Mogroside IIE,an in vivo metabolite of sweet agent,alleviates acute lung injury via Pla2g2a-EGFR inhibition

In the face of increasingly serious environmental pollution,the health of human lung tissues is also facing serious threats.Mogroside IIE(M2E)is the main metabolite of sweetening agents mogrosides from the anti-tussive Chinese herbal Siraitia grosvenori.The study elucidated the anti-inflammatory action and molecular mechanism of M2E against acute lung injury(ALI).A lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-induced ALI model was established in mice and MH-S cells were employed to explore the protective mechanism of M2E through the western blotting,co-immunoprecipitation,and quantitative real time-PCR analysis.The results indicated that M2E alleviated LPS-induced lung injury through restraining the activation of secreted phospholipase A2 type IIA(Pla2g2a)-epidermal growth factor receptor(EGFR).The interaction of Pla2g2a and EGFR was identified by co-immunoprecipitation.In addition,M2E protected ALI induced with LPS against inflammatory and damage which were significantly dependent upon the downregulation of AKT and m TOR via the inhibition of Pla2g2a-EGFR.Pla2g2a may represent a potential target for M2E in the improvement of LPS-induced lung injury,which may represent a promising strategy to treat ALI.

Randomized clinical trial of an ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms

Aim： To evaluate the safety and efficacy of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum that shows the strongest 5α-reductase inhibitory activity among the extracts of 19 edible and medicinal mushrooms by a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized and dose-ranging study in men with lower urinary tract symptoms （LUTS）. Methods： In this trial, we randomly assigned 88 men over the age of 49 years who had slight-to-moderate LUTS to 12 weeks of treatment with G. lucidum extract （6 mg once a day） or placebo. The primary outcome measures were changes in the International Prostate Symptom Score （IPSS） and variables of uroflowmetry. Secondary outcome measures included changes in prostate size, residual urinary volume after voiding, laboratory values and the reported adverse effects. Results： G. lucidum was effective and significantly superior to placebo for improving total IPSS with 2.1 points decreasing at the end of treatment （mean difference, -1.18 points; 95% confidence interval, -1.74 to -0.62; P 〈 0.0001）. No changes were observed with respect to quality of life scores, peak urinary flow, mean urinary flow, residual urine, prostate volume, serum prostate-specific antigen or testosterone levels. Overall treatment was well tolerated with no severe adverse effects. Conclusion： The extract of G. lucidum was well tolerated and improved IPSS scores. These results encouraged a further, large-scale evaluation of phytotherapy for a long duration using the extract of G. lucidum on men with LUTS.

Effect of an extract of Ganoderma lucidum in men with lower urinary tract symptoms： a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized and dose-ranging study

Aim： To conduct a double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized and dose-ranging study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the extract of Ganoderma lucidum （G. lucidum） in men with lower urinary tract symptoms （LUTS）. Methods： We enrolled male volunteers （〉 50 years） with an International Prostate Symptom Score （IPSS; questions 1-7） 〉 5 and a prostate-specific antigen （PSA） value 〈 4 ng/mL. Volunteers were randomized into groups of placebo （n = 12）, G. lucidum of 0.6 mg （n = 12）, 6 mg （n = 12） or 60 mg （n = 14）, administered once daily. Efficacy was measured as a change from baseline in IPSS and the peak urine flow rate （Qmax）. Prostate volume and residual urine were estimated by ultrasonography, and blood tests, including PSA levels, were measured at baseline and at the end of the treatment. Results： The overall administration was well tolerated, with no major adverse effects. Statistical significances in the magnitude of changes between the experimental groups were observed at weeks 4 and 8. No changes were observed with respect to Qmax, residual urine, prostate volume or PSA levels. Conclusion： The extract of G. lucidum was well tolerated and an improvement in IPSS was observed. The recommended dose of the extract of G. lucidum is 6 mg in men with LUTS.

Production of Citric Acid from Corncobs with Its Biological Evaluation

Corncobs could serve as a substrate for citric acid production using solid state fermentation technique. The culture optimization concerning substrate concentration, culture duration, pH, temperature and substrate hydrolysis was carried out for maximum productivity of citric acid. Under the optimized conditions, 48.4 g of citric acid was produced from 1 kg dry corncobs. Biological evaluation was carried out for citric acid such as melanin synthesis inhibitory, anti-allergy, anti-bacterial, and hyaluronic acid production activities. The results showed that citric acid has potent melanin inhibitory activity, good inhibition for β-hexosaminidase release and potent stimulatory effect for the production of hyaluronic acid. These activities (melanin synthesis inhibitory, anti-allergy and hyaluronic acid productive activities) of citric acid have been reported for the first time.

Combination Effect of Miconazole with Polygodial against <i>Candida albicans</i>

The combination effect of miconazole with polygodial against Candida albicans was investigated by an in vitro checkerboard method. Isobolograms, fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC), and fractional fungicidal concentration (FFC) indices were used for evaluating the interaction between compounds combined. The combination of miconazole with polygodial exhibited strong synergism on both fungistatic and fungicidal action against this opportunistic pathogen.

The Melanin Biosynthesis Stimulating Compounds Isolated from the Fruiting Bodies of <i>Pleurotus citrinopileatus</i>

In the course to find a stimulating compound for melanin biosynthesis, which should be useful for a gray and a white hair-preventive agent or tanning agent, we evaluated the effects of the methanol extract from mushroom of Pleurotus citrinopileatus on melanin production in B16 melanoma cells without theophylline. Activity-guided fractionation led to isolate myo-inositol (3) and D-mannitol (4) as the stimulating compounds on melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. Also, ergosterol (1), uracil (2), and D-glucose (5) have been isolated from the methanol extract of P. citrinopileatus and showed no effect on melanin production in B16 melanoma cells. These results indicated that myo-inositol (3) and D-mannitol (4) are potential candidates that could be useful such as a gray and a white hair-preventive agent or tanning agent.

Melanin Biosynthesis Inhibitory Activity of Compounds Isolated from Unused Parts of <i>Ammi visinaga</i>

Ten compounds have been isolated from the unused parts of Ammi visinaga. The isolated compounds were identified as tetracosanoic acid (1), β-sitosterol (2), visnadine (3), khellin (4), β-sitosterol glucoside (5), norkhellol (6), khellol (7), rhamnazin (8), cimifugin (9), and cis-khellactone-3’-β-glucopyranoside (10). The chemical structures of these compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic data (NMR, UV, MS and IR spectra). This is the first report on the identification of tetracosanoic acid (1), norkhellol (6) and cimifugin (9) in the Ammi genus. The melanin biosynthesis inhibitory activities of khellin (4), khellol (7), visnadine (3), cimifugin (9), β-sitosterol (2) and β-sitosterol glucoside (5) were evaluated. Khellin (4) exhibited a potent melanin inhibitory effect compared to arbutin with less toxicity.