Gene Expression Analysis of Natural Oleamide Activities via Cannabinoid and Choline Acetyltransferase Detection
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Oleamide, a naturally occurring compound that stimulates acetylcholine synthesis via the CB1 receptor, is vital for human physiology. This research aims to investigate the cannabinoid-like activity of oleamide-containing plants, focusing on their mechanism of action via the endocannabinoid-like receptor system. We quantified oleamide levels and evaluated the bioactivity, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity of six plant extracts: the leaves of four Dillenia species (D. obovata, D. ovata, D. indica, and D. pentagyna), and the seeds of Cucurbita moschata and Cannabis sativa spp. sativa. Oleamide was detected in all extracts (0.06 to 0.11 mg/g). While no cytotoxicity was observed, the four Dillenia species extracts induced significant DNA damage in PBMCs and HepG2 cells (p< 0.01). The D. indica extract also damaged DNA in THLE-3 cells. Furthermore, all six extracts stimulated the expression of CB1 and ChAT genes in THLE-3 cells at various concentrations. Specifically, D. obovata increased CB1 gene expression by 318.2%–557.8% (at 1.7 and 0.017 mg/mL), while Cucurbita moschata increased ChAT gene expression by 236.3% at 0.263 mg/mL. These results indicate that the oleamide content in these extracts effectively promotes acetylcholine synthesis by inducing both the CB1 receptor and the ChAT enzyme in THLE-3 cells, suggesting potential applications in human health.
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