The natural flavonoid galangin ameliorates dextran sulphate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis.

PMID: 

Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. 2020 Jan 13. Epub 2020 Jan 13. PMID: 31943791

Abstract Title: 

The natural flavonoid galangin ameliorates dextran sulphate sodium-induced ulcerative colitis in mice: Effect on Toll-like receptor 4, inflammation and oxidative stress.

Abstract: 

This study was carried out to investigate the potential therapeutic effect of galangin, a promising active principle of honeybee propolis, in dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in mice. We explored the possible underlying mechanisms for galangin action and the therapeutic benefit of adding galangin to the standard therapy sulphasalazine. A galangin dose of 40 mg/kg was selected based on a preliminary dose-selection study for investigation in a 4-week cyclical model of DSS-induced colitis. Mice received 3% DSS in their drinking water during the first and third weeks and were administered the treatments (40 mg/kg galangin, 100 mg/kg sulphasalazine anda combination of 20 mg/kg galangin and 50 mg/kg sulphasalazine) daily starting from the second week. Galangin significantly ameliorated DSS-induced histopathological alterations and tissue injury, down-regulated Toll-like receptor 4 expression, suppressed NF-κB p65 activation, lowered inflammatory cytokine levels and demonstrated antioxidant effects. The combination of galangin and sulphasalazine at half doses yielded comparable results to either drug alone at full dose. This study highlights galangin as a promising therapy for colitis management.

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Propolis and olive leaf extract alone and in combinations with acyclovir have antiviral efficacy against HSV-1.

PMID: 

Mikrobiyol Bul. 2020 Jan ;54(1):79-94. PMID: 32050880

Abstract Title: 

[Comparison of Antiviral Effect of Olive Leaf Extract and Propolis with Acyclovir on Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1].

Abstract: 

While acyclovir, a nucleoside analogue, is widely used for herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), emergence of drug-resistant viruses due to frequent usage of this class of medicines, and their toxic side effects require exploring novel active molecules. Despite the studies on developing synthetic molecules in medical sciences and pharmacology, herbs as a natural source of biologically-active compounds remain popular. In this in vitro study, olive leaf extract (OLE) and propolis alone or in combination with acyclovir were investigated for their antiviral efficacy in HSV-1.Toxic doses of OLE, propolis, and dimethyl sulfoxide, propolis diluent, for Hep-2 (ATCC, CCL-23) cells were determined by conventional cell culture. Using"endpoint"method, the viral dose infecting half of the cell culture (TCID50) was calculated, and viral quantity was determined with Spearman-Karber method. Antiviral effects of OLE and propolis on HSV-1 were investigated by conventional cell culture and real-time cell analysis (RTCA). Combinations of the two extracts with one another and with acyclovir were evaluated by RTCA. Active substances prepared at three different dilutions were added to tubes with HSV-1 of logTCID50: 11.5 in descending order starting from the highest non-toxic concentration, and they were left at room temperature for two different durations (one hour and three hours). The aliquots taken from the tubes were cultured in plates containing Hep-2 cells and evaluated after 72 hours. Combinations of extracts and acyclovir at concentrations at least four times lower than the lowest concentration showing antiviral efficacy against HSV-1 were cultured with Hep-2 cells in the e-plates of the xCELLigence RTCA device, measurements were obtained at 30 minute intervals, and data were recorded in real time. In the test with two different durations and at different concentrations of OLE and propolis, antiviral efficacy was observed both with one-hour and three-hour incubation at a concentration of 10μg/ ml for propolis and 1.2 mg/ml for OLE with RTCA. The duration and concentration of the greatest decrease in viral quantity were in the first one hour and 10 μg/ml for propolis, and in the first one hour and 1.2 mg/ ml for OLE. Combination of propolis and OLE with acyclovir caused no cytopathiceffects, and the combination of extracts led to delayed cytopathic effect. According to these results, propolis and OLE, alone and in combinations with acyclovir, have antiviral efficacy against HSV-1. These agents may reduce the dose and side effects of acyclovir in case of co-administration sincethey exert their effects through a different mechanism than acyclovir,possibly through direct virucidal activity, inhibition of virus internalization or viral inhibition in early stages of replication (inhibition of adsorption/binding of viral particles to the cell). These extracts that do not require conversion to active form have the potential to reduce infectivity in oral lesions, prevent spread, and be used in the topical treatment of acyclovir-resistant HSV infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. However, in vivo studies should be conducted to determine their medicinal properties and potential toxicities. These results should be supported by further comprehensive studies and the efficacy against other viruses should also be investigated.

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Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of ethanolic propolis extract on C6 glioma cells.

PMID: 

Environ Toxicol. 2020 Feb 15. Epub 2020 Feb 15. PMID: 32061154

Abstract Title: 

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of ethanolic propolis extract on C6 glioma cells.

Abstract: 

Propolis is a natural resinous substance obtained from beehives, and emerging evidence supports that it has antitumor, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities. The aim of the study is to examine the cytotoxic, antioxidant, and apoptotic features of ethanolic propolis extract (PE) on C6 glioma cells. The cells were treated with ethanolic PE at various concentrations for 24 hours, after which the total antioxidant status (TAS) and total oxidant status; malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine, and glutathione (GSH) levels; Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn-SOD) activity; and apoptotic markers were measured. Ethanolic PE at 100, 250, and 500 μg/mL concentrations showed optimal activity on C6 glioma cells. TAS and GSH levels were significantly increased in C6 glioma cells treated with 100 and 500 μg/mL PE compared to control cells (P 

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Effect of topical administration of propolis in chronic periodontitis.

PMID: 

Odontology. 2020 Feb 28. Epub 2020 Feb 28. PMID: 32112365

Abstract Title: 

Effect of topical administration of propolis in chronic periodontitis.

Abstract: 

To investigate the effect of topical administration of propolis (a honeybee product) or curry leaf (an herbal product) into the periodontal pockets of periodontitis patients, a double-blind controlled clinical trial was conducted with 24 subjects including one drop-out diagnosed with moderate-to-advanced chronic periodontitis who completed initial periodontal therapy. They were randomly allocated to the following treatments: placebo, propolis, curry leaf, and minocycline. Gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) samples collected before and after the intervention were analyzed to quantify the number of total bacteria and number of six major periodontopathic bacteria by real-time PCR. Periodontitis-related clinical parameters were also analyzed. Among the six propolis-treated patients whose GCF samples were P. gingivalis-positive, three patients converted to be P. gingivalis-negative after the intervention. The minocycline-treated group exhibited a decrease in probing pocket depth (PPD) with statistically significant improvement, but not gain of clinical attachment level (CAL). Both PPD and CAL have been improved in the propolis-treated group at a statistically significant level, but not the curry leaf-treated group. In conclusion, treatment with propolis significantly improved both PPD and CAL, together with a tendency towards reduced P. gingivalis burden in GCF. It is likely that a propolis-based therapy becomes an alternative treatment option for chronic periodontitis during supportive periodontal therapy.

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Propolis exhibited strong antihyperglycemic, antihyperlipidemic, and hepato-renal protective effects in diabetes.

PMID: 

Iran J Basic Med Sci. 2019 Nov ;22(11):1331-1339. PMID: 32128099

Abstract Title: 

Potential therapeutic effect of Moroccan propolis in hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and hepatorenal dysfunction in diabetic rats.

Abstract: 

Objectives: The effect of propolis collected in Morocco on blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzymes, and kidney function was investigated in control and diabetic rats.Materials and Methods: Antioxidant activity of propolis was evaluated with the use of DPPH, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS•+), ferric reducing power and total antioxidant activity assay. To study its effect in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes, the rats were divided into eight groups; four control and four diabetics. The animals received distilled water, glibenclamide, or propolis extract, 50 mg/kg/BW) or 100 mg/kg/b.wt, daily for 15 days. Blood glucose, triglyceride, lactic acid dehydrogenase, liver enzymes, creatinine, blood urea, lipid profile, and body weight were measured on day 15 after commencement of the treatment.Results: Propolis has a strong antioxidant activity and high total flavonoids and polyphenols content. Glibenclamide and propolis have no significant effect on lipid parameters, and renal and hepatic function in non-diabetic rats. However, propolis or glibenclamide caused a significant lowering of blood glucose after a single administration and at day 15 after daily administration in diabetic rats (

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The Cuban propolis component nemorosone inhibits proliferation and metastatic properties of human colorectal cancer cells.

PMID: 

Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Mar 6 ;21(5). Epub 2020 Mar 6. PMID: 32155848

Abstract Title: 

The Cuban Propolis Component Nemorosone Inhibits Proliferation and Metastatic Properties of Human Colorectal Cancer Cells.

Abstract: 

The majority of deaths related to colorectal cancer (CRC) are associated with the metastatic process. Alternative therapeutic strategies, such as traditional folk remedies, deserve attention for their potential ability to attenuate the invasiveness of CRC cells. The aim of this study is to investigate the biological activity of brown Cuban propolis (CP) and its main component nemorosone (NEM) and to describe the molecular mechanism(s) by which they inhibit proliferation and metastatic potential of 2 CRC cell lines, i.e., HT-29 and LoVo. Our results show that CP and NEM significantly decreased cell viability and inhibited clonogenic capacity of CRC cells in a dose and time-dependent manner, by arresting the cell cycle in the G0/G1 phase and inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, CP and NEM downregulatedgene expression and upregulated the expression of the proapoptotic genesand, with a consequent activation of caspase 3/7. They also attenuated cell migration and invasion by inhibiting MMP9 activity, increasing E-cadherin and decreasingβ-catenin and vimentin expression, proteins involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In conclusion NEM, besides displaying antiproliferative activity on CRC cells, is able to decrease their metastatic potential by modulating EMT-related molecules. These finding provide new insight about the mechanism(s) of the antitumoral properties of CP, due to NEM content.

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Ethanol extract of propolis prevents high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and obesity in association with modulation of gut microbiota.

PMID: 

Food Res Int. 2020 Apr ;130:108939. Epub 2019 Dec 24. PMID: 32156386

Abstract Title: 

Ethanol extract of propolis prevents high-fat diet-induced insulin resistance and obesity in association with modulation of gut microbiota in mice.

Abstract: 

Propolis has beneficial effects anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes and anti-obesity in human or murine models, but its mechanism has not been fully elucidated. This study was to investigate the effects of ethanol extract of propolis (EEP) on the gut microbiota, and to analyze the associations between these alterations of gut microbiota and insulin resistance and obesity in high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed with chow diet, high-fat diet, and high-fat diet supplemented with 1% EEP or 2%EEP. EEP supplementation reduced HFD-induced weight gain and liver fat accumulation, proinflammatory cytokines and insulin resistance, and improved glucose tolerance and lipid profile. Meanwhile, EEP supplementation in HFD-fed mice increased anti-obesity and anti-inflammatory bacteria such as genera Roseburia and Intestinimonas and species Parabacteroides goldsteinii and Parabacteroides distasonis, and reduced pro-inflammatory bacteria such as genera Faecalibaculum and Prevotella and species Bacteroides vulgatus. These dominant bacterial taxa altered by EEP were significantly associated with the metabolic parameters of insulin resistance and obesityin HFD-fed mice. The results in this study indicated that EEP reduced HFD-induced obesity and insulin resistant, which may be mediated by modulating the composition and function of gut microbiota.

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Quercetin suppresses migration and invasion by targeting miR-146a/GATA6 axis in fibroblast-like synoviocytes of rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID: 

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2020 Mar 26:1-7. Epub 2020 Mar 26. PMID: 32216502

Abstract Title: 

Quercetin suppresses migration and invasion by targeting miR-146a/GATA6 axis in fibroblast-like synoviocytes of rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract: 

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systematic autoimmune disease which may lead to joint dysfunction and disability. Aberrant migration and invasion of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) is one of the most predominant etiopathogenesis of RA. Quercetin is a bioflavonoid which is implicated in the development of RA, yet its role in regulating the migration and invasion of FLSs is still elusive. The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of quercetin treatment on migration and invasion of FLSs and the underlying mechanism.Capacity of migration and invasion of FLSs were assessed using transwell assay. Immunofluorescence assay was used to determine the expression of F-actin. The RNA levels of miR-146a and GATA transcription factor 6 (GATA6) were measured using quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot was used to examine the protein level of GATA6. The correlation between miR-146a and GATA6 was validated using luciferase reporter assay.Transwell assay revealed that the migration and invasion of FLSs were significantly inhibited after quercetin treatment, which was also proved by decreased expression of F-actin. The RNA level of miR-146a was decreased in RA tissues and was negatively related to the expression of GATA transcription factor 6 (GATA6). Quercetin treatment elevated the RNA level of miR-146a, but suppressed the expression of GATA6 in FLSs. Further luciferase reporter assay validated that GATA6 is a downstream target of miR-146a. Besides, miR-146a inhibited the migration and invasion of FLSs, and further GATA6 over-expression abrogated the miR-146a-induced inhibition. In addition, specific anti-miR-146a inhibitor abolished quercetin-mediated suppression of migration and invasion of FLSs.Our study suggested that quercetin suppresses the migration and invasion of FLSs via regulating the miR-146a/GATA6 axis.

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The New Biophysics: A Deep Dive into the Quantum Rabbit Hole of Esoteric Physiology

  

What if everything you were told about how the cells of your body get their energy was wrong? What if the body could tap the relatively limitless resources of the Sun directly? Even more astounding, what if the body could tap the infinite energy density of the quantum vacuum and even turn that energy into matter, as well as transform elements into one another? Welcome to the electrifying implications of the New Biophysics. 

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