Identification of phenolic compounds from fermented Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf supplemented with Fuzhuan brick tea and their volatile composition and anti-obesity activity

As a nutritious plant with valuable potential, the Moringa oleifera Lam. (MOL) leaf addition on Fuzhuan brick tea (FBT) for the co-fermentation (MOL-FBT) was an industry innovation and a new route to make full use of MOL leaf. After optimization of the extraction conditions, the best conditions for the polyphenols extraction method from MOL-FBT (MFP) were 60°C for 40 min (1:80, V/W) using response surface methodology. A total of 30 phenolics were identified and quantified. Most of the polyphenols were increased after adding MOL leaf for co-fermentation compared to FBT polyphenols. In particular, caffeic acids were found only in MFP. Moreover, the MFP received high value in taste, aroma, and color. In total, 62 volatile flavor compounds, consisting of 3 acids, 5 alcohols, 15 aldehydes, 4 esters, 20 hydrocarbons, 10 ketones, and 5 others, were identified in MFP. In addition, MFP inhibited 3T3-L1 preadipocyte differentiation in a dose-dependent manner and decreased lipid accumulation via the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ)/CCAAT/enhancer binding protein alpha (CEBPα)/cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) axis and induced a brown adipocyte-like phenotype. In vivo experiments were further conducted to confirm the in vitro results. MFP regulated lipid accumulation, glucose/insulin tolerance, improved liver and kidney function, and inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory factors by the PPARγ/CEBPα/CD36 axis and alleviated inflammation in high fat and high fructose diet-induced obese mice. In summary, MFP possesses high-quality properties and anti-obesity effects, as well as the great potential to be used as a novel functional food product.

Superoxide Dismutase-Mimetic Polyphenol-Based Carbon Dots for Multimodal Bioimaging and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis

Polyphenols have been investigated for their potential to mitigate inflammation in the context of atopic dermatitis (AD). In this study, epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-based carbon dots (EGCG@CDs) were developed to enhance transdermal penetration, reduce inflammation, recapitulate superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and provide antimicrobial effects for AD treatment. The water-soluble EGCG@CDs in a few nanometers size exhibit a negative zeta potential, making them suitable for effective transdermal penetration. The fluorescence properties, including an upconversion effect, make EGCG@CDs suitable imaging probes for both in vitro and in vivo applications. By mimicking the SOD enzyme, EGCG@CDs scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and actively produce hydrogen peroxide through a highly catalytic capability toward the oxygen reduction reaction, resulting in the inhibition of bacterial growth. The enhanced antioxidant properties, high charge mobility, and various functional groups of EGCG@CDs prove effective in reducing intracellular ROS in an in vitro AD model. In the mouse AD model, EGCG@CDs incorporated into a hydrogel actively penetrated the epidermal layer, leading to ROS scavenging, reduced mast cell activation, and histological recovery of skin barriers. This research represents the versatile potential of EGCG@CDs in addressing AD and advancing tissue engineering.

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) Polyphenols and Their Nutraceutical Value against Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

Coriander is a widely used plant for its medicinal and biological properties. Both coriander essential oil and extracts are interesting sources of bioactive compounds and are widely used as spices in culinary practice due to their exclusive aroma and flavour. We focus our attention on coriander extracts that are rich in polyphenols. It is well known that plant polyphenols possess different biological activities and several functional foods contain this class of compounds. The polyphenol profile in an extract can be influenced by the plant part studied, the method of extraction and other parameters. This study performs a literature review using the words "coriander", "polyphenols" and "extraction" or "biological activity" in different databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus. After that, we focus on the evidence of coriander polyphenols as protective agents against some inflammation-related diseases. Due to the bioactivities of coriander extract, this herb can be considered a valuable functional food against obesity, metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

Regulatory Effects and Mechanism of Action of Green Tea Polyphenols on Osteogenesis and Adipogenesis in Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Stem Cells

We previously showed that green tea polyphenols (GTPs) exert antiadipogenic effects on preadipocyte proliferation. Here, we investigated the regulatory effects of GTPs on osteogenesis and adipogenesis during early differentiation of human adipose tissue-derived stem cells (hADSC). Adipogenesis of hADSCs was determined by oil-red-O staining and triglycerides synthesis measurement. Osteoporosis of hADSC was measured using alkaline phosphatase assays and intracellular calcium levels. Immunofluorescence staining and qRT-PCR were used to detect PPARγ-CEBPA regulated adipogenic pathway regulated by PPAR-CEBPA and the osteogenic pathway mediated by RUNX2-BMP2. We found that GTPs treatment significantly decreased lipid accumulation and cellular triglyceride synthesis in mature adipocytes and attenuated pioglitazone-induced adipogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. GTPs downregulated protein and mRNA expression of Pparγ and attenuated pioglitazone-stimulated-Cebpa expression. GTPs treatment significantly enhanced hADSCs differentiation into osteoblasts compared to control and pioglitazone-treated cells. GTPs upregulated RunX2 and Bmp2 proteins and mRNA expression compared to control and significantly attenuated decreased RunX2 and Bmp2 mRNA expression by pioglitazone. In conclusion, our data demonstrates GTPs possesses great ability to facilitate osteogenesis and simultaneously inhibits hADSC differentiation into adipogenic lineage by upregulating the RUNX2-BMP2 mediated osteogenic pathway and suppressing PPARγ-induced signaling of adipogenesis. These findings highlight GTPs' potential to combat osteoporosis associated with obesity.

A Thai Traditional Triple-Fruit Formulation "Phikud Tri-Phon" May Provide Fat Loss and Nutritional Benefits

Obesity and overweight have serious health outcomes. “Phikud Tri-Phon” (PTP) is a traditional Thai medicine comprising three dried fruits from Aegle marmelos L., Morinda citrifolia L., and Coriandrum sativum L. Whether this medicine impacts on metabolic disease is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the phenolic and flavonoid contents of PTP and each of its herbal components, and further assess their antioxidant and anti-adipogenetic activities. Oil-red O staining was measured for lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The chemical profiles of PTP and each herbal extract were determined by LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Our results show that the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of PTP water extract were 22.35–108.42 mg of gallic acid equivalents and PTP ethanolic extract was 1.19–0.93 mg of quercetin equivalents and the DPPH scavenging capacity assay of PTP ethanolic extract (1 mg/mL) was 92.45 ± 6.58 (Trolox equivalent)/g. The PTP extracts and individual herbs had inhibitory adipogenesis activity, which reduced lipid accumulation by approximately 31% in PTP water extract and 22% in PTP ethanolic extract compared with control cells. These results provided insights into the traditional preparation method of using boiling water as a vehicle for PTP. In conclusion, PTP has antioxidant and anti-adipogenesis potential, indicating it is a promising ingredient in functional food and herbal health products.

Secondary Metabolites in the Dendrobium heterocarpum Methanolic Extract and Their Impacts on Viability and Lipid Storage of 3T3-L1 Pre-Adipocytes

Although many natural products have proven their potential to regulate obesity through the modulation of adipocyte biology, none of them has yet been approved for clinical use in obesity therapy. This work aims to isolate valuable secondary metabolites from an orchid species (Dendrobium heterocarpum) and evaluate their possible roles in the growth and differentiation of 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes. Six compounds were isolated from the orchid’s methanolic extracts and identified as amoenylin (1), methyl 3-(4-hydroxyphenyl) propionate (2), 3,4-dihydroxy-5,4’-dimethoxybibenzyl (3), dendrocandin B (4), dendrofalconerol A (5), and syringaresinol (6). Among these phytochemicals, compounds 2, 3, and 6 exhibited lower effects on the viability of 3T3-L1 cells, offering non-cytotoxic concentrations of ≲ 10 µM. Compared to others tested, compound 3 was responsible for the maximum reduction of lipid storage in 3T3-L1 adipocytes (IC₅₀ = 6.30 ± 0.10 µM). A set of protein expression studies unveiled that compound 3 at non-cytotoxic doses could suppress the expression of some key transcription factors in adipocyte differentiation (i.e., PPARγ and C/EBPα). Furthermore, this compound could deactivate some proteins involved in the MAPK pathways (i.e., JNK, ERK, and p38). Our findings prove that D. heterocarpum is a promising source to explore bioactive molecules capable of modulating adipocytic growth and development, which can potentially be assessed and innovated further as pharmaceutical products to defeat obesity.

Adipose and non-adipose perspectives of plant derived natural compounds for mitigation of obesity

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Phyto-preparations and phyto-compounds, by their natural origin, easy availability, cost-effectiveness, and fruitful traditional uses based on accumulated experiences, have been extensively explored to mitigate the global burden of obesity.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

The review aimed to analyse and critically summarize the prospect of future anti-obesity drug leads from the extant array of phytochemicals for mitigation of obesity, using adipose related targets (adipocyte formation, lipid metabolism, and thermogenesis) and non-adipose targets (hepatic lipid metabolism, appetite, satiety, and pancreatic lipase activity). Phytochemicals as inhibitors of adipocyte differentiation, modulators of lipid metabolism, and thermogenic activators of adipocytes are specifically discussed with their non-adipose anti-obesogenic targets.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and SciFinder were accessed to collect data on traditional medicinal plants, compounds derived from plants, their reported anti-obesity mechanisms, and therapeutic targets. The taxonomically accepted name of each plant in this review has been vetted from "The Plant List" (www.theplantlist.org) or MPNS (http://mpns.kew.org).

RESULTS

Available knowledge of a large number of phytochemicals, across a range of adipose and non-adipose targets, has been critically analysed and delineated by graphical and tabular depictions, towards mitigation of obesity. Neuro-endocrinal modulation in non-adipose targets brought into sharp dual focus, both non-adipose and adipose targets as the future of anti-obesity research. Numerous phytochemicals (Berberine, Xanthohumol, Ursolic acid, Guggulsterone, Tannic acid, etc.) have been found to be effectively reducing weight through lowered adipocyte formation, increased lipolysis, decreased lipogenesis, and enhanced thermogenesis. They have been affirmed as potential anti-obesity drugs of future because of their effectiveness yet having no threat to adipose or systemic insulin sensitivity.

CONCLUSION

Due to high molecular diversity and a greater ratio of benefit to risk, plant derived compounds hold high therapeutic potential to tackle obesity and associated risks. This review has been able to generate fresh perspectives on the anti-diabetic/anti-hyperglycemic/anti-obesity effect of phytochemicals. It has also brought into the focus that many phytochemicals demonstrating in vitro anti-obesogenic effects are yet to undergo in vivo investigation which could lead to potential phyto-molecules for dedicated anti-obesity action.

Green tea polyphenols ameliorate metabolic abnormalities and insulin resistance by enhancing insulin signalling in skeletal muscle of Zucker fatty rats

In the present study, we evaluated the metabolic effects of green tea polyphenols (GTPs) in high-fat diet (HFD) fed Zucker fatty (ZF) rats, in particular the effects of GTP on skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity. Body weight, visceral fat, glucose tolerance, lipid profiles and whole-body insulin sensitivity were measured in HFD-fed ZF rats after 8-week-treatment with GTP (200 mg/kg of body weight) or saline (5 ml/kg of body weight). Zucker lean rats were studied as controls. Ex vivo insulin-mediated muscle glucose uptake was assessed. Immunoblotting was used to evaluate the expression of key insulin signalling proteins in skeletal muscle. GTP treatment attenuated weight gain (P<0.05) and visceral fat accumulation (27.6%, P<0.05), and significantly reduced fasting serum glucose (P<0.05) and insulin (P<0.01) levels. Homoeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), a measure of insulin resistance, was lower (P<0.01) in GTP-treated animals compared with ZF controls. Moreover, insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by isolated soleus muscle was increased (P<0.05) in GTP-ZF rats compared with ZF-controls. GTP treatment attenuated the accumulation of ectopic lipids (triacyl- and diacyl-glycerols), enhanced the expression and translocation of glucose transporter-4, and decreased pSer612IRS-1 and increased pSer473Akt2 expression in skeletal muscle. These molecular changes were also associated with significantly decreased activation of the inhibitory (muscle-specific) protein kinase (PKC) isoform, PKC-θ. Taken together, the present study has shown that regular ingestion of GTP exerts a number of favourable metabolic and molecular effects in an established animal model of obesity and insulin resistance. The benefits of GTP are mediated in part by inhibiting PKC-θ and improving muscle insulin sensitivity.

The Pharmacological Activity of Camellia sinensis (‎L.‎) ‎Kuntze‎ on Metabolic and Endocrine Disorders: A Systematic Review

Tea made from Camellia sinensis leaves is one of the most consumed beverages worldwide. This systematic review aims to update Camellia sinensis pharmacological activity on metabolic and endocrine disorders. Inclusion criteria were preclinical and clinical studies of tea extracts and isolated compounds on osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity written in English between 2014 and 2019 and published in Pubmed, Science Direct, and Scopus. From a total of 1384 studies, 80 reports met inclusion criteria. Most papers were published in 2015 (29.3%) and 2017 (20.6%), conducted in China (28.75%), US (12.5%), and South Korea (10%) and carried out with extracts (67.5%, especially green tea) and isolated compounds (41.25%, especially epigallocatechin gallate). Most pharmacological studies were in vitro and in vivo studies focused on diabetes and obesity. Clinical trials, although they have demonstrated promising results, are very limited. Future research should be aimed at providing more clinical evidence on less studied pathologies such as osteoporosis, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome. Given the close relationship among all endocrine disorders, it would be of interest to find a standard dose of tea or their bioactive constituents that would be beneficial for all of them.

Health Functions and Related Molecular Mechanisms of Tea Components: An Update Review

Tea is widely consumed all over the world. Generally, tea is divided into six categories: White, green, yellow, oolong, black, and dark teas, based on the fermentation degree. Tea contains abundant phytochemicals, such as polyphenols, pigments, polysaccharides, alkaloids, free amino acids, and saponins. However, the bioavailability of tea phytochemicals is relatively low. Thus, some novel technologies like nanotechnology have been developed to improve the bioavailability of tea bioactive components and consequently enhance the bioactivity. So far, many studies have demonstrated that tea shows various health functions, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immuno-regulatory, anticancer, cardiovascular-protective, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity, and hepato-protective effects. Moreover, it is also considered that drinking tea is safe to humans, since reports about the severe adverse effects of tea consumption are rare. In order to provide a better understanding of tea and its health potential, this review summarizes and discusses recent literature on the bioactive components, bioavailability, health functions, and safety issues of tea, with special attention paid to the related molecular mechanisms of tea health functions.

Effect of Epigallo-Catechin-3-Gallate on Lipid Metabolism Related Gene Expression and Yolk Fatty Acid Profiles of Laying Hens Exposed to Vanadium

As the understanding of the pathways involved in such effect are quite limited, we investigated the gene pathways that modulate lipid metabolism in layers and the fatty acid profiles of the yolk of layers that were challenged with dietary vanadium (V) and supplemented with epigallo-catechin-3-gallate (EGCG). For this purpose, a total of 120 hens were divided into four groups which were fed the following experimental diets for a period of 8 weeks: control (basal diet), V10 (control + 10 mg/kg V), EGCG130 (V10 + 130 mg/kg EGCG), and EGCG217 (V10 + 217 mg/kg EGCG). Blood total cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, and very low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol concentration were lower in V10, EGCG130, and EGCG217 groups compared to the control group, while total cholesterol and triglyceride content in blood were lower in the EGCG217 group than in V10 group (P < 0.05). Hens consumed V10 diet had the highest triglyceride content in liver among treatments, whereas EGCG130 and EGCG217 groups had lower values when compared to those observed in the control group (P < 0.01). Dietary inclusion of V increased yolk polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and total unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) content compared to the control group (P < 0.05), whereas the addition of either 130 or 217 mg/kg EGCG in V containing diet resulted in similar yolk PUFA and UFA contents with those observed in the control group. Treatment with V alone upregulated the expression of hepatic fatty acid synthase (FAS) and sterol-regulator element-binding protein 1 (SREBP1), while EGCG downregulated FAS and SREBP1 expressions in contrast to V10 treatments (P < 0.01). Liver gene expression peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) was lower in the V10 than in the control group while EGCG inclusion groups upregulated their expression (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the data gathered in this study indicate that dietary V and EGCG alter the layers' lipid metabolism and fat deposition pattern in egg yolk, which might be associated with their modulatory effect on lipogenesis-related gene (FAS, SREBP1, and PPARγ) expression.

Quercetin and Epigallocatechin Gallate in the Prevention and Treatment of Obesity: From Molecular to Clinical Studies

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, which is characterized by the excess accumulation of adipose tissue and to an extent that impairs both the physical and psychosocial health and well-being. There are several weight-loss strategies available, including dietary modification, pharmacotherapy, and bariatric surgery, but many are ineffective or not a long-term solution. Bioactive compounds present in medicinal plants and plant extracts, like polyphenols, constitute the oldest and most extensive form of alternative treatments for the prevention and management of obesity. Their consumption is currently increasing in the population due to the high cost, potential adverse effects, and limited benefits of the currently available pharmaceutical drugs. A great number of studies has explored how dietary polyphenols can interfere with the different mechanisms associated with obesity development. They suggest that these compounds can decrease energy and food intake, lipogenesis, and preadipocyte differentiation and proliferation, while increasing energy expenditure, lipolysis, and fat oxidation. Both quercetin, one of the most common dietary flavonols in the western diet, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in green tea, exhibit antiobesity effects in adipocyte cultures and animal models. However, the extrapolation of these potential benefits to obese humans remains unclear. Although quercetin supplementation does not seem to exert any beneficial effects on body weight, this polyphenol could prevent the obesity-associated mortality by reducing cardiovascular disease risk. An important consideration for the design of further trials is the occurrence of gene polymorphisms in key enzymes involved in flavanol metabolism, which determines a subject's sensitivity to catechins and seems, therefore, crucial for the success of the antiobesity intervention. Although the evidence supporting antiobesity effects is more consistent in EGCG than with quercetin studies, they could still be beneficial by reducing the cardiovascular risk of obese subjects, rather than inducing body weight loss.

Enhancing the Yield of Bioactive Compounds from Sclerocarya birrea Bark by Green Extraction Approaches

Sclerocarya birrea is a tree indigenous to Southern Africa with significant importance in rural livelihoods for food, medicine, and carving. The bark, which contains 10⁻20% tannin, provides several pharmacological benefits as an antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti-atherogenic, and antioxidant medication, among others. This study compared different extraction techniques used to recover bioactive compounds from marula bark. For this purpose, solid⁻liquid extraction, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) were performed under selected conditions, using only "food-grade" solvents. The potential use of the proposed extraction methodologies was evaluated in term of yield, and the individual phenolic composition determined by HPLC⁻ESI⁻TOF⁻MS. PLE provided a high extraction yield in all experimental conditions. With regard to bioactive compounds composition, a total of 71 compounds, a significant percentage of which in a galloyl form, were distributed in five major categories. The largest number of compounds, mostly flavonoid aglycones, were extracted by PLE, generally when the extraction was developed at low temperatures. SFE did prove effective as a way of extracting antidiabetic proanthocyanidins. Advanced extraction techniques represent a powerful tool to obtain bioactive compounds from S. birrea bark, which can be used as supplements or food ingredients, promoting the valorization of this crop.

Bioactive Compounds from Theobroma cacao: Effect of Isolation and Safety Evaluation

Plants, including most food and feed plants, produce a broad range of bioactive chemical compounds. Among these compounds, polyphenols are reported to provide beneficial effects as anti-carcinogenic, anti-atherogenic, anti-inflammatory, immune modulating, anti-microbial, vasodilatory and analgesic. Cocoa (Theobroma cacao), a major, economically important, international crop, has been related to several nutritional benefits, which have been associated with the phenolic fraction. The main subclass of flavonoids found in cocoa is flavanols, particularly (epi)catechins monomers, and their oligomers, also known as procyanidins. In this study, these compounds were isolated by different methodologies as solid phase extraction (SPE), semi-preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and membrane technologies to obtain different polyphenolic profiles by HPLC coupled to electrospray time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) and to test their cytotoxicity. Finally, different polyphenolic profiles were collected, where the combination of both semi-preparative HPLC and SPE technologies provided the most purified fractions. Filtration with membranes and SPE provide extracts with different composition depending on the pore size of membranes and on the solvent, respectively. In addition, the results of toxicity assay indicated low levels in all fractions.

Molecular mechanisms of the anti-obesity effect of bioactive compounds in tea and coffee

Obesity is a serious health problem in adults and children worldwide. However, the basic strategies for the management of obesity (diet, exercise, drugs and surgery) have limitations and side effects. Therefore, many researchers have sought to identify bioactive components in food. Tea and coffee are the most frequently consumed beverages in the whole world. Their health benefits have been studied for decades, especially those of green tea. The anti-obesity effect of tea and coffee has been studied for at least ten years. The results have shown decreased lipid accumulation in cells via the regulation of the cell cycle during adipogenesis, changes in transcription factors and lipogenesis-related proteins in the adipose tissue of animal models, and decreased body weight and visceral fat in humans. Tea and coffee also influence the gut microbiota in obese animals and humans. Although the anti-obesity mechanism of tea and coffee still needs further clarification, they may have potential as a new strategy to prevent or treat obesity.

Acupuncture and Lifestyle Modification Treatment for Obesity: A Meta-Analysis

Obesity is an epidemic health hazard associated with many medical conditions. Lifestyle interventions are foundational to the successful management of obesity. However, the body’s adaptive biological responses counteract patients’ desire to restrict food and energy intake, leading to weight regain. As a complementary and alternative medical approach, acupuncture therapy is widely used for weight control. The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of acupuncture treatment alone and in combination with lifestyle modification. We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL and Chinese Biomedical Literature Databases for relevant publications available as of 24 October 2015 without language restriction. Eligible studies consisted of randomized controlled trials for acupuncture with comparative controls. A total of 23 studies were included with 1808 individuals. We performed meta-analyses of weighted mean differences based on a random effect model. Acupuncture exhibited a mean difference of body mass index reduction of 1.742[Formula: see text]kg/m2 (95% confidence interval [Formula: see text]) and 1.904[Formula: see text]kg/m2 (95% confidence interval [Formula: see text]) when compared with untreated or placebo control groups and when lifestyle interventions including basic therapy of both treatment and control groups. Adverse events reported were mild, and no patients withdrew because of adverse effects. Overall, our results indicate that acupuncture is an effective treatment for obesity both alone and together with lifestyle modification.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate Prevents Triptolide-Induced Hepatic Injury by Restoring the Th17/Treg Balance in Mice

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is the most common cause of acute liver failure. Disruption of the Th17/Treg balance can lead to hepatic inflammation, which causes the main symptoms of DILI. Here we investigate the protective mechanisms of (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on triptolide (TP)-induced DILI that shows the Th17/Treg imbalance. Pretreatment with EGCG (5[Formula: see text]mg/kg) for 10 days before TP (0.5[Formula: see text]mg/kg) administration in mice significantly reduced the increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level ([Formula: see text]) induced by TP treatment. The hepatic histology analysis further proved that EGCG protected mice from TP-induced liver injury. The imbalance of Th17/Treg was induced by TP treatment, as shown by the upregulation of TLR4 and downregulation of Tim3 expression. EGCG pretreatment can maintain the expression of TLR4 and Tim3 at normal levels to restore the Th17/Treg imbalance. In addition, EGCG can block the TP-induced expression of the downstream targets of TLR4, including MyD88, NF[Formula: see text]B, and retinoid related orphan receptor (ROR-[Formula: see text]t), while EGCG can restore the TP inhibition of forkhead/winged-helix family transcriptional repressor p3 (FoxP3) that is the downstream target of Tim3. Consequently, EGCG pretreatment can effectively inhibit the Th17-related pro-inflammatory cytokine (e.g. IL-17 and IL-6) upregulation induced by TP treatment. However, TP inhibition of Treg-related anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 production was restored by EGCG pretreatment. Taken together, these results suggest that EGCG possesses significant protective properties against TP-induced hepatic inflammatory injury, and that these properties are carried out via the restoration of the Th17/Treg imbalance by the inhibition of the TLR4 signaling pathway and the enhanced activation of the Tim3 signaling pathway.

Mechanism of Taiwan Mingjian Oolong Tea to Inhibit Isoproterenol-Induced Hypertrophy and Apoptosis in Cardiomyoblasts

This study investigates the cardio-protective effect of Nos. 1 and 5 extracts from Taiwan Mingjian Oolong Tea on H9c2 cardiomyoblast cells treated with isoproterenol (ISO). Treatment with Nos. 1 and 5 extracts increased cell viability and blocked apoptosis in ISO exposed H9c2 cells. Moreover, Nos. 1 and 5 extracts blocked hypertrophy markers like G[Formula: see text]s, calcineurin, NFATc3, and BNP, thereby increasing cell proliferation markers -PI3K and AKT in a dose dependent manner. In contrast, apoptotic proteins, such as caspase-3 and cytochrome c were decreased in H9c2 cells treated with Nos. 1 and 5 extracts. We confirmed that the protective effect of No. 1 extract was partially mediated through the expression of ERK and p38, however, the No. 5 extract showed a protective effect via the ERK, JNK, and p38 pathways. This evidence provides new insights into the pharmacological role and therapeutic mechanism of Taiwan Mingjian Oolong Tea in heart diseases.