BACKGROUNDVaccinium uliginosum L. is a type of blueberry found in the Chinese Changbai Mountains. We extracted Vaccinium uliginosum Anthocyanins (A(V.uli)) to investigate its bioactivity on suppressing cancer cells.

METHODSA(V.uli) was extracted under different conditions of temperature (10°C - 35°C), pH 1.0 - 3.0, and diatomaceous earth (1.0 g - 3.0 g), followed by a HPLC analysis for the determination of the ingredients. Its anticancer bioactivities on human colon and colorectal cancer cells (DLD-1 and COLO205) were compared with those on Lonicera caerulea Anthocyanins (A(L.cae)) and Vaccinium myrtillus Anthocyanins (A(V.myr)), using cell viability assays, DNA electrophoresis and nuclear morphology assays.

RESULTSThe optimum process of A(V.uli) extraction involved conditions of temperature 20°C, pH 2.0, and diatomaceous earth 1.0 g/50 g of fruit weight. A(V.uli) contained 5 main components: delphinidin (40.70 ± 1.72)%, cyanidin (3.40 ± 0.68)%, petunidin (17.70 ± 0.54)%, peonidin (2.90 ± 0.63)% and malvidin (35.50 ± 1.11)%. The malvidin percentage was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than it in A(V.myr). A(V.uli) complied with a dose-dependent repression of cancer cell proliferation with an IC(50) (50% inhibitory concentration) value of 50 µg/ml, and showed greater anticancer efficiency than A(L.cae) and A(V.myr) under the same cell treatment conditions. These observations were further supported by the results of nuclear assays.

CONCLUSIONSThe extraction protocol and conditions we used were effective for anthocyanin extraction. A(V.uli) could be a feasible practical research tool and a promising therapeutic source to suppress human colon or colorectal cancers.

Anthocyanins ; therapeutic use ; Antineoplastic Agents ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Blueberry Plants ; chemistry ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; DNA Fragmentation ; drug effects ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Plant Extracts ; therapeutic use

OBJECTIVETo study the effect of Lycium ruthenicum anthocyanins on atherosclerosis (AS) in mice.

METHODNormal mice were taken as the control group, and hyperlipemia mice were divided into the model group, Lycium ruthenicum anthocyanins low, medium and high dose groups, and the simvastatin drug control group. After the oral administration, blood lipid indicators were detected by enzymatic analysis. The histomorphological changes in aortas, hearts and livers were observed, and liver-related indicators were determined by using hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining.

RESULTCompared with the high-fat group, L. ruthenicum anthocyanins low, medium and high dose groups showed significant decrease in total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and atherosclerotic index (AI) (P < 0.05). However, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level showed a trend of higher than the model group. Liver's total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) were significantly increased (P < 0.05), malondialdehyde (MDA) was markedly decreased (P < 0.01); the percentage of aortic plaque area of each anthocyanins dose group in the total area was significantly lower than the model group (P < 0.05); severity of aorta, heart and liver were significantly lighter than the high-fat group. But the media dose group was similar with the simvastatin group.

CONCLUSIONL. ruthenicum anthocyanins can interfere the formation of AS, while lowering blood lipid levels in mice.

Animals ; Anthocyanins ; therapeutic use ; Atherosclerosis ; prevention & control ; Body Weight ; drug effects ; Glutathione Peroxidase ; metabolism ; Hypercholesterolemia ; blood ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Lipids ; blood ; Liver ; pathology ; Lycium ; chemistry ; Male ; Mice ; Phytotherapy

OBJECTIVE: To study the protective effect of anthocyanins extracted from Vaccinium Uliginosum (VU) on retinal 661W cells against microwave radiation induced retinal injury. METHODS: 661W cells were divided into 6 groups, including control, model [661W cells radiated by microwave (30 mW/cm², 1 h)] and VU groups [661W cells pretreated with anthocyanins extracted from VU (25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/mL, respectively) for 48 h, and radiated by microwave 30 mW/cm², 1 h]. After treatment with different interventions, the cell apoptosis index (AI) was determined using Heochst staining; contents of malonaldehyde (MDA), glutataione (GSH), and activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were measured. mRNA expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1(HO-1) were detected by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and the expression of HO-1 protein was examined by Western blot analysis. Nucleus and cytoplasm were separated and Nrf2 protein expression was further verified by Western blot analysis. RESULTS: There was significant difference in AI among the groups (F=322.83, P<;0.05). Compared with the control group, AI was significantly higher in the model group and was lower in 4 VU-pretreated groups (P<;0.05). Linear regression analysis showed the decline of AI was in a dose-dependent manner with VU treatment (r=0.8419, P<;0.05). The MDA and GSH contents of 661W cells in VU-treated groups were significantly lower than the model group (P<;0.05). Compared with the model group, the SOD activity in the VU-treated groups (50, 100 and 200 µg/mL) was significantly higher (all P<;0.05). The Nrf2 and HO-1 mRNA expressions were slightly increased after irradiation, and obviously increased in 100 µg/mL VU-treated group. After irradiation, the relative expressions of HO-1 and Nrf2 proteins in nucleus were slightly increased (P<;0.05), and the changes in cytoplasm were not obvious, whereas it was significantly increased in both nucleus and cytoplasm in the VU treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS Anthocyanins extracted from VU could reduce apoptosis, stabilize cell membrane, and alleviate oxidant injury of mouse retinal photoreceptor 661W cells. The mechanism might be through activating Nrf2/HO-1 signal pathway and inducing HO-1 transcription and translation.
Animals ; Anthocyanins/therapeutic use* ; Blueberry Plants/metabolism* ; Heme Oxygenase-1/metabolism* ; Mice ; Microwaves ; NF-E2-Related Factor 2/metabolism* ; Oxidative Stress ; RNA, Messenger/metabolism* ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism*

OBJECTIVETo investigated the anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects of anthocyanins extracted from black soybean on the chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) rat model.

METHODSThe Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into 4 groups, including control, ciprofloxacin, anthocyanins and anthocyanins with ciprofloxacin groups (n=8 in each group). Then, drip infusion of bacterial suspension (Escherichia coli Z17 O:K:H) into Sprague-Dawley rats was conducted to induce CBP. In 4 weeks, results of prostate tissue, urine culture, and histological analysis on the prostate were analyzed for each group.

RESULTSThe use of ciprofloxacin, anthocyanins, and anthocyanins with ciprofloxacin showed statistically significant decreases in bacterial growth and improvements in the reduction of prostatic inflammation compared with the control group (P<0.05). The anthocyanins with ciprofloxacin group showed a statistically significant decrease in bacterial growth and improvement in prostatic inflammation compared with the ciprofloxacin group (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that anthocyanins may have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, as well as a synergistic effect with ciprofloxacin. Therefore, we suggest that the combination of anthocyanins and ciprofloxacin may be effective in treating CBP to obtain a higher rate of treatment success.

Acinar Cells ; drug effects ; pathology ; Animals ; Anthocyanins ; isolation & purification ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Infective Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Chronic Disease ; Disease Models, Animal ; Escherichia coli Infections ; drug therapy ; urine ; Fibrosis ; Inflammation ; pathology ; Male ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Prostate ; drug effects ; microbiology ; pathology ; Prostatitis ; drug therapy ; microbiology ; urine ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Severity of Illness Index ; Soybeans ; chemistry ; Urine ; microbiology