Biochanin-A has antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, antioxidant, and protective effects on diabetic nephropathy via suppression of TGF-β1 and PAR-2 genes expression in kidney tissues of STZ-induced diabetic rats

Biochanin A restored the blood-brain barrier in cerebral ischemia-reperfusion in rats

OBJECTIVE

Blood-brain barrier is a protective layer that regulates the influx and efflux of biological materials for cerebral tissue. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Biochanin A on cerebral histopathology and blood-brain barrier immunohistochemically.

METHODS

A total of 24 rats were assigned to three groups: sham, ischemia-reperfusion, and ischemia-reperfusion+Biochanin A. Ischemia-reperfusion was performed by occluding the left carotid artery for 2/24 h. Notably, 20 mg/kg Biochanin A was administered to rats for 7 days after ischemia-reperfusion. Blood was collected for malondialdehyde and total oxidant/antioxidant status analysis. Cerebral tissues were processed for histopathology and further for immunohistochemical analysis.

RESULTS

Malondialdehyde content with total oxidant status value was significantly increased and total antioxidant status values were significantly decreased in the ischemia-reperfusion group compared with the sham group. Biochanin A treatment significantly improved scores in the ischemia-reperfusion+Biochanin A group. The normal histological appearance was recorded in the cerebral sections of the sham group. Degenerated neurons and vascular structures with disrupted integrity of the cerebral cortex were observed after ischemia-reperfusion. Biochanin A alleviated the histopathology in the cerebrum in the ischemia-reperfusion+Biochanin A group. Ischemia-reperfusion injury decreased the expression of blood-brain barrier in the ischemia-reperfusion group compared to the sham group. Administration of Biochanin A upregulated the blood-brain barrier immunoreactivity in the cerebrum by restoring blood-brain barrier.

CONCLUSION

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion caused an increase in oxidative stress and pathological lesions in the cerebrum. Biochanin A treatment restored the adverse effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury by restoring blood-brain barrier.

Harnessing Therapeutic Potentials of Biochanin A in Neurological Disorders: Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Overview

Biochanin A, an isoflavone flavonoid with estrogenic activity, is naturally found in red clover and other legumes. It possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, neuroprotective, and anticancer effects. In recent years, a growing body of pre-clinical research has focused on exploring the therapeutic potential of biochanin A in various neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, ischemic brain injury, gliomas, and neurotoxicity. This comprehensive review aims to shed light on the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to the neuroprotective role of biochanin A based on previous pre-clinical studies. Furthermore, it provides a detailed overview of the protective effects of biochanin A in diverse neurological disorders. The review also addresses the limitations associated with biochanin A administration and discusses different approaches employed to overcome these challenges. Finally, it highlights the future opportunities for translating biochanin A from pre-clinical research to clinical studies while also considering its commercial viability as a dietary supplement or a potential treatment for various diseases.

Harnessing the Power of Polyphenols: A New Frontier in Disease Prevention and Therapy

There are a wide variety of phytochemicals collectively known as polyphenols. Their structural diversity results in a broad range of characteristics and biological effects. Polyphenols can be found in a variety of foods and drinks, including fruits, cereals, tea, and coffee. Studies both in vitro and in vivo, as well as clinical trials, have shown that they possess potent antioxidant activities, numerous therapeutic effects, and health advantages. Dietary polyphenols have demonstrated the potential to prevent many health problems, including obesity, atherosclerosis, high blood sugar, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, and neurological diseases. In this paper, the protective effects of polyphenols and the mechanisms behind them are investigated in detail, citing the most recent available literature. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on the role of polyphenols in preventing and managing chronic diseases. The cited publications are derived from in vitro, in vivo, and human-based studies and clinical trials. A more complete understanding of these naturally occurring metabolites will pave the way for the development of novel polyphenol-rich diet and drug development programs. This, in turn, provides further evidence of their health benefits.

To Explore the Putative Molecular Targets of Diabetic Nephropathy and their Inhibition Utilizing Potential Phytocompounds

BACKGROUND

This review critically addresses the putative molecular targets of Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) and screens effective phytocompounds that can be therapeutically beneficial, and highlights their mechanistic modalities of action.

INTRODUCTION

DN has become one of the most prevalent complications of clinical hyperglycemia, with individual-specific variations in the disease spectrum that leads to fatal consequences. Diverse etiologies involving oxidative and nitrosative stress, activation of polyol pathway, inflammasome formation, Extracellular Matrix (ECM) modifications, fibrosis, and change in dynamics of podocyte functional and mesangial cell proliferation adds up to the clinical complexity of DN. Current synthetic therapeutics lacks target-specific approach, and is associated with the development of inevitable residual toxicity and drug resistance. Phytocompounds provides a vast diversity of novel compounds that can become an alternative therapeutic approach to combat the DN.

METHODS

Relevant publications were searched and screened from research databases like GOOGLE SCHOLAR, PUBMED and SCISEARCH. Out of 4895 publications, the most relevant publications were selected and included in this article.

RESULT

This study critically reviews over 60 most promising phytochemical and provides with their molecular targets, that can be of pharmacological significance in context to current treatment and concomitant research in DN.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights those most promising phytocompounds that have the potential of becoming new safer naturally-sourced therapeutic candidates and demands further attention at clinical level.

Mechanisms Behind the Pharmacological Application of Biochanin-A: A review

This review was aimed at summarizing the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the various pharmacological actions of biochanin-A. Many studies have been reported claiming its application in cancers, metabolic disorders, airway hyperresponsiveness, cardiac disorders, neurological disorders, etc. With regard to hormone-dependent cancers like breast, prostate, and other malignancies like pancreatic, colon, lung, osteosarcoma, glioma that has limited treatment options, biochanin-A revealed agreeable results in arresting cancer development. Biochanin-A has also shown therapeutic benefits when administered for neurological disorders, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia, and other chronic diseases/disorders. Isoflavones are considered phenomenal due to their high efficiency in modifying the physiological functions of the human body. Biochanin-A is one among the prominent isoflavones found in soy (glycine max), red clover (Trifolium pratense), and alfalfa sprouts, etc., with proven potency in modulating vital cellular mechanisms in various diseases. It has been popular for ages among menopausal women in controlling symptoms. In view of the multi-targeted functions of biochanin-A, it is essential to summarize it's mechanism of action in various disorders. The safety and efficacy of biochanin-A needs to be established in clinical trials involving human subjects. Biochanin-A might be able to modify various systems of the human body like the cardiovascular system, CNS, respiratory system, etc. It has shown a remarkable effect on hormonal cancers and other cancers. Many types of research on biochanin-A, particularly in breast, lung, colon, prostate, and pancreatic cancers, have shown a positive impact. Through modulating oxidative stress, SIRT-1 expression, PPAR gamma receptors, and other multiple mechanisms biochanin-A produces anti-diabetic action. The diverse molecular mechanistic pathways involved in the pharmacological ability of biochanin-A indicate that it is a very promising molecule and can play a major impact in modifying several physiological functions.

Potential Benefits of Antioxidant Phytochemicals in Type 2 Diabetes

The clinical relationship between diabetes and inflammation is well established. Evidence clearly indicates that disrupting oxidant-antioxidant equilibrium and elevated lipid peroxidation could be a potential mechanism for chronic kidney disease associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Under diabetic conditions, hyperglycemia, especially inflammation, and increased reactive oxygen species generation are bidirectionally associated. Inflammation, oxidative stress, and tissue damage are believed to play a role in the development of diabetes. Although the exact mechanism underlying oxidative stress and its impact on diabetes progression remains uncertain, the hyperglycemia-inflammation-oxidative stress interaction clearly plays a significant role in the onset and progression of vascular disease, kidney disease, hepatic injury, and pancreas damage and, therefore, holds promise as a therapeutic target. Evidence strongly indicates that the use of multiple antidiabetic medications fails to achieve the normal range for glycated hemoglobin targets, signifying treatment-resistant diabetes. Antioxidants with polyphenols are considered useful as adjuvant therapy for their potential anti-inflammatory effect and antioxidant activity. We aimed to analyze the current major points reported in preclinical, in vivo, and clinical studies of antioxidants in the prevention or treatment of inflammation in T2DM. Then, we will share our speculative vision for future diabetes clinical trials.

Biochanin A Ameliorates Nephropathy in High-Fat Diet/Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats: Effects on NF-kB/NLRP3 Axis, Pyroptosis, and Fibrosis

Nephropathy is the most prevalent microvascular disorder in diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress and inflammatory cascade provoked by the persistent hyperglycemic milieu play integral roles in the aggravation of renal injury and fibrosis. We explored the impact of biochanin A (BCA), an isoflavonoid, on the inflammatory response, nod-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome activation, oxidative stress, and fibrosis in diabetic kidneys. A high-fat-diet/streptozotocin (HFD/STZ)-induced experimental model of diabetic nephropathy (DN) was established in Sprague Dawley rats, and in vitro studies were performed in high-glucose-induced renal tubular epithelial (NRK-52E) cells. Persistent hyperglycemia in diabetic rats was manifested by perturbation of renal function, marked histological alterations, and oxidative and inflammatory renal damage. Therapeutic intervention of BCA mitigated histological changes, improved renal function and antioxidant capacity, and suppressed phosphorylation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and nuclear factor-kappa B inhibitor alpha (IκBα) proteins. Our in vitro data reveal excessive superoxide generation, apoptosis, and altered mitochondrial membrane potential in NRK-52E cells that were cultured in a high-glucose (HG) environment were subsided by BCA intervention. Meanwhile, the upregulated expressions of NLRP3 and its associated proteins, the pyroptosis-indicative protein gasdermin-D (GSDMD) in the kidneys, and HG-stimulated NRK-52E cells were significantly ameliorated by BCA treatment. Additionally, BCA blunted transforming growth factor (TGF)-β/Smad signaling and production of collagen I, collagen III, fibronectin, and alfa-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in diabetic kidneys. Our results indicate the plausible role of BCA in attenuating DN, presumably through modulation of the apoptotic cascade in renal tubular epithelial cells and the NF-κB/NLRP3 axis.

Neuroprotection impact of biochanin A against pentylenetetrazol-kindled mice: Targeting NLRP3 inflammasome/TXNIP pathway and autophagy modulation

Recurrent seizures characterize epilepsy, a complicated and multifaceted neurological disease. Several neurological alterations, such as cell death and the growth of gorse fibers, have been linked to epilepsy. The dentate gyrus of the hippocampus is particularly vulnerable to neuronal loss and abnormal neuroplastic changes in the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) kindling model. Biochanin A has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, according to previous evidence and its possible impact in epilepsy has never previously been claimed. The current work aimed to investigate biochanin A's anti-epileptic potential in PTZ-induced kindling model in mice. Chronic epilepsy was established in mice by giving PTZ (35 mg/kg, i.p) every other day for 21 days. Biochanin A (20 mg/kg) was given daily till the end of the experiment. Biochanin A pretreatment significantly reduced the severity of epileptogenesis by 51.7% and downregulated the histological changes in the CA3 region of the hippocampus by 42% along with displaying antioxidant/anti-inflammatory efficacy through upregulated hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1) and, erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) levels in the brain by 1.9-fold and 2-fold respectively, parallel to reduction of malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and L-glutamate/IL-1β/TXNIB/NLRP3 axis. Moreover, biochanin A suppressed neuronal damage by reducing the astrocytes' activation and significantly attenuated the PTZ-induced increase in LC3 levels by 55.5%. Furthermore, molecular docking findings revealed that BIOCHANIN A has a higher affinity for phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3k), threonine kinase2 (AKT2), and mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) indicating the neuroprotective and anti-epileptic characteristics of biochanin A in the brain tissue of PTZ-kindled mice.

Date palm seed extract and herbal mixture mitigate gentamicin-induced renal injury in mice: Role of Protease-activated receptors (PARs) and Retinoid X receptor alpha (RXR-α)

Introduction: Gentamicin (Gen) causes renal toxicity by inhibiting protein synthesis in kidney cells, causing proximal tubule cell necrosis and renal failure. Herein, we examined the nephroprotective effect of date palm seed extract (DPSE) and one herbal mixture (HM; composed of Tribulus terrestris, Aerva lanata, Andrographis paniculata, and Raphanus sativus) against Gen-induced renal toxicity in mice with special reference to the possible role of retinoid X receptor alpha (RXR-α) and protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) in this effect. Methods: Thirty-two male Balb/c mice divided randomly into four groups were either treated with saline, Gen (225 mg/kg/i.p., daily from day 3 to day 10), Gen (225 mg/kg i.p.) daily from day 3 to day 10 and DPSE (100 mg/kg/p.o.) daily for 10 days, or Gen (225 mg/kg i.p.) daily from day 3 to day 10 and HM (100 mg/kg/p.o., daily for 10 days). Mice were sacrificed 24 hours after the last dose administration, and kidney tissues were dissected out, weighed, and subjected to histological, immunofluorescence, and biochemical assays. Results: The Gen-induced renal toxicity group demonstrated a significant decrease in RXR-α and a significant increase in PAR-2 protein expression. Treatment with DPSE or HM significantly improved Gen-induced effects on serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets, RXR-α extracellular matrix deposition, and PAR-2. Conclusion: The present study stated the nephroprotective effects of DPSE and HM and revealed, for the first time, the involvement of retinoid receptors and PAR-2 in Gen-induced renal toxicity as well as in the protective effects of the two tested natural products.

Biochanin-A: A Bioactive Natural Product with Versatile Therapeutic Perspectives

BACKGROUND

Biochanin-A (5,7 dihydroxy 4 methoxy isoflavone) is a phytochemical phytoestrogen that is highly effective against various diseases. Biochanin-A is a nutritional and dietary isoflavonoid naturally present in red clover, chickpea, soybeans and other herbs. Biochanin- A possesses numerous biological activities.

OBJECTIVE

The study focused on collective data of therapeutic activities of Biochanin-A.

METHODS

According to the literature, biochanin-A revealed a range of activities starting from chemoprevention, by hindering cell growth, activation of tumor cell death, hampering metastasis, angiogenic action, cell cycle regulation, neuroprotection, by controlling microglial activation, balancing antioxidants, elevating the neurochemicals, suppressing BACE-1, NADPH oxidase hindrance to inflammation, by mitigating the MAPK and NF- κB, discharge of inflammatory markers, upregulating the PPAR-γ, improving the function of heme oxygenase-1, erythroid 2 nuclear factors, detoxifying the oxygen radicals and stimulating the superoxide dismutase action, and controlling its production of transcription factors. Against pathogens, biochanin-A acts by dephosphorylating tyrosine kinase proteins, obstructing gram-negative bacteria, suppressing the development of cytokines from viruses, and improving the action of a neuraminidase cleavage of caspase-3, and acts as an efflux pump inhibitor. In metabolic disorders, biochanin-A acts by encouraging transcriptional initiation and inhibition, activating estrogen receptors, and increasing the activity of differentiation, autophagy, inflammation, and blood glucose metabolism.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, biochanin-A could be used as a therapeutic drug for various pathological conditions and treatments in human beings.