Selective growth inhibition of a human malignant melanoma cell line by sesame oil in vitro

Influence of Poloxamer 188 on Anti-Inflammatory and Analgesic Effects of Diclofenac-Loaded Nanoemulsion: Formulation, Optimization and in Vitro/in Vivo Evaluation

In this study, a polymer-stabilized nanoemulsion (PNE) was developed to improve the inflammatory and analgesic activities of diclofenac (DA). DA-PNEs were prepared from sesame oil and poloxamer 188 (P188), polysorbate 80, and span 80 as emulsifiers and optimized by a systematic multi-objective optimization method. The developed DA-PNEs exhibited thermodynamical stability with low viscosity. The mean diameter, PDI, surface charge, and entrapment efficiency of DA-PNEs were 122.49±3.42 nm, 0.226±0.08, -47.3 ± 3.6 mV, and 93.57±3.4 %, respectively. The cumulative in vitro release profile of DA-PNEs was significantly higher than the neat drug in simulated gastrointestinal fluids. The anti-inflammatory activities of DA-PNEs were evaluated in the λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema model. To investigate the effect of P188 on analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, a formulation without P188 was also prepared and named DA-NEs. Following oral administration, DA-PNEs showed a significantly higher (p<0.05) effect in reducing pain and inflammation symptoms as compared to free diclofenac and DA-NEs. Moreover, histopathological examination confirmed that DA-PNEs meaningfully reduced the extent of paw edema, comparable to that of DA. Taken together, the findings of the in vitro and in vivo studies suggest that diclofenac-loaded P188-stabilized nanoemulsion can be considered a potential drug delivery system for treating and controlling inflammatory disorders and alleviating pains.

Physicochemical, potential nutritional, antioxidant and health properties of sesame seed oil: a review

Sesame (Sesanum indicum L.) is one of the primary annual oilseeds grown in Africa and Asia. Sesame seed oil (SSO) is of great economic and human nutrition interest worldwide. Due to its composition in phytochemical antioxidants and profile in unsaturated fatty acids, sesame is used as a biological source of essential fatty acids. It contains bioactive compounds such as lignans (sesamin, sesamol, sesamolin), tocopherols and phytosterols. The oleic/linoleic fatty acids ratio of sesame makes it important for human health. SSO has bioactive compounds that can help prevent certain cardiovascular, metabolized and coronary diseases. The ω-3 and ω-6 fatty acids in SSO are precursors to eicosanoids that regulate the immune system and inflammatory functions. The essential fatty acids contained in this oil are essential for cell construction and highly recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy. The consumption of SSO allows both a decrease in the LDL-cholesterol complex and an increase in the HDL-cholesterol complex. It regulates blood sugar and may have favorable effects on people with liver cancer and those developing fatty liver disease. In this review, the nutritional value, antioxidant properties, and health benefits of SSO have been compiled to provide collective information of nutritional and medical interest.

Evaluation of the Anti-Malarial Activity of the Crude Root Extract and Solvent Fraction of Sesamum indicum (Fabaceae)

Background

A major cumbersome factor in malaria control measure is the new coming antimalarial drug resistance strains. The increase of resistance to the available marketed antimalarial agents dictates the scientific community to search new alternative antimalarial agent from traditional plants. Therefore, our study assesses the antimalarial activity of the crude root extract and solvent fraction of Sesamum indicum in mice.

Methods

The roots of Sesamum indicum were extracted by 80% methanol and fractionated using three solvents with different polarities. The in vivo antimalarial activity was assessed at 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, and 600 mg/kg of the root crude extract and solvent fraction using the 4-day suppressive test. Similarly, the n- butanol fraction extract, which showed better suppression potential in 4-day suppressive test from other fractions was also evaluated in the curative model to assess its curative potential. The % parasitemia suppression, mean survival time, body weight change, rectal temperature change, and packed cell volume change were also evaluated in both models.

Results

Our finding revealed that the crude extract and solvent fraction treated groups had a statistical significant parasitemia suppression and mean survival time improvement as compared to the negative control (p<0.001) in both models in a dose-dependent fashion. The higher dose n-butanol fraction treated group (600mg/kg) showed the highest suppression effect and mean survival time prolongation in both tests from the other two fractions. However, the lowest suppressive effect was observed in 200 mg/kg aqueous fraction extract-treated groups in the 4-day suppressive test.

Conclusion

The crude root extract and solvent fractions of Sesamum indicum possessed a dose dependent antimalarial activity and a significant change in other parameters in both models that strengthen the traditional claim.

Developmental effects of sesamolin on zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos

Sesamolin is one of the major active compounds found in sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum L.) that are commonly and increasingly used as an ingredient in cuisines and various food products. The compound has been reported to have several pharmaceutical activities such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, neuroprotective, and anticancer. However, the toxicological profile of sesamolin does not currently include developmental toxicity. In this study, we assessed sesamolin toxicity to embryonic development of zebrafish by exposure for 72 h at concentrations ranging from 10 to 50 μM. The evaluation revealed that sesamolin did not affect survival and hatching rates. However, it did induce embryo malformations and reduced embryonic heart rates in a dose-dependent manner. By qRT-PCR analysis, it downregulated the expression of oxidative stress-related genes, including superoxide dismutase 1 (sod1), catalase (cat), and glutathione S-transferase pi 2 (gstp2). Alkaline phosphatase staining of embryos revealed that sesamolin inhibited the development of subintestinal vessels, and hemoglobin staining revealed a negative impact on embryonic erythropoiesis. These findings showed that sesamolin affected genes related to angiogenesis and erythropoiesis. The risks of sesamolin to embryonic development found in this study may imply similar effects in humans and other mammals.

Study on the skin status of mid-pregnancy women based on lipidomics

BACKGROUND

Pregnancy is a complex physiological state and its unique changes in skin state have been discussed. Skin surface lipid (SSL) is an important molecular basis for this skin condition, and it affects skin condition in a number of ways, but there are no complete research data on it.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the lipidome profiles of SSL in pregnancies and controls in order to understand SSL changes in pregnancy. It will provide theoretical data of SSL on skin care and prevention of skin diseases during pregnancy.

METHODS

Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-QTOF-MS) and multivariate statistics were used to investigate the changes of SSL in pregnancy.

RESULTS

Results showed that there were significant differences (P < .05) in the lipidome between pregnancies and controls. Multivariate data analysis indicated that there were 20 important individual lipid species identified, and triglycerides (TGs) were the majority of differentiating lipid species.

CONCLUSIONS

The increase of estrogen level in pregnancies antagonizes and inhibits the regulation of androgen on sebaceous gland, resulting in the decrease of sebum secretion and the weakening of skin barrier function. Besides, the decrease of saturated fatty acid content may be the main factor of the decrease of skin barrier function during pregnancy. Additionally, skin cells perform their self-regulation function to reduce or counteract abnormal state of the skin during pregnancy through the synthesis and secretion of more glycerophospholipids and ceramides.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Bioactive Compounds from Sesamum indicum L.-A Review

The use of foodstuff as natural medicines has already been established through studies demonstrating the pharmacological activities that they exhibit. Knowing the nutritional and pharmacological significance of foods enables the understanding of their role against several diseases. Among the foods that can potentially be considered as medicine, is sesame or Sesamum indicum L., which is part of the Pedaliaceae family and is composed of its lignans such as sesamin, sesamol, sesaminol and sesamolin. Its lignans have been widely studied and are known to possess antiaging, anticancer, antidiabetes, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Modern chronic diseases, which can transform into clinical diseases, are potential targets of these lignans. The prime example of chronic diseases is rheumatic inflammatory diseases, which affect the support structures and the organs of the body and can also develop into malignancies. In line with this, studies emphasizing the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of sesame have been discussed in this review.

HPLC analysis and cell surface receptor binding activities of the crude aqueous and methanolic extract of Sesamum indicum

OBJECTIVE

To identify the possible functional molecules for therapeutic uses by screening the crude aqueous and methanolic extracts derived from sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) in vitro.

METHODS

High performance liquid chromatography was used to scan the functional molecules present in the extracts.

RESULTS

The crude aqueous extracts showed the possibilities to present caffeine and cetirizine or its derivatives like molecules. On the other hand, the crude methanolic extract may contain Loratadine or its derivatives like molecules. Both type of extracts showed hemagglutination inhibition activities in all types of human blood samples tested. However, they showed stronger binding with AB+ blood group than those of A+ and B+ blood.

CONCLUSIONS

Sesame seeds may be considered as a functional food.

Systemic treatment with n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids attenuates EL4 thymoma growth and metastasis through enhancing specific and non-specific anti-tumor cytolytic activities and production of TH1 cytokines

Recently, there has been a great interest in the effects of different types of n-6 polyunsaturated acids (n-6 PUFAs) upon the immune system and cancer development. However, the effects of n-6 PUFAs are still controversial and as yet undefined. The present study aimed to investigate the anti-tumor effects of n-6 PUFAs against EL4 thymoma and the associated immune mechanisms. To this, sesame oil, a vegetable oil enriched with n-6 PUFAs, or free linoleic acid (LA) were administered intraperitoneally into C57BL/6 mice before and after challenge with EL4 lymphoma cells. Treatment with either sesame oil or LA attenuated the growth and metastasis of EL4 lymphoma. The anti-tumor effect of LA was superior to that of sesame oil, and associated with an increase in the survival rate of the tumor-bearing mice. In addition, both sesame oil and LA showed dose-dependent anti-lymphoma growth in vitro. Treatment with LA generated significant increases in the anti-lymphoma cytolytic and cytostatic activities of T cells and macrophages, respectively, and enhanced production of IL-2 and IFN-gamma while decreased production of IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10. In summation, the results suggest that n-6 PUFAs, represented by LA, can attenuate EL4 lymphoma growth and metastasis through enhancing the specific and non-specific anti-tumor cytolytic activities and production of TH1 cytokines. These findings might be of great importance for a proper design of systemic nourishment with PUFAs emulsions for cancer patients.

Arachidonic acid is a preferred acetyl donor among fatty acids in the acetylation of p-aminobenzoic acid by human lymphoid cells

We have previously reported that human lymphoid cells, such as peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (PBML) and the T-cell leukemia line Jurcat, synthesize p-acetamidobenzoic acid from p-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and a two carbon fragment from arachidonic acid (AA), conceivably derived from beta-oxidation. Here we demonstrate that AA is a preferred substrate in this acetylation reaction over other common fatty acids such as palmitic (PA), oleic, linoleic or linolenic. This was unexpected because AA is not considered as a fuel fatty acid. In Jurcat cells, AA is also preferred as a substrate for beta-oxidation over PA. In contrast, in PBML, PA was clearly preferred as substrate for beta-oxidation over AA, in accordance with previous observations. The difference between Jurcat cells and PBML was not dependent on culture conditions, because phytohemagglutinin and interleukin-2 activated PBML, kept in culture, showed the same PA preference as freshly prepared non-activated PBML. Furthermore, we observed differences between Jurcat cells and PBML in their relative content of fatty acids and in the incorporation of PA and AA into triacylglycerols and phospholipids. Taken together, our results show differences in beta-oxidation between Jurcat cells and PBML, and suggest the involvement of peroxisomal, besides mitochondrial, beta-oxidation, in the acetylation of PABA with fatty acids as acetyl donors.