Traditional remedies used in the Western Pacific for the treatment of ciguatera poisoning

Ciguatera is a specific type of food poisoning associated with the ingestion of tropical fish, which, although normally safe for consumption, may at times contain high amounts of ciguatoxin, as well as other chemically related toxins. Widespread in tropical regions where coral reefs are present, ciguatera fish poisoning constitutes a major hindrance for local fishing industries, local economies and foreign trade. Because no symptomatic treatment has been totally satisfactory, folk remedies remain of great interest. In this paper, a list of plants used in reating ciguatera poisoning in the Western Pacific region is presented, with emphasis on species whose exact utilization (par of plant used, preparation, dosage) has been determined. (Résumé d'auteur

A New Hydroxylated Nonaprenylhydroquinone from the Mediterranean Marine Sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus

Chemical investigation of the Mediterranean sponge Sarcotragus spinosulus led to the isolation of a new hydroxylated nonaprenylhydroquinone, along with two known metabolites, hepta- and octaprenylhydroquinones. The structure of the new metabolite was assigned by extensive 1D and 2D NMR analyses and MS studies. The antileukemic effect of the three compounds towards the chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells line K562 was also evaluated

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Molécules bioactives originales d'éponges marines martiniquaises et mahoraises (prospection, étude structurale et synthèse biomimétique)

Notre laboratoire se consacre à l isolement et à la caractérisation de nouvelles molécules bioactives à partir d éponges marines. A l aide d un bioguidage effectué au long des étapes de purification et d isolement, nous sélectionnons de manière efficace les composés à activité antitumorale. Ce manuscrit présente les travaux de recherche réalisés sur des éponges marines récoltées à Mayotte (2002) et en Martinique (2002), et plus particulièrement sur l éponge Plakortis Zyggompha, qui, d après la littérature, a été très peu étudiée, son étude a conduit à l isolement et la caractérisation de 15 nouveaux métabolites secondaires originaux appartenant à la famille chimique des polycétides. Plusieurs d entre eux ont fait l objet d une évaluation biologique avancée, d une étude biogénétique et les résultats d un travail de synthèse biométrique sont présentés.Ongoing researchs in our laboratory focus on the isolation and the characterization of new bioactive metabolites isolated frommarine sponges. A bioguided fractionation is performed to target efficiently antitumoral compounds. This manuscript presents our works on marine sponges collected off the Mayotte (2002) and the Martinique (2002) islands, and especially on the rare species Plakortis Zyggompha. This study led to the isolation and the characterization of 15 new secondary matabolites belonging to the Polyketides chemical family, several of them were subjected to an advanced biological evaluation, a biogenetic stud, and the results of the biomimetic synthesis works are presented.NICE-BU Sciences (060882101) / SudocSudocFranceF