Pharmacology, Toxicology and Environmental Health Commons^™

Isolation Of Glp-1 Enhancing Indolizidine Alkaloids From Boehmeria Formosana, Ching-Yi Lu, Zheng-Ying Huang, Meng-Chin Chen, Hui-Kang Liu, Shoei-Sheng Lee, Chia-Chuan Chang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Boehmeria formosana, with its related species, demonstrates anti-glycemic effect, inhibition of HBV production, anti-cancer activities, etc. Some indolizidine alkaloids from the same genus are bioactive but sensitive to light. To overcome this problem and obtain more phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids, isolation was performed in darkness, yielding 10 new indolizidine alkaloids and 17 known compounds. Among them, seven enhanced glucagon-like receptor 1 (GLP-1) activity at 50 mM, especially 14 and 6 (3.5- and 2.3-fold than the negative control). This procedure yielded bioactive indolizidine alkaloids with novel structures.

An Integrated Strategy To Evaluate Active Substances Of Astragali Radix-Carthami Flos Combination On The Treatment Of Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury Based On Tqsm Polypharmacokinetics And Pharmacodynamics, Qiang Zeng, Chang Li, Shouchao Xu, Yu He

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

As a classic herb pair, Astragali Radix-Carthami Flos (AR-CF) has revealed good biological activity in the treatment of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CI/RI), which remained to be further clarified together with the underlying efficacy related compounds for material basis. In this study, the nine formulations were obtained by L₉(3⁴) orthogonal array design of four active fractions (saponin and flavonoid extracted from AR, safflower yellow and safflower red extracted from CF). The concentrations of eleven components and the levels of four biochemical indicators in rat plasma were continuously detected after intragastric administration of nine formulations, respectively. The collected …

Cryptocaryone Induces Apoptosis In Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells By Inhibiting Aerobic Glycolysis Through Akt And C-Src Signaling Pathways, Chen-Lin Yu, Yu-Wei Lai, Jih-Jung Chen, Jie-Jen Lee, Tsung-Hsien Chou, Chen-Chen Huang, Shih-Chia Liu, Guang-Wei Chen, Chung‐Hsin Tsai, Shih-Wei Wang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer, with the second highest mortality rate in all cancer. Energy reprogramming is one of the hallmarks of cancer, and emerging evidence showed that targeting glycolysis is a promising strategy for HCC treatment. Cryptocaryone has been shown to display promising anti-cancer activity against numerous types of cancer. Previous study also indicated that cryptocaryone induces cytotoxicity by inhibiting glucose transport in cancer cells, but the detailed mechanism still needs to be elucidated. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between the anti-cancer effect and glycolytic metabolism of cryptocaryone in human …

Dehulled Adlay (Coix Lachryma-Jobi L.) Ameliorates Hepatic Gluconeogenesis And Steatosis In Streptozotocin/High-Fat Diet-Induced Diabetic Rats, Shing-Hwa Liu, Wan-Hsin Wu, Huei-Ping Tzeng, Wenchang Chiang, Meng-Tsan Chiang

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L.) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with various biological activities. We investigated the anti-diabetic effects of different parts of adlay seeds, including polished adlay (PA), adlay bran (AB) and dehulled adlay (DA) in a streptozotocin (STZ)/high fat diet (HFD) diabetic rat model (DM). DM rats supplemented with or without PA (43%), AB (3%), or DA (46%) diet for 8 weeks. The plasma glucose and insulin levels and the insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR) were increased in DM group; among the three adlay diets, DA has the best effects attenuating all of these alterations in DM …

Biological And Clinical Significance Of The Age-Rage Axis In The Aggressiveness And Prognosis Of Prostate Cancer, Shih-Hong Khoo, Pei-Ru Wu, Kun-Tu Yeh, Shih-Lan Hsu, Chi-Hao Wu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Dietary factors and chronic hyperglycemia are linked to the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and prostate cancer (PCa) risk. The activation of the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) acts as a bridge between various RAGE ligands and certain malignancies. This study showed that the interaction of AGEs and RAGE promoted PCa cell proliferation, invasion, and autophagy-mediated survival in response to chemotherapeutic agents. RAGE-overexpressed PCa cells underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition and showed increased cancer stem cell-like properties. In mouse xenograft models, RAGE-overexpressed cells showed more substantial tumorigenic capacity than parental cells, whereas RAGE knockdown decreased tumorigenicity. The clinical data validated a …

Steamed Daylily Flower (Hemerocallis Fulva L.) Protected Cardiac And Hepatic Cells Against Ethanol Induced Apoptotic And Oxidative Damage, Sheng-Lei Yan, Wen-Tzu Wu, Mei-Chin Mong, Mei-Chin Yin

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Our previous study examined the phytochemical composition and bio-activities of raw daylily flower (Hemerocallis fulva L.). However, this plant food is usually served via heat process such as cooking in a soup. This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profile and biofunctions of steamed daylily flower (SDF). The content of total phenolic acids, total flavonoids, total carotenoids, total anthocyanins and total triterpenoids in SDF aqueous extract was assessed. Normal cardiac and hepatic cells, H9c2 and L-02 cells, were used to evaluate the protective effects of SDF against ethanol. SDF concentrations of 0.25%, 0.5%, and 1% were applied to treat …

Analysis And Identification Of Phenolic Compounds With Antiproliferative Activity From Chinese Olive (Canarium Album L.) Fruit Extract By Hplc-Dad-Spe-Tt-Nmr, Yu-Te Yeh, Chien-Kuang Chen, Yi-Chun Liao, Shoei-Sheng Lee, Shu-Chen Hsieh

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Chinese olives (Canarium album L.) are rich in phenolic compounds, exhibiting a broad spectrum of potential clinical applications. This study is the first report on the isolation and elucidation of bioactive compounds with high antiproliferative activity from the ethyl acetate fraction of a Chinese olive fruit methanolic extract (CO-EtOAc). We used the WST-1 assay to determine which subfractions of CO-EtOAc had significant antiproliferative activity using the murine colon cancer cell line CT26. Subsequently, the functional compounds were characterized by the hyphenated technique and high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector-solid phase extraction-transfer tube-nuclear magnetic resonance (HPLC-DAD-SPE-TT-NMR). Thirteen phenolic constituents were identified …

Glycine-Rich Peptides From Fermented Chenopodium Formosanum Sprout As An Antioxidant To Modulate The Oxidative Stress, Chen-Che Hsieh, Shu-Han Yu, Hsing-Chun Kuo, Darin Khumsupan, Hsiao-Chu Huang, Yu-Wei Liou, Chen-Yu Kao, Szu-Chuan Shen, Kuan-Chen Cheng

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Rhizopus oligosporus was utilized in the solid-state fermentation of Chenopodium formosanum sprouts (FCS) in a bioreactor. Subsequently, the antioxidant activity of food proteins derived from FCS was investigated. Results showed that glycine-rich peptide (GGGGGKP, G-rich peptide), identified from the < 2 kDa FCS proteins, had antioxidant values. According to SwissADME, AllerTOP, ToxinPred, and BIOPEP-UWM analyses, G-rich peptide was identified as safe, non-toxic, and non-allergenic. Afterward, the peptide was examined using in silico and in vitro studies to evaluate its potential alleviating oxidative stress caused by particulate matter. This study proposed plausible mechanisms that involve the binding of G-rich peptide which inhibited phosphorylation of the v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A (RELA) subunit on NF-κB pathway. The inhibition then resulted in down regulation of NF-κB transcription and genetic expression of inflammatory …

Investigation Of Microwave Extraction Of Red Cabbage And Its Neurotherapeutic Potential, Halil Koyu, Serdar Demir, Mehmet Zeki Haznedaroglu

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

In the pursuit of bioactive compounds with health benefits from food and medicinal plants, optimization of process to reduce solvent, raw material, energy and time consumption has been a valuable research objective. Sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources are of critical importance for sustainability goals. In this manner, microwave extraction of red cabbage which has been a mass cultivated plant for food purposes, was optimized for maximizing acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase inhibitory activity and bioactive content. Quantitative analysis of total phenol, flavonoid and anthocyanin content were performed using spectrophotometry and UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. Optimum conditions were determined as 600 W, 100% …

Abundance Of Prevotella Copri In Gut Microbiota Is Inversely Related To A Healthy Diet In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes, Chih-Yiu Tsai, Po-Yu Liu, Meng-Chuan Huang, Chiao-I Chang, Hsin-Yun Chen, Yu-Hsien Chou, Chi-Neu Tsai, Chia-Hung Lin

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

While the gut microbiota is known to be influenced by habitual food intake, this relationship is seldom explored in type 2 diabetes patients. This study aims to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and gut microbial species abundance in 113 type 2 diabetes patients (mean age, 58 years; body mass index, 29.1; glycohemoglobin [HbA1c], 8.1%). We analyzed the gut microbiota using 16S amplicon sequencing, and all patients were catogorized into either the Bacteroides enterotype (57.5%, n = 65) or the Prevotella enterotype (42.5%, n = 48) using the partitioning around medoids clustering algorithm, based on the most representative genera. Patients …

Therapeutic Effects Of Orally Administration Of Viable And Inactivated Probiotic Strains Against Murine Urinary Tract Infection, Vo Thi Hong Van, Zhen-Shu Liu, Yueh Jen Hsieh, Wei-Chen Shiu, Bo-Yuan Chen, Yu-We Ku, Po-Wen Chen

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are highly prevalent bacterial infections that pose significant health risks. Specific probiotic strains have been recommended for UTI control and management of antibiotic resistance. Otherwise, paraprobiotics, defined as inactivated probiotic cells, offer potential advantages by minimizing risks associated with live microorganisms. However, the effectiveness of heat-killed probiotic strains against UTIs remains uncertain. Additionally, lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein, exhibits immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Recently, we had developed recombinant LF-expression probiotics, which can display considerate antibacterial activities against select food-borne pathogens in vitro. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activities of heat-killed natural …

Recent Advances In Combined Avant-Garde Technologies (Thermal-Thermal, Non-Thermal-Non-Thermal, And Thermal-Non-Thermal Matrix) To Extract Polyphenols From Agro Byproducts, Isaac Duah Boateng

Journal of Food and Drug Analysis

Because food byproducts (waste) are rich in phytoconstituents, valorizing them is crucial for global food security. However, conventional extraction (CE), including decoction, maceration, Soxhlet, etc., for agro byproducts’ polyphenol extraction are time-consuming and rely significantly on vast volumes of potentially aggressive solvents. Hence, Avant-garde extraction technologies, including non-thermal (high hydrostatic pressure (HHPE), pulsed-electric field (PEF), high voltage electrical discharges (HVED), etc.) and thermal extraction (supercritical fluid (SCF), subcritical water extraction (SWE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), etc.), as well as their thermal combinations (SCF-PLE, SCCO2-SWE, SCCO2-MAE, etc.), non-thermal combinations (HHPE+UAE, PEF+UAE, HVED+UAE, etc.) and combined thermal-non-thermal (MAE-UAE, etc.) are increasingly replacing CE. …

Isolation Of The Toxic Principle Of Senecio Latifolius By Means Of The Sensory Receptors Of Sheep, Leendert D. Snyman

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

The aversive substance of Senecio latifolius was isolated by means of the sensory receptors of sheep averted to S. latifolius. Chemical fractions refused due to the presence of the aversive substance sensed by the sheep were fractionated until a purified substance had been isolated. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analysis of the purified substance showed it to be sceleratine nitrogen oxide, the toxic principle of S. latifolius.

Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol And Cannabidiol Effect On Dopamine Transporter Expression And Function, Delia M. Guzman

Student Theses

Drug addiction is a major endemic crisis in the United States with a higher prevalence than any other country. Marijuana and hallucinogens make up a great percentage of the drugs of abuse in Americans ranging from 15 to 64 years old. Marijuana contains over 500 active compounds that contribute to its effects, the major components being delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ-9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). Understanding the pharmacological mechanism as well as the effects that they elicit through the dopaminergic reward system is a key factor in being able to understand why addiction is so prevalent in our society. This research was aimed to …

Socioeconomic Geographies And Municipal Decision Making Of New York's Climate Smart Communities Program, Stephen Corbisiero

Digital and Data Studies Student Scholarship

Nearly all of New York’s residents live in a municipality designated as a Climate Smart Community, but few are familiar with one of the state’s major legislative accomplishments. The initiative allows municipalities to earn points toward a climate smart certification by implementing sustainable technologies in their communities, which in turn makes them eligible for increased grant funding from New York State. As climate change begins to have a greater impact on human and natural life, investing in green infrastructure has never been more important. New York’s Climate Smart Communities program is widespread, but adoption rates vary greatly throughout the state …

Study Of The Effects Of Chronic Cadmium Exposure On The Pathogenesis Of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension., Dakotah Dominique Cathey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

We reported pulmonary artery hypertension (PAH) patients had elevated levels of Cd in both blood and urine, therefore, this study tested whether Cd directly induces PAH or facilitates PAH pathogenesis in mouse models. C57/6J mice were initially exposed to drinking water with or without 5ppm Cd for 8 weeks. Then, half the mice in both control and Cd groups were given SU5416 and hypoxia (SuHx) for 4 weeks to induce PAH, resulting in 4 subgroups: Control, Cd, PAH, and Cd+PAH. Diastolic and systolic functions of the left and right ventricles (LV, RV) were examined with echocardiography before and after PAH. …

The Impact Of Environmental Pollutants On Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Pathogenesis., Tyler Charles Gripshover

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Steatotic liver disease is brought upon by differing etiologies and its global prevalence is expected to keep increasing over the next several decades. Particularly, alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) manifests from excessive alcohol consumption where the liver retains lipids and progresses with metabolic dysfunction. Previous studies have demonstrated that environmental pollutants, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) promote metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), in diet-induced obesity models. However, it is unknown if environmental pollutants may also promote ALD pathogenesis. Thus, this dissertation focuses on characterizing the effects of PCB126 in a rodent ALD model followed by multiple ‘Omics approaches to identify mechanisms …

Wastewater Analysis Of Mpox Virus In A City With Low Prevalence Of Mpox Disease: An Environmental Surveillance Study, Jeremiah Oghuan, Carlos Chavarria, Scout R Vanderwal, Anna Gitter, Akpevwe Amanda Ojaruega, Carlos Monserrat, Cici X Bauer, Eric L Brown, Sara Javornik Cregeen, Jennifer Deegan, Blake M Hanson, Michael Tisza, Hector I Ocaranza, John Balliew, Anthony W Maresso, Janelle Rios, Eric Boerwinkle, Kristina D Mena, Fuqing Wu

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Tracking infectious diseases at the community level is challenging due to asymptomatic infections and the logistical complexities of mass surveillance. Wastewater surveillance has emerged as a valuable tool for monitoring infectious disease agents including SARS-CoV-2 and Mpox virus. However, detecting the Mpox virus in wastewater is particularly challenging due to its relatively low prevalence in the community. In this study, we aim to characterize three molecular assays for detecting and tracking the Mpox virus in wastewater from El Paso, Texas, during February and March 2023.

METHODS: In this study, a combined approach utilizing three real-time PCR assays targeting the …

Analyzing Trends In Ground-Level Ozone, Keily Hart

Honors Program Theses and Research Projects

In the last few decades, concerns regarding air pollution have led to many new laws and regulations being put into place to mitigate the e↵ects of pollution on the environment and humanity as a whole. This paper analyzes several decades’ worth of ground-level ozone readings in six of the largest metropolitan areas in Texas, using data from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). These regions include the Austin-Round Rock area, Corpus Christi, the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area, El Paso, the Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land area, and the San Antonio-New Braunfels area. We identify trends in these readings using the Jonckheere-Terpstra test. …

Analysis Of Triton Cg 110 Foaming Characteristics For Use As A Potential Fire Suppressant, Addison Cobb, Jeremy Cho

Undergraduate Research Symposium Lightning Talks

Background: Per-FluoroAlkyls (PFAs) are incredibly stable molecules which do not biodegrade. These chemicals have been linked with a series of health issues and environmental problems.

Problem: PFAs have been identified in most drinking water supplies in the United States. Large Amounts of this is due to Aqueous Fire-Fighting Foams (AFFF’s), which contain PFAs, seeping into the groundwater supply.

Solution: While little can be done about PFAs currently in groundwater supplies, replacing PFA-based AFFFs with newer Eco-AFFFs can halt AFFF contamination, and maintain firefighting suppression.