PMID: 

Carbohydr Polym. 2019 May 15 ;212:89-101. Epub 2019 Feb 12. PMID: 30832884

Abstract Title: 

Structural characterization and hepatoprotective activities of polysaccharides from the leaves of Toona sinensis (A. Juss) Roem.

Abstract: 

Two polysaccharide fractions (TSP-1 and TSP-2) with molecular weights of 833.6 kDa and 81.6 kDa were isolated from Toona sinensis leaves (Meliaceae) by hot water extraction, DEAE Cellulose-52 chromatography and Sephacryl S-400 gel permeation chromatography. Structural analysis indicated that TSP-1 and TSP-2 consisted of Manp, GlcpA, Glcp, Galp, Xylp and Araf with different molar ratios. Methylation and NMR analysis revealed that the backbone of TSP-1 might consist of 1,6-linked-Glcp, 1,3,6-linked-Manp and 1,6-linked-Galp, while TSP-2 was mainly composed of 1,3,5-linked-Araf, 1,6-linked-Glcp, 1,4-linked-Xylp and 1,6-linked-Galp. Congo red assay indicated that TSP-1 and TSP-2 had no triple-helix structure, which was consistent with the results of AFM. In vivo hepatoprotective activity showed that TSP-1 and TSP-2 could improve CCl-induced mice liver injury by reducing the activities of AST, ALT and the level of MDA, increasing the activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT and the level of GSH in liver and decreasing the expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in liver. These results suggest that TSP-1 and TSP-2 have promising potential to serve as hepatoprotective agents.

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PMID: 

J Clin Med. 2019 Oct 11 ;8(10). Epub 2019 Oct 11. PMID: 31614650

Abstract Title: 

Polyphenol-Rich Extracts fromBark and Fruit Ameliorate Free Fatty Acid-Induced Lipogenesis through AMPK and LC3 Pathways.

Abstract: 

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a chronic liver disease found worldwide. The present study aimed to evaluate the mechanisms of inhibiting lipid accumulation in free fatty acid (FFA)-treated HepG2 cells caused by bark and fruit extracts of(TSB and TSF). FFA induced lipid and triglyceride (TG) accumulation, which was attenuated by TSB and TSF. TSB and/or TSF promoted phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and acetyl-coA carboxylase and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha upregulation. Furthermore, TSB and TSF suppressed FFA-induced liver X receptor, sterol regulatory element-binding transcription protein 1, fatty acid synthase, and stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 protein expression. Moreover, TSB and/or TSF induced phosphorylation of Unc-51 like autophagy-activating kinase and microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B-light chain 3 expressions. Therefore, TSB and TSF relieve lipid accumulation by attenuating lipogenic protein expression, activating the AMPK pathway, and upregulating the autophagic flux to enhance lipid metabolism. Moreover, TSB and TSF reduced TG contents, implying the therapeutic use of TSB and TSF in NAFLD.

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While Parkinson’s disease has no known cause or cure, a number of critical risk factors have been identified and advances have been made in alternative treatment options

PMID: 

Xi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2019 Sep ;35(9):794-799. PMID: 31750820

Abstract Title: 

[Polyphenols from Toona sinensis seeds alleviate neuroinflammation in rats with Parkinson's disease via inhibiting p38MAPK signaling pathway].

Abstract: 

Objective To explore the inhibitory effects of polyphenols from Toona sinensis seeds (PTSS) on neuroinflammation and the underlying mechanism in rats with Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods PD rat models were prepared by stereotaxic injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into one side of striatum of Sprague-Dawley male rats. Model rats were randomly divided into model group and PTSS group (n=10), and a normal control group was set as well (n=10). The rotational behavior of rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of apomorphine (APO) after 30 days, and the behavioral changes of rats from each group were investigated. The morphological and quantity changes of DA neurons (tyrosine hydroxylase positive, TH-positive), microglia cells (ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule-1, Iba1-positive) and astrocytes (glial fibrillary acidic protein, GFAP-positive) in substantia nigra (SN) of rats from each group were examined by immunohistochemistry. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor-κB p65 (NF-κBp65), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and phosphor-p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p-p38MAPK) levels were evaluated through immunohistochemical staining. The protein levels of TH, GFAP, p38MAPK and p-p38MAPK in SN were examined by Western blot analysis. Results The number of rotations in the rats of the PTSS group was significantly reduced compared with that in the model group. The number of TH-positive cells in the model group was much less than that in the control group. The number and protein levels of TH-positive cells were enhanced significantly by PTSSintervention. Compared with the control group, the protein levels of Iba1, GFAP, iNOS, NF-κB, p38MAPK and p-p38MAPK in the injured side of the model group significantly increased, which could be suppressed significantly by PTSS intervention. Conclusion PTSS demonstrates protective effects on DA neurons by inhibiting p38MAPK signaling pathway and reducing the expression of inflammatory factors in PD rats.

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PMID: 

Planta Med. 2019 Sep ;85(13):1080-1087. Epub 2019 Jul 23. PMID: 31342475

Abstract Title: 

Acanthopanax senticosus Induces Vasorelaxation via Endothelial Nitric Oxide-Dependent and -Independent Pathways.

Abstract: 

Althoughroot extract (ASRE), a functional food used in Japan, improves peripheral blood circulation and exerts vasorelaxant effects in rats under healthy conditions, the underlying mechanisms currently remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the mechanisms responsible for ASRE-induced relaxation in isolated thoracic aortas using organ bath techniques and examined whether ASRE affects systemic and peripheral circulation using a photoplethysmographic tail-cuff system and noncontact laser tissue blood flow meter in Wistar rats. Similar to acetylcholine (ACh), ASRE induced dose-dependent relaxation in aortas pre-contracted with phenylephrine; however, in contrast to ACh, ASRE-induced relaxation was partially inhibited by treatments with antagonists of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and soluble guanylyl cyclase as well as by endothelium removal. Contractile responses to phenylephrine or potassium chloride were observed in the presence of ASRE. The oral administration of ASRE (900 mg/kg/d for 1 wk) decreased systolic blood pressure in rats 3 h after the treatment and did not affect heart rate, tail blood flow, mass, or velocity; this decreasing effect was not observed on day 2. A 1-wk treatment with ASRE did not affect vasorelaxation in response to ASRE. These resultsdemonstrate that ASRE induces vasorelaxation via endothelial NO production and an NO-independent pathway in rats. Based on these findings, positive impacts of ASRE on blood pressure and peripheral blood circulation cannot be expected under healthy conditions as the systemic effects of ASRE are temporary. Instead, caution is needed to prevent the occurrence of side effects (i.e., orthostatic dizziness) at the beginning of ASRE dosing.

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2020 Jan 20 ;12(1). Epub 2020 Jan 20. PMID: 31968696

Abstract Title: 

Antihypertensive Effects of Virgin Olive Oil (Unfiltered) Low Molecular Weight Peptides with ACE Inhibitory Activity in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

Abstract: 

The low molecular weight peptide composition of virgin olive oil (VOO) is mostly unknown. We hypothesised that unfiltered VOO could possess low molecular weight peptides with antihypertensive activity. We produced unfiltered VOO and obtained a water-soluble peptide extract from it. The peptides were separated by size-exclusion using fast protein liquid chromatography, and the low molecular weight fraction was analysed by nanoscale liquid chromatography-Orbitrap coupled with tandem mass spectrometry and de novo sequencing. We selected 23 peptide sequences containing between 6 and 9 amino acids and molecular masses ranging 698-1017 Da. Those peptides were chemically synthesised and their angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity was studied in vitro. Seven peptides showed a strong activity, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50)

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2020 Jan 21 ;12(2). Epub 2020 Jan 21. PMID: 31973241

Abstract Title: 

Long-Term Blackcurrant Supplementation Modified Gut Microbiome Profiles in Mice in an Age-Dependent Manner: An Exploratory Study.

Abstract: 

Recent studies have suggested that blackcurrant (BC) anthocyanins have promising health benefits, possibly through regulating gut microbiome. Three- and eighteen-month old female mice were fed standard mouse diets for 4 months, each with or without BC (1%) supplementation (= 3 in each treatment group, 12 in total). We then assessed gut microbiome profiles using 16S sequencing of their feces. Old mice had a less diverse microbiome community compared to young mice and there was a remarkable age-related difference in microbiome composition in the beta diversity analysis. BC supplementation did not significantly affect alpha or beta diversity. The relative abundance of several phyla, including Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Proteobacteria and Tenericutes, was lower in old mice. BC downregulated Firmicutes abundance in young mice and upregulated Bacteroidetes in both age groups, leading to a decreased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. There were age-specific differences in the effect of BC supplementation on the microbiome. Twenty-four operational taxonomic units showed a significant interaction between age and BC supplementation (

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2019 May 22 ;11(5). Epub 2019 May 22. PMID: 31121888

Abstract Title: 

Memory Enhancement by Oral Administration of Extract ofLeaves and Active Compounds Transferred in the Brain.

Abstract: 

The pharmacological properties ofleaf have not been clarified although it is taken as a food item. In this study, the effects of water extract ofleaves on memory function were investigated in normal mice. Oral administration of the extract for 17 days significantly enhanced object recognition memory. Compounds absorbed in blood and the brain after oral administration of the leaf extract were detected by LC-MS/MS analyses. Primarily detected compounds in plasma and the cerebral cortex were ciwujianoside C3, eleutheroside M, ciwujianoside B, and ciwujianoside A1. Pure compounds except for ciwujianoside A1 were administered orally for 17 days to normal mice. Ciwujianoside C3, eleutheroside M, and ciwujianoside B significantly enhanced object recognition memory. These results demonstrated that oral administration of the leaf extract ofenhances memory function, and that active ingredients in the extract, such as ciwujianoside C3, eleutheroside M, and ciwujianoside B, were able to penetrate and work in the brain. Those three compounds as well as the leaf extract had dendrite extension activity against primary cultured cortical neurons. The effect might relate to memory enhancement.

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PMID: 

Zhongguo Zhong Yao Za Zhi. 2019 Jul ;44(14):2947-2952. PMID: 31602838

Abstract Title: 

[Modulation effect of Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharides through inflammatory cytokines in protecting immunological liver-injured mice].

Abstract: 

The aim of this paper was to discuss the protective effect and mechanism of Acanthopanax senticosus polysaccharides( ASPs) on immunological liver injury caused by conanavalin A( Con A). BALB/c mice were randomly divided into seven groups: control group,model group( Con A),low-,medium-,and high-dose( 36. 25,72. 5,145 mg·kg~(-1)) ASPs groups,bifendate( 200 mg·kg~(-1),positive drug) group and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate( PDTC,NF-κB inhibitor,200 mg·kg~(-1)) group. ASPs groups and bifendate group were given with corresponding drugs by ig administration once daily for 7 d. Control group,model group and PDTC group were given with normal saline by ig administration once daily for 7 d. After the last ig administration,PDTC was given in DTC group by iv administration( 200 mg·kg~(-1)); 0. 5 h after that,Con A( 20 mg·kg~(-1)) was injected via the tail vein to induce immunological liver injury in all the mice except normal control group. The mice were killed 8 h later and their liver tissues were collected for histopathological examination. The contents of nitric oxide( NO),superoxide dismutase( SOD),malondialdehyde( MDA),reduced glutathione( GSHPX),interleukin( IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor( TNF-α) inliver tissues were detected by kit assay. Western blot method was used to detect TNF-α,intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1( ICAM-1),inducible nitric oxide synthase( i NOS) and nuclear factor( NF-κB) protein expression in liver tissues. As compared with model group,ASPs not only could reduce theactivity of MDA,NO,IL-1β and TNF-α,but also increase the content of GSH-PX and SOD; at the same time,the protein expression levels of TNF-α,ICAM-1,i NOS and NF-κB were reduced in liver tissues; in addition,inflammatory cell infiltration was alleviated,hepatocyte cytoplasm was loose and swollen,and nuclear condensation and staining were improved. ASPs has a protective effect on immunological liver injury,and the mechanism may be associated with regulating secretion of inflammatory cytokines and the expression of adhesion factor through NF-κB signaling pathway.

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PMID: 

Brain Res Bull. 2020 Jan 17 ;156:141-149. Epub 2020 Jan 17. PMID: 31958477

Abstract Title: 

Effect of morphine exposure on novel object memory of the offspring: The role of histone H3 andΔFosB.

Abstract: 

It has been demonstrated that alteration in histone acetylation in the regions of the brain involved in the reward which may have an important role in morphine addiction. It is well established that epigenetic changes prior to birth influence the function and development of the brain. The current study was designed to evaluate changes in novel object memory, histone acetylation andΔFosB in the brain of the offspring of morphine-withdrawn parents. Male and female Wistar rats received morphine orally for 21 following days. After ten days of abstinent, they were prepared for mating. The male offspring of the first parturition were euthanized on postnatal days 5, 21, 30 and 60.The novel object recognition (NOR) test was performed on adult male offspring. The amount of acetylated histone H3 and ΔFosB were evaluated in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus using western blotting. Obtained results indicated that the discrimination index in the NOR test was decreased in the offspring of morphine-withdrawn parents as compared with morphine-naïve offspring. In addition, the level of acetylated histone H3 was decreased in the PFC and hippocampus in the offspring of morphine-withdrawn parents during lifetime (postnatal days 5, 21, 30 and 60). In the case of ΔFosB,it also decreased in these regions in the morphine-withdrawn offspring. These results demonstrated that parental morphine exposure affects NOR memory, and decreased the level of histone H3 acetylation and ΔFosB in the PFC and hippocampus. Taken together, the effect of morphine might be transmittedto the next generation even after stop consuming morphine.

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