Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali) enhances wakefulness during active periods but facilitates sleep during resting periods in C57BL/6 mice.

The effects of the Eurycoma longifolia (also known as Tongkat Ali [TA]) on sleep and wakefulness was evaluated in C57BL/6 mice. While TA has been used as an aphrodisiac in males, it exhibits various pharmacological effects. The most notable effect observed with TA was wake-enhancement during the second half of the active period, accompanied by significant elevations in core body temperature (CBT). In contrast, sleep was enhanced during the resting period (i.e., increase in rapid eye movement [REM] sleep and delta electroencephalography [EEG] power in non-REM sleep) with significant declines in CBT. The transition of TA's effects between resting and active periods was rapid. The results of the experiments in constant darkness indicate that TA prolongs the circadian tau and that this transition is governed by circadian clock mechanisms rather than light exposure. TA did not demonstrate efficacy in aiding sleep in an acute stress-induced insomnia model; thus, TA may be more suitable as a wake-enhancing agent for daytime sleepiness, as sleep propensity tends to accumulate towards the end of active period. Since TA amplifies the rest-activity pattern, prolongs circadian tau and increases REM sleep, thereby reversing some common symptoms seen in elderly subjects, it may also hold promise as a rejuvenating medicine.

Phytochemistry and Biological Studies of Endemic Hawaiian Plants.

The Hawaiian Islands are renowned for their exceptional biodiversity and are host to a plethora of endemic plant species, which have been utilized in traditional Hawaiian medicine. This scientific review provides an in-depth analysis of the phytochemistry and biological studies of selected endemic Hawaiian plants, highlighting their medicinal properties and therapeutic potential. A literature search was conducted, utilizing major academic databases such as SciFinder, Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and the Scientific Information Database. The primary objective of this search was to identify relevant scholarly articles pertaining to the topic of the review, which focused on the phytochemistry and biological studies of endemic Hawaiian plants. Utilizing these databases, a comprehensive range of literature was obtained, facilitating a comprehensive examination of the subject matter. This review emphasizes the rich phytochemical diversity and biological activities found in Endemic Hawaiian plants, showcasing their potential as sources of novel therapeutic agents. Given the unique biodiversity of Hawaii and the cultural significance of these plants, continued scientific exploration, conservation, and sustainable utilization of these valuable resources is necessary to unlock the full potential of these plant species in drug discovery and natural product-based therapeutics.

Hawaiian Plants with Beneficial Effects on Sleep, Anxiety, and Mood, etc.

Diverse chemical messengers are responsible for maintaining homeostasis in the human body, for example, hormones and neurotransmitters. Various Hawaiian plant species produce compounds that exert effects on these messengers and the systems of which they are a part. The main purpose of this review article is to evaluate the potential effects of Hawaiian plants on reducing pain and anxiety and improving sleep and mood. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in SciFinder, PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Scientific Information Database between 2019 and 2023 to identify related articles. Results indicate that several Hawaiian plant species, such as M. citrifolia and P. methysticum, have medicinal properties associated with these effects. These plants have been used in traditional Hawaiian cultural practices for centuries, suggesting their potential to benefit human health and well-being. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of the available evidence concerning the potential impacts of Hawaiian plants on sleep, anxiety, mood, and pain.

Therapeutic Potential of Seaweed-Derived Laminaran: Attenuation of Clinical Drug Cytotoxicity and Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging.

ß-glucan has been shown to be effective for several diseases such as immune regulation and blood pressure suppression. Seaweed contains a ß-1,3/1,6-glucan called laminaran. The present commercial source of ß-glucan is black yeast; however, a fermentation process using organic carbon substrates makes production unsustainable, whereas macroalgae provide a sustainable alternative with the use of CO2 and seawater as growth substrates. However, bioactivity studies on laminaran are limited. We aimed to evaluate whether laminaran can scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) and attenuate cytotoxicity caused by clinical drugs such as indomethacin (Ind) and dabigatran (Dab). Electron spin resonance assay revealed that laminaran scavenged singlet oxygen (1O2) and superoxide anions (O2•-) directly but did not scavenge hydroxyl radicals (•OH). Mitochondrial ROS detection dye showed that laminaran scavenged mitochondrial O2•- produced upon administration of Ind or Dab. Moreover, significant reductions in •OH and peroxynitrate (ONOO-) levels were observed. Since •OH and ONOO- are generated from O2•- in the cells, laminaran could indirectly suppress the generation of •OH and ONOO- via the removal of O2•-. Both Ind and Dab induce cell injury via ROS production. Laminaran attenuated the cytotoxicity derived from these drugs and may represent a functional food with anti-aging and disease prevention properties.

Supplementation with Eurycoma longifolia Extract Modulates Diurnal Body Temperature Fluctuation and Sleep Rhythm in Mice.

Eurycoma longifolia (Tongkat Ali; TA) is a traditional medicinal herb, commonly known as Malaysian ginseng. The root tea has been traditionally applied to treat fevers, aches, sexual dysfunction and other ailments. We evaluated the effects of TA extract supplementation on diurnal core body temperature (BT) and sleep architecture in model mice. Dietary supplementation with TA extract for 4 wk resulted in significantly and moderately reduced BT during the rest and active phases, respectively. A high dose delayed the onset of BT elevation at the start of the active phase, indicating that the effect was dose-dependent. Electroencephalography findings revealed that dietary supplementation with TA extract changed sleep rhythms and delta power during the inactive phase of NREM sleep, indicating improved sleep quality. Our findings suggested that dietary TA extract could be a promising natural aid that alleviates sleep problems via thermoregulation.

Functional analysis of the calcineurin-encoding gene cnaA from Aspergillus oryzae: evidence for its putative role in stress adaptation.

The presence of putative STRE (stress response regulatory element) and HSF (heat-shock factor) transcription factor binding sites in the promoter region of the gene encoding calcineurin ( cnaA) from Aspergillus oryzae implicated a probable role for calcineurin in the stress response. The activity of calcineurin was enhanced during growth of the wild-type strain in the presence of 1 M NaCl (2.6-fold), at alkaline pH 10.0 (2.9-fold) and at 37 degrees C (1.6-fold). The induction of cnaA antisense expression resulted in reduced calcineurin activity (1.4-fold) and caused a growth defect under the stress conditions. Induction of a strain overexpressing cnaA resulted in an increase in calcineurin activity under stress conditions, such as the presence of 1 M NaCl (73%), alkaline pH 10.0 (70%), and a temperature of 37 degrees C (50%), in addition to tolerance to FK506 (a specific inhibitor of calcineurin). While a role for calcineurin in hyphal growth is well recognized, the present study suggests that stress adaptation mechanisms in filamentous fungi involve calmodulin/calcineurin-mediated signal transduction pathways.

Cloning and characterization of vmaA, the gene encoding a 69-kDa catalytic subunit of the vacuolar H+-ATPase during alkaline pH mediated growth of Aspergillus oryzae.

Screening of a cDNA library constructed under alkaline pH mediated growth of Aspergillus oryzae implicated a vacuolar H+-ATPase gene (vmaA) as a putative candidate involved in alkaline pH adaptation. A. oryzae vmaA genomic DNA extended to 2072 bp including three introns and encoded a protein of 605 amino acids. VmaAp was homologous to Vma-1p from Neurospora crassa (71%), Vma1p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (69%) and ATP6A2 from human (49%). The vmaA cDNA complemented S. cerevisiae V-ATPase disrupted strain (Deltavma1) was viable at alkaline pH 8.0 and in the presence of CaCl(2) (100 mM). Northern analysis revealed an enhanced expression of vmaA during growth of A. oryzae in alkaline medium (pH 10.0). The A. oryzae vmaA disruptant exhibited abnormally shrunken vacuoles and hyphal walls at pH 8.5 and a growth defect at pH 10.0, implicating an alkaline pH stress responsive role for vmaA in A. oryzae.