Mechanisms underlying the protective effect of eugenol in rats with acute doxorubicin cardiotoxicity

Natural Products for Preventing and Managing Anthracycline-Induced Cardiotoxicity: A Comprehensive Review

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline anticancer agent that is highly effective in the treatment of solid tumors. Given the multiplicity of mechanisms involved in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, it is difficult to identify a precise molecular target for toxicity. The findings of a literature review suggest that natural products may offer cardioprotective benefits against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity, both in vitro and in vivo. However, further confirmatory studies are required to substantiate this claim. It is of the utmost importance to direct greater attention towards the intricate signaling networks that are of paramount importance for the survival and dysfunction of cardiomyocytes. Notwithstanding encouraging progress made in preclinical studies of natural products for the prevention of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, these have not yet been translated for clinical use. One of the most significant obstacles hindering the development of cardioprotective adjuvants based on natural products is the lack of adequate bioavailability in humans. This review presents an overview of current knowledge on doxorubicin DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, with a focus on the potential benefits of natural compounds and herbal preparations in preventing this adverse effect. As literature search engines, the browsers in the Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science databases and the ClinicalTrials.gov register were used.

Cardioprotective Effect of Eugenol Against Cd-Induced Inflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Dyslipidemia in Male Rats: An In Vivo and Molecular Docking Study

Cadmium, a highly toxic heavy metal, can cause severe damage to several vital organs including the kidney, liver, and brain. Many of the natural compounds found in aromatic plants have beneficial pharmacological properties. Eugenol is one such compound reported to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. The aim of this study is to investigate whether eugenol, a natural compound found in aromatic plants known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, can mitigate the detrimental effects of cadmium exposure on cardiac inflammation, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia. Male albino rats were subjected to randomization into four groups, each comprising six animals, to investigate the potential of eugenol in mitigating cadmium-induced toxicity. All groups received oral gavage treatment for 21 days. Following the treatment regimen, cardiac tissue specimens were collected for analysis. The assessment of cardiac antioxidant status entailed the determination of enzymatic activities including catalase, SOD, GST, and GPx. Additionally, levels of lipid peroxidation, reduced glutathione, protein carbonyl oxidation, and thiol levels were quantified in the cardiac tissue samples. To evaluate cardiac damage, marker enzymes such as LDH and CK-MB were measured. Furthermore, the inflammatory response in the cardiac tissue induced by cadmium exposure was assessed through the quantification of NO, TNF-α, and IL-6 levels. Additionally, molecular docking and dynamics studies were conducted utilizing autodock and GLIDE methodologies. Cadmium administration markedly enhanced the activities of LDH and CK-MB, prominent cardiac markers. Furthermore, cadmium treatment also demonstrated a significant decrease in the reduced glutathione levels and antioxidant enzyme activities. Significant elevation of the inflammatory markers was also observed in the cadmium-treated group. Eugenol treatment effectively ameliorates cadmium-induced biochemical changes. This study underscores the potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant attributes of eugenol. Co-administration of eugenol alongside cadmium exhibited remarkable protective efficacy against cadmium-induced cardio-toxicity. Eugenol demonstrated the capability to reinstate the cellular redox equilibrium of rats subjected to cadmium treatment to levels akin to those of the normal control group.

Pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, toxicity, and recent advances in Eugenol's potential benefits against natural and chemical noxious agents: A mechanistic review

The active biological phytochemicals, crucial compounds employed in creating hundreds of medications, are derived from valuable and medicinally significant plants. These phytochemicals offer excellent protection from various illnesses, including inflammatory disorders and chronic conditions caused by oxidative stress. A phenolic monoterpenoid known as eugenol (EUG), it is typically found in the essential oils of many plant species from the Myristicaceae, Myrtaceae, Lamiaceae, and Lauraceae families. One of the main ingredients of clove oil (Syzygium aromaticum (L.), Myrtaceae), it has several applications in industry, including flavoring food, pharmaceutics, dentistry, agriculture, and cosmeceuticals. Due to its excellent potential for avoiding many chronic illnesses, it has lately attracted attention. EUG has been classified as a nonmutant, generally acknowledged as a safe (GRAS) chemical by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to the existing research, EUG possesses notable anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, analgesic, antibacterial, antispasmodic, and apoptosis-promoting properties, which have lately gained attention for its ability to control chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial malfunction and dramatically impact human wellness. The purpose of this review is to evaluate the scientific evidence from the most significant research studies that have been published regarding the protective role and detoxifying effects of EUG against a wide range of toxins, including biological and chemical toxins, as well as different drugs and pesticides that produce a variety of toxicities, throughout view of the possible advantages of EUG.

Losartan Reduces Remodeling and Apoptosis in an Adriamycin-Induced Cardiomyopathy Rat Model

Background

The use of Adriamycin (ADR), also known as doxorubicin, as a chemotherapy agent is limited by its detrimental adverse effects, especially cardiotoxicity. Recent studies have emphasized the crucial role of angiotensin II (Ang-II) in the development of ADR-induced cardiomyopathy. This study aimed to explore the potential cardioprotective effects of losartan in a rat model of ADR-induced cardiomyopathy.

Methods

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a control group (group C), an ADR-treated group (ADR 5 mg/kg/wk for 3 weeks via intraperitoneal injections; group A), and co-treatment of ADR with losartan group (same dose of ADR and losartan; 10 mg/kg/day per oral for 3 weeks; group L). Western blot analysis was conducted to demonstrate changes in brain natriuretic peptide, collagen 1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin-6, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, B-cell leukemia/lymphoma (Bcl)-2, Bcl-2-associated X (Bax), and caspase-3 protein expression levels in left ventricular (LV) tissues from each group.

Results

Losartan administration reduced LV hypertrophy, collagen content, and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors TNF-α and MMP-2 in LV tissue. In addition, losartan led to a decrease in the expression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and caspase-3 and an increase in the expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. Moreover, losartan treatment induced a reduction in the apoptotic area compared to group A.

Conclusion

In an ADR-induced cardiomyopathy rat model, co-administration of ADR with losartan presented cardioprotective effects by attenuating LV hypertrophy, pro-inflammatory factors, and apoptosis in LV tissue.

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases ─ targeting cardiac ion channels

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, imposing an increasing global health burden. Cardiac ion channels (voltage-gated Na_V, Ca_V, K_Vs, and others) synergistically shape the cardiac action potential (AP) and control the heartbeat. Dysfunction of these channels, due to genetic mutations, transcriptional or post-translational modifications, may disturb the AP and lead to arrhythmia, a major risk for CVD patients. Although there are five classes of anti-arrhythmic drugs available, they can have varying levels of efficacies and side effects on patients, possibly due to the complex pathogenesis of arrhythmias. As an alternative treatment option, Chinese herbal remedies have shown promise in regulating cardiac ion channels and providing anti-arrhythmic effects. In this review, we first discuss the role of cardiac ion channels in maintaining normal heart function and the pathogenesis of CVD, then summarize the classification of Chinese herbal compounds, and elaborate detailed mechanisms of their efficacy in regulating cardiac ion channels and in alleviating arrhythmia and CVD. We also address current limitations and opportunities for developing new anti-CVD drugs based on Chinese herbal medicines.

Potential of natural products in combination with arsenic trioxide: Investigating cardioprotective effects and mechanisms

Over the past few decades, clinical trials conducted worldwide have demonstrated the efficacy of arsenic trioxide (ATO) in the treatment of relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Currently, ATO has become the frontline treatments for patients with APL. However, its therapeutic applicability is severely constrained by ATO-induced cardiac side effects. Any cardioprotective agents that can ameliorate the cardiac side effects and allow exploiting the full therapeutic potential of ATO, undoubtedly gain significant attention. The knowledge and use of natural products for evidence-based therapy have grown rapidly in recent years. Here we discussed the potential mechanism of ATO-induced cardiac side effects and reviewed the studies on cardiac side effects as well as the research history of ATO in the treatment of APL. Then, We summarized the protective effects and underlying mechanisms of natural products in the treatment of ATO-induced cardiac side effects. Based on the efficacy and safety of the natural product, it has a promising future in the development of cardioprotective agents against ATO-induced cardiac side effects.

In vitro and in silico evaluation of the schistosomicidal activity of eugenol derivatives using biochemical, molecular, and morphological tools

Background

Eugenol shows both antibacterial and antiparasitic activities, suggesting that it might be evaluated as an option for the treatment of praziquantel-resistant schistosome.

Methods

The in vitro activities of three eugenol derivatives (FB1, FB4 and FB9) on adult worms from Schistosoma mansoni were examined by fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy to analyze effects on the excretory system and integument damage, respectively. Biochemical tests with verapamil (a calcium channel antagonist) and ouabain (a Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase pump inhibitor) were used to characterize eugenol derivative interactions with calcium channels and the Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase, while in silico analysis identified potential Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase binding sites.

Results

The compounds showed effective doses (ED₅₀) of 0.324 mM (FB1), 0.167 mM (FB4), and 0.340 mM (FB9). In addition, FB4 (0.322 mM), which showed the lowest ED_50, ED₉₀ and ED₁₀₀ (p < 0.05), caused the most damage to the excretory system and integument, according to both fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy analysis. The death of adult worms was delayed by ouabain treatment plus FB1 (192 versus 72 hours) and FB9 (192 versus 168 hours), but the response to FB4 was the same in the presence or absence of ouabain. Besides, no changes were noted when all of the eugenol derivatives were combined with verapamil. Moreover, FB1 and FB9 inhibited Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity according to in silico analysis but FB4 did not show a time-dependent relationship and may act on targets other than the parasite Na+/K+-ATPase.

Conclusion

Eugenol derivatives, mainly FB4 when compared to FB1 and FB9, seem to act more effectively on the integument of adult S. mansoni worms.

Health benefits of spices in individuals with chemotherapeutic drug-induced cardiotoxicity

Cardio-oncology is an emerging field that mainly focuses on a series of cardiovascular diseases caused by chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In the history and culture of human nutrition, spices have been emphasized for their wide range of economic and medical applications in addition to being used as a food-flavoring agent and food preservative. Currently, an increasing number of studies have focused on the health benefits of spices in preventing cardiovascular diseases, particularly their antioxidant effects against cardiovascular damage. This review summarizes the cardioprotective effects of black pepper, cardamom, clove, garlic, ginger, onion, and other spices against chemotherapeutic drug-induced cardiotoxicity and the potential mechanisms. Here, we recommend dietary adjustments with spices for patients with cancer to prevent or mitigate the cardiotoxicity induced by chemotherapeutic agents.

Eugenol interacts with cardiac sodium channel and reduces heart excitability and arrhythmias

AIMS

Eugenol is a natural compound found in the essential oils of many aromatic plants. The compound is used as a local anesthetic because of its inhibitory effect on the voltage-gated Na⁺ channels (Na_v), which are expressed in the nociceptive neurons. Eugenol has shown wide range of activities in the cardiovascular system; most of these activities are attributed to the modulation of voltage-sensitive Ca²⁺ channels. However, its action on Na_v1.5, the main subtype of Na_v expressed in the mammalian myocardium, is unknown. The interaction of eugenol with Na_v1.5 could also contribute to its antiarrhythmic properties in vitro and ex vivo. We investigated the compound's effect on sodium current (I_Na) and its possible cardiac antiarrhythmic activity.

METHODS

The effect of eugenol on cardiac contractility was investigated using isolated atrium from guinea pig (for isometric force measurements). The compound's effect on I_Na was evaluated using human embryonic cell transiently expressing human Nav1.5 and patch-clamp technique.

KEY FINDINGS

Eugenol caused negative inotropic and chronotropic effects in the atria. In the ex vivo arrhythmia model, eugenol decreased atrial pacing disturbance induced by ouabain. Eugenol reduced the I_Na in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, the compound left-shifted the stationary inactivation curve, delayed recovery from inactivation of the I_Na, and preferentially blocked the channel in the inactivated state. Importantly, eugenol was able to attenuate the late sodium current. All these aspects are considered to be antiarrhythmic.

SIGNIFICANCE

Overall, our findings demonstrate that eugenol has antiarrhythmic activity due, at least in part, to its interaction with Na_v1.5.

Protective effect of eugenol on hepatic inflammation and oxidative stress induced by cadmium in male rats

BACKGROUND

Cadmium is one of the most toxic heavy metals. The prolonged exposure of it can lead to severe alterations and damage in different tissues including blood, liver, kidney and brain. Eugenol, a phenolic compound, is present in various aromatic plants. It acts as a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the treatment of eugenol is beneficial against the hepatic oxidative stress and inflammation induced by Cd.

METHODS

To study the effect of eugenol in reversal of Cd toxicity, 24 albino rats were equally divided into four different groups: G1 Control (saline), G2 Eugenol (3 mg kg-1), G3 CdCl2 (5 mg kg-1) and G4 CdCl2 + Eugenol (5 mg kg-1 + 3 mg kg-1). All the groups were treated with gavage orally for the period of 21 days. After this treatment period, rats were sacrificed and liver tissues were removed. The hepatic antioxidant status was evaluated by measuring the activities of SOD, Catalase and GST enzymes. The reduced glutathione, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonyl oxidation (PCO) and thiol contents were measured in hepatic tissues. The activities of liver marker enzymes such as ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, TP, albumin, Bilirubin content and LDH were determined to assess the hepatic damage in different groups. Cd induced hepatic inflammation was determined by evaluating the levels of TNF-a, IL-6 and NO.

RESULTS

Oral intoxication of Cd for 21 days significantly elevated the level of hepatic markers including activities of LDH, GGT, ALP, ALT, AST and Bilirubin level. The albumin content, reduced GSH level, and activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly reduced in Cd treated group. The levels of inflammatory markers were significantly elevated in Cd treated group. The eugenol treatment was very effective and it significantly reversed the Cd induced biochemical alterations almost similar to that of control.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated that the eugenol possessed very strong anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory potential. The co-treatment of eugenol with Cd exhibited protective potential of eugenol against Cd induced toxicity. Eugenol was able to improve the cellular redox system in rats treated with Cd.

The Role of Essential Oils and Their Main Compounds in the Management of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a global health burden that greatly impact patient quality of life and account for a huge number of deaths worldwide. Despite current therapies, several side effects have been reported that compromise patient adherence; thus, affecting therapeutic benefits. In this context, plant metabolites, namely volatile extracts and compounds, have emerged as promising therapeutic agents. Indeed, these compounds, in addition to having beneficial bioactivities, are generally more amenable and present less side effects, allowing better patient tolerance. The present review is an updated compilation of the studies carried out in the last 20 years on the beneficial potential of essential oils, and their compounds, against major risk factors of CVDs. Overall, these metabolites show beneficial potential through a direct effect on these risk factors, namely hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes, or by acting on related targets, or exerting general cellular protection. In general, monoterpenic compounds are the most studied regarding hypotensive and anti-dyslipidemic/antidiabetic properties, whereas phenylpropanoids are very effective at avoiding platelet aggregation. Despite the number of studies performed, clinical trials are sparse and several aspects related to essential oil’s features, namely volatility and chemical variability, need to be considered in order to guarantee their efficacy in a clinical setting.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia drug - arsenic trioxide in the presence of eugenol shows differential action on leukemia cells (HL-60) and cardiomyocytes (H9c2) - inference from NMR study

The increased concern of cardiovascular dysfunction by cancer therapeutics has led to more effective treatment strategies. Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) is a potential chemotherapeutic agent for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), but the effectiveness is affected by potential cardiotoxicity. Researchers have been trying to find out novel modalities to manage the adverse effects of As₂O₃. In our study, the antioxidant molecule eugenol showed protective action against the destructive impact of As₂O₃ on cardiomyocytes (H9c2) without compromising the anti-cancer property As₂O₃ on leukemia cells (HL-60). We have studied the interaction between arsenic and eugenol in physiological and acidic pH to understand the molecular mechanism of differential action of As₂O₃ in the presence of eugenol using NMR spectroscopy. The study observed that at physiological pH, arsenic and eugenol interact to form an inactive product, positively affecting H9c2 cardiomyocytes. Still, there is no such interaction in acidic pH evidenced by the useful anti-cancer property of As₂O₃. The result concludes that the antioxidant molecule eugenol is an efficient protective agent against the adverse effect of As₂O₃ on cardiomyocytes.

Eugenol influences the expression of messenger RNAs for superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase 1 in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro

This study aimed to investigate the effects of eugenol on growth, viability, antrum formation and mRNA expression of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase 1 (GPX1) and peroxiredoxin 6 (PRDX6) in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro. To this end, bovine ovaries were collected from a local slaughterhouse and in the laboratory the follicles were isolated from the ovarian cortex. The follicles were then cultured in TCM-199+ alone or supplemented with different concentrations of eugenol (0.5, 5.0 and 50.0 μM). Follicular diameters and antrum formation were evaluated on days 0, 6, 12 and 18. Viability analysis was performed using calcein and ethidium homodimer. Real-time PCR was used to quantify mRNA levels for SOD, CAT, GPX1 and PRDX6 in cultured follicles. Follicular diameters and mRNA levels in follicles cultured in vitro were compared using analysis of variance and Kruskal-Wallis tests, while follicular survival and antrum formation were compared using the chi-squared test (P < 0.05). The results showed that secondary follicles cultured with eugenol maintained similar morphology and viability to follicles cultured in the control group. A progressive increase in follicular diameter was observed between days 0 and 12 for all treatments, except for follicles cultured with 50 µM eugenol. Eugenol (5.0 and 50.0 μM) increased mRNA levels for GPX1 in cultured follicles, but 0.5 μM eugenol reduced mRNA levels for SOD. The addition of eugenol did not influence mRNA expression for CAT and PRDX6. In conclusion, eugenol supplementation reduces mRNA levels for SOD and increases mRNA levels of GPX1 in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro.

Epigenetic immunomodulatory effect of eugenol and astaxanthin on doxorubicin cytotoxicity in hormonal positive breast Cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Hormonal receptor positive (HR+) breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed molecular subtype of breast cancer; which showed good response to doxorubicin (DOX)-based chemotherapy. Eugenol (EUG) and astaxanthin (AST) are natural compounds with proved epigenetic and immunomodulatory effects in several cancer cell lines. This study has been initiated to investigate the molecular mechanism (s) whereby EUG and AST could enhance DOX cytotoxicity in MCF7 cells.

METHODS

Cytotoxic activity of DOX alone and combined with either 1 mM EUG or 40 μM AST was performed using sulphorhodamine-B assay in MCF7 cells. Global histones acetylation and some immunological markers were investigated using ELISA, western blotting and quantitative RT-PCR techniques. Functional assay of multidrug resistance was performed using rhodamine 123 and Hoechst 3342 dyes. Flow cytometry with annexin V and propidium iodide were used to assess the change in cell cycle and apoptosis along with the expression of some differentiation, apoptosis and autophagy proteins.

RESULTS

DOX alone resulted in concentration-dependent cytotoxicity with IC50 of 0.5 μM. Both EUG and AST significantly increased DOX cytotoxicity which is manifested as a significant decrease in DOX IC50 from 0.5 μM to 0.088 μM with EUG and to 0.06 μM with AST. Combinations of DOX with 1 mM EUG or 40 μM AST significantly increased the level of histones acetylation and histone acetyl transferase expression, while reduced the expression of aromatase and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) when compared with 0.25 μM DOX alone. Also both combinations showed higher uptake of rhodamine but lower of Hoechst stains, along with increased the percentage of caspase 3, and decreased the expression of CK7 and LC3BI/II ratio. EUG combination induced IFγ but reduced TNFα causing shifting of cells from G2/M to S and G0/ G1 phases. Combination of DOX with EUG induced apoptosis through the higher BAX/ BCl2 ratio, while with AST was through the increase in caspase 8 expressions.

CONCLUSION

EUG and AST potentiated the anticancer activity of DOX through epigenetic histones acetylation along with the immunonomodulation of different apoptotic approaches in MCF7 cells.

Ethanol Extract of Chinese Hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) Fruit Reduces Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Rats with Doxorubicin-Induced Chronic Heart Failure

Background

Chinese hawthorn (Crataegus pinnatifida) fruit is a traditional Chinese medicine for treatment of digestive system and cardiovascular diseases. The fruit contains polyphenol compounds, such as epicatechin, that have anti-inflammatory activity. This study aimed to investigate the effects of an alcohol extract of hawthorn fruit (HAE) on inflammation and oxidative stress in rats with doxorubicin-induced chronic heart failure (CHF).

Material/Methods

Rats were intraperitoneally injected with doxorubicin to induce CHF and subsequently treated with HAE intragastrically once daily for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters were assessed, and enzyme-linked immunoassays were used to detect the levels of cardiac injury markers (brain natriuretic peptide, creatine kinase-MB, aspartate aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, copeptin, and adrenomedullin), oxidative stress markers (glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde), and inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-6, IL-8, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α). The IL-1β, IL-6, glutathione peroxidase-1, and catalase mRNA levels were also measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Our findings indicated that HAE exerts a cardioprotective effect, as shown by improved echocardiographic and hemodynamic parameters, decreased activity of serum myocardial enzymes, reduced serum levels of CHF markers, and inhibited inflammatory response in cardiac tissue. In addition, HAE treatment downregulated the mRNA expression of IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α and upregulated the mRNA expression of glutathione peroxidase-1 and catalase compared with untreated doxorubicin-induced CHF rats.

Conclusions

HAE shows promise for the prevention and treatment of CHF. The cardioprotective effect of HAE appears to be related to inhibition of both the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in vivo.

Capsaicin-Sensitive Sensory Nerves and the TRPV1 Ion Channel in Cardiac Physiology and Pathologies

Cardiovascular diseases, including coronary artery disease, ischemic heart diseases such as acute myocardial infarction and postischemic heart failure, heart failure of other etiologies, and cardiac arrhythmias, belong to the leading causes of death. Activation of capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves by the transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) capsaicin receptor and other receptors, as well as neuropeptide mediators released from them upon stimulation, play important physiological regulatory roles. Capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves also contribute to the development and progression of some cardiac diseases, as well as to mechanisms of endogenous stress adaptation leading to cardioprotection. In this review, we summarize the role of capsaicin-sensitive afferents and the TRPV1 ion channel in physiological and pathophysiological functions of the heart based mainly on experimental results and show their diagnostic or therapeutic potentials. Although the actions of several other channels or receptors expressed on cardiac sensory afferents and the effects of TRPV1 channel activation on different non-neural cell types in the heart are not precisely known, most data suggest that stimulation of the TRPV1-expressing sensory nerves or stimulation/overexpression of TRPV1 channels have beneficial effects in cardiac diseases.

Evaluation of Encapsulated Eugenol by Chitosan Nanoparticles on the aggressive model of rheumatoid arthritis

Chitosan Nanoparticles Eugenol recognizes as a potent antioxidant that can use the first therapeutic chemical to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) instead of Methotrexate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Chitosan Nanoparticles Eugenol as a potent Nano-herbal agent in the healing process of experimental neonatal RA compared to Methotrexate. The neonatal Wistar rats induced rheumatoid arthritis in both genders were divided into sham, control, the treatment receiving Methotrexate, and the second treatment receiving encapsulated Eugenol by Chitosan Nanoparticles groups. Afterward, Malondialdehyde, for assessment of lipid peroxidation as an oxidative stress biomarker by assay kit, FOXO3 protein as an antioxidant up-regulating by western blotting and expression of the TGF-β and CCL2/MCP-1 genes by real-time PCR evaluation, supported by a cartilage histopathology analysis. Based on these results, Methotrexate and Eugenol encapsulated by Chitosan Nanoparticles, a significant decrease is observed in the serum level of MDA and FOXO3 protein expression in comparison to the control group. Additionally, Nanoparticle herbal agent and Methotrexate has a decreasing effect on the expression of TGF-β and MCP-1 genes and a significant positive correlation was observed between MCP-1 and TGF-β. Inflammation, synovial hyperplasia, and pannus formation were extreme in the Collagen Induced Arthritis rats. It can be concluded that Encapsulated Eugenol by Chitosan Nanoparticles and Methotrexate, probably by dint of their immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potential has a protective effect against RA. Nano Eugenol is capable of delivering promising lines results to treat autoimmune diseases such as RA can also be suggested.

Protective Effects of Phenylpropanoids and Phenylpropanoid-rich Essential Oils on the Cardiovascular System

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of global mortality with a tendency to increase due to population ageing as well as an increase in associated risk factors. Although current therapies improve survival rates, they are associated with several side effects, thus justifying the development of novel preventive and/or therapeutic approaches. In this way, plant metabolites such as essential oils have emerged as promising agents due to their biological effects.

OBJECTIVE

Bearing in mind that several essential oils are characterized by high amounts of phenylpropanoids, which may play a crucial role in the activity of these volatile extracts, a comprehensive and systematic review focusing on the cardiovascular effects of phenylpropanoid-rich essential oils is presented.

METHODS

Popular search engines including PubMed, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar were consulted and papers from 2000 onwards were selected. Non-volatile phenylpropanoids were not considered in this review.

RESULTS

A compilation of the current knowledge on this thematic pointed out beneficial effects for volatile phenylpropanoids namely hypotensive, vasorelaxant, antiplatelet aggregation, antidyslipidaemic and antidiabetic, as well as protective properties against ischemia/reperfusion injury and heart hypertrophy.

CONCLUSION

A better understanding of the protective effects of phenylpropanoids on the cardiovascular system is presented, thus paving the way towards future research on plant-based therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

Eugenol protects against citrinin-induced cytotoxicity and oxidative damages in cultured human colorectal HCT116 cells

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of Eugenol (EUG), an effective antioxidant phenolic compound with a radical scavenging activity against citrinin (CTN)-induced toxicity in vitro using HCT116 cells. CTN is a well-known mycotoxin found in different constituents of the food chain. This environmental contaminant produces free radicals which interacts with cellular macromolecules and produces oxidation of protein, lipid, and DNA. The cytotoxic effects were monitored by measuring cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, antioxidant enzyme activities, malondialdehyde (MDA) production, protein oxidation, and DNA fragmentation. Our results have shown that the pretreatment of HCT116 cells with EUG, 2 h prior to citrinin (CTN) exposure, significantly decreased CTN-induced cell death, inhibited ROS generation, modulated activities of both catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD), and reduced MDA production. Level of protein-bound sulfhydryls and DNA fragmentation were also declined as compared with CTN-treated cells. These findings suggest that EUG would be an effective protective agent against CTN-induced oxidative stress, and thereby, it may complement and add to the functions of antioxidant vitamins and enzymes as a protection against the cytotoxicity of this mycotoxin.

Protective Effects of Eugenol against Hepatotoxicity Induced by Arsenic Trioxide: An Antileukemic Drug

BACKGROUND

Arsenic trioxide (As2O3) has shown effectiveness in the treatment of leukemia, but it is also associated with hepatotoxicity. Given antileukemic drug-induced oxidative stress and toxicity, this study focused on the mitigatory role of eugenol, a monoterpene compound from clove oil, in the hepatic tissue of Wistar rats.

METHODS

Twenty-four male Wistar rats (180-250 g) were randomly divided into 4 groups (6 rats per group): normal control rats, rats treated with As₂O₂ (4 mg/kg bwt), rats treated with eugenol (5 mg/kg bwt), and rats receiving co-treatment with As₂O₃ (4 mg/kg bwt) and eugenol (5 mg/kg bwt), all of which orally administered for a period of 30 days. The Tukey test (Origin version 7, Origin Lab Corporation, Northampton, USA) was applied to analyze the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) between the different groups. A P value less than 0.05 was considered significant.

RESULT

Oral administration of As2O3 significantly induced hepatic damage, evident from increased levels of aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase (P=0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). Moreover, a decrease in the activities of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants altered electrolyte concentration and increased the rate of lipid peroxidation (P=0.04) and the level of nitric oxide (P=0.01). Accumulation studies and histopathological analyses confirmed the biochemical variations. Co-treatment with eugenol (5 mg/kg bwt) exhibited hepatoprotective effects as manifested by the decreased rate of arsenic accumulation, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide level along with normalized levels of antioxidants and maintained histology of the liver.

CONCLUSION

Eugenol may be used in combination with arsenic trioxide in chemotherapy to reduce oxidative damage to the hepatic system.

Kolaviron and Garcinia kola attenuate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats

Background

The

Methods

Sixty male rats (Wistar strain) were used in this study. They were divided into 6 groups (A-F) each containing 10 animals. Group A was the control. Rats in Groups B, C, D, E and F were treated with doxorubicin at the dosage of 15 mg/kg body weight i.p. Prior to this treatment, rats in groups C, D, E and F were pre-treated orally with Kolaviron at the dosage of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg, and

Results

The results show that doxorubicin caused a significant increase in heart rate and prolonged QT, reduced antioxidant status, increased oxidative stress, inflammation and markers of cardiac damage which were reversed by pre-treatment with Kolaviron and

Conclusions

Overall, pre-treatment with Kolaviron or

Recent progress in doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity and protective potential of natural products

BACKGROUND

As an anthracycline antibiotic, doxorubicin (DOX) is one of the most potent and widely used chemotherapeutic agents for various types of solid tumors. Unfortunately, clinical application of this drug results in severe side effects of cardiotoxicity.

PURPOSE

We aim to review the research focused on elimination or reduction of DOX cardiotoxicity without affecting its anticancer efficacy by natural products.

METHODS

This study is based on pertinent papers that were retrieved by a selective search using relevant keywords in PubMed and ScienceDirect. The literature mainly focusing on natural products and herb extracts with therapeutic efficacies against experimental models both in vitro and in vivo was identified.

RESULTS

Current evidence revealed that multiple molecules and signaling pathways, such as oxidative stress, iron metabolism, and inflammation, are associated with DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Based on these knowledge, various strategies were proposed, and thousands of compounds were screened. A number of natural products and herb extracts demonstrated potency in limiting DOX cardiotoxicity toward cultured cells and experimental animal models.

CONCLUSIONS

Though a panel of natural products and herb extracts demonstrate protective effects on DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in cells and animal models, their therapeutic potentials for clinical needs further investigation.

Studies on curative efficacy of monoterpene eugenol on anti- leukemic drug arsenic trioxide induced cardiotoxicity

BACKGROUND

Arsenic trioxide (As₂O₃) is emerging as a frontline agent for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) but the therapeutic application is limited by its toxicity. QT prolongation, torsades de pointes and sudden cardiac death have been implicated in the As₂O₃ therapy. So eugenol is a monoterpene compound is well known for its antioxidant properties and protective effect on the cardiovascular system.

OBJECTIVE

In this study, the cardioprotective effect of eugenol on cardiac electrical conductivity, tissue electrolytes, myocardial markers, antioxidant system, lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide production was investigated in male Wistar rats treated with arsenic trioxide.

RESULTS

The Inductively coupled plasma emission spectroscopic (ICP-OES) analysis pointed out the accumulation of arsenic in heart tissue. The rats administered with arsenic trioxide (4mg/kg body wt) exhibited myocardial damage that was manifested by the elevation of cardiac markers (LDH, CK-MB) enzymes and deterioration in the antioxidant enzymes (GSH, GST, GPx). Combination treatment with eugenol (5mg/kg of body wt) upholds the tissue antioxidant level, Na⁺/K⁺ - ATPase and Ca^2+- ATPase activity and brings the cytosolic Ca^2+, K⁺ and Na ⁺ levels near to normal value. Conjoined therapy with eugenol ameliorated the membrane peroxidation, restored the normal heart rate and rectified the prolongation of QT interval in the electrocardiogram. Histological examination of cardiac segments also supported the beneficial role of eugenol against arsenic-induced oxidative damages.

CONCLUSION

Our in vivo experimental findings suggest that monoterpenoid eugenol could be a potent and novel cytoprotective agent of clinical application against As₂O₃ induced cardiotoxicity.

Cardioprotective mechanisms of phytochemicals against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antibiotic, which is effectively used in the treatment of different malignancies, such as leukemias and lymphomas. Its most serious side effect is dose-dependent cardiotoxicity, which occurs through inducing oxidative stress apoptosis. Due to the myelosuppressive effect of dexrazoxane, a commonly-used drug to alleviate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity, researchers investigated the potential of phytochemicals for prophylaxis and treatment of this condition. Phytochemicals are plant chemicals that have protective or disease preventive properties. Preclinical trials have shown antioxidant properties for several plant extracts, such as those of Aerva lanata, Aronia melanocarpa, Astragalus polysaccharide, and Bombyx mori plants. Other plant extracts showed an ability to inhibit apoptosis, such as those of Astragalus polysaccharide, Azadirachta indica, Bombyx mori, and Allium stavium plants. Unlike synthetic agents, phytochemicals do not impair the clinical activity of DOX and they are particularly safe for long-term use. In this review, we summarized the results of preclinical trials that investigated the cardioprotective effects of phytochemicals against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Future human trials are required to translate these cardioprotective mechanisms into practical clinical implications.

The Protective Role of Phenolic Compounds Against Doxorubicin-induced Cardiotoxicity: A Comprehensive Review

Although doxorubicin (DOX) is among the most widely used anticancer agents, its clinical application is hampered owing to its cardiotoxicity. Adjuvant therapy with an antioxidant has been suggested as a promising strategy to reduce DOX-induced adverse effects. In this context, many phenolic compounds have been reported to protect against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. The cardioprotective effects of phenolic compounds are exerted via multiple mechanisms including inhibition of reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis, NF-κB, p53, mitochondrial dysfunction, and DNA damage. In this review, we present a summary of the in vitro, in vivo, and clinical findings on the protective mechanisms of phenolic compounds against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Cardioprotective Potentials of Plant-Derived Small Molecules against Doxorubicin Associated Cardiotoxicity

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a potent and widely used anthracycline antibiotic for the treatment of several malignancies. Unfortunately, the clinical utility of DOX is often restricted due to the elicitation of organ toxicity. Particularly, the increased risk for the development of dilated cardiomyopathy by DOX among the cancer survivors warrants major attention from the physicians as well as researchers to develop adjuvant agents to neutralize the noxious effects of DOX on the healthy myocardium. Despite these pitfalls, the use of traditional cytotoxic drugs continues to be the mainstay treatment for several types of cancer. Recently, phytochemicals have gained attention for their anticancer, chemopreventive, and cardioprotective activities. The ideal cardioprotective agents should not compromise the clinical efficacy of DOX and should be devoid of cumulative or irreversible toxicity on the naïve tissues. Furthermore, adjuvants possessing synergistic anticancer activity and quelling of chemoresistance would significantly enhance the clinical utility in combating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. The present review renders an overview of cardioprotective effects of plant-derived small molecules and their purported mechanisms against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity. Phytochemicals serve as the reservoirs of pharmacophore which can be utilized as templates for developing safe and potential novel cardioprotective agents in combating DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Cardioprotective effects of sitagliptin against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity in rats

There is a large body of evidence suggesting that inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase-4, such as sitagliptin, may exhibit beneficial effects against different inflammatory disorders. This investigation was conducted to elucidate the potential ability of sitagliptin to counteract the injurious effects of doxorubicin in cardiac tissue. Male Wistar rats were pretreated with sitagliptin for 10 days then treated with a single dose of doxorubicin (20 mg/kg, i.p). Electrocardiography, biochemical estimation of serum and tissue markers, and histo- and immunopathological examinations were done. Results have shown that supplementation with sitagliptin resulted in significant improvement of cardiac function with contaminant decrease in serum markers of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. These results were supported by the histopathological results. Furthermore, a marked protection against oxidative stress was evident through reduction of lipid peroxidation and prevention of reduced glutathione content depletion and superoxide dismutase activity reduction in cardiac tissue of rats pretreated with sitagliptin in combination with doxorubicin. Moreover, sitagliptin ameliorated the activation of nuclear factor kappa-B and the release of inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor-alpha and nitric oxide. Finally, sitagliptin attenuated doxorubicin-induced increase in the expression of pro-apoptotic protein Bax and in the apoptotic marker, caspase-3. Collectively, these data indicate that sitagliptin pretreatment could alleviate doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity via reducing oxidative damage and its subsequent inflammation and apoptosis.

Ameliorative effect of naringin against doxorubicin-induced acute cardiac toxicity in rats

CONTEXT

Doxorubicin (Dox) is one of the most active chemotherapeutic agents used to treat various types of cancers. Its clinical utility is compromised due to fatal cardiac toxicity characterized by an irreversible cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the cardioprotective potential of naringin (NR) against Dox-induced acute cardiac toxicity in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into five groups. NR (50 and 100 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) daily from 0 to 14 d. Doxorubicin (15 mg/kg, i.p.) was given as a single dose on the 10th day. On the 14th day, all animals were sacrificed and oxidative stress parameters that include malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) level, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and all mitochondrial complexes (I-IV) activities were evaluated along with histopathological studies of the heart.

RESULTS

Doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity was confirmed by increased (p < 0.05) MDA, decreased (p < 0.05) GSH levels, SOD, and CAT activities, mitochondrial complexes (I-IV) activities in the heart tissue. NR (100 mg/kg) showed cardioprotection as evident from significant decreased MDA (p < 0.001) level, raised (p < 0.001) GSH level, SOD and CAT activities and increased mitochondrial complexes I (p < 0.01), II (p < 0.001), III (p < 0.001), and IV (p < 0.05) activities. Further, Dox-induced cardiotoxicity was confirmed by histopathological studies. These obtained results indicated the protective role of NR against Dox-induced cardiac toxicity in rats.

CONCLUSION

NR can be used in combination with Dox due to its high cardioprotective effect against Dox-induced cardiomyopathy.

Oral treatment with the herbal formula B307 alleviates cardiac toxicity in doxorubicin-treated mice via suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate whether the herbal formula B307 could alleviate doxorubicin (DOX)-induced acute cardiotoxicity. If so, we further unraveled possible molecular mechanisms of cardiac protection under treatment with the herbal formula B307.

METHODS

Before the animal experiment, we examined relative viabilities of Huh7 cancer cells under treatment with the herbal formula B307. To test whether oral treatment with the herbal formula B307 could alleviate cardiotoxicity, equal volumes of B307 (50 mg/kg) or saline (sham treatment) were administered to 20-week-old male mice once daily for 14 consecutive days. Then, DOX (10 mg/kg; ip) was administered to male mice under B307 and sham treatments at 22-23 weeks of age. Cardiac functions in these mice were assessed via echocardiography at 23-24 weeks of age. Then, expressions of oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis-related proteins were examined in the heart tissue by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting at 24-25 weeks of age. Apart from this, mortality rate and body weight were measured during the experiment.

RESULTS

In vitro, the relative viabilities of Huh7 cancer cells under treatment with the herbal formula B307 had shown no obvious change at doses of 10-160 ng/mL. Furthermore, the relative viabilities of Huh7 cancer cells were significantly reduced under DOX treatment but showed no significant change under DOX only and DOX plus B307 treatment. In vivo, the mortality rate, body weight, and cardiac function of DOX-treated mice were obviously improved under oral treatment with the herbal formula B307. Furthermore, cardiac expressions of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase 2, and B-cell lymphoma 2 were significantly enhanced, but tumor necrosis factor alpha, NFKB1 (p50 and its precursor, p105), neurotrophin-3, Bcl-2-associated X protein, calpain, caspase 12, caspase 9, and caspase 3 were significantly suppressed in DOX-treated mice under oral treatment with the herbal formula B307.

CONCLUSION

Our results revealed that oral treatment with the herbal formula B307 may provide cardioprotection in DOX-treated mice via suppressing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in heart tissue. We believe that the herbal formula B307 may be developed as a potential alternative treatment for cancer patients under DOX treatment.

Eugenol-rich Fraction of Syzygium aromaticum (Clove) Reverses Biochemical and Histopathological Changes in Liver Cirrhosis and Inhibits Hepatic Cell Proliferation

Background:

Dried flower bud of Syzygium aromaticum (clove) is rich in eugenol, an antioxidant and antiinflammatory compound that can protect liver against injury. Clove, besides eugenol, also contains other pharmacologically active phytochemicals such as β-sitosterol and ascorbic acid. This study reports the effect of eugenol-rich fraction (ERF) of clove on liver cirrhosis induced by thioacetamide.

Methods:

Cirrhosis of the liver, which predisposes to hepatocellular carcinoma, was induced by administering thioacetamide (0.03%) in drinking water for 16 weeks. Cirrhotic animals were divided into two groups; the treated group was administered ERF for 9 weeks, one week after discontinuation of thioacetamide, while the other group received normal saline for a similar duration of time.

Results:

The treatment with ERF, as determined by histopathology and through a battery of biochemical markers of hepatic injury, oxidative stress and drug metabolizing enzymes, significantly ameliorated the signs of liver cirrhosis. It lowered the elevated levels of alkaline phosphatase, γ-glutamyl transferase and other biochemical changes in liver cirrhosis. Histopathology of the liver corroborated the effect of ERF with biochemical findings. ERF treatment further inhibited cell proliferation, as demonstrated by reduced [³H]-thymidine uptake.

Conclusions:

Data provide evidence supporting the protective action of ERF on liver cirrhosis. The study assumes significance because cirrhosis predisposes the liver to cancer, which is characterized by abnormal cell proliferation. ERF in this study is reported to inhibit hepatic cell proliferation and at the same time decrease oxidative stress, which might be the mechanism of protection against liver cirrhosis.

Assessment of antioxidative, chelating, and DNA-protective effects of selected essential oil components (eugenol, carvacrol, thymol, borneol, eucalyptol) of plants and intact Rosmarinus officinalis oil

Selected components of plant essential oils and intact Rosmarinus officinalis oil (RO) were investigated for their antioxidant, iron-chelating, and DNA-protective effects. Antioxidant activities were assessed using four different techniques. DNA-protective effects on human hepatoma HepG2 cells and plasmid DNA were evaluated with the help of the comet assay and the DNA topology test, respectively. It was observed that whereas eugenol, carvacrol, and thymol showed high antioxidative effectiveness in all assays used, RO manifested only antiradical effect and borneol and eucalyptol did not express antioxidant activity at all. DNA-protective ability against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced DNA lesions was manifested by two antioxidants (carvacrol and thymol) and two compounds that do not show antioxidant effects (RO and borneol). Borneol was able to preserve not only DNA of HepG2 cells but also plasmid DNA against Fe(2+)-induced damage. This paper evaluates the results in the light of experiences of other scientists.

Protective effect of clove oil and eugenol microemulsions on fatty liver and dyslipidemia as components of metabolic syndrome

In the present research, the effect of clove essential oil (CO) and its major constituent, eugenol, formulated in water-based microemulsions, was studied on fatty liver and dyslipidemia in high-fructose-fed rats. Plasma and liver lipids, oxidative stress, inflammatory biomarker, and liver function were the assessed criteria. CO dispersed in water as conventional cloudy emulsion was also subjected to the same biological evaluations for comparison with the microemulsified form of this oil. Results showed that the particle size of CO microemulsion (COM) and eugenol microemulsion (EM) was 8.0 nm and 8.9 nm, respectively. Excess dilution and incubation of these microemulsions in 1.2 N HCl, that mimic stomach juice (without lipase), for 5 hours at 37 °C lead to the establishment of second population of larger particles with average diameter>100.0 nm. Biological evaluation revealed that rats of high fructose control group exhibited significant dyslipidemia, high plasma tumor necrosis factor-α, and elevated malondialdehyde. The same group of rats showed significant high liver total fat, triglycerides and cholesterol, and liver dysfunction compared to control normal rats fed balanced diet. Daily oral administration of CO conventional emulsion, COM, and EM produced significant improvement of all studied parameters. No significant change in all biochemical parameters was noticed when the groups given the different formulations were compared with each other. The study concluded that administration of CO conventional emulsion, COM, or EM produced significant improvement in fatty liver and dyslipidemia with consequent expected protection from cardiovascular diseases and other complications of fatty liver. Formulation of CO in microemulsion having particle size ∼ 8.0 nm did not enhance the protective effect compared with the same dose of CO dispersed in water as conventional macroemulsion, probably due to the ease of absorption of these bioactives in their native states. However, formulation in microemulsion provides a delivery system for oral administration of CO or eugenol in homogeneous, water-based, and thermodynamically stable dosage form during storage.

Quercetin augments the protective effect of losartan against chronic doxorubicin cardiotoxicity in rats

The present study aimed to examine whether the co-administration of quercetin (QRN) and losartan (LOS) can produce additional protective effects against chronic DOX cardiotoxicity. Cardiotoxicity in rats was induced by intraperitoneal injection of doxorubicin (DOX) in a cumulative dose of 15mg/kg for two weeks. Results revealed that DOX administration exhibited elevated serum levels of TNF-α, creatine kinase (CK-MB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in addition to increased myocardial lipid peroxide (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) alongside attenuating cardiac antioxidant defense system of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. DOX produced leukocyte infiltration and myocardial lesions. Pretreatment with QRN (10mg/kg, orally) solely or in combination with LOS (0.7mg/kg, orally) for 6 weeks markedly ameliorated all these biochemical characteristics, and substantially reduced the myocardium peroxidative damage. The protective effects obtained by LOS were more pronounced by its combination with QRN. Our results suggest that quercetin potentially augmented the cardioprotective effect of losartan against chronic DOX cardiotoxicity via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.