Suppression of Dynamical Network Biomarker Signals at the Predisease State (Mibyou) before Metabolic Syndrome in Mice by a Traditional Japanese Medicine (Kampo Formula) Bofutsushosan

Robustanic acid as a glutaminase and Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitor from leaves of Eucalyptus globulus

This study was to compare glutaminase and Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitory activities of 20 herbal extracts and investigate the isolation, structural elucidation and those inhibitory activities of three triterpenes from the selected extract of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. Three triterpenes, ursolic acid (1), robustanic acid (2) and ursolic acid lactone (3), were identified by analyzing their NMR and MS spectral data and comparison of these with reported data. The IC50 values of 1-3 and the control compound against glutaminase, 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON), were 443 μM, 334 μM, 963 μM and 134 μM, respectively. The IC50 values of 1, 2 and the control compound against Na+, K+-ATPase and ouabain, were 180 μM, 56 μM and 0.5 μM, respectively. Compounds 1 and 2 may serve as potential lead compounds for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative and lifestyle-related diseases by targeting glutaminase and Na+, K+-ATPase. This is the first report on glutaminase and Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitory activities of 2.

New Possibilities for Evaluating the Development of Age-Related Pathologies Using the Dynamical Network Biomarkers Theory

Aging is the slowest process in a living organism. During this process, mortality rate increases exponentially due to the accumulation of damage at the cellular level. Cellular senescence is a well-established hallmark of aging, as well as a promising target for preventing aging and age-related diseases. However, mapping the senescent cells in tissues is extremely challenging, as their low abundance, lack of specific markers, and variability arise from heterogeneity. Hence, methodologies for identifying or predicting the development of senescent cells are necessary for achieving healthy aging. A new wave of bioinformatic methodologies based on mathematics/physics theories have been proposed to be applied to aging biology, which is altering the way we approach our understand of aging. Here, we discuss the dynamical network biomarkers (DNB) theory, which allows for the prediction of state transition in complex systems such as living organisms, as well as usage of Raman spectroscopy that offers a non-invasive and label-free imaging, and provide a perspective on potential applications for the study of aging.

KAMPOmics: A framework for multidisciplinary and comprehensive research on Japanese traditional medicine

Traditional Japanese medicines, known as "Kampo medicines", are pharmaceutical-grade multi-herbal treatments that are integrated within the modern medical system in Japan. Although basic and clinical research including placebo-controlled double-blind trials is attempting to clarify their effectiveness and mechanisms of action, such studies are seriously limited due to the multi-targeted, multi-component "long-tail" properties of Kampo medicines, which are fundamentally different from modern western therapeutics. However, recent progress in high-throughput analytical technology, coupled with an exponential increase in biomedical information on various levels from molecular biology to clinical "big" data, is enabling us to commence a multidisciplinary and comprehensive investigation of Kampo medicines based on multi-omics, bio-informatics, and systems biology. In addition to deriving an inclusive understanding of the benefits and mechanisms of Kampo medicines, "KAMPOmics" may lead to the development of new principles to control and treat diseases in a systems-oriented manner. Furthermore, elucidation of "sho" and "mibyo" - classical concepts of Kampo, which loosely approximate to the notions of "precise medicine" and "pre-symptomatic aberration", respectively - may contribute to the development of patient-oriented medicine, an area attracting enormous growth and interest in contemporary medicine.

Dynamical network biomarkers: Theory and applications

This paper reviews theory of DNB (Dynamical Network Biomarkers) and its applications including both modern medicine and traditional medicine. We show that omics data such as gene/protein expression profiles can be effectively used to detect pre-disease states before critical transitions from healthy states to disease states by using the DNB theory. The DNB theory with big biological data is expected to lead to ultra-early precision and preventive medicine.

Preventive Effects of Green Tea Extract against Obesity Development in Zebrafish

Various natural products (NPs) have been used to treat obesity and related diseases. However, the best way to fight obesity is preventive, with accurate body weight management through exercise, diet, or bioactive NPs to avoid obesity development. We demonstrated that green tea extract (GTE) is an anti-obesity NP using a zebrafish obesity model. Based on a hypothesis that GTE can prevent obesity, the objective of this study was to assess GTE's ability to attenuate obesity development. Juvenile zebrafish were pretreated with GTE for seven days before obesity induction via a high-fat diet; adult zebrafish were pretreated with GTE for two weeks before obesity induction by overfeeding. As a preventive intervention, GTE significantly decreased visceral adipose tissue accumulation in juveniles and ameliorated visceral adiposity and plasma triglyceride levels in adult zebrafish obesity models. RNA sequencing analysis was performed using liver tissues from adult obese zebrafish, with or without GTE administration, to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism. Transcriptome analysis revealed that preventive GTE treatment affects several pathways associated with anti-obesity regulation, including activation of STAT and downregulation of CEBP signaling pathways. In conclusion, GTE could be used as a preventive agent against obesity.