Anti-neuroinflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extract of Inula helenium L (Compositae)

Purpose: To evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and anti- neuroinflammatory activities of Inula helenium extract (IHE) against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) by primary microglial cells.Methods: Cell viability was estimated by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2- yl)-2, 5- diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay. LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia were used to study the expression and production of inflammatory mediators, including NO, inducible NO synthase (iNOS)and Interukin-6 (IL-6).Results: Pretreatment with IHE prior to LPS treatment significantly inhibited excessive production of NO (p < 0.001 at 20, 40, 80 and 100 μg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner, and was associated with downregulation of expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). IHE also suppressed the LPSinduced increase in IL-6 level (p < 0.01 at 40 and 80 μg/mL) in BV-2 cells. The antioxidant activity exhibited by IHE might play a critical role in ameliorating neuroinflammatory processes in LPSstimulated BV-2 microglial cells.Conclusion: IHE may be beneficial in preventing and treating neurodegenerative and oxidative stressrelated diseases.Keywords: Inula helenium, DPPH, Neurodegenerative diseases, Anti inflammatory, Anti-oxidant, Microglial cel

Evaluation of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of three different Rubus coreanus Miq. by-products

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of three different Rubus coreanus Miq. by-products in stimulated BV-2 microglial cells and explore its underlying physiological efficacy.Methods: Cell viability assessment was performed by 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to activate BV-2microglia. Total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents were determined by the method of Folin-Denis. As three different Rubus coreanus Miq. by-products remaining after extraction of Rubus coreanus, High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)) finger printing, ABST (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical scavenging assay, and NO (nitric oxide) inhibitory assay were performed.Results: Three different Rubus coreanus by-product extract did not exhibit any signs of cytotoxicity to BV-2 cells up to 100 μg/ml concentration (p < 0.5). The LPS-activated excessive release of NO in BV-2 cells was significantly inhibited by Rubus coreanus by-product extract (p < 0.5) at 500 μg/mL). Total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents were highest in 50 % ethanol wine processing by-product (p < 0.5 at 30, 50, 70 and 100 %, respectively). The by-product of wine processing had the lowest RC50 radical scavenging effect (16.53 μL/ml). The quercetin content of the wine processing by-product was the highest in the 70% ethanol extract at 6.26 mg/g (p < 0.5 at 30, 50, 70 and 100%, respectively).Conclusion: These results reveal that of the three other by-products, wine processing by-product has the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The use of these by-products has high added value for industrial production; furthermore, they are a potential treatment for various inflammatory diseases

Saussurea lappa Clarke extract exhibits potent antioxidant effect and attenuates neuroinflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated microglial cells

Purpose: To investigate the antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory potential of Saussurea lappa Clarke (SLC-EA) extract in LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells.Methods: Cell viability was measured by using the 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay while antioxidant activity was evaluated by using the DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to stimulate BV-2 microglia. Griess assay was employed to assess nitric oxide (NO) production. iNOS (inducible NO synthase) expression and TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-alpha) cytokine production were measured by ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and immuno blot analysis, respectively.Results: Pretreatment of 100 mg/ml of SLC-EA (p < 0.001) was inhibited Nitric Oxide (NO) by 1 ug/ml of LPS-treated murine BV-2 cells. The expression of iNOS and TNF-α were reduced by SLC-EA concentration dependent manner (p < 0.001 at 100 mg/ml). SLC-EA were scavenged 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 value of approximately 51.4 μg/ml.Conclusion: The results indicate that SLC-EA extract exhibits strong antioxidant properties and inhibits excessive pro-inflammatory cytokine due probably to the antioxidant phenolic compounds present in SLC-EA extract. Further work in exploring the in-depth mechanisms of SLC-EA extract in regulating inflammatory signaling pathways in treating neuroinflammatory diseases is necessary. Keywords: Saussurea lappa, Antioxidant, Neuroinflammation, Microglia, TNF-α, iNO

Ameliorative effect of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (Saururaceae) leaf extract in loperamide-induced constipation in rats

Purpose: To investigate the efficacy of Houttuynia cordata Thunb (Saururaceae) extract against loperamide-induced constipation in Wistar rats. Methods: Constipation was induced by loperamide (3 mg/kg). The rats were orally treated daily with either 40, 80, 160 mg/kg/day of H. cordata extract or 0.25 mg/kg bisacodyl (positive control) for 7 days, while normal control group received water only. Feed and water intake, body weight, number and water content of fecal pellets were monitored throughout the study period. The biochemical marker activities of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), γ-glutamyltransferase (γ-GT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were determined in the blood of the animals. Results: The water content of fecal pellets and body weight gain of the constipation rats changed significantly (p < 0.05) when compared to the normal control. Serum levels of AST were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the 80 and 160 mg/kg dose groups when compared to normal controls. However, there were no alterations in the levels of γ-GT and LDH across all groups. Conclusion: Treatment of rats with ethanol extract of H. cordata leaf has useful effects against constipation. Therefore, H. cordata leaf may be benefitial as a traditional herbal medicine for the management of constipation

Ixeris dentata (Thunb) Nakai attenuates cognitive impairment in MPTP-treated mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Purpose: To evaluate the cognition-enhancing effect of Ixeris dentata (Thunb) Nakai in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease (PD). Methods: MPTP (1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine)-induced mouse model of PD was used to evaluate the effect of Ixeris dentata (IDE) extract on the alteration of behavioral responses using rotarod and passive avoidance tests. The effect of IDE on oxidative stress levels were analyzed based on superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzyme levels, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in brain tissues. Results: MPTP (20 mg/kg, ip)-induced mice resulted in a significant (p < 0.01) behavioral deficiencies in locomotor behavior (from 53.15 ± 1.01 to 23.56 ± 1.04) and cognitive functions (from 297 ± 2.47 to 201.17 ± 3.23 s) compared with their respective control groups. Administration of IDE (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg, po) for three weeks significantly and dose-dependently improved (p < 0.001 at 80 mg/kg) locomotor and cognitive deficits in MPTP- treated mice. IDE treatment also significantly (p < 0.01 at 80 mg/kg) inhibited decrease in superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities, and lipid peroxides in MPTP-treated mice in brain tissues. Conclusion: IDE exhibits good protection against MPTP-induced behavioral deficits via potential antioxidant defense mechanisms. Therefore, IDE could potentially be developed as a therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Keywords: Ixeris dentata, Neurodegenerative disease, MPTP, Parkinson's disease, Oxidative stres

Anti-oxidative and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of ethyl acetate extract fractions of Suaeda asparagoides MIq

Purpose: To evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of Suaeda asparagoides ethylacetate extract (SAE) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells.Methods: The antioxidative activity of SAE was evaluated by measuring 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity  spectrometrometrically. Cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4, 5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5- diphenyl-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, while LPS-stimulated BV-2 microglia were used to study the expression and production of inflammatory mediators, including nitric oxide (NO), inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and tumor necrosis alpha (TNF-α).Results: Pretreatment with SAE prior to LPS treatment significantly inhibited excessive production of NO (p < 0.001 at 20, 40, 80 and 100 μg/mL) in a dose-dependent manner, and was associated with down-regulation of expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). SAE also suppressed the LPSinduced increase in TNF-α level (p < 0.01at concentrations of 40 and 80 μg/mL) in BV-2 cells. Furthermore, DPPH-generated free radicals were inhibited by SAE in a concentration-dependent manner.Conclusion: These results indicate that SAE possesses strong anti-oxidant properties, and inhibits excessive production of pro-inflammatory mediators, including NO, iNOS and TNF-α, in LPS-stimulated BV-2 cellsKeywords: Suaeda asparagoides, DPPH, Anti-inflammatory activity, Microglial cells, iNOS, TNF-

Gapped Nearly Free-Standing Graphene on an SiC(0001) Substrate Induced by Manganese Atoms

The electron band structure of manganese-adsorbed graphene on an SiC(0001) substrate has been studied using angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy. Upon introducing manganese atoms, the conduction band of graphene completely disappears and the valence band maximum is observed at 0.4 eV below Fermi energy. At the same time, the slope of the valence band decreases, approaching the electron band structure calculated using the local density approximation method. While the former provides experimental evidence of the formation of nearly free-standing graphene on an SiC substrate, concomitant with a metal-to-insulator transition, the latter suggests that its electronic correlations can be modified by foreign atoms. These results pave the way for promising device applications using graphene that is semiconducting and charge neutral.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figure

Additive micromanufacturing and dynamic characterization of copper microlattices

Microfabrication technologies are vital for the manufacturing of computer chips, electronic devices and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). The most common methodology for microfabrication is using ultraviolet (UV) based expose-and-etch based lithographic methods. This method, though ubiquitous in several industrial applications, is only suited for fabricating 2.5D architectures and true 3D architectures such as springs, helices or lattices cannot be obtained. In this presentation, I will introduce a recent additive micromanufacturing method that is based on localized electrodeposition of microscale metal droplets. Please click Download on the upper right corner to see the full abstract