Spearmint Extract Containing Rosmarinic Acid Suppresses Amyloid Fibril Formation of Proteins Associated with Dementia.

Neurological dementias such as Alzheimer's disease and Lewy body dementia are thought to be caused in part by the formation and deposition of characteristic insoluble fibrils of polypeptides such as amyloid beta (Aβ), Tau, and/or α-synuclein (αSyn). In this context, it is critical to suppress and remove such aggregates in order to prevent and/or delay the progression of dementia in these ailments. In this report, we investigated the effects of spearmint extract (SME) and rosmarinic acid (RA; the major component of SME) on the amyloid fibril formation reactions of αSyn, Aβ, and Tau proteins in vitro.

Extracts of bilberry ( L.) fruits improve liver steatosis and injury in mice by preventing lipid accumulation and cell death.

Bilberry has been reported to have anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. We studied the effect of bilberry ( L.) fruits extracts (BEs) on the pathogenesis caused by lipid accumulation in fatty liver and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Bilberry extract and anthocyanins suppress unfolded protein response induced by exposure to blue LED light of cells in photoreceptor cell line.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of bilberry extract with its anthocyanins on retinal photoreceptor cell damage and on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induced by exposure to blue light-emitting diode (LED) light.

Methods: Cultured murine photoreceptor cells (661W) were exposed to blue LED light with or without bilberry extract or its anthocyanins in the culture media. Aggregated short-wavelength opsin (S-opsin) in murine photoreceptor cells was observed with immunostaining.

Daily Consumption of Bilberry ( Vaccinium myrtillus L.) Extracts Increases the Absorption Rate of Anthocyanins in Rats.

The effects of daily consumption of anthocyanins on bioavailability has remained unclear. In this study, we evaluated whether daily consumption affects the absorption rate of anthocyanins in rats when consumed during the active and sleep phase. Eighty rats were randomly divided into two groups.

Visualization of the distribution of anthocyanin species in mice eyeball by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging.

Rationale: Anthocyanins, which belong to a class of molecules called flavonoids, are known to have beneficial effects for both humans and animals. Many physiological functions have been attributed to anthocyanins since ancient times. The most important function is the relief of eyestrain, but the biodistribution of anthocyanins remains unknown.

Bilberry extract administration prevents retinal ganglion cell death in mice via the regulation of chaperone molecules under conditions of endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of bilberry extract anthocyanins on retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival after optic nerve crush. Additionally, to determine details of the mechanism of the neuroprotective effect of bilberry extract anthocyanins and the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress suppression in the mouse retina.

Materials And Methods: Anthocyanins in bilberry extract (100 mg/kg/day or 500 mg/kg/day) were administrated orally to C57BL/6J mice.

Characterization of peptides obtained from digests of bovine brain which accelerate structural conversions of the recombinant bovine prion protein.

Structural changes of proteins are thought to involve specific protein-peptide interactions, thus we hypothesize that certain peptides may contribute to the conformational change of prion proteins. Hence peptide libraries were constructed from partial digests of bovine brain. Using a recently developed conversion assay method, we have screened peptides responsible for structural conversion.

Preparative scale isolation, purification and derivatization of mimosine, a non-proteinogenic amino acid.

Focusing on drug discovery non-proteinogenic amino acids have often been used as important building blocks for construction of compound libraries in the filed of combinatorial chemistry and chemical biology. Highly homogeneous L: -mimosine, α-amino-β-(3-hydoxy-4-oxo-1,4-dihydropyridin-1-yl)-propanoic acid, a non-proteinogenic amino acid, has been successfully isolated and purified on an industrial scale from wild leaves of Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala de Wit) which is a widely distributed legume in Okinawa, a sub-tropical island in Japan. Optical purity determinations used for quality control have been established through diastereomer formation.

Design and synthesis of a stable supramolecular trigonal prism formed by the self-assembly of a linear tetrakis(Zn2+-cyclen) complex and trianionic trithiocyanuric acid in aqueous solution and its complexation with DNA (cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane).

A new supramolecular complex, {(Zn(4)L(4))(3)-(TCA(3-))(4)}(12+), was designed and synthesized by the 3:4 self-assembly of a linear tetrakis(Zn(2+)-cyclen) complex (Zn(4)L(4))(8+) and trianionic trithiocyanurate (TCA(3-)) in aqueous solution (cyclen = 1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane). The {(Zn(4)L(4))(3)-(TCA(3-))(4)}(12+) complex, which should have a trigonal prism configuration, was found to be very stable in aqueous solution at neutral pH and 25 degrees C, as evidenced by (1)H NMR titration, potentiometric pH and UV titrations, and MS measurements. The complex does not dissociate into the starting building blocks in the presence of Zn(2+)-binding anions such as phosphates and double-stranded DNA.

Adaptation to estradiol deprivation causes up-regulation of growth factor pathways and hypersensitivity to estradiol in breast cancer cells.

Deprivation of estrogen causes breast tumors in women to adapt and develop enhanced sensitivity to this steroid. Accordingly, women relapsing after treatment with oophorectomy, which substantially lowers estradiol for a prolonged period, respond secondarily to aromatase inhibitors with tumor regression. We have utilized in vitro and in vivo model systems to examine the biologic processes whereby Long Term Estradiol Deprivation (LTED) causes cells to adapt and develop hypersensitivity to estradiol.

Demethylation of promoter C region of estrogen receptor alpha gene is correlated with its enhanced expression in estrogen-ablation resistant MCF-7 cells.

Long-term estrogen deprivation (LTED) MCF-7 cells showing estrogen-independent growth, express estrogen receptor (ER) alpha at a much higher level than wild-type MCF-7 cells. Enhanced expression of ERalpha associated with partial localization of ERalpha to the plasma membranes in LTED cells is thought to be an important step for acquisition of estrogen-ablation resistance. In this study, we compared the regulation of ERalpha gene expression between wild type and LTED cells, examining the usage of the promoters A and C as well as their methylation status.