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American ginseng attenuates azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate-induced colon carcinogenesis in mice

  • Yu, Chunhao;Wen, Xiao-Dong;Zhang, Zhiyu;Zhang, Chun-Feng;Wu, Xiao-Hui;Martin, Adiba;Du, Wei;He, Tong-Chuan;Wang, Chong-Zhi;Yuan, Chun-Su
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.39 no.1
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    • pp.14-21
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    • 2015
  • Background: Colorectal cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death, and inflammatory bowel disease is a risk factor for this malignancy. We previously reported colon cancer chemoprevention potential using American ginseng (AG) in a xenograft mice model. However, the nude mouse model is not a gut-specific colon carcinogenesis animal model. Methods: In this study, an experimental colitis and colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis mouse model, chemically induced by azoxymethane/dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was established and the effects of oral AG were evaluated. The contents of representative ginseng saponins in the extract were determined. Results: AG significantly reduced experimental colitis measured by the disease activity index scores. This suppression of the experimental colitis was not only evident during DSS treatment, but also very obvious after the cessation of DSS, suggesting that the ginseng significantly promoted recovery from the colitis. Consistent with the anti-inflammation data, we showed that ginseng very significantly attenuated azoxymethane/DSS-induced colon carcinogenesis by reducing the colon tumor number and tumor load. The ginseng also effectively suppressed DSS-induced proinflammatory cytokines activation using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay array, in which 12 proinflammatory cytokine levels were assessed, and this effect was supported subsequently by real-time polymerase chain reaction data. Conclusion: AG, as a candidate of botanical-based colon cancer chemoprevention, should be further investigated for its potential clinical utility.

Deuteromethylactin B from a Freshwater-derived Streptomyces sp.

  • Shaikh, Anam F.;Elfeki, Maryam;Landolfa, Samantha;Tanouye, Urszula;Green, Stefan J.;Murphy, Brian T.
    • Natural Product Sciences
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    • v.21 no.4
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    • pp.261-267
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    • 2015
  • Compared to their terrestrial and marine counterparts, little is known about the capacity of freshwater-derived actinomycete bacteria to produce novel secondary metabolites. In the current study, we highlight the disparities that exist between cultivation-independent and -dependent analyses of actinomycete communities from four locations in Lake Michigan sediment. Furthermore, through phylogenetic analysis of strains isolated from these locations, we identified a Streptomyces sp., strain B025, as being distinct from other Streptomyces spp. isolated from sediment. Upon fermentation this strain produced a rare class of eight-membered lactone secondary metabolites, which have been for their antitumor properties. We used spectroscopic and chemical derivitization techniques to characterize octalactin B (1) in addition to its corresponding novel, unnatural degradation product (2).

The anti-hyperglycemic property of different ginseng partitions

  • Xie, Jing-Tian;Wang, Chong-Zhi;Kim, Stephen;Yuan, Chun-Su
    • Advances in Traditional Medicine
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    • v.5 no.1
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    • pp.1-15
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    • 2005
  • Ginseng is a popular medicinal plant highly valued throughout the world. Asian ginseng is one of the most common species of ginseng. It has long occupied a significant position in oriental medicine and has been justified its name as the 'king herb'. As a nutritional supplement, ginseng is an extremely common and popular herbal medicine in the United States and Canada in recent decades. The multiple constituents of ginseng possess equally multifaceted pharmacological actions as demonstrated by numerous studies. Ginseng root and its constituents influenced the central nervous system, endocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal system, sexual, renal organ and immune system, etc. One important action is its anti-hyperglycemic effect. Previous studies on ginseng demonstrate that only the root of ginseng has been used in the treatment of diabetes, while the other parts of ginseng plant were always neglected. Recently, we analyzed the constituents of ginseng berry, leaf and discovered that ginseng berry, leaf extracts and its total ginsenosides have the ability to reduce hyperglycemia and body weight and increase the peripheral glucose utilization in obese or diabetic ob/ob or db/db mice. Our data suggest that all parts of ginseng plant, including root, berry, leaf and stem exhibit potent anti-hyperglycemic and anti-obese effects and may provide an opportunity to develop a novel class of anti-diabetic agents.

Development of a Fuzzy Knowledge-Based System for the Control of a Refuse Incineration Plant -Application of Advanced Fuzzy Techniques for a Complex Multivariable Control Problem

  • B.Krause;C.von-Altrock;Lim, K.per;Dr.W.Sch-fers
    • Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems Conference
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    • 1993.06a
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    • pp.1109-1113
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    • 1993
  • A refuse incineration plant is a complex process, whose multi-variable control problems can not be solved conventionally by deriving an exact mathematical model of the process. The usage of advanced fuzzy technologies within the suitable development methodology is demonstrated by a controller implemented for the refuse incineration plant in Hamburg-Stapelfeld, Germany.

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American ginseng significantly reduced the progression of high-fat-diet-enhanced colon carcinogenesis in ApcMin/+ mice

  • Yu, Chunhao;Wen, Xiao-Dong;Zhang, Zhiyu;Zhang, Chun-Feng;Wu, Xiaohui;He, Xin;Liao, Yang;Wu, Ningning;Wang, Chong-Zhi;Du, Wei;He, Tong-Chuan;Yuan, Chun-Su
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.39 no.3
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    • pp.230-237
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    • 2015
  • Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of death worldwide. Chronic gut inflammation is recognized as a risk factor for tumor development, including CRC. American ginseng is a very commonly used ginseng species in the West. Methods: A genetically engineered $Apc^{Min/+}$ mouse model was used in this study. We analyzed the saponin composition of American ginseng used in this project, and evaluated its effects on the progression of high-fat-diet-enhanced CRC carcinogenesis. Results: After oral ginseng administration (10-20 mg/kg/d for up to 32 wk), experimental data showed that, compared with the untreated mice, ginseng very significantly reduced tumor initiation and progression in both the small intestine (including the proximal end, middle end, and distal end) and the colon (all p < 0.01). This tumor number reduction was more obvious in those mice treated with a low dose of ginseng. The tumor multiplicity data were supported by body weight changes and gut tissue histology examinations. In addition, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that compared with the untreated group, ginseng very significantly reduced the gene expression of inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-$1{\alpha}$ (IL-$1{\alpha}$), IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-${\alpha}$, granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in both the small intestine and the colon (all p < 0.01). Conclusion: Further studies are needed to link our observed effects to the actions of the gut microbiome in converting the parent ginsenosides to bioactive ginseng metabolites. Our data suggest that American ginseng may have potential value in CRC chemoprevention.

Ginseng berry polysaccharides on inflammation-associated colon cancer: inhibiting T-cell differentiation, promoting apoptosis, and enhancing the effects of 5-fluorouracil

  • Wang, Chong-Zhi;Hou, Lifei;Wan, Jin-Yi;Yao, Haiqiang;Yuan, Jinbin;Zeng, Jinxiang;Park, Chan Woong;Kim, Su Hwan;Seo, Dae Bang;Shin, Kwang-Soon;Zhang, Chun-Feng;Chen, Lina;Zhang, Qi-Hui;Liu, Zhi;Sava-Segal, Clara;Yuan, Chun-Su
    • Journal of Ginseng Research
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    • v.44 no.2
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    • pp.282-290
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    • 2020
  • Background: Ginseng is a commonly used herbal medicine in treating various medical conditions. Chronic gut inflammation is a recognized factor for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). In this project, Asian ginseng berry polysaccharide preparations were used to assess their effects on CRC and related immune regulation mechanisms. Methods: Ginseng berry polysaccharide extract (GBPE) and purified ginseng berry polysaccharide portion (GBPP) were used to evaluate their activities on human HCT-116 and HT-29 CRC cell proliferation. Interleukin-8 secretion analysis was performed on HT-29 cells. Naive CD4 cell isolation and T-helper cell differentiation were performed and determined using flow cytometry for Th1 and Treg in addition to cell cycle and apoptotic investigation. Results: GBPE and GBPP significantly inhibited interleukin-8 secretion and cancer cell proliferation, inhibited CD4+IFN-γ+ cell (Th1) differentiation, and decreased CD4+FoxP3+ cell (Treg) differentiation. Compared to the GBPE, GBPP showed more potent antiinflammatory activities on the malignant cells. This is consistent with the observation that GBPP can also inhibit Th1-cell differentiation better, suggesting that it has an important role in antiinflammation, whereas Treg cells hinder the body's immune response against malignancies. Supported by cell cycle and apoptosis data, GBPE and GBPP, at various degrees, remarkably enhanced the anticancer activities of 5-fluorouracil. Conclusion: Data from this project suggested that Asian ginseng berry potentially has clinical utility in managing enteric inflammation and suppressing CRC through immunomodulation mechanisms.

Primate Model for the Evaluation of Vaginal Contraceptives

  • Zoneveld, L.J.D.;Bhattacharyya, A.K.;Kim, D-S;Schumacher, G.F.B.;Beluhan, Z.
    • Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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    • v.6 no.1_2
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    • pp.29-36
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    • 1979
  • A good animal model that simulates the human subject has not been available for the evaluation of the in vivo effectiveness of vaginal contraceptives. After careful consideration, The stumptailed macaque (Macaca arctoides) was studied for its applicability since it has a reproductive tract similar to that of the woman, is easy to handle, does not require tranquilization or anesthesia when the contraceptive is deposited, and breeds and conceives readily under caged conditions. The reported observations show the usefulness of this animal. Both postcoital sperm motility studies and breeding experiments were performed with the use of Delfen vaginal cream and K-Y jelly. K-Y jelly had no effect on the motility of vaginal spermatozoa or on the conception rate of the primates. Although Delfen vaginal cream consistently immobilized all spermatozoa in the postcoital test, half of the animals became pregnant within an average of 3.7 breeding cycles. These results illustrate the discrepancy between spermicidal tests and fertility measurements, and it is recommended that primate-breeding experiments be performed before a spermicide is evaluated in women as a contraceptive. (AM J. OBSTET. GYNECOL, 129:368, 1977.)

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