PMID: 

Nutrients. 2019 Dec 6 ;11(12). Epub 2019 Dec 6. PMID: 31817810

Abstract Title: 

Vitamin C Inhibits Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Metastasis by Affecting the Expression of YAP1 and Synaptopodin 2.

Abstract: 

Vitamin C supplementation has been shown to decrease triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) metastasis. However, the molecular mechanism whereby vitamin C inhibits metastasis remains elusive. It has been postulated that vitamin C reduces the levels of HIF-1α, the master regulator of metastasis, by promoting its hydroxylation and degradation. Here, we show that vitamin C at 100 µM, a concentration achievable in the plasma in vivo by oral administration, blocks TNBC cell migration and invasion in vitro. The protein level of HIF-1α remains largely unchanged in cultured TNBC cells and xenografts, partially due to its upregulated transcription by vitamin C, suggesting that HIF-1α unlikely mediates the action of vitamin C on metastasis. Vitamin C treatment upregulates the expression of synaptopodin 2 and downregulates the expression of the transcription coactivator, both genes in the Hippo pathway. The changes inandexpression were subsequently validated at mRNA and protein levels in cultured TNBC cells and xenografts. Further experiments showed that vitamin C treatment inhibits F-actin assembly and lamellipodia formation, which correlates with the changes inandexpression. Overall, these results suggest that vitamin C inhibits TNBC metastasis by affecting the expression ofand. Vitamin C may thus have a potential role in the prevention and treatment of TNBC metastasis.

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PMID: 

Molecules. 2018 06 8 ;23(6). Epub 2018 Jun 8. PMID: 29890658

Abstract Title: 

Protective Effects on 60Co-γ Radiation Damage of Pine Cone Polyphenols from-Loaded Chitosan Microspheres In Vivo.

Abstract: 

A novel chitosan microsphere for encapsulating pine cone polyphenols (PP) fromwas successfully prepared using an emulsion crosslinking technique. The characteristics of pine polyphenol-loaded microspheres (PPM) were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a laser particle size detector. It was found that PPMs were spherical in shape with uniform particle size distribution patterns. The drug content and encapsulation rate of the microspheres were 7.47% and 73.6%, respectively, at a Ch/GA mass ratio of 0.7. The animal experiments showed that PPM had a stronger radiation protective effect than PP. PPM significantly increased the immune organ indices, the quantity of marrow DNA, the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, the splenocyte proliferation index, and the phagocytosis activity of monocytes. PPM also decreased the numbers of micronuclei in bone marrow cells and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in plasma in mice exposed toCoγ-irradiation. In addition, gender differences in biological responses to exposure to radiation were observed.

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PMID: 

Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Apr 1 ;126:385-391. Epub 2018 Dec 18. PMID: 30576738

Abstract Title: 

Physicochemical properties, bioaccessibility and antioxidant activity of the polyphenols from pine cones of Pinus koraiensis.

Abstract: 

This study investigated the physicochemical properties, bioaccessibility and in vitro antioxidant ability of the polyphenols isolated from the pine cones of Pinus koraiensis (PKP) under the simulated gastrointestinal digestion. The results found that PKP was mainly composed by derivatives of apigenin, phloretin, quercetin, myricetin, ellagitannin, and chlorogenic acid, and possessed the flat and smooth lump surface morphology. Through respective establishment of saliva, gastric fluid and small intestinal fluid digestive model in vitro, the compositions of phenolic compounds were totally different due to biotransformation. Compared with the phenolic composition of undigested PKP, the derivatives of apigenin, quercetin and ellagitannin were still detected after simulated digestion. A decrease of antioxidant capacity on free radical in vitro was observed throughout the simulated digestion processes, corresponding to the variation in phenolic content and composition. Our results highlighted that gastrointestinal digestion process might essentially influence the absorption of polyphenols, leading to the reduction of bioavailability.

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PMID: 

Int J Biol Macromol. 2019 Jun 1 ;130:997-1008. Epub 2019 Mar 5. PMID: 30844461

Abstract Title: 

Phloretin loaded chitosan nanoparticles augments the pH-dependent mitochondrial-mediated intrinsic apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.

Abstract: 

The aim of the present investigation is to explore the innovative platform for the synthesis of plant-based nanoparticles, which contain biocompatible and biodegradable carrier of chitosan loaded with phloretin hydrophobic phytochemical applied as a stable anticancer agent. Treatment of cancer uses chemotherapeutic drugs as the cells are resistant to other drugs. However, the usage of therapeutic drug is limited by its poor solubility and low bioavailability. To overcome this problem, we fabricated the phloretin loaded chitosan nanoparticles (PhCsNPs) and physicochemical properties of PhCsNPs were characterized by FTIR, XRD, DLS, SEM and TEM. The findings indicated that the synthesized PhCsNPs were spherical and homogeneous in shape with the size distribution of 80-100 nm and exhibited stability in ultimate drug releasing profile. Further, we substantiated the anticancer efficiency of PhCsNPs through bio-assessment, such as cytotoxicity measurement, intracellular ROS, mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid peroxidation measurement, antioxidants status, apoptotic associated gene expression profile and cell cycle analysis in human oral cancer cell lines. The findings suggested that PhCsNPs augmented the mitochondrial-mediated apoptotic mechanism through the stimulation of oxidative stress, depletion of cellular antioxidants and cell cycle arrest. Our data suggested that PhCsNPs could be used as an efficient therapeutic agent for the treatment of oral cancer.

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PMID: 

Mini Rev Med Chem. 2019 ;19(13):1060-1067. PMID: 30864525

Abstract Title: 

Pharmacological Aspects and Potential Use of Phloretin: A Systemic Review.

Abstract: 

Over the past two decades, many researchers have concluded that a diet rich in polyphenolic compounds plays an important therapeutic role in reducing the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease, inflammation, diabetes, and other degenerative diseases. Polyphenolic compounds have been reported to be involved in neutralization of reactive oxygen species and charged radicals, and have anticarcinogenic effects, hepatoprotective effects, low-glycaemic response, and other benefits. The benefits of fruits and vegetables may be partly attributable to polyphenolic compounds, which have antioxidant and free radical scavenging properties. Fruits such as apples contain a variety of phytochemicals, including (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, phlorizin, phloretin quercetin, cyanidin-3-Ogalactoside, chlorogenic acid, and p-coumaric acid, all of which are strong antioxidants. Phloretin, a natural phenolic compound, is a dihydrochalcone, which is present in the apple. It exhibits a wide variety of activities such as antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-allergic, anticarcinogenic, anti-thrombotic, and hepatoprotective, besides being involved in the activation of apoptotic associated gene expression and signal transduction in molecular pathways. Despite a multitude of clinical studies, new efforts are needed in clinical research to determine the complete therapeutic potential of phloretin.

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PMID: 

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2019 Dec 4. Epub 2019 Dec 4. PMID: 31800263

Abstract Title: 

Ginger and its Bioactive Component 6-Shogaol Mitigate Lung Inflammation in a Murine Asthma Model.

Abstract: 

Asthma, a common disorder associated with airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness, remains a significant clinical burden in need of novel therapeutic strategies. Patients are increasingly seeking complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) approaches to control their symptoms, including the use of natural products. Ginger, a natural product that we previously demonstrated acutely relaxes airway smooth muscle (ASM), has long been reported to possess anti-inflammatory properties, though a precise mechanistic understanding is lacking. In these studies, we demonstrate that chronic administration of whole ginger extract or 6-shogaol, a bioactive component of ginger, mitigateshouse dust mite antigen-mediated lung inflammation in mice. We further show that this decrease in inflammation is associated with reducedairway responsiveness. Utilizingstudies, we demonstrate that 6-shogaol augments cAMP concentrations in CD4 cells, consistent with phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibition, and limits the induction of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in activated CD4 cells. Sustained elevations in cAMP concentration are well known to inhibit effector T cell function. Interestingly, regulatory T cells (Tregs) utilize cAMP as a mediator of their immunosuppressive effects, andwe demonstrate here that 6-shogaol augments the Treg polarization of naïve CD4 cells. Taken together with previous reports, these studies suggest ginger and 6-shogaol have the potential to combat asthma via two mechanisms: acute ASM relaxation and chronic inhibition of inflammation.

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PMID: 

Behav Brain Res. 2019 Dec 6:112419. Epub 2019 Dec 6. PMID: 31816337

Abstract Title: 

Western diet-induced fear memory impairment is attenuated by 6-shogaol in C57BL/6N mice.

Abstract: 

Dementia is a progressive cognitive diminution impeding with normal daily activities that is constantly on the increase. Currently, the estimated prevalence is 50 million affected people worldwide, a figure expected to triple within the next 30 years. While the pathophysiology of the different types of dementia is complex, likely involving the interplay between multiple genetic and environmental factors, strong evidence points towards an important link between diet and cognitive health. Here we examined the consequences of high-fat, high-sugar Western diet (HFSD)-induced obesity on cognitive performance in the fear conditioning task in mice and explored a possible beneficial effect of 6-shogaol (6S), an active constituent of ginger, in this model. Chronic exposure to HFSD significantly enhanced body weight gain in C57BL/6 N mice and this effect was prevented by treatment with 6S. HFSD + vehicle treated mice presented with a selective deficit in cued fear memory, which was not observed in HFSD + 6S treated animals. The findings of this study provide first evidence for a beneficial effect of 6S on HFSD-induced obesity and emotional memory deficits in mice.

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In an analysis of data on berry intake, mental decline has been slower for women over age 70 who regularly consumed strawberries or blueberries, and the benefits don’t stop there

PMID: 

Scott Med J. 1988 Aug ;33(4):306-7. PMID: 2847313

Abstract Title: 

Vaccine-induced polioencephalomyelitis in Scotland.

Abstract: 

A six-month-old British female, living in Glasgow was admitted in June 1986 with a four-day history of fever and lower limb weakness following immunisation with oral polio and triple (DTP) vaccines. Examination revealed paralysis of all limbs, facial muscles and right diaphragm, scoliosis, opsoclonus and ocular flutter. Poliovirus types 1, 2 and 3, isolated from her stool specimens were all vaccine-like strains. Her serial serum IgA levels were persistently low and salivary IgA was undetectable. This appears to be the first fully authenticated case of poliovaccine damage in Scotland. It is unclear whether the selective IgA deficiency contributed to her vulnerability. It is essential to investigate elaborately and process viral isolates in every suspected case of acute poliomyelitis so as to determine the dimension and ramifications of poliovaccine damage in the UK population which is known to be rather apprehensive about vaccine dangers.

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PMID: 

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 May ;49(5):1777-83. Epub 2011 Mar 16. PMID: 21411577

Abstract Title: 

Use of a novel real-time PCR assay to detect oral polio vaccine shedding and reversion in stool and sewage samples after a mexican national immunization day.

Abstract: 

During replication, oral polio vaccine (OPV) can revert to neurovirulence and cause paralytic poliomyelitis. In individual vaccinees, it can acquire specific revertant point mutations, leading to vaccine-associated paralytic poliomyelitis (VAPP). With longer replication, OPV can mutate into vaccine-derived poliovirus (VDPV), which causes poliomyelitis outbreaks similar to those caused by wild poliovirus. After wild poliovirus eradication, safely phasing out vaccination will likely require global use of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) until cessation of OPV circulation. Mexico, where children receive routine IPV but where OPV is given biannually during national immunization days (NIDs), provides a natural setting to study the duration of OPV circulation in a population primarily vaccinated with IPV. We developed a real-time PCR assay to detect and distinguish revertant and nonrevertant OPV serotype 1 (OPV-1), OPV-2, and OPV-3 from RNA extracted directly from stool and sewage. Stool samples from 124 children and 8 1-liter sewage samples from Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico, collected 6 to 13 weeks after a NID were analyzed. Revertant OPV-1 was found in stool at 7 and 9 weeks, and nonrevertant OPV-2 and OPV-3 were found in stool from two children 10 weeks after the NID. Revertant OPV-1 and nonrevertant OPV-2 and -3 were detected in sewage at 6 and 13 weeks after the NID. Our real-time PCR assay was able to detect small amounts of OPV in both stool and sewage and to distinguish nonrevertant and revertant serotypes and demonstrated that OPV continues to circulate at least 13 weeks after a NID in a Mexican population routinely immunized with IPV.

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