Enhancement of neuroprotection of mulberry leaves (Morus alba L.) prepared by the anaerobic treatment against ischemic damage.
(17/89)
Several neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases have been attributed to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) depletion in the brain. In order to provide a pharmacological basis for the neuroprotective actions of the enhanced accumulation of GABA in mulberry leaves (ML) against cerebral ischemia in vitro and in vivo, a process was developed to enhance the accumulation of GABA in mulberry leaves (GAML) as a result of the various anaerobic treatments. The GABA concentrations were changed by N(2) gas purging, the reaction temperature, reaction time, pH and the leaf size. GABA enhanced the potential of neuroprotection in the PC12 cells damaged by H(2)O(2)-induced oxidation. GAML reduced the cytotoxicity in the PC12 cells against oxygen glucose deprivation-induced cerebral ischemic condition. The neuroprotective effect of GAML was further demonstrated in vivo using middle cerebral artery occlusion brain injury model. GAML significantly decreased the infarct volume of the brain compared with than control group. Overall, these results suggest that the anaerobic treatment of ML makes GAML enhance the neuroprotection effect against in vivo cerebral ischemia such as in vitro. (+info)
Anti-stress activity of mulberry juice in mice.
(18/89)
The possible anti-stress activity of mulberry juice was investigated in mice. When mice were subjected to water immersion restraint stress at 25 degrees C for 8 h, the plasma lipid peroxide level, determined by the d-ROMs test performed 12 h thereafter, was almost doubled. After administration of mulberry juice one or two weeks before the stress loading, the lipid peroxidation was completely blocked. Administration of mulberry juice after the stress loading, without pre-administration, was also protective. ESR spectroscopy revealed that mulberry juice scavenged superoxide anion (generated by hypoxanthine and xanthine oxidase reaction), hydroxyl radical (produced by the Fenton reaction) and NO radical (generated by a NO donor) at approximately 50% efficiency of blueberry juice. Mulberry juice produced smaller amounts of radical at neutral to alkaline pH. The cytotoxic and anti-HIV activities of mulberry juice were 18% and >4-fold those of blueberry juice, respectively. These data suggest that the anti-stress activity of mulberry juice in vivo may be derived from its radical scavenging activity. (+info)
Determination of the genetic structure of remnant Morus boninensis Koidz. trees to establish a conservation program on the Bonin Islands, Japan.
(19/89)
BACKGROUND: Morus boninensis, is an endemic plant of the Bonin (Ogasawara) Islands of Japan and is categorized as "critically endangered" in the Japanese red data book. However, little information is available about its ecological, evolutionary and genetic status, despite the urgent need for guidelines for the conservation of the species. Therefore, we adopted Moritz's MU concept, based on the species' current genetic structure, to define management units and to select mother tree candidates for seed orchards. RESULTS: Nearly all individuals of the species were genotyped on the basis of seven microsatellite markers. Genetic diversity levels in putative natural populations were higher than in putative man-made populations with the exception of those on Otouto-jima Island. This is because a limited number of maternal trees are likely to have been used for seed collection to establish the man-made populations. A model-based clustering analysis clearly distinguished individuals into nine clusters, with a large difference in genetic composition between the population on Otouto-jima Island, the putative natural populations and the putative man-made populations. The Otouto-jima population appeared to be genetically differentiated from the others; a finding that was also supported by pairwise FST and RST analysis. Although multiple clusters were detected in the putative man-made populations, the pattern of genetic diversity was monotonous in comparison to the natural populations. CONCLUSION: The genotyping by microsatellite markers revealed strong genetic structures. Typically, artificial propagation of this species has ignored the genetic structure, relying only on seeds from Otouto-jima for replanting on other islands, because of a problem with inter-specific hybridization on Chichi-jima and Haha-jima Islands. However, this study demonstrates that we should be taking into consideration the genetic structure of the species when designing a propagation program for the conservation of this species. (+info)
Hypolipidemic effect of flavonoids from mulberry leaves in triton WR-1339 induced hyperlipidemic mice.
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The aim of this study was to investigate the hypolipidemic effect of the total flavonoids from mulberry leaves (MTF) in hyperlipidemic mice. The total flavonoids have been isolated from mulberry (Morus alba L.) leaves and purified by macroporous resins. After that, the content of MTF is 581.7 mg g-1 in dried product. The hypolipidemic effect of MTF has been evaluated in triton WR-1339 (400 mg kg-1) induced hyperlipidemic mice. The beneficial effects of MTF on serum lipid levels are more significant at 12h post MTF administration than at 6h. The levels of TG, TC and LDL-C were remarkably reduced to 388, 257 and 189 mg 100 ml-1 in MTF (30 mg kg-1) and triton WR-1339 treated mice, compared with 540, 464 and 299 mg 100 ml-1, respectively, in group treated by triton WR-1339 only. The ratios of HDL-C/TC and HDL-C/LDL-C were increased to 0.42 and 0.57 post MTF (30 mg kg-1) administration, whereas these two ratios at the low levels of 0.33 and 0.52, respectively, in the reference group. These findings support a serum a lipid-favourable activity for mulberry leaf flavonoids. (+info)
Review. Pro- and anti-angiogenesis effects of resveratrol.
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Resveratrol, a natural polyphenol, has a variety of effects including protection against ischemia-reperfusion injury, and antitumor and chemopreventive action against malignant tumors. In recent years, resveratrol has been found to exert pro-and anti-angiogenic effects, depending on the situation. For example, pro-angiogenic effects are noted in the peri-infarct myocardium, whereas resveratrol inhibits angiogenesis in tumors. In this article, a review of the literature concerning both pro-angiogenic and anti-angiogenic effects of resveratrol and the underlying mechanisms of its effects on angiogenesis is presented. (+info)
Anti-stress, anti-HIV and vitamin C-synergized radical scavenging activity of mulberry juice fractions.
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Anti-stress and anti-HIV activity of mulberry juice were separated by centrifugation. The anti-stress activity was enriched in the supernatant fraction whereas the anti-HIV activity in the precipitate fraction. Oral administration of the supernatant fraction significantly reduced the elevated plasma level of lipid peroxide in mice loaded with water immersion restraint stress. The kinetic study revealed that the anti-stress activity was maintained for 4 hours after cessation of the administration of mulberry juice. The lignin fraction in the precipitate fraction scavenged superoxide and hydroxyl radicals more efficiently than other fractions, in a synergistic fashion with sodium ascorbate. Anti-HIV activity of mulberry juice was concentrated in the lignin fraction, whereas blueberry juice, which has no precipitating fibrous materials, did not show anti-HIV activity. The present study suggests the functionality of mulberry juice as an alternative medicine. (+info)
The effects of chronic treatment with Morus bombycis KOIDZUMI in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
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The present study was performed to evaluate the antihypertensive effects of Morus bombycis KOIDZUMI (MK) in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). In addition, the effects on vascular responses and cardiac functions were also investigated. In isolated rat aortic preparations, the 100% ethanol extract of MK exhibited a potent vascular relaxant effect with IC(50) value of 3.9 microg/ml, and this vasorelaxant effect was completely abolished by pretreatment of the aortic tissues with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester or the denudation of endothelial layer. In isolated rat hearts, the MK extract significantly reduced cardiac functions such as left ventricular developed pressure and heart rate. In an antihypertensive study in SHRs, long-term administration with MK extracts (10, 30, 100 mg/kg) for 42 d dose-dependently decreased systolic blood pressure (approximately 20 mmHg). In SHRs, MK extract enhanced the aortic relaxation to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside after 42 d of treatment. In addition, lipid peroxidation and DNA damage in liver of SHRs were also attenuated by long-term treatment with MK extract. These results suggest that chronic treatment with MK extract exerts an antihypertensive effect in SHRs, and its direct vasorelaxant, negative inotropic actions, and anti-oxidant properties may contribute to reduce the elevated blood pressure. (+info)
Genetic mapping of a food preference gene in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs).
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The domesticated silkworm, Bombyx mori, has strict food preferences and grows by feeding on mulberry leaves. However, "Sawa-J", an abnormal feeding habit strain selected from the genetic stock, feeds on an artificial diet without mulberry leaf powder. In this study, the food preference gene in Sawa-J was genetically identified using restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of a cDNA clone on each linkage group. Taking advantage of a lack of genetic recombination in females, reciprocal backcrossed F1 (BC1) progenies were independently prepared using a non-feeding strain, C108, as a mating partner of Sawa-J. Our results of linkage analysis and mapping proved that the feeding behavior is primarily controlled by a major recessive gene mapped at 20.2 cM on RFLP linkage group 9 (RFLG9), and clone e73 at a distance of 4.2 cM was found as the first linked molecular marker. (+info)