Prospective study of probiotic supplementation results in immune stimulation and improvement of upper respiratory infection rate.

The human gut microbiota is an important environmental factor for human health with evolutionarily conserved roles in immunity, metabolism, development, and behavior of the host. Probiotic organisms are claimed to offer several functional properties including stimulation of immune system. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of a probiotic supplementation on adult volunteers who have contracted the common cold four or more times in the past year. This study is a single center, double-blind, randomized, controlled, prospective trial. Subjects received a probiotic drink containing Lactobacillus paracasei (at least 3 × 107 colony forming units (CFU) ml-1), Lactobacillus casei 431® (at least 3 × 107 CFU ml-1) and Lactobacillus fermentium PCC® (at least 3 × 106 CFU ml-1) or an identical placebo without probiotics for a 12-week study period. The consumption of probiotics significantly reduced the incidence of upper respiratory infection (p < 0.023) and flu-like symptoms with an oral temperature higher than 38 °C (p < 0.034) as compared to the placebo group. Subjects that consumed probiotics demonstrated a significantly higher level of IFN-γ in the serum (p < 0.001) and sIgA in the gut (p < 0.010) as compared to the placebo group and a significant higher level of serum IFN-γ (p < 0.001) and gut sIgA (p < 0.001) as compared to their baseline test results. In contrast, there were no significant differences in the serum IL-4, IL-10, IgA, IgG or IgM between the probiotics and the placebo groups. Results of this study demonstrated that probiotics were safe and effective for fighting the common cold and influenza-like respiratory infections by boosting the immune system.

Cytotoxic steroids from Monascus purpureus-fermented rice.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of an EtOH extract of Monascus purpureus-fermented rice led to the isolation of two new steroids (22S, 23R, 24S)-20ß,23α,25α-trihydroxy-16,22-epoxy-4,6,8(14)-trienergosta-3-one (1), the first example of a steroid possessing both a conjugated triene ketone system and a fused 4H-furan ring side chain within one molecule, and (22E, 24R)-3ß,5α-dihydroxyergosta-23-methyl-7,22-dien-6-one (2), as well as two known compounds (22E, 24R)-3ß,5α-dihydroxyergosta-7,22-dien-6-one (3) and (22E, 24R)-6ß-methoxy-ergosta-7,22-diene-3ß,5α-diol (4). Their structures were assigned by detailed interpretation of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute stereochemistry of 1 was determined by single-crystal X-ray crystallography while the absolute stereochemistry of 2 was established by CD. Compounds 1-4 showed cytotoxic activity against the lung adenocarcinoma (A549) with IC(50) values of 0.08, 0.94, 12.6 and 13.5 µM, respectively. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate activities against human ovarian cancer (A2780), with IC(50) values of 2.8 and 5.1 µM.

Structure elucidation and complete NMR spectral assignment of an unusual aromatic monacolin analog from Monascus purpureus-fermented rice.

One unusual aromatic monacolin analog, monacophenyl, was isolated from the ethanolic extract of Monascus purpureus-fermented rice. Its structure was completely and unambiguously assigned by one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques ((1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, HSQC, HMBC and NOESY) and high-resolution ESI-MS spectrometry.

New cytotoxic azaphilones from Monascus purpureus-fermented rice (red yeast rice).

Using a cell-based cytotoxicity assay three new cytotoxic azaphilones, including two stereoisomers and designated monapurones A-C (1-3), were isolated from the extract of Monascus purpureus-fermented rice (red yeast rice). Their structures were elucidated by detailed interpretation of spectroscopic and chemical data. The relative configurations were assigned on the basis of analysis of NOE data, and the absolute configurations were determined by direct comparison of their CD spectra with those of known azaphilones and chemical correlations. In the in vitro assays, monapurones A-C (1-3) showed selective cytotoxicity against human cancer cell line A549 with IC50 values of 3.8, 2.8 and 2.4 microM respectively, while exhibiting no significant toxicity to normal MRC-5 and WI-38 cells at the same concentration.

[Steroids from Monascus purpureus metabolite].

OBJECTIVE: To study the chemical constituents of Monascus purpureus metabolite. METHOD: The compounds were isolated by column chromatography methods, and their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods. RESULT: Eight compounds were isolated from the petroleum ether fraction of ethanolic extract and elucidated as stigmast-4-en-3-one (1), 3-oxo-24-methylenecycloarane (2), stigmasterol (3), 7beta-hydroxystigmasterol (4), 3beta-hydroxystigmast-5-en-7-one (5), 3beta-hydroxystigmast-5,22-dien-7-one (6), 5alpha, 8alpha-epidioxyergosta-6,22-dien-3beta-ol (7), sitosterol (8). CONCLUSION: All of the compounds were isolated from this genu for the first time except compound 3 and 7.