scholarly journals Ameliorative Effects of Infantile Feire Kechuan Oral Solution on Mycoplasma Pneumoniae Pneumonia in Infant Mouse and Rat Models

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Shanshan Guo ◽  
Lei Bao ◽  
Tiange Qu ◽  
Xin Mao ◽  
Yingjie Gao ◽  
...  

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) infection is a major pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in children worldwide. Infantile Feire Kechuan Oral Solution (IFKOS) has been used for the treatment of MP pneumonia clinically in China for many years. The present study was designed to investigate the therapeutic effect of IFKOS on MP pneumonia and explore the potential mechanism of the actions. The infant BALB/c mouse and Wistar rat models of MP infection were successfully established to confirm the therapeutic effects of IFKOS, followed by assays for related cytokines and investigations of the IgM response involved. The results showed that IFKOS exhibited an inhibitory effect on pulmonary index (PI) and effectively reduced the degree of lesions in the lungs. The lethal rate of mice was significantly decreased while survival time of mice was dramatically increased by IFKOS treatment in comparison to infection control, respectively. IFKOS treatment (40, 20, and 10ml/kg) significantly decreased the level of MP-IgM in a dose-dependent manner, whereas IFKOS showed no obvious inhibitory effect on the increase of relative expression of MP-DNA. In addition, the elevated IL-2 and TNF-α levels were significantly reduced and the decreased IL-6 level was significantly enhanced by IFKOS treatment. Our study demonstrates that IFKOS has inhibitory effect on MP infection in infant mouse and rat models of MP pneumonia and protective effect from lethal MP challenge in infant murine model. These anti-MP effects might be related to suppression of the IgM response and a reversal the imbalance of Th1/Th2 cytokines induced by MP infection.

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shaoli Li ◽  
Guanhua Xue ◽  
Hanqing Zhao ◽  
Yanling Feng ◽  
Chao Yan ◽  
...  

Abstract Mycoplasma pneumoniae is one of the most common pathogenic causes of community-acquired pneumonia. Hydrogen sulfide, alanine, and pyruvate producing enzyme (HapE) is a recently discovered M. pneumoniae virulence factor that can produce H2S to promote erythrocyte lysis. However, other cytotoxic effects of HapE have not been explored. The present study examined the effects of this enzyme on normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells, in an attempt to identify additional mechanisms of M. pneumoniae pathogenesis. Recombinant HapE was purified for use in downstream assays. MTT and colony formation assays were conducted to determine the effects of HapE on cell viability and growth, while flow cytometry was used to examine changes in cell proliferation and cell cycle function. ELISA was performed to examine changes in the cytokine profile of HapE-treated cells. HapE treatment arrested NHBE cells in S phase and inhibited cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. The anti-inflammatory factors interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-6 were significantly enhanced following HapE treatment. Increased secretion of pro-inflammatory factors was not observed. The effects of HapE on the respiratory epithelium may have an impact on the efficiency of host immune surveillance and pathogen elimination, and contribute to the pathogenesis of M. pneumoniae.


Author(s):  
Kumlachew Mergiaw ◽  
Yoseph A. Mengesha ◽  
Tesfaye Tolessa ◽  
Eyasu Makonnen ◽  
Solomon Genet ◽  
...  

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are common pregnancy complications, with a cumulative incidence of 7%. Pre-eclampsia (PE) is the most common clinical type of HDP and one of the five top leading causes of maternal mortality worldwide. There is imbalance between lipid peroxides and antioxidant system in PE. Established PE is associated with increased concentrations of oxidative stress markers including lipid peroxidation products, and a reduction in antioxidant concentrations. Methods: A case control experimental method was employed on Wistar rats with induced pre-eclampsia using nitric oxide-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Lipid peroxide content was estimated according to the method of Ohkawa et al. 1979. Total antioxidant capacity was assayed using colorimetric azinobis 2, 2′3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) radical cathion decolorization assay. Results: Lipid peroxides of untreated PE rat models were significantly (p<0.01) higher (0.57±0.08 nmol of malondyaldehide (MDA) per gram tissue weight) compared to normal pregnant controls (0.11±0.03 nmol). PE rat models that received aqueous leaf extracts of Thymus schimperi (ALETS) had (0.09±0.01, 0.07±0.002 and 0.02±0.002 nmol) (p<0.05) while, those PE rat models that received aqueous leaf extracts of Moringa stenopetala (ALEMS) had (0.36±0.08, 0.20±0.003 and 0.13±0.02 nmol) (p<0.05) with daily doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg respectively. On the other hand, untreated PE rat models had significantly (p<0.01) lower levels of serum total anti-oxidants (24.5±0.9 μg/ml of ascorbic acid equivalent) compared to normal pregnant controls (28.1±0.4 μg/ml). ALETS or ALEMS treated PE rat models had significantly (p<0.01) higher levels of serum total anti-oxidants in a dose dependent manner compared to untreated PE controls; (27.6±0.3, 29.5±0.3, 31.2±0.4 μg/ml and 29.2±0.3, 29.7±0.3, 30.6±0.4 μg/ml) with daily doses of 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg and 1000 mg/kg respectively. ALETS treated PE rat models had significantly (p<0.05) reduced total lipid peroxides compared to ALEMS treated counterparts. Conclusion: ALETS and ALEMS might have significant therapeutic effects against PE syndrome through reducing lipid peroxides and increasing total anti-oxidants.


Planta Medica ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 78 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
PE Ebong ◽  
HP Onyeama ◽  
MU Eteng ◽  
GO Igile ◽  
GE Egbung
Keyword(s):  

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaofeng Bao ◽  
Ying Xue ◽  
Chao Xia ◽  
Yin Lu ◽  
Ningjing Yang ◽  
...  

Background: Chlamydiae, characterized by a unique biphasic life cycle, are a group of Gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterial pathogens responsible for diseases in a range of hosts including humans. Benzylidene acylhydrazide CF0001 could inhibit chlamydiae independent of iron starvation and T3SS inhibition. This finding promoted us to design and synthesize more benzylidene acylhydrazides to find novel anti-chlamydial agents. Methods: The carboxylic acids 1a-1d were coupled with Boc-hydrazide inpresence of EDCI and DMAP to obtain the intermediate 2a-2d in 60-62% yields. N-Boc deprotections were performed to obtain hydrazide hydrochloride salt 3a-3d. Nextly, the hydrazides were subjected to condensation with aldehydes to obtain benzylidene acylhydrazides 4a-4g in 30-52% yields in two steps. Results: Compound 4d exhibited best inhibitory effect on the formation and growth of chlamydial inclusions. The IC50 value of compound 4d for infectious progenies was 3.55 µM, better than 7.30 µM of CF0001. Conclusion: To find novel anti-chlamydial agents, we have designed and synthesized benzylidene acylhydrazides 4a-4g. Compounds 4a, 4d, 4g showed inhibitory activity on C. muridarum with the IC50 values from 3.55-12 µM. The 3,5-dibromo-4-hydroxyl substitutes on ring B are critical to keep their anti-chlamydial activity. Compound 4d inhibited C. muridarum in a dose-dependent manner without apparent cytotoxicity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Li ◽  
Jing Zhou ◽  
Yajie Zhang ◽  
Jing Zhang ◽  
Xue Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Echinacoside (ECH) is the main active ingredient of Cistanches Herba, which is known to have therapeutic effects on metastatic tumors. However, the effects of ECH on liver cancer are still unclear. This study was to investigate the effects of ECH on the aggression of liver cancer cells. Methods Two types of liver cancer cells Huh7 and HepG2 were treated with different doses of ECH at different times and gradients. MTT and colony formation assays were used to determine the effects of ECH on the viability of Huh7 and HepG2 cells. Transwell assays and flow cytometry assays were used to detect the effects of ECH treatment on the invasion, migration, apoptosis and cell cycle of Huh7 and HepG2 cells. Western blot analysis was used to detect the effects of ECH on the expression levels of TGF-β1, smad3, smad7, apoptosis-related proteins (Caspase-3, Caspase-8), and Cyto C in liver cancer cells. The relationship between miR-503-3p and TGF-β1 was detected using bioinformatics analysis and Luciferase reporter assay. Results The results showed that ECH inhibited the proliferation, invasion and migration of Huh7 and HepG2 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, we found that ECH caused Huh7 and HepG2 cell apoptosis by blocking cells in S phase. Furthermore, the expression of miR-503-3p was found to be reduced in liver tumor tissues, but ECH treatment increased the expression of miR-503-3p in Huh7 and HepG2 cells. In addition, we found that TGF-β1 was identified as a potential target of miR-503-3p. ECH promoted the activation of the TGF-β1/Smad signaling pathway and increased the expression levels of Bax/Bcl-2. Moreover, ECH could trigger the release of mitochondrial Cyto C, and cause the reaction Caspases grade. Conclusions This study demonstrates that ECH exerts anti-tumor activity via the miR-503-3p/TGF-β1/Smad aixs in liver cancer, and provides a safe and effective anti-tumor agent for liver cancer.


Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1311
Author(s):  
Magdalena Chmur ◽  
Andrzej Bajguz

Brassinolide (BL) represents brassinosteroids (BRs)—a group of phytohormones that are essential for plant growth and development. Brassinazole (Brz) is as a synthetic inhibitor of BRs’ biosynthesis. In the present study, the responses of Wolffia arrhiza to the treatment with BL, Brz, and the combination of BL with Brz were analyzed. The analysis of BRs and Brz was performed using LC-MS/MS. The photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls, carotenes, and xanthophylls) levels were determined using HPLC, but protein and monosaccharides level using spectrophotometric methods. The obtained results indicated that BL and Brz influence W. arrhiza cultures in a concentration-dependent manner. The most stimulatory effects on the growth, level of BRs (BL, 24-epibrassinolide, 28-homobrassinolide, 28-norbrassinolide, catasterone, castasterone, 24-epicastasterone, typhasterol, and 6-deoxytyphasterol), and the content of pigments, protein, and monosaccharides, were observed in plants treated with 0.1 µM BL. Whereas the application of 1 µM and 10 µM Brz caused a significant decrease in duckweed weight and level of targeted compounds. Application of BL caused the mitigation of the Brz inhibitory effect and enhanced the BR level in duckweed treated with Brz. The level of BRs was reported for the first time in duckweed treated with BL and/or Brz.


2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenqian Zheng ◽  
Jinhui Hu ◽  
Yiming Lv ◽  
Bingjun Bai ◽  
Lina Shan ◽  
...  

AbstractThe use of the anthelmintic drug pyrvinium pamoate (PP) in cancer therapy has been extensively investigated in the last decade. PP has been shown to have an inhibitory effect in colorectal cancer (CRC), but the underlying mechanism remains elusive. We aimed to investigate the antitumor activity and mechanisms of PP in CRC. In the present study, we used CCK-8 assays, colony formation assays, and western blotting to reveal that PP effectively suppressed CRC cell proliferation and the AKT-dependent signaling pathway in a concentration-dependent and time-dependent manner. Flow cytometric analysis and fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that PP increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. We found that the inhibitory effect of PP on cell proliferation and AKT protein expression induced by PP could be partially reversed by N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), an ROS scavenger. In addition, the results also demonstrated that PP inhibited cell migration by modulating epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, including E-cadherin and vimentin. In conclusion, our data suggested that PP effectively inhibited cell proliferation through the ROS-mediated AKT-dependent signaling pathway in CRC, further providing evidence for the use of PP as an antitumor agent.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Johanna Kleeberg-Hartmann ◽  
Birgit Vogler ◽  
Karl Messlinger

Abstract Background Butterbur root extract with its active ingredients petasin and isopetasin has been used in the prophylactic treatment of migraine for years, while its sites of action are not completely clear. Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is known as a biomarker and promoting factor of migraine. We set out to investigate the impact of petasins on the CGRP release from trigeminal afferents induced by activation of the calcium conducting transient receptor potential channels (TRPs) of the subtypes TRPA1 and TRPV1. Methods We used well-established in vitro preparations, the hemisected rodent skull and dissected trigeminal ganglia, to examine the CGRP release from rat and mouse cranial dura mater and trigeminal ganglion neurons, respectively, after pre-incubation with petasin and isopetasin. Mustard oil and capsaicin were used to stimulate TRPA1 and TRPV1 receptor channels. CGRP concentrations were measured with a CGRP enzyme immunoassay. Results Pre-incubation with either petasin or isopetasin reduced mustard oil- and capsaicin-evoked CGRP release compared to vehicle in an approximately dose-dependent manner. These results were validated by additional experiments with mice expressing functionally deleted TRPA1 or TRPV1 receptor channels. Conclusions Earlier findings of TRPA1 receptor channels being involved in the site of action of petasin and isopetasin are confirmed. Furthermore, we suggest an important inhibitory effect on TRPV1 receptor channels and assume a cooperative action between the two TRP receptors. These mechanisms may contribute to the migraine prophylactic effect of petasins.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (15) ◽  
pp. 8106
Author(s):  
Tianming Song ◽  
Yawei Qu ◽  
Zhe Ren ◽  
Shuang Yu ◽  
Mingjian Sun ◽  
...  

Despite the numerous available treatments for cancer, many patients succumb to side effects and reoccurrence. Zinc oxide (ZnO) quantum dots (QDs) are inexpensive inorganic nanomaterials with potential applications in photodynamic therapy. To verify the photoluminescence of ZnO QDs and determine their inhibitory effect on tumors, we synthesized and characterized ZnO QDs modified with polyvinylpyrrolidone. The photoluminescent properties and reactive oxygen species levels of these ZnO/PVP QDs were also measured. Finally, in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to test their photodynamic therapeutic effects in SW480 cancer cells and female nude mice. Our results indicate that the ZnO QDs had good photoluminescence and exerted an obvious inhibitory effect on SW480 tumor cells. These findings illustrate the potential applications of ZnO QDs in the fields of photoluminescence and photodynamic therapy.


Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 1178
Author(s):  
Suvesh Munakarmi ◽  
Juna Shrestha ◽  
Hyun-Beak Shin ◽  
Geum-Hwa Lee ◽  
Yeon-Jun Jeong

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide with limited treatment options. Biomarker-based active phenolic flavonoids isolated from medicinal plants might shed some light on potential therapeutics for treating HCC. 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) is a unique biologically active dimer of indole-3-carbinol (I3C), a phytochemical compound derived from Brassica species of cruciferous vegetables—such as broccoli, kale, cabbage, and cauliflower. It has anti-cancer effects on various cancers such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, endometrial cancer, and colon cancer. However, the molecular mechanism of DIM involved in reducing cancer risk and/or enhancing therapy remains unknown. The aim of the present study was to evaluate anti-cancer and therapeutic effects of DIM in human hepatoma cell lines Hep3B and HuhCell proliferation was measured with MTT and trypan blue colony formation assays. Migration, invasion, and apoptosis were measured with Transwell assays and flow cytometry analyses. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) intensity and the loss in mitochondrial membrane potential of Hep3B and Huh7 cells were determined using dihydroethidium (DHE) staining and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester dye. Results showed that DIM significantly suppressed HCC cell growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, DIM treatment activated caspase-dependent apoptotic pathway and suppressed epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) via ER stress and unfolded protein response (UPR). Taken together, our results suggest that DIM is a potential anticancer drug for HCC therapy by targeting ER-stress/UPR.


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