DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY FOR PRODUCING FOOD SWEETENERS FROM STEVIA AND THEIR IMMUNOMODULATING EFFECT

The aim of the study is to develop a technology for the production of food sweetener from stevia (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni) - a plant of the Asteraceae (Compositae) family, cultivated in Uzbekistan using alcohol extracts. Diterpene glycosides were isolated from the extract - stevioside (1), rebaudioside A (2) and other biologically active substances. Pharmacological studies in mice have shown the presence of an immunostimulating effect in the alcoholic extract and in the individual diterpene glycoside, stevioside (1).

Ambroxol Treatment Suppresses the Proliferation of Chlamydia pneumoniae in Murine Lungs

Ambroxol (Ax) is used as a mucolytics in the treatment of respiratory tract infections. Ax, at a general dose for humans, does not alter Chlamydia pneumoniae growth in mice. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential anti-chlamydial effect of Ax at a concentration four timed higher than that used in human medicine. Mice were infected with C. pneumoniae and 5-mg/kg Ax was administered orally. The number of recoverable C. pneumoniae inclusion-forming units (IFUs) in Ax-treated mice was significantly lower than that in untreated mice. mRNA expression levels of several cytokines, including interleukin 12 (IL-12), IL-23, IL-17F, interferon gamma (IFN-γ), and surfactant protein (SP)-A, increased in infected mice treated with Ax. The IFN-γ protein expression levels were also significantly higher in infected and Ax-treated mice. Furthermore, the in vitro results suggested that the ERK 1/2 activity was decreased, which is essential for the C. pneumoniae replication. SP-A and SP-D treatments significantly decreased the number of viable C. pneumoniae IFUs and significantly increased the attachment of C. pneumoniae to macrophage cells. Based on our results, a dose of 5 mg/kg of Ax exhibited an anti-chlamydial effect in mice, probably an immunomodulating effect, and may be used as supporting drug in respiratory infections caused by C. pneumoniae.

Microwave-Assisted Enzymatic Extraction of Flavonoids from Armeniaca mume Sieb. Blossom and Their Immunomodulating Effect in Mice with DSS-Induced Colitis

Armeniaca mume Sieb. blossom is among the traditional Chinese edible flowers, and it is widely used in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Flavonoids are among the most abundant bioactive compounds in A. mume Sieb. blossom. However, the research on the extraction of flavonoids from A. mume Sieb. blossom and their immunomodulating function is insufficient. In this study, we developed a microwave-assisted enzymatic extraction of flavonoids from A. mume Sieb. blossom (FAMB) and explored their immunomodulating effect on mice with dextran sulfate sodium salt-induced colitis. The results showed that the optimum parameters for microwave-assisted enzymatic extraction of FAMB were as follows: cellulase: 2.0%; microwave power: 200 W; microwave action time: 5 min; and enzymatic hydrolysis time: 50 min. FAMB significantly promoted the lymphocyte proliferation and natural killer (NK) cell killing activity in colitis mice, and increased the concentrations of TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-2 in serum. FAMB also significantly reduced the apoptosis of spleen lymphocytes in these mice. These results demonstrated that the microwave-assisted enzymatic method could significantly improve the yield and efficacy extraction of FAMB. FAMB showed a good immunomodulation effect on colitis mice.

Obesity and infection. Another comorbidity?

A literature review is devoted to the problem of comorbidity of obesity (Ob) and infections. At present, extensive material has been accumulated about the increased propensity of patients with Ob to various infections (respiratory, urinary, viral, nosocomial, postoperative). One of the pathogenetic mechanisms of infection development in patients with Ob is dysfunction of cellular and humoral immunity, induced by adipose tissue production of cytokines (adipokines), which have an immunomodulating effect in various directions. Further research is needed in the field of epidemiology, mechanisms of development and course of infections in patients with Ob, as well as developing tactics for conducting this category of patients (diagnosis, antibiotic therapy, preoperative preparation, etc.).

Effects of a 1,2,4-triazole derivative liposome emulsion on the innate and adaptive immunity of puppies vaccinated against canine parvovirus and canine distemper

The aim of the study was the evaluate the immunomodulating effect of a 1,2,4-triazole derivative liposome emulsion (Trifuzol) in puppies vaccinated against parvovirus enteritis and canine distemper. The used Trifuzol liposome emulsion led to a significant increase in the absolute number of lympho-cytes and their immunoregulatory subpopulations, phagocytic activity of neutrophils. The level of antibodies against parvovirus enteritis (CPV) and canine distemper (CDV) in vaccinated and Trifuzol-treated puppies reached zero values which were statistically significantly lower than those in vac-cinated-only puppies (21.0 U/mL and 27.0 U/mL, respectively). It was concluded that the tested liposome emulsion of Trifuzol had an positive effect on the humoral immunity in puppies and can be used in clinical practice as an immunomodulatory agent.