การศึกษาการสร้าง C22-polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ในมอส Phycomitrella patens โดยยีนที่ควบคุมเอนไซม์ elongase จากสาหร่าย Pavlova sp.

สำนักงานกองทุนสนับสนุนการวิจั

Neurite Outgrowth and Neuroprotective Effects of Quercetin from Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamk. on Cultured P19-Derived Neurons

Quercetin has been isolated for the first time from ethyl acetate extract of Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamk. C. mimosoides Lamk. (Fabaceae) or Cha rueat (Thai name) is an indigenous plant found in mixed deciduous forest in northern and north-eastern parts of Thailand. Thai rural people consume its young shoots and leaves as a fresh vegetable, as well as it is used for medicinal purposes.The antioxidant capacity in terms of radical scavenging activity of quercetin was determined as IC50 of 3.18 ± 0.07 µg/mL, which was higher than that of Trolox and ascorbic acid (12.54 ± 0.89 and 10.52 ± 0.48 µg/mL, resp.). The suppressive effect of quercetin on both purified and cellular acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes was investigated as IC50 56.84 ± 2.64 and 36.60 ± 2.78 µg/mL, respectively. In order to further investigate the protective ability of quercetin on neuronal cells, P19-derived neurons were used as a neuronal model in this study. As a result, quercetin at a very low dose of 1 nM enhanced survival and induced neurite outgrowth of P19-derived neurons. Furthermore, this flavonoid also possessed significant protection against oxidative stress induced by serum deprivation. Altogether, these findings suggest that quercetin is a multifunctional compound and promising valuable drugs candidate for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease

Cellular responses to 8-methyl nonanoic acid, a degradation by-product of dihydrocapsaicin, in 3T3-L1 adipocytes

Abstract Background Capsaicinoids, such as dihydrocapsaicin (DHC), exert the health-promoting effects of chili peppers on energy metabolism. The metabolic responses to capsaicinoids are primarily mediated through transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1). However, the varying contributions of their metabolites to beneficial health outcomes remain unclear. 8-methyl nonanoic acid (8-MNA), a methyl-branched medium chain fatty acid (MCFA), is an in vivo degradation by-product of DHC. Since MCFAs have emerged as metabolic modulators in adipocytes, here we examined various cellular responses to 8-MNA in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Methods The viability of 3T3-L1 adipocytes exposed to various concentrations of 8-MNA was assessed by the Calcein AM assay. Biochemical assays for lipid accumulation, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity, lipolysis and glucose uptake were performed in 3T3-L1 adipocytes treated with 8-MNA during 48-h nutrient starvation or 5-day maturation. Results 8-MNA caused no impact on cell viability. During nutrient starvation, 8-MNA decreased lipid amounts in association with AMPK activation, a molecular event that suppresses lipogenic processes. Moreover, 3T3-L1 adipocytes that were treated with 8-MNA during 5-day maturation exhibited a reduced lipolytic response to isoproterenol and an increased glucose uptake when stimulated with insulin. Conclusions These results suggest that 8-MNA derived from DHC modulates energy metabolism in adipocytes and also support the idea that the metabolic benefits of chili consumption are partly attributable to 8-MNA

Physicochemical Characteristics, Cytotoxicity, and Antioxidant Activity of Three Lipid Nanoparticulate Formulations of Alpha-lipoic Acid

Exogenously supplied alpha-lipoic acid (LA) has proven to be effective as an antioxidant. In an effort to develop a water-soluble formulation for topical administration, LA was formulated in the form of solid lipid nanoparticles (SLN), nanostructure lipid carriers (NLC), and nanoemulsion (NE) and characterized in terms of physical and biological properties. Mean particle size of 113, 110, and 121 nm were obtained for NE, NLC, and SLN, respectively, with narrow size distribution. Zeta potential was approximately in the range of −25 to −40 mV. Disc and spherical structures of nanoparticles were observed by cryo-scanning electron microscopy. Entrapment efficiency of LA in three formulations was found to be more than 70%. After 120 days of storage at 25°C, physical stability of all formulations remained unchanged whereas the entrapment efficiency of SLN and NLC could be maintained, suggesting relative long-term stability. Prolonged release of LA formulation following the Higuchi model was found where a faster release was observed from NE compared with that of SLN and NLC. More than 80% of cell survivals were found up to 1 μM of LA concentrations. Antioxidant activity analysis demonstrated that all LA-loaded formulations expressed antioxidant activity at a similar magnitude as pure LA. These results suggest that chosen compositions of lipid nanoparticles play an important role on drug loading, stability, and biological activity of nanoparticles. Both SLN and NLC demonstrated their potential as alternative carriers for aqueous topical administration of LA