Amelioration of renal structural changes in STZ-induced diabetic mice with ethanolic extract of Allium saralicum R.M. Fritsch

The effect of Allium saralicum R. M. Fritsch nanocapsules in yogurt on type 2 diabetes in male rats: physicochemical characterization and pharmacodynamics assessment

To treat illness, people are increasingly turning to natural foods rather than pharmaceuticals. Herbal extracts with antioxidant and anti-diabetic properties could be a good alternative for treating diabetes. The purpose of this study was to look into the effects of ethanol extraction on the Morphology of liver cells and hyperglycemia in rats of Allium saralicum RM Fritsch nanocapsules based on chitosan incorporated with yogurt. In this experimental study, 32 adult Wistar rats were randomly selected. The effect of Nano extraction on hypoglycemia was assessed using blood glucose levels three and fifteen days after a streptozotocin intraperitoneal (60 mg/kg) injection, as well as hepatocyte count and liver tissue morphology. The average size of the chitosan nanoparticles was determined to be 86 nm. After comparing the blood sugar levels of the A. saralicum nanocapsules groups to the untreated diabetes group, a significant decrease was constructed to observe hyperglycemia. Because of increased effective absorption in the intestine, nanocapsules incorporated into yogurt were able to reduce hyperglycemia in diabetic rats. As a result, a new yogurt formulation containing A. saralicum nanocapsules extract is recommended for diabetic patients.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using extract of Rumex nepalensis for bactericidal effect against food-borne pathogens and antioxidant activity

The evolution and incidence of multidrug-resistant food-borne pathogens still become a critical public health global issue. To avert this challenge there is great interest in medical applications of silver nanoparticles. Thus, this study aimed to synthesize silver nanoparticles (Rn-AgNPs) using aqueous leaf extract of Nepal Dock (Rumex nepalensis Spreng) and evaluate their antibacterial potential against food-borne pathogens and antioxidant activity. The Rn-AgNPs were characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Fourier Transform Infra-Red Spectroscopy (FTIR). The antibacterial activities of the Rn-AgNPs were evaluated using agar well diffusion (zone of inhibition, ZOI) and microdilution (minimum inhibitory concentration, MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration, MBC) methods. The antioxidant property of the Rn-AgNPs was investigated using radical scavenging (DPPH and hydroxyl) assays. The UV-Vis spectra of Rn-AgNPs elucidated the absorption maxima at 425 nm and FTIR detected numerous functional groups of biological compounds that are responsible for capping and stabilizing Rn-AgNPs. DLS analysis displayed monodispersed Rn-AgNPs of 86.7 nm size and highly negative zeta potential (-32.5 mV). Overall results showed that Escherichia coli was the most sensitive organism, whereas Staphylococcus aureus was the least sensitive against Rn-AgNPs. In the antioxidant tests, the AgNPs radical scavenging activity reached 95.44% at 100 μg/ml. This study indicates that Rn-AgNPs exhibit a strong antimicrobial on L. monocytogenes, S. aureus, S. typhimurium, and E. coli and antioxidant and thus might be developed as a new type of antimicrobial agent for the treatment of multidrug-resistant foodborne pathogens and extensible applications in nanomaterial food- and nanocomposite-based antimicrobial packaging and/or as an antioxidant.

Synergistic effects of sinapic acid and ellagic acid ameliorate streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy by inhibiting apoptosis, DNA damage, and structural deterioration in rats

INTRODUCTION

Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a global problem that threatens human health, is an important reason for chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. In our study, it was aimed to investigate the individual and combined effects of SA and EA in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced rats.

METHODS

The groups are as follows: Control, untreated diabetic, diabetic treated with Sinapic acid (SA), diabetic treated with Ellagic acid (EA), diabetic treated with SA and EA, treated with SA, treated with EA, and treated with SA and EA. Total kidney volume, total glomerulus volume, total filtration space volume, caspase-3, and 8-OHdG immunoreactivity, Malondialdehyde (MDA), Glutathione (GSH), Catalase (CAT), serum urea, and creatinine levels were evaluated by stereological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical methods.

RESULTS

The findings of the study showed that total kidney volume, total glomerulus volume, total filtration gap volume, caspase-3, and 8-OHdG immunoreactivity, MDA, serum urea, and creatinine levels significantly increased in the untreated diabetic group compared to the control group. Also, severe mesangial and glomerular enlargement, extracellular matrix accumulation, and glomerular and tubular basal membrane thickness were observed in the tubulointerstitial and glomerular of the diabetic rats. However, individual and combined treatments of SA and EA ameliorated these histological changes. Additionally, decreased GSH and CAT in the untreated diabetic group increased by SA and EA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that treatment of SA and EA prevent apoptosis and DNA damage and structural changes in STZ-induced DN. However, the combined treatment of SA and EA were more effective than their individual treatments in all parameters except serum urea and creatinine.

Evaluation of the cutaneous wound healing potential of tamanu oil in wounds induced in rats

AIMS

Tamanu is a plant oil derived from the fruit and seeds of the Calophyllum inophyllum tree. Although scientific data on tamanu oil are limited, it is recommended worldwide for the treatment of abrasions, burns, diabetic wounds and scars. This study aimed to compare the wound healing efficacy of the topical use of tamanu oil with a reference drug in rats.

METHODS

Uniform wounds were induced on the dorsum of 21 rats, randomly divided into three groups. The control group received normal saline; the tamanu group received tamanu oil; and the centella group was treated with Centella asiatica. Wound healing was clinically evaluated using wound healing scoring and wound contraction. A biopsy was taken from the wound sites of each rat on days 7, 14 and 21 for histopathological evaluation.

RESULTS

Wound contraction was significantly lower in the tamanu group compared with the other groups. On day 7, the intensity of macrophage infiltration and mature granulation tissues were significantly higher in the centella and tamanu groups than in the control group. Fibrosis and collagen density were higher in the tamanu group than the other groups on day 7.

CONCLUSION

In wound healing in rats, tamanu oil accelerated the formation of macrophage-granulation tissues-fibrosis and resulted in less wound contraction.

Natural Antioxidants, Health Effects and Bioactive Properties of Wild Allium Species

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing interest from the pharmaceutical and food industry in natural antioxidant and bioactive compounds derived from plants as substitutes for synthetic compounds. The genus Allium is one of the largest genera, with more than 900 species, including important cultivated and wild species, having beneficial health effects.

OBJECTIVE

The present review aims to unravel the chemical composition of wild Allium species and their healthrelated effects, focusing on the main antioxidant compounds. For this purpose, a thorough study of the literature was carried out to compile reports related to health effects and the principal bioactive compounds. Considering the vast number of species, this review is divided into subsections where the most studied species are presented, namely Allium ampeloprasum, A. flavum, A. hookeri, A. jesdianum, A. neapolitanum, A. roseum, A. stipitatum, A. tricoccum, and A. ursinum, with an additional composite section for less studied species.

METHODS

The information presented in this review was obtained from worldwide accepted databases such as Scopus, ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar and Researchgate, using as keywords the respective names of the studied species (both common and Latin names) and the additional terms of"antioxidants" "health effects" and "bioactive properties".

CONCLUSION

The genus Allium includes several wild species, many of which are commonly used in traditional and folklore medicine while others are lesser known or are of regional interest. These species can be used as sources of natural bioactive compounds with remarkable health benefits. Several studies have reported these effects and confirmed the mechanisms of action in several cases, although more research is needed in this field. Moreover, considering that most of the studies refer to the results obtained from species collected in the wild under uncontrolled conditions, further research is needed to elucidate the effects of growing conditions on bioactive compounds and to promote the exploitation of this invaluable genetic material.

NMR and LCMS analytical platforms exhibited the nephroprotective effect of Clinacanthus nutans in cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in the in vitro condition

Background

Clinacanthus nutans (C. nutans) Lind. locally known as Belalai Gajah or Sabah snake grass is a medicinal plant belonging to Acanthaceae family. In Asia, this plant is traditionally used for treating skin rashes, insects and snake bites, diabetes mellitus, fever and for diuretic effect. C. nutans has been reported to possess biological activities including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-cancer, anti-diabetic and anti-viral activities.

Methods

Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (¹H NMR) and Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LCMS) coupled with multivariate data analysis were employed to characterize the metabolic variations of intracellular metabolites and the compositional changes of the corresponding culture media in rat renal proximal tubular cells (NRK-52E).

Results

NMR and LCMS analysis highlighted choline, creatine, phosphocholine, valine, acetic acid, phenylalanine, leucine, glutamic acid, threonine, uridine and proline as the main metabolites which differentiated the cisplatin-induced group of NRK-52E from control cells extract. The corresponding media exhibited lactic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid and glucose-1-phosphate as the varied metabolites. The altered pathways perturbed by cisplatin nephrotoxic on NRK-52E cells included changes in amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and glycolysis.

Conclusion

The C. nutans aqueous extract (1000 μg/mL) exhibited the most potential nephroprotective effect against cisplatin toxicity on NRK-52E cell lines at 89% of viability. The protective effect could be seen through the changes of the metabolites such as choline, alanine and valine in the C. nutans pre-treated samples with those of the cisplatin-induced group.

Supplementary information

Supplementary information accompanies this paper at 10.1186/s12906-020-03067-3.

Novel green synthesis and antioxidant, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anticholinergics, and wound healing properties of cobalt nanoparticles containing Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam leaves extract

The aim of the experiment was a green synthesis of cobalt nanoparticles from the aqueous extract of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam (CoNPs) and assessment of their cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and cutaneous wound healing properties. The synthesized CoNPs were characterized using different techniques including UV-Vis., FT-IR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). According to the XRD analysis, 28.19 nm was measured for the crystal size of NPs. TEM and SEM images exhibited a uniform spherical morphology and average diameters of 29.08 nm for the biosynthesized nanoparticles. Agar diffusion tests were done to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) were specified by macro-broth dilution assay. CoNPs indicated higher antibacterial and antifungal effects than many standard antibiotics (p ≤ 0.01). Also, CoNPs prevented the growth of all bacteria at 2-4 mg/mL concentrations and removed them at 2-8 mg/mL concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). In the case of antifungal effects of CoNPs, they inhibited the growth of all fungi at 1-4 mg/mL concentrations and destroyed them at 2-16 mg/mL concentrations (p ≤ 0.01). The synthesized CoNPs had great cell viability dose-dependently and indicated this method was nontoxic. DPPH free radical scavenging test was done to assess the antioxidant potentials, which revealed similar antioxidant potentials for CoNPs and butylated hydroxytoluene. In vivo experiment, after creating the cutaneous wound, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: untreated control, treatment with Eucerin basal ointment, treatment with 3% tetracycline ointment, treatment with 0.2% Co(NO₃)₂ ointment, treatment with 0.2% Z. clinopodioides ointment, and treatment with 0.2% CoNPs ointment. These groups were treated for 10 days. For histopathological and biochemical analysis of the healing trend, a 3 × 3 cm section was prepared from all dermal thicknesses at day 10. Use of CoNPs ointment in the treatment groups substantially raised (p ≤ 0.01) the wound contracture, hydroxyl proline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte, and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate and remarkably decreased (p ≤ 0.01) the wound area, total cells, neutrophil, and lymphocyte compared to other groups. In conclusion, CoNPs can be used as a medical supplement owing to their non-cytotoxic, antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and cutaneous wound healing effects. Additionally, the novel nanoparticles (Co(NO₃)₂ and CoNPs) were good inhibitors of the α-glycosidase, and cholinesterase enzymes.

Suppressor capacity of copper nanoparticles biosynthesized using Crocus sativus L. leaf aqueous extract on methadone-induced cell death in adrenal phaeochromocytoma (PC12) cell line

In this research, we prepared and formulated a neuroprotective supplement (copper nanoparticles in aqueous medium utilizing Crocus sativus L. Leaf aqueous extract) for determining its potential against methadone-induced cell death in PC12. The results of chemical characterization tests i.e., FE-SEM, FT-IR, XRD, EDX, TEM, and UV–Vis spectroscopy revealed that the study showed that copper nanoparticles were synthesized in the perfect way possible. In the TEM and FE-SEM images, the copper nanoparticles were in the mean size of 27.5 nm with the spherical shape. In the biological part of the present research, the Rat inflammatory cytokine assay kit was used to measure the concentrations of inflammatory cytokines. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) test was used to show DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. Caspase-3 activity was assessed by the caspase activity colorimetric assay kit and mitochondrial membrane potential was studied by Rhodamine123 fluorescence dye. Also, the cell viability of PC12 was measured by trypan blue assay. Copper nanoparticles-treated cell cutlers significantly (p ≤ 0.01) decreased the inflammatory cytokines concentrations, caspase-3 activity, and DNA fragmentation and they raised the cell viability and mitochondrial membrane potential in the high concentration of methadone-treated PC12 cells. The best result of neuroprotective properties was seen in the high dose of copper nanoparticles i.e., 4 µg. According to the above results, copper nanoparticles containing C. sativus leaf aqueous extract can be used in peripheral nervous system treatment as a neuroprotective promoter and central nervous system after approving in the clinical trial studies in humans.

Novel synthesis of Falcaria vulgaris leaf extract conjugated copper nanoparticles with potent cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and cutaneous wound healing activities under in vitro and in vivo condition

Facile green synthesis of copper nanoparticles from different biological procedures has been indicated, but among all, biosynthesis of copper nanoparticles from medicinal plants is considered as the most suitable method. The use of medicinal plant material increases the therapeutical effects of copper nanoparticles. The aim of this study was green synthesis of copper nanoparticles from aqueous extract of Falcaria vulgaris leaf (CuNPs) and assessment of their cytotoxicity, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and cutaneous wound healing properties. These nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis. The synthesized CuNPs had great cell viability dose-dependently (Investigating the effect of the CuNPs on human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) line) and indicated this method was nontoxic. Also, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test was done to assess the antioxidant activities, which indicated similar antioxidant potentials for CuNPs and butylated hydroxytoluene. In part of cutaneous wound healing property of CuNPs, after creating the cutaneous wound, the rats were randomly divided into six groups: treatment with 0.2% CuNPs ointment, treatment with 0.2% CuSO₄ ointment, treatment with 0.2% F. vulgaris ointment, treatment with 3% tetracycline ointment, treatment with Eucerin basal ointment, and untreated control. These groups were treated for 10 days. Treatment with CuNPs ointment remarkably increased (p ≤ .01) the wound contracture, vessel, hexosamine, hydroxyl proline, hexuronic acid, fibrocyte, and fibrocytes/fibroblast rate and substantially reduced (p ≤ .01) the wound area, total cells, neutrophil, and lymphocyte compared to other groups. In antibacterial and antifungal parts of this research, the concentration of CuNPs with minimum dilution and no turbidity was considered minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). To determine minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), 60 μL MIC and three preceding chambers were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and Muller Hinton Agar, respectively. The minimum concentration with no fungal and bacterial growth were considered MFC and MBC, respectively. CuNPs inhibited the growth of all fungi at 2-4 mg/mL concentrations and removed them at 4-8 mg/mL concentrations (p ≤ .01). In case of antibacterial effects of CuNPs, they inhibited the growth of all bacteria at 2-8 mg/mL concentrations and removed them at 4-16 mg/mL concentrations (p ≤ .01). The results of XRD, FT-IR, UV, TEM, and FE-SEM confirm that the aqueous extract of F. vulgaris leaf can be used to yield copper nanoparticles with notable amount of antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, and cutaneous wound healing potentials without any cytotoxicity. Further clinical trials are necessary for confirmation these therapeutical effects of CuNPs in human.

Chemical characterization and antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antifungal properties of ethanolic extract of Allium Saralicum R.M. Fritsch leaves rich in linolenic acid, methyl ester

The purpose of the recent research was to assess the chemical characterization and antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects of Allium Saralicum R.M. Fritsch leaves. After identification of the plant, its ethanolic extract was obtained using Soxhlet extractor without leaving any chemicals in it. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was performed to detect the percentage, retention index, and time of A. Saralicum compounds. Agar diffusion tests were applied to determine the antibacterial and antifungal characteristics. In agar disk diffusion test, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as negative control, while antibacterial (Difloxacin, Chloramphenicol, Streptomycin, Gentamicin, Oxytetracycline, Ampicillin, and Amikacin) and antifungal (Fluconazole, Itraconazole, Miconazole, Amphotericin B, and Nystatin) antibiotics were used as positive controls. Macro broth tube test was run to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). The findings indicated that linolenic acid, methyl ester was the most frequent constituent found in A. Saralicum. Indeed, A. Saralicum showed higher antibacterial and antifungal properties than all standard antibiotics (p ≤ .01). Also, A. Saralicum prevented the growth of all bacteria and fungi at 15-125 mg/mL concentrations and destroyed them at 15-250 mg/mL concentrations (p ≤ .01). DPPH free radical scavenging test was carried out to examine the antioxidant effect, which indicated similar antioxidant activity with butylated hydroxy toluene (BHT) as a positive control. The synthesized ethanolic extract had great cell viability dose-dependently and demonstrated this method was nontoxic for synthesizing A. Saralicum. In conclusion, the findings showed the useful antioxidant, non-cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antifungal effects of A. Saralicum ethanolic extract.

In Vitro Antioxidant Properties of Dichloromethanolic Leaf Extract of Gnidia glauca (Fresen) as a Promising Antiobesity Drug

The acquisition of ethnobotanical information from traditional practitioners remains an empirical aspect of understanding the ethnopharmacology research. However, integration of information on chemical composition of plant extracts and their pharmacological activities forms a key resource for synthesis of new and effective therapeutics. In traditional African medicine, Gnidia glauca has folkloric remedies against obesity and its associated oxidative stress-mediated complications. However, the upsurge in its use has not been accompanied with scientific validations to support these claims. The present study aimed to determine the antioxidant potential of G glauca as a promising antiobesity agent. The antioxidant effects of the extract were assessed against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, and superoxide radicals as well as lipid peroxidation, iron-chelating effect, and ferric-reducing power. Phytochemical analysis was conducted using gas chromatography linked to mass spectrophotometry. The results revealed that G glauca exhibited scavenging activities against all radicals formed. Besides, the extract showed iron chelation and ferric reducing abilities. The extract indicated a lower half maximal inhibitory concentration value than the standards used. For instance, the extract inhibited 50% of the formation of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazine at the concentration of 1.33 ± 0.03 mg/mL relative to 1.39 ± 0.06 mg/mL of the standard, vitamin C at 1% confidence limit. Similarly, the extract scavenged 50% of hydroxyl radical at 204.34 ± 10.64 μg/mL relative to 210.05 ± 8.80 μg/mL of gallic acid. The extract also contained various phytochemicals that have been associated with antiobesity effects. The synergistic effects of these phytocompounds increase their bioavailability and action on multiple molecular targets thereby correcting obesity-induced oxidative stress.