Journal: Planta medica

Article Title: Total bacterial load within Echinacea purpurea , determined using a new PCR-based quantification method, is correlated with LPS levels and in vitro macrophage activity

doi: 10.1055/s-0032-1328023

Figure Lengend Snippet: Correlations between bacterial load, THP-1 monocyte stimulatory activity and LPS levels in extracts from Echinacea. E. purpurea root and herb (aerial) plant parts were obtained as bulk raw material from six commercial growers (11 samples) and an individual plant cultivated at the University of Mississippi (herb and root). Plant material was extracted with 4% SDS and crude extracts assessed for activity in THP-1 monocytes transfected with a NF-κB luciferase reporter plasmid (EC50 values of extracts are expressed in μg of plant material/mL, ranging between 3 and 1,940). The LPS content of each extract, expressed as EU/g of dried plant material (levels ranged between 10 and 121,160), was determined using the Chromo-LAL assay with Glucashield® (1→3)-β-D-Glucan Inhibiting Buffer. Total bacterial load in dried plant samples was estimated as described in Fig. 1. Relationships are shown as pairwise linear regressions between macrophage stimulatory extract activity and total bacterial load of plant material (a), extract LPS levels and total bacterial load of plant material (b), and macrophage stimulatory activity and LPS levels in plant extracts (c). Regression analyses were performed on log10 transformed data using Microsoft Excel 2007.

Article Snippet: Amount of LPS (bacterial endotoxin) in extracts was determined using a LAL assay (Chromo-LAL test kit with Glucashield ® (1→3)-β-D-Glucan Inhibiting Buffer) from Associates of Cape Cod Inc. (East Falmouth, MA).

Techniques: Activity Assay, Raw Material, Transfection, Luciferase, Plasmid Preparation, LAL Assay, Transformation Assay

Journal: Scientific Reports

Article Title: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus attenuates uremic toxins in patients with nondialysis chronic kidney disease through the anti-inflammatory molecules

doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12768-z

Figure Lengend Snippet: The characteristics of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) at before and after 4 week of L. rhamnosus L34 (L34) administration, as indicated by hemoglobin ( A ), serum creatinine ( B ), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ( C ), C-reactive protein (CRP) ( D ), white blood cell count (WBC) ( E ), serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) ( F – H ), gut-derived uremic toxins (free indoxyl sulfate, total indoxyl sulfate, and p-cresol) ( I - K ), endotoxemia ( L ), serum (1→3)-beta- d -glucan (BG) ( M ), neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), as determined by nuclear morphology with representative fluorescent pictures ( N , O ), cell-free DNA ( P ), citrullinated histone 3 (CitH3) ( Q ), the selected graph presentation of fecal bacterial abundance (phylum and genus levels) from fecal microbiome analysis ( R - X ), and fecal fungal abundance (expressing in cycle threshold or Ct) ( Y ), are demonstrated (n = 10/group). *, p < 0.05.

Article Snippet: Serum beta- d -glucan was measured by the beta- d -glucan ELISA kit (Assay Genie, Ireland) with the range from 15.6 to 1,000 pg/mL and the sensitivity at 9.4 pg/mL.

Techniques: Filtration, Cell Counting, Derivative Assay, Expressing

Journal: Scientific Reports

Article Title: Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus attenuates uremic toxins in patients with nondialysis chronic kidney disease through the anti-inflammatory molecules

doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-12768-z

Figure Lengend Snippet: The characteristics of participants after the randomized control trial and the characteristics of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) after 4 week administration of L. rhamnosus L34 (L34) or L. rhamnosus GG (LGG) or placebo control (placebo), as indicated by hemoglobin, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCI) ( A - E ), serum cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-10) ( F – H ), gut-derived uremic toxins (free indoxyl sulfate, total indoxyl sulfate, and p-cresol) ( I - K ), endotoxemia ( L ), serum (1→3)-beta-D-glucan (BG) ( M ), cell-free DNA ( N ), and citrullinated histone 3 (CitH3) (O) are demonstrated (n = 25/group). *, p < 0.05 vs. placebo.

Article Snippet: Serum beta- d -glucan was measured by the beta- d -glucan ELISA kit (Assay Genie, Ireland) with the range from 15.6 to 1,000 pg/mL and the sensitivity at 9.4 pg/mL.

Techniques: Control, Filtration, Derivative Assay