PMID: 

AMB Express. 2020 Jan 28 ;10(1):21. Epub 2020 Jan 28. PMID: 31993779

Abstract Title: 

Bactericidal activity of Myrrh extracts and two dosage forms against standard bacterial strains and multidrug-resistant clinical isolates with GC/MS profiling.

Abstract: 

Myrrh is the resinous exudate obtained by the incision in Commiphora molmol trees (Family Burseraceae). The bactericidal activity of its hexane extract was compared to its essential oil (MEO) using viable count technique against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Ps. aeruginosa). MEO exhibited a better activity with> 99.999% killing of both tested strains after 2 h contact time. MEO was tested using the same technique against four multidrug resistant isolates: S. aureus (MRSA, sputum), Escherichia coli (E. coli, urine), Ps. aeruginosa (wound) and Klebsiella pneumonia (K. pneumonia, sputum). Highest bactericidal activity was observed against Ps. aeruginosa while lowest was against K. pneumonia (99.59 and 54.04% killing, respectively after 2 h contact time). A cream and mouthwash were formulated using 5% v/v MEO. The cream showed a better activity against Ps. aeruginosa than S. aureus (95.11 and 86.76%killing, respectively after 2 h contact time). The in vitro treatment of ca 10 CFU/ml S. aureus cells suspended in 10% saliva with the mouthwash produced ca 46% killing within the first 15 min reaching ca 99.999% after 30 min. Cytotoxic studies of both the essential oil and hexane extract on human liver cancer (Hep G2), human breast cancer (MCF-7) and colon cancer cell lines (HCT-116) revealed a promising in vitro activity. Highest activity was recorded for the essential oil on MCF-7 with IC10.93 ± 0.32 μg/ml. GC/MS analysis allowed the identification of 17 and 9 compounds representing 92.01 and 99.99% of the hexane extract and essential oil, respectively. Furano-eudesma-1,3-diene (15.99%) and 2-acetoxy-furano-diene (26.82%) were the major identified compounds in the hexane extract and essential oil, respectively. These results indicate that Myrrh essential oil is a promising antibacterial and cytotoxic agent that can be formulated in suitable dosage forms.

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Researchers from Slovakia highlighted the potential of the extract from the bark of pine trees as a solution to common bedroom woes

PMID: 

Pharmacology. 2020 Jan 29:1-10. Epub 2020 Jan 29. PMID: 31995806

Abstract Title: 

Ganoderma Lucidum Polysaccharide, an Extract from Ganoderma Lucidum, Exerts Suppressive Effect on Cervical Cancer Cell Malignancy through Mitigating Epithelial-Mesenchymal and JAK/STAT5 Signaling Pathway.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We aimed to explore whether ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide (GLP) exhibits antitumor effect on cervical cancer cells.METHODS AND RESULTS: Different concentration of GLP was used to treat cervical cell. The data from cell counting kit-8 assay proved that the optimal working concentration and time of GLP were 200µg/mL and treated for 48 h. The transwell assay demonstrated that GLP could attenuate the invasion and migration abilities of cervical cancer cells. Moreover, flow cytometry illustrated that GLP could promote the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells and limit the cycle of cervical cancer cells. Western blot assay discovered that the expression of proapoptosis proteins including Bax, Cleaved Caspases 3 and 9 increased and the antiapoptosis protein Bcl-2 decreased after treated with GLP. Moreover, we found that the expression of E-cadherin was increased, and N-cadherin, Vimentin, and Slug were decreased. Meanwhile, the expression of phosphorylated-JAK and phosphorylated-STAT5 was also decreased in cervical cancer cells treated by GLP, suggesting the inhibitory effect on JAK/STAT5 pathways.CONCLUSIONS: All of these data illustrated that GLP could alleviate the activity and aggressiveness, block the cell cycle, and promote the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells, which were possible via inhibiting epithelial-mesenchymal and JAK/STAT5 pathways.

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PMID: 

Biomed Pharmacother. 2016 Oct ;83:526-535. Epub 2016 Jul 20. PMID: 27447121

Abstract Title: 

Polyporus umbellatus inhibited tumor cell proliferation and promoted tumor cell apoptosis by down-regulating AKT in breast cancer.

Abstract: 

Breast cancer (BC) is the foremost cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide. Polyporus umbellatus is a polysaccharide preparation of the Chinese traditional herb medicine, which has been explored as an inhibitory compounds in suppressing many cancers. And AKT has been known as an essential signaling pathway to regulate cell proliferation and apoptosis via Mdm2/p53 and Caspase-3 signaling pathways respectively. In our study, western blot, RT-PCR, immunochemical assay, immunofluorescence as well as flow cytometry were performed in vitro or in vivo to determine the effects of Polyporus umbellatus on the progression of human laryngeal cancer. First, the breast cancer cell growth, invasion and migration were inhibited, as well as the tumor volume in nude mice was down-regulated for Polyporus umbellatus use. Additionally, our data also showed that Polyporus umbellatus suppressed breast cancer cells proliferation, which was linked with the down-regulation of AKT activation by Polyporus umbellatus treatment. Mdm was inactivated while p53 was stimulated for Polyporus umbellatus administration, displaying inhibitory role in tumor growth. Furthermore, Polyporus umbellatus could up-regulate breast cancer cells in G0/G1 phase during cell cycle, and at the same time reducing cells in S phase. Also, flow cytometry and western blot assays suggested that apoptosis was induced by the administration of Polyporus umbellatus, which enhanced Caspase-3 expressions by AKT-regulated anti-apoptotic and pro-apoptotic signals. In conclusion, our data indicated that Polyporus umbellatus had a potential role in controlling human breast cancer through inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, inducing apoptosis regulated by AKT, which might provide a therapeutic strategy for breast cancer suppression in the future.

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PMID: 

Carbohydr Polym. 2019 May 15 ;212:1-10. Epub 2019 Feb 12. PMID: 30832835

Abstract Title: 

Renoprotective effect and mechanism of polysaccharide from Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia on renal fibrosis.

Abstract: 

As a fungal polysaccharide, polysaccharide (PPUS) from Polyporus umbellatus sclerotia have showed remarkable anti-inflammatory activities. In view of the closely relationship between inflammation and renal fibrosis, and considering the significant role of other fungal polysaccharides on treatment of renal fibrosis, we speculated that PPUS may have therapeutic effects on renal fibrosis. However, there was not any reports about PPUS treatment this disease. The purpose of this paper is to investigate renoprotective effect and mechanism of PPUS on renal fibrosis. The results indicated that PPUS can improve renal function and ameliorate the degree of renal collagen deposition and further fibrosis. Its mechanism was found to be related with decreased inflammation, suppressive epithelial-mesenchymal transition, reconstructed the balance of matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases, and pro-fibrotic and anti-fibrotic factors. The data implied that PPUS can serve as a clinical candidate on treatment of renal interstitial fibrosis.

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Got a sweet tooth that you just can’t squash? Relax! Nature has provided a healthy way to satisfy your sugar cravings. Put down the toxic white stuff and pick up a jar of pure, raw honey

PMID: 

Prog Mol Biol Transl Sci. 2019 ;163:329-360. Epub 2019 Apr 9. PMID: 31030753

Abstract Title: 

The efficacy of Polyporus Umbellatus polysaccharide in treating hepatitis B in China.

Abstract: 

Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide (PUPS) has been identified as the major bioactive component in the mushroom Polyporus umbellatus that has immuno-enhancing, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and hepatoprotective activities. Both PUPS capsule and injection are Chinese Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) approved drugs, which have been used alone or in combination with a variety of clinical drugs for treating Hepatitis B, lung and liver cancers in China since 1990. Our aim was to review both the efficacy and problem associated with PUPS mono- and combination therapy conducted in China and the underlying molecular mechanisms. To this end, the term Polyporus umbellatus polysaccharide both in English and in Chinese was used to conduct a systematic search of PubMed, VIP (Chongqing VIP Chinese Scientific Journals Database), CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), and Wanfang database. A total 11,703 clinically reported cases in China from over 100 publications during the past 27 years were evaluated, translated into English, and summarized into 3 figures and 13 tables to provide a general view of efficacy of PUPS during mono- and combination therapy. The published data showed the effectiveness of PUPS for treating hepatitis B in most reported cases. Moreover, the combined therapies for PUPS plus hepatitis B vaccine, PUPS plus interferon, PUPS plus acyclovir, and PUPS plus iRNA are better than when treated with either drug alone. Overall, when PUPS is used alone or in combination with other drugs for prevention and treatment of hepatitis B-affected patients, the efficacy is convincible.

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PMID: 

Avicenna J Phytomed. 2020 Jan-Feb;10(1):78-88. PMID: 31921610

Abstract Title: 

extract reverses lipopolysaccharide-induced anxiety and depression behaviors in rats.

Abstract: 

Objective: Stressors have an important role in sickness behaviors. We checked the effect of(ZM) extract against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced anxiety and depression behaviors in rats.Materials and Methods: Rats were distributed in the following groups (n=10): Control, LPS (1 mg/kg), LPS-ZM50, LPS-ZM100 and LPS-ZM200. LPS was syringed intraperitoneally (ip) 2 hr before performing behavioral tests. LPS-ZM groups were treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg (ip) of ZM extract 30 min before LPS administration. Open field (OF), elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming (FS) tests were done. White blood cell (WBC) was counted in all groups.Results: In OF, pretreatment with ZM extract augmented the number of lines crossed and traveled distance in central and peripheral areas. The rats treated with ZM extract spent more time in the central zone and less time in the peripheral area compared to the LPS group. In EPM, the number of entries into the open and closed arms and stop time in the open arms in LPS-ZM groups were higher than the LPS group. The stop time in the closed arms of ZM-LPS groups was less than the LPS group. In FS test, swimming and climbing time in groups treated with ZM extract was more than the LPS group while their immobility time was less. WBC count in the LPS-ZM100 and LPS-ZM200 was lower than that of the LPS group.Conclusion: Based on the results, pretreatment with ZM extract restituted anxiety and depression caused by LPS in rats. This effect of ZM was associated with amelioration of LPS-promoted inflammation.

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PMID: 

Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Dec 24 ;145:500-509. Epub 2019 Dec 24. PMID: 31874267

Abstract Title: 

Hepatoprotective effect of a fucoidan extract from Sargassum fluitans Borgesen against CCl-induced toxicity in rats.

Abstract: 

The in vivo antifibrotic effect of a fucoidan extract (FE) from Sargassum fluitans Borgesen was evaluated in a carbon tetrachloride-induced liver damage model in rats over twelve weeks. Chemical analysis showed the FE to contain carbohydrates, sulfates, uronic acids, protein, phenols, and to have a molecular weight of ~60 kDa. Physiological, biochemical, histological and genetic assays were done. Daily oral administration of FE (50 mg/kg) reduced liver enzymatic activity, liver infiltration of inflammatory cells, collagen fiber deposition and gene expression cytokines such as interleukin beta 1 (IL-β1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), Smad-3, Smad-2, collagen 1 alpha 1 (col1α1) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1). It also increased RNA expression of Smad-7 and metalloproteinase 2 and 9 (MMP2 and MMP9). The fucoidan extract exhibited an antifibrotic effect mediated by the inhibiting TGF-β1/Smad pathway, as well as anti-inflammatory effects.

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PMID: 

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020 Jan 21. Epub 2020 Jan 21. PMID: 31965500

Abstract Title: 

Fucoidan protects against subacute diazinon-induced oxidative damage in cardiac, hepatic, and renal tissues.

Abstract: 

Fucoidans (FUC) are organic sulfated polysaccharides from natural seaweeds with multiple biological actions. The current study was performed to assess the chemoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of FUC from Laminaria japonicum against diazinon (DZN)-induced injuries to rat cardiac, hepatic, and renal tissues. Forty male Wistar rats were assigned into five groups, receiving saline, oral FUC 200 mg/kg/day, subcutaneous DZN 20 mg/kg/day, DZN plus FUC 100 mg/kg/day, or DZN plus FUC 200 mg/kg/day (each treatment was given daily for 4 weeks). Data analysis showed that DZN-intoxicated rats exhibited significantly higher (p 

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