β-Caryophyllene may attenuate hyperoxaluria-induced kidney dysfunction in rats by regulating stress marker KIM-1/MCP-1 and NF-κB signaling pathway

β-Caryophyllene promotes the survival of random skin flaps by upregulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Flap transplantation is a widely used plastic repair technique in surgical procedures, aimed at addressing skin defects resulting from diverse wounds and diseases. However, due to the insufficient blood supply after flap surgery, the occurrence of ischemia-reperfusion injury, and an excessive sterile inflammatory response, flaps frequently develop complications (e.g., partial or complete ischemic necrosis). These complications have adverse effects on wound healing and repair. β-Caryophyllene (BCP) is a bicyclic sesquiterpene that is widely present in plants. It mitigates oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, demonstrates neuroprotective and analgesic properties, and serves a protective function in organs or tissues subjected to ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, no study has confirmed whether BCP can be used in the field of flap transplantation to improve the flap survival rate.

METHODS

To assess the impact of BCP on random flap survival, we constructed a modified McFarlane random flap model on the rat. After 7 consecutive days of gavage with different doses of BCP, we measured the survival area ratio, angiogenesis, blood perfusion, tissue inflammation level, apoptosis-related protein levels, and the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway expression of the random flap.

RESULTS

BCP treatment increased the survival area of the flap in a dose-dependent manner after random flap transplantation in rats. BCP mainly promoted the formation of tissue blood vessels, improved flap blood perfusion, limited the local inflammatory response, and reduced apoptosis. In addition, we demonstrated that BCP works primarily by promoting the PI3K/AKT signaling expression while enhancing the phosphorylation of AKT. Administration of wortmannin, a selective inhibitor of PI3K, eliminated the effects of BCP.

CONCLUSION

BCP can promote the survival of random flaps by upregulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, increasing tissue blood perfusion, and limiting the inflammatory response and apoptosis.

A New Perspective in the Treatment of Ischemic Stroke: Ferroptosis

Ischemic stroke is a common neurological disease. Currently, there are no Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs that can maximize the improvement in ischemic stroke-induced nerve damage. Hence, treating ischemic stroke remains a clinical challenge. Ferroptosis has been increasingly studied in recent years, and it is closely related to the pathophysiological process of ischemic stroke. Iron overload, reactive oxygen species accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and glutamate accumulation associated with ferroptosis are all present in ischemic stroke. This article focuses on describing the relationship between ferroptosis and ischemic stroke and summarizes the relevant substances that ameliorate ischemic stroke-induced neurological damage by inhibiting ferroptosis. Finally, the problems in the treatment of ischemic stroke targeting ferroptosis are discussed, hoping to provide a new direction for its treatment.

Ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress in ischemic stroke

Ferroptosis is a form of non-apoptotic programmed cell death, and its mechanisms mainly involve the accumulation of lipid peroxides, imbalance in the amino acid antioxidant system, and disordered iron metabolism. The primary organelle responsible for coordinating external challenges and internal cell demands is the endoplasmic reticulum, and the progression of inflammatory diseases can trigger endoplasmic reticulum stress. Evidence has suggested that ferroptosis may share pathways or interact with endoplasmic reticulum stress in many diseases and plays a role in cell survival. Ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress may occur after ischemic stroke. However, there are few reports on the interactions of ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress with ischemic stroke. This review summarized the recent research on the relationships between ferroptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress and ischemic stroke, aiming to provide a reference for developing treatments for ischemic stroke.

Cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2) agonists and L-arginine ameliorate diabetic nephropathy in rats by suppressing inflammation and fibrosis through NF-κβ pathway

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a condition that leads to end-stage chronic kidney disease characterized by inflammation and a deficiency of nitric oxide (NO). Cannabinoid receptor (CB2) activation by specific agonist reduces nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κβ) expression. Beta caryophyllene (BCP), a natural CB2 receptor activator, protects kidney function in several diseases. L-Arginine (LA) modulates several physiological processes by donating nitric oxide (NO). Hence, we tested a novel BCP-LA combination to treat DN and investigated its molecular mechanisms. BCP, LA, and combinations of both were evaluated in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophage inflammation as well as in streptozotocin (55 mg/kg)-induced diabetes in SD rats. Diabetic rats were administered 200 mg/kg of BCP, 100 mg/kg of LA, and combination of both orally for 28 days. Biochemical markers and inflammatory cytokines were assessed in plasma; also, kidney tissue was examined for renal oxidative stress injury, NF-κβ expression, and histology. After 28 days of treatment, BCP and LA combination significantly lowered plasma glucose levels than the disease control group. BCP and LA also normalized renal markers and oxidative stress of diabetic rats. Plasma and RAW macrophage cell lines showed reduced levels of IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.001). Histopathological evaluations revealed that BCP and LA together decreased renal fibrosis and collagen deposition also improved nephrotic indices. Meanwhile, the effect of BCP and LA together significantly reduced the NF-κβ (P < 0.01) against diabetic rats. These results indicate that the innovative regimen BCP with LA may be a therapeutic treatment for DN, as it protects kidney tissue from diabetes via NF-κβ inhibition.

Antioxidative and Anti-Inflammatory Protective Effects of β-Caryophyllene against Amikacin-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rat by Regulating the Nrf2/AMPK/AKT and NF-κB/TGF-β/KIM-1 Molecular Pathways

Herein, the molecular pathogenic pathways implicated in renal injury triggered by amikacin (AK), together with the alleviating actions of β-caryophyllene (BCP), were investigated. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 32) were disseminated to the four following groups (n = 8/group): normal group, positive control animals (PC) that received AK intraperitoneal injections for 14 days (500 mg/kg/day), and rats that received AK simultaneously with small (200 mg/kg/day) and high doses (400 mg/kg/day) of BCP. The PC renal tissues revealed abnormal histology alongside increased apoptosis and significantly elevated serum creatinine and urea with marked proteinuria and oliguria relative to the normal rats. Moreover, renal tissues from the PC animals also showed substantial upregulations in NF-κB/TGF-β/KIM-1, whilst Nrf2/AMPK/AKT/PCNA declined, at the gene and protein levels in comparison to the normal rats. Additionally, the levels of markers of oxidative stress (MDA/H₂O₂/protein adducts) and inflammation (TNF-α/IL-1β/IL-6/IL-18/TLR/HSP25) were substantially higher in the PC renal specimens, whereas the antioxidants (GSH/GPx/SOD1/CAT) and interleukin-10 decreased, relative to the NC group. Both BCP protocols improved the biochemical markers of renal functions, alleviated renal histopathology and apoptosis, and decreased NF-κB/TGF-β/KIM-1 alongside the concentrations of oxidative stress and proinflammatory markers, whilst promoting Nrf2/AMPK/AKT/IL-10/PCNA and the targeted antioxidants. However, the improving effects in the high-dose regimen were markedly stronger than those observed in animals treated with low dose of BCP. In conclusion, the present report is the first to connect NF-κB/TGF-β/KIM-1 proinflammatory and Nrf2/AMPK/AKT antioxidative stress pathways with the pathogenesis of AK-induced nephrotoxicity. Additionally, the current report is the first to disclose alleviating activities for BCP against AK-triggered nephrotoxicity by modulating multiple antioxidative stress with anti-inflammatory molecular pathways.

Potential protective effect of beta-caryophyllene against cadmium chloride-induced damage to the male reproductive system in mouse

Cadmium is a metal that can affect the male reproductive process, possibly leading to infertility. In contrast, beta-caryophyllene (BC) is a sesquiterpene that has shown antigenotoxic, anticancer, and antioxidant properties. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to determine the protective effect of BC against the deleterious effects of cadmium chloride (CC) on various mouse testicular and sperm parameters. We tested three doses of BC (20, 200, and 400 mg/kg) given before and during exposure to 3 mg/kg CC (six days after a single administration). Our results show significant alleviation of the damage induced by CC after the three doses of BC. Regarding the sperm concentration and morphology, the protection with the high dose was complete, and regarding sperm mobility and viability, the protection was more than 74%. In the comet assay, the highest dose showed a reduction of 92.5% in the damage induced by CC, and regarding the number of micronuclei in the spermatids, the reduction was 83.3%. In the oxidative evaluation, regarding sperm lipoperoxidation, the improvement was complete with the high dose, and in the ABTS^.+ test, the improvement in the response to the BC high dose was 26.3%. Regarding testicular lipoperoxidation and protein oxidation, the protective effects of the high BC dose were 87.6% and 89.9%, respectively. We also found that BC protected against the histological and morphometric alterations induced by CC. Therefore, our study clearly demonstrates the beneficial, chemopreventive effect of BC against the mouse sperm and testicular alterations induced by CC.

β-Caryophyllene Ameliorates Cyclophosphamide Induced Cardiac Injury: The Association of TLR4/NFκB and Nrf2/HO1/NQO1 Pathways

Background: β-caryophyllene (BCP), a natural sesquiterpene, is extensively present in the essential oils of several plants. Cyclophosphamide (CYC) is an anticancer drug. However, its clinical usage is inadequate due to its cardiotoxicity. The aim of this study was to study the effects of BCP on cardiac injury induced by CYC exposure, and to identify the underlying mechanism of action. Methods: Five groups of Wistar rats were allocated. Group I (Normal), II (BCP), and III (CYC) acted as controls. Group IV, V (CYC + BCP) received BCP in two doses (100 and 200 mg/kg, orally, respectively) for 14 days after CYC challenge. CYC groups received 200 mg/kg, i.p. of the drug once on the first day of experiments. Results: CYC group displayed numerous ECG and histological irregularities and cardiac markers elevation. CYC induced lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress intensification, as well as inflammatory and apoptotic markers escalation. Treatment with BCP resulted in modified ECG traces and histological sections. BCP mitigated cardiac markers and lipid peroxidation whereas intensified antioxidant capacity. BCP activated Nrf2, with subsequent HO1 and NQO1 amplification. BCP diminished TLR4/NFκB pathway, which consequently lessened the inflammatory and apoptosis responses. Conclusion: BCP administration was associated with activated Nrf2/HO1/NQO1 and inhibited TLR4/NFκB pathways with subsequent enhanced anti-oxidative capacity and diminished inflammatory and apoptosis responses.

Protective antioxidative and anti-inflammatory actions of β-caryophyllene against sulfasalazine-induced nephrotoxicity in rat

The pathogenesis of sulfasalazine (SFZ)-induced nephrotoxicity is unclear. Moreover, there are no reports on the protective effects of β-caryophyllene (BCP) against SFZ-induced renal injury. Hence, in this study, we measured several oxidative stress and inflammatory regulatory molecules alongside the effects of BCP in SFZ-intoxicated rats. Male rats ( n = 48) were distributed to six equal groups as follows: negative control (NC), normal rats treated with low (N-LD; 200 mg/kg/day) and high (N-HD; 400 mg/kg/day) BCP doses, and animals treated with SFZ individually (PC; 600 mg/kg/day) or combined with BCP low (P-LD) and high (P-HD) doses. All drugs were administrated for 14 consecutive days. The NC, N-LD, and N-HD groups showed comparable renal histology and biochemistry. In contrast, abnormal histology, and increased creatinine and urea alongside oliguria and proteinuria were detected in the PC group. Renal specimens from the PC group revealed increased levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β with kidney injury molecule (KIM)-1, while the levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and protein kinase B (AKT) declined, relative to controls. The PC renal tissue also had markedly higher levels of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor [TNF]-α/interleukin [IL]-1β/IL-6) and pro-oxidants (malondialdehyde [MDA]/H2O2/protein carbonyls), whereas those of antioxidants (glutathione [GSH]/glutathione peroxidase [GPx]/superoxide dismutase-1 [SOD1]/catalase [CAT]) and IL-10 decreased and were associated with marked apoptosis. Both BCP regimens ameliorated renal functions and histology, and reduced NF-κB, TGF-β, and KIM-1 levels in addition to those of oxidative stress and inflammation markers. Both protocols also augmented Nrf2, AMPK, AKT, antioxidants, and IL-10. However, P-HD showed better alleviating effects than the N-HD group. In conclusion, this study is the first to link NF-κB, TGF-β, Nrf2, AMPK, and AKT with SFZ-induced nephrotoxicity. In addition, this is the first report to reveal antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects for BCP against SFZ-associated nephropathy.