PMID: 

Genes Environ. 2020 ;42:13. Epub 2020 Mar 11. PMID: 32175033

Abstract Title: 

Bisphenol A enhances adipogenic signaling pathways in human mesenchymal stem cells.

Abstract: 

Background: The endocrine disruptor Bisphenol-A (BPA), has been involved in dysregulating adipose tissue development and increasing the risk of obesity. The objective of this experiment was to investigate whether treatment of human mesenchymal stem cells with BPA could modulate adipogenesis and adipocyte differentiation.Methods: In this experimental study, the human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hASCs) were cultured for 2 weeks with continuous exposure to 10 M or 10 M concentrations of BPA. The extent of triglyceride accumulation was visualized by Oil Red O staining. To evaluate BPA effect on the expression levels of key adipogenic trascripotion factors and proteins, we used Quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and ELISA.Results: The results presented a dose-dependent triglyceride accumulation in treated cells with BPA. Additionally, we observed that BPA induced transcription of the Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBPα), CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein-beta (C/EBPβ), sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP1c), Fatty acid synthase (FASN), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL); BPA suppressed the expression of Fatty acid binding protein-4 (FABP4) and Estrogen receptor-beta (ERβ).Conclusions: Our findings supported the hypothesis that BPA enhances adipogenic differentiation thereby may play a role in development of obesity and dysregulation of metabolic homoeostasis.

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PMID: 

J Family Reprod Health. 2019 Sep ;13(3):154-159. PMID: 32201490

Abstract Title: 

Level of Bisphenol A in Follicular Fluid and Serum and Oocyte Morphology in Patients Undergoing IVF Treatment.

Abstract: 

To assess the correlation between the levels of BPA in the serum and follicular fluid (FF) using oocyte morphology.In this cross-sectional research, oocyte, FF, and serum samples were obtained from a sample population consisting of 90 women undergone in vitro fertilization in Ganjavian Hospital in Dezful, Iran during October 2017-March 2018. The ELISA kit was utilized for the measurement of the BPA levels. In addition, oocyte morphology simultaneous with inverted optical microscopy.Follicular fluid BPA levels had no significant effect on MII oocytes (p≥ 0.05). However, the mean levels of degenerated oocytes and germinal vesicle (GV) were significantly higher in the women with high BPA levels in the FF (p ≤ 0.05). Moreover, the mean counts of MII oocytes and oocytes were significantly higher in the women with serum BPA levels of ≤ 50 ng/ml (p ≤ 0.05), while the mean count of GV oocytes was significantly higher in the women with serum BPA levels of ≥ 150 ng/ml (p ≤ 0.05).According to the results, higher FF BPA levels were associated with the higher counts of GVs and oocytes, while oocytes with higher maturity can be achieved in lower levels of BPA in the serum of patients.

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PMID: 

World J Mens Health. 2020 Mar 19. Epub 2020 Mar 19. PMID: 32202087

Abstract Title: 

Peanut Sprout Extracts Cultivated with Fermented Sawdust Medium Inhibits Benign Prostatic Hyperplasiaand.

Abstract: 

PURPOSE: In this study, we tested whether the resveratrol-enriched peanut sprout extracts cultivated with fermented sawdust medium (PSEFS) could suppress benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)and.MATERIALS AND METHODS: The mode of action of PSEFS was estimated by employing high-performance liquid chromatography analysis, MTT assay, cell counting, cell cycle analysis, immunoblots, and immunoprecipitation and electrophoretic mobility shift assay.efficacy of PSEFS was analyzed in BPH animal model via immunostaining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.RESULTS: We selected thepeanut sprout variety, which contains the highest level of resveratrol. The resveratrol levels in PSEFS were higher than those obtained with hydroponic technology. PSEFS treatment induced cell cycle arrest at the G1-phase by downregulating CDK4 and cyclin D1 via p21WAF1 induction in the RWPE-1 and WPMY prostate cells, thereby decreasing their proliferation. Treatment with PSEFS decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and increased JNK phosphorylation. The levels of DNA-bound transcription factors associated with proliferation (nuclear factor-κB, Sp-1, and AP-1) decreased upon PSEFS treatment in both prostate cells. Additionally, the levels of the molecular markers of BPH development (5α-reductase, androgen receptor, fibroblast growth factor, Bcl-2, and Bax) also changed by the addition of PSEFS. Finally, in a testosterone propionate-induced BPH model in rats, PSEFS administration attenuated the size, weight, and thickness of prostate tissues with no signs of death.CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that PSEFS inhibited BPH both in vitro and in vivo and might be useful in the development of a potential BPH therapy.

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PMID: 

Pharm Biol. 2020 Dec ;58(1):231-238. PMID: 32202448

Abstract Title: 

Resveratrol inhibits ACHN cells via regulation of histone acetylation.

Abstract: 

The relationship between resveratrol and histone acetylation in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has not yet been reported.To explore the functional role of resveratrol in RCC.Functional experiments were performed to determine proliferatio n of ACHN cells with treatment of resveratrol (0, 7.8125, 15.625, 31.25 and 62.5 μg/mL, for 12, 24 and 48 h of culture) or 0.1 μM SAHA. The enzyme activities of MMP-2/-9 were measured by gelatine zymography and histone acetylation by Western blot.When the cells were treated with 15.625, 31.25 and 62.5 μg/mL resveratrol, ACHN cells viability was 73.2 ± 3.5%, 61.4 ± 3.1%, 50.2 ± 4.7% for 12 h, 62.7 ± 4.5%, 52.4 ± 5.5%, 40.2 ± 3.8% for 24 h, and 60.8 ± 3.7%, 39.4 ± 5.1%, 37.6 ± 2.7% for 48 h, and the wound closure (%) of migration was increasedfrom 0.6 to 0.7, 0.85, 0.9 for 12 h and from 0.23 to 0.3, 0.48, 0.59 for 24 h. The invasion rate was 8.5 ± 0.9%, 7.4 ± 0.3% and 5.8 ± 0.6%, and cell cycle was arrested at G1 from 42.5 ± 2.9% to 55.3 ± 5.7%, 59.8 ± 3.4%, 68.7 ± 4.6%. MMP-2/-9 expression ( 

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PMID: 

Fitoterapia. 2013 Mar ;85:84-94. Epub 2013 Jan 17. PMID: 23333908

Abstract Title: 

Hibiscus sabdariffa L. in the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia: a comprehensive review of animal and human studies.

Abstract: 

The effectiveness of Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (HS) in the treatment of risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease is assessed in this review by taking a comprehensive approach to interpreting the randomized clinical trial (RCT) results in the context of the available ethnomedical, phytochemical, pharmacological, and safety and toxicity information. HS decoctions and infusions of calyxes, and on occasion leaves, are used in at least 10 countries worldwide in the treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia with no reported adverse events or side effects. HS extracts have a low degree of toxicity with a LD50 ranging from 2,000 to over 5,000mg/kg/day. There is no evidence of hepatic or renal toxicity as the result of HS extract consumption, except for possible adverse hepatic effects at high doses. There is evidence that HS acts as a diuretic, however in most cases the extract did not significantly influence electrolyte levels. Animal studies have consistently shown that consumption of HS extract reduces blood pressure in a dose dependent manner. In RCTs, the daily consumption of a tea or extract produced from HS calyxes significantly lowered systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in adults with pre to moderate essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes. In addition, HS tea was as effective at lowering blood pressure as the commonly used blood pressure medication Captropril, but less effective than Lisinopril. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglycerides were lowered in the majority of normolipidemic, hyperlipidemic, and diabetic animal models, whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was generally not affected by the consumption of HS extract. Over half of the RCTs showed that daily consumption of HS tea or extracts had favorable influence on lipid profiles including reduced total cholesterol, LDL-C, triglycerides, as well as increased HDL-C. Anthocyanins found in abundance in HS calyxes are generally considered the phytochemicals responsible for the antihypertensive and hypocholesterolemic effects, however evidence has also been provided for the role of polyphenols and hibiscus acid. A number of potential mechanisms have been proposed to explain the hypotensive and anticholesterol effects, but the most common explanation is the antioxidant effects of the anthocyanins inhibition of LDL-C oxidation, which impedes atherosclerosis, an important cardiovascular risk factor. This comprehensive body of evidence suggests that extracts of HS are promising as a treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia, however more high quality animal and human studies informed by actual therapeutic practices are needed to provide recommendations for use that have the potential for widespread public health benefit.

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PMID: 

Sci Rep. 2020 Feb 13 ;10(1):2565. Epub 2020 Feb 13. PMID: 32054943

Abstract Title: 

Bergamot Polyphenols Improve Dyslipidemia and Pathophysiological Features in a Mouse Model of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

Abstract: 

There is a need for continued drug development for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Bergamot is a plant whose fruit juice is enriched with flavonoids and phenolic compounds which improves dyslipidemia and markers of systemic inflammation in patients with Metabolic Syndrome. The aim of this study was to perform a preclinical"proof of concept"study of Bergamot polyphenolic formulation (BPF99) for the treatment of NASH. A disease reversal study was performed in the diet-induced animal model of NAFLD (DIAMOND). Groups of 8 weeks old mice were randomly assigned to receive chow diet, high fat diet with sugar in drinking water (Western diet- WD). Mice on WD were further randomized to continue on WD gavaged with vehicle or continue on WD with additional gavage of BPF99 (50 mg/kg) after 16 weeks of diet. Mice were euthanized after 11 additional weeks. The primary endpoint was resolution of NASH. Secondary endpoints included changes in individual histological features, body weight, liver enzymes, dyslipidemia, markers of oxidative stress and molecular markers of disease activity and fibrosis. The results showed that BPF99 reduced ALT (mean 71.6 vs 44.6 IU/l, p 

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PMID: 

Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 2020 Mar 11. Epub 2020 Mar 11. PMID: 32160476

Abstract Title: 

Astragaloside IV relieves gestational diabetes mellitus in genetic mice through reducing hepatic gluconeogenesis.

Abstract: 

Background The glucose intolerance developed during pregnancy is called gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). GDM has become a severe risk for the health of both mother and baby. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) is the dominant active component in Astragalus membranaceus and has been reported to have anti-inflammation and immune-regulation function. We aimed to demonstrate the function of AS-IV in the therapy of GDM and the molecular mechanism in this process. Methods C57BL/KsJ-Lepdb/+ female mice were used as GDM model. The mRNA levels of relative genes in this research were detected by qRT-PCR. The protein levels of relative genes were analyzed by western blot. Serum lipid level was measured by ILab Chemistry Analyzer 300 PLUS. Results Glucose, insulin, and lipid profile levels in GDM mice model were decreased by AS-IV treatment. AS-IV down-regulated the expression of inflammatory genes and up-regulated the expressions of antioxidant genes in GDM mice model. AS-IV treatment reduced cAMP accumulation in liver and reduced hepatic gluconeogenesis in GDM mice. Conclusion This study demonstrated that AS-IV treatment has an effective therapeutic function of GDM in micemodel through the regulation of cAMP accumulation and hepatic gluconeogenesis.

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PMID: 

Biosci Rep. 2020 Mar 11. Epub 2020 Mar 11. PMID: 32159214

Abstract Title: 

Astragalus polysaccharides inhibits ovarian cancer cell growth via microRNA-27a/FBXW7 signaling pathway.

Abstract: 

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS), a natural anti-oxidant found in Astragalus membranaceus emerging as a novel anticancer agent, exerts antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity in various cancer cell types, but its effect on ovarian cancer (OC) remains unknown. In this study, we tried to elucidate the role and mechanism of APS in ovarian cancer cells. Our results showed that APS treatment suppressed the proliferation and induced apoptosis in OC cells. Afterwards, the miRNA profiles in APS-treated cells were determined by a microarray assay, and whether APS affected OV-90 cells through regulation of miRNA was determined. Among these aberrant miRNAs, miR-27a was selected for further study as its oncogenic roles in various human cancers. Moreover, we found overexpression of miR-27a reversed the anti-proliferation and pro-apoptotic effects of APS on ovarian cancer cells. F-box and WD-40 domain protein 7 (FBXW7), a classical tumor suppressor, was found directly targeted by miR-27a and its translation was suppressed by miR-27a in ovarian cancer cells. Finally, it was also observed that knockdown of FBXW7 by si-FBXW7 reversed the tumor suppressive activity of APS in ovarian cancer cells, which is similar with the effects of miR-27a overexpression. Our findings demonstrate that APS can suppress ovarian cancer cell growth in vitro via miR-27a/FBXW7 axis, and this observation reveals the therapeutic potential of APS for treatment of OC.

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PMID: 

J Tradit Chin Med. 2019 Feb ;39(1):133-138. PMID: 32186034

Abstract Title: 

Effect of Astragalus polysaccharide in treatment of diabetes mellitus: a narrative review.

Abstract: 

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic endocrine/metabolism disease characterized by hyperglycemia arising from defects in insulin action, insulin secretion, or both. Diabetes mellitus is often complicated by visceral lesions, which can lead to serious complications and death. A variety of new agents are in development for the treatment of the disease. Astragalus polysaccharides are monomer components extracted from the Traditional Chinese Medicine, Huangqi (Radix Astragali Mongolici), which have been studied widely for treating diabetes mellitus with promising effects in recent years. This paper reviews recent advances in experimental studies on the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides in treating diabetes mellitus. The effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on the etiology and complication of diabetes mellitus including insulin resistance and secretion, diabetic neuropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic cardiomyopathy, diabetic foot, and infection complicated by diabetes mellitus are discussed.

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PMID: 

Mater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl. 2020 May ;110:110732. Epub 2020 Feb 6. PMID: 32204043

Abstract Title: 

Preparation and characterization of selenized Astragalus polysaccharide and its inhibitory effect on kidney stones.

Abstract: 

Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) was modified using the NaSeO/HNOmethod to obtain selenized APS (Se-APS) with a selenium content of 1.75 mg/g. The structure and physicochemical properties of APS and Se-APS were investigated through transmission electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, nano-zetasizer analysis, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. APS and Se-APS did not exhibit toxic effects on human kidney proximal tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells and were able to remove hydroxyl and DPPH radicals, alleviate the damage caused by calcium oxalate (CaOx) monohydrate (COM) crystals to HK-2 cells, reduce intracellular reactive oxygen species levels, and restore cell viability and morphology. Both APS and Se-APS could inhibit COM growth, induce calcium oxalate dihydrate formation, and increase the absolute zeta potential of the crystals to inhibit crystal aggregation. However, the ability of Se-APS to regulate CaOx crystals and protect the cells from COM-induced damage was better than that of APS. These results suggested that Se-APS might be a candidate drug for the treatment and prevention of kidney stones.

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