Cold-stored mulberry leaves affect antioxidant system and silk proteins of silkworm (Bombyx mori) larva

BACKGROUND

Cold storage has been widely used to maintain the quality of vegetables, but whether eating cold-stored vegetables affects health remains unknown.

RESULTS

This study used silkworms as an animal model to evaluate the effects of nutrient changes in cold-stored mulberry leaves (CSML) on health. Compared with fresh mulberry leaves (FML), CSML contained lower vitamin C, soluble sugars and proteins, and higher H2 O2 , suggesting decreased antioxidant ability and nutrition. The CSML did not obviously affect larval survival rate, body weight or dry matter rate, cocoon shape, weight and size, or final rates of cluster and cocooning relative to the FML, suggesting CSML did not alter overall growth and development. However, the CSML increased the initial rates of cluster and cocooning and upregulated BmRpd3, suggesting CSML shortened larval lifespan and enhanced senescence. CSML upregulated BmNOX4, downregulated BmCAT, BmSOD and BmGSH-Px and increased H2 O2 in silkworms, suggesting CSML caused oxidative stress. CSML upregulated ecdysone biosynthesis and inactivation genes and elevated ecdysone concentration in silkworms, suggesting that CSML affected hormone homeostasis. CSML upregulated apoptosis-related genes, downregulated sericin and silk fibroin genes and decreased sericin content rate in silkworms, suggesting oxidative stress and protein deficiency.

CONCLUSION

Cold storage reduced nutrition and antioxidant capability of mulberry leaves. CSML did not influence growth and development of silkworm larva, but affected health by causing oxidative stress and reducing protein synthesis. The findings show that the ingredient changes in CSML had negative effects on health of silkworms. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Mulberry leaf meal: A potential feed supplement for juvenile Megalobrama amblycephala "Huahai No. 1"

This study was performed to evaluate the potential application of mulberry leaf meal (ML) and fermented mulberry leaf meal (FML) as feed supplements in aquatic animals for developing varieties of practical and economical feed ingredients. Juveniles Megalobrama amblycephala were fed a basal diet (35.7% crude protein, 10.4% crude lipid; control group) supplemented with 2.22% and 4.44% mulberry leaf meals (ML2, ML4) and fermented mulberry leaf meals (FML2, FML4) for 8 weeks. Generally, the two-way ANOVA showed the supplementation level exhibited a prominent effect on the growth performance and physiological status of fish. Furthermore, the two-way ANOVA showed the supplementary fermented mulberry leaf meal increased plasma complement 4 (C4) content (P < 0.05). The weight gain rate (WGR, 145.87%) and the specific growth rate (SGR, 1.63%) were significantly increased in FML2 group compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The muscle crude lipid content and hepatosomatic index (HSI) were higher in FML2 group than that in ML2 group (P < 0.05). The hepatic GSH content in ML4 group and CAT, T-SOD activities in FML4 group were significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.05). The hepatic MDA content in FML4 group was significantly decreased compared with the FML2 group (P < 0.05). Total cholesterol (TC) contents showed a significant decrease in ML4 and FML4 groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05). Regarding the gene expression, sirtiun 1 (Sirt1) gene expression was elevated in FML2 group compared with the ML2 group (P < 0.05). Compare to the control group, FML2 diet significantly increased the expression of i-kappa-B alpha (IKBα) gene in liver, and decreased the expression of forkhead box O1 α (FoxO1α), toll-like receptors 4 (TLR4) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) genes (P < 0.05). In conclusion, 2.22% FML promoted the growth performance of M. amblycephala and enhanced the anti-inflammatory responses by inhibiting TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway. On the other hand, 4.44% FML reduced plasma lipid content (hypolipedemic effect) and improved the hepatic antioxidant capacity of M. amblycephala.

The metabolism of fluorometholone by bovine cornea

Isolated bovine cornea was found to reduce the 20 ketone group in fluorometholone (FML) to produce a mixture of 20 alpha- and 20 beta-dihydrofluorometholone (DHFML). Incubation of FML with bovine cornea at pH 7.4 in phosphate buffer produced an increase in the amount of reduction products up to 8 h; after this time the rate of reduction decreased. The reduced products were quantified by GC-MS against [2H3] 20 alpha-DHFML. Variable amounts of 20 beta-DHFML were detected in six samples of human aqueous humour following topical application of 50 micrograms of FML to the eye. The rapid metabolism of the side chain of FML may account for the unexpected low concentrations of FML which are found in human aqueous humour following its application to the surface of the eye.

Effect of particle dissolution rate on ocular drug bioavailability

Aqueous ophthalmic drug solutions typically exhibit low bioavailability due to various loss processes such as drainage, tear turnover, nonproductive absorption, and protein binding. Suspensions may improve bioavailability, but because of a short residence time and a low corneal permeability rate constant, the dissolution rate of the drug and its intrinsic solubility must be considered. The relationship between the various parameters affecting the relative dissolution rate have not heretofore been examined with respect to the eye. In the present study, a kinetic model that predicts ocular tissue drug levels for suspensions has been developed and tested using a steroid, fluorometholone, as the test drug suspension. The proposed model is able to predict the effects of particle size, concentration, and changes in drainage rate such that a reasonable a priori prediction of drug levels can be made.

Penetration of fluorometholone into the cornea and aqueous humor

In each of the experimental conditions studied, fluorometholone penetrated into the cornea and aqueous humor following topical administration of a standard drop. The amount of drug measured in each location was less than that previously documented for dexamethasone and prednisolone preparations. In contrast to these more conventional steroids, the ocular penetration of fluorometholone appeared to be unaffected by the presence or absence of the corneal epithelium or of intraocular inflammation.

Transformation of steroids by Mucor griseo-cyanus

Spores and vegetative growth of Mucor griseo-cyanus (ATCC 1207) hydroxylated deoxycorticosterone, testosterone, progesterone, and androst-4-ene-3,17-dione mainly to their 14α-hydroxy derivatives. However, with 17α-methyl substituted steroids, the main transformation products were the 7α-hydroxy derivatives.