Outbreak of Sudden Death with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Among Children Associated with Exposure to Lychee Orchards in Northern Bangladesh, 2012

Islam, Md. Saiful; Sharif, Ahmad Raihan; Sazzad, Hossain M.S.; Khan, Ashfaq; Hasan, M K; Akter, Shirina; Rahman, Mahmudur; Luby, Stephen P.; Heffelfinger, James D.; Gurley, Emily S.

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.16-0856

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…In traditional Chinese medicine, Longan and Litchi are fruits with health beneficial functions, but they are also best known for their ‘hot’ properties when overdosed, i.e., overingestion of Longan and Litchi is known to promote inflammatory-type responses. In recent years, there are increasing reports in Southeast Asia regions of Litchi-associated acute encephalitis syndrome among children (42–45). However, the mechanism for some of their beneficial as well as their pro-inflammatory effects is poorly understood at present.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ellagic acid, a plant phenolic compound, activates cyclooxygenase‑mediated prostaglandin production

2019

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In recent years, ellagic acid (EA), a naturally-occurring phenolic compound richly contained in some of the human food sources such as Longan and Litchi , was reported to have a number of biological effects. Based on our earlier 3D-QSAR/CoMFA models for cyclooxygenase (COX) I and II, we hypothesize that EA may have the potential to modulate the catalytic activity of COX enzymes, and this hypothesis is examined in the present study. The results from both in vitro and in vivo experiments show that EA is an activator of COX enzyme-catalyzed production of prostaglandin E2, a representative prostaglandin tested. Mechanistically, EA can activate the peroxidase active site of COX enzymes by serving as a co-substrate, presumably for the reduction of protoporphorin IX with Fe IV inside. The effect of EA is abrogated by the co-presence of galangin, which is known to bind to COX's peroxidase active site and thereby blocks the effect of the reducing co-substrates. In view of the known physiological functions of COX enzymes in the body, it is suggested that some of the pharmacological and/or toxicological effects of EA may result from an increased production of certain prostaglandins and their related derivatives in the body.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ellagic acid, a plant phenolic compound, activates cyclooxygenase‑mediated prostaglandin production

2019

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“…It is grown extensively in China and South East Asia, as well as in Australia, Florida (United States of America (U.S.A.)), southern Europe, and southern Africa [ 8 , 9 ]. In traditional Chinese medicine, Longan is widely known as a fruit with “hot” properties (i.e., it has a tendency to promote inflammatory and certain other responses) [ 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Studies have shown that Longan contains high levels of ethyl gallate [ 14 , 15 ] and other phenolic compounds [ 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Stimulation of the Production of Prostaglandin E2 by Ethyl Gallate, a Natural Phenolic Compound Richly Contained in Longan

et al. 2018

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Ethyl gallate is a phenolic compound richly contained in Longan. In traditional Chinese medicine, Longan is widely known as a fruit with “hot” properties, with a tendency to promote inflammatory and certain other responses. The mechanism for its proinflammatory as well as health beneficial effects is poorly understood. Based on our earlier observation that certain natural phenolic compounds can serve as reducing cosubstrates for cyclooxygenases (COXs), we sought to test a hypothesis that ethyl gallate may activate the catalytic activity of the COX enzymes. Results from studies using cultured cells and animals show that ethyl gallate can activate the production of prostaglandin E2, a representative prostaglandin tested in this study. Computational analysis indicates that ethyl gallate can activate the peroxidase active sites of COX-1 and COX-2 by serving as a reducing cosubstrate. The effect of ethyl gallate is abrogated by galangin, which is known to bind to the same peroxidase active sites of COX-1 and COX-2 as a competitive inhibitor. The findings of this study offer support for a novel hypothesis that the proinflammatory as well as health beneficial effects of Longan may be partly attributable to the activation of COX-1 and COX-2 by ethyl gallate.

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“…A large body of literature indicates that foliar application of CHT increases vegetative growth, yield and induces synthesis of secondary metabolites, such as polyphenolics, lignin, flavonoids, and phytoalexins in plants [19][20][21][22][23]. It also promotes expression of genes involved in hormone metabolism, photosynthesis, the plant immune system, heat-shock proteins, systemic acquired resistance, and reprogramming of protein metabolism with an increment of storage proteins [24,25]. However, scant information is available on the effects of CHT on yield and the beneficial biochemical contents in litchi fruits.…”

Section: Fundingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chitosan biopolymer improves the fruit quality of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

et al. 2019

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Chitosan (CHT) is a natural compound that has been used to control postharvest pathogenic diseases due to its capability of eliciting natural defense responses in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of foliar CHT application on yield and quality of the litchi fruit. Chitosan was applied by spraying on to fruit and foliage just after fruit set four times at 7-day intervals with four varying doses viz. 100, 250, 500, and 1,000 µg L−1 and a control (0 µg L−1). Although the application of CHT had no significant effect on the size of the fruits (length and width), the total contents of phenolics, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid and the antioxidant activity of litchi fruit arils were significantly increased in CHT-treated fruit compared with the untreated control. The highest phenolic, flavonoid, and ascorbic acid contents were 334 µg gallic acid g−1, 881 μg quercetin g−1, and 178 µg g−1, respectively, in fruits treated with 500 µg L−1 CHT. However, the highest antioxidant activity (622 μg butylated hydroxytoluene g−1) was recorded in 250 µg L−1 CHT-treated fruits. Our findings revealed that the application of low doses of CHT in a litchi orchard might improve fruit quality by increasing the content of antioxidants and antioxidant activities.

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Outbreak of Sudden Death with Acute Encephalitis Syndrome Among Children Associated with Exposure to Lychee Orchards in Northern Bangladesh, 2012

Cited by 16 publications

References 30 publications

Ellagic acid, a plant phenolic compound, activates cyclooxygenase‑mediated prostaglandin production

Ellagic acid, a plant phenolic compound, activates cyclooxygenase‑mediated prostaglandin production

Stimulation of the Production of Prostaglandin E2 by Ethyl Gallate, a Natural Phenolic Compound Richly Contained in Longan

Chitosan biopolymer improves the fruit quality of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

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