Momordica charantia, a nutraceutical approach for inflammatory related diseases

Momordica charantia, commonly called bitter melon, is a plant belonging to Cucurbitaceae family known for centuries for its pharmacological activities, and nutritional properties. Due to the presence of many bioactive compounds, some of which possess potent biological actions, this plant is used in folk medicine all over the world for the treatment of different pathologies, mainly diabetes, but also cancer, and other inflammation-associated diseases. It is widely demonstrated that M. charantia extracts contribute in lowering glycaemia in patients affected by type 2 diabetes. However, the majority of existing studies on M. charantia bioactive compounds were performed only on cell lines and in animal models. Therefore, because the real impact of bitter melon on human health has not been thoroughly demonstrated, systematic clinical studies are needed to establish its efficacy and safety in patients. Besides, both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that bitter melon may also elicit toxic or adverse effects under different conditions. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of anti-inflammatory and anti-neoplastic properties of bitter melon, discussing its pharmacological activity as well as the potential adverse effects. Even if a lot of literature is available about bitter melon as antidiabetic drug, few papers discuss the anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties of this plant

Mirror Surface Check on Solar Troughs by Optical Profilometry

Abstract Linear parabolic collectors usually need profilometric control since the reflector surface can be imperfectly manufactured. Optical profile assessment is generally addressed to detect small localised defects. The paper proposes two optical devices that were developed simulating profile measurements on linear parabolic mirrors. Solar troughs are employed in thermal plants and concentrating photovoltaic systems. The profilometer examines the reflector surface operating on a plane transversal to the linear axis of the trough collector. Then the detection is repeated displacing the optical device along the linear collector axis. The first profilometer includes a shifted laser source and a target placed at the collector focal distance. The second profilometer has a fixed target and a linear laser source, which is approximately located in the focal position of the solar mirror. Ray-tracing simulations and practical tests are illustrated for both optical devices

Early Response to the Plant Toxin Stenodactylin in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells Involves Inflammatory and Apoptotic Signaling

Stenodactylin, a highly toxic type 2 ribosome-inactivating protein purified from the caudex of Adenia stenodactyla Harms, is a potential anticancer drug candidate. Previous studies demonstrated that stenodactylin induces apoptosis and necroptosis in treated cells, involving the production of reactive oxygen species. We analyzed the effect of stenodactylin on Raji and Ramos (Human Burkitt’s lymphoma cells) and MOLM-13 (acute myeloid leukemia cells). Moreover, we focused on the early events in MOLM-13 cells that characterize the cellular response to the toxin by whole-genome microarray analysis of gene expression. Treatment with stenodactylin induced the depurination of 28S rRNA within 4 h and increased the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK. A time-dependent activation of caspase 1, 2, 8, 9, 3/7 was also observed. Genome-wide gene expression microarray analysis revealed early changes in the expression of genes involved in the regulation of cell death, inflammation and stress response. After 4 h, a significant increase of transcript level was detectable for ATF3, BTG2, DUSP1, EGR1, and JUN. Increased upstream JUN signaling was also confirmed at protein level. The early response to stenodactylin treatment involves inflammatory and apoptotic signaling compatible with the activation of multiple cell death pathways. Because of the above described properties toward acute myeloid leukemia cells, stenodactylin may be a promising candidate for the design of new immunoconjugates for experimental cancer treatment

Gene Co-expression Analysis Identifies Histone Deacetylase 5 and 9 Expression in Midbrain Dopamine Neurons and as Regulators of Neurite Growth via Bone Morphogenetic Protein Signaling

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the intracellular accumulation of α-synuclein which has been linked to early dopaminergic axonal degeneration. Identifying druggable targets that can promote axonal growth in cells overexpressing α-synuclein is important in order to develop strategies for early intervention. Class-IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) have previously emerged as druggable targets, however, it is not known which specific class-IIa HDACs should be targeted to promote neurite growth in dopaminergic neurons. To provide insight into this, we used gene co-expression analysis to identify which, if any, of the class-IIa HDACs had a positive correlation with markers of dopaminergic neurons in the human substantia nigra. This revealed that two histone deacetylases, HDAC5 and HDAC9, are co-expressed with TH, GIRK2 and ALDH1A1 in the human SN. We further found that HDAC5 and HDAC9 are expressed in dopaminergic neurons in the adult mouse substantia nigra. We show that siRNAs targeting HDAC5 or HDAC9 can promote neurite growth in SH-SY5Y cells, and that their pharmacological inhibition, using the drug MC1568, promoted neurite growth in cultured rat dopaminergic neurons. Moreover, MC1568 treatment upregulated the expression of the neurotrophic factor, BMP2, and its downstream transcription factor, SMAD1. In addition, MC1568 or siRNAs targeting HDAC5 or HDAC9 led to an increase in Smad-dependent GFP expression in a reporter assay. Furthermore, MC1568 treatment of cultured rat dopaminergic neurons increased cellular levels of phosphorylated Smad1, which was prevented by the BMP receptor inhibitor, dorsomorphin. Dorsomorphin treatment prevented the neurite growth-promoting effects of siRNAs targeting HDAC5, as did overexpression of dominant-negative Smad4 or of the inhibitory Smad7, demonstrating a functional link to BMP signaling. Supplementation with BMP2 prevented the neurite growth-inhibitory effects of nuclear-restricted HDAC5. Finally, we report that siRNAs targeting HDAC5 or HDAC9 promoted neurite growth in cells overexpressing wild-type or A53T-α-synuclein and that MC1568 protected cultured rat dopaminergic neurons against the neurotoxin, MPP+. These findings establish HDAC5 and HDAC9 as novel regulators of BMP-Smad signaling, that additionally may be therapeutic targets worthy of further exploration in iPSC-derived human DA neurons and in vivo models of Parkinson’s disease

Aging and Imaging Assessment of Body Composition: From Fat to Facts

The aging process is characterized by the chronic inflammatory status called \u201cinflammaging\u201d, which shares major molecular and cellular features with the metabolism-induced inflammation called \u201cmetaflammation.\u201d Metaflammation is mainly driven by overnutrition and nutrient excess, but other contributing factors are metabolic modifications related to the specific body composition (BC) changes occurring with age. The aging process is indeed characterized by an increase in body total fat mass and a concomitant decrease in lean mass and bone density, that are independent from general and physiological fluctuations in weight and body mass index (BMI). Body adiposity is also re-distributed with age, resulting in a general increase in trunk fat (mainly abdominal fat) and a reduction in appendicular fat (mainly subcutaneous fat). Moreover, the accumulation of fat infiltration in organs such as liver and muscles also increases in elderly, while subcutaneous fat mass tends to decrease. These specific variations in BC are considered risk factors for the major age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, sarcopenia and osteoporosis, and can predispose to disabilities. Thus, the maintenance of a balance rate of fat, muscle and bone is crucial to preserve metabolic homeostasis and a health status, positively contributing to a successful aging. For this reason, a detailed assessment of BC in elderly is critical and could be an additional preventive personalized strategy for age-related diseases. Despite BMI and other clinical measures, such as waist circumference measurement, waist-hip ratio, underwater weighing and bioelectrical impedance, are widely used as a surrogate measure for body adiposity, they barely reflect the distribution of body fat. Because of the great advantages offered by imaging tools in research and clinics, the attention of clinicians is now moving to powerful imaging techniques such as computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and ultrasound to obtain a more accurate estimation of BC. The aim of this review is to present the state of the art of the imaging techniques that are currently available to measure BC and that can be applied to the study of BC changes in the elderly, outlining advantages and disadvantages of each technique

Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics for solar receivers: spectral and high-temperature emittance characterization

We report on the preparation, room temperature spectral reflectance and high-temperature thermal emittance characterization of different boride and carbide Ultra-High Temperature Ceramics (UHTCs). The investigated samples are compared with a reference material for solar absorber applications, i.e. silicon carbide. We show that spectral and thermal emittance properties of UHTCs are promising for novel solar receivers

Scattering and absorption properties of carbon nanohorn-based nanofluids for solar energy applications

In this work we investigated the scattering and absorption properties of nanofluids consisting in aqueous suspensions of single wall carbon nanohorns of different morphologies and prepared with different amounts of surfactant. The characteristics of these nanofluids were evaluated in order to use them as direct sunlight absorber fluids in solar devices. The differences in optical properties induced by carbon nanoparticles compared to those of pure water lead to a considerably higher sunlight absorption with respect to the pure base fluid. Scattered light over the total attenuation of light was found to be nearly negligible at NIR wavelengths. Both these effects, together with the possible chemical functionalization of carbon nanohorns, make this new kind of nanofluids very interesting for increasing the overall efficiency of the sunlight exploiting device