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Nutrition Research and Practice Jun 2024Okra seed is a rich source of various nutritional and bioactive constituents, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluated the...
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES
Okra seed is a rich source of various nutritional and bioactive constituents, but its mechanism of action is still unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluated the effects on glucose uptake and serum lipid profiles of unsaponifiable matter (USM) from okra seed in adipocytes and diabetic animal models.
MATERIALS/METHODS
USM was prepared from okra seed powder by saponification. The contents of phytosterols and vitamin E in USM were measured. 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were cultured for 6 days with different concentrations of USM (0-200 μg/mL). The diabetic rats were administered with or without USM for 5 wk.
RESULTS
In the USM, the contents of phytosterols and vitamin E were 394.13 mg/g USM and 31.16 mg/g USM, respectively. USM showed no cytotoxicity and led to an approximately 1.4-fold increase in glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. The treatment of USM also increased the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and glucose transporter-4 in a dose-dependent manner in adipocytes. The body weight change was not significantly different in all diabetic rats. However, blood glucose and the weights of liver and adipose tissues were significantly reduced compared to those in the control diabetic rats. Treatment with USM decreased the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol compared to the control group. The USM group also showed significantly decreased atherogenic indices and cardiac risk factors.
CONCLUSION
These results suggest that USM from okra seed improves the hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic effects in diabetic rats, and provides valuable information for improving the functional properties of okra seed.
PubMed: 38854468
DOI: 10.4162/nrp.2024.18.3.345 -
Biochemical and Biophysical Research... Sep 2024Salinity has become a crucial environmental factor that restricts plant growth, development, and productivity. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which plants react to salt...
Salinity has become a crucial environmental factor that restricts plant growth, development, and productivity. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which plants react to salt stress remain inadequately comprehended. In this study, we identified maize brassinosteroid-signaling kinase gene ZmBSK7 which is homologous to AtBSK1. Our results showed that ZmBSK7 is induced by salt stress and ZmBSK7 localizes in the plasma membrane. ZmBSK7 overexpression increases salt tolerance, while its knockdown decreases salt tolerance in maize. ZmBSK7 reduces the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and the percentage of electrolyte leakage, and also elevates the activities of antioxidant enzymes. Furthermore, ZmBSK7 promotes K content accumulation and reduces Na/K ratio. Further found that ZmBSK7 physically interacts with K efflux antiporter 2 (ZmKEA2) in vivo and in vitro. Salt stress also increased the expression of ZmKEA2. Thus, ZmBSK7 improves salt tolerance in maize by affecting ZmKEA2 expression to promote K content accumulation and reduce Na/K ratio. This study enhances the comprehension of BSK proteins and establishes a theoretical foundation for investigating salt stress tolerance in plants.
Topics: Zea mays; Salt Tolerance; Plant Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Salt Stress; Signal Transduction; Brassinosteroids; Potassium; Protein Kinases; Plants, Genetically Modified
PubMed: 38850813
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150222 -
BMC Biotechnology Jun 2024Melia azedarach is known as a medicinal plant that has wide biological activities such as analgesic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects and is used to treat a wide...
BACKGROUND
Melia azedarach is known as a medicinal plant that has wide biological activities such as analgesic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects and is used to treat a wide range of diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, and various skin diseases. However, optimizing the extraction of valuable secondary metabolites of M. azedarach using alternative extraction methods has not been investigated. This research aims to develop an effective, fast, and environmentally friendly extraction method using Ultrasound-assisted extraction, methanol and temperature to optimize the extraction of two secondary metabolites, lupeol and stigmasterol, from young roots of M. azedarach using the response surface methodology.
METHODS
Box-behnken design was applied to optimize different factors (solvent, temperature, and ultrasonication time). The amounts of lupeol and stigmasterol in the root of M. azedarach were detected by the HPLC-DAD. The required time for the analysis of each sample by the HPLC-DAD system was considered to be 8 min.
RESULTS
The results indicated that the highest amount of lupeol (7.82 mg/g DW) and stigmasterol (6.76 mg/g DW) was obtained using 50% methanol at 45 °C and ultrasonication for 30 min, and 50% methanol in 35 °C, and ultrasonication for 30 min, respectively. Using the response surface methodology, the predicted conditions for lupeol and stigmasterol from root of M. azedarach were as follows; lupeol: 100% methanol, temperature 45 °C and ultrasonication time 40 min (14.540 mg/g DW) and stigmasterol 43.75% methanol, temperature 34.4 °C and ultrasonication time 25.3 min (5.832 mg/g DW).
CONCLUSIONS
The results showed that the amount of secondary metabolites lupeol and stigmasterol in the root of M. azedarach could be improved by optimizing the extraction process utilizing response surface methodology.
Topics: Pentacyclic Triterpenes; Stigmasterol; Melia azedarach; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Plant Roots; Plant Extracts; Temperature; Solvents; Lupanes
PubMed: 38849803
DOI: 10.1186/s12896-024-00865-2 -
Planta Medica Jun 2024Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are still an important option for managing symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate...
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitors are still an important option for managing symptoms of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential AChE inhibitory activity of two Argentinian endemic Solanaceae species, and . UHPLC-DAD-HRMS metabolite profiling revealed the presence of withanolides in the active CHCl subextracts. Their fractionation led to the isolation and identification of two known spiranoid withanolides from and three new withanolides with a skeleton similar to that of trechonolide-type withanolides from . The known compounds showed moderate AChE inhibitory activity, while the new ones were inactive.
Topics: Withanolides; Cholinesterase Inhibitors; Solanaceae; Argentina; Acetylcholinesterase; Molecular Structure; Plant Extracts
PubMed: 38843796
DOI: 10.1055/a-2255-7096 -
Journal of Mass Spectrometry : JMS Jul 2024Soybean is scientifically known as Glycine max. It belongs to the Fabaceae family. It consists of a lot of bioactive phytochemicals like saponin, phenolic acid,...
Soybean is scientifically known as Glycine max. It belongs to the Fabaceae family. It consists of a lot of bioactive phytochemicals like saponin, phenolic acid, flavonoid, sphingolipids and phytosterols. It also owns excellent immune-active effects in the physiological system. Soy and its phytochemicals have been found to have pharmacological properties that include anticancer, antioxidant, anti-hypercholesterolaemic, anti-diabetic, oestrogenic, anti-hyperlipidaemic, anti-inflammatory, anti-obesity, anti-hypertensive, anti-mutagenic, immunomodulatory, anti-osteoporotic, antiviral, hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, goitrogenic anti-skin ageing, wound healing, neuroprotective and anti-photoageing activities. Present study has been designed to set standard pharmacognostical extraction method, complexation of compounds, qualitative evaluation through phytochemical screening, identification by TLC, physicochemical properties, solubility profile, total phenolic, flavonoid content as well as analytical evaluation or characterisation like UV and FT-IR of methanolic extract of G. max. The final observations like physicochemical properties such as total ash value, LOD and pH were recorded. Phytochemical screenings show the presence of flavonoid, alkaloid, saponin, carbohydrate, tannins, protein, gums and mucilage, fixed oils and fats. The results were found significant. Further in silico studies proved creatinine and euparin to be potent wound healing agents.
Topics: Wound Healing; Plant Extracts; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Seeds; Glycine max; Phytochemicals; Flavonoids; Methanol; Computer Simulation; Phenols; Animals
PubMed: 38837562
DOI: 10.1002/jms.5045 -
Journal of Medicinal Chemistry Jun 2024Breast cancer remains a global health challenge, and innovative strategies are required to target estrogen receptor α (ERα), a key player in its development. This...
Breast cancer remains a global health challenge, and innovative strategies are required to target estrogen receptor α (ERα), a key player in its development. This study investigates the potential of campesterol, a natural phytosterol, as an ERα inhibitor for breast cancer. Our approach integrates , , and experiments to assess the therapeutic potential of campesterol. analyses highlight campesterol as a promising ERα ligand with favorable binding affinities and dynamic properties. Structural analysis reveals conformational changes in ERα upon campesterol binding. studies confirm the selective growth inhibition of campesterol against ERα-positive breast cancer cells. This study extends to ER+ breast cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs), showing the effectiveness of campesterol in ERα-positive breast cancer PDOs. Importantly, it emphasizes the receptor-specific nature of campesterol, providing insights into its context-dependent action. In conclusion, campesterol displays potential as an ERα inhibitor, offering new avenues for ER+ breast cancer treatment.
Topics: Estrogen Receptor alpha; Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Drug Discovery; Antineoplastic Agents; Phytosterols; Cell Proliferation; Cell Line, Tumor; Structure-Activity Relationship; Molecular Docking Simulation; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Cholesterol
PubMed: 38836562
DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00766 -
International Journal of... 2024Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder mainly affecting joints, yet the systemic inflammation can influence other organs and tissues....
BACKGROUND
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder mainly affecting joints, yet the systemic inflammation can influence other organs and tissues. The objective of this study was to unravel the ameliorative capability of Ondansetron (O) or β-sitosterol (BS) against inflammatory reactions and oxidative stress that complicates Extra-articular manifestations (EAM) in liver, kidney, lung, and heart of arthritic and arthritic irradiated rats.
METHODS
This was accomplished by exposing adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rats to successive weekly fractions of total body γ-irradiation (2 Gray (Gy)/fraction once per week for four weeks, up to a total dose of 8 Gy). Arthritic and/or arthritic irradiated rats were either treated with BS (40 mg/kg b.wt. /day, orally) or O (2 mg/kg) was given ip) or were kept untreated as model groups.
RESULTS
Body weight changes, paw circumference, oxidative stress indices, inflammatory response biomarkers, expression of Janus kinase-2 (JAK-2), Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), high mobility group box1 (HMGB1), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), as well as pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators in the target organs, besides histopathological examination of ankle joints and extra-articular tissues. Treatment of arthritic and/or arthritic irradiated rats with BS or O powerfully alleviated changes in body weight gain, paw swelling, oxidative stress, inflammatory reactions, and histopathological degenerative alterations in articular and non-articular tissues.
CONCLUSION
The obtained data imply that BS or O improved the articular and EAM by regulating oxidative and inflammatory indices in arthritic and arthritic irradiated rats.
Topics: Animals; Sitosterols; Lung; Arthritis, Experimental; Kidney; Oxidative Stress; Rats; Liver; Male; Ondansetron; HMGB1 Protein; Heart; Myocardium; Inflammation; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; STAT3 Transcription Factor; Rats, Wistar
PubMed: 38831558
DOI: 10.1177/03946320241260635 -
Biological & Pharmaceutical Bulletin 2024Analysis of endogenous metabolites in various diseases is useful for searching diagnostic biomarkers and elucidating the molecular mechanisms of pathophysiology. The... (Review)
Review
Analysis of endogenous metabolites in various diseases is useful for searching diagnostic biomarkers and elucidating the molecular mechanisms of pathophysiology. The author and collaborators have developed some LC/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) methods for metabolites and applied them to disease-related samples. First, we identified urinary conjugated cholesterol metabolites and serum N-palmitoyl-O-phosphocholine serine as useful biomarkers for Niemann-Pick disease type C (NPC). For the purpose of intraoperative diagnosis of glioma patients, we developed the LC/MS/MS analysis methods for 2-hydroxyglutaric acid or cystine and found that they could be good differential biomarkers. For renal cell carcinoma, we searched for various biomarkers for early diagnosis, malignancy evaluation and recurrence prediction by global metabolome analysis and targeted LC/MS/MS analysis. In pathological analysis, we developed a simultaneous LC/MS/MS analysis method for 13 steroid hormones and applied it to NPC cells, we found 6 types of reductions in NPC model cells. For non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), model mice were prepared with special diet and plasma bile acids were measured, and as a result, hydrophilic bile acids were significantly increased. In addition, we developed an LC/MS/MS method for 17 sterols and analyzed liver cholesterol metabolites and found a decrease in phytosterols and cholesterol synthetic markers and an increase in non-enzymatic oxidative sterols in the pre-onset stage of NASH. We will continue to challenge themselves to add value to clinical practice based on cutting-edge analytical chemistry methodology.
Topics: Chromatography, Liquid; Animals; Humans; Biomarkers; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease; Carcinoma, Renal Cell; Niemann-Pick Disease, Type C; Glioma; Mice
PubMed: 38825462
DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b24-00073 -
Natural Product Research Jun 2024Thyme is a commercial spice widely used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Three popular genera in food and traditional medicine, including Boiss. L.,...
Thyme is a commercial spice widely used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Three popular genera in food and traditional medicine, including Boiss. L., and L., are considered as thyme-like plants in Iran. Thyme has been standardised based on phenolic monoterpenes, which are abundant in the essential oils of these three genera. Apart from monoterpenes, the flavonoid naringenin, the triterpene oleanolic acid, and phytosterols such as -sitosterol were abundant in , , and samples, respectively. Therefore, employing current analytical techniques on the basis of thymol and carvacrol may be insufficient to differentiate spp from similar medicinal plants including and spp. In this study, we applied NMR-based metabolomics using multivariate analyses to develop quality control of thyme and their similar products. Our findings revealed that NMR-based metabolomics can be a useful approach in differentiating , , and .
PubMed: 38824635
DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2024.2356714 -
BMC Plant Biology Jun 2024Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of phytohormones that regulate a wide range of developmental processes in plants. BR-associated mutants display impaired growth and...
BACKGROUND
Brassinosteroids (BRs) are a class of phytohormones that regulate a wide range of developmental processes in plants. BR-associated mutants display impaired growth and response to developmental and environmental stimuli.
RESULTS
Here, we found that a BR-deficient mutant det2-1 displayed abnormal root gravitropic growth in Arabidopsis, which was not present in other BR mutants. To further elucidate the role of DET2 in gravity, we performed transcriptome sequencing and analysis of det2-1 and bri1-116, bri1 null mutant allele. Expression levels of auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, and other related genes in the two mutants of det2-1 and bri1-116 were basically the same. However, we only found that a large number of JAZ (JASMONATE ZIM-domain) genes and jasmonate synthesis-related genes were upregulated in det2-1 mutant, suggesting increased levels of endogenous JA.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results also suggested that DET2 not only plays a role in BR synthesis but may also be involved in JA regulation. Our study provides a new insight into the molecular mechanism of BRs on the root gravitropism.
Topics: Brassinosteroids; Arabidopsis; Plant Roots; Gravitropism; Gene Expression Profiling; Plant Growth Regulators; Arabidopsis Proteins; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Transcriptome; Mutation; Oxylipins
PubMed: 38822229
DOI: 10.1186/s12870-024-05174-6