PMID: 

Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 Oct 17 ;10:CD004882. Epub 2012 Oct 17. PMID: 23076910

Abstract Title: 

Chinese herbs combined with Western medicine for severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an acute respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus, which first appeared in Foshan City, China on 22 December 2002. Chinese herbs were used in its treatment.OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the possible effectiveness and safety of Chinese herbs combined with Western medicines versus Western medicines alone for SARS patients.SEARCH METHODS: We searched CENTRAL 2012, Issue 3, MEDLINE (1966 to February Week 4, 2012), EMBASE (1990 to March 2012) and the Chinese Biomedical Literature (Issue 3, 2012).SELECTION CRITERIA: Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs of Chinese herbs combined with Western medicines versus Western medicines alone for patients diagnosed with SARS.DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors (XL, MZ) independently extracted trial data. We extracted dichotomous and continuous data with 95% confidence intervals (CI). For dichotomous data, we used risk ratio (RR). For continuous data, we calculated mean differences (MD). We calculated overall results based on the random-effects model if heterogeneity existed between studies. If no heterogeneity was detected between the studies, we used the fixed-effect model. We used the Z score and the Chi(2) test with significance being set at P

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PMID: 

Mol Biol Rep. 2014 Mar ;41(3):1703-11. Epub 2014 Jan 12. PMID: 24413991

Abstract Title: 

The effects of Nigella sativa (Ns), Anthemis hyalina (Ah) and Citrus sinensis (Cs) extracts on the replication of coronavirus and the expression of TRP genes family.

Abstract: 

Extracts of Anthemis hyalina (Ah), Nigella sativa (Ns) and peels of Citrus sinensis (Cs) have been used as folk medicine to fight antimicrobial diseases. To evaluate the effect of extracts of Ah, Ns and Cs on the replication of coronavirus (CoV) and on the expression of TRP genes during coronavirus infection, HeLa-CEACAM1a (HeLa-epithelial carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1a) cells were inoculated with MHV-A59 (mouse hepatitis virus-A59) at moi of 30. 1/50 dilution of the extracts was found to be the safe active dose. ELISA kits were used to detect the human IL-8 levels. Total RNA was isolated from the infected cells and cDNA was synthesized. Fluidigm Dynamic Array nanofluidic chip 96.96 was used to analyze the mRNA expression of 21 TRP genes and two control genes. Data was analyzed using the BioMark digital array software. Determinations of relative gene expression values were carried out by using the 2(-∆∆Ct) method (normalized threshold cycle (Ct) value of sample minus normalized Ct value of control). TCID50/ml (tissue culture infectious dose that will produce cytopathic effect in 50% of the inoculated tissue culture cells) was found for treatments to determine the viral loads. The inflammatory cytokine IL-8 level was found to increase for both 24 and 48 h time points following Ns extract treatment. TRPA1, TRPC4, TRPM6, TRPM7, TRPM8 and TRPV4 were the genes which expression levels changed significantly after Ah, Ns or Cs extract treatments. The virus load decreased when any of the Ah, Nsor Cs extracts was added to the CoV infected cells with Ah extract treatment leading to undetectable virus load for both 6 and 8 hpi. Although all the extract treatments had an effect on IL-8 secretion, TRP gene expression and virus load after CoV infection, it was the Ah extract treatment that showed the biggest difference in virus load. Therefore Ah extract is the best candidate in our hands that contains potential treatment molecule(s).

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PMID: 

Am J Chin Med. 2006 ;34(6):927-35. PMID: 17163582

Abstract Title: 

The lesson of supplementary treatment with Chinese medicine on severe laboratory-confirmed SARS patients.

Abstract: 

Chinese medicine (CM) has been used to control infectious diseases for thousands of years. In 2003 outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) occurred in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan. In view of the possible beneficial effect of CM on SARS, we conducted this study to examine whether CM is of any benefit as a supplementary treatment of SARS. Four severe laboratory-confirmed SARS patients received routine western-medicine treatment plus different supplementary treatment: CM A, CM B and CM C (placebo control). We reported the course of the cases in terms of changes in chest radiographic scores. Case 1 treated as a placebo control passed away on the 9th day after onset of disease. The other three cases treated with CM A or CM B survived. The initial findings seemed to indicate a favorable effect of CM on management of SARS. The findings need to be verified with a larger sample. Using CM as a supplementary treatment of severe SARS seems to indicate that natural herbal medicine can be used against avian influenza. Hence, such related experience or clinical trials should be taken into consideration when facing the possible outbreak of avian influenza in the future.

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PMID: 

Toxicol Rep. 2020 ;7:142-148. Epub 2020 Jan 15. PMID: 31956515

Abstract Title: 

Protective effect of Yemeni green coffee powder against the oxidative stress induced by Ochratoxin A.

Abstract: 

The current study focusses on knowing the antioxidant effects of green Yemeni coffee powder on reducing the oxidative stress that was induced by Ochratoxin A in kidney, liver and brain of rats. The grouping of female albino Wistar rats was into 5 groups (5 rats/group). Rats of Group 1 designated Vehicle Control (only water), Group2 (10 mg/kg Ochratoxin A); Group 3 designated Low dose (2000 mg/kg Coffee+10 mg/kg Ochratoxin A); Group 4 designated High dose (4000 mg/kg Coffee+10 mg/kg Ochratoxin A); Group 5 designated Coffee Control (1000 mg/kg Coffee) and orally administered with the above test materials repeatedly every day for 28 days. On termination of the study, liver, brain and kidney tissues were collected after dissection, oxidative stress biomarkers (Levels of Lipid Peroxidation and Reduced Glutathione, activities Superoxide Dismutase, Catalase and Glutathione Reductase enzymes) and histopathological studies were carried out. Treatment of Ochratoxin A alone (group 2 rats) significantly increased malondialdehyde content, catalase, and glutathione reductase activities with a decrease in the activity of superoxide dismutase enzyme and reduced glutathione level and in brain, kidney and liver. Whereas, low dose coffee (group 3) and high dose coffee (group 4) rats showed dose-dependent increase in antioxidant and less histopathological alterations. Concomitant treatment of Yemeni green coffee powder and Ochratoxin A brought dose-dependent protective effects against oxidative stress which was inducedusing Ochratoxin A in liver, brain, and kidney tissues of female rats.

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PMID: 

Genes Nutr. 2014 May ;9(3):389. Epub 2014 Mar 6. PMID: 24599575

Abstract Title: 

Coffee intake mitigated inflammation and obesity-induced insulin resistance in skeletal muscle of high-fat diet-induced obese mice.

Abstract: 

Epidemiologic findings offer the promise that coffee or its many constituents may be useful as a dietary intervention in type 2 diabetes (T2D) prevention. We aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved in the ameliorative effects of caffeinated coffee (CC), decaffeinated coffee (DC) and unroasted caffeinated green coffee (GC) on skeletal muscle gene expression profiles and their relationships in an obesity animal model. Eight-week-old male C57BL6 mice were raised for 9 weeks ad libitum on a normal diet, a high-fat diet, or high-fat diet containing 2 % freeze-dried CC, or DC, or GC. Total RNA and protein were extracted from skeletal muscle and subjected to microarray (Mouse Genome 430 2.0, Affymetrix) and western blotting analyses, respectively. Coffee intake mitigated the insulin resistance by decreasing plasma glucose levels during an insulin tolerance test and by increasing tyrosine phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1 (IRS-1), p85/IRS-1 complex and pAkt/PKB (protein kinase B). In addition, coffee intake down-regulated the anti-inflammatory genes activating transcription factor 3, FBJ osteosarcoma oncogene, heat shock protein 1A, heat shock protein 1B and synuclein, gamma and the inflammation-associated insulin signaling genes stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1 and secreted phosphoprotein 1. These results provide scientific insight on theprobable positive effects of coffee intake on impaired insulin signaling, inflammation and obesity, thereby providing a new perspective on the prevention of obesity and T2D.

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PMID: 

Food Res Int. 2018 09 ;111:480-487. Epub 2018 May 25. PMID: 30007710

Abstract Title: 

Effect of coffee roasting on in vitroα-glucosidase activity: Inhibition and mechanism of action.

Abstract: 

In vitroα-glucosidase inhibitory activity of unroasted, and medium, dark and very dark roasted robusta coffee was studied. Coffee extracts significantly inhibited the enzyme activity in a dose-dependent way. The inhibitory activity was well correlated with the degree of roast. Coffee components were separated by gel permeation chromatography into low (1 

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PMID: 

Iran J Public Health. 2019 Nov ;48(11):2025-2034. PMID: 31970101

Abstract Title: 

Anti-Oxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Kenya Grade AA Green Coffee Bean Extracts.

Abstract: 

Background: Kenya AA green coffee bean extracts were tested for natural ingredients used for anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory purposes in cosmetic products.Methods: Anti-oxidative activities were measured by total polyphenol, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays. Anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated via nitric oxide (NO) assays, and through quantification of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) protein expression by western blotting. Data analyses were performed using independent Student's t-tests, with statistical significance set at P

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PMID: 

Open Access Maced J Med Sci. 2019 Oct 30 ;7(20):3363-3365. Epub 2019 Oct 14. PMID: 32002051

Abstract Title: 

The Difference in Effect of Arabica Coffee Gayo Beans and Leaf () Extract on Decreasing Blood Sugar Levels in Healthy Mice.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: High incidence rate of diabetes mellitus (DM) and increased incidence of complications from DM as well as the use of less effective antidiabetic drugs and high financing to treat demands alternative therapy.AIM: This study was conducted to determine the difference in the effect of Arabica coffee gayo bean and leaf extract on blood sugar levels in healthy mice before and after the intervention of extract and fasting and postprandial blood glucose level after consumption of glucose.METHODS: This research is an experimental research study. The study used experimental animals which were divided into 8 groups which are the control group (Aquadest), group given Acarbose, the group given the Arabica coffee gayo bean extract with dosage of 50 mg, 100 mg and 200 mg in healthy mice, the group given the Arabica coffee gayo leaf extract with dosage of 30 mg, 60 mg and 120 mg in healthy mice.RESULTS: The results of the study obtained are before and after the intervention of extract showed the difference of p= 0.523 and after consumption of glucose the fasting and postprandial result showed the difference of p = 0.005.CONCLUSION: The use of Arabica coffee gayo bean and leaf extract showed a high decrease in blood glucose levels (BGL) compared to the control group.

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PMID: 

J Oleo Sci. 2020 Feb 5 ;69(2):143-151. Epub 2020 Jan 16. PMID: 31941864

Abstract Title: 

Effects of Dietary Blueberry (Vaccinium ashei Reade) Leaves on Mildly Postprandial Hypertriglyceridemia.

Abstract: 

Prevention of postprandial hypertriglyceridemia is an important consideration for reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. While blueberry fruits have been reported to ameliorate lipid metabolism in humans, there are only few research reports on the effects of blueberry leaves (BL). Here, we investigated the efficacy of BL on postprandial hyperlipidemia in subjects with high fasting triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations. Randomized, double-blind, cross-over design study was conducted. The subjects consumed a BL containing beverage or a placebo beverage before a fat-enriched test meal. Blood samples were collected prior to and 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 hours after consuming the test beverage. The postprandial serum TG and remnant-like particle cholesterol (RLP-C) concentrations were significantly lower in the BL beverage compared with those in the placebo beverage. Additionally, BL was more effective in subjects with high fasting ghrelin with gastric emptying function. In current study, fasting ghrelin correlated with the increase in postprandial serum TG, suggesting that BL ameliorates hypertriglyceridemia through delayed gastric emptying. In conclusion, this pilot study suggests that BL may be useful as an early dietary therapy for treating postprandial hyperlipidemia.

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PMID: 

Antioxidants (Basel). 2020 Feb 1 ;9(2). Epub 2020 Feb 1. PMID: 32024159

Abstract Title: 

Blueberry Juice Antioxidants Protect Osteogenic Activity against Oxidative Stress and Improve Long-Term Activation of the Mineralization Process in Human Osteoblast-Like SaOS-2 Cells: Involvement of SIRT1.

Abstract: 

Diets rich in fruits and vegetables with many antioxidants can be very important in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. Studies show that oxidative stress, often due to lack of antioxidants, is involved in alteration of bone remodeling and reduction in bone density. This study demonstrates in human osteoblast-like SaOS-2 cells that blueberry juice (BJ), containing 7.5 or 15μg∙mLtotal soluble polyphenols (TSP), is able to prevent the inhibition of osteogenic differentiation and the mineralization process due to oxidative stress induced by glutathione depletion. This situation mimics a metabolic condition of oxidative stress that may occur during estrogen deficiency. The effect of BJ phytochemicals occurs through redox- and non-redox-regulated mechanisms. BJ protects from oxidative damage factors related to bone remodeling and bone formation, such as alkaline phosphatase and Runt-related transcription factor 2. It upregulates these factors by activation of sirtuin type 1 deacetylase expression, a possible molecular target for anti-osteoporotic drugs. Quantitative analysis of TSP in BJ shows high levels of anthocyanins with high antioxidant capacity and bioavailability. These novel data may be important to elucidate the molecular and cellular beneficial effects of blueberry polyphenols on bone regeneration, and they suggest their use as a dietary supplement for osteoporosis prevention and therapies.

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