Integrated Process for Production of Galangal Acetate, the "Wasabi-Like" Spicy Compound, and Analysis of Essential Oils of Rhizoma Alpinia officinarum (Hance) Farw.

Rhizoma Alpinia officinarum (Hance) Farw, Zingiberaceae (AO), a ginger family herb exhibiting stimulant and a carminative bioactivity, is widely used in European and Asian countries as spicy condiment and medicinal uses. Allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) is the main pungent taste of native Wasabi (Wasabia japonica). The cytotoxicity of AITC has been implicated in thymus, adrenals, and white blood cells. Considering food safety, apparently a safer substitute for wasabi is worthy commercialized. Previously, we found AO crude paste to be rather feasible for use as a "Wasabi-substitute" in fresh meat and cold salads. A process linking cold ethyl acetate (EtAc) extraction with silica gel adsorption and reversed phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) (mobile phase, 75% methanol) was used to isolate galangal acetate, the Wasabi-like taste constituent. AO contained abundant galangal acetate (3.84 ± 0.07%) compared to A. galangal (0.57 ± 0.16%), and as already confirmed by thin layer chromatography (TLC), gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS)/MS and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR), galangal acetate was particularly thermally labile. The steam distilled essential oil (SDEO) of AO (0.14% on wet basis) contained 80 compounds (number of component, %): monoterpene hydrocarbon (21, 13.83%); oxygenated monoterpene (17, 27.08%); sesquiterpene hydrocarbon (20, 31.03%), and oxygenated sesquiterpene (20, 21.85%), respectively. However, no spicy wasabi-like constituent remained in SDEO. Alternatively, n-hexane, EtAc, and methanol extracts of AO all showed potent DPPH- and superoxide anion-scavenging activity. Conclusively, SDEO although contains 80 volatiles, galangal acetate is absent due to thermal instability. Galangal acetate exhibits pleasant "Wasabi-like taste" for which we have successively developed an integrated process for mass production.

Cytotoxic effect of Eucalyptus citriodora resin on human hepatoma HepG2 cells.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antiproliferative effect of Eucalyptus citriodora resin (ECR) on human hepatoma HepG2 cells. The results from MTT assay and LDH leakage analysis showed that water extracts of ECR (WEECR) in the dose range of 0-500 µg/ml displayed stronger cytotoxic effects on HepG2 cells than other organic solvent extracts of ECR. By flow cytometry analysis, WEECR slowed down the cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase after 24 h of incubation. Moreover, WEECR treatment induced an apoptotic response in HepG2 cells. WEECR-induced apoptosis was in association with the attenuation of mitochondrial transmembrane potentials (ΔΨ(m)), increased Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and activation of caspase-3. In addition, WEECR contained high concentration of phenolics and flavonoids, which may be responsible for the potent cytotoxicity of WEECR on HepG2 cells. Taken together, WEECR may be a potent antihepatoma agent due to apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

Effects of electroacupuncture on benign prostate hyperplasia patients with lower urinary tract symptoms: a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial.

We tested the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) patients. A total of 42 BPH patients with LUTS were randomly assigned to either the EA group (EG), received 2 Hz EA for 20 min twice/week for a total of twelve treatments, or a sham EA group (CG), received sham EA. The increase of voiding volume, average flow rate, and maximal flow rate in the EG were 32.2 ± 104.4 mL, 1.2 ± 1.6 mL/sec, and 2.3 ± 3.7 mL/sec, respectively, from baseline value (before EA) using the measurement of an uroflowmetry. These increases were greater than -37.9 ± 120.4, -0.22 ± 2.7, and -0.3 ± 4.3, respectively, in the CG (P = .038, .026, and .030, resp.). The changes of prostate special antigen and international prostatic symptom score were not significantly different between two groups (P = .573, .175, resp.), suggesting the clinical improvement of 2 Hz EA was quite limited to the LUTS of patients with BPH.

Isolinderanolide B, a butanolide extracted from the stems of Cinnamomum subavenium, inhibits proliferation of T24 human bladder cancer cells by blocking cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis.

Isolinderanolide B (IOB), a butanolide extracted from the stems of Cinnamomum subavenium, was investigated for its antiproliferative activity in T24 human bladder cancer cells. To identity the anticancer mechanism of IOB, its effect on apoptosis, cell cycle distribution, and levels of p53, p21 Waf1/Cip1, Fas/APO-1 receptor, and Fas ligand was assayed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that the G0/G1 phase arrest is because of increase in the expression of p21 Waf1/Cip1. An enhancement in Fas/APO-1 and membrane-bound Fas ligand (mFasL) might be responsible for the apoptotic effect induced by IOB. This study reports the novel finding that the induction of p21 Waf1/Cip1 and activity of the Fas/mFas ligand apoptotic system may participate in the antiproliferative activity of IOB in T24 cells.

Determining urinary trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, As, and Se) in patients with bladder cancer.

OBJECTIVES: Trace elements are essential components of biological structures, but they can be toxic at concentrations beyond those necessary for their biological functions. METHODS: A study group of 30 patients with bladder cancer and a control group of 30 healthy volunteers were measured for trace elements using a graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. RESULTS: Urinary zinc and selenium levels in patients were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than those in controls, but urinary copper, arsenic, and lead were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: This case-control study suggests that zinc and selenium concentrations are associated with the proliferation of bladder cancer cells because zinc and selenium are excreted in the urine of bladder cancer patients.

[Non-invasive therapeutics in female urinary incontinence by extracorporeal magnetic innervation (ExMI)].

The prevalence of female urinary incontinence (UI) in Taiwan is 19~35% and the condition has a psychosocial impact. It is important to prevent UI and to treat it when it does occur. It is an intractable symptom which is not very responsive to medicine or surgery, although in the past, these were the most common options for treating it. The alternatives include pelvic floor muscle exercises, vaginal cone weight training, functional electrical stimulation and biofeedback. The effectiveness of these methods depends on the patient's motivation and compliance, as well as on health care providers' encouragement. However, the Extracorporeal Magnetic Innervation (ExMI) is simple and easy to use and therefore enhances participants' motivation and compliance. The authors review the relevant literature and describe the development of the revolutionary new treatment and discuss its effectiveness concluding that its clinical effectiveness needs further evaluation.