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Macrophages play an important role in defending the body against invading pathogens. In the face of pathogens, macrophages become activated and release toxic materials that disrupt the pathogens. Macrophage overactivation can lead to severe illness and inflammation. Wogonin has several therapeutic effects, including anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects. No studies have investigated the cytotoxic effects of wogonin at concentrations of more than 0.1 mM in RAW264.7 cells. In this study, RAW 264.7 cells were treated with wogonin, which, at concentrations of more than 0.1 mM, had cytotoxic and genotoxic effects in the RAW264.7 cells, leading to apoptosis and necrosis. Further, wogonin at concentrations of more than 0.1 mM induced caspase‐3, caspase‐8, and caspase‐9 activation and mitochondrial dysfunction and death receptor expression. These results suggest that wogonin induces apoptosis through upstream intrinsic and extrinsic pathways by exhibiting cytotoxic and genotoxic effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT WanKao (rice curd) products, included control and added pregelatinized waxy rice flour (PWRF) retarding agent, were prepared and evaluated by texture profile analysis and sensory evaluation. The results showed that the amylose complexing index of the WanKao products contained PWRF were higher than the control, and directly added α-amylase or monoglycerides. Upon storage, WanKao products contained PWRF showed higher water activity and starch digestibility than those added α-amylase or monoglycerides. The hardness and soluble starch content of WanKao products contained PWRF were significant lower than those of added α-amylase or monoglycerides and the control. The WanKao products added PWRF also exhibited softer texture during storage. For sensory evaluation, the higher score of was the added PWRF-D (contains 100 g of waxy rice flour, 200 g of water, 6% of monoglycerides and 400 mg/kg of α-amylase) WanKao product presented higher overall acceptability than that of added α-amylase, monoglycerides, and control either fresh or after low-temperature storage (5C for 5 days). As a result, the texture qualities of WanKao could be improved by the addition of the PWRF and also the staling and retrogradation rates were further retarded. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Taiwan's consumers demand for high quality WanKao products, i.e., softer, slow to staling and retrogradation, and good acceptability. Our results indicated that the qualities of WanKao could be improved by the addition of the novel retarding agent, PWRF, and the staling and retrogradation rates were further retarded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Pteris multifida Poiret (Pteridaceae), also known as Fong-Wei-Cao, is the most commonly used material in herb beverages in Taiwan and also used as one of the vegetable resources in Main China. The aqueous extract of P. multifida Poiret (AEPM) was prepared and its antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities were studied. AEPM showed high antioxidant activities by conjugated diene method. At 20 mg/mL, AEPM exhibited high scavenging effects on α-diphenyl- β-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl, ferrous radical (82.5, 80.1 and 85.4, respectively) and reducing power (Abs, 700 nm = 1.03). AEPM has various antioxidant activities that may be due to the different naturally occurring antioxidant components. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Consumers need high-quality herb-beverage products and to understand their potential functions. Our results indicated that the qualities of aqueous extract of P. multifida Poiret possess antioxidant and free radical-scavenging activities and this evidence could be regard as the important scientific basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Cynanchum taiwanianum T. Yamaza (Asclepiadaceae) is a medicinal herb used in folk medicine for the treatment of several inflammation-related diseases such as hepatitis and dermatitis in Taiwan. Objective: In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of C. taiwanianum T. Yamaza rhizome aqueous extract (CTAE). Materials and methods: The present study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of CTAE using IL-1ββ-induced NRK-52E cells. Production of NO and PGE2 by ELISA, the mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2, phosphorylation of IκκBαα, and activation of NF-κκB by RT-PCR and western blotting were determined. Results: The CTAE significantly ( P < 0.05) inhibited NO and PGE2 production (decreased by 46.1% and 51%, respectively), and also significantly ( P < 0.05) attenuated protein and mRNA expression of iNOS and COX-2 (decreased by 90% and 55% for iNOS and by 72% and 74%% for COX-2, respectively) in IL-1ββ-induced NRK-52E cells, in a dose-dependent manner, without obvious cytotoxic effects. Furthermore, the CTAE suppressed the NF-κκB nuclear translocation, in terms of inhibition of IκκBαα phosphorylation. Discussion and conclusion: Our results provided evidence for its folkloric uses and suggest that the anti-inflammatory activities of CTAE may result from the inhibition of inflammatory mediators, such as NO and PGE2, and an upstream suppression of a NF-κκB-dependent mechanism, might be involved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluates the possible potency of the anti-hyperlipidemic effect of spider brake [( Pteris multifida Poiret (Pteridaceae)]. We investigated this by feeding the hyperlipidemic Sprague-Dawley rats, caused by a high cholesterol diet, with lyophilized powder of spider brake (LSB) and compared the result with the rats fed with β-sitosterol. The results indicated that the administration of lyophilized powder of spider brake (LSB) lowered the hyperlipidemic level on rats. The relative weights of the liver, adipose tissue, and relative adipose tissue of 10% substitutions of LSB group (LSB-10) showed a significant decrease ( P < 0.05) by 6%, 15.9%, and 14.3% in contrast to the untreated counterparts (control), respectively. A significantly lower (P < 0.05) plasma TG, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio, liver CH, and TG contents were also observed in LSB-10 compared to the untreated counterparts (by 36.8%, 21%, 18.7%, 10.2% and 14.3% reduction, respectively). Simultaneously, the wet fecal weight, dry fecal weight, nitrogen compounds, excretion of neutral steroids, and bile acids significantly (P < 0.05) increased by 9.6%, 10.6%, 23.7%, 9.7%, and 3.4% respectively. The results showed that LSB could cause not only a reduction in CH and TG, but also could increase the excretion of lipids and metabolic by-products via the intestinal tract. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The hepatoprotective effects of an aqueous extract formula (AEF) derived from Artemisia capillaris, Lonicera japonica and Silybum marianum (ratio 1:1:1) were evaluated by its antioxidant properties and its attenuation of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver damage in rats. The antioxidant analyses revealed that the AEF showed higher 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and superoxide anion radical scavenging activities as well as ferric reducing antioxidant potential (FRAP) and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) compared with the individual herbs, suggesting a synergism in antioxidation between the three herbs. The animal experiments showed that the CCl4 treatment increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities, but decreased triglyceride (TG) and glutathione (GSH) levels as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. However, AEF administration can successfully lower serum ALT and AST activities, restore the GSH level, ameliorate or restore GPx and CAT activities as well as improve SOD action depending on AEF dosage. Histological examination of liver showed that CCl4 increased the extent of bile duct proliferation, necrosis, fibrosis and fatty vacuolation throughout the liver, but AEF can improve bile duct proliferation, vacuolation and fibrosis, and restore necrosis. The present study demonstrated the hepatoprotective potential of AEF as an alternative to the traditional silymarin. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major health problem worldwide because of the aging population and lifestyle changes. One of the important etiologies of CKD is diabetes mellitus (DM). The long-term effects of pay-for-performance (P4P) on disease progression have not been thoroughly examined.This study is a retrospective population-based patient cohort design to examine the continuous effects of diabetes and CKD P4P interventions. This study used the health insurance claims database to conduct a longitudinal analysis. A total of 32,084 early CKD patients with diabetes were extracted from the outpatient claims database from January 2011 to December 2012, and the follow-up period was extended to August 2014. A 4-group matching design, including both diabetes and early CKD P4P interventions, with only diabetes P4P intervention, with only early CKD P4P intervention, and without any P4P interventions, was performed according to their descending intensity. The primary outcome of this study was all-cause mortality and the causes of death. The statistical methods included a Chi-squared test, ANOVA, and multi-variable Cox regression models.A dose-response relationship between the intervention groups and all-cause mortality was observed as follows: comparing to both diabetes and early CKD P4P interventions (reference), hazard ratio (HR) was 1.22 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-1.50) for patients with only a diabetes P4P intervention; HR was 2.00 (95% CI, 1.66-2.42) for patients with only an early CKD P4P intervention; and HR was 2.42 (95% CI, 2.02-2.91) for patients without any P4P interventions. The leading cause of death of the total diabetic nephropathy patient cohort was infectious diseases (34.32%) followed by cardiovascular diseases (17.12%), acute renal failure (1.50%), and malignant neoplasm of liver (1.40%).Because the earlier interventions have lasting long-term effects on the patient's prognosis regardless of disease course, an integrated early intervention plan is suggested in future care plan designs. The mechanisms regarding the effects of P4P intervention, such as health education on diet control, continuity of care, and practice guidelines and adherence, are the primary components of disease management programs., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.