Ursane derivatives isolated from leaves of Hylocereus undatus inhibit glycation at multiple stages.

The present study was designed to evaluate the therapeutic potential of bioactive compounds from chloroform extract of the leaves of Hylocereus undatus in the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) in vitro. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of chloroform extract from Hylocereus undatus afforded two novel 12-ursen-type triterpenes, 3ß, 16α, 23-trihydroxy-urs-12- en-28-oic acid (1) and 3ß, 6ß, 19α, 22α-tetrahydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid (2), as well as four known triterpenes 2α, 3ß, 23-tetrahydroxy-urs-11-en-28-oic acid (3), 3ß-acetoxy-28-hydroxyolean-12-ene (4), 3ß, 16α-dihidroxyolean-12-ene (5) and 3ß-acetoxy-olean-12-ene (6). Our results revealed that triterpenes 1-3 were able to inhibit the formation of AGEs in all tested assays. The data indicated that the triterpenes had inhibitory activity at the múltiple stages of glycation and that there might be a high potential for decreasing protein oxidation and protein glycation that can enhance glycative stress in diabetic complications.

Petiveria alliacea Suppresses Airway Inflammation and Allergen-Specific Th2 Responses in Ovalbumin-Sensitized Murine Model of Asthma.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of metanol extract of Petiveria alliacea (PM) on airway inflflammation in a murine model of chronic asthma. METHODS: Two-month-old male BALB/c mice (n=6-8/group) were sensitized on days 0 and 14 by intraperitoneal injection of 20 µg ovalbumin (OVA). On day 25, the mice received an airway challenge with OVA (3%, w/v, in phosphate buffered saline). PM was administered orally by oral gavage to mice at doses of 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg body weight once daily from days 18 to 23. Control mice were orally administered phosphate buffered saline (PBS) to induce a model of asthma. At the end of the test, respiratory reactivity was assayed, the total cell number, interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-5, IL-13, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were determined and the levels of serum IgE, intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and eotoxin were measured. In addition, lung tissue was used to qualify the IL-4, IL-5, IL-13, TNF-α and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-ß1). Histologic examination was performed to observe inflammatory cellular infiltration. RESULTS: The administration of PM in comparison with the OVA-only treated group signifificantly attenuated the infifiltration of eosinophils and other inflflammatory cells (P<0.01). Airway resistance (RI) in the OVA-only induced group was significantly higher than that of the PBS control group (P<0.01) when methacholine was added. TNF-α, IgE, TGF-ß1 and cytokine levels IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 in the BALF decreased compared to control mice (P<0.01 or P<0.05). PM treatment also inhibited the production of chemokines, eotaxin and ICAM-1 in BALF (P<0.01), which improved lung function. Histopathological examination revealed that the sensitized treated PM groups had significant lower in inflammatory scores similar to dexamethasone treatments and the untreated group. CONCLUSION: Administration of PM could inhibit airway inflammation, regulate cytokines, chemokines and enhance pulmonary conditions in allergic murine model of asthma.

Effects of bixin in high-fat diet-fed-induced fatty liver in C57BL/6J mice

Objective To evaluate the anti-obesity activity of bixin (BIX) on C57BL/6J mice which were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and to determine the mechanism of this effect. Methods C57BL/6J mice were separately fed a high-calorie diet or a normal diet for 8 weeks, then they were treated with BIX for another 13 weeks. After administration for 13 weeks, the animals were sacrificed. Body adiposity, serum lipid level, and insulin resistance were evaluated. In addition, a histological assay of pancreas and liver, an evaluation of the inhibitory properties on pancreatic lipase, and α-amylase were conducted. Results Administration of BIX significantly decreased the body weight gain, adipocyte size, fat pad weights, hepatic lipid levels in HFD-induced obese mice. In addition, reduced liver weight exhibited decreased serum leptin levels, malic enzyme, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, hepatic fatty acid synthase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and hepatic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase activity. However, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione levels were increased in hepatic tissue. BIX also decreased lipid and carbohydrates absorption due to inhibition of pancreatic lipase and α-amylase. Long term supplementation of BIX significantly decreased hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance and glucose level. Decreased levels of hepatic steatosis and the islets of Langerhans appeared less shrunken in HFD-fed mice. Conclusions The antiobesity effect of BIX appears to be associated at least in part, to its inhibitory effect on lipids and carbohydrate digestion enzymes such as pancreatic lipase, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase. The results suggested that BIX also act as an antioxidant and may treat visceral obesity normalizing glucose levels, improving insulin resistance and increasing energy expenditure. Therefore, achiote which has a main component, the carotenoid BIX, could be a viable food for the treatment of obesity and diabetes.