Constituents of areca chewing related to esophageal cancer risk in Taiwanese men

Two most common types of areca chewing are noted in Taiwan: raw betel fruit with Piper betle inflorescence or folded in betel leaf. Piper betle inflorescence contains carcinogens, whereas betel leaf includes anticarcinogenic agents. One hundred and twenty-six esophageal squamous-cell-carcinoma patients and 279 healthy controls, all men, were analyzed. Areca chewers were 4.4 times (95% CI, 2.2-8.8) more likely to develop esophageal cancer than non-chewers. Sixty-five of the patients were areca chewers, of which, 61 (93.9%) chewed areca with Piper betle inflorescence, none chewed it with betel leaf and four (6.1%) chewed both. Of the 24 controls who were chewers, 10 (41.7%), three (12.5%) and 11 (45.8%) chewed areca with Piper betle inflorescence, betel leaf, and both, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that subjects who chewed areca with Piper betle inflorescence were 24.4 times (95% CI 3.9-154.4) more likely to develop esophageal cancer than those who chewed areca with betel leaf or with both leaf and inflorescence. Our epidemiologic findings suggest parts of the same Piper plant contains carcinogenic and anticarcinogenic substances.     

白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中营养成分分析

目的对白鹃梅嫩叶及花序的主要营养成分进行分析,为白鹃梅嫩叶及花序的进一步开发利用提供参考。方法运用食品卫生检验国家标准中的相关方法测定白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中主要营养成分的含量。结果测得直接晒干的白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中氨基酸的总含量为22.48%,且含有已测的17种氨基酸,还原糖总量为10.10%,锌、铁、镁、钾、钙、铬、硒的含量分别为24.00mg/kg、160.35mg/kg、2841.14mg/kg、9111.32mg/kg、5799.56mg/kg、0.22mg/kg、0.08mg/kg。测得煮后晒干的白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中氨基酸的总含量为22.35%,且含有已测的17种氨基酸,还原糖总量为8.83%,锌、铁、镁、钾、钙、铬、硒的含量分别为19.50mg/kg、197.38mg/kg、2834.71mg/kg、7798.41mg/kg、5482.84mg/kg、1.06mg/kg、0.04mg/kg。结论从测得的白鹃梅嫩叶及花序中主要营养成分的含量可知,白鹃梅嫩叶及花序营养丰富、口感细腻,具有较高的食用价值。     

Anti-inflammatory effect of a novel formulation of coconut inflorescence sap against ox-LDL induced inflammatory responses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells by modulating TLR-NF-κB signaling pathway

Oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox LDL) induced inflammatory response was reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to explore the anti-inflammatory effect of a novel formulation of coconut inflorescence sap (CSP); COCOZEN? against ox-LDL induced inflammatory responses in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs). The hPBMCs were isolated from healthy human volunteers and cultured in collagen coated plates at 37?°C. The cells were grouped as Group I (Control), Group II (ox-LDL treated) and Group III (ox-LDL?+?CSP treated). Further analysis of inflammatory markers, reactive oxygen species, mRNA and protein expression levels indicated increased expressions of TLR-4, TNF-α, IL-6 and VCAM-1 in ox-LDL treated group along with the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Other inflammatory markers such as LOX, PGE2, NO, total COX and lipid peroxidation level were also found to be significantly (p?via TLR-NF-κB signaling pathway.     

Anti-diarrhoeal and anti-microbial activity of Flos populi (male inflorescence of Populus tomentosa Carrière) aqueous extracts

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Flos populi (male inflorescence of Populus tomentosa Carrière) has been traditionally used in East Asian countries for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases, strengthening the spleen and stomach, anti-rheumatic, anti-tumor and anti-diarrhoeal.

Aim of the study

To evaluate the in vivo or in vitro anti-diarrhoeal and anti-microbial activity of Flos populi aqueous extract.

Materials and methods

Acute toxicity of Flos populi aqueous extract (FPAE) was investigated. Castor oil-induced diarrhoea method was used to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal activity, inhibition of defecation and diarrhoea were determined in mice, effects on castor oil-induced enteropooling, intestinal transit and intestinal fluid secretion in rats or mice. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of FPAE against strains of three clinical bacterial isolates and one reference strain were used to test the anti-microbial activity.

Results

The FPAE reduced the frequency of diarrhoea episodes and decreased the propulsion of charcoal meal through the gastrointestinal tract in a dose dependent manner. FPAE (100–500 mg/kg, p.o.) produced dose-dependent and significant (P<0.01) protection of mice against castor oil-induced diarrhoea. FPAE, dose-dependently and significantly (P< 0.01) delayed the onset of castor-oil induced diarrhoea, decreased the frequency of defecation, and reduced the severity of diarrhoea. Compared with control animals, FPAE, dose-dependently and significantly (P< 0.01) decreased the volume of castor oil-induced intestinal fluid secretion, and reduced the number, weight and wetness of faecal droppings. There was no deaths or abnormalities in behaviour seen in the acute toxicity test. The aqueous extract displayed anti-microbial effects to three species of bacteria in anti-microbial test.

Conclusion

The findings of this study indicate that FPAE possesses anti-diarrhoeal property in rats and mice and confirm the ethnomedicinal use of Flos Populi as a valuable natural remedy for the treatment, management and/or control of diarrhoea. These results may support the fact that this plant is traditionally used to cure diarrhoea.     

An unusual case of grass inflorescence aspiration presenting as a chest wall tumour

A 9-year-old boy was referred to the Oncology Department because of a thoracic soft-tissue mass thought to be a chest wall tumour. He had a history of grass inflorescence (Hordeum murinum) aspiration 2 weeks prior to this admission. On physical examination a tender soft-tissue mass under the right scapula and diminished breath sounds from the right lower lobe were detected. Thoracic CT confirmed soft-tissue swelling of the right posterior chest wall. There was a hypodense area within the soft-tissue mass suggesting a foreign body and also focal consolidation of the right lower lobe adjacent to the soft-tissue swelling. We report here unique CT findings of grass inflorescence aspiration before and after its migration through the airways.     

杨树花化学成分的分离鉴定Ⅱ

目的:杨树花Poprli Flos作为我国传统中药,大量研究发现其含有多种化学成分,且具有良好的抗菌、抗炎等药理作用。该文旨在对中药杨树花乙酸乙酯部位进行系统的化学成分研究,丰富其研究资料,为相关新药研发及临床应用奠定基础。方法:取毛白杨干燥雄花序30 kg,采用70%乙醇回流提取3次,减压回收溶剂得浸膏,分散于适量水中,分别用石油醚、乙酸乙酯、正丁醇萃取。取乙酸乙酯萃取物经硅胶,ODS,LH-20型羟丙基葡聚糖凝胶(Sephadex LH-20)柱色谱、重结晶等方法进行系统分离纯化,结合理化性质并利用ESI-MS,NMR等波谱学技术对所得化合物进行结构鉴定。结果:从乙酸乙酯部位中分离得到12个单体化合物,鉴定结构为槲皮素(1),花旗松素(2),木犀草素(3),圣草酚(4),杨梅素(5),二氢杨梅素(6),(2S)-5,7-二羟基黄烷酮-7-O-β-D-葡萄糖苷(7),原儿茶酸(8),咖啡酸(9),1,3-二咖啡酰基-2-乙酰基甘油(10),柳皮苷-6'-苯甲酸酯(11),胡萝卜苷(12)。结论:化合物2,5~7为首次从杨属植物中分离得到,化合物2,4~8,10,11为首次从该植物中分离得到。该研究为中药杨树花的综合运用提供了一定的化学依据。