No abstract

Morus alba L. fruits have long been used in traditional medicine by many cultures. Their medicinal attributes include cardiovascular, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory actions. However, their mechanism of macrophage activation and anti-cancer effects remain unclear. The present study investigated the molecular mechanisms of immune stimulation and improved chemotherapeutic effect of M. alba L. fruit extract (MFE). MFE stimulated the production of cytokines, nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and tumoricidal properties of macrophages. MFE activated macrophages through the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKinase) and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling pathways downstream from toll-like receptor (TLR) 4. MFE was shown to exhibit cytotoxicity of CT26 cells via the activated macrophages, even though MFE did not directly affect CT26 cells. In a xenograft mouse model, MFE significantly enhanced anti-cancer activity combined with 5-fluorouracil and markedly promoted splenocyte proliferation, natural killer (NK) cell activity, cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity and IFN-γ production. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels were significantly increased. These results indicate the indirect anti-cancer activity of MFE through improved immune response mediated by TLR4 signaling. M. alba L. fruit extract might be a potential anti-tumor immunomodulatory candidate chemotherapy agent.

No abstract

Abstract:Changes in the water level of Qinghai Lake, the largest inland lake in China, directly affect the ecological security of Qinghai province and even the northwest of China. This study aimed to investigate the lake level and identify causes of changes in the lake level of Qinghai Lake. The results showed that the lake level was 3196.55 m in 1959 and gradually declined to 3192.86 m in 2004, with an average decreasing rate of 8.2 cm·year −1 over 45 years. However, the lake level increased continuously by 1.04 m from 2005 to 2010. During the period 1961-2010, the annual average temperature showed an increasing trend in the Qinghai Lake basin, at a rate of 0.32 • C/decade, and the annual precipitation showed obvious fluctuations with an average precipitation of 381.70 mm/year. Annual evaporation showed a decreasing trend (−30.80 mm/decade). The change in lake level was positively correlated to precipitation, surface runoff water and groundwater inflow into the lake and negatively correlated to evaporation from the lake surface. The total water consumption by human activities merely accounted for a very small part of precipitation, surface runoff inflow and groundwater inflow (1.97%) and of lake evaporation (1.87%) in Qinghai Lake basin. The annual water consumption of artificial afforestation and grass plantation accounting for 5.07% of total precipitation, surface runoff inflow and groundwater inflow and 5.43% of the lake evaporation. Therefore, the water level depended more on climatic factors than on anthropogenic factors.

A ginsenoside F2-enhanced mixture (SGL 121) increases the content of ginsenoside F2 by biotransformation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of SGL 121 on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in vitro and in vivo. High-fat, high-carbohydrate-diet (HFHC)-fed mice were administered SGL 121 for 12 weeks to assess its effect on improving NAFLD. In HepG2 cells, SGL 121 acted as an antioxidant, a hepatoprotectant, and had an anti-lipogenic effect. In NAFLD mice, SGL 121 significantly improved body fat mass; levels of hepatic triglyceride (TG), hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA), serum total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL); and activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In HepG2 cells, induced by oxidative stress, SGL 121 increased cytoprotection, inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and increased antioxidant enzyme activity. SGL 121 activated the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway and improved lipid accumulation induced by free fatty acids (FFA). Sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) expression was significantly reduced in NAFLD-induced liver and HepG2 cells treated with SGL 121. Moreover, SGL 121 activated adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which plays an important role in the regulation of lipid metabolism. The effect of SGL 121 on the improvement of NAFLD seems to be related to its antioxidant effects and activation of AMPK. In conclusion, SGL 121 can be potentially used for the treatment of NAFLD.

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are synthetic molecules which bind to estrogen receptors (ER) and can modulate its transcriptional capabilities in different ways in diverse estrogen target tissues. Tamoxifen, the prototypical SERM, is extensively used for targeted therapy of ER positive breast cancers. Unfortunately, the use of tamoxifen is associated with acquired resistance and some undesirable side effects. This study investigated the availability of the conventional SERMs on the TAM-resistance breast cancer cells. SERMs showed more effectiveness in MCF-7 cells than tamoxifen resistant cells, except toremifene and ospemifene. Especially, toremifene was more efficacious in tamoxifen resistant cells than MCF-7. Ospemifene had similar cytotoxic activity on the two types of breast cancers. The other SERMs used in this experiment didn’t inhibit efficiently the proliferation of tamoxifen resistant cells. These results support the possibility to usage of toremifene on tamoxifen resistant cancer. The effectiveness by toremifene on tamoxifen resistant cells might be different pathways from the apoptosis and the autophagy. Further study should be needed to elucidate the underlying mechanism of effect of toremifene on tamoxifen resistant cancer.

BackgroundKudzu (Pueraria thunbergiana) root has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, the vine of the kudzu plant has been considered waste material. This study aimed to investigate the hepatoprotective properties of the kudzu vine.MethodsWe created 0 %, 30 %, 70 %, and 95 % ethanolic kudzu vine extracts. The isoflavone contents of kudzu vine extract were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. Tertiary-butylhydroperoxide (t-BHP) was added to human liver-derived HepG2 cells, and the production of reactive oxygen species was measured in the presence and absence of kudzu vine extract. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in all kudzu vine extracts using a hydroxyradical scavenging assay. Thirty-five male Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into seven groups (n = 5); two groups were not given any extract or drug, one group was treated with 50 mg/kg silymarin orally for 5 days, and the remaining four groups were respectively treated with 100 mg/kg of 0 %, 30 %, 70 %, or 95 % ethanolic extract of kudzu vine orally once daily for 5 days. On day 5 the treatment groups and one untreated group were fed 0.75 ml/kg carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) to induce liver damage. Blood and liver tissue samples were collected 24 h after CCl4 administration for measurement of plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and concentration of malondialdehyde and glutathione in liver tissue.ResultsPuerarin was the most abundant isoflavone in kudzu vine extract. Kudzu vine extract significantly reduced the cytotoxicity and production of reactive oxygen species induced by t-BHP in a dose-dependent manner. Treatment with 0 % and 30 % ethanolic extracts of kudzu vine significantly lowered the plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase in a CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity rat model (P < 0.05). Glutathione was significantly elevated in the 30 % ethanolic extract-treated group (P < 0.05), while the malondialdehyde level in liver tissue was significantly decreased in the 0 % and 30 % ethanolic extract-treated groups (P < 0.05).ConclusionsThe kudzu vine is potentially highly beneficial in treating liver damage, as it scavenges reactive free radicals and boosts the endogenous antioxidant system.

Previous studies have confirmed the anti-melanogenic effect of the aerial part of Pueraria lobata, however, due to its inherent color, P. lobata has limited commercial use. In this study, an extract (GALM-DC) of the aerial part of P. lobata having improved color by the use of activated carbon was obtained. Furthermore, the active compound neobavaisoflavone (NBI) was identified from GALM-DC. The effect of NBI on melanogenesis, tyrosinase activity, α-glucosidase activity, and mechanism of action in melanocytes was investigated. Tyrosinase activity, melanin contents and the expression of melanin-related genes and proteins were determined in B16F10 cells. NBI reduced melanin synthesis and tyrosinase activity. Furthermore, NBI treatment reduced the mRNA and protein expression levels of MITF, TRP-1, and tyrosinase. NBI also works by phosphorylating and activating proteins that inhibit melanogenesis, such as GSK3β and ERK. Specific inhibitors of Akt/GSK-3β (LY294002) and MEK/ERK (PD98059) signaling prevented the inhibition of melanogenesis by NBI. NBI inhibited melanin production through the regulation of MEK/ERK and Akt/GSK-3β signaling pathways in α-MSH-stimulated B16F10 cells. NBI suppresses tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis through inhibition of α-glucosidase activity. Besides, NBI significantly reduced melanogenesis in a reconstructed human 3D skin model. In conclusion, these results suggest that NBI has potential as a skin-whitening agent for hyperpigmentation.