Hot Water Extract of Sasa borealis (Hack.) Makino & Shibata Abate Hydrogen Peroxide-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Kidney Epithelial Cells

Sasa borealis (Hack.) Makino & Shibata or broad-leaf bamboo is famous for its richness of bioactive natural products and its uses in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, diuretic, and antipyretic properties and preventive effects against hypertension, arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. The present study investigated the antioxidant activity of S. borealis hot water extract (SBH) and its effects in ameliorating hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress, using an African green monkey kidney epithelial cell line (Vero). Known polyphenols in SBH were quantified by HPLC analysis. SBH indicated a dose-dependent increase for reducing power, ABTS⁺ (IC₅₀ = 96.44 ± 0.61 µg/mL) and DPPH (IC₅₀ = 125.78 ± 4.41 µg/mL) radical scavenging activities. SBH markedly reduced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in the Vero cells and increased the protective effects against H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress by reducing apoptosis. Other than the direct involvement in neutralizing ROS, metabolites in SBH were also found to induce NRF2-mediated production of antioxidant enzymes, HO-1, and NQO1. These findings imply that S. borealis hot water extract can be utilized to create nutraceutical and functional foods that can help to relieve the effects of oxidative stress in both acute and chronic kidney injury.

Green Tea Seed Isolated Theasaponin E1 Ameliorates AD Promoting Neurotoxic Pathogenesis by Attenuating Aβ Peptide Levels in SweAPP N2a Cells

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most frequent type of dementia affecting memory, thinking and behaviour. The major hallmark of the disease is pathological neurodegeneration due to abnormal aggregation of Amyloid beta (Aβ) peptides generated by β- and γ-secretases via amyloidogenic pathway. Purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effects of theasaponin E1 on the inhibition of Aβ producing β-, γ-secretases (BACE1, PS1 and NCT) and acetylcholinesterase and activation of the non-amyloidogenic APP processing α-secretase (ADAM10). Additionally, theasaponin E1 effects on Aβ degrading and clearing proteins neprilysin and insulin degrading enzyme (IDE). The effect of theasaponin E1 on these crucial enzymes was investigated by RT-PCR, ELISA, western blotting and fluorometric assays using mouse neuroblastoma cells (SweAPP N2a). theasaponin E1 was extracted and purified from green tea seed extract via HPLC, and N2a cells were treated with different concentrations for 24 h. Gene and protein expression in the cells were measured to determine the effects of activation and/or inhibition of theasaponin E1 on β- and γ-secretases, neprilysin and IDE. Results demonstrated that theasaponin E1 significantly reduced Aβ concentration by activation of the α-secretase and neprilysin. The activities of β- and γ-secretase were reduced in a dose-dependent manner due to downregulation of BACE1, presenilin, and nicastrin. Similarly, theasaponin E1 significantly reduced the activity of acetylcholinesterase. Overall, from the results it is concluded that green tea seed extracted saponin E1 possess therapeutic significance as a neuroprotective natural product recommended for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease.

Volatile Flavor Components of Blended Tea with Fermented Tea and Herbs

This study was conducted to characterize the volatile components of Korean fermented tea and blended tea with Korean fermented tea and several herbs. A total of 161 volatile components in 4 samples of FT (fermented tea), BT (blended tea) 1, BT2, and BT3 were analyzed in this study. A total of 61 volatile compounds were identified in the FT sample, which contained the most abundant hydrocarbons. The major compounds were 3-methyldecane (10.48%), 2,2,4, 6,6-pentamethylheptane (10.00%), and 2,3,6-trimethyloctane (7.90%). A total of 75 volatile compounds were identified in the BT1 sample, which consisted of fermented tea, orange cosmos, lemon grass, chamomile, and peppermint. L-(–)-menthol (36.79%), menthone (24.92%), and isomenthone (8.70%) were the highest compounds. A total of 76 volatile compounds were identified in the BT2 sample, which was composed of fermented tea, rose hip, lemongrass, lavender, and peppermint. Alcohols were identified as the most abundant, and linalool (26.32%), linalyl acetate (18.45%), and L-(–)-menthol (11.99%) were the major components. A total of 85 volatile compounds were identified in the BT3 sample composed of fermented tea, citrus peel, chamomile, hibiscus, and beet. Sesquiterpenes were identified as the most abundant including L-limonene (74.45%), β-myrcene (3.06%), and γ-terpinene (7.47%).

Dichloromethane fraction of Laminaria japonica ethanolic extract inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression in RAW 264.7 cells via NF-κB pathway

Strong anti-inflammatory activity has been found in Laminaria japonica dichloromethane fraction (LDF); however, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory activity are not reported. Our results indicated that LDF inhibited LPS-induced nitric oxide and prostaglandin E(2) production in a dose-dependent manner and suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) in RAW 264.7 cells. Also, levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6 were remarkably reduced by LDF in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. LDF greatly inhibited promoter activity of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and translocation of NF-κB subunits by prevention of the degradation of inhibitor κB-α in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells (p < 0.05). Moreover, LDF inhibited activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and AKT in LPS-treated RAW 264.7 cells. These results indicate that the LDF downregulates iNOS and COX-2 expressions through the suppression of NF-κB pathway associated with inhibition of multiple signaling proteins.

Morphogenic development of the pancreas in the staged human embryo

The Carnegie stage is widely applied in the field of human embryology, and it is more logical to analyze the embryos by this stage than CR length or menstrual age. In this study, the early development of the pancreas is studied by tissue observation and reconstruction using serial sections of 33 human embryo ranging from Carnegie stages 11 to 23. The dorsal pancreas develops from the dorsal wall of the duodenum in stage 12, and the ventral pancreas from the proximal part of the cystic primordium in stage 13 or 14 as a single epithelial thickening, but in one case, as a bilateral thickening which contains some isolated spaces. The rotation of the ventral pancreas starts in stage 15, and completes in stage 17. Surrounding connective tissue differentiates in stage 18.

Biphasic recovery in n-hexane polyneuropathy. A clinical and electrophysiological study

We studied the course of recovery in n-hexane polyneuropathy in 4 patients by quantitatively assessing clinical and electrophysiological features. The electrophysiological study included measures of motor conduction of the median, ulnar, tibial and peroneal nerves and sensory conduction of the median, ulnar and sural nerves. After cessation of exposure, there was an initial worsening in muscle strength, sensory deficit and nerve conduction for up to 2-5 months. This deterioration was more severe and prolonged in the lower limbs than in the upper limbs. The period of deterioration was followed by a slow recovery studied for 1 year.