PMID: 

J Int Med Res. 2007 Nov-Dec;35(6):873-7. PMID: 18035000

Abstract Title: 

Effects of Astragalus polysaccharides on chymase, angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin II in diabetic cardiomyopathy in hamsters.

Abstract: 

This study investigated the effects of Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), the main active extract from the traditional Chinese medicinal herb Astragalus membranaceus, on myocardial chymase, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin II (Ang II) in diabetic cardiomyopathic hamsters. Plasma levels of insulin, C-peptide and glycosylated serum protein (GSP), plasma and myocardial levels of Ang II, and myocardial gene expression and activity of chymase and ACE were measured after treatment with APS at a dose of 1 g/kg per day or 1 ml of normal saline per day (controls) for 10 weeks. GSP levels, myocardial Ang II levels, and myocardial gene expression and activity of chymase were significantly decreased in diabetic hamsters after treatment with APS compared with controls. These results suggest that APS can inhibit the local chymase-Ang II system in diabetic cardiomyopathy.

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Natural antiviral substances have been used for centuries to fight common infections, but interest has grown around elderberries, a purple berry long used for its cold and flu-reducing properties

You may love a cup of warm green tea in the morning, but did you know it may also set you up for a calmer, less anxious mood throughout your day?

We look at five tips suggested by the World Health Organization to look after your physical and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic

PMID: 

J Agric Food Chem. 2020 Mar 11 ;68(10):3149-3162. Epub 2020 Feb 28. PMID: 32062961

Abstract Title: 

Lam Seed Oil Augments Pentobarbital-Induced Sleeping Behaviors in Mice via GABAergic Systems.

Abstract: 

Lam. (MO), which is widely consumed as both food and herbal medicine in tropical and subtropical regions, has a wide spectrum of health benefits. Yet, whether the oil obtained from MO seeds could affect (improve) the sleep activity remains unclear. Herein, we used the locomotor activity, pentobarbital-induced sleeping, and pentetrazol-induced convulsions test to examine sedative-hypnotic effects (SHE) of MO oil (MOO) and explored the underlying mechanisms. Besides, the main components of MOO like oleic acid,β-Sitosterol, and Stigmasterol were also evaluated. The results showed that they possessed good SHE. Except for oleic acid and Stigmasterol, they could significantly elevate γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) and reduce glutamic acid (Glu) levels in the hypothalamus of mice. Moreover, SHE was blocked bypicrotoxin, flumazenil, and bicuculline, except for oleic acid, which could not be antagonized by picrotoxin. Molecular mechanisms showed that MOO and β-Sitosterol significantly upregulated the amount of protein-level expression of Glu decarboxylase-65 (GAD) andα-subunit of GABAreceptors in the hypothalamus of mice, not affecting GAD,γsubunits. These data indicated that MOO modulates sleep architectures via activation of the GABA-ergic systems.

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PMID: 

Malar J. 2020 Feb 7 ;19(1):62. Epub 2020 Feb 7. PMID: 32033605

Abstract Title: 

Moringa oleifera treatment increases Tbet expression in CD4T cells and remediates immune defects of malnutrition in Plasmodium chabaudi-infected mice.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a worldwide problem that affects millions of people yearly. In rural areas where anti-malarial drugs are not easily accessible, many people use herbal treatments, such as Moringa oleifera, to treat a variety of diseases and ailments including malaria. While Moringa is reported to possess potent and curative anti-malarial properties, previous studies have mostly been restricted to assessment of parasitaemia. In this study, the effect of Moringa on malaria immunity in a murine model was investigated.METHODS: Using a high dose (60 mg/mouse) for a short time (7 days) or low dose Moringa (30 mg/mouse) for a longer time (3 weeks), cytokine production, and Tbet expression by effector CD4T cells (Teff) were determined. Mice were also treated with Moringa after infection (curatively) or before infection (prophylactically) to determine the effect of the plant extract on parasitaemia and immunity. Given that Moringa also possess many nutritional benefits, the contribution of Moringa on malnourished malaria infected mice was determined. Malnutrition was induced by limiting access to food to only 4 h a day for 4 weeks, while control mice had unlimited access to mouse laboratory chow. All data was collected by flow cytometry and analysed using one-Way ANOVA or two tailed Student's t test.RESULTS: Moringa-treated mice had increased numbers of effector CD4T cells accompanied by an increase in Tbet expression compared to control untreated mice. Mice that were treated with Moringa curatively also exhibited increased effector CD4T cell numbers, IFN-gamma and TNF secretion. Interestingly, the mice that were treated prophylactically had significantly higher Tbet expression. In the absence of adaptive immunity, high parasitaemia was observed in the RAG1 knockout mice. The food limited mice (malnourished) had reduced numbers of CD4T cells, TNF proportions, and significantly greater Tbet expression compared to the control group. Supplementation with Moringa in the limited group slightly restored CD4T cell activation, IL-2, and IL-10 production.CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these data suggest that Moringa treatment leads to increased CD4T cell activation, Th1 differentiation and production of pro-inflammatory cytokines after malaria infection. Thus, Moringa may be immunologically useful in the treatment of malaria and malnutrition. Further investigations are required to identify the active components in Moringa.

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PMID: 

Reprod Domest Anim. 2020 Mar 7. Epub 2020 Mar 7. PMID: 32144827

Abstract Title: 

Moringa oleifera leaf flavonoids protect bovine mammary epithelial cells from hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in vitro.

Abstract: 

Bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) of high-producing dairy cows are subject to constant oxidative stress as a result of high metabolic rate and physiological adaptation to intensive farming. Moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf has been proposed to have the antioxidant potential in scavenging free radicals due to the presence of flavonoids. In this study, we investigated the cytoprotective effects of moringa leaf flavonoids in alleviating oxidative stress in BMECs in vitro. Oxidative stress was established by exposing isolated BMECs to HOfor 2 hr. Doses of moringa leaf flavonoids were evaluated by treating BMECs for 12 hr. The optimal concentrations of HOand moringa leaf flavonoids were 500 μmol/L and 1.0 mg/ml, respectively. The results showed that moringa leaf flavonoids increased the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase; and reduced malondialdehyde activity and intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the HO-induced oxidative stress system. A Hoechst33258 staining assay revealed that moringa leaf flavonoids decreased the apoptosis rate in BMECs, while leaving membrane integrity and nucleolar morphology unchanged. We concluded that moringa leaf flavonoids have the antioxidant capacity to effectively reduce oxidative stress in BMECs.

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PMID: 

Biomed Res Int. 2020 ;2020:6583603. Epub 2020 Feb 27. PMID: 32190675

Abstract Title: 

Cardiac Ameliorative Effect ofLeaf Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity in Rat Model.

Abstract: 

The consumption of a high-fat diet is linked to the development of obesity and considered a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the methanolic extract ofleaves (MEML) on the high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obesity and cardiac damage in rats. MEML, at a dose of 200 mg/kg/bw and 400 mg/kg/bw, was orally administrated to obese rats for 12 weeks..leaves were proved to be rich in nutrients and minerals. Diversity of phenolic compounds in MEML was evidenced via LC-ESI-MS analysis. The chronic administration of HFD in rats led to an increase in the body weight gain, total cholesterol, and triglycerides and reduction in the HDL-C levels. The obtained results indicated a significant increase (

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PMID: 

J Am Coll Nutr. 2020 Mar 19:1-16. Epub 2020 Mar 19. PMID: 32191153

Abstract Title: 

Aqueous Extract ofExhibit Potential Anticancer Activity and can be Used as a Possible Cancer Therapeutic Agent: A Study InvolvingandApproach.

Abstract: 

New cases of cancers are increasing at an alarming rate globally. It has been hypothesized that modern cancer treatment is associated with lots of side effects and thus evoking the need to develop safer treatment measures. Thus, the present study was undertaken to evaluate the anti-carcinogenic potential of a highly nutricious plant"(MO)and.GC-MS analysis of aqueous extract of(AEMO) was employed to identify the bioactive compound present. Anti-tumor activity of AEMO was assessed in EAC (Ehrlich acites carcinoma) induced solid tumor bearing mice by analyzing tumor weight (TW) and Tumor volume (TV). To assess AEMO induced cytotoxicity, EAC and HEp-2 (Human laryngeal carcinoma) cells were treated with AEMO (0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/ml) for both 48 h and 72 h and trypan blue, MTT and LDH released assay was done. Further, cell cycle assay and apoptosis assay was done in EAC cells to understand the mechanism of AEMO induced tumor regression.GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of quinic acid, octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid),α-tocopherol (Vitamin-E) and ɣ-sitosterol as major bioactive compounds. AEMO administration reduced the TV and TW of tumor-bearing mice and increases the life span. Side effect analysis showed that AEMO treatment did not induce significant alterations of liver and kidney function and hematologicalparameters. Further,cytotoxicity assays revealed that AEMO treatment induced dose and time-dependent toxicity in both the cell lines tested. Flow cytometric analysis confirmed significant induction of apoptotic cells by changing the mitochondrial membrane potential in EAC cell line.The results of the present study suggest that AEMO has immense potential to inhibit the tumor progression without affecting the normal physiology and functioning of the body and thus can be used as a cancer therapeutic agent.

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