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Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Northwest A & F University - Natural Science Edition is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Northwest A&F University (Natural Science Edition) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

To investigate preservative effects of exogenous melatonin (MT) treatment on pitaya fruit, different concentrations (0.05, 0.10, and 0.50 mmol/L) of MT were used to treat harvested pitaya fruit, and the storage quality and scavenging capacity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) of MT treatment were measured. The results showed that preservative effects of MT depended on treatment concentration, and 0.10 mmol/L MT treatment significantly enhanced storage quality in relative to 0.05 mmol/L and 0.50 mmol/L concentrations. 0.10 mmol/L MT treatment effectively inhibited scale yellowing, reduced weight loss, delayed the decline in total soluble solids and titratable acid content, as well as minimized decay rate. Furthermore, 0.10 mmol/L MT treatment significantly enhanced the activities of catalase, peroxidase, and ascorbate peroxidase, along with the total antioxidant capacity, thereby enhancing the scavenging ability to DPPH· and superoxide anion radicals. The above results suggested that MT treatment enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity, facilitating the timely removal of ROS generated during fruit senescence and reducing oxidative damages caused by ROS.

In this study, to investigate the effects of melatonin on pericarp browning in rambutan fruit, postharvest ‘Baoyan7’ rambutan fruit was immersed in melatonin solutions at varying concentrations for 15 min, air-dried, and then stored at 25 ℃ for 6 days. The results demonstrated that melatonin treatment at each concentration delayed browning and the decline in the chromaticity a* value of rambutan pericarp, with the most pronounced effect being observed at 0.125 mmol/L melatonin. Physiological and biochemical analyses showed that melatonin treatment at 0.125 mmol/L repressed the increase in relative conductivity (RC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents, while retarding the increase in lipoxygenase (LOX), lipase (LPS) and phospholipase D (PLD) activities in rambutan fruit during storage, thereby preserving the integrity of the cell membrane. In addition, treatment with 0.125 mmol/L melatonin increased the contents of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) and flavin dinucleotide (FADH2), enhanced the activities of energy metabolism-related enzymes including succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochromic c oxidase (CCO), H+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase, and maintained high levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and energy charge, thus improving cellular energy status. Moreover, this treatment enhanced γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content, and maintained high activities of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA aminotransferase (GABA-T), thus contributing to enhanced cellular energy supply. These findings suggest that melatonin could retard postharvest browning and senescence in rambutan fruit by modulating membrane lipid and energy metabolisms.

Abstract [Objective] The study aims to analyze the effects of melatonin (MT) on the growth, biochemical characteristics, and expression of cold-responsive genes in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) suspension cells under low temperature stress, to screen the appropriate MT concentrations and to investigate the mechanism of MT in enhancing cold tolerance of grapevine. [Methods] Using ‘Pinot Noir’ grapevine suspension cells as test materials, we investigated the effects of different concentrations of MT [0 (CK), 50 (T1), 100 (T2), 200 (T3), 300 μmol/L (T4)] on the growth of the suspension cells, the content of malondialdehyde (MDA), the content of proline (Pro), and the antioxidant enzyme activities, and changes in gene expression related to cold response to T2 treatment, under low temperature (4 ℃) stress, [Results] (1) Under low temperature stress, the dry weight of cells in each MT treatment showed a trend of first increase then decrease, which was finally stable or decreased, and was higher than CK at the end of treatment. (2) MDA and Pro contents of each treatment were firstly increased and then decreased with the time of treatment, which reached the peak at 24 h or 48 h. MDA content of each MT treatment was lower than that of CK, while the Pro content was higher than that of CK, with T2 treatment being the lowest or the highest. (3) The antioxidant enzyme activities of each MT treatment were higher than that of CK, with T2 treatment being the highest. With the prolongation of time, the activities of POD and CAT of each treatment firstly rose and then fell, while the activities of SOD and APX firstly fell and then rose, which reached the highest at 24 h or 6 h, respectively. (4) The relative expression of cold-responsive genes (VvCBFs, VvICE1, VvRD29B, and VvKIN-2) in T2-treated suspension cells were up-regulated compared with CK. [Conclusion] Under low temperature stress, the appropriate concentration (100 μmol/L) of MT increases the expression of antioxidant enzymes and cold-response genes, increases Pro content, decreases MDA content, and enhances low temperature tolerance of grapevine suspension cells.

The increasing incidence of peripheral nerve injuries brought on by trauma or tumors is substantially interfering with people's lives due to the causal sensory and motor dysfunctions. Peripheral nerves have some self-repair ability after injury, but they are limited by the degree of injury and the body's condition. The postoperative recovery of nerve function in patients is not satisfactory, which is closely related to the local inflammatory microenvironment after injury. Melatonin, a compound naturally synthesized in the pineal gland, protects peripheral nervous system cells from oxidative inflammation after injury and regulates their behavior and fate.Therefore, it has good application prospect in nerve tissue engineering. In this paper, we review the synthesis, metabolic processes underlying melatonin, mechanism of action as well as the current status of its application in peripheral nerve regeneration as well as potential application for oral diseases. In this way, it further provides a new idea for the clinical treatment of peripheral nerve injury.

In order to explore the effects of melatonin (MT) treatment on cold resistance in apricot fruits, Xinjiang-grown ‘Saimaiti’ apricot fruits were treated with MT or distilled water as a control at 0.05 MPa for 2 min followed by atmospheric pressure for 8 min. During 49 days of storage at (0 ± 0.5) ℃ and relative humidity of 90%–95%, chilling injury index, incidence of chilling injury, cell membrane permeability, malondialdehyde (MDA) content, superoxide anion (O2-·) production rate, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, antioxidant content, energy substance content and related enzyme activity were measured every 7 days, and mitochondrial structure was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that MT treatment effectively inhibited the increase of cell membrane permeability and the accumulation of MDA during storage, significantly reduced the incidence and index of chilling injury, and delayed the occurrence of chilling injury symptoms. In addition, compared with the control group, MT treatment enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), aseorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR), inhibited the increase of O2-· production rate and the accumulation of H2O2, increased glutathione (GSH) content, delayed the decrease of ascorbic acid (ASA) content, and effectively maintained the balance of intracellular ROS. MT treatment could also effectively delay the decrease of succinic dehydrogenase (SDH), cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) and H+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase during storage, maintain high levels of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), adenosine diphosphate (ADP) and energy state, and preserve the integrity of mitochondrial structure and function. In conclusion, MT treatment could enhance the cold resistance of apricot fruits by regulating the energy metabolism and antioxidant capacity. This provides a new theoretical basis for chilling injury control of apricot fruits.

The protective effect and underlying mechanism of melatonin (MT) treatment against Rhizopus stolonifer in postharvest peach fruit (Prunus persica (L.) Batsch cv ‘Xiahui 8’) were studied. Freshly harvested peaches were inoculated with R. stolonifer following pretreatment with different concentrations of MT (0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.50 and 1.00 mmol/L) and then stored at 20 ℃ for up to 60 h. Disease development was measured to determine the most effective MT concentration. Subsequently, the effects of MT treatment on quality parameters, total phenol and lignin contents, disease resistance-related enzyme activity and gene expression in peaches during postharvest storage, and the in vitro growth of R. stolonifer were investigated. The results showed that 0.50 mmol/L MT treatment could most significantly reduce the occurrence of Rhizopus rot and maintain postharvest fruit quality. Furthermore, compared with either of them alone, R. stolonifer inoculation after MT treatment exhibited stronger disease resistance response, resulting in a marked increase in the activities of chitinase (CHI), β-1,3-glucanase (GLU), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), peroxidase (POD) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), the contents of total phenols and lignin, and the expression levels of defense-related genes such as those encoding CHI (PpCHI), GLU (PpGLU), PAL (PpPAL) and POD (PpPOD). Moreover, MT treatment had no significant inhibitory effect on the growth of R. stolonifer in vitro. Taken together, these results indicate that MT can initiate defense responses to pathogenic infection indirectly by priming defense, thereby reducing the occurrence of peach postharvest diseases.

Objective To explore the mechanism of melatonin (Mel) alleviating cholestatic liver injury in a mouse cholestasis model induced by cholic acid (CA) feeding. Methods A total of 15 8-week-old male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group, 1%CA group, and 1%CA+Mel group, with 5 animals in each group. The control group was fed with normal chow diet, and the other 2 groups were fed with a diet containing 1%CA for 14 d to construct a model of cholestasis, and intraperitoneal injection with 100 mg/kg Mel was given to the mice from the 1%CA+Mel group. Immunohistochemical assay of α-SMA was applied for the liver tissues in the 1%CA group and the 1%CA+Mel group. The mRNA expression levels of fibrosis-related indicators in mouse liver tissue were examined by RT-qPCR. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and automated biochemical analyzer were used to detect the contents of bile acids in the liver tissues and the serum of mouse, respectively. Then real-time qPCR and Western blotting were applied to detect the expression of bile acid synthesis and liver detoxification enzymes related indicators at mRNA and protein levels, respectively, to further investigate the mechanism of bile acid metabolism. Results Compared with the 1%CA group, the mRNA levels of liver fibrosis indicators (such as Tgfβ1, ColⅠa1, ColⅡa1 and α-SMA) were significantly reduced (P

Objective: To investigate the relationship between serum autocrine motility factor (ATX), melatonin (MT) and inflammatory markers and pregnancy outcome in patients with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). Methods: 120 ICP patients admitted to Chinese Medicine Dongfeng General Hospital Affiliated to Hubei Medical College from January 2021 to January 2023 were selected as ICP group. ICP patients were divided into mild group (78 cases) and severe group (42 cases) according to the severity of the patient’s condition, and ICP patients were divided into good outcome group (79 cases) and poor outcome group (41 cases) according to the pregnancy outcome, another 120 healthy pregnant women were selected as control group. The differences of ATX, MT and inflammatory markers [white blood cells (WBC), neutrophils/lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet/lymphocyte ratio (PLR)] in serum of each group were detected and compared. The correlation between SATX, MT and serum inflammatory markers in ICP patients was analyzed by Pearson, the independent risk factors for poor pregnancy outcomes in ICP patients were analyzed by multivariate Logistic regression, the predictive value of serum ATX and MT for poor pregnancy outcomes in ICP patients was analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Compared with control group, serum ATX, WBC and NLR in ICP group were significantly increased, and MT and PLR were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Compared with mild group, serum ATX, WBC and NLR in severe group were significantly increased, while MT and PLR were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Serum ATX in ICP group was positively correlated with WBC and NLR, and negatively correlated with PLR (P＜0.05). MT was negatively correlated with WBC and NLR, and positively correlated with PLR (P＜0.05). Compared with good outcome group, the serum ATX and NLR in poor outcome group were increased, and the serum MT and PLR were significantly decreased (P＜0.05). Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that, ATX and total bile acid levels increased, MT level decreased and severe ICP were risk factors for poor pregnancy outcome in ICP patients (P＜0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that, the area under the curve (AUC) of ATX, MT combined with ICP grading in predicting poor pregnancy outcome in ICP patients was 0.808, which was higher than that predicted by single index. Conclusion: The increase of serum ATX level and the decrease of MT level in ICP patients are risk factors for poor pregnancy outcome, which are significantly correlate with inflammatory markers. ATX and MT combine with ICP grading have high predictive value for poor pregnancy outcome in ICP patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

OBJECTIVE: To probe into the efficacy of olanzapine combined with Naoxintong capsules in the treatment of schizophrenia and its effects on serum α-synuclein and melatonin levels. METHODS: Totally 124 patients with schizophrenia admitted into the hospital from Mar. 2021 to May 2023 were extracted to be divided into the control group and observation group via the random number table method, with 62 cases in each group. The control group received olanzapine as their treatment, while the observation group was given Naoxintong capsules on the basis of the control group for a duration of 8 weeks. The clinical efficacy, state of mind, quality of life, function of cognition, metabolism of glucose, serum α-synuclein and melatonin levels of two groups were compared. RESULTS: The total effective rate of the observation group was significantly higher than that of the control group [85. 48% (53 / 62) vs. 69. 35% (43 / 62)], the difference was statistically significant (P<0. 05). After treatment, the positive symptoms, negative symptoms, psychopathological manifestations and the total scores of positive and negative symptom scales in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group, the psychosocial scores, symptom and side effect scores, exercise and energy scores were lower than those in the control group, and the neuropsychological status scale scores were significantly higher than those in the control group, with statistically significant differences (P<0. 05). The levels of fasting blood glucose and 2 h postprandial blood glucose after treatment in the observation group were lower than those in control group, and the α-synuclein and melatonin levels were higher than those in control group, with statistically significant differences ( P < 0. 05 ). The incidence of adverse drug reactions in observation group and control group was respectively 4. 84% ( 3 / 62) and 6. 45% ( 4 / 62), with no statistically significant difference (P>0. 05). CONCLUSIONS: Olanzapine combined with Naoxintong capsules can significantly increase the efficacy of patients with schizophrenia, restore state of mind, quality of life, function of cognition and metabolism of glucose, and improve serum α-synapse protein and melatonin levels, with few adverse drug reactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

We investigated the effect and underlying mechanism of postharvest treatment with 0.5 mmol/L melatonin (MT) treatment 1 h on chilling injury (CI) and ripening of ‘Guifei’ mango fruits during 4 days of shelf life at 25 ℃ after refrigeration at 4 ℃ for 28 days. The results showed that MT treatment markedly decreased CI and enhanced soluble solids content (SSC), respiration rate and ethylene production, while accelerating the decline in hue value and firmness of chilled mango fruits. Compared with the control group, MT treatment promoted the increase in the contents of water-soluble pectin (WSP) and chelate-soluble pectin (CSP) and the activities of polygalacturonase, β-galactosidase and endo-1,4-β-D-glucanase and accelerated the decrease in pectin methylesterase activity, thereby leading to cell wall degradation and fruit softening. Compared with the control group, higher activities of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO) and the expressions of their encoding genes (MiACS and MiACO) were observed in MT-treated fruits. Moreover, MT up-regulated the expression of MiETR1, MiERS1, MiERF1, MiEIN2, MiCBF1 and MiICE1 while down-regulating the expression of MiCTR1. These results indicated that MT treatment could promote the restoration of ripening and reduce CI in mango fruits during shelf life after storage at low temperature.

[ Objective ] Salt stress leads to poor growth and development and decreased ornamental quality of Chinese rose ( Rosa chinensis Jacq. ), and seriously affects their outdoor greening applications in high salt environments or coastal areas. This study explores the effects of exogenous melatonin ( MT ) and inoc- ulation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( AMF ) on seedling growth , chlorophyll fluorescence parame- ters , and cytokinin metabolism , and analyzes their physiological and the biochemical mechanisms that pro- mote rose to adapt to salt stress , in order to enhance salt resistance and expand the application of rose. [ Methods ] The seedling of Chinese rose variety ‘ Yueyue Hong ’ was used as experimental material to con- duct indoor potting experiments. In addition , control ( CK ), 100 mol / L NaCl stress , root administration of MT , and root inoculation of AMF larvae of the genus Claroideoglomus etatunicum and their combina- tion were set to investigate the effects of each treatment on the growth of rose seedlings , chlorophyll fluo- rescence parameters , hormone metabolism , and antioxidant system. [ Results ] ( 1 ) Application of MT pro- moted AMF infestation of the roots of rose seedlings and increased the infection rate , bush growth rate , number of vesicles , and invasion points. ( 2 ) Under salt stress , the growth of rose seedlings was inhibited , and plant height , stem thickness , and biomass were decreased significantly. MT and AMF treatments in- creased the height , stem thickness , and biomass of rose seedlings , whereas AMF+MT treatment had no significant difference in plant height and stem thickness , aboveground dry weight and underground dry weight were increased by 24.1% and 37.0%. ( 3 ) Under salt stress , the chlorophyll content of rose seed- lings was decreased significantly while chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were decreased , and MT and AMF treatments could improve the chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. Under AMF+MT treatment , the total amount of chlorophyll and chlorophyll a / b was increased by 46.2% and 67.2% , respectively. PSⅡ maximum photochemical efficiency ( F v / F m ), potential activity ( F v / F o ), ac- tual photochemical efficiency ( Φ PSⅡ ), effective photochemical quantum efficiency ( F v ' / F m ' ), and photo- chemical quenching coefficient ( q P ) were increased by 4.9% , 51.0% , 175.0% , 168.7% , and 92.5% , re- spectively , whereas NPQ was decreased by 42.7%. ( 4 ) Under salt stress , zeatin ( ZT ), gibberellin ( GA ), auxin ( IAA ) content in leaves were decreased , whereas the abscisic acid ( ABA ) content was in- creased. MT and AMF contributed to the increase in ZT , GA , and IAA content and the decrease in ABA content. Under AMF+MT treatment , ZT , GA , and IAA content were increased by 146.9% , 116.9% , 35.7% , respectively , while ABA was decreased by 21.1%. ( 5 ) Under salt stress , the activity of SOD and CAT were increased , and the rate of superoxide anions ( O - · 2 ) production and H 2 O 2 accumulation was in- creased. MT and AMF treatments decreased O - · 2 production rate and H 2 O 2 content , while AMF+MT treatment activated SOD and CAT activity , and reduced the rate of O - · 2 production and H 2 O 2 accumula- tion. [ Conclusion ] Inoculation with AMF , addition of MT , or AMF+MT treatment could increase the chlorophyll content of rose seedlings under salt stress , protect the chlorophyll fluorescence system , main- tain the balance of endogenous plant hormones , activate the activity of antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and CAT , and reduce lipid peroxidation and H 2 O 2 accumulation , thereby reduce the damage caused by salt stress to rose seedlings , promote rose growth , and enhance the salt resistance of rose seedlings better with AMF+MT treatment.

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

BACKGROUND: Intervertebral disc degeneration is one of the most common underlying factors causing low back pain. Recent studies have shown that melatonin has a positive effect on alleviating intervertebral disc degeneration. However, the underlying mechanism of melatonin remains to be elucidated. OBJECTIVE: To explore the biological effect and potential mechanism of melatonin in inhibiting hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced injury of human nucleus pulposus cells. METHODS: Human nucleus pulposus cells insolated from degenerative intervertebral disc were cultured in vitro. Cell proliferation and the optimal intervention concentration of melatonin and H2O2 were detected by cell counting kit-8. The Human nucleus pulposus cells treated with H2O2 were used as a model group; the cells treated with H2O2 and intervened with melatonin were used as a melatonin group; the cells cultured in simple medium were used as a control group. The reactive oxygen species levels were detected by 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA), the expression levels of BAX and Caspase3 were detected by immunofluorescence, and the mRNA expression levels of BAX, BCL-2, Casepase3, PI3K and AKT were detected using the real-time fluorescent quantitative reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The results of cell counting kit-8 experiment showed that the optimal intervention concentration of H2O2 was 400 µmol/L and the optimal intervention concentration of melatonin was 5 µmol/L. The reactive oxygen species level in the melatonin group was significantly lower than that in the model group. The average fluorescence intensity of BAX and Caspase3 in the melatonin group was significantly lower than that in the model group. The mRNA expressions of BAX and Caspase3 in the melatonin group were lower than those in the model group, while the mRNA expression of Bcl-2 was increased. In addition, the mRNA expressions of PI3K and AKT were also higher in the melatonin group compared with the model group. To conclude, melatonin may protect human nucleus pulposus cells from H2O2-induced oxidative damage through the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To investigate the effect of melatonin on the expression of PD-L1 on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. Methods: Ovarian cancer cell line OVCAR3 was treated with melatonin, then flow cytometry was used to detect the expression level of PD-L1 on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. Western blot was used to detect the expressions of PD-L1 and LC-3 in ovarian cancer cells after different treatments. After adding autophagy inhibitor Autophinib, flow cytometry was used to detect the expression of PD-L1 on the surface of ovarian cancer cells, ovarian cancer cells were treated with melatonin or melatonin combined with autophagy inhibitors and co-incubated with human T lymphocyte Jurkat. The proportion of ovarian cancer cell apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry. Results: Melatonin treatment significantly reduced expression of PD-L1 on the surface of ovarian cancer cells, promoted autophagy of ovarian cancer cells. Autophagy inhibitors reversed down regulation of PD-L1 treated by melatonin, Jurkat cells killed more melatonin treated ovarian cancer cells, and the killing of ovarian cancer cells by Jurkat cells revised by autophagy inhibitors. Conclusion: Melatonin can enhance the killing effect of T cells on ovarian cancer cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective To observe the inhibitory effect of melatonin on secondary brain injury (SBI) in rats with intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) and its possible mechanisms. Methods Seventy-two SPF-grade healthy male rats were randomly divided into sham operation group, model group, melatonin group, and inhibitor group, with 18 rats in each group. In the model group, melatonin group and inhibitor group, we used the method of basal ganglia injection of collagenase to establish the ICH models, and rats in the sham operation group were only inserted the needle after drilling； after the models were successfully established, rats in the melatonin group were injected with 30 mg/kg of melatonin intraperitoneally, rats in the inhibitor group were injected with 30 mg/kg of Luzindole intraperitoneally, and rats in the sham operation and model groups were injected with equal volume of normal saline intraperitoneally, and the drugs were administered for 3 d. We evaluated the neurological functions of the rats in each group using the modified neurological deficit score (mNSS), cornering test (percentage of turning to the left) and forelimb placement test (rate of successful placement of the left forelimb) . The dry-wet specific gravity method was used to detect the water content of the brain tissues. HE staining was used to observe pathological changes in the brain tissues. The levels of serum interleukin 18 (IL-18) and interleukin 1β (IL-1β) were detected by ELISA. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expression levels of NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3), cysteine aspartate protein hydrolase 1 (Caspase-1), and gasdermin D (GSDMD) in the brain tissues. We detected the mRNA expression of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in brain tissues by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR. Double immunofluorescence staining ( GSDMD-positive microglia number) and TUNEL staining (TUNEL-positive cell rate) were used to observe pyroptosis in the brain tissues . Results The model group showed visible inflammatory cell infiltration, nerve cell swelling and loss of cell nuclei, and disorderly cell arrangement. Compared with the model group, inflammatory cell infiltration and cell swelling decreased, cell arrangement was relatively neat, and cell consolidation and lysis were reduced in the melatonin group and the inhibitor group, and the changes were more obvious in the melatonin group. Compared with the sham operation group, the percentage of turning to the left and the rate of successful placement of the left forelimb decreased in the melatonin group, the inhibitor group, and the model group (all P<0. 05); compared with the model group and the inhibitor group, the percentage of turning to the left and the rate of successful placement of the left forelimb increased in the melatonin group (all P<0. 05) . The mNSS, brain tissue water content, serum IL18, serum IL-1β levels, the number of brain tissue GSDMD-positive microglia, brain tissue TUNEL-positive cell rate, as well as the mRNA and protein relative expression levels of NLRP3, Caspase-1, and GSDMD in the brain tissues of rats in the sham operation group, melatonin group, inhibitor group, and model group sequentially increased, with statistically significant difference between every two groups (all P<0. 05) . Conclusion Melatonin attenuates the SBI condition in ICH rats, and the mechanism may be related to the reduction of microglial pyroptosis and attenuation of neuronal inflammatory response by inhibition of NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Food & Fermentation Industries is the property of Food & Fermentation Industries and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective To investigate the protective effects of melatonin （MT） on early embryo in vitro development of mice after exposure to benzophenone-3 （BP-3）. Methods Fertilized mouse oocytes at the syngeneic stage were cultured in KSOM culture medium, 0.8 μmol/L BP-3 culture medium, and 1 × 10-7 mol/L MT + 0.8 μmol/L BP-3 mixed culture medium, respectively. The rescue effect of MT on the early embryos developmental potential of BP-3-exposed mice in vitro was explored by detecting the blastocyst rate, gene transcription level, protein expression level, and the degree of DNA damage in the three groups of embryos. Results MT improved the developmental potential of mouse embryos exposed to BP-3 in vitro. Compared with the control group, MT treatment significantly increased the protein expression of ATP5A and ATP5B and decreased the DNA damage （P < 0.05）. Furthermore, the transcription levels of antioxidant gene Gpx1 and pluripotency related genes Pou5f1 and Cdx2 were significantly up-regulated in MT-treated blastocysts, and the expression of pro-apoptotic gene Bax was decreased. Compared with the control group, BP-3 treatment enhanced the signal intensity of γ -H2AX in blastocysts （P < 0.05）, while adding MT could effectively alleviate DSBs（P < 0.05）. Conclusion The physiological concentration of BP-3 exposure has reproductive toxicity, but the addition of appropriate concentration of MT could significantly improve the in vitro developmental potential and quality of BP-3-exposed early embryos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Periprosthetic osteolysis is the most common long-term complication of total joint arthroplasty. Many studies suggest that the inflammasome may play an important role during the osteolysis. Melatonin is a rhythm-regulated hormone secreted by the pineal gland with many functions including antiinflammatory, anti-oxidation, and antitumor, but its effects on osteolysis and inflammasome have yet to be explored. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effect of melatonin on the osteolysis induced by wear particles and the role of melatonin on the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome. METHODS: (1) In vivo test: Fifteen C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into sham operation group, osteolysis group and melatonin group by random number table method, with 5 mice in each group. The osteolysis model of the osteolysis group and the melatonin group was established by injecting cobalt-chromiummolybdenum (CoCrMo) particles into the sagittal suture of the skull. After injection, the melatonin group was intraperitoneally injected with 50 mg/(kg•d) of melatonin for 14 consecutive days. After drug intervention, the mouse calvarium was collected for micro-CT analysis to observe the micro-structural changes around the sagittal suture. (2) In vitro test: Mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages and THP-1 cells (which had been induced to differentiate into macrophages) were taken and divided into seven groups: normal group, lipopolysaccharide group, lipopolysaccharide+CoCrMo group and melatonin 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 mmol/L groups (lipopolysaccharide and CoCrMo were added to the melatonin intervention groups). After the intervention for 6 hours, the expression of related proteins (NLRP3, Caspase-1, interleukin-1β, and gasdermin D, gasdermin D-N terminal) in the inflammasome of cell lysate or cell culture supernatant was detected by western blot assay. Cytotoxicity and cell death were observed through lactate dehydrogenase release and live-dead fluorescence staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) In vivo test: Micro-CT scanning 3D reconstruction images showed that the bone mass around the sagittal suture of the skull of mice in the osteolysis group was significantly reduced, and the bone tissue structure was severely damaged. Compared with the osteolysis group, the bone mass around the sagittal suture of the skull in the melatonin group was significantly increased, and the destruction of tissue structure was reduced. (2) In vitro test: For mouse bone marrow-derived macrophages, lipopolysaccharide significantly up-regulated NLRP3 protein expression in cell lysate, and melatonin intervention could reduce NLRP3 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. CoCrMo particles significantly up-regulated the protein expressions of the gasdermin D-N terminal in cell lysate and Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in the supernatant of cell culture, while melatonin intervention could reduce the expression of these proteins in a dose-dependent manner. For THP-1 cells, the protein expressions of Caspase-1 and interleukin-1β in the supernatant of cell culture were significantly up-regulated by CoCrMo particles, and the expression of these proteins was decreased dose-dependent by melatonin intervention. Lactate dehydrogenase release and live-dead fluorescence staining showed that CoCrMo particles significantly increased the release of lactate dehydrogenase and cell death in the supernatant of mouse bone marrow-derived macrophage culture, and melatonin intervention could reduce the release of lactate dehydrogenase and cell death. (3) The results show that melatonin can inhibit particle-induced inflammasome activation and pyroptosis to suppress periprosthetic osteolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) is a clinical syndrome in women who develops ovarian insufficiency before the age of 40 years, which manifests itself as a weakening of reproductive and endocrine functions, and is one of the most important factors leading to female infertility, but the pathogenesis is unknown and the treatment is limited. Melatonin is a neuroendocrine hormone mainly synthesized and secreted by the pineal gland, which exerts effects in regulating circadian rhythms, antioxidant activity, and scavenging free radicals. Studies have shown that melatonin is involved in regulating ovarian steroid hormone synthesis, follicular development, ovulation and oocyte quality. Animal models for studies of POI have found that melatonin can alleviate oxidative stress, reduce apoptosis, regulate ovarian function and delay POI through the regulation of multiple signaling pathways. Clinical studies have shown that melatonin can improve ovarian function and pregnancy rate in POI patients. Its potential value in assisted reproduction provides a new direction to improve the fertility of POI patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Muskrat (Ondatra zibethicus) is a spice and fur animal with high economic value. Melatonin (MT) is commonly used in the production of some fur-bearing animals for higher benefits, but the role of MT on the development of muskrat scent glands is unclear. In order to explore the effect of high concentration MT on the expression of fibroblast growth factor 20 (FGF20) gene in muskrat’s gland, RT-qPCR technique was used to detect the transcription level of FGF20 gene in muskrat gland of high concentration MT treatment group and control group. The results showed that the expression level of FGF20 gene in the control group was 33. 95 times higher than that in the high concentration MT treatment group (each muskrat was implanted with one capsule containing 20 mg MT), and the difference was extremely significant (p<0. 01). It is speculated that FGF20 gene is involved in the regulation of the development of scent gland, and a high concentration of MT inhibits the expression of FGF20 gene. The results of this study provide a basis for exploring the improvement of fertility and fragrance production of muskrats with appropriate use of MT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Objective: To explore the relationship between melatonin (Melatonin) and pentameric protein 3 (PTX3) in gingival crevicular fluid and inflammatory factors and therapeutic effects in elderly patients with cracked teeth and chronic pulpitis (CP). Methods: 165 elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP who were admitted to our hospital from June 2021 to June 2022 were selected as study group, and 100 healthy subjects who underwent orthodontic tooth extraction in our hospital during the same period were selected as control group. The levels of Melatonin, PTX3 and inflammatory factors [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP)] in gingival crevicular fluid were compared between two groups. The correlation between Melatonin, PTX3 levels and inflammatory factors in gingival crevicular fluid of elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP were analyzed by Pearson test. 165 elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP were followed up for 1 year after root canal therapy+full crown restoration. Patients were divided into effective group and ineffective group according to the treatment effect, the clinical data of two groups were compared. The influencing factors of ineffective treatment in elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model. The predictive value of Melatonin and PTX3 in gingival crevicular fluid for ineffective treatment in elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. Results: Compared with control group, the level of Melatonin in gingival crevicular fluid in study group decreased (P<0.05), and the levels of PTX3, TNF-α, CRP and IL-6 increased (P<0.05). Pearson test showed that, PTX3 in gingival crevicular fluid was positively correlated with TNF-α, CRP and IL-6 in elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP (P<0.05), and Melatonin in gingival crevicular fluid was negatively correlated with TNF-α, CRP and IL-6 (P<0.05). A total of 165 elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP were followed up for 1 year after root canal therapy+full crown restoration, 3 patients were lost to follow-up, and a total of 162 patients completed follow-up. Of the 162 patients, 122 were successful, 26 were improved, and 14 were failed, the inefficiency rate was 8.64% (14/162). Compared with effective group, the proportion of cracks reaching the pulp floor, the proportion of probing depth>5 mm, and the level of PTX3 in ineffective group were significantly increased (P<0.05), and the level of Melatonin was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The results of multivariate Logistic regression model showed that, the crack depth reaching the pulp floor, the probing depth>5 mm, and the increase of PTX3 level were the risk factors for the ineffective treatment of elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP (P<0.05), and the increase of Melatonin level was the protective factor (P<0.05). The ROC curve showed that, the area under the curve(AUC), sensitivity and specificity of Melatonin combined with PTX3 in gingival crevicular fluid for predicting ineffective treatment in elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP were 0.803, 0.857 and 0.777 respectively. Conclusion: The decrease of Melatonin level and the increase of PTX3 level in gingival crevicular fluid are relate to the inflammatory response of elderly patients with cracked teeth and CP, and the lower the Melatonin level and the higher the PTX3 level, the worse the treatment effect, Melatonin combine with PTX3 detection has a high predictive value for the effect of root canal therapy+full crown restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the effect of exogenous melatonin on postharvest black spot disease of apricot fruit. Using Xinjiang Saimaiti apricot as test material, the sample were vacuum impregnated into different concentrations of melatonin (50, 100, 200 |mol/L) under pressure of 0.05 MPa for 2min, then atmospheric pressure was restored, and the sample was maintained in the impregnation solution for 8 min, distilled water treatment was used as the control group, naturally dried, and then stored at (0±1) ° and 90%-95% relative humidity for 48 h, all samples inoculated with Alternaria alternate, and stored under the same conditions. The lesion diameter and disease incidence of apricot fruits, and the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), cinnamic acid-4-hydroxylase (C4H), 4-coumaric acid CoA ligase (4CL), polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase(CAD), and the total phenolic, lignin and flavonoid contents were measured regularly. The results showed that exogenous melatonin treatment significantly reduced the lesion di-ameter and disease incidence of apricot fruits. On day 42 of storage, the diameters of lesions in different melatonin treatment groups (50, 100, 200 |mol/L) were 8.41, 7.20 mm and 8.01 mm, respectively, which were 5.68%, 19.32% and 9.45% lower than those in the control group (D<0.05), and the inoculation incidence was 10.00%, 21.11% and 12.22% lower than that of the control group (D<0.05), respectively, and 100 |mol/L melatonin treatment group inhibited the growth of Alternaria alternates best. Melatonin treatment increased the enzyme activities of PAL, C4H, 4CL, PPO, and CAD and promoted the accumulation of total phenol, flavonoid, and lignin contents in apricot fruit. At the end of storage, the activities of PAL, C4H, 4CL, PPO and CAD of the melatonin-treated group were 400.75, 0.95, 0.48, 0.52, and 0.61 U, respectively, which were 15.18%, 41.04%, 18.51%, 15.63%, and 65.04% higher than those in the control group (D<0.05), and the total phenol, flavonoid, and lignin contents of melatonin group were 1.10, 1.22, and 1.30 times higher than those of the control group(D<0.05). Those findings suggested that exogenous melatonin could regulate phenylpropanoid metabolism to improved the resistance of apricot fruits to the black spot disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of China Medical University is the property of Journal of China Medical University Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In order to study the effect of melatonin on the storage quality and energy metabolism of postharvest green pepper (Capsicum frutescens L.). The green pepper was used as the experiment material in this experiment with different concentrations (100, 200 and 300 μmol/L) at low temperature (9 ℃). To investigate the effects of melatonin treatment on the storage quality and energy metabolism of green pepper fruits. The results showed that melatonin treatment could effectively reduce decay rate and slow down the decline of fruit hardness of green pepper. In particular, the treatment effect of 200 μmol/L melatonin was the best. In addition, melatonin could delay the decline of capsaicin and chlorophyll content, maintained a lower MDA content, inhibited the degradation of ATP, ADP and AXP, promoted the accumulation of AMP content, and maintained a higher energy charge level in green pepper. Melatonin could also maintain high SDH, CCO, H+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase activity in green pepper. Correlation analysis showed that the activities of ATP, ADP, AXP, energy charge, H+-ATPase and Ca2+-ATPase in green pepper were significantly negatively correlated with the decay rate (P

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Copyright of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences is the property of Editorial Board of Journal of Henan Agricultural Sciences and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To investigate the regulation of melatonin (MT) against lung injury in a mouse model of influenza virus infection by regulating the maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3)/microRNA-223 (miR-223)/nucleotide-binding oligomerization do⁃ main-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) axis. Methods: Fifty mice were randomly divided into control group, model group, and MT (low, medium, and high) dose groups, with 10 mice in each group. Except for the control group, the other groups were given H7N9 virus suspension nasal drops at a dose of 5×105 EID50, and the control group was given an equal volume of phosphate buffer nasal drops. The MT (low, medium, and high) dose groups were injected intraperitoneally with (15, 30, 60) mg/kg MT on the day after modeling, the control group and model group were intraperitoneally injected with equal volume of normal saline. The mice were sacrificed 24 h after the last administration for experiment. All mice were tested for the lung index; Hematoxylin-Eosin (HE) staining was used to observe the lung tissue morphology; ELISA was used to detect the levels of interleukin IL-1β, IL-18, IL-6, TNF-α and IFN-β in lung tissues; real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) was used to detect the levels of MEG3 mRNA and miR-223 in mouse lung tissues; Western blot was used to detect the protein levels of NLRP3, apoptosis-related dot-like protein (ASC), cysteine aspartate proteolytic enzyme 1 (caspase-1), and pro-caspase-1 in lung tissues. Bioinformatics prediction and dual luciferase experiments were used to detect the targeting relationship between MEG3 and miR-223, miR-223 and NLRP3. Results: The pathological results showed that the alveolar wall of the lung tissue of the model group was obviously congested, and there was obvious inflammatory exudation and inflammatory cell infiltration in the cavity; with the increase of the MT dose, the hyperemia of the alveolar wall of the mouse lung tissue, the inflammatory exudation in the cavity and the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the MT (low, medium, and high) dose group were all improved. Compared with control group, the lung index, chemokines, inflammatory factors, antiviral factors, MEG3 levels in lung tissues, NLRP3 pathway protein level in the model group were increased (P<0.05), and the miR-223 level was decreased (P<0.05); after the addition of MT, the antiviral factors increased significantly, and other indicators were improved. miR-223 had targeted regulatory relationships with MEG3 and NLRP3. Conclusion: MT can alleviate the lung injury of H7N9 influenza virus-infected mice, which may be related to the regulation of MEG3/miR-223/NLRP3 axis to relieve inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AIM: To investigate the effect of melatonin (MEL) on the depression behavior in mice induced by chronic restraint stress (CRS). METHODS: Forty-eight SPF-grade male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into control group (;i=12) and CRS group (n-36). The mice in CRS group were further divided into 3 groups (n-12) : CRS+vehicle group, CRS+fluoxetine (FLX) group, and CRS+MEL group. Mouse depression model was established by the CRS method for 14 d, and then the depression-like behaviors were observed for modeling validation. After 14 d of drug intervention combined with CRS, the behaviors were detected again. Nissl staining, RT-qPCR, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining were performed in mouse brain tissues. RESULTS: Compared with control group, the weight changes of the mice in CRS group were significantly lowered, the immobility time of forced swimming and tail suspension tests was significantly increased, the consumption rate of sugar water decreased significantly, and the central time and movement distance in open-field test decreased significantly (P<0.01). Compared with CRS+vehicle group, the depression-like behaviors induced by CRS were successfully reversed by the drugs in both CRS+FLX and CRS+MEL groups. Furthermore, compared with CRS+vehicle group, the mRNA levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB), and the protein levels of BDNF, phosphorylated ERK1/2 and CREB were increased significantly in both CRS+FLX and CRS+MEL groups (P«X 01). The results of Nissl staining showed that the neurons in CRS+vehicle group were irregularly arranged, and the number of Nissl bodies was decreased (P<0. 01). The neuron status and number of Nissl bodies in both CRS+FLX and CRS+MEL groups were significantly improved (P<0. 01). Immunofluorescence staining showed that the number of c-Fos-positive cells in the frontal cortex and hippocampal CA1 region of the mice in CRS+vehicle group was significantly larger than that in control group (P< 0.01). Conversely, the number of c-Fos-positive cells in CRS+FLX and CRS+MEL groups was significantly smaller than that in CRS+vehicle group (P<0. 01). CONCLUSION: Melatonin can significantly alleviate depression-like behavior induced by CRS in mice, which may be related to the activation of BDNF-ERK-CREB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Prataculturae Sinica is the property of Acta Prataculturae Sinica Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effect of treatment with 5 g/L chitosan (CTS), 100 μmol/L melatonin (MT) and their combination on the storage quality and chlorophyll metabolism of fresh-cut broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. var. italica Planch.) during storage at (15 ± 1) ℃ and relative humidity (RH) of 85%–90% were investigated through sensory evaluation, physiological and biochemical characterization, and texture analysis. The results showed that separate and combined treatment with CTS and MT effectively maintained the sensory quality of fresh-cut broccoli, and the sensory scores of the samples treated with CTS, MT and their combination were 3.36, 2.83 and 5.17 times higher than that of the control group on the 7th day of storage, respectively. Compared with the control group, the combined treatment could significantly inhibit the activity of chlorophyll-degrading enzymes in broccoli (P < 0.05), thereby inhibiting chlorophyll degradation, while significantly reducing the rate of mass loss and respiratory intensity of fresh-cut broccoli (P < 0.05). Furthermore, it was found that the combined treatment increased chlorophyll content by 83.80%, reduced chlorophyllase (CLH), Mg-dechelatase (MDcase), pheophyllase (PPH) and pheophyllase a oxygenase (PAO) activities by 5.78%, 26.76%, 18.59% and 34.87%, respectively, and decreased mass loss rate and respiratory intensity by 24.82% and 45.28%, respectively on the 5th day of storage. Also, the combined treatment better maintained the texture properties of fresh-cut broccoli, such as hardness and chewiness, as well as the contents of soluble solids, soluble protein, total phenols and flavonoids. These findings suggest that combined treatment with CTS and MT can effectively delay the yellowing and maintain the quality of fresh-cut broccoli.

In order to expand the application of melatonin in gel food, convenient gummies loaded with melatonin and Lycium barbarum L. were developed in this study. The comprehensive effects of gelatin dose, Lycium barbarum L. powder level and drying time on the properties of melatonin gummies were investigated by color difference analysis, texture analysis, low field NMR analysis and sensory evaluation. The results showed that the gummies containing with 0.4% Lycium barbarum L. powder, 18% gelatin, 5% carrageenan, 17.5% sorbitol, 17.5% erythritol and drying for 18 h were elastic and palatable with smooth surface. The gummies had moisture content less than 20% and melatonin retention rate of 92.0%~97.7%, and high sensory evaluation with potential practical application.

Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a polypotent neuroendocrine lipid-soluble small molecule secreted mainly by the pineal gland. During gestation, melatonin levels in the mother at night rise as the pregnancy progresses and return to normal after delivery. The etiology of hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy (HDCP) is multifaceted. An increasing number of evidence suggests the involvement of melatonin in the pathogenic process, and the regulation is related to its expression level, secretion rhythm and receptor level. Abnormal placental blood circulation, ischemia and hypoxia and systemic vascular endothelium dysfunction are the main pathological processes of HDCP. Through direct antioxidant effect, melatonin improves mitochondrial dysfunction and protects trophoblast cells from oxidative damage, thus participating in the regulation of placental oxidative stress level, and plays a protective role in preventing oxidative damage caused by hypoxic ischemia reperfusion of placenta, thus maintaining placental functional homeostasis. In addition, there is also evidence that melatonin can protect maternal vascular endothelium from oxidative stress by reducing the production and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and vasoactive compounds, and participating in the regulation of systemic blood pressure in pregnant women. These confidences suggest that melatonin can be involved in the maintenance of placental and systemic vascular functional homeostasis during pregnancy through the regulation of oxidative stress. In this article, the effects of melatonin on HDCP and the related mechanisms are reviewed, and the positive role of melatonin in the pathogenesis of HDCP is summarized.

Melatonin is an important hormone regulating sleep and wake cycle, which can alleviate and delay the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) by reducing amyloid ⁃ β protein (Aβ) deposition, inhibiting tau protein hyperphosphorylation, alleviating oxidative stress damage and inflammatory response, improving cholinergic system function, regulating neuronal autophagy, and other mechanisms. This article reviews the role of melatonin in the pathological injury mechanism of AD, so as to explore the clinical application prospect of melatonin in AD.

Objective To investigate the effect of melatonin on pancreatic autophagy in rats with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and the underlying mechanism. Methods Twenty-eight rats were randomly divided into A group (rats with normal pregnancy), B group (rats with GDM), C group (low-dose melatonin administration for rats with GDM), and D group (high-dose melatonin administration for rats with GDM), with seven rats in each group. All the groups were examined for the se-rum levels of glucose, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin. Pancreatic tissue slices were prepared to examine the pathological changes of the pancreas with hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining, the apoptosis of pancreatic cells with TUNEL staining, and the autophagy of the pancreatic tissue with transmission electron microscopy. Western blot was used to measure the expression of autop-hagy-related proteins in the pancreatic tissue: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3), Beclin1, phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K), PI3K, phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-AKT), AKT, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), and mTOR. Results There were significant differences in serum glucose, insulin, and glycosylated hemoglobin levels between different groups (F=52.26-66.73,P

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BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis is the most prevailing bone disease, which is characterized by the decrease in bone mass and deterioration of bone microarchitecture. Current treatments, although being used clinically for a long time, still have many side effects. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes are expected to become a new method for the treatment of osteoporosis due to their non-immunogenicity and other advantages. OBJECTIVE: To explore the effects of exosomes derived from melatonin (MT)-modified bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells on the osteogenesis of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and to analyze its feasibility as a cell-free method to promote osteogenic treatment of osteoporosis. METHODS: Primary bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were isolated and characterized by whole bone marrow adherent method. Exosomes derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (NC-Exos) and MT pretreated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MT-Exos) were extracted by ultracentrifuge and identified. The uptaking of exsomes into bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells was observed under a confocal microscope. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were cultured in osteogenic induction medium. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were treated with MT-Exos and NC-Exos, separately. Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were treated with PBS as a blank control group. Alkaline phosphatase activity and alizarin red S staining were employed to evaluate the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in each group. The mRNA and protein expression levels of alkaline phosphatase and Runt related transcription factor 2 were measured through RT-PCR and western blot assay, respectively. Western blot assay was utilized to detect the protein expression of Wnt1 and β-catenin in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells had a typical spindle-like morphology and had the ability to differentiate into three lines. The majority of exosomes was smaller than 150 nm in diameter and expressed CD9, CD63, and CD81. Exosomes were taken up by bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. (2) At 7 days after osteoinduction, compared with the NC-Exos group, MT-Exos group presented higher alkaline phosphatase activity (P < 0.01), mRNA and protein expression of alkaline phosphatase and Runt related transcription factor 2 (P < 0.05), and Wnt1 and β-catenin protein expression (P < 0.001). (3) At 14 days after osteoinduction, compared with the NC-Exos group, MT-Exos group showed more red calcium nodules. (4) The present study has demonstrated that MT-Exos have the ability to promote osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells by activating Wnt1/β-catenin signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the protective effect of melatonin on myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury(IRI) by regulating Akt/FOXO4/BIM signaling pathway and its mechanism. Methods Myocardial IRI model was established, and cells were divided into the control group (CTRL group), the ischemia reperfusion group (IRI group), the melatonin treatment group (IRI+MEL group) and the Akt inhibitor group (IRI+MEL+MK2206 group). MTT method was used to detect the cell survival rate. The level of released LDH was measured with microplate reader. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. PCR method was used to detect the inflammatory gene levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF- α) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1). Western blot assay was used to detect the protein expression changes of p-Akt, p-FOXO4 and BIM. Results Compared with the CTRL group, the cell survival rate decreased and LDH content increased, the early stage and total apoptosis rates were increased, expression levels of IL-6, TNF-α and MCP-1 genes were increased, p-Akt protein expression decreased, and p-FOXO4 and BIM protein expression levels increased in the IRI group (P＜0.05). Compared with the IRI group, melatonin therapy increased the cell survival rate and p-Akt protein expression, decreased LDH content, cell apoptosis, IL-6, TNF- α, MCP-1 gene level and p-FOXO4 and BIM protein expression (P＜0.05). Compared with the IRI+MEL group, MK2206 partially reversed the protective effect of melatonin on IRI cardiomyocytes (P＜0.05). Conclusion Melatonin has protective effect on ischemia reperfusion injured myocardial cells, and its mechanism may be related to the regulation of Akt/FOXO4/BIM signaling pathway to reduce apoptosis and cell inflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences is the property of Xinjiang Agricultural Sciences Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)