Structural analysis and prebiotic activity of exopolysaccharide produced by probiotic strain Bifidobacterium bifidum EPS DA-LAIM.

Exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing Bifidobacterium bifidum EPS DA-LAIM was isolated from healthy human feces, the structure of purified EPS from the strain was analyzed, and its prebiotic activity was evaluated. The EPS from B. bifidum EPS DA-LAIM is a glucomannan-type heteropolysaccharide with a molecular weight of 407-1007 kDa, and its structure comprises 2-mannosyl, 6-mannosyl, and 2,6-mannosyl residues. The purified EPS promoted the growth of representative lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacterial strains. Bifidobacterium bifidum EPS DA-LAIM increased nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, indicating its immunostimulatory activity. Bifidobacterium bifidum EPS DA-LAIM also exhibited high gastrointestinal tract tolerance, gut adhesion ability, and antioxidant activity. These results suggest that EPS from B. bifidum EPS DA-LAIM is a potentially useful prebiotic material, and B. bifidum EPS DA-LAIM could be applied as a probiotic candidate. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-022-01213-w.

Potential Probiotic Properties of Exopolysaccharide-Producing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei EPS DA-BACS and Prebiotic Activity of Its Exopolysaccharide.

Exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producing Lacticaseibacillus paracasei EPS DA-BACS was isolated from healthy human feces and its probiotic properties, as well as the structure and prebiotic activity of the EPS from this strain were examined. EPS from L. paracasei EPS DA-BACS had a ropy phenotype, which is known to have potential health benefits and is identified as loosely cell-bounded glucomannan-type EPS with a molecular size of 3.7 × 106 Da. EPS promoted the acid tolerance of L. paracasei EPS DA-BACS and provided cells with tolerance to gastrointestinal stress. The purified EPS showed growth inhibitory activity against Clostridium difficile. L. paracasei EPS DA-BACS cells completely inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Aspergillus brasiliensis, as well as showed high growth inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Treatment of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells with heat-killed L. paracasei EPS DA-BACS cells led to a decrease in the production of nitric oxide, indicating the anti-inflammatory activity of L. paracasei EPS DA-BACS. Purified EPS promoted the growth of Lactobacillus gasseri, Bifidobacterium bifidum, B. animalis, and B. faecale which showed high prebiotic activity. L. paracasei EPS DA-BACS harbors no antibiotic resistance genes or virulence factors. Therefore, L. paracasei EPS DA-BACS exhibits anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities with high gut adhesion ability and gastrointestinal tolerance and can be used as a potential probiotic.

Retraction Note: Effects of DA-5513 on alcohol metabolism and alcoholic fatty liver in rats.

[This retracts the article DOI: 10.5625/lar.2018.34.2.49.].

Effects of DA-5513 on alcohol metabolism and alcoholic fatty liver in rats.

Hangover is characterized by a number of unpleasant physical and mental symptoms that occur after heavy alcohol drinking. In addition, consistently excessive alcohol intake is considered as a major reason causes liver disease. The present study investigated the in vivo effects of DA-5513 (Morning care® Kang Hwang) on biological parameters relevant to hangover relief and alcoholic fatty liver. Blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were determined in rats administered a single dose of alcohol and treated with DA-5513 or commercially available hangover relief beverages (Yeomyung® and Ukon®). The effects of DA-5513 on alcoholic fatty liver were also determined in rats fed alcohol-containing Lieber-DeCarli diets for 4 weeks. Serum liver function markers (aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities) and serum/liver lipid levels were assessed. Blood alcohol and acetaldehyde concentrations were lower in the groups treated with DA-5513 or Yeomyung®, as compared with control rats. However, Ukon® did not produce any significant effects on these parameters. Treatment with DA-5513 significantly reduced serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferase activities and markedly reduced serum cholesterol and triglyceride levels, as compared with control rats. Histological observations using Oil Red O staining found that DA-5513 delayed the development of alcoholic fatty liver by reversing hepatic fat accumulation. These findings suggest that DA-5513 could have a beneficial effect on alcohol-induced hangovers and has the potential to ameliorate alcoholic fatty liver.

Preclinical and Clinical Studies Demonstrate That the Proprietary Herbal Extract DA-5512 Effectively Stimulates Hair Growth and Promotes Hair Health.

The proprietary DA-5512 formulation comprises six herbal extracts from traditional oriental plants historically associated with therapeutic and other applications related to hair. Here, we investigated the effects of DA-5512 on the proliferation of human dermal papilla cells (hDPCs) in vitro and on hair growth in C57BL/6 mice and conducted a clinical study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of DA-5512. DA-5512 significantly enhanced the viability of hDPCs in a dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05), and 100 ppm of DA-5512 and 1 µM minoxidil (MXD) significantly increased the number of Ki-67-positive cells, compared with the control group (p < 0.05). MXD (3%) and DA-5512 (1%, 5%) significantly stimulated hair growth and increased the number and length of hair follicles (HFs) versus the controls (each p < 0.05). The groups treated with DA-5512 exhibited hair growth comparable to that induced by MXD. In clinical study, we detected a statistically significant increase in the efficacy of DA-5512 after 16 weeks compared with the groups treated with placebo or 3% MXD (p < 0.05). In conclusion, DA-5512 might promote hair growth and enhance hair health and can therefore be considered an effective option for treating hair loss.

The Pharmacological Effects of Benachio-F(®) on Rat Gastrointestinal Functions.

Functional dyspepsia (FD) is a prevalent idiopathic upper gastrointestinal (GI) disorder characterized by diverse symptomatology including epigastric pain or discomfort, postprandial fullness, and early satiety. Although its pathophysiological mechanisms have not yet been fully established, the available studies suggest that the etiology of FD is invariably multifactorial. Benachio-F(®) (BF) is a proprietary liquid formulation of 7 herbal extracts that has been proposed to address this multifactorial etiology using multi-drug phytotherapy. The pharmacological effects of BF, in comparison with those of two other herbal products (Whalmyungsu(®); WM and Iberogast(®); IB) were evaluated in rats. In a laparotomy-induced rat model of delayed GI transit, BF significantly accelerated the delayed gastric emptying caused by morphine, apomorphine, and cisplatin, and also significantly increased mean gastric transit, as compared to the control animals. BF markedly increased gastric accommodation in rats and produced higher gastric volume values than did the control treatment. The effects of BF were generally comparable or superior to those of WM and IB in these models. Furthermore, BF significantly stimulated biliary flow, as compared to the control treatment. These results indicated that BF might have great potential as an effective phytotherapeutic agent capable of reducing GI symptoms and increasing quality of life in FD patients.

DA 5505: a novel topical formulation of terbinafine that enhances skin penetration and retention.

Topical fungal infections can become severe if left untreated. Efficient treatment modalities for topical fungal infections aid the penetration of antifungal agents deep into viable skin layers. Terbinafine is a fungicidal agent that inhibits ergosterol, an essential fungal component. The main objective of this study was to evaluate skin permeation and retention of a terbinafine-loaded solution containing chitosan as a film former. Comparative assessment of skin permeation and retention was performed using a prepared formulation (DA 5505) and marketed formulations of terbinafine in murine and porcine skin. To mimic fungal infection of skin, keratinized skin was induced in NC/Nga mice. In comparison with the marketed formulations, DA 5505 exhibited significantly better skin permeation. The flux, permeation coefficient, and enhancement ratio of terbinafine were remarkably increased by DA 5505 in comparison with the marketed formulations, and lag time was dramatically reduced. DA 5505 significantly increased cumulative terbinafine retention in viable skin layers in comparison with the marketed solution, suggesting enhanced efficacy. Furthermore, DA 5505 exhibited superior skin permeation in normal skin and keratinized skin. Thus, the DA 5505 formulation has the potential to effectively deliver terbinafine to superficial and deep cutaneous fungal infections.

Determination of tiapride in human plasma using hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

A rapid, sensitive and selective hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (HILIC-MS/MS) method for the determination of tiapride in human plasma was developed. Tiapride and internal standard, metoclopramide were extracted from human plasma with dichloromethane at basic pH and analyzed on an Atlantis HILIC silica column with the mobile phase of acetonitrile-ammonium formate (190 mM, pH 3.0) (94:6, v/v). The analytes were detected using an electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple-reaction-monitoring mode. The standard curve was linear (r=0.999) over the concentration range of 1.00-200 ng/mL. The coefficient of variation and relative error for intra- and interassay at three QC levels were 6.4-8.8% and -2.0-3.6%, respectively. The recoveries of tiapride ranged from 96.3 to 97.4%, with that of metoclopramide (internal standard) being 94.2%. The lower limit of quantification for tiapride was 1.00 ng/mL using 100 microL of plasma sample.

Novel non-vanilloid VR1 antagonist of high analgesic effects and its structural requirement for VR1 antagonistic effects.

A novel non-vanilloid VR1 antagonist consisting of a new vanilloid equivalent exhibits excellent analgesic effects as well as highly potent antagonistic activities in both capsaicin single channel and calcium uptake assays. In addition, the structural requirement for the vanilloid equivalent of the potent VR1 antagonist has also been elucidated.