Protective effect of coix seed seedling extract on 60 Co-γ radiation-induced oxidative stress in mice

Biyang floral mushroom-derived exosome-like nanovesicles: characterization, absorption stability and ionizing radiation protection

Diet-derived exosome-like nanovesicles are a class of natural active substances that have similar structures and functions to mammalian exosomes. Biyang floral mushrooms and their active extracts have been found to possess radioprotective effects and to deeply explore their novel active substances, the radioprotective effects of Biyang floral mushroom-derived exosome-like nanovesicles (BFMELNs) were investigated in this study. Results showed that these surface-negatively charged vesicles possessed an ideal size and good stability against environmental changes such as temperature and gastrointestinal digestion. Furthermore, BFMELNs could effectively be taken up by HL-7702 cells and Caco-2 cells through cellular phagocytosis mediated by clathrin and dynein. Emphatically, BFMELNs with an exosome-like morphology contained RNA, proteins, lipids, polyphenols and flavonoids to exert good antioxidant and radioprotective effects in vitro. Meanwhile, BFMELNs also exhibited good radioprotective effects by restoring peripheral blood indexes, mitigating damage to organs, and regulating the redox state in mice. Collectively, BFMELNs showed promise as novel and natural radioprotective nano-agents for preventing IR-induced oxidative stress damage.

Research on Coix seed as a food and medicinal resource, it's chemical components and their pharmacological activities: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Coix lacryma-jobi var. ma-yuen (Romanet du Caillaud) Stapf is a plant of the genus Coix in the Gramineae family. Coix seed is cultivated in various regions throughout China. In recent years, with the research on the medicinal value of Coix seed, it has received more and more widespread attention from people. Numerous pharmacological effects of Coix seed have been demonstrated through modern pharmacological studies, such as hypoglycemia, improving liver function, anti-tumor, regulating intestinal microbiota, improving spleen function, and anti-inflammatory effects.

AIMS OF THE STUDY

This article is a literature review. In recent years, despite the extensive research on Coix seed, there has yet to be a comprehensive review of its traditional usage, medicinal resources, chemical components, and pharmacological effects is still lacking. To fill this gap, the paper provides an overview of the latest research progress on Coix seed, aiming to offer guidance and references for its further development and comprehensive utilization.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

To gather information on the traditional usage, phytochemical ingredients, and pharmacological properties of Coix seed, we conducted a literature search using both Chinese and English languages in five databases: PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Springer.

RESULTS

This article is a literature review. The chemical constituents of Coix seed include various fatty acids, esters, polysaccharides, sterols, alkaloids, triterpenes, tocopherols, lactams, lignans, phenols, flavonoids and other constituents. Modern pharmacological research has indeed shown that Coix seed has many pharmacological effects and is a natural anti-tumor drug. In addition to its anti-tumor effect, it also has pharmacological effects such as hypoglycemia, improving liver function, regulating intestinal microbiota, improving spleen function, and anti-inflammatory effects.

CONCLUSIONS

This article provides a brief overview of the traditional uses, biotechnological applications, chemical components, and pharmacological effects of Coix seed. It highlights the importance of establishing quality standards, discovering new active ingredients, and exploring pharmacological mechanisms in Coix seed research. The article also emphasizes the significance of clinical trials, toxicology studies, pharmacokinetics data, and multidisciplinary collaboration for further advancements in this field. Overall, it aims to enhance understanding of Coix seed and its potential in pharmaceutical development and wellness products.

Radiation-induced liver disease: beyond DNA damage

Radiation-induced liver disease (RILD), also known as radiation hepatitis, is a serious side effect of radiotherapy (RT) for hepatocellular carcinoma. The therapeutic dose of RT can damage normal liver tissue, and the toxicity that accumulates around the irradiated liver tissue is related to numerous physiological and pathological processes. RILD may restrict treatment use or eventually deteriorate into liver fibrosis. However, the research on the mechanism of radiation-induced liver injury has seen little progress compared with that on radiation injury in other tissues, and no targeted clinical pharmacological treatment for RILD exists. The DNA damage response caused by ionizing radiation plays an important role in the pathogenesis and development of RILD. Therefore, in this review, we systematically summarize the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in RILD. Such an analysis is essential for preventing the occurrence and development of RILD and further exploring the potential treatment of this disease.