Associations of Sedentary Behavior and Screen Time with Human Gut Microbiome Composition and Diversity.

Human gut microbiome richness, diversity, and composition are associated with physical activity and impaired glycemic control; however, the associations with sedentary behavior and screen time are not as well-established. This study evaluated associations of sedentary behavior and screen time with the alpha diversity and composition of the human gut microbiome in adults with and without impaired glycemic control. Sedentary behavior and screen time data were collected via survey from 47 adults (38% with impaired glycemic control). Microbiome composition and alpha diversity were determined in fecal microbial DNA. Sedentary behavior was negatively associated with the number of observed operational taxonomic units (OTUs), Chao 1 Index, and Fisher's Alpha Index. These associations were slightly attenuated but remained significant when controlling for covariates. Screen time was negatively associated with the number of observed OTUs, Shannon Index, and Fisher's Alpha Index; however, only the association with observed OTUs was independent of all covariates. Our findings suggest sedentary behavior and screen time may be significant influencers of compositional changes in human gut microbiota. This may be a potential mechanism linking sedentary behavior and screen time to an increased risk of type 2 diabetes.

Garcinia buchananii stem bark extract and its bioactive constituents manniflavanone, GB-2 and buchananiflavanone attenuate intestinal inhibitory neuromuscular transmission.

Garcinia buchananii stem bark extract (GBB), commonly used for treating diarrhea in Africa, triggers ectopic aboral contractions, causing inhibition of propulsive motility in the colon ex vivo. To determine whether or not these effects were associated with decreased inhibitory neuromuscular transmission, the responsible constituent compounds, and mechanisms of action, we studied the effects of GBB and specific fractions and flavanones isolated from GBB on intestinal motility using pellet propulsion assays in guinea pig distal colons. In addition, microelectrode recordings were used to measure the effects on the inhibitory junction potentials (IJPs) in the porcine ileum and descending colon smooth muscle. Psychoactive Drug Screening Program secondary receptor functional assays were used to determine whether or not GBB and its constituent compounds act via purinergic (P2Y) and muscarinic receptors. GBB inhibited propulsive motility, but (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-manniflavanone (MNF), (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-GB-2 (GB-2) and (2R,3S,2″S)-buchananiflavanone (BNF), the main ingredients of GBB, did not affect motility. We discovered that, in the porcine descending colon, IJPs contained purinergic, nitrergic, and nonpurinergic nonnitrergic components. Furthermore, ileal IJPs were purely purinergic. GBB blocked all components of IJPs, while MNF and GB-2 inhibited purinergic IJPs only. BNF inhibited the purinergic and nonpurinergic components of IJPs. MRS2365, a Y1 (P2Y) agonist, did not evoke sustained membrane hyperpolarization in the presence of GBB. However, GBB, MNF, GB-2 and BNF did not affect P2Y or muscarinic receptors. In conclusion, inhibitory neuromuscular transmission in the porcine descending colon involves all components of IJPs. GBB decreases inhibitory neuromuscular transmission, likely by the actions of MNF, GB-2 and BNF. These effects do not involve P2Y or muscarinic receptors.

High-Resolution Taxonomic Characterization Reveals Novel Human Microbial Strains with Potential as Risk Factors and Probiotics for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

Alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota is thought to play a key role in causing type 2 diabetes, yet is not fully understood, especially at the strain level. Here, we used long-read DNA sequencing technology of 16S-ITS-23S rRNA genes for high-resolution characterization of gut microbiota in the development of type 2 diabetes. Gut microbiota composition was characterized from fecal DNA from 47 participants divided into 4 cohorts based on glycemic control: normal glycemic control (healthy; n = 21), reversed prediabetes (prediabetes/healthy; n = 8), prediabetes (n = 8), or type 2 diabetes (n = 10). A total of 46 taxa were found to be possibly related to progression from healthy state to type 2 diabetes. Bacteroides coprophilus DSM 18228, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum DSM 20438, and Bifidobacterium adolescentis ATCC 15703 could confer resistance to glucose intolerance. On the other hand, Odoribacter laneus YIT 12061 may be pathogenic as it was found to be more abundant in type 2 diabetes participants than other cohorts. This research increases our understanding of the structural modulation of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes and highlights gut microbiota strains, with the potential for targeted opportunistic pathogen control or consideration for probiotic prophylaxis and treatment.

Intestinal distension orchestrates neuronal activity in the enteric nervous system of adult mice.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) regulates the motor, secretory and defensive functions of the gastrointestinal tract. Enteric neurons integrate mechanical and chemical inputs from the gut lumen to generate complex motor outputs. How intact enteric neural circuits respond to changes in the gut lumen is not well understood. We recorded intracellular calcium in live-cell confocal recordings in neurons from intact segments of mouse intestine in order to investigate neuronal response to luminal mechanical and chemical stimuli. Wnt1-, ChAT- and Calb1-GCaMP6 mice were used to record neurons from the jejunum and colon. We measured neuronal calcium response to KCl (75 mM), veratridine (10 µM), 1,1-dimethyl-4-phenylpiperazinium (DMPP; 100 µM) or luminal nutrients (Ensure®), in the presence or absence of intraluminal distension. In the jejunum and colon, distension generated by the presence of luminal content (chyme and faecal pellets, respectively) renders the underlying enteric circuit unresponsive to depolarizing stimuli. In the distal colon, high levels of distension inhibit neuronal response to KCl, while intermediate levels of distension reorganize Ca2+ response in circumferentially propagating slow waves. Mechanosensitive channel inhibition suppresses distension-induced Ca2+ elevations, and calcium-activated potassium channel inhibition restores neuronal response to KCl, but not DMPP in the distended colon. In the jejunum, distension prevents a previously unknown tetrodotoxin-resistant neuronal response to luminal nutrient stimulation. Our results demonstrate that intestinal distension regulates the excitability of ENS circuits via mechanosensitive channels. Physiological levels of distension locally silence or synchronize neurons, dynamically regulating the excitability of enteric neural circuits based on the content of the intestinal lumen. KEY POINTS: How the enteric nervous system of the gastrointestinal tract responds to luminal distension remains to be fully elucidated. Here it is shown that intestinal distension modifies intracellular calcium levels in the underlying enteric neuronal network, locally and reversibly silencing neurons in the distended regions. In the distal colon, luminal distension is integrated by specific mechanosensitive channels and coordinates the dynamics of neuronal activation within the enteric network. In the jejunum, distension suppresses the neuronal calcium responses induced by luminal nutrients. Physiological levels of distension dynamically regulate the excitability of enteric neuronal circuits.

Human Cytomegalovirus Interactions with the Basement Membrane Protein Nidogen 1.

In 2000, we reported that human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) induced specific damage on chromosome 1. The capacity of the virus to induce DNA breaks indicated potent interaction between viral proteins and these loci. We have fine mapped the 1q42 breaksite. Transcriptional analysis of genes encoded in close proximity revealed virus-induced downregulation of a single gene, nidogen 1 (NID1). Beginning between 12 and 24 hours postinfection (hpi) and continuing throughout infection, steady-state (ss) NID1 protein levels were decreased in whole-cell lysates and secreted supernatants of human foreskin fibroblasts. Addition of the proteasomal inhibitor MG132 to culture medium stabilized NID1 in virus-infected cells, implicating infection-activated proteasomal degradation of NID1. Targeting of NID1 via two separate pathways highlighted the virus' emphasis on NID1 elimination. NID1 is an important basement membrane protein secreted by many cell types, including the endothelial cells (ECs) lining the vasculature. We found that ss NID1 was also reduced in infected ECs and hypothesized that virus-induced removal of NID1 might offer HCMV a means of increased distribution throughout the host. Supporting this idea, transmigration assays of THP-1 cells seeded onto NID1-knockout (KO) EC monolayers demonstrated increased transmigration. NID1 is expressed widely in the developing fetal central and peripheral nervous systems (CNS and PNS) and is important for neuronal migration and neural network excitability and plasticity and regulates Schwann cell proliferation, migration, and myelin production. We found that NID1 expression was dramatically decreased in clinical samples of infected temporal bones. While potentially beneficial for virus dissemination, HCMV-induced elimination of NID1 may underlie negative ramifications to the infected fetus.IMPORTANCE We have found that HCMV infection promotes the elimination of the developmentally important basement membrane protein nidogen 1 (NID1) from its host. The virus both decreased transcription and induced degradation of expressed protein. Endothelial cell (EC) secretion of basement membrane proteins is critical for vascular wall integrity, and infection equivalently affected NID1 protein levels in these cells. We found that the absence of NID1 in an EC monolayer allowed increased transmigration of monocytes equivalent to that observed after infection of ECs. The importance of NID1 in development has been well documented. We found that NID1 protein was dramatically reduced in infected inner ear clinical samples. We believe that HCMV's attack on host NID1 favors viral dissemination at the cost of negative developmental ramifications in the infected fetus.

Supernatants of intestinal luminal contents from mice fed high-fat diet impair intestinal motility by injuring enteric neurons and smooth muscle cells.

BACKGROUND: Damage to enteric neurons and impaired gastrointestinal muscle contractions cause motility disorders in 70% of diabetic patients. It is thought that enteric neuropathy and dysmotility occur before overt diabetes, but triggers of these abnormalities are not fully known. We tested the hypothesis that intestinal contents of mice with and without high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced diabetic conditions contain molecules that impair gastrointestinal movements by damaging neurons and disrupting muscle contractions. METHODS: Small and large intestinal segments were collected from healthy, standard chow diet (SCD) fed mice. Filtrates of ileocecal contents (ileocecal supernatants; ICS) from HFD or SCD mice were perfused through them. Cultured intact intestinal muscularis externa preparations were used to determine whether ICS and their fractions obtained by solid-phase extraction (SPE) and SPE subfractions collected by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) disrupt muscle contractions by injuring neurons and smooth muscle cells. KEY RESULTS: ICS from HFD mice reduced intestinal motility, but those from SCD mice had no effect. ICS, aqueous SPE fractions and two out of twenty HPLC subfractions of aqueous SPE fractions from HFD mice blocked muscle contractions, caused a loss of nitrergic myenteric neurons through inflammation, and reduced smooth muscle excitability. Lipopolysaccharide and palmitate caused a loss of nitrergic myenteric neurons but did not affect muscle contractions. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Unknown molecules in intestinal contents of HFD mice trigger enteric neuropathy and dysmotility. Further studies are required to identify the toxic molecules and their mechanisms of action.

High-fat diet-induced alterations to gut microbiota and gut-derived lipoteichoic acid contributes to the development of enteric neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: High-fat diet, microbial alterations and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are thought to cause enteric diabetic neuropathy and intestinal dysmotility. However, the role of the gut microbiota, lipoteichoic acid (LTA) from Gram-positive bacteria and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in the development of diabetic enteric neuropathy and intestinal dysmotility is not well understood. Our aim was to examine the role of the gut microbiota, LTA and SCFAs in the development of diabetic enteric neuropathy and intestinal dysmotility. METHODS: We fed germ-free (GF) and conventionally raised (CR) mice either a high-fat (HFD) or standard chow diet (SCD) for 8 weeks. We analyzed the microbial community composition in CR mice using 16S rRNA sequencing and damage to myenteric neurons using immunohistochemistry. We also studied the effects of LPS, LTA, and SCFAs on duodenal muscularis externa contractions and myenteric neurons using cultured preparations. KEY RESULTS: High-fat diet ingestion reduced the total number and the number of nitrergic myenteric neurons per ganglion in the duodenum of CR but not in GF-HFD mice. GF mice had fewer neurons per ganglion compared with CR mice. CR mice fed a HFD had increased abundance of Gram-positive bacteria. LTA and LPS did not affect the frequency of duodenal muscularis contractions after 24 hours of cultured but reduced the density of nitrergic myenteric neurons and increased oxidative stress and TNFα production in myenteric ganglia. SCFAs did not affect muscularis contractions or injure myenteric neurons. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES: Gut microbial alterations induced increase in Gram-positive bacterial LTA may contribute to enteric neuropathy.

Human Cytomegalovirus Compromises Development of Cerebral Organoids.

Congenital human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection causes a broad spectrum of central and peripheral nervous system disorders, ranging from microcephaly to hearing loss. These ramifications mandate the study of virus-host interactions in neural cells. Neural progenitor cells are permissive for lytic infection. We infected two induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines and found these more primitive cells to be susceptible to infection but not permissive. Differentiation of infected iPSCs induced de novo expression of viral antigens. iPSCs can be cultured in three dimensions to generate cerebral organoids, closely mimicking in vivo development. Mock- or HCMV-infected iPSCs were subjected to a cerebral organoid generation protocol. HCMV IE1 protein was detected in virus-infected organoids at 52 days postinfection. Absent a significant effect on organoid size, infection induced regions of necrosis and the presence of large vacuoles and cysts. Perhaps more in parallel with the subtler manifestations of HCMV-induced birth defects, infection dramatically altered neurological development of organoids, decreasing the number of developing and fully formed cortical structure sites, with associated changes in the architectural organization and depth of lamination within these structures, and manifesting aberrant expression of the neural marker ß-tubulin III. Our observations parallel published descriptions of infected clinical samples, which often contain only sparse antigen-positive foci yet display areas of focal necrosis and cellular loss, delayed maturation, and abnormal cortical lamination. The parallels between pathologies present in clinical specimens and the highly tractable three-dimensional (3D) organoid system demonstrate the utility of this system in modeling host-virus interactions and HCMV-induced birth defects.IMPORTANCE Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading cause of central nervous system birth defects, ranging from microcephaly to hearing impairment. Recent literature has provided descriptions of delayed and abnormal maturation of developing cortical tissue in infected clinical specimens. We have found that infected induced pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into three-dimensional, viral protein-expressing cerebral organoids. Virus-infected organoids displayed dramatic alterations in development compared to those of mock-infected controls. Development in these organoids closely paralleled observations in HCMV-infected clinical samples. Infection induced regions of necrosis, the presence of larger vacuoles and cysts, changes in the architectural organization of cortical structures, aberrant expression of the neural marker ß-tubulin III, and an overall reduction in numbers of cortical structure sites. We found clear parallels between the pathologies of clinical specimens and virus-infected organoids, demonstrating the utility of this highly tractable system for future investigations of HCMV-induced birth defects.

Construction and Application of a Database for a Five-Dimensional Identification of Natural Compounds in Garcinia Species by Means of UPLC-ESI-TWIMS-TOF-MS: Introducing Gas Phase Polyphenol Conformer Drift Time Distribution Intensity Ratios.

Thirty-four reference compounds from G. buchananii were analyzed by means of UPLC-ESI-IMS-TOF-MS to build a database consisting of retention time, accurate m/ z of precursors and fragment ions, and rotationally averaged collision cross-sectional area (CCS). The CCS value of six selected compounds analyzed in bark extract in different concentrations and solvent systems showed excellent intra- and interday precision (RSD ≤ 0.9%). The established database was applied on different organs of G. buchananii as well as G. kola, G. mangostana, and G. cambogia enabling a fast and reliable identification of these natural bioactives. For several compounds, more than one drift time species could be highlighted, which we propose to be hydrogen bond stabilized rotational isomers transferred from solution to gas phase. We used all CCS values of one compound, and we propose to add also the intensity ratio of the conformers as a new and additional characteristic compound parameter in compound identification/screening/database applications to reduce dereplication and false positives and to strengthen the identification.

Attenuation of Influenza A Virus Disease Severity by Viral Coinfection in a Mouse Model.

Influenza viruses and rhinoviruses are responsible for a large number of acute respiratory viral infections in human populations and are detected as copathogens within hosts. Clinical and epidemiological studies suggest that coinfection by rhinovirus and influenza virus may reduce disease severity and that they may also interfere with each other's spread within a host population. To determine how coinfection by these two unrelated respiratory viruses affects pathogenesis, we established a mouse model using a minor serogroup rhinovirus (rhinovirus strain 1B [RV1B]) and mouse-adapted influenza A virus (A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 [PR8]). Infection of mice with RV1B 2 days before PR8 reduced the severity of infection by a low or medium, but not high, dose of PR8. Disease attenuation was associated with an early inflammatory response in the lungs and enhanced clearance of PR8. However, coinfection by RV1B did not reduce PR8 viral loads early in infection or inhibit replication of PR8 within respiratory epithelia or in vitro Inflammation in coinfected mice remained focal compared to diffuse inflammation and damage in the lungs of mice infected by PR8. The timing of RV1B coinfection was a critical determinant of protection, suggesting that sufficient time is needed to induce this response. Finally, disease attenuation was not unique to RV1B: dose-dependent coinfection by a murine coronavirus (mouse hepatitis virus strain 1 [MHV-1]) also reduced the severity of PR8 infection. Unlike RV1B, coinfection with MHV-1 reduced early PR8 replication, which was associated with upregulation of beta interferon (IFN-ß) expression. This model is critical for understanding the mechanisms responsible for influenza disease attenuation during coinfection by unrelated respiratory viruses.IMPORTANCE Viral infections in the respiratory tract can cause severe disease and are responsible for a majority of pediatric hospitalizations. Molecular diagnostics have revealed that approximately 20% of these patients are infected by more than one unrelated viral pathogen. To understand how viral coinfection affects disease severity, we inoculated mice with a mild viral pathogen (rhinovirus or murine coronavirus), followed 2 days later by a virulent viral pathogen (influenza A virus). This model demonstrated that rhinovirus can reduce the severity of influenza A virus, which corresponded with an early but controlled inflammatory response in the lungs and early clearance of influenza A virus. We further determined the dose and timing parameters that were important for effective disease attenuation and showed that influenza disease is also reduced by coinfection with a murine coronavirus. These findings demonstrate that coinfecting viruses can alter immune responses and pathogenesis in the respiratory tract.

Associations between physical activity, resilience, and quality of life in people with inflammatory bowel disease.

AIM: Research has shown that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is associated with higher health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in healthy individuals. Recent studies have suggested that low- to moderate-intensity physical activity can be beneficial to HRQOL in people with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD); however, studies investigating associations between MVPA and HRQOL in this population are lacking. PURPOSE: To understand the relationships among walking, MVPA, resilience, and HRQOL in people with IBD. METHODS: People with IBD (n = 242) completed questions about physical activity, resilience and HRQOL. Pearson product-moment correlations and multiple regression analyses were used to identify associations between physical activity and HRQOL. Analysis of covariance was used to compare HRQOL over quartiles of walking and MVPA with demographic variables as covariates. RESULTS: Both walking and MVPA were independently associated with physical (ß = 0.21 and ß = 0.26, respectively; p ≤ 0.001) but not mental HRQOL (p > 0.05). Higher volumes of MVPA were significantly associated with physical HRQOL (quartile 1 40.3 ± 9.0 vs. quartile 4 47.4 ± 9.0; p < 0.001) while higher volumes of walking were associated with both physical and mental HRQOL (p ≤ 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that engaging in higher volumes of MVPA above 150 min/week and walking, particularly above 60 min/week, are associated with improved HRQOL in people with IBD. Research would benefit from investigating participation in MVPA as a coping strategy, in a longitudinal manner, to determine which modes of activity may be most beneficial to people with IBD.

(2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-Manniflavanone Protects Proliferating Skeletal Muscle Cells against Oxidative Stress and Stimulates Myotube Formation.

We investigated the antioxidative properties of (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-manniflavanone (MF) using in vitro assays and examined its effects on myogenesis and lactate-induced oxidative stress in C2C12 cells. MF was purified from Garcinia buchananii stem bark. H2O2 and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assays demonstrated that MF is a powerful antioxidant. This finding was supported by diphenylpicrylhydrazine radical scavenging activity of MF. MF was less cytotoxic to C2C12 cells compared to ascorbic acid and myricetin. Moreover, MF accelerated myotube formation in the differentiated C2C12 cells by up-regulating myogenic proteins such as MyoG and myosin heavy chain. Furthermore, MF rescued late differentiation of myoblast suppressed by lactate treatment and up-regulated the expression levels of Nrf2 in lactate-induced oxidative stress, indicating that MF stimulates antioxidative activity inside C2C12 cells. Collectively, MF is a potent antioxidant with a higher safety profile than ascorbic acid and myricetin. It reduces oxidative stress-induced delaying of skeletal muscle differentiation by scavenging reactive oxygen species and regulating myogenic proteins factors.

A new NMR approach for structure determination of thermally unstable biflavanones and application to phytochemicals from Garcinia buchananii.

Previous activity-guided phytochemical studies on Garcinia buchananii stem bark, which is traditionally used in Africa to treat various gastrointestinal and metabolic illnesses, revealed xanthones, polyisoprenylated benzophenones, flavanone-C-glycosides, biflavonoids, and/or biflavanones as bioactive key molecules. Unequivocal structure elucidation of biflavonoids and biflavanones by means of NMR spectroscopy is often complicated by the hindered rotation of the monomers around the C-C axis (atropisomerism), resulting in a high spectral complexity. In order to facilitate an unrestricted rotation, NMR spectra are usually recorded at elevated temperatures, commonly over 80 °C, which effects in a single set of resonance signals. However, under these conditions, one of the target compounds of this investigation, (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-manniflavanone (1), undergoes degradation. Therefore, we demonstrated in the present study that the 1,1-ADEQUATE could be successfully used as a powerful alternative approach to confirm the C-C connectivities in 1, avoiding detrimental conditions. However, a moderate increase in temperature up to 50 °C was sufficient to deliver sharp signals in the proton NMR experiment of (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-isomanniflavanone (2) and (2″R,3″R)-preussianone (3). In addition, two new compounds could be isolated, namely (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-GB-2 7″-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (4) and (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-manniflavanone-7″-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (5), and whose structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectrometry methods. The absolute configurations were determined by a combination of NMR and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectroscopy. The aforementioned compounds exhibited high anti-oxidative capacity in the H2O2 scavenging, hydrophilic Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (H-TEAC) and hydrophilic oxygen radical absorbance capacity (H-ORAC) assays.

UPLC-ESI-TOF MS-Based Metabolite Profiling of the Antioxidative Food Supplement Garcinia buchananii.

Comparative antioxidative analyses of aqueous ethanolic extracts from leaf, root, and stem of Garcinia buchananii revealed high activity of all three organs. To investigate the metabolite composition of the different parts of G. buchananii, an untargeted metabolomics approach using UPLC-ESI-TOF MS with simultaneous acquisition of low- and high-collision energy mass spectra (MS(e)) was performed. Unsupervised statistics (PCA) highlighted clear differences in the metabolomes of the three organs. OPLS-DA revealed (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-GB-1, (2R,3S)-morelloflavone, and (2R,3S)-volkensiflavone as the most decisive marker compounds discriminating leaf from root and stem extract. Leaves represent the best source to isolate GB-1, morelloflavone, and volkensiflavone. Root extract is the best organ to isolate xanthones and stem bark extract the best source to isolate (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-manniflavanone; the identified polyisoprenylated benzophenones are characteristic compounds for the leaf organ. Morelloflavone, volkensiflavone, and garcicowin C were isolated for the first time from G. buchananii, identified via MS, NMR, and CD spectroscopy, and showed in H2O2 scavenging, H/L-TEAC, and H/L-ORAC assays moderate to strong in vitro antioxidative activities.

Prolonged high fat diet ingestion, obesity, and type 2 diabetes symptoms correlate with phenotypic plasticity in myenteric neurons and nerve damage in the mouse duodenum.

Symptoms of diabetic gastrointestinal dysmotility indicate neuropathy of the enteric nervous system. Long-standing diabetic enteric neuropathy has not been fully characterized, however. We used prolonged high fat diet ingestion (20 weeks) in a mouse model to mimic human obese and type 2 diabetic conditions, and analyzed changes seen in neurons of the duodenal myenteric plexus. Ganglionic and neuronal size, number of neurons per ganglionic area, density indices of neuronal phenotypes (immunoreactive nerve cell bodies and varicosities per ganglion or tissue area) and nerve injury were measured. Findings were compared with results previously seen in mice fed the same diet for 8 weeks. Compared to mice fed standard chow, those on a prolonged high fat diet had smaller ganglionic and cell soma areas. Myenteric VIP- and ChAT-immunoreactive density indices were also reduced. Myenteric nerve fibers were markedly swollen and cytoskeletal protein networks were disrupted. The number of nNOS nerve cell bodies per ganglia was increased, contrary to the reduction previously seen after 8 weeks, but the density index of nNOS varicosities was reduced. Mice fed high fat and standard chow diets experienced an age-related reduction in total neurons, with bias towards neurons of sensory phenotype. Meanwhile, ageing was associated with an increase in excitatory neuronal markers. Collectively, these results support a notion that nerve damage underlies diabetic symptoms of dysmotility, and reveals adaptive ENS responses to the prolonged ingestion of a high fat diet. This highlights a need to mechanistically study long-term diet-induced nerve damage and age-related impacts on the ENS.

Antioxidative compounds from Garcinia buchananii stem bark.

An aqueous ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Garcinia buchananii showed strong antioxidative activity using H2O2 scavenging, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. Activity-guided fractionation afforded three new compounds, isomanniflavanone (1), an ent-eriodictyol-(3α→6)-dihydroquercetin-linked biflavanone, 1,5-dimethoxyajacareubin (2), and the depsidone garcinisidone-G (3), and six known compounds, (2″R,3″R)-preussianon, euxanthone, 2-isoprenyl-1,3,5,6-tetrahydroxyxanthone, jacareubin, isogarcinol, and garcinol. All compounds were described for the first time in Garcinia buchananii. The absolute configurations were determined by a combination of NMR, ECD spectroscopy, and polarimetry. These natural products showed high in vitro antioxidative power, especially isomanniflavanone, with an EC50 value of 8.5 µM (H2O2 scavenging), 3.50/4.95 mmol TE/mmol (H/L-TEAC), and 7.54/14.56 mmol TE/mmol (H/L-ORAC).

Neutrophils are needed for an effective immune response against pulmonary rat coronavirus infection, but also contribute to pathology.

Polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) infiltrate the respiratory tract early after viral infection and can contribute to both host defence and pathology. Coronaviruses are important causes of respiratory tract infections, ranging from mild to severe depending on the viral strain. This study evaluated the role of PMN during a non-fatal pulmonary coronavirus infection in the natural host. Rat coronavirus (RCoV) causes respiratory disease in adult rats, characterized by an early PMN response, viral replication and inflammatory lesions in the lungs, mild weight loss and effective resolution of infection. To determine their role during RCoV infection, PMN were depleted and the effects on disease progression, viral replication, inflammatory response and lung pathology were analysed. Compared with RCoV infection in control animals, PMN-depleted rats had worsened disease with weight loss, clinical signs, mortality and prolonged pulmonary viral replication. PMN-depleted animals had fewer macrophages and lymphocytes in the respiratory tract, corresponding to lower chemokine levels. Combined with in vitro experiments showing that PMN express cytokines and chemokines in response to RCoV-infected alveolar epithelial cells, these findings support a role for PMN in eliciting an inflammatory response to RCoV infection. Despite their critical role in the protection from severe disease, the presence of PMN was correlated with haemorrhagic lesions, epithelial barrier permeability and cellular inflammation in the lungs. This study demonstrated that while PMN are required for an effective antiviral response, they also contribute to lung pathology during RCoV infection.

(2R,3S,2'' R,3''R)-manniflavanone, a new gastrointestinal smooth muscle L-type calcium channel inhibitor, which underlies the spasmolytic properties of Garcinia buchananii stem bark extract.

Garcinia buchananii Baker stem bark extract (GBB) is a traditional medication of diarrhea and dysentery in sub-Saharan Africa. It is believed that GBB causes gastrointestinal smooth muscle relaxation. The aim of this study was to determine whether GBB has spasmolytic actions and identify compounds underlying these actions. Calcium (Ca(2+)) imaging was used to analyze the effect of GBB on Ca(2+) flashes and Ca(2+) waves in guinea pig gallbladder and distal colon smooth muscle. Intracellular microelectrode recording was used to determine the effect of GBB, six fractions of GBB, M1-5 and M7, and (2R,3S,2'' R,3''R)-manniflavanone, a compound isolated from M3 on action potentials in gallbladder smooth muscle. The technique was also used to analyze the effect of GBB, M3, and (2R,3S,2'' R,3''R)-manniflavanone on action potentials in the circular muscle of mouse and guinea pig distal colons, and the effect of GBB and (2R,3S,2''R,3'' R)-manniflavanone on slow waves in porcine ileum. GBB inhibited Ca(2+) flashes and Ca(2+) waves. GBB, M3 and (2R,3 S,2''R,3''R)-manniflavanone inhibited action potentials. L-type Ca(2+) channel activator Bay K 8644 increased the discharge of action potentials in mouse colon but did not trigger or increase action potentials in the presence of GBB and (2R,3S,2''R,3'' R)-manniflavanone. GBB and (2R,3S,2'' R,3''R)-manniflavanone inhibited action potentials in the presence of Bay K 8644. GBB and (2R,3 S,2''R,3''R)-manniflavanone reduced the amplitude but did not alter the frequency of slow waves in the porcine ileum. In conclusion, GBB and (2R,3S,2'' R,3''R)-manniflavanone relax smooth muscle by inhibiting L-type Ca(2+) channels, thus have potential for use as therapies of gastrointestinal smooth muscle spasms, and arrhythmias.

New highly in vitro antioxidative 3,8″-linked Biflav(an)ones and Flavanone-C-glycosides from Garcinia buchananii stem bark.

Very recently, we described highly antioxidative polyphenols isolated from the stem bark extract of the Garcinia buchananii tree. In this study, we describe additional antioxidants from Garcinia buchananii bark extract using hydrogen peroxide scavenging, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. UPLC-HR-ESI-TOF-MS(e) analysis, 1- and 2D-NMR, and circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy led to the unequivocal identification of the antioxidative molecules as a series of five 3,8″-linked biflav(an)ones and two flavanone-C-glycosides. (2S,3R)-Taxifolin-6-C-ß-d-glucopyranoside (2), (2R,3S,2″S,3″S)-manniflavanone (3), (2R,3S)-buchananiflavonol (4), and (2S,3R,2″R,3″R)-GB-1 (6) are new compounds, and (2S,3S)-taxifolin-6-C-ß-d-glucopyranoside (1) was described so far only in one other plant. The structure of (2R,3S,2″R,3″R)-GB-1 (5) and (2R,3S,2″S)-GB2a (7) were confirmed. The H2O2 scavenging, TEAC, and the ORAC assays demonstrated that these natural products have an extraordinarily high antioxidative power, especially (2R,3S,2″S,3″S)-manniflavanone (3) with an EC50 value of 3.0 µM, 4.00 mmol TE/mmol, and 10.30 µmol TE/ µmol.

Ethnopharmacological Survey of Plants Used in the Traditional Treatment of Gastrointestinal Pain, Inflammation and Diarrhea in Africa: Future Perspectives for Integration into Modern Medicine.

There is a growing need to find the most appropriate and effective treatment options for a variety of painful syndromes, including conditions affecting the gastrointestinal tract, for treating both veterinary and human patients. The most successful regimen may come through integrated therapies including combining current and novel western drugs with acupuncture and botanical therapies or their derivatives. There is an extensive history and use of plants in African traditional medicine. In this review, we have highlighted botanical remedies used for treatment of pain, diarrheas and inflammation in traditional veterinary and human health care in Africa. These preparations are promising sources of new compounds comprised of flavonoids, bioflavanones, xanthones, terpenoids, sterols and glycosides as well as compound formulas and supplements for future use in multimodal treatment approaches to chronic pain, gastrointestinal disorders and inflammation. The advancement of plant therapies and their derivative compounds will require the identification and validation of compounds having specific anti-nociceptive neuromodulatory and/or anti-inflammatory effects. In particular, there is need for the identification of the presence of compounds that affect purinergic, GABA, glutamate, TRP, opioid and cannabinoid receptors, serotonergic and chloride channel systems through bioactivity-guided, high-throughput screening and biotesting. This will create new frontiers for obtaining novel compounds and herbal supplements to relieve pain and gastrointestinal disorders, and suppress inflammation.