Brucea
Seeds
Emulsions
Molecular cloning and functional expression of cDNA encoding a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cystatin, from Job's tears (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. Ma-yuen Stapf). (1/16)
A lambdaZAP II cDNA library was constructed from mRNA in immature seeds of the grass Job's tears. A cDNA clone for a cysteine proteinase inhibitor, cystatin, was isolated from the library. The cDNA clone spanned 757 base pairs and encoded 135 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence was similar to that of cystatins from the gramineous plants rice, sorghum, and corn. The central Gln-Val-Val-Ala-Gly sequence thought to be one of the binding sites of cystatins was found. A remarkable characteristic of the peptide sequence of Job's-tears cystatin was the putative signal peptide that has been found in sorghum and corn but not in rice. The cystatin cDNA was expressed in Escherichia coli as a His-tagged recombinant protein. The purified recombinant protein inhibited papain. (+info)Effect of young barley leaf extract and adlay on plasma lipids and LDL oxidation in hyperlipidemic smokers. (2/16)
Forty hyperlipidemic patients, smokers and non-smokers, were studied. Subjects received 15 g young barley leaf extract (BL) or 60 g adlay daily for four weeks. Overnight fasting blood samples were drawn immediately prior to and after four weeks of supplementation. Blood samples were analyzed for plasma lipid profiles and their susceptibility to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. The plasma total and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) levels were reduced following treatment with either BL or adlay; furthermore, the lag phase of LDL oxidation increased after either supplementation. However, it seemed that BL had stronger antioxidative effect on the prevention of LDL oxidation than adlay. Our results also indicated that the antioxidative effect was less pronounced in smokers than in non-smokers. Therefore, supplementation with BL or adlay can decrease plasma lipids and inhibit LDL oxidation in hyperlipidemic smokers and/or non-smokers. (+info)Coix seed extract, a commonly used treatment for cancer in China, inhibits NFkappaB and protein kinase C signaling. (3/16)
A pharmaceutical grade extract of Coix lachryma-jobi seeds is currently the most commonly used treatment for cancer in China. Although clinical data support the use of this preparation of a Traditional Chinese Medicine for cancer treatment, biological basis for the activity of this preparation has not been previously established. To address this issue, we first evaluated the anti-neoplastic activity of a Coix extract emulsion in xenografts of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and found that the extract significantly inhibits growth of MDA-MB-231 xenografts in athymic nude mice. Using oligonucleotide microarrays, we determined that Coix seed extract also significantly affects gene expression in these cells, including downregulation of genes (such as COX-2 and matrixmetalloproteinases) that are considered to be important in neoplasia. The specific gene expression changes noted after Coix seed extract treatment are characteristic of inhibition of NFkappaB-dependent transcription, leading us to evaluate how the treatment affects that pathway. An NFkappaB-dependent reporter assay demonstrated dose-dependant inhibition of NFkappaB signaling by treatment of cultures with the extract, and immunofluorescent microscopy found that these effects are associated with reduced translocation of the Rel-A/p65 subunit of NFkappaB to the nucleus. Coix extract also inhibits activity of protein kinase C, a major mediator of signal transduction and activator of NFkappaB. Thus, this Traditional Chinese Medicine-based cancer treatment affects cellular pathways of recognized importance in neoplasia. (+info)Evaluation of osteoporosis prevention by adlay using a tissue culture model. (4/16)
Adlay (Coix lachryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen Stapf ) is a grass crop, which has been used in traditional Chinese medicine and also as a nourishing food. Recently, some studies have indicated that adlay possesses some pharmacological effects including anti-allergic, anti-mutagenic, hypolipemic, and anti-diabetic effects. However, the effect of adlay on osteoporosis is still unknown. In this study, we investigated and evaluated the effect of adlay seed on the osteoporosis prevention. The methods of in vitro cultures of neonatal rat calvaria tissues or adult rat femoral metaphyseal tissues of bones isolated from normal or ovariectomized female rats were used for further investigation. Treatment with water extract of adlay seed could reverse the decreased alkaline phosphatase activities and calcium levels and increased tartrate-resistant acidic phosphatase activities induced by parathyroid hormone in cultured metaphyseal tissues. In ovariectomized rats, the alkaline phosphatase activities and calcium levels were significantly decreased and tartrate-resistant acidic phosphatase activities were increased in femoral metaphyseal tissues as compared with sham-control. Treatment with water extract of adlay seed could counteract these effects in ovariectomized rats. Taken together, these findings imply that adlay is capable of reversing the osteoporotic status in rats, and may be a helpful healthy food for osteoporosis prevention. (+info)Formulation, preparation and evaluation of an intravenous emulsion containing Brucea javanica oil and Coix Seed oil for anti-tumor application. (5/16)
The purpose of this study was to prepare and evaluate the intravenous emulsion (BCOE) containing Brucea javanica oil (BJO) and Coix seed oil (CSO), which is used in anti-tumor treatment. The formulation and preparation of BCOE were systematically investigated. High-pressure homogenization, particle size distribution, zeta-potential and HPLC were carried out. The pharmacokinetics of the main component, oleic acid, and anti-tumor activity studies about the tumor growth inhibitory ratios (TGIR) and the mortality experiments were also employed to evaluate BCOE in vivo compared with BJO emulsion (BJOE) and CSO emulsion (CSOE) using S180 sarcoma-bearing mice. The final BCOE formulation was 10% (w/v) oils with BJO and CSO 3 : 1, 0.6% (w/v) Lipid E 80, 0.3% (w/v) Pluronic F-68 (F-68), 0.1% (w/v) sodium oleate and 2.5% (w/v) glycerin in water. The preparation conditions involved 70 degrees C for preparing the crude emulsion, 6 cycles for high-pressure homogenization at 500 bar, pH value was adjusted to 8.5 after high-pressure homogenization and 115 degrees C for 30 min in a rotating water bath for sterilization. The pharmacokinetics parameters showed the combination of BJO and CSO may not influence the elimination of BCOE and have no significant difference between BCOE and BJOE or CSOE. The data of TGIR and mortality indicated that BCOE could increase the anti-tumor activity of CSOE and reduced the toxicity of BJOE. The mortality study (BCOE 0, BJOE 63.3%, CSOE 13.3%) showed that BCOE greatly reduced the toxicity of BJOE and CSOE. Therefore, the development and application of BCOE will make an important contribution to anti-tumor therapy. (+info)Effects of adlay hull extracts on uterine contraction and Ca2+ mobilization in the rat. (6/16)
(+info)Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma ligands isolated from adlay seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen STAPF.). (7/16)
Through screening for natural ligands against peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) using the PPARgamma luciferase reporter assay, 6 hydroxy unsaturated fatty acids were isolated from adlay seed (Coix lacryma-jobi L. var. ma-yuen STAPF.) extracts with acetone and 70% ethanol. The structures of these compounds were determined via spectral analysis as 13-hydroxy-(9E,11E)-octadecadienoic acid (13-E,E-HODE) (1), 9-hydroxy-(10E,12E)-octadecadienoic acid (9-E,E-HODE) (2), 9-hydroxy-(10E)-octadecenoic acid (3), 10-hydroxy-(8E)-octadecenoic acid (4), 8-hydroxy-(9E)-octadecenoic acid (5), 11-hydroxy-(9Z)-octadecenoic acid (6). 9-E,E-HODE (2) exhibited the most potent PPARgamma agonist activity of the isolated hydroxy unsaturated fatty acids. 9-E,E-HODE (2) and 13-E,E-HODE (1) are the respective geometrical isomers of 9-hydroxy-(10E,12Z)-octadecadienoic acid and 13-hydroxy-(9Z,11E)-octadecadienoic acid, both of which are likely to be natural PPARgamma agonists produced in various mammalian cells, suggesting that 9-E,E-HODE may also act as PPARgamma agonist. (+info)Experimental study on the effect of Kang-Lai-Te induced apoptosis of human hepatoma carcinoma cell HepG2. (8/16)
BACKGROUND: Kang-Lai-Te (KLT) is extracted from the traditional Chinese herbal medicine Semen Coicis, which has been used in China as an effective clinical drug for over a thousand years. It contains numerous ingredients with anti-tumor effects. In our previous studies on transplanted hepatomas in rats, KLT could stop the cells in the G2+M stage of cell cycle and then reduce the number of cells entering the stage G0 and G1, but the mechanism of the anti-proliferative effect was unknown. In this experiment, we examined whether KLT inhibits HepG2 cell growth, if so, tried to explore its mechanism. METHODS: KLT at different concentrations was used for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro, respectively. The proliferation inhibitory rate was evaluated by MTT assay, induction of cell apoptosis rate and the protein levels of Fas and Fas ligand (FasL) were determined by flow cytometry (FCM), and the expression of Fas and FasL mRNA was detected by real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR. RESULTS: KLT produced an obvious time and dose-dependent inhibitory effect on HepG2 cells, and marked apoptosis was detected by FCM. The protein of Fas increased by 11.01%, 18.71%, 28.71% and 37.15%; the protein of FasL increased by 1.49%, 1.91%, 3.27% and 3.38% in comparison with the control (P<0.05). Real-time fluorescent quantitative RT-PCR showed that treating HepG2 cells with KLT caused the upregulation of Fas and FasL mRNA. CONCLUSION: KLT inhibits HepG2 growth by inducing apoptosis, which may be mediated through activation of the Fas/FasL pathway. (+info)Coix is the medical term for a genus of plants commonly known as Job's tears. The seeds of this plant have been used in traditional medicine in various cultures, including Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. They are believed to have anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and diuretic properties, among others. However, it is important to note that the use of Coix as a medical treatment should be done under the guidance of a healthcare professional, as its effectiveness and safety have not been fully studied in clinical trials.
"Brucea" is a genus of flowering plants in the family Simaroubaceae. It includes several species of small trees and shrubs that are native to tropical regions of Africa and Asia. Some species of Brucea have been used in traditional medicine for their antimalarial, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic properties. The active compounds in these plants include quassinoids, which have been shown to have various biological activities. However, it is important to note that the use of Brucea species in medical treatments should be based on scientific evidence and under the guidance of a healthcare professional.
In medical terms, "seeds" are often referred to as a small amount of a substance, such as a radioactive material or drug, that is inserted into a tissue or placed inside a capsule for the purpose of treating a medical condition. This can include procedures like brachytherapy, where seeds containing radioactive materials are used in the treatment of cancer to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Similarly, in some forms of drug delivery, seeds containing medication can be used to gradually release the drug into the body over an extended period of time.
It's important to note that "seeds" have different meanings and applications depending on the medical context. In other cases, "seeds" may simply refer to small particles or structures found in the body, such as those present in the eye's retina.
An emulsion is a type of stable mixture of two immiscible liquids, such as oil and water, which are normally unable to mix together uniformly. In an emulsion, one liquid (the dispersed phase) is broken down into small droplets and distributed throughout the other liquid (the continuous phase), creating a stable, cloudy mixture.
In medical terms, emulsions can be used in various pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. For example, certain medications may be formulated as oil-in-water or water-in-oil emulsions to improve their absorption, stability, or palatability. Similarly, some skincare products and makeup removers contain emulsifiers that help create stable mixtures of water and oils, allowing for effective cleansing and moisturizing.
Emulsions can also occur naturally in the body, such as in the digestion of fats. The bile salts produced by the liver help to form small droplets of dietary lipids (oil) within the watery environment of the small intestine, allowing for efficient absorption and metabolism of these nutrients.
Chinese herbal drugs, also known as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), refer to a system of medicine that has been practiced in China for thousands of years. It is based on the belief that the body's vital energy, called Qi, must be balanced and flowing freely for good health. TCM uses various techniques such as herbal therapy, acupuncture, dietary therapy, and exercise to restore balance and promote healing.
Chinese herbal drugs are usually prescribed in the form of teas, powders, pills, or tinctures and may contain one or a combination of herbs. The herbs used in Chinese medicine are typically derived from plants, minerals, or animal products. Some commonly used Chinese herbs include ginseng, astragalus, licorice root, and cinnamon bark.
It is important to note that the use of Chinese herbal drugs should be under the guidance of a qualified practitioner, as some herbs can interact with prescription medications or have side effects. Additionally, the quality and safety of Chinese herbal products can vary widely depending on the source and manufacturing process.