Regulatory/modulatory effect of prune essence concentrate on intestinal function and blood lipids.

CONTEXT: Prunus domestica Linn (Rosaceae) has been considered a functional food, owing to its various pharmacological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic and anticancer. OBJECTIVE: This placebo-controlled, randomized study was framed to check the beneficial activity of prune essence concentrates (PEC) in corroboration with intestinal function and lipid profile in mildly hypercholesterolemic subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty healthy mild hypercholesterolemic subjects were randomly chosen and segregated into three groups as placebo (consume 50 mL of simulated prune drink), PEC I (consume 50 mL of PEC/day) and PEC II (consume 100 mL of PEC/day) for 4 weeks with 2 weeks of follow-up without PEC consumption. RESULTS: Intake of PEC (I and II) for 4 weeks substantially ameliorated (p < 0.05) the colony number of Bifidobacterium spp. (1.18- and 1.19-fold) and Lactobacillus spp. (1.07- and 1.16-fold), but markedly lowered (p < 0.05) the colony number of Clostridium perfringens (5.97 and 8.35%) and Escherichia coli (6.25 and 9.38%). Meanwhile, the total cholesterol (TC; 5.90 and 6.99%) levels and LDL-c (6.68 and 6.53%) were significantly reduced (p < 0.05), but no change in other lipid parameters. Whereas, the antioxidant capacity was also concomitantly elevated (p < 0.05) upon administration with PEC. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Overall, the results suggest that the use of PEC may positively regulate the intestinal microflora and thereby effectively lower the TC levels and thus act as a hypocholesterolemic agent.

Second messengers mediating the proliferation and collagen synthesis of tenocytes induced by low-level laser irradiation.

For decades, low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has widespread applications in tendon-related injuries. Although the therapeutic effect of LLLT could be explained by photostimulation of target tissue and cells, how tenocytes sense photonic energy and convert them into cascades of cellular and molecular events is still not well understood. This study was designed to elucidate the effects of LLLT on cell proliferation and collagen synthesis by examining the associated second messengers including ATP, Ca(2+), and nitric oxide using rat Achilles tenocytes. Moreover, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) related to cell proliferation and matrix metabolism were also studied. The results showed that 904 nm GaAs laser of 1 J/cm(2) could significantly increase the MTT activity and collagen synthesis of tenocytes. Second messengers including ATP and intracellular Ca2+ were increased after laser treatment. Quantitative PCR analysis of tenocytes treated with laser revealed up-regulated expression of PCNA, type I collagen, and TGF-ß1. Besides, laser-induced TGF-ß1 expression was significantly inhibited by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) specific inhibitor (PD98059). The findings suggested that LLLT stimulated ATP production and increased intracellular calcium concentration. Directly or indirectly via production of TGF-ß1, these second messengers mediated the proliferation of tenocytes and synthesis of collagen.