Extraction Optimization, Characterization and Biological Activities of Polysaccharide Extracts from Nymphaea hybrid.

In this study, polysaccharide-rich Nymphaea hybrid extracts (NHE) were obtained using the ultrasound-assisted cellulase extraction (UCE) method optimized by response surface methodology (RSM). The structural properties and thermal stability of NHE were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and thermogravimetry-derivative thermogravimetry (TG-DTG) analysis, respectively. Moreover, the bioactivities of NHE, including the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, whitening and scratch healing activities were evaluated by different in vitro assays. NHE conveyed a good ability to scavenge against the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radicals and inhibit the hyaluronidase activity. NHE can effectively protect the HaCaT cells against oxidative damage by inhibiting the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in the H2O2 stimulation assays and promoting the proliferation and migration in the scratch assays. In addition, NHE was proven to inhibit melanin production in B16 cells. Collectively, the above results seem to be the evidence needed to promote the potential of NHE to be regarded as a new functional raw material in the cosmetics or food industries.

Possible Mechanisms of Oxidative Stress-Induced Skin Cellular Senescence, Inflammation, and Cancer and the Therapeutic Potential of Plant Polyphenols.

As the greatest defense organ of the body, the skin is exposed to endogenous and external stressors that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). When the antioxidant system of the body fails to eliminate ROS, oxidative stress is initiated, which results in skin cellular senescence, inflammation, and cancer. Two main possible mechanisms underlie oxidative stress-induced skin cellular senescence, inflammation, and cancer. One mechanism is that ROS directly degrade biological macromolecules, including proteins, DNA, and lipids, that are essential for cell metabolism, survival, and genetics. Another one is that ROS mediate signaling pathways, such as MAPK, JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, NF-κB, Nrf2, and SIRT1/FOXO, affecting cytokine release and enzyme expression. As natural antioxidants, plant polyphenols are safe and exhibit a therapeutic potential. We here discuss in detail the therapeutic potential of selected polyphenolic compounds and outline relevant molecular targets. Polyphenols selected here for study according to their structural classification include curcumin, catechins, resveratrol, quercetin, ellagic acid, and procyanidins. Finally, the latest delivery of plant polyphenols to the skin (taking curcumin as an example) and the current status of clinical research are summarized, providing a theoretical foundation for future clinical research and the generation of new pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.

Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Cellulase Extraction from Nymphaea hybrid Flower and Biological Activities: Antioxidant Activity, Protective Effect against ROS Oxidative Damage in HaCaT Cells and Inhibition of Melanin Production in B16 Cells.

In this study, ultrasonic-assisted cellulase extraction (UCE) was applied to extract flavonoids and polyphenols from the Nymphaea hybrid flower. The extraction conditions were optimized using the response surface method (RSM) coupled with a Box-Behnken design. The crude extract of Nymphaea hybrid (NHE) was further purified using AB-8 macroporous resins, and the purified extract (NHEP) was characterized by FTIR and HPLC. In vitro activity determination by chemical method showed that NHEP displayed strong free radical scavenging abilities against the DPPH and ABTS radicals, good reduction power, and hyaluronidase inhibition. The cell viability by CCK-8 assays showed that NHEP had no significant cytotoxicity for B16 and HaCaT cells when the concentration was below 100 µg/mL and 120 µg/mL, respectively. NHEP with a concentration of 20-160 µg/mL can more effectively reduce the ROS level in H2O2 damaged HaCaT cells compared with 10 µg/mL of VC. The 40 µg/mL of NHEP had similar activity against intracellular melanin production in the B16 melanoma cells compared with 20 µg/mL Kojic acid. Good activities of antioxidation, whitening and protective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative damage promote the potential for NHEP as a functional raw material in the field of cosmetics and medicine.

Optimization of Fermentation Process of Pomegranate Peel and Schisandra Chinensis and the Biological Activities of Fermentation Broth: Antioxidant Activity and Protective Effect Against H2O2-induced Oxidative Damage in HaCaT Cells.

In this study, the lactobacillus fermentation process of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel and Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill (PP&SC) was optimized by using the response surface method (RSM) coupled with a Box-Behnken design. The optimum fermentation condition with the maximal yield of ellagic acid (99.49 ± 0.47 mg/g) was as follows: 1:1 (w:w) ratio of pomegranate peel to Schisandra chinensis, 1% (v:v) of strains with a 1:1 (v:v) ratio of Lactobacillus Plantarum to Streptococcus Thermophilus, a 37 °C fermentation temperature, 33 h of fermentation time, 1:20 (g:mL) of a solid-liquid ratio and 3 g/100 mL of a glucose dosage. Under these conditions, the achieved fermentation broth (FB) showed stronger free radical scavenging abilities than the water extract (WE) against the ABTS+, DPPH, OH- and O2- radicals. The cytotoxicity and the protective effect of FB on the intracellular ROS level in HaCaT cells were further detected by the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. The results showed that FB had no significant cytotoxicity toward HaCaT cells when its content was no more than 8 mg/mL. The FB with a concentration of 8 mg/mL had a good protective effect against oxidative damage, which can effectively reduce the ROS level to 125.94% ± 13.46% (p < 0.001) compared with 294.49% ± 11.54% of the control group in H2O2-damaged HaCaT cells. The outstanding antioxidant ability and protective effect against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in HaCaT cells promote the potential for the FB of PP&SC as a functional raw material of cosmetics.

Serum Cholesterol-Lowering Activity of ß-Sitosterol Laurate Is Attributed to the Reduction of Both Cholesterol Absorption and Bile Acids Reabsorption in Hamsters.

The research was performed to delineate how ß-sitosterol laurate (ß-SLE) consumption influenced serum and hepatic lipids. The results showed that 220 mg/5 mL oil/kg body weight of ß-SLE robustly reduced serum total triglyceride and cholesterol levels and the epididymal adipocyte size, and efficiently protected hepatic polyunsaturated fatty acids against lipid peroxidation through superoxide dismutase and glutathione transferase activity enhancement and malondialdehyde level reduction. Based on the changes of fecal cholesterol contents, fecal and hepatic bile acid (BAs) levels, and related protein expression, it was concluded that the mechanisms for lowering serum cholesterol by ß-SLE involved (i) the enhanced excretion of fecal cholesterol via down-regulation of intestinal Niemann-Pick C1-like 1 protein; (ii) the increased conversion from cholesterol to primary BAs via up-regulation of cholesterol-7α-hydroxylase and sterol 27-hydroxylase, which was induced by the reduced BAs reabsorption through up-regulating ileal apical sodium-dependent bile acid transporter and ileal bile acid-binding protein.

Risk Factors Associated with Poor Physical Fitness in Three- to Six-Year-Old Children in Tujia-Nationality Settlement of China.

BACKGROUND: Physical fitness has been recognized not only as an integrated predictor of the body's functional status, but also as an important marker of health outcomes. The aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with physical fitness among 3-6-year-old children within the Tujia-Nationality settlement in the years 2005, 2010, and 2014. METHODS: Demographics questionnaires and fitness assessment were performed to identify the risk factors for poor physical fitness (PPF) among 3- to 6-year-old children in the years 2005, 2010, and 2014 in the area of southwest Hubei of China. RESULTS: Of the 2128 children, 495 were classified as PPF (23.3%). In 2005, the percentage of PPF children was 21.7%, and the percentage of PPF children decreased from 29.1% in 2010 to 18.8% in 2014. Furthermore, Urban area children had a significant risk of PPF than rural area children (OR=1.299, P=0.031). Three-year-old children had 2.150-fold risk of PPF as compared to 6-year-old children. The children with less than 0.5 hours of activity time per day had 1.95-fold risk of PPF as compared to those with 1-2-hour activity time per day, respectively. Underweight and overweight/obese children had 2.74-fold and 1.67-fold risk of PPF as compared to normal weight children. Children had 1.97-fold risk of PPF when their father's schooling ceased after middle school and 1.51-fold risk of PPF when their father's schooling ceased after high school, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrated that the incidence of PPF children went up from 2005 to 2010 and then down from 2010 to 2014 within the Tujia settlement. For the children in this area, the risk factors associated with PPF included urban location, younger age, less than 1-hour activity time per day in kindergarten, underweight/overweight, low father's education level, and mother's childbearing age being less than 20 years.

Surgery on a patient with iatrogenic aortic valve leaflet perforation after repair of a congenital ventricular septal defect.

Aortic valve regurgitation caused by a leaflet perforation occurs most often with infective endocarditis involving the aortic valve. Although rare, leaflet perforation can be caused by suture-related injury during cardiac operations, such as mitral valve replacement, ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair, and repair of an ostium primum atrial septal defect. Few reports have described this form of iatrogenic aortic valve leaflet perforation. We used a pericardial patch in a successful repair of an iatrogenic perforation in an aortic valve leaflet that occurred after simple VSD repair.