Inclusion complexes of cysteinyl β-cyclodextrin with baicalein restore collagen synthesis in fibroblast cells following ultraviolet exposure

Beneficial effects of apigenin on ovarian histological changes and angiogenesis gene expression in rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common heterogeneous reproductive disorder and can affect approximately 10% of women of reproductive age. Abnormal vasculogenesis is a common event in polycystic ovary syndrome. This study planned to evaluate the antiangiogenic role of apigenin in ovarian histology, gene expression, and vascular density and stability in an experimental model of PCOS. Twenty-eight rats weighing 180-250 g were divided into 4 groups. Seven rats in the control group remain intact and without treatment. In 21 rats, an ovary polycystic model with a single injection of estradiol valerate was established. The PCOS rats were treated with vehicle, apigenin 10, or apigenin 20 mg/kg in three different PCOS groups for 14 days. At the end, a histological assessment of the ovaries was performed to determine collagen density and follicle counting. The endothelial or periendothelial cells were determined by immunohistochemical assay, and angiogenesis gene expression was determined using molecular assessments. Apigenin treatment partially restored follicular development, decreased the number of cysts, and increased corpora lutea in PCOS rats. Also, apigenin decreased the collagen density in the polycystic ovaries. However, apigenin administration mitigated ovarian angiogenesis by a reduction in endothelial and periendothelial cell numbers. A decrease in VEGF and VEGF R2 (kinase insert domain receptor, KDR) expressions was found after the treatment of rats with apigenin. Conclusively, our data revealed that apigenin improves ovarian histological alterations and follicular dynamics in polycystic ovary rats. The effect is partially mediated by suppression of the VEGF signaling system and reduction in endothelial and periendothelial cell proliferation.

Nanotechnology-based Drug Delivery Systems as Potential for Skin Application: A Review

Administration of substances through the skin represents a promising alternative, in relation to other drug administration routes, due to its large body surface area, in order to offer ideal and multiple sites for drug administration. In addition, the administration of drugs through the skin avoids the first-pass metabolism, allowing an increase in the bioavailability of drugs, as well as reducing their side effects. However, the stratum corneum (SC) comprises the main barrier of protection against external agents, mainly due to its structure, composition and physicochemical properties, becoming the main limitation for the administration of substances through the skin. In view of the above, pharmaceutical technology has allowed the development of multiple drug delivery systems (DDS), which include liquid crystals (LC), cubosomes, liposomes, polymeric nanoparticles (PNP), nanoemulsions (NE), as well as cyclodextrins (CD) and dendrimers (DND). It appears that the DDS circumvents the problems of drug absorption through the SC layer of the skin, ensuring the release of the drug, as well as optimizing the therapeutic effect locally. This review aims to highlight the DDS that include LC, cubosomes, lipid systems, PNP, as well as CD and DND, to optimize topical skin therapies.

Baicalein retards proliferation and collagen deposition by activating p38MAPK-JNK via microRNA-29

Immoderate proliferation and deposition of collagen generally result in hypertrophic scars and even keloids. microRNA-29 (miR-29) has been proved as a crucial regulator in these pathological processes. Although mounting evidence have proved baicalein (BAI) impairs scar formation, it is still incompletely understood whether miR-29 participated in the underlying mechanism. In the present study, NIH-3T3 cells were stimulated with BAI, and then cell viability was analyzed by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and Western blot. We further analyzed total soluble collagen, collagen 1, and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) in NIH-3T3 cells, which were exposed to transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)/BAI, using a Sircol assay kit, quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blot, respectively. Besides, the miR-29 inhibitor was transduced and its transfection efficiency was verified by qRT-PCR. Finally, the phosphorylated p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) were examined by Western blot. BAI effectively retarded NIH-3T3 proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Besides, TGF-β1-induced deposition of total soluble collagen and synthesis of collagen 1 and α-SMA were repressed by BAI at mRNA and protein levels. However, miR-29 inhibitor reversed the effects of BAI. Remarkably, BAI promoted phosphorylated expression of p38MAPK and JNK while miR-29 inhibitor reversed its effects on the phosphorylated expression of p38MAPK and JNK. BAI effectively weakened the cell viability and repressed TGF-β1-induced total soluble collagen as well as collagen 1 and α-SMA by upregulating miR-29. Mechanically, BAI activates the p38MAPK/JNK pathway by promoting miR-29.