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Abstract Capsicum fruits synthesize capsaicin from vanillylamine, which is produced from vanillin in a reaction catalyzed by a putative aminotransferase (pAMT). Capsiate, a non-pungent compound that is structurally similar to capsaicin, is synthesized from vanillyl alcohol rather than vanillylamine. Vanillyl alcohol is possibly generated by the enzymatic reduction of vanillin, but the enzyme responsible for this reaction is unknown. In the present study, we revealed that the vanillin reductase in the capsiate biosynthetic pathway is cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD), which is an enzyme involved in lignin synthesis. The reduction of vanillin to vanillyl alcohol was greater in the mature red fruit placental extract than in the immature green fruit placental extract. This reduction was suppressed by both N-(O-hydroxyphenyl) sulfinamoyltertiobutyl acetate, a specific inhibitor of CAD, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, a metalloenzyme inhibitor. The CaCAD1 transcript levels in the placenta were higher in the red fruits than in the green fruits. A recombinant CaCAD1 protein obtained using an Escherichia coli expression system reduced vanillin to vanillyl alcohol. This reaction was suppressed by the CAD inhibitors. These results strongly suggest that CAD is the enzyme that catalyzes the reduction of vanillin to vanillyl alcohol during capsiate biosynthesis. Syntenic analyses indicated that genes encoding CAD and capsaicin synthase (Pun1) involved in capsiate biosynthesis were acquired before the pAMT gene during the evolution of the family Solanaceae. This raises the possibility that in the genus Capsicum, the capsiate biosynthetic pathway emerged before the pAMT-encoding gene was acquired as the final trigger for capsaicin biosynthesis.

Abstract Prolyl-hydroxyproline (Pro-Hyp) is one of the major constituents of collagen-derived dipeptides. We previously reported that Pro-Hyp promotes the differentiation of osteoblasts by increasing Runx2, osterix and Col1α1 mRNA expression levels. Here, to elucidate the mechanism of Pro-Hyp promotion of osteoblast differentiation, we focus on the involvement of Foxo1 in osteoblast differentiation via Runx2 regulation and the role of Foxg1 in Foxo1 regulation. The addition of Pro-Hyp had no effect on MC3T3-E1 cell proliferation in Foxo1- or Foxg1-knockdown cells. In Foxo1-knockdown cells, the addition of Pro-Hyp increased ALP activity, but in Foxg1-knockdown cells, it had no effect on ALP activity. An enhancing effect of Pro-Hyp on the Runx2 and osterix expression levels was observed in Foxo1-knockdown cells. However, no enhancing effect of Pro-Hyp on osteoblastic gene expression was observed when Foxg1 was knocked down. These results demonstrate that Pro-Hyp promotes osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cell differentiation and upregulation of osteogenic genes via Foxg1 expression.

The oral inflammatory diseases are divided into two types: acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. In this review, we summarize the biological efficacy of herbal medicine, natural products, and their active ingredients against acute and chronic inflammatory diseases in the oral region, especially stomatitis and periodontitis. We review the effects of herbal medicines and a biscoclaurin alkaloid preparation, cepharamthin, as a therapy against stomatitis, an acute inflammatory disease. We also summarize the effects of herbal medicines and natural products against periodontitis, a chronic inflammatory disease, and one of its clinical conditions, alveolar bone resorption. Recent studies show that several herbal medicines such as kakkonto and ninjinto reduce LPS-induced PGE 2 production by human gingival fibroblasts. Among herbs constituting these herbal medicines, shokyo (Zingiberis Rhizoma) and kankyo (Zingiberis Processum Rhizoma) strongly reduce PGE 2 production. Moreover, anti-osteoclast activity has been observed in some natural products with anti-inflammatory effects used against rheumatoid arthritis such as carotenoids, flavonoids, limonoids, and polyphenols. These herbal medicines and natural products could be useful for treating oral inflammatory diseases.

Background/Aim: Chitosan-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (Chi-NP) have gained attention because of their biocompatibility, biodegradability, low toxicity and targetability under magnetic field. In this study, we investigated various biological properties of Chi-NP. Materials and Methods: Chi-N P was prepared by mixing magnetic NP with chitosan FL-80. P article size was determined by scanning and transmissione lectron microscopes, cell viability by MTT assay, cell cycle distribution by cell sorter, synergism with anticancer drugs bycombination index, PGE2 production in human gingivalfibroblast was assayed by ELISA. Results: The synthetic process of Chi-NP from FL-80 and magnetic NP increased the affinity to cells, up to the level attained by nanofibers. Upon contact with the culture medium, Chi-NP instantly formed aggregates and interfered with intracellular uptake. Aggregated Chi-NP did not show cytotoxicity, synergism with cell population), protect the cells from X-ray-induced damage, nor affected both basal and IL-1β-induced PGE2 production. Conclusion: Chi-NP is biologically inert and shows high affinity to cells, further confirming its superiority as a scaffold for drug delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In order to investigate the combination effect of anticancer drugs and X-ray irradiation on neurotoxic side-effects (neurotoxicity), a method that provides homogeneously X-ray-irradiated cells was newly established. Materials and Methods: PC12 cell suspension was irradiated by X-ray (0.5 Gy) in serum-supplemented medium, immediately inoculated into 96-microwell plates and incubated overnight. The medium was replaced with fresh serum-depleted medium containing 50 ng/ml nerve growth factor to induce differentiation toward nerve-like cells with characteristic neurites according to the overlay method without changing the medium. The differentiated cells were treated by anticancer drugs as well as antioxidants, oxaliplatin or bortezomib, and the viable cell number was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method. Results: Antioxidants and anticancer drugs were cytotoxic to differentiating PC12 cells. Combination of anticancer drugs and X-ray irradiation slightly reduced cell viability. Conclusion: The present ‘population irradiation method’ may be useful for the investigation of the combination effect of X-ray irradiation and any pharmaceutical drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mangiferin is a polyphenolic compound present in Salacia reticulata. It has been reported to reduce bone destruction and inhibit osteoclastic differentiation. This study aimed to determine whether mangiferin directly affects osteoblast and osteoclast proliferation and differentiation, and gene expression in MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cells and osteoclast-like cells derived from primary mouse bone marrow macrophage cells. Mangiferin induced significantly greater WST-1 activity, indicating increased cell proliferation. Mangiferin induced significantly increased alkaline phosphatase staining, indicating greater cell differentiation. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) demonstrated that mangiferin significantly increased the mRNA level of runt-related transcription factor 2 (RunX2), but did not affect RunX1 mRNA expression. Mangiferin significantly reduced the formation of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase-positive multinuclear cells. RT-PCR demonstrated that mangiferin significantly increased the mRNA level of estrogen receptor ß (ERß), but did not affect the expression of other osteoclast-associated genes. Mangiferin may inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption by suppressing differentiation of osteoclasts and promoting expression of ERβ mRNA in mouse bone marrow macrophage cells. It also has potential to promote osteoblastic bone formation by promoting cell proliferation and inducing cell differentiation in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells via RunX2. Mangiferin may therefore be useful in improving bone disease outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study by Hiroshi Mano and colleagues which aims to explore the influence of IF5/BTG4 on cell proliferation and differentiation and the changes in the levels of IF5/BTG4 mRNA and protein in aging tissues. Topics discussed include the collection of mouse oocytes, isolation of IF5/BTG4 from oocytes using an expression cloning method, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis.

The article discusses on long-chain N-vanillyl-acylamides (LCNVAs) which were formed out of plant oils and vanillylamine (VA) by nucleophilic amidation without any catalytic reagents. Topics discussed include variation of LCNVAs according to the fatty acid composition of the plant oil, production of oleoresin, and composition of acyl moieties.