Paraprobiotic derived from Bacillus velezensis GV1 improves immune response and gut microbiota composition in cyclophosphamide-treated immunosuppressed mice.

Paraprobiotics that benefit human health have the capacity to modulate innate and adaptive immune systems. In this study, we prepared the paraprobiotic from Bacillus velezensis GV1 using the heat-killing method and investigated its effects on immunity and gut microbiota in vitro and in vivo. The morphology of inactivated strain GV1 was observed using scanning electron microscopy. Treatment with GV1 promoted nitric oxide production and augmented cytokine (IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α) expression and secretion in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, the strain GV1 could alleviate cyclophosphamide monohydrate (CTX)-induced immunosuppression by reversing spleen damage and restoring the immune organ index, as well as by increasing the expression of immune-related cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IFN-γ, and IL-2) in the spleen and thymus, respectively. Furthermore, GV1 treatment dramatically healed the CTX-damaged colon and regulated gut microbiota by increasing the relative abundance of beneficial bacterial families (Lactobacillaceae, Akkermansiaceae, and Coriobacteriaceae) and decreasing that of harmful bacterial families (Desulfovibrionaceae, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Staphylococcaceae). Thus, the heat-killed GV1 can be considered a potential immunoregulatory agent for use as a functional food or immune-enhancing medicine.

Protective Effect of Willow (Salix babylonica L.) on Fish Resistance to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus.

Vibrio spp. cause vibriosis in many saltwater and freshwater aquatic species, such as fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio alginolyticus are among the few Vibrio species commonly found in infections in fish. This study aimed at investigating the chemical composition and evaluating the antibacterial activities of Salix babylonica L. The ethyl acetate (LL2) and methanolic (LL3) extracts were used to evaluate the resistance of strains as V. parahaemolyticus LBT6 and VTCC 12233, and two strains of V. alginolyticus, NG20 and ATCC 17749, and compared their efficacy with cefotaxime in order to find an alternative to antibiotics in the treatment of vibriosis. The obtained results show that the LL2 extract, with its major components identified as chrysoeriol, luteolin, and ß-sitosterol, exhibited a bacteriostatic effect against all the tested strains. In parallel, the LL3 extract, with the four major compounds luteolin-7-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, salicin, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, and ß-sitosterol-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside, showed significant bactericidal activity against these four strains; the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) varied from 2.0 to 3.0 µg/mL and from 3.5 to 5.0 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the LL3 extract could effectively increase the survival rate of the challenged fish at a dose of 5% (w/w) for the zebrafish (Danio rerio) and 3% (w/w) for the sea bass (Lates calcarifer). The LL3 extract showed a potential application of S. babylonica L. in the prevention and treatment of vibriosis in fish.

Toxicity and anticancer effects of an extract from Selaginella tamariscina on a mice model.

The toxicity and antitumour effect of the ethanol extract of Selaginella tamariscina (STE), a plant widely used in folk medicine, were examined in a mice model. In the single-dose acute toxicity test, an oral administration of 10,000 mg kg(-1) STE did not cause any lethality. The sub-acute toxicity study showed that the treatment by 250, 1000 and 3000 mg kg(-1 )day(-1) for 30 continuous days did neither alter the body weights nor the haematological parameters in BALB/c mice. The anticancer effect of STE was evaluated in BALB/c mice inoculated with Lewis lung carcinoma cells. Oral administration of STE could not prevent the tumour formation but provided strong inhibition of tumour growth.

Cucurbitane-type triterpene glycosides from the fruits of Momordica charantia.

The chemical study of Momordica charantia fruits led to the isolation of three new cucurbitane triterpene glycosides, momordicosides U, V, and W (1-3). The structures of these compounds were determined to be (19R, 23R)-5beta, 19-epoxy-19-methoxycucurbita-6,24-diene-3beta, 23-diol 3-O-beta-D-allopyranoside (1), (23R)-5beta, 19-epoxycucurbita-6,24-diene-3beta, 23-diol 3-O-beta-D-allopyranoside (2), and (19R)-5beta, 19-epoxy-19,25-dihydroxycucurbita-6,23(E)-diene-3beta-ol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3), by chemical and spectroscopic methods.

Braca Alessandra: Studies on chemical composition from the leaves of Telosma cordata

Leaves of Telosma cordata were leached with methanol several times at room temperature, after rejecting solvent at low pressure, methanol were tested cytotoxic activities and antioxidant activities. Results: methanol extracts showed in vitro cytotoxic activities against Hep-G2 (heptonema carcinoma), Fl (fibril sarcoma of uterus) and RD (rhabdosarcoma) with the ED values of 39.0%, 12.6% and 5.6%, respectively. Methanol extracts showed antioxidant activities with SC=52.3±0.9% and IC50=56.9µg/ml. Four compounds: luteine (1), 1-dotriacontanol (2), 24E-stigmasta-5,22-dien-3 B-ol (3), and daucosterol (4) were isolated from the n-hexalle extracts