Cell transplantation therapies for spinal cord injury focusing on bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells: Advances and challenges

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition with complex pathological mechanisms that lead to sensory, motor, and autonomic dysfunction below the site of injury. To date, no effective therapy is available for the treatment of SCI. Recently, bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs) have been considered to be the most promising source for cellular therapies following SCI. The objective of the present review is to summarize the most recent insights into the cellular and molecular mechanism using BMMSC therapy to treat SCI. In this work, we review the specific mechanism of BMMSCs in SCI repair mainly from the following aspects: Neuroprotection, axon sprouting and/or regeneration, myelin regeneration, inhibitory microenvironments, glial scar formation, immunomodulation, and angiogenesis. Additionally, we summarize the latest evidence on the application of BMMSCs in clinical trials and further discuss the challenges and future directions for stem cell therapy in SCI models.     

Steroidal glycosides from Marsdenia tenacissima

Three new compounds 1–3 as C₂₁ steroidal glycosides of diester derivatives of tenacigenin B were isolated from the ethanolic extract of stems of Marsdenia tenacissima. All compounds were prepared and evaluated inhibitory activity of nitric oxide in RAW276.4 macrophages. Compounds 1–3 exhibited inhibitory effects against nitric oxide (NO).     

Antifungal properties of Singapore gorgonians: a preliminary study

Gorgonians possess a huge array of secondary metabolites for various functions, many of which are not known. One of these functions is antifungal. This study investigates if gorgonians from reefs in Singapore can defend themselves against the settlement and invasion of fungi. Crude extracts from 10 species of gorgonians from three families, Ellisellidae, Subergorgiidae and Plexauridae, were screened against nine species of deuteromycetous fungi previously isolated from gorgonians. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) experiments were carried out in 96-microwell plates using extract concentrations ranging from 1.5 to 24.0 mg/ml. Extracts from Euplexaura cf. pinnata, Echinogorgia sp. C, Junceella cf. gemmacea, Subergorgia suberosa, Ctenocella cf. umbraculum and Junceella sp. A were found to possess inhibitory effects on fungi. MICs range from 1.5 to 18.0 mg/ml. Results showed that most of the antifungal activities were exhibited by Euplexaura cf. pinnata and Echinogorgia sp. C from the family Plexauridae. However, for most gorgonian species, the concentrations required to inhibit fungal growth are much higher than the natural concentrations of extracts found in gorgonian tissues. Only the extracts of Echinogorgia sp. C, C. cf. umbraculum and S. suberosa were found to inhibit fungal growth of a few fungal species at a concentration lower than that of its natural concentration.