Laxative effects and mechanism of action of Brazilian green propolis.

Background: Brazilian green propolis is reported to have wide range of biological properties including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-influenza, and antioxidant activities. In the digestive system, a protective effect of propolis on gastric ulcer has been reported, but a laxative effect has not yet been reported. We investigated the effect and the mechanism of action of water and ethanol extracts of Brazilian green propolis.

Increased expression of tight junctions in ARPE-19 cells under endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress on the tight junctions of the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells in vitro.

Materials And Methods: ER stress was induced in cultured ARPE-19 cells, a human RPE cell line, by exposure to tunicamycin (TM) or to thapsigargin (TG). After 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours of exposure, the expressions of GRP78/Bip (Bip), C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), zonula occludens (ZO)-1, occludin and claudin-1 were determined by real-time RT-PCR.

Tissue kallikrein inhibits retinal neovascularization via the cleavage of vascular endothelial growth factor-165.

Objective: Tissue kallikrein, a widely used vasodilator for the treatment of hypertension and peripheral circulatory disorder, acts by releasing kinin, a potent vasodilator peptide. To identify the role of tissue kallikrein in retinal neovascularization, we investigated the antiangiogenic effect by using an in vitro and in vivo angiogenesis model.

Methods And Results: Tissue kallikrein in vitreous fluid was markedly elevated in proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients compared with that in control patients with macular hole and epiretinal membrane.

Phosphodiesterase-III inhibitor prevents hemorrhagic transformation induced by focal cerebral ischemia in mice treated with tPA.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether cilostazol, a phosphodiesterase-III inhibitor and antiplatelet drug, would prevent tPA-associated hemorrhagic transformation. Mice subjected to 6-h middle cerebral artery occlusion were treated with delayed tPA alone at 6 h, with combined tPA plus cilostazol at 6 h, or with vehicle at 6 h. We used multiple imaging (electron microscopy, spectroscopy), histological and neurobehavioral measures to assess the effects of the treatment at 18 h and 7 days after the reperfusion.

Agarwood induced laxative effects via acetylcholine receptors on loperamide-induced constipation in mice.

Agarwood (Aquilaria sinensis, Aquilaria crasna) is well known as an incense in the oriental region such as Thailand, Taiwan, and Cambodia, and is used as a digestive in traditional medicine. We investigated the laxative effects and mechanism of agarwood leaves extracted with ethanol (EEA-1, Aquilaria sinensis; EEA-2, Aquilaria crasna). EEA-1, EEA-2, the main constituents of EEAs (mangiferin, and genkwanin-5-O-primeveroside), and senna increased the frequency and weight of stools in loperamide-induced constipation model mice.

Apoptosis-inducing factor and cyclophilin A cotranslocate to the motor neuronal nuclei in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis model mice.

Aims: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron disease whose mechanism is not understood. Recently, it was reported that apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was involved in motor neuronal cell death in ALS model mice, and AIF-induced neuronal cell death by interacting with cyclophilin A (CypA). However, it is unknown whether the CypA and AIF-complex induces chromatinolysis in ALS.

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy and relations among antioxidant activity, oxidative stress, and VEGF in the vitreous body.

Purpose: To investigate the relationships among antioxidant activities, oxidative stress, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the vitreous body and serum from proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) patients.

Methods: In 21 patients with PDR and 21 controls with macular hole (MH), the VEGF and lipid peroxide (Nepsilon-hexanoyl-lysine [HEL]) levels in the vitreous and serum were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while antioxidant capacity (potential antioxidant [PAO]) was measured by chemical reduction of Cu(2+).

Results: Both the PAO and HEL levels in the vitreous and serum were significantly higher in PDR patients than in those with MH (both p<0.

Extracellular SOD and VEGF are increased in vitreous bodies from proliferative diabetic retinopathy patients.

Purpose: To evaluate the relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD) in vitreous body and serum in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), and investigate the role of EC-SOD in PDR by evaluating its angiostatic effect, using an in vitro angiogenesis model. To investigate the role of EC-SOD in PDR by evaluating its angiostatic effect, using an in vitro angiogenesis model.

Methods: EC-SOD and VEGF concentrations in vitreous and serum samples from PDR and macular hole (MH) were measured by ELISA.

Angiostatic effects of Brazilian green propolis and its chemical constituents.

Propolis, a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources, has several pharmacological actions, such as anti-tumor and anti-inflammatory effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-angiogenic effects of a water extract of Brazilian green propolis (WEP) and its constituents, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives, against angiogenic processes in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in vitro. We also examined the anti-angiogenic effects of WEP against retinal neovascularization in a murine oxygen-induced retinopathy model in vivo.

1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity of bee products and their constituents determined by ESR.

The aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant property of honeybee products and their constituents using an ESR method. Antioxidative activity was evaluated as the scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The DPPH radical scavenging activities, in descending order, were: ethanol extract of Chinese red propolis>ethanol extract of Brazilian green propolis>water extract of Brazilian green propolis>ethanol extract of bee pollen.

Bee products prevent VEGF-induced angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Background: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a key regulator of pathogenic angiogenesis in diseases such as cancer and diabetic retinopathy. Bee products [royal jelly (RJ), bee pollen, and Chinese red propolis] from the honeybee, Apis mellifera, have been used as traditional health foods for centuries. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-angiogenic effects of bee products using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid, a major fatty acid from royal jelly, inhibits VEGF-induced angiogenesis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is reported to be a potent pro-angiogenic factor that plays a pivotal role in both physiological and pathological angiogenesis. Royal jelly (RJ) is a honeybee product containing various proteins, sugars, lipids, vitamins and free amino acids. 10-Hydroxy-2-decenoic acid (10HDA), a major fatty acid component of RJ, is known to have various pharmacological effects; its antitumor activity being especially noteworthy.

Protective effects of Chinese propolis and its component, chrysin, against neuronal cell death via inhibition of mitochondrial apoptosis pathway in SH-SY5Y cells.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative and ischemic disorders. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of Chinese propolis and its constituents [chrysin, galangin, pinocembrin, caffeic acid, and caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE)] against tunicamycin-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y cells. Both Chinese propolis and chrysin concentration-dependently inhibited such cell death, the tunicamycin-induced activation of caspase-3, and the effects of tunicamycin on mitochondria [release of cytochrome c into the cytosol and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential (DeltaPsim)].

Role of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 in the vitreous in proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose: To determine the vitreous level of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) or idiopathic macular hole (MH). Furthermore, to investigate the relationships among sVEGFR-1, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF).

Design: Retrospective case-control study.