Ameliorative effect of panaxynol on the reduction in high-molecular-weight adiponectin secretion from 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with palmitic acids

FoxO1 signaling as a therapeutic target for type 2 diabetes and obesity

Glucose production and the consumption of high levels of carbohydrate increase the chance of insulin resistance, especially in cases of obesity. Therefore, maintaining a balanced glucose homeostasis might form a strategy to prevent or cure diabetes and obesity. The activation and inhibition of glucose production is complicated due to the presence of many interfering pathways. These pathways can be viewed at the downstream level because they activate certain transcription factors, which include the Forkhead-O1 (FoxO1). This has been identified as a significant agent in the pancreas, liver, and adipose tissue, which is significant in the regulation of lipids and glucose. The objective of this review is to discuss the intersecting portrayal of FoxO1 and its parallel cross-talk which highlights obesity-induced insulin susceptibility in the discovery of a targeted remedy. The review also analyses current progress and provides a blueprint on therapeutics, small molecules, and extracts/phytochemicals which are explored at the pre-clinical level.

Effects of 1,25(OH)2 D3 on lipid droplet growth in adipocytes

This study aimed to explore the effects of 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ on lipid droplet (LD) growth in 3T3-L1 adipocytes of hypertrophy model. Cocktail method was used to induce differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells. After 8 days, the cells were modeled by 100, 300, 600, and 900 μM palmitic acid (PA) for 24 hr. The best concentration of modeling was screened by MTT results and triglycerides (TG) content. The model cells were intervened by 1, 10, and 100 nM 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ for 24 hr. Then, the TG content of cells were detected and stained by oil red O. The diameter and quantity of LDs were analyzed. mRNA relative expression levels of genes related to LD (CIDE-a, Fsp27, PLIN-1), upstream response factor (PPAR-α, PPAR-γ, and VDR), and TG metabolism (long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 3, 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 1, adipose triglyceride lipase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2, glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 3, glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 4, hormone-sensitive lipase, mannosyl (alpha-1,3-)-glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetyl glucosaminyl transferase, phosphatidic acid phosphatase, and uncoupling protein-1) were detected by RT-qPCR. A total of 300 μM PA was selected as the optimum concentration. Compared with model group, 10 and 100 nM 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ decreased the average diameter, increased the quantity of LDs, upregulated PPAR-α and PLIN-1 mRNA expression levels, and downregulated CIDE-a and Fsp27 mRNA expression levels significantly (p < .05). However, 1 nM 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ did not alter LD morphology and TG content. mRNA expression levels of long chain acyl-CoA synthetase 3, 1-acylglycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 1, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 2, glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 3, and glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase 4 in 10 and 100 nM groups were significantly lower than those in the model group (p < .05); mRNA expression levels of adipose triglyceride lipase, diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1, hormone-sensitive lipase, mannosyl (alpha-1,3-)-glycoprotein beta-1,2-N-acetyl glucosaminyl transferase, phosphatidic acid phosphatase, and uncoupling protein-1 were significantly increased in the 100 nM group (p < .05). The 10 and 100 nM 1,25(OH)₂ D₃ can inhibit LD fusion, promote LD decomposition, reduce LD volume, and inhibit lipogenesis through the PPAR-α signaling pathway.

Terpenoids, Cannabimimetic Ligands, beyond the Cannabis Plant

Medicinal use of Cannabis sativa L. has an extensive history and it was essential in the discovery of phytocannabinoids, including the Cannabis major psychoactive compound—Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC)—as well as the G-protein-coupled cannabinoid receptors (CBR), named cannabinoid receptor type-1 (CB1R) and cannabinoid receptor type-2 (CB2R), both part of the now known endocannabinoid system (ECS). Cannabinoids is a vast term that defines several compounds that have been characterized in three categories: (i) endogenous, (ii) synthetic, and (iii) phytocannabinoids, and are able to modulate the CBR and ECS. Particularly, phytocannabinoids are natural terpenoids or phenolic compounds derived from Cannabis sativa. However, these terpenoids and phenolic compounds can also be derived from other plants (non-cannabinoids) and still induce cannabinoid-like properties. Cannabimimetic ligands, beyond the Cannabis plant, can act as CBR agonists or antagonists, or ECS enzyme inhibitors, besides being able of playing a role in immune-mediated inflammatory and infectious diseases, neuroinflammatory, neurological, and neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in cancer, and autoimmunity by itself. In this review, we summarize and critically highlight past, present, and future progress on the understanding of the role of cannabinoid-like molecules, mainly terpenes, as prospective therapeutics for different pathological conditions.

Protective Effect of Panaxynol Isolated from Panax vietnamensis against Cisplatin-Induced Renal Damage: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Polyacetylenic compounds isolated from Panax species are comprised of non-polar C17 compounds, exhibiting anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antifungal activities. Panaxynol represents the major component of the essential oils of ginseng. We investigated whether panaxynol isolated from Panax vietnamensis (Vietnamese ginseng, VG) could prevent cisplatin-induced renal damage induced in vitro and in vivo. Cisplatin-induced apoptotic cell death was observed by staining with annexin V conjugated with Alexa Fluor 488, and western blotting evaluated the molecular mechanism. Panaxynol at concentrations above 0.25 μM prevented cisplatin-induced LLC-PK1 porcine renal proximal tubular cell death. LLC-PK1 cells treated with cisplatin demonstrated an increase in apoptotic cell death, whereas pretreatment with 2 and 4 μM panaxynol decreased this effect. Cisplatin demonstrated a marked increase in the phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), P38, and cleaved caspase-3. However, pretreatment with 2 and 4 μM panaxynol reversed the upregulated phosphorylation of JNK, P38, and the expression of cleaved caspase-3. We confirmed that the protective effect of panaxynol isolated from P. vietnamensis in LLC-PK1 cells was at least partially mediated by reducing the cisplatin-induced apoptotic damage. In the animal study, panaxynol treatment ameliorated body weight loss and blood renal function markers and downregulated the mRNA expression of inflammatory mediators.

Purification, structure characterization and antioxidant activity of polysaccharides from Saposhnikovia divaricata

Polysaccharide from traditional Chinese herb, Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (SD) was extracted, fractionated and characterized in this work. Four fractions were prepared. Their molecular weight, monosaccharide compositions, linkage modes and structural properties were characterized with SEC-MALS-RI, HPAEC-PAD, GC-MS and NMR. SDP1 was assigned as a 1, 4-α-glucan with small amount of O-6 linked branches. SDP2 contained a big amount of the 1, 4-α-glucan and a small amount of arabinogalactan, while SDP3 possessed relatively lower amount of the 1, 4-α-glucan and a big amount of the arabinogalactan. SDP4 was defined as a pectic arabinogalactan. Four fractions showed antioxidant activities in both molecular and cellular levels and their activity was ranked as SDP4 ≈ SDP3>SDP2>SDP1. The 1, 4-α-glucan in SDP1 had the weakest, while SDP3 and SDP4 showed similar and the highest antioxidant activity. The arabinogalactan was the major component of both SDP3 and SDP4, which significantly contributed to the antioxidant activity of SDP.