Antimicrobial Effect of 7-O-Butylnaringenin, a Novel Flavonoid, and Various Natural Flavonoids against Helicobacter pylori Strains

Abstract: The antimicrobial effect of a novel flavonoid (7-O-butylnaringenin) on Helicobacter pylori 26695, 51, and SS1 strains and its inhibitory effect on the urease activity of the strains were evaluated and compared with those of several natural flavonoids. First, various flavonoids were screened for antimicrobial activities using the paper disc diffusion method. Hesperetin and naringenin showed the strongest antimicrobial effects among the natural flavonoids tested, and thus hesperetin and naringenin were selected for comparison with 7-O-butylnaringenin. The antimicrobial effect of 7-O-butylnaringenin was greater than that of the hesperetin and naringenin. H. pylori 51 was more sensitive to 7-O-butylnaringenin (2 log reduction of colony forming units, p \u3c 0.05) than the other two strains at 200 μM. 7-O-Butylnaringenin also showed the highest inhibitory effect against urease activity of H. pylori. Morphological changes of H. pylori 26695 treated with these flavonoids indicated that both hesperetin and 7-O-butylnaringenin at 200 μM damaged the cell membranes

House of Commons Library: Briefing paper: Number 07147, 13 April 2018: School places in England: applications, allocations and appeals

Background: We previously reported that ginsenoside Re (GRe) attenuated against methamphetamine (MA)-induced neurotoxicity via anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials. We also demonstrated that dynorphin possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials against dopaminergic loss, and that balance between dynorphin and substance P is important for dopaminergic neuroprotection. Thus, we examined whether GRe positively affects interactive modulation between dynorphin and substance P against MA neurotoxicity in mice. Methods: We examined changes in dynorphin peptide level, prodynorphin mRNA, and substance P mRNA, substance P-immunoreactivity, homeostasis in enzymatic antioxidant system, oxidative parameter, microglial activation, and pro-apoptotic parameter after a neurotoxic dose of MA to clarify the effects of GRe, prodynorphin knockout, pharmacological inhibition of κ-opioid receptor (i.e., nor-binaltorphimine), or neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor (i.e., L-733,060) against MA insult in mice. Results: GRe attenuated MA-induced decreases in dynorphin level, prodynorphin mRNA expression in the striatum of wild-type (WT) mice. Prodynorphin knockout potentiated MA-induced dopaminergic toxicity in mice. The imbalance of enzymatic antioxidant system, oxidative burdens, microgliosis, and pro-apoptotic changes led to the dopaminergic neurotoxicity. Neuroprotective effects of GRe were more pronounced in prodynorphin knockout than in WT mice. Nor-binaltorphimine, a κ-opioid receptor antagonist, counteracted against protective effects of GRe. In addition, we found that GRe significantly attenuated MA-induced increases in substance P-immunoreactivity and substance P mRNA expression in the substantia nigra. These increases were more evident in prodynorphin knockout than in WT mice. Although, we observed that substance P-immunoreactivity was co-localized in NeuN-immunreactive neurons, GFAP-immunoreactive astrocytes, and Iba-1-immunoreactive microglia. NK1 receptor antagonist L-733,060 or GRe selectively inhibited microgliosis induced by MA. Furthermore, L-733,060 did not show any additive effects against GRe-mediated protective activity (i.e., antioxidant, antimicroglial, and antiapoptotic effects), indicating that NK1 receptor is one of the molecular targets of GRe. Conclusions: Our results suggest that GRe protects MA-induced dopaminergic neurotoxicity via upregulatgion of dynorphin-mediated κ-opioid receptor and downregulation of substance P-mediated NK1 R

Análisis de las Estrategias Metodológicas implementadas por el docente en el desarrollo del proceso de enseñanza- aprendizaje en la disciplina de Geografía e Historia de Nicaragua y su Didáctica en los alumnos/as de Primer año “B” del turno regular de Formación Inicial Docente en la Escuela Normal Central de Managua Alesio Blandón Juárez durante el I semestre del Curso Escolar 2016

El presente trabajo de investigación tiene como finalidad analizar la efectividad que tienen las Estrategias Metodológicas implementadas por el docente en el desarrollo del proceso de enseñanza- aprendizaje en la disciplina de Geografía de Nicaragua y su Didáctica en los alumnos/as de Primer año “B” del turno regular de Formación Inicial Docente en la Escuela Normal Central de Managua Alesio Blandón Juárez durante el I semestre del Curso Escolar 2016. Dicho trabajo de investigación tiene un enfoque naturista o cualitativo, es una vía de transformación social, a través de la cual el ser humano descubre la realidad que le rodea, determina los medios y procedimientos para actuar sobre ella y transformarla de acuerdo a una intensión social. Los procesos de investigación cualitativa, tienen como finalidad primordial la generación y construcción de conocimientos que contribuyen al desarrollo social y personal de cada uno de los miembros de una comunidad. La fase de recolección de los datos de la investigación desarrollada, se realizó de dos formas: una información que se recogió mediante la observación directa del comportamiento de los informantes claves y una información que se obtuvo mediante la interrogación de algunos informantes claves. Para ello, primeramente el investigador realizo una inmersión en el campo de trabajo, con el propósito de identificar los lugares adecuados para recoger y producir la información necesaria y requerid

Micromorphology and development of the epicuticular structure on the epidermal cell of ginseng leaves

Background: A leaf cuticle has different structures and functions as a barrier to water loss and as protection from various environmental stressors. Methods: Leaves of Panax ginseng were examined by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy to investigate the characteristics and development of the epicuticular structure. Results: Along the epidermal wall surface, the uniformly protuberant fine structure was on the adaxial surface of the cuticle. This epicuticular structure was highly wrinkled and radially extended to the marginal region of epidermal cells. The cuticle at the protuberant positions maintained the same thickness. The density of the wall matrix under the structures was also similar to that of the other wall region. By contrast, none of this structure was distributed on the abaxial surface, except in the region of the stoma. During the early developmental phase of the epicuticular structure, small vesicles appeared on wall–cuticle interface in the peripheral wall of epidermal cells. Some electron-opaque vesicles adjacent to the cuticle were fused and formed the cuticle layer, whereas electron-translucent vesicles contacted each other and progressively increased in size within the epidermal wall. Conclusion: The outwardly projected cuticle and epidermal cell wall (i.e., an epicuticular wrinkle) acts as a major barrier to block out sunlight in ginseng leaves. The small vesicles in the peripheral region of epidermal cells may suppress the cuticle and parts of epidermal wall, push it upward, and consequently contribute to the formation of the epicuticular structure

Korean Red Ginseng mitigates spinal demyelination in a model of acute multiple sclerosis by downregulating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways

Background: The potential therapeutic values of Korean Red Ginseng extract (KRGE) in autoimmune disorders of nervous system have not been fully investigated. Methods: We used an acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis animal model of multiple sclerosis and determined the effects and mechanism of KRGE on spinal myelination. Results: Pretreatment with KRGE (100 mg/kg, orally) for 10 days before immunization with myelin basic protein (MBP)68–82 peptide exerted a protective effect against demyelination in the spinal cord, with inhibited recruitment and activation of immune cells including microglia, decreased mRNA expression of detrimental inflammatory mediators (interleukin-6, interferon-γ, and cyclooxygenase-2), but increased mRNA expression of protective inflammatory mediators (insulin-like growth factor β1, transforming growth factor β, and vascular endothelial growth factor-1). These results were associated with significant downregulation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase and nuclear factor-κB signaling pathways in microglia/macrophages, T cells, and astrocytes. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that KRGE alleviates spinal demyelination in acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis through inhibiting the activation of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/nuclear factor-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, KRGE might be used as a new therapeutic for autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, although further investigation is needed. Keywords: demyelination, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, Korean Red Ginseng, nuclear factor-κB, p-38 mitogen-activated protein kinas