Unlocking the in vitroanti- inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of Polygonum maritimum

Context: Several Polygonum species (Polygonaceae) are used in traditional medicine in Asia, Europe and Africa to treat inflammation and diabetes. Objective: Evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential of methanol and dichloromethane extracts of leaves and roots of the halophyte Polygonum maritimum L. Material and methods: Antioxidant activity was determined (up to 1mg/mL) as radical-scavenging activity (RSA) of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS), copper (CCA) and iron (ICA) chelating activities and iron reducing power (FRAP). NO production was measured in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages for 24 h at concentrations up to 100 mu g/mL and antidiabetic potential was assessed by alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase inhibition (up to 10 g/mL) assays. The phytochemical composition of the extracts was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Results: The methanol leaf extract had the highest activity against DPPH center dot (IC50 = 26 mu g/mL) and ABTS1(+)center dot (IC50 = 140 mu g FRAP (IC50 = 48 mu g/mL) and CCA (IC50 = 770 mu g/mL). Only the dichloromethane leaf extract (LDCM) showed anti-inflammatory activity (IC50 = 48 mu g/mL). The methanol root (IC50 = 19 mu g/mL) and leaf (IC50 = 29 mu g/mL) extracts strongly inhibited baker's yeast alpha-glucosidase, but LDCM had higher rat's alpha-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 2527 mu g/mL) than acarbose (IC50 = 4638 mu g/mL). GC-MS analysis identified beta-sitosterol, stigmasterol, 1-octacosanol and linolenic acid as possible molecules responsible for the observed bioactivities. Conclusions: Our findings suggest P. maritimum as a source of high-value health promoting commodities for alleviating symptoms associated with oxidative and inflammatory diseases, including diabetes.XtremeBio project - Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) [PTDC/MAR-EST/4346/2012]; Portuguese National Budget; FCT [CCMAR/Multi/04326/ 2013, IF/00049/2012, SFRH/BPD/86071/2012, UID/Multi/00612/2013

Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Regulates Genes Necessary for Intestinal Microfold Cell (M Cell) Development

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Microfold cells (M cells) are immunosurveillance epithelial cells located in the Peyer's patches (PPs) in the intestine and are responsible for monitoring and transcytosis of antigens, microorganisms, and pathogens. Mature M cells use the receptor glycoprotein 2 (GP2) to aid in transcytosis. Recent studies have shown transcription factors, Spi-B and SRY-Box Transcription Factor 8 (Sox8). are necessary for M-cell differentiation, but not sufficient. An exhaustive set of factors sufficient for differentiation and development of a mature GP2+ M cell remains elusive. Our aim was to understand the role of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) as an epigenetic regulator of M-cell development. Estrogen-related-receptor gamma (Esrrg), identified as a PRC2-regulated gene, was studied in depth, in addition to its relationship with Spi-B and Sox8. METHODS: Comparative chromatin immunoprecipitation and global run-on sequencing analysis of mouse intestinal organoids were performed in stem condition, enterocyte conditions, and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand-induced M-cell condition. Esrrg, which was identified as one of the PRC2-regulated transcription factors, was studied in wild-type mice and knocked out in intestinal organoids using guide RNA's. Sox8 null mice were used to study Esrrg and its relation to Sox8. RESULTS: chromatin immunoprecipitation and global run-on sequencing analysis showed 12 novel PRC2 regulated transcription factors, PRC2-regulated Esrrg is a novel M-cell-specific transcription factor acting on a receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand-receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B-induced nuclear factor-kappa B pathway, upstream of Sox8, and necessary but not sufficient for a mature M-cell marker of Gp2 expression. CONCLUSIONS: PRC2 regulates a significant set of genes in M cells including Esrrg, which is critical for M-cell development and differentiation. Loss of Esrrg led to an immature M-cell phenotype lacking in Sox8 and Gp2 expression. Transcript profiling: the data have been deposited in the NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE157629).Peer reviewe

Irrigation frequency using hydro-absorbent polymer in seedling production of yellow passion fruit

A produ??o de mudas de esp?cies frut?feras com qualidade ? realizada em ambiente protegido que, em fun??o das varia??es da temperatura do ar, necessita de irriga??o frequente para manter a umidade no substrato. Desta forma, o trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar diferentes frequ?ncias de irriga??o com a incorpora??o do pol?mero hidroabsorvente na produ??o de mudas de maracujazeiro-amarelo em dois tipos de substrato. As mudas foram produzidas em sacos de polietileno de 650 mL em casa de vegeta??o. Foi utilizado o esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 3, distribu?do no delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro repeti??es e cinco plantas por parcela, sendo uma por recipiente. Os fatores estudados foram duas doses do pol?mero Hidroplan-EB?/HyB-M (0 e 3 g L-1); dois substratos (solo + esterco na propor??o 3:1 (v/v) e Bioplant?); e tr?s intervalos de reposi??o de ?gua (irriga??o di?ria, irriga??o em dias alternados e irriga??o a cada dois dias). Para analisar o efeito comparativo da incorpora??o do pol?mero aos substratos, a avalia??o foi realizada quando as mudas emitiram a primeira gavinha, est?gio ideal para o plantio no campo. A incorpora??o do pol?mero aos substratos proporcionou tamanho das mudas, que foi evidenciado a partir da maior produ??o de massa seca. Al?m disso, essas mudas, mesmo com menor frequ?ncia de irriga??o, apresentaram tamanho semelhante ?s mudas que receberam irriga??o di?ria e ?rea foliar com maior capacidade de produ??o de massa seca. Assim, com a incorpora??o do pol?mero hidroabsorvente, a irriga??o das mudas de maracujazeiro pode ser realizada com menor frequ?ncia, com intervalo de um dia em ambos os substratos. A forma??o das mudas de maracujazeiro-amarelo foi antecipada nos substratos que tiveram incorpora??o do pol?mero, alcan?ando tamanho adequado para o plantio no campo antes daquelas produzidas sem o pol?mero.Funda??o de Amparo ? Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG)Empresa de Pesquisa Agropecu?ria de Minas Gerais (EPAMIG)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico (CNPq)Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior (CAPES)The seedlings production of quality fruit species is carried in a protected environment, and frequent irrigation is needed due to air temperature variations and to keep the substrate moist. Thus, this study was carried out to evaluate different irrigation frequencies and the incorporation of hydro-absorbent polymer in the production of yellow passion fruit seedlings in two substrate types. The seedlings were produced in polyethylene bags of 650 mL in a greenhouse. It was used a factorial scheme 2 x 2 x 3, distributed in a completely randomized design with four replications and five plants per plot, and one per container. The factors studied were two doses of the polymer Hidroplan-EB?/HyB-M: 0 and 3 g L-1, two substrates: soil + manure in the ratio 3:1 (v / v) and Bioplant ?, and three intervals of water replacement: daily irrigation, irrigation in alternate days and irrigation every two days. To analyze the comparative effect of polymer incorporation to substrates, the evaluation was performed when the seedlings issued the first vine, which is the ideal stage for field planting. The polymer incorporation in the substrates provided higher seedling size, which was evidenced by the higher dry matter production. Furthermore, these seedlings even with lower irrigation frequency showed similar size to the seedlings that received daily irrigation and leaf area with higher capacity of dry mass production. Thus, irrigation of yellow passion fruit seedlings can be carried with less frequency, with an interval of one day, with the hydro absorbent polymer incorporation in both substrates. The formation of yellow passion fruit seedlings was anticipated in the substrates that had polymer incorporation, achieving adequate size for field planting before those produced without the polymer