A comprehensive review on Ginger (Zingiber officinale) as a potential source of nutraceuticals for food formulations: Towards the polishing of gingerol and other present biomolecules.

Currently, ginger is one the most consumed plants when dealing with the treatments of various illnesses. So far, it is known that various biologically active molecules, such as gingerols, shogaols and zingerone, among others, are the main responsible for specific biological activities, opening a new window for its utilization as a nutraceutical in foods. In pioneering extraction processes, solvent extraction has been initially used for these applications; however, the drawbacks of this typical extraction method compared with other emergent separation techniques make it possible for the exploration of new extraction pathways, including microwave, ultrasound, supercritical, subcritical and pressurized-assisted extraction, along with three phase partitioning, high-speed counter current chromatography and magnetic solid phase extraction. To the best of our knowledge, there is no report documenting the recent studies and cases of study in this field. Therefore, we comprehensively review the progress and the latest findings (over the last five years) on research developments, including patents and emerging extraction methods, aiming at the purification of biologically active molecules (gingerols, shogaols and zingerone) contained in ginger. Over the course of this review, particular emphasis is devoted to breakthrough strategies and meaningful outcomes in ginger components extraction. Finally, dosage and safety concerns related to ginger extracts are also documented.

Andrographolide recovers cognitive impairment in a natural model of Alzheimer's disease (Octodon degus).

The social species Octodon degus (degu) is the only wild-type South American rodent that develops Alzheimer's-like pathology with age. Here, we evaluated the ability of a natural product (Andrographolide, ANDRO), a diterpene of the labdane family obtained from the Asian plant Andrographis paniculata, to recover the cognitive decline in this long-lived animal model. We administered ANDRO to aged degus (56-month old) for 3 months. In addition, in 2 control groups (young degus: 12-month old and aged degus: 56-month old), we administrated saline solution as a vehicle. We evaluated cognitive performance through several behavioral tests. We also performed a series of physiological and biochemical analyses (e.g., electrophysiological and immunoblotting assessment) to identify possible mechanisms underlying cognitive performance associated with age. Our results suggest that there is an effect of aging on the loss of cognitive function, and this decrease in cognitive function was also related to a decrease in the synaptic functions and an increase in the main hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD). More importantly, ANDRO treatments showed the following beneficial effects: (1) recovery of spatial memory and learning performance; (2) recovery of synaptic basal transmission; (3) partial or complete protection of certain synaptic proteins; and (4) a specific neuroprotective effect, including the reduction of phosphorylated tau protein and amyloid beta aggregate maturation in aged degus. Taken together, our results suggest that ANDRO could be used as a potential therapy for AD and support the use of O. degus as a natural model in which to study both neural damage associated with aging processes and the behavioral and neuropathological hallmarks of aging-related diseases such as AD.

[Fecal microbiota transplantation: first case report in Chile and review]. / Trasplante de microbiota fecal: primer caso reportado en Chile y revisión de la literatura.

Clostridium difficile (CD) infection is increasing in frequency and severity in in-hospital and outpatient clinical settings, with a recurrence that can reach 30% after first episode. The recurrences are usually treated with longer courses of metronidazole or vancomycin. Other treatments have been used, such as probiotics, fidaxomicin, rifaximin, immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies against toxins A and B. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a promising strategy in this group of patients, with effectiveness greater than 90%. We present the first case reported in Chile of this therapeutic strategy in a patient with Crohn's disease and recurrent CD infection who presented after the fecal transplantation an Escherichia coli bacteremia, suggesting the need for caution in the use of this strategy. 10 months after the FMT the patient presented a new episode of E. coli bacteremia and two episodes of diarrhea due to CD infection, treated both of them with vancomycin with good clinical response.

Synthesis, biological evaluation, and molecular modeling of new 3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxybenzaldehyde O-(2-(2,6-dimethylmorpholino)-2-oxoethyl) Oxime (GEBR-7b) related phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) inhibitors.

A new series of 3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl derivatives, structurally related to our hit GEBR-4a (1) and GEBR-7b (2), has been designed by changing length and functionality of the chain linking the catecholic moiety to the terminal cycloamine portion. Among the numerous molecules synthesized, compounds 8, 10a, and 10b showed increased potency as PDE4D enzyme inhibitors with respect to 2 and a good selectivity against PDE4A4, PDE4B2, and PDE4C2 enzymes, without both cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. The ability to enhance cAMP level in neuronal cells was assessed for compound 8. SAR considerations, also confirmed by in silico docking simulations, evidenced that both chain and amino terminal function characterized by higher hydrophilicity are required for a good and selective inhibitor-catalytic pocket interaction.

Trasplante de microbiota fecal: primer caso reportado en Chile y revisión de la literatura / Fecal microbiota transplantation: first case report in Chile and review

Clostridium difficile (CD) infection is increasing in frequency and severity in in-hospital and outpatient clinical settings, with a recurrence that can reach 30% after first episode. The recurrences are usually treated with longer courses of metronidazole or vancomycin. Other treatments have been used, such as probiotics, fidaxomicin, rifaximin, immunoglobulins and monoclonal antibodies against toxins A and B. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as a promising strategy in this group of patients, with effectiveness greater than 90%. We present the first case reported in Chile of this therapeutic strategy in a patient with Crohn's disease and recurrent CD infection who presented after the fecal transplantation an Escherichia coli bacteremia, suggesting the need for caution in the use of this strategy. 10 months after the FMT the patient presented a new episode of E. coli bacteremia and two episodes of diarrhea due to CD infection, treated both of them with vancomycin with good clinical response.

La infección por Clostridium difficile (CD) está aumentando en frecuencia y gravedad tanto a nivel intrahospitalario como ambulatorio, con una recurrencia que puede alcanzar hasta 30% después de un primer episodio. Los cuadros recurrentes son generalmente tratados con cursos prolongados de metronidazol y/o vancomicina. Otras terapias han sido sugeridas como el uso de probióticos, fidaxomicina, rifaximina, inmunoglobulina y anticuerpos monoclonales para toxina A y B. El trasplante de microbiota fecal (TMF) ha emergido como una estrategia promisoria en este grupo de pacientes con una efectividad mayor a 90%. Presentamos el primer caso reportado en Chile de esta estrategia terapéutica en un paciente con enfermedad de Crohn y CD recurrente, quien presentó una bacteriemia por Escherichia coli post-TMF, sugiriendo la necesidad de tener precaución con el uso de esta estrategia. El paciente presentó a los 10 meses post-TMF un nuevo episodio de bacteriemia por E. coli y dos episodios de diarrea por CD siendo tratados ambos cuadros con vancomicina con buena respuesta clínica.