Traumatic oral ulceration (TOU) is one of the most common side effects of orthodontic treatments. The objective of this trial is to compare the clinical efficacy of an 80% Aloe Vera gel, prepared using a master formula, versus a commercial 0.12% Chlorhexidine (CHX) gel for TOU prevention in participants wearing fixed orthodontic appliances. This report represents a single-centre, university-based, double-blinded, randomized controlled trial with 2 parallel arms. Patients aged 12 years or older, in the permanent dentition, and about to start fixed orthodontic treatment in this university setting were randomly allocated to use either Aloe Vera or CHX gel, following the cementation procedure. Pre-treatment and 1 month after the cementation clinical assessment and digital photographic images were taken of the teeth and assessed by 2 clinical assessors for the presence or absence of TOUs. A total of 140 were randomized and completed the trial. The overall prevalence of TOUs was 43.6%. Overall 5.7% of patients treated with Aloe Vera gel showed did not suffer from TOUs, whereas in the CHX arm, a total of 57 (81.4%) were affected by this outcome reaching a significant result (p

Cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, continue to be the leading causes of deaths resulting in more than 17 million deaths each year worldwide. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) man...

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide derived from brown seaweeds, has been shown to reduce blood glucose levels and improve insulin sensitivity in mice…

Polysaccharides from Laminaria japonica (LJPs) are reported to have various functional properties, but the effects and mechanisms of LJPs on obesity a…

EFSA is re‐evaluating the safety of food additives already permitted in the Union before 20 January 2009 and issuing scientific opinions on their safety in line with Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008. Acacia gum (E 414) was re‐evaluated in 2017 by the former EFSA Panel on Food Additives and Nutrient sources added to Food (ANS). As follow‐up to this assessment, the Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings (FAF) was requested to assess the safety of acacia gum (E 414) as carry‐over in food for infants below 16 weeks of age belonging to food categories 13.1.1 (Infant formulae) and 13.1.5.1 (Dietary...

Background: We aimed to investigate the prevalence of Aloe Vera gel extract and antibiotic resistance against in Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated fro...

Despite major scientific advances in its prevention, treatment and care, hypertension remains a serious condition that might lead to long-term complications such as heart disease and stroke. The great majority of forms of hypertension eventually result from an increased vasomotor tone activity that is regula

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide widely distributed in brown seaweed. It exhibits several bioactivities, such as anti-cancer, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, anti-diabetic and anti-oxidant properties. However, the effects of fucoidan in chondrocytes are not well established. Previously, we have reported in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory effects of fucoidan. In this study, we evaluated the effects and regulatory mechanism of fucoidan derived from Undaria pinnatifida on the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and type II collagen in rabbit articular chondrocytes. Using western blotting and alcian blue staining, respectively, fucoidan was shown to induce type II collagen and sulfated proteoglycan in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, fucoidan inhibited the COX-2 expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner and increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), p38, and AKT kinases in chondrocytes. The inhibition of p38 and AKT using SB203580 and LY294002, respectively, in the presence of fucoidan decreased the expression of type II collagen. However, ERK inhibition using PD98050 stimulated type II collagen expression. Fucoidan increased COX-2 expression in the presence of inhibitors of ERK, p38, and AKT kinases. These results conclusively suggested that fucoidan regulated type II collagen expression via the p38 and AKT pathways, and COX-2 expression via the p38, ERK and AKT pathways in rabbit articular chondrocytes. Moreover, given its ability to mediate cell differentiation and exert anti-inflammatory activity, fucoidan may represent a potential therapeutic substance for use in inflammatory conditions, including arthritis.

The use of fucoidan, a marine-origin bioactive polymer, is herein proposed as a component of an innovative and effective strategy against melanoma, one of the most aggressive skin cancers. First, fucoidan antitumor activity, in its soluble form, was assessed presenting increased cytotoxicity over melanoma cells when compared to human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. After this antitumor activity validation and trying to develop a more targeted and local strategy aiming to diminish the cytotoxic effects over noncancer cells, fucoidan was immobilized at the surface of an electrospun nanofiber mesh (NFM_Fu), envisioning the development of a therapeutic patch. The maximum immobilization concentration was 1.2 mg mL–1, determined by the Toluidine Blue Assay and confirmed by XPS. Furthermore, NFM_Fu is more hydrophilic than NFM, presenting a contact angle of 36°, lower than the 121° of the control condition. NFM_Fu was able to reduce human melanoma cell viability by 50% without affecting human dermal fibroblasts and keratinocytes. Taken together, these results set the basis for a valuable approach for melanoma treatment.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular and peripheral vascular disease. Although mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-bas…

Hyperlipidemia is associated with increased risk of the development of cardiovascular diseases. Although a great deal of attention has been paid to th…

Gefitinib is a first tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) designed with an EGFR tyrosine kinase for lung cancer targeted therapy. However, some lung cancer…

Background Cancer metastasis is the main cause leading to disease recurrence and high mortality in cancer patients. Therefore, inhibiting metastasis process or killing metastatic cancer cells by inducing apoptosis is of clinical importance in improving cancer patient survival. Previous studies revealed that fucoidan, a fucose-rich polysaccharide isolated from marine brown alga, is a promising natural product with significant anti-cancer activity. However, little is known about the role of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in fucoidan-induced cell apoptosis. Principal Findings We reported that fucoidan treatment inhibits cell growth and induces apoptosis in cancer cells. Fucoidan treatments resulted in down-regulation of the glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78) in the metastatic MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, and of the ER protein 29 (ERp29) in the metastatic HCT116 colon cancer cells. However, fucoidan treatment promoted ER Ca2+-dependent calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) phosphorylation, Bcl-associated X protein (Bax) and caspase 12 expression in MDA-MB-231 cells, but not in HCT116 cells. In both types of cancer cells, fucoidan activated the phosphorylation of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (p-eIF2α)\CCAAT/enhancer binding protein homologous protein (CHOP) pro-apoptotic cascade and inhibited the phosphorylation of inositol-requiring kinase 1 (p-IRE-1)\X-box binding proteins 1 splicing (XBP-1s) pro-survival cascade. Furthermore, CHOP knockdown prevented DNA damage and cell death induced by fucoidan. Conclusion/Significance Fucoidan exerts its anti-tumor function by modulating ER stress cascades. Contribution of ER stress to the fucoidan-induced cell apoptosis augments our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-tumour activity and provides evidence for the therapeutic application of fucoidan in cancer.

(2016). Fucoidan Induces Cell Aggregation and Apoptosis in Osteosarcoma MG-63 Cells. Animal Cells and Systems: Vol. 20, No. 4, pp. 186-192.

Laminaria japonica, one of the most widespread seafood consumed in China and many other nations, has been traditionally utilized as an effective therapeutically active substance for treating weight loss, phlegm elimination, and detumescence for more than 2000 years. Numerous studies have found that

Polysaccharides from Laminaria japonica (LJPs) are reported to have various functional properties, but the effects and mechanisms of LJPs on obesity and its related diseases are unclear. This study demonstrated that LJPs prevented diet-induced obesity in a mice model, and improved obesity-related pa …

Objective: This study was designed to compare the effect of Aloe vera gel with aspirin and celecoxib on platelet aggregation. Study Design: Comparative Study. Setting: Post graduate Medical Institute Lahore, Children Hospital, Lahore. Period: September 2015 to September 2016. Material & Methods: Blood was withdrawn from anti-cubital vein, complete blood count was checked, platelet rich plasma was prepared by centrifuging citrated whole blood and then incubated with  Aloe vera low (AVL), Aloe vera high (AVH), aspirin and celecoxib for 30 minutes at 37C. After adding the agonist arachidonic acid, reading was then taken for 3 minutes and percentage aggregation was recorded. Results: Platelet aggregation with aspirin, AVH and AVL was statistically significantly lower as compared to control and celecoxib groups. Conclusion: This study has demonstrateda dose dependentanti-platelet effect of Aloe vera gel which is comparable to aspirin.

Preclinical Research Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide, is a compound found in various species of seaweed that has anti-viral, anti-bacterial, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immuno...

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown algae, exhibits anti-cancer activity. However, the effects and mechanism of fucoidan-induced apoptosis via endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that fucoidan prevents tumorigenesis and reduces tumor size in LLC1-xenograft male C57BL/6 mice. Fucoidan induces an ER stress response by activating the PERK-ATF4-CHOP pathway, resulting in apoptotic cell death in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ATF4 knockdown abolishes fucoidan-induced CHOP expression and rescues cell viability. Specifically, fucoidan increases intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which increase ATF4 and CHOP in lung cancer cells. Using the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), we found that ROS generation is involved in fucoidan-induced ER stress-mediated apoptosis. Moreover, via Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) knockdown, we demonstrated that fucoidan-induced ROS and CHOP expression were attenuated. Our study is the first to identify a novel mechanism for the antitumor activity of fucoidan. We showed that fucoidan inhibits tumor viability by activating the TLR4/ROS/ER stress axis and the downstream PERK-ATF4-CHOP pathway, leading to apoptosis and suppression of lung cancer cell progression. Together, these results indicate that fucoidan is a potential preventive and therapeutic agent for lung cancer that acts via activation of ROS-dependent ER stress pathways.

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Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. As the aging population is increasing, AD is becoming one of the leading causes of disability and death among the elderly. However, currently there is no cure for this disease. Fucoidan is a complex sulfated polysaccharide ma

Multiple myeloma (MM) remains an incurable hematological neoplasms. Our previous studies showed that Fucoidan possessed anti-myeloma effect by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting invasion of myeloma cells. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Fucoidan on angiogenesis induced by human myeloma cells and elucidated its possible mechanisms. Multiple myeloma cells were treated with Fucoidan at different concentrations, then the conditioned medium (CM) was collected. The levels of VEGF in the CM were tested by ELISA. The results showed that Fucoidan significantly decreased VEGF secretion by RPMI-8226 and U266 cells. The tube formation assay and migration test on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were used to examine the effect of Fucoidan on angiogenesis induced by human myeloma cells. The results showed that Fucoidan decreased HUVECs formed tube structures and inhibited HUVECs migration, and suppressed the angiogenic ability of multiple myeloma RPMI-8226 and U266 cells in a dose-dependent manner. The study also showed that Fucoidan downregulated the expression of several kinds of proteins, which may be correlated with the reduction of angiogenesis induced by myeloma cells. Moreover, results were compared from normoxic and hypoxic conditions, they showed that Fucoidan had anti-angiogenic activity. Furthermore, in a multiple myeloma xenograft mouse model, it indicated that Fucoidan negatively affected tumor growth and angiogenesis in vivo. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that Fucoidan was able to interfere with angiogenesis of multiple myeloma cells both in vitro and in vivo and may have a substantial potential in the treatment of MM.

Estrogen deficiencies associated with menopause accelerate spontaneous skin aging and stimulate the ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced photoaging of skin. However, food compositions with the potent...

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide extracted from brown seaweed, has been used in traditional Chinese herbal medicine to treat thyroid tumors for many years. Although a number of its cellular effects have been investigated, the role of fucoidan in molecular signaling, particularly in Ca2+ signaling …