Emilio Minelli

Redox status impairment in liver and kidney of prematurely senescent mice: effectiveness of DTS phytotherapeutic compound.

Abstract:  T‐maze test–selected prematurely senescent mice (PSM) were allocated into two groups: (A) those given DTS (150 mg/kg) orally for 30 days and (B) untreated PSM with age‐matched fast T‐maze performers as control. After sacrifice, the liver and kidney were analyzed for catalase (CAT) activity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondyaldehyde (MDA), and plasma thiols. Untreated PSM showed decreased plasma thiols and tissue level of CAT, SOD, GPx, with higher MDA (P < 0.01 vs. fast performers), while DTS (Denshichi–Tochiu–Sen) significantly improved glutathione and cysteine (P < 0.05) and tissue concentration of the above parameters (P < 0.05). Such preliminary data suggest that DTS mitigated oxidative damage in PSM, with likely action on the cytoplasm and mitochondrial matrix.

Accelerating aging chemotherapy on aged animals: Protective effect from nutraceutical modulation

The aim of this study was to test a novel phytocompound in an experimental model of antitumor-induced immunosuppression. Five groups of mice were considered: young (Y) and aged (A) that were given intraperitoneally 10 doses of cyclophosphamide (CPX, 25mg/kg/bw) or CPX plus (150 mg/kg/bw) of the nutraceutical DTS (Denshichi-Tochiu-Sen), and control. After sacrifice, macrophage chemotaxis and serum levels of IFN-gamma, IL-2, and GM-CSF were determined. Liver and urinary bladder were examined histologically, as were the liver and kidney for redox enzymes. CPX significantly decreased macrophage chemotaxis and all cytokines (p < 0.05, A >> Y). DTS restored macrophage function and cytokine concentration (p < 0.001) and partly improved the necro-inflammatory score and substance P receptor expression in the bladder and the redox status in liver and kidney (p < 0.05). Such data suggest that DTS effectively prevents CPX-induced immune suppression and oxidative-inflammatory damage, which are particularly enhanced in aged organisms.

Inhibition of Human Breast Cancer Cell Growth and Enzymatic Activity by a Fermented Nutraceutical : An in Vitro and in Vivo Study

Human breast cancer cell lines MCF‐7 (ER‐positive) and Hs578T (ER‐negative) were cultured and one lot incubated for 48 h with 5–50 μg/ml of a fermented phytocompound (MK: Manda‐Koso, Innoshima, Japan). In vitro, it appeared a dose‐dependent decrease of cell viability (5–57%) in MK group in both cell lines (P < 0.001, plateau: 30 μg/ml), decreased beta‐galactosidase activity, enhanced apoptosis, and inversely increased Bax/Bcl2 ratio (P < 0.01) with an upregulation of p53 (P < 0.05). In the in vivo model, Balb‐c mice were inoculated with tumor cells and the treatment group was fed with 20 mg of MK. Tumor weight in MK‐fed group was time‐course reduced by 22% to 51% at 2 and 4 weeks, respectively (P < 0.05) with increased survival (P < 0.05). Tumour tissue of MK‐fed mice showed a downregulated Bcl‐2 with increased Bax/Bcl‐2 ratio, reduced PCNA, and activated caspase 3. Although more studies are ongoing to foster the clinical applicability of MK integrated within a rational chemopreventive and therapeutic strategy, a p53‐mediated mechanism is likely to play a relevant role, besides its reported antioxidant capacity, NK cell activity enhancement, cancer‐cytostatic activity properties.

Effect of a novel phyto-compound on mucosal candidiasis: Further evidence from an ex vivo study

OBJECTIVE:  To isolate, identify and determine the prevalence of yeasts in the oral cavity of individuals and to test the minimum inhibitory dilution (MID) of Kolorex against the yeasts isolated.

Beneficial modulation from a high-purity caviar-derived homogenate on chronological skin aging.

This study tested the activity of LD-1227, which contains a caviar-derived homogenate added with coenzyme Q(10) (CoQ(10))-selenium component (CaviarLieri(®), Lab-Dom, Switzerland), in aged human skin and its potential role on skin mitochondria function. Human dermal fibroblasts were obtained from healthy donors over 70 years old and treated with LD-1227 for 72 hr. As compared to baseline, LD-1227 caused a robust (>67%) collagen type I synthesis (p<0.001) and decreased fibronectin synthesis (p<0.05) with significant fibronectin messenger RNA (mRNA) downregulation (p<0.05, r=0.78). A significant collagen mRNA overexpression occurred with LD-1227 treatment (p<0.05). Mitochondria cytosolic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) level decreased in aged skin samples (p<0.05 vs. young control), but this phenomenon was reversed by LD-1227 (p<0.01). These data show that LD-1227 may modify the extracellular matrix milieu in aged skin and also beneficially affect mitochondrial function.

A phytochemical approach to experimental metabolic syndrome-associated renal damage and oxidative stress.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of DTS-phytocompound on oxidant-antioxidant balance and protein damage in the kidneys of rats administered high doses of fructose. Adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups. Group A received a control diet, whereas groups B and C were fed a high-fructose diet (60 g/100 g), the latter with additional DTS (50 mg/kg per day) for 60 days. Lipo- and nitro-peroxidation together with α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in the glomerular and interstitial tissue of the kidneys were measured after 60 days. Fructose-fed rats showed significantly higher lipoperoxidation, 2,4-dinitrophenol and 3-nitrotyrosine protein adducts, and upregulation of α-SMA in the kidney. DTS significantly decreased such redox unbalance in renal tissue, while partially downregulating α-SMA (p<0.01). These data suggest the potential clinical benefit of DTS in protecting the kidneys from metabolic syndrome-associated changes; gender-related analysis is under way.

Progression of atherosclerotic lesions in the arteries and related gene expression: protective effect of phytonutrients.

We investigated the effect of the phytocompound Denshici-to-Chiusei (DTS) on the atherogenesis in apolipoprotein E(-/-)/low-density lipoprotein receptor(-/-) (apoE(-/-)/LDL receptor(-/-)) mice (E0). E0 mice were fed for 16 weeks with: (1) placebo or (2) 25 mg or (3) 50 mg of DTS/day. Aortic lesions were reduced by 38% (p < 0.01) in mice fed 50 mg/day, whereas peritoneal macrophages after both dosages had a 45%-60% lower (p < 0.01) capacity to oxidize LDL and to degrade it. This was associated with reduced LDL-associated lipoperoxides and a 22% inhibition (p < 0.05) in LDL aggregation. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) expression and immunoreactivity in the aortic media increased five-fold, but this was significantly mitigated by DTS (50 mg > 25 mg) (p < 0.05). DTS significantly attenuated inflammatory mechanisms preceding atherogenesis with reduced LDL susceptibility to oxidation-aggregation.

Effect of a phyto-compound on delayed gastric emptying in functional dyspepsia: a randomized-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE:  The aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy of a hydro‐alcoholic solution of a phytocompound based on Gentianae, Cinchonae, Absinthii and Cinnamomi on gastric emptying in Helicobacter pylori‐negative dyspeptic patients.

Integrating Medical Knowledge: Old Roots and a Modern Science-Based Approach at the University of Milan

Traditional phytotherapy is a complex system of skills and practice that belong to the wider system of traditional medicine. Traditional medicine includes great and ancient systems like traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurvedic medicine, Unani medicine and other ethnic systems such as African phytotherapy, Amazonic phytotherapy and so on.

A Dietary Supplement Improves Outcome in an Experimental Influenza Model in Old Mice

Abstract:  Twenty‐month‐old Swiss mice were allocated into three groups: (A) control; (B) infected group; and (C) infected but treated with 5 mg of the phytocompound MMT. Mice were infected intranasally with 30 μL of 75 HA viral units. MMT markedly blunted the nasal signs of virus infection and the febrile response. Formazan‐positive cells, lung and plasma lipoperoxides, and TNF‐α in lung tissue increased during viral infection, but improvement was seen in the MMT‐treated group (P < 0.05). MMT also normalized SOD, catalase activities, and ascorbic acid and determined a significant decrease of lung but not nasal viral titer, although nasal inflammatory infiltrate dropped significantly. MMT has potential clinical applications with and has an excellent safety profile even in old animals.