Cornus officinalis Methanol Extract Upregulates Melanogenesis in Melan-a Cells

Therapeutic Potential of Cornus Genus: Navigating Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Clinical Studies, and Advanced Delivery Approaches

The genus Cornus (Cornaceae) plants are widely distributed in Europe, southwest Asia, North America, and the mountains of Central America, South America, and East Africa. Cornus plants exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidative, antiproliferative, cytotoxic, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and immunomodulatory activities. These plants are exploited to possess various phytoconstituents such as triterpenoids, iridoids, anthocyanins, tannins and flavonoids. Pharmacological research and clinical investigations on various Cornus species have advanced significantly in recent years. Over the past few decades, a significant amount of focus has also been made into developing new delivery systems for Cornus mas and Cornus officinalis. This review focuses on the morphological traits, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities and clinical studies on extracts and active constituents from plants of Cornus genus. The review also highlights recent novel delivery systems for Cornus mas and Cornus officinalis extracts to promote sustained and targeted delivery in diverse disorders. The overwhelming body of research supports the idea that plants from the genus Cornus have therapeutic potential and can be investigated in the future for treatingseveral ailments.

Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino extract induces hair growth and exhibits an anti-graying effect via multiple mechanisms

BACKGROUND

In traditional Asian medicine, Gynostemma pentaphyllum Makino leaf extract (Gp) is used to treat aging, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and neurodegenerative diseases. Hair loss and hair-graying are common phenomena that haunt everyone. However, whether Gp activities on inhibition of hair loss and getting gray have been rarely studied.

AIM

Study the Gp activity and mechanism by in vivo and in vitro experiments to explore its application on hair health.

METHODS

In the present study, we determined the effects of Gp on the expression of hair growth-related genes and proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs). Furthermore, Gp was topically applied to the hair-shaved skin of male C57BL/6 mice, and the histological profile of the skin was studied. Because emotional stress may lead to melanocyte disappearance, norepinephrine-exposed mice B16 melanocytes were treated with Gp to elucidate the anti-hair graying capacity of Gp in response to this stress type.

RESULTS

Gp stimulated the proliferation of hDPCs and the Wnt signaling pathways associated with hair growth; furthermore, the expression of the hair loss-related gene transforming growth factor-β1 was suppressed. Gp treatment significantly increased the size of hair follicles in the treated mice and stimulated them. Moreover, Gp not only increased melanin synthesis but also tyrosinase activity in B16 cells. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction revealed that Gp increased melanin synthesis by increasing the expression of tyrosine-related protein-1, tyrosine-related protein-2, tyrosinase, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor.

CONCLUSION

Our study provides preclinical evidence regarding the potential of Gp as a promising hair growth and anti-graying agent.

A comprehensive review of Cornus officinalis: health benefits, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects for functional drug and food development

Introduction

Cornus officinalis sieb. et zucc, a deciduous tree or shrub, is renowned for its "Cornus flesh" fruit, which is widely acknowledged for its medicinal value when matured and dried. Leveraging C. officinalis as a foundational ingredient opens avenues for the development of environmentally friendly health foods, ranging from beverages and jams to preserves and canned products. Packed with diverse bioactive compounds, this species manifests a spectrum of pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antidiabetic, immunomodulatory, neuroprotective, and cardiovascular protective properties.

Methods

This study employs CiteSpace visual analysis software and a bibliometric analysis platform, drawing upon the Web of Science (WOS) database for literature spanning the last decade. Through a comprehensive analysis of available literature from WOS and Google Scholar, we present a thorough summary of the health benefits, phytochemistry, active compounds, and pharmacological effects of C. officinalis. Particular emphasis is placed on its potential in developing functional drugs and foods.

Results and Discussion

While this review enhances our understanding of C. officinalis as a prospective therapeutic agent, its clinical applicability underscores the need for further research and clinical studies to validate findings and establish safe and effective clinical applications.

Regulation of renal lipid deposition in diabetic nephropathy on morroniside via inhibition of NF-KB/TNF-a/SREBP1c signaling pathway

Morroniside (MOR), a cyclic enol ether terpene glycoside isolated from Cornus officinalis, has been shown to inhibit lipid accumulation, although the mechanism of action is uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential pathways by which MOR affects renal lipid deposition in diabetic nephropathy (DN). In vitro and in vivo experiments were performed using the PA-induced HK-2 cell model and a KKAy animal model, respectively. Network pharmacological analysis was used to identify potential MOR signaling pathways for DN therapy, with results verified via Western blotting and immunofluorescence experiments. The effect of MOR on lipid metabolism was investigated using BODIPY 493/503 staining. Our results indicate that MOR significantly reduces lipid accumulation both in vitro and in vivo. According to network pharmacology studies, the NF-κB/TNF-α/SREBP1c signaling pathway may be the mechanism of action of MOR in DN. MOR was found to inhibit this pathway by reducing the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and the expression of TNF-α and SREBP1c, similar to the effects of Bay11-7082. Additionally, MOR significantly inhibited the expression of lipid factors such as ACC, FAS, and SCD1. In conclusion, MOR can regulate the disruption of lipid metabolism in DN and reduce renal lipid deposition via suppression of the NF-κB/TNF-α/SREBP1c signaling pathway.

Review on Plants with Traditional Uses and Bio-Activity Against Hair Graying

Abstract:

Hair graying occurs worldwide, and it has a high impact on the self-esteem of an individual. Hair graying is a melanogenesis disorder that can be attributed to many factors, including age, oxidative stress, psychological stress, and malnutrition. Though there are effective p-phenylenediamine based hair dyes, they often cause allergy and systematic toxicity. Plants are popular a traditional remedy for the management of hair disorders. Due to their high chemical diversity, phytoproducts offer great promises to develop an effective and safe product to manage hair graying and melanogenesis disorders. The aim of the present article is to review plants with traditional uses and bio-activity against hair graying. An extensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar databases using many combinations of the following keywords: plants used to treat gray hair, natural products, hair graying, melanogenesis, pigmentation, and tyrosinase activity. This review documented about sixty-one plants, including a summary of 47 plants frequently used in traditional medicine, and a brief review of fourteen plants showing promising activity against hair graying. The active constituents and the mechanisms by which active constituents exert anti-hair graying effects were also reviewed.

Antiphotoaging properties of Zingiber montanum essential oil isolated by solvent-free microwave extraction against ultraviolet B-irradiated human dermal fibroblasts

Maintaining youthful skin from photoaging with natural products, including essential oils, is a vital strategy that has piqued the interest of researchers in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries. This research aimed to investigate the protective properties of Zingiber montanum (J. Koenig) Link ex A. Dietr. essential oil against ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced skin damage and photoaging in normal human dermal fibroblast (HDFn) cells. The essential oil was extracted from fresh plant rhizomes using solvent-free microwave extraction. Its antiphotoaging properties in HDFn cells were investigated using reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging, wound healing, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-1, MMP-3, and MMP-9) expression, procollagen synthesis, and elastase and tyrosinase inhibitory assays. The results showed that the test oil exhibited no significant toxicity in HDFn at concentrations up to 10 mg/mL, with cell viability exceeding 90%. Following UVB irradiation at 30 mJ/cm², Z. montanum oil demonstrated time and concentration-dependent ROS radical scavenging capabilities. In a cell migration assay, the essential oil demonstrated wound-healing properties. Z. montanum oil suppressed the expression of MMPs and enhanced the synthesis of type I procollagen at a concentration of 0.1-1 mg/mL. In addition, 0.1-1 mg/mL Z. montanum oil inhibited elastase activity in a concentration-dependent manner but did not affect tyrosinase activity. From these findings, the essential oil of Z. montanum could have potential applications in developing cosmeceutical products to prevent skin photoaging.

The role and mechanism of Asian medicinal plants in treating skin pigmentary disorders

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Chloasma, senile plaques, vitiligo and other pigmentary disorders seriously affect patients' appearance and life quality. Medicinal plant is the product of long-term medical practice worldwide, with the advantages of outstanding curative properties and less side effects. Recently, research were made to explore the value of medicinal plants in the treatment of pigmentary disorders, and remarkable results were achieved.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review outlines the current understanding of the role and potential mechanisms of medicinal plants (including active ingredients, extracts and prescriptions) in pigmentary disorders, especially Chinese medicinal plants, provides the preclinical evidence for the clinical benefits. This study hopes to provide comprehensive information and reliable basis for exploring new therapeutic strategies of plant drugs in the treatment of skin pigmented diseases.

METHODS

The literature information was obtained from the scientific databases (up to Oct, 2017), mainly from the PubMed, Web of Science and CNKI databases, and was to identify the experimental studies on the regulating melanogenesis role of the active agents from herbal medicine and the involved mechanisms. The search keywords for such work included: "pigmentary" or "pigmentation", "melanogenesis", and "traditional Chinese medicine" or "Chinese herbal medicine", "herb", "medicinal plant".

RESULTS

We summarized the function of medicinal plants involved in melanogenesis, especially Chinese medicine. It was reported that the active ingredients, extracts, or prescriptions of medicinal plants can regulate the expression of genes related to melanogenesis by affecting the signaling pathways such as MAPK and PKA, thereby regulating pigment synthesis. Some of them can promote melanogenesis (such as isoliquiritigenin, geniposide; Cornus officinalis Siebold & Zucc., Eclipta prostrata (L.) L.; the Bairesi complex prescription, etc.). While others have the opposite effect (such as biochanin A, Gomisin N; Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Nardostachys chinensis Bat.; Sanbaitang, etc.).

CONCLUSION

Asian medicinal plants, especially their active ingredients, have multilevel effects on melanogenesis by regulating melanogenesis-related genes or signaling pathways. They are of great clinical value for the treatment of skin pigmentary disorders. However, the experimental effect, safety, and functional mechanism of the medicinal plants require further determination before studying their clinical efficacy.

Rice Bran Ash Mineral Extract Increases Pigmentation through the p-ERK Pathway in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the effect of rice bran ash mineral extract (RBM) on pigmentation in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Melanin has the ability to block ultraviolet (UV) radiation and scavenge free oxygen radicals, thus protecting the skin from their harmful effects. Agents that increase melanin synthesis in melanocytes may reduce the risk of photodamage and skin cancer. The present study investigates the effect of RBM on pigmentation in zebrafish and the underlying mechanism. RBM was found to significantly increase the expression of microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), a key transcription factor involved in melanin production. RBM also suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which negatively regulates zebrafish pigmentation. Together, these results suggest that RBM promotes melanin biosynthesis in zebrafish.

New Iridoid Derivatives from the Fruits of Cornus officinalis and Their Neuroprotective Activities

Three previously undescribed iridoids, cornusfurals A–C, were isolated from the ethanolic extracts of fruits of Cornus officinalis. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including one-dimensional and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance, ultraviolet spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry. The neuroprotective activity was evaluated by measuring corticosterone-induced damage in PC12 cells. The results showed that cornusfural B decreased corticosterone-induced PC12 cell damage compared with that in model cells.

Corni Fructus: a review of chemical constituents and pharmacological activities

Cornus officinalis Sieb. et Zucc. is part of the genus Cornus of the family Cornaceae. Ripening and dry fruits (Corni Fructus) are recognized as an essential herb medicine in the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and have been widely used for over 2000 years. This review provides a comprehensive summary of Corni Fructus (CF), including the botany, phytochemistry, traditional use, and current pharmacological activities. According to the basic theory of TCM, CF usually participates in various Chinese medicinal formulae to exert the essential roles in replenishing liver and kidney, arresting seminal emission and sweat. Based on modern pharmacological studies, about 90 compounds have been isolated and identified from CF. In vivo and in vitro experimental studies indicate that CF exhibits extensive pharmacological activities including hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotective, hepatoprotective, and nephroprotective activities. However, only about 18% of chemical constituents in CF were tested. It means the potential pharmacological activities and clinical values of CF need to be further investigated.

BIX-01294 sensitizes renal cancer Caki cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis through downregulation of survivin expression and upregulation of DR5 expression

BIX-01294 (BIX), a G9a histone methyltransferase inhibitor, has been reported for its anti-proliferative and anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines. In this study, we investigated whether BIX could sensitize TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in various cancer cells. Combined treatment with BIX and TRAIL markedly induced apoptosis in human renal carcinoma (Caki, ACHN, and A498), breast carcinoma (MCF-7), and lung carcinoma (A549) cells. In contrast, BIX and TRAIL co-treatment did not induce apoptosis in normal cells, specifically mouse kidney cell (TCMK-1) and human skin fibroblast (HSF). BIX downregulated protein expression levels of XIAP and survivin at the post-translational level. Overexpression of survivin markedly blocked combined BIX and TRAIL treatment-induced apoptosis, but XIAP had no effect. Furthermore, BIX induced upregulation of DR5 expression at the transcriptional levels, and knockdown of DR5 expression using small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) markedly attenuated BIX and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, siRNA-mediated G9a histone methyltransferase knockdown also enhanced TRAIL-induced apoptosis in Caki cells. However, knockdown of G9a did not change expression levels of XIAP, survivin, and DR5. Therefore, BIX-mediated TRAIL sensitization was independent of histone methyltransferase G9a activity. Taken together, these results suggest that BIX facilitates TRAIL-mediated apoptosis via downregulation of survivin and upregulation of DR5 expression in renal carcinoma Caki cells.

▶ BIX facilitates TRAIL-mediated apoptosis in human renal carcinoma Caki cells.

▶ Downregulation of survivin contributes to BIX plus TRAIL-induced apoptosis.

▶ Upregulation of DR5 is involved in BIX plus TRAIL-mediated apoptosis.

▶ BIX-mediated TRAIL sensitization is independent of ROS production.

De novo transcriptomic analysis of leaf and fruit tissue of Cornus officinalis using Illumina platform

Cornus officinalis is one of the most widely used medicinal plants in China and other East Asian countries to cure diseases such as liver, kidney, cardiovascular diseases and frequent urination for thousands of years. It is a Level 3 protected species, and is one of the 42 national key protected wild species of animals and plants in China. However, the genetics and molecular biology of C. officinalis are poorly understood, which has hindered research on the molecular mechanism of its metabolism and utilization. Hence, enriching its genomic data and information is very important. In recent years, the fast-growing technology of next generation sequencing has provided an effective path to gain genomic information from nonmodel species. This study is the first to explore the leaf and fruit tissue transcriptome of C. officinalis using the Illumina HiSeq 4000 platform. A total of 57,954,134 and 60,971,652 clean reads from leaf and fruit were acquired, respectively (GenBank number SRP115440). The pooled reads from all two libraries were assembled into 56,392 unigenes with an average length 856 bp. Among these, 41,146 unigenes matched with sequences in the NCBI nonredundant protein database. The Gene Ontology database assigned 24,336 unigenes with biological process (83.26%), cellular components (53.58%), and molecular function (83.93%). In addition, 10,808 unigenes were assigned a KOG functional classification by the KOG database. Searching against the KEGG pathway database indicated that 18,435 unigenes were mapped to 371 KEGG pathways. Moreover, the edgeR database identified 4,585 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 1,392 were up-regulated and 3,193 were down-regulated in fruit tissue compared with leaf tissue. Finally, we explored 581 transcription factors with 50 transcription factor gene families. Most DEGs and transcription factors were related to terpene biosynthesis and secondary metabolic regulation. This study not only represented the first de novo transcriptomic analysis of C. officinalis but also provided fundamental information on its genes and biosynthetic pathway. These findings will help us explore the molecular metabolism mechanism of terpene biosynthesis in C. officinalis.

The coffee diterpene kahweol enhances sensitivity to sorafenib in human renal carcinoma Caki cells through down-regulation of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP expression

Sorafenib is approved for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, low tumor response and side effects have been widely reported. Therefore, to improve the efficacy of sorafenib, we investigated whether combined treatment with sorafenib and kahweol, the coffee-specific diterpene, has a synergistic effect on apoptotic cell death. Combined treatment with sorafenib and kahweol markedly induced caspase-mediated apoptosis in renal carcinoma Caki cells. Combined treatment with sorafenib and kahweol induced down-regulation of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP expression. We found down-regulation of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP expression was modulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Ectopic expression of Mcl-1 inhibited sorafenib plus kahweol-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, combined treatment with sorafenib and kahweol induced apoptotic cell death in c-FLIP overexpressed cells. In addition, combined treatment with sorafenib and kahweol markedly induced apoptosis in human lung carcinoma (A549) and breast carcinoma (MDA-MB-361) cells, but not in human normal mesangial cells and human skin fibroblast cells (HSF). Collectively, our study demonstrates that combined treatment with sorafenib and kahweol induces apoptotic cell death through down-regulation of Mcl-1 expression.

NOX4-mediated ROS production induces apoptotic cell death via down-regulation of c-FLIP and Mcl-1 expression in combined treatment with thioridazine and curcumin

Thioridazine is known to have anti-tumor effects by inhibiting PI3K/Akt signaling, which is an important signaling pathway in cell survival. However, thioridazine alone does not induce apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (AMC-HN4), human breast carcinoma (MDA-MB231), and human glioma (U87MG) cells. Therefore, we investigated whether combined treatment with thioridazine and curcumin induces apoptosis. Combined treatment with thioridazine and curcumin markedly induced apoptosis in cancer cells without inducing apoptosis in human normal mesangial cells and human normal umbilical vein cells (EA.hy926). We found that combined treatment with thioridazine and curcumin had synergistic effects in AMC-HN4 cells. Among apoptosis-related proteins, thioridazine plus curcumin induced down-regulation of c-FLIP and Mcl-1 expression at the post-translational levels in a proteasome-dependent manner. Augmentation of proteasome activity was related to the up-regulation of proteasome subunit alpha 5 (PSMA5) expression in curcumin plus thioridazine-treated cells. Combined treatment with curcumin and thioridazine produced intracellular ROS in a NOX4-dependent manner, and ROS-mediated activation of Nrf2/ARE signaling played a critical role in the up-regulation of PSMA5 expression. Furthermore, ectopic expression of c-FLIP and Mcl-1 inhibited apoptosis in thioridazine and curcumin-treated cells. Therefore, we demonstrated that thioridazine plus curcumin induces proteasome activity by up-regulating PSMA5 expression via NOX4-mediated ROS production and that down-regulation of c-FLIP and Mcl-1 expression post-translationally is involved in apoptosis.

Fisetin Induces Apoptosis Through p53-Mediated Up-Regulation of DR5 Expression in Human Renal Carcinoma Caki Cells

Fisetin is a natural compound found in fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, apples, cucumbers, and onions. Since fisetin can elicit anti-cancer effects, including anti-proliferation and anti-migration, we investigated whether fisetin induced apoptosis in human renal carcinoma (Caki) cells. Fisetin markedly induced sub-G1 population and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), which is a marker of apoptosis, and increased caspase activation. We found that pan-caspase inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk) inhibited fisetin-induced apoptosis. In addition, fisetin induced death receptor 5 (DR5) expression at the transcriptional level, and down-regulation of DR5 by siRNA blocked fisetin-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, fisetin induced p53 protein expression through up-regulation of protein stability, whereas down-regulation of p53 by siRNA markedly inhibited fisetin-induced DR5 expression. In contrast, fisetin induced up-regulation of CHOP expression and reactive oxygen species production, which had no effect on fisetin-induced apoptosis. Taken together, our study demonstrates that fisetin induced apoptosis through p53 mediated up-regulation of DR5 expression at the transcriptional level.

Four new iridoid glucosides containing the furan ring from the fruit of Cornus officinalis

Four new and rare iridoid glucosides, cornusfuroside A-D (1-4), containing the furan ring were identified from water extract of the fruit of Cornus officinalis. These new chemical structures were determined through extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR, IR, HRESIMS, experimental and calculated electronic circular dichroism (ECD). Notably, this study is the first report on the isolation of four iridoid glucoside structures with acetal functions in the sugar moiety. The neuroprotective effects of these compounds were also evaluated in vitro.

Cytotoxicity and Antimicrobial Activity of Oral Rinses In Vitro

While oral rinses used for cosmetic purposes only do not necessarily have to be antiseptic, antimicrobial activity is required for medical indications, including oral and periodontal surgery. So the question arises—is the antimicrobial activity of oral rinses associated with any destructive changes in cell viability in vitro? To answer this question, we examined twelve oral rinses with respect to their antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity. Antimicrobial activity was screened against five bacterial strains using disc diffusion. Cytotoxicity was determined by mitochondrial reductase activity with primary gingival fibroblasts, L929 cells, and HSC-2 epithelial cells. Phase contrast microscopy and trypan blue staining were then performed to reveal cell morphology. Cells remained vital after exposure to oral rinses that were only used for cosmetic purposes. Moderate cytotoxic effects were observed for oral rinses containing 0.05% chlorhexidine, ethanol, or pegylated hydrogenated castor oil and sodium dodecyl sulfate. Other oral rinses containing 0.2% chlorhexidine and cocamidopropyl betaine exhibited strong cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity. Strong cytotoxic but moderate antimicrobial activity was observed in oral rinses containing cetylpyridinium chloride. The in vitro data show that oral rinses are heterogeneous with respect to their cytotoxic and antimicrobial effects. Based on their respective properties, oral rinses can be selected either to reduce the microbial load or for cosmetic purposes.

Cytoplasmic Localization of RUNX3 via Histone Deacetylase-Mediated SRC Expression in Oxidative-Stressed Colon Cancer Cells

Runt domain transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a transcription factor that functions as a tumor suppressor. RUNX3 is frequently inactivated by epigenetic silencing or its protein mislocalization (cytoplasmic localization) in many cancer types. This study investigated whether oxidative stress induces redistribution of RUNX3 from the nucleus to the cytoplasm. The cytoplasmic localization of RUNX3 was associated with oxidative stress-induced RUNX3 phosphorylation at tyrosine residues via SRC activation. Moreover, oxidative stress increased expression of histone deacetylases (HDACs). RUNX3 phosphorylation and SRC expression induced by oxidative stress were inhibited by knockdown of HDAC1, restoring the nuclear localization of RUNX3 under oxidative stress. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that HDAC1- and SRC-mediated phosphorylation of RUNX3 induced by oxidative stress is associated with the cytoplasmic localization of RUNX3 and can lead to RUNX3 inactivation and carcinogenesis. J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 1914-1921, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Thioridazine enhances sensitivity to carboplatin in human head and neck cancer cells through downregulation of c-FLIP and Mcl-1 expression

Carboplatin is a less toxic analog of cisplatin, but carboplatin also has side effects, including bone marrow suppression. Therefore, to improve the capacity of the anticancer activity of carboplatin, we investigated whether combined treatment with carboplatin and thioridazine, which has antipsychotic and anticancer activities, has a synergistic effect on apoptosis. Combined treatment with carboplatin and thioridazine markedly induced caspase-mediated apoptosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (AMC-HN4) cells. Combined treatment with carboplatin and thioridazine induced downregulation of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP expression. Ectopic expression of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP inhibited carboplatin plus thioridazine-induced apoptosis. We found that augmentation of proteasome activity had a critical role in downregulation of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP expression at the post-translational level in carboplatin plus thioridazine-treated cells. Furthermore, carboplatin plus thioridazine induced upregulation of the expression of proteasome subunit alpha 5 (PSMA5) through mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS)-dependent nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) activation. In addition, combined treatment with carboplatin and thioridazine markedly induced apoptosis in human breast carcinoma (MDA-MB231) and glioma (U87MG) cells, but not in human normal mesangial cells and normal human umbilical vein cells (EA.hy926). Collectively, our study demonstrates that combined treatment with carboplatin and thioridazine induces apoptosis through proteasomal degradation of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP by upregulation of Nrf2-dependent PSMA5 expression.

YM155 enhances ABT-737-mediated apoptosis through Mcl-1 downregulation in Mcl-1-overexpressed cancer cells

ABT-737 is a BH3 mimetic inhibitor of Bcl-xL, Bcl-2, and Bcl-w, and it has been reported for anti-cancer effects in various types of cancer cells. However, ABT-737 fails to induce apoptosis in cancer cell with high levels of Mcl-1 expression. The pharmacological survivin inhibitor YM155 has been reported to induce downregulation of Mcl-1 expression. Therefore, we investigated the effect of YM155 to sensitize resistance against ABT-737 in Mcl-1-overexpressed human renal carcinoma Caki cells. We found that ABT-737 alone and YM155 alone did not induce apoptosis, but YM155 markedly sensitized ABT-737-mediated apoptosis in Mcl-1-overexpressed Caki cells, human glioma cells (U251MG), and human lung carcinoma cells (A549). In contrast, combined treatment with ABT-737 and YM155 did not increase apoptosis in normal mouse kidney cells (TCMK-1) and human mesangial cells (MC). YM155 induced lysosome-dependent downregulation of Mcl-1 expression in Mcl-1-overexpressed Caki cells. In addition, combined treatment with ABT-737 and YM155 induced loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and inhibited interaction of Bcl-xL and Bax. Taken together, our results suggested that YM155 effectively improves sensitivity to ABT-737 through downregulation of Mcl-1 expression.

Isolation and Thermal Stabilization of Bacteriocin Nisin Derived from Whey for Antimicrobial Modifications of Polymers

This work describes novel alternative for extraction of bacteriocin nisin from a whey fermentation media and its stabilization by using polyethylene glycol as matrix with high practical applicability. This product was compared with commercially available nisin product stabilized by sodium chloride and nisin extracted and stabilized by using ammonium sulfate and polysorbate 80. The stability of samples was tested by means of long-term storage at −18, 4, 25, and 55°C up to 165 days. The nisin content in the samples was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and electrophoresis. In addition, effect of whey fortification with lactose on nisin production and antibacterial activity studied against Staphylococcus aureus was tested. Results show that stabilization by polyethylene glycol provides enhanced nisin activity at 55°C after 14 days and long-term stability at 25°C with keeping antibacterial activity.

Pigmentation Effect of Rice Bran Extracted Minerals Comprising Soluble Silicic Acids

Our investigation focused on identifying melanogenesis effect of soluble minerals in rice bran ash extract (RBE) which include orthosilicic acid (OSA). Melanocytes were apparently normal in terms of morphology. It was, however, shown that they were stressed a little in the RBE and OSA added media in aspect of LDH activity. Melanin synthesis and intracellular tyrosinase activity were increased by treatment of RBE which is similar to that of OSA. The Western blotting results showed that TRP-1, tyrosinase, and MITF expression levels were 2-3 times higher in the OSA and RBE groups compared to the control group which promoted melanin synthesis through CREB phosphorylation. Moreover, histology and immunohistochemistry were shown to have similar result to that of protein expression. As a result, minerals which comprise orthosilicic acid has the potential to promote melanogenesis and both RBE and OSA have similar cell viability, protein expression, and immunostaining results, suggesting that RBE comprises specific minerals which promote melanin synthesis through increasing of MITF and CREB phosphorylation. Therefore, RBE could be used as a novel therapeutic approach to combat melanin deficiency related diseases by stimulating melanocytes via its soluble Si and mineral components.

Jaceosidin induces apoptosis through Bax activation and down-regulation of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP expression in human renal carcinoma Caki cells

Jaceosidin is a flavonoid isolated from Artemisia vestita that has been reported to possess anti-tumor and anti-proliferative activities in many cancer cells. In this study, we investigated the anti-tumor activity of jaceosodin in renal carcinoma cells. Jaceosidin induced apoptosis in multiple human renal carcinoma cells (Caki, ACHN, A498, and 786-O), lung cancer cells (A549) and glioma cells (U251MG). In contrast, jaceosidin does not induce apoptosis in normal human umbilical vein cells (EA.hy926). Apoptotic cell death was associated with the activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Treatment with jaceosidin also caused loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and Bax activation, which led to the release of cytochrome c into the cytosol. We also found that jaceosidin downregulated Mcl-1 and c-FLIP expression at the transcriptional level and that ectopic expression of Mcl-1 and c-FLIP blocked jaceosidin-induced apoptosis. Cumulatively, our results suggest that jaceosidin induces apoptosis in renal carcinoma cells through Bax activation and reduces Mcl-1 and c-FLIP expression.

Protective effect of wild Corni fructus methanolic extract against acute alcoholic liver injury in mice

BACKGROUND

In Chinese folk medicine, Corni fructus (C. fructus) has traditionally been used to improve liver function, although the mechanism underlying its activity remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the protective effects of wild C. fructus methanolic extract against acute alcoholic liver injury.

METHODS

Alcohol was administered to mice for three consecutive days, either alone or in combination with C. fructus methanolic extract (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg body weight/d). Serum and liver tissue were collected from the animals and subjected to biochemical and histopathological analyses.

RESULTS

C. fructus significantly alleviated alcohol-induced liver injury by reducing serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and thiobarbituric acid reactive species, inhibiting hydroxyl radicals (•OH), and increasing total superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione in the liver (P < 0.05). In addition, the C. fructus treatment inhibited the expression and activity of cytochrome P450 2E1 (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

C. fructus could be a promising natural substance for ameliorating acute alcohol-induced oxidative stress and hepatic injury.