Significant action of Tridax procumbens L. leaf extract on reducing the TNF-α and COX-2 gene expressions in induced inflammation site in Swiss albino mice

Tridax procumbens Ameliorates Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Neuropathy in Rats via Modulating Angiogenic, Inflammatory, and Oxidative Pathways

Tridax procumbens (TP) is a traditional Indian therapeutic plant and was evaluated for its blood glucose lowering abilities, as well as for its ability to curb diabetic neuropathy (DN). Administrating 45 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin (STZ) intraperitoneally for four weeks, DN was induced in Wistar rats. After the rats' tails were clipped, the blood glucose levels were measured. Body weight and urine volume were also assessed. Oxidative stress makers such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), catalase (CAT), inflammatory cytokines for instance tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-1β were estimated. Further, protein kinase C (PKC-β) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were also estimated as angiogenic markers. Behavioral parameters were also evaluated by using cold allodynia using acetone test, hot allodynia using Eddy's hot plate, grip strength test using Rota rod, and hyperalgesia test using Tail flick technique. The statistical assessment of findings was done employing one-way (ANOVA) analysis of variance, and subsequently Turkey as post hoc with GraphPad Prism software package. The ingestion of TP for 1 month in DN rats stemmed in a substantial decline in blood glucose concentrations matched to nontreated rats with DN. There had been a considerable improvement in DN as evident from the finding from biochemical markers. The serum level of antioxidant defense enzymes was significantly increased, while the activities of TBARS had been substantially reduced in the TP treated rats with DN. TP averted DN-triggered surge levels of TNF-α and IL-6 in the serum. Further, PKC-β and VEGF concentrations had been also reduced by the treatment TP. The findings of this research demonstrated that the restorative impact of TP on DN rats might be linked to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidative antiangiogenic retorts.

Ethanolic Extract of Tridax procumbens Mitigates Pulmonary Inflammation via Inhibition of NF-κB/p65/ERK Mediated Signalling in an Allergic Asthma Model

BACKGROUND

Tridax procumbens is a traditionally used medicinal plant with high content of active phytoconstituents having anti-inflammatory activity. Accumulating evidences have shown that Tridax procumbens efficaciously diminished oxidative stress and inflammation. However the anti-inflammatory role of Tridax procumbens is not obscured in allergic asthma.

PURPOSE

Aim of this study was to decipher the anti-inflammatory role of Tridax procumbens in allergic asthma and its underlying mechanism.

METHODS

Ethanolic extract of Tridax procumbens (TP) was prepared and major phytoconstituents (flavonoids) were characterized by biochemical and UPLC/MS analysis. Rats were sensitized and challenged with environmental allergen ovalbumin (OVA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an allergic asthma model. Persuasive anti-inflammatory role of TP was demonstrated in vivo (100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) and in vitro (250, 125, 75 and 25 µg/ml) experiments.

RESULTS

Characterization by UPLC/MS analysis showed the presence of various bioactive flavonoids. In in vitro study, significant reduction in ROS production, apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction were observed in alveolar type II cells upon pre-treatment with TP (250, 125, 75 and 25 µg/ml) in a concentration-dependant manner. In vivo, TP (200 mg/kg) oral administration showed robust anti-oxidative activity. TP treatment abrogated bronchial wall thickening, immune cell infiltration and bronchial wall fibre deposition. Immunohistochemical analysis showed the diminished expression of IL-1β, IL-6 in bronchial epithelium and vascular endothelium. TP abrogated inflammation by reducing the level of inflammatory cytokines including IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-6 and MCP-1, as well as inflammatory markers including TWEAK, TNF-α, TNF-R1 and its downstream transcription factor NF-ҡB/p65 activation and its nuclear translocation. Western blot analysis of TP treated lung tissue and alveolar type II cells showed reduced phosphorylation of ERK1/2 significantly.

CONCLUSION

TP exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by inhibition of ROS production and down-regulation of NF-ҡB/ERK signalling in vitro and in vivo asthma model. Thus, TP can be envisaged as an effective anti-inflammatory agent for OVA-induced allergic asthma.

A comprehensive exploration of pharmacological properties, bioactivities and inhibitory potentiality of luteolin from Tridax procumbens as anticancer drug by in-silico approach

Tridax procumbens is a flowering plant of the Asteraceae family with a wide range of medicinal uses like anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-microbial, immunomodulatory, etc. This study aimed to investigate the anti-cancerous activity of human lung cancer for targeting luteolin, a phytochemical of Tridax procumbens. The computational study has been done for studying the structural properties of luteolin. The drug-likeness of the molecule has been predicted by virtual screening of ADMET properties. The molecular docking technique of the in-silico method is performed to check the complex formation between protein and ligand. The reactivity and stability of the molecule are investigated with the help of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. In the present work, we have tried to establish a strong candidature of any of the phytochemical of Tridax Procumbens as an inhibitor against human lung cancer.

Anti-Candidal Activity of the Parasitic Plant Orobanche crenata Forssk

Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) are part of the human microbiome. However, they possess numerous virulence factors, which confer them the ability to cause both local and systemic infections. Candidiasis can involve multiple organs, including the eye. In the present study, we investigated the anti-candidal activity and the re-epithelizing effect of Orobanche crenata leaf extract (OCLE). By the microdilution method, we demonstrated an inhibitory effect of OCLE on both C. albicans and C. glabrata growth. By crystal violet and 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, we showed the ability of OCLE to inhibit the biofilm formation and the viability of yeast cells, respectively. By germ tube and adhesion assays, we proved the capacity of OCLE to affect the morphological transition of C. albicans and the adhesion of both pathogens to human retinal pigment epithelial cells (ARPE-19), respectively. Besides, by MTT and wound healing assay, we evaluated the cytotoxic and re-epithelizing effects of OCLE on ARPE-19. Finally, the Folin-Ciocalteu and the ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry revealed a high content of phenols and the presence of several bioactive molecules in the extract. Our results highlighted new properties of O. crenata, useful in the control of Candida infections.