Planta medica
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Equitable sharing of the benefits of biodiversity is one of the main objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Yet understanding of the CBD rules and principles on access and benefit sharing, as well as how they apply to biodiversity-based research and development remains limited. ⋯ These rules--known as the Nagoya Protocol--provide clarification on several important issues, including the applicability of access and benefit sharing to research on biochemical compounds and processes. As a result, the Nagoya Protocol constitutes an important opportunity for institutions, organizations, and companies committed to ethical practices regarding biodiversity.
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In this study, we provide new evidence that orientin from bamboo leaves (Phyllostachys nigra) protect H9c2 cardiomyocytes against ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. A previous work has identified that orientin could protect myocardium against ischemia/reperfusion injury. Mitochondria are both critical determinants of cardioprotection and crucial targets of cardioprotective signaling. ⋯ Further investigation of cellular mechanisms revealed that these effects were associated with inhibition of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, repolarization of mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψ(m)), suppression of mitochondrial cytochrome C release, enhancement of the Bcl-2 level, and inhibition of Bax and Smac/DIABLO levels. Furthermore, these beneficial effects of orientin were blocked by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor wortmannin, and orientin could enhance Akt phosphorylation. In summary, we demonstrate that orientin protects H9c2 cardiomytocytes against I/R-induced apoptosis by modulating the mPTP opening, and this role of orientin may involve the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway.