Quercetin, chrysin, caffeic acid and ferulic acid ameliorate cyclophosphamide-induced toxicities in SH-SY5Y cells

Dietary additive ferulic acid alleviated oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis induced by chronic exposure to avermectin in the liver of common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

Avermectin (AVM) has been utilized extensively in agricultural production since it is a low-toxicity pesticide. However, the pollution caused by its residues to fisheries aquaculture has been neglected. As an abundant polyphenolic substance in plants, ferulic acid (FA) possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. The goal of the study is to assess the FA's ability to reduce liver damage in carp brought on by AVM exposure. Four groups of carp were created at random: the control group; the AVM group; the FA group; and the FA + AVM group. On day 30, and the liver tissues of carp were collected and examined for the detection of four items of blood lipid as well as the activity of the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and malondialdehyde (MDA) in carp liver tissues by biochemical kits, and the transcript levels of indicators of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis by qPCR. The results showed that liver injury, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis were attenuated in the FA + AVM group compared to the AVM group. In summary, dietary addition of FA could ameliorate the hepatotoxicity caused by AVM in carp by alleviating oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis in liver tissues.

Modulation of autophagy and apoptosis can contribute to the anticancer effect of Abemaciclib/Celecoxib combination in colon cancer cells

Drug resistance and recurrence represent a great challenge in colorectal cancer management, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutics. Our objective is to evaluate the influence of Abemaciclib, Celecoxib, and their combination on both the autophagic and apoptotic machinery in an attempt to unravel the interplay between them in HCT-116 and Caco-2 cell lines. The MTT assay was used to assess the GI50 of the drugs. ELIZA was used to determine the protein levels of Beclin-1, LC3, Cox-2, and Bcl-2. Active Caspase-3 was determined by a colorimetric assay. Gene expression levels of ATG5, LC3, Beclin-1, and p62 were assessed by quantitative real-time PCR. In HCT-116 cells, the GI50s for Abemaciclib and Celecoxib were 15.86 and 92.67 μM, respectively, while for Caco-2 cells, the GI50s were 7.85 and 49.02 μM for Abemaciclib and Celecoxib, respectively. Upon treatment of HCT-116 and Caco-2 cells with Abemaciclib, Celecoxib, and their combinations, ATG5, p62, LC3, and Beclin-1 gene expression levels were up-regulated. The protein levels of Beclin-1, LC3, and Caspase-3 were significantly increased, while Bcl-2 was decreased in both cell lines due to single and combined treatments. Both drugs, either alone or in combination, decreased the migration ability of the cells in both cell lines. To conclude, the treatment protocol has the potential to induce cell cycle arrest, diminish the potentiality of cells for migration, and initiate apoptotic and autophagic cell death. Further research is recommended to unravel the potential antitumor effects of Abemaciclib/Celecoxib combination in different cancer types.

Parkia from Cerrado: phytochemical bioprospection, toxicity and in vitro bioactivities of bark and flower extracts

Parkia platycephala is the only species of the genus Parkia that is endemic to the brazilian Cerrado and the tree symbol of the state of Tocantins, but there are still few studies regarding its bioprospecting. In this study, we aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition, toxicity and bioactivities of the bark and flower of Parkia platycephala. Hot sequential extractions (Soxhlet) were performed using methanol and hydroethanolic solution (70%), after degreasing the sample (hexane). The presence of flavonoids, tannins, steroids and alkaloids was detected in the preliminary screening. Trilinolein, (Z)-9-octadecenamide, 3-O-methyl-d-glucose were detected by Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). In the Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array Detector (LC-PDA) analysis, it was detected exclusively ferulic acid (bark) and ellagic acid (flower). The ethanolic extract of the bark (IC50=10.69 ± 0.35 µgmL-1) has an antioxidant potential (DPPH• radical) higher than that of the rutin standard (IC50=15.85 ± 0.08 µgmL-1). All extracts showed excellent anticholinesterase potential (Ellman), with emphasis on the ethanol extract of the flower (IC50 =5.34 ± 0.12 µgmL-1). Regarding toxicity (Artemia salina), the methanolic extract of the bark and the ethanolic extract of the flower presented high and moderate levels, respectively. Such results limit the concentrations of biological activities in this study, however, the antioxidant and anticholinesterase indices fall short of toxicity. The results demonstrated promising antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities of both the bark and the flower of Parkia platycephala.

Norepinephrine promotes neuronal apoptosis of hippocampal HT22 cells by up-regulating the expression of long non-coding RNA MALAT1

Stress is ever present in our modern, performance-oriented and demanding society, which causes adverse stress reactions of the body and affects health seriously. Chronic stress has been recognized as a significant risk factor leading to cognitive impairment, but the underlying mechanism is far from fully understood. Norepinephrine (NE), a pivotal stress-induced hormone, has been found to induce cell apoptosis. However, the function and the key downstream mediator of NE on the regulation of hippocampal neurons still need further exploration. In this study, we explored the role of NE in neuronal apoptosis and its association with MALAT1. Flow cytometry assay and automated western bot assay were carried out to evaluate the cell apoptosis. The data showed that the rate of apoptosis rate and the levels of apoptotic proteins (cleaved-Caspase3 and cleaved-PARP) were significantly increased in HT22 cells after a high dose of NE treatment, suggesting a facilitative role of NE on hippocampal neuronal apoptosis. Besides, a high level of NE up-regulated the expression of MALAT1 in HT22 cells. Then, a lentivirus expressing MALAT1 shRNA was constructed to investigate the role of MALAT1 in cell apoptosis and the results revealed that MALAT1 depletion decreased the cell apoptosis. Moreover, the knockdown of MALAT1 abolished the discrepancy in apoptosis between NE-treated cells and control cells. In conclusion, a high level of the stress-induced hormone NE promoted apoptosis of hippocampal neurons by elevating the expression of MALAT1. Our findings provide new experimental data supporting the epigenetic mechanisms in the regulation of stress response and may provide a potential therapeutic target for stress-related cognition dysfunction.

Small molecule heat shock protein 27 inhibitor J2 decreases ovarian cancer cell proliferation via induction of apoptotic pathways

Heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) is an important member of the chaperone protein family and its overexpression promotes cancer cell survival. Here, we investigated the apoptosis inducer role of the J2 compound (Hsp27 inhibitor) in human ovarian cancer cell lines (SKOV3 and OVCAR-3). Cell proliferation was measured by MTT assay. The parameters of J2-Hsp27 interaction were determined with molecular docking calculation. The inhibitory effect of the J2 compound on Hsp27 chaperone activity was investigated by luciferase activity assay. Finally, the apoptotic inducer role of the J2 compound on SKOV3 and OVCAR-3 cells was determined by RT-PCR and caspase-3 activity assay. J2 compound decreased SKOV3 and OVCAR-3 cell proliferation in a dose-dependent manner at 48 h with IC50 values of 17.34 µM and 12.63 µM, respectively. J2 inhibited the refolding process of denatured luciferase as an Hsp27 inhibitor. Molecular docking calculation was carried out to determine the interaction between Hsp27 and J2. The results indicated that J2 selectively binds to the phosphorylation site of the Hsp27 and inhibits the phosphorylation process of Hsp27. To determine the apoptotic potential of the J2 compound against ovarian cancer cells, the mRNA expression levels of apoptotic and antiapoptotic markers (Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Cyt-c, p53, Apaf-1, Cas-3, Cas-8, Cas-9, TNF-α, DAXX, and Ask-1) were measured using RT-PCR. While J2 increased the expressions of apoptotic genes, it decreased the expressions of anti-apoptotic genes. Further, the J2 compound increased Cas-3 activity in SKOV3 and OVCAR-3 at 5.52 and 4.12 folds, respectively. These results confirm that J2 has great potential and significance in the stimulation of apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells as an Hsp27 inhibitor.

Molecular mechanism of ferulic acid and its derivatives in tumor progression

Cancer is a significant disease that poses a major threat to human health. The main therapeutic methods for cancer include traditional surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and new therapeutic methods such as targeted therapy and immunotherapy, which have been developed rapidly in recent years. Recently, the tumor antitumor effects of the active ingredients of natural plants have attracted extensive attention. Ferulic acid (FA), (3-methoxy-4-hydroxyl cinnamic), with the molecular formula is C₁₀H₁₀O₄, is a phenolic organic compound found in ferulic, angelica, jujube kernel, and other Chinese medicinal plants but is also, abundant in rice bran, wheat bran, and other food raw materials. FA has anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-radiation, and immune-enhancing effects and also shows anticancer activity, as it can inhibit the occurrence and development of various malignant tumors, such as liver cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer. FA can cause mitochondrial apoptosis by inducing the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). FA can also interfere with the cell cycle of cancer cells, arrest most cancer cells in G₀/G₁ phase, and exert an antitumor effect by inducing autophagy; inhibiting cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis; and synergistically improving the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs and reducing adverse reactions. FA acts on a series of intracellular and extracellular targets and is involved in the regulation of tumor cell signaling pathways, including the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT), B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), and tumor protein 53 (P53) pathways and other signaling pathways. In addition, FA derivatives and nanoliposomes, as platforms for drug delivery, have an important regulatory effect on tumor resistance. This paper reviews the effects and mechanisms of antitumor therapies to provide new theoretical support and insight for clinical antitumor therapy.

Caffeic acid recovers ischemia-induced synaptic dysfunction without direct effects on excitatory synaptic transmission and plasticity in mouse hippocampal slices

Caffeic acid is a polyphenolic compound present in a vast array of dietary components. We previously showed that caffeic acid reduces the burden of brain ischemia joining evidence by others that it can attenuate different brain diseases. However, it is unknown if caffeic acid affects information processing in neuronal networks. Thus, we now used electrophysiological recordings in mouse hippocampal slices to test if caffeic acid directly affected synaptic transmission, plasticity and dysfunction caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD), an in vitro ischemia model. Caffeic acid (1-10 μM) was devoid of effect on synaptic transmission and paired-pulse facilitation in Schaffer collaterals-CA1 pyramidal synapses. Also, the magnitude of either hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) or the subsequent depotentiation were not significantly modified by 10 μM caffeic acid. However, caffeic acid (10 μM) increased the recovery of synaptic transmission upon re-oxygenation following 7 minutes of OGD. Furthermore, caffeic acid (10 μM) also recovered plasticity after OGD, as heralded by the increased magnitude of LTP after exposure. These findings show that caffeic acid does not directly affect synaptic transmission and plasticity but can indirectly affect other cellular targets to correct synaptic dysfunction. Unraveling the molecular mechanisms of action of caffeic acid may allow the design of hitherto unrecognized novel neuroprotective strategies.

Modulation of Cell Death Pathways for Cellular Protection and Anti-Tumoral Activity: The Role of Thymus spp. Extracts and Their Bioactive Molecules

Natural products used for their health-promoting properties have accompanied the evolution of humanity. Nowadays, as an effort to scientifically validate the health-promoting effects described by traditional medicine, an ever-growing number of bioactivities are being described for natural products and the phytochemicals that constitute them. Among them, medicinal plants and more specifically the Thymus genus spp., arise as products already present in the diet and with high acceptance, that are a source of phytochemicals with high pharmacological value. Phenolic acids, flavonoid glycoside derivatives, and terpenoids from Thymus spp. have been described for their ability to modulate cell death and survival pathways, much-valued bioactivities in the pharmaceutical industry, that continually sought-after new formulations to prevent undesired cell death or to control cell proliferation. Among these, wound treatment, protection from endogenous/exogenous toxic molecules, or the induction of selective cell death, such as the search for new anti-tumoral agents, arise as main objectives. This review summarizes and discusses studies on Thymus spp., as well as on compounds present in their extracts, with regard to their health-promoting effects involving the modulation of cell death or survival signaling pathways. In addition, studies regarding the main bioactive molecules and their cellular molecular targets were also reviewed. Concerning cell survival and proliferation, Thymus spp. present themselves as an option for new formulations designed for wound healing and protection against chemicals-induced toxicity. However, Thymus spp. extracts and some of their compounds regulate cell death, presenting anti-tumoral activity. Therefore Thymus spp. is a rich source of compounds with nutraceutical and pharmaceutical value.

Potential of Kalanchoe pinnata as a Cancer Treatment Adjuvant and an Epigenetic Regulator

Cancer is a global public health problem that is related to different environmental and lifestyle factors. Although the combination of screening, prevention, and treatment of cancer has resulted in increased patient survival, conventional treatments sometimes have therapeutic limitations such as resistance to drugs or severe side effects. Oriental culture includes herbal medicine as a complementary therapy in combination with chemotherapy or radiotherapy. This study aimed to identify the bioactive ingredients in Kalanchoe pinnata, a succulent herb with ethnomedical applications for several diseases, including cancer, and reveal its anticancer mechanisms through a molecular approach. The herb contains gallic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, quercetin, quercitrin, isorhamnetin, kaempferol, bersaldegenin, bryophyllin a, bryophyllin c, bryophynol, bryophyllol and bryophollone, stigmasterol, campesterol, and other elements. Its phytochemicals participate in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, cell migration, angiogenesis, metastasis, oxidative stress, and autophagy. They have the potential to act as epigenetic drugs by reverting the acquired epigenetic changes associated with tumor resistance to therapy-such as the promoter methylation of suppressor genes, inhibition of DNMT1 and DNMT3b activity, and HDAC regulation-through methylation, thereby regulating the expression of genes involved in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Nrf2/Keap1, MEK/ERK, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways. All of the data support the use of K. pinnata as an adjuvant in cancer treatment.

Chemopreventive effects of hesperidin against paclitaxel-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity via amendment of Nrf2/HO-1 and caspase-3/Bax/Bcl-2 signaling pathways

Paclitaxel (PTX) is a widely used chemotherapeutic drug particularly effective against lung, breast, and ovarian cancer, though its usefulness is limited due to its multi-organ toxicity. The mechanisms underlying PTX toxicity are currently not yet known and there are no approved treatments for its control or prevention. This study aimed to investigate whether hesperidin (HSP) had a protective effect on paclitaxel-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity from biochemical, and molecular perspectives. The rats were administered PTX 2 mg/kg, b.w. intraperitoneally for the first 5 consecutive days, then 100 or 200 mg/kg b.w. HSP orally for 10 consecutive days. Our results demonstrated that HSP decreased the PTX induced lipid peroxidation, improved the serum hepatic and renal functions (by decreasing the levels of AST, ALT, ALP, urea, and creatinine), and restored the liver and kidney antioxidant armory (SOD, CAT, GPx, and GSH). HSP also significantly reduced mRNA expression levels of NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, MAPK 14, Caspase-3, Bax, LC3A, LC3B, MMP2, and MMP9 whereas caused an increase in levels of Nrf2, HO-1, and Bcl-2 in the kidney and liver of PTX-induced rats. In addition, caspase-3, Bax, and Bcl-2 protein levels were examined by Western blot analysis, and it was determined that HSP decreased caspase-3 and Bax protein levels, but increased Bcl-2 protein levels. The findings of the study suggest that HSP has chemopreventive potential against PTX-induced hepatorenal toxicity plausibly through the attenuation of oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and autophagy.

Ferulic acid as major antioxidant phenolic compound of the Tetragonisca angustula honey collected in Vera Cruz - Itaparica Island, Bahia, Brazil

Abstract The antioxidant activity of Tetragonisca angustula honey (TAH) and its ethanolic extract (TAEE) were investigated. The total levels of phenolic (TPC) and flavonoids (TFC) were also evaluated. The results for TPC were 19.91 ± 0.38 and 29.37 ± 1.82 mg GAE g-1 and for TFC 0.20 ± 0.02 and 0.14 ± 0.01 mg QE g-1 of TAH and TAEE, respectively. Antioxidant activities were 73.29 ± 0.49% and 93.36 ± 0.27% in the DPPH● assay and 71.73 ± 4.07% and 97.86 ± 0.35% in ABTS●+ for TAH and TAEE, respectively. The total reducing activity was determined by the method of reducing power (PR) and iron ion (Fe III) and the results varied in PR from 151.7 ± 25.7 and 230.7 ± 25.2 mg GAE L-1, for TAH and TAEE respectively and for (Fe III) in EC50 0.284 in TAEE and 0.687 in TAH. Chemical analysis by HPLC-DAD of the ethanolic extract (TAEE) revealed the presence of ferulic acid as majority phenolic component in the extract. The 1H NMR analysis confirmed this structure and showed the also presence of glucose, citric acid, succinic acid, proline and hydrocarbon derivatives. In addition, the botanical origin was also investigated and showed a multifloral characteristic, having found 19 pollen types with a botanical predominance of the Anacardiaceae family, with Tapirira pollen occurring as predominant (42.6%) and Schinus as secondary (25.7%). The results showed that T. angustula honey is an interesting source of antioxidant phenolic compounds due to its floral origin and can act as a protector of human health when consumed.

Therapeutic Potential of Ferulic Acid in Alzheimer's Disease

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is one of the most important neurodegenerative diseases and it covers 60% of whole dementia cases. AD is a constantly progressing neurodegenerative disease as a result of the production of β-amyloid (Aβ) protein and the accumulation of hyper-phosphorylated Tau protein; it causes breakages in the synaptic bonds and neuronal deaths to a large extent. Millions of people worldwide suffer from AD because there is no definitive drug for disease prevention, treatment or slowdown. Over the last decade, multiple target applications have been developed for AD treatments. These targets include Aβ accumulations, hyper-phosphorylated Tau proteins, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative stress resulting in toxicity. Various natural or semisynthetic antioxidant formulations have been shown to protect brain cells from Aβ induced toxicity and provide promising potentials for AD treatment. Ferulic acid (FA), a high-capacity antioxidant molecule, is naturally synthesized from certain plants. FA has been shown to have different substantial biological properties, such as anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective actions, etc. Furthermore, FA exerted neuroprotection via preventing Aβ-fibril formation, acting as an anti-inflammatory agent, and inhibiting free radical generation and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzyme activity. In this review, we present key biological roles of FA and several FA derivatives in Aβ-induced neurotoxicity, protection against free radical attacks, and enzyme inhibitions and describe them as possible therapeutic agents for the treatment of AD.

Relationship between the Chemical Composition and the Biological Functions of Coffee

Coffee is a Rubiaceae coffee plant ranked as the first of the three most important beverages in the world, with effects including lowering blood sugar, protecting the liver, and protecting the nerves. Coffee contains many chemical components, including alkaloids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and so on. Chemical components in coffee are the basis of its biological function and taste. The chemical components are the basis of biological activities and form the characteristic aroma of coffee. The main chemical components and biological activities of coffee have been extensively studied, which would provide a relevant basis and theoretical support for the further development of the coffee industry.

Neuroprotective Potential of Chrysin: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Potential for Neurological Disorders

Chrysin, a herbal bioactive molecule, exerts a plethora of pharmacological effects, including anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and anti-cancer. A growing body of evidence has highlighted the emerging role of chrysin in a variety of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, ischemic stroke, traumatic brain injury, and brain tumors. Based on the results of recent pre-clinical studies and evidence from studies in humans, this review is focused on the molecular mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effects of chrysin in different neurological diseases. In addition, the potential challenges, and opportunities of chrysin's inclusion in the neurotherapeutics repertoire are critically discussed.

Can Propolis Be a Useful Adjuvant in Brain and Neurological Disorders and Injuries? A Systematic Scoping Review of the Latest Experimental Evidence

Propolis has been used therapeutically for centuries. In recent years, research has demonstrated its efficacy as a potential raw material for pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals. The aim of the present scoping review is to examine the latest experimental evidence regarding the potential use of propolis in protecting the brain and treating neurological disorders and injuries. A systematic scoping review methodology was implemented. Identification of the research themes and knowledge gap was performed. After applying the exclusion criteria, a total of 66 research publications were identified and retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, Pubmed, and Google Scholar. Several key themes where propolis is potentially useful were subsequently identified, namely detoxification, neuroinflammation, ischemia/ischemia-reperfusion injury/traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy models, depression, cytotoxicity, cognitive improvement, regenerative medicine, brain infection, and adverse effects. In conclusion, propolis is shown to have protective and therapeutic benefits in alleviating symptoms of brain and neurological disorders and injuries, demonstrated by various in vitro studies, animal models, and human clinical trials. Further clinical research into this area is needed.

Caffeic acid and its derivatives as potential modulators of oncogenic molecular pathways: New hope in the fight against cancer

As a phenolic acid compound, caffeic acid (CA) can be isolated from different sources such as tea, wine and coffee. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is naturally occurring derivative of CA isolated from propolis. This medicinal plant is well-known due to its significant therapeutic impact including its effectiveness as hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-diabetic agent. Among them, anti-tumor activity of CA has attracted much attention, and this potential has been confirmed both in vitro and in vivo. CA can induce apoptosis in cancer cells via enhancing ROS levels and impairing mitochondrial function. Molecular pathways such as PI3K/Akt and AMPK with role in cancer progression, are affected by CA and its derivatives in cancer therapy. CA is advantageous in reducing aggressive behavior of tumors via suppressing metastasis by inhibiting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition mechanism. Noteworthy, CA and CAPE can promote response of cancer cells to chemotherapy, and sensitize them to chemotherapy-mediated cell death. In order to improve capacity of CA and CAPE in cancer suppression, it has been co-administered with other anti-tumor compounds such as gallic acid and p-coumaric acid. Due to its poor bioavailability, nanocarriers have been developed for enhancing its ability in cancer suppression. These issues have been discussed in the present review with a focus on molecular pathways to pave the way for rapid translation of CA for clinical use.

Hesperidin protects liver and kidney against sodium fluoride-induced toxicity through anti-apoptotic and anti-autophagic mechanisms

AIM

High dose of fluoride intake is associated with toxic effects on liver and kidney tissues. One approach to tackle these toxicities is using natural antioxidants as supplements. This study evaluated the ameliorative effects of hesperidin (HSP) against sodium fluoride (NaF)-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in wistar albino rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, the rats were randomly allocated into five groups of seven male rats each group: control, NaF (600 ppm), HSP-200, NaF + HSP-100 and NaF + HSP 200.

KEY FINDINGS

Hepatic and renal injuries induced by NaF were confirmed by the alteration in kidney function parameters in the serum (urea and creatinine), levels of liver enzymes (ALT, ALP and AST), activities of the antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and GPx) and levels of inflammatory markers (NF-κB, IL-1β and TNF-α). NaF also inhibited PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, increased levels of autophagic markers (Beclin-1, LC3A and LC3B) and expression levels of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins (Bax, Bcl-2, cytochrome c, p53 and procaspase-3) in the liver and kidney tissues. Administration of HSP concurrently with NaF significantly ameliorated the deviation in the above-studied parameters.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results of the current study revealed that HSP could be used as a beneficial adjuvant that confers protection against NaF-induced liver and kidney damage through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic and anti-autophagic mechanisms.

Modulatory effects of carvacrol against cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity by molecular targeting regulation

AIM

Cadmium (Cd) is a toxic heavy metal that causes severe toxic effects on different tissues including liver and kidney. Therefore the research for alternatives to reduce the damage caused by Cd has substantial importance. This study was performed to examine the possible modulatory effects of carvacrol (CRV) against Cd-induced hepatorenal toxicities and the possible mechanisms underlying these effects.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the present study, 35 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 groups. The rats were treated with Cd (25 mg/kg) and treated with CRV (25 and 50 mg/kg body weight) for 7 consecutive days.

KEY FINDINGS

CRV could modulate Cd-induced elevations of ALT, ALP, AST, urea, creatinine, MDA and enhance antioxidant enzymes' activities such as SOD, CAT, and GPx, and GSH's level. CRV also reversed the changes in levels of inflammatory biomarker and apoptotic genes that include NF-κB, Bcl-3, MAPK-14, iNOS, COX-2, MPO, PGE2, Bax, Bcl-2, P53, Caspase-9, Caspase-6 and Caspase-3 in both tissues. The levels of 8-OHdG in the Cd-induced liver and kidney tissues were modulated after CRV treatment. Furthermore, CRV treatment considerably lowered Cd, Na, Fe, and Zn content while increased K, Ca, Mg and Cu contents in both tissues as compared to the Cd-exposed rats.

SIGNIFICANCE

The results of the present study revealed that CRV supplementation could be a promising strategy to protect the liver and kidney tissues against Cd-induced oxidative damage, inflammation and apoptosis.