Hypoglycemic effects of mountain caviar extract and inhibitory mechanism of saponins, including momordin Ic, on glucose absorption.

Mountain caviar is a fruit of Kochia scoparia that contains momordin Ic as a major saponin constituent. Its extract (MCE) has been shown to suppress blood glucose elevations in the human oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) as well as increases in blood glucose in OGTT, gastric emptying (GE), and glucose incorporation in the small intestine in rats. However, the effects of MCE and momordin Ic on glucose absorption in mice and these action mechanisms have not been examined for more than 2 decades.

Effect of live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae supplementation on immune factors in Japanese Black calves during the growth periods.

The aim of this study was to investigate changes in expression levels of immune factors of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after oral supplementation of live yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to healthy Japanese Black (JB) calves. This study examined JB calves (N=28): 14 calves (SC Group) received 10 g/calf/day of Saccharomyces cerevisiae (SC) (Acti-Saf Sc 47), and the other calves did not receive supplement (Control Group). Blood samples were collected 9 times during experimental period (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 months of age), and analyzed for cytokines and chemokines mRNA expression of PBMC using Real-time PCR.

Comparative Study on Epidermal Moisturizing Effects and Hydration Mechanisms of Rice-Derived Glucosylceramides and Ceramides.

Ceramide (Cer) plays an important role in skin barrier functions in the stratum corneum (SC). The ingestion of food-derived glucosylceramides (GlcCer) attenuates transepidermal water loss (TEWL). However, the moisturizing effects of single molecules of GlcCer and Cer remain unclear.

Anti-melanogenic effects of glucosylceramides and elasticamide derived from rice oil by-products in melanoma cells, melanocytes, and human skin.

Glucosylceramides (GlcCer), which are present in many edible plants, suppress melanin production in mouse melanocytes. Rice GlcCer consist of multiple molecules that comprise different types of sphingoid bases as well as diverse lengths and stereotypes of free fatty acids. Adjacent to the GlcCer fraction, there are free ceramides (Cer) as minor constituents.

The Anti-Adiposity Mechanisms of Ampelopsin and Vine Tea Extract in High Fat Diet and Alcohol-Induced Fatty Liver Mouse Models.

(AG) is an ancient medicinal plant that is mainly distributed and used in southwest China. It exerts therapeutic effects, such as antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-inflammatory activities, reductions in blood pressure and cholesterol and hepatoprotective effects. Researchers in China recently reported the anti-obesity effects of AG extract in diet-induced obese mice and rats.

Lycoperoside H, a Tomato Seed Saponin, Improves Epidermal Dehydration by Increasing Ceramide in the Stratum Corneum and Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Effect.

Tomatoes are widely consumed, however, studies on tomato seeds are limited. In this study, we isolated 11 compounds including saponins and flavonol glycosides from tomato seeds and evaluated their effects on epidermal hydration. Among the isolated compounds, tomato seed saponins (10 µM) significantly increased the mRNA expression of proteins related to epidermal hydration, including filaggrin, involucrin, and enzymes for ceramide synthesis, by 1.

Lycoperoside H, a steroidal alkaloid saponin in tomato seeds, ameliorates atopic dermatitis-like symptoms in IL-33 transgenic mice.

Tomato seeds contain steroidal saponins called lycoperosides. However, it currently remains unclear whether lycoperosides exert anti-inflammatory or anti-allergic effects. Therefore, we herein investigated the effects of tomato seed extract (TSE) and lycoperoside H (LH) in Interleukin (IL)-33 transgenic mice.

β-Sitosterol 3-O-D-glucoside increases ceramide levels in the stratum corneum via the up-regulated expression of ceramide synthase-3 and glucosylceramide synthase in a reconstructed human epidermal keratinization model.

β-Sitosterol 3-O-d-glucoside (BSG) is known to act as an agonist by binding to estrogen receptors, and estrogen has been reported to enhance the activity of β-glucocerebrosidase, an epidermal ceramide metabolizing enzyme. In this study, we determined whether BSG up-regulates ceramide levels in the stratum corneum (SC) of a reconstructed human epidermal keratinization (RHEK) model. Treatment with BSG significantly increased the total ceramide content by 1.

Estrogenic and antiandrogenic activities of methoxyflavans isolated from the fruit of Mauritia Flexuosa (Moriche Palm).

Moriche palm is consumed as both a fresh fruit and processed food in Peru and Brazil. Although its fruit contains phytoestrogens, the active compounds have not yet been identified. Therefore, we purified moriche palm extract (MPE) and identified compounds exhibiting estrogenic and antiandrogenic activities.

Strawberry seed extract and its major component, tiliroside, promote ceramide synthesis in the stratum corneum of human epidermal equivalents.

The activation of peroxisomeproliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) α can stimulate the expression of ceramide-related enzymes, and a major component of strawberry seed extract (SSE) tiliroside enhances the expression of PPARα. We determined whether SSE and tiliroside may stimulate ceramide synthesis in the stratum corneum (SC) of the human epidermal equivalents (HEEs) culture model. Treatment with SSE at 1.

Fermented Rice Germ Extract Alleviates Morphological and Functional Damage to Murine Gastrocnemius Muscle by Inactivation of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase.

Sarcopenia, loss of muscle mass and function, is mainly observed in elderly people. In this study, we investigated whether fermented rice germ extract (FRGE) has some effects on the mouse gastrocnemius muscle by using behavioral and morphological analyses, Western blotting, and a murine model of immobilization-induced muscle atrophy. Daily oral FRGE administration increased muscle weight and strength.

Passionflower Extract Induces High-amplitude Rhythms without Phase Shifts in the Expression of Several Circadian Clock Genes and .

Circadian rhythms play key roles in the regulation of physiological and behavioral systems including wake-sleep cycles. We evaluated the effects of passionflower (aerial parts of ) extract (PFE) on circadian rhythms using NIH3T3 cells and mice. PFE (100 μg/mL) induced high-amplitude rhythms in the expression of period circadian protein (Per) 2, cryptochrome (Cry) 1, superoxide dismutase (SOD) 1, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) from 12 h after a treatment with serum-rich medium.

NLRP3 inflammasome has a protective effect against oxazolone-induced colitis: a possible role in ulcerative colitis.

The inflammasomes induce maturation of pro-interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and pro-IL-18. We investigated roles of the NLRP3 inflammasome in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). After induction of oxazolone-induced colitis, a mouse UC model, colonic tissues were assayed for inflammatory mediators.

Colchicine prevents NSAID-induced small intestinal injury by inhibiting activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome.

The inflammasome is a large, multiprotein complex that consists of a nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor (NLR), an apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain, and pro-caspase-1. Activation of the inflammasome results in cleavage of pro-caspase-1 into cleaved caspase-1, which promotes the processing of pro-interleukin (IL)-1β into mature IL-1β. We investigated the effects of colchicine on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID)-induced small intestinal injury and activation of the NLR family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome.

Black ginger extract increases physical fitness performance and muscular endurance by improving inflammation and energy metabolism.

We previously reported that polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) in black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) extract (KPE) increased energy production by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in C2C12 myoblasts. We herein evaluated the effects of KPE on physical fitness performance and muscular endurance in mice. Male mice were orally administered KPE for 4 weeks, and then forced swimming test, open-field test, inclined plane test, and wire hanging test were performed.

Enhancement of energy production by black ginger extract containing polymethoxy flavonoids in myocytes through improving glucose, lactic acid and lipid metabolism.

Enhancement of muscular energy production is thought to improve locomotive functions and prevent metabolic syndromes including diabetes and lipidemia. Black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) has been cultivated for traditional medicine in Thailand. Recent studies have shown that black ginger extract (KPE) activated brown adipocytes and lipolysis in white adipose tissue, which may cure obesity-related dysfunction of lipid metabolism.

Reduction of prostaglandin transporter predicts poor prognosis associated with angiogenesis in gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background And Aim: Prostaglandin (PG) E2 promotes gastrointestinal carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The total amount of biologically active PGE2 in tissues is determined by a balance of PG biosynthesis and degradation pathways, which involve the PG transporter (PGT). We investigated PGT in gastric adenocarcinoma by determining its expression pattern and examining associations of PGT with prognosis and tumor angiogenesis.

Toll-like receptor 2 mediates ischemia-reperfusion injury of the small intestine in adult mice.

Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) recognizes conserved molecular patterns associated with both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, and detects some endogenous ligands. Previous studies demonstrated that in ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury of the small intestine, the TLR2-dependent signaling exerted preventive effects on the damage in young mice, but did not have a significant effect in neonatal mice. We investigated the role of TLR2 in adult ischemia-reperfusion injury in the small intestine.

The source of "fairy rings": 2-azahypoxanthine and its metabolite found in a novel purine metabolic pathway in plants.

Rings or arcs of fungus-stimulated plant growth occur worldwide; these are commonly referred to as "fairy rings". In 2010, we discovered 2-azahypoxanthine (AHX), a compound responsible for the fairy-ring phenomenon caused by fungus; AHX stimulated the growth of all the plants tested. Herein, we reveal the isolation and structure determination of a common metabolite of AHX in plants, 2-aza-8-oxohypoxanthine (AOH).

High-mobility group box 1 inhibits gastric ulcer healing through Toll-like receptor 4 and receptor for advanced glycation end products.

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) was initially discovered as a nuclear protein that interacts with DNA as a chromatin-associated non-histone protein to stabilize nucleosomes and to regulate the transcription of many genes in the nucleus. Once leaked or actively secreted into the extracellular environment, HMGB1 activates inflammatory pathways by stimulating multiple receptors, including Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, TLR4, and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), leading to tissue injury. Although HMGB1's ability to induce inflammation has been well documented, no studies have examined the role of HMGB1 in wound healing in the gastrointestinal field.

Possible antistenotic effect of tranilast in a patient with small bowel tuberculosis to prevent intestinal obstruction due to stenosis progression by antituberculous chemotherapy.

Small intestinal tuberculosis is a rare disorder of the small intestine. We report the development of deep small bowel tuberculosis in a rheumatoid arthritis patient who was taking methotrexate. The diagnosis of small bowel tuberculosis was ascertained by typical endoscopic findings and production of interferon gamma in the peripheral blood.

Application of magnetic nanoparticles to gene delivery.

Nanoparticle technology is being incorporated into many areas of molecular science and biomedicine. Because nanoparticles are small enough to enter almost all areas of the body, including the circulatory system and cells, they have been and continue to be exploited for basic biomedical research as well as clinical diagnostic and therapeutic applications. For example, nanoparticles hold great promise for enabling gene therapy to reach its full potential by facilitating targeted delivery of DNA into tissues and cells.

Efficient transfection method using deacylated polyethylenimine-coated magnetic nanoparticles.

Low efficiencies of nonviral gene vectors, such as transfection reagent, limit their utility in gene therapy. To overcome this disadvantage, we report on the preparation and properties of magnetic nanoparticles [diameter (d) = 121.32 ± 27.