P-hydroxybenzoic acid positively affect the Fusarium oxysporum to stimulate root rot in Panax notoginseng.

Background: Plant health is directly related to the change in native microbial diversity and changes in soil health have been implicated as one of the main cause of root rot. However, scarce information is present regarding allelopathic relationship of Panax notoginseng root exudates and pathogenic fungi Fusarium oxysporum in a continuous cropping system. Methods: We analyzed P. notoginseng root exudate in the planting soil for three successive years to determine phenolic acid concentration using GC-MS and HPLC followed by effect on the microbial community assembly. Antioxidant enzymes were checked in the roots to confirm possible resistance in P. notoginseng. Results: Total 29 allelochemicals in the planting soil extract was found with highest concentration (10.54 %) of p-hydroxybenzoic acid. The HPLC showing a year-by-year decrease in p-hydroxybenzoic acid content in soil of different planting years, and an increase in population of F. oxysporum. Moreover, community analysis displayed negative correlation with 2.22 mmol. L-1 of p-hydroxybenzoic acid correspond to an 18.1 % population of F. oxysporum. Furthermore, in vitro plate assay indicates that medium dose of p-hydroxybenzoic acid (2.5-5 mmol. L-1) can stimulate the growth of F. oxysporum colonies and the production of macroconidia, as well as cell wall-degrading enzymes. We found that 2-3 mmol. L-1 of p-hydroxybenzoic acid significantly increased the population of F. oxysporum. Conclusion: In conclusion, our study suggested that p-hydroxybenzoic acid have negative effect on the root system and modified the rhizosphere microbiome so that the host plant became more susceptible to root rot disease.

Influence of Statin Therapy on the Incidence of Cardiovascular Events, Cancer, and All-Cause Mortality in People Living With HIV: A Meta-Analysis.

Background: Possible influences of statin therapy on the risk of cardiovascular events, cancer, and all-cause mortality in people living with HIV (PLWH) remain unclear. We performed a meta-analysis to systematically evaluate the efficacy of statin in PLWH. Methods: Relevant cohort studies were retrieved via a search of the Medline, the Embase, and the Web of Science databases until June 14, 2021. The data were combined with a random-effects model by incorporating the between-study heterogeneity. Results: A total of 12 multivariate cohort studies with 162,252 participants were eligible for the meta-analysis and 36,253 (22.3%) of them were statin users. Pooled results showed that statin use was independently related to a reduced mortality risk in PLWH [adjusted risk ratio (RR): 0.56, 95% CI: 0.44 to 0.72, p < 0.001, I 2 = 41%]. In addition, results of the meta-analysis showed that statin use was not significantly associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events in PLWH compared to the statin non-users (RR: 1.14, 95% CI: 0.80 to 1.63, p = 0.48, I 2 = 42%). However, statin use was significantly related to a reduced risk of cancer in PLWH (RR: 0.73, 95% CI: 0.58 to 0.93, p = 0.009, I 2 = 49%). Sensitivity analyses by excluding one study at a time showed consistent results. No significant publication biases were observed. Conclusion: Statin use is associated with reduced all-cause mortality in PLWH. In addition, statin use is related to a reduced risk of cancer, although the risk of cardiovascular events seems not significantly affected.

Anti-androgenetic alopecia effect of policosanol from Chinese wax by regulating abnormal hormone levels to suppress premature hair follicle entry into the regression phase.

Previously, we have demonstrated that policosanol from Chinese wax suppressed testosterone(T)-induced alopecia in mice. However, the underlying mechanism remained to be determined. Herein, we investigated the mechanism of policosanol against androgenetic alopecia (AGA). AGA was induced in Kunming mice by subcutaneous administration of testosterone propionate for 60 d. Policosanol (0.5 %, 1% or 2%) was applied topically on the back of mice. Finasteride (2%) was applied topically as a positive control. The serum T and estradiol (E2) concentrations were determined by ELISA after 28 and 60 days of treatment. The cutaneous expression or activity of key mediators of hair growth, such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and epidermal growth factor (EGF), was measured. MTS assay was performed to evaluate cell proliferation in cultured human dermal papilla cells (DPCs) treated with dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Western blotting was performed to evaluate the protein expression of Bax, Bcl2, TGF-ß2, caspase-9, and caspase-3. We found lower T and T/E2 ratio in mice treated with policosanol than in the model group. Policosanol suppressed premature hair follicle entry into the regression phase, as shown by improving VEGF and EGF expression and ALP activity. The MTS assay showed that policosanol markedly inhibited the apoptosis of DHT-treated DPCs. Western blotting showed that policosanol significantly reduced the protein expression of TGF-ß2, cleaved caspese-9, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax, and increased that of Bcl2. The optimal effect was obtained with 12.50 g/mL policosanol. In conclusion, policosanol prevents androgenetic alopecia by regulating hormone levels and suppressing premature hair follicle entry into the regression phase.

Identification of the metabolites of piperine via hepatocyte incubation and liquid chromatography combined with diode-array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Piperine, an alkaloid isolated from Piper nigrum L., has been demonstrated to have many pharmacological effects and several health benefits. The aim of this work was to study the metabolic profiles of piperine in mouse, rat, dog and human hepatocytes. METHODS: The biotransformation was carried out by incubating piperine with hepatocytes at 37°C. After incubation for 2 h, the samples were pretreated and analyzed using liquid chromatography combined with diode-array detection and high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC/DAD-HRMS). The structures of the metabolites were assigned through a comparison of their accurate masses and product ions with those of the parent compound. RESULTS: A total of 20 metabolites were detected, and the structures were proposed. Piperine was metabolized through the following pathways: (a) oxidation to form a catechol derivative, which further underwent methylation, glucuronidation, glutathione (GSH) conjugation, and hydroxylation followed by opening of the piperidine ring; (b) hydroxylation to form a carbinolamine intermediate followed by opening of the piperidine ring and the formation of alcohol and acid derivatives; and (c) hydroxylation to form stable hydroxylated metabolites. In mouse, the formation of the catechol derivative (M12) and hydroxylation (M11) were the major metabolic pathways; in rat, the formation of the catechol derivative (M12) and glucuronidation (M9) were the main pathways; and in dog and human, the formation of the catechol derivative (M12) was the predominant pathway. No human-specific metabolite was observed. CONCLUSIONS: This study provided some new information on the metabolic profiles of piperine, which should be of great importance in the study of the pharmacology and toxicity of this compound.

Hair growth promoting effect of white wax and policosanol from white wax on the mouse model of testosterone-induced hair loss.

White wax (WW) has been traditionally used to treat hair loss in China. However there has been no reporter WW and its extract responsible for hair growth-promoting effect on androgenetic alopecia. In this paper, we examined the hair growth-promoting effects of WW and policosanol of white wax (WWP) on model animal of androgenetic alopecia and the potential target cell of WW and WWP. WW (1, 10 and 20%) and WWP (0.5, 1 and 2%) were applied topically to the backs of mice. Finasteride (2%) was applied topically as a positive control. MTS assays were performed to evaluate cell proliferation in culture human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs). The inhibition of WW and WWP for 5α- reductase were tested in Vitro. Results showed more lost hairs were clearly seen in mice treated with TP only and TP plus vehicle. Mice which received TP plus WW and WWP showed less hair loss. WW and WWP showed an outstanding hair growth-promoting activity as reflected by the follicular length, follicular density, A/T ratio, and hair bulb diameter. The optimal treatment effect was observed at 10% WW and 1% WWP, which were better than 2% finasteride treatment. MTS assay results suggested that WW and WWP remarkably increased the proliferation of HFDPCs. Inhibitor assay of 5α- reductase showed that WW and WWP inhibited significantly the conversion of testosterone to dihydrotesterone, and the IC50 values of WW and WWP were higher than that of finasteride. In Conclusion, WW and WWP could act against testosterone-induced alopecia in mice, and they promoted hair growth by inhibiting 5α-reductase activity and HFDPCs proliferation. DPCs is the target cell of WW and WWP.