Applied Biological Chemistry最新文献

In order to identify the key antioxidant defense systems used to cope with high-temperature stress in rice leaf chloroplasts following biochar supplementation, the present study compared the expression levels of chloroplast proteins related to antioxidant defense in high-temperature stressed rice leaves between without (C0) and with biochar supplementation (C40; 40 g biochar kg^–1 soil). A total of sixteen differentially expressed antioxidant chloroplastic proteins were identified. Among them, three antioxidant enzyme proteins and eight thioredoxin proteins were 62–123% and 37–225% higher under the C40 treatment compared to C0, respectively. These results suggest that both antioxidant enzymes and the thioredoxin system are central to the biochar-mediated protection of rice leaves exposed to high-temperature stress.

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory compounds in Ogaza, Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruit, and their extracts using metabolomic screening. Ogaza extracts were obtained in various solvents, such as 70% ethanol, 70% methanol, and water. The anti-inflammatory activity was estimated by evaluating nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells treated with the extracts. The 70% ethanol extract (EO) showed the most effective anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting nitric oxide production by approximately 50% and downregulating iNOS expression. The 70% ethanol extract was further fractionated into three partial subfractions by preparative LC to identify the anti-inflammatory compounds. Assessment of the anti-inflammatory activity of each subfraction revealed that the third subfraction (E-F3) showed the highest inhibitory activity against nitric oxide. E-F3 effectively suppressed iNOS expression. Subsequently, liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to identify the compounds that significantly contributed to the anti-inflammatory activity of the Ogaza extract. Fourteen and 16 compounds in the negative- and positive-ion modes, respectively, were identified as significant constituents of Ogaza. Compounds like quercetin, hyperoside, acanthoside D, oleanolic acid, and scopoletin were identified as potential anti-inflammatory components in Ogaza extract. This study characterized the functional properties of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus fruit and indicated the possibility that other compartments of Acanthopanax sessiliflorus may also serve as natural sources of nutraceuticals.

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has been treated via injectable hydrogels and biomaterial patches invented using tissue engineering advancements over the past decade. Yet the curative potential of injectable hydrogels and stem cells is limited. Here, we propose the development of an injectable and conductive hydrogel composed of oxidised macromolecular hyaluronic acid and chitosan-grafted aniline tetramer polymeric components. In an attempt to enhance the therapeutic potential of AMI therapy, mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord blood (HUCB-MSC) have been integrated into the formulation of a conductive hydrogel. For reliable connection to the beating hearts, the hydrogel exhibited suitable adhesive properties. Hydrogel’s potent biocompatibility was determined by in vitro investigations of cell viability and proliferation of NRCMs and H9C2 cardiomyocytes. After myocardial injection, longer HUCB-MSCs survival length, cardiac functioning, and histology in SD rat myocardium were demonstrated, greatly associated by up-regulation and downregulation of cardiac-related relative gene expressions of angiogenic factors and inflammatory factors, respectively. The injectable hydrogel that contained HUCB-MSCs substantially enhanced the therapeutic benefits, indicating a potentially beneficial therapeutic approach to AMI therapy.

The untargeted metabolomics-based molecular networking approach combined with multivariate analysis, proves to be an effective strategy for distinguishing raw materials in herbal medicine according to specific criteria. It exhibits the correlations between chemical constituents and the geographical habitats of plants, providing a valuable tool for ensuring quality control in mass production within the industry. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive investigation of the chemical compositions of Epimedium koreanum Nakai and performed comparative analyses on four extracts collected from distinct regions in South Korea using untargeted metabolomics tools. Through the comprehensive use of UPLC-QTOF/MS analysis and advanced statistical techniques, we elucidated the chemical composition, leading to the identification of key chemical markers. Additionally, the molecular networking analysis revealed distinct clusters of flavonoids and phenolic acids, highlighting the influence of regional factors on the metabolite profiles. These findings offer a promising avenue for enhancing quality control and traceability in the herbal medicine industry, underscoring the important role of geographical variation in the chemical profiles of herbal products.

Natural compounds are known as a resource of anti-cancer agents. Anti-cancer capacity toward human epithelial lung cancer cell lines (A549, H460) was examined with and without treatment of trypsin on the extract of Anoplophora glabripennis. IC50 values without trypsin treatment were about 21.3 and 25.0 μg/mL for H460 and A549, respectively. When the extract was treated with trypsin, the IC₅₀ values were 16.0 and 15.6 μg/mL for H460 and A549, respectively, indicating that the trypsin treatment increased the anti-cancer capacity. Because trypsin treatment increased the capacity, the extract was treated with trypsin to isolate the peptide W-0803 which has lysin (K) in C-terminal and α-helix structures. With treatment of W-0803, the cell viability decreased dose-dependently for H460 and A549 cells. Apoptosis analysis showed that the cell death with the treatment of peptide W-0803 was mainly by apoptosis. The wound-healing assay also showed that the peptide W-0803 has an inhibitory capability on cell migration of H460 and A549 cells. All these results suggest that the peptide W-0803 is an anti-cancer agent for lung cancer cell treatment.

Background

Trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO) is believed to be linked to increased likelihood of cardiovascular disease. While probiotics have shown limited effectiveness in reducing TMAO levels, the potential of postbiotics remains underexplored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of Akkermansia muciniphila (A. muciniphila) postbiotic administration on choline-induced TMAO production in mice by modifying the gut microbiota.

Methods

Female C57BL/6J mice were divided into six groups, including a control group, high-choline diet group, live A. muciniphila probiotic group, pasteurized A. muciniphila postbiotic group, sodium butyrate group, and sodium propionate group. Various measurements and analyses were conducted, including TMAO and TMA levels in serum, urine, and cecal contents, as well as the expression of FXR and FMO3 in liver tissues. Additionally, metabolic parameters, body weight, serum lipid profile, hepatic protein expression (FMO3, FXR, CutC, and CutD), and gut microbiota composition were assessed.

Results

Administration of A. muciniphila postbiotic significantly reduced choline-induced plasma TMAO levels in mice. Furthermore, improvements in serum lipid profiles and liver enzyme levels suggested potential enhancements in lipid metabolism and liver function. The study also observed modulation of specific proteins related to TMAO production and metabolism, including CutC and CutD.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the potential of A. muciniphila postbiotics as a dietary strategy for mitigating cardiovascular disease risk by modulating the gut-TMAO axis. Postbiotics, particularly A. muciniphila, offer advantages over probiotics and warrant further investigation for their therapeutic applications in gastrointestinal and metabolic disorders.

Graphical Abstract

Soybean seeds are excellent sources of tocopherols, B vitamins, and isoflavones, which are well known for their health benefits. This study investigated the influence of environment and genotype on these constituents across 13 Korean soybean varieties cultivated in three locations during the 2017–2019 growing seasons. Statistical analyses, employing both univariate and multivariate methods, revealed significant impacts of genetic and environmental factors on the composition of tocopherols, B vitamins, and isoflavones. Through permutational univariate analysis of variance, the primary contributors to each measured component were identified. Genotype strongly influenced the levels of β- and δ-tocopherols, whereas the interaction between location and year predominantly affected α- and γ-tocopherols. Vitamin B1 content was predominantly determined by genotype, whereas B3 and B6 were influenced by annual variations. Vitamin B2 level was primarily affected by the interplay between environmental and genotypic effects. Genotype had a significant effect on isoflavone components, with the exception of daidzein. Furthermore, early maturing varieties and those with black seed coats exhibited low levels of isoflavone components and total isoflavones, suggesting a relationship between maturity group and seed coat color in isoflavone variation. These findings can be used as reference values for compositional equivalence assessment of genetically modified soybeans.

The work presents a report on Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) synthesized through a green approach using Nauclea latifolia fruit extracts, with a view to investigating the prepared nanoparticles for their antimicrobial activities. The ZnO NPs synthesized were characterized using various analytical instruments, including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Ultraviolet-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The instruments provided valuable information on the characteristics of the Zn ONPs. The antibacterial activities of the synthesized ZnO NPs were evaluated with Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The maximum absorption was observed at 379 nm. The average hydrodynamic size and the polydispersity index (PDI) were measured as 81.77 nm and 0.401, respectively. The nanomaterial has a hexagonal wurtzite structure, and the Zn–O bond was detected at 537 cm^–1. The nanoparticles were in the nano range with sizes ranging from 10.02 nm to 28.50 nm. The N. latifolia fruit extract-mediated ZnO NPs showed excellent performance against the two bacteria at all concentrations of ZnO NPs. The highest inhibition zones for E. coli and S. aureus at 8 mg/L of ZnO NPs are 21 and 16 mm, respectively. This study provides valuable insights into an efficient, simple, and environmentally friendly route for synthesizing ZnO NPs with a potential application in the biomedical field.

The prolonged state of hepatic inflammation can lead to liver damage, a critical driving force in the progression of liver-related diseases. Locusta migratoria (LM), an edible insect, is recognized for its protein richness and potential to produce a range of bioactive polypeptides, presenting a novel solution for liver disease. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of LM hydrolysates in human hepatoma G2 (Hep G2) cells challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS)/D-Galactosamine (D-Gal), a model of liver injury. Remarkably, LM hydrolysates significantly ameliorated cell damage, as evidenced by the inhibition of the LPS/D-Gal-induced decrease in cell viability and reduction in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release. Furthermore, LM hydrolysates alleviated the release of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) from cells exposed to LPS/D-Gal and lowered the secretion of inflammatory cytokines while suppressing the activation of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), a key pathway in inflammation. In particular, LM-N hydrolysate mitigated hepatotoxicity by attenuation of inflammatory responses to reduce interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels, and NF-κB nuclear translocation. These findings suggest that LM hydrolysates could potentially offer hepatoprotective effects by mitigating the inflammatory responses induced by LPS/D-Gal.