PMID: 

An Acad Bras Cienc. 2019 ;91(4):e20190337. Epub 2019 Oct 28. PMID: 31664310

Abstract Title: 

Genotoxic and Genoprotective Potential of Black Mulberry (Morus nigra) Fruit.

Abstract: 

Black Mulberry (Morus nigra L.) belongs to Moraceae family. The present study evaluated the possible genotoxic and/or protective activities of black mulberry fruit juice (BMFJ), in vitro, using mitomycin C (MMC) as a positive control, by chromosomal aberrations and micronucleus assays. Human lymphocytes were treated with BMFJ concentrations alone (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 dilutions), pretreatment (49h) (0.20μg/ml MMC+ 1/1 BMFJ, 0.20 μg/ml MMC+1/2 diluted BMFJ, 0.20 μg/ml MMC+1/4 diluted BMFJ, 0.20 μg/ml MMC+1/8 diluted BMFJ) and simultaneous-treatment (48h) (0.20 μg/ml MMC+ 1/1 BMFJ, 0.20 μg/ml MMC+1/2 diluted BMFJ, 0.20 μg/ml MMC+1/4 diluted BMFJ, 0.20 μg/ml MMC+1/8 diluted BMFJ). The in vitroresults demonstrated that BMFJ showed no genotoxicity, but it significantly decreased chromosomal aberration and micronucleus frequency induced by MMC. Our results showed that all concentrations of BMFJ revealed no genotoxicity but protective activity against genomic changes induced by anti-tumoragent MMC in human lymphocytes. Protective effects of BMFJ on MMC induced chromosomal damages most probably due to its free radical scavenging activity.

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PMID: 

Altern Ther Health Med. 2019 Jul ;25(4):54-63. PMID: 31202212

Abstract Title: 

Hepatoprotective, Antihyperlipidemic and Radical Scavenging Activity of Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) on Alcoholic Liver Disease.

Abstract: 

Alcohol catabolism produces oxidative stress, causing cell death and inflammation in liver tissue principally. Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) and Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) are medicinal plants that have shown a potent antioxidant activity related with anti-inflammatory properties. The objective of this study was the evaluation of Hawthorn and Rosemary methanol extracts as preventive treatment in alcoholic liver disease (ALD). ALD rat model was used to measure serum hepatic enzyme levels (AST, ALT,γ-GT and ACP), total bilirubin, liver glycogen, lipid peroxidation, total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and serum lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL and HDL) as well as histopathological analysis in hepatic tissues was recorder. Phytotreatments showed preventive effect, decreasing AST, γ-GT, lipid peroxidation and bilirubin indictors while TAC and liver glycogen stores increase. Interestingly, Rosemary diminished the levels of ALT and ACP. Remarkable both treatments show liver tissue damage reduction. Hawthorn proved antihyperlipidemic effect, eviting increase in all lipid indicators, while Rosemary showed antihyperlipidemic effect only in LDL levels without affecting HDL levels. The results indicate that Hawthorn and Rosemary treatments have different mechanisms of action; however they show hepatoprotective effect against ALD in rat model. Hawthorn and Rosemary could beused to prevent or help in the treatment of ALD.

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PMID: 

Nutrients. 2019 Oct 18 ;11(10). Epub 2019 Oct 18. PMID: 31635292

Abstract Title: 

Intake of 100% Fruit Juice Is Associated with Improved Diet Quality of Adults: NHANES 2013-2016 Analysis.

Abstract: 

Fruit intake is generally associated with better diet quality and overall health. This report examined the effect of 100% fruit juice (considered a part of total fruit servings) and its replacement with whole fruits equivalents on nutrient intake and diet quality. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016 data (24-h dietary recall) from adults 19+ years (= 10,112) were used to assess the diet quality and nutrient intakes and to isocalorically replace with 100% fruit juice intakes whole fruit equivalents in a modeling analysis. About 15.6% adults were 100% fruit juice consumers. Consumers had higher diet quality (10% higher Healthy Eating Index, HEI 2015 score), and higher intakes of energy, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and vitamin D than non-consumers. Consumption of 100% fruit juice was also associated with lower risk of being overweight/obese (-22%) and having metabolic syndrome (-27%). Replacing 100% fruit juice with whole fruits equivalents did not affect nutrient intake except for a modest increase (+6.4%) in dietary fiber. Results show that 100% fruit juice intake was associated with better diet quality and higher nutrient intake. Replacement of 100% fruit juice intake with whole fruits equivalents had no significant effect on nutrients except for dietary fiber.

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PMID: 

Eur J Microbiol Immunol (Bp). 2019 Oct 3 ;9(3):73-79. Epub 2019 Aug 16. PMID: 31662885

Abstract Title: 

Immunomodulatory and Antimicrobial Effects of Vitamin C.

Abstract: 

Humans have lost their vitamin C-synthesizing capacities during evolution. Therefore, the uptake of this essential compound from external sources is mandatory in order to prevent vitamin C-deficient conditions resulting in severe morbidities such as scurvy. The potent antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and antiinfectious effects of vitamin C are known since the 1930s. We here (i) review the impact of vitamin C on innate and adaptive immune functions, (ii) provide an overview of its antimicrobial, antibacterial, antiviral, antiparasitic, and antifungal properties, and finally, (iii) discuss vitamin C as an adjunct treatment option for the combat of human infections by bacteria, particularly by emerging multidrug-resistant species.

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PMID: 

Nat Prod Res. 2019 Aug 20:1-4. Epub 2019 Aug 20. PMID: 31429298

Abstract Title: 

A new dineolignan with anti–amyloid aggregation activity from the fruits ofbge.

Abstract: 

A new dineolignan, crataeguslignan A (), along with one known dineolignan (were isolated from the fruits ofBge. Its chemical structure was identified by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses. All the isolated compounds were investigated with regard to their Ainhibition activity. Among them,displayed the most potent Ainhibitory ability with the inhibition rate of 85.2% at the concentration of 20 μM.

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PMID: 

Nutr Cancer. 2019 Oct 22:1-11. Epub 2019 Oct 22. PMID: 31635496

Abstract Title: 

Mexican hawthorn (J. B. Phipps) stems and leaves induce cell death on breast cancer cells.

Abstract: 

Diverse molecules with cytotoxic activity against cancer cells have been isolated from the polar extracts of different parts of various hawthorn species that grow around the world. In Mexico, hawthorn () is popularly consumed, but its content of anticancer substances has never been evaluated. Because antitumor substances have been identified in polar and nonpolar extracts of many plants, we evaluated the cytotoxic activity against breast cancer cells of petroleum ether, ethanol, and water extracts of the leaves and stems of. In contrast to other hawthorn species that contain anti-tumor substances in polar extracts, the petroleum ether extract (but not the ethanol or water extracts) ofhad cytotoxic properties (IC 

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PMID: 

J Med Food. 2019 Sep 13. Epub 2019 Sep 13. PMID: 31517568

Abstract Title: 

-Sitosterol Shows Potential to Protect Against the Development of High-Fructose Diet-Induced Metabolic Dysfunction in Female Rats.

Abstract: 

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a combination of risk factors that include insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. The consumption of high-fructose diets contributes to the development of MetS.-sitosterol a naturally occurring phytosterol possesses antiobesogenic and antidiabetic effects. This study evaluated the potential protective effect of-sitosterol against the development of metabolic dysfunction in growing female rats fed a high-fructose diet, mimicking children fed obesogenic diets. Thirty-five 21-day-old female Sprague Dawley rat pups were randomly allocated to and administered the following treatments: group 1-standard rat chow (SRC) + plain drinking water (PW) + plain gelatine cube (PC); group 2-SRC + 20% w/w fructose solution (FS) as drinking fluid + PC; group 3-SRC + FS + 100 mg/kg fenofibrate in gelatine cubes; group 4-SRC + FS + 20 mg/kg-sitosterol gelatine cube (Bst); and group 5-SRC + PW + Bst. Following 12 weeks of feeding, the rats were fasted overnight, weighed, and then euthanized. Plasma cholesterol, insulin, glucose, triglyceride, and adiponectin concentrations were determined. Visceral fat was dissected out and weighed. The high-fructose diet increased ( 

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PMID: 

Curr Pharm Biotechnol. 2019 ;20(11):945-954. PMID: 31264544

Abstract Title: 

Preparation of Quercetin Loaded Microparticles and their Antitumor Activity against Human Lung Cancer Cells (A549) in vitro.

Abstract: 

BACKGROUND: Novel quercetin-loaded microparticles (QM) were fabricated using coaxial electrospraying, characterized for surface morphology and release profile, and evaluated for antitumor activity in vitro.METHODS: QM exhibited an average diameter of 1.69±1.13 mm, which was an appropriate size suitable for respiratory delivery. X-ray diffraction patterns showed that the components in QM existed in an amorphous physical form, leading to favorable interactions between the drug (quercetin), the polymer matrix (polyvinylpyrrolidone, PVP) and other excipients (sodium dodecyl sulfate and sucralose).RESULTS: QM performed much faster release rate compared with free quercetin powder (Q) in vitro. Furthermore, QM also showed more potent inhibitory effects on A549 cell growth with reduced cell viability, decreased cell migration and induced more G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest than Q.CONCLUSION: Thus, the quercetin loaded microparticles exhibited more potent inhibitory effects than free quercetin on A549 cell. The increased antitumor activity could be attributed to the enhanced accumulation of quercetin in the A549 cells with the QM. However, further studies are necessary to elucidate the exact mechanisms.

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PMID: 

Cancer Med. 2019 Aug ;8(10):4806-4820. Epub 2019 Jul 5. PMID: 31273958

Abstract Title: 

Quercetin shows anti-tumor effect in hepatocellular carcinoma LM3 cells by abrogating JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVE: Hepatocellular carcinima is one of the most common tumors in clinic and also one of the leading causes of death from cancer worldwide. Quercetin shows significant effects on blocking the development of various cancers.METHODS: We used the human hepatocellular carcinoma LM3 and nude mice tumor model to assess the effects of quercetin in hepatocellular carcinoma and clarify its mechanism of action. We collected LM3 cell line treated with different doses of quercetin at different time periods and determined the vital indexes. The liver tissues of mice were collected and used for western boltting (WB), Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) and TUNEL staining.RESULTS: Results indicated that quercetin suppressed the Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) growth both in vivo and in vitro. Quercetin could disturb LM3 cells proliferation and cell cycle distribution, thus inducing apoptosis. At the same time, quercetin inhibited LM3 cells migration and invasion and promoted HCC autophagy. These effects at least partly depended on the down-regulation of the activation of JAK2 and STAT3 by quercetin.CONCLUSION: Quercetin inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma progression by modulating cell apoptosis, migration, invasion, and autophagy; and its effects were at least partly related with the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

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PMID: 

Phytother Res. 2019 Sep ;33(9):2401-2408. Epub 2019 Jul 18. PMID: 31317585

Abstract Title: 

Quercetin reduces TNF-α-induced mesangial cell proliferation and inhibits PTX3 production: Involvement of NF-κB signaling pathway.

Abstract: 

Lupus nephritis (LN) is an autoimmune disease caused by systemic lupus erythematosus. Excessive proliferation of mesangial cells is one of the most serious pathological manifestations of LN. In addition, the expression of PTX3 is elevated in the serum of patients with LN. Quercetin has good anti-inflammatory effects and immunomodulatory activities. In this study, the result of MTT indicated that quercetin treatment alleviated the excessive proliferation of mesangial cells. ELISA and immunofluorescence experiments showed that quercetin treatment inhibited the expression of PTX3. Three doses of quercetin (20, 40, and 80 μM) were selected for the experiment. It is noteworthy that the efficacy of quercetin at 80 μM was significantly better than that of other dose groups. And the effect in inhibiting PTX3 expression was comparable with that of the PDTC (80 μM) positive control. Western blot and qRT-PCR analysisrevealed that quercetin treatment reduced the expression of nuclear factor-κB p65 and IKKβ, increased the expression of IκBα, and inhibited the expression of PTX3. In conclusion, through inhibiting the activation of nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway, quercetin treatment could reduce the expression of PTX3 and inhibit the excessive proliferation of mesangial cells, suggesting that quercetin is a potential therapeutic drug for LN.

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