PMID: 

Neurol Sci. 2003 Oct ;24(3):111-6. PMID: 14600821

Abstract Title: 

Electromagnetic waves of 900 MHz in acute pentylenetetrazole model in ontogenesis in mice.

Abstract: 

The purpose of this study was to measure the effects of electromagnetic waves (EMW) at 900 MHz. EMW were produced by a signal generator and were administered to mice via an antenna. The frequency of the waves was tested by a spectrum analyser and a frequency-meter. The emitted power was 0.25 mW. A total of 117 mice (59 prepubertal and 58 adult) was used. Mice were exposed to EMW or sham radiation for 2 h and 20 h before an injection of pentylenetetrazole (PTZ). A statistically significant difference was found between the latency measurements within 20 h for prepubertal mice in stages 1 and 2 ( p

read more

PMID: 

J Cell Mol Med. 2019 Sep 29. Epub 2019 Sep 29. PMID: 31565850

Abstract Title: 

Taraxacum officinale extract ameliorates dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis by regulating fatty acid degradation and microbial dysbiosis.

Abstract: 

Numerous data show that taraxacum officinale extract (TOE) exerts protective effects on inflammatory diseases. However, the underlying mechanisms by which TOE affects dextran sulphate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis remain unclear. After DSS-induced colitis were treated with different concentrations of TOE for 8 days, the bodyweight, disease activity index (DAI), colon lengths and pathological scoring were assessed, and histopathological examination was confirmed by HE staining. Furthermore, a transcriptome sequencing was performed by using the colon tissues between TOE and DSS groups, and the differentially expressed genes were conducted for the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) and were validated by qRT-PCR and immunohistochemistry analysis. In addition, a 16S rDNA sequencing was carried out to distinguish the differential gut microbiota by using the mouse faecal samples between TOE and DSS groups. We found that TOE attenuated the clinical symptoms, lowered the inflammatory scoring and inhibited the secretion of proinflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 in DSS-induced colitis. KEGG and GSEA analysis demonstrated that fatty acid degradation and cytokine-receptor signalling were predominantly enriched in TOE-treated colitis as compared with the DSS group. Further investigations revealed that TOE increased the expression levels of Adh5, Aldh3a2 and Acox3, but decreased those of CCL20, CCR6 and CXCL1/5 in DSS-induced colitis, where TOE also induced the enrichment of S24-7 and adlercreutzia, but decreased the amount of anaerostipes, enterococcus, enterobacteriaceae and peptostreptococcaceae. In conclusion, TOE ameliorated DSS-induced colitis by regulating fatty acid degradation and microbial dysbiosis.

read more

PMID: 

Artif Cells Nanomed Biotechnol. 2019 Dec ;47(1):3929-3937. PMID: 31571510

Abstract Title: 

Taraxasterol fromprevents concanavalin A-induced acute hepatic injury in mice via modulating TLRs/NF-κB and Bax/Bc1-2 signalling pathways.

Abstract: 

Immune hepatic injury is a liver disease closely related to an immune imbalance of T cells and macrophages. Our previous series of studies have demonstrated that taraxasterol isolated frompossesses great anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effectsand. In this study, we explored the preventive effects of taraxasterol and its underlying mechanisms on concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute hepatic injury in mice. It was found that treatment with taraxasterol significantly decreased the Con A-induced increase of liver index, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and increased the Con A-induced decrease of hepatic glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) production. Taraxasterol also significantly inhibited the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1β, interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and IL-4. In addition, treatment with taraxasterol alleviated the hepatic histopathological injury and apoptosis induced by Con A. Furthermore, taraxasterol dramatically down-regulated the expressions of T toll-like receptor (TLR2), TLR4 and nuclear factor-κappaB (NF-κB) p65, and decreased the expression ratio of Bax/Bc1-2 in hepatic tissues. These findings suggest that taraxasterol prevents Con A-induced acute hepatic injury in mice by inhibiting TLRs/NF-κB inflammatory signalling pathway and promoting Bax/Bc1-2 anti-apoptotic signalling pathway.

read more

PMID: 

Complement Ther Med. 2019 Aug ;45:104-108. Epub 2019 May 25. PMID: 31331545

Abstract Title: 

A combination of melatonin, vitamin B6 and medicinal plants in the treatment of mild-to-moderate insomnia: A prospective pilot study.

Abstract: 

OBJECTIVES: Currently available pharmaceutical therapies for sleep disorders have significant side effects and dependence potential, thus necessitating the need for alternative treatment approaches. This study investigated the effect of a combination of melatonin, vitamin B6 and medicinal plants in patients with mild-to-moderate sleep disorders.DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a 4-week, single-center, single-arm, open-label study conducted in 40 participants with mild-to-moderate insomnia, in Poland.INTERVENTION: Participants received NovanuitTriple Action (melatonin, vitamin B6, California poppy extract, passionflower extract, and lemon balm extract) capsules per day for two weeks.OUTCOMES: Using a daily electronic sleep diary, information was collected on sleep quality (assessed on a 0-10 scale), total sleep duration, sleep onset latency, sleep-related daytime impairment, and safety of the study medication.RESULTS: There was a statistically significant (p 

read more

PMID: 

J Ethnopharmacol. 2019 Aug 30 ;246:112208. Epub 2019 Aug 30. PMID: 31476443

Abstract Title: 

Melissa officinalis ssp. altissima extracts: A therapeutic approach targeting psoriasis in mice.

Abstract: 

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Melissa officinalis L., commonly known as lemon balm, is one of the most well known edible and medicinal plants of the Lamiaceae family. It is quoted in almost all known medical treatises, from Antiquity up to modern era, such as Corpus Hippocraticum, Dioscorides' De Materia Medica and later on in medieval medical manuscripts and Pharmacopoeias. Actually, it is widely used as herbal medicine for the relief of mild symptoms of mental stress, to aid sleep and for symptomatic treatment of mild gastrointestinal complaints including bloating and flatulence. In Greece, the empirical physicians"vikoyiatroi"recommended the decoction of dry flowers and leaves to treat tracheobronchitis, hysteria, epilepsy, heart arrhythmias, as hypnotic and against skin disorders.AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study was conducted to investigate the potential beneficial effects in psoriasis in mice of M. officinalis ssp. altissima and to carry out the chemical analysis in order to reveal its main bioactive secondary metabolites.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non polar and polar extracts of M. officinalis ssp. altissima aerial parts were prepared by using dichloromethane and methanol, successively; in addition a decoction was made upon oral information by local users in Crete, where the plant was collected. All three preparations were chemically analyzed in order to isolate their main constituents. Chemical structures of all isolated compounds were determined by 1D, 2D-NMR and UV-Vis spectroscopy. Furthermore, the antioxidant potential of extracts and decoction was evaluated through DPPH radical scavenging capability. The in vivo in mice anti-psoriatic efficacy of all preparations was estimated through clinical and histopathological assessment and measurements of TEWL and hydration.RESULTS: The dichloromethane extract yielded ursolic acid, 2α-hydroxy-ursolic acid, pomolic acid, 3β-stearyloxy-urs-12-ene, oleanolic acid, noropacursane and campesterol; the methanol extract afforded rosmarinic acid and methyl rosmarinate, while from the decoction caffeic acid, 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)lactic acid and rosmarinic acid were isolated. The psoriasis evaluation, based on PASI score, photodocumentation and histopathological estimation showed that the decoction primarily and the dichloromethane extract secondly could significantly contribute to psoriasis treatment. The decoction seems able to reestablish skin physiology by decreasing drynessand enhancing skin barrier function. Moreover, the decoction showed the best antioxidant activity, while the dichloromethane extract the weakest.CONCLUSIONS: The triterpene derivatives of the dichloromethane extract are likely to be responsible for its anti-psoriatic activity. The abundant polyphenolic load of the decoction contributes to its high antioxidant activity and the most effective results against psoriasis. The anti-psoriatic activity of the decoction confirmed the traditional use of this plant as antioxidant, wound healing and skin barrier repair agent.

read more

PMID: 

Front Pharmacol. 2019 ;10:978. Epub 2019 Sep 9. PMID: 31551783

Abstract Title: 

Paeoniflorin Inhibits Mesangial Cell Proliferation and Inflammatory Response in Rats With Mesangial Proliferative Glomerulonephritis Through PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β Pathway.

Abstract: 

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) is the most common type of chronic kidney disease in China, characterized by mesangial cell proliferation and inflammatory response. Paeoniflorin, an effective composition extracted fromAlba, has been used for various kinds of kidney diseases. However, there are no studies reporting the effects of paeoniflorin on MPGN. The present study aims to investigate whether paeoniflorin plays a role in MPGN and confirm the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results manifested that paeoniflorin strongly restrained 24 h urinary protein and promoted renal function and dyslipidemia in a MPGN rat model. Moreover, paeoniflorin attenuated mesangial cell proliferation and inflammation both in MPGN rats and human mesangial cells (HMCs) treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In detail, paeoniflorin decreased the number of mesangial cells and expressions of proliferation marker Ki67 in MPGN rats. Paeoniflorin also inhibited HMC proliferation and blocked cell cycle progression. In addition, the contents of inflammatory factors and the expressions of macrophage marker iNOS were decreased after paeoniflorin treatment. Furthermore, we found that the protective effect of paeoniflorin was accompanied by a strong inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT/glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β pathway. Paeoniflorin enhanced the inhibitory effect of PI3K inhibitor LY294002 and suppressed the activated effect of PI3K agonist insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) on PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway. In conclusion, these results demonstrated that paeoniflorin ameliorates MPGN by inhibiting mesangial cell proliferation and inflammatory response through the PI3K/AKT/GSK-3β pathway.

read more

Revolutionary research illuminates that a new frontier of personalized medicine lies in the virome. Rather than harbingers of disease, viruses are intrinsic to immune modulation and to disease susceptibility.

read more

The science supporting the efficacy of magnesium for major depression and other psychiatric disorders, testing for magnesium deficiency, and which forms and dosages are most effective.

read more

PMID: 

Sci Total Environ. 2019 Aug 30 ;697:134194. Epub 2019 Aug 30. PMID: 31491639

Abstract Title: 

Microplastics modify the toxicity of glyphosate on Daphnia magna.

Abstract: 

Plastic contamination is an environmental problem spreading to even the most remote aquatic and terrestrial habitats and in particular, microplastics represent an uncertain threat for organisms. Microplastics can have a direct negative effect, but they can also potentially modify the toxicity and bioavailability of pollutants. Here, we tested over 1 week the combined effect of three different glyphosate chemical formulations (glyphosate acid, glyphosate-monoisopropylamine salt, and Roundup Gran) and two types of microplastics (polyethylene (PE) microbeads and polyethylene terephthalate/polyamide (PET/PA) fibers), on Daphnia magna. Glyphosate-monoisopropylamine salt caused the highest mortality after 1 week exposure (23.3%), whereas glyphosate acid the lowest (12.5%), when tested in the absence of microplastics. These results were inverted, however, when the individuals were exposed in combination with the PE microbeads (glyphosate acid: 53.3% and glyphosate-monoisopropylamine salt: 18.3%) or the PET/PA fibers (glyphosate acid: 30.0% and glyphosate-monoisopropylamine salt: 8.3%). The mortality in the Roundup Gran formulation also increased when combined with the two microplastics, though the effect was less pronounced. In all experiments, the effect of the treatments and time was significant, though there was no significant interaction between them. In most treatments, negative effects were not observed after 48 h or later. The change in toxicity of the glyphosate formulations caused by microplastics can be linked to thedifferent sorption properties of the glyphosate-based chemicals formulations. The outcome of this study highlights that beside the potential direct negative effects of microplastics, they can modify the toxicity of pollutants, such as herbicides.

read more

PMID: 

Microorganisms. 2019 Sep 23 ;7(10). Epub 2019 Sep 23. PMID: 31548508

Abstract Title: 

Food Preservatives InduceDysbiosis in Human-Microbiota Associated-Deficient Mice.

Abstract: 

The worldwide incidence of many immune-mediated and metabolic diseases, initially affecting only the wealthy Western countries, is increasing rapidly. Many of these diseases are associated with the compositional and functional alterations of gut microbiota, i.e., dysbiosis. The most consistent markers of the dysbiosis are a decrease in microbiota diversity and an expansion of. The role of food preservatives as potential triggers of gut microbiota dysbiosis has been long overlooked. Using a human microbiota-associated mouse model, we demonstrate that a mixture of common antimicrobial food additives induces dysbiosis characterised by an overgrowth ofphylum and a decrease in theorder. Remarkably, human gut microbiota in a-deficient genetic background is even more susceptible to the induction ofdysbiosis by additives than the microbiota in a wild-type background. To conclude, our data demonstrate that antimicrobial food additives trigger gut microbiota dysbiosis in both wild-type and-deficient backgrounds and at the exposure levels reached in European populations. Whether this additive-modified gut microbiota plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated and metabolic diseases remains to be elucidated.

read more