Tracking deposition of a 14C-radiolabeled kudzu hairy root-derived isoflavone-rich fraction into bone

Neutral Loss Ion Mapping Experiment Combined with Precursor Mass List and Dynamic Exclusion for Screening Unstable Malonyl Glucoside Conjugates

Malonates are one type of the acylation conjugates and found abundantly in ginseng and soybean. Malonyl conjugates of ginsenosides and isoflavone glycosides were often considered as the characteristic components to evaluate various species and different forms of ginseng and soybean products because of their thermal instability. Another famous isoflavonoid-rich leguminous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), named Puerarin lobata (Gegen), has also been reported to contain malonyl daidzin and malonyl genistin. However, the conjugates were found to present in very low amount and particularly unstable in the negative ion mode scan using LTQ Orbitrap mass spectrometry with electrospray ionization (ESI). In order to screen and characterize the malonyl conjugates in Gegen, a specific method was designed and developed combining neutral loss ion mapping (NLIM) experiment and precursor mass list (PL) triggered data dependent acquisition (DDA). Along with the activation of dynamic exclusion (DE), the method was proven to be specific and efficient for searching the malonate derivatives from Gegen. Two samples were examined by the established method. A total of 66 compounds were found, and 43 of them were malonates of isoflavone glycoside. Very few compounds were reported previously in Gegen. The results are helpful to understand the constituents of Gegen with more insight. The study not only provided a method for analyzing the malonyl conjugates from complex matrices but also explored a way to trace other low amount components in TCMs.

Regulation of lipid and glucose homeostasis by mango tree leaf extract is mediated by AMPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways

Ethanolic extract of Mangifera indica (mango) dose-dependently decreased serum glucose and triglyceride in KK-A(y) mice. Our in vitro and in vivo investigations revealed that the effect of mango leave extract (ME) on glucose and lipid homeostasis is mediated, at least in part, through the PI3K/AKT and AMPK signaling pathway. ME up-regulated the expression of PI3K, AKT and GYS genes by 2.0-fold, 3.2-fold, and 2.7-fold, respectively, leading to a decrease in glucose level. On the other hand, ME up-regulated AMPK and altered lipid metabolism. ME also down-regulated ACC (2.8-fold), HSL (1.6-fold), FAS (1.8-fold) and PPAR-γ (4.0-fold). Finally, we determined that active metabolites of benzophenone C-glucosides, Iriflophenone 3-C-β-glucoside and Foliamangiferoside A from ME, may play a dominant role in this integrated regulation of sugar and lipid homeostasis.

Vitamin D interactions with soy isoflavones on bone after menopause: a review

Vitamin D is known to increase Ca absorption in adults. However, the threshold vitamin D status to benefit Ca absorption is lower than the target vitamin D status for higher bone mineral density and lower fracture risk, pointing to another pathway for vitamin D to benefit bone. One possibility is by affecting osteoblast and osteoclasts directly. Vitamin D-related bone metabolism may also be affected by soy isoflavones, which selectively bind to the estrogen receptor β and may reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. We discuss a possible synergistic effect of soy isoflavones and vitamin D on bone by affecting osteoblast and osteoclast formation and activity in postmenopausal women.