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Nilofar, Ahmed S, Zengin G, Di Simone SC, Acquaviva A, Libero ML, Chiavaroli A, Orlando G, Tacchini M, Di Vito M, Menghini L, Ferrante C. Combining the Pharmaceutical and Toxicological Properties of Selected Essential Oils with their Chemical Components by GC-MS Analysis. Chem Biodivers 2024:e202400738. [PMID: 38695450 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202400738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
In the current investigation, a comprehensive analysis was carried out on essential oils (EOs) extracted from six aromatic plant species, namely Rosmarinus officinalis, Pelargonium graveolens, Thymus vulgaris, Origanum vulgare, Laurus nobilis, and Aloysia citrodora. An exploration was conducted into the chemical composition using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS), antioxidant properties assessed through DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, MCA, and PBD assays, ecotoxicological impacts evaluated via allelopathy and the Daphnia magna heartbeat test, as well as bio-pharmacological effects including anticancer activity and gene expression analysis. Results revealed strong antioxidant activity in all essential oils, with T. vulgaris EO (2748.00 mg TE/g) and O. vulgare EO (2609.29 mg TE/g) leading in CUPRAC assay. R. officinalis EO showed the highest α-amylase inhibition at 1.58 mmol ACAE/g, while O. vulgare EO excelled in α-glucosidase inhibition at 1.57 mmol ACAE/g. Additionally, cytotoxic effects were evaluated on human colorectal cancer (HCT116) cells. A. citrodora, O. vulgare, and R. officinalis EOs were found the most potent anticancer, as also witnessed by their higher modulatory effects on the gene expression of BAX and Bcl-2. Collectively, the present data highlight the importance to implement the knowledge and to valorize the supply chain of aromatic plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilofar
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei, Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
- Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey
| | - Shakeel Ahmed
- Foodomics Laboratory, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación, CSIC-UAM, Nicolás Cabrera 9, 28049, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gokhan Zengin
- Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University, 42130, Konya, Turkey
| | - Simonetta Cristina Di Simone
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei, Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Alessandra Acquaviva
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei, Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Maria Loreta Libero
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei, Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Annalisa Chiavaroli
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei, Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Giustino Orlando
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei, Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Massimo Tacchini
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology (SVeB), UR7 Terra&Acqua Tech, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maura Di Vito
- Dip. di Scienze biotecnologiche di base, cliniche intensivologiche e perioperatorie Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore 24, Largo Agostino Gemelli 1, 00167, Rome, Italy
| | - Luigi Menghini
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei, Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
| | - Claudio Ferrante
- Department of Pharmacy, Botanic Garden "Giardino dei, Semplici", Università degli Studi "Gabriele d'Annunzio", via dei Vestini 31, 66100, Chieti, Italy
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2
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Xianyu B, Pan S, Gao S, Xu H, Li T. Selenium-Containing Nanocomplexes Achieve Dual Immune Checkpoint Blockade for NK Cell Reinvigoration. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024; 20:e2306225. [PMID: 38072799 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
The blockade of immune checkpoints has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer immunotherapy. However, most of the current approaches focus on T cells, leaving natural killer (NK) cell-mediated therapeutic strategies rarely explored. Here, a selenium-containing nanocomplex is developed that acts as a dual immune checkpoint inhibitor to reinvigorate NK cell-based cancer immunotherapy. The Se nanocomplex can deliver and release siRNA that targets programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) in tumor cells, thereby silencing the checkpoint receptor PD-L1. The intracellular reactive oxygen species generated by porphyrin derivatives in the nanocomplexes can oxidize the diselenide bond into seleninic acid, which blocks the expression of another checkpoint receptor, human leukocyte antigen E. The blockade of dual immune checkpoints shows synergistic effects on promoting NK cell-mediated antitumoral activity. This study provides a new strategy to reinvigorate NK cell immunity for the development of combined cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Banruo Xianyu
- Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Shuojiong Pan
- Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Shiqian Gao
- Key Laboratory of Polyoxometalate Science of the Ministry of Education, Faculty of Chemistry, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, 130024, China
| | - Huaping Xu
- Key Lab of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biochemical Engineering, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
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Navarro M, Urrejola F, Espinoza M, Silva S, González S, Utreras D, Fernandez K, Bravo J. Biological activity of the essential oil of Drimys winteri. Front Chem 2024; 12:1321300. [PMID: 38666047 PMCID: PMC11043559 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1321300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the Chilean indigenous culture, the tree Drimys winteri (Winteraceae) Canelo is of great importance and is considered the sacred Mapuche tree. It has antibacterial and disinfectant properties and is used in the treatment of various diseases, such as fevers, ulcers, cancers, and respiratory tract problems. The essential oil obtained from D. winteri, DW_EO, is bioactive, possesses insecticidal and repellent properties against pests, and shows activity toward plant growth regulators. It also has a phytotoxic effect against the growth and germination of weeds. The essential oil obtained from the leaves and bark of Drimys winteri has demonstrated antifungal, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties in in vitro and in vivo studies. It also possesses antioxidant activity and antibacterial effects. The essential oil contains monoterpenes such as zafrol, pinenes, and linalool, among others, that contribute to its bioactivity. The DW_EO and bioactive compounds have great potential in various applications in medicine, industrial food, sanitizer, and other areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Navarro
- Facultad de Salud y Odontología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Laboratorio de Productos Naturales Bioactivos, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Urrejola
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Laboratorio de Productos Naturales Bioactivos, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Misael Espinoza
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Laboratorio de Productos Naturales Bioactivos, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Simón Silva
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Laboratorio de Productos Naturales Bioactivos, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián González
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Laboratorio de Productos Naturales Bioactivos, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Diego Utreras
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Laboratorio de Productos Naturales Bioactivos, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Katia Fernandez
- Facultad de Salud y Odontología, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Laboratorio de Productos Naturales Bioactivos, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jessica Bravo
- Facultad de Medicina, Centro de Investigación Biomédica, Laboratorio de Productos Naturales Bioactivos, Universidad Diego Portales, Santiago, Chile
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Abe M, Asada N, Kimura M, Fukui C, Yamada D, Wang Z, Miyake M, Takarada T, Ono M, Aoe M, Kitamura W, Matsuda M, Moriyama T, Matsumura A, Maeda Y. Antitumor activity of α-pinene in T-cell tumors. Cancer Sci 2024; 115:1317-1332. [PMID: 38279512 PMCID: PMC11007008 DOI: 10.1111/cas.16086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute leukemia and lymphoma have a poor prognosis. Although new therapeutic agents have been developed, their therapeutic effects are suboptimal. α-Pinene, a monoterpene compound, has an antitumor effect on solid tumors; however, few comprehensive investigations have been conducted on its impact on hematologic malignancies. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the potential benefits of using α-pinene as an antitumor agent for the treatment of T-cell tumors. We found that α-pinene inhibited the proliferation of hematologic malignancies, especially in T-cell tumor cell lines EL-4 and Molt-4, induced mitochondrial dysfunction and reactive oxygen species accumulation, and inhibited NF-κB p65 translocation into the nucleus, leading to robust apoptosis in EL-4 cells. Collectively, these findings suggest that α-pinene has potential as a therapeutic agent for T-cell malignancies, and further investigation is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaya Abe
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Noboru Asada
- Department of Hematology and OncologyOkayama University HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Maiko Kimura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Chie Fukui
- Division of Hematology, Department of MedicineKobe University HospitalKobeJapan
| | - Daisuke Yamada
- Department of Regenerative ScienceOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Ziyi Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiochemistryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Masayuki Miyake
- Division of Medical SupportOkayama University HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Takeshi Takarada
- Department of Regenerative ScienceOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Mitsuaki Ono
- Department of Molecular Biology and BiochemistryOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Michinori Aoe
- Division of Medical SupportOkayama University HospitalOkayamaJapan
| | - Wataru Kitamura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Masayuki Matsuda
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Takashi Moriyama
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Akifumi Matsumura
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
| | - Yoshinobu Maeda
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Respiratory MedicineOkayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical SciencesOkayamaJapan
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Han EJ, Choi EY, Jeon SJ, Moon JM, Lee SW, Lee JH, Jung GH, Han SH, Jung SH, Yang MS, Jung JY. Anticancer Effects of α-Pinene in AGS Gastric Cancer Cells. J Med Food 2024; 27:330-338. [PMID: 38387002 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2023.k.0267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common cancer globally and the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Existing treatment strategies for gastric cancer often present numerous side effects. Consequently, recent studies have shifted toward devising new treatments grounded in safer natural substances. α-Pinene, a natural terpene found in the essential oils of various plants, such as Lavender angustifolia and Satureja myrtifolia, displays antioxidant, antibiotic, and anticancer properties. Yet, its impact on gastric cancer remains unexplored. This research assessed the effects of α-pinene in vitro using a human gastric adenocarcinoma cell-line (AGS) human gastric cancer cells and in vivo via a xenograft mouse model. The survival rate of AGS cells treated with α-pinene was notably lower than that of the control group, as revealed by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. This decline in cell viability was linked to apoptosis, as verified by 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole and annexin V/propidium iodide staining. The α-pinene-treated group exhibited elevated cleaved-poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and B cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X (Bax) levels and reduced Bcl-2 levels compared with the control levels. Moreover, α-pinene triggered the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38 within the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. In the xenograft mouse model, α-pinene induced apoptosis through the MAPK pathway, devoid of toxicity. These findings position α-pinene as a promising natural therapeutic for gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun-Ji Han
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Eun-Young Choi
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Su-Ji Jeon
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Jun-Mo Moon
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Sang-Woo Lee
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Jae-Han Lee
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Gi-Hwan Jung
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - So-Hee Han
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Soo-Hyun Jung
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Myeon-Sik Yang
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
| | - Ji-Youn Jung
- Department of Companion and Laboratory Animal Science, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
- Research Institute for Natural Products, Kongju National University, Yesan, Korea
- Research Center of Crop Breeding for Omics and Artificial Intelligence, Yesan, Korea
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Alabrahim OAA, Azzazy HMES. Synergistic anticancer effect of Pistacia lentiscus essential oils and 5-Fluorouracil co-loaded onto biodegradable nanofibers against melanoma and breast cancer. DISCOVER NANO 2024; 19:27. [PMID: 38353827 PMCID: PMC10866856 DOI: 10.1186/s11671-024-03962-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Chemoresistance and severe toxicities represent major drawbacks of chemotherapy. Natural extracts, including the essential oils of Pistacia lentiscus (PLEO), exhibit substantial anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities where different cancers are reported to dramatically recess following targeting with PLEO. PLEO has promising antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the therapeutic properties of PLEO are restricted by limited stability, bioavailability, and targeting ability. PLEO nanoformulation can maximize their physicochemical and therapeutic properties, overcoming their shortcomings. Hence, PLEO was extracted and its chemical composition was determined by GC-MS. PLEO and 5-Fluorouracil (5FU) were electrospun into poly-ε-caprolactone nanofibers (PCL-NFs), of 290.71 nm to 680.95 nm diameter, to investigate their anticancer and potential synergistic activities against triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), human adenocarcinoma breast cancer cells (MCF-7), and human skin melanoma cell line (A375). The prepared nanofibers (NFs) showed enhanced thermal stability and remarkable physical integrity and tensile strength. Biodegradability studies showed prolonged stability over 42 days, supporting the NFs use as a localized therapy of breast tissues (postmastectomy) or melanoma. Release studies revealed sustainable release behaviors over 168 h, with higher released amounts of 5FU and PLEO at pH 5.4, indicating higher targeting abilities towards cancer tissues. NFs loaded with PLEO showed strong antioxidant properties. Finally, NFs loaded with either PLEO or 5FU depicted greater anticancer activities compared to free compounds. The highest anticancer activities were observed with NFs co-loaded with PLEO and 5FU. The developed 5FU-PLEO-PCL-NFs hold potential as a local treatment of breast cancer tissues (post-mastectomy) and melanoma to minimize their possible recurrence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Obaydah Abd Alkader Alabrahim
- Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, SSE # 1184, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt
| | - Hassan Mohamed El-Said Azzazy
- Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, SSE # 1184, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo, 11835, Egypt.
- Department of Nanobiophotonics, Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Albert Einstein Str. 9, Jena, Germany.
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Kim H, Hong JY, Lee J, Yeo C, Jeon WJ, Lee YJ, Ha IH. Immune-boosting effect of Yookgong-dan against cyclophosphamide-induced immunosuppression in mice. Heliyon 2024; 10:e24033. [PMID: 38293434 PMCID: PMC10826668 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e24033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune responses must be strictly regulated to prevent autoimmune and infectious diseases and to protect against infectious agents. As people age, their immunity wanes, leading to a decrease in lymphocyte production in bone marrow and thymus and a decline in the efficacy of mature lymphocytes in secondary lymphoid organs. This study explores the immune-boosting potential of Yookgong-dan (YGD) in enhancing the immune system by activating immune cells. In our in vitro experiments, cyclophosphamide (Cy) treatment led to a significant decrease in primary splenocyte viability. However, subsequent treatment with YGD significantly improved cell viability, with doses ranging between 1 and 25 μg/mL in Cy-treated splenocytes. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that the Cy group exhibited reduced positivity of CD3+ T cells and CD45+ leukocytes compared to the blank group. In contrast, treatment with YGD led to a notable, dose-responsive increase in these immune cell types. In our in vivo experiments, YGD was orally administered to Cy-induced immunosuppressed mice at 20 and 100 mg/kg doses for 10 days. The results indicated a dose-dependent elevation in immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels in the serum, emphasizing the immunostimulatory effect of YGD. Furthermore, the Cy-treated group showed decreased T cells, B (CD19+) cells, and leukocytes in the total splenocyte population. Yet, YGD treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reversal of this pattern, suggesting its ability to counter immunosuppression. Notably, YGD was found to effectively stimulate T (CD4+ and CD8+) lymphocyte subsets and natural killer cells, along with enhancing Th1/Th2 cytokines in immunosuppressed conditions. These outcomes correlated with the modulation of BCL-2 and BAX expression, which are critical for apoptosis. In conclusion, YGD has the potential to bolster immune functionality through the activation of immune cells, thereby enhancing the immune system's capacity to combat diseases and improve overall health and wellness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunseong Kim
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, 135-896, South Korea
| | - Jin Young Hong
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, 135-896, South Korea
| | - Junseon Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, 135-896, South Korea
| | - Changhwan Yeo
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, 135-896, South Korea
| | - Wan-Jin Jeon
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, 135-896, South Korea
| | - Yoon Jae Lee
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, 135-896, South Korea
| | - In-Hyuk Ha
- Jaseng Spine and Joint Research Institute, Jaseng Medical Foundation, Seoul, 135-896, South Korea
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Kim C, Lee G, Song C. The Effect of Short-term Inhalation of Fir Essential Oil on Autonomic Nervous Activity in Middle-aged Women. Explore (NY) 2023; 19:820-826. [PMID: 37120331 DOI: 10.1016/j.explore.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effect of short-term inhalation of fir essential oil on autonomic nervous activity in middle-aged women. Twenty-six women (mean age, 51.0 ± 2.9 years) participated in this study. The participants sat on a chair, closed their eyes, and inhaled fir essential oil and room air (control) for 3 min. A crossover trial was performed to eliminate the effect of the order of olfactory stimulation. Approximately half of the participants were administered stimuli in the following order: exposure to fir essential oil, then control. The remaining participants were administered control, followed by fir essential oil. Heart rate variability, heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse rate were used as indicators of the autonomic nervous system activity. The Semantic Differential method and Profile of Mood States were used as psychological indicators. The High Frequency (HF) value, an indicator of parasympathetic nerve activity reflecting a relaxed state, was significantly higher during stimulation with fir essential oil than during the control condition. The Low Frequency (LF)/(LF+HF) value, an indicator of sympathetic nerve activity reflecting awake state, was marginally lower during stimulation with fir essential oil than during the control condition. No significant differences were found in heart rate, blood pressure, and pulse rate. After inhaling fir essential oil, "comfortable," "relaxed," and "natural" feelings improved, negative moods decreased, and positive moods increased. In conclusion, inhalation of fir essential oil can help menopausal women in their physiological and psychological relaxation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Choyun Kim
- Department of Forest Science, Kongju National University, 54 Daehak-ro, Yesan-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do 32439, South Korea
| | - Gayoung Lee
- Department of Forest Science, Kongju National University, 54 Daehak-ro, Yesan-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do 32439, South Korea
| | - Chorong Song
- Department of Forest Science, Kongju National University, 54 Daehak-ro, Yesan-eup, Yesan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do 32439, South Korea.
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Domingo-Fernández D, Gadiya Y, Mubeen S, Bollerman TJ, Healy MD, Chanana S, Sadovsky RG, Healey D, Colluru V. Modern drug discovery using ethnobotany: A large-scale cross-cultural analysis of traditional medicine reveals common therapeutic uses. iScience 2023; 26:107729. [PMID: 37701812 PMCID: PMC10494464 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
For millennia, numerous cultures and civilizations have relied on traditional remedies derived from plants to treat a wide range of conditions and ailments. Here, we systematically analyzed ethnobotanical patterns across taxonomically related plants, demonstrating that congeneric medicinal plants are more likely to be used for treating similar indications. Next, we reconstructed the phytochemical space covered by medicinal plants to reveal that (i) taxonomically related medicinal plants cover a similar phytochemical space, and (ii) chemical similarity correlates with similar therapeutic usage. Lastly, we present several case scenarios illustrating how mining this information can be used for drug discovery applications, including: (i) investigating taxonomic hotspots around particular indications, (ii) exploring shared patterns of congeneric plants located in different geographic areas, but which have been used to treat the same indications, and (iii) showing the concordance between ethnobotanical patterns among non-taxonomically related plants and the presence of shared bioactive phytochemicals.
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10
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Christensen C, Rose M, Cornett C, Allesø M. Decoding the Postulated Entourage Effect of Medicinal Cannabis: What It Is and What It Isn't. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2323. [PMID: 37626819 PMCID: PMC10452568 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The 'entourage effect' term was originally coined in a pre-clinical study observing endogenous bio-inactive metabolites potentiating the activity of a bioactive endocannabinoid. As a hypothetical afterthought, this was proposed to hold general relevance to the usage of products based on Cannabis sativa L. The term was later juxtaposed to polypharmacy pertaining to full-spectrum medicinal Cannabis products exerting an overall higher effect than the single compounds. Since the emergence of the term, a discussion of its pharmacological foundation and relevance has been ongoing. Advocates suggest that the 'entourage effect' is the reason many patients experience an overall better effect from full-spectrum products. Critics state that the term is unfounded and used primarily for marketing purposes in the Cannabis industry. This scoping review aims to segregate the primary research claiming as well as disputing the existence of the 'entourage effect' from a pharmacological perspective. The literature on this topic is in its infancy. Existing pre-clinical and clinical studies are in general based on simplistic methodologies and show contradictory findings, with the clinical data mostly relying on anecdotal and real-world evidence. We propose that the 'entourage effect' is explained by traditional pharmacological terms pertaining to other plant-based medicinal products and polypharmacy in general (e.g., synergistic interactions and bioenhancement).
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Affiliation(s)
- Catalina Christensen
- Tetra Pharm Technologies ApS, Rugmarken 10, DK-3650 Ølstykke, Denmark; (M.R.); (M.A.)
| | - Martin Rose
- Tetra Pharm Technologies ApS, Rugmarken 10, DK-3650 Ølstykke, Denmark; (M.R.); (M.A.)
| | - Claus Cornett
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Morten Allesø
- Tetra Pharm Technologies ApS, Rugmarken 10, DK-3650 Ølstykke, Denmark; (M.R.); (M.A.)
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Caracciolo PC, Abraham GA, Battaglia ES, Bongiovanni Abel S. Recent Progress and Trends in the Development of Electrospun and 3D Printed Polymeric-Based Materials to Overcome Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1964. [PMID: 37514150 PMCID: PMC10385409 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) developed by microorganisms is considered one of the most critical public health issues worldwide. This problem is affecting the lives of millions of people and needs to be addressed promptly. Mainly, antibiotics are the substances that contribute to AMR in various strains of bacteria and other microorganisms, leading to infectious diseases that cannot be effectively treated. To avoid the use of antibiotics and similar drugs, several approaches have gained attention in the fields of materials science and engineering as well as pharmaceutics over the past five years. Our focus lies on the design and manufacture of polymeric-based materials capable of incorporating antimicrobial agents excluding the aforementioned substances. In this sense, two of the emerging techniques for materials fabrication, namely, electrospinning and 3D printing, have gained significant attraction. In this article, we provide a summary of the most important findings that contribute to the development of antimicrobial systems using these technologies to incorporate various types of nanomaterials, organic molecules, or natural compounds with the required property. Furthermore, we discuss and consider the challenges that lie ahead in this research field for the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo C Caracciolo
- Biomedical Polymers Division, Research Institute for Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Gustavo A Abraham
- Biomedical Polymers Division, Research Institute for Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Ernesto S Battaglia
- Biomedical Polymers Division, Research Institute for Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
| | - Silvestre Bongiovanni Abel
- Biomedical Polymers Division, Research Institute for Materials Science and Technology (INTEMA), National University of Mar del Plata (UNMdP), National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Av. Colón 10850, Mar del Plata 7600, Argentina
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12
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Heo SJ, Park SK, Jee YS. Effects of phytoncide on immune cells and psychological stress of gynecological cancer survivors: randomized controlled trials. J Exerc Rehabil 2023; 19:170-180. [PMID: 37435591 PMCID: PMC10331144 DOI: 10.12965/jer.2346150.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to identify neuroendocrine substances and natural killer (NK) cells, including their subsets and receptors, to determine whether phytoncides scented in an urban hospital could help improve stress in cancer survivors. Fifty-five gynecological cancer survivors were assigned to either the control group (CG, n=28) or phytoncide group (PTG, n=27). The PTG meditated by lying down in a space scented with phytoncide for 1 hr a day, 5 days a week for 8 weeks. Stress levels in both groups were high prior to the experiment and decreased by 9.31%±45.98% (P=0.003) only in the PTG after the experiment. Although the parasympathetic nerve activity of the PTG increased, the epinephrine and cortisol levels were significantly (P<0.001) decreased by 5.29%±25.5% and by 24.94%±11.62%. Moreover, the PTG showed a significant increase in the levels of NK cell subsets after 8 weeks, whereas there was no improvement in the CG. In conclusion, phytoncide fragrance reduces stress, increases the number of NK cells and their family even in a nonforest environment, and improves innate immunocytes in gynecological cancer survivors; parasympathetic nerve activity and cortisol hormones play critical roles in this process. That is, a phytoncide essential oil helps to stimulate changes in immunocytes' mobility by affecting the human nervous and endocrine systems, thereby providing relief for psychological stress among cancer survivors who previously had cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seung-Jae Heo
- Department of Physical Education, Chungnam National University, Daejeon,
Korea
| | - Sang-Kyun Park
- Department of Physical Education, Chungnam National University, Daejeon,
Korea
- Research Institute of Sports and Industry Science, Hanseo University, Seosan,
Korea
| | - Yong-Seok Jee
- Research Institute of Sports and Industry Science, Hanseo University, Seosan,
Korea
- Exercise Immunology Center, Seoul Songdo Hospital, Seoul,
Korea
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13
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Kwon YJ, Seo EB, Kim SK, Lee HS, Lee H, Jang YA, Kim YM, Kim YN, Lee JT, Ye SK. Pharmacological anti-tumor effects of natural Chamaecyparis obtusa (siebold & zucc.) endl. Leaf extracts on breast cancer. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 313:116598. [PMID: 37146844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa, cypress species) is a plant that grows mainly in the temperate Northern Hemisphere and has long been used as a traditional anti-inflammatory treatment in East Asia. C. obtusa contains phytoncides, flavonoids, and terpenes, which have excellent anti-cancer effects and have been reported to prevent the progression of various cancers. However, the detailed mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer effects of C. obtusa extracts are unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY We sought to confirm the anti-cancer effects of C. obtusa leaf extracts and to reveal the mechanism of action, with the possibility of its application in the treatment or prevention of cancer. MATERIAL &METHODS The cytotoxicity of C. obtusa leaf extracts was confirmed using an MTT assay. Intracellular changes in protein levels were measured by immunoblotting, and mRNA levels were measured with qRT-PCR. Wound healing assay and transwell migration assay were used to evaluate the metastatic potential of breast cancer cells. The extract-induced apoptosis was observed using IncuCyte Annexin V Red staining analysis. A syngeneic breast cancer mouse model was established by injecting 4T1-Luc mouse breast cancer cells into the fat pad of female BALB/c mice, and the extract was administered orally. Luciferin solution was injected intraperitoneally to assess primary tumor development and metastasis by bioluminescence. RESULTS C. obtusa leaf extracts were extracted with boiling water, 70% EtOH, and 99% EtOH. Among the extracts, the 99% EtOH extract of C. obtusa leaf (CO99EL) most clearly inhibited the tyrosine phosphorylation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (pY-STAT3) in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells at a concentration of 25 and 50 μg/mL. In addition, CO99EL strongly inhibited not only endogenous pY-STAT3 levels but also IL-6-induced STAT3 activation in various types of cancer cells, including breast cancer. CO99EL inhibited metastatic potential by downregulating the expression of N-cadherin, fibronectin, TWIST, MMP2, and MMP9 in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. CO99EL also induced apoptotic cell death by increasing cleaved caspase-3 and decreasing anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL. In an in vivo syngeneic breast cancer mouse model, 100 mg/kg CO99EL suppressed tumor growth and induced apoptosis of cancer cells. Moreover, CO99EL significantly inhibited lung metastasis from primary breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrated that 100 mg/kg CO99EL has potent anti-tumor effects against breast cancer, thus suggesting that 100 mg/kg CO99EL has potential applications in the treatment and prevention of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Jin Kwon
- Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Department of Cosmetic Science, Kyungsung University, Busan, 48434, Republic of Korea; Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Eun-Bi Seo
- Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Science Project (BK21PLUS), Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seul-Ki Kim
- Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyun-Seung Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Science Project (BK21PLUS), Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Haeri Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea.
| | - Young-Ah Jang
- Convergence Research Center for Smart Healthcare of KS R & DB Foundation, Kyungsung University, Busan, 48434, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yu Mi Kim
- Binotec Co., Ltd, Daegu, 42149, Republic of Korea.
| | - Yong-Nyun Kim
- Division of Translational Science, National Cancer Center, Goyang, 10408, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jin-Tae Lee
- Department of Cosmetic Science, Kyungsung University, Busan, 48434, Republic of Korea.
| | - Sang-Kyu Ye
- Department of Pharmacology and Biomedical Sciences, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Republic of Korea; Ischemic/Hypoxic Disease Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea; Biomedical Science Project (BK21PLUS), Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea; Neuro-Immune Information Storage Network Research Center, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea; Wide River Institute of Immunology, Seoul National University, Hongcheon, 25159, Republic of Korea.
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Silva-Reis R, Silva AMS, Oliveira PA, Cardoso SM. Antitumor Effects of Cannabis sativa Bioactive Compounds on Colorectal Carcinogenesis. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13050764. [PMID: 37238634 DOI: 10.3390/biom13050764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabis sativa is a multipurpose plant that has been used in medicine for centuries. Recently, considerable research has focused on the bioactive compounds of this plant, particularly cannabinoids and terpenes. Among other properties, these compounds exhibit antitumor effects in several cancer types, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Cannabinoids show positive effects in the treatment of CRC by inducing apoptosis, proliferation, metastasis, inflammation, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, and autophagy. Terpenes, such as β-caryophyllene, limonene, and myrcene, have also been reported to have potential antitumor effects on CRC through the induction of apoptosis, the inhibition of cell proliferation, and angiogenesis. In addition, synergy effects between cannabinoids and terpenes are believed to be important factors in the treatment of CRC. This review focuses on the current knowledge about the potential of cannabinoids and terpenoids from C. sativa to serve as bioactive agents for the treatment of CRC while evidencing the need for further research to fully elucidate the mechanisms of action and the safety of these compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Silva-Reis
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Artur M S Silva
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Paula A Oliveira
- Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Susana M Cardoso
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
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Lei H, Yue J, Yin XY, Fan W, Tan SH, Qin L, Zhao YN, Bai JH. HS-SPME coupled with GC-MS for elucidating differences between the volatile components in wild and cultivated Atractylodes chinensis. PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS : PCA 2023; 34:317-328. [PMID: 36691258 DOI: 10.1002/pca.3210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Atractylodes chinensis is a Chinese herb that is used in traditional medicine; it contains volatile components that have enormous potential for pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic applications. The destruction of wild resources demands significant improvement in the quality of artificial cultivation of Atractylodes chinensis. However, little is known about the compositional differences in the volatile substances derived from the wild and cultivated varieties of Atractylodes chinensis. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate the specific components of Atractylodes chinensis and analyse the similarities and differences between the volatile components and metabolic pathways in the wild and cultivated varieties. MATERIAL AND METHODS Metabolomic analysis using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed following the extraction of volatile components from Atractylodes chinensis using headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME). RESULTS A total of 167 volatile metabolites were extracted, and 137 substances were matched with NIST and Wiley databases. Among them, 76 compounds exhibited significant differences between the two sources; these mainly included terpenes, aromatics, and esters. KEGG enrichment analysis indicated that the differential metabolites were primarily involved in the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, terpene biosynthesis, and limonene and pinene degradation; all these pathways have geranyl diphosphate (GDP) as the common link. CONCLUSION The total content of volatile substances extracted from wild Atractylodes chinensis was 2.5 times higher than that from the cultured variety; however, each source had different dominant metabolites. This study underscores the necessity for protecting wild Atractylodes chinensis resources, while enhancing the quality of cultivated Atractylodes chinensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Lei
- Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou, China
| | - Jiao Yue
- Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou, China
| | - Xin-Yu Yin
- Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou, China
| | - Wei Fan
- Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou, China
| | - Song-Hui Tan
- Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou, China
| | - Li Qin
- Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou, China
| | - Yi-Nian Zhao
- Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou, China
| | - Jian-Hua Bai
- Department of Biology, Xinzhou Teachers University, Xinzhou, China
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16
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Díaz-Martínez F, Sánchez-Sauco MF, Cabrera-Rivera LT, Sánchez CO, Hidalgo-Albadalejo MD, Claudio L, Ortega-García JA. Systematic Review: Neurodevelopmental Benefits of Active/Passive School Exposure to Green and/or Blue Spaces in Children and Adolescents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:3958. [PMID: 36900969 PMCID: PMC10001910 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20053958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Today more than half of the world's population lives in urban areas. Children spend about 40 h a week in the school environment. Knowing the influence of school exposure to green/blue spaces could improve the children's health, creating healthier environments and preventing exposure to legal/illegal drugs. This systematic review summarized the main results of published studies on active or passive exposure to green or blue spaces in different domains of child neurodevelopment. In August 2022, five databases were searched and twenty-eight eligible studies were included in the analysis. Cognitive and/or academic performance was the most frequently studied (15/28). Most studies evaluate passive exposure to green/blue spaces (19/28) versus active exposure (9/28). Only three studies addressed the relationship between blue space and neurodevelopment. The main results point toward mixed evidence of a protective relationship between green/blue space exposure and neurodevelopment, especially in improving cognitive/academic performance, attention restoration, behavior, and impulsivity. Renaturalizing school spaces and promoting "greener" capacities for school environmental health could improve children's neurodevelopment. There was great heterogeneity in methodologies and adjustment for confounding factors across studies. Future research should seek a standardized approach to delivering school environmental health interventions beneficial to children's development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Díaz-Martínez
- Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel F. Sánchez-Sauco
- Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
| | - Laura T. Cabrera-Rivera
- Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
- International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Puerto Rico-Medical Sciences Campus, San Juan, PR 00921, USA
| | | | | | - Luz Claudio
- International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Division of International Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Juan A. Ortega-García
- Paediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Clinical University Hospital Virgen of Arrixaca, University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Environment and Human Health Lab, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Sanitaria (IMIB), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
- Global Alliance to Renaturalize Child and Adolescent Health (GreenRooting.org), Spanish Association of Pediatrics, 28009 Madrid, Spain
- International Exchange Program for Minority Students, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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Khan M, Khan M, Al-hamoud K, Adil SF, Shaik MR, Alkhathlan HZ. Diversity of Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad Seeds Extracts: Detailed Chemical Profiling and Evaluation of Their Medicinal Properties. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:567. [PMID: 36771651 PMCID: PMC9919198 DOI: 10.3390/plants12030567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Seeds and fruits of Citrullus colocynthis have been reported to possess huge potential for the development of phytopharmaceuticals with a wide range of biological activities. Thus, in the current study, we are reporting the potential antimicrobial and anticancer properties of C. colocynthis seeds extracted with solvents of different polarities, including methanol (M.E.), hexane (H.E.), and chloroform (C.E.). Antimicrobial properties of C. colocynthis seeds extracts were evaluated on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, whereas, anticancer properties were tested on four different cell lines, including HepG2, DU145, Hela, and A549. All the extracts have demonstrated noteworthy antimicrobial activities with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 0.9-62.5 µg/mL against Klebsiella planticola and Staphylococcus aureus; meanwhile, they were found to be moderately active (MIC 62.5-250 µg/mL) against Escherichia coli and Micrococcus luteus strains. Hexane extracts have demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity against K. planticola with an MIC value of 0.9 µg/mL, equivalent to that of the standard drug ciprofloxacin used as positive control in this study. For anticancer activity, all the extracts of C. colocynthis seeds were found to be active against all the tested cell lines (IC50 48.49-197.96 µg/mL) except for the chloroform extracts, which were found to be inactive against the HepG2 cell line. The hexane extract was found to possess the most prominent anticancer activity when compared to other extracts and has demonstrated the highest anticancer activity against the DU145 cell line with an IC50 value of 48.49 µg/mL. Furthermore, a detailed phytoconstituents analysis of all the extracts of C. colocynthis seeds were performed using GC-MS and GC-FID techniques. Altogether, 43 phytoconstituents were identified from the extracts of C. colocynthis seeds, among which 21, 12, and 16 components were identified from the H.E., C.E., and M.E. extracts, respectively. Monoterpenes (40.4%) and oxygenated monoterpenes (41.1%) were the most dominating chemical class of compounds from the hexane and chloroform extracts, respectively; whereas, in the methanolic extract, oxygenated aliphatic hydrocarbons (77.2%) were found to be the most dominating chemical class of compounds. To the best of our knowledge, all the phytoconstituents identified in this study are being reported for the first time from the C. colocynthis.
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Azzazy HMES, Abdelnaser A, Al Mulla H, Sawy AM, Shamma SN, Elhusseiny M, Alwahibi S, Mahdy NK, Fahmy SA. Essential Oils Extracted from Boswellia sacra Oleo Gum Resin Loaded into PLGA-PCL Nanoparticles: Enhanced Cytotoxic and Apoptotic Effects against Breast Cancer Cells. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:1017-1025. [PMID: 36643489 PMCID: PMC9835537 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c06390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
This work aims to develop and optimize blended polylactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) and poly(ε-caprolactone, PCL) loaded with Boswellia sacra oil (BO) to improve BO's physicochemical properties and anti-breast cancer effects via enhancing apoptosis. In this context, BO was extracted from B. sacra oleo gum resins (BO) via hydrodistillation and chemically characterized by evaluating its essential oil's composition using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Then, BO/PLGA-PCL NPs were formulated using the emulsion (O/W) solvent evaporation technique using a PLGA-PCL mixture at five different ratios (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 1:2, and 1:3, respectively). The optimized NPs had a spherical morphology with no agglomerations and the lowest hydrodynamic size (230.3 ± 3.7 nm) and polydispersity index (0.13 ± 0.03) and the highest ζ potential (-20.36 ± 4.89 mV), as compared to the rest of the formulas. PLGA-PCL NPs could entrap 80.59 ± 3.37% of the BO and exhibited a controlled, sustained release of BO (83.74 ± 3.34%) over 72 h. Encapsulating BO in the form of BO/PLGA-PCL NPs resulted in a lower IC50 value as assessed by the MTT assay. Furthermore and upon assessing the apoptotic effect of both BO and BO/PLGA-PCL NPs, there was an increase in the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cell percentages compared to the control and free BO. Encapsulation of BO in PLGA-PCL NPs doubled the percentage of apoptotic and necrotic cells exerted by free BO. These findings support the potential use of BO/PLGA-PCL NPs in treating breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hassan Mohamed El-Said Azzazy
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo11835, Egypt
- Department
of Nanobiophotonics, Leibniz Institute for
Photonic Technology, Jena07745, Germany
| | - Anwar Abdelnaser
- Institute
of Global Health and Human Ecology, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O.
Box 74, New Cairo11835, Egypt
| | - Hadeer Al Mulla
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo11835, Egypt
| | - Amany M. Sawy
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo11835, Egypt
| | - Samir N. Shamma
- Institute
of Global Health and Human Ecology, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O.
Box 74, New Cairo11835, Egypt
| | - Mahmoud Elhusseiny
- Institute
of Global Health and Human Ecology, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O.
Box 74, New Cairo11835, Egypt
| | | | - Noha Khalil Mahdy
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo11835, Egypt
| | - Sherif Ashraf Fahmy
- Department
of Chemistry, School of Sciences & Engineering, The American University in Cairo, AUC Avenue, P.O. Box 74, New Cairo11835, Egypt
- Chemistry
Department, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire Hosted by Global Academic Foundation, R5 New Garden City, New Administrative
Capital, AL109AB, Cairo11835, Egypt
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Albaqami JJ, Hamdi H, Narayanankutty A, Visakh NU, Sasidharan A, Kuttithodi AM, Famurewa AC, Pathrose B. Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of the Leaf Essential Oils of Curcuma longa, Curcuma aromatica and Curcuma angustifolia. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1547. [PMID: 36358202 PMCID: PMC9686912 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Curcuma species are widely used as a food additive and also in various medicinal purposes. The plant is a rich source of essential oil and is predominantly extracted from the rhizomes. On the other hand, the leaves of the plants are usually considered as an agrowaste. The valorization of these Curcuma leaf wastes into essential oils is becoming accepted globally. In the present study, we aim to extract essential oils from the leaves of Curcuma longa (LEO), C. aromatica (REO), and C. anguistifolia (NEO). The chemical composition of these essential oils was analyzed by GC-MS. Free radical scavenging properties were evaluated against the radical sources, including DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide. The antibacterial activity was assessed by the disc diffusion method and Minimum inhibitory concentration analysis against Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella enterica) bacteria. Results identified the compounds α-phellandrene, 2-carene, and eucalyptol as predominant in LEO. The REO was predominated by camphor, 2-bornanone, and curdione. The main components detected in NEO were eucalyptol, curzerenone, α-lemenone, longiverbenone, and α-curcumene. Antioxidant properties were higher in the LEO with IC50 values of 8.62 ± 0.18, 9.21 ± 0.29, and 4.35 ± 0.16 µg/mL, against DPPH, ABTS, and hydrogen peroxide radicals. The cytotoxic activity was also evident against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells; the LEO was found to be the most active against these two cell lines (IC50 values of 40.74 ± 2.19 and 45.17 ± 2.36 µg/mL). Likewise, the results indicated a higher antibacterial activity for Curcuma longa essential oil with respective IC50 values (20.6 ± 0.3, 22.2 ± 0.3, 20.4 ± 0.2, and 17.6 ± 0.2 mm). Hence, the present study confirms the possible utility of leaf agrowastes of different Curcuma spp. as a possible source of essential oils with pharmacological potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jawaher J. Albaqami
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamida Hamdi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt
| | - Arunaksharan Narayanankutty
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, PG & Research Department of Zoology, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Calicut 673008, India
| | - Naduvilthara U. Visakh
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680656, India
| | - Anju Sasidharan
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, PG & Research Department of Zoology, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Calicut 673008, India
| | - Aswathi Moothakoottil Kuttithodi
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, PG & Research Department of Zoology, St. Joseph’s College (Autonomous), Calicut 673008, India
| | - Ademola C. Famurewa
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Alex-Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, Abakaliki 482131, Nigeria
| | - Berin Pathrose
- Department of Agricultural Entomology, College of Agriculture, Kerala Agricultural University, Thrissur 680656, India
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20
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Lee EH, Chung JW, Sung E, Yoon BH, Jeon M, Park S, Chun SY, Lee JN, Kim BS, Kim HT, Kim TH, Choi SH, Yoo ES, Kwon TG, Kang HW, Kim WJ, Yun SJ, Lee S, Ha YS. Anti-Metastatic Effect of Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Kinase 4 Inhibition in Bladder Cancer via the ERK, SRC, and JNK Pathways. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13240. [PMID: 36362028 PMCID: PMC9658024 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bladder cancer is a common global cancer with a high percentage of metastases and high mortality rate. Thus, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers that can be helpful in diagnosis. Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) belongs to the PDK family and plays an important role in glucose utilization in living organisms. In the present study, we evaluated the role of PDK4 in bladder cancer and its related protein changes. First, we observed elevated PDK4 expression in high-grade bladder cancers. To screen for changes in PDK4-related proteins in bladder cancer, we performed a comparative proteomic analysis using PDK4 knockdown cells. In bladder cancer cell lines, PDK4 silencing resulted in a lower rate of cell migration and invasion. In addition, a PDK4 knockdown xenograft model showed reduced bladder cancer growth in nude mice. Based on our results, PDK4 plays a critical role in the metastasis and growth of bladder cancer cells through changes in ERK, SRC, and JNK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hye Lee
- Joint Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Jae-Wook Chung
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Eunji Sung
- BK21 FOUR Community-Based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Bo Hyun Yoon
- Joint Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Minji Jeon
- Joint Institute of Regenerative Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Song Park
- Division of Biotechnology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu 42988, Korea
| | - So Young Chun
- BioMedical Research Institute, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu 41944, Korea
| | - Jun Nyung Lee
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Bum Soo Kim
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Hyun Tae Kim
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Tae Hwan Kim
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Seock Hwan Choi
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Eun Sang Yoo
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Tae Gyun Kwon
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
| | - Ho Won Kang
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
- Department of Urology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Wun-Jae Kim
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
- Institute of Urotech, Cheongju 28120, Korea
| | - Seok Joong Yun
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea
- Department of Urology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju 28644, Korea
| | - Sangkyu Lee
- BK21 FOUR Community-Based Intelligent Novel Drug Discovery Education Unit, College of Pharmacy, Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea
| | - Yun-Sok Ha
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41405, Korea
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21
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Huang X, Yan P, Ding W, Zhou C, Xu Q, Li M, Ye L, Chen W. α-Pinene inhibits the growth of cervical cancer cells through its proapoptotic activity by regulating the miR-34a-5p/Bcl-2 signaling axis. Drug Dev Res 2022; 83:1766-1776. [PMID: 36074793 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Among gynecological tumors, cervical cancer (CC) has the second-highest prevalence and mortality rate. α-Pinene is a bicyclic monoterpenoid compound extracted from pine needles that carried promising anticancer properties. Nevertheless, its effect on CC and the underlying mechanism has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the effect of α-Pinene on apoptosis in CC via in vitro assays of flow cytometry (FCW), terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and Western blot. Following that, we detected the proapoptotic function of α-Pinene on HeLa cells in vivo by TUNEL assay and immunofluorescence staining. Our results displayed that the α-Pinene inhibited the growth of HeLa cells and stalled the cells in the G0/G1 phase. Interestingly, we also detected that α-Pinene induced HeLa cells to apoptosis. The results investigated that α-Pinene induced HeLa cells apoptosis along with up-regulating the expression of Bax, Bid, caspase-9, caspase-3, miR-34a-5p, and down-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 in vitro. At the same time, the expression levels of target genes in vivo were consistent with those in vitro. Our experiment proved that α-Pinene promoted apoptosis, which will be used to hopefully maximize the therapeutic strategies in clinical studies in CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosu Huang
- School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China
| | - Pei Yan
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenqing Ding
- Longgang District Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital of Shenzhen City, Guangdong, China
| | - Chang Zhou
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiuxiang Xu
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China
| | - Ming Li
- School of Life Science and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China
| | - Lianbao Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China.,Guangdong Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- School of Nursing, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China.,School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangdong, China
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22
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Wang L, Li R, Zhang Q, Liu J, Tao T, Zhang T, Wu C, Ren Q, Pu X, Peng W. Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) Li: A comprehensive review of its phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and product development. FRONTIERS IN SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fsufs.2022.940900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) Li has been used as a herbal medicine in China in its long history. Since ancient times, the fruits of P. fortuneana has been considered a functional food to improve various diseases. Many bioactive substances, including proanthocyanidins, phenols, polysaccharides, and dietary fibers, have been isolated and identified from the P. fortuneana, which possess diverse biological properties both in vitro and in vivo. Although the researches on the P. fortuneana have achieved extensive progress, the systematic study of its biological activities is still relatively lacking. In addition, accumulating researches focus on the landscape value of the P. fortuneana and the development of its by-products. The by-products of P. fortuneana, which show good development potentials in the field of agricultural production and environmental protection, are important for improving the economic value of P. fortuneana and its significance. After extensive reviewing and analyzing the existing published articles, books, and patents, this study aims to a systematic and summarized research trends of P. fortuneana and its phytochemical compositions, nutritional values, pharmacological effects and health benefits of its extracts/monomers, which would be beneficial for the future development of this medicinal plant as functional food or drugs.
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23
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Essential Oils, Phytoncides, Aromachology, and Aromatherapy—A Review. APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/app12094495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Chemical compounds from plants have been used as a medicinal source for various diseases. Aromachology is a unique field that studies the olfactory effects after inhaling aromatic compounds. Aromatherapy is a complementary treatment methodology involving the use of essential oils containing phytoncides and other volatile organic compounds for various physical and mental illnesses. Phytoncides possess an inherent medicinal property. Their health benefits range from treating stress, immunosuppression, blood pressure, respiratory diseases, anxiety, and pain to anti-microbial, anti-larvicidal, anti-septic, anti-cancer effects, etc. Recent advancements in aromatherapy include forest bathing or forest therapy. The inhalation of phytoncide-rich forest air has been proven to reduce stress-induced immunosuppression, normalize immune function and neuroendocrine hormone levels, and, thus, restore physiological and psychological health. The intricate mechanisms related to how aroma converts into olfactory signals and how the olfactory signals relieve physical and mental illness still pose enormous questions and are the subject of ongoing research. Aromatherapy using the aroma of essential oils/phytoncides could be more innovative and attractive to patients. Moreover, with fewer side effects, this field might be recognized as a new field of complementary medicine in alleviating some forms of physical and mental distress. Essential oils are important assets in aromatherapy, cosmetics, and food preservatives. The use of essential oils as an aromatherapeutic agent is widespread. Detailed reports on the effects of EOs in aromatherapy and their pharmacological effects are required to uncover its complete biological mechanism. This review is about the evolution of research related to phytoncides containing EOs in treating various ailments and provides comprehensive details from complementary medicine.
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24
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Liu Z, Li QX, Song B. Pesticidal Activity and Mode of Action of Monoterpenes. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:4556-4571. [PMID: 35380824 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c00635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic pesticides are often associated with issues such as pest resistance, persistent residue, nontarget toxicity, and environmental issues. Therefore, the research and development of novel, safe, and effective pesticides has become a focus in pesticide discovery. Monoterpenes are secondary plant metabolites that commonly have multiple action targets and have been used in aromatherapy, alternative medicine, and food industries. Some are highly potent and stereoselective. They can potentially be botanical pesticides and serve as lead candidates for the design and synthesis of new monoterpenoid pesticides for agricultural applications. This article reviews publications and patents found in SciFinder Scholar between 2000 and May 2021 on monoterpenes and mainly focuses on pesticidal activities of frequently studied monoterpenes and their modes of action. The presented information and our views are hopefully useful for the development of monoterpenes as biopesticides and monoterpenoid pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjun Liu
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550025, P. R. China
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Anshun University, Anshun, Guizhou 561000, P. R. China
| | - Qing X Li
- Department of Molecular Biosciences and Bioengineering, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96822, United States
| | - Baoan Song
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Guizhou University, Huaxi District, Guiyang 550025, P. R. China
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25
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Jeon S, Jo YH, Yoon HI, Han JS. Antifungal effect, surface roughness, and cytotoxicity of three-dimensionally printed denture base with phytoncide-filled microcapsules: an in-vitro study. J Dent 2022; 120:104098. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jdent.2022.104098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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26
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Khan-Mohammadi-Khorrami MK, Asle-Rousta M, Rahnema M, Amini R. Neuroprotective effect of alpha-pinene is mediated by suppression of the TNF-α/NF-κB pathway in Alzheimer's disease rat model. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2022; 36:e23006. [PMID: 35174932 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Monoterpene alpha-pinene possesses antioxidant, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective properties. We evaluated the effect of alpha-pinene on oxidative/nitrosative stress, neuroinflammation, and molecular and behavioral changes induced by beta-amyloid (Aβ)1-42 in rats and investigated the possible mechanisms of these outcomes. Male Wistar rats received alpha-pinene (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally) for 14 consecutive days after intrahippocampal injection of Aβ1-42 . Alpha-pinene decreased malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels, increased glutathione content, and enhanced catalase activity in Aβ-injected rats. Also, messenger RNA expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, nuclear factor κB, and N-methyl- d-aspartate receptor subunits 2A and 2B reduced in the hippocampus of these animals. Besides this, alpha-pinene repressed the Aβ1-42 -induced reduction of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor α7 subunit and brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression. Treatment with alpha-pinene caused Aβ-receiving rats to spend more time in the target quadrant in the Morris water maze test and led to an increase in percentages of open arm entrance and time spent in the open arm in the elevated plus-maze test. We concluded that alpha-pinene strengthens the antioxidant system and prevents neuroinflammation in the hippocampus of rats receiving Aβ. It improves spatial learning and memory and reduces anxiety-like behavior in these animals. Consequently, alpha-pinene alleviates Aβ-induced oxidative/nitrosative stress, neuroinflammation, and behavioral deficits. It is probably a suitable candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mehdi Rahnema
- Department of Physiology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Rahim Amini
- Department of Biology, Zanjan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Zanjan, Iran
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27
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Pan S, Li T, Tan Y, Xu H. Selenium-containing nanoparticles synergistically enhance Pemetrexed&NK cell-based chemoimmunotherapy. Biomaterials 2021; 280:121321. [PMID: 34922271 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.121321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
NK cell-based immunotherapy and pemetrexed (Pem)-based chemotherapy have broad application prospects in cancer treatment. However, the over-expressed NK cell inhibitory receptor on the surface of cancer cells and the low cell internalization efficiency of Pem greatly limit their clinical application. Herein, we construct a series of selenium-containing nanoparticles to synergistically enhance Pem-based chemotherapy and NK cell-based immunotherapy. The nanoparticles could deliver Pem to tumor sites and strengthen the chemotherapy efficiency of Pem by seleninic acid, which is produced by the oxidation of β-seleno ester. Moreover, seleninic acid can block the expression of inhibitory receptors against NK cells, thereby activating the immunocompetence of NK cells. The in vitro and in vivo experiments reveal the potential chemo-enhancing and immune-activating mechanism of seleninic acid, emphasizing the promising prospects of this strategy in effective chemoimmunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuojiong Pan
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Tianyu Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Yizheng Tan
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Huaping Xu
- Key Laboratory of Organic Optoelectronics and Molecular Engineering, Department of Chemistry, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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28
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Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Engineered Natural Killer (CAR NK) Cells in Cancer Treatment; Recent Advances and Future Prospects. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:2081-2106. [PMID: 34472037 PMCID: PMC8410173 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10246-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Natural Killer (NK) cells are critical members of the innate immunity lymphocytes and have a critical role in host defense against malignant cells. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) redirects the specificity of the immune cell against a target-specific antigen. ACT has recently created an outstanding opportunity for cancer treatment. Unlike CAR-armored T cells which hadnsome shortcomings as the CAR-receiving construct, Major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-independency, shorter lifespan, the potential to produce an off-the-shelf immune product, and potent anti-tumor properties of the NK cells has introduced NK cells as a potent alternative target for expression of CAR. Here, we aim to provide an updated overview on the current improvements in CAR NK design and immunobiology and describe the potential of CAR-modified NK cells as an alternative “off-the-shelf” carrier of CAR. We also provide lists for the sources of NK cells in the process of CAR NK cell production, different methods for transduction of the CAR genetic sequence to NK cells, the differences between CAR T and CAR NK, and CAR NK-targeted tumor antigens in current studies. Additionally, we provide data on recently published preclinical and clinical studies of CAR NK therapy and a list of finished and ongoing clinical trials. For achieving CAR NK products with higher efficacy and safety, we discuss current challenges in transduction and expansion of CAR NK cells, CAR NK therapy side effects, and challenges that limit the optimal efficacy of CAR NK cells and recommend possible solutions to enhance the persistence, function, safety, and efficacy of CAR NK cells with a special focus on solid tumors.
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29
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Barati N, Tafrihi M, A Najafi SM. Membrane Localization of β-Catenin in Prostate Cancer PC3 Cells Treated with Teucrium persicum Boiss. Extract. Nutr Cancer 2021; 74:1819-1828. [PMID: 34343037 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2021.1961829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Teucrium persicum Boiss. is an Iranian endemic plant which belongs to the Lamiaceae family and has been used to relieve pains in traditional Iranian medicine. We have previously found that treatment of prostate cancer PC3 cells with Teucrium persicum extract leads to the formation of small populations of epithelial cells. β-Catenin is a component of cell adherens junctions in epithelial cells and therefore, in this study, we have investigated the effect of Teucrium persicum extract on expression, cellular localization, and transcriptional activity of β-Catenin protein in PC-3 cells. Indirect immunofluorescence microscopy results showed that the cells treated with T. persicum extract had higher levels of β-Catenin protein at the cell membrane. Western blotting experiments produced consistent results. Gene expression studies by using a few β-Catenin-target genes including c-MYC, CYCLIN D1, and a reporter Luciferase gene under the control of several β-Catenin/TCF binding elements showed that treatment of PC3 cells with the methanolic extract of T. persicum decreases the transcriptional activities of β-Catenin. The results of this study provide further support for the anticancer properties of T. persicum. Definitely, more detailed molecular investigations are needed to find the mechanism(s) behind these effects. Highlightsβ-Catenin protein is a main component of Wnt signaling pathway and adherens junction.Activation of Wnt signaling pathway affects translocation of β-Catenin.Teucrium persicum extract induces β-Catenin localization at cell membrane.Teucrium persicum affects the transcriptional activity of β-Catenin.It stabilizes E-cadherin/β-Catenin protein complex and adherens junction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narges Barati
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Majid Tafrihi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Mazandaran, Iran
| | - S Mahmoud A Najafi
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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30
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Park BB, An JY, Park SU. Recent studies on pinene and its biological and pharmacological activities. EXCLI JOURNAL 2021; 20:812-818. [PMID: 34177404 PMCID: PMC8222632 DOI: 10.17179/excli2021-3714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Byung Bae Park
- Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Ji Young An
- Department of Environment and Forest Resources, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
| | - Sang Un Park
- Department of Crop Science and Department of Smart Agriculture Systems, Chungnam National University, 99 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34134, Korea
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31
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Zhang H, Qiu X, Yang G. The CSRNP Gene Family Serves as a Prognostic Biomarker in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Front Oncol 2021; 11:620126. [PMID: 33869003 PMCID: PMC8045970 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.620126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The cysteine-serine-rich nuclear protein (CSRNP) family has prognostic value for various cancers. However, the association between this proteins and prognosis of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the prognostic value of the CSRNP family for patients with ccRCC. Therefore, the gene expression profiling interactive analysis database was used to analyze the mRNA expression of CSRNP family members (CSRNPs) in relation with survival. Combined and independent prognostic values of CSRNPs were evaluated using SurvExpress and multivariate Cox regression analyses, respectively. Potential signaling pathways impacted by CSRNPs were evaluated using Metascape. Associations between the CSRNP family and immunocyte infiltration were determined from single-sample gene set enrichment analysis. Both cBioPortal and MethSurv were used to explore whether genomic and epidemic alterations might influence prognosis. We found that when both CSRNP1 and CSRNP3 had a low expression, patients with ccRCC had a worse overall survival (OS). Therefore, a prognostic signature was constructed as follows: risk score = -0.224 × expmRNA of CSRNP1 + 0.820 × expmRNA of CSRNP2 - 1.428 × expmRNA of CSRNP3 . We found that OS was worse in patients from the high- than from the low-risk groups (AUC = 0.69). Moreover, this signature was an independent predictor after adjusting for clinical features. Functional enrichment analysis positively associated CSRNPs with the acute inflammatory response and humoral immune response pathways. This was validated by correlating each CSRNP with 28 types of immunocytes in tumor and normal tissues. A higher expression of CSRNP1 and CSRNP3 was associated with a better prognosis in both the high- and low-mutant burden groups. Cg19538674, cg07772537, and cg07811002 of CSRNP1, CSRNP2, and CSRNP3, respectively, were the predominant DNA methylation sites affecting OS. The CSRNP gene family signature may serve as a prognostic biomarker for predicting OS in patients with ccRCC. The association between CSRNPs and immune infiltration might offer future clinical treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaru Zhang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Urology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofu Qiu
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Urology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guosheng Yang
- The Second School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Urology, Guangdong Second Provincial General Hospital, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Urology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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32
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Memon A, Kim BY, Kim SE, Pyao Y, Lee YG, Kang SC, Lee WK. Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Phytoncide in an Animal Model of Gastrointestinal Inflammation. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26071895. [PMID: 33810618 PMCID: PMC8037037 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26071895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Phytoncide is known to have antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. Purpose: This study was carried out to confirm the anti-inflammatory activity of two types of phytoncide extracts from pinecone waste. Methods: We made two types of animal models to evaluate the efficacy, an indomethacin-induced gastroenteritis rat model and a dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis mouse model. Result: In the gastroenteritis experiment, the expression of induced-nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), a marker for inflammation, decreased in the phytoncide-supplemented groups, and gastric ulcer development was significantly inhibited (p < 0.05). In the colitis experiment, the shortening of the colon length and the iNOS expression were significantly suppressed in the phytoncide-supplemented group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Through this study, we confirmed that phytoncide can directly inhibit inflammation in digestive organs. Although further research is needed, we conclude that phytoncide has potential anti-inflammatory properties in the digestive tract and can be developed as a functional agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azra Memon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea; (A.M.); (Y.P.)
| | - Bae Yong Kim
- Research Institute, Phylus Co., LTD., Danyang-gun 27000, Korea;
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Korea; (S.-e.K.); (Y.-G.L.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Se-eun Kim
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Korea; (S.-e.K.); (Y.-G.L.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Yuliya Pyao
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea; (A.M.); (Y.P.)
| | - Yeong-Geun Lee
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Korea; (S.-e.K.); (Y.-G.L.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Se Chan Kang
- Department of Oriental Medicine Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Kyung Hee University, Yongin-si 17104, Korea; (S.-e.K.); (Y.-G.L.); (S.C.K.)
| | - Woon Kyu Lee
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon 22212, Korea; (A.M.); (Y.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-10-4607-3871
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