Effects of plum extract on skeletal system of fetal and newborn mice

Paracrine Mechanisms Involved in Mesenchymal Stem Cell Differentiation into Cardiomyocytes

Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) is one of the world-wide healthcare problem that involves the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes myocardial infarction and coronary artery diseases (CAD). Dysfunctional myocardial cells are leading causes of low cardiac output or ventricular dysfunction after cardiac arrest and may contribute to the progression of CVD which could not generate new cardiomyocytes in human adult heart. The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) which are present in adult marrow can self-renew and have the capacity of differentiation into multiple types of cells including cardiomyocytes. Recent biochemical analyses greatly revealed that several regulators of MSCs, such as HGF, PDGF, Wnt, and Notch-1 signaling pathways have been shown to be involved in the proliferation and differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Preclinical studies are paving the way for further applications of MSCs in the repair of myocardial infarction. In this study, we discuss and summarize the paracrine mechanisms involved in MSCs differentiation into cardiomyocytes.

Dried Plums, Prunes and Bone Health: A Comprehensive Review

The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans advocate for increasing fruit intake and replacing energy-dense foods with those that are nutrient-dense. Nutrition across the lifespan is pivotal for the healthy development and maintenance of bone. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that over half of Americans age 50+ have either osteoporosis or low bone mass. Dried plums, also commonly referred to as prunes, have a unique nutrient and dietary bioactive profile and are suggested to exert beneficial effects on bone. To further elucidate and summarize the potential mechanisms and effects of dried plums on bone health, a comprehensive review of the scientific literature was conducted. The PubMed database was searched through 24 January 2017 for all cell, animal, population and clinical studies that examined the effects of dried plums and/or extracts of the former on markers of bone health. Twenty-four studies were included in the review and summarized in table form. The beneficial effects of dried plums on bone health may be in part due to the variety of phenolics present in the fruit. Animal and cell studies suggest that dried plums and/or their extracts enhance bone formation and inhibit bone resorption through their actions on cell signaling pathways that influence osteoblast and osteoclast differentiation. These studies are consistent with clinical studies that show that dried plums may exert beneficial effects on bone mineral density (BMD). Long-term prospective cohort studies using fractures and BMD as primary endpoints are needed to confirm the effects of smaller clinical, animal and mechanistic studies. Clinical and prospective cohort studies in men are also needed, since they represent roughly 29% of fractures, and likewise, diverse race and ethnic groups. No adverse effects were noted among any of the studies included in this comprehensive review. While the data are not completely consistent, this review suggests that postmenopausal women may safely consume dried plums as part of their fruit intake recommendations given their potential to have protective effects on bone loss.

A Systematic Review on the Health Effects of Plums (Prunus domestica and Prunus salicina)

In recent times, plums have been described as foods with health-promoting properties. Research on the health effects of plum continue to show promising results on its antiinflammatory, antioxidant and memory-improving characteristics. The increased interest in plum research has been attributed to its high phenolic content, mostly the anthocyanins, which are known to be natural antioxidants. A systematic review of literature was carried out to summarize the available evidence on the impact of plums (Prunus species; domestica and salicina) on disease risk factors and health outcomes. A number of databases were searched according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines for relevant studies on plum health effects in vitro, animal studies and clinical trials. A total of 73 relevant peer-reviewed journal articles were included in this review. The level of evidence remains low. Of the 25 human studies, 6 were confirmatory studies of moderate quality, while 19 were exploratory. Plums have been shown to possess antioxidant and antiallergic properties, and consumption is associated with improved cognitive function, bone health parameters and cardiovascular risk factors. Most of the human trials used the dried version of plums rather than fresh fruit, thus limiting translation to dietary messages of the positioning of plums in a healthy diet. Evidence on the health effect of plums has not been extensively studied, and the available evidence needs further confirmation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.