Black ginger extract increases physical fitness performance and muscular endurance by improving inflammation and energy metabolism

AbstractWe previously reported that polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) in black ginger (Kaempferia parviflora) extract (KPE) increased energy production by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in C2C12 myoblasts. We herein evaluated the effects of KPE on physical fitness performance and muscular endurance in mice. Male mice were orally administered KPE for 4 weeks, and then forced swimming test, open-field test, inclined plane test, and wire hanging test were performed. KPE significantly increased the swimming time, motility after swimming, and grip strength. IL-6 and TNF-α mRNA expression levels were decreased in the soleus muscle, whereas peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator (PGC)-1α and glycogen synthase mRNA expression levels, mitochondrial number, and glycogen content were increased. These results were in agreement with those obtained for KPE and PMFs in C2C12. Therefore, the activation of AMPK by PMFs may be one of the mechanisms by which KPE improves physical fitness performance and muscular endurance

Sarcotaces sp. (Copepoda: Philichthyidae), a parasite of a blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus, from off the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan

Specimens of the philichthyid copepod Sarcotaces sp. were collected from gall-like cysts formed in the trunk and peduncle muscles under the skin of a blacktip grouper, Epinephelus fasciatus (Forsskål, 1775), from off Amami-oshima Island, the Ryukyu Islands, southern Japan. This finding constitutes the first record of copepod of Sarcotaces from the Ryukyu Islands. As many as eight cysts, each containing a large adult female, a dwaf adult male, and many eggs and nauplii of Sarcotaces sp., were observed in this fish

Two wild female bonobos adopted infants from a different social group at Wamba

野生ボノボが他集団の子どもを「養子」とした2事例を報告. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-03-19.Adoption, the act of taking another individual’s offspring and treating it as one’s own, is rare but widely observed in various mammal species and may increase the survival of adoptees. Adoption may also benefit adoptive mothers, for example they might care for close kin to gain indirect fitness or to learn caregiving behaviours. Here, we report two cases of a wild bonobo adopting an infant from a different social group, the first report of cross-group adoption in great apes. In one case, the adoptive mother was already a mother of two dependent offspring. In the other case, the adoptive mother was an old parous female whose own offspring had already emigrated into a different social group. The adoptive mothers provided various maternal care to the adoptees, such as carrying, grooming, nursing, and sharing food. No aggression was observed by group members towards the out-group adoptees. In both cases, adoptees had no maternal kin-relationship with their adoptive mothers. Both adoptive mothers already had experience of rearing their own offspring. Instead, these cases of adoption may have been driven by other evolutionary adaptive traits of bonobos, such as their strong attraction to infants and high tolerance towards immatures and out-group individuals

SYNTHESIS OF PROCYANIDINS C2 AND C1 USING LEWIS ACID MEDIATED EQUIMOLAR CONDENSATION

Synthesis of procyanidins C2 and C1 was achieved via a stereoselective intermolecular condensation of equimolar amount of dimeric catechin or epicatechin nucleophile and monomeric catechin or epicatechin electrophile using Lewis acid. In the case of synthesis of procyanidin C2, AgBF4 and AgOTf afforded condensed product in excellent yield. As to the synthesis of procyanidin C1, Yb(OTf)(3) was effective for equimolar condensation.ArticleHETEROCYCLES. 85(9):2241-2250 (2012)journal articl

Syntheses of prodelphinidin B1, B2, and B4 and their antitumor activities against human PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines

Total synthesis of prodelphinidin B1, B2, and B4 has been accomplished. The key step is Lewis acid-mediated equimolar condensations between an epigallocatechin and/or a gallocatechin nucleophile and an epigallocatechin and/or a gallocatechin electrophile. The antitumor effects of synthetic prodelphinidin B1-B4 against human PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines have been investigated. These compounds showed significant antitumor effects. Their activity seemed to be little bit stronger than EGCG and prodelphinidin B3, known antitumor agent.ArticleTETRAHEDRON LETTERS. 54(52):7188-7192 (2013)journal articl

Syntheses of prodelphinidin B3 and C2, and their antitumor activities through cell cycle arrest and caspase-3 activation

Total synthesis of prodelphinidin B3 and C2 have been accomplished. The key step is Lewis acid-mediated equimolar condensations between a catechin and/or gallocatechin nucleophile and a gallocatechin electrophile. The antitumor effects of synthetic prodelphidin B3 and C2 against PC-3 prostate cancer cell lines have been investigated. Both compounds showed significant antitumor effects. Their activity was almost the same as that of EGCG, a known antitumor agent.ArticleTETRAHEDRON. 69(17):3543-3550 (2013)journal articl