β-Eudesmol, an Oxygenized Sesquiterpene, Reduces the Increase in Saliva 3-Methoxy-4-Hydroxyphenylglycol After the "Trier Social Stress Test" in Healthy Humans: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Study

Misleading presentations in functional food trials led by contract research organizations were frequently observed in Japan: meta-epidemiological study

OBJECTIVES

The functional food market has experienced significant growth, leading to an uptick in clinical trials conducted by contract research organizations (CROs). Research focusing on CRO-managed trials and the communication of trial outcomes to the consumer market remains underexplored. This metaepidemiological study aims to evaluate the quality of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) facilitated by prominent CROs in Japan and to examine the quality of the representations used to convey their results to consumers.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING

This study focused on the food trials that were registered in the University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry or the International Clinical Trials Registry Platform by the top 5 CROs. Press releases of study results or advertisements of food products based on the study results were identified by conducting a Google search. The risk of bias in the RCT publications was independently assessed by 2 reviewers, who also evaluated the presence of "spin" in the abstracts and full texts. An assessment of "spin" in press releases/advertisements was undertaken.

RESULTS

A total of 76 RCT registrations, 32 RCT publications, and 11 press releases/advertisements were included. Approximately 72% of the RCT publications exhibited a high risk of bias due to selective outcome reporting. "Spin" was present in the results of the abstract (72%), abstract conclusion (81%), full-text results (44%), and full-text conclusion (84%). "Spin" appeared in 73% of press releases/advertisements due to the selective outcome reporting.

CONCLUSION

Functional food presentations in Japan frequently contained "spin." The Japanese government should more rigorously check whether food manufacturers report outcomes selectively.

A Review of the Ethnobotanical Use, Chemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Constituents Derived from the Plant Genus Geijera (Rutaceae)

Geijera Schott is a plant genus of the Rutaceae Juss. (rue and citrus) family, comprising six species which are all native to Oceania. Of the plants belonging to this genus, the most significant species that has a customary use is Geijera parviflora, which was used by Indigenous Australians, primarily as a pain reliever. Herein, a comprehensive review of the literature published on the genus Geijera from 1930 to 2023 was conducted. This is the first review for this plant genus, and it highlights the chemical constituents reported to date, together with the range of pharmacological properties described from the various species and different parts of the plant. These properties include anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-parasitic, insect repellent, analgesic, neuroactive, and anti-cancer activities. Finally, a reflection on some of the important areas for future focused studies of this plant genus is provided.

Yueju volatile oil plays an integral role in the antidepressant effect by up-regulating ERK/AKT-mediated GLT-1 expression to clear glutamate

Phytochemical investigation of the volatile oil of Yueju (YJVO) and its constituent herbs induced the detection of 52 compounds in YJVO, mainly monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes as well as a small amount of aromatic and aliphatic compounds. 5 of these compounds were found only in the YJVO instead of the volatile oil of its constituent herbs. The anti-depressant effect of YJVO was proved by behavioral tests in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) mice. An acute oral toxicity evaluation determined the LD50 of YJVO was 5.780 mL/kg. Doppler ultrasound and laser speckle imaging have detected that the YJVO could improve depression-related cerebral blood flow. In addition, related neurotransmitters and proteins were analyzed through targeted metabolomics and immunofluorescence. The potential antidepressant mechanisms of YJVO related to significantly decreasing Glu in CUMS mice by up-regulating the ERK/AKT-mediated expression of GLT-1.

Effects of Four Strains of Actinomycetes on the Content of Terpenoids in Baijiu

Terpenoids not only are an important health factor in baijiu but also contribute to the elegance and finesse of baijiu, and actinomycetes act as an important source of terpenoids in baijiu. Four strains of actinomycetes—Streptomyces violascens (SPQ1), S. sampsonii (SPS1), S. thermophilus (SPG1), and S. griseus (SPH1)—obtained from the Daqu, pit mud, fermented grains and air, respectively, in the production of baijiu were used in solid-state and liquid fermentation with five brewing raw materials as the substrates. The terpenoids in the metabolites were analyzed and compared using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). We found that the four strains of actinomycetes produced 31 terpenoids from the hydrolysates of five fermentation substrates during liquid fermentation, and the total terpenoid content was 989.94 μg/kg in the fermentation products. After 28 days of solid-state fermentation, the four actinomycete strains produced 64 terpenoids using the five fermentation substrates, and the total terpenoid content was 23,651.52 μg/kg in the fermentation products. The different fermentation substrates and fermentation methods have a great influence on the terpenoids produced by actinomycetes.

Phytotherapy of mood disorders in the light of microbiota-gut-brain axis

BACKGROUND

Clinical research in natural product-based psychopharmacology has revealed a variety of promising herbal medicines that may provide benefit in the treatment of mild mood disorders, however failed to unambiguously indicate pharmacologically active constituents. The emerging role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis opens new possibilities in the search for effective methods of treatment and prevention of mood disorders.

PURPOSE

Considering the clinically proven effectiveness juxtaposed with inconsistencies regarding the indication of active principles for many medicinal plants applied in the treatment of anxiety and depression, the aim of the review is to look at their therapeutic properties from the perspective of the microbiota-gut-brain axis.

METHOD

A literature-based survey was performed using Scopus, Pubmed, and Google Scholar databases. The current state of knowledge regarding Hypericum perforatum, Valeriana officinalis, Piper methysticum, Passiflora incarnata, Humulus lupulus, Melissa officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, and Rhodiola rosea in terms of their antimicrobial activity, bioavailability, clinical effectiveness in depression/anxiety and gut microbiota - natural products interaction was summarized and analyzed.

RESULTS

Recent studies have provided direct and indirect evidence that herbal extracts and isolated compounds are potent modulators of gut microbiota structure. Additionally, some of the formed postbiotic metabolites exert positive effects and ameliorate depression-related behaviors in animal models of mood disorders. The review underlines the gap in research on natural products - gut microbiota interaction in the context of mood disorders.

CONCLUSION

Modification of microbiota-gut-brain axis by natural products is a plausible explanation of their therapeutic properties. Future studies evaluating the effectiveness of herbal medicine and isolated compounds in treating mild mood disorders should consider the bidirectional interplay between phytoconstituents and the gut microbiota community.

Effects of β-eudesmol and atractylodin on target genes and hormone related to cardiotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, and endocrine disruption in developing zebrafish embryos

Atractylodes lancea, commonly known as Kod-Kamao in Thai, a traditional medicinal herb, is being developed for clinical use in cholangiocarcinoma. β-eudesmol and atractylodin are the main active components of this herb which possess most of the pharmacological properties. However, the lack of adequate toxicity data would be a significant hindrance to their further development. The present study investigated the toxic effects of selected concentrations of β-eudesmol and atractylodin in the heart, liver, and endocrine systems of zebrafish embryos. Study endpoints included changes in the expression of genes related to Na/K-ATPase activity in the heart, fatty acid-binding protein 10a and cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 1 in the liver, and cortisol levels in the endocrine system. Both compounds produced inhibitory effects on the Na/K-ATPase gene expressions in the heart. Both also triggered the biomarkers of liver toxicity. While β-eudesmol did not alter the expression of the cytochrome P450 family 1 subfamily A member 1 gene, atractylodin at high concentrations upregulated the gene, suggesting its potential enzyme-inducing activity in this gene. β-eudesmol, but not atractylodin, showed some stress-reducing properties with suppression of cortisol production.

Pyracantha fortuneana (Maxim.) Li: A comprehensive review of its phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and product development

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.

Supplementation with Matured Hop Bitter Acids Improves Cognitive Performance and Mood State in Healthy Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline

BACKGROUND

Prevention of age-related cognitive decline and depression is becoming urgent because of rapid growing aging populations. Effects of vagal nerve activation on brain function by food ingredients are inadequately investigated; matured hop bitter acid (MHBA) administration reportedly improves cognitive function and depression via vagal nerve activation in model mice.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the effects of MHBA supplementation on cognitive function and mood state in healthy older adults with perceived subjective cognitive decline.

METHODS

Using a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial design, 100 subjects (aged 45-69 years) were randomly assigned into placebo (n = 50) and MHBA (n = 50) groups, and received placebo or MHBA capsules daily for 12 weeks.

RESULTS

Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) score assessing divided attention at week 12 was significantly higher (p = 0.045) and β-endorphin at week 12 was significantly lower (p = 0.043) in the subjects receiving MHBA. Transthyretin in serum, a putative mild cognitive impairment marker, was significantly higher at week 12 in the MHBA group than in the placebo group (p = 0.048). Subgroup analysis classified by the subjective cognitive decline questionnaire revealed that in addition to improved SDMT scores, memory retrieval assessed using the standard verbal paired-associate learning tests and the Ray Verbal Learning Test at week 12 had significantly improved in the subgroup with perceived subjective cognitive decline and without requirement for medical assistance in the MHBA group compared with that in the placebo group.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that MHBA intake improves cognitive function, attention, and mood state in older adults.

Therapeutic potential and pharmacological activities of β-eudesmol

Herbal medicines are attracting the attention of researchers worldwide. β-Eudesmol is one of the most studied and major bioactive sesquiterpenes, mainly extracted from Atractylodes lancea (Thunb) DC. rhizomes. It has potential anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activities and is an inhibitor of tumor growth by inhibiting angiogenesis by suppressing CREB activation of the growth factor signaling pathway. It also stimulates neurite outgrowth in rat pheochromocytoma cells with activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases. It may be a promising lead compound for enhancing neural function, and it may help to explain the underlying mechanisms of neural differentiation. In this review, we summarized the currently available clinical and preclinical studies describing the therapeutic applications of β-eudesmol.