PMID: 

J Food Biochem. 2020 Jan ;44(1):e13100. Epub 2019 Nov 12. PMID: 31721240

Abstract Title: 

Antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic effects of virgin coconut oil against antibiotic drug gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity via the suppression of oxidative stress and modulation of iNOS/NF-ĸB/caspase-3 signaling pathway in Wistar rats.

Abstract: 

Gentamicin is an effective antibiotic against severe infections; however, its major side effect is oxidative nephrotoxicity. We explored whether virgin coconut oil (VCO) could mitigate gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity. Rats were fed with VCO-supplemented diet for 16 days against renal toxicity induced by gentamicin (100 mg/kg bw, ip) from Day 11 to 16. Gentamicin caused marked elevated serum urea, uric acid, and creatinine levels, followed by considerable depletion in renal antioxidant enzymes, glutathione (GSH), while the malondialdehyde (MDA) level increased significantly. It significantly increased renal cytokines and nitric oxide (NO) levels, confirmed by renal histopathology. The expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ĸB), and caspase-3 was prominently increased. VCO-supplemented diet significantly modulated the levels of biochemical indices, downregulated theexpression of NO, iNOS, NF-ĸB, caspase-3, cytokines, and alleviated histopathological lesions. VCO protects against gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity; thus, it could be a promising dietary supplement for patients undergoing gentamicin treatment. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Gentamicin is an efficaciousclinical antibiotic used against severe infections; however, the robust body of evidence indicates that the nephrotoxic side effect constrained its use. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is an edible oil with growing human consumption and pharmacological effects. Our study has reported herein, for the firsttime, that VCO diet prevented the nephrotoxicity of gentamicin. Dietary supplementation of this oil could be beneficial in alleviating the nephrotoxic side effect of gentamicin in patients.

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PMID: 

Anticancer Agents Med Chem. 2019 Oct 21. Epub 2019 Oct 21. PMID: 31736449

Abstract Title: 

In Vitro Anticancer Activity of Virgin Coconut Oil and its Fractions on Liver and Oral Cancer Cells.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Coconut Oil is edible oil obtained from fresh, mature coconut kernel. Few studies have reported the anticancer role of Coconut Oil. Fatty acid component of Coconut Oil are directly targeted to Liver by portal circulation and as chylomicron via lymph. But anti-cancer activity of Coconut Oil against liver cancer cell and oral cancer cell are yet to be tested. The active component of Coconut Oil that are responsible for anticancer activity are not well understood. We have used three different Coconut Oils Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), Processed Coconut Oil (PCO) and Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO).METHODS: Each cell lines were treated with different concentration of Virgin Coconut Oil (VCO), Processed Coconut Oil (PCO) and Fractionated Coconut Oil (FCO). The treated cells were assayed for MTT after 72 hr of incubation. The fatty acid composition of different coconut oils was analysed by gas chromatography.OBJECTIVE: Based on previous studies it will be reasonable to hypothesize that fatty acids in coconut oil may have anticancer potential and may trigger cell death in cancer cell lines.RESULT: We used different concentrations of coconut oils to treat the cells. Interestingly anticancer efficacy of VCO, PCO and FCO is not uniform, rather than efficacy vary from cell line to cell line. Only 20% VCO shows significant anticancer activity in HepG2 cell in comparison to 80% PCO against KB cell line. Remarkably the 20% of PCO and 5% of FCO shows potential growth inhibition in KB cell line instead of 80% PCO in HepG2 cell. The difference in the efficacy of VCO, PCO and FCO is different, which may be due to their fatty acid composition. Comparing the anticancer efficacy of VCO, PCO and FCO in this study helps to predict which class of fatty acids and what fatty acid may be associated with anticancer activity of VCO.CONCLUSION: This study shows VCO, PCO and FCO has anticancer efficacy and may be used for the treatment of cancer especially liver and oral cancer.

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PMID: 

Behav Pharmacol. 2020 Feb ;31(1):81-96. PMID: 31923036

Abstract Title: 

Protective role of functional food in cognitive deficit in young and senile rats.

Abstract: 

Cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases pose a significant burden on healthcare resources both in developed and developing countries which is a major socio-economic and healthcare concern. Alzheimer's disease is the most common form of progressive neurodegenerative dementia of the aged brain. Aluminum is a constituent of antacids, deodorants, kitchenware and food additives which allows easy access into the body posing risk to development of senile dementia of Alzheimer's type. Virgin coconut oil was declared as a potential cognitive strengthener. Assessment of cognitive and memory-enhancing effects of virgin coconut oil in senile and young rats to gain vital insights into its effective use in the prevention of neurodegeneration in dementia/Alzheimer's disease-like manifestations and alleviate cognitive dysfunction and learning impairment with neuronal damage imparted by daily oral intake of aluminum. Alzheimer's disease-like symptoms and memory impairment were experimentally induced using oral anhydrous aluminum chloride given daily for five successive weeks in young and old age albino rats. Treatment groups received virgin coconut oil to assess protection during the experimental period. Behavioral test, Morris water maze was conducted before/after induction/treatment. At the end of the experimental period, cholinergic, dopaminergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic neurotransmission as well as brain-derived neurotrophic factor were being investigated, in addition to immunochemical and histopathological examination of targeted brain regions. Virgin coconut oil significantly improved cholinergic activity and monoaminergic neurotransmission. Moreover, immunochemical and histopathological examination revealed marked protection with virgin coconut oil against aluminum-induced Alzheimer's disease-like pathology and cognitive deficit.

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2020 Jan 15 ;12(1). Epub 2020 Jan 15. PMID: 31952280

Abstract Title: 

Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 17938 and Magnesium Oxide in Children with Functional Chronic Constipation: A Double-Blind and Randomized Clinical Trial.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: Chronic functional constipation is a frequent condition. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the probiotic Lactobacillus (L.) reuteri DSM 17938 and magnesium oxide (MgO) for relieving chronic functional constipation in children.STUDY DESIGN: A prospective, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized, and parallel-group trial was conducted in five pediatric outpatient clinics in Japan. Sixty patients who were more than six months old and under six years of age with a diagnosis of functional constipation according to Rome IV criteria were randomly divided into three groups: group A (n = 20) received L. reuteri DSM 17938 and lactose hydrate as a placebo of MgO; group B (n = 19) received L. reuteri DSM 17938 and MgO; and group C (n = 21) received a placebo of L. reuteri DSM 17938 and MgO.RESULTS: All three groups exhibited significant improvement in defecation frequency in the fourth week compared with the baseline condition (group A: p

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PMID: 

Environ Res. 2018 10 ;166:544-552. Epub 2018 Jun 27. PMID: 29960220

Abstract Title: 

Urinary concentrations of environmental phenols and their association with type 2 diabetes in a population in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract: 

A few epidemiologic studies suggest that exposure to bisphenol A (BPA) is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, little is known about association between other phenolic endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and T2DM. In this case-control study, we measured urinary concentrations of 23 phenolic EDCs in 101 individuals from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to examine the association of parabens, antimicrobials, bisphenols, benzophenones and bisphenol A diglycidyl ethers with T2DM. Urine samples were collected from 54 T2DM cases and 47 non-diabetic individuals (controls), aged 28-68 years old, during 2015-2016. Unconditional logistic regression was performed to estimate odd ratios (ORs) for the association between diabetes and EDC exposures after adjusting for confounders including age, gender, nationality, smoking status and occupation. Age from 40 to 59 years (OR 5.56, 95% CI 2.20-14.0) and smoking status (OR 2.92, 95% CI 1.25-6.79) showed significant positive associations with T2DM. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that T2DM cases had high urinary levels of parabens (i.e., methyl- (MeP), ethyl- (EtP), propyl- (PrP) and 4-hydroxy benzoic acid (4-HB)), bisphenols (i.e., bisphenols A (BPA) and F (BPF)), and benzophenone (i.e., 4-hydroxybenzophenone (4-OH-BP)) relative to the controls. Individuals in the 4th quartile for urinary concentrations of MeP, EtP, PrP, 4-HB and BPF and in the 3rd quartile for BPA and 4-OH-BP showed over a 6-fold increase in the odds of having diabetes compared with those in the first quartile. Overall, our study shows that urinary levels of multiple phenolic EDCs were associated with increased risk for diabetes. Further prospective studies are required to verify these associations.

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PMID: 

Neurotoxicology. 2019 03 ;71:31-38. Epub 2018 Dec 3. PMID: 30521821

Abstract Title: 

Bisphenol F causes disruption of gonadotropin-releasing hormone neural development in zebrafish via an estrogenic mechanism.

Abstract: 

Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons in the brain are the main controllers of reproduction and reproductive behavior in most vertebrates, and are susceptible to endocrine disruption by different bisphenols. While the endocrine disrupting properties of bisphenol A have been well documented, commonly used analogues such as bisphenol F (BPF) are not as well studied. In this study we examined the effects of early, low-dose, chronic BPF exposure on the development of the GnRH neural system in the zebrafish embryo. Using a transgenic zebrafish model system with GnRH3 neurons tagged with green fluorescent protein (GFP), developing GnRH neurons in both the terminal nerve (TN) and preoptic area (POA) were observed. These are neuronal populations with the former associated with allied reproductive behaviors and the latter associated with pituitary-gonadal axis control. Embryos were exposed in vitro to 0.25, 0.5 and 1μM BPF from fertilization to 3 days post fertilization (dpf). At 0.25 μM BPF exposure, both POA- and TN- GnRH3 neurons showed significant reductions in neural area at 2 dpf that did not persist to 3 dpf. The higher BPF doses did not show neuron size differences at 2 dpf, but showed reduction in TN-GnRH3 neuron area at 3 dpf. These effects of BPF were closely mimicked by different doses of estradiol. An estrogen antagonist, ICI, mitigated BPF effects on the embryo. This is the first study to show that BPF affects the developing GnRH neural system via an estrogen-mediated pathway.

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PMID: 

Phytother Res. 2019 May ;33(5):1510-1525. Epub 2019 Mar 18. PMID: 30883967

Abstract Title: 

Modulation of cerulein-induced pancreatic inflammation by hydroalcoholic extract of curry leaf (Murraya koenigii).

Abstract: 

This study was performed to study the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of hydroalcoholic extract of curry leaf (CLE) rich in carbazole alkaloids, against LPS-induced inflammation in Raw 264.7 macrophages and cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis, respectively. CLE was characterized by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Raw 264.7 cells were stimulated with LPS (2 μg/ml) and treated with CLE. The animals were treated with two doses of CLE (100 and 300 mg/kg). Plasma biochemistry, tissue lipid peroxidation, cytokines, and histological examination were evaluated. CLE was found to decently scavenge the activity of DPPH radical. It dose dependently suppressednitrite production and oxidative stress in macrophages. CLE alleviated LPS-induced inflammation in macrophages as evident from the results of various inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). In vivo, CLE reduced cerulein-induced pancreatic edema. CLE significantly abrogated the cerulein-induced lipid peroxidation, nitrite, MPO, and GSH levels. The inflammatory cytokines and p65-NFκB activity were significantly reduced by CLE. Mechanistically, CLE reduced the expression of NT, MPO, IL-1β, ICAM-1, and COX-2, and increased the expression of Nrf2. It reduced distant organ damage markers as well. We report for the first time that CLE holds substantial potential for the prevention of acute pancreatitis.

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PMID: 

J Nat Med. 2020 Jan 20. Epub 2020 Jan 20. PMID: 31960209

Abstract Title: 

Accelerative effects of carbazole-type alkaloids from Murraya koenigii on neurite outgrowth and their derivative's in vivo study for spatial memory.

Abstract: 

Murraya koenigii is a medicinal plant that contains several carbazole-type alkaloids as its characteristic constituents. Blood-brain barrier permeable constituents of M. koenigii accelerated neurite outgrowth in PC-12 cells. Nine compounds were isolated from M. koenigii and their effects on neurite outgrowth were examined. Murrayamine-E (8) at 10 μM showed significant effect. Focusing on the carbazole skeleton, we synthesized derivatives to attenuate cytotoxicity. 9-Benzyl-9H-carbazol-4-ol (15) exhibited strong neurite outgrowth accelerative effect. In addition, the novel object recognition test and the Morris water maze test were performed to evaluate memory improvement of 15 in APdE9 mice. Compound 15 tended to improve spatial memory in the Morris water maze test. These results suggest that carbazole derivative 15 would be a seed compound for Alzheimer's disease drug.

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PMID: 

Minerva Cardioangiol. 2019 Oct ;67(5):392-398. PMID: 31637898

Abstract Title: 

Management of mild, primary Raynaud Syndrome: supplementation with Pycnogenol®.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Raynaud syndrome (RS) is associated with vasospasm of the hand and fingers as a response to cold or stress. RS may cause discomfort and color changes (pallor, cyanosis, erythema, as single symptoms, but usually in combination, localized to one or more fingers). The aim of this 4-week registry study was the evaluation of subjects with mild, primary RS and their treatment with a standard management (SM) plan in comparison with SM associated with supplementation with Pycnogenol®.METHODS: A group of 67 females with mild, primary RS was included. All subjects were working in shops with refrigerators. No skin lesions were present. The age range was between 30 and 40; the vasospastic changes were symmetrical; no other physical findings were present.RESULTS: The two groups, receiving standard management (N.=33) or SM+Pycnogenol®, 100 mg/day, (N.=34) were comparable at inclusion. Considering the main symptoms, the decrease in coldness, burning pain, paresthesias and irregular color changes was more significant with Pycnogenol® (P

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PMID: 

Panminerva Med. 2019 Oct 25. Epub 2019 Oct 25. PMID: 31670494

Abstract Title: 

Episodic primary migraine headache: prophylaxis with Pycnogenol® precents attacks and controls oxidative stress.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: The present registry study investigated effects of the dietary supplement Pycnogenol® on migraine headache attacks and oxidative stress in otherwise healthy subjects with migraine mild-moderate headache (MH) that were considered. To manage MH, these subjects used only a few drugs (anti-emetics, analgesics on demand) and lifestyle changes; only very occasionally they used other, more specific products such as triptans.METHODS: Study GROUPS: one group used only standard management (SM), basically, management on demand. Oral magnesium and riboflavin (vitamin B2) were used with lipoic acid as they are considered useful to improve MH. Another group used the supplement Pycnogenol® (150 mg/day for 8 weeks) in addition to SM. These two groups were compared to a third (non-parallel, observational) group using topiramate (50 mg/day). If needed, subjects were allowed to use rescue medications.RESULTS: 46 subjects were included in the study. 22 used the standard management and 24 were supplemented with Pycnogenol® in association with SM. In addition, 21 subjects were treated with topiramate. Safety with Pycnogenol® was very good. The two main management groups and the third non-parallel group had comparable baseline characteristics. The number of migraine attacks were significantly reduced during the observation period with Pycnogenol® (p

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