Search

Xanthine oxidase (XOD) is a key enzyme playing a role in hyperuricemia, catalyzing the oxidation of hypoxanthine to xanthine and then to uric acid. This study aimed to identify the XOD inhibitors from the leaves of Lagerstroemia speciosa (L.) Pers. (Lythraceae), which was traditionally used as a folk medicine in the Philippines. Using a bioassay-guided fractionation technique, two active compounds were isolated from the aqueous extracts of the Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves, namely valoneic acid dilactone (VAD) and ellagic acid (EA). The result demonstrated that the XOD-inhibitory effect of VAD was a stronger than that of allopurinol, a clinical drug used for XOD inhibitor, with a non-competitive mode for the enzyme with respect to xanthine as the substrate. These results may explain and support the dietary use of the aqueous extracts from Lagerstroemia speciosa leaves for the prevention and treatment of hyperuricemia. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Reducing the health hazards caused by air pollution is a global challenge and is included in the Sustainable Development Goals. Air pollutants, such as PM2.5, induce respiratory and cardiovascular disorders by causing various inflammatory responses via oxidative stress. Catechins and polyphenols, which are components of green tea, have various protective effects, owing to their antioxidant ability. The main catechin in green tea, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), is potentially effective against respiratory diseases, such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and asthma, but its effectiveness against air-pollution-dependent lung injury has not yet been investigated. In this study, we examined the effect of EGCG on urban aerosol-induced acute lung injury in mice. Urban aerosol treatment caused increases in inflammatory cell counts, protein levels, and inflammatory cytokine expression in the lungs of ICR mice, but pretreatment with EGCG markedly suppressed these responses. Analyses of oxidative stress revealed that urban aerosol exposure enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the formation of ROS-activated neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the lungs of mice. However, ROS production and NETs formation were markedly suppressed by pretreating the mice with EGCG. Gallocatechin gallate (GCG), a heat-epimerized form of EGCG, also markedly suppressed urban aerosol-dependent inflammatory responses and ROS production in vivo and in vitro. These findings suggest that EGCG and GCG prevent acute lung injury caused by urban aerosols through their inhibitory effects on ROS production. Thus, we believe that foods and medications containing EGCG or GCG may be candidates to prevent the onset and progression of acute lung injury caused by air pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the autonomic responses according to preference for the odor of jasmine tea. Change in the autonomic nervous system after inhaling the high-intensity odors; Differences in profile of mood states (POMS) test scores before and after inhaling a high-intensity odor; Change in the autonomic nervous system due to inhaling a low-intensity odor.

Abstract Purpose To evaluate the correlation between cardiac functional parameters and image quality in coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA). Material and methods Sixty-six patients who underwent both CCTA and echocardiography were included. The coronary artery attenuation values and contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) were measured in the proximal right coronary arteries (RCA) and left main (LM) trunk. Then, the averages of the mean values derived from RCA and LM were calculated. The cardiac output (CO), left atrial (LA) volume, and early mitral inflow velocity to mitral annular early diastolic velocity ratio (E/e′) were measured by echocardiography. The relationship of cardiac parameters with arterial attenuation and CNR were assessed by Pearson's correlation, Spearman's rank correlation and multivariable linear regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, body surface area and heart rate. Results The coronary artery attenuation value was negatively correlated with CO (r = −0.30, p = 0.01) and LA volume (r = −0.37, p = 0.002). CNR was negatively correlated with LA volume (r = −0.4, p = 0.001) and E/e′ (r = −0.27, p = 0.03). These associations remained significant in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion CO and diastolic function had an impact on image quality of CCTA. Adjusting CCTA protocol may improve image quality in patients with known diastolic dysfunction or reduced cardiac output. Highlights • LA volume and E/e' may be effect on the imaging quality in the CCTA. • CO also effects on the contrast enhancement of CCTA. • Patients with diastolic dysfunction could potentially benefit from CT protocol modification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Uniformly-sized, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for (−)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), -epicatechin gallate (ECg) and -gallocatechin gallate (GCg) were prepared by a multi-step swelling and polymerization method using 2-vinylpyridine as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as a cross-linker and cyclohexanol as a porogen. Molecular recognition abilities of the obtained MIPs were evaluated in liquid chromatography using a mixture of ethanol and water, or ethanol as the eluent. Each MIP gave the highest molecular recognition ability for the respective template molecule. In addition, (−)-EGCg and -ECg had the same configuration (2R,3R) at positions 2 and 3, and therefore resulting in high cross reactivity each other. However, (−)-GCg, which has different configuration at position 2 with (−)-EGCg and -ECg, showed low cross reactivity with them. On the other hand, those MIPs showed no molecular recognition against (−)-epigallocatechin and -epicatechin, which have no gallate group at position 3. These results indicate that the MIPs prepared can recognize configuration at position 2 and a gallate group at position 3. Furthermore, the MIP for (−)-GCg could be successfully used for isolating (−)-EGCg and -ECg from green tea extract. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We investigated the effects of the odor of jasmine tea on autonomic nerve activity and mood states in a total of 24 healthy volunteers. We used the odor of jasmine tea at the lowest concentration that could be detected by each subject but that did not elicit any psychological effects. R–R intervals and the POMS test were measured before and after inhalation of the odors for 5 min. Both jasmine tea and lavender odors at perceived similar intensity caused significant decreases in heart rate and significant increases in spectral integrated values at high-frequency component in comparison with the control ( P < 0.05). In the POMS tests, these odors produced calm and vigorous mood states. We also examined the effects of ( R)-(−)-linalool, one of its major odor components, at the same concentration as in the tea, and ( S)-(+)-linalool. Only ( R)-(−)-linalool elicited a significant decrease in heart rate ( P < 0.05) and an increase in high-frequency component in comparison with the controls, and produced calm and vigorous mood states. Thus, the low intensity of jasmine tea odor has sedative effects on both autonomic nerve activity and mood states, and ( R)-(−)-linalool, one of its components, can mimic these effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immunoblot analysis showed that uricases in nonureide-transporting determinate nodules (Canavalia gladiata and Lotus japonicus) did not react with a monoclonal antibody against soybean nodule uricase, suggesting different immunological reactivities from those of uricases of ureide-transporting legumes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]