The present study was conducted to evaluate the methanolic extract of Piper betle leaves (MPBL) and its organic fractions with regard to antitumor activity against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in Swiss albino mice and to confirm their antioxidant activities. At 24 h post-intraperitoneal inoculation of tumor cells into mice, extracts were administered at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight for nine consecutive days. The antitumor effects of the extracts were then assessed according to tumor volume, packed cell count, viable and non-viable tumor cell count, median survival time and increase in life span of EAC-bearing mice. Next, hematological profiles and serum biochemical parameters were calculated, and antioxidant properties were assessed by estimating lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) levels. MPBL and the ethylacetate fraction (EPBL) at a dose of 100 mg/kg induced a significant decrease in tumor volume, packed cell volume and viable cell count and increased the life span of the EAC-bearing mice (P<0.05). Hematological and serum biochemical profiles were restored to normal levels in the extract-treated mice compared with the EAC control mice. MPBL and EPBL treatment significantly decreased lipid peroxidation (P<0.05) and restored GSH, SOD and CAT levels towards normal compared with the EAC control. Taken together, the results of the present study demonstrated that Piper betle extracts exhibit significant antitumor activity, which may be attributed to the augmentation of endogenous antioxidant potential.
Abstract. Cudrania tricuspidata (CT) is a type of add-value beneficial plant. The aim of the present study was to determine the components of CT that inhibit α-glucosidase activity. Roots, leaves and stems of the plants were obtained and several subgroups were created according to harvesting time. Root extracts exhibited a 77% velocity inhibition at a concentration of 300 µg/ml and an inhibitory constant of 41.6 µg/ml. The inhibitory percentage of the positive control at 1 mM was ~67% of the enzymatic velocity with acarbose. According to the Michaelis-Menten equation, the type of inhibitory mechanism underlying the effects of the stem and root samples according to climate was competitive or non-competitive inhibition, suggesting that the extracts contain additional antidiabetic compounds produced during the growth period. Collectively, the results from our study suggested that stem and root extracts of CT serve as an antidiabetic biomaterial and contain a variety of antidiabetic compounds.
Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is characterized by the death of the cellular portion of the femoral head due a reduction or disruption in the blood supply. Certain studies have implicated coagulation disorders, including thrombophilia and hypofibrinolysis, in the pathogenesis of ONFH. The factor V (F5) Leiden mutation has been suggested to be a genetic risk factor for venous thromboembolism and osteonecrosis in Caucasian individuals, however, this association remains controversial in other populations. The present study aimed to identify polymorphisms of the F5 gene and performed a case‑control study in a Korean population. The F5 gene was sequenced in 24 unrelated Korean individuals, and 16 polymorphisms were detected. A total of six polymorphisms were genotyped in 423 patients with ONFH and 348 control individuals. Analysis of the association between genotyped single nucleotide polymorphisms and haplotypes and with ONFH was performed. Comparison of the ONFH samples and the control individuals using logistic regression models revealed no statistically significant difference in the frequencies of the F5 polymorphisms and haplotypes. These findings suggested that F5 polymorphisms were not significant in the susceptibility to ONFH in the Korean population.
In order to evaluate whether the aqueous fraction of Cinnamomum cassia produced by solid-state fermentation with Phellinus baumii (afCc/Pb) inhibits atopic symptoms in vivo, its efficacy was evaluated in an animal model of 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)-induced atopic dermatitis. Immune-related cells were quantified using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and phenotypic cytokines, enzymes and the expression of other proteins in the animal model were evaluated. The data revealed that afCc/Pb (100 µg/ml) exhibited strong anti-atopic activity, causing a significant 40% reduction in immune response, as shown by the extent of ear swelling, resulting from a decrease in the number of eosinophils in the skin tissues due to decreased matrix metalloproteinase-2 and interleukin-31 expression. These results collectively suggest that afCc/Pb has the potential to alleviate the symptoms of atopic dermatitis in a mouse model of DNFB-induced atopic dermatitis, and that it may be a valuable bioresource for the cosmetic/cosmeceutical industry.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used as inhibitors of gastric juice secretion for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease. However, there are no previous studies of the effects on melanogenesis resulting from PPI treatments. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of PPIs on melanogenesis in melan-a cells derived from immortalized mouse melanocytes. Tyrosinase activity and copper-chelating activity were measured spectrophotometrically. In addition, the melanin content and viability of melan-a cells treated with PPIs were assessed and the mRNA levels of melanogenesis-associated genes were measured by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Treatment with rabeprazole, but not the other PPIs tested, resulted in strong, dose-dependent inhibition of mushroom tyrosinase (TYR). By contrast, each of the PPIs tested exhibited copper-chelating activity. Treatment of melan-a cells with 100 µM concentrations of the PPIs resulted in significantly reduced melanin synthesis and reduced expression of several melanogenesis-associated genes, including , TYR-related protein-1 () and , and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, but did notresult in cytotoxic effects. These results suggest that PPIs inhibit melanin biosynthesis in melan-a cells via the downregulation of melanogenesis-associated genes. Furthermore, the findings indicate that PPIs in general could be utilized as skin-whitening agents and/or as biomaterial for treating hyperpigmentation disorders.
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