Honey-induced macrophage stimulation: AP-1 and NF-κB activation and cytokine production are unrelated to LPS content of honey.

Honey is well known for its wound healing properties although the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying honey-stimulated healing process are still poorly understood. The present study was intended to characterize the stimulation of Raw 264.7 murine macrophages in response to thyme honey. Honey induces significant increase in PGE2 production, and overexpression of both COX-2 and TNF-α (p<0.001). This increase was concomitant with overexpression and activation of the AP-1 and NF-κB transcription factor subunits. The small LPS content of honey could not, by itself, account for the reported observations. These results suggest that other thyme honey components participate in the stimulation of cytokine production required for effective wound healing process.

Grafting of aminated oligogalacturonans onto Douglas fir barks. A new route for the enhancement of their lead (II) binding capacities.

Chemical modification of Douglas fir bark and its subsequent utilization in adsorption of PbII from aqueous solutions was investigated. A new approach to enhance the natural properties of bark by covalent grafting of oligogalacturonans was developed. The polysaccharidic moiety of barks was functionalized by periodate oxidation and derivatized after reductive amination in presence of aminated oligogalacturonic acid. PbII adsorption isotherms of derivatized barks were then determined and compared with the capabilities of crude barks using the Langmuir adsorption model in terms of affinity (b) and maximum binding capacities (q(max)). Derivatization resulted in significant enhancements of the q(max) values (up to x8), along with little change of the affinity parameter.

Inhibition of croton oil-induced oedema in mice ear skin by capsular polysaccharides from cyanobacteria.

The anti-inflammatory properties of hydrophilic extracts of the capsular polymers of twelve cyanobacterial strains belonging to the genera Phormidium and Nostoc from marine and terrestrial habitats were tested topically on croton oil-induced oedema in mice ear skin. The screening program identified several strains as producers of anti-inflammatory products (up to 56% inhibition of the oedema). The inhibition response was dose-dependent. The application of trichloroacetic acid-treated extracts reduced the oedema by about 60%. On the other hand, one of the strains enhanced the inflammatory response. Analysis of five of the extracts showed the presence of neutral sugars (from 34.3% to 47.1%, w/w), uronic acids (from 7.1% to 26.7%, w/w) and proteins (from 30.1% to 57.0%, w/w) in the crude polymer. Rhamnose, fucose, arabinose, xylose, mannose, glucose, galactose, galacturonic acid and glucuronic acid were detected as well as sulphate groups (from 9.6% to 21.5%, w/w of sugars). The main components found were glucose and mannose.

Capsular polysaccharide produced by the thermophilic cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus. Structural study of an undecasaccharide obtained by lithium degradation.

The capsular polysaccharide produced by the thermophilic cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus has been subjected to a specific degradation with lithium in ethylenediamine. The released undecasaccharide attached to one unit of tetrahydroxycyclopentanecarboxylic acid has been characterized by a combination of 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, mass spectrometry, monosaccharidic composition and linkage analyses. From the overlap of the structure of this oligosaccharide with previously identified di-, tri- and pentasaccharides released by mild acid hydrolysis, the capsular polysaccharide was deduced to have a pentadecasaccharide repeating unit with the following structure:

Anti-inflammatory and immunological effects of Centaurea cyanus flower-heads.

Centaurea cyanus flower-heads are used in European phytotherapy for the treatment of minor ocular inflammations. Different pharmacological experiments (inhibition of carrageenan, zymosan and croton oil-induced oedemas, inhibition of plasma haemolytic activity, induction of anaphylatoxin activity) showed that polysaccharides extracted from C. cyanus flower-heads had anti-inflammatory properties and interfered with complement. Moreover, these polysaccharides were found to be mainly composed of galacturonic acid, arabinose, glucose, rhamnose and galactose.

A meta-analysis of the effects of cognitive therapy in depressed patients.

BACKGROUND: Cognitive therapy (CT) has been studied in 78 controlled clinical trials from 1977 to 1996. METHOD: The meta-analysis used Hedges and Olkin d+ and included 48 high-quality controlled trials. The 2765 patients presented non-psychotic and non-bipolar major depression, or dysthymia of mild to moderate severity. RESULTS: At post-test CT appeared significantly better than waiting-list, antidepressants (P < 0.0001) and a group of miscellaneous therapies (P < 0.01). But, CT was equal to behaviour therapy. As between-trial homogeneity was not met, the comparisons of CT with waiting-list or placebo, and other therapies should be taken cautiously. In contrast, between-trial homogeneity was high for the comparisons of CT with behaviour therapy and antidepressants. A review of eight follow-up studies comparing CT with antidepressants suggested that CT may prevent relapses in the long-term, while relapse rate is high with antidepressants in naturalistic studies. CONCLUSION: CT is effective in patients with mild or moderate depression.

Structural characterization of three aldobiuronic acids derived from the capsular polysaccharide produced by the thermophilic cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus.

This study deals with the chemical characterization of a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) produced by a thermal biomass formed by the cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus. Acid hydrolysis performed on the purified polysaccharide has led to the isolation of several acid-resistant oligosaccharides. Two of them have already been reported and assigned as: alpha - GlcA - (1 --> 2) - alpha - GalA - (1 --> 2) - Man. and alpha - GlcA - (1 --> 2) - alpha - GalA - (1 --> 2) - beta - Man - (1 --> 4) - beta - Gal(1 --> 2) - Rha. In this report, results on the isolation and partial purification of three supplementary oligosaccharidic units are presented. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy investigations allowed them to be assigned as three aldobiuronic acids with the following structures: alpha - GlcA - (1 --> 3) - Gal alpha - GlcA - (1 --> 3) - Fuc alpha - GalA - (1 --> 3) - Fuc.

Identification by NMR spectroscopy of oligosaccharides obtained by acidolysis of the capsular polysaccharides of a thermal biomass.

This study deals with the chemical characterization of a capsular polysaccharide (CPS) produced by a thermal biomass largely comprising the cyanobacterium Mastigocladus laminosus. The sugar moiety of this polymer is composed of seven neutral monosaccharides (Rha, Fuc, Ara, Xyl, Man, Glc, Gal) and two uronic acids (GalA, GlcA). Proteins represent 18% of the dry weight of the CPS. Organic acid substituents (acetate, pyruvate, succinate) were also detected and estimated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The presence of sulfate groups (5% w/w) was observed, which represents a relatively rare feature for cyanobacteria. Acidic hydrolysis of the purified polysaccharide led to the isolation of four oligosaccharidic fractions. NMR spectroscopy studies of two of the four purified oligosaccharides allowed them to be identified as: alpha-GlcA-(1-->2)-alpha-GalA-(1-->2)-Man and alpha-GlcA-(1-->2)-alpha-GalA-(1-->2)-beta-Man-(1-->4)-beta-Gal-(1 -->2)-Rha.