OBJECTIVES: The aim of this investigation was to give insights into the impact of carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks on the likely capacity of enamel surface dissolution and the influence of human saliva exposure as a biological protective factor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pH, titratable acidity (TA) to pH 7.0, and buffer capacity (β) of common beverages ingested by patients under physical activity were analyzed. Then, we randomly distributed 50 specimens of human enamel into 5 groups. Processed and natural coconut water served as controls for testing three carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks. In all specimens, we measured surface microhardness (Knoop hardness numbers) and enamel loss (profilometry, µm) for baseline and after simulated intake cycling exposure model. We also prepared areas of specimens to be exposed to human saliva overnight prior to the simulated intake cycling exposure. The cycles were performed by alternated immersions in beverages and artificial saliva. ANOVA two-way and Tukey HDS tests were used. RESULTS: The range of pH, TA, and β were 2.85 - 4.81, 8.33 - 46.66 mM/L and 3.48 - 10.25 mM/L × pH, respectively. The highest capacity of enamel surface dissolution was found for commercially available sports drinks for all variables. Single time human saliva exposure failed to significantly promote protective effect for the acidic attack of beverages. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, carbohydrate-electrolyte drinks usually consumed during endurance training may have a greater capacity of dissolution of enamel surface depending on their physicochemical proprieties associated with pH and titratable acidity.
Beverages ; Cocos ; Dental Enamel* ; Hardness ; Humans* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immersion ; Motor Activity ; Protective Factors ; Saliva ; Saliva, Artificial ; Sports ; Water

PURPOSE: Borage oil (BO) and safflower oil (SO) are efficacious in reversing epidermal hyperproliferation, which is caused by the disruption of epidermal barrier. In this study, we compared the antiproliferative effect of dietary BO and SO. Altered metabolism of ceramide (Cer), the major lipid of epidermal barrier, was further determined by measurement of epidermal levels of individual Cer, glucosylceramide (GlcCer), and sphingomyelin (SM) species, and protein expression of Cer metabolizing enzymes. METHODS: Epidermal hyperproliferation was induced in guinea pigs by a hydrogenated coconut diet (HCO) for 8 weeks. Subsequently, animals were fed diets of either BO (group HCO + BO) or SO (group HCO + SO) for 2 weeks. As controls, animals were fed BO (group BO) or HCO (group HCO) diets for 10 weeks. RESULTS: Epidermal hyperproliferation was reversed in groups HCO + BO (67.6% of group HCO) and HCO + SO (84.5% of group HCO). Epidermal levels of Cer1/2, GlcCer-A/B, and beta-glucocerebrosidase (GCase), an enzyme of GlcCer hydrolysis for Cer generation, were higher in group HCO + BO than in group HCO, and increased to levels similar to those of group BO. In addition, epidermal levels of SM1, serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), and acidic sphingomyelinase (aSMase), enzymes of de novo Cer synthesis and SM hydrolysis for Cer generation, but not of Cer3-7, were higher in group HCO + BO than in group HCO. Despite an increase of SPT and aSMase in group HCO + SO to levels higher than in group HCO, epidermal levels of Cer1-7, GlcCer-A/B, and GCase were similar in these two groups. Notably, acidic ceramidase, an enzyme of Cer degradation, was highly expressed in group HCO + SO. Epidermal levels of GlcCer-C/D and SM-2/3 did not differ among groups. CONCLUSION: Dietary BO was more prominent for reversing epidermal hyperproliferation by enhancing Cer metabolism with increased levels of Cer1/2, GlcCer-A/B, and SM1 species, and of GCase proteins.
Animals ; Borago* ; Carthamus tinctorius* ; Ceramidases ; Cocos ; Diet ; Epidermis* ; Glucosylceramidase ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Hydrogen ; Hydrolysis ; Metabolism* ; Safflower Oil* ; Serine C-Palmitoyltransferase ; Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase

Poria cocos is a well-known traditional Chinese traditional medicine (TCM) that grows around roots of pine trees in China, Korea, Japan, and North America. Poria cocos has been used in Asian countries to treat insomnia as either a single herb or part of an herbal formula. In a previous experiment, pachymic acid (PA), an active constituent of Poria cocos ethanol extract (PCE), increased pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate whether or not PCE and PA modulate sleep architectures in rats as well as whether or not their effects are mediated through GABA(A)-ergic transmission. PCE and PA were orally administered to individual rats 7 days after surgical implantation of a transmitter, and sleep architectures were recorded by Telemetric Cortical encephalogram (EEG) upon oral administration of test drugs. PCE and PA increased total sleep time and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep as well as reduced numbers of sleep/wake cycles recorded by EEG. Furthermore, PCE increased intracellular chloride levels, GAD65/67 protein levels, and alpha-, beta-, and gamma-subunits of GABA(A) receptors in primary cultured hypothalamic neuronal cells. These data suggest that PCE modulates sleep architectures via activation of GABA(A)-ergic systems. Further, as PA is an active component of PCE, they may have the same pharmacological effects.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; China ; Cocos* ; Electroencephalography ; Ethanol* ; Eye Movements ; Glutamate Decarboxylase ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Medicine, Chinese Traditional ; Neurons ; North America ; Pinus ; Poria* ; Rats* ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

OBJECTIVEPhytochemical constituents as well as antimalarial and toxicity potentials of the methanolic extract of the husk fibre of Dwarf Red variety of Cocos nucifera were evaluated in this study.

METHODSThe dried powdered husk fibre was exhaustively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol successively and the methanolic extract was screened for flavonoids, phenolics, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenes, phlobatannins, anthraquinones and glycosides. A 4-day suppressive antimalarial test was carried out using Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected mice, to which the extract was administered at doses of 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (BW). Toxicity of the extract was evaluated in rats using selected hematological parameters and organ function indices after orally administering doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg BW for 14 d.

RESULTSPhytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, glycosides, steroids and anthraquinones in the extract. Moreover, the extract reduced parasitemia by 39.2% and 45.8% at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW respectively on day 8 post-inoculation. Various hematological parameters evaluated were not significantly altered (P>0.05) at all doses of the extract, except red blood cell count which was significantly elevated (P<0.05) at 100 mg/kg BW. The extract significantly increased (P<0.05) urea, creatinine, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and bilirubin concentrations in the serum as well as atherogenic index, while it reduced albumin concentration significantly (P<0.05) at higher doses compared to the controls. Alanine aminotransferase activity was reduced in the liver and heart significantly (P<0.05) but was increased in the serum significantly (P<0.05) at higher doses of the extract compared to the controls.

CONCLUSIONThe results suggest that methanolic extract of the Dwarf red variety has partial antimalarial activity at higher doses, but is capable of impairing normal kidney and liver function as well as predisposing subjects to cardiovascular diseases.

Animals ; Antimalarials ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Cocos ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Malaria ; drug therapy ; Mice ; Plant Extracts ; administration & dosage ; adverse effects ; pharmacology ; Plasmodium berghei ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar

This study was investigated to know whether pachymic acid (PA), one of the predominant triterpenoids in Poria cocos (Hoelen) has the sedative-hypnotic effects, and underlying mechanisms are mediated via gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic systems. Oral administration of PA markedly suppressed locomotion activity in mice. This compound also prolonged sleeping time, and reduced sleep latency showing synergic effects with muscimol (0.2 mg/kg) in shortening sleep onset and enhancing sleep time induced by pentobarbital, both at the hypnotic (40 mg/kg) and sub-hypnotic (28 mg/kg) doses. Additionally, PA elevated intracellular chloride levels in hypothalamic primary cultured neuronal cells of rats. Moreover, Western blotting quantitative results showed that PA increased the amount of protein level expression of GAD65/67 over a broader range of doses. PA increased alpha- and beta-subunits protein levels, but decreased gamma-subunit protein levels in GABA(A) receptors. The present experiment provides evidence for the hypnotic effects as PA enhanced pentobarbital-induced sleeping behaviors via GABA(A)-ergic mechanisms in rodents. Taken together, it is proposed that PA may be useful for the treatment of sleep disturbed subjects with insomnia.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Cocos ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Locomotion ; Mice* ; Muscimol ; Neurons ; Pentobarbital ; Poria ; Rats ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Rodentia ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders

AIM: To evaluate the effect of Cocus nucifera L. flowers in reducing the major multiple symptoms of letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) in female rats. METHOD: Female, virgin Wistar rats were treated with letrozole (1 mg/kg body wt) to induce PCOD, and after 21 days of induction rats were administered orally with 100 and 200 mg·kg(-1) of Cocus nucifera flower aqueous extract, respectively. Estrus cycle and blood sugar were monitored once a week throughout the study. After scarification, various biochemical parameters, such as antioxidant status (superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione reductase (GSH)) of the uterus homogenate, lipid profile (total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides (TG)) of the serum were determined. Weights of the uterus and ovaries were separately monitored. The characteristics of changes in the ovary were evaluated by histopathological studies. RESULTS: GC-MS analysis of the aqueous extract showed the presence of volatile and pharmacologically active phytoconstituents. C. nucifera flower extract-treated groups showed estrus cyclicity and increased uterus weight which indicates the estrogenic effect. The improved blood sugar level, ideal lipid profile, good antioxidant status, and histopathology results revealed the recovery from poly cystic ovaries. CONCLUSION The results indicate that C. nucifera flower is a potential medicine for the treatment of PCOD and this study supports the traditional uses of C. nucifera flower.
Animals ; Antioxidants ; metabolism ; Blood Glucose ; metabolism ; Cocos ; chemistry ; Estrus ; drug effects ; Female ; Flowers ; chemistry ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Letrozole ; Lipids ; blood ; Nitriles ; Oils, Volatile ; analysis ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Ovary ; drug effects ; pathology ; Phytoestrogens ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Phytotherapy ; Plant Extracts ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Polycystic Ovary Syndrome ; blood ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; pathology ; Rats, Wistar ; Triazoles ; Uterus ; drug effects

Left atrial wall calcification is frequently observed in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease. However, massive left atrial wall calcification, so called porcelain or coconut atrium, with left atrium thrombi is very rare. Here, we describe the case of a 67-year-old male patient with porcelain atrium, recurrent left atrial thrombi, and a spontaneous axillary hematoma after mitral valve replacement and surgical thrombectomy due to rheumatic valvular heart disease. The patient underwent two valvular surgeries 20 years prior; therefore, we determined not to perform additional surgeries because of a high risk of morbidity, mortality, and the recurrence of atrial thrombi. The patient has been maintained on daily warfarin as an anti-thrombic therapy for more than 5 years without major embolic complications.
Aged ; Cocos ; Dental Porcelain ; Heart Atria ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Recurrence ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis ; Warfarin

Left atrial wall calcification is frequently observed in patients with rheumatic valvular heart disease. However, massive left atrial wall calcification, so called porcelain or coconut atrium, with left atrium thrombi is very rare. Here, we describe the case of a 67-year-old male patient with porcelain atrium, recurrent left atrial thrombi, and a spontaneous axillary hematoma after mitral valve replacement and surgical thrombectomy due to rheumatic valvular heart disease. The patient underwent two valvular surgeries 20 years prior; therefore, we determined not to perform additional surgeries because of a high risk of morbidity, mortality, and the recurrence of atrial thrombi. The patient has been maintained on daily warfarin as an anti-thrombic therapy for more than 5 years without major embolic complications.
Aged ; Cocos ; Dental Porcelain ; Heart Atria ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Male ; Mitral Valve ; Recurrence ; Thrombectomy ; Thrombosis ; Warfarin

OBJECTIVES: Osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption are considered a potential therapeutic target to the treatment of erosive bone diseases, including osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis. Poria cocos Wolf (PCW), commonly used herbal medicine, has previously been reported to induce anti-inflammatory effect and anti-cancer effect, and to modulate immunologic responses. However, the effects of PCW on osteoclasts, and its detailed mechanisms are not proven. Therefore, we examined the inhibitory mechanism of PCW on osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To analyze the effects of PCW on osteoclast differentiation, we examined osteoclast differentiation in bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) treated with or without of PCW by TRAP staining. The expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, TRAP and OSCAR mRNA was determined by RT-PCR and the protein levels of c-Fos, NFATc1, p38, ERK, JNK, Akt and IkappaB were assessed by western blot. Also, we evaluated the effect of PCW on bone resorption using hydroxyapatite plate. RESULTS: PCW significantly inhibited RANKL-mediated osteoclast differentiation without any evidence of cytotoxicity. We founded that PCW strongly inhibited RANKL-induced osteoclast formation when added during the early stage of cultures, suggesting that PCW acts on osteoclast precursors to inhibit RANKL/RANK signaling. Among the RANK signaling pathways, PCW inhibited the phosphorylation of p38 and JNK, also inhibited RANKL-induced expression of c-Fos, NFATc1, TRAP and OSCAR. In addition, PCW suppressed the bone resorption of mature osteoclasts. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that PCW may be a potential novel drug for bone disorders by targeting the differentiation of osteoclasts as well as their functions.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Diseases ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Resorption ; Cocos ; Durapatite ; Herbal Medicine ; Macrophages ; Osteoclasts ; Osteoporosis ; Phosphorylation ; Poria ; RNA, Messenger ; Wolves

Calcification of the left atrium can be observed in patients with a long-lasting rheumatic heart disease. However, massive calcification of the atrial wall, so called porcelain or coconut atrium is very rare and has been generally reported only as incidental radiographic findings. We report a case of massive and firm calcifications at the left atrium in patient who underwent mitral valve replacement.
Cocos ; Dental Porcelain ; Heart Atria ; Humans ; Mitral Valve ; Rheumatic Heart Disease