Physiological and Chemical Studies on the Bioconversion of Glycyrrhizin by Aspergillus niger NRRL595

Glycyrrhizin (GL), the well-known sweet saponin of licorice, has been used as a food-additive and as a medicine. Its aglycone, glycyrrhetic acid (GA) showed antiinflamatory, antiulcer and antiviral properties. GA is now produced form GL by acid hydrolysis. However, it is difficult to obtain GA in a good yield by using this method, because many by-productsare also produced. Screening of different microorganisms (13 bacteria, 2 yeasts and 23 fungi) for production of GA from GL revealed that Aspergillus niger NRRL 595 produced the highest yield of GA. The bioconversion of GL by A. niger NRRL 595 for 96 h, followed by isolation and purification of the transformation products led to the separation of two conversion products, namely: GA and 3-oxo-GA. Confirmation of the identity of these products was established by determination of their Rf values, m.p., and IR, UV, MS and NMR spectra. The conditions for cultivation of this fungus with the maximum hydrolytic activity for the maximum yield of GA were investigated. Based on the results, A. niger NRRL 595 was cultivated with a medium composed of 1.75 % GL, 0.5 % glucose, 0.8 % corn steep liquor at pH 6.5 at 32 °C for 96 h. The cultivation of fungal cells under the latter conditions afforded GA and 3-oxo-GA in a yield of 65 % and 22 %, respectively

The role of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells in treating formocresol induced oral ulcers in dogs

Background:  Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), a subpopulation of adult somatic stem cells, are an attractive stem cell source in regenerative medicine because of their multipotentiality. In this study, the effects of MSCs transplantation on oral ulcer healing were examined. Methods:  Mesenchymal stem cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirates of dogs by dish adherence and expanded in culture. Oral ulcers were induced by topical application of formocresol in the oral cavity of dogs. Either autologous MSCs or vehicle (saline) was injected around the ulcer. The healing process of the ulcer was monitored clinically and histopathologically. Gene expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was detected in MSCs by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Expression of VEGF and collagen genes was detected in biopsies from all ulcers. Results:  Mesenchymal stem cells expressed mRNA for VEGF MSCs transplantation significantly accelerated oral ulcer healing compared with controls. There was increased expression of both collagen and VEGF genes in MSCs-treated ulcers compared with controls. Conclusion:  Mesenchymal stem cells transplantation may help accelerate oral ulcer healing, possibly through the induction of angiogenesis by VEGF together with increased intracellular matrix formation as detected by increased collagen gene expression