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Journal of Pharmacy & Bioallied Sciences Apr 2024Cancer, diabetes, and wounds are critical health challenges affecting millions of people worldwide. Cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumor...
Cancer, diabetes, and wounds are critical health challenges affecting millions of people worldwide. Cancer arises from the transformation of normal cells into tumor cells, leading to uncontrolled growth and potential spread to other parts of the body. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by elevated blood sugar levels, and wounds can result from various injuries and diseases. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic potential of for its anticancer, antidiabetic, and wound healing activities. The anticancer activity of the ethanolic extract of was evaluated using the MTT (3- [4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay, which showed a concentration-dependent decrease in cell proliferation and growth. The extract exhibited promising anticancer potential, which could help control cancer progression. For the antidiabetic activity, we assessed α-amylase inhibition using a colorimetric method. The extract demonstrated substantial α-amylase inhibitory activity, comparable with the standard metformin. This indicates its potential in reducing postprandial blood sugar spikes in diabetic patients. In the wound healing activity, a scratch assay was performed to measure cell migration and growth. The results showed that extract promoted wound closure similar to the control. The extract's wound healing properties suggest its potential use in managing various types of wounds. Phytochemical analysis confirmed the presence of key bioactive compounds in both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of , supporting the observed therapeutic effects. In conclusion, holds promise as a potential source of novel therapeutic agent for cancer, diabetes, and wound management. The results from this study provide valuable insights into the plant's pharmacological activities and may pave the way for the development of new herbal-based treatments for these conditions.
PubMed: 38882727
DOI: 10.4103/jpbs.jpbs_545_23 -
Molecular and Clinical Oncology Aug 2024Lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) of the salivary glands are relatively rare, benign cystic lesions. Characteristic histopathological features of LEC include presence of...
Lymphoepithelial cysts (LECs) of the salivary glands are relatively rare, benign cystic lesions. Characteristic histopathological features of LEC include presence of well-circumscribed unilocular cysts surrounded by dense lymphoid tissue with lymphoid follicles. These cysts are lined by a combination of squamous, ciliated, columnar and mucous epithelia. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology is the standard preoperative diagnostic procedure for salivary gland lesions. Although the cytological diagnosis of cystic salivary gland lesions is difficult, the use of Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology (MSRSGC) in the cytodiagnosis of cystic salivary gland lesions has been reported. However, only a few studies have described the cytological features of LEC. To the best of our knowledge, the present study reviewed the cytological features of a case series of LEC and evaluated the application of MSRSGC for the first time. This retrospective study included 13 patients with LEC of the salivary glands who underwent pre-operative FNA followed by surgical resection of the cyst. All the lesions were present in the parotid gland. Cytological analysis revealed no epithelial cell component in eight patients (62.5%) along with a proteinaceous background containing lymphocytes and/or foamy cells. Non-keratinising squamous epithelium was observed in three patients. Amylase crystalloids were noted in two patients. None of the patients were cytodiagnosed with LEC. Eight, three, one and one patients were categorised as MSRSGC I, II, III, and IVa, respectively. The results of the present study demonstrated that cytodiagnosis of LEC was difficult due to the absence of epithelial component in 62.5% of the specimens. However, evaluation of its benignity was not difficult. Thus, it can be summarized that MSRSGC may be useful for cytological evaluation of LECs.
PubMed: 38882218
DOI: 10.3892/mco.2024.2750 -
BMC Microbiology Jun 2024Fungi can spoil the majority of baked products. Spoilage of cake during storage is commonly associated with fungi. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the quality of...
Fungi can spoil the majority of baked products. Spoilage of cake during storage is commonly associated with fungi. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the quality of different types of cakes sold in the market. The most predominant fungal genera in the tested cake samples (14 samples) were Aspergillus spp., and Penicillium spp. On Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), the medium fungal total count was 43.3 colonies /g. Aspergillus was the most dominant genus and was isolated from six samples of cake. Aspergillus was represented by 3 species namely, A. flavus, A. niger, and A. nidulans, represented by 13.32, 19.99, and 3.33 colonies /g respectively. On Malt Extract Agar (MEA) Medium, the fungal total count was 123.24 colonies / g. Aspergillus was the most dominant isolated genus from 11 samples of cake and was represented by 5 species, namely, A. flavus, A. niger, A. ochraceous, A. terreus, and A. versicolor (26. 65, 63.29, 3.33, 6.66, and 3.33 colonies / g , respectively). Twenty-four isolates (88.88 %) of the total tested twenty-seven filamentous fungi showed positive results for amylase production. Ten isolates (37.03%) of the total tested filamentous fungi showed positive results for lipase production, and finally eleven isolates (40.74 %) of the total fungal isolates showed positive results for protease production. Aflatoxins B, B G G and ochratoxin A were not detected in fourteen collected samples of cake. In this study, clove oil was the best choice overpeppermint oil and olive oil for preventing mold development when natural agents were compared. It might be due to the presence of a varietyof bioactive chemical compounds in clove oil, whose major bioactive component is eugenol, which acts as an antifungal reagent. Therefore, freshly baked cake should be consumed within afew days to avoid individuals experiencing foodborne illnesses.
Topics: Fungi; Food Microbiology; Mycotoxins; Aspergillus; Penicillium; Food Contamination; Aflatoxins; Lipase; Amylases
PubMed: 38877423
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03345-x -
Nature Communications Jun 2024Stomatal movement is vital for plants to exchange gases and adaption to terrestrial habitats, which is regulated by environmental and phytohormonal signals. Here, we...
Stomatal movement is vital for plants to exchange gases and adaption to terrestrial habitats, which is regulated by environmental and phytohormonal signals. Here, we demonstrate that hydrogen peroxide (HO) is required for light-induced stomatal opening. HO accumulates specifically in guard cells even when plants are under unstressed conditions. Reducing HO content through chemical treatments or genetic manipulations results in impaired stomatal opening in response to light. This phenomenon is observed across different plant species, including lycopodium, fern, and monocotyledonous wheat. Additionally, we show that HO induces the nuclear localization of KIN10 protein, the catalytic subunit of plant energy sensor SnRK1. The nuclear-localized KIN10 interacts with and phosphorylates the bZIP transcription factor bZIP30, leading to the formation of a heterodimer between bZIP30 and BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT1 (BZR1), the master regulator of brassinosteroid signaling. This heterodimer complex activates the expression of amylase, which enables guard cell starch degradation and promotes stomatal opening. Overall, these findings suggest that HO plays a critical role in light-induced stomatal opening across different plant species.
Topics: Plant Stomata; Hydrogen Peroxide; Light; Gene Expression Regulation, Plant; Plant Proteins; Arabidopsis; Triticum; Arabidopsis Proteins; Signal Transduction; Phosphorylation; Ferns; Basic-Leucine Zipper Transcription Factors
PubMed: 38876991
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49377-9 -
Inhibition of human starch digesting enzymes and intestinal glucose transport by walnut polyphenols.Food Research International (Ottawa,... Aug 2024One approach to controlling type 2 diabetes (T2D) is to lower postprandialglucose spikesby slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates and the absorption of glucose in...
One approach to controlling type 2 diabetes (T2D) is to lower postprandialglucose spikesby slowing down the digestion of carbohydrates and the absorption of glucose in the small intestine. The consumption of walnuts is associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases such as T2D, suggested to be partly due to the high content of (poly)phenols. This study evaluated, for the first time, the inhibitory effect of a (poly)phenol-rich walnut extract on human carbohydrate digesting enzymes (salivary and pancreatic α-amylases, brush border sucrase-isomaltase) and on glucose transport across fully differentiated human intestinal Caco-2/TC7 monolayers. The walnut extract was rich in multiple (poly)phenols (70 % w/w) as analysed by Folin-Ciocalteau and by LCMS. It exhibited potent inhibition of both human salivary (IC: 32.2 ± 2.5 µg walnut (poly)phenols (WP)/mL) and pancreatic (IC: 56.7 ± 1.7 µg WP/mL) α-amylases, with weaker effects on human sucrase (IC: 990 ± 20 µg WP/mL), maltase (IC: 1300 ± 80 µg WP/mL), and isomaltase (IC: 830 ± 60 µg WP/mL) activities. Selected individual walnut (poly)phenols inhibited human salivary α-amylase in the order: 1,3,4,6-tetragalloylglucose > ellagic acid pentoside > 1,2,6-tri-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranose, with no inhibition by ellagic acid, gallic acid and 4-O-methylgallic acid. The (poly)phenol-rich walnut extract also attenuated (up to 59 %) the transfer of 2-deoxy-D-glucose across differentiated Caco-2/TC7 cell monolayers. This is the first report on the effect of (poly)phenol-rich extracts from any commonly-consumed nut kernel on any human starch-digesting enzyme, and suggests a mechanism through which walnut consumption may lower postprandial glucose spikes and contribute to their proposed health benefits.
Topics: Humans; Polyphenols; Juglans; Caco-2 Cells; Glucose; Plant Extracts; Digestion; Nuts; Starch; alpha-Amylases; Biological Transport; Sucrase-Isomaltase Complex
PubMed: 38876610
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2024.114572 -
International Journal of Surgery Case... Jul 2024Purtscher retinopathy is the rare form of occlusive microvasculopathy, characterized by multiple retinal white areas around the optic nerve head and fovea with...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Purtscher retinopathy is the rare form of occlusive microvasculopathy, characterized by multiple retinal white areas around the optic nerve head and fovea with paravascular clearing and may be related to intraretinal hemorrhages. Acute Pancreatitis (AP) is one of the most common gastrointestinal reasons for hospital admissions globally. The complications of Acute Pancreatitis may include Purtscher's-like retinopathy, which has a low incidence rate of less than 0.24 instances per million cases. This case report highlights the value of thorough medical history taking and examination, and it apprises the consideration of ophthalmological manifestation in patients of Acute Pancreatitis.
CASE PRESENTATION
A 34-year-old female came to the emergency room due to intense abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting, which worsened over the last 24 h. The pain was described as continuous, sharp, and cramping-like in the upper abdomen, radiating to the back. Lab tests revealed elevated serum amylase and lipase levels, indicating pancreatitis, along with slight leukocytosis. A contrast-enhanced CT scan confirmed acute pancreatitis with mild inflammation and enlargement of the pancreas. Two days after admission, the patient experienced a sudden and painless loss of central vision in both eyes. There was no history of trauma or any other significant relevant history, other than pancreatitis. The ophthalmologist's examination found reduced visual acuity (6/60 in the right eye, 3/60 in the left eye), normal corneas, and anterior chambers.
DISCUSSION
Inkeles and Walsh established the first link between acute pancreatitis and Purtscher-like retinopathy when they reported three cases of the distinctive retinal appearance in individuals with acute pancreatitis in 1975.
CONCLUSION
The recovery and prognosis in cases of Purtscher-like retinopathy is variable and further research is required to ascertain the usage of corticosteroids and pentoxifylline in improving the course of a patient's with Purtscher's-like retinopathy.
PubMed: 38875828
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.109881 -
AMB Express Jun 2024α-Amylase plays a crucial role in the industrial degradation of starch. The genus Jeotgalibacillus of the underexplored marine bacteria family Caryophanaceae has not...
α-Amylase plays a crucial role in the industrial degradation of starch. The genus Jeotgalibacillus of the underexplored marine bacteria family Caryophanaceae has not been investigated in terms of α-amylase production. Herein, we report the comprehensive analysis of an α-amylase (AmyJM) from Jeotgalibacillus malaysiensis D5 (= DSM28777 = KCTC33550). Protein phylogenetic analysis indicated that AmyJM belongs to glycoside hydrolase family 13 subfamily 5 (GH13_5) and exhibits low sequence identity with known α-amylases, with its closest counterpart being the GH13_5 α-amylase from Bacillus sp. KSM-K38 (51.05% identity). Purified AmyJM (molecular mass of 70 kDa) is stable at a pH range of 5.5-9.0 and optimally active at pH 7.5. The optimum temperature for AmyJM is 40 °C, where the enzyme is reasonably stable at this temperature. Similar to other α-amylases, the presence of CaCl enhanced both the activity and stability of AmyJM. AmyJM exhibited activity toward raw and gelatinized forms of starches and related α-glucans, generating a mixture of reducing sugars, such as glucose, maltose, maltotriose, maltotetraose, and maltopentaose. In raw starch hydrolysis, AmyJM exhibited its highest efficiency (51.10% degradation) in hydrolyzing raw wheat starch after 3-h incubation at 40 °C. Under the same conditions, AmyJM also hydrolyzed tapioca, sago, potato, rice, and corn raw starches, yielding 16.01-30.05%. These findings highlight the potential of AmyJM as a biocatalyst for the saccharification of raw starches, particularly those derived from wheat.
PubMed: 38874807
DOI: 10.1186/s13568-024-01722-3 -
Journal of Enzyme Inhibition and... Dec 2024Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease mainly caused by insulin resistance, which can lead to a series of complications such as cardiovascular...
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic metabolic disease mainly caused by insulin resistance, which can lead to a series of complications such as cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, and its typical clinical symptom is hyperglycaemia. Glucosidase inhibitors, including Acarbose, Miglitol, are commonly used in the clinical treatment of hypoglycaemia. In addition, Protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is also an important promising target for the treatment of T2DM. is a well-known oriental traditional medicinal herbal plant, and has many beneficial effects on glucose and lipid metabolism. In the present study, three new and nine known dammarane triterpenoids isolated from , and their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including HR-ESI-MS,H and C NMR and X-ray crystallography. All these compounds were evaluated for inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase, α-amylase and PTP1B. The results suggested that compounds ∼ were potential antidiabetic agents with significantly inhibition activity against PTP1B in a dose-dependent manner.
Topics: Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase, Non-Receptor Type 1; Gynostemma; Enzyme Inhibitors; Molecular Structure; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Structure-Activity Relationship; alpha-Glucosidases; Humans; alpha-Amylases; Hypoglycemic Agents; Models, Molecular; Crystallography, X-Ray; Triterpenes; Glycoside Hydrolase Inhibitors
PubMed: 38873930
DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2024.2360063 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024Diabetes is becoming a significant health concern in Asia, where the prevalence has reached alarming levels. An important contributing factor is the consumption of...
Diabetes is becoming a significant health concern in Asia, where the prevalence has reached alarming levels. An important contributing factor is the consumption of high-carbohydrate foods, including rice, bread, etc. These high-carbohydrate foods pose a major risk to public health due to their impact on postprandial hyperglycemia. This research aimed to formulate a chickpea pulao (cooked Indian-Pakistani rice dish) and to evaluate its effects on postprandial blood glucose levels in type 2 diabetic individuals. Antioxidant potential and total phenolic contents of herbs at different concentrations (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9%) were measured through DPPH and Folin Ciocalteu assays. The antidiabetic potential was tested by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. After sensory evaluation, the best-chosen concentration was used to formulate the chickpea pulao. The study trial was advertised under "DP trial," and 12 participants were recruited. A single-blind randomized cross-over trial was conducted for 3 weeks with a one-week wash-over time in between. Participants' preprandial and postprandial blood glucose levels were recorded for control and intervention recipes. Results indicated that both fenugreek seeds (FS) and Indian rennet (IR) showed good antioxidant and hypoglycemic activity ( = .000) in raw and boiled extracts. For DPPH, the IC values of unboiled and boiled combined (FS + IR) extracts were calculated as 7.4% and 8.02%, respectively. Similarly, for α-amylase, the IC values of combined IR and FS unboiled and boiled extracts were 6.58% and 6.83%, and for α-glucosidase inhibition assay, the values were measured as 14.98% and 16.24%. The single-blind randomized cross-over trial showed that consuming the intervention recipe significantly reduced postprandial hyperglycemia ( = .000) in type 2 diabetic participants. The intervention recipe decreased hyperglycemia by approximately 15% daily compared to the control recipe. Incorporation of hypoglycemic herbs into dietary patterns can work as an adjunct therapy for diabetes management, especially in populations with a high prevalence of this disease.
PubMed: 38873453
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4107 -
Food Science & Nutrition Jun 2024This research investigates citric acid (CA) synthesis using the indigenous strain ASP26, which was isolated from date by-products. The study initially involved...
This research investigates citric acid (CA) synthesis using the indigenous strain ASP26, which was isolated from date by-products. The study initially involved isolating fungi capable of CA production and identifying the most potent strain based on its characteristic enzymatic activity. ASP26 was acknowledged in a previous study for its remarkable ability to produce extracellular enzymes, such as cellulase and amylase, which enable it to degrade organic materials effectively. After the identification phase, these isolates were screened for CA production using a modified Czapek-Dox medium. The research identified significant factors affecting CA production in submerged fermentation, including pH, carbon source, inoculum size, and fermentation time. Optimal conditions were determined for ASP26, resulting in a maximum CA yield of 16.89 g/L. These conditions included a 2.5% spore suspension at 2 × 10 spores/mL, an initial glucose concentration of 125 g/L, and incubation at 30°C for 144 h. Notably, ASP26 demonstrated the ability to produce CA under stress conditions as well. Citric acid is essential for various biological processes, such as cellular respiration, and is naturally present in citrus fruits. It also serves as a preservative and flavor enhancer in processed foods and beverages. The ability of ASP26 to produce CA from agricultural residues positions it as a viable candidate for sustainable CA production, harnessing the value from organic waste materials.
PubMed: 38873451
DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.4084