Garcinia is a significant medicinal plant with many beneficial phytoconstituents, including garcinol. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effect of garcinol isolated from Garcinia dulcis fruit in LPS-activated THP-1 and Raw 264.7 macrophages. The results demonstrated that the low concentration of garcinol did not alter cell viability. Furthermore, co-incubation of garcinol with LPS inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-8, IL-6, IL-1β, and pro-inflammatory mediators, including iNOS and COX-2 at the mRNA and protein expression levels. Garcinol also decreased the secretion of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, PGE2, and NO. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effects involved an alteration in the NF-κB signaling pathway. Downregulation of pIKKα/β, pIκBα, and pNF-κB was observed, hence reducing the translocation of pNF-κB from the cytosol into the nucleus, which subsequently decreased the production of pro-inflammatory molecules. Therefore, garcinol isolated from Garcinia dulcis is a potential candidate as an anti-inflammatory agent for inflammation-related disease treatment.

Members of the Bacillus cereus group are spore-forming Gram-positive bacilli that are commonly associated with diarrheal or emetic food poisoning. They are widespread in nature and frequently present in both raw and processed food products. Here, we genetically characterized 24 B. cereus group isolates from foodstuffs. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) revealed that most of the isolates were closely related to B. cereus sensu stricto (12 isolates), followed by B. pacificus (5 isolates), B. paranthracis (5 isolates), B. tropicus (1 isolate), and “B. bingmayongensis” (1 isolate). The most detected virulence genes were BAS_RS06430, followed by bacillibactin biosynthesis genes (dhbA, dhbB, dhbC, dhbE, and dhbF), genes encoding the three-component non-hemolytic enterotoxin (nheA, nheB, and nheC), a gene encoding an iron-regulated leucine-rich surface protein (ilsA), and a gene encoding a metalloprotease (inhA). Various biofilm-associated genes were found, with high prevalences of tasA and sipW genes (matrix protein-encoding genes); purA, purC, and purL genes (eDNA synthesis genes); lytR and ugd genes (matrix polysaccharide synthesis genes); and abrB, codY, nprR, plcR, sinR, and spo0A genes (biofilm transcription regulator genes). Genes related to fosfomycin and beta-lactam resistance were identified in most of the isolates. We therefore demonstrated that WGS analysis represents a useful tool for rapidly identifying and characterizing B. cereus group strains. Determining the genetic epidemiology, the presence of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes, and the pathogenic potential of each strain is crucial for improving the risk assessment of foodborne B. cereus group strains.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the levels of arterial blood pressure (ABP) and renal excretory function. Male Wistar rats were divided into 2 groups (n = 24 each) namely sham operation (SO) and 2-kidneys-1-clip (2K1C) to develop the normotensive and hypertensive model, respectively. Four weeks after the operation, each group of rats were further divided into 4 subgroups (n = 6 each) which were orally administered of either distilled water or MSG at the doses of 80, 160, or 320 mg/kg BW/day once a day for 8 weeks. The body weight, the 24-hour water intake, and the 24-hour urine output were recorded weekly. Then, each rat was anesthetized and the ABP was measured via carotid artery. The renal excretory function was examined by using the clearance technique to measure the levels of the glomerular filtration rate and the renal blood flow. The levels of serum malondialdehyde (MDA) as a marker of oxidative stress were analyzed. The expression of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in the kidneys was also investigated using immunohistochemistry. It was found that all doses of MSG significantly increased the ABP in both SO and 2K1C groups. All doses of MSG significantly increased the serum MDA levels and the expression of TNF-α in the kidneys of the SO groups. Long-term intake of 320 mg/kg BW MSG significantly decreased the renal excretion of salt and water in both SO and 2K1C groups. As a whole, this study demonstrated that MSG consumption contributed to an increase in oxidative stress which could lead to alterations in the cardiovascular and renal function.

Benzo(a)pyrene (B(a)P) and pyrene, the most prominent subtypes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), contaminate environments as organic pollutants. They adversely affect body systems, including degeneration of the central nervous system. This study investigated the in vitro toxic effects of B(a)P and pyrene on proliferation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress induction, and autophagy in human astrocytes using U-87 MG human astrocytoma cells as a model. Both B(a)P and pyrene were toxic to U-87 MG cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Astrocytic proliferation was interfered with, enhancing S-phase cell cycle arrest. B(a)P promoted the presence of autophagic vesicles and the expression of autophagic markers LC3, beclin-1, and p62, suggesting activated autophagy. B(a)P enhanced the expression of ER stress markers BiP, PERK, and IRE1. ER stress appeared to be correlated with autophagy induction, as demonstrated by experiments using chloroquine, an autophagy inhibitor. Pyrene enhanced the expression of autophagic markers and ER stress primarily via PERK activation, although autophagic vesicles were not observed. The study demonstrates that B(a)P enhances ER stress-mediated autophagy more evidently than pyrene and affected toxicity to astrocytes. These results provide a basis for understanding the toxic effects of the main PAH substances affecting astrocytes.

Fasciola gigantica, a giant liver fluke, causes tremendous loss to the livestock economy in several regions throughout the world. The situation of drug resistance has been emerging increasingly; therefore, novel drugs and drug targets need to be discovered. The adult F. gigantica inhabits the major bile ducts where bile salts accumulate—these are steroid-like molecules that mediate several physiological processes in organisms through interacting with their specific nuclear receptors. However, the molecular mechanism of the interaction in the parasitic organisms have not been clearly understood. In this study, putative nuclear receptor subfamily 1 of F. gigantica (FgNR1) was identified. Nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the FgNR1 homolog were obtained from the transcriptome of F. gigantica and predicted for properties and functions using bioinformatics. The full-length cDNA was cloned and expressed in the bacterial expression system and then used for immunization. Western analysis and immunolocalization suggested that FgNR1 could be detected in the crude worm antigens and was highly expressed in the caeca and testes of the adult parasite. Moreover, the bile could significantly activate the expression of FgNR1 in cultured parasites. Our results indicated that FgNR1 has high potential for the development of a novel anthelminthic drug in the future.