Publications by authors named "Chau Ling Tham"

Article Synopsis
  • Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is important for breaking down neurotransmitters and is a potential target for treating neurodegenerative diseases like depression and Alzheimer's.
  • The study examined chromone-based compounds to see how effectively they inhibit MAO-A and MAO-B, identifying several promising derivatives through molecular docking techniques.
  • A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model was developed to predict the effectiveness of these compounds, showing strong validation with experimental data and highlighting key molecular features that enhance their inhibitory effects.
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  • Rhinovirus (RV) is a leading cause of colds and asthma, and while curcumin has antiviral properties, it has poor pharmacokinetics. New curcumin-like compounds BDHBC and DHHPD show improved solubility and stability.
  • The study aimed to compare the antiviral effects of curcumin, BDHBC, and DHHPD in an RV infection model using various assays to evaluate their effectiveness.
  • Results indicated that BDHBC was the most effective antiviral agent, particularly in post-treatment scenarios, showing strong inhibition of RV infection compared to the other compounds, and suggesting potential for use as an antiviral treatment.
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Allergic diseases (ADs) are a major concern when it comes to public well-being. Lam is a tropical plant that is used in traditional medicine due to the presence of isothiocyanate. The present study investigated the antiallergic properties of 4-(-L-rhamnopyranosyloxy)-benzyl isothiocyanate or moringin isolated from seeds in the form of alpha-cyclodextrin-moringin (-CD/MG) complex on rat basophilic leukaemia (RBL-2H3) cell line at both the early and late stages of an allergic reaction.

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  • * A study evaluated the effects of vitamin E compounds—α-tocopherol and tocotrienol-rich palm oil extract—on anxiety and depressive behaviors in mice with estrogen deficiency, finding that these compounds had positive effects on mood-related behaviors.
  • * The results indicated that both supplements reduced stress hormone levels and improved symptoms, suggesting they could be a promising new treatment option for menopause-related mood disorders, potentially influencing the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.
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  • Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic skin condition with no cure, and this study investigated the effectiveness of a compound called tHGA as a treatment for AD-like symptoms in mice.
  • Male BALB/c mice were exposed to DNCB to induce AD-like skin lesions and were treated with various doses of tHGA either orally or topically over a set period.
  • The results showed that both methods of administration significantly improved symptoms such as itching, skin thickness, and inflammation, indicating that tHGA has potential as a therapeutic option for managing AD.
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Colorectal cancer (CRC), the third most prevalent cancer globally, presents formidable hurdles in treatment owing to factors such as therapeutic resistance and genetic mutations affecting primary drug targets. 2-methoxy-6-undecyl-1,4-benzoquinone (BQ), derived from Ardisia crispa roots, has emerged as a potent anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic compound with substantial potential, as evidenced by previous studies. This study aimed to explore the potential of BQ in suppressing angiogenesis and metastasis in the human CRC cell lines LoVo and HCT116.

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  • Gynostemma pentaphyllum is a creeping herb known for its medicinal use in traditional oriental medicine, primarily due to gypenosides, its main bioactive compounds.
  • Research suggests that gypenosides may have therapeutic effects on various neuropsychiatric disorders, including depression and Alzheimer's, by influencing key signaling pathways in the nervous system.
  • Despite promising preclinical results, there's a significant lack of clinical studies on gypenosides, indicating a need for further research to understand their effects and mechanisms in humans for potential health benefits.
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The increasing prevalence of lean diabetes has prompted the generation of animal models that mimic metabolic disease in humans. This study aimed to determine the optimum streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NA) dosage ratio to elicit lean diabetic features in a rat model. It also used a proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H NMR) urinary metabolomics approach to identify the metabolic effect of metformin treatment on this novel rat model.

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Perimenopausal depression, occurring shortly before or after menopause, is characterized by symptoms such as emotional depression, anxiety, and stress, often accompanied by endocrine dysfunction, particularly hypogonadism and senescence. Current treatments for perimenopausal depression primarily provide symptomatic relief but often come with undesirable side effects. The development of agents targeting the specific pathologies of perimenopausal depression has been relatively slow.

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Targeting lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/toll-like receptor 4 signaling in mononuclear phagocytes has been explored for the treatment of inflammation and inflammation-related disorders. However, only a few key targets have been translated into clinical applications. Flavonoids, a class of ubiquitous plant secondary metabolites, possess a privileged scaffold which serves as a valuable template for designing pharmacologically active compounds directed against diseases with inflammatory components.

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The prevalence of house dust mite (HDM) allergy, especially in Asian countries with rapid urbanization, has been increasing. House dust mites thrive in places with relatively high humidity. With the combination of climate change, naturally high humidity, and urbanization, tropical countries like Malaysia are becoming a hotspot for HDM allergy fast.

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Background: Allergy is an inflammatory disorder affecting around 20% of the global population. The adverse effects of current conventional treatments give rise to the increased popularity of using natural food products as complementary and alternative medicine against allergic diseases. Stingless bee honey, commonly known as Kelulut honey (KH) in Malaysia, has been used locally as a traditional remedy to relieve cough and asthma.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Ardisia elliptica Thunb. (AE) (Primulaceae) is a medicinal plant found in the Malay Peninsula and has been traditionally used to treat diabetes. However, limited studies to date in providing scientific evidence to support the antidiabetic efficacy of this plant by in-vitro and in-vivo models.

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Interferons (IFNs) are important in controlling the innate immune response to viral infections. Besides that, studies have found that IFNs also have antimicrobial, antiproliferative/antitumor and immunomodulatory effects. IFNs are divided into Type I, II and III.

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Dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) is severe dengue with a hallmark of vascular leakage. β-tryptase has been found to promote vascular leakage in DHF patients, which could be a potential target for DHF treatment. This study aims to develop a theoretical background for designing and selecting human β-tryptase inhibitors through computational studies.

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Recreational use of alcohol is a social norm in many communities worldwide. Alcohol use in moderation brings pleasure and may protect the cardiovascular system. However, excessive alcohol consumption or alcohol abuse are detrimental to one's health.

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Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Allergy is mediated by the crosslinking of immunoglobulins (Ig) -E or -G to their respective receptors, which degranulates mast cells, macrophages, basophils, or neutrophils, releasing allergy-causing mediators. The removal of these mediators such as histamine, platelet-activating factor (PAF) and interleukins (ILs) released by effector cells will alleviate allergy. Clinacanthus nutans (C.

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ABT-199 (venetoclax) is the first-in-class selective B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) inhibitor, which is known to be ineffective towards liver cancer cells. Here, we investigated the efficacy and the underlying molecular processes of the sensitization effect of kaempferol isolated from persimmon leaves (KPL) on the ABT-199-resistant HepG2 cells. The effects of various doses of KPL coupled with ABT-199 on the proliferation of HepG2 cells and on the H22 liver tumor-bearing mouse model were examined, as well as the underlying mechanisms.

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Osteoporosis, or bone loss, is a disease that affects many women globally. As life expectancy increases, the risk of osteoporosis in women also increases, too, and this will create a burden on the healthcare and economic sectors of a country. Osteoporosis was once thought to be a disease that would occur only after menopause.

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Over the past few decades, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) using herbs, or their active constituents have garnered substantial attention in the management of a chronic and relapsing inflammatory skin disorder called atopic dermatitis (AD), particularly in attenuating disease recurrence and maintaining long-term remission. In Eastern Asian countries including China, Korea and Taiwan, herbal medicine available in both topical and oral preparation plays a significant role in treating skin diseases like AD as they possibly confer high anti-inflammatory properties and immunomodulatory functions. Conventional murine models of AD have been employed in drug discovery to provide scientific evidence for conclusive and specific pharmacological effects elicited by the use of traditional herbs and their active constituents.

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Article Synopsis
  • Communicable diseases are caused by pathogens like viruses, bacteria, and parasites, spreading through various means such as contact or contaminated food.
  • There is growing awareness of the importance of a healthy diet, especially plant-based diets, in preventing and reversing these diseases, alongside vaccination and medication.
  • This mini review emphasizes the benefits of plant-based diets, including improved immunity and reduced risk of chronic diseases, while also exploring its limits in combating diseases caused by viruses.
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Background: Rhinovirus (RV) infections are a major cause of asthma exacerbations. Unlike other respiratory viruses, RV causes minimal cytotoxic effects on airway epithelial cells and cytokines play a critical role in its pathogenesis. However, previous findings on RV-induced cytokine responses were largely inconsistent.

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Allergic diseases are a global health burden with increasing prevalence. Side effects of available medications (antihistamines and steroids), lack of patients' perceived effectiveness and high cost of biologic therapies (omalizumab) are challenges to the clinical management of allergic diseases. As allergy symptoms persist for a long time, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) such as propolis may be considered a potential prophylactic or therapeutic option to avoid long-term medication use.

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Context: The airway epithelial barrier can be disrupted by house dust mite (HDM) allergens leading to allergic airway inflammation. Zerumbone, a natural monocyclic sesquiterpene, was previously found to possess anti-asthmatic effect by modulating Th1/Th2 cytokines. However, the protective role of zerumbone on epithelial barrier function remains to be fully explored.

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