989 research outputs found
Anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory effects of butanol extract from Arctium Lappa L
Background: Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, allergic inflammatory skin disease that is accompanied by markedly increased levels of inflammatory cells, including eosinophils, mast cells, and T cells. Arctium lappa L. is a traditional medicine in Asia. This study examined whether a butanol extract of A. lappa (ALBE) had previously unreported anti-allergic or anti-inflammatory effects.Methods: This study examined the effect of ALBE on the release of ??-hexosaminidase in antigen-stimulated-RBL-2H3 cells. We also evaluated the ConA-induced expression of IL-4, IL-5, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), and nuclear factor (NF)-??B using RT-PCR, Western blotting, and ELISA in mouse splenocytes after ALBE treatment.Results: We observed significant inhibition of ??-hexosaminidase release in RBL-2H3 cells and suppressed mRNA expression and protein secretion of IL-4 and IL-5 induced by ConA-treated primary murine splenocytes after ALBE treatment. Additionally, ALBE (100 ??g/mL) suppressed not only the transcriptional activation of NF-??B, but also the phosphorylation of MAPKs in ConA-treated primary splenocytes.Conclusions: These results suggest that ALBE inhibits the expression of IL-4 and IL-5 by downregulating MAPKs and NF-??B activation in ConA-treated splenocytes and supports the hypothesis that ALBE may have beneficial effects in the treatment of allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis. ?? 2011 Sohn et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd
Effect of fluidised bed drying on ginsenoside content in hairy root cultures of Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer
Korean Ginseng (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is a high‐value herb with many pharmacological benefits due to its primary active compound, ginsenosides. The most ginsenosides are known to be thermolabile and susceptible to degradation at high‐temperature processing. Our previous studies revealed that the optimum parameters related to the P. ginseng tissue culture protocol, particularly for hairy root propagation of Cultured Roots of Mountain Ginseng (CRMG)‐88, was using a lab‐scale bioreactor. The next stage involves screening for a suitable post‐harvest treatment, i.e., drying, will be production of the best quality ginsenoside content. This study therefore aimed to examine the ginsenoside content by using a fluidised bed dryer (FBD) on the ginseng roots. Our results showed that FBD produced a significantly higher of total ginsenoside content (5.386 ± 1.167%), compared to control (3.750 ± 0.641%). FBD‐dried CRMG‐88 also appeared lighter in colour and more voluminous with a Loss on Drying (LOD) of 6.448 ± 1.900%. This study concluded that fluidised bed drying is superior in retaining ginsenoside content and has the potential for large‐scale application
Isolation and in vitro Screening of Plant Growth Promoting Rhizospheric Bacteria from Corn (Zea mays var. indentata)
Many farmers use organic fertilizers to preserve the environment, but unfortunately, it’s not as
effective as chemical fertilizers. In recent years, the discovery of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria
(PGPR) has gained some attraction. PGPR have abilities to promote plant growth efficiently, including corn
plants. Corn (Zea mays L.) is a staple food needed in large quantities. Our results show that some bacteria may
have the potential to become PGPR for corn. Corn plant samples were obtained from maize plantations in
Bunulrejo district, Blimbing, Malang (Republic of Indonesia). The potential of bacterial isolates obtained
from the rhizosphere and endophyte area of corn as PGPR was determined based on several in vitro screening
results, including the siderophore production test, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) phytohormone production
test, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) deaminase production test, and phosphate dissolution
test. Five isolates contained the best potential to become PGPR, namely E6.2, E3.1, E4.2, R4.2, and R2.1.
Later, E6.2 and E3.1 were known to be able to fix nitrogen and produce siderophores, IAA and ACC deaminase.
Based on the sequencing results, the R2.1 isolate was considered Bordetella muralis, the E3.1 isolate was
identified as Cellulosimicrobium cellulans, while the R4.2, E4.2, and E6.2 isolates belonged to Serratia nematodiphila.
These isolates could be used as potential inoculants for biofertilizers for better agricultural practice
Fortification of Dayak Onion Extract (Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr.) to Jelly Drink as a Functional Food
Indonesia is a nation characterized by a diverse array of plant species that possess notable health benefits. Among these botanical resources is the Dayak onion, scientifically known as Eleutherine palmifolia (L.) Merr. The Dayak Tribe – an indigenous people of Borneo’s island has historically utilized the Dayak-onion, which possesses a distinctly bitter and acidic flavor, across several generations. The consumption of jelly drinks is favored by individuals from many socio-cultural backgrounds and throughout different age groups. The incorporation of Dayak-onion bulb extract into a jelly drink is anticipated to enhance its organoleptic attributes and functional characteristics. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of different concentrations (0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% w/v) of Dayak onion bulb extract on the physicochemical and organoleptic properties of a jelly drink. The extraction process involved the utilization of the maceration method, employing a 96% food-grade ethanol solvent. Subsequently, the resulting extract was subjected to freeze drying and subsequently incorporated into a jelly drink. The physicochemical study revealed a statistically significant difference in the color, pH level, antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and flavonoid content (P-value 0.05). All jelly beverages have met the criteria outlined in the National Standard of Indonesia (SNI) 01–3552-1994 for total plate count and coliform microbiological contamination, indicating that they are deemed safe for consumption. According to the results of the hedonic-organoleptic and efficacy index tests, it was determined that the jelly drink containing 0.1% Dayak onion bulb extract exhibited superior qualities and was the most favored among the jelly drinks evaluated
Number of Courses, Content of Coursework, and Prior Achievement as Related to Ethnic Achievement Gaps in Mathematics
This study utilized base-year and second follow-up data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 to investigate the relationship between eighth-grade math achievement, mathematics course-taking in high school, and twelfth-grade math achievement. Results suggested the following: 1) Type of coursework can be quantified. 2) Type of coursework was more predictive of achievement than amount. 3) There were substantial ethnic achievement differences prior to high school. 4) Number of courses, type of courses, and prior achievement were not equally predictive of twelfth-grade mathematics achievement across ethnic groups. 5) Prior achievement did not equally predict course-taking over ethnic groups in amount or type. 6) Closing ethnic achievement gaps will be a function of efforts taken before high school as well as high school coursework
Anti-Obesity and Anti-Adipogenic Effects of Chitosan Oligosaccharide (GO2KA1) in SD Rats and in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes Models
Excess body weight is a major risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D) and associated metabolic complications, and weight loss has been shown to improve glycemic control and decrease morbidity and mortality in T2D patients. Weight-loss strategies using dietary interventions produce a significant decrease in diabetes-related metabolic disturbance. We have previously reported that the supplementation of low molecular chitosan oligosaccharide (GO2KA1) significantly inhibited blood glucose levels in both animals and humans. However, the effect of GO2KA1 on obesity still remains unclear. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-obesity effect of GO2KA1 on lipid accumulation and adipogenic gene expression using 3T3-L1 adipocytes in vitro and plasma lipid profiles using a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model. Murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes were stimulated to differentiate under the adipogenic stimulation in the presence and absence of varying concentrations of GO2KA1. Adipocyte differentiation was confirmed by Oil Red O staining of lipids and the expression of adipogenic gene expression. Compared to control group, the cells treated with GO2KA1 significantly decreased in intracellular lipid accumulation with concomitant decreases in the expression of key transcription factors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (CEBP/α). Consistently, the mRNA expression of downstream adipogenic target genes such as fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), fatty acid synthase (FAS), were significantly lower in the GO2KA1-treated group than in the control group. In vivo, male SD rats were fed a high fat diet (HFD) for 6 weeks to induced obesity, followed by oral administration of GO2KA1 at 0.1 g/kg/body weight or vehicle control in HFD. We assessed body weight, food intake, plasma lipids, levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) for liver function, and serum level of adiponectin, a marker for obesity-mediated metabolic syndrome. Compared to control group GO2KA1 significantly suppressed body weight gain (185.8 ± 8.8 g vs. 211.6 ± 20.1 g, p \u3c 0.05) with no significant difference in food intake. The serum total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly lower in the GO2KA1-treated group than in the control group, whereas the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level was higher in the GO2KA1 group. The GO2KA1-treated group also showed a significant reduction in ALT and AST levels compared to the control. Moreover, serum adiponectin levels were significantly 1.5-folder higher than the control group. These in vivo and in vitro findings suggest that dietary supplementation of GO2KA1 may prevent diet-induced weight gain and the anti-obesity effect is mediated in part by inhibiting adipogenesis and increasing adiponectin level
Anticancer activities of self-assembled molecular bowls containing a phenanthrene-based donor and Ru(II) acceptors
Lupus Myocarditis Presenting as Acute Congestive Heart Failure: A Case Report
A young woman who had a delivery history 3 months previously presented with dyspnea and orthopnea. Initial findings of physical examination, chest radiography, and echocardiogram showed typical congestive heart failure with severe left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. At first, we considered peripartum cardiomyopathy because she had given birth to a baby 3 months previously. However, even though we massively tried conventional drug therapy for 10 days, the patient still remained with refractory heart failure. We performed additional laboratory studies such as complement level and autoantibodies, of which the results supported systemic lupus erythematosus. We could make the diagnosis of acute lupus myocarditis and treated her with corticosteroid. The symptoms were dramatically disappeared and LV function also improved
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