Effects of dried longan seed (Euphoria longana Lam.) extract on VEGF secretion and expression in colon cancer cells and angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Potential of longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) in functional food: A review of molecular mechanism-directing health benefit properties

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) has received widespread attention worldwide as a therapeutic food with nutritional, economic, and medicinal value. Its fruit, seed, pericarp, and flower becoming dietary tools for health maintenance when it comes to targeting chronic diseases or sub-health conditions. In recent years, research focusing on longan and human health has intensified, and the high-value products of the whole fruit, including polyphenols, polysaccharides, angiotensin-I-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibiting peptides, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and Maillard reaction products etc., may have beneficial effects on human health by preventing the onset of chronic diseases and cancer, maintaining intestinal homeostasis and skin health. Here, we review and summarize the new available evidence on the bioactive role of phytochemicals in longan and explore the relationship between longan bioactive compounds and health benefits, with a focus on the molecular mechanisms of the health effects.

Modulatory effects of longan seed powder on growth performance, immune response, and immune-antioxidant related gene expression in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) raised under biofloc system

This study evaluates the effects of longan seed powder (LS) on the growth performance, immunological response, and immune-antioxidant related gene expression of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Three hundred fish (13.82 ± 0.06 g) were divided into five experiments and fed 5 diets, including the basal diet (control without LS) and basal diet containing 10 (LS10), 20 (LS20), 40 (LS40), and 80 (LS80) g kg^-1 LS for eight weeks. A completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was utilised. The growth performance and immune response were measured at weeks 4 and 8 post feeding, while the gene expressions were determined at the end of the feeding trial. The results revealed that administration of LS could significantly (P < 0.05) improve specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR) in Nile tilapia as compared to the control group. However, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in survival rates among treatments. LS-supplemented diets showed enhanced serum peroxidase activity (SPA), serum lysozyme activity (SLA), skin mucus lysozyme activity (MLA), and skin mucus peroxidase activity (MPA) at weeks 4 and 8 post-feeding, with the highest values observed in the LS20 diet (P < 0.05). Additionally, LS-supplemented diets significantly up-regulated (P < 0.05) immune and antioxidant related gene expressions (IL1, IL8, LBP, GSTa, GPX, and GSR) in the liver and intestine, with highest values observed in the LS20 treatment. The present results confirmed the beneficial effects of LS as a functional feed additive and immunostimulant for Nile Tilapia culture in a biofloc system.

Antioxidant activities and volatile compounds in longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) wine produced by incorporating longan seeds

The seeds of dried longan, one of the major processed fruits in Thailand, contain several bioactive compounds. In this study, we developed longan wine by incorporating its seeds during juice preparation and evaluated the antioxidant activities and volatile compounds in different conditions. The results suggested that Saccharomyces cerevisiae EC-1118 was suitable for fermentation of longan juice supplemented with 50% seed and 20% initial soluble solids at an optimal temperature of 30 °C. Different yeast strains showed various extents of antioxidant activities; however, the fermentation temperature and initial soluble solids of longan juice had little effect on the inhibition of reactive species. Antioxidant activities were significantly increased with increasing seed content. Dominant volatile compounds, which were independent of the winemaking conditions, were found to be phenethyl alcohol, 2,3-butylene glycol, 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, ethyl hydrogen succinate, and 4-hydroxyphenethyl alcohol. These compounds highly influenced the antioxidant activities of longan wine produced by incorporating the seeds.

Medicinal Plants in the Prevention and Treatment of Colon Cancer

The standard treatment for cancer is generally based on using cytotoxic drugs, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and surgery. However, the use of traditional treatments has received attention in recent years. The aim of the present work was to provide an overview of medicinal plants effective on colon cancer with special emphasis on bioactive components and underlying mechanisms of action. Various literature databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus, were used and English language articles were considered. Based on literature search, 172 experimental studies and 71 clinical cases on 190 plants were included. The results indicate that grape, soybean, green tea, garlic, olive, and pomegranate are the most effective plants against colon cancer. In these studies, fruits, seeds, leaves, and plant roots were used for in vitro and in vivo models. Various anticolon cancer mechanisms of these medicinal plants include induction of superoxide dismutase, reduction of DNA oxidation, induction of apoptosis by inducing a cell cycle arrest in S phase, reducing the expression of PI3K, P-Akt protein, and MMP as well; reduction of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL proteins, and decrease of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclin A, cyclin D1, cyclin B1 and cyclin E. Plant compounds also increase both the expression of the cell cycle inhibitors p53, p21, and p27, and the BAD, Bax, caspase 3, caspase 7, caspase 8, and caspase 9 proteins levels. In fact, purification of herbal compounds and demonstration of their efficacy in appropriate in vivo models, as well as clinical studies, may lead to alternative and effective ways of controlling and treating colon cancer.

Proanthocyanidins, Isolated from Choerospondias axillaris Fruit Peels, Exhibit Potent Antioxidant Activities in Vitro and a Novel Anti-angiogenic Property in Vitro and in Vivo

The production of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) is an important stage in the growth and spread of cancerous tumors. Anti-angiogenesis is one strategy for controlling tumor progression. This study evaluated the antioxidant and anti-angiogenic activities of a proanthocyanidins (PAs) extract from Choerospondias axillaris peels. HPLC-MS analysis revealed that numerous oligomeric forms of the PAs were detected in the PAs extract, including dimers, trimers, tetramers, and flavan-3-ol monomers. The PAs extract possessed appreciable free radical scavenging activity (IC50/DPPH = 164 ± 7 μg/mL, IC50/ABTS = 154 ± 6 μg/mL), potent reducing power (0.930 ± 0.030 g AAE/g), and strong cellular antioxidant activity (EC50 = 10.2 ± 1.4 and 38.9 ± 2.1 μg/mL without or with PBS-wash, respectively). It could also retard various stages of angiogenesis, such as the migration of endothelial cells and the creation of tubes, without causing toxicity to the cells. With regard to intracellular signal transduction, the PAs extract attenuated the phosphorylation of Akt, ERK, and p38MAPK dose-dependently in endothelial cells from human umbilical veins. In transgenic zebrafish embryo, new blood vessel formation was suppressed by PAs extract in a concentration-dependent manner at 72 h post fertilization. Thus, these results suggest that PAs from C. axillaris peels could be a good source of natural inhibitors to target angiogenesis.

Antioxidant and antiangiogenic properties of phenolic extract from Pleurotus tuber-regium

Pleurotus tuber-regium (Fries) Singer (PTR), both an edible and a medicinal mushroom also known as tiger milk mushroom, has experienced growing popularity and economic importance due to its flavor, nutritive value, and medicinal effects. In this study, the antioxidant and antiangiogenic activities of a 60% ethanol extract (EE) obtained from the sclerotium of PTR were investigated. Typical phenolic compounds including protocatechuic, chlorogenic, syringic, ferulic, and folic acid were identified and quantified in EE by the HPLC-UV-ESI/MS analyses. EE possessed strong antioxidant activity and could dose-dependently inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) migration and tube formation. qPCR results showed that VEGF-induced FGF, ANG-Tie, and MMP gene expression as well as VEGFR were down-regulated at the mRNA level after treated with EE, suggesting that multiple molecular targets related to angiogenesis was involved. Furthermore, EE also inhibited the formation of subintestinal vessel plexus (SIVs) in zebrafish embryos in vivo. All of these suggested that EE of PTR could be the source of potential inhibitors to target angiogenesis.