Inhibitory effects of Lepidium sativum polysaccharide extracts on TNF-α production in Escherichia coli-stimulated mouse

In vivo and in silico studies on the potential role of garden cress oil in attenuating methotrexate-induced inflammation and apoptosis in liver

Methotrexate (MTX) has been used in high doses for cancer therapy and low doses for autoimmune diseases. It is proven that methotrexate-induced hepatotoxicity occurs even at relatively low doses. It is known that garden cress has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties. This study investigates the potential alleviating effect of garden cress oil (GCO) against MTX-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The chemical composition of GCO was assessed using GC/MS analysis. Liver damage was studied using hepatotoxicity biomarkers, molecular, and histological analysis. Also, the effects of GCO on TNF-α and caspase-3 proteins were evaluated through molecular docking studies. The results demonstrated that MTX caused liver damage, as seen by elevated levels of the liver enzymes ALT, AST, and ALP. Likewise, MTX showed clear signs of apoptosis, such as increased mRNA expression levels of BAX, Caspase-3, and P53, and increased liver inflammation indicated by higher levels of TNF-α expression. MTX exhibited significant liver damage, as demonstrated by histological examination. Treatment with GCO effectively alleviated the apoptotic effects of MTX, provided protection against inflammation, and restored histological alterations. GC/MS metabolite profiling of garden cress oil revealed the presence of several phytoconstituents, including tocopherols, erucic acid, sesamolin, linoleic acid, vaccenic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, and palmitic acid, that showed strong binding affinities toward TNF-α and caspase-3 proteins in molecular docking studies, which could explain the anti-apoptotic and anti-inflammatory potential of GCO.

Changes in Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Losartan in Experimental Diseased Rats Treated with Curcuma longa and Lepidium sativum

The current study investigated “pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics interactions” of losartan with Curcuma longa (CUR) and Lepidium sativum (LS) in hypertensive rats. Hypertension was induced by oral administration of L-NAME (40 mg/kg) for two weeks. Oral administration of CUR or LS shows some substantial antihypertensive activity. The systolic blood pressure (SBP) of hypertensive rats was decreased by 7.04% and 8.78% 12 h after treatment with CUR and LS, respectively, as compared to rats treated with L-NAME alone. LS and CUR display the ability to potentiate the blood pressure-lowering effects of losartan in hypertensive rats. A greater decrease in SBP, by 11.66% and 13.74%, was observed in hypertensive rats treated with CUR + losartan and LS + losartan, respectively. Further, both the investigated herbs, CUR and LS, caused an increase in plasma concentrations of losartan in hypertensive rats. The AUC0-t, AUC0-inf and AUMC0-inf of losartan were increased by 1.25-fold, 1.28-fold and 1.09-fold in hypertensive rats treated with CUR + losartan. A significant (p < 0.05) increase in AUC0-t (2.41-fold), AUC0-inf (3.86-fold) and AUMC0-inf (8.35-fold) of losartan was observed in hypertensive rats treated with LS + losartan. The present study affirms that interactions between CUR or LS with losartan alter both “pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics” of the drug. Concurrent administration of losartan with either CUR or LS would require dose adjustment and intermittent blood pressure monitoring for clinical use in hypertensive patients. Additional investigation is necessary to determine the importance of these interactions in humans and to elucidate the mechanisms of action behind these interactions.

Extraction, Characterization, and Structure of a Novel Heteropolysaccharide from Lepidium sativum and Its Effects on Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats

The present study undertakes the extraction of a novel polysaccharide from Lepidium sativum (PLS) and the determination of its physicochemical composition and antioxidant properties, as well as its potential wound healing activity in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. This polysaccharide presented a lighter natural color, whose luminosity (L∗), red-green intensity (a∗), and blue-yellow intensity (b∗) were recorded at 63.26, 5.87, and 27.28, respectively. The PLS was structurally characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, UV spectrum, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), gas chromatography (GC), nuclear resonance magnetic (NMR), and high-pressure gel filtration chromatography. The FT-IR and UV spectra showed the characteristic band of polysaccharides. According to HPLC, the crude PLS is a heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, xylose, and galactose. Results obtained by ¹H NMR indicated that PLS consisted of three monosaccharide residues with α and β anomers. This novel polysaccharide had an average molecular weight of 98.51 kDa and displayed potential antioxidant activities determined through three different assays: scavenging activity against 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay, and reducing power. These results strongly support the beneficial effects of the PLS to accelerate wound healing in diabetic rats. Indeed, its application significantly increased wound contraction percentage (98 ± 1.11%) after 14 days of experiment. Furthermore, the histological assessment of the PLS-treated group demonstrated complete reepithelialized wounds by accelerating collagen synthesis. In general, the findings affirmed that PLS is efficient on wound closure in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

Anti-inflammatory and Immunomodulatory Properties of Lepidium sativum

Background

Lepidium sativum (garden cress) is a member of the Brassicaceae family that has been utilized for medicinal and culinary purposes in centuries. Anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, hepatoprotective, antihypertensive, antiasthmatic, and hypoglycemic properties are found in various portions of the plant. The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects of L. sativum were the subject of this review.

Methods

The required information was gathered by searching the Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus databases for the terms anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, immune system, and Lepidium sativum. Up until February 2022, the search was conducted.

Results

TNF-, IL-6, IL-1, NO, iNOS, and HO-1 levels were reduced, indicating that L. sativum has anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties. Flavonoids, alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, tannins, glucosinolates, sterols, and triterpenes are the key chemical components that contribute to the anti-inflammatory effects. In peritoneal neutrophils, L. sativum reduced oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals, as evidenced by a drop in superoxide anion and an increase in glutathione.

Conclusion

The anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory activities of L. sativum could be explored in clinical trials to treat inflammatory and immune system illnesses.

Anti-bacterial, anti-scavenging and cytotoxic activity of garden cress polysaccharides

Plants polysaccharides are an infinite stock of drug composites with varying pharmacological and biological activities. The present investigation aimed to examine the antibacterial, anti-scavenging and cytotoxic potential of garden cress (GC) polysaccharides. The antibacterial effects vs Escherichia coli and as well as Staphylococcus aureus of GC polysaccharides were examined by means of agar diffusion assay, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), outer and inner cell membrane permeability. Antioxidant potential of the GC polysaccharides were performed by free radical DPPH scavenging, superoxide anion scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, reducing power potential assay, and hydrogen peroxide method. Cytotoxicity potential of GC polysaccharides were evaluated by MTT assay in human cervical (HeLa) and liver carcinoma (HepG2) cell lines. The findings showed that GC polysaccharides MIC were 1.06 and 0.56 mg mL^-1 against E. coli and S. aureus, respectively. Compared to the standard inhibitor, the GC polysaccharides showed essential inhibitor assays in a very dose dependent approach, and notable actions to scavenge reactive oxygen species (ROS) are also due to the large quantities of hydrophilic polyphenols. The IC₅₀ values of all tested parameters were measured against standard ascorbic acid antioxidant agent. The GC polysaccharides diminish the cell viability percentage of HeLa and HepG2 in a concentration dependent manner. GC polysaccharides at a dose of 500 µg ml^-1 exhibited higher anti-tumor activity in both HeLa (65.33 ± 3.75%) and HepG2 (60.33 ± 3.48%). The findings obtained in this study indicate that GC polysaccharides has antibacterial and has a possible source of natural antioxidant and also has cytotoxic effect on different carcinoma cell lines.

Anti-bacterial activity of baicalin against APEC through inhibition of quorum sensing and inflammatory responses

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), collectively known as causative agent of extraintestinal infections, is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in poultry. Currently, quorum sensing (QS), biofilm formation and virulence factors are considered as novel prospective targets for antimicrobial therapy to control APEC invasion. In addition, inflammatory responses are also served as the major pathological features of APEC invasion. This study was aimed to explore the effect of baicalin on APEC and APEC-induced inflammatory responses. After treatment with baicalin, we mainly examined the AI-2 secretion, biofilm formation, expression of virulence genes of APEC, and the levels of inflammatory cytokines, as well as the expression of NF-κB pathway. Our results showed that baicalin significantly inhibited the QS via decreasing the AI-2 secretion, biofilm formation, and the expression of virulence genes of APEC such as LsrB, LsrK, LuxS, pfs, H-NS, fimA, fimB, fyuA, csgA, csgB, and rpoS. Moreover, baicalin significantly attenuated the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and the adhesion of APEC to chicken type II pneumocytes to reduce cell damage. Furthermore, baicalin also inhibited the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and NF-κB activation. Thus, our data revealed that baicalin could interfere with the quorum sensing, biofilm formation and virulence genes expression to relieve the APEC pathogenicity. Additionally, baicalin decreased the inflammatory responses of chicken type II pneumocytes induced by APEC. Taken together, these data provide a novel potential pharmaco-therapeutic approach to chicken colibacillosis.