Prophylactic Intra-Uterine β-Cyclodextrin Administration during Intra-Uterine Ureaplasma parvum Infection Partly Prevents Liver Inflammation without Interfering with the Enterohepatic Circulation of the Fetal Sheep

Chorioamnionitis can lead to inflammation and injury of the liver and gut, thereby predisposing patients to adverse outcomes such as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In addition, intestinal bile acids (BAs) accumulation is causally linked to NEC development. Plant sterols are a promising intervention to prevent NEC development, considering their anti-inflammatory properties in the liver. Therefore, we investigated whether an intra-amniotic (IA) Ureaplasma parvum (UP) infection affected the liver and enterohepatic circulation (EHC) and evaluated whether an IA administered plant sterol mixture dissolved in β-cyclodextrin exerted prophylactic effects. An ovine chorioamnionitis model was used in which liver inflammation and the EHC were assessed following IA UP exposure in the presence or absence of IA prophylactic plant sterols (a mixture of β-sitosterol and campesterol dissolved in β-cyclodextrin (carrier)) or carrier alone. IA UP exposure caused an inflammatory reaction in the liver, histologically seen as clustered and conflated hepatic erythropoiesis in the parenchyma, which was partially prevented by IA administration of sterol + β-cyclodextrin, or β-cyclodextrin alone. In addition, IA administration of β-cyclodextrin prior to UP caused changes in the expression of several hepatic BAs transporters, without causing alterations in other aspects of the EHC. Thereby, the addition of plant sterols to the carrier β-cyclodextrin did not have additional effects.

α-Amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of the extracts and constituents of Ferulago blancheana, F. pachyloba and F. trachycarpa roots

<p>Eleven coumarins named osthole (1), imperatorin (2), bergapten (3), prantschimgin (4), grandivitinol (5), suberosin (6), xanthotoxin (7), felamidin (8), marmesin (9), umbelliferone (10), ulopterol (11), and a sterol mixture consisted of stigmasterol (12), β-sitosterol (13) were isolated from the roots of Ferulago blancheana, F. pachyloba and F. trachycarpa through in vitro bioassay-guided fractionation processes. The extracts and bioactive compounds were evaluated for their α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Among the tested compounds, felamidin and suberosin showed significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 0.4 and 0.9 mg/mL, respectively, when compared to the reference standard acarbose (IC₅₀ = 4.9 mg/mL). Grandivitinol (IC₅₀ = 20.0 mg/mL) had the lowest inhibitory effect. On the other hand, none of the tested extracts were found to be active on α-amylase inhibition. This is the first report on isolation, characterization of the bioactive compounds and evaluation the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of these species.</p><p><strong>Video Clip of Methodology</strong>:</p><p>8 min 26 sec: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/v/x0gakPjgXmc">Full Screen</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0gakPjgXmc">Alternate</a></p><p> </p>

LIPIDS OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS IN ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES

The female reproductive organs of Ascaris lumbricoides represented one fifth of the total fresh weight and contained two thirds of the total body lipids. These lipids consisted of saponifiables (79%) and unsaponifiables (21%). Phospholipids of the lecithin–cephalin type were present, as well as an abundance of triglycerides. The latter contained unusually large amounts of C2—C0 saturated volatile acids among which acetic and hexanoic acids predominated. Ascaryl alcohol was the major constituent of the large unsaponifiable fraction, and on the basis of previous chemical analyses and of infrared spectra a hypothetical structure is proposed. A sterol mixture containing significant proportions of both saturated and unsaturated components was also isolated, but not identified further.

LIPIDS OF THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS IN ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES

The female reproductive organs of Ascaris lumbricoides represented one fifth of the total fresh weight and contained two thirds of the total body lipids. These lipids consisted of saponifiables (79%) and unsaponifiables (21%). Phospholipids of the lecithin–cephalin type were present, as well as an abundance of triglycerides. The latter contained unusually large amounts of C2—C0 saturated volatile acids among which acetic and hexanoic acids predominated. Ascaryl alcohol was the major constituent of the large unsaponifiable fraction, and on the basis of previous chemical analyses and of infrared spectra a hypothetical structure is proposed. A sterol mixture containing significant proportions of both saturated and unsaturated components was also isolated, but not identified further.