, intracellular growth, and intracellular trafficking in macrophages were monitored. Mice were infected intraperitoneally with Brucella abortus and treated orally with GRE for 14 days, and then the weight and CFUs from each spleen were monitored. RESULTS: The viability of Brucella abortus was markedly decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, Brucella abortus internalization and intracellular growth within macrophages were reduced in GRE-treated cells. The number of bacteria that adhered to GRE-pretreated cells was significantly lower than that of untreated cells. With regards to intracellular trafficking, treatment with GRE augmented the colocalization of Brucella abortus-containing phagosomes with LAMP-1. GRE-treated mice showed considerably decreased weight and bacterial burdens in the spleen compared to untreated mice. CONCLUSION: GRE exhibits antibacterial and protective effects on Brucella abortus in vitro and in vivo. These results highlight the beneficial effects of GRE in the prevention and treatment of brucellosis.