日本薬科大学

Momordica charantia L. (MC), also referred to as bitter gourd or bitter melon, is a Cucurbi taceae plant renowned for its medicinal benefits. 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is employed as a frontline chemotherapeutic agent, with its antitumor activity mediated through the inhibition of DNA and RNA synthesis. However, its therapeutic efficacy is often compromised by serious adverse effects, particularly gastrointestinal inflammation. Therefore, this research examined the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Momordica charantia fruit (EMC) in mitigating 5-FU-induced intestinal mucositis in mice. Mucositis was induced in mice by intraperitoneal administration of 5-FU at 50 mg/kg from experimental days 4 to 7, with EMC administered orally at doses of 125 mg/kg and 250 mg/kg once daily for ten consecutive days. 5-FU exposure resulted in severe intestinal injury, manifested by markedly upregulated inflammation and oxidative stress. EMC treatment significantly reversed these pathophysiological alterations, restoring mucosal architecture and function. Furthermore, EMC effectively reduced the 5-FU-induced release of inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress markers. These results demonstrate that EMC acts as a novel protective modulator of 5-FU-induced mucositis, offering substantial translational potential as an adjunctive supportive therapy in colorectal cancer management.

The removal of selenium ions from aqueous media using nickel–aluminum complex hydroxide series (NA) and nickel–aluminum–zirconium series (NAZ) at different molar ratios was assessed. The synthesized NA and NAZ were characterized to elucidate their morphological and structural properties, and batch adsorption experiments were conducted to understand the effect of various parameters (e.g., pH, temperature, concentration, contact time, and coexisting species) on their selenium-ion adsorption performance. In particular, the adsorbent with a 1:1 Ni2+/Al3+ molar ratio (NA11) and that with a 0.9:1.0:0.09 Ni2+/Al3+/Zr4+ ratio (NAZ1) were selected for adsorption experiments. NA11 and NAZ1 demonstrated the efficient adsorption of selenium ions over a wide pH range. The selenium-ion adsorption capacity increased with increasing initial concentration and contact time. To elucidate the mechanism of selenium-ion adsorption, the ion-exchange capability, elemental distribution, and binding energy were analyzed in detail. Our obtained results revealed that adsorption mechanism of selenium-ions was related to the surface properties of adsorbents and ion exchange between selenium-ions and sulfate ions in the interlayer region of adsorbents. In addition, anions such as phosphate ions were found to affect the selenium-ion adsorption ability in a binary solution system. Selenium ions adsorbed onto NA11 and NAZ1 were easily desorbed using sodium hydroxide and hydrochloric acid solutions at high concentrations. Thus, NA11 and NAZ1 were found to be promising adsorbents for recovering selenium ions in industrial wastewater through adsorption/desorption using desorption solutions. NA11 and NAZ1 were useful for selenium ions adsorption over a wide pH range. Ion exchange was related to the adsorption mechanism of selenium ions. Selenium ions adsorbed onto adsorbent were desorbed using desorption solution.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2, the etiological agent of COVID-19, has resulted in widespread global infection and millions of deaths. Viral entry is initiated by the interaction between the viral spike (S) protein and the host cell receptor ACE2, followed by TMPRSS2-mediated proteolytic activation that facilitates membrane fusion. Bitter melon (Momordica charantia L., MC), a traditional medicinal and edible plant widely used in tropical Asia, possesses notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and hypoglycemic properties. In this study, the ethanol extract of bitter melon (EMC) markedly downregulated ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in both in vitro and in vivo models without inducing cytotoxicity. Furthermore, phytochemicals isolated from EMC-including p-coumaric acid, rutin, and quercetin-exhibited comparable inhibitory effects. These results indicate that EMC and its bioactive constituents may interfere with SARS-CoV-2 entry by modulating the ACE2/TMPRSS2 axis, highlighting their potential as natural adjuncts for COVID-19 prevention or management.

Background/Objectives: Oral microbial homeostasis is crucial for overall health. Nonetheless, the relationship between probiotics and the oral environment remains unclear. This study investigated the association between continuous consumption of yogurt containing Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus OLL1073R-1 (LbR1 yogurt), salivary antimicrobial proteins (AMPs), tongue-coating microbiota, and upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) frequency. Methods: This observational study was conducted on 53 nursing home care workers, categorized into a group who consumed LbR1 yogurt daily for over 1 year (n = 40, yogurt group) and a non-intake group (n = 13, non-yogurt group). Salivary and tongue-coating samples were collected. Results: The yearly URTI frequency was lower in the yogurt group than in the non-yogurt group (p = 0.003). The salivary β-defensin-2 (HBD2) and β-defensin-3 (HBD3) flow rates were higher in the yogurt group than in the non-yogurt group (p = 0.02 and p = 0.0009, respectively). Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum) ssp. animalis abundance was lower in the yogurt group than in the non-yogurt group (p = 0.04). Bayesian network analysis indicated an association between yogurt consumption and the yearly URTI frequency and salivary HBD2 and HBD3 flow rates. Conclusions: Continuous consumption of LbR1 yogurt was associated with elevated salivary HBD2 and HBD3, reduced abundance of F. nucleatum ssp. animalis, and decreased URTI frequency. Thus, LbR1 yogurt intake is associated with modulated oral immunity and microbiota, suggesting a potential link to reduced URTIs. However, as an observational pilot study, its results should be interpreted with caution.