Reduced level of serum cholesterol in low protein-fed Wistar rats administered gossypol and chloroquine

Repurposing New Use for Old Drug Chloroquine against Metabolic Syndrome: A Review on Animal and Human Evidence

Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) are traditional anti-malarial drugs that have been repurposed for new therapeutic uses in many diseases due to their simple usage and cost-effectiveness. The pleiotropic effects of CQ and HCQ in regulating blood pressure, glucose homeostasis, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism have been previously described in vivo and in humans, thus suggesting their role in metabolic syndrome (MetS) prevention. The anti-hyperglycaemic, anti-hyperlipidaemic, cardioprotective, anti-hypertensive, and anti-obesity effects of CQ and HCQ might be elicited through reduction of inflammatory response and oxidative stress, improvement of endothelial function, activation of insulin signalling pathway, inhibition of lipogenesis and autophagy, as well as regulation of adipokines and apoptosis. In conclusion, the current state of knowledge supported the repurposing of CQ and HCQ usage in the management of MetS.

The Ameliorating Effect of Berberine-Rich Fraction against Gossypol-Induced Testicular Inflammation and Oxidative Stress

This study was aimed at evaluating the efficacy of berberine-rich fraction (BF) as a protective and/or a therapeutic agent against inflammation and oxidative stress during male infertility. Sexually mature Sprague-Dawley male rats were divided into five groups treated with either corn oil, BF (100 mg/kg BW, orally, daily for 30 days), gossypol acetate (5 mg/kg BW, i.p.) eight times for 16 days, BF alone for 14 days then coadministered with gossypol acetate for the next 16 days (protected group), or gossypol acetate for 16 days then treated with BF for 30 days (treated group). All animals completed the experimental period (46 days) without obtaining any treatments in the gap period. Sperm parameters, oxidative index, and inflammatory markers were measured. Gossypol injection significantly decreased the semen quality and testosterone level that resulted from the elevation of testicular reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (TBARS and NO), TNF-α, TNF-α-converting enzyme, and interleukins (IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18) by 230, 180, 12.5, 97.9, and 300%, respectively, while interleukin-12 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases-3 were significantly decreased by 59 and 66%, respectively. BF (protected and treated groups) significantly improved the semen quality, oxidative stress, and inflammation associated with male infertility. It is suitable to use more advanced studies to validate these findings.

Metabolic Characterization of Dairy Cows Treated with Gossypol by Blood Biochemistry and Body Fluid Untargeted Metabolome Analyses

To characterize the metabolic disorders of dairy cows treated with gossypol, 12 dairy cows were assigned to either a control group or a treatment group that was fed 1000 mg of gossypol per kilogram of dry matter feed for 28 days. Milk quality was adversely affected, as both milk protein and lactose levels were significantly decreased in the gossypol-treated group (3.40% vs 3.16%, P = 0.044; 5.15% vs 4.91%, P = 0.027; respectively). Plasma samples revealed increases in alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.092), choline esterase (P = 0.02), and glutathione transferase (P = 0.0005) and decreases in glucose (P = 0.076) in the gossypol-treated group. Mass spectrometry based comparative metabolomic analyses showed reduced concentrations of the gluconeogenesis precursor l-glutamine (P = 0.047), with significant decreases (P < 0.05) in plasma l-lysine, l-threonine, and homoserine levels after gossypol treatment. HDL-C and LDL-C levels in the gossypol-treated group were increased (P = 0.044) and decreased (P = 0.023), respectively. These results demonstrate that gossypol induced oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity; reduced peripheral lipid metabolism, and enhanced hepatic lipid accumulation; decreased amino acid bioavailability and milk protein synthesis; and decreased gluconeogenesis and milk lactose in dairy cows.

Gossypol--a polyphenolic compound from cotton plant

Gossypol (C(30)H(30)O(8)) is a polyphenolic compound derived from the cotton plant (genus Gossypium, family Malvaceae). The presence of six phenolic hydroxyl groups and two aldehydic groups makes gossypol chemically reactive. Gossypol can undergo Schiff base formation, ozonolysis, oxidation, and methylation to form gossypol derivatives. Gossypol and its derivatives have been the target of much research due to their multifaceted biological activities including antifertility, antivirus, anticancer, antioxidant, antitrypanosomal, antimicrobial, and antimalarial activities. Because of restricted rotation of the internaphthyl bond, gossypol is a chiral compound, which has two atropisomers (i.e., (+)- and (-)-gossypol) that exhibit different levels of biological activities. This chapter covers the physiochemical properties, analyses, biological properties, and agricultural and clinical implications of gossypol.

The effects of gossypol and chloroquine interaction on serum electrolytes of protein-malnourished rats

Serum sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl), phosphate (Po), and calcium (Ca) were assayed in adult male Wistar rats fed a low protein diet (LP) and a normal protein diet (control, NP) and administered gossypol (GP) and chloroquine (CQ) alone and in combination (GPCQ), for 4 and 8 weeks. Gossypol was administered at 20 mg/kg body wt/rat/day in Goya oil and chloroquine at 5 mg/kg body wt/rat for 3 days/week in distilled water. The data, analyzed by two-way ANOVA, showed that the interaction had significant effects on the serum levels of Na, K and Po (P < 0.001) but not on chloride and calcium (P > 0.05). Serum levels of sodium, potassium and phosphate in LP rats were significantly lower than in NP rats. In LP and NP rats, the levels of Na, K, and Po at 8 weeks were significantly higher than at 4 weeks; and GPCQ treatment produced significantly lower sodium levels in LP and NP rats, lower phosphate in LP rats and higher phosphate in NP-fed rats than GP or CQ administered alone. Potassium level in GPCQ was between levels in Gp- and CQ-treated rats. The administration of gossypol and chloroquine together may not adversely affect serum electrolytes in protein-malnutrition state any more than gossypol or chloroquine administered alone.