Research progress of Astragalus membranaceus in treating peritoneal metastatic cancer.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Peritoneal metastasis is a manifestation of advanced cancer often associated with a poor prognosis and poor response to treatment. Astragalus membranaceus (Fisch.) Bunge is a commonly used medicinal material in traditional Chinese medicine with various biological activities. In patients with cancer, Astragalus membranaceus has demonstrated anti-tumor effects, immune regulation, postoperative recurrence and metastasis prevention, and survival prolongation. AIM OF THE STUDY: Peritoneal metastasis results from tumor cell and peritoneal microenvironment co-evolution. We aimed to introduce and discuss the specific mechanism of action of Astragalus membranaceus in peritoneal metastasis treatment to provide a new perspective for treatment and further research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We consulted reports on the anti-peritoneal metastases effects of Astragalus membranaceus from PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases, as well as Google Scholar. Meanwhile, we also obtained data from published medical works and doctoral and master's theses. Then, we focused on the research progress of Astragalus membranaceus in peritoneal metastatic cancer treatment. Plant names are provided in accordance with "The Plant List" (www.theplantlist.org). RESULTS: To date, more than 200 compounds have been isolated from Astragalus membranaceus. Among them, Astragalus polysaccharides, saponins, and flavonoids are the main bioactive components, and their effects on cancer have been extensively studied. In this review, we systematically summarize the effects of Astragalus membranaceus on the peritoneal metastasis microenvironment and related mechanisms, including maintaining the integrity of peritoneal mesothelial cells, restoring the peritoneal immune microenvironment, and inhibiting the formation of tumor blood vessels, matrix metalloproteinase, and dense tumor spheroids. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis demonstrates that Astragalus membranaceus could be a potential therapeutic for preventing the occurrence of peritoneal metastasis. However, it might be too early to recommend its use owing to the paucity of reliable in vivo experiment, clinical data, and evidence of clinical efficacy. In addition, previous studies of Astragalus membranaceus report inconsistent and contradictory findings. Therefore, detailed in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies on the mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus in peritoneal metastatic cancer treatment are warranted.

A review of the aromatic genus Adenosma: Geographical distribution, traditional uses, phytochemistry and biological activities.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The strongly scented genus Adenosma R. Brown (Plantaginaceae) comprises between 26 and 29 species with mainly southeast Asian distributions. Several species are used traditionally, mostly in Asian countries, for medicinal purposes including the treatment of colds and tumors, as well as stomach, liver, and skin disorders. Some species are also used as insecticides and/or insect repellents against mosquitoes or fleas. AIM OF THE REVIEW: Although the potential health benefits of Adenosma spp. are not yet well-known or well-studied in modern medicine, the aim of the present review is to provide a critical appraisal of the current state of knowledge regarding the geographical distribution, traditional uses, phytochemistry, phytochemicals and biological properties of Adenosma spp. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Electronic databases (Web of Science, Science Direct, Google Scholar, Scifinder, Microsoft Academic, eFloras), Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL), and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), were searched using the key words "Adenosma", "", "", "", "nhân tran", as well as the scientific names of the species, and a library search was also conducted for articles and books related to the subject published in English, Chinese or Vietnamese, as well as Ph.D. theses and M.Sc. dissertations published before April 2020. RESULTS: Adenosma spp. is traditionally used to treat gastrointestinal disorders, hepatitis, colds, and skin problems. Phenolic acids, flavonoids, and terpenoids constitute the main phytochemicals in these plants. Several evaluations based on bioassays have demonstrated biological activity for Adenosma spp., including antidiabetic, anticancer, and insecticidal activities; extracts and isolated compounds have also shown effective biological activity. However, current research has focused only on a few species, and on limited geographical regions, mainly in China and Vietnam. More and broader ethnopharmacological studies are therefore needed to provide further evidence of the health benefits of these plants. CONCLUSIONS: Adenosma spp. are plants rich in essential oils, particularly terpenoids, and the crude extracts have valuable bioactive properties. Certain lines of research based on cell lines and animal models show the potential value in different areas of health management. Further investigation into the traditional knowledge in southeast Asian and Pacific island regions, as well as the into the toxicity and identity of the bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action is necessary.

Effect of Oil Type and Emulsifier on Oil Absorption of Steam-and-fried Instant Noodles.

The effects of four different frying oils and three emulsifiers on oil absorption by steam-and-fried instant noodles were evaluated. The blended oil (high oleic sunflower oil/soybean oil/palm oil = 24:25:1 (v/v/v)) containing approximately 50% oleic acid was chosen as the proper frying oil due to lower oil absorption by instant noodle compared to palm, soybean, and high oleic sunflower oils. Among the four oils, the interfacial tension between high oleic sunflower oil and instant noodle was the lowest (0.073 mN/m), resulting in the highest oil uptake (15.47%), while the lowest interfacial tension (0.30 mN/m) between blended oil and instant noodle resulted in the lowest oil uptake by the fried product (12.63%). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) were used to observe surface properties and oil distribution. The instant noodle fried in blended oil was found to have uniform oil distribution and smooth surface. After selecting the proper frying oil, three emulsifiers (soybean lecithin, Tween-80, Span-80, at 0.2% (v/v)) were added to the blended frying oil. Adding emulsifier into frying oil significantly decreased the interfacial tension between frying oil and instant noodle. Among the three emulsifiers, addition of soybean lecithin resulted in the lowest interfacial tension (0.010 mN/m) and the highest oil uptake (18.36%). Therefore, from this study, we do not recommend adding emulsifier into frying oil.

Antioxidant Properties of Caffeic acid Phenethyl Ester and 4-Vinylcatechol in Stripped Soybean Oil.

Caffeic acid was used to synthesize 4-vinylcatechol (4-VC) by thermal decarboxylation and to prepare caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) by esterification reaction. The identities of synthesized products were confirmed by (1)H NMR. Antioxidative activities of 4-VC and CAPE were compared with α-tocopherol and BHT in stripped soybean oil at 60 °C under the dark. To evaluate the degrees of oxidation at different concentrations and combinations, peroxide value (PV) and (1)H NMR were performed. From the results of PV, the formation of primary oxidation products (i.e., hydroperoxides) in stripped soybean oil containing 200 ppm CAPE was the slowest. The relative oxidation degree of 200 ppm CAPE (9.5%) was lower than other samples on 9 d. Similar results were obtained by (1)H NMR analysis. After 15 d of storage, levels of conjugated diene forms and aldehydes of 200 ppm CAPE sample (57.3 and 0.9 mmol/mol oil) were also lower than other treatments. In addition, 4-VC and α-tocopherol were found to have a synergistic antioxidant effect.

Arsenic and Mercury Containing Traditional Chinese Medicine (Realgar and Cinnabar) Strongly Inhibit Organic Anion Transporters, Oat1 and Oat3, In Vivo in Mice.

Toxic heavy metals, including mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As), accumulate preferentially in kidneys and always cause acute renal failure. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these samples affect organic anion transporters, Oat1 and Oat3, in vivo in mice kidney. Mice (n = 10) were orally treated with investigational samples. After last administration, all mice were i.v. p-aminohippuric acid (PAH), and the blood and kidneys samples were collected. The concentrations of PAH were quantified by spectrophotometry. mRNA expressions of Oat1 and Oat3 were assayed by real-time PCR. In comparison with corresponding control, major pharmacokinetic parameters of PAH in sera were significantly changed by investigational samples (p < 0.05), PAH accumulations in the kidney tissues were significantly higher (p < 0.05), PAH uptake by renal slices was greatly reduced, Oat1 and Oat3 mRNA expression were significantly inhibited in investigational sample groups. Arsenic and mercury containing traditional Chinese medicine (Realgar and Cinnabar) probably induce kidney damage through inhibiting several members of the organic anion transporters (such as OAT1 and OAT3).

The chloroplast-localized phospholipases D α4 and α5 regulate herbivore-induced direct and indirect defenses in rice.

The oxylipin pathway is of central importance for plant defensive responses. Yet, the first step of the pathway, the liberation of linolenic acid following induction, is poorly understood. Phospholipases D (PLDs) have been hypothesized to mediate this process, but data from Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) regarding the role of PLDs in plant resistance have remained controversial. Here, we cloned two chloroplast-localized PLD genes from rice (Oryza sativa), OsPLDα4 and OsPLDα5, both of which were up-regulated in response to feeding by the rice striped stem borer (SSB) Chilo suppressalis, mechanical wounding, and treatment with jasmonic acid (JA). Antisense expression of OsPLDα4 and -α5 (as-pld), which resulted in a 50% reduction of the expression of the two genes, reduced elicited levels of linolenic acid, JA, green leaf volatiles, and ethylene and attenuated the SSB-induced expression of a mitogen-activated protein kinase (OsMPK3), a lipoxygenase (OsHI-LOX), a hydroperoxide lyase (OsHPL3), as well as a 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (OsACS2). The impaired oxylipin and ethylene signaling in as-pld plants decreased the levels of herbivore-induced trypsin protease inhibitors and volatiles, improved the performance of SSB and the rice brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens, and reduced the attractiveness of plants to a larval parasitoid of SSB, Apanteles chilonis. The production of trypsin protease inhibitors in as-pld plants could be partially restored by JA, while the resistance to rice brown planthopper and SSB was restored by green leaf volatile application. Our results show that phospholipases function as important components of herbivore-induced direct and indirect defenses in rice.

Silencing OsHI-LOX makes rice more susceptible to chewing herbivores, but enhances resistance to a phloem feeder.

The jasmonic acid (JA) pathway plays a central role in plant defense responses against insects. Some phloem-feeding insects also induce the salicylic acid (SA) pathway, thereby suppressing the plant's JA response. These phenomena have been well studied in dicotyledonous plants, but little is known about them in monocotyledons. We cloned a chloroplast-localized type 2 13-lipoxygenase gene of rice, OsHI-LOX, whose transcripts were up-regulated in response to feeding by the rice striped stem borer (SSB) Chilo suppressalis and the rice brown planthopper (BPH) Niaparvata lugens, as well as by mechanical wounding and treatment with JA. Antisense expression of OsHI-LOX (as-lox) reduced SSB- or BPH-induced JA and trypsin protease inhibitor (TrypPI) levels, improved the larval performance of SBB as well as that of the rice leaf folder (LF) Cnaphalocrocis medinalis, and increased the damage caused by SSB and LF larvae. In contrast, BPH, a phloem-feeding herbivore, showed a preference for settling and ovipositing on WT plants, on which they consumed more and survived better than on as-lox plants. The enhanced resistance of as-lox plants to BPH infestation correlated with higher levels of BPH-induced H(2)O(2) and SA, as well as with increased hypersensitive response-like cell death. These results imply that OsHI-LOX is involved in herbivore-induced JA biosynthesis, and plays contrasting roles in controlling rice resistance to chewing and phloem-feeding herbivores. The observation that suppression of JA activity results in increased resistance to an insect indicates that revision of the generalized plant defense models in monocotyledons is required, and may help develop novel strategies to protect rice against insect pests.