Osteogenic activities of four calcium-chelating microalgae peptides.

BACKGROUND: Adequate calcium intake is necessary to prevent osteoporosis, which poses significant public health challenges. The natural bioactive peptide calcium chelates have been regarded as superior calcium supplements. Microalgae peptides are regarded as potential candidates for protection from bone loss in osteoporosis. This study aimed to prepare microalgae calcium-chelating peptides from four microalgae proteins and assess their osteogenic activities in osteoporosis-like zebrafish. RESULTS: After in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, 4.42% Chlorella pyrenoidosa protein, 2.74% Nannochloropsis oceanica protein, 6.07% Arthospira platensis protein and 10.47% Dunaliella salina protein were retained. The calcium-chelating capacities of four microalgae protein hydrolysates (MPHs) ranged from 14.10 ± 7.16% to 34.11 ± 9.34%. CaCl2 addition increased the maximum absorption peaks, absorption intensities and particle sizes of MPHs. Calcium-chelating MPHs showed stronger osteogenic activities than MPHs in the osteoporosis-like zebrafish model, with significantly increased mineralized tissue area and integrated optical density. CONCLUSION: Microalgae proteins have favorable digestibilities. Among the four MPHs, Nannochloropsis oceanica protein hydrolysates showed the highest calcium-chelating capacity, which might be due to its high degree of hydrolysis after in vitro digestion and high content of Ser, Tyr, Thr, Asp and Glu. The absorption intensities and particle sizes of MPHs both increased after calcium addition. MPH treatment could reverse dexamethasone-induced osteoporosis of zebrafish, and MPHs-Ca chelates showed higher osteogenic activities in osteoporosis-like phenotype zebrafish. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Anti-inflammatory properties of extracts from Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. leaf.

Chimonanthus nitens Oliv. (CN) is a species in the family Calycanthaceae. Its leaf is widely used to make traditional herbal tea in southern China and has a wide range of therapeutic effects. The profile of the ethanol extracts from CN leaves was identified by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. Forty seven compounds were determined including organic acids, phenolic acids and derivatives, flavonoids, coumarins, fatty acids and other compounds. The effect of the CN extracts on the inflammatory damage in zebrafish and in RAW 264.7 cells was investigated. The extracts demonstrated a strong ability to inhibit the recruitment of neutrophils in LPS-stimulated zebrafish, but macrophage migration was not significantly affected. Pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e., TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1ß) were also determined by q-PCR. The extracts strongly reduced mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-6 but not IL-1ß in zebrafish model, while significantly inhibited the production of the factors in the RAW 264.7 cells. Therefore, our results suggest that the ethanol extracts of CN leaves may serve as a source of nutraceutical compounds with anti-inflammatory properties.

[Effect of triptolide on the expression of RANTES in the renal tissue of diabetic nephropathy rats].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of triptolide (TPL) on the renal tissue of diabetic rats and its possible mechanisms. METHODS: SD rats were randomly divided into the normal control group (as the normal group), the diabetic model group (the model group), the low dose TPL treatment group (the low dose TPL group, TPL 0.2 mg/kg by gastrogavage), the high dose TPL treatment group (the high dose TPL group, TPL 0.4 mg/kg by gastrogavage). Equal volume of normal saline was given to rats in the normal group and the model group. Five rats were randomly selected from each group at week 4, 8, and 12 of the experiment to detect body weight, kidney weight, 24 h urinary albumin (24 h UAL), plasma glucose (FBG), total cholesterol (TC), total triglyeride (TG), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), white blood cell (WBC), and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The mRNA and protein expression of regulated upon activation normal T-cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) in the renal tissue was assessed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The renal tissue was pathologically stained by HE, PAS, and Masson staining. The glomerular and renal tubular interstitial lesions were observed at each time point. The glomerular sclerosis index (GSI) was observed by PAS staining, and the renal interstitial filrosis index (RIFI) was calcutated. RESULTS: Compared with the same group at week 4, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 significantly decreased in two TPL groups (P <0.01). Compared with the same group at week 8, the expression of 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI at week 12 also significantly decreased in the two TPL groups (P <0. 05, P <0.01). Compared with the normal group, body weight and the kidney weight obviously decreased at week 4, 8, and 12 in the model group (P <0. 01); 24 h UAL, FBG, TG, TC, HbA1c, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI were obviously elevated (P <0.01). Compared with the model group, 24 h UAL, RANTES, GSI, and RIFI also decreased in the two TPL treatment groups (P <0.01). Compared with the low dose TPL group, they were attenuated in the high dose TPL group (P <0. 05, P <0. 01). CONCLUSION: TPL could not only inhibit the over-expression of RANTES, but also improve the glomerular sclerosis and renal interstitial fibrosis in the renal tissue of diabetic rats.

Induction of apoptosis by tomato using space mutation breeding in human colon cancer SW480 and HT-29 cells.

BACKGROUND: As far as we know, there have been no reports concerning the functional characteristics of tomatoes using space mutation breeding. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-colon cancer effect of tomatoes M1 and M2 using space mutation breeding. RESULTS: In the present study, obvious anti-cancer activity was shown with tomato juice of M1 and M2 and their parent CK treatment in colon cancer cell lines SW480 and HT-29 in cell growth inhibition. In addition, SW480 cells were more sensitive to M1 and M2 than HT-29 cells in cell apoptosis. Furthermore, M1 and M2 induced cell cycle arrest both in G0-G1 and G2/M phases. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that consumption of tomato using space mutation breeding may provide benefits to inhibit growth of colon cancer cells. Therefore, tomato production using space mutation breeding may be a good candidate for development as a dietary supplement in drug therapy for colon cancer.