A functional polysaccharide from Eriobotrya japonica relieves myocardial ischemia injury via anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects

Dried Loquat Fruit Extract Containing Chlorogenic Acid Prevents Depressive-like Behaviors Induced by Repeated Corticosteroid Injections in Mice

Eriobotrya japonica (loquat tree) has been used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory ailments, inflammation, and skin diseases; however, its potential antidepressant-like effects have not been extensively investigated. In this study, we evaluated the antidepressant-like effects of E. japonica fruit extract (EJFE) in a mouse model of corticosterone (CORT)-induced depression. An HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid (CGA) is the major compound in EJFE. Male ICR mice (5weeks-old) were injected with CORT (40 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) once daily for 21 days to induce depressive-like behaviors. Various behavioral tests, including the open field test, rotarod test, elevated plus maze (EPM), passive avoidance test (PAT), tail suspension test (TST), and forced swim test (FST), were conducted 1 h after the oral administration of EJFE at different doses (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg) and CGA (30 mg/kg). High-dose EJFE and CGA significantly alleviated CORT-induced depressive-like behaviors, as indicated by the reduced immobility times in the TST and FST. A decrease in the step-through latency time in the PAT, without an effect on locomotor activity, suggested an improvement in cognitive function. Moreover, EJFE- and CGA-treated mice exhibited significantly reduced anxiety-like behaviors in the EPM. Our results imply the promising potential of EJFE containing CGA as a therapeutic candidate for depression.

Physicochemical Properties and In Vivo Hepatoprotective Effect of Polysaccharides from Grape Pomace

Here, the polysaccharides from grape pomace, a by-product in the wine industry, were characterized and evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The polysaccharides were extracted and studied using spectroscopic and chemical methods. The results revealed that GPPs are rich in arabinose, galactose and glucuronic acid and are heteropolysaccharides without protein and nucleic acid, containing α-glycoside bonds with irregular clusters on the surface. In vitro antioxidant activity assays indicated that GPPs have concentration-dependent antioxidant activity. In vivo, GPPs markedly decreased the levels of TNF-a, IL-6, ALT, AST and MDA in serum and liver tissues and restored the levels of SOD, CAT and GSH. Additionally, further histopathological examination confirmed that GPPs could mitigate the injury of liver induced by CCl₄. Our results demonstrate that GPPs had antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects, and they are expected to be a potential ingredient for functional foods or hepatoprotective drugs.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Eriobotrya japonica leaves: A summary

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. has been included in "The Plant List" (http://www.theplantlist.org) and is the most widely researched species in its genus. E. japonica is a subtropical evergreen fruit tree belonging to the Rosaceae family. Its dried leaves are widely used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine to treat coughing caused by pulmonary inflammation, dyspnea due to asthma and cough, nausea caused by stomach disorders, restlessness, and thirst. Furthermore, it is used to treat stomach ache, ulcers, chronic bronchitis, cancer, and diabetes mellitus in Japanese folk medicine. However, no systematic reports on E. japonica leaves have been published before.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review summarizes the available information on the traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and quality control of various extracts and phytoconstituents of E. japonica leaves.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Relevant publications between 1931 and 2022 were considered. Chinese and English studies on E. japonica leaves were collected from databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Elsevier, ACS Publications, Springer, and CNKI (Chinese). The traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, toxicity, and quality control of E. japonica leaves were reviewed.

RESULTS

Briefly, 164 compounds, including triterpenes, flavonoids, sesquiterpene glycosides, megastigmane derivatives, phenylpropanoids, and organic acids, have been identified from E. japonica leaves, in addition to 169 volatile oils. More than half of these compounds have not yet been reported to have pharmacological activities. Triterpenes and flavonoids are the most important bioactive compounds responsible for pharmacological activities, such as antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activities. Other beneficial physiological effects such as antioxidant, hepatoprotective, bronchodilatory, antitussive, and expectorant effects and tracheal smooth muscle relaxation, protection against myocardial ischemia injury, and improved cognitive activities have also been reported. High doses of E. japonica leaf extracts have been used in laboratory animals, and no side effects or toxicity-symptoms have been observed.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacological activities of E. japonica leaves support their use in traditional Chinese herbal medicine. However, several aspects, such as the bioavailability, pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, and structure-activity relationships of the pure compounds isolated from E. japonica leaves, have not been studied yet and warrant further studies.

A narrative review: The pharmaceutical evolution of phenolic syringaldehyde

To better understand the pharmacological characters of syringaldehyde (SA), which is a key-odorant compound of whisky and brandy, this review article is the first to compile the published literature for molecular docking that were subsequently validated by in vitro and in vivo assays to predict and develop insights into the medicinal properties of SA in terms of anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-diabetes. The molecular docking displayed significantly binding affinity for SA towards tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and antioxidant enzymes when inflammation from myocardial infarction and spinal cord ischemia. Moreover, SA nicely docked with dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, acetylcholine M2 receptor, and acetylcholinesterase in anti-diabetes investigations. These are associated with (1) an increase glucose utilization and insulin sensitivity to an anti-hyperglycemic effect; and (2) to potentiate intestinal contractility to abolish the α-amylase reaction when concurrently reducing retention time and glucose absorption of the intestinal tract to achieve a glucose-lowering effect. In silico screening of multi-targets concomitantly with preclinical tests could provide a potential exploration for new indications for drug discovery and development.

Salidroside Exerts Beneficial Effect on Testicular Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats

Testicular torsion-detorsion results in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury, which is associated with overgeneration of reactive oxygen species. Salidroside, a major bioactive ingredient extracted from Rhodiola rosea, has strong antioxidant activity. The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of salidroside on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury. Sixty rats were randomly separated into 3 experimental groups: group A = sham-operated control; group B = testicular ischemia-reperfusion; and group C = testicular ischemia-reperfusion treated with salidroside. The rats in the sham-operated control group received all surgical procedures except testicular torsion-detorsion. The testicular ischemia-reperfusion group underwent 2 hours of left testicular torsion followed by detorsion. The rats in the salidroside-treated group received the same surgical procedure as in testicular ischemia-reperfusion group, but salidroside was injected intraperitoneally at reperfusion. Testicular malondialdehyde content (a reliable index of reactive oxygen species) and protein expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase which are primary antioxidant enzymes in testes were measured at 4 hours after reperfusion. Testicular spermatogenesis was evaluated at 3 months after reperfusion. The malondialdehyde content increased significantly, while superoxide dismutase and catalase protein expression and testicular spermatogenesis reduced significantly in ipsilateral testes of testicular ischemia-reperfusion group, as compared with sham-operated control group. Therapy with salidroside significantly reduced malondialdehyde content and significantly enhanced superoxide dismutase and catalase protein expression and spermatogenesis in ipsilateral testes, as compared with testicular ischemia-reperfusion group. The present findings indicate that treatment with salidroside ameliorates testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury by reducing reactive oxygen species level by upregulating superoxide dismutase and catalase protein expression.