Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizome extract alleviates neuropathic pain by inhibiting neuroinflammation in mice

BackgroundCurrent therapies for neuropathic pain are generally symptomatic and possess several side effects, limiting their prolonged usage.Hypothesis/PurposeThus, it is urgent to develop novel and safe candidates for the management of this chronical condition. For this purpose, we investigated the analgesic effect of a standardized extract from Zingiber officinale Roscoe rhizomes (ZOE) obtained by CO₂ supercritical extraction, in a mice model of peripheral neuropathy. We also explored the mechanism of action of ZOE and its main constituents using an in vitro model of neuroinflammation.MethodsPeripheral mono-neuropathy was induced in mice, by spared nerve injury (SNI). The analgesic effect of ZOE after oral administration was assessed by measuring mechanical and thermal allodynia in SNI mice. The mechanism of action of ZOE and its main constituents were investigated using spinal cords samples and in an in vitro model of neuroinflammation by ELISA, western blotting and immunofluorescence techniques.ResultsOral administration of ZOE 200 mg kg⁻¹ ameliorated mechanical and thermal allodynia in SNI mice, with a rapid and a long-lasting effect. ZOE did not alter locomotor activity. In BV2 cells and spinal cord samples, ZOE, 6-gingerol and 6-shogaol reduced pERK levels, whereas ZOE and terpene fraction reduced HDAC1 protein levels, inhibited NF-κB signalling activation and decreased IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-6 release. ZOE and each tested constituent had a positive effect on inflammation-impaired SH-SY5Y cell viability.ConclusionsThe oral administration of ZOE attenuated SNI-induced neuropathic pain symptoms by reducing spinal neuroinflammation, suggesting ZOE as a novel and interesting candidate for the management of neuropathic pain.     

Biocontrol activity of the extract prepared from Zingiber zerumbet for the management of rhizome rot in Zingiber officinale caused by Pythium myriotylum

Zingiber zerumbet Smith or wild ginger is remarkable for its inherent resistance to Pythium spp., which cause soft rot disease in Zingiber officinale Rosc. In the present study, various concentrations of extract prepared from Z. zerumbet were screened for its activity against Pythium myriotylum. Microscopic observation of P. myriotylum in presence of Z. zerumbet extract has confirmed the complete lysis of pathogen within 10 h. However, the same treatment with Z. officinale extract was found to have partial antifungal effect even after 24 h due to inability of its metabolites to prevent the growth of P. myriotylum. Due to the antifungal activity, extract from Z. zerumbet was subjected to GC–MS and LC-QTOF-MS which has identified Zerumbone with m/z 219 as the major compound. Further, in vivo study and the subsequent microscopic analysis have confirmed the applicability of extract from Z. zerumbet as a phytomedicine to control rhizome rot in ginger.     

大鼠肝脏半乳糖凝聚素-3 cDNA分子多样性分析

半乳糖凝聚素-3(Galectin-3,Gal-3)是一种多功能蛋白,参与机体内的多种生命活动过程。为分析大鼠Rattus norvegicus gal-3 c DNA分子多样性,在分析Gen Bank注册的大鼠gal-3 c DNA序列的同时,从三只不同大鼠个体的肝脏第一链c DNA,共计9个独立实验中克隆gal-3开放阅读框OFR(Open reading frame)。分析结果表明,在已注册的序列中存在1个单核苷酸多态性(Single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP)。本实验从1-3号大鼠肝脏分别获得118、95和120个克隆,新发现1处缺失和5处SNP,共克隆17个不同的gal-3 ORF,其中仅1个克隆与已报告大鼠gal-3 c DNA的ORF完全相同。从1号和3号个体肝脏中分别克隆11和14个不同的gal-3 ORF,揭示大鼠gal-3 c DNA存在个体水平的分子多样性。     

Evaluation of the inhibitory effect of Zingiber officinale rhizome on Babesia and Theileria parasites

The effect of Zingiber officinale rhizome methanolic extract (ZOR) on the in vitro growth of bovine Babesia (B. bovis, B. bigemina, and B. divergens) and equine piroplasm (B. caballi, and Theileria equi) parasites and on the growth of B. microti in mice was evaluated in this study. The possible in vitro synergistic interaction between ZOR and either diminazene aceturate (DA) or potent Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV) hits from the malaria box was also investigated. In vitro, ZOR reduced the growth of B. bovis, B. bigemina, T. equi, and B. caballi in a dose-dependent manner. B. divergens was the most susceptible parasite to the in vitro inhibitory effect of ZOR. DA and MMV compounds enhanced the in vitro inhibitory antibabesial activity of ZOR. 12.5 mg/kg DA when administrated in combination with ZOR in mice exhibited a significant inhibition (P < 0.05) in B. microti growth better than those observed after treatment with 25 mg/kg DA monotherapy. These findings suggest that ZOR could be a viable medicinal plant for babesiosis treatment, particularly when combined with a modest dose of either DA or powerful anti-B. bigemina MMV hits.     

Nucleotide sequence variants of Rattus norvegicus mitochondrial DNA

The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) molecules of different albino, domesticated rats (Rattus norvegicus) of the SASCO colony are of two kinds (SASCO-1 and SASCO-2) in regard to their sensitivity at certain sites to a number of restriction enzymes. MtDNA molecules from Utah wild R. norvegicus (Wild-UT) have sensitivities to restriction enzymes which differ at some sites from either SASCO-1 or SASCO-2 mtDNA molecules. Four single nucleotide differences were found among the HindIII F fragments (169 nucleotides) of SASCO-1, SASCO-2, and Wild-UT mtDNAs. Arguments are presented in favor of the interpretation that each variant nucleotide is the third nucleotide of the codon containing it, and that none of the four differences would result in a difference in the respective amino acid translated.Dedicated to Professor W. Beermann on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

The high resolution R-banded karyotype of Rattus norvegicus

Representative haploid R-banded karyotypes of the laboratory rat and diagrammatic representation of the banding patterns at the 525-band level are presented.     

Idiopathic megaesophagus in a rat (Rattus norvegicus)

Necropsy and histopathologic examination of a rat (Rattus norvegicus) revealed megaesophagus and gangrenous bronchopneumonia. The esophageal dilitation, mural atrophy with persistence of neural structures, regurgitation and bronchopneumonia seen in this case were similar to findings in other animals with megaesophagus.     

The effects of reward quality on risk-sensitivity in Rattus norvegicus

Risk-sensitive foraging theory (RSFT) was developed to explain a choice between a variable (risk-prone) or constant (risk-averse) option. In the RSFT literature, qualitative shifts in risk-sensitivity have been explained by fluctuations in daily caloric energy budget (DEB). The DEB rule describes foragers’ choices as being based on fitness and rate of gain. If the DEB rule is correct, rewards that differ in caloric returns should cause differences in foragers’ sensitivity to risk. However, few studies have explored the influence of reward quality on risk-sensitivity in mammals. The present study was designed to examine the effects of reward quality on risk-sensitivity when reward magnitude, delay to reward, body mass, and response effort were controlled. Results from the current study demonstrated that subjects rewarded with a high calorie reward (i.e., sugar) made significantly fewer choices for a variable option than subjects rewarded with a lower calorie reward (i.e., grain). These results are consistent with the predictions of the DEB rule, and add to the RSFT literature where reward quality was manipulated by describing difference in risk-sensitivity in mammals. Suggestions for future research include an examination of risk-sensitivity where flavor and caloric return are manipulated.     

Warfarin-resistance genotype determination in the Norway rat, Rattus norvegicus

The 2-stage determination is based on changes in blood coaggulation activity brought about both by the administration of warfarin in conjunction with vitamin K1 epoxide and by feeding a vitamin K-free diet for 4 days. When it was applied to laboratory-bred rats of known warfarin-resistance genotype, 35/35 homozygous susceptible, 44/44 homozygous resistant and 131/133 heterozygous rats were correctly classified. This method was equally effective in identifying the genotype of wild rats carrying the warfarin-resistance gene, Rw2. The procedure is rapid and accurate.     

Skull growth in the albino rat (Rattus norvegicus)

A longitudinal study of growth in the rat skull, based on serial radiographs, has shown that by the age of one month after birth, the braincase attains some 93% of its adult (fifth-month) size whilst the facial skeleton and mandible attain but 75% of their adult size. By the third month, growth in the braincase has virtually ceased, whereas significant facial growth continues until the age of five months.     

褐家鼠肥满度的研究

褐家鼠肥满度的研究杨再学,郭世平（贵州省余庆县植保站,５６４４００）ＲｅｌａｔｉｖｅＦａｔｎｅｓｓｏｆＢｒａｎｄ＇ｓＶｏｌｅ（Ｒａｔｔｕｓｎｏｒｖｅｇｉｃｕｓ）．￥ＹａｎｇＺａｉｘｕｅ;ＧｕｏＳｉｐｉｎｇ（ＹｕｑｉｎｇＣｏｕｎｔｙＰｌａｎｔＰｒｏｔｅ...