PMID: 

Nutrients. 2019 Jul 15 ;11(7). Epub 2019 Jul 15. PMID: 31311123

Abstract Title: 

Western Diet-Induced Metabolic Alterations Affect Circulating Markers of Liver Function before the Development of Steatosis.

Abstract: 

Since nutrition might have a significant impact on liver function, we analyzed the early effect of Western-type diet on hepatic tissue and lipid and drug metabolism in Wistar-Kyoto rats (= 8); eight rats fed with a standard diet were used as controls. Histological analysis of liver tissue was performed, and plasma biochemical parameters were measured. Plasma concentration of six bile acids was determined by ultra-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry UHPLC-MS/MS. Hepatic gene expressions of enzymes involved in drug and lipid metabolism were assessed by means of real-time reverse transcription (qRT)-PCR. Liver of rats fed with a Western diet did not show macroscopic histological alterations, but number and diameter of lipid droplets increased, as well as DGAT1, GPAT4, SCD, FASN and SREBP2 expression. Furthermore, Western diet-fed animals showed an increase in the activation of hepatic stellate cells and macrophage number in liver tissue, as well as a significant increase in AST and bilirubin levels (

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PMID: 

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Jul 12 ;19(1):175. Epub 2019 Jul 12. PMID: 31299973

Abstract Title: 

Royal jelly-derived proteins enhance proliferation and migration of human epidermal keratinocytes in an in vitro scratch wound model.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Skin injury is inevitable in daily life. In recent years, with the increasing morbidity of diseases such as diabetes and metabolic disorders, chronic wounds have become a considerable challenge in clinical practice. Royal jelly, reported to have multifarious biological and physiological properties, has been used as a remedy for a variety of wounds since ancient times. However, the active components and mechanisms underlying the wound-healing properties of royal jelly are still largely unknown.METHODS: Water-soluble proteins of royal jelly were fractionated and investigated for the proliferative and migratory effects on human epidermal keratinocytes (HaCaT) in an in vitro wound healing model. The proteins present in bioactive fractions were characterised and quantified using Label-free protein quantification method. The potential functions of these proteins in biological systems were further analysed using bioinformatic tools.RESULTS: A protein fraction, mainly containing major royal jelly proteins 2 (MRJP2), MRJP3 and MRJP7, stimulated proliferative and migratory activities in HaCaT cells without visible cytotoxicity. It exerted the greatest effects on the growth of HaCaT cells in the first 48 h. Furthermore, when treated with this protein fraction, the closure rates of the in vitro scratch wound were significantly increased. Functional analysis indicated that MRJP2, MRJP3 and MRJP7 were associated with carbohydrate transport and metabolism.CONCLUSIONS: We fractionated the water-soluble proteins of royal jelly and identified one fraction (Fraction 2) that induced both proliferative and migratory effects on a human epidermal keratinocyte cell line. Major royal jelly proteins (MRJP2, MRJP3 and/or MRJP7) were speculated to possess potential wound-healing bioactivity. This is the first report that royal jelly may improve wound closure via MRJP-induced cellular proliferation and migration. These proteins may be valuable lead compounds for the development of novel wound healing medications. Our findings would facilitate better understanding of the wound repair mechanisms of royal jelly.

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PMID: 

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019 ;2019:7285434. Epub 2019 May 13. PMID: 31249649

Abstract Title: 

Mangiferin Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via MAPK/Nrf-2/HO-1/NF-Band.

Abstract: 

The aim of this study was to investigate the cardioprotective effect of mangiferin (MAF)and. Oxidative stress and inflammatory injury were detected in coronary artery ligation in rats and also in hypoxia-reoxygenation- (H/R-) induced H9c2 cells. MAF inhibited myocardial oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines in rats with coronary artery occlusion. The ST segment of MAF treatment groups also resumed. Triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining and pathological analysis showed that MAF could significantly reduce myocardial injury. In vitro data showed that MAF could improve hypoxia/reoxygenation- (H/R-) induced H9c2 cell activity. In addition, MAF could significantly reduce oxidative stress and inflammatory pathway protein expression in H/R-induced H9c2 cells. This study has clarified the protective effects of MAF on myocardial injury and also confirmed that oxidative stress and inflammation were involved in the myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) model.

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A favorite! Red Thai Curry – http://ow.ly/8a1o30pasdX  pic.twitter.com/dVQrKzDFsh

PMID: 

Pharmacol Res. 2019 Jul 2 ;146:104336. Epub 2019 Jul 2. PMID: 31271846

Abstract Title: 

Mangiferin: A multipotent natural product preventing neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease models.

Abstract: 

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are recognized as the universal neurodegenerative diseases, with the involvement of misfolded proteins pathology, leading to oxidative stress, glial cells activation, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cellular apoptosis. Several discoveries indicate that accumulation of pathogenic proteins, i.e. amyloidβ (Aβ), the microtubule-binding protein tau, and α-synuclein, are parallel with oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Whether the causative factors are misfolded proteins or these pathophysiological changes, leading to neurodegeneration still remain ambiguous. Importantly, directing pharmacological researches towards the prevention of AD and PD seem a promising approach to detect these complicating mechanisms, and provide new insight into therapy for AD and PD patients. Mangiferin (MGF, 2-C-β-D-glucopyranosyl-1, 3, 6, 7-tetrahydroxyxanthone), well-known as a natural product, is detached from multiple plants, including Mangifera indica L. With the structure of C-glycosyl and phenolic moiety, MGF possesses multipotent properties starting from anti-oxidant effects, to the alleviation of mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and cellular apoptosis. In particular, MGF can cross the blood-brain barrier to exert neuronal protection. Different researches implicate that MGF is able to protect the central nervous system from oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and apoptosis under in vitro and in vivo models. Additional facts support that MGF plays a role in improving the declined memory and cognition of rat models. Taken together, the neuroprotective capacity of MGF may stand out as an agent candidate for AD and PD therapy.

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PMID: 

Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2019 ;2019:4969720. Epub 2019 Jun 13. PMID: 31312222

Abstract Title: 

Effects of Royal Jelly Administration on Lipid Profile, Satiety, Inflammation, and Antioxidant Capacity in Asymptomatic Overweight Adults.

Abstract: 

Objectives: Obesity and overweight are chronic disorders of multifactorial origin that are characterized by high oxidative status and by chronic activation of macrophages in peripheral tissues. Effective therapeutic approaches to lower inflammation and oxidative stress are currently of general interest. Royal jelly (RJ) is a functional food with a broad range of pharmacological activities, mainly used by healthy individuals or borderline patients to protect themselves against disease onset. The objective of this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was to investigate the effects of RJ supplementation on metabolic profile and oxidative and inflammatory parameters in asymptomatic overweight adults, considered at an early stage of developing metabolic syndrome.Material and Methods: The experimental group (n=30) was given RJ and the control group (n=30) was provided with a placebo for eight weeks. Anthropometric, biochemical parameters, biomarkers of oxidative stress, and inflammation were assessed at baseline, after 4 and 8 weeks of the intervention, and after additional 2 weeks of follow up.Results and Conclusion: Compared with the placebo, RJ supplementation demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in total cholesterol (6.7%;=0.041) and inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (19%;=0.027), whereas significant increases were observed in anti-inflammatory marker adiponectin (34%;=0.011), endogenous antioxidants bilirubin (35%;=0.002) and uric acid (5%;=0.018), total antioxidant capacity in serum (54%;=0.005), and leptin (17%;=0.025). The present study demonstrated positive effects of RJ administration on lipid profile, satiety, inflammation, and antioxidant capacity in overweight adults. Therefore, our study supports the benefits of RJ supplementation for the improvement of human health.

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PMID: 

Food Funct. 2018 Jul 17 ;9(7):3930-3943. PMID: 29974087

Abstract Title: 

Structural characterization and immunomodulatory activity of a novel polysaccharide from Ficus carica.

Abstract: 

A novel polysaccharide (FCPW80-2) with a molecular weight of 1.21× 105 Da was first isolated from Ficus carica through hot water extraction and several chromatographic methods. The structure of FCPW80-2 was determined by chemical and instrumental analysis. The results showed that the backbone of FCPW80-2 consists of (1→5)-linked α-l-Ara, (1→3,6)-linked β-d-Man and (1→4,6)-linked β-d-Gal. The branches of FCPW80-2 consist of (1→4)-linked α-d-Glc and (1→3)-linked β-l-Rha terminated with (1→)-linked β-d-Glc. In vitro immunomodulatory activity assays revealed that FCPW80-2 could markedly promote the secretion of cytotoxic molecules (NO) and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) as well as the phagocytosis of RAW264.7 macrophages. Moreover, TLR2 was found to be a pattern recognition receptor (PRR) of FCPW80-2, and its related mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including p-ERK, p-JNK and p-p38, were rapidly upregulated by FCPW80-2 in RAW264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, FCPW80-2 could not only upregulate the expression of p-p65 and p-IκB-α, but also cause the translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) p65 from cytosol to nuclei in RAW264.7 macrophages. The results demonstrated that MAPK and NF-κB signalling pathways participatedin FCPW80-2-induced macrophage activation and FCPW80-2 could be developed as a potential immunomodulating functional food.

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Worried About Alzheimer’s? Consider These Two Things – http://ow.ly/OlK730pasdP  pic.twitter.com/V8bzLHjNFA

On the #floatplane, headed home! Kengo seems unsure…(This was a few days ago.)
#rhodesianridgeback @ Mansons Landing, British Columbia https://www.instagram.com/p/B0QvUTjJG7-/?igshid=7kxzkqzivvww …

PMID: 

BMC Complement Altern Med. 2019 Feb 11 ;19(1):44. Epub 2019 Feb 11. PMID: 30744623

Abstract Title: 

Effect of freeze-dried Carica papaya leaf juice on inflammatory cytokines production during dengue virus infection in AG129 mice.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Carica papaya leaves have been used for traditional treatment of dengue fever and have been reported to exhibit an immunomodulatory activity by affecting the level of cytokine production in vitro and in vivo. Due to the lack of adequate in vivo evidence in dengue disease model, the present study was initiated to screen and identify the cytokines affected by freeze-dried C. papaya leaf juice (FCPLJ) treatment in AG129 mice infected with DEN-2 dengue virus.METHODS: The AG129 mice were fed orally with FCPLJ for 3 consecutive days after 24 h of dengue virus inoculation. Plasma cytokines were screened by using ProcartaPlex immunoassay. The gene expression in the liver was analyzed by using RTProfiler PCR Array.RESULTS: The results showed that FCPLJ treatment has increased the plasma CCL2/MCP-1 level during peak of viremia. Gene expression study has identified 8 inflammatory cytokine genes which were downregulated in the liver of infected AG129 mice treated with FCPLJ. The downregulated inflammatory cytokine genes were CCL6/MRP-1, CCL8/MCP-2, CCL12/MCP-5, CCL17/TARC, IL1R1, IL1RN/IL1Ra, NAMPT/PBEF1 and PF4/CXCL4.CONCLUSION: The findings indicated the possible immunomodulatory role of FCPLJ during dengue virus infection in AG129 mice.

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