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Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy =... Aug 2023In this study, we have investigated the anti-depressant effects of the fruit Areca catechu L. (ACL) and elucidated its potential underlying mechanism using a rat model...
OBJECTIVES
In this study, we have investigated the anti-depressant effects of the fruit Areca catechu L. (ACL) and elucidated its potential underlying mechanism using a rat model of chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS).
METHODS
CUMS was induced in rats to establish a depression animal model for 28 days. According to the baseline sucrose preference, the male rats were divided into 6 different groups. They were treated with paroxetine hydrochloride, ACL, and water once a day until the behavioral tests were performed. The levels of corticosterone (CORT), malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) in serum were detected using a commercial kit, and the concentrations of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and dopamine (DA) monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain tissues were detected by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. doublecortin (DCX) expression in the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) was determined by immunofluorescence, and the relative abundance of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), TrkB, PI3K, p-AKT/AKT, PSD-95, and p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β of brain tissues were assayed by western blot.
RESULTS
ACL markedly increased sucrose preference, decreased the immobility time, and shortened the feeding latency of CUMS-induced rats. CUMS induction resulted in marked changes in the contents of the monoamine neurotransmitters (5-HT and DA) in the hippocampus and cortex of brain tissues and the levels of CORT, MDA, CAT, and T-SOD in serum, whereas ACL administration alleviated these considerable changes. ACL promoted DCX expression in DG and increased the protein levels of BDNF, TrkB, PI3K, p-AKT/AKT, PSD-95, and p-GSK-3β/GSK-3β in the brains of CUMS-induced rats.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results indicated that ACL may improve depression-like behaviors in CUMS-induced rats by decreasing the hyperfunction and oxidative stress of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, stimulating hippocampal neurogenesis, and activating the BDNF signaling pathway.
Topics: Rats; Male; Animals; Depression; Antidepressive Agents; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; Areca; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta; Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; Serotonin; Pituitary-Adrenal System; Signal Transduction; Hippocampus; Corticosterone; Dopamine; Sucrose; Neurotransmitter Agents; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; Stress, Psychological; Disease Models, Animal; Behavior, Animal
PubMed: 37245336
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114459 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2023L. (RRL) is a popular plant in traditional medicine, and Rosavin, a characteristic ingredient of RRL, is considered one of the most important active ingredients in it.... (Review)
Review
L. (RRL) is a popular plant in traditional medicine, and Rosavin, a characteristic ingredient of RRL, is considered one of the most important active ingredients in it. In recent years, with deepening research on its pharmacological actions, the clinical application value and demand for Rosavin have been steadily increasing. Various routes for the extraction and all-chemical or biological synthesis of Rosavin have been gradually developed for the large-scale production and broad application of Rosavin. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated that Rosavin has a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, lipid-lowering, analgesic, antiradiation, antitumor and immunomodulation effects. Rosavin showed significant therapeutic effects on a range of chronic diseases, including neurological, digestive, respiratory and bone-related disorders during in vitro and vivo experiments, demonstrating the great potential of Rosavin as a therapeutic drug for diseases. This paper gives a comprehensive and insightful overview of Rosavin, focusing on its extraction and synthesis, pharmacological activities, progress in disease-treatment research and formulation studies, providing a reference for the production and preparation, further clinical research and applications of Rosavin in the future.
Topics: Plant Extracts; Rhodiola; Disaccharides; Antioxidants
PubMed: 37959831
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28217412 -
Journal of Pharmaceutical and... Sep 2023Galactooligosaccharides are added to infant formula to simulate some of the benefits associated with human milk oligosaccharides, in particular to modulate the gut...
Galactooligosaccharides are added to infant formula to simulate some of the benefits associated with human milk oligosaccharides, in particular to modulate the gut microbiota. During our study the galactooligosaccharide content of an industrial GOS ingredient was determined by differential enzymatic digestion using amyloglucosidase and β-galactosidase. The resulting digests were fluorophore labeled and analyzed by capillary gel electrophoresis with laser induced fluorescence detection. Quantification of the results were based on a lactose calibration curve. Utilizing this approach, the galactooligosaccharide concentration of the sample was determined as 37.23 g/100 g, very similar to earlier HPLC results, but requiring only 20 min separation time. The CGE-LIF method in conjunction with the differential enzymatic digestion protocol demonstrated in this paper offers a rapid and easy to use method to measure galactooligosaccharides and should be applicable to the determination of GOS in infant formulas and other products.
Topics: Infant; Humans; Oligosaccharides; Milk, Human; Lactose; Infant Formula; Electrophoresis, Capillary; beta-Galactosidase
PubMed: 37196591
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115434 -
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Dec 2023In recent years, trehalose, a natural disaccharide, has attracted growing attention because of the discovery of its potential to induce autophagy. Trehalose has also... (Review)
Review
In recent years, trehalose, a natural disaccharide, has attracted growing attention because of the discovery of its potential to induce autophagy. Trehalose has also been demonstrated to preserve the protein's structural integrity and to limit the aggregation of pathologically misfolded proteins. Both of these properties have made trehalose a promising therapeutic candidate to target autophagy-related disorders and protein aggregation diseases. Unfortunately, trehalose has poor bioavailability due to its hydrophilic nature and susceptibility to enzymatic degradation. Recently, trehalose-bearing carriers, in which trehalose is incorporated either by chemical conjugation or physical entrapment, have emerged as an alternative option to free trehalose to improve its efficacy, particularly for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, atherosclerosis, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and cancers. In the current Perspective, we discuss all existing literature in this emerging field and try to identify key challenges for researchers intending to develop trehalose-bearing carriers to stimulate autophagy or inhibit protein aggregation.
Topics: Humans; Trehalose; Protein Aggregates; Disaccharides; Autophagy; Neurodegenerative Diseases
PubMed: 38031413
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01442 -
American Journal of Physiology.... Nov 2023Biological mechanisms to promote dietary balance remain unclear. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been suggested to contribute to such potential regulation... (Randomized Controlled Trial)
Randomized Controlled Trial
Biological mechanisms to promote dietary balance remain unclear. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has been suggested to contribute to such potential regulation considering that FGF21 ) is genetically associated with carbohydrate/sugar and protein intake in opposite directions, ) is secreted after sugar ingestion and protein restriction, and ) pharmacologically reduces sugar and increases protein intake in rodents. To gain insight of the nature of this potential regulation, we aimed to study macronutrient interactions in the secretory regulation of FGF21 in healthy humans. We conducted a randomized, double-blinded, crossover meal study (NCT05061485), wherein healthy volunteers consumed a sucrose drink, a sucrose + protein drink, and a sucrose + fat drink (matched sucrose content), and compared postprandial FGF21 responses between the three macronutrient combinations. Protein suppressed the sucrose-induced FGF21 secretion [incremental area under the curve (iAUC) for sucrose 484 ± 127 vs. sucrose + protein -35 ± 49 pg/mL × h, < 0.001]. The same could not be demonstrated for fat (iAUC 319 ± 102 pg/mL × h, = 203 for sucrose + fat vs. sucrose). We found no indications that regulators of glycemic homeostasis could explain this effect. This indicates that FGF21 responds to disproportionate intake of sucrose relative to protein acutely within a meal, and that protein outweighs sucrose in FGF21 regulation. Together with previous findings, our results suggests that FGF21 might act to promote macronutrient balance and sufficient protein intake. Here we test the interactions between sugar, protein, and fat in human FGF21 regulation and demonstrate that protein, but not fat, suppresses sugar-induced FGF21 secretion. This indicates that protein outweighs the effects of sugar in the secretory regulation of FGF21, and could suggest that the nutrient-specific appetite-regulatory actions of FGF21 might prioritize ensuring sufficient protein intake over limiting sugar intake.
Topics: Humans; Fibroblast Growth Factors; Diet; Sucrose; Sugars; Postprandial Period
PubMed: 37729024
DOI: 10.1152/ajpendo.00241.2023 -
Nutrients Aug 2023Supplementation with the probiotic and prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) could improve gut health and benefit lactose intolerant individuals. A narrative review... (Review)
Review
Supplementation with the probiotic and prebiotic galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) could improve gut health and benefit lactose intolerant individuals. A narrative review was conducted to identify human clinical trials that evaluated lactose digestion and/or tolerance in response to consumption of , GOS, or both. A total of 152 studies on and GOS or both were published between 1983 and 2022. Out of the 152 studies, 20 were human clinical trials conducted in lactose intolerant subjects; 8 studies were conducted with supplementation and 3 studies involved GOS supplementation. Five studies reported favorable outcomes of supplementation in managing lactose intolerance (LI). Similarly, three studies reported favorable outcomes with GOS supplementation. The other three studies reported neutral outcomes. In conclusion, most studies reported a favorable effect of and GOS on managing the symptoms of LI. No study has examined the effects of combined supplementation with and GOS in lactose intolerant subjects. Future research could examine if co-supplementation with and GOS is a more effective strategy to reduce the dairy discomfort in LI individuals.
Topics: Humans; Bifidobacterium; Digestion; Immune Tolerance; Lactose; Lactose Intolerance; Clinical Trials as Topic
PubMed: 37630749
DOI: 10.3390/nu15163559 -
Medicine Sep 2023Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can be an effective treatment for cirrhotic patients who develop variceal bleeding and ascites. However, TIPS... (Meta-Analysis)
Meta-Analysis
BACKGROUND
Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can be an effective treatment for cirrhotic patients who develop variceal bleeding and ascites. However, TIPS placement is associated with an increased risk of developing hepatic encephalopathy (HE). Recently, there have been efforts to use the typical medical therapies prophylactically in patients undergoing TIPS placement to prevent post-TIPS HE.
METHODS
We conducted literature searches in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, and Cochrane to examine studies that use prophylactic medical therapy for preventing post-TIPS HE. A narrative synthesis and grading of recommendations assessment assessment were done for all studies. Meta-analysis was performed for eligible studies using the Mantel-Haenszel method random-effects model. Nine hundred twenty-one articles were screened and 5 studies were included in the study after 2 levels of screening. The medications studied were rifaximin, lactulose, lactitol, L-Ornithine-L-aspartate (LOLA), albumin, and combination therapies.
RESULTS
Narrative results showed that lactulose, lactitol, LOLA and albumin prophylaxis were not associated with reduction in HE occurrence or mortality. A combination of rifaximin and lactulose was found to be associated with lower occurrence of HE, and the results were not different when LOLA was added. Meta-analysis (n = 3) showed that rifaximin treatment was not associated with changes in HE occurrences.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion, a vast majority of medications were not found to be effective post-TIPS HE prophylaxis when used alone. A rifaximin and lactulose combination therapy may be beneficial. Overall, there is significant limitation in the current data and more studies are needed to yield more robust meta-analysis results in the future.
Topics: Humans; Hepatic Encephalopathy; Lactulose; Rifaximin; Esophageal and Gastric Varices; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage; Albumins; Primary Prevention
PubMed: 37746955
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000035266 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Trehalose is a naturally occurring, non-reducing saccharide widely distributed in nature. Over the years, research on trehalose has revealed that this initially thought... (Review)
Review
Trehalose is a naturally occurring, non-reducing saccharide widely distributed in nature. Over the years, research on trehalose has revealed that this initially thought simple storage molecule is a multifunctional and multitasking compound protecting cells against various stress factors. This review presents data on the role of trehalose in maintaining cellular homeostasis under stress conditions and in the virulence of bacteria and fungi. Numerous studies have demonstrated that trehalose acts in the cell as an osmoprotectant, chemical chaperone, free radical scavenger, carbon source, virulence factor, and metabolic regulator. The increasingly researched medical and therapeutic applications of trehalose are also discussed.
Topics: Trehalose; Humans; Animals; Fungi; Bacteria; Homeostasis; Stress, Physiological
PubMed: 38731579
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29092088 -
Bioproduction and applications of aldobionic acids with a focus on maltobionic and cellobionic acid.Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering Jul 2023Aldobionic acids are sugar acids which consist of a disaccharide with an anomeric acid group. The most famous is lactobionic acid (LBA). LBA is used in many applications... (Review)
Review
Aldobionic acids are sugar acids which consist of a disaccharide with an anomeric acid group. The most famous is lactobionic acid (LBA). LBA is used in many applications such as food and beverages, pharmaceuticals and medicine, cosmetics or chemical processes. During the last decade, all these industries are observing a shift of consumer preferences towards plant-based options. Thus, the biotechnological industry is trying to replace the animal-derived LBA. Maltobionic acid (MBA) and cellobionic acid (CBA) are two stereoisomers of LBA which have emerged as vegan alternatives. However, MBA and CBA face different obstacles related to their industrial production. While traditionally used electrochemical or chemical catalysis often rely on cost intensive and/or hazardous catalysts, novel production methods with microorganisms are still poorly studied. In the first part, this paper discusses both alternatives in terms of their characteristics and applications. In the second part, it reviews the long-studied chemical production and the novel bioproduction methods, which are based on enzymatic and microbial systems. This review concludes with a discussion of future work needed to bring their production to the industrial scale.
Topics: Animals; Disaccharides; Biotechnology
PubMed: 37058246
DOI: 10.1007/s00449-023-02872-7 -
Journal of Translational Medicine Feb 2024Excessive energy intake in modern society has led to an epidemic surge in metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, posing profound threats to women's...
BACKGROUND
Excessive energy intake in modern society has led to an epidemic surge in metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, posing profound threats to women's reproductive health. However, the precise impact and underlying pathogenesis of energy excess on female reproduction remain unclear.
METHODS
We established an obese and hyperglycemic female mouse model induced by a high-fat and high-sucrose (HFHS) diet, then reproductive phenotypes of these mice were evaluated by examing sexual hormones, estrous cycles, and ovarian morphologies. Transcriptomic and precise metabolomic analyses of the ovaries were performed to compare the molecular and metabolic changes in HFHS mice. Finally, orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis was performed to compare the similarities of traits between HFHS mice and women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
RESULTS
The HFHS mice displayed marked reproductive dysfunctions, including elevated serum testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels, irregular estrous cycles, and impaired folliculogenesis, mimicking the clinical manifestations of women with PCOS. Precise metabolomic overview suggested that HFHS diet disrupted amino acid metabolism in the ovaries of female mice. Additionally, transcriptional profiling revealed pronounced disturbances in ovarian steroid hormone biosynthesis and glucolipid metabolism in HFHS mice. Further multi-omics analyses unveiled prominent aberration in ovarian arginine biosynthesis pathway. Notably, comparisons between HFHS mice and a cohort of PCOS patients identified analogous reproductive and metabolic signatures.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results provide direct in vivo evidence for the detrimental effects of overnutrition on female reproduction and offer insights into the metabolic underpinnings of PCOS.
Topics: Female; Humans; Animals; Mice; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome; Sucrose; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Reproduction; Diet; Gene Expression Profiling; Diet, High-Fat
PubMed: 38347623
DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-04952-y