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PubMed1995

Cocos nucifera pollen inducing allergy: sensitivity test and immunological study.

Among the heterogeneous population (n = 975) in greater Calutta, sensitization to Cocos nucifera pollen accounts to be 2.65% and for atopic patients (n = 204) 47.06%. Out of 24 patients who had C. nucifera pollen sensitivity and suffered from asthma and allergic rhinitis, 16 showed sensitivity also to other allergens. All were skin test positive and 19 of them were phadezym RAST positive to C. nucifera pollen extract. Bronchial provocation test appeared to be positive in 7 out of 8 patients included in the test and no late response or non-specific reactions were observed. C. nucifera pollen extract on fractionation by ion-exchange chromatography following gel filtration yielded two major allergenic protein fractions, CnII (M(r) 158,000) and CnVII (M(r) 2900) as evidenced by skin prick test, ELISA-inhibition and immunoblot analysis. Hence, C. nucifera pollen should be considered to be a relevant allergen and thus included in the panel of allergens for routine clinical use.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Antioxidant activities of some common ingredients of traditional chinese medicine, Angelica sinensis, Lycium barbarum and Poria cocos.

The antioxidant activities of three popular ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine, namely Angelica sinensis (AS), Lycium barbarum (LB) and Poria cocos (PC) were evaluated in this study. The results showed that aqueous extracts of these crude drugs exhibited antioxidant activities in a concentration-dependent manner. All extracts displayed an inhibitory effect on FeCl2-ascorbic acid induced lipid peroxidation in rat liver homogenate in vitro, with the order of activity LB > AS > PC. The tested extracts showed a superoxide anion scavenging activity ranging from 28.8% to 82.2% and anti-superoxide activity varying from 38.0% to 84.5%. Among the different extracts, LB extract exhibited the lowest IC50 values (0.77-2.55 microg/mL) in all model systems tested in this study. The present study concludes that LB extract possessed the strongest inhibition on malondialdehyde formation in rat liver homogenate, and superoxide anion scavenging and anti-superoxide formation activities. These results also suggest that LB extract is a good source of antioxidant agent in the daily dietary supplement.

Angelica sinensis↗

PubMed2004

Cytotoxicity and DNA topoisomerases inhibitory activity of constituents from the sclerotium of Poria cocos.

The bioactivity-guided fractionation of the methylene chloride extract of the sclerotium of Poria cocos led to the isolation of (S)-(+)-turmerone (1), ergosterol peroxide (2), polyporenic acid C (3), dehydropachymic acid (4), pachymic acid (5), and tumulosic acid (6). Compounds 4-6 exhibited moderate cytotoxicities, with IC50 values of 20.5, 29.1, and 10.4 microM, respectively, against a human colon carcinoma cell line. However, 3-6 not only showed inhibitory activities as potent as etoposide used as a positive control on DNA topoisomerase II (36.1, 36.2, 43.9 and 66.7% inhibition at a concentration of 20 microM, respectively), but also inhibition of DNA topoisomerase I (55.8, 60.7, 43.5, and 83.3% inhibition at a concentration of 100 microM, respectively).

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2004

Correlation of structure to antitumor activities of five derivatives of a beta-glucan from Poria cocos sclerotium.

A water-insoluble (1-->3)-beta-D-glucan isolated from fresh sclerotium of Poria cocos was, respectively, sulfated, carboxymethylated, methylated, hydroxyethylated, and hydroxypropylated, to afford five water-soluble derivatives. Their weight-average molecular masses (Mw) and intrinsic viscosities ([eta]) were determined by size-exclusion chromatography combined with laser light scattering (SEC-LLS), LLS, and viscometry in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at 37 degrees C. The antitumor activities, against Sarcoma 180 tumor cell (S-180) and gastric carcinoma cell strain (MKN-45 and SGC-7901) of the native beta-glucan and the five derivatives, were tested in vitro and in vivo. The Mw values of the five derivatives in PBS were determined to be 3.8 x 10(4), 18.9 x 10(4), 16.0 x 10(4), 76.8 x 10(4), and 224.3 x 10(4), respectively. The high Mw values of the hydroxyethylated and hydroxypropylated derivatives in aqueous solution resulted from aggregation, and their true Mw values obtained in dimethyl sulfoxide were 20.1 x 10(4) and 19.1 x 10(4). The sulfated and carboxymethylated derivatives having DS of 1.0-1.3 show good water solubility, and exist as relatively expanded chains in aqueous solution. Interestingly, the native beta-glucan did not show antitumor activity, whereas the sulfated and carboxymethylated derivatives exhibit significant antitumor activities against S-180 and gastric carcinoma tumor cells. This work showed that good water solubility, relatively high chain stiffness, and moderate molecular mass of the derivatives in aqueous solution contribute beneficial to enhancement of antitumor activity.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Antiproliferative and differentiating effects of polysaccharide fraction from fu-ling (Poria cocos) on human leukemic U937 and HL-60 cells.

Poria cocos (PC), Fu-Ling, is an oriental fungus and has been widely used as a Chinese traditional herbal medicine for centuries. In the present study, a neutral polysaccharide fraction from PC (PC-PS) was isolated by a series of chromatographies and its effects on antiproliferation and differentiation of human leukemic cells, U937 and HL-60, were investigated in vitro. Results showed that the molecular weight of isolated PC-PS was approximately 160 kDa, as estimated by gel permeation chromatography. The conditioned medium prepared with PC-PS (15 microg/ml)-stimulated human blood mononuclear cells for 5 days (PC-PS-MNC-CM5) exhibited a potent activity in suppressing the proliferation of U937 and HL-60 cells by 87.3 and 74.7%, respectively. Furthermore, PC-PS-MNC-CM5 induced about 66.6% of the U937 cells and 49.4% of the HL-60 cells to differentiate into mature monocytes/macrophages, which also markedly expressed surface antigens of CD11b, CD14, and CD 68. The differentiated U937 and HL-60 cells displayed physiological functions such as respiratory burst and phagocytosis, while PC-PS group and control group showed insignificant effects. Interestingly, the levels of interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha in PC-PS-MNC-CM were about 41 and 10 times, respectively, higher than that of control group. Antibody neutralization tests of the PC-PS-MNC-CM5 revealed that the growth-inhibitory and differentiation-inducing activities were mainly due to the elevated cytokines of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha. It suggests that PC-PS is a biological response modifier (BRM), instead of a cytotoxic reagent, and may be a potential alternative in leukemia therapy.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed2004

Molecular mass and antitumor activities of sulfated derivatives of alpha-glucan from Poria cocos mycelia.

Two kinds of water-insoluble (1-->3)-alpha-D-glucan samples, ab-PCM3-I and ac-PCM3-I, isolated from different Poria cocos mycelia were sulfated, to produce two series of water-soluble derivatives ab-PCM3-I-S1-S5 and ac-PCM3-I-S1-S5, respectively. The derivatives having different weight-average molecular mass (Mw) were produced by changing reaction temperature and time as well as molar ratios between chlorosulfonic acid and number of hydroxyl groups in the glucan. The degrees of substitution (DS) of the sulfated derivatives were analyzed by elemental analysis (EA) to be 0.39-0.67 for ab-PCM3-I-S and 0.73-0.96 for ac-PCM3-I-S, respectively. The Mw and the intrinsic viscosity ([eta]) of the samples ab-PCM3-I-S and the ac-PCM3-I-S were measured by size exclusion chromatography combined with laser light scattering (SEC-LLS) and viscometry in phosphate buffer solution (PBS) at 37 degrees C. The results indicated that their Mw ranged from 2.0 to 11.3 x 10(4) for the samples ab-PCM3-I-S, and 4.7 to 40.0 x 10(4) for the samples ac-PCM3-I-S. Moreover, the antitumor activities of the sulfated derivatives ab-PCM3-I-S and ac-PCM3-I-S against Sarcoma 180 tumor cell tested both in vitro and in vivo are significantly higher than those of the native alpha-D-glucans. Therefore, a moderate range of molecular mass from 2.0 x 10(4) to 40.0 x 10(4), relatively high chain stiffness and good water solubility of the sulfated derivatives are beneficial to the enhancement of their antitumor activities.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Polysaccharide isolated from Poria cocos sclerotium induces NF-kappaB/Rel activation and iNOS expression through the activation of p38 kinase in murine macrophages.

In our previous studies, we showed that PCSC, a polysaccharide isolated from Poria cocos, activated macrophages to induce the translocation of NF-kappaB/Rel into nucleus and DNA binding to its cognate site in the promoter of iNOS gene [Int. Immunopharmacol. 3 (2003) 1353]. In the present study, we investigated the role of p38 kinase pathway and membrane receptors (CD14, Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), and CR3) in mediating nitric oxide (NO) production and NF-kappaB/Rel activation induced by PCSC. Treament of RAW 264.7 cells with PCSC resulted in significant activation of p38. The specific p38 inhibitor SB203580 abrogated the PCSC-induced NF-kappaB/Rel activation and NO generation, whereas the selective mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 (MEK-1) inhibitor PD98059 did not affect the NF-kappaB/Rel and NO induction. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with anti-CD14 Ab, anti-TLR4 Ab, and anti-CR3 Absignificantly blocked PCSC-induced NO production activation. In conclusion, we demonstrate that PCSC induces NF-kappaB/Rel activation and iNOS expression through the CD14, TLR4, and CR3 membrane receptor and p38 kinase which is critically involved in the signal transduction leading to NF-kappaB/Rel activation in murine macrophages.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Effect of culture media on the chemical and physical characteristics of polysaccharides isolated from Poria cocos mycelia.

Mycelia of a wild strain Poria cocos were cultured in two media differing in one constituent: bran extract or corn steep liquor, and are designated as wb and wc, respectively. Six polysaccharide fractions were isolated sequentially from the two mycelia by 0.9% NaCl (PCM1), hot water (PCM2), 0.5 M NaOH (PCM3-I and -II) and 88% formic acid (PCM4-I and -II). Their chemical and physical characteristics were determined by infrared spectroscopy (IR), gas chromatography (GC), 13C NMR, light scattering (LS) and viscometry. The results indicated that wb-, wc-PCM1, and PCM2 were heteropolysaccharides mainly composed of alpha-D-glucose, mannose, and galactose, whereas wb-PCM3-I and wc-PCM3-I were mainly (1-->3)-alpha-D-glucans, and wb- and wc-PCM3-II, PCM4-I and PCM4-II were (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans. Interestingly, (1-->3) alpha- and (1-->3)-beta-D-glucans co-existed in the 0.5 M NaOH fraction and were separated individually into the two fractions (PCM3-I and PCM3-II) after neutralizing with acetic acid. The polysaccharides from wc-PCM cultured in media containing corn steep liquor contained relatively more protein. The polysaccharide fractions also existed in conformations including random coil (as in PCM0 and PCM1) and expanded chain (as in PCM3), and differed molecular mass. In addition, two exo-polysaccharides isolated from the two culture media by methanol precipitation (wb- and wc-PCM0) also differed in their monosaccharide composition.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMed1998

3 beta-p-hydroxybenzoyldehydrotumulosic acid from Poria cocos, and its anti-inflammatory effect.

The structure of a new triterpene derivative isolated from Poria cocos was determined to be 3 beta-p-hydroxybenzoyldehydrotumulosic acid by spectral and chemical methods. 3 beta-p-hydroxybenzoyldehydrotumulosic acid showed marked inhibitory activity against 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)- and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced ear inflammation in mice. The 50% inhibitory doses of 3 beta-p-hydroxybenzoyldehydrotumulosic acid were 0.27 and 1.25 mg per ear on TPA- and AA-induced inflammation, respectively.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Abscisic acid induced somatic embryogenesis in immature embryo explants of coconut (Cocos nucifera L.).

Somatic embryogenesis in coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) is generally induced by gradual reduction of auxin concentration in the culture medium and incorporation of cytokinins. Although plant regeneration through somatic embryogenesis is possible, the protocol is yet to be perfected. In this study, nodular callus was obtained from 7-9 months old immature zygotic embryos of coconut on a medium containing 24 µM 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D). As a novel approach, abscisic acid (ABA) at a concentration of 2.5-7.5 µM was incorporated into the culture medium for 3-7 weeks to induce somatic embryogenesis. Alternately, callus was subcultured at 5 weekly intervals on media containing gradually reducing concentrations of 2,4-D to induce somatic embryogenesis. Incorporation of ABA enhanced the production of somatic embryos. Application of 2.5-5 µM ABA for 5 weeks was found to be effective. A large number of somatic embryos developed on media containing ABA formed normal shoots and complete plants as compared to those produced in the media with low levels of 2,4-D.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1996

Protein-bound selenium in the seeds of coco de mono (Lecythis ollaria).

High selenium concentrations (7-12 g/kg dry mass) were found in the seeds of the selenium-accumulator plant coco de mono (Lecythis ollaria). In order to obtain information on the protein-bound part of selenium in extracts of these seeds, dialysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) were used combined with neutron activation analysis. Extractions were carried out at pH 4.5 and 7.5. In both cases about 90% of the element was dissolved. Of the extracted selenium only 9% was shown to be firmly bound to proteins at pH 4.5 and 29% at pH 7.5. For the protein-bound selenium, concentrations of 0.7 g and 2.4 g per kg of seeds and 40 and 25 g per kg of extractable protein were determined at pH 4.5 and 7.5, respectively. By analyzing the protein fractions separated by SDS-PAGE the element was found to be present in extremely selenium-rich proteins with molecular masses below 20 kDa.

Chemical Fractionation↗

PubMed2003

Polysaccharide isolated from Poria cocos sclerotium induces NF-kappaB/Rel activation and iNOS expression in murine macrophages.

We show that PCSC, a polysaccharide isolated from the sclerotium of Poria cocos with 1% sodium carbonate, significantly induces nitric oxide (NO) production and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) transcription through the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB/Rel (NF-kappaB/Rel). In vivo administration of PCSC induced NO production by peritoneal macrophages of B6C3F1 mice. PCSC also dose-dependently induced the production of NO in isolated mouse peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7, a murine macrophage-like cell line. Moreover, iNOS protein and mRNA transcription were strongly induced by PCSC in RAW 264.7 cells. To further investigate the mechanism responsible for the induction of iNOS gene expression, we investigated the effect of PCSC on the activation of transcription factors including NF-kappaB/Rel and Oct, whose binding sites were located in the promoter of iNOS gene. Treatment of RAW 264.7 cells with PCSC produced strong induction of NF-kappaB/Rel-dependent reporter gene expression, whereas Oct-dependent gene expression was not affected by PCSC. DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB/Rel was significantly induced by PCSC, and this effect was mediated through the degradation of IkappaBalpha. In conclusion, we demonstrate that PCSC stimulates macrophages to express iNOS gene through the activation of NF-kappaB/Rel.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed2003

Biochemical and microstructural Ccharacteristics of insoluble and soluble dietary fiber prepared from mushroom sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium, Polyporus rhinocerus, and Wolfiporia cocos.

The proximate composition of sclerotia of Pleurotus tuber-regium, Polyporus rhinoceros, and Wolfiporia cocos, together with the yield, purity, monosaccharide profile, and microstructure of their insoluble dietary fiber (IDF) and soluble dietary fiber (SDF) fractions prepared from AOAC enzymatic-gravimetric methods were investigated and compared. All three sclerotia were typical carbohydrate rich sclerotia [ranging from 90.5 to 98.1% dry matter (DM)] with an exceptionally low amount of crude lipid content (ranging from 0.02 to 0.14% DM). Besides, all three sclerotia possessed substantial amounts of IDF (ranging from 77.4 to 94.6% DM) with notably high levels of nonstarch polysaccharides (NSP) (89.9-92.2% DM) in which glucose was the predominant sugar residue (90.6-97.2% of NSP DM). On the contrary, both the yield (only ranging from 1.45 to 2.50% DM) and the amount of NSP (ranging from 22.4 to 29.6% DM) of the three sclerotial SDF fractions were very low. Scanning electron micrographs showed fragments of interwoven hyphae and insoluble materials in the three sclerotial IDF fractions, but only an amorphous structure of soluble materials was observed in the SDF fractions. The potential use of these fiber preparations was discussed.

Carbohydrates↗

PubMed2002

Inhibition of tumor-promoting effects by poricoic acids G and H and other lanostane-type triterpenes and cytotoxic activity of poricoic acids A and G from Poria cocos.

The structures of two novel 3,4-seco-lanostane-type triterpenes isolated from the sclerotium of Poria cocos were established to be 16alpha-hydroxy-3,4-seco-lanosta-4(28),8,24-triene-3,21-dioic acid (1; poricoic acid G) and 16alpha-hydroxy-3,4-seco-24-methyllanosta-4(28),8,24(24(1))-triene-3,21-dioic acid (2; poricoic acid H) on the basis of spectroscopic methods. These two, and eight other known compounds isolated from the sclerotium, poricoic acid B (3), poricoic acid A (4), tumulosic acid (5), dehydrotumulosic acid (6), 3-epidehydrotumulosic acid (7), polyporenic acid C (8), 25-hydroxy-3-epidehydrotumulosic acid (9), and dehydroabietic acid methyl ester (10), showed potent inhibitory effects on Epstein-Barr virus early antigen (EBV-EA) activation induced by the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Evaluation of the cytotoxicity of compounds 1 and 4 against human cancer cell lines revealed that 1 was significantly cytotoxic to leukemia HL-60 cells [GI(50) (concentration that yields 50% growth) value 39.3 nM], although it showed only moderate cytotoxicity to the other cells. Compound 4 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity to all of the cancer cell lines tested.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗

PubMed1998

Two new constituents from the leaves of magnolia coco

A new amide, magnolamide (1), and a new lignan, magnolone (2), whose structures were determined on the basis of spectral analysis, were found in the leaves of Magnolia coco. Eleven known compounds (episesamin, sesamin, magnolol, fargesin, aschantin, epieudesmin, syringaresinol, syringaresinol-O-beta-D-glucopyroside, scoparone, oxoanolobine, and dicentrinone) were also isolated.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2003

Comparison of the effect of two excipients (karite nut butter and vaseline) on the efficacy of Cocos nucifera, Elaeis guineensis and Carapa procera oil-based repellents formulations against mosquitoes biting in Ivory Coast.

Repellents in the form of dermal pomades are recommended as a protection against awakening and bedtime mosquito bites. If synthesis repellents are available, they are nevertheless not common and the prices remain out of reach for the communities concerned. The people therefore have to resort more and more to traditional concoctions, some of which have been shown to be effective. After demonstrating that oil-based formulations (lotions, creams, pomades) of Cocos nucifera (coconut), Elaeis guineensis (oil palm) and Carapa procera (gobi) were effective against mosquitoes, it became necessary to study the impact of the two excipients used in their manufacture, on the effectiveness of the repellents. Experiments were carried with Anopheles gambiae and Aedes aegypti under lobaratory conditions and any other mosquitoes collected under field conditions in Ivory Coast. The laboratory results indicate that the average protection times obtained with formulations with karite nut butter as excipient (54.8 +/- 37.0 mn and 74.6 +/- 26.4 mn respectively on An. gambiae and Ae. aegypti) are higher than those recorded with vaseline as excipient (respectively 42.7 +/- 30.0 mn and 60.8 +/- 33.9 mn). On the other hand, under field conditions, the biting rate percentage reduction obtained with the products with karite nut butter and vaseline excipient were similar (respectively 29.8% and 35.9% for all mosquitoes collected and 45.7% and 47.4% against An. gambiae). Nevertheless, the use of karite nut butter on repellent products should be encouraged because its sale price is very lower (10 time less) than the vaseline's.

Administration, Cutaneous↗

PubMed1999

Inhibition of low density lipoprotein oxidation by tetrahydrofurofuran lignans from Forsythia suspensa and Magnolia coco.

Based on the inhibition of Cu(2+)-induced LDL oxidation as marker, the major antioxidants in the fruits of Forsythia suspensa and the stems of Magnolia coco were identified. Of these bioactive tetrahydrofurofuran lignans, pinoresinol, phillygenin, and syringaresinol were more potent than probucol. Sesamin and fargesin, which do not contain phenol groups, were found much less active.

Furans↗

PubMed1995

Anti-emetic principles of Poria cocos.

The triterpenes isolated from P. cocos and their derivatives were examined for anti-emetic activity. Some of these triterpenes inhibited emetic action induced by oral administration of copper sulfate pentahydrate to leopard frog. The triterpenes having an exomethylene group at C-24 showed anti-emetic activity to frogs.

Animals↗