Gynura procumbens and selected metabolites: Amelioration of depressive-like behaviors in mice and risperidone-induced hyperprolactinemia in rats.

Gynura procumbens (Lour.) Merr., utilized in traditional Chinese medicine, is known for its liver-protective, liver-soothing, and depression-alleviating properties.

Anti-Obesity Effect of Involves Intestinal-Microbiota-Mediated Oxidative Stress Regulation in High-Fat-Diet-Fed Mice.

(ADe), an edible fungus belonging to the family Auriculariaceae and order Auriculariales, possesses antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, and antioxidant effects. In this study, after systematic analysis of its composition, ADe was administered to high-fat-diet (HFD)-fed mice to investigate its anti-obesity effect. ADe significantly controlled body weight; alleviated hepatic steatosis and adipocyte hypertrophy; reduced aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, insulin, and resistin; and increased adiponectin levels in HFD-fed mice serum.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Over the Left Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Reduced Attention Bias Toward Negative Facial Expression: A Pilot Study in Healthy Subjects.

Research in the cognitive neuroscience field has shown that individuals with a stronger attention bias for negative information had higher depression risk, which may be the underlying pathogenesis of depression. This dysfunction of affect-biased attention also represents a decline in emotion regulation ability. Clinical studies have suggested that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) treatment can improve the symptoms of depression, yet the neural mechanism behind this improvement is still veiled.

Enzymatic synthesis of a novel solid-liquid phase change energy storage material based on levulinic acid and 1,4-butanediol.

The current energy crisis has prompted the development and utilization of renewable energy and energy storage material. In this study, levulinic acid (LA) and 1,4-butanediol (BDO) were used to synthesize a novel levulinic acid 1,4-butanediol ester (LBE) by both enzymatic and chemical methods. The enzymatic method exhibited excellent performance during the synthesis process, and resulted in 87.

Utilization of lignin upon successive fractionation and esterification in polylactic acid (PLA)/lignin biocomposite.

The study presents the preparation of novel biocomposites based on different lignin fractions and polylactic acid (PLA). Based on the improvement of PLA mechanical properties, we proposed a process to assemble a series of lignin samples and PLA matrix using melt blending to investigate the effects on PLA properties from the perspective of the structure and molecular weight for lignin. The lignin was extracted from pine residue using deep eutectic solvent (DES) and was subjected to fractionation with ethanol and acetone as well as esterification modification with succinic anhydride (SAn).

Enhancing the interaction between cellulose and dilute aqueous ionic liquid solutions and its implication to ionic liquid recycling and reuse.

Cellulose-dissolving ionic liquids (ILs) have been used in biomass pretreatment for over a decade. Cellulose solubility in the ILs is strongly inhibited by water, which has negative impacts on IL pretreatment and reuse of the recycled ILs. Here, a distillation and aeration apparatus was used as the reactor for biomass pretreatment in dilute aqueous IL solutions and in recycled IL liquor without drying or purification.

Neuroprotective effects of verbascoside against Alzheimer's disease via the relief of endoplasmic reticulum stress in Aβ-exposed U251 cells and APP/PS1 mice.

Background: Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is involved in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Verbascoside (VB), an active phenylethanoid glycoside that was first isolated from Verbascum sinuatum (the wavyleaf mullein), possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and anti-apoptotic effects. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the beneficial effects of VB in amyloid β (Aβ)-damaged human glioma (U251) cells and in APPswe/PSEN1dE9 transgenic (APP/PS1) mice.

Forsythoside B attenuates memory impairment and neuroinflammation via inhibition on NF-κB signaling in Alzheimer's disease.

Background: Neuroinflammation is a principal element in Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, so anti-inflammation may be a promising therapeutic strategy. Forsythoside B (FTS•B), a phenylethanoid glycoside isolated from Forsythiae fructus, has been reported to exert anti-inflammatory effects. However, no studies have reported whether the anti-inflammatory properties of FTS•B have a neuroprotective effect in AD.

Antibacterial effects of a polypeptide-enriched extract of Rana chensinensis via the regulation of energy metabolism.

The improper usage of antibiotics is known to cause widespread antibiotic resistance. In this study, the antibacterial effects of a polypeptide-enriched extract from the skin of the amphibian Rana chensinensis (RCP) were evaluated against the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. The mechanisms underlying these effects were also studied, and the minimum inhibitory concentration of RCP was determined for each species.

Possible mechanisms of the antimicrobial effects of polypeptide‑enriched Gastrodia elata Blume extracts.

The present study aimed to evaluate the antimicrobial activity and the possible mechanisms of activity of polypeptide‑enriched Gastrodia elata extracts (GEP) against the gram‑negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the gram‑positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the fungus Candida albicans. The antimicrobial activity of GEP was first confirmed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration by growth curve analysis. GEP was found to damage the cell wall and membrane of the microorganisms tested, as revealed by the morphological changes visible through scanning electron microscopy, and by the observed leakage of alkaline phosphatase and β‑galactosidase from cells.

vaginitis in a murine model is reduced by polypeptide-enriched extracts.

The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of polypeptide-enriched extracts (GE) on vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). A VVC model induced by () infection was successfully developed in BALB/c mice. After treatment, the colony-forming unit (CFU) of vaginal lavage was measured by plating.