Chemical Compositions of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. (Huangqin) Extracts and Their Effects on ACE2 Binding of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein, ACE2 Activity, and Free Radicals.

The water and ethanol extracts of huangqin, the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi. with potential antiviral properties and antioxidant activities, were investigated for their chemical profiles and their abilities to interfere with the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and ACE2, inhibiting ACE2 activity and scavenging free radicals. A total of 76 compounds were tentatively identified from the extracts. The water extract showed a greater inhibition on the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and ACE2, but less inhibition on ACE2 activity than that of the ethanol extract on a per botanical weight concentration basis. The total phenolic content was 65.27 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dry botanical and the scavenging capacities against HO●, DPPH●, and ABTS●+ were 1369.39, 334.37, and 533.66 µmol trolox equivalent (TE)/g dry botanical for the water extract, respectively. These values were greater than those of the ethanol extract, with a TPC of 20.34 mg GAE/g, and 217.17, 10.93, and 50.21 µmol TE/g against HO●, DPPH●, and ABTS●+, respectively. The results suggested the potential use of huangqin as a functional food ingredient in preventing COVID-19.

Chemical Composition Profiling and Biological Activities of Phenolic Compounds in Eleven Red Sorghums.

The profiles of soluble and insoluble phenolic compounds in 11 commercial red sorghums (B11, B12, B13, B14, J124, J127, J138, J140, J142, J152, and J158) were investigated using ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS) analysis. A total of 48 phenolic compounds including 35 phenolic acids and their derivatives, 12 flavonoids, and 1 proanthocyanidin were identified, and 8 phenolic compounds were reported for the first time in sorghums. Four major 3-deoxyanthocyanidins were also quantified, with their soluble forms accounting for 99.75-99.87% of the total contents. Pearson's correlation analyses indicated that 3-deoxyanthocyanidins significantly contributed to the antioxidant capacities of the red sorghums and that 5-methoxy-luteolinidin showed the strongest correlation. Besides, the soluble phenolic fraction of B13 dose-dependently inhibited the proliferation of Caco-2 cells and the secretion of IL-1ß and NO in RAW264.7 macrophages, which might be attributed to its relatively high total phenolic (TPC), flavonoid (TFC), and proanthocyanidin content (TPAC) values and radical scavenging capacities.

Combination of Ablation and Immunotherapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Where We Are and Where to Go.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and is increasing in incidence. Local ablative therapy plays a leading role in HCC treatment. Radiofrequency (RFA) is one of the first-line therapies for early local ablation. Other local ablation techniques (e.g., microwave ablation, cryoablation, irreversible electroporation, phototherapy.) have been extensively explored in clinical trials or cell/animal studies but have not yet been established as a standard treatment or applied clinically. On the one hand, single treatment may not meet the needs. On the other hand, ablative therapy can stimulate local and systemic immune effects. The combination strategy of immunotherapy and ablation is reasonable. In this review, we briefly summarized the current status and progress of ablation and immunotherapy for HCC. The immune effects of local ablation and the strategies of combination therapy, especially synergistic strategies based on biomedical materials, were discussed. This review is hoped to provide references for future researches on ablative immunotherapy to arrive to a promising new era of HCC treatment.

Triacylglycerols compositions, soluble and bound phenolics of red sorghums, and their radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities.

Six commercial red sorghum varieties (Tong Za 117, 141, 142 and 143, Chi Za 109 and 101) were investigated for their triacylglycerol (TAG) profiles, soluble and bound phenolics, and radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities. A total of 21 TAGs were identified in red sorghum oils for the first time. Total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC) in the soluble or bound phenolic fractions differed among red sorghums. Significant correlation among TPC, TFC and DPPH radical scavenging activities was observed in both fractions. Except for caffeic acid, most of phenolic acids in red sorghums are in the bound form. Soluble 3-deoxyanthocyanidins contents (2.12-57.14 µg/g) were significantly higher than those of bound forms (0.01-0.18 µg/g) regardless of sorghum varieties and types of 3-deoxyanthocyanidins. Moreover, the stronger anti-inflammatory capacity of soluble phenolic fraction in Tong Za 117 correlated with its higher TPC, TFC and radical scavenging activity than those of its bound counterpart.

Current Progresses on Monochloropropane Diol Esters in 2018-2019 and Their Future Research Trends.

The fatty acid esters of monochloropropane diol (MCPD) are a group of food source contaminants formed during thermal processing. These components were recognized as potential food source toxicants in the past few decades, and growing evidence has proven their toxic effects, especially to kidneys and testes. Therefore, increasing research articles reported their results about MCPD esters in recent years. In this perspective, a total of 35 research articles/reviews about MCPD esters, including the studies concerning the analytical methods, occurrences, toxicity, formation mechanism, and mitigation strategies of MCPD esters in 2018-2019 have been summarized and discussed. Updating the latest research results about MCPD esters could improve our understandings about these components, especially on the toxic effects and the mitigation approaches in both academia and industry.

Fabrication and Characterization of Zein Composite Particles Coated by Caseinate-Pectin Electrostatic Complexes with Improved Structural Stability in Acidic Aqueous Environments.

Zein composite particles coated with caseinate-pectin electrostatic complexes (zein-caseinate-pectin particles) were fabricated using an electrostatic deposition and liquid-liquid dispersion method without heating treatment. Compared to zein particles coated only with caseinate, the acidic stability of zein-caseinate-pectin particles was greatly improved, and the particle aggregation was suppressed at pH 3-6, especially at pH values near the isoelectric point of caseinate (pH 4-5). Besides, desirable long-term storage stability and re-dispersibility were observed. Under different zein to curcumin (Cur) feeding ratios (10:1, 20:1, 30:1 and 40:1, w/w), the Cur-loaded zein-caseinate-pectin particles had a spherical shape with an average diameter ranging from 358.37 to 369.20 nm, a narrow size distribution (polydispersity index < 0.2) and a negative surface charge ranging from -18.87 to -19.53 mV. The relatively high encapsulation efficiencies of Cur (81.27% to 94.00%) and desirable re-dispersibility were also achieved. Fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that the encapsulated Cur interacted with carrier materials mainly through hydrophobic interactions. The in-vitro release profile showed a sustained release of Cur from zein-caseinate-pectin particles in acidic aqueous environment (pH 4) up to 24 h, without any burst effect. In addition, the encapsulation retained more ABTS•+ radical scavenging capacity of Cur during 4 weeks of storage. These results suggest that zein-caseinate-pectin particles may be used as a potential delivery system for lipophilic nutrients in acidic beverages.

Triacylglycerol, fatty acid, and phytochemical profiles in a new red sorghum variety (Ji Liang No. 1) and its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

In this study, a new red sorghum variety (Ji Liang No. 1) was investigated for its triacylglycerol (TAG) and fatty acid profiles, carotenoid and tocopherol compositions, total phenolic, total flavonoid and phenolic acid contents, and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. A total of 17 TAGs were identified in the red sorghum oil. Linoleic and oleic acids were the primary fatty acids, contributing more than 80% of the total fatty acids. ß-Carotene was the primary carotenoid at a level of 26.14 µg/g. α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherols were at levels of 0.19, 4.08, and 0.10 µg/g, respectively. Moreover, acetone-water (60:40, v/v) extract of the red sorghum exhibited the greatest total phenolic content of 2.77 mg GAE/g and total flavonoid content of 5.44 mg RE/g. The extract had scavenging capacities against DPPH, ABTS +, and peroxyl radicals and suppressed LPS stimulated IL-1ß, IL-6, and COX-2 mRNA expressions in a dose-dependent manner. Ferulic, p-coumaric, isoferulic, and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were found in the red sorghum, with ferulic acid as the predominant phenolic acid and mostly in an insoluble bound form. These data indicated a potential utilization of the red sorghum in health-promoting functional food or supplemental products.

Chemical compositions of chrysanthemum teas and their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Seventeen commercial chrysanthemum teas (Chrysanthemum morifolium and Coreopsis tinctoria) were extracted with hot-H2O, and examined and compared to the 75% methanol extracts for their chemical compositions using UPLC/Q-TOF-MS analysis. For the first time, 6, 8-C,C-diglucosylapigenin and eriodicyol-7-O-glucoside were detected in the Snow chrysanthemum, and acetylmarein was detected in HangJu, GongJu and HuaiJu. The extracts were also examined for their radical scavenging and anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. The hot-H2O extract of Kunlunmiju 1 had the greatest total phenolic content, and relative DPPH and oxygen radical absorbance capacity values of 12.72 mg gallic acid equivalents/g, 105.48 and 1222.50 µmol Trolox equivalents/g, respectively. In addition, all the hot-H2O extracts suppressed the lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-6, IL-1ß and cyclooxygenase-2 mRNA expressions, and H2O2-induced intracellular reactive oxygen species production in cultured cells. The results from this research may be used to promote the consumption of chrysanthemum as a functional tea.

Kudinoside-D, a triterpenoid saponin derived from Ilex kudingcha suppresses adipogenesis through modulation of the AMPK pathway in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

The leaves of Ilex Kudingcha, locally named "Kudingcha" in China, has been traditionally applied for treating obesity. Studies have demonstrated that the ethanol extract of Ilex kudingcha have anti-adipogenic effects. However, the constituent which was responsible for its anti-obesity and its underlying molecular mechanism has not yet been elucidated. This research explored the anti-obesity effect of kudinoside-D which was a main natural component of triterpenoid saponin from the ethanol extract of Ilex kudingcha, on lipid accumulation and the potential mechanism of action of adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The adipocytes were treated with various concentrations of kudinoside D (0 to 40µM) during differentiation. The image-based Oil Red O staining analyses revealed that KD-D, dose dependently reduced cytoplasmic lipid droplet in 3T3-L1 adipocytes with the IC50 is 59.49µM. Meanwhile, major adipogenic transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-α (C/EBPα) and sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c) were significantly repressed as well as their target genes. The phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and its downstream target phosphorylated-acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) expression were also increased. In addition, the inhibitory effects of KD-D on the expressions of PPARγ and C/EBPα were weakened when cells were cotreated with AMPK inhibitor Compound C. These results indicated KD-D exerts anti-adipogenic effects through modulation of adipogenic transcription factors via AMPK signaling pathway. And the current findings demonstrated that KD-D was a potential therapeutic candidate for alleviating obesity and hyperlipidemia.

Gypenosides Reduced the Risk of Overweight and Insulin Resistance in C57BL/6J Mice through Modulating Adipose Thermogenesis and Gut Microbiota.

This study investigated whether and how gypenosides from jiaogulan tea at 100 and 300 mg/kg/day levels could reduce the development of overweight and insulin resistance in C57 BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet in 12 weeks. The 300 mg/kg/day gypenosides supplement significantly reduced final body weight, plasma total cholesterol, and homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index by 19.9%, 40%, and 36%, respectively, compared with the high-fat diet control group. Gypenosides also increased brown adipocyte tissue activity and white adipose tissue browning. The expression of genes involved in mitochondrial activity and fatty acid ß-oxidation were also increased in both brown and white adipocyte tissues. In addition, gypenosides at 100 and 300 mg/kg/day levels decreased the ratio of Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes by 20% and 58.6%, respectively, and increased Akkermansia muciniphila abundance in the gut microbiota.

Inhibitory Effect of Piceatannol on TNF-α-Mediated Inflammation and Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes.

Piceatannol, a bioactive component in grape and blueberry, was examined for its potential in decreasing the inflammatory activities in adipocytes using a cocultured adipocyte and macrophage system, and suppressing tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-mediated inflammation and the related insulin resistance using a 3T3-L1 adipocyte model. Piceatannol at 10 µM significantly reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines of TNF-α and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) by 19 and 31% in the cocultured system, respectively. Pretreatment with piceatannol also inhibited TNF-α-induced expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and MCP-1 at both mRNA and protein levels in the 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Piceatannol also partially improved the malfunction of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, which was reduced by TNF-α in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Furthermore, the inhibitions were mediated by significant blocking of IκBα phosphorylation and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation through suppressing nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 along with c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation. In addition, the Akt-dependent forkhead box O1 (FoxO1) signaling pathway was involved in the restoration of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake through suppressing the down-regulation of phosphorylation of Akt and FoxO1 expressions. These results suggested the potential of piceatannol in improving chronic inflammatory condition and insulin sensitivity in obese adipose tissues.

The impact of dietary sn-2 palmitic triacylglycerols in combination with docosahexaenoic acid or arachidonic acid on lipid metabolism and host faecal microbiota composition in Sprague Dawley rats.

Sn-2 palmitic acid triacylglycerols (sn2PA fat) and polyunsaturated fatty acids are thought to influence the metabolic status and intestinal bacterial population of the host. In this study, the impact of sn2PA fat in combination with DHA or ARA in the diet on lipid metabolism in the liver and faecal microbiota composition were investigated in rats fed diets containing sn2PA fat, 90% sn2PA fat + 10% DHA oil (wt%), or 90% sn2PA fat + 10% ARA oil (wt%). Tissue fatty acid composition was measured using gas chromatography (GC), whereas the faecal microbial composition was assessed using 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing technology. In addition, faecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) were analyzed using ion chromatography. The results showed that sn2PA fat in combination with DHA or ARA significantly reduced liver triacylglyceride (TG) content compared with the sn2PA fat only group. Moreover, the supplementation with sn2PA fat in combination with DHA or ARA significantly promoted the growth of Lactobacillus in the feces at the genus level. On the other hand, the growth of the opportunistic pathogen Desulfovibrio was significantly inhibited by sn2PA fat in combination with ARA compared with the sn2PA fat group. In addition, sn2PA fat in combination with DHA or ARA significantly increased total SCFA concentration in the faeces, suggesting a beneficial effect on host intestinal health.

Triacylglycerol compositions of sunflower, corn and soybean oils examined with supercritical CO2 ultra-performance convergence chromatography combined with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

A supercritical CO2 ultra-performance convergence chromatography (UPC2) system was utilized with a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) to examine the triacylglycerol compositions of sunflower, corn and soybean oils. UPC2 provided an excellent resolution and separation for the triacylglycerols, while the high performance Q-TOF MS system was able to provide the molecular weight and fragment ions information for triacylglycerol compound characterization. A total of 33 triacylglycerols were identified based on their elementary compositions and MS2 fragment ion profiles, and their levels in the three oils were estimated. The combination of UPC2 and Q-TOF MS may determine triacylglycerol compositions for oils and fats, and provide sn-position information for fatty acids, which may be important for food nutritional value and stability.

Simultaneous Qualitation and Quantitation of Chlorogenic Acids in Kuding Tea Using Ultra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detection Coupled with Linear Ion Trap-Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer.

Kuding tea, the leaves of Ilex Kudingcha C.J. Tseng, has been applied for treating obesity, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and so on. The chlorogenic acids (CGAs) in Kuding tea have shown excellent antioxidative, antiobesity, anti-atherosclerotic and anticancer activities. Nevertheless, the chemical profiles of CGAs in Kuding tea have not been comprehensively studied yet, which hinders further quality control. In the present study, a sensitive ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection coupled with a linear ion trap-Orbitrap (UHPLC-DAD-LTQ-Orbitrap) method was established to screen and identify CGAs in Kuding tea. Six CGA standards were first analyzed in negative ion mode with a CID-MS/MS experiment and then the diagnostic product ions (DPIs) were summarized. According to the retention behavior in the RP-ODS column, accurate mass measurement, DPIs and relevant bibliography data, a total of 68 CGA candidates attributed to 12 categories were unambiguously or preliminarily screened and characterized within 18 min of chromatographic time. This was the first systematic report on the distribution of CGAs in Kuding tea. Meanwhile, the contents of 6 major CGAs in Kuding tea were also determined by the UHPLC-DAD method. All the results indicated that the established analytical method could be employed as an effective technique for the comprehensive and systematic characterization of CGAs and quality control of the botanic extracts or Chinese medicinal formulas that contain various CGAs.

Improvement in Stroke-induced Motor Dysfunction by Music-supported Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

To conduct a meta-analysis of clinical trials that examined the effect of music-supported therapy on stroke-induced motor dysfunction, comprehensive literature searches of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane Library from their inception to April 2016 were performed. A total of 10 studies (13 analyses, 358 subjects) were included; all had acceptable quality according to PEDro scale score. The baseline differences between the two groups were confirmed to be comparable. Compared with the control group, the standardized mean difference of 9-Hole Peg Test was 0.28 (-0.01, 0.57), 0.64 (0.31, 0.97) in Box and Block Test, 0.47 (0.08, 0.87) in Arm Paresis Score and 0.35 (-0.04, 0.75) in Action Research Arm Test for upper-limb motor function, 0.11 (-0.24, 0.46) in Berg Balance Scale score, 0.09 (-0.36, 0.54) in Fugl-Meyer Assessment score, 0.30 (-0.15, 0.74) in Wolf Motor Function Test, 0.30 (-0.15, 0.74) in Wolf Motor Function time, 0.65 (0.14, 1.16) in Stride length and 0.62 (0.01, 1.24) in Gait Velocity for total motor function, and 1.75 (0.94, 2.56) in Frontal Assessment Battery score for executive function. There was evidence of a positive effect of music-supported therapy, supporting its use for the treatment of stroke-induced motor dysfunction. This study was registered at PRESPERO (CRD42016037106).

Biomass Approach toward Robust, Sustainable, Multiple-Shape-Memory Materials.

We report biomass-derived, shape-memory materials prepared via simple reactions, including "grafting from" ATRP and TAD click chemistry. Although the biomass, including plant oils and cellulose nanocrystals, has heterogeneous chemical structures in nature, these materials exhibit excellent multiple shape-memory properties toward temperature, water, and organic solvents, which are comparable to petroleum counterparts. The work presented herein provides burgeoning opportunities to design the next-generation, low-cost, biomass-prevalent, green materials for niche applications.

A novel alkaline hemicellulosic heteroxylan isolated from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stem and its thermal and anti-inflammatory properties.

A novel hemicellulosic polysaccharide (ACAP) was purified from the cold alkali extraction of alfalfa stems and characterized as a heteroxylan with a weight-average molecular weight of 7.94 × 10(3) kDa and a radius of 58 nm. Structural analysis indicated that ACAP consisted of a 1,4-linked ß-D-Xylp backbone with 4-O-MeGlcpA and T-L-Araf substitutions at O-2 and O-3 positions, respectively. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) examination revealed the entangled chain morphology of ACAP molecules. The evaluation of thermal degradation property revealed a primary decomposition temperature range of 238.8-314.0 °C with an apparent activation energy (Ea) and a pre-exponential factor (A) of 220.0 kJ/mol and 2.81 × 10(24)/s, respectively. ACAP also showed significant inhibitory activities on IL-1ß, IL-6, and COX-2 gene expressions in cultured RAW 264.7 mouse macrophage cells. These results suggested the potential utilization of ACAP in functional foods and dietary supplement products.

Structural, thermal, and anti-inflammatory properties of a novel pectic polysaccharide from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) stem.

A pectic polysaccharide (APPS) was purified from the cold alkali extract of alfalfa stem and characterized to be a rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) type pectin with the molecular weight of 2.38 × 10(3) kDa and a radius of 123 nm. The primary structural analysis indicated that APPS composed of a →2)-α-l-Rhap-(1→4)-α-d-GalpA-(1→ backbone with 12% branching point at C-4 of Rhap forming side chains by l-arabinosyl and d-galactosyl oligosaccharide units. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis revealed a primary linear-shaped structure with a few branches in its assembly microstructures. The thermal decomposition evaluation revealed the stability of APPS with an apparent activation energy (Ea) of 226.5 kJ/mol and a pre-exponential factor (A) of 2.10 × 10(25)/s, whereas its primary degradation occurred in the temperature range from 215.6 to 328.0 °C. In addition, APPS showed significant anti-inflammatory effect against mRNA expressions of the pro-inflammatory cytokine genes, especially for IL-1ß, suggesting its potential utilization in functional foods and dietary supplement products.