Mastiha has efficacy in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases through a microRNA-155 Th17 dependent action

Mastiha is a natural nutritional supplement with known anti-inflammatory properties. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are immune mediated inflammatory diseases that share common pathophysiological features. Mastiha has shown beneficial effects in both diseases. MicroRNAs have emerged as key regulators of inflammation and their modulation by phytochemicals have been extensively studied over the last years. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether a common route exists in the anti-inflammatory activity of Mastiha, specifically through the regulation of miRNA levels. Plasma miR-16, miR-21 and miR-155 were measured by Real-Time PCR before and after two double blinded and placebo-controlled randomized clinical trials with Mastiha. In IBD and particularly in ulcerative colitis patients in relapse, miR-155 increased in the placebo group (p = 0.054) whereas this increase was prevented by Mastiha. The mean changes were different in the two groups even after adjusting for age, sex and BMI (p = 0.024 for IBD and p = 0.042). Although the results were not so prominent in NAFLD, miR-155 displayed a downward trend in the placebo group (p = 0.054) whereas the levels did not changed significantly in the Mastiha group in patients with less advanced fibrosis. Our results propose a regulatory role for Mastiha in circulating levels of miR-155, a critical player in T helper-17 (Th17) differentiation and function

Decolorization Treatment of Copper Phthalocyanine Textile Dye Wastewater by Electrochemical Methods

Electrochemical decolorization and degradation treatment of aqueous copper phthalocyanine reactive dye solutions was comparatively studied by electrocoagulation, electrooxidation and electro-Fenton processes. In the electrocoagulation process with aluminum electrodes the colored aqueous solutions of initial pH 6.4 containing 50 mg L-1 copper phthalocyanine and 6 g L-1 NaCl were treated at applied current densities of 2.5 and 5 mA cm-2. Fast and 100% decolorization was achieved in 4 and 2 minutes of electroprocessing respectively. The indirect electrooxidation process was conducted in acidic electrolyte solutions containing 50 mg L-1 copper phthalocyanine and 6 g L-1 NaCl with Ti/Pt and graphite plate electrodes at the applied current density of 10 mA cm-2. Even after 90 minutes of electrolysis time the dye remained by 23 and 18.8 % respectively undegradable. By the direct and indirect electrooxidation with the same amount of Na2SO4 electrolyte and added H2O2 respectively and using the same electrodes, the copper phthalocyanine dye was not or was only barely degraded respectively. In the electro-Fenton process with Fe electrodes and added amounts of H2O2 at pH 3 and an applied current density of 5 mA/cm2 complete degradation of copper phthalocyanine occurred in 15 minutes