Isolation of a gastroprotective arabinoxylan from sugarcane bagasse.

After industrial processing, one-third of sugarcane culms is converted into residual bagasse. The xylan-rich hemicellulose components of the bagasse were extracted with hot aqueous alkali (AX-CRUDE). Approximately 82% of the extracted hemicelluloses was precipitated with ethanol (AX-PET). Both AX-CRUDE and AX-PET contained an arabinoxylan as confirmed by 13C NMR and methylation analysis. Fraction AX-PET was fed to female Wistar rats with ethanol-induced gastric lesions. Oral administrations of 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg reduced the gastric lesion area by over 50%, and replenished ethanol-induced depletion of glutathione. The polysaccharide also increased mucus production by over 70%, indicating its cytoprotective action on experimentally induced gastric ulcers. These findings are significant, since a biologically active compound can be extracted in high yields from an abundant, readily available residue.

Host-mineral trioxide aggregate inflammatory molecular signaling and biomineralization ability.

INTRODUCTION: The biological processes underlying the ability of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) to promote hard-tissue deposition and wound healing remain unclear. To further study these processes, specific signaling molecules related to the inflammatory response and the biomineralization process were analyzed to assess host-MTA interactions in vivo. METHODS: For cytokine level quantification and immunohistochemical analysis, human dentin tubes were filled with ProRoot MTA (Dentsply, Tulsa Dental, OK) or kept empty and were implanted in subcutaneous tissues in the backs of mice. Dentin tubes were retrieved and subsequently observed using a scanning electron microscope. RESULTS: MTA induced a time-dependent proinflammatory cytokine up-regulation up to 3 days. Immunohistochemical analyses showed an up-regulated expression of myeloperoxidase, nuclear factor-kappa B, activating protein-1, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and vascular endothelial growth factor on day 1. Scanning electron microscopic examination revealed the presence of apatite-like clusters on collagen fibrils over the surface of tubes containing MTA. With the increase in time after implantation, a more extensive mineralization showing a compact layer of apatite was observed. CONCLUSION: MTA induced a proinflammatory and pro-wound healing environment. The biomineralization process occurred simultaneously at the biomaterial-dentin-tissue interface, with the acute inflammatory response. This promoted the integration of the biomaterial into the environment.