Anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity potential of alliin mediated by modulating glycolipid metabolism via activating PPARγ signaling.

Garlic exhibits hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, and cardiovascular benefits. The inconsistent results of garlic preparations on adipogenesis have caused more confusion in the public and academia. The compounds responsible for the anti-adipogenesis effect of garlic remain unknown. The present study aimed to verify the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity component in garlic and explored its possible effects in metabolic syndrome. We verified the real anti-adipogenesis and anti-obesity components of garlic in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and a 10-week-high fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. In vitro, two water-soluble and four typical lipid-soluble compounds of garlic were tested for their anti-adipogenesis. Then, the water-soluble compound, alliin, and two processing methods produced garlic oils, were evaluated in vivo study. Mice received oral administration of alliin (25 mg/kg) and garlic oils (15 mg/kg) daily for 8 weeks. Serum lipids, parameters of obesity, and indicators involved in regulating glycolipid metabolism were examined. Our findings confirmed that both water-soluble and lipid-soluble organosulfur compounds of garlic contributed to garlic's anti-adipogenesis effect, in which water-soluble sulfides, especially alliin, exhibited greater potency. Alliin possessed potent effects of anti-obesity and improvement in glucose and lipid metabolism in HFD-induced obese mice. Alliin mediated these effects partly attributed to its modulation of enzymatic activities within glycolipid metabolism and activating PPARγ signaling pathway. In contrast to odorous lipid-soluble sulfides, alliin is odorless, stable, and safe, and is an ideal nutraceutical or even medicinal candidates for the treatment of metabolic diseases. Alliin could be used to standardize the quality of garlic products.

Role of toll-like receptors in the pathogenesis of COVID-19: Current and future perspectives.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic underlines a persistent threat of respiratory tract infectious diseases and warrants preparedness for a rapid response. At present, COVID-19 has had a serious social impact and imposed a heavy global burden on public health. The exact pathogenesis of COVID-19 has not been fully elucidated. Since the outbreak of COVID-19, a renewed attention has been brought to Toll-like receptors (TLRs). Available data and new findings have demonstrated that the interaction of human TLRs and SARS-CoV-2 is a vital mediator of COVID-19 immunopathogenesis. TLRs such as TLR2, 4, 7 and 8 are potentially important in viral combat and activation of immunity in patients with COVID-19. Therapeutics targeting TLRs are currently considered promising options against the pandemic. A number of TLR-targeting immunotherapeutics are now being investigated in preclinical studies and different phases of clinical trials. In addition, innovative vaccines based on TLRs under development could be a promising approach for building a new generation of vaccines to solve the current challenges. In this review, we summarize recent progress in the role of TLRs in COVID-19, focusing the new candidate drugs targeting TLRs, the current technology and potential paths forward for employing TLR agonists as vaccine adjuvants.

Non-clinical safety evaluation of salvianolic acid A: acute, 4-week intravenous toxicities and genotoxicity evaluations.

BACKGROUND: Toxicological problem associated with herbal medicine is a significant public health problem. Hence, it is necessary to elaborate on the safety of herbal medicine. Salvianolic acid A (SAA) is a major active compound isolated from Danshen, a popular herbal drug and medicinal food plant in China. The aim of the present study was to explore the toxicological profile of SAA. METHODS: The acute toxicity studies were performed in mice and Beagle dogs with single administration with SAA. A 4-week subchronic toxicity was test in dogs. SAA was intravenously administered at doses of 20, 80 and 300 mg/kg. Clinical observation, laboratory testing and necropsy and histopathological examination were performed. The genotoxic potential of SAA was evaluated by 2 types of genotoxicity tests: a reverse mutation test in bacteria and bone marrow micronucleus test in mice. RESULTS: In acute toxicities, the LD50 of SAA is 1161.2 mg/kg in mice. The minimum lethal dose (MLD) and maximal non-lethal dose (MNLD) of SAA were 682 mg/kg and 455 mg/kg in dogs, respectively. The approximate lethal dose range was 455-682 mg/kg. In the study of 4-week repeated-dose toxicity in dogs, focal necrosis in liver and renal tubular epithelial cell, the decrease in relative thymus weight, as well as abnormal changes in biochemical parameters, were observed in SAA 80 or 300 mg/kg group. The no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of SAA was 20 mg/kg. Thymus, liver and kidneys were the toxic targets. These toxic effects were transient and reversible. These results indicated that it should note examination of liver and kidney function during the administration of SAA in clinic. Furthermore, SAA had no mutagenic effect at any tested doses. CONCLUSION: These results provide new toxicological information of SAA for its clinical application and functional food consumption.

[Effects of triptolide on prostate carcinoma in mouse RM-1 cells].

OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of Triptolide (TL) on the growth of prostate carcinoma cell line, and analyze its function and mechanism in anti-prostate cancer. METHODS: MTT experiments were performed to examine the inhibiting effect of TL on the proliferation of RM-1 cells, cell morphological changes observed by acridine staining, cellular cycles and apoptosis peak analyzed by flow cytometry, the apoptosis fracture zone investigated with DNA electrophoresis, and the expressions of caspase-3 and bcl-2 mRNA in RM-1 cells examined by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The results of MTT experiments showed that after the treatment of TL (5, 10, 20, 40 and 80 ng/ml), the RM-1 cell proliferation inhibition rates were 9.8%, 25.1%, 39.2%, 48.8% and 53.2% respectively; 12, 24, 36 and 48 hours after the treatment of TL (10 and 20 ng/ml), the cell proliferation inhibition rates were 8.4%, 25.1%, 36.1%, 42.4% and 10.2%, 39.2%, 50.2% and 58.5% respectively. Acridine staining after the TL treatment revealed nucleus condensation, cell membrane invagination, irregular orange particles in the cells and apoptosis morphological changes; flow cytometry tests showed that 48 hours after the TL treatment (10, 20 ng/ml) of RM-1 cells, an obvious apoptosis peak appeared before the G1 stage; 24, 36 and 48 hours after it, DNA "trapezoid" strips could be seen; the caspase-3 mRNA expression in the TL treated cells was higher, and the bcl-2 mRNA expression was lower than in the controls. CONCLUSION: TL can decrease bcl-2 expression, increase caspase-3 expression, induce apoptosis of prostate carcinoma cells, and consequently inhibit the proliferation of RM-1 cells in mice.

[Expression of angiopoietin-1 and 2 in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck areas and normal mucosa].

OBJECTIVE: To study the significance by analyzing the expression of angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1) and Angiopoietin-2 (Ang-2) in the tissues of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck areas and in normal mucosa tissues. METHODS: The expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in 45 tumor samples and 7 normal mucosa tissues were determined by the immunohistochemical method with avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex technique. The results were scored by two independent observers and analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The positive expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 existed in the endothelial cells, epithelial cells and also in SCC cells. The positive expression rates of Ang-1 in tumor samples was 78% in the endothelial cells, and 87% in SCC cells. The positive expression rates of Ang-2 in tumor samples was 69% in the endothelial cells, and 76% in SCC cells. The scores of positive expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 were higher in endothelial cells and in SCC cells of tumor tissues than that of normal mucosa tissues (rank sum test, P < 0. 05). There was positive correlation between the expression of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in the endothelial cells and also in SCC cells (Chi-square test with contingency table, P < 0.05). Ang-1 expression in endothelial cells of tumor tissues was higher in clinical stage III-IV than that in clinical stage I-II (rank sum test, P < 0.05). Ang-2 expression in both endothelial cells and SCC cells, were higher in clinical stage II-IV than that in clinical stage I-II (rank sum test, P < 0.05). There was no statistical significance for degrees of Ang-1 and Ang-2 expression in different histological grades (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The expressions of Ang-1 and Ang-2 in advanced SCC were remarkable. Ang-1 and Ang-2 may play a critical role during the progress of SCC of head and neck areas.