Triglycerides Revisited to the Serial

Phytochemical studies of white mulberry fruits (Morus alba L.)

Medicinal preparations made from plant materials have been widely used for many years due to their high pharmacological efficacy and safety of use. Therefore, a study of white mulberry fruits (Morus alba L.) for the content of substances is very important for the pharmaceutical industry such as flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, minerals, vitamins, and amino acids. White mulberry has a wide distribution area around the world, including in Kazakhstan, especially in the southern regions of the country (Almaty, Zhambyl, and Turkestan regions). The composition of the fruits of this plant is significantly influenced by the area where the trees grow, and therefore, the establishment of a specific composition of biologically active substances is very important. In the course of this study, such methods as gas chromatography were used-mass spectrometry of an extract obtained using carbon dioxide under subcritical conditions, atomic absorption, gravimetric, and spectrophotometric methods. As a result, for the first time in Kazakhstan, the composition of white mulberry fruits (Morus alba L.), namely, biologically active substances, has been identified, such as alkaloids, flavonoids, vitamins, macro- and microelements, and amino acids and fatty acids; in addition, the percentage composition of the above compounds has been determined. The results of the study show a comparative analysis of the component composition of white mulberry fruits (Morus alba L.) in various areas of tree growth, including outside of Kazakhstan. The obtained data testify to the great possibilities of using this raw material in medicine, pharmacology, and the food industry.

The heterogeneity and complexity of skin surface lipids in human skin health and disease

The outermost epidermal layer of the skin, the stratum corneum, is not simply a barrier that safeguards skin integrity from external insults and invaders, it is also a delicately integrated interface composed of firm, essentially dead corneocytes and a distinctive lipid matrix. Together, the stratum corneum lipid matrix and sebum lipids derived from sebaceous glands give rise to a remarkably complex but quite unique blend of skin surface lipids that demonstrates tremendous heterogeneity and provides the skin with its indispensable protective coating. The stratum corneum lipid matrix is composed primarily of three major lipid classes: ceramides, non-esterified fatty acids and cholesterol, whereas sebum is a waxy mixture predominantly composed of acylglycerols, wax esters, non-esterified fatty acids, squalene, cholesterol and cholesterol esters. The balance of these skin surface lipids in terms of their relative abundance, composition, molecular organisation and dynamics, and their intricate interactions play a crucial role in the maintenance of healthy skin. For that reason, even minuscule alterations in skin surface lipid properties or overall lipid profile have been implicated in the aetiology of many common skin diseases including atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, xerosis, ichthyosis and acne. Novel lipid-based interventions aimed at correcting the skin surface lipid abnormalities have the potential to repair skin barrier integrity and the symptoms associated with such skin diseases, even though the exact mechanisms of lipid restoration remain elusive.

A multimodal analytical method to simultaneously determine monoacetyldiacylglycerols, medium and long chain triglycerides in biological samples during routine lipidomics

Background

Monoacetyldiglycerides (MAcDG), are acetylated triglycerides (TG) and an emerging class of bioactive or functional lipid with promising nutritional, medical, and industrial applications. A major challenge exists when analyzing MAcDG from other subclasses of TG in biological matrices, limiting knowledge on their applications and metabolism.

Methods

Herein a multimodal analytical method for resolution, identification, and quantitation of MAcDG in biological samples was demonstrated based on thin layer chromatography-flame ionization detection complimentary with C30-reversed phase liquid chromatography-high resolution accurate mass tandem mass spectrometry. This method was then applied to determine the MAcDG molecular species composition and quantity in E. solidaginis larvae. The statistical method for analysis of TG subclass composition and molecular species composition of E. solidaginis larvae was one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Results

The findings suggest that the proposed analytical method could simultaneously provide a fast, accurate, sensitive, high throughput analysis of MAcDG from other TG subclasses, including the fatty acids, isomers, and molecular species composition.

Conclusion

This method would allow for MAcDG to be included during routine lipidomics analysis of biological samples and will have broad interests and applications in the scientific community in areas such as nutrition, climate change, medicine and biofuel innovations.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12944-022-01650-w.

Efficacy of flavonoids-containing supplements on insulin resistance and associated metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese subjects: a systematic review and meta-analysis of 25 randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Obesity is becoming a global epidemic. Flavonoids, with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative functions, are proposed to treat insulin resistance (IR) in obese subjects. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of flavonoids-containing supplements on IR and associated metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese participants.

METHODS

Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) involving flavonoids-containing supplements used to treat overweight and obese subjects with results of IR, other associated metabolic risk factors, and adverse effects published were retrieved from 5 electronic databases from the year of inception to January 2, 2022.

RESULTS

Twenty-five RCTs (n = 1950) were included. Pooled results demonstrated that HOMA-IR in the group receiving flavonoids-containing supplements significantly decreased versus the control group (WMD = -0.132, 95% CI: -0.236 to -0.027, p = 0.013). Subgroup analyses showed that HOMA-IR in the subgroup receiving flavonoid-containing mixtures significantly decreased (WMD = -0.25, 95% CI: -0.43 to -0.06, p = 0.008), whereas such result was not found in the singly-used flavonoids subgroup (WMD = -0.08, 95% CI: -0.20 to 0.05, p = 0.240). In addition, QUICKI in the experimental group had an increasing trend compared to that in the control group (WMD = 0.01, 95% CI: -0.00 to 0.02, p = 0.065). For secondary outcomes, FBG, FBI, TC, TG, SBP, weight, BMI, and WHR in the group receiving flavonoids-containing supplements dropped significantly compared to those in the controls (WMD = -0.05, 95% CI: -0.08 to -0.02, p = 0.002; WMD = -0.58, 95% CI: -1.04 to -0.12, p = 0.014; WMD = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.06 to -0.03, p < 0.001; WMD = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.05 to -0.03, p < 0.001; WMD = -2.01, 95% CI: -3.17 to -0.86, p = 0.001; WMD = -0.29, 95% CI: -0.49 to -0.09, p = 0.004; WMD = -0.10 95% CI: -0.17 to -0.04, p = 0.003; WMD = -0.10, 95% CI: -0.01 to -0.00, p = 0.015; respectively). Adverse reactions did not differ between the group receiving flavonoids-containing supplements and the control group (RR = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.62 to 1.52, p = 0.905).

CONCLUSION

This study showed that flavonoids-containing supplements may be efficacious and safe in improving IR and associated metabolic risk factors in overweight and obese participants. Nevertheless, doubt over the findings remains because limited RCTs per type of flavonoids-containing supplement were investigated, and many of the RCTs had a small sample size. Therefore, the findings must be validated in future research.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

https://inplasy.com/inplasy-2022-2-0011/, identifier INPLASY202220011.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase in cell metabolism: Roles and mechanisms beyond gluconeogenesis

BACKGROUND

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PCK) has been almost exclusively recognized as a critical enzyme in gluconeogenesis, especially in the liver and kidney. Accumulating evidence has shown that the enhanced activity of PCK leads to increased glucose output and exacerbation of diabetes, whereas the defects of PCK result in lethal hypoglycemia. Genetic mutations or polymorphisms are reported to be related to the onset and progression of diabetes in humans.

SCOPE OF REVIEW

Recent studies revealed that the PCK pathway is more complex than just gluconeogenesis, depending on the health or disease condition. Dysregulation of PCK may contribute to the development of obesity, cardiac hypertrophy, stroke, and cancer. Moreover, a regulatory network with multiple layers, from epigenetic regulation, transcription regulation, to posttranscription regulation, precisely tunes the expression of PCK. Deciphering the molecular basis that regulates PCK may pave the way for developing practical strategies to treat metabolic dysfunction.

MAJOR CONCLUSIONS

In this review, we summarize the metabolic and non-metabolic roles of the PCK enzyme in cells, especially beyond gluconeogenesis. We highlight the distinct functions of PCK isoforms (PCK1 and PCK2), depict a detailed network regulating PCK's expression, and discuss its clinical relevance. We also discuss the therapeutic potential targeting PCK and the future direction that is highly in need to better understand PCK-mediated signaling under diverse conditions.