Halophyte Limonium tetragonum has recently been of interest in Korea for its nutritional value and salty taste which made it an ideal vegetable. In this study, the potential of L. tetragonum ...preventing excess weight gain, obesity and the related health problem has been evaluated in vitro and in vivo. The treatment with 100 mg/kg of L. tetragonum EtOAc soluble fraction (EALT) apparently prevented the body weight gain, adipose tissue weight gain, and the increase of triglyceride and total cholesterol level in mice fed a high-fat diet for 8 weeks. In addition, both glucose tolerance and insulin resistance in dietary obese mice were improved by EALT administration. A marked decrease in adipocyte differentiation was observed in the EALT (50 µg/mL)-treated 3T3-L1 cells, which was mediated by the suppression of adipogenesis-related transcription factors including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein (C/EBP)α, and Sterol regulatory element binding protein-1 (SREBP-1) and adipocyte-specific proteins such as fatty acid synthase (FAS), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), and adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2). The major components contained in EALT were identified as (−)-epigallocatechin-3-(3″-O-methyl) gallate, (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate, and myricetin-3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside based on its phytochemical analysis. Results suggested that EALT might be available as functional crop and bioactive diet supplement for the prevention and/or treatment of obesity.
Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) is a potent toxic material that can cause necrosis and subsequent fibrosis in the liver. Based on the previously reported hepatoprotective effect of Limonium tetragonum ...against the proliferation of hepatic stellate cells, we tested the EtOAc soluble fraction of L. tetragonum extract (EALT) in a DEN-induced hepatotoxic rat model. The development of hepatotoxicity including mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrosis induced by intraperitoneal injections of DEN (70 mg/2 mL/kg body weight (b.w.) per week) was observed at 4, 6 and 8 weeks after the first DEN treatment. Administration of EALT (200 mg/kg body weight, per os (p.o.)) induced significant reductions in serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), and triglycerides (TG) in DEN-injected rats. Increased oxidative stress in DEN-induced liver fibrosis rats was diminished by EALT treatment through a decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA) and increase in superoxide dismutase (SOD). Histologic findings that included markedly attenuated mononuclear cell infiltration and fibrosis could be observed in liver samples from the EALT-treated groups. An extract of Hovenia dulcis fruit and Sylimarin were used as positive controls. The present study provides direct experimental evidence for EALT attenuated hepatic injury and fibrosis in DEN-treated mice. The L. tetragonum EtOAc fraction might be useful in treating fibrotic liver diseases.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), characterized by the enlargement of the prostate gland and subsequent lower urinary tract symptoms, poses a significant health concern for aging men with ...increasing prevalence. Extensive efforts encompassing in vitro and in vivo models are underway to identify novel and effective agents for the management and treatment of BPH. Research endeavors are primarily channeled toward assessing the potential of compounds to inhibit cell proliferation, curb inflammation, and display anti-androgenic activity. Notably, through screening aimed at inhibiting 5-alpha reductase type 2 (5αR2) in human prostatic cells, two acyl compounds (1 and 2) were isolated from a bioactive fraction sourced from an association of marine sponges Poecillastra sp. and Jaspis sp. The complete structure of 1 was determined as (Z)-dec-3-enony (2S, 3S)-capreomycidine, ascertained by JBCA and ECD comparison. While the absolute configurations of 2 remained unassigned, it was identified as a linkage of a 2, 7S*-dihydoxy-9R*-methyloctadecanoyl group with the 2-amino position of a tramiprosate moiety referred to as homotaurine. Evaluation of both compounds encompassed the assessment of their inhibitory effects on key biomarkers (5αR2, AR, PSA, and PCNA) associated with BPH in testosterone propionate (TP)-activated LNCap and RWPE-1 cells.
, a halophyte in the Amaranthaceae family, exhibits remarkable resilience to high salt and alkali stresses despite the absence of salt glands or vesicles in its leaves. While there is growing ...pharmacological interest in
, research on its secondary metabolites remains limited. In this study, chemical constituents of the aerial parts of
were identified using 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments, and its biological activity concerning hair loss was newly reported. Eight compounds, including alkaloids (
~
), flavonoids (
~
), and phenolics (
and
), were isolated. The compounds, except the flavonoids, were isolated for the first time from
In the HPLC chromatogram, quercetin-3-
-β-d-glucoside, kaempferol-3-
-β-d-glucoside, and kaempferol were identified as major constituents in the extract of
. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of the extract of
and the isolated compounds
~
on the expressions of VEGF and IGF-1, as well as the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, were evaluated in human follicle dermal papilla cells (HFDPCs) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Among the eight compounds, compound 4 was the most potent in terms of increasing the expression of VEGF and IGF-1 and the regulation of Wnt/β-catenin. These findings suggest that
extract and its compounds are potential new candidates for preventing or treating hair loss.
There were five sesquiterpene lactones, belonging to the eudesmanolide class, isolated from the halophyte
DC. The structures of the compounds were determined using spectroscopic methods, including 1D ...and 2D NMR spectra, MS data, and optical rotation values. Compounds
and
were characterized by the position of
-hydroxyphenylacetyl group in the sugar moiety. In the evaluation of anti-inflammatory effects on LPS-activated RAW264.7 macrophages, compound
, 5α,6βH-eudesma-3,11(13)-dien-12,6α-olide, potently suppressed the expression of iNOS and COS-2, as well as the production of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10. Treatment of
regulates the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
Ovataline (1), which is a polar metabolite containing a hexahydroquinoline moiety, was isolated from cultures of the marine dinoflagellate Ostreopsis cf. ovata. 1 was characterized as a zwitterionic ...compound with hexahydroquinoline and tetrahydropyran rings. The configurations of the chiral centers in 1 were established using ROESY correlations, J-based configurational and Mosher reaction analyses, and density functional theory calculations. 1 exhibited a 78% (1 μM) inhibition of type II 5α-reductase in testosterone propionate-induced RWPE-1 human prostatic cells.
Cryptophytes are ubiquitous and one of the major phototrophic components in marine plankton communities. They often cause red tides in the waters of many countries. Understanding the bloom dynamics ...of cryptophytes is, therefore, of great importance. A critical step in this understanding is unveiling their trophic modes. Prior to this study, several freshwater cryptophyte species and marine Cryptomonas sp. and Geminifera cryophila were revealed to be mixotrophic. The trophic mode of the common marine cryptophyte species, Teleaulax amphioxeia has not been investigated yet. Thus, to explore the mixotrophic ability of T. amphioxeia by assessing the types of prey species that this species is able to feed on, the protoplasms of T. amphioxeia cells were carefully examined under an epifluorescence microscope and a transmission electron microscope after adding each of the diverse prey species. Furthermore, T. amphioxeia ingestion rates heterotrophic bacteria and the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. were measured as a function of prey concentration. Moreover, the feeding of natural populations of cryptophytes on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria was assessed in Masan Bay in April 2006. This study reported for the first time, to our knowledge, that T. amphioxeia is a mixotrophic species. Among the prey organisms offered, T. amphioxeia fed only on heterotrophic bacteria and Synechococcus sp. The ingestion rates of T. amphioxeia on heterotrophic bacteria or Synechococcus sp. rapidly increased with increasing prey concentrations up to 8.6×106 cells ml−1, but slowly at higher prey concentrations. The maximum ingestion rates of T. amphioxeia on heterotrophic bacteria and Synechococcus sp. reached 0.7 and 0.3 cells predator−1 h−1, respectively. During the field experiments, the ingestion rates and grazing coefficients of cryptophytes on natural populations of heterotrophic bacteria were 0.3–8.3 cells predator−1h−1 and 0.012–0.033d−1, respectively. Marine cryptophytes, including T. amphioxeia, are known to be favorite prey species for many mixotrophic and heterotrophic dinoflagellates and ciliates. Cryptophytes, therefore, likely play important roles in marine food webs and may exert a considerable potential grazing impact on the populations of marine bacteria.
Three voratin compounds (1–3) were isolated from the symbiotic marine dinoflagellate Effrenium voratum. The planar structures of 1–3 were determined by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HRESIMS, and the ...relative and absolute configurations were established using ROESY correlations, Mosher’s method, and quantum calculations. All of the compounds are zwitterionic and contain a dihydroindolizinium ring and a spiroketal moiety. Compounds 1–3 were found to exhibit therapeutic effects against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), as evaluated using testosterone propionate-treated LNCap and RWPE-1 human prostate cells. This excellent activity suggests that 1–3 are promising for the development of BPH treatments.
Densazalin, a polycyclic alkaloid, was isolated from the marine sponge
collected in Korea. The complete structure of the compound was determined by spectroscopic methods, including 1D and 2D nuclear ...magnetic resonance techniques, high-resolution mass spectrometry, and comparison of the calculated and measured electronic circular dichroism spectra. Densazalin possesses a unique 5,11-diazatricyclo7.3.1.0
tridecan-2,4,6-triene moiety, which is connected by two linear carbon chains. This compound was derived from the biogenetic precursor bis-1,3-dialkylpyridnium. Densazalin exhibited cytotoxic activity on two human tumor cell lines (AGS and HepG2) in the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) bioassay, with IC
values ranging from 15.5 to 18.4 μM.
Copepods are a major component of metazooplankton and important prey for fish and invertebrates such as crabs, shrimps, and flatworms. Certain bloom-forming dinoflagellates can kill copepods, but ...there is little research on the interactions between copepods and the bloom-forming dinoflagellates
Karenia bicuneiformis
and
K. selliformis
. In this study, the survival and ingestion rates of the calanoid copepod
Acartia hongi
feeding on
K. bicuneiformis
and
K. selliformis
were determined as a function of prey concentration. On day 2, the survival of
A. hongi
incubated with
K. bicuneiformis
was 90–100% at all the tested prey concentrations, while that with
K. selliformis
was 0–20% at ≥ 582 ng C mL
−1
. Compared to other harmful dinoflagellates from the literature,
K. bicuneiformis
caused low mortality of
Acartia
; however,
K. selliformis
caused almost the highest mortality at similar dinoflagellate concentrations. With increasing mean prey concentration, the ingestion rates of
A. hongi
feeding on
K. bicuneiformis
increased on day 1, but those on
K. selliformis
did not increase.
Acartia hongi
stopped feeding on
K. bicuneiformis
at mean prey concentrations of ≥ 341 ng C mL
−1
and
K. selliformis
at all prey concentrations on day 2. At the prey concentration of 1000 ng C mL
−1
, the ingestion rate of
A. hongi
feeding on
K. bicuneiformis
was moderate among the rates of
Acartia
spp. feeding on harmful dinoflagellates; however, that on
K. selliformis
was the lowest. These results indicate that
K. bicuneiformis
and
K. selliformis
differentially affect the survival and ingestion rates of
A. hongi
.
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