Exploring the Antibacterial Potential and Underlying Mechanisms of Prunella vulgaris L on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Prunella vulgaris L. (PV) is a widely distributed plant species, known for its versatile applications in both traditional and contemporary medicine, as well as in functional food development. Despite its broad-spectrum antimicrobial utility, the specific mechanism of antibacterial action remains elusive. To fill this knowledge gap, the present study investigated the antibacterial properties of PV extracts against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and assessed their mechanistic impact on bacterial cells and cellular functions. The aqueous extract of PV demonstrated greater anti-MRSA activity compared to the ethanolic and methanolic extracts. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS tentatively identified 28 phytochemical components in the aqueous extract of PV. Exposure to an aqueous extract at ½ MIC and MIC for 5 h resulted in a significant release of intracellular nucleic acid (up to 6-fold) and protein (up to 10-fold) into the extracellular environment. Additionally, this treatment caused a notable decline in the activity of several crucial enzymes, including a 41.51% reduction in alkaline phosphatase (AKP), a 45.71% decrease in adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and a 48.99% drop in superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, there was a decrease of 24.17% at ½ MIC and 27.17% at MIC in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity and energy transfer. Collectively, these findings indicate that the anti-MRSA properties of PV may stem from its ability to disrupt membrane and cell wall integrity, interfere with enzymatic activity, and impede bacterial cell metabolism and the transmission of information and energy that is essential for bacterial growth, ultimately resulting in bacterial apoptosis. The diverse range of characteristics exhibited by PV positions it as a promising antimicrobial agent with broad applications for enhancing health and improving food safety and quality

Effects of bisphenol A exposure at different circadian time on hepatic lipid metabolism in mice

BackgroundLipid metabolism in liver shows circadian-dependent profiles. The hepatotoxicity of environmental chemicals is dependent on circadian time. ObjectiveTo observe the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) exposure at different zeitgeber time (ZT) on hepatic and blood lipid metabolism and decipher the underlying mechanisms related to circadian rhythm in mice. MethodsThirty-five female C57BL/6J mice were sacrificed every 4 h in a light-dark cycle (12 h/12 h). The liver tissues were collected to describe the circadian profiles of hepatic Rev-erba, Bmal1, Clock, Srebp1c, and Chrebp mRNA expression levels within 24 h. Thirty female mice were divided into 6 groups by the timing (ZT3 represents the 3 h after light on, ZT15 represents the 3 h after light off) and dose (50 or 500 μg·kg−1·d−1) of BPA exposure to observe hepatotoxicity. Mice were gavaged with designed doses of BPA once per day for 4 weeks. Mice were maintained with ad libitum access to food and water and measured body weight weekly. After the experiment, mice were euthanatized and liver tissues were separated to determine the biochemical indicators of lipid metabolism and lipid metabolism- and circadian-related gene mRNA expressions. ResultsHepatic Rev-erba, Bmal1, Clock, Srebp1c, and Chrebp mRNA expression levels were rhythmic during a 24 h period in mice. At ZT3 and ZT15, BPA did not alter body weight, plasma glucose, plasma total cholesterol, plasma low density lipoprotein cholesterol, and plasma triglycerides (P>0.05). The plasma high density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased in the 50 μg·kg−1·d−1 BPA group at ZT3 by 14.56% compared with the control group (P<0.05). The liver triglycerides increased in the 50 μg·kg−1·d−1 BPA group at ZT15 by 115.20% compared with the control group (P<0.05). BPA decreased Srebp1c mRNA expression level when dosing at ZT3 and increased Chrebp, Srebp1c, and Acc1 mRNA expression levels when dosing at ZT15 compared with the control group (P<0.05). BPA increased Bmal1 mRNA expression level and decreased Rev-erbα mRNA expression level at ZT3 exposure and decreased Bmal1 and increased Rev-erbα mRNA expression level at ZT15 exposure (P<0.05). ConclusionBPA exposure at light or dark period has different effects on hepatic lipid metabolism in mice. Hepatic lipid deposit appears when BPA is dosed at dark period. Rev-erbα-Bmal1 regulation circuits and the subsequent upregulation of Srebp1c and Chrebp and the target gene Acc1 may be involved

Exploring the Antibacterial Potential and Underlying Mechanisms of <i>Prunella vulgaris</i> L. on Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Prunella vulgaris L. (PV) is a widely distributed plant species, known for its versatile applications in both traditional and contemporary medicine, as well as in functional food development. Despite its broad-spectrum antimicrobial utility, the specific mechanism of antibacterial action remains elusive. To fill this knowledge gap, the present study investigated the antibacterial properties of PV extracts against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and assessed their mechanistic impact on bacterial cells and cellular functions. The aqueous extract of PV demonstrated greater anti-MRSA activity compared to the ethanolic and methanolic extracts. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS tentatively identified 28 phytochemical components in the aqueous extract of PV. Exposure to an aqueous extract at ½ MIC and MIC for 5 h resulted in a significant release of intracellular nucleic acid (up to 6-fold) and protein (up to 10-fold) into the extracellular environment. Additionally, this treatment caused a notable decline in the activity of several crucial enzymes, including a 41.51% reduction in alkaline phosphatase (AKP), a 45.71% decrease in adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and a 48.99% drop in superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, there was a decrease of 24.17% at ½ MIC and 27.17% at MIC in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity and energy transfer. Collectively, these findings indicate that the anti-MRSA properties of PV may stem from its ability to disrupt membrane and cell wall integrity, interfere with enzymatic activity, and impede bacterial cell metabolism and the transmission of information and energy that is essential for bacterial growth, ultimately resulting in bacterial apoptosis. The diverse range of characteristics exhibited by PV positions it as a promising antimicrobial agent with broad applications for enhancing health and improving food safety and quality

Exploring the antibacterial potential and underlying mechanisms of Prunella vulgaris L. on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Prunella vulgaris L. (PV) is a widely distributed plant species, known for its versatile applications in both traditional and contemporary medicine, as well as in functional food development. Despite its broad-spectrum antimicrobial utility, the specific mechanism of antibacterial action remains elusive. To fill this knowledge gap, the present study investigated the antibacterial properties of PV extracts against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and assessed their mechanistic impact on bacterial cells and cellular functions. The aqueous extract of PV demonstrated greater anti-MRSA activity compared to the ethanolic and methanolic extracts. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS tentatively identified 28 phytochemical components in the aqueous extract of PV. Exposure to an aqueous extract at ½ MIC and MIC for 5 h resulted in a significant release of intracellular nucleic acid (up to 6-fold) and protein (up to 10-fold) into the extracellular environment. Additionally, this treatment caused a notable decline in the activity of several crucial enzymes, including a 41.51% reduction in alkaline phosphatase (AKP), a 45.71% decrease in adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), and a 48.99% drop in superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, there was a decrease of 24.17% at ½ MIC and 27.17% at MIC in tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle activity and energy transfer. Collectively, these findings indicate that the anti-MRSA properties of PV may stem from its ability to disrupt membrane and cell wall integrity, interfere with enzymatic activity, and impede bacterial cell metabolism and the transmission of information and energy that is essential for bacterial growth, ultimately resulting in bacterial apoptosis. The diverse range of characteristics exhibited by PV positions it as a promising antimicrobial agent with broad applications for enhancing health and improving food safety and quality

The prognostic value of global DNA hypomethylation in cancer: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Aberrant methylation of the global genome has been investigated as a prognostic indicator in various cancers, but the results are controversial and ambiguous. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This meta-analysis presents pooled estimates of the evidence to elucidate this issue. We searched the electronic databases: PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Science and the Cochrane library (up to August 2013) to identify all of the relevant studies. The association between the level of surrogates' indexes of genome-wide hypomethylation (LINE-1, Alu and Sat-α) and the overall survival (OS) of cancer patients was examined. In addition, the pooled hazard ratios (HRs) with their 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated to estimate the influences through fixed-effects and random-effects model. Finally, twenty studies with total population of 5447 met the inclusion criteria. The results indicate that the summary HRs for the studies employing LINE-1, Alu, and Sat-α repetitive elements also show that the global DNA hypomethylation have significant desirable effects on the tumour prognostic value. The pooled HRs (and CIs) of LINE-1, Alu and Sat-α were 1.83 (1.38-2.44), 2.00 (1.16-3.45), and 2.92 (1.04-8.25), with a heterogeneity measure index of I2 (and p-value) shows of 66.6% (p = 0.001), 57.1% (p = 0.053) and 68.2% (p = 0.076) respectively. The meta-regression and subgroup analysis indicated that the percentage of hypomethylated sample of cancer patients is one source of heterogeneity. CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis findings support the hypothesis that the global DNA hypomethylation is associated with a detrimental prognosis in tumour patients

Meta-analysis of the forest plot showing the association between the genome-wide DNA hypomethylation and the overall cancer survival.

<p>The squares represent the size of the study and are centred on the HR, and the whiskers represent the 95% CIs. A random effects (RE) model was used.</p

Meta-regression and subgroup analysis of the studies reporting the association of LINE-1 hypomethylation and overall survival of cancer patients.

<p>Abbreviations: CI = confidence interval; HR = hazard ration; HG: heterogeneity.</p><p>Meta-regression and subgroup analysis of the studies reporting the association of LINE-1 hypomethylation and overall survival of cancer patients.</p

Flow diagram illustrating the screening and selection process.

<p>Flow diagram illustrating the screening and selection process.</p

Major features of the included studies.

<p>Abbreviations: MSP = Methylation-specific PCR; Q-MSP = Quantitive MSP; BSP = bisulfite sequencing PCR; COBRA = Combined bisulfite restriction analysis ; GC = Gastric Cancer;; GBMs = Glioblastoma Multiformes; LGG = Glioblastoma Glioblastoma multiformes; MM = Multiple Myeloma; NSCLC = Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer; CRC = Colorectal cancer; HCC = Hepatocellular Carcinoma; HNSCC = Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas; CLL = chronic lymphocytic leukemia; ESCC = Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; OC = Ovarian Cancer; BC = Breast Cancer; CLK = chronic lymphocytic leukemia.</p><p>Major features of the included studies.</p

Funnel plot for the visual assessment of the presence of publication bias associated with all of the studies included in the meta-analysis.

<p>The funnel graph plots the log of the hazard ratio (HR) against the standard error of the log of the HR (an indicator of the sample size). The open circles indicate the individual studies. The line in the centre represents the pooled HR. Egger's test for publication bias has no significance (p = 0.322).</p