Effects of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) on animals: state of knowledge and open questions.

6-methoxybenzoxazolinone (6-MBOA) is a secondary plant metabolite predominantly found in monocotyledonous plants, especially Gramineae. In damaged tissue, 2-ß-D-glucopyranosyloxy-4-hydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA-Glc) is hydrolyzed to DIMBOA, which spontaneously decomposes into 6-MBOA. It is commonly detected in plants consumed by voles and livestock and can also be present in cereal-based products. Discovered in 1955, this compound is renowned for its ability to trigger animal reproduction. However, there is a lack of research on its functional and mechanistic properties, leaving much of their potential unexplored. This review aimed to comprehensively summarize the effects of 6-MBOA on animal reproduction and human health, as well as its defensive role against herbivores. Studies have shown that 6-MBOA effectively inhibits the digestion, development, growth, and reproduction of insects. 6-MBOA may act as a partial agonist of melatonin and exert a regulatory role in mammalian reproduction, resulting in either promoting or inhibiting effects. 6-MBOA has been theorized to possess anti-tumor, anti-AIDS, anti-anxiety, and weight-loss effects in humans. However, insufficient attention has been paid to its defense properties against mammalian herbivores, and the mechanisms underlying its effects on mammalian reproduction remain unclear. In addition, research on its impact on human health is still in its preliminary stages. The review emphasizes the need for further systematic and comprehensive research on 6-MBOA to fully understand its diverse functions. Elucidating the effects of 6-MBOA on animal reproduction, adaptation, and human health would advance our understanding of plant-herbivore coevolution and the influence of environmental factors on animal population dynamics. Furthermore, this knowledge could potentially promote its application in human health and animal husbandry.

Brefeldin A from the Deep-Sea-Derived Fungus Fusarium sp. Targets on RIPK3 to Inhibit TNFα-Induced Necroptosis.

From the deep-sea-derived Fusarium sp. ZEN-48, four known compounds were obtained. Their structures were established by extensive analyses of the NMR, HR-ESI-MS, and the X-ray crystallographic data as brefeldin A (BFA, 1), brevianamide F (2), N-acetyltryptamine (3), and (+)-diaporthin (4). Although BFA was extensively investigated for its potent bioactivities, its role on TNFα-induced necroptosis was incompletely understood. In this study, BFA showed significant inhibition on TNFα-induced necroptosis by disrupting the necrosome formation and suppressing the phosphorylation of RIPK3 and MLKL (IC50 =0.5 µM). While, it had no effect on TNFα-induced NF-κB/MAPKs activation and apoptosis. The finding raised significant implications of BFA for necroptosis-related inflammatory disease therapy and new drug development from marine fungi.

Endoplasmic reticulum targeted fluorescent probe for real-time monitoring the viscosity changes induced by calcium homeostasis disruption.

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) acts as the major storage site for calcium ions, which are messenger ions for intracellular signaling. Disruption of calcium ion homeostasis can significantly affect the viscosity, polarity and pH of the ER. However, it is still unclear the relationship between the viscosity changes in ER and the imbalance of calcium ion homeostasis. Herein, we developed a novel fluorescent probe, named TPA, for monitoring viscosity changes that specifically targets the endoplasmic reticulum rather than mitochondria or lysosomes. TPA probe displayed good stability, as well as high responsiveness and selectivity to viscosity. The fluorescence intensity of TPA was significantly enhanced with the increased concentration or incubation time of the stimulating agents(i.e., tunicamycin), showing high responsiveness to the viscosity changes in ER. Furthermore, the TPA probe successfully demonstrated that an increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration leads to an increase in ER viscosity, whereas a decrease in calcium ion concentration leads to a decrease viscosity in ER. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that TPA probe successfully detected the viscosity changes in ER, especially the effects of calcium ion homeostasis disruption on ER. Overall, the TPA probe represents an efficient method for studying the relationship between calcium ion homeostasis and ER viscosity.

Synergistic effects of CuS/TiO2 heterointerfaces: Enhanced cathodic CO2 reduction and anodic CH3OH oxidation for paired electrosynthesis of formate.

The electrochemical reduction of carbon dioxide into energy-carrying compounds or value-added chemicals is of great significance for diminishing the greenhouse effect. However, it is still imperative to replace the less-value anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) to improve the technical economy. Herein, we firstly reported a bifunctional CuS/TiO2 catalyst for both anodic methanol oxidation reaction (MOR) and cathodic carbon dioxide reduction (CO2R). The in-built abundant CuS/TiO2 heterointerfaces are found to boost the CO2R and MOR to produce formate. Based on the unique bifunctionality of CuS/TiO2, a paired electrosynthesis of formate was performed with a total Faradaic efficiency (FE) of about 170 %, in which the cathodic CO2R achieved a formate FE of about 70 %, and the anodic MOR exhibited an almost 100 % formate FE.

Retraction note to: Association between triglyceride-glucose index and colorectal polyps: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

[This retracts the article on p. 55 in vol. 16, PMID: 38464818.].

Association between triglyceride-glucose index and colorectal polyps: A retrospective cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal polyps (CPs) are frequently occurring abnormal growths in the colorectum, and are a primary precursor of colorectal cancer (CRC). The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is a novel marker that assesses metabolic health and insulin resistance, and has been linked to gastrointestinal cancers. AIM: To investigate the potential association between the TyG index and CPs, as the relation between them has not been documented. METHODS: A total of 2537 persons undergoing a routine health physical examination and colonoscopy at The First People's Hospital of Kunshan, Jiangsu Province, China, between January 2020 and December 2022 were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. After excluding individuals who did not meet the eligibility criteria, descriptive statistics were used to compare characteristics between patients with and without CPs. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between the TyG index and the prevalence of CPs. The TyG index was calculated using the following formula: Ln [triglyceride (mg/dL) × glucose (mg/dL)/2]. The presence and types of CPs was determined based on data from colonoscopy reports and pathology reports. RESULTS: A nonlinear relation between the TyG index and the prevalence of CPs was identified, and exhibited a curvilinear pattern with a cut-off point of 2.31. A significant association was observed before the turning point, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 1.70 (1.40, 2.06), P < 0.0001. However, the association between the TyG index and CPs was not significant after the cut-off point, with an odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of 0.57 (0.27, 1.23), P = 0.1521. CONCLUSION: Our study revealed a curvilinear association between the TyG index and CPs in Chinese individuals, suggesting its potential utility in developing colonoscopy screening strategies for preventing CRC.

Anti-diabetic properties of Momordica charantia L. polysaccharide in alloxan-induced diabetic mice.

A water-soluble polysaccharide (MCP) was isolated from the fruits of Momordica charantia L., and the hypoglycemic effects of MCP were investigated in both normal healthy and alloxan-induced diabetic mice. MCP was orally administered once a day after 3 days of alloxan-induction at 100, 200 and 300mg/kg body weight for 28 day. Results showed that fasting blood glucose level (BGL) was significantly decreased, whereas the glucose tolerance was marked improvement in alloxan-induced diabetic mice, and loss in body weight was also prevented in diabetic mice compared to the diabetic control group. The dosage of 300mg/kg body weight exhibited the best effects. In addition, MCP did not exhibit any toxic symptoms in the limited toxicity evaluation in mice. The results suggest that MCP possess significantly dose-dependent anti-diabetic activity on alloxan-induced diabetic mice. Hence, MCP can be incorporated as a supplement in health-care food, drugs and/or combined with other hypoglycemic drugs.

[Effects of carotenoids extracts from Potamogeton crispus on apoptosis of human hepatoma cell line QGY-7703 in vitro].

Human hepatoma cell line QGY-7703 was treated with the medium containing 10, 20, 40 and 60 micromol/L carotenoids extracts from Potamogoton crispus L. (CEPC) for 48 h, 96 h and 144 h, respectively. The inhibition rates to hepatoma cells were determined by MTT assay. The results showed the average inhibition rates of the three treatments varied from 0.14%-23.07%, 39.59%-70.61% and 71.65%-87.01%, respectively. After hepatoma cells were treated with the medium containing 10, 20 and 40 micromol/L of CEPC for 24 h, 48 h and 72 h, respectively, many typical morphology features of apoptotic cells were observed by Laser Scanning Confocal Microscope (LSCM), such as the distinct decrease in number and volume of cells, the shrinkage and deformation of cells, the shape of cell nucleuses appearing like crescent even piece, the decrease in area of yellow DNA in cell nuclei. The percentage of hepatoma cells in every phase of cell cycle was analyzed by Flow Cytometer (FCM) after being treated with 10 micromol/L and 20 micromol/L CEPC for 48 h. Compared with the control group, the cells in G0/G1 phase increased 23.8% (P<0.01) and 35.6% (P<0.01) respectively, in S phase decreased relevantly, while the cells in G2/M phase had no significant change. The Ca2+ concentration (fluorescence intensity) in cytoplasm of hepatoma cells was determined by LSCM after being treated with 20 micromol/L CEPC for 48 h. The Ca2+ concentration increased significantly (P<0.01) and was 1.5 times that of control group. These results demonstrated that the CEPC inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma cells QGY-7703 significantly in a dose and time-dependent manner in vitro. The hepatoma cells treated with CEPC were evidently arrested at G0/G1 phase in the cell cycle. The concentration of Ca2+ in test group cells cytoplasm increased significantly, it might be the important cause that CEPC induced the apoptosis of hepatoma cells QGY-7703. This paper provided scientific basis for further studying and developing the function and value of carotenoids in Potamogoton crispus L.