Therapeutic effects of the alkaline extract of leaves of Sasa sp. and elucidation of its mechanism in acute kidney injury.

Acute kidney injury (AKI), a common complication in hospitalized patients, is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. However, there are currently no approved or effective therapeutics for AKI. AKI is primarily caused by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, with oxidative stress from reactive oxygen species (ROS) being a major contributor.

Prominent Anti-UVC Activity of Lignin Degradation Products.

Background/aim: The rapid spread of COVID-19 resulted in the revision of the value of ultraviolet C (UVC) sterilization in working spaces. This study aimed at re-evaluating the anti-UVC activity of four groups of natural products against human melanoma COLO679 and human normal dermal fibroblast (HDFa) cells, based on chemotherapeutic index.

Materials And Methods: Various cell lines were exposed to UVC for 3 min in the presence of increasing concentrations of test compounds and viable cell numbers were determined with the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.

Multi-Omics Analysis of Anti-Inflammatory Action of Alkaline Extract of the Leaves of sp.

Efficient utilization of alkaline extracts of several plants for the treatment of oral diseases has been reported. To investigate the mechanism of anti-inflammatory activity of alkaline extract of the leaves of sp. (SE), multi-omics analysis using metabolomics and DNA array was performed.

Quantification of the Ability of Natural Products to Prevent Herpes Virus Infection.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is usually dormant and becomes apparent when body conditions decline. We investigated the anti-HSV activity of various natural and synthetic compounds for future clinical application. Mock- and HSV-infected Vero cells were treated for three days with various concentrations of samples.

Recent Progress of Basic Studies of Natural Products and Their Dental Application.

The present article reviews the research progress of three major polyphenols (tannins, flavonoids and lignin carbohydrate complexes), chromone (backbone structure of flavonoids) and herbal extracts. Chemical modified chromone derivatives showed highly specific toxicity against human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, with much lower toxicity against human oral keratinocytes, as compared with various anticancer drugs. QSAR analysis suggests the possible correlation between their tumor-specificity and three-dimensional molecular shape.

Search of Neuroprotective Polyphenols Using the "Overlay" Isolation Method.

Previous studies of the neuroprotective activity of polyphenols have used ununiform culture systems, making it difficult to compare their neuroprotective potency. We have established a new and simple method for preparing differentiated PC12 cells by removing the toxic coating step. Cells were induced to differentiate with the nerve growth factor (NGF) in a serum-free medium, without a medium change, but with a one-time overlay supplementation of NGF.

Protection of Differentiating Neuronal Cells from Amyloid β Peptide-induced Injury by Alkaline Extract of Leaves of Rehder.

Background/aim: We have previously reported the protection of doxorubicin-induced keratinocyte toxicity by alkaline extract of the leaves of Sasa senanensis Rehder (SE). In order to extend the generality of the cell protective effect of SE, we investigated whether it also protects rat PC12 and human SH-SY5Y neuron model cells from amyloid β-peptide (Aβ)-induced injury.

Materials And Methods: Viability of cells was determined by the MTT method.

Induction of Apoptosis in Human Oral Keratinocyte by Doxorubicin.

Background/aim: We have previously reported that doxorubicin (DXR) showed much higher cytotoxicity against human oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines compared to normal human mesenchymal normal oral cells (gingival fibroblast, periodontal ligament fibroblast, pulp cell), yielding high tumor-specificity. However, we unexpectedly found that doxorubicin showed potent cytotoxicity against human normal oral keratinocytes and primary gingival epithelial cells. In the present study, we investigated the reproducibility, underlining mechanisms and generality of this unexpected finding.

Synergism of Alkaline Extract of the Leaves of Sasa senanensis Rehder and Antiviral Agents.

Background: Previous studies have shown a much greater antiviral activity of alkaline extract of the leaves of Sasa senanensis Rehder (SE) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), compared to lignin precursors, tannins and flavonoids, suggesting its possible application to oral diseases. Systematic comparative study with herpes simplex virus (HSV) has been limited compared to that with HIV. In the present study, we investigated whether combination of SE with other popular antiviral agents further enhances their individual activity.

Prominent Anti-UV Activity and Possible Cosmetic Potential of Lignin-carbohydrate Complex.

This review article summarizes the recent progress of ultraviolet rays (UV) protective substances, including our original reports. We have established a simple assay method for the determination of anti-UV activity that can be applicable to any kind of adherent cells. This method provides information of both anti-UV activity and cytotoxicity of any kind of samples even though those samples contain unknown amounts of test compounds.

Anti-Halitosis Effect of Toothpaste Supplemented with Alkaline Extract of the Leaves of Sasa senanensis Rehder.

Background: Previous studies have shown activity against viruses, bacteria, inflammation and oral lichenoid dysplasia of alkaline extract of the leaves of Sasa senanensis Rehder (SE), suggesting its possible application to oral diseases. In the present study, we performed a small-scale clinical test to investigate whether SE is effective against halitosis and in oral bacterial reduction.

Materials And Methods: A total of 12 volunteers participated in this study.