Mechanism of the anti-cancer activity of Zizyphus jujuba in HepG2 cells

Anti-inflammatory activity of Ziziphus jujuba hydroalcoholic extract in acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis model

OBJECTIVES

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by chronic inflammation. Current treatments primarily focus on symptom management, but they have inherent limitations. Global attention is increasingly directed towards exploring herbal remedies as complementary approaches. This study aims to investigate the effects of the hydroalcoholic extract of jujuba on an experimental model of ulcerative colitis.

METHODS

In this study, 15 male BALB/c mice were divided into three experimental groups. The first group served as the untreated UC model, acting as the positive control (PC). The second group received treatment with the hydroalcoholic extract of Ziziphus jujuba, while the third group was treated with mesalamine. UC was induced by injecting 100 μL of 4 % acetic acid (AA) intra-rectally several times. Treatment commenced after the onset of symptoms such as diarrhea and bloody stools. The mice were eventually euthanized ethically, and their spleen and intestinal tissues were collected for analysis. Evaluations included the Disease Activity Index (DAI), myeloperoxidase activity (MPO), nitric oxide (NO) levels, cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α), and gene expression (iNOS, COX-2, and cytokines).

RESULTS

The hydroalcoholic extract of the jujuba plant significantly reduced MPO, NO, the DAI, and the production and expression of inflammatory cytokines, as well as the genes iNOS and COX-2, in the group receiving this extract compared to the positive control group (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The study demonstrates that the hydroalcoholic extract of Ziziphus jujuba significantly reduces inflammation markers such as TNF-α, NO, MPO, IL-1β, and IL-6 in a mouse model of ulcerative colitis. Additionally, it downregulates the expression of pro-inflammatory genes, including iNOS and COX-2. These findings suggest that Z. jujuba extract has potential as an effective anti-inflammatory treatment for managing ulcerative colitis symptoms.

Fractionation and phytochemical composition of an ethanolic extract of Ziziphus nummularia leaves: antioxidant and anticancerous properties in human triple negative breast cancer cells

Natural products have long been utilized in traditional medicine as remedies to improve health and treat illnesses, and have had a key role in modern drug discovery. Recently, there has been a revived interest in the search for bioactives from natural sources as alternative or complementary modalities to synthetic medicines; especially for cancer treatment, which incidence and mortality rates are on the rise worldwide. Ziziphus nummularia has been widely used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. Its traditional uses and numerous ethnopharmacological properties may be attributed to its richness in bioactive metabolites. However, its phytochemical composition or chemopreventive effects against the aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) are still poorly explored. Here, phytochemical composition of an ethanolic extract of Z. nummularia leaves (ZNE) and its chromatographically isolated fractions was identified both qualitatively by spectrophotometric assays and analytically by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS. The anti-proliferative effects of ZNE were tested in several cancer cell lines, but we focused on its anti-TNBC effects since they were not explored yet. The anti-cancerous potential of ZNE and its fractions was tested in vitro in MDA-MB-231, a TNBC cell line. Results showed that ZNE and its Fraction 6 (F6) reduced the viability of MDA-MB-231 cells. F6 decreased MDA-MB-231 viability more than crude ZNE or its other fractions. ZNE and F6 are rich in phytochemicals and HPLC-PDA-MS/MS analysis identified several metabolites that were previously reported to have anti-cancerous effects. Both ZNE and F6 showed potent antioxidant capacity in the DPPH assay, but promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in MDA-MB-231 cells; an effect which was blunted by the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). NAC also blunted ZNE- and F6-induced reduction in TNBC cell viability. We also demonstrated that ZNE and F6 induced an arrest of the cell cycle, and triggered apoptosis- and autophagy-mediated cell death. ZNE and F6 inhibited metastasis-related cellular processes by modifying cell migration, invasion, and adhesion. Taken together, our findings reveal that Z. nummularia is rich in phytochemicals that can attenuate the malignant phenotype of TNBC and may offer innovative avenues for the discovery of new drug leads for treatment of TNBC and other cancers.

A Literature Review of the Pharmacological Effects of Jujube

Jujube is a plant native to China that could be used in medicine and food. Its dried fruit is a superior herb commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine formulations for its calming effect and for nourishing the blood and strengthening the spleen and stomach. Jujube contains numerous active components including polysaccharides, phenols, and triterpene acids, which show a diverse array of pharmacological activities such as neuroprotection and the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In this paper, the research status of jujube over the past two decades has been statistically evaluated. Meanwhile, by tracking the latest research advances, the pharmacological efficacy and molecular mechanisms of jujube are exhaustively expounded to provide specific and systematic references for further research on the pharmacological effects of jujube and its application in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Brightening effect of Ziziphus jujuba (jujube) fruit extract on facial skin: A randomized, double-blind, clinical study

Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (jujube) is an invaluable medicinal plant in traditional and modern medicine. Jujube syrup is a complex of herbal extracts including Z. jujuba, Berberis vulgaris, Rhus coriaria, Prunus domestica, and Rosa damascene. The purpose of the present study was to formulate and investigate the efficacy and safety of jujube syrup on brightening of facial skin. In this randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical study, 46 participants consumed jujube syrup or placebo (23 in each group) twice a day for 8 weeks. The number of pigments, area of pigmentation, and physician's global assessment score (PGAS) were evaluated at baseline and after 8 weeks. The results showed the amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids were 81.97 ± 0.25 and 4.98 ± 1.04 mg/ml, respectively. The amounts of organic acids (gallic acid and chlorogenic acid) were quantified at 1140 ± 17.65 and 1520 ± 25.77 μg/ml, respectively. The amounts of total phenolic and flavonoids were stable under accelerated conditions. Eight weeks after treatment, the number of pigment counts reduced to 0.545 ± 0.307 compared to the placebo group. Moreover, the pigmented area and its percentages were significantly reduced to 0.556 ± 0.285 and 0.561 ± 0.288 in jujube syrup compared with placebo, respectively. Jujube syrup is efficient and safe for treating hyperpigmentation of the face.

Pharmacological potentials and Nutritional values of Tropical and Sub-tropical Fruits of India: Emphasis on their anticancer bioactive components

BACKGROUND

Fruits are an important dietary component, which supply vitamins, minerals, as well as dietary fiber. In addition, they are rich sources of various biological and pharmacologically active compounds. Among these, temperate fruits are well studied for their pharmacological potentials, whereas tropical/subtropical fruits are less explored for their health impacts. In India, most of the consumed fruits are either tropical or subtropical.

OBJECTIVES

The present review aims to provide a health impact of major tropical and sub-tropical fruits of India, emphasizing their anticancer efficacy. In addition, the identified bioactive components from these fruits exhibiting anticancer efficacy are also discussed along with the patent literature published.

METHODS

The literature was collected from various repositories, including NCBI, ScienceDirect, Eurekaselect, and Web of Science; literature from predatory journals was omitted during the process. Patent literature was collected from google patents and similar patent databases.

RESULTS

Tropical fruits are rich sources of various nutrients and bioactive components including polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanin, etc. By virtue of these biomolecules, tropical fruits have been shown to interfere with various steps in carcinogenesis, metastasis, and drug resistance. Their mode of action is either by activation of apoptosis, regulation of cell cycle, inhibition of cell survival and proliferation pathways, increased lipid trafficking or inhibiting inflammatory pathways. Several molecules and combinations have been patented for their anticancer and chemoprotective properties.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the present concludes that Indian tropical/ subtropical fruits are nutritionally and pharmacologically active and may serve as a source of novel anticancer agents in the future.

Review On Documented Medicinal Plants Used For The Treatment Of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a frightful disease and it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Naturally derived compounds are gaining interest of research workers as they have less toxic side effects as compared to currently used treatments such as chemotherapy. Plants are the pool of chemical compounds which provides a promising future for research on cancer.

Objective:

This review paper provides updated information gathered on medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents used as anticancer agents and summarises the plant extracts and their isolated chemical constituents exhibiting anticancer potential on clinical trials.

Methods:

An extensive bibliographic investigation was carried out by analysing worldwide established scientific databases like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar etc. In next few decades, herbal medicine may become a new epoch of medical system.

Results:

Many researches are going on medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer but it is a time to increase further experimental studies on plant extracts and their chemical constituents to find out their mechanism of action at molecular level.

Conclusion:

The article may help many researchers to start off further experimentation that might lead to the drugs for the cancer treatment.

Ziziphus nummularia Attenuates the Malignant Phenotype of Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells: Role of ROS

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of all cancer-related deaths. Despite major improvements in treating PC, low survival rate remains a major challenge, indicating the need for alternative approaches, including herbal medicine. Among medicinal plants is Ziziphus nummularia (family Rhamnaceae), which is a thorny shrub rich in bioactive molecules. Leaves of Ziziphus nummularia have been used to treat many pathological conditions, including cancer. However, their effects on human PC are still unknown. Here, we show that the treatment of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cells (Capan-2) with Ziziphus nummularia ethanolic extract (ZNE) (100–300 μg/mL) attenuated cell proliferation in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine, an ROS scavenger, attenuated the anti-proliferative effect of ZNE. In addition, ZNE significantly decreased the migratory and invasive capacity of Capan-2 with a concomitant downregulation of integrin α₂ and increased cell–cell aggregation. In addition, ZNE inhibited in ovo angiogenesis as well as reduced VEGF and nitric oxide levels. Furthermore, ZNE downregulated the ERK1/2 and NF-κB signaling pathways, which are known to drive tumorigenic and metastatic events. Taken together, our results suggest that ZNE can attenuate the malignant phenotype of Capan-2 by inhibiting hallmarks of PC. Our data also provide evidence for the potential anticancer effect of Ziziphus nummularia, which may represent a new resource of novel anticancer compounds, especially ones that can be utilized for the management of PC.

The novel FAT4 activator jujuboside A suppresses NSCLC tumorigenesis by activating HIPPO signaling and inhibiting YAP nuclear translocation

FAT atypical cadherin 4 (FAT4) has been identified as a tumor suppressor in lung cancers. However, no agent for lung cancer treatment targeting FAT4 has been used in the clinic. Jujuboside A (JUA) is a major active compound in Semen Ziziphi Spinosae. Semen Ziziphi Spinosae is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine used clinically for tumor treatment to improve patients' quality of life. However, the anti-lung cancer activity and the underlying mechanisms of JUA are not yet fully understood. Here, we demonstrated the anti-lung cancer activity of JUA in two lung cancer mice models and three non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines, and further illustrated its underlying mechanisms. JUA suppressed the occurrence and development of lung cancer and extended mice survival in vivo, and suppressed NSCLC cell activities through cell cycle arrest, proliferation suppression, stemness inhibition and senescence promotion. Moreover, JUA directly bound with and activated FAT4, subsequently activating FAT4-HIPPO signaling and inhibiting YAP nuclear translocation. Knockdown of FAT4 diminished JUA's effects on HIPPO signaling, YAP nuclear translocation, cell proliferation and cellular senescence. In conclusion, JUA significantly suppressed NSCLC tumorigenesis by regulating FAT4-HIPPO-YAP signaling. Our findings suggest that JUA is a novel FAT4 activator that can be developed as a promising NSCLC therapeutic agent targeting the FAT4-HIPPO-YAP pathway.

Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) Protects Hepatocytes against Alcohol-Induced Damage through Nrf2 Activation

This study aimed at evaluating the cytoprotective activity of jujube water extract (JWE) against alcohol-induced oxidative stress via the activation of the Nrf2 pathway in HepG2 cells. JWE had various phenolic compounds, and the vanillic acid content was the highest in the extract. To determine the cytoprotective effect of JWE against alcohol-induced damage, hepatocytes were treated with JWE and 3% ethanol. JWE (100 μg/mL) markedly increased cell viability by approximately 100% in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, JWE attenuated the production of malondialdehyde, reactive oxygen species, aspartate, and alanine aminotransferase and the depletion of glutathione. Moreover, JWE enhanced the expression of antioxidant defense enzymes including heme oxygenase-1, NADPH quinone oxidoreductase 1, and γ-glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic against alcohol-induced oxidative damage in hepatocytes via the activation of Nrf2. Taken together, JWE possesses the protective effect against alcohol-induced oxidative injury in hepatocytes through the upregulation of the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Therefore, jujube fruit might have the potential to improve alcohol-related liver problems.

A Review of Edible Jujube, the Ziziphus jujuba Fruit: A Heath Food Supplement for Anemia Prevalence

The fruits of Ziziphus jujuba, commonly known as jujube, red date or Chinese date, are taken as fresh or dried food, and as traditional medicine worldwide due to high nutritional and health values. Traditionally in China, jujube is considered as a medicinal fruit that is being used in treating blood deficiency. In this review, the beneficial effects of jujubes on the hematopoietic functions are summarized and discussed. As illustrated in cell and animal models, the application of jujube extract possessed beneficial effects, including regulation of erythropoiesis via activation of hypoxia inducible factor-induced erythropoietin, potential capacity in recycling heme iron during erythrophagocytosis and bi-directional regulation of immune response. Thus, the blood-nourishing function of jujube is being proposed here. Flavonoid, polysaccharide and triterpenoid within jujube could serve as the potential active ingredients accounting for the aforementioned health benefits. Taken together, these findings provide several lines of evidence for further development of jujube as supplementary products for prevention and/or treatment of anemia.

Botanical and Traditional Uses and Phytochemical, Pharmacological, Pharmacokinetic, and Toxicological Characteristics of Ziziphi Spinosae Semen: A Review

Ziziphi Spinosae Semen (ZS, the seeds of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. var. spinosa (Bunge) Hu ex H. F. Chou) is used as a traditional Chinese medicine referred to as Suan zao ren (酸枣仁). This paper aims to provide a systematic review of its traditional uses and its botanical, phytochemical, pharmacological, pharmacokinetic, and toxicological characteristics. The future development and research prospects for ZS have also been discussed in detail. To date, over 150 compounds have been identified in this plant, including terpenoids, alkaloids, flavonoids, fatty acids, volatile oils, polysaccharides, and others. Both extracts and purified compounds have excellent biological activities, especially sedative and hypnotic effects. Other effects include ameliorating effect of learning and memory, anti-inflammation, antioxidation, blood pressure and lipid lowering, antiaging, and antitumor effects. Thus, this traditional Chinese medicine can be used to treat many diseases such as insomnia, forgetfulness, headaches, and dizziness. Although many of the traditional uses of ZS are well established, the relationship between structure and function still needs to be further studied. In order to better pave the way for research and the establishment of quality control standards for ZS, it will be very important to elucidate its pharmacological mechanisms of action and explore new clinical effects.

Effect of Aqueous and Ethyl Acetate Fractions of Ziziphus jujuba Mill Extract on Cardiovascular Responses in Hypertensive Rats

Background

Ziziphus jujuba Mill (ZJ) is a plant with anti-hypertensive property. In this regard, the present study investigated the effect of aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions of ZJ extract on acute hypertension (HTN) induced by nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME).

Methods

The current study was carried on 49 hypertensive rats divided into seven groups, including i) control; ii) L-NAME (10 mg/kg); iii) sodium nitroprusside (SNP) (50 μg/kg) plus L-NAME; iv and v) aqueous fraction of ZJ (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) plus L-NAME; vi) and vii) ethyl acetate fractions of ZJ (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) plus L-NAME. The rats were orally treated with both fractions for four weeks and received intravenous L-NAME on the 28th day. The mean arterial pressure (MAP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) of the rats were recorded then maximal changes (Δ) of MAP, SBP and HR were calculated and compared with changes of control and L-NAME.

Results

According to the obtained results of the present study, it was shown that the administration of L-NAME significantly increased ΔMAP, ΔSBP and ΔHR, and these effects were significantly attenuated by administration of SNP. The pre-treatment with both doses (150 mg/kg and 300 mg/kg) of aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions could significantly reduce cardiovascular responses induced by L-NAME that comparable with SNP. However, a lower dose of aqueous fractions and higher dose of ethyl acetate fractions were reported with stronger effects.

Conclusion

The results of the current study showed that both the aqueous and ethyl acetate fractions of ZJ through the effect on nitric oxide system can prevent the development of HTN induced by L-NAME.

Oleanolic Acid Suppressed DMBA-Induced Liver Carcinogenesis through Induction of Mitochondrial-Mediated Apoptosis and Autophagy

Phytochemicals appeared as a rich source of efficient and safe agents against many diseases like cancer. Various herbal sources are rich in oleanolic acid (OA). The scope of this study was to assess the biochemical and molecular mechanisms implicated in the ameliorative potency of OA against DMBA-induced liver carcinogenesis. Forty-eight male albino mice were assigned randomly to five groups (eight mice each) as follows: control healthy group, olive oil group, OA group, DMBA group, and DMBA with OA. Apoptosis, autophagy, inflammation, proliferation, and angiogenesis were investigated in the tissue samples. Histopathological examination was carried out as well as liver enzymes activity and other hepatic antioxidant and inflammatory biomarkers. The treatment with OA effectively suppressed the DMBA-initiated liver carcinogenesis via modulation of antioxidant status, induction of apoptosis and autophagy through modulating the expression of Caspase-3, Bcl-2 and Beclin-1, inhibiting angiogenesis (VEGF), proliferation (PCNA), and improved liver function and histological picture with a reduction in AFP level. Additionally, OA applies its antitumor effects by inhibition of proinflammatory transcription factor NF-κB and inflammatory markers (TNF-α and Cox-2) associated with DMBA administration. The present study shows that OA treatment efficiently suppressed the DMBA-initiated liver carcinogenesis through induction of mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis and autophagy and modulating inflammation.

Ursonic acid exerts inhibitory effects on matrix metalloproteinases via ERK signaling pathway

Ursonic acid is a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound that can be extracted from Ziziphus jujuba Mill., a traditional medicine. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in cancer metastasis and skin aging. Regulation of various MMPs is closely associated with mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), including ERK, p38, and JNK MAPKs. In this study, we investigated the possibility of ursonic acid as an anti-cancer/anti-skin aging agent targeting MMPs. Cytotoxic effects of ursonic acid were analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. Invasive abilities of ursonic acid-treated A549 and H1299 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells were tested with Boyden chamber assay. Effects of ursonic acid on MMPs were analyzed by zymography assays and quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We also conducted flow cytometry and western blot analysis to elucidate the mechanisms of MMP regulation by ursonic acid. Our results revealed that ursonic acid inhibited transcriptional expression of gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) via inhibition of ERK and CREB signaling pathways in NSCLC cells. Moreover, ursonic acid reduced mRNA levels of collagenase (MMP-1) via suppression of ERK and c-Fos signaling pathways in HaCaT keratinocytes. These results suggest that ursonic acid could be a potential candidate for development of an effective novel anti-cancer and anti-wrinkle agent.

Total polyphenol quantitation using integrated NIR and MIR spectroscopy: A case study of Chinese dates (Ziziphus jujuba)

INTRODUCTION

Polyphenols are the foremost measure of phytochemicals in Chinese dates due to their many potential health benefits such as averting cancers, reducing the risk of coronary artery disease, diuretic activity, myocardial stimulant, coronary dilator and muscle relaxant.

OBJECTIVE

To quantitate the polyphenols in Chinese dates using a data fusion approach with near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 80 Chinese dates samples were used for data acquisition from both NIR and MIR spectroscopy. The efficient spectral intervals were extracted by the synergy interval partial least square (Si-PLS) algorithm as input variables for NIR-MIR fusion model. A genetic algorithm (GA) was used to construct the model based on NIR-MIR fusion. The performance of the developed models was evaluated using correlation coefficients of calibration (R² ) and prediction (r² ), root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP), bias and residual prediction deviation (RPD).

RESULTS

The data fusion model based on the GA was superior compared to NIR and MIR build model. The optimal GA-fusion model yielded R²  = 0.9621, r²  = 0.9451, RPD = 2.44, calibration set bias = 0.004 and prediction set bias = 0.061, computing only 15 variables.

CONCLUSION

These findings reveal that integration of NIR and MIR is possible for the prediction of total polyphenol content in Chinese dates.

Optimized Extraction of Phenolics from Jujube Peel and Their Anti-inflammatory Effects in LPS-Stimulated Murine Macrophages

The extraction of phenolics from jujube peel (PJP) was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A Box-Behnken design was utilized to analyze the effects of NaOH concentration, temperature, and extraction time on the total phenolic content (TPC). The results showed that RSM could be an adequate approach for modeling the extraction of PJP. The optimal extraction condition for the highest TPC was obtained with 3.4 M NaOH concentration for 67 min at 50 °C. Not only PJP but also phenolics from the jujube seed (PJS) contain considerable amounts of phenolics, particularly flavonoids. Quercetin and galangin were found to be the predominant phenolics. PJP markedly down-regulated the levels iNOS and COX-2 proteins in macrophages by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB through interfering with the MAPK signaling pathways. Compared to PJS, PJP presented higher anti-inflammatory activities, reflecting increased amounts of TPC and total flavonoid content (TFC). These findings suggest that PJP could be a potential source of anti-inflammatory agents.

Comparative pharmacokinetics of triterpenic acids in normal and immunosuppressed rats after oral administration of Jujubae Fructus extract by UPLC-MS/MS

The fruit of Ziziphus jujuba (Jujubae Fructus) has been used as food and crude drug for thousands of years. Although several chemical and biological studies have revealed triterpenic acid as the main bioactive constituent of Jujubae Fructus responsible for immune-regulatory activity, only few pharmacokinetic studies have been conducted. To comprehend the kinetics of triterpenic acids and promote their curative application, a sensitive and efficient ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry method (UPLC-MS/MS) was established. UPLC-MS/MS was applied for the simultaneous determination of ceanothic acid, epiceanothic acid, pomonic acid, alphitolic acid, maslinic acid, betulinic acid, and betulonic acid in normal and immunosuppressed rat plasma samples. After sample preparation, chromatographic separation was performed on an Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) with acetonitrile: methanol (1:1, v/v) and 0.5% ammonium acetate in water as mobile phase. The established method was validated and found to be specific, accurate, and precise for the seven triterpenic acids, and was successfully applied for the pharmacokinetic study of rat plasma samples. The results showed that the pharmacokinetic parameters (C_max, T_max, AUC_0-t, AUC_0-∞, and CLz/F) in the plasma samples of immunosuppressed rats were significantly different from those in normal rats, and might provide an insight for the clinical usage of triterpenic acids from Jujubae Fructus.

Protective Effect of Flavonoids from Ziziphus jujuba cv. Jinsixiaozao against Acetaminophen-Induced Liver Injury by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Mice

This study was aimed to investigate the chemical composition, antioxidant activities and hepatoprotective effect of flavonoids from Ziziphus jujuba cv. Jinsixiaozao (ZJF). The composition of ZJF was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and antioxidant properties were investigated by biological assays in vitro. The hepatoprotective activity of ZJF was evaluated in acetaminophen (APAP)-treated BALB/c mice. Results indicate that ZJF displayed significant antioxidant capacity. Pretreatment with ZJF significantly decreased APAP-elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and total bilirubin (TB). Activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were enhanced with ZJF administration, while malondialdehyde (MDA) level and glutathione (GSH) depletion were reduced. Meanwhile, ZJF reversed the suppression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation, and up-regulated the protein expression of NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase 1(NQO1) in liver damage mice. Furthermore, ZJF attenuated APAP-induced inflammatory mediator production, such as nitric oxide (NO), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Expression of p65 showed that ZJF dampened nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. The results strongly indicate that the hepatoprotective role of ZJF in APAP-induced hepatotoxicity might result from its induction of antioxidant defense via activation of Nrf2 and reduction of inflammation via inhibition of NF-κB.

Enhanced antitumor efficacy and reduced toxicity of Abnormal Savda Munziq on tumor bearing mice treated with chemotherapy

Previous research has demonstrated the anti-tumor properties of Abnormal Savda Munziq (ASMq), a traditional Uyghur compound herbal medicine. The effects of ASMq on cervical carcinomas in U27 tumor-bearing mice is investigated, the effect of adding Fluorouracil (5-FU) is also assessed in this paper. The results demonstrate that ASMq and 5-FU significantly inhibited the proliferation of U27 cells in a time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Evaluating the interactions between ASMq and 5-FU on U27 cell growth yields a combination index (CI) < 1 in different time periods, suggesting a synergistic effect between the two drugs in vitro. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis demonstrates that ASMq can inhibit enhanced lipid metabolism in tumor mice, enhance the glutamine content, promote lymphocyte and macrophage proliferation, and increase tumor necrosis factor(TNF-α) and interleukin(IL) production, which can enhance the effect of 5-FU on the inhibition of tumors. Also ASMq can reduce the content of ALT and AST in serum. Increased SOD, GSH-Px, and decreased the content of MDA in liver tissue. ASMq has a synergistic effect on liver and tumor pathology, as well as tumor inhibition rate. In addition, ASMq can also enhance the body's antioxidant capacity and improve the body's metabolism, and reduce 5-FU's toxic side effects.

3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-alphitolic acid, a triterpenoid from Zizyphus jujuba, leads to apoptotic cell death in human leukemia cells through reactive oxygen species production and activation of the unfolded protein response

3-O-trans-p-coumaroyl-alphitolic acid (3OTPCA), a triterpenoid isolated from the plant Zizyphus jujuba (ZJ), is known to be cytotoxic to cancer cells; however, the molecular mechanism underlying 3OTPCA-induced cell death remains unknown. Here, we provide novel evidence that 3OTPCA induces apoptotic cell death in human leukemia cells. We found that 3OPTCA induces DNA fragmentation within 24 h after treatment in U937 cells, which was also observed in other leukemia cell lines, including Molt-4 and Jurkat cells. We then investigated other parameters involved in apoptosis, including phosphatidylserine externalization and caspase-3 cleavage in U937 cells treated with 3OTPCA. 3OTPCA caused significant DNA fragmentation, annexin-V binding, and caspase-3 cleavage, indicating that 3OTPCA exerts cytotoxicity through apoptosis induction. RNA-seq analysis revealed that the expression of transcripts associated with the unfolded protein response (UPR), such as spliced XBP-1 and CHOP, were up-regulated by 3OTPCA treatment. 3OTPCA-induced UPR activation may be due to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress because both 3OTPCA and thapsigargin, an endoplasmic Ca²⁺ transport ATPase inhibitor, increased intracellular calcium levels. 3OTPCA down-regulated the expression of Bcl-2, a target of CHOP, and led to the loss of the mitochondrial membrane, indicating that the intrinsic (mitochondrial) apoptotic pathway was triggered by 3OTPCA, likely through UPR activation. Furthermore, we found that 3OTPCA induced superoxide anion generation and, following p38 MAPK phosphorylation, caspase-8 cleavage without affecting Fas expression. It also induced subsequent Bid cleavage, which may enhance the apoptosis triggered by the intrinsic pathway. These findings reveal for the first time that 3OTPCA induces apoptotic cell death through the generation of reactive oxygen species and activation of UPR.

Zizyphin modulates calcium signalling in human taste bud cells and fat taste perception in the mouse

Zizyphin, isolated from Zizyphus sps. leaf extracts, has been shown to modulate sugar taste perception, and the palatability of a sweet solution is increased by the addition of fatty acids. We, therefore, studied whether zizyphin also modulates fat taste perception. Zizyphin was purified from edible fruit of Zizyphus lotus L. Zizyphin-induced increases in [Ca²⁺ ]i in human taste bud cells (hTBC). Zizyphin shared the endoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺ pool and also recruited, in part, Ca²⁺ from extracellular environment via the opening of store-operated Ca²⁺ channels. Zizyphin exerted additive actions on linoleic acid (LA)-induced increases in [Ca²⁺ ]i in these cells, indicating that zizyphin does not exert its action via fatty acid receptors. However, zizyphin seemed to exert, at least in part, its action via bile acid receptor Takeda-G-protein-receptor-5 in hTBC. In behavioural tests, mice exhibited preference for both LA and zizyphin. Interestingly, zizyphin increased the preference for a solution containing-LA. This study is the first evidence of the modulation of fat taste perception by zizyphin at the cellular level in hTBC. Our study might be helpful for considering the synthesis of zizyphin analogues as 'taste modifiers' with a potential in the management of obesity and lipid-mediated disorders.

Hepatoprotective standardized EtOH-water extract of the leaves of Ziziphus jujuba

The hepatoprotective activity of the EtOH-water extract of Ziziphus jujuba leaves was evaluated against CCl₄-induced hepatic damage in mice. The EtOH-water extract significantly alleviated liver damage as indicated by the decreased levels of serum ALT and AST and the decreased MDA content, the increased levels of SOD, GSH and GSH-Px, and the reduced pathological tissue injury induced by CCl₄. A quantitative analysis of fifteen major constituents (1-15) of the EtOH-water extract of the leaves of Z. jujuba was conducted by HPLC-DAD. Based on our research results, it can be concluded that the EtOH-water extract of the leaves of Z. jujuba is efficacious for prevention and treatment of CCl₄-induced hepatic injury in mice. Flavonoids might be the active ingredients responsible for the biological and pharmacological activities towards hepatoprotection.

Preliminary phytochemical analysis and evaluation of antioxidant, cytotoxic and inhibition of lipopolysaccaride - induced NOS (iNOS) expression in BALB/c mice liver by Ziziphus oenoplia Mill. fruit

BACKGROUND

Ziziphus oenoplia Mill. is an ethnomedicinal plant and its fruit has been traditionally used by Puliar tribes of Anamalai Hills, Tamil Nadu, India to treat various ailments. Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, cytotoxic and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene downregulation activities of Z. oenoplia fruit (ZOF) were studied.

METHODS

To explore bioactive compounds present in the ripened fruits, high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were done. Free radical scavenging, hepatoprotective, inhibition of iNOS gene expression and cytotoxic activities of ethanol extract of fruit were also studied.

RESULTS

Total flavonoid content of ZOFwas estimated as 69 µg/mg catechin equivalent. HPTLC densitogram confirmed the presence of quercetin and GC-MS analysis showed a total of 16 compounds of 87.66 % with quinic acid as a major compound which accounted for 22.29 %. Free radical-scavenging activity of ethanolic fruit extract was ranged from 160.12 to 650.23 µg/mL. An amount of 1.5 µg lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced severe inflammation in BALB/c mice liver, followed by treatment with ethanolic fruit extract of 100 µg concentration, exhibited significant hepatoprotection and reverse transcriptase polymerase (RT-PCR) analysis showed downregulation of iNOS gene expression in hepatocytes at transcriptional level. ZOF also showed significant cytotoxicity and propidium iodide staining confirmed the induction of apoptosis in cervical cancer cells (HeLa).

CONCLUSIONS

Findings of the present study prove that ZOF is a rich source of bioactive compounds with a wide range of pharmacological activities. Hence, consumption of this wild edible fruit will be a cost-effective and easily available natural nutritional source for health protection.

Dietary Ziziphus jujuba Fruit Influence on Aberrant Crypt Formation and Blood Cells in Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer in Mice

Ziziphus jujuba (ZJ) fruit is rich in bioactive functional components such as polysaccharides, triterpenoid acid, flavonoids and oleamide. It has been commonly used in the treatment of various diseases including diabetes, digestive disorders, diarrhea, skin infections, liver and urinary complaints. However, dietary effects with regard to chemoprevention of colon cancer have not been studied. The present study was performed to evaluate the protective effects of dietary ZJ against colitis-associated colon carcinogenesis in azoxymethane (AOM)-dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-treated mice. AOM was injected (10 mg/kg b.wt., i.p.) and three cycles of 2% DSS in drinking water for 7 days with 14 days of normal drinking water in-between were administered to induce colitis-associated colon cancer. ZJ fruit was supplemented into feed at levels of 5 and 10%. Dietary ZJ significantly attenuated aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation and also decreased the progression of hyperplasia to dysplasia. In addition, it significantly reduced circulating white blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, eosinophils, basophils and platelets compared to colon cancer mice. We conclude that ZJ supplementation may delay the progression of colon cancer from hyperplasia to dysplasia and ultimately adenocarcinoma and cancer. In addition, it decreased circulating tumor-related leukocytes, main regulators of cancer inflammation. Dietary consumption of ZJ fruit attenuated the formation of ACF and delayed the progression of colon cancer.

Protective Effect of Bioactivity Guided Fractions of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. Root Bark against Hepatic Injury and Chronic Inflammation via Inhibiting Inflammatory Markers and Oxidative Stress

The tribal communities of North Eastern India rely on herbal medicine to cure various disease conditions. Ziziphus jujuba Mill. (Rhamnaceae) is one of such medicinal plants used for curing liver ailments, insomnia, anemia, diarrhea, diabetic complications, cancer, and loss of appetite. The present study was aimed to describe the protective ability of Z. jujuba root bark (ZJRB) against hepatic injury and chronic inflammation. Bioactivity guided fractionation of Z. jujuba methanol extract (ZJME) was performed using different solvents of increasing polarity viz. hexane (ZJHF), chloroform (ZJCF), ethyl acetate (ZJEAF), water (ZJWF), and residue (ZJMR). In vitro antioxidant results revealed that both ZJME and ZJWF possess strong antioxidant activity among all the fractions and mother extract tested. Further, ZJME and ZJWF showed significant protection against CCl4 intoxicated HepG2 cell lines by means of increased cell viability and decreased LDH levels compared to control group. ZJME at 200, 400 mg/kg and ZJWF at 50, 100 mg/kg inhibited the lipid peroxidation and significantly restored the liver function markers (AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, SOD, and CAT) and cytokine levels (TNF-α, Il-1β, and Il-10) in CCl4 induced acute liver damage in rats. All the results were comparable with standard drug silymarin which was further confirmed by histopathology analysis of liver. Similarly, inflammation and increase inflammatory cytokines levels of carrageenan induced paw edema in rats have been refurbished to normal levels on par with the standard drug indomethacin. ZJWF demonstrated potent response than ZJME in all the biological tests conducted. The results of the study signify the ability of ZJRB as good therapeutic agent for liver toxicity and chronic inflammation.

Apoptosis-inducing effects of jujube (Zǎo) seed extracts on human Jurkat leukemia T cells

BACKGROUND

Jujube (Zǎo) seeds exhibited anticancer effects and used in Chinese medicine for many years. This study aims to investigate the apoptosis-inducing effects of seed extracts from eight different cultivated species ('Apple', 'Bombay', 'Jumbo', 'Kaew', 'Nomsod', 'Rianthong', 'Samros', and 'Taiwan') on human Jurkat leukemia T cells.

METHODS

We evaluated the effects of seed extracts from eight jujube cultivated species on human Jurkat leukemia T cells. The crude seed extracts were prepared sequentially by using water, 95 % ethanol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, chloroform or hexane. The antiproliferative effects of the jujube seed extracts relative to that of melphalan were evaluated by neutral red assays. Apoptotic cell death induced by the ethanolic extracts at 1 × IC50 and 2 × IC50 concentrations was demonstrated by DAPI staining, gel electrophoresis, flow cytometry with Annexin V/propidium iodide staining, and caspase-3, -8, and -9 enzyme activities.

RESULTS

Ethanolic extracts of 'Taiwan', 'Jumbo', 'Nomsod', 'Rianthong', 'Samros', and 'Bombay', significantly inhibited the proliferation of Jurkat cells compared with untreated cells (all P < 0.001), while the extracts of 'Kaew' and 'Apple' were inactive. The six active extracts preferentially induced apoptotic cell death in a concentration-dependent manner with DNA fragmentation (2 × IC50). Increased caspase-3 activity was detected after treatment with the six extracts. The 'Taiwan', 'Nomsod', 'Jumbo', and 'Rianthong' extracts (2 × IC50) induced both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis pathways by increasing caspase-8 and caspase-9 activity, respectively. Alkaloids (Dragendorff's method) and reducing sugars (Fehling's test) were mainly identified in the apoptosis-inducing extracts.

CONCLUSIONS

The tested of six active extracts ('Taiwan', 'Jumbo', 'Nomsod', 'Rianthong', 'Samros' and 'Bombay') contained alkaloids or reducing sugars, and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis in human Jurkat leukemia T cells.

Chemical characterization of the main bioactive constituents from fruits of Ziziphus jujuba

The fruit of Ziziphus jujuba Mill., also called hongzao in Chinese, has a long history of cultivation in China.

Contents Changes of Triterpenic Acids, Nucleosides, Nucleobases, and Saccharides in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba) Fruit During the Drying and Steaming Process

Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba), a medicinal and edible plant, is widely consumed in Asian countries owing to the remarkable health activities of its fruits. To facilitate selection of the suitable processing method for jujube fruits, in this study their contents of triterpenic acids, nucleosides, nucleobases and saccharides after drying and steaming treatment were determined using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detector methods. The results showed that except for sucrose, the content levels of most analytes were increasing in the jujube fruits during drying treatment at 45 °C. The levels of cyclic nucleotides such as adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, were significantly decreased after the fruits were steamed. Therefore, owing to the bioactivities of these components for human health, the dried fruits would be the better choice as medicinal material or functional food, and dried jujube fruit should not be further steamed.

Yakammaoto inhibits enterovirus 71 infection by reducing viral attachment, internalization, replication, and translation

Enterovirus 71 (EV71) can cause central nervous system infections with mortality and neurologic sequelae. At present, there is no effective therapeutic modality for EV71 infection. The infection is more common in families with poor socioeconomic status. Therefore, finding a readily available, cost-effective therapeutic modality would be very helpful to these socioeconomically disadvantaged families. Yakammaoto is a cheap and readily available traditional prescription that is proven to have antiviral activity against coxsackievirus B4 (CVB4). CVB4 and EV71 are enteroviruses. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral activity of hot water extract of yakammaoto against EV71. The results of plaque reduction assay and flow cytometry demonstrated that yakammaoto dose dependently inhibited EV71 infection. In addition, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and quantitative RT-PCR results showed that yakammaoto reduced viral replication. Western blotting analysis showed that yakammaoto can inhibit viral protein production. Thus, our results suggest that yakammaoto should be considered to manage EV71 infection in the future.

Anti-carcinogenic effects of the phenolic-rich extract from abnormal Savda Munziq in association with its cytotoxicity, apoptosis-inducing properties and telomerase activity in human cervical cancer cells (SiHa)

BACKGROUND

Abnormal Savda Munziq (ASMq) is a herbal preparation used in Traditional Uighur Medicine for the treatment cancer. The polyphenol is main compounds contained in ASMq preparation responsible for anticancer effect of ASMq.

METHODS

In this study,Real-time quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) assay, MTT assay and flow cytometry were used to investigate the effect of polyphenol of ASMq on cell viability and the potential of the phenolic rich extracts of ASMq to induce apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells SiHa and its effects on telomerase activity were investigated. Cellular morphological change was observed by phase contrast microscopy. The MTT cell viability data revealed that treatment with phenolic rich extracts at 75 ~ 175 μg/ml significantly inhibited the viability and proliferation of cells, and these effects occurred in a concentration-dependent manner and time dependent manner (P < 0.01).

RESULTS

The phenolic rich extracts can induce apoptosis of SiHa cells, can increase the apoptosis rate in a concentration-dependent manner and time dependent manner (P < 0.01). Growth inhibition and apoptosis induction by phenolic rich extracts treatment on SiHa cells was associated with down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 expression and telomerase (P < 0.05) and Survivin expression. In addition, phenolic rich extracts exerted a dose-dependent induction of FHIT expression.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that phenolic rich extracts may have anti-tumor effects in human cervical cancer through cytotoxicity, apoptosis-inducing properties and telomerase activity.

Morphological characteristic of fruit, drupes and seeds genotypes of Ziziphus jujuba Mill

The aim of this work is to discriminate 28 Ziziphus jujuba Mill. genotypes (ZJ-01 - ZJ-28) based on weight and morphological characteristics of fruit, stones and seeds. These genotypes maintained in a clone repository (Nova Kachovka, Ukraine) were chosen for investigation as potential species for cultivation and use in Slovakia. The fruits were collected at the period of their full maturity (October); their morphometric parameters were following: weight from 2.90 g (ZJ-13) to 28.99 g (ZJ-22), length from 20.73 mm (ZJ-08) to 44.84 mm (ZJ-04), and width from 16.64 mm (ZJ-13) to 38.87 mm (ZJ-22). Isolated stones were also analysed, and their weight was from 0.173 g (ZJ-07) to 0.731 g (ZJ-20), length from 12.84 mm (ZJ-08) to 28.67 mm (ZJ-04), and width from 5.06 mm (ZJ-07) to 9.74 mm (ZJ-01). The weight of the seeds was ranging from 20.00 mg (ZJ-25) to 69.11 mg (ZJ-12), length from 7.24 mm (ZJ-15) to 11.85 mm (ZJ-04), and width was from 3.86 mm (ZJ-05) to 6.84 mm (ZJ-12). Significant differences in the size, shape and color of fruits, stones and seeds were also identified. The pulp, seedless stones and seeds constitute 92.81% (ZJ-26) - 98.32% (ZJ-04), 1.36% (ZJ-04) - 6.27% (ZJ-20), and 0.25% (QA-24, QA-25) - 1.21% (ZJ-16) of the total fruits weight, respectively The shape index of the fruits was found in the range of 1.04 (ZJ-08) to 2.00 (ZJ-12 and ZJ-25). The shape indexes of stones and seeds were found ranging from 1.74 (ZJ-08) to 4.53 (ZJ-05) and from 1.32 (ZJ-23) to 2.74 (ZJ-04), respectively. The relative weight of pulp was determined in the range from 92.76% (ZJ-13) to 98.32% (ZJ-04) and the relative weight of seed was determined in the range of 0.25% (ZJ-24 and ZJ-25) to 1.16% (ZJ-26). The Chinese jujube genotypes of this study were grouped based on hierarchical clustering of the fruit, stone and seed characteristics.

Isolation of a new triterpene derivative and in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of ethanolic extract from root bark of Zizyphus nummularia Aubrev

The various parts of Zizyphus nummularia has been used traditionally in several disease conditions. However, its anticancer activity and mechanism of action remain to be elucidated. Considering this, the objective of this study was to isolate, identify and screen for possible anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo of the ethanolic extract (EE) and isolated identified compound (IC) from Z. nummularia root bark. The in vitro activity against human breast cancer, leukaemia, ovarian cancer, colon adenocarcinoma and human kidney carcinoma cell lines was determined. The in vivo activity in female Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) was determined. The isolated compound is a new triterpene derivative. EE/IC showed cytotoxicity against different cell lines. The administration of EE/IC decreased tumour parameters such as tumour volume, viable tumour cell count and increased body weight, haematological parameters and life span in comparison to the EAC control mice.

Polysaccharide Isolated from Zizyphus jujuba ( Hóng Zǎo) Inhibits Interleukin-2 Production in Jurkat T Cells

Zizyphus jujuba ( Hóng Zǎo), a traditional Chinese herb widely used in many Asian countries, has been shown to possess vital biological activities such as anti-cancer activity. The objective of this study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of deproteinated polysaccharide (DP) isolated from Z. jujuba. The DP isolated from Z. jujuba consisted of two polysaccharide fractions and their molecular weights (MWs) were found to be 143,108 and 67,633 Da, respectively. The DP could significantly decrease interleukin (IL)-2 production in phytohemagglutinin (PHA)-activated Jurkat T cells in a dose-dependent manner after 48 h of incubation, with the inhibition being 47.5%, 61.2%, and 81.7% for DP concentrations of 0.75, 1.75, and 2.5 mg/ml, respectively. Thus, our study showed that DP isolated from Z. jujuba may possess anti-inflammatory activity as it could significantly reduce IL-2 production in activated Jurkat T cells.

Zizyphus jujuba protects against ibuprofen-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

CONTEXT

Zizyphus jujuba Mill. (Rhamnaceae) has long been used for the treatment of anxiety and insomnia in Chinese traditional medicine. The edible part is the fruit. Different parts of Z. jujuba possess medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, anticancer and antifertility.

OBJECTIVES

This study evaluated the therapeutic effect of Z. jujuba fruit aqueous extract (ZE) on nephrotoxicity induced by ibuprofen (IBP) in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were grouped as normal saline (control), ZE (500 mg/kg), IBP (400 mg/kg) and ZE + IBP-treated groups. After five days of oral administration, rats were sacrificed. The protective effect of ZE was evaluated by measuring kidney biomarkers, and histopathological changes of kidney were observed. Kidney antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST) and lipid peroxidase were investigated.

RESULTS

Administration of IBP resulted in a significant increase in urea and creatinine (p < 0.05) and a significant decrease in albumin and total protein (p < 0.05). Damage in glomeruli and proximal convoluted tubules was observed. IBP also increased CAT (p < 0.05) and GST (p < 0.001) activities compared to the control group. Administration of ZE with IBP significantly decreased serum urea and creatinine (p < 0.05) and reduced the severity of kidney damage. There was also a significant increase in the activities of CAT (p < 0.05) and GST (p < 0.001).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

These results indicated that Z. jujuba aqueous extract could have a therapeutic role in reducing nephrotoxicity induced by ibuprofen.

Cancer Prevention and Therapy: Integrating Traditional Korean Medicine Into Modern Cancer Care

In spite of billions of dollars spent on cancer research each year, overall cancer incidence and cancer survival has not changed significantly in the last half century. Instead, the recent projection from the World Health Organization suggests that global cancer incidence and death is expected to double within the next decade. This requires an "out of the box" thinking approach. While traditional medicine used for thousands of years is safe and affordable, its efficacy and mechanism of action are not fully reported. Demonstrating that traditional medicine is efficacious and how it works can provide a "bed to bench" and "bench to bed" back approach toward prevention and treatment of cancer. This current review is an attempt to describe the contributions of traditional Korean medicine (TKM) to modern medicine and, in particular, cancer treatment. TKM suggests that cancer is an outcome of an imbalance of body, mind, and spirit; thus, it requires a multimodal treatment approach that involves lifestyle modification, herbal prescription, acupuncture, moxibustion, traditional exercise, and meditation to restore the balance. Old wisdoms in combination with modern science can find a new way to deal with the "emperor of all maladies."

Effect of water deficit and domestic storage on the procyanidin profile, size, and aggregation process in pear-jujube (Z. jujuba) fruits

No information exists on the proanthocyanidin content of pear-jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill) fruit, their polymeric types and sizes, and their self-aggregation, or on the effect of different water deficit levels during the fruit maturation period on these compounds. Two trimers, two tetramers, and six B type procyanidin pentamers were identified and quantified for the first time. Water deficit increased the content of procyanidins of low molecular mass, improving their potential bioavailability and possible physiological effects on human health. The tendency of procyanidins to self-aggregate was similar in the edible portion and pit, and was not affected by water deficit. The procyanidin content of fruit from well watered trees increased during domestic cold storage, whereas the fruits from trees suffering severe water stress lost some of their procyanidin content.

1'-acetoxychavicol acetate inhibits adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in high fat-fed rats

Alpinia galanga and Languas galanga, which are plants belonging to the ginger family, are frequently used for cooking, especially in Thai and Indonesian cuisine. The compound 1'-acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA), which is naturally obtained from the rhizomes and seeds of these gingers, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We investigated the anti-obesity effects of ACA in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and in high fat diet (HFD)-induced rat models of obesity. ACA caused a significant decrease in the activity of GPDH in 3T3-L1 adipocytes without eliciting cell cytotoxicity, and it inhibited cellular lipid accumulation through the down-regulation of transcription factors such as PPARγ and C/EBPα. ACA also induced a dose-dependent phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). In the animal model, rats fed an HFD containing 0.05% ACA gained less weight than rats fed an HFD alone. The visceral fat mass in rats fed an HFD containing 0.05% ACA tended to be lower than that in rats fed an HFD alone. Furthermore, a histological examination of livers from rats fed an HFD showed steatohepatitis. However, rats fed an HFD containing 0.05% ACA showed no histopathological changes in the liver tissue. Our results show that ACA exerts anti-obesity activities both in vitro and in vivo and suggests that ACA may have a novel preventive activity against obesity and possibly other metabolic diseases.