Apigenin inhibits colonic inflammation and tumorigenesis by suppressing STAT3-NF-κB signaling.

Apigenin is a naturally occurring compound with anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. Here, we investigated the effects of apigeninin inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated cancer (CAC). Apigenin effectively inhibited ulcerative colitis, a type of IBD, and CAC. Apigenin decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO), inflammatory cytokine and COX-2 levels, and it attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in treated colon tissues as compared to untreated model colon tissues. Apigenin also reduced NF-κB and STAT3 activity in vitro and in vivo, thereby inhibiting inflammation and inflammation-induced carcinogenesis. Thus apigenin appears to inhibit inflammation and inflammation-induced carcinogenesisin IBD and CAC by suppressing STAT3-NF-κB signaling.

Sesquiterpene binding Gly-Leu-Ser/Lys-"co-adaptation pocket" to inhibit lung cancer cell epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Sesquiterpene lactones (SL) have a wide range of applications in anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory therapy. However, the pharmacological mechanism of such substances is not clear. In this study, parthenolide (PTL) was used as an example to explore the anti-tumor effect of natural molecules and their common mechanism. We showed that PTL inhibited the proliferation and migration by reverse EMT via the ERK2/NF-κB/Snail pathway in vivo and in vitro. Interestingly, Multiple potential targets of PTL contain a Gly-Leu-Ser/Lys-"co-adaptation pocket". This inspiring us analogies of PTL may also bind to these target proteins and play a similar function. Significantly, the Concept of co-adaptation pocket may help to increase the selectivity of drug research and development.

Sub-Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations of Rhubarb Water Extracts Inhibit Streptococcus suis Biofilm Formation.

Streptococcus suis is one of the most important swine pathogens, which can cause persistent infection by forming biofilms. In this study, sub-minimum inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) of rhubarb water extracts were found to inhibit biofilm formation. Two-component signal transduction systems (TCSs), transcriptional regulators, and DNA binding proteins were compared under two conditions: (1) cells treated with sub-MIC rhubarb water extracts and (2) untreated cells. Using an isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) strategy, we found that TCSs constituent proteins of histidine kinase and response regulator were significantly down-regulated. This down-regulation can affect the transfer of information during biofilm formation. The transcriptional regulators and DNA binding proteins that can interact with TCSs and interrupt gene transcription were also significantly altered. For these reasons, the levels of protein expressions varied in different parts of the treated vs. untreated cells. In summary, rhubarb water extracts might serve as potential inhibitor for the control of S. suis biofilm formation. The change in TCSs, transcriptional regulators, and DNA binding proteins may be important factors in S. suis biofilm inhibition.

Phenytoin silver: a new nanocompound for promoting dermal wound healing via comprehensive pharmacological action.

Phenytoin, an antiepileptic drug, has been widely used for wound healing. Inspired by previous studies, phenytoin silver (PnAg), a sparingly soluble silver nanocompound, was synthesized which exhibited good therapeutic efficacy in tissue repair with low toxicity (LD50 >5 g/kg). In vivo studies showed that PnAg could accelerate dermal wound healing and strong inflammation control in Sprague-Dawley rats (SD rat) and Bama minipigs. Due to its low solubility, PnAg led to low toxicity and blood enrichment in animals. Furthermore, PnAg could upregulate the promoter activity of Jak, Stat3, and Stat3 downstream proteins. Therefore, PnAg may serve as an effective therapeutic compound for wound healing through regulating the gp130/Jak/Stat3 signaling pathway.

[Mechanism of Cr( VI) removal from aqueous solution using biochar promoted by humic acid].

Biochar derived from excess sludge was used for hexavalent chromium [Cr( VI)] removal from water as a sorbent, and impacts of co-existing humic acid on performance of Cr( VI) sorption onto biochar were studied. The experimental results indicated that humic acid facilitated biochar adsorption of Cr(VI), which enhanced capacity of Cr sorption and shortened reaction time reaching equilibrium remarkably. The sorption kinetic process could be described with the pseudo second order model. On the condition of initial pH 4.0, biochar concentration 20 g x L(-1), initial concentration of Cr(VI) in the range of 50-800 mg x L(-1), the Langmuir model fitted adsorption isotherm better than the Freudlich model. The Langmuir Q0 values of biochar with and without existing humic acid were 10.10 mg x g(-1) and 5.56 mg x g(-1), respectively. In the pH range of 2.0-8.0, sorption capacity of all sorbents decreased with increasing initial pH value. Ascending concentration of humic acid in solution promoted sorption capacity of biochar. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis showed that hydroxyl, carboxyl, ester, aromatic C-H stretch and ring C=C on the biochar were responsible for Cr(VI) sorption. Combined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, mechanism of promoting Cr( VI) sorption onto biochar was speculated that humic acid enhanced concentration of Cr( VI) ions aggregating on the surface of biochar and benefited Cr(VI) adsorption coupled with subsequent reduction by biochar functional groups. Meanwhile, humic acid also increased amount of Cr(VI) and Cr(II) removal from aqueous solution.