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Natural polysaccharides and their modified derivatives are crucial supplements to the prevention of inflammation. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of sulfated modification on the anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative activities of Cyclocarya paliurus polysaccharides (CP). A sulfated CP, S-CP 1-4 was obtained using chlorosulfonic acid-pyridine method. The chemical components and FT-IR spectrum confirmed that sulfated group was synthesized to the polysaccharide chains successfully. S-CP 1-4 was found to inhibit nitric oxide production, phagocytic activity and the release of interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in lipopolysaccharide-treated macrophage cells, RAW 264.7. S-CP 1-4 significantly decreased the secretion of IL-6 and TNF-α and the thymus and spleen indexes, and increased the production of IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide-treated mice. S-CP 1-4 could better protect the liver by inhibiting the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase, and malondialdehyde level while increasing the superoxide dismutase activity and total anti-oxidative capacity. These results suggested that S-CP 1-4 may be an effective anti-inflammatory agent, and sulfated modification may be a reliable method for the development of food supplements.

Background: Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R)-induced stroke is a long-lasting disability. Numerous reports have demonstrated that inflammation is the major cause of ischemic cerebral injury. Therefore, it is important to develop an effective anti-inflammatory agent for the attenuation of I/R-induced brain injury. Objective: In this study, we examined the therapeutic role of kirenol against I/R-induced neuronal damage by inhibiting inflammation in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Materials and Methods: I/R was induced in SD rats and subsequently were administered with 10 and 20 mg/kg of kirenol. Then, we assessed the neurological score, brain water content, and infarct size. The level of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and acetylcholinesterase, as well as the levels of malondialdehyde, was measured by using standard methods. The level of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α interleukin (IL)-1 β, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-10; and vascular endothelial growth factor was measured using standard kits. The targeted messenger RNA expression (NLRP3, NLRP4, TLR-4, TNF-α, caspase-1, ASC, and IL-1β) was quantified by polymerase chain reaction technique. Histopathological analysis of the brain tissue was performed. Results: According to our results, kirenol decreased the neurological deficit score, ameliorated the motor function, suppressed oxidative stress, reduced inflammation, and mediated the inhibition of TLR4/NLRP3-mediated inflammatory pathway. Conclusion: In conclusion, these findings demonstrate the protective effects of kirenol against I/R-induced cerebral injury. The mechanism of action is associated with the inhibition of inflammation through halting the TLR4/NLRP3 signaling pathway. In summary, kirenol is a potentially new compound which can be used to improve therapeutic strategies for stroke treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finger citron (FC) is one of many traditional Chinese herbs that have been used to treat obesity. The aim of this study was to elucidate the pharmacological effects and mechanisms of FC on obese rats. Rats were fed with a high-fat diet as a model of obesity and treated with FC at three different dosages for 6 weeks. Pathology in liver tissue was observed. Glucose levels, lipids levels, and inflammatory indicators in serum were evaluated by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. Furthermore, the expression of G protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) pathway genes in rat colon tissue was detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis (RT-PCR). Our result revealed that FC alleviates obesity by reducing body weight (BW) and waist circumference, managing inflammation and improving glycolipid metabolism, liver function, and liver lipid peroxidation in vivo. In addition, the mechanism of FC on obesity is possibly the stimulation of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion by activating the TGR5 pathway in intestinal endocrine cells. Our studies highlight the obesity reduction effects of FC and one of the mechanisms may be the activation of the TGR5 pathway in intestinal endocrine cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflammation is now believed to be responsible for coronary heart disease (CHD). This belief has stimulated the evaluation of various inflammatory markers for predicting CHD. This study was designed to investigate the association between four inflammatory cytokines (CD121a, interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-8, and IL-11) and CHD. Here, we evaluated 443 patients with CHD and 160 CHD-free controls who underwent coronary angiography. Cytokines were evaluated using flow cytometry, and statistical analyses were performed to investigate the association between cytokine levels and the risk of CHD. Patients with CHD had significantly higher levels of CD121a. The odds ratios for CHD according to increasing CD121a quartiles were 1.00, 1.47 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.79–2.72], 2.67 (95% CI: 1.47–4.84), and 4.71 (95% CI: 2.65–8.37) in an age- and sex-adjusted model, compared to 1.00, 1.48 (95% CI: 0.70–3.14), 2.25 (95% CI: 1.10–4.62), and 4.39 (95% CI: 2.19–8.79) in a model that was adjusted for multiple covariates. A comparison of the stable angina, unstable angina, and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) subgroups revealed that patients with AMI had the highest CD121a levels, although IL-1β levels were similar across all groups. IL-8 levels were also increased in AMI patients, and IL-11 levels were higher in CHD patients than in non-CHD patients. Correlation analysis revealed a positive association between CD121a, IL-8, and the Gensini score. Together, the significant increase in CD121a levels among CHD patients suggests that it may be a novel inflammatory marker for predicting CHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]