The Natural Compound Dansameum Reduces foam Cell Formation by Downregulating CD36 and Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor-gamma; Expression

Effects of natural products on cisplatin ototoxicity and chemotherapeutic efficacy

INTRODUCTION

Cisplatin is a very effective chemotherapeutic agent against a variety of solid tumors. Unfortunately, cisplatin causes permanent sensorineural hearing loss in at least two-thirds of patients treated. There are no FDA approved drugs to prevent this serious side effect.

AREAS COVERED

This paper reviews various natural products that ameliorate cisplatin ototoxicity. These compounds are strong antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents. This review includes mostly preclinical studies but also discusses a few small clinical trials with natural products to minimize hearing loss from cisplatin chemotherapy in patients. The interactions of natural products with cisplatin in tumor-bearing animal models are highlighted. A number of natural products did not interfere with cisplatin anti-tumor efficacy and some agents actually potentiated cisplatin anti-tumor activity.

EXPERT OPINION

There are a number of natural products or their derivatives that show excellent protection against cisplatin ototoxicity in preclinical studies. There is a need to insure uniform standards for purity of drugs derived from natural sources and to ensure adequate pharmacokinetics and safety of these products. Natural products that protect against cisplatin ototoxicity and augment cisplatin's anti-tumor effects in multiple studies of tumor-bearing animals are most promising for advancement to clinical trials. The most promising natural products include honokiol, sulforaphane, and thymoquinone.

Therapeutic potential of traditional Chinese medicine in atherosclerosis: A review

Atherosclerosis is the onset of endothelial cell damage and is characterized by abnormal accumulation of fibrinogen and lipid in large and middle arteries. Recent researches indicate that traditional Chinese medicine including Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Astragali Radix, Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Ginseng Radix et Rhizoma, Fructus Crataegi, Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, Polygoni Multiflori Radix, Fructus Lycii, and Coptidis Rhizoma have therapeutic effects on atherosclerosis. Furthermore, the pharmacological roles of these kinds of traditional Chinese medicine in atherosclerosis refer to endothelial function influences, cell proliferation and migration, platelet aggregation, thrombus formation, oxidative stress, inflammation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, autophagy, lipid metabolism, and the gut microbiome. Traditional Chinese medicine may serve as potential and effective anti-atherosclerosis drugs. However, a critical study has shown that Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma may also have toxic effects including pustules, fever, and elevate circulating neutrophil count. Further high-quality studies are still required to determine the clinical safety and efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine and its active ingredients.

Feasibility of 18F-Fluorocholine PET for Evaluating Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in a Starved Rat Model

Imaging techniques for diagnosing muscle atrophy and sarcopenia remain insufficient, although various advanced diagnostic methods have been established. We explored the feasibility of ¹⁸F-fluorocholine (¹⁸F-FCH) positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for evaluating skeletal muscle atrophy, as an imaging technique that tracks choline level changes in muscles. Cell uptake in L6 cells by ¹⁸F-FCH was performed in a complete medium containing serum (untreated group, UN) and a serum-free medium (starved group, ST). Small-animal-dedicated PET/CT imaging with ¹⁸F-FCH was examined in in-vivo models with rats that were starved for 2 days to cause muscle atrophy. After the hind limbs were dissected, starvation-induced in-vivo models were anatomically confirmed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction to evaluate the expression levels of the atrophy markers muscle RING-finger protein-1 (MuRF-1) and atrogin-1. ¹⁸F-FCH uptake was lower in the starvation-induced cells than in the untreated group, and in-vivo PET uptake also revealed a similar tendency (the average standardized uptake value (SUV_mean) = 0.26 ± 0.06 versus 0.37 ± 0.07, respectively). Furthermore, the expression levels of MuRF-1 and atrogin-1 mRNA were significantly increased in the starvation-induced muscle atrophy of rats compared to the untreated group. ¹⁸F-FCH PET/CT may be a promising tool for diagnosing skeletal muscle atrophy.

Camphene Attenuates Skeletal Muscle Atrophy by Regulating Oxidative Stress and Lipid Metabolism in Rats

Sarcopenia- or cachexia-related muscle atrophy is due to imbalanced energy metabolism and oxidative stress-induced muscle dysfunction. Monoterpenes play biological and pharmacological reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging roles. Hence, we explored the effects of camphene, a bicyclic monoterpene, on skeletal muscle atrophy in vitro and in vivo. We treated L6 myoblast cells with camphene and then examined the ROS-related oxidative stress using Mito Tracker^TM Red FM and anti-8-oxoguanine antibody staining. To investigate lipid metabolism, we performed real-time polymerase chain reactions, holotomographic microscopy, and respiratory gas analysis. Rat muscle atrophy in in vivo models was observed using ¹⁸F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and immunocytochemistry. Camphene reversed the aberrant cell size and muscle morphology of L6 myoblasts under starvation and in in vivo models. Camphene also attenuated E3 ubiquitin ligase muscle RING-finger protein-1, mitochondrial fission, and 8-oxoguanine nuclear expression in starved myotubes and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-treated cells. Moreover, camphene significantly regulated lipid metabolism in H₂O₂-treated cells and in vivo models. These findings suggest that camphene may potentially affect skeletal muscle atrophy by regulating oxidative stress and lipid metabolism.

Therapeutic effect of Shinkiwhan, herbal medicine, regulates OPG/RANKL/RANK system on ovariectomy-induced bone loss rat

[Purpose]

Although physical activity is required to prevent or ameliorate osteoporosis, medicine prescription should precede it, since it may be limited in severe osteoporosis patients. Furthermore, osteoporosis has a great effect on physical activity disorders that accompany fractures and pain, and therefore, research on treatment or prevention to decrease the number of patients is required. The purpose of this study was to discover candidate substances from natural products with an effective pharmacological action and to prepare basic data to help patients.

[Methods]

To prepare the osteoporosis model, ovariectomy (OVX) was performed using surgical methods. The prepared prescription [Shinkiwhan (SKH), a Korean medicine] was administered orally at a dose of 210 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks. After completion of the animal experiment, the bone mineral density (BMD) was analyzed using double-energy X-ray absorptiometry. The analysis of the effect of drugs on bones was performed using histological analysis and immunostaining.

[Results]

SKH increased the BMD in the OVX rats. Furthermore, SKH significantly increased the expression of osteoprotegerin and downregulated receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand and phosphorylation of c-jun N-terminal kinases in the bones of the OVX model.

[Conclusion]

Our findings suggest a protective effect of SKH against BMD loss in the OVX model.

Dansameum regulates hepatic lipogenesis and inflammation in vitro and in vivo

Although the clinical guidelines for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) therapy recommended hepato-protection and exercise to reduce body weight, no established medication exists for NAFLD treatment. Thus, the effect of a candidate substance, dansameum (DSE), using an in vitro and NAFLD mouse model (that is, apolipoprotein E-Knockout mice), were investigated. The molecular pathways for lipogenesis and inflammation were evaluated using Nile staining, Western blotting, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. It was shown that DSE significantly ameliorated the production of lipogenesis-related factors, including liver X receptor-α, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, sterol regulatory element binding protein-1, fatty acid synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase 1, and CD36. In addition, DSE significantly reduced the production of inflammation factors, including interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and nuclear factor kappa B. Furthermore, DSE significantly reduced the phosphorylation of c-Jun amino terminal kinase. Taken together, this suggests that DSE may be a functional food candidate for regulating NAFLD, based on its effects.