Fermented rape pollen powder can alleviate benign prostatic hyperplasia in rats by reducing hormone content and changing gut microbiota.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can cause urethral compression, bladder stone formation, and renal function damage, which may endanger the life of patients. Therefore, we aimed to develop plant-based preparations for BPH treatment with no side effects. In this study, the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 322Hp, Lactobacillus acidophilus 322Ha, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri 322Hr were used to ferment rape pollen. The fermented rape pollen was subsequently converted into fermented rape pollen powder (FRPP) through vacuum freeze-drying technology. After fermenting and drying, the bioactive substances and antioxidant capacity of FRPP were significantly higher than those of unfermented rapeseed pollen, and FRPP had a longer storage duration, which can be stored for over one year. To investigate the therapeutic effect of FRPP on BPH, a BPH rat model was established by hypodermic injection of testosterone propionate. The BPH rats were treated differently, with the model group receiving normal saline, the positive control group receiving finasteride, and the low, medium, and high dose FRPP group receiving FRPP at doses of 0.14 g/kg/d, 0.28 g/kg/d, and 0.56 g/kg/d, respectively. The results indicate that medium dose FRPP reduced the levels of hormone such as testosterone, dihydrotestosterone, and oestradiol in rats with BPH by about 32%, thus bringing the prostate tissue of BPH rats closer to normal. More importantly, medium dose FRPP treatment had a significant effect on the composition of gut microbiota in rats with BPH, increasing the levels of beneficial genera (such as Coprococcus and Jeotgalicoccus), and decreasing the levels of harmful pathogens (such as Turicibacter and Clostridiaceae_Clostridium) in the gut. This study showed that medium dose FRPP reduced the hormone level and regulated the unbalanced gut microbiota in BPH rats, thereby alleviating BPH.

Ginseng berry concentrate prevents colon cancer via cell cycle, apoptosis regulation, and inflammation-linked Th17 cell differentiation.

The Asian ginseng root (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a very commonly used herbal medicine worldwide. Ginseng fruit, including the berry (or pulp) and seed, is also valuable for several health conditions including immunostimulation and cancer chemoprevention. In this study, the anticancer and anti-proliferative effects of the extracts of ginseng berry and seed were evaluated. The ginsenosides in the ginseng berry concentrate (GBC) and ginseng seed extract (GSE) were analyzed. We then evaluated their anti-colorectal cancer potentials, including antiproliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptotic induction. Further investigation consisted of the berry's adaptive immune responses, such as the actions on the differentiation of T helper cells Treg, Th1, and Th17. The major constituents in GBC were ginsenosides Re and Rd, which can be compared to those in the root. The GBC significantly inhibited colon cancer cell growth, and its anti-proliferative effect involved mechanisms including G2/M cell cycle arrest via upregulation of cyclin A and induction of apoptosis via regulation of apoptotic related gene expressions. GBC also downregulated the expressions of pro-inflammatory cytokine genes. For the adaptive immune responses, GBC did not influence Th1 and Treg cell differentiation but significantly inhibited Th17 cell differentiation and thus regulated the balance of Th17/Treg for adaptive immunity. Although no ginsenoside was detected in the GSE, interestingly, it obviously enhanced colon cancer cell proliferation with the underlined details to be determined. Our results suggested that GBC is a promising dietary supplement for cancer chemoprevention and immunomodulation.

Influences of Copper/Zinc-Loaded Montmorillonite on Growth Performance, Mineral Retention, Intestinal Morphology, Mucosa Antioxidant Capacity, and Cytokine Contents in Weaned Piglets.

The effects of copper/zinc-loaded montmorillonite (Cu/Zn-Mt) on growth performance, mineral retention, intestinal morphology, mucosa antioxidant capacity, and cytokine contents in weaned piglets were investigated in the present study. One hundred eight piglets weaned at 21 ± 1 days of age (Duroc × Landrace× Yorkshire; average initial weight of 6.36 kg) were allotted to three treatments for 2 weeks. The three treatments were as follows: (1) control group: basal diet; (2) Cu/Zn-Mt group: basal diet + 39 mg/kg Cu and 75 mg/kg Zn as Cu/Zn-Mt; (3) Cu + Zn + Mt group: basal diet + mixture of CuSO4, ZnSO4, and Mt (equal amount of Cu, Zn, and Mt to the Cu/Zn-Mt group). Each treatment had six pens of six piglets. The results showed that as compared with the control group and the Cu + Zn + Mt group, Cu/Zn-Mt supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the average daily gain and the gain/feed ratio; Cu/Zn-Mt supplementation increased (P < 0.05) the Cu and Zn concentrations in serum, jejunum, and ileum mucosa, villus height, the ratio of villus height to crypt depth, and the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and IL-10 levels, and decreased the malondialdehyde concentrations in the jejunum and ileum, and intestinal IL-1ß, IL-6, and TNF-α levels. Moreover, supplementation with the mixture of CuSO4, ZnSO4, and Mt had no effect on the growth performance, but increased the mucosa Cu and Zn concentrations, intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity, and immune function in the duodenum, while it had no effect on the above indexes in the jejunum and ileum. The results indicated that Mt could be used as a controlled carrier for Cu and Zn, which made Cu/Zn-Mt have better biological activities in the intestine than the mixture of Cu, Zn, and Mt.

Establishment of a hepatocyte line for studying biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids from a marine teleost, the white-spotted spinefoot Siganus canaliculatus.

A hepatocyte line was established from the liver of white-spotted spinefoot Siganus canaliculatus to study the biosynthesis of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA). The cells from the line, designated S. canaliculatus hepatocyte line (SCHL), grew and multiplied well in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM)-F12 medium supplemented with 20 mM 4-(2-hydroxyethyl) piperazine-1-ethanesulphonic acid (HEPES), 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS) and 0·5% rainbow trout Oncorhychus mykiss serum at 28° C, showing an epithelial-like morphology and the normal chromosome number of 48 (2n) and have been subcultured for over 60 passages. The identity of the hepatocytes was confirmed by periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining. The mRNA expression of all genes encoding the key enzymes for LC-PUFA biosynthesis including two desaturases (Δ4 Fad and Δ6-Δ5 Fad) and two elongases (Elovl4 and Elovl5), were detected in all cells from passages 5 to 60 and their expression levels became stable after passage 35 and showed responses to various PUFA incubation. This is similar to the situation determined in the liver of S. canaliculatus that were fed diets containing different fatty acids. These results indicated that SCHL was successfully established and can provide an in vitro tool to investigate lipid metabolism and regulatory mechanisms of LC-PUFA biosynthesis in teleosts, especially marine species.

A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of the neuronal specificity of an acupoint: acupuncture at Rangu (KI 2) and its sham point.

The neuronal specificity of acupoints has not been entirely supported by the results of previous functional magnetic resource imaging studies. This study tested the specificity of an acupoint using right Rangu (KI 2) and its sham acupoint. The results showed specific cerebral response patterns and thus provided the evidence of the existence of acupoint neuronal specificity.

Advances in the development of functional foods from buckwheat.

Buckwheat originated in North or East Asia and is widely adapted in North America. It has been grown since at least 1000 BC in China. It has very strong adaptability to adverse environments with a very short growing span. Many varieties are growing around the world, but mainly in the north hemisphere. Currently the most common buckwheat spice is Fagopyrum esculentum Moench (common buckwheat or sweet buckwheat), while Fagopyrum tartaricum is also available in some mountainous regions. Many nutraceutical compounds exist in buckwheat seeds and other tissues. Buckwheat has been used and will be better used as an important raw material for functional food production. In this review we focus on works related to the development of functional foods from common buckwheat, Fagopyrum esculentum Moench. A lot of research has be conducted in the functionalities and properties of buckwheat proteins, flavonoids, flavones, phytosterols, thiamin-binding proteins, and other rare compounds in buckwheat seeds. Buckwheat proteins have unique amino acid composition with special biological activities of cholesterol-lowering effects, antihypertensition effects, and improving the constipation and obisity conditions by acting similar as to dietary fiber and interrupting the in vivo metabolisms. The trypsin inhibitors isolated from buckwheat seeds are heat stable and can cause poor digestion if they are not suitably cooked before consumption. The allergenic proteins existing in the buckwheat seeds and their derivatives were reviewed with respect to their chemical and biochemical characteristics as well as the physiological reactions after digestion. Some possible mechanisms involved in these effects are discussed in this review. Experiments, both with animal models and with human beings, revealed that buckwheat flour can improve diabetes, obesity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and constipation. Methods to exploit buckwheat seeds and flour to produce highly effective nutraceuticals are also reviewed.

Olfactory responses of Ips duplicatus from inner Mongolia, China to nonhost leaf and bark volatiles.

Leaf and bark volatiles from nonhost angiosperm trees were tested on Ips duplicatus by gas chromatographic-electroantennographic detection (GC-EAD) and by pheromone-baited traps in Sweden and Inner Mongolia, China, respectively. GC-EAD analysis of the headspace volatiles from fresh bark chips of Betula pubescens revealed trans-conophthorin, two green leaf volatiles (GLVs): 1-hexanol and (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, and two C8 alcohols: 3-octanol and 1-octen-3-ol, that consistently elicited antennal responses by I. duplicatus. The identification of these EAD-active compounds was confirmed in further GC-EAD recordings with synthetic mixtures. Antennal responses were also found to synthetic (E)-2-hexen-1-ol and linalool, which have been identified from the leaves of nonhost birch and aspen species. No antennal responses of I. duplicatus were found to hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, and (Z)-3-hexyl acetates. In field trapping experiments, blends of EAD-active green leaf alcohols or C8 alcohols, or transconophthorin alone resulted in significant reductions (27-60%) in the number of I. duplicatus captured compared with pheromone-baited traps. The unsuitable host compound, verbenone (Vn), also significantly reduced trap catches by up to 60% in both experiments. The strongest disruptive effect resulted from the addition of the combination of green leaf alcohols, C8 alcohols, and verbenone to the pheromone trap, which caused an 84% reduction in trap catch. The blend of two green leaf aldehydes plus the acetate increased the trap catches in 1998 and had no negative or positive effects in 1999. Our results suggest that these nonhost volatiles (NHVs) are important olfactory signals used by I. duplicatus in host selection. They may have great significance in developing semiochemical-based management programs for I. duplicatus by reducing or stopping attacks on suitable hosts.

Gene expression networks underlying retinoic acid-induced differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

To elucidate the molecular mechanism of all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA)-induced differentiation of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) cells, the gene expression patterns in the APL cell line NB(4) before and after ATRA treatment were analyzed using complementary DNA array, suppression-subtractive hybridization, and differential-display-polymerase chain reaction. A total of 169 genes, including 8 novel ones, were modulated by ATRA. The ATRA-induced gene expression profiles were in high accord with the differentiation and proliferation status of the NB(4) cells. The time courses of their modulation were interesting. Among the 100 up-regulated genes, the induction of expression occurred most frequently 12-48 hours after ATRA treatment, while 59 of 69 down-regulated genes found their expression suppressed within 8 hours. The transcriptional regulation of 8 induced and 24 repressed genes was not blocked by cycloheximide, which suggests that these genes may be direct targets of the ATRA signaling pathway. A balanced functional network seemed to emerge, and it formed the foundation of decreased cellular proliferation, maintenance of cell viability, increased protein modulation, and promotion of granulocytic maturation. Several cytosolic signaling pathways, including JAKs/STAT and MAPK, may also be implicated in the symphony of differentiation. (Blood. 2000;96:1496-1504)

Molecular cloning of six novel Krüppel-like zinc finger genes from hematopoietic cells and identification of a novel transregulatory domain KRNB.

To clone zinc finger genes expressed in hematopoietic system, we designed primers based on conserved Cys(2)/His(2) zinc finger sequences to amplify corresponding domains from mRNA of normal bone marrow and leukemia cell line NB4. DNA fragments of novel zinc finger genes were chosen and used as probe pool to screen cDNA libraries or subject to rapid amplification of cDNA ends in order to obtain full-length cDNA. Six cDNAs including whole open reading frame of zinc finger proteins, named as ZNF191, ZNF253 (BMZF-1), ZNF255 (BMZF-2), ZNF256 (BMZF-3), ZNF257 (BMZF-4), and ZNF254 (BMZF-5) were obtained. All six belong to the Krüppel-like zinc finger gene family, and typical transcriptional regulatory motifs exist in the N-terminal moiety, such as the SCAN box in ZNF191, and the KRAB domains in ZNF253, ZNF254, ZNF256, and ZNF257. A previously undefined sequence nominated as Krüppel-related novel box, which may represent a new transregulatory motif, was revealed at the N terminus of ZNF255. The transregulatory function of non-zinc finger regions of ZNF191, ZNF253, and ZNF255 were addressed in yeast and mammalian cells. The results indicated that ZNF255 might be a conditional transactivator, whereas ZNF253 and ZNF191 displayed a suppressive effect on the transcription in yeast and/or mammalian systems.

[Effect of concentrated xuefu zhuyu pill on proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells in experimental atheriosclerosis rabbits observed by serologic pharmacological test].

Two in vitro experiments were performed for comparative study to evaluate the effect of concentrated Xuefu Zhuyu pill (CXZP), a Chinese traditional herbal medicinal mixture, on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) of experimental atherosclerosis rabbits by serologic pharmacological test. The first experiment approach adopted the addition of the rabbit's serum to the culture medium while in the second experiment the CXZP was added to the medium directly. Results showed that both the serum with CXZP and the CXZP extract itself could inhibit the proliferation of SMC significantly and dose-dependently, and the inhibitory action of the latter was more potent than the former one. It suggested that CXZP could inhibit the proliferation of SMC both in vivo and in vitro, the decrease of effectiveness in vivo might be due to the non-absorption of some active ingredient of CXZP or due to metabolic inactivation.

[Comparison among 5 different extracting methods of Whitmania pigra whitman].

Whitmania pigra whitman is one of the traditional Chinese drugs commonly used in clinical practice for Blood circulation promoting and Stasis relieving, its active principle was unknown yet. In this report, five extracting methods have been studied based on its extract's anticoagulant and antithrombotic activity in vitro. The results have revealed that the extracts using different extracting methods showed different anticoagulant and anti-thrombotic activity. Among them, the extracts produced by water-boiling and alcohol-prepitating have shown the strongest anticoagulant activity and good antithrombotic effect.

[Studies on the sapogenins and prosapogenins in Ardisia pusilla A. DC].

Two new saponins were isolated from Ardisia pusilla and proved to have marked immunological function and antitumor activity. Acidic hydrolysis of saponin I gave five sapogenins and two prosapogenins. The structures of three sapogenins were elucidated as cyclamiretin A, C, D and two prosapogenins as cyclamiretin D-3-O-alpha-L-arabipyranoside and cyclamiretin D-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-alpha-L-arabipyranoside.

[Studies on the saponin constituents of jiu jielong (Ardisea pusilla)].

Two saponins were isolated from Ardisea pusilla A. DC. which have improved immunological function and antitumor activity. Their structures were determined on the basis of chemical and spectral analysis (IR, MS, 1HNMR, 13CNMR and two new NMR technique). The two compounds were 3-O-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)] [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl cyclamiretin A (I) and 3-O-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)] [beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-alpha-L- rhamnopyranosyl cyclamiretin A (II). They were new saponin and named as ardipusilloside I and ardipusilloside II.

[Diagnostic significance of the cuticular patterns on leaf surface of Sarcandra glabra].

The cuticular patterns on leaf surface of Sarcandra glabra (Thunb.) Nakai were studied with scanning electron microscope. It was found that the cuticular patterns vary not only with the district of specimen collection, but also with the developmental stage of the leaf. The characteristics of the cuticular patterns are described in detail with 2 plates of illustrations.