Narissara Lailerd

Effects of curcuminoid supplement on cardiac autonomic status in high-fat-induced obese rats.

OBJECTIVE Sudden cardiac death in obesity is frequently associated with sympathetic activation due to an elevated plasma free-fatty acid (FFA) level. Curcuminoids, the phenolic yellowish pigments of turmeric, display antioxidative and lipid-lowering activities. We hypothesized that curcuminoids ameliorate cardiac sympathovagal disturbance in high-fat-induced obese rats. METHODS Male Wistar rats were divided into five groups. A normal-diet control (NDC) group received a normal-fat diet (12% calories as fat) and a high-fat-diet control (HDC) group received a high-fat diet (60% calories as fat) for 12 wk. Three other groups received high-fat diets with curcuminoid supplement at concentrations of 30mg (HD(30)), 60mg (HD(60)), and 90mg (HD(90)) per kilogram of body weight every day for 12 wk. Heart rate variability was determined to assess cardiac autonomic status at weeks 0 and 12. RESULTS Body weight, visceral fat mass, plasma FFA, and glucose levels increased significantly in the HDC group compared with the NDC group. Low frequency power in normalized units (LFnu) and the ratio of LF to high-frequency power (HF) in the HDC group were significantly higher, whereas HFnu in the HDC group was significantly lower than in the NDC group. Plasma FFA levels correlated significantly with LFnu and LF/HF ratio. Compared with the HDC group, plasma FFA, glucose levels, LFnu, and LF/HF ratio were significantly decreased in the HF(30), HF(60), and HF(90) groups. CONCLUSION Elevated plasma FFA in high-fat-induced obese rats is associated with an increased LF/HF ratio, an expression of sympathovagal disturbance. Curcuminoid supplementation ameliorates cardiac autonomic imbalance in high-fat-fed rats, probably due to its lipid-lowering effect.

Urocortins in heart failure and ischemic heart disease

Urocortins, a novel member of the corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) family, have been shown in animal and human studies to possess several beneficial effects in stress, cardiovascular and renal function, and inflammatory responses via CRF receptors. In the heart, urocortins have been demonstrated to produce cardioprotective effects during ischemia and reperfusion injury. Urocortins have also exerted effects on hemodynamic, endocrine and renal parameters in experimental animal heart failure models. In humans, plasma urocortin levels have been shown to significantly increase in systolic heart failure patients. This growing evidence suggests that urocortins may have a prognostic value as well as being a potential therapeutic treatment for heart failure and myocardial infarction patients. Currently, only a few clinical studies on urocortins are available. In this review article, the role of urocortins in the heart has been summarized. Their possible beneficial roles in heart failure and myocardial infarction have been discussed, based on relevant published articles from both basic and clinical studies available to date.

Effects of Phenolic Compounds of Fermented Thai Indigenous Plants on Oxidative Stress in Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

We investigated the effects of antioxidant activity of fermentation product (FP) of five Thai indigenous products on oxidative stress in Wistar rats with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes type II. The rats were fed with placebo and with the FP (2 and 6 mL/kg body weight/day) for 6 weeks. Rutin, pyrogallol and gallic acid were main compounds found in the FP. Plasma glucose levels in diabetic rats receiving the higher dose of the FP increased less when compared to the diabetic control group as well as the group receiving the lower FP dose (13.1%, 29%, and 21.1%), respectively. A significant dose-dependent decrease in plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (P < .05) was observed. In addition, the doses of 2 and 6 mL FP/kg/day decreased the levels of erythrocyte ROS in diabetic rats during the experiment, but no difference was observed when compared to the untreated diabetic rat group. Results imply that FP decreased the diabetes-associated oxidative stress to a large extent through the inhibition of lipid peroxidation. The FP also improved the abnormal glucose metabolism slightly but the difference was not statistically significant. Thus, FP may be a potential therapeutic agent by reducing injury caused by oxidative stress associated with diabetes.

Reversal of Cardiac Iron Loading and Dysfunction in Thalassemic Mice by Curcuminoids

Non-transferrin bound iron (NTBI) is found in plasma of β-thalassemia patients and causes oxidative tissue damage. Cardiac siderosis and complications are the secondary cause of death in β-thalassemia major patients. Desferrioxamine (DFO), deferiprone (DFP) and deferasirox (DFX) are promising chelators used to get negative iron balance and improve life quality. DFP has been shown to remove myocardial iron effectively. Curcuminoids (CUR) can chelate plasma NTBI, inhibit lipid peroxidation and alleviate cardiac autonomic imbalance. Effects of CUR on cardiac iron deposition and function were investigated in iron-loaded mice. Wild type ((mu)β(+/+) WT) and heterozygous β-knockout ((mu)β(th-3/+) BKO) mice (C57BL/6) were fed with ferrocene-supplemented diet (Fe diet) and coincidently intervened with CUR and DFP for 2 months. Concentrations of plasma NTBI and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured using HPLC techniques. Heart iron concentration was determined based on atomic absorption spectrophotometry and Perls staining methods. Short-term electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded with AD Instruments Power Lab, and heart rate variability (HRV) was evaluated using MATLAB 7.0 program. Fe diet increased levels of NTBI and MDA in plasma, nonheme iron and iron deposit in heart tissue significantly, and depressed the HRV, which the levels were higher in the BKO mice than the WT mice. CUR and DFP treatments lowered plasma NTBI as well as MDA concentrations (p <0.05), heart iron accumulation effectively, and also improved the HRV in the treated mice. The results imply that CUR would be effective in decreasing plasma NTBI and myocardial iron, alleviating lipid peroxidation and improving cardiac function in iron-loaded thalassemic mice.

Evaluation of factors that influence the L-glutamic and γ-aminobutyric acid production during Hericium erinaceus fermentation by lactic acid bacteria

Fermented plant beverages (FPBs) are non-alcoholic and are produced by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with different edible plant sources. Owing to the lack of a detailed study on fermented Hericium erinaceus with LAB, the current study was employed to exploit and optimize the fermentation condition for the production of L-glutamic acid (GA)- and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-rich fermented H. erinaceus beverage by Lactobacillus brevis HP2 and Lactobacillus fermentum HP3, respectively. Box–Behnken design (BBD) for response surface methodology was employed with cofactor, pH and temperature as independent variables. The results suggested that L. brevis HP2 and L. fermentum HP3 are good starter cultures for H. erinaceus fermentation with enriched GA and GABA production. In this case, GA production was significantly influenced by K2HPO4, pH and temperature whereas GABA production was significantly influenced by pH and temperature. Further thorough and fine optimization is required to fabricate high-quality fermented drinks with low cost.

Antioxidant and Renoprotective Effects of Spirogyra neglecta (Hassall) Kützing Extract in Experimental Type 2 Diabetic Rats

Spirogyra neglecta extract (SNE) has shown antihyperglycemia and antihyperlipidemia in type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) rats. This study investigated the antioxidant and renoprotective effects of SNE in T2DM rats induced by high-fat diet with low-single dose streptozotocin. T2DM rats were fed daily with SNE (0.25, 0.5, and 1 g/kg BW) for 12 weeks. Renal morphology, malondialdehyde levels, qPCR, and western blotting were analyzed. Renal cortical slices were used to determine renal transport of organic anions, which are estrone sulfate and para-aminohippurate, mediated through organic anion transporter 3-Oat3. Insulin and PKCζ were known to activate Oat3 function while it was inhibited by PKCα. Compared to T2DM, plasma glucose, triglyceride, insulin resistance, renal morphology, and malondialdehyde levels were significantly improved by SNE supplementation. Reduced glutathione peroxidase and nuclear factor κB expressions were related to antioxidant effect of SNE. Oat3 mRNA and protein were not different among groups, but insulin-stimulated rOat3 followed by anion uptakes was abolished in T2DM. This was restored in the slices from SNE treatment. The mechanism of SNE-improved Oat3 was associated with PKCα and PKCζ expressions and activities. These findings indicate that SNE has beneficial effects on renal transport through antioxidant enzymes and PKCs in T2DM rats.

Plasma urocortin in acute myocardial infarction patients

Eur J Clin Invest 2010; 40 (10): 874–882

Anticancer and Cancer Prevention Effects of Piperine-Free Piper nigrum Extract on N-nitrosomethylurea-Induced Mammary Tumorigenesis in Rats

Piper nigrum (P. nigrum) is commonly used in traditional medicine. This current study aimed to investigate the anticancer and cancer preventive activity of a piperine-free P. nigrum extract (PFPE) against breast cancer cells and N-nitrosomethylurea (NMU)–induced mammary tumorigenesis in rats. The cytotoxic effects and the mechanism of action were investigated in breast cancer cells using the MTT assay and Western blot analysis, respectively. An acute toxicity study was conducted according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline. Female Sprague-Dawley rats with NMU-induced mammary tumors were used in preventive and anticancer studies. The results showed that PFPE inhibited the growth of luminal-like breast cancer cells more so than the basal-like ones by induction of apoptosis. In addition, PFPE exhibited greater selectivity against breast cancer cells than colorectal cancer, lung cancer, and neuroblastoma cells. In an acute toxicity study, a single oral administration of PFPE at a dose of 5,000 mg/kg body weight resulted in no mortality and morbidity during a 14-day observation period. For the cancer preventive study, the incidence of tumor-bearing rats was 10% to 20% in rats treated with PFPE. For the anticancer activity study, the growth rate of tumors in the presence of PFPE-treated groups was much slower when compared with the control and vehicle groups. The extract itself caused no changes to the biochemical and hematologic parameters when compared with the control and vehicle groups. In conclusion, PFPE had a low toxicity and a potent antitumor effect on mammary tumorigenesis in rats. Cancer Prev Res; 9(1); 74–82. ©2015 AACR.

Screening and kinetics of glutaminase and glutamate decarboxylase producing lactic acid bacteria from fermented Thai foods

L-glutaminase and glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-glutamine and glutamate, respectively. L-glutaminase widely used in cancer therapy along with a combination of other enzymes and most importantly these enzymes were used in food industries, as a major catalyst of bioconversion. The current investigation was aimed to screen and select L-glutaminase, and GAD producing lactic acid bacteria (LAB). A total of 338 LAB were isolated from fermented meat, fermented fish, fermented soya bean, fermented vegetables and fruits. Among 338 isolates, 22 and 237 LAB has been found to be positive for L-glutaminase and GAD, respectively. We found that 30 days of incubation at 35 oC and pH 6.0 was the optimum condition for glutaminase activity by G507/1. G254/2 was found to be the best for GAD activity with the optimum condition of pH 6.5, temperature 40 oC and ten days of incubation. These LAB strains, G507/1 and G254/2, were identified as close relative of Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 14869 and Lactobacillus fermentum NBRC 3956, respectively by 16S rRNA sequencing. Further, improvements in up-stream of the fermentation process with these LAB strains are currently under development.

Germinated Thai Black Rice Extract Protects Experimental Diabetic Rats from Oxidative Stress and Other Diabetes-Related Consequences.

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM), particularly type 2 DM (T2DM), is one of the most common metabolic disorder worldwide. The prevention measures and treatment strategies for DM are improving steadily. The current study explains the impact of germination on phytochemical content of Thai black rice (BR), and the influence of germinated BR extract (GBRE) supplementation on diabetic conditions in rats. Methods: BR was germinated and the phenolic, anthocyanin, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) content of the extract were analyzed using HPLC and spectrophotometric methods. Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats were supplemented with high and low doses of GBRE. The plasma glucose, insulin, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, antioxidant status, and antioxidant enzyme levels of treated animals were assessed using ELISA and spectrophotometric methods. Results: Germination enhanced the GABA content of BR, and GBRE intervention improved the total antioxidant capacity and antioxidant enzymes levels in diabetic rats. The plasma glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride levels, insulin resistance and glucose tolerance were reduced, and the degree of insulin secretion in rat plasma was significantly increased upon GBRE treatment. Both pre and post-treatment approaches showed the anti-diabetic ability of GBRE. In most of the analyzed parameters, GBRE was quite equal to the performance of drug-metformin. Conclusions: GBRE supplementation helps prevent and manage the consequences of DM.