Lanosteryl triterpenes from Protorhus longifolia as a cardioprotective agent: a mini review

Enhanced Antioxidant Efficacy of Nano-Encapsulated Protorhus Longifolia Methanol Extract Stabilized with Eudragit

This study describes the synthesis of Protorhus longifolia methanolic leaf extract-loaded Eudragit nanoparticles (NPs) and assessment of their antioxidant activity comparative to the free methanolic extract. The latter was also analyzed for its total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC). The extract-loaded NPs were obtained through the emulsification solvent evaporation process and systematically characterized using the dynamic light scattering, entrapment efficiency, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The antioxidant power was determined using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) in vitro model systems. Screening of the different classes of secondary metabolites was carried out through chemical reaction tests. Identification of the potential antioxidants was performed using the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique and the database of National Institute Standard and Technology (NIST). The characterization techniques showed spherical-like particles having an average size of 150[Formula: see text]nm and zeta potential of [Formula: see text]22[Formula: see text]mV. The percentage of entrapped methanolic extract was determined to be 83%. The antioxidant assay demonstrated that this methodology persuaded an efficient concentration-dependent potential. This study indicates that nanoformulation of the Protorhus longifolia extracts leads to a suitable system for the enhancement of antioxidant activity. The appraisal of other pharmacological activities of the nano-encapsulated Protorhus longifolia methanol extract is under process.

Novel pentacyclic triterpenes exhibiting strong neuroprotective activity in SH-SY5Y cells in salsolinol- and glutamate-induced neurodegeneration models

Novel triterpene derivatives were prepared and evaluated in salsolinol (SAL)- and glutamate (Glu)-induced models of neurodegeneration in neuron-like SH-SY5Y cells. Among the tested compounds, betulin triazole 4 bearing a tetraacetyl-β-d-glucose substituent showed a highly potent neuroprotective effect. Further studies revealed that removal of tetraacetyl-β-d-glucose part (free triazole derivative 10) resulted in strong neuroprotection in the SAL model at 1 μM, but this derivative suffered from cytotoxicity at higher concentrations. Both compounds modulated oxidative stress and caspase-3,7 activity, but 10 showed a superior effect comparable to the Ac-DEVD-CHO inhibitor. Interestingly, while both 4 and 10 outperformed the positive controls in blocking mitochondrial permeability transition pore opening, only 4 demonstrated potent restoration of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) in the model. Derivatives 4 and 10 also showed neuroprotection in the Glu model, with 10 exhibiting the strongest oxidative stress reducing effect among the tested compounds, while the neuroprotective activity of 4 was probably due recovery of the MMP.

Cyclocarya paliurus ethanol leaf extracts protect against diabetic cardiomyopathy in db/db mice via regulating PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling

Background

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a serious complication of diabetes that can lead to significant mortality. Cyclocarya paliurus is a tree, the leaves of which are often utilized to prevent and treat diabetes mellitus. Whether C. paliurus leaves can prevent or treat DCM, however, it remains to be formally assessed. The present study was therefore designed to assess the ability of C. paliurus to protect against DCM in db/db mice.

Methods

Male wild-type (WT) and db/db mice were administered C. paliurus ethanol leaf extracts (ECL) or appropriate vehicle controls daily via gavage, and levels of blood glucose in treated animals were assessed on a weekly basis. After a 10-week treatment, the levels of cardiac troponin I (cTn-I), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), creatine kinase MB (CK-MB), aspartate transaminase (AST), total triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) in serum were measured. Activities of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and catalase (CAT) and the levels of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-6 in heart tissues were detected. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining were conducted. The protein expression that related with oxidative stress and inflammatory reaction was evaluated by Western blotting.

Results

Compared with WT mice, the TG, TC, and blood glucose levels in db/db mice increased significantly, which were reduced by ECL treatment. Compared with WT mice, the levels of LDH, CK-MB, AST, and cTn-I in serum and MDA in heart tissues of db/db mice increased significantly. Activities of SOD, GSH-Px, and CAT in heart tissues of db/db mice decreased significantly. The levels of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in heart tissues of db/db mice increased remarkably. However, ECL treatment improved the above pathological changes significantly. ECL alleviated pathological injury and fibrosis in heart tissues of mice. Western blotting showed that ECL increased Bcl-2 level and decreased Bax, cle-caspase-3, and cle-caspase-9 expression. Furthermore, ECL inhibited NF-κB nuclear translocation and increased PI3K and p-Akt expressions.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that ECL treatment can markedly reduce pathological cardiac damage in db/db mice through antiapoptotic, antifibrotic, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Specifically, this extract was able to suppress NF-κB activation via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Given its diverse activities and lack of significant side effects, ECL may thus have therapeutic value for the treatment of DCM.