Sea Cucumber and Blueberry Extracts Suppress Inflammation and Reduce Acute Lung Injury through the Regulation of NF-κB/MAPK/JNK Signaling Pathway in Lipopolysaccharide-Treated C57BL/6 Mice

Acute lung injury (ALI) represents a life-threatening condition with high morbidity and mortality despite modern mechanical ventilators and multiple pharmacological strategies. Therefore, there is a need to develop efficacious interventions with minimal side effects. The anti-inflammatory activities of sea cucumber (Cucumaria frondosa) and wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) extracts have been reported recently. However, their anti-inflammatory activities and the mechanism of action against ALI are not fully elucidated. Thus, the present study aims to understand the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activity of sea cucumber and wild blueberry extracts in the context of ALI. Experimental ALI was induced via intranasal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) instillation in C57BL/6 mice and the anti-inflammatory properties were determined by cytokine analysis, histological examination, western blot, and qRT-PCR. The results showed that oral supplementation of sea cucumber extracts repressed nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways, thereby downregulating the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) in the lung tissue and in the plasma. Wild blueberry extracts also suppressed the expression of IL-4. Furthermore, the combination of sea cucumber and wild blueberry extracts restrained MAPK signaling pathways by prominent attenuation of phosphorylation of NF-κB, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) while the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were significantly suppressed. Moreover, there was a significant and synergistic reduction in varying degrees of ALI lesions such as distorted parenchyma, increased alveoli thickness, lymphocyte and neutrophil infiltrations, fibrin deposition, pulmonary emphysema, pneumonia, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and edema. The anti-inflammatory effect of the combination of sea cucumber and wild blueberry extracts is associated with suppressing MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, thereby significantly reducing cytokine storm in LPS-induced experimental ALI.

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Anthocyanins from Haskap (Lonicera caerulea L.) Berries Using a Deep Eutectic Solvent (DES) DES Extraction of Anthocyanins from Haskap Berries

Research background

Haskap berries are one of the richest natural sources of anthocyanins and their extracts can be used for nutraceuticals and functional food ingredients. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) comprising food-grade or generally recognized as safe (GRAS) components show promise as natural solvents, but have not been applied to haskap berries. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the extraction of anthocyanins from haskap berries using a DES consisting of citric acid and d-(+)-maltose.

Experimental approach

The experimental approach used ultrasound-assisted extraction with a DES consisting of citric acid and d-(+)-maltose as the solvent to achieve a sustainable green extraction process. Response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken experimental design was used to study the effect of varying the extraction temperature, time of extraction, V(solvent)/m(sample) ratio (mL/g) and the water volume fraction (%) in the DES on the total anthocyanin content (TAC) in the haskap berry extracts.

Results and conclusions

Under the optimal extraction conditions (75 °C, 10 min, 50.4 mL/g and 90% water) a predicted TAC extraction on dry mass basis yielded 21.2 mg/g, with experimental error of 7.2%. The TAC yield and anthocyanin profiles were similar to those obtained with conventional organic solvents.

Novelty and scientific contribution

This is the first study investigating the use of a food-grade DES comprising GRAS components for the extraction of anthocyanins from haskap berries. These results indicate that the studied DES (citric acid and d-(+)-maltose) is a suitable alternative solvent for extracting anthocyanins for food-grade applications.

Arsenic speciation in sea cucumbers: Identification and quantitation of water-extractable species

With the constant quest for new sources of superfoods to supplement the largely nutrient deficient diet of the modern society, sea cucumbers are gaining increasing popularity. Three species of sea cucumbers, Cucumaria frondosa, Apostichopus californicus and Apostichopusjaponicus were collected from three geographical regions, Atlantic and Pacific coast of Canada and Yellow sea/ East China sea in China, respectively. These organisms were sectioned into parts (body wall, tentacles, internal organ, skin and muscle) and analysed for total arsenic (As) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and As species by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ICP-MS. Normal and reversed sequential extractions were optimised to address As distribution between lipids (polar and non-polar) and water-extractable fractions. Two extraction methods for water-extractable As were compared in terms of the number and the amount of extracted species. The results revealed that total As concentration and As species distribution varies significantly between sea cucumbers species. Total As in studied body parts ranged between 2.8 ± 0.52 and 7.9 ± 1.2 mg kg^-1, with an exception of the muscle tissue of A. californicus, where it reached to 36 ± 3.5 mg kg^-1. Arsenobetaine (AsB) was the most abundant As species in A. californicus and A.japonicus, however, inorganic As represented over 70% of total recovered As in the body parts of C. frondosa. Arsenosugars-328 and 482 were found in all studied body parts whereas arsenosugar-408 was only found in the skin of A. californicus. This is the first time that such a variation in As species distribution between sea cucumber species has been shown.

Sustainable approach for lycopene extraction from tomato processing by-product using hydrophobic eutectic solvents

Lycopene, a non-polar antioxidant compound with important effects on human health and wide commercial applications, was extracted from tomato processing wastes using innovative hydrophobic eutectic mixtures (HEMs) replacing traditional organic solvents. HEMs were prepared using DL-menthol as hydrogen-bond acceptor (HBA) and lactic acid as hydrogen-bond donor (HBD), and the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was optimized using a Box-Behnken design to evaluate extraction conditions: extraction temperature (°C), molar ratio of eutectic mixture (moles HBA: mol HBD), solvent to sample ratio (volume to mass, mL/g), and extraction time (min), with lycopene extraction yield (µg/g d.w.) as the response variable. Optimization of parameters was performed using response surface methodology, and the optimized extraction conditions were determined to be 70 °C, 8:1 mol HBA/mol HBD, 120 mL/g solvent: sample, and 10 min. The experimental optimal yield was 1446.6 µg/g, in agreement with the predicted optimal yield, indicating the validity of the model. This new technique for lycopene extraction, using a HEM as extraction solvent in replacement of hazardous organic solvents, and tomato pomace as source material, represents a viable and more sustainable approach for obtaining a high value-added bioactive compound, and can contribute towards the development of greener extraction processes.

Shrimp oil extracted from the shrimp processing waste reduces the development of insulin resistance and metabolic phenotypes in diet-induced obese rats

Diet-induced obesity, insulin resistance, impaired glucose tolerance, chronic inflammation, and oxidative stress represent the main features of type 2 diabetes mellitus. The present study was conducted to examine the efficacy and mechanisms of shrimp oil on glucose homeostasis in obese rats. Male CD rats fed a high-fat diet (52 kcal% fat) and 20% fructose drinking water were divided into 4 groups and treated with the dietary replacement of 0%, 10%, 15%, or 20% of lard with shrimp oil for 10 weeks. Age-matched rats fed a low-fat diet (10 kcal% fat) were used as the normal control. Rats on the high-fat diet showed impaired (p < 0.05) glucose tolerance and insulin resistance compared with rats fed the low-fat diet. Shrimp oil improved (p < 0.05) oral glucose tolerance, insulin response, and homeostatic model assessment-estimated insulin resistance index; decreased serum insulin, leptin, hemoglobin A1c, and free fatty acids; and increased adiponectin. Shrimp oil also increased (p < 0.05) antioxidant capacity and reduced oxidative stress and chronic inflammation. The results demonstrated that shrimp oil dose-dependently improved glycemic control in obese rats through multiple mechanisms.

An Extract from Shrimp Processing By-Products Protects SH-SY5Y Cells from Neurotoxicity Induced by Aβ25-35

Increased evidence suggests that marine unsaturated fatty acids (FAs) can protect neurons from amyloid-β (Aβ)-induced neurodegeneration. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) assays showed that the acetone extract 4-2A obtained from shrimp Pandalus borealis industry processing wastes contained 67.19% monounsaturated FAs and 16.84% polyunsaturated FAs. The present study evaluated the anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of 4-2A in Aβ_25–35-insulted differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Cell viability and cytotoxicity were measured by using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays. Quantitative PCR and Western blotting were used to study the expression of neurotrophins, pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptosis-related genes. Administration of 20 μM Aβ_25–35 significantly reduced SH-SY5Y cell viability, the expression of nerve growth factor (NGF) and its tyrosine kinase TrkA receptor, as well as the level of glutathione, while increased reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its TrkB receptor. Aβ_25–35 also increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Caspase-3 expression. Treatment with 4-2A significantly attenuated the Aβ_25–35-induced changes in cell viability, ROS, GSH, NGF, TrkA, TNF-α, the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio and Caspase-3, except for nitric oxide, BDNF and TrKB. In conclusion, 4-2A effectively protected SH-SY5Y cells against Aβ-induced neuronal apoptosis/death by suppressing inflammation and oxidative stress and up-regulating NGF and TrKA expression.

Inhibition of Influenza A Virus Infection by Fucoidan Targeting Viral Neuraminidase and Cellular EGFR Pathway

Development of novel anti-influenza A virus (IAV) drugs with high efficiency and low toxicity is critical for preparedness against influenza outbreaks. Herein, we investigated the anti-IAV activities and mechanisms of fucoidan in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that a fucoidan KW derived from brown algae Kjellmaniella crassifolia effectively blocked IAV infection in vitro with low toxicity. KW possessed broad anti-IAV spectrum and low tendency of induction of viral resistance, superior to the anti-IAV drug amantadine. KW was capable of inactivating virus particles before infection and blocked some stages after adsorption. KW could bind to viral neuraminidase (NA) and inhibit the activity of NA to block the release of IAV. KW also interfered with the activation of EGFR, PKCα, NF-κB, and Akt, and inhibited both IAV endocytosis and EGFR internalization in IAV-infected cells, suggesting that KW may also inhibit cellular EGFR pathway. Moreover, intranasal administration of KW markedly improved survival and decreased viral titers in IAV-infected mice. Therefore, fucoidan KW has the potential to be developed into a novel nasal drop or spray for prevention and treatment of influenza in the future.

Homozygous DNAH1 frameshift mutation causes multiple morphological anomalies of the sperm flagella in Chinese

This study aimed to investigate the genetic pathogeny of multiple morphological anomalies of the flagella (MMAF), which is a genetically heterogeneous disorder leading to male infertility. Nine patients with severe asthenozoospermia caused by MMAF were recruited. Whole genome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed, and we found that four of the nine patients were affected by the same homozygous frameshift mutation c.11726_11727delCT (p.[Pro3909ArgfsTer33]) in exon 73 of dynein axonemal heavy chain 1 ( DNAH1 ) gene. The parents and the sibling of proband 1 were all identified as heterozygous carriers. This mutation was distinct from previously reported DNAH1 mutations associated with MMAF and only affected the East Asian group. Furthermore, the variant DNAH1 protein could not be detected in spermatozoa by Western blot or immunofluorescence staining although DNAH1 mRNA was expressed in the spermatozoa. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis showed the anomalies in sperm flagella morphology and ultrastructure in patients carrying this genetic variant. In conclusion, our results add to knowledge of the genetic pathogeny of MMAF and further confirmed the effectiveness of genetic screening in the diagnosis of MMAF.

Chemical structures and bioactivities of sulfated polysaccharides from marine algae

Sulfated polysaccharides and their lower molecular weight oligosaccharide derivatives from marine macroalgae have been shown to possess a variety of biological activities. The present paper will review the recent progress in research on the structural chemistry and the bioactivities of these marine algal biomaterials. In particular, it will provide an update on the structural chemistry of the major sulfated polysaccharides synthesized by seaweeds including the galactans (e.g., agarans and carrageenans), ulvans, and fucans. It will then review the recent findings on the anticoagulant/antithrombotic, antiviral, immuno-inflammatory, antilipidemic and antioxidant activities of sulfated polysaccharides and their potential for therapeutic application.

[Effects of muscular position splint on maxillomandibular realignment]

OBJECTIVE

To study the effects of muscular position splint on maxillomandibular realignment.

METHODS

The changes of occlusal impression on splint in 102 craniomandibular disorder (CMD) patients were recorded after wearing the splint 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month, two to three or six months. If there appeared instability of occlusal impression when biting, the original impression was cleared and new soft resin was placed on its surface in order to get a new impression. The splint was always adjusted to fit well. When the signs and symptoms of CMD disappeared, the splint was worn off. Finally, whether the muscular contact position harmonized with the intercuspal position (ICP) or not was recorded.

RESULTS

There appeared two different conditions: 1. The original occlusal impression remained unchanged in 66 patients; 2. Being unfitted in 36 patients, occlusal analysis revealed that 12/102 patients had abnormal occlusion including premature anterior teeth contact (2 cases), natural defective vertical dimension (1 case) and deflected ICP (9 cases). These abnormal occlusion could not be determined before treatment.

CONCLUSION

The muscular position splint can correct the abnormal muscular position. On the premise that the muscular position is normal, the muscular position splint can be used to judge whether the ICP is normal.