Evaluation of Apoptosis-Inducing Coumarins Isolated from Roots: The Potential for Leukemia Treatment via the Mitochondria-Mediated Pathway.

Inducing programmed cell death in tumors is a fundamental approach in cancer therapy, prompting extensive efforts to discover bioactive compounds with anticancer properties. , a plant used in traditional medicine across East Asia, has been reported to exhibit various biological activities, including anticancer effects. This study aimed to evaluate the apoptosis-inducing effects of methanol/dichloromethane (MeOH/CHCl) extracts of roots and their components in HL-60 human leukemia cells.

Anti-muscle atrophy effect of fermented Tenebrio molitor larvae extract by modulating the PI3K-Akt-mTOR/FoxO3α pathway in mice treated with dexamethasone.

This study investigated the anti-sarcopenic effect of fermented Tenebrio molitor larvae (mealworms) extract (FME) in both dexamethasone (DEX)-treated C2C12 cells and mice. FME (100 µg/mL) increased the diameter of myotubes and inhibited the gene and protein expression of atrogin-1 compared to DEX- or non-fermented mealworms extract (ME)-treated C2C12 cells. Male C57BL/6N mice were divided into five groups: Normal Control (NC), DEX (10 mg/kg, intraperitoneal), and three groups of DEX+FME (100, 200, or 500 mg FME/kg/day, oral) for two weeks.

Changes in Functionality of Larvae Fermented by Mycelia.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been estimating the potential of insects as human food since 2010, and for this reason, larvae, also called mealworms, have been explored as an alternative protein source for various foods. In this study, in order to increase nutrient contents and improve preference as an alternative protein source, we fermented the larvae by mycelia. larvae were prepared at optimal conditions for fermentation and fermented with mycelia, and we analyzed larvae change in functionality with proximate composition, β-glucan, cordycepin, adenosine, and free amino acids content.

Comparative Study on Phenolic Compounds and Antioxidant Activities of Hop ( L.) Strobile Extracts.

In this study, we investigated the phenolic compounds in hop strobile extracts and evaluated their antioxidant property using DPPH and ABTS assay. The total phenolic compound (TPC) and total flavonoid compound (TFC) estimated in two different solvent extracts considerably varied depending on the extraction solvent. The most abundant phenolic compound in hop strobile was humulones (α-acid) with levels ranging from 50.

Atraric Acid Exhibits Anti-Inflammatory Effect in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW264.7 Cells and Mouse Models.

Lichens, composite organisms resulting from the symbiotic association between the fungi and algae, produce a variety of secondary metabolites that exhibit pharmacological activities. This study aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory activities of the secondary metabolite atraric acid produced by . The results confirmed that atraric acid could regulate induced pro-inflammatory cytokine, nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, induced nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme expression in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.

Dramatic Increase in Content of Diverse Flavonoids Accompanied with Down-Regulation of F-Box Genes in a Chrysanthemum ( × (Ramat.) Hemsl.) Mutant Cultivar Producing Dark-Purple Ray Florets.

Anthocyanins (a subclass of flavonoids) and flavonoids are crucial determinants of flower color and substances of pharmacological efficacy, respectively, in chrysanthemum. However, metabolic and transcriptomic profiling regarding flavonoid accumulation has not been performed simultaneously, thus the understanding of mechanisms gained has been limited. We performed HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry) and transcriptome analyses using "ARTI-Dark Chocolate" (AD), which is a chrysanthemum mutant cultivar producing dark-purple ray florets, and the parental cultivar "Noble Wine" for metabolic characterization and elucidation of the genetic mechanism determining flavonoid content.

Defatted Tenebrio molitor Larva Fermentation Extract Modifies Steatosis, Inflammation and Intestinal Microflora in Chronic Alcohol-Fed Rats.

This study examined the effects of defatted mealworm fermentation extract (MWF) on alcoholic liver injury in rats. The rats were fed either a Lieber-DeCarli control (Con) or alcohol liquid diet (EtOH). The alcohol-fed rats were administered MWF (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg/day) and silymarin (200 mg/kg/day) orally for eight weeks.

Enhanced anti-tumor immunotherapy by silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles conjugated with ovalbumin.

Background: The effective induction of an antigen-specific T cell immune response through dendritic cell activation is one of the key goals of tumor immunotherapy.

Methods: In this study, efficient antigen-delivery carriers using silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles were designed and, their antigen-specific T cell immune response through dendritic cell activation investigated.

Results: The results showed that the silica-coated magnetic nanoparticles with conjugated ovalbumin enhanced the production of cytokines and antigen uptake in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells.

Enhanced anti-tumor immunotherapy by dissolving microneedle patch loaded ovalbumin.

The skin is a very suitable organ for the induction of immune responses to vaccine antigens. Antigen delivery systems to the skin by needle and syringe directly deposit the antigen into the epidermal-dermal compartment, one of the most immunocompetent sites due to the presence of professional antigen-presenting cells aimed at the induction of antigen-specific T cells. In this study, we analyzed the amount of ovalbumin as an antigen delivered to the skin by a microneedle.

Heshouwu ( Thunb.) Extract Attenuates Bone Loss in Diabetic Mice.

This study investigated the effects and mechanism of Heshouwu ( Thunb.) water extract (HSW) on diabetes-related bone loss in mice. HSW was orally administered (300 mg/kg body weight) to high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice for 10 weeks.

Verification of the Functional Antioxidant Activity and Antimelanogenic Properties of Extracts of Mycelium Fermented with Freeze-Dried Plum Powder.

Here we examine the effects of extracts of mycelium fermented with freeze-dried plum powder (PPE) on the -melanocyte stimulating hormone (-MSH)-stimulated melanogenesis in cultured murine B16 melanoma cells (B16 cells), relative to the effects of Prunus extract. We found that an extract of Prunus fermentation showed significant inhibition of melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity with no effect on cell proliferation and was more active compared to Prunus extract alone. Furthermore, we confirmed that medium containing 3% Prunus was the optimal culture substrate for fermentation with .

Protective Effects of 2,3,5,4'-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2--β-d-glucoside on Ovariectomy Induced Osteoporosis Mouse Model.

2,3,5,4'-Tetrahydroxystilbene-2--β-d-glucoside (TSG), an active polyphenolic component of , exhibits many pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammation, and anti-aging effects. A previous study demonstrated that TSG protected MC3T3-E1 cells from hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) induced cell damage and the inhibition of osteoblastic differentiation. However, no studies have investigated the prevention of ovariectomy-induced bone loss in mice.

Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) ethanol extract suppresses pre-adipocytes differentiation in 3T3-L1 cells and adiposity in obese mice.

This study investigated whether Heshouwu (Polygonum multiflorum Thunb.) root ethanol extract (PME) has anti-obesity activity using 3T3-L1 cells and high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mice. Treatment with PME (5 and 10 μg/mL) dose-dependently suppressed 3T3-L1 pre-adipocyte differentiation to adipocytes and cellular triglyceride contents.

The Protective Effects of Astaxanthin on the OVA-Induced Asthma Mice Model.

Although astaxanthin has a variety of biological activities such as anti-oxidant effects, inhibitory effects on skin deterioration and anti-inflammatory effects, its effect on asthma has not been studied. In this paper, the inhibitory effect of astaxanthin on airway inflammation in a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma was investigated. We evaluated the number of total cells, Th1/2 mediated inflammatory cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and airway hyperresponsiveness as well as histological structure.

Saccharomonopyrones A-C, New α-Pyrones from a Marine Sediment-Derived Bacterium Saccharomonospora sp. CNQ-490.

Intensive study of the organic extract of the marine-derived bacterium sp. CNQ-490 has yielded three new α-pyrones, saccharomonopyrones A-C (-). The chemical structures of these compounds were assigned from the interpretation of 1D, 2D NMR and mass spectrometry data.

Antitumor Effect of KML-B-Treated Dendritic Cells via Induction of Lymphocyte Activation.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with various biological activities, such as antitumor and immunomodulatory effects. Although lectins have various biological activities, they are still limited by cytotoxicity in normal cells. To overcome this problem, we used the noncytotoxic part of Korean mistletoe lectin B-chain (KML-B) to induce maturation of dendritic cells (DCs).

Immunosuppressive Effects of sp. (Lichen-Forming Fungus) Extracts via Inhibition of CD8 T-Cell Proliferation and IL-2 Production in CD4 T Cells.

Lichen-forming fungi are known to have various biological activities, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antitumor, antiviral, anti-inflammation, and anti proliferative effects. However, the immunosuppressive effects of sp. extract (BSE) have not previously been investigated.

In Vitro and In Vivo Effects of Gracilaria verrucosa Extracts on Osteoclast Differentiation.

Bone remodeling, a physiological process characterized by bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts, is important for the maintenance of healthy bone in adult humans. Osteoclasts play a critical role in bone erosion and osteoporosis and are bone-specific multinucleated cells generated through differentiation of monocyte/macrophage lineage precursors. Receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) has been reported to induce osteoclast differentiation.

Effects of Hot Water Extracts from on Ovariectomy Induced Osteopenia in Mice.

(PM), a traditional Chinese medicine, is used to treat various diseases including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hyperlipidemia. However, the influence of PM on osteoporosis in animals is unclear. The present study investigated the antiosteoporotic effect of PM on bone mass in ovariectomized (OVX) mice and its possible mechanism of action.

Anti-adipogenic and anti-diabetic effects of cis-3',4'-diisovalerylkhellactone isolated from Peucedanum japonicum Thunb leaves in vitro.

Peucedanum japonicum Thunb is a medicinal plant belonging to the family Umbelliferae. This study evaluated the anti-diabetic and anti-obesity effects of cis-3',4'-diisovalerylkhellactone (cDIVK) isolated from Peucedanum japonicum Thunb leaves. cDIVK (30 and 50μM) effectively inhibited adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation, whereas it stimulated glucose uptake compared with the control in 3T3-L1 cells.

Determination of process-related impurities in N-acetylglucosamine prepared by chemical and enzymatic methods: structural elucidation and quantification.

β-N-acetylglucosamine (β-AG) is a monosaccharide distributed widely in living organisms with various pivotal roles. The presence of particulates and impurities can affect the safety and efficacy of a product for its intended duration of use. Thus, the current study was carried out to identify and quantify the potentially-harmful process related impurities; namely α-N,6-diacetylglucosamine (α-DAG) and α-N-acetylglucosamine (α-AG), derived from the chemical and enzymatic synthesis of β-AG.

Herbal preparation (HemoHIM) enhanced functional maturation of bone marrow-derived dendritic cells mediated toll-like receptor 4.

Background: HemoHIM, which is an herbal preparation of three edible herbs (Angelicam gigas Nakai, Cnidium offinale Makino, and Peaonia japonica Miyabe), is known to have various biological and immunological activities, but the modulatory effects of this preparation on dendritic cells (DCs)-mediated immune responses have not been examined previously. DCs are a unique group of white blood cells that initiate primary immune responses by capturing, processing, and presenting antigens to T cells.

Results: In the present study, we investigated the effect of HemoHIM on the functional and phenotypic maturation of murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) both in vitro and in vivo.

The Protective Effects of Alisol A 24-Acetate from Alisma canaliculatum on Ovariectomy Induced Bone Loss in Vivo.

Alisma canaliculatum is a herb commonly used in traditional Korean medicine, and has been shown in scientific studies to have antitumor, diuretic hepatoprotective, and antibacterial effects. Recently, the anti-osteoclastogenesis of alisol A 24-acetate from Alisma canaliculatum was investigated in vitro. However, the influence of alisol A 24-acetate on osteoporosis in animals has not been investigated.