Identification of Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. extract components and their protective effects against dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy.

BACKGROUND: Peucedanum japonicum Thunb. (PJ) is a vegetable widely consumed in East Asia and is known to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the effect of PJ on muscle atrophy remains elusive. PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the effect of PJ and its active compound on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy. METHODS: We performed qualitative and quantitative analysis of PJ using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. The efficacy of PJ and its main compound 4-caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) on muscle atrophy was evaluated in DEX-induced myotube atrophy and DEX-induced muscle atrophy in mouse myoblasts (C2C12) and C57BL/6 mice, in vitro and in vivo, respectively. RESULTS: The UPLC-MS/MS and HPLC data showed that the concentration of 4-CQA in PJ was 18.845 mg/g. PJ and 4-CQA treatments significantly inhibited DEX-induced myotube atrophy by decreasing protein synthesis and glucocorticoid translocation to the nucleus in C2C12 myotubes. In addition, PJ enhanced myogenesis by upregulating myogenin and myogenic differentiation 1 in C2C12 cells. PJ supplementation effectively increased muscle function and mass, downregulated atrogenes, and decreased proteasome activity in C57BL/6 mice. Additionally, PJ effectively decreased the nuclear translocation of forkhead transcription factor 3 alpha by inhibiting glucocorticoid receptor. CONCLUSION: Overall, PJ and its active compound 4-CQA alleviated skeletal muscle atrophy by inhibiting protein degradation. Hence, our findings present PJ as a potential novel pharmaceutical candidate for the treatment of muscle atrophy.

Targeting spike protein-induced TLR/NET axis by COVID-19 therapeutic NRICM102 ameliorates pulmonary embolism and fibrosis.

The global COVID-19 pandemic remains a critical public health threat, as existing vaccines and drugs appear insufficient to halt the rapid transmission. During an outbreak from May to August 2021 in Taiwan, patients with severe COVID-19 were administered NRICM102, which was a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula developed based on its predecessor NRICM101 approved for treating mild cases. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of NRICM102 in ameliorating severe COVID-19-related embolic and fibrotic pulmonary injury. NRICM102 was found to disrupt spike protein/ACE2 interaction, 3CL protease activity, reduce activation of neutrophils, monocytes and expression of cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8), chemokines (MCP-1, MIP-1, RANTES) and proinflammatory receptor (TLR4). NRICM102 also inhibited the spread of virus and progression to embolic and fibrotic pulmonary injury through reducing prothrombotic (vWF, PAI-1, NET) and fibrotic (c-Kit, SCF) factors, and reducing alveolar type I (AT1) and type II (AT2) cell apoptosis. NRICM102 may exhibit its protective capability via regulation of TLRs, JAK/STAT, PI3K/AKT, and NET signaling pathways. The study demonstrates the ability of NRICM102 to ameliorate severe COVID-19-related embolic and fibrotic pulmonary injury in vitro and in vivo and elucidates the underlying mechanisms.

Characterization of phytochemical mixtures with inflammatory modulation potential from coffee leaves processed by green and black tea processing methods.

Our previous study reported that different tea processing methods along with the age of coffee leaves affected antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactivities; however, identification of phytochemical components or associated mixtures that contribute to the anti-/pro-inflammatory activities was not determined. Herein, we report results of additional experiments designed to characterize the phytochemical composition of fractionated coffee leaf extract, derived from Japanese-style-green-tea-process-young (JGTP-Y) and black-tea-process-mature (BTP-M) leaves and related these data to anti-/pro-inflammatory activities. The aqueous fraction of BTP-M coffee leaves induced nitric oxide (NO), iNOS, COX-2, IL-6 and IL-10 production in Raw 264.7 cells. A 40% methanol fraction possessed greatest anti-inflammatory activities in IFN-γ and LPS treated Raw 264.7 cells (P < 0.05). The anti-inflammatory activities of coffee leaf fractions could not only be attributed to chlorogenic acids, mangiferin, rutin, and caffeine content, but possibly subtle interactions of mixtures of bioactive molecules.

Polyphenolic profile and antioxidant activity of meristem and leaves from "chagual" (Puya chilensis Mol.), a salad from central Chile.

The Bromeliaceae Puya chilensis Mol. is a native monocotyledonous food plant that can be found in central Chile. It is traditionally known as chagual. The tender basal part of the leaves, just starting from the meristem, are consumed as a salad. The aim of this work was to describe the phenolic content and composition of the meristem and leaves of chagual, as well as their antioxidant capacity and inhibitory activity against metabolic syndrome-associated enzymes. Samples of chagual, including two cultivated and three wild growing plants, were analyzed and compared for composition and bioactivity. From the phenolic enriched extract of the plant (PEE), 26 compounds were tentatively identified by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn, including 12 hydroxycinnamic acids and 14 flavonoids. The main compounds were identified as diferuloyl hexaric acid isomers and 5-p-Coumaroylquinic acid. The compounds were quantified in both meristem and leaves. The PEE content was up to ten times higher in the meristem than in the leaves, ranging from 0.18 to 124.08 mg/g PEE. The samples inhibited α-glucosidase, but did not show effect on α-amylase and pancreatic lipase. This is the first report on the polyphenol composition and bioactivity of the edible components of the chagual food plant.

Physicochemical characterisation of four cherry species (Prunus spp.) grown in China.

The physicochemical characteristics of four cherry species (Prunus avium, Prunus cerasus, Prunus pseudocerasus and Prunus tomentosa) were evaluated. Inter-species variability was greater than intra-species differences. Glucose and fructose were the main sugars, and malic acid was the main organic acid in all species. Combining HPLC-DAD and LC-ESI-MS/MS technologies, total 25 phenolic components were preliminarily identified. P. avium was characterised by high fruit weight, edible proportion, sugar content and low acid content, which made it suitable for fresh eating. P. cerasus was high in acid content and anthocyanins content, making it a good processing species. P. pseudocerasus had rich flavonols varieties and high proportion of hydrocinnamic acids. P. tomentosa was characterised by high total phenolics content (especially flavonols and tannins) and antioxidant activity, indicating a great developmental potential as a health fruit. The results of the present study might provide theoretical guidance for the further development and utilisation of cherries.

Coffee polyphenols improve peripheral endothelial function after glucose loading in healthy male adults.

Brewed coffee is a widely consumed beverage, and many studies have examined its effects on human health. We investigated the vascular effects of coffee polyphenols (CPPs), hypothesizing that a single ingestion of CPP during glucose loading would improve endothelial function. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a randomized acute clinical intervention study with crossover design and measured reactive hyperemia index (RHI) to assess the acute effects of a 75-g glucose load with CPP in healthy, nondiabetic adult men. Blood glucose and insulin levels were elevated after glucose loading with and without CPP, with no significant differences between treatments. The RHI did not significantly decrease after glucose loading without CPP. With CPP, however, RHI significantly (P < .05) increased over baseline after glucose loading. The difference between treatments was statistically significant (P < .05). No significant changes were observed in an oxidative stress marker after glucose loading with or without CPP. These findings suggest that a single ingestion of CPP improves peripheral endothelial function after glucose loading in healthy subjects.

New triterpenoid acyl derivatives and biological study of Manilkara zapota (L.) Van Royen fruits.

ß-amyrin-3-(3'-dimethyl) butyrate, a new natural compound was isolated from the fruits of Manilkara zapota (L.) Van Royen, in addition to lupeol-3-acetate and 4-caffeoylquinic acid (cryptochlorogenic acid). The structures of these compounds were identified using different spectral methods (IR, MS, UV, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR and 2D-NMR). The alcoholic and aqueous extracts of the unripe fruits, in addition to their aqueous homogenate exhibited antioxidant, antihyperglycemic and hypocholesterolemic activities.