Search

Fresh Spirulina is more favorable than dried one, yet its ease of deterioration necessitates production of biomass that can be immediately consumed. We developed a prototype household photobioreactor and studied the semi-continuous cultivation and harvest conditions within 107 days. Three growth phases were observed featuring different growth rate and recovering time after harvest. Nutrients were consumed at rates of Fe > N > P > Mg > K. The pH mounted rapidly when below 9 and varied slowly between 9 and 10, whose variation positively correlated with that of biomass concentration. Bacterial load was at a constant level of about 2 × 104 CFU, indicating good sanitary condition. Harvesting efficiency improved with greater biomass and filtration sack mesh number until reaching 3.5 g·L−1 and 200, respectively. We hope this study can help the method development of fresh Spirulina cultivation in miniaturized systems.

N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) has emerged as the most prevalent post‐transcriptional modification on mRNA that contributes prominently to tumorigenesis. However, the specific function of m6A methyltransferase methyltransferase‐like 3 (METTL3) in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains elusive. Herein, we explored the biological function of METTL3 in CRC progression. Clinically, METTL3 was frequently upregulated in CRC tissues, cell lines, and plasma samples and its high expression predicted poor prognosis of CRC patients. Functionally, knockdown of METTL3 significantly repressed CRC cell proliferation and migration in vitro, while its overexpression accelerated CRC tumor formation and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, METTL3 epigenetically repressed YPEL5 in an m6A‐YTHDF2‐dependent manner by targeting the m6A site in the coding sequence region of the YPEL5 transcript. Moreover, overexpression of YPEL5 significantly reduced CCNB1 and PCNA expression. Collectively, we identified the pivotal role of METTL3‐catalyzed m6A modification in CRC tumorigenesis, wherein it facilitates CRC tumor growth and metastasis through suppressing YPEL5 expression in an m6A‐YTHDF2‐dependent manner, suggesting a promising strategy for the diagnosis and therapy of CRC., Here, we demonstrate that methyltransferase‐like 3 (METTL3)‐catalyzed N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification facilitates tumor growth and metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC). METTL3 can reduce YPEL5 expression in an m6A‐YTHDF2‐dependent manner. Our findings highlight a novel m6A regulatory mechanism, with ‘writer’ METTL3, ‘reader’ YTHDF2, and ‘target’ YPEL5 being promising diagnostic or therapeutic targets in CRC.

A polyphenol-enriched fraction (PEF) from Acalypha wilkesiana, whose leaves have been traditionally utilized for the treatment of diverse medical ailments, was investigated for the anti-inflammatory effect and molecular mechanisms by using lipopolysaccharide- (LPS-) stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages and acetaminophen- (APAP-) induced liver injury mouse model. Results showed that PEF significantly attenuated LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production and suppressed the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX-2) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. PEF also reduced the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin- (IL-) 1β, and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, PEF potently inhibited LPS-induced phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as well as the activation of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) by preventing the degradation of inhibitor κB-α (IκB-α). In vivo, PEF pretreatment ameliorated APAP-induced liver injury and hepatic inflammation, as presented by decreased hepatic damage indicators and proinflammatory factors at both plasma and gene levels. Additionally, PEF pretreatment remarkably diminished Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) and TLR4 expression and the subsequent MAPKs and NF-κB activation. HPLC analysis revealed that two predominantly polyphenolic compounds present in PEF were geraniin and corilagin. These results indicated that PEF has an anti-inflammatory effect, and its molecular mechanisms may be involved in the inactivation of the TLR/MAPK/NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting the therapeutic potential of PEF for inflammatory diseases.

Folium Microcos (FM), the leaves of Microcos paniculata L., shows various biological functions including antioxidant activity and α-glucosidase inhibitory effect. However, its therapeutic potential in acute liver injury is still unknown. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effect and underlying mechanisms of the polyphenol-enriched fraction (FMF) from Folium Microcos. FMF exhibited strong free radical scavenging activities and prevented HepG2/Hepa1–6 cells from hydrogen peroxide- (H2O2-) induced ROS production and apoptosis in vitro. Antioxidant activity and cytoprotective effects were further verified by alleviating APAP-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Western blot analysis revealed that FMF pretreatment significantly abrogated APAP-mediated phosphorylation of MAPKs, activation of proapoptotic protein caspase-3/9 and Bax, and restored expression of antiapoptotic protein Bcl2. APAP-intoxicated mice pretreated with FMF showed increased nuclear accumulation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor (Nrf2) and elevated hepatic expression of its target genes, NAD(P)H:quinine oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) and hemeoxygenase-1(HO-1). HPLC analysis revealed the four predominantly phenolic compounds present in FMF: narcissin, isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucoside, isovitexin, and vitexin. Consequently, these findings indicate that FMF possesses a hepatoprotective effect against APAP-induced hepatotoxicity mainly through dual modification of ROS/MAPKs/apoptosis axis and Nrf2-mediated antioxidant response, which may be attributed to the strong antioxidant activity of phenolic components.

Milkfish Chanos chanos is considered as the fourth largest aquaculture product. Collagen peptides from milkfish scales (MSCP) were used to evaluate the characteristics including moisturizing, transepidermal water loss rate (TEWL), anti-skin aging estimation by the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity, anti-melanogenesis, and sun protection factor (SPF). MSCP revealed the excellent capacity of moisture absorption and was increased to 20% moisture absorption rate after 4 h at 44% and 65% relative humidities. This result also corresponds to the result of TEWL. On gelatin zymography assay, the inhibition of MMPs treated with MSCP at 1 mg/mL was observed, preventing the gelatin from degradation. Moreover, the effectiveness results of MSCP in inhibiting tyrosinase activity and melanin production were 752.4 and 887.1 µg/mL, respectively, at the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50). However, the SPF of MSCP spread at a dose of 20 mg/cm2 was only 1.09, thereby indicating that MSCP was not suitable as a sunscreen alone. MSCP was recognized as safe according to the cell cycle distribution analysis of flow cytometry. Consequently, MSCP could be modulated as moisturizers, anti-skin aging and skin-whitening agents for applications of cosmeceuticals. Thus, the milkfish scales can be converted into the useful by-products and decrease the environmental pollution.