Antioxidant and anti-lipid peroxidation activities of Tamarindus indica seed coat in human fibroblast cells.

Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of tamarind seed coat extracts (TSCEs) were compared between the two extracts using boiling-water (TSCE-W) and 70% ethanol (TSCE-E) for extraction. TSCE-W, consisting of the highest phenolic content, possessed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and anti-lipid peroxidation activities much higher than TSCE-E and Trolox. Additionally, both TSCEs also exhibited superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activities higher than Trolox and BHA. Anti-lipid peroxidation and cytotoxicity of TSCE-W were also studied in human foreskin fibroblast CCD-1064Sk cells. Cytotoxic effect was not observed when exposed to TSCE-W up to 1 mg/mL for 12-48 h. However, TSCE-W significantly attenuated lipid peroxidation in H2O2-damaged cells. HPLC analysis showed the presence of (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, and procyanidin B2 in TSCE-W, which could be responsible for antioxidant and anti-lipid peroxidation activities. The results suggest that an inexpensive and simple boiling-water extraction of TSCE-W may provide a valuable natural antioxidant source having anti-lipid peroxidation for health food additives, nutraceuticals as well as cosmeceuticals.

Expression level of pluripotent genes in incomplete reprogramming

OBJECTIVE@#To compare the expression levels of pluripotent genes among incomplete reprogrammed colonies and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), to explore the relationship between the expression of pluripotent genes and incomplete reprogramming.@*METHODS@#Four genes (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, C-Myc) were introduced into human foreskin fibroblasts (HFFs) by retroviruses. The HFFs were induced to reprogramming. Different forms of colonies were picked up, analyzed, and compared with iPSCs from different aspects, including the morphology of clones, alkaline phosphatase (AP) staining, immuno-fluorescence, and Q-PCR.@*RESULTS@#In the reprogramming process, different colonies were emerged, some of them exhibited typical human embryonic stem cell morphology (eg., compact colonies, high nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratios, and prominent nucleoli). However, these colonies couldn't maintain these characters after passage. There was an intermediate state, named partially reprogramming. Through analysis and identification, AP staining results were weakly positive, compared with iPSC colonies. The immuno-fluorescence staining demonstrated these colonies just expressed pluripotent protein Oct4. Q-PCR indicated that the expression of exogenous transcription factors was inappropriate, either at a high level or at a low level. Most of the endogenous pluripotency genes were expressed at a low level.@*CONCLUSIONS@#It may be one of the causes of incomplete reprogramming that the exogenous pluripotent gene is low-expressed or over-expressed, and successful reprogramming may depend on a specific stoichiometric balance of Oct4, Sox2, Klf4 and c-Myc.