Anti-borreliae efficacy of selected organic oils and fatty acids

Metabolomics Analysis Provides Novel Insights into the Difference in Meat Quality between Different Pig Breeds

The Chuanzang black (CB) pig is a new crossbred between Chinese local breeds and modern breeds. Here, we investigated the growth performance, plasma indexes, carcass traits, and meat quality characteristics of conventional DLY (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) crossbreed and CB pigs. The LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics of pork from DLY and CB pigs, as well as the relationship between the changes in the metabolic spectrum and meat quality, were analyzed. In this study, CB pigs presented lower final body weight, average daily gain, carcass weight, and eye muscle area than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Conversely, the ratio of feed to gain, marbling score, and meat color score of longissimus dorsi (LD) were higher in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Moreover, psoas major (PM) showed a higher meat color score and a lower cooking loss in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Interestingly, CB pigs showed lower myofiber diameter and area but higher myofiber density than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of MyHC I, PPARδ, MEF2C, NFATC1, and AMPKα1 were higher in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Importantly, a total of 753 metabolites were detected in the two tissues (e.g., psoas major and longissimus dorsi) of CB and DLY pigs, of which the difference in metabolite profiles in psoas major between crossbreeds was greater than that in longissimus dorsi. Specifically, palmitic acid, stearic acid, L-aspartic acid, corticosterone, and tetrahydrocorticosterone were the most relevant metabolites of psoas major meat quality, and tetrahydrocorticosterone, L-Palmitoylcarnitine, arachidic acid, erucic acid, and 13Z,16Z-docosadienoic acid in longissimus dorsi meat were positively correlated with meat quality. The most significantly enriched KEGG pathways in psoas major and longissimus dorsi pork were galactose metabolism and purine metabolism, respectively. These results not only indicated improved meat quality in CB pigs as compared to DLY pigs but may also assist in rational target selection for nutritional intervention or genetic breeding in the swine industry.

The Use of Natural Bioactive Nutraceuticals in the Management of Tick-Borne Illnesses

The primary objective of this paper is to provide an evidence-based update of the literature on the use of bioactive phytochemicals, nutraceuticals, and micronutrients (dietary supplements that provide health benefits beyond their nutritional value) in the management of persistent cases of Borrelia burgdorferi infection (Lyme disease) and two other tick-borne pathogens, Babesia and Bartonella species. Recent studies have advanced our understanding of the pathophysiology and mechanisms of persistent infections. These advances have increasingly enabled clinicians and patients to utilize a wider set of options to manage these frequently disabling conditions. This broader toolkit holds the promise of simultaneously improving treatment outcomes and helping to decrease our reliance on the long-term use of pharmaceutical antimicrobials and antibiotics in the treatment of tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi, Babesia, and Bartonella.

A Comprehensive Review of Herbal Supplements Used for Persistent Symptoms Attributed to Lyme Disease

Context

Lyme disease is the most common, tick-borne disease in the USA. While most patients successfully recover with antibiotics, some patients experience persistent symptoms for months to years. Patients who attribute chronic symptoms to Lyme disease commonly use herbal supplements. The complexity, variability in dose and formulation, and lack of data for these herbal compounds make it difficult to assess their efficacy and safety.

Objective

This review examines the evidence for the antimicrobial activity, safety, and drug-drug interactions of 18 herbal supplements that patients commonly use for treatment of persistent symptoms attributed to Lyme disease.

Design

The research team performed a narrative review by searching the PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Natural Medicines databases, and NCCIH website. The search used the keywords for 18 herbal compounds: (1) andrographis (Andrographis paniculate), (2) astragalus (Astragalus propinquus), (3) berberine, (4) cat's claw bark (Uncaria tomentosa), (5) cordyceps (Cordyceps sinensis), (6) cryptolepis (Cryptolepis sanguinolenta), (7) Chinese skullcap (Scutellaria baicalensis), (8) garlic (Allium sativum), (9) Japanese knotwood (Polygonum cuspidatum), (10) reishi mushrooms (Ganoderma lucidum), (11) sarsaparilla (Smilax medica), (12) Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), (13) sweet wormwood (Artemisia annua), (14) teasle root (Dipsacus fullonum), (15) lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), (16) oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare), (17) peppermint (Mentha x piperita), and (18) thyme (Thymus vulgaris). The team also searched for terms related to protocols, including Dr. Rawls' protocol and the Buhner protocol.

Setting

University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore MD.

Results

Seven of the 18 herbs reviewed had evidence for in-vitro activity against B. burgdorferi. These compounds included: (1) cat's claw (2) cryptolepis, (3) Chinese skullcap, (4) Japanese knotweed, (5) sweet wormwood, (6) thyme, and (7) oil of oregano. With the exception of oil of oregano these compounds also have anti-inflammatory activity. In vivo data and clinical trials are lacking. Clinicians should be cautious as many of the identified compounds have drug interactions and additive effects that could lead to increased risks for bleeding, hypotension, and hypoglycemia.

Conclusions

Many of the herbs that alternative and integrative practitioners use to treat Lyme disease have anti-inflammatory effects that may contribute to patients' perceptions of symptomatic improvement. Some herbs have limited demonstrated anti-borrelial activity in vitro, but in-vivo data and clinical trial data is lacking. Further research is required to determine the efficacy, safety and appropriate use of these herbs for this patient population.

Erucic Acid-Both Sides of the Story: A Concise Review on Its Beneficial and Toxic Properties

Erucic acid (EA) is monounsaturated fatty acid (22:1 n-9), synthesized in the seeds of many plants from the Brassicaceae family, with Brassica napus, B. rapa, or B. carinata considered as its richest source. As the compound has been blamed for the poisoning effect in Toxic Oil Syndrome, and some data indicated its cardiotoxicity to rats, EA has been for decades classified as toxic substance, the use of which should be avoided. However, the cardiac adverse effects of EA have not been confirmed in humans, and the experiments in animal models had many limitations. Thus, the aim of this review was to present the results of the so far published studies on both toxic, and pharmacological properties of EA, trying to answer the question on its future medicinal use. Despite the ambiguous and relatively small data on toxic and beneficial effects of EA it seems that the compound is worth investigating. Further research should be particularly directed at the verification EA toxicity, more in-depth studies on its neuroprotective and cytotoxic properties, but also its use in combination with other drugs, as well as its role as a drug carrier.

Cinnamomum: The New Therapeutic Agents for Inhibition of Bacterial and Fungal Biofilm-Associated Infection

Due to the potent antibacterial properties of Cinnamomum and its derivatives, particularly cinnamaldehyde, recent studies have used these compounds to inhibit the growth of the most prevalent bacterial and fungal biofilms. By inhibiting flagella protein synthesis and swarming motility, Cinnamomum could suppress bacterial attachment, colonization, and biofilm formation in an early stage. Furthermore, by downregulation of Cyclic di‐guanosine monophosphate (c‐di‐GMP), biofilm-related genes, and quorum sensing, this compound suppresses intercellular adherence and accumulation of bacterial cells in biofilm and inhibits important bacterial virulence factors. In addition, Cinnamomum could lead to preformed biofilm elimination by enhancing membrane permeability and the disruption of membrane integrity. Moreover, this substance suppresses the Candida species adherence to the oral epithelial cells, leading to the cell wall deformities, damage, and leakages of intracellular material that may contribute to the established Candida’s biofilm elimination. Therefore, by inhibiting biofilm maturation and destroying the external structure of biofilm, Cinnamomum could boost antibiotic treatment success in combination therapy. However, Cinnamomum has several disadvantages, such as poor solubility in aqueous solution, instability, and volatility; thus, the use of different drug-delivery systems may resolve these limitations and should be further considered in future investigations. Overall, Cinnamomum could be a promising agent for inhibiting microbial biofilm-associated infection and could be used as a catheter and other medical materials surface coatings to suppress biofilm formation. Nonetheless, further in vitro toxicology analysis and animal experiments are required to confirm the reported molecular antibiofilm effect of Cinnamomum and its derivative components against microbial biofilm.

Renoprotective activity of a new amide and a new hydroxycinnamic acid derivative from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa

A new amide, named rehmagluamide (1), and a new hydroxycinnamic acid derivative, named nepetoidin F (2), together with six known compounds, 2'-O-methyluridine (3), puroglutamic acid (4), biliverdic acid (5), peterolactam (6), nicotinic acid (7), nicotinamide (8), were isolated from the fresh roots of Rehmannia glutinosa. All the structures of compounds were identified by the interpretation of their spectroscopic data and comparison with those reported in the literatures. The protective effects of compounds 1-7 on normal rat kidney tubule epithelioid (NRK-52e) cells injury induced by LPS were investigated. The results indicated that compounds 1, 2, and 7 exhibited protective effects against LPS-induced NRK 52e cells injury.