Picrorhiza kurroa Inhibits Experimental Arthritis Through Inhibition of Pro-inflammatory Cytokines, Angiogenesis and MMPs

Chemometric profiling and anti-arthritic activity of aerial parts of Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug. DC

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Glinus oppositifolius (L.) Aug. DC. belongs to the family Molluginaceae, an annual prostrate herb traditionally used to treat inflammations, arthritis, malarial, wounds, fevers, diarrhoea, cancer, stomach discomfort, jaundice, and intestinal parasites. However, the anti-arthritic activity of the aerial part has still not been reported.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To investigate the antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity of G. oppositifolius in Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) induced rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The dried aerial parts of this plant material were defatted with n-hexane and extracted by methanol using a soxhlet apparatus. The in vitro anti-arthritic activity of methanolic extract of G. oppositifolius (MEGO) was evaluated in protein denaturation, membrane stabilization, and inhibition of proteinase assay at 25, 50, 100, 200, and 400 μg/ml concentrations. Female Wistar rats were immunized sub-dermally into the right hind paw with 0.1 ml of CFA. Rats were administered with MEGO at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg once daily for fourteen days after arthritis induction. Assessment of arthritis was performed by measuring paw diameter, arthritic index, arthritic score, body weight, organ weight, and hematological and biochemical parameters, followed by the analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin-1-beta (IL-1β), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), interleukin 13 (IL-13) and interleukin 10 (IL-10) and histopathological study. In vivo antioxidant effect was investigated in enzymatic assays. The presence of phytoconstituents was analyzed by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS), respectively. In silico molecular docking study of the compounds was carried out against COX-2, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α using AutoDock 4.2 and BIOVIA-Discovery Studio Visualizer software.

RESULTS

MEGO's in vitro anti-arthritic activity showed dose-dependent inhibition of protein denaturation, membrane stabilization, and proteinase inhibition, followed by significant in vivo anti-arthritic activity. The rats treated with MEGO showed tremendous potential in managing arthritis-like symptoms by restoring hematological, biochemical, and histological changes in CFA-induced rats. MEGO (200 and 400 mg/kg) showed a significant alleviation in the levels of hyper expressed inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) and oxidative stress (SOD, CAT, GSH, and LPO) in CFA-induced rats. Spergulagenin-A as identified by LC-MS analysis, exhibited the highest binding affinity against COX-2 (-8.6), IL-1β (7.2 kcal/mol), IL-6 (-7.4 kcal/mol), and TNF-α (-6.5 kcal/mol).

CONCLUSIONS

Provided with the comprehensive investigation, methanolic extract of G. oppositifolius against arthritic-like condition is a proof of concept that revalidates its ethnic claim. The presence of Spergulagenin-A might be responsible for the anti-arthritic activity.

Matrix Metalloproteinases Inhibitors in Cancer Treatment: An Updated Review (2013-2023)

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are identifiable members of proteolytic enzymes that can degrade a wide range of proteins in the extracellular matrix (ECM). MMPs can be categorized into six groups based on their substrate specificity and structural differences: collagenases, gelatinases, stromelysins, matrilysins, metalloelastase, and membrane-type MMPs. MMPs have been linked to a wide variety of biological processes, such as cell transformation and carcinogenesis. Over time, MMPs have been evaluated for their role in cancer progression, migration, and metastasis. Accordingly, various MMPs have become attractive therapeutic targets for anticancer drug development. The first generations of broad-spectrum MMP inhibitors displayed effective inhibitory activities but failed in clinical trials due to poor selectivity. Thanks to the evolution of X-ray crystallography, NMR analysis, and homology modeling studies, it has been possible to characterize the active sites of various MMPs and, consequently, to develop more selective, second-generation MMP inhibitors. In this review, we summarize the computational and synthesis approaches used in the development of MMP inhibitors and their evaluation as potential anticancer agents.

Picrorhiza kurroa, Royle ex Benth:Traditional uses, phytopharmacology, and translational potential in therapy of fatty liver disease

Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth, Kutki (P.kurroa) is an important medicinal plant, traditionally recommended and used in Ayurveda for millennia, with certain cautions. There has been a significant revival of keen interest in its pharmacology, pharmacognosy, and phytochemistry for the last few decades. The evidence of its hepatoprotective activity, in experimental and clinical studies, accelerated the correlation of the specific phytochemical constituents of P.kurroa with precise pharmacological activities. Iridoid glycosides, particularly picrosides, emerged as the active molecules. For effective translation of traditional remedies into modern therapy, value addition by mechanistic understanding of molecular actions, drug targets, the degrees of efficacy and safety as well as convenient dosage forms is needed. Reverse pharmacology approach and phytopharmaceutical drug category facilitate such a translation. The present review illustrates how a potential translation of traditional practices of using P.kurroa into a phytochemically standardized, clinically targeted natural product for global unmet medical needs viz. Fatty liver disease can be attained.

Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors (MMPIs) as attractive therapeutic targets: Recent progress and current challenges

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) plays an essential role in many physiological and pathological processes. An increase in MMP activity contributes to excessive degradation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which has been correlated with invasion and metastasis of tumors. Matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor (MMPI) has been developed as an attractive therapeutic target for decades, suggesting inspiring therapeutic effects in preclinical studies. However, achieving specificity remains an important challenge in the development of MMPIs, limiting their clinical application and bringing about the risk of biosafety. Nanomaterials can be used as alternative candidates for MMPI design, providing a new strategy for this problem. This report reviewed the research about MMPIs, summarized their MMPs activity regulation mechanisms, and discussed their failures in clinical trials. Furthermore, we outlined several schemes of MMPIs screening and design. Finally, we reviewed the therapeutic application prospects of MMPIs and discussed the remaining challenges and solutions, which may offer new insights for the development of MMPIs studies.

The beneficial pharmacological effects and potential mechanisms of picroside II: Evidence of its benefits from in vitro and in vivo

Picrorhiza kurroa, the dried rhizome of Picrorhiza kurroa Royle ex Benth, is a famous Chinese herb that has been traditionally used in China. Picroside II (PII), a glycoside derivative, is the main bioactive constituent of Picrorhiza kurroa. In the past several decades, bioactive components from Picrorhiza kurroa have attracted the attention of researchers due to their promising therapeutic effects. A large number of studies have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of PII for the prevention and treatment of some diseases, such as organic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, liver damage, inflammation, cancer metastasis and angiogenesis. In the present paper, we aimed to provide an overview of the pharmacology of PII, focusing on its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activities. Meanwhile, the plant tissue distribution and pharmacokinetic properties were also described. Due to its beneficial pharmacological effects in I/R injury, PII may serve as a promising therapeutic agent for organic I/R injury prevention.

Picrorhiza kurroa Prevents Memory Deficits by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and BACE1 Expression in 5xFAD Mice

One of the most significant pathologies of Alzheimer's disease (AD), an irreversible and progressive neurodegenerative disease that causes cognitive impairment, is the neuroinflammation facilitating the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. Hence, the inhibition of abnormal neuroinflammatory response is considered a promising therapeutic approach for AD. Picrorhiza kurroa Bentham, Scrophulariae (PK) is a medicinal herb that has been traditionally used for the treatment of various diseases, including inflammation. This study aims to report the significance of PK treatment in markedly improving spatial learning memory and dramatically decreasing Aβ levels in Tg6799 mice, also known 5xFAD mice, which have five familial AD (FAD) mutations. Remarkably, these effects correlated with reversal of disease-related microglial neuroinflammation, as evidenced by shifting microglia phenotypes from the inflammatory form to the anti-inflammatory form and inhibiting the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain, leucine-rich repeat, and pyrin domain containing 3 inflammasome activity. Moreover, PK administration induced silent information regulator type1/peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ signaling, resulting in a decrease of β-secretase 1 (BACE1) expression, which involved in Aβ production. Overall, this study suggests that PK exhibits a neuroprotective effect by inducing alternative activation of microglia and downregulating the BACE1 expression, thereby ameliorating the disease pathophysiology and reversing the cognitive decline related to Aβ deposition in AD mice.

In vivo anti-arthritic activity of Bauhinia purpurea Linn. Bark Extract

OBJECTIVE:

Bauhinia purpurea (BP) Linn. (Caesalpiniaceae) is a plant of great medicinal importance and has been used since ancient times for treating many inflammatory conditions including arthritis. This study investigates the anti-arthritic potential of the hydroalcoholic extract from the stem bark of BP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

The anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic activity of BP at various doses was used to evaluate its anti-inflammatory activity and anti-arthritic activity. Serum of arthritic rats was collected at day 21 for detecting serum cytokines level and to evaluate the effect of BP on its serum level. Furthermore, the safety of BP was evaluated in acute (5 days) and subacute (28 days) toxicity study in rats.

RESULTS:

There was a significant inhibition (P < 0.01) in paw edema at a different time scale with different doses of BP (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg). BP also demonstrated dose-dependent anti-arthritic activity on all observation days (3, 7, 14, and 21). In addition, there was also a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in oxidative stress markers, circulating pro-inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor alpha from 45.91 to 37.44, interleukin-1 (IL-1) β from 18.24 to 16.06, and IL-6 from 69.77 to 58.44) and an increase in anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10 from 8.07 to 12.07) levels. BP was found to be safe with an oral LD₅₀ value of >2 g/kg in acute toxicity study and also no toxicological effect was observed in the oral subacute toxicity study.

CONCLUSION:

This study demonstrates that BP bark possesses anti-arthritic activity potential and confirm its folklore use in the treatment of inflammatory conditions.

Picroside II, an iridoid glycoside from Picrorhiza kurroa, suppresses tumor migration, invasion, and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The development of novel anti-cancer agents from natural products is a promising approach to reduce cancer mortality. In this study, we investigated the anti-metastatic and anti-angiogenic activities of picroside II (PII) in human breast cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrated that PII significantly inhibited the migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. With the treatment of PII, the activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in MDA-MB-231 cancer cells was significantly inhibited both in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, PII showed effective anti-metastatic activity in an experimental lung metastasis model. Interestingly, cluster of differentiation 31 (CD31), a marker of angiogenesis, was significantly downregulated in the PII-treated tumor samples, indicating the anti-angiogenic activity of PII. Furthermore, we demonstrated that PII significantly inhibited the migration, invasion, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The inhibition of MMP-9 activity in PII-treated HUVECs was also demonstrated. Finally, the suppression of angiogenesis by PII in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) was observed. In conclusion, our results demonstrated that PII effectively inhibited the metastasis and angiogenesis of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo, and thus, might be a novel candidate for cancer therapy.

Awareness and Current Therapeutics of Asthma

Introduction:

Asthma is a serious allergic disorder of the respiratory system. It affects about 300 million people worldwide. This has a great burden on medical treatment. Several medicines are available, but they have many serious side effects. Therefore, there is a need to search for a new therapeutic agent with no or minimal side effects while most economical for patients. In folk medicine, antiasthmatics herbal medicine has been used and showed potential therapeutic antiasthmatic efficacy due to the presence of potential bioactive compounds.

Methods:

Different databases were searched (ie, Embase, PubMed, CBM, AMED, and CINAHL). We have reviewed the published data of the last 20 years. We used MeSH terms “asthma” herbal treatment of asthma, allopathic treatment of asthma, and treatment strategies for asthma. The traditional medicine was compared with modern medicine and the same pharmacotherapies alone or with placebo. The methodology was evaluated by using the GRADE summary of Finding tables and Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool.

Results:

There have been some clear-cut indications toward the recognition of further molecular and cellular mechanisms of asthma. Most of them recommend a further target for treatment. The novel procedures, biologics, and pharmaceuticals are evaluated. Both allopathic and herbal treatments of asthma are effective. Due to none or lesser side effects, herbal medicines are safer than conventional medicine.

Conclusion:

The preliminary documentation of the plants discussed in the review show the presence of several secondary metabolites that are responsible for the management of asthma and its relevant complications. Further research studies are needed to identify the bioactive compounds from these plants that have potential efficacy to cure asthma, and clinically based studies are needed to search for a complete cure for this disease.

Pomegranate supplementation attenuates inflammation, joint dysfunction via inhibition of NF-κB signaling pathway in experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis

Incisive search of innovative compounds for regulating pain, inflammation, and bone damage, with nominal side effects has focused on nutritional supplements. The endeavor of this research work was to investigate, for first time, the inhibitory effect of pomegranate rind extract in established models of nociception and inflammation. Pomegranate (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg) and indomethacin (3 mg/kg) was assessed in eddy's hot plate-induced algesia, carrageenan, and Complete Freund's adjuvant-induced models in Wistar rats. Results of study conclude that pomegranate at a dose of 200 mg/kg showed significant (p < 0.001) reduction in paw swelling in both inflammatory experimental models. In addition, observations recorded a significant (p < 0.05) increase in nociceptive threshold. Henceforth, we might say that pomegranate (200 mg/kg) decline pain and inflammation by downregulating the activation of TNF-R1, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, oxidative stress markers, and tissue histology. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: The research work represents the first report on inhibitory mechanism of NF-κB by pomegranate rind extract, enriched in tannins and flavanoids. The findings of the study provide satisfactory evidence of pomegranate rind in amelioration of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Pomegranate rind, being enrich in bioactive compounds like phenolics and flavanoids possess potent antioxidant activity that might contribute in attenuating rheumatoid arthritis.

Amelioration of adjuvant induced arthritis in Sprague Dawley rats through modulation of inflammatory mediators by Ribes alpestre Decne

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ribes alpestre Decne has been commonly used in the treatment of joint complaints.

AIM OF STUDY

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the antiarthritic potential of ethanolic extract and fractions of Ribes alpestre and to explore its probable mechanism of action.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Complete Freunds adjuvant induced arthritis in Sprague Dawley rats was used to assess antiarthritic activity of aqueous ethanol extract, butanol and aqueous fractions at 200 mg/kg oral dose for 28 days. Paw volume and diameter, arthritic index, body weight, hematological and biochemical parameters, radiographic and histological analysis of ankle joints were carried out. An array of pro-inflammatory mediators (IL-1β, IL-6, NF-Kβ, TNF-α, COX-2, IL-4, IL-10 and PGE2) were estimated by RT-PCR and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Antioxidant capacity was assessed using DPPH and reducing power assays. Qualitative phytochemical screening, total phenolic and flavonoid content and HPLC analysis of aqueous fraction of Ribes alpestre were also carried out.

RESULTS

Significant (p < 0.001) reduction in paw volume and thickness and arthritic score by aqueous ethanolic extract and its fractions has been found. Aqueous ethanolic extract and fractions in particular aqueous fraction considerably prevented decrease in body weight, alterations in hematological parameters. Radiographic and histological examination revealed no significant architectural changes in joints of treated rats. Significant (p < 0.05-0.001) down regulation of pro-inflammatory genes IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, PGE2 and NF-Kβ alongwith noteworthy increase in levels of IL-4 and IL-10 was recorded among treated animals. Aqueous ethanol extract and its fractions demonstrated notable and concentration dependent (50-6400 μg/ml) antioxidant potential. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of active fraction (aqueous) displayed presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins and glycosides. Besides total phenolic and flavonoid contents has been found to be 179.3 mg GAE/ml and 389.40 μg QE/ml in aqueous fraction of Ribes alpestre respectively. HPLC profile demonstrated presence of quercitin, chlorogenic acid, vanillic acid and cinamic acid in aqueous fraction.

CONCLUSION

Present communication suggests Ribes alpestre a potent antiarthritic therapy by ameliorating adjuvant arthritis in rats by downregulating proinflammatory mediators with up regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Natural Products

This article presents highlights of the published literature regarding the anti-inflammatory activities of natural products. Many review articles were published in this regard, however, most of them have presented this important issue from a regional, limited perspective. This paper summarizes the vast range of review and research articles that have reported on the anti-inflammatory effects of extracts and/or pure compounds derived from natural products. Moreover, this review pinpoints some interesting traditionally used medicinal plants that were not investigated yet.

Glorisa superba Hydroalcoholic Extract from Tubers Attenuates Experimental Arthritis by Downregulating Inflammatory Mediators, and Phosphorylation of ERK/JNK/p-38

Glorisa superba (GS) is a medicinal plant that has been traditionally used in the treatment of joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The present study was carried out to investigate the antiarthritic activity of Glorisa superba hydroalcoholic extract (GSHE) in an adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model. Arthritis was induced by sub-plantar administration of complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) and GSHE (25, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day) was administered orally for 21 consecutive days. Joint diameter was measured on Days 0, 3, 7, 14, and 21. GSHE dose dependently attenuates the increased joint diameter and serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α level following induction of arthritis by adjuvant. This attenuation was well substantiated with reduced mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and NF-κB. Additionally, GSHE inhibited phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) signaling pathway as there was decreased protein expression of MAPK (p-p38/p38 and p-ERK/ERK p-JNK/JNK ratio). Moreover, GSHE in a dose-dependent fashion normalized the redox status of ankle joint (GSH, malonaldialdehyde [MDA], and NO levels and superoxide dismutase [SOD] and catalase [CAT] activities) and displayed decreased inflammatory cell infiltration in histopathological findings. Taken together, these findings indicate that GSHE protects against AIA by modulating MAPK.