Mulberry fruit extract alleviates the intracellular amyloid-ß oligomer-induced cognitive disturbance and oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease model mice.

Intracellular amyloid-ß (Aß) oligomers are key therapeutic targets because they are strongly cytotoxic and play crucial roles in the cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Anthocyanins, polyphenolic flavonoids with antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, are potential therapeutic candidates for AD. Here, we investigated the effects of anthocyanin-enriched extracts from fruits of mulberry (Morus alba Linn.) in Thailand against the neurotoxicity of Aß oligomers. Using the monitoring system for Aß aggregation, we showed that the extract induced the dissociation of Aß in cultured HEK293T cells. To investigate the effects on cognitive function, we orally administered the extract to Aß-GFP transgenic mice (Aß-GFP Tg), a mouse model that expresses Aß oligomers inside neurons, and performed the novel object recognition test and passive avoidance test. Aß-GFP Tg usually showed deficits in novel object recognition memory and reference memory compared with non-Tg, but administration of the extract improved both compared with vehicle-treated Aß-GFP Tg. Aß-GFP Tg exhibited lower superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity than non-Tg. However, after the administration of the extract, the SOD activity was restored. These results suggest that Thai mulberry fruit extract ameliorates cytotoxicity induced by the intracellular Aß oligomers and may be an effective therapeutic or preventive candidate for AD.

Dried mulberry fruit ameliorates cardiovascular and liver histopathological changes in high-fat diet-induced hyperlipidemic mice.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Metabolic disease encompasses most contemporary non-communicable diseases, especially cardiovascular and fatty liver disease. Mulberry fruits of Morus alba L. are a favoured food and a traditional medicine. While they are anti-atherosclerotic and reduce hyperlipidemic risk factors, studies need wider scope that include ameliorating cardiovascular and liver pathologies if they are to become clinically effective treatments. Therefore, the present study sought to show that freshly dried mulberry fruits (dMF) might counteract the metabolic/cardiovascular pathologies in mice made hyperlipidemic by high-fat diet (HF). EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: C57BL/6J mice were fed for 3 months with either: i) control diet, ii) HF, iii) HF+100 mg/kg dMF, or iv) HF+300 mg/kg dMF. Body weight gain, food intake, visceral fat accumulation, fasting blood glucose, plasma lipids, and aortic, heart, and liver histopathologies were evaluated. Adipocyte lipid accumulation, autophagy, and bile acid binding were also investigated. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: HF increased food intake, body weight, visceral fat, plasma total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), TC/HDL ratio, blood glucose, aortic collagen, arterial and cardiac wall thickness, and liver lipid. Both dMF doses prevented hyperphagia, body weight gain, and visceral fat accumulation, lowered blood glucose, plasma TG and unfavourable TC/HDL and elevated plasma HDL beyond baseline. Arterial and cardiac wall hypertrophy, aortic collagen fibre accumulation and liver lipid deposition ameliorated in dMF-fed mice. Clinical trials on dMF are worthwhile but outcomes should be holistic commensurate with the constellation of disease risks. Here, dMF should supplement the switch to nutrient-rich from current energy-dense diets that are progressively crippling national health systems.

Ginger Extract and [6]-Gingerol Inhibit Contraction of Rat Entire Small Intestine.

This study aims to investigate the effect of oral administration and the direct action of ginger extract or [6]-gingerol on small intestinal contractility. The direct effect of 10 minutes preincubation of ginger ethanolic extract (10, 100 and 300 µg/mL) or [6]-gingerol (1, 30, and 100 µM) on 0.01 to 30 µM ACh-induced contractions of all parts of the small intestine isolated from normal rats was investigated using the organ bath technique. For in vivo study, the rats were orally administered with extract (10, 20, and 100 mg/kg/d) or [6]-gingerol (2 mg/kg/d) for 7 days, followed by determining the contractile responses to ACh of rat isolated duodenum, jejunum, and ileum and their histology were assessed. Direct application of the extract or [6]-gingerol attenuated ACh-induced contractions in each small intestinal segment, Emax was reduced by 40% to 80%, while EC50 increased 3- to 8-fold from control. Similarly, in the in vivo study ACh-induced contractions were reduced in all parts of the small intestine isolated from rats orally treated with ginger extract (20 and 100 mg/kg/d) or [6]-gingerol (2 mg/kg/d). Emax decreased 15% to 30%, while EC50 increased 1- to 3-fold compared to control. No discernable changes in the histology of intestinal segments were detectable. Thus, the results support the clinical application of ginger for disorders of gastrointestinal motility.

Chemical Composition, Toxicity and Vasodilatation Effect of the Flowers Extract of Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. "G. Duke of Tuscany".

Phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic Jasmine flower extract of Jasminum sambac (L.) Ait. "G. Duke of Tuscany" revealed the mixtures of coumarins, cardiac glycosides, essential oils, flavonoids, phenolics, saponins, and steroids. However, alkaloids, anthraquinones, and tannins were not detected. By intravenous injection at a single dose of 0.5 mL/mouse (15 mg) of the flower extract, no systemic biological toxicity demonstrated in ICR mice was observed. In Wistar rats, the LD(50) of the extract was higher than 5,000 mg/kg BW by oral administration. Vasodilatation effect of the 95% ethanolic extract on isolated aortic rats was also investigated. Compared with the control group, the Jasmine flowers extract in 0.05% DMSO clearly reduced tonus of isolated endothelium thoracic aortic rings preconstricted with phenylephrine (10(-6) M), as a dose-dependent manner. Nevertheless, this pharmacological effect disappeared after the preincubation of the rings with atropine (10(-6) M) or with N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine (10(-4) M). These are possibly due to the actions of the active components on the vessel muscarinic receptors or by causing the release of nitric oxide.

Zingiber officinale Improves Cognitive Function of the Middle-Aged Healthy Women.

The development of cognitive enhancers from plants possessing antioxidants has gained much attention due to the role of oxidative stress-induced cognitive impairment. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of ginger extract, or Zingiber officinale, on the cognitive function of middle-aged, healthy women. Sixty participants were randomly assigned to receive a placebo or standardized plant extract at doses of 400 and 800 mg once daily for 2 months. They were evaluated for working memory and cognitive function using computerized battery tests and the auditory oddball paradigm of event-related potentials at three different time periods: before receiving the intervention, one month, and two months. We found that the ginger-treated groups had significantly decreased P300 latencies, increased N100 and P300 amplitudes, and exhibited enhanced working memory. Therefore, ginger is a potential cognitive enhancer for middle-aged women.

The efficacy of Plygersic gel for use in the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee.

OBJECTIVE: An evaluation of the efficacy of the combination of ginger (Zingiber officinale) and plai (Zingiber cassumunar) gel for the treatment of osteoarthritis of the knee using 1% diclofenac gel as a comparator. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of the combination of 4% ginger and plai extract in a gel (Plygersic gel) as compared with a 1% solution of diclofenac in patients with osteoarthritis knees. The number of participants in each group totaled fifty. The length of treatment was a 6 week period. The efficacy of the drugs was monitored by using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). The t-test was used to compare the scores before and after treatments in each group. The repeated ANOVA was used to compare the scores between the two groups. RESULTS: Both Plygersic gel and diclofenac gel could significantly improve knee joint pain, symptoms, daily activities, sports activities and quality of life measured by KOOS following 6 weeks of treatment. In the repeated ANOVA, there were no differences in the results between the Plygersic and diclofenac gel groups. CONCLUSION: Plygersic gel relieves joint pain and improves problematic symptoms and improves the quality of life in osteoarthritis knees during a 6 week treatment regimen with no differences to the 1% Diclofenac gel group.