METHODS: A total of 19 patients with genital C. trachomatis infection and 10 age-matched healthy controls were recruited for the study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from genital C. trachomatis-infected females were cultured in the presence of CPAF, HSP60 and MOMP antigens, and cytokines were measured by ELISA assay.
RESULTS: We reported that pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6) were robustly secreted following antigenic exposure. Notably, CPAP and MOMP were more potent in triggering IL-1β, as compared to HSP60. Elevated levels of the proinflammatory cytokines were also noted in the samples infected with plasmid-bearing C. trachomatis as compared to those infected with plasmid-free strains.
CONCLUSIONS: Our study highlights distinct ability of chlamydial antigens in triggering pro-inflammatory response in the host immune cells.
AIM OF THE STUDY: To assess topical anti-inflammatory effect of Haruan cream on 12-0-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced chronic-like dermatitis in mice.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Male ICR mice were randomized into six groups of five mice each: acetone (vehicle), TPA alone (negative control), three Haruan treatment groups (Haruan 1%, Haruan 5% and Haruan 10%) and hydrocortisone 1% (positive control). Briefly, both surfaces of mouse ears were applied with TPA (2.5μg/20μl acetone) for five times on alternate days and with Haruan or hydrocortisone 1% cream for the last three days. Mouse ear thickness was measured 24h after final treatment with the cream and the ears were harvested for further histological analysis and gene expression studies of TNF-α by real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR).
RESULTS: Topical application of Haruan cream had reduced the mouse ear thickness 18.1-28%) with comparable effect to the positive control. In addition, histopathological comparison had shown evident reduction in various parameters of cutaneous inflammation including dermal oedema, inflammatory cells infiltration and proliferation of epidermal keratinocytes. Furthermore, TPA application had resulted in the up-regulation of TNF-α gene expression by 353-fold, which was subsequently down-regulated by the Haruan cream (34- to 112-fold).
CONCLUSION: Haruan is an effective topical anti-inflammatory agent in this mouse model of chronic-like dermatitis, thus suggesting its potential as a non-steroidal treatment option for chronic inflammatory dermatoses.
AIM: The present study evaluated the effect of methanolic and aqueous extract of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius tuber on croton oil induced hemorrhoids in rats.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The methanolic extract was standardized with the major phenolic compound, betulinic acid, by HPLC. The hemorrhoids were induced by applying 6% croton oil preparation in the ano-rectal region. Rats were orally administered methanolic and aqueous extract at doses of 250 and 500mg/kg, each for 7 days. Pilex (200mg/kg) was used as reference anti-hemorrhoidal drug. Hemorrhoids were assessed on eighth day by measuring hemorrhoidal and biochemical parameters along with histology of ano-rectal tissue.
RESULTS: Croton oil application caused induction of hemorrhoids as indicated by significant (p<0.001) increase in plasma exudation of Evans blue in ano-rectal tissue, macroscopic severity score and ano-rectal coefficient as compared to normal rats. It significantly (p<0.001) elevated lactate dehydrogenase and cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) levels in serum and increased myeloperoxidase activity and lipid peroxidation in ano-rectal tissue along with marked histological damage as compared to normal rats. Treatment with tuber extracts and pilex significantly (p<0.05-p<0.001) ameliorated Evans blue exudation, hemorrhoidal parameters and other biochemical parameters with attenuation of tissue damage compared to hemorrhoid control rats. The results indicate that tuber extracts exhibited curative action on hemorrhoids. The aqueous extract showed more pronounced effect than methanolic extract. The effects may be attributed to anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
CONCLUSION: Results indicate that tuber of Amorphophallus paeoniifolius exhibited curative action on hemorrhoids through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The study validates the ethnomedicinal use of tuber in hemorrhoids and implicates its therapeutic potential as an anti-hemorrhoidal agent.
OBJECTIVE: We investigated the effects of high-protein Malaysian diets prepared with palm olein, coconut oil (CO), or virgin olive oil on plasma homocysteine and selected markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in healthy adults.
DESIGN: A randomized-crossover intervention with 3 dietary sequences of 5 wk each was conducted in 45 healthy subjects. The 3 test fats, namely palmitic acid (16:0)-rich palm olein (PO), lauric and myristic acid (12:0 + 14:0)-rich CO, and oleic acid (18:1)-rich virgin olive oil (OO), were incorporated at two-thirds of 30% fat calories into high-protein Malaysian diets.
RESULTS: No significant differences were observed in the effects of the 3 diets on plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) and the inflammatory markers TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and interferon-γ. Diets prepared with PO and OO had comparable nonhypercholesterolemic effects; the postprandial total cholesterol for both diets and all fasting lipid indexes for the OO diet were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than for the CO diet. Unlike the PO and OO diets, the CO diet was shown to decrease postprandial lipoprotein(a).
CONCLUSION: Diets that were rich in saturated fatty acids prepared with either PO or CO, and an OO diet that was high in oleic acid, did not alter postprandial or fasting plasma concentrations of tHcy and selected inflammatory markers. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00941837.
Objectives: This study aimed to predict the actions of 10 compounds in I. batatas leaves, which are YGM-0a [cyanidin 3-0-sophoroside-5-0-glucosede], YGM-0f [cyanidin 3-O-(2-0-(6-0-(E)-p-coumaroyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside)-5-0-β-D-glucopyranoside], YGM-1a [cyanidin 3-(6,6'-caffeylp-hydroxybenzoylsophoroside) -5-glucoside], YGM-1b [cyanidin 3-(6,6'-dicaffeylsophor-oside)-5-glucoside], YGM-2 [cyanidin 3-(6-caffeylsophoroside)-5-glucoside], YGM-3 [cyanidin 3-(6,6'-caffeyl-ferulylsophoroside)-5-glucoside], YGM-4b [peonidin 3-(6,6'-dicaffeylsophoroside)-5- glucoside], YGM-5a [peonidin 3-(6,6'-caffeylphydroxybenzo-ylsophoroside)-5-gluco-side], YGM-5b [cyanidin 3-6-caffeylsophoroside)-5-glucosede], and YGM-6 [peonidin 3-(6,6'-caffeylferulylsophoroside)-5-glucoside] as LOX inhibitors, and also predict the stability of ligand-LOX complex.
Materials and Methods: The compounds were screened through docking studies using PLANTS. Also, the molecular dynamics simulation was conducted using GROMACS at 310K.
Results: The results showed that the most significant binding affinity toward LOX was shown by YGM-0a and YGM-0a, and the LOX complex in molecular dynamics simulation showed stability for 20 ns.
Conclusion: Based on Docking Studies and Molecular Dynamics Simulation of I. Batatas Leaves compounds, YGM-0a was shown to be the most probable LOX inhibitor.