Carnosic Acid Attenuates an Early Increase in ROS Levels during Adipocyte Differentiation by Suppressing Translation of Nox4 and Inducing Translation of Antioxidant Enzymes

Isoeugenol Inhibits Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes with Impaired Mitotic Clonal Expansion

Isoeugenol (IEG), a natural component of clove oil, possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. However, the effects of IEG on adipogenesis have not yet been elucidated. Here, we showed that IEG blocks adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 cells at an early stage. IEG inhibits lipid accumulation in adipocytes in a concentration-dependent manner and reduces the expression of mature adipocyte-related factors including PPARγ, C/EBPα, and FABP4. IEG treatment at different stages of adipogenesis showed that IEG inhibited adipocyte differentiation by suppressing the early stage, as confirmed by lipid accumulation and adipocyte-related biomarkers. The early stage stimulates growth-arrested preadipocytes to enter mitotic clonal expansion (MCE) and initiates their differentiation into adipocytes by regulating cell cycle-related factors. IEG arrested 3T3-L1 preadipocytes in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle and attenuated cell cycle-related factors including cyclinD1, CDK6, CDK2, and cyclinB1 during the MCE stage. Furthermore, IEG suppresses reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during MCE and inhibits ROS-related antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase1 (SOD1) and catalase. The expression of cell proliferation-related biomarkers, including pAKT and pERK1/2, was attenuated by the IEG treatment of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. These findings suggest that it is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of obesity.

Rosemary: Unrevealing an old aromatic crop as a new source of promising functional food additive-A review

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is one of the most famous spice plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family as a remarkably beautiful horticultural plant and economically agricultural crop. The essential oil of rosemary has been enthusiastically welcome in the whole world for hundreds of years. Now, it is wildly prevailing as a promising functional food additive for human health. More importantly, due to its significant aroma, food, and nutritional value, rosemary also plays an essential role in the food/feed additive and food packaging industries. Modern industrial development and fundamental scientific research have extensively revealed its unique phytochemical constituents with biologically meaningful activities, which closely related to diverse human health functions. In this review, we provide a comprehensively systematic perspective on rosemary by summarizing the structures of various pharmacological and nutritional components, biologically functional activities and their molecular regulatory networks required in food developments, and the recent advances in their applications in the food industry. Finally, the temporary limitations and future research trends regarding the development of rosemary components are also discussed and prospected. Hence, the review covering the fundamental research advances and developing prospects of rosemary is a desirable demand to facilitate their better understanding, and it will also serve as a reference to provide many insights for the future promotion of the research and development of functional foods related to rosemary.

Carnosic acid and rosemary extract reversed the lipid accumulation induced by bisphenol A in the 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and C57BL/6J mice via SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical, widely used to produce polycarbonate plastic. Carnosic acid (CA) is a rosemary diterpene with an anti-obesity effect. In this study, we investigated the anti-adipogenic effect of CA in BPA-treated 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and C57BL/6 J mice. In vitro experiments showed that CA inhibited lipid accumulation by BPA in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. CA displayed anti-adipogenic effects through the downregulation of differentiation and adipogenesis-related proteins, along with the upregulation of lipolytic protein and SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway. In vivo experiments, mice treated with BPA exhibited an increase in body weight gain and epididymal adipose tissue mass when compared to the control group. CA treatment improved the epididymal adipose tissue mass induced by BPA. CA and rosemary extract (RE) treatment ameliorated dyslipidemia in BPA-treated mice. We further showed that CA and RE exerted anti-adipogenesis effects in liver tissues of BPA-treated mice via increasing SIRT1, FoxO1, and ATGL proteins and decreasing FAS and aP2 proteins. Moreover, SIRT1 inhibitor sirtinol blocked CA to increase SIRT1, FoxO1, FAS, and aP2 proteins, decrease Ac-FoxO1 protein, and reduce lipid accumulation in BPA-treated cells. These findings indicated that CA and RE could reverse BPA-induced lipid accumulation by regulating adipocyte differentiation, adipogenesis, and lipolysis through SIRT1/FoxO1 pathway.

Extract of Isatidis Radix Inhibits Lipid Accumulation in In Vitro and In Vivo by Regulating Oxidative Stress

Isatidis Radix (IR), the root of Isatis tinctoria L. belonging to Brassicaceae, has been traditionally used as a fever reducer. Although some pharmacological effects, such as anti-diabetes, anti-virus, and anti-inflammatory, have been reported, there is no study on the anti-obesity effect of IR. This study used 3T3-L1 cells, human mesenchymal adipose stem cells (hAMSCs), and a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese mouse model to confirm the anti-adipogenic effect of IR. Intracellular lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 cells and hAMSCs was decreased by IR treatment.IR extract especially suppressed reactive oxygen species (ROS) production through a cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36)-AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway. Consequently, the expressions of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ), CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins alpha (C/EBPα), and fatty acid synthesis (FAS) were inhibited by IR extract. In addition, β-oxidation-related genes were also decreased by treatment of IR extract. IR inhibited weight gain through this cascade in the HFD-induced obese mouse model. IR significantly suppressed lipid accumulation in epididymal white adipose tissue (eWAT). Furthermore, the administration of IR extract decreased serum free fatty acid (FFA), total cholesterol (TC), and LDL cholesterol, suggesting that it could be a potential drug for obesity by inhibiting lipid accumulation.

Radical Scavenging-Linked Anti-Obesity Effect of Standardized Ecklonia stolonifera Extract on 3T3-L1 Preadipocytes and High-Fat Diet-Fed ICR Mice

Ecklonia stolonifera, belonging to the Laminariaceae family, is an edible widely distributed perennial brown marine alga that is rich in polyphenols. Dieckol, a bioactive component of the E. stolonifera extract (ESE), is a major phlorotannin compound found only in brown algae. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of ESE to inhibit lipid accumulation caused by oxidative stress in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and high-fat diet-fed obese ICR mice. We report that ESE-treated obese ICR mice, which were fed a high-fat diet, showed reduced whole-body and adipose tissue weights with improved plasma lipid profiles. In vitro and in vivo studies have indicated that ESE inhibited the expression of adipogenesis-related genes associated with fat accumulation through AMP-activated protein kinase activity and increased the expression of lipolysis-related genes. In addition, ESE reduced the expression of enzymes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and increased the expression of antioxidant enzymes, thereby reducing ROS levels. These findings suggest that ESE possesses strong antioxidant properties and inhibits oxidative stress-induced lipid accumulation by reducing ROS production during adipocyte generation.

Pesticides as a risk factor for cognitive impairment: Natural substances are expected to become alternative measures to prevent and improve cognitive impairment

Pesticides are the most effective way to control diseases, insects, weeds, and fungi. The central nervous system (CNS) is damaged by pesticide residues in various ways. By consulting relevant databases, the systemic relationships between the possible mechanisms of pesticides damage to the CNS causing cognitive impairment and related learning and memory pathways networks, as well as the structure-activity relationships between some natural substances (such as polyphenols and vitamins) and the improvement were summarized in this article. The mechanisms of cognitive impairment caused by pesticides are closely related. For example, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammation can constitute three feedback loops that interact and restrict each other. The mechanisms of neurotransmitter abnormalities and intestinal dysfunction also play an important role. The connection between pathways is complex. NMDAR, PI3K/Akt, MAPK, Keap1/Nrf2/ARE, and NF-κB pathways can be connected into a pathway network by targets such as Ras, Akt, and IKK. The reasons for the improvement of natural substances are related to their specific structure, such as polyphenols with different hydroxyl groups. This review's purpose is to lay a foundation for exploring and developing more natural substances that can effectively improve the cognitive impairment caused by pesticides.

Extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves attenuates neurotoxic damages in rats and SH-SY5Y cells exposed to a high level of fluoride

BACKGROUND

Potential protection against the neurotoxic damages of high levels of fluoride on rats and SH-SY5Y cells by extract of Ginkgo biloba leaves, as well as underlying mechanisms, were examined.

METHODS

The rats were divided randomly into 4 groups, i.e., control, treatment with the extract (100 mg/kg body weight, gavage once daily), treatment with fluoride (50 ppm F^- in drinking water) and combined treatment with both; SH-SY5Y cells exposed to fluoride and fluoride in combination with the extract or 4-Amino-1,8-naphthalimide (4-ANI), an inhibitor of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1). Spatial learning and memory in the rats were assessed employing Morris water maze test; the contents of fluoride in brains and urine by fluoride ion-selective electrode; cytotoxicity of fluoride was by CCK-8 kit; the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) by appropriate kits; the level of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was by ELISA; the content of ROS and frequency of apoptosis by flow cytometry; the expressions of phospho-histone H2A.X_(Ser139), PARP-1, poly (ADP-ribose) (PAR) and Sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) by Western blotting or immunofluorescence.

RESULTS

The rats with prolong treatment of fluoride exhibited dental fluorosis, the increased contents of fluoride in brains and urine and the declined ability of learning and memory. In the hippocampus of the rats and SH-SY5Y cells exposed to fluoride, the levels of ROS, MDA, apoptosis, 8-OHdG and the protein expressions of histone H2A.X_(Ser139), PARP-1 and PAR were all elevated; the activities of SOD and GSH-Px and the protein expression of SIRT1 reduced. Interestingly, the treatment of Ginkgo biloba extract attenuated these neurotoxic effects on rats and SH-SY5Y cells exposed to fluoride and the treatment of 4-ANI produced a neuroprotective effect against fluoride exposure.

CONCLUSION

Ginkgo biloba extract attenuated neurotoxic damages induced by fluoride exposure to rats and SH-SY5Y cells and the underlying mechanism might involve the inhibition of PARP-1 and the promotion of SIRT1.

Suppressive Effect of Fraxetin on Adipogenesis and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in 3T3-L1 Cells by Regulating MAPK Signaling Pathways

Recent studies have identified obesity as one of the world’s most serious chronic disorders. Adipogenesis, in which preadipocytes are differentiated into mature adipocytes, has a decisive role in establishing the number of adipocytes and determining the lipid storage capacity of adipose tissue and fat mass in adults. Fat accumulation in obesity is implicated with elevated oxidative stress in adipocytes induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Adipogenesis regulation by inhibiting adipogenic differentiation and ROS production has been selected as the strategy to treat obesity. The conventional anti-obesity drugs allowed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have severe adverse effects. Therefore, various natural products have been developed as a solution for obesity, suppressing adipogenic differentiation. Fraxetin is a major component extracted from the stem barks of Fraxinus rhynchophylla, with various bioactivities, including anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial functions. However, the effect of fraxetin on adipogenesis is still not clearly understood. We studied the pharmacological functions of fraxetin in suppressing lipid accumulation and its underlying molecular mechanisms involving 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Moreover, increased ROS production induced by a mixture of insulin, dexamethasone, and 3-isobutylmethylxanthine (MDI) in 3T3-L1 was attenuated by fraxetin during adipogenesis. These effects were regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Therefore, our findings imply that fraxetin possesses inhibitory roles in adipogenesis and can be a potential anti-obesity drug.

Macrophage-like THP-1 Cells Derived from High-Density Cell Culture Are Resistant to TRAIL-Induced Cell Death via Down-Regulation of Death-Receptors DR4 and DR5

Simple Summary

The mechanisms of leukemic cell resistance to antitumor immunity remains a topical issue. In this work, we found an increase in TRAIL-resistance of human acute myeloid leukemia cells THP-1 in high-density populations in vitro. The results obtained show that a macrophage-like phenotype of the acute myeloid leukemia cells, caused by stressful conditions in high-density culture, can increaser resistance to TRAIL-induced apoptosis, while retaining proliferative potential. The mechanism of the increase in TRAIL-resistance can be related to a decrease in the expression of death receptors DR4 and DR5. The possible realization of these events in vivo may be the reason for tumor progression.

Abstract

Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL/Apo2L) is a highly selective and promising anticancer agent due to its specific apoptosis-inducing effect on tumor cells, rather than most normal cells. TRAIL is currently under investigation for use in the treatment of leukemia. However, the resistance of leukemic cells to TRAIL-induced apoptosis may limit its efficacy. The mechanisms of leukemic cell resistance to antitumor immunity remains a topical issue. In this work, we have found an increase in the resistance to TRAIL-induced cell death in human leukemia THP-1 cells, which was caused by differentiation into a macrophage-like phenotype in high-density culture in vitro. Stressful conditions, manifested by the inhibition of cell growth and the activation of cell death in high-density culture of THP-1 cells, induced the appearance of cells adhered to culture dishes. The THP-1ad cell line was derived by selection of these adhered cells. The genetic study, using STR and aCGH assays, has shown that THP-1ad cells were derived from THP-1 cells due to mutagenesis. The THP-1ad cells possessed high proliferative potential and a macrophage-like immunophenotype. The adhesion of THP-1ad cells to the extracellular matrix was mediated by αVβ5 integrin. The cytokine production, as well as the rise of intracellular ROS and NO activities by LPS in THP-1ad cell culture, were characteristic of macrophage-like cells. The THP-1ad cells were found to appear to increase in resistance to TRAIL-induced cell death in comparison with THP-1 cells. The mechanism of the increase in TRAIL-resistance can be related to a decrease in the expression of death receptors DR4 and DR5 on the THP-1ad cells. Thus, the macrophage-like phenotype formation with the maintenance of a high proliferative potential of leukemic cells, caused by stress conditions in high-density cell cultures in vitro, can induce an increase in resistance to TRAIL-induced cell death due to the loss of DR4 and DR5 receptors. The possible realization of these events in vivo may be the reason for tumor progression.

Protective Effects of Carnosic Acid on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Mice

Septic acute kidney injury (AKI) is an important medical problem worldwide, but current treatments are limited. During sepsis, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activates various signaling pathways involved in multiorgan failure. Carnosic acid is a natural phenolic diterpene and has multiple bioactivities, such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative effects. However, the effect of carnosic acid on septic AKI has not been explored. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether carnosic acid has a therapeutic effect on LPS-induced kidney injury. Administration of carnosic acid after LPS injection ameliorated histological abnormalities and renal dysfunction. Cytokine production, immune cell infiltration, and nuclear factor-κB activation after LPS injection were also alleviated by carnosic acid. The compound suppressed oxidative stress with the modulation of pro-oxidant and antioxidant enzymes. Tubular cell apoptosis and caspase-3 activation were also inhibited by carnosic acid. These data suggest that carnosic acid ameliorates LPS-induced AKI via inhibition of inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis and could serve as a useful treatment agent for septic AKI.

Carnosic Acid Induces Antiproliferation and Anti-Metastatic Property of Esophageal Cancer Cells via MAPK Signaling Pathways

Background

Carnosic acid (CA) is a polyphenolic diterpene extracted from rosemary. Reports have shown that CA possesses anticancer activity. However, whether CA inhibits esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, an aggressive type of esophageal cancer, remains untested.

Methods

The effects of CA on cell survival, migration, and apoptosis were evaluated by a combination of MTT, colony formation assay, flow cytometry, and Transwell assay. The potential signaling pathways involved were investigated via Western blot assay.

Results

CA dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and colony formation. Mechanistically, CA arrested the cell cycle at G2/M phase, promoted cell apoptosis, induced DNA damage, and inhibited the MAPK signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that CA is a potential anticancer drug for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.

An Exploration of the Effects of an Early Postpartum Intravenous Infusion with Carnosic Acid on Physiological Responses of Transition Dairy Cows

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compound found in rosemary plants (Salvia rosmarinus) named carnosic acid during the transition period of dairy cows. From day 1 to 3 after calving, 16 multiparous Holstein cows received a daily intravenous infusion of either 500 mL of saline (NaCl 0.9%; Saline; n = 8) or carnosic acid at a rate of 0.3 mg/kg of BW supplied in 500 mL of saline (CA; n = 8). Blood samples were taken at –7, 2, 5, 7, 14, and 21 d relative to parturition, then analyzed for metabolites related to energy metabolism, muscle mass catabolism, liver function, inflammation, and oxidative stress. CA infusion tended to improve milk performance; however, DMI was unaffected by treatment. At 2 d relative to parturition, CA cows had lower blood concentrations of haptoglobin, paraoxonase, FRAP, and NO₂^– than saline cows. After treatment infusions, haptoglobin remained lower in CA cows than saline at 5 d relative to parturition. Our results demonstrate that carnosic acid promoted positive responses on inflammation and oxidative stress biomarkers and may promote beneficial effects on lactation performance in peripartal dairy cows.