Mindfulness Enhancement Model Using Feedback Online Diary to Observe Oneself

In everyday life, facing too many problems has to draw us from being perfect human. So, awareness is necessary to protect one’s life to have a balance livelihood. Mindfulness is working with everything in every moment happening in our life. Being conscious of our thoughts to refrain from bad deeds while holding on to virtues with attentive consciousness of good or bad consequences is regarded as a way of mindfulness training which can be practiced in daily life. This paper would like to propose a mindfulness enhancement model using concrete tool with education theory of Cognitive Constructionism and Learning Diary on Artificial Intelligent (Expert System) infiltrating the feedback of Dhamma, morality or remarks to individual to practice and observe oneself. Keywords: Online diary, Expert system, Mindfulness, Innovation, Self realizatio

Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of high-dose vitamin C in cholangiocarcinoma cell line

Purpose: To evaluate the antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of high-dose vitamin C incholangiocarcinoma cell line (CCA).Methods: Sulforhodamine B colorimetric assay was used to determine cell proliferation in human K100- CCA cell lines. The expression of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein/ pro-apoptotic Bax protein was evaluated by Western blot analysis.Results: Ascorbic acid inhibited the growth of CCA in a dose-dependent manner. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ascorbic acid on K100 at 24 h was 55 ± 9.4 mM. It was observed that treatment with ascorbic acid resulted in the reduction of glutathione and increased hydrogen peroxide contents in the cells. Moreover, disturbance of mitochondrial membrane potential occurred in ascorbic acid-treated cells in a dose-dependence manner. The ratio of Bcl2/Bax decreased in CCA treated with ascorbic acid.Conclusion: The results show that the anti-proliferation effect of ascorbic acid in CCA may be attributable to the modulation of expressions of Bcl-2 and Bax proteins and dissipation of the mitochondrial electrochemical potential gradient, which is an early event leading to apoptosis.Keywords: Vitamin C, Cholangiocarcinoma, Apoptosis, Glutathione, Mitochondrial membrane potentia

Effect of lemongrass water extract supplementation on atherogenic index and antioxidant status in rats

Cymbopogon citratus (DC) Stapf., commonly known as lemongrass, possesses strong antioxidant and cardiotonic properties. Lemongrass water extract contains several polyphenolic compounds including gallic acid, isoquercetin, quercetin, rutin, catechin and tannic acid. Rutin, isoquercetin catechin and quercetin are the flavonoids most abundantly found in the extract. The extract significantly decreased total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and atherogenic index in rats after treatment (p < 0.05). Expression of genes and protein of sterol regulatory element binding protein-1c (SREBP1c) and HMG-CoA reductase (HMGR) was also lowered significantly in treated groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, serum antioxidant capacity increased in treated rats in comparison with untreated ones (p < 0.05) and was associated with decreased serum lipid peroxidation

Hepatoprotective and antioxidant effects of Cymbopogon citratus Stapf (Lemon grass) extract in paracetamolinduced hepatotoxicity in rats

Purpose: To investigate the protective effect of Cymbopogon citrates Stapf. (CS, lemongrass) extract on paracetamol (PCM)-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.Methods: The rats were orally administered CS extract (1000 mg/kg/day) for 30 days prior to induction of hepatotoxicity by a single oral administration of PCM (3 g/kg). Hepatoprotection was assessed by measuring the level of hepatic markers including aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT) and oxidant/antioxidant markers including Malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl, and glutathione (GSH) in liver homogenate and serum. Phytochemical screening of the CS extract was also performed.Results: Phytochemical screening of the extract indicate the presence of tannins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. Elevation of serum AST, ALT, and MDA levels along with depletion GSH in the liver were observed in rats treated with PCM alone compared with control (p &lt; 0.05). Pre-treatment of the animal with CS extract reduced the levels of hepatic markers (AST and ALT). Pre-treatment with CS extract also significantly reduced oxidative stress induced by PCM as shown by an increase in GSH level and reduction of MDA compared to rats treated with PCM alone (p&lt;0.05).Conclusion: The results indicate that CS possesses antioxidant activity and it exerts its effect by reducing lipid peroxidation and restoring GSH. Pre-treatment with CS extract reduces oxidative stress and ameliorates hepatic injury induced by PCM.Keywords: Cymbopogon citratus, Antioxidant, Oxidative stress, Hepatotoxicit

Rice bran water extract attenuates pancreatic abnormalities in high-fat diet-induced obese rats

Purpose: To investigate the protective potential of rice bran water extract (RBE) from Khao Dawk Mali 105 on pancreatic abnormalities in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese rats.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups: control group, HFD group, and HFD group treated with RBE at 2,205 or 4,410 mg/kg/day. After 4 weeks, body weight, glucose homeostatic parameters, and pancreatic fat accumulation were assessed. mRNA expression levels of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c), insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), glucose transporter-2 (GLUT-2) and glucokinase (GK) genes in pancreas were also analyzed.Results: Compared with HFD group, two doses of RBE-treated rats significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reversed HFD-induced obesity, hyperglycemia, impaired glucose tolerance and pancreatic triglyceride accumulation in rats. Histological examination of HFD-induced obese rats revealed fat droplets in acinar cells, but these alterations were ameliorated in RBE-treated rats. RBE treatment showed significantly (p &lt; 0.05) decreased SREBP-1c expression, and also significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased IRS-2, GLUT-2 and GK expressions in pancreas.Conclusion: RBE consumption may attenuate pancreatic abnormalities by inhibiting fat accumulation, as well as enhancing insulin sensitivity and glucose sensing in the pancreas of HFD-induced obese rats.Keywords: Rice bran, Obesity, Pancreatic steatosis, Insulin signaling, Glucose senso

Curcumin―The Paradigm of a Multi-Target Natural Compound with Applications in Cancer Prevention and Treatment

As cancer is a multifactor disease, it may require treatment with compounds able to target multiple intracellular components. We summarize here how curcumin is able to modulate many components of intracellular signaling pathways implicated in inflammation, cell proliferation and invasion and to induce genetic modulations eventually leading to tumor cell death. Clinical applications of this natural compound were initially limited by its low solubility and bioavailability in both plasma and tissues but combination with adjuvant and delivery vehicles was reported to largely improve bio-availability of curcumin. Moreover, curcumin was reported to act in synergism with several natural compounds or synthetic agents commonly used in chemotherapy. Based on this, curcumin could thus be considered as a good candidate for cancer prevention and treatment when used alone or in combination with other conventional treatments